Times wires
Sunday, April 10, 2011

Angels 3, Blue Jays 1

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Jered Weaver struck out a career-high 15 for the Angels, who took two of three. Weaver struck out Jose Bautista, last year's major-league home run leader, with two on and one out in the eighth, on his 125th and final pitch. Weaver, whose 233 strikeouts led the majors last year, became the first Angels pitcher with 15 in a game since Chuck Finley in a 10-0 win over the Yankees on May 23, 1995. He beat the Blue Jays for the fifth consecutive time and is 7-1 with a 2.68 ERA against them.

Times wires
Sunday, April 10, 2011

Brewers 6, Cubs 5

MILWAUKEE — Casey McGehee's pinch-hit two-run homer in the eighth lifted the Brewers, who have won five of six after an 0-4 start. Milwaukee's Prince Fielder, who hit a two-run homer in the first, is 11-for-18 with two homers and 11 RBIs over his past four games after starting 3-for-17 with no RBIs.

Times wires
Sunday, April 10, 2011

Astros 7, Marlins 1

HOUSTON — J.A. Happ pitched into the eighth and hit a two-run double for the Astros. Houston avoided a sweep and earned its second win by getting a season-high 16 hits. Happ's fourth-inning shot down the leftfield line came off Anibal Sanchez, who entered with a 1.54 ERA in two starts in Houston and lost for the first time in six starts against the Astros.

Times wires
Sunday, April 10, 2011

Rockies 6, Pirates 5

PITTSBURGH — Seth Smith's bases-loaded walk in the seventh scored the go-ahead run for the Rockies, who took three of four in their first road series. Jose Lopez hit a three-run homer in the first for Colorado, which lost its last eight road games of 2010. It also has been in first for five straight days for the first time since 2006.

Times wires
Sunday, April 10, 2011

Nationals 7, Mets 3

11 innings

NEW YORK — Ivan Rodriguez hit a tiebreaking single and Laynce Nix a three-run homer in the 11th for the Nationals, who took two of three to finish the road trip 3-3. Mets rightfielder Lucas Duda misplayed a fly ball to lead off the eighth, when Washington scored two to tie, and was sent to Triple A.

Times wires
Sunday, April 10, 2011

Athletics 5, Twins 3

MINNEAPOLIS — Hideki Matsui hit his first homer of the season for the A's, who took two of three. Oakland entered having scored 24 runs (four over their past four games), ahead of only the Twins (21) and Rays (19) in the AL. Matsui, who entered hitting .160, homered in the fourth. And the A's scored four in the sixth, highlighted by Josh Willingham's leadoff homer.

Houston AB R H BI BB SO Avg.

Bourn cf 3 1 1 0 1 2 .211

Bourgeois cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 .333

Ang.Sanchez ss 3 1 1 0 2 1 .333

Pence rf 4 0 0 0 1 2 .300

Ca.Lee lf 3 1 0 0 1 1 .222

Hall 2b 4 0 1 0 0 3 .105

Wallace 1b 3 1 0 1 1 1 .111

C.Johnson 3b 4 0 1 2 0 0 .222

Towles c 4 0 1 1 0 1 .250

Figueroa p 3 0 2 0 0 0 .667

M.Downs ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 .000

Totals 33 4 7 4 6 12

Cincinnati AB R H BI BB SO Avg.

Stubbs cf 5 1 1 1 0 2 .381

Phillips 2b 4 3 3 1 1 0 .450

Votto 1b 4 2 2 1 1 0 .389

Rolen 3b 4 1 1 3 0 0 .200

Renteria ph-2b 1 0 1 1 0 0 .250

Bruce rf 5 2 2 1 0 1 .278

Heisey lf 4 1 0 1 1 1 .250

R.Hernandez c 5 0 1 0 0 0 .357

Janish ss 5 1 3 2 0 0 .444

Volquez p 2 0 0 0 0 1 .000

Cairo ph 1 1 0 0 0 0 .250

J.Francisco ph-3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 .250

Totals 41 12 14 11 3 5

Houston 400 000 000— 4 7 5

Cincinnati 015 004 02x— 12 14 0

E—Figueroa (1), Ang.Sanchez 2 (3), Towles (1), C.Johnson (1). LOB—Hou. 8, Cin. 8. 2B—Bourn (2), Phillips (1), Votto (2), Rolen (2). SB—Bourn (1), Ang.Sanchez (1), Bruce (2), Heisey (1), Janish (1). RISP—Hou. 5; Cin. 4. DP—Hou. 2; Cin. 1.

Houston IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA

Figueroa L, 0-1 5L 11 10 6 1 2 86 10.13

Abad L 1 0 0 0 1 19 0.00

Melancon 1L 0 0 0 0 2 12 0.00

Del Rosario 1 2 2 2 2 0 24 6.75

Cincinnati IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA

Volquez W, 1-0 5 5 4 4 5 8 99 7.36

Ondrusek H, 1 1 1 0 0 0 2 13 0.00

Chapman 1 1 0 0 1 0 23 0.00

Bray 1 0 0 0 0 1 13 0.00

Cordero 1 0 0 0 0 1 19 4.50

T—3:12. A—17,719 (42,319).

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, April 10, 2011

He said it

"Do I think our team is ready to run through four runs and win a Stanley Cup? No, but you never know what happens. You watch what happened with Philly last year."

John Tortorella, Rangers coach, not exactly pumping up his team with confidence after it qualified for the playoffs thanks to the Lightning's victory Saturday night against Carolina

He wrote it

It's taken only one week to be convinced we need a mulligan on the Tampa Bay Rays finishing second behind the Yankees in the AL East and winning the wild card. Greatly underestimated was the impact Carl Crawford's free-agency departure would have on the Rays' offense. Other than Evan Longoria (who's out for the foreseeable future with a strained oblique), there's no one in the Rays' lineup to fear.

Bill Madden, New York Daily News

Number of the day

20 Consecutive postseason appearances by the NHL's Detroit Red Wings, the longest current streak of the four major sports. The next longest active streak belongs to the San Antonio Spurs, headed to the NBA playoffs for the 14th straight season.

Times wires
Sunday, April 10, 2011

Rangers 3, Orioles 0

BALTIMORE — Adrian Beltre and Ian Kinsler homered for the Rangers. Texas took two of three in the matchup of first-place teams to improve to 8-1, matching the best start in franchise history (1989). It also was the Rangers' third consecutive series win to start the season. The only other seasons they opened with more than two straight series wins were 1989 (five) and 1993 (four).

Times wires
Sunday, April 10, 2011

Indians 6, Mariners 4

SEATTLE — Asdrubal Cabrera had three hits, including a homer, as the Indians won their seventh straight and the Mariners lost their seventh straight. Cleveland's 7-2 start is its best since 8-1 in 2002. Cabrera's second homer of the series made it 1-0 in the first. And after two-out doubles by Lou Marson and Michael Brantley in the second, Cabrera's single made it 4-0.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, April 10, 2011

The dish

Rays at Red Sox

When/where: 7:10 tonight, Fenway Park, Boston

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

Starting pitchers:

Rays: RH Jeremy Hellickson (0-1, 4.76)

Red Sox: RH Daisuke Matsuzaka (0-1, 5.40)

Watch for ...

Jeremy's journey: Hellickson makes his first start at Fenway, having been hit around in a mopup appearance in September. He is looking to make more use of his fastball tonight than in his first start.

Dicey Dice-K: Matsuzaka has been something of a bust. And the Rays usually have had their way with him, given his 2-6, 5.09 mark in 12 starts against them, including 70 hits and 38 walks in 69 innings.

Key matchups

Rays vs. Matsuzaka

Johnny Damon 5-for-18 HR

B.J. Upton 2-for-15 HR

Ben Zobrist 4-for-12 HR

Red Sox vs. Hellickson

Jed Lowrie 1-for-1

Darnell McDonald 1-for-1

Jarrod Saltalamacchia 1-for-1

On deck

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 — Carl Pavano (1-1, 6.00)

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

Keepsake of the day

Johnny Damon asked for and got the ball from the sixth-inning single that gave him 72nd place on the hits list. Hit No. 2,575 broke a tie with Richie Ashburn and former teammate Manny Ramirez. "It meant a lot passing Manny because he was such a force in this game," Damon said. "And that's probably all I'll catch him in."

Quote of the day

"A lot of things happen in Chicago. It's historical here. It goes back to the Roaring '20s, and it's in the present day."

manager Joe Maddon, on having a bad call go against the Rays be a major issue for the second time at U.S. Cellular Field in four seasons

Play the 1-4

For the fifth time in nine games, the Rays totaled exactly one run and four hits:

• No team since 1919 has had five games of exactly 1 and 4 among its first nine.

• Only one other team, the 2003 Tigers, has had five games of four or fewer hits and one or fewer runs among its first nine.

• The most 1-and-4 games for any team in a season is 12, by the 1968 White Sox.

• The Rays have had more 1-and-4 games in only one other season, six in 2001.

Number of the day

4: Pitches Rays batters saw during the ninth inning

Times wires
Sunday, April 10, 2011

Padres 7, Dodgers 2

SAN DIEGO — Ryan Ludwick broke out of a slump with a homer for the Padres, who avoided a sweep. Ludwick was 2-for-23 this year before putting San Diego up 2-1 with a leadoff shot in the fourth. In the sixth, Ludwick drew a two-out walk and Nick Hundley followed with a homer that made it 4-1. Hundley has hit safely in all seven games he has played this season.

Times wires
Sunday, April 10, 2011

Diamondbacks 10, Reds 8

PHOENIX — Chris Young's tiebreaking three-run homer in the seventh lifted the Diamondbacks, who took two of three. The centerfielder also ran down Scott Rolen's shot to right-center in the ninth with runners on first and third and no outs, limiting it to a sacrifice fly.

Times wires
Sunday, April 10, 2011

FORT WORTH, Texas — Matt Kenseth finally has that contending feeling again after a long-awaited return to Victory Lane.

"You keep working as hard as you can at it," the former Sprint Cup champion said after breaking a two-year, 76-race NASCAR Sprint Cup winless streak Saturday with a dominating run at Texas. "It gives you a lot of confidence, and it's a big relief."

For the first time since opening the 2009 season with consecutive victories at Daytona and California, Kenseth was a winner again in the Samsug Mobile 500 after leading 169 of 334 laps in his No. 17 Ford. He fronted an impressive showing by Roush Fenway Racing, which had its four drivers in the top seven.

Still, it was special for Kenseth to hold the unique trophy and fire off the six-shooters that are part of the postrace celebration at Texas Motor Speedway.

"I can't say how proud I am to be here with Matt, realizing that he's not gotten the success that his effort has deserved in the recent past," car owner Jack Roush said.

"Although we would like to win, that is pretty cool to see Matt in Victory Lane," said teammate Carl Edwards, who finished third and took the points lead.

Despite those two opening wins in 2009, Kenseth missed the 12-driver Chase for the Championship for the first time. He got back into the Chase last season and was fifth in points.

This season Kenseth, 39, led only five laps in the first six races, but the Wisconsin native got to Texas coming off three consecutive finishes in the top six and had been in the top 12 for every race but the Daytona 500.

"I felt better the last six months. Everything's been looking up. Certainly the previous 12 months before that were frustrating for me," said Kenseth, the 2003 Cup champion. "It's been a long time, and we've had a lot of fun going to the racetrack here the last two months the last year, and the first part of this year. It feels like we're back into a contending form."

Times wires
Sunday, April 10, 2011

TAMPA — Yankees RHP Mark Prior pitched on consecutive days for the first time Sunday as he tries to become a reliever in his comeback.

Playing for Class A Tampa, Prior threw a scoreless inning, walking one, a day after striking out one in a scoreless inning.

"It was a step forward," said Prior, whose fastball reached 91 mph in both games and averaged about 90. "My arm feels fine."

His next appearance has not been determined.

Prior, 30, the second overall pick by the Cubs in 2001, has struggled with shoulder injuries and made his last major-league appearance in August 2006. In 2003, he went 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA in 30 starts for Cubs.

A-Rod out: Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez sat with the flu.

Buchholz deal: Red Sox RHP Clay Buchholz agreed to a four-year extension that includes club options for 2016 and 2017. Financial terms were not disclosed. Last year, his third full one, Buchholz, 26, went 17-7, and his 2.33 ERA was second in the AL. Overall, he's 29-23 with a 3.77 ERA.

Angels: SS Erick Aybar went on the DL with a strained oblique. The move is retroactive to April 3, so he is eligible to return April 18.

Dodgers: SS Rafael Furcal sat with a sore left wrist but was available to play defense. Also, C Hector Gimenez went on the DL with right knee inflammation.

Marlins: SS Hanley Ramirez, out since Friday with a bruised left shin sustained on a takeout slide by Houston's Bill Hall, is expected to return Tuesday.

Mets: C Ronny Paulino went on the DL one day after completing a 50-game suspension. Paulino was suspended with 42 games left last season while with the Marlins after testing positive for a banned substance. He has had anemia, a drop in the number of oxygen-carrying red blood cells. GM Sandy Alderson said Paulino is getting better and expects him back when eligible April 26.

Nationals: 3B Ryan Zimmerman sat with a strained abdominal and is day to day.

Rockies: LF Carlos Gonzalez didn't start because of the flu but pinch-hit in the ninth.

Times wires
Sunday, April 10, 2011

HORSES

UNCLE MO, Trainer begin to regroup

Suddenly, the Kentucky Derby picture is not so clear.

Uncle Mo, who was expected to enter the May 7 race an undefeated favorite, finished third behind longshot Toby's Corner at Saturday's Wood Memorial in New York.

"I went into (Saturday) thinking Uncle Mo was a standout; today it is a very wide-open crop," trainer Todd Pletcher said Sunday, a day after Uncle Mo faded badly in the stretch.

"The horse has been the big talked-about star and they kind of got to babying him a little bit," said rival trainer Bob Baffert, who has three Derby candidates: Santa Anita Derby winner Midnight Interlude, Jaycito and The Factor.

Pletcher said Uncle Mo came out of the race in sound condition. He stepped on himself and injured the back of his hoof, although the trainer described it as "very minor and insignificant." Uncle Mo will arrive at Churchill Downs on April 18.

"We'll see if we can get him prepared to step up," Pletcher said. "It was not a typical Uncle Mo performance, but I do not feel like the mile and an eighth was an issue."

Baffert noted that Secretariat was upset in the Wood but came back to win the Triple Crown in 1973.

"I think (Uncle Mo) just got tired. Sometimes a horse needs a gut-wrencher like that," he said. "I still think he's a very good horse, and he probably got a lot out of that race."

Swimming

Phelps falls in two grand prix finals

American Michael Phelps had a disappointing finish in the Michigan Grand Prix, placing second in the 200 individual medley and 100 freestyle.

"I hate losing, no matter what event, no matter how out of shape, tired, broken down," said Phelps, who won three events at the Ann Arbor meet after taking five last month in Indianapolis.

The 14-time Olympic gold medalist led the 200 IM with 50 meters remaining but was passed by Ous Mellouli, who finished in a pool-record 1 minute, 59.42 seconds. Phelps finished in 1:59.63. It was Phelps' first loss in the event since 2002.

Brazilian Cesar Cielo Fillho (49.12) beat Phelps (49.48) in the 100 freestyle. Phelps said he'll be fueled by comments from fellow competitors over the weekend: "It's good. It's what I need."

Tennis

Wozniacki rolls to Family Circle crown

Caroline Wozniacki won her first claycourt tournament of the season at the Family Circle Cup, but that didn't keep the world's No. 1 women's player from looking ahead to a major prize — the French Open.

Wozniacki ended a satisfying week in Charleston, S.C., with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Elena Vesnina.

"I feel confident and I know I can win a (Grand) Slam" tournament, said Wozniacki, who lost only one set in her five matches.

U.S. Clay Court: Ryan Sweeting held off Japan's Kei Nishikori 6-4 7-6 (7-3) in Houston for his first ATP World Tour title.

Soccer

Arsenal to become 5th American-run EPL team

American Stan Kroenke is set to take control of Arsenal of the English Premier League, the Associated Press reported, saying the investor plans to raise his holding from under 30 percent to 62 percent. An announcement is expected today. Four other EPL clubs are owned by Americans — Bucs owner Malcolm Glazer at Manchester United, John Henry at Liverpool, Randy Lerner at Aston Villa and Ellis Short at Sunderland.

Et Cetera

Fishing: Davy Hite won the Alabama Charge in Florence with a four-day total of 84 pounds, 9 ounces for his eighth Bassmaster title.

Times wires

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, April 10, 2011

GAINESVILLE — Florida basketball players Cody Larson and Erik Murphy each face felony burglary charges stemming from their arrest early Sunday morning in St. Augustine. They have been released on bail.

Joshua Adel, who identified himself as a team manager, was charged with principal to burglary. He reportedly told police he was a lookout.

According to the police report, Larson and Murphy went into Scarlett O'Hara's Bar and Restaurant around 2 a.m. Sunday, claiming they had lost a wallet. Police said the men tried to get close to an employee who was counting money from the night.

Bouncers then told Larson and Murphy to leave. Moments later, according to the report, they saw the men breaking into a co-worker's car across the street. Murphy, a sophomore, was a reserve forward this past season. Larson was redshirted.

'Bama says it's fine: Alabama investigated its signing of football recruit Brent Calloway and found no wrongdoing, the Birmingham News reported. Calloway, a linebacker rated 38th on the Rivals.com list of the nation's top 100 recruits, committed to Auburn in January, then signed with the Crimson Tide weeks later. Allegations surfaced that an Alabama fan had given cash and gifts to Calloway.

GEORGIA: Senior tackle Trinton Sturdivant tore the ACL in his right knee Saturday.

BASKETBALL: Dave Rice was hired as coach at UNLV where he played and was an assistant.

Information from Times wires was used in this report.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, April 10, 2011

. UP NEXT

at Red Sox

Tonight-Wednesday

What's new: Former Rays LF Carl Crawford and RHP Dan Wheeler were just part of the Sox's offseason upgrade as they also brought in 1B Adrian Gonzalez and RHP Bobby Jenks. Plus, they are back to full health after seeing 3B Kevin Youkilis and 2B Dustin Pedroia miss time in 2010. They did lose C Victor Martinez. The Sox were considered the AL's best team — until they started playing, with a 1-7 mark going into Sunday night's game.

Key stat: The Rays are 58-for-66 stealing bases against the Sox the past two seasons. Of course, they had Crawford on their side.

Connections: Rays LF Johnny Damon is a former Sox star. … Boston hitting coach Dave Magadan is a Tampa product. … Third-base coach Tim Bogar was a Rays coach. … Crawford and Wheeler are former Rays.

Series history: Sox lead 135-88 overall, 77-34 at Fenway.

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

Times wires
Sunday, April 10, 2011

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Will Power sat down at the podium, smiled and said, "Good day."

The Australian meant it as a greeting, but he definitely had a good day.

Power started up front and never relinquished his spot, leading wire to wire to win the IndyCar Grand Prix of Alabama on Sunday and capture a race that escaped him last year.

Power stressed how much he wanted to win at Barber Motorsports Park after his pit strategy backfired and cost him the lead in 2010, when he finished fourth.

"We had such a good car (last year), and we didn't get it," Power said. "I was very determined to get it this weekend."

Power beat Scott Dixon by 3.38 seconds. Dario Franchitti, the two-time defending series champion and winner March 27 in St. Petersburg, was third on the 2.38-mile road course.

Power became the first IndyCar driver to stay up front for the distance since Franchitti did it at Sonoma in 2009.

IndyCar's second race since implementing double-file restarts on road courses helped produce six full-course cautions. Six drivers were knocked out of the race by contact, including Ryan Briscoe, Power's Team Penske teammate, who started second.

FORMULA ONE: Sebastian Vettel extended his perfect start to the season by winning the Malaysian Grand Prix in Kuala Lumpur for his second victory in two races.

The Red Bull driver started from the pole and only lost the lead temporarily during pit stops in beating McLaren's Jenson Button by 3.2 seconds.

"I love what I do, and I don't think I could be happier at this stage," said Vettel, the defending world champ.

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and McLaren's Lewis Hamilton collided in the closing laps, resulting in a 20-second penalty for both. Alonso retained sixth, but Hamilton dropped a spot to eighth.

EAST BAY RACEWAY: Bryan Bern­hardt won the Late Model feature late Saturday in Gibsonton.

Times wires
Sunday, April 10, 2011

Tweet of the day

"I am absolutely delighted for Charl and South Africa. Congratulations and very well done to him. That is how you finish like a champion!"

Gary Player, left, three-time Masters champion in a Twitter post about fellow South African Charl Schwartzel

Country of the day

Charl Schwartzel is the third South African to win the Masters, joining Gary Player (1961, 1974, 1978) and Trevor Immelman (2008). And Schwartzel's victory fell on the 50th anniversary of Player becoming the first international golfer to earn the coveted green jacket.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, April 10, 2011

CHICAGO — No matter how they look at it, seeing Carl Crawford standing in leftfield tonight in Boston's home whites will be a bit odd for the Rays.

But having seen him up close during his nine seasons with them, the Rays should figure to have some type of advantage as they meet, after four spring exhibitions, for the first time when it matters.

Knowing what to do won't mean anything, however, manager Joe Maddon said, if the Rays can't do it right.

"You can always set up the best game plan in the world, but then execution is a big part of that also," Maddon said. "We can think that he thinks that we think all we want to. But at the end of the day, we have to pitch it the right way. We have to be in the right spots on defense, and we have to do the right things when he's on base."

They will have their ideas, seeking to extend Crawford's slow start (.132, 5-for-38) at the beginning of his seven-year, $142 million deal.

"Carl, conversationally with me in the past, knows how I think and what I think about him, so he knows all that," Maddon said. "So that ought to be interesting."

Crawford said — well, actually wrote in his ESPNBoston.com diary — that he was glad to face the Rays in the spring so he had an idea what they would try to do to him. Before Sunday's game with the Yankees, he downplayed any significance to the first regular-season meeting.

"I got that stuff out of the way in spring training," he said. "It's just a game and a game we need to win. It'll be good to see those guys, but it's not going to be anything beyond that. I'm used to it now."

The Rays also could face former teammate Dan Wheeler, who is now in Boston's bullpen.

JOHNNY BE BAD: New Rays LF Johnny Damon has been back to Boston a dozen times since leaving the Red Sox a year after playing a key role on the 2004 reverse-the-curse championship team to sign with the Yankees, and he knows the reaction tonight will be the same as always.

"Oh, I get booed," he said. "They absolutely despise me. I just have to say, 'You're welcome for '04, you're welcome for making it fun again over there.' "

Damon might actually be booed louder because Manny Ramirez, who is even less "popular" in Boston, won't be with him. Still, Damon enjoys it.

"Boston's always going to be a special place for me," he said. "What we were able to accomplish there and everything was all great. I was really looking forward to going back there with Manny. But things happen in this game, and you have to make adjustments."

FELIPE'S FLIP: Maddon had strong words about INF Felipe Lopez flipping his bat toward the mound after homering Saturday, though Lopez claimed it was unintentional.

"That's not who we are. That's not how we play," Maddon said. "I'm not into the end zone demonstration that much. I think we've really morphed into this, I believe, very classy group over the last several years, and I want to maintain that kind of thought about us. I don't even want to say image — you think about the Rays, you think these guys handle themselves in a certain way."

Maddon was pleased to hear Lopez called White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen to apologize, and Maddon also planned to speak to Guillen as well as Lopez. Lopez did not play Sunday. The teams meet at the Trop next week.

DeJa VU: Sunday's controversial call — in which Dan Johnson was called safe then out at first — was the second to go against the Rays in Chicago. In 2008, with two of the same umpires, Doug Eddings and Dana DeMuth involved, an interference call on 3B Willy Aybar against Sox C A.J. Pierzynski led to Chicago scoring the winning run.

MISCELLANY: Maddon raved about RHP Andy Sonnanstine, who worked the final 51/3 innings in relief of Jeff Niemann, saving the rest of the bullpen. … C Kelly Shoppach threw out two Sox at second, ending the Rays' 0-for-11 streak against basestealers. … Maddon's ejection was his 17th. … RF Matt Joyce, back in the lineup after a day off, had two hits, one more than in his first seven games.