Friday, July 8, 2011

Women's World Cup

It has been almost 37 years since England last defeated the French, a 2-0 win in Wimbledon, with Les Bleues going on to win five of their next 10 meetings.

And on the two previous occasions England reached the World Cup quarterfinals, it was defeated 3-0, by Germany in 1995 and the United States in 2007.

France, meanwhile, is playing in its first quarterfinal. The winner of the clash meets either Brazil or the United States in Wednesday's semifinals.

French goalkeeper Berangere Sapowicz is suspended for the game after being sent off in Tuesday's 4-2 loss to Germany. The more experienced Celine Deville will start.

For England, coach Hope Powell has concerns about the fitness of captain Faye White, who sat out a 2-0 win over Japan on Tuesday with a knee injury. "The players that came in against Japan did a fantastic job. I know there is a depth to our squad, so wait and see what happens," Powell said.

France has 10 members of the Champions League-winning Lyon team. And coach Bruno Bini took exception when German coach Silvia Neid failed to name France among the seven teams that could win the World Cup. "She will have to change that," he said before the tournament.

France then destroyed Canada 4-0 before bringing out the best of Germany in the defeat to the host nation in the final game of Group A.

Montpellier striker Marie-Laure Delie, 23, has 23 goals in 23 appearances for France. "Marie is simply unbelievable," Bini said.

COUNTING ON SOLO: Much has been made of the Americans' recent vulnerability, with the two-time World Cup champions losing four games since November after going unbeaten for more than two years.

But goalkeeper Hope Solo was the starter for only one of those defeats, the 2-1 result Wednesday against Sweden.

Solo played only the second half of a 2-1 loss to England in April, her first game back after shoulder surgery that kept her out of World Cup qualifying. England had scored both its goals when she entered.

Including the two goals against Sweden, Solo has allowed just five since the 2008 Olympic fina, won by the Americans 1-0 in overtime against Brazil.

"We're so confident with her back there," midfielder Heather O'Reilly said. "It's also nice to see the frustration on attackers' faces when they think the ball's in the back of net and she's able to get her fingertips on a shot that nobody else might be able to."

PRINZ QUESTION: Heading into today's quarterfinal against Japan, Germany has won all three group games and improved after a hesitant start. Its breakthrough was the victory over France, when Neid benched Germany's all-time World Cup star, Birgit Prinz, after two bad outings.

Replacing a lesser player would have been easy, but Prinz was the driving force behind Germany's 2003 and '07 World Cup wins. Once Neid did so, the team gelled and played with abandon.

"There is no reason to change up front since we scored four goals," Prinz said.

Prinz can likely count on no more than a substitute appearance today, but Neid insisted on the eve of the match: "I like surprises, so maybe."

RAMPING UP TESTING: The swift decision to submit the whole North Korean squad to anti-doping controls showed a commitment to fighting drugs, the medical chief of the sport's governing body said.

Michel D'Hooghe said FIFA anti-doping doctors were called up at short notice from across Germany to submit all North Korean players to tests after two returned positive samples during random controls earlier in the tournament.

Defenders Song Jong Sun and Jong Pok Sim tested positive after the first two group games and were suspended for Wednesday's game against Colombia that ended 0-0.

Times staff, wires
Friday, July 8, 2011

tennis

Roddick, Fish lose in Davis Cup quarters

David Ferrer dispatched Andy Roddick in straight sets 7-6 (11-9), 7-5, 6-3 in Austin, Texas, giving Spain a 2-0 lead over the United States after the first two singles matches of their Davis Cup quarterfinal.

The Americans were counting on Roddick to rally the United States after Spain's Feliciano Lopez upset Mardy Fish of Tampa in the opening match 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (7-5), 8-6.

Roddick started fast in the first and second sets before losing both. He meekly surrendered the third, double-faulting on the final two points and drawing a groan from the red white and blue, flag-waving crowd.

"I think I tried to win the entire match in the third set," said Roddick, who is 33-12 in his Davis Cup career. "Any Davis Cup loss is tough because it's not just your loss."

Hall of Fame Championships: Sixth-seeded Olivier Rochus is back in the semifinals on the grasscourts in Newport, R.I. He gained his third straight semifinal, beating Matthew Ebden 7-6 (7-5), 7-6. Rochus faces qualifier Michael Yani, who edged Denis Kudla 6-3, 6-7 (7-5), 7-5. No. 1 seed John Isner of Tampa faces eighth-seeded Tobias Kamke in today's other semifinal.

Swedish Open: Polona Hercog defeated Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 in the semifinals in Bastad. The win puts Hercog in the final against Johanna Larsson, who beat Sofia Arvidsson 6-3, 6-1.

olympics

IOC bans needles at 2012 Games

The International Olympic Committee will enforce a "no needle" policy for the 2012 Summer Games that bars athletes from possessing syringes and other medical equipment that could be used for doping.

IOC medical commission chairman Arne Ljungqvist said needles will be prohibited from living areas, locker rooms, and training and competition sites in London without medical clearance.

et cetera

Basketball: Dmitry Kulagin had 21 points, including five of Russia's 12 3-pointers, in a 79-74 quarterfinal victory over the United States, knocking the defending champion out of the under-19 world championship in Riga, Latvia. Jeremy Lamb of Connecticut had 21 points for the United States (5-2), which faces Poland (5-2) today in a consolation semifinal.

Track and field: World-record holder Usain Bolt cruised to victory over European champion Christophe Lemaitre in the 200 meters at a meet in Saint-Denis, France. The Jamaican sprinter clocked 20.03 seconds. Lemaitre finished in 20.21.

WNBA: Cappie Pondexter had 20 points, nine rebounds and seven assists and visiting New York beat San Antonio for the second straight game, 76-73. … Diana Taurasi scored 17, Penny Taylor added 16 and Phoenix held off host Tulsa 86-78.

Damian Cristodero, Times staff writer; Times wires

nhl

date set for lightning, purcell arbitration hearing; sides hopeful

The arbitration hearing for the Lightning and right wing Teddy Purcell is July 20 in Toronto. Both sides have said they expect to reach a contract deal before the hearing takes place.

Purcell, 25, who made $750,000 in 2010-11, had a breakout season with career highs of 17 goals, 34 assists and 51 points in 81 games. He also had five goals and 17 points in 18 playoff games.

FLEMING UPDATE: Assistant Lightning coach Wayne Fleming still is in a California hospital getting chemotherapy and radiation treatments, said general manager Steve Yzerman, who added that Fleming also is rehabbing to "improve his motor skills" after April brain cancer surgery.

Yzerman has said Fleming's job is waiting for him.

"All things considered," Yzerman said, "he's doing well."

Avalanche: The team signed goalie Cedrick Desjardins, who was with the Lightning's AHL Norfolk affiliate last season and at one time was to be the Lightning's backup in 2011-12. Desjardins sustained a shoulder injury in January that must have concerned the Lightning.

By Brandon Wright, Times Correspondent
Friday, July 8, 2011

TAMPA — Playoff races are heating up as the Arena Football League enters the final three weeks of the regular season. But a number of teams, including the Storm, might play the most crucial part of the season without their best players.

The United Football League kicks off its season Aug. 13, with training camps scheduled to open Sunday. And with UFL salaries expected to be significantly higher than those in the Arena League, AFL players are ready to jump leagues.

"I know for sure we're going to lose a couple of guys," said Storm coach Dave Ewart, who will have still have at least two regular-season games left after tonight. "Some guys will definitely get an opportunity."

AFL players make $400 per game, with three on each team making $1,000 during the 18-week schedule. UFL salaries are expected to be between $30,000 and $40,000 for the eight-game regular-season schedule.

"You never want to keep a football player from making more money and improving his situation," Ewart said. "The way the (AFL) is structured right now, it's not able to compete (financially) anymore."

Before the AFL's hiatus during the 2009 season, player salaries soared. Philadelphia quarterback Tony Graziani was the highest-paid AFL player during the 2006 season, earning $160,000. But when the league reorganized in 2010, salaries took a dive.

"Back in the day, I don't even think players would be fooling with (the UFL)," Ewart said.

Storm linebacker Cliff Dukes and receiver Huey Whittaker could wind up on UFL rosters Sunday. Dukes, who is 30 years old and three sacks shy of the AFL season record, also realizes his NFL window may be closing, and the UFL game is more similar to the NFL.

"This could be my last chance," said Dukes, who spent time with the Rams in 2005 and Saints in 2006. "I absolutely love playing Arena Football, but I want to play at the highest level."

Although AFL commissioner Jerry Kurz said he "understands both sides of it and wouldn't want to keep a player from an opportunity," he's not a fan of players leaving before the end of the season.

"I think it's wrong," he said. "And that's my personal opinion, not my opinion as the commissioner. Players make a commitment to play through the season, and they should honor that."

The AFL contracts are structured to allow players to leave, but they were conceived that way to promote players who were moving to the NFL. The UFL began play in August 2009.

"We're going to take a look at (the AFL contracts) at the owners meeting at the end of the year," Kurz said. "(Changing the contracts) is something the owners want to explore."

Kurz said he doesn't believe players leaving for the UFL will be a problem with AFL fans.

"Our fans are very loyal and supportive not just of the players, but of the teams," he said.

Times wires
Friday, July 8, 2011

Firing of the day

A South Carolina woman serving as a NASCAR Miss Sprint Cup has been let go after nude pictures of her appeared online. Paige Duke, 24, told the Charlotte Observer the pictures were taken when she was a freshman at Clemson and were meant only for her boyfriend at the time. But the veterinary technician told the newspaper there is a morals clause in the contract she signed to be Miss Sprint Cup, so she is not surprised she was fired from what she said was the perfect job. Duke, right, said her attorneys worked to remove the images from a website and are trying to figure out how they were released. Duke said she hopes girls learn the lesson that private pictures don't always stay private. She was one of three Miss Sprint Cups this season; Kim Coon of Orlando and Monica Palumbo of Charlotte, N.C., are the others.

Times wires
Friday, July 8, 2011

Rockies 3, Nationals 2

WASHINGTON — Jason Hammel pitched into the seventh inning for his second win in 13 starts, and the Rockies ended a five-game skid. Hammel allowed two runs and five hits as Colorado won for the first time in eight road games. All three Rockies runs came in the fourth inning, when Nationals starter John Lannan left because Ty Wigginton's liner hit him in the nose.

Times wires
Friday, July 8, 2011

Marlins 6, Astros 3

MIAMI — Hanley Ramirez continued his torrid hitting with three hits and three RBIs, and Javier Vazquez pitched seven solid innings for the Marlins. Florida broke a 2-2 tie on Ramirez's RBI single in the third inning. He drove in Gaby Sanchez, who reached on a two-out double. Ramirez is hitting .448 with three homers and 11 RBIs in July. In one stretch Vazquez retired 16 of 18 hitters.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Friday, July 8, 2011

Rays at Yankees

When/where: 1:05 today; Yankee Stadium, New York

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

Starting pitchers

Rays: LH David Price (8-7, 3.56)

Yankees: RH A.J. Burnett (8-7, 4.12)

Watch for ...

Price check: Price, headed to his second All-Star Game, is coming off a rough outing, by his standards (four earned runs over six innings at Minnesota), the seventh time in his past 18 starts he has allowed at least four runs. He is 3-1, 3.88 vs. the Yankees.

A.J. okay: Burnett has been more consistent this season, working at least five innings in each of his 18 starts. He has pitched often, and usually well, against the Rays with a 12-8, 3.36 mark in 26 starts.

Key matchups

Rays vs. Burnett

Johnny Damon5-for-25, 2 HRs

Evan Longoria13-for-35, HR

B.J. Upton8-for-39, HR

Ben Zobrist6-for-24, HR

Yankees vs. Price

Derek Jeter6-for-25, HR

Alex Rodriguez5-for-23, HR

Mark Teixeira3-for-22

On deck

Sunday: at Yankees, 1:05. Sun Sports. Rays — James Shields (8-6, 2.47); Yankees — CC Sabathia (12-4, 2.90)

Monday: Off

Tuesday: All-Star Game, Phoenix

Wednesday: Off

Thursday: Workout at Tropicana Field

Friday: vs. Red Sox, 7:10. Sun Sports. Rays — TBA; Red Sox — TBA

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

Rays milestone moments

With the Yankees' Derek Jeter on the verge of 3,000 hits, here are some milestone moments the Rays have been on the wrong side of:

• Randy Winn was Roger Clemens' 3,000th strikeout victim, July 5, 1998, at Toronto.

• Rolando Arrojo allowed Cal Ripken's 400th homer, Sept. 2, 1999, at Baltimore.

• Jorge Sosa allowed Frank Thomas' 400th homer, July 25, 2003, at the White Sox.

• Russ Springer allowed Vladimir Guerrero's 400th home run, Aug. 10, 2009, at the Angels.

• Jeff Niemann allowed Jeter's 2,721st hit, which tied Lou Gehrig's Yankees record, Sept. 9, 2009, at New York.

Times wires
Friday, July 8, 2011

Yankees SS Derek Jeter, Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez and Phillies CF Shane Victorino became the latest All-Star scratches Friday.

Shortly after Jeter pulled himself out of Tuesday's game in Arizona to rest an injured calf, the Yankees announced Rodriguez would be absent because of a sore knee. Thursday, Yankees closer Mariano Rivera announced he will sit to heal his right triceps.

Tigers SS Jhonny Peralta will replace Jeter, and the Indians' Asdrubal Cabrera will start for him. Red Sox 3B Kevin Youkilis will replace Rodriguez, and the Rangers' Adrian Beltre will start for him.

A day after winning the Internet voting for the final NL spot, Victorino went on the DL with a sprained ligament in his right thumb. Dodgers RF Andre Ethier, one of the players he beat, replaced him.

Also this week, Mets SS Jose Reyes pulled out with a strained left hamstring. More roster changes are expected, with some players nursing injuries and pitchers starting Sunday can't participate.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said it was Jeter's decision to skip the game.

"It's probably best not to push it," Jeter said, "because it's more important to be ready for the second half (of the season)."

Girardi also said Rodriguez made the decision to sit.

Angels: CF Mike Trout, among the game's top prospects, was called up from Double A. With CF Peter Bourjos day to day with a strained right hamstring, manager Mike Scioscia said Trout is likely to play all weekend. Trout, at 19 the youngest player in the majors, was hitting .324 with nine homers, 27 RBIs, 11 triples and 28 stolen bases.

Cubs: OF Fernando Perez, part of the Matt Garza trade with the Rays, was released. He was hitting .238 with three homers, 20 RBIs and 17 stolen bases at Triple A. Also, RH reliever Marcos Mateo is out 4-5 weeks with a strained right forearm.

Diamondbacks: Closer J.J. Putz, out since June 29 with tendinitis in his right elbow, emerged pain-free from a bullpen session. The righty plans another session Sunday and hopes to return for the start of the second half.

Giants: 2B Bill Hall went on the DL with a left leg laceration a day after being spiked while San Diego's Jason Bartlett tried to steal second.

Indians: 3B Lonnie Chisenhall was diagnosed with a broken nasal bone on the right side of his face. The rookie, who hopes to miss only a few games, was hit by a pitch Thursday.

Nationals: C Ivan Rodriguez went on the DL with a strained right oblique sustained during batting practice Thursday.

Orioles: RHP Brad Bergesen left the game against the Red Sox with a right forearm bruise after being hit by David Ortiz's liner.

Rangers: INF Andres Blanco went on the DL with a stress fracture in his lower back and will miss 2-3 weeks. The team said it is unsure how the injury occurred.

Red Sox: RHP Josh Beckett left the game against the Orioles after hyperextending his left knee on a wet mound. Also, RHP Kyle Weiland will be called up from Triple A to start Sunday for Jon Lester, out with a strained lat muscle.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Friday, July 8, 2011

NEW YORK — Rain washed out Friday's game and reduced Derek Jeter's chances of getting the final two hits he needs for 3,000 at Yankee Stadium. But the Rays were being cast as the villains for refusing to go along with the Yankees' plans to make it up with a split doubleheader today.

"We voted to play. They voted not to play. Not sure why," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Then you've just got to move forward, so we're going to play later on."

The game instead will be made up Sept. 22, a mutual off day after what was to be a two-game series in New York. The Rays wanted to wait until they were healthier and had the benefit of an expanded roster.

The bottom line difference is Jeter now has two games, rather than three, to get the final two hits he needs at home. The Yankees open post-All-Star play with an eight-game road trip to Toronto and Tampa Bay.

The decision to not play Friday became obvious by late afternoon at the start of what became lengthy rain. But deciding when to play took hours of back-and-forth among the teams, players union and Major League Baseball officials and might have added another chapter to the occasionally contentious relationship between the organizations, which includes a 2008 spring training brawl and the Rays having to travel to New York in 2004 despite a hurricane-related storm.

"Whether I'm frustrated or not doesn't really matter," Girardi said. "We wanted to see this happen for our fans. We thought that was important. But it's not. So let's get the hits in the next couple of days. That's all."

"There's nothing you can do about it," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "(The Rays') position is their position, for whatever reason. That's their right."

Under baseball's convoluted rescheduling procedures, the teams had to agree on the date to play a day-night doubleheader because both had reached the limit of having two scheduled. So though the Yankees voted to play two today, the Rays were essentially able to block it by voting no.

"I don't think there's really a winner," Rays player rep Evan Longoria said. "The initial thought was they wanted to play a doubleheader (today). I think we all know the reason why they'd like to get these three games in. Obviously, they're rooting for Derek to get his 3,000th here in this series, and we'd like to see it, too. He has two more games to do it.

"But just looking forward as far as both teams go, it's not real smart for us to play a doubleheader."

The Yankees, despite having third baseman Alex Rodriguez and rightfielder Nick Swisher sidelined by injuries and closer Mariano Rivera questionable, believed it was.

Cashman insisted that was the best decision for the team and not just because of Jeter. But Girardi acknowledged they wanted Jeter to have an additional opportunity to reach 3,000 hits at home.

"That's important," he said. "It's important to our fans. People have made a lot of arrangements to try and see this happen on the day that they picked. It's unfortunate that we lose a game here. … It's important to our fans because of what our fans have meant to our organization."

The Yankees could have unilaterally scheduled a straight doubleheader with the games played one after another before the same crowd. But Cashman said they had no interest in essentially giving up a home date and the revenue generated.

The Rays were willing to play a split doubleheader in September, which seemed to further rankle the Yankees.

"My understanding is they were willing to do a split later in the year but not necessarily (today) for some reason," Cashman said. "I can't speak for them why (today) was a problem. But it was, so they voted it down."

Rays manager Joe Maddon said it was simply a matter of health — designated hitter Johnny Damon is out, Longoria is bothered by a sore foot, and the bullpen weary — even though they have four days off starting Monday.

"I just think at this point of the first half (of the season), guys are a little bit run down," he said. "Where we're at physically right now, I would prefer not (to play a doubleheader today)."

Longoria said the Rays felt for Jeter but didn't necessarily feel bad about their decision.

"He's going to get it," Longoria said. "Would we like to see it? Yeah. Do we root for him to get it at home? Yeah. But as far as feeling bad, I mean, it's a tough question to answer."

Times wires
Friday, July 8, 2011

Keselowski new king of Kentucky

SPARTA, Ky. — Brad Keselowski won the NASCAR Nationwide series race Friday night at Kentucky Speedway, stretching his fuel over the final 67 laps to pick up his first win in the series this year. Kevin Harvick was second. Kyle Busch, who started 41st after crashing during qualifying, was third.

Keselowski, the 2010 series champion, dominated the second half of the Feed the Children 300 but needed to save gas over the final miles.

"If you keep kind of paying in, the machine is going to pay out," he said. "If you keep doing the right things long enough, you will be rewarded, and (Friday) was a day of reward."

Joey Logano, looking for his fourth straight win at Kentucky, ran out of gas on the last lap and finished 10th.

First is best for new Cup races

After 11 years of frustration, lawsuits and no Cup race, the day Kentucky Speedway and NASCAR fans in the commonwealth have long coveted is at hand.

Before an expected crowd of 120,000 tonight, the biggest stars in NASCAR will compete in a Cup race at the track in Sparta, about 60 miles from Louisville and about 40 from Cincinnati.

For the drivers, few things carry more cachet in NASCAR than winning an inaugural event at a track.

Kevin Harvick won the first Cup race at Chicago and, in 2001, the first race at Kentucky Speedway in NASCAR's second-tier series.

"There really is no bigger event than the first event you are going to have at a particular racetrack," he told the Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader this week.

Jeff Gordon has opened three current Cup venues with victories: Indianapolis, California and Kansas.

Kyle Busch lines up first after rain

Kyle Busch will be on the pole for tonight's Cup race after rain washed out qualifying and the starting order was based on practice times. Juan Montoya will start second in the 400-mile race, and Kyle's brother Kurt Busch will be third. The storm kept Kentucky native Michael Waltrip from making the field. He planned to run a paint scheme honoring his brother Darrell, a new inductee to the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The Waltrips are from Owensboro, Ky., about 160 miles from the track.

Nationwide will visit Brickyard

NASCAR announced this week it will move its Nationwide race to Indianapolis Motor Speedway from Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis next year. The race at IMS will run the day before the Sprint Cup Brickyard 400, with a Grand-Am series running on the road course on the Friday before.

Elsewhere

Mike Neff led the first two rounds of Funny Car qualifying at the Route 66 Nationals in Chicago with a run of 4.11 seconds at 298.01 mph. Greg Anderson led Pro Stock, and Spencer Massey led in Top Fuel. Qualifying continues today.

Times wires

Times wires
Friday, July 8, 2011

Red Sox 10, Orioles 4

BOSTON — David Ortiz homered in Boston's eight-run first inning as the Orioles allowed 10 or more runs for the fourth time in five games. The Red Sox sent 13 batters to the plate in the opening inning and tagged starter Zach Britton for seven earned runs on six hits and two walks. Ortiz hit a three-run shot. (More, 3C.)

Times wires
Friday, July 8, 2011

BOSTON — David Ortiz homered in Boston's eight-run first inning, then got into a bench-clearing brawl with Baltimore reliever Kevin Gregg as the Red Sox routed the Orioles 10-3 on Friday.

Ortiz and Gregg exchanged a flurry of punches in the eighth, but neither connected as both benches and bullpens emptied for the second time in the inning.

Moments before the fight, Ortiz started toward the mound after taking a second straight pitch inside from Gregg. The benches and bullpens emptied, but nothing developed and Ortiz stepped back into the batter's box.

Gregg then got Ortiz to pop out and shouted to the Boston slugger, who charged and met Gregg between the mound and first-base line.

Ortiz and catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who wasn't playing, were both ejected for Boston. Gregg and reliever Jim Johnson were tossed out for the Orioles, who gave up six homers in a 10-4 loss on Thursday.

Times wires
Friday, July 8, 2011

Pirates 7, Cubs 4

PITTSBURGH — Mike McKenry's first major-league homer, a three-run shot in the eighth, assured the Pirates (46-42) of a winning record at the All-Star break for the first time in 19 years. The rookie catcher's drive came off Carlos Marmol, who earlier allowed Josh Harrison's tying single.

Times wires
Friday, July 8, 2011

SPARTA, Ky.

David Ragan finally shrugged off the "best NASCAR driver without a Sprint Cup victory" tag when he won last weekend in Daytona. The win was five seasons and 163 starts in the making, and one that many expected sooner when Ragan earned a full-time ride in the No. 6 car for Roush Fenway Racing in 2007 at age 21. Ragan was dubbed one of the sport's "young guns" at the time. But during Ragan's first four years, he largely toiled in the middle of the pack as teammates Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle competed for Cup titles. Yet there was no raucous celebration in Victory Lane after Kenseth pushed Ragan across the finish line in the muggy Florida heat last weekend. No overwhelming sense of relief. All that can wait for the winter. If anything, Ragan's breakthrough has only turned the pressure up a notch or three.

"We have to make that win count for something," he said.

Namely, a spot in NASCAR's Chase for the Championship this fall.

The 25-year-old knows it's time, perhaps past time, for him to do more than play out the string this fall. His victory vaulted him into one of the two wild-card spots available for the 12-driver Chase, with nine races to go before the cutoff.

"I think it's because everyone's so equal, competition is so tight," said Kyle Busch, who starts from the pole tonight in the inaugural Sprint Cup race at Kentucky Speedway. "Everybody has a really good sense of this car right now."

Including Ragan, who will try to make it two straight tonight in an event — much like Ragan's triumph — that has been a long time coming.

The 1.5-mile oval opened to rave reviews over a decade ago and has hosted NASCAR truck and Nationwide series races for years, but it took a protracted legal battle and the track's sale to Speedway Motorsports Inc. before it found a date on the Cup schedule.

A capacity crowd of about 120,000 is expected, with Speedway Motorsports chairman Bruton Smith promising to put on the biggest sporting event the Bluegrass State has seen, the Kentucky Derby included.

"We will outdraw (everything) this week, this horsey race … included," Smith said.

And if he can conquer the new Cup track tonight, Ragan could not time a second win better, a few months before shipping giant UPS's contract as the primary sponsor on his car is up.

The company sent out a statement this week praising Ragan for his hard work, and he's optimistic the company will deliver for him next year. He expects a decision to be made over the next six weeks.

"Certainly winning helps, and running well helps, and getting TV time and sitting on poles all helps," Ragan said. "That is what I can control. … Hopefully I can uphold my end of the deal and keep that Ford up front."

Times wires
Friday, July 8, 2011

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — When the rain stopped, Stacy Lewis got off a school bus wondering if she was in the U.S. Women's Open or the twilight zone.

By the time her ordeal was over Friday, she had lost her lead and was barely hanging onto her cool.

Going for her second major of the year, Lewis made bogey and double bogey shortly after a 66-minute rain delay, and the lead she held through almost the entire marathon day at the U.S. Women's Open turned into a two-shot deficit to I.K. Kim.

Kim was 4 under par with four holes to play when the second round was suspended because of darkness. Lewis, who had led by as many as four shots earlier in the day, was tied for second with Wendy Ward at 2 under with two holes left.

"We sat in a school bus," Lewis said of the way she spent the thunderstorm delay. "It was 20 people in a little school bus. There was no place to go. You couldn't do anything. It was hard to get loose again. Just kind of unfortunate — unfortunate the way it all worked out, I guess."

But maybe it was to be expected during a tournament that has been interrupted by two afternoon thunderstorms, which have forced backup plans to be replaced by more backup plans.

Only 33 of the 156 players made it through their second round Friday, and 66 never made it to their tee time. Among those were amateur Amy Anderson, who played six holes early in the morning to close her first round and finished the day in the three-way tie for second at 2 under.

Another shot back was Paula Creamer, along with Karrie Webb, who was in a group of four at 1 under who hadn't teed off.

Yani Tseng couldn't get going during her day of start-and-stop golf. She was 3 over with two holes to play. "I think I was just trying too hard," Tseng said. "I'm trying to play well, trying to hit it close to the pin. Sometimes when you try harder, the worse you get."

Cindy LaCrosse of Tampa shot a first-round 71 but did not tee off for the second round. Seminole's Brittany Lincicome opened with 75 and was 4 over with two holes to play in Round 2.

PGA: For Chez Reavie, the mental aspect of overcoming knee surgery was tougher than the physical work of rehabilitation. He didn't get comfortable on the course again until he stopped thinking about his rebuilt right knee.

Reavie, who had surgery last year for a torn ACL and meniscus, relied on near-flawless putting to shoot 9-under 62 and claim a two-stroke lead at the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill.

Reavie found the greens to his liking while making eagle and a succession of birdie putts, going 8 under during one nine-hole stretch. He went into the weekend at 14-under 128 in search of his first victory since the 2008 Canadian Open.

"The putter's been great," he said. "That's been the key."

Steve Stricker shot 64 to finish at 12 under in his bid for a third straight victory in the tournament. Steve Marino (66) also was 12 under. The past two British Open champions, Louis Oosthuizen (2010) and Stewart Cink ('09), missed the cut (5 under) by one.

Champions: Russ Cochran made six consecutive birdies and shot 7-under 65 to take the first-round lead at the First Tee Open in Pebble Beach, Calif. Cochran had seven birdies overall and played a bogey-free round in his return to the tour after suffering a wrist injury that led to a two-month layoff. David Eger was one shot back at 66, followed by Brad Bryant, Morris Hatalsky and Jim Thorpe at 67.

Times wires
Friday, July 8, 2011

Blue Jays 11, Indians 7

CLEVELAND — Travis Snider drove in five runs and Rajai Davis knocked in four for the Blue Jays. Davis had a two-run single in the second and an RBI single in the fourth off Mitch Talbot. Snider's two-run shot off Talbot in the sixth made it 7-2. He added a two-run double to center against Vinnie Pestano for an 11-6 lead.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Friday, July 8, 2011

NEW YORK — LHP J.P. Howell did not receive a suspension for his animated outburst and ejection July 1, but he was unhappy at the $1,000 fine.

"That (stinks). That's not cool," Howell said. "A thousand bucks for that? I didn't touch him. I didn't really, I mean, whatever."

Howell, who makes $1.1 million, said he hadn't decided whether to appeal in hopes of getting the fine reduced.

"I don't want to pay a thousand," he said. "I want to get it over with, too. But a thousand bucks is steep to me. That's the max."

Upset with several pitches being called balls and then allowing a key three-run homer to the Cardinals' Colby Rasmus, Howell threw his glove, slapped away the ball tossed to him then charged toward, and got in the face of, umpire Vic Carapazza for a heated outburst.

Crew chief Dana DeMuth said after the game that they were reviewing whether Howell made contact with Carapazza, which would have led to a suspension.

"I knew I wasn't going to be," Howell said. "I could not have fathomed if I was suspended. If I was suspended, I would have not served it. There is a way I could have appealed that and got out of that because I didn't touch him. I would have been disgusted."

Two other Rays ejected that night, for making comments from the dugout, were also fined; Elliot Johnson $300 and David Price $500 (since it was his second offense). Manager Joe Maddon, who was ejected, also was fined but said he didn't yet know the amount.

Howell also questioned if the umpires were disciplined: "I wonder how much they get fined for cussing at us. But I don't think it's any."

PITCHING PLANS: With Friday's game rained out, the Rays will skip rookie RHP Jeremy Hellickson, ruining the story line of a guy with a dog named Jeter potentially giving up Derek Jeter's 3,000th hit. Instead, Price will start today and James Shields on Sunday. The Yankees will skip Freddie Garcia and start A.J. Burnett today and CC Sabathia Sunday.

DAVIS CONFIDENT: RHP Wade Davis said the forearm strain that landed him on the 15-day disabled list wasn't causing pain but more like occasional cramping, and that it was fatigued.

He also said he has no concerns — "absolutely not" — that it could be an indication of a long-term injury.

As for the decision to put him on the DL, causing him to miss at least one start: "I think right now it's one of the better things for the team. I'm fine with it."

PRICE NEXT: As a baseball fan, Price said he'd like to see Jeter get his 3,000th hit this weekend. But as a pitcher for the opposing team, he definitely does not. "I have no intention of giving up any hits to him, or anybody else," Price said.

MISCELLANY: DH Johnny Damon said his bruised and swollen left hand was still too weak to grip a bat, as it's looking less likely he will return before the All-Star break. … Triple-A Durham OF Desmond Jennings, one of the Rays' top prospects, will miss several days and next week's Triple-A All-Star Game after bruising his right index finger Thursday. Maddon said, "I don't think it's anything big." … Double-A Montgomery LHP Matt Moore was named the top pitching prospect, and No. 3 overall, on Baseball America's midseason Top 50 report.

Times wires
Friday, July 8, 2011

ARLINGTON, Texas — Rangers leftfielder Josh Hamilton doesn't make a habit of tossing foul balls to fans.

So when he fielded one during the second inning Thursday against the A's, he turned it over to the ball girl. As he did, he heard a shout from behind the leftfield fence. There stood a father and son.

"Hey, Hamilton, how about the next one?" the father asked.

"I just gave him a nod," Hamilton said Friday.

Later in the inning, Conor Jackson sent a foul ball to left.

"When I got it, I found them again," Hamilton said of the father and son.

Hamilton tossed the ball to the father. It was a touch short, and so Shannon Stone, a firefighter from Brownwood, Texas, leaned in front of his 6-year-old son, Cooper, to grab the ball. In an instant, Stone flipped over the railing and fell 20 feet to the concrete pavement below.

Fire officials said Stone, 39, was conscious when leaving the stadium but "went into full arrest" in the ambulance and was pronounced dead at a hospital.

"It happened in slow motion," Hamilton, his eyes moist, said as he met reporters before Friday's game. "I threw the ball and saw him go for it and saw him just tip right over the edge there. When it happened, it was just disbelief.

"It's just hard for me, hearing that little boy screaming for his daddy."

Friday, Rangers players had the option of getting grief counseling and wore black ribbons on their uniforms. At Rangers Ballpark, flags flew at half-staff, and a black tarp covered the gap where Stone fell. A moment of silence was observed before the game against the A's.

After Thursday's game, the Rangers' clubhouse was closed to the media. So Friday was the first day players could comment.

Hamilton said he is coping by relying on his faith, just as he has during a comeback from cocaine and alcohol addictions that almost ended his career.

"You pray, and you just understand that there's nothing that you can do to change it now," he said.

"We live in a fallen world. And things you try to do good, try to make people happy or put a little joy in their day, something can go wrong. You just trust God."

Rangers manager Ron Washington offered Hamilton the day off Friday. But Hami­lton wanted to play.

And he hit a foul ball in the sixth that struck a man sitting about five rows behind the third-base dugout. The fan, who had blood on his face and required stitches, smiled as he held a compress against his forehead and walked away with stadium personnel to get further attention.

Although Hamilton expects to toss balls to fans in the stands in the future, Thursday's death will make him think every time.

"That's what the game's all about," he said. "Fans come. They pay to see you play.

"They want to have a good experience at the ballpark, and with player interaction, that's part of the good experience. You'll look carefully at where the fans are, how high they are up, what's the railing like. All these things will come into play now."

Rangers team president Nolan Ryan said the death "hits us at our roots of who we are."

"I'm no different than our fan base," he said. "When I was younger and I went to the ballpark, my hope was to get a foul ball. You can see how many people come into our ballpark with gloves just hoping to have that opportunity."

Arlington, Texas, city officials say their building code requires guardrails to be at least 26 inches high. Rangers Stadium's are 33.

There have been other falls at the stadium. In July a man survived a tumble from the upper deck as he went for a foul ball. In 1994 a woman survived a 35-foot fall as she posed for a picture.

After last year's accident, Ryan said the team studied the railings and believed safety was adequate. He said he wasn't prepared to say if any changes might be made now. Major League Baseball said it will review what happened.

It was the second death at a stadium this season. In May, a fan fell about 20 feet and struck his head on concrete during a Rockies game. Witnesses said he tried to slide down a staircase railing.

Times wires


Friday, July 8, 2011

Rangers 8, Athletics 5

ARLINGTON, Texas — C.J. Wilson pitched seven effective innings, Mike Napoli hit a first-inning grand slam off Gio Gonzalez, and the Rangers stretched their winning streak to five games. Wilson won his fifth straight decision to tie Alexi Ogando for the team lead in wins (nine). The temperature at first pitch was 105 degrees, highest in the 18-year history of Rangers Ballpark.

Times wires
Friday, July 8, 2011

Brewers 8, Reds 7

MILWAUKEE — Mark Kotsay hit a two-out, two-run single in the ninth and the Brewers rallied twice. Kotsay homered in the sixth as Milwaukee erased a 4-0 deficit and took a 5-4 lead before its bullpen gave up three runs in the seventh.