By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, September 1, 2012

TAMPA — Leonard Johnson has lived a dream for a couple of months as the Clearwater native has suited up for his hometown team, the Bucs.

But the undrafted rookie cornerback from Iowa State still faced a very important obstacle: final cuts.

Friday night he cleared that hurdle — after some nerve-racking hours by the phone.

"(Friday) was a stressful time, but I was at ease knowing that I did put my best effort out and (played) to the best of my ability every day," Johnson said. "Either way it would have went, I think I would have been, not comfortable, but I would've been satisfied."

Johnson's phone never rang — that's a good thing — but he remained wary until arriving at One Buc Place Saturday morning for practice.

"I didn't know I made the team until I came to practice and got my playbook …" he said. "When I got in (Saturday) and I got that playbook, I just sent my mom a text message confirming it. But it's still a long way. I've seen two guys (cut) already."

While the roster will continue to be manipulated, according to coach Greg Schiano, meaning some reserve players could still be cut, the Bucs were impressed by Johnson's performance.

"If you look at his cumulative body of work this preseason, he's played pretty well," Schiano said of Johnson. "He's earned the right to be here. The competition goes on. But right now, he's in a position where he can help us win."

Making the cut allows Johnson to be a part of an event on Tuesday during which the Bucs will break ground on Tampa Bay Buccaneers Field in his old neighborhood. The project is being made possible by a $100,000 grant from the team.

"I wanted to ask how I could play a role in that because I played (there)," Johnson said. "They're opening a new field right in my community. It's going to be real big. If I can play a part in that, because … I grew up throwing footballs right on that field. … Now it's something great."

STILL FLUID: The Bucs still list WR Preston Parker as their top kick and punt returner, but Schiano is not committing to him or anyone else yet.

Rookie RB Michael Smith appears destined to be the kickoff returner after handling 10 of the 11 returns in the preseason. And Schiano said Parker might or might not be the punt returner, where WR Sammie Stroughter is a strong possibility.

"They're all in the mix right now," Schiano said. "I'm not sure who is going to be the guy. There may be more than one guy depending on the situation. I'm not ready to publicly say that. I think I have some thoughts and ideas, but we'll probably work through that more as we go."

Parker jeopardized his role as the primary return man by not cleanly fielding punts, a problem he had last season, too.

QUICK LOOK: The Bucs briefly considered signing former Falcons and Alabama QB John Parker Wilson to their practice squad Saturday before he agreed to join the Jaguars' practice squad. The Bucs, according to the Denver Post, agreed to sign QB Adam Weber to their practice squad, after his release Friday from the Broncos. Tampa Bay needed a practice squad quarterback because it has just two on its active roster.

By Rob Gorta, Times Correspondent
Saturday, September 1, 2012

What's hot: Large redfish schools are active in the Pinellas Point area after the storm dropped water temperatures. Low tide spots can be the most difficult to find. Redfish like to have a certain depth to swim in. So when it gets too low, they move to deeper water. As they move, I pay attention to which direction they fall off the flat. After years of watching the schools, I have a theory of their movements and where they are going to go: It depends on what the tide is doing. Figure that out, and you have a low tide spot of your own. The past two times my low tide spots have yielded big numbers of fish.

Bait: This time of year is the best for any type of bait. The water level is critical for bait selection. On low tides, reds are very wary and spook easily. Therefore, a light presentation is needed. Shrimp fits that bill and will increase chances of a hookup. Or use a soft plastic that is rigged Texas style for a weedless setup. On higher tides, reds are far less spooky and will eat just about any bait.

Rob Gorta charters out of St. Petersburg. Call him at (727) 647-7606 or visit captainrobgorta.com.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, September 1, 2012

TORONTO

September is always a special time in baseball.

But it's also a strange time, when the rules are changed regarding roster size. And even odder this year, with teams, such as the Rays, competing for a new second wild-card berth and facing a different playoff format.

Cast Rays manager Joe Maddon as curious to see how it all works out.

The issue of roster expansion is an annual debate. After playing five months with a 25-man limit, teams go into the most important four weeks able to use up to 40 players.

As much emphasis as the Rays put on flexibility and versatility to maximize a 25-man roster, and as good a job as they do managing it, allowing other teams to use more players is a disadvantage.

Maddon said it can work both ways.

As a contender, he likes having the extra players around — they had 31 active Saturday — primarily to provide rest for the frontliners, and for some specific duties, such as pinch-running.

But he doesn't like managing against non-contenders that have and will use a bunch of extra players — often young and unpredictable — to create different matchups, with pinch-hitters and relievers, that otherwise would never have to be accounted for.

"They can make it very difficult on you," he said.

The solution, in Maddon's opinion and others, is to specify a set number of players — 28, 29, 30 — who can be active for each game.

He doesn't know yet what to think about the ramifications of the expanded playoffs. But he seems sure the addition of the second wild card, and the increased premium on winning the division (as the wild cards meet in a one-game play-in), will create additional issues, some unexpected. For example, teams might be more open to making trades in September, even though the acquired players won't be eligible for the postseason.

"It's different," he said.

But, bottom line, it should be even more intriguing to watch, with more teams involved and more games mattering. And, Maddon said, possibly even more exciting than last season's Game 162 dramatics.

"There's no telling how this is going to play out," he said. "Going through this whole process this year, it's going to present a lot of different caveats that weren't even thought about, or were thought about a little bit and now become more prominent. … It's going to be interesting, more so than it's ever been."

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, September 1, 2012

Among the stock phrases and cliched answers going into each recent season, Rays officials say their primary goal is to play meaningful games in September. • Well, here they go again. • As the Rays return home to open an important — though not quite yet critical — series with the Yankees on Monday afternoon, they are set up for another September to remember, or to quickly forget.

Five September moments

Dan Johnson Game

Sept. 9, 2008: Dan Johnson came off the plane, out of the cab, onto the bench and into Rays history, with a two-run ninth-inning pinch-hit homer that staggered the Red Sox, allowing the Rays to go on to a critical win that propelled them to their first division title.

Into October

Sept. 20, 2008: Anyone who was there can still see Evan Longoria drifting over toward the seats and clutching Joe Mauer's foul popup, clinching the first playoff berth in Rays franchise history and setting off a party 11 years in the making. (Trivia question: Who was on the mound for the Rays? Answer below)

Walking Off

Sept. 13, 2010: With Carl Crawford ejected for arguing a ninth-inning strike call, rookie INF Reid Brignac takes his spot in the order and leads off the ninth with a walkoff homer that gives the Rays a 1-0 win over the Yankees and pushes them back into first place.

Threes Are Wild

Sept. 27, 2011: Game 162 would never have mattered if the Rays didn't win Game 161, and all it took was a sixth-inning triple play started by Evan Longoria to keep the Yankees' lead at one then a three-run homer by Matt Joyce in the seventh, off ex-Ray Rafael Soriano, to give them a 5-3 win.

(Trivia answer: Trever Miller)

Wanna make a date?

Sept. 3-5: Yankees at Rays

6-9: Rangers at Rays; Yankees at Orioles

11-13: Rays at Orioles; Tigers at White Sox

14-16: Rays at Yankees

17-20: Red Sox at Rays

21-23: Blue Jays at Rays; A's at Yanks

25-26: Rays at Red Sox

27-30: Rays at White Sox

Oct. 1-3: Orioles at Rays*

* Adopted as part of September.

For comparison's sake

Where the Rays stand, and have stood, at this point over the past five seasons, and where they finished in the standings:

On Sept. 2 Finish

Year W-L GB W-L GB

2008 84-51 +5 97-65 +2*

2009 71-60 -12 84-78 -19

2010 82-51 -1 96-66 +1*

2011 74-62 -9 91-71 -6

2012 72-61 -41/2??-?? ?

* won AL East; won AL wild card

Rays rumblings

Clubhouse chatter is that Sean Rodriguez's hand-breaking locker punch in Durham was indeed over something frivolous: the song being played after the game in the locker room. … A positive of the new ESPN TV deal is the potential of an extra $10 million per team; a negative is an increase in how often they can show the Yankees and Red Sox (okay, or whomever) on Sunday nights. … Suspended 2010 top pick Josh Sale's statement explaining his positive drug test (methamphetamine, amphetamine) was a bit convoluted and contradictory: He "did not take any banned substance" but dropped his appeal because he "was unable to uncover enough evidence" of his innocence but now will try to "regain the trust of the Rays' organization and their fans." … Double-A Montgomery radio man Joe Davis is headed to ESPN. … The manager of the Cardinals' Palm Beach team that threw a perfect game last week against the Rays' Class A Charlotte team is Johnny Rodriguez, Sean's father.

Got a minute? Desmond Jennings

Something you're scared of? Snakes. All of 'em.

Late-night snack? Bright Crawlers candy, Nutter Butter (cookies), Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Cap'n Crunch (cereal).

Karaoke song if you had to? I dunno. I've tried that before and I haven't made it through a whole song yet.

Favorite TV show? Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Celebrity crush? Zoe Saldana (Avatar, Star Trek).

Game 162

Sept. 28, 2011: Evan Longoria's walkoff homer in the 12th inning clinched the wild card for the Rays and capped what many consider the greatest day of regular-season play in MLB history, completing two stunning comebacks, as the Rays were down 7-0 in the eighth inning that night and were nine games out of a playoff spot Sept. 3. Before Longoria hit that, he hit a three-run homer to bring the Rays within one, and then in the ninth, down to his last strike, Dan Johnson delivered a pinch-hit homer to tie it.

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, September 1, 2012

The Jets don't have an offense

You can change that header to read the Jets don't have a quarterback. And hold the jeers, please. I've always been a fan of both Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow. But both look utterly lost this preseason. Through the first three games, neither produced an offensive touchdown. It seems strange that the Jets would bring in Tebow and not run the wildcat offense at all during the exhibition games. True, teams don't want give away too much information to opponents, but it seems as if it would be a good idea to run a few plays in game situations. Think about it: After you run it a couple of times in your first game, everyone is going to start dissecting it anyway. Getting it down is more important than giving away any secrets.

The Cardinals are in trouble

My, how the Cardinals have fallen. Just three seasons ago, the Cardinals came within a play or two of winning the Super Bowl, and they seemed poised for a good run. Since then, they have gone 23-25, including 13-19 the past two seasons. Quarterback Kurt Warner retired and heir apparent Matt Leinart turned out to be, well, not the heir apparent. They signed free agent quarterback Kevin Kolb, above, to a big contract, and he hasn't exactly panned out either.

The NFL needs the real officials

This preseason has shown us just how inept replacement officials can be. It's not their fault. They're overmatched and overwhelmed. They're not even good college officials. They're simply not qualified. Forget about them blowing a call that affects the outcome of a game. That would be bad, but what's worse is their lack of control could lead to a serious injury. The NFL is a multibillion-dollar industry, and the well-being of its athletes, as well as the integrity of the sport, is way too important to hand over to a bunch of officials who are barely a step above high school officials. This preseason showed just how much we all need the real officials, who are currently locked out as negotiations founder, back on the field.

The preseason is too long

Four preseason games are too many. The starters play a series or two in the first game. They then barely play, if at all, in the final preseason game. They play maybe a quarter in the second game and, if you're lucky, a full half in the third game. Add it all up, and the starters might play the equivalent of one full game. Yet the money-grubbing NFL still charges regular-season prices for this junk. Four games is too many. Two is probably too few. Three sounds about right. But there's no way the NFL is going to give up a gate. Right now, between the regular season and the preseason, each team plays 20 games. If the league eliminates a couple of preseason games, they'll simply add those games to the regular season, and does anyone want 18 regular-season games? Teams have trouble staying healthy enough to play 16 games. Sadly, it appears we're stuck with four preseason games.

Matt Flynn isn't as good as we thought he was

Flynn, left, was Aaron Rodgers' backup last season in Green Bay. Thanks to one humongous game in 2011 (31-for-44 for 480 yards and six touchdown passes in a wild 45-41 victory against the Lions), Flynn hit the open market and became a nice consolation prize to whichever team needed a QB and didn't get Peyton Manning. Flynn ended up signing a whopping three-year, $26 million deal ($10 million guaranteed) with the Seahawks. But the Seahawks just didn't hand the job to Flynn. Coach Pete Carroll opened up the spot to anyone good enough to take it. While Flynn battled a sore arm, he lost the job to Russell Wilson, a rookie out of Wisconsin who was a third-round (75th overall) pick in the April draft.

tom jones' two cents

The NFL exhibition season is over, and the regular season kicks off Wednesday. What did we learn over the past few weeks of training camp and the preseason? Here's a look:

Peyton Manning is back

The Broncos quarterback, who hasn't played a meaningful game since Jan. 8, 2011, still looks a little rusty. His passes aren't quite as crisp and don't have as much zip as the good old days, but he does appear to be getting healthier every day. Put it this way: Sports Illustrated's Peter King, who is pretty plugged in, believes Manning is far enough along that he's picking the Broncos to go to the Super Bowl.

The Bucs have problems with depth

We're not supposed to read a whole lot into the results of preseason games, especially the last one, when starters don't play at all. Still, don't you need to be a little concerned when your backups get beat 30-3 by another team's backups? Sure, a lot of guys who played in the Bucs' preseason finale against the Redskins will be stocking shelves or tending bar this week, but many will see time in the NFL this season, too. The Bucs could have troubles if too many of those guys see too much time.

It's a Hard Knocks life

Teams kept turning down HBO for its training camp show, Hard Knocks, so the cable network had to settle for the Dolphins. That's right, settle. This is a so-so team with almost no personality. Coach Joe Philbin seems like a nice enough guy, but he is about as exciting as burnt toast. But Hard Knocks fell into one of the best stories in the NFL when Chad Johnson or Ochocinco, or whatever he's called these days, was arrested for putting his hands on his reality-show wife. Johnson was released in one of the best scenes in the history of the show, and it doesn't seem likely he will be picked up by anyone else. Think about it: The Dolphins are in desperate need of a receiver, and even they didn't want to put up with Johnson's circus.

The kids are all right

Four first-round rookie quarterbacks earned starting jobs. Let's start (from left) in Indianapolis, where first overall pick Andrew Luck has silenced doubters with his outstanding preseason performance. In Washington, it feels like No. 2 pick Robert Griffin III has made more commercials than completed passes, but he has shown flashes of being really good. Less certain is Miami's Ryan Tannehill (drafted No. 8) and Cleveland's Brandon Weeden (No. 22). Both won jobs simply because they're on mediocre, or worse, teams that have no one else to turn to and nothing to really lose.

Times wires
Saturday, September 1, 2012

NEW YORK — When the calendar turned to September, the first-place Yankees suddenly played more like, well, the first-place Yankees.

Derek Jeter worked a tying walk, then sure-handed shortstop J.J. Hardy's bases-loaded error let New York cap a seventh-inning comeback Saturday in a 4-3 win over the Orioles.

The Yankees scored three in the seventh and restored their three-game lead in the AL East over Baltimore. The Orioles had won 13 straight one-run decisions.

"You don't look at the standings," Jeter said. "If we play well, we'll be fine."

As to whether his team's history of playing important games was any factor, the Yankees' captain demurred.

"If you win, they say experience helps," Jeter said. "If you lose, they say you don't have enough youth."

The Yankees lost a power bat when Curtis Granderson left after two innings with tightness in his right hamstring. An MRI exam showed nothing major.

Times wires
Saturday, September 1, 2012

Giants 5, Cubs 2

CHICAGO — Tim Lincecum pitched four-hit ball into the seventh inning and Xavier Nady had a three-run double in his first game with San Francisco. Nady, promoted from Triple-A Fresno when rosters expanded, hit a smash past third and into the leftfield corner to give the NL West leaders a 4-0 lead in the first.

Times wires
Saturday, September 1, 2012

HAMPTON, Ga. — Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth have smoothed things over after their helmet-throwing dustup.

Not to worry.

In NASCAR, the next tantrum is usually just around the turn.

Emotions certainly will run high tonight at Atlanta Motor Speedway for the next-to-last race before the Chase for the Championship begins. Several top drivers — including Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch and Jeff Gordon — are battling to get into the Sprint Cup playoff, so they know any major incident during the AdvoCare 500 could ruin their hopes.

"If you've been in racing long enough, you're going to have some type of disagreement with pretty much everybody you're competitive with on the track," Kenseth said. "Some of that stuff is natural."

While NASCAR doesn't give the competitors carte blanche to do whatever they want, Stewart wasn't fined for tossing his helmet at Kenseth after a crash at Bristol last weekend. That was telling. The governing body has come back around to letting drivers show emotions and work out problems among themselves.

And that, of course, goes all the way back to the infamous 1979 incident in the Daytona 500 that essentially propelled the good ol' boys into the national spotlight, when Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough got into a brawl after they wrecked each other on the final lap. Donnie's brother, Bobby, pulled over to join the melee on Donnie's behalf.

NASCAR frowns on fisticuffs but, it's impossible to keep tempers from flaring in a sport where competitors put their lives on the line every day.

And seriously, why would they want to rein in those emotions?

"Why does everybody like reality TV?" five-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson asked rhetorically. "It's kind of in the same vein. People like watching train wrecks. People like watching controversy. Whatever that is, we're all intrigued. We love to be a voyeur and check it out. Most of us don't like being in that situation, but it sure is fun to watch."

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has another theory.

"I'm sure everybody watching the race has somebody whose neck they would like to wring," he said. "Maybe they live vicariously through our emotions in some way. There's probably a co-worker or two who you wouldn't mind running a fist into their face."

Stewart, the three-time and defending Cup champion, lost his infamous temper after a bump from Kenseth caused a wreck as the two raced for the lead Aug. 25. Before a mandatory trip to the care center, Stewart waited for Kenseth to pass by on pit road, and he used both hands to heave his helmet directly at the front grill of Kenseth's car.

A few days later, Stewart joked about the whole affair. He said he might take some of his father's old helmets into his yard to work on his technique.

During the first day of practice at Atlanta, the two adversaries chatted amiably in the garage.

Apparently, all is good.

Until the next time.

"The helmet toss was cool," Kenseth said. "I just wish he had not tossed it at me. That means he was upset with me."

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, September 1, 2012

TAMPA

Head coaching changes in the NFL often bring sweeping alterations to the roster as well.

Such was the case when Greg Schiano took over with the Bucs. Some of the franchise's core players from the past few years were shown the door. Lately, a few have had it slam on their careers.

Schiano started by releasing S Tanard Jackson, who was signed by the Washington Redskins but suspended indefinitely Friday after his third suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Jackson missed 20 games for two previous suspensions for drug use.

Next came TE Kellen Winslow, who was traded for a seventh-round draft choice to Seattle and squawked about Schiano's "toes on the line," controlling ways. On Saturday, Winslow was released by the Seahawks.

DT Brian Price, who had a series of injury and personal problems, was traded to the Chicago Bears the first day of training camp. For now, he appears to have earned a roster spot with the Bears, but it has been speculated that could change once DT Amobi Okoye, who reached an injury settlement with the Bucs, returns to Chicago.

On Saturday the Bucs signed RB D.J. Ware, who won two Super Bowl rings with the Giants. Tampa Bay traded back into the first round in the draft to select Boise State RB Doug Martin, who won the starting tailback job over LeGarrette Blount. One has to wonder if the Bucs might entertain trading Blount after Ware's signing.

The Bucs went 4-12 last season, losing their last 10 games, which led to the firing of Raheem Morris after three seasons.

On Saturday, Schiano and the Bucs were desperately still trying to build depth on the offensive and defensive lines. A season-ending knee injury to OL Davin Joseph created some urgency. Meanwhile, the defensive line has not fulfilled expectations for several years despite the investment of high draft picks, including a pair of first-rounders for Gerald McCoy and Adrian Clayborn and second-rounders for Price and Da'Quan Bowers.

The Bucs claimed three players off waivers: Jacksonville DT Corvey Irvin, Eagles G Julian Vandervelde and Texans C/G Cody Wallace.

Not every move under Schiano is going to pay off. But it's hard to question his instincts about personnel at this point.

UNDERWOOD VS. STROUGHTER: Of all the decisions the Bucs have made, releasing WR Tiquan Underwood might have been the toughest for Schiano.

Not only did Underwood play for Schiano at Rutgers, he had a great training camp and was the Bucs' most productive receiver in the preseason. But his limited ability on special teams likely cost him a roster spot that went to Sammie Stroughter.

"Very tough decision," Schiano said. "Tough decision because of (Underwood's) productivity in preseason and personally a tough decision because I have known this kid since he was a freshman in high school and have had a lot of great moments with him and I trust him.

"The good thing is this is a long season and he is a guy that I want the best for him so if somebody claims him, that's great, but if not he is a guy that I think we will always have in the ready because we believe he performed well. But … Sammie does a lot on special teams. I don't know if Tiquan could or can't, but he hasn't. Sammie has proven that he can."

Times wires
Saturday, September 1, 2012

Phillies 5, Braves 1

ATLANTA — Cliff Lee took advantage of rare support, pitching seven shutout innings for Philadelphia. Jimmy Rollins homered for the Phillies, who got off to a good September start after a 17-12 August. NL wild card-leading Atlanta lost its third straight and 10th in 14 games. The Phillies, who knocked out Tim Hudson in the sixth, had scored three runs or fewer in 14 of Lee's 23 starts.

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Rays at Blue Jays

When/where: 1:07 today; Rogers Centre, Toronto

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

Probable pitchers

Rays: LH David Price (16-5, 2.53)

Jays: LH Ricky Romero (8-12, 5.50)

On Price: Coming off tough outing in Texas, allowing six runs and 10 hits in four innings. Is 10-2, 2.13 in 13 starts vs. Jays, 4-0, 3.41 in five at Rogers Centre.

On Romero: One-time ace has been a mess, going 1-11, 7.16 over past 12 starts, allowing a staggering 125 base-runners in 662/3 innings. Was 6-4, 3.49 in 12 starts vs. Rays.

Rays vs. Romero

Evan Longoria 6-for-23

B.J. Upton 6-for-28, HR

Ben Zobrist 8-for-28, 2 HRs

Jays vs. Price

Rajai Davis 5-for-19

Edwin Encarnacion 6-for-24, 2 HRs

Jeff Mathis 4-for-17, HR

On deck

Monday: vs. Yankees, 1:10, Sun Sports. Rays — James Shields (12-8. 3.91); Yankees — CC Sabathia (13-4. 3.40)

Tuesday: vs. Yankees, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — Alex Cobb (8-8, 4.39); Yankees — Freddy Garcia (7-5, 4.90)

Wednesday: vs. Yankees, 7:10 Sun Sports. Rays — Matt Moore (10-8, 3.58); Yankees — Hiroki Kuroda (12-9, 2.98)

Thursday: Off

Rays disabled list

(with eligible-to-return date)

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

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

INF Sean Rodriguez, right hand fracture, 15-day, Sept. 15

* out for season

Xxxxxxx

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Number of the day

13 Issued to new OF Ben Francisco, worn last by 4-time All-Star Carl Crawford, previously by Miguel Cairo, Ozzie Guillen

Quote of the day

"How's he doing? Just look at him."

Evan Longoria, as reporters approached Elliot Johnson, his face swollen and bruised from Friday's home plate collision.

Character assignation of the day

"Two-Face"

Sam Fuld's suggestion, from comic book and Batman movie fame, to describe Johnson.

Xxxxxxx

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AL East

Team W L Pct. GB

New York 76 56 .576—

Baltimore 73 59 .553 3

Tampa Bay 72 61 .541 41/2

Boston 62 72 .463 15

Toronto 60 72 .455 16

AL race for wild cards

Team W L Pct. GB

Oakland 75 57 .568—

Baltimore 73 59 .553—

Tampa Bay 72 61 .541 11/2

Detroit 71 61 .538 2

Los Angeles 71 62 .534 21/2

* Late game not included. Top two wild cards make postseason; GB is games behind second wild card

Times wires
Saturday, September 1, 2012

Angels 5, Mariners 2

SEATTLE — Mark Trumbo hit a two-run single in the eighth inning that helped Los Angeles hand Felix Hernandez his first loss since June 12. Hernandez entered 9-0 with a 1.40 ERA in his past 14 starts. Mike Trout and Torii Hunter singled to open the eighth. Albert Pujols hit a one-hopper that third baseman Kyle Seager botched, letting Trout score to tie it at 2. After Kendrys Morales bounced out, Trumbo hit one through the left side.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, September 1, 2012

TORONTO — RHP Jeff Niemann couldn't have felt better the way his afternoon started as he sailed through three innings of his first game since breaking his right leg May 14. But the way it ended left him hoping he'll be able to pitch again soon.

Niemann left one batter into the fourth with what he and the team would only describe as "right arm tightness," refusing, mysteriously, to say even what part of the arm was at issue.

Manager Joe Maddon, who also used the term "soreness," said it was "nothing awful," like "a dead-arm kind of a thing."

But Niemann sounded less sure. "There's no answer right now," he said. "We're just being careful with it, and making sure."

Though the Rays weren't going to put Niemann back in the rotation, they were planning for him to make a few starts designed to provide rest for the others, as well as an experienced option if someone else got hurt.

"It's unfortunate to have a little hiccup, or whatever," Niemann said. "We're hoping for the best and hoping to come in (today) and everything is going to be all good, and go from there."

With the bullpen having to cover 52/3 innings after his early departure, the Rays will add RHP Brandon Gomes for today's game. Gomes was 5-4, 3.09 with nine saves at Durham, 2-2, 6.94 in 10 games with the Rays.

To make room for Niemann to be re-added to the 40-man roster, INF Will Rhymes, who hit .228 over 47 games in several stints, was designated for assignment.

THE BIG 4-0: Fernando Rodney's milestone 40th save was his most difficult, the first in which he had to work more than one inning, and his first five-out save since April 2007. "It wasn't easy," Maddon said.

Rodney walked his first batter in the eighth to load the bases, then struck out the next two, and walked the first batter in the ninth, escaping on B.J. Upton's game-ending throw to the plate.

Rodney said the rustiness was the result of a lack of work, one inning in the previous 10 days. "Too much rest, physically and mentally," he said.

Rodney is the fourth Ray with 40 saves, and the fourth in MLB history to get to 40 with an ERA under 1.00.

END OF THE ROAD: The two-run homer LHP J.P. Howell allowed to Edwin Encarnacion ended his team-record streak of 271/3 scoreless innings, and the bullpen's streak of 181/3.

Howell was summoned unexpectedly when Niemann left one batter into the fourth and blamed himself for not being prepared. "That's on me," he said. "I've got to be ready, got to be prepared. I was sitting back enjoying the game a little too much, and that's what happens."

FACE TIME: INF Elliot Johnson didn't look good the morning after his game-ending collision at home plate, the right side of his face bruised in several places (and coated with ointment), his cheek swollen so much that putting the contact lens in his right eye took 10 minutes, his right hip so sore it hurt to walk. The good news was that there were no serious injuries, he passed the MLB-mandated concussion test and he was available to play if needed.

PRICE CHECK: LHP David Price said he won't have any different approach today coming off his rough last outing in Texas. Maddon said there is no reason for concern given how well he had done previously. "He'd been pretty much perfect to that point," Maddon said, "so he just came back to human-kind."

MISCELLANY: New OF Ben Francisco arrived during the game and pinch-hit in the ninth, popping out. … RHP Wade Davis got the win. … Dirk Hayhurst, the author/pitcher who last played in 2011 for Triple-A Durham, was in the clubhouse pre-game, now doing radio and TV in Toronto. … RHP James Shields was headed home early to be rested for Monday's 1:10 Labor Day matinee.

Times wires
Saturday, September 1, 2012

Cardinals 10, Nationals 9

WASHINGTON — David Freese homered, drove in three runs and had a go-ahead single in the ninth inning as St. Louis ended a four-game losing streak.

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, September 1, 2012

TAMPA — Fifteen minutes into practice Saturday afternoon, having survived the final roster cut down a night earlier, Bucs rookie tackle Bradley Sowell and veteran defensive tackle Wallace Gilberry were escorted off the field like uninvited guests.

Though it didn't go unnoticed, the rest of the team ignored their misfortune and huddled around coach Greg Schiano. A few moments later, Schiano jogged over to Sowell, who had removed his shoulder pads, and had a few words with him before heading inside One Buc Place to talk with Gilberry.

"When some things occurred that we weren't sure would, we had to get some guys off the field, which certainly is the bad part of this business," Schiano said, "but it is a business, and we all know that when we get into it. But we had to get some guys out of there, which isn't the easiest thing.

"Is it a little awkward? Yeah, it is."

Awkward? Perhaps, but also necessary. The Bucs — who entered the day with 52 players, one short of the roster limit — claimed three players off waivers Saturday: Jacksonville defensive tackle Corvey Irvin, Eagles guard Julian Vandervelde and Texans center/guard Cody Wallace.

Tampa Bay also signed Giants running back D.J. Ware and released cornerback Brandon McDonald. Ware, who had been with the Giants since 2007, won two Super Bowl rings there and is familiar with the Bucs offense under new coordinator Mike Sullivan.

Ware, 27, has 81 career rushes for 324 yards and one touchdown.

Irvin played four games with the Jaguars last season, recording four tackles. He was a third-round pick (93rd overall) of the Carolina Panthers in the 2009 draft. Vandervelde, a fifth-round (161st overall) choice of the Eagles out of Iowa, played in one regular-season game in 2011 as a rookie.

Wallace spent last season with the Texans practice squad. He was a fourth-round pick (107th overall) of the 49ers out of Texas A&M in 2008 and spent his first two pro seasons there. Wallace also was a member of the Lions and Jets in 2010.

The Bucs' depth on their offensive line has been tested after the season-ending torn right patellar injury to Pro Bowl guard Davin Joseph in a preseason game against the Patriots on Aug. 24.

Meanwhile, the defensive line lost Da'Quan Bowers to a torn Achilles and Brian Price in a trade to the Chicago Bears. On Friday, the Bucs reached an injury settlement with defensive tackle Amobi Okoye, who is headed back to Chicago.

"This thing until Tuesday is going to be a very fluid situation," Schiano said.

The Bucs also began formulating their eight-man practice squad, signing former Florida State receiver Bert Reed, Saints center/guard Brian Folkerts, tight end Drake Dunsmore and former University of Minnesota quarterback Adam Weber, who was cut by the Broncos.

Rick Stroud can be reached at stroud@tampabay.com

Times wires
Saturday, September 1, 2012

LAKELAND — Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez went hitless in four at-bats and played in the field for the first time during his three-game rehab assignment with Class A Tampa on Saturday.

He flew out to shallow right in his first at-bat, grounded out and struck out twice. He handled his only chance at third when he fielded a soft grounder.

Rodriguez is 0-for-7 with four strikeouts during his stint with the Tampa Yankees.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman indicated that there was a good chance Rodriguez would join the club on Monday when it opens a three-game series in St. Petersburg with the Rays. He is expected to be the DH in this morning minor-league game in Lakeland.

Rodriguez has missed a little more than a month with a broken bone in his left hand suffered when he was struck by a pitch from Mariners RHP Felix Hernandez. Rodriguez, batting .276 with a .358 on-base percentage and a .449 slugging percentage for the season, went on the disabled list on July 25.

Eric Chavez, Rodriguez's primary replacement at third, hit .365 with a .403 OBP and .587 SLG in August.

LATE FRIDAY: The Athletics set season highs for hits (19) and runs in a 20-2 thumping of the Red Sox. The A's scored 20 for the fourth time in Oakland history and handed the Red Sox their most lopsided loss since 22-1 to the Yankees on June 19, 2000. Boston allowed 20 for the first time since Aug. 21, 2009, also against the Yankees.

GIAMBI NOT DONE: Former AL MVP Jason Giambi, 41, who is batting .241 with one homer for the Rockies this season and spent more than a month on the disabled list with a viral infection, said he hopes to play next season. "If somebody wants me," Giambi told the Denver Post.

BRAVES: SS Andrelton Simmons, out since July 8 with a fractured right pinkie finger, was cleared by a hand specialist to begin baseball activities and could begin a minor-league rehab assignment Tuesday.

CARDINALS: OF/1B Lance Berkman, out since Aug. 3 with a right knee injury, was activated from the 15-day disabled list. Berkman will initially be limited to a pinch-hitting role, manager Mike Matheny said. … SS Rafael Furcal, who tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow last week, will try to rehab without surgery and could rejoin the team if it reaches the posteason.

DODGERS: Closer Kenley Jansen, who was hospitalized in Denver last week with an irregular heartbeat, is scheduled to see a heart specialist Tuesday.

INDIANS: SS Asdrubal Cabrera was scratched from the starting lineup with a sore right wrist.

PADRES: Closer Huston Street, out since Aug. 12 with a strained left calf, had a setback and was scratched from a rehab appearance with Triple-A Tucson. The right-hander is scheduled to be re-evaluated Monday.

RANGERS: SS Jurickson Profar, widely considered one of baseball's best prospects, was called up from Double-A Frisco. Profar, 19, hit .281 with a .368 on-base percentage and a .452 slugging percentage in 126 games at Frisco. He's expected to be a backup infielder down the stretch.

WHITE SOX: DH Adam Dunn, the major-league leader with 38 home runs, was out of the starting lineup with a strained oblique.

By Josh Jurnovoy, Times Correspondent
Saturday, September 1, 2012

GAINESVILLE — Mike Gillislee set what some believe are unrealistic goals for the 2012 season.

At SEC Media Days in July, the Gator senior predicted he would rush for 1,500 yards and 24 touchdowns.

He took a promising first step toward those goals during Florida's 27-14 win over Bowling Green on Saturday.

In July, coach Will Muschamp said Gillislee, Florida's third option out of the backfield behind Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey, should have played more in 2011. He gained 5.9 yards per carry but rushed the ball just 56 times.

Saturday, he took advantage of his opportunity to start in the opener and set career highs in carries (24) and yards (148) and scored two touchdowns.

"I thought he played very well," Muschamp said of Gillislee, whose previous highs were 11 carries and 84 yards.

"He got the ball north and south and made some really nice runs; ran through some tackles and broke some tackles, and that was refreshing to see."

Trailing 7-0 entering the second quarter, Florida took to the ground, running the ball 10 consecutive plays after a 5-yard completion from Jeff Driskel to Trey Burton for a third-down conversion to open the quarter. Gillislee got half of those carries, one going for 17 yards and another a 15-yard touchdown.

"I told (new offensive coordinator Brent Pease), 'We're going to run the football,' " Muschamp said. "We need to establish what we are. You can't talk about it. You've got to be about it, and you've got to do it. We made the decision going into the game that's what we were going to do in the football game."

Two possessions later, the Gators began their drive from the Falcons 38 after a 16-yard punt. On the first play, Gillislee found a hole, took it up the sideline and into the end zone untouched to give Florida the lead.

"I just saw an opening, and I hit it," Gillislee said of both touchdowns.

The coaches leaned heavily on Gillislee as he touched the ball more than twice as many times as the other running backs combined. If the Gators need to rely on him just as much going forward, Gillislee said he won't be bothered.

"I carried the ball 24 times," he said, "and my body still feels the same."

Saturday, September 1, 2012

DURHAM, N.C. — Sean Renfree threw for 290 yards and two touchdowns and Duke scored 30 points in the second quarter of its 46-26 rout of Florida International on Saturday.

Brandon Connette ran for one score and threw for another, and Ross Cockrell returned a blocked field goal 75 yards for a touchdown that capped the Blue Devils' most productive quarter since 1999.

Conner Vernon had 10 catches for 180 yards and a 28-yard touchdown and set a school record with his 208th career reception.

"It's real exciting to see what this team's capable of doing," he said. "We said it all summer how good this team really is, and I think we showed it out there."

Duke beat a I-A team in its season opener for the first time since 2002 and ended a seven-game losing streak dating to last season's victory over FIU.

This one was all but over at halftime after a big special teams play by the Blue Devils produced a 10-point swing and huge shift in momentum.

FIU drove to the Duke 13 in the final seconds of the half and lined up for a 30-yard field goal that would have cut the deficit to 13 points. But Austin Gamble blocked Jack Griffin's kick. Cockrell scooped up the ball and cut across the field to put Duke up 37-14.

"As soon as I touched the ball, I thought touchdown," Cockrell said. "And my teammates did, too."

That capped the Blue Devils' highest-scoring half since 41 points in the first half of a 1999 win against Wake Forest. That's also the last time they scored at least 30 points in a quarter.

Kedrick Rhodes rushed for 130 yards and a 1-yard touchdown and caught a 67-yard touchdown for the Panthers.

"We had 'em early," Rhodes said. "We had a couple mistakes here and there that we're going to tweak."

Ga. Southern 58, jacksonville 0: Sophomores Ezayi Youyoute and Dominique Swope each ran for three touchdowns and more than 100 yards for the host Eagles, who totaled 557 rushing yards. Georgia Southern, which reached the I-AA semifinals last season, held the Dolphins to 178 total yards and 11 first downs.

Times wires
Saturday, September 1, 2012

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — A towel draped over his shoulder, the new Penn State coach paced the sideline. These are now Bill O'Brien's Nittany Lions.

And they are off to a disappointing start in Happy Valley.

In front of 97,000 fans, Penn State let an 11-point halftime lead slip away in a 24-14 loss to Ohio.

"I thought it was a great atmosphere in the stands," O'Brien said. "It starts with me and coaching better and making sure we play better next time."

For many fans, just watching a game at Beaver Stadium represented a small victory after an offseason that included the death of former coach Joe Paterno and crippling NCAA sanctions for the Jerry Sandusky child-abuse scandal.

"It got everyone back together," Lisa Weller, 48, of Charlotte, N.C., said. "Everyone is going to move forward."

Long a model for stability, the scandal lurched the program into a rebuilding project no one expected a year ago.

Penn State played without someone named Paterno on the sideline for the first time since 1949. Paterno's widow, Sue, watched the game from a suite. Paterno died in January, and as part of his employment agreement, the family gets use of the suite for 25 years.

Even in defeat, Saturday was a huge first step, players said.

"We were obviously emotional," guard John Urschel said. "We've been extremely excited to get back to playing football, but at the same time, we managed our emotions once the game got going. We got back into football mode, just playing the game."

Ohio coach Frank Solich knew Saturday would be unlike an average game day.

"We knew that we were going to have to take on a surge. That surge would come from their fans, come from their players, the atmosphere. We knew it would be a difficult atmosphere to play in," Solich said. "What we told them is, 'We just have to keep pounding fellas. This is a game that's going to be a four-quarter football game.' "

It was the first loss to open a season for Penn State since 33-7 to Miami in 2001.

Trailing 14-3 five minutes into the second half, Ohio's Tyler Tettleton hit Landon Smith on a 43-yard touchdown pass that tipped off the hands of defensive back Stephen Obeng-Agyapong. Tettleton ran in from a yard out to take a 17-14 lead almost seven minutes later.

Tettleton's 5-yard pass to Donte Foster in the corner of the end zone with 2:55 left sealed the Bobcats' first win over a Big Ten opponent since a 20-17 over Illinois in 2006.

"I thought there was some definite good out there," O'Brien said. "But we've got to be able to string plays together. And coaching on offense, it starts with me. When the defense is on the field, we've got to get stops."

Times wires
Saturday, September 1, 2012

soccer

u.s. women's coach steps down

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Once the U.S. women's team's victory tour suddenly turned into a farewell tour for coach Pia Sundhage, Abby Wambach wanted to send her off on a fitting note Saturday.

Wambach scored twice and added an assist in an 8-0 exhibition win over Costa Rica. "I love Pia so much because she has shown me what it's like to love the game," the ex-Gator said.

Hours before kickoff, Sundhage told the players she was stepping down to return to her native Sweden. She leaves after five years in which she led the Americans to an 89-6-10 record, back-to-back Olympic gold medals and their first World Cup final in 12 years, in which they lost in penalty kicks to Japan.

"It's really a difficult decision to make, as you can imagine, being around those guys. They make me look good," Sundhage said, pointing to her players after the game. Ultimately, she said, the decision came down to pursuing her dream job, coach of the Swedish women's team. The Swedish Football Association announced later it had reached a deal with her to take over that job Dec. 1, a day after her contract with U.S. Soccer expires.

Sundhage will coach the U.S. team for two more exhibition games this month. U.S. Soccer, which said her decision wasn't surprising, will begin searching for a new coach immediately. The next major tournament is the 2015 World Cup.

paralympics

St. Petersburg's Snyder medals again

Former Navy Lt. Brad Snyder of St. Petersburg, who lost his sight in an IED explosion in Afghanistan in September 2011, won a swimming silver medal and set a U.S. record in the men's 50-meter freestyle in London. It was Snyder's second medal of the Games, following a gold in the 100 freestyle Friday.

Snyder, 28, who was a standout at Northeast High, was second to China's Yang Bozun in 25.93 seconds. Bozun, second to Snyder in the 100, won in a world-record time of 25.27. Spain's Enhamed Enhamed, whose mark of 25.82 Bozun broke, got the bronze.

Swimmers are classified according to how their impairment affects their ability to perform each stroke. Snyder's race classification is for swimmers with little or no sight.

In sailing, St. Petersburg's Jen French and JP Creignou were in fourth after the first two races in two-person keelboat.

On the track, defending 200-meter champion Oscar Pistorius set a world record of 21.30 seconds in his heat in advancing to today's final. The South African last month became the first handicapped runner to compete in the Olympics.

et cetera

horses: To Honor and Serve edged favored Mucho Macho Man by a neck in a long stretch drive in the $750,000 Woodward Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Ridden by John Velazquez, the Bill Mott-trained 4-year-old ran 11/8 miles in 1 minute, 48.65 seconds and paid $9.30, $3.60 and $2.60 for his second victory in four starts this year.

boxing: IBF middleweight champion Daniel Geale outpointed Felix Sturm with a split decision to take the WBA title in their unification bout at Oberhausen, Germany. … A woman who said she was intimidated by Oscar De La Hoya during a wild night at a New York City hotel was ordered to pay his legal bill after a judge said her lawsuit was "frivolous" and malicious. A Manhattan court ruled model Angelica Cecora owes $12,000 to the former welterweight champion.

cycling: Joaquin Rodriguez increased his lead in the Spanish Vuelta by outlasting Alberto Contador to win the mountainous 93-mile 14th stage. Rodriguez finished in 4 hours, 10 minutes, 28 seconds, extending his advantage over Contador to 22 seconds.

Times wires