By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 13, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG — As dominant as Mets knuckleballer R.A. Dickey was in Wednesday's 9-1 win against the Rays, the lingering question after the game was whether his one-hit, 12-strikeout gem should have actually been a no-hitter.

The only Rays play ruled a hit came in the first inning, when B.J. Upton hit a chopper to third base and David Wright, recognizing Upton's speed, tried to barehand the ball and had it bounce off his hand. For a franchise that just had its first-ever no-hitter from Johan Santana last week, the Mets were one official scoring ruling away from another.

"We said in the ninth inning, we've got to appeal that play," Mets manager Terry Collins said after the game. "We're probably not going to win it, but … what the heck? What do you have to lose, except somebody say no?"

The scoring decision suggests that a reasonable defensive play wouldn't have gotten Upton at first, and Wright — who had a throwing error in the ninth for the Rays' only other baserunner and their run — said he didn't know how the play should be scored.

"I tried to make the play. I didn't make it. It's as simple as that," he said. "I don't think I could have got him with the glove. I tried to barehand it. It skipped on me. If they want to go back and give me an error, they can do that. There's a handful of guys on that team that you'd have to barehand and rush it."

Rays manager Joe Maddon said he thought the ruling was correct, a reflection of Upton's speed, rather than whether Wright could get a hand on the ball to attempt a throw.

"I thought it was a hit," Maddon said. "Of course, you think you're going to get more at that point, but I thought it was. A combination of speed and how the ball was hit, just kind of bouncing away from David."

Dickey broke a 39-year-old Mets record for consecutive scoreless innings — 312/3, by Jerry Koosman in 1973 — and said he didn't have high hopes for picking up a no-hitter after the fact from any kind of appeal.

"A Hail Mary is a good analogy," he said. "It's up to them. B.J.'s quick, and I've seen David make that play a lot of times with his bare hand. You give him 10 times, he's going to make it eight. It just kicked off his palm a little bit."

INJURY UPDATE: Wednesday marked the seventh consecutive Rays game without Luke Scott in the starting lineup. Maddon shed some light on Scott's recent absence, saying he has been sidelined by a stiff back since a pinch-hitting appearance Friday.

"His back is a little stiff. He's day to day," Maddon said. "He feels better (Wednesday) than he did (Tuesday), but he's not 100 percent."

Scott reached base in his only appearance Friday and stole a base, woke up the next morning with stiffness and hasn't played since. Still the Rays' leader with 35 RBIs, Scott is hitless in his past 15 at-bats, dropping his average to .220, including .155 against left-handed pitchers.

One day after giving OF/DH Hideki Matsui the start on his 38th birthday, Maddon had him hitting fifth in the batting order Wednesday, joking that he "recently found out that in Japan they celebrate birthdays for 48 hours."

The Rays went without Ben Zobrist for the second day in a row, but Maddon said Wednesday's scratch wasn't related to the hand injury that sidelined him Tuesday, but rather that he was simply sick and could be back today.

"He's ill. He's not feeling well," Maddon said. "A little fever in the morning, and he's getting better, but he's still under the weather a bit. … The hand is still sore, but it's not the issue. The issue is the fact that he's not well."

Times wires
Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Rangers 1, D'backs 0

ARLINGTON, Texas — Craig Gentry hit a two-out RBI single in the eighth inning and Matt Harrison combined with two relievers on a six-hitter for Texas. Mike Napoli drew a leadoff walk in the eighth off rookie left-hander Wade Miley and moved up on Yorvit Torrealba's sacrifice bunt After pinch-hitter Nelson Cruz struck out, Gentry, the No. 9 batter hitting .340, hit a hard one-hopper over the glove of third baseman Ryan Roberts into leftfield. Harrison has pitched 161/3 consecutive scoreless innings.

Times wires
Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Cardinals 1, White Sox 0

ST. LOUIS — Lance Lynn struck out a career-high 12 to stay tied for the major-league lead with his 10th win, and Carlos Beltran hit his NL-best 19th home run as St. Louis ended Chicago's eight-game road winning streak. Beltran homered in the third inning off Jake Peavy and had three of the four hits by the Cardinals, who have totaled seven runs in the past five games and had just one for the third straight game. They've won just five of their past 14.

Times wires
Wednesday, June 13, 2012

ATLANTA — Curtis Granderson hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth inning and the Yankees beat the Braves 3-2 on Wednesday night to complete their second straight three-game sweep.

Hiroki Kuroda worked in and out of trouble for six innings, stranding runners in scoring position in the second, third and fourth before giving up Brian McCann's two-run shot in the fifth. Granderson answered an inning later with his blast to rightfield.

Alex Rodriguez had an RBI single in the first inning for the Yankees, who have surged into first place in the AL East with sweeps of the Mets and Braves.

Former Ray Rafael Soriano gave up a single to Chipper Jones with two outs in the ninth before getting Jason Heyward to hit a popup to second base, completing his 11th save.

The Braves outhit the Yankees 12-7 but left runners in scoring position in six innings and went 2-for-13 in that situation.

By Joey Knight, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 13, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG — On a night when they couldn't find R.A. Dickey's 80-85 mph heater, the Rays could find consolation.

They likely won't have to face another knuckleball pitcher again in 2012.

Wednesday's highly bizarre pitching throwdown was won by the throwback, in a landslide. As Dickey perplexed the Rays, the Mets pounded David Price en route to a 9-1 romp before a paid audience of 18,496.

Only B.J. Upton's first-inning grounder down the third-base line, ruled a single after David Wright futilely tried to barehand it, separated the 37-year-old Dickey (10-1) from the Mets' second no-hitter this month and second all time.

"(The knuckleball) is like a roller-coaster, you just don't know what it's going to do," said first baseman Carlos Peña, one of four Rays to strike out twice.

"It could cut, it could drift up and away from a hitter, it could cut into a hitter and he could throw it harder, slower. That was an unbelievable pitching performance."

Not to mention an untouchable one. Dickey, who threw 106 pitches and had nine-pitch innings in the fifth and the sixth, struck out a career-high 12 and became the second-oldest Met to toss a one-hitter.

"I've seen some dominant pitching," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "But nothing like what he's going through right now."

After Upton's single, Dickey, a .500 big-league pitcher on a staggering career resurgence, retired the next 22 Rays. When Elliot Johnson scored an unearned run in the ninth, after reaching first on a Wright error and moving to third on two passed balls, Dickey's scoreless streak ended at 322/3 innings.

"It's a hot knuckleball," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "You've got a combination of velocity with it, movement and the ability to throw it for a strike. … Listen, he's hot right now and he's very good."

For the first four innings, Price (8-4) stood throw-to-throw with Dickey.

Despite walking three of the first seven batters he faced, Price allowed one hit while striking out six through four. Leaning more heavily than normal on breaking stuff, he allowed four hits in the fifth, the most damaging a two-run single by Daniel Murphy that gave New York a 3-0 lead.

He was chased after allowing four consecutive hits to start the sixth, when the Mets scored four runs. The seven earned runs Price allowed matched his career high and matched his total in his previous five starts.

"I didn't have my best fastball," Price said, "so I had to use my other stuff."

The Mets, who have scored 20 in two nights, connected with all of it. First baseman Ike Davis and catcher Mike Nickeas, hitting .181 and .155, respectively, combined to go 4-for-7. Centerfielder Andres Torres (.221) had three hits.

But this night was about Dickey, who tipped his hat to the vocal throng of Mets fans hovering above his dugout as he exited the field.

"He's not your traditional knuckleballer," Upton said. "He throws a hard knuckleball and he was doing different things with it. It was tough to hit."

Times wires
Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Phillies 9, Twins 8

MINNEAPOLIS — Jim Thome drove in four runs against his former team, including a homer estimated at 466 feet, and Philadelphia won for only the second time in its past 11 games. John Mayberry also had four RBIs, including a three-run home run in the first inning to give Cole Hamels a six-run lead he barely held.

Times wires
Thursday, June 14, 2012

Royals 4, Brewers 3

11 innings

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Mike Moustakas walked with the bases loaded in the 11th inning to give Kansas City a come-from-behind victory. Moustakas walked on five pitches from Jose Veras.

Times wires
Thursday, June 14, 2012

Tigers 8, Cubs 4

CHICAGO — Jhonny Peralta had three hits and two RBIs one night after making two costly throwing errors for Detroit. Brennan Boesch had four hits, including a solo homer, and made a diving catch in right as the Tigers won for the eighth time in nine games against Chicago.

Times wires
Thursday, June 14, 2012

Athletics 10, Rockies 8

DENVER — Brandon Inge hit a tiebreaking two-run double to cap a three-run ninth-inning rally for Oakland. Collin Cowgill tied it at 8 with a sacrifice fly to drive in Coco Crisp, who had singled, moved up on a sacrifice and stolen third.

Times staff
Thursday, June 14, 2012

Arena Football

Storm at Orlando (taped), 3 p.m., NFL

Autos

24 Hours of Le Mans, 8:30 a.m., Speed

Nationwide: Alliance Truck Parts 250 qualifying, 11 a.m., ESPN2

IndyCar: Milwaukee IndyFest, 1 p.m., Ch. 28

Sprint Cup: Quicken Loans 400 qualifying, 1 p.m., Speed

AMA Motocross Series, 2 p.m., Ch. 8

24 Hours of Le Mans, 2:30 p.m., Speed

Nationwide: Alliance Truck Parts 250, 3:30 p.m., Ch. 28

AMA Motocross Series, 4 p.m., NBCSN

NHRA: Thunder Valley Nationals (taped), 5:30 p.m., ESPN2

24 Hours of Le Mans, 7:30 p.m., Speed

Baseball

Yankees at Nationals, 1 p.m., MLB

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

Red Sox at Cubs, 7:15 p.m., 1040-AM

White Sox at Dodgers, 10 p.m., MLB, WGN

Boxing

Heavyweights: Adamek vs. Chambers, 9 p.m., NBCSN

Middleweights: Chavez vs. Lee, 10 p.m., HBO

College baseball, World Series

Arkansas vs. Kent State, 5 p.m., ESPN

Florida vs. South Carolina, 9 p.m., ESPN

Golf

U.S. Open, 4 p.m., Ch. 8; 1040-AM

Lacrosse

MLL: Long Island at Ohio, 7 p.m., BHSN

MLL: Boston at Charlotte, 7 p.m., CBSSN

MLL: Rochester at Denver, 9:30 p.m., CBSSN

Soccer

Euro 2012: Czech Republic vs. Poland, 2:30 p.m., ESPN, ESPND

Euro 2012: Greece vs. Russia, 2:30 p.m., ESPN2

MLS: Houston at Dallas, 7:30 p.m., ESPN2

Mundo Maya Cup: Messi All-Stars vs. Mexico All-Stars, 8 p.m., FSC

TV: BHSN: Bright House Sports Network; CBSSN: CBS Sports Network; ESPND: ESPN Deportes; FSC: Fox Soccer Channel; NBCSN: NBC Sports Network

Times staff
Thursday, June 14, 2012

Autos

24 Hours of Le Mans, 3 a.m., Speed

Sprint Cup: Quicken Loans 400, 1 p.m., TNT

NHRA: Thunder Valley Nationals (taped), 5 p.m., ESPN

Baseball

Yankees at Nationals, 1:30 p.m., TBS

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

Red Sox at Cubs, 8 p.m., ESPN

College baseball, World Series

Stony Brook vs. Florida State, elimination game, 5 p.m., ESPN2

UCLA vs. Arizona, 9 p.m., ESPN2

Golf

U.S. Open, 4 p.m., Ch. 8; 1040-AM

NBA Finals

Game 3: Thunder at Heat, 8 p.m., Ch. 28; 1040-AM

Soccer

Euro 2012: Portugal vs. Netherlands, 2:30 p.m., ESPN, ESPND

Euro 2012: Denmark vs. Germany, 2:30 p.m., ESPN2

MLS: New York at Chicago, 5 p.m., NBCSN

USL: Antigua at Orlando City, 6 p.m., BHSN

TV: BHSN: Bright House Sports Network; NBCSN: NBC Sports Network

Thursday, June 14, 2012

SAN FRANCISCO — Matt Cain pitched the 22nd perfect game in major-league history and first for the Giants in a game that ended early this morning, striking out a career-high 14 and getting help from two running catches to beat the Astros 10-0.

Cain threw 125 pitches, going to a three-ball count four times. He benefited from two strong plays by his corner outfielders, and he got pinch-hitter Jason Castro on a grounder to third for the final out with the sellout crowd of 42,298 roaring.

How did he do it? "I have no idea. The whole stadium was electric. I had to find a way to calm down. Somehow it worked."

Leftfielder Melky Cabrera chased down Chris Snyder's one-out flyball in the sixth, scurrying back to make a leaping catch on the warning track. Cain raised his arms and slapped his glove in delight when Cabrera made the play. Then, rightfielder Gregor Blanco ran into right-center to make a diving catch on the warning track and rob Jordan Schafer for the first out of the seventh.

Phil Humber of the White Sox tossed the last perfect game, at Seattle on April 21.

It was the fifth no-hitter this season, and the third in June.

"The defense behind me, the run support. I was able to pitch comfortably,'' Cain said. "I knew what I was doing with my fastball. Buster (Posey, calling the pitches as the catcher) did an unbelievable job back there. I was going with whatever he put down.''

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, June 14, 2012

Bucs coach Greg Schiano says he's 'concerned,' about the status of cornerback Aqib Talib, who goes on trial June 25 in Dallas County on charges of assault with a deadly weapon. He also said the Bucs have a 'plan in case,' Talib is found guilty.

Talib, who was suspended the first game of 2010 for an assault on a St. Petersburg cab driver, could face further sanctions from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell if convicted of any charge stemming from an gun incident in Garland, Texas in March of 2011.

"Well, anytime you have a guy where there's an off-the-field situation that could affect his on-the-field situation, you're concerned,'' Schiano said. "The thing that I can tell you is since I arrived here Jan. 26, he's been awesome. The way he's worked, he's been here every day. I hope that it's left behind him and there isn't anything and that we can move forward because, again, I can only judge people since I've been involved. I can't stick my head in the sand, as I've said before, but on the other hand...he's been extremely focused and here, doing everything that we asked. So I'm pleased with that and hope everything can just kind of sort itself out and we can get back to life...normal situation.''

The Bucs have some options if Talib has to miss any games in 2012. Ronde Barber, who has moved to free safety, could always return to cornerback opposite free agent Eric Wright. And the Bucs have some strong competition at cornerback between E.J. Biggers, Anthony Gaitor, Keith Tandy and Myron Lewis.

"You always as a head coach have to have those plans just in case,'' Schiano said. "I hope like heck we don't ever have to dust them off. But yeah, we have a plan in case, so like I said, I'm hoping we don't need it.''

Talib was not made available for comment during the Bucs three-day mandatory minicamp, which ended Thursday.

By Terry Tomalin, Times Outdoors-Fitness Editor


Thursday, June 14, 2012

You know that you have reached All-Star Dad status when your very appearance in public is enough to humiliate your children.

My father, a.k.a. Les of the Woods, was an ad man who wore suits to the office Monday through Friday. But come Saturday, he'd break out his sky-blue jumpsuit, which he wore with pride to Sears, the local A&P and, of course, my high school soccer games.

I guess, after nine kids, he didn't care much about what people thought. He just did what he pleased, fashion faux pas and all.

So with that in mind, this Father's Day I plan to follow my dream and become a treasure hunter. I'm headed to the nearest big box store to get new Bermuda shorts, a white T-shirt, black socks and a pair of those $6.99 gel sandals. Then I'm heading to the beach to join those courageous souls looking for lost coins and engagement rings.

All I need is a metal detector. So kids, if you're reading this, please buy your dad the ultimate Florida Outdoors Father's Day Gift. (And if the price is too steep, I've thrown in a few more things that won't break your piggy banks.)

Minelab Xterra 305 metal detector

Wondering how I'm going to pay for college? All I need is one good storm and a handful of Spanish doubloons. This lightweight, easy-to-use coin and treasure hunting detector could be my ticket to financial independence. A family-friendly unit, this machine comes with a short shaft so kids can earn their keep, too. Price: $399

Yeti 35 L Tundra Cooler

No more warm root beer on camping trips. This high-end ice chest is a sportsman's dream. The Yeti is rugged and will keep things cold for days at a time. Available in white and desert tan (sorry, no camo), this cooler will last a lifetime. Price: $259

Costa del Mar Double Haul Sunglasses

Every angler knows that the key to success is being able to see fish on the flats. And if you still can't catch them, you might as well look cool. Costa's new Double Haul model (named after a fly-fishing technique that still eludes me) have patented vents on the side to make sure that, when things heat up, your lenses stay crystal clear. Price: $200

Tilley LTM3 Airflo Hat

After I make my fortune collecting quarters in the sand, I hope to move to Africa and open a photo safari business. I'll need a good hat, preferably with a leopard-skin band. But if not, this one will do. Guaranteed to keep you cool under the hot Florida or Kenyan sun, this hat comes with a brim snap so you can pretend you are from the Outback. Price: $69 to $89

Lodge Sportsman's Grill

What better way to end a day on the savannah than with a few antelope steaks on the grill. This charcoal hibachi-style grill is also perfect for picnics and tailgating. Draft door regulates the heat and coals are accessible behind a flip-down door. Price: $99.95

ExOfficio Reef Runner Lite Long Sleeve Shirt

This ultralight shirt has mesh vents that run along the side seams from the wrist to the arm pits and down to the hem, which will keep you from breaking a sweat. The ultraviolet protection factor Sun Guard 30-plus rating will keep you from getting burned. Price: $45 to $70

Bison Designs Viper 30mm Gunmetal Belt

This industrial fashion statement will come in handy if you have to rappel off a cliff. Gunmetal V-Ring buckle. Do we need to say more? Price: $18

Products courtesy of Bill Jackson Shop for Adventure in Pinellas Park, go to billjacksons.com for more information.

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, June 14, 2012

TAMPA — The Bucs wrapped up their minicamp and offseason Thursday with high spirits and hopes. With a revamped roster, players expressed optimism about the chances for improvement after going 4-12 in 2011.

The sunny outlook even applied to the defensive line.

Last season, the Bucs ranked last in the NFL with 23 sacks. Yet they believe this season will be vastly different — even with largely the same personnel.

How, exactly, have they arrived at that conclusion? Put simply, the Bucs are counting heavily on better fortune when it comes to injuries.

"We have the talent. Everybody can get to the quarterback," defensive end Adrian Clayborn said. "It's just a matter of everybody being on the field."

No unit has had more misfortune with injuries than the defensive line.

Starting tackles Gerald McCoy (13) and Brian Price (12) have combined to miss 25 games over their first two seasons. Starting left end Da'Quan Bowers is expected to miss this season with a torn right Achilles tendon.

"That's a huge loss," coach Greg Schiano said of Bowers. "Of course you move on and fill in, but he was set to have a huge year."

And Price has been rehabbing his pelvic issues in Southern California.

Schiano regards pressuring quarterbacks as paramount in his scheme, so don't expect him to be satisfied with last season's inconsistent rush.

But the Bucs will be counting on, essentially, the same lineup to produce that pressure. While Tampa Bay created a stir in free agency by signing Vincent Jackson, Carl Nicks and Eric Wright to contracts potentially worth about $140 million, none play defensive line.

Improvement is likely if McCoy can stay on the field. He has landed on injured reserve in both of his seasons, tearing his right and left biceps, respectively, while missing 13 games. He was drafted third overall to be the centerpiece of the line and has shown flashes of dominance.

"(The injuries) make me play harder," McCoy said. "It's nothing but motivation."

One guy who has avoided injuries is Clayborn, last season's first-round pick and the team's leading sacker with 7½. Can he make a significant progression in Year 2? It's possible, especially because he likely won't face the dreaded rookie wall he now admits he hit.

"I think I started off good, and the body starts wearing down," said Clayborn, who played 16 games a year after playing 13 at Iowa. "I was trying to deny it, but it definitely hit."

If the Bucs do suffer injuries along the defensive line, they at least will be better prepared. The offseason signings of reserve tackles Amobi Okoye and Gary Gibson give them better depth. McCoy's injury in November prompted the team to claim tackle Albert Haynesworth (cut loose by two teams earlier in the season) off waivers.

If all else fails, Schiano has his ways of producing pressure. One of the trademarks at Rutgers was extensive use of blitzes.

"I don't think you want to ever be totally reliant on your down-four (linemen) because no matter how good you are, there will come a day when (the offense) will block it up and you better be good enough at blitzing," he said. "But you don't want to ever be totally reliant on blitzing because otherwise you leave yourself susceptible to some other things. So our thing has always been (having) a good mix.

"But I think we have some guys who can get after the quarterback."

Just so long as they manage to stay on the field.

By Joey Knight, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, June 14, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG -— The series that couldn't end soon enough for the Rays dragged on for another 3-1/2 hours Thursday afternoon.

Right-hander Jeremy Hellickson struggled miserably for the second start in a row, surrendering eight runs in less than four innings in the New York Mets' 9-6 triumph before 21,947 at Tropicana Field.

The game ended with Mets closer Frank Francisco striking out Ben Zobrist looking with the bases loaded in the ninth.

Tampa Bay (35-28), which entered this series on a four-game win streak sparked by an offensive resurgence, dropped all three games to the Mets by a combined score of 29-9.

Mets leadoff hitter Kirk Nieuwenhuis had two homers for the Mets, including a two-out, two-run blast to left field off Hellickson (4-3) in a four-run fourth.

Six days after walking seven in 4 1/3 innings at Miami, Hellickson languished again. Nieuwenhuis took his second pitch of the game over the right field wall, and Jason Bay added a solo blast to left the next inning.

In 3-2/3 innings, Hellickson scattered nine hits -- three of them homers -- with one walk and no strikeouts. All eight of his runs were earned.

His offense wasn't much sharper. A day after getting one-hit by 37-year-old knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, the Rays managed eight hits, but twice left three base runners stranded.

The first instance came in the sixth off starter Johan Santana, who exited at that point with an 8-4 lead. Six-foot-11 reliever Jon Rauch struck out Sean Rodriguez swinging and Jose Lobaton looking before forcing Elliot Johnson into an inning-ending grounder to third.

By Pat Damico, Times Correspondent


Thursday, June 14, 2012

What's hot: Tarpon activity along local west coast beaches is at a peak, with many fish being seen daily. Because easterly morning winds will make the gulf flat close to shore, it is easier to see the fish. Get out at daybreak and stay close to shore with the sun behind you. The tarpon's back will glisten as it rolls on the smooth water surface. After a few trips anglers will get accustomed to the tarpon's favorite places to appear, giving anglers a pattern of preferred routes. Pick a relatively shallow, light-colored bottom area where fish can be seen far enough away to not surprise you. It's not unusual to see large tarpon inside the swim markers.

Strategy: For fly anglers, a close shot to undisturbed fish is ideal. Never chase tarpon with either an outboard or electric motor. Their ability to detect anglers will prevent them from accepting a well-presented fly. Position the boat ahead of the fish and have them come to you. Attempts to cast to fish going away or at more than a right angle are a waste of energy and if one spooks, they all will go.

Be prepared: Get an experienced fly caster to help you prepare to deliver quickly and accurately at the moment of truth. Do an Internet search for "Saltwater quick cast" and study and practice a technique that fits your comfort zone and abilities.

Fly fisherman Pat Damico charters lower Tampa Bay and can be reached at captpat.com and (727) 504-8649.

Times wires
Thursday, June 14, 2012

CHICAGO — Justin Verlander went eight innings for his first win in almost a month as the Tigers beat the Cubs 5-3 Thursday.

"He stays on you the whole time," Cubs centerfielder Tony Campana said. "He mixes his pitches so well."

Verlander had been 0-3 with a 4.10 ERA in four starts since losing a no-hitter in the ninth on May 18.

Chicago scored two in the second, highlighted by Darwin Barney's double. But last year's Cy Young winner and MVP retired 10 in a row and 16 of 17 after the double. Only pitcher Travis Wood reached during that stretch, but he was thrown out trying to stretch a liner into a double.

"After the second, I started getting my rhythm a little bit," Verlander said. "I started throwing my breaking ball for strikes, keeping guys off balance and just making better pitches."

Verlander went 0-for-1 to leave him hitless in 22 career at-bats. But his sac bunt in the seventh preceded Austin Jackson's go-ahead single.

The Tigers took two of three in the series and have won four of five to get to three games below .500.

"We've got to start winning two out of three," manager Jim Leyland said. "That's how you crawl back into the thing."

Times wires
Thursday, June 14, 2012

Reds 12, Indians 5

CINCINNATI — Joey Votto hit a three-run homer as the Reds capped their first sweep of the Indians since 2008. Michael Brantley's hitting streak reached 21 for Cleveland, longest in the majors this season.

Times wires
Thursday, June 14, 2012

Athletics 8, Rockies 2

DENVER — Jarrod Parker, moved up a day in the rotation, allowed just three singles to help Oakland cap its first road sweep since the final series of 2010. Brandon Moss drove in three with a solo homer in the ninth and a two-run double in the third. It was his fifth homer in eight games since being called up on June 6. Colorado has lost a season-high eight in a row.