Times wires
Thursday, July 5, 2012

DAYTONA BEACH — Bruton Smith has an idea how to create more excitement in NASCAR.

But NASCAR president Mike Helton didn't sound very interested in the billionaire track promoter's suggestion to throw bogus cautions to bunch up the field.

Smith argued last weekend at the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway that long green-flag runs are damaging NASCAR and floated his theory about creating mandatory cautions.

Helton said Thursday fans don't want manufactured drama.

"NASCAR fans want the event to unfold unartificially," Helton said at Daytona International Speedway. "The racing that goes on on the racetrack under green is as exciting as any in motorsports. Sports is a true reality show as it unfolds. … You have to be careful when you think about artificially creating the outcome of that."

The current state of racing has been hotly debated this season because of the scarcity of caution-causing incidents. It has created a lot of green-flag racing that many fans have complained is boring to watch, and Smith seemed to agree with his mandatory caution proposal.

"You just can't sit there and nothing is happening," said Smith, owner of Speedway Motorsports Inc. "It ruins the event. It's damaging to our sport. Look at some of your other sports. They have a mandatory timeout, TV (commercial) time and all these things, and that creates things within the sport.

"If you have (cautions) every 20 laps, I don't care. It adds to the show. Someone once said we were in show business. If we're in show business, let's deliver. Let's deliver that show. Right now we're not delivering."

Smith's suggestion was pretty much panned by several drivers asked about it Thursday, none more so than Carl Edwards, who said mandatory cautions would send NASCAR down "a slippery slope."

"When we start using cautions to make the race 'more exciting,' I think that's going down a slippery slope," Edwards said. "I don't think that's good for the sport. The idea of a mandatory caution is the next dimension of (being artificial). You can't fabricate sport. Leave sports alone and let the best man win."

hamlin ailing: Denny Hamlin has a sore back that will keep him out of today's Nationwide race. He said he still planned to drive Saturday night in the Sprint Cup Coke Zero 400. Hamlin is fifth in Cup points.

Hamlin had been scheduled to drive the No. 18 Toyota in the Nationwide race. Instead, Joe Gibbs Racing will move defending race champion Joey Logano from the No. 20 to the No. 18 and have Clint Bowyer behind the wheel in the 18.

Hamlin said he woke up with a sore back "earlier this week" but the injury is "nothing serious" and the extra rest would help Saturday.

Times wires
Thursday, July 5, 2012

PITTSBURGH — Jeff Karstens allowed four hits, all singles, over eight innings to lead the hot Pirates past the Astros 2-0 on Thursday.

Pittsburgh capped its first four-game home sweep of Houston since 1979 and won for the eighth time in nine games to remain in first place in the Central.

Karstens struck out a season-high eight and didn't allow a runner to reach third.

"He was getting Strike 1," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "And with the arsenal he has, he can take it a lot of places from there."

The right-hander threw 62 of his 89 pitches for strikes and looked like the pitcher who spent the first half of 2011 among the National League leaders in ERA. He tailed off, finishing 9-9 with a 3.38 ERA. And he spent nearly two months on the disabled list this season with shoulder inflammation and a hip flexor.

He got knocked around by Philadelphia in his return on June 17 but pitched seven efficient innings against St. Louis on Saturday.

"It's just one of those things where you try to bear down and make pitch after pitch," Karstens said. "We were able to throw strikes when we had to."

Thursday, July 5, 2012

DAYTONA BEACH — Austin Dillon said Thursday he would be honored to drive the late Dale Earnhardt's iconic No. 3 in Sprint Cup races.

Dillon is the grandson of Richard Childress, who owns the rights to the number and uses it for Dillon in NASCAR's Nationwide series. After Dillon picked up his first career Nationwide victory last week in the Feed the Children 300 at Kentucky Speedway, Childress said he would be open to moving the number up with his grandson.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has also used the number in the Nationwide series, but the No. 3 has not been in a Cup race since Earnhardt's death in the 2001 Daytona 500.

"I'd be excited to run it," Dillon said at Daytona International Speedway. "I still would love the approval of my grandfather and the guys. Seeing more fans each and every week come up to him is the best way to do it."

Childress said he would want the number to have a different style from how Earnhardt had it designed and he would let only an Earnhardt or a Dillon use the number. Ty Dillon uses the number in the Truck series.

"I look at the No. 3 as family," Childress said at Kentucky. "I drove it; I was fortunate. I didn't do near as good as some of these other drivers did. It's special because you have so many fans who want to see the No. 3 and then you have some who question running the No. 3.

"I wouldn't let anyone else other than an Earnhardt or a Dillon drive the No. 3 in trucks. Once we get done with the trucks with Ty and Austin, no one will drive the No. 3 in trucks again unless it's one of their kids or an Earnhardt."

Austin Dillon said he is not in a hurry to get to Sprint Cup with the number.

"I enjoy running it where I'm at right now," he said. "It's going great. There comes a lot of pressure with that number, so moving up would just be more pressure. It pushes you harder. We'll see."

Washington Post
Thursday, July 5, 2012

WIMBLEDON, England — The marquee women's semifinal on Wimbledon's Center Court on Thursday promised to deliver what's known as "big-babe tennis," pitting the hard-hitting Serena Williams against reigning Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka.

But the clash between the game's best server and one of its more formidable returners turned into a one-woman tour de force, with Williams blasting a Wimbledon-record 24 aces en route to a 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) victory that moved her one step closer to a fifth Wimbledon championship. Her aces topped the 23 she had last week — in a three-set match.

Williams, 30, will face Agnieszka Radwanska for the title Saturday. Radwanska, 23, advanced to her first Grand Slam final by dismissing Angelique Kerber 6-3, 6-4.

Williams' one-hour, 36-minute victory represented a stunning turnabout following her first-round defeat last month at the French Open.

But France's Grand Slam is contested on clay, which mutes the power of big serves and thunderstruck groundstrokes. Wimbledon's grass accentuates it. As such, it's familiar and friendly terrain for Williams, who will compete in the final of the grasscourt classic for a seventh time and first since 2010.

"I feel like this is where I belong," Williams said. "Maybe I don't belong in a relationship; maybe I don't belong somewhere else. But I know for a fact, I do belong on this tennis court."

There was no more compelling evidence than the puff of chalk Williams sent flying with her final ace. The victory brought her career grasscourt record to 69-10 while improving her mark against Azarenka to 8-1.

Williams holds a 2-0 record against Radwanska, Wimbledon's 2005 junior girls champion. But the two haven't played since 2008, when the Pole was just 19.

The third-ranked Radwanska has grown into a steady, composed player, known for keeping her errors to a minimum and pouncing on opportunities.

She started slowly against Kerber, who had been visited in the locker room the previous day by Germany's greatest champion, Steffi Graf, a seven-time Wimbledon champion.

It was the first Grand Slam semifinal for Radwanska and Kerber, and nerves were evident. But Radwanska handled the moment better, finishing with 20 winners and six unforced errors.

Asked about a potential meeting with Williams, Radwanska said: "I don't really have anything to lose, so just going to try my best."

Williams served brilliantly to reach Wimbledon's final four, blasting 61 aces through five matches — 24 more than the three other semifinalists combined.

So naturally, after winning the toss, she chose to serve first Thursday.

Williams made clear from the outset she wasn't interested in rallies. She crushed every second serve Azarenka coughed up. And through the opening set she was hardly fazed by anything Azarenka sent her way, including the high-pitched wails each time the Belarussian struck the ball.

Williams didn't face a break point until the sixth game, which Azarenka won to get back on serve.

It was the American's only moment of frailty.

In the view of tennis historian Steve Flink, it reflected a small spasm of nerves more than any failing in Williams' serve.

"With the French Open loss, things can get inside your head, and she got tight," said Flink, who ranked Williams as possessing the best first serve in the history of women's tennis in his book, The Greatest Tennis Matches of All Time.

Williams quickly regrouped to force the tiebreak that settled it.

"For a two-set match of that consequence, that was as well as I'd ever seen her serve," Flink said. "Serena mixes her serve up well. She goes out wide; she goes down the center line. It's hard for anybody to read that. There's no doubt, Azarenka is one of the best returners in the game."

Azarenka conceded afterward Williams' serve is unlike any other on the pro tour. And she lost count of the times her serve hit the lines.

"There is no point to sit and cry how unfortunate I was because she played great," Azarenka said. "I just have to give her all the credit because she did her job."

Times wires
Thursday, July 5, 2012

Braves 7, Cubs 3

ATLANTA — Jason Heyward and Brian McCann hit two-run homers in the first and Mike Minor didn't allow a hit until the fifth for the Braves. Atlanta salvaged a four-game split to go 5-5 on its season-high 10-game homestand. Matt Garza struck out his first batter but then allowed a single, Heyward's shot on a 1-and-2 pitch, another single and McCann's shot on another 1-and-2 pitch.

Times wires
Thursday, July 5, 2012

olympics

injured bolt won't run again before games

LONDON — Usain Bolt has more than Yohan Blake to worry about ahead of the London Olympics. Now he has an injury to contend with and likely won't run again until the Games.

One month before the 100-meter final at the Olympics, Bolt pulled out of the July 20 Monaco Diamond League meet Thursday with a "slight problem" that occurred during the recent Jamaican Olympic trials, his coach Glen Mills said.

The withdrawal followed the double blow of losing in the 100 and 200 to training partner Blake at the trials.

obituary

Bivins, 92, toppled world champions

Jimmy Bivins, a heavyweight boxer in the 1940s and '50s who defeated some of the greatest fighters of his time, has died. He was 92.

Mr. Bivins died of complications from pneumonia early Wednesday at an East Cleveland nursing home, according to his family.

The Georgia-born boxer retired in 1955 after more than 100 professional fights. He never was able to compete for a world title, but he was once ranked as the No. 1 contender in the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions.

Mr. Bivins had winning bouts with world champions Archie Moore, Ezzard Charles, Gus Lesnevich, Melio Bettina, Anton Christoforidis and Teddy Yarosz. He also went the distance with Joe Louis and fought Jersey Joe Walcott to a split decision.

et cetera

Soccer: The sport gave its stamp of approval to goal-line technology and headscarves for female Muslim players. Also adopted was a proposal for a five-referee system to officiate matches — placing an additional assistant beside each goal. FIFA said it will introduce the goal-line mechanism at the seven-team Club World Cup in Japan in December.

WNBA: Kristi Toliver scored 29 and Candace Parker had 28 points and 13 rebounds as host Los Angeles beat Minnesota 96-90. … Becky Hammon scored 19 to lead visiting San Antonio past Indiana 88-72.

Arena Football: The Storm acquired wide receiver Chris Davis, a Gibbs High graduate. Davis, 5 feet 10, 180 pounds, began his professional career in 2006 with the Montreal Alouettes.

Times wires

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, July 5, 2012

CLEVELAND — The Rays were looking forward to having OF Matt Joyce back in their lineup this weekend. But after he was forced to shut down his rehab due to back issues, they are now back to hoping he can return shortly after next week's All-Star break.

Joyce left a Triple-A Durham game on Wednesday after experiencing what he termed, via text message, "tightness and a little discomfort" in his left lower back.

Both Joyce and manager Joe Maddon said it was different than the left oblique strain that originally landed him on the 15-day disabled list, though Joyce acknowledged, "That's what I thought last time, so we'll see."

Joyce was headed back to St. Petersburg on Thursday night to be evaluated. Maddon said the word he got from the team medical staff, based on what it heard from Durham, was the stiffness was the result of Joyce sliding into second (on a failed steal attempt) and it was "nothing horrible."

"He's definitely not going to participate before the All-Star break," Maddon said. "So it's a setback in a sense but … it doesn't sound like it's awful."

Maddon said it is possible Joyce would be ready when the Rays resume play July 13 at home against Boston.

Joyce, who last played June 19, said: "At least we have the All-Star break to soak up some time."

MORE MEDICAL: INF Jeff Keppinger, who left Wednesday's game with a bruised left triceps after being hit by a pitch, said his arm was still swollen, but he felt better as the night went on and went into the game to play third in the eighth, and could have hit. … OF/DH Hideki Matsui, who left Saturday's game with left hamstring tightness, lined out as a pinch-hitter in the eighth, though he would have been run for had he reached base.

FAMILIAR FACES: After spending last season with the Rays, OF/DH Johnny Damon and 1B Casey Kotchman ended up signing with the Indians.

Damon wanted to stay and was frustrated when the Rays instead signed Scott in an effort to boost their offense, saying Thursday "there wasn't going to be" a noticeable increase. Damon, 37, remained unsigned until mid April and said he almost retired rather than go elsewhere because the experience with the Rays was so "awesome." He added he isn't sure if he'll keep playing if he has to keep changing teams.

"You go through the year, and you build relationships. And then all of a sudden, the positive stuff that you do just gets kind of pushed aside," he said. "They made their decision, and unfortunately, we didn't have an opportunity to come back. So there's no hard feelings here. I just have to keep going out and play baseball."

Neither Damon nor Scott is doing much. Damon is hitting .212 with four homers, 17 RBIs and a .618 on-base-plus-slugging percentage in 48 games. Scott, in 58 games, is at .194-9-36-.626.

"They wanted more power," Damon said. "So far, they've got it."

MISCELLANY: It was the first time in franchise history the Rays lost when allowing three runs on solo homers; they had been 7-0. … The Rays dropped to 4-13 against AL Central teams. … With the bench limited, reliever Burke Badenhop was in cleats for potential use as a pinch-runner; C Jose Lobaton was also a possibility. … The "play ball" kid before the game was TV analyst Brian Anderson's 7-year-old daughter, Rylyn Mae. Her mother won the opportunity at a Cleveland-area charity auction, and it just happened to be when the Rays were in town. … There is no TV coverage of Saturday's game.

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Nothing official can happen until Wednesday, when the NBA lifts its moratorium on transactions, but Thursday was a head-spinning day for the Knicks.

A day after hearing that sought-after guard Steve Nash was headed for the Lakers, restricted free agent guard Jeremy Lin, whose surprising season spawned "Linsanity" in New York and beyond, verbally agreed to sign a four-year offer sheet next week with the Rockets, ESPN.com reported.

Then, in a move that stunned the Mavericks, their guard, Jason Kidd, has changed his mind about staying in Dallas and is set to head to New York, according to multiple media reports.

Lin's offer sheet from Houston is worth more than $30 million, according to the New York Post. If Lin signs it Wednesday, the Knicks would have three days to match the offer to the restricted free agent, who averaged 14.6 points and 6.2 assists in 35 games. The contract is said to be worth $10.2 million over the first two seasons and $9.3 million in each of the last two years. The fourth season is a team option.

The Rockets had Lin in training camp but waived him because they had already had Kyle Lowry and Goran Dragic on their roster.

Lin was claimed by the Knicks, who have said they still covet him.

Though the Mavs thought they were close to getting a verbal agreement from Kidd on a three-year, $9 million deal, ESPN.com reported that he will take a similar deal with the Knicks, saying they have "pieces to work with."

"I think I can help," Kidd told ESPN The Magazine.

Allen visits Heat

MIAMI — Ray Allen seems to be taking a serious look at joining the NBA champion Heat.

The free agent Celtics guard visited the Heat in Miami on Thursday and was to remain in South Florida today for more talks, the Associated Press reported.

The Celtics have offered the NBA's 3-point field goal leader a two-year, $12 million deal after he averaged 14.2 points this past season. The Heat, which has ousted Boston the past two postseasons, can only offer Allen the mini midlevel exception, which would pay about $3 million this coming season.

Nash called Bryant: Two-time MVP Nash ran his sign-and-trade deal from the Suns through star Kobe Bryant after deciding on the Lakers because Los Angeles is close to his children in Phoenix and to NBA title contention. The 38-year-old guard will reportedly get a three-year deal worth an estimated $27 million. He called Bryant, who told Nash they would be a good fit.

"He was excited, and explained to me how he thought it would help, and why he thought it would be great," Nash told an ESPN radio station, "and I think a lot of the reasons he had were ones I could already envision before speaking to him."

Magic to keep Nelson: Free agent Jameer Nelson reached an agreement in principle that will keep the point guard in Orlando. Nelson, 30, would not disclose the length of the deal or his pay, but the Orlando Sentinel said he will get a three-year deal.

Mavs To lose Terry: Former Mavs shooting guard Jason Terry reportedly agreed to a three-year deal for $15 million with Boston.

More Rockets: Houston traded Kyle Lowry to Toronto for a future first-round draft pick with lottery protection, the Associated Press reported.

Cavaliers: First-round draft picks Dion Waiters (fourth overall, guard, Syracuse) and Tyler Zeller (17th, center, North Carolina) agreed to terms.

Celtics: Forward Brandon Bass has reportedly agreed to a three-year deal to return.

Clippers: The team bolstered its backcourt by re-signing Chauncey Billups (one year, $4.3 million) and adding former Blazers guard Jamal Crawford to a multiyear deal, ESPN.com and the Los Angeles Times reported.

Thunder: The agent for Hasheem Thabeet confirmed the center has agreed to a two-year deal. Salary was not disclosed.

Timberwolves: The agent for Blazers restricted free agent Nicolas Batum said the forward reached agreement with Minnesota on a new deal and wants the Blazers to let him go.

Times wires
Thursday, July 5, 2012

Nationals 6, Giants 5

WASHINGTON — Bryce Har­per singled in the tying run then scored the winner when Brandon Belt couldn't dig out a throw to first on a potential double-play ball in the ninth. The Nationals loaded the bases with no outs after tying it. One batter before the failed double play, Michael Morse hit into a forceout at home.

Times wires
Thursday, July 5, 2012

Mets 6, Phillies 5

NEW YORK — David Wright's bloop single with two outs in the ninth lifted the Mets and preserved R.A. Dickey's 11-game win streak. One batter earlier, Daniel Murphy tied it by lining a shot off Jonathan Papelbon's leg for a bases-loaded infield single. Dickey, who hasn't lost since April 13, allowed a season-high 11 hits.

Times wires
Thursday, July 5, 2012

Royals 9, Blue Jays 6

TORONTO — Salvador Perez tied a career high with four hits for the Royals. Billy Butler had an infield single during Kansas City's five-run third. That ended a season-long 0-for-24 skid against Toronto pitching. J.P. Arencibia homered twice for the Blue Jays, his third multihomer game this season.

Times wires
Thursday, July 5, 2012

KOHLER, Wis. — Seminole's Brittany Lincicome shot 3-under 69 on Thursday to share the U.S. Women's Open lead with Cristie Kerr and Lizette Salas in nearly 100-degree heat and high humidity that turned Blackwolf Run, a challenging 6,944-yard course, into a boiler.

Lincicome, 26, fired five birdies against two bogeys as she chases her first victory this year. After her round Thursday, Lincicome tweeted: "Amazing day today … had complete control over my whole game. … Just need it to stick around for 3 more days."

The eight-year LPGA Tour veteran has five career victories but her best finish this season is a tie for second at the Australian Open in February. Her last win was at the Canadian Women's Open in August 2011, and her one major title was at the 2009 Kraft Nabisco Championship.

Going into this week, breaking par didn't seem possible at Blackwolf Run.

"Obviously today shooting 3 under I have to kind of rethink my strategy, and obviously under par is very doable," said Lincicome, one of the longest hitters on the LPGA Tour. "If you can keep it in the fairway, hit it in the right spot on the green, and I made a couple long putts today, which was nice."

Salas, 22, is the daughter of Mexican immigrants from Azusa, Calif. With help from her family, she used golf to earn a scholarship to Southern Cal, and now, a spot on the LPGA Tour.

With her family on hand this week, Salas sees her play as a tribute to her parents.

"My dad still works long hours out on the golf course, my mom also," Salas said. "So this is just my way of repaying them for all their sacrifice and all their work they've done for me."

She began with a birdie on the 348-yard, par-4 first hole, with a 9-iron approach that left her with a 7-foot putt. It was one of her four birdies. Her only bogey came on the 375-yard, par-4 11th.

Kerr, who birdied three of her first seven holes and made it through the day without a bogey, feels a different level of energy at the Open.

"This is where I want to perform," she said. "This is the stage I want to perform on."

Third-ranked Ai Miyazato, the Japanese star coming off a victory Sunday in the LPGA Tour event in Arkansas, was a stroke behind the leaders along with 17-year-old Lexi Thompson, Jennie Lee and Beatriz Recari. Seven players, including No. 5 Na Yeon Choi and No. 6 Suzann Pettersen, shot 71.

Defending champion So Yeon Ryu finished with a 74.

Top-ranked Yani Tseng shot a 74. She would become the youngest player to complete a career Grand Slam with a victory this weekend.

Cheyenne Woods, Tiger Woods' niece, had a 75.

Clearwater's Jennifer Gleason and Tampa's Cindy LaCrosse were at 1-over 73 and tied for 24th. Tampa's Kristy McPherson was at 3-over 75, tied for 55th.

Singh in front on PGA

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — Vijay Singh fired his best round in six months, shooting 7-under 63 in the Greenbrier Classic to take a one-stroke lead over Jeff Maggert, Jonathan Byrd and Martin Flores, while Tiger Woods was left eight shots behind.

"Gosh, I don't know where that came from," said Singh, 49, who is playing in his ninth event in 10 weeks with two top-20 finishes in that span. "I've been playing pretty good golf for a while, but just never got any scoring going. But today seemed I hit it close and drove the ball really well, hit a lot of greens and made some nice putts."

Sixty-two players broke par on the Old White TPC course. Woods wasn't one of them. Coming off a victory in the AT&T National, he struggled in a 1-over 71, needing 31 putts.

"I was a little bit off with my game, and on top of that I didn't have the speed of these greens at all," said Woods, who complained the greens were slow. "I missed literally every single putt high."

PGA Europe: Christian Nilsson of Sweden shot 6-under 65 to lead England's Gary Boyd, Italy's Matteo Manassero and Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee by a stroke after the first round of the French Open in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines.

Ochoa return: Former women's No. 1 Lorena Ochoa, who retired in 2010 to give birth to a son in 2011, will make a limited return and play in October at the French Open on the Ladies European Tour and in November at her own invitational in Guadalajara, Mexico.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, July 5, 2012

Rays at Indians

When/where: 7:05 tonight, Progressive Field, Cleveland

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

Probable pitchers

Rays: RH Alex Cobb (3-5, 4.94)

Indians: RH Justin Masterson (5-7, 3.92)

On Cobb: The rookie makes his ninth start. Since his June 17 win over the Marlins, he has had two rough outings, allowing 21 hits and 13 runs (12 earned) over 131/3 innings. His biggest issue is runners in scoring position, allowing a .340 average.

On Masterson: The former Red Sox righty is 3-3 over his past six starts despite posting a 1.93 ERA and allowing only one homer. He has had trouble with the Rays, going 1-6 with a 6.80 ERA in 11 appearances.

Key matchups

Rays vs. Masterson

Carlos Peña4-for-15, 2 HRs

Will Rhymes 5-for-11

Luke Scott 7-for-16

Indians vs. Cobb

Jose Lopez 0-for-2

On deck

Saturday: at Indians, 6:05. Rays — Matt Moore (5-5, 4.17); Indians — Ubaldo Jimenez (7-7, 4.59)

Sunday: at Indians, 1:05, Sun Sports. Rays — James Shields (8-5, 4.11); Indians — Zach McAllister (3-1, 3.93)

Monday: Off

Tuesday: All-Star Game, Kansas City, Mo.

Rays disabled list

(with eligible-to-return date)

C Robinson Chirinos, concussion, 60-day, June 5

OF Sam Fuld, right wrist surgery, 60-day, June 5

OF Brandon Guyer, left shoulder surgery, 60-day, July 13 *

OF Matt Joyce, oblique strain, 15-day, July 5

3B Evan Longoria, left hamstring tear, 15-day, May 16

RHP Jeff Niemann, right leg fracture, 60-day, July 14

* Out for the season

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

That would be a little too close

The Rays are a tight bunch, so when Luke Scott, right, found out he was starting at first base Thursday and hadn't brought his mitt, he simply borrowed one from Jeff Keppinger. But when Scott realized his first infield appearance of the season also would require a cup, he made other plans: "I'm not going to borrow Keppinger's cup."

Top 10 reasons David Price is cool

As part of Monday's All-Star Game festivities, LHP David Price will be among 10 All-Stars reading the top 10 list for that night's Late Show with David Letterman. Though he has to share, Price was still honored: "It's one more 10th than a lot of people."

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, July 5, 2012

CLEVELAND — After another lifeless loss, 3-1 to the Indians on Thursday, this could be the absolute best way to sum up how bad the Rays are going offensively:

Luke Scott broke the franchise record for futility by going hitless in three at-bats to run his streak to 0-for-39 and — while also spending nearly three weeks on the disabled list — still shares the team lead with 36 RBIs.

"It's humbling, and it's very difficult," Scott said. "It's caused me a lot of sleepless nights and a lot of tears. It really does hurt. It's cut my heart in two."

Scott — seven hitless at-bats from the major-league record set last year by Eugenio Velez of the Dodgers — isn't the only issue with the Rays lineup, which continues to sputter and stall without outfielder Matt Joyce, who had a setback in his rehab, and third baseman Evan Longoria.

Thursday was the 10th time in 11 games the Rays scored four or fewer runs and ninth time this season they've been held to one or no runs. They've hit .209 during the stretch and .167 with runners in scoring position.

As a result, they've lost eight of those 11 and 15 of their past 23 to drop to 43-40.

Part of the problem is the players manager Joe Maddon has available — further reduced with Jeff Keppinger and Hideki Matsui limited to reserve duty Thursday. The other is how little the ones he's using are producing.

"Up and down the lineup, guys just have to pick it up a little bit," Maddon said.

Jeremy Hellickson made the start, which was something of a victory as he was knocked down then out of his last start Saturday after being hit on the right shin by a line drive. Hellickson said he felt fine but quickly put the Rays in what these days looks like a massive hole — allowing solo homers in the first (to leadoff man Shin-Soo Choo) and the second (Mickey Brantley).

"I've just got to come out and make better pitches early," he said.

Maddon found some reason for optimism in the number of balls the Rays hit hard, especially Ben Zobrist and Carlos Peña. And some compassion for Scott, lauding him for maintaining control of his emotions and remaining a good teammate.

"It's going to turn," Maddon said. "And when it does turn, there's going to be a lot of positives coming our way."

With Scott coming in hitless in his past 36 at-bats, one shy of the franchise record set by outfielder Jose Cruz in 2004, Maddon tried to help, giving the usual DH his first start of the season at first base, hoping it would help to feel like "more of a complete ballplayer."

But Scott, whose last hit was June 1, grounded out in the second to tie the team mark, popped out to the catcher in the fourth to set it and flied to right in the seventh to extend it.

Scott, whose previous worst was 0-for-21 in 2005, said he prays daily for relief from his struggles and has been stung by myriad thoughts, feelings and emotions, disappointed personally and frustrated about letting the team down.

Before the game, he said if he wasn't a Christian, he'd "be an alcoholic or something" as a result of the struggles. After, he said, "I'd rather take a beating one day and be laying bleeding on the street … than go through what I'm going through."

Times wires
Friday, July 6, 2012

Cardinals 6, Rockies 2

ST. LOUIS — Lance Lynn pitched six shutout innings for the Cardinals. The rookie started the season 10-2 but was 0-2 with a 9.98 ERA over his past three starts. At one point Thursday, he retired 10 in a row. Matt Holliday's run-scoring single highlighted a five-run fifth. He's 34-for-68 with four homers and 21 RBIs over his past 18 games.

Times wires
Friday, July 6, 2012

Padres 2, Reds 1

SAN DIEGO — Everth Cabrera's bases-loaded single with no outs in the ninth won it for the Padres. Logan Forsythe tied it for San Diego with a solo homer in the eighth. Then Yasmani Grandal doubled to lead off the ninth. Yonder Alonso was intentionally walked, and Cameron Maybin reached on bunt. Sam LeCure relieved Logan Ondrusek, and Cabrera ended it on his first pitch. San Diego has won a season-high six in a row.

Times wires
Friday, July 6, 2012

Dodgers 4, Diamondbacks 1

PHOENIX — Scott Van Slyke and Elian Herrera hit solo home runs for the Dodgers. Both, including the first of Herrera's career, came off Wade Miley, the Diamondbacks' lone All-Star, and they helped Nathan Eovaldi earn his first win of the season in his eighth start. Arizona grounded into three double plays to lose its sixth in a row. And its team-record streak of games with a home run ended at 15.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Friday, July 6, 2012

The Tampa Bay Lightning signed goaltender Anders Lindback to a two-year, $3.9 million contract that pays $1.4 million next season and $2.2 million in 2013-14. Lindback, acquired from the Predators as the long-term answer to the team's issues in net, was a restricted free agent, so, as he said about signing a contract, "It was just a matter of time."

That said, he added, "I'm really happy with this deal and excited to get going."

Here is the announcement from the team:

The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed goaltender Anders Lindback (AHN-dehrs LIND-bahck) to a two-year contract, vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman announced today.

Lindback, 24, played in 16 games this past season with the Predators, compiling a record of 5-8-0 to go along with a 2.42 goals against average and a .912 save percentage. The 6-foot-6, 203-pound goaltender has appeared in 38 career NHL games, all with Nashville, registering a 16-13-2 record, with a 2.53 goals against average and a .914 save percentage. One of the league's tallest goaltenders, Lindback made his NHL debut on October 9, 2010 against the Anaheim Ducks in a relief effort. He made seven consecutive starts from December 4-17 during the 2010-11 season, posting a 6-0-1 record with a 1.43 goals against average and a .949 save percentage.

The Gavle, Sweden native was originally selected by Nashville in the seventh round, 207th overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Lindback earned a Bronze medal with Sweden at the 2010 World Championships, his first time representing his nation.

By Brandon Wright, Times Correspondent
Friday, July 6, 2012

TAMPA — Although current Bloomingdale football coach John Booth graduated from high school a little more than a decade ago, summertime routines from that time period seem somewhat Paleolithic.

Booth, a 2000 Manatee graduate, spent the summers back then pumping iron or running around the track.

"Football has certainly become much more of a year-round sport, even since I played in high school," Booth said. "It's changed a lot."

Even at a state powerhouse like Manatee, there was little in the way of structure.

"The coaches would basically just open up the weight room and have us come and go as we please," Booth said. "Summer was far less committed back then."

But 7-on-7 changed all of that.

The touch football game has become the norm for the vast majority of players in the summer, with pass patterns replacing wind sprints. The contests pit skill position players against each other: a quarterback, running backs and receivers on the offense; linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties on the defense. Every play is a passing play and there is no hitting.

"I think it's very important for the kids," Spoto coach Dale Caparaso said. "We are playing in four tournaments."

Although there is no doubt 7-on-7's appeal is on the rise — there are tournaments across the state during the summer — not every coach is sold on the idea.

"I think it has its benefits but it's gotten so competitive to the point where teams aren't just fine-tuning their offense, they are actually putting in new offenses for these summer tournaments," said Booth, whose Bulls play in one tournament.

"If you're not practicing the plays that you're going to use in the fall, I think that can be counterproductive."

Booth is also concerned with the wares being offered. Some tournament sponsors are awarding equipment, trips and even cash prizes to winning teams.

"One of the big problems I have is that kids are kind of starting to lose their amateur status a little bit," he said. "I mean, these tournaments are on ESPN now. I think we're putting these kids on too high of a pedestal too soon and the purity is somewhat being lost."

One thing most coaches agree upon is that 7-on-7 creates a level of competition that workouts at school cannot duplicate.

"I love the competition aspect of it," Booth said. "You get to see how guys react in competitive situations they will be in when the games do start to count."

Caparaso agreed, saying it also motivates kids by keeping sometimes stale traditional summer conditioning fresh.

"It's a tremendous tool from the competition aspect," he said. "And it breaks up the running and conditioning, so I know the kids like it."

In terms of recruiting, the jury is still out on how much, if at all, 7-on-7 tournaments help players. Caparaso said these tournaments can "get guys on college radars" but only if the right people are in attendance."

Travel all-star teams are now starting to pop up, including Team Tampa, which features rising seniors including Armwood's Alvin Bailey and Wharton's Vernon Hargeaves. The team recently won a national tournament at Bradenton's IMG Academy. But Booth cautioned some players' expectations are too lofty in terms of how much 7-on-7 helps in recruiting.

"It's tough because it's not the same as when there is a guy rushing (the quarterback) or when there is hitting," Booth said. "And a lot of these kids think if they can get on a travel team, then they are automatically going (Division I). That's just not the reality."

Brandon Wright can be reached at hillsnews@tampabay.com.

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Friday, July 6, 2012

TAMPA — USF announced Friday new six-year contracts for its two most prominent coaches, football's Skip Holtz and men's basketball's Stan Heath, that run through the 2017-18 school year.

Holtz will earn a base salary of $2 million a year to total $12 million over the six years. Heath will earn a base salary of $1.13 million for next season and get a $25,000 raise each season for an average of $1.19 million and a total of $6.93 million.

"I have great confidence in the leadership they are providing and the future of both our football and men's basketball programs," athletic director Doug Woolard said in a statement.

Both deals include buyout clauses. Each must pay USF $1 million if they leave during the next two seasons and $500,000 if they leave during the following two.

Last season Heath led the Bulls to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 20 years and their first two wins in it. His previous deal, a five-year contract signed in 2010, averaged $900,000. He is getting a similar increase to the one he got in 2010 from his original deal, which averaged $675,000.

"I'm very appreciative of the commitment President (Judy) Genshaft, Doug and our trustees have made not just to me, but to our facilities and our staff," Heath said in a statement. "I'm pleased with the progress of the program."

Holtz's team last season went 1-6 in the Big East and 5-7 overall, and failed to qualify for a bowl game. His new deal is barely a raise. He was due to make $5.7 million over the final three years of his contract.

Both coaches got larger salary pools for their assistants. Holtz has $1.85 million, an increase of $100,000, for each of the next two years. Heath has $520,000 for three assistants and a director of basketball operations, up from $435,000.

Both contracts contain incentive clauses.

Holtz's biggest incentives doubled from his previous deal. He can earn $200,000 for a Big East title, $400,000 if the Bulls play for the national title, $500,000 if they win the title. There is a separate $25,000 bonus for going to any bowl. Any incentive triggered is added to the next year's base salary.

Heath can earn $100,000 for a Big East regular-season title and another $100,000 for winning the conference tournament. He can earn $50,000 for making the NCAA Tournament, $25,000 for each win in it and $10,000 for making the NIT.

Playoff doesn't worry Big East commissioner

Interim Big East commissioner Joe Bailey told ESPN he is not concerned about his league's future in regard to the football playoff system that starts in 2014.

A committee will determine four semifinalists as well as the matchups for four other bowls based on conference tie-ins. The Big East doesn't have one. The Big Ten and Pac-12 have one with the Rose Bowl, the ACC with the Orange Bowl, and the Big 12 and SEC with the new Champions Bowl.

"This conference, because of its record over the past six years or so, really plays very good football," Bailey said. "And if it's based on meritocracy, then we will be able to do as well as anybody else."

Ex-Gator honored: Former Florida catcher Mike Zunino won the Golden Spikes Award, the national player of the year award presented by USA Baseball. Only he and Florida State's Buster Posey (2008) have won the Golden Spikes, the Dick Howser player of the year award and the Johnny Bench Award for the nation's top catcher in the same season. Zunino, also Baseball America's player of the year, was drafted third overall by the Mariners last month.

Times staff writer Antonya English contributed to this report.