Times wires
Sunday, October 2, 2011

Around the league

HESTER SENDS PUNT RETURN TD MARK TUMBLING

CHICAGO — The Bears' Devin Hester set a league record with his 11th punt return for a touchdown, running one back 69 yards Sunday against the Panthers.

Hester, a former Miami star, broke the mark he shared with Eric Metcalf in the second quarter when he fielded a line drive by Jason Baker. Hester broke a tackle and went left, then performed three somersaults after crossing the goal line for a 24-10 lead. He was flagged for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

"It was a bad hit on the punt, it let a lot of space on the field for me to try to create things," said Hester, also the NFL's career leader with 15 combined kick-return TDs.

Big Ben, Steelers take beating

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger has an injured left foot and was wearing a walking boot after a loss to Houston. He said he was injured on the second-to-last series when he was tackled from behind. Roethlisberger was scheduled for an MRI exam when the team returned to Pittsburgh. Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall (hamstring), LB James Harrison (eye), DE Aaron Smith (foot) and LB Jason Worilds (left quad) were also injured.

BENGALS: WR Jerome Simpson, under investigation for a marijuana shipment to his house, was back in the starting lineup. He had three catches for 26 yards.

BROWNS: CB Joe Haden, a former Florida star, sprained his left knee and was scheduled for an exam today. WR Mohamed Massaquoi hurt his shoulder. … Colt McCoy (40-for-61) set club records for completions and attempts and was five completions short of the league mark set by Drew Bledsoe in 1994.

CARDINALS: Larry Fitzgerald caught eight passes for 102 yards to break the franchise record for yards receiving at 8,565, passing Roy Green (8,496).… Starting right T Brandon Keith (right knee sprain) left in the second quarter.

LIONS: WR Calvin Johnson tied Cris Carter's record of catching two TDs in four straight games. Johnson already was the first player to do it in the first three games of a season.

PANTHERS: Steve Smith (9,414 yards) passed Muhsin Muhammad as Carolina's all-time leading receiver.

PATRIOTS: LB Jerrod Mayo injured his left MCL and is out an undetermined amount of time, Comcast New England's website, CSNNE.com, reported.

SAINTS: They became the first NFC South team to win in Jacksonville. The Saints, Bucs, Panthers and Falcons had been a combined 0-8.

SEAHAWKS: WR Mike Williams, a former Plant High star, left with a concussion. LB Matt McCoy (knee) left in the first quarter.

TEXANS: RB Ben Tate (groin) left in the first half.

TITANS: S Chris Hope broke his arm in the first quarter. Coach Mike Munchak said he didn't know if Hope needs surgery.

Times wires

Times wires
Sunday, October 2, 2011

WASHINGTON — The presidents and chancellors of the 14 remaining Big East members and TCU authorized commissioner John Marinatto to "aggressively pursue discussions" with schools interested in joining the league.

The league released a statement after a meeting Sunday at Georgetown University. The meeting had been scheduled before Syracuse and Pittsburgh announced last month they will leave for the ACC.

The original purpose of the meeting was to discuss the upcoming TV rights negotiations, but the defections forced expansion onto the agenda.

"The presidents voted unanimously to authorize the commissioner to aggressively pursue discussions with a select number of institutions that have indicated a strong interest in joining the Big East Conference," Marinatto said in a statement.

Navy, an independent, and Air Force of the Mountain West are among the Big East's top targets, according to various media reports. East Carolina previously announced it applied for membership, but there has been no public response from the conference.

Marinatto also said in the statement the league's presidents discussed making leaving the conference tougher without mentioning specifics such as raising exit fees.

TCU is scheduled to leave the Mountain West and join the Big East for the 2012-13 school year and has not publicly wavered from that commitment. But the Horned Frogs have been discussed in media reports as a possible target for the Big 12 as it determines a course of action in light of Texas A&M's departure for the SEC.

Georgia: Starting linebacker Cornelius Washington, who had two sacks Saturday, was suspended for at least two games after being charged with driving under the influence and speeding. Police in Commerce, Ga., said Washington was stopped at 1:48 a.m. Sunday for driving 92 mph in a 55 mph zone. The report said Washington, 22, had a blood-alcohol level of 0.12. In Georgia, the level at which a person is presumed impaired is .08. Georgia next plays at Tennessee then goes to Vanderbilt followed by a game against Florida.

South Carolina: Coach Steve Spurrier promised changes to his offense after Saturday's 16-13 loss to Auburn. "We've got to shake the offense up somehow," he said. "We'll let you know later in the week." The Gamecocks had four turnovers and season lows of 289 yards and 13 first downs. Quarterback Stephen Garcia, a Jefferson High graduate, has thrown six interceptions and two touchdowns over the past two games.

AP poll: LSU remained No. 1 while Alabama surpassed Oklahoma for No. 2. It gives the SEC the top two teams for the 10th time over the past four seasons. It's also the first time teams from the same division have held the top spots since 2000, when Nebraska and Kansas State of the Big 12 North were Nos. 1 and 2, respectively. LSU and Alabama meet Nov. 5.

Late Saturday

Oklahoma 62, Ball St. 6: Landry Jones threw for 425 yards and five touchdowns for the host Sooners, who scored 28 in a 5½-minute span of the second quarter.

Stanford 45, UCLA 19: Andrew Luck threw three touchdowns for the host Cardinal. After a goal-line stand on the game's first possession, Stanford drove 99 yards (actually 119 because of penalties) for a touchdown. It then turned a fumble into another touchdown on its way to a 24-13 halftime lead.

Wisconsin 48, Nebraska 17: Russell Wilson threw for two touchdowns and ran for one for the host Badgers, the Cornhuskers' first Big Ten opponent since leaving the Big 12. Wisconsin turned interceptions on consecutive possessions into Wilson touchdown passes for a 27-14 halftime lead.

Texas 37, Iowa St. 14: Freshman David Ash threw his first two touchdowns for the visiting Longhorns. A 48-yarder to Mike Davis and 40-yarder to Jaxon Shipley helped build a 34-0 halftime lead.

Ariz. St. 35, Ore. St. 19: The host Sun Devils recovered after turning the ball over on three of their first four possessions and falling behind 13-0. Cameron Marshall ran for touchdowns of 37 and 8 yards during the second half.

Times wires
Monday, October 3, 2011

BALTIMORE — Mark Sanchez kept giving the ball away, and the Ravens were only too happy to take it the other way into the end zone.

Baltimore scored three touchdowns on defense Sunday night, all off turnovers by Sanchez, and cruised to a 34-17 victory over the New York Jets in a bizarre game that featured an NFL-record five returns for scores.

Baltimore's three touchdowns on defense were the most in team history. Jameel McClain took a fumble by Sanchez 6 yards for a score on New York's first offensive play, Jarret Johnson scored on a 26-yard fumble return and Lardarius Webb put the Ravens ahead 34-17 in the third quarter, taking an interception 73 yards for a score.

It was a performance that would have made Rex Ryan proud — if he were still Baltimore's defensive coordinator. Unfortunately for Ryan, he is now New York's coach.

The Ravens held the Jets to 150 yards and seven first downs in taking sole possession of first in the AFC North.

New York has lost seven straight to the Ravens, the last two with Ryan on the Jets sideline. New York's touchdowns came on a 107-yard kickoff return by Joe McKnight (the longest scoring play in Jets' history) and a 35-yard interception return by David Harris.

The Ravens got 17 points off three fumbles by Sanchez to take a 27-7 lead in the second quarter, and though the Jets cut the gap to 10, they got no closer.

Down 27-17, New York got the ball on the Baltimore 27 after Joe Flacco fumbled on linebacker Aaron Maybin's first career sack.

On the next play, Webb picked off a pass by Sanchez intended for Santonio Holmes on the right sideline and sprinted into the end zone with 8:49 left in the third quarter.

Sanchez fumbled four times, losing three, a botched shotgun snap leading to a field goal. He went 11-for-35 for 119 yards, and the only score he produced until the fourth quarter was a field goal by Nick Folk after a 25-yard drive.

It was 20-7 before Johnson scored after Sanchez fumbled when hit by Haloti Ngata. After a replay, the officials ruled that Sanchez's arm was moving forward, but he did not have the ball in his hand, confirming the touchdown call.

Ryan was so angry he called a timeout to vent his frustration, stalking the sideline and throwing his arms up.

Minutes later the Jets got a defensive score as Harris picked off Flacco and took it 36 yards.

But the Jets got only two first downs in the second half.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Monday, October 3, 2011

Tampa Bay Lightning wing Ryan Malone will not be suspended for Saturday's third-period head shot on Montreal's Chris Campoli. League disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan called the ruling "challenging" but determined Campoli contributed to the hit, in which Malone flattened him with his shoulder, by dipping his head after losing the puck.

Here is what Shanahan told nhl.com:

"We felt that this hit was the most challenging one so far in this preseason for the Department of Player Safety to evaluate," said Shanahan. "In the end, we felt that Malone had committed to the hit when Campoli was upright. However, when the contact was made, Campoli's head position significantly changed just prior to the hit.

"There are elements about the hit that we don't like," Shanahan added, "specifically, the principal point of contact being the head and that it was not a full-body check. But the overriding factor in our judgment was that Campoli's loss of the puck and subsequent bending forward for it just prior contributed significantly, if not entirely, to those elements."

Malone echoed the sentiment.

"I already had my mind made up that I was on route to make the hit and he leaned forward a little bit," Malone said Monday. "I still caught part of his shoulder. ... But that's a hit you have to make and a guy has his head down. It's not like I intentionally tried to injure him or anything. It's a hockey hit. That's what happened."

Campoli, who apparently did not have any concussion symptoms and practiced on Monday told Montreal reporters he was surprised with the ruling.

"I've seen it (the hit) from different angles and it's not fun for me to watch it because it's me. It's dangerous," Campoli said. "I don't necessarily agree with the opinion of the league if this is what they've come up with."

"I thought it was a clean hit," Malone said, and added, "I watched the replay and would be upset if there was (a suspension) ... It's hockey. We're allowed to hit each other and that's the fun part about it. I'm coming at him from the front. It's just unfortunate his head was down."

By Stephen Nohlgren, Times Staff Writer
Monday, October 3, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — Thanks to the Detroit Tigers, eighth-grader Connor Killian will miss a few classes today at Thurgood Marshall Middle School. St. Petersburg resident Tammy Watkins will give away an $85 ticket behind Tropicana Field's home plate.

Such is the unpredictable fallout of playoff baseball, when national television sets the agenda.

The Tampa Bay Rays — they of the never-say-die September surge — may seem like destiny's team to hometown fans.

But to TBS and Major League Baseball, the Rays and Texas Rangers are still more of a warm-up act — priming audiences for big-town headliners that will follow later in the evening.

Game Four of the Rays-Rangers division series will begin at 2:07 p.m. today — going head to head on the tube with the likes of Rachael Ray, Let's Make a Deal and El Gordo y la Flaca.

To attend the game, thousands of fans will have to skip work, cut class and rearrange child care.

Adding to the scramble is the 11th-hour nature of postseason scheduling.

Tickets went on sale Friday, giving the Rays time to process them. But Major League Baseball didn't establish today's actual game time until late Sunday, after the Tigers beat the New York Yankees.

The Tigers' victory guaranteed those teams will battle again tonight in Detroit. New York's huge ratings clout made it a no-brainer for TBS to slot that game into its prime-time 8:37 start.

Philadelphia, another huge TV market, will play the St. Louis Cardinals at 5:07, leaving the Rays-Rangers with TBS' early afternoon intro.

Don Blair, 44, bought three tickets to today's game through the Rays' lottery system, figuring he would take his sons, 9 and 11.

But the 2 p.m. start killed those plans. Blair would have leave work in St. Petersburg by lunch time, drive to South Tampa, take the boys out of school and race back over the Howard Frankland Bridge. So now Blair is selling his $42 upper-deck tickets at face value on Craigslist.

"It's disappointing,'' said Blair, an investment banker at Raymond James. "I was aware there could be a change. I just didn't have in mind that it could be 2 o'clock.''

Tammy Watkins, 34, has two tickets in Section 105. A friend who was planning to pay for the other ticket is a nurse who doesn't finish her shift until 3:15.

"I had to give it to another friend for free, just to have somebody to go with,'' Watkins said. "This is ridiculous. It's not a fan game any more. It's all about money for Major League Baseball.''

Well-established teams in major metro markets have fan bases used to day games, she said.

"We don't have a lot of people who can get off work and jump on a train to get to the game. People here have to travel an hour or hour and a half.''

Major League Baseball staggers postseason games throughout the day to maximize the nationwide TV audience, spokesman Matt Bourne said.

Lots of factors play into the decision, including team travel between cities, time zones and audience size.

"It's like a jigsaw puzzle,'' Bourne said. "We try to limit the amount of overlap. Our overall goal is to put on match-ups that will draw the largest audience.''

St. Petersburg resident Kevin Killian, 51, was philosophical. He will take his son Connor out of school for a few periods to cheer from the upper deck. Missing class is inconvenient, Killian said. But Connor gets straight A's and is up on his homework. Besides, the Rays made the playoffs, he said. "This doesn't come along very often.''

By Dave Mistretta, Times Correspondent
Monday, October 3, 2011

The magical 70s: A much-needed cool front has dropped surface water temperatures into the 70s. Once winds allowed us to venture offshore, we were able to easily catch our limit of gag groupers. All depths have produced keepers since the opening of the season, but we have consistently been reaching our limits out inside the 80-foot mark.

Key ingredients: Live bait is still the groupers' choice. If it wiggles, the big gags are going after it. Squirrel fish are one of my favorites. They are a bigger bait (about 6 inches), making it a task for undersized fish to eat. This allows bigger fish time to investigate the bait as it struggles on the hook. Last week we caught six keepers on one squirrel fish. It seems that once these baits get eaten, they become more attractive to other fish. We rehook it after each grouper we catch, sending it back down to the bottom.

Add ingredients: Hand-sized pinfish are also a must to add to your bait arsenal. We have found them by drifting with sabiki rigs a half-mile offshore, and we have found them on sandy bottoms, too. A tiny cut piece of squid scents the small fly hook, attracting schools of these great grouper baits directly under the boat.

Dave Mistretta captains the Jaws Too out of Indian Rocks Beach. Call (727) 439-2628 or see www.jawstoo.com.

Times wires
Monday, October 3, 2011

Most players interviewed by the Associated Press at a dozen training camps said the new emphasis on dangerous hits will make them think twice before lining up an opponent this season.

As of Monday, new league disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan had suspended nine players in the preseason for a total of 31 regular-season games.

Blue Jackets forward Rick Nash said the suspensions are already the buzz in the locker room. "Shanahan's making a footprint in his duties," he said. "As a player, it's good because hockey only goes on for so long. We have a lot of years after hockey, and we want to be able to think clearly."

Capitals forward Troy Brouwer said the fear of hurting someone, especially now that more is known about the danger of concussions, is also having an effect.

"I like to think of myself as a pretty honest player," he said. "So if a guy's in a vulnerable position, I'm not going to follow through on a hit.

"I just have too much respect for other players around the league. We're all guys that are just trying to make a living, and if you injure someone and they can't (play) anymore, then you're affecting their livelihood."

The effort is not without speed bumps. Shanahan gave longer suspensions to Flames forward Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond and Blue Jackets defenseman James Wisniewski because they were repeat offenders.

"It seems to be the same guys every year," Bruins defenseman Joe Corvo said. "I don't know if guys like that don't care or what."

Wild forward Brad Staubitz, also among those suspended, said it's not easy to change what he has been doing all his hockey life. "I think it's going to be tough for guys because playing like that is why they're there — not playing dirty, but the physicality," he said. "You stray away from that and then you're digging through your toolbox saying, 'What else can I do?' "

Capitals: Alex Ovechkin left to go to Moscow because of the death of a close relative. The team hopes he will be back for the season opener Saturday against the Hurricanes.

Penguins: As expected, Sidney Crosby was put on injured reserve as roster moves were made to get to the 23-man limit. Crosby, recovering from a concussion sustained in January, has been skating with the team since training camp opened but has not been cleared for contact. The team opens the season Thursday at Vancouver.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Monday, October 3, 2011

BRANDON — Lightning D Mattias Ohlund and his balky right knee will start the season on injured reserve, GM Steve Yzerman said Monday, freeing up a roster spot as the team makes its final cuts today to get to the maximum 23 players.

Before those decisions are finalized, the team will wait for a report on C Dominic Moore, who, like Ohlund, had an MRI exam Monday. Moore's problem is a sore back.

"It's more a precaution," Yzerman said. "We're going to get it checked out and make sure we're not missing anything."

Whatever is found, the door has opened further for RW Brett Connolly to make the team. Because he is junior-eligible, Connolly, 19, can play nine NHL games before he must be sent back to juniors or have the clock start on his three-year, $2.7 million contract.

Tampa Bay has 25 players on the roster, if you do not count minor-league D Scott Jackson, rehabilitating after knee surgery. Assuming Moore is healthy, two cuts likely are coming among the remaining 15 forwards.

Also on the bubble are Dana Tyrell, Blair Jones and, perhaps, Tom Pyatt. Of that group, Tyrell does not need waivers to be sent to the minors.

As for Ohlund, Yzerman said he will be on injured reserve retroactive to Thursday. IR is for a minimum seven days, so Ohlund is eligible to come off for Friday's season opener at Carolina. But Yzerman said Ohlund will be sidelined for at least one game even if the MRI exam shows no damage.

"Instead of racing him back, we want to give him a few days off ice to get some work in," Yzerman said. "If he responds favorably, he'll get back on the ice and go through a slow progression to get him ready to go."

"We'll take it day-by-day," Ohlund said at the Ice Sports Forum. "I don't know what the long term is. … Hopefully, I'll get back on the ice in the middle of the week."

MALONE SPARED: The league did not discipline W Ryan Malone for Saturday's third-period head shot on Montreal's Chris Campoli, and Malone said, "I would have been upset if there was."

"I thought it was a clean hit," said Malone, who received a major penalty and a game misconduct for the blow delivered with his shoulder.

"I was on route to make a hit, and he leaned forward a little. … That's a hit you have to make, and a guy had his head down. It's not like I intentionally tried to injure him."

League disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan, who has suspended nine players this season for head hits, told NHL.com the Malone ruling was challenging and the angle of Campoli's head was the difference.

"In the end, we felt that Malone had committed to the hit when Campoli was upright," Shanahan said. "However, when the contact was made, Campoli's head position significantly changed just prior to the hit.

"There are elements about the hit we don't like, specifically, the principal point of contact being the head and that it was not a full-body check. But the overriding factor in our judgment was that Campoli's loss of the puck and subsequent bending forward for it contributed significantly, if not entirely, to those elements."

Campoli told Montreal reporters he was surprised by the decision and called the hit dangerous.

"It's a hockey hit; that's what happened," Malone said. "We're allowed to hit each other, and that's the fun part about it."

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: Whether Connolly starts the season with Tampa Bay or is sent back to Prince George of the junior Western league, he said he believes he proved he can play in the NHL.

"I made a good impression," said Connolly, who ended preseason with a team-best three goals and tied for the lead with five points. "For me, to come here and perform the way I did will be good for me long term."

"He's proven he has a good work ethic," Yzerman said. "He's matured a lot. We all really like his skills and hockey sense, so we project him to be a very good NHL player."

Damian Cristodero can be reached at cristodero@sptimes.com. Follow him on Twitter at @LightningTimes.

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Monday, October 3, 2011

GAINESVILLE — As Florida QB John Brantley was helped off the field Saturday night, unable to put weight on his right foot, the feeling was the injury might be more serious than a couple of days could improve.

Monday, coach Will Muschamp said Brantley's "lower leg" injury will keep him out of this week's game at No. 1 LSU and potentially longer.

Muschamp refused to give details, but multiple sources have reported it is a high ankle sprain. Brantley was seen on campus with a boot on his right leg and using crutches. Muschamp said Brantley's injury will not require surgery. Brantley was hurt on a sack with 35 seconds remaining in the second quarter of Florida's 38-10 loss to Alabama.

"John's disappointed," Muschamp said. "He was playing very well. He really threw the ball extremely well against a really good football team. He's disappointed. I'm hurting for him, but it's time to pick up the other guy, and that's what our football team will do."

The other guy is freshman Jeff Driskel, a former Oviedo Hagerty High standout who was rated the No. 1 quarterback in the nation by Scout.com and Rivals.com recruiting services.

Driskel, who has played in four games, will start, but that doesn't mean the Gators won't look at all their options.

"Jeff Driskel, Jacoby Brissett and Tyler Murphy will all receive reps (this week in practice)," Muschamp said. "We've been pleased with Jeff and his progress and where he is right now at the quarterback position. But all those guys will rep, and who practices the best will be the guys that'll play and give us the best opportunity to have success."

Essentially the Gators will take a freshman who enrolled in January (Driskel), a sophomore who has never seen action in a game (Murphy) and a freshman who arrived in July (Brissett), and ask one or all of them to lead the way against a team with the nation's third-best rushing defense and the No. 9 scoring and total defense.

Muschamp said the key is not putting all the pressure on the quarterback. The rest of the team must help, he said.

Muschamp confirmed that Driskel might have sprained an ankle in Saturday's game but said, "He's fine."

SAUNDERS TO RETURN: Muschamp said S De'Ante "Pop" Saunders will return this week from his one-game suspension for an unspecified violation of team rules. Muschamp said the suspension was not related to Saunders' arrest in May for misdemeanor possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana. In August, Saunders agreed to deferred prosecution.

YOUNG ON WOODEN: Sophomore C/F Patric Young has been named to basketball's Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 list, the Los Angeles Athletic Club announced Monday.

National college basketball media members votes in the preseason for 50 players who, based on last year's individual performance and team record, are the early front-runners for the award. The award has been presented annually since 1977 to the nation's outstanding player.

Performance in the regular season, conference tournaments and postseason is taken into account by voters, as is the player's character. Young, who averaged 17.8 minutes per game, earned SEC All-Freshman honors last season. He averaged 3.4 points and 3.8 rebounds coming off the bench.

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

Times wires
Monday, October 3, 2011

Tennis

Roddick suffers 'unacceptable' loss

BEIJING — Andy Roddick lost to South Africa's Kevin Anderson 4-6, 5-7 Monday in the first round of the China Open, a defeat the sixth-seeded American called "unacceptable."

Roddick managed to handle Anderson's huge serve but struggled with his own and was broken in the seventh game to go one set down. The second set brought more of the same. While Roddick evened things at 5-5, Anderson's momentum carried him through.

"If I break twice and don't win a set, that says my serve isn't on," Roddick said. "It's unacceptable."

Roddick, winner of the 2003 U.S. Open, has dropped in the rankings to 15th. He was asked after the match how close he might be to retiring. Roddick rolled his eyes before replying.

"I think you should retire," he said. He then got up and left the news conference to a round of applause.

Roddick took to Twitter later to dispute that he left early.

"About this whole 'walked out of a press conference' thing. Moderator announced that it was last question before my retirement response," Roddick posted.

Pro basketball

NBA negotiators head for a 'very huge day'

After a lockout that has lasted more than three months, whether the NBA season starts on time could come down to one "very huge day" in labor talks.

Owners and players will be back today for a full bargaining session, knowing if they fail to produce results, there might not be enough time left to avoid canceling regular-season games.

"A lot of signs point to (today) being a very huge day," NBA Players Association president and veteran Lakers guard Derek Fisher said. "There will be a lot of pressure on all of us in the room, and we'll accept that responsibility and go in and see what we can get worked out."

The sides met in small groups Monday for about five hours.

The regular season is scheduled to open Nov. 1.

Chasing Bryant: Kobe Bryant's representatives and Virtus Bologna are still "working very intensely" to bring the Lakers star to the Italian league. Bologna president Claudio Sabatini said Friday that he had reached a tentative deal with agent Rob Pelinka for a 10-game deal worth more than $3 million.

Et cetera

Autos: Jason Line collected his sixth win of the season and second in the playoffs during a rain-delayed final round at the NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Pa. Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Hector Arana Jr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle) won their divisions.

Soccer: Longtime International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound said FIFA is not being transparent about the extent of corruption within the organization and lacks the will to clean up the sport. In two weeks, FIFA president Sepp Blatter plans to present anticorruption reforms demanded after a year of bribery scandals within his executive committee.

Times wires

Times wires
Monday, October 3, 2011

The struggling Broncos and winless Vikings won't switch quarterbacks, with Denver sticking with Kyle Orton over ex-Gator Tim Tebow and Minnesota sticking with Donovan McNabb over ex-Seminole Christian Ponder.

"Kyle's our guy," Broncos running back Willis McGahee said Monday. "Whoever doesn't like it, it is what it is. I think everybody just needs to get over it."

Calls for Tebow have intensified with the Broncos falling to 1-3 and Orton piling up six interceptions and two fumbles to go with his eight touchdowns. Packers fans also chanted for Tebow late in a win over Denver on Sunday. Tebow was in for one play.

"We'd much rather have the fans show (Orton) more support than calling for Tebow to come into the game," said Denver linebacker Joe Mays, adding that players fully support Orton.

Meanwhile, Frazier said McNabb's play has had some good spots and it's not time to start rebuilding for 2012.

Minnesota (0-4) has the 31st-ranked passing offense in the league, and McNabb is 30th in yards passing and 22nd in completion percentage.

Namath rips jets again: For the second straight Monday, legendary New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath pointed fingers at members of the organization after an ugly loss. Last week, he was critical of coach Rex Ryan's preparation. This week, after a 34-17 loss in Baltimore, Namath ripped the offensive line and the attitude of receiver Santonio Holmes. Namath, 68, said Holmes, who criticized the offensive line and Mark Sanchez, was dividing the locker room. "We don't care one bit about what Joe Namath has to say," guard Matt Slauson said. "He means nothing to us." Also, outside linebacker Bryan Thomas suffered a torn left Achilles' tendon and is out for the season.

Browns: Pro Bowl center Alex Mack had emergency surgery to have his appendix removed, one day after he felt sick but played all 87 snaps in a loss to Tennessee. It's not clear how long Mack and cornerback Joe Haden (left knee sprain) will be out.

dolphins: In his first comments since the start of training camp, owner Stephen Ross said Tony Sparano remains "the right coach" for the 0-4 team and stability will help reverse its decline.

Packers: Suspended defensive lineman Johnny Jolly was jailed after his third drug arrest in three years. Jolly was charged Saturday with possession of a compound containing codeine and tampering with evidence.

steelers: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was scheduled to have an MRI exam on his left foot. He was injured late against the Texans and on crutches afterward, with a protective boot.

texans: Receiver Andre Johnson (right hamstring) could miss three days to a few weeks, coach Gary Kubiak said.

Titans: Safety Chris Hope (broken left forearm) needs surgery and is likely out four to six weeks.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, October 3, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays season has come down to a matter of faith.

The faith they placed in starter David Price, in relievers Brandon Gomes and J.P. Howell, and in their offense that left them in this predicament after a tense 4-3 loss to the Rangers on Monday.

And the faith that somehow, some way they have another revival in them, facing a genuine must-win in this afternoon's fourth and potentially final game of the AL Division Series.

"Absolutely I do," manager Joe Maddon said. "We've been here, we've been here several times the last month. So we just have to fill up October with the same kind of moments. No question, I think we're up for it."

As confident as the Rays are, and as many times as they've come back, the challenge of being down 2-1 in a best-of-five series is formidable, with only eight of the 37 teams to trail in a division series coming back to win. "(Today) they are the ones who are going to feel the pressure,'' Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus said.

The Rays will have rookie Jeremy Hellickson on the mound for the 2:07 start vs. Rangers left-hander Matt Harrison. A decisive Game 5 would be Thursday in Arlington.

"We definitely didn't want to go back to Texas," rightfielder Matt Joyce said. "But now obviously we do."

They ended up in that position for several reasons Monday before a sellout crowd of 32,828 at Tropicana Field.

Price pitched relatively well but failed to hold the 1-0 lead he took into the seventh, allowing a leadoff single and a two-run homer to Mike Napoli. That makes three career postseason starts without a win, seven consecutive starts this season without a win and nine starts (regular and postseason) against the Rangers without a win.

"I just haven't got it done," Price said.

With the Rangers leading 2-1, two out and a man on, Maddon went to the bullpen in a high-leverage situation and got a low-end outcome. He called first on Gomes, the rookie who had exceeded expectations for a month, and he walked both batters he faced. Then, with the bases loaded and Josh Hamilton at the plate, called on Howell, the rehabbed veteran who has been struggling but was on the roster (ahead of Cesar Ramos) for these situations. It didn't work out well, Hamilton singling in two runs.

"It was really bad," Howell said. "It's one of those things where there's a lot of anger inside me."

And the offense, so robust in the first two games and much of the past month, was again missing most of the night. The only hit the Rays had through six innings against starter Colby Lewis was Desmond Jennings' fourth-inning home run, and when they rallied late against the Rangers bullpen, they familiarly couldn't get the one big hit they needed, ending the night 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position, stranding three at third.

"We had opportunities," Maddon said.

But no success. Or the magic that had seemingly been stocked in their dugout.

In the eighth, after Jennings hit his second homer to cut the lead to 4-3, B.J. Upton drew the first of what would be three consecutive walks from reliever Mike Adams. But Upton got caught stealing on a pitchout, one that Maddon acknowledged the Rays didn't expect and Texas manager Ron Washington admitted was "lucky."

After Evan Longoria and Matt Joyce walked, lefty Mike Gonzalez struck out Johnny Damon and closer Neftali Feliz, summoned for just his second four-out save of the season, hit 100 mph and he eventually got Ben Zobrist on a checked swing third strike.

The Rays had another chance in the ninth inning, when Sean Rodriguez singled with one out. More concerned about a strikeout/throw-out double play, the Rays didn't have Rodriguez running on the full-count pitch to Kelly Shoppach, and he instead grounded into a game-ending double play.

"Tonight was just something that wasn't meant to be," Damon said.

As they left the clubhouse Monday night, there was a message of hope written on the clubhouse whiteboard:

FOR GAME 5

2:30 BAGS

3:30 BUS

4:30 FLIGHT

WEDNESDAY!

"We've been underdogs all year: we're not going to make the playoffs, we're not going to catch Boston, we lost too many pieces," Damon said. "We as a team look at each other and say, you know what, that's okay. Count us as underdogs, but we're not going to buy into it.

"And hopefully (today) is another great finish for us here. And we're planning on going to Texas."

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

Times wires
Monday, October 3, 2011

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State is in trouble with the NCAA again, this time because three Buckeyes — two who have already been sitting out for taking cash and free tattoos — accepted too much money for too little work in their summer jobs.

Last year's leading rusher, Daniel Herron, and the top returning wide receiver, DeVier Posey, along with offensive lineman Marcus Hall will be out when the Buckeyes play at No. 14 Nebraska on Saturday.

Athletic director Gene Smith insisted Monday that there is no "systemic" problem at Ohio State, which has admitted to having several players involved in different NCAA violations over the past 10 months.

He blamed it on the athletes, former coach Jim Tressel and a booster who Monday was banned from further contact with the Buckeyes.

"It's not a systemic failure of compliance," Smith said. "I'm optimistic and I'm confident that we will not have those charges."

Herron and Posey had five-game suspensions, which were to end this week, extended. They, along with left tackle Mike Adams, defensive end Solomon Thomas and former Buckeye quarterback Terrelle Pryor, were initially suspended for their role in a memorabilia-for-tattoos scandal that cost Tressel his job.

Ohio State is awaiting the NCAA's report of sanctions for the Tressel-tattoo violations.

Two other players also were overpaid for the summer work, which included working at a car wash or picking up scrap metal: defensive lineman Melvin Fellows, who is out with a medical hardship, and starting linebacker Etienne Sabino, who has already been reinstated by the NCAA.

The booster who paid the players, Cleveland businessman Bobby DiGeronimo, was dissociated from the program. Smith declined to answer a question about why the school had not looked closer at DiGeronimo and his relationship with players.

Gamecocks bench Garcia

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said sophomore Connor Shaw will replace former Jefferson High star Stephen Garcia as the starting quarterback Saturday against Kentucky.

Shaw played the first quarter of the opener against East Carolina but was benched with the Gamecocks trailing 17-0. Garcia rallied the team to a 56-37 win and has started since.

Garcia, a fifth-year senior, has completed 51 percent of his passes this season, with nine interceptions and four touchdowns.

BIG 12 AND TV: Big 12 university leaders agreed to equally share the wealth from the conference's most lucrative TV deals if members agree to lock those top-tier TV rights into the league for at least six years. Interim commissioner Chuck Neinas said he hopes approval of the deal by the league's presidents and chancellors will help convince Missouri to stay. Missouri's board of curators is scheduled to meet today in St. Louis.

ILLINOIS: The No. 19 Illini suspended sophomore linebacker Jonathan Brown for the Indiana game Saturday. He appeared to intentionally knee a Northwestern player Saturday.

IOWA: Backup quarterback A.J. Derby was suspended for two games after an incident outside an Iowa City bar. A criminal complaint filed against Derby, 20, said he admitted to punching out a bus window.

NEBRASKA: Quarterback Taylor Martinez, after throwing three interceptions in four possessions vs. Wisconsin in Saturday's 48-17 loss, was asked to assess his ability to read defenses. "You guys rip me anyway, so it really doesn't matter," the starter for the No. 14 Cornhuskers said near the end of a news conference in which he tersely answered 20 questions in less than four minutes. Also, police in Madison, Wis., gave redshirt freshman Chase Rome a $326 ticket for damaging an airport paper towel dispenser after the game.

NORTHWESTERN: Running back Mike Trumpy is out for the season with a torn ACL in his left knee, ESPN.com reported. And coach Pat Fitzgerald said quarterback Dan Persa (sore right foot) is expected to play Saturday against No. 12 Michigan.

OKLAHOMA: Receiver Trey Franks was reinstated after a two-game suspension for the No. 3 Sooners. He returns in time for Saturday's game against No. 11 Texas in Dallas.

UTAH: Quarterback Jordan Wynn will miss two to three weeks with a left shoulder injury. Jon Hays will start Saturday against Arizona State.

Times wires
Monday, October 3, 2011

PHILADELPHIA — Cardinals LF Matt Holliday is increasingly unlikely to rejoin the starting lineup during the NL Division Series against the Phillies, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

The five-time All-Star has missed 12 starts over the past month with an injured tendon in his right middle finger. He was placed on the playoff roster with the hope that he might be well enough to start eventually, but the problem appears to be worsening.

Manager Tony La Russa told the Post-Dispatch that he left Holliday out of the starting lineup Sunday after consulting with him. The slugger was scheduled to be examined further Monday in St. Louis.

VOTE OF … CONFIDENCE?: RHP A.J. Burnett is scheduled to start for New York in Game 4 of the ALDS tonight. If that worries Yankee fans, well, it sounds as if manager Joe Girardi shares their concern.

Asked if he was still committed to Burnett, Girardi's response was practically inaudible, ESPN.com reported.

"Yeah," Girardi said. "I mean, who am I going to go to? Mo (Mariano Rivera)?"

Burnett went 11-11 with a 5.15 ERA in his second season with New York. He did finish relatively strong, however, going 2-0, 4.30 in September.

"I think A.J. is going to take the mentality of, 'I have to pitch well,' no matter where the series is, I do," Girardi said.

Still, if Burnett runs into trouble early, "I could have a very short leash (on him)."

LEFTFIELD SWAP: John Mayberry will likely start in leftfield for Game 3 of the NLDS today against Cardinals LHP Jamie Garcia, leaving Raul Ibanez on the bench, manager Charlie Manuel told the Philadelphia Inquirer. Mayberry, a right-handed hitter, batted .306 with a .358 on-base percentage and a .595 slugging percentage against lefties this season vs. .211/.232/.353 in 138 for Ibanez.

CATCHER IN BOOTH: Outspoken White Sox C A.J. Pierzynski will serve as a television analyst during the playoffs. The 14-year veteran will work on Fox's pre- and postgame shows during the ALCS and World Series.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, October 3, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — Rays manager Joe Maddon insists he has to be reminded that RHP Jeremy Hellickson is still a rookie.

The 24-year-old looks like a teenage bat boy, but he acts — and more important, pitches — like an accomplished veteran. And with their season on the brink, the Rays hope he can deliver in Game 4 today.

"I feel ready," Hellickson said. "Would have liked to win (Monday), but we've won two in a row before. Definitely looking forward to it. And hopefully there will be a Game 5."

When Hellickson takes the mound, the Rays will be the 10th team in the modern era to start two rookies in a postseason series. If he is the winning pitcher, they would make more history because of Matt Moore's Game 1 victory, joining the 1927 Yankees (Wilcy Moore and George Pipgras) as the only team to get two wins from rookie starters in a series.

KYLE OKAY: RHP Kyle Farns­worth threw off the mound before the game and said his right elbow "definitely" felt good enough for him to pitch, and he warmed up late in Monday's game. He was not available Saturday due to recurring soreness. "Everything's fine," Farnsworth said. "It feels good." Farnsworth, who missed two weeks, then pitched in four of the last five games of the regular season, acknowledged he would likely have to be re-evaluated each day.

NIEMANN, TOO: RHP Jeff Niemann came through his Sunday bullpen session with no problems from his stiff back and said he would be ready if the Rays advance. "I feel great. Ready to do whatever's needed."

TIMING ISSUE: The Rays weren't pleased nor surprised to be given a 2:07 start time today by Major League Baseball and TBS, even though it is a potential clinching game. "It's not optimal from our perspective, but it doesn't surprise me, either," Maddon said.

BROAD SHOULDERS: Bench coach Dave Martinez, according to some reports, is the leading candidate for the White Sox's managerial job, which has made him a popular subject for Chicago media covering the series. (Also popular is executive VP Andrew Friedman, rumored to be a target of the GM-less Cubs.) Martinez said he was flattered by the attention and excited by the possibility of managing but hasn't talked to the Sox.

HAMMER TIME: 3B Evan Longoria is the Rays' nominee for the Hank Aaron Award, given to the "most outstanding offensive performer" in each league. The winners will be chosen from a combination of voting by fans (at mlb.com and team websites) and a panel of Hall of Famers, including Aaron.

MISCELLANY: The Rays have lost four straight home postseason games. … Longoria, who struck out three times, left without talking to the media. … Gates open today at 11:30 a.m. … The crowd of 32,828 was the Rays' 12th consecutive postseason sellout. … The Rays have 19 homers in their past eight games. … INF Russ Canzler, OF Brandon Guyer and LHP Alex Torres rejoined the team after working out in Port Charlotte and playing for the instructional league team Friday-Saturday. RHP Dane De La Rosa was told he could go home to California.

By Michael Kruse and Lane DeGregory, Times Staff Writers
Monday, October 3, 2011

Jeff Hausinger wore a dark blue Rays cap, Todd O'Donnell wore a light blue Rays visor, and Hausinger steered his silver Infiniti SUV out of his South Tampa neighborhood and onto Gandy Boulevard on Monday afternoon just after 4.

ST. PETERSBURG, said the sign, 14 MILES. The speedometer went from 60 … to 70 … to 80.

Big night for Tampa Bay sports. The Rays had a game against the Texas Rangers in the baseball playoffs in St. Petersburg at 5. The Bucs had a game against the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football in Tampa at 8:30.

Hausinger, a financial adviser for Raymond James, had tickets to the Rays game. Saturday morning, he called his buddy, O'Donnell, an engineer: "You want to go?"

But O'Donnell had his company's box at the Bucs game. "I don't know," he said. "Sounds like a lot."

Who knows how many other people wrestled with the question: How much sports can you cram into a work night? Can you brave the traffic, afford the parking — and the babysitter — and convince your wife?

O'Donnell thought about it all weekend. Sunday night Hausinger texted: You in?

O'Donnell realized he might never get this chance again. "Sure," he decided. "Let's do this."

A half hour before the first pitch, in the back of the SUV on a hanger was Hausinger's Bucs polo and cap. In the pocket of the passenger seat were O'Donnell's Bucs tickets.

Hausinger merged onto Interstate 275 and headed toward the Goodyear blimp hovering over Tropicana Field. He exited for GAME PARKING and pulled into a spot in Lot 2. Hausinger, O'Donnell, another friend and Hausinger's wife headed inside through Gate 5 and down to their seats in Section 126, some 30 rows up from the Rays' bullpen.

They cheered for the cowbell-loud player introductions, stayed standing for the saxophoned national anthem and then sat to watch the Rays' David Price pitch to the Rangers' first batter.

• • •

By the bottom of the first inning, Hausinger was hungry. He missed Desmond Jennings' first strike while he was getting chicken fingers, but was back in time for the second. "He shouldn't have swung at that," O'Donnell said. Hausinger took a swig of Diet Coke and shook his head.

O'Donnell checked his e-mail on his phone. Hausinger finished his french fries. "It's going pretty fast so far," he said in the third inning. "At this rate, we might just make kickoff."

At 6:05 p.m., the score still 0-0 as Jennings stepped to the plate, Hausinger pulled out his Blackberry to take a picture. "Zoom in," his wife said. Hausinger laughed. "It zooms?" He clicked just as Jennings hit a home run. "DJ hits a Bomb," Hausinger posted on Facebook. "Going to the Bucs game next."

Top of the seventh and the score was 2-1 for Texas when the Rays pulled Price and put in J.P. Howell. Hausinger groaned. O'Donnell buried his face in his hands. "I can't watch this."

Back in Tampa, his wife was coaching their 10-year-old daughter's cheerleading squad. "Score?" she texted at 7:47 p.m. Just then, Johnny Damon did. "4 to 2," O'Donnell wrote back. "Bottom of 7th."

"What time will you leave for Bucs?" asked his wife.

"Don't know," wrote O'Donnell. "This game is still way too close."

"Glad U are there!" she typed. "Late night for you tonight."

Just then, his friends in Tampa texted they were heading to the Bucs game. O'Donnell turned his visor backward, into a rally cap. For most of the top of the 8th inning, he held his breath.

"I think we're going to be late," Hausinger said at 8:02.

"We just gotta strong-arm some people to get out of here," said O'Donnell. "No way we're leaving now."

Other fans walked out at the end of the eighth when the Rangers were still up by one. At 8:55, O'Donnell's friend texted that the Colts had scored a field goal.

With a man on first and Kelly Shoppach at the plate, they planned their exit.

"Okay, as soon as that ball leaves his bat, we're outta here," Hausinger said. By the time the Rangers turned the double play and the rest of the crowd realized the game was over, the two were sprinting out the stadium.

At 9:02, they dove into Hausinger's SUV — the first car out of Lot 2.

• • •

"Damn," said Hausinger as the SUV reached 65 on the ramp to I-275.

"Doesn't that stink," O'Donnell said.

They spoke J.P. Howell's name once in bitter disparagement and then turned on the radio for the Bucs game.

At 9:22 on Dale Mabry Highway, they could see the lights of Raymond James. Pulled off onto Tampa Bay Boulevard, it took less than two minutes for Jeff to strip off his Rays polo and replace it with a Bucs version. Todd pulled on his No. 40 jersey.

Hausinger kissed his wife and the men sprinted toward the stadium. The second quarter had just started.

Lane DeGregory can be reached at degregory@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8825. Michael Kruse can be reached at mkruse@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8751. Follow him on Twitter at @michaelkruse.

By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Monday, October 3, 2011

Why, Joe?

Why J.P.?

Why put him in when it seems he is throwing b.p.?

Of all of the pitchers in the game, of all of the alternate choices in the employ of the Tampa Bay Rays from the Instructional League to the Alumni Game, why J.P. Howell? And, for crying out loud, why in the seventh inning of a close game?

In a defeat that put the offseason one game away, there is no question quite as perplexing as this one. Not the one about the hitters. Not the one about the catchers. Not the one about David Price.

Today, these are the questions that Rays manager Joe Maddon will not be able to escape:

Why J.P?

Why then?

It was the seventh inning, and the Rangers had just chased Price from the game. Texas led, 2-1, but there was still plenty of time for Team Comeback to make another one of those crazy come-from-behind rallies. They just had to escape a two-out, bases-loaded situation.

And then manager Joe Maddon called on J.P. Howell. Again.

Two pitches later, two, he gave up a crucial hit. Again.

Back-to-back curveballs, and Howell was done. This time, he had given up a two-run single to Hamilton, a particularly gnawing at-bat when you consider the Rays lost 4-3. If Howell even holds Hamilton to a sacrifice fly there, the Rays have a chance.

Why J.P.?

Why with the game on the line?

"That's why he's on this team," said Maddon. "To get that guy out in that situation."

All together now? Aargh.

And furthermore, huh?

As seasons go, this one has roughed up Howell pretty fiercely. He stood in front of his locker, and his eyes seemed as if he had lost a boxing match, and his hair kept falling into his face in wet strands. Too many times lately he has stood and talked about the feeling of getting roughed up, of letting his team down.

"Disgust," is the word he used most often to describe his feeling. "It makes you kind of sick. I feel bad. I feel terrible. I feel like the loser, like I'm the reason why."

Today, a lot of people will agree. But let's be honest here. Howell didn't put Howell on the postseason roster. The Rays did. Who cares if the mistake was putting him into the game Monday night or putting him on the roster five days ago?

Why J.P.?

Why then, when the Rays needed a K?

"He's our best matchup against Hamilton," Maddon said. "Look at his numbers against lefties. Righties have hurt him this year, but he's been good against lefties. You saw what he made (Hamilton) do on that first pitch. If he gets that breaking ball to the same spot, the same thing happens. He is on the team for that particular moment."

Maddon is right about this: Lefties have only hit .222 against Howell this season, with only one home run in 68 at-bats.

On the other hand, Hamilton has now faced Howell twice with the bases loaded. In those matchups, Hamilton has a grand slam and Monday's two-run single.

Why not Jake McGee there? Because Hamilton is a fastball hitter. Why not Cesar Ramos? Because he lost the designated lefty reliever role to Howell. Why not someone else, anyone else?

"I was trying to make him roll over something," Howell said. "I threw that first fastball off the plate to see if he was being aggressive, and I saw he was. So I tried to make the next pitch really low. I wanted him to swing and hit it to a good spot. He hit it pretty good.

"I got more of the dish than I wanted to get. It's bad. It's really bad. There is a lot of anger inside me. But I have to swallow it and move on."

It has been some time since Howell has looked like an answer coming out of the bullpen. He finished the season with a 6.16 ERA, and of the last 15 batters he has faced, seven of them got a hit.

His year will be remembered for a meltdown on July against St. Louis, for a crushing home run in a loss to Baltimore, for surrendering a go-ahead double by the Yankees' Robinson Cano. After that, fans started wearing batting helmets in the leftfield stands. No one seemed to have any faith in him anymore.

Put it this way: Howell didn't get on the postseason roster by a vote of Rays' followers.

For some time, it has seemed as if the Rays kept marching Howell toward the mound as if the next appearance would somehow be better than the one before, as if Howell would wake up one morning and be the same admirable oddball of the old days.

It hasn't happened. Howell still doesn't seem like the pitcher he was before shoulder surgery.

"Physically, I feel great," Howell, 28, insisted. "That's the frustrating part. This is straight up on me. It isn't the arm or the shoulder. This is me."

Right. And that is Hamilton.

With so much on the line, why in the world would anyone want to point one at the other?

Monday, October 3, 2011

Tuesday, October 4, 2011 | 3C | 

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Monday, October 3, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — Rays left-hander David Price entered Monday's Game 3 start looking for redemption.

Price, coming off a winless September, had pitched poorly in the wild-card-clinching win over the Yankees, and he was grateful to have a second chance.

He also wanted another crack at the Rangers, whom he had never beaten, including two losses in last year's AL Division Series that he labeled tough to swallow.

Price pitched better Monday, leaving the game with two outs, one on and the Rays down 2-1 in the seventh. But Price lamented the fact his team gave him a lead — albeit just one run — and he gave it back, picking up the loss after allowing a two-run homer by catcher Mike Napoli in the seventh.

"All it takes is one pitch in the postseason," Price said. "And that's what cost me today."

In that critical at-bat, Napoli — who had a career year for the Rangers — was down 0-2 but battled back, fouling off a couple pitches and taking two balls before ripping a fastball over the leftfield wall.

"I would call the same exact pitch again," catcher John Jaso said. "If it's 4 inches more inside, it would have been a jam-shot to (third baseman Evan Longoria)."

Price had to work his way through early on, stranding a runner at second in the first two innings, while benefiting from strong defensive plays.

Price helped himself with his glove in the sixth. With the Rays clinging to a 1-0 lead and runners on first and second with one out, Price pounced off the mound to make an over-the-shoulder snag of a Josh Hamilton chopper, beating him to the bag.

"I'm just tired of seeing infield hits, so I wanted to make a play," said Price, who fell to 0-6 in his past seven starts against Texas.

Manager Joe Maddon said Price, who had three strikeouts, did a nice job of utilizing all his pitches.

"I thought overall David really represented himself well tonight and gave us a solid chance to win that game," Maddon said.

But Price remained winless in his past seven starts, despite recording quality starts in five of them. He pitched with the lead in five of them.

"We need to win these games," Price said. "This is the postseason; this is October. Winning is the only thing that matters right now, and we didn't do that today."

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@sptimes.com.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, October 3, 2011

ALDS (best of 5) Rays vs. Rangers

When/where: 2:07 today; Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg

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

Tickets: $30-370; limited number available via raysbaseball.com, Ticketmaster, Tropicana Field box office, Tampa team store. Gates open at 11:30.

Starting pitchers

Rays: RH Jeremy Hellickson (13-10, 2.95)

RaNGERs: LH Matt Harrison (14-9, 3.39)

Watch for …

Jeremy the kid: Hellickson, a strong AL rookie of the year candidate, makes his postseason debut. He lost his only start to the Rangers, allowing two runs in 6 IP on Aug. 30 in Texas.

Going to the Matt: Harrison, 26, won 16 in his first three seasons, battling injuries. Healthy this year, he won 14. He is 1-0, 1.29 in four appearances (one start) vs. Rays.

Key matchups

Rays VS. HARRISON

Johnny Damon 5-for-10

Casey Kotchman 0-for-7

Ben Zobrist 1-for-7

RaNGERs VS. HELLICKSON

Josh Hamilton2-for-3, HR

Ian Kinsler 0-for-4

Michael Young 1-for-3

On deck

Wednesday: Workout day at Rangers Ballpark, Arlington

Thursday: Game 5 (if necessary), at Rangers, 5:07 or 8:07, TBS. Rays — James Shields (16-12, 2.82; 0-1, 12.60); Rangers — C.J. Wilson (16-7, 2.94; 0-1, 10.80)

Quote of the day

"Believe me, this thing is not over."

Rays manager Joe Maddon

High praise of the day

"This is the year of the Napoli."

Rays manager Joe Maddon, on the Rangers catcher, a former Angels player when Maddon coached there, who is 4-for-7 in the past two games

Double trouble

Rays LF Desmond Jennings is one of seven rookies to hit two homers in a postseason game, the first to do so from the leadoff spot. The list:

Player, team Situation

Charlie Keller, Yankees 1939 WS, Game 3

Tony Kubek, Yankees 1957 WS, Game 3

Willie McGee, Cardinals 1982 WS, Game 3

Chipper Jones, Braves 1995 NLDS, Game 1

Andruw Jones, Braves 1996 WS, Game 1

Evan Longoria, Rays 2008 ALDS, Game 1

Desmond Jennings, Rays 2011 ALDS, Game 3