By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, August 1, 2011

. UP NEXT

vs. Blue Jays

Tonight-Thursday

What's new: The Jays have gotten hot again, winning 13 of their past 19 to close in on the Rays and third place. They've also made a series of changes, headlined by last week's acquisition of OF Colby Rasmus (whom the Rays had interest in), INF/OF Mark Teahen and former Jay (and Ray) LHP Trever Miller in a three-team deal that cost them RHP Octavio Dotel, LHP Marc Rzepczynski and OF Corey Patterson. They still have slugging 3B/OF Jose Bautista, which says a lot. Their starting pitching still has issues, the bullpen has been better.

Key stat: Bautista leads the majors with 31 homers, but he has gone 14 games without going deep, his longest drought since a 24-game span in July-September 2009.

Connections: Jays RHP Jesse Litsch is a Dixie Hollins High grad and former Rays batboy; RHP Shawn Camp, Miller and Bautista former Rays players; 3B coach Brian Butterfield a former Eckerd College assistant.

Series history: Rays lead 5-3 this season, 115-114 overall, 65-47 at the Trop.

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, August 1, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — The obvious inclination is to explore what Ben Zobrist changed at the plate, leading to markedly increased production that stands out as one of the team's few offensive success stories.

But the answer is somewhat of a contradiction, because the reality is that the biggest difference has been his ability to keep things the same from game to game and at-bat to at-bat.

"Staying with a consistent approach mechanically as far as my swing goes instead of trying to change my mechanics up," Zobrist explained. "I'm not changing major stuff like I was."

The guy manager Joe Maddon referred to this spring as being "The Man of 1,000 Stances" has cut way down on his repertoire — "It's in the 50's now, maybe less than that," Maddon cracked — and the improvement has been exponential.

Zobrist got to the end of July leading the majors with 34 doubles (already six past his career high) and co-leading the American League with 53 extra-base hits, sharing with Boston's Adrian Gonzalez.

Plus, riding an 11-game hitting streak to wrap up an overall hot month, he has his average up to a solid .282 and leads the team with 61 RBIs.

"He's been our most consistent offensive player," Maddon said. "You want to get him up there in the crucial moments."

That sounds similar to 2009, when he hit .297 with 28 homers and 91 RBIs, racked up 62 extra-base hits, was third in the league with a .948 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage), made the All-Star team, won the Rays MVP award and finished eighth in the AL MVP voting.

And not at all like 2010, when he dropped off to .238, had only 10 homers and 40 extra-base hits, compiled a .699 OPS and would have captained the All-Disappointment team.

The mechanical shift, which included some more technical stuff such as the positioning of the bat head and the synching of his hands and body, was part of the dropoff. There were other reasons as well.

Zobrist is candid enough to acknowledge "there was a little bit" of pressure that he put on himself, at least initially, after the late-April announcement of a long-term contract that could pay him almost $30 million over six years.

And he is reluctant to admit just how much he was bothered by back and neck issues that not only restricted his swing but limited the work he could do to improve before games.

Also, like other slumping hitters, he started expanding his strike zone and chasing pitches he couldn't hit, and certainly couldn't drive.

"I was just a click off last year," Zobrist said. "And that one click really makes a big difference for me when it comes to my end result."

So now this year, his stance is simplified, his plate discipline restored and his health improved, allowing to him to spend quality time in the cages with hitting coach Derek Shelton. Maddon said it's an approach very much like he saw in 2009.

The result is comfortably familiar. "It feels," Zobrist said, "more like me as a hitter."

And — in addition to his usual top-notch play at both second base and in rightfield — he feels much better about it.

"It definitely feels good to get some results and just get back to doing the same kind of thing I was doing in 2009," Zobrist said. "I think there's a certain humility that enters into it, that you realize, 'You know what, it's not just going to come easy, just because you did it one time.' You really have to battle to continue to do it, especially in this league."

Marc Topkin can be reached at topkin@sptimes.com.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, August 1, 2011

Rays vs. Jays

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

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

Tickets: $9-$210 at box office, Ticketmaster, raysbaseball.com, team store in Tampa; $3 surcharge within five hours of game.

Starting pitchers:

Rays: LH David Price (9-9, 3.76)

Jays: LH Ricky Romero (8-9, 3.08)

Watch for …

Price check: Price is coming off a rough July in which he went 1-3, 5.04 in five starts. On the other hand, he is 8-0, 1.99 in nine career starts vs. Toronto, beating them most recently on May 5 at the Trop.

Mr. Ricky: Romero is the Jays' ace, with 15 quality starts in 21 outings, including 18 Ks in his last two games, though he, too, had a tough July, going 1-2, 4.31. He is 3-3, 3.69 in seven starts vs. the Rays.

Key matchups

Rays vs. Romero

Johnny Damon 7-for-13, HR

Evan Longoria 4-for-11

Ben Zobrist 7-for-18

Jays vs. Price

Jose Bautista 8-for-19, 3 HRs

Aaron Hill 4-for-20

Adam Lind 6-for-27

On deck

Wednesday: Blue Jays, 7:10 p.m., Sun Sports. Rays — James Shields (9-9, 3.03); Jays — Carlos Villanueva (6-2, 3.60)

Thursday: Blue Jays, 12:10 p.m., Sun Sports. Rays — Wade Davis (8-7, 4.62); Jays — Brett Cecil (4-4, 4.34)

Friday: A's, 7:10 p.m., Sun Sports. Rays — Jeff Niemann (5-4, 3.51); A's — Guillermo Moscoso (4-5, 3.41)

Saturday: A's, 7:10 p.m., Sun Sports. Rays — Alex Cobb (3-1, 2.79); A's — Brandon McCarthy (4-5, 3.58)

Race of the day

The Rays are still looking to catch the first-place Red Sox and wild-card leading Yankees (and next-in-line Angels), but if they look down they'll see they're just 1½ games ahead of the fourth-place Jays. The Rays haven't been lower than third place post-All-Star break since 2007.

Contest of the day

3B Evan Longoria, left, and LHP David Price held a contest on Twitter last week to see who could increase their total of followers to 53,000 first. Longoria won, but Price figured he had a built-in advantage that boost his appeal: "He has commercials."

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Times wires
Monday, August 1, 2011

CHICAGO — Red Sox RHP Clay Buchholz has a stress fracture in his lower back and is unlikely to pitch again this season, Comcast Sports New England reported.

The fracture was discovered by an MRI exam last week, according to the report. Buchholz, who hasn't pitched since June 15 with what the team called a lower back strain, was seeing back specialist Dr. Robert Watkins on Monday in Los Angeles for a second opinion.

Buchholz was moved from the 15- to the 60-day disabled list Sunday to make room when LHP Erik Bedard was acquired from the Mariners. Bedard is scheduled to make his Boston debut on Thursday.

Buchholz, 26, broke out last season, going 17-7 with a 2.33 ERA that was second best in the AL. He is 6-3 with a 3.48 ERA in 14 starts this season.

In other Red Sox news, SS Marco Scutaro left the game against Cleveland in the fourth inning with what the club called dizziness.

OWNER CALLS FOR SALE: Athletics owner Lew Wolff is hopeful that Frank McCourt will soon sell the financially troubled Dodgers so baseball can move forward from the sticky situation.

Wolff said he spoke out publicly on the topic in support of commissioner Bud Selig, a longtime friend and former fraternity brother at Wisconsin.

"For the good of baseball, I sense that all of us would like to get the Dodger situation behind us for everybody's benefit," Wolff said.

FATAL FALL: A 27-year-old man who died when he fell from a stairway during a May 24 Rockies game had marijuana and alcohol in his system at the time. An autopsy report said the amount of alcohol in Robert Seamans' system was twice the legal limit for driving. The report from the Denver medical examiner's office says the drug and alcohol mix was a "significant" factor in Seamans' death.

ANGELS: CF Mike Trout, considered one of baseball's best prospects, was sent back to Double-A Arkansas. Trout, 19, had played sparingly since CF Peter Bourjos came off the disabled list July 23.

ASTROS: 1B Brett Wallace and 3B Chris Johnson were sent to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

BRAVES: RH reliever Scott Linebrink went on the 15-day disabled list with a lower back strain.

D'BACKS: 1B Paul Goldschmidt, the minor-league home run leader with 30, was called up from Double-A Mobile.

DODGERS: RHP Rubby De La Rosa went on the 15-day disabled list with elbow inflammation.

GIANTS: Struggling LHP Barry Zito will go back on the disabled list, manager Bruce Bochy said. Details of the injury weren't disclosed.

INDIANS: RHP Carlos Carrasco was suspended for six games and fined an undisclosed amount for intentionally throwing a pitch near the head of Royals DH Billy Butler on Friday. … Former Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez is scheduled to join the team Wednesday in Boston and make his first start Friday.

METS: LHP Johan Santana, trying to come back from September shoulder surgery, had his second rehab start for Class A St. Lucie pushed back a day to Thursday because he didn't feel as strong as he would have liked after his first one.

NATIONALS: Matt Stairs, 43, was unconditionally released a week after being designated for assignment.

PIRATES: 1B Lyle Overbay was designated for assignment two days after the team acquired 1B Derrek Lee from the Orioles.

ROYALS: RHP Kyle Davies went on the disabled list with what the team called a right shoulder impingement.

WHITE SOX: 1B Paul Konerko sat out with a bruised left calf and isn't expected to play today, either.

YANKEES: SS Derek Jeter was out of the lineup a day after bruising a finger when he was hit by a pitch.

Times wires
Monday, August 1, 2011

Nationals 5, Braves 3

WASHINGTON — Rick Ankiel hit two home runs, and Livan Hernandez pitched six strong innings and drove in a run for Washington. Ankiel led off the first with a homer to centerfield, and his shot in the fifth landed deep in the second deck in left for the fifth multihomer game of his career. Atlanta's Dan Uggla also homered twice and went 3-for-4, extending his career-long hitting streak to 23 games.

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Monday, August 1, 2011

TAMPA — Mason Foster didn't care if the red and white gloves with the NFL shield clashed with the black and silver colors of his Seaside Raiders youth football league team.

"We all still wore it," Foster said.

The uniform accessories were distributed at a football camp each year by Herm Edwards, a resident of the ocean view community on Monterrey Bay. Foster attended the camp held by the former Bucs assistant every year until after his junior season of high school.

He heard stories about all the Tampa Bay players, met a few of them and idolized one. So when Foster walked into the office of Bucs general manager Mark Dominik last week to sign his rookie contract, he took a deep breath and made a startling request.

"I know it's a long shot," Foster said. "But is there any way I can talk to Derrick Brooks about wearing 55 because he's my favorite player of all time."

Dominik didn't hesitate.

"I said, 'I'm not going to let you talk to him, but thanks,' " Dominik said. "I told him, 'create your own number.' Maybe one day, some young kid will sit here and ask if he can wear No. 59."

Foster, the Bucs' third-round draft pick from Washington, will get his chance to build his own legacy starting this season.

At 6 feet 1, 241 pounds, he is a different body type than the Bucs have had at middle linebacker. His fire burns white hot whenever he steps onto the field.

The Bucs' decision to pass on free agent Barrett Ruud, their leading tackler the past four seasons who signed with the Titans, opened the door for another young player to direct the defense for Raheem Morris.

The first meeting came at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., in January during an interview with Morris and Dominik.

"There was an obvious presence when he walked into the room and just the makeup of the guy really showed up for us in the way he commanded the interview, the way he handled it, his personality," Dominik said. "I can remember Coach Morris saying, 'I'd like to have that guy in my huddle.' "

Foster is competing with second-year linebacker Tyrone McKenzie, the former USF star activated after being released by the Patriots. The job likely will belong to Foster by the start of the regular season.

The last rookie to start at middle linebacker for the Bucs was Jamie Duncan, a third-round pick from Vanderbilt. Both players were taken 84th overall and wore No. 59.

Duncan started the final six games in 1998 when Hardy Nickerson was diagnosed with inflammation of the sac around the heart caused by an infection. Nickerson returned the next season then Duncan took over in 2000-01, with modest results.

Dominik is not concerned with playing another rookie at a pivotal position.

"From Day 1 on my press conference, I told everyone I had a lot of confidence that this kid is going to be a really productive player for us and be a fan favorite, because he does bring energy," Dominik said.

Foster's football acumen was instilled by his father, William, a former San Jose State football player who coached Mason in youth football and baseball. In '96, he saved enough money to take the family to the Pro Bowl in Hawaii, where Mason met another idol, Chargers linebacker Junior Seau.

In the Monterrey Peninsula, where golf is the dominant sport, football players can get lost. Foster attracted only one offer from a Pac-10 program — Washington. He was a starter by the end of his freshman season and wound up playing all three linebacker positions. As a senior, Foster recorded 163 tackles, the most by any Huskies player in 20 years. His 12.58 tackles per game ranked second in Division I-A.

"When I came in, I felt like I was better than a lot of people," Foster said. "That's just the way I was raised. My dad told me you should always think that, even if you're not the best, you should compete like you're the best."

And maybe one day, Foster's jersey will be in demand.

"We were very confident that he wouldn't have a hard time immersing himself into this because he loves football so much," Dominik said. "He loves it and he loves the Bucs."

Times wires
Monday, August 1, 2011

Cubs 5, Pirates 3

PITTSBURGH — Starlin Castro had three hits and Carlos Zambrano survived six choppy innings as Chicago handed Pittsburgh its sixth loss in eight games and spoiled Derrek Lee's two-homer debut with his new team. Lee, acquired from Baltimore on Saturday, drove in all three Pirates runs. Zambrano picked up his 13th career win over Pittsburgh.

Times wires
Monday, August 1, 2011

nhl

chelios, tkachuk, suter among u.s. hall of fame inductees

Chris Chelios hasn't completely closed the door on a comeback. Sure, the longtime NHL defenseman is 49 years old. And yes, he sat out all of last season. But pulling the plug on his playing days is something he just can't bring himself to do.

"I'm not going to ever say that," Chelios said with a chuckle.

His retirement last year did pave the way for this: Chelios was selected for induction into the U.S. Hall of Fame on Monday, joining former NHL stars Keith Tkachuk and Gary Suter. Flyers founder and current owner Ed Snider and play-by-play announcer Mike "Doc" Emrick also were selected. The formal induction will take place in the fall.

Chelios played 26 NHL seasons with Montreal, Chicago, Detroit and Atlanta. He left the NHL after the 2009-10 season as the all-time leader in games played by a defenseman (1,651). He also was part of three Stanley Cup championships.

Sharks: The relationship between San Jose and newly acquired Brent Burns has gotten off to such a good start that the All-Star defenseman signed a five-year, $28.8 million contract extension before even suiting up for the Sharks. The Sharks made the move to acquire Burns, 26, from Minnesota during the draft in June, trading a package headlined by talented forward Devin Setoguchi.

tennis

Blake wins, Fish withdraws

Donald Young's 22nd birthday was a little more than a week ago, and his career has not taken off the way he figured when he turned pro as a teen in 2004.

Young is keeping at it, ending a three-match losing streak by reeling off 14 consecutive points in one stretch and easily beating qualifier Artem Sitak 6-0, 6-3 in the first round of the Legg Mason Classic in Washington.

Also at the hard-court tuneup for the U.S. Open, former top-five player James Blake, a Tampa resident, beat Tatsuma Ito 6-3, 6-3 in less than an hour. Blake will next face defending champion David Nalbandian.

Earlier Monday, Tampa resident Mardy Fish, seeded second, withdrew from the tournament, citing a bruised right heel.

et cetera

Football: Former Oregon and NFL quarterback Joey Harrington was injured when he was hit by a sport utility vehicle while biking in Southeast Portland on Sunday. Harrington is hospitalized with a broken collarbone, a punctured lung and a laceration on his head. Portland police say Harrington, 33, was hit from behind just before 8:30 p.m. The 26-year-old man remained at the scene.

Soccer: New U.S. coach Juergen Klinsmann, a former Germany striker and coach, was introduced in New York and spent much of the time talking about how to mold future American stars. "It all starts down to develop the next Landon Donovan," Klinsmann said of the United States one day becoming a serious contender for World Cup titles.

Boxing: Michael Hunter won a heavyweight bout against Steve Geffard on the second day of the U.S. Olympic trials in Mobile, Ala. Hunter barely missed qualifying for the 2008 Olympics and missed 2010 because of an injury. In the light welterweight division, Pedro Sosa beat top-seeded Semajay Thomas.

Times wires

Times wires
Monday, August 1, 2011

Indians 9, Red Sox 6

BOSTON — Asdrubal Cabrera's second two-run homer of the game, first ruled a single off the short wall in right then overturned on review, broke an eighth-inning tie for Cleveland. Travis Hafner homered after Cabrera's first of the game off John Lackey, whose ERA rose to 6.23 in the second year of a five-year, $82.5 million deal.

Times wires
Monday, August 1, 2011

TALLAHASSEE — Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher and his wife have spent the past several months helping their son battle a rare blood disorder and now they want to start a foundation designed to help fight the unidentified disease.

Fisher and wife Candi will be joined at a Friday news conference by the physician handling son Ethan's care to talk about the disease and the youngster's treatment, according to a news release from the school's football spokesman, Kerwin Lonzo.

Fisher, 45, will discuss the steps that his family plans to take to bring attention to the disease. It is expected that Candi Fisher will take the lead on the foundation's efforts that are likely to include educational and fundraising components. Fisher was not available Monday for comment.

The Fishers' oldest son, 10-year-old Trey, and 5-year-old Ethan regularly visit to the football offices and practice fields. Ethan outwardly appears as spry and happy as any youngster.

GARCIA REINSTATED: South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia is officially back on the Gamecocks — again.

Coach Steve Spurrier said Monday that Garcia, a former standout at Jefferson High, had done what he needed to do to end the fifth suspension of his college career. "We think he's going to do what's right," Spurrier said by phone. "Sometimes, it takes some guys a little longer, I guess."

Garcia was banned in April after displaying what athletic director Eric Hyman called "behavior that is unacceptable for one of our student athletes" at a life skills meeting.

Spurrier also said quarterbacks coach G.A. Mangus, suspended from the staff after being charged for public urination, would return when practice opens Wednesday.

LONGHORN NETWORK DENIAL: Big 12 athletic directors voted to prohibit the broadcast of any high school sporting events on the newly created Longhorn Network for at least the next year. The league announced that the ADs voted unanimously to forbid such content on any medium branded as a conference or member institution platform. Controversy had been stirred up at the suggestion that Texas could show games featuring players it was recruiting on its network, which is set to launch this month.

ILLINOIS: Junior linebacker Ashante Williams is due in court Sept. 8 after he was charged with drunk driving Saturday in Urbana, Ill.

TENNESSEE: Tailback Toney Williams, a redshirt sophomore who had five carries last season, planned to transfer, coach Derek Dooley said.

Times wires
Monday, August 1, 2011

Marlins 7, Mets 3

10 innings

NEW YORK — Mike Stanton hit a grand slam in the 10th inning off former Ray Jason Isringhausen as Florida recovered from Lucas Duda's tying two-out homer in the ninth. Gaby Sanchez singled to start the decisive rally.

Times wires
Monday, August 1, 2011

Yankees 3, White Sox 2

CHICAGO — CC Sabathia pitched eight strong innings to earn his major league-high 16th win and help New York to its fourth consecutive victory. Sabathia matched his season high by allowing 10 hits but wiggled out of trouble all night. Chicago put the tying run in scoring position in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings and came away with nothing each time. Sabathia, who appears to have joined Justin Verlander and Jered Weaver in the AL Cy Young hunt, improved to 9-1 with a 1.76 ERA in his past 10 starts.

Times wires
Monday, August 1, 2011

MANKATO, Minn. — Randy Moss is calling it a career after 13 seasons in the NFL as one of the most dynamic and polarizing players the league has seen.

Moss's agent, Joel Segal, said Monday that the receiver was considering several offers, but instead decided to retire.

The 153 receiving touchdowns by Moss are tied with Terrell Owens for second on the career list, and the 34-year-old is fifth in yards (14,858) and tied with Hines Ward for eighth in catches (954).

But Hall of Fame voters will also weigh those numbers and his six Pro Bowl seasons against a history of boorish behavior and a penchant for taking plays off. Moss originally signed with Notre Dame, then started his college career at Florida State. After redshirting, he tested positive for marijuana and was dismissed. He finished at Marshall.

Moss was traded from the Patriots back to the Vikings, his original team, in October 2010. But the reunion lasted just four weeks, then he made little impact with the Titans.

TAYLOR'S THIRD TIME: Jason Taylor, the league's active career sacks leader, rejoined the Dolphins for his third stint in Miami. Taylor, 36, spent his first 11 seasons with the Dolphins and has kept a home in South Florida. "This is home," he said. "It fits. It's easy. It works." He spent 2008 with the Redskins and '10 with the Jets. Also, the Dolphins agreed to terms with former Cowboys offensive tackle Marc Colombo.

BUNKLEY TRADE, TAKE TWO: Defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley, a former Chamberlain High and Florida State standout, was been traded from Philadelphia to Denver for a 2013 draft pick. The move came two days after the Eagles agreed to send the former first-round pick to the Browns; Bunkley didn't show up in Cleveland.

BRONCOS: Former Jaguars first-round draft pick Derrick Harvey, once a Florida star, agreed to terms.

EAGLES: First-round pick Danny Watkins, the projected starter at right guard, agreed to terms on a four-year contract.

GIANTS: In an e-mail to AP, two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Osi Umenyiora said he is frustrated that some are criticizing him because he wants the team to rework a contract that will pay him slightly more than $7 million over the next two seasons. The team has refused. Also, Newsday reported that running back Ahmad Bradshaw agreed to a four-year deal worth $18 million, with $9 million guaranteed.

JETS: Receiver Plaxico Burress, who signed Sunday, practiced in his first time back on an NFL field since being released from prison after serving 20 months on a gun charge.

PANTHERS: Former USF defensive tackle Terrell McClain, the team's last unsigned draft pick, reached an agreement.

RAIDERS: Linebacker Kamerion Wimbley, a former FSU standout, signed a five-year, $48 million contract.

SAINTS: Left guard Carl Nicks signed a restricted free agent tender worth about $2.61 million for this season.

STEELERS: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger agreed to restructure his contract to help the defending AFC champions get under the $120.4 million cap. His agent, Ryan Tollner, said the team approached the two-time Super Bowl winner about the deal, but added it would not affect the length or the money involved in the eight-year, $102 million deal the quarterback signed in 2008.

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Monday, August 1, 2011

Quote of the day

"I think that, frankly, when you have good players around you and you have a guy breathing down your neck, it makes you play better. It's almost human nature to become complacent. It's nice to have somebody to push you and strive to get better."

OT Jeremy Trueblood on the expected competition along the offensive line

Slowpoke

When rookie S Ahmad Black ran a 4.78-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine in February, he probably became discouraged about his draft status. Bucs coach Raheem Morris got giddy. "I was the happiest guy in the world when he ran a bad time because I knew we had a chance to get him a little bit later," Morris said of the fifth-round pick. "He comes in here, he's got that Cody Grimm type of attitude where he's just a playmaker.''

Play of the day

Ronde Barber's leaping deflection and interception of a Josh Freeman pass intended for Kellen Winslow was a highlight of the 7-on-7 period. With Freeman forcing the ball down the middle, Barber broke on the pass and batted it up, got his balance, caught it in stride and took off down the sideline. But the secondary took its lumps, too, with CB Aqib Talib biting on an inside move from WR Mike Williams that led to a long TD. "Sometimes it gets a little frustrating when you have Ronde on one side and Aqib on the other side," Freeman said. "Those two guys are the best in the business. It's fortunate they're on our side. You saw Ronde make that incredible play. Nobody else I can even think of can make that play."

Public practice

Where: One Buc Place, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, just east of Raymond James Stadium, Tampa

Admission: Free

Et cetera: All practices are weather permitting and subject to change. Go to buccaneers.com for updates.

Practice and games schedule

Public practices

Wednesday: 2:30-4:35

Friday: 2:30-4:35

Saturday: 7-9 (Raymond James Stadium)

Aug. 9: 2:30-4:35

Aug. 14: 2:30-4:35

Preseason

Aug. 12: at Kansas City, 8, Ch. 13

Aug. 18: Patriots, 7:30, Ch. 10*

Aug. 27: Dolphins, 7:30, Ch. 10*

Sept. 1: at Redskins, 7:30, Ch. 10

Regular season

Sept. 11: Lions, 1, Ch. 13*

Sept. 18: at Vikings, 1, Ch. 13

Sept. 25: Falcons, 4:15, Ch. 13*

Oct. 3: Colts, 8:30, ESPN*, Ch. 28*

Oct. 9: at 49ers, 4, Ch. 13

Oct. 16: Saints, 4:15, Ch. 13*

Oct. 23: Bears (London), 1, Ch. 13

Nov. 6: at Saints, 1, Ch. 13

Nov. 13: Texans, 1, Ch. 10*

Nov. 20: at Packers, 1, Ch. 13

Nov. 27: at Titans, 1, Ch. 13

Dec. 4: Panthers, 1, Ch. 13*

Dec. 11: at Jaguars, 1, Ch. 13

Dec. 17: Cowboys, 8:20, NFLN*, TBD*

Dec. 24: at Panthers, 1, Ch. 13

Jan. 1: at Falcons, 1, Ch. 13

* Broadcast subject to NFL blackout rules

Getting physical

The Bucs donned pads for the first time, allowing players to finally make full contact, and the day didn't disappoint.

In the much-awaited goal-line drill, the defense got the better of the offense, allowing touchdowns on four of the 10 attempts.

LB Geno Hayes was in on a couple of stops, including an attempted pass to Ryan Purvis, and a stop of RB Allen Bradford at the goal line. One score came from RB LeGarrette Blount, who broke two tackles on his way to the end zone, running behind LT Donald Penn.

QB Josh Johnson threw an easy touchdown to TE Kellen Winslow after Johnson sold a play-action to the running back and put the ball on his hip.

"That was a fake that we've been working on for a long time, trying to perfect it," QB Josh Freeman said. "Actually, he could've held it as long as he wanted."

The offense was without G Davin Joseph and OTs Jeremy Trueblood and James Lee, who can't practice until Thursday because they only recently signed their contracts. Freeman is looking for another go-round when his full complement of linemen is available.

"We know what kind of players Brian Price and Gerald (McCoy) and Adrian (Clayborn) and Da'Quan (Bowers) are," Freeman said. "They're studs. There's no doubt about it.

"I want a repeat of this drill when we get Davin and Trueblood back. We'll be ready to go then."

Stephen F. Holder, Times staff writer

Times wires
Monday, August 1, 2011

Brewers 6, Cardinals 2

MILWAUKEE — Nyjer Morgan hit a go-ahead three-run double in Milwaukee's five-run fifth inning off St. Louis ace Chris Carpenter, and the Brewers extended their season-best winning streak to seven. Milwaukee moved to a season-high 31/2 games ahead of the Cardinals in the NL Central. The teams play 11 more times. Zack Greinke settled down after Matt Holliday's two-run homer in the first.

Times wires
Monday, August 1, 2011

Astros 4, Reds 3

10 innings

HOUSTON — Rookie Jose Altuve had an RBI fielder's choice in the 10th for Houston. The bases were loaded when Altuve hit a hard grounder to second baseman Brandon Phillips, who grabbed it and made a throw from his knees that catcher Ryan Hanigan couldn't handle.

Times wires
Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Phillies 4, Rockies 3

10 innings

DENVER — Pinch-hitter John Mayberry hit a tying two-run homer in the ninth inning and Shane Victorino homered to lead off the 10th as Philadelphia rallied for its fourth straight win. Down 3-1, the Phillies rallied against Colorado closer Huston Street.

Times wires
Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Dodgers 6, Padres 2

SAN DIEGO — Clayton Kershaw pitched a complete game to win his fifth straight start, leading Los Angeles. Kershaw tied his career high with his 13th win and matched the Phillies' Roy Halladay for the National League lead. The All-Star left-hander struck out four to give him a league-leading 182 and threw 67 of 108 pitches for strikes in his fourth complete game of the season and fifth of his career. Matt Kemp doubled, tripled, scored twice and drove in a run.

Times wires
Tuesday, August 2, 2011

D'backs 5, Giants 2

SAN FRANCISCO — Ian Kennedy struck out seven in eight innings to win his fifth straight start, and Arizona won a matchup of the NL West's top teams. Kennedy's 13th win tied him for the NL lead with Phillies ace Roy Halladay and Dodgers All-Star Clayton Kershaw and helped the Diamondbacks pull within one game of the defending World Series champion Giants in the division race. San Francisco lost its fourth straight game.

Times wires
Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Mariners 8, Athletics 4

SEATTLE — Dustin Ackley continued his hitting tear with two extra-base hits, including a bases-loaded triple, and rookie right-hander Blake Beavan escaped early trouble to pitch well into the seventh for Seattle. Ackley has 19 extra-base hits in his first 37 games, the second-most for any Mariners rookie within his first 50 games. Ackley passed Ken Griffey's total of 18.