Times wires
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Rangers 12, Blue Jays 6
ARLINGTON, Texas — Adrian Beltre's two-run homer highlighted the Rangers' seven-run second. Texas outscored Toronto 34-16 in sweeping the three-game series. Yu Darvish, the Rangers' touted rookie from Japan, allowed three runs and seven hits over five innings. In his previous outing, he allowed five runs and walked a career-high six over four innings.
Times wires
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Giants 3, Marlins 2
MIAMI — Melky Cabrera had four hits to give him a majors-high 73 for the Giants. Cabrera homered in the first. In the fourth, he singled, stole second and scored on a sac fly. In the sixth, he singled and scored on Buster Posey's double. Miami went 2-for-10 with men in scoring position. Teams are hitting .138 against Matt Cain in those situations this year.
Times wires
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Royals 4, Orioles 2
BALTIMORE — Jeff Francoeur and Billy Butler homered for the Royals, who took two of three. Francoeur went 7-for-12 with two homers in the series for Kansas City, which has won two straight for the first time since a four-game streak from May 12-15. Baltimore, which previously lost two of three to Boston, lost consecutive series for the first time this year.
Times wires
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Angels 4, Mariners 2
SEATTLE — Kendrys Morales and Mark Trumbo hit solo home runs on 0-and-2 pitches to help the Angels cap their first four-game sweep in Seattle since April 25-28, 1985. The Angels have won a season-high six in a row. Ichiro Suzuki, a two-time batting champ and career .324 hitter for Seattle, went 0-for-3 with a strikeout against C.J. Wilson and now has a career .196 average with 12 strikeouts against him.
Times wires
Sunday, May 27, 2012
PARIS — Six major champions made their way through the first round of the French Open on Sunday's opening day. One didn't — Andy Roddick.
Venus Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, recovered from a slow start to beat 19-year-old Paula Ormaechea of Argentina 4-6, 6-1, 6-3. It was her first match at a major tournament since revealing she had been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease.
The 31-year-old Williams, a former top-ranked player who is now No. 53, is 12-4 this season. She pulled out of the U.S. Open in August before her second-round match, saying she had Sjogren's syndrome, a condition that can cause fatigue and joint pain. She returned to the tour in March.
"A lot of it, I have to figure it out. It's physical and emotional and all kinds of different things. Mental," Williams said of her medical condition. "It's a big accomplishment for me to be here right now."
Grand Slam champs Sam Stosur, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Ana Ivanovic won in straight sets, and men's major winners Juan Carlos Ferrero and Juan Martin del Potro also advanced.
Stosur, the Tampa resident and U.S. Open champion, beat Elena Baltacha of Britain 6-4, 6-0.
Surprise 2009 U.S. Open quarterfinalist Melanie Oudin beat Johanna Larsson 6-3, 6-3 to end a five-match Grand Slam losing streak.
Roddick, the 2003 U.S. Open champ, lost to 88th-ranked Nicolas Mahut 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, exiting in Round 1 of a Slam for the first time since 2007. The 26th-seeded Roddick is 7-10 this season, 0-4 on clay.
"I move just horrendously out here. My first step is just so bad on this stuff," Roddick said. "I feel like I'm always shuffling or hopping or not stopping or something. So my footwork on this stuff now is just really bad."
None of the top three men played. Top-ranked Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer will be on court today; Rafael Nadal is slated to begin his attempt for a record-breaking seventh title on Tuesday.
Del Potro, the No. 9 seed, made the second round despite problems with his left knee, topping Albert Montanes 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 6-1. The 2009 U.S. champ played with tape on his knee early. Del Potro then added a wrap after a massage from a trainer before the third set.
"It's a problem when you can't find your balance like you're used to, but I'll use these few days of rest to get better," Del Potro said.
Ferrero, the 2003 French Open champion, beat Jonathan Dasnieres de Veigy 6-1, 6-4, 6-3. The 32-year-old Spaniard is one of 37 men in this year's draw that is 30 or older, an Open era record for Grand Slam tournaments.
"I saw myself in the mirror, and when I walk on the court I don't think about whether I'm younger or older. The only thing I try to do is play well," he said.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the highest seed playing Sunday at No. 5, defeated Andrey Kuznetsov 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.
Aside from Roddick, the only seed to lose was No. 30 Jurgen Melzer, who fell to Michael Berrer, 6-7 (5-7), 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-3.
Times wires
Sunday, May 27, 2012
MONACO — If Mark Webber's victory in the Monaco Grand Prix from the pole position came as no surprise given the nature of the track, the Australian's triumph Sunday still made Formula One history.
For the first time, a different driver has won each of the six opening races.
"It's interesting to see the constant surprises we're having this season, you never know who's going to be in pole and win the race," said Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso, who took the championship lead Sunday in a bid for his third title.
Sebastian Vettel, the two-time defending F1 champion, is tied for second place with his teammate Webber, three points behind Alonso.
With drivers favoring a one-stop tire strategy on the most difficult track for overtaking, Webber effectively needed to make it to the first corner in front, then negotiate a clean pit stop.
"When days like this come along you can't afford to let them go," the 35-year-old said. "You have to grab them with both hands and feet and hold on like hell." He beat Rosberg by 0.6 seconds and Alonso by 0.9.
EAST BAY RACEWAY: Kyle Bronson won in Open Wheel Modifieds and Phillip Cobb took Late Models late Saturday in Gibsonton.
Times wires
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Yankees 2, Athletics 0
OAKLAND, Calif. — Hiroki Kuroda allowed a leadoff single then retired 11 in a row for the Yankees, who have won a season-high five in a row and nine in a row in Oakland. Andruw Jones' homer to lead off the second was New York's seventh of the series and 72nd of the season, tying Baltimore for most in the majors. The Yankees are 26-11 when homering but 0-10 when they do not. Oakland went 1-5 on its homestand while scoring just eight runs and hitting .157. It has been shut out eight times this season.
Times wires
Sunday, May 27, 2012
FORT WORTH, Texas — Zach Johnson won the Crowne Plaza Invitational for his first victory since winning this tournament two years ago, pulling ahead Sunday when Jason Dufner finally faltered.
Johnson was assessed a two-stroke penalty for failing to replace his ball to its original position after marking it on the 18th hole. That left him at 2-over 72, which gave him a one-stroke win at 12-under 268.
"I'm going to focus on the positives, because I hit a really solid putt, and it's a good thing I made it," Johnson said. "No harm, no foul. It was my fault."
Johnson moved his original ball mark out of the line of Dufner's putt on the 18th green. But he forgot to move it back before his final 5-foot putt.
Dufner, who led going into the round and was trying for his second straight win and third in five weeks, closed with 74.
"I didn't have it (Sunday)," he said. "I didn't play very well. I couldn't get the ball in the fairway." Dufner hit just three of 14 fairways after hitting 30 of 42 in the first three rounds.
Tommy Gainey (67) was a distant third at 7 under.
In what was essentially a match-play final round for the win, Johnson took command at the 414-yard 15th hole. Dufner's approach hit the left side of that green, then rolled into a ditch, leading to a triple bogey that put him four strokes back after Johnson's par.
It was the eighth PGA Tour victory for Johnson. He became just the fourth player with eight tour wins and a major — the 2007 Masters — since 2004. The others are Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh.
"In some respects, I kind of feel like I took down a lion," Johnson said about beating Dufner. "He's been at the top of his game."
champions: Roger Chapman got his first tour victory in one of its majors, winning the Senior PGA Championship by two over John Cook at Benton Harbor, Mich. Chapman, who led after 54 holes, shot 1-over 72 for a 13-under 271 total. Cook shot 69. Hale Irwin (68) finished another stroke back. Kenny Perry had a tournament-record 62 at Harbor Shores to finish five shots behind.
european: Luke Donald won his second straight PGA Championship and overtook Rory McIlroy for the world No. 1 ranking at Virginia Water, England. Donald shot 4-under 68 to finish at 15-under 273 and win by four over Justin Rose (70) and Paul Lawrie (66). This was Donald's second victory of the year; he won the Transitions Championship in March at Innisbrook in Palm Harbor. It's the sixth change at the top of the rankings in 12 weeks between Donald and McIlroy, who missed the cut after a second-round 79.
Also, Ernie Els apologized for his expletive-laced outburst about the condition of the greens Saturday. Tour chief executive George O'Grady said Els asked to see him Sunday morning, apologized and offered to make a donation to a charity for current and former tour members who need financial help. Els, who finished 5 under at a final-round 72, had been facing a fine for his comments.
Times wires
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Dodgers 5, Astros 1
LOS ANGELES — Jerry Hairston had a career-high five hits and Matt Treanor hit a tiebreaking homer that deflected off centerfielder Justin Maxwell's glove for the Dodgers. Chris Capuano improved to 5-0 with a 1.36 ERA at home for Los Angeles. Meanwhile, J.A. Happ tied a career high by striking out 10 but fell to 0-3 with a 2.82 ERA in four starts against the Dodgers.
Times wires
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Diamondbacks 4, Brewers 3
PHOENIX — Ryan Roberts, Jason Kubel and Henry Blanco hit two-out RBI singles in the sixth for the Diamondbacks. The runs came too late for starter Daniel Hudson, out since April 21 with a right shoulder impingement. Arizona took two of three for its first home series win since sweeping the Giants to start the year.
By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, May 27, 2012
. UP NEXT
vs. White Sox
Today-Wednesday
What's new: The White Sox have been a surprising success under rookie manager Robin Ventura, who replaced Ozzie Guillen. They have won five straight and nine of their past 10 in powerful fashion. A key has been the resurgence of the veterans: DH Adam Dunn (15 homers), 1B Paul Konerko (major-league best .399, 11 homers and 13-game hitting streak) and C A.J. Pierzynski (.312. 32 RBIs). Also, LF Dayan Viciedo has 10 homers. Their starting pitching has been okay with Chris Sale and Jake Peavy teaming for 11 wins, though LHP John Danks is on the DL. The bullpen has been a team effort led by rookie RHP Addison Reed and LHP Hector Santiago.
Key stat: The White Sox have scored nine or more runs in four consecutive games for the first time since 1938 and homered in 13 consecutive games, their longest streak since 2006.
Connections: Sale went to Lakeland High and Florida Gulf Coast University. Pierzynski grew up in Hernando County. … Rays 1B/OF Brandon Allen, bench coach Dave Martinez and radio man Dave Wills used to be with the White Sox.
Series history: White Sox lead 63-46 overall, 31-27 at the Trop.
Marc Topkin, Times staff writer
By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Musical note of the day
With only their pitchers taking batting practice Sunday, the Rays didn't bring out a boom box to play music as they did Saturday. And the Red Sox provided an interesting sound track over the PA system, playing classical music, including Fur Elise and Canon in D.
Tribute of the day
The Rays will wear these caps with camouflage inside the logo and on the brim today in honor of Memorial Day and in support of the Welcome Back Veterans Fund.
Rays vs. White Sox
When/where: 3:10 today, Tropicana Field
TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)
Probable pitchers
Rays:
LH Matt Moore (1-4, 5.07)
White Sox:
LH Chris Sale (5-2, 2.50)
On Moore: The rookie, 22, is 0-3, 6.41 over his past four starts and didn't get through five innings in three. He has had the lead in six starts and blown four of them. He has never faced the White Sox.
On Sale: The Lakeland native, 23, has made a smooth move into the rotation, allowing no more than three runs in a start and ranking second in the AL with a 2.50 ERA. He has made two relief appearances against the Rays, posting a 3.86 ERA.
Rays vs. Sale
Jose Molina 0-for-3
Luke Scott 0-for-2
Drew Sutton 1-for-1, HR
On deck
Tuesday: vs. White Sox, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — James Shields (6-2, 3.63); White Sox — RH Philip Humber (1-2, 5.31)
Wednesday: vs. White Sox, 1:10, Sun Sports. Rays — Alex Cobb (2-0, 2.25); White Sox — LHP Jose Quintana (1-0, 1.54)
Thursday: Off
Friday: vs. Orioles, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (6-3, 2,71); Orioles — TBA
Rays disabled list
• 1B/OF Brandon Allen, right quad strain
• C Robinson Chirinos, concussion
• RHP Kyle Farnsworth, right elbow strain
• OF Sam Fuld, right wrist surgery
• OF Brandon Guyer, left shoulder surgery
• OF Desmond Jennings, left knee sprain
• INF Jeff Keppinger, right toe fracture
• C Jose Lobaton, right shoulder soreness
• 3B Evan Longoria, left hamstring tear
• RHP Jeff Niemann, right leg fracture
Number of the day
10 Consecutive games in which CF B.J. Upton has a hit, tying a career high for the fourth time
Stat of the day
0-for-8 INF Sean Rodriguez's career performance against RHP Alfredo Aceves before Sunday's homer
Times wires
Sunday, May 27, 2012
LOS ANGELES — It would be almost impossible to find a hockey fan in Slovenia who isn't rooting for the Kings.
Call it the Anze Kopitar factor.
"There is actually a pretty big buzz back there," said Kopitar, the Kings' 24-year-old center. "I've been going on online and reading some of the news from back there. The Kings are pretty big."
And Kopitar?
"There's a little more focus on me," Kopitar said. "It's nice for hockey to get a little attention back home."
With the Kings playing the Devils in the Stanley Cup final, expect more local-boy-makes-good stories in the country of 2 million.
Of course, when the NHL does get attention in Slovenia, it's usually focused on Kopitar. He was its first player to reach the NHL. Only one other, Detroit wing Jan Mursak, has followed.
A Stanley Cup would put Kopitar on a short list in his homeland. Sasha Vujacic won NBA titles with the Lakers. And it has won three Olympic gold medals: Primoz Kozmus (hammer throw), Rajmond Debevec (shooting) and Iztok Cop and Luka Spik (rowing).
So a Stanley Cup might rate a dinner at the Slovenian embassy.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Kopitar said, smiling.
Kopitar returns home every summer and has noticed a growth in hockey.
"There are more and more kids playing hockey," Kopitar said.
As for if he is responsible, Kopitar said, "Maybe a little."
The path from Slovenia to the NHL is not a straight line. Kopitar played two seasons in Sweden before being drafted 11th overall in 2006. Even with his success, scouts don't flock to Slovenia.
"You have to have a little luck; someone to see you" Kopitar said. "You can't just show up and say, 'Look, I'm ready to play.' "
Mursak played junior hockey in the Czech Republic before being drafted by the Red Wings in 2006. He and Kopitar faced each other twice this season.
"We had a couple dinners in Detroit and a couple out here when we played them," Kopitar said. "It was nice to be around someone from home."
By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, May 27, 2012
CLEARWATER — After running off four wins in the losers' bracket to reach its first Big East tournament championship game, the USF baseball team's hopes of a conference crown ended Sunday, as bullpen troubles cost the Bulls in a 7-3 loss to second-seeded St. John's at Bright House Field.
USF (38-22) led 3-2 in the sixth but with limited arms in the Bulls' sixth game in five days, St. John's (37-21) rallied to its second title in three years and a record seventh overall.
"We needed to score runs (Sunday), and I knew that was going to be a factor," USF coach Lelo Prado said. "(Friday) we had to use a lot of our big guns. … I don't want anybody to be happy with runnerup. I want to win Big East championships, and we want to get to Omaha (home of the College World Series) one day. It's a great lesson for these young men. They fought hard, and when you compete and play together, good things happen. That's what happened to us this week."
After winning just 25 games and missing the conference tournament entirely last year (only the top eight teams qualify), USF matched the program's best single-season improvement in 23 years this season.
Senior left-hander Andrew Barbosa, who also pitched Wednesday, lasted into the sixth and left with the lead. Despite the loss, he said this week was a great run for the seniors. "It's unbelievable. From the beginning of the season, we knew we had a great team," he said.
Pitcher Derrick Stultz and outfielders Jimmy Falla and James Ramsay made the all-tournament team, but USF couldn't get the trophy it wanted.
Entering with two on and a 3-2 lead in the sixth, reliever Andrew Loynaz hit the first two batters he faced, the latter with the bases loaded, then gave up a sacrifice fly for a 4-3 Red Storm lead. St. John's added two runs in the seventh.
USF is unlikely to command an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament of 64, with St. John's getting the automatic bid and co-regular-season champ Louisville expected to get in.
Still, Prado remained optimistic. "Thirty-eight wins, look around the country, there's not many teams with 38 wins," he said. "You're leaving it up to a committee, so hopefully we've done enough work."
FSU, UF, Miami host regions: The Seminoles (43-15), ranked No. 1 in Baseball America's last regular-season poll, will host one of the 16 NCAA regions for a 29th time. Florida (42-18) and Miami (36-21) will also host as play in the four-team regions begins Friday. The top eight national seeds will be announced today during the selection show at noon.
No. 8 seed wins ACC: Mott Hyde homered and Sam Dove had three of Georgia Tech's 15 hits as the Yellow Jackets (36-24) beat Miami 8-5 in Greensboro, N.C., to win the automatic NCAA berth and become the first No. 8 seed to win the ACC tournament. No. 6 seed Miami was selected as an NCAA host site, so the Hurricanes are in a regional.
SEC final: Ross Mitchell pitched five-plus scoreless innings and Mississippi State (39-22) claimed its seventh SEC tournament title with a 3-0 win over Vanderbilt in Hoover, Ala. The Bulldogs have won eight of their last nine and take the league's automatic bid.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Best analyst
Rays TV analyst Brian Anderson, top, spent Saturday working for Fox as an analyst on the Rays-Red Sox game and got to show a regional audience what the rest of us know: He's a heck of a broadcaster. Working with Dick Stockton, bottom, Anderson not only was his usual relaxed, funny and insightful self, he seemed especially at ease.
Anderson also maneuvered his way through Friday night's Rays-Red Sox bean-ball battle without coming off as a Rays homer, though he clearly sided with the Rays during the broadcast on Sun Sports. Anderson knew he was speaking to Rays and Red Sox fans, and did not want to alienate anyone — in this case, Red Sox Nation.
The only nit is that Saturday, no one on the Fox game or pregame broadcast opined on who was right or wrong Friday. Fox recapped the bad-blood events by showing Boston's Dustin Pedroia getting hit and the Tampa Bay's Luke Scott getting hit. If you hadn't seen Friday's game, you would have assumed the Rays had it coming.
But if you watched the game and know anything about baseball, you knew the Rays didn't mean to hit Pedroia. It made no sense to hit Pedroia. It would have been nice if someone on Fox had addressed that.
Because Anderson could not say that without looking biased, maybe Stockton should've said something.
Biggest gripe
There were several borderline pitches in Saturday's Rays-Red Sox game on Fox, but all the replays were from an angle that was offcenter of home plate. What's the point of showing a close pitch if it's from a camera angle that doesn't give viewers a straight-on angle?
Three things that popped into my head
1. Sunday's Rays-Red Sox game confirmed something: Angel Hernandez is the worst umpire in baseball.
2. Lots of people watch it because it's on TV every weekend, but for the life of me, I just don't see the appeal of senior golf.
3. Teams I want to see less of on national TV: Cardinals, Braves, Red Sox. Teams I want to see more of: Nationals, Orioles, Indians.
tom jones' two cents
Tampa Bay Times staff writer Tom Jones looks back at the best and worst from a weekend of televised sports.
Worst loss
The Devils absolutely deserve to be in the Stanley Cup final, but their elimination of the Rangers was bad for the NHL overall. Sorry, New Jersey, but the Devils are a boring story, especially after you get done talking about goalie Martin Brodeur.
With coach John Tortorella and stars Henrik Lundqvist and Brad Richards, the Rangers have more personalities and are just a better story. And it would have been fun to watch Stanley Cup final games in Madison Square Garden. Too bad the Rangers weren't as good as the Devils.
Best analysis
ABC NBA analyst Jeff Van Gundy was his usual top-shelf self calling Saturday night's Game 7 of the Celtics-Sixers series. I love it when Van Gundy watches the replay of an iffy foul call and blurts out things like, "Come on! Are you serious? That's not a foul.''
It's even better when he rips into the league. He really is like the guy next to you in a sports bar except he knows more basketball than you do.
His most interesting comments Saturday night were about Sixers coach Doug Collins, who is known for his no-nonsense approach and organization. In other words, Collins is a coach who is constantly coaching. Van Gundy, who was the same way, said that's what players ultimately want.
"Great players want to be coached,'' Van Gundy said. "In the playoffs especially, everyone is receptive.''
Best special guest
Did you happen to catch Rays pitcher James Shields wearing a headset and microphone for a half-inning during Saturday night's game with the Red Sox on Fox? The dude has a future in broadcasting if he wants it.
Best postgame
All season I haven't been sure how to feel about the Rays' postgame television show for road games. Postgame shows for home games come from Tropicana Field; road game shows originate from a studio in South Florida. The latter shows feel detached from everything and just, well, weird. I admit there is no difference whether the studio is in St. Petersburg, Tampa or South Florida, but for some reason it feels odd that the show is coming from neither the site of the game nor where the Rays call home.
Todd Kalas does a splendid job on the home games and running the interviews from road games. It's great to see replays and hear the postgame comments from manager Joe Maddon and the players, and the thoughts of announcers Dewayne Staats and Brian Anderson. But many nights the analysis and work of road postgame hosts Barry LeBrock and Orestes Destrade is either scratch-the-surface stuff or way too "inside baseball.'' Overall, the road postgame shows have been, oh, about a B-minus.
But they definitely earned some extra credit Friday night for the work after the Rays-Red Sox game at Fenway Park and have bumped the grade up to a B-plus. The show was helped by the near-brawl stemming from a hit batsman late in the game and strong comments by Maddon. The show took full advantage of it all. Credit for that goes to LeBrock, who wasted no time diving into the dustup. Instead of talking about the details of the Rays' victory, LeBrock zeroed in on the controversy, and that was absolutely the right call. Destrade was strong in his opinions.
The momentum from that outstanding show carried into Sunday, and former Rays slugger Cliff Floyd joined the set and was very impressive. So after two months of not being sure of the road postgame show, I now am ready to give it a thumbs up.
Best moments
ABC's coverage of Sunday's Indianapolis 500 was highlighted by an emotional tribute to Dan Wheldon, who lived in St. Petersburg and was killed in a crash in October in IndyCar's season finale. Wheldon was last year's Indy 500 champ. As far as the race coverage, ABC always does a solid job with the Indy 500, and Sunday was no different. However, nothing in racing beats Fox's NASCAR coverage, and Sunday evening's Coca-Cola 600 was the best race broadcast of the day.
Worst egomaniac
Let's make this clear: I don't like or dislike the Rays. I don't like or dislike the Red Sox. And I don't like or dislike the Yankees. Having said all that, I will say this: Doesn't Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine, right, seem like a bit of a weasel? Seems as if he has to be the center of attention. Not only does he do a radio show in Boston, he does a radio show for a New York station. What the heck? If I was a Red Sox player or fan, that would really bug me. Earlier this season he thrust himself into the spotlight by taking a shot at Boston's Kevin Youkilis, saying he didn't think Youkilis was "as physically or emotionally into the game'' as normal. Then Friday he turned a bean-ball showdown with the Rays into something all about him. Of course he ordered Red Sox pitcher Franklin Morales to hit a Rays player, who turned out to be Luke Scott. Why do I think he did it? To get his players to rally around him, to get his players to believe in him, to get his players to side with him. In other words, get your players to start a fight and then come out backing your players, and voila, maybe all the guys will be on your side again. It is so obvious. It's also kind of pathetic. The sad thing is, a guy like Valentine is putting a black mark on an organization full of classy players who play the game the right way, players such as Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz. You'd never see Terry Francona pulling this stuff.
Times wires
Sunday, May 27, 2012
NFL
Lions' Fairley arrested AFter 100 mph Chase
TILLMAN'S CORNER, Ala. — Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley was arrested on charges of driving under the influence and attempting to elude police, his second arrest in his home state in two months.
Alabama state troopers say the 24-year-old passed a trooper early Sunday at 100 mph in his Cadillac Escalade in Mobile County. After initially refusing to stop for the lights and siren, Fairley pulled over and seemed impaired. He was arrested and also cited for reckless driving, no proof of insurance and open container.
A Lions spokesman said the team is gathering information. Fairley, who played at Auburn, was arrested April 3 in Mobile on a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge.
Bears question Back's knees: The Bears could be avoiding a long-term extension for running back Matt Forte, 26, because of concerns about his knees, the Chicago Tribune reported. Forte, who missed four games last season with a sprained right knee ligament and had left knee issues at Tulane, responded via a Tweet with a video of him running uphill toting a 100-pound sled.
not my son: Jets linebacker Bart Scott has enough concern about injuries and concussions that he told the New York Daily News: "I don't want my (7-year-old) son to play football. I play football so he won't have to. With what is going on, I don't know if it's really worth it."
Horses
Crown hopeful tries gallop regimen
Trainer Doug O'Neill is taking an unconventional path to a Triple Crown bid by using a series of strong gallops rather than formal workouts to prepare I'll Have Another for the Belmont Stakes on June 9.
"He stretches and puts a lot of effort into his morning gallops," O'Neill said.
The last three Triple Crown champions — Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977) and Affirmed (1978) — all drilled at least 1 mile in preparation for the longest of the Triple Crown races at 1 ½ miles.
Running
Ethiopian star fails in final London bid
Haile Gebrselassie failed to qualify for the 10,000 meters at the London Games, finishing outside the top two of the Ethiopian qualifiers at the FBK Games in Hengelo, Netherlands.
Gebrselassie, a four-time Berlin Marathon winner, had already failed to make it among the marathon qualifiers and had hope he could go through in the 10,000, where he won gold in 1996 and 2000.
Tariku Bekele won Sunday's race, and his brother, Kenenisa Bekele, the 2004 and 2008 Olympic champ, will likely get the wild card for London.
Et cetera
Cycling: Ryder Hesjedal became the first Canadian to win one of the three major tour races, capturing the Giro d'Italia by overtaking Spain's Joaquin Rodriguez in the final stage near Milan. Hesjedal started the stage 31 seconds behind but finished 16 seconds ahead. He is only the third non-Italian to win the Giro in the past 15 years.
Swimming: Janet Evans finished sixth in the 800-meter freestyle at the Speedo Grand Challenge in Irvine, Calif., in the former Olympic champion's final tuneup meet before the Olympic trials next month when she'll try to make the U.S. team at 40.
WNBA: Tamika Catchings scored 25 with 12 rebounds for her 73rd career double double, fifth on the league's all-time list, as Indiana beat host Atlanta 78-62.
Times wires
By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, May 27, 2012
BOSTON — There isn't much Sean Rodriguez can't do on the baseball field. And even less he doesn't think he could do.
In essence, he's the best defender the Rays have right now at second base, shortstop and third base, so manager Joe Maddon moves him around to fill whatever he considers the most gaping hole at the moment.
Offensively, Rodriguez prides himself on doing all the little things. But occasionally, he'll do something big such as the two-run homer he blasted over the Green Monster in the ninth inning to give the Rays a 4-3 win over the Red Sox on Sunday.
"He's got severe power," Maddon said. "He's got as much power as anybody on this team; anybody. The thing is it's the consistency of power, the consistency of contact that permits it to play. And that's a maturation thing."
Rodriguez showed it Sunday — and in a tough spot. He was 0-for-8 against Red Sox closer Alfredo Aceves and admitted he didn't know what to look for. He decided to wait on a fastball, which he got.
"I don't think it's one of the furthest ones I hit," Rodriguez said. "But I hit it well enough to know it was a home run."
DIFFERENT VIEW: The Rays don't see the White Sox much, and Maddon acknowledged it will be "somewhat uncomfortable" going against first-time manager Robin Ventura in a series that starts today.
"That's one situation I will rely more on advance information," he said. "I'll try to look at the different things I normally look at with other guys. But it's even more important now because I have no idea what Robin's going to be like."
Maddon's primary areas of concern are how Ventura will use his bullpen, when he'd pinch hit and what he might do to control the Rays' running game.
Rays bench coach Dave Martinez was widely reported as a top candidate for the White Sox job but was never interviewed as Ventura, who had no managerial experience, was hired.
MOORE MORE: LHP Matt Moore starts today saying he learned an important lesson in his last start, when he zipped through four innings and had a 6-0 lead but couldn't get out of the fifth.
"I wasn't really getting hit or getting beat like that. I was really beating myself," he said. "The pace of the game needs to slow down. When I start walking guys, or if there's a hit or whatever it may be, I think I may need to, maybe, take a step back and collect myself."
ROSTER RIPPLES: 1B/OF Brandon Allen (right quad strain) went 2-for-4 Sunday for advanced Class A Charlotte, raising his average to .242 (8-for-33), in the ninth game of his rehab assignment. Allen could rejoin the Rays at any point as he is already eligible to be reinstated. And because he's out of options, they have to keep him in the majors or expose him to waivers.
OF/DH Hideki Matsui went 1-for-4 for Triple-A Durham, raising his average to .178 (8-for-45) through 12 games, and played leftfield for the third time in the past four games. A promotion to the majors seems likely this week. Maddon said only, "He's getting closer."
C Jose Lobaton (sore right shoulder) went 1-for-3 in his fourth game for Durham but left after seven innings. He is also eligible to return when ready.
BE WARNED: Maddon will try all kinds of strategy and was intrigued by Vanderbilt's triple steal (with the bases loaded, obviously) in the SEC tournament against Florida on Saturday.
"It's food for thought," Maddon said. "We have something else cooking that's not quite that, but it's a very interesting concept. I've never seen it, never heard of it."
MISCELLANY: The Rays added a concert, with DJ Afrojack, also known as Nick van de Wall, set to play after the June 15 game against Miami. … Luke Scott stole a base in consecutive games for the first time in his career and, with two, is one shy of his career high. … Maddon congratulated the USF women's softball team for the "tremendous accomplishment" of reaching the College World Series and said, "We'll be watching."
Times wires
Sunday, May 27, 2012
BALTIMORE — Orioles CF Adam Jones signed a six-year, $85.5 million extension that will keep him in Baltimore through 2018 on Sunday. FoxSports.com first reported on the talks Friday.
In his fifth full season, Jones, 26, is hitting .308 with 14 homers and 31 RBIs. Sunday, he extended his hitting streak to 18 games.
"I fit here in this city. I fit here on this team. I fit in Camden Yards," said Jones, a native of San Diego who is active in the Baltimore community.
"I don't see myself wearing a uniform that doesn't have 'Orioles' across the chest."
Jones' deal includes a $2 million signing bonus and a no-trade clause. He will make $8.5 million in 2013, $13 million in 2014 and 2015, $16 million in 2016 and 2017 and $17 million in 2018.
Jones could have become a free agent after 2013.
Orioles GM Dan Duquette said talks began a few weeks ago: "The dude rang the cash register every time he hit a home run."
Halladay leaves early: Phillies RHP Roy Halladay left after two innings as a precaution due to a sore right shoulder. He will be evaluated in the next few days, the team said.
Jeter moves up: Yankees SS Derek Jeter singled for his 3,155th hit, passing George Brett for 15th all time. He's 29 behind Cal Ripken for 14th.
A's: CF Yoenis Cespedes, out since May 6 with a strained left hand, took batting practice and will start a rehab stint at Triple A tonight.
Astros: LH reliever Fernando Abad went on the DL with a strained right side. He was hurt Friday while striking out a batter.
Blue Jays: SS Yunel Escobar left in the fifth with a tight left groin. His status hadn't been determined.
Brewers: INF Travis Ishikawa went on the DL with a strained right oblique.
Cardinals: C Yadier Molina left in the fifth because of dehydration. … OF Jon Jay, on the DL since May 16 with a sore right shoulder, reported to extended spring training.
Diamondbacks: C Miguel Montero missed his fifth game with a strained groin but was available in an emergency, manager Kirk Gibson said.
Mariners: CF Franklin Gutierrez, out all season with a torn right pectoral muscle, will go to extended spring training today.
Marlins: Manager Ozzie Guillen said RHP Heath Bell remains the closer despite being pulled in the ninth inning of consecutive games. Bell who signed a $27 million, three-year contract during the offseason, has blown four saves, tied for the majors lead, among 11 chances. … Former Rays OF Justin Ruggiano was called up from Triple A.
Mets: C Josh Thole, out since May 7 with a concussion, will play in an extended spring game today. He was hurt on a collision at the plate.
Pirates: LF Jose Tabata left in the sixth due to cramping in his left leg. He is scheduled to be evaluated today.
Royals: CF Jarrod Dyson sat a day after hurting his right hamstring in a collision with LF Alex Gordon. He is day to day.
Yankees: C Russell Martin sat for a second day with a stiff neck and remains day to day.
Times wires
Sunday, May 27, 2012
INDIANAPOLIS — The back seat of the convertible was just wide enough for a third passenger beside Dario Franchitti, the 39-year-old Scot who had just won his third Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, and Ashley Judd, the actor who is Franchitti's wife.
So they spontaneously invited Susie Wheldon, wearing white sunglasses, for Franchitti's victory lap.
Her husband and their friend, St. Petersburg resident Dan Wheldon, had won the Indy 500 only a year earlier, but was killed in a racing accident in October at Las Vegas.
"I tell you what: She's a stronger person than I am to come here," Franchitti said two hours later.
Though the temperature had topped 90 degrees, a large portion of the crowd at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway stayed to bathe the three in cheers as they passed. Las Vegas, Franchitti said, was the lowest of the lows. The victory lap was the reason he returns to the racetrack.
Franchitti, the 2007 and 2010 Indy champion, overcame a spin after his first pit stop that dropped him way down in the field, then won a exhilarating last-lap duel with Takuma Sato.
Sato tried to dart inside Franchitti's red Honda-powered car entering Turn 1 of the famous 21/2-mile oval, but Sato lost control, spun and thudded into the white outside wall. Franchitti kept his foot on the gas.
He won under caution, crossing the finish line ahead of Scott Dixon, his Chip Ganassi teammate, and gregarious Brazilian Tony Kanaan, who took the lead earlier with an audacious pass that carried him past four drivers. That was part of a daylong pattern that saw trailing drivers draft off of lead cars and fly by. Franchitti and Dixon alone traded the lead 10 times among themselves in the final 41 laps.
"We were like sitting ducks, man," Dixon said.
It was not lost on Franchitti that Dixon and Kanaan were also good friends with Wheldon, and he joked afterward that Wheldon would have laughed at these three drivers going at it.
"His three best friends were fighting for the win, odds are one of us would do it," Kanaan said. "I tried everything I could to do it. I haven't done it yet. To lose this one, like this, is an honor."
The love that the fans showed for Franchitti and Susie Wheldon on the victory lap got to him. Wheldon will not be forgotten, but it was as if a door had been closed, with a tight race won by a contemporary, rival and friend of Wheldon's.
"It meant a lot that Suze was able to come around with us today," Franchitti said.
It was Susie Wheldon's first trip to any race track since her husband's death. She watched from Dixon's pit stand with his wife, Emma.
Marco Andretti, with a Chevrolet engine, led a race-high 59 laps, all in the first half of the race. But he dropped back and for the most part the final 250 miles belonged to Honda, which looked awful in qualifying.
"There were a lot of unknowns going into today's race," Ganassi said. "It turned out the be what I thought, a great race. There was a hell of a lot of passing going on."
Sato, who drives for the team co-owned by 1986 Indy champion Bobby Rahal and late-night talk-show host David Letterman, was also in the mix through the late laps. When Franchitti passed Dixon for the lead with two laps left, Sato came with him and took second, setting up the dramatic ending. But Sato's final move didn't work in the end.
"You do not play Dario like that," Kanaan said of Sato. "He should know better than that."
Franchitti got through it, and later took another spin through Turn 1 at a much slower speed, on the back of that convertible with his wife and a special invited guest.
Dan Wheldon liked to wear white sunglasses, and Franchitti made sure to wear a pair, too.
"What a race! I think D-dub would be proud of that one."
Dario Franchitti on Dan Wheldon, who was honored by fans and drivers wearing his favored white sunglasses
Times staff, wires
Sunday, May 27, 2012
The USF softball team now heads to Oklahoma City for its first College World Series appearance knowing its opening opponent: Oklahoma.
The first-timer Bulls (50-12), led by former Pinellas Park High pitcher Sara Nevin, play the Sooners (50-8), who are making their seventh appearance, in the CWS opener at 1 p.m. Thursday (ESPN2). The Sooners are led by pitcher Keilani Ricketts, who struck out 13 in a 7-1 super regional win Saturday against Arizona.
USF leads OU 3-2 all time.
The USF-Oklahoma winner will play the winner of the other Bracket 1 opener, LSU (39-23) or No. 1 national seed Cal (56-5), at 7 p.m. Friday. The losers of Thursday's first games play an elimination game at noon Saturday.
Tennessee faces Alabama and Oregon takes on Arizona State in Bracket 2 play Thursday.
NCAA Lacrosse: Northwestern (21-2) won its seventh women's national championship in the past eight seasons, beating Syracuse 8-6 in Stony Brook, N.Y. Syracuse, which ousted Florida in the semifinals, finished 19-4.
Meanwhile, Florida junior goalie Mikey Meagher was named SynapseSports.com's goalie of the year. She was named to the national organization's first-team All-America squad, along with teammates Brittany Dashiell and Sam Farrell.
NCAA Tennis: Florida's Allie Will lost her singles national semifinal 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 to Stanford's third-ranked Nicole Gibbs in Athens, Ga. Gibbs advances to today's final against her teammate, fifth-ranked Mallory Burdette, who ousted Cal's Zsofi Susanyi 6-2, 6-2.
Basketball: The Gators received a commitment from South Carolina transfer Damontre Harris (6 feet 9, 225 pounds), who chose Florida over Kansas, ESPN.com reported.
