Times wires
Sunday, June 5, 2011

DALLAS — The Heat didn't blow this one. Now Miami is two wins from being crowned NBA champions.

Chris Bosh made a 16-foot, go-ahead jumper from the baseline with 39.6 seconds left and the Heat held on for an 88-86 victory over the Mavericks on Sunday night for a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals.

History says the win is huge. The Game 3 winner in a tied Finals has won the championship all 11 times since the 2-3-2 format began in 1985.

In Game 2, Miami failed to hold a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter. Sunday, the Heat already wasted a 14-point lead, then went back ahead 81-75 with 6:31 left.

After Bosh's clutch shot, Nowitzki threw the ball away passing out of a double team, then after LeBron James missed a jumper, Nowitzki hit the back iron on a jumper at the buzzer.

"This is a total win," said guard Dwyane Wade, who led Miami with 29 points and 11 rebounds. "You want to win on the defensive end of the floor and we got a stop. We felt this was a must-win."

Bosh, 1-8 all time in his hometown of Dallas, overcame a swollen left eyelid caused by a poke during the first quarter to score 18. He had seven in the fourth.

"I have confidence in my shot, and my teammates have confidence in me, too," Bosh said

"It went just how we thought it would," Heat forward Udonis Haslem said of Bosh's shot. "He stepped up with confidence and knocked it down."

"I don't care if he missed 15 in a row," James said. "He was wide open, and that's his sweet spot."

James added 17 points and nine assists. But he also had four turnovers, including a pair during the fourth quarter.

Asked about playing the role of villain (a sign in the stands read "Mavs — Do it for Cleveland too."), James said curtly: "I think I've answered that question before. Next question."

Nowitzki finished with 34 points but got little help. Jason Terry (15) and Shawn Marion (10) were shut out in the fourth.

The Mavs went to Nowitzki on their last two chances but with no success. He tried passing out of a Haslem-led double team and threw the ball into the stands, then hit the back iron on a jumper over Haslem as time ran out.

"(Nowitzki) knows he is going to have to carry a certain load. We're a team built on balance. We'd like to make it easier on him,'' Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said.

Dallas backup center Brendan Haywood did not play because of a hip injury.

MIAMI (88): James 6-14 4-4 17, Bosh 7-18 4-5 18, Anthony 1-4 0-0 2, Bibby 1-5 0-0 3, Wade 12-21 3-4 29, Haslem 3-7 0-0 6, Miller 0-1 0-0 0, Howard 0-0 1-2 1, Chalmers 4-8 0-0 12. Totals 34-78 12-15 88.

DALLAS (86): Marion 4-12 2-2 10, Nowitzki 11-21 9-9 34, Chandler 1-4 3-4 5, Kidd 3-8 1-2 9, Stevenson 1-1 0-0 3, Stojakovic 1-2 0-0 2, Terry 5-13 4-6 15, Mahinmi 0-1 2-2 2, Barea 2-8 1-2 6, Cardinal 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-70 22-27 86.

Miami 29 18 20 21— 88

Dallas 22 20 22 22— 86

3-Point Goals—Miami 8-19 (Chalmers 4-6, Wade 2-4, Bibby 1-4, James 1-4, Miller 0-1), Dallas 8-21 (Nowitzki 3-5, Kidd 2-5, Stevenson 1-1, Terry 1-3, Barea 1-5, Stojakovic 0-1, Marion 0-1). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Miami 47 (Wade 11), Dallas 47 (Chandler, Nowitzki 11). Assists—Miami 20 (James 9), Dallas 18 (Kidd 10). Total Fouls—Miami 27, Dallas 14. A—20,340 (19,200).

WILKENS honored: Lenny Wilkens was honored with the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award, given by the National Basketball Coaches Association and named for the longtime Pistons coach.

Pistons fire coach: Detroit fired coach John Kuester, four days after Tom Gores completed an agreement to buy the team. Kuester was 57-107 over two seasons with Detroit, which failed to make the postseason in consecutive years for the first time since 1993-95. Coaches and players feuded and attendance suffered.

NBA Finals

Heat 2, Mavericks 1

Game 1: Heat 92, Mavericks 84

Game 2: Mavericks 95, Heat 93

Sunday: Heat 88, Mavericks 86

Tuesday: at Dallas, 9, Ch. 28

Thursday: at Dallas, 9, Ch. 28

June 12: at Miami, 8, Ch. 28 *

June 14: at Miami, 9, Ch. 28 *

* If necessary

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, June 6, 2011

Righthanded pitcher Lance Cormier, released last week by the Los Angeles Dodgers, was signed to a minor-league deal by the Tampa Bay Rays and will join Triple-A Durham.

Cormier spent 2009-10 with the Rays.

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Monday, June 6, 2011

College football replay: 6 p.m. on Sun Sports. A replay of last year's game between Florida State and Samford.

Rays at Angels: 10 p.m. on Sun Sports. Grab a sandwich for a midnight snack and stay up for some late-night baseball.

Lopez Tonight: Midnight on TBS. New Lakers coach Mike Brown is one of the scheduled guests.

By Larry Blue, Times Correspondent
Monday, June 6, 2011

What's hot: An incredible amount of red grouper have shown up on just about any piece of hard bottom and rock pile in the gulf. The challenge is to find a keeper. Persistence and patience will pay off. Just be ready to get a workout on the smaller fish until a big one takes the hook. Those that do measure up have been taken on a squid and sardine combination. There is no shortage of gag grouper; every stop we've made has produced lots. Of course, gag grouper season was closed June 1 in state and federal waters.

Tactics: Keep a flat-line out for a passing kingfish. A flat-line is a rod rigged without a weight, usually with a trace of wire leader to the hook. It's often used for king mackerel. Live or dead bait can be attached to the hook; but most experienced anglers prefer live sardines for this method of fishing. We've caught kings by using a flat-line in depths of 55 to 70 feet while bottom-fishing for other species. Also, watch for schools of sardines between stops; the kings are staying close to the schools. This week has produced some of the best fishing for kings all season.

Larry Blue charters the Niki Joe out of Madeira Beach Marina. He can be reached at CaptainLarryBlue.com, (727) 871-1058 or (727) 397-3773.

Times wires
Monday, June 6, 2011

LOS ANGELES — The Bowl Championship Series on Monday officially stripped USC of its 2004 championship as a result of major infractions involving running back Reggie Bush.

The BCS title will be vacated for that season. The Associated Press previously said USC will remain its 2004 champion.

"The BCS alerted us today that their presidents have voted to vacate USC's 2005 BCS Championship Game victory," USC athletic director Pat Haden said in a statement. "This was not an unexpected outcome. We will comply with all requirements mandated by the result of this BCS vote."

The ruling came less than two weeks after the NCAA denied USC's appeal to have some of the sanctions reduced. The Trojans were slapped with a two-year ban on postseason play and the loss of 30 scholarships.

USC effectively forfeited its 2004 title last year when it admitted Bush was an ineligible player during the run to the title. USC claimed the championship with a 55-19 victory over Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl.

The BCS was only waiting for the appeal process to be completed. USC would have lost its title even if the NCAA had ruled in its favor because the Trojans' appeal was asking only for the sanctions to be reduced.

The official ruling came after a meeting of the NCAA's Presidential Oversight Committee.

"The BCS arrangement crowns a national champion, and the BCS games are showcase events for postseason football," BCS executive director Bill Hancock said in a statement. "One of the best ways of ensuring that they remain so is for us to foster full compliance with NCAA rules. Accordingly, in keeping with the NCAA's recent action, USC's appearances are being vacated."

Ohio State: The university must "scrub everything" as it works to restore order after the resignation of Jim Tressel, president Gordon Gee said one week after the football coach's departure.

University trustees are looking at compliance issues across the university, not just in the athletic department.

"Any time that there is a mistake, or any time that there is an issue that flares up, and we go back through and scrub everything very, very carefully," he said. "We want to make certain that we're asking all the right questions."

Tressel resigned after revelations that he failed to report allegations that several players had sold or traded memorabilia for cash and tattoos. The NCAA continues to investigate the football program, particularly in regard to improper benefits and cars.

Gee said his biggest concern is making sure the university looks at mistakes it made and corrects them.

Times wires
Monday, June 6, 2011

DALLAS — As exciting as it is to watch Dirk Nowitzki make shot after shot in the NBA Finals, the Mavericks don't want to keep doing that.

Nowitzki needs help. From someone. Anyone.

The supporting cast that helped carry Nowitzki and the Mavericks into the NBA Finals has shriveled under the pressure of this stage, the defense of the Heat or a little of both.

The Mavs trail 2-1 going into Game 4 tonight mainly because they aren't scoring. Their average of 88.3 points is down 11.4 from the previous three rounds.

Nowitzki is averaging 28.3 points, right about his postseason average going in. The dropoff is everywhere else, especially among the three who are supposed to provide instant offense from the bench: Jason Terry, J.J. Barea and Peja Stojakovic.

Terry's slump hurts the most.

He and Nowitzki were among the league's top fourth-quarter scoring tandems this season. The Heat threw that off with the surprise move of having 6-foot-8 LeBron James cover the 6-foot-2 Terry. He was shut out in the fourth quarters of Games 1 and 3, the ones Dallas lost.

Terry was a big part of the winning rally in Game 2, scoring the first six in a 22-5 surge and eight overall. In Game 3, when Nowitzki scored Dallas' final 12, Terry went 0-for-4 in the fourth quarter, including a 21-footer with the score tied in the final minute.

"Jet (Terry's nickname) hasn't really been a crunch-time, clutch player for us the way we need him to," Nowitzki said Monday. "We have to find a way to get Jet some freedom and get him off some movement, and he's got to make some shots for us."

Confidence is never a problem for Terry. This is a guy who got the Finals trophy tattooed to his right biceps in October and vows to have it removed if the Mavs don't win it all. Monday, he vowed that if he gets the same shots he missed down the stretch in Game 3, "I bet I make them."

Terry also questioned whether James "can defend me like that for seven games" and claimed that first-round foe Portland played better defense than Miami. He also said that if Dallas scores 100, "they can't beat us."

"I'm going to tell you this: We will be there in Game 4," he said. "I'm ready for the challenge."

Miami is flustering Dallas with its combination of active, long-armed defenders who seem to always be in the right place at the right time. The Heat is always charging at shooters, making them fire quickly or opt to pass.

Center Tyson Chandler said Miami's style has made the Mavericks "timid."

"Because they close out quick, guys second-guess their shots: Is this a good shot? Should I drive?" he said. "We just have to make them pay."

Warriors hire Jackson

OAKLAND, Calif. — The Warriors hired television analyst Mark Jackson as head coach, replacing Keith Smart.

Jackson, 46, has no coaching experience but has been the lead analyst for ABC and ESPN's NBA coverage in recent seasons. He had a 17-year NBA career and played for five Hall of Fame coaches in college and the pros.

NBA Finals

Heat 2, Mavericks 1

Game 1: Heat 92, Mavericks 84

Game 2: Mavericks 95, Heat 93

Game 3: Heat 88, Mavericks 86

Tonight: at Dallas, 9, Ch. 28

Thursday: at Dallas, 9, Ch. 28

Sunday: at Miami, 8, Ch. 28 *

June 14: at Miami, 9, Ch. 28 *

* If necessary

Times wires
Monday, June 6, 2011

DALLAS — Given the sizable gap in their positions, NBA owners and players could easily walk away.

Instead, they will follow a long negotiating session Tuesday by heading to the bargaining table as planned today.

"I just take it as a real positive that we're continuing to meet," commissioner David Stern said.

The meeting Tuesday lasted more than five hours, and deputy commissioner Adam Silver said there were about eight players and 10 owners in the session, which Stern said included "good and frank" discussion.

With the collective bargaining agreement set to expire June 30, both sides say they hope frequent meetings can prevent a lockout. Silver wouldn't rule out adding a third session in Dallas if the talks go well today.

Stern said they "haven't reached agreement on anything," and the union declined to comment until after today's meeting.

76ers up for sale: The 76ers are on the market, and the franchise could be sold within the week, the Associated Press reported. The deal with the group led by New York leveraged buyout specialist Joshua Harris is not complete. Comcast-Spectacor has owned the 76ers since 1996, and the group's chief operating officer confirmed there are discussions about the team's future.

Celtics: Guard Ray Allen exercised his option to stay with the team next season, meaning the Big Three of Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett will be together for one more year.

Pistons: Former stars Isiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer are on the short list for the team's vacant head coaching position, ESPN reported.

Warriors: New coach Mark Jackson hired Mike Malone, who spent last season as an assistant with the Hornets.

Times wires
Monday, June 6, 2011

MIAMI — The Marlins' All-Star shortstop joined their All-Star pitcher on the disabled list Monday.

Hanley Ramirez went on the 15-day DL for the first time in his career because of a strained back, with the move retroactive to May 30. Ace RHP Josh Johnson has been on the disabled list since May 21 with right shoulder inflammation.

"It's very frustrating, because those are the guys we built the team around," manager Edwin Rodriguez said. "There's a hole in the rotation and in the lineup."

Florida went into Monday night's game against the Brewers with a season-worst four-game losing streak. LHP Brad Hand was selected from Double-A Jacksonville to make his major-league debut tonight.

It's unknown how long Ramirez or Johnson will be out. Ramirez hasn't played since May 29, and though he said he felt better Monday, he's not expected to resume baseball activities for at least two or three days.

"I don't want to rush myself," Ramirez said. "But it's not fun watching the game from the bench."

Johnson is throwing long toss daily, and there's no timetable for anything more rigorous.

ZAMBRANO SORRY: Cubs RHP Carlos Zambrano apologized to closer Carlos Marmol for second-guessing how he pitched in Chicago's loss Sunday. Zambrano, who criticized Marmol's approach after a 3-2 loss at St. Louis, said he was wrong to criticize Marmol that way and made the remarks out of frustration.

DYKSTRA SAGA: Former Mets and Phillies star Lenny Dykstra was charged with grand theft auto and drug possession by prosecutors who claim he used phony information to lease a car from a Southern California dealership. Dykstra, 48, faces up to 12 years in state prison if convicted.

STADIUM BEATING: Lawyers for a man whom police say led the attack on a Giants fan outside Dodger Stadium hope to secure videotape footage they believe could help clear their client. Attorney Jose Romero, part of Giovanni Ramirez's defense team, said he would file a motion asking a judge to instruct detectives to collect surveillance footage from a service station and other businesses in an area west of Dodger Stadium.

A'S: LHP Brett Anderson headed back to California to have his sore pitching elbow examined by doctors. Anderson missed most of last season with elbow problems. … INF Scott Sizemore, acquired a week ago from the Tigers, was called up from Triple-A Sacramento, and 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff was optioned to Sacramento.

DODGERS: SS Dee Gordon, one of the team's top prospects, was called up from Triple-A Albuquerque. OF Jay Gibbons and INF Juan Castro were designated for assignment, OF Marcus Thames and RHP Blake Hawksworth were activated from the disabled list and SS Ivan DeJesus was optioned to Albuquerque.

PHILLIES: SS Jimmy Rollins was out with a bruised right knee and is expected to miss another game or two.

REDS: RHP Daryl Thompson was called up from Triple-A Louisville to freshen a bullpen that leads the NL in innings.

ROCKIES: CF Dexter Fowler went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left abdominal muscle. OF Charlie Blackmon was called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs.

TIGERS: LHP David Purcey was reinstated from the paternity list.

TWINS: 1B Justin Morneau (left wrist) and CF Denard Span (neck), who had missed the past two games, returned to the lineup.

WHITE SOX: RHP Jake Peavy is day to day with a mild strain of his right groin.

Times wires
Monday, June 6, 2011

Orioles 4, Athletics 2

BALTIMORE — Brian Matusz and three relievers combined on a seven-hitter, and the Orioles handed the Athletics their season-high seventh straight loss. Adam Rosales homered for Oakland, which has lost 15 of 19 to fall a season-worst seven games under .500 (27-34). Rosales was playing in his first game of the year after a stint on the disabled list with a broken right foot. Matusz earned his first win. He spent two months on the DL with a strained left oblique muscle.

Times wires
Monday, June 6, 2011

Twins 6, Indians 4

CLEVELAND — Scott Baker survived a shaky start and Matt Tolbert drove in two runs as the Twins extended their season-high winning streak to five games and handed the Indians their fifth loss in a row. Baker was down 2-0 after throwing four just pitches as Cleveland hit screaming line drives all over Progressive Field in the first. But the right-hander worked out of trouble and stayed in until the eighth.

Times wires
Monday, June 6, 2011

Phillies 3, Dodgers 1

PHILADELPHIA — Cliff Lee hit double-digit strikeouts for the sixth time this season, fanning 10 in seven shutout innings for the Phillies. Lee bounced back from one of his worst starts of the season, when he allowed seven runs in 51/3 innings against the Nationals, with one of his best. He even shook off a liner to the shin in the seventh as he helped Philadelphia win its first game back after a 4-5 road trip.

Times wires
Monday, June 6, 2011

Reds 8, Cubs 2

CINCINNATI — Former Ray Jonny Gomes hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs overall, and the Reds sent the Cubs to their seventh straight loss. Gomes has only two homers since April 17, both of them setting up home wins over Chicago. Cincinnati is 5-1 against the Cubs and 17-5 over the past two seasons. Former Ray Matt Garza came off the disabled list and allowed four runs in four innings.

Times wires
Monday, June 6, 2011

Brewers 7, Marlins 2

MIAMI — Prince Fielder homered and had four RBIs to help the Brewers complete their first four-game sweep since August 2008. Zack Greinke won his fifth straight decision and improved his ERA to 4.83. The Marlins lost a season-worst fifth game in a row and have dropped eight of 10 since sweeping the World Series champion Giants. Milwaukee went 5-2 on a two-city trip.

Times wires
Monday, June 6, 2011

Autos

childress fined $150,000 for hitting Busch

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Richard Childress was fined $150,000 on Monday for assaulting Kyle Busch, the latest incident in an ongoing feud between NASCAR's most polarizing driver and Childress' race teams.

NASCAR also placed Childress on probation through the end of the year, finding the team owner solely at fault for Saturday's incident at Kansas Speedway. Childress, 65, apparently approached Busch after the trucks race, placed him in a headlock and punched him several times.

Childress, who dodged a suspension from NASCAR, was upset that Busch had bumped into Joey Coulter on the cool-down lap after the race.

"First of all, I'm responsible for my actions, plain and simple," Childress said in a statement. "As you know, I am a very principled person and have a passion for what we do at Richard Childress Racing. I believe passionately in defending my race teams and my sponsor partners. In this instance, I let that passion and my emotions get the best of me."

Stewart makes a change: Tony Stewart released Bobby Hutchens as director of competition at Stewart-Haas Racing and promoted Matt Borland to vice president of competition. Stewart has one top-five finish this season.

NFL

Albert added to NFL on CBS

Longtime play-by-play announcer Marv Albert is joining the NFL on CBS team. Albert worked for NBC Sports from 1977 to 1997 and announced the NFL on NBC for 19 years. He was the play-by-play voice for Westwood One Radio's coverage of Monday Night Football from 2002 to 2009 alongside Boomer Esiason.

Albert will keep his lead role as basketball play-by-play announcer for TNT's Thursday NBA regular-season and playoff coverage.

Judge sets Sept. 12 date: U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson scheduled a hearing on the owners' motion to dismiss an antitrust lawsuit from a group of players for Sept. 12.

Burress released from prison: Former Giants receiver Plaxico Burress was released from prison in Rome, N.Y., after spending nearly two years behind bars on a gun charge.

et cetera

Soccer: Midfielder Alejandro Bedoya has been added to the U.S. roster for the Gold Cup, replacing injured Benny Feilhaber. Feilhaber hurt his right ankle last month while playing for New England in MLS. … Placido Domingo has been asked by FIFA president Sepp Blatter to join a new committee intended to help clean up world soccer's governing body. Blatter hopes the tenor will sit on a "council of wisdom" alongside former U.S. secretary of state Henry Kissinger and former Netherlands player Johan Cruyff.

Golf: UCLA freshman Patrick Cantlay was among 16 players who earned spots for the U.S. Open. Former Open winners Steve Jones, Tom Kite and Lee Janzen failed to qualify. Vijay Singh didn't show up for the qualifier, making it likely his streak of 67 consecutive majors played will end.

Times wires

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, June 6, 2011

ANAHEIM, Calif. — RHP Alex Cobb's start tonight against the Angels should be telling.

Manager Joe Maddon said it will be a good way for the Rays to be sure Cobb has corrected the pitch-tipping issues that marred his May 1 big-league debut against the same Angels.

"I'm kind of eager to see it because you're going to find out if it's been cured or not," Maddon said.

And Cobb said that though it's only his third start overall, it will provide a good measure of how he has become more comfortable in the big leagues.

"I think it will be a good sample size to kind of judge how far I've come since that first start," Cobb said.

The Rays noticed early in Cobb's first game that the Angels seemed to know what type of pitch he was throwing and either took more aggressive swings or laid off accordingly. Video showed that the positioning of his glove was indeed a tipoff as he allowed four runs on four hits and four walks in 41/3 innings. Cobb was sent back to Triple A after the game as planned, and he worked with the coaches there plus pitching coordinator Dick Bosman on correcting the flaw.

When Cobb was recalled for a May 31 start against the Rangers, the Rays watched him closely as he worked into the seventh, allowing three runs on four hits.

"We were looking to see if anything was showing up," Maddon said. "We didn't see it, and Texas certainly didn't show us that anything was going on. So this is an even better test. … We're pretty confident that he's over it."

The Angels, naturally, claimed to know nothing about Cobb tipping pitches. "I wouldn't tell you if we did — but I will say we did not have anything on that kid," manager Mike Scioscia said Monday. "Maybe they (the Rays) saw a tendency when they evaluated their film afterward."

Overall, Cobb, 23, said he is just more at ease. Plus he has the benefit of taking a somewhat regular turn, though pitching on six days' rest.

"I feel a lot better; I feel a lot more calm," he said. "I think it's going to carry over to the field and make me more relaxed out there."

J.P. DUTY: Struggling LHP J.P. Howell said he would benefit from pitching more often and also on a less structured basis, and Maddon is willing to try it, taking off the limitation of not using Howell, who is coming back from May 2010 shoulder surgery, on back-to-back days.

"I think he's beyond that," Maddon said. "We did a great rehab … he looks really strong to me. I just think more than anything he needs to pitch a little bit more often to really get his sharpness back, and that's what we're going to give him a chance to do."

Howell, 0-1 with an 18.90 ERA over five appearances, said he welcomed the opportunity to just go back to pitching when needed. "I'm ready to not be on a schedule," he said. "I like it better when I get a little butterflies going at 2 o'clock every day."

CORMIER RETURNS: RHP Lance Cormier, who spent 2009-10 in the Rays bullpen, signed a minor-league contract and will join Triple-A Durham.

Cormier, 30, was released last week by the Dodgers, having posted an 0-1, 9.88 mark in nine appearances after making the team out of spring training.

Cormier, who was 7-3, 3.55 in 115 games for the Rays, said he was pleased to be back in the Rays organization: "No doubt."

Also, RHP Edgar Gonzalez was released from Durham.

MISCELLANY: DH Johnny Damon extended his streak of reaching base to a career-best 32 games, five shy of Ben Grieve's team record. … RHP Andy Sonnanstine said he had no issue with being moved back to the bullpen: "If that's the best way I can help this squad, then that's where I need to be." … Maddon caught the ceremonial first pitch from former Angels OF Rick Reichardt.

Times wires
Monday, June 6, 2011

White Sox 3, Mariners 1

CHICAGO — Paul Konerko homered and John Danks pitched into the eighth for his first victory this season for the White Sox. Chicago beat the Mariners for the ninth straight time at U.S. Cellular Field and is 13-1 at home against Seattle dating to Aug. 18, 2008. The White Sox matched a club record for consecutive home wins against the Mariners. In his 12th start, Danks did not resemble the pitcher that lost his first eight decisions, going 71/3 strong innings.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, June 6, 2011

Rays at Angels

When/where: 10:05 tonight; Angel Stadium, Anaheim

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

Starting pitchers

RAYS: RH Alex Cobb (0-0, 5.91)

ANGELS: RH Dan Haren (5-3, 2.29)

Watch for …

Tip of the day: Cobb struggled vs. the Angels in his big-league debut May 1 (4 R, 41/3 IP) as he was tipping his pitches, but he has made some adjustments and corrections since and had a better start vs. Texas last week.

The Dan band: Haren was scratched from his Saturday start due to back spasms but felt better in a bullpen session and workout Sunday. He is 6-2, 2.57 in 10 games against the Rays, including 2-0, 2.17 in his past three.

Key matchups

Rays vs. Haren

Johnny Damon 6-for-24

Casey Kotchman 7-for-30

B.J. Upton 8-for-23, 3 HRs

Angels vs. Cobb

Bobby Abreu 2-for-3

Alberto Callaspo 0-for-2

Hank Conger 1-for-2, HR

On deck

Wednesday: at Angels, 10:05, Sun Sports. Rays — James Shields (5-4, 2.77); Angels — Jered Weaver (7-4, 2.14)

Thursday: Off

Friday: at Orioles, 7:05, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeremy Hellickson (7-3, 2.64); O's — TBA

Saturday: at Orioles, 7:05, Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (6-5, 3.52); O's — TBA

Star turn of the day

OF Matt Joyce was the center of attention before the game, posing for a photo shoot to accompany an upcoming story in ESPN The Magazine, working with a crew of a half-dozen. "It was a cool experience," Joyce said. "Definitely the first time I did anything like that. It was fun. You just feel honored."

Bounceback of the day

LHP J.P. Howell, right, said he was still troubled by Sunday's rough outing when he went to bed but was over it by Monday morning. "You wake up, you start moving around and you say, 'Okay, there is life after this. I got today,' " Howell said. "That one for me lasted a little longer. … But when I woke up, I didn't feel even close to how bad I felt when I went to bed."

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, June 6, 2011

ANAHEIM, Calif. — As if the Rays weren't feeling bad enough about their recent struggles, several of them are feeling sick.

A stomach flu is making the rounds of the clubhouse, knocking centerfielder B.J. Upton and third baseman Evan Longoria out of the lineup Monday.

"We have a little bit of a bug among us," manager Joe Maddon said. "We just have it floating all over the place. … Some guys more severe than others."

The symptoms, which include throwing up and, well, other issues, seem to be lasting 24-48 hours. "I've had both," Upton said.

Upton wanted to play but looked so bad that Maddon decided to keep him out, hoping he might be available later in the game or at least by tonight.

"He wanted to play and all that and I looked at him and I said, 'You know what, let's see if we can get you well by the middle of (Monday night's) game, somehow feeling better and if we need you we'll use you at some point, otherwise get you ready for (tonight),' " Maddon said.

Longoria was scratched about 30 minutes before gametime and replaced by Sean Rodriguez.

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

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, June 6, 2011

ANAHEIM, Calif. — A stomach flu making the rounds of the clubhouse left the Rays shorthanded Monday night, with centerfielder B.J. Upton and third baseman Evan Longoria the latest victims to be sidelined.

Fortunately for the Rays, David Price was feeling just fine.

Price delivered the dominating start they needed and Justin Ruggiano — filling in for Upton — led the offense as the Rays beat the Angels 5-1.

"That's what I try to do every time,'' Price said. "Whenever we have some of our big players out like that you know you have to pitch a little bit better. You do.''

As poorly as the Rays had been going, losing three of four in Seattle and 11 of their previous 16, and as badly as some had been feeling, they welcomed the chance to smile afterward, improving to 31-29.

As Price walked through the clubhouse before the game, several Rays joked that he needed to steer clear to avoid getting sick, and Price pulled his T-shirt over his mouth like a mask.

He was all business, though, when he took the mound, holding the Angels to three hits through the first seven innings, then two more to open the eighth. Cesar Ramos took it from there, and Kyle Farnsworth worked another perfect ninth.

Price, who struck out seven and didn't walk any, improved to 7-5 and lowered his ERA to 3.35.

"David was very good,'' manager Joe Maddon said. "Really mixed his pitches well, didn't just rely on his fastball. He had great command.''

Ruggiano, making just his fourth start since his May 20 promotion, singled in a run in the first and hit a two-run homer in the sixth, then later made a daring running catch at the wall, narrowly avoiding a collision with Sam Fuld. "The Flying Wallenda act,'' Maddon said.

Ruggiano wasn't in the original lineup so he went to the weight room for an extensive pregame workout, then found out he was playing and ended up with a career-best matching three RBI. "I'll take it,'' he said.

Matt Joyce knocked in a pair of runs to take over the team RBI lead with 34 and Reid Brig­nac, who'd had five hits in the previous five months, had a season-high three.

The Rays took a 2-0 lead in the first. Johnny Damon singled, stole second, went to third on Ben Zobrist's bunt and scored on Joyce's sac fly. Then ex-Angel Casey Kotchman reached on an error, went to second on John Jaso's single and scored on Ruggiano's single. The Rays doubled the lead in the sixth on Ruggiano's homer and Joyce singled in Brignac in the seventh.

The flu has been going around the players for most of the past week, but it hit hard Monday. Upton and Longoria had it the worst, with Sean Rodriguez, Adam Russell and Brignac also feeling it.

"We have a bunch of sick people,'' Maddon said. "We've got to be careful. There's a whole bunch of guys not doing too well.''

The symptoms include throwing up and, well, other issues and last 24 to 48 hours. "I've had both," Upton said.

Upton wanted to play, but he looked so bad that Maddon decided to keep him out of the lineup, hoping he might be available later in the game, and should be back tonight.

Longoria was in the original lineup but was scratched about 30 minutes before game time and replaced by Sean Rodriguez. Kotchman had it during the weekend.

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

Times wires
Monday, June 6, 2011

BOSTON — The Bruins finally found their offense, scoring four goals in the second period and four more in the third after losing key forward Nathan Horton on their way to an 8-1 victory over the Canucks in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final.

The Bruins broke out just in time, getting back into the series at home after losing the first two games in Vancouver. The Canucks' series lead was cut to 2-1 in the best-of-seven final.

In a chippy, testy game, the tone was set early on a hit in which Horton was seriously hurt by Canucks defenseman Aaron Rome.

Andrew Ference, Mark Recchi, Brad Marchand and David Krejci scored in the second period, connecting for two goals at even strength, one on a power play and one shorthanded.

As the Bruins kept pouring it on in the third, the game became extremely physical — seven 10-minute misconduct penalties were handed out in the period.

Recchi, 43, had two goals and Michael Ryder had a goal and two assists for the Bruins. Tim Thomas made 40 saves for Boston.

Ference started the onslaught 11 seconds into the second — the same amount of time it took Vancouver's Alex Burrows to score in overtime to win Game 2 on Saturday.

Boston's Rich Peverley lost the opening faceoff, but Vancouver defenseman Alexander Edler broke his stick trying to pass the puck. Krejci picked up the puck, and it came to Ference, who scored on a rising shot through a screen in front of goalie Roberto Luongo.

Then, with 20 seconds left in a hooking penalty to Jeff Tambellini, Recchi was credited with Boston's seventh goal in 72 power plays in the playoffs. He passed from the lower right circle across the crease. Peverley was waiting on the other side, but the puck went off the stick of Canucks forward Ryan Kesler and into the net at 4:22.

Marchand scored a shorthanded goal at 11:30 on an outstanding solo effort. He stole the puck in the neutral zone, knocked it off the right wing boards, went around Edler and picked up the ricochet. Marchand then got by Kesler, cut across the slot and scored over Luongo's left pad.

Krejci made it 4-0 after Luongo stopped Michael Ryder's shot. The rebound went between the legs of Canucks defenseman Kevin Bieksa to Krejci, who fired a 15-footer from the left past Luongo's glove on the far side.

Boston came in with just three goals in its past three postseason games.

Boston's offense broke out without Horton, who had scored two overtime goals in the first-round series against Montreal and the lone goal in the Bruins' Game 7 win against the Lightning in the East final.

Horton was leveled by Rome's hard hit and was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital where he was moving all of his extremities.

Horton had passed the puck to Milan Lucic on his left, took three strides and was hit hard near the Canucks blue line. The right wing appeared to hit his head on the ice and stayed on his back as medical personnel rushed out. After several minutes, he left on a stretcher while strapped to a backboard.

Rome was given a major penalty for interference and was ejected. But the Bruins, who have struggled on the power play throughout the playoffs, failed to score during the five-minute advantage.

Boston made one lineup change, substituting the more physical Shawn Thornton for 19-year-old rookie Tyler Seguin.

The Canucks were without defenseman Dan Hamhuis for the second straight game after he was hurt in the second period of Game 1 when he upended Lucic with a check in the neutral zone. Andrew Alberts, a former Bruins defenseman, replaced him in the lineup.

AROUND THE LEAGUE: The Flames hired former head coach Craig Hartsburg as an associate coach. Hartsburg coached Chicago, Anaheim and Ottawa.