Times wires
Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Angels 2, Marlins 1

MIAMI — With its new old manager, free-falling Florida had the same old result. Jered Weaver pitched seven innings and the Angels spoiled 80-year-old Jack McKeon's return to the dugout as the Marlins tied a franchise mark with their 11th straight loss. Florida is 1-19 in June, and its losing streak is its longest since 1998, when it went 54-108. The Marlins have lost 11 straight one-run games, tying another franchise record.

Bryan Burns, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, June 21, 2011

The seventh annual Tri if you Dare Kids Triathlon gives local triathletes the opportunity to compete in a scaled-down version of the endurance test against athletes of a similar age.

On Sunday, Caleb Hudak came out on top at the Holland G. Mangum Recreation Complex in Seminole.

Hudak, 15, of Seminole, placed first overall in the upper division (ages 13-15), touching the wall in 21:34 to win the reverse course triathlon.

The race consisted of a 1-mile run, 4-mile bike and 150-yard swim.

Hudak outraced Zachary Quilty, who placed second in the 13-15 age group. Quilty, 13, of St. Petersburg, finished in 23:50.

Kyle Deschenes, 15, of Largo, was third in 23:57.

Summer Kanstoroom of St. Petersburg was the fastest female finisher at Sunday's triathlon. Kanstoroom, 13, clocked in at 23:42 to win the women's upper division race.

Caroline Condon, 15, of St. Petersburg, was right behind Kanstoroom in 23:58 to earn second place.

Alexis Stevens, 15, of Seminole, placed third in 24:26.

In the 11- to 12-year old race, Seminole 12-year-old Ryan Vanmiddlesworth claimed first place after crossing the finish in 24:21.

Vanmiddlesworth beat out Jared McFadden to the finish line. McFadden, 12, of Seminole, had a time of 25:01.

Reagan Quilty was the female champion in the 11-12 age group. Quilty, 11, of St. Petersburg, had a winning time of 26:09.

Leah Kunins, 12, of Gulfport, was second in 27:25.

Haley Nesto, 12, of St. Pete Beach, was third in 28:19.

In the 9-10 division, which featured a half-mile run, 2-mile bike and 100-yard swim, Coleman Inglima of Clearwater was the champion after finishing in 15:01.

Jared Kanstoroom, 10, of St. Petersburg, was the second male to cross with a time of 15:45.

Ava Sykes, 9, of Largo, won the female 9-10 division with a time of 15:21.

In the 7-8 age division, Mac Lastinger of St. Petersburg claimed top honors with a time of 17:24. He was 10 seconds faster than St. Pete Beach's Gregory Glasscock, who was second.

Kaci Anderson earned a spot in the top three in the female 7-8 race. Anderson, from Largo, placed second in 21:09.

St. Petersburg's Skylar Hedman was third in 21:34.

In the youngest division, Anna Cubito of St. Petersburg covered the quarter-mile run, 1-mile bike and 25-yard swim in 10:50 to win the female championship in the 5-6 age division.

Finley Harding of Seminole was second in 12:41. Largo's Marina Moyer was third in 12:58.

Micah Timberlake of Largo was the top local male in the 5-6 age division. Timberlake had a time of 11:23 for second place.

Sam Wagoner of Seminole was right behind in 11:24 for third place.

SUNSETS AT PIER 60: St. Petersburg resident Karsen Callahan finished second overall in the first installment of the Sunsets at Pier 60 5K racing series on June 3.

Friday, Callahan came out on top in his second attempt. The 34-year-old needed just 16 minutes and 40 seconds to cross the finish line first at the second Sunsets at Pier 60 5K race of the summer. Callahan won by 42 seconds.

Placing second was Kenneth City 22-year-old Mark Benjamin, who ran 17:22 to edge Buka Harris by seven seconds. Benjamin won the men's 20-24 year old age division.

Harris, 20 of St. Petersburg, placed third in 17:29.

Lisa Williams was the top local female across the finish line. Williams, 32, of Largo, ran 20:38, good for second place.

Donna Nesslar, 48, of Largo, clocked in at 21:27 for a third-place finish.

Hudson 15-year-old Kari Grippo ran 19:15 to win the female championship.

Age group winners from Pinellas County: (F10 and under) Annabella Mowry, Dunedin, 25:49; (M15-19) Sam Chandler, St. Petersburg, 18:06; (F15-19) Brianna Paczynski, Clearwater, 21:43; (M35-39) Joe Palmer, Palm Harbor, 20:05; (M40-44) Howard Feingold, Clearwater, 19:20; (F40-44) Dawn Sterns, Palm Harbor, 23:12; (M45-49) Keith Sawayda, Clearwater, 18:18; (M50-54) Ward Edwards, Largo, 21:35; (F50-54) Carol Bancroft, Safety Harbor, 22:59; (M55-59) Ron Murawsky, Clearwater, 21:02; (M60-64) Chris Zucker, Pinellas Park, 23:32; (M65-69) Duncan Cameron, Palm Harbor, 22:37; (F65-69) Millie Hamilton, Redington Beach, 29:42; (F70-74) Terri Sullivan, Tarpon Springs, 37:40; (M75 and over) Jack Gough, Clearwater, 33:41.

There were 262 runners who completed the second race in the Sunsets at Pier 60 5K series.

Bryan Burns can be reached at bburns@sptimes.com.

Times wires
Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Dodgers 4, Tigers 0

LOS ANGELES — Clayton Kershaw pitched a two-hitter for his third career shutout and complete game, Juan Uribe homered and the Dodgers earned their second straight shutout win. Kershaw tied a season high with 11 strikeouts in his second shutout of the season. He allowed a leadoff double in the third to former Durant standout Ryan Raburn and a one-out single in the fourth to Casper Wells. Brad Penny, a former Dodger, fell to 1-3 with a 6.00 ERA over his past six starts.

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Former Tampa Plant High star Preston Tucker's three-run home run proved to be the difference for the Florida baseball team as the Gators concluded their suspended game against Vanderbilt from Tuesday night by earning a 3-1 victory today in the NCAA Men's College World Series.

The Gators defeated Vanderbilt for the fourth time this season, and set a school record for wins (52-17).

With the win, Florida will be off until Friday. Vanderbilt will play North Carolina on Wednesday and the winner of that game will play Florida on Friday at 2 p.m., while the loser will be eliminated. Friday's game will be televised at 2 p.m. on ESPN.

The Gators are just one victory away from returning to the Championship Series for the first time since 2005.

Neither team managed a run until the fourth inning when Florida's Nolan Fontana got on base with a walk, then sophomore catcher Mike Zunino reached base on an error, which allowed Fontana to make it to third.

Then came Tucker with his 15th home run of the season (fifth in postseason). He now has 18 RBI in eight NCAA Tournament games this year.

With the Gators leading 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning and two outs Monday night, the game was suspended due to severe weather in the Omaha area.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, June 21, 2011

The NHL's Board of Governors had a busy day Monday, approving the sale and relocation of the Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg and changing the wording for rules concerning boarding and, most interestingly, illegal hits to the head.

Rule 48 was put into place to stop blind-side or lateral hits to the head. In the new version, those terms have been replaced with wording meant to stop hits in which the head is targeted and and is the "principle point of contact." The words lateral and blind-side have been deleted.

Here is the official announcement from the league:

The National Hockey League's Board of Governors (Monday) approved changes to the wording of two rules – Rule 41, Boarding, and Rule 48, Illegal Check To The Head. The changes were approved by the League's 30 Club General Managers and were approved by the Competition Committee before being forwarded to the Board for ratification.

A boarding penalty will be assessed for a hit on a defenseless player that causes the victim to hit or impact the boards violently or dangerously. The new wording requires the player delivering the check to avoid or minimize contact if his opponent is defenseless. It also allows the referee discretion to determine whether the recipient of the contact placed himself in a vulnerable position immediately prior to or simultaneously with the collision and whether the check was unavoidable.

A penalty for an illegal check to the head will be assessed for a hit resulting in contact with an opponent's head where the head is targeted and the principal point of contact. The qualifying terms "lateral or blind side" for such hits have been deleted.

New Wording of Rule 41 – Boarding

41.1 Boarding - A boarding penalty shall be imposed on any player who checks or pushes a defenseless opponent in such a manner that causes the opponent to hit or impact the boards violently or dangerously. The severity of the penalty, based upon the impact with the boards, shall be at the discretion of the Referee.

There is an enormous amount of judgment involved in the application of this rule by the referees. The onus is on the player applying the check to ensure his opponent is not in a defenseless position and if so, he must avoid or minimize contact. However, in determining whether such contact could have been avoided, the circumstances of the check, including whether the opponent put himself in vulnerable position immediately prior to or simultaneously with the check or whether the check was unavoidable can be considered. This balance must be considered by the referees when applying this rule.

Any unnecessary contact with a player playing the puck on an obvious "icing" or "off-side" play which results in that player hitting or impacting the boards is "boarding" and must be penalized as such. In other instances where there is no contact with the boards, it should be treated as "charging."

New Wording of Rule 48 - Illegal Check to the Head

48.1 Illegal Check To The Head – A hit resulting in contact with an opponent's head where the head is targeted and the principal point of contact is not permitted. However, in determining whether such a hit should have been permitted, the circumstances of the hit, including whether the opponent put himself in a vulnerable position immediately prior to or simultaneously with the hit or the head contact on an otherwise legal body check was unavoidable, can be considered.

48.2 Minor Penalty – For violation of this rule, a minor penalty shall be assessed.

48.3 Major Penalty – There is no provision for a major penalty for this rule.

48.4 Game Misconduct – There is no provision for a game misconduct for this rule.

48.5 Match Penalty – The Referee, at his discretion, may assess a match penalty if, in his judgment, the player attempted to or deliberately injured his opponent with an illegal check to the head. If deemed appropriate, supplementary discipline can be applied by the Commissioner at his discretion.

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, June 21, 2011

As details begin to emerge from today's critical meeting of NFL owners near Chicago, we're getting a better picture of how the league and players plan to resolve some of their disputes.

Among the things that is most important to getting the league back to business: The free-agency guidelines that will govern what will be a very busy period once a collective bargaining agreement is signed.

This is of great importance to the Bucs, who have some key players with expired contracts. According to reports from ESPN and elsewhere, the proposed deal currently calls for every player with four or more seasons of credited service whose contract is expired to be an unrestricted free agent.

This comes despite some thought prior to the NFL lockout that players with fewer than six years of experience could potentially be deemed restricted free agents. Those who could have been restricted included coveted G Davin Joseph, LB Quincy Black and OT Jeremy Trueblood. LB Barrett Ruud and RB Cadillac Williams have completed six seasons of service and were almost certainly going to be unrestricted free agents regardless of the terms of the new CBA.

If the deal is consummated with these guidelines in place, it means that a number of Bucs are going to hit the market the minute the NFL resumes normal operations.

Under this scenario, here is the list of Bucs unrestricted free agents:

LB Quincy Black

DE Tim Crowder

TE John Gilmore

LB Adam Hayward

G Davin Joseph

LB Barrett Ruud

WR Micheal Spurlock

WR Maurice Stovall

OT Jeremy Trueblood

DE Stylez White

RB Cadillac Williams

By Jim Huddleston, Times Correspondent
Tuesday, June 21, 2011

What's hot: Many anglers are catching large snook along the beaches. These fish seem to be thriving, and good numbers are being caught along the northern Pinellas County coastline. The incoming tide has been exceptionally clear and made snook fall into deeper pockets when the sun gets high.

Technique: The keys to catching a big snook this time of year are presentation and proper baits. When setting up, allow room so the bait can be fed back into the tide, which creates a cushion between the angler and the target zone. Baits that stay deep will often be the first eaten. Pinfish or weighted-down sardines work best in swash channels. Downsizing tackle can also help to persuade finicky snook into eating. Twenty-five pound fluorocarbon leader combined with a 1/0 hook is a great setup on fish that are laid up over open sand.

Bait tactics: As water temperatures rise, it's difficult to keep sardines and other baits alive in the midday heat of a livewell. Cool the well to bring increased oxygen levels back and keep the baits frisky all day. Freeze a couple of gallon water jugs and place them into the well late in the day.

Jim Huddleston charters out of Tampa, Palm Harbor and Clearwater and can be reached at jim@captainhud.com or (727) 439-9017.

Times Staff
Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Rays at Brewers: 2 p.m. on Sun Sports. If you have a cool boss, weekday afternoon baseball is great to watch.

NIT classic: 7 p.m. on ESPN Classic. Last season's NIT Kent State-Colorado quarterfinal game, which suggests ESPN Classic is running out of things to show.

Inside NASCAR: 9 p.m. on Showtime. Getting you ready for this weekend's Sprint Cup race in Northern California.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, June 21, 2011

MILWAUKEE — Rays manager Joe Maddon insisted he thought he was working within the rules and not trying to get around them. Either way he found out he was wrong about Monday's Sam Fuld pitching move and told the umpires he was sorry.

Maddon apologized to the crew before Tuesday's game after receiving a call from MLB vice president Joe Torre explaining he had been wrong in thinking he could have Fuld warm up to buy time for another reliever without having to stay in and pitch.

"I wasn't trying to get away with anything," Maddon said. "It was a very innocent, non-evil mistake on my part."

Maddon sent Fuld to the mound before the eighth inning for what he felt was a legitimate reason.

With the Rays having just expanded their lead from 5-1 to 8-1, he wanted to use reliever Cesar Ramos rather than the more valuable Joel Peralta, who was warmed up and had started to run onto the field. Since Ramos needed more time to get ready, Maddon sent out Fuld to stall, thinking that since Fuld had pinch-hit for reliever J.P. Howell he was already in the game in the pitcher's spot and not subject to the usual rule, requiring an incoming reliever to face at least one batter.

Maddon said he told veteran home plate umpire Bob Davidson his intent, and neither Davidson nor crew chief Jerry Layne did anything about it at the time. But after talking with Torre, Maddon was made aware he had violated the rule.

"I was not totally aware of the rule like that because he had been in the game as a pinch-hitter," Maddon said. "I wasn't sure, I wasn't unsure. I really thought I was going to be able to do what I did. So I am very culpable in this situation."

(Though the point could be made that had Howell not been pinch-hit for, he could have warmed up to similarly stall then been replaced with no issue.)

Making it more confusing, Layne told mlb.com after Monday's game that Davidson was told Fuld "was sore or couldn't pitch or something." Fuld and Maddon were adamant that was not the case and didn't know where Davidson got that.

"I think it was a total miscommunication," Maddon said. "I never said anything about an injury."

The umpires refused to comment before Tuesday's game and MLB officials had no comment, though Maddon said he was "almost certain" this was the first time the issue came up, and he expected a rule will be drafted.

Fuld was surprised at the controversy, and a bit disappointed that he didn't get to actually pitch. He had a souvenir of the episode, though: a copy of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel with the Associated Press box score listing him as a pitcher.

That, too, was a mistake, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, as the official box score does not list him as his warm-up was not considered an official pitching appearance.

"It's even better," Fuld said, "that they messed it up."

Times wires
Tuesday, June 21, 2011

ROSEMONT, Ill. — The next time NFL owners meet over labor, there is hope it will be to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement with the players.

But a deal is not imminent. Yes, optimism is in the air, but that doesn't mean the lockout's end is at hand.

Owners were briefed Tuesday on discussions for a new CBA that would net the players just under 50 percent of total revenues. Next up: more talks with the players in the Boston area.

The Associated Press reported that commissioner Roger Goodell and his labor committee will meet with players association chief DeMaurice Smith today and Thursday. The owners spent five hours Tuesday getting updated on CBA issues.

"We're going to meet with them soon and we're eager to accelerate the pace of the negotiations," said Jeff Pash, the league's chief negotiator.

"We have a lot of work to do and we've got to do it right," Goodell added. "The agreement has to focus on several issues and the issues are complex."

AP reported that the players' share of revenue would approach the 50 percent the NFLPA has said it has received throughout the last decade. Expense credits — about $1 billion last year — that the league takes off the top would disappear.

Also, there would no longer be "designated revenues" from which the players would share. Instead, players would share from the entire pie, which likely will grow significantly. So the players would receive far more money than under the previous agreement.

Teams would be required to spend at least 90 percent of the salary cap, which would concern lower-revenue teams that could be stretched thin but should please players.

"It was a good day … we had a full discussion on the issues," Goodell said. When asked if there was a consensus among owners, he replied that "is a little deceiving because we don't have an agreement" with players.

While there was a question entering Tuesday's meeting about the number of owners who might object to some parts of a new deal, the New York Times reported there would be nothing close to the nine votes needed to scuttle an agreement.

SUPER BOWL WOES: Ticket holders suing over the Super Bowl seating fiasco at Cowboys Stadium in February say they should be compensated for lost income on top of the other expenses they incurred. The argument was part of a court filing in response to a motion from the NFL and the Cowboys to have the federal class action lawsuit dismissed.

Times wires
Tuesday, June 21, 2011

WIMBLEDON, England — The 352 days between Serena Williams' Grand Slam appearances were filled with health problems and hospitalizations, doubts and depression.

Cuts from glass on both feet. One operation on her right foot, then a second. Clots in her lungs. Surgery to remove a pool of blood under her skin.

Finally healthy, and finally back at a major tournament, Williams was overwhelmed at the end of her match at Wimbledon on Tuesday. As soon as she snapped off her 13th ace to close an uneven performance in a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 first-round win over Aravane Rezai, Williams placed her right palm on her chest. Her eyes welled with tears.

By the time she had walked to the net to shake hands, Williams was crying. She sat in her sideline chair, covered her face with a tournament towel and sobbed. And she kept right on bawling through a postmatch TV interview with the BBC.

"I've been through a lot of things that's not normal, things you guys don't even know about," Williams said. "So it's just been a long, arduous road. To stand up, still, is pretty awesome."

There was no such drama in the day's later matches, which included straight-set victories for Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Top seed Caroline Wozniacki and Andy Roddick also won. Djokovic, playing for the first time since Federer ended his 43-match winning streak in the French Open semifinals, eliminated Jeremy Chardy 6-4, 6-1, 6-1.

Day 2 also featured a rematch of the longest match in tennis history. In a sequel that couldn't possibly live up to the original, Tampa resident John Isner beat Nicolas Mahut 7-6 (7-4), 6-2, 7-6 (8-6) in 2 hours, 3 minutes. That was 9:02 and 149 games fewer than their first-round match a year ago, when Isner won 70-68 in the fifth set.

"It wasn't easy," Isner said, "but obviously it was considerably quicker."

Tampa resident James Blake lost his opening match 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 4-6, 6-4 to Marcos Baghdatis.

Times wires
Tuesday, June 21, 2011

LOS ANGELES — Commissioner Bud Selig hasn't acted in good faith by rejecting a proposed television deal involving the Dodgers and appears determined to run Frank McCourt out of the sport, an attorney representing the embattled owner said Tuesday.

A day after Selig announced he wouldn't approve a Dodgers TV deal with Fox Sports — reportedly worth up to $3 billion — lawyer Robert Sacks questioned the commissioner's intentions and warned that any potential takeover of the team by Major League Baseball would be met with resistance.

"There seems to be a predetermined result to drive Frank out of baseball without a good faith basis," Sacks said. "This isn't going to go away quietly."

The transaction would have provided McCourt with $385 million up front and was vital to a binding settlement reached between him and his ex-wife and former Dodger CEO Jamie McCourt last week. McCourt could miss a June 30 team payroll, and that could lead to an MLB takeover.

PUJOLS upbeat: 1B Albert Pujols said he felt healthy enough to be in the Cardinals lineup despite a broken left wrist that's likely to sideline him for six weeks. "To tell you the truth, I feel like I can play," he said. "I'll just be positive and be in the lineup before you know it." St. Louis called up 1B Mark Hamilton from Triple-A Memphis.

JETER HEALING: Yankees SS Derek Jeter resumed onfield work, throwing for the first time, including long toss, since going on the 15-day disabled list last week with a strained right calf.

EX-CLOSER RETIRES: RHP Chad Cordero, who had 113 saves in three seasons with the Nationals before arm injuries derailed his career, retired from baseball. Cordero, 29, finished with 128 saves in seven seasons.

CLEMENS SAGA: Prosecutors asked a judge to limit what Roger Clemens' attorneys can say in his upcoming steroids trial about a sexual assault investigation involving former trainer Brian McNamee, his chief accuser, that government lawyers said could "inflame the jury."

ASTROS: RF Hunter Pence is still having trouble with his sprained left elbow and likely won't return until Friday.

BLUE JAYS: Manager John Farrell said a team meeting was held to clear the air after LHP Ricky Romero said the offense relied too much on Jose Bautista and Adam Lind.

BRAVES: 3B Chipper Jones returned to the lineup after missing four games with a right adductor strain. … Former Rays INF Julio Lugo, 35, was called up from Triple-A Gwinnett.

DODGERS: Closer Jonathan Broxton, out six weeks with a bone bruise in his right (pitching) elbow, had the first of two scheduled rehab outings at Triple-A Albuquerque. SS Rafael Furcal, out since June 4 with a strained left oblique muscle, might begin a rehab stint Monday.

METS: SS Jose Reyes, who can become a free agent after the World Series, told the team he's not interested in negotiating a new contract during the season.

ORIOLES: 2B Brian Roberts needs more rest to recover from a concussion sustained May 16 and won't return until after the All-Star break.

WHITE SOX: RHP Jake Peavy is set to come off the disabled list for a second time this season and start today's game.

Times wires
Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Braves 5, Blue Jays 1

ATLANTA — Brian McCann hit a two-run homer, Jason Heyward had an RBI single and Mike Minor ended a nine-start winless streak for Atlanta, which has won three straight following a 1-5 stretch. Minor struck out a season-high eight in seven innings. Toronto has scored a total of two runs in losing three straight for the first time since April 30-May 3. The Blue Jays have dropped eight of 12 overall.

Times wires
Tuesday, June 21, 2011

pro basketball

nba owners give ground on hard salary cap

NEW YORK — Saying it reflects a "desire to go as far as we can to avoid a lockout," NBA commissioner David Stern said Tuesday owners moved off their insistence on a hard salary cap. But players don't see it that way.

The cap system appears to be the biggest obstacle to a new collective bargaining agreement before the current one expires June 30.

The league has proposed a "flex cap," in which teams would target a uniform dollar amount to spend but would still be permitted to exceed it up to an unspecified level, Stern said. Players argue it's still a hard cap because the ceiling would eventually kick in.

Though both sides believed progress was made in what Stern had said was an important day in negotiations, a sizable gap remains.

"We're still just really far apart on the largest issue of hard salary cap, and still some economic issues," union president Derek Fisher of the Lakers said.

Raptors: Former Mavs assistant Dwane Casey was introduced as coach.

WNBA: Reserve guard Shavonte Zellous scored a season-high 21 and Indiana held off host Washington 89-80. … Angel McCoughtry scored 14 to lead host Atlanta past Chicago 71-68.

et cetera

autos: NASCAR fined Joe Gibbs Racing's three crew chiefs $50,000 each for taking unapproved oil pans to Michigan last week. Mike Ford, Dave Rogers and Greg Zipadelli also were placed on probation through the end of the year, as was competition director Jimmy Makar and car chiefs Chris Gillin (Denny Hamlin's car), Wesley Sherrill (Kyle Busch's) and Jason Shapiro (Joe Logano's).

arena football: Storm defensive back Jarriet Buie was named the league's defensive player of the week for his six tackles, 4.5 sacks and forced fumble against Orlando on Friday.

soccer: The United States faces Panama at 6:30 (FSC) and Mexico plays Honduras at 9:30 (Univision) in the Gold Cup semifinals in Houston tonight.

cycling: The doctor for Juan Mauricio Soler's team says the rider's life is no longer in danger after sustaining head injuries in a crash during the Tour of Switzerland last week.

golf: Matt Kuchar and Zach Johnson won the Charity Classic with a two-round total of 24-under 118 at Barrington, R.I. The winners split $300,000.

Times wires

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, June 21, 2011

MILWAUKEE — LHP David Price was not happy with what the Red Sox did to him in his last start, and he hopes to make the Brewers pay for it today.

"That's the plan," Price said.

Price lasted only five innings on Thursday, walking five while allowing three runs, making for consecutive starts without a win and one grumpy left-hander.

"He's been that way, I could just see it," manager Joe Maddon said. "He's been fun, but he hasn't been as fun. He did not like his last outing."

Price said that after a few days he realized his outing against the Sox could have been worse, and he would take away the positive of keeping the score close.

"I held them to three runs, but I only went five innings," he said. "I gave us a chance, but obviously I'd like to go deeper into a game and give up less runs than that, but you can't do that every time out, and that's that. …

"Everybody's going to go through this at some point throughout the year and you've got to be able to bounce back from it and get back on top."

HICKEY RETURNS: Pitching coach Jim Hickey rejoined the team after spending Monday dealing with the aftermath of a fire at his St. Cloud house that will force his family to relocate for three-four weeks.

The fire was contained to the garage, but there was "significant smoke damage throughout the house," requiring extensive cleanup and replacement of all carpet. Hickey said they think the fire started with their gas-powered golf cart.

Hickey said his three children were home when the blaze broke out Sunday afternoon, and his 18-year-old son, Austin, who is about to leave for Florida State, first smelled the smoke. He located the blaze, got his brother and sister out of the house, called 911 then called their mother. "That was pretty impressive because I thought he would call his mom first," Hickey said.

DRAFT BREEZE: SS Jake Hager, the 32nd overall pick and the Rays' first first-rounder from the draft to be signed, got $963,000 according to Baseball America, $9,000 over MLB's recommended slot bonus. Compensation round picks RHP Jeff Ames (No. 42) got a reported $650,000 and OF James Harris (No. 60) got $490,000, both well under the MLB recommendation. Also signed was sixth-rounder RHP Jake Floethe. Hager and Ames will join rookie-level Princeton.

MINOR MATTERS: After waiting more than a year to make his pro debut, OF Josh Sale, the Rays' top 2010 pick, made it a hit, homering in his second plate appearance for Princeton (W. Va.) and going 1-for-3 overall. … Montgomery LHP Matt Moore, coming off his no-hitter, got knocked around in the Double-A Southern League All-Star Game, allowing four runs on three hits and a walk and failing to get through the first inning. … Bowling Green SS Derek Dietrich drew two walks and 1B Phil Wunderlich singled in the Class A Midwest League All-Star Game while RHP Eliazer Suero allowed four runs.

MISCELLANY: DH Johnny Damon made a second straight start in leftfield in an effort to keep his bat in the lineup but was 0-for-4. … RHP Jeff Niemann said he felt fine the day after throwing six strong innings in his return from the DL. … The Brewers have not lost consecutive home games.

Times wires
Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Nationals 6, Mariners 5

WASHINGTON — Wilson Ramos capped Washington's five-run ninth inning with a game-ending three-run homer. Jerry Hairston and Danny Espinosa had two-out RBI singles before Ramos hit David Pauley's 1-and-1 pitch deep to center. Ramos threw his arms up almost immediately after the ball left his bat as Pauley started to trudge off the mound.

Times wires
Tuesday, June 21, 2011

NEW YORK — The league rule on hits to the head has been broadened in an effort to reduce the number of concussions and other serious injuries.

The Board of Governors voted Tuesday to change a rule that had made only "lateral" and "blindside" head hits illegal and worth a five-minute major penalty. Now a hit made anywhere on the ice in which the head is targeted and is the principal point of contact gets the offending player a two-minute minor. The terms "lateral" and "blindside" have been deleted.

A penalized player also will be subject to league discipline.

The new rule is effective immediately.

"Now the confusion some of the players have expressed in the past as to what direction they're approaching a player, what direction a player is facing, east, west, north, south, that has all been taken out," Brendan Shanahan, the former player who is the league's new discipline czar, told NHL.com.

The rewritten rule is a byproduct of work done by a committee of Shana- han, league hockey operations manager Rob Blake, Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman and Dallas GM Joe Nieuwendyk — all former players — that commissioner Gary Bettman put together in March to examine ways to make the game safer.

The Board of Governors also approved changes to the boarding rule. A penalty will now be given to a player who hits a defenseless player and causes him to hit the boards violently or dangerously. The penalty assessed is at the discretion of the referee, to be based on the impact with the boards.

But the rule also gives the referee discretion to determine whether the player who is hit placed himself in a vulnerable position and whether the check was unavoidable.

Winnipeg move approved: The Board of Governors unanimously approved the sale and relocation of the Thrashers to Winnipeg, clearing the final big hurdle in the process.

Jagr watch: The agent for former scoring champion and league MVP Jaromir Jagr said he is talking with the Red Wings, Penguins and a team he wouldn't identify about Jagr returning to the NHL. Petr Svoboda said Jagr wants a one-year deal and something should be set in the next week or so. The Wings have said they are interested. Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said the team hadn't talk to Svoboda but he was intrigued by the possibility of adding Jagr, 39, who hasn't played in the NHL since 2008 with the Rangers. Jagr has played in Russia's KHL since. He won Stanley Cups with the Penguins in 1991 and '92 and also played for the Capitals.

Times wires
Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Pirates 9, Orioles 3

PITTSBURGH — Neil Walker had two hits and three RBIs as Pittsburgh snapped a four-game losing streak. The Pirates have won three interleague games this season, one more than last season. Both teams wore throwback uniforms from 1971 as Pittsburgh celebrated the 40th anniversary of a World Series victory over the Orioles.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, June 21, 2011

LAS VEGAS — There is a subtle difference between the Hart Trophy and the Ted Lindsay Award.

The Hart, voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association, is for the NHL's most valuable player. The Lindsay, formerly the Pearson Award, is voted by the players for the most outstanding player.

Lightning C Steven Stamkos is up for the Lindsay. Tampa Bay W Marty St. Louis is up for the Hart. The winners will be announced at tonight's NHL awards show at the Palms Hotel.

"Both awards players take a lot of pride in," Stamkos said.

But if St. Louis had to pick one to win, it would be the Lindsay.

"To me that's the biggest one," he said. "The Hart is still a big award, don't get me wrong. But (the Lindsay) is the one that is voted by the guys you play against. There couldn't be more respect thrown your way if you're nominated."

St. Louis, 36, who won both awards in 2004, called himself the "dark horse" for the Hart this year despite finishing second in the league with 99 points. He is up against Ducks RW Corey Perry, the NHL's only 50-goal scorer this season, and Canucks LW Daniel Sedin, who had a league-best 104 points.

Sedin and Perry also are finalists with Stamkos for the Lindsay.

"It's something I wasn't really expecting," said Stamkos, 21, who had 45 goals but just five in his final 28 games. "It was a little surprising, but I'll definitely take it. It's something I'll remember for a long time."

MORE AWARDS: St. Louis is also up for the Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship, which he won in 2010. Stars LW Loui Eriksson and Red Wings D Nicklas Lidstrom also are finalists. … Tampa Bay GM Steve Yzerman is a finalist for executive of the year with the Canucks' Mike Gillis and the Predators' Dave Poile.

HOW IS WAYNE FLEMING? The Lightning assistant coach still is in a California hospital getting radiation and chemotherapy treatments for brain cancer. He is making what Yzerman called "slow but steady" progress."

ODDS AND ENDS: The Lightning added Brad Whelen as an amateur scout. Whelen was the top scout for Calgary of the junior Western league. He is Tampa Bay's third recent scouting hire. … Former Lightning captain Tim Taylor took a player-development job with the Blues.

Times wires
Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Rockies 4, Indians 3

CLEVELAND — Seth Smith's second homer of the game snapped a ninth-inning tie as Colorado held Cleveland hitless into the sixth, blew a lead then bounced back. Smith hit closer Chris Perez's 2-and-2 pitch into the rightfield seats for his fourth career multihomer game. The Rockies have won six of seven to move over .500 for the first time since being 24-23 on May 24.