Times wires
Saturday, July 9, 2011

Women's World Cup

Hope Solo, that's how.

Fired up by the goalie's highlight-reel save, the Americans went on to claim their second straight Olympic gold medal.

The Brazil-United States matchup in today's World Cup quarterfinals is their first since that 2008 Olympic final. Brazil seems to have the advantage today. Marta is the world player of the year for five years running. The Americans are coming off a loss to Sweden.

But the Americans, who have never lost before the semifinals in five World Cup appearances, still have Hope.

"Of course she's a great player," Marta said Friday. "But I hope I would have the opportunity to score."

Marta hasn't scored on Solo in international play. Nor have any of her teammates. Solo has started their past four meetings, with the United States winning each 1-0. (Solo was famously benched by then-coach Greg Ryan when Brazil routed the Americans 4-0 in the 2007 World Cup semifinals.)

In that 2008 gold-medal game, Marta made a run down the left in the 72nd minute and shot. Solo leaned forward, thrust up her right arm and smacked the ball away.

Marta and Solo have faced each other since, in the Women's Professional Soccer league.

"There's a rivalry, definitely," Solo said. "We know each other, we respect one another, we've played on All-Star teams together. Yet we don't speak a lot, which is the nature of the mystique of a goalkeeper against one of the top goal scorers in the world."

Saturday's quarters

JAPAN 1, GERMANY 0: Japan knocked out the host and two-time defending champion in Wolfsburg, clinching a stunning victory when substitute Karina Maruyama outran the defense and scored on an angled shot in extra time. Japan then absorbed relentless pressure to hand Germany its first loss in the tournament in a dozen years.

Standout Japanese midfielder Homare Sawa spotted Maruyama's deep run in the 108th minute and passed perfectly. Maruyama slipped a shot past goalkeeper Nadine Angerer to silence the sellout crowd of 26,067.

Japan, in its first World Cup semifinal in six appearances, fulfilled the promise of coach Norio Sasaki, who said Friday, "We will play the Japanese way, and we will be able to win."

FRANCE 1, ENGLAND 1 (4-3 PK): France trailed in regulation and early in the penalty-kick round but rallied in Leverkusen. English captain Faye White missed the decisive kick, hitting the crossbar. French captain Elise Bussaglia forced extra time, scoring in the 88th minute.

Times wires
Saturday, July 9, 2011

White Sox 4, Twins 3

CHICAGO — Alexei Ramirez's single with two outs in the ninth lifted the White Sox. It was Chicago's first win over Minnesota in seven meetings this year and ended a nine-game skid against it dating to last year. A.J. Pierzynski doubled off Jose Mijares to lead off the ninth. After two flyouts and a walk, Alex Burnett entered to face Ramirez. Ramirez, who homered in the first, lined a single to center.

Times wires
Saturday, July 9, 2011

Times staff and wires
Saturday, July 9, 2011

NHL

No room for Desjardins

Lightning GM Steve Yzerman said he and assistant GM Julien BriseBois debated at length about re-signing AHL Norfolk goalie Cedrick Desjardins. But a slow-healing right shoulder injury (believed a torn labrum) that lingered since January and required surgery weighed heavily, as did Tampa Bay having five goalies under contract.

"We wish him very well," Yzerman said of Desjardins, 25, who won two games with the Lightning last season and Friday signed a one-year deal with the Avalanche.

Contract negotiations with Steven Stamkos and fellow restricted free-agent Teddy Purcell are expected to pick up again Monday, Yzerman said.

Wild: Free-agent defenseman Mike Lundin, who was with Tampa Bay last season, signed a one-year, $1 million deal.

Tennis

Agassi loved sport 'too late in my life'

Andre Agassi was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I., with an overdue affection for the sport he once resented.

Agassi, who rose to No. 1 in the world despite saying he once despised the game because he was pushed into it, said: "I fell in love with tennis far too late in my life. But the reason I have everything I hold dear is because tennis has loved me back."

Davis Cup: Wesley Chapel's Bob and Mike Bryan earned the United States its first point in a quarterfinal against Spain in Austin, Texas. The twins beat Marcel Granollers and Fernando Verdasco in doubles 6-7 (7-9), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to pull the United States to 2-1 heading into today's singles matches, which include Tampa's Mardy Fish.

Hall of Fame: John Isner, the ATP's second-tallest player at 6 feet 9, plays Olivier Rochus, the tour's shortest at 5-6, in today's final at Newport, R.I.

basketball

If locked out, Wade open to overseas play

Heat guard Dwyane Wade said if the NBA lockout halts play next season, he would consider playing overseas. "If there's an opportunity there, I'd consider it," Wade said.

Nets point guard Deron Williams reportedly has agreed to a one-year, $5 million deal with Besiktas in Turkey, with an out to return if the lockout ends.

under-19 worlds: UF's Patric Young scored 13 as the United States beat Poland 84-47 in Latvia and advanced to today's fifth-place game vs. either Croatia or Australia.

ET CETERA

NFL: Steelers receiver Hines Ward, 35, was arrested outside Atlanta on a drunken-driving charge and released on bond, sheriff's officials said. Ward's manager said the receiver wasn't drunk.

Soccer: Brazil salvaged a 2-2 draw with Paraguay in Group B and Venezuela defeated Ecuador 1-0 in the Copa America tournament in Argentina.

Damian Cristodero, Times staff writer; Times wires

Times wires
Saturday, July 9, 2011

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — For months, Japan has been looking for a lift.

Mika Miyazato could turn the U.S. Women's Open into the feel-good story her disaster-ravaged country seeks and back it with cash.

Miyazato shot 67 to grab the lead at 5-under 137 at the halfway point Saturday at the Broadmoor, where rain once again stopped play early and brought up the prospect of a grueling 36-hole finale today.

She had a one-shot lead over Ai Miyazato, who is not related but is from the same city, Okinawa. When the Miyazatos return to the course, they will play in the final group together, each wearing red and white pins they created to raise awareness for the thousands of victims in a country ravaged by an earthquake, a tsunami and a resulting nuclear catastrophe.

The pins have Japanese characters that translate to "Never Give Up Japan."

Mika also is donating all her winnings from the 2011 majors to the Red Cross for recovery efforts in Japan. She already has earned more than $100,000 in large part because of top-10 finishes at the first two majors. First place at the U.S. Open is worth around $600,000.

"Winning majors is what I strive for," she said. "And to donate all of my earnings from the majors, I hope to give positive things to the people who are around the disaster area."

I.K. Kim, who returned early Saturday with the lead, played the last four holes of her second round, then finished the day two shots behind after her 69, in third place at 3 under.

Seminole's Brittany Lincicome was at 7-over 149 after 75-74 and made the cut by one shot. Tampa's Cindy Lacrosse missed the cut by two (71-80). Also missing the cut was Tampa resident Kristy McPherson (11 over, 73-80).

Defending champion Paula Creamer was in a six-way tie at even. Four-time major winner Yani Tseng, trying to complete a career Grand Slam, was 4 over.

In an attempt to bring a Sunday conclusion to a tournament that has fallen behind after three straight afternoons of rain, the USGA will send threesomes off from the first and 10th tees today and will not re-pair the groups after the third round.

PGA: Steve Stricker assumed a familiar spot atop the John Deere Classic leaderboard, shooting 8-under 63 to go up by two after three rounds in Silvis, Ill. Stricker, who has won the tournament twice, shot his best round of the year and was at 20-under 193. Brendon de Jonge (63) was in second at 195. Second-round leader Chez Reavie, who started the day two strokes up on Stricker, shot 68 and was 17 under.

champions: Jay Haas shot 7-under 65 and took a two-stroke lead after two rounds of the First Tee Open at Pebble Beach, Calif. Haas was at 11-under 133. Mark Brooks (64), Bobby Clampett (66) and Brad Bryant (68) were at 135. First-round leader Russ Cochran (71) was among five players at 136.

European: The Scottish Open was reduced to three rounds after torrential rain overnight and throughout the day flooded the Castle Stuart links course at Inverness, wiping out the entire third day of play. The leaderboard was unchanged, leaving 2010 U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell in a three-way share of the lead at 11-under 133.

Times wires
Saturday, July 9, 2011

NEW YORK — Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez has a slight tear in the cartilage of his right knee and could be out for a month.

The 14-time All-Star could try to play through it or have surgery and miss time. Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who announced the injury Saturday, said a decision is expected today.

Rodriguez, who turns 36 on July 27, tweaked the knee June 19. He is hitting .359 since but with no homers. He has gone 85 at-bats without a homer (dating to June 11), the longest single-season drought of his career.

Girardi said it isn't known if Rodriguez, who was unavailable for comment, would make the injury worse if he keeps playing.

"You're not going to have him at 100 percent," Girardi said. "I don't want to influence his decision."

Beckham sorry: White Sox 2B Gordon Beckham apologized for jokingly writing a message in the dirt that said friend and ex-teammate Chris Getz is gay. The message, reported Saturday by the Chicago Sun-Times, was left near second base during Monday's game against Kansas City. It read, "GETZ IS GAY! GB." Getz, also a second baseman, was traded from the White Sox to the Royals in 2009. "Obviously, I apologize," Beckham said. "Obviously, it was meant as a joke. But obviously, it was in the wrong place, and I didn't mean it that way. I will just try to move on." Getz said he wasn't offended: "I can't think of myself as a true victim here."

Ortiz sorry: Red Sox DH David Ortiz apologized for his role in Friday's brawl with the Orioles. Benches cleared but no punches were thrown after Baltimore RHP Kevin Gregg threw two inside pitches. Ortiz popped out on the next pitch and charged Gregg after the two exchanged words.

All-Star Game: Brewers LF Ryan Braun is out because of a strained left calf that has cost him seven games. Pirates CF Andrew McCutchen will replace him.

Braves: 3B Chipper Jones went on the DL the day he had surgery for a torn meniscus in his right knee. Jones, expected to miss 2-3 weeks, learned about the tear May 15, but a cortisone shot allowed him to continue playing. Reds 3B Scott Rolen will replace him in the All-Star Game.

Pirates: 3B Pedro Alvarez was activated from the DL, then sent to Triple A. Alvarez, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 draft who is in his first full major-league season, was hitting .208 with two homers and 10 RBIs when he strained his right quad on May 19.

White Sox: C Ramon Castro broke his right hand while catching a pitch and is out indefinitely.

Times staff
Saturday, July 9, 2011

FC Tampa Bay gets point on road

FC Tampa Bay tied Puerto Rico 1-1 Saturday after losing another lead late.

Tampa Bay (4-5-6 in the NASL) played a man down after midfielder Pascal Millien was ejected in the 71st minute for drawing his second yellow card.

David Foley tied it in the 81st minute for host Puerto Rico (6-4-5). Tampa Bay took the lead on Aaron King's goal, his third of the season, in the 18th minute with an assist from Millien.

Times staff

Times staff
Saturday, July 9, 2011

The 28 with 3,000 hits

Player Years Hits

Pete Rose'63-86 4,256

Ty Cobb '05-28 4,189

Hank Aaron '54-76 3,771

Stan Musial * '41-63 3,630

Tris Speaker '07-28 3,514

Cap Anson 1871-97 3,435

Honus Wagner 1897-1917 3,420

Carl Yastrzemski * '61-83 3,419

Paul Molitor '78-98 3,319

Eddie Collins '06-30 3,315

Willie Mays '51-73 3,283

Eddie Murray '77-97 3,255

Nap Lajoie 1896-1916 3,242

Cal Ripken * '81-2001 3,184

George Brett * '73-93 3,154

Paul Waner '26-45 3,152

Robin Yount * '74-93 3,142

Tony Gwynn * '82-2001 3,141

Dave Winfield '73-95 3,110

Craig Biggio *'88-20073,060

Rickey Henderson'79-20033,055

Rod Carew '67-85 3,053

Lou Brock '61-79 3,023

Rafael Palmeiro '86-2005 3,020

Wade Boggs '82-99 3,010

Al Kaline * '53-74 3,007

Derek Jeter * '95- 3,003

Roberto Clemente *'55-72 3,000

* All hits came with one team

The next to 3,000?

Active players with at least 2,500 hits:

Players Team Age Hits

Ivan Rodriguez Was. 39 2,842

Omar Vizquel CWS 44 2,831

Alex Rodriguez NYY 35 2,762

Johnny Damon TB 37 2,663

Chipper Jones Atl. 39 2,565

Vladimir Guerrero Bal. 36 2,513

Times wires
Saturday, July 9, 2011

Marlins 6, Astros 1

MIAMI — Ricky Nolasco tossed a seven-hitter for his sixth career complete game and Logan Morrison hit a bases-loaded triple in Florida's four-run fifth inning. John Buck added a solo homer for the Marlins, who tied a season high with their fourth consecutive victory. Morrison finished with three hits, and Nolasco struck out eight in his second complete game of the season. Houston has lost 13 of 15.

Times wires
Saturday, July 9, 2011

Red Sox 4, Orioles 0

BOSTON — John Lackey rebounded from the worst start of his Red Sox career with 6 2/3 shutout innings and Boston pushed its winning streak to five games. Lackey was booed Monday after allowing seven runs in 2 1/3 innings. Alfredo Simon allowed three runs in the fifth on an RBI double by Kevin Youkilis and a two-run double by Josh Reddick. Baltimore had just four singles in its sixth straight loss, which came a day after a 10-3 loss in which the benches emptied twice.

Times wires
Saturday, July 9, 2011

Blue Jays 5, Indians 4

10 INNINGS

CLEVELAND — Jose Bautista led off the 10th with his second homer of the game, raising his major-league-leading total to 31. He connected on a 1-0 pitch from Chris Perez after the Indians tied it in the ninth on Travis Buck's two-out double. Shawn Camp pitched a perfect 10th for his first save.

Times wires
Saturday, July 9, 2011

Braves 4, Phillies 1

11 innings

PHILADELPHIA — Alex Gonzalez hit a single and Brian McCann a two-run homer in the 11th for the Braves. It was the second straight extra-inning game between the NL East's top teams. The Phillies won in 10 on Friday. Cliff Lee hit his first career homer for Philadelphia and lowered his home ERA to 1.61 (though he's still 7-1).

Times wires
Saturday, July 9, 2011

Rockies 2, Nationals 1

WASHINGTON — Todd Helton homered, doubled and drove in both runs for the Rockies. Ubaldo Jimenez retired the first 13 batters before Michael Morse singled in the fifth. It was the third time this season Jimenez pitched at least eight innings, all coming on the road. Jayson Werth grounded into a double play with runners on the corners to end the game. Ian Desmond singled, tripled and scored the lone run for the Nationals, who have lost three consecutive one-run games.

Times wires
Saturday, July 9, 2011

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers broke up a no-hitter and beat the Padres 1-0 in a span of nine pitches Saturday.

With two outs and two strikes in the ninth, Juan Uribe doubled to left for Los Angeles' first hit. Dioner Navarro followed with the winning single to center.

The Padres (who began play in 1969) and Mets (1962) are the only teams to have never pitched a no-hitter.

Aaron Harang, who came off the DL earlier Saturday (bruised right foot), went the first six innings for San Diego. His 37-pitch first included two walks and four full counts.

"Even if I get through that inning in 20 pitches, it puts the aspect of going back out there in a different scenario," said Harang who threw 95 pitches. "That was the difference in me staying out there."

The Dodgers broke through against Luke Gregerson, the Padres' fourth reliever.

"We just kept telling ourselves to be patient and do the best we can," Navarro said.

Meanwhile, Rubby De La Rosa and three Dodgers relievers combined to allow only one hit, Cameron Maybin's single in the fifth.

"I've seen some crazy things in my nine years in the big leagues," Padres infielder Orlando Hudson said. "But that's the way the game goes."

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, July 9, 2011

Rays at Yankees

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

TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish), 1040-AM

Starting pitchers

Rays: RH James Shields (8-6, 2.47)

Yankees: LH CC Sabathia (12-4, 2.90)

Watch for …

Shields up: Because Shields is pitching today, he won't be eligible to work in Tuesday's All-Star Game. So he wants to make it count, especially after losing his last start at Minnesota. He is 3-9, 4.83 in 16 starts vs. the Yankees.

CC rider: Sabathia is on a roll, 9-1, 2.45 in his past 10 starts. He is 1-4, 4.34 in nine starts against the Rays as a Yankee. Before that, he was 7-1, 2.44 in 11 starts against them.

Key matchups

Rays vs. Sabathia

Johnny Damon 7-for-25, HR

Evan Longoria 6-for-19, 2 HR

B.J. Upton 9-for-30, 2 HR

Yankees vs. Shields

Robinson Cano 17-for-44

Derek Jeter 17-for-54, HR

Jorge Posada 10-for-30, HR

On deck

Monday: Off

Tuesday: All-Star Game, 8, Phoenix

Wednesday: Off

Thursday: Workout at Tropicana Field

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

Quote of the day

"I'd rather not be the answer to that trivia question, but I am."

LHP David Price, on allowing Derek Jeter's 3,000th hit

Number of the day

270 Hits among Derek Jeter's first 3,000 allowed by the Rays, including 120 at the Trop

Teammate of the day

After David Price gave up Derek Jeter's home run for hit No. 3,000, he went to the Rays' dugout to allow the shortstop his moment and to cool himself off. RHP James Shields did his part to help get Price to smile. "Don't worry, dude. That was a bomb," he said he told Price. "Just kind of lighting the mood up a little bit. He gave me a light love tap on the face."

Times wires
Saturday, July 9, 2011

Cubs 6, Pirates 3

PITTSBURGH — Ryan Dempster won for the first time in five starts despite arguing with manager Mike Quade after he was lifted after five innings. Dempster was scratched Monday because of back pain. He allowed three runs on seven hits and was seen throwing equipment and arguing with Quade when he was pinch-hit for in the sixth.

Times staff, wires
Saturday, July 9, 2011

The Storm will board a plane to Tampa today after Saturday's 70-33 loss at Tulsa, Okla., that eliminated it from playoff contention, but to make matters worse, two of its best players — linebacker Cliff Dukes and receiver Huey Whittaker — will be on a different flight.

Dukes and Whittaker will land today in Virginia, where they will join their new team, the Virginia Beach Destroyers of the United Football League. Training camp for the Destroyers, formerly the Florida Tuskers, opens today. UFL salaries are significantly higher than the $1,000 a game the top three players on each AFL team make.

"(The Destroyers) contacted me a few weeks ago because they liked my aggressiveness and the way I played," Dukes, 30, said last week. "This is an opportunity I had to take."

AFL contracts are structured in a way that allows players to leave.

Dukes finished his AFL year three sacks shy of the Arena Football League's season record of 15 1/2. Whittaker, who starred at Springstead High and USF, had two touchdowns Saturday. The 37-point loss by the Storm (6-10) ties for the third-worst margin of defeat in its history.

"The hardest thing is leaving my boys, my brothers (on the Storm)," Dukes said. "We went through a lot together."

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, July 9, 2011

NEW YORK — The Rays didn't have much use for RHP Andy Sonnanstine, who'd pitched one inning in the last 18 days and three over the last five weeks. So they decided Saturday to send him to Triple-A Durham and give him regular work as a starter.

Sonnanstine, 28, was said by several teammates to be upset by the move after spending all last season (except for a weeklong paper demotion) in the majors. The clubhouse was kept closed following Saturday's game until he left. OF Brandon Guyer was recalled and will be in the lineup today against Yankees LHP CC Sabathia.

"We want Sonny to get more time just to pitch," manager Joe Maddon said. "In the first half of the season, he started for us a bit, and since then, it's been really difficult to get him usage. So we're going to send him back to get him working again."

Sonnanstine, making $912,500, will fly home with the Rays after today's game and get a few days off, likely starting for the Bulls on Thursday or Friday. He was 0-2, 7.85 in four starts (all Rays losses) and had a 3.31 ERA in 10 relief appearances.

Guyer impressed by homering in his May 6 major-league debut, and the Rays are looking for a similar spark today against Sabathia. Maddon said they hadn't decided whether Guyer, hitting .318 with 10 homers and 47 RBIs for Durham, would be kept on the roster when they resume play after the All-Star break on Friday.

STARRY-EYED: The Rays' three All-Stars — RF Matt Joyce, LHP David Price and RHP James Shields — will leave for Phoenix after today's game.

The trip will be rewarding and exciting but also expensive. After talks over sharing a plane with the Yankees' All-Star contingent didn't work out and space on commercial flights was limited, the three Rays opted for a private jet for themselves and their accompanying family members.

But Joyce — the lowest paid of the three at $426,500, with a $10,000 All-Star bonus — said it will end up costing him about $7,000 to go. His share of the jet is $9,000, and MLB reimburses about $2,000 for the cost of a first-class flight.

"It's a tough situation," he said. "I don't feel like you should have to come out of pocket because it's kind of like an honor. You shouldn't have to pay to go, though if you asked me at the start of the year, I would have."

NEW DAY: Shields starts today relieved he won't have to deal with the hype of Derek Jeter's pursuit of 3,000 hits.

"At least I'm not going to be on the highlight reels for years to come," he said.

JOHNNY BE BACK: DH Johnny Damon made an unexpected return to the lineup when his bruised and swollen left hand felt significantly better.

The key was his special treatment Friday night. While out to dinner at Quattro in the Trump SoHo hotel, he kept the hand in a bucket of ice on the chair next to him. "He took the champagne out and (put) the hand in," Maddon said.

MISCELLANY: OF prospect Des­mond Jennings is expected to miss a couple of weeks with a slight fracture in his right index finger. … CF B.J. Upton hit his seventh homer in his last 14 games and 15th overall. … Class A Bowling Green RHP Victor Mateo threw a seven-inning no-hitter Friday.

Times wires
Saturday, July 9, 2011

Cardinals 7, Diamondbacks 6

ST. LOUIS — Albert Pujols tied it in the eighth with his first homer since returning from the DL (left wrist) and rookie Tony Cruz hit an RBI double in the ninth as the Cardinals rallied from a four-run deficit. Pujols' 18th homer was a two-run shot that tied it at 6.

Times wires
Saturday, July 9, 2011

Royals 13, Tigers 6

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Alex Gordon hit a three-run homer and the Royals roughed up Charlie Furbush then weathered Luke Hochevar's struggles. Alcides Escobar drove in three runs and scored three times for the Royals, who led 9-2 after three innings. Hochevar was battered for six runs before he was yanked in the fourth.