By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, May 24, 2012

Rays at Red Sox

When/where: 7:10 tonight; Fenway Park, Boston

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

Probable pitchers

Rays:

RH Alex Cobb (1-0, 2.57)

Red Sox:

LH Jon Lester (3-3, 3.95)

On Cobb: Settled in after early struggles Saturday to have an impressive, seven-inning outing against the Braves, his first start of the year. He is 2-1 with a 1.78 ERA in four career road starts.

On Lester: He has won his past two starts and allowed three earned runs or fewer in four of his past five. He's 10-6 with a 3.91 ERA in 20 career starts against Tampa Bay.

Rays vs. Lester

Carlos Peña 11-for-43, 5 HRs

Jose Molina 5-for-15

B.J. Upton 12-for-55, 3 HRs

Red Sox vs. Cobb

Mike Aviles 0-for-3

On deck

Saturday: at Red Sox, 7:15, Ch. 13. Rays — David Price (6-3, 2.88); Sox — Josh Beckett (4-4, 4.38)

Sunday: at Red Sox, 1:35, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeremy Hellickson (4-1, 2.73); Sox — Clay Buchholz (4-2, 7.84)

Rays disabled list

(with eligible-to-return date)

1B/OF Brandon Allen, right quad strain, today

C Robinson Chirinos, concussion, 60-day, June 5

RHP Kyle Farnsworth, right elbow strain, 60-day, June 5

OF Sam Fuld, right wrist surgery, 60-day, June 5

OF Brandon Guyer, left shoulder strain, 15-day, Monday

OF Desmond Jennings, left knee sprain, 15-day, Sunday

INF Jeff Keppinger, right toe fracture, 15-day, June 3

C Jose Lobaton, right shoulder soreness, 15-day, April 30

3B Evan Longoria, left hamstring tear, 15-day, May 16

RHP Jeff Niemann, right leg fracture, 60-day, July 14

Taking the train

Two more musical acts have been added to the Rays' summer concert series at Tropicana Field. Singer Pat Monahan, right, and Train return to play after the Rays-Red Sox game July 13. O.A.R. will perform after the Rays-A's game Aug. 24. The first postgame show will be LL Cool J on June 2.

Quote to note

"We're not playing the best baseball right now. Defensively, offensively, we're not up to where we want to be. But we're finding ways to win. And that's what it's all about, the W." — RHP James Shields

Number of the day

14 Consecutive saves to start the season for Rays RHP Fernando Rodney, two shy of the club record set by RHP Rafael Soriano in 2010 and RHP Al Reyes in 2007

Times wires
Thursday, May 24, 2012

Indians 2, Tigers 1

CLEVELAND — Justin Masterson, who entered 0-4 in seven starts against Detroit, matched Justin Verlander pitch for pitch, and Shin-Soo Choo homered as the Indians capped a three-game sweep. The Tigers have lost six of eight and are 11-21 after a 9-3 start. "I think there's a little tension," Verlander said. "I think we're all feeling that way. Emotions run high. We would have liked to start out hot and be 30-10 right now, but that's not the case. We know it's there. We just have to find it."

Times wires
Thursday, May 24, 2012

IndyCar

What: Indianapolis 500

When/where: Today, Carb Day, including Firestone Freedom 100 Indy Lights race (NBC Sports Network, 11 a.m.); Sunday, race (Ch. 28, noon)

Fast facts: Penske Racing's Ryan Briscoe took the pole Saturday. … Helio Castroneves is trying to match the race record of four victories held by Al Unser, A.J. Foyt and Rick Mears. … Last year's winner, Dan Wheldon, died in a crash in the season-ending race at Las Vegas.

Standings: 1. Will Power, 180; 2. Castroneves, 135; 3. James Hinchcliffe, 123; 4. Ryan Hunter-Reay, 121; 5. Simon Pagenaud, 118

Sprint Cup

What: Coca-Cola 600

When/where: Saturday, practice (Speed, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.); Sunday, race (Ch. 13 , 6 p.m.); Concord, N.C.

Fast facts: Jimmie Johnson has six wins at Charlotte Motor Speedway. … Danica Patrick makes her third Cup start. … Darrell Waltrip won the race a record five times.

Standings: 1. Greg Biffle, 411; 2. Matt Kenseth, 409; 3. Dale Earnhardt Jr., 397; 4. Denny Hamlin, 394; 5. Johnson and Martin Truex, 372; 7. Tony Stewart, 369; 8. Kevin Harvick, 361; 9. Kyle Busch, 349; 10. Carl Edwards, 337

Nationwide

What: History 300

When/where: Saturday, qualifying (ESPN2, 11 a.m.), race (Ch. 28, 2:45 p.m.); Concord, N.C.

Standings: 1. Ricky Stenhouse, 412; 2. Elliott Sadler, 384; 3. Austin Dillon, 369; 4. Sam Hornish, 338; 5. Cole Whitt, 320

Formula One

What: Monaco Grand Prix

When/where: Saturday, practice, qualifying (Speed, 8 a.m.); Sunday, race (Speed, 8 a.m.); Monte Carlo, Monaco

Standings: 1. Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso, 61; 3. Lewis Hamilton, 53; 4. Kimi Raikkonen, 49; 5. Mark Webber, 48

Trucks

Next: Lucas Oil 200, June 1, Dover (Del.) International Speedway

Standings: 1. Justin Lofton, 200; 2. Timothy Peters, 199; 3. Ty Dillon, 184

NHRA

Next: Supernationals, June 1-3, Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, Englishtown, N.J.

Standings: Top Fuel — 1. Spencer Massey, 670; 2. Tony Schumacher, 658. Funny Car — 1. Robert Hight, 775; 2. Ron Capps, 596. Pro Stock — 1. Greg Anderson, 755; 2. Jason Line, 662. Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Eddie Krawiec, 337; 2. Andrew Hines, 270

Times wires
Thursday, May 24, 2012

NFL

Winslow says he's 'Happy' to join seahawks

RENTON, Wash. — Tight end Kellen Winslow, traded by the Bucs to the Seahawks on Monday, said he was excited to join his new team and ready to prove he still has something left.

He said of not fitting in with new Bucs coach Greg Schiano's plans: "Whenever a new regime comes in, it's a little tough because everybody has a clean slate. I just wasn't part of their vision, and I'm here, and I'm happy. It's good to have a job."

He said the trade felt like a breath of fresh air — literally. "I can breathe out here," Winslow said. "My allergies were kicking up in Tampa."

"We think it's just a fantastic addition because he can make things happen," Seattle coach Pete Carroll said.

Tebow struggles: Tim Tebow threw two interceptions in three plays during Jets seven-on-seven drills. Starter Mark Sanchez was sharp, with an 80-yard completion to second-round pick Stephen Hill. Tebow, for the first time in his career, also practiced on special teams as a punt protector.

More nfl: Hakeem Nicks, the Giants' top receiver, fractured his right foot while running a route. Surgery was scheduled for today; he should be available for the Sept. 5 opener, with an expected recovery time of 12 weeks. … NBC's Sunday Night Football was the most-watched TV show for the 2011-12 season, the first time a sports series was the highest-rated prime-time show for a full ratings year, the league said.

Horses

I'll Have Another trainer punished

Doug O'Neill, the trainer of Triple Crown hopeful I'll Have Another, was suspended 45 days as a result of his horse Agenta exceeding the limit for total carbon dioxide. The punishment won't begin before July 1, ensuring he will saddle I'll Have Another, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, in the Belmont Stakes on June 9. The California Horse Racing Board cited O'Neill after Argenta tested for a high level of TCO2 in his blood Aug. 25, 2010. Racing officials agreed with O'Neill's denial of intentional wrongdoing, but a rule says trainers are ultimately responsible for horses in their care.

Et cetera

Tennis: Nikolay Davydenko beat top seed and Tampa resident John Isner 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), joining Gilles Simon and Nicolas Almagro in the Open de Nice semifinals. … The United States beat Japan 2-1 in the World Team Cup. James Blake and Ryan Harrison won the decisive doubles.

WNBA: Seimone Augustus scored 25 to rally host Minnesota in a 92-84 win over Los Angeles.

Soccer: Juventus coach Antonio Conte signed a three-year deal to stay with the Serie A champion until 2015.

Betting: New Jersey will defy a federal ban enacted in 1992 and allow betting on football, basketball and other games this fall, Gov. Chris Christie said. The U.S. Justice Department declined comment.

gymnastics: Daniel Purvis led Britain to the lead in qualifying at the European men's championships at Montpellier, France. Russia, Germany, Romania, Belarus, Ukraine and Switzerland also qualified for Saturday's team final.

Times wires

The Sixers and Celtics met 12 times in the playoffs from 1953-69 and five times from 1977-85, fomenting an animosity that stretched from Bob Cousy and the Syracuse Nationals

Times wires
Thursday, May 24, 2012

FORT WORTH, Texas — Zach Johnson stood behind the fourth green looking at his club and then the ball that rolled within 4 feet of the hole.

"I got lucky," Johnson said about his second shot on the 244-yard par 3 — his 13th hole Thursday — after his tee shot went through the green and stopped in a clump of grass.

Three holes later, Johnson was so deep in a greenside bunker he couldn't be seen from the other side of the green until he popped up to watch his blast over the ridge to 21/2 feet from the cup.

Those par-savers were part of a bogey-free 6-under 64 that gave him a one-stroke lead after the first round in the Crowne Plaza Invitational, where 20 to 30 mph wind with higher gusts whipped through the big oak trees lining the fairways at Colonial Country Club.

"I didn't put myself ever in a position that was too worrisome," Johnson said. "I've got zero complaints."

Jason Dufner, rookie Harris English, Tom Gillis and Kyle Reifers were tied for second. Sergio Garcia was in a group at 4 under.

Dufner won the Byron Nelson Championship last weekend, and both his PGA Tour victories have come in the past four weeks. He started at Colonial with three consecutive birdies, was 5 under after a 10-foot birdie putt at the 174-yard eighth, then overcame two bogeys in a three-hole stretch.

Dufner said he doesn't like to putt. "It's not my favorite part of the game, which probably leads to a reason why it's not the strongest part of my game," he said. "I need to find better ways to make that a bit less of a weakness or maybe even turn it into a strength."

Dufner played with Matt Kuchar, who two weeks ago won the Players Championship, and Rickie Fowler, the Players runnerup who the week before earned his first tour victory at the Wells Fargo Championship.

Kuchar's only birdie in a round of 72 came on the par-5 No. 1. Fowler birdied two of the last three holes for 68. "Decent. Not good, not bad," Fowler said.

champions: Roger Chapman shot 3-under 68 to take a one-shot lead over John Cook after the first round of the Senior PGA Championship at Benton Harbor, Mich. Defending champion Tom Watson is sitting out the tournament because of a wrist problem. Four-time champion Hale Irwin shot 71. Irwin last won the event in 2004, but finished fourth last year.

European: Peter Lawrie and David Drysdale each shot 6-under 66s for a one-shot lead over a group of five at the tour's PGA Championship. Top-ranked Rory McIlroy had five bogeys and a double bogey in his round of 74 to go with three birdies and an eagle. On the par-5, 12th he hurled his club after a poor provisional shot, which came after he sent his second shot out of bounds en route to bogey 6. McIlroy could be fined if his actions are be deemed against the tour's guidelines on course etiquette.

Times wires
Thursday, May 24, 2012

CINCINNATI — Rookie catcher Devin Mesoraco capped a series full of homers with his first grand slam Thursday, leading the Reds to a 6-3 victory over the Braves.

The Reds completed their first four-game sweep of the Braves in Cincinnati since 1980 at Riverfront Stadium. They've won six straight, their longest streak since August 2010.

The teams combined for 16 homers — 13 solo shots — accounting for 21 of the 24 runs in the series.

Mesoraco connected off Kris Medlen, who relieved Randall Delgado with the bases loaded in the sixth, and got a face full of shaving cream from teammates afterward. He pulled the ball down the leftfield line and watched it fly straight rather than curve foul.

"That's kind of why I paused at the plate at the start," Mesoraco said. "I wasn't sure it was going to stay fair, but it stayed true. It didn't tail. That's a pretty good sign for me as a hitter."

Drew Stubbs added a solo shot for Cincinnati.

Times wires
Thursday, May 24, 2012

NEW YORK — The Steinbrenners and Yankees brass issued quick denials Thursday in response to a New York Daily News report that the family "is exploring the possibility of selling the Yankees."

"It is pure fiction," managing partner Hal Steinbrenner said.

"We have not told anyone or indicated to anyone that it's for sale," team president Randy Levine said.

"Every impression I have gotten from Hal leads me to believe they plan to be involved in this for generations to come and pass it on to their children," GM Brian Cashman told ESPN.com.

Hal's father, George, headed a group that bought the Yankees from CBS Inc. in 1973 for about $8.7 million net. The elder Steinbrenner, a longtime Tampa resident, died two years ago.

Financial experts estimated the Yankees' value in excess of $3 billion, the Daily News reported. Some experts believe it would be good to sell now before the decline of the team's veteran core diminishes the Yankees' value. Speculation has also ramped up because Hal has said he wanted to reduce the payroll and insiders says Hal doesn't share the passion for the team George had.

If the Yankees ever do go on the market, Mayor Michael Bloomberg won't be a bidder. "I have front-row tickets which cost a fortune," he joked. "That's as much as I can afford."

Clemens trial: Former major-league first baseman David Segui testified for the prosecution in the Roger Clemens perjury trial in Washington and said he had a telephone conversation with Clemens' strength coach 11 years ago.

"He mentioned that he had kept darts to get his wife off his back," Segui said of Brian McNamee.

McNamee told the jury last week he saved a needle and other materials from a steroid injection of Clemens in 2001. McNamee testified he was trying to allay his wife's fears he would take all the blame if the drug use was discovered.

Clemens is charged with lying to Congress in 2008 when he denied using steroids and human growth hormone. McNamee says he injected Clemens with both substances and saved some of the waste from a 2001 injection in a beer can.

Clemens' lawyers have implied McNamee conjured the evidence after becoming the subject of federal and other investigators in 2007.

Schilling layoffs: Former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling's faltering video game company has laid off its entire staff. 38 Studios moved from Massachusetts in 2010 after Rhode Island offered a $75 million loan guarantee officials said would bring jobs and tax revenue. The company was late this month on a $1.1 million payment to the state economic development agency.

Dodgers: 2B Mark Ellis left a hospital six days after emergency surgery on his left leg. He was injured last week when the Cardinals' Tyler Greene slid into him at second base. His leg needed fluid and blood drained.

Marlins: CF Emilio Bonifacio, the majors' stolen base leader, was scheduled to have ligament surgery on his left thumb today and was expected to be sidelined four to six weeks. Reserve OF Austin Kearns (sore right hamstring) is also going to the DL.

Tigers: CF Austin Jackson went on the 15-day DL with an abdominal strain.

White Sox: LHP John Danks is headed to the 15-day DL because of soreness in his left shoulder. Jose Quintana will be called up from the minors and start today against the Indians. Danks believes he will rejoin the rotation after June 4.

Times wires
Thursday, May 24, 2012

CONCORD, N.C. — It has been a long time, but Richard Petty has bragging rights once again in Charlotte.

Tampa's Aric Almirola took the pole for Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 with a lap of 192.940 mph Thursday. Teammate Marcus Ambrose finished second at 191.598, giving Petty a front-row sweep at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

"Hey ya'll," Petty said to reporters as he walked into a news conference. "Haven't sat up here in a while."

Petty won a Sprint Cup-record 123 poles during his career. But his No. 43 car hasn't sat on the pole at the Coca-Cola 600 in 46 years. And it hasn't won since John Andretti at Martinsville on April 18, 1999.

"This really makes me feel good because our guys have been working hard for a long time and they finally got a little recognition," Petty said. "It shows what these guys have been doing is right. It's a confidence-builder for us, even though it's just qualifying. We have bragging rights for a couple of days here anyway."

Almirola, 28, gearing up for his first Sprint Cup race at Charlotte, got his first pole in the series by taking advantage of cool track conditions late.

Jimmie Johnson, who won last week's All-Star race, qualified third followed by points leader Greg Biffle.

Kurt Busch will start at the back of the field after wrecking. "Sorry, guys," he radioed to his crew as he drove toward the garage.

Almirola said he was "honored" to give Petty Motorsports the pole for a race Petty considers the second biggest in NASCAR behind only the Daytona 500.

"It's been a huge honor … not just to drive at Richard Petty Motorsports but to drive the No. 43 car, probably the most iconic car in the history of our sport," Almirola said. "It's a huge honor to be able to put that No. 43 car back on top of the board. I know it's qualifying and we want to be able to do this after the race. But it's a start."

The No. 43 car has won 122 poles, 114 by Petty.

Almirola credited new crew chief Mike Ford, who joined the team for the Talladega race earlier this month, for making changes to the car that finished 19th in the last points race.

"He was like, 'I'm going to step off the island this week. It may or may not work, but we didn't run good enough … for it to matter,' " Almirola said. "So we came back this week with something totally different."

Said Ford: "We've got the balance right, and we've got speed."

Ambrose turned the fastest lap in practice but couldn't beat out his teammate for the pole. It didn't seem to bother him.

"We're a two-car team here trying to take it to the big super teams," Ambrose said. "If you're going to get beat by anyone, I guess you want to be beaten by your teammate. It's a proud day for us."

Times wires
Thursday, May 24, 2012

NEWARK, N.J. — Eighteen years ago, Mark Messier set the stage for one of sports' most dramatic moments.

On the eve of the Rangers' must-win Game 6 against the Devils at New Jersey in the 1994 Eastern Conference final, Messier guaranteed his team would force a deciding contest at Madison Square Garden.

The Rangers not only won, Messier had a hat trick.

Fast forward to now. The teams once more head to a n East final Game 6 in New Jersey with the Rangers down 3-2, needing a win to stay alive.

That's where the similarity ends. There is no Messier in the Rangers' locker room to will his team to victory after predicting it. And New York isn't the star-laden team that ended the franchise's half-century Stanley Cup drought in 1994.

Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur, 40, is the only player remaining on either team from the 1994 series. "I don't see anything that is similar," he said Thursday. "It's different teams and a different way of playing the game. That's 18 years ago. That's a long time. I know I'm feeling a lot different."

Follicley challenged New Jersey coach Peter DeBoer, 43, was on the verge of starting his career behind the bench at the time and said his only memory of the guarantee was that he still had hair 18 years ago.

Rangers coach John Tortorella said his players were not even thinking about the comparison. "Not to disrespect what happened, but that has nothing to do with how we're preparing, I guess, is the best way to put it."

Around the league: Canucks coach Alain Vigneault confirmed reports that goalie Roberto Luongo has asked to be traded. "This is what he wants now," Vigneault told Canadian TV network TVA Sports. "And what we must do is (make the best decision) for our organization." The Lightning is among the teams to which Luongo will accept a trade, according to the previous reports. Luongo's contract has 10 years left and pays $6.714 million the next six. … Coyotes defenseman Michal Rozsival has no structural damage to his right knee, which appeared to be injured on what looked like a knee-on-knee hit by the Kings' Dustin Brown in Game 5 of the West final Tuesday, general manager Don Maloney said. Rozsival, who was on crutches, has a knee/thigh bruise, Maloney said. The hit came late in overtime, 12 seconds before Dustin Penner scored to clinch the series for Los Angeles. No penalty was called.

Times staff, wires


Thursday, May 24, 2012

HOOVER, Ala. — Three pitchers combined to allow four hits and Riley Reynolds drove in both Vanderbilt runs in a 2-1 victory over Florida at the SEC tournament on Thursday.

The loss sent the No. 3-seeded Gators into an elimination game against No. 2 South Carolina at 7:30 tonight (BHSN).

Sam Selman struck out seven over six innings for No. 5 Vandy, which meets the Gators-Gamecocks winner in Game 2 of a semifinal doubleheader that starts at noon Saturday.

Florida's Hudson Randall retired 11 of his first 12 batters, but he issued consecutive two-out walks in the fourth. And Reynolds followed with shot to right-center. The Gators nearly tied it in the seventh, but Plant High graduate Preston Tucker's drive was caught on the warning track for just a sac fly.

More Florida: Pitcher/first baseman Brian Johnson and pitcher/infielder Austin Maddox are among the 10 finalists for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award. Fellow junior Nolan Fontana is a finalist for the Brooks Wallace Award for the nation's top shortstop. The winners will be announced June 30.

Miami stays alive: Dale Carey's two-run homer in the seventh broke a 3-3 tie as No. 6 Miami beat No. 2 North Carolina 5-3 at the ACC tournament in Greensboro, N.C. A loss would have meant Miami couldn't make the final. Instead, it, UNC, No. 7 Wake Forest and No. 3 N.C. State are 1-1 in round-robin pool play. Miami faces Wake at 7 tonight. In the other pool, No. 1 Florida State (0-1) faces No. 5 Clemson (0-1) at 3 today and No. 8 Georgia Tech (1-0) faces No. 4 Virginia (1-0) at 11 a.m.

Football: Plus-one?

Conference commissioners are again considering a plus-one system for Division I-A football, CBSSports.com reported.

The report came a day after Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott told the Wall Street Journal, "It's possible that (a plus-one) could get some traction."

Scott called the game between champions of the Big 12 and SEC that begins in 2014 a "game-changer." Under the plus-one, the winners of that game and the Rose Bowl, between champions of the Pac-12 and Big Ten, could play in a championship.

The ACC's John Swofford and Big 12's Chuck Neinas said they still favor a four-team playoff. The Big Ten's Jim Delany and SEC's Mike Slive were not available for comment.

Florida: For a limited time, football season-ticket orders are being accepted. To order, go to gatorzone.com/tickets or call toll-free 1-800-344-2867, ext. 6800.

Ohio St.: Athletic director Gene Smith said his department is looking into 12 additional NCAA violations but they are minor, like the 46 he previously said are being investigated. There is no timetable for findings. Big Ten associate commissioner Chad Hawley said the league is "not concerned."

Sun Belt: The league will not invite Idaho and New Mexico State to join. The two are the only football-playing schools not leaving the WAC after this season. The Mountain West previously said it would not invite the pair. Neither school commented on its options, which could include dropping down to I-AA.

Tennis: Florida's Lauren Embree and Allie Will each won to advance to the round of 16 at the NCAA singles tournament in Athens, Ga. Joanna Mather and Sofie Oyen, and both of the Gators' remaining men, Nassim Slilam and Bob van Overbeek, were eliminated. In doubles, Embree and Mather won a first-round match to reach the round of 16. Will and Oyen, and Slilam and Billy Federhofer lost.

Women's golf: Florida shot 9-over 297 to sit tied for 11th, 15 shots behind first-place Alabama, at the NCAA championship in Franklin, Tenn. Camilla Hedberg shot 2-over 74 to sit seven back of first-place Chirapat Jao-Javanil of Oklahoma and Giulia Molinaro of Arizona State entering today's final round. FSU's Maria Salinas shot 79 and was tied for 121st.

Women's basketball: Morgan Jones, a 6-foot-2 guard from Altamonte Springs, transferred to FSU after one season at Northwestern. She will sit out the upcoming season. Last season, the McDonald's All-American averaged 14.1 points and six rebounds. Jones is the second transfer to join FSU. Yashira Delgado, a 5-2 guard, came from Hills­borough Community College and is eligible immediately.

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, May 24, 2012

CLEARWATER — It was easily USF's longest inning of the season, but also its best.

Nine consecutive batters reached base in the third — interrupted but not slowed by a 3-hour, 38-minute rain delay — and the Bulls struck for eight runs on their way to a 12-5 victory against Pittsburgh to stay alive in the Big East tournament at Bright House Field on Thursday night.

No. 4-seeded USF (35-21) faces the loser of this morning's Louisville-Connecticut game — postponed Thursday night because of the rain — at 6 tonight. The winner advances to Saturday's semifinals needing two wins to reach Sunday's championship game.

"Long day, but we lived to play again," said USF coach Lelo Prado, whose team lost 7-2 to Connecticut on Wednesday. "We took good swings the whole game, which we didn't do (Wednesday). So that's a good sign for (today)."

The bottom of USF's order got the third started with catcher Drew Longley walking and shortstop Kyle Teaf getting hit by a pitch. Then the hits came: a bloop single by Alex Mendez to load the bases, a two-run single by second baseman Luis Llerena, two-run double by centerfielder James Ramsay and an RBI single by first baseman Todd Brazeal.

Then lightning forced the teams off the field, and heavy rain delayed the game until 9:40, when the Bulls' onslaught resumed. Designated hitter Blake Sydeski walked. Rightfielder Jimmy Falla hit an RBI double, and third baseman Zac Gilcrease added a two-run single for a 9-0 lead.

It was the Bulls' highest-scoring inning of the year, trumping a seven-run inning in a March 3 win against Savannah State. USF hadn't scored nine runs in a game since the last time it faced Pitt (28-28), a 9-8 win on April 15.

No. 8 Pitt scored four in the fifth off Joey Lovecchio, normally a top starter but pressed into duty to relieve Derrick Stultz because the delay.

Two other games were completed. No. 2 St. John's earned a spot in the semifinals with a 6-3 win against No. 3 Seton Hall. The Red Storm led 1-0 after four but got four in the fifth on its way to avenging a loss to Seton Hall in last year's Big East championship.

No. 7 Notre Dame, which was routed by St. John's 12-2 Wednesday, stayed alive with a 9-0 win against No. 6 Rutgers in an elimination game.

The last time Notre Dame won a game by at least nine runs one day removed from losing by at least 10 runs was 1996. It lost 13-3 at Illinois on April 23, then beat St. Norbert 13-0. The Irish are the first team to accomplish the feat in the Big East tournament since Villanova in 2008.

Information from Times wires was used in this report.

Times wires
Thursday, May 24, 2012

Giants 14, Marlins 7

MIAMI — Melky Cabrera had three hits and drove in four runs as the Giants gave Ryan Vogelsong run support for a change. The Giants went in leading MLB in stranded runners but went 7-for-17 with runners in scoring position.

Times wires
Thursday, May 24, 2012

INDIANAPOLIS — Game 6 of the Heat-Pacers Eastern Conference semifinal series left Miami bloodied, stitched and smiling.

When the final buzzer sounded Thursday, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James hugged in a silent arena. Or maybe they weren't hugging. Maybe they were holding each other up after carrying the Heat past Indiana this final time, ousting the Pacers 105-93.

"Are they tough enough?" TNT analyst Charles Barkley, among others, asked of Wade and James when the Heat fell behind after three games.

Tough enough. Strong enough. And most of all, plenty good enough even without their third wheel, injured Chris Bosh.

Goodbye, Indiana.

Hello, Boston or Philadelphia in the East final.

Thursday, Wade scored 26 — in the first half. He finished with a game-high 41, with 10 rebounds.

Wasn't it just yesterday he scored five in Game 3 and everyone, including Wade, was wondering what happened?

James had 28 points, six rebounds and seven assists.

Miami was undermanned with Udonis Haslem suspended because of his Game 5 flagrant foul on Pacers forward Tyler Hansbrough. The Heat fell behind early but kept its composure. This game had none of the violence of Game 5 and was competitive almost the entire way, even after the Heat took a 10-point lead after three quarters.

After the Game 3 loss, Wade and James took control. Wade averaged 32.8 points in the final three games, James 32.7 points and 11.7 rebounds.

"We had our whole focus on Derrick Rose last year (in the playoffs), and it's like having two of them out there," Indiana coach Frank Vogel said.

Wade said: "I think we understood, especially when Chris went out, we had to do a little more. We had to step up and do a little better.''

Indiana played the only card it had, trying to outflank the Heat's mind and rough up Wade and James. Before the series, Vogel called the Heat "the biggest flopping team in the NBA."

Thursday, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said the Pacers were head-hunting James and Wade all season and the league condoned it.

Then the game began, and none of that mattered. Wade had the biggest scoring half of his playoff career. Mario Chalmers (15 points) and former Gator Mike Miller (12) added support.

"Are they tough enough?"

That was one of the questions for this team as it lost Bosh, who went down in the series and could have had an unwanted legacy.

"We weren't going to let that happen," Wade said Thursday.

MIAMI (105): Battier 1-7 0-0 2, James 12-23 4-5 28, Turiaf 0-1 0-0 0, Chalmers 4-7 4-6 15, Wade 17-25 7-8 41, Anthony 2-3 1-1 5, Miller 4-8 0-0 12, Cole 0-1 0-0 0, J.Jones 1-1 0-0 2, Howard 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 41-76 16-20 105.

INDIANA (93): Granger 6-14 2-2 15, West 10-16 4-6 24, Hibbert 5-8 2-2 12, Hill 7-13 3-5 18, George 4-10 0-0 11, Barbosa 0-1 0-0 0, Collison 1-3 2-2 5, Hansbrough 0-4 3-4 3, Amundson 1-1 0-0 2, D.Jones 0-0 3-3 3. Totals 34-70 19-24 93.

Miami 21 30 28 26— 105

Indiana 28 25 16 24— 93

3-Point Goals—Miami 7-20 (Miller 4-7, Chalmers 3-4, Cole 0-1, James 0-3, Battier 0-5), Indiana 6-17 (George 3-7, Collison 1-2, Hill 1-3, Granger 1-4, Barbosa 0-1). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Miami 33 (Wade 10), Indiana 47 (George 10). Assists—Miami 16 (James 7), Indiana 18 (Hill 5). Total Fouls—Miami 20, Indiana 22. Technicals—George, West, Indiana defensive three second. A—18,165 (18,165).

76ers-celtics: Julius Erving strolled through the 76ers locker room Wednesday as Philadelphia celebrated beating the Celtics to set up an East semifinal Game 7 in Boston.

"It brings back all the memories," the Hall of Famer said after the Sixers forced the first seventh game between the old rivals since he teamed with Andrew Toney to lead Philadelphia past Boston and into the 1982 NBA Finals. "It seemed like it always came down to them. Coming out of the East, (it) was always Boston or Philly."

Both teams took the day off Thursday to rest.

"That's all we wanted, was to win and give ourselves a chance to go into Boston and see what happens in Game 7," Sixers coach Doug Collins said. "I want more. We're going to get greedy."

The Sixers and Celtics met 12 times in the playoffs from 1953-69 and five times from 1977-85.

all-nba team: The Heat's James had the most points in voting by coaches, 596. The rest of the first team and their points: Thunder forward Kevin Durant, 591; Magic center Dwight Howard, 476; Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, 568, and Clippers guard Chris Paul, 484. Bryant joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Bob Cousy, Michael Jordan, Bob Pettit and Jerry West with 10 selections to the first team. Karl Malone is the leader with 11.

no gm interest, shaq says: Shaquille O'Neal denied interest in the Magic's GM opening. The ex-Orlando center and current TNT analyst said he was "clearly intrigued'' when he heard about the opening but "I feel very fortunate to be with TNT and to have the best job in sports.''

In other news, amid a report the Magic will listen to offers for Howard after the draft lottery is set next week, Howard said he had nothing to do with the decision to fire coach Stan Van Gundy: "I hate to see anyone lose their job. .…We had our ups and downs, but for the most part we had one goal, to win a championship in Orlando."

Times wires
Thursday, May 24, 2012

White Sox 11, Twins 8

CHICAGO — Paul Konerko and Alex Rios hit back-to-back homers, and Alejandro De Aza added a grand slam to cap a six-run sixth for the White Sox. A.J. Pierzynski and Dayan Viciedo also went deep. Konerko had two hits and drove in two runs. Rios had two hits and three RBIs.

Times wires
Friday, May 25, 2012

Padres 11, Mets 5

NEW YORK — Will Venable had a pair of RBI doubles and Cameron Maybin had two RBI singles for the Padres. The Mets' David Wright went 3-for-5 to reach a .405 average.

Times wires
Friday, May 25, 2012

Phillies 10, Cardinals 9

ST. LOUIS — Shane Victorino and Freddy Galvis each drove in three runs, including Galvis' go-ahead single in the sixth, as the Phillies had a season-high 18 hits. Jonathan Papelbon got his 13th straight save.

Times wires
Friday, May 25, 2012

Angels 3, Mariners 0

SEATTLE — Albert Pujols had three hits, including the 450th homer of his career, and Dan Haren struck out a career-high 14 in a four-hit shutout, the sixth of his career as the Angels won their third in a row. Pujols lined a two-run shot off Seattle starter Jason Vargas with one-out in the top of the first, and added singles in the fourth and sixth innings. It was just his third three-hit game this season. Haren tossed the 16th complete game of his career and allowed only one runner to reach third base.

Times staff
Friday, May 25, 2012

Arena Football

Jacksonville at Orlando, 8 p.m., NFL

Autos

Indianapolis 500 Carb Day, 11 a.m., NBCSN

Indianapolis 500 Carb Day, 1 p.m., NBCSN

Baseball

Rays at Red Sox, 7 p.m., Sun Sports; 620-AM

Rockies at Reds, 7 p.m., MLB

Giants at Marlins, 7 p.m., FSN

Boxing

Lightweights: Kim vs. Rahimov, 9 p.m., ESPN2

College baseball tournaments

ACC: Georgia Tech vs. Virginia, 11 a.m., Sun Sports

Big Ten: Nebraska vs. TBD, noon, Big Ten

ACC: Florida State vs. Clemson, 3 p.m., Sun Sports

Big Ten: Teams TBD, 3:30 p.m., Big Ten

SEC: LSU vs. Mississippi State, 4 p.m., BHSN

Big Ten: Indiana vs. TBD, 7 p.m., Big Ten

SEC: Florida or Vanderbilt vs. South Carolina or Auburn, 7:30 p.m., BHSN

College softball, NCAA tournament

Super Region: Arizona at Oklahoma, 2 p.m., ESPNU

Super Region: Michigan at Alabama, 4:30 p.m., ESPNU

Super Region: Michigan at Alabama (if needed), 7 p.m., ESPN

Super Region: Hofstra at USF, 7 p.m., ESPNU

Super Region: Oregon at Texas, 9 p.m., ESPN

Super Region: Louisiana-Lafayette at Arizona State , 9 p.m., ESPNU

Super Region: Louisiana-Lafayette at Arizona State (if needed), 11:30 p.m., ESPNU

Golf

PGA Europe: BMW PGA Championship, 9 a.m., Golf

Senior PGA Championship, noon, Golf

PGA: Crown Plaza Invitational, 3 p.m., Golf

NHL playoffs

East final: Rangers at Devils, 8 p.m., NBCSN

Soccer

Spanish: Athletic Bilbao vs. Barcelona, 3:50 p.m., ESPND

Exhibition: Costa Rica vs. Guatemala, 8:55 p.m., ESPND

Tennis

WTA: Brussels Open, 8 a.m., Tennis

UFC

Heavyweights: Dos Santos vs. Mir, 11 p.m., FX

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

Arena Football

Milwaukee at Storm, 7:30 p.m., 1250-AM

Autos

Sprint Cup: Coca-Cola 600 practice, 10 a.m., Speed

Nationwide: History 300 qualifying, 11 a.m., ESPN2

Sprint Cup: Coca-Cola 600 practice, 1 p.m., Speed

Nationwide: History 300, 2:45 p.m., Ch. 28

Baseball

Tigers at Twins, 2 p.m., MLB

Giants at Marlins, 4 p.m., FSN

Indians at White Sox, 4 p.m., WGN

Rays at Red Sox, 7 p.m., Ch. 13; 620-AM

Astros at Dodgers, 10 p.m., MLB

College softball, NCAA tournament

Super Region: Hofstra at USF, 2:30 p.m., ESPNU

Super Region: Hofstra at USF (if needed), 5 p.m., ESPNU

Golf

PGA Europe: BMW PGA Championship, 9 a.m., Golf

Senior PGA Championship, 3 p.m., Ch. 8

PGA: Crowne Plaza Invitational, 3 p.m., Ch. 10

NBA playoffs

East semifinal: 76ers at Celtics, 5 or 8 p.m., TBA

East semifinal: Pacers at Heat (if needed), 8 p.m., Ch. 28

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

Autos

Formula One: Monaco Grand Prix, 8 a.m., Speed

Indianapolis 500, noon, Ch. 28; 1250-AM

Sprint Cup: Coca-Cola 600, 5:30 p.m., Ch. 13; 1010-AM

Baseball

Giants at Marlins, 1 p.m., FSN

Rays at Red Sox , 1:30 p.m., Sun Sports; 620-AM

Cubs at Pirates, 1:30 p.m., WGN

Nationals at Braves, 8 p.m., ESPN; 1040-AM

Golf

PGA Europe: BMW PGA Championship, 9 a.m., Golf

Senior PGA championship, 3 p.m., Ch. 8

PGA: Crowne Plaza Invitational, 3 p.m., Ch. 10

NHL playoffs

East final: Devils at Rangers (if needed), 8 p.m., NBCSN

TV: BHSN: Bright House Sports Network; ESPND: ESPN Deportes; FSN: Fox Sports Net; NBCSN: NBC Sports Network

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Friday, May 25, 2012

After much speculation about what Steve Yzerman is looking for in a No. 1 goaltender, the Lightning general manager defined his terms.

"My preference," he said, "is to go with a little bit of a younger guy that maybe has a little less experience and can step up and play well for us now."

To illustrate, Yzerman mentioned Semyon Varlamov, 24, whom the Avalanche got last summer from the Capitals for first- and second-round draft picks, and who in 53 games this season had a fine 2.59 goals-against average and .913 save percentage.

Yzerman said he will try through June to trade for his own upside-heavy asset.

"And if we can't do anything in that way, we look forward to July 1," he said of the start of unrestricted free agency.

It is as detailed as Yzerman has been about his plans and as notable for whom they seem to exclude: Vancouver's Roberto Luongo.

There is the thought Tampa Bay is the natural landing spot for Luongo, 33, who during the playoffs lost his starting job to Cory Schneider and has indicated he will accept a trade.

That Yzerman was executive director and Luongo was in net when Canada won gold at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics has helped fuel the conjecture.

Would Yzerman like to have Luongo? Sure. And a cynic would say the GM's openness about his ideal goalie is merely a smokescreen for his competitors.

But that overlooks Luongo's problematic contract, which has 10 years left and pays $6.714 million until Luongo is 39. Given the Lightning's experience this season with Dwayne Roloson, 42, it does not seem an investment the team would make.

It is believed Yzerman actually covets Schneider, 26, who this season had a 1.96 goals-against average and .937 save percentage in 33 games. Assuming Schneider is not available, other goalies who seem to fit Yzerman's parameters and might be available in trade include Los Angeles' Jonathan Bernier, 23, and Nashville's Anders Lindback, 24, both backups.

As for unrestricted free agents, the most intriguing in a mediocre group is Minnesota's Josh Harding, which brings up an interesting scenario.

"We want to be a competitive team next year. We want to find the best goaltender we can," Yzerman said. "But I'm not going to do a long-term deal with someone I'm not comfortable with."

In other words, Yzerman sounds willing for next season to stitch together a tandem with Mathieu Garon and find a long-term solution there­after.

It's better, though, to get it done now with a trade, said Yzerman, who has two first-round picks (Nos. 10 and 19) in next month's draft and four in the second with which to barter.

"We're trying to identify a guy who we think may be ready to be a starter as opposed to one of the veterans and waiting until July 1," he said.

STAR SEARCH: How much does Yzerman like Swiss star Damien Brunner? "He's an exciting player," Yzerman said of the right wing. "He can really skate. He's really skilled. I'd like to sign him."

By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Friday, May 25, 2012

In the world of literature, there are writers who can turn a phrase. There are those who can paint a scene. There are those who can develop characters so real that you can see their faces.

Then there is Warren Sapp, author.

On third and long, I am relatively sure that he could kick William Faulkner's butt.

Not only that, I am also fairly certain that if you put Sapp Attack, his upcoming book, on your shelf, it will instantly frighten the other books that are there.

And here he comes again. Sapp, the most colorful, most discussed athlete in Tampa Bay history, is on another one of those brutal, relentless rushes again. One more time, he is loud, and he is profane, and he is stepping on a different set of toes every time you turn a page. You may like it, you may hate it, and you may stay up late laughing about it.

In other words, yeah, it's full of Sapp.

For 314 pages, the former defensive tackle rambles through his career in the same familiar bluntness of his better news conferences. To sum up, he loved Tony Dungy, he liked Jon Gruden and he hated Sam Wyche. He admired Derrick Brooks, he didn't care for Keyshawn Johnson and he thought Monte Kiffin was an overrated self-promoter. Also, he knows a lot of words your children should not read.

Let's be honest: They aren't likely to teach Sapp Attack in schools. If you are a great fan of prose and allegory, this isn't a work your book club will be interested in. Literature, it is not.

On the other hand, it's fun. Besides, let's face it: After his recent bankruptcy, Sapp could use the money.

A sampling from the Book of Sapp:

On coming to the Bucs: "Everything about the organization was bad; bad coaching staff, bad practice facility, bad bright-orange team colors, even a bad team logo. Bucco Bruce was the logo. The NFL had lions and giants, cowboys and panthers. We had the sappy pirate. C'mon, how intimidating is that, Bucco Bruce? He was this sad-looking pirate who actually had his earring in the wrong ear. What kind of pirate has an earring in his wrong ear? He was supposed to be sneering but actually looked like he was winking."

On Wyche, his first head coach: "Sam Wyche and I never did arrive on the same planet. … Wyche thought you motivated people by making snide comments, by belittling people. … So it wasn't a surprise his coaching staff was disloyal. We spent the whole season watching defensive coordinator Rusty Tillman trying to sabotage Wyche so he could get the head coaching job."

On the way his teammates treated him as a rookie: "Once a week, right into the season, I got my a - - taped to the uprights. One time, they taped (Brad) Culpepper and me back-to-back in the middle of the floor."

And on it goes. For those who have been around Sapp during one of his better news conferences, the tone is familiar. No matter what else you think of him, Sapp has always been a gifted storyteller, ribald and funny.

That said, the book does feel as if it was written a little too soon. It would have been nice to have read more about Sapp's bankruptcy problems, for instance. I would have liked to have read a bit more about his new TV show, or his thoughts about his potential Hall of Fame induction, or some of his thoughts about the current state of the Bucs, or how long ago the cover photo was taken before he says he lost his Super Bowl ring.

All in all, however, it's a nice little memory jog. During the best days in the history of the franchise, Sapp was one of the best players.

On the Bucs coaches he played for: ''I always said that Tony Dungy put the damn cake in the oven, and then Jon Gruden came in and put the icing on it. Of course, Sam Wyche couldn't even get the mix out of the box."

On Kiffin, the former defensive coordinator: "I always believed Kiffin (blitzed) so much because he wanted the glory; it made him feel like a great defensive coordinator."

On how some defensive linemen illegally coated their jerseys with Vaseline or silicone so the offensive linemen couldn't hold them: "Now that Whitey (his nickname for Culpepper) also is retired, I'll confess for him that he was one of the people who did that. He practically bathed in silicone before a game. Trust me, if he had ever tried to hug his wife before a game, she would have slipped right out of his arms and gone straight up in the air."

And on and on. Sapp talks about why he didn't go to Florida (his mother got a bad feeling there) or FSU (Sapp says Bobby Bowden referred to one of his players as a fat a - -, and Sapp wondered if he would say the same about him to another recruit in two years). He talks about former teammate Eric Curry, who once went 17 yards deep on a pass rush, far past the quarterback. He talks about what former Packers coach Mike Sherman said to him after he hit tackle Chad Clifton (it's unprintable).

Mostly, he talks about the Bucs, the teammates he admired and the teammates he did not.

On Johnson, the receiver: "Among the biggest problems we had on that 2003 team was Keyshawn Johnson. … It wasn't a big secret Keyshawn didn't fit into our locker room: he came to us from a different football culture, and he never could make the adjustment. Everything was about him."

On defensive end Chidi Ahanotu: "We played alongside each other, but we didn't get along. … Chidi was a good player; he was known for putting pressure on quarterbacks but not getting sacks. He owned a nice jazz bar named Sacks. … I stood up and said, 'I got one thing to add.' … They changed the name of the restaurant from Sacks to Pressures."

On quarterback Trent Dilfer: "Dilfer … basically was an interception waiting to happen. There were times we practically pleaded with him, 'We know you're not going to score a touchdown, but please, just don't turn it over.' "

On it rolls, uncensored and unapologetic, from the bounties at Miami to the turnaround in Tampa Bay to the final days in Oakland. It is as raw, as boisterous, as loud as Sapp himself. As books go, it kind of snarls.

If you watched Sapp play, what else would you expect?