Times wires
Saturday, September 15, 2012

Brewers 9, Mets 6

MILWAUKEE — Rickie Weeks hit a two-run homer during a five-run fourth for the Brewers, who rallied for their 19th win in 25 games.

Times wires
Saturday, September 15, 2012

Giants 3, D'backs 2

PHOENIX — Buster Posey hit a two-run home run as the Giants won their fourth straight game and 22nd in 32. Posey broke a tie at 1 in the fifth inning with a two-out homer two rows into the rightfield stands. The All-Star catcher and MVP candidate, who was the fifth overall pick in the 2008 draft out of Florida State, is hitting .390 in 55 games since the All-Star break with 12 homers and 49 RBIs.

By Josh Jurnovoy, Times Correspondent
Saturday, September 15, 2012

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Florida was plagued by penalties against Tennessee for the second straight year, but that didn't stop the Gators from extending their win streak over their division rivals in a 37-20 victory Saturday.

Florida committed eight penalties for 78 yards, much of those coming in the secondary.

The Vols' starting receivers, Cordarrelle Patterson (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) and Justin Hunter (6-4, 200), created matchup problems for Florida's defensive backs because of their size. The Gators secondary was called for pass interference twice and holding once. Another holding call was declined when the Vols converted a third and 11.

"A lot of those were bang-bang plays down the field," Florida coach Will Muschamp said. "If they call pass interference, it's pass interference."

A pass-interference call on cornerback Marcus Roberson in the first quarter on a throw intended for Hunter turned what would have been a third-and-9 situation for the Vols into a first and goal on the 2-yard line. Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray completed a touchdown pass to Patterson on the next play to tie the score at 7.

"Obviously Justin and 84 (Patterson) is pretty good," cornerback Jaylen Watkins said. "So we were trying to get our hands on them a little bit, and it kind of got a little physical."

After a drive that gave the Vols a 14-7 lead with 8:40 remaining in the second quarter, the Gators had the ball in a second-and-10 situation on their own 43.

A 1-yard run from former Armwood High standout Matt Jones would have put Florida in third and 9, but that turned into third and 24 when left tackle Xavier Nixon was called for unsportsmanlike conduct because he took his helmet off on the field. The Gators gained just 10 yards on third down and were forced to punt.

"I think he took his helmet off, and you can't do that," Muschamp said. "You can't. It's losing your poise. It's not being very smart. And he knows better than that. He's a senior. That'll be addressed. We don't sit there and pretend it's okay. It's addressed."

Florida defensive end Dominique Easley gave Tennessee a first down on the 3-yard line when he was called for roughing the passer on a second-down incompletion from the 6-yard line. A.J. Johnson ran it in two plays later from the 1-yard line to give the Volunteers a 20-13 lead in the third quarter.

In 2011, the Gators finished 112th in Division I-A with 7.7 penalties per game. In their season opener against Bowling Green, the issue persisted as they were flagged 14 times for 106 yards. Muschamp said afterward that he had run out of ways to address the penalty issue with the team.

In the SEC-opening victory against Texas A&M last week, Florida finally responded to its coach with just three penalties for 21 yards, so Watkins knows the team needs to play with more discipline and is capable of doing so.

"We obviously want to be cleaner than that," Watkins said. "But this was a physical game on both sides of the ball, so that's why there was so many penalties.

"I believe it's going to be like that when you're playing hard."

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, September 15, 2012

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — All week, speculation brewed over whether the Gators' running game would be effective if Florida senior RB Mike Gillislee was unable to play at full speed against Tennessee. Gillislee suffered an injury to his groin in last week's win over Texas A&M.

As it turned out, Gillislee was fine — and so was the running game with and without him.

Seven players combined for 336 rushing yards for the Gators — the most since last season's win over Kentucky.

Gillislee didn't start, but finished with 18 carries for 115 yards. Junior Trey Burton had three carries for 91 yards and two touchdowns — including an 80-yarder that jump-started the Gators' come-from-behind win. Burton didn't hold back his feelings about the Gators' rival after the game.

"They are front-runners," Burton said. "They talk a lot. As soon as we got up a little bit, their fans started leaving."

TENNESSEE TRIBUTE: Former Tennessee TB Johnny Majors was honored during a pregame ceremony in which he had his No. 45 jersey retired. Majors played tailback and punter from 1954-56 and is considered one of the greatest single-wing tailbacks in Vols' history.

During the ceremony, highlights of Majors' career were played on the JumboTron at Neyland Stadium as Majors and his family watched from midfield, then Majors was presented with an encased No. 45 jersey.

In 1956, Majors helped lead the Vols to a 10-0 regular season, and finished as runnerup for the Heisman Trophy award to Notre Dame's Paul Hornung. He won back-to-back SEC Player of the year awards in 1955 and 1956.

Majors also served as head coach at Tennessee from 1977-92 where he finished with a 116-62-8 record. He coached Pittsburgh to the 1976 national championship — led by Heisman Trophy winner Tony Dorsett.

JONES STARTS: Former Armwood standout Matt Jones got his first career start with the Gators Saturday night. Jones finished with five carries for 9 yards.

LIMITED SUPPORT: Last Monday, Florida coach Will Muschamp thanked the nearly 7,000 fans who traveled to College Station for the Gators' game against Texas A&M. But a much smaller crowd made the trek to Knoxville.

Florida athletic officials said Saturday a decision was made by the University Athletic Association over the summer to request only 4,500 tickets from UT for the game — about half of what the Gators normally request.

DID YOU KNOW?: When the Vols scored on a 2-yard TD pass in the first quarter, it was the first time Tennessee has scored a touchdown in the first quarter of a game against the Gators since Jabari Davis' 1-yard run on Sept. 1, 2004.

Times wires
Saturday, September 15, 2012

Mariners 8, Rangers 6

ARLINGTON, Texas — Justin Smoak homered in the eighth inning and had an RBI single in the ninth as Seattle bounced back after blowing a 6-0 lead. The Mariners led by six after three innings before Texas rallied. David Murphy's RBI groundout in the seventh tied it.

Times wires
Sunday, September 16, 2012

OAKLAND, Calif. — Stephen Drew homered and made two big defensive plays to back Jarrod Parker, and the Athletics beat the Orioles 5-2 on Saturday night.

Chris Carter had a two-run double in a five-run third inning for Oakland, which has won two straight over Baltimore to clinch the season series between the top teams in the American League wild-card race.

The A's also pulled within two games of first-place Texas in the AL West, the closest they've been since April 13. Baltimore fell one game behind the Yankees in the AL East but remained three ahead of the Rays.

Drew's homer off Baltimore starter Zach Britton was the first of four Oakland hits in the third. The shortstop then made the first of his defensive gems when he threw out Adam Jones trying to score from first on Chris Davis' double in the fourth, making a perfect relay from leftfielder Yoenis Cespedes.

Drew later ran down Endy Chavez's grounder behind second base and flipped the ball from his glove to Adam Rosales to force out Mark Reynolds.

Times wires
Sunday, September 16, 2012

Dodgers 4, Cardinals 3

LOS ANGELES — Pinch-hitter Juan Rivera's infield single drove in pinch-runner Elian Herrera with the winner, capping the Dodgers' two-out, two-run rally in the ninth against Cardinals closer Jason Motte. The Dodgers tied the Cardinals for the second NL wild-card spot.

Times sports staff
Sunday, September 16, 2012

TODAY

Autos

Sprint: GEICO 400, 2 p.m., ESPN

NHRA: O'Reilly Auto Parts Nationals (taped), 8:30 p.m., ESPN2

Baseball

Rays at Yankees, 1 p.m., Sun Sports; 970-AM

Reds at Marlins, 1 p.m., FSN

Pirates at Cubs, 2 p.m., WGN

Nationals at Braves , 8 p.m., ESPN, ESPND; 1040-AM

College soccer

Women: Missouri at South Carolina, 2 p.m., ESPNU

Golf

PGA Europe: Italian Open, 7:30 a.m., Golf

Women's British Open, 9 a.m., ESPN2

Women's British Open (taped), 4 p.m., Ch. 28

Web.com: Boise Open, 5 p.m., Golf

Champions: Hawaii Championship, 7:30 p.m., Golf

NFL

Bucs at Giants, 1 p.m., Ch. 13; 103.5-FM, 620-AM

Raiders at Dolphins, 1 p.m., Ch. 10

Jets at Steelers, 4:25 p.m., Ch. 10; 1010-AM

Titans at Chargers (joined in progress), 5 p.m., 98.7-FM

Lions at 49ers, 8 p.m., Ch. 8; 1010-AM, 98.7-FM

Soccer

EPL: Tottenham at Reading, 10:30 a.m., FSC

Mexican: San Luis at Pumas, 1 p.m., Univision

Exhibition: Australia at U.S., 3:30 p.m., Ch. 8

Tennis

Davis Cup: U.S. at Spain, 6 a.m., Tennis

TV: ESPND: ESPN Deportes; FSN: Fox Sports Net; FSC: Fox Soccer Channel

Times wires
Sunday, September 16, 2012

FONTANA, Calif. — Ryan Hunter-Reay put the American flag back atop the IndyCar podium by snatching the championship away from Will Power in the season finale.

Power, denied for a third consecutive year, was in street clothes watching Saturday night's finish on television after crashing out early in the MAVTV 500 at Auto Club Speedway. His exit from the race meant Hunter-Reay, who entered the race trailing Power by 17 points, had to finish fifth or better to claim his first championship in a major series.

He wound up fourth — becoming the first American since Sam Hornish in 2006 to win the title — but it certainly wasn't easy.

Hunter-Reay struggled all week at California, even wrecking in Wednesday's open test session, and was off at the start of the race. But he picked his way through the field and was on the edge of where he needed to finish as the laps wound down.

Still, a flurry of late cautions made for some hair-raising restarts and a late red-flag that drew the ire or team owner Michael Andretti. Hunter-Reay managed to hang on in a race that was won by Ed Carpenter, another American.

"I raced for my life. I cannot believe we are IndyCar champions. I cannot believe this," Hunter-Reay said. "My dream has come true."

Power, an Australian who has finished second in the points three years in a row, visited Hunter-Reay after the finish.

"At the end of the day, Hunter-Reay is a deserving champion, a real fighter," Power said. "I've lost the championship three years in a row. I feel bad for Penske Racing."

Power crashed 55 laps into the race, spinning hard into the outside wall when his car slipped in a seam in the track as he raced side-by-side with Hunter-Reay. It was the third consecutive year Power has gone into the finale with the title on the line and had an incident snatch away his chances.

He brushed the wall at Homestead in 2011 and lost the title by five points to Dario Franchitti. Last year, his points lead was gobbled up when another car hit him on pit road in the penultimate race, and he was involved in the 15-car accident that killed Dan Wheldon in the finale.

Power broke his back in that accident in Las Vegas.

"Man, depressing," Power said after leaving the wreck. "I wish I could care less."

Power laughed nervously, searching and failing to find the right words to describe his frustration.

"I don't know what to say. It's depressing," he said. "Depressing to lose the championship again that way. Nothing I can say, mate, it's just depressing. I don't know what emotion to even feel right now."

But his Penske team, which has not won a championship since Hornish in 2006, worked furiously to get his car back on the track so he could turn 12 laps and gain more points in the standings. Power had already changed into street clothes, rushed back into his firesuit, and had a total change of attitude when he got back in the car.

"Keep our fingers crossed," he smiled, his mood completely changed.

Both Power and Hunter-Reay went into the race seeking their first career title, and Power said he watched on TV the closing laps unsure how it would end.

"You never give up hope," he said. "I was thinking anything is possible in IndyCar. Anything can happen."

Times staff
Sunday, September 16, 2012

Sports on TV/radio

Baseball

Braves at Marlins, 7 p.m., FSN

Red Sox at Rays, 7 p.m., Sun Sports; 620-AM

Phillies at Mets, 8 p.m., MLB

NFL

Broncos at Falcons, 8:30 p.m., ESPN, ESPND; 98.7-FM 1010-AM

Soccer

EPL: Newcastle at Everton, 3 p.m., ESPN2, ESPND

TV: ESPND: ESPN Deportes; FSN: Fox Sports Net

Times staff
Sunday, September 16, 2012

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, September 16, 2012

NEW YORK — The events of last September entitle the Rays to drape their answers with the caveat that just about anything really can happen.

But after a dismal effort led to another disappointing loss Sunday, 6-4 to the Yankees to wrap what was supposed to be a pivotal six-game trip with one win, the reality of their situation appears to have hit them.

"I don't think by any means that we're in a good spot," third baseman Evan Longoria said. "We've put ourselves in this spot."

Manager Joe Maddon acknowledged that their seasonlong quest for the AL East title is essentially over, as they fell five games out with 16 to play. And with the first wild-card spot even further out of reach, the Rays (78-68) have been reduced to chasing the new second wild card.

"If it wasn't for that, I don't think we'd have much of a shot right now — it'd be pretty tough to come back," rookie starter Matt Moore said. "So obviously that's where we're aiming."

Even that won't be easy, as they are four games behind the Orioles, and also have the Angels in front of them. And all winning the second wild card gets you is a one-game playoff on the road. But at least it's something.

"I love it," Maddon said. "Absolutely love it. I think it's the greatest idea ever. It's the best idea since lights for night baseball."

Sunday's loss, the Rays' seventh in the past 10 games of what was supposed to be a playoff push, was again self-inflicted as Moore put them in an early 5-0 hole, they played sloppily (two errors, wild pitch, four bases stolen, fly ball lost in sun) and — you guessed it — they couldn't quite catch up. It also was frustrating, as both Maddon and DH Matt Joyce were ejected.

Moore imploded in an ugly third inning that ended his day, done in by a combination of two walks, two singles, a wild pitch and a three-run homer by Russell Martin after being down 0-and-2.

Moore didn't have much of an explanation for what changed after an impressive first two innings, but he had a good adjective for his third: "Atrocious."

In two starts on the pivotal road trip, Moore lasted only four and three innings — "Un-Matt-Moore-like," Maddon said — and has lost four straight.

Moore said there are no health or fatigue issues, making it more frustrating. "There's no excuse," he said. "It's got to be way better than that in this situation as a club where we're sitting."

Maddon pegged the issue as the 23-year-old's lack of experience.

"Matt had great stuff, and he was on his way to a really good game, and I believe a lot of that has to do with a little bit of inexperience," he said. "Because even though he had done well last year at the end of the season, it's different. It's different going through an entire major-league baseball season, the wear and tear of it, the emotional component, all of that stuff."

Down 6-1 in the sixth, the Rays actually made it interesting, loading the bases with no outs and scoring two when Longoria's grounder took an odd bounce past third baseman Alex Rodriguez. But Joyce bounced into a double play, adding a run but stripping the momentum. "The big play," Maddon said.

Mathematically, the Rays still have a chance. Their next 10 are against the noncontending Red Sox (a four-game series starting tonight at the Trop) and Blue Jays, then four at Chicago and the last three at home with Baltimore.

"We've got plenty of games left. Other teams can lose. Rays can win," Maddon said. "It's probably a little bit more difficult to see us winning the division, but nevertheless the baseball gods created two wild cards this year. So let's see what happens. If you learned anything from last year, do not give up."

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

By Dave Mistretta, Times Correspondent
Sunday, September 16, 2012

On the move: A migration of juvenile glass minnows has sent predators our way. As soon as we left the pass Saturday, we witnessed masses of the 1-inch baitfish. We spotted the bulk of them on the sonar machine. Also, there were visible attacks of small mackerel and bonito frothing the surface as they fed. It was exciting to watch hundreds of tiny glass minnows get thrown in all directions as the fish worked the schools. We found concentrations out to 10 miles before thinning out. As fall approaches, these baitfish will move closer to the beach. Their eastward movement will eventually bring larger fish our way.

Megalops Atlanticus: Tarpon are one of the first predators to camp out in these massive schools, feeding for weeks. They stay in the same locations for long periods of time to gorge themselves. They, too, are exciting to watch as they round the bait schools into tight balls then race through them with their mouths wide open. The tarpon try to inhale as many as possible in one shot, often hundreds at a time. The feeding commotion attracts other species, including cobia, kingfish, lady fish, blue fish, shark and jack cravelles.

Bottom fish: Gag grouper will be more prevalent on the ledges and rock piles that hold bait schools. As the water cools, more grouper will follow.

Dave Mistretta captains the Jaws Too out of Indian Rocks Beach. Call (727) 439-2628 or visit jawstoo.com.

Times wires
Sunday, September 16, 2012

Bengals still own state rival Browns

CINCINNATI — The onside kick tumbled one last time, into the arms of A.J. Green. Cincinnati's Pro Bowl receiver pulled it close and covered it up, a modest finish to a game full of wild plays.

It provided a familiar ending, too.

Adam "Pacman" Jones returned Cleveland's first punt 81 yards for a touchdown and Andy Dalton tied his career high with three touchdown passes to lead the Bengals to their 13th victory in the past 16 meetings with their in-state rival.

"We've been saying all along that we've got a lot of guys with talent," Dalton said. "It was great getting them into the game and seeing them make the plays that they did."

Cleveland quarterback Brandon Weeden threw for 322 yards and two touchdowns, rebounding from one of the worst debuts ever — four interceptions against the Eagles and a 5.1 rating. The Browns got within seven with 20 seconds left but that was it.

Times wires
Sunday, September 16, 2012

Bush's biggest day spurs Dolphin rout

MIAMI — Reggie Bush happily hurled the ball into the stands as he skipped across the end zone grass, then matched the crowd's cheers with a scream of his own.

The Dolphins had a home opener worth celebrating for a change.

Bush ran for 172 yards and two touchdowns on a career-high 26 carries, and Miami won a home opener for the first time since 2005, routing the Raiders.

Ryan Tannehill threw his first NFL touchdown pass, ran for another and avoided turnovers.

Bush broke four tackles on a 23-yard touchdown run that put the Dolphins ahead to stay in the third quarter. After they forced a punt, Bush struck again, this time on a 65-yard scoring run. Miami went no-huddle most of the game and had TD drives of 80, 80 and 75 yards in the final 20 minutes.

"We felt our tempo would be a key," Bush said after Miami outrushed Oakland 259-23. "We pressed that tempo and felt like we wore them down and just continued to pound the ball."

Times wires
Sunday, September 16, 2012

Brewers 3, Mets 0

MILWAUKEE — Ryan Braun hit two home runs and rookie Wily Peralta gave up two singles in eight innings as the Brewers stayed alive in the NL wild-card race. They begin a critical road trip Tuesday in Pittsburgh for three games. Then it's off to NL East-leading Washington for four before a three-game trip to Central-leading Cincinnati. "This road trip is going to be a tough road trip, and we know it," Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke said.

Times wires
Sunday, September 16, 2012

Astros 7, Phillies 6

HOUSTON — Justin Maxwell hit a two-run double and Matt Dominguez added a two-run single in a four-run seventh inning, enabling the Astros to win three of four in the series.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, September 16, 2012

BRANDON — Perhaps no Lightning player is anticipating the 2012-13 season as much as Anders Lindback, whose career is at a turning point.

After two years as a goalie backup in Nashville, the 24-year-old is expected to be Tampa Bay's next No. 1. But after the NHL on Sunday locked out its players because a new collective bargaining agreement is not in place, Lindback's future is on hold.

"I want to get started right away, but you have to do what's best for the players," Lindback said. "Whatever happens, it's part of it. You have to do what it takes to stay ready."

What players will do and where they will do it while the league and players association hammer out a deal is the next part of this drama.

Will Lightning players continue gathering for informal workouts at the Ice Sports Forum? If they do, they will have to pay the rink for ice time and have no access to the team locker room or trainers.

Will players go home? Captain Vinny Lecavalier returned to his native Montreal on Friday to pick up his wife, Caroline, and their two kids but said he might stay in Canada.

Lindback; forwards Marty St. Louis, Steven Stamkos, Teddy Purcell and Ryan Malone, and defensemen Sami Salo and Victor Hedman said they are contemplating playing in Europe.

St. Louis, who played in Switzerland during the 2004-05 lockout, said his negotiations are ongoing. Stamkos said his have been preliminary.

For now, though, Stamkos said, "Some guys have plans to stay here for a bit and see what happens. I'd like to work out with the guys. This is a good group we have here."

Said defenseman Brendan Mikkelson: "I'm not going to change anything. I'm going to get ready like the season is going to start on time until they tell us otherwise."

That time may soon be coming. According to Canada's Globe and Mail, the NHL is offering 49 percent of hockey-related revenue to the players in 2012-13, 48 percent in 2013-14 and 47 percent in the final four years of a six-year deal.

The players, who received 57 percent last season, are asking for 54.3 percent in 2012-13 and not less than 52.2 percent in the rest of a five-year deal.

The sides, the newspaper said, are about $1 billion apart.

"You've got to hope for the best, I guess," Purcell said. "If you get (mad), you'll just drive yourself crazy. But it is a terrible situation, not good for anyone."

The organization, for example, can no longer send players to team-sponsored community events, meaning coach Guy Boucher and general manager Steve Yzerman likely will be drafted into service.

Yzerman and the coaches also will be in Syracuse, N.Y., to watch training camp for Tampa Bay's AHL affiliate.

"I'm hopeful," Yzerman said, "both parties can come to an agreement and we can start the season on time."

In the meantime, the Lightning has emailed season ticket holders a message from chief executive officer Tod Leiweke asking for support and patience.

As for the players, "There's no structure in your life right now," Purcell said. "You're just kind of sitting around waiting. It's just a different feeling. You don't want to skate too much and burn yourself out, but you want to stay on the ice. You've got to find that balance to keep yourself sane."

Bottom line, Lindback said, "I've had a good summer. I want to start playing some games."

Times wires
Sunday, September 16, 2012

Cubs 13, Pirates 9

CHICAGO — Anthony Rizzo had a career-high six RBIs and two homers, sending the Pirates to their 12th loss in 15 games.

Times wires
Sunday, September 16, 2012

Reds 5, Marlins 4

11 innings

MIAMI — Ryan Ludwick hit a go-ahead single in the 11th to lift the Reds, who tied a season high with 17 hits to avoid a three-game sweep.