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Tampa Bay Rays lose 3-2 to Washington Nationals

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 20, 2012

WASHINGTON — Chris Archer thought he had gotten the emotions and issues out of the way before he took the mound Wednesday for his major-league debut. Actually, it took him an inning, a rough first inning, and an inspirational speech from teammate Carlos Peña to turn in an impressive performance in a 3-2 loss to Washington.

The 23-year-old came out of the Rays clubhouse early before starting his warmups to soak in the atmosphere of the moment. As he looked around Nationals Park, he found his parents, Ron and Donna, sitting in Section 114 behind third base and a group of his closest friends who also drove up from their North Carolina home, hanging out by the bullpen.

Protocol and professionalism be damned, Archer was momentarily overwhelmed, his mind flooded by memories of all the sacrifices and hard work it took for him to get there.

"I shed a couple tears," Archer said. "There was no reason to hold it in. The best thing for me to do was to let it out because it was joy. It was not like I was nervous or upset. It was pure excitement and happiness."

He felt good at that point. His bullpen session went well, he fist-bumped manager Joe Maddon on the way out of the dugout and he got to the mound — and suddenly nothing was going right.

Three straight balls to start, then a double and a single led to a run, some shaky defense behind him leading to two unearned runs, a wild pitch, then a two-out hit, Nats manager Davey Johnson noting he looked "awful nervous." After a 31-pitch mess, in which Archer had little command or control, he was down 3-0, a gap the Rays (38-30) wouldn't be able to close against Washington ace Stephen Strasburg.

But that's where Peña, the veteran first baseman, stepped in.

"Mentally, I kind of slipped in the first," Archer said. "And then Carlos Peña came up to me between innings and he's like, 'Look, this battle isn't against the Washington Nationals, it's against yourself. And tonight, you need to conquer yourself.'

"And once I started to take that mentality, it started to work. I stopped pitching against the other team, and I started pitching for myself. Same game, different stage. Maybe it did overwhelm me a little bit in the first. But after that talk with Peña, I pitched pretty well."

Pretty well? Archer allowed only a walk over the next five innings, striking out six, using only 51 pitches and working well with catcher Jose Molina. He showed exactly why he was a centerpiece of the January 2011 trade with the Cubs for Matt Garza, whose old No. 22 was on his back.

"He's a great pitcher; he's got good stuff," Nats outfielder Bryce Harper said. "He's pretty laid back. And he's laid back while throwing 96 mph. That's pretty damn good."


Twins 2, Pirates 1

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Times wires
Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Twins 2, Pirates 1

PITTSBURGH — Josh Willingham hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning for Minnesota. Willingham hit Jason Grilli's fastball out to leftfield as the Twins won for the second time in their past seven games. Glen Perkins pitched the ninth for his first save in place of injured Matt Capps. Pittsburgh's Erik Bedard overcame a shaky start to surrender one run over six innings.

Tampa Bay Rays starter Matt Moore looking to continue recent roll

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 20, 2012

WASHINGTON — The difference in LHP Matt Moore has been obvious as he has come out with a win in his past three starts after doing so only once in his first 10.

He has had better command of his fastball. He has thrown his breaking ball for strikes when he needs to. And he has had a bigger smile.

"Yeah, things weren't going very well there for a second," Moore said. "I think anytime you're dropping games regardless of however I'm pitching, if I'm pitching like that and we're winning we can hang on to those and make adjustments later on.

"But we weren't winning the games and a lot of it was happening later on in the game, so I think the adjustments were made and I'm a little bit smarter now."

Moore, who starts tonight, hopes to continue exactly what he has been doing. Manager Joe Maddon is okay with that.

"I think obviously his confidence is up," he said. "His last game in particular, the breaking ball strike was a big part of that. … And more than anything, his fastball command looks like it's gotten better. And with that, his confidence has ascended."

JOYCE OUT: OF Matt Joyce remained stiff and "a little sore" after leaving Tuesday's game with tightness on the left side of his lower back, but he was confident he didn't pull anything and would not be sidelined long. Maddon was similarly hopeful: "I don't know that, but I don't think so."

Joyce said the tightness had been an issue for about a week and got worse following a bout with the flu Sunday, a plane flight Monday, the adjustment to a hotel bed and playing in Tuesday's heat. "There's a lot of factors involved," he said.

MORE MEDICAL: INF Jeff Keppinger (broken right big toe) was 0-for-4 in his fifth rehab game at Triple-A Durham and is on track to rejoin the Rays over the weekend. … DH Luke Scott said his back remained "a little bit" tight but he was definitely improving, with a plan to take batting practice over the weekend in Philadelphia and return to active duty Monday in Kansas City.

UPTOWN GUY: CF B.J. Upton said he enjoyed playing in Washington, the closest big-league team to his hometown of Norfolk, Va., and the present home of many friends.

"I like the city," he said, "and it's kind of like home."

The Nats have been rumored to have interest in Upton, and he is likely headed toward free agency after the season. Would he consider Washington as his new home? "I don't know," he said. "That's not a question to be answered right now."

MISCELLANY: In his pro debut, 2011 first-round draft pick RHP Taylor Guerrieri pitched five shutout innings for short-season Class A Hudson Valley, allowing two hits, walking one and striking out six. … RHP Fernando Rodney notched his 20th save Tuesday in the team's 67th game, two fewer than Roberto Hernandez in 1999. … LHP David Price is expected to appear with Vice President Joe Biden today to announce PSAs about dating violence. … The Rays had won eight straight games in NL parks, one shy of the interleague road winning streak set by the 2006-07 Mariners.

Tampa Bay Rays: Davey Johnson concedes Twitter ground to Joe Maddon; Rays to wear retro uniforms of team that didn't exist

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Rays at Nationals

When/where: 7:05 tonight; Nationals Park, Washington

TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)

Probable pitchers

Rays: LH Matt Moore (4-5, 4.16)

NATIONALS: LH Gio Gonzalez (8-3, 2.52)

On Moore: The 23-year-old rookie has won his past three starts, and in impressive style. His last one was his best, allowing one hit in seven shutout innings vs. Miami on Friday.

On Gonzalez: The former Oakland A's pitcher, 1-1, 4.86 in four games vs. Rays, has cooled a bit, going 1-2, 4.24 in his past three starts, allowing 22 baserunners in 17 innings.

Key matchups

Rays VS. GONZALEZ

Jose Molina 0-for-6

Carlos Peña 1-for-8

B.J. Upton 1-for-8

NATS VS. MOORE

None have faced

On deck

Friday: at Phillies, 7:05, Sun Sports. Rays — James Shields (7-4, 3.72); Phillies —Cliff Lee (0-3, 3.48)

Saturday: at Phillies, 4:05, Sun Sports. Rays — Alex Cobb (3-3, 3.82); Phillies — Kyle Kendrick (2-7, 5.29)

Sunday: at Phillies, 1:35, Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (9-4, 3.08); Phillies — Cole Hamels (10-3, 3.25)

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 surgery, 15 day, May 28

RHP Jeremy Hellickson, right shoulder fatigue, 15 day, June 30

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

DH Luke Scott, back stiffness, 15 day, June 24

* out for season

Twitter 'war' of the day

"I don't want to get in a shouting match with Joe. I looked him up on the Internet and found out he has a tweeter, so he can get to more people than me."

Nationals manager Davey Johnson, on Joe Maddon

"Most men have tweeters, and I would never use my tweeter to an unfair advantage." Maddon, in response

Retro moment of the day

The Rays will wear these interesting-looking uniforms for a 1970s Turn Back the Clock Game on June 30. And since the Rays didn't exist in 1979, they are taking the liberty to get a little funky. "I think it's outstanding," Maddon, left, said. "Definitely a '70s moment."

Indians 8, Reds 1

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Times wires
Wednesday, June 20, 2012

CLEVELAND — Justin Masterson pitched a three-hitter for his first complete game this season and the AL Central-leading Indians finished a three-game sweep of the Reds with an 8-1 victory Wednesday night.

Masterson took a shutout into the eighth before the Reds ended his scoreless innings streak at 18.

Asdrubal Cabrera hit a three-run homer and former ray Johnny Damon hit a two-run shot in the fifth inning off former Hernando High standout Bronson Arroyo. Lonnie Chisenhall added three RBIs for Cleveland.

After losing three in Cincinnati last week, the Indians got revenge on the Reds, who entered the series on a six-game winning streak.

It was the first time the Reds and Indians had faced each other as first-place teams since 1999, and Masterson made sure Cleveland came out on top.

The Reds did not get a runner to second until the eighth. Cabrera booted Jay Bruce's leadoff grounder to shortstop and Todd Frazier doubled with one out. Willie Harris followed with an RBI groundout.

Mets 4, Orioles 3

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Times wires
Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Mets 4, Orioles 3

NEW YORK — Dillon Gee extended New York's shutout streak to 29 innings, and the Mets held on for a three-game sweep. New York nearly shut out Baltimore for the third straight day. Wilson Betemit hit a two-run homer in the eighth and Steve Pearce drew a bases-loaded walk in the ninth before Brian Roberts grounded out to end it.

Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin bests Tampa Bay Lightning's Steven Stamkos for NHL MVP

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Times wires
Wednesday, June 20, 2012

LAS VEGAS — The Penguins' Evgeni Malkin, who led the league in scoring this season, won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player Wednesday, besting the Lightning's Steven Stamkos and the Rangers' Henrik Lundqvist

Malkin, who had 50 goals and 109 points, won the Hart for the first time at the league awards ceremony at the Wynn Las Vegas casino. The award is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. Malkin had 1,473 points to 598 for Stamkos and 144 first-place votes to one for Stamkos. Lundqvist finished third.

The Penguins center also won the MVP award voted on by the players, the Ted Lindsay Award, over the Lightning center, who led the league with 60 goals (and was presented with the Rocket Richard Trophy for that accomplishment), and the Rangers goalie. "This is the best day of my life," Malkin said.

Stamkos said he was disappointed but hadn't expected to win. "I knew that not making the playoffs was going to hurt my chances," he said on a blog he did for NHL.com. "(Malkin) had a dominant season. He deserves both. It's just an honor in itself to be nominated for those awards."

Lundqvist won the Vezina Trophy as the top goalie.

The Blues' Ken Hitchcock, who replaced fired Davis Payne in November, won the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year. He went 43-15-11 and took St. Louis to the Central Division title. The Blues lost in the second round of the playoffs to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Kings.

Hitchcock dedicated his award to his friend and coaching pal Lightning assistant Wayne Fleming, who has brain cancer.

The Lightning has another connection to Hitchcock, he said, one not affectionate. He said the best team he has coached was the 2003-04 Flyers, who lost to eventual Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay in the East final. "I thought, quite frankly, we were unstoppable," he said.

All-Stars: Malkin was voted a first-team all-star by the hockey writers and Stamkos the center on the second team. Also on the first team: Lundqvist; defensemen Shea Weber of the Predators and Erik Karlsson of the Senators, and on the wings Pittsburgh's James Neal and the Devils' Ilya Kovalchuk. No other Lightning player made the teams.

surprise performance: Stamkos said he had no idea he would be participating in a bit with Dancing With the Stars' Cheryl Burke during the show, broadcast on the NBC Sports Network.

"(Burke) was doing a scene beside me, and I saw the teleprompter, saw my name, and I was like, 'Oh no, I might have to get up here,' " he said on the NHL.com blog. "She made me dip her — at least that's what I think they call the move in dancing — and I was on a little bit of an incline there, so I was a little worried, but I didn't drop her. Man, if I did, I probably would have gotten sued by Dancing With the Stars."

Burke said on Twitter, "Thank you Steven Stamkos for dipping me. You really should do (Dancing With the Stars)!!"

around the league: Flyers wing Claude Giroux was voted by fans to be on the cover of EA Sports' NHL 13 video game. … Rob Zombie, the director of the horror movies House of 1000 Corpses, The Devil's Rejects and a reimagining of Halloween, will write and direct a movie about the Flyers' Stanley Cup-winning Broad Street Bullies teams of the 1970s, he told Hollywood news website deadline.com.

Phillies 7, Rockies 6

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Times wires
Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Phillies 7, Rockies 6

PHILADELPHIA — Todd Helton missed tagging first base, allowing the winner to score on Placido Polanco's grounder in the ninth inning as Philadelphia rallied. The Phillies recovered after Dexter Fowler hit a tiebreaking single off Jonathan Papelbon with two outs in the top half.


Red Sox 15, Marlins 5

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Times wires
Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Red Sox 15, Marlins 5

BOSTON — David Ortiz hit a grand slam for one of Boston's four homers, and the Red Sox set a season high in runs to climb out of last place in the AL East for one of the few times this season. Game-time temperature was 95 degrees, hottest in Boston this year.

Commissioners agree on football playoff

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Times wires
Wednesday, June 20, 2012

CHICAGO — The BCS commissioners and Notre Dame are backing a football playoff plan with sites for the national semifinals rotating among the major bowl games and a selection committee picking the teams.

The plan will be presented to university presidents Tuesday. Once the presidents sign off, as expected, major college football's champion will be decided by a playoff for the first time starting in 2014.

"I am pleased with the progress we have made," said SEC commissioner Mike Slive. "There are some differences, but we will work them out. We're trying to do what is in the best interest of the game."

Though commissioners refrained from providing specifics of the plan, Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott did say the two semifinals would be worked into the existing major bowls (Fiesta, Orange, Rose and Sugar) and the site of the title game will be bid out like the Super Bowl.

The semifinals would not be tied to traditional conference relationships, the Associated Press reported. A committee would choose and seed the schools that play for the title.

Scott has pushed for conference champions to be given preference for the playoff but said he was comfortable that a committee would emphasize that and strength of schedule.

FSU tries CWS flip

OMAHA, Neb. — When FSU and Arizona meet today at the College World Series, both teams will start the same pitchers as when they met in the opening round but the Seminoles hope for a different result.

An Arizona (45-17) win would send the Wildcats to the championship round. A win by FSU (50-16) would force another game Friday, with the winner going to the best-of-three finals.

The Wildcats will send Kurt Heyer (12-2) against Seminoles freshman Brandon Leibrandt (8-2). Heyer went 7 2/3 innings in Arizona's 4-3 12-inning win Friday. Leibrandt went 4 1/3, his shortest outing since March 17.

"My teammates told me that game wasn't going to be my last start," Leibrandt said. "I believed them, and here we are."

Wednesday's elimination game between South Carolina (46-18) and Kent State (47-19) was postponed to noon today.

All Bulls in clear: USF's Academic Progress Rate scores show continued progress, with no teams facing sanctions. In all, 15 of 18 athletic teams made improvements from a year ago, with football (up 10 points to 963) making the biggest three-year improvement out of 63 schools in BCS conferences.

Poisoned trees case: The lawyer for Harvey Updyke, an Alabama fan accused of poisoning landmark oak trees at rival Auburn, unsuccessfully argued during jury selection that Updyke should not have to stand trial near that campus, especially since his reported confession was published by a student newspaper. Attorney Everett Wess then denied that Updyke, who has pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, told the Auburn Plainsman during a break Tuesday, "Did I do it? Yes."

Times staff writer Greg Auman contributed to this report.

Sports in brief: Saints assistant coach Vitt disputes NFL's bounty evidence

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Times wires
Wednesday, June 20, 2012

nfl

saints' vitt disputes evidence

NEW ORLEANS — Saints assistant head coach Joe Vitt says evidence recently made public in the NFL's bounty investigation falsely portrays him pledging $5,000 for knocking then-Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre out of the 2010 NFC title game.

In a statement issued by the Saints on Wednesday, Vitt said he has never pledged money for any type of performance incentives, let alone the cash-for-hits bounty program the NFL says the Saints ran from 2009-11 under former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.

Vitt, who has been suspended for the first six games of the season in connection with the league's investigation, said he told commissioner Roger Goodell he was willing to take a lie detector test.

Plaxico eyes Panthers: Free agent receiver Plaxico Burress, 34, said in a radio interview this week that he wants to play for the Panthers next season.

et cetera

Tennis: Five-time champion Venus Williams and Kim Clijsters are unseeded for Wimbledon for the first time in more than a decade. Top-ranked Novak Djokovic heads the men's list, and Maria Sharapova tops the women's seedings for the first time. The tournament starts Monday. … Andy Roddick reached the quarterfinals at the Eastbourne Championships in England, needing eight match points to overpower Jeremy Chardy 6-2, 7-6 (8-6).

Olympics: Kristian Ipsen topped the 3-meter springboard preliminaries at the U.S. diving trials in Federal Way, Wash. Brandon native Chris Colwill was third. … Brad Snyder qualified Sunday for the Paralympic Games and is a contender to win gold in the 100-meter freestyle. The Navy lieutenant and former St. Petersburg Northeast High swimmer was blinded by an explosion in Afghanistan last year.

Times wires

White Sox 7, Cubs 0

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Times wires
Wednesday, June 20, 2012

White Sox 7, Cubs 0

CHICAGO — Gavin Floyd pitched four-hit ball into the seventh, Gordon Beckham homered and the host White Sox avoided a three-game sweep. Beckham matched a career high with four RBIs, and the White Sox got an easy win after dropping six of seven. They finally showed some pop after managing 19 runs over the previous seven games, including a 2-1 loss in which Jake Peavy pitched a complete game Tuesday night.

This week on pro golf tours

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Times wires
Wednesday, June 20, 2012

. fast facts

This week on pro golf tours

PGA: Travelers Championship, TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Conn. TV: Today-Friday, 3, Golf Channel; Saturday-Sunday, 1, Golf, and 3, Ch. 10

LPGA: Manulife Financial, Grey Silo Golf Course, Waterloo, Ontario. TV: Today-Friday, 12:30, Golf; Saturday-Sunday, 3, Golf

Champions: Montreal Championship, Vallee du Richelieu Vercheres, Sainte-Julie, Quebec. TV: Friday-Saturday, 6:30 p.m., Golf; Sunday, 7 p.m., Golf

PGA Europe: BMW International Open, Golf Club Gut Larchenhof, Cologne, Germany. TV: Today-Friday, 9 a.m., Golf; Saturday, 8 a.m., Golf; Sunday, 7 a.m., Golf

Athletics 4, Dodgers 1

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Times wires
Thursday, June 21, 2012

Athletics 4, Dodgers 1

OAKLAND, Calif. — Tommy Milone pitched a three-hitter for his first career complete game — Oakland's first this season — and Yoenis Cespedes had two hits and an RBI in his return to the lineup (left hamstring strain). The A's have won seven of eight, and two straight over the Dodgers. Cespedes scored after a double to make it 1-0 and had an RBI single in the fifth. Milone retired 22 of the final 24, with Jerry Hairston Jr. hitting an infield single in the seventh and Dee Gordon reaching on second baseman Jemile Weeks' error in the eighth.

Angels 6, Giants 0

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Times wires
Thursday, June 21, 2012

Angels 6, Giants 0

LOS ANGELES — Jered Weaver pitched six innings of two-hit ball in his return from the disabled list and the Angels handed Ryan Vogelsong his first loss in almost seven weeks. Alberto Callaspo homered against Vogelsong and teammates Kendrys Morales and Mark Trumbo greeted former Angels prospect Shane Loux with back-to back home runs during a three-run eighth.


NHL releases Tampa Bay Lightning's 2012-2013 schedule

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Times staff
Thursday, June 21, 2012

The Tampa Bay Lightning opens the 2012-13 season Saturday, Oct. 13 at Florida, according to the schedule released today by the National Hockey League.

The home opener is Tuesday, Oct. 16 against the New York Islanders. It is the first of three consecutive home games before Tampa Bay embarks on a west coast trip to Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver.

The Lightning plays at the Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings on Nov. 17.

Here is the complete schedule:

Tampa Bay Lightning 2012-2013 schedule

Sat. Oct. 13 At Florida 7:30 p.m.

Tue. Oct. 16 N.Y. Islanders 7:30 p.m.

Fri. Oct. 19 Florida 7:30 p.m.

Tue. Oct. 23 N.Y. Rangers 7:30 p.m.

Thu. Oct. 25 At Calgary 7 p.m.

Fri. Oct. 26 At Edmonton 7:30 p.m.

Sun. Oct. 28 At Vancouver 6 p.m.

Thu. Nov. 1 Winnipeg 7 p.m.

Sat. Nov. 3 Minnesota 7 p.m.

Tue. Nov. 6 Washington 7:30 p.m.

Thu. Nov. 8 Boston 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Nov. 10 Ottawa 7 p.m.

Tue. Nov. 13 Carolina 7:30 p.m.

Fri. Nov. 16 At Anaheim 7 p.m.

Sat. Nov. 17 At Los Angeles 7:30 p.m.

Wed. Nov. 21 At Carolina 7 p.m.

Sat. Nov. 24 Detroit 7 p.m.

Sun. Nov. 25 At Florida 6 p.m.

Tue. Nov. 27 At Montreal 7:30 p.m.

Thu. Nov. 29 At Ottawa 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Dec. 1 At Winnipeg 1 p.m.

Tue. Dec. 4 Philadelphia 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Dec. 8 Colorado 7 p.m.

Mon. Dec. 10 At N.Y. Rangers 7 p.m.

Tue. Dec. 11 At Boston 7 p.m.

Fri. Dec. 14 New Jersey 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Dec. 15 At Washington 7 p.m

Tue. Dec. 18 At Nashville 7 p.m.

Thu. Dec. 20 Anaheim 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Dec. 22 Nashville 7 p.m.

Wed. Dec. 26 At Florida 7:30 p.m.

Thu. Dec. 27 Montreal 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Dec. 29 N.Y. Rangers 7 p.m.

Mon. Dec. 31 At Winnipeg 4 p.m.

Thu. Jan. 3 At Toronto 7 p.m.

Sat. Jan. 5 At Buffalo 7 p.m.

Tue. Jan. 8 At Pittsburgh 7 p.m.

Fri. Jan. 11 Washington 7:30 p.m.

Sun. Jan. 13 At Carolina 1:30 p.m.

Tue. Jan. 15 Toronto 7:30 p.m.

Thu. Jan. 17 New Jersey 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Jan. 19 Washington 7 p.m.

Mon. Jan. 21 At Buffalo 7 p.m.

Tue. Jan. 22 At Montreal 7:30 p.m.

Tue. Jan. 29 Florida 7:30 p.m.

Thu. Jan. 31 Winnipeg 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Feb. 2 Dallas 7 p.m.

Tue. Feb. 5 At Philadelphia 7 p.m.

Thu. Feb. 7 At Washington 7 p.m.

Sat. Feb. 9 At N.Y. Islanders 7 p.m.

Sun. Feb. 10 At N.Y. Rangers 7 p.m.

Tue. Feb. 12 Carolina 7:30 p.m.

Thu. Feb. 14 San Jose 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Feb. 16 At Columbus 2 p.m.

Tue. Feb. 19 Toronto 7:30 p.m.

Thu. Feb. 21 Boston 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Feb. 23 At Carolina 7 p.m.

Sun. Feb. 24 At Pittsburgh 7 p.m.

Tue. Feb. 26 Buffalo 7:30 p.m.

Thu. Feb. 28 Pittsburgh 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Mar. 2 At Boston 1 p.m.

Mon. Mar. 4 At Philadelphia 7 p.m.

Tue. Mar. 5 At New Jersey 7 p.m.

Thu. Mar. 7 Winnipeg 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Mar. 9 Montreal 7 p.m.

Mon. Mar. 11 Carolina 7:30 p.m.

Thu. Mar. 14 N.Y. Islanders 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Mar. 16 Phoenix 7 p.m.

Mon. Mar. 18 Philadelphia 7:30 p.m.

Wed. Mar. 20 At Toronto 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Mar. 23 At Ottawa 7 p.m.

Sun. Mar. 24 At Winnipeg 7 p.m.

Tue. Mar. 26 Buffalo 7:30 p.m.

Fri. Mar. 29 At Chicago 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Mar. 30 At Dallas 8 p.m.

Tue. Apr. 2 Florida 7:30 p.m.

Thu. Apr. 4 St. Louis 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Apr. 6 At N.Y. Islanders 1 p.m.

Sun. Apr. 7 At New Jersey 3 p.m.

Tue. Apr. 9 Ottawa 7:30 p.m.

Thu. Apr. 11 Pittsburgh 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Apr. 13 At Washington 7 p.m.

Tampa Bay Lightning's Vinny Lecavalier to play 1,000th game in 2012-13 home opener

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By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, June 21, 2012

Home openers are emotional, exciting games to begin with. But for Lightning captain Vinny Lecavalier, next season's first game at the Tampa Bay Times Forum — Oct. 16 against the Islanders — will be extra special. It will be his 1,000th NHL game, all with Tampa Bay.

"It means a lot for me to be able to play at home in front of the fans that supported me through my career," Lecavalier wrote in a text message.

The game is one of the highlights of the 2012-13 schedule released Thursday. Barring a delay stemming from this summer's negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, the Lightning's 20th season begins Oct. 13 at Florida. It will be game 999 for Lecavalier, 32, the No. 1 overall draft pick of 1998 who against New York will become the first player with 1,000 games for Tampa Bay.

"For my family and friends to be there, it will be extra special," Lecavalier wrote.

Other highlights:

• The Lightning plays nine of its first 13 games at home. General manager Steve Yzerman did not call it an advantage. "You still have to win 'em," he said.

• There are two six-game homestands, Nov. 1-13 and March 7-1. The longest road trip is four games, on three occasions.

• There are 13 sets of back-to-back games, 10 with two road games. There are no back-to-back games at the Times Forum.

• The Stanley Cup champion Kings don't visit. The Lightning plays at Los Angeles on Nov. 17.

• At the Times Forum: The Red Wings on Nov. 24. The Rangers, with ex-Lightning coach John Tortorella and ex-Lightning star Brad Richards, on Oct. 23 and Dec. 29. Former Tampa Bay goalie Mike Smith and the Coyotes March 16.

•Tampa Bay plays New Year's Eve at Winnipeg.

Tampa Bay Rays' Joel Peralta suspended eight games for pine tar incident

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, June 21, 2012

Tampa Bay Rays reliever Joel Peralta was suspended eight games by MLB after being caught with pine tar in his glove on Tuesday. Peralta will appeal his suspension and thus will remain active until an appeal is heard.

"We're appealing right now, so we've got to sit tight and see,'' Peralta said. "I get to pitch tonight, and that's all I care about."

MLB rules mandate a suspension when a pitcher is found to have a foreign substance, with 10 games an established precedent as well as the minor-league standard.

"Whatever they do is going to be fair, because that's what it's going to be," Peralta said. "I'm pleased. I'm okay."

Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said beforehand the Rays were hoping there was room for flexibility. "I don't think it's that cut and dry," he said Wednesday. "Personally, I think it will be less than that, but I don't really know. It's in their hands."

Nationals manager Davey Johnson said Wednesday he considered ejection from the game enough of a punishment and that a 10-game suspension was "way too severe."

The discipline will leave the Rays shorthanded, as they have to play with a 24-man roster. To adjust for Peralta's absence, they are planning to send down a position player (likely outfielder Rich Thompson) and bring up another reliever.

Making it worse, they can't turn to their best candidate, Brandon Gomes, who was just sent back to Triple-A Durham on Monday, as the rules require a player to spend 10 days in the minors after being sent down, barring an injury situation.

The leading candidates for promotion from Durham are right-handers Dane De La Rosa (0-2, 3.34, 6 saves in 26 games) and Josh Lueke (0-3, 6.98, 1 save in 20 games).

"It's going to have a great impact on us,'' Rays manager Joe Maddon said.

Admitting he was acting on inside information from Peralta's time with the Nationals, Johnson came out when Peralta entered Tuesday's game and asked the umpires to check him. Crew chief Tim Tschida said they found "a significant amount of pine tar" inside Peralta's glove "where the hand goes inside."

The glove was shipped to MLB officials in New York on Wednesday for evaluation.

Former Angels reliever Brendan Donnelly was suspended 10 games in 2005 when he was caught with pine tar in his glove. Former Dodgers reliever Jay Howell was caught during the 1988 NLCS and suspended three games.

Tampa Bay Rays claim infielder Brooks Conrad off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers

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by Marc Topkin, Times staff writer
Thursday, June 21, 2012

The Tampa Bay Rays have claimed infielder Brooks Conrad off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers.

Conrad, 32, played in 25 games for the Brewers, appearing at all four infield positions but hitting only .075 (3-for-40). He is a .212 hitter over parts of five seasons with the A's, Braves and Brewers.

Conrad may be most know for his record-tying three-error performance for Atlanta in a 2010 playoff game vs. San Francisco.

It is not clear yet what the Rays plan to do with Conrad, or what other move has to be made.

Outdoors news and notes: Gag grouper season to reopen July 1 in Gulf of Mexico

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By Terry Tomalin, Times Outdoors-Fitness Editor
Thursday, June 21, 2012



Making news

gag grouper season to Open on July 1 in Gulf

The harvest season for gag grouper, the most popular recreational species of grouper, reopens July 1 in most of the state and federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Grouper regulations can be confusing, especially for those who have seen a half dozen rule changes in as many years, but here is a quick primer:

In 2009, federal fishery managers determined that the gulf's grouper stocks were overfished. As a result, gag fishing shut down for all but two months in fall 2011. State officials subsequently adopted a July 1 to Oct. 1, 2012 gag season for most of the state except for the waters off Franklin, Wakulla, Jefferson and Taylor counties (which had an April 1 to June 30 season).

So when the waters open in most of central, southwest and northwest Florida, the season will close in the four-county region that includes all of Apalachicola Bay and Indian Pass, Gulf County, and all waters of the Steinhatchee River, including those in Dixie County.

Gulf anglers may keep two gag grouper 22 inches or longer. The aggregate bag limit for grouper of all species is four fish per person.

FWC to meet with much on agenda

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will meet June 27-28 in Palm Beach Gardens to discuss everything from the management of the state's black bear population to a pilot program for anchoring and mooring for recreational boats. But one of the most highly anticipated discussions will be what to do about snook on the state's gulf coast.

A closure was initiated in 2010 after a series of freezes decimated the snook population. An executive order kept fishing closed through Aug. 31, but commissioners will review an updated stock assessment and may let the order expire, which will then reinstate the old fall season.

Solunar tables

AM PM

Minor Major Minor Major

6/22 8:20 2:10 8:50 2:35

6/23 9:10 3:00 9:40 3:25

6/24 10:00 3:50 10:30 4:15

6/25 10:55 4:45 11:20 5:05

6/26 11:45 5:35 0 6:00

6/27 12:15 6:25 12:35 6:50

6/28 1:05 7:15 1:25 7:40

Send your outdoor news to ttomalin@tampabay.com.

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