By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, May 7, 2011

Rays at Orioles

When/where: 1:35 p.m.; Camden Yards, Baltimore

TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)

Probable starting pitchers:

RAYS: RH Wade Davis (3-2, 2.77)

ORIOLES: RH Brad Bergesen (0-3, 4.76)

Watch for …

Lovin' life at Camden: Davis is off to a great start and should feel comfortable at Camden Yards, where he is 2-0 with a 2.05 ERA in three starts. He had his fifth straight quality start Tuesday, limiting the Blue Jays to two runs in seven innings.

Rays hater: Bergesen would probably rather see any team besides the Rays. He is 0-4 vs. Tampa Bay with a 9.00 ERA and 15 strikeouts. In five starts this season, Bergesen has left with the lead once, in his last outing against Kansas City.

Key matchups

Rays vs. Bergesen

Reid Brignac 3-for-7

Casey Kotchman 2-for-7, HR

B.J. Upton 5-for-10, HR

Orioles vs. Davis

Matt Wieters 5-for-12

Vladimir Guerrero 0-for-5

Cesar Izturis 4-for-9

On deck

Monday: Off

Tuesday: at Indians, 7:05, Sun Sports. Rays — Andy Sonnanstine (0-0, 2.89); Indians — Josh Tomlin (4-1, 2.43)

Wednesday: at Indians, 7:05, Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (4-3, 3.26); Indians — Jeanmar Gomez (0-1, 4.91)



Rolling replay of the day

OF Brandon Guyer said he watched the highlight about 20 times of his two-run homer in his first major-league at-bat Friday night. His biggest thrill was seeing the reaction of family and friends at Camden Yards — minus his wife, Lindsay Murphy, who listened on the radio in the parking lot. "I was watching the highlights when we got back to the hotel and I was rounding second when they panned to all the friends and family, and it cracked me up just seeing all the different expressions," Guyer said. "That was awesome."

Stat of the day

With their victory over the Orioles, the Rays are 10-4 on the road, tops in the American League. The Rays also tied a club single-season record with their seventh straight win on the road (June 2004) and are one shy of the overall team best set in 2009-10.

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Times wires
Saturday, May 7, 2011

Cubs 3, Reds 2

CHICAGO — Kosuke Fukudome hit a walkoff single to cap the Cubs' two-run rally. Former Ray Carlos Peña led off the ninth with a homer, his third in four games after none in his first 26, to help Chicago win for the third time in four games. "I have been working really hard every single day," Peña said. "I'm just gonna keep giving it all I have."

Times wires
Saturday, May 7, 2011

Red Sox 4, Twins 0

BOSTON — Clay Buchholz's best start this season came against the AL's worst offense as he combined with four relievers on a three-hitter, helping the Red Sox snap a three-game skid and escape last place in the AL East in a game delayed two hours-plus by rain. Boston, which snapped the Twins' three-game win streak, lost its previous two by a combined 20-2.

By Rick Frazier, Times Correspondent
Saturday, May 7, 2011

Gators Spring Suncoast Kingfish Classic: The 20th annual tournament held Saturday on Treasure Island had 55 boats entered in four divisions. The winner in the overall division was Caliente with Arik Bergerman weighing a 31.92-pound kingfish.

"Came in one piece home with a big fish," said Bergerman, an Israeli whose team won $5,000. "My English is not too good."

Second place went to Quality Woodworking with Dominik Lipinski weighing a 30.68-pound kingfish. Third was Marshall Law/Triple Edge with Kevin Grissinger catching a 29.07-pounder.

Fourth went to Blue Runner on Top with Frank Quinto (28.74), and fifth was Minderaser with Trevor Tilton, (26).

The other divisions:

23 and under: Knot Me, Ryan Hasson, 24.12; Bada Bing, Sammy Papin, 17.32; Yellow Bird, Harry Thomas, 16.78

Women: MM3, Nicole Saj, 24.85; Knot Me, Chelsea Cellamare, 24.12

Youth: Jay Bird, Fischer Carr, 22.33; Rambunctious, Nathaniel Hall, 20.85

Rick Frazier runs Lucky Dawg Charters out of St. Petersburg and can be reached at (727) 510-4376.

Times wires
Saturday, May 7, 2011

Brewers 4, Cardinals 0

ST. LOUIS — Yovani Gallardo was the second straight pitcher to flirt with a no-hitter at Busch Stadium, allowing a single to start the eighth as the Brewers snapped a seven-game skid. Gallardo allowed only Daniel Descalso's solid single up the middle on a 1-and-1 count and left after eight one-hit innings a day after the Cardinals' Jaime Garcia carried a perfect game into the eighth. Milwaukee's opening-day starter entered the game with 53 hits allowed, most in the majors.

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, May 7, 2011

Winners

Gerald McCoy

Last season as a rookie, the defensive tackle was under tremendous pressure to spice up the Bucs' pass rush but often didn't meet the sky-high expectations. Still, those who watched the Bucs closely know the impact he had. And the Bucs' struggles in stopping the run after McCoy's season-ending biceps tear give you a sense of his importance.

The selections of defensive ends Adrian Clayborn and Da'Quan Bowers will only help McCoy. If either player lives up to the Bucs' hopes, that will take attention away from McCoy in the middle and cause offenses to shift their protection schemes. With more one-on-one matchups, McCoy can only build on what he began to show last season.

Stephen F. Holder can be reached at sholder@sptimes.com.

The NFL draft is in the books, and despite what anyone says about the Bucs' selections, no one will know anything concrete about this class for quite some time. But it's not too early to determine the impact — positive or negative — on players now on the roster. The Bucs' roster moves during the rest of the offseason — whenever the lockout finally ends — will be directly influenced by the choices they made. With this in mind, let's take a look at some of the Bucs' winners and losers of the draft.

E.J. Biggers/Myron Lewis

These guys benefited not because of what the Bucs did but rather what they did not do.

Given the likely absence of Aqib Talib because of his latest arrest — with at least a significant NFL suspension expected if not his release — cornerback appeared to be a position of concern. But the Bucs did not address it until the seventh round, when they selected Florida International's Anthony Gaitor.

Why so little urgency? The Bucs believe Biggers and Lewis (along with veteran Ronde Barber) can hold things down in the secondary even without their best defensive back (Talib). That's quite a vote of confidence for the young duo.

Cadillac Williams

It's far from certain that Williams, a free agent, will wear pewter and red again, but the odds do not appear worse after the draft.

Yes, the Bucs drafted USC's Allen Bradford, but he doesn't seem to be the change-of-pace, third-down back Williams became late last season behind LeGarrette Blount.

Williams' pass protection and savvy catching balls in open space for big gains were critical. The trust offensive coordinator Greg Olson has in him won't hurt his bargaining position, either.

Williams could walk if an offer presents itself elsewhere. But the Bucs still have reason to keep him.

Davin Joseph

With the starting right guard being the Bucs' highest priority in free agency, no effort was made to address the offensive line. It's still unclear if Joseph will be an unrestricted free agent because of the labor mess. (It's possible he could become a restricted free agent.) But if Joseph makes it to the open market, the Bucs will make every effort to retain him.

Barrett Ruud

The Bucs plan to have Mason Foster begin his career at middle linebacker, which is of great significance to Ruud. The four-year starter in the middle is a free agent and looking for a long-awaited payday after having his unrestricted free agency postponed last year because of changes in the collective bargaining agreement.

There have been some ill feelings on Ruud's part because he wasn't offered a contract extension like left tackle Donald Penn, who also was a restricted free agent at the time.

The addition of Foster doesn't automatically mean the Bucs are moving on. But it does mean Tampa Bay, at a minimum, has a Plan B and will use it to its advantage in negotiations.

Stylez White/Kyle Moore

With the Bucs drafting two defensive ends, this pair of starters has become vulnerable.

The Bucs, in their opinion, drafted White's replacement in right end Adrian Clayborn. And the team says Da'Quan Bowers is going to play left end, a position that was basically handed to Moore entering last season. Moore, for the second straight season, was unproductive and injured. So it's not out of the question to suggest he will have his work cut out for him to make the final roster.

Tanard Jackson

When the Bucs drafted Florida's Ahmad Black, it didn't necessarily mean Jackson is no longer in the plans.

But it does indicate the Bucs remain realistic about Jackson's situation. When the safety is eligible to return from his yearlong league suspension for substance abuse in September, there are no guarantees commissioner Roger Goodell will reinstate him or the Bucs will take him back. And here's another consideration: What kind of football shape will he be in at that point, anyway?

John Gilmore

This veteran tight end saw the Bucs draft his likely replacement in Luke Stocker from Tennessee. Stocker is a big tight end like Gilmore but might be considered by the team to be more versatile. The Bucs have talked about pairing Stocker in two-tight end sets with Kellen Winslow. So all signs point to Gilmore, a free agent, moving on.

Losers

Bucs' draft picks

First: DE Adrian Clayborn

Second: DE Da'Quan Bowers

Third: LB Mason Foster

Fourth: TE Luke Stocker

Fifth: S Ahmad Black

Sixth: RB Allen Bradford

Seventh: CB Anthony Gaitor

Seventh: TE Daniel Hardy

Times wires
Saturday, May 7, 2011

Seve Ballesteros, the charismatic Spanish golfer who won five majors and helped propel Europe's rise in the Ryder Cup, died early Saturday at his home in northern Spain, where his struggle with brain cancer had gained wide attention in the sports world. He was 54.

Mr. Ballesteros had surgery for a cancerous brain tumor in October 2008 and was cared for at his home in the coastal town of Pedrena, where he died, his family said in a statement on his website.

Mr. Ballesteros was 19 and virtually unknown when he was thrust into the spotlight in July 1976. He was on the final hole of the British Open at Royal Birkdale, on England's west coast, when he hit a brilliant chip between two bunkers that landed 4 feet from the cup. He sank his putt to tie Jack Nicklaus for second place behind Johnny Miller after having led for three rounds.

That daring chip, and the shots before it that rescued him after wild drives into dunes and bushes, caught the golf world's attention and defined the kind of game that made Mr. Ballesteros one of his era's finest players.

With a passion for perfection, an uncommon intensity and a brilliant short game, Mr. Ballesteros won the Masters twice and the British Open three times in a 10-year span. At Augusta National in 1980, he became the first European and, at 23, the youngest to win the Masters. (Tiger Woods broke that record in 1997 when he won it at 21.) Mr. Ballesteros won the Masters again in 1983, the British Open in 1979, '84 and '88, and the World Match Play Championship five times.

"I think he comes as close to a complete player as anybody I've ever seen," fellow golfer Ben Crenshaw told Sports Illustrated in 1985. "He can hit every shot in the bag and do it with the style and look of a champion."

Mr. Ballesteros won 45 events on the European Tour, and led it in earnings six times. He was in the vanguard of Spanish golfers, preceding Jose Maria Olazabal, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Sergio Garcia.

In Charlotte, N.C., at the Wells Fargo Championship, Phil Mickelson said Friday that beyond Mr. Ballesteros' impact on the game, "the greatest thing about Seve is his flair and his charisma.

"Because of the way he played the game of golf, you were drawn to him," said Mickelson, who shares Mr. Balle­steros' penchant for getting into and out of troublesome situations on the course. "You wanted to go watch him play."

"He was the greatest show on earth," said Nick Faldo, a six-time major winner.

Mr. Severiano Ballesteros (buy-yuh-STAY-ros) was born in Pedrena, where his father, a former national champion rower, was a farmer. His three older brothers were golf pros, as was his uncle.

He quit school at 14, turned pro at 16 and won his first major at the 1979 British Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes in England. On No. 16 in the final round, he made one of his most storied shots.

With his ball in a parking lot, he hit a sand wedge to the green, then sank a 20-footer for birdie and won by three shots, besting Nicklaus. But in this case, Mr. Balle­steros wasn't out of control on a drive. He deliberately hit to the parking lot to take advantage of the prevailing winds.

Apart from his individual feats, he led Europe's emergence in the Ryder Cup after players from the continent joined British and Irish players in 1979. He played on eight Ryder Cup squads, including the 1987 team that achieved the first European win in America.

Mr. Ballesteros was a master of concentration.

"I'm so deeply immersed in my game plan and my play that I'm virtually oblivious to outside sights and sounds," he wrote in his 1991 book, Natural Golf, written with John Andrisani.

Mr. Ballesteros' last major win came in the 1988 British Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes, the site of that memorable approach shot in the '79 event.

Holding the champion's silver cup aloft, he said, "This time I didn't hit from the parking lot."

He is survived by two sons and a daughter and his brothers. His marriage to Carmen Botin ended in divorce in 2004. His funeral is Wednesday in Pedrena.

Tight race at major

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Mark Calcavecchia shot 1-under 71 at the Regions Tradition, faltering with double bogey and two bogeys on the final eight holes, but still led after three rounds at the first Champions Tour major of the year. Calcavecchia was at 12-under 204 for a one-stroke lead over Jay Haas, who shot 68. Tom Pernice and Tom Lehman (both 68) were two back.

PGA: Jonathan Byrd had five birdies in six holes to start the back nine en route to 5-under 67 for a one-shot lead into the final round of the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, N.C. Second-round leader Pat Perez (70) was second. Phil Mickelson (74) was eight back after hitting tee shots in the water on 15 and 17.

Quotebook

"No matter the golf that particular day, you always knew you were going to be entertained. Seve's enthusiasm was just unmatched by anybody I think that ever played the game. … He could get up and down out of a garbage can." — Jack Nicklaus

"He was a man who got into trouble (with his golf shots). Only for Seve, there was no such thing as trouble," Gary Player

"It's a day of sadness when you wake up with news like that. … It is a loss that we'll never get back due to all the values that Seve had." — Rafael Nadal, Spanish tennis champion

"His creativity and inventiveness on the golf course may never be surpassed." — Tiger Woods, on Twitter

"America had Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. Seve was our Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus rolled into one." — Bernard Gallacher, former captain of European Ryder Cup team

"He was magnetism. All the guys wanted to be him, and all of the girls wanted to be with him." — Peter Kessler, golf historian

Times wires
Saturday, May 7, 2011

DUNEDIN — Phillies 2B Chase Utley homered twice and beat out an infield single in an extended spring training game Saturday.

The five-time All-Star hasn't played this season because of a knee injury. He finished 5-for-7.

"It felt pretty good just to get back out between the lines," Utley said. "So far so good, and we'll see how it responds (today) and go from there."

Utley, who has been out all season with patellar tendinitis in his right knee, played four innings in the field, alternating each inning.

At the plate, the left-handed hitting Utley saw all lefties.

"It was good to get some timing back and some swings in there, see some live pitching, so we're just going to keep it going," Utley said.

MARLINS: RH reliever Clay Hensley went on the 15-day disabled list with bruised left ribs. RHP Burke Badenhop was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans.

METS: RHP Chris Young couldn't get loose in the bullpen before the game against the Dodgers and was replaced by RHP Dillon Gee.

NATIONALS: CF Rick Ankiel went on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right wrist. OF Roger Bernadina was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse.

ORIOLES: LHP Brian Matusz, on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left intercostal muscle, pitched two innings in extended spring training. He's scheduled to pitch three innings Wednesday then start a minor-league rehab assignment.

RANGERS: RF Nelson Cruz went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right quadriceps. The slugger has been in the DL four times the past two seasons. OF Craig Gentry was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock.

TWINS: LHP Francisco Liriano, coming off a no-hitter Tuesday against the White Sox, had his next start pushed back a day to Tuesday because of a sore throat. RHP Nick Blackburn is set to start in his place Monday.

WHITE SOX: RHP Jake Peavy, who hasn't pitched in the majors since July because of a detached lat muscle near his right shoulder, could be activated from the disabled list Wednesday.

Times wires
Saturday, May 7, 2011

TORONTO — With one out to go, Justin Verlander cracked a smile.

He could afford to enjoy the moment; he'd seen this before. So had baseball fans — real recently, in fact.

Verlander pitched his second career no-hitter and the second in the big leagues this past week, leading the Tigers to a 9-0 victory over the Blue Jays on Saturday.

"I was a lot more calm," Verlander said. "Obviously, there's some adrenaline — you can't help it — but having been through this situation before, I was definitely able to calm myself down a little bit easier than last time."

The Twins' Francisco Liriano pitched a no-hitter against the White Sox on Tuesday night.

Verlander barely missed a perfect game. The only runner he allowed came with one out in the eighth inning when J.P. Arencibia walked on a full count, with Verlander's 12th pitch to the rookie just an inch or two outside.

"It was as good as it gets," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "He just missed by inches of being perfect. It really doesn't get any better than that. That's great stuff."

Verlander had no argument with the call by plate umpire Jerry Meals.

"Right out of my fingertips, I knew it was just a hair outside, and it was," he said.

Verlander struck out 12 in a no-hitter against the Brewers on June 12, 2007. This time, he fanned Rajai Davis to end it for his fourth strikeout. The right-hander threw 108 pitches, 74 for strikes.

Mixing fastballs around 100 mph, sharp breaking balls and an effective changeup, Verlander became the 30th major-leaguer to throw multiple career no-hitters, STATS LLC said.

"He was unbelievable," Arencibia said. "Any time on your 106th pitch when you're hitting 100, I'd say it's pretty ridiculous stuff."

David Cooper popped to second on Verlander's first pitch of the ninth. John McDonald followed with a grounder to second, and Verlander flashed a grin. With the crowd of 23,453 standing, Davis ended it by striking out swinging on a 2-and-2 pitch.

Verlander calmly pumped his fist and smiled then hugged catcher Alex Avila before being mobbed near the mound. He was doused with a bucket of ice water by reliever Jose Valverde.

"That was cold," Verlander said. "That and the beer shower I got in here was cold, too."

Times wires
Saturday, May 7, 2011

LAS VEGAS — Manny Pacquiao earned an unanimous decision over Sugar Shane Mosley on Saturday night, retaining his WBO welterweight title with his 14th consecutive victory.

Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 knockouts) didn't get the KO he sought, but the Filipino Congressman kept his spot as boxing's top pound-for-pound fighter, methodically beating Mosley (46-7-1, 39 KOs) at the MGM Grand Garden.

The eight-division champion knocked down Mosley with a right-left combination midway through the third round, just the third knockdown of Mosley's decorated 18-year career.

Mosley, 39, was credited with a knockdown in the 10th round when he appeared to push Pacquiao as the champion threw a wild punch.

Pacquiao, 32, finished with ferocity despite some boos, keeping Mosley winless in three fights.

Holyfield TKOs foe

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield stopped Denmark's Brian Nielsen by TKO in the 10th round.

"My goal still is to be the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world," said Holyfield, 48. "This fight showed other champions what I am able to do, but it also taught me I have to be better. The most important is that I didn't quit. I am not a quitter."

In the 10th, Holyfield pressed Nielsen, 46, in the corner. The bout was halted after he landed several jabs and Nielsen spat blood. Nielsen said afterward he was hit by Holyfield's head butts.

Pacquiao-Mosley undercard: After being knocked down in the fifth, Jorge Arce (57-6-2, 44 KOs) took the WBO 122-pound title from Wilfredo Vazquez (20-1-1, 17 KOs) with a 12th-round TKO in Las Vegas. … Kelly Pavlik beat Alfonso Lopez (21-1, 16 KOs) by majority decision in Las Vegas. Pavlik (37-2, 32 KOs) had not fought since April 17, 2010, when Sergio Martinez took his two middleweight titles.

Times wires
Saturday, May 7, 2011

Royals 4, Athletics 3

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Mike Aviles' sacrifice fly scored Jarrod Dyson to lift the Royals to their sixth walkoff win of the season. Billy Butler singled leading off the ninth against Brandon McCarthy, who took his second complete-game loss of the season. Dyson, a pinch-runner, went to third when Jeff Francoeur singled. Rookie Eric Hosmer, who earlier singled for his first major-league hit, was walked intentionally, and Aviles hit a fly to left that easily scored Dyson.

Times wires
Saturday, May 7, 2011

Colleges

Tressel to attend Tampa's seminar on compliance

COLUMBUS, Ohio — As part of his punishment for not revealing knowledge of his players' NCAA violations, Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel will attend a compliance seminar June 6-10 at Tampa's Marriott Waterside Hotel and Marina, the school said Saturday.

Tressel found out in April 2010 that five players, including star QB Terrelle Pryor, traded signed memorabilia to a tattoo parlor owner for cash and reduced-price tattoos. Nine months later, the NCAA violations were revealed, and they were suspended for five games.

The school suspended Tressel, 58, for two games (later extended to five), fined him $250,000 and required him to attend one of two compliance seminars. (The other is in Tucson, Ariz.) The NCAA is still investigating. A hearing is set for Aug. 12.

Also, Ohio State is reviewing at least 50 car sales to athletes and relatives to see if they met NCAA rules, the Columbus Dispatch reported. The Dispatch reported a salesman who received game passes from athletes handled many of the deals at two dealerships. Both dealerships display signed Ohio State memorabilia.

More football: Michigan WR Darryl Stonum was suspended indefinitely for undisclosed reasons. As a junior last season, he started 12 games.

Women's lacrosse: Florida fell 10-9 to Northwestern in the American Lacrosse Conference tournament final in Nashville. The Gators are in their second season of play and beat the Wildcats 13-11 at home on April 14. On Saturday, they took an 8-5 lead with 13:17 left. But the Wildcats, who won five straight national titles before losing in last season's final, scored five in a row.

Men's volleyball: Ohio State beat UC Santa Barbara 20-25, 25-20, 25-19, 22-25, 15-9 to win the national title in State College, Pa.

Tennis

Madrid final to be battle of streaks

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic reached today's final of the Madrid Open. Nadal, No. 1 in the world, won his 37th straight on clay, 5-7, 6-1, 6-3 over No. 3 Roger Federer. He improved to 11-2 against Federer on clay. Djokovic, No. 2 in the world, improved to 31-0 in 2011 by beating Thomaz Bellucci 4-6, 6-4, 6-1. The start trails only John McEnroe's 42-0 in 1984 and includes wins over Nadal in the final in Miami and Indian Wells.

Women: Victoria Azarenka beat Julia Goerges 6-4, 6-2 to reach the Madrid Open final. The win ensured she will move to No. 4, the highest world ranking for a women's player from Belarus. She faces Petra Kvitova.

Et cetera

Hockey: The Thrashers' Mark Stuart scored the go-ahead goal as the United States beat France 3-2 in the world championships in Slovakia. The Americans face Switzerland in their final group game today and need only one point to reach the quarters. Canada clinched a berth by beating Norway 3-2.

Soccer: AC Milan ended city rival Inter Milan's run of five Italian league titles, clinching its first since 2004 with a 0-0 tie at Roma. It's AC Milan's 18th title, tied with Inter Milan and nine behind Juventus.

Greyhounds: Hi Noon Renegade, Kentucky Fire, M's Glaze Fancy and Tb's Tater won first-round qualifying races in the $20,00 Gold Trophy Juvenile at Derby Lane in St. Petersburg. Qualifying resumes Wednesday night.

Cycling: HTC-Highroad won Stage 1 of the Giro d'Italia, one of the three Grand Tours (Tour de France, Veulta de Espana), in Turin. It finished the team trial 10 seconds ahead of Radioshack, putting Italy's Marco Pinotti in the lead.

Don Jensen, Times correspondent; Times wires

Times wires
Saturday, May 7, 2011

Pirates 6, Astros 1

PITTSBURGH — Charlie Morton took a shutout into the eighth inning, Lyle Overbay homered and the Pirates won for the fourth time in six games. Morton earned wins in consecutive starts for the first time in his career. At 4-1, he has already doubled his win total from last season, when he went 2-12 in 17 starts. Astros starter Bud Norris had a 14-inning scoreless streak snapped when Pittsburgh scored three in the second.

Times wires
Saturday, May 7, 2011

Phillies 3, Braves 0

PHILADELPHIA — Fill-in starter Kyle Kendrick and four relievers combined on a five-hitter and Ryan Howard homered for the Phillies. Kendrick pitched five solid innings in place of Roy Oswalt, on the disabled list with lower-back inflammation. Julio Teheran had an erratic major-league debut for the Braves.

Times wires
Saturday, May 7, 2011

Nationals 5, Marlins 2

MIAMI — Tom Gorzelanny and three relievers combined on a two-hitter for the Nationals. Gorzelanny gave up a two-run homer to John Buck, the only runs the left-hander has allowed in his past 181/3 innings. Drew Storen pitched a perfect ninth and has pitched 16 consecutive scoreless innings. Washington's bullpen has allowed one run in 24 innings over the past 10 games for an ERA of 0.38.

By Chris Girandola, Times Correspondent
Saturday, May 7, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — After Shorecrest lost last year's Class 2A state baseball final, the Chargers made it a mission to do everything possible to reach the title game again and change the result.

Having been through a brutal preseason training session before the 2010 campaign, the Chargers amped it up even more with strength and conditioning coach Brian Cooper this season.

Shorecrest also added area powerhouses to its schedule, including Seminole, Pinellas Park, Dunedin, East Lake and Tarpon Springs. So far, the plan has worked, as the Chargers beat Community School of Naples 11-1 in a region semifinal Saturday.

Shorecrest (20-9) advances to the region finals and hosts Brooks-DeBartolo on Friday.

"We've worked really hard over the past two seasons, and it's translated into a better performance on the field," said first baseman Spencer Heath, who went 2-for-3 with an RBI. "We're more confident about our ability, and we've been able to produce different type of hits like deep gappers and home runs."

The Chargers, who had two inside-the-park homers last season, have hit 10 that cleared fences this year, including Heath's solo shot that was a part of a four-run sixth inning. The Chargers also bunched five runs in the third, highlighted by centerfielder Jason Kiracofe's three-run triple.

The Chargers ended the game early via the 10-run rule after Heath's homer and second baseman Andrew Roy's two-run double.

"We scheduled the teams we did to prepare the guys for another state title run," Shorecrest coach Don Reed said. "There's no nervousness when the guys go out on the field this year. Just extreme preparedness because they've faced talented competition."

Kiracofe finished 2-for-3 with four RBIs.

Shorecrest starter Jordan Lindsay (5-2) allowed three hits over 5 1/3 innings with six strikeouts.

By Joey Knight, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, May 7, 2011

WINTER PARK — With several hours between races Saturday, diminutive Countryside senior Ricy Brown returned to his room at the team's nearby hotel, downed a couple of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and visualized.

Over and over in his mind, he raced the upcoming 800 meters at the Class 4A state track meet.

"I kept, like, (picturing) it over and over," Brown said. "That's all I was doing."

Turned out, the race he ran in his brain paled next to the one he ran on the Bob Mosher Track at Showalter Field.

Starting in Lane 2, Brown dictated the tempo at the outset and held off a furious surge by Altamonte Springs Lake Brantley's Otniel Teixeira to win in exactly one-hundredth of a second. His official time of 1 minute, 53.46 seconds was a school record.

"I'm amazed right now," said Brown, who exited Winter Park with three medals. "I turned around, the one dude from Lake Brantley was there, and I was like, 'Oh my gosh.' I turned my head and just tried to throw everything toward it."

Brown's mesmerizing effort highlighted the Pinellas County performances on a clear, cloudless Central Florida day. He also anchored the Cougars' 4x800-meter relay that placed fifth in a personal-best 7:56.21, and ran the third leg on the 4x400 relay that was sixth (3:19.48).

The Cougars, who won the region team title, placed seventh.

In an intense pole vault competition bedecked with bay area talent, Pinellas Park's Eddie Galan finished second, matching the 15-foot effort he nailed to win a region title 10 days before. Champion Brian Baird of Plant also reached 15 feet, but he won the title via fewer misses.

Countryside's Parker Polgar was third (14-6); Northeast's Tyler Burrows tied for fifth (14-0).

"It was definitely exciting and really nerve-racking," Galan said. "I'm definitely glad with the way it came out. I had so much fun. It was just a joy to be here."

Other local boys placers: Countryside's Derek Messmore (seventh in 400), Seminole's Chase Sutton (seventh in 1,600), St. Petersburg's Emmanuel Watkins (eighth in shot put) and the Green Devils' 4x100 relay (sixth).

Clearwater's Courtney O'Donoghue was the only Pinellas County girls placer, seventh in the pole vault.

Times wires
Saturday, May 7, 2011

Mets 4, Dodgers 2

NEW YORK — Pinch-hitter Justin Turner came through with a long single that snapped an eighth-inning tie, and the Mets stopped Andre Ethier's hitting streak at 30 games. Emergency starter Dillon Gee pitched effectively into the sixth and Jason Pridie, a former Rays farmhand, had a career-high three hits.

The Herald


Saturday, May 7, 2011

BRADENTON — Senior rightfielder Erik Lindberg homered and scored three times as Bradenton Manatee ended Gaither's season, 13-3 in a six-inning Class 5A region semifinal Saturday at G.T. Bray Park.

It was the second straight postseason game in which Manatee (21-8) triggered the 10-run rule, and now the Hurricanes head to Pinellas Park on Friday to play for the region title and a spot in the Class 5A final four.

Gaither, which beat second-ranked Venice 1-0 to reach the region semifinals, finishes its season 16-9.

The Hurricanes are in the hunt to win their first state title since 1963 thanks to an offense that has been in synch the entire postseason. On Saturday, they put together a nine-run, two-out rally that included Mitchell Shreves' two-run single.

Cord Sandberg, Chase Sandberg, Bryan Voelkl and Correlle Prime all followed with run-scoring hits before Lindberg capped the inning with a towering three-run blast to left-center.

"I couldn't see the ball real easily, and I was a little late on it, and everything was going to rightfield," Lindberg said. "I choked up about half an inch and that made the difference, I guess."

The Hurricanes have scored at least 12 runs in three of their four playoff games.

"We work at this," coach Dwayne Strong said. "You look up and you see all the success, but these guys work at it. … When you work as hard as we do, it's bound to happen."

Nearly overshadowed by all the offense was sophomore left-hander Scott Kelly, who allowed two earned runs and four hits over six innings while striking out 10. He improved to 6-2.

Class 2A: Spencer Heath homered, Jason Kiracofe hit a three-run triple and host Shorecrest (20-9) pounded Community School of Naples 11-1 in a region semifinal shortened to six innings by the 10-run rule.

Shorecrest advances to the region finals and hosts Brooks-DeBartolo on Friday.

"We've worked really hard over the past two seasons, and it's translated into a better performance on the field," said Heath, a first baseman who went 2-for-3 with an RBI. "We're more confident about our ability, and we've been able to produce different type of hits like deep gappers and home runs."

Times correspondent Chris Girandola contributed to this report.

Times staff, wires
Saturday, May 7, 2011

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Archarch­arch's trip to the Kentucky Derby ended when the colt pulled up lame in the final yards at Churchill Downs.

The Arkansas Derby winner sustained a fracture to his left front leg Saturday. On-call veterinarian Larry Bramlage said the injury was not life-threatening.

"He's in no distress at all," Bramlage said. "He walked right on the ambulance."

Jockey Jon Court said the horse struggled over the dirt. Archarcharch started from the rail and finished 15th, well behind winner Animal Kingdom, then was quickly loaded onto a van and taken for X-rays in the barn area.

"In the final sixteenth of a mile he was just gimping a bit," Court said. "He was walking on it, but he just wasn't comfortable."

Bramlage said the horse will require surgery. It's too early to tell if Archarcharch will race again.

female jockey benchmark: Rosie Napravnik was ninth aboard 8-1 second choice Pants On Fire in her bid to become the first female jockey to win the Derby. Her finish was the highest of the six women who have ridden in the Derby. "I couldn't have wished for a better trip," said Napravnik, 23.

The effort topped 11th-place finishes by Patricia Cooksey in 1984 aboard So Vague and Hall of Famer Julie Krone in 1995 atop Suave Prospect.

unhappy jockey: Robby Albarado was not happy he lost his ride on Animal Kingdom after breaking his nose Wednesday when a horse bucked him off during a post parade and kicked him in the face.

Animal Kingdom is owned by Team Valor International, a partnership syndicate headed by Barry Irwin, a former writer for the Daily Racing Form. Irwin decided to switch to John Velazquez when Albarado took Friday off to recuperate.

"It was a tough call because I really like Robby," Irwin said. "(But) we got a large investment, and I had to do what I thought was best for the partnership."

Said Albarado, who won a $345,600 stakes race on the Derby undercard, "Barry Irwin decided he didn't think I was fit to ride; he didn't know my status or situation. This just wasn't my time today."

tampa bay downs connection: Animal Kingdom trainer Graham Motion trains at Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar. He won seven of 30 starts this season and ranked ninth in earnings at $253,819. Motion won the 2002 Tampa Bay Derby with Equality.

Times correspondent Don Jensen contributed to this report.