Quantcast
Channel: Tampabay.com: Sports
Viewing all 18574 articles
Browse latest View live

Brewers 7, Reds 2

0
0

Times wires
Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Brewers 7, Reds 2

CINCINNATI — Corey Hart, who missed two games last weekend with a stomach illness, homered and drove in four runs on a muggy night, helping the Brewers break a six-game losing streak in Cincinnati. Milwaukee, which had lost 12 of its past 13 at Great American Ball Park, improved to 9-18 on the road overall. Hart hit a three-run homer off Chad Reineke and later singled in a run.


Pirates 5, Mets 1

0
0

Times wires
Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Pirates 5, Mets 1

NEW YORK — Neil Walker hit a two-run single in the eighth off a hobbled R.A. Dickey to help the Pirates rally. Josh Harrison, making his big-league debut, hit a tying single with two outs in the eighth off Dickey, pitching through a right foot injury. Pittsburgh's James McDonald gave up his only run on an infield dribbler. Pirates starters have allowed two earned runs or fewer in 12 straight games.

Tigers 8, Twins 7

0
0

Times wires
Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Tigers 8, Twins 7

DETROIT — Brennan Boesch broke an eighth-inning tie with a sacrifice fly, and the Tigers held on. After Danny Worth led off the Detroit eighth with a single, Austin Jackson bunted. Twins reliever Phil Dumatrait tried to get the force but threw late and wildly to second. Casper Wells bunted the runners to second and third before Boesch hit a fly ball to right.

Atlanta Thrashers sale, move to Winnipeg set; how it affects divisional rival Tampa Bay Lightning

0
0

Times wires
Tuesday, May 31, 2011

ATLANTA — There was little reaction in this city to the news Tuesday the Thrashers were sold to a Winnipeg group that will move the team to that city, other than a tearful news conference held by outgoing co-owner Michael Gearon.

Gearon said the ownership group, which also controls the NBA's Hawks and Philips Arena, did all it could to find someone who would help keep the financially ailing team in the city but no one made a serious offer.

"To be sitting here today is just awful for me," said Gearon, who broke down several times as he met with a small group of media at the arena.

The Winnipeg group, True North Sports and Entertainment, announced the deal at a news conference at the city's MTS Centre, where the team will play. The news sparked a raucous celebration in Manitoba's largest city, which rejoins the league after losing the Jets to Phoenix in 1996. No decision has been announced on the team's name.

The league's owners must approve the sale and relocation, but that's expected to be a formality at a June 21 meeting. The deal is reportedly worth $170 million, including a $60 million relocation fee the other owners would split.

"It's nice to be back in Winnipeg after all these years," said commissioner Gary Bettman at the Winnipeg news conference.

The relocation was allowed only after the Atlanta ownership decided to sell even if meant the team's departure, he said. "We don't like to move a franchise. We're not happy about leaving Atlanta," he said.

The Atlanta owners were heavily criticized for how they ran the Thrashers, who made one playoff appearance in 11 seasons and didn't win a playoff game. The owners were plagued by financial problems, and attendance became a major issue. The team averaged fewer than 14,000 a game this season, 28th out of 30 teams.

The news was bittersweet for the players. They thanked the Atlanta fans on Twitter and in the media, and said they felt bad for them but were excited about playing in Canada.

"It's four sports in Atlanta, and we were No. 4, I think," said Czech goalie Ondrej Pavelec, who has made all 119 of his career appearance as a Thrasher. He told the Canadian Press he likes Atlanta but "the people … like baseball, they like American football. … Everyone knows we had problems (getting) the fans to watch our games. I think for hockey it's a good thing."

lightning connections: The move is expected to result in some conference-division realignment but not for next season. The team is expected to play 2011-12 in the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division with the Lightning and move in 2012-13 to a geographically friendly division in the West. One team from the West then is expected to move to the East (candidates mentioned are Nashville, Detroit and Columbus), but the league is keeping its realignment options open. … The Lightning said a preseason game scheduled in Winnipeg next season will not happen.

Times staff writer Damian Cristodero contributed to this report.

Tampa Bay Rays to stick with best-player-available strategy in next week's draft

0
0

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 31, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — With 10 of the first 60 picks (and 12 of the first 89) in next week's draft, the Rays can consider a variety of strategies as they take advantage of an unprecedented opportunity to stock their farm system with premium prospects.

But, top team officials said Tuesday, their basic philosophy won't change.

"We're still going to focus on the best player available," executive vice president Andrew Friedman said. "We've spent a lot of time, (scouting director R.J. Harrison) and his staff have done a tremendous job evaluating these players, getting the information on their makeup and everything, so that collectively we can put them in order, and I can't see a reason why we would stray from that."

So though it could make sense to take chances on higher-risk/reward prospects, or gamble on a few seeking excessive bonuses, or spend a few picks to fill specific needs, or stock up on arms given the depth of hard-throwing pitchers, the Rays say they will simply focus on the top player on their board, starting with the No. 24 pick.

Since it will take four to five years to see how they did, and their needs may change, the Rays will focus on adding premium prospects to their already deep farm system.

"That's the goal every year, to add as many good guys as we can," Harrison said. "We just get more swings this year."

LOCAL TIE: Harrison was reluctant to be specific on any prospect, especially one who could be a first-round pick, but called Alonso High pitcher Jose Fernandez "a good prospect" and said "certainly we've seen him, we've scouted him, we've done a good job evaluating him."

Nowitzki tears tendon in a finger

0
0

Times wires
Tuesday, May 31, 2011

MIAMI — Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki tore a tendon in his left index finger during Game 1 of the NBA Finals and will wear a splint to protect it the rest of the series.

Nowitzki was hurt trying to swipe the ball from the Heat's Chris Bosh in the fourth quarter Tuesday night. The injury frightened him at first because he was unable to straighten the finger.

Nowitzki said an X-ray showed no broken bones. He is right-handed, so he uses his left hand mostly to guide his shots. He said he doesn't expect the injury or the bandage to be an issue.

Stern: Reaching deal will be 'a challenge'

MIAMI — It will be "a challenge" to reach a deal for a new collective bargaining agreement before the current one expires at the end of the month, commissioner David Stern said.

The league is trying to do that, though, scheduling a negotiating session with representatives from the players association today to precede two meetings set up for next week, he said.

Owners are seeking major financial changes to the deal that expires June 30. Without an agreement, the owners could lock out the players.

Magic still Howard's first choice: Center Dwight Howard indicated Monday that his strong preference is to remain with the Magic rather than test free agency. His contract runs through the 2012-13 season, but he can terminate the deal one year early and become a free agent in 2012.

Lakers: New coach Mike Brown made it clear during his introduction as Phil Jackson's successor that Kobe Bryant's role as team leader won't change. "This is still his team," said Brown, 41.

Rockets: Hall of Famer Kevin McHale agreed to become coach.

Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon tweaks rotation to line up aces for big games

0
0

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 31, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — The idea behind the unexpected shuffle of the Rays rotation was long-term, to maximize the matchups in future series, such as having top starters David Price and James Shields in line to face the Red Sox in a few weeks.

The short-term result, however, is that thus-far ineffective RHP Andy Sonnanstine will make a fifth start Friday in Seattle, and the bullpen will be a man short for most of the next week.

"There's a lot of little tomfoolery going on there to try to set it up the way we wanted to,'' manager Joe Maddon said.

The addition of the June 13 makeup game in Detroit forced the re-shuffling, as the Rays clearly want to keep Price and Shields on a specific schedule, though Maddon declined to reveal much more about the plan beyond this weekend.

Shields will face Seattle RHP Felix Hernandez in an aces-high matchup on Thursday, then Sonnanstine will pitch Friday with RHP Jeremy Hellickson moved back one day to Saturday and RHP Wade Davis to Sunday.

Price will start on Monday in Anaheim, then the Rays will look at further tweaking and making use of the June 9 off day — perhaps pushing Shields back a day to June 8 in Anaheim so he could face the Red Sox in the June 14 series opener on five days' rest, with Price in line for the June 16 finale. July matchups with the Cardinals and Yankees were also part of their plan.

Maddon admitted a big part of the shuffle "was to put Shields and Price in the optimal position against the other teams.''

A decision will be made between RHP Alex Cobb and Sonnanstine for the temporary fifth spot, with the expected late June return of RHP Jeff Niemann also factored in.

"We're going to move things around, and there's going to be other movement is my point,'' Maddon said. "So I'm not ready to announce all the movement. That's the only part of the movement I want to announce right now.''

They decided to make the initial adjustment sooner than later and picked what could be a good spot to use Sonnanstine: against a Mariners team that ranks last in the league in hitting and home runs, and in spacious Safeco Field.

Sonnanstine seemed headed back to long relief when Cobb was recalled to start Tuesday, but the Rays are willing to do without and go with a six-man bullpen. Since Cobb, who threw 99 pitches over 61/3 innings, wouldn't start again until next Tuesday at the earliest, he could be available in relief during a couple of the interim days.

REHAB REPORT: Niemann will start a three-game rehab assignment Friday with the Class A Stone Crabs in Port Charlotte, throwing 60 pitches or four innings. Niemann, out since May 4 with a lower back strain, is expected to make two more starts for Triple-A Durham.

MEDICAL MATTERS: 1B Casey Kotchman's sprained right ankle was feeling better, good enough that he was considered available to pinch-hit Tuesday. … INF Elliot Johnson's sprained left knee has improved enough that he will accompany the Rays on their 12-day road trip with the expectation he'll be ready on or shortly after June 8, the first day he can return from the DL.

MAY DAYS: OF Matt Joyce's .414 May average and .782 slugging percentage were the best in club history and Hellickson's 1.36 ERA trailed only Scott Kazmir's 1.22 in 2008.

MISCELLANY: DH Johnny Damon extended his streak of reaching base to 25 games, the second longest active streak in the majors behind Florida's Logan Morrison's 31. … The Rays got just their fifth win of the season while being out-hit. … Texas' two stolen bases were the first against the Rays in 11 games. … With 3B Evan Longoria going back to the cleanup spot after three days at leadoff, Maddon moved slumping Ben Zobrist to the top spot to see if it helped him. Zobrist went 0-for-4. … SS Sean Rodriguez called his team record-tying three-error game Monday "just one of those days, I guess.''

Padres 5, Braves 4

0
0

Times wires
Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Padres 5, Braves 4

ATLANTA — Ryan Ludwick had an RBI single in a three-run seventh, Heath Bell struggled to earn a fourth straight save and the Padres won their season-high fourth straight game. San Diego hadn't won four in a row since a five-game streak Aug. 15-19. It also took a series from the Braves for the second time in its past 13 tries.


Cardinals 4, Giants 3

0
0

Times wires
Tuesday, May 31, 2011

ST. LOUIS — Skip Schumaker's infield RBI hit capped a three-run eighth inning and took tough-luck Chris Carpenter off the hook in the Cardinals' 4-3 victory over the Giants on Tuesday night.

Albert Pujols and Allen Craig hit RBI doubles in the eighth before Schumaker, who had been in a 2 for 19 slump, got the go-ahead single off Javier Lopez on a well-placed grounder between first and second. Schumaker's headfirst dive into the bag beat the throw from second baseman Freddy Sanchez, who went far to his left to glove the ball.

Ryan Vogelsong had his fifth straight solid outing in place of injured Barry Zito. Vogelsong had been 1-4 with an 8.49 ERA in 14 career games against St. Louis.

Carpenter worked with runners in scoring position in four of his five innings but avoided losing four straight decisions for the first time since 2002 with Toronto.

Astros 7, Cubs 3

0
0

Times wires
Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Astros 7, Cubs 3

CHICAGO — Cubs closer Carlos Marmol blew his third save, allowing six runs in the ninth as the Astros rallied. Matt Downs' pinch-hit, two-run double tied it, and Michael Bourn singled in the go-ahead run. Houston got seven brilliant innings from Jordan Lyles in his major-league debut.

Tampa Bay Rays: Ben Zobrist goes back to school; Rays about to launch epic road trip

0
0

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Rays vs. Rangers

When/where: 1:10 today; Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg

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

Starting pitchers

RAYS: LH David Price (6-4, 3.54)

RANGERS: RH Colby Lewis (4-5, 3.90)

Tickets: $9-$210 at Tropicana Field box office, Ticketmaster, raysbaseball.com, team store in Tampa, $3 surcharge within five hours of game.

Watch for …

Price-busters: The Rangers have had their way with Price, who is 0-2, 7.45 against them in four regular-season starts and was winless in two 2010 playoff starts for an overall mark of 0-4, 6.47.

Cool Colby: Lewis has been pitching better, going 3-2, 2.40 over his past six starts, though he shares the AL lead in homers allowed (13). He is 2-0 despite a 7.71 ERA in three games against the Rays and had a no-decision in Game 3 of the ALDS.

Key matchups

Rays vs. Lewis

Johnny Damon 3-for-10

Casey Kotchman 2-for-10

Rangers vs. Price

Adrian Beltre 2-for-11

Josh Hamilton 1-for-6

Ian Kinsler 2-for-6

On deck

Thursday: at Mariners, 10:10, Sun Sports. Rays — James Shields (5-3, 2.15); Mariners — Felix Hernandez (5-4, 3.19)

Friday: at Mariners, 10:10, Sun Sports. Rays — Andy Sonnanstine (0-1, 4.39); Mariners — Jason Vargas (3-3, 4.50)

School days for Zobrist

2B/RF Ben Zobrist called Tuesday's visit to Skyview Elementary "pretty awesome" as he visited with Kaleb Gates' second-grade class for the Take Zobrist to School promotion. Zobrist spoke at an assembly, took a few laps on the school track, played football and had lunch in the school cafeteria. "I had some corn-dog poppers, a little vegetable medley and chocolate milk,'' Zobrist said. "I was a happy camper.''

Road tripping

The Rays leave after today's game for a four-city, 11-game, 12-day, 7,208-mile trip that takes them to Seattle, Anaheim, Baltimore and Detroit (for a one-game makeup). It is their longest trip by games since September 2009, when they went 2-9 in New York, Boston and Baltimore (with two doubleheaders), and their longest by days since August 2005, when they went 6-6 to Texas, Anaheim, Baltimore and Cleveland.

Miami Heat beats Dallas Mavericks 92-84 to take 1-0 lead in NBA Finals

0
0

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 31, 2011

MIAMI — There might be nothing more deflating than to play 40-plus minutes of tight defense against the best the NBA has to offer, only to have to do it again with the game on the line and the ball in the hands of the Heat's LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

The Mavericks did all they could Tuesday to prevent the sort of highlight-reel plays the pair had in the closing moments of Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

But James and Wade made up for nearly four frustrating quarters against stifling defense with three minutes of greatness, giving the Heat a 92-84 victory.

"That's who they've been their entire careers," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

"I just was aggressive," Wade said. "We understand that this is the kind of game we wanted to play. … You know they wasn't scoring a lot on us, and offensively we just executed."

But if Game 1 is a preview of what is to come, this matchup will prove as exhausting as it is bruising.

On this night, the Heat was the survivor, though no one on the roster would say it came easy.

Wade nailed a jumper after crossing over Jason Kidd for Miami's largest lead to that point, 77-70, following that with a 3-pointer over Kidd for a nine-point lead.

With 2:45 left, James seemed to eliminate any doubt of a Dallas comeback with his two-handed slam and three-point play. The pair capped it with a Wade-to-James alley-oop that James slammed through with 40.6 seconds left.

This was exactly the sort of thing the Heat envisioned when this roster featuring James, Wade and Chris Bosh was assembled.

Miami, after shooting 44 percent throughout the playoffs, converted just 37 percent of its first-half attempts and 38 percent for the game. That included a 3-for-10 start by Wade, who had struggled but refused to attribute to his bothersome left shoulder.

Meanwhile, Mavs star forward Dirk Nowitzki (27 points, 7-of-18 shooting) began by hitting just two of his first seven attempts. The Heat was consistently successful in preventing open shots from the Mavs' German sensation. And the 7-footer couldn't initially find his stroke.

Miami skillfully denied Nowitzki the ball and, when he managed to get it, two defenders came barreling toward him.

Outside of Bosh's success in the post (13 first-half points) and a handful of 3-pointers from the Heat's Mario Chalmers, James and the Mavs' Jason Terry, the defensive identities of these teams was dominant for much of this contest.

Dallas coach Rick Carlisle, who developed smothering defensive teams in Indianapolis and Detroit, has brought that demeanor to a Mavs team once regarded mostly for its finesse.

Meanwhile, the Heat has long been a franchise built on defensive toughness, a concept instilled by former coach and current president Pat Riley. Part of what made James so attractive to Riley was the player's defensive ability, rewarded this year with a place on the all-defensive first team.

But James is, above all, a scorer, and he finally broke through with a pair of 3-pointers to close the third quarter. The second, which just barely beat the third-quarter buzzer, led the white-clad American Airlines Arena crowd into delirious celebration with Miami holding a 65-61 lead.

And the Heat's other megastar, Wade, would have something to say about this game's outcome, too, even after going 6-of-15 from the field through three quarters.

As for Spoelstra?

"It's one game, and that's it," the Heat coach said. "We're already moving on."

Heat 92, Mavericks 84

DALLAS (84): Marion 6-12 4-5 16, Nowitzki 7-18 12-12 27, Chandler 3-4 3-5 9, Kidd 3-8 0-0 9, Stevenson 2-3 0-0 6, Terry 3-10 3-4 12, Stojakovic 0-3 0-0 0, Barea 1-8 0-0 2, Haywood 0-1 3-6 3. Totals 25-67 25-32 84.

MIAMI (92): James 9-16 2-2 24, Bosh 5-18 9-12 19, Anthony 0-1 0-0 0, Bibby 0-4 0-0 0, Wade 9-19 2-5 22, Chalmers 3-8 3-4 12, Haslem 3-8 1-1 7, Howard 0-1 2-2 2, Miller 2-5 0-0 6. Totals 31-80 19-26 92.

Dallas 17 27 17 23— 84

Miami 16 27 22 27— 92

3-Point GoalsDallas 9-22 (Kidd 3-7, Terry 3-7, Stevenson 2-3, Nowitzki 1-2, Stojakovic 0-3), Miami 11-24 (James 4-5, Chalmers 3-7, Miller 2-4, Wade 2-4, Bibby 0-4). Fouled OutNone. ReboundsDallas 46 (Marion 10), Miami 59 (Wade 10). AssistsDallas 18 (Kidd 6), Miami 20 (Wade 6). Total FoulsDallas 22, Miami 21. A20,003 (19,600).

Information from Times wires was used in this report.

Royals 7, Angels 3

0
0

Times wires
Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Royals 7, Angels 3

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jeff Francis pitched seven strong innings and rookie Eric Hosmer drove in two runs in a five-run third for the Royals. Alex Gordon and Chris Getz both had three hits for Kansas City, which won for the fourth time in 17 games. Francis threw 35 pitches and allowed two runs and four hits in the first inning before settling down and making it through seven innings while throwing a season-high 114 pitches.

Evan Longoria's two-run homer rallies Tampa Bay Rays to 5-4 win over Texas Rangers

0
0

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 31, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — The fist pump going around first base, admittedly a bit out of character, was the first sign of just how good Evan Longoria felt. The second was the huge grin — "Alfred E. Neuman,'' manager Joe Maddon offered for those familiar with Mad magazine — as he crossed home plate.

At some point, Longoria was going to become Longoria again. And Tuesday night, when he hit a two-run homer with two outs in the eighth to give the Rays a hard-fought 5-4 win over the Rangers, was as good a time as any to put his extended struggles aside and come through with his biggest hit of the season.

"It's been a process over the past 2½ weeks, and it was pretty relieving to come through in a situation where the team is looking to you,'' Longoria said. "It definitely was a relief.''

Longoria delivered the biggest blow before the Tropicana Field gathering of 12,783, but he had help as the Rays battled from three deficits, and overcame some sloppiness, to improve to 29-25. Rookie Alex Cobb overcame a shaky 27-pitch first to give them a solid 61/3-inning effort in his second big-league start, and Sean Rodriguez, with a solo shot in the third, and Matt Joyce, with a two-run blast — off another lefty — in the seventh hit tying homers.

And after a wild pitch by Joel Peralta and wobbly pursuit by catcher Kelly Shoppach gave the Rangers a 4-3 lead in the top of the eighth, Longoria, returned to cleanup after three days leading off, came through with a towering drive off lefty Arthur Rhodes that just cleared the metal grating atop the leftfield wall.

"Man, that's great,'' Joyce said. "He's a big part of the offense and when he gets rolling we're a very dangerous team offensively.''

Longoria, admittedly trying to do too much during a .133 12-game skid, benefitted from the three-day stint at the top of the order, where he simplified his approach and went 5-for-11.

"I got some results in that role, and any time you get results and have some success you can build confidence,'' he said. "And when you start building back that confidence that you haven't had, it makes it a little bit easier.''

He also got some help from Texas manager Ron Washington, who admitted he erred in not having right-handed closer Neftali Feliz ready and in the game to face Longoria. "My job is to get the right people in the right places,'' he said.

Longoria's homer gave the Rays the win, but Joyce's, off starter C.J. Wilson, may have been more significant because it may have finally earned the majors' leading hitter (.370) the chance for everyday duty. It was his second homer off a left-hander this season, and in a span of 12 at-bats (after none in the first 67), and came after two singles off a lefty Monday, raising his average against them to .250. It was just the second homer Wilson has allowed to a lefty in three years.

"I hope so,'' Joyce said. "I don't know what else you've got to do.''

Maddon concurred, saying that pitches Joyce are laying off from lefties are just as telling as the ones he is hitting: "Right now obviously he's earned the stripes to get out there a little more often against lefties.''

Longoria earned something with his performance, too: a chance to show emotion on the field, thrusting his fist in the air.

"I had to,'' he said. "It was just a reaction in that situation. It's been a struggle over the past couple weeks for me, so to come through in a situation like that, it was exciting."

Second start better for Tampa Bay Rays' pitcher Cobb

0
0

By John Romano, Times Sports Columnist
Tuesday, May 31, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — In his boyhood dreams, there wasn't as much insanity.

The way Alex Cobb had it figured, the big club calls, they hand you a ball and a uniform, and then you pitch your heart out as the crowd cheers your major-league debut.

Turns out, reality is a little different. There are people waiting at the airport to be picked up. There are friends calling about tickets. There are relatives you haven't seen, a girlfriend riding out a tornado and a restless night in a hotel bed.

"The first time,'' his father, Rick, said, "was a circus.''

So, yeah, Cobb's first appearance at Tropicana Field, on the first day of May against the Angels, was not exactly the stuff of dreams. He didn't make it through the fifth inning of the Rays' 6-5 loss, and he discovered, to his great surprise, that he was tipping off hitters to what pitches were coming by holding his glove differently for fastballs and off-speed pitches.

That's why Cobb was determined to greet his second big-league appearance, on the final day of May, with a little less anxiety and fanfare Tuesday night.

There was no family reunion at a restaurant the night before. When his father called around noon on Tuesday, Cobb had just gotten out of bed after a nice, peaceful sleep.

And when he took the mound against the Texas Rangers, Cobb finally felt like a big-leaguer. Even if it was his second time around.

"I felt like last time I cheated myself. I didn't pitch the way I'm capable of pitching. I tried to do too much,'' Cobb said. "I wasn't scared, but I was timid. Not knowing what to expect from hitters. Not knowing if I made a good pitch if it would still get ripped.''

Cobb was not dominant against the Rangers, but he was smart and effective. He got himself out of jams, and he kept the ball in the park.

Six innings into the game, he and Texas left-hander C.J. Wilson had matched each other in a 1-1 duel.

Cobb got himself into trouble in the seventh with a pair of singles and a walk before giving way to the bullpen. The final tally was 61/3 innings, three earned runs and one very impressed Rays manager.

"He pretty much validated, confirmed what we thought," Joe Maddon said. "Listen, I liked this guy in spring training. I know what I'm seeing, and I like what I'm seeing. His makeup is good. His stuff is good. He has a good feel for pitching.

"I have a lot of confidence in this guy. I'm not comparing him to (Jeremy) Hellickson, but he is a little bit like Hellickson, the way he pitches and the kind of pitches he throws. Physically they're similar, and the feel for pitching is similar.''

This spot in the rotation in a sense has been the difference between first and second place for the Rays in the American League East. Between Jeff Niemann's rough start and Andy Sonnanstine's struggles, the Rays have gone 2-7 in the No. 4 spot.

Cobb's performance on Tuesday probably guarantees him at least one more start while Niemann continues his minor-league rehabilitation.

"You never know until you're there, until you succeed or not,'' Cobb said. "Now I know I can.''

His girlfriend, Kelly Reynolds, could see the difference in Cobb's demeanor between his first and second big-league starts. There was just a more relaxed feel about him, she said.

Cobb could probably say the same about Reynolds, who just completed her master's degree program at the University of Alabama.

Just over a month ago, Cobb was in a hotel room in Louisville when Reynolds, in Tuscaloosa, called in tears. A tornado, she said, sounded as if it was right outside her door.

Seconds later, the phone went dead.

For two hours, Cobb was frantic. He had no idea Reynolds and her roommate had grabbed a mattress off a bed and huddled underneath it in a bathtub. He had no idea the tornado had leveled an apartment complex nearby but had missed Reynolds' building.

"My roommate told me to come downstairs, but I wasn't really worried. We'd had tornadoes all week,'' Reynolds said. "This time when I looked out the window, it was right there in front of us. It was horrible.

"I was on the phone with him crying and screaming, telling him there was a tornado right outside my window.''

Finally, after Cobb had called everyone he could think of to get word of Reynolds' safety, she was able to get a text message through to him.

A day later, he was called to the majors.

The last time, the Rays pretty much told Cobb it was a one-shot deal and he would be returning to Triple A after his start. This time, no one has said a word to him.

"I don't know what I'm doing. Hopefully I'm on that flight to Seattle (today).

"We'll see,'' Cobb said. "They haven't called me in yet, so I might just sneak on.''


Marlins 5, D'backs 2

0
0

Times wires
Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Marlins 5, D'backs 2

PHOENIX — Anibal Sanchez pitched eight effective innings and drove in two runs on chopping groundouts, helping the Marlins end the Diamondbacks' seven-game winning streak. Logan Morrison and Gaby Sanchez hit solo homers and Florida took advantage of a shaky Ian Kennedy to bounce back from a 15-4 drubbing in the series opener Monday night.

Mariners 3, Orioles 2

0
0

Times wires
Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Mariners 3, Orioles 2

SEATTLE — Justin Smoak hit a two-out, three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth off cruising Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie, giving the Mariners a stunning win. Seattle did little against Guthrie for seven innings and did just enough to keep the eighth alive, helped by an error by Guthrie and Brendan Ryan's two-out single. Smoak then belted an 0-and-1 pitch from Guthrie 408 feet into the rightfield seats. It was his eighth homer of the season and his second since May 13. Seattle has won 11 of 14 games.

Dodgers 8, Rockies 2

0
0

Times wires
Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Dodgers 8, Rockies 2

LOS ANGELES — Matt Kemp homered and drove in four runs, Casey Blake added a three-run shot as the Dodgers clinched consecutive series wins for the second time this season and tied their longest winning streak at three games. Ted Lilly struck out a season-high eight and walked none for the first time this season, getting his first win since May 10 at Pittsburgh.

Yankees 10, Athletics 3

0
0

Times wires
Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Yankees 10, Athletics 3

OAKLAND, Calif. — Curtis Granderson homered and drove in four runs and Derek Jeter had two hits to reach 2,983 for his career and scored three runs to help the Yankees beat the Athletics for the ninth straight time. Robinson Cano also homered, and Alex Rodriguez had three hits and three RBIs.

Tampa Bay Rays waste solid outing by David Price, lose 3-0 to Texas Rangers

0
0

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 1, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — Rays power pitcher David Price had another strong-armed performance Wednesday afternoon against the Rangers.

Price allowed five hits, one walk and struck out eight in eight innings, but all his might on the mound couldn't make up for the Rays' weak swings at the plate in a 3-0 loss before 13,725 at Tropicana Field.

The Rays (29-26), who have scored one run in three of the five losses Price has suffered this season, managed five hits against Rangers pitchers Colby Lewis and closer Neftali Feliz, who worked the ninth.

"He was phenomenal,'' Rays outfielder Matt Joyce said of Price. "That's the toughest part of it, when you see your guy going out there and doing what he's doing, giving you eight solid innings, and you can't really put up any runs for him. So it's really frustrating.''

Some of that frustration was visible in the eighth inning when Price fell to his knees on the infield turf and removed his glove after a two-out, bad-hop liner by the Rangers' Elvis Andrus skipped over the glove of first baseman Sean Rodriguez into rightfield to score two runs.

"David was really good, he deserved a better fate,'' manager Joe Maddon said. "Their guy was really good, too. Lewis was really good on their side. But David had outstanding stuff, pounded the strike zone. They got the one run with the double and the base hit to center and then the last two runs were very unfortunate, but it happens.

"We have to score more runs. We have to score a run. So in spite of what they may have done today, we pitched well enough and played on that field well enough to win that game. We just did not hit, and that's been our problem this year, obviously, especially at home.''

If the backdrop of the Trop is what has befuddled Rays hitters, they won't have that problem for a while.

After the game, the Rays left for a four-city, 11-game, 12-day road trip that will total 7,208 miles in the air, beginning with the start of a four-game series in Seattle then three against the Angels in Anaheim, three in Baltimore and ending with a makeup game in Detroit.

"Hopefully, it keeps rolling for us on the road and we can get seven or eight games on the road and turn it around from this past week, because we've kind of been struggling a little bit,'' Joyce said.

In suffering their eighth loss in 12 games, the Rays failed to score for only the second time this year. Lewis scattered four hits and struck out eight, allowing only three runners into scoring position.

Price, facing the Rangers for the first time since losing twice to them in the ALDS, matched Lewis pitch for pitch until Texas broke the ice in the fifth. Adrian Beltre doubled leading off and scored on Nelson Cruz's single to center.

That was it until the eighth, when Price retired the first two batters before No. 9 hitter Craig Gentry doubled to right. Ian Kinsler walked after working Price to a full count, then the Rangers pulled off a double steal. That's when Andrus, who had bunted into an out in the first, struck a ball that hopped over the glove of a drawn-in Rodriguez.

"It's frustrating,'' Price said. "I threw the ball well. I didn't throw well enough. Colby Lewis threw a great game and that's that.

"I mean, yeah, you can't win if you don't (score). It's tough. Those guys are out there trying, so it's tough.''

Tough, maybe, but Maddon knows if his hitters don't keep kicking out the cord, he can plug his power pitcher in again and Price will grind out more wins.

"If he pitches that way, he's going to win many, many, many, many ballgames,'' Maddon said.

Viewing all 18574 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images