Times wires
Friday, April 8, 2011

NEW YORK — St. John's basketball coach Steve Lavin has prostate cancer, but he expects to keep coaching and fully recover.

Lavin, 46, who led the Red Storm to the NCAA Tournament in his first season, said Friday in a statement that he was diagnosed in September and was told he could delay treatment until after the season. He will begin treatment in a few weeks.

"My family feels fortunate that through annual health exams, we detected my condition at an early stage," the statement read. "I didn't want to distract our team, but with the season behind us, we are now working with medical experts and taking the proper steps to tackle this health challenge head on."

Lavin's doctor, Jonathan Schiff, described his condition as a "relatively low-grade cancer."

"I expect a complete cure of Coach Lavin's condition," he said.

Additions for FSU

TALLAHASSEE — Nearly a week ago, Florida State football coach Jimbo Fisher bemoaned the fact that his receivers were watching too many big-play opportunities slip through their fingers and defensive linemen were being used too often as rag dolls by run-blocking offensive linemen.

Ahead of the Seminoles' first scrimmage of the spring, he saw plenty of areas where they could improve.

Now, he's singing a different tune.

As FSU eases this morning into its second scrimmage and its final live-action tuneup before next weekend's spring game, he has detected progress.

While Monday's scrimmage was about correcting problems in the pass-catching and run-defense games, today's session will be about seeing how well the 'Noles respond to new play-calls.

"It'll be adding things, new situations — moving on," Fisher said. "We'll call the scrimmage differently and do some different things and try to emphasize … different things in the scrimmage on both sides of the ball."

NCAA changes: As a result of allegations at Oregon and other schools, the NCAA has reclassified recruiting websites such as Rivals.com and Scout.com from media entities to recruiting services. That means schools cannot subscribe to them.

Media reports say Oregon paid Willie Lyles, owner of a Houston-based scouting company, to steer players to it. Coach Chip Kelly denied the allegation but said the school has paid companies to scout players.

Under the NCAA's new interpretation, if a recruiting or scouting service provides nonscholastic video (seven-on-seven summer tournaments for example) not available for free to the public, then a school cannot pay them for services.

Connecticut: A man involved in the fight that left cornerback Jasper Howard dead was sentenced to 2½ years in prison. Hakim Muhammad pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and hindering prosecution in the stabbing of receiver Brian Parker in October 2009. Last month, Muhammad's friend, John Lomax, was sentenced to 18 years for stabbing Howard.

Missouri: Coach Gary Pinkel, 77-49 in 10 seasons, signed a two-year extension through 2017. His salary remains $2.35 million, but his assistants' salaries will rise.

N. Illinois: The condition of junior linebacker Devon Butler, wounded in a drive-by shooting Tuesday, was upgraded from critical to serious.

Hockey: Miami (Ohio) forward Andy Miele won the Hobey Baker award as the nation's top player. Miele, who signed with the Coyotes last week, led the nation with 71 points (24 goals and 47 assists) in 39 games. … Michigan and Minnesota-Duluth meet in the Division I final tonight in St. Paul, Minn. (7, ESPN).

Baseball: Cal's program will not be eliminated after alumni, ex-players and supporters raised $9 million to rescue it.

Times wires
Friday, April 8, 2011

Football

Jailed Schlichter faces $1 million bond

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A judge set a $1 million bond for Art Schlichter, the Ohio State star quarterback whose pro career was derailed by a gambling addiction, on Friday.

Schlichter, 50, is charged with swindling about $1 million from a woman to fuel his addiction. He also is under investigation for an alleged ticket-selling scheme involving Ohio State football and February's Super Bowl.

Schlichter hoped to be released from jail to get treatment. If he posts bond, he must remain under house arrest at his mother's home in Washington Court House, Ohio.

Labor: Lawyers for the players and owners held a conference call about mediation with the judge who is deciding on lifting the lockout. Details weren't disclosed at the request of Judge Susan Richard Nelson, who during Wednesday's hearing in St. Paul, Minn., urged them to resume talks. Both sides expressed a willingness to talk. But the owners want them before a federal mediator, the players in Nelson's court, where they have filed a federal antitrust lawsuit.

Bears: QB Jay Cutler spoke publicly for the first time since being criticized for leaving the NFC title game. "I can't say it didn't bother me that people questioned my toughness and desire to play," said Cutler, who sprained a ligament in his left knee during the game. Asked about fellow players who criticized him, Cutler said, "They can think what they want."

Horses

Second contender out of Santa Anita Derby

Jaycito, the favorite for today's $1 million Santa Anita Derby in Arcadia, Calif., dropped out because of a bacterial infection in its front foot. On Thursday, the Kentucky Derby prep race lost Premier Pegasus, the initial favorite, because of a leg injury that will sideline it through the Triple Crown. Trainer Bob Baffert said he will point Jaycito toward the Coolmore Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on April 23, two weeks before the May 7 Kentucky Derby. Silver Medallion, at 5-2, became the new favorite.

Tennis

World No. 1 rallies to reach Circle semis

Down 4-2 in the third, top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki came back to beat Yanina Wickmayer 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to reach the semifinals of the Family Circle Cup in Charleston, S.C. Wozniacki, who needed two tiebreakers to win Thursday, faces Jelena Jankovic, who beat Christina McHale 6-2, 6-0.

Men: Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic, 24-0 this year, pulled out of next week's Monte Carlo Masters with a knee injury. He disclosed neither details nor how long he will be out.

Et cetera

Soccer: West Ham striker Carlton Cole faces a fine from England's Football Association for his tweets during a March 29 home friendly against Ghana. About 20,000 Ghana fans attended, prompting Cole to tweet: "Immigration has surrounded the wembley premises! I knew it was a trap! Hahahaha. The only way to get out safely is to wear an England jersey and paint your face w/the St. George's flag!" Cole, who is black, later tweeted: "It was a joke & its not even racist." Cole has until Wednesday to respond to the charge.

Swimming: Michael Phelps won the 200 free and 100 fly at the Michigan Grand Prix in Ann Arbor. He came from behind to beat Ryan Lochte in the free and finished in 1 minute, 48.45 seconds. He led wire to wire in winning the fly in 52.30.

Times wires

Derek J. LaRiviere, Times Correspondent
Friday, April 8, 2011

BROOKSVILLE — As the regular season draws to a close, legitimate threats to Hernando Christian's unblemished record are quickly falling by the wayside.

Seven Rivers Christian was considered one of those threats, but in a 12-2 mercy-rule loss Friday afternoon, the Warriors found out what every other Lions opponent knows: These girls are rolling.

HCA (21-0) was coming off Thursday's 12-2 win over Seffner Christian, a solid team in its own right. Ace Kala Thompson had pitched seven innings and knew she would be in line to start against Seven Rivers (9-4) because Ashley McKay, the Lions' second pitcher, was battling a sore back.

If she had difficulties with stamina, Thompson didn't show it. The sophomore starter tossed a complete game without surrendering an earned run, striking out four and walking only two. She gave up only three hits, all singles.

It was the Lions' bats that had trouble getting going. After the Warriors scratched out a couple of unearned runs in the top of the third, the raucous noise in the dugout was clear.

"We've got to wake up and focus at that time," Lions coach Ernie Chatman said. "We became a little more patient at the plate."

The energy led to a big inning. HCA answered with 14 of the 15 batters reaching base. The Lions scored nine runs on five hits, including two from Thompson. She laced a bases-loaded triple and an RBI single in the inning.

All of these fireworks came from a key cog who has slipped into the spot once filled by ace Courtney Riddle, who now pitches for Hernando.

"She's just fit right in," Chatman said of Thompson. "Players complement her, and she complements everyone else. It was a perfect fit."

Times wires
Friday, April 8, 2011

Quote of the day

“Jack (Nicklaus) said it right. … This is a young man's golf course as far as nerves on putting."

Tom Watson, 61, discussing the chances Fred Couples, 51, has of winning the tournament

Two-and-out of the day

World No. 1 Martin Kaymer, left, continued his streak of never making the Masters cut. His 78-72—150, 6 over, put him out for the fourth time.

Twitter post of the day

"Who likes themselves more … Hollywood-types during the Oscars or the people who organize The Masters? Discuss." — Sports-pop culture blog Get to our Game

Through Sunday, Augusta (Ga.) National GC. TV today: 3:30, Ch. 10 Weather: High 85, scattered storms, 40 percent chance of rain

By John Romano, Times Sports Columnist
Friday, April 8, 2011

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Chances are, you have no attachment whatsoever to Fred Couples. Never played a round of golf with him, never knew his Aunt Millie at the club, never had a reason to think much about him beyond the odd televised PGA Tour event.

And yet, chances are you will be pulling for Couples at the Masters this afternoon. Why? It could be that he makes you think of better days. Or he allows you to believe anything is possible. Or maybe it's just because he reminds you a little of yourself.

Rory McIlroy? Rickie Fowler? Jason Day? Those guys are in another dimension. They are 21, 22 and 23, respectively, and probably have no idea that life won't always be this sweet.

But you know better. And so does Couples.

You can see it when he bends down at No. 12 to read a putt. He winces slightly and then twists his torso left and right to loosen a perpetually cranky back.

You can see it when he pulls his hat off on the 18th green and the cameras show the head of gray hair that is stashed underneath.

You can hear it when he is asked how he would describe his possible victory in the Masters and Couples pretty much dismisses the idea of a 51-year-old winning golf's most prestigious event.

"Retiring is what it would be. I would be gone," Couples said. "It would be the biggest upset in golf history.

"Are you kidding?"

Yeah, there is little chance Couples will put on another green jacket 19 years after he won his first. Not with Tiger Woods racing up the leaderboard. And not with a United Nations list of golfers between him and the lead.

Couples shot 4-under 68 on Friday in the second round, putting him five strokes behind leader McIlroy in a five-way tie for seventh place at 5-under 139. Conceptually, he has a chance. Realistically, it's not going to happen.

It's been eight years since Couples last won on the PGA Tour. He still has more length to his game than a lot of younger golfers, and after an estimated 200 rounds or so on Augusta National, he knows the course as well as anyone.

But Couples has been living with a bad back for several years, and the effort of playing four consecutive days on a rolling course such as Augusta is bound to take a toll.

So can Couples repeat Jack Nicklaus' magic from 1986 when he won the Masters at 46?

"Six years ago, maybe," Couples said.

Times wires
Friday, April 8, 2011

Twins 2, Athletics 1

MINNEAPOLIS — Joe Mauer and Denard Span delivered RBI singles in the eighth inning against Brett Anderson to lift the Twins in their home opener. The Twins trailed 1-0 heading into the eighth, but they put together four hits, and Joe Nathan recorded his first save at Target Field after missing all of 2010 recovering from elbow ligament-replacement surgery. "I was pretty calm until I got through the door and then the place started shaking," Nathan said. "The fans were definitely electric at that point."

Times wires
Friday, April 8, 2011

Tigers 5, Royals 2

DETROIT — Free agent pickup Victor Martinez hit a three-run double in his first home at-bat for the Tigers. "You look up, you see a full house. That makes you bring your 'A' game every time," Martinez said. "I think that's the easiest way to become a fan favorite," teammate Max Scherzer said. "How many Victor Martinez jerseys did you just sell?" Jhonny Peralta drove in two runs for the Tigers, who had lost four of six to start the year.

Times wires
Friday, April 8, 2011

Nationals 6, Mets 2

NEW YORK — Jordan Zimmermann spoiled the Mets' 50th home opener, hitting a two-run single and allowing just two runs over 51/3 innings. Ivan Rodriguez added a two-run single, ending an 0-for-12 skid, and the Nationals took advantage of nine walks by Mets pitching.

Times wires
Friday, April 8, 2011

BOSTON — Six losses in the first six games were plenty for feisty Dustin Pedroia.

So the Red Sox spark plug hit a solo homer in the first inning, starting his team to a 9-6 win over the Yankees on Friday and ending Boston's longest season-opening losing streak since World War II.

"I just came in here thinking: 'We need to find a way to win. I don't care how we do it. I don't care if it's the ugliest win of all time. We need that win,' " Pedroia said.

Pedroia had three hits and three RBIs in the 100th home opener at Fenway Park.

Ex-Ray-turned-Sox outfielder Carl Crawford went 0-for-5 with a strikeout, but Boston had 12 hits after getting just 35 in its first six games.

"It seems like guys were calm, weren't jumping at the ball," Pedroia said. "This is our park. We were on the road six days and we didn't get comfortable."

Though John Lackey gave up six runs in five innings, he got the win when Jarrod Saltalamacchia's RBI double broke a 6-all tie in the fifth.

Times staff, wires
Friday, April 8, 2011

Rory McIlroy fretted about an errant chip that nearly slid into the water, a few putts that didn't fall in the cup. That's about it. He put together another strong round, shooting 3-under 69 that kept him in the lead at 10-under 134, two shots ahead of Jason Day and three in front of K.J. Choi and Tiger Woods. "I drove it good. I gave myself a lot of opportunities. I just didn't make as many putts as I would've liked on the back nine," McIlroy said. "But I can't really complain. I'm in the lead going to the weekend at the Masters." The player from Northern Ireland went 29 holes before he made his first bogey, at the picturesque 12th hole, where his tee shot plopped into a bunker and he couldn't get up and down. Speaking before Woods made his charge up the leaderboard, McIlroy said he wasn't concerned about what anyone else was doing. "If I start thinking about anybody else, it could cost you a couple of shots," he said. "I don't really care what anybody else does. I don't need to know. "It would be great for the tournament if Tiger is up there, but I am in a better position, and I feel comfortable."

Cool but not cold

For a while, K.J. Choi was the hottest player on the course. Going back to Thursday, he played a stretch of 12 holes at 8 under. But he struggled down the stretch Friday, going 1 over on the back nine and finishing with 70. He was third at 7-under 137.

The South Korean has never won a major title, but he has been a contender at Augusta before. In 2004 he finished third. A year ago he was right in the mix all four days before slipping into a tie for fourth.

"I have more confidence," said Choi, who plays a Tiger Woods-like character in the movie Seven Days in Utopia, which will be released in August. "I enjoy the pressure more."

Going the distance, whatever it is

Alvaro Quiros' first tournament with Gareth Bryn Lord caddying is going well.

Not only has the big-hitting Spaniard, below, made the cut for the first time in three Masters starts, the first-round co-leader with Rory McIlroy remained in the thick of things at 6 under, four strokes behind McIlroy. Quiros didn't play quite as well as he did in shooting a first-round 65. But he hung in and birdied the difficult 18th on the way to 73.

The interesting thing about his partnership with Lord, who most recently was on the bag for Robert Karlsson, is how they measure distances. Quiros thinks in meters; Lord works in yards. "I didn't know that, but after that, I'm going to pay more attention to the yardage," Quiros said, smiling, after his round.

Mickelsons enjoying things no matter what

Phil Mickelson waited at the bottom of the ninth fairway for the green to clear when he looked over to his left and smiled broadly. He touched two fingers to his eyes, then pointed them toward a blond woman in a royal blue dress. Amy Mickelson laughed and waved back at her husband. "I can't believe how much I've missed this place," she said.

Her time at the Masters last year was short, yet sweeter than ever. On a course for the first time since being diagnosed with breast cancer 11 months earlier, she went to the 18th green to watch her husband make one last birdie to win a third green jacket.

This year has been just as enjoyable, even as Mickelson squandered several good birdie chances Friday and had to settle for 72, leaving him 2 under for the tournament.

Amy, who arrived Thursday night, walked 18 holes while being constantly interrupted by fans who welcomed her back, wished her the best or just wanted to say they were thinking of her.

She is adjusting to her medication, and though she still has days and weeks when she's not at her best, "at least it's predictable."

"I'm starting to settle into my meds," she said.

More misses

The winners of the past three majors failed to make the cut at 1-over 145. Going home along with PGA Championship winner Martin Kaymer were U.S. Open winner Graeme McDowell (74-73—147) and British Open champ Louis Oosthuizen (75-74—149).

Day time

The day's best round was by Jason Day, a 23-year-old Australian in his first Masters. Day made eight birdies in what also was the best round of the tournament, 8-under 64 that sent him surging up the leaderboard into second place, two shots behind playing partner Rory McIlroy. The third member of Day's group was 22-year-old Californian Rickie Fowler, also shot 69 — meaning the threesome combined for a 14-under score — and was in a group at 5-under 139. "It was fun playing with Rory and Rickie out there," Day said. "I can't even remember shooting 8 under. It was just a lot of great golf, and I'm looking forward to the weekend. I'm sure I will be very nervous. I'll try to relax (Friday night) and just go out there (today) and have fun."

By John Romano, Times Sports Columnist
Friday, April 8, 2011

AUGUSTA, Ga.

The ball sat around 10 feet from the cup on the 18th green.

Tiger Woods crouched behind it for a better look. He stared. He contemplated. And, as the seconds painfully ticked by, he finally seemed to recognize the player he used to be.

Woods did not just make a birdie on that hole, he made a statement. He made a declaration. He made you wonder if you just saw the beginnings of a man's revival.

In a 12-hole stretch in the late afternoon of the second round of the Masters on Friday, Woods was as magnificent as you remembered. He went from a player on the edge of missing the cut to charging into third place, three strokes behind Rory McIlroy.

"I played myself back into the tournament," Woods said.

The question is whether he played himself back into relevance. We have, after all, had glimpses and teases before. We have seen comebacks that lasted no more than 18 holes.

Woods managed a fourth-place finish here last year, although he wasn't terribly close to being in contention. And he had one masterful round at the U.S. Open last summer before fading on Sunday. So maybe this is a mirage. Perhaps it is another one-round surge.

But if there was one image that made you want to believe in Woods again, it was watching the ball roll toward the cup on the 18th hole at dusk on Friday.

For that brief time, it was as if the past 18 months did not exist. The putt itself was not terribly difficult, but it seemed to register much higher on the symbolic scale.

This was the kind of critical shot Woods has been missing during a long and tortuous comeback from injury, family turmoil and a revamped swing since the fall of 2009.

He double pumped his fist as the ball rolled into the hole and then made a snatching motion as he retrieved it from the cup. All the while, the gallery at No. 18 was on its feet with the kind of applause that used to be a regular part of his life.

For that moment, it was as if his career was no longer about scandal or seeking forgiveness, but simply a hopeful return to a legacy interrupted.

"Absolutely. Absolutely. We definitely could feel that," Woods said when asked about the crowd's energy building around him in the back nine. "It was fun."

That final birdie helped turn a great round into a potentially defining round. Just 12 holes earlier, Woods was stuck at par and was 10 strokes behind McIlroy.

Beginning at the eighth hole, he poured in seven birdies to jump past a couple of dozen competitors and creep up behind McIlroy.

As theater goes, this is award-winning material. You begin with the Masters. You add Woods in a dramatic return. And then you toss in McIlroy as the perfect foil.

McIlroy is, at 21, the same age as Woods was when he won his first Masters in 1997. And, like Woods, McIlroy has a definite flair about him.

McIlroy is more relaxed and outgoing than Woods, but he carries the same confidence and fascination with golf's majors. He has three third-place finishes in his past five majors.

Just a month ago, McIlroy wrote a piece in Sports Illustrated in which he talked about Woods' diminished aura, and he questioned whether Tiger could dominate again.

Now, that supposedly fading aura will be one group behind him at the beginning of the third round of the Masters this afternoon.

In some ways, it will be as much of a referendum on McIlroy's nerves as it will be on Woods' comeback.

"I'm just trying to put myself in the mix come Sunday. It's irrelevant who is there," Woods said when asked about the number of younger players on the leaderboard. "My whole job is to get myself there with a chance (to win) with nine holes to go. That's what we've always done.

"I've been successful in the past by doing it that way."

If he is feeling frisky, Woods did a nice job of hiding it Friday evening. If he wanted to mock critics who questioned his revamped swing, he managed to hold it in check.

But there were a handful of clues that this moment was not as far away as it might have appeared. Woods did not have terrific results in his first five tournaments of 2011, but he did have some nice rounds that indicated he was getting comfortable with his new swing.

And when he had a news conference in Augusta on Tuesday, Woods seemed quietly assured that many of the kinks had been worked out.

Tiger blew off a question Friday night about whether he had a sense that this kind of round was on the horizon, but you had the feeling this was no surprise to him.

For the first time in a long while, it seems as if Tiger Woods has convinced himself that greatness is just another round away.

Maybe by the end of this evening, he will have convinced us, too.

John Romano can be reached at romano@sptimes.com.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Friday, April 8, 2011

Times wires
Friday, April 8, 2011

Marlins 4, Astros 3

HOUSTON — Chris Coghlan homered and drove in two runs, and Ricky Nolasco allowed two runs in eight innings to spoil the home opener of the Astros, who have lost six of seven. Florida lost shortstop Hanley Ramirez in the seventh to a bruised left leg. He was barreled into on a take-out slide at second. The team said he's day-to-day.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Friday, April 8, 2011

TAMPA — There have been only a handful of "brief" discussions and another year remains on their contract, but Ken Young, owner of the Lightning's AHL affiliate in Norfolk, Va., said he would like to keep his team tied to Tampa Bay.

"You see the blueprint. There's certainly much optimism about the entire organization," Young said Friday. "That optimism is one we'd like to be part of."

While making the playoffs for the first time in four years under the Lightning is notable, Young, who lives in Tampa, said the stewardship of Lightning GM Steve Yzerman and Norfolk GM Julien BriseBois has been a "breath of fresh air" after the past two seasons under then-GM Brian Lawton.

"I'm sure he cared, but Brian didn't show a whole lot of care and thoughtfulness about his minor-league teams," Young said. "Steve is just the opposite; just a huge difference in direction and a huge difference in communication."

For example, Young said Yzerman and BriseBois voluntarily took over providing "additional jackets, sweatshirts, shoes and things" to the players.

"They wanted the players to have a certain feeling about the Lightning front office and ownership," Young added. "They wanted to implement things that made it better for the players."

And in the end, better for the Norfolk organization, which Young said saw attendance this season jump to an average of 4,500 from 3,625.

"Our fan base is more enthused than they have been in the last four years," Young said.

DILEMMA: Because tonight's regular-season finale against the Hurricanes won't affect home-ice advantage, coach Guy Boucher might sit or limit the minutes of some of his regulars, including C Steven Stamkos and W Marty St. Louis.

W Ryan Malone, still getting into shape after a groin injury, and D Victor Hedman, who is healthy enough to play but has a lower-body issue, are expected to sit. Call-ups from AHL Norfolk also are possible.

That might not go over too well with the Rangers, who are battling Carolina for the final playoff spot in the East. But Boucher, who admitted the situation is "touchy," said the focus has to be on his team.

"It has nothing to do with Carolina or the Rangers," he said. "We have to care about our team. We're going to the playoffs. We're going to think of our team (today)."

WHERE'S WAYNE? Assistant coach Wayne Fleming missed his fourth straight game. The team said it would provide details today.

ODDS AND ENDS: St. Louis' assist on Vinny Lecavalier's first goal was his career-best 66th. … Lecavalier is 1-for-3 on penalty shots this season. … The Lightning ended 25-11-5 at home. … D Eric Brewer played after missing two games with a lower-body injury and saw power play time. … G Mike Smith is expected to start against Carolina. … D Pavel Kubina played his 900th NHL game. … D Matt Smaby and D Randy Jones (ankle) also were scratched.

Times wires
Friday, April 8, 2011

CHICAGO — Slugger Adam Dunn will probably miss more than the five games the White Sox initially expected as he recovers from an emergency appendectomy.

Dunn was out of the lineup for the third straight game Friday against Tampa Bay.

Manager Ozzie Guillen says he would rather lose a game than risk further injury by sending Dunn out to hit before he's fully healed. He also says Dunn is improving.

Dunn is hitting .286 in four games for the White Sox this season. He has one home run and five RBIs. Chicago signed the slugger to a four-year, $56 million contract in December.

Mariners rift: A week into the regular season, Jack Wilson's transition to second base is creating problems.

Wilson was out of the lineup Friday after drawing the ire of new manager Eric Wedge.

The veteran infielder pulled himself from Wednesday's loss after committing a pair of errors on consecutive potential inning-ending double plays that led to three Rangers runs.

After the game, Wedge attempted to cover for Wilson saying he was "hazy" and couldn't get straight after making the mistakes. But Wilson compounded the situation by saying it was Wedge's decision to pull him.

Wedge called the action "unspeakable."

Wedge said he and bench coach Robby Thompson tried to talk to Wilson after his two errors and persuade him to return to the game.

"I tried to protect Jack by saying he was a little bit hazy, but then he made mention that I took him out of the game. I did not take him out of the game," Wedge said. "He took himself out of the game."

Asked if this brings into question Wilson's future with the club, Wedge said, "I'm not going to speak anymore on it."

Braves: Former manager Bobby Cox threw out the first pitch to his successor, Fredi Gonzalez, before the home opener against the Phillies. Cox, wearing his No. 6 jersey over khaki pants and throwing the pitch a little wide, was fourth all time with 2,504 wins before retiring after last season. "I threw a four-seamer that sunk," Cox said.

Diamondbacks: Reliever Ron Mahay was signed to a minor-league contract and assigned to extended spring training.

Marlins: SS Hanley Ramirez left in the seventh inning in Houston with a bruised left leg and is day to day. Ramirez was trying to turn a double play when Bill Hall slid into his leg at second and Ramirez crumpled.

Rockies: 1B Todd Helton was scratched from the lineup because of a stiff lower back. He was replaced by Jason Giambi.

Twins: 2B Tsuyoshi Nishioka, taken out with a hard slide, will not need a cast or surgery for his broken fibula in his left leg. He will be on crutches until the pain subsides then begin rehab. He is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.

Yankees: 3B Alex Rodriguez homered against the Red Sox, giving him 616 for his career with 1,836 RBIs, passing Rafael Palmeiro and tying Ken Griffey Jr. for 13th on the all-time RBIs list.

Rangers-Orioles to play two: Steady rain hit the Baltimore area early in the day and never really let up. The teams will play a traditional doubleheader today starting at 4:30 p.m. Texas is 6-0 and Baltimore 5-1.

Bonds trial: The jury deliberating at the Barry Bonds trial in San Francisco reheard parts of a secretly recorded 2003 conversation between the slugger's trainer, Greg Anderson, and his ex-business partner Steve Hoskins. Prosecutors claim the men are discussing how Anderson injected Bonds with steroids. Bonds is accused of lying to a grand jury in 2003 when he said he never took performance-enhancing drugs and no one but his doctors gave him an injection. Deliberations will continue Monday. Meanwhile, U.S. District Judge Susan Illston ordered Anderson's release from prison. He had been cited for contempt of court and imprisoned March 22 for refusing to testify.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Friday, April 8, 2011

CHICAGO — 1B Casey Kotchman started his day heading to the Gwinnett County ballpark expecting to play in a Triple-A game.

He ended it happy to be back in the big leagues, fighting traffic in Atlanta and then Chicago. He arrived at U.S. Cellular Field as the game started and pinch-hit in the eighth.

"Certainly, and to be able to get a W (Friday night) and see some spirits high in here," Kotchman said.

The former Seminole High star signed a minor-league contract with the Rays and made a solid case for a job with a strong spring, hitting .354 with one homer, five doubles and five RBIs, but the Rays wanted to see more and sent him to Triple-A Durham at the end of spring.

"I didn't really analyze it a whole lot," Kotchman said. "I just tried to get my work in and stay ready."

Kotchman, 28, is expected to be in the Rays lineup on a somewhat regular basis, playing first base most days with Dan Johnson at DH. But Johnson will also play some at first, and it's possible the Rays will use Johnny Damon more often in the DH spot, with Sam Fuld getting more time in leftfield.

SHOPPACH OKAY: C Kelly Shoppach left the game with a sore right knee after an awkward seventh-inning play but told manager Joe Maddon after the game he felt okay and could play today if needed.

"He said he's fine," Maddon said. "It's almost like it scared him a little bit, kind of an awkward feeling."

Shoppach was hurt on an odd play, as the Sox had men on first and third, and Joel Peralta's pitch got past him and bounced off the wall. Shoppach, who missed two months last season with a right knee injury, played the carom and flipped the ball to Peralta, who tagged out Brent Morel at the plate.

MISCELLANY: OF B.J. Upton extended his hitting streak to include all seven games. … Damon's homer off John Danks was his first off a lefty since Aug. 28, 2009. … The Rays beat a left-handed starter for the first time since the end of the 2010 regular season.

deja VU: RHP Adam Russell started his career with the White Sox before being traded (from Triple-A Charlotte) to the Padres in the July 2009 Jake Peavy deal, then to the Rays in December for Jason Bartlett. So not only was Thursday his first game at U.S. Cellular Field as a visitor, but it also was his first back since Game 4 of the 2008 AL division series, when the Sox were eliminated by the Rays. "That," Russell said, "is a little ironic."

FAMILIAR FACE: RHP Jeff Niemann and White Sox RHP Phil Humber were two-thirds of a talented trio at Rice University, along with RHP Wade Townsend. Niemann is looking forward to it, not having seen him pitch since their college days, but to a degree. "It'll be good to see him pitch," Niemann said. "And nice to beat him."

Andy Villamarzo, Times Correspondent
Friday, April 8, 2011

TRINITY — For some coaches, their first job in track and field comes by way of rebuilding a program and striving for stability.

But for Wiregrass Ranch boys coach Phil Kerr, who took over in January, it was nothing more than inheriting one of the most talented squads on the North Suncoast.

Kerr's Bulls flexed their track and field muscles once more, finishing 27 points ahead of Mitchell to earn the boys' first Sunshine Athletic Conference championship Friday evening in the SAC track and field championships at Mustang Field.

"I came in as the new coach in January and I think they hated me at first," Kerr said. "But I told them the hard work would pay off.

"I told the boys, 20 years from now they can look at the banner and say, 'Look, that was us.' Josh Reilly had a good day and so did Ryan Pulsifer."

Wiregrass Ranch (140 points) received steady performances from its distance runners with Reilly, who finished third in the 800 (2:04.87), second in the 1600 (4:35) and Pulsifer, who won the 3200 in 10:01.

Wiregrass Ranch and Ridgewood tied for first with 137 points on the girls side. The Rams' share of the conference crown marked their first since 2005.

Ridgewood sprinter Karissa Bertling placed first in the 100 (12.54), 200 (25.32) and 400 (58.22). Mitchell distance runner Kelli Williams also took first in three events, claiming victories in the 800 (2:19), 1600 (5:13) and 3200 (11:56).

"It's been seven years and I knew that if I was going to do it, this was going to be the year with 12 seniors," Ridgewood coach Sue Vien said.

Times wires
Friday, April 8, 2011

Braves 6, Phillies 3

ATLANTA — Chipper Jones hit a go-ahead, three-run double in the fourth off Cliff Lee and the Braves won their home opener. Jones had two hits, giving him 2,500 for his career. Lee couldn't hold an early 3-0 lead as the Braves scored three runs in the second and then knocked the left-hander out of the game with three in the fourth.

Times wires
Friday, April 8, 2011

Rays

Nathan Cowan, Times Correspondent
Friday, April 8, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — Cambridge will take wins however it can get them. Friday at Canterbury, the Lancers were outhit 10-8 but took advantage of the Crusaders' sloppy defense to prevail 15-4 in a game ended after six innings due to the mercy rule.

"They gave us a lot of runs and it wasn't pretty, but we'll take it," Lancers coach Sam Marsonek said. "It was not a good day."

Cambridge scored an unearned run in the first inning before exploding for seven runs in the second to take an 8-0 lead. Jordan Lewis reached on an error and after a walk, Tommy Robertson laid down a sacrifice bunt but no one covered first, allowing Robertson to reach.

With the bases loaded Henry Mesa singled in two runs. Reeves Martin was hit by a pitch and Zach Hessinger reached on another error that allowed Robertson to score.

"We're not focused and we have a lot of guys out of position, but we can't make excuses," Crusaders coach Jared Lewis said. "It's my fault that I haven't gotten the players ready to play a secondary position."

Canterbury got on the board in the third inning when Richie McClure reached on an error and DaSean Thomas hit a two-run home run.

The Lancers answered with a run in the top of the fourth, and four more in the fifth to put the game out of reach.

Matt Mullins got the win for the Lancers, giving up only seven hits and two runs in four innings.

"It's encouraging for him to pitch that well and only gave up one walk," Marsonek said. "We harp on not giving free passes."

Andrew Widell led the Cambridge offense with a double, a single, two runs scored and two RBIs.