By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, May 15, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — Rays leftfielder Sam Fuld struggled to speak with an ugly gash in his lower lip, which was ballooned and bloodied.

He received it doing a face plant into the leg of Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy while getting caught stealing in the seventh inning of Sunday's 9-3 loss before 21,205 at Tropicana Field.

Fuld needed only two stitches to repair his lip, but sewing up first place in the American League East might be a lot tougher than that for the Rays unless they can patch the hole in the No. 5 spot of their rotation and solidify some long relief.

Andy Sonnanstine, making his second start in place of injured Jeff Niemann, and four relievers were battered for 15 hits by the Orioles, including a sixth-inning grand slam by Hardy off Cesar Ramos that put the game away.

The loss snapped a streak of four series victories for the Rays (23-17), who inexplicably fell to 1-5 at home against the O's.

After the game, Rays manager Joe Maddon said he believed his team — which has not scored more than five runs in a game at the Trop this season — might be "fatigued" from the 5-1 road trip that preceded the weekend series.

Fortunately, the Rays have a few things going in their favor heading into tonight's long-awaited two-game series with the Yankees: lefty ace David Price, and the taste of bad blood that comes with the heated AL East rivalry as second-place New York comes in two games behind the Rays.

"I think there were moments where we were kind a little bit complacent," Fuld said. "I think we've just relied on our starting pitching so much, it can be dangerous territory when you think you just need to put up a couple of runs."

With Niemann on the disabled list with a lower back strain, Sonnanstine threw more strikes and lasted more than the 31/3 innings he gave the Rays in his first start May 10 at Cleveland. But he left the game after five innings trailing 4-2 after giving up eight hits and a solo home run to Nick Markakis after the Rays had closed to within a run.

"I think being in the zone a little too much may have worked against me," Sonnanstine said. "A couple mistakes to Markakis really did me in."

Niemann could miss at least a couple of more weeks, and Maddon stopped short of saying Sonnanstine had done enough to keep that No. 5 spot in the rotation, which is 1-5 this season.

"We can discuss that, and we can look at other options going into the next start," Maddon said. "I'm not ready to say one way or the other right now. … This is something we're definitely going to have to look at, there's no question about it. He looked a little bit better today, but to be a pennant-winning team and move onto the World Series … there are little areas we need to address and discuss and make sure we're strong."

Chief among them is the bullpen. In their past five games, Rays relievers have allowed 11 earned runs in 152/3 innings (6.32 ERA). On Sunday, Rob Delaney replaced Sonnanstine in the sixth and walked the bases loaded, including one intentionally. Enter Ramos, who fell behind 2-and-0 before Hardy launched the next pitch inside the leftfield foul pole.

Aside from Matt Joyce, who homered for the first time off a left-hander, and shortstop Elliot Johnson, who hit his first major-league home run, the Rays swung some heavy bats. Orioles starter Jake Arrieta scattered four hits and two runs over six innings.

"We play a very aggressive game mentally and physically, and I may have seen a little bit of tiredness out of the boys the last two days," Maddon said. "So (today) we're going to move everything back. We're going to come to the ballpark later and not hit on the field. Just get loose and play a game."

And like Fuld, the Rays are eager to get rid of the taste from a lost weekend.

"With the Yankees and us being 1-2 in the standings, there will be no problem getting up for these two (games)," Fuld said.

Times wires
Sunday, May 15, 2011

Braves 3, Phillies 2

ATLANTA — Dan Uggla needed a breakout game. The surprise was that he found his stroke against Phillies ace Roy Halladay. Uggla hit a tiebreaking homer off Halladay in the eighth to cap a productive afternoon, and the Braves won the rubber game of the three-game series. Uggla, who went in hitting .196, had two hits and a walk and scored all of Atlanta's runs. "You see how bad I've been scuffling so far this year," he said. "It feels good to be able to feel like you contributed."

Times wires
Sunday, May 15, 2011

Mets 7, Astros 4

HOUSTON — Justin Turner homered and had a career-high five RBIs, and former Rays farmhand Jason Pridie hit a go-ahead single and stole home for the Mets. Turner hit a tying two-run double in a four-run fifth and later scored the go-ahead run. He added a three-run homer in the sixth.

Times wires
Sunday, May 15, 2011

Brewers 9, Pirates 6

MILWAUKEE — Ryan Braun homered, tripled and drove in four runs, leading a shaky Zack Greinke and the Brewers to a three-game sweep. Milwaukee beat the Pirates for the ninth straight time at Miller Park. Greinke was flawless for four innings but gave up five runs in the fifth.

Times wires
Sunday, May 15, 2011

Padres 8, Rockies 2

DENVER — Mat Latos snapped a personal 10-game losing streak and Ryan Ludwick homered as the last-place Padres took two of three and dropped the Rockies to 3-9 this month. Latos hadn't won since Sept. 7, 2010, and his skid was one shy of the club record set by right-hander Gary Ross in 1969.

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, May 15, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — Rays LHP David Price has been dominant against every team in the American League East, but he admits he reaches back for a little bit extra against the Yankees.

"That just happens," Price said. "Whenever you're pitching against the pinstripes, you have a little more. That's how it is, that's just from their success forever in baseball."

The Rays get their first look at the Yankees this season when they begin a two-game series tonight at Tropicana Field.

It's the only two games Tampa Bay plays against New York in the first 97 days of the season. But the AL East rivals meet 16 times in the final 84 days, including five of their last eight games.

"I just want to see what the pulse of their team is right now, just check them out for (myself)," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "But again, it's a two-game series, it's going to be rather quick, but it still would be nice to do well against them here."

The Rays have their best going against the Yankees as Price (5-3, 3.12) will be matched against RHP A.J. Burnett (4-2, 3.38) tonight, and RHP James Shields (4-1, 2.08) opposes New York RHP Ivan Nova (3-3, 4.70) on Tuesday.

Price is 19-4 lifetime against the AL East, the best record by any active pitcher against any division (with a minimum of 20 starts).

Maddon says he hopes Price approaches tonight's game like the start of any other series.

"What he's been doing is perfectly acceptable against anybody," Maddon said. "I think there's always a concern or a threat if you tried to do that, you could actually go backward. I'd rather he approach it as a regular game, do his regular pre-game routine and not worry about what it's going to mean."

FULD INJURY: LF Sam Fuld is expected to play tonight despite having to leave Sunday's 9-3 loss to the Orioles in the seventh inning with a cut lip. Fuld received two stitches after colliding with the leg of Orioles SS J.J. Hardy during a failed steal attempt.

"First I was disappointed I was thrown out," Fuld said. "Then I was kind of upset blood was drooling down my face. I got a little nauseous there, but once I got some blood back to my head … and the stitches were fine, so everything is good.

"As long as I can tolerate the drool, I'll be okay."

MILESTONE HOMER: Rays reserve INF Elliot Johnson hit 75 home runs in the 876 games he played in the minors. But his first major-league homer came Sunday against the Orioles when he blasted a solo shot in the third inning off starter Jake Arrieta. Johnson went 2-for-4 with an infield single.

"It's nice. It's been a long time coming, and I've been looking for it and working for it for a long time, so I'm glad it could come," Johnson said. "I wish it would've been in a winning effort, but it's a homer and it's my first one. I'll always remember it."

MISCELLANY: Matt Joyce hit his first career home run off a left-hander in his 67th at-bat. The lefty-hitting rightfielder has 30 homers against right-handers in 540 at-bats. He went 2-for-3 to boost his average to .368 but dropped to second in the AL behind Toronto's Jose Bautista. … In their past six home games, the Rays are 7-for-35 with runners in scoring position. … The Rays lost consecutive games for the first time since April 21. … LHP J.P. Howell will make another rehab appearance in Triple-A Durham today and is expected to pitch more than one inning. If all goes well, he will rejoin the Rays Thursday in Toronto. … The Rays have committed a major league-low 14 errors and are the only team not to have a multi-error game. … Ben Zobrist is tied for second in the majors in extra-base hits with 23 and runs scored with 31. Both are behind Bautista.

Times wires
Sunday, May 15, 2011

Rangers 5, Angels 4

ARLINGTON, Texas — Chris Davis homered and drove in the tiebreaking run with an eighth-inning single as the Rangers won their second series in the past month. Texas loaded the bases to start the eighth against Rich Thompson. Davis then singled to right off Hisanori Takahashi. Texas won two of three against the AL West-leading Angels.

Times wires
Sunday, May 15, 2011

White Sox 4, Athletics 3

OAKLAND, Calif. — Alexei Ramirez had three hits, including a home run off previously unbeaten Trevor Cahill, and drove in two runs to lift the White Sox. Mark Buehrle won for only the second time in 15 appearances at Oakland as Chicago finished 6-3 on its road trip, winning all three series. Cahill allowed a season-high 10 hits in seven innings for the Athletics, who have lost three of their past four.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, May 15, 2011

BOSTON — It would have been easy Saturday for Lightning center Dominic Moore to slug Nathan Horton.

It was the natural response considering the Bruins right wing, with 36.7 seconds left in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final, hit Moore with a roundhouse right.

But Moore let it go; same for defenseman Victor Hedman, who in the same sequence was decked by Milan Lucic's straight left to the face.

The skirmish had little effect on Tampa Bay's 5-2 victory at TD Garden. But for coach Guy Boucher, it was an "impressive" display of restraint, which he has preached all season.

"You've got to take it all to take it all," he said Sunday. "Real toughness is not what you give.

"It's how much you can take and keep going. Right now, we're showing real toughness."

By not retaliating, Tampa Bay earned a two-man power play as Horton and Lucic received two-minute roughing penalties and 10-minute misconducts.

The passive-aggressive posture also keeps players focused on maintaining the team's on-ice structure rather than how to get back at an opponent.

That is important given the emotions of the playoffs, Boucher said. Especially against a team such as the Bruins that uses physical play, especially at home, to draw retaliatory penalties.

And then Boston lost badly.

"(The Bruins) wanted to try to prove a point for (Game 2)," Lightning captain Vinny Lecavalier said of the late violence. "We didn't want to fall into that."

Not that turning the other cheek is easy. You get punched in the face, you want payback.

"To say we have been successful all season, no," Boucher said. "But we've been successful in most parts."

As Moore said, "I've been punched in the head enough to know it's just part of it."

Even Hedman, 20, seems to have gotten the message.

"He tells us we can't let our emotions take over," he said of Boucher. "Stay in our structure, stay calm, stay focused, don't get sucked in when the other team is trying to get under your skin. Be strong within yourself."

So while Bruins center Brad Marchand said he was "infuriated" by the way the game was going and was determined to "poke at guys" …

"They were just walking away," he said of the Lightning.

"It's the playoffs," Boston center Chris Kelly said. "Everyone is going to take a punch or glove to the face and try to draw that penalty. They did that once or twice."

Such as when Lecavalier went after Johnny Boychuk, who had run over Simon Gagne with a big hit. Boychuk punched Lecavalier in return and got a roughing penalty, after which Lecavalier ended his physical challenge.

"After I saw the referee call the penalty, I stopped because I knew we would get a power play," Lecavalier said.

Marc-Andre Bergeron's goal 90 seconds later gave the Lightning a 4-1 third-period lead.

There will be more challenges.

Marchand accused Lecavalier of "yapping back a bit. … So you're going to talk to the guys that talk back."

And Bruins coach Claude Julien planted a seed with the referees by noting, "It's always easy to look at the punch; like that penalty Boychuk took. How we end up short-handed is tough to see when Lecavalier jumps him after a clean hit."

Perhaps because Lecavalier did not jump in with both fists.

Times wires
Sunday, May 15, 2011

D'backs 4, Dodgers 1

LOS ANGELES — Ian Kennedy pitched six strong innings and Xavier Nady and Ryan Roberts hit consecutive homers to help the Diamondbacks win a series at Dodger Stadium for the first time since a three-game sweep in August 2007. Kennedy, a right-hander who has a 1.50 ERA over his past six starts, was coming off three straight no-decisions.

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, May 15, 2011

Spill of the day

Lightning assistant Martin Raymond was undercut by RW Adam Hall during a drill at practice Sunday and fell hard on his back. Raymond was okay and smiling afterward. Coach Guy Boucher joked later: "I felt a tremor."

Quote of the day

"Everyone is in a situation where minus probably Vinny (Lecavalier) and Marty (St. Louis) and (Steven Stamkos) to a little bit of an extent, no one has really accomplished a lot. There's nothing to be cocky or arrogant about. We're a team that plays our system and stays to what the coaching staff tells us to do. No one person is bigger than anyone else. Everybody is working on the same page, trying to help the guy beside him and help the team." — Lightning G Dwayne Roloson

Tickets

Games 3 and 4 and a potential Game 6 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa are sold out except for tickets being withheld for new season-ticket holders. (Go to lightning.nhl.com for season-ticket details.) Unused tickets will be released on day of games. Check with Ticketmaster (outlets, ticketmaster.com, toll-free 1-800-745-3000).

The series Lightning leads 1-0

Game 1, Lightning 5, Bruins 2: Three goals in 1:25 of the first spark the Lightning on the road.

Tuesday: at Boston, 8, Versus

Thursday: at Tampa Bay, 8, Versus

Saturday: at Tampa Bay, 1:30, Ch. 8

May 23: at Boston, 8, Versus *

May 25: at Tampa Bay, 8, Versus *

May 27: at Boston, 8, Versus *

Radio: 970-AM except Saturday, which is 620-AM

* If necessary

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, May 15, 2011

League gives no word about Lucic discipline

BOSTON — There was no indication Sunday that Bruins tough guy Milan Lucic, who leads the playoffs with 43 penalty minutes, will be suspended for his Game 1 punch to the face of Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman.

Boston coach Claude Julien was not sympathetic to Tampa Bay coach Guy Boucher's call Saturday for the league to review the incident with 36.7 seconds left. Lucic received a two-minute roughing penalty and 10-minute misconduct.

"Those are things that happen in the game, and we can whine and cry about things. We take care of our own business," Julien said. "If he feels that way, that's his prerogative. We are moving on to the next game, and we are not even thinking about that."

"The league said they were going to take a look at all head shots," Boucher said Sunday. "They've got their standards. We're going to see what the reaction is."

Damian Cristodero, Times staff writer

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, May 15, 2011

Rays vs. Yankees

When/where: 6:40 tonight; Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg

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

Probable starters:

RAYS: LH David Price (5-3, 3.12)

YANKEES: RH A.J. Burnett (4-2, 3.38)

Tickets: $17-$275 at Tropicana Field box office, Ticketmaster, raysbaseball.com, team store in Tampa, $3 surcharge within five hours of game.

Watch for …

AL East king: Price has a lifetime 19-4 record against AL East opponents, best by an active pitcher against any division with a minimum of 20 decisions. Price has not allowed a walk in his past two starts. He is 3-1 against the Yankees with a 3.38 ERA.

Bounceback for Burnett: Burnett has had some success against Tampa Bay in his career, going 12-7, 3.15. He has pitched six innings in all but two of his eight starts this year.

Key matchups

Yankees vs. Price

Alex Rodriguez 5-for-20, HR

Curtis Granderson 2-for-16

Nick Swisher 5-for-14, HR

Rays vs. Burnett

Evan Longoria 12-for-32, HR

B.J. Upton 7-for-36

Johnny Damon 4-for-22

On deck

Tuesday: vs. Yankees, 6:40, Sun Sports. Rays — James Shields (4-1, 2.08); Yankees — Ivan Nova (3-3, 4.70)

First MLB HR of the day

Rays SS Elliot Johnson, starting for struggling Reid Brignac, hit a 2-and-0 offering from Orioles RHP Jake Arrieta over the rightfield wall leading off the third for his first major-league home run. Johnson hit 75 homers in 876 minor-league games. "It's been a long time coming, and I've been looking for it and working for it for a long time, so I'm glad it could come," said Johnson, who got the silent treatment from some Rays upon reaching the dugout before being congratulated.

Bad pitching line of the day

Rays reliever Rob Delaney (13.50 ERA) faced three batters in the sixth inning, walking all three, including one intentionally, before being lifted for Cesar Ramos, who fell behind 2-and-0 then yielded a grand slam to Orioles SS J.J. Hardy. Delaney's line: O IP, 0 H, 3 R, 3 ERs, 3 BBs, 0 SOs.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, May 15, 2011

. UP NEXT

vs. Yankees

Tonight-Tuesday

What's new: The Yankees have been in a rough stretch, with five straight losses (and nine in their past 12 games) after Sunday's defeat to Boston and a series of controversies, including DH Jorge Posada (and his .165 average) asking out of the lineup Saturday then apologizing Sunday, and MLB looking into questions raised about RHP Bartolo Colon's offseason medical treatment. They are still hitting home runs, with six players with six or more (and Curtis Granderson with a surprising 13), their starting pitching has been better than expected and Mariano Rivera is still getting the final three outs.

Key stat: The Yankees are the only team in the majors with at least five players with 20 or more RBIs.

Connections: Rays DH Johnny Damon and RHP Kyle Farnsworth are former Yankees, as are bullpen coach Bobby Ramos, special assistant Dave Eiland and senior adviser Don Zimmer. … Yanks RHP Rafael Soriano was a Ray last year; pitching coach Larry Rothschild was the first Rays manager.

Series history: Yankees lead 141-79 overall, 66-45 at Trop.

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

Times wires
Sunday, May 15, 2011

TENNIS

Djokovic posts Clay double over Nadal

ROME — Novak Djoko­vic beat No. 1 Rafael Nadal 6-4, 6-4 in the Italian Open final Sunday to stretch his unbeaten start this year to 37 matches and became the first player to beat Nadal on clay twice in the same year.

"I'm just most happy about the game I have this year on clay; the way I'm striking the ball and the way I'm so self-confident," the second-ranked Djokovic said. "I always knew I could beat the top players, but now I have the confidence to do it."

Djokovic could overtake his rival for the No. 1 men's ranking the week after the French Open, which starts this coming Sunday.

"He's doing amazing things. Every match he's very tough mentally and physically," Nadal said. "I'm doing everything I can. … I am waiting every week to try solutions, so let's see."

More Tennis

Sharapova rolls past Stosur at Italian

Seventh-seeded Maria Sharapova beat part-time Tampa resident Sam Stosur 6-2, 6-4 in the Italian Open final in Rome, following up her win over women's No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki. Sharapova, a three-time Grand Slam winner, has not captured the French Open. "This is just the beginning of many things to come," she said. "This is just the start of everything."

Rosewall ill: Australian great Ken Rosewall, 76, was admitted to the stroke ward of a Rome hospital, his wife told the Sydney Morning Herald. Wilma Rosewall said the eight-time Grand Slam winner suffered no heart or brain damage but was being kept under observation.

Roddick injured: Andy Roddick pulled out of the Italian Open doubles final because of a right shoulder injury. The ATP said Roddick has not withdrawn from the tournament set to start today in Nice, France.

Et cetera

Colleges: In women's tennis, No. 2 seed Florida beat visiting South Carolina 4-0 to reach the NCAA round of 16. The Gators play No. 15 seed Clemson on Friday in Stanford, Calif. … No. 7 seed UF swept visiting Miami 4-0 to reach the NCAA round of 16 in men's tennis against No. 10 Kentucky on Thursday at Stanford. … Tampa (35-15) earned a spot in the Division II baseball postseason for the 12th straight year. UT travels to Pensacola for its South Region opener Thursday against Harding. … Texas A&M named Murray State coach Billy Kennedy as its men's basketball coach.

Hockey: Finland scored five third-period goals to beat Sweden 6-1 in Slovakia and win its second world championship.

Soccer: Cristiano Ronaldo had two goals in Real Madrid's 3-1 win at Villarreal to match the Spanish league's single-season goal-scoring record of 38 (Telmo Zarra, 1950-51; Hugo Sanchez, 1989-90). Ronaldo has one game left. … U.S. midfielder Lindsay Tarpley will miss this summer's Women's World Cup in Germany after tearing a knee ligament in Saturday's 2-0 exhibition win over Japan in Chicago.

Swimming: Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps beat former Gator Ryan Lochte in the 200-meter backstroke at the Charlotte (N.C.) UltraSwim.

Times wires

Times wires
Sunday, May 15, 2011

NEW YORK — Jorge Posada apologized to the Yankees on Sunday in face-to-face conversations with manager Joe Girardi and general manager Brian Cashman, saying simply, "I had a bad day" that boiled over into a messy public spat.

"All the frustration came out," Posada said. "It was just one of those days you wish you could take back."

Posada was not in the lineup against Red Sox LHP Jon Lester one night after asking to sit out, the beginning of a bizarre saga that led to New York contacting the commissioner's office about possible recourse.

But by Sunday, the five-time All-Star, 39, was smiling and laughing in the clubhouse, appearing generally relaxed despite his .165 batting average.

"We had a nice conversation. We talked about being emotional and going through struggles and what defines who you are. He apologized and said, 'I had a bad day,' and I said, 'I have had bad days, too,' " Girardi said. " 'I know it's hard to struggle, but you're going to get through this.'

"It wasn't the typical Jorge Posada face. Yeah, he was a little emotional. I was emotional in there because he's one of my guys. I feel for what he's going through."

Yankees spokesman Jason Zillo said the team considers the matter closed.

RANGERS HEALING: Injured Rangers OFs Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz could be back in the lineup together soon, though at Double-A Frisco.

Cruz, who has been out since May 3 with a strained right quadriceps, is expected to begin a rehabilitation assignment today at Frisco. Hamilton will work out with the team in Chicago then return to Texas for an MRI exam on his broken upper right arm. He could join Cruz in the Frisco lineup Wednesday.

A'S: Closer Andrew Bailey, who has been out all season with a strained right forearm, felt fine a day after throwing 18 pitches in an extended spring training game and could begin a rehab assignment this week.

BRAVES: 3B Chipper Jones was pulled from the starting lineup because of soreness in his right knee. … RHP Brandon Beachy went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained oblique, and RH reliever Scott Proctor was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett.

CARDINALS: CF Colby Rasmus, still feeling discomfort from a strained muscle near his abdomen he sustained May 9, took a day off.

METS: RF Carlos Beltran returned to the lineup after getting medication for a mild infection in his right eye.

TWINS: LH reliever Jose Mijares has a sore pitching elbow and is likely to go on the disabled list.

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, May 15, 2011

St. Petersburg Times staff writer Tom Jones looks back at the best and worst from a weekend of televised sports.

Favorite photo of the weekend

Forget the major-leaguers, the best catch of the weekend goes to Tiffany Goodwin of Fredericksburg, Va., who catches this foul ball in front of her husband, Allen, while holding her 8-month-old son, Jerry, at a Double-A game between Richmond and visiting Harrisburg on Sunday.

Best coverage

Many local fans likely are disappointed that Lightning games are now on Versus/NBC instead of Sun Sports because they can't listen to announcers Rick Peckham and Bobby "The Chief" Taylor. However, listening to the Lightning games called by national announcers does allow fans to get a fresh perspective on the team.

Usually, the complaint whenever a local team is on national television is that the announcers merely scratch the surface with their information. The announcers often show just a basic working knowledge of the team and merely spout off news and notes for a national audience that already are known by the hometown fans. But this is where the Versus announcers — in this case, Mike Emrick, Ed Olczyk and Pierre McGuire — separate themselves from others. Their information and analysis is as deep as a viewer is going to find and makes the broadcasts thoroughly informative, as well as enjoyable.

You might not get a splash of the hometown bias you're looking for, but it's first-class coverage.

Worst optical illusion

Occasionally on Rays games televised by Sun Sports from Tropicana Field, the camera angle on deep fly balls to rightfield leaves viewers helplessly guessing as to whether it's going to be a home run or not. Instead of pulling back and letting the viewer watch the rightfielder as he tries to track the ball, the camera follows the path of the ball. That angle gives the impression that the ball is going to land deep in the seats when, often, it's just a warning-track out. Funny, it doesn't happen on fly balls to left or center, just to right. And it doesn't happen all the time. But when it does happen, it is terribly frustrating to viewers at home who are fooled into thinking they are seeing a homer instead of a can of corn.

Biggest disappointment

Sarah Silverman is one of the funniest people on the planet, yet her half-inning appearance on Saturday night's Fox primetime coverage of the Red Sox and Yankees was akin to crickets chirping, mostly because announcers Joe Buck and Tim McCarver gave her absolutely nothing to work with. Buck tried but, while being an excellent play-by-play announcer, he is not nearly as hip as he tries to come off. McCarver seemed totally out of his comfort zone and barely uttered a word. Silverman made a funny crack that major-league pitchers should be given LSD "as a treat" so they might be able to throw a no-hitter like Dock Ellis did for the Pirates in 1970. Other than that, it was a dud, which suggests that bringing celebrities into the box is something Fox might want to avoid in the future.

Best breaking-news coverage

Fox was all over the Jorge Posada story Saturday during its coverage of the Red Sox-Yankees game. In case you missed it, Posada, who has been struggling this season, pulled himself from the lineup Saturday after learning he was hitting in ninth. Fox's coverage included reports from Ken Rosenthal and an interview with Yankees GM Brian Cashman.

Meantime, the YES network's postgame coverage had the media interviews with Yankees manager Joe Girardi and Posada, interviews that were uncomfortable, awkward and completely compelling. Then, ESPN continued to be all over the story on Sunday's Baseball Tonight, as well as its Sunday night Game of the Week broadcast.

It's hard to figure out if there's a bad guy here. The Yankees certainly should treat such a loyal and classy veteran with a bit more respect instead of just taping a lineup card to the wall. On the other hand, Posada, who was hitting .165 at the time, comes off as a tad arrogant for pulling himself from the lineup, citing a need to clear his head and later back stiffness. In the end, you have to feel that Posada, who apologized to Girardi on Sunday, deserves better from the Yankees.

It just goes to show that there's no good way to ease a legendary star out the door. And, the Yankees better figure out how to handle it a bit better because, someday soon, they are going to have a similar issue with Derek Jeter.

Three things I liked on TV this weekend

1. Hey, check it out: The Lightning and goalie Dwayne Roloson got a little air time on ESPN's Sports Reporters on Sunday.

2. Sun Sports' Rays Live pregame show on Sundays is well-produced, informative and entertaining. Good features, strong analysis and nice behind-the-scenes coverage make the show a must-see for Rays fans.

3. There are few things worse for TV than a rain delay at a golf tournament, but NBC's coverage during Saturday's weather issues at The Players Championship was worth watching because of the variety of features and interviews.

Best quote

New York Daily News columnist Mike Lupica on ESPN's Sports Reporters, talking about Tiger Woods' future after more leg injuries forced him to withdraw from The Players Championship: "This is one of those times where you start to think, 'Wow, how many golf tournaments is he going to win as we move forward?' ''

Lupica is right. Woods is only 35 and needs just four majors to tie Jack Nicklaus' record of 18, but never has Nicklaus' record seemed more safe than now. Hard to believe, but Woods hasn't won a major since the 2008 U.S. Open, and he has won only two majors since 2007.

Three things that popped into my head

1. A big reason why the Lightning easily handled the Bruins in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final? Lightning coach Guy Boucher threw some wrinkles into his system and absolutely schooled Bruins coach Claude Julien, whose team looked completely baffled for the first 20 minutes as Tampa Bay took a commanding 3-0 lead.

2. The best news for the Rays through one quarter of the season? The American League is full of average teams and 90 wins might be more than enough for, at worst, a wild card.

3. Who thought we would be in the final four of the NBA and NHL playoffs and there would be no Lakers, Celtics, Spurs, Red Wings, Capitals or Blackhawks?

Times wires
Sunday, May 15, 2011

COMMERCE, Ga. — Antron Brown earned his second Top Fuel win this year, beating teammate Tony Schumacher in Sunday's final at the NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway.

Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and LE Tonglet (Pro Stock Motor­cycle) also won their categories.

Brown had a 3.856-second run at 318.69 mph for his 27th NHRA victory and fourth at Atlanta Dragway — two in Top Fuel and two in Pro Stock Motorcycle).

In Funny Car, fellow Don Schumacher Racing driver Beckman powered his Dodge Charger to a 4.111 at 311.05 to beat points leader Mike Neff.

Jason Line held off teammate Greg Anderson in an all-Summit Racing final. Tonglet held off Karen Stoffer for his first win of the season.

INDY 500: The scheduled second day of practice was rained out at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Pole qualifying is Saturday for the May 29 race. Also, Internet fan voting was revealed for the top 33 drivers of all-time at the Brickyard. The race's only four-time winners, A.J. Foyt, Rick Mears and Al Unser Sr., were the top three.

MOTORCYCLES: Casey Stoner earned his second victory of the season at the French Grand Prix in Le Mans after Dani Pedrosa crashed and fractured his right collarbone.

Times wires
Sunday, May 15, 2011

DOVER, Del. — Matt Kenseth's first idea was to skip pit road, take a chance he could lead on a restart and hang on for a victory.

Then, he had another thought. Why not just take two tires on pit road instead of four?

With his No. 17 Ford on the jack, Kenseth called the audible over the radio and told crew chief Jimmy Fennig he wanted two.

"Two tires! Two tires!" Fennig said.

That was the perfect strategy to win Sunday's FedEx 400 Sprint Cup race at Dover International Speedway.

Kenseth led the final 32 laps, becoming the third driver to win twice this season. Under NASCAR's new Chase for the Championship rules, in which the top 10 in points plus the two drivers 11-20 with the most victories qualify, Kenseth strengthened his bid to make the field.

"My mind is to be up there and try to lead those points going into the Chase and try to make the Chase in championship form," Kenseth said. " … We want to go up there and race like this every week."

Mark Martin was second and Marcos Ambrose third. Kyle Busch, who was forced to start in the rear of the field because of an engine change, was fourth.

Kenseth, who made his Cup debut at Dover in 1998 as a fill-in for Bill Elliott, won for the second time on the high-banked, 1-mile concrete track.

"It's one of those tracks that's a challenge to get around fast, whether you're racing someone or not," Kenseth said.

Jimmie Johnson and Carl Edwards waged a two-car battle for the majority of the race. Edwards led 117 laps before falling to seventh. Johnson led a race-high 207 but finished ninth, failing in his bid to match the series record of seven Dover wins.

Zephyrhills' David Reutimann finished 15th.

Edwards took four tires on the last restart and fell to ninth, spoiling his chance at the win.

"That is too tough of a choice to make right there and I don't blame (crew chief) Bob Osborne one bit," Edwards said.

Busch and 10th-place Kevin Harvick had no incidents after a pit road dustup at Darlington landed them on probation.

Martin stayed out on old tires to take the lead when the caution flag came out with 39 laps left. Kenseth made his two-tire stop and passed Martin on the restart.

Martin earned his first top-five of the season.

"Today, we finally got a finish," he said. "It looked like we were going to get 15th again with a really fast race car."

Kenseth said he had trouble during long stretches of green-flag racing because the rubber that built on the track made the concrete slick. When the short runs started coming, he found a cleaner track and clean air was enough to spark his run.

Kenseth has four top fives this season for Roush Fenway Racing including a win in April at Texas, giving him the confidence that another victory was coming.

"The whole organization has been building better, faster race cars," Kenseth said.

Times wires
Sunday, May 15, 2011

PONTE VEDRA BEACH — K.J. Choi was the last man standing at The Players Championship on Sunday, winning on the first hole of sudden death with a short par putt after David Toms — who had made a 17-foot birdie putt at the 72nd hole to tie — missed a short par putt of his own.

It was a fitting end to a grueling day at TPC Sawgrass that featured nearly 12 hours of golf.

The day started at 7:45 a.m. with Choi at the ninth hole and Toms at the fifth for the completion of the rain-delayed third round. It ended at 7:30 p.m. on the famed island green of No. 17 with two short putts — one a heartbreaking miss of 31/2 feet by Toms and the other a resolute stroke from 3 feet, 8 inches by Choi.

"The 17th is very nervous, and the wind is blowing and the green is very quick," said the South Korean veteran, 40, fighting back tears after kissing the crystal trophy emblematic of the eighth and biggest win of his PGA Tour career and his first since the 2008 Sony Open in Hawaii. "I watched this tournament in Korea, and right now it's my dream to have my hands on this trophy."

Choi earned $1.71 million and moved to No. 15 in the world.

In the final round, Choi and Toms shot 2-under 70 to finish at 13-under 275.

"For me to shoot under par every day on this course this week, it's like a miracle, to be honest with you," Choi said.

As for Toms' three-putt bogey on the playoff hole? "No excuses, no spike marks, no ball marks, no nothing," he said. "Maybe a lot of pressure. But other than that, there was no excuse."

After Choi tapped in his putt for the win and pumped his fist, he thought of Toms.

"As a fellow player, I felt very sorry for him," Choi said. "Because I know how that feels. And I felt bad for him."

Paul Goydos (69) finished alone in third, and Luke Donald (71) tied for fourth and moved to No. 2 in the world.

Reigning U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell, who completed the third round with 68 for a one-stroke lead over Choi and Toms, finished with 7-over 79.

"It was disappointing out there," said McDowell, who tied for 33rd at 5-under 283. "Probably my first time under the gun in a little while."

Lucas Glover, who won last week at Quail Hollow, lost 11 strokes in four holes — double bogey at No. 16 and triple bogey at No. 18 in the rain-delayed third round then quadruple bogey at No. 4 and double bogey at No. 18 in the final round.

"I'm not going to put much stock into (Sunday), believe me," said Glover, who tied for 50th at 1 under.

Meanwhile, tour commissioner Tim Finchem insisted he never pressured Tiger Woods to play through his injuries.

"I don't twist players' arms, and as far as Tiger being hurt, guys, that's a decision he has to make, and I had no information that he wasn't ready to play golf," Finchem said. "I don't think anybody did. I don't think he did."

Woods withdrew after nine holes Thursday because of knee and Achilles' tendon problems that had sidelined him since the Masters.