By John C. Cotey, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, June 3, 2012

A professional career that started at the Hyatt Regency in Tampa, wound its way through France, Germany and Monte Carlo and found its brightest moments under the bright lights in Las Vegas, came to an end Saturday night in Carson City, Calif.

For St. Petersburg's most famous fighter Winky Wright, the mind was still willing but the body was not, as the 40-year-old dropped a unanimous decision to a younger and stronger Peter Quillin at the Home Depot Center.

Sunday, he told the Times he was retiring.

"I'm going to call this quits," said the former world champion. "If I can't be champ, I'm done. I'm not going to do this just to be fighting."

Wright finishes his career with 51 wins and six defeats, including losses in his last three fights spanning the last five years.

Fighting for the first time in over three years, Wright looked predictably rusty. He was knocked down in the fifth round, but his infamous turtle shell defense had holes in it, and he was not able to control the fight. His right jab-straight left combination, so effective over the years, lacked its usual pop.

"I couldn't do what I wanted to," Wright said. " I could see what I wanted to do, but I couldn't pull the trigger."

Quillin was awarded the decision 98-91 twice and 97-92.

Wright said he had decided before the fight that if he lost, he would retire. After talking it over with his family and adviser and close friend Jim Wilkes, he made it official Sunday.

He said he no plans other than "living life" with wife Pie and raising his kids and tending to some of his business interests, including his boxing promotional company.

"No regrets, I feel great," Wright said. "I'll miss the fans, they have been great. That will be the hardest part. But I wanted to be champ again, and it just ain't happening and it was time to quit while I was ahead."

Starting in 1990, Wright fought his first 16 fights in Florida, most of those at the Hyatt Regency and USF Sun Dome, and 10 of his next 12 in Europe after signing with an overseas promoter.

In 1996, Wright won his first title, beating Bronco McKart for the WBO junior middleweight belt.

In 1999, Wright made a name for himself by nearly beating Fernando Vargas in an IBF title fight, dropping a highly disputed decision and earning a reputation afterwards as a guy no one wanted to fight due to his defense and awkward style.

In fact, it was almost five years before he got another marquee fight, when Shane Mosley gave him his big break.

In stunning fashion, Wright -- who held the IBF title at the time -- dominated Mosley in 2004 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas to capture the WBC and WBA junior middleweight belts and unify the division for the first time in over 29 years.

Wright won the rematch later in 2004, and then in arguably his greatest performance shut out Felix Trinidad in 2005.

That led to a middleweight title fight against former Olympian Jermain Taylor, which resulted in a controversial draw.

The contentious negotiations to get the first fight with Taylor made continued into setting up a rematch, which never happened. Wright was unable to build on his momentum and had to take difficult fights against Bernard Hopkins (at a catchweight of 170 pounds, which did not suit him), a prime Paul Williams and Quillin (after a three-year layoff).

But despite the losses, Wright leaves the game as a popular former champion, particularly in Tampa Bay.

He fought 13 times in Tampa and never lost, including his last win in 2006 win over Ike Quartey, a unanimous decision in front of more than 13,000 fans at the St. Pete Times Forum.

He sounded happy Sunday, and said he has no regrets.

"Oh man, I'm pleasantly pleased to come out of St. Pete and make a stamp on the game the way I did," Wright said. "I'm proud of the things that I've done. I feel great. I wouldn't take back or change anything."

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, June 3, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays are sliding, all right, kicking up dirt on everyone as they tumble.

Just not in the standings, however.

Following Sunday's 8-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles, in which rookie Matt Moore allowed only one earned run through six innings, Tampa Bay (31-23) was alone in first place in the mosh pit that is the American League East.

The Rays got there the same way Elliot Johnson slid into second base to break up a potential inning-ending double play in the fifth: playing hard-nosed baseball and trading glamour for grit.

"That was the only thing that kept that inning rolling, a heads-up baserunning play on his part and everything good happens after that," Rays manager Joe Maddon said of Johnson.

With one out and the score tied at 2, Rays catcher Jose Molina bounced to Orioles third baseman Steve Tolleson for what looked to be a twin killing. But Johnson went hard into second baseman Robert Andino, who never attempted the relay throw to get Molina. Following a walk to Carlos Peña, B.J. Upton doubled home two runs to give the Rays a lead they never relinquished.

The Rays tacked on four runs in the sixth, a leadoff double by Ben Zobrist followed by three singles, an error and Peña's sacrifice fly.

But for a Rays team that hit only .165 (30-for-182) during the 2-4 homestand, it was hustle and not muscle that enabled them to win the three-game series against the Orioles. On Sunday, they scored their first five runs on three hits, two Baltimore errors and a sacrifice fly.

"Absolutely, that's the way Joe wants us to play the game and that's what we do," Upton said.

Moore (2-5, 4.45 ERA), who had opened the homestand with a career-high seven innings but lost 2-1 to the Chicago White Sox, scattered seven hits Sunday and worked out of jams in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings.

"I think that's my go-to right now, as far as when there is something going on, just taking a look and realizing there's only a runner on first and there's still an 0-0 count on this guy, so we can get him to roll over into maybe a double play or something," Moore said.

Despite nine players on the disabled list, including third baseman Evan Longoria and leftfielder Desmond Jennings, who is scheduled to rejoin the club Tuesday in New York, the Rays have managed to "tread water," as Maddon says.

Only three games separate the Rays from the last-place Boston and Toronto. The Orioles are one game back in second place and the Yankees are 11/2 games off the pace heading into the three-game series against the Rays.

"Our pitching has permitted us to not hit and still keep our heads above water," Maddon said. "No question."

Almost to a man, the Rays believe any team will have a difficult time breaking away from the pack in the AL East. If so, what team is better equipped for the grind than the Rays?

"We definitely know how to grind," Upton said.

The Rays way is simple, according to Johnson.

"We're going to pitch, we're going to play defense," he said. "And we're going to break up some double plays."

Times wires
Sunday, June 3, 2012

DETROIT — Derek Jeter homered on the first pitch of the game, giving the Yankees an early breakthrough against Justin Verlander.

Then Phil Hughes took the mound and outpitched the Tigers ace.

"Phil deserves all the credit. He was pretty impressive," Jeter said. "He just came after people."

Hughes pitched a four-hitter for his first career nine-inning complete game to lead New York to a 5-1 victory over Detroit on Sunday. Hughes had a rain-shortened six-inning complete game Aug. 2 against the White Sox.

"It feels great. The big thing here has been pitch count and not going very deep into games," Hughes said. "My fastball was staying more true, had some good life on it. I just felt a lot better overall."

Verlander has lost three straight starts for the first time since 2008. He stopped to talk to plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt after his first inning and was still frustrated afterward.

"I was uncomfortable right from the start, because the pitches that I practice every day weren't getting me strikes," Verlander said.

Times wires
Sunday, June 3, 2012

Braves 3, Nationals 2

WASHINGTON — Tommy Hanson bounced back after giving up home runs on consecutive pitches to Steve Lombardozzi and Bryce Harper, who became the first rookies in modern history to homer in succession leading off a game. Hanson shut out Washington over the next six innings as Atlanta ended a six-game skid against its NL East rival.

Times wires
Sunday, June 3, 2012

Royals 2, Athletics 0

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Vin Mazzaro pitched six stellar innings as Kansas City handed Oakland its third shutout in four games and its 10th loss in 11 games. Eric Hosmer homered for the Royals. Mazzaro, who pitched for the A's in 2009-10 before being traded to the Royals, allowed only four singles and escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first by getting Brandon Inge to ground out.

Times wires
Sunday, June 3, 2012

Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 1

TORONTO — Jose Bautista hit a three-run homer and Toronto avoided a three-game sweep by capitalizing on Josh Bard's shortest career start. The converted reliever walked six and hit two batters in 12/3 innings, saying afterward that he's not the same pitcher as a starter. Boston's Kevin Youkilis yelled at Drew Hutchison in the sixth after he became one of four hit batters in the game.

Times wires
Sunday, June 3, 2012

Pirates 6, Brewers 5

MILWAUKEE — Andrew McCutchen and Garrett Jones hit consecutive homers and James McDonald won for the third time in four starts for Pittsburgh. McDonald had pitched 13 scoreless innings before allowing two unearned runs in the first.

Times wires
Sunday, June 3, 2012

PARIS — There was a moment, a little past 4 p.m. on a dank and dreary Sunday at the French Open, when the gray sky above appeared to be falling on some of the best of the best.

A listless Novak Djokovic, looking little like someone ranked No. 1 and bidding to become the first man in 43 years to win four consecutive Grand Slam titles, was trying to work out of a two-set deficit against 22nd-seeded Andreas Seppi of Italy on Court Philippe Chatrier.

More astonishingly, Roger Federer, owner of a record 16 major championships, was trudging to the sideline after dropping his first set against 109th-ranked David Goffin of Belgium, a 21-year-old thrilled merely to be sharing Court Suzanne Lenglen with his idol.

By that point, one significant upset already was complete: The top-seeded woman, Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka, was headed home after losing to No. 15 Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia 6-2, 7-6 (7-4), busting a racket on the way out the door.

Asked afterward what she'll do to recover, Azarenka replied sarcastically, "I'm going to kill myself," then added: "This tournament is over for me. What's to recover from?"

It briefly seemed reasonable to ask in the afternoon whether the tournament might soon be over in the fourth round for Djokovic and Federer, too. In the end, the answer was no.

For some time, Djokovic missed shots this way and that then shook his head or yelled at himself or spread his arms wide with palms up as if to ask, "What's going on here?" He finished with 81 unforced errors, exactly his total for his first three matches combined. But Seppi's not nearly as accustomed to these stages or stakes, and Djokovic pulled out a 4-6, 6-7 (7-5), 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 victory, his 25th in a row at a major tournament.

"One of those days where … nothing is working," Djokovic said. "I could not get into the rhythm."

He began to turn things around by breaking serve to begin the third set, and he kept on doing that, nine times in all.

The third-seeded Federer, the 2009 champion at Roland Garros, finally won 5-7, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 then gave Goffin a tap on the head and a pat on the back. He hugged him at the crowd's behest during an on-court interview.

The Belgian spoke earlier in the tournament about having photos and posters of Federer in his bedroom as a child.

"I've had an extraordinary week," Goffin said. "The icing on the cake was to play here against Roger."

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, June 3, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG — Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said the draft is probably more important to them than most teams because of the division they compete in and the resources they have to work with.

And this year's first-year player draft, which begins tonight, will have a different feel. It's not just because Tampa Bay has one first-day pick (No. 25 overall) after boasting a historic 10 last year.

The "new wrinkle," as Friedman calls it, is a signing bonus system implemented through the new collective bargaining agreement, which limits the bonus money teams can pay based on the value of their top 10 picks.

The Rays' top 10 picks are valued at $3.871 million, with the bonus for the top pick $1.725 million. In previous seasons, the Rays would pay up in the later rounds, giving a player a bonus typically associated with a higher pick so they could sign him.

But under the new rules, paying up can cost Tampa Bay a 75 percent tax and loss of a pick.

"I think with the guys that we're most interested in, it's not going to be a problem at all," Friedman said. "The only challenge is that it's going to limit our flexibility late in the draft. We've basically drafted guys normally through the first six-seven-eight rounds and then taken some guys we have interest in later in the draft and basically continue to scour them through the summer and set aside money to be as aggressive as we could on those guys. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out."

Scouting director R.J. Harrison said as a result of the new bonus system, more high school players will decide to go to college and the draft will go back to its roots, where higher picks will be rewarded for being high picks.

"I think there are some interesting dynamics involved," Friedman said. "And until we understand how certain agents are going to handle it, how certain teams are going to handle it, it's difficult to assess whether it'll be a positive or negative."

Regardless of the new rules, the Rays plan on taking the best player available, not necessarily focusing on need.

"You can never have enough of anything," Harrison said.

Harrison said this year's draft isn't as deep as last year's, though it has strong high school pitching prospects as well as high school position players. He said the biggest thing the draft is lacking is left-handed pitching.

"That's the only real big gap that I see," Harrison said.

Friedman said picking at No. 25 is "really, really difficult" because it's hard to predict what teams will do in front of them. Baseball America's mock draft has Tampa Bay selecting Joey Gallo, a third baseman/right-handed pitcher from Bishop Gorman High in Las Vegas.

"The randomness of how certain teams value a player vs. another, it's very difficult," Friedman said. "The good news is, if we get 25 names lined up, we're going to get one of them."

MLB draft

When/where: Today-Wednesday, Secaucus, N.J.

TV: MLB Network

Day 1: Round 1 and compensation round A, 7 p.m.

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, June 3, 2012

OKLAHOMA CITY —- It seems unfair to suggest that Kevin Durant still could be emerging, but as the Thunder seeks to take down the Spurs in the Western Conference final, the fifth-year All-Star forward has a real window to break out as a superstar.

Durant, 23, just wrapped up his third straight NBA scoring title, and with apologies to LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, the only other player to do that in the last 34 years is Michael Jordan, who was 24 when he got his first in 1986-87.

Playing for a small-market team, the best way for the 6-foot-9 forward's profile to reach that elite level is postseason success, and Saturday's 36-point game, tying the series at 2 entering tonight's game in San Antonio, Texas, was a big step in that direction. Durant had 16 straight points for the Thunder in the fourth quarter, carrying the team after the Spurs had cut a double-digit lead to four. In short, Durant took over the game and the series.

"That was a fact. I was there. I saw it. He was great," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "We tried to do a couple of different things, but his play was better than anything we did defensively, that's for sure. He finished it off in fine fashion."

The 18 fourth-quarter points was a career playoff high for Durant, but Thunder coach Scott Brooks was more impressed by the unselfishness of his team leader, who matched a season high with eight assists while committing only one turnover in 43 minutes.

"He's really improved as the years have gone by (in) becoming a better playmaker," said Brooks, who has seen Durant average career bests in rebounds (eight) and assists (3.5) this season. "This year we challenged him to be a better playmaker for his team, and he did that. … He was finding himself at the end, but finding his teammates early in the game."

The series is a youth versus experience showdown. Durant is the oldest of Oklahoma City's top four scorers, with guards Russell Westbrook (23) and James Harden (22) and center Serge Ibaka (22). The Spurs' Big 3, playing together since 2002, are Tim Duncan, 36; Manu Ginobili, 34; and Tony Parker, who turned 30 last month. And in three days last week, the Spurs quickly went from a team that had won 20 straight games to a vulnerable squad now facing pressure to hold court at home.

On Saturday, San Antonio got within four on a Duncan basket with seven minutes left, then Durant made six consecutive shots (and two free throws) in a span of seven possessions, igniting a sellout crowd of 18,203.

"When a player that talented gets hot, he's really hard to contain," Ginobili said. "We tried different things, and they didn't work. … So it was hard because we were on a run. We were feeling good ourselves, and we just couldn't make a stop."

If the Thunder advances to the NBA Finals, it will complete an impressive changing of the guard in the West, where Oklahoma City has eliminated Dallas and Dirk Nowitzki, 33, and then the Lakers and Kobe Bryant, also 33. If Durant's postseason progress seems familiar, he has followed the path of James, who didn't make the playoffs his first two years in the league and reached the NBA Finals in his fourth season. Durant is two wins away from doing the same in his fifth season, perhaps facing James and Miami, and along the way, games such as Saturday's will earn him a reputation as a closer.

"I would like that," Durant said. "I just want to be calm and composed and poised in those situations and make the right basketball play. There are times when I need to pass to my teammates, and times when I need to score. … I'm learning every single day. I'm not where I want to be, but I'm going to keep growing in those situations."

Durant started his NBA career in Seattle the year before the Sonics became the Thunder, and with a team built around him, Oklahoma City has averaged 18,000-plus fans every season. In a state best known for college football, he has united both Sooner nation and their Oklahoma State rivals, all the more impressive considering he played his lone college season at Texas.

"When teams start making a run, we've got to go to our first option, and that's Kevin," Westbrook said. "He's been doing a great job all season of closing games for us. When things get tight, he always finds a way to help us throughout the game."

Times wires
Sunday, June 3, 2012

Twins 6, Indians 3

CLEVELAND — Scott Diamond allowed three unearned runs over seven innings for Minnesota, which has won five of six since a five-game losing streak. Cleveland fell to 2-7 since sweeping three games at home from Detroit. Joe Mauer hit an RBI single in the first off Justin Masterson but left in the ninth with a sprained right thumb.

Times wires
Sunday, June 3, 2012

Marlins 5, Phillies 1

PHILADELPHIA — Carlos Zambrano homered and pitched into the eighth inning, and Hanley Ramirez also homered for Miami. "As a pitcher in the National League, you have to be able to bunt, run, hit and I take that seriously," said Zambrano, who said he was suffering from the flu. "I'm proud of what I do anytime on the mound. When I'm on the mound I feel like a pitcher, but when I'm in the box I feel like a hitter."

Times wires
Sunday, June 3, 2012

White Sox 4, Mariners 2

CHICAGO — A day after manager Robin Ventura used seven relievers in a 12-inning loss, Chris Sale pitched a five-hitter for his first major-league complete game, helping Chicago win for the 10th time in 11 games. Sale entered the ninth with 100 pitches and finished with 119. "I asked (Ventura) to go back out. He said, 'Yeah, you got to be efficient,' " Sale said. "I wasn't as efficient as I needed to be, I'm just thankful for him to give me that opportunity to go back out there and finish the game."

Times wires
Sunday, June 3, 2012

Astros 5, Reds 3

HOUSTON — Jordan Lyles pitched seven strong innings and Justin Maxwell had a two-run homer to help Houston snap a season-worst eight-game skid. After the Astros allowed 14 first-inning runs in their past four losses, Lyles held Cincinnati hitless until the third. "It's not easy (when you) give another major-league team a three or four spot in the first inning," Lyles said.

Times wires
Sunday, June 3, 2012

Rockies 3, Dodgers 2

DENVER — Alex White gave an overworked bullpen some rest, pitching shutout ball into the seventh as Colorado took two of three. Rockies starters had combined for five innings in the past two games. Josh Outman reached a pitch limit after 31/3 innings Friday then a knee injury forced Juan Nicasio out after 12/3.

Times wires
Sunday, June 3, 2012

Rangers 7, Angels 3

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Matt Harrison won his third straight start, Nelson Cruz hit a long two-run homer and Texas avoided a three-game sweep. The two-time defending AL champions ended a four-game skid and moved back to 4½ games ahead of Los Angeles, which had won 10 of 11 but is still a mere game over .500.

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, June 3, 2012

Right is all right for Rays

The Rays take sides when it comes to facing pitchers. Tampa Bay is 23-12 when facing a right-handed starter and 8-11 when facing a lefty. The Rays started five left-handers and two switch-hitters Sunday against Orioles RHP Jake Arrieta, right (2-7, 5.53 ERA), who pitched 42/3 innings, allowing four earned runs and two hits with four walks and three strikeouts. The only true right-handed hitters in the lineup were B.J. Upton and Jose Molina. Upton went 2-for-4 with a two-run double and scored a run.

Tough homestand

The Rays went 2-4 during the homestand, which began by being swept in three games by the White Sox. During the six games at Tropicana Field against the White Sox and Orioles, the Rays hit .165, going 30-for-182 with 16 walks and 52 strikeouts. They averaged 3.3 runs per game while allowing 2.54 with 55 strikeouts and 12 walks.

Error of ways

The Rays and Orioles are first and second in the American League East. Yet the O's lead the AL with 51 errors, including three Sunday. The Rays rank second with 46. It was the sixth game the Orioles have had three or more fielding miscues. No other AL team has done it more than once this season.

Today: Off

Tuesday: at Yankees, 7:05 p.m., Sun Sports. Rays — James Shields (6-3, 3.95); Yankees — Andy Pettitte (2-2, 3.49)

Wednesday: at Yankees, 7:05 p.m., Sun Sports. Rays — Alex Cobb (2-1, 3.71); Yankees — Ivan Nova (6-2, 5.60)

Thursday: at Yankees, 7:05 p.m., Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (7-3, 2.44); Yankees — CC Sabathia (7-2, 3.68)

Rays disabled list

(With eligible-to-return date)

1B/OF Brandon Allen, right quad strain, May 25

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, 60-day, July 13

OF Desmond Jennings, left knee sprain, 15-day, May 27

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

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

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

Times wires
Sunday, June 3, 2012

LOS ANGELES — Mike Richards has been in Los Angeles for less than a year, but he has a pretty good idea what 45 years of simmering frustration will sound like when his Kings take the ice with the Stanley Cup in reach.

"That's probably one of the loudest rinks I've ever played in, and it's going to be even louder (tonight)," the center said Sunday, anticipating the energy at Staples Center for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final.

After wins in the first two games in New Jersey, Los Angeles is two wins from claiming the franchise's first title and burying 41/2 decades of ineptitude interrupted only by short stretches of brilliance from Wayne Gretzky, Marcel Dionne and a few other stars.

These Kings are on a 14-2 playoff run that has few NHL equals. It includes the longest run of road perfection in league playoff history, 10-0 this season, 12-0 dating to last season.

"I don't think I've ever been on a team like this where everybody is locked in," said Jeff Carter, who, with Richards, was with the Flyers when they made the 2010 Cup final against the Blackhawks and lost in six games.

Richards and Carter, once considered cornerstones of the Flyers for years to come, were traded in stunning deals last summer, Richards to the Kings and Carter to the Blue Jackets.

Carter, miserable in Columbus and often hurt, was traded to Los Angeles near the deadline. Rejuvenated with the Kings, his persistence on the puck led to the overtime goal that won Game 2.

"Everybody knows what they need to do to go out on the ice and get it done," he said.

Richards said the '10 Cup loss still rankles him. "That was a tough time. I still think about what could have been."

The Kings are acutely aware their final job is only half done. Coach Darryl Sutter, hired in December after Terry Murray was fired, spoke with his players on the cross-country flight home after their Game 2 overtime win about the importance of improving even now, about realizing their two-month effort isn't over.

"It's been a long time for these guys," Carter said. "I think (a Cup) would mean the world to this franchise. They've done a great job of sticking to the plan here and building this organization, and this would be the reward."

thomas to take leave: Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas said Sunday he'll sit out next season "to reconnect with the three F's: friends, family and faith." On his Facebook page, the 2011 playoff MVP and two-time Vezina Trophy winner as the league's top goalie said, "At the age of 38, I believe it is time to put my time and energies into those areas and relationships that I have neglected." He also said he would continue training.

General manager Peter Chiarelli said Friday that Thomas told the team he was thinking about sitting out next season. Thomas has one year left on his contract, with a $5 million salary cap hit.

The Bruins are left looking at Tukka Rask and Anton Khudobin as their top goaltenders for next season. Rask, long projected as a rising star, can be a restricted free agent July 1. He supplanted Thomas as the starter in 2009-10, but Thomas regained the position the next season.

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, June 3, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG — Rays rookie Matt Moore has always had electric stuff on the mound.

But it wasn't until after Sunday's 8-4 win over the Orioles that Moore was allowed to flip the switch and illuminate the Captain Morgan lamp in the Rays clubhouse, a ritual reserved for the player of the game.

Moore, who struggled in his first nine appearances this season and entered 1-5 with a 4.76 ERA, pitched six innings, allowing one earned run on seven hits with three walks and four strikeouts. His only costly mistake was a fastball down and inside that Orioles C Matt Wieters blasted 427 feet for a solo home run in the second inning.

It was the second straight quality start for Moore, who lost 2-1 to the White Sox to open the homestand. In that game, he pitched a career-high seven innings, striking out 10, walking one and allowing four hits, including a two-run homer to Adam Dunn that was the difference.

Sunday, Moore worked in and out of trouble as the Orioles stranded six runners through the first five innings.

"I had a lot of runners on, the whole game it seemed like I was pitching out of the stretch, which for me, like any starter, wants to be out of the windup as much as possible," Moore said. "The rhythm of the game is a lot better. … I think it was a good day for me, just getting able to work out of some situations like that."

The difference in Moore's past two starts has been the ability not to speed things up — including his delivery — with runners on base.

"He's a little bit more under control, in the present," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "He's not speeding up as much. I did speak to him about that specifically. As he gets more into that mode, you're going to see the sixth, seventh, eighth inning. You're going to see 110 pitches, more strikeouts, weaker contact. Those things are going to follow."

And there will be more clubhouse visits to Captain Morgan.

"It was my first time lighting it up, so it was pretty cool," Moore said. "Hopefully, that thing will get lit up a lot more."

BULLISH BULLPEN: The Rays had more solid relief help Sunday.

LHP Jake McGee extended his streak of scoreless appearances to 11 as he worked the seventh inning, allowing one hit while striking out a batter. McGee lowered his ERA to 1.47.

RHP Wade Davis allowed a home run to Mark Reynolds to start the eighth inning then struck out the next three. When he ran into some trouble in the ninth, the Rays turned it over to closer Fernando Rodney with one out and runners on first and third. Pinch-hitter Nick Johnson popped out, Wieters had an RBI single then Rodney forced Reynolds to ground out to SS Elliot Johnson for the final out.

JENNINGS RETURN CLOSE: LF Desmond Jennings went 0-for-4 in a rehab assignment Sunday with Triple-A Durham and could rejoin the Rays on Tuesday in New York against the Yankees.

The question will be what to do with Hideki Matsui, who is batting only .188 but has hit the ball hard in each of his starts in leftfield. Sunday, Matsui went 1-for-3 before being replaced by Rich Thompson as a pinch-runner in the sixth.

"I'm debating that mentally, I don't know. I mean, if (Matsui) could play third base, it would be great," Maddon said jokingly. "We'll see. Again, having to be creative because he is swinging the bat well right now and he's had a history of hitting left-handed pitchers. We'll look and see how we're going to do that."

Times wires
Sunday, June 3, 2012

Giants 2, Cubs 0

SAN FRANCISCO — Barry Zito pitched 81/3 scoreless innings for his 150th career win and Joaquin Arias snapped an 18 at-bat hitless streak with an RBI single that led San Francisco to its 12th win in 17 games. Zito, booed heavily for much of his Giants career, left to a standing ovation. "It feels good to have that support," Zito said. "The fans here are obviously coming out in droves and supporting us through thick and thin. It really fires us up. That's why we love to play at home so much."