By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, September 19, 2011

NEW YORK — RHP Wade Davis is well aware of all the potential pitfalls of pitching in Yankee Stadium.

And he couldn't be more excited about tonight's opportunity.

"Going into that stadium in the position we're in right now, that we have to win, I'm excited," Davis said. "It's going to be an awesome experience."

Davis has pitched twice at the new Yankee Stadium, a win May 19, 2010, and an appearance Sept. 22, 2010, cut short due to a lengthy rain delay. He said he feels very comfortable there despite the inhospitable setting.

"I love it," he said. "The mound, the way the clay feels, the atmosphere, the height of the stadium, the amount of pressure, the people there, the team you're going up against. It's a challenge, but it's a whole other experience."

Davis hasn't faced the Yankees this season, which could work to his advantage. Overall, he is 2-1, 3.81 in four starts.

"I've always had a decent feel for them," he said. "I know they're good, you have to show up, you have to work the count. They're going to hit mistakes, so if you can limit most of those and minimize the walks, you've got a better chance."

DAY OF REST: DH Johnny Damon was among the Rays wishing they had a game Monday so they could keep riding the momentum of taking three of four from the Red Sox.

But manager Joe Maddon felt the day off would do them good. "There's been a lot of emotion spent," he said. "It goes beyond physical — you get emotionally tired. I think the day off can help recharge us mentally as well."

NO ZO: 2B/RF Ben Zobrist is expected to miss tonight's game and rejoin the team for Wednesday's doubleheader, having returned home Sunday night to be with his wife, Julianna, for the induced-labor birth of their daughter, Kruse.

HIP-HIP: Maddon on Monday did a series of interviews to launch the Hazleton Integration Project, a program to create dialogue to unify the Hispanic and Anglo communities in his Pennsylvania hometown, drawing a parallel to when European families, such as his own, settled there in past generations.

"When I went home last Christmas, it was very obvious that's not what was happening," Maddon said. "If we don't utilize this group of Hispanic people who want to be in our community, if we don't utilize them and their abilities to the fullest, our town is eventually going to die and go away. These people want to be there. They're wonderful people, and they're just exactly like we were back in the day."

Maddon will host a series of awareness- and fundraising events in December, including a celebrity-waiter dinner and memorabilia auction and a showing of It's a Wonderful Life with Spanish subtitles, seeking to establish a community center to serve as a base for youth sports and adult education classes.

MISCELLANY: The Rays will have to decide soon who will make the Saturday start — rookie LHPs Matt Moore and Alex Torres appear the top choices — so they can hold that pitcher back from relief work. … The Yankees series was originally scheduled as two games, but two rainouts are being made up: July 8 on Thursday night and Aug. 14 as the second half of Wednesday's day-night doubleheader. … INF Sean Rodriguez extended his team record number of hit by pitches to 16.

Times staff, wires
Monday, September 19, 2011

TALLAHASSEE — Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher said Monday that starting QB EJ Manuel was just sore and he hoped Manuel can return this week, though his type of shoulder injury often requires two weeks to three months of rehab.

FSU opens ACC play at Clemson on Saturday.

Manuel was evaluated for a possible separated shoulder injury suffered in Saturday's 23-13 loss to No. 1 Oklahoma. The junior was hurt getting tackled during the third quarter.

Manuel, who will be evaluated in a day-by-day process, did not practice Monday. Freshman backup Clint Trickett, who has never started, took all the first-team snaps.

"He was on top of things," Fisher said of Trickett's practice. "Played really well."

Fisher said Manuel's issue was an AC joint separation in the left, nonthrowing shoulder. An MRI found no abnormalities.

"It's a concern," Fisher said. "You've got to make sure it doesn't affect your throwing motion."

FSU has other injury issues. Jarred Haggins, the team's second-leading receiver, will miss multiple weeks after breaking his right hand Saturday, when he played the whole game. He wore a soft cast Monday. These players missed the workout or were limited: Bert Reed, Kenny Shaw, Greg Reid, Moses McCray, Jacobbi McDaniel, Willie Haulstead and Everett Dawkins.

Most of them were out as a precaution after Saturday's physical game and should return today, Fisher said.

"It affects you," he said of the injuries. "Injuries are a part of football. We'll move around and do different personnel groupings."

Awards: DE Bjoern Werner and PK Dustin Hopkins earned ACC player of the week honors. Werner had six tackles to claim the defensive line award. Hopkins had 53-yard and 46-yard field goals.

USF: Change at CB?

TAMPA — USF defensive backs coach Rick Smith said he has been disappointed by the play of senior CB Quenton Washington over the past two games and might turn to backups JaQuez Jenkins or George Baker to start Saturday against UTEP.

"Right now, I would probably start JaQuez or George, with the understanding that if Quenton has a great week, he might go in second series," Smith said. "George Baker has graded out a winner two weeks in a row; Quenton hasn't."

Washington was beaten for a 32-yard touchdown pass against Florida A&M, going for an interception and missing.

"Quenton's not playing well," Smith said. "Partly because of his mental frame right now, mental makeup; partly the knee he's been nursing since Vero Beach. Probably should have given him less reps sooner so it could get well. I know that he will come back."

Greg Auman, Times staff writer

UM: Dual threat awaits

CORAL GABLES — The Hurricanes will spend a large portion of this week's practices prepping for Kansas State dual-threat QB Collin Klein, who is equally effective with his arm and feet. He has run for 217 yards and has completed 22 of 39 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns.

"Clearly, for those of us that watched them play, the kid can run the ball and can make people miss and runs the option pretty well," UM coach Al Golden said. "We expect quite a challenge from him."

The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Klein was recruited as a wide receiver before becoming the full-time quarterback last year. He earned the starting job midway through last season, rushing for 127 yards in a victory against Texas in his first start.

The encouraging news for UM is improved defensive line play. Golden said he noticed a difference last week against Ohio State, mainly because of the return of Adewale Ojomo and Marcus Forston from suspension.

"We put good pressure on the quarterback," Golden said. "We're clearly getting more pressure from the four-man rush, with Ojomo and Forston."

South Florida Sun Sentinel

UCF: Battle expected

ORLANDO — UCF expects Friday's opponent, BYU, to be highly motivated after the Cougars lost at home 54-10 to rival Utah.

The Knights will play in Provo, Utah, for the first time.

"I expect them to come out hard," UCF sophomore DT Victor Gray said. "I expect them to come out hungry. We looked at some film from their Utah game, and they looked like they played uncharacteristic as well. We're both kind of in the same boat (UCF lost at FIU) and have something to prove."

"Typical BYU," UCF coach George O'Leary said. " … They're a big, physical team on defense. They're big inside. They've got a lot of experience behind it. And … a typical offensive line that BYU's had in the past."

Iliana Limon, Orlando Sentinel

Bryan Burns, Times Staff Writer
Monday, September 19, 2011

OLDSMAR — Fivay senior Austin Padova has played a total of two 18-hole invitationals in his high school career.

Two years ago as a sophomore at Ridgewood, Padova placed second to then-teammate Jon Kopsell at the East Lake Invitational.

Monday, Padova bettered that, earning low round honors at the Outback Invitational hosted by Mitchell at 1-under 71 on the North Course at East Lake Woodlands Country Club.

"I was kind of off and on," said Padova, who tied for 15th at the Class A state tournament a year ago. "Midway through the round, I had a few kind of stupid bogeys, but I got it back with a few good birdies at the end."

Padova scorched his way over the final few holes of the course, recording three birdies over the final four holes, all on par 5s. On No. 3, his final hole, the senior stuck his approach within 8 feet of the pin and drained a straight-in putt to earn the win.

St. Petersburg's Jake Kevorkian finished one stroke back of Padova at par 72 to take second.

"I was kind of skeptical after No. 17 because (Gaither's) Jimmy Stanger was pretty close," Padova said. "…He had a few bad holes and I made a few birdies and got it back."

Fivay finished 10th with a score of 345 in the 13-team tournament.

Host Mitchell had the best finish among North Suncoast schools, placing fifth at 319. The Mustangs had two golfers crack the leaderboard. Donnie Gabrelcik (2-over 74) tied for sixth place. Dylan Strout shot 78 to tie for 15th.

Jesuit was the overall team champion after posting a round of 310. The Tigers, who defeated East Lake by two strokes, were led by Lucas Trim (73), Jamie Sullivan (77) and Joseph Trim (79).

Dr. Phillips won a tiebreaker over St. Petersburg for third place after both came into the clubhouse with a team score of 314.

Times wires
Monday, September 19, 2011

NEW YORK — Mariano Rivera stood by himself, in the center of the diamond at Yankee Stadium.

For once, the great closer wasn't sure what to do next.

So he smiled, blew a kiss to the crowd then doffed his cap as cheers washed over him after the record 602nd save of his career.

"Oh, my God, for the first time in my career, I'm on the mound alone," Rivera said. "It was priceless. I didn't know it could be like that."

Rivera pitched a perfect ninth inning, striking out Chris Parmelee on what appeared to be his signature cut fastball to end the Yankees' 6-4 win over the Twins on Monday.

Fans from the smallest crowd in the stadium's three-year history stood and shouted from Rivera's first pitch to his last as he retired Trevor Plouffe, Michael Cuddyer and Parmelee in order and broke Trevor Hoffman's mark.

They even roared in the bottom of the eighth when Nick Swisher grounded into an inning-ending double play, drawing a loud cheer from fans who wanted to see history made at the ballpark for the second time this summer. In July, Derek Jeter got his 3,000th hit at home.

"These guys are into it," Rivera thought to himself.

It's a remarkable achievement, considering the 6-2, 185-pound right-hander throws mostly one pitch. Hitters have seen it for years but haven't figured it out.

"It's amazing," Cuddyer said. "You've got a 99 percent chance of knowing what's coming, and he still is able to go out there and dominate."

So good for so long, Rivera has built a Hall of Fame-caliber career and been a pillar of five World Series championship teams. The only person who might not acknowledge Rivera is the best closer of all time is Rivera himself.

"You know me; I'm not like that," Rivera said. "I like to be under the radar, do my job."

He nearly did it outside the country. Rivera, 41, tied Hoffman with save No. 601 on Saturday in Toronto. The AL East leaders lost Sunday, putting Rivera in line to get the milestone in the Yankees' last homestand of the season.

Monday, the crowd hollered as Rivera came in to his customary Enter Sandman. The fans grew louder with every strike, every out as Rivera closed in. He even broke a bat for good measure, sawing off Parmelee and sending the rookie back to the dugout for another piece of wood.

Parmelee lasted only one more pitch. Plate umpire John Hirschbeck rung him up, and C Russell Martin came to the mound, gently placed the ball in Rivera's glove then gave the Panamanian a big hug.

• Box score and all-time saves leaders, 5C

CASH FOR THOME: The Twins received $20,000 from the Indians to complete the trade that sent DH Jim Thome to Cleveland in August.

CUBS: RH reliever Kerry Wood was shut down for the season with a torn meniscus in his left knee and plans to have surgery next week. Wood, 34, told ESPN that he'll retire if the Cubs don't want to bring him back in 2012.

D'BACKS: RHP Jarrod Parker, one of the team's top prospects, was called up from Double-A Mobile to pitch out of the bullpen. Parker, 22, missed last season after reconstructive elbow surgery but posted a 3.79 ERA in 26 starts at Mobile this season.

INDIANS: RHP Zach McAllister was recalled from Triple-A Columbus.

MARINERS: Joe McIlvaine, former director of baseball operations for the Padres and Mets, was named special assistant to GM Jack Zduriencik.

METS: LHP Johan Santana said his surgically repaired shoulder felt good after he pitched a three-inning simulated game Sunday.

PADRES: INF Chase Headley, on the disabled list since Aug. 8 with a fractured left finger, was activated.

PHILLIES: 1B Ryan Howard received a cortisone injection in his sore left ankle and likely will sit out at least until Thursday.

Bryan Burns, Times Staff Writer
Monday, September 19, 2011

OLDSMAR — The depth on the Jesuit boys golf team is so overwhelming that sometimes the best competition for the Tigers comes at practices.

Jesuit has around 12 golfers that can all score low, according to coach George LaPenna.

Monday, the Tigers brought only six team members to East Lake Woodlands Country Club's North Course for the Outback Invitational, but all six shot 84 or better to pace Jesuit to a 310 team score and two-stroke victory.

Jesuit is 2-for-2 this season at 18-hole invitationals. A little more than two weeks ago, the Tigers took the East Lake Invitational trophy by two strokes. Monday at East Lake Woodlands, the Tigers edged East Lake (312), Orlando Dr. Phillips (314) and St. Petersburg (314).

"We've got four or five guys sitting at home that couldn't play today that are right there," LaPenna said. "…The guys who are ranked seven through 12 are impressive. So, it's very competitive at practice."

Lucas Trim was Jesuit's top golfer at the Outback Invitational, carding 1-over 73. Trim had 16 pars and one double bogey through 17, but sunk a 15-foot birdie on the final hole to gain an important stroke back. He tied for third individually.

"Lucas bailed us out again," LaPenna said. "…He played solid, consistent golf again. Just another wonderful round."

It was Trim's second 73 after shooting the same score at the East Lake Invitational.

"Consistent good rounds, thank God," Trim said. "I guess that hard work is paying off."

Jamie Sullivan (77) and Joseph Trim (79) each broke 80 for Jesuit. The Tigers' fourth score came from J.C. Cirella (81).

Fivay senior Austin Padova was the only golfer to break par, firing 1-under 71 to earn the individual title. Padova defeated St. Petersburg's Jake Kevorkian (72) by a stroke.

Gaither's Jimmy Stanger tied for sixth at 2-over 74.

Bryan Burns, Times Staff Writer
Monday, September 19, 2011

OLDSMAR — A little over two weeks ago at Wentworth Golf Club, Jesuit defeated host East Lake by six strokes at the East Lake Invitational.

Monday at the Outback Invitational, Jesuit again clipped the Eagles, this time on East Lake Woodlands Country Club's North Course.

But the Eagles are inching closer.

East Lake's underclassman-dominated lineup of five juniors and one freshman came within two strokes of the Tigers. The Eagles finished with a team score of 312 to place second. Jesuit claimed the title at 310.

"We're still a young team," East Lake coach Terry O'Reilly said. "We're developing, but we're making improvement. Since (the East Lake Invitational), we've shot 151, which is the lowest we've shot in two years."

East Lake was paced by Zack Wood at 1-over 73. Steven Abersold (79) had the second-best round for East Lake, and Sebastian Hilpl and Parker Fox each carded 80.

"The future looks good," O'Reilly said. "They're developing and working real hard. I think they want it bad. We had an idea of a number we wanted to shoot today, and we missed it by three."

St. Petersburg's Jake Kevorkian was within a stroke of earning individual honors. Kevorkian shot par 72 to take second.

Fivay's Austin Padova (71) birdied three of the final four holes to edge Kevorkian by a stroke.

St. Petersburg lost a tiebreaker for third with Orlando Dr. Phillips after both shot 314. Besides Kevorkian's low round, Blake Dyer shot 78, Zach Monowar 81 and Jack Maguire 83 for St. Petersburg.

Clearwater Central Catholic's Martin Fennemore (75) placed eighth and the Marauders were eighth in the team standings.

Brett Hajian had the lowest round for Palm Harbor University, which was a stroke behind CCC in ninth. Hajian tied for ninth individually at 4-over 76.

Times wires
Monday, September 19, 2011

Marlins 6, Braves 5

MIAMI — Atlanta lost for the third time in four games on Omar Infante's game-ending two-run homer off rookie closer Craig Kimbrel. The Braves' NL wild-card lead fell to 21/2 games over the Cardinals. Atlanta has eight games left, St. Louis nine.

Times wires
Monday, September 19, 2011

JOLIET, Ill. — Winless no more.

Tony Stewart, who last week minimized his chances for a third Sprint Cup title, outlasted the field and fuel worries in Monday's rain-delayed Geico 400 at Chicagoland Speedway.

Saving fuel during a 50-lap green-flag run to the finish, Stewart beat hard-charging Kevin Harvick by 0.941 seconds for his first victory this season. He tied Mark Martin for 16th on the all-time list with his 40th win.

Stewart has at least one win in each of his 13 Sprint Cup seasons, the longest streak in the series.

Stewart said at Thursday's Chase media day in Chicago that there were seven drivers who could win the 12-driver NASCAR Chase for the Championship — and he wasn't one of them.

"Counting Tony Stewart out — that's pretty funny that he counts himself out," said Harvick, who took the points lead by seven points over Stewart. "He's won a ton of races to start off the Chase like they did (Monday).

" … So he ran strong all day and drove from the back to the front and led the race and won the race. So he shouldn't count himself out — that's pretty funny."

Dale Earnhardt Jr. got a boost after a poor run of form the past couple of months. He was mid-pack much of the race but crept forward in the second half and reached top 10 in the final laps.

Then foes began running out of fuel all around him and he saved enough to come home third, his best day since finishing second at Kansas in early June.

"I just knew we were going to get a good finish if we didn't run out of fuel," said Earnhardt, who did just that in Turn 4 of the final lap but did not lose a spot. "I was happy where we were. I thought we had really improved throughout the day. And, yeah, it felt a lot similar to how we ran earlier in the year where we would … use strategy to improve our finishing position."

Matt Kenseth had a double whammy, first running out of fuel then getting a push from J.J. Yeley through Turns 3 and 4 on the final lap. NASCAR prohibits such assistance, and Kenseth's penalty was being dropped from eighth to 21st, the first car one lap down.

Five-time defending series champion Jimmie Johnson (10th) also ran dry on the final lap, and Kyle Busch (22nd), who had been tied with Harvick for the points lead, ran out on the second-to-last lap.

Last year, in the Chase opener at New Hampshire, Stewart gambled on fuel mileage and lost. He finished 24th, severely damaging his title chances. Stewart said he wasn't thinking about that race in Monday's closing laps.

"You hate to have to play the fuel-mileage game, but that's just the way the caution came out," Stewart said. "We came in and got fuel (on Lap 214 of 267 on the 1.5-mile oval) and (crew chief) Darian (Grubb) said we had to save a lap's worth of fuel, but we had a whole run to do it."

Given his position entering the Chase, 12 points out, Stewart felt he could take the chance on fuel.

"We didn't have anything to lose," he said. "Where we're at in the Chase right now, we had to press."

Kenseth took the lead from Martin Truex on Lap 228, 10 laps after a restart forced by a debris caution. Stewart passed Kenseth for the top spot through Turns 3 and 4 on Lap 238, with Kenseth needing to save fuel and not contesting the position.

Harvick made up several spots in the closing laps and got a hand from his Richard Childress Racing team. Five members of teammate Clint Bowyer's pit crew moved to Harvick's No. 29 car. It was the second straight year that Harvick's team borrowed from Bowyer's crew after Bowyer fell out of title contention.

"I think there were changes, pit crews changes to make teams better," Harvick said coyly. "I don't know exactly how it shook out."

In fact, Harvick gained three positions on his last pit stop.

Busch led seven laps early but was falling through the order even before he ran out of fuel, while older brother Kurt also faded in the second half, only to gain spots when others ran dry. Kurt Busch finished sixth.

"I saved as much fuel as I could, but I guess it just wasn't enough, and we ran out with two (laps) to go; just a really disappointing day," Kyle Busch said.

Times wires
Monday, September 19, 2011

Cardinals 4, Phillies 3

PHILADELPHIA — Kyle Lohse outpitched Roy Halladay, and St. Louis tightened the NL wild-card race. Lance Berkman homered and had an RBI single for the Cardinals, who pulled within 2½ games of the Braves. St. Louis, which took three of four in the series, has won 10 of 12 overall. Philadelphia clinched homefield advantage in the postseason anyway when Milwaukee lost.

Times wires
Monday, September 19, 2011

Blue Jays 3, Angels 2

10 innings

TORONTO — Adam Lind drove in the winner with a grounder in the 10th inning for Toronto. Los Angeles lost for the third time in four games to fall five games behind the first-place Rangers in the AL West. The Angels trail both the Red Sox and Rays in the wild-card race. Lind drove in Mike McCoy, who had reached on shortstop Erick Aybar's error to lead off the inning.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Monday, September 19, 2011

BRANDON — Ryan Shannon believes he has the best seat in the house.

With a stall next to Marty St. Louis in the Lightning locker room at the Ice Sports Forum, the right wing daily gets to pick the superstar's brain.

St. Louis, on the other hand, believes Tampa Bay made a terrific move signing as a free agent a player who might be ready to take his game to the next level.

"We're getting him," St. Louis said, "at a time he is hungry."

It is a mutual admiration society, for sure, but the friendship the two forged in a training facility in Darien, Conn., certainly is helping make Shannon's transition to the Lightning easier.

"Marty is very supportive of everybody," Shannon said. "I don't know if I'm getting special treatment. I don't feel like I am, but he's definitely there to help."

Shannon and St. Louis met seven years ago when St. Louis began training in the summer with Ben Prentiss, who already had trained Shannon for three years. Shannon and family live in Darien during the offseason, St. Louis and family in nearby Greenwich.

They are similar in stature.

Shannon, 28, is listed at 5 feet 9, 175 pounds and has 9 percent body fat. St. Louis, 36, is listed at 5-8, 176 pounds and has 8 percent body fat.

In the gym "they are super intense guys," Prentiss said.

But Shannon is "serious," Prentiss said. "Marty has more of a playful side and lightens up when the time is right."

Shannon, who will wear No. 22, wore No. 26 with the Senators because of St. Louis, Prentiss said, and added that St. Louis' encouragement last season helped spark Shannon to seven goals and 16 points in his final 26 games compared with four and 11 in his previous 53.

St. Louis said he and Shannon "talked hockey now and then" but gave Shannon the credit.

"He got put in key situations and proved it to himself," St. Louis said. "If you can prove it to yourself, the things you can do, then you raise the bar. He raised his own bar."

"I started to believe in myself and contributing every night on a consistent basis," Shannon said. "The specific lessons I learned is the approach every day, making sure you are at your best and focused and feeling good about yourself and your game, and if not figuring out what to do to get to that level."

The Lightning signed Shannon to a one-year, $625,000 contract and considers him a skilled player who can play in any situation, makes smart plays and does not panic under pressure.

Shannon also has what coach Guy Boucher called "easy speed. His glide is very good."

Enamored of the havoc three speedsters could cause, Boucher said Shannon could start the season on a line with St. Louis and center Steven Stamkos. The combination will at least be used at some point in games.

Shannon called the prospect "fantastic" but knows, "I need to earn that."

Beginning tonight in a preseason game with the Blues.

"Ryan has potential," general manager Steve Yzerman said. "We think he can take another step given a good opportunity."

St. Louis would agree.

Times wires
Monday, September 19, 2011

TORONTO — Tyler Bozak scored twice in the third period and the Maple Leafs began their preseason schedule with a 4-2 win over the Senators on Monday night.

Colby Armstrong opened the scoring for Toronto with a power-play goal in the first with Bozak drawing an assist. Carl Gunnarsson had the Leafs' second goal on another power play in the second.

Jared Cowen scored both Ottawa goals, in the second and the third.

A number of regulars from both teams sat out.

More preseason highlights: Nathan Gerbe scored 4:09 into the third to break a tie, and the host Sabres beat the Hurricanes 3-1. Gerbe, who added two assists, scored on a tip-in from the slot, where he converted a lead pass from Paul Gaustad. Gaustad scored in the opening minute of the third to tie it. He put in a one-timer after Patrick Kaleta fed him from behind the net. Kaleta, who also had a goal and two assists, added an empty-net goal.

Around the league: Center Brayden Schenn and defenseman Blake Kessel, two rookies trying to make the Flyers, could face their brothers in a preseason game tonight in Toronto. The Maple Leafs' roster includes All-Star forward Phil Kessel and defenseman Luke Schenn. … The Kings signed Kevin Westgarth, 27, to a two-year, $1.45 million deal, keeping the physical forward under contract through the 2013-14 season.

Times wires
Monday, September 19, 2011

SUNRISE — On an 87-degree summer day in South Florida, the Panthers tried to get people thinking about hockey.

Twice.

The NHL preseason started in unusual fashion Monday, with the Panthers hosting the Predators for a doubleheader — one where no player skated in both games. Nashville won the first game 5-3, a matchup that began at 3:08 p.m. with an estimated 500 in the seats.

Nearly seven hours later, Florida finished off a 4-3 win in the nightcap.

"I think it's a neat idea," Panthers forward Steven Reinprecht said. "And it's definitely created a buzz."

The Panthers called it "Hockey Day in South Florida," with autograph sessions and plenty of reminders that the season starts for real next month.

More preseason highlights: Nathan Gerbe scored 4:09 into the third to break a tie, and the host Sabres beat the Hurricanes 3-1. … Tyler Bozak scored twice in the third, and the host Maple Leafs beat the Senators 4-2.

Around the league: Center Brayden Schenn and defenseman Blake Kessel, two rookies trying to make the Flyers, could face their brothers in a preseason game tonight in Toronto. The Leafs' roster includes All-Star forward Phil Kessel and defenseman Luke Schenn. … The Kings signed physical forward Kevin Westgarth, 27, to a two-year, $1.45 million deal through the 2013-14 season.

By Laura Keeley, Times Staff Writer
Monday, September 19, 2011

BRANDON — With assistant coach Wayne Fleming home in Calgary fighting brain cancer, Lightning coaches have had to increase their workloads during training camp.

"Every day I take my breakfast and I eat a quarter of it because I don't have time," coach Guy Boucher said Monday. "The fact is that he's not here. We had some sort of chemistry set in. Now we have to separate the tasks in different ways. It does pile on the work."

Fleming, 61, is undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. He also is recovering his motor skills after April brain surgery to remove a malignant tumor.

While there is no timetable for Fleming's return — he will not be with the team for the season opener Oct. 7 at Carolina — GM Steve Yzerman reiterated that he hopes Fleming will watch games on television and contribute insights and suggestions via e-mail and text messages as he did during last season's playoffs.

"He's been around so long that the stuff he says I really pay attention to," said C Nate Thompson, who, along with D Pavel Kubina, has kept in touch with Fleming via e-mail. "He's been with a lot of different teams. He's coached a lot of superstars and longtime NHLers, so whatever he says, guys listen."

"He's fighting," Boucher said. "We have to do the same."

MEDICAL MATTERS: AHL Norfolk G Dustin Tokarski, held out of practice for the second straight day, had two MRI exams to try and pinpoint the mysterious injury that has limited him since April. It was originally believed Tokarski had an abdominal injury, perhaps a sports hernia, but tests could not confirm. Now it is believed he might have pelvic tendinitis. … Norfolk D Scott Jackson has not practiced because of offseason arthroscopic knee surgery to clean up cartilage damaged during summer workouts.

GOALIE ROTATION: With Tokarski's status uncertain, Jaroslav Janus, at least for now, is the organization's No. 3 goaltender.

As such, he will play half games in the Lightning's preseason opener tonight at St. Louis and Wednesday against the Blues in Orlando.

"It's important he sees some ice at this level," Boucher said of Janus, who last season was 12-13-0 with a 3.06 goals-against average and .912 save percentage in 27 games with ECHL Florida.

Janus will split time tonight with Mathie Garon and Wednesday with Dwayne Roloson. Garon and Roloson will split Friday's game at the St. Pete Times Forum against the Panthers, Boucher said.

ODDS AND ENDS: Former assistant GM Tom Kurvers was named special adviser to the general manager. Former director of pro scouting Pat Verbeek was named assistant general manager and director of player personnel. … The camp roster was reduced to 54 when defensemen Geoffrey Schemitsch and Adam Janosik were returned to their junior teams.

Times staff writer Damian Cristodero contributed to this report.

Times wires
Monday, September 19, 2011

Tennis

djokovic likely to miss month with muscle tear

BELGRADE — World No. 1 Novak Djokovic could be out for a month after tearing a muscle in his Davis Cup defeat to Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro, his spokesman said Monday.

"He has a partial muscle rupture and some internal bleeding," Edoardo Artaldi said. Djokovic will have another scan Thursday.

Djokovic is likely to be out for four weeks, but Thursday's scan will provide a definitive answer, Artaldi said.

Djokovic said that his injury while playing for Serbia on Sunday "is not as bad as it initially seemed," but it nevertheless brought into question his appearance in Shanghai and Beijing.

"I hope I will recuperate by then but will in any case not risk aggravating the injury, and it is presently difficult to say how long I will have to rest," Djokovic said.

Serbian tennis organization TSS deputy president Radmilo Armenulic criticized the International Tennis Federation, saying an intense schedule risks players' health.

wnba

Indiana advances to East final

Katie Douglas scored 21 and Tamika Catchings added 17 as host Indiana beat New York 72-62 in Game 3 to advance to the Eastern Conference final.

Indiana will host Atlanta on Thursday in Game 1. Atlanta was 4-0 against Indiana this year.

Erin Phillips had 12 points and five steals for the Fever, which scored 26 off 20 Liberty turnovers.

Nicole Powell led New York with 19 points. Cappie Pondexter scored 11 on 4-for-14 shooting. She shot 15-for-44 in the series.

Et cetera

Soccer: Brazil striker Neymar again dismissed reports he has reached a deal with Barcelona or Real Madrid, saying he will stay with Santos at least until next year's Olympics in London. … U.S. midfielder Stuart Holden is scheduled to make his first appearance for Bolton of the English Premier League today after missing six months with a left knee injury. … Lothar Matthaeus was fired as Bulgaria coach. The team has five points in seven European Championship qualifying matches. Under-21 coach Mihail Madanski was named acting coach and will lead the team in the next Euro 2012 qualifier against Wales next month. … Hamburg fired coach Michael Oenning after the worst league start in club history. Under-23 coach Rodolfo Cardoso will take over on an interim basis. Hamburg, the only team to play in the Bundesliga continuously since it was formed in 1963, is last with one point in six league games.

Golf: Three-time champion Nathan Smith of Pittsburgh defeated Scott Weeks of Savannah, Ga., 3 and 2 in the first round of the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championships in Richmond, Texas. Smith, seeking an unprecedented fourth straight title, got his tournament-record 13th in a row.

Motocross: Brazilian rider Swian Zanoni died after losing control of his motorcycle during the last lap of a race Sunday. Zanoni, 23, apparently struck a tree in Orizania, the Brazilian motorcycling confederation said. He sustained a severe neck injury.

Obituary: Ginger McCain, who trained Red Rum to three victories in the British Grand National steeplechase, died Monday in London after a short illness. He was 80. Mr. McCain saddled Red Rum to victories in the Grand National at Aintree in 1973, 1974 and 1977 and won the world's toughest steeplechase for a fourth time with Amberleigh House in 2004.

Times wires

Times wires
Monday, September 19, 2011

Cubs 5, Brewers 2

CHICAGO — Geovany Soto hit two two-run homers and drove in all Chicago's runs. The loss and the Cardinals' win over the Phillies kept Milwaukee's magic number for clinching the NL Central at four. The Brewers are looking for their first division title in 29 years. All three of Soto's two-homer games have come against Milwaukee.

Times wires
Monday, September 19, 2011

PHILADELPHIA — Michael Vick still has to clear some NFL-mandated post-concussion tests, but the Eagles did not rule out their quarterback for Sunday's home opener against the Giants.

If he can't go, Andy Reid will decide between Vince Young and Mike Kafka as the replacement, though signs point to the Eagles coach going with Kafka.

Vick suffered his concussion in the third quarter of Sunday's 35-31 loss to the Falcons. Vick pleaded to re-enter the game, Reid said. Though the Eagles considered the concussion mild, they could not allow him in once he was diagnosed.

Reid said that when he spoke with Vick on the plane ride home from Atlanta and quizzed him, "He remembered everything, recalled everything."

Tebow not moving

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Broncos coach John Fox made it clear Monday that Tim Tebow's future lies in throwing passes, not catching them.

A day after using his backup quarterback as an emergency wide receiver, Fox reiterated: "He is a quarterback."

The Broncos had only three healthy receivers because Brandon Lloyd (groin) was a late scratch. Then Eddie Royal (groin) and rookie tight end Julius Thomas (high ankle sprain) left with injuries.

Fox joked that Tebow, the former Heisman winner at Florida, stepped in and "actually graded 100 percent."

BENGALS: Receiver Jordan Shipley has a torn ACL in his left knee, ending his season.

CHIEFS: An MRI exam confirmed that running back Jamaal Charles (left knee) is out for the season.

COWBOYS: Quarterback Tony Romo, who fractured a rib Sunday at San Francisco, also showed evidence of a collapsed lung. He left the field briefly but came back to finish vs. the 49ers and should not miss a game.

FALCONS: The league fined cornerback Dunta Robinson $40,000 for his flagrant hit Sunday on the Eagles' Jeremy Maclin but didn't suspend him.

JETS: All-Pro center Nick Mangold (high ankle sprain) likely will miss at least one game.

PACKERS: Pro Bowl safety Nick Collins is out for the season with a neck injury. Coach Mike McCarthy said it wasn't clear if Collins will need surgery.

PANTHERS: Linebacker Thomas Davis is out for the season after tearing the ACL in his right knee for the third time in less than 23 months.

SEAHAWKS: Offensive lineman Robert Gallery (groin) needs surgery and will miss at least a month.

Times wires
Monday, September 19, 2011

BOSTON — Jacoby Ellsbury hit an inside-the-park homer and Conor Jackson added a grand slam to cap a much-needed offensive outburst that helped the Red Sox split their doubleheader with the Orioles on Monday and stop, for now, their slide in the AL wild-card race.

The Red Sox won the late game 18-9 after losing the opener 6-5 for their 12th loss in 15 games. The split enabled them to retain their two-game lead over the Rays in the wild-card race. The Rays were idle, with a four-game series against the Yankees starting tonight.

The outburst in the nightcap was needed because of another terrible outing by John Lackey. The right-hander was given a six-run cushion in the third inning but failed to make it out of the fifth and saw his ERA soar to 6.49.

Jeremy Guthrie pitched the last-place Orioles to the win in the opener. Boston rallied from a 6-2 deficit and cut the lead to two when a missed call cost the Red Sox a run and halted their comeback bid.

TV replays appeared to show that David Ortiz's fifth-inning liner down the rightfield line, ruled foul by first-base umpire Mike Estabrook, caromed fair off the lower part of a short wall near the Pesky Pole with Dustin Pedroia on third.

"That's the breaks of the game," Pedroia said. "We've played a hundred-something games. We're not going to say the season's over because an umpire missed a call."

Boston, which lost three of four against Tampa Bay this past weekend, led the Rays by nine on Sept. 3. The Red Sox have dropped 15 of 21 since they held a 1½-game edge over New York atop the AL East on Aug. 30.

"Any loss hurts," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "We battled, and battled and battled and came up short."

Times wires
Tuesday, September 20, 2011

D'backs 1, Pirates 0

PHOENIX — Ian Kennedy pitched eight dominant innings to become the NL's first 20-game winner, Justin Upton hit a broken-bat homer and Arizona moved a step closer to its first NL West title in four years. Kennedy tied his career high with 12 strikeouts and became the fourth Diamondbacks pitcher to reach 20 wins. Upton led off the sixth with a homer off Jeff Karstens, snapping off his bat on a shot to left that was upheld by a video review.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Rays at Yankees

When/where: 7:05 tonight; Yankee Stadium, New York

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

Starting pitchers:

Rays:

LH Matt Moore (0-0, 6.23)

Yankees:

RH Bartolo Colon (8-9, 3.81)

Watch for …

First start: Moore, making his first big-league start, replaces previously announced starter Jeff Niemann.

Big Bart: Colon, one of the biggest surprises of the season, has been struggling, 0-3, 4.98 over his past eight starts. He is 9-4, 3.71 in 20 starts vs. Rays.

Key matchups

Rays vs. Colon

J. Damon 20-for-57, 2 HRs

Evan Longoria 2-for-8

B.J. Upton 5-for-17

Yankees vs. MOore

None have faced

On deck

Friday: vs. Blue Jays, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (12-12, 3.36); Jays — Brandon Morrow (10-11, 4.98)

Saturday: vs. Blue Jays, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — TBA; Jays — Ricky Romero (15-10, 2.98)

Sunday: vs. Blue Jays, 1:40, Sun Sports. Rays — Wade Davis (10-10, 4.55); Jays — TBA

Monday: vs. Yankees, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — TBA; Yankees — TBA

Name of the day

Ben Zobrist's new daughter is named Kruse Allegra. Kruse was Zobrist's paternal grandmother's maiden name. Allegra took more creativity: Zobrist's wife, Julianna, is a singer, and her middle name is Joy. Allegra is an Italian version of joy, and also has a musical definition, referring to an upbeat song. "We both agreed to it," Zobrist said. "But, yes, she came up with it."

Deal of the day

The Rays are offering free parking in any team-controlled (non-reserved) lot for Friday's game in an effort to draw a bigger crowd. "We need their voices and support," team president Matt Silverman said. Lots will open at 3:10, and the Rays are encouraging fans to arrive early as spaces are subject to availability.

Stat of the day

.454

Batting average of Rays' Game 1 7-8-9 hitters (Jose Lobaton, Elliot Johnson, Reid Brignac) — when added together: .