Times wires
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Marlins 7, Cubs 5
CHICAGO — Greg Dobbs hit a two-run homer and drove in the go-ahead run with a bases-loaded walk in the eighth. After Dobbs' walk by Kerry Wood, Logan Morrison capped the Marlins' three-run rally with a two-run single.
Times wires
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Phillies 8, Mets 5
NEW YORK — Rookie Michael Martinez hit a three-run shot for his first homer in the majors as the Phillies won their seventh series in a row. "It was worth the wait," Martinez said through a translator. He came in hitting .213 in 89 at-bats, getting most of his playing time because of his defense.
Times wires
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Reds 3, Cardinals 1
CINCINNATI — Zack Cozart hit his first homer in the majors, Homer Bailey went 7 1/3 innings for his first win since May 16 and the Reds beat Jaime Garcia, who had been 5-0 against them. "I showed up at the ballpark not feeling great, but we won, so everything's great," Bailey said. "Warming up before the game, I felt like I had nothing. … I was thinking I might not get past the second inning."
Times wires
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Braves 9, Nationals 8
ATLANTA — Freddie Freeman's single to right drove in Martin Prado in the ninth inning to lift the Braves. Nationals reliever Tyler Clippard had surrendered Nate McLouth's tying homer in the eighth.
Times wires
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Pirates 7, Astros 5
11 innings
HOUSTON — Josh Harrison scored on a passed ball for the first of the Pirates' three runs in the 11th and Alex Presley drove in another later in the inning.
Times wires
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Diamondbacks 4, Dodgers 1
PHOENIX — Daniel Hudson threw a five-hitter, hit his first big-league homer and finished with three RBIs for Arizona. Hudson's second complete game of the season was his first win since he beat Kansas City on June 23. He connected against Ted Lilly in the sixth then hit a two-run single in the seventh to make it 4-1. The Dodgers had walked Xavier Nady to get to Hudson, whose single between short and third raised his average to .359. Hudson retired his first nine batters and his last eight, striking out Aaron Miles to end the game.
Times wires
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Brewers 4, Rockies 3
DENVER — Shaun Marcum tossed five solid innings before leaving with a strained neck and the Brewers went in front in the NL Central by a half game. Marcum gave up a homer to Jason Giambi in the sixth then threw two balls before LaTroy Hawkins came on.
Times wires
Sunday, July 17, 2011
MADISON, Miss. — Chris Kirk won his first PGA Tour event, shooting 4-under 68 Sunday to take the Viking Classic by one over Tom Pernice (67) and George McNeill (68).
The rookie, 26, who led by one entering the day, tied the tournament record at 22-under 266. He took the lead at No. 17, hitting a 140-yard approach over water to 5 feet for birdie. Pernice, 51, seeking to become the second-oldest tour winner (Sam Snead, 52, 1965 Greensboro Open), missed a 10-footer for birdie at No. 18.
Kirk played his first tour event at the Viking Classic in 2007, receiving a sponsor's exemption a few weeks after turning pro. He missed the cut.
"It's pretty amazing to think back to then, how far I've come from," said Kirk, who entered the event 51st in money this year. "My game isn't that much better. But just the comfort level that I have now; to be able to go out for 18 and feel 100 percent comfortable in my own skin."
Celebrities: Actor Jack Wagner won the Celebrity Golf Championship at Lake Tahoe. A 10-footer for birdie at No. 17 helped him earn 80 points in the modified Stableford scoring system, three more than Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. Former NHL star Joe Sakic made a hole-in-one at No. 17, earning $500,000 for himself and $500,000 for charity from a sponsor who offered the prize for one at the 167-yard hole. Sakic used an 8-iron.
Times wires
Sunday, July 17, 2011
ST. PETERSBURG — Boston LHP Jon Lester could rejoin the rotation in about one week, while LF Carl Crawford will be back in the lineup tonight.
Manager Terry Francona said before Sunday's game against the Rays that Lester, on the 15-day disabled list since July 6 with a strained muscle in his back, is scheduled to pitch one week from Tuesday against Kansas City.
Crawford, sidelined by a strained left hamstring, will return for the opener of a three-game series at Baltimore.
Lester, 10-4 with a 3.31 ERA, will have the first of three bullpen sessions today.
"He was actually aggravated," Francona said. "He wanted to pitch Friday, so I think that's good news."
Crawford, placed on the DL June 18, left Tampa Bay to sign a $142 million, seven-year deal during the offseason. He is batting .243 with six homers, 31 RBIs and eight stolen bases.
"His batting average might be lower this year than we're used to, but if he comes back for the last couple months and is, you know, the guy that causes havoc, what a lift," Francona said.
Crawford completed a two-game minor-league rehab assignment Saturday at Triple-A Pawtucket.
Astros: Manager Brad Mills was ejected for the fifth time this season, this time for arguing balls and strikes during an at-bat by Jeff Keppinger in the third against the Pirates. Houston trailed 2-1 when Mills was ejected, but Keppinger hit a two-run homer two pitches later.
Blue Jays: Jose Bautista, the majors' home run leader, missed his third consecutive game with a twisted right ankle, leaving the team's offense sputtering. Without its star slugger, the team has scored just three runs the past two games. He hit off a tee Sunday and could return Tuesday.
Cubs: Manager Mike Quade gave struggling closer Carlos Marmol another day off. Marmol, who has allowed six runs and walked six batters over his past 1⅔ innings, is working with pitching coach Mark Riggins to iron out mechanical issues.
Indians: OF Grady Sizemore bruised his right knee while sliding into second on a double. Sizemore, who was replaced by Ezequiel Carrera, is day-to-day.
Mets: SS Jose Reyes (strained left hamstring) will make a rehab start for Class-A Brooklyn today before being activated from the DL, possibly Tuesday.
Nationals: LHP Tom Gorzelanny limped off with a twisted right ankle after scoring against the Braves and was later replaced by RHP Henry Rodriguez. Gorzelanny collided with C Brian McCann while scoring from first on a triple.
Orioles: DH Vladimir Guerrero was placed on the DL with a broken bone in his right hand. He has not played since being struck on the hand by a pitch July 10. Manager Buck Showalter said he hopes to have Guerrero back July 26.
Padres: SS Jason Bartlett, a former Ray, went on the paternity leave list. He and his wife, Kelly, are expecting their second child.
Twins: RHP Scott Baker was put on the DL with an elbow strain, one day before he was scheduled to start the day game of a doubleheader today against the Indians. Manager Ron Gardenhire said Baker wasn't feeling right, so the team placed him on the DL rather than risk a long-term injury. LHP Scott Diamond, up from Triple A, is scheduled to start the night game, with Anthony Swarzak moved up to pitch the day game.
Times wires
Sunday, July 17, 2011
SEATTLE — Matt Harrison wasn't about to be the one to halt Texas' wave of nearly perfect pitching, or its near-record win streak.
Harrison allowed one run in 7⅔ innings, Mitch Moreland hit a three-run homer and the Rangers won their 11th straight, 3-1 Sunday over the Mariners.
The winning streak is the longest in baseball since Philadelphia's 11-game streak in September and tied for second-best in team history, trailing only a 14-game streak in 1991.
It's also the Rangers' first four-game sweep of Seattle since 1992.
"When you are pitching like that, it's fun to go out and play behind those guys and be a part of it," Moreland said of the Rangers' staff.
Going back to before the All-Star break, Texas pitching has allowed two runs in its past 47 innings. During the 11-game streak, the staff's collective ERA is 2.09 and opposing batting average is .194.
"I felt good with my sinker in the bullpen, so I went out and threw a lot of those, even if I got behind in the count," said Harrison, who lowered his ERA to 2.91.
Times wires
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Giants 4, Padres 3
11 innings
SAN DIEGO — Chris Stewart drove in the go-ahead run with a suicide squeeze in the 11th, then pounced on a bunt later to start a double play that helped the Giants hold on. Emmanuel Burriss had two of San Francisco's six steals.
Times wires
Sunday, July 17, 2011
SANDWICH, England — The United States' longest run without a major title since the Masters began in 1934 reached six.
During Sunday's final round of the British Open, Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson had the best chances of ending it before tying for second, three back of Darren Clarke.
Mickelson, the last American to win a major (2010 Masters), started five back but shot 5 under through seven. He capped it with an eagle to tie for first.
"Oh, man, that was some of the most fun I've had competitively," said the four-time major champion. "I'm not planning on making a 50-foot putt for eagle, but it just happens. I hit some of the best shots I've hit in the wind … all week."
Mickelson's downfall came at No. 11, when he missed a 2-foot par putt: "Just a stupid mistake. I just lost focus."
From there, Mickelson had four pars and three bogeys to shoot 2-under 68.
Johnson trailed by two when he sent a 2-iron approach on No. 14 out of bounds. He ended up with double-bogey 7 and shot 2-over 72.
"If I had it to do over again, I'd hit a 3-wood instead of a 2-iron," he said.
It was another lost opportunity for Johnson. Last year he led the U.S. Open by three but shot 82, then cost himself a spot in a playoff at the PGA Championship with a two-shot penalty at No. 18 when he didn't realize he was in a bunker.
"The more I put myself in this situation, the better," he said. "The more I learn, the more I understand my game and what happens in this situation."
Weather woes: Almost as soon as Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy completed his 73 (to go with Saturday's 74), he was talking about "getting back into some nice conditions."
His low moment came at No. 7. Just as he was about to strike an 8-footer for birdie, the wind moved his ball. Because he was addressing the ball, he earned a one-shot penalty. He then missed the putt for par.
"I'm not a fan of golf tournaments that the outcome's predicted so much by the weather," last month's U.S. Open champion said. "I'd rather play when it's 80 degrees and sunny and not much wind."
Eyeing Augusta: Thomas Bjorn, the first-round co-leader who got in Monday when Vijay Singh withdrew, shot 71 to finish fourth. He earned a berth in next year's Masters, his first since missing the cut in 2007.
Around the links: Tom Lewis, 20, the first-round co-leader, shot 74 to finish at 9 over, tops among the amateurs. … Tom Watson's 6-over 286 was his best score in five Opens at Royal St. George's. He tied for 22nd. … Next year's event is at Lytham and St. Annes in England.
Times wires
Sunday, July 17, 2011
TOKYO — Japan took a welcome break from months of tragedy, basking in its unlikely win at the Women's World Cup.
Joyous fans decked out in the national team's dark blue uniforms hugged and sang in Tokyo as they watched their team lift the winner's trophy on live broadcasts from Germany.
It was a rare moment of joy for Japan, which is still recovering from an earthquake and tsunami that struck March 11 and devastated its northeast coast. The disasters left nearly 23,000 dead or missing and caused an ongoing crisis at a nuclear power plant.
Japan became the first Asian nation to win the Women's World Cup, beating the United States 3-1 in a penalty-kick shootout after coming from behind twice in a 2-2 draw.
"This is a chance to forget the nuclear disaster and everything else, to just unite and celebrate," said Toru Komatsu, 22.
The bar where Komatsu watched the game with friends in central Tokyo was crammed throughout, with dozens peering in through windows. Restaurants and sports bars across the capital were full despite the early kickoff of 3:45 a.m. local time.
The women's team, long an afterthought to the men's side in Japan, had increasingly received attention from the national press as it climbed through the tournament, making up for the small size of its players with pinpoint passing and a swarming team defense.
Special newspaper editions proclaiming the victory were printed by the national papers and handed out to pedestrians in Tokyo, and scenes from the game were replayed constantly on television.
"It has been so scary with the earthquake and everything," said Miaki Tomiyama, 22. "The team has given us happiness."
Meanwhile, the loss stung Americans every bit as badly as when the men's team was eliminated by Ghana in last year's World Cup in South Africa.
American Shannon Stinson, who watched the game from a pub in Milwaukee, has family members from Japan and hoped the team's victory might lift a few spirits in the country. Still, she had a hard time putting her disappointment into words.
"I'm at a loss," Stinson said, pausing several seconds to think. "It's all right. It's good. I think it's done a good job of rallying the crowd to women's football, and football in general."
Times wires
Sunday, July 17, 2011
SOCCER
FC TAMPA BAY RALLIES FOR 2-1 ROAD VICTORY
FC Tampa Bay extended its unbeaten streak in the NASL to four games, winning 2-1 at Edmonton on Sunday on Mike Ambersley's second-half goal.
The forward, who leads Tampa Bay (5-5-6) with eight goals, picked off a goal kick from Edmonton goalkeeper Rein Baart, dribbled right, beat two defenders and sent a shot under Baart for the winning goal in the 70th minute.
Aaron King scored in the 30th minute to tie it after Kyle Porter's goal put Edmonton (7-5-4) ahead in the 19th.
Tampa Bay's next game is Saturday at Atlanta.
COPA AMERICA: Paraguay pulled off a stunner in the quarterfinals, beating defending champion Brazil 2-0 in a penalty shootout after 120 goalless minutes in La Plata, Argentina. Paraguay on Wednesday faces Venezuela, which is in the semifinals for the first time after a 2-1 win over Chile.
MLS: Philadelphia took first place in the Eastern Conference with a 3-0 win at New England.
NFL
Talks to resume today in New York
Talks to end the NFL lockout will resume today in New York with the court-appointed mediator, the Associated Press reported. The mediator, U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan, originally ordered representatives of the league's owners and players to meet with him Tuesday in Minneapolis. The owners have a meeting set for Thursday in Atlanta, where they could ratify a deal if there is one. Any agreement also must be voted on by groups of players, including the named plaintiffs in a federal antitrust suit against the league.
BENSON ARREST: Bengals running back Cedric Benson was released from jail after an arrest on a misdemeanor assault charge in Austin, Texas. Travis County sheriff's spokesman Roger Wade said Benson posted a $10,000 bond.
TENNIS
Soderling wins home event again
Playing in his homeland, Robin Soderling won the Swedish Open for the second time in three years, topping David Ferrer 6-2, 6-2 on clay in Bastad.
MERCEDES CUP: Juan Carlos Ferrero defeated Pablo Andujar 6-4, 6-0 in an all-Spanish final in Stuttgart, Germany.
COLLEGE football
Top N.C. safety commits to Florida
Boiling Springs (N.C.) Crest High's Rhaheim Ledbetter, the nation's 25th-rated safety by Rivals.com, orally committed to Florida, the 14th commitment of its 2012 recruiting class. His cousin is former Gators linebacker Brandon Spikes. Two prospects Florida orally committed to Georgia: tackle John Theus of Jacksonville Bolles (No. 7-rated player in the nation) and Yulee High junior RB Derrick Henry, considered one of the top players in the state in the 2013 recruiting class.
ET CETERA
WNBA: Rookie Danielle McCray scored a career-high 22 to lead host Connecticut past Indiana 76-71. … Cappie Pondexter scored 18 and Essence Carson added 17 as host New York defeated Tulsa 88-57.
DIVING: China's Qiu Bo and Huo Liang won the men's 10-meter synchronized event at the world championships in Shanghai, the second gold for the host nation.
BOXING: Brian Viloria won the WBO flyweight title late Saturday in Honolulu, beating Mexico's Julio Cesar Miranda by unanimous decision.
Orlando Sentinel; Times wires
By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Times wires
Sunday, July 17, 2011
SANDWICH, England — No matter how long it grows, the list of major champions from Northern Ireland just wouldn't feel complete without Darren Clarke.
He doesn't have the majestic swing of Rory McIlroy or the putting prowess of Graeme McDowell, the past two U.S. Open winners. He hadn't contended in a major for the past 10 years; wasn't even eligible for the past three. He entered this year's British Open No. 111 in the world.
But Clarke's three-shot victory was met with a loud applause Sunday. That's because Clarke is a man of the people.
"I'm a bit of a normal bloke, aren't I?" Clarke said, the claret jug and a pint of beer at his side. "I'm fond of a little beverage, and … there might be lots of nice Irish black stuff in this trophy this evening. I like to go to the pub and have a pint, fly home, buy everybody a drink. There's not many airs and graces about me.
"I was a little bit more difficult to deal with in my earlier years, and I've mellowed some; just a little bit. But I'm just a normal guy playing golf, having a bit of fun."
He was extraordinary at Royal St. George's.
A cigarette curled under his fingers, Clarke held off brief challenges from Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson and shot par 70 to finish 5-under 275.
"Pretty amazing," Clarke said. "It's been a dream since I've been a kid to win the Open, like any kid's dream is. And I'm able to do it, which just feels incredible."
Clark went 54 starts in majors before winning. (Tom's Kite's 72 before the 1992 U.S. Open is the record.) Of those, 19 came at the British Open, the most by a first-time winner of the event (four more than Nick Price in 1994). And at 42 years, 337 days, Clarke's the oldest to win the Open since Roberto de Vicenzo (44 in 1967) and the oldest to win any major since Ben Crenshaw (1995 Masters at 43).
"I always believed I had enough talent to challenge and win one," he said.
Clarke had his chances in British Opens. He tied for second in 1997 behind Justin Leonard (and his final-round 65) and was third behind David Duval in 2001. Then began his descent. He entered 2011 having won just twice since 2003. In 2005, his wife, Heather, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She died a year later.
"Bad times in golf are more frequent than the good times," said Clarke, who dedicated the victory to his two sons. "I've always been pretty hard on myself when I fail because I don't find it very easy to accept that. And there's times I've been completely and utterly fed up with the game."
The advice from friends and family was always the same.
"Get out there and practice and keep going, keep going, keep going," Clarke said. "And that's why I'm sitting here now."
Despite the age difference — McDowell is 32 and McIlroy 22 — the three are good friends and drinking buddies. When McDowell (who introduced Clarke to his current fiancee) won his U.S. Open, they partied for a week. When McIlroy won last month, Clarke pulled out of a tournament so he wouldn't miss the parties.
Maybe McIlroy can return the favor.
"I don't think I'll miss a tournament for his, but I'll definitely be there," he said. "And I'll definitely be one of the last ones to go to bed."
At 215 pounds, the 6-foot-2 Clarke isn't the prototypical pro. It's appropriate that his manager is named "Chubby" Chandler. Clarke said Chandler is pushing him toward going on a diet.
"Weight Watchers starts next week," Clarke said, pausing before adding, "Next week might not be a good week to start."
Until then, how long will the party last?
"Very long," Clarke said. "And I'll be very, very hung over."
Times wires
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Results
Lenox Industrial Tools 301
At Loudon, N.H.
1. (1) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 301 laps, 48 points, $268,050.
2. (2) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 301, 43, $210,633.
3. (14) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 301, 41, $170,675.
4. (16) Joey Logano, Toyota, 301, 41, $119,025.
5. (28) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 301, 40, $151,236.
6. (10) Kasey Kahne, Toyota, 301, 39, $122,158.
7. (23) Bobby Labonte, Toyota, 301, 37, $126,945.
8. (13) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 301, 36, $95,350.
9. (22) Marcos Ambrose, Ford, 301, 36, $121,541.
10. (4) Kurt Busch, Dodge, 301, 35, $128,125.
11. (7) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 301, 34, $126,286.
12. (17) A J Allmendinger, Ford, 301, 32, $120,411.
13. (15) Carl Edwards, Ford, 301, 32, $125,291.
14. (26) David Ragan, Ford, 301, 30, $88,875.
15. (27) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 301, 29, $87,425.
16. (6) Jeff Burton, Chevrolet, 301, 28, $88,300.
17. (12) Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet, 301, 28, $118,708.
18. (20) Greg Biffle, Ford, 301, 27, $92,900.
19. (3) David Reutimann, Toyota, 301, 25, $107,158.
20. (30) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 301, 24, $115,911.
21. (18) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 301, 23, $122,436.
22. (24) Mark Martin, Chevrolet, 301, 23, $84,850.
23. (38) J.J. Yeley, Ford, 301, 21, $93,983.
24. (9) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 301, 20, $84,225.
25. (34) David Gilliland, Ford, 301, 49.7, 19, $90,608.
26. (32) Landon Cassill, Chevrolet, 300, 0, $87,283.
27. (42) Scott Wimmer, Dodge, 300, 0, $84,947.
28. (43) Andy Lally, Ford, 300, 17, $85,200.
29. (37) Dave Blaney, Chevrolet, 300, 15, $71,925.
30. (8) Juan Pablo Montoya, Chevrolet, 300, 14, $114,208.
31. (25) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 300, 14, $110,089.
32. (41) Mike Bliss, Ford, 299, 0, $71,200.
33. (11) Regan Smith, Chevrolet, 298, 11, $97,345.
34. (21) Brian Vickers, Toyota, 283, 10, $98,014.
35. (5) Brad Keselowski, Dodge, 257, 9, $79,550.
36. (19) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 224, 8, $118,216.
37. (29) David Stremme, Chevrolet, engine, 159, 0, $70,175.
38. (31) Casey Mears, Toyota, brakes, 83, 6, $69,975.
39. (40) Erik Darnell, Chevrolet, brakes, 72, 0, $69,850.
40. (33) Michael McDowell, Toyota, brakes, 46, 4, $69,700.
41. (35) Joe Nemechek, Toyota, brakes, 37, 0, $69,525.
42. (39) Mike Skinner, Toyota, electrical, 17, 0, $69,400.
43. (36) Jeff Green, Ford, brakes, 11, 0, $69,767.
LOUDON, N.H.—Ryan Newman and Tony Stewart started 1-2 in Sunday's Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and not even a fuel crisis, a wild jumble of divergent strategies or a crew chief with pneumonia could prevent them from finishing that way.
"One hell of a day, boys," Stewart radioed to his team as he approached the finish line 0.773 seconds behind his Stewart-Haas Racing teammate.
Both drivers helped themselves immensely in their quests for berths in the Chase for the Championship, as Newman posted his first victory of the year, his third at the 1.058-mile track and the 15th of his career.
"We backed up what everybody said we couldn't back up, and that was our qualifying effort on Friday," Newman said. "We put it on 'em (Sunday). We don't put it on 'em every weekend, so we need to relish this moment and figure out what we did right so we can keep doing it."
Denny Hamlin was third, followed by Joey Logano and Jimmie Johnson.
Newman and Stewart scored their first 1-2 finish in their third season as teammates in the organization Stewart co-owns. It was the first time since June 2006 at Pocono that the two drivers who started 1-2 finished in the same positions, a feat accomplished then by Denny Hamlin and Kurt Busch.
After pitting for the last time on Lap 217 of 301, Newman did an excellent job saving fuel. Stewart, who pitted under caution nine laps later, charged through the field but used up his equipment by the time he secured second place from Hamlin with eight laps left.
"I can promise you, I didn't leave anything out there," Stewart said. "That was as hard as I could run till the end. I couldn't get the rest of the way. I couldn't get any further than that. I got in a period when I caught Jeff Gordon — I think he was running fourth or fifth at the time — I got to his bumper, but I couldn't really do anything. I ran about three laps where I kept slipping the rear of the car, just got the tires hot.
"I basically had to back away from him and run my pace again, just let everything cool down. Then we made that second charge at him and were able to get by him and keep marching forward. The problem was, to do what we did to get a second, I mean, I used everything up getting there."
Stewart had special praise for his crew chief, Darian Grubb.
"They told him (Saturday) he's got pneumonia," Stewart said. "He's battling through a weekend like this, never missed a beat on the box (Sunday)."
Hamlin also backed off and saved fuel in the closing laps to ensure a top-five finish.
"Obviously, I was running the 39 (Newman) down," Hamlin said. "The crew chief (Mike Ford) is screaming that we've got to back off. At that point, you have to think about the risk vs. reward."
Gordon, who battled an alternator problem, blew a tire on the last lap and finished 11th.
Kyle Busch finished 36th after blowing a tire, slamming into the Turn 2 wall and losing 76 laps. He dropped from first to fifth in points, 20 behind leader Carl Edwards, who ran 13th Sunday. David Reutimann of Zephyrhills finished 19th.
By Marc Topkin and Joe Smith, Times Staff Writers
Sunday, July 17, 2011
ST. PETERSBURG — C Jose Lobaton was understandably excited for Sunday's start, his first in the big leagues since 2009, and planned to enjoy every minute of it.
Lobaton, 26, even bought MLB.TV for his family members in Portuguesa, Venezuela, so they could see him play.
But after spending most of his nine professional seasons in the minors, Lobaton is hoping to show he is more than just a short-term injury replacement for C John Jaso (right oblique strain).
"I don't know that yet; we'll find out," manager Joe Maddon said. "But we definitely see him as part of our plans in the future; we do."
Maddon said Lobaton, who went 0-for-3 before being replaced, earned this opportunity, having worked diligently on improving in several areas the manager asked him to address in their spring training meeting.
Lobaton, called up from Triple-A Durham on Friday, got better defensively, taking charge of the pitching staff and throwing, while hitting with power from both sides of the plate.
"He's really turning into kind of a complete player this season in Durham," Maddon said.
Lobaton said one key area of improvement was his patience at the plate, accepting his walks (37, against 50 strikeouts), giving him a .410 on-base percentage while hitting .293 with eight homers and 31 RBIs.
"I know (the Rays) like walks, and I said, 'I'm going to try to play how the team wants,' " Lobaton said.
Bigger stage: Considering the poise and pitching ability rookie Alex Cobb showed the Rays in his early season callups, Maddon has no doubt the right-hander will be able to handle tonight's start against the Yankees.
Cobb, called up to replace injured RHP Wade Davis (right forearm strain), went 2-0 with a 2.55 ERA in his past four big-league starts.
"I believe he's going to be fine," Maddon said. "I expect to see a very calm demeanor, a guy who is not going to get overwhelmed with the situation."
Steal Fairly: Maddon had an interesting response when informed that the Yankees suggested the Blue Jays could be using extraordinary methods, such as binoculars or electronic devices, to steal signs: "We have not thought that this year."
Maddon said he is in favor of traditional sign stealing but not when it's done by people not on the field or in the dugout.
"I'm all for stealing a third-base coach's signs or if a manager is not hiding his signs to whomever or if a catcher goes out, whatever. Those signs are there to be stolen," Maddon said. "That's part of the game. Utilizing technology to do that I think is inappropriate. … That's bad form, I don't agree with that."
LINING UP: OF Matt Joyce was scratched from the starting lineup Sunday due to swelling and stiffness in his right knee and limited to a pinch-hit appearance.
Joyce led off the ninth, lining out softly to shortstop and looking uncomfortable as he ran.
He fouled a ball off his kneecap in the fifth inning Saturday then homered.
Postgame X-rays were negative, and he was hopeful of playing Sunday, but he said he tested it early and was unable to run effectively. Joyce hopes to return to the lineup tonight against the Yankees.
SIMPLY SMASHING: With two outs in the eighth, 2B Sean Rodriguez hit a foul ball that broke a light on the B-ring catwalk, shattering glass onto the field and into the stands. The game was delayed for a few minutes while the glass was cleaned up, and Rodriguez ended up striking out.
MISCELLANY: A fan ran onto the field with one out in the top of the 11th and was tackled by security guards. … LHP R.J. Swindle took the opt-out clause in his minor-league contract and was granted his release from Triple-A Durham.
By Marc Topkin and Joe Smith, Times Staff Writers
Sunday, July 17, 2011
ST. PETERSBURG — C Jose Lobaton was understandably excited for Sunday's start, his first in the big leagues since 2009, and planned to enjoy every minute of it.
But Lobaton's night ended in disappointment, as he sprained his left knee in the ninth inning of the Rays 1-0, 16-inning loss to Boston and was placed on the 15-day disabled list.
C Robinson Chirinos, who impressed in spring training after getting acquired from the Cubs in the RHP Matt Garza trade, was called up and will be here for tonight's game with the Yankees.
Lobaton, who was called up Friday, said he hurt his knee trying to block a pitch in the dirt in the ninth and "felt something crack."
Though he said it's not considered a serious ligament injury, it was tough to take.
"I feel a little sad," Lobaton said. "But it's something that happens in the game. I've just got to wait, get healthy and be ready for whatever...I'll be back."
Lobaton, 26, was hoping to take advantage of his long-awaited chance and show that - after nine minor league seasons - he could be more than just a temporary injury replacement for C John Jaso (right oblique strain).
Maddon has said Lobaton, who went 0-for-3 before being replaced, earned this opportunity, having become more of a "complete player" in Durham; Lobaton worked diligently on improving in several areas the manager asked him to address in their spring training meeting, both offensively and defensively.
"We definitely see him as part of our plans in the future," Maddon said.
But the time is now for Chirinos, a switch-hitter who cooled off at the plate in Durham following a very hot spring training, when he hit .429 and had several, big, late-inning hits.
Chirinos was hitting .265 with five homers and 22 RBI in 68 games for the Bulls. It will be his first big-league callup.
Bigger stage: RHP Alex Cobb, recalled from Durham to start tonight against the Yankees, had planned to play catch after Sunday's game.
He just never thought he'd have to wait until around 2 a.m.
But following the Rays' marathon loss, Cobb made about 30 throws.
"I stuck around, so might as well play a little catch," he said.
Cobb hopes he can stick around until late in tonight's game, considering how the entire bullpen was used against the Red Sox.
Cobb, who is replacing the injured RHP Wade Davis (right forearm strain), is excited for what he feels is the most important of his six big-league starts this year.
"It doesn't get much bigger than that, especially coming off a tough loss like that (Sunday)," Cobb said. "We want to get back into the swing of things and eat up some innings - that bullpen was attacked tonight. So I hope I can put together a quality start."
There was some question whether Cobb would be able to make this start after he got hit in the back of the head by a line drive in batting practice with the Bulls Friday.
Cobb said he was playing catch in shallow rightfield with RHP Andy Sonnanstine, when a hit by INF Felipe Lopez caught him by surprise.
"We always keep our eye on the ball, try to make sure to catch any liners," Cobb said. "I must not have looked at one pitch and got a 'heads-up' call in the last second. I looked, turned away and got smoked in the back of the head. It hurt a little bit but I had a a little bit of a headache, but nothing too serious."
Cobb smiled, and added, "They put a helmet on me the next day when I was playing catch."
Considering the poise and pitching ability Cobb showed in his early season call-ups, Maddon has no doubt he'll be able to handle tonight's nationally-televised ESPN start well.
Cobb went 2-0 with a 2.55 ERA in his past four big-league starts.
"I believe he's going to be fine," Maddon said. "I expect to see a very calm demeanor, a guy who is not going to get overwhelmed with the situation."
Steal Fairly: Maddon had an interesting response when informed that the Yankees suggested the Blue Jays could be using extraordinary methods, such as binoculars or electronic devices, to steal signs: "We have not thought that this year."
Maddon said he is in favor of traditional sign stealing but not when it's done by people not on the field or in the dugout.
"I'm all for stealing a third-base coach's signs or if a manager is not hiding his signs to whomever or if a catcher goes out, whatever. Those signs are there to be stolen," Maddon said. "That's part of the game. Utilizing technology to do that I think is inappropriate. … That's bad form, I don't agree with that."
LINING UP: OF Matt Joyce was scratched from the starting lineup Sunday due to swelling and stiffness in his right knee and limited to a pinch-hit appearance.
Joyce led off the ninth, lining out softly to shortstop and looking uncomfortable as he ran.
He fouled a ball off his kneecap in the fifth inning Saturday then homered.
Postgame X-rays were negative, and he was hopeful of playing Sunday, but he said he tested it early and was unable to run effectively. Joyce hopes to return to the lineup tonight against the Yankees.
SIMPLY SMASHING: With two outs in the eighth, 2B Sean Rodriguez hit a foul ball that broke a light on the B-ring catwalk, shattering glass onto the field and into the stands. The game was delayed for a few minutes while the glass was cleaned up, and Rodriguez ended up striking out.
MISCELLANY: A fan ran onto the field with one out in the top of the 11th and was tackled by security guards. … LHP R.J. Swindle took the opt-out clause in his minor-league contract and was granted his release from Triple-A Durham.
Times wires
Sunday, July 17, 2011
FRANKFURT, Germany — The Americans stood on the field, watching in stunned silence.
This, they were certain, was their Women's World Cup to win, and they never doubted they would emerge as champions.
But the resilience that had carried them so far and captivated their country disappeared when they needed it most Sunday.
Shannon Boxx, Carli Lloyd and Tobin Heath failed to convert penalty kicks, and sentimental favorite Japan stunned the Americans 3-1 in a shootout after the United States twice blew a lead.
"There are really no words," former Florida standout Abby Wambach said. "We were so close."
Minutes, in fact.
Wambach, whose clutch play against Brazil and France was the reason the Americans were in the final, scored on a header in the 104th minute. But in the 117th, five minutes before extra time was to expire, Homare Sawa flicked in a corner kick to tie the score 2-2 and send it to penalty kicks. It was the fifth goal of the tournament for the 32-year-old, playing in her fifth World Cup.
"We ran and ran," Sawa said. "We were exhausted, but we kept running."
The Americans had beaten Brazil on penalty kicks in a quarterfinal thriller, but they didn't have the same touch this time.
"It's hard to do two rounds of penalties," Wambach said. "The keeper, in a way, knows which way we're going to go."
And the star of the shootout was feisty Japanese goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori, who made two outstanding saves.
Boxx took the first U.S. shot, and it banged off Kaihori's right leg as she dived to her left. After Aya Miyama made her kick, Lloyd stepped up and sent her shot soaring over the crossbar. As the crowd gasped, Lloyd covered her mouth in dismay.
U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo saved Japan's next shot, but Kaihori made an impressive two-handed save on a shot by Heath.
"This is a team effort," Kaihori said. "In the penalty shootout, I just had to believe in myself, and I was very confident."
After Japan grabbed a 2-0 edge, Wambach buried her kick.
But Japan needed to make just one more, and Saki Kumagai did.
All tournament long, the Japanese reminded the world they were playing for their battered country, still reeling from the devastation of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
After their win, the Japanese held the trophy high as confetti swirled around the podium.
"We wanted to use this opportunity to thank the people back home for the support that has been given," Japan coach Norio Sasaki said.
This was Japan's first appearance in the final of a major tournament, and the nation had not beaten the Americans in their first 25 meetings.
The Americans finished the first half with a 12-5 shot advantage but had just one attempt on target. Lauren Cheney came up short three times, and Wambach shook the crossbar.
The Americans broke through in the second half, with Alex Morgan scoring her second goal of the tournament in the 69th minute.
But in the 81st minute, Rachel Buehler and Ali Krieger could not clear the ball, which allowed Miyama to chip it past Solo to tie the score 1-1.
"There is such a little difference between success and not success," U.S. coach Pia Sundhage said.
Then, after Wambach got the go-ahead goal with her powerful header in the 104th minute, Sawa struck in the 117th minute to force the dramatic shootout.
"Deep down inside, I really thought it was our destiny to win it," Lloyd said. "But maybe it was Japan's."
