By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Tampa Bay Rays infielder Elliot Johnson is likely headed to the DL due to his left knee sprain, manager Joe Maddon said.

Reid Brignac, who has been on the bereavement list following the death of his grandfather, will return early and join the team for Wednesday's game in Detroit.

Maddon said Johnson was still having trouble walking around on Tuesday, and it was "better than 50-50" that he would end up on the DL. Sean Rodriguez, who played shortstop regularly in the minors, will start tonight, his sixth start in the majors.

By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Tuesday, May 24, 2011

It is Roloson. Of course it is Roloson.

It is Roloson because he is rested, and because he is ready, and because he is resilient.

It is Roloson because this is his team, and this is his net, and by all that is logical, this should be his game.

It is Roloson because he has been the Lightning's best goalie every day of this postseason but two, so why shouldn't he start the biggest game of the season?

Perhaps you expected a controversy. Perhaps you expected a last-second decision. Perhaps you thought Lightning coach Guy Boucher might spend another day playing Guess the Goalie.

Instead, the answer of who will start in goal for the Lightning's next playoff game was swift and simple.

"Dwayne Roloson,'' said Boucher on Tuesday, quick as a pad save.

And really, was there another choice?

Once again the season has returned to the edge of a cliff, where the Lightning evidently enjoys the view so much it should invest in a condo. Once more it is up to the team to win or go home. One more time the team's immediate future has been placed gently into the hands of a goaltender.

The more you think about it, isn't that Roloson's job? Isn't a game like this why the Lightning traded for him in the first place?

In a situation like this, hasn't Roloson earned your trust?

"Think of the wins he's had,'' Boucher said. "All of the moments.''

Granted, all this was true before Game 5 against the Bruins, too, and darned if Boucher didn't tap Mike Smith on the shoulder. And let's face it: Smith has had a much better series than Roloson, who has been pulled from two games and has allowed a slow-rolling putt to become a goal in two others. Ask yourself: Would Smith have gotten a start if Roloson had looked fresh and fierce in the previous game? No, probably not.

Nevertheless, Smith was the hero of Game 5, and though he didn't win Monday night, he played well enough to win. So, yeah, it's possible to make an argument on Smith's behalf.

The difference between Game 5 and Game 6, however, is enormous. In tonight's game, the Lightning has to stave off the end of the season. For a goaltender, that kind of pressure ought to come with defibrillators hanging on the back of the net.

That's why you return to Roloson. He's 6-0 in elimination games, remember? Smith has never played in one.

In other words, Smith's play isn't being judged here. Circumstance is. Boucher admits that if Smith had played well and won Monday, he would have gotten another start. Why? Because the Lightning would have been ahead 3-2 in the series instead of behind, and Boucher would have been playing with house money.

In a death-row game? That calls for Roloson.

Think of it like this: Smith has had a fine series, but he still has a long way to go before his mental toughness is proven to be on par with Roloson's.

"If Game 5 had been do-or-die, Roli would have been in net,'' Boucher said. "I never lost confidence in Roloson. I just decided to give him a break, to let him breathe. He's going to be the only rested guy on either team.''

Maybe there is something to that. After all, Roloson is 41 and playing a young man's game, and he is a ferocious worker. Maybe a night off will pay off (twice).

Consider: Jan. 14 and 15, Roloson played back-to-back nights and gave up nine goals. After the second loss, Boucher gave his team back-to-back days off, and three days later Roloson won the first of five straight in games he started. During that streak, he had two shutouts.

Then there was the mid February escape when Boucher took his team to South Florida for two days. The Lightning had won only one of its previous four games behind Roloson before the break. Afterward, he won three in a row.

During the regular season, Roloson went in eight times after another goaltender started. He was 5-3 in those games, and in six of them, he allowed two goals or fewer.

In other words, rest seems to do the guy some good.

Who knows? Maybe not playing will do him some good, too.

As much as Roloson says the right thing, there isn't a starting goaltender alive who enjoys being a spectator, especially after a game in which he was pulled in the first period. That can't hurt, either.

"I expect what we've gotten all year,'' Boucher said. "He's a bounce-back guy. He's a warrior.''

And might there be a quick hook if he doesn't play well?

Boucher paused. He grinned.

"We won't need a hook.''

If he does, things might get noisy. Changing goaltenders is like changing quarterbacks. It seems to invite second-guessing. Either the Lightning wins or Boucher started the wrong guy. That's how it works, right?

"The one thing I'm never going to be is a guy who waits for change,'' Boucher said. "I dare. Period. If I feel that's what needs to be done and it's going to give us an edge or a chance, or it's going to give somebody a break, I can't wait because I wonder what it looks like.

"Second-guessing is the nature of the job. If you're trying to please everyone, you're not going to do anything. You can't please everybody.''

Sure you can. Win. Win big. Win often. Win six more games.

Oh, and in the meantime, be right about Roli the Goalie.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Showing support

It wasn't quite as dramatic as forming a human lightning bolt — which Tampa Bay fans constructed Sunday in a parking lot at Tampa International Airport so the players could see it as their charter flight took off for Boston for Game 5 — but the 200 to 300 fans who showed up Tuesday to greet the team's flight back after Monday's loss was impressive nonetheless. "I loved it," captain Vinny Lecavalier said. "It's encouraging after a tough loss. We know that they're there to support us not just when you're winning. To have them there to support us, it definitely feels good."

Showing support, Part II

While Bucs coach Raheem Morris has said he's "All In" with the Lightning, Patriots coach Bill Belichick, right, has been a big hit at Bruins games. The TD Garden crowd gave a large ovation when Belichick, dressed in a suit, waved a yellow towel during Monday's Game 5, and he was named "Fan of the Game." Bruins coach Claude Julien appreciated the support. When asked if he'd be at Patriots games in the fall, he smiled. "I've been there before," he said.

Quote to note

"Obviously, a few minutes after the game, you're disappointed. But you have a meal, you talk about the game a little bit, you get some sleep, and you wake up hungry and ready for the next game."

Lightning W Marty St. Louis, on the team's mind-set after its 3-1 Game 5 loss

Tickets

Game 6 tonight at the St. Pete Times Forum is sold out. To find out if unused team tickets are released, check the box office (813-301-6600) or Ticketmaster (outlets, ticketmaster.com, toll-free 1-800-745-3000).

The series Bruins lead 3-2

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

Game 2, Bruins 6, Lightning 5: Bruins score five in the second.

Game 3, Bruins 2, Lightning 0: Bruins prevail in tight defensive game.

Game 4, Lightning 5, Bruins 3: Lightning scores five unanswered goals.

Game 5, Bruins 3, Lightning 1: Tim Thomas huge with 33 saves.

Tonight: at Tampa, 8, Versus, 620-AM

Friday: at Boston, 8, Versus, 970-AM * * If necessary

Times wires
Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Rockies 12, D'backs 4

game 1

DENVER — Carlos Gonzalez homered twice as the Rockies rallied, but Colorado lost left-hander Jorge De La Rosa for the season to a torn ligament in his pitching elbow that likely will require surgery.

Times wires
Tuesday, May 24, 2011

PARIS — It's newsworthy when anyone wins a set against Rafael Nadal at any stage of the French Open — let alone two sets in the first round.

So a buzz built Tuesday at Roland Garros when unseeded American John Isner, a Tampa resident, pulled ahead of five-time champion Nadal by unfurling his 6-foot-9 frame to pound serves at upward of 140 mph.

Isner pushed to the net time after time for volleys, and generally made the Spaniard uncomfortable for stretches.

"Quite clearly," Nadal acknowledged later, "this is a match that I could have lost."

But, stretched to five sets for the first time in 40 career French Open matches, Nadal emerged with a 6-4, 6-7 (2-7), 6-7 (2-7), 6-2, 6-4 victory to reach the second round.

"Really, what it came down to is the way he played in the fourth and fifth sets," Isner said. "I haven't seen tennis like that, ever."

And that's coming from a man who gained fame last year at Wimbledon by winning the longest match ever, 70-68 in the fifth set against Nicolas Mahut, in a marathon that lasted more than 11 hours over the course of three days.

Nadal's bid to tie Bjorn Borg's record of six titles at the only Grand Slam on clay nearly came to a too-abrupt-to-believe halt.

Consider:

• Nadal is 39-1 at the French Open, his only loss coming to two-time finalist Robin Soderling in the fourth round in 2009.

• Isner's career in Paris before Tuesday? One first-round exit and one trip to the third round, for a 2-2 record.

• Nadal is ranked No. 1 and owns nine Grand Slam titles.

• Isner is ranked 39th and never has been past the fourth round at a major tournament.

"You need to see the positive side of things. I was stressed, but I managed to overcome my stress," Nadal said through an interpreter.

The match was the most riveting on a day that featured reigning U.S. Open and Australian Open champion Kim Clijsters' first appearance at the French since 2006. She opened with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Anastasiya Yakimova. Also advancing were seeded players Maria Sharapova, Li Na, Andy Murray, Sam Querrey and Soderling.

Ana Ivanovic was overcome with emotion after losing as she considered her injury-plagued season. The 2008 French champion lost 7-6 (7-3), 0-6, 6-2 to Johanna Larsson, a Swede who earned only her second win in four Grand Slam appearances. Ivanovic also lost in the first round at the Australian Open.

"I try to look back and see what I've done then and to do the same things," the 20th-seeded Ivanovic said tearfully. "I'm just trying to work it out."

No. 22 seed Dominika Cibulkova also lost as did men's No. 11 seed Nicolas Almagro.

PLAYING THROUGH GRIEF: France's Virginie Razzano played for the first time since fiance Stephane Vidal died May 16 of a brain tumor at 32.

Razzano was defeated 6-3, 6-1 by No. 24 seed Jarmila Gajdosova.

"If I did this, it's for Stephane and for me, too, because it's what he wanted," Razzano said through tears at a postmatch news conference. "He wanted that I play, that I continue my life, even if circumstances like these are very, very difficult and painful."

Razzano, 28, wore a black ribbon pinned to the front of her shirt — a symbol of mourning other French women in the tournament also are wearing as a sign of support.

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Stanley Cup classic: 5 p.m. on ESPN Classic. A replay of Game 6 of the 1991 final between the Penguins and North Stars as the Pens win their first Cup.

Sports Connection: 11 p.m. on BHSN (Ch. 47). A live report, including interviews, highlights and analysis from Game 6 of the Lightning-Bruins series.

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: 12:37 a.m. on Ch. 8. Justin Tuck of the New York Giants is one of the scheduled guests.

Times wires
Tuesday, May 24, 2011

LOS ANGELES — The family of a Giants fan who was brutally beaten at Dodger Stadium in March sued the team and its troubled owner Frank McCourt on Tuesday, claiming inadequate security was partially to blame for the attack.

The suit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of Bryan Stow contends that the Dodgers were negligent by not providing more security, and that it took 10 to 15 minutes before Dodgers employees arrived to help Stow.

Stow, 42, remains in critical but stable condition under heavy sedation to prevent seizures caused by the traumatic brain injury he suffered March 31.

Police arrested Giovanni Ramirez, 31, over the weekend, and are seeking a second attacker and a woman suspected of driving the pair from the scene.

Attorneys for Stow say McCourt has mismanaged one of baseball's most storied franchises by spending lavishly since buying the team in 2004 and reducing security during games. They say Dodger Stadium has more crime than any other MLB venue.

Giants reliever Jeremy Affeldt visited Stow at the hospital, sharing a prayer with him and his family.

SORIANO SETBACK: Yankees RHP Rafael Soriano, the former Rays closer, had an MRI exam a day after having his throwing session cut short. Soriano will have his sore elbow examined by renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews.

GARZA TO DL: Cubs RHP Matt Garza went on the disabled list retroactive to May 18 with a bone bruise in his elbow. RHP Randy Wells is expected to come off the DL and start Saturday in place of the former Ray.

MAUER HEALING: Twins C Joe Mauer, on the disabled list for nearly six weeks with leg ailments, is scheduled to DH in extended spring training today.

LOSING MONEY: Mets owner Fred Wilpon said his team is "bleeding cash" and could lose up to $70 million this year. Wilpon told Sports Illustrated that trusting Bernard Madoff and getting caught up in his Ponzi scheme was his biggest regret.

LIDLE LAWSUIT: Airplane manufacturer Cirrus Design Corp. isn't responsible for the deaths of Yankees and former Rays pitcher Cory Lidle and flight instructor Tyler Stanger, who were killed in October 2006 when their small plane crashed into a Manhattan apartment building, a Manhattan jury ruled.

D'BACKS: INF Melvin Mora was reinstated from the bereavement list, and RHP Sam Demel went on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis.

INDIANS: CF Grady Sizemore ran harder than he has since injuring his right knee last week and is close to returning.

NATIONALS: CF Rick Ankiel was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list after a sore right wrist kept him out of 19 games.

PHILLIES: RHP Jose Contreras pitched two scoreless innings in minor-league rehab appearance and is expected to be activated from the disabled list today.

RANGERS: RHP Brandon Webb, who last pitched in the majors on opening day 2009, went seven innings in an Arizona Rookie League game, his longest outing at any level during his rehab from shoulder surgery.

REDS: A day after being called up from Triple-A Louisville, INF Todd Frazier was sent back down and replaced on the roster by RHP Carlos Fisher, who will join a heavily worked bullpen.

RED SOX: RHP John Lackey, who has an 8.01 ERA in seven starts, completed a bullpen session and hopes to rejoin the rotation within two weeks. … LHP Hideki Okajima, part of what has been a disappointing bullpen, accepted an assignment to Triple-A Pawtucket after passing through waivers. … 2B Dustin Pedroia was not seriously hurt in a fall during Monday's game.

TIGERS: LHP Phil Coke went on the 15-day disabled list a day after bruising a bone in his right foot against the Rays. The contract of LHP Adam Wilk was purchased from Triple-A Toledo.

Times wires
Tuesday, May 24, 2011

INDIANAPOLIS — The NFL will punish teams next season if their players commit multiple flagrant hits that result in fines.

The punishment will be financial, although league vice president Adolpho Birch said Tuesday he didn't rule out commissioner Roger Goodell applying further sanctions such as stripping clubs of draft choices.

Citing "club accountability," Birch said details such as the amount of the fines against clubs, or how many player fines would trigger punishment, have not been determined.

"As a club's total increases to a certain threshold, we will enforce some … payback to encourage clubs to stay below that threshold," Birch said. "We're looking at a system similar to one we instituted a couple years ago with off-field conduct."

The NFL began a crackdown on illegal hits, particularly to defenseless players, in October. It threatened suspensions, but no players sat out games. However, Ray Anderson, the league's chief disciplinarian, has said suspensions will be considered for egregious hits this season.

Now, clubs as well as the players are being put on notice that illegal hits will result in substantial discipline.

The 32 owners voted unanimously to approve rules amendments for player safety, including a measure aimed at keeping a player from launching himself into a defenseless opponent. A 15-yard penalty will result for anyone who leaves both feet before contact to spring forward and upward into an opponent and delivers a blow to the helmet with any part of his helmet.

MANNING HAS SURGERY: Colts quarterback Peyton Manning had neck surgery Monday in Chicago to repair a disc problem. It's the second neck surgery since February 2010 for Manning. The previous was to repair a pinched nerve, and this operation was less invasive and less complicated, owner Jim Irsay said.

TORNADO AID: The Chiefs filled two semitrailer trucks with bottled water for tornado victims in Kansas and Missouri and also collected financial donations for the victims in Reading, Kan., and Joplin, Mo. The team is donating $35,000 to the relief effort.

FUNds WITHHELD: The Bills suspended payments to employees' pension benefits and 401(k) plans during the labor dispute, potentially the rest of the year.

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 24, 2011

PONTE VEDRA BEACH — USF football's second shot at playing Florida has been pushed back for a third time, as the two schools won't meet in 2015.

USF athletic director Doug Woolard said Tuesday that the game — originally announced in 2002 to be played in 2009, then 2011, then 2015 — is no longer attached to any year, though the two schools remain contractually bound to play.

Woolard, attending the Big East's annual meetings, has shown a preference not to schedule road games for which USF doesn't receive a home date in return. This year's opener at Notre Dame is the only exception he has approved since becoming athletic director in 2004. USF played in Gainesville in September, a 38-14 loss. The Bulls have had home-and-home series with Florida State and Miami.

The Bulls are hesitant to schedule too many games until it's clear how many conference games they'll play as the Big East considers expansion. Starting in 2012, USF will have eight conference games instead of seven with the addition of TCU to the league. USF might opt to have one out-of-conference opponent from a BCS conference in the new model, and the Bulls are scheduled to play at Indiana in 2015.

APR improvements: USF's athletic department made major gains in the NCAA's Academic Progress Rate scores, which measure teams' success in maintaining their athletes' eligibility and retention in the program.

USF football made the largest improvement of any BCS school, improving its overall four-year score to 952, up from 930 a year ago, and the two-year improvement of 43 points is 14 points better than the next closest by any BCS school. Men's basketball raised its four-year score from 915 to 937, well above the score of 925 below which a team is susceptible to sanctions from the NCAA.

"I'm excited about it; I think you can't talk about this without (mentioning) the job that Jason Linders does academically, the addition he's made to our academic team," football coach Skip Holtz said. "And the job this staff has done in getting involved in these players' lives."

Eight teams posted a perfect score of 1,000 for the 2009-10 academic year, highlighted by women's tennis, which was honored by the NCAA last week with special recognition for maintaining a four-year score of 1,000.

The only team that faced any penalties from the NCAA was women's basketball, whose score dropped to 917 from 952 due to heavy turnover in the 2009-10 season. Coach Jose Fernandez lost Jessica Monroe to academic issues and suspended Janae Stokes, Dominique English and Sequoyah Griffin indefinitely for a violation of team rules. The team went without two scholarships for the past year as a penalty for the low score but is back to full strength for the upcoming season.

"At the end of the day, I hold our kids academically and athletically responsible and for them to make the right decisions," Fernandez said.

Staying put: Woolard, mentioned as a possible candidate for the athletic director job at Illinois, said he has no plans to leave USF.

"It's probably more of a compliment to USF than it is to Doug Woolard," said the native of Carbondale, in southern Illinois. "We've got really good support here from the university and the Tampa Bay region, and we've been able to make some significant advancements. We have a lot of tremendous potential ahead of us, and I look forward to the opportunities we have in front of us."

Woolard was one of several names mentioned by the Springfield (Ill.) State Journal-Register on Monday in a story discussing potential successors to Ron Guenther, who is retiring this summer.

Times wires
Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Yankees 5, Blue Jays 4

NEW YORK — Curtis Granderson had a tying RBI single in the ninth then stole second before Mark Teixeira singled him home to give CC Sabathia and the Yankees a comeback victory. New York scored two in the eighth against relievers Casey Janssen and Marc Rzepczynski on Robinson Cano's RBI double and Russell Martin's RBI single. Sabathia retired the final 16 batters in his first complete game at home for the Yankees.

Times wires
Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Braves 2, Pirates 0

PITTSBURGH — Jair Jurrjens pitched six-hit ball into the eighth to lead the Braves. Alex Gonzalez had three hits and a run for Atlanta, which ended Pirates starter Charlie Morton's three-game winning streak. Morton continued his strong pitching with seven-plus solid innings but couldn't match Jurrjens, who needed just 97 pitches to send Pittsburgh to its second straight shutout loss.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 24, 2011

TAMPA — That the Lightning has gotten so much offensive production out of its so-called role players has been a nice little story this playoff season.

The dirty little secret is how little production it has gotten lately from its Big 3.

Captain Vinny Lecavalier, center Steven Stamkos and Marty St. Louis have one goal and three points among them in the past three games of the Eastern Conference final with the Bruins. And the goal was St. Louis' Game 4 empty-netter.

You could throw Ryan Malone, with one assist in the series, into the mix as well.

If Tampa Bay ever needed these guys to step up, it is now.

The Lightning is down three games to two in the best-of-seven series and facing elimination in tonight's Game 6 at the St. Pete Times Forum. There also is a real chance injured wing Sean Bergenheim, with a playoffs-best nine goals entering Tuesday, will not play.

"I know we're counted on," St. Louis said Tuesday. "Obviously, I expect myself to step up and be there for my team. Vinny does, too, and Stammer does, too. I know we give our team a better chance to win."

"Of course we have to lead," Lecavalier said. "We're definitely up for the challenge."

The Big 3 haven't been totally invisible.

Lecavalier had a goal and three assists in the 6-5 Game 2 loss. Stamkos had a goal and two assists. St. Louis has two goals and four points in the series.

But with the Bruins taking special notice of the trio (it is no coincidence defenseman Zdeno Chara is on the ice when Lecavalier is there) and the power play 2-for-18 in the series, the well generally has been dry.

How frustrating that is for Lecavalier and St. Louis, tied for third in the playoffs with 17 points. And for Stamkos, who shows flashes, but only flashes, of breaking the scoring slump that has gripped him since February.

"Do I expect more of myself? Absolutely," St. Louis said, summing it up for all three. "I expect that every game, and when I don't get that, I'm disappointed. But you have to be honest with your assessment, too.

"We're working hard. We're just not getting rewarded at times. You have to stay the course. You have to keep playing."

Coach Guy Boucher is loathe to put the onus on his top players because all season he has preached a team game.

"I see it that on this particular day you don't know who your best players are going to be," he said. "If I'm always expecting Marty St. Louis and Vinny Lecavalier to be the best players every night, I'm sadly mistaken. They already have all the pressure in the world. I'm not going to put more pressure on them."

"That's been our mentality all along," center Dominic Moore said, "to have everybody on the same page in terms of how they play and who can contribute on any given night."

But tonight isn't any game. It is an elimination game. It is backs against the wall, crunch time and all that.

And that calls for a team's stars to shine.

"We have to lead by example, for sure," Lecavalier said.

Wouldn't that be a nice — no, a big — story for Tampa Bay.

Times wires
Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Reds 6, Phillies 3

PHILADELPHIA — Jay Bruce hit a tiebreaking three-run double in the ninth, and the Reds snapped a six-game skid. Cincinnati had lost eight straight to the Phillies, including a three-game sweep in the division series. Bruce went in with four homers in his past five games, but he struck out three times and popped out before clearing the bases against Ryan Madson.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 24, 2011

DETROIT — INF Elliot Johnson is headed to the disabled list due to a left knee sprain.

As a result, SS Reid Brignac was headed back from Louisiana to Detroit to rejoin the team for today's matinee, and INF Felipe Lopez apparently is headed back to St. Petersburg with the team.

Johnson was hurt on an awkward slide Monday during an unsuccessful attempt to steal third. A postgame MRI exam showed no tears or structural damage, but the sprain was enough to have Johnson still hobbling on Tuesday, and uncertain when he will return.

"It's still real stiff,'' he said. "Bending it is really hard, and walking has not been real wonderful.''

Brignac left after Saturday's game following the death of his grandfather and was placed on the bereavement list, with plans to rejoin the Rays on Friday. But the Rays called him late Monday and asked him to come to Detroit, which he was to do late Tuesday after the funeral services. Under MLB bereavement rules, he was to miss between three and seven games.

Lopez was called up as a temporary fill-in for Brignac but in Johnson's absence seems likely to stick around as a reserve.

Playing time at short will be split between Brignac and Sean Rodriguez, who made his sixth career start there Tuesday but played extensively in the minors.

BUMP AND RUN: OF Matt Joyce had a busy day: Three hits to hike his majors-leading average to .367, including the Rays' first homer in four-plus games, and two bruises, struck on the right elbow by a thrown ball and banging his left knee on the outfield wall. "Someone said it felt like football weather,'' he said. "I feel like I played a football game.''

NO. 9: Slumping Sam Fuld has been dropped from the leadoff spot to the bottom of the order and likely will stay there until he shows signs of breaking out of the 11-for-94 skid that dropped his average from .350 to .224.

C John Jaso batted leadoff Tuesday, but Maddon said he wasn't committed to him, either, and may also use B.J. Upton.

"I wanted to take some of the at-bats off of Sam — when you hit leadoff you get at least one more at-bat a night — until he really gets it going again," Maddon said.

LET'S DO THE TIME WARP: RHP Andy Sonnanstine said he welcomed Maddon's suggestions that he return to his 2008 pitching style tonight when he makes his fourth start in place of injured RHP Jeff Niemann.

The gist? "Just getting back to what I'm good at," Sonnanstine said. "Using both sides of the plate and attacking from a bunch of different angles. I feel like the past couple starts I haven't been pitching up to my capability."

J.P. DUTY: LHP J.P. Howell, who eventually will be used for longer stints, said he flung his glove out of frustration with his performance Monday after being removed after 20 pitches, not over the decision. He also said his reaction to the double play that ended his first inning, which appeared to include screaming and gesturing, was just a matter of emotion taking over: "I didn't even know what I was doing at the time. … I was just happy to be getting out of the inning."

THE DAN BAND: 1B Dan Johnson, designated for assignment Friday with a .115 average, cleared waivers and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Durham. The Rays benefit from keeping him in their system, and Johnson gets to keep his $1 million guaranteed contract.

MISCELLANY: The Rays surpassed the 2010 Twins' record by going 49 games into the season without making multiple errors. … Maddon held his monthly meeting with the coaching staff to assess each player and team goals. … Second-grader Kaleb Gates of Pinellas Park's Skyview Elementary won the promotion to take 2B/RF Ben Zobrist to school and will do so on May 31.

Times wires
Tuesday, May 24, 2011

AUTOS

KYLE BUSCH CITED FOR GOING 128 MPH

STATESVILLE, N.C. — NASCAR driver Kyle Busch was clocked by a North Carolina sheriff's deputy going 128 mph in a 45-mph zone and was cited for careless and reckless driving and speeding, a spokesman said Tuesday.

Iredell County Sheriff's Capt. Darren Campbell said a deputy stopped Busch's 2012 yellow Lexus sports car on a road between Troutman and Mooresville, where the 26-year-old driver lives.

Campbell said Busch was cited and released upon a written promise to appear in court.

"I was test-driving a new sports car and I got carried away," Busch said in a statement. "I went beyond the speed I should have been going on a public road. I apologize to the public, my fans, sponsors, and race teams for my lack of judgment."

NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said Busch would be allowed to race this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

NASCAR PUNISHMENTS: A crew member from Jeff Burton's Sprint Cup team was suspended for violating NASCAR's substance abuse policy. Richard Childress Racing said Gary Frost has been fired. … NASCAR docked Ron Hornaday 25 points and fined his crew chief, Jeff Hensley, $10,000 for failing inspection after last week's truck series race at Charlotte.

GOLF

Woods preps for Open

Tiger Woods says he'll be ready to go for the U.S. Open. Woods needs crutches and a walking boot for relief on his aching left leg and won't even start leg training until the end of next week. But the 14-time major champion expects to tee off at the U.S. Open June 16-19 in Bethesda, Md. "You just play through these things," Woods said. "There's a difference between being in pain and being injured."

Also, Mark Steinberg, the agent for Woods the past 12 years and head of the IMG golf division, did not renew his contract with the agency. The move could lead to Woods leaving Cleveland-based IMG, which has represented him his entire career.

SOCCER

Becks back for a day

To chants of "Fergie sign him up," David Beckham made a one-time return to Manchester United to mark the end of best friend Gary Neville's career in an exhibition against Italian giant Juventus. The Los Angeles Galaxy gave its star midfielder permission to miss tonight's MLS match against Houston to return to play for the English club where he played for a decade under manager Alex Ferguson. Beckham helped to restrain a fan who invaded the field during Juventus' 2-1 win.

DENYING MARADONA: Diego Maradona's former Argentina teammates confirm his claims that there were no drug tests before a 1993 World Cup playoff with Australia, but said they had no knowledge of receiving performance-enhancing substances. Argentina won to make the 1994 World Cup, during which Maradona was suspended after testing positive for stimulants.

ET CETERA

CYCLING:Alberto ContadorXavier Tondo

arena league: Storm LB Cliff Dukes was named defensive player of the week. He had 4.5 tackles, three tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, and a blocked kick in a victory over Spokane.

Times wires

Times wires
Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Red Sox 4, Indians 2

CLEVELAND — Josh Beckett picked up his first regular-season win in Cleveland to lead the Red Sox over the Indians, who couldn't quite muster another late-inning rally and lost for just the fifth time at home. Jason Varitek hit a two-run homer in the seventh off Fausto Carmona as Boston, which started the season 0-6, improved to a league-best 15-7 in May and moved into second place in the AL East ahead of the Rays. The Indians ran into outs four times.

Times wires
Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Orioles 5, Royals 3

BALTIMORE — Adam Jones capped a ninth-inning uprising with a two-run walkoff homer against closer Joakim Soria, lifting the Orioles. Jones hit an 0-and-2 pitch far over the centerfield wall to cap a three-run rally. Upon reaching the plate, Jones was buried under teammates celebrating Baltimore's third straight victory. The Orioles improved to 1-21 when trailing after eight.

Times wires
Tuesday, May 24, 2011

STANFORD, Calif. — Lauren Embree survived a third-set tiebreaker to beat Stanford's Mallory Burdette 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) and help Florida rally to clinch the national title Tuesday night.

The Gators claimed their fifth national title with the 4-3 victory and snapped the Cardinal's 184-match home winning streak that dated to 1999.

Florida grabbed a 1-0 lead after taking the doubles point before Stanford claimed the first three completed matches in singles. The Gators then won the final three matches for their first national title since 2003 (also a 4-3 win over Stanford).

Hilary Barte gave Stanford (28-1) its first point at No. 1 singles, beating Allie Will 6-2, 6-4. Nicole Gibbs gave the Cardinal a 2-1 lead with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Sofie Oyen at No. 3 singles.

Stacey Tan recovered from a first-set loss to beat Joanna Mather 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 at No. 4 singles and give Stanford a 3-1 edge, but Seminole High's Alex Cercone beat Veronica Li 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 at No. 5 singles as Florida (31-1) closed to within 3-2.

Olivi Janowicz won 6-7 (6-8), 6-3, 6-1 over Carolyn McVeigh at No. 6 singles to tie it, setting up Embree's chance to win the title.

Meanwhile, the USC men's team (27-2) earned a 4-3 win over top-seeded Virginia (34-1) for its third straight title.

Football Hall of Fame: Longtime NFL linebackers Charles Haley and Dexter Coakley were selected for induction into the divisional class for players and coaches who made their marks at small colleges. Haley played at James Madison in 1982-85 before a stellar career with the 49ers and Cowboys, and Coakley starred at Appalachian State in 1993-96 before playing for the Cowboys and Rams. Others selected: North Dakota State center Michael Favor (1985-88), Trinity College two-way player Mickey Kobrosky (1933-36), Dayton coach Mike Kelly and Bill Manlove, who coached at Widener (Pa.) University, Delaware Valley College and La Salle.

APR fallout: Southern became the first school to face postseason bans in two programs — men's basketball and football — because of academics. The NCAA also banned Jackson State and Idaho State from postseason play in football and Grambling, Cal State-Northridge, Chicago State and Louisiana-Monroe in men's basketball, citing poor classroom performance based on the latest Academic Progress Rate scores.

Baseball: Florida catcher Mike Zunino was named SEC player of the year, and outfielder Preston Tucker, from Plant, made the All-SEC first team. … USF third baseman Jonathan Koscso of Tampa made the All-Big East first team.

Basketball: Michigan State guard Russell Byrd will have surgery on his left foot Friday and is expected to be out for four months.

Football: Washington State linebacker Louis Bland was arrested on suspicion of marijuana possession in Pullman, Wash., police said.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Rays at Tigers

When/where: 1:05 today; Comerica Park, Detroit

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

Starting pitchers

RAYS: RH Andy Sonnanstine (0-2, 4.21)

TIGERS: RH Brad Penny (4-4, 4.45)

Watch for …

Sonny's day: Sonnanstine makes his fourth start in place of injured RHP Jeff Niemann and has shown just modest improvement, going 0-1, 6.08. He is 1-1, 6.08 in two starts against the Tigers, both in 2008.

Penny lane: Penny's second stint in the AL has thus far gone better than with Boston in 2009, though his walks are up. Penny, engaged to Dancing with the Stars performer Karina Smirnoff, is 2-4, 5.45 in seven games against the Rays.

Key matchups

Rays vs. Penny

Johnny Damon 0-for-6

Casey Kotchman 2-for-6

B.J. Upton 1-for-9

Tigers vs. Sonnanstine

Miguel Cabrera 3-for-7

Victor Martinez 2-for-11

Jhonny Peralta 2-for-8, HR

On deck

Thursday: Off

Friday: vs. Indians, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (5-4, 3.89); Indians — Josh Tomlin (6-1, 2.41)

Saturday: vs. Indians, 4:10, Sun Sports. Rays — James Shields (5-2, 2.00); Indians — Carlos Carrasco (3-2, 5.16)

Lightning fan of the day

Rays manager Joe Maddon is doing what he can to support the Bolts, sporting his Lightning cap during batting practice and taping a video message to be shown tonight at the St. Pete Times Forum. Not only does Maddon like what the Lightning has done and how it has done it but who it is doing it against: "Let's go be beat Boston. There's nothing more fun for anybody from Tampa Bay than it is to beat Boston. So they have that opportunity to take it back from 3-2 right now and do it." Maddon, of course, has experience, ousting the Red Sox en route to the 2008 World Series. "It's kinda nice — especially in a playoff moment."

Date of the day

OF Matt Joyce today will pass Jason Bartlett (2009) for the latest date a Ray has led the league in hitting.

Times wires
Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Twins 4, Mariners 2

MINNEAPOLIS — Nick Blackburn came through with a desperately needed complete game and former Tampa Catholic standout Denard Span had three hits and an RBI to lift the Twins. Minnesota snapped a nine-game home skid and ended the Mariners' season-high six-game winning streak. Twins closer Matt Capps and setup man Joe Nathan were unavailable after throwing Monday night, and right-hander Kevin Slowey was scheduled to be tested for a sports hernia today.