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Dr. Remote

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By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, April 2, 2011

Outside the Lines: 9 a.m. on ESPN. A profile of George Washington women's basketball player Kye Allums, whose plan is to have a sex change and become a man.

Tampa Bay Sports Central with JP Peterson: 11:30 a.m. on Ch. 44. Stories about and interviews featuring local sports standouts.

MLB's Greatest Games: 6:30 p.m. on MLB Network. The network's countdown of the best 20 games of the past 50 years continues. This game is No. 7 on the list.


Captain's Corner: Bait migration in full swing

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By Robert McCue, Times Correspondent
Saturday, April 2, 2011

What's hot: The northerly bait migration is in full swing along the west-central gulf coast. King and Spanish mackerel, bonita, grouper, cobia, tarpon and the oddball sailfish are excellent prospects any time you're fishing near the massive schools of bait.

Pro logic: The first showings of cobia are often on nearshore wrecks. As the water warms, large southern stingrays make their way onto the shallow flats. They stir up the bottom, and cobia trail to feed on small crustaceans in their wake. Trailing cobia might not always be visible. Anchor in areas the rays frequent, deploy a block of ground chum and suspend a palm-sized pinfish under a cork to produce them.

Double-teams: Savvy anglers who prefer to fish by sight use a two-person operation, one in a tower or poling platform and the other standing on the bow with a rigged live pinfish resting in a 2-gallon bucket of water. At first sighting of a ray or cobia, the spotter tells the angler to cast the pinfish into the path of the cruising fish. Always have a second rigged bait ready. Cobia on the flats often are in pairs. When a hooked fish comes to the boat, the second usually follows it.

Robert McCue may be reached at GiantTarpon.com or toll-free 1-800-833-0489.

Early domination lifts Azarenka

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Times wires
Saturday, April 2, 2011

KEY BISCAYNE — Swapping shrieks with shots, Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka made rallies sound like a car alarm.

Sharapova was the soprano, Azarenka the alto, and their alternating arias could be heard on the beach across the street from the Sony Ericsson Open.

But Sharapova was flat and her opponent sharp. Azarenka swept nine straight games to take charge Saturday and won the tournament for the second time, beating Sharapova 6-1, 6-4.

The final matched two of the most notorious grunters in tennis, and while both were noisy, Azarenka's shots had more bang. Sharapova committed 43 unforced errors, held serve only once and came up short with a late comeback bid.

"I played real well the first set," the No. 8-seeded Azarenka said. "Maria is such a great fighter, I knew she was going to fight to the end. She came up with great tennis at the end, and I had to hang in there. That's what paid off."

And who had the better shriek?

"I think mine is quieter," Azarenka said.

Sharapova committed eight errors in the first game. She lined one especially unsightly serve into the concrete in front of the net. By the time she found her range, Azarenka led 4-love in the second set.

"It's a little bit too late to pick up the pace when you're down a set and 4-love," Sharapova said. "I wish I picked it up earlier, obviously. She did many things better than I did today."

While the women's tournament was full of surprises, the men's draw is down to the game's top-ranked players. No. 1 Rafael Nadal plays for the championship today against No. 2 Novak Djokovic, who is 23-0 this year.

Sharapova lost in a final for the fourth time since her last title, at Strasbourg in May 2010. She's 0-3 in finals at Key Biscayne, where she was also the runnerup in 2005 and 2006.

But the three-time Grand Slam champion is healthy again after battling a series of injuries, and the results are starting to show. She's projected to climb this week to No. 9, her best since early 2009.

"It means that I'm winning matches, and winning more of them," she said. "It has been a long road to get here. It's not over yet."

Azarenka's also on the rise and projected to be ranked No. 6, matching a career best.

Serena and Venus Williams, who between them have won eight Key Biscayne titles, missed the tournament for health reasons. But Azarenka still faced a tough path to the final, beating No. 2 Kim Clijsters and No. 3 Vera Zvonareva in straight sets.

Azarenka, 21, avoided the emotional outbursts that derailed her in the past. She said that after losing in the third round at Dubai in February, she went home and reflected on the state of her game.

"I changed my mentality a little bit," she said. "I'm enjoying myself so much on the court that there's no room for me for frustration. I just don't care if I lose; what I mean is not to create such a big drama out of it."

Kasey Kahne in stable spot at Red Bull Racing

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Times wires
Saturday, April 2, 2011

MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Kasey Kahne doesn't feel he has performed that great at Red Bull Racing.

And that's what has him excited about the rest of the Sprint Cup season.

Kahne is driving one year for Red Bull before joining Hendrick Motorsports. He spent the end of last season in limbo as his Richard Petty Motorsports team was immersed in turmoil.

In 2011, Kahne has three top-10 finishes and hasn't finished worse than 25th in five races. Yet he knows more is possible.

"Pit calls and stuff like that have been good, but we still have a ways to go with the car and to run as well as we are and feel like we're missing it — I think we could have a pretty good season," Kahne said.

At least one big change Kahne has noticed is the change in the working environment.

"To me, everybody's excited. The guys building the chassis, the guys putting the bodies on the cars, preparing the race cars, debriefing them — there's so many things," Kahne said.

"You walk around there and it's a good time. It's back to kind of how it should be. I think racing should be fun."

After his ninth-place finish Sunday at Fontana, Calif., Kahne moved into a three-way tie for ninth, the first time he has been among the top 12 since the final week of the 2009 season.

Next season, Kahne will take over the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet currently driven by Mark Martin. For this year Hendrick helped Kahne land the Red Bull ride.

The 30-year-old, who drove the final five races for Red Bull last season after being released from RPM, is in a Toyota after being in a Ford for most of last season and a Dodge in 2009. So he'll complete the manufacturer grand slam next year.

McMurray on pole for Cup at Martinsville

Jamie McMurray took a step toward jump-starting his season by winning the pole for today's Cup race at Martinsville.

McMurray, who is 28th in points, turned a lap of 96.509 mph Saturday in his Chevrolet for today's Goody's 500.

He said getting the pit stall closest to the exit from pit road at Turn 2 was crucial at the tight, 0.526-mile track. That stall all but guarantees a quick entrance and exit, critical factors at a speedway where track position is of paramount importance.

"If you get the No. 1 pit stall here, it's huge, and I think that can win the race for you," said McMurray, whose 96.509 mph lap speed edged Ryan Newman (96.342) for the top starting spot.

TIRE ISSUES: Several drivers were concerned about tire wear heading into today's race based on practices and Saturday's truck race. Tire wear was a huge issue in the trucks race

"It's a terrible tire," Kevin Harvick said. "There's no rubber on the racetrack. Who knows what it's going to be (today)?"

Asked after the truck race if NASCAR needed to throw competition cautions, Kyle Busch smirked and said, "No, we'll just wreck each other. We'll be the cautions."

Game preview: Tampa Bay Lightning at Chicago Blackhawks

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By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, April 2, 2011

. Tonight

Lightning at Blackhawks

When/where: 7; United Center, Chicago

TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM

Key stats: The Lightning has lost two straight and seven of eight in Chicago, where it is 4-10-0 with two ties. … The Blackhawks entered Saturday tied for the league lead with seven losses, including overtime, when leading after two periods. … Tampa Bay is 7-6-2 in the second of back-to-back games. … It has killed 34 of its past 35 road penalties.

Tampa Bay Lightning beats Minnesota Wild 3-1

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By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, April 2, 2011

ST. PAUL, Minn. — For Lightning coach Guy Boucher, the telling moments in Saturday's game with the Wild were when he heard players on the bench demanding accountability from each other.

"That's maturity," Boucher said. "When it's the players who enforce what you're telling them, it means guys are buying in."

The 3-1 victory at Xcel Energy Center was the team's fourth straight. But just as noteworthy, Tampa Bay (43-24-11) avoided a letdown after Thursday's playoff-clinching win over the Penguins.

"We played a great game," captain Vinny Lecavalier said. "Everybody was on the same page. Everyone was doing the right things."

Gritty second-period goals by Ryan Malone and Steve Downie overcame a first-period deficit. Sean Bergenheim's third-period goal, his first in 12 games that ended a two-on-one with Marty St. Louis, gave breathing room.

And goaltender Dwayne Roloson again was strong with 29 saves. Minnesota had a 30-23 shot advantage, 11-4 in the third period.

But unlike Thursday, when turnovers and penalties led to a swing in momentum, Tampa Bay was composed in the face of building pressure from a desperate Wild team that was eliminated from playoff contention.

Better game management while maintaining energy and focus was the pregame lesson coaches delivered with video and stern words.

Asked before the game if his players would exhale after clinching the playoffs, Boucher said, "They won't feel like exhaling because they'll have my inhaling pretty quickly down their throat."

Such tactics were unnecessary.

Roloson's save on Brent Burns began a sequence that led to Malone's tying goal 5:09 into the second period. Malone charged the net, took a pass from Dominic Moore and scored as he was clobbered, and had the wind knocked out of him, by Minnesota's Justin Falk.

"My goodness, that's a big save," Boucher said, "a big turnaround."

Downie showed quick hands handling Simon Gagne's hot cross-slot pass before scoring from in close at 9:05 for a 2-1 lead. But the most telling statistic was Tampa Bay had just one giveaway.

"It's huge," Roloson said. "We did the little things to win, especially at the end of the game to get pucks out. We played a great defensive game."

Tampa Bay remained three points behind the Penguins, its expected first-round playoff opponent, in the race for a top-four seed and home-ice advantage in the Eastern Conference. Pittsburgh beat the Panthers later in the day.

"We got guys to buy into the championship habits we talked about," Boucher said.

"And," he added, "I didn't even have to talk on the bench."

Lightning0213
Wild1001

First Period1, Minnesota, Bouchard 11 (Brodziak, Clutterbuck), 17:03. PenaltiesKubina, TB (holding), 5:54; Miettinen, Min (tripping), 13:18.

Second Period2, Tampa Bay, Malone 12 (Moore, Lundin), 5:09. 3, Tampa Bay, Downie 10 (Gagne, Brewer), 9:05. PenaltiesDownie, TB (interference), :54; Miettinen, Min (holding), 11:06; Zanon, Min (hooking), 16:06; Hedman, TB (hooking), 18:06; Cullen, Min (interference), 19:20.

Third Period4, Tampa Bay, Bergenheim 14 (St. Louis), 7:58. PenaltiesOhlund, TB (roughing), 12:02. Shots on GoalTampa Bay 8-11-4—23. Minnesota 9-10-11—30. Power-play opportunitiesTampa Bay 0 of 4; Minnesota 0 of 4. GoaliesTampa Bay, Roloson 23-24-5 (30 shots-29 saves). Minnesota, Backstrom 22-22-5 (23-20).

Sauter 'cool' in beating Busch

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Times wires
Saturday, April 2, 2011

MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Johnny Sauter passed Kyle Busch a lap before the finish to win Saturday's NASCAR trucks race at Martinsville Speedway.

Busch had the race wrapped up until a caution with nine laps to go set up one final restart. He had a good start, but Sauter reeled him in and passed Busch right before the white flag.

Sauter then pulled away for his first win of the season and third in 65 career series starts.

"Somebody finally beat Kyle Busch!" crew chief Joe Shear Jr. yelled after Sauter finished.

Sauter took some satisfaction in beating Busch, who settled for second in the Kroger 250. Busch has five wins this year spanning NASCAR's top three series, including one in trucks.

"Even if you are not a NASCAR fan, you know who Kyle Busch is because he wins every week," Sauter said. "It's cool to beat Kyle Busch, I can tell you that."

Busch, who led three times for 64 laps, believed he would have won if not for the final caution.

"We had a shot; we just gave it away," he said.

RAIKKONEN DEAL: Former Formula One world champion Kimi Raikkonen's NASCAR truck series deal became official, with the Finnish driver running limited schedule for Kyle Busch Motorsports starting May 20 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Raikkonen, who also drives in the World Rally series, won the F1 title in 2007. Busch said Raikkonen probably would run three to five races, but the only firm date is the Charlotte race.

"I am really excited to have the opportunity to start my venture into NASCAR with Kyle Busch Motorsports," Raikkonen said in a release from the team.

NHRA: John Force earned the No. 1 qualifying spot in Funny Car at the SummitRacing.com Nationals in Las Vegas. Force had a 4.136-second run at 309.27 mph. Larry Dixon (Top Fuel) and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) also topped qualifying for today's eliminations.

INDYCAR: Paul Tracy signed a five-race deal with restructured Dragon Racing. His first start is April 17 in Long Beach, Calif. The former version of the team, de Ferran/Luczo Dragon Racing, folded last month.

Tampa Bay Lightning's focus shifts to playoff details

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By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, April 2, 2011

ST. PAUL, Minn. — It would have been easy for the Lightning brass to call the season a success.

With its first playoff berth since 2007, the team has wiped away the doldrums and dysfunction of the previous three years.

But instead of celebrating after Thursday's playoff-clinching win over the Penguins, GM Steve Yzerman spoke about perhaps gaining home-ice advantage for what seems will be a first-round playoff matchup with the Penguins, and coach Guy Boucher wants fewer penalties and turnovers.

"We're the leaders, and the minute we show we're satisfied about something, we'll get the result of people who are satisfied," Boucher said Saturday.

"We recognize how important it is," he said of the playoffs, "but at the same time, we recognize the possibility of doing some good things now, not next year. We want to make sure we're showing the way. We're asking our players to be relentless. We have to be relentless."

"As much as you feel good about making the playoffs," Yzerman said, "I can't say anyone is gratified by it because the season isn't over.

"I don't want to just be in it. I want us to have a good first round. It's momentum. A team in the playoffs gives fans hope."

The message seemed to trickle down. The locker room Thursday was as businesslike as Yzerman and Boucher.

"We said congratulations," Boucher said of his postgame conversation with Yzerman, "and then we went right away about what we need to improve."

SMITH IN NET: Tonight against the Blackhawks, G Mike Smith makes his fourth start since his late-February return from the minors, and he said he has come to grips with a diminished workload.

"Practice is important," Smith said. "You have to be sharp, not take days off. It's time to work when you get here in the morning."

Smith is 1-1-1 with a 2.61 goals-against average and .911 save percentage since returning from AHL Norfolk. He is 11-6-1 with a 3.10 goals-against average and .888 save percentage overall.

DOWNIE's dilemma: RW Steve Downie is making progress controlling his on-ice emotions, Boucher said. But he sometimes still gets the short end.

Take Thursday's game with the Penguins. Downie was cross-checked by D Brooks Orpik, who was penalized. Downie skated away but got an inexplicable two minutes for slashing.

"The kid is trying so hard to change, and when he is changing, he gets no reward," Boucher said. "You need the reward. Otherwise, what's the use?"

Hurtin': AHL Norfolk G Cedrick Desjardins (shoulder) is likely done for the season but should not need surgery, Yzerman reiterated. … Junior prospect Brett Connolly, 2010's first-round draft pick, will be out four to eight weeks with a Grade II separated shoulder.

ODDS AND ENDS: D Eric Brewer's assist on Downie's second-period goal Saturday against the Wild in the 3-1 win was his first with Tampa Bay. … D Randy Jones, out 12 games with a high ankle sprain, could skate this week. … W Ryan Malone, who has played two games since returning from a groin injury, will sit out tonight at Chicago as a precaution, Boucher said. … Defensemen Marc-Andre Bergeron and Matt Smaby also were scratched Saturday.


Yankees GM claims Mets 'abused' hurt reliever

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Times wires
Saturday, April 2, 2011

NEW YORK — Yankees GM Brian Cashman said injured LH reliever Pedro Feliciano was "abused" by the Mets the past few years.

Feliciano, on the disabled list with a strained left rotator cuff, has made 344 relief appearances since 2007, a major-league record for a four-year stretch. He led the majors in games each of the past three seasons, including a career-high 92 in 2010.

"He was abused," Cashman said. "The use pattern was abusive."

Still, the Yankees signed Feliciano to an $8 million, two-year contract in January that includes a club option for 2013.

"It's a thin market when you're out there looking for lefties, and he's one of the better ones out there," Cashman said. "But yeah, you don't typically run to sign up guys that have been used like that."

Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen seemed surprised by Cashman's remarks.

"I feel badly that someone feels that way," he said. "That was part of the reason we decided to not re-sign him … because we knew we had used him 270-some times in the last three years.

"They didn't know that when they signed him?"

Cashman also said the Yankees are finished flashing hand signals from the stands, at least for now.

He confirmed the team received a call from the commissioner's office inquiring about a club employee relaying information to players after each pitch on opening day.

The Daily News reported that broadcaster Keith Olbermann, a season-ticket holder, put a photo on Twitter of Brett Weber, a Yankees baseball operations coaching assistant, holding up four fingers toward the field during Thursday's game. Weber was sitting behind home plate and wearing a headset.

Major League Baseball rules prohibit club staff from using hand signals to communicate pitch types or speeds to players.

Cashman said the Yankee Stadium scoreboard was on the fritz, so Weber was just providing the sort of post-pitch details that normally appear for all to see, such as "93 mph fastball."

And in other Yankees news, RHP Kevin Millwood made his first start for Triple-A Scranton, throwing 48 pitches against Las Vegas and allowing three runs in two-plus innings.

GOOD NEWS FOR CARDS: The Cardinals decided not to put LF Matt Holliday on the disabled list, opting to wait a few days to see if the slugger can make a speedy return from an appendectomy.

Holliday had the surgery Friday, but the team believes the condition was caught early and he could be back before the end of a 15-day DL stint. Manager Tony La Russa said the team would wait until Monday or Tuesday to make a decision.

FAN INJURY: The companion of a woman who was struck in the face Friday by the shattered bat of the Angels' Torii Hunter said she had to wait about 45 minutes before Royals officials got her into an ambulance.

Mike Sterrett, who shares a home with 64-year-old Sue Cooney in suburban Leawood, Kan., said Cooney will need extensive surgery to repair her cheekbone and eye socket. Royals executive Bob Rice said there was no undue delay, although he would not say how long it took to get her in the ambulance.

ANGELS: RHP Joel Pineiro, on the DL with right shoulder tightness, had a setback and was scratched from a scheduled minor-league outing today.

BRAVES: RHP Jair Jurrjens is expected to go on the DL today with an injury to his right side.

GIANTS: LHP Barry Zito, who walked away from a two-car accident Wednesday, felt fine a day after throwing off flat ground and is expected to start today.

MARLINS: RF Mike Stanton was not in the lineup because of left hamstring tightness.

ROCKIES: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez has a cut cuticle on his right thumb that affected his opening-day outing and could force him to miss his next start.

Calipari's father joins Kentucky during tourney run

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Times wires
Saturday, April 2, 2011

HOUSTON — There are times when Vince Calipari grows so antsy watching son John coach Kentucky, he flips off the TV.

Given a choice, the 78-year-old prefers a seat in the stands. And he has been by his son's side for every step of this postseason, including Saturday's semifinal against Connecticut.

The trip has been therapeutic and bittersweet for the Caliparis. Vince's wife of 54 years, Donna, died of cancer in November.

"It's been a hard road," John Calipari said.

John took little time to mourn, never missing a game. He says he'll do so after the season.

It took some prodding for Calipari to get his father to join him. Vince didn't attend a game during the regular season, opting to spend time at his home in Charlotte, N.C.

Calipari simply wore him down. He encouraged Vince to bond with grandson Bradley and "take his mind off the grief."

Bradley and Vince sit next to each other on the team bus and have adjoining hotel rooms.

This is Vince's second Final Four. He watched in 1996 as John led Massachusetts to the semifinals, where it lost to Kentucky. He skipped Calipari's last trip, in 2008 with Memphis. ("It felt like a business trip.")

He is aware of the lightning rod his son can be. Both Final Four trips were vacated due to NCAA violations, though the coach was not found at fault in either.

"There's a lot been said both ways about John, but he's a good son," Vince said. "He's a good person. He's a good coach, and he tries to help everyone he can."

Upstaged: Fans mobbed Blue 2, Butler's English bulldog mascot, behind CBS's stage at the Final Four, snapping pictures and petting him. Even TV analyst Kenny Smith whipped out his phone to get a picture when Blue 2 joined the crew two hours before game time. Blue 2 got so much attention that also backstage, the nation's player of the year, BYU's Jimmer Fredette, was ignored.

By the way, Blue 2 has a Twitter account with about 5,000 followers and a Facebook page. And about 57,000 checked his Flickr page Friday to see photos of him at the Johnson Space Center, practice and media appearances.

Yanks for 'cats: Since 1949, Kentucky has won seven national titles. After each of the previous six — 1949, 1951, 1958, 1978, 1996 and 1998 — the Yankees have won the World Series. After the Wildcats' first title, in 1948, the Indians won the American League and beat the Braves (then in Boston) in the World Series.

Hoping he'll stay: VCU athletic director Norwood Teague said he will discuss a contract extension with coach Shaka Smart after the season: "We're going to get really aggressive with a package for him."

Obituary: Larry Finch, a former player and coach at Memphis, died in Memphis of undisclosed causes. He was 60. Mr. Finch scored 29 in a loss to UCLA in the 1973 title game. Under him from 1986 to 1997, Memphis played in six tournaments and reached the Elite Eight in 1992.

For Bucs' Aqib Talib, past has been impossible to escape

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By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, April 2, 2011

GARLAND, Texas — The laughter of children and the steady hum of a distant lawn mower were the only sounds last week punctuating the silence and serenity of Charleston Commons, a neighborhood of large, two-story brick homes dotted with satellite dishes.

George Ward, 72, who spent 25 years on the Boston police force before retiring as a sergeant, moved to this suburb northeast of Dallas eight years ago to spend time with his granddaughters, work in his garden and keep tabs of his beloved New England Patriots in the upstairs loft he converted into his man cave.

"I came down here to retire and live a good life," Ward said.

But on March 21, the quiet of this upper-middle-class neighborhood was broken by a burst of gunfire and a wail of sirens rivaling anything Ward had witnessed during his career in law enforcement.

"It really is a miracle nobody was killed," said Garland police spokesman Joe Harn.

Left in the trail of terror were frightened residents, spent shell casings and the fragmented football career of Buccaneers cornerback Aqib Talib.

But this is not just a matter of a pro athlete struggling to break free of the hangers-on friends and bad influences he grew up with. In fact, Talib's history of responding violently to conflict may have been passed to him through the umbilical cord.

After all, what lessons do you learn as a 10-year-old when your mom settles a dispute over $50 with a steak knife?

"It's just that breaking away is hard for him, but I would agree it would not be bad for him," said Jim Ledford, who coached Talib and his brother Yaqub, 27, at Berkner High School in Richardson, Texas. "I don't want to ever take family members away, but sometimes … "

A fight, then the shots

Police say about 7:30 p.m. on that Monday, Talib, 25, brandished a 9mm handgun and attempted to pistol-whip Shannon Billings, the live-in boyfriend of his sister, Saran Talib, 43.

Earlier in the day, Billings, 40, had scratched Saran's head with his hand and fingernails during a domestic disturbance, according to an arrest warrant. Talib's gun slipped out of his hand in a struggle and jammed when it struck a fence, police say. That's when Billings picked it up and began running down the 900 block of Green Pond Drive, they say.

Talib's mother, Okolo Talib, 58, arrived on the scene, stepped out of her vehicle, aimed her handgun at Billings and fired several shots, witnesses told police. Talib then grabbed the handgun from his mother and fired a couple of rounds at Billings, according to an arrest warrant. None of the shots struck Billings.

Ward said that among the uninjured on the street that day were two children, including Talib's 3-year-old daughter, Kiara.

"(Talib) was down there with two kids, his little girl and boy. I was right there in the window," said Ward, who has lived next door to Saran and Billings for five years.

One of Aqib Talib's attorneys, Frank Perez, said none of the 19 people interviewed about the incident indicated children were present during the shooting.

"There's been a lot of inaccuracies in the reporting of this incident, and we look forward to the truth coming out," Perez said.

Linda Jones, a teacher at Garland Elementary who lives behind Saran on Citadel Drive, said she and her children had just returned home when the shooting started.

"My kids and I had just come back from riding our bikes," Jones said. "My kids wanted to go on Green Pond and I said, 'No, let's just stay on this side.' I'm thankful we did, or I would've been right there in the middle of it."

Aqib Talib and his mother took off in separate vehicles before police arrived. Last week they surrendered to authorities on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 25 years in prison.

Talib, who was released Wednesday after posting $25,000 bail, has "vigorously denied" all charges through a statement from his attorneys. And in a conversation with a former college coach, Talib also implicated his mother as the only person who fired the gun.

Meanwhile, Okolo received an additional charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and was released Tuesday after posting a total of $30,000 bail.

Talib was suspended one game by the NFL last season for punching a St. Petersburg cabdriver and vowed to coaches and teammates that he would stay out of trouble.

Start in Cleveland

To understand Talib's troubles, you have to go back to the beginning in Cleveland, before his mother, then named Donna Henry, converted to Islam and gave her four children Muslim names (although they've said they don't practice the religion).

It was before his father, Theodore Henry, left his wife to live in New Jersey, where the boys eventually followed. And it was long before the boys were reunited with their mom in Texas when Aqib started middle school, presumably for a chance at a better future.

He was only 10 years old when his mother spent eight months in prison. According to Cleveland police reports, Donna Henry was arrested for attempted felony assault on May 6, 1996, when she stabbed at a neighbor on Wheelock Avenue in Cleveland.

Virginia Flowers came to Henry's house in an attempt to recover the $50 she had loaned her. They were described as friends, and Henry had helped Flowers move into a house down the street.

When Henry didn't pay her back, Flowers threw a brick through her car window, the police report said. That's when Henry stabbed Flowers in the left upper chest with a steak knife. Flowers was hospitalized and treated for a chest wound.

"She claims she didn't want to kill her, only to let her know what she did was wrong," the report said of Henry's statement to police.

On Oct. 18, 1996, she was sentenced to two to 10 years in the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville. Eight months later, her sentence was suspended and Henry was placed on two years' probation.

Her legal troubles didn't end there.

On March, 16, 2000, Dallas County records say, Okolo Talib was arrested for selling alcohol to a minor. She pleaded no contest and was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay $700 in fines and court costs.

Burglary, pot, fight

Aqib idolized his brother Yaqub, and both starred in football at Berkner High under Ledford. Yaqub played receiver but wound up accepting a science scholarship to Iowa State University. Ledford said Aqib was bright but "lazy" as a student.

"He tries to do that whole street thing, but don't let that fool you," said former University of Kansas co-defensive coordinator Clint Bowen. "He's very smart. I don't think he ever went to a single class, but he still got a 2.7 (GPA) at Kansas."

In 2007, Cortney Jacobs, a University of Kansas sprinter, gave birth to Talib's daughter, Kiara. Talib's current girlfriend, Gypsy Benitez, has a son about the same age from a previous relationship, according to Talib's high school football coach.

On the field, Talib was a late bloomer who caught the eyes of recruiters after his junior year. He eventually signed with Kansas, where he posted 13 career interceptions and was the MVP of the 2008 Orange Bowl.

But just before his high school graduation in April 2004, Talib broke into a home several doors from where Ledford, his coach, lived and was arrested and charged with burglary. He eventually received two years' probation.

"We see a good side," Ledford said. "Of course, maybe it's because we choose to see the good side."

When rumors surfaced at the 2008 NFL scouting combine that Talib had tested positive for marijuana three times at Kansas, his draft stock fell. His troubles in Tampa Bay began as soon as the Bucs selected him with the 20th overall pick.

There was the fight with teammate Cory Boyd at the NFL rookie symposium; his inadvertently striking Bucs cornerback Torrie Cox in the face with a helmet during an argument with left tackle Donald Penn; the battery charge after he allegedly hit St. Petersburg's David Duggan while Talib was a passenger in his cab, leading to Talib's suspension.

"I'd thought that if he got away, things might settle down for him," Ledford said. "That's what I was hoping, what we all were hoping."

But Ward saw changes in Talib whenever he was around Billings, Saran and Okolo.

"You couldn't talk to him, he's hardheaded," Ward said. "They were loud. He was over here having parties in the offseason and cars were everywhere."

Billings, whose relationship with Saran dates back to their days in Cleveland, is a registered sex offender who assaulted a 14-year-old girl in 1998 when he was 27. Ward keeps a file of Billings' arrests.

Billings' relationship with Saran appears to have ended. He remains in Dallas County Jail, unable to find someone to post the relatively meager $2,500 bail. A few days after the incident, Saran tossed all his belongings in the garbage.

"He doesn't have a friend in the world. He can rot in jail as far as they're concerned," Ward said.

Many on his side

What makes Talib's story different than the typical cautionary tale of a pro athlete gone bad is that so many people see a lot of great qualities in him.

He and his brother held a free football camp at Berkner High recently for about 200 kids. He isn't one to spend lavishly on jewelry or cars. Ledford said Talib helped buy homes for his mother and sister. His father retired from his job stocking shelves at a Kmart distribution center and lives with him in Tampa.

Yaqub, who lives in Gainesville, handles Aqib's finances and "gives him an allowance," Ledford said.

In a conversation after the shooting, Talib told Bowen, the former University of Kansas defensive coordinator, that his mother was the only one who pulled the trigger.

Complicating matters for the Bucs is that NFL teams are prohibited from talking to players or making transactions during the current work stoppage, but the league's code of conduct still will be enforced.

"It's sad. I'd give anything if he could separate himself from that kind of atmosphere, if you will," Ledford said. "When he and I talked the last time, we talked about not putting yourself in those situations. But this one was family, and he's very loyal to his mother. I know how close they were, even here. That's one of the things in his demise right now, the closeness to his family."

Times staff writer Stephen F. Holder and Times senior researcher John Martin contributed to this report.

Yankees 10, Tigers 6

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Times wires
Saturday, April 2, 2011

Yankees 10, Tigers 6

NEW YORK — A.J. Burnett took a steady first step as he aims to bounce back from a wobbly season, and Mark Teixeira hit his second three-run homer in two games for the Yankees.

Injuries tripping up Magic

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Times wires
Saturday, April 2, 2011

ORLANDO — Last month, before his team embarked on a pivotal stretch against several of the league's top squads, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said he was content playing 10 guys before deciding how to pare down his playoff rotation.

With six games to play, though, Van Gundy simply hasn't had that option anymore.

"I couldn't play 10 guys if I wanted to right now," he said after his team's final practice Saturday before traveling to Toronto today. "It's sort of crazy right now."

Over the past several weeks, sixth man J.J. Redick, backup point guards Gilbert Arenas and Chris Duhon and forward Quentin Richardson have all missed time because of injury or illness.

Redick has missed 11 straight games with a lower abdominal strain. Duhon has been out two games with a ligament strain in his right thumb. Arenas played five straight games after resting a sore left calf and knee but has missed two in a row with an illness. And Richardson is back on the floor but recently missed three games with back spasms.

The Magic will have only nine players for the third straight game tonight.

It has resulted in more questions around an already perplexing Magic team in its final push before the postseason.

"The only thing for us that has been tough is that we haven't had the same guys out, so it's been hard to get into any type of rhythm," Van Gundy said. "We go into New York and we have Gil and Chris, but we don't have Jameer (Nelson). Then we go to Atlanta and we don't have Chris or Q, but we've got Jameer and Gil. Then we go into (Friday) night and we don't have Gil or Chris, but we have Q back.

"So it's really hard to get into any kind of playing rotation and consistency in the way you play. And I think that's shown up in the way we play."

What is pretty much a forgone conclusion is that the Magic is snugly in the No. 4 spot in the East and will likely meet division mate Atlanta in the first round of the playoffs.

And despite a tough stretch in March, when the Magic went 9-6 with a schedule that featured 10 games on the road, there are glimmers of progress since the All-Star break.

The Magic is fourth in the NBA in overall opponents' field-goal percentage, allowing teams to shoot 43.6 percent. And after some early struggles, starting forward Hedo Turkoglu is starting to show flashes of the offensive threat that helped the Magic reach the NBA Finals in 2009. Over the past 13 games, Turkoglu is averaging 15.4 points and 5.3 assists.

Magic center Dwight Howard, who believes Orlando has the pieces to make a Finals run this year, said the recent injury bumps can't be a crutch.

"Just be consistent and play hard every night," Howard said. "When we went to the Finals, we were exhausted. We had put so much in and I don't think we had anything. But that's not an excuse for why we lost. We've been there once, and we want to get back."

The one piece, of course, that the Magic can't allow anything to happen to is Howard. Van Gundy was able to get him some rest in the second half Friday night against Charlotte but said he probably won't let Howard sit out an entire game before the playoffs.

"It would probably just be a reduction of minutes," Van Gundy said. "If I did ever sit anybody down, it would mostly likely be on the second night of a back-to-back or something like that. I won't rest him on the last night."

AROUND THE LEAGUE: The Bulls held center and former Florida Gator Joakim Noah out for the third straight game Saturday night against the Toronto Raptors because of a sprained right ankle. … Timberwolves forward Kevin Love didn't make the trip to Memphis because of a strained left groin. … Celtics center Nenad Krstic has a bone bruise in his right knee and is day to day. He was hurt Thursday night against the Spurs.

Bulls solidify spot at top

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Times wires
Saturday, April 2, 2011

CHICAGO — Derrick Rose remembered the celebration the last time the Bulls met Toronto. He wasn't about to let the Raptors yuck it up this time.

Rose had 36 points and 10 assists, and Chicago took another step toward the top seed in the Eastern Conference with its 15th victory in 17 games, hanging on to beat the short-handed Raptors 113-106 Saturday night.

The Bulls lead Miami by three games and Boston by 3½. They also are within one of San Antonio for the league's best record.

Rose scored at least 30 for the third time in five games and got a measure of revenge for a perceived slight in a loss at Toronto in late February.

"I just remember them celebrating after they won back in Toronto," he said.

To Rose, it was embarrassing.

"When you see people celebrating when they normally don't do that … it kind of gets to you, especially being the person that I am," he said. "I just try to feed off of anything, where by nature I'm just a quiet guy trying to get along with a lot of people."

Chicago held out former Gator Joakim Noah (sprained right ankle) for the third straight game.

Injuries slow Magic

ORLANDO — Last month, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said he was content playing 10 guys before deciding how to pare down his playoff rotation.

With six games to play, though, Van Gundy simply doesn't have that option anymore.

"I couldn't play 10 guys if I wanted to right now," he said after his team's final practice before traveling to Toronto today. "It's sort of crazy right now."

Over the past several weeks, sixth man J.J. Redick, backup point guards Gilbert Arenas and Chris Duhon and forward Quentin Richardson have all missed time because of injury or illness.

The Magic will have only nine players for the third straight game tonight.

"The only thing for us that has been tough is that we haven't had the same guys out, so it's been hard to get into any type of rhythm," Van Gundy said.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Zach Randolph had 22 points for the host Grizzlies, who had 17 steals and took sole possession of seventh in the West with a 106-89 victory over the Timberwolves. Minnesota forward Kevin Love (strained left groin) didn't make the trip. … Brandon Jennings scored nine of his 13 in overtime as the host Bucks rallied to beat the 76ers 93-87.

AROUND THE LEAGUE: Celtics center Nenad Krstic has a bone bruise in his right knee and is day to day. He was hurt Thursday night against the Spurs.

Bulls 113, Raptors 106

TORONTO (106): J.Johnson 2-7 2-2 7, Davis 7-8 3-4 17, A.Johnson 5-11 2-2 12, Bayless 9-14 6-7 26, DeRozan 10-21 6-7 26, Weems 0-5 0-0 0, Evans 0-0 0-0 0, Barbosa 8-15 2-2 18, Wright 0-0 0-0 0, Ajinca 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 41-81 21-24 106.

CHICAGO (113): Deng 7-11 2-2 17, Boozer 8-19 2-2 18, Thomas 1-3 0-0 2, Rose 11-20 13-14 36, Bogans 2-4 0-0 5, Gibson 6-11 3-3 15, Asik 1-2 2-3 4, Brewer 2-8 2-2 6, Watson 0-3 0-0 0, Korver 3-4 2-2 10. Totals 41-85 26-28 113.

Toronto 19 24 32 31— 106

Chicago 25 28 30 30— 113

3-Point GoalsToronto 3-7 (Bayless 2-4, J.Johnson 1-1, Barbosa 0-1, Weems 0-1), Chicago 5-13 (Korver 2-3, Bogans 1-2, Deng 1-2, Rose 1-4, Brewer 0-1, Watson 0-1). ReboundsToronto 36 (Davis 11), Chicago 53 (Boozer 10). AssistsToronto 20 (Bayless 8), Chicago 24 (Rose 10). Total FoulsToronto 18, Chicago 19. TechnicalsA.Johnson, Toronto Coach Triano. A22,228 (20,917).

Grizzlies 106, T'wolves 89

MINNESOTA (89): Johnson 1-7 0-0 2, Beasley 8-16 3-4 20, Pekovic 6-9 2-2 14, Ridnour 7-11 2-2 17, Ellington 3-6 0-0 7, Tolliver 5-8 1-2 12, Flynn 0-2 2-2 2, A.Randolph 0-2 1-2 1, Webster 4-8 2-2 12, Hayward 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 35-72 13-16 89.

MEMPHIS (106): Young 4-6 1-2 9, Z.Randolph 9-14 4-4 22, Gasol 5-7 0-0 10, Conley 2-11 0-0 5, Allen 6-13 0-0 12, Arthur 2-5 2-2 6, Mayo 8-12 1-2 20, Battier 3-5 0-0 7, Smith 0-2 0-0 0, Powe 5-8 1-2 11, Vasquez 0-4 0-0 0, Haddadi 2-3 0-1 4. Totals 46-90 9-13 106.

Minnesota 20 24 20 25— 89

Memphis 29 27 17 33— 106

3-Point GoalsMinnesota 6-19 (Webster 2-5, Ridnour 1-2, Tolliver 1-2, Beasley 1-2, Ellington 1-3, Flynn 0-2, Johnson 0-3), Memphis 5-12 (Mayo 3-4, Battier 1-1, Conley 1-3, Z.Randolph 0-1, Allen 0-1, Vasquez 0-2). ReboundsMinnesota 40 (Pekovic 6), Memphis 48 (Gasol 9). AssistsMinnesota 19 (Johnson, Beasley, Tolliver 4), Memphis 23 (Conley 9). Total FoulsMinnesota 23, Memphis 19. A15,327 (18,119).

Bucks 93, 76ers 87, OT

PHILADELPHIA (87): Iguodala 2-8 3-4 7, Brand 10-18 0-2 20, Hawes 4-12 4-4 12, Holiday 6-20 2-2 15, Meeks 5-8 1-1 13, Young 6-14 2-2 14, Williams 1-5 1-3 3, Nocioni 1-2 0-0 3, Speights 0-0 0-0 0, Kapono 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 35-87 13-18 87.

MILWAUKEE (93): Maggette 2-6 4-4 8, Mbah a Moute 5-9 2-4 12, Bogut 4-11 2-4 10, Jennings 3-9 6-6 13, Salmons 8-11 2-2 19, Gooden 6-16 0-0 12, Sanders 0-1 0-0 0, Dooling 3-4 1-2 8, Redd 2-3 0-0 4, Douglas-Roberts 3-4 1-2 7. Totals 36-74 18-24 93.

Philadelphia 30 18 13 18 8— 87

Milwaukee 20 19 22 18 14— 93

3-Point GoalsPhiladelphia 4-14 (Meeks 2-3, Nocioni 1-2, Holiday 1-4, Young 0-1, Iguodala 0-2, Williams 0-2), Milwaukee 3-9 (Salmons 1-1, Dooling 1-2, Jennings 1-3, Gooden 0-1, Maggette 0-1, Redd 0-1). ReboundsPhiladelphia 47 (Brand 12), Milwaukee 54 (Gooden 12). AssistsPhiladelphia 24 (Holiday 10), Milwaukee 18 (Salmons 8). Total FoulsPhiladelphia 17, Milwaukee 17. TechnicalsMilwaukee defensive three second. Flagrant Fouls—Speights. A17,079 (18,717).

USF Bulls' depth chart

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Times staff
Saturday, April 2, 2011

Depth chart

First team Second team

WRSterling Griffin Deonte Welch

LT Mark Popek Darren Powe

LG Jeremiah Warren John McGhin

C Kevin McCaskill Austin Reiter

RG Chaz Hine Danous Estenor

RT Quinterrius Eatmon Damien Edwards

TE Andreas Shields Isaac Virgin

WREvan Landi Terrence Mitchell

QB B.J. Daniels Bobby Eveld

RB Demetris Murray Darrell Scott

WRJoel Miller Victor Marc

DE Ryne Giddins Claude Davis

DT Cory Grissom Luke Sager

DT Keith McCaskill Demi Thompson

DE Patrick Hampton Julius Forte

LB Sam Barrington Reshard Cliett

LB Mike Lanaris Sam Barrington

LB DeDe Lattimore Curtis Weatherspoon

CB Kayvon Webster Ricardo Dixon

SS Jon Lejiste JaQuez Jenkins

FS Jerrell Young Mark Joyce

CB Quenton Washington George Baker

P Chris VeronJustin Brockhaus-Kann

PK Maikon Bonani Marvin Kloss

LS Mike Walsh Corey Schomp


Tampa Bay Rays starter Wade Davis more relaxed entering second full season

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By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, April 2, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — RHP Wade Davis says he's much more relaxed entering his second full big-league season, and he has many reasons to be.

Davis established himself with 12 wins as a rookie last year, along with a victory in the postseason, and recently signed a seven-year deal with the Rays that's worth up to $35 million.

What also helps is that Davis learned a lot from his experience last year — including both the 0-5 stretch in June and the seven-game winning streak afterward — which he'll carry into today's start against the Orioles.

"I think I'm understanding a lot more than I did at this point last year," said Davis, 25. "I know I don't have to go out and try to throw the ball as hard as I can every pitch to get guys out. I think I've understood I can take a step back and pitch a little bit more instead of just throwing."

Manager Joe Maddon saw a little different Davis in camp.

"He looked more veteran in his appearances this spring," Maddon said. "He was much more under control, I thought he wasn't trying to overdo anything, there was a much more relaxed look about him."

Davis has won three of five starts against Baltimore, including a shutout. And though the Orioles are more dangerous with players they added in the offseason, Davis will stick with what he does best. "That's the big thing from this year and last year, I've learned to pitch with my strengths more and not to their weaknesses," he said.

LEFT OUT: Manny Ramirez said he's playing leftfield today, and he made sure during Saturday's pregame to shag fly balls and get used to the surroundings. Ramirez played 28 spring training innings in left.

"It's hard when you don't do it in spring training," Ramirez said. "You've got to get that feel in the outfield. It's like hitting or pitching, when you're pitching and you haven't pitched in two months. I'll try my best."

LINING UP: Maddon said C Kelly Shoppach started Saturday against RHP Chris Tillman because Tillman is more of a neutral-type pitcher, pretty similar vs. lefties/righties. Plus, Maddon said Shoppach made some strides against right-handers in the spring.

LEANING LEFT: Zach Britton, the Orioles' top pitching prospect, was called up to make his debut today with LHP Brian Matusz (back) going on the disabled list. Those Rays who have faced him in Triple A say he's a hard-throwing lefty with late movement on his fastball, a quality slider and changeup.

"When he's really good, he's throwing them all for strikes," Elliot Johnson said. "And he's working the fastball in on the inside part of the plate. So it makes it really hard to stay on the offspeed stuff when you're working on 94-95 coming in on your hands."

MISCELLANY: RHPs Kyle Farns­worth and RHP Joel Peralta will sign autographs from noon to 12:30 today along the rightfield line. … LHP Cesar Ramos' number changed from No. 55 to No. 27, which he wore in high school and at Long Beach State. … Davis will have his head shaved after the game on top of the dugout by a young pediatric cancer patient to support the Cut for the Cure.

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher James Shields encouraged by strong season debut

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By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, April 2, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — RHP James Shields received a standing ovation when he left Saturday's start against the Orioles, having pitched a gem through 71/3 innings.

"That was really fun to watch," manager Joe Maddon said. "He was really, really good."

The Rays said it's just too bad he couldn't leave with a win.

Shields was impressive in his season debut, allowing just four hits in a 102-pitch outing. He was charged with two runs, given up when Orioles 2B Brian Roberts hit a three-run homer off LH reliever Jake McGee with one out in the eighth.

Shields was encouraged with how his improved mechanics and more compact delivery had him pitching. He said he was able to locate his fastball as well as he could and threw all his offspeed pitches for strikes.

"I felt I could have pitched a couple more innings, that's how strong I feel right now," Shields said. "If I keep pitching like that, I suppose I'm going to get some wins throughout the season."

Maddon has said Shields, who had a career-high 15 losses and a 5.18 ERA last season, is primed for a bounceback.

"I'll tell you what," Maddon said. "If he stays right there delivery-wise, he's going to pitch like that a lot this year."

WADING IN: RHP Wade Davis says he's much more relaxed entering his second full big-league season, and he has many reasons to be.

Davis established himself with 12 wins as a rookie, along with a victory in the postseason, and recently signed a seven-year deal worth up to $35 million.

What also helps is that Davis learned a lot from his experience last year, which he'll carry into today's start against the Orioles.

"I think I'm understanding a lot more than I did at this point last year," said Davis, 25. "I know I don't have to go out and try to throw the ball as hard as I can every pitch to get guys out. I think I've understood I can take a step back and pitch a little bit more instead of just throwing."

THE FIRSTS: DH Manny Ramirez picked up his first hit as a Ray, an RBI single in the eighth. LF Johnny Damon played first base in the ninth inning for the first time since a one-inning stint May 15, 2008, with the Yankees — against the Rays at the Trop. "It definitely felt weird," he said, smiling.

LINING UP: Maddon said C Kelly Shoppach started against RHP Chris Tillman because Tillman is more of a neutral-type pitcher, pretty similar vs. lefties/righties. Plus, Maddon said Shoppach made some strides against right-handers in the spring. Shoppach will also start today.

Ramirez said he's going to play leftfield today and made sure to get in some work pregame Saturday on shagging fly balls and getting comfortable out there. "I'll try my best," he said.

MISCELLANY: RHPs Kyle Farns­worth and Joel Peralta will sign autographs from noon to 12:30 today along the rightfield line. … LHP Cesar Ramos' number changed from 55 to 27, which he wore in high school and at Long Beach State. … Davis will have his head shaved after the game on top of the dugout by a young pediatric cancer patient to support the Cut for the Cure.

Tampa Bay Rays avoid no-hitter but lose 3-1 to Baltimore Orioles to fall to 0-2

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, April 2, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — By comparison, Friday's opening night loss was a relative festival.

Saturday, the Rays were no-hit into the seventh inning. They lost star third baseman Evan Longoria with what was described as a sore left oblique. They wasted a tremendous start by James Shields. They were done in by one of their inexperienced relievers. Their ninth-inning rally was cut short by a spectacular leaping catch by rightfielder Nick Markakis at the wall.

And, naturally, they lost again, this time 3-1 to the Orioles.

The Rays were held hitless for six innings by Orioles starter Chris Tillman, the 22-year-old right-hander in his 24th big-league start, until he was removed by manager Buck Showalter with a pitch count of 101. And then two batters into the seventh by reliever Jeremy Accardo, before B.J. Upton singled.

The string of zeroes were uncomfortable, but certainly not unfamiliar, as the Rays were no hit twice last season (by Oakland's Dallas Braden and Arizona's Edwin Jackson) and once the year before (Chicago's Mark Buehrle), in addition to several near-misses along the way.

Longoria looked a little awkward throwing to second on Vlad Guerrero's double-play grounder in the top of the fourth, and then took what looked almost like a half-swing during his at-bat in the bottom of the inning, a soft line out to center.

Oblique injuries, increasingly common in baseball, can sideline a player for four-six weeks depending on the severity of the strain.

Shields, seeking to bounce back from his career worst season, delivered a gem of a start, limiting the O's to just three singles and a walk over the first seven innings and getting out of whatever trouble he got into.

But when he allowed a single to the first batter of the eighth and a walk to the third on his 102nd pitch, manager Joe Maddon decided he was done.

But the next decision Maddon made, with switch-hitter Brian Roberts up next, was worse. He passed over right-hander Kyle Farnsworth, against whom Roberts was 1-for-7 with five strikeouts, in favor of rookie lefty Jake McGee, and Roberts knocked the third pitch into the leftfield seats.

McGee, 24, has tremendous potential as a late-inning reliever, but the Rays said all spring they were leery of giving him too much too soon.

The Rays had a chance to score in the seventh after Upton broke up the no-hitter as he sto le second and tried to score on Kelly Shoppach's two-out single off right-hander Jeremy Accardo, but Felix Pie nailed Upton at the plate, despite his efforts to knock over catcher Matt Wieters.

They finally broke through in the eighth as Manny Ramirez, with his first hit as a Ray, singled in Elliot Johnson, who walked to start the inning against O's left Mike Gonzalez.

After a series of substitutions left them with a patchwork defense of Johnny Damon playing first base and Dan Johnson third in the top of the ninth, they rallied one last time at the end.

An Upton single, good hustle by Matt Joyce to avoid a double play and a Kelly Shoppach walk left them with two on and one out in the ninth. After Elliot Johnson took a third strike, Ben Zobrist laced a ball deep to right but Markakis made a running, leaping catch to end the game.

Tillman, 22, has had no-hit stuff. He threw a nine-inning no-hitter for Triple-A Norfolk last year against Atlanta's Gwinnett team.

Marc Topkin can be reached at topkin@sptimes.com.

Reds 4, Brewers 2

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Times wires
Saturday, April 2, 2011

Reds 4, Brewers 2

CINCINNATI — Scott Rolen hit a two-run homer in the first, eliminating the need for another comeback, and the Reds won behind seven strong innings from left-hander Travis Wood. The defending NL Central champions are 2-0 for the first time opening 3-0 in 2005. They beat the Brewers on opening day with a ninth-inning homer. Shaun Marcum tied his career high with five walks in 42/3 innings in his Milwaukee debut.

Freshman quarterback Matt Floyd steals spotlight at USF Bulls spring game

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By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, April 2, 2011

Matt Floyd has been on USF's campus for only three months, so it's all the more surprising the quarterback was the breakout star of Saturday's spring game at Raymond James Stadium. The freshman threw for 233 yards and a touchdown, mostly against the Bulls' No. 1 defense. "All my friends back home are getting ready for prom, getting their last-minute ACTs in to get into college," said Floyd, who graduated early from Milton High in December. "It was a good thing for me to come in, get with the team and in with the team chemistry. We're all one here. It was good for me to learn the offense, compete with Bobby (Eveld) and B.J. (Daniels) and make them better while making me better at the same time. Overall, it's been a lot of fun. I love it, and I'm so glad I came in early."

Floyd completed 20 of 34 passes, including a 70-yard touchdown to Derrick Hopkins. He stepped in earlier than expected when Eveld took a shot to the jaw on the scrimmage's first play. He went 6-of-7 for 75 yards on his opening drive, which ended when WR Victor Marc fumbled into the end zone.

"I thought (Floyd) had great vision," offensive coordinator Todd Fitch said. "He missed one or two things, but his vision and his composure … I was really impressed with him. I liked his coolness."

Really poor

With just two touchdowns to show for 25 possessions, coach Skip Holtz, left, said he was disappointed by the passing game, both the inconsistent passes and high number of drops.

"It was pretty discouraging watching the passing game," Holtz said. "I think it was very discouraging. I thought the way we executed the passing game was really poor. I didn't think we caught the ball very well, and I certainly didn't think we threw the ball very well.

"We definitely have to get better at that if we're going to have any shot as an offensive football team."

On the opening play, Derrick Hopkins dropped a deep pass from Bobby Eveld that hit him in stride. And Sterling Griffin, who later caught an 11-yard touchdown, let a deep pass from B.J. Daniels slip through his hands.

Daniels and Eveld went a combined 13-pf-36 with two interceptions, and much of Daniels' time came against the No. 2 defense.

Low turnout

After seeing spring game attendance increase five years in a row, topping out at 6,405 last year despite rain, Saturday's crowd was significantly down, an announced 2,493, the Tampa Sports Authority said. The 2 p.m. kickoff — previous games were played at night — likely contributed to the low turnout.

Because Raymond James Stadium is booked next weekend for an equestrian event, USF could not book the spring game as a culmination of spring practice.

The Bulls will hold a "Green and Gold Bowl" scrimmage on campus Saturday, so some fans might choose to attend that instead.

This and that

RB Darrell Scott had only four carries before pulling a muscle in his leg. Coach Skip Holtz said he will be out for a few weeks, including Saturday's scrimmage. … Redshirt freshman Deonte Welch matched the team high with five catches. … FBs Armando Sanchez (Northeast High) and Chris Breit (Plant High), both of whom switched from linebacker at the start of spring drills, had two catches.

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