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Facts for 2012 Frozen Four at St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa

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Times staff
Saturday, April 9, 2011

. fast facts

2012 Frozen Four

What: College hockey championship

Where: St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa

When: April 5 and 7, 2012

Tickets: $195 for three games: semifinals and final. Households may apply for up to four tickets. Applications are available through ncaa.com. Deadline is June 1. Applicants will be notified in August whether they will receive tickets.


Yankees 9, Red Sox 4

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Times wires
Saturday, April 9, 2011

Yankees 9, Red Sox 4

BOSTON — Russell Martin hit two homers for the Yankees. The catcher signed with New York over Boston and Toronto in December and is hitting .321 with three homers and eight RBIs.

"I'm healthy," Martin said. "I feel like it's been a while."

Martin's 2010 season with the Dodgers ended Aug. 3, when he broke his right hip and tore a labrum while tagging up from third. The All-Star in 2007 and 2008 hit just .248 with five homers and 26 RBIs in 97 games.

Meanwhile, a day after earning its first win, Boston reverted to form. Its starters are 1-5 with a 7.41 ERA while allowing 12 homers.

"We're walking some people, and there are a lot of deep counts," manager Terry Francona said. "And we're asking a lot of our bullpen."

Royals 3, Tigers 1

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Times wires
Saturday, April 9, 2011

Royals 3, Tigers 1

DETROIT — Bruce Chen retired 10 in a row at one point for the Royals. Kansas City's previous four wins had come in its last at-bat. The only dramatics came in the eighth, when the Tigers loaded the bases with two outs, but Magglio Ordonez popped up on Robinson Tejeda's only pitch of the game. Phil Coke, being converted into a starter after three seasons in the bullpen, allowed two runs in the second then retired 12 in a row.

Orioles 5, Rangers 0

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Times wires
Saturday, April 9, 2011

Orioles 5, Rangers 0

Game 1

BALTIMORE — Zach Britton, making his second career start, took a two-hitter into the eighth to hand the Rangers their first loss. He allowed only two runners past first and induced three double plays, two by Adrian Beltre. Texas sought to match the franchise-record 7-0 start of 1996. Coming in, it had allowed only three homers. But Nick Markakis hit a solo shot in the first and Mark Reynolds a three-run shot in the second.

Recruiting: Movers and shakers on the spring football scene

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By John C. Cotey, Times Staff Writer


Saturday, April 9, 2011

The spring always holds some surprises, and this one has been no different. With the busiest part of the camp and combine period ending today with the Elite Scouting Services combine at Armwood, here's a look at the top 11 stars of the early spring:

1. Jeremi Powell, DE/LB, Pinellas Park

Okay, who had heard of Powell before he picked up his first scholarship offer this spring from Purdue? Anyone? Well, coach Kenny Powell has been singing this 6-foot-2, 200-pound future linebacker's praises long before the colleges came calling. But an exceptional highlight tape caught a few eyes, and soon Powell was committed to Florida. Tall, strong and fast enough to play receiver if he chose to, the Patriot picked up an offer Friday from Alabama. But he still says he's a Gator. He's also our Spring King.

2. Lamarlin Wiggins, WR, Plant City

The Raiders have been out in force this spring, and Wiggins has been the most impressive of the bunch. The 6-2, 195-pound playmaker has reportedly picked up offers from USF, Texas Tech, Miami, Virginia Tech, UCLA and a few others.

3. Leon McQuay III, DB, Armwood

McQuay has been starring at camps and combines since he was an eighth-grader. It was just a matter of time before the 6-2, 180-pound speedster starting raking in offers. Florida, Vanderbilt and USF were the first to jump aboard. It should be a fruitful ride the next two seasons for McQuay, a star in the 2013 class.

4. Sam Green, DB, Plant City

The 6-1, 195-pounder is part of an outstanding 2012 class for the Raiders. He had more than 100 tackles and three interceptions last season, and will be the leader of the defense. The Big East loves him. His first offer was from Rutgers in January, and Cincinnati and USF have followed suit.

5. Austin Aikens, WR, Plant

Aikens has been on the recruiting bubble for a while — last spring he was MVP at a National Underclassmen Combine in Tampa — but he officially broke through after a strong performance at the U.S. Army All-American Combine in January. The 6-1, 185-pounder, who led the team with 727 receiving yards (22.7 a catch), got his first offer in February from Western Kentucky, but bigger schools such as Missouri, Vanderbilt and Cincinnati have come calling since.

6. Jarvis McCall, DB, Armwood

The Hawks were loaded with big names, but in 2010 McCall wasn't one of them. He is now. The 6-1, 185-pounder picked up his first offer in February from USF, and schools such as Tennessee and Michigan are taking a close look. With McQuay, McCall helps make up what could arguably be the best secondary in the state in 2011.

7. Richard Benjamin, WR/DB, Middleton

The 2013 prospect has run 40 yards in 4.5 seconds at both the Orlando MVP camp and the National Underclassmen Combine, where he was MVP, and he proved he belonged on Team Tampa, a 7-on-7 all-star team that finished third at the recent Badger Sports event. Benjamin (6-0, 170) has an offer from Kansas, but it won't be his last.

8. Greg Windham, QB, King

The Lion's signal-caller (6-2, 200) put up big numbers in 2010, and his strong arm is attracting colleges, including Cincinnati, which was the first to offer him a scholarship recently. He performed well at the Elite 11 camp in Orlando and as the quarterback for Team Tampa, getting to throw to such 2012 standouts as Matt Jones, Kent Taylor and Nelson Agholor. Before spring ball is over, expect a few more schools to make offers to Windham.

9. Trey Dudley-Giles, ATH, Pasco The 5-10, 170-pounder hasn't been out on the camp and combine circuit because he's playing baseball for the Pirates, but he may be the most unsung 2012 recruit in Tampa Bay. Rutgers and Florida Atlantic have offered scholarships to the well-rounded standout, who made big plays from the running back, wide receiver, quarterback and kick return positions last year.

10. Brent O'Neal, RB, Canterbury

O'Neal (5-9, 190) is still waiting for the big offers, but Wofford made an offer last week and other colleges want to wait and see how he does against elite competition at some team camps this offseason. But at Nike Sparq and the National Underclassmen Combine, where he was named Combine King, he has been doing exceptionally well.

11. Dazmond Patterson, RB, Plant City

Patterson doesn't have an offer, which makes him a rarity on this list, but he's most definitely one of those players that folks look at and say, "if he was only a few inches taller." If he wasn't 5-7, he'd be one of Tampa Bay's top recruits, but eventually someone is going to take a chance. His size hasn't stopped him from earning top running back honors at the Orlando MVP and Tampa Ignite camps.

John C. Cotey can be reached at (813) 406-0530 or johncotey@gmail.com.

Recruiting: Movers and shakers on the spring football scene

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By John C. Cotey, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, April 9, 2011

The spring always holds some surprises, and this one has been no different. With the busiest part of the camp and combine period ending today with the Elite Scouting Services combine at Armwood, here's a look at the top 11 stars of the early spring:

1. Jeremi Powell, DE/LB, Pinellas Park

Okay, who had heard of Powell before he picked up his first scholarship offer this spring from Purdue? Anyone? Well, coach Kenny Crawford has been singing this 6-foot-2, 200-pound future linebacker's praises long before the colleges came calling. But an exceptional highlight tape caught a few eyes, and soon Powell was committed to Florida. Tall, strong and fast enough to play receiver if he chose to, the Patriot picked up an offer Friday from Alabama. But he still says he's a Gator. He's also our Spring King.

2. Lamarlin Wiggins, WR, Plant City

The Raiders have been out in force this spring, and Wiggins has been the most impressive of the bunch. The 6-2, 195-pound playmaker has reportedly picked up offers from USF, Texas Tech, Miami, Virginia Tech, UCLA and a few others.

3. Leon McQuay III, DB, Armwood

McQuay has been starring at camps and combines since he was an eighth-grader. It was just a matter of time before the 6-2, 180-pound speedster starting raking in offers. Florida, Vanderbilt and USF were the first to jump aboard. It should be a fruitful ride the next two seasons for McQuay, a star in the 2013 class.

4. Sam Green, DB, Plant City

The 6-1, 195-pounder is part of an outstanding 2012 class for the Raiders. He had more than 100 tackles and three interceptions last season, and will be the leader of the defense. The Big East loves him. His first offer was from Rutgers in January, and Cincinnati and USF have followed suit.

5. Austin Aikens, WR, Plant

Aikens has been on the recruiting bubble for a while — last spring he was MVP at a National Underclassmen Combine in Tampa — but he officially broke through after a strong performance at the U.S. Army All-American Combine in January. The 6-1, 185-pounder, who led the team with 727 receiving yards (22.7 a catch), got his first offer in February from Western Kentucky, but bigger schools such as Missouri, Vanderbilt and Cincinnati have come calling since.

6. Jarvis McCall, DB, Armwood

The Hawks were loaded with big names, but in 2010 McCall wasn't one of them. He is now. The 6-1, 185-pounder picked up his first offer in February from USF, and schools such as Tennessee and Michigan are taking a close look. With McQuay, McCall helps make up what could arguably be the best secondary in the state in 2011.

7. Richard Benjamin, WR/DB, Middleton

The 2013 prospect has run 40 yards in 4.5 seconds at both the Orlando MVP camp and the National Underclassmen Combine, where he was MVP, and he proved he belonged on Team Tampa, a 7-on-7 all-star team that finished third at the recent Badger Sports event. Benjamin (6-0, 170) has an offer from Kansas, but it won't be his last.

8. Greg Windham, QB, King

The Lion's signal-caller (6-2, 200) put up big numbers in 2010, and his strong arm is attracting colleges, including Cincinnati, which was the first to offer him a scholarship recently. He performed well at the Elite 11 camp in Orlando and as the quarterback for Team Tampa, getting to throw to such 2012 standouts as Matt Jones, Kent Taylor and Nelson Agholor. Before spring ball is over, expect a few more schools to make offers to Windham.

9. Trey Dudley-Giles, ATH, Pasco The 5-10, 170-pounder hasn't been out on the camp and combine circuit because he's playing baseball for the Pirates, but he may be the most unsung 2012 recruit in Tampa Bay. Rutgers and Florida Atlantic have offered scholarships to the well-rounded standout, who made big plays from the running back, wide receiver, quarterback and kick return positions last year.

10. Brent O'Neal, RB, Canterbury

O'Neal (5-9, 190) is still waiting for the big offers, but Wofford made an offer last week and other colleges want to wait and see how he does against elite competition at some team camps this offseason. But at Nike Sparq and the National Underclassmen Combine, where he was named Combine King, he has been doing exceptionally well.

11. Dazmond Patterson, RB, Plant City

Patterson doesn't have an offer, which makes him a rarity on this list, but he's most definitely one of those players that folks look at and say, "if he was only a few inches taller." If he wasn't 5-7, he'd be one of Tampa Bay's top recruits, but eventually someone is going to take a chance. His size hasn't stopped him from earning top running back honors at the Orlando MVP and Tampa Ignite camps.

John C. Cotey can be reached at (813) 406-0530 or johncotey@gmail.com.

Falcons get last of big blasts

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Saturday, April 9, 2011

TAMPA — A midseason clash between two premier teams lived up to its billing Saturday afternoon.

Dunedin coughed up a big lead then rallied for an 8-7 victory over host Jesuit.

The Falcons (16-4) used a five-run second inning to take early command before the Tigers' 6-foot-6 slugger, Max Beerman, brought Jesuit back with just two swings.

The first was a grand slam in the bottom of the fourth to bring Jesuit (16-4) within two runs.

The second gave the Tigers their first lead, 7-6, as Beerman connected for a three-run blast in the sixth inning.

"Beerman kept us in the game with his bat," Jesuit coach Richie Warren said. "And we had a chance to win it there."

Jesuit then brought in closer Lance McCullers, who routinely hits the mid-to-upper 90s on the radar gun. But with two outs and the tying run on third, McCullers gave up an opposite-field homer to Andrew Brodbeck as Dunedin took the lead right back.

"They're a good team, and it was a good pitch and a pretty good swing," Warren said. "We'll still take McCullers on the mound with a lead any day."

The Tigers got their first two hitters on base in the bottom half of the seventh, but Pete Alonso struck out swinging before Nolan Schultz hit into a double play to end the game.

Falcons starter Mike Clarkson gave up six hits over six innings for the win and Cam Oxiner picked up the save.

Jesuit starter Conor O'Brien lasted just two innings and gave up five runs (three earned) in his shortest start of the season.

Beerman finished 2-for-3 with the two homers and seven RBIs.

Casey Turgeon had a double and triple for the Falcons.

Tampa Bay Lightning assistant coach Wayne Fleming has brain tumor

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By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, April 9, 2011

RALEIGH, N.C. — Now we know why the Lightning locker room after Friday's 4-2 victory over the Panthers wasn't filled with the usual blaring celebratory music.

After the game, GM Steve Yzerman informed players that assistant coach Wayne Fleming, out four straight games, had been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and Thursday had a procedure at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa.

"It's really hard," D Pavel Kubina said Saturday. "It's just like something happened to one of your family."

Yzerman said Fleming is "up and around" and "feeling really good." And coach Guy Boucher said Fleming sent observations by text message to the coaches between periods of Friday's game.

Depending on how Fleming, 60, reacts to treatment, Yzerman said, he can return to the team any time. In the meantime, assistant coach Dan Lacroix takes over Fleming's penalty kill, and assistant Marty Raymond relocates to behind the bench from the press box, where he was an eye in the sky.

"We're trying to manage through it, but we hope at some point we can see (Fleming) back," Boucher said. "He's got a major battle to fight now, other than hockey, and that's where our heart is."

The news came out of the blue, Yzerman said. Fleming told him before the March 31 game with the Penguins he had not felt well and was having tests done.

Yzerman said more testing will determine treatment.

"It's tough," Boucher said. "You don't think hockey right away. You think friend. We know what's ahead for him is a difficult, difficult battle. We feel for him, and hopefully we do well and that can appease some of his worries."

TROPHY TIME: RW Adam Hall was nominated for the league's Masterton Trophy, given for perseverance and dedication to hockey.

Hall, 30, entered Saturday with seven goals, 18 points in 81 games. Last season, he was banished to AHL Norfolk by then-GM Brian Lawton. Rather than sulk, Hall was a team leader. This season, he is a mainstay on the penalty kill, has won 55 percent of his faceoffs and has averaged 15 minutes of ice time.

"He's a rock," Boucher said.

Said Hall: "You can't help but have an extra appreciation for being able to come back and the hunger that it takes."

Hall was nominated by the Tampa Bay chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. The full membership votes for the award.

SHUFFLING: Giving D Eric Brewer a look on the power play is part of a larger experiment to understand all options available in the playoffs, Boucher said:

"Lately, I've been trying different things, giving guys different opportunities, knowing what I've got. If guys fall in the playoffs, all of a sudden we're not lost out there. We've got solutions."

Given Tampa Bay's league-worst 16 shorthanded goals allowed, another defenseman at the point might not be a bad idea.

ODDS AND ENDS: Steven Stamkos' 46 assists entering Saturday were a career best and matched his total points from 2008-09. … Tampa Bay is 5-11-2 in season finales. … D Randy Jones (ankle) was scratched.


Florida Gators football depth chart

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Times staff
Saturday, April 9, 2011

Depth Chart

OFFENSE

WR85 Frankie Hammond Jr. 89 Stephen Alli or 84 Quinton Dunbar

WR82 Omarius Hines 4 Andre Debose

TE 11 Jordan Reed 81 A.C. Leonard

WR 6 Deonte Thompson 7 Robert Clark

HB 3 Chris Rainey 23 Mike Gillislee or 33 Mack Brown

QB 12 John Brantley 10 Tyler Murphy or 16 Jeff Driskel

LT 75 Chaz Green 64 Kyle Koehne

LG 72 Jonotthan Harrison 63 Cole Gilliam

C 50 Sam Robey 58 Nick Alajajian

RG 67 Jon Halapio 60 William Steinmann

RT 73 Xavier Nixon 77 Ian Silberman

PR 3 Chris Rainey 85 Frankie Hammond Jr. or 4 Andre Debose

KR 4 Andre Debose 83 Solomon Patton

7 Robert Clark 23 Mike Gillislee

DEFENSE

DE7 Ronald Powell 34 Lerentee McCray or 85 Lynden Trail

DT 73 Sharrif Floyd 91 Earl Okine

DT 58 Dominique Easley 68 Leon Orr

DE 96 William Green 23 Chris Martin or 86 Clay Burton

LB32 Gerald Christian 25 Gideon Ajagbe

LB52 Jonathan Bostic 51 Michael Taylor

LB43 Jelani Jenkins 13 Dee Finley or 49 Darrin Kitchens

CB 36 Moses Jenkins 26 De'Ante Saunders

S 22 Matt Elam 9 Josh Shaw

S 24 Josh Evans 34 Tim Clark

CB 8 Jeremy Brown 31 Cody Riggs

SPECIALISTS

P 41 Kyle Christy 40 David Lerner

K 19 Caleb Sturgis 97 Brad Phillips

LS 54 Christopher Guido 46 Drew Ferris

Sports in brief

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Times staff, wires
Saturday, April 9, 2011

HORSES

UNCLE MO LOSES IN STUNNER AT WOOD

NEW YORK — The sight of Kentucky Derby favorite Uncle Mo being passed by not one, but two horses in the stretch of the Wood Memorial silenced the hundreds of fans gathered at the rail at Aqueduct ready to cheer him on to another victory.

Uncle Mo, a 1-10 favorite, finished third Saturday behind winner Toby's Corner and Arthur's Tale in one of the biggest upsets in the 87-year history of the Grade 1 race.

"I'm as depressed now as I am after (losing) a $25,000 claimer," Uncle Mo's owner Mike Repole said. "That's why you have to run the races, whether you are 1-9 or 9-1, or whatever the winner was. … The horse didn't fire today."

With John Velazquez aboard, Uncle Mo controlled most of the $1 million, 11/8-mile race until turning for home.

MORE HORSES

T.B. Derby winner fades in Illinois Derby

Tampa Bay Derby winner Watch Me Go finished sixth as the 2-1 favorite in the Grade III $300,000 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne. He earned $3,000 in graded earnings after starting the day ranked 18th with $232,500. The Kentucky Derby on May 7 is limited to 20 starters. Joe Vann, a 5-1 shot, won with Florent Geroux aboard.

TAMPA BAY DOWNS: Jamie Ness trainee Sneaking Uponyou broke the Oldsmar track's oldest record in the Sprint, and Manicero set a mark in the Sophomore to highlight six $75,000 stakes races. Sneaking Uponyou ran 6 furlongs in 1 minute, 8.69 seconds, topping the record of Bootlegger's Pet (1974). Manicero clocked 7 furlongs in 1:22.13 to eclipse Sir Shackleton (2006).

SANTA ANITA DERBY: Midnight Interlude, a 13-1 shot, defeated Comma to the Top to win the $1 million race with Joe Talamo aboard.

OAKLAWN: Win Willy rallied to take the $350,000 Grade II stakes in Hot Springs, Ark., beating Misremembered by a length.

ELSEWHERE: A.P. Indy, the 1992 horse of the year and a top stallion, was retired by Lane's End Farm.

TENNIS

Wozniacki reaches final at Family Circle

No. 1 Caroline Woz­niacki broke Jelena Jankovic five times in a 6-4, 6-4 semifinal win at the Family Circle Cup in Charleston, S.C. Today Wozniacki plays unseeded Elena Vesnina, who beat Peng Shuai 7-6 (7-4), 6-3.

U.S. CLAY COURT: American Ryan Sweeting, a wild-card entry, reached his first ATP final and faces Japan's Kei Nishikori today in Houston.

ET CETERA

GREYHOUNDS: Magic Finch overtook Uss Gazillionair in the final yards to win the $80,000 Distance Classic, Derby Lane's richest stakes at St. Petersburg. She paid $10.80 to win.

SWIMMING: Michael Phelps won his third event at the Michigan Grand Prix in Ann Arbor, beating former Florida star Ryan Lochte in the 100 backstroke.

Don Jensen, Times correspondent; Times wires

Yankees bolster rotation by signing ex-Cub

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Times wires
Saturday, April 9, 2011

BOSTON — The Yankees signed RHP Carlos Silva to a minor-league contract Saturday, bringing in another option for their suspect rotation.

The move came 13 days after Silva, who turns 32 on April 23, was released by the Cubs despite being owed $11.5 million. In 21 starts with them last year (and under current Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild), he went 10-6 with a 4.22 ERA.

Chicago released Silva after he was told he would not make the team and he said there was "no chance" he would accept a demotion to Triple A.

He is expected to report to the Yankees' minor-league complex in Tampa on Wednesday.

In nine seasons — two with the Phillies, four with the Twins, two with the Mariners and one with the Cubs — Silva is 70-70 with a 4.68 ERA in 316 games.

Musial Alzheimer's? Stan Musial, 90, has been fighting a battle the past several years that few knew about — Alzheimer's disease, two published reports said.

The Hall of Famer and former Cardinals great has had to endure the effects of Alzheimer's since he was in his "mid 80s," according to an advance copy of a book, Stan Musial, an American Life, by George Vecsey of the New York Times.

Coincidentally, Gerry Musial Ashley, one of Stan's three daughters, confirmed the diagnosis to the Oakland Tribune on Thursday in an article about a baseball art exhibit that includes a painting of her father.

Brewers: RHP Zack Greinke said he felt fine after a second bullpen session. But there is still no timetable for Greinke, who cracked a rib while playing basket­ball, to begin a rehab stint.

Orioles: RHP Chris Jaku­bau­skas was called up in case he was needed to start today for RHP Jeremy Guthrie, who is recovering from pneumonia. But he pitched in relief in Game 2 of the team's doubleheader, likely meaning Guthrie will go.

Pirates: RHP Ross Ohlendorf went on the DL with a strained right shoulder.

Rockies: Manager Jim Tracy said he was "extremely encouraged" by how RHP Ubaldo Jimenez responded to Friday's long-toss session. Jimenez, on the DL with a cuticle cut on his right thumb, is set to throw a bullpen session today and hopes to return when eligible April 17.

Twins: RH reliever Kevin Slo­wey went on the DL with bursitis in his right shoulder.

'Superman' Sam Fuld can't save Tampa Bay Rays in 4-2 loss to Chicago White Sox

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, April 9, 2011

CHICAGO — The spectacular catch Sam Fuld made Saturday in a full-out dive toward the rightfield corner is what people in the clubhouse, around the stadium and on TV were and will be talking about for a long time.

But what Fuld was thinking more about afterward was a similarly hit ball three innings later he couldn't get to that became a pivotal play in the Rays' latest loss, 4-2 to the White Sox.

"I obviously wish I could have gotten to it," he said. "I know I really couldn't have done anything. That's going to eat at me, definitely.

"I think ultimately, I'll probably remember the catch a little bit more, but right now, that definitely stings."

The second ball, a hooking liner by Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski, became a two-out, two-run double that turned a 2-1 seventh-inning deficit into 4-1, a monstrous difference as anemic as the Rays offense has been, scoring two or fewer runs for the sixth time in eight games (and only 19 total) and posting a team average of .167.

That it came right after rookie reliever Jake McGee (four hits, two walks in 22/3 innings over five appearances) failed again, walking Carlos Quentin to load the bases, made it even worse.

"That was a tough moment to get it up to 4-1," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "Because we're not scoring a lot of runs right now, we really have to keep it in check.

"I'm not blaming the pitchers by any means. It's just when you're not scoring runs, you have to not make those mistakes, and we did."

The Rays (1-7) were down a run because of an earlier miscue, on an odd two-out bases-loaded play in the fourth. Brent Morel broke his bat and blooped a ball just over the mound. But Rays starter Wade Davis hesitated a tad too long as he turned to head back, and the ball dropped untouched for an infield single.

"I didn't want to have any collisions," Davis said. "It (stinks). I saw the ball. I had time to get there. I was just thinking about the other guys coming in, and I hesitated a little bit."

Davis' misadventure set up Fuld's adventure as usually weak-hitting Juan Pierre laced a ball toward the rightfield corner. Fuld, shifted toward center, started running and didn't stop until he skidded to a halt on the warning track — "prototypical Superman dive, I guess you can say," Fuld said — both knees and arms bloodied.

"I was screaming from center­field when he caught it," B.J. Upton said. "That's unbelievable. Great catch! It should be play of the year so far."

Pierzynski, the 14-season veteran, said it was one of the best catches he had seen based on degree of difficulty alone.

"He ran, like, 50 yards to get to that ball," he said. "It was an incredible catch. I tip my hat to him, for one, he didn't kill himself on the fence, and two, he got there and made the play. It was an amazing play."

Said Davis: " I don't even know how to explain that."

Fuld, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound pest acquired from the Cubs in the Matt Garza trade, can do that and with a .222 average (and .333 on-base percentage) that is relatively robust among the Rays figures to get more playing time.

"Sam has saved us I don't know how many runs over the last two days," Maddon said. "He's really spoiling us right now. It's as good a defense as we've seen here in the outfield, and we've had some really good outfielders. And it's not just the great plays, it's how he does things."

Just on that one play, there wasn't anything he could do.

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



Champions Tour Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am facts

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By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, April 9, 2011

Champions Tour Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am

When: Friday-Sunday

Course: TPC Tampa Bay, Lutz (par 71, 6,828 yards)

Field: 78 players

Format: 54-hole stroke play event with no cut. Friday-Saturday play features one amateur with one professional in a team better-ball format. Low 16 teams play Sunday.

Defending champ: Bernhard Langer

Purse: $1.7 million ($255,000 winner's share)

Notable celebrities: Ronde Barber, Derrick Brooks, Vince Gill, Craig T. Nelson, John O'Hurley, Stone Phillips, Sterling Sharpe, Emmitt Smith, Joe Theismann, Michael J. Fox (appearing Friday, not playing).

Television: 12:30-2:30 p.m. Friday, Golf Channel; 4-6 p.m. Saturday, Ch. 8; 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Ch. 8

Schedule: Monday — pro-am 12:30 p.m., pro practice rounds; Tuesday — pro practice rounds; Wednesday — Laser Spine Institute Challenge, 10 a.m. shotgun start; Thursday — Laser Spine Institute Challenge, 10 a.m. shotgun start; Friday — first round; Saturday — second round; Sunday — final round

Details: (813) 265-4653; outbackproam.com

Noteworthy: Langer won't defend his title because of a thumb injury. … This is the 19th consecutive year a Champions Tour event has been held at TPC Tampa Bay, the longest stretch on the same course on the tour. … Nine PGA Tour veterans will play this tournament for the first time: Jay Don Blake, Mark Brooks, Mark Calcavecchia, Jim Gallagher Jr., Bill Glasson, J.L. Lewis, Steve Lowery, Kenny Perry and Ted Schulz. Calcavecchia's last win was the 2007 PODS Championship at Innisbrook in Palm Harbor.

Rodney Page, Times staff writer

Masters news and notes

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Times wires
Saturday, April 9, 2011

Finding comfort in Augusta

Hideki Matsuyama is focused on Augusta National. His heart is half a world away in Sendai, Japan.

The 19-year-old low amateur at the Masters goes to school at Tohoku Fukushi University in Sendai, which was leveled by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that killed thousands and left as many homeless. Matsuyama was at a training camp in Australia when the quake hit. He returned for two days and was "very shocked" at the devastation.

After talking to his coach, Matsuyama decided he wouldn't be helping anyone by staying amid the destruction. "I was very happy to come over here and play the Masters," Matsuyama said through an interpreter. "I wasn't sure whether I would be able to encourage the people in Japan by my play. But at least I really wanted to enjoy this experience."

Matsuyama earned his Masters spot by winning the Asian Amateur in October. He was the only amateur to make the cut at the Masters, and after 4-under 68 Saturday, he was at 3 under for the tournament.

Matsuyama's family lives in Ehime, more than 500 miles from Sendai, and was spared the quake's devastation. But he still can't reach some friends in Sendai. And he has no idea what will be left of his school when he returns.

In position for a first

Australia, a country that hasn't produced a Masters winner, has two natives in contention heading into the final day: Jason Day, who was four shots behind Rory McIlroy after shooting par 72, and Adam Scott, left, who tied for Saturday's best round with 5-under 67 and was five back. "You know, 67 around here any day is great, but Saturday, to move, it seems, into contention at the moment is a really good round of golf," Scott said. "(Saturday) everything kind of fell into place." Scott and Day are paired today. Asked about being a mentor to Day, 23, Scott, 30, laughed. "I don't know. It's hard to mentor a guy who's beating me. Maybe he has some advice for me."

Cabrera finally back on track

Angel Cabrera arrived at Augusta National last year as the defending champion, and he admittedly was distracted. But this year he seems to have regained his focus. "Obviously people want to be near me, and they recognize me. But not like last year," he said. Cabrera, who tied for 18th last year, came alive Saturday, shooting 5-under 67, tied for the day's best round, after rounds of 71 and 70. The Argentine was tied for second at 8 under entering today as he chases his third major title (he also won the 2007 U.S. Open). "I think the confidence was the key (Saturday)," he said. "The first two days I was hitting it okay, but I lacked that confidence, and (Saturday) I had it, and I trusted it, and that made a big difference."

There was more talk Saturday about Tiger Woods being back — back to dropping expletives and screaming at himself. He followed his second-round 66 with a sloppy 74, staggering to the scoring shed after missing a 5-footer to save par at 18. "I hit so many putts early that looked like they were going to go in, and they didn't," said Woods, tied for 27th among the 49 who made the cut with 89 putts and tied for 44th with four three-putts. "It is what it is." He went from three back at the start of the round to seven at the end: "I'm going to have to put together a good front nine and see what happens."

Edwards at site of air embarrassment

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Times wires
Saturday, April 9, 2011

FORT WORTH, Texas — When Carl Edwards isn't driving on the track, he can often be found flying one of his planes.

In the days before late Saturday's Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway, he told a story of a previous visit there in which he earned quite a nickname.

In the small Texas town of Dimmit, Edwards was landing his single-engine plane for fuel not long after getting his pilot's license.

"I landed downwind. I am landing at 60-80 mph plus 20 mph wind, and I am screaming down this runway trying to stop," he said last week. "I get to the end, and there is a guy ready to take off the correct direction. I can see him look at me like, 'You idiot.' … He is looking at me like, 'Now what are you going to do, moron? You have to turn around because I can't back up.' So I turn around and taxi back."

The other plane took off, and Edwards went to get fuel when he was recognized by someone who said, "You are NASCAR driver Carl Edwards!" But they hadn't seen his landing, so Edwards figured he was in the clear.

About a year later, Edwards was doing an autograph session at TMS when he heard somebody yell from the crowd, "Hey, downwind!"

It was the pilot who was in the crop duster at the end of the runway when Edwards landed.

"You are a terrible pilot," Edwards said, relaying what the other pilot said. "I am sure in the crop duster community around here they laugh at me as a pilot."

LATE FRIDAY: Edwards narrowly escaped a wreck early and went on to lead 169 of 200 laps to win his second consecutive NASCAR Nationwide series race at Texas.

It was his 30th Nationwide victory, the 15th NASCAR victory for car owner Jack Roush at Texas and the first NASCAR win for a Ford Mustang.

Edwards narrowly escaped a wreck early, but rival Kyle Busch was not as lucky.

Edwards and Busch were running 1-2 on Lap 88 in the O'Reilly Auto Parts 300 when Tim Schendel's car blew a right front tire and shot up the track. He barely scraped the back of Edwards' car but was right in front of Busch, who had nowhere to go, and hit him full force.

"Just sheer luck of timing, the car ended up missing us and caught him instead," Edwards said. "Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw that car turn."

Edwards, the pole-sitter, won by 0.482 seconds over fellow Sprint Cup driver Brad Keselowski.

GRAND-AM: Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas easily won the Porsche 250 in Birmingham, Ala., to extend their series winning streak to a record six races.

INDYCAR: Will Power is on the pole for today's Grand Prix of Alabama in Birmingham with a lap of 1 minute, 11.46 seconds. He sat on the pole last year at Barber Motorsports Park and last month in St. Petersburg, where he finished second. Power's Penske Racing teammate, Ryan Briscoe, starts second.

FORMULA ONE: Defending world champion Sebastian Vettel earned the pole for the Malaysian Grand Prix in Kuala Lumpur with a lap of 1:34.870, edging Lewis Hamilton of McLaren by a 10th of a second. The race was held overnight.


Matt Kenseth wins Sprint Cup race at Texas

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Times wires
Saturday, April 9, 2011

FORT WORTH, Texas — Matt Kenseth had a dominating run at Texas Motor Speedway, breaking a 76-race NASCAR Sprint Cup winless streak Saturday night.

Kenseth led 169 of 334 laps at the 1½-mile, high-banked track for his 19th series victory and first since California in February 2009. Since his other win at Texas in 2002, Kenseth had four runnerup finishes, including last fall behind Denny Hamlin, and six other top-10 finishes at the track.

This time, the No. 17 Roush Fenway Ford was trailing late behind Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch when both were out of sequence on stops and trying to stretch fuel in hopes of catching a caution. Lucky for Kenseth, there were no yellow flags.

Kenseth went back ahead to stay with 13 laps left in the Samsung Mobile 500 when Busch made his final stop and gave up an 8.2-second lead. Kenseth finished 8.315 seconds ahead of Clint Bowyer.

"Over two years, I didn't know if I'd get a chance to get here again," Kenseth said in Victory Lane.

It was a weekend sweep at Texas for car owner Jack Roush after Carl Edwards won Friday's Nationwide race. Roush has 16 NASCAR wins in Texas — eight Cup, seven Nationwide and one in trucks.

All four of Roush's drivers finished in the top seven. Edwards finished third, 17 seconds back, with Greg Biffle fourth and pole-sitter David Ragan seventh.

Edwards, bothered during the race by an upset stomach, took the points lead by nine over Kyle Busch, who finished 16th.

Stewart had gone 58 laps since his last stop with 58 laps to go and had nearly a 17-second lead over Kenseth and more than 19 seconds over Bowyer when he made his stop.

Any chance for a victory ended when Stewart got penalized for speeding on pit road. He was 12th, the last driver on the lead lap, after coasting across the finish line, out of fuel.

Kenseth had led only five laps in the first six races this season but came to Texas off three consecutive top-six finishes. He also became the career laps leader at Texas, pushing his total to 669 in 18 starts.

The first night race of the season was also the first run under the lights at Texas, which hosted its 21st Sprint Cup race since the track opened in 1997.

Hamlin finished 15th and Kevin Harvick 20th, both being denied trifectas.

Harvick had won the previous two Cup races this season. Hamlin swept both races at Texas last season and was trying to become the first driver to win three consecutive Cup races at the track.

Both had problems early. Harvick had a penalty in the pits on his first stop and Hamlin with power problems in his car.

After a runnerup finish last week at Martinsville, Dale Earnhardt Jr. had another strong run, finishing ninth. But his winless streak hit 100.

GRAND-AM: Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas easily won the Porsche 250 in Birmingham, Ala., to extend their series winning streak to a record six races.

INDYCAR: Will Power is on the pole for today's Grand Prix of Alabama in Birmingham with a lap of 1 minute, 11.46 seconds. He sat on the pole last year at Barber Motorsports Park and last month in St. Petersburg, where he finished second. Power's Penske Racing teammate, Ryan Briscoe, starts second.

FORMULA ONE: Defending world champion Sebastian Vettel earned the pole for the Malaysian Grand Prix in Kuala Lumpur with a lap of 1:34.870, edging Lewis Hamilton of McLaren by a 10th of a second. The race was held overnight.

Brewers 6, Cubs 0

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Times wires
Saturday, April 9, 2011

Brewers 6, Cubs 0

MILWAUKEE — Prince Fielder drove in four runs with a career-high three doubles and Chris Narveson pitched seven shutout innings to run his scoreless streak to 13 innings over his first two starts. Fielder, who is 8-for-14 with a homer and nine RBIs in his past four games, doubled in his first three at-bats against ex-Rays pitcher Matt Garza as Milwaukee built a 5-0 lead. Fielder started the season 3-for-17 without driving in a run.

Dodgers 4, Padres 2, 11 innings

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Times wires
Saturday, April 9, 2011

Dodgers 4, Padres 2

Game 1, 11 innings

SAN DIEGO — Tony Gwynn singled in the go-ahead run in a game that was suspended Friday night after four rain delays.

Tampa Bay Rays: Damon's hitting accomplishment, passing Manny; Maddon wonders about nonworking showers in Red Sox visiting clubhouse

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, April 9, 2011

The dish

Rays at White Sox

When/where: 2:10 today; U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago

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

Probable pitchers:

Rays: RH Jeff Niemann (0-1, 7.50)

WHITE Sox: RH Gavin Floyd (0-0, 5.14)

Watch for …

Standing tall: Niemann got off to a shaky start in his season debut but made an adjustment and got better as the game went on. He is 2-2, 3.55 in four starts against the Sox.

Sleepy Floyd: A resident of Palm Harbor, Floyd is typically a slow starter with a 6.42 April ERA. He is 2-1, 3.43 against the Rays plus a loss in Game 4 of the 2008 AL division series.

Key matchups

Rays vs. Floyd

Johnny Damon10-for-15, HR

Casey Kotchman 2-for-12

Ben Zobrist 3-for-9, 2 HR

Sox vs. Niemann

Gordon Beckham4-for-6

Paul Konerko 2-for-12

A.J. Pierzynski 5-for-11

On deck

Monday: at Red Sox, 7:10, Sun Sports, ESPN. Rays — Jeremy Hellickson (0-1, 4.76); Red Sox — Diasuke Matsuzaka (0-1, 5.40)

Tuesday: at Red Sox, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (0-2, 4.85); Red Sox — Jon Lester (0-0, 3.65)

Wednesday: at Red Sox, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — James Shields (0-1, 4.72); Red Sox — John Lackey (1-1, 15.58)

Thursday: vs. Twins, 6:40, Sun Sports. Rays — Wade Davis (0-2, 4.38); Twins — TBA

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

Accomplishment of the day

With his third-inning single, LF Johnny Damon, right, moved into a tie for 72nd all time with hit No. 2,574, matching Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn and a recently retired guy named Manny Ramirez. Next up for Damon: Ernie Banks at 2,583. Damon is also now fifth among active players.

Plumbing note of the day

Hearing that the showers in the Fenway Park visiting clubhouse were broken after Friday's Yanks-Red Sox game, manager Joe Maddon wondered if it might be on ongoing issue. "I'm hoping that by the time we do arrive there (on Monday) that it will be taken care of," he said. "I could understand the myriad different ways that the Red Sox attempt to win or annoy you at different times. So I have no idea where that plumbing problem came from, but I thought it was kind of interesting."

Rockies 6, Pirates 4

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Times wires
Saturday, April 9, 2011

Rockies 6, Pirates 4

PITTSBURGH — Ty Wigginton hit a tiebreaking, three-run double in the eighth to keep the Rockies atop the NL West four straight days for the first time since 2006. At 5-2, the Rockies have tied the 1998 team for the second-best start in franchise history.

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