Times wires
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Mets 5, Dodgers 0
LOS ANGELES — Johan Santana pitched eight innings of three-hit ball and Ike Davis hit a three-run homer to hand the Dodgers their season-worst seventh straight loss. Santana did not allow a hit between Dee Gordon's leadoff single in the first inning and Scott Van Slyke's leadoff single in the eighth. The Dodgers were shut out for the fifth time in six games and have two runs in their past 57 innings.
Times wires
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Twins 5, Royals 1
Game 2
MINNEAPOLIS — Joe Mauer homered, rookie Cole De Vries pitched six strong innings and the Twins swept a day-night doubleheader. Josh Willingham and Chris Parmelee also homered for the Twins, who went 14-13 in June, their first winning month in almost a year. Pitching in front of his hometown fans, De Vries struck out a career-high six and gave up only Billy Butler's homer leading off the second.
Times wires
Saturday, June 30, 2012
OMAHA, Neb. — Michael Phelps won another duel with Ryan Lochte at the U.S. swimming trials Saturday night, edging his rival in their most stirring race yet to take the 200-meter individual medley.
Phelps had an advantage for the race, their third trials final meeting. He entered fresh while Lochte had to recover after winning the 200 backstroke about a half-hour earlier in a Phelps-less final.
If Lochte was tired, he didn't look it, going stroke for stroke with the 14-time gold medalist. But Phelps led at every turn and got to the wall in 1 minute, 54.84 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year.
Lochte, a former Gator, was right behind in 1:54.93, the second-fastest time in 2012, to get another spot on the U.S. team. Florida's Conor Dwyer was third.
Then Phelps and Lochte swam in the 100 butterfly semis and advanced to the final, Phelps with 2012's fastest time, 51.35. Lochte, who swam his third race in about 58 minutes, tied for seventh. "I don't feel so hot," he told NBC afterward.
Phelps, who turned 27 Saturday, got his second trials final win over Lochte and stayed on track to compete in eight events, including relays, at London and a chance to equal his record eight gold medals of 2008. Lochte got his third and fourth individual berths.
In the butterfly, not advancing out of the heats were UF's Cameron Martin, a Clearwater Central Catholic graduate, and Tommy Whyer, a Tampa Jesuit grad from New Port Richey.
Jessica Hardy made up for missing the 2008 Games because of a failed drug test, winning the 100 freestyle. Natalie Coughlin got sixth to make her third Olympic team, but the 11-time medalist will swim only in relays. Rebecca Soni got a second individual race in London, winning the 200 breaststroke in 2012's fastest time, 2:21.13.
In women's 800 freestyle qualifying, Becca Mann, 14, of Clearwater, advanced to tonight's final. Not advancing were UF's Jamie Bohunicky, Ariel Finke of Countryside High and Taylor Katz of Tarpon Springs and East Lake High.
Anthony Ervin had the top time in the 50 freestyle semis. Ervin, 31, was co-gold medalist in 2000 but retired before he could defend his title. He returned to the pool last year. Not advancing out of the heats were UF's Bradley DeBorde and James Turner, ex-Gator Matt Norton and Florida State's Mark Weber.
In the women's 200 backstroke semis, Missy Franklin led the qualifiers for the final. Also advancing were UF's Elizabeth Beisel and ex-Gator Teresa Crippen.
Times wires
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Rangers 7, Athletics 2
ARLINGTON, Texas — Josh Hamilton hit a three-run homer to cap a five-run fifth inning, Martin Perez won his first career start and the Rangers won their fifth straight. Texas became the majors' first team to reach 50 victories and has won 17 of 21 since June 8. Oakland committed two errors in the fifth that led to five unearned runs, including a miscue by shortstop Brandon Hicks right before Hamilton's at-bat.
By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, June 30, 2012
ST. PETERSBURG — The uniforms, a 1970s-style creation, were retro and the music, performed post game by Earth, Wind & Fire, old school. But the overriding theme of the night for the Rays was definitely modern, circa 2012.
They got hurt.
And they got beat.
Jeremy Hellickson, in his first start after two weeks on the disabled list, was forced from the game in the third inning after sustaining a bruised right shin when struck by a Prince Fielder line drive, though he is expected to make his next start.
Making it more painful, the Tigers scored their first run on the play, then added more later against relievers Joel Peralta, in his return from suspension, and Burke Badenhop for a 6-2 victory Saturday before a Tropicana Field concert-night crowd of 29,443.
"It's like it never ends," centerfielder B.J. Upton said. "It's like it's always something. But we're a pretty resilient group. We've always been that way. … We'll come out of it. And when we do, you'll know it."
But for now, it doesn't look good. The Rays (41-37) lost for the 12th time in 18 games to finish June 12-15, dropping from one game ahead in the American League East to 6½ behind.
Hellickson had a noticeable bump on his right shin and was still in pain, though relieved X-rays didn't show a break. Manager Joe Maddon said Hellickson was fine and expected to make his next start Thursday; Hellickson said he would have to see how it feels in a couple of days.
"It didn't get bone, but it hurt," he said. "I tried to stay in, but it just went numb on me. I couldn't really feel anything."
Hellickson navigated a shaky first inning, then zipped through the second with six pitches but loaded the bases with one out in the third on three straight singles. Fielder ripped into a 1-and-1 pitch, and the ball struck Hellickson on the side of the right shin and caromed to first base as the run scored.
Hellickson went down and stayed there for a few minutes, then threw three warmup pitches. Maddon, concerned Hellickson would put additional strain on his shoulder, didn't need to see any more.
The Rays bullpen kept it 1-0 until the eighth, getting solid work from J.P. Howell (two innings), Wade Davis (1⅓) and Kyle Farnsworth (one), in his season debut.
But it wasn't a smooth return for Peralta, who sat out the previous eight games for his pine-tar violation. He allowed a one-out double to Brennan Boesch, hit Ramon Santiago with two outs, then allowed a three-run homer to Austin Jackson on a fastball he said he shouldn't have thrown.
Still, the primary problem remains the lack of offense, evidenced by an AL-worst .222 June average, a team record low for any month.
The Rays managed only a bunt hit through five innings and four singles through seven against Rick Porcello, who hadn't had a scoreless outing all season, before getting eighth-inning homers from Jeff Keppinger and Peña off ex-mate Joaquin Benoit. When they did load the bases in the sixth, Upton and Luke Scott — 0-for-11 in his return from the disabled list — made first-pitch outs.
"It's just not working," Upton said.
Marc Topkin can be reached at topkin@tampabay.com.
Times wires
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Brewers 10, Diamondbacks 2
MILWAUKEE — Ryan Braun homered twice and Cody Ransom had a three-run homer for Milwaukee. Braun's homers gave him the National League lead with 22. Carlos Gomez also homered as the Brewers had 13 hits and scored their most runs since beating the Twins 16-4 on May 20.
Times wires
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Padres 8, Rockies 4
DENVER — Former University of Miami standout Yasmani Grandal and Alexi Amarista homered twice each for San Diego. Grandal, called up from Triple A before the game, made his first big-league start memorable by homering for his first two hits in the majors.
Times wires
Saturday, June 30, 2012
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Danell Leyva, his mother and stepfather had little besides hope and determination when they arrived in Miami from Cuba almost two decades ago.
Saturday night, Leyva stood in the center of the arena, a U.S. Olympian.
Leyva beat John Orozco to win the men's gymnastics trials with a performance that clinched him an automatic spot on the team. Orozco's finish earned him a spot on the team as well.
As Leyva walked off the competition floor after his last event, his stepfather and coach, Yin Alvarez, greeted him with a bow, and Leyva picked him up in a bear hug.
"It's big," said Alvarez, a gymnast in Cuba who defected during a gymnastics trip to Mexico in 1992. "It's big because I wanted to be an Olympian, and (Leyva) represents me and all Cuban immigrants who came to this country for a better life and to make something (of themselves)."
Leyva's mother, Maria Gonzalez, also a gymnast in Cuba, brought her son, now 20, and older daughter to the United States via Peru and Venezuela in 1993. She and Alvarez, who had been childhood friends, married in 2001 after working together in Florida. The own the Universal Gymnastics school in Miami.
Leyva, who had allergies and asthma as a tubby kid, finished almost a point ahead of Orozco after two days of competition, based on scores combined with their totals from last month's national championships.
Olympic spots were guaranteed to the top two trials finishers in the all-around if both also finished in the top three in at least three of the six events.
The remaining three team members will be chosen by a five-person selection committee. The team will be announced today.
Gymnastics has been Orozco's ticket out of the rough Bronx, N.Y., neighborhood where his mother and sanitation-worker father still live. Nicknamed the "Silent Ninja" by his teammates because of his steady demeanor, his eyes welled up with tears even before he was announced to the crowd as an Olympian.
"I'm not usually like that," Orozco, 19, said. "I looked up at my parents, and I was like, 'Look where we are now.' "
The two were second (Orozco) and third (Leyva) behind three-time world champion Kohei Uchimura of Japan in qualifying at last year's world championships and have spent the past six months playing leapfrog in U.S. meets.
Orozco beat Leyva last month at the U.S. championships, but Leyva took the lead in Thursday's first day of trials competition, and he threw down the first challenge Saturday on the high bar, their first event. Leyva's routine, packed with difficulty, earned him a score of 16.3 — scores above 16 are exceptional in the post-“perfect 10" scoring system — and opened a 1.3-point gap on Orozco.
Felix gets 200m win; 100 tiebreak awaits
EUGENE, Ore. — Allyson Felix won the women's 200 meters at the U.S. track and field trials in 21.69 seconds, a meet record and a personal best.
Felix will be joined on the Olympic team by runnerup Carmelita Jeter and third-place Sanya Richards-Ross. UCF's Aurieyall Scott finished eighth and last.
Still unresolved is the third-place tie last weekend in the 100 final between Felix and Jeneba Tarmoh for the final London berth in that race.
The runners are to decide how to break the tie, either by a runoff or a coin flip or by having one concede the spot. They wanted to wait to make a decision until after the 200 final, in which Tarmoh was fifth. They told NBC after the race they planned to discuss the matter today.
"We're going to sit down together, because it's in both of our interests," Tarmoh said.
USA Track and Field has said the situation must be resolved today, the last day of the trials, so it can officially name its Olympic team.
In the men's triple jump, former Gator Christian Taylor, the 2011 world champion, and William Claye, the reigning world indoor champion, finished 1-2 to make the team. Current Gator Omar Craddock, a two-time NCAA champion, was fourth.
Aries Merritt posted the best time in the world this year, 12.93, in winning the men's 110 hurdles. Jason Richardson, the reigning world champion, was second and Jeffrey Porter third to round out the teams. David Oliver, the bronze medalist in Beijing, finished fifth.
Not advancing out of the semis were Miami's Devon Hill and Florida All-American Eddie Lovett.
In the men's 200 semis, Florida State's Maurice Mitchell led the final qualifiers with a time of 20.43. Dedric Dukes of Florida missed a spot in the final by .006. Also not advancing was FSU's Horatio Williams.
Chaunte Lowe earned her fifth national outdoor title and a spot on the Olympic team, clearing a meet-record 6 feet, 7 inches in the women's high jump. Lowe broke the meet record of 6-61/2 set by Louise Ritter in 1988. Amy Acuff was third to make her fifth Olympic team.
Hyleas Fountain, the 2008 heptathlon silver medalist, won her fifth national title and a trip to London.
By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Rays vs. Tigers
When/where: 1:40 today; Tropicana Field
TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)
Tickets: $12-$255, available at Tropicana Field box office, Ticketmaster, raysbaseball.com, team Tampa store; $3 surcharge within five hours of game time.
Promotions: James Shields bobblehead to the first 10,000 youngsters 14 and under
Probable pitchers
Rays: RH Alex Cobb (3-4, 4.73)
TIGERS: LH Drew Smyly (2-2, 3.96)
On Cobb: Coming off the worst start of his career, having allowed eight runs on 13 hits over eight innings in a loss to Kansas City. Is 2-2 with a 3.86 ERA in four home starts this season.
On Smyly: Winless in his past four starts. Gave up six runs in 42/3 innings in a loss to Texas his last time out. Has made one start against the Rays, his first of the season, allowing one run over four innings in an April 12 no-decision.
Key matchups
Rays vs. Smyly
Carlos Peña 2-for-2, HR
Desmond Jennings 0-for-2
Jeff Keppinger 0-for-2
Tigers vs. Cobb
Austin Jackson 2-for-4
Miguel Cabrera 1-for-1
Alex Avila 1-for-3
On deck
Monday: vs. Yankees, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — Matt Moore (4-5, 4.19); Yankees — Freddy Garcia (2-2, 6.39)
Tuesday: vs. Yankees, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — James Shields (7-5, 4.04); Yankees — Ivan Nova (9-2, 4.03)
Wednesday: vs. Yankees, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (11-4, 2.92); Yankees — David Phelps (1-3, 3.16)
Joe Smith, Times staff writer
Guests of the day
Earth, Wind & Fire, which played a postgame concert for Saturday's Turn Back the Clock Night, visited the Rays' clubhouse before the game, right. Manager Joe Maddon, a fan of the band, said member Philip Bailey is a Rays fan. Bailey also threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Joke of the day
RHP Joel Peralta, who returned to the bullpen after serving an eight-game suspension for using excess pine tar in a June 19 appearance, said Tigers manager Jim Leyland joked with him that he'd make sure to "check" his glove when he took the mound.
Number of the day
7
Walks by Rays pitchers Saturday night vs. the Tigers
By Bryan Burns, Times Correspondent
Saturday, June 30, 2012
ST. PETERSBURG — Tampa Bay entered Saturday's match against Minnesota having won its two previous contests in a thrilling, come-from-behind fashion.
A positive result against the Stars proved much easier to come by.
Rowdies forward Mike Ambersley scored on a well-placed header in the 55th minute, and Tsuyoshi Yoshitake continued his blistering pace, tallying his third goal in three games to lead Tampa Bay to a 2-0 win in front of 2,594 at Al Lang Field.
The victory gives the Rowdies (6-5-3) their first three-match win streak of the season heading into Wednesday's Fourth of July showdown against rival Fort Lauderdale. It also puts the Rowdies in sole possession of third place in the North American Soccer League.
"I couldn't be more delighted with the effort of the players in the last month and, generally, throughout the season, but particularly in the last month," Tampa Bay coach Ricky Hill said. "There's been an intensity and a seriousness to their work every day."
Unlike the previous meeting against Minnesota at Al Lang, a dull affair with little offense, Saturday's back-and-forth match featured plenty of scoring opportunities. In the 26th minute, the Stars' Miguel Ibarra rocketed a shot from 30 yards away that smacked off the crossbar. Seven minutes later, Ambersley had a point-blank header on the back post that was pushed aside by Minnesota goalkeeper Matt VanOekel (10 saves).
It wasn't until early in the second half, however, that either side could break through.
In the 55th minute, Luke Mulholland sent a right-footed cross into the box for Ambersley, who was unmarked in front of the goal. Ambersley's header rolled toward the far post and past VanOekel for a 1-0 lead.
"We took control early in the second half, and that was a big part of the game right there, kind of shifted momentum," Ambersley said. "And then we got the goal. That was big for us."
After withstanding intense pressure from Minnesota's attack, the Rowdies put the game away with Yoshitake's goal in the 88th minute. Midfielder Keith Savage played a long ball through for Yoshitake to start a two-on-two break. With Ambersley streaking toward the goal on his right, Yoshitake opted to shoot himself, sending a blast from the left wing inside the far post.
"It was good to get a comfortable win under our belt," Tampa Bay goalkeeper Jeff Attinella said. "The last two have been kind of a little nerve-racking. When (Yoshitake) put that second one in, it was kind of a weight lifted off our shoulders."
Attinella, a Clearwater native and Countryside High graduate, had four stops to finish with his third shutout of the season.
Times wires
Saturday, June 30, 2012
SPARTA, Ky. — On his first practice lap at Kentucky Speedway on Friday, Brad Keselowski wrecked his best car.
What could have been a devastating blow ended up being a curious blessing.
Driving his backup car, Keselowski raced to his series-best third victory of the year Saturday night, grabbing the lead with 55 laps left and holding off all challengers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Kentucky Speedway.
"It wasn't the newest car we got, but it runs," Keselowski said.
The 28-year-old from Rochester Hills, Mich., also won this season at Bristol and Talladega. He gave all the credit for his seventh career Cup win to his team.
"They put together a backup car from last year in 100-degree heat in one hour's time to get me back on the track," he said.
Kasey Kahne rode a late surge to second, 4.399 seconds back.
Keselowski was running so well that Kahne, despite his fast finish, knew he needed help to catch him.
"I just hoped he'd run out of gas," Kahne said, grinning. "No way I was catching him. We had stopped (for a fill-up), and I was hoping he'd shut down."
Keselowski had just enough fuel to finish.
Crew chief Paul Wolfe called the quick turnaround in cars "probably the toughest weekend our team has ever had up to this point."
Keselowski led 68 of 267 laps on the 1.5-mile oval, ending a streak of four starts during which he had failed to crack the top 10.
He slammed the right side of his top car into the wall Friday in the wake of a collision with Juan Montoya. He said he believed he had been "pushed around" by Montoya on the practice lap and reacted angrily.
Denny Hamlin finished third hours after announcing a new agreement with Joe Gibbs Racing on Twitter.
"It's a great day," he said. "When you know you're locked in where you're going to race for (a) really long time, it's a good feeling. Those guys (at Joe Gibbs Racing) have given me a championship-caliber racing team."
Dale Earnhardt Jr. was fourth despite a loose car late and moved up to second in points.
Kahne and Earnhardt were part of a strong night for Hendrick Motorsports, which also put Jeff Gordon fifth and pole-sitter Jimmie Johnson sixth.
Points leader Matt Kenseth, racing for the first time since announcing he was leaving Roush Fenway Racing after the season, finished seventh.
A year after severe traffic congestion resulted in thousands of angry fans at the track's Cup race, there were few glitches.
Meanwhile, Keselowski was getting questions about whether he might be able to make a run at the championship.
"We just have to keep winning," he said.
Yeah, but with which car?
NHRA
Tony Schumacher led Top Fuel qualifying heading to today's eliminations at the Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, Ill., with a run of 3.763 seconds at 324.83 mph. John Force (Funny Car), Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana (Pro Stock Motorcycle) led their classes.
Times staff
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Baseball
Yankees at Rays, 7 p.m., Sun Sports; 620-AM
Marlins at Brewers, 8 p.m., FSN
Olympic trials
Swimming (broadcast leads with runoff to determine third member of women's 100-meters team), 8 p.m., Ch. 8
Softball
World Cup final: U.S. vs. Australia, 9 p.m., ESPN2
Tennis
Wimbledon, 7 a.m., ESPN2
Wimbledon, 8 a.m., ESPN
Tour de France
Stage 2, 8 a.m., NBCSN
TV: NBCSN: NBC Sports Network
By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, July 1, 2012
ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays didn't know exactly what to expect when they signed Fernando Rodney to a modest free agent contract last winter, hoping after two down seasons with the Angels he could regain past form and contribute to their Kyle Farnsworth-led bullpen.
They knew what they could expect from David Price, their young lefty who is one of the game's most talented pitchers, but weren't sure what the results would be as he dropped from a 19-6 record in 2010 to 12-13 last season while insisting he had pitched better.
But today, they know this much: Both are All-Stars, selected to the American League squad for the July 10 All-Star Game in Kansas City, Mo.
"Extremely deserving," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "Should have absolutely made the team. It would have been a baseball crime had they not."
Both were elected by their peers, though not with much margin: Rodney the third of three relievers voted in (behind Baltimore's Jim Johnson and Cleveland's Chris Perez); Price the last of the five starters (behind Detroit's Justin Verlander, Chicago's Chris Sale, New York's injured CC Sabathia and Los Angeles' Jered Weaver). It is the fifth straight year the Rays have had multiple selections after having one rep in nine of their first 10.
Rodney, 35, was pleased to make his first All-Star team and plans to dedicate the honor to his late father by having his name, Ulise, on his practice jersey: "I'd like him to be here with me." Also, he'll wear his cap to the side, and bring his arrows.
Rodney came to spring training willing to take any role in the bullpen after signing for $1.75 million, with a $2.5 million 2012 option. But with Farnsworth injured just before the opener, Rodney stepped in and stepped up, logging 22 saves (in 23 chances), one shy of the major-league lead, to go with a 2-1 record and stunning 1.01 ERA in 37 games. Last season he was 3-5 with three saves and a 4.50 ERA in just 39 games for the Angels.
"I feel great, I feel happy," he said. "I made the team because (the Rays) gave me the chance to pitch. I didn't have too many chances last year, so I can show I can pitch. This year it happened. I'd like to tell (Angels manager) Mike Scioscia thank you."
Maddon said Rays scouts and executives were confident Rodney would be better this season but acknowledged, "it's a little bit more than we expected, and what he expected also."
Once Rodney, one of the most well-liked players in the clubhouse, got the news, there were plenty of hugs and congrats. "He's been the heart and soul of the bullpen this year," reliever Joel Peralta said.
Price, 26, joined third baseman Evan Longoria as the only Rays to make three straight All-Star teams. Price also joined Sabathia, Verlander and Weaver as the only AL pitchers to make it 2010-12.
"It definitely feels good, especially being nominated by your peers, the opposing players you play against and your teammates," Price said.
He earned their votes with a stellar first half, riding improved fastball command to share the AL lead in wins with an 11-4 record and posting a 2.92 ERA, joining Mets knuckleballer, and potential NL starter, R.A. Dickey as the majors' only pitchers with 11 wins and sub-3.00 ERAs.
Price, too, will share the honor with his family, especially his 8-year-old nephew, Corey, who has pretty much made it a standing request that he expects to go each year. "He already texted me," Price said.
Price started the 2010 All-Star Game but didn't get to pitch last year due to a turf toe injury. Though he left Friday's start with back stiffness, he felt "normal" during a bullpen session Sunday and, assuming no issues Wednesday against the Yankees, is set to pitch in Kansas City, and possibly start again. "It's definitely an honor if you get to," he said.
"I really like him,'' AL manager Ron Washington said. "I hope he's able to pitch this year.''
Marc Topkin can be reached at topkin@tampabay.com.
By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, July 1, 2012
ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays haven't been playing well, and they certainly aren't at full strength.
Perfect time to face the first-place Yankees, right?
Tampa Bay certainly has plenty of ground to make up, having lost 5-3 to the Tigers on Sunday afternoon — its ninth loss in its past 12 — to drop 7½ games behind New York in the American League East.
But the resilient Rays see the three-game series with the Yankees, which starts tonight at Tropicana Field, as an opportunity to quickly flip the script.
"It's been a really tough last couple of weeks; we need to turn it around," Ben Zobrist said. "That's what we've got to do. The Yankees coming in is the perfect time to do it."
The Rays (41-38) will need a better performance than Sunday, when starter Alex Cobb got in too many bases-loaded jams, the defense made another error and the scuffling offense saw a rally cut short by a baserunning gaffe.
"At some point you have to cover your mistakes a little bit with your offense — we haven't been able to do that," manager Joe Maddon said.
Tampa Bay was held hitless through four innings by Tigers lefty Drew Smyly but manufactured a run in the first inning. Desmond Jennings led off with a walk, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on B.J. Upton's sacrifice fly.
But Cobb, who looked good early, loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth and fifth innings, though Maddon said his defense "created" the jam in the fourth. With a runner on first, third baseman Brooks Conrad failed to get even a force at second when trying to field Delmon Young's chopper to his left, putting runners on first and second.
In each situation, Cobb minimized the damage, allowing three combined runs over the two innings.
But Cobb lamented the fact that after the Rays rallied to tie it at 3 in the fifth, thanks to an RBI single by Hideki Matsui and an RBI double by Jose Molina, he gave it right back in the sixth.
Cobb allowed a leadoff double to Don Kelly, who moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on an Austin Jackson single past a drawn-in infield, giving the Tigers the lead for good.
"It's tough to swallow," Cobb said.
Maddon said Cobb, who allowed five runs over 5⅓ innings, wasn't bad, but "when you don't score any runs, everything is exaggerated regarding the negative side also."
The Rays appeared poised to score in the seventh after Zobrist led off with an infield single and Matsui hit a one-out single to right. But Zobrist got thrown out trying to advance to third on a Phil Coke pitch that bounced off catcher Alex Avila's glove. Zobrist thought the ball popped away a little farther, but Avila collected it in the back of the batter's box and got him at third.
"He had to make a perfect throw, and he did," Zobrist said. "Obviously, I regret it now 'cause it didn't work out. But if I make it there, then it's a good play."
Tigers manager Jim Leyland admired the aggressiveness.
"The Rays are one of those teams who live by the sword and die by the sword," he said. "That kind of play that Zobrist made has won them a lot of games over the last several years. (Sunday) we happened to get an out."
Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@tampabay.com.
Times wires
Sunday, July 1, 2012
OMAHA, Neb. — Michael Phelps' Olympic program is set for another run at eight gold medals. And get ready to see a lot of Missy Franklin. She'll be busy, too.
Phelps won the 100-meter butterfly at the U.S. Olympic trials Sunday to secure spots in five individual races in London. His time, 51.14 seconds, was the fastest in the world this year.
Tyler McGill got the second Olympic spot in 51.32. Ryan Lochte, in an event he normally doesn't do in major competitions, just missed adding another race to his already busy London program. He was third, 0.33 seconds behind McGill.
Phelps, who won a Games-record eight golds in 2008, is set to swim the same events in London: the 100 and 200 fly, the 200 and 400 individual medley, and the 200 freestyle, and all three relays. But he told NBC after the race he might not swim all eight. His coach, Bob Bowman, said the two would discuss a strategy. "We only want to put (Phelps) in a situation where he can get wins," Bowman said.
In the hyped rivalry between friends Phelps and Lochte, Phelps was the trials winner, beating the ex-Gator in three of their four finals together.
Lochte, who finished his trials with spots in four individual events, surprised everyone by sticking with the 100 fly at the end of a grueling week. But he never intended to swim it in London because it would have left him with three events in one day.
"I have no regrets," he said. "This meet was a training meet. Come London, I'll … be fully rested, and hopefully I'll be a lot faster."
Franklin, 17, locked up her fourth individual event, winning the 200 backstroke in 2 minutes, 6.12 seconds, fastest in the world this year. Florida's Elizabeth Beisel was second to secure a London spot. Former Gator Teresa Crippen was sixth.
Adding three relays to her schedule, Franklin will become the first U.S. woman to swim seven events at the Olympics.
In the women's 800 freestyle, Katie Ledecky won to become the team's youngest member at 15. Becca Mann, 14, who trains in Clearwater, was fifth.
Anthony Ervin, 31, who won gold in the 50 freestyle in 2000, capped an improbable comeback by earning a trip to the Olympics in the event with a runnerup finish to Cullen Jones.
In the women's 50 free semifinals, ex-Gator Dara Torres, 45, earned a spot in tonight's final and a chance to make her sixth Olympics. Not advancing was St. Petersburg's Megan Romano, a Northeast High grad. Not advancing out of the heats were FSU's Tiffany Oliver, Chelsea Hendry and Kaitlyn Dressel, and UF's Kaitlin Frehling, a Seminole High grad.
In the men's 1,500 heats, not advancing were the Gators' Nick Caldwell and Jason Taylor, a Newsome High grad from Plant City, and Chris Swanson, a Tampa Jesuit grad.
Times wires
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Padres 2, Rockies 0
DENVER — Kip Wells pitched seven strong innings for his first win in nearly three years, and Chris Denorfia and Alexi Amarista had two hits each for the Padres. Wells' last win came Sept. 20, 2009, when he beat the Marlins 8-1 for the Reds. His outing against Colorado was his longest since he went seven innings that day. Wells went five innings Tuesday in his first big-league start since Oct. 1, 2009.
Times wires
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Cubs 3, Astros 0
CHICAGO — Travis Wood took a shutout into the eighth inning, Anthony Rizzo hit a go-ahead single and the Cubs completed a three-game sweep. Wood pitched a season-high 7⅔ innings and left the game to a loud ovation after retiring Brian Bixler in the eighth. The 25-year-old left-hander has yielded one run over 20⅔ innings in his past three starts. Chicago scored three in the sixth. Wood led off with a double, and Rizzo hit an RBI single off Wandy Rodriguez.
Times wires
Sunday, July 1, 2012
ST. LOUIS — The bullpen has been a major weakness for the Cardinals. This time the relievers slammed the door.
Mitchell Boggs and Jason Motte got big outs Sunday for a 5-4 victory over the Pirates, who had been trying to sweep a series of at least three games in St. Louis for the first time since 1997. It was a confidence boost for a unit that entered the game 7-14 with a 4.62 ERA and 13 blown saves in 29 chances.
"It's been a rough couple days before (Sunday), playing a team you're behind in the standings that's playing really well," Boggs said. "For us to get this last one, and for our bullpen to get some pretty big outs in a tight game, it doesn't hurt.
"We feel like we've got guys that can do the job, and we'll show up tomorrow and expect to do the same thing."
Allen Craig homered for the second time in three days and Yadier Molina also connected for the Cardinals, who prevailed in 98-degree heat.
Times wires
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Brewers 2, Diamondbacks 1
MILWAUKEE — Carlos Gomez raced home on two throwing errors after stealing second in the ninth for the Brewers. Gomez, in as a pinch-runner for Aramis Ramirez, stole second with one out as catcher Miguel Montero's throw ended up in center. Outfielder Gerardo Parra threw wildly to third, allowing Gomez to score.
Times wires
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Nationals 8, Braves 4
ATLANTA — Ryan Zimmerman homered and drove in four runs, and Gio Gonzalez scuffled for his sixth straight road victory for the Nationals. The temperature rose 4 degrees from the first pitch to 105 by the eighth inning. Washington, which has won four of five, took a 4-0 lead in the first off Tim Hudson.
