By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Friday, May 20, 2011

TAMPA — Bruins C Patrice Bergeron, second on the team in scoring in the playoffs, said he felt 100 percent Friday, one day after appearing in his first game of the series and first in nearly two weeks after suffering a concussion.

Bergeron said he knew he was ready to play in Game 3 and didn't worry about feeling concussion symptoms.

"I felt good right away," said Bergeron, who took a regular shift and played 19:13.

Bergeron's most notable appearance was in the faceoff circle, where he won 18 of 28 draws.

"Patrice looked like a guy who hadn't missed a step," Bruins coach Claude Julien said.

HEY, 19: Rookie Tyler Seguin, 19, has made a splash in this series with three goals and three assists in three games, the first three postseason games of his NHL career. But it's a tad bittersweet for him because he is doing this damage against one of his idols, Lightning GM Steve Yzerman.

Seguin, the second overall pick in last summer's draft, wears No. 19 in part because that was Yzerman's number with the Red Wings. Growing up, Seguin said, he had two Yzerman posters on his wall and a few items signed by Yzerman.

"It's a difficult situation because I look up to him, but he's the other team's GM," Seguin said, smiling. He also said it was "pretty cool" to be playing well while his favorite player is watching.

WATCH YOUR ELBOWS: The most controversial moment of Game 3 was when Lightning D Marc-Andre Bergeron was given a two-minute penalty for elbowing after a hit on David Krejci. In replays, it appeared Bergeron hit Krejci with his shoulder. And Lightning coach Guy Boucher gave the officials an earful in a very animated outburst from the bench.

"I felt like I looked," Boucher said. "It was just the heat of the moment. I felt the previous game, there were a lot of penalties that we didn't deserve, and that probably carried over (to Thursday).

"When you look at the replay, I think it was a … clean check. But I thought the referees did a very good job. … It was a playoff game well managed by players and referees."

The Bruins had no issues with the hit, either.

"It was a good hit," Julien said. "The league is very sensitive to head issues. So sometimes they're making a call. And maybe it wasn't the right call."

FACING OFF: The Lightning will look to improve on faceoffs today in Game 4. It has lost 78 of 138 in the past two games, including 37 of 65 in Game 3.

"The funny thing is that we did a great job in the first game," said Boucher, whose team won 41 of 67. "It's our job to make sure that we get at least closer to 50 (percent) and work our way after that and get above 50 so that they don't get more than half the chances to start with the puck. It definitely makes a difference."

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Friday, May 20, 2011

Rays at Marlins

When/where: 4:10 today; Sun Life Stadium, Miami

TV/radio: Sun Sports, Bay News 9 Espanol; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)

Probable starters

RAYS

LH David Price (5-3, 3.59)

MARLINS RH Javier Vazquez (2-4, 7-55)

Watch for …

Price check: Price is coming off a rough outing against the Yankees (five runs in five innings). He is 1-1, 2.92 in two starts against the Marlins, losing last year in an aces-high matchup with Josh Johnson.

Big deal: Vazquez was the Marlins' big free agent acquisition ($7 million), but it hasn't worked out too well. Even worse, he has put the Fish in a hole, allowing first-inning runs in each of his eight starts. The well-traveled veteran is 5-5, 4.97 in 16 appearances vs. the Rays.

Key matchups

Rays vs. Vazquez

Johnny Damon 8-for-25,

2 HRs

Casey Kotchman 5-for-10

B.J. Upton 9-for-19

Marlins vs. Price

John Buck 4-for-8, HR

Chris Coghlan 0-for-5

Gaby Sanchez 2-for-3

On deck

Sunday: at Marlins, 1:10, Sun Sports. Rays — James Shields (4-2, 2.26); Marlins — Josh Johnson (3-1, 1.64)

Monday: at Tigers, 7:05, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeremy Hellickson (5-2, 3.18); Tigers — Phil Coke (1-5, 3.88)

Tuesday: at Tigers, 7:05, Sun Sports. Rays — Wade Davis (4-4, 3.47); Tigers — Justin Verlander (4-3, 2.96)

Hairy tale of the day

LHP J.P. Howell, out since September 2009, showed up with a beard and long-haired look he admittedly described as "sloppy and controlled," and with plans to let it keep growing. Manager Joe Maddon, naturally, was a big fan given his efforts to grow out his own and suggestions for the other Rays to do the same. "My goal is to someday look like J.P. Howell," Maddon said. "That would be awesome. I could only hope."

Quote of the day

"If we were actually getting (frequent-flier) mileage, it would be awesome."

Rays manager Joe Maddon, after the second of the teams' four flights in nine days

Tender moment of the day

When the Sun Life Stadium kiss-cam focused on the Rays bullpen, coach Bobby Ramos leaned over and gave catcher Scott Cursi a peck.

Times wires
Friday, May 20, 2011

Royals 3, Cardinals 0

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jeff Francis outdueled Chris Carpenter to improve to 5-1 against the Cardinals for his career. Through six innings, both had thrown 76 pitches and allowed five hits and no runs. Kansas City's Billy Butler led off the seventh with a single, and Wilson Betemit doubled to center on a ball that Colby Rasmus barely missed while diving. Sac flies by Brayan Pena and Melky Cabrera and a single by Alcides Escobar just in front of Jon Jay in right made it 3-0.

Times wires
Friday, May 20, 2011

Indians 5, Reds 4

CLEVELAND — Pinch-hitter Ezequiel Carrera, in the first at-bat of his career, bunted home Shin-Soo Choo from third with two outs in the eighth to lift the Indians. Called up from Triple A earlier in the day, he dropped Nick Masset's first pitch down the first-base line and avoided a tag by Joey Votto. Cleveland's past six home wins have come in its final at-bat.

Times wires
Friday, May 20, 2011

Nationals 17, Orioles 5

BALTIMORE — Washington, shut out in its previous two games, hit a franchise-record six homers. Jayson Werth hit two for the Nationals, whose 17 runs were the most since they moved from Montreal to Washington in 2005.

Times wires
Friday, May 20, 2011

Debuting F1 champ 15th; his boss wins

CONCORD, N.C. — Former Formula One champion Kimi Raikkonen was 15th in his NASCAR debut Friday.

His team owner showed him how it's done.

Kyle Busch recovered from an early spin to pass Clint Bowyer with seven laps to go and pulled away to win the North Carolina Education Lottery 200.

Raikkonen, the 2007 world champion with Ferrari, had a couple of scrapes with the wall in the No. 15 Toyota for Kyle Busch Motorsports. The 31-year-old Finn, out of F1 since 2008, started 31st in the 36-car field.

Brian France won't clarify 'have at it'

NASCAR chairman Brian France said drivers should be clear on the boundaries of the "Boys, have at it" attitude that gives more leniency in settling disputes. Drivers and fans said they were confused by the ruling on Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick for their tangle on pit road this month at Darlington. "The drivers know us well enough to understand and they certainly have conversations (with us) and we'll be happy to reiterate our situation," France said. "But there is still going to be subjectivity."

De Silvestro hopes to get Indy run in

HVM Racing's Simona De Silvestro was not medically cleared to practice Friday but said she hopes to return today for pole qualifying at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for next weekend's Indianapolis 500. De Silvestro burned both hands in a crash Thursday. Rain is forecast for both days of 500 qualifying, today and Sunday. Today, the top 24 cars will make the field and the top nine will have 90 minutes at the end to try to earn the pole. Sunday, the final nine spots will be filled and "bump day" begins as slower cars get bumped out of the 33-car field.

Elsewhere

Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car) and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) led their divisions after two rounds of qualifying at the Summer Nationals in Topeka, Kan.

Times wires

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Friday, May 20, 2011

MIAMI — The Rays were feeling pretty good about a pair of nice comeback stories Friday as lefty reliever J.P. Howell returned to action for the first time since September 2009 and outfielder Justin Ruggiano made his first big-league appearance since 2008.

But they weren't very happy by the end as the Marlins came back for a 5-3 interleague victory.

"Definitely an unfortunate thing," Johnny Damon said.

Howell, who missed all of last season with a shoulder injury that required surgery, pitched a hitless sixth. Ruggiano, called up Friday to take Dan Johnson's roster spot, was thrust into action when B.J. Upton left with a tight gluteal muscle (though he could return today), had a couple of good at-bats and made a key play in center.

And the Rays (25-20) felt they would be happy returns when they reclaimed the momentum by rallying to tie in the seventh thanks to the second of Matt Joyce's two triples.

But Joel Peralta, who had been so good for the Rays in high-leverage situations, had a bad night, allowing the Marlins to score twice in the eighth.

"No excuses. It just (stinks)," Peralta said. "After we tied the game, it looked like we were going to get them, but I let it get away. I should have made better pitches, but I didn't."

A single by Hanley Ramirez and double by Logan Morrison got the Marlins started. They got their first run on a sac fly to medium depth rightfield and set up the second as Joyce made a questionable throw to the plate given that Ramirez was likely to score easily. That allowed Morrison to advance to third, and he scored on what essentially was a sac pop fly by Mike Stanton that Casey Kotchman ran down behind first but wasn't in position to make a strong throw on.

Manager Joe Maddon said Joyce's decision could be debated — "I don't know that he could have gotten either guy" — but it was more a matter of Peralta's pitches.

"They got to Joel," Maddon said. "That happens some times."

The Rays, after their second 4 a.m. arrival in three days, skipped batting practice on the field then came out swinging, taking a 2-0 lead on Joyce's two-out triple. The Marlins immediately halved the margin off Andy Sonnanstine as East Lake High product Chris Coghlan doubled and later scored.

Sonnanstine got to the fourth then gave up a pair of home runs. The first, on the first pitch to Morrison, was a fastball he left over the plate. The second, after Ruggiano made a strong throw to second to nab Greg Dobbs trying to stretch a single, came on what Sonnanstine thought was a well-placed cutter to Stanton.

"When it left my hand, I didn't think, "Oh no,' " he said. "It was tracking right toward the glove. He hit the (heck) out of it."

Sonnanstine has been slightly better in each of his three starts filling in for the injured Jeff Niemann. But at 0-1, 6.08 overall, he has yet to work more than five innings. Maddon said postgame he was set to make a fourth on Wednesday in Detroit.

"Not great, not awful," Maddon said. "Just kind of a nondescript, workman kind of an outing. Got us five. Definitely gave us a chance to win the game."

And that would have been something to really feel good about.

Times wires
Friday, May 20, 2011

BOSTON — Adrian Gonzalez had four of Boston's 19 hits and added four RBIs on Friday as the Red Sox routed the Cubs, making their return to Fenway Park, 15-5.

It was the Cubs' first visit to Fenway since they lost the 1918 World Series. For decades, that reminded Boston fans of the franchise's failure to win another World Series. But now it stands as a landmark only for Chicago as it seeks its first title since 1908.

Cubs fans made their presence known in the sellout crowd of 37,140, outcheering the locals at times. There was even an appearance of the Blues Brothers in the stands.

The Red Sox won their seventh consecutive game. They are 22-10 since losing 10 of their first 12 games, passed the Yankees for the first time this season and trail the first-place Rays by just a half-game.

Jon Lester won his sixth consecutive decision despite giving up a career-high 12 hits. He allowed five runs, two walks and a hit batter, striking out five.

Kevin Youkilis had two doubles and a two-run homer for Boston.

Times wires
Friday, May 20, 2011

Cycling

Inner Circle rider says Armstrong doped

NEW YORK — George Hincapie, a longtime member of Lance Armstrong's inner circle, told federal authorities he saw the seven-time Tour de France winner use performance-enhancing drugs, CBS's 60 Minutes reported.

On Thursday, Tyler Hamilton, another former member of the U.S. Postal Service team, said he also used PEDs with Armstrong. Hamilton also turned over his 2004 Olympic time trial gold medal to the United States Anti-Doping Agency on Friday.

Hincapie has often been depicted as one of Armstrong's most loyal teammates and was with him for all seven Tour victories. In an interview last year, Armstrong said Hincapie was "like a brother to me."

Hincapie is among several former Armstrong teammates and employees who have appeared before a federal grand jury in Los Angeles investigating doping in cycling.

Armstrong has never tested positive and has denied doping.

According to 60 Minutes, Hincapie testified that he and Armstrong supplied each other with the endurance-boosting substance EPO and discussed having used another banned substance, testosterone, to prepare for races. Hincapie declined to be interviewed by 60 Minutes, which will air its report Sunday.

Tennis

Nadal draws tall order

Defending French Open champions Rafael Nadal and Francesca Schiavone were given first-round matches in Friday's draw against Americans who own a combined two career match wins at Roland Garros.

The top-ranked Nadal's bid to tie Bjorn Borg's record of six titles at the claycourt Grand Slam will begin against the 6-foot-9, hard-serving John Isner, 2-2 at the French.

"He's one of these players that you prefer not to have in the first round," Nadal said. "His style of game is dangerous. His serve is unbelievable."

Schiavone, seeded fifth, starts against 89th-ranked Melanie Oudin, 0-1 at Roland Garros.

Play begins Sunday in Paris.

Colleges

UF in tennis quarters

The Florida women's tennis team beat Clemson 4-1 to advance to the quarterfinals of the NCAA championships at Stanford, Calif. Florida (28-1) plays Miami on Sunday.

Baseball: Shawn Pleffner singled in Patrick Donahue with the winning run as the University of Tampa (36-16) beat Southern Arkansas 4-3 in 13 innings, the longest postseason game in UT history, at the NCAA South Region in Pensacola. The Spartans meet the late West Florida-Barry loser today.

Golf: The UF men moved into a tie for second with North Carolina State after two rounds at the NCAA region tournament in Ocala. UF is four strokes behind team leader Augusta State going into today's final round.

Softball: Pasco-Hernando was eliminated from the Division II junior college national tournament in Normal, Ill., losing 3-2 to Kankakee (Ill.) and 7-2 to South Mountain (Phoenix). … UF (48-9) beat Bethune-Cookman 8-0 in the first round of NCAA tournament region play in Gainesville. UF plays UCLA today in the double-elimination event. … FSU (30-27) lost 2-0 to Alabama-Birmingham in NCAA region play in Athens, Ga. The Seminoles face Georgia State today.

APR hits: Coach Charlie Strong and the Louisville football team will lose three scholarships (from 25 to 22) for the class of 2011 after failing to meet the NCAA's Academic Progress Rate standard, which measures the classroom performance of every Division I student-athlete and composes a score for each team. … UConn, the men's basketball national champion, will lose two scholarships for the coming season.

Et cetera

NFL: The players associations for MLB, the NHL and NBA filed a brief with the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, saying the NFL's lockout should be lifted.

Times wires

Times wires
Friday, May 20, 2011

Cycling

Inner Circle rider says Armstrong doped

NEW YORK — George Hincapie, a longtime member of Lance Armstrong's inner circle, told federal authorities he saw the seven-time Tour de France winner use performance-enhancing drugs, CBS's 60 Minutes reported.

On Thursday, Tyler Hamilton, another former member of the U.S. Postal Service team, said he also used PEDs with Armstrong. Hamilton also turned over his 2004 Olympic time trial gold medal to the United States Anti-Doping Agency on Friday.

Hincapie has often been depicted as one of Armstrong's most loyal teammates and was with him for all seven Tour victories. In an interview last year, Armstrong said Hincapie was "like a brother to me."

Hincapie is among several former Armstrong teammates and employees who have appeared before a federal grand jury in Los Angeles investigating doping in cycling.

Armstrong has never tested positive and has denied doping.

According to 60 Minutes, Hincapie testified that he and Armstrong supplied each other with the endurance-boosting substance EPO and discussed having used another banned substance, testosterone, to prepare for races. Hincapie declined to be interviewed by 60 Minutes, which will air its report Sunday.

Tennis

Nadal draws tall order

Defending French Open champions Rafael Nadal and Francesca Schiavone were given first-round matches in Friday's draw against Americans who own a combined two career match wins at Roland Garros.

The top-ranked Nadal's bid to tie Bjorn Borg's record of six titles at the claycourt Grand Slam will begin against the 6-foot-9, hard-serving John Isner, 2-2 at the French.

"He's one of these players that you prefer not to have in the first round," Nadal said. "His style of game is dangerous. His serve is unbelievable."

Schiavone, seeded fifth, starts against 89th-ranked Melanie Oudin, 0-1 at Roland Garros.

Play begins Sunday in Paris.

Colleges

UF in tennis quarters

The Florida women's tennis team beat Clemson 4-1 to advance to the quarterfinals of the NCAA championships at Stanford, Calif. Florida (28-1) plays Miami on Sunday.

Baseball: Shawn Pleffner singled in Patrick Donahue as the University of Tampa (36-16) beat Southern Arkansas 4-3 in 13 innings, the longest postseason game in UT history, at the NCAA South Region in Pensacola. The Spartans meet the West Florida-Barry loser at 4 today.

Golf: The UF men are tied for second with N.C. State after two rounds at the NCAA region tournament in Ocala. At 7 under, UF is four strokes behind Augusta State going into today's final round. … The UF women were tied for eighth at 32-over after darkness suspended third-round play at the NCAA championships in Texas. UCLA leads at 13-over.

Softball: Pasco-Hernando was eliminated from the Division II junior college national tournament in Normal, Ill., losing 3-2 to Kankakee (Ill.) and 7-2 to South Mountain (Phoenix). … Host UF (48-9) beat Bethune-Cookman 8-0 in the first round of NCAA tournament region play. UF plays UCLA at 1 today in the double-elimination event. … FSU (30-27) lost 2-0 to Alabama-Birmingham in region play in Athens, Ga. The Seminoles face Georgia State at 2:30 today.

APR hits: The Louisville football team will lose three scholarships for the class of 2011 after failing to meet the NCAA's Academic Progress Rate standard, which measures the classroom performance of every Division I athlete and composes a score for each team. … UConn, the men's basketball national champion, will lose two scholarships for the coming season.

Et cetera

NFL: The players unions for MLB, the NHL and NBA filed a brief with the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, saying the NFL lockout should be lifted.

Times wires

Times wires
Saturday, May 21, 2011

Dodgers 6, White Sox 4

10 innings

CHICAGO — Russell Mitchell tied it with a two-out homer in the ninth and Juan Castro hit the go-ahead single in the 10th for the Dodgers. Mitchell entered the game batting .091, and Castro entered in the seventh after Juan Uribe left with a hip flexor injury.

Times wires
Saturday, May 21, 2011

Diamondbacks 8, Twins 7

PHOENIX — Ryan Roberts' three-run double highlighted the Diamondbacks' five-run seventh. The Twins scored three in the ninth (with the help of three consecutive walks) and had the bases loaded with one out. But rookie Joe Paterson came on to strike out Jason Kubel and get Justin Morneau to ground out.

Times wires
Saturday, May 21, 2011

Mariners 4, Padres 1

SAN DIEGO — Erik Bedard allowed just three singles over eight innings for the Mariners. The lefty is 8-1 with a 1.79 ERA in 16 career interleague starts. He won his second straight decision, over four starts, after losing his first four starts coming back from shoulder surgery that cost him all of last year. The Padres got only one runner to third. But Chris Denorfia scored in the ninth as they managed to avoid their ninth shutout of the season.

Times wires
Saturday, May 21, 2011

Angels 9, Braves 0

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Ervin Santana pitched a four-hitter for his sixth career shutout for the Angels. It was only his 10th complete game among 180 career starts. Tim Hudson, the former Oakland standout facing the Angels for the first time since June 8, 2005, hit three batters, one more than over his first 621/3 innings this season (nine starts). It was the third time the three-time All-Star hit three batters in 354 career starts.

Times wires
Saturday, May 21, 2011

Brewers 7, Rockies 6

14 innings

MILWAUKEE — Yuniesky Betancourt's homer in the 13th tied it, and Prince Fielder's two-run shot won it for the Brewers, who have won eight of 11.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, May 21, 2011

MIAMI — As the Rays complete their extensive and voluminous preparation for the unprecedented opportunity of making 10 of the first 60 picks in the draft two weeks from Monday, they are making hard decisions on which players they are most likely to draft.

And also which ones they are not.

A key to the Rays' draft strategy is identifying and focusing deeply on the players most likely to be available when they make their first selection (No. 24) until their last of the first day (No. 60).

"There are guys we feel like are sure-fire bets to be off the board by the time we pick, and (scouting director) R.J. (Harrison) and his staff have had to make decisions along the way on which guys to move on from," executive VP Andrew Friedman said. "Our goal in this is to line up our board starting at about 15 to 75 and hope and expect to get our top 10 picks from that pool."

The action will be fast-paced, with five minutes between picks in the first round and just one in the compensation round.

But Friedman said the experience of having three extra picks last year (and five of the first 79 total) helps as they've found their preparation this year isn't all that different.

"The most important part," he said, "is to get our board lined up based on our evaluations, and be able to, and by putting in the amount of work leading up to it we will just be able to, react accordingly."

Next they have to sign them, and Friedman said they are ready and willing to spend the money — which some suggest could exceed $12 million — to sign those top 10 picks, and hope to do so quickly afterward, unlike last year when top picks Josh Sale and Drew Vettleson held out and as a result are still in Port Charlotte in extended spring training. (Though if they don't sign them, they get to roll over the picks to next year.)

"We've planned for this draft for a while now," Friedman said, "and I'm extremely confident we'll be able to sign the guys that want to go out and play."

.Fast facts

Rays picks

First round

24 (from Red Sox for Carl Crawford)

31 (from Yankees for Rafael Soriano)

32 (original pick)

Compensation round

38 (for Soriano)

41 (for Crawford)

42 (Grant Balfour, signed w/A's)

52 (Brad Hawpe, signed w/Padres)

56 (Joaquin Benoit, signed w/Tigers)

59 (Randy Choate, signed w/Marlins)

60 (Chad Qualls, signed w/Padres)

Second round

75 (from A's for Balfour)

89 (original pick)

Times staff
Saturday, May 21, 2011

The poll

Who will be playing in the Stanley Cup final? Total: 552 votes

49 percent: Lightning-Canucks

33 percent: Lightning-Sharks

14 percent: Bruins-Canucks

4 percent: Bruins-Sharks

Online poll

Do you think the video in which Rays third baseman Evan Longoria "saves" a reporter with a barehanded catch is real or staged? To see the video and vote, go to rays.tampabay.com.

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, May 21, 2011

Outside the Lines: 9 a.m. on ESPN. Catching up with Casey Martin, the former pro golfer who sued the PGA to use a cart during events because of an incurable and debilitating disease that weakened his right leg.

Mets at Yankees: 1 p.m. on TBS. The subway series continues on TBS's game of the week.

MLB's Greatest Games: 8 p.m. on MLB Network. The countdown of the 20 greatest games of the past 50 years reaches No. 1 with a three-hour special on Game 6 of the 1975 World Series. Ex-Reds catcher Johnny Bench and ex-Red Sox centerfielder Fred Lynn are in studio.

By Neil Taylor, Times Correspondent
Saturday, May 21, 2011

What's hot: Casting soft, plastic lures to redfish is providing great action. The late arrival of bait schools has them feeding more than usual.

Tackle: Use a 7-foot spinning outfit with a thin diameter and braided line, 3-foot fluorocarbon leader and jighead of one-eighth to one-fourth ounces. Take multiple rods, have the second one rigged with a weedless jighead and find an area of shallow, thick turtle grass or a lot of floating seagrass. Plastic tails of 3-6 inches work well. The 3-incher is a swimbait style, the 6-incher a sleeker, jerkbait style. The 3-incher is best if you see baitfish, the jerkbait if fish are looking for shrimp.

Techniques: Locate redfish in depths of 2 feet or shallower in areas with a substantial seagrass bottom. Move slowly and quietly. Make long casts and work the lures just above the bottom. When a thump is felt, set the hook and the battle is on. The action has been best around sunrise and sunset.

Neil Taylor charters kayak fishing trips in the Tampa Bay area and can be reached at (727) 692-6345 or strikethreekayakfishing.com.