By Sharon Fink, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, July 21, 2012

S peed. Power. Power struggles. Money. Legacies. Rivalries. Redemption. Returns to glory. Glory that makes history.

These are the plot elements that wind their way through five stories worth your particular attention at the London Games, which begin Friday and run through Aug. 12. Some belong to one story. Others are present in all of them. All the stories are united by athletes capable of giving performances you will never forget.

More to watch and a breakdown of TV broadcasts and Internet streams. 14C

Men's basketball

Twenty years after the "Dream Team" ushered NBA players into the Olympics, this could be the last time they participate, at least in large numbers. Commissioner David Stern has said he would like to see NBA players out after 2012 because their schedule has become too demanding. He cites the offseason world championships on top of the NBA season and, disingenuously, an event that doesn't exist: his and the owners' "Let's make money" plan, a World Cup tournament they want to establish similar to soccer's. The tournament would be held every four off-Olympic years and could bring the NBA much more cash than it gets from the Games, which is miniscule. Stern has said he would like men's Olympic basketball to be like its men's soccer: teams of players younger than 23, basically what it was pre-1992. Soccer also has three spots per team reserved for overage players, which are usually filled with well-known pros.

Michael Phelps

Since winning a record-setting eight gold medals in 2008, the American swimmer has been tamping down expectations for London, which he has said will be his last competition before retirement. He rarely competed, and gave the impression he trained little, for two-plus years after Beijing. But at the Olympic trials, the 27-year-old won three of the four finals he was in and is set for seven events in London, including relays. He is already the all-time gold medal winner for the Summer and Winter Games. Three medals of any color would make him the most decorated Olympic athlete in history.

Usain Bolt

The Jamaican is the world's fastest man. He broke his 100-meter world record in winning Olympic gold in 2008 and did it again in 2009 at the world championships, a record that still stands, 9.58 seconds. He's also the defending gold medalist and world record-holder in the 200. The 25-year-old is brassy, flashy, loves a late night out partying and is the world's fourth most-marketable athlete, according to British sports business magazine SportsPro. But at Jamaica's Olympic trials, he was beaten in the 100 and 200 by Yohan Blake, who in 2011 at 21 became the youngest 100 world champion after Bolt was disqualified in the final.

Gymnastics

One of the Games' most popular sports can be counted on to have some of its biggest controversies. It overhauled its scoring system into an incomprehensible mess after accusations of shady judging in the 2004 Games. In 2008 the host Chinese won the women's team gold medal, then were accused of fielding a team with members too young under the age rules. On top of that, American Nastia Liukin tied with a Chinese gymnast involved in the age scandal for gold on the uneven bars but ended up with silver on a tiebreaker because the International Olympic Committee rules didn't allow ties (the rules since have been changed). The U.S. women and men are strong contenders for team gold and individual medals this year. The women are led by reigning world all-around champion Jordyn Wieber, the men by Homestead's Danell Leyva, last year's world parallel bars champion.

Abby Wambach

She hasn't been on Dancing With the Stars or the cover of Vogue, like one of her teammates, but the former Gator, 32, has been a heart-and-soul component of the U.S. soccer team for nine years and is one of the best players in the world. In the 2004 Games, her goal in extra time gave the United States the gold medal over Brazil. In 2008, in the last U.S. game before the Olympics, she broke a leg and missed the tournament. She was on last year's team that lost the World Cup final to Japan in a shootout. Expect Wambach to be very motivated.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, July 21, 2012

When it comes to the negotiations between the NHL and the players association over a new collective bargaining agreement, B.J. Crombeen isn't ready to sound any alarms.

It would have been easy to do after the owners' initial proposal, which reportedly drops the players' share of league revenues from 57 percent to 46. Owners also proposed entry-level deals of five years instead of the current three and unrestricted free agency after 10 years instead of the current seven or at age 27.

But Crombeen, the Lightning's new forward who is part of the players association negotiating committee, said, "I just think it's all part of the negotiations."

"Obviously, we're taking it and analyzing it," he said. "We're trying to break down why they made that proposal and where it's coming from. We'll look at it, and when we get a full understanding of it, we'll say where we're coming from."

Crombeen's measured tone reflects what has come from the union leadership. Executive director Donald Fehr has even said players are willing to start the 2012-13 season under the current agreement, which expires Sept. 15, if negotiations for a new one are ongoing and productive.

Crombeen, acquired this month from St. Louis, where he was the team's player representative, attended the first round of negotiations in Toronto and said he likely will attend whatever meetings are scheduled this week.

"I don't think there is any owner, player, anyone in the league or (union) offices that wants to lose a day," he said of starting the season on time.

Not all share that sentiment. The New York Post's Larry Brooks called the owners' initial proposal a "declaration of war" against the players, a phrase repeated by agent Allan Walsh.

Owners also took a public relations hit with the Wild's signing of Ryan Suter and Zach Parise to a combined $196 million over 13 years after Minnesota owner Craig Leipold in April told the state's Star-Tribune newspaper his team was in the red and blamed player salaries.

Then came last week's 14-year, $110 million offer sheet from the Flyers to Predators restricted free agent defenseman Shea Weber.

Even so, Crombeen said the exorbitant contracts did not affect how he viewed the owners' proposal that drastically reduce the players' take of overall league revenues but did not include revenue sharing among teams to help the financially weaker organizations.

"We're just in the process of looking at what they proposed," Crombeen said. "I don't think any players have gotten to the point when they're saying 'this guy did this' and 'this guy did that.' And I don't think it's going to get to that point. We're making our decisions moving forward about how we're going to respond."

Asked if he was optimistic a deal would get done by Sept. 15, he said, "That's the hardest thing, because you really can't look too deep into it. Most guys are optimistic because they want to believe it's going to get done, and players are excited to get it done and get back playing. But it's a process. It's going to be a tough process, and it's going to have to go through its course."

Times wires
Saturday, July 21, 2012

LONDON — Guor Marial ran for his life to escape a Sudanese child labor camp. Now he will get to run at the Olympics.

Despite having no passport and officially no country, the marathoner, 28, was cleared by the International Olympic Committee on Saturday to compete at the London Games under the Olympic flag.

"The voice of South Sudan has been heard," said Marial, who lives in Flagstaff, Ariz. "The South Sudan has finally got a spot in the world community. Even though I will not carry their flag in this Olympic Games, the country itself is there."

Marial, who has run an Olympic qualifying time, was born in what is now South Sudan, a newly independent African country that doesn't have a national Olympic body. The IOC's executive board approved his request to run as an independent, ending months of negotiations between the committee and Marial's representatives.

Marial was one of four athletes let in at the Games as independents; the others are from Nether­lands Antilles. All will take part under the Olympic flag.

Athletes from the former Yugoslavia competed under the Olympic flag in 1992, and so did athletes from East Timor in 2000. But Marial's case is a first, IOC spokesman Mark Adams said.

Marial is a permanent resident of the United States after arriving as a refugee when he was a kid, but he doesn't have American citizenship. He refused to compete under the Sudanese flag; he says its security forces killed 28 members of his family.

The Dutch Antilles was an independent territory of the Netherlands until 2010 and had its own Olympic committee and team. The islands are now part of the Netherlands as special municipalities. Their athletes will compete with the Dutch team in the future.

Position unchanged: IOC President Jacques Rogge said again there will be no minute of silence for the Israeli victims of the 1972 Munich massacre at the opening ceremony. Rogge rejected the latest calls from politicians in the United States, Israel and Germany for a special observance to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the murder of 11 Israeli athletes and coaches by Palestinian gunmen in Munich. "We feel that the opening ceremony is an atmosphere that is not fit to remember such a tragic incident," Rogge said.

Bird back: Sue Bird, who left the U.S. women's basketball team a week ago today after learning that her stepfather, Dennis, had died of a heart attack, rejoined the team for a 109-55 rout of Croatia in an exhibition game in Istanbul, Turkey. She played 19 minutes and had eight points and five assists.

"It's been emotional," said Bird, fighting through tears. "If I had a penny for every time somebody at the wake or funeral said to me, 'Dennis wants you to go win a gold medal' … I know I was where I was supposed to be the last week, and I feel like I'm where I'm supposed to be now."

U.S. runner loses gold: American runner Crystal Cox was stripped of her gold medal from the 1,600-meter relay at the 2004 Olympics after admitting to doping, but the IOC put off a decision on whether to disqualify the U.S. team. Cox admitted in 2010 to using anabolic steroids and accepted a four-year suspension and disqualification of her results from 2001-04.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, July 21, 2012

TAMPA — For Lightning defenseman Sami Salo, every game begins the same, with a glance to the sky and a silent salute.

The ritual is for his father.

Toivo Salo was 52 in 1995 when he died of stomach cancer, weeks before his 20-year-old son played his first professional game for TPS Turku, his hometown team in Finland.

"I was devastated," Sami said of his father missing that seminal moment.

"He was the one who put me on skates when I was 5 or 6 years old. He was the one who always after work took me to the hockey practices and games, even though he had a long day."

It just seems natural, then, that Salo pays tribute to the steel mill worker who doubled as equipment manager for his minor hockey teams and after whom he named his 9-year-old son.

After all, Salo said, "I know he's watching."

If that is so, Toivo has much of which to be proud.

Salo, 37, who this month signed a two-year, $7.5 million contract with Tampa Bay, has played 13 seasons, nine with the Canucks and four with the Senators, who in 1996 drafted him 239th out of 241 players selected.

He has 93 goals, 305 points and is plus-114 in 761 games. He played in the 2011 Stanley Cup final with Vancouver, played for Finland in three Olympics and during the 2004-05 lockout won a Swedish Elite League title with Frolunda.

None of it, Salo said recently at the Tampa Bay Times Forum, would have been possible without his father.

"Blue collar," is how he described Toivo, whose job from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. was coating and plating pipes and railings.

Asked what he took from his father, Salo said, "His work ethic. That's been my key playing the games … always being a good work ethic. That's from my dad. He worked really long days. It didn't matter if he was tired, he still gave his best effort to take me to the rink."

Though they had a "tight" relationship, it was strictly father/son, Salo said — "We weren't really pals" — and Toivo was his son's toughest critic.

"He was really vocal about how I played," Salo said. "I played tennis as well until I was 15. There were a few games he almost made me walk from the court back home, even though I thought I played my best game but ended up losing.

"It was the same with hockey. He always criticized me, and that's what pushed me to be a better player."

Salo is there in much the same way for his son, Oliver, whose middle name, Tobias, is a takeoff on Toivo's nickname, Topi.

Salo attends Oliver's games as much as he can and revels in the skills his son shows as a forward. Salo has even been behind the bench as an assistant coach for Oliver's teams.

"The only thing I've done differently is I haven't criticized him yet," Salo said, laughing. "I haven't put expectations on him. As long as he's having fun and he meets new friends, I'm happy."

There are plenty of expectations on Salo.

He is expected to help solidify Tampa Bay's blue line, and his booming right-hand shot should boost a power play that last season was one of the league's worst.

Salo and his wife, Johanna, recently were in town looking at houses and schools for Oliver and daughters Julia, 14, and Peppi, 6. But before the family relocates from Finland for the season, there is a necessary chore.

"In the summertime we try to go to (Toivo's) grave and put flowers on a weekly basis," Salo said. "I'm just grateful for the opportunities he gave me to play hockey and that he pushed me down the right path."

A quick look skyward before every game says the same thing.

Damian Cristodero can be reached at cristodero@tampabay.com.

Times wires
Saturday, July 21, 2012

NFL

Brees Backs Vilma in Court Filing

NEW ORLEANS — Saints quarterback Drew Brees defended teammate Jonathan Vilma in a court document filed Saturday to support Vilma's fight against the NFL over his seasonlong suspension.

The affidavit was entered in federal court as evidence for Vilma's motion to dismiss the 2012 suspension imposed by commissioner Roger Goodell for the linebacker's alleged involvement in a program offering bonuses to players who injured opponents. Vilma has sued Goodell, claiming defamation.

"In my four years as a teammate with Jonathan, I have found that he is a man of integrity who passionately plays the game of football within the frameworks of the rules and has respect for his opponents," said Brees, who also claimed in the affidavit that he was not aware of a bounty program.

NHL

Blackhawk sorry for party display

Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane said, "No, I don't think I do," when asked if he has a drinking problem, but he admitted he was "embarrassed" by his actions during a Cinco de Mayo celebration in Madison, Wis.

"It's not who I want to be," Kane said.

The partying, which resulted in photos being circulated on the web, came after Kane turned down a chance to play for the U.S team at the world championships.

Horses

Retirement for hurt Union Rags

Belmont Stakes winner Union Rags will retire because of a tendon injury in his left front leg, the announcement coming a week after the colt's veterinarian had said his prognosis was "excellent" for a return to race next year. Russell Jones, bloodstock adviser to owner Phyllis Wyeth, said Union Rags is "a pretty attractive stallion prospect," though no decision has been made on where the colt will stand.

ET CETERA

NBA: Lakers star Kobe Bryant called commissioner David Stern's idea for a 23-and-younger age limit for Team USA in future Olympics "stupid." Stern had offered up the concept because NBA owners are not happy exposing their stars to injury. … Restricted free agent center Greg Stiemsma agreed to terms on an offer sheet with the Timberwolves. The Celtics have three days to match.

Boxing: Welterweight prospect Keith Thurman of Clearwater stopped veteran Orlando Lora in the sixth round in Cincinnati. Thurman, 23, fighting for the first time on HBO as part of the Adrien Broner-Vicente Escobedo undercard, improved to 18-0 with 17 knockouts. Lora, 31, fell to 29-3.

Obituary: Mike Lynn, longtime Vikings executive who in 1989 famously sent five players and seven draft picks to Dallas for Herschel Walker, died after years of failing health, the team said. He was 76.

Tennis: No. 4 seed Andy Roddick ousted Tampa resident John Isner 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4 and advanced to play Gilles Muller in today's Atlanta Open final. … Dominika Cibulkova beat Nadia Petrova to reach the final against either top-seeded Marion Bartoli or Chan Yung-Jan at the Mercury Insurance Open in Carlsbad, Calif.

Times wires

Times wires
Saturday, July 21, 2012

LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England — It would have been quite a talking point — perhaps even quite a distraction — if Adam Scott and Tiger Woods had been dueling for the claret jug in the final British Open pairing today.

It would have been intriguing to see how frosty the salutations might have been between Woods and Steve Williams, his former caddy. Williams, who parted on less-than-collegial terms with Woods last year, now runs interference and reads putts for Scott.

But Woods, despite a surge on the front nine at Royal Lytham & St. Annes on Saturday, could not sustain the necessary momentum on the back nine to generate that edgy grouping and the British tabloid headlines that would have gone with it.

Scott, who remains on friendly terms with Woods, did his part. He shot 2-under 68 that might have been lower if some of his nicely weighted putts for eagles and birdies had rolled just a shade farther.

At 11-under 199, Scott had a four-shot lead heading into today's final round and a pairing with Graeme McDowell, whose 67 put him at 7 under and in a tie for second with third-round leader Brandt Snedeker (73). Snedeker got the pairing with Woods, who was five shots back after shooting 70.

"A four-shot lead doesn't seem to be very much this year on any golf tournament that I've watched," Scott said. "The good part is if I play a solid round of golf (today), it will be very hard for the others to beat me, and that's all I'm thinking about."

Despite benign conditions, Scott and McDowell are the only two to have broken par in each round. But McDowell, who won the 2010 U.S. Open, has something his fellow 32-year-old does not: a major trophy.

"I'm sure myself and Adam will be experiencing slightly different emotions (today)," McDowell said. "But it will all boil down to … pressure. It will boil down to being scared, probably of failing more than winning. … (Scott has) the unfortunate burden of never having won a major championship."

Snedeker, who led Scott by a stroke after 36 holes, had many a misadventure Saturday.

Snedeker, who wore a black ribbon on his white visor in honor of those killed in the movie theater shooting at Aurora, Colo., did not make a bogey in the first two rounds. So it continued through the first four holes Saturday, but he then made consecutive bogeys.

He had four more bogeys after that. But Snedeker showed resilience on Lytham's difficult closing holes, fighting back with birdies on Nos. 16 and 18, where he holed a long curling putt.

"I'm not happy with it at all, by any means," Snedeker said. "But those two birdies late salvaged what could have been a horrific round into a pretty awful round."

Woods started the day by running his tee shot over the green at the par-3 first hole. A tentative chip came up 8 feet short, and he missed the putt. After another bogey at the third, it appeared he was headed for a repeat of his Saturday collapse at the last major championship.

Woods was tied for the 36-hole lead at the U.S. Open, but a 75 Saturday wiped out his chances.

"I got off to an awful start and battled back and got myself right back in the mix again going into (today). I'm right there," said Woods, who has never come from behind on the final day to win a major championship.

Today's forecast called for the wind to finally pick up after three days of sterling weather, which might be the best chance for everyone else to run down a leader with a comfortable edge.

Times wires
Saturday, July 21, 2012

JOLIET, Ill. — James Buescher took the lead from Timothy Peters on the last lap, then held off a charge from Brendan Gaughan to win Saturday night's NASCAR trucks race at Chicagoland Speedway.

Buescher came from two laps down in the American Ethanol 225 after his crew changed a carburetor.

It was his third career win, all this season. He also won at Kansas and Kentucky.

Gaughan was second after dominating the majority of the race. Peters was third, followed by Matt Crafton and Parker Kligerman.

It was the 200th career start in trucks for Todd Bodine, making him the only driver with at least 200 starts in all three of NASCAR's national series. He finished 18th.

INDYCAR: Points leader Ryan Hunter-Reay set the best time in qualifying for today's Edmonton Indy but will start 11th because of a penalty for an unapproved engine change. Hunter-Reay knew he'd face the penalty, so his Andretti Autosport team gambled on using older tires when rain fell midway through the session. He'll start 11th after a lap of 103.664 mph around the 2.224-mile street circuit. Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti (103.65 mph) will move from second to the pole.

FORMULA ONE: Series leader Fernando Alonso of Ferrari secured the pole for today's German Grand Prix in Hockenheim and will start in the front row next to two-time defending world champion Sebastian Vettel, who is bidding to win his home race for the first time. Vettel's Red Bull teammate, Mark Webber, was third fastest but drops five places on the grid because of a gearbox change.

NHRA: Spencer Massey led Top Fuel qualifying with a run of 3.914 seconds at 318.02 mph for today's eliminations at the Mile-High Nationals in Denver. Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana Jr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also led their classes.

SOAP BOX DERBY: Kallie Myers, 17, of St. Clairsville, Ohio, overcame an early morning crash to win the Super Stock division at the 75th annual event in Akron, Ohio. Other class winners: Maddie Minch, 12, of Strongsville, Ohio (Masters); Alexander Khachigian, 12, of Vallejo, Calif. (Stock); Logan Maves, 10, of Madison, Wis. (Rally Stock); Nick Zimmerman, 14, of Cloverdale, Ind. (Rally Super Stock); and Freddy Atchison, 14, of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio (Rally Masters). Actor/director Corbin Bernsen helped award a $5,000 scholarship to each winner.

Times wires
Saturday, July 21, 2012

Rangers 9, Angels 2

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Mike Napoli homered twice against his former team and Yu Darvish struck out 11 in seven strong innings for the Rangers. Napoli, Yorvit Torrealba and Adrian Beltre homered during a five-run second, chasing Ervin Santana after just 13 batters. Napoli, who entered the series in a monthlong slump, had three hits in Friday's opener.

Times wires
Saturday, July 21, 2012

Cardinals 12, Cubs 0

ST. LOUIS — Jake Westbrook pitched seven three-hit innings and the Cardinals finally backed him by tying a 76-year-old major-league record with seven doubles during a 12-run seventh. St. Louis also matched an 86-year-old franchise record for runs in an inning.

Times wires
Saturday, July 21, 2012

Orioles 3, Indians 1

CLEVELAND — Jim Thome's two-run homer in the seventh inning led the Orioles to their fourth straight victory. Thome, who passed Sammy Sosa for seventh in career home runs Friday, hit his 611th, and second with Baltimore since being acquired July 1, off Zach McAllister. Chris Tillman allowed only Shin Soo-Choo's leadoff homer in the first in 6⅔ innings. Cleveland has lost three straight and six of eight and has scored three or fewer runs six times in that stretch.

Times wires
Saturday, July 21, 2012

Dodgers 8, Mets 5

NEW YORK — Juan Uribe broke out of a 1-for-38 slump with a double, a homer and four RBIs, Chris Capuano pitched seven solid innings against his former team and the Dodgers won their third straight following a 1-7 skid. The Mets have lost eight of their past nine.

Times wires
Saturday, July 21, 2012

Braves 4, Nationals 0

Game 1

WASHINGTON — Ben Sheets pitched six shutout innings and Brian McCann and Chipper Jones homered for the Braves in the opener of a day-night doubleheader. Sheets, who outdueled former Rays starter Edwin Jackson, hasn't allowed a run in 12 innings in his return after missing last season because of reconstructive elbow surgery.

Times wires
Saturday, July 21, 2012

Nationals 5, Braves 2

Game 2

WASHINGTON — Bryce Harper returned from a Game 1 ankle injury to single and score as a pinch-hitter, and Roger Bernadina had a tiebreaking hit in the seventh inning as the Nationals earned a split. Bernadina started in centerfield in place of Harper and had five hits. Washington snapped a three-game losing streak.

Times wires
Saturday, July 21, 2012

Giants 6, Phillies 5

10 innings

PHILADELPHIA — All-Star pitchers Cole Hamels and Matt Cain hit homers in the same inning off each other. Gregor Blanco drove in the tiebreaking run with a drag bunt single in the 10th for the Giants, 7-1 since the All-Star break.

Times wires
Saturday, July 21, 2012

Pirates 5, Marlins 1

PITTSBURGH — A.J. Burnett remained undefeated at home by pitching 7⅔ strong innings, and the Pirates matched a season best with their fourth consecutive win. A homer by former Ray Justin Ruggiano was Burnett's only blemish as he improved to 7-0 at home this season and Pittsburgh (53-40) moved 13 games above .500 for the first time since the end of the 1992 season.

Times wires
Saturday, July 21, 2012

Reds 6, Brewers 2

CINCINNATI — Ryan Ludwick and Brandon Phillips hit two-run homers, helping the Reds improve to 4-2 since losing star first baseman Joey Votto. The NL Central leaders have won 10 of 12 overall to move to a season-high 14 games over .500. Ludwick homered as part of a four-run first inning off Yovani Gallardo.

Times wires
Saturday, July 21, 2012

Blue Jays 7, Red Sox 3

BOSTON — Edwin Encarnacion tied the score with a two-run homer in the sixth, then J.P. Arencibia gave the Blue Jays the lead with a seventh-inning solo shot. The last-place Jays knocked around Aaron Cook to move back to .500 and get within one-half game of the Red Sox in the AL East. Carlos Villanueva won his third straight start.

Times wires
Saturday, July 21, 2012

Royals 7, Twins 3

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Lorenzo Cain drove in three runs and Alex Gordon had three hits and two runs for the Royals. Cain delivered RBI singles in the first and fifth innings and an RBI double in the seventh. His three RBIs matched a career high, accomplished twice in 2010 when he was with the Brewers. Gordon had his 34th multihit game and is hitting .352 since moving back to leadoff on May 27.

Times wires
Saturday, July 21, 2012

Tigers 7, White Sox 1

DETROIT — Rick Porcello pitched brilliantly into the ninth inning, and the Tigers took over first place in the AL Central. Brennan Boesch hit a three-run homer and Austin Jackson drove in the other four runs for Detroit, which leads the White Sox by a half-game. The Tigers were six games out after a loss to the Cubs on June 12. Porcello fell just short of his first complete game, departing after he allowed two hard-hit singles to start the ninth. He outdueled Chris Sale, who lost for the first time since May 12.

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, July 21, 2012

Rays vs. Mariners

When/where: 1:40 today; Tropicana Field

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

Tickets: $12-$255, available at Tropicana Field box office, Ticketmaster, raysbaseball.com, team Tampa store; $3 surcharge within five hours of game time

Promotion: LHP Matt Moore bobblehead to the first 10,000 kids 14 and under.

Probable pitchers

Rays: LH Matt Moore (6-6, 4.39)

MARINERS: RH Blake Beavan (4-6, 6.06)

On Moore: He has settled in after some early struggles, going 5-1 with a 3.94 ERA in eight starts since June 1. He won his only career start against the Mariners, allowing one run and striking out seven in five innings May 1.

On Beavan: He has allowed at least five earned runs in each of his past four outings. He has lost his only start against the Rays, giving up five runs in 5⅓ innings May 2.

Key matchups

Rays VS. BEAVAN

Hideki Matsui 5-for-8

Jose Molina 3-for-4

Ben Zobrist 0-for-3

MARINERS VS. MOORE

Michael Saunders 1-for-2, HR

Jesus Montero 3-for-3

Ichiro Suzuki 2-for-3

On deck

Monday: Off

Tuesday: at Orioles, 7:05, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeremy Hellickson (4-6, 3.55); Orioles — Wei-Yin Chen (8-5, 3.80).

Wednesday: at Orioles, 7:05, Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (13-4, 2.64); Orioles — TBA

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

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

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

* out for season

Joe Smith, Times staff writer

Quote of the day

"We had a good guffaw over it. Almost a chortle."

Rays manager Joe Maddon on his and executive VP Andrew Friedman's reaction to a Jim Bowden tweet of a rumored deal sending James Shields and Ben Zobrist to the Angels

Honor of the day

LHP Matt Moore said there are a couple of bobbleheads of his likeness floating around the minor leagues, but he's excited to pitch today on his first big-league bobblehead giveaway. He said his mom is getting a couple of boxes of them. "I think it's awesome," Moore said. "It's pretty cool to have your own."

Dress up

One of the themed activities for today's "Star Wars Day" at Tropicana Field is a costume contest, with the winner receiving four tickets to Star Wars Celebration VI at the Orlando Convention Center on Aug. 23-26.