Times wires
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

NEW YORK — Just in case the Cavaliers need some advice for what to do with those two high picks, here it is:

Take Duke guard Kyrie Irving first, grab Turkish big man Enes Kanter fourth, and start enjoying the postseason success you used to have with LeBron James.

"If I play with Kyrie, I believe we can make playoffs," Kanter said Wednesday.

Or … pass on Irving and go with Arizona's Derrick Williams, who can play inside or out, either forward spot, and would bring the mixture of power and athleticism back to the frontcourt that was lost when James left for Miami.

"I feel like I am the most overall ready in this spot by my size and ready to make an impact," Williams said.

Even in what's considered a less-than-stellar draft, the Cavs have options tonight at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., when they become the first team since the 1983 Rockets with two picks in the top four (Houston took Ralph Sampson No. 1 and Rodney McCray No. 3).

The Cavs' No. 1 pick was acquired from the Clippers last season in the Baron Davis trade.

Cleveland is expected to start with Irving. Though the point guard played just 11 games during his freshman season because of a toe injury, the numbers he put up seem too good to pass up.

"It definitely feels good … knowing that I'm still projected to go No. 1," said Irving, who averaged 17.5 points while shooting 53 percent from the floor, 46 percent from 3-point range and 90 percent from the foul line.

Minnesota seems open to dealing the No. 2 pick. Utah has Nos. 3 and 12, the latter potentially putting the Jazz in the difficult position of deciding whether it wants to keep Brigham Young star Jimmer Fredette, who scored 28.9 a game, in state.

Gators with ears Open: UF's Chandler Parsons, Vernon Macklin and Alex Tyus, who criss-crossed the country working out for various teams, will be among those hoping to hear their names called tonight. "It's exhausting to be in a different city for a different team every day," said Parsons, the SEC player of the year who could go as high as late in the first round, "but I wouldn't trade it for anything."

Predraft chatter: Spurs general manager R.C. Buford refuted Internet reports that the team seeks to trade All-Star point guard Tony Parker for a high first-round pick tonight, the San Antonio Express-News reported on its website. Yahoo Sports said the Spurs had discussions with the Raptors, who hold the fifth pick overall, and the Kings, who have the seventh. … Suns president of basketball operations Lon Babby, denying reports by ESPN that his team was talking to the Timberwolves about the No. 2 pick, said that two-time MVP Steve Nash isn't going to be traded, and he added center Marcin Gortat to the untouchable list. … Timberwolves president of basketball operations Daivd Kahn plans to fire coach Kurt Rambis sometime after the draft, Yahoo Sports reported. … The Lakers unsuccessfully tried to trade sixth man of the year Lamar Odom for Minnesota's No. 2 overall pick, the Los Angeles Times reported. The Lakers wanted Arizona's Williams.

Times wires
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Nationals 2, Mariners 1

WASHINGTON — Washington scored two unearned runs off Erik Bedard to win for the 10th time in 11 games and reach .500 for the first time since May 11. Washington hasn't been at break-even this late in the season since finishing with a .500 record in 2005, its inaugural season in the nation's capital. Bedard's interleague ERA dropped to 1.69, best among active pitchers, but his record fell to 8-2.

Times wires
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Indians 4, Rockies 3

CLEVELAND — Josh Tomlin pitched 61/3 effective innings and DH Travis Hafner hit a two-run homer in his last start for a while, leading Cleveland before it leaves for three NL cities. Tomlin has gone at least six innings in 14 of 15 starts and at least five in all 27 as a major-leaguer. Hafner, sorely missed by the Indians when he was on the disabled list, homered in the sixth off former Ray Jason Hammel as Cleveland avoided being swept in the three-game series.

Times wires
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Reds 10, Yankees 2

Game 2

CINCINNATI — Leadoff hitter Chris Heisey homered three times and Johnny Cueto pitched seven strong innings to help Cincinnati to a doubleheader split. Heisey opened with his first career leadoff homer. He then had two-run shots off Brian Gordon and Hector Noesi in his first multihomer game.

Times wires
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

NBA

Union in 'total disbelief' over offer

NEW YORK — NBA union officials said Wednesday they and owners are about $7 billion apart over a 10-year proposal the owners released a day earlier. President Derek Fisher said when players are briefed, they are in "total disbelief."

"When we put our spreadsheets up … everybody's at a loss for how to even begin to close this gap," the Lakers guard said.

The current deal expires June 30. If no deal is reached, the owners are expected to institute a lockout. Another bargaining session is set for Friday.

The primary issue is the salary cap. The owners, who say they lost a combined $300 million this season, offered what they called a "flex cap." Teams would be targeted to spend $62 million but could exceed that via exceptions. Fisher said the owners never mentioned the $62 million limit during talks and called it a "hard cap," to which he will not agree.

Union executive director Billy Hunter, though, said the players would consider a hard cap if they received a high percentage of revenues. He didn't specify a number. Currently, it's 57 percent.

Heat: C Zydrunas Ilgauskas exercised his $1.4 million option for next season.

Soccer

Leaked document ties two to FIFA bribery

FIFA has "compelling" evidence that Mohamed bin Hammam and Jack Warner conspired to bribe voters in its presidential election. Bin Hammam was set to meet incumbent Sepp Blatter on June 1 but pulled out four days beforehand.

According to a leaked 17-page document, an ethics panel concluded bin Hammam offered officials from four Caribbean federations brown envelopes stuffed with $100 bills. It added Warner, who last week resigned as leader of the North, Central American and Caribbean regional body, arranged the meetings.

The investigation into bin Hammam is ongoing. Warner's was dropped, FIFA says, because it no longer has the legal authority to punish him.

FIFA declined comment. Bin Hammam was unavailable. In a statement, Warner denied the allegation and said the document was circulated by "pathologically mendacious" people within FIFA who would "stop at no length to destroy my legacy."

More Soccer: MLS suspended Chicago F Cristian Nazarit for two games and fined him $500 for his hard tackle during Saturday's 1-1 tie against New England. … American F DaMarcus Beasley, who has appeared in the past three World Cups, signed with Mexico's Puebla. Beasley, 29, spent last season with Germany's Hannover 96, for which he saw little action.

Et cetera

Tennis: Juan Martin del Potro will play for Argentina in July's Davis Cup quarterfinal against Kazakhstan. He has not played in the event since 2009 because of various injuries.

Greyhounds: Flying Marvelous and Ok Barry won qualifying races for the $30,000 St. Petersburg Derby at Derby Lane. Other qualifiers for Saturday's 660-yard finale: Dancin Rainman, Flying Masago, Galway, Magic Smoke, Storm Rush and Uss Gazillionair. The $10,000 Consolation Derby also is Saturday.

Don Jensen, Times correspondent; Times wires

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Today: Off

Next game: at Astros, 8:05 p.m. Friday, Sun Sports

Starting pitchers

RAYS:

RH James Shields (7-4, 2.40)

ASTROS:

LH Wandy Rodriguez (5-3, 2.88)

On deck

Saturday: at Astros, 7:05, Sun Sports. Rays — Wade Davis (6-5, 4.57); Astros — Bud Norris (4-5, 3.26)

Sunday: at Astros, 2:05, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeff Niemann (2-4, 4.82); Astros — J.A. Japp (3-9, 5.33)

Monday: vs. Reds, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeremy Hellickson (7-6, 3.09); Reds — TBA

Tuesday: vs. Reds, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (8-6, 3.51); Reds — TBA

Rays by the numbers

Home/Road: 18-18/23-16

Day/Night: 15-13/26-21

Grass/Turf: 20-14/21-20

vs. East: 15-12

vs. Central: 14-10

vs. West: 6-9

vs. National League: 6-3

Extra innings: 4-2

Win in last at-bat: 7

Come-from-behind wins: 12

Opp. come-from-behind wins: 10

1-run games: 12-6

2-run games: 6-8

vs. RH/LH starters: 31-24/11-9

When commit error: 15-15

Hit homer: 29-14

Hit multiple homers: 15-6

Homer with men on: 24-4

Score first: 30-8

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

Off-day activity of the day

B.J. Upton is going hunting today for the first time, joining bench coach Dave Martinez, 3B Evan Longoria and home clubhouse/equipment manager Chris Westmoreland on a crossbow hog-hunting expedition. "Davey talked me into it," Upton explained. "I said it kinda joking around at first, then he went and got me camo boots and all of that, so I'm going. I don't know what I'm going for, I'm just going."

Off-day activity prediction of the day

Martinez is considered the Rays' Great American Outdoorsman, with nothing beyond his reach. But, he admitted, getting Upton to the preserve an hour outside of Houston and into a tree stand and teaching him to use the crossbow properly could be the ultimate hunting challenge. "I have," Martinez said, "no expectations."

Times wires
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Phillies 4, Cardinals 0

ST. LOUIS — Cliff Lee pitched a six-hitter for his second straight shutout and Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard homered in the fourth inning to lead Philadelphia. St. Louis has totaled two runs on 11 hits in its first two games without injured Albert Pujols, expected to miss six weeks with a fractured left wrist. It didn't help that the Cardinals have faced two of the game's best, with Roy Halladay giving up four hits in six innings Tuesday. Kyle Lohse pitched eight innings to match his season best for St. Louis.

Times wires
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

LAS VEGAS — Ducks forward Corey Perry, who scored a league-best 50 goals, won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's MVP on Wednesday at the annual awards show. He was a surprise winner over scoring champion Daniel Sedin of the Canucks. The Lightning's Marty St. Louis finished third in the voting.

Sedin was voted the most outstanding player by the players. He bested Perry and the Lightning's Steven Stamkos.

The Red Wings' Nicklas Lidstrom won his seventh Norris Trophy as best defenseman. He ties Doug Harvey as a seven-time winner, one behind record-holder Bobby Orr. The Bruins' Tim Thomas added his second Vezina Trophy as top goalie.

Times wires

Times wires
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

OMAHA, Neb. — Taylor Hill and Corey Williams combined on four-hitter, Connor Harrell and Curt Casali homered and Vanderbilt eliminated North Carolina from the College World Series with a 5-1 victory Wednesday night.

Vanderbilt (54-11) beat the Tar Heels for the second time in the CWS and plays SEC rival Florida (52-17) at 2 p.m. Friday on ESPN. The Commodores, who are 1-4 against Florida this season, would need to beat the Gators twice Friday to reach next week's best-of-three championship finals.

UF won the previous CWS meeting on Tuesday 3-1 as former Plant standout Preston Tucker hit a three-run homer.

North Carolina (51-16) left 34 runners on base in its three CWS games and was just 7-for-39 with runners in scoring position.

Hill (6-1) allowed a run and four hits in seven innings. Harrell's three-run shot put Vanderbilt up 4-0 in the second inning.

Gators nab coveted kicker from Georgia

Atlanta Marist kicker Austin Hardin committed to the Gators, saying he wanted a strong academic program along with football. ESPN ranks him as the No. 2 kicker in the nation.

He said UF told him he will kick off next season and work toward taking over field goals when redshirt junior Caleb Sturgis graduates.

More Gators: Former UF Heisman Trophy quarterback Danny Wuerffel said he continues to make encouraging progress in his recovery from Guillain-Barre Syndrome. … Former UF cornerback Janoris Jenkins, who was dismissed in April after his second arrest for marijuana possession in four months, will play for Division II North Alabama, led by former Auburn coach Terry Bowden.

Oklahoma: Athletic director Joe Castiglione believes the school is closer to resolving the NCAA investigation into its men's basketball program.

Castiglione said there "probably will" be developments he can comment on this summer.

The university has refused to release any records pertaining to the investigation since acknowledging in April 2010 that it was working with the NCAA.

Former player Keith Gallon has said he took $3,000 from a Florida financial adviser so his high school would release his transcripts and he could play for the Sooners.

Oklahoma was on probation for major rules violations involving impermissible recruiting phone calls by former coach Kelvin Sampson at the time the new investigation started.

Jeff Capel, who was Sooners coach when Gallon was recruited, was fired in March and replaced by former Gators coach Lon Kruger.

More Sooners: University regents approved amended contracts for football coach Bob Stoops' assistants, giving each one a $25,000 bonus if the Sooners finish in the top five of the BCS standings. … The Red River Rivalry game vs. Texas, this year scheduled for Oct. 8, will start 11 a.m., ABC announced.

Southern Cal: Former receiver Lonnie White admitted in a story he wrote for the website TheDaily.com to accepting $14,000 in illegal payments and benefits during his four years at the school in the 1980s. Calling it an "act of survival" because he needed money for rent and bills, White wrote that most of the money came from selling the four season tickets provided to every scholarship player. The transactions were made without the knowledge of coaches.

UCLA: Basketball guard Stan Hasiak was dismissed from the university for academic reasons, a school announcement adding that the sophomore plans to enroll at a junior college with hopes of returning to the Bruins next year.

Honda award: UConn basketball star Maya Moore, Penn State volleyball player Blair Brown and Villanova cross country and track standout Sheila Reid are among the 12 finalists for the Honda-Broderick Cup, to be awarded Monday to a female athlete for excellence in academics and sports.

Times wires
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

OMAHA, Neb. — Now comes the hard part for Vanderbilt.

The Commodores extended their first appearance at the College World Series with a 5-1 victory over North Carolina on Wednesday night.

Their reward is another game against SEC rival Florida (2 p.m. Friday, ESPN), which has beaten them in four of five meetings this season.

"We're not thinking, 'How the heck can we beat Florida?' It's not really in the back of our minds at all," said outfielder Connor Harrell, who hit a three-run homer against UNC. "We feel we can compete with them. … We're going to come in confident."

Taylor Hill and Corey Williams combined on four-hitter, and Curt Casali also homered as Vanderbilt (54-11) beat the Tar Heels (51-15) for the second time in the CWS.

The Commodores would need to beat the Gators (52-17) Friday and again Saturday to reach next week's best-of-three championship finals. UF won the previous CWS meeting 3-1 on Tuesday as former Plant standout Preston Tucker hit a three-run homer.

Hill (6-1) outdueled Greg Holt (7-2) in a matchup of Nationals draft picks. Hill, taken in the sixth round, allowed a run and four hits in seven innings.

"He did a good job of neutralizing their offense and got us deep into the ball game where we could put Corey in," Vandy coach Tim Corbin said. "Connor's home run was big and followed up by Curtis. We did enough offensively to get by."

Gators nab coveted kicker from Georgia

Atlanta Marist kicker Austin Hardin committed to the Gators, saying he wanted a strong academic program along with football. ESPN ranks him as the No. 2 kicker in the nation.

He said UF told him he will kick off next season and work toward taking over field goals when redshirt junior Caleb Sturgis graduates.

More Gators: Former UF Heisman Trophy quarterback Danny Wuerffel said he continues to make encouraging progress in his recovery from Guillain-Barre Syndrome. … Former UF cornerback Janoris Jenkins, who was dismissed in April after his second arrest for marijuana possession in four months, will play for Division II North Alabama, led by former Auburn coach Terry Bowden.

Oklahoma: Athletic director Joe Castiglione believes the school is closer to resolving the NCAA investigation into its men's basketball program.

Castiglione said there "probably will" be developments he can comment on this summer.

The university has refused to release any records pertaining to the investigation since acknowledging in April 2010 that it was working with the NCAA.

Former player Keith Gallon has said he took $3,000 from a Florida financial adviser so his high school would release his transcripts and he could play for the Sooners.

Oklahoma was on probation for major rules violations involving impermissible recruiting phone calls by former coach Kelvin Sampson at the time the new investigation started.

Jeff Capel, who was Sooners coach when Gallon was recruited, was fired in March and replaced by former Gators coach Lon Kruger.

More Sooners: University regents approved amended contracts for football coach Bob Stoops' assistants, giving each one a $25,000 bonus if the Sooners finish in the top five of the BCS standings. … The Red River Rivalry game vs. Texas, this year scheduled for Oct. 8, will start 11 a.m., ABC announced.

Southern Cal: Former receiver Lonnie White admitted in a story he wrote for the website TheDaily.com to accepting $14,000 in illegal payments and benefits during his four years at the school in the 1980s. Calling it an "act of survival" because he needed money for rent and bills, White wrote that most of the money came from selling the four season tickets provided to every scholarship player. The transactions were made without the knowledge of coaches.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Times wires
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Angels 6, Marlins 5

10 innings

MIAMI — Mark Trumbo hit a two-out RBI single in the 10th for Los Angeles, which went 5-for-14 with runners in scoring position after going 2-for-26 in the series' first two games.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

LAS VEGAS — That presenters Camille Grammer and Adrienne Maloof butchered Marty St. Louis' last name — pronouncing it like the city — didn't bother the Lightning wing, who won his second consecutive Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship at Wednesday's NHL awards.

The voting wasn't close. St. Louis received 70 first-place votes and a record 994 points, beating Detroit D Nicklas Lidstrom, who had 464 points.

"I didn't even notice," St. Louis said of the introductory gaffe.

As for the trophy, which he adds to his 2004 Hart and Pearson awards as league MVP and his 2004 Art Ross points-leader trophy, he said, "It's an honor to be on that trophy. Great players have been on it. Great players have won it more than once, so I'm happy. But I couldn't have done it without my teammates and the whole organization."

St. Louis, 36, had 31 goals and was second in the league with 99 points with just 12 penalty minutes.

"It's tremendous," GM Steve Yzerman said of St. Louis' win. "I like what they're doing with that award. The guys who are winning it play hard, they compete hard, they show good sportsmanship, and they're not diving all over the ice trying to draw penalties. It's a great honor for him."

MORE RECOGNITION: St. Louis and C Steven Stamkos were named to the NHL All-Star second team. … St. Louis was third behind Anaheim's Corey Perry and Vancouver's Daniel Sedin for the Hart Trophy, given to the MVP as voted by the media. Sedin beat Stamkos and Perry for the Ted Lindsay Award, given to the most outstanding player voted by the players. "I was just honored to be part of the final three voted on by the players," Stamkos said. "It's nice to have that respect. It's flattering in itself."

SECOND-BEST: Yzerman, who did not attend the event, said he was not disappointed he finished behind Vancouver's Mike Gillis for GM of the Year. Gillis' 14 first-place votes and 96 points dwarfed Yzerman's seven first-place votes and 61 points. "Mike did some great things in building that team," Yzerman said.

PRESEASON SKED: Tampa Bay will play six games to prep for the 2011-12 season, but only one — Sept. 23 against the Panthers — at the St. Pete Times Forum. Here is the schedule. All times are subject to change:

September: 20 — at St. Louis, 7:30 p.m. 21 — vs. Blues, place/time TBA. 23 — Panthers, 7:30 p.m. 24 — at Florida, 7 p.m.; 29 — at Montreal, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 1 — vs. Canadiens at Quebec City, 7 p.m.

ODDS AND ENDS: Lightning coach Guy Boucher was fourth in the voting for the Jack Adams Award for coach of the year. Pittsburgh's Dan Bylsma won. … The Lightning will open the 2011-12 season Oct. 7 at Carolina. The home opener is Oct. 17 against the Panthers. The schedule will be released today. … John Burkart, former director of scouting for Green Bay of the junior United States league, was hired as an amateur scout. He is the Lightning's fourth recent scouting hire.

Times wires
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

D'backs 3, Royals 2

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Ian Kennedy pitched six strong innings and Xavier Nady hit an RBI double for Arizona. Kennedy is 7-1 with a 2.16 ERA in his past 13 starts. The Diamondbacks scored three on four hits in the fifth against Jeff Francis. Nady's double down the leftfield line scored Wily Mo Pena with the first run. Willie Bloomquist, who played last year for the Royals, singled home Miguel Montero with the second run. Ryan Roberts' sacrifice bunt scored Nady with the final run.

Times wires
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

HOUSTON — Clint Dempsey struck again, and the United States reached the Gold Cup final for the fourth straight time.

Dempsey scored in the 77th minute off an assist from Landon Donovan, and the Americans earned a 1-0 victory over Panama in the semifinals Wednesday.

Saturday, the Americans meet the winner of Wednesday's late game between Honduras and Mexico. The Gold Cup champion earns a berth in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.

The United States has shut out its past three opponents since losing 2-1 to Panama on June 11 in Tampa. Before the upset, it had never lost to Panama or in the group stage of the championship of the Central and North American and Caribbean region.

"I think we showed our quality in being able to grind out a result," said Dempsey, who also scored in Sunday's 2-0 quarterfinal win over Jamaica, "even though it wasn't our best game."

Freddy Adu made a long-awaited return to American soccer in the second half. He set up the winning play with a long, slanting pass to Donovan.

Donovan was benched at the start for the second straight game and entered to start the second half. He tracked down Adu's cross and threaded a pinpoint pass through the defense to Dempsey, who slid as he redirected the ball into the corner of the net.

"It was a great ball from Freddy to open up Landon," Dempsey said. "All I had to do was put my foot on it."

Adu, the onetime teen phenom who turned 22 last month, drew cheers when he trotted onto the field in the 66th minute. Adu was playing in Turkey when he got the call to join the roster.

Adu, who last played for the national team in 2009, struggled early in training camp for the tournament, but coach Bob Bradley said he steadily regained his form.

"From the start of this camp, Freddy's made progress," Bradley said. "The opportunity (Wednesday) was earned on his part. You could see him getting sharper, his confidence coming back."

No matter who the United States faces Saturday, it will be without Jozy Altidore. Earlier Wednesday, the forward, who scored two goals in the tournament, was ruled out for the rest of it with a strained hamstring sustained against Jamaica.

Under-17 World Cup: Abbosbek Makhstaliev scored the winner on a penalty kick in the 54th minute as Uzbekistan beat the United States, featuring Pinellas Park's Tarik Salk, 2-1 in a group game in Torreon, Mexico.

Times wires
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Astros 5, Rangers 3

ARLINGTON, Texas — Matt Downs had a pinch-hit two-run homer in the ninth to cap Houston's four-run rally off Texas' Neftali Feliz. Carlos Lee greeted Feliz with a bouncer just over third for a double. Lee scored on Chris Johnson's double, and Jason Michaels had an infield hit before Johnson scored on a passed ball. Downs hit the Astros' first homer in nine games.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

LAS VEGAS — Jinx? What jinx?

As far as Lightning center Steven Stamkos is concerned, the urban legend about players on the cover of EA Sports' NHL video games having disastrous subsequent seasons has long been put to rest.

Look at Chicago's Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, he said. Both had great seasons after being on the cover the past two years.

And how about Tampa Bay's Vinny Lecavalier in 2006, Washington's Alex Ovechkin in '07 and Carolina's Eric Staal in '08, each of whom were stars as cover boys?

"So, I have no worries," Stamkos said, laughing. "I'm just honored to be part of it."

The announcement that Stamkos will grace the 2012 cover was one of the more interesting stories out of Wednesday night's NHL awards show at the Palms Hotel.

It certainly was notable that Tampa Bay wing Marty St. Louis won his second straight Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship, something he called "an honor" and general manager Steve Yzerman called "tremendous."

But Stamkos' link to the video game, which brings well-deserved recognition to one of the game's brightest stars and a coincidental dark cloud similar to the one linked to John Madden's EA Sports' NFL game, did prompt some questions.

Stamkos, 21, shrugged them off, saying he is not superstitious in that way. And St. Louis said Stamkos "should not be worried, no, not at all."

Still, Philadelphia's Eric Lindros in 1998-99 sustained a collapsed lung at the end of his cover season. San Jose's Owen Nolan saw his point production fall by 35 in his cover season of 2000-01.

Pittsburgh's Mario Lemieux played only 24 games because of injury in 2001-02. Calgary's Jarome Iginla was down 29 points in 2002-03, and Atlanta's Dany Heatley before his 2003-04 cover season wrapped his car around a pole in a crash that killed his passenger, teammate Dan Snyder.

On the other hand, there are Lecavalier, Ovechkin, Staal, Toews and Kane, who in five of the past six seasons turned the cover into more of a lucky charm. "Hopefully," Stamkos said, "I follow that trend."

That would be good news for Tampa Bay, which needs the unsigned Stamkos to play as he did while scoring 40 goals in his first 54 games last season, not as he did scoring five in his final 28.

Stamkos always has been a gamer. He claims he asked for the EA Sports game every year at Christmas since he was 6 and was "so excited" to buy the first version he was in. He reveled in his version, which hits stores in September, and said he is ready to take on all challengers.

"I played (Wednesday) morning, and I scored a couple of goals when the camera wasn't rolling," he said. "When it was, I think I lost the game. ... My faceoffs weren't very good, so maybe I'll take that as a hint to get better."

"I think he had an outstanding season this year," Yzerman said. "I thought he did an outstanding job in the playoffs. He did a lot of the little things and he continues to evolve as a player."

Enough to overcome any jinx.

Times wires
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

White Sox 4, Cubs 3

CHICAGO — Jake Peavy returned from the disabled list to get the victory, A.J. Pierzynski had a two-run triple and the White Sox won two of three in the rivals' first series this season. With the help of some strong bullpen work, the White Sox held on to win their 17th straight interleague series. Peavy was driven out in the sixth when he gave up former Ray Carlos Peña's homer and three straight singles that pulled the Cubs within a run.

Times wires
Thursday, June 23, 2011

Mets 3, Athletics 2

13 innings

NEW YORK — Oakland reliever Brad Ziegler hit Justin Turner with a pitch with the bases loaded and two outs in the 13th inning, lifting New York.

Times wires
Thursday, June 23, 2011

Giants 5, Twins 1

SAN FRANCISCO — Ryan Vogelsong had another strong outing, Eli Whiteside drove in three runs and the Giants snapped a five-game losing streak while ending Minnesota's eight-game winning string. Vogelsong (5-1) allowed three hits and one unearned run in seven innings. Nick Blackburn (6-5) took his first loss in almost two months.