Times wires
Monday, June 25, 2012

Cubs 6, Mets 1

CHICAGO — Joe Mather homered and Travis Wood outpitched Johan Santana, helping Chicago snap a four-game skid. Wood earned his second straight win. The Cubs scored four unearned runs in the seventh inning with help from three Mets erorrs, including three-base miscues by third baseman David Wright and rightfielder Lucas Duda.

Times wires
Monday, June 25, 2012

Twins 4, White Sox 1

MINNEAPOLIS — Francisco Liriano spoiled Kevin Youkilis' first game with Chicago, pitching a season-high seven innings to lead Minnesota. Making his first start against the rival White Sox since his no-hitter in Chicago nearly 14 months ago, Liriano allowed just three singles, two walks and a double. The left-hander won for the first time this month while holding the White Sox without a run until Alexei Ramirez's sacrifice fly in the seventh.

Times wires
Monday, June 25, 2012

Cardinals 8, Marlins 7

10 innings

MIAMI — Rafael Furcal doubled in the go-ahead run in the 10th for St. Louis, which tied it at 6 with a four-run ninth capped by Yadier Molina's two-run homer off Heath Bell.

Times wires
Monday, June 25, 2012

Rockies 4, Nationals 2

DENVER — Todd Helton hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the sixth inning, and Colorado kept Stephen Strasburg from winning his seventh straight start. Jeff Francis pitched five effective innings as the Rockies won for the fourth time in 18 games. Dexter Fowler had two hits and Carlos Gonzalez hit a tying RBI single. Nationals rookie Bryce Harper went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.

Times wires
Monday, June 25, 2012

Tigers 8, Rangers 2

ARLINGTON, Texas — Miguel Cabrera had three RBIs on two doubles and Rick Porcello struck out seven in six innings for Detroit. After 12 batters, the Tigers had already roughed up Texas rookie right-hander Justin Grimm for six runs and eight hits. They had only five runs and 15 hits while losing two of three in Pittsburgh over the weekend. Cabrera put them ahead to stay with a two-run double in the first.

Times wires
Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Padres 8, Astros 7

10 innings

HOUSTON — Carlos Quentin hit an RBI double in the 10th inning to lift San Diego. Chase Headley walked with one out and stole second before Quentin drove him in with a drive to right-center.

Times wires
Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Blue Jays 9, Red Sox 6

BOSTON — Jose Bautista, Colby Rasmus and J.P. Arencibia hit two-run homers for Toronto, which overcame three errors to knock Boston back into a fourth-place tie in the AL East. David Ortiz had his 37th multihomer game, tying Ted Williams for the most in Red Sox history.

By Don Jensen, Times Correspondent


Tuesday, June 26, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG — Derby Lane canceled its evening performance for the second consecutive time Tuesday because of flooding from Tropical Storm Debby.

"Our parking lot still has flooding and we're concerned about high tide," track spokeswoman Vera Rasnake said. "We do anticipate on racing our regular doubleheader (today)."

Rasnake said the Tuesday card will be run in full Thursday. All but one race from Monday's canceled performance will be on today's matinee. Tonight's program features qualifying in the $40,000 St. Petersburg Derby on Saturday night.

Don Jensen, Times correspondent

By Tyson Wallerstein, Times Correspondent
Tuesday, June 26, 2012

What's hot: There isn't much fishing going on in the Tampa Bay area now, but it looks like the weather should straighten out by the weekend.

What's ahead: With a full moon approaching we will continue to see astronomical high tides for the next week or so. With all that water on the flats, redfishing will be both good and frustrating. The reds have been pushed way up under the mangroves at high tide and won't come out unless they're hungry, target the last half of the incoming tide and expect the bite to slow when the tide goes slack and then pick back up again when it starts to go out. Cut pinfish and or ladyfish chunks are top baits for this type of fishing.

What else? Big outgoing tides coming up by the weekend should set the stage for a good snook bite; the fish will be tightly bunched on sand shoals near the passes. Free-line live pilchards if the water is clean enough to see the fish; however, you'll probably do better by weighting down a frisky grass grunt or pinfish, these bigger baits usually attract the attention of the larger fish.

Tip: Use extreme caution when this weather breaks. Tree branches and dock debris will be adrift due to the wind and rough water, and things might have floated off from docks and back yards.

Tyson Wallerstein runs Inshore Fishing Charters in the Clearwater/St. Petersburg area and can be reached at (727) 692-5868 and via email capt.tyson@hotmail.com.

Times wires
Tuesday, June 26, 2012

WIMBLEDON, England — On one point Tuesday at Wimbledon, Serena Williams dumped a forehand into the net and dropped to a knee, her jaw clenched as she shrieked.

On another, she pushed a backhand into the net while her feet gave way, leaving her awkwardly splayed at Court 2, the same place where her sister Venus lost Monday.

By the end, the younger Williams was screaming after nearly every point, good or bad — and there were plenty of both. Her 6-2, 6-4 victory over the 62nd-ranked Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in the first round at the All England Club wasn't perfect or pretty.

"Definitely a little relief," the sixth-seeded Williams said. "I was letting out a lot of cries. I was happy to get through that."

Yes, Williams got the job done, something she couldn't say the last time she was at a major championship. Last month at the French Open, the 30-year-old American suffered her only first-round exit in 48 Grand Slam tournaments.

"I learned that you got to … keep going," Williams said about that stunning defeat. "Obviously, I was extremely disappointed. But as Kelly Clarkson says, 'What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.' "

Williams now is 13-0 in Wimbledon openers.

Last year, Williams questioned why tournament organizers assigned her and Venus to play on Court 2 rather than the larger and more prestigious Centre Court or Court 1. They have won a total of nine singles championships at Wimbledon.

Given that Venus lost in straight sets on Court 2 Monday, and Serena went through a workout to win there Tuesday, the issue came up.

"I can't even talk about it. I'm over it," Williams said, raising her left palm. "I just can't talk about that right now. I'm not in the mood."

Some other top players were sluggish at the start against unheralded foes Tuesday, when action was cut short in the evening because of rain.

Two-time Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal trailed 4-0 against 80th-ranked Thomas Bellucci but won 7-6 (7-0), 6-2, 6-3.

"Fantastic for me," Nadal said, "but I have to improve a lot."

Defending women's champion Petra Kvitova fell behind 3-0 and 4-1 but used a seven-game run to take control and beat 96th-ranked Akgul Amanmuradova 6-4, 6-4.

"In the beginning," Kvitova said, "I think I was nervous."

Twelve singles matches were suspended in progress and four were postponed altogether. Among those that began but didn't finish, Andy Roddick led wild-card entry Jamie Baker by a set and a break.

Winners included 10th-seeded Mardy Fish, playing his first match since having a heart procedure a month ago. Fish hit 24 aces and defeated Ruben Ramirez-Hidalgo 7-6 (7-3), 7-5, 7-6 (7-1). He didn't attend a postmatch news conference; a tour spokesman said Fish wasn't feeling well but didn't elaborate.

All three Australian men in action Tuesday exited, meaning none reached the second round at the All England Club for the first time since 1938. No. 20 Bernard Tomic, was knocked out by David Goffin; 2002 Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt lost to No. 5 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga; and Matthew Ebden lost to Benoit Paire.

"The boys didn't have the best day," Hewitt said.

New start date? Wimbledon is considering a calendar change that would have the tournament begin three weeks after the French Open instead of two, and top players like the idea of more time between the two Grand Slam events. The earliest the change could take place is 2014.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer


Tuesday, June 26, 2012

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The good news, at least, is that LF Desmond Jennings said his previously sprained left knee isn't the problem, in fact feeling good enough that he has shed the brace he'd worn since his June 5 return.

But Jennings has been struggling, hitting .184 in his first 19 games back, so much so that manager Joe Maddon on Tuesday dropped him from his usual leadoff spot to seventh.

"He's just been off of his game," Maddon said. "I wanted to take a little pressure off of him. We did the same thing, remember, for one game in the playoffs (last year) and then he came back really well. … Just go out there and play. He's trying so hard, he can't try any harder than he is. And he still can be very productive for us from the seven hole. That's all it is — give him a different look and just see if he can get back to his normal self."

Jennings, in his first full season in the majors, said the best solution is to hit his way out of it, that sitting out won't accomplish anything. He does acknowledge that he is becoming impatient and swinging earlier in the count than usual.

"There's nothing wrong, I'm just not hitting. I'm just not swinging it right now," he said. "I do know I feel like I've been missing pitches I should hit. I'm struggling right now, so I'm trying to not get behind as much and I'm going up there and swinging early. … I feel like I've been getting pitched pretty good, too."

MORE STRUGGLES: With DH Luke Scott set to return as soon as Thursday, Hideki Matsui's playing time is likely to be cut dramatically. He hasn't made much a case for himself, hitting .118 (4-for-34) over his previous nine games and .159 overall.

But Maddon remains confident in the 38-year-old slugger, who was signed to a minor-league deal April 30.

"I'm not worried about him," Maddon said. "He's going to hit his stride. He just all of a sudden is going to just turn it out and he's going to get really hot. That's what I believe."

MEDICAL MATTERS: RHP Jeremy Hellickson (shoulder fatigue) felt good playing catch in the follow-up to his 60-pitch Monday bullpen session, and said he is set to return to the rotation, targeting Saturday. Maddon said that's not official yet as there is also an option to start Alex Cobb on Saturday on his normal day and push Hellickson to Sunday. He did say Hellickson "appears to be fine."

Scott (back stiffness) was hitting second for Triple-A Durham in his second rehab game, with a decision forthcoming if he will play again for the Bulls tonight. Either way, he could rejoin the Rays as soon as Thursday.

RHP Kyle Farnsworth (right elbow) finally got on the mound by going to Durham after being rained out two straight days in Florida with Class A Charlotte. He started and worked one inning for the Bulls on Tuesday, striking out two and allowing a double. He is to pitch again tonight for Durham and could be activated for his Rays season debut Saturday.

Maddon said there was "zero" news on 3B Evan Longoria, who has been idled since a June 18 setback in his recovery from a partially torn left hamstring.

MISCELLANY: C Jose Lobaton started Tuesday and is likely to be behind the plate again today. … RHP Taylor Guerrieri, the 2011 top draft pick, had a second solid start for short-season A Hudson Valley on Monday, allowing one run and five hits over five innings, striking out six. … An error charged to 1B Carlos Peña in the June 19 game at Washington was changed to 3B Will Rhymes after a review by MLB exec Tony La Russa. … Second-round pick SS Spencer Edwards, who signed over the weekend for a reported $556,900, will join the Gulf Coast League team in Port Charlotte.

Times wires
Tuesday, June 26, 2012

AUTOS

LEADER KENSETH LEAVING ROUSH

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR points leader Matt Kenseth, one of the longest-tenured drivers in the series, is leaving Roush Fenway Racing at the end of the season.

He will be replaced in the No. 17 Ford — the car he has driven for all but one of his 452 career starts — by Nationwide series champion Ricky Stenhouse. Kenseth is believed to be headed to Joe Gibbs Racing, either in Joey Logano's No. 20 Toyota or a fourth unannounced team.

Only Jeff Gordon, with Hendrick Motorsports since 1993, has been with his team longer than Kenseth has been with Jack Roush.

"I'm very thankful to Jack Roush for the opportunities he's given me over the past 14 years. Together we have enjoyed a lot of success," Kenseth posted on Twitter.

NBA

Report: Bird, GM leaving Pacers

Pacers president Larry Bird is expected to leave the team and general manager David Morway resigned, the Indianapolis Star reported. The New York Daily News reported that Donnie Walsh, 71, will rejoin the Pacers. Bird, 55, coached Indiana from 1997-2000 and returned to the front office in 2003.

DIVERSITY: The University of Central Florida's Institute of Diversity and Ethics in Sport gave the league an A-plus for racial hiring and A-minus for gender hiring, the best marks of any league, in its annual Racial and Gender Report Card.

AROUND THE LEAGUE: Minnesota acquired swingman Chase Budinger from Houston for the 18th pick in Thursday's draft. … The league awarded the Celtics a 2013 second-round pick of the Thunder as part of a trade disclosure dispute ruling involving Jeff Green, who sat out this season after heart surgery.

NFL

Rookie Griffin wary about 'vultures'

Redskins rookie QB Robert Griffin III said the arrest of a former Baylor basketball player who was charged with trying to extort money from the Heisman Trophy winner is a good lesson for rookies. "There's vultures out there, people looking to climb on top of all your money," Griffin said. Griffin would not comment directly on the arrest of Richard Khamir Hurd, 25, arraigned Monday in federal court in Waco, Texas, for allegedly threatening to release "derogatory information" about Griffin unless he was paid a "substantial sum."

SOCCER

Spain, Russia face racism probe

UEFA charged the Spanish and Russian associations for racist chants by fans at the European Championship. Also, in the first proven case of racist abuse at the tournament, UEFA fined the Croatian association $100,000 for a range of charges including insults aimed at Italy's Mario Balotelli, who is black.

Times wires

Times staff, wires
Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Ryan Howard could be three weeks behind Chase Utley in the parade of injured Phillies stars marching back to the team.

The first baseman will be examined by Phillies doctors today. If cleared, he will play for Class A Lakewood on Thursday to begin a minor-league rehab assignment.

Howard, 32, sidelined by a ruptured Achilles and subsequent infection in the surgical wound, would have a maximum of 20 days to spend in the minors. If he plays Thursday, he should be in a Phillies uniform around July 20.

Manager Charlie Manuel spoke to Howard on Monday and said he expected him back shortly after the All-Star break.

"He says he's feeling real good," Manuel said. "He told me when he runs he has a little limp. He says, 'I want to play and I feel like I can play. I don't know if I'll be where you want me to be or not.' He has to go play. He has to be able to do some things.

"He feels like he's getting there. He's very positive about where he's at."

GATORS SIGN: Florida P/DH Brian Johnson and SS Nolan Fontana signed professional contracts. Johnson, selected No. 31 in the draft this month, signed a deal with the Red Sox worth more than $1.5 million and reported to short-season Class A Lowell. Fontana was selected as the first pick of the second round by the Astros, 61st overall.

Also, Florida C Mike Zunino, the third overall pick, is close to a deal with the Mariners, the Seattle Times reported. The slot value for the pick is $5.2 million.

SEMINOLE SIGNS: Florida State OF James Ramsey, the 23rd pick in this year's draft, agreed to a $1.6 million deal with the Cardinals, slightly below the slot value for the pick.

MOYER JOINS JAYS: LHP Jamie Moyer, 49, who was released by the Orioles last week at his request, signed a minor-league deal with the Blue Jays. In other Toronto news, Triple-A Las Vegas C Travis d'Arnaud, one of baseball's top prospects, tore the posterior cruciate ligament in his knee and is out six to eight weeks.

FAN FEARED DROWNED: A 27-year-old man reported missing after attending Monday night's Giants-Dodgers game may have fallen off a San Francisco pier into the bay, police told the San Francisco Chronicle. A search by city police and fire boats and a Coast Guard helicopter was called off around noon Tuesday.

MLB HIRING: Hall of Famer Frank Robinson was appointed Major League Baseball's executive vice president of baseball development.

CUBS: RHP Ryan Dempster, on the disabled list since June 18 with a strained right lat muscle, won't come off the DL when eligible Sunday, the team said.

D'BACKS: RHP Daniel Hudson left his start in the second with tightness in his right forearm.

DODGERS: Mickey Hatcher, who was fired as Angels hitting coach six weeks ago, was named a special assistant to general manager Ned Colletti.

RANGERS: LHP Martin Perez, 21, one of the team's top prospects, was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock. RHP Colby Lewis went on the 15-day disabled list with right forearm tendinitis.

RED SOX: RHP Clay Buchholz experienced erosion of his esophagus, and the condition caused internal bleeding. He is expected to make a complete recovery.

ROCKIES: Pitching coach Bob Apodaca was reassigned to special assistant to general manager Dan O'Dowd at Apodaca's request.

WHITE SOX: OF Kosuke Fukudome was released after being designated for assignment last week.

Times staff writer Antonya English contributed to this report.

Times wires
Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Four players were inducted Tuesday into the Hockey Hall of Fame: Joe Sakic, Mats Sundin, Adam Oates and Pavel Bure. For the fourth straight year, former Lightning captain Dave Andreychuk was passed over.

It is difficult to argue with Andreychuk's stats. Only one player — Brendan Shanahan — has more goals than Andreychuk's 640 among player who are eligible but not in the Hall. Andreychuk's 640 goals are 14th all-time and third among left wings. He is first all-time with 274 power-play goals.

Andreychuk was captain of a Stanley Cup champion in 2004 with the Lightning, and extended his 23-season career by turning into a gritty and valuable defensive presence and faceoff specialist.

Sometimes, though, the Hall committee (from which players need a minimum 14 of 18 votes to get in) makes players wait. Bure had been eligible since 2006. Former Lightning player Dino Ciccarelli (608 goals, 1,200 points) was eligible in 2002 and not named until 2010.

Sakic, a 12-time All-Star, was elected in his first year of eligibility. He spent his 20-year career with the Avalanche franchise, dating to 1988 when it was in Quebec. He won two Stanley Cups, one Conn Smythe Trophy and one Hart Trophy.

"As a kid I always dreamed about making the NHL, but never really thought at all about the Hockey Hall of Fame," Sakic said in a statement released by the Hall of Fame.

Sundin, also picked in his first year of eligibility, owns many Maple Leafs career records including points (567) and goals (420).

Oates, hired as coach of the Capitals earlier in the day, is sixth on the NHL career assists list with 1,079.

"Obviously a fantastic day. I don't know if that's happened before," he said of being picked for induction and hired as a coach on the same day. "It's just a special, special day for us."

Bure, a six-time All-Star and the 1992 rookie of the year, led the NHL in scoring twice.

Times staff writer Damian Cristodero contributed to this report.

Times wires
Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Reds 4, Brewers 3

CINCINNATI — Former Hernando High standout Bronson Arroyo took a no-hitter into the eighth before giving up a three-run lead, but Drew Stubbs led off the bottom half with a homer to lift Cincinnati. Arroyo allowed one runner through seven innings, hitting Ryan Braun in the first. After Milwaukee tied it, Stubbs connected on John Axford's first pitch.

Times wires
Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Yankees 6, Indians 4

NEW YORK — Phil Hughes bounced back from a rough outing to pitch eight scoreless innings and Alex Rodriguez hit a long home run for New York. Hughes, who won for the fifth time in six decisions, lasted 41/3 innings in his previous outing. Curtis Granderson had a two-run single and Chris Stewart an RBI hit as several bounces went the Yankees' way against Justin Masterson in the second. Cleveland has lost four straight.

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, June 26, 2012

It'll be two more seasons before it arrives, but college football has the playoff its fans have been clamoring for, with a committee of university presidents Tuesday approving a 12-year deal for a four-team playoff starting with the 2014 season.

Two national semifinals will rotate among six bowl games each year, with the winners playing for a national title at a site made open for bidding, and those three coveted games could draw an estimated $500 million annually in a new TV deal that currently pays $180 million.

Many details remain. A selection committee will choose the four teams, but it's unknown who will be on that committee. And it's not known exactly which six bowls will host the semifinals, though it's expected to be the current four BCS bowls (Rose, Sugar, Orange, Fiesta) with two additional hosts.

That presents two opportunities for Tampa to play a role in crowning a national champion. The Outback Bowl should be a viable candidate for the semifinal rotation, with speculation also focusing on established bowl hosts such as Dallas, Atlanta and Orlando, which just announced a major renovation of the Citrus Bowl. The chance to host a national title game — which would challenge the Final Four and Super Bowl as the biggest neutral-site events in the country — is something Tampa is excited about.

"It's still early, but I can tell you we couldn't be more eager to find out," said Rob Higgins, executive director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission. "We'll do everything we can to position our community to be successful in the process."

The question now is how the balance of power will shift in college football; gone is the "automatic qualifier" that went with the top six conferences in the BCS system. The Big 12 and SEC have already agreed to send their best teams not in the playoff to a new Champions Bowl, and the Big Ten and Pac-12 will continue a relationship with the Rose Bowl. The ACC is expected to soon announce an agreement with a third bowl in the six-game rotation. The Big East won't have any assurances of being part of the playoff, though an undefeated champion should have a strong case with a selection committee. Big East interim commissioner Joe Bailey declined to issue any statements Tuesday.

The playoff system will end the current BCS system, which selected two teams for a championship using a combination of computer ratings and polls, leading to nearly annual controversy as to whether the nation's best teams were truly playing for the title. This initial playoff plan will have four seeded teams, with No. 1 playing No. 4 and No. 2 meeting No. 3 on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day, with the title game slated for a "Championship Monday," on the first Monday at least six days after the semifinals. The first such game will be Jan. 12, 2015.

'Zona ready to repeat

OMAHA, Neb. — Arizona doesn't plan on being a one-year wonder even though the catalysts for the Wildcats' first national championship since 1986 probably are heading off to professional baseball.

Coach Andy Lopez said a strong group of freshmen and sophomores on this year's 48-17 team is capable of offsetting the expected departures of junior stars like Alex Mejia, Robert Refsnyder and Kurt Heyer.

In addition, Lopez said, Arizona has an intangible working in its favor: confidence.

The Wildcats coach said the good vibes his Pepperdine team carried into the next season after winning the 1992 national title elevated the play of veterans and newcomers.

"We lost a ton of guys. People were thinking we weren't going to be very good," Lopez said a day after Arizona beat South Carolina 4-1 in Game 2 of the College World Series finals. "We won 43 games and made it to the (region) championship game in Tempe, playing for the right to come back to Omaha."

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

Times wires
Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Cardinals 5, Marlins 2

MIAMI — Yadier Molina hit a three-run homer and Kyle Lohse pitched into the eighth inning to lead St. Louis to its fifth straight victory. One night after Molina's tying homer in the ninth inning keyed a huge comeback, the Cardinals scored five unearned runs in the first and moved into second place in the NL Central. Giancarlo Stanton homered for Miami, which has lost eight of nine and 17 of 20 to fall into last place in the NL East.

Times wires
Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Phillies 5, Pirates 4

PHILADELPHIA — Former Ray Ty Wigginton and Carlos Ruiz homered to back six solid innings from Vance Worley, and Philadelphia held on. Ruiz hammered an 0-and-2 pitch to deep left for his career-best 10th homer to give the Phillies an insurance run in the eighth. Ruiz, a career .265 hitter coming into the season, leads the majors with a .361 average.

Times wires
Tuesday, June 26, 2012

BALTIMORE — Albert Pujols homered in his Camden Yards debut, C.J. Wilson allowed one run in seven innings and the Angels had a season-high 17 hits in a 7-3 win over the Orioles on Tuesday night.

Peter Bourjos, Mark Trumbo and John Hester also connected for Los Angeles, which has won 12 of 16 overall and 12 of its past 13 road games. The four home runs were a season high.

Pujols doubled and hit a two-run shot in the fifth inning off Brian Matusz. Pujols has homered in 33 ballparks off 282 pitchers.

Wilson improved to 5-0 in seven starts since May 18. The left-hander has a 1.30 ERA over that span.

Steve Pearce and Wilson Betemit homered for the Orioles, who have lost five of seven and have scored a total of 11 runs in that span. The Orioles went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and are 2-for-41 in that situation over their past eight games.

Matusz lost his fourth straight start. He has failed to get out of the sixth inning in every one.