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Tampa Bay Rays up next: at Detroit Tigers

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By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 9, 2012


Tampa Bay Rays: Joe Maddon amazed by now-ended youth streak; Jeff Niemann recognizes quality of Tigers lineup

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By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 9, 2012

Rays at Tigers

When/where: 1:05 p.m. today, Comerica Park, Detroit

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

Probable pitchers:

Rays

LHP Matt Moore

(1-0, 2.89 in 2011)

Tigers

RHP Rick Porcello

(14-9, 4.75 in 2011)

Watch for:

Leaning left: Moore, one of the game's top prospects, will make his anticipated season debut, his first as part of the rotation. Moore combined for 12 scoreless innings in his first two starts with the Rays last season, including Game 1 of the ALDS against the Rangers.

Slow start: Porcello hasn't traditionally been a fast starter, with his 6.04 April ERA his second highest of any month. He is 1-1 with a 3.46 ERA in two career starts against Tampa Bay.

Key matchups

Rays vs. Porcello

Carlos Peña 2-for-6, HR

Evan Longoria 0-for-6

Sean Rodriguez 1-for-3

Tigers vs. Moore

None have faced

Number of the day

16 Straight road games for the Rays against teams that were .500 or better last season.

Watch parties

The Rays will have four Watch Parties during their road trip, with Neil Solondz broadcasting live on location:

• Wednesday at Tigers (Hooters, Fourth Street N, St. Petersburg)

• Saturday at Red Sox (Gators Dockside, Tampa)

• Sunday at Red Sox (Tradewinds Island Resorts, St. Pete Beach)

• Monday at Red Sox (Hooters, Tyrone Square, St. Petersburg)

On deck

Wednesday: at Tigers, 1:05, Comerica Park. Rays — James Shields (0-0, 10.80); Tigers — Justin Verlander (0-0, 0.00)

Thursday: at Tigers, 1:05, Comerica Park. Rays — Jeff Niemann (11-7, 4.06 in 2011); Tigers — Drew Smyly (MLB debut)

Joe Smith, Times staff writer

Quote of the day

"It's an incredible streak. Somebody may play more games than Cal Ripken before you break that particular streak."

Rays manager Joe Maddon on the club's streak of 764 games started by a pitcher under the age of 30, which ended Friday

Quote of the day 2

"Any lineup with those two guys is automatically 100 times better."

RHP Jeff Niemann on the Tigers combo of 1B Prince Fielder and 3B Miguel Cabrera

Meet the Rays at tampabay.com

, Scan this with your mobile device to access our video interviews.

Captain's Corner: Great abundance offshore

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By Dave Zalewski, Times Correspondent
Monday, April 9, 2012

What's hot: Name a fish offshore and it's hot. Spanish mackerel fishing near any pass that empties into the gulf during an outgoing tide is as good as it gets. Troll small spoons, anchor over hard bottom areas within 2 miles of shore and chum with baits on site (or follow diving birds and cast small hard baits) for constant action.

Hot spots: Though there are large solitary kingfish in the same areas mackerel are targeted, more numerous schools of kingfish at 8-25 pounds are devouring baits on mid water artificial reefs such as South County, Indian Shores and Rube Allyn. It is not necessary to troll spoons and plugs to cover water. Once schools of Spanish sardines, threadfins and blue runners are located, a sabiki rig will provide as much fresh bait as needed. The same is true for the shipping channel. All markers are holding baitfish and their predators; as soon as the first bait is jiggled up, put it out on a stinger rig.

Both gag and red grouper are active at 60-foot depths. Gags are closed but red grouper is open and more will be found on rocky bottom than ledges. Recently we landed a blackfin tuna and observed another boat catch and release a sailfish near a wreck south of the channel in 60 feet of water.

Dave Zalewski charters the Lucky Too out of Madeira Beach. Call (727) 397-8815.

Giants 7, Rockies 0

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Times wires
Monday, April 9, 2012

Giants 7, Rockies 0

DENVER — Barry Zito pitched a four-hitter for his first shutout in nine years and Pablo Sandoval hit a two-run homer to help San Francisco avoid its first 0-4 start since 1950. Zito, who hasn't lost to Colorado in nine starts since Sept. 25, 2008, allowed three singles and a double in his fifth career shutout and first since April 18, 2003, against Texas. Sandoval gave him all the support he'd need with a two-run shot over the rightfield wall in the first.

Angels 5, Twins 1

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Times wires
Monday, April 9, 2012

Angels 5, Twins 1

MINNEAPOLIS — C.J. Wilson won his awaited Angels debut with seven smooth innings, giving Los Angeles all the boost it needed to spoil Minnesota's home opener. Wilson gave up only one fly ball, a home run by Josh Willingham. Wilson, who struck out Joe Mauer twice, had a 2-0 lead before he even touched the mound, after Torii Hunter's single and Bobby Abreu's double drove in first-inning runs against Nick Blackburn.

Marlins 6, Phillies 2

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Times wires
Monday, April 9, 2012

Marlins 6, Phillies 2

PHILADELPHIA — Anibal Sanchez took a three-hitter into the seventh, Omar Infante hit two solo homers and Miami spoiled Philadelphia's home opener. Sanchez was held back a week early in exhibition season because of a tender pitching shoulder and was limited during spring training. "I was worried because he missed a start in spring training," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "He threw the ball well."

The best part of Warren Sapp's legacy is gone, along with his fortune

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By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Monday, April 9, 2012

Gone. All of it, gone.

Warren Sapp has worked his way through most of the fortune and most of the good will. He has lost both his championship rings, and almost all of the opportunity to be admired forever.

For Sapp, 39, all that remains is a house filled with sneakers, a life filled with debt and a plea for the legal system to make his problems go away. Everything else has vanished as quickly as his youth.

Sapp, poor Sapp, is broke.

The best part of his legacy, it seems, is broken, too.

Once, there was just so much to the former Bucs defensive tackle, so much size and so much talent and so much money and so much fame and so much life and, yes, so much anger. Tampa Bay has never seen a more charismatic athlete. Sapp was part Shrek and part Godzilla; no one laughed louder or snarled more fiercely.

Sadly, much of his perpetual bad mood was aimed at the people who tried to admire him the most. There is no way to pretty it up: In public, Sapp treated a lot of people badly. He never had time for diplomacy or grace. He never seemed to trust the applause or believe it would last.

It's a shame. I've said it dozens of times: At his best, Sapp could have owned this town. Most people in Tampa Bay wanted to love the part of Sapp that was torn out of a comic book character. In return, he treated fans the same way he treated opposing quarterbacks: Rough. Rude. Blunt. All of the descriptions fit.

But bankrupt?

Who saw that coming?

For goodness' sake, how much money does a man need? In his career, Sapp signed three contracts: The first was for $4.4 million. The second was for $36.05 million. The third was for $36.46 million (although he fulfilled only four of the seven years). It seems as if that should get a man into his 40s. And that doesn't count money for endorsements or appearances on Dancing With the Stars or talking on the NFL Network or up-front fees as part of a book deal.

With Sapp, these are the unanswered questions: What happened? Where did it all go? How does a man go from rich beyond imagination to having $6.7 million in debts? How could a life so large slip through his fingers?

Even now, Sapp has a job that pays $540,000 a year, and he claims $6.4 million in assets. He'll get to keep his house and his NFL pension.

That's broke?

Really?

How is it even possible for a man with such assets to file for bankruptcy? It feels like a rich person's mulligan, to tell you the truth.

Maybe that's why it seems so hard for so many to muster any sympathy at all for Sapp. Have you seen the online comments? There are some who seem delighted that Sapp has fallen heavily. Karma, some say. Payback, others say. No one seems to be putting together a telethon to help pay his bills.

All things considered, that may be the saddest part of Sapp's plight. No one seems to think it's sad. Maybe if he had been a better guy, maybe if he had let Tampa Bay love him, more people would feel his pain today.

No, Sapp isn't the first athlete to make a lot of money and, subsequently, lose a lot of money. Some make bad investments. Some have too many hangers-on. Some gamble it away. Some like the nightlife and like to boogie. Some collect cars and houses.

For whatever reason, they find themselves owing more money than they can pay on time. Walt Disney filed for bankruptcy once. So did Mike Tyson, and Willie Nelson, and Michael Jackson, and Donald Trump.

So where did Sapp's money go? Shoelaces, maybe.

Of all of the odd items in the appraisal report that was filed by Sapp's attorney, even odder than the lion skin rug or the "large nude woman painting," there is this. Shoes. And shoes. And more shoes. In all, there were 240 pairs of Nike Airs, many of them still new in the box and scattered across the house. Thirty-five pairs in the living room, 78 pairs in the master bedroom closet, 27 in the laundry room, and so forth.

The harsher revelation is that Sapp owes almost $1 million in unpaid support for his six children (two with his ex-wife). It's easy to excuse a lot of debt, but not child support.

Then there is the mystery of the missing rings. Sapp says he cannot find either his winning ring from Super Bowl XXXVII or from the 1991 University of Miami national championship. (Maybe he should check the shoeboxes?)

When you remember how much Sapp loved his Super Bowl ring, that raises an eyebrow. "I wear it 365 days,'' Sapp said back in 2003. "I carry it with me. I am the champion, and d--- it, I will display it at all times.''

Where does Sapp go from here? Who knows. There are reports that his contract with NFL Network will not be renewed. If he cannot get his spending under control, this will not have a happy ending. Instead of pointing to him as a standard of how to play, he will be a model of how not to spend.

The rings. The regard. The reputation. The riches. Sadly and swiftly, Sapp has lost it all.

When you think of the way it might have been, it feels as if Tampa Bay has lost something, too.

Braves' Jones ready to return

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Times wires
Monday, April 9, 2012

HOUSTON — Braves 3B Chipper Jones expects to come off the disabled list when he's eligible today.

Jones and a number of Braves took early batting practice Monday before the start of their three-game series against the Astros. Jones took more than 100 swings and also took ground balls in the almost one-hour workout.

"It's progressively gotten better and while I've had some sore days along the way, (Monday) I feel great," he said. "I did what I had to do to prove that I can go out there (today)."

Jones, who turns 40 on April 24, opened the season on the DL after surgery March 26 to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee.

He went through the rigorous workout as a test to make sure he's ready to play. Jones did not want to go on a minor-league rehabilitation assignment and officials let him opt out of making one.

"I just thought it was a waste of time," he said. "Six at-bats in the minors is not going to help me. You might as well just throw me back into the fire."

In other Braves news, RHP Tim Hudson, on the disabled list after November back surgery, is scheduled to have a second rehab outing Thursday for Class A Rome.

SETBACK FOR CLOSER: Drew Storen felt discomfort in his right (pitching) elbow after a simulated game Sunday, and the Nationals closer will be examined by noted orthopedic surgeon James Andrews.

AND YET STILL MORE APOLOGIZING AGAIN: Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen will return to Miami from Philadelphia to apologize again for a remark he made about Fidel Castro that has angered Cuban Americans, with at least two local officials saying he should lose his job. There was also a backlash at the state level. The chairman of the Florida Hispanic Legislative Caucus called for "punitive measures" against Guillen.

FAN HURT: A woman celebrating her 69th birthday at the Rockies' home opener sustained a concussion when she was struck in the head by a foul ball off the bat of Michael Cuddyer in the fourth inning. Judith Reese was treated at a Denver hospital and released.

A'S: 1B Daric Barton, who has recovered from September shoulder surgery, was activated from the disabled list. 1B Brandon Allen was designated for assignment.

BLUE JAYS: With a sellout crowd of 50,000 expected for the home opener, the team limited beer sales in the upper deck to one per customer per trip, half the amount permitted at regular games.

CARDINALS: 1B Lance Berkman played after testing his sore right hand, which he hurt on an awkward swing.

INDIANS: C Carlos Santana, 26, reached an agreement on a multiyear contract and is expected to sign today, the Associated Press reported.

MARLINS: RF Giancarlo Stanton was scratched from the starting lineup with what the team called left knee pain.

REDS: 2B Brandon Phillips left in the fifth inning after feeling a cramp in his left hamstring. The problem wasn't considered serious.

YANKEES: LHP Andy Pettitte allowed one run and two hits over three innings for Class A Tampa, facing Clearwater at Bright House Field in his second game action since ending a one-year retirement.


Injury news bad for UF star

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By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer; Times wires
Monday, April 9, 2012

GAINESVILLE — Florida linebacker Ronald Powell, last season's sack leader, is expected to miss 4-6 months after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee in the second quarter of Saturday's Orange and Blue game.

Coach Will Muschamp said after the game he thought it was just a knee sprain, but an MRI exam revealed a more serious injury. The junior started 12 games last season and had 32 tackles and six sacks and nine tackles for loss.

"Ronald is in good spirits and is very eager to do whatever is necessary to have a healthy, speedy recovery," Muschamp said. "He has already started with rehab, and once the swelling goes down and he regains his range of motion, he will have the surgery."

Senior Lerentee McCray is a possible replacement for Powell.

MORE FOOTBALL: Georgia State, which didn't have a team three years ago, accepted an invitation to become a member of the Sun Belt Conference in 2013. … Michigan suspended backup safety Josh Furman two months after his arrest on suspicion of assault. … Colorado State players Nordly Capi, Colton Paulhus and Mike Orakpo were suspended as police investigate an assault near the campus that injured four people, two of them seriously.

UF assistant joins KU

GAINESVILLE — After one season as an assistant basketball coach at Florida, Norm Roberts has left the staff for a position at Kansas. Roberts will replace former Kansas assistant Danny Manning, who left after the Jayhawks' loss to Kentucky in the national title game to become head coach at Tulsa.

Roberts, 45, previously worked as an assistant to Kansas head coach Bill Self at Oral Roberts, Tulsa, Illinois and at Kansas in 2003-04, where he was associate head coach. He left the program to take over as head coach at St. John's. Roberts was fired at the end of the 2009-10 season after going 81-101 in six seasons. Donovan hired him last April.

Roberts' son, Niko, is a walk-on at Kansas.

JAYHAWKS STAR LEAVING: Thomas Robinson, the brawny Kansas forward who overcame personal tragedy to lead his team to a national runner-up finish, is leaving for the NBA.

"Coming to college as a basketball player should be a goal, it definitely was one for me," Robinson said. "Besides that, not winning the championship, I did everything I wanted to do plus more."

He is a potential top-five pick.

Robinson, the first unanimous first-team All-American since Blake Griffin, averaged 17.9 points and 11.8 rebounds in 31.8 minutes in his junior season and led the nation with 27 double doubles. In January 2011, Robinson's mother died of a heart attack, and within three weeks he also lost a grandfather and grandmother.

Also declaring for the draft were Baylor sophomore forward Perry Jones III; Vanderbilt junior guard John Jenkins; Texas A&M junior forward Khris Middleton; and Oregon State junior guard Jared Cunningham. Michigan freshman point guard Trey Burke said he is staying in school.

FROGS NAME COACH: Trent Johnson was hired as TCU's coach to replace Jim Christian. Johnson's introduction came a day after he resigned from LSU, where he spent the past four seasons. He has a 226-185 career record and took Stanford and Nevada to the Sweet 16 before leaving for LSU.

ILLINOIS: Assistants Dustin Ford and Jamall Walker joined new head coach John Groce's staff. Ford and Walker worked with Groce at Ohio.

MINNESOTA: The school granted guard Chip Armelin his release so he can transfer, clearing the way for a sixth season for star forward Trevor Mbakwe, who missed most of last season with a torn ACL.

Information from Times wires was used in this report.

Encompass Insurance Pro-Am of Tampa Bay capsule preview

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By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 9, 2012

.fast facts

Encompass Insurance Pro-Am of Tampa Bay

When/where: Friday-Sunday, TPC Tampa Bay, Lutz

Purse: $1.6 million ($240,000 winner's share)

TV: Friday, 12:30 p.m.; Saturday, 6:30 p.m. (taped); Sunday, 7 p.m. (taped); Golf Channel.

Format: 54-hole stroke-play event with no cut. Friday-Saturday one amateur with one professional in a team better-ball format. Low 16 teams play Sunday.

Defending champion: John Cook

Notable pros scheduled to play: Tom Watson, Bernhard Langer, Nick Price, Curtis Strange, Hale Irwin, Tom Kite, Brad Faxon

Notable celebrities: Rick Pitino, Craig T. Nelson, John O'Hurley, Stone Phillips, Joe Theismann, Ronde Barber, Derrick Brooks, Phil Esposito

Tourney information: tampabayproam.com

Schedule: Today — Practice rounds. Wednesday — Laser Spine Institute Challenge pro-am, Shotgun start at 10 a.m. Thursday — Laser Spine Institute Challenge pro-am, Shotgun start at 10 a.m. Friday — First round begins at 7:15 a.m. Saturday — Second round begins at 7:15 a.m. Sunday — Final round begins at 9:15 a.m.

White Sox 4, Indians 2

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Times wires
Monday, April 9, 2012

White Sox 4, Indians 2

CLEVELAND — Chris Sale won his first career start with 62/3 strong innings to lead Chicago. Sale pitched out of the bullpen the past two seasons but moved into the rotation after ace Mark Buehrle left as a free agent this winter. The left-hander, who had made 79 relief appearances, took a one-hit shutout into the sixth. In his longest outing, Sale had little trouble with a Cleveland team that went in batting .153.

Cardinals 7, Reds 1

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Times wires
Monday, April 9, 2012

Cardinals 7, Reds 1

CINCINNATI — Matt Holliday, David Freese and Yadier Molina homered during St. Louis' big first inning, and Jake Westbrook found his control after a rough start for the defending world champions, who haven't missed Albert Pujols so far. Only 20 pitches into the game, Cincinnati starter Homer Bailey trailed 4-0 as the Cardinals hit three homers in an inning for the second time this season.

Yankees 6, Orioles 2

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Times wires
Monday, April 9, 2012

Yankees 6, Orioles 2

BALTIMORE — New York finally won its first game of the season, using four hits by Derek Jeter and effective pitching by Ivan Nova to hand Baltimore its first loss. Andruw Jones homered for the Yankees, who averted the fourth 0-4 start in franchise history — and first since 1973 — coming off a three-game sweep by the Rays at Tropicana Field.

D. Sedin back in practice

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Times wires
Monday, April 9, 2012

VANCOUVER — Canucks leading scorer Daniel Sedin returned to practice after missing nine games with a concussion.

Sedin was on the ice Monday before Vancouver's workout and remained with his teammates, though there was no indication he would be ready for Game 1 of their first-round Western Conference series against Los Angeles.

Sedin led Vancouver with 30 goals before being elbowed by Duncan Keith in a loss to Chicago on March 21. Keith was suspended five games for the hit.

"He's 100 percent now," said twin Henrik Sedin.

Coach Alain Vigneault was more guarded.

"We'll see how he's doing (today) and we'll take it from there," Vigneault said.

BLACKHAWKS: Captain Jonathan Toews, trying to return from a concussion that sidelined him the final 22 games of the regular season, participated in drills and is expected to play in Thursday's Game 1 at Phoenix.

CAPITALS: Journeyman goalie Dany Sabourin was recalled from Hershey of the AHL for the first-round East series against the Bruins. Neither Tomas Vokoun nor Michal Neuvirth could practice, leaving Braden Holtby looking likely to start Thursday's Game 1 in Boston.

PANTHERS: Coach Kevin Dineen does not plan to divulge his starting goalie for Friday's Game 1 against the Devils until that day. Scott Clemmensen and Jose Theodore are battling for the spot.

Red Sox 4, Blue Jays 2

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Times wires
Monday, April 9, 2012

Red Sox 4, Blue Jays 2

TORONTO — Ryan Sweeney singled home the go-ahead run in the ninth inning, and Boston rallied to spoil Toronto's home opener and avoid the first back-to-back 0-4 starts in team history. Dustin Pedroia homered and scored the tying run as the Red Sox handed new Blue Jays closer Sergio Santos his second blown save in three appearances. Santos started the ninth with a 2-1 lead.


Brewers 7, Cubs 5

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Times wires
Monday, April 9, 2012

Brewers 7, Cubs 5

CHICAGO — Aramis Ramirez drove in two runs in his return to Wrigley Field, Ryan Braun got booed relentlessly and Milwaukee hung on after building a four-run lead going into the ninth.

Mets 4, Nationals 3

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Times wires
Monday, April 9, 2012

Mets 4, Nationals 3

NEW YORK — Daniel Murphy singled home the winner in the ninth inning as New York took advantage of a throwing error by reliever Henry Rodriguez. Kirk Nieuwenhuis hit his first major-league homer for the Mets, who are 4-0 for the first time since 2007. Coming off a three-game sweep of Atlanta, New York rallied from a three-run deficit.

Astros 8, Braves 3

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Times wires
Monday, April 9, 2012

Astros 8, Braves 3

HOUSTON — Travis Buck drove in two runs, Justin Maxwell homered in his Houston debut and the Astros rebounded from an early deficit thanks to sloppy defensive play by Atlanta, which is 0-4 for the first time since it lost 10 straight to open 1988. Houston trailed 3-0 in the third before three Braves errors led to three unearned runs.

Rangers 11, Mariners 5

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Times wires
Tuesday, April 10, 2012

ARLINGTON, Texas — Yu Darvish overcome a rocky start and got a big boost from the powerful Texas lineup, winning his much-anticipated major-league debut in the Rangers' 11-5 victory over the Mariners on Monday night.

After giving up four runs while throwing 42 pitches in the first, then allowing another run in the second, Darvish settled down and later retired 10 in a row while pitching into the sixth.

Nelson Cruz hit a three-run homer in the third for Texas to tie the score at 5, then Mitch Moreland and Josh Hamilton both went deep in the fourth to give Darvish an 8-5 lead. Ian Kinsler added a three-run blast in the eighth.

Darvish, 25, was Japan's top pitcher before the Rangers committed more than $107 million to acquire him, including his guaranteed $56 million, six-year contract.

After hitting No. 9 batter Brendan Ryan with a pitch with one out in the third, Darvish retired the next 10 before Dustin Ackley walked and Ichiro Suzuki singled with two outs in the sixth.

When manager Ron Washington replaced him with Alexi Ogando — who struck out Justin Smoak to end that inning — Darvish got a loud ovation from the crowd that was also chanting "Yuuuuuuu!" as he walked to the dugout without acknowledging the cheers.

Seattle starter Hector Noesi only made it into the fourth. The right-hander was pulled after Mike Napoli drew a leadoff walk and Moreland followed by pulling a 382-foot homer down the rightfield line for a 7-5 lead.

Darvish got off to a tough start, walking leadoff hitter Chone Figgins on four pitches before striking out Ackley.

Ichiro then blooped a single just over third base, and Smoak lined a single to right before Kyle Seager's two-run single. Another walk and an RBI single by Miguel Olivo reloaded the bases before Munenori Kawasaki, an eight-time All-Star in Japan who was the only Mariner to previously face Darvish, walked on four pitches.

Athletics 1, Royals 0

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Times wires
Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Athletics 1, Royals 0

OAKLAND, Calif. — Tommy Milone allowed three hits over a career-high eight innings in an impressive Oakland debut. Milone faced the minimum in five innings, getting through the fourth despite throwing only two strikes among his 10 pitches. Perhaps for a night, Milone made it easier for the small group of fans at the Coliseum to picture life without left-hander Gio Gonzalez. The A's acquired Milone from the Nationals in December, sending Gonzalez to Washington.

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