By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, June 30, 2012

It has been a strange run-up to free agency for the Lightning.

It has about $19 million in salary cap space but is not expected to chase the highest-priced players. It has a left wing, Ben Pouliot, whom it acquired last week but can go on the open market.

There is speculation (though it is a stretch) Tampa Bay might be a landing place for future Hall of Fame goaltender Marty Brodeur.

But as the Lightning prepares for bidding to begin at noon today, one thing has been constant.

"Our focus," general manager Steve Yzerman said, "is on defense."

The biggest prize is Ryan Suter, and Yzerman will inquire. But it sounds as if Suter wants to play in the Midwest.

More in the ballpark are players such as Jason Garrison, Matt Carle, Carlo Colaiacovo, Michal Rozsival and Bryan Allen.

They won't be cheap. The talent pool is shallow, and the Flames set a high bar, signing Dennis Wideman to a five-year, $26.25 million deal ($5.25 million cap hit).

"On July 1, you're paying a premium for a guy," Yzerman said. "We're prepared to do that for the right player. One, potentially two, we could do that."

Even so, Yzerman added, "You'd better really love a guy if you're going to lock him in for a long time and for a lot of money, so we're going to be cautious. We're not going to sign guys just for the sake of signing them."

Big picture, the Lightning this summer probably wants to add two defensemen and two or three forwards.

Free agency is not the only option. Trades always are possible, and if the Blackhawks are serious about moving defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson, Yzerman would be interested. There also are options at AHL Syracuse with defensemen Mark Barberio and Radko Gudas and forwards Cory Conacher and Alex Killorn.

"As a fallback, if we have to rely on some of our young guys, that might not be such a bad thing," Yzerman said.

Also not so bad: that Pouliot at noon can become unrestricted and free to sign with any team. But Yzerman has said, as has Pouliot's agent, the left wing will be with the Lightning.

More interesting is talk Brodeur might be a fit. The Lightning acquired Anders Lindback from the Predators to solve its long-term net issues.

Even so, former Flames general manager Craig Button, an NHL Network analyst, said Brodeur to Tampa Bay is a "plausible discussion" because Brodeur "has competed against Steve Yzerman, played with him on the Olympic team in '02. The respect both ways is tremendously high, and that has to be a factor as much as anything."

But former NHL player Nick Kypreos, an analyst for Canada's Sportsnet, said, "They went out of their way to handpick Lindback. I don't see what giving 55 games to Marty does for Lindback in the long run."

And the long run is what must be evaluated when looking at free agents.

Sure, Tampa Bay would love to have Zach Parise or P.A. Parenteau. It even has mild interest in bringing back Dominic Moore, a huge factor in the team's 2011 playoff run.

"But to be honest, I think it's going to be very difficult through free agency to find what you want," Yzerman said. "There are 30 teams and not many players. We may have to do it through trade or we do nothing (today) and see what's there (Monday)."

A strange run-up to free agency, indeed.

Aulie SIGNS: Defenseman Keith Aulie signed a one-year, two-way deal that will pay $577,500 if he's in the league. Aulie, 23, had a goal and two points and was minus-5 in 19 games after he was acquired in February from Toronto for center Carter Ashton.

Around the league: Oilers get coveted collegian

Edmonton signed defenseman Justin Schultz, a two-time Hobey Baker finalist as college's top player, to a two-year entry-level deal worth $1.95 million (with potential bonuses of up to $2.85 million). Canada's TSN reported that 26 teams talked to Schultz, who turns 22 Friday and is expected to be in the NHL this season. But only seven, including the Lightning, were allowed to make presentations.

Anaheim drafted him in the second round in 2008. But he elected to go to Wisconsin (for whom he had 16 goals and 28 assists in 37 games last season). But it failed to sign him within three years, making him a free agent.

Leafs: Wing Colby Armstrong will be bought out. Signed to a $9 million, three-year deal in 2010, he missed more games (85) than he played (79) and had just nine goals and 17 assists.

Penguins: Defenseman Matt Niskanen agreed to re-sign for two years and $4.3 million. In 75 games last season, he had four goals and 17 assists.

Predators: Center Paul Gaustad re-signed for four years and $13 million. He had seven goals, 14 assists and 76 penalty minutes last season.

Rangers: Backup goalie Martin Biron re-signed for two years and $2.6 million.

Information from Times wires was used in this report. Damian Cristodero can be reached at cristodero@tampabay.com.

By Dave Mistretta, Times Correspondent
Saturday, June 30, 2012

Offshore action: Red grouper, gag grouper and red snapper can be harvested by recreational anglers this week. Skyrocketing fuel prices the past few years have forced many boaters to be picky about their fishing dates, especially offshore. This month is, by far, the anglers' choice to go out.

Catch and release: Many times in the past few months we have safely released large gag grouper because of the closure. We hope for another shot at the same fish this month. Summer is not traditionally the best time to target gag grouper, but this year should prove otherwise. Based on my experiences the past few months, this season should open with decent landings. We've seen good populations in all depths. Even shallower spots (30-40 feet) are still holding fish. Anglers can target their traditional fall and spring spots, and catch enough fillets for dinner. Depths of 60 feet are holding nice gags and red grouper, too.

What else: When fishing deeper waters for red snapper, anglers will find both red and gag grouper on many of the same spots. We purposely kept away from many snapper spots to prevent disrupting the gag grouper populations.

Dave Mistretta captains the Jaws Too out of Indian Rocks Beach. Call (727) 439-2628 or visit jawstoo.com.

Times wires
Saturday, June 30, 2012

LIEGE, Belgium — Tejay van Garderen lived up to his prerace billing as one of the United States' top prospects with an explosive performance in Saturday's Tour de France opening time trial.

The Montana native, 23, finished the 4-mile prologue fourth, just 10 seconds behind winner Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland. That earned him the white jersey worn by the leader among those younger than 25.

Van Garderen, a support rider for defending champion Cadel Evans, couldn't stop smiling after the race.

"I've got chills," said van Garderen, in his second Tour de France.

The last American to win the white jersey was Andy Hampsten in 1986. The only other to do so is Greg Lemond in 1984, two years before he won the first of his three titles.

Van Garderen won the white jersey in this year's weeklong Paris-Nice race. And Saturday's performance has analysts believing he can wear it when the Tour finishes July 22.

But before then, there are 2,168 miles to go until the end in Paris, and van Garderen said keeping the jersey is the least of his concerns.

"We've come here with one goal: to get Cadel on the top step of the podium in Paris," van Garderen said before today's 123-mile Stage 1.

"But anything can happen."

Cancellara won his fifth Tour prologue but isn't considered a contender because he struggles in the mountains. Bradley Wiggins, aiming to be the first Brit to win, was seven seconds back in second. Evans was 13th, 10 seconds behind.

Times wires
Saturday, June 30, 2012

Marlins 3, Phillies 2

MIAMI — Giancarlo Stanton homered and drove in two runs, Mark Buehrle pitched seven strong innings and the Marlins won their third straight. Jose Reyes had two hits, two stolen bases and two runs for the Marlins, whose winning streak is their longest since they swept a three-game series from the Nationals on May 28-30. Hunter Pence homered and had three hits for the Phillies, who have lost four straight.

Times wires
Saturday, June 30, 2012

Blue Jays 11, Angels 2

TORONTO — Yunel Escobar homered during a seven-run second inning and Brett Lawrie later added a three-run shot for the Jays. Lawrie also doubled and singled, drove in three and scored three before leaving after the seventh. Los Angeles has lost consecutive games for the first time since June 3-4. "That was a bad game," manager Mike Scioscia said. "We're just going to turn the page on it."

Times wires
Saturday, June 30, 2012

Reds 2, Giants 1

SAN FRANCISCO — The Reds' Mat Latos pitched a two-hitter to win his career-best seventh straight decision and beat the Giants for the second time in as many outings this season. He didn't walk a batter for the fourth time this season in his second straight complete game. The right-hander pitched seven shutout innings against the Giants on April 24. He threw the Reds' first back-to-back complete games since Aaron Harang in September 2006.

Times wires
Saturday, June 30, 2012

Braves 7, Nationals 5

ATLANTA — Mike Minor won for the second time in 12 starts, and the Braves overcame 104-degree heat. Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg left after three innings because of weather-related issues, tying for the shortest outing of his 33-start career.

Times wires
Saturday, June 30, 2012

Cubs 3, Astros 2

CHICAGO — Anthony Rizzo hit his first homer with the Cubs, a two-run go-ahead shot in the fifth inning, and Chicago won for the fourth time in five games. Former Ray Matt Garza struggled but got the victory by working 5⅓ innings. Astros left-hander J.A. Happ is winless in his past 11 road decisions, dating to May 3, 2011.

Times wires
Saturday, June 30, 2012

Indians 11, Orioles 5

BALTIMORE — Shin-Soo Choo went 4-for-5 with a homer, four runs and three RBIs to lead the Indians. Shelley Duncan also homered for Cleveland, which had a season-high 19 hits, eclipsing the high of 16 set Friday night in a 9-8 loss at Camden Yards. The Orioles have lost eight of their past 11.

Times wires
Saturday, June 30, 2012

Pirates 7, Cardinals 3

ST. LOUIS — Pedro Alvarez hit a grand slam in the first off suddenly scuffling 10-game winner Lance Lynn, helping the Pirates to their fourth victory in a row, tying their longest winning streak this season. Pittsburgh is a season-best seven games above .500 and with a win today would hit its high-water mark since the final game of 1992.

Times wires
Saturday, June 30, 2012

Twins 7, Royals 2

Game 1

MINNEAPOLIS — Scott Diamond pitched eight solid innings and Trevor Plouffe homered for the Twins in the opener of a day-night doubleheader. Easily Minnesota's most effective starter since being called up in May, Diamond helped rest a weary bullpen, which entered with the third-most innings (268⅓) in the majors.

Times wires
Saturday, June 30, 2012

BALTIMORE — Slugger Jim Thome is headed to the Orioles, whose struggling offense is in dire need of some punch.

Thome was traded from the Phillies on Saturday for two minor-leaguers, RHP Kyle Simon and C Gabriel Lino.

Thome, 41, is a five-time All-Star. His 609 homers are tied with Sammy Sosa for seventh on the career list, and his 1,689 RBIs over a 22-year career are 25th all-time.

Thome will move right into the DH role with the Orioles, who have been a surprising contender in the AL East. Out for much of the season with a lower back strain, Thome didn't figure to see much time in the field for slumping Philadelphia. He also had struggled as a pinch-hitter.

"There's a part of me that's happy to go and get a chance to play a little bit. Baltimore is having a nice year and it will be exciting to go over there and try to help those guys win and get some at-bats. I'm excited about that, for sure," Thome said.

"There's always emotions when you're traded because you have so much respect for the Phillies organization," he said.

In 30 games for the Phillies this season, Thome hit .242 with a .338 on-base percentage and a .516 slugging percentage, showing he can still hit for power. He missed more than a month with the back problem, and the Phillies didn't want to risk having him get hurt again.

"I think the disappointing thing for me is that I wasn't able to play as much first base as I thought," he said.

As a DH, Thome can purely focus on hitting.

"We felt Thome's presence and our need on the major-league team were worth the value we have to give up in a trade," said Dan Duquette, the Orioles' executive vice president of baseball operations. "We like both the young players. They're both in A ball. We needed some help to bolster our lineup."

WEAVER STATUE: The Orioles honored Earl Weaver by unveiling a 7-foot statue of the Hall of Fame manager during a ceremony at Camden Yards. Weaver, 81, led the Orioles to four American League pennants and the 1970 World Series championship.

CARDINALS: RHP Eduardo Sanchez and rookie LHP Sam Freeman were optioned to Triple-A Memphis. The contract of rookie LHP Barret Browning was purchased and RHP Maikel Cleto was recalled from the same club.

CUBS: The team officially announced the signing of Cuban OF Jorge Soler to a nine-year, $30 million contract. Soler, 20, will report to the team's minor-league facility in Mesa, Ariz.

D'BACKS: A second opinion confirmed that RHP Daniel Hudson will need season-ending elbow ligament replacement surgery.

DODGERS: North Carolina high school INF Corey Seager, 18, the 18th overall pick in this year's draft, agreed to a $2.35 million deal.

INDIANS: 3B Lonnie Chisenhall went on the 15-day disabled list with a broken bone in his right forearm.

PADRES: Struggling C Nick Hundley was demoted to Triple-A Tucson, and former University of Miami C Yasmani Grandal, one of the team's top prospects, was recalled from Tucson.

PIRATES: CF Andrew McCutchen left in the seventh inning with soreness in his left wrist but said he doesn't expect to miss any time.

REDS: 1B Joey Votto was pulled for precautionary reasons with inflammation in his left knee.

YANKEES: RH reliever D.J. Mitchell was recalled from Triple-A Empire State, and RHP Adam Warren was returned to the farm team a day after he failed to get out of the third inning in his major-league debut.

By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Saturday, June 30, 2012

OMAHA, Neb.

This time she was done for good. She had found her answers, and she had tried her comeback, and in the end, her comeback had been simply too much to ask of her body.

So Janet Evans walked away from the pool, from the last competitive race of her career, from the cheering crowd and the young swimmers who had taken over her old kingdom.

Now there was a pen in her hand, and there were retirement papers in front of her. She had completed an agonizingly slow 800-meter freestyle race only two minutes before, and her hair was still wet, but she wanted to do this now.

There were two boxes on the form. One said "temporary retirement." The other said "permanent retirement."

Evans paused for a second. Then she checked "permanent."

She was done.

After all the years in the water, after the last chance at making a last Olympic team fell short, Evans' career is complete.

She is 40, and she has a few strands of gray in her hair, and she jokes about her wrinkles. The odds against her coming back 16 years after she first retired were always staggering. She is not a sprinter like Dara Torres, 45. She swims the grueling races of 400 and 800 meters.

And so she failed. She finished 53rd in the heats of the 800 meters Saturday at the Olympic trials, failing to break the nine-minute mark (9:01.59). Earlier in the week, she had finished 80th in the 400-meter heats.

Yet, as she walked away, Evans was flashing that same wide, infectious smile that used to accompany all her best moments. She was happy, and yeah, she was proud of herself. As final exits go, you could think of worse ones.

"I'm just proud of doing it," she said. "You know what I mean. I think it's easy to think, 'Wow. I could do this. I used to be a good swimmer. And, you know, they're going fast, but I could do it, too.'

"I think it's easy to sit at home or sit in the stands and say that. I'm just proud of the courage it took. I really am. Getting out of bed every morning and not giving up … I could have slept in every day and just taken my 5-year-old to preschool. But I chose not to. That's what I'm proud of."

Okay, maybe "courage" isn't the right word. But "resiliency" fits. "Fortitude" fits. Evans, a wife and mother of two (her other child is 2), gave it the good fight. A lot of 40-year-olds would not have.

We are a cynical bunch, Americans. We believe in achievement. We aren't much for moral messages.

Still, there is something here for all of us, something about fighting against the aging process, about not surrendering to the lessening of our beings.

Consider last August, when Evans competed in a meet in Mission Viejo, Calif., and failed to crack nine minutes. Her coach, Mark Schubert, casually mentioned she could retire then. The odds of shaving 30 or 40 seconds off her time were low.

No, Evans said. She would not quit.

"To me, it became about more than making the Olympic team," she said. "It became about having a life as a mom but also doing something for myself and inspiring others to have the courage to go and do something they're afraid of doing, something that's a little bit outside their comfort zone.

"I wanted to swim faster than I swam here, but at the end of the day, that doesn't matter. It's about trying something and doing it and being proud of what you have done."

For Evans, there was always reason to be proud. In her career she won five Olympic medals, four of them gold. She set world records. Her American record in the 800, 8:16.22, still stands after almost 23 years.

Despite it all, Evans needed to make one more journey, just to test herself, just to see how much she could recapture. As Evans says, swimming is the sport "that never leaves your soul."

"Journeys mean more when you're our age," she said. "There is so much more to it. There is depth and meaning. I learned a lot. I learned my silver medal in '92 (in the 400) is okay. I actually appreciate my first career a little better now. It was so easy. How could it have been so easy?"

Evans smiled again. It is an older person's smile, a mom's smile, the smile of a person who has learned to appreciate the small accomplishments.

"It's funny," Evans said. "I was in the dressing room, trying to peel off this skin-tight suit, and there were these girls there who had just graduated from college. This was their last meet, and they were talking about how old they were, and they were 21. It was like 'I'm so old' and 'I have to get on with my life.'

"I laughed to myself and thought, 'I think you're going to be okay.' "

And Evans cackled.

Yeah, if she can fight old age this way, maybe we're all going to be okay.

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, June 30, 2012

TAMPA — Bucs fans might see more games televised locally after NFL owners reportedly voted to soften the league's television blackout rules.

Team owners have passed a resolution that allows blackouts to be lifted when as little as 85 percent of seats are sold, according to a story Saturday in the Wall Street Journal. Currently, the NFL blackout policy requires all nonpremium seating — basically all general-admission seats — to be sold 72 hours prior to a game before the blackout can be lifted. Blackouts apply to markets within a 75-mile radius of the stadium.

The Bucs had five of their seven regular-season games played in Tampa blacked out last season; all eight regular-season games were blacked out in 2010.

Teams will have the ability to set their own sales target in relation to blackouts as long as it is 85 percent or higher, the Journal reported. On Saturday, the Bucs deferred to the league for comment.

The Bucs averaged 56,614 in their seven 2011 regular-season home games (one was played in London), about 87 percent of Raymond James Stadium's capacity of 65,000.

Attendance leaguewide has dropped 4.5 percent since 2007, the Journal reported, and season-ticket waiting lists, long a staple of NFL franchises, have vanished in several cities. Full-season tickets are available on the websites of 20 of the league's 32 teams, according to the report.

Ticket prices have climbed in recent years, the Journal reported, from an average $72.20 in 2008 to $77.34 last year, according to Team Marketing Report.

Meanwhile, the NFL continues to struggle with the fact that it's increasingly difficult to pry fans away from high-definition televisions and packages that allow them to watch all games.

The Bucs responded to these challenges by making widespread reductions on ticket prices for 2012.

Prices on 80 percent of seats have been reduced, with other prices remaining flat for a fourth consecutive season. Some of the discounts were steep; select lower-level end zone seats, which last season were priced at $89, are now $75 per game on season-ticket plans.

"Listening to our fans, the overwhelming recommendation they made is more value and more options between the most affordable seats and the most exclusive," Bucs co-chairman Ed Glazer said after the announcement in November.

In detailing their ticket-pricing plans, the Bucs foreshadowed one of the moves noted in the Journal report. The newspaper said at least four teams were expected to have free wireless Internet access in their stadiums, something the Bucs already have announced for their home games.

Fans at some point also will have the ability to use a mobile app that will provide access to a feed of on-field conversation from certain players who will wear microphones, according to the report. And this season, for the first time, fans at the game will be able to watch the same instant replays the referees see during reviews, the Journal reported.

Such offerings are all part of the league's effort to turn around the trend of declining attendance.

"The at-home experience has gotten better and cheaper, while the in-stadium experience feels like it hasn't," Eric Grubman, the NFL's executive vice president of ventures and business operations, told the Journal. "That's a trend that we've got to do something about."

As for the blackouts, the league already gave teams some measure of discretion. A little-known policy allowed owners to "buy up" unsold tickets for 34 cents on the dollar, allowing teams to lift the blackout while still satisfying revenue-sharing requirements. This new policy, however, eliminates the financial penalty associated with the old system.

Times wires
Saturday, June 30, 2012

College Football

Buckeyes' top rusher likely out two games

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Jordan Hall, No. 1 on Ohio State's depth chart at running back after spring practice, will be out for about 10 weeks after Friday's surgery for a cut on his right foot.

That likely means he will miss the first two games this season, home against Miami (Ohio) and Central Florida.

Hall, with 817 career yards, is a senior whom coach Urban Meyer singled out as a potential playmaker. He was walking in grass outside his residence in Columbus when he cut his foot.

Boise St.: The NCAA will reconsider the penalty given to the school. The school gave impermissible benefits worth about $5,000 to 63 players from 2005-09. It penalized itself three scholarships, which it took last season. But the NCAA took away three for 2012 and 2013 as well.

NBA

ESPN.com: Howard, again, seeks trade

Magic center Dwight Howard has requested a trade to the Brooklyn Nets, according to ESPN.com. Howard reportedly made the request to new Magic GM Rob Hennigan, who was hired last week. The two sat down in Los Angeles, meeting for the first time since Hennigan became GM, the website said. Hennigan reportedly was noncommittal of Howard's trade request.

Garnett back in Boston; Heat after Allen? PF Kevin Garnett, 36, won't retire, instead will re-sign with the Celtics for two years, the Boston Herald reported. Meanwhile, SG Ray Allen, Garnett's teammate the past five seasons, will be pursued by Miami when free agency opens today, ESPN.com reported. Miami can offer only a $3 million salary cap exception. Allen, who turns 37 on July 20, made $10 million last season.

Kidd might join deron williams: PG Deron Williams and PG Jason Kidd will be teammates next season, ESPN.com reported. Williams, 28, will meet Monday with the Nets, his current team, and the Mavs. Kidd, 39, currently with the Mavs, then will sign with whomever Williams chooses, the website reported.

Thunder: Coach Scott Brooks agreed to a new four-year deal worth $4 million annually, NBA.com reported.

NFL

49ers standout reportedly stabbed

San Francisco LB Aldon Smith sustained minor injuries after being stabbed during an incident Friday night in San Jose, Calif., the Associated Press reported. The team didn't confirm the stabbing, GM Trent Baalke saying only, "We are in contact with Aldon and thankful that his injuries were not more serious."

Et cetera

Soccer: Europe's governing body wants to delay a vote on goal-line technology. UEFA wants to keep using five officials (including one at each end) despite Ukraine being denied a goal during a loss that eliminated it from the European Championship. A FIFA panel meets Thursday and could approve either or both goal-line systems that have been tested.

Greyhounds: Tiger Boy of McAllister kennel won the $30,000 St. Petersburg Derby in his final start at Derby Lane in St. Petersburg. Flying Delaet was second. Art Allen of Patriot captured the $10,000 Consolation Derby.

Softball: Valerie Arioto hit a tiebreaking homer in the sixth as the United States beat the Netherlands 2-1 at the World Cup in Oklahoma City. Later, Arioto hit a three-run shot in a 9-0 win over Canada. The United States (3-0), coached by USF's Ken Eriksen, can clinch a spot in Monday's final by beating Brazil today.

Don Jensen, Times correspondent; Times wires

Times wires
Saturday, June 30, 2012

KIEV, Ukraine — Italy is happy to play the underdog role for the last time at the European Championship.

Having proved wrong the widespread predictions of a defeat by Germany in the semifinals, the Azzurri (blues) believe they can do the same in today's final against defending champion Spain.

But as captain and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said Saturday, Italy does "have a problem (today) — because we're facing a squad that has shown its superiority.

"Luckily it starts at 0-0," he said. "Spain is the favorite, because they've dominated for four years and they've got great champions. Italy is the surprise, and we hope to surprise right down to the end."

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said he won't use the three-man defense he employed in the 1-1 draw with Spain that opened Group C. Instead, he'll use the traditional four-man backline that has conceded only one goal — and a consolation penalty kick at that, in the 2-1 win over Germany — in Italy's past three matches.

"Over the last few matches we've maintained our balance," Prandelli said. "Although (the three-man defense) could be an option to change to during the match."

Balance will be a priority against a lineup that contains so many leading Barcelona and Real Madrid players that Buffon couldn't single out one individual that Italy must contain.

"Spain has so many champions, starting with their goalkeeper (Iker Casillas) and moving on to their defense, their midfield and their strikers, that choosing one would represent a lack of respect for all the others," Buffon said. "This is a squad that has dominated world football for six glorious years."

Spain is trying to become the first nation to win three consecutive major tournaments, following its Euro 2008 and 2010 World Cup victory. It could also become the first team to successfully defend its European title.

Yet Spanish coach Vicente del Bosque has had to brush off criticism that his team's attack has lacked the cutting edge it had in winning those two trophies.

"We have more of an obligation to attack than to defend because we have players with capabilities to do so," Del Bosque said. "Football moves forward, and there has been a change of players in the team, but the nucleus remains the same. We're playing the same way we always have."

IMAGE MANIPULATED: UEFA came under fire in Germany for allowing prerecorded scenes to be cut into live coverage. Images of a German fan crying were shown after Mario Balotelli's second goal in Thursday's 2-1 defeat to Italy — but the shot was actually taken before the semi­final, when she was overcome with emotion during the anthems.

FRANCE: Laurent Blanc, whose team lost to Spain in the quarterfinals, stepped down as coach after turning down a new contract offer.

Times wires
Saturday, June 30, 2012

WIMBLEDON, England — Absolutely perfect; 24 points played, 24 points won.

Can't be any better than wild-card entry Yaroslava Shvedova was at the beginning of her third-round match at Wimbledon on Saturday, winning every single point in the 15-minute first set of what became a 6-0, 6-4 victory over French Open runnerup Sara Errani. It's the only "golden set" for a woman in the 44 years of professional tennis.

Of all the ways a point can be lost — a double fault, an opponent's ace; a ball floats wide or long or catches the net tape, or an opponent hits a winner, etc. — none happened during Shvedova's 15 minutes of fame.

"Apparently, it's the biggest news of the day: I lost a set without winning a point. Unbelievable," the 10th-seeded Errani said. "She was impossible to play against. I don't even feel like I played terribly. She just was hitting winners from every part of the court."

Shvedova, ranked 65th, didn't realize what happened until her coach pointed it out afterward.

"I had no idea. I was just playing every point and every game," said Shvedova, 24, who won two Grand Slam doubles titles in 2010 with Vania King.

According to the International Tennis Federation, only one other perfect set ever has been played since the Open era began in 1968: American Bill Scanlon won all 24 points in the second set of a victory over Marcos Hocevar at Delray Beach in 1983.

Only once before had a woman won 23 consecutive points, the ITF said: Shvedova. She took a 5-0, 40-love lead against Amy Frazier at Memphis in 2006, only to lose 1-6, 6-0, 6-0.

"She served really hard. Hard, hard. It was like playing a Williams," Errani said.

Things figure to get tougher after today's day off. In the fourth round Monday, Shvedova will face a Williams, Serena, whose 13 Grand Slams include four at Wimbledon.

"Hopefully I'll be able to win a point in the set," Williams joked. "That will be my first goal, and then I'll go from there."

She came rather close to exiting Saturday, needing every one of her tournament-record 23 aces to edge 25th seed Zheng Jie 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 9-7. Williams won all 18 of her service games and saved all six break points she faced.

Three times, while down 5-4, 6-5 and 7-6 in the final set, she served to stay in the match.

Each time, she won the pivotal game at love.

"It's good to know that I can rely on that," said the sixth-seeded Williams, who held the previous Wimbledon women's mark of 20 aces. "I definitely felt like it was a gut check."

On the men's side, Andy Roddick lost. The 29-year-old American blew a kiss to the crowd after a 2-6, 7-6 (10-8), 6-4, 6-3 defeat to No. 7 seed David Ferrer, but said he hasn't decided his future in the sport just yet.

"If I don't have a definitive answer in my own mind, it's going to be tough for me to articulate a definitive answer to you," said Roddick, seeded 30th.

Another American, Sam Querrey, also exited, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4, 6-7 (2-7), 6-7 (3-7), 17-15 to No. 16 Marin Cilic. The 5 1/2-hour match is the second-longest in tournament history, behind the 11-hour, 5-minute marathon that John Isner won 70-68 in the fifth set against Nicolas Mahut in 2010.

"It was a fun match," Querrey said. "I had my chances, but (he) kind of came through at the end."

Two other U.S. men did make the fourth round: 126th-ranked qualifier Brian Baker, who was off the tour for about six years after a series of operations; and 10th-seeded Mardy Fish, in his first event since having a medical procedure on his heart in May.

No. 4 Andy Murray won in four sets over Marcos Baghdatis, and No. 27 Philipp Kohlschreiber beat the man who beat No. 2 Rafael Nadal, Lukas Rosol, in straight sets 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6).

Rosol again looked like a player ranked 100th and making his first Wimbledon appearance.

"He was playing pretty good and he didn't give me a lot of chances," Rosol said. "Sometimes … I just wake up and I play good. Sometimes I'm so tired. But two days ago was working good, everything. I knew that this can happen."

Times wires
Saturday, June 30, 2012

BETHESDA, Md. — Saturday at Congressional was not the first time Tiger Woods has played before so few fans.

There were those 6 a.m. practice rounds at the British Open. Or the occasional PGA Tour event where fans were evacuated because of a thunderstorm and hardly anyone returned at twilight when play resumed.

But teeing off in the late afternoon at the AT&T National, on a steamy but sun-filled day on a fabled course in a golf-mad area like Washington?

Woods had the largest crowd of the day, even though it never topped 100. Brendon de Jonge, who had 2-under 69 to take a one-shot lead at 7-under 206, had as many birdies (three) as people in his gallery on a strange, silent day at Congressional.

A violent wind storm overnight that toppled dozens of trees and littered the course with limbs forced tournament officials to keep spectators and all but the essential volunteers away from Congressional. Considering the amount of debris, it was amazing they even played.

"I've played in front of people like this," Woods said. "But not generally for an 18-hole competitive round."

De Jonge was steady in the sweltering conditions for a third straight round in the 60s, which gave him his first 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour. One shot behind were Woods (67), Bo Van Pelt (67) and S.Y. Noh (69).

De Jonge, a South African going for his first tour win, made his final birdie on No. 12 with a wedge out of the rough that climbed over a ridge and settled about 12 feet behind the cup. It was worthy of applause, but there was only one person in the gallery to see it: Kandi Mahan, Hunter Mahan's wife.

A few volunteers, tournament staff and club members tagged along after Woods and provided about the only noise of the round. They watched him and Van Pelt get off to a quick start, then match pars on the back nine.

"I told Tiger that was a Bo Van Pelt crowd, so I was used to that," Van Pelt said.

CHAMPIONS: Mark Calcavecchia shot 6-under 64, holing a 50-foot birdie putt on No. 18 to tie for the third-round lead with Joe Daley in the Senior Players Championship in Pittsburgh, the third of five tour majors.

Calcavecchia, the Montreal Championship winner last week, matched Daley at 12-under 198 at Fox Chapel. Daley had 68. "Capping the day with a 50-footer on the last hole always helps," said Calcavecchia. "It always makes dinner taste a little bit better."

Second-round leader Fred Couples, the winner last year, and Tom Lehman were a stroke back.

LPGA: Veronica Felibert shot 5-under 66 to move to 11-under 131 and stretch her lead to four strokes in the second round of the NW Arkansas Championship in Rogers. The rookie from Venezuela made the field as the second alternate after missing cuts in her previous three events. Mika Miyazato and Inbee Park were tied for second. Seminole's Brittany Lincicome (142) and Tampa's Cindy LaCrosse (143) made the cut. Clearwater's Jennifer Gleason and Tampa resident Kristy McPherson (both 144) just missed.

Times wires
Saturday, June 30, 2012

Yankees 4, White Sox 0

NEW YORK — Hiroki Kuroda struck out 11 in seven innings to help end the White Sox's winning streak at four. Kuroda tied a career high for strikeouts, and his teammates hit three home runs. The Yankees need someone to step up with CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte on the disabled list. "These are great pitchers that we're missing, and I thought we could have a really negative effect, but the only thing I can do on the mound is to pitch my game," Kuroda said through a translator.

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, June 30, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG — Joel Peralta was excited to be back in the bullpen Saturday after serving an eight-game suspension stemming from using excess pine tar in a June 19 appearance in Washington.

"It felt like a month," Peralta said.

But Peralta had a rough return, allowing a three-run homer in the eighth inning to Tigers CF Austin Jackson that broke the game open in Detroit's 6-2 win.

Manager Joe Maddon said it was the perfect spot for Peralta, the eighth inning with the Rays down 1-0. But Peralta gave up a one-out double and hit 2B Ramon Santiago, the No. 9 hitter, with two outs and two strikes before Jackson ripped an 0-and-1 fastball into the stands.

"Just bad pitch selection, and he got me," Peralta said. "I blew the chance that the team wins the game right there. It's on me."

Maddon said the "play of the game" was Peralta hitting Santiago in the back on 1-and-2.

"I try to make a pitch up and in to set him up for another pitch, and just bad luck it hit him," Peralta said.

Though Peralta said he usually is better when he pitches frequently, he denied that rust played any role.

"When my breaking pitches are working like (Saturday), that's like when I'm pitching every day," Peralta said. "So it wasn't any excuse."

STARRY night: When the All-Star teams are announced at 1 p.m. today on TBS, the Rays should have a few representatives.

LHP David Price, the AL's first 11-game winner, is likely to get selected for the third time. And Maddon made a strong argument for closer Fernando Rodney to make the first All-Star Game of his 10-year career. Rodney has 22 saves in 23 chances and entered Saturday ranked second among relievers in ERA (1.04).

"I would be really annoyed and upset if Fernando didn't get there," Maddon said. "He's been as effective and as consistent as any relief pitcher in the American League this year."

PRICE CHECK: Price, pulled from Friday's start in the eighth inning due to lower back tightness, said he felt fine and planned to do his usual throwing today in preparation for his next start. Price was confident he wouldn't miss any time. Maddon wanted to wait to see what the athletic training staff thought and how Price responded in his bullpen session.

START IT UP: RHP Kyle Farnsworth (elbow strain), activated off the 60-day disabled list Saturday, appreciated the ovation he received before his season debut.

Farnsworth looked, and felt, good, throwing a scoreless seventh inning on 17 pitches. It was the earliest Farnsworth — the team's primary closer last year — had appeared in a game with the Rays. He got through the top of the Tigers' order.

Farnsworth gave up a walk and a single but struck out two, including 1B Prince Fielder on a slider.

"Overall, it felt good," he said. "I just kept everything simple and tried to throw strikes."

Farnsworth said he threw only fastballs and sliders, and though he hit 95 mph, he was most pleased with "how my breaking stuff was working."

LESSON LEARNED: Though RHP Alex Cobb's numbers weren't good in his last start — eight runs and 13 hits over eight innings against Kansas City — he made it clear he is not upset or "down" about it.

Rather, Cobb said he was encouraged by how he adjusted after struggling early and ended up lasting eight innings, an experience he believes will help him entering today's start against the Tigers.

"When things are going good through the year, it's easy to keep your head up and compete and do good," Cobb said. "When you're facing adversity and the struggles, it's when you really find out what you're made of. And after getting down six or seven early, I was able to battle. I'll build off that."

MISCELLANY: 3B Evan Longoria (partly torn left hamstring) played catch before the game. … INF Sean Rodriguez hasn't started since Wednesday but said he is healthy. … LHP J.P. Howell pitched two scoreless innings and has retired 21 of the past 25 batters he has faced.