Times wires
Friday, June 8, 2012

LONG POND, Pa. — Kurt Busch's talent behind the wheel has never been challenged.

It's why he always had a ride.

Busch's temper has never been fully harnessed, and it's the reason he suddenly has a job to salvage and a reputation to repair.

Busch was absent Friday at Pocono Raceway, site of Sunday's Pocono 400, as part of the one-week suspension levied by NASCAR for verbally abusing a media member. The 2004 Sprint Cup champion is not eligible to return to a NASCAR-sanctioned event until Wednesday. Busch has time to think about his Tuesday meeting with Phoenix Racing owner James Finch and decide if this frayed relationship can be saved, or, if perhaps a split is on the horizon.

"I don't want to lean one way or the other," Phoenix general manager Steve Barkdoll said. "Ultimately, everybody in this garage knows Kurt's as good a talent as anybody out there. It'd be crazy for us not to want Kurt in our car. But some things certainly have to change for that to be that way."

Finch, who was not at the track, told Sirius Radio this week that the partnership will be on a race-by-race basis going forward.

Barkdoll laid out a glum picture of Busch's first season with underfunded Phoenix.

"We have wrecked 14 cars, and we are not attracting any sponsors as of right now," Barkdoll said. "We want to keep this company going, and part of that is to get this turned around. We certainly want Kurt to be part of that. But he's got to do his part because James is most certainly doing his part."

Barkdoll said he thought Busch could pattern this season in the mold of how Dale Earnhardt Jr. qualified last year for the Chase for the Championship. Earnhardt was winless with nine top-10 finishes and three top fives over the first 26 races, not out of reach for Busch.

"We were hoping to be like a 15th-place car," Barkdoll said.

Instead, Busch is winless with one top 10, has finished in the 30s three times and was no better than 20th in his past five races. He's 26th in the standings.

He was busted on video having a confrontation with a reporter after Saturday's Nationwide race at Dover. The dustup was in violation of the probation he was placed on after an incident last month at Darlington. Busch was fined $50,000 by NASCAR and placed on probation through July 25 for reckless driving on pit road and an altercation with Ryan Newman's crew. His probation was extended through the end of the year because he lost his cool over the reporter's question.

Indy drivers concerned: Alex Tagliani led a Honda sweep in qualifying at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, where IndyCar drivers debated the rule package as the series returns to a high-banked oval for the first time since Dan Wheldon's death.

Heading into tonight's Firestone 500, there has been concern among drivers, who are unanimously opposed to the pack-style racing that was cited as a factor in the St. Petersburg resident's fatal accident in October at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The drivers met as a group last weekend in Detroit and voted to recommend less downforce for the cars at Texas, the first 1½-mile banked oval since last season.

IndyCar accepted the recommendation, but the drivers were divided on the result.

"The intent is to make it safe, and for everyone's peace of mind, we need to leave here after what happened in Vegas with a safe race. And I think that's important in the mind of everyone," said Tagliani, who turned a lap at 215.691 mph to bump Dario Franchitti (215.646) to second.

Formula One: Lewis Hamilton topped both practice sessions at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, the McLaren driver running a top lap of 1 minute, 15.259 seconds around the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Trucks: Johnny Sauter passed teammate Matt Crafton for the lead with 22 laps left to win the Winstar World Casino 400 at Fort Worth, Texas, the seventh different driver to win in the series' first seven races.

Times wires
Friday, June 8, 2012

NEW YORK — A second arbitrator ruled Friday that commissioner Roger Goodell has the authority to discipline Saints players for their roles in a bounty program.

The union argued Goodell is prohibited from punishing players for conduct before the collective bargaining agreement was signed in August. It also didn't want him hearing the appeals.

But arbitrator Shyam Das, like Stephen Burbank on Monday, ruled Goodell never relinquished authority to impose discipline for conduct detrimental to the game even before August and in addition can hear the appeals.

Goodell suspended linebacker Jonathan Vilma for all of 2012 and defensive end Will Smith for four games. Defensive end Anthony Hargrove, now with Green Bay, was suspended for eight games and linebacker Scott Fujita, now with Cleveland, for three. All four players' appeal will be heard by Goodell on June 18.

Meanwhile, the Saints hired a firm run by former FBI director Louis Freeh to conduct an internal investigation of the team covering allegations ranging from the bounties to wire-tapping during games at the Superdome.

"We have given the Freeh Group complete access to our team and all of the individuals who have been associated with (the allegations)," team spokesman Greg Bensel said in an email.

ESPN has reported that general manager Mickey Loomis had the ability to eavesdrop on opposing coaches' radio communications from his box during games from 2002-04. The Saints denied the allegation.

Gronkowski top-paid TE: Rob Gronkowski agreed to a six-year, $54 million contract ($18.17 million guaranteed) with the Patriots, the richest contract for a tight end in league history. The 23-year-old is entering his third season and had two left on his contract. Now he's signed through 2019. Last season he caught 90 passes for 1,327 yards, and his 17 touchdowns set a league record for tight ends.

Manning's home: New Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is temporary living in the 35,000-square-foot mansion of former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan. The current Redskins coach still owns the home, which has an elevator, bowling alley and 3,603-square-foot garage. It was finished in 2009, just after the Broncos fired him. Manning is still looking for a permanent home.

Broncos: Linebacker D.J. Williams appeared to reveal formations when he tweeted a picture of his digital playbook. The Broncos gave the players iPads, and Williams posted the picture while tweeting about learning a new position. The picture was taken down, and the team declined to comment.

Browns: Quarterback Colt McCoy declined to call the Dec. 8 helmet-to-helmet hit by Steelers linebacker James Harrison that gave him a concussion dirty. "I'm outside the pocket. I'm trying to make a play," McCoy told the Dan Patrick Show. McCoy did not play again, and Harrison was suspended one game.

Chargers: Running back Ronnie Brown agreed to a one-year deal. Brown, the No. 2 overall pick by Miami in 2005, ran for 136 yards and a touchdown last season as an Eagles backup.

Lions: Defensive lineman Nick Fairley apologized, via Facebook, for his recent arrests, saying they were "inexcusable." Fairley was arrested in Mobile County, Ala., on May 27 after police said he was traveling 100 mph. He was cited for reckless driving, no proof of insurance and an open container. He was arrested April 3 in Mobile, Ala., for possessing marijuana.

Ravens: Linebacker Terrell Suggs will get his entire $4.9 million salary in 2012 regardless of how he tore his right Achilles tendon, owner Steve Bisciotti said. Suggs said he was hurt while running, but several witnesses say he was playing basketball. League rules allow teams not to pay players or reduce their salary for nonfootball injuries. Bisciotti said doing so would not be good for team morale.

Times wires
Friday, June 8, 2012

MIAMI — LeBron James has no idea what he will do for an encore, but he offered a simple vow instead:

"I won't regret Game 7."

There might not have been another sentiment the Heat would have preferred hearing more as it prepared to host the Celtics tonight.

James is coming off a season-saving 45-point, 15-rebound, five-assist effort Thursday to force Game 7. Tonight's winner heads to Oklahoma City to start the Finals on Tuesday night.

"Win, lose or draw, I'm going to go in with the mind-set like I've had this whole season," James said Friday. "And you know, we'll see what happens."

A series that has gone back and forth — Miami won the first two, then lost three straight before James took over Game 6 and denied Boston the East crown — comes down to an ultimate game.

For the Heat, it's a chance to play for the ring it couldn't win last year in the opening act of the Big Three era. For the Celtics, it's probably one last chance for their current core to reach the NBA's mountaintop.

"This team has been about adversity all year long, you know, so this is not going to be nothing new," Celtics forward Paul Pierce said. "It's been tough for us all year long to get to the point where we would be at, and why wouldn't it be tough now?"

It's the 111th time a best-of-seven series has gone the distance. Home teams are 88-22.

If James has the same game he had Thursday, the Celtics will have to beat him at his best. The reigning MVP put on a show in Game 6, making 19 of 26 shots. His 30 first-half points matched an NBA season high.

"Sometimes superstars get hot," Pierce said.

"He's been playing unbelievable," Heat guard Dwyane Wade said.

"One of the best this league has ever seen," Heat forward Chris Bosh said.

Of course, if the Heat loses tonight, that performance will soon be forgotten.

For the Celtics, this is their seventh Game 7 in the past five years — they're 4-2 in the previous ones, including a home win over Philadelphia one round ago. James is averaging 34 points in the series, the Celtics are getting outshot and outrebounded, their best shooter, Ray Allen, has been slowed by ankle pain, and Pierce is shooting 34 percent.

Yet they're one win from the Finals, even after all that and getting written off plenty of times this season. "Nothing's been easy up until this point. You know, can't expect it now," Celtics forward Kevin Garnett said.

How big is tonight's game? WBO welterweight champ Manny Pacquiao is delaying his fight in Las Vegas against Timothy Bradley until the completion of Game 7. "Yeah, he's a Celtics fan, what do you expect?" Boston coach Doc Rivers joked.

Times wires
Friday, June 8, 2012

NEW YORK — All along, Dale Romans said he had the horse to beat in the Belmont Stakes.

Now he does.

Dullahan was made the 9-5 favorite for today's race after I'll Have Another was retired with a tendon injury a day before his attempt to become the first Triple Crown winner in 34 years.

"I thought it was going to be one of the greatest races in history, and I was wanting to be part of it," Romans said. "This gives us a better opportunity, but this was going to be bigger than that."

Dullahan comes into the 1½-mile Belmont well rested. After winning the Blue Grass in April, the chestnut colt finished third in the Kentucky Derby, beaten by 1¾ lengths by I'll Have Another. Romans decided to skip the Preakness and prepare for the Belmont.

"Before this happened," Romans said of I'll Have Another's injury, "I thought we had a great chance."

Experience dearth: Grade I winner Union Rags is the only other horse left in the 11-horse field with a graded-stakes victory. Once considered the leader of the 3-year-old division, the son of Dixie Union has seen his reputation take a hit because of a third-place finish in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach and a seventh-place result in the Kentucky Derby.

As he demonstrated in winning the Grade II Saratoga Special in August, Union Rags can sit just off the early pace. He has yet to win beyond 1� miles, however, and his bloodlines suggest the Belmont's length could be a problem.

Times wires
Friday, June 8, 2012

PITTSFORD, N.Y. — When Se Ri Pak rolled in a par putt on her final hole of the second round at the LPGA Championship, she smiled and breathed a sigh of relief.

Playing in her first tournament since injuring her left shoulder in early April, the Hall of Famer shot 1-under 71 Friday to take a one-shot lead.

"I'm happy to be back in this seat," Pak said. "Before I teed off, I knew it was tougher because of the wind. It was very difficult. I tried not to make big mistakes. I'm very happy about the finish. I got a couple of great up-and-downs."

Pak was at 3-under 141, one shot ahead of Inbee Park (70), Paula Creamer (72), Mika Miyazato (72) and Sandra Gal (71). Defending champion Yani Tseng finished 7-over 151, barely making the cut.

"I did my best," Tseng said. "I hung in there."

It was difficult for Pak and everybody else. After reaching 4 under with birdies at Nos. 16 and 17, Pak struggled through the front nine, making bogey at the par-3 seventh. She salvaged par on four straight holes on the front.

First-round leaders Beatriz Recari, Giulia Sergas and Ryann O'Toole fell off the pace on a day that a swirling wind added yet another challenge on the narrow Locust Hill Country Club course. Sergas and O'Toole shot 76, and Recari had 78.

Cristie Kerr, the runaway winner in 2010, was 2 over after 76. Seminole's Brittany Lincicome shot 1-over 73 for 5-over 149.

Tampa resident Kristy McPherson (77—152) and Clearwater's Jennifer Gleason (73—157) failed to make the cut.

Grace Park, who won one major among her six wins on tour, announced her retirement. "I'm ready for a new phase in my life," said the often-injured Park, 33, who finished her two rounds at 6 over. "It's my own fault for not taking care of my body."

PGA: Rory McIlroy snapped his string of three straight missed cuts in style, shooting 5-under 65 to take the lead into the weekend at the St. Jude Classic.

McIlroy came to Memphis to tune up his game before heading to San Francisco for his U.S. Open title defense. He birdied three of his final four holes, and had eagle, five birdies and two bogeys to match his lowest PGA Tour round this year.

With birdie on No. 18, Mc­Ilroy reached 7-under 133 to break out of a four-way tie.

"It's nice to see my name on that part of the leaderboard," McIlroy said. "It's not nice when you're struggling to make the cut on a Friday afternoon. It was great. It's nice to be through to the weekend obviously. It's obviously even nicer to be leading and have a great chance."

Jeff Maggert, tied for the first-round lead with John Merrick, shot 68 to match J.B. Holmes (64) and Kevin Stadler (65) at 6 under. Merrick had 69 to join Chad Campbell (67) and Kevin Kisner (66) at 5 under.

Champions: Bill Glasson shot 3-under 69 for a two-stroke lead over Russ Cochran at the Regions Tradition in Birmingham, Ala. Glasson was at 9-under 135 and has made only one bogey in the first 36 holes.

PGA Europe: Lee Westwood shot 4-under 68 and maintained a three-stroke lead at the Nordea Masters in Bro, Sweden. Westwood, at 16 under, is attempting to win the Swedish Masters in today's final round for the third time in his career.

Times wires
Friday, June 8, 2012

Boxing

Pacquiao defends title tonight

LAS VEGAS — In his last fight, on Nov. 12, Manny Pacquiao needed 28 stitches to close a cut over his right eye. But he beat Juan Manuel Marquez by majority decision to improve to 54-3-2. Tonight he defends his WBO welterweight title against Timothy Bradley (28-0), a 5-1 underdog.

"I think Manny thinks Tim's of no threat, whether it be that Tim doesn't hit hard or that this is just another fight before Floyd Mayweather," Bradley's trainer, Joel Diaz, said. "But Tim is determined to win. He figures out a way to win any fight we put him in.

"Manny is a one-dimensional fighter. He unloads a lot of punches, but he's reckless. He doesn't focus on his defense. You can counterpunch him all night long. And Timothy's a brawler who can move his feet and be smart enough to make any changes he needs to in there."

A win for Pacquiao could be another step toward a showdown with the unbeaten Mayweather, who won't see the fight. Serving a three-month sentence at a Las Vegas jail for a domestic violence case, he doesn't have access to a television, computer or telephone.

Arena Football

Cleveland players strike, forfeit game

Cleveland forfeited its home game against Pittsburgh on Friday, players walking off the field in connection with a union-organized strike. The dispute is over working conditions and lack of substantive collective bargaining.

Union executive director Ivan Soto said the strike would last until midnight. However, the game between Philadelphia and host Milwaukee was played.

This was the season's second strike. A few hours before the openers, players from Pittsburgh and host Orlando struck. Pittsburgh released its players, did not give them a plane ride home and used replacement players.

"The public negotiation tactics of some have put a large number of people in a difficult situation," commissioner Jerry Kurz said. "We will continue to work at reaching an agreement with our players and hope that those involved in the talks will proceed in a more constructive way."

Soccer

Russia routs Czechs; Greece, Poland tie

Alan Dzagoev scored a goal in each half to lead Russia past the Czech Republic 4-1 on the first day of the European Championship in Wroclaw, Poland. Dzagoev, 21, who entered with only four goals in 20 international games, made it 1-0 in the 15th minute and 3-1 in the 80th.

In Warsaw, backup goalie Przemyslaw Tyton stopped a penalty kick in the 69th minute to preserve Poland's 1-1 tie against Greece. Starting keeper Wojciech Szczesny was given a red card for the foul in the box that led to the kick.

Et cetera

Gymnastics: Gabby Douglas and Jordyn Wieber were tied for first after the first night of the U.S. championships in St. Louis. Wieber is the world all-around champion and Olympic favorite. The finals are Sunday. The results help narrow the field for the Olympic team.

Swimming: Three-time Olympian Amanda Beard was disqualified from the 200-meter breaststroke final at the Swimvitational in Omaha, Neb. Beard, 30, won the race by about three seconds, but officials ruled her elbows weren't underwater during the recovery portion of the stroke.

WNBA: Epiphanny Prince hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer of regulation, then scored eight of her 32 points in overtime to lead host Chicago past Tulsa 98-91. … Cappie Pondexter scored 25 to lead visiting New York past Washington 76-70. … Kara Lawson scored 18 to help visiting Connecticut beat Indiana 89-81.

Olympics: Emil Milev, a physical education teacher at B.T. Washington Elementary School in Tampa, made the U.S. shooting team in 25m rapid fire pistol at trials in Fort Benning, Ga.

Times wires

. fast facts

Rowdies at Puerto Rico

When/where: 7:30 tonight; Bayamon Soccer Complex

Online: RowdiesSoccer.com

Records: Rowdies 3-4-3, 12 points (fifth among eight teams in NASL); Puerto Rico 5-2-2, 17 points (tied for first)

Times wires
Friday, June 8, 2012

Nationals 7, Red Sox 4

BOSTON — Stephen Strasburg struck out 13 in six innings, Bryce Harper homered and the Nationals got the franchise's first victory at Fenway Park. Harper hit a two-run shot in the fourth and an RBI single in the sixth. Strasburg threw a career-high 119 pitches and finished one strikeout shy of his career high of 14.

Times wires
Friday, June 8, 2012

Phillies 9, Orioles 6

BALTIMORE — Jim Thome doubled twice, Shane Victorino homered and drove in five runs, and the Phillies ended their season-worst six-game slide. The Phillies hit for the cycle in the second inning alone — a homer, a triple, three doubles and a single. Philadelphia scored six times, with Mike Fontenot providing a two-run shot.

Times wires
Friday, June 8, 2012

Pirates 4, Royals 2

PITTSBURGH — Erik Bedard pitched seven solid innings, Neil Walker had three hits and the Pirates won for the 10th time in their past 13 games. Bedard allowed two runs and five hits as Pittsburgh captured the opening game of a series for the sixth consecutive time. Jason Grilli worked a perfect eighth and Joel Hanrahan retired the side in order in the ninth for his 16th save in 18 opportunities.

Times wires
Friday, June 8, 2012

Reds 6, Tigers 5

10 innings

CINCINNATI — Wilson Valdez's squeeze bunt with one out in the 10th scored Miguel Cairo, who started the rally with a triple. Valdez bunted to first baseman Prince Fielder, who threw home, but Cairo slid his left hand in.

Times wires
Friday, June 8, 2012

NEW YORK — Robinson Cano homered twice and hit one of three straight home runs off an ineffective Johan Santana to lead the Yankees to a 9-1 rout of the Mets on Friday night.

Yankees starter Hiroki Kuroda allowed one hit in seven scoreless innings before leaving with a bruised left foot. Cano ended Santana's bid for a second straight no-hitter with a two-run shot in the second, then connected in the third to begin a string of three straight Yankee home runs.

Santana was given two extra days of rest after throwing a career-high 134 pitches June 1 in the first no-hitter in Mets history. This time he served up a career-high four homers.

"A couple of extra days and I felt fine," Santana said. "I just didn't have my feeling for a couple of my pitches. There were times when they stayed up, and when you leave pitches up, you know, they're a pretty good team, and in this ballpark, you keep pitches up, they end up out of the park."

Times staff, wires
Friday, June 8, 2012

SARASOTA — Florida State athletic director Randy Spetman said Nevada is thinking about pulling out of its scheduled football game in 2013.

Earlier this year, West Virginia pulled out of games against FSU set for the upcoming season as well as 2013. The Mountaineers cited their move to the Big 12, which requires an extra conference game. The Seminoles replaced them with I-AA Savannah State, but the 2013 game remains unfilled.

Nevada would have to pay FSU $600,000 for pulling out.

"They have an opportunity to play somebody else for more money," Spetman told the Orlando Sentinel at the board of trustees meeting. "Just like me, they have budget needs that they're trying to make sure they're good for the long term."

Gator men lead at track nationals

DES MOINES, Iowa — Tony McQuay set an NCAA record in winning the 400 meters, helping Florida's men lead the NCAA track championships entering the final day. Omar Craddock won the triple jump for the Gators, who have 36 points, eight more than Virginia Tech. Florida has finished second four times since 2004.

McQuay finished in 44.58 seconds while Craddock had a jump of 55 feet, 6¼ inches. Jeremy Postin finished second in the hammer and Marquis Dendy 20th in the triple jump.

FSU is tied for 12th with 14 points. Maurice Mitchell took third, 0.005 seconds behind first-place Andrew Riley of Illinois, and Kemar Hyman sixth in the 100 meters. Andrew LaHaye finished ninth in the pole vault and Phillip Young 10th in the triple jump.

USF is tied for 26th with eight points. David Aristil finished fifth in the 400 hurdles.

LSU's and Oregon's women are tied for the lead with 40 points. Florida is tied for 23rd with eight behind Genevieve LaCaze, second in the steeplechase, and Brittany Harrell, 16th in the heptathlon.

Men's basketball: Pete Brennan, part of North Carolina's 1957 title team and whose No. 35 is retired, died of prostate cancer in Durham, N.C. He was 75. Mr. Brennan was part of the unbeaten team that beat Kansas and Wilt Chamberlain in triple overtime in the final. In the semifinals against Michigan State, his jumper with four seconds left forced the second of three overtimes.

Gators hire two: Florida hired Bryan Shelton as men's tennis coach and Emily Bastel as women's golf coach. Shelton rose as high as No. 55 in the world as a pro and spent the past 13 seasons as Georgia Tech's women's coach. Bastel, previously a Gator assistant, played on the LPGA Tour in 2005, 2006 and 2008.

Friday, June 8, 2012

BALTIMORE — Phillies rookie 2B Freddy Galvis could be out for an extended period of time after a series of tests revealed a possible fracture of his back, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Friday night.

The Phillies will seek a second opinion next week before determining the severity of the injury.

"It's serious," assistant GM Scott Proefrock told the Inquirer. "It could keep him out for a considerable amount of time."

The injury was described as a pars fracture, which occurs in the lower part of the back. Proe­frock said Galvis could be in a brace for at least six weeks.

Galvis was hurt Wednesday taking a swing and was put on the disabled list right away. Proe­frock hinted Galvis had suffered an injury during winter ball that could have contributed to this.

Rangers rest Darvish: Yu Darvish's next start has been pushed back two days by the Rangers to give the Japanese right-hander extra rest. Manager Ron Washington said before the decision had nothing to do with Darvish's last start. Instead, Washington said, he wanted to give Darvish the same kind of rest he has given other starters this season when the team had an off day Monday. Darvish allowed six runs, six hits and six walks in a 7-1 loss at Oakland on Thursday. He is 7-4 with a 3.72 ERA and is scheduled to start Friday at home against Houston.

Clemens trial: Debbie Clemens testified in her husband's perjury trial, saying she allowed Roger Clemens' trainer, Brian McNamee, to inject her with HGH on a whim, and corroborated the pitcher's assertion he was not present.

McNamee has said he injected Clemens numerous times with performance-enhancing drugs, and that the pitcher was present when his wife was injected. Clemens is charged with lying to Congress in 2008 when he said he never used steroids or HGH.

Debbie Clemens said when she later told her husband about the shot, he didn't seem surprised. "I don't think he thought it was bad," she testified. "It wasn't like doing heroin or something crazy."

Fan-beating Case: A Los Angeles judge ordered Louie Sanchez, 30, and Marvin Norwood, 31, to stand trial on charges that they assaulted Giants fan Bryan Stow outside Dodger Stadium in 2011. A transcript of a jailhouse conversation between the men was released during their preliminary hearing. Prosecutors said the conversation was secretly recorded after they appeared in a lineup in July. Sanchez was recorded saying he got mad at Stow for making derogatory remarks to his sister. "I socked him, jumped him and started beating him," the transcript quoted Sanchez as saying. Norwood said he wouldn't have felt like a man if he hadn't helped, the transcript said. Stow suffered brain damage and is permanently disabled.

Medal replaced: White Sox SS Alexei Ramirez got a replacement for his lost gold medal that he earned with Cuba's Olympic team at the 2004 Athens Games. During a surprise presentation, fellow countryman Jose Contreras, currently on the Phillies' DL, showed up during stretching and handed Ramirez a box with the new medal in it.

The original medal had been lost or stolen while Ramirez and his wife were en route to Chicago before his first season with the White Sox in 2008. The White Sox contacted the International Olympic Committee and had a replacement medal made.

Braves: Former manager Bobby Cox called John Smoltz "the biggest of the big-game pitchers" as the team retired the right-hander's No. 29 and inducted him into the team's hall of fame.

Mariners: RHP Felix Hernandez, who was to start Sunday in his return from a sore back, will be pushed back a few more days and start Tuesday.

Yankees: Reliever Joba Chamberlain, who dislocated his right ankle bouncing on a trampoline with his son during spring training in Tampa, threw off a mound for the first time since the injury. Chamberlain made 25 throws and says he will pitch this year.

Times wires
Friday, June 8, 2012

Indians 6, Cardinals 2

ST. LOUIS — Josh Tomlin scattered eight hits over seven innings and Johnny Damon hit a two-run homer to send the Cardinals to their seventh loss in 10 games. Tomlin pitched shutout ball into the seventh, when he allowed a two-run single to Matt Adams. He threw 76 pitches and is 4-0 in interleague play. The Indians' Michael Brantley extended his hitting streak to 16 games.

By Bryan Burns, Times Correspondent
Friday, June 8, 2012

TAMPA — Tampa Bay area soccer fans eager to witness the U.S. men's first World Cup qualifier in Tampa had to wait an extra 27 minutes and brave a torrential downpour to get their initial look at the team under coach Jurgen Klinsmann.

And despite a few moments of trepidation, most of the announced crowd of 23,971 at Raymond James Stadium left satisfied after the United States' 3-1 victory over Antigua and Barbuda.

"At the end of the day, I think the three points is the starting point that we wanted to have," said Klinsmann, in his 11th month on the job.

Any fears the Americans might come out tight in their 2014 World Cup qualifying opener — which started 27 minutes later than its scheduled 7 p.m. kickoff because of lightning — were alleviated when team captain Carlos Bocanegra scored in the eighth minute for a 1-0 lead.

The goal came off a corner kick. Landon Donovan's cross into the box was headed by Herculez Gomez onto the goal. Antigua and Barbuda goalkeeper Molvin James made a diving save to stop Gomez's powerful header, but Bocanegra was lurking on the back post and put the rebound into the back of the net.

With the score, Bocanegra tied Marcelo Balboa for most international goals by a U.S. defender, 13.

"That was the big thing we talked about, trying to get an early goal, if possible, open them up," Bocanegra said. "They made it tough. … We didn't play our best, but for the start of qualifying, we got off on the right foot with the win, which is most important."

A skillful give-and-go between Donovan and Clint Dempsey produced the second U.S. goal right before halftime.

Donovan collected the ball at the midfield stripe and passed ahead to Dempsey, who one-touched a pass forward to Donovan, who was streaking into the box. Donovan was pulled down from behind by Antigua and Barbuda's Marvin McCoy. Dempsey put the resulting penalty kick past James in the 44th minute.

For Dempsey, the goal was the 26th of his international career.

Antigua and Barbuda got on the board in the 65th minute. Second-half Antigua and Barbuda substitute Peter Byers beat Oguchi Onyewu to a pass deep in the U.S. half of the field, dribbled into the box and slotted a right-footed shot past goalie Tim Howard, who tipped the ball but couldn't keep it out.

Onyewu entered the game in the 57th minute for third-choice left back Jose Torres, who was taken off the field after hurting his left ankle on a tackle. The injury was initially called a bruise. Torres was scheduled for an X-ray.

"It's not looking very good for him right now," Klinsmann said.

With the game unexpectedly tight — Antigua is 105th in the FIFA rankings, 77 spots below the United States — Gomez came to the rescue for the Americans. In the 72nd minute he had a shot from close range blocked but beat everybody to the rebound, and with James out of goal, he slipped his shot into the open goal.

"That was a good hustle goal by (Gomez)," Bocanegra said. "He deserved it."

The United States continues qualifying Tuesday against Guatemala in Guatemala City.

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Friday, June 8, 2012

Rays at Marlins

When/where: 7:15 tonight; Marlins Park, Miami

TV/radio: Ch. 13; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)

Probable pitchers

Rays:

LH Matt Moore (2-5, 4.45)

Marlins:

RH Carlos Zambrano (4-3, 2.81)

On Moore: He ended a five-start winless streak with a win over Baltimore last time out, allowing one earned run over six innings. He has never faced the Marlins, but he is 0-2 with a 4.67 ERA in three road starts this season.

On Zambrano: He has won three of his past four starts, including giving up just one run over 7⅔ innings against the Phillies last time out. He is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in his one career start vs. the Rays.

Key matchups

Rays vs. Zambrano

Luke Scott 5-for-12

Hideki Matsui 2-for-7

B.J. Upton 1-for-4

Marlins vs. Moore

Has never faced

On deck

Sunday: at Marlins, 1:10, Sun Sports, FSN. Rays — James Shields (6-4, 4.27); Marlins — Anibal Sanchez (3-4, 3.19)

Rays disabled list

With eligible-to-return date

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

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

Ballpark reviews

There were good reviews of the Marlins' new park, including the leftfield window sight lines of the city (similar to Minute Maid Park). Manager Joe Maddon said other than the "awkward" art sculpture in center — mechanical marlins and flapping flamingos — he liked the "Dodge Challenger green" outfield walls. "Circa 1970, RT 440 6-pack," Maddon said. "Very desirable color."

Number of the day

39

Parks the Rays have played in after Friday night's debut at Marlins Park in Miami.

Going national

Rays TV analyst Brian Anderson is more comfortable heading into tonight's Fox broadcast with Dick Stockton than his first experience in late May. "It was different," Anderson said. "I left the ballpark that night and called my mother, and was like, "Mom, what just happened?' " Anderson said it was an adjustment going from regular partner Dewayne Staats to Stockton but pointed out, "It was a fun ride, I'll tell you that."

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Friday, June 8, 2012

MIAMI — Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen isn't afraid to speak his mind, no matter the topic.

And Guillen, as he sat in Miami's new $515 million stadium Friday, said he believes the Rays "deserve" and "earned" a new ballpark, joking he'd "put in a couple million" to help.

"Build the ballpark for them, please. Why not?" Guillen said. "They're playing well. They've got a great organization. I think now they deserve that. They earned it. They play the game good, play the game right, and play the game hard, and in a very tough division. … If one team deserves a new ballpark, it's them, because I think fans will support it a little bit better, and I think it'll be great for the city."

Guillen, a Devil Ray in 2000, points out how far the organization has come, making the playoffs three of the past four years.

"I played for that organization when they were very bad. They didn't know what they were doing," Guillen said. "They were terrible, including myself. … But little by little, they put it together. Give them a lot of credit. A lot of people talk about a lot of organizations, that organization put it together quick, and whoever did it, they did it right. …

"Give them a new stadium, I'll put in a couple million."

Guillen credits manager Joe Maddon, saying he is one of two managers (along with the Twins' Ron Gardenhire) that he admires.

"You don't win manager of the year two years because you're cute," Guillen said. "He's not cute. He's good.

"He's been winning all these years. He's a very smart baseball man, very smart. And players love to play for him and respect him. That's all you can ask as a manager. When players love to play for you and respect you, you've got it done."

Maddon has mutual respect for Guillen and laughed when he heard the colorful manager's "cute" reference.

"He meant handsome," Maddon said. "I don't think Ozzie would ever refer to another man as being cute, nor would he refer to them being handsome. Although he could have went there and I would have accepted."

MEDICAL MATTERS: 3B Evan Longoria will take the next step in his recovery from a partially torn left hamstring today by doing running/acceleration drills, which should tell the Rays when he can start his rehab assignment. Longoria has targeted mid June as a return date.

RHP Kyle Farnsworth (right elbow strain) will start a rehab assignment Monday in Port Charlotte. But Maddon said the Rays are going to be cautious and "don't have the absolute finish line with him."

WELCOME BACK: OF/1B Brandon Allen cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Durham. Maddon was pleased the Rays can keep him in the organization. "I still think he's going to be very helpful to us down the road," Maddon said.

HITS HOME: RHP James Shields was especially disappointed that I'll Have Another was scratched from today's Belmont Stakes and retired due to a swollen tendon in his left leg. Shields' uncle Jim Jimenez is the horse's farrier (provides hoof and foot care), and the Rays starter got to see the horse, which would have been vying for the Triple Crown, this week while in New York.

"It's a shame," Shields said. "It's really sad to be honest with you. He's a great horse."

MORE MOORE: LHP Matt Moore enters tonight's start feeling good, coming off his first win in more than a month, and he believes he is close to where he wants to be.

Moore has a 2.89 ERA over his last five starts.

"I feel like each time out I have better fastball command," Moore said. "And it's just due to me attacking more, being more aggressive. I'm not sure if it's too much like mechanical, I think more of it's just kind of that overall feel when you're out there."

MISCELLANY: The Rays signed three draft picks: seventh-round OF Marty Gantt (College of Charleston), 10th-round LHP Sean Bierman (University of Tampa) and 30th-round CF Michael Williams (Kentucky). … Maddon hit LF Desmond Jennings second to put room between him and RHP Jeremy Hellickson, plus he liked INF Will Rhymes at leadoff against a right-hander.

Times wires
Friday, June 8, 2012

TALLAHASSEE — Florida State coach Mike Martin said Stanford's Mark Appel was the best pitcher he has seen this season. Luckily for the Seminoles, Appel stunk on Friday.

Devon Travis homered twice and drove in six as FSU won Game 1 of the best-of-three Super Region 17-1.

"The only thing you can predict about baseball is the unpredictably," Martin said. "We happened to have some things go our way."

Senior and former Alonso High standout Sherman Johnson went 2-for-3, reaching base five times and scoring a career-high four runs.

The Seminoles can reach the World Series by winning tonight (6, ESPN2). Game 3, if necessary, is Sunday (7, ESPN2)

Appel, taken eighth overall by the Pirates in Monday's draft, allowed five runs over four innings. He threw 48 of his 95 pitches in the fourth, when FSU scored seven, walking three, hitting a batter and throwing a wild pitch.

"You're always going to have a few bad outings every year," Appel said. "But you wish they aren't in the Super Regions."

Travis, a 13th-round pick by the Tigers, singled in a run in the fourth, hit a two-run homer in the sixth and hit a three-run homer in the seventh.

"I don't think I ever remember hitting two home runs in my life in a game; not even in Little League days," Travis said. "I don't know what happened."

Freshman Brandon Leibrandt (8-2) went six, getting help from three double plays, for FSU.

Rain suspends wild game until today

BATON ROUGE, La. — LSU hit tying homers in the ninth, 10th and 11th innings, prolonging Game 1 against Stony Brook long enough for rain to cause the game to be suspended until 11 a.m. today tied at 4. (Game 2 will start after its completion.)

"We have a group of guys that in any situation, no one gives up," said Mason Katz, who hit the third homer. "We always think we're coming back, no matter what."

Jacoby Jones came first, tying it at 2 with a shot off James Campbell. Leftfielder Steve Goldstein put Stony Brook ahead in the 10th with a homer, but he overran Tyler Moore's two-out foul pop in the bottom half. Moore then tied it off Campbell, who had allowed only one homer over 52⅓ innings this season.

In the 11th, Travis Jankowski beat Katz's throw on a sac fly for the Seawolves. But Katz tied it again. Raph Rhymes followed with a shot down the line off Jasvir Rakkar that barely went foul. Stony Brook escaped without further damage. Then the rain came.

Arizona 7, St. John's 6 (10): Trent Gilbert's single in the 10th gave the host Wildcats a Game 1 win. Arizona trailed 5-0 in the fourth and 6-5 in the 10th.

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Friday, June 8, 2012

MIAMI — Jeremy Hellickson knew he was off from the start Friday night against the Marlins.

The right-hander can't remember a time when he bounced as many changeups, and he never walked as many batters (seven) as he did in just 4⅓ innings.

"I had no idea where the ball was going," Hellickson said. "It was not a good feeling out there."

But Hellickson battled, stranding 11 runners, and the Rays offense and bullpen backed him up in a 5-1 win in front of 29,628 at Miami's new ballpark. With their second victory in a row, the Rays (33-25) moved into sole possession of first place in the American League East, a half-game ahead of the Yankees.

"It wasn't an oil painting," manager Joe Maddon quipped, "but we did a lot of things well."

Maddon said the star of the game was former Marlins reliever Burke Badenhop, who relieved Hellickson in the fifth and promptly got John Buck to ground into an inning-ending double play.

"I really believe if Burke doesn't get that ground ball, I think that game could have flipped in a bad way," Maddon said. "I thought Burke was huge."

Badenhop threw 1⅔ scoreless innings to pick up the win, with Jake McGee, Joel Peralta and Fernando Rodney shutting the Marlins down the rest of the way.

"The bullpen was spectacular," Maddon said.

Hellickson got key outs as well, the biggest was retiring slugging outfielder Giancarlo Stanton on a flyout to center with the bases loaded in the fourth inning. Hellickson missed there, too, throwing a fastball down the middle.

"I got pretty lucky," he said.

Hellickson had already lucked out in helping set up the Rays' go-ahead run in the top of the fourth, missing a sign and laying down a one-out sacrifice bunt to move catcher Jose Lobaton to third. Leadoff man Will Rhymes knocked in Lobaton with an infield single to give the Rays a 2-1 lead.

Hellickson smiled, saying he didn't know until he got back to the dugout he was supposed to swing away.

"It ended up working out," he said.

So did another one of Maddon's new lineups.

Lobaton racked up his second straight multihit game (two doubles) and centerfielder B.J. Upton continued to look good in the cleanup spot, collecting an RBI single. Rightfielder Matt Joyce doubled and scored, and added a home run, his 10th of the season. Even second baseman Ben Zobrist, who had been struggling, collected two hits. After going 12 consecutive games without racking up 10 hits in a game, the Rays have done so in back-to-back games.

"There's a lot of ways to write the lineup, there's lot of positions for guys to play," Joyce said. "We're just coming every day to expect the unexpected, really."

The Rays defense was strong, other than Lobaton helping the Rays tie the major-league record with their fifth catcher's interference call of the season.

"In spite of some of the things we did not do well tonight, we did a lot of things pretty well also," Maddon said.

Times wires
Friday, June 8, 2012

Astros 8, White Sox 3

CHICAGO — Jed Lowrie, Brett Wallace and Brian Bogusevic homered and the Astros got a strong effort from their bullpen. The White Sox lost for the fourth time in 15 games. Lowrie's 11th homer, after a two-out walk to Jordan Schafer, gave the Astros a 4-0 lead in the fifth. Chicago starter Gavin Floyd has given up six homers in his past two starts.