By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, March 25, 2012

PORT CHARLOTTE — Matt Bush is "not going to play for us" again, Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said Sunday, speaking for the first time about the minor-league pitcher's DUI hit-and-run arrest.

"We're all very surprised and saddened by what happened," Friedman said. "We're still a little numb to it."

Friedman said the ongoing criminal investigation, as well as other dynamics, make it difficult to make an official roster move.

Bush is in a Charlotte County jail with bond set for $1.015 million, having been arrested Thursday after fleeing the scene, police said, when a sports utility vehicle he was driving hit the motorcycle of 72-year-old Tony Tufano.

Tufano, in an intensive care unit at a Fort Myers hospital, has been downgraded to critical condition and is using a breathing tube, according to daughter-in-law Shannon Moore.

Bush, who has a suspended license, was driving teammate Brandon Guyer's SUV, NBC2-TV in Fort Myers reported Sunday night. Guyer, through the Rays, declined to comment.

"Our concerns, thoughts and prayers are with the Tufano family," Friedman said.

Friedman said the team had talked about setting Bush up in a rehab program, but that was only if he were out on bond. Friedman said he found out about the accident on Thursday while he was in his office and hasn't spoken to the 26-year-old player.

Neither has Bush's father, Daniel, who said his wife, Theresa, is in a critical care unit in a San Diego hospital after suffering an arachnoid aneurysm on Friday. Daniel said Theresa is stable and doing better, with the whole family concerned for Tufano.

"We just deeply regret what this has caused their family," Daniel Bush said. "It hurts everybody. Their family, our family, it's horrible. We're praying for them, we've got a lot of people praying for them at our church."

The Rays took a chance in signing Bush to a minor-league deal in 2010, with the former No. 1 overall pick already having nearly lost his career, and life, due to alcohol problems. But everything had been positive, Friedman said, which is why they were so stunned by the arrest.

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, March 25, 2012

tom jones' two cents

Tampa Bay Times staff writer Tom Jones looks back at the best and worst from a weekend of televised sports.

Worst language

Tiger Woods missed a par put on No. 14 during NBC's golf coverage of Bay Hill on Sunday and cameras quickly zoomed in on Woods' face — just in time and close enough that even novice lip readers could easily decipher Woods using the most infamous curse word twice. • Woods has a history of such vulgarity, but that doesn't excuse it. At the same time, NBC should have known that Woods has a history of vulgarity. Either way, it's a shame that at 5:30 in the afternoon on a Sunday, we (including kids) are exposed to this junk. I know, Woods isn't the only athlete out there who swears. But this is what I saw on Sunday, so that's why I bring it up.

Worst additions

I don't know when it happened, but there was a point in the past few years when one of the networks decided that the more people you had on a studio show, the better that show would be. Then all the networks jumped on that bandwagon.

Now look at it. Most network studio shows have at least four or five people clogging up the set. Just think of the shows — the Fox and CBS NFL shows, ESPN's College GameDay, ABC's NBA pregame show. Heck, the Sunday NFL Countdown on ESPN often has as many as a dozen hosts, analysts and reporters.

Now it has carried over to the CBS NCAA basketball tournament. Not only are there too many talking heads, half of them shouldn't even be there.

All season long, CBS had an outstanding studio show featuring host Greg Gumbel and analysts Seth Davis and Greg Anthony. But during the tournament, the show has added a coach (such as Villanova's Jay Wright and Kansas State's Frank Martin) as well as TNT NBA analysts Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith.

Think about it. These are the biggest, most-watched college basketball studio shows of the year and half the cast (a coach, Barkley and Smith) is made up of people who don't work on college broadcasts during the regular season. That just doesn't make sense.

Smith and Barkley have been so-so. (Smith has been better than Barkley.) But the more they talk, the less Anthony and Davis are able to talk. It just seems like you would want your most knowledgeable people to dominate the broadcast, not share it with people who are not as equipped as they are.

Best hustle

Most of us have no use for sideline reporters who do little more than ask a coach as he walks to the locker room at halftime, "Coach, what did you do right (wrong) in the first half? And what do you need to do better in the second half?''

But give CBS's Tracy Wolfson credit for hustling over to the Kentucky bench and giving a quick update when Anthony Davis, possibly the best player in the country, injured his knee during Sunday's game against Baylor.

Worst times

Sometimes it's easy to forget that there are other time zones and those of us in the eastern part of the country give little thought to the West Coast. While we enjoy watching games that come on at 7 p.m., we could not care less that most people out west are still at work because it's only 4 p.m.

Still, during last week's NCAA basketball tournament, the Kentucky-Indiana game, as well as the Ohio State-Cincinnati game didn't end until close to midnight. The Gators-Marquette game ended at 12:33 in the morning and it was a school/work night. True, there are times when games must start late so as not to exclude those who live west of the Mississippi, but it just doesn't make sense to have teams from the Eastern and Central time zones playing games so late at night.

Just another example of the NCAA not thinking or being flexible before making up their schedules.

Worst insult

Punk of the week goes to Houston Dynamo soccer player Colin Clark for using an expletive and, worse than that, a gay slur to insult a ball boy because the boy rolled the ball to him instead of throwing it during a Major League Soccer match Friday.

First off, who picks on a ball boy? But to use a gay slur? Inexcusable. The league needs to send a message with a serious suspension. Clark has apologized, but it was such a disgusting insult that it's disturbing Clark even thought it, let alone said it.

Maybe Clark's punishment will be knowing that no matter how hard he has worked to become a pro soccer player and no matter what he does, he always will be known as the jerk who used a gay slur to insult a little kid. Then again, he now has the opportunity to help make a change against intolerance.

Best announcing teams

This isn't meant to be a slam against CBS's top college hoops broadcasting team of Jim Nantz and Clark Kellogg, but after watching this past week's four regions, Nantz and Kellogg would be No. 4 on my list. Kevin Harlan-Reggie Miller (who called the Gators on Thursday and Saturday), Marv Albert-Steve Kerr and Verne Lundquist-Bill Raftery all were superb.

It's all just personal preference, but I'd rather have any of those three teams call the Final Four ahead of Nantz and Kellogg.

Having said that, boy did Harlan really mess up the final few moments of the Gators' loss to Louisville. Trailing by three, the Gators launched two 3-pointers and Harlan, on both shots, belted out "For the lead!''

Everyone loses track of the score sometimes and even though Harlan corrected himself after the fact, it was at a point in the game where you just have to know the score and the situation.

Best are-you-serious moment

Last week, Oklahoma City's Jason Smith, right, was suspended two games for a dangerous hard foul on Clippers superstar Blake Griffin, left. Asked on ESPNews Friday night if the two-game suspension was too light, ESPN NBA analyst Bruce Bowen said, "I thought it was light. … This is not what the game is about.''

I almost spit up the Dr Pepper I was drinking. This is the same Bruce Bowen who was considered one of the NBA's dirtiest players during his career. Twice he was fined and/or suspended for kicking players. He once kneed Steve Nash in the groin and had a history of dangerous fouls, such as undercutting players near the basket. Do a YouTube search sometime on "Bruce Bowen and dirty player.''

The best of the best

Best feature of the weekend: ABC's emotional look back at the death of St. Petersburg resident Dan Wheldon and what he still means to IndyCar. It ran just before Sunday's Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

Second-best feature: CBS's Road to the Final Four piece on Peyton Siva and how he has inspired his father to turn around his life.

Three things that popped into my head

1. Pet peeve when listening to an event on the radio: hearing an announcer say, "Look at that.'' I heard it three times this past weekend. It's radio! I cannot look at anything!

2. The Lightning's Steven Stamkos, left, needs eight goals in eight games to reach 60. I think he'll do it.

3. The PGA was just here. IndyCar was here all of last week and the Frozen Four is on the way. Pretty cool to be in Tampa Bay, don't you think?

Times wires
Sunday, March 25, 2012

RALEIGH, N.C. — Maryland's players didn't panic when they fell behind by 18 in the first half and trailed by 11 midway through the second. These Terrapins have proven they can come back from a sizable deficit, and it's a big reason why they're within a game of the Final Four.

Laurin Mincy had 21 points and a career-best 12 rebounds to help Maryland rally past defending national champion Texas A&M 81-74 Sunday in the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament's Raleigh Region.

Alyssa Thomas added 21 points and nine rebounds for the second-seeded Terps (31-4), who fought back and held the third-seeded Aggies (24-11) to one basket over the final 71/2 minutes.

"This team knows and has the confidence it can come back against anyone," Maryland coach Brenda Frese said.

The Terrapins rallied from 20 down early in the second half to beat Georgia Tech in January, then overcame a 10-point deficit in the first half to beat the Yellow Jackets on the road a month later. They also came back from 12 down in the first half to top Duke in February and trailed Louisville by nine in the first half of their previous NCAA game.

The Terrapins have won 10 straight and 13 of 14.

"I do feel this group has all the intangibles to be able to win it all," Frese said. "It's a team that genuinely cares about each other, has each other's back and is really selfless. They don't care who receives the attention. It's very similar to the team that we had in 2006."

NOTRE DAME 79, ST. BONAVENTURE 35: Natalie Novosel scored 16 and the top-seeded Irish advanced to the Raleigh Region final. Notre Dame (33-3) shot 52.5 percent, never trailed and led by 45 before matching a 22-year-old record for scoring margin at the region stage while cruising into the region finals for the second straight year.

The Irish are motivated by their loss in the national title game last year.

"This is a really competitive group," coach Muffet McGraw said. "When you go down through the team, you kind of realize that they're all the type of player that just hates to lose. So when we lost the last game last year, I think the whole summer workout for them was about getting back, and kind of had that motivation, that extra motivation, to try to get back to that."

The fifth-seeded Bonnies (31-4) shot a season-worst 19 percent, allowed a season high for points and committed a season-worst 21 turnovers.

Kingston, R.I., Region

UCONN 77, PENN ST. 59: Bria Hartley scored 20, Kelly Faris added 15 and the No. 1 seed Huskies (32-4) advanced to the region finals for the seventh straight season.

"We wanted to make sure that this was a team thing more than looking around for someone to have a big night," coach Geno Auriemma said. "The team would have to play great defense and the team would have to execute offensively. I was really happy after the game to sit back and say that's exactly what it was."

UConn's stellar defense stymied the fourth-seeded Nittany Lions (26-7), who averaged 87.5 points in the first two games of the region.

KENTUCKY 79, GONZAGA 62: Keyla Snowden made five 3s, hitting two to turn back the Bulldogs' last charge and lift the second-seeded Wildcats (28-6) to their second region final trip in three years. Snowden had 17 points and hit 5 of 9 3-pointers and Samarie Walker scored 16 with 12 rebounds for Kentucky. Kayla Standish scored 25 for No. 11 seed Gonzaga (28-6).

Late Saturday

STANFORD 76, S.C. 60: Nnemkadi Ogwumike had 39 points and 10 rebounds for the top-seeded Cardinal (34-1) in Fresno, Calif. Markeshia Grant scored 14 and hit four 3-pointers for the fifth-seeded Gamecocks (25-10).

Times wires
Sunday, March 25, 2012

ST. LOUIS — Kendall Marshall figures he would have been ready for the Final Four. Now that North Carolina's season is over, though, the injured point guard won't get the chance to find out.

"There was no doubt in my mind that once we won this game I was going to be ready to go next weekend," Marshall said after the Tar Heels' 80-67 loss to Kansas in the Midwest Region final Sunday. "But Kansas is going to the Final Four."

Marshall was in street clothes for the second straight game, his broken right wrist wrapped in a brace. He was sorely missed.

"You hate it for that kid," North Carolina coach Roy Williams said. "You hate it for the program, you hate it for the team."

The sophomore shut himself down because there was too much pain to catch a pass.

"It wasn't a toughness factor," he said. "If probably I had three or four days maybe it would have been closer. Even if I tried to play I wouldn't have been able to be effective."

Still, he blamed himself for the loss.

"It hurts," Marshall said. "I feel like I let my team down."

DODGING A BULLET: Top-seeded Kentucky got a scare when freshman star Anthony Davis went down with an injured left knee during the South Region win over Baylor.

The Wildcats were cruising when Davis banged knees with Baylor's Perry Jones III on a drive to the basket early in the second half.

Davis, who leads the nation in blocks, stayed down along the baseline, holding his knee and writhing in pain. He finally got up and limped to the bench, where the knee was stretched out and rubbed with an ointment by a trainer.

Kentucky fans held their breath, then let out a big cheer when Davis checked back into the game, having been out for only a couple of minutes.

"Knee is doing fine," Davis said after the game. "I just bumped knees with Perry Jones, and it started hurting real bad. But I knew my team needed me to play. I wasn't going to sit out."

UCONN WAITS: Connecticut should learn whether it's eligible to play in the 2013 NCAA Tournament within a week to 10 days, NCAA president Mark Emmert told ESPN.com.

The deadline for the Huskies to submit their appeal to the NCAA's Committee on Academic Performance is today, Emmert said. But a UConn official told ESPN.com that the Huskies sent in the final appeal within the past two weeks.

UConn is the first high-profile school to receive a postseason ban due to a poor academic performance.

ELSEWHERE: Former UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian's condition has improved considerably since he suffered a mild heart attack Tuesday, family members said. Son Danny Tarkanian said his 81-year-old father was moved from intensive care to a regular room at Mountainview Hospital in Las Vegas because he's "doing a lot better."… Butler coach Brad Stevens said he is staying with the Bulldogs. Stevens said in a statement that he is already looking forward to next season. … Mississippi coach Andy Kennedy released a statement saying he has had "no discussions" about the coaching position at Alabama-Birmingham.

Times wires
Sunday, March 25, 2012

FONTANA, Calif. — When dark clouds obscured majestic Mount Baldy north of Auto Club Speedway early in Sunday's race, NASCAR's drivers knew they probably were in for a short day.

Nobody did a better job racing until the raindrops fell than Tony Stewart.

Stewart got his second Sprint Cup victory of the season when rain shortened the Auto Club 400 race by 71 laps, extending the defending series champion's strong run.

"You hate to have it end with rain like that," Stewart said. "But we've lost some that way, and we didn't back into the lead."

Stewart and crew chief Steve Addington didn't mention the rain to each other until a few moments before it began falling at one end of the 2-mile oval. But they already had done the work necessary to win. Stewart passed Busch 44 laps before the race, run without cautions to that point, was stopped.

"Playing to the weather, everybody is trying to get everything they can get toward the midway point of that race," Stewart said.

Stewart has won seven of the past 15 races, including Las Vegas on March 11. And after finishing 16th in the opener at Daytona, he has risen to fourth in the points.

"It's been nice to get off to a good start this year the way we have," Stewart said. "The history shows the last 13 years, we haven't had the strongest start the first third of the year. But I'm really excited about the start we've got going.

"Daytona was probably our weakest race. I know I made decisions trying to make things happen, and it didn't work out. I'm really proud of what Steve and all our guys have done."

Kyle Busch finished second, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. third.

Defending race winner Kevin Harvick was fourth and Carl Edwards fifth. Greg Biffle, Edwards' Roush Fenway Racing teammate, finished sixth and maintained a seven-point lead on Harvick atop the standings.

"We had a great race car there from the start of the race," said Busch, who started second alongside teammate Denny Hamlin and took the lead on the second lap. "We led a lot of laps. I just wish we led 30 more."

A few drivers weren't happy when the race was called after a delay of just more than 30 minutes and with about five hours of daylight left. The forecasts, though, suggested the rain wouldn't end soon.

"Never seen a race called at 2pm before," Hamlin tweeted. "1st time for everything. Strong weekend."

Jimmie Johnson, however, didn't mind.

He was 10th when the caution came out. He elected to pit, getting four tires and fuel. But moments after getting back on the track, his car started spitting smoke.

With no idea what was wrong, crew chief Chad Knaus told Johnson to keep dripping oil on the track so he could keep his position if the race was red-flagged. The strategy worked. And as a result, the five-time series champ earned his 10th consecutive top-10 finish at the track.

"Either a piece of debris hit an oil line and knocked the fitting off or split the line," Johnson said. "I was just idling along, and my friends pulled up alongside and said, 'You're smoking.' "

Times wires
Sunday, March 25, 2012

ST. LOUIS — In December, Kansas was scuffling along at 7-3 and simply making the NCAA Tournament would have been considered an achievement.

Look where the overachievers are headed now.

Kansas is on its way to the Final Four for the first time since winning it all in 2008, thanks to a clutch performance by Tyshawn Taylor, some stifling defense and the Jayhawks' unshakable belief that they were better than anyone gave them credit for.

Taylor broke out of his scoring slump with 22 points and the Jayhawks handcuffed top-seeded North Carolina for the last 5½ minutes of an 80-67 victory over old coach Roy Williams and the Tar Heels on Sunday in the Midwest Region final.

"This would have been a year, if we got to the second weekend (of the tournament), most Kansas fans would be happy. But that's not how those guys think," coach Bill Self said. "They think this is their year, and I'm certainly not going to tell them anything different."

The second-seeded Jayhawks (31-6) play Ohio State on Saturday in their first Final Four appearance since winning the 2008 national championship.

As the game ended, Taylor — under fire for poor shooting during the first three tournament games — ran to Kansas fans and raised both arms. Travis Releford tossed his sweatbands into the crowd.

All the Jayhawks starters scored in double figures. Thomas Robinson added 18 points and nine rebounds, and Elijah Johnson kept up his blistering pace with 10 points, including a 3 with 3:07 left that sparked Kansas' game-ending 12-0 run. Jeff Withey made two monster blocks to deny the Tar Heels during the run, one that set up a big three-point play by Taylor.

Taylor came up with the rebound after Withey swatted away a shot by John Henson, the former Sickles High standout, and streaked downcourt for a layup, getting fouled by Stilman White. To a roar from Kansas fans, Taylor butted his head into Robinson's chest then made the free throw to give Kansas a 74-67 lead with 1:59 left.

Withey blocked White's shot, and UNC (32-6) never threatened again. "There's no way to put into words the way we feel," Williams said. "It's the NCAA Tournament. One team wins and one team loses, and that's what we have to understand."

It was the fifth Kansas-UNC matchup in the tournament with the winner of the previous four going on to win the national title. Kansas is 4-0 vs. No. 1 seeds in region finals, matching Duke for the most such wins, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Times wires
Sunday, March 25, 2012

ORLANDO — His ball safely over the water, Tiger Woods walked toward the 18th green Sunday as he had done over the past 30 months on the PGA Tour, with one big difference.

There was no mistaking that smile.

"Pure joy," he said.

Woods finally brought the buzz back to the thing that made him famous: winning.

Two weeks after another injury scare, Woods looked dominant as ever to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. It was his first tour victory since a sex scandal at the end of 2009 turned his life — including his game — upside down.

Woods closed with 2-under 70 and won by five shots, with 13-under 275, over Graeme McDowell.

"I think he really just kind of nailed home his comeback," McDowell said. "Great to have a front-row seat watching maybe the greatest of all time doing what he does best, winning golf tournaments."

Kneeling to look at his line as he waited his turn to putt on the 18th, Woods tapped his putter on the ground and could barely contain a grin, knowing the longest tour drought of his career, 26 tournaments, was about to end. When he tapped in for par, he clenched a fist, screamed out, "Yeah!" and hugged his caddie, Joe LaCava.

"He was a man on a mission (Sunday)," LaCava said. "He was pretty jacked up. He was out there to prove himself."

Walking off the green, Woods extended his black cap for a sweeping wave toward the gallery.

"It's not like winning a major championship or anything," Woods said. "But it certainly feels really good."

Two weeks ago, Woods was taken off the course at the Cadillac Championship at Doral in the final round with tightness in his left Achilles tendon, the injury that caused him to miss three months last year, including two majors. It turned out to be a mild strain, and Sunday was the eighth straight day that Woods played golf, starting with a practice round the previous Sunday at Augusta.

Woods downplayed the significance of his win, pointing out on more than once he considers it his second win since the scandal. He counts the Chevron World Challenge in December, when he went birdie-birdie to beat an 18-man field of top-50 players.

But Woods won against a full field for the first time since the Australian Masters on Nov. 15, 2009, and with a performance so clean that he was never seriously challenged on the back nine.

"I've gotten better, and that's the main thing," he said. "I've been close for a number of tournaments now. And it was just a matter of staying the course and staying patient, keeping working on fine-tuning what we're doing. And here we are."

Woods goes to No. 6 in the world rankings, returning to the top 10 for the first time since May 22.

"Heading home now and I can't stop smiling," Woods said on Twitter about three hours after his win. "Thanks to Otown fans and everyone watching for all the love."

McDowell made a 45-foot birdie putt and a 50-foot eagle putt early in the round to try to stay close, but he was never closer than two shots after starting with double bogey. He closed with 74. Ian Poulter (74) was third at 6 under.

Ernie Els failed in his bid to get into the Masters next month. This was the final week for players to get in by being in the world ranking's top 50. Els needed a two-way tie for second to crack it. Instead, he shot 75, tied for fourth and moved up only four spots, to No. 58. He has to win the Houston Open next weekend to avoid missing the Masters for the first time since 1993.

LPGA: Top-ranked Yani Tseng won the Kia Classic at Carlsbad, Calif., for her second straight tour title and third in five events this year. She closed with 2-under 70 for a six-stroke win over Sun Young Yoo (71) at 14-under 274. Tseng, 23, became the second-youngest player to reach 15 tour wins. Nancy Lopez was 22 when she did it in 1979. Seminole's Brittany Lincicome shot 71 and finished at 3 under.

champions: Fred Couples made an 8-foot birdie putt on the final hole to win the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic at Saucier over Michael Allen. Couples, who started the day tied for the lead with Jeff Sluman, shot 3-under 69 for 14-under 202. Allen shot 66. Sluman (73) finished four back.

europe: Michael Hoey shot 7-under 65 to win the Hassan II Trophy by three strokes, ending Matteo Manassero's bid to qualify for the Masters. Hoey totaled 17-under 271 at Agadir, Morocco. Manassero, 18, needed to win to enter the world top 50 to make the Masters. He shot 72 for 276.

.Fast facts

Tiger Time again

Facts and figures from Tiger Woods' win Sunday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

• Woods's last PGA Tour win before Sunday came at the 2009 BMW Championship (September), his last official worldwide win at the 2009 Australian Masters (November).

• Woods snapped a streak of 26 official tour events and 30 official worldwide events without a win.

• Since Woods' last tour win, there had been 71 different winners and 37 first-time winners. Steve Stricker had the most wins of any player, five.

• Woods' 72 tour wins are third all time. Jack Nicklaus has 73.

• Woods won the Palmer event for a seventh time, matching his most wins in any tour event.

• Woods' seven Palmer wins are one shy of the most by anybody in one tour event since 1920. Sam Snead had eight wins at the Greater Greensboro Open.

Source: ESPN Stats and Info

Times wires
Sunday, March 25, 2012

PALM BEACH — Tim Tebow will be introduced at noon today (ESPN) as the Jets' backup quarterback to Mark Sanchez at the team's Florham Park, N.J., training facility. But the way Rex Ryan sounded Sunday at the owners meetings, Tebow will be more than just the No. 2 passer.

Sure, he'll be the wildcat quarterback, as the Jets have indicated. But he might do more than that, according to Ryan. Running back? Tight end? H-back? Wide receiver?

"We'll see," a smiling Ryan said. He won't be at Tebow's news conference, which will be in the team's fieldhouse because of the expected media crush. "The thing about him is he is smart, athletic, tough and an unbelievably great competitor.

"Tim is a guy that can really help us. He is a quarterback, no question he's a quarterback, but his skills I see as a football player, that gets me excited."

There is speculation that Tebow's acquisition was a marketing ploy in response to the Giants winning Super Bowl XLVI. Ryan and Jets owner Woody Johnson said it was simply adding a talented player.

"We work for the fans, and the fans want us to win games," Johnson said.

Giants co-owner John Mara took a shot at the Jets earlier in the day when asked if New York was big enough for the Giants and Tim Tebow. "I don't know," Mara said, "but the David Carr press conference is (today), too."

Carr, Eli Manning's backup, re-signed last week. There will be no news conference for him.

Ryan said Tebow's presence wouldn't hurt Sanchez's confidence, even though Tebow wants to be a full-time quarterback.

"I think Mark is an extremely confident guy," Ryan said. "What he understands is we're bringing in a football player and a guy that's going to help us, and that's all we care about. We care about winning, and Mark is the same way."

Asked if he would consider a change if Sanchez struggled, Ryan didn't dismiss the idea.

arbitration sought: The Redskins and Cowboys have sought arbitration after the NFL reduced their salary caps for the next two seasons. A provision in the new collective bargaining agreement allows the case to be heard by arbitrator Stephen Burbank, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Both teams were penalized for overloading contracts in the 2010 uncapped season despite league warnings to restrict doing so. Washington has been given a $36 million reduction over two years, and Dallas loses $10 million. Each must take at least half the reduction this year.

patriots: Receiver Chad Ochocinco took a pay cut from $3 million to $1 million to stay in New England because, agent Drew Rosenhaus said, he appreciated the Patriots' generosity last season and "he's interested in giving the team his best.''

new union leader: Domonique Foxworth, a free agent cornerback, was elected president of the NFL Players Association without opposition.

Times wires
Sunday, March 25, 2012

boxing

writer, historian bert Sugar dies of cardiac arrest at 75

MOUNT KISKO, N.Y. — Bert Sugar, an iconic boxing writer and sports historian, died Sunday at 75.

Jennifer Frawley, Mr. Sugar's daughter, says cardiac arrest caused his death at Northern Westchester Hospital. His wife, Suzanne, was by his side.

Mr. Sugar was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2005. He wrote more than 80 books and appeared in a handful of films, including The Great White Hype starring Samuel Jackson.

A memorial service is being planned. Frawley asked for donations to the Hall of Fame to honor him. "He was really a brilliant man," she said.

ET CETERA

tennis: Venus Williams, unaware until afterward that she erased a match point in the final set, outlasted fellow wild card Aleksandra Wozniak 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) in the third round of the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne. "She had match point?" Williams said. "Oh no. Thank God I'm oblivious to the score a lot of times." Williams plays Ana Ivanovic tonight. Men's winners included Rafael Nadal, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Andy Murray (walkover) and Grigor Dimitrov, who upset No. 7 seed Tomas Berdych 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. Tampa's John Isner lost to Florian Mayer 6-4, 6-2.

soccer: Andre Alves, 21, was shot to death and three were hospitalized in a serious condition after a fight that involved nearly 500 fans before a match between rival Brazilian clubs Corinthians and Palmeiras in Sao Paulo. … AC Milan defender Thiago Silva is out for three to four weeks because of a right thigh injury. He will miss both legs of the Champions League quarterfinal against Barcelona, and Serie A matches against Catania, Fiorentina, Chievo Verona, Genoa and Bologna. … Alan Pulido scored three goals as Mexico beat Honduras 3-0 in Olympic qualifying in Carson, Calif., getting within one victory of making the London Games.

bowling: Norm Duke won his 36th career PBA Tour title, tying Pete Weber for third all time, by teaming with Wes Malott to defeat Ronnie Russell and Sean Rash 193-167 to capture the Doubles Championship in Las Vegas. Walter Ray Williams Jr. (47) and Earl Anthony (43) are first and second all time.

volleyball: Vigor Bovolenta, a 1996 Olympic silver medalist, died of a heart attack at a match Saturday in Macerata, Italy, the Italian volleyball federation says. During a match between his Volley Forli and Lube Macerata, the 37-year-old told teammates he felt faint.

cycling: Tour de France champion Cadel Evans won the Criterium International after finishing the third and final stage in fourth place in Col De L'ospedale, France. Stage winner Pierrick Fedrigo was second overall, eight seconds back.

Times wires

Times wires
Sunday, March 25, 2012

SEPANG, Malaysia — Fernando Alonso got a break then held on to win Formula One's Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday.

A week earlier, the two-time series winner finished fifth, 21.5 seconds off the lead, in the season opener in Australia. Then he qualified only eighth for Sunday's race.

"It's a big surprise to win," said Alonso, who now leads the series with 35 points, five more than Lewis Hamilton. "We were not competitive in Australia, and we were not competitive (in qualifying) here."

A downpour began six laps into the race. Eventually, it was stopped for 51 minutes.

Immediately after the restart, there was a flurry of pit stops as drivers changed from full wet to intermediate tires. Alonso emerged in the lead, and it grew to 7.7 seconds by Lap 30 of 56. But as his tires began to wear, Sergio Perez closed in. He cut the gap to 1.3 seconds before both pitted to switch to dry-weather tires.

Perez trimmed it to a half-second with seven laps to go. But with six to go, Perez ran wide, costing himself time and giving Alonso breathing room.

Perez finished second, 2.2 seconds behind. It was the best finish ever for Sauber, his team.

"A win was possible," the Mexican said. "I was catching Fernando.

"I touched the curb, and I went onto the dirty side of the track. It was completely wet, and I lost the win."

Hamilton, the pole sitter, finished third. Defending series champion Sebastian Vettel was fourth before a tire puncture led to an 11th-place finish.

EAST BAY RACEWAY: Doug Watson won the Late Model feature late Saturday in Gibsonton.

By Laura Keeley, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, March 25, 2012

Boston College Eagles

Record: 31-10-1

Coach: Jerry York, 18th season

Location: Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Enrollment: 9,099

Frozen Four history: This is the 23rd appearance for BC, the No. 1 overall seed of the tournament. It has won four championships, the most recent in 2010. This is the 10th Frozen Four for York. He graduated from Boston College High School before going to Boston College, where he was a member of the 1965 NCAA runner­up squad.

Ferris State Bulldogs

Record: 25-11-5

Coach: Bob Daniels, 20th season

Location: Big Rapids, Mich.

Enrollment: 13,543

Frozen Four history: This is the first appearance for the Bulldogs, who began Division I play in 1979-80. They have one other tournament appearance. In 2002-03, they won one game. So in a two-day span, they tripled their total.

Minnesota Gophers

Record: 28-13-1

Coach: Don Lucia, 12th season

Location: Minneapolis

Enrollment: 52,557

Frozen Four history: This is the Gophers' 20th appearance and fourth under Lucia. Their most recent came in 2004-05. Prior to that, Minnesota won national championships in 2001-02 and 2002-03. Overall, Minnesota has won five national titles.

Union Dutchmen

Record: 26-7-7

Coach: Rick Bennett, first season

Location: Schenectady, N.Y.

Enrollment: 2,133

Frozen Four history: This is the Dutchmen's first appearance. In fact, before last season, Union, which moved up from Division III in 1991-92, had never been in the Division I tournament. In 2010-11, it lost in the first round to Minnesota-Duluth, the eventual national champ. Union was the Division III runnerup in 1983-84 and lost in the national semifinals before winning the third-place game in 1984-85.

Laura Keeley, Times staff writer

Times wires
Sunday, March 25, 2012

WORCESTER, Mass. — Parker Milner stopped 33 shots for his second straight shutout and top overall seed Boston College advanced to its 10th Frozen Four in 15 years with a 4-0 win over defending NCAA champion Minnesota-Duluth on Sunday night in the Northeast Region final.

BC, the Hockey East regular-season and tournament champion, takes a 17-game winning streak into its national semifinal with Minnesota, a 5-2 winner over North Dakota in the West Region final, on April 5 at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa.

Ferris State and Union (N.Y.) meet in the other semifinal.

BC's winning streak is the longest in coach Jerry York's 18 seasons. "Our club is very, very strong, mentally and physically," York said. "We're extremely excited and look forward to going down to Tampa."

Pat Mullane and Bill Arnold had second-period goals for the Eagles (31-10-7). "You could feel the excitement on the bench from the first shift," Arnold said.

Milner was selected the region's outstanding player. He stopped 20 shots in BC's 2-0 win over Air Force in a first-round game Saturday. "(Two shutouts) feel good, but we are going to the Frozen Four, so that's what really feels good," Milner said.

Kenny Reiter stopped 20 shots for the Bulldogs (25-10-6).

"I thought we had some good chances," UMD center Jack Connolly said. "The goaltender stood on his head for them."

Minnesota 5, N. Dakota 2: Minnesota wasn't going to let another three-goal lead against North Dakota slip away.

After winning the Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular-season title, Minnesota faced North Dakota in the semifinals of the conference tournament last weekend and led 3-0 after dominating the first 30 minutes. But UND scored six straight, including five in the third, to beat the Gophers and went on to win the tournament.

"We kind of wanted to get that last game out of our system against North Dakota," said Taylor Matson, who had a goal and an assist Sunday for the Gophers (28-13-1). "We were motivating guys on the bench, and everyone was excited."

Danny Kristo and Mario Lamoreaux scored for North Dakota (26-13-3), seeded fourth. UND believed it could rally even when trailing by three late in the third. "I thought we needed to get one," coach Dave Hakstol said. "I know we had some great opportunities."

By Laura Keeley, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, March 25, 2012

Less than two weeks from today, Tampa will host the first Frozen Four to be held south of the Mason-Dixon line. And that won't be the only first for the 64-year-old NCAA tournament.

The first semifinal at the Tampa Bay Times Forum will feature two teams making their first Frozen Four appearances, Union (N.Y.) and Ferris State.

Union, No. 3 in the U.S. College Hockey Online poll, had made the tournament only once before, losing in the first round last season. The liberal arts school with an enrollment of 2,133 doesn't give out athletic scholarships. But it beat No. 15 Michigan State 3-1 and No. 13 Massachusetts-Lowell 4-2.

"It's a tremendous accomplishment," first-year coach Rick Benner told the Albany Times-Union after the Lowell win. "We're, obviously, very excited."

The Dutchmen are led by sophomore goalie Troy Grosenick. He is 22-5-3, second in the nation in goal-against average (1.64) and save percentage (.936) and is a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, which goes to the nation's top player.

Ferris State, No. 9 in the nation, won a pair of 2-1 games, against No. 10 Denver and No. 2 Michigan.

"It was jubilation, I guess, would be the word," coach Bob Daniels told the Kalamazoo Gazette after the Michigan win. "It seemed like the last four or five minutes of the game took forever between TV timeouts and timeouts and whatever. It was jubilation."

The Bulldogs are led by goalie Taylor Nelson. The senior is 19-6-3 with a 2.14 goals-against average and .922 save percentage.

The second semifinal features two historic powerhouses in Boston College and Minnesota, who have won a combined nine national titles. Minnesota scored 12 goals in its two games while Boston College became just the fourth team with multiple shutouts in the tournament.

Boston College, which received all 50 first-place votes in the latest USCHO poll, is led by defenseman Brian Dumoulin. The junior, also a Hobey Baker finalist, has six goals and 20 assists and is plus-25.

The Eagles are riding a 17-game win streak, including 2-0 over No. 16 Air Force and 4-0 over No. 5 and defending national champion Minnesota-Duluth. The last two times BC won the national title, 2008 and 2010, it played its regional in Worcester, Mass. — where it played this weekend.

"We've been fortunate in Wor­cester, to come out a winner more times than not," BC coach Jerry York said, with a wide smile; "my favorite place other than (my hometown of) Watertown."

Minnesota, ranked No. 6, is led by Erik Haula, who scored his 20th goal of the season in Sunday's 5-2 win over North Dakota. The sophomore forward also has 28 assists and is plus-17.

"I am really proud of our guys," said coach Don Luciam whose team beat No. 8 Boston 7-3. "We had a very difficult region. To beat programs like Boston University and North Dakota is very rewarding."

Information from Times wires was used in this report.

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Monday, March 26, 2012

Tampa Bay Rays minor league outfielder Brandon Guyer had no knowledge of Matt Bush's suspended driver's license when he allowed the pitcher to use his Dodge Durango on Thursday, the day Bush was arrested after a DUI hit-and-run accident, his agent said Monday.

"He's an innocent victim," Guyer's agent, Jamie Appel told the Tampa Bay Times.

Guyer, who is scheduled to play for Triple-A Durham today, has declined to comment.

Appel said Bush was only supposed to drop Guyer off at the team's facility in Port Charlotte on Thursday morning, then immediately return to their apartment, where the teammates were roommates. Appel said Guyer didn't give Bush permission to use the SUV for anything else that day.

Bush told police he drove to Sarasota, then stopped to buy a few drinks, before getting arrested in North Port. Police say Bush hit the motorcycle of 72-year-old Tony Tufano and fled the scene, while having a .180 blood alcohol percentage, more than twice the legal limit.

Appel said Guyer's SUV has been seized as evidence, and he's cooperated with police in the investigation. FHP lieutenant Greg Bueno said Monday it doesn't appear Guyer is the target of any criminal wrongdoing.

"He was not involved in the crash," Bueno said of Guyer.

But Guyer could still find himself liable in a potential civil case, since he owned the vehicle.

"The real issue for the teammate is, did he know or should have known about the suspension and those type of issues?" said Jay Hebert, a defense attorney not involved in the case. "There could be potential for culpable negligence, but that's a stretch. Certainly there's liability civilly from the standpoint of being the owner of the vehicle, and there would be insurance issues that could turn over to him from a plaintiff's standpoint."

Lee Coppock, a Stetson law professor, said the key in a civil suit would be whether Guyer gave Bush permission to use his car, though it could still be an "issue of fact."

"If there was evidence before that Bush had used it with permission, a jury will likely find that he did," Coppock. "That's the scary thing about being the owner of a car, you let someone use your car and you have exposure if they do something foolish with your car."

Appel said they're going to let the legal process play out, but Guyer is in "good standing" with the Rays.

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Monday, March 26, 2012

Another year, another challenger for Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Ronde Barber.

Entering his 16th season, Barber will compete for his starting right cornerback spot he has held since '98, most likely with Lions free agent Eric Wright, coach Greg Schiano said Monday at the NFL owners meetings.

Despite turning 37 next month, Barber was the Bucs' most consistent performer on defense last season, recording 78 tackles, three interceptions and a sack.

Schiano said he was excited last week to learn Barber would be back.

"I think it's great,'' Schiano said Monday. "Everybody talks about the experience and all that stuff. That's all very important. So is his ability to make plays. So all of that adds up to being a great thing for our defense.''

But Schiano made it clear that Barber will be competing for his starting job. The Bucs signed Wright, 26, to a five-year, $37.5-million contract as an unrestricted free agent with $15.5-million guaranteed. Starting left cornerback Aqib Talib has another year remaining on his contract but is scheduled to stand trial April 16 in Texas for assault with a deadly weapon. If convicted, Talib would likely face a suspension from the NFL.

In the end, Barber got what he wanted -- a chance to compete as a starter.

"I see it like every other position,'' Schiano said. "That's the great thing about competition. Let it play out the way it does through performance. The best man wins. That's the way I like it.''

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Monday, March 26, 2012

PALM BEACH — Whether CB Aqib Talib is allowed to play next season or not, the Bucs believe they will be covered.

Talib's trial in Texas for assault with a deadly weapon has been moved again, this time to June 25, according to his attorney, Frank Perez. Originally scheduled for March 26, Talib's court date has changed twice in a week and is now well past the start of the NFL draft April 26.

If convicted, Talib would likely face another league suspension. He was suspended the first game of 2010 for assaulting a St. Petersburg cab driver in August 2009.

GM Mark Dominik indicated Monday the Bucs are prepared to move on without Talib. They have signed Lions free agent CB Eric Wright, Ronde Barber is returning for a 16th season and with the No. 5 overall pick the Bucs might be able to select LSU CB Morris Claiborne.

"Part of the reason why we have Eric Wright here is to be able to play starting corner for us," Dominik said. "I look at Ronde Barber. We don't know what the draft is going to bring yet and we do have a bunch of young guys with (Anthony) Gaitor, (Myron) Lewis, (E.J.) Biggers. Those players are still on the team to find out exactly how they fit in.''

Dominik said of Talib's trial: "You've got to look it almost like it could be a career-threatening injury or he might be okay."

Meanwhile, Perez said Talib is eager to get the matter behind him before the season starts.

LIKELY DONE WITH FREE AGENCY: The Bucs committed $140.5 million to free agents in the first two days of the signing period by locking up former Chargers WR Vincent Jackson, ex-Saints G Carl Nicks and Wright.

Tampa Bay still is nearly $20 million under the salary cap. But Dominik said a good portion will go to the rookie salary pool, re-signing franchise K Connor Barth and possibly be rolled over into 2013 to lock up players such as QB Josh Freeman.

NO EXTRA PICKS FOR BUCS: About half of the teams received compensatory picks in the 2012 draft, but the Bucs were not among them.

The loss of LB Barrett Ruud and RB Cadillac Williams to free agency in 2011 was offset by the performance and salary of P Michael Koenen.

NOT A CONSIDERATION: It was never going to be Tim Tebow time in Tampa Bay. Dominik said the Bucs' faith in Freeman prevented the franchise from considering the Heisman Trophy winner out of Florida. "We weren't in on it," Dominik said. "No disrespect to (Tebow) … We have confidence in our young guy."

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Monday, March 26, 2012

We're still not sure how many times the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were blocked from interviewing other teams' contracted assistant coaches in their efforts to build a coaching staff, but we know there's a good chance we've not seen the last of such situations.

The NFL is discussing many potential rules changes here at the league meetings in Palm Beach, but one matter they won't debate is changes to the current rules that severely limit the ability of coaches under contract to interview for other jobs.

Competition Committee chairman and Falcons president Rich McKay said this afternoon that the issue was not raised in the lengthy annual team surveys the committee undertakes, meaning no change in the rule will be discussed this year.

"We expected to see some (feedback) in the surveys and really didn't see it," McKay said. "We had talked about the anti-tampering rules for an awfully long time (in previous years). The ruling we got to is that a contract is a contract."

That means that even the Bucs declined to make an issue of the problem, even though they were, perhaps, most affected by the current rules. After coach Greg Schiano's hiring in January, the Bucs were blocked by an unknown number of teams when trying to interview those clubs' assistant coaches for positions on the Bucs staff. One report indicated they were blocked more than 10 times.

Current rules allow teams to forbid their assistant coaches to interview for other jobs, unless that job is for a head coach position. The rules used to allow coaches to interview if the new job was considered a promotion, but McKay said too many teams took advantage.

"There was so much manipulation going on with assistants and designating new titles," McKay said. "If a coach decided to sign a multi-year agreement, he understands when he signs that multi-year agreement that he may not be able to move unless the team grants him permission."

By Dave Zalewski, Times Correspondent
Monday, March 26, 2012

What's hot: Though red grouper season will open Sunday, it will be hard to stop fishing for Spanish mackerel and kingfish. We are having one of the best spring kingfish runs in recent years. On a recent trip, we started trolling at the Treasure Island artificial reef with a spread of 31 and 2 planers followed by large and small spoons along with a locally manufactured hard-bodied bait normally used for inshore fishing on a flat line on the surface. With clean water, planer leaders were downsized to 40-pound test and lengthened to 25 feet. Action began as soon as lines were deployed with bait and fish hanging close to high profile structures.

South County reef: Many kingfish were just under the 24-inch minimum fork length limit, so the next stop was the South County reef, seeking larger fish. Kingfish and large Spanish mackerel were caught on almost every pass over the three barges and the tug "Orange" that were sunk to provide the high profile structure that attracts baitfish and predators.

Offshore action: The last stop was offshore in 70 feet for catch-and-release grouper action along with light tackle white grunt fishing. The stinger rigged flatline with a dead sardine produced several of the largest kingfish. Several kingfish, attracted by the commotion of the bottom fishing, were caught by casting a hard-bodied bait and retrieving it with a twitch bait action to simulate a wounded baitfish.

Dave Zalewski charters the Lucky Too out of Madeira Beach. Call (727) 397-8815.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, March 26, 2012

Game 162 keepsake of day

Paul Kocak was one of many who felt the Game 162 events of Sept. 28, 2011, were worthy of a book. The difference is that he wrote one, Baseball's Starry Night, available soon through amazon.com and e-book outlets ($4/5, $14 for a printed version). Kocak's 182-page work is written mostly from the perspective of fans of all four involved teams, including a rich chapter about a handful of Rays loyalists. "It's kind of the working man's book," Kocak said. He didn't first plan to write it that way but changed directions when he read a similar account in the Times and contacted fans through Twitter. "I was almost moved to tears," he said. "This tells so many different stories." Also, a website, baseballstarrynight.com.

Rays at Red Sox

When/where: 1:35 today; JetBlue Park at Fenway South, 11581 Daniels Parkway, Fort Myers

Tickets: Reserved seats $15-46, lawn/standing $5-10. Available through redsox.com, by calling toll-free 1-888-733-7696 (RED-SOX6) and at stadium

Rays information: Toll-free 1-888-326-7297 (FAN-RAYS)

Pitchers: Rays — Kyle Farnsworth, Joel Peralta, Fernando Rodney, Burke Badenhop, Brandon Gomes, Jake McGee; Red Sox — Josh Beckett, relievers TBA

Heads-up

Peralta and Rodney will make the first of back-to-back appearances.

On deck

Wednesday: vs. Pirates, 7:05 p.m. Rays — David Price; Pirates — Charlie Morton

Thursday: at Phillies, 1:05 p.m. Rays — Jeremy Hellickson; Phils — TBA

Friday: at Pirates, 1:05 p.m. Rays — TBA; Pirates — TBA

Upcoming schedule

All games 1:05 unless noted

March

31: Red Sox

April

1: at Orioles

2: Twins*

3: at Twins

4: vs. Future Rays, 1:40 , at Trop.

* Value game, $2 off

Who is this Ray?

He was born in Florida then moved to Japan then New Mexico. He has an older brother who played at the University of New Mexico. He does everything left-handed but play golf.

Who is this answer: LHP Matt Moore

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

Movie review of the day

3B Evan Longoria went along with girlfriend Jaime Edmondson to see The Hunger Games on Sunday night and, despite not as fully versed in the story, came away impressed. "It's a two-plus hour movie and at the end I'm like, that was two hours?" he said. "It was pretty good. I'd give it two thumbs up."

Music review of the day

Manager Joe Maddon, being 58 and all, could identify most with Earth, Wind & Fire of the three new postgame concerts announced, on June 30. (Also, LL Cool J on June 2, and the Wiggles on Aug. 5. See page 2B for more). "I was a big Earth, Wind & Fire fan back in the day," Maddon said. "Shining Star."

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, March 26, 2012

FORT MYERS — With the decision due this morning, RHP Jeff Niemann completed his case to retain his spot in the rotation with a solid five-inning outing in Monday's 10-4 win over the Twins.

"It went pretty good," Niemann said. "It's kind of that point in the spring where you try to go out there and throw everything and pitch pretty similar to how you're going to throw in the regular season, and I think we were kind of able to do that (Monday)."

The only blemishes in his 93-pitch outing were three walks (his first in four big-league spring starts) and a home run on a 2-and-0 fastball to Ryan Doumit leading off the second.

"I liked Jeff's performance," manager Joe Maddon said. "He was a little bit up with his fastball, but I liked his stuff overall and I thought he pitched well."

Niemann, who has added a cutter to his repertoire, is 1-2, 4.05 in his four starts (plus a minor-league outing) and seems likely to stay in the rotation with RHP Wade Davis (1-2, 4.91 in five) going to the bullpen.

Maddon said team officials were still discussing the decision. Also to be set is the order behind opening-day starter James Shields. LHP David Price is No. 2, but they appear to be deciding between RHP Jeremy Hellickson and rookie LHP Matt Moore for the third game, pondering the advantage of starting a lefty against the Yankees.

MEDICAL MATTERS: OF Desmond Jennings (sore shoulder) got five at-bats in a minor-league game in Port Charlotte and was to play catch, with the possibility he could DH today against the Red Sox. … SS Reid Brignac (plantar fascia problem, right foot) went 2-for-5 with a homer in a minor-league game and "moved around well," Maddon said, but his status for opening day remains uncertain. Brignac said his condition has progressed to "uncomfortable but tolerable." … CF B.J. Upton (sore back) said he felt "a lot better" and took 20 swings and did some running, but he wasn't ready to play in a game. His availability for the April 6 opener is also uncertain. … OF Sam Fuld got an MRI exam on his sore right wrist and will see a doctor today, with surgery likely.

PITCHING IN: The decision between RHPs Burke Badenhop and Brandon Gomes for the final bullpen spot is also coming "soon," Maddon said. The Rays want to take one more look at Gomes, who has yet to regain full velocity in recovering from offseason back surgery. … Shields will pitch in a minor-league game today rather than face the divisional opponent Red Sox, with RHP Kyle Farnsworth starting and most of the bullpen in action.

GAME DETAILS: The Rays took an early 7-1 lead on homers by Ben Zobrist and Elliot Johnson (his first RBIs) and an RBI single by Jeff Keppinger (hitting .375). … CF Jesus Feliciano apparently lost track of the number of outs when catching a fly in the fifth allowing one run but throwing out the second runner who was trying to score.