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Astros 3, Nationals 2, 11 innings

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Times wires
Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Astros 3, Nationals 2

11 innings

HOUSTON — Jason Michaels' single gave the Astros wins in consecutive games for the first time since June 17-18. The hit scored Humberto Quintero, who led off the inning with a single to right. Houston's Brett Myers remains winless since June 17.


Twins 7, Indians 5

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Times wires
Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Twins 7, Indians 5

MINNEAPOLIS — Danny Valencia hit the go-ahead single for the second straight game for the Twins. Tied at 4 in the eighth, Alexi Casilla reached on a ground-rule double when his flyball to the warning track in left-center dropped between two Indians. Then with the bases loaded, Valencia's liner barely eluded the glove of second baseman Orlando Cabrera.

Phillies 9, Cubs 1

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Times wires
Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Phillies 9, Cubs 1

CHICAGO — Jimmy Rollins homered from both sides of the plate for the Phillies. Rollins hit solo shots batting left-handed off Ramon Ortiz in the sixth and right-handed off John Grabow in the eighth. It was the second time in his career he went deep from both sides and the seventh multihomer game of his career. Vance Worley won his fourth consecutive start.

Florida Gators expect track star Jeff Demps back for football season

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By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 20, 2011

HOOVER, Ala. — Although RB Jeff Demps has not been with the team full-time since January, Florida coach Will Muschamp said Wednesday that he expects the senior to return for football season.

Demps, a world-class sprinter, is in Italy competing with the U.S. national team. He missed all of spring practice and the Orange and Blue game competing with the Gator track team. Talk of Demps' imminent departure has filled Internet sites.

"Jeff and I have talked all summer," Muschamp said. "He and I are going to meet next week, and I expect him to be a part of our football team. He had a great indoor season, he won the 60-meter national championship. He had a great outdoor season, didn't run as well in the NCAAs as he would have liked to, he was very frustrated about that. He and I talked about it all summer, he wanted to run with the U.S. National team, he wanted to go to Italy. When he comes back we're going to reevaluate where he is, but I fully expect him to be a part of our football team."

GARCIA'S RETURN? South Carolina senior QB Stephen Garcia has "done well" and is expected to compete for the starting job, coach Steve Spurrier said, although the former Jefferson High star remains suspended — for the fifth time in his career.

"He has some guidelines he must follow to be reinstated in August," Spurrier said, adding jokingly, "I guess we don't want to kick him out for stupidity.

"He's done everything we've asked. He's certainly behaved very well, gone to all the workouts from what I understand. So right now, he in all likelihood, will be set to return. … He may be our best quarterback, but we're going to have a little competition in preseason this year (with sophomore Connor Shaw)."

Asked if he considered bringing Garcia to Media Days, Spurrier had a one-word answer: "No."

Spurrier showed his familiar wisecracking side and said it was due to coming off his first SEC East title with South Carolina: "Most coaches if they win a lot, win a lot of championships, they do talk a little bit more."

BALL OUT: UF sophomore LB Neiron Ball will sit out this season, then will be reevaluated early next year. He has had congenital vascular condition since birth. It caused blood vessels to burst in his brain in February and left him in intensive care. Ball played in all 13 games last season, mainly on special teams.

O-LINE DEPTH: Former Notre Dame OL Dan Wenger is on campus working out with the Gators and preparing for the upcoming season. He played at Notre Dame under former head coach Charlie Weis, now UF's offensive coordinator. He was injured in 2006 and redshirted, then played in 29 games (19 starts) from 2007 to 2009. He had two concussions in fall practice before the 2010 season, ending his last year of eligibility with Notre Dame, but he was granted a sixth year of eligibility.

INTERVIEW WITH A DAUGHTER: One of Muschamp's interviewers at his first official SEC Media Days was the daughter of his predecessor, Urban Meyer. Nicki Meyer, a student at Georgia Tech, is a Fox Sports intern.

Slive proposals: Commissioner Mike Slive said to address problems in major college sports, his proposals include raising academic requirements for incoming freshmen to paying athletes the full cost of scholarships. "We don't have the luxury of acting as if it's business as usual," Slive said. He wants an increase of the requirements for initial eligibility from a 2.0 grade point average to 2.5 in 16 core classes and the restoration of partial qualifiers.

Information from Times wires was used in this report. Antonya English can be reached at english@sptimes.com.

Sports in brief

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Times staff, wires
Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Colleges

USF tight end hawkins (knee) out for season

TAMPA — Already thin at tight end, USF football took another hit at a key position as junior Jeff Hawkins tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during summer voluntary workouts this month and will miss the 2011 season.

Hawkins, who was recovering from a torn ACL in his other knee suffered in December, was one of USF's few blocking tight ends with college experience, though he had zero catches in his first three seasons. With Hawkins out, the Bulls have two pass-catching tight ends at the hybrid TE/WR position in junior Andreas Shields and sophomore Isaac Virgin, but little else at fullback and tight end, two positions that practice together and are largely interchangeable.

The top fullbacks, junior Armando Sanchez and walk-on Chris Breit, have been converted from linebacker. The only other tight end on scholarship is true freshman Tye Turner.

Ivy league: In an effort to reduce the number of concussions and subconcussive hits, football teams will be limited to two full-contact practices a week, three less than the NCAA allows. The recommendations also limit contact workouts to one during preseason two-a-day workouts. The league will have similar reviews for hockey, lacrosse and soccer.

NBA

Lawsuit seeks crash info from Mourning

Former Heat star Alonzo Mourning was sued Wednesday over a traffic crash near Miami Beach that raised questions about whether he improperly left the scene. William Candelario, 21, suffered head injuries in the rollover crash early Sunday. Candelario said he has little memory of what happened and his attorney said the lawsuit is aimed at finding answers. Mourning, 41, said he came upon the crash scene but declined to say whether he struck one of the vehicles. Sgt. Thomas Pikul, a Florida Highway Patrol spokesman, said investigators determined that Mourning's blue Porsche Panamera struck Candelario's Audi A4 a short time after the Audi collided with a third vehicle. Mourning acknowledged leaving the scene, because he said he did nothing wrong. He returned about 40 minutes later. No charges have been filed.

Yao retires: Yao Ming, with teary eyes at times, ended his eight-year career with the Rockets, conceding in Shanghai that injuries finally got the best of him. "My past six months were an agonizing wait. I had been thinking (about my future) over and over," said Yao, 30. "One door is closing and another one is opening." He ranks second in Rockets history in blocks (920), sixth in points (9,247) and sixth in rebounds (4,494). Yao said he would return to work with his former Chinese team, the Shanghai Sharks, with the possibility of becoming general manager. He already owns the club.

Et cetera

Boxing: A celebrity promoter won a default judgment against Jose Canseco for breach of contract after the former major-league slugger instead sent his twin, Ozzie, for the bout. Damon Feldman, of Broomall, Pa., won his complaint after Canseco failed to show for his district court appearance. Feldman's attorney said the award was for $7,600. Has the experience soured Feldman on continuing to promote the matches? Hardly. "I have Octomom doing a match," he said.

soccer: Paraguay advanced to the Copa America final by beating Venezuela in a penalty shootout following a goalless draw in Mendoza, Argentina. Paraguay won the shootout 5-3; the only miss coming when Justo Villar stopped Franklin Lucena's shot. Dario Veron netted the final spot kick to set up Sunday's final against Uruguay.

Autos: ESPN is moving Allen Bestwick into the booth as lead play-by-play announcer for its NASCAR coverage. Bestwick replaces Marty Reid for all Sprint Cup races, practices and qualifying. Nicole Briscoe takes Bestwick's job as host for ESPN's prerace NASCAR Countdown.

Tennis: Serena Williams is using a special injury-protected No. 1 ranking to get into the U.S. Open field. She is ranked 172nd this week, and only the top 105 players were granted direct entry for the major championship that starts Aug. 29.

Horses: The seventh race on opening day at Saratoga Race Course will be named in honor of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who is recovering after being shot Jan. 8. "The Gabrielle Giffords," a maiden race for 2-year-old New York-bred fillies, is scheduled to go to post at about 4:21 p.m. Friday and has drawn a field of 11.

Greg Auman, Times staff writer; Times wires

Reds 3, Pirates 1

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Times wires
Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Reds 3, Pirates 1

PITTSBURGH — Johnny Cueto shined again for the Reds. He has 11 consecutive quality starts (six or more innings, three or fewer runs), the longest streak by a Red since Bronson Arroyo's 13 in 2009. Cincinnati, which was shut out and stranded 18 runners in its previous two games, got two unearned runs with help from two errors by shortstop Chase d'Arnaud.

Florida Gators' John Brantley sees new offense as chance to regain favor

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By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 20, 2011

HOOVER, Ala. — The majority of John Brantley's spare time since April has been spent watching old film. Notre Dame, New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs football games to be exact.

The hiring of Will Muschamp as head coach and former NFL and Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis as offensive coordinator at Florida has given Brantley a new lease on his career. And the senior quarterback is not taking the opportunity lightly.

"I think I've got more drive, especially with this new offense," Brantley said Wednesday during SEC Media Days. "Just to be able to get this new offense down, go out there and play to the best of my ability and put our team in the best position to win. That's my goal for this season. I'm preparing for it right now."

Gone are the spread offense and the option plays that kept him from his strengths. In their place, emerging slowly, is a passing, pro-style offense that Weis used with the Irish, Patriots and Chiefs and fits Brantley.

The last time Florida fans saw Brantley, he didn't look much improved— just three weeks into the new system. He insists time is making a significant difference.

"I'm a lot more comfortable," he said. "I thought it looked like Chinese at first, I'm not going to lie. But after a few days with Coach Weis in the spring, it started becoming real clear to me. I just keep improving on it every day. It looks like normal English (now). I know how to read again. I know every word now. It's just rolling off my tongue a lot easier, and it's definitely a lot more understandable, the reasons why we do things."

On Wednesday. Brantley was candid about his struggles last season, which included a 116.4 passing efficiency (No. 10 in the 12-team league), nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Yes, his confidence took a hit. And there were times he saw himself on film and didn't recognize the guy wearing the No. 12 jersey based on how he was playing. No, he wasn't able to give Florida fans his best effort because he couldn't succeed in the spread or as a running quarterback.

But even during his lowest moments, Brantley continued to believe in his heart he was supposed to be a Gator. Muschamp and Weis have given him an opportunity to reaffirm that belief.

In the first meeting between new coach and QB, Muschamp shook Brantley's hand and said, 'I'm happy you're here.' "

"I think he was just going through a phase," senior receiver Deonte Thompson said. "I knew he was coming back. I said, 'Come on man, we need you.' "

Thompson on Wednesday remembered being in the locker room with Brantley in January when Muschamp called the quarterback into his office. Brantley returned and told Thompson, "I'm not going anywhere."

Muschamp, the son of a coach who like Brantley grew up a diehard Gator fan, said he's impressed with the way Brantley has handled the adversity.

"It makes you grow up a little bit," Muschamp said. "It hardens you a little bit. But I've been really pleased with his demeanor, how he's handled it, and the respect he's got from his teammates on both sides of the ball."

Yes, Brantley said, he has been stung by falling out of favor with fans. But he's still a Gator, and he's hoping his play beginning with the Sept. 3 opener against Florida Atlantic will bring them all back on his side.

"It's tough because I've seen it from both sides now," said Brantley, an Ocala native. "I've never been one, even growing up, to boo a player because those were my idols out there. I've always looked up to them and wanted to be like them. It's unfortunate, but hopefully we'll be able to bounce back and have those boos turn into cheers this year."

Antonya English can be reached at English@sptimes.com.

"I'm a lot more comfortable. I thought it looked like Chinese at first, I'm not going to lie. But after a few days with Coach Weis in the spring, it started becoming real clear to me. I just keep improving on it every day. It looks like normal English (now)."

John Brantley, on offensive coordinator Charlie Weis' pro-style offense

Ex-players sue NFL over concussion treatment

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New York Times
Wednesday, July 20, 2011

A group of 75 retired NFL players sued the league in a California court Tuesday, alleging that NFL teams' mismanagement of their concussions, and the league's willful concealment of evidence of the long-term effects of head injuries, led to the players' current brain damage.

The suit, filed in Superior Court in Los Angeles, is the first legal action to center on how the NFL, while evidence mounted in medical journals and elsewhere, took until 2010 to unequivocally warn players that concussions could affect brain function long after they retired.

The suit contends that the league failed "to regulate practices, games, equipment and medical care so as to minimize the long-term risks associated with concussive brain injuries." It took particular aim at how the NFL's medical committee on concussions, formed in 1994, published a steady string of studies claiming that concussions had no long-term effects on professional football players.

The plaintiffs include many players who were active in the 1980s, including Mark Duper, a Dolphins receiver; and Ottis Anderson, a running back for the Cardinals and Giants.

The players claim that they suffered multiple concussions that were improperly diagnosed by team medical personnel, leading to short-term memory loss, headaches, vision problems and other ailments. The suit seeks an unspecified amount of damages above the jurisdictional minimum of $25,000.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league "will vigorously contest any claims of this kind."

Riddell, the helmet manufacturer named as a co-defendant, would not comment.

Jenkins retires: Former Jets and Panthers defensive tackle Kris Jenkins announced his retirement after his last two seasons were cut short by serious knee injuries. Jenkins, released by New York in February, posted on his Facebook page that he is "going to hang up the cleats!" Jenkins, who turns 32 on Aug. 3, had said when he was cut that he still wanted to play. "The mind is always willing to play, but my body deserves the rest," Jenkins wrote.

Obituary: Myra Kraft, the wife of Patriots owner Robert Kraft and a philanthropist dedicated to numerous causes, died Wednesday after a battle with cancer. She was 68. Mrs. Kraft managed the Robert and Myra Kraft Family Foundation and was president of the Patriots Charitable Foundation.

Moldy Metrodome: Metrodome owners say the artificial turf contains bacteria and mold because of the water that leaked into the Vikings stadium after its roof collapsed in December. Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission chairman Ted Mondale says insurance will cover the cost of replacing the turf, estimated at more than $500,000.

Meanwhile, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton said the new stadium plan presented this year by the team and Ramsey County was "incomplete and unsatisfactory." The $1.1 billion suburban project is slated for Arden Hills, but Dayton says a bill was not ready to be brought forward in the state budget discussions.

McMahon hurt: Former Bears quarterback Jim McMahon tore ligaments in his foot and suffered trauma to his head, neck and back after the limousine taking him from Lake Tahoe to a Nevada airport crashed through a fence and into a drainage ditch. His girlfriend, Lori Navon, suffered a concussion, and the driver was also treated at a hospital and released.

Vick endorsement: Eagles quarterback Michael Vick became an equity partner in Double Eagle Holdings, Ltd., and will endorse Fuse Science and its line of sports nutrition vitamins.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.


Athletics 7, Tigers 5

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Times wires
Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Athletics 7, Tigers 5

DETROIT — Hideki Matsui hit his 500th pro homer for Oakland. Matsui, who hit 332 home runs for Japan's Yomiuri Giants, led off the sixth with his 168th major-league homer. That ended the debut of Duane Below. Matsui also put Oakland ahead 6-5 with a single, part of a four-run seventh that began with David Purcey walking the bases loaded.

Mets reportedly won't trade Reyes

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Times wires
Wednesday, July 20, 2011

NEW YORK — The Mets are certain they will not trade star SS Jose Reyes before the July 31 nonwaiver deadline, ESPN.com reported Wednesday.

Reyes, 28, who can become a free agent after this season, entered Wednesday leading the National League in batting average (.355), hits (126) and triples (15). He also has 30 steals despite missing 12 games with a hamstring injury.

New York faces an uncertain financial future because of a lawsuit filed by the trustee of victims of the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme. That has led to speculation that it would not be able to afford Reyes.

But the Mets remain in negotiations to sell a minority share of the team. They have traded closer Francisco Rodriguez and likely will trade CF Carlos Beltran before the deadline.

Jeter show: The documentary about Derek Jeter's pursuit of career hit No. 3,000 will premiere July 28. Major League Baseball Productions followed the Yankees SS for a one-hour HBO special called Derek Jeter 3K. The documentary includes new interviews with family, friends and teammates, including Jeter's girlfriend, Minka Kelly, and Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner.

Cardinals: Manager Tony La Russa did not start 1B Albert Pujols in order to avoid Mets knuckleballer R.A. Dickey. He fouled out as a pinch-hitter in the eighth against Pedro Beato.

Dodgers: Hitting coach Jeff Pentland was fired. Los Angeles has scored 353 runs, better than only San Diego in the National League.

Giants: 3B Pablo Sandoval didn't start because of tightness in his right quadriceps and is day to day.

Indians: LF Travis Buck sat a night after being hit in the head by a pitch. He showed no signs of a concussion. But the team will wait to put him back in the lineup because he sustained one each in 2008 and 2009 while with Oakland.

Mets: LF Jason Bay left in the fourth with a tight right hamstring. His status is unknown.

Tigers: 3B Wilson Betemit was acquired from the Royals for two Class A prospects. Betemit hit .281 in 57 games but lost playing time when touted prospect Mike Moustakas was called up from Triple A. Tigers president Dave Dombrowski said Betemit will replace Brandon Inge as the everyday third baseman. Inge is hitting .177 with one homer in 70 games.

Twins: Manager Ron Gardenhire, who has been fighting a viral infection for the past few weeks, left Wednesday's game early. Bench coach Scott Ullger took over. The team said Gardenhire's status will be updated today.

No No-hitter: The Triple-A Pacific Coast League nullified a no-hitter thrown by Omaha's Luis Mendoza by changing a ninth-inning error to a double. Monday, Memphis' Tyler Greene hit a ball to deep leftfield that was misplayed by David Lough. Lough initially was given an error, but the official scorer changed it to a hit shortly after the game. An hour later, the play was again ruled an error. Wednesday, the league said it awarded Greene, part of the Cardinals organization, a double after reviewing replays and speaking with officials who were at the game. Mendoza, 27, part of the Royals organization, has appeared in 36 major-league games, the last in 2010.

Cliff Dukes returns to Tampa Bay Storm

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By Brandon Wright, Times Correspondent
Wednesday, July 20, 2011

TAMPA Cliff Dukes is back.

The linebacker, who missed the Georgia game after signing with the United Football League's Virginia Destroyers two weeks ago, landed in Tampa on Wednesday night and will play against visiting San Jose on Saturday.

"It's good to be back and to play in front of our fans," he said.

The UFL announced Tuesday that the league will begin the season in mid September, rather than the original Aug. 13 start date. According to the website, the UFL is pushing back games due to "the uncertainty that gripped pro sports (that) delayed many essential business agreements until late in the offseason."

Dukes, who leads the league with 12½ sacks and is three away from the single-season record, said the Destroyers gave him permission to play for the Storm this weekend.

"I hope I can (break the record)," Dukes said. "I'm going to do everything I can to."

Another record: For the second straight week, WR Amarri Jackson set a Storm record. Jackson, who starred at USF, had three TDs against Georgia to set the team rookie record for touchdown catches in a season with 31. Jackson eclipsed Freddie Solomon's 2003 mark of 28.

Buie injured: Jarriet Buie’s season ended prematurely Saturday. Buie, an Armwood High and USF product, sprained his MCL and was placed on injured reserve. Buie started all 15 games in his rookie season with the Storm and ranks seventh in the AFL with 11 tackles for loss. Buie finishes the season with 6½ sacks and a forced fumble.

Grothe to start? There hasn't been confirmation but expect QB Matt Grothe to start Saturday night when the Storm hosts San Jose in the season finale at the St. Pete Times Forum. Grothe, a former USF standout, came on for starter Danny Southwick last week against Georgia, finishing 12-of-24 for 161 yards, five touchdowns and one interception.

Point-after problems: The team signed its third kicker this week, bringing in Craig Camay. Greg Gundersen, who was signed before the Georgia game and missed a pair of extra points and struggled on kickoffs, was released. The team also activated former Florida State WR De'Cody Fagg from injured reserve.

Blue Jays 11, Mariners 6

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Times wires
Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Blue Jays 11, Mariners 6

TORONTO — Travis Snider hit a three-run homer and tied his career high with five RBIs to help hand the Mariners their 11th consecutive loss. The skid is Seattle's longest since a 12-gamer in 2008, and it has lost 15 of 20 overall. Adam Lind and Edwin Encarnacion also homered for Toronto, which has won seven of nine. Brandon Morrow won his fifth consecutive decision dating to June 11.

Mets 6, Cardinals 5, 10 innings

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Times wires
Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Mets 6, Cardinals 5

10 innings

NEW YORK — Angel Pagan's one-out homer won it for the Mets, who overcame an early four-run deficit. Carlos Beltran hit a two-run homer and new father Josh Thole had two RBIs for the Mets, including a tying single with two outs in the eighth.

Owners to vote as players hesitate

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Washington Post
Wednesday, July 20, 2011

NFL officials plan for team owners to vote today in Atlanta on a proposed deal that would end the sport's shutdown, even though the locked-out players decided Wednesday not to vote on the full proposal.

Player representatives met in downtown Washington to review the tentative deal but stopped short of sending it to a ratification vote of all the players.

"We're going to continue to work with the players," Jeff Pash, the NFL's lead labor negotiator, said during a news conference in Atlanta that followed a five-hour meeting of the owners' bargaining committee. "We'll find out if there are issues that still need to be negotiated, and we're going to work cooperatively with them through the evening and try to have something in place that both sides can vote on (this) morning."

The owners are expected to vote, even if the players aren't yet ready to do so, Pash said.

"Ratification is an independent process by each side, just as they could ratify something if we haven't voted," Pash said.

Asked if he would consider approving an agreement today, Panthers owner Jerry Richardson smiled and said: "I'm always ready for a vote."

Player representatives authorized their leaders Wednesday to finish the deal but not recommending a vote immediately underscored the need for the sides to resolve some issues.

"We still have a lot of work to do," said Pro Bowl offensive lineman Tyson Clabo, who played for the Falcons last season.

The remaining concerns, according to the Associated Press, are believed to include how to set aside three pending court cases: the players' antitrust lawsuit against the NFL in federal court in Minnesota; the TV networks case, in which players accused owners of setting up $4 billion in "lockout insurance," money that the league would receive even if there were no games played in 2011; and a collusion case, in which players said owners conspired to restrict salaries last offseason.

"We're not tied to a timeline of July 21," Kevin Mawae, the retired center who is the president of the NFL Players Association, said at a morning news conference. "Our timeline is that which gets us the deal that is the best deal for our players. So whether that's today or tomorrow or whenever it may be, we want to play football. … But we're not going to agree to any deal unless it's the right deal for all the players."

The owners' meeting comes with the scheduled opening of some training camps days away and no timetable for free agency yet in place.

The deal must be approved by at least 24 of the 32 owners. It must be separately ratified by a majority of the sport's nearly 2,000 players, who could vote by conference call or e-mail. The players could take a single vote to both approve the deal and re-form their union, which they dissolved in March.

If the deal is passed by both sides, team executives would be schooled in the guidelines and how to apply them; topics would include the calendar, rookie salary system and free agency rules.

Padres get 13 early in rout

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Times wires
Wednesday, July 20, 2011

MIAMI — The Padres scored 13 runs in the first two innings Wednesday to beat the Marlins 14-3. They had scored more than 10 in a game only four times this season and been shut out 15 times.

"It was one of those night where you could have brought Bob Feller back, Tom Seaver back and (San Diego) probably would have done just as well," Marlins manager Jack McKeon said.

In the first two innings combined, they sent 22 men to the plate and got 14 hits.

"Very rarely do you hit balls hard and soft and they're all finding holes," Padres leftfielder Ryan Ludwick. "And that's what happened."

The only good news for the Marlins was third baseman Emilio Bonifacio extending his hitting streak to 19 games and outfielder Bryan Petersen pitching a scoreless ninth.

"I don't know if anybody knew I pitched in college," Petersen said. "I was trying to get outs as soon as possible."


San Diego puts it away early

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Times wires
Wednesday, July 20, 2011

MIAMI — The Padres scored 13 runs in the first two innings Wednesday on their way to a 14-3 victory over the Marlins.

San Diego had scored more than 10 in a game only four times this season, and it had been shut out 15 times.

Will Venable led off the game with a home run off Ricky Nolasco, part of a four-run first.

In the nine-run second, the Padres sent 13 to the plate, including seven straight that reached base safely. Venable led off the inning with a base hit and scored twice, and pitcher Aaron Harang had a run-scoring single.

Only a base-running mishap by Jason Bartlett ended the inning.

Ryan Ludwick and Jesus Guzman drove in four each for the Padres. The last time they had two players with at least four RBIs was Aug. 10, 2008, when Luke Carlin and Brian Giles did so in a 16-7 win at Colorado.

New York Yankees' Curtis Granderson provides homer, highlight catch against Tampa Bay Rays

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By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 20, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — Yankees manager Joe Girardi summed up centerfielder Curtis Granderson's night Wednesday perfectly:

"It started off great," he said. "And ended up as an 'ouch.' "

Granderson delivered the biggest hit of a 4-0 Yankees win in the top of the first, ripping a two-run homer off Rays left-hander David Price. But in making the game's biggest catch, Granderson ran into the centerfield wall to rob Evan Longoria of extra bases in the fifth. Granderson later fouled a pitch off his right calf and got hit by a pitch in the eighth.

"He's a little beat up," Girardi said.

But Granderson played a key role in beating the Rays, bouncing back nicely from Tuesday, when his miscue, losing the ball in Tropicana Field's roof, helped spark Tampa Bay's winning rally.

Granderson's homer, his 27th of the season (second in the AL), put the Yankees up for good. It was just the fourth career homer Price has allowed in 423 at-bats against left-handed hitters (Granderson has two of them in 24 at-bats vs. Price).

"It's just a constant battle," Granderson said. "He's one of the best left-handed pitchers in the game."

Granderson's 10 homers off lefties this season is the most in the majors by any hitter.

"With the season he is having, he's locked in," Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher said. "You can be throwing left-handed, right-handed … you can be throwing both-handed right now, and I feel like he'd be right on it."

Granderson was right on Longoria's long fly ball in the fifth, which came with two outs, runners on second and third, and the Rays trailing 2-0. Grander­son said he saw the ball all the way and thought he had a shot.

Granderson said the Trop's centerfield walls, which have a lot of give, saved him some pain, as he only had a scrape on his arm. "It probably looked a lot worse than it actually was," he said.

The same goes for the Price pitch that hit Granderson between the shoulder blades. Price told him it wasn't intentional.

"Once I got up and started going, it was just a little bit of the wind knocked out of me," Grander­son said. "But after that, I was all right."

Tampa Bay Rays news and notes: Casey Kotchman qualifies for batting leaders, Joel Peralta watches souvenir nearly vanish

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By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Rays vs. Yankees

When/where: 7:10 tonight; Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg

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

Starting pitchers

Rays

RH James Shields (8-8, 2.60)

Yankees

LH CC Sabathia (14-4, 2.64)

Watch for ...

Bounce back: Shields has lost four straight starts, including allowing six runs in six innings last time out against Boston. But he had a great game against the Yankees, giving up one run in a complete game July 10. He is 3-10 with a 4.47 ERA in 17 career starts against the Yankees.

Ace in the hole: Sabathia has been on a spectacular run, having won seven consecutive starts, including a complete-game shutout against the Rays on July 10. He's 9-5 with a 3.05 in 21 career starts against Tampa Bay.

Key matchups

Rays vs. Sabathia

Casey Kotchman 3-for-15

E. Longoria 6-for-22, 2 HR

B.J. Upton 11-for-33, 2 HR

Yankees vs. Shields

Mark Teixeira 6-for-37

Jorge Posada 10-for-31, HR

Derek Jeter 18-for-58, HR

On deck

Friday: at Royals, 8:10, Sun Sports. Rays — Wade Davis (7-6, 4.25); Royals — Luke Hochevar (5-8, 5.23)

Saturday: at Royals, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeff Niemann (4-4, 3.94); Royals — Jeff Francis (3-11, 4.62)

Sunday: at Royals, 2:10, Sun Sports. Rays — Alex Cobb (2-0, 3.09); Royals — Felipe Paulino (1-3, 3.60).

Joe Smith, Times staff writer

Good thought of the day

RHP Joel Peralta was watching from the mound as OF Justin Ruggiano caught the final out Tuesday, then nearly tossed the ball to a fan before he realized Peralta may have wanted it as a souvenir of his third big-league save and first when he worked just the ninth. "I told him, 'If you threw it in the stands, you have to go get it,' " Peralta said.

Accomplishment of the day

With four plate appearances Wednesday, 1B Casey Kotchman finally has enough to be listed among the batting leaders. With a .337 average after a 3-for-4 night, he ranks second in the AL (behind Boston's Adrian Gonzalez) and third in the majors. (A hitter needs 3.1 plate appearances per team game to qualify.)

Quote of the day

"With the guys that were rumored to come to us over the last couple years, we would have had an All-Star team."

RHP James Shields, on discounting trade rumors

James Shields has no interest in being traded by Tampa Bay Rays

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 20, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — RHP James Shields would seem unlikely to be traded. He is not only one of the Rays' best starters, but also the leader of the staff, and not overly expensive next season even with a $7-million option.

But if Shields were to be dealt, and the Reds and Cardinals are among those said to be interested, tonight would be his last start at the Trop. And after spending six seasons with the Rays, and 12 in the organization, and making his home in Clearwater, that's not an appealing thought.

"I want to play here," Shields said. "I want to be here. This has been my home for my whole career. I haven't really thought about it, to be honest with you. I love this town. I want to be here. And I think we have a good team."

Shields said he doesn't "really care" about trade rumors, knowing they are part of the game this time of year, and is much more interested in his next assignment.

Shields will match up tonight with Yankees ace CC Sabathia for the second time in less than two weeks. Both threw complete games July 10 in New York, the Yankees winning 1-0 when Shields made an errant pickoff toss.

"Last game was a good pitching matchup," Shields said. "If you're going to lose a game on one unearned run, there's nothing really else you can do about it. So I'm looking forward to it. I'm sure CC's ready to rock over there, and we're going to go at it."

The Rays leave after tonight's game for a 10-game trip to Kansas City, Oakland and Seattle that takes them through the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline, returning Aug. 2 vs. Toronto.

"As far I'm concerned I'm pretty sure I'm going to come back (with the team), but you never know," Shields said. "I'm not going to pack for an extended trip."

SIX-PACK: With RHP Wade Davis set to come off the disabled list and start Friday in Kansas City, the Rays are planning to go with a six-man rotation, at least for now.

Rookie RHP Alex Cobb, who took Davis' last turn, is scheduled to start Sunday, allowing the Rays to give their other starters an extra day's rest overall and specifically to better limit the innings thrown by rookie RHP Jeremy Hellickson (he has 110⅔, they'd like to keep him to 160-170). But they'd have to send down a reliever to create a roster spot for Davis, so those plans to start Cobb could change if the bullpen gets blown up between now and then.

"It's not impossible to see six," manager Joe Maddon said. "But I'm not certain about that right now."

If the Rays stick with this plan, they'll start Davis, RHP Jeff Niemann and Cobb against the Royals, then Hellickson, David Price, Shields and Davis at Oakland.

TROP TALK: There was mixed reaction to team president Matt Silverman's statement on Tuesday that the stadium situation had become a distraction that was affecting the clubhouse and play on the field.

Shields said, "For me it's not. …. I don't think it's a distraction at all. … This is my sixth season, so I'm kind of used to all the stuff that goes on here."

Maddon said, "I stand by what Matthew said. No caveats. … I agree with Matt."

WADING IN: Davis, on the DL since July 7 with a right forearm strain, said he felt good in bullpen sessions Monday and Wednesday. "It's all coming together pretty good," he said.

MEDICAL MATTERS: RF/2B Ben Zobrist didn't start but was available to pinch-hit after leaving Tuesday's game with his right calf bruised by a foul ball. … RF Matt Joyce returned to the lineup for the first time since Saturday, when he fouled a ball off his right knee.

MISCELLANY: Maddon said umpire Ed Rapuano waved off a Joel Peralta pitch in the ninth Tuesday because he wasn't ready behind the plate, not because Peralta's delivery was too quick.

Times staff writer Joe Smith contributed to this report.

Tampa Bay Rays fall to New York Yankees 4-0

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 20, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — The opportunity to make up ground by facing Boston and New York in the first seven games after the All-Star break is now a lost cause.

After Wednesday's 4-0 defeat, the Rays head into tonight's finale 2-4 in the stretch and further behind than when they started, trailing first-place Boston in the American League East by eight games and the wild-card-leading Yankees by 6½.

"It's very frustrating," said starter David Price. "Obviously, this team wants to win and be playing in October. We've got to pick it up and start winning some games."

The deficit not only limits the Rays' postseason possibilities, it might shape their strategy heading into the final 10 days before the July 31 deadline for nonwaiver trades, a market executive vice president Andrew Friedman described before the game as "very fluid" and changing "by the hour."

A lack of offense continues to be the primary problem as the Rays were shut out for the third time in their last seven games, ninth in the last 42 and 10th overall, most since 2004. They rank in the bottom third of the league in average, on-base percentage and strikeouts (adding 12 more, without any walks, on Wednesday).

Unless Friedman finds a deal that provides a significant upgrade, which manager Joe Maddon said he is not anticipating, there doesn't seem much they can do at this stage of the season (51-45 with 66 games left) except hope the players they do have suddenly start producing better to support their top-shelf pitching and defense.

"The thing that's frustrating about us — there's really only one thing — and that's that we're so inconsistent offensively," Maddon said. "The rest of the game, I'll take it. The rest of the game plays really at a high level. The rest of the game probably puts us at least 10 games over .500. We have to get better offensively."

On Wednesday, the two-run homer Price allowed to Curtis Granderson on the seventh pitch of the game became a monumental hole. The Rays flailed at Freddy Garcia's pitches and failed to score, stranding runners in scoring position in five innings, including the fifth when Evan Longoria's blast with two on was caught at the wall by a leaping Granderson. The Yankees added two more in the ninth.

"We've been shut out way too often recently," Maddon said. "We've got to do better. There's a lot of good things happening here. We just have to be more consistent offensively."

Maddon praised the work and dedication of the players and hitting coach Derek Shelton but found fault in their efforts Wednesday, saying Garcia "out-experienced" them.

"We were just chasing balls; really not good at-bats," Maddon said. "Our approach was not good today against him."

So even though Price (allowing a homer in his fourth straight game) worked into the eighth for the first time in four July starts — allowing six hits, walking two, striking out five, throwing 113 pitches — it didn't matter.

Price acknowledged the challenge of pitching consistently with such a small margin.

"Yeah, it's pretty tough," he said. "Those guys are trying."

At this point, that might not be enough.

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