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

DETROIT — Sam Fuld could only stand at his locker and shake his head after Tuesday's 7-6 loss to the Tigers.

What started out looking like a good night for the Rays, as they knocked around and then out Detroit ace Justin Verlander after six innings, turned out to be a bad one, and no one felt it more than the Rays slumping leftfielder.

Twice he came up in key RBI situations. Twice he hit the ball hard. And twice it caromed off the glove of one Tiger and to another for an inning-ending out.

"Not one of my better nights," Fuld said. "You definitely don't see that very often."

The Rays (26-23) seemed a bit staggered by the way the game turned, as they lost for the eighth time in their past 11 games and dropped from first place to third in the AL East.

They rallied for three runs to take a 6-5 lead in the sixth then lost it in the eighth when Cesar Ramos allowed a two-run homer to No. 8 hitter Alex Avila, his second of the night.

"Just a tough loss," said outfielder Matt Joyce. "And I don't think anyone on this team would have seen it going that way."

The night seemed promising as they knocked around and knocked out Verlander after six innings on their way to their first game of double-digit hits in nearly two weeks.

But there were ominous signs that proved to be the more accurate indicators of how their night would end.

A too-cool play by B.J. Upton on a somewhat routine line drive that led to the first Tigers run.

A very good 1-and-2 pitch by Wade Davis missed by home plate umpire Gerry Davis that would have struck out Miguel Cabrera three pitches before he hit a three-run homer in the sixth.

And the two balls hit by Fuld, who, after being dropped to the No. 9 spot, finished with a tough 0-for-4 that continued the shrinking of his average from .350 to .224.

In the sixth, after the Rays scored three runs on a combination of three hits, two Tigers throwing errors on the same play and a sac fly, Fuld came up with a man on second. He smashed a ball off first baseman Cabrera's glove that bounced right to second baseman Scott Sizemore, who threw to first where Verlander made a backhand grab.

And if that weren't bad enough, consider the eighth, when the Rays had the bases loaded and one out. Sean Rodriguez (who pretty much had to hit since the Rays had no other shortstops available) went down swinging on three pitches by righty reliever Al Alburquerque. Then Fuld drilled a ball up the middle that bounced up and off Alburquerque's glove and right to shortstop Jhonny Peralta as he crossed second base, making it four straight times the Rays have left the bases loaded.

"I'd never seen that play before," Fuld said. "I guess when you're cold, you're cold."

"We had several of those moments tonight," manager Joe Maddon said. "It's just one of those things that happens in this game, and you've got to continue to fight through it."

They did get a solid six-inning start from Davis, though Davis said it was much more of "a battle" than Maddon, who deemed it "possibly the best Davis has thrown all year."

The 12 hits were their most since May 12, with 11 games of fewer than 10 in between. And they did set a major-league record by playing their 49th game of the season without making more than one error.

"We did some things really well," Maddon said. "We did not catch many breaks. That's just how the game works sometimes."

Marc Topkin can be reached at topkin@sptimes.com.

Times wires
Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Dodgers 5, Astros 4

HOUSTON — Rookie Jerry Sands hit a grand slam in the third as the Dodgers snapped a three-game skid. Jamey Carroll drew a two-out walk off Astros starter J.A. Happ, then James Loney singled. Matt Kemp reached when second baseman Bill Hall couldn't handle his grounder to set up Sands' slam to left-center.

Times wires
Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Cubs 11, Mets 1

CHICAGO — Ryan Dempster pitched seven effective innings, Starlin Castro had three hits and three RBIs and the Cubs pounded the Mets. Alfonso Soriano, Darwin Barney and Lou Montanez each had two hits for Chicago, which kicked off a nine-game homestand with its 11th victory in its past 12 games against NL East teams.

Times wires
Tuesday, May 24, 2011

ATLANTA — The Thrashers' sale and move to Winnipeg is still not official, but Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed talked Tuesday as if losing the team is inevitable.

"I think any time we lose a major sports franchise, it is tough," Reed said.

"It is going to hurt the city, but we will withstand it just fine, and we will get through it. We have a lot of positive things going on in the sports franchise space that I think we'll be announcing pretty soon that will offset it a bit."

This would not be the first time longtime Atlanta hockey fans have suffered the pain of losing a team to Canada. Atlanta lost its first NHL team in 1980 when the Flames moved to Calgary.

Reed said the city was willing to work to keep the Thrashers but had no success in its search for a buyer to keep the team in Atlanta. Reed's office has joined the Thrashers' ownership group, Atlanta Spirit, in the search.

"I've been working very hard to be as helpful as I can, but the Thrashers, as you know, are in an extraordinary position because of the amount of the (financial) losses associated with the team," Reed said. "We have not yet seen a path where we can reverse those losses fast enough."

The Thrashers' owners are in talks with True North Sports and Entertainment, which would relocate the team to Winnipeg.

Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz told the National Post in Canada on Tuesday he expects the sale to be final this week.

Atlanta Spirit says the team has lost more than $150 million since 2005.

True North reportedly is willing to pay $110 million for the team and another $60 million to the league as a relocation fee.

Salary cap: The cap will go up next season, possibly to between $60.5 million and $63.5 million, deputy commissioner Bill Daly told the annual conference of the Sports Lawyers Association. The cap, based on hockey-related revenue, was $59.4 million this season. It has gone up each year since the current collective agreement went into effect for the 2005-06 season. The league is expecting to post record revenue of close to $3 billion this season, Daly told the weekend gathering in Washington, in comments reported by the Montreal Gazette. That would be an increase of more than $200 million from the previous season.

Hall of Famer Mikita has cancer: Blackhawks legend Stan Mikita will be treated for Stage 1 oral cancer, the team said. His prognosis is excellent, said his doctor, Richard Borrowdale of Chicago's Loyola Medical Center. Mikita, who turned 71 Friday, led the league in scoring four times and was a two-time winner of the Hart Trophy as the league's most valuable player in playing 22 seasons with Chicago. The Sokolce, Czechoslovakia, native retired during the 1979-80 season and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1983.

Times wires
Tuesday, May 24, 2011

MIAMI — Dwyane Wade was ailing, so LeBron James and Chris Bosh more than picked up the slack.

Then Wade found his groove at the perfect time, and the Heat moved one win away from the NBA Finals.

James scored 35, Bosh added 22 and the Heat overcame an early 11-point deficit to beat the Bulls 101-93 in overtime Tuesday night, taking a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference final.

"We did what we wanted to do, protect homecourt," James said. "We needed extra innings. … It was a great team win."

Game 5 is Thursday in Chicago, when the Heat can wrap up its first Finals trip since 2006.

Wade went scoreless for nearly 33 straight minutes, before making a jumper with 2:08 left in overtime to help Miami keep the lead.

"My teammates told me to stick with it," he said. "I stuck with it and was able to help close it out at the end."

And after James made a contested jumper with 29 seconds remaining for a six-point lead, Wade soared to block Derrick Rose's layup from out of almost nowhere on the next Chicago possession.

At long last, it was over.

Bosh scored the first four points of overtime, and the Heat — now 8-0 at home in the playoffs — never trailed in the extra session. James closed it with two free throws with 1.4 seconds left, his 12th and 13th of the night, all without a miss. Bosh was 10-for-11 from the line, and Miami outscored Chicago 32-17 in that department.

The Heat made its final 24 free throws.

Rose scored 23 for the Bulls, who got 20 apiece from Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer. Chicago has lost three straight for the first time this season.

But what this game will be remembered for was how the Heat rallied around Wade — then watched him save his best for the very end.

Wade made just 5 of 16 shots from the field, lacking his usual lift at the rim. He made a pair of free throws with 1:50 left in the first half for his seventh and eighth points and didn't score again until overtime.

A day after being fined $50,000 for directing an anti-gay slur at a fan in Game 3, Bulls center Joakim Noah had six points and 14 rebounds in 45 minutes. And there seemed to be very little, if any, unusual rancor from Miami fans toward Noah.

Chicago's lead was 46-44 at halftime, after some wild emotional swings — a 19-4 run by the Bulls, followed by a 29-9 spurt for the Heat, then capped by an 18-7 rebuttal by the Bulls to close the second quarter.

Heat 101, Bulls 93 OT

CHICAGO (93): Deng 8-16 2-2 20, Boozer 7-14 6-9 20, Noah 3-10 0-0 6, Rose 8-27 6-7 23, Bogans 2-6 0-0 6, Brewer 2-3 2-3 7, Gibson 0-1 0-0 0, Asik 0-0 0-0 0, Korver 2-6 1-1 5, Watson 3-4 0-0 6. Totals 35-87 17-22 93.

MIAMI (101): James 11-26 13-13 35, Bosh 6-12 10-11 22, Anthony 0-0 2-4 2, Bibby 2-5 0-2 5, Wade 5-16 4-4 14, Haslem 0-5 2-2 2, Miller 5-8 0-0 12, Chalmers 3-3 1-2 9. Totals 32-75 32-38 101.

Chicago 19 27 22 17 8— 93

Miami 16 28 19 22 16— 101

3-Point Goals—Chicago 6-24 (Deng 2-5, Bogans 2-6, Brewer 1-1, Rose 1-9, Korver 0-3), Miami 5-13 (Chalmers 2-2, Miller 2-5, Bibby 1-3, James 0-1, Bosh 0-1, Wade 0-1). Fouled Out—Noah. Rebounds—Chicago 57 (Noah 14), Miami 49 (Haslem, Miller 9). Assists—Chicago 20 (Noah, Rose 6), Miami 12 (James 6). Total Fouls—Chicago 28, Miami 24. Technicals—Miami defensive three second 2. Flagrant Fouls—Boozer. A—20,125 (19,600).

Noah says fine 'fair': Noah said the league's decision to fine him $50,000 for directing an anti-gay slur toward a fan is "fair" and that he should have avoided the situation during Game 3 in Miami. "I made a mistake, learned from it and move on," the former Florida standout said. "That's about it."

Labor saga: The players association filed an unfair labor charge against the league with the National Labor Relations Board, a move it hopes could block a lockout. The union said the league hasn't bargained in good faith, has made financial demands without offering concessions to the players and has bypassed the union to deal with players. The league said the charge has no merit. The sides are trying to reach a deal for a new collective bargaining agreement before the current one expires June 30.

Conference finals

East

Heat 3, Bulls 1

Game 1: Bulls 103, Heat 82

Game 2: Heat 85, Bulls 75

Game 3: Heat 96, Bulls 85

Tuesday: Heat 101, Bulls 93 OT

Thursday: at Chicago, 8:30, TNT

Saturday: at Miami, 8:30, TNT *

Monday: at Chicago, 8:30, TNT *

West

Mavericks 3, Thunder 1

Game 1: Mavericks 121, Thunder 112

Game 2: Thunder 106, Mavericks 100

Game 3: Mavericks 93, Thunder 87

Monday: Mavericks 112, Thunder 105 OT

Tonight: at Dallas, 9, ESPN

Friday: at Oklahoma City, 9, ESPN *

Sunday: at Dallas, 9, ESPN *

* If necessary

Times wires
Tuesday, May 24, 2011

D'backs 5, Rockies 2

Game 2

DENVER — Joe Saunders snapped a personal six-game losing streak and Kelly Johnson homered and drove in two runs as the Diamondbacks earned a doubleheader split. Saunders allowed only solo homers to Jason Giambi, his fifth in less than a week, and former Ray Ty Wigginton. J.J. Putz pitched the ninth for his 13th save in as many chances.

Times wires
Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Brewers 7, Nationals 6

MILWAUKEE — Jonathan Lucroy hit a two-out, two-run single in the eighth and Brandon Boggs collided with catcher Wilson Ramos to score the go-ahead run, rallying the Brewers. Milwaukee has won eight in a row at home, its longest streak in Miller Park's 11 years.

Times wires
Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Athletics 6, Angels 1

ANAHEIM, Calif. — David DeJesus hit two homers and drove in four runs, Guillermo Moscoso pitched six scoreless innings to win his first major-league start, and the Athletics snapped a six-game losing streak. DeJesus doubled his season homer total with a second-inning solo shot and a two-run homer in the fourth off Dan Haren, whose winless streak reached seven starts. Moscoso gave up three hits and never allowed an Angel to reach third base.

Times wires
Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Cardinals 3, Padres 2

11 innings

SAN DIEGO — Daniel Descalso singled in the go-ahead run with two outs in the 11th for the Cardinals. Descalso's sharp one-hopper off the glove of diving second baseman Orlando Hudson scored Allen Craig, who drew a leadoff walk and stole second.

Times wires
Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Marlins 5, Giants 1

SAN FRANCISCO — Ricky Nolasco pitched scoreless ball into the ninth inning and the Marlins quieted the streaking Giants. Gaby Sanchez had a three-run double and Mike Stanton hit his 11th home run of the season to help the Marlins snap the Giants' nine-game home winning streak. Omar Infante had three singles and Sanchez finished with three hits to chase Giants starter Matt Cain after six innings. Florida has won three of its past four.

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Just days after making an official campus visit to USF, former Florida Gators running back Mike Blakely has made a decision about where he'll go to school -- all I know initially is that it isn't the USF Bulls.

Joe Kinnan, his coach at Bradenton Manatee, said Wednesday morning that Blakely has enrolled in classes at an out-of-state four-year school. "It happened quickly," said Kinnan, who had expected Blakely to be making an official visit to Southern Cal this coming weekend.

USF already picked up one Florida transfer in receiver Chris Dunkley, and Blakely would have been a talented addition to a deep Bulls backfield. We should have news shortly on where Blakely will wind up -- much of the speculation on Twitter is surrounding Auburn, though it would be interesting to see how a direct transfer from one SEC school to another is handled by the league.

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 25, 2011

The next phase of Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Aqib Talib's legal issue comes today, when evidence will be presented to a Dallas County grand jury. To that end, here's what you need to know if this is a story you're following.

There is no finding of guilt or innocence at this point. The district attorney's office simply presents evidence to jurors to consider in deciding whether the case should move forward. The threshold is quite low, unlike that in a conventional jury trial where the bar is set at beyond reasonable doubt. The grand jury is not determining whether Talib committed assault with a deadly weapon, as he is accused. They are merely deciding whether he should face the charges. If jurors are satisfied, they return an indictment.

Today's hearing stems from an incident in late March involving Talib, his mother, Okolo, and his sister's allegedly abusive boyfriend. Talib and his mother are accused by investigators of firing a handgun at the boyfriend during a scuffle.

Talib will not be required to appear at today's hearing, a court official said.

As for the news of a decision, it won't come right away. That could take a day or more to become public. Stay tuned to tampabay.com for further information.

By Jim Tomlin, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 25, 2011

On Monday, St. Petersburg resident Dan Wheldon came back to his adopted hometown for a quick media tour, two days after he qualified sixth for the Indianapolis 500. Sunday's race is the native Englishman's first this year; the 2005 Indy 500 and IndyCar series champion is without a full-time ride. He talked about favorite hangouts, enjoying time at home, and shaking off Versus commentator Bob Jenkins' comment that Wheldon, at 33, had gray hair.

I'm just looking here, what was Jenkins talking about? I don't see any gray.

Yeah, that was on Saturday. I had to correct him. I was in the booth with him (for a guest shot) and I said, "Gray? That old?" So he apologized, he said I was his son. (Laughs) No, he's a good guy.

And you're going to be doing some TV work with Versus coming up?

Yeah, they announced that without my signature on the contract yet. But yeah, that's the intention. I'm actually going to do Texas, Iowa and Toronto. Unless any opportunities come up in the series itself but right now I've committed to them for that. I'll be honest, it's not my No. 1 choice, I'd much prefer to be in the race car. But it'll be a fun thing to do.

I think maybe what Bob was referring to is that you're a veteran who knows his way around a Brickyard. In qualifying, a lot of guys with one-off deals not only qualified on the first day but qualified comfortably, top half of the field. Is it just experience at the Brickyard that makes the difference?

That's a good question. I've won Indianapolis before, Buddy Rice has won Indianapolis before, Townsend Bell goes very well around Indy. The car has been the same for a while, you've got the same Honda engine, a consistent tire, so if you collaborate with a good team — it's not easy to get back into. But I think I was flat-out around there after about three laps (in practice). For me, I feel very comfortable around the track. In the environment created for me by Bryan Herta Autosport, it's not only an environment I'm very happy in but it's also got great people. Bryan is different to most. He's very up front, he's very honest. He's obviously a very good friend, he's been a teammate. When I received some offers to do Indianapolis, I ran it by him and asked him flat-out, do you think I'll have a car that can contend, and he told me yes and so I believed him.

Is your attitude or mental approach toward Indy different after missing the first few races of the year?

No, I think the mental approach was the same. I think not racing the first four races and having that time off since (the 2010 finale at) Homestead, it's the first time ever in my career that I have been in that situation. It was good in a way. A lot of people are like, "It was good? How can it be good?" Well, I have been in IndyCar nearly 10 years now. … I got to spend some quality time with the family and my wife and I had another son (their second, Oliver). I got to go back to Europe to see my mother and father and brothers and sister. I got to do things like regular people do. So yeah, it was bad for me (not to race) but I've still been blessed with a great life.

The St. Petersburg race is your hometown race now. Looking back, how difficult was it to miss out?

It was very difficult, to the point that I didn't want to be there on Sunday. I was born and raised in England but the people in this city have adopted me. I have so much support. The people there were absolutely fantastic toward me. On things like Twitter as well the people were so nice. I'm not going to lie, it was incredibly difficult, you almost feel out of place.

Where did you wind up on race day?

At my house, with my wife and some friends. We could hear them (racing). And I know enough about race day to know that the owners and the drivers, they're focused on their deal, so I didn't want to be in anybody's way either.

I saw you hanging out in the Ganassi pits on Saturday.

Yeah, I've got a great relationship with that team (which Wheldon drove for from 2006 to '08). Scott Dixon's a good friend. I went to Long Beach as well and that's where I ended up watching.

Speaking of Twitter, you have been talking up the Lightning a little bit. Have you been able to go to any games?

No, I haven't and I'm so bummed about it. It's funny, but even with one race the preparation is unbelievable. Actually (my trainer in Tampa) and I wanted to grab a sandwich so we stopped by The Garage (Bar and Grill). They always laugh at me when I go, it's called the gar-AZH but I call it the GAR-azh, so everybody laughs at me. But we watched them win. (The Lightning) are impressive, they've been on the ropes a couple of times but they fought through it. And I've been to a couple of functions where Mr. Lecavalier has been there. He seems like a very nice guy and a great leader of that team.

Any favorite spots around here?

I always go to Lonni's for lunch. The Powerhouse Gym in Tampa. Then we go to the GAR-azh or gar-AZH, whatever you want to call it. I guess I go to Bella Brava and I spend a lot of time at the Vinoy. And I'm always at Dunkin' Donuts, I like coffee. And I love their coffee. So I go there a lot, the one on Fourth Street, all the girls know me there. When they hear my voice, because they know my accent, they (say), "Oh, it's you Dan?" That's about it, I guess I'm at my accountant's office a lot.

What's the thing you look for that's different at Indy when you go there with a new team?

It's different at Indy because you get more time to work with a new group. So that's helped. Because of my relationship with Bryan, it's almost like the mechanics feed off that. … More so for the guys than me, the biggest thing is going to be pit stops. They've not been doing pit stops. And obviously they're incredibly important at Indianapolis. So that's going to be tough.

Can you describe the collaboration between Bryan Herta and Sam Schmidt?

Our garages are next to one another. It's the Bryan Herta Autosport guys, it's Bruno Junqueira's car (from last year's 500). My guys put that together with the assistance of their guys. But from an engineering standpoint … we all debrief as one, and that would be myself, (pole-sitter) Alex Tagliani and Townsend Bell. It's worked out well, Bryan has a relationship with (lead engineer) Allen McDonald, I've had a relationship with Allen McDonald, I get along well with Alex and Townsend, so it's been a very open environment that's been good for all of us.

You've never been in that bump day situation of wondering if you're going to make the field. (Including this year, in his nine starts at Indy his worst spot on the grid was 18th.) Can you empathize with the drivers going through it?

Oh man. I definitely wouldn't want to be part of that. I was in the pit lane a lot and just seeing the stress on people's faces. It was unbelievable. You're talking big names. It was incredibly intense. I was helping a little bit on the broadcast with Versus, and when Danica (Patrick) went on the track, we were all quiet. Because if Danica didn't make the race it would be unbelievable. … I watched the Super Bowl and the Super Bowl was nowhere as exciting as (Sunday).

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 25, 2011

The Tampa Bay Rays-Detroit Tigers game is in a rain delay, the Rays trailing 2-0 with Detroit batting in the third.

The Tigers scored both runs in the first inning. Austin Jackson and Don Kelly greeted Rays starter Andy Sonnanstine with consecutive singles. Jackson moved to third on a fly out and scored on a wild pitch. Victor Martinez's single to left then scored Kelly.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 25, 2011

After being delayed for more than two hours, the Tampa Bay Rays' game in Detroit on Wednesday was called off. It was rescheduled for June 13.

The inconvenience aside, it probably wasn't a bad thing for the Rays as they were trailing 2-0 with the Tigers threatening again in the third inning when play was called.

When this game is made up it will be played over from the start, so it will be like Andy Sonnanstine never pitched and Johnny Damon didn't get his 2,621st career hit.

The Rays have already had one rainout in Boston that is set to be made up on Aug. 16. Another in Minnesota has already been made up.

The new date extends one of the Rays longer trips, as they now will go from Seattle to Anaheim to Baltimore and then to Detroit for the one game, at 7:05.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 25, 2011

DETROIT — Given the situation at the time, trailing 2-0 in the third inning and having sat idle for more than two hours as heavy rains fell, the Rays weren't too disappointed that Wednesday's game was eventually called off.

"You never know if the Rays were going to come back in that game, either," manager Joe Maddon said, "but it's not a bad thing."

They weren't too pleased, however, with the decision by the Tigers and MLB to make up the game June 13 — tacked on to an already taxing road trip to Seattle, Anaheim and Baltimore that now will last 11 games and 12 days, and just before they open a big series at home with the Red Sox. Worse for the Rays, the Tigers, in the middle of a homestand, chose a 7:05 p.m. start time.

"You've got to be kidding me," CF B.J. Upton said. "That's exactly what we want. Appreciate it. But what's new? We don't expect anything else. It doesn't surprise us."

Maddon shrugged off the inconvenience — "What are you gonna do?" — which included the loss of a day off at home, and tried to find a positive: "We've got some guys that have been struggling a bit; maybe by the time this game is replayed we'll be a little bit friskier at the plate."

The Rays also could be doing better overall: They've lost eight of their past 11 and were 2-5 on the road trip, their worst since 2009. "It's been a tough trip, but it's not been a horrible trip," Maddon said. "We lost some games but we haven't been playing bad, not at all."

The Rays are also at the end of a stretch of playing 16 games in 16 days in five cities.

There weren't many other options for the makeup. Both teams are off June 23, but with a previous rainout already rescheduled for June 27, the Tigers would then have played 27 days in a row, exceeding the permitted 20. Another option was July 14, which would have shortened the All-Star break by one day.

SONNY'S DAY: RHP Andy Sonnanstine allowed six singles to the 13 batters he faced and threw a wild pitch that scored a run during 21/3 innings, but he said he took some positives out of what was his fourth start in place of injured RHP Jeff Niemann, specifically the control of his two-seam fastball to right-handers.

"I'm just going to look back on today as a confidence builder," he said.

IT NEVER HAPPENED: The game will be replayed from the start on June 13, so nothing that happened Wednesday counts, including what would have been Johnny Damon's 2,621st career hit. "That's all part of it," he said. "We come back here, so maybe there's a few hits in that game."

ROSTER SHUFFLE: INF Elliot Johnson was officially placed on the DL, retroactive to Tuesday, with a left knee sprain and is expected to be ready when eligible to return June 8, Maddon said.

SS Reid Brignac was reinstated from the bereavement list following the Saturday death of his paternal grandfather, Roger Brignac, who was 90.

Brignac said he found out via Twitter that Johnson was hurt Monday and had just said something to his parents about potentially rejoining the team early when travel director Jeff Ziegler called with that plan. Brignac attended the funeral on Tuesday in Louisiana then flew to Detroit.

"I was ready to come back at that point," he said. "It was an emotional couple days and I'm just happy to be back around these guys."

Brignac and Sean Rodriguez will share time at shortstop based on matchups, Maddon said.

A NEW ARM: The Rays claimed RHP Jay Buente — the only pitcher they've beaten the last week — off waivers from the Marlins, with plans for him to join the Triple-A Durham rotation.

Buente, 27, was impressive at Triple A for the Marlins, going 3-0, 1.94 in 10 games (five starts). Not so much in the majors, where he is 0-1, 7.07 in nine appearances.

To make room on the 40-man roster, RHP Rob Delaney was designated for assignment. Delaney, who had a 13.50 in three games for the Rays, was solid in Durham.

MISCELLANY: Maddon wants to see more of Rodriguez against right-handed pitchers since he added a leg kick that has improved his timing at the plate and made him more selective. … Maddon also said he will look to rest OF Sam Fuld more given the quality of his recent at-bats after days off. … Among other problems on the trip, the Rays left the bases loaded five times and were 1-for-11.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 25, 2011

The Tampa Bay Lightning could very well be without the top goal scorer in the playoffs in tonight's Game 6 of the Eastern Conference final with the Bruins. Wing Sean Bergenheim, who has nine goals and missed the second and third periods of Game 5 with an undisclosed injury, is a game-time decision, coach Guy Boucher said.

Bergenheim skated on his own, mostly in circles, Wednesday morning. Asked later in the hallway outside the locker room at the St. Pete Times Forum if he could say anything about how he feels or if he will play, Bergenheim simply shrugged his shoulders and kept walking.

Boucher did not sound encouraging, either.

"We have to wait," he said. "The doctors are looking at him now and we have to wait until tonight, and then make a game-time decision."

It appeared Bergenheim was hurt when checked behind the Bruins net in the first period by defenseman Dennis Seidenberg. But Boucher indicated the injury is not acute but something that had been lingering and was aggravated.

If Bergenheim can't go, Boucher said he either will put in Dana Tyrell, who has missed 11 of the past 12 playoff games because of either a foot injury or illness, or a seventh defenseman, likely Randy Jones, who has missed the past three games because of a lingering high ankle sprain.

Either way, Boucher said, "When you take somebody out that's been a big part of our playoffs, it does take some chemistry out, and I gotta find that."

Other stuff from the morning: As expected, Dwayne Roloson gets the start in net for Tampa Bay. ... Unusual for a coach to address a referee, but Boucher did comment, indirectly, of course, on Game 6 referee Eric Furlatt. In the past four Lightning games in which Furlatt refereed, penalties are 29-14 against Tampa Bay. "Yes, I'm aware of it, very aware of it," Boucher said without mentioning any names. "It has been a part of our discussions quite a few times in the last games we did have that particular ref, and it is lopsided. But the only thing we can control is what we do on the ice and hope things will be fair like it is with everybody else." Boucher added that "you want to ignore it but you're right, after repetition it is a concern. But we're planning on being strong mentally and forcing whoever is the ref to see that we're very disciplined." ... Bruins coach Claude Julien had a good take on the difference in preparing for Roloson or Mike Smith in net. "We know that Smith is a great puck-handler and he likes to come out of his net. He likes to play the puck. If we didn't get good line changes, he could make us pay for it. That's an adjustment you make. We prepared for either/or last game. It really didn't matter. Tonight, knowing that it's Roloson, I don't think it changes much in our approach. But we do know there are certain things we can and cannot do. They each have their strengths and they each have their weaknesses and it's up to us to exploit those weaknesses." ... Sounds as if this series goes to a seventh game, the Stanley Cup final would begin Wednesday in Vancouver. If the Bruins win tonight and clinch, a Monday start is more likely. Nothing in stone, though.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 25, 2011

The Tampa Bay Rays claimed RHP Jay Buente off waivers from the Marlins and option him to Durham, designate RHP Rob Delaney for assignment.

Buente pitched against the Rays in Miami on Sunday, and not well. He is the only pitcher the Rays have beaten in the last six games.

Buente, 27, was designated for assignment by the Marlins on Tuesday. He was 3-0 with a 1.94 ERA at Triple-A, making five relief appearances and then five starts. He spent part of 2010 with the Marlins, making eight relief apperances. In nine big-league games he is 0-1 with a 7.07 ERA. He was a 14th round pick in 2006.

Delaney, who the Rays claimed on waivers from the Twins before the season, was not impressive during a brief stint with the Rays (13.50 ERA in three games), though he was 1-0, 2.57 in 14 games at Durham.

By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 25, 2011

For most of us, picking the golf balls we use is about as scientific as grabbing a few from the bargain bin or playing ones we find on the course. But not all golf balls are created equal.

It is true that they are all 1.68 inches in diameter. After that, things get complicated. There are different designs, different covers, different compressions and different dimple patterns. Golf balls are made for certain swings, so if you want to shave some strokes it is important to find the right ball.

It may take some trial and error, but here is some information to make your selection a little easier:

Kinds of golf balls

Two piece

It is a simple rubber core surrounded by a plastic or urethane cover. These balls are the easiest to find. They typically have low spin and are made for more distance.

Who should use them: The beginner or average hacker with a 20 or higher handicap.

Suggested two piece balls: There are many on the market. Bridgestone, Callaway, Titleist, MaxFli, Nike, Pinnacle, Srixon, Precept, Wilson, Slazenger and Top Flite are some main brands with good two piece balls.

Average cost: $10-$15 per dozen.

Three piece

Take the two piece ball and add another cover (either an enhance rubber or a liquid) between the rubber core and the outer cover. It is supposed to give more spin control for golfers who not only want distance, but a soft touch on the greens.

Who should use them: The mid-range golfer who can shoot in the 70s or 80s and can hit a target fairly consistently.

Suggested three piece balls: We found the Srixon Trispeed and Bridgestone e6 to be highly recommended in this range.

Average cost: $25-$30 per dozen.

Four piece

It has a two piece core, a thin mantle layer and then a urethane cover. These balls are not necessarily used for distance, but they are susceptible to spin. When Tiger Woods spins a ball back 15 feet at the Masters, he's using a four piece ball.

Who should use them: Professionals or low handicap golfers.

Suggested four piece balls: Titleist is a leader in the market. The Titleist Pro V1 is one of the most played balls by low handicap players. Srixon, Nike, Callaway and Bridgestone are also well played.

Average cost: $40-$45 per dozen.

Compression

When a golf ball is struck at impact it compresses, or squishes, before jumping off the club. Golf balls have compressions between 70 (hackers) and 110 (professionals). The lower the number the less club speed it takes to compress the ball. The number is either stamped on the ball or on the package. Compression doesn't matter as much as it used to due to technology, but it is a factor. If your club speed isn't fast enough to compress the ball, it can feel like a rock coming off the club.

Is there really a ladies-only golf ball?

Coloring a golf ball pink doesn't make it a ladies golf ball. It's all marketing. A ladies ball is simply a low compression ball designed for slower swings. These balls are sold to male golfers as well, but they are called "Laddies'' by some companies. And FYI, not all ladies have to use ladies golf balls. Michelle Wie hits a Nike 20XI, which is a four piece high compression ball.

And then there's these balls…

The Polara Golf Ball

Target golfer: The slicer.

Advantage: The ball has a dimple pattern that creates a horizontal spin when struck by a golfer who tends to slice. There are shallow dimples around the center of the ball and deeper dimples on each end. The shallow dimples create less lift, and with less lift there is less of a chance of the ball moving left or right of the target. The deeper dimples work with the shallow ones to create less drag, so the outcome is a lower, straighter trajectory. The Polara also has a line on the ball that faces the target when teed up.

Disadvantage: The ball is not going to carry as far as a normal ball. And when the ball is in the fairway, it is not likely to be lined up properly toward the target. So unless it's illegally moved, slicers are on their own for the next shots. And the ball is not approved by the USGA.

Cost: About $30 per dozen.

Volvik Crystal Golf Balls

Target golfer: Legally blind.

Advantage: The balls are brightly colored and easy to see off the tee and in the fairway. Some are multi-colored. They come in all types of styles, but most are two piece balls geared toward average golfers. There are also low compression balls for slower swings.

Disadvantage: They look like a ball you would get at a putt-putt course, but if they help a sight-impaired golfer play the game it doesn't really matter.

Cost: $14.99 per dozen.

The Floater Golf Ball

Target golfer: Those who tend to find the water hazards no matter what, or those who own driving ranges with lakes or ponds.

Advantage: You don't ever have to worry about losing a ball in the lake again. It is a two-piece ball with a low density solid center that allows it to float.

Disadvantage: You do have to take the heat from fellow players when you tee up a ball that says "Floater'' on it. They don't travel as far as a regular ball. And boy would it be embarrassing to lose your floater ball in the woods.

Cost: About $3 apiece.

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 25, 2011

TAMPA — Several prominent players have been in attendance at the team's unofficial lockout workouts this week, including ringleader Josh Freeman, tight end Kellen Winslow and even rookie tight end Luke Stocker.

Perhaps the most surprising appearance, however, was that of second-year receiver Arrelious Benn. Not long ago — December, to be exact — Benn was hobbling around the Bucs' locker room after sustaining a torn ACL in Week 16.

Yet, here he was on a steamy Tampa practice field, less than six months later, catching balls from Freeman and backups Josh Johnson and Rudy Carpenter. It was, to say the least, a surprise. Turns out, even Benn is taken aback at his rapid recovery from an injury that often requires nine months or more of intense rehab.

"I'm new to the knee injury thing, but for the most part, I didn't think that I'd be back this fast," Benn said. "I kind of feel like it never happened. But I have to be smart. I still have things coming back together in my knee. I might not feel it, but I'm young right now, so I heal fast."

And therein lies the challenge: Knowing how much is too much. Benn is working with personal trainers who have been overseeing his rehab since the Bucs cannot do so because of lockout rules that prohibit teams from having contact with their players during the work stoppage.

But Benn said his trainers have cleared him to run, which he has done impressively during workouts. He said he doesn't have full clearance to make sudden changes of direction, which would put stress on the reconstructed knee ligament.

Then again, it sure seemed like Benn was making at least a few cuts.

"On my good leg," he joked. "But for the most part, I'm trying to take it slow and be smart."

When the subject of training camp was raised, Benn said he intends to be ready to participate if the traditional schedule is maintained. But he added that he would have to defer to the Bucs once the lockout ends, because he'll again be under the team's care.

After a rough few months, there's one thing Benn is sure of. "I hate being injured," he said.

At this rate, Benn will be able to rid himself of that label sooner rather than later.