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No. 4 Florida State wins soccer opener; Miami upsets No. 21 Florida; No. 12 UCF downs USF

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Times wires
Friday, August 17, 2012

NEW ORLEANS — Former LSU football star Tyrann "Honey Badger" Mathieu has entered a drug rehabilitation program in Houston since being dismissed from the team, media reports Friday said.

TV station WVUE reported that Mathieu's father, Tryone Mathieu, said his son had been at the Right Step recovery center and was being counseled by former NBA player John Lucas. Tyrann's problem is with marijuana, CBSSports.com reported.

Tyrone Mathieu said Tyrann, 20, is committed to restoring his health and won't play football until he is confident his rehabilitation is complete. That may rule out Tyrann transferring to a FCS school and playing this season, after which he would be eligible for the NFL draft.

Tyrann was dismissed from the Tigers on Aug. 10 after failed substance-abuse tests. LSU has said about 20 programs have asked for permission to speak with him about transferring.

Paterno Book: Joe Paterno had to be urged by his family to read the grand jury report about the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse case and did not understand some of its terminology, says a biography to be released Tuesday. The book, Paterno, says two days after Sandusky was charged in November, the late Penn State coach's family and a close adviser tried to explain to him sentiment was growing he must have known for years about the accusations against Sandusky. The book quotes Paterno as shouting "I'm not omniscient!" The book also says Paterno didn't comprehend all the terms in the report, asking one of his sons what sodomy meant.

usc: Freshman receiver Nelson Agholor, a former Berkeley Prep standout, has been diagnosed with asthma. It limited him in last week's scrimmage.

basketball: Eastern Michigan retained coach Rob Murphy, who said he had an opportunity to work for the Magic.

soccer: The Florida State women, ranked No. 4 in the national coaches preseason poll after making the NCAA final four last year, erased a two-goal deficit to beat host Minnesota 3-2 in their season opener. Ines Jaurena scored the winner with just under four minutes left. … Visiting Miami upset No. 21 Florida 4-1 in the women's opener for both. The Hurricanes got their first goal at 11:29 from freshman Paige Lombard from Palm Harbor University and led 3-0 at halftime. Freshman Claire Falknor scored for the Gators. … No. 12 UCF beat the host USF women 3-1 in the opener for both.


Reds 7, Cubs 3

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Times wires
Friday, August 17, 2012

Reds 7, Cubs 3

CINCINNATI — Todd Frazier hit a two-run shot and Ryan Ludwick and Jay Bruce solo shots for the Reds. Ludwick's 425-foot drive on Travis Wood's first pitch of the fourth cut the Cubs' lead to 3-2. Wood, who has lost six consecutive decisions after four straight wins, hit Bruce with a pitch. And Frazier put the Reds ahead with a 419-foot shot. Bruce hit a 411-foot shot in the fifth.

Doug Martin gets chance to shine as LeGarrette Blount limps off for Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Friday, August 17, 2012

TAMPA — Rookie RB Doug Martin didn't start Friday's preseason game against the Titans, but he was one of the few bright spots for the Bucs.

And considering RB LeGarrette Blount left in the second quarter with what he said was a groin injury, Tampa Bay may have to lean a little more on the 5-foot-9, 223-pound former Boise State star.

Martin, alternating series with Blount, racked up 23 yards on seven carries and had a 16-yard run in the first quarter brought back by a holding call. On his first touch, Martin showed speed and ability to change directions quickly, cutting from left to right and breaking a couple of tackles for a 9-yard gain.

"Those were nice runs," coach Greg Schiano said. "He made something happen on his own, which is good."

Schiano said the competition between Martin, the 31st overall draft pick, and Blount would be fluid, and if one separated himself, he could earn more touches. Both had solid preseason openers last week at Miami. Blount had 11 yards on eight carries before he left the game.

"He's out there fighting hard," G Davin Joseph said of Martin. "Given some of the situations (Friday), not really having the cleanest holes, he was able to find something out of nothing."

FIRST TIME: TE Dallas Clark, held out of the opener, made his Bucs debut but played little and had no catches. First-round draft pick S Mark Barron, who missed the opener with a toe injury, started and played well, including a play in pass coverage on a third-down incompletion in the first quarter. WR Vincent Jackson caught his first pass as a Buc, an 8-yard gain for a first down in the opening drive. He dropped a potential first-down catch.

UP AND DOWN: S Ahmad Black, a former Florida standout, had one of the biggest defensive plays, intercepting QB Jake Locker in the first quarter and returning it 29 yards to the Titans' 2-yard line, setting up the lone Bucs touchdown.

Locker made an ill-advised throw across the field while on the run, and Black said he read it and stepped in.

"He seems to be around the ball a lot," Schiano said. "He has a knack."

But Black also committed a personal foul penalty in the first, a hit on a defenseless receiver (RB Javon Ringer), that helped spark the Titans' first touchdown drive. Black said he had no regrets on the hit and that he was trying to make a play.

LEANING LEFT: T Donald Penn was reactivated from the non-football injury list and can begin practicing immediately. That's a big deal for the Bucs, who missed their starting left tackle all training camp because of a calf injury he sustained in a workout in California. Penn made steady progress, working out on a side field during camp practices. Schiano did not want him back until he was ready and in shape. Demar Dotson filled in during camp, including starting the first two preseason games. Penn could get action in the final two exhibitions and be ready for the regular-season opener.

WITH HONORS: Eric LeGrand, the paralyzed former Rutgers player the Bucs signed after the draft, served as the honorary team captain and took part in the coin toss. LeGrand received a standing ovation and won the toss. "It's good to be out here with the fans and everything," LeGrand said. "It's my new home."

MISCELLANY: CB Aqib Talib started after missing the opener. … Backup QB Dan Orlovsky was 1 for 5 passing for 6 yards, with a fumble and an interception. He was sacked in the second quarter on a play that led to a fumble, recovered by Titans DT Leger Douzable, a former Alonso High and UCF standout. That set up a Tennessee field goal.

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@tampabay.com.

Kansas City receiver Bowe signs one-year tender for $9.5 million

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Times wires
Friday, August 17, 2012

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Perhaps Dwayne Bowe was just waiting for the Chiefs to break training camp to finally sign his franchise tender.

The team said in a statement Friday that Bowe had signed after he missed the offseason program and training camp. Bowe is due about $9.5 million this season after the sides failed to reach a long-term deal by the July 16 deadline.

It was unclear whether Bowe would join Kansas City for its trip to St. Louis for tonight's preseason game. The team will resume practice at its facility near Arrowhead Stadium next week.

The question is whether Bowe can learn new coordinator Brian Daboll's offense in time to play Aug. 24 against Seattle. The Chiefs wrap their preseason schedule the following week at Green Bay, and the regular season starts Sept. 9 against Atlanta.

Also, offensive tackle Ray Willis said he's retiring. Willis made 26 starts and played in 44 games in five seasons with four other teams.

BOUNTIES: The NFL Players Association filed documents in federal court disputing commissioner Roger Goodell's sworn statement that he was prepared to discipline players for their involvement in the Saints bounty pool back in March but waited until May as a courtesy to the union. Attorneys for four players suspended in the bounty investigation have argued the punishment handed down by Goodell should be overturned, in part because the commissioner's public statements last spring showed he had improperly pre-judged the players' actions.

BENGALS: Receiver Jordan Shipley was waived as he recovered from reconstructive knee surgery. Shipley was Cincinnati's starting slot receiver before he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee Sept. 18.

BILLS: Vince Young's lawyer disputed a company's claim that the backup quarterback defaulted on a high-risk loan and now owes nearly $1.7 million. Trey Dolezal also raised questions whether his client was even aware the loan was taken out in his name. Dolezal told the Associated Press by phone that Pro Player Funding never contacted Young, and instead worked with the player's former financial adviser, Ronnie T. Peoples, in issuing a high-interest $1.877 million loan in May 2011. Pro Player Funding filed documents in New York on June 6, saying it would begin collecting $1.695 million because the player defaulted.

COWBOYS: Running back Ed Wesley was waived after showing up 15 minutes late for a walk-through on the last day of camp.

DOLPHINS: Rookie first-round pick Ryan Tannehill played the first half and was 11-of-23 for 100 yards in a 23-17 loss to the host Panthers.

EAGLES: The league fined Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie $21,000 for a hit in the preseason opener last week against the Steelers. In the first quarter, Rodgers-Cromartie left his feet and lunged into quarterback Byron Leftwich. When asked about it he said with a chuckle, "Twenty-one thousand? I ain't even got that," but also said, "I can understand a fine coming. … I wouldn't do that again."

JAGUARS: Blaine Gabbert completed 13 of 16 for 112 yards and two touchdowns, the first a 16-yarder to rookie Justin Blackmon in his preseason debut, and Jordan Palmer hit Kevin Elliott for an 11-yard touchdown on fourth down with 13 seconds left in a 27-24 victory over the host Saints.

LIONS: Guard/center Bill Nagy was claimed off waivers from the Cowboys, for whom he started four games last season.

PACKERS: Linebacker Desmond Bishop had surgery on his torn hamstring; his timetable is unknown.

SAINTS: Reserve linebacker Chris Chamberlain appeared to hurt his left knee in the first half of the preseason game against the Jaguars.

STEELERS: Nose tackle Casey Hampton and running back Rashard Mendenhall were activated from the physically-unable-to-perform list. Each has been rehabilitating a torn ACL sustained in January. The team doesn't expect Mendenhall to be ready for the regular-season opener Sept. 9 at Denver.

Fielder's big blasts bail out Verlander

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Times wires
Friday, August 17, 2012

DETROIT — Prince Fielder hit a pair of two-run homers to lift the Tigers to a 5-3 win over the Orioles on Friday.

Detroit ace Justin Verlander, who has won only one of his past five starts, needed 116 pitches to get through just six innings (109 for the final five).

"I was definitely out of synch," Verlander said. "I was able to keep us in the game, and the big boys did what they do. They can put an entire team on their back."

Verlander left down 3-1. He allowed Nick Markakis' second double of the game, which tied it at 1 in the third, and Matt Wieters' two-run homer in the fifth.

But Miguel Cabrera, who hit a solo homer in the first, singled with one out in the sixth. Fielder followed with a 462-foot shot to right-centerfield off Tommy Hunter. It was the majors-high 29th homer allowed by Hunter this year.

In the eighth, Darren O'Day walked Cabrera with two outs. Left-hander J.C. Romero entered to face the left-hand hitting Fielder, who sent a 1-and-2 pitch soaring to right to put Detroit ahead.

It was Fielder's second multihomer game of the season and 24th of his career.

Said Fielder: "As long as they go over, I'm happy."

Preseason football: Tennessee Titans beat Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30-7

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By Rick Stroud, Times staff writer
Friday, August 17, 2012

TAMPA — LeGarrette Blount crumpled to the turf and grabbed his left leg late in the second quarter Friday night following a 4-yard run against the Titans. The groin injury he sustained was not cataclysmic, but it was deflating nonetheless.

A big part of the Bucs' plan this season is to grind up teams under the feet of their bulldozing running back. But after a 30-7 preseason loss at Raymond James Stadium, the feeling about Blount's injury, which wasn't believed to be serious, mirrored that about Tampa Bay's prospects in the first season under Greg Schiano: fearing the worst but hoping for the best.

Considering the way the Bucs were physically dominated in nearly every phase Friday, they should feel fortunate more players didn't join Blount in the trainer's room.

Quarterbacks Josh Freeman and Dan Orlovsky were under siege all night by a defense that took advantage of a porous offensive line and forced two turnovers.

"I do know the quarterback took way too many hits, including Josh," Schiano said. "You can't do that. You're not going to win in this league, and you're not going to have your quarterback very long, if that happens."

Freeman finished 4-of-10 for 21 yards and was either chased from the pocket or whacked after nearly every pass. He managed to throw a 2-yard touchdown pass to receiver Mike Williams to give the Bucs a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter.

That touchdown came after safety Ahmad Black intercepted a pass from quarterback Jake Locker and returned it 29 yards. After that, the Titans took control of the game, forcing turnovers and scoring 30 unanswered points.

The Bucs allowed 341 total yards while producing 81 and had a 20-6 disadvantage in first downs.

Bad appeared to become worse in the second quarter when Blount was hit from the side on his left leg and remained on the ground for several minutes in pain before limping to the locker room for examination.

"I just took a hit on the side, and it tweaked my groin a little bit. It's not a serious injury. I'll be back," Blount said. "It hurt. It's something we're going to have to look into (today). We'll find out what's going on."

Asked if he could play if the Bucs opened the regular season this week against Carolina, Blount, who finished with 11 yards on eight carries, said he wasn't sure.

The Bucs have depth at running back with rookie Doug Martin, who rushed seven times for 23 yards but had a 16-yard run negated by a holding penalty on Jeremy Zuttah.

"I thought Doug ran the ball nicely, which is an upside," Schiano said. "He had a 9-yard pop … a 16-yard run that didn't count. I thought those were nice runs."

It was a disappointing home debut for Schiano in front of 45,633. A week earlier, the team looked sharp in beating host Miami 20-7.

Orlovsky (1-of-5 for 6 yards and an interception) was responsible for back-to-back turnovers after taking over from Freeman in the second quarter. He was sacked and lost a fumble at the Tampa Bay 10-yard line, which set up a 34-yard field goal by Rob Bironas.

Two plays later, Orlovsky threw late to rookie tight end Drake Dunsmore, and the pass was deflected by linebacker Akeem Ayers and intercepted by cornerback Chris Hawkins.

Titans running back Chris Johnson scored his second touchdown on a 14-yard run, high-stepping the last 7 yards into the end zone.

When the Bucs study the tape of Friday's game, they're not going to like the play of their offensive line. Guards Carl Nicks and Davin Joseph participated in only about 15 plays before leaving, but the starting offense didn't play well, either. Orlovsky was sacked four times.

"We have to do a better job of handling the line of scrimmage — clean pockets and giving them holes to run through," Joseph said.

Defensively, Tampa Bay's first unit produced an interception and two three-and-outs. Following a turnover, they held the Titans to a field goal. Linebacker Dekoda Watson produced the Bucs' first sack of the preseason. Rookie Michael Smith looked effective on kickoff returns.

Even Blount felt well enough to return to the sideline and watch the second half from the bench.

"As I knew last week, everything wasn't great and everything isn't horrible this week, either," Schiano said. "It's just preseason and we need to go back to work and get more precise."

Rick Stroud can be reached at stroud@tampabay.com and can be heard from 6 to 9 a.m. weekdays on WDAE-620.

Sports in brief

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Times wires
Friday, August 17, 2012

tennis

serena's win streak runs its course

MASON, Ohio — Only one of the Williams sisters is heading to a semifinal, and it's not the one with the winning streak. Serena Williams lost that — and her cool — at the Western and Southern Open on Friday.

Williams had her 19-match streak snapped by Angelique Kerber 6-4, 6-4, the first time she had lost even a set since her title win at Wimbledon.

The third-longest winning streak of her career didn't end quietly. She flung her racket to the ground, picked it up and slammed it on the court again as the second set slipped away.

"I probably need a break," she said.

Venus Williams reached the semifinals of a tournament for the first time this season by beating Tampa resident Samantha Stosur 6-2, 6-7 (2-7), 6-4. Roger Federer beat Mardy Fish 6-3, 7-6 (7-4). Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin del Potro also won in straight sets.

soccer

Leading scorer joins Man U

Robin van Persie completed his move to Manchester United on a four-year deal in England's Premier League. Van Persie, 29, agreed to personal terms and passed a medical exam to complete a transfer believed to have cost United about $38 million. Van Persie was the league's top scorer last season with 30 goals.

Rowdies sign midfielder: The Rowdies signed midfielder Raphael Cox, pending league approval.

Dempsey wants transfer: Clint Dempsey has refused to play for Fulham and is seeking a transfer to a Champions League team, the Premier League club's coach, Martin Jol, said. Dempsey, 29, joined the west London club in 2007 and is the highest-scoring American in the Premier League with 50 goals.

et cetera

Cycling: The U.S. governing body said it must accept the jurisdiction of the international federation, which is fighting the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency in court to determine which has group has jurisdiction over the Lance Armstrong doping case. Meanwhile, in papers filed in Austin, Texas, federal court, the agency says federal courts have no basis to intervene in its case against the seven-time Tour de France winner.

little league world series: Vancouver beat Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, 13-9 on Day 2 in South Williamsport, Pa., in a game that had 27 hits. Jordan Cardenas homered and pitched 21/3 innings of hitless relief as Antonio, Texas, beat Parsippany, N.J., 5-2. New Castle, Ind., beat Greshem, Ore., 4-0.

Track: Olympic champion Sanya Richards-Ross edged Amantle Montsho to win the women's 400 meters at the DN Gala Diamond League meet in Stockholm. In the men's 400 hurdles, U.S. Olympic silver medalist Michael Tinsley beat gold medalist Felix Sanchez.

Times wires

Royals 4, White Sox 2

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Times wires
Friday, August 17, 2012

Royals 4, White Sox 2

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Salvador Perez hit a tiebreaking two-run double with two out in the seventh and the Royals won for the third time in four games. Lorenzo Cain hit a solo homer. Paul Konerko hit a solo drive after the White Sox activated him from the seven-day concussion disabled list. It was Konerko's first game since he was struck by a Jarrod Dyson elbow while covering first Aug. 7 against K.C.


Gary Shelton: Tampa Bay Buccaneers' preseason loss to Tennessee Titans stings

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By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Friday, August 17, 2012

TAMPA

Repeat this slowly. Maybe it will help.

It doesn't matter.

Say it again and again, and after that, you can say it one more time. It was just a preseason game, right? Why, it was a glorified practice, an easily forgettable rehearsal on a summer evening.

Nothing to worry about here, not the cave-in on the offensive line or the turnovers or the missed tackles. The disappointments didn't count and the shortcomings were a mere inconvenience.

Except for this: Ugly always stings. Even in the preseason.

The Bucs didn't exactly wow anybody in their first home (and homely) game Friday under new coach Greg Schiano. In a 30-7 flogging by Tennessee, the offense didn't dazzle and the defense didn't punish and the new toys didn't sparkle and the old ones didn't shine and, in the end, the blackout wasn't such a bad thing for Tampa Bay.

Also, ouch.

All in all, it was a lousy way for a new regime to say hello to the local crowd. After last week's convincing victory over the Dolphins in Miami, the hope was the Bucs would march into Raymond James Stadium and show everyone how spiffy and sharp the team had become.

Instead, the Titans spent most of the night reminding the Bucs just how much work there is to do between now and the season opener. The word "considerable" comes to mind.

Granted, turning around a franchise that had lost its way so badly a year ago was never going to be as easy as flipping a switch. Everyone should have known that. But after an impressive offseason, you would have expected better than this, wouldn't you? Better question: Wouldn't Schiano?

"Sloppy," was the way Schiano described it. The turnovers bothered him. The lack of attacking the line bothered him. The run defense bothered him.

"We didn't coach well enough, and we didn't play well enough," Schiano said. "Just not a good effort."

The Bucs lost a preseason game? Who cares? That's not the point here. The point is the Bucs played poorly in so many areas where they are supposed to be improved. Preseason games aren't supposed to give you much, but a promise here and there shouldn't be this hard.

Start with the offensive line, which collapsed from the Titans' pressure. You were left with two questions: One: What happened? Two: Can someone please check to see how Donald Penn is feeling?

From the first snap, quarterback Josh Freeman was harassed. Freeman wasn't terrible, but he wasn't terrific, either. He hit only 4 of 10 passes for only 21 yards. He did hit Mike Williams on a 2-yard touchdown pass and threw a nice fastball to Vincent Jackson for 8 yards on third and 6, but overall, he looked more endangered than dangerous.

"I do know that the quarterback took too many hits," Schiano said. "You can't do that. You're not going to win in this league, and you're not going to have your quarterback very long, if that happens."

You might have hoped for more out of Freeman, too, considering the new weapons in his huddle. It would have been nice to have seen a few more hints that he was ready to repeat his 2010 season, not his 2011 season.

What else was on your checklist? The running game? The Bucs' running backs combined for 17 yards in the first quarter, another 17 in the second quarter. The competition between Doug Martin and LeGarrette Blount was not exactly a stampede. (Blount left the game in the second quarter with a groin injury.)

The run defense? The tackling wasn't much to brag about, either. The Titans rolled up 123 yards in the first half and averaged 7.7 yards per carry. Chris Johnson averaged 4.6 yards and scored twice. Yeah, everyone knows Johnson wants to race Usain Bolt, but who knew he was going to practice against the Bucs?

The pass defense? That was pretty good, actually. For one thing, safety Ahmad Black set up the Bucs' touchdown with an interception. For another thing, the Bucs may have ripped the Titans' starting quarterback position out of Jake Locker's hands. Locker ended up with a rating of 7.0. Quarterbacks, of course, are always after sevens, but that's points, not rating.

Overall? The Bucs need to block better, and they need to tackle better, and they need to cut down on the turnovers. They need to show more flash, and more imagination, and more aggression. They need to make more plays.

To sum it up, they need to be better than this.

After all, it won't be preseason for very much longer.

Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Carlos Peña sits against Los Angeles Angels

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Friday, August 17, 2012

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Carlos Peña was surprised to walk into the Rays' clubhouse Friday and learn he wasn't in the lineup against the Angels' Jered Weaver. And there's a strong chance the first baseman will be on the bench again tonight.

In both cases, Rays manager Joe Maddon's decision is based on the opposing pitcher.

Though Weaver is a right-hander, he has been tougher on left-handed hitters. So Maddon wanted to go with as many right-handed hitters as he could and put Jeff Keppinger at first base.

The reasoning is expected to be the same tonight in a reverse situation because Angels starter C.J. Wilson is more of a traditional lefty and, thus, tougher on lefty hitters.

"I respect his decisions," Peña said of Maddon. "I don't have to like them, but I'm going to go out there and cheer for my teammates and be the best teammate I can possibly be. And that's it."

Peña is hitting just .192 though with a .322 on-base percentage, 15 homers and 46 RBIs.

"Joe knows what he's doing, and I trust what he's doing," said Peña, who entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh. "I want to be in there every single day. Joe wants to put whatever he considers is the best lineup we have against this guy. I'll be in there again, just not (Friday)."

Peña said he expected to talk to Maddon after batting practice to get a better sense of the manger's thought process.

"I respect him so much to trust his decisions," Peña said. "If I wrote the lineup, I may be biased and write myself cleanup every single day. But when you step back and look at the overall good of the team, he's got his reasons. So I respect that."

BACK TO THIRD: Evan Longoria has been feeling well enough that there has been talk about him going back to third base during next week's homestand after DH Luke Scott is expected to return from the disabled list.

"That's something we've talked about," said Longoria, who missed three months with a partially torn left hamstring. "I feel good, but it's still in the preliminary stages as far as looking at matchups and trying to work Luke back in when he's healthy.

"I'm trying to get to the point where I'm as close to 100 percent and comfortable playing third so that I don't have to keep swapping back and forth and we can start playing consistent matchups toward the end."

MINOR-LEAGUER SUSPENDED: OF Deshun Dixon was suspended 50 games after a second violation of Major League Baseball's policy for a drug of abuse, MLB announced. Dixon, 20, was playing for short-season Class A Hudson Valley, hitting .193 with a homer and 14 RBIs in 38 games. He was the Rays' 10th-round pick in the 2010 draft and hit .220 for the Gulf Coast League Rays and .211 for rookie-league Princeton in his first two pro seasons.

REHAB REPORT: Scott, out since late July with an oblique strain, homered and singled Friday in his sixth rehab game for advanced Class A Charlotte. Scott is likely to take today off, play Sunday, then rejoin the Rays on Monday or Tuesday.

MISCELLANY: Sun Sports starts its coverage at 9 tonight; the start time was moved back to 9:30. Radio coverage starts at the standard one hour before first pitch. … Thursday's shutout was the 12th of season, one shy of the team record set last year.

David Price puts up good start after good start for Tampa Bay Rays

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Friday, August 17, 2012

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The major-league-most 16 victories are certainly attention-getting. The AL-best 2.39 ERA is nearly as prized. The 159 strikeouts and .221 opponents' average are worth noting.

But the number David Price is most proud of at this point of his season is his 11 consecutive starts of working seven or more innings.

"It's being able to go deep into games," Price said.

Price did it again Thursday night, holding the Angels to three hits and striking out eight while working seven innings in the 7-0 victory, running his winning streak to a team-record eight games.

He made a point Friday to spread the credit as widely as he could, mentioning the quality of the defense behind him, the improved offense, the good work behind the plate by catchers Jose Molina and Jose Lobaton, and the strength of the bullpen.

But he also acknowledged he has done well, specifically in threatening situations.

"I feel like the biggest thing is that I'm throwing better with runners in scoring position," he said. "I feel like I threw the ball fine last year. But the only thing I really struggled with was when I had runners in scoring position.

"Obviously, you're going to give up more runs, you're going to have a higher ERA, you're going to limit your chances to win some ball games. So that's something I feel like I have done better this season."

Price was pretty good in 2010, going 19-6 with a 2.72 ERA, including a stretch in which he went 8-1 with a 2.05 ERA in 10 starts. But he is actually in a better stretch right now, going 8-0 and 1.70 over his past 11.

Manager Joe Maddon said Price's improved fastball command has been the biggest factor.

"He's at that point now where when he needs a strike, he can throw that pitch for a strike whenever he wants to wherever he wants to," Maddon said.

"I think therein lies the key. I think the true reason for his success is having an idea where his fastball is going at all times."

Becoming the Rays' first 20-game winner is a possibility for Price, and he will be a candidate for the Cy Young. But his focus at this point is beating the Royals on Tuesday.

"Obviously, 20 wins would be awesome. But it's not something I sit here and think about before or after my starts," he said. "Right now my focus is on 17 and my next start.

"If I can get there, it would be awesome. If not, hopefully I can continue to throw the ball the way I have and the Rays come out with a win on that day even if I don't get the decision."

Marc Topkin can be reached at topkin@tampabay.com. Follow him on Twitter at @TBTimes_Rays.

Braves 4, Dodgers 3, 11 innings

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Times wires
Friday, August 17, 2012

Braves 4, Dodgers 3

11 innings

ATLANTA — Juan Francisco's pinch-hit single lifted Atlan­ta. Brandon League, acquired at the trade deadline, got the first two batters in the 11th before singles by backup catcher David Ross and light-hitting Paul Janish set up Francisco.

Pirates 2, Cardinals 1

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Times wires
Friday, August 17, 2012

Pirates 2, Cardinals 1

ST. LOUIS — James McDonald halted a string of ineffective starts to lift the Pirates. The right-hander was 0-2 over his past four starts while allowing 20 earned runs over 211/3 innings. In his last start, he failed to hold a 7-1 lead. Andrew McCutchen singled and scored on a passed ball during a two-run fourth for the Pirates, who also scored on a wild pitch. Pittsburgh has scored 41 runs over six games in St. Louis this season.

Brewers 6, Phillies 2

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Times wires
Friday, August 17, 2012

Brewers 6, Phillies 2

MILWAUKEE — Ryan Braun's NL-high 32nd homer helped the Brewers win their ninth consecutive home game and Yovani Gallardo his fourth consecutive start. Braun struck out with the bases loaded during a four-run fourth, the second out he made in the inning. But his two-run shot with two outs in the sixth made it 6-1. He has three homers over his past two games after none in his previous 10.

Diamondbacks 3, Astros 1

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Times wires
Saturday, August 18, 2012

Diamondbacks 3, Astros 1

HOUSTON — Wade Miley pitched six innings and hit a sac fly for the Diamondbacks. He entered 0-2 with a 3.48 ERA in his previous two starts. Arizona has won seven consecutive games against Houston, which is 6-28 since the All-Star break. The Astros' Dallas Keuchel is 0-5 with a 6.18 ERA over his past eight starts.


Marlins 6, Rockies 5

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Times wires
Saturday, August 18, 2012

Marlins 6, Rockies 5

DENVER — Jose Reyes and Giancarlo Stanton homered as Wade LeBlanc won for the first time as a starter for the Marlins. His first 11 appearances this year were in relief. In four starts he has allowed eight earned runs over 201/3 innings.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers' rebuilt offensive line full of holes

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By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, August 18, 2012

TAMPA — Surely all the draft picks, money and effort spent building the Bucs' offensive line should produce better results.

And with an All-Pro left guard, a Pro Bowl right guard and the ideal center, quarterback Josh Freeman shouldn't be bracing for repeated brutal hits.

Preseason or not, there is no ignoring the fact the Bucs' offensive line, a supposed strength, underperformed in Friday's 30-7 exhibition loss to the Titans.

Breakdowns impeded Freeman's ability to deliver the ball confidently to his receivers and clogged running lanes for running backs LeGarrette Blount and Doug Martin.

It was a stark contrast to the Bucs' preseason opener a week ago against the Dolphins, in which the offensive line was solid and efficient. Friday there were miscues and lost individual matchups, the kind that would prove costly in the regular season.

"We were definitely disappointed because we didn't play to our standards," said left tackle Demar Dotson, who played poorly in place of starter Donald Penn, who is preparing to return from a calf injury. "(Team captain) Davin Joseph holds this unit to a different standard, and I don't think we lived up to it. It's a learning experience for everybody, including me, to come out here and get better."

One of the areas the line was outplayed was on stunts by the Titans' linemen. More than once, defenders came through unblocked, and Dotson and center Jeremy Zuttah appeared to struggle the most.

"Those are easy things. It was nothing exotic, state-of-the-art, no new kind of stuff," said left guard Carl Nicks, a key piece of the offseason free-agent haul who signed a five-year, $47 million deal.

"It was just execution stuff. We just didn't do it."

Said right guard Joseph: "We're veteran enough on the offensive line to know better."

Just as disturbing was the play of the second-team offensive line. Backup quarterback Dan Orlovsky (1-of-5, 6 yards, one interception) was sacked four times in less than two quarters, onceon consecutive plays.

"We have to do our job and that's going to allow our offense to be explosive," Joseph said.

And at the center of that effort is Freeman, who completed just 4 of 10 passes for 21 yards.

"I always say, if we give that guy time, he's going to make something special happen," Nicks said. "When he's running for his life, it affects the whole offense. You cannot be successful if you can't protect the quarterback."

Sports on TV/radio for August 18

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Times sports staff
Saturday, August 18, 2012

TODAY

Action sports

Dew Tour, 1 p.m., Ch. 8

Autos

Sprint Cup: Pure Michigan 400 practice, 8:30 a.m., Speed

Trucks: VFW 200 qualifying, 9:30 a.m., Speed

Sprint Cup: Pure Michigan 400 practice, 11 a.m., Speed

Trucks: VFW 200, 12:30 p.m., Speed

Nationwide: Napa Auto Parts 200, 2:30 p.m., ESPN

AMA Motocross Series, 3 p.m., Ch. 8

Baseball

Red Sox at Yankees, 4 p.m., Ch. 13; 820-AM

Dodgers at Braves, 7 p.m., MLB

White Sox at Royals, 7 p.m., WGN

Marlins at Rockies, 8 p.m., FSN

Rays at Angels, 9:30 p.m., Sun Sports; 620-AM

Cal Ripken World Series

U.S. final: Boyds, Md. vs. Mililani, Hawaii or Bronx, N.Y., 5 p.m., , CBSSN

International final: South Korea

vs. Japan, 7:30 p.m., CBSSN

Golf

Wyndham Championship, 1 p.m., Golf

Wyndham Championship, 3 p.m., Ch. 10

Champions: Dick's Sporting Goods Open, 3 p.m., Golf

U.S. Amateur, 4 p.m., Ch. 8

LPGA: Safeway Classic, 6:30 p.m., Golf

High school baseball

All-America Game, 1:30 p.m., MLB

Horse racing

Alabama and Sword Dancer Invitational, 5 p.m., NBCSN

Junior League baseball

Championship: Teams TBD, 11 a.m., ESPN2

Junior League softball

Championship: Layritz, BC vs. Nunaka Valley, Alaska, 5 p.m., ESPN2

Little League World Series

Willemstad, Curacao

vs. Ramstein, Germany, noon, ESPN

Fairfield, Conn. vs. Kearney, Neb., 3 p.m., Ch. 28

Oriente, Mexico vs. Lugazi, Uganda, 6 p.m., ESPN

Parsippany, N.J. vs. Gresham, Ore. , 8 p.m., ESPN

NFL

Preseason: Titans at Bucs (taped), noon, Ch. 10

Preseason: Giants at Jets, 7 p.m., NFL

Preseason: Cowboys at Chargers (joined in progress), 10 p.m., NFL

Senior League Baseball

Championship: Guatemala City, Guatemala vs. Lemon Grove, Calif., 2 p.m., ESPNU

Soccer

EPL: Sunderland at Arsenal, 9:50 a.m., ESPN, ESPND

EPL: Liverpool at West Bromwich, 10 a.m., FSC

Holland: Roda at PSV Eindhoven, 12:30 p.m., ESPND

EPL: Tottenham at Newcastle, 12:30 p.m., FSC

Exhibition: Indiana University

vs. Guadalajara under-23, 7 p.m., FSC

Tennis

ATP: Western and Southern Open, 1 p.m., ESPN2

WTA: Western and Southern Open, 7 p.m., ESPN2

TV: CBSSN: CBS Sports Network; ESPND: ESPN Deportes; FSN: Fox Sports Net; FSC: Fox Soccer Channel; NBCSN: NBC Sports Network.

Tampa Bay Rays rout Los Angeles Angels 12-3

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, August 18, 2012

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Rays were braced for battle Friday, adjusting their lineup and anticipating a tight duel with Angels ace and major-league ERA leader Jered Weaver.

Instead, they got a laugher and another loud clubhouse celebration, battering Weaver for a career-high nine runs on the way to a 12-3 win.

B.J. Upton led the way with four of their season-high 17 hits, including his fifth homer of the road trip and team-high matching 15th overall, and James Shields worked six innings for this 11th win.

The Rays had been insisting their run of improved play was merely interrupted by a bad error Tuesday night (by Carlos Peña) and an extraordinary pitching performance on Wednesday (a perfect game by Seattle's Felix Hernandez), and halfway to a sweep of the Angels, they appeared to be right.

"I'm not surprised," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "We talked about being owed something offensively for the first half of the season. And we keep grinding it out, and it comes back to you."

The win was the ninth in their past 11 games and 14th of 19, improving the Rays' record to 65-54 as they reclaimed the top spot in the wild-card race while remaining six games behind the East-leading Yankees.

They were having such a relaxed time, normally intense and intimidating reliever Kyle Farnsworth grabbed and hugged Wade Davis when they were shown on the stadium videoboard kiss-cam.

The Rays started with solo homers in the first from Upton and in the second from Ben Zobrist (his 14th). Then they piled on in the fourth, scoring seven times as eight consecutive batters reached base, on six hits and two walks, and they sent 10 men to the plate.

The seven runs were their most for any inning this season (and in more than a year), and were more than they scored in 95 of their games.

"(Weaver is) the ERA leader for a reason," Upton said. "Our approach against him was to stay in the strike zone and get good pitches to hit."

Shields did his part, too, though the third-inning homer he allowed to Erick Aybar did snap the Rays' scoreless streak against the Angels at 34 innings.

The fourth started innocently with a single by Evan Longoria, continuing to show off for the home crowd. Weaver didn't look right in walking Zobrist, then throwing a slow, looping wild pitch behind Jeff Keppinger before walking him to load the bases.

The Rays went into rapid-fire mode from there, rapping five consecutive RBI hits. Singles by Sean Rodriguez and Ryan Roberts scored one each. Jose Molina delivered two with a single. Desmond Jennings doubled in one, and Upton singled in two more.

Upton's night was eventful from the start.

After hitting a ball over the wall in the top of the first, he ran and jumped at the wall — and actually tried to make a barehanded grab — in pursuit of Mike Trout's leadoff drive. Trout ended up with a triple, but Rodriguez, playing third in an unexpected defensive alignment, dived and speared Torii Hunter's liner and turned it into a double play.

Molina's solo homer in the eighth put the Rays ahead 11-3. In the ninth, Sam Fuld led off with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by Elliot Johnson.

Mariners 5, Twins 3

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Times wires
Saturday, August 18, 2012

Mariners 5, Twins 3

SEATTLE — John Jaso and Miguel Olivo homered for the Mariners. Seattle's Hisashi Iwakuma retired his first 12 batters. Including Felix Hernandez's perfect game Thursday, the Mariners retired 42 consecutive batters, the longest streak in the majors since 1974. The last batter to reach base had been the Rays' Jeff Keppinger, who doubled to lead off the ninth Tuesday.

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