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Logano wins; crash hospitalizes McClure

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Times wires
Saturday, May 5, 2012

TALLADEGA, Ala. — Joey Logano nipped Kyle Busch at the finish at Talladega Superspeedway to win Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide series race, one marred by a late accident that sent Eric McClure to a hospital.

And after the finish, Danica Patrick intentionally wrecked Sam Hornish on the cool-down lap. It was apparent retaliation for Hornish squeezing Patrick on the last lap. He said he had a flat tire, but she wasn't buying the explanation from her former IndyCar colleague.

In the midst of all of that, Logano celebrated his sneaky victory over Busch, his teammate in Sprint Cup.

"I haven't seen one yet that's predictable at Talladega," Logano said. "I just got him right at the line."

McClure was to stay overnight at UAB Hospital. No injuries were specified, NASCAR.com reported.

"Eric is awake, alert and talking to family members," Emily Brandt, McClure's public relations representative, told the website in a statement.

As for the big wreck, it appeared on a replay that Michael Annett was turned into Brad Keselowski, and cars began spinning all over. McClure's car darted head-first into the inside wall of Turn 3.

The multicar accident brought out a 19-minute red flag, and Busch restarted as the leader with two laps left. Logano was third and got onto Busch's back bumper.

He pushed Busch around the track as the two held off Ricky Stenhouse and Cole Whitt.

"(I) was hoping (Whitt and Stenhouse) would get up alongside of us and we'd have to drag race it and Joey would have to push me to the checkered," Busch said. "They couldn't quite get up alongside, and it gave the opportunity for Joey to win."

Logano then pulled out as they exited the final turn to edge Busch, his fellow Joe Gibbs Racing driver in Sprint Cup, by 0.034 seconds.

That gave Toyota its 200th NASCAR win: 42 Sprint Cup, 67 Nationwide and 91 in trucks.

NHRA: Robert Hight qualified No. 1 in Funny Car at the Southern Nationals in Commerce, Ga., with a run of 4.104 seconds at 308.35 mph. Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana Sr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also led their classes heading into today's eliminations.


Pirates 3, Reds 2

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Times wires
Saturday, May 5, 2012

Pirates 3, Reds 2

PITTSBURGH — Neil Walker hit his first home run since September, and James McDonald had a third straight strong start for Pittsburgh. Walker's two-run shot off Mike Leake in the third inning gave McDonald a cushion before the Pirates' bullpen staved off a late rally. Alex Presley also homered for Pittsburgh. Leake fell to 0-4 but showed improvement after a rough opening month with seven decent innings.

Astros 8, Cardinals 2

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Times wires
Saturday, May 5, 2012

Astros 8, Cardinals 2

HOUSTON — Chris Johnson hit his first career grand slam, Bud Norris improved to 7-2 in 11 career starts against St. Louis, and Houston won its fifth straight game for the first time since August 2010. The Astros clinched their second straight home series win with a game to spare. The Cardinals lost their season-worst fourth straight game.

Royals 5, Yankees 1

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Times wires
Saturday, May 5, 2012

Royals 5, Yankees 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Felipe Paulino came off the disabled list to pitch six shutout innings, and Billy Butler drove in three runs for Kansas City. Paulino retired 11 straight to start the game and did not allow a ball out of the infield until Raul Ibanez singled with one out in the fifth. Butler doubled in the first and the fifth, each time driving in Alex Gordon, who matched a career high with four hits.

Hillsborough: Dizzying day at Class 4A state track meet capped by Faith Woodard's high jump title

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By Joey Knight, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, May 5, 2012

JACKSONVILLE — In the waning weeks of her junior year, 6-foot-1 Riverview star Faith Woodard says basketball remains her college sport of choice. But she acknowledges her speed and hops could translate to a track scholarship. She's sure to have a few springtime suitors now.

On a scorching, frenetic Saturday at the University of North Florida, Woodard won the girls high jump at the Class 4A state meet, matching her personal-best effort at 5 feet, 8 inches.

Even as the preliminaries in the 100 and 400 meters diverted her attention, she never missed a jump until the bar was raised to 5-10. Homestead South Dade's Barbra Vilson, who edged Woodard for the 4A title in 2011, also cleared 5-8 but she had a miss along the way.

The multiple events "kept my legs warm and kept me moving and stuff like that," said Woodard, Hillsborough County's lone state champ of the day. "I was not fresh, but I was pretty warm."

By day's end, Woodard added a medal for her sixth-place finish in the 400. Just like that, her track future seemed brighter than the gold glistening from the lanyard around her neck.

"(Jumps coach Jason Munsch) has really been on me this year to step it up and really, really concentrate on track," Woodard said. "Normally … I'm just focusing on basketball. So this year I was like, 'I got second last year, so why not try to win it all?' "

While the quality of Woodard's winning medal was the county's highest, Freedom junior Sandra Akachukwu was mostly unchallenged in terms of quantity.

The slender, soft-spoken King transfer placed in four events (third in high jump, fifth in long jump, eighth in 100, seventh in 200), recording a personal-best (18-3 3/4) in the long jump.

Fellow junior Quatasia Fantroy of Alonso came closest of any area competitor to matching Akachukwu, placing third in the long jump, fifth in the triple jump and eighth in the 200.

"I'm speechless," said Akachukwu, who now owns six career state medals. "It's really great. I went in thinking I could place (in all four) but I wasn't sure if I could. I'm very happy and ecstatic."

For all of Woodard's and Akachukwu's event-to-event scurrying, Jordan Davis' day may have been even more dizzying. An Alonso senior and Florida International football signee, Davis woke at 6:40 a.m. to take the SAT, in his track singlet, on the UNF campus.

Upon completing the 4 1/2-hour exam, one Ravens coach drove him to nearby Hodges Stadium, another got him his spikes and another checked him in just in time for Flight 2 of the long jump. Competing on an empty stomach, Davis placed third with a 23-foot effort.

"It was really hectic," Davis said. "It knocked me off the mojo a little bit. I still came home with a medal; it should be gold, but that's life. I had to take my SAT, priorities first."

With temperatures nudging toward 90 degrees, Plant's all-junior girls 4x800 relay — consisting of Caroline Gibson, Carolina Bado, Emory Pitisci and Scarlett Fox — opened the meet by shattering its school record to place second (9:10.16).

According to DyeStat, ESPN's high school track records site, the time is the sixth-fastest in the nation this year and 15 seconds better than the Panthers' previous record time (9:25.25), set at last week's Region 2 meet.

Wharton's girls, region runnersup to Plant, were fifth.

"That was astounding," said first-leg runner Gibson, the only Panther not to regurgitate her breakfast afterward. "The thing is, last year at state, our fastest girl ran a 2:19 (split). I was the slowest today, and I ran a 2:19."

Other Hillsborough girls medalists included Plant junior Julia Rodriguez (second in 3,200) and Wharton juniors Mikayla Barber and Tyler Watson (fourth and eighth, respectively, in 300 hurdles).

Other boys medalists: Alonso's William Taylor-Haynes (fifth in 110 hurdles, sixth in high jump); Bloomingdale's 4x800 relay (seventh); Plant's Parker Diehl (sixth in pole vault), Michael Dvornik (third in discus) and Travis Christenberry (fourth in 3,200); Plant City's Bogan Stitzel (seventh in pole vault); Newsome's Lars Benner (seventh in 1,600); Riverview's Michael Babinec (seventh in 3,200) and Tampa Bay Tech's Deonte Williams (sixth in 100).

Rangers 5, Indians 2, 11 innings

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Times wires
Saturday, May 5, 2012

Rangers 5, Indians 2

11 innings

CLEVELAND — Pinch-hitter Adrian Beltre hit a three-run homer in the 11th inning to lift Texas. Beltre didn't start for the fourth straight game because of a tender hamstring, but he hit Joe Smith's 1-and-0 pitch over the centerfield wall to help the Rangers snap a three-game losing streak. Cleveland had a three-game winning streak stopped.

Tampa Bay Storm defeats Orlando Predators 55-31

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By Brandon Wright, Times Correspondent
Saturday, May 5, 2012

TAMPA — The Storm has arguably the best trio of receivers in the Arena Football League and entered Saturday sixth in points among 17 teams.

Against Orlando, the defense did its part, too.

Tampa Bay won its second game in a row and took the "War on I-4" series lead by hammering the Predators 55-31 in front of an announced crowd of 8,488 at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

The win gave Tampa Bay (5-3) a 25-24 series lead against Orlando (1-7) and kept it in first place in the South Division, a game ahead of Georgia and two ahead of Jacksonville and New Orleans.

"(Orlando) is just 60 miles up the road," Storm coach Dave Ewart said. "Our guys were fired up."

Tampa Bay's defense, which entered Saturday giving up a league-high average 61.3 points per game, looked stout against Orlando.

It got stops on three of the Predators' five first-half possessions, including two interceptions. Lineman Frisner Nelson, in his first game with the team, scooped up a fumble in the end zone for a fourth-quarter touchdown.

"(The defense) was getting after it," Ewart said. "I'm pretty proud of that group. We got some good pressure up front, and pressure causes turnovers."

All three starting wideouts scored, Prechae Rodriguez leading the way with three touchdown catches. Amarri Jackson recorded game highs in catches (11) and yards (135), and Chand­ler Williams added two touchdown grabs. Quarterback Stephen Wasil finished 16-of-25 for 217 yards, six touchdowns and a pair of interceptions.

Tampa Bay took control late in the first half. Deonte Bolden picked off a Justin Roper pass at the Storm 5-yard line and returned it to the Predators' 11.

Wasil hit Rodriguez in the back right corner of the end zone on the next play for a 21-10 lead with 3:16 to play.

Wasil and Rodriguez again hooked up on the first drive of the second half. Rodriguez leaped high in the air to snag a 12-yard touchdown catch, capping a four-play drive and making it 28-10.

The Storm is 5-0 at home but 0-3 on the road. Next up is at Georgia (May 12) and at Cleveland (May 19). Said Williams: "Now we just have to get a few (wins) on the road."

Tampa Bay Rays: Joe Maddon joins exclusive club with 1,000th game; Gomes vs. Gomes matchup first in history

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, May 5, 2012

Rays vs. A's

When/where: 1:40 today; Tropicana Field

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

Promotions: Joe Maddon sunglasses to the first 10,000 kids

Probable pitchers

Rays:

LH Matt Moore (1-1, 4.20)

a's:

LH Tommy Milone

(3-2, 3.69)

On Moore: He is coming off his first win of the season, allowing one run in five innings against the Mariners. He's 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA in three home starts.

On Milone: He's making his 11th career start, having snapped a two-game winning streak by struggling against the Red Sox his last time out (eight runs in 42/3 innings). Milone has never faced the Rays. He is 1-2, 7.47 in three road starts.

Key matchups

Rays VS. MILONE

None have faced

A'S VS. MOORE

Josh Reddick 0-for-1

On deck

Monday: Off

Tuesday: at Yankees, 7:05, Sun Sports. Rays — James Shields (5-0, 3.70); Yankees — Ivan Nova (3-1, 5.58)

Wednesday: at Yankees, 7:05, Sun Sports/ESPN. Rays — Jeff Niemann (2-3, 4.05); Yankees — David Phelps (0-1, 3.74)

Thursday: at Yankees, 7:05, Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (5-1, 2.35); Yankees — CC Sabathia (4-0, 4.15)

Joe Smith, Times staff writer

Some grand managing

Joe Maddon managed his 1,000th game with the Rays, joining Mike Scioscia (Angels), Ron Gardenhire (Twins), Charlie Manuel (Phillies) and, after today, Jim Leyland (Tigers) as the only to do so with their current teams. Maddon is also the fifth in the modern era to manage 1,000 games with one team without playing in the majors, joining Earl Weaver (O's), Joe McCarthy (Yanks), Jim Leyland (Pirates, Tigers) and Danny Ozark (Phillies).

The Gomes-Gomes meeting

Friday's first Gomes-Gomes meeting in major-league history was a hit, at least in the way Rays reliever Brandon Gomes' pitch plunked A's (and former Rays) DH Jonny Gomes. The two aren't related, and met for the first time Saturday in the Trop weight room, with no hard feelings on either side. "I could have told you Joe Maddon would go for the Gomes vs. Gomes matchup," Jonny said. "That was so him."

Stat of the day

41-1

Rays' record in past 42 games scoring 5 or more runs


I'll Have Another wins 138th Kentucky Derby in jockey Mario Gutierrez's Derby debut

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Times wires
Saturday, May 5, 2012

In the money

Horse Win Place Show
I'll Have Another $32.60 $13.80 $9
Bodemeister $6.20 $5.60
Dullahan $7.20

Payouts
$2 Exacta (19-6) $306.60
$2 Trifecta (19-6-5) $3,065.60
$2 Superfecta (19-6-5-13) $96,092.80


LOUISVILLE, Ky. — I'll Have Another looked like just another horse at the Kentucky Derby.

Until the final furlong, that is.

That's when the chestnut colt — sold for a paltry $11,000, ridden by a rookie jockey hardly anyone knew and stuck in an outside post — blazed past highly regarded Bodemeister to win by 11/2 lengths on Saturday, beating one of the deepest fields in years.

I'll Have Another stormed out of post No. 19 — the first winner from there in 138 Derbys — and bided his time in mid pack as Bodemeister set a blistering pace on a muggy, 85-degree afternoon at Churchill Downs.

"He's an amazing horse. I kept telling everybody, from the first time I met him, I knew he was the one. I knew he was good," jockey Mario Gutierrez said. "I said in an interview, even if they allowed me to pick from the whole rest of the field, I would have stayed with him, 100 percent, no doubt about it."

Making his Derby debut at 25, Gutierrez got his chance to ride I'll Have Another after trainer Doug O'Neill and owner J. Paul Reddam happened to see him at Santa Anita in Southern California.

Gutierrez took an unusual route to get here. He followed in his father's footsteps as a jockey, getting on quarterhorses in Veracruz, Mexico, at 14. After a stint in Canada, he started getting noticed on the West Coast.

Saturday he positioned I'll Have Another, a 15-1 shot, not far from the rail and set him down to run. "I know my horse was reaching every single step of the way, but I wasn't going to stop riding until I was passing the wire," he said.

His horse beat out several more highly regarded contenders and paid $32.60 to win, joining other recent upset winners including Mine That Bird (2009) and Giacomo (2005), both more than 50-1, and 30-1 shot Charismatic (1999).

I'll Have Another won in 2 minutes, 1.83 seconds. Bodemeister, the 4-1 favorite, was second, with Dullahan a neck back in third.

O'Neill didn't waste any time vowing that I'll Have Another will go on to the Preakness in two weeks. They'll be of the favorites as a result of this win and a catchy name. I'll Have Another has nothing to do with alcohol; it's Reddam's response to his wife's nightly query of "Do you want any more cookies?"

It's an offer the portly Reddam rarely refuses.

As for O'Neill, the trainer has made his name predominantly in Southern California.

"When you tell people you're in the horse racing game, they ask you, 'Have you won the Kentucky Derby?' " O'Neill said. "Now I can say, 'Yes, I have, 2012.' "

Union Rags, the 5-1 second choice, got pinched at the start and finished seventh. Gemologist, the 8-1 third choice, was 16th. Tampa Bay Derby winner Prospective was 18th.

Magic stares at exit after rally fails

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Times wires
Saturday, May 5, 2012

ORLANDO — The Pacers have looked like a team with enough talent to win in the playoffs.

After wasting a big lead in Game 4 against the Magic, the Pacers showed they have the late-game toughness to win as well.

George Hill hit a pair of free throws with 2.2 seconds left in overtime to help Indiana survive squandering a 19-point fourth-quarter lead and beat the Magic 101-99 on Saturday to take a 3-1 lead in the first-round Eastern Conference series.

David West scored 26, including 12 in the third quarter and four in overtime, for Indiana. Danny Granger added 21 points.

The Pacers will try to close out the series Tuesday and get out of the opening round for the first time since 2005.

Indiana coach Frank Vogel likes where his team is now.

"We feel like we can get a win on our homecourt," he said. "To come in here in a tough environment and get two (wins), it just speaks volumes of our guys' resiliency."

Orlando had a chance to tie in the closing seconds, but Glen Davis' fade-away jumper bounced off the side of the rim.

Jason Richardson led the Magic with 25 points, and Davis added 24 points and 11 rebounds.

The Magic heads to Indiana looking at the possibility of its second straight first-round exit.

"You wish just one of those shots could've dropped because I thought our guys worked really, really hard," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "We're down 3-1, and it's a matter of mind-set and whether you think you're still in the series or not."

INDIANA (101): Granger 9-20 1-1 21, West 11-23 4-5 26, Hibbert 5-7 4-4 14, Hill 3-10 5-6 12, George 1-7 0-0 2, Barbosa 3-4 0-1 7, Amundson 2-2 0-0 4, Hansbrough 2-5 0-0 4, Collison 3-6 3-3 11. Totals 39-84 17-20 101.

ORLANDO (99): Turkoglu 5-10 0-2 11, Anderson 3-9 2-2 11, Davis 10-18 4-5 24, Nelson 4-15 4-5 12, J.Richardson 9-18 3-4 25, Clark 1-4 2-3 4, Duhon 0-0 0-0 0, Q.Richardson 0-2 0-0 0, Redick 2-9 5-5 10, Orton 0-0 2-2 2. Totals 34-85 22-28 99.

Indiana 22 24 27 16 12— 101

Orlando 19 25 17 28 10— 99

3-Point GoalsIndiana 6-21 (Collison 2-3, Granger 2-8, Barbosa 1-2, Hill 1-4, George 0-4), Orlando 9-29 (J.Richardson 4-12, Anderson 3-6, Turkoglu 1-1, Redick 1-5, Q.Richardson 0-2, Nelson 0-3). Fouled OutHibbert. ReboundsIndiana 53 (West 12), Orlando 52 (Davis 11). AssistsIndiana 23 (Collison 9), Orlando 24 (Nelson 11). Total FoulsIndiana 28, Orlando 23. TechnicalsRedick. A18,846.

Thunder ousts Mavs

DALLAS — James Harden scored 15 of his 29 in the fourth quarter as Oklahoma City rallied for a 103-97 victory to sweep the defending champion Mavericks out of the playoffs.

The Thunder trailed by 13 points with 9:44 left before Harden scored seven in a row and nine in a 12-0 run over the next three minutes.

Oklahoma City finally took the lead, and kept it, after Russell Westbrook stole the ball from Dirk Nowitzki and passed to Serge Ibaka for a two-handed slam that made it 92-91 with 5:17 left.

Dallas is the second defending champion in five years to be swept in the first round. A year after beating the Mavs in the 2006 Finals, Miami lost in four games to Chicago.

OKLAHOMA CITY (103): Durant 9-18 4-5 24, Ibaka 5-9 0-0 10, Perkins 0-1 0-0 0, Westbrook 3-12 6-8 12, Sefolosha 2-4 0-0 5, Harden 11-16 4-5 29, Collison 1-2 2-2 4, Cook 1-4 0-0 3, Fisher 5-6 0-0 12, Mohammed 2-3 0-0 4. Totals 39-75 16-20 103.

DALLAS (97): Marion 4-9 1-2 9, Nowitzki 10-25 13-13 34, Haywood 1-3 2-2 4, Kidd 6-11 0-0 16, Terry 4-12 1-2 11, Carter 3-10 0-0 8, Mahinmi 3-4 4-5 10, Wright 1-1 0-0 2, West 1-4 0-0 3. Totals 33-79 21-24 97.

Oklahoma City 26 21 21 35— 103

Dallas 24 23 34 16— 97

3-Point GoalsOklahoma City 9-24 (Harden 3-4, Fisher 2-2, Durant 2-8, Sefolosha 1-2, Cook 1-4, Westbrook 0-4), Dallas 10-19 (Kidd 4-8, Carter 2-3, Terry 2-4, West 1-1, Nowitzki 1-1, Marion 0-2). Fouled OutIbaka. ReboundsOklahoma City 44 (Durant 11), Dallas 45 (Carter 8). AssistsOklahoma City 22 (Westbrook 6), Dallas 19 (Kidd 8). Total FoulsOklahoma City 27, Dallas 21. TechnicalsWestbrook, Oklahoma City defensive three second, Marion. A20,533.

Clippers grab 2-1 edge

LOS ANGELES — Chris Paul had 24 points and 11 assists, and Blake Griffin added 17 points for the Clippers, who beat the Grizzles 87-86 after Rudy Gay missed a jumper just before the buzzer.

The Clippers won their first home playoff game in six seasons to take a 2-1 West series lead.

Trailing 86-80, Gay hit a 3-pointer with 12.9 seconds left. After L.A. missed three of four free throws, Gay hit another 3-pointer. Eric Bledsoe missed two more free throws, and Gay got a good look at the end but missed.

"We took too many quick shots and gave up second-chance points," Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said.

MEMPHIS (86): Gay 5-13 12-15 24, Randolph 6-13 5-8 17, Gasol 3-5 5-5 11, Conley 3-10 2-4 9, Allen 2-6 0-0 4, Pondexter 4-5 2-2 11, Speights 2-5 0-1 4, Mayo 1-8 4-4 6, Cunningham 0-0 0-0 0, Selby 0-0 0-0 0, Arenas 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-65 30-39 86.

L.A. CLIPPERS (87): Butler 2-7 0-0 4, Griffin 7-13 3-9 17, Jordan 0-0 0-0 0, Paul 8-19 7-8 24, Foye 6-9 0-0 16, Young 3-5 0-0 7, Martin 2-4 0-0 4, Evans 1-2 2-8 4, Williams 3-8 0-0 8, Bledsoe 1-3 1-5 3. Totals 33-70 13-30 87.

Memphis 22 24 25 15— 86

L.A. Clippers 23 27 14 23— 87

3-Point GoalsMemphis 4-13 (Gay 2-5, Pondexter 1-1, Conley 1-4, Mayo 0-3), L.A. Clippers 8-17 (Foye 4-5, Williams 2-4, Young 1-3, Paul 1-3, Butler 0-2). Fouled OutMayo. ReboundsMemphis 49 (Gasol 10), L.A. Clippers 53 (Evans 11). AssistsMemphis 19 (Conley 8), L.A. Clippers 18 (Paul 11). Total FoulsMemphis 26, Clippers 27. TechnicalsSpeights, Griffin. A19,060.

Jonny Gomes' homer sends Tampa Bay Rays to 4-3 loss in 12 innings to Oakland Athletics

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, May 5, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG — The sound of Saturday's 4-3, 12-inning loss to the A's was actually rather lively.

Despite being done in by ex-mate Jonny Gomes after wasting numerous opportunities along the way in one of their sloppiest nights of the season, their six-game overall and 10-game home winning streaks snapped, the Rays didn't take it too hard.

Not with a three-piece mariachi band playing in their clubhouse afterward, players clapping and a few dancing along then cheering as they had the suit-clad musicians pull the cord on the lamp usually reserved for victories.

"We try not to hang our heads for too long,'' first baseman Carlos Peña said, "and even though it was definitely a tough loss — it hurt — why not dance our pain away, I guess. Let's just say that if we would have won, the party would have been a lot better.''

Though they still have the top record in the majors at 19-9, the Rays, on this night, certainly didn't look like the best team, stranding runners, making errors, failing to take advantage of repeated chances before a Tropicana Field crowd of 23,890.

"It's a tough one to swallow," second baseman Ben Zobrist said. "But we've been winning so much lately something like that was bound to happen."

The end was painful enough, Gomes, their former sparkplug they still rave about, homering off Joel Peralta to open the 12th.

"An extra-inning home run is nice to have on your resume, absolutely,'' said Gomes, who is 6-for-14 with two homers vs. the Rays. "It's not to rub it in Tampa's face, or 'it's awesome' because it's against my old team. At this point, I have a whole bunch of ex-teams.

"I have nothing but respect for the guys over there and the organization as a whole. I'm not playing harder against them or anything like that. But it's good to get a win against the best team in baseball."

Said Peralta: "It's on me, I'm supposed to be better than that.''

The home run was only part of Gomes' tale, as he made a stunning running, leaping catch at the wall to rob Peña of a double in the 10th, Rays manager Joe Maddon seen mouthing the word, "Unbelievable."

"I was amazed at the catch itself, it was a great catch,'' Peña said. "I think all of us were very shocked when he actually came up with that ball. But that's the way he goes, hard every single time.''

Worse for the Rays was the reality of how they did themselves in.

Three times, in the ninth, 10th, and 11th, they had a chance to win and failed, and were 0-for-7 overall with runners in scoring position. They were sloppy in the field. And they didn't get a good start from Jeremy Hellickson, who lasted only 32/3 innings, the shortest of his 39 major-league starts, as he threw 102 pitches.

There was plenty of action early as the A's took 2-0 and 3-1 leads, then the Rays flexed their muscle to tie it, with homers by Elliot Johnson, Zobrist and Peña leading off the third, fourth and fifth innings.

But that was just a prelude to the late-night drama.

Marlins 4, Padres 1

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Times wires
Saturday, May 5, 2012

Marlins 4, Padres 1

SAN DIEGO — Mark Buehrle pitched a five-hitter, and pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs drove in the go-ahead run to lift Miami to its season-best fifth straight win. With a bullpen depleted by overuse, manager Ozzie Guillen was counting on Buehrle to pitch deep into the game, and he delivered in a game that lasted 2 hours, 18 minutes one day after the teams played a 12-inning game that lasted 4:45.

Mariners 7, Twins 0

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Times wires
Sunday, May 6, 2012

Mariners 7, Twins 0

SEATTLE — Felix Hernandez and Steve Delabar combined on a one-hitter, and Kyle Seager went 2-for-4 with a homer and four RBIs for Seattle. Former Tampa Catholic standout Denard Span had Minnesota's only hit, a roller through the right side in the fourth inning. Hernandez improved his ERA to 1.89. In his past four outings, he has allowed 15 hits and two earned runs in 31 innings with 32 strikeouts. Jason Marquis tied a career worst with six walks for the Twins.

Angels 6, Blue Jays 2

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Times wires
Sunday, May 6, 2012

Angels 6, Blue Jays 2

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Mike Trout and Mark Trumbo homered, C.J. Wilson pitched effectively through eight innings and Los Angeles bounced back from consecutive shutout losses to Toronto. Wilson, the All-Star left-hander signed away from the two-time defending AL champion Rangers in December, had the longest of his six starts with the Angels. Adam Lind hit a leadoff homer in the seventh for the Blue Jays.

Tampa Bay Rays fall 9-5 to Oakland Athletics, lose two of three in home series

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Times staff
Sunday, May 6, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG — Rookie Matt Moore had his worst start in the majors, allowing eight runs in 42/3 innings after being spotted a 4-0 lead in the first, and the Tampa Bay Rays lost their second straight game Sunday afternoon, 9-5 to the Oakland Athletics.

Moore struck out four batters in the first two innings but fell apart during a five-run third. Oakland scored all its runs with two outs, capped by Brandon Inge's three-run homer, which put the A's ahead to stay.

After a 1-2-3 fourth, Moore failed to make it out of the fifth, again being victimized by two-out hits. Lefty-hitting Daric Barton knocked him out of the game with a two-run double that made it 8-4.

Matt Joyce went 3-for-4 with two RBIs for Tampa Bay, and B.J. Upton homered and drew three walks. The Rays had won five straight series before losing two of three to Oakland.

The Rays lost leadoff hitter Desmond Jennings to left knee soreness in the third inning. Elliot Johnson moved to leftfield from second base to replace him, and Will Rhymes entered the game at second.


Captain's Corner: Season for beach tarpon gets under way

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By Tyson Wallerstein, Times Correspondent
Sunday, May 6, 2012

What's hot: Beach tarpon have arrived. Light wind the past few days has made for great conditions for sight casting small pods of fish as they make their way south along Pinellas beaches.

Tactics: Early morning starts are a must when it comes to beach tarpon. Staging up on the outside sandbar will allow you to make long casts. Best baits include live pilchards, pumpkinseeds, threadfin and pinfish. Cork your baits with about a 6-foot leader to help keep the baits near the surface where the fish are cruising. Remember to be courteous to other anglers as a school goes by. There is a good chance another one won't be far behind it. Being patient usually pays off.

What else: Supermoon tides have made for excellent read fishing. Target no-motor-zone flats for a chance at getting redfish ranging from 24 to 26 inches. Higher than normal tides will have redfish pushing well underneath the mangroves. Working along the edge of the mangroves and pitching into any small cut or creek entrance will allow you to get your bait into the zone. Almost any cut bait will work in this situation, or use a live pilchard weighted down with a large split shoot to help keep it in the spot.

Tyson Wallerstein runs Inshore Fishing Charters in the Clearwater/St. Petersburg area and can be reached at (727) 692-5868 and via email capt.tyson@hotmail.com.

Yankees 10, Royals 4

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Times wires
Sunday, May 6, 2012

Yankees 10, Royals 4

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Robinson Cano hit his eighth career grand slam, Alex Rodriguez added a three-run shot and New York earned a four-game split with its best offensive output in a dozen games. "Great to see that from the middle of the order," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "We know what these guys are capable of doing, and eventually it's going to come."

Tigers 3, White Sox 1

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Times wires
Sunday, May 6, 2012

Tigers 3, White Sox 1

DETROIT — Prince Fielder homered and Rick Porcello had a second straight impressive start to lead Detroit. "I felt like the ball's been coming out of my hand good as far as my fastball having life and that sort of thing," Porcello said. "I think just trying to slow everything down has been the main thing that I continue to keep working on."

Indians 4, Rangers 2

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Times wires
Sunday, May 6, 2012

Indians 4, Rangers 2

CLEVELAND — Ubaldo Jimenez pitched seven scoreless innings, and Cleveland handed Yu Darvish his first major-league loss. Jason Kipnis homered off the Japanese star, who struck out a career-high 11 over six innings. "If this was the first loss ever in my life, I would feel different," Darvish said. "But I have experienced many losses. So now I just prepare for my next game."

Mets 3, Diamondbacks 1

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Times wires
Sunday, May 6, 2012

Mets 3, Diamondbacks 1

NEW YORK — Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey pitched a shutout into the ninth inning for New York. Gerardo Parra drew a leadoff walk in the ninth and scored on Justin Upton's double. Dickey left to a standing ovation but was disappointed in himself. "About 45 miles in our bus ride to Philly, I'll probably let up a little bit," he said. "It leaves a sour taste in my mouth simply because I have an expectation of myself in that situation, and that is not it."

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