Sunday, May 27, 2012

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Manu Ginobili scored 26 and the Spurs won their 19th in a row to tie the NBA record for longest winning streak kept alive in the playoffs, beating the Thunder 101-98 Sunday to open the Western final.

Obeying orders by coach Gregg Popovich during a fourth-quarter timeout to play "nasty," the Spurs erased a nine-point deficit that stunned the Thunder.

Kevin Durant led Oklahoma City with 27 points. Russell Westbrook had 17.

The 2001 Lakers are the only other team to carry a winning streak this long in the playoffs, and they did so on their way to a championship.

The Spurs matched the fourth-longest streak in NBA history, and with one more will become the fourth team to surpass 20.

Tim Duncan had 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Tony Parker shook off a dismal start to finish with 18 points. But it was Ginobili who steered the Spurs to strike first.

"They got us on our heels. We were not aggressive," Ginobili said. "And in the second half, we did have it."

On the other end, Oklahoma City's stars struggled to find their shot early before awakening in the second half. Yet Westbrook finished just 6-for-15 and took a facefirst spill late in the fourth. He appeared to favor his left leg when he got up, but he never left the game.

Durant, Westbrook and James Harden at one point through the second quarter were 5-for-21 — an ominous stat line for a trio that had been responsible for nearly 70 percent of Oklahoma City's points through the playoffs.

OKLAHOMA CITY (98): Durant 8-19 11-12 27, Ibaka 1-3 3-3 5, Perkins 1-4 3-4 5, Westbrook 7-21 1-2 17, Sefolosha 3-7 0-0 7, Harden 7-17 0-0 19, Collison 2-3 1-2 5, Fisher 6-8 0-0 13, Cook 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 35-83 19-23 98.

SAN ANTONIO (101): Leonard 3-9 0-0 7, Duncan 6-15 4-6 16, Diaw 4-6 0-0 8, Parker 6-15 5-7 18, Green 0-6 0-0 0, Ginobili 9-14 5-5 26, Bonner 0-2 0-0 0, Neal 5-9 0-0 12, Splitter 4-5 1-5 9, S.Jackson 1-2 2-2 5. Totals 38-83 17-25 101.

Oklahoma City 18 29 24 27— 98

San Antonio 24 22 16 39— 101

3-Point Goals—Oklahoma City 9-23 (Harden 5-9, Westbrook 2-3, Fisher 1-3, Sefolosha 1-3, Cook 0-1, Durant 0-4), San Antonio 8-24 (Ginobili 3-5, Neal 2-4, S.Jackson 1-2, Parker 1-2, Leonard 1-3, Diaw 0-1, Bonner 0-2, Green 0-5). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Oklahoma City 48 (Durant 10), San Antonio 57 (Duncan 11). Assists—Oklahoma City 18 (Westbrook 5), San Antonio 22 (Parker 6). Total Fouls—Oklahoma City 24, San Antonio 18. A—18,581.

Haslem admits retaliation: Heat forward Udonis Haslem acknowledged that he meant to foul the Pacers' Tyler Hansbrough in retaliation for a hard foul on Heat guard Dwyane Wade, the Miami Herald reported.

Haslem suggested Saturday that he would do it again. "I can't imagine anything I wouldn't do for Dwyane," Haslem, who was suspended for Game 6, said now that Miami has finished off Indiana.

When Wade fell bleeding near Haslem, the former Gator said he thought: "Okay, that's how it is going to be tonight? Okay. Let's do that then."

Haslem delivered his message with the foul later.

"It is all fun and games to beat up the Heat in the media, to say the Heat are soft," he said. "But as soon as the Heat take a stand and hit back, it's not funny anymore."

Times wires
Sunday, May 27, 2012

CONCORD, N.C. — Welcome to the Hendrick family, Kasey Kahne.

Kahne pulled away to victory in Sunday night's Coca-Cola 600, winning NASCAR's longest race for the third time and gaining his stripes for Hendrick Motorsports the only way that matters — taking the checkered flag.

Kahne wondered this year when that might happen.

The self-imposed pressure grew this week before Charlotte Motor Speedway at a party Hendrick threw to celebrate the owner's 200th career win, earned by Jimmie Johnson at Darlington Raceway two weeks back. Kahne was introduced after the 15 drivers who won races for Hendrick took a bow. Kahne said the gathering showed him what Hendrick has meant to the sport — and how much he wanted to add to that legacy.

"It's something I've been looking forward to for a long time," Kahne said.

And it was a popular triumph. Teammate Jeff Gordon rushed up to hug Kahne and told him, "Proud of you."

Hendrick saw that Kahne and crew chief Kenny Francis were frustrated by their early struggles when their best finish was 14th in California.

"You could see it was bothering him," Hendrick said. "I tried to reassure him that we're in this for the long haul."

Things began to click soon after, and Kahne entered the week with five straight top-10 finishes.

Kahne led four Hendrick cars in the top 11. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was sixth and Gordon seventh — only his third top-10 finish of the year. Johnson came in 11th after falling from contention with a mistake on the final pit stop. He left the stall with his gas can still engaged, dragging his crew member behind.

Johnson was hit with a stop-and-go penalty, ending his chances at winning.

"I think we're showing the consistency from all of our teams," Hendrick said. "I can't wait for the second half of the season."

Kahne was nearly five seconds ahead of Denny Hamlin. Kyle Busch was third and series points leader Greg Biffle fourth.

It was Kahne's 13th career win and first since November in Phoenix for the Red Bull team, which has since shut down.

Sunday night he led 96 laps, including the final 42.

"I just know that the cars and the people we have that Mr. Hendrick gives us is everything that we need to win," Kahne said.

Danica Patrick, the first woman to drive in the race since Janet Guthrie in 1976, was five laps down in 30th — her best finish in three Sprint Cup races this season.

"This is still good experience for me and that's what this is all about," Patrick said.

Car owner Chip Ganassi flew to Charlotte after celebrating Dario Franchitti's win at the Indianapolis 500 earlier Sunday. Ganassi, part of Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, had hoped to double up with drivers Jamie McMurray and Juan Montoya.

"The minute I walked into the garage, people were high-fiving me," Ganassi said. But Montoya finished two laps down in 20th and McMurray was right behind in 21st.

The race was the quickest ever for the 600 at 3 hours, 51 minutes, 14 seconds, nearly five minutes faster than the mark set in 1995.

Times wires
Sunday, May 27, 2012

Nationals 7, Braves 2

ATLANTA — Bryce Harper hit his second homer in two days and Gio Gonzalez (1.98 entering Sunday) beat Brandon Beachy (1.77) in a matchup of two of the top three ERAs in the majors for the Nationals. The Braves' seven-game skid is their longest since nine in 2010. At 11 games, this is the most the Nationals have been above .500 since 2005, their first season in Washington.

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Monday, May 28, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG — White Sox left-hander Chris Sale grew up a Rays fan, with the Lakeland native seeing his first-ever professional game at Tropicana Field

That was on March 31, 1998, the day after Sale's ninth birthday, when his uncle took him to the inaugural Devil Rays opener.

On Monday, Sale did something that no pitcher has done in the previous 1,156 games at the Trop, striking out a stadium-record 15 in handing the Rays a 2-1 loss in front of a bunch of friends and family.

"It was awesome," he said.

It also spoiled the best start of the season for Rays rookie left-hander Matt Moore (1-5), who struck out 10 and allowed two runs over a career-long seven-inning outing. But Moore was saddled with the loss in front of a Memorial Day crowd of 22,227.

"I don't know what it was like facing Randy Johnson when he was young, but (Sale) has got great stuff and I think he's got a real bright future," Zobrist said. "He's a phenomenal young pitcher and is going to be good for a long time."

It was the first time the Rays (28-20, still tied for first in the AL East after the Orioles lost to the Blue Jays) saw Sale as a starter after the 2010 first-round pick spent the previous two years in relief. Maddon wanted to give Sale a "different look," resting his top left-handed hitters — Carlos Peña, Luke Scott and Matt Joyce. All three entered the game late, with Scott and Joyce pinch-hitting in the ninth, but the damage had been done by Sale, whom Maddon said had "uncanny command" of his offspeed pitches.

"That guy could have punched out a lot of teams 15 times (Monday)," Maddon said. "His stuff was that good."

Moore, 22, was good, too, with improved fastball command, a strong changeup, and steady tempo on the mound.

"He looked a lot more comfortable and definitely had a great game to build off emotionally," Maddon said.

But Moore blew a lead for the fifth time in eight starts. Catcher Jose Lobaton, activated from the disabled list Monday, had picked up his first career RBI with a fourth-inning single, one of the Rays' three hits that matched a season low.

White Sox first baseman Adam Dunn delivered the biggest blow, a mammoth two-run homer in the sixth off Moore that went 448 feet, one-hopping the back wall in right. Moore said it was a "mistake," a fastball low and away that was "where (Dunn) likes the ball."

"I really thought that was going to hit the scoreboard when he hit it," Maddon said. "It was a helium ball. It was just staying up there."

Maddon said it was a matchup of two of the better young left-handers in the American League, and you have to go back to 1901 to find the last time opposing starters 23 or younger combined for 25 strikeouts (Cubs' Tom Hughes and Reds' Noodles Hahn had 26). Sale's 15 strikeouts topped the Trop's previous best of 14, set by three-time Cy Young award winner Pedro Martinez on July 7, 1999.

"Matt pitched a phenomenal game — we couldn't have asked him to do any more," Zobrist said. "But Chris Sale pitched a great game, too."

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@tampabay.com

Times wires
Monday, May 28, 2012

Pirates 4, Reds 1

PITTSBURGH — James McDonald matched his career-long outing with eight shutout innings, retiring the final 12 he faced, and the Pirates won a season-high fourth straight. Reds starter Bronson Arroyo, a former Hernando standout, often worked deep into counts on a sweltering day and had his shortest stint of the season against a team that has struggled offensively. Arroyo needed 79 pitches to get 12 outs and is winless in his past four starts.

Times wires
Monday, May 28, 2012

Marlins 5, Nationals 3

MIAMI — Giancarlo Stanton hit his 11th home run in May, one short of the Marlins' record for a month, and Miami rallied to tie the franchise record for victories in any month (19-8). Struggling closer Heath Bell pitched a perfect ninth. Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann hit his first career home run.

Times wires
Monday, May 28, 2012

Red Sox 7, Tigers 4

BOSTON — After an umpire's mistake on what should have been an inning-ending third strike, Mike Aviles singled to center to spark a three-run second that gave the Red Sox the lead for good. Should Aviles have been called out? "I honestly don't know 100 percent,'' he said. "I got another swing … and we kept rolling from there."' Boston's Ryan Sweeney had three hits after being activated from the disabled list.

By Dave Zalewski, Times Correspondent
Monday, May 28, 2012

What's hot: I never thought there would be sustained kingfish action at the end of May, but that is happening offshore. June is nearly here and we have been targeting kings daily instead of waiting for an incidental catch on a deployed flat line while bottom fishing. Historically, most kingfish have left our area by now to continue their migration to the Panhandle, where they spend the summer. Many smaller kingfish are on the near-shore artificial reefs and the larger ones are further offshore.

Tactics: Many fish that we are catching have been below the surface, halfway to the bottom or deeper, picking off stragglers from the huge bait piles of Spanish sardines, hardtails and blue runners. Catching the bait with sabiki rigs using a 3- or 4-ounce sinker to prevent these larger baits from tangling the rig has been relatively easy. Presenting the baits is a little more complex. Downriggers can be used near the bottom. A 2- to 4-ounce trolling weight can be used in the mid range and a nose-hooked bait on the surface. A stinger rig should be used no matter what depth. Initial light drag settings should prevent breakoffs on the strike.

Tips: Always slow troll around bait piles with the lines far enough out so that they will pass through the bait instead of the boat, which tends to separate the bait into smaller schools. These bait piles might not be visible from the surface, so pay attention to your depth finder to locate sub-surface schools.

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

Times wires
Monday, May 28, 2012

Phillies 8, Mets 4

NEW YORK — The Phillies' Ty Wigginton had a career-high six RBIs with a homer and a pair of two-out hits and Cole Hamels (8-1) won his eighth straight decision to match the Cardinals' Lance Lynn for the major-league lead in wins. "Cole's been stepping up all year and he did it again," Wigginton said. Hamels got David Wright to ground out to end a threat in the eighth. Wright is in an 0-for-14 slump.

Times wires
Monday, May 28, 2012

Cubs 11, Padres 7

CHICAGO — Alfonso Soriano hit the go-ahead home run as the Cubs ended a 12-game losing streak. With winds blowing out at gusts up to 35 mph on a 90-degree day, the teams had four home runs each and combined for 17 extra-base hits.

Times wires
Monday, May 28, 2012

Cardinals 8, Braves 2

ATLANTA — Cardinals starter Lance Lynn got revenge on the only team to beat him this season, extending the Braves' losing streak to eight. "There was a little added incentive to be sure," he said. Atlanta's worst skid since nine straight from April 21-29, 2010, dropped it into a last-place tie with the Phillies. "We've got to turn this around — soon," catcher Brian McCann said.

Times wires
Monday, May 28, 2012

Rockies 9, Astros 7

Game 1

DENVER — Jordan Pacheco blooped a tiebreaking two-run single with two outs in the eighth, set up when Astros second baseman Jose Altuve wasn't expecting a toss from shortstop Jed Lowrie and the ball bounced into center.

Times wires
Monday, May 28, 2012

Indians 8, Royals 5

CLEVELAND — Jose Lopez had three RBIs and the Indians ended a three-game losing streak. Cleveland's Josh Tomlin was activated from the disabled list and pitched five innings in his first game since May 7 (right wrist tendinitis). Chris Perez got a standing ovation as he worked a perfect ninth for his 17th save.

Times wires
Monday, May 28, 2012

Twins 5, Athletics 4

MINNEAPOLIS — Justin Morneau drove in two runs, including the tying double in the eighth, and the Twins ended a five-game losing streak. Matt Capps was booed but bounced back from his first blown save by striking out his final batter, Jonny Gomes, with the bases loaded in the ninth.

By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Monday, May 28, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG — Butch Cassidy said it best. In the precise moment that he realized the depth of his trouble, he turned to the Sundance Kid and wondered:

Who are these guys?

• The leadoff hitter was batting .241. In this order, the others called him "Basher."

• The cleanup hitter was in his sixth major-league game of the year.

• The No. 5 hitter had just spent six weeks on the disabled list.

And furthermore, why are these guys?

• The No. 7 hitter still has infield dirt from Durham on his feet.

• The No. 8 hitter came into the game with a .179 average.

• The No. 9 hitter went eight years between major-league at-bats, and he now has gone 12 days without you paying attention to another one.

And one more question: Where were the other guys?

Yeah, you can say the Rays went down swinging Monday. Given a starting lineup of strangers and vagabonds, what else would you have expected? Over the years, Rays fans have endured a lot of punchless attacks, but I'm not sure there has ever been a lineup quite this non-threatening.

Out of nine hitters, four were hitting .206 or less. Three were in the minor leagues this season. One has been injured for most of the season. Also, Jose Molina.

In other words, it probably shouldn't surprise anyone that the Rays didn't make a lot of noise in a 2-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox. For the day, the Rays managed three hits. All things considered, that might have been overachieving.

Tell me: Is this how a team battles for first place? I know, I know. It has been a long season, and players have to have a game off every now and then, and the Rays had been in Boston the previous day. Besides, a lot of people can sound silly as they criticize how often Joe Maddon jiggles his lineup on his way to winning those AL Manager of the Year awards.

On the other hand: Yikes.

Sean Rodriguez? Okay, he hit a big home run on Sunday. B.J. Upton? Fine. He was on a 10-game hitting streak. Ben Zobrist? Not many teams bat a .206 hitter third, but he has had his moments. But then came this: Drew Sutton followed by Jose Lobaton followed by Elliot Johnson followed by Will Rhymes followed by Jose Molina followed by Rich Thompson.

Just wondering, but at what point of the proceedings do the outfielders back up?

The last time you saw a lineup like this, it was spring training, and the words that came to mind were these: Split squad? Put it this way: Memorial Day should not be a day for remembering Ben Grieve and Danny Clyburn and Vinny Castilla and the rest of the Jason Tyner dancers.

Can you imagine what White Sox pitcher Chris Sale thought when he saw the Rays' lineup? Just guessing, but I bet it took him an hour and a half to stop grinning. After which, Sale strolled out and struck out 15 batters. One of them, I think, was on two pitches. The Rays' hitters whiffed so often that Hunter Ceiling Fans might soon become a team sponsor.

Again, the Rays have won a lot of games over the past few seasons with lineups dotted by fairly anemic batting averages. That isn't anything new. But here's a question: Why pull Matt Joyce and Luke Scott and Carlos Peña from the lineup on the same day?

Those are the top three home run hitters on the roster. Given that injuries have already stripped the lineup of Evan Longoria and Desmond Jennings, shouldn't one of them have started in front of a holiday crowd?

"Given the weekend we had in Boston, I wanted to give some guys a day off," Maddon said. "Combined with the guy we were facing, I thought we might be better off to spot them in the late innings (against Chicago's bullpen) when we might get a better matchup.

"I really thought this lineup was capable of some good things. The other guy (Sale) was just good."

He was. On the other hand, consider Friday night. The Rays were facing another fine left-hander in Boston's Jon Lester. They started all three of their left-handed power hitters. Peña hit a home run. Joyce hit a grand slam.

Do you think Matt Moore might have liked a bit of that? That's a shame, too, because Moore could really use a win right about now. Monday, he was good enough to get one.

In a way, of course, it says fine things about the Rays that they have been able stay in the pennant race with a patchwork lineup. Sprinkle a bunch of guys with something to prove around dangerous hitters, and they can keep a season afloat. Take those hitters away, however, and winning is a lot to ask.

Just a thought, but wouldn't it be nice for the Rays to keep one or two of the big kids in the lineup?

You know, just for the memories.

B.J. UPTON

DREW SUTTON

ELLIOT JOHNSON

JOSE MOLINA

3B

RF

DH

2B

LF

HITTING FOURTH entering MONDAY

Career: 5-12, 1 HR, 4 RBI

HITTING FOURTH ON MONDAY

0-3, 3 strikeouts

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Monday, May 28, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG — C Jose Lobaton rejoined the Rays on Monday — and was back in the starting lineup — after a longer-than-expected stint on the disabled list.

Lobaton is confident the soreness in his right shoulder, which forced him to miss 41 games, is behind him. C Chris Gimenez was optioned to Triple-A Durham to make room.

"I was thinking in the beginning it was going to be short, like a week," Lobaton said. "Now it feels like it was a year. But I'm happy to be back, and try to help the team."

As the designated hitter in Monday's loss, Lobaton had a run-scoring single, his first career RBI.

The Rays have wanted to get an extended look at the 28-year-old rookie switch-hitter, but injuries late last season and in April have hampered his ability, with Monday just his 28th career game.

"We've just got to get him out there on a more consistent basis, get him comfortable and take advantage of that here," manager Joe Maddon said. "That's the (reputation), that he hits the ball hard, so it's going to be about getting at-bats and staying healthy."

CATCHING ON: Maddon was impressed with what Gimenez showed in his 29-game stint with the Rays, saying they just wanted him to work on his proficiency offensively, especially situational hitting (bunting, etc).

Gimenez hit .191 with four RBI, but Maddon pointed out he looked better defensively than he did in spring training.

"He did a really good job," Maddon said. "He had a lot of energy, and pitchers really liked to throw to him. He represented himself well, he's great in the clubhouse, a really strong makeup guy."

LINING UP: Maddon said with Monday's White Sox starter, Chris Sale, a tough lefty, he didn't start left-handed hitters Carlos Peña, Matt Joyce and Luke Scott, knowing Chicago starts another lefty, Jose Quintana, on Wednesday. Maddon wanted to rest the trio, and thought they'd be good pinch-hitting options late in the game (all three had an at-bat Monday).

The unique lineup led to INF Drew Sutton making his first big-league start at first base. Sutton played 31 minor-league games at first, as well as five previous games in the majors.

Sutton said the key is more situational things like where he needs to be in cutoffs and bunt plays.

"He's very comfortable every place we've put him," Maddon said.

Sutton has started six of the Rays' seven games since being acquired May 20 from the Pirates.

"To be honest, I didn't expect to be playing this much when I came up here," Sutton said. "It's a good surprise."

MEDICAL MATTERS: It looks as though OF Desmond Jennings (left knee sprain) may not return until late next week at the earliest. Maddon said Jennings would likely need a week-long rehab assignment, which could start Wednesday or Thursday. Maddon said he was encouraged Monday when Jennings "moved easily" during outfield drills and used a long stride while running arcs. The next step is running the bases and sliding.

RHP Kyle Farnsworth (right elbow strain) threw 25 pitches, all fastballs, Monday in a bullpen session. Farnsworth was pleased he was able to repeat his delivery, and finish his pitches, something Maddon felt were good signs. Farnsworth will throw 30 pitches Wednesday, mixing in his cutter, and is still targeting a return the third week of June.

MISCELLANY: CF B.J. Upton snapped his career-long 10-game hitting streak by going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.

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

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Monday, May 28, 2012

TAMPA — USF senior C Laura Fountain celebrated with her softball teammates Saturday night as the Bulls became NCAA Super Region champions and then, after a quick overnight drive across the state, she celebrated another joyful first: Becoming an aunt.

Fountain, whose ninth-inning sacrifice fly was the winning margin in USF's Game 2 victory against Hofstra on Saturday, got a call at 1 a.m. Sunday that her sister, Jenna Hinely, was going into labor with her first child. Despite playing 27 innings of softball in the previous 30 hours, Fountain drove to Fort Lauderdale in time for the birth of her niece, Raelyn.

"Best weekend of my life," said Fountain, who got back to Tampa in time for USF's first practice Monday afternoon.

Fountain's parents, Ron and Barb, were as nervous as any fans at USF Softball Stadium, cheering for one daughter but also waiting for a phone call from the other. Jenna, who played softball at Lipscomb, had attended USF's regional wins in Gainesville and was planning to attend the weekend's games, but had to watch from a hospital bed.

"I think that's what probably put her into labor, with all the excitement," Laura said.

Fountain said the amazing weekend was still sinking in as she drove back to Tampa, but she can appreciate what the Bulls accomplished.

"People you didn't even know were coming up after the game and saying how proud they were of us," Fountain said. "It was such a cool moment because we just made history. We'll always be the first team to do this."

THIS AND THAT: USF will practice this morning before flying to Oklahoma City. The Bulls play at 1 p.m. against fourth-seeded Oklahoma to open double-elimination play, which continues through Sunday. The final two teams play a best-of-three series starting Monday. … USF could play its second game against the other unseeded team in the field, LSU. That will be special for Bulls senior Jessica Mouse, who was a three-year starter for LSU before transferring last summer. She has been trading good-luck messages with her former teammates. LSU made three NCAA regionals while Mouse played for the Tigers, but never reached the College World Series.

By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Monday, May 28, 2012

When Tampa's Doug Letson was a freshman at Florida State, he was the sixth man on a five-man team that finished a school-best third at the NCAA tournament. He never got to tee it up at the biggest tournament of the season, but he swore he would if the Seminoles ever returned.

"Obviously I wanted to be out there playing,'' Letson said. "But it was really interesting to watch how everybody fed off each other. It was cool to be part of the experience.''

Two years later, the Seminoles have returned.

What's in question is whether Letson will play. He is solidly in the Seminoles' top five, usually playing at No. 3 or 4. But just days before leaving for the national tournament in Pacific Palisades, Calif., Letson had a mishap in the weight room.

While lifting weights a barbell landed on his right hand, spraining two of his fingers. He is said to be day-to-day, so whether he plays today will be a last-second decision.

"I know he thinks he can play and he wants to play,'' FSU coach Trey Jones said. "But we'll have to see. If he can't grip the club he can't play.''

Letson's absence would be a big blow to the Seminoles, ranked 19th in the 30-team NCAA field. They join state schools Florida, North Florida and Central Florida in the tournament.

Letson has played in nine spring tournaments and has four top-10 finishes. His low round was 68 at the Florida Atlantic Spring Break Invitational. He has played 27 rounds, 11 at par or better.

"It's had its ups and downs,'' Letson said. "But this has been my most consistent year. I've had my most top 10s.''

Letson came to FSU after a stellar career at Plant High School and on the junior circuit. He grew up playing at Palma Ceia Golf & Country Club in south Tampa. It was at the historic course where he said he learned how to drive on the narrow fairways and hone his short game.

Letson, who is majoring in economics, chose Tallahassee over USF and UCF.

Jones said Letson is the kind of player he wanted on his team.

"He wants to play golf so badly; he's a golf junkie,'' he said. "He was willing to make all the sacrifices. He didn't care if he had to drive a half an hour to the practice facilities. Sometimes I would call him at 10 at night and he'd be out on the range beating balls. I knew he would be the right fit.''

Letson made an immediate impact. He played in 10 tournaments as a freshman and had a 74.6 stroke average, impressing even himself.

"I was supposed to just learn my first year," he said. "But I qualified for my first tournament and just played well from the start. I think that came as a surprise to some people.''

Letson slumped during his sophomore year. He played in only one spring event, the Seminole Intercollegiate. But he played his way back into the starting five this spring, getting his stroke average down to 72.8. In the NCAA region tournament at the University of Oklahoma, Letson tied for 31st as the Seminoles placed third to qualify for the NCAA tournament.

Letson is hopeful he'll be able to play in California, a place he hasn't played since he was 9 years old. But he had a way to get ready for Riviera Country Club.

"I've played it on the video game a bunch of times,'' he said.

Times wires
Monday, May 28, 2012

SAN FRANCISCO — Barry Bonds is publicly referring to himself as a convicted felon these days, and he's quick to point out that conviction was never for steroid use.

He appealed his obstruction of justice conviction from April 2011 on one count of giving an evasive answer to a 2003 grand jury investigating illegal steroids distribution.

"I went through the system. And that's what it is," Bond said Monday, attending the Diamondbacks-Giants game while doing charity work through Big Brothers and Sisters. "And that's what I got. I'm in an appeal process right now. I was never convicted of steroids."

The slugger, who last played in 2007, said he met recently with Giants president and CEO Larry Baer about working for the club in some capacity, and Bonds has a personal services contract the Giants have said could go into effect once his legal proceedings end.

When asked if he had any regrets, Bonds said: "I'm a convicted felon for obstruction of justice, and that's who I am. I live with it."

On his legal issues: "It'll never go off your mind. You don't ever forget those things.''

Bonds, 47, looking lean at about 212 pounds from his new love for cycling, spent a stint in the broadcast booth during San Francisco's win.

leyland rants: Tigers manager Jim Leyland was ejected from a loss to the Red Sox, and erupted to reporters afterward: "You guys need to write something and hold people accountable." With two outs in the second, Boston's Mike Aviles swung at what would have been strike three. It was ruled a foul tip by umpire Jeff Nelson, and the ball was determined to hit the dirt before C Gerald Laird gloved it. Replays showed a swing and miss, and Laird catching it cleanly. Aviles then lined an RBI single, and two more runs followed. Leyland told reporters: "Was that a ridiculous call? Then write that it was a ridiculous … call!"

hamilton sits: Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton sat out because of what the team says is an upper respiratory problem that has bothered him for more than a week. Hamilton said the last couple days have been "a little weird."

angels: OF Torii Hunter returned after a two-week absence to deal with the arrest of his son Darius, 17, who is charged with sexual assault.

athletics: The team said slugger Manny Ramirez will not join the team when his 50-game drug ban expires Wednesday. He will join Triple-A Sacramento's 25-man roster, with no time frame for a major-league call-up.

Marlins: RH reliever Juan Carlos Oviedo was suspended for eight weeks by Major League Baseball for age and identity fraud. Oviedo, 30, a year older than previously listed, played as Leo Nunez for seven seasons.

Orioles: Baltimore, which begins a three-game series at the Rays on Friday, activated INF Mark Reynolds and placed RHP Stu Pomeranz on the 15-day disabled list with a torn muscle in his side. Reynolds had a strained muscle in his left side.

padres: Golfer Phil Mickelson joined one of the five groups trying to buy the team. His group includes four grandchildren of former Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley.

phillies: RHP Roy Halladay is scheduled to see a doctor today about his sore right shoulder.

Times wires
Monday, May 28, 2012

Giants 4, D'backs 2

SAN FRANCISCO — Barry Zito outpitched Trevor Cahill in a matchup of former Athletics All-Stars and Brandon Belt hit an RBI triple for the Giants. Gregor Blanco doubled twice and drove in a run for his second two-double game in four days and made a game-ending catch on the warning track in right with two runners on. Blanco also scored on a double steal to get things started in San Francisco's three-run first.