QUICK LINKS: MLB > 13 NFL > 25 NBA > 9 NHL > 5 NASCAR > 24 COLLEGE FOOTBALL >

NHL > 5 NASCAR > 24 COLLEGE FOOTBALL > 28 COLLEGE BASKETBALL > 28 GOLF > 32 IRL > 29
NBA PLAYOFFS
AUTO RACING
Dwight Howard,
Spiderman 3 left, and the
Orlando Magic
A month after he was acquit- overcame
ted on tax evasion charges, another big
Helio Castroneves became game from
the ninth driver to win the
LeBron James.
Indianapolis 500 three times.
TOM STRATTMAN / AP Pages 29-30 GARY W. GREEN / AP
MONDAY Magic show mettle
Rain delayed NASCAR’s longest race for the first time in MAY 25, 2009 So much for the shot of the season
50 years. Coca-Cola 600: Today at noon ET, FOX, Page 24 SEE A DIFFERENT GAME demoralizing the Orlando Magic.
VOLUME 1 ISSUE 307 The Magic played through
another MVP night from LeBron
James to beat the Cavs 99-89
and take a 2-1 lead in the Eastern
Scoreboard BASEBALL: THE WEEK AHEAD Conference finals.
James’ 41 points weren’t enough
Sunday, and this series is beginning
NBA Playoffs
Eastern Conference finals
Orlando 99, Cleveland 89
(Orlando leads series 2-1)
The heat is on As summer unofficially kicks off,
MLB’s pennant races get serious
to look like the Cavs’ failed Finals
run two years ago, when it was all
James all the time. And no one else.
— Matt Hayes
The Magic have arrived, Page 10
NHL Playoffs
Western Conference finals NHL PLAYOFFS
Detroit 6, Chicago 1
(Detroit leads series 3-1)

Baseball
Interleague Stan McNeal
Colorado 3, Detroit 1 BASEBALL
KATHY WILLENS / AP TOM GANNAM / AP DENIS POROY / AP CHARLES REX ARBOGAST / AP
Philadelphia 4, N.Y. Yankees, 11 innings The Yankees are 12-4 since Alex Rodriguez’s return. Chris Carpenter threw five shutout innings Thursday. Cubs C Geovany Soto is hitting .208 with one homer. Marian Hossa, right, scored twice.
Cincinnati 4, Cleveland 3, 11 innings Barbecue grills
Florida 5, Tampa Bay 4, 11 innings aren’t all that get Yankees at Rangers Cardinals at Brewers Dodgers at Cubs Wings-Pens again?
Atlanta 10, Toronto 2 fired up on Based on Alex Rodriguez’s .189 batting What a difference a week makes. The Cubs so need an offensive jolt that A rematch of last year’s Stanley
Washington 8, Baltimore 5 Memorial Day. average, the Yankees’ 12-4 record since his Last Monday, the Brewers were Alfonso Soriano could be playing second Cup finals is just two wins away.
Playing without Nicklas Lidstrom
Boston 12, N.Y. Mets 5 In baseball, the debut would seem a coincidence. Mark finishing a three-game sweep at St. base when L.A. arrives for a four-game
and Pavel Datsyuk because of
Pittsburgh 4, N.Y. Mets 3 heat increases in Teixeira’s numbers say otherwise. In 25 Louis and dealing the Cardinals their weekend series. Last week Lou Piniella
injuries, the Red Wings still routed
pennant races as games before A-Rod, Teixeira hit .198 with third straight series loss. Now the called the possibility of moving Soriano the Blackhawks 6-1 Sunday and
Texas 5, Houston 0 five homers. With A-Rod behind him, Cardinals are hot, having won five of from left “a last resort” to get rookie Micah
the season tran- took control of the Western
Kansas City 3, St. Louis 2 Teixeira is hitting .377 with eight homers. six going into a three-game set at Hoffpauir in the lineup. But after scoring Conference finals.
Oakland 6, Arizona 2 sitions to the After an 8-2 homestand that included Milwaukee today. five runs total while being swept at St. Wins by Pittsburgh Tuesday and
L.A. Angels 10. L.A. Dodgers 7 start of the four walkoff wins, the Yankees start a The return of ace Chris Carpenter Louis and San Diego, Piniella may be Detroit Wednesday would give
Seattle 5, San Francisco 4 summer grind. six-game trip today at Texas. The and their starting pitching righted the ready to erupt. Regulars Milton Bradley, Sidney Crosby and the Penguins
Minnesota 6, Milwaukee 3 A look at three first-place Rangers have won eight Cardinals. St. Louis starters have Mike Fontenot and Geovany Soto all enter another shot at the Red Wings, who
straight at home and are ready for New allowed four earned runs total in their today’s play hitting under .210. beat them in six games last year.
of this week’s Both teams look like they’re ready.
National League York. “Playing good teams steps our past six games. “Spectacular, probably There’s no relief in sight for Chicago—
hottest series: game up,” catcher Jarrod Saltalamac- the best (stretch) I’ve ever been in,” L.A. has the majors’ best record and — Craig Custance
San Diego 7, Chicago Cubs 2
smcneal@sportingnews.com chia said. “This could be good for us.” Tony La Russa said. leads the N.L. in scoring and ERA. Hossa’s Game 4 magic, Page 6
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com See a Different Game MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 2

Tune In Today OFF THE FIELD

A quick look at the best sports on TV

— all times Eastern Daly wears pink for Mickelson; THE WORLD’S FIRST DIGITAL
DAILY SPORTS NEWSPAPER

CHAIRMAN & CEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ray Shaw

LACROSSE

Men’s NCAA championship

Gisele, Brady expecting a child PRESIDENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Whitney Shaw
PUBLISHER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ed Baker
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jeff D’Alessio
MANAGING EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Paul Kasko
Syracuse vs. Cornell John Daly wore bright pink trousers during Sunday’s
CREATIVE DIRECTOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Keith Wood
1 p.m., ESPN final round of the BMW PGA Championship in a gesture
of support for Phil Mickelson’s wife, Amy, after she was diag- VP, GENERAL MANAGER, ONLINE . . . . . Jeff Gerttula
It’s hard to imagine a better fit for background noise at your VP, INTEGRATED MARKETING & SALES .Stuart Marvin
Memorial Day barbecue than the NCAA title game—even the most nosed with breast cancer.
casual of lacrosse fans knows that Syracuse is, historically, very, very “I had a pair, so I figured I’d do that for her today. I DIRECTOR, DIGITAL MEDIA. . . . . . . . . . . . Geoff Shaw
good. Jim Brown (yes, that Jim Brown), Gary Gait and Mikey Powell thought it would be a good gesture,” Daly said. “I know VP, MARKETING & SALES DEVELOPMENT . .Eric Karp
are three of the biggest names in the history of the sport, and all are Phil very well and I know Amy. I’ve known them for a
’Cuse alum. The Orange is making its 16th championship appearance EDITORIAL OFFICES
and looking for its 10th title, but Cornell and freshman attackman Rob long time—we’ve played the Tour together. She’s a great
lady. She has always been a sweetheart to everybody. 120 West Morehead Street, Suite 200
Pannell are in their way. Check out Page 32 for more on the matchup.
“I’m sure everybody on Tour and everybody in the world is Charlotte, NC 28202
BASEBALL thinking about her. There’s been some (breast cancer) in the 704-973-1550
family and a lot of friends. It’s just a tough thing women have 1-800-443-1886
Pirates at Cubs to go through. But if they caught it in time, it is curable.”
1 p.m., WGN Letters to the editor:
The Pirates avoided a sweep on the South Side of Chicago with a yourturn@sportingnews.com
It looks as if Patriots QB Tom Brady is having another
ninth-inning rally on Sunday. Despite the dramatics, the fact remains— baby with a supermodel, this time with wife Gisele Bundchen, General feedback:
Pittsburgh had a dismal offensive series against the White Sox, scoring editors@sportingnews.com
three runs in three games and wasting quality starts from Zach Duke 29. Reports of Bundchen’s pregnancy were confirmed over
and Ross Ohlendorf. Now, at 20-24, they move across town for a series the weekend by The Boston Globe. Brady and Bundchen were
with the team directly ahead of them in the N.L. Central—the 21-20 married in February. Brady, 31, and supermodel Bridget Moy- National Digital Sales Managers
Cubs. nahan are the parents of John Edward Moynahan, who is 2 ½. Joey Glowacki, 704-973-1856
jglowacki@sportingnews.com
Gary Strauss, 212-500-0672
BASKETBALL NFL teams are lining up to make deals with state lot- gstrauss@sportingnews.com
tery boards. The Patriots and Redskins were the first to
Lakers at Nuggets sign contracts, but the Giants, Jets, Lions, Vikings, Ravens ON NEWSSTANDS NOW
9 p.m., ESPN and Titans also are negotiating to put their names on lot-
So much for Denver’s homecourt advantage—in Game 3, L.A. got tery games of chance.
its offense from Kobe Bryant and its late defense from Trevor Arizona, Owners gave their approval for teams to put their logos on
and that turned out to be more than enough. Tonight, the Lakers will
try to go up 3-1 in the series…right around the time Vince McMahon lottery tickets, in exchange for a piece of the action. While the
and the WWE set up shop in the Staples Center for their screw-you to NFL has sanctioned one form of gambling, it continues to
Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke for booting them in favor of Game 4. fight Delaware’s attempt to legalize wagering on games.
— Compiled by Sean Gentille REBECCA NADEN / AP
Former major leaguer Jim Leyritz says he has sold off mem- John Daly dug out a pair of pink pants for Sunday’s round in a show of
orabilia because he’s broke, halted charity work because he’s support for Phil Mickelson’s wife Amy, who is battling breast cancer.
GUIDE 8 p.m. championship match, become a social pariah and scattered case files throughout his
WGN — Pittsburgh at Syracuse vs. Cornell, at
COLLEGE BASEBALL Chicago Cubs Foxborough, Mass. house, intent on defeating a DUI manslaughter charge. Prosecutors say he’s wrong, though he’ll have a chance to
2 p.m. All of this, the one-time New York Yankee says, for a plead his case Sept. 14 when he’s scheduled to face trial in
ESPN — World Series NBA BASKETBALL woman’s death he never could have prevented. connection with a fatal December 2007 crash. Police say
Selection Show, at MEN’S COLLEGE 9 p.m. A Division I head basketball coach at 31?
Bristol, Conn. “There was no possibility of me avoiding that crash with all Leyritz was drunk when he ran a red light in his SUV and
LACROSSE ESPN — Playoffs, If anyone can do it, it’s Memphis’ Josh
1 p.m. Western Conference of my senses,” Leyritz told The Miami Herald. “A mother was caused the accident that killed 30-year-old Fredia Ann Veitch in
Pastner, Sporting News college hoops
MAJOR LEAGUE ESPN — NCAA finals, game 4, L.A. taken away from her kids. I can’t change that. But I didn’t do Fort Lauderdale. Authorities say Veitch also was drunk. expert Mike DeCourcy explains in the
BASEBALL Division I Lakers at Denver it. The accident did. And that accident wasn’t my fault.” — Compiled by staff with wire reports new magazine.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com My Profile

Bobby Carpenter
Cowboys linebacker
(What you won’t find on Facebook … even if you are approved as a friend)

Born: Aug. 1, 1983, in Lancaster, Ohio

Status: Married
Alma mater: Ohio State
What’s on TV: Friends re-runs, The Office, Planet
Earth, Grey’s Anatomy and Desperate Housewives
with my wife
What’s in my iPod: Dave Matthews, Kenny
Chesney, The Boss, Journey, Poison, Akon
What I drive: My fun favorite to drive in the
summer is my ’98 green soft top Wrangler with
35” tires and 5” lift.
Favorite flicks: Gladiator, Braveheart, Cinderella
Man, Gran Torino, Forgetting Sarah Marshall
What I’m reading: Blink, by Malcolm Gladwell
Magazine subscription: Newsweek
Bookmarks: Pro Football Talk, MSN, Yahoo
Worst habit: Biting nails
On my office walls: An assortment of quotes from
the OSU “winner’s manual.” These are 2—“You
can’t get much done if you only work on days you
feel good” — Jerry West. “The Man in the Glass”
— Poem.
Love to trade places for a day with … (President) MATT SLOCUM / AP
Obama and the Fed chairman so I can begin to
fix this mess that we have gotten this country Favorite team as a kid: N.Y. Giants
into. Favorite values in others: Passion and loyalty
First job: Valley View Swim Club, lifeguard Favorite physical attribute about myself: My back;
from 15 to 22. It was our club pool we went to our been working on it for years. But my wife will
whole lives. Mom was a swim coach for 25+ say my butt.
years there. All my brothers worked there as And least … Nothing
well. Got $5.25 an hour, $8.50 by my last year. Dream date: Shakira
Talent I’d most like to have: Sing My greatest love: It’s always been football.
Favorite meal: Chop salad, 18 oz. NY strip with My heroes: My parents
steamed broccoli and a nice glass of wine My bucket list: 1. Skydive, 2. Swim with great
Favorite athlete to watch in another sport: LBJ whites, 3. Fly a plane
(LeBron James) My motto: You get out of life what you put into it.
Favorite city to visit: Green Bay or Napa Valley — Jeff D’Alessio
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Next Gen
RECRUITING DISH

SN’s No. 10 prospect having N?8KK@D<@J@K66

tough time trimming his list
DeMarco Cobbs says it’s difficult to tell coaches he no
longer is considering a school.
“It’s like breaking up with a girlfriend,” Cobbs told
Sporting News Today.
The SN Top 100 receiver has begun the task of nar-
>8D<;8P
rowing his list schools, trimming it to a rough top 10.
Alabama, Arizona, Auburn, Florida, Florida State,
Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma, Tennessee and USC are all
schools he’s seriously considering. However, he said
there might be one or two schools outside his top 10
that are not 100 percent eliminated.
Yes, it’s a confusing time for Cobbs, a 6-1, 200-
pound athlete out of Tulsa (Okla.) Central.
“I’d say about September I’ll cut it some more,” he
told SN. “I was saying July 4, but now that sounds
kind of early to me. I still need to hit up a few places.”
As a junior, Cobbs rushed for 1,152 yards and passed
for 1,031 yards as a quarterback, accounting for 33
total touchdowns. He added two interceptions on
defense.
Cobbs is expected to play receiver at the next level.
“I’m big, fast and physical off the line, and I make
the big plays when they’re needed,” he said. “I work COURTESY OF DEMARCO COBBS
hard at getting open, and I go hard every play.” Tulsa (Okla.) Central’s DeMarco Cobbs hates telling college coaches he’s
Cobbs is the No. 10 prospect overall in the SN Top headed elsewhere. ‘It’s like breaking up with a girlfriend,’ he said.
100.
“It feels real good; for a guy like me out of Oklahoma “I can’t wait to get up there because I hear that campus
to be ranked as No. 10 with Sporting News, it’s a bless-
ing,” Cobbs said. “I’m glad to be considered one of the
is really nice.
“... I am playing defensive end in high school. But
:FCC<><=FFK98CC =8EK8JP=FFK98CC GIF=FFK98CC
top players in the country. Tennessee is recruiting me as a linebacker. They like ON SALE 6/2/09 ON SALE 6/9/09 ON SALE 6/23/09
“I’d like to be No. 1 if I could, but this will make me the way I play. … I try to be a playmaker whether it is
work even harder. It’s very exciting, because a lot of rushing the quarterback or going sideline to sideline.”
kids don’t get to experience this.”
Jesuit (Dallas) DE Chuka Ndulue (6-3, 240) has com-
Gulliver Prep (Miami) LB Ralph Williams and mitted to Oklahoma, Rivals.com reported. He also had
Chabot Community College (Hayward, Calif.) DT Pat scholarship offers from Oklahoma State, Utah,
Harris have committed to Tennessee, Rivals.com Nebraska and Kansas, among others.
reported. “I’m done—I’m going to visit (Oklahoma) this sum-
Williams (6-1, 210) also has scholarship offers from
Arkansas and Florida State, among others. Harris
mer and enjoy my official visit,” Ndulue told Rivals.
com. “… My dad has been up to Norman (Okla.). My ($/''$*/'$.+'+
(6-5, 295) lists only his offer from the Volunteers. mom is a busy woman, so she may try and go up there www.sportingnews.com or www.streetandsmiths.com
“I won’t get to Tennessee until my official visit, and with me this summer.” SHIPPING: + $3.50 for the first magazine + 50¢ each additional magazine
that will be my only visit,” Williams told Rivals.com. — Brian McLaughlin
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Q&A with … Penguins F Ruslan Fedotenko
Clutch veteran: ‘We have something special here’
While Pittsburgh stars Sidney Crosby and
Evgeni Malkin steal the headlines with show-
stopping performances, Ruslan Fedotenko just
keeps on doing what Ruslan Fedotenko does this
time of year. He scores big goals.
Fedotenko had a goal and an assist in the
Penguins’ win over Carolina in Game 3, and he
scored in three consecutive games against the
Capitals in the semifinal round. Fedotenko spoke
with Sporting News Today’s Craig Custance about
the Penguins’ run, playing with Malkin and his
future in Pittsburgh.
Q: Things are going well in the
Eastern Conference finals, is
this where you expected the
Penguins to be when playoffs
started?
A: We knew we had a good team,
had a good chance. It depends on
if we play our game, if we play to the
best of our potential. And so far we’ve
been doing that.
Q: How has skating on a playoff
line with Evgeni Malkin
been?
A: It’s been great. He’s a good
player, some games we’re on it.
Some games not as well. It’s like any
other team, any other player. It’s trying
to make more consistent games and be a
big factor to help the team.
Q:
seeing?
When things are going well
for Malkin, what are you
A: He skates, he plays with the
puck, it’s hard to get the puck
away from him because he’s crafty and
quick. With all the rule changes, it’s
hard to tackle him. You need to play
right, if he sees the ice really well,
passing, not trying to do too much
himself. A lot of times you can see he’s
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
Ruslan Fedotenko, a former Cup champ with Tampa Bay, has dialed it up after an uneven regular season.
on his game, it shows and he has big
games. Scoring goals, just always in the
right spot.
Q: How does this team compare
to the one you won a Stanley
Cup with in Tampa?
A: I think kind of similar. I feel
that maybe Tampa was not as
much experience. I think this team has
more experience, last year they went
all the way to the finals and plus
bringing in a couple other guys, Billy
[Guerin], [Chris Kunitz] who have
been on winning team. I think it’s
similar, I feel like we’re playing kind of
similar games, similar style. I think
it’s really exciting for the people to
watch but I think I would say we have
NHL
KARL B DEBLAKER / AP
a little more experience in this room
than we did in Tampa.
Q: You won a Stanley Cup with
Nikolai Khabibulin, who
helped Chicago advance to the
Western Conference finals. What
makes him so strong this time of
year?
A: A lot of things. First of all,
experience. He’s been through
the different stages in his career, a
winning team and losing team. He’s
solid. Every time I go on the ice, I was
never really worried about him. When
you have that kind of comfort, in Tampa
we gave up breakaways, we knew it was
not a big deal—Khabi would stop them.
When you have that kind of confidence
MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 5
If you deliver
it daily, they
Tuesday’s game
will come.
Conference finals
(Best-of-7), all times ET
Pittsburgh at Carolina,
7:30 p.m., Versus
Betting line
Tuesday
FAVORITE ..............LINE UNDERDOG............ LINE
Pittsburgh ..................-130 at Carolina .............+110
there, you will take more chances,
people will play more aggressive and a
lot of time you’ll get rewarded. FREEup!
Sign
Q: I know you’re focused on the
playoffs, but you’re an
Today!
unrestricted free agent after this
season. Have you thought about
your future with the Penguins?
The country’s first and only
A: You know what? At this point
right now, probably last 20
daily digital sports newspaper.
games in the regular season and now
the playoffs, I’m not thinking about it at
all. Whatever happens, happens. I’m
not worried about where I stay here or Delivered via email every morning, 7 days a
not or go someplace else. I get this out of
week, Sporting News Today is your one-stop
my mind and not focus on it at all. I just
feel like, I’m trying to focus on the
playoffs, it’s a great opportunity. Look
destination for breaking sports stories plus
news about every team, every game and
where we’re at right now, take advan-
tage of what we have now, and every-
thing else will work itself out. I’m not
every score from coast-to-coast.
worried about it at all right now. If they
said, ‘I’m not coming back,’ it’s not a big
deal, I’ll play the same. We have some- Experience America’s hottest new product.
thing special here, hopefully we can go
all the way.
Sign up at sportingnewstoday.com. It’s free.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Detroit 6, Chicago 1
Hossa delivers Game 4 magic—as usual
CHICAGO—The bad news piled up with the
meat and potatoes and the Red Wings’
morning meal. Star center Pavel Datsyuk’s
bad ankle would keep him out another
game. Kris Draper’s groin left him scratched
as well. Then the surprise—captain Nicklas
Lidstrom had acquired one of hockey’s
mysterious “lower body
injuries” and would join
his veteran buddies in
coat and tied for Sunday’s
Western Conference
finals matinee with the
Blackhawks.
No problem, thought
Dave Curtis Marian Hossa, as he
HOCKEY headed to the United
Center. This was Game
4, time for him to contribute to a champi-
onship. He had scored twice in the fourth
game against Columbus and twice again in
Game 4 at Anaheim. In each of those
games, his team scored six times.
So with one pregame theme in his head—
“Drive to the net more often,” he said, “and
try to be a little more dangerous.”—Hossa
kept his pattern and covered for his injured
teammates. He scored twice, shorthanded
in the first for a 1-0 lead, even strength in
the second for a 4-1 cushion. And the
Wings rolled 6-1, moving to the brink of
another trip to the Stanley Cup finals.
“He was awesome,” Detroit coach Mike
Babcock said. “The fourth goal put a knife
in them. He did a great job out there.”
The day was ideal for a clutch perfor-
mance from the forgotten Red Wing. He
looked nothing like his team’s leading goal
scorer and a five-time All-Star early in this
series; in 50 shifts over the first two games,
he had no points. Two assists during Fri-
day’s second-period flurry showed his best
hockey wasn’t far away. And with the
Wings looking for a hero Sunday after-
noon, Hossa ended up being more than
dangerous.
Another of his Game 4s started on a first-
period penalty kill, when defenseman Jon-
athan Ericsson swept a loose puck up the
left boards. Hossa collected, played give-
and-go with Valtteri Filppula, and scored
at 8:41. It was his first shorthanded tally of
the season, and the Wings’ sixth in 97 reg-
ular-season and playoff games.
The encore came a period later, as the
arena public address announcer called the
details of a Jonathan Toews power play
goal that cut the lead to 3-1. Hossa collected
the puck along those same boards, slipped
inside Kris Versteeg and beat Cristobal
Huet. The goal won back every ounce of
momentum, prompted a Hawks goalie
change and might have clinched the series
for Detroit.
“He’s ridiculous at what he does,” Red
Wings veteran Kirk Maltby said. “His skill,
we see it every day. Nothing surprises us.”
To be fair, a pitiful showing from the
Hawks helped Hossa more than anything.
Chicago played without poise, taking 16
penalties and allowing a shorthanded goal.
Huet, starting with Nikolai Khabibulin
injured, couldn’t have stopped a beach ball
from hitting his net. The sellout crowd here
never grew louder than it was during the
Star Spangled Banner.
With Datsyuk and Lidstrom possibly
back for Wednesday’s Game 5, three
straight Blackhawk wins would seem
impossible. So Hossa, Cup-less in 11 sea-
sons so far, figures to get a crack at the
finals.
He’ll be even more dangerous with a
complete lineup around him. But watch for
him, especially come the next Game 4.
dcurtis@sportingnews.com
NHL
WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
NOTEBOOK
Penalty problems doom Blackhawks
Blackhawks coach Joel
Quenneville opened his post-
Game 4 comments with an
uncharacteristic rip of the
on-ice officials in his team’s
6-1 loss to Detroit.
“They ruined a good
hockey game,” Quenneville
said of the crew. “They abso-
lutely destroyed anything
that was going on on the ice.”
The ’Hawks took 16 penal-
ties for 56 total minutes,
including three misconducts
and an ejection for winger
Ben Eager. But a roughing
call on Matt Walker after the
first period horn drew
Quenneville’s ire in particu-
lar. The Red Wings started
the second period a man up,
and Valtteri Filppula scored
1:13 in to push Detroit’s lead
to 3-0.
“I think we witnessed
probably the worst call in the
history of sports,” Quennev-
ille said.
Time for Chelios
Two minutes and nine sec-
onds into play, 47-year-old
Wings defenseman and
future Hall of Famer Chris
Chelios hopped the boards
and entered his 265th career
playoff game. The Chicago
native and former Black-
hawk, in the Detroit lineup
because of an injury to Nick-
las Lidstrom, said he enjoyed
every second of his 4:37 of ice
time.
PAUL BEATY / AP “It just reminded me of the
With several Red Wings struggling through injuries, Marian Hossa stepped up his play. old Stadium,” Chelios said, a
MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 6
reference to his nine seasons
as a ’Hawk (1990-99). “I love
the atmosphere.”
Chelios wasn’t on the ice
for a goal and didn’t play spe-
cial teams. His lone impact
came courtesy of the United
Center fans, who booed each
time he touched the puck late
in the third period.
Net results
Goalie drama remains the
primary subplot of these
Western Conference finals.
It even affected Detroit here
Sunday when starting goalie
Chris Osgood missed the
third period after feeling
dehydrated during the sec-
ond intermission. Backup Ty
Conklin took over and made
nine saves.
Coach Mike Babcock said
Wings trainers treated
Osgood with IVs but couldn’t
get him recuperated in time.
“He’ll have a good day off,”
Babcock said. “Get the fluids
back go from there.”
For Chicago, Sunday
starter Cristobal Huet was
pulled 4:05 into the second
period after Detroit took a 4-1
lead. Third-stringer Corey
Crawford played the rest of
the second in his playoff
debut and Huet returned for
the third. He finished with 21
saves on 26 shots.
Regular starter Nikolai
Khabibulin didn’t dress after
aggravating a leg injury in
Game 3.
—Dave Curtis
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Detroit 6, Chicago 1
Red Wings pick up slack for injured stars
CHICAGO—Marian Hossa’s short-
handed goal got the short-handed
Detroit Red Wings started Sunday.
And once they got rolling, the
defending champions overpowered
the frustrated Chicago Blackhawks
and moved within one win of a
return trip to the Stanley Cup
finals.
With injured stars Nicklas Lid-
strom and Pavel Datsyuk sidelined,
Hossa and Henrik Zetterberg had
two goals each, sending the Red
Wings to a convincing 6-1 victory
and a 3-1 lead in the Western Con-
ference finals.
“We heard this morning during
the pregame meal he (Lidstrom)
was not playing. We just had to deal
with it,” Zetterberg said. “Every-
body had to step up and play.”
Game 5 is Wednesday night back
in Detroit, where the Red Wings
opened this series with a pair of
wins.
Detroit took advantage of backup
goalie Cristobal Huet, who made his
first start of these playoffs in place of
injured Nikolai Khabibulin. He gave
up four goals and was pulled in the
second. Rookie Corey Crawford took
over for the last 15:55 of the period,
but Huet returned in the third and
allowed Zetterberg’s second power-
play goal that made it 6-1.
Hossa’s short-handed goal on a
2-on-1 break gave the Red Wings
the early lead and they added three
power-play goals as Chicago wore
out the door to the penalty box.
“We tried to keep our poise. We
knew they were coming,” Zetterberg
Henrik Zetterberg, left, Mikael Samuelsson, right and the Red Wings jumped on Patrick Kane and the Blackhawks right out of the gate Sunday.
said of the Blackhawks, who had
been upset after Detroit’s Niklas
Kronwall flattened forward Martin
Havlat with a hard hit on Friday and
drove him out of the game. “They
didn’t basically have anything else to
do once the game kind of ran away,”
Zetterberg added.
Chicago coach Joel Quenneville
NHL
WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
was fuming over a call against
Blackhawks defenseman Matt
Walker for roughing during a
scrum as the first period ended.
Leading 2-0, the Red Wings went
on a power play to start the second,
and Valtteri Filppula scored just
1:13 in for a three-goal Detroit lead.
“I think we witnessed probably
CHARLES REX ARBOGAST / AP
the worst call in the history of
sports there,” Quenneville said.
“You know, they scored, it’s 3-0.
They ruined a good hockey game
and absolutely destroyed what was
going on on the ice,” he said. “It was
a call that could. ... never seen any-
thing like it.”
Six-time Norris Trophy winner
Lidstrom was scratched due to a
lower body injury. Coach Mike Bab-
cock said he heard about the injury—
he said it was not serious—in a cab
as he was coming to the game. Dat-
syuk missed his second straight
game because of a sore foot.
“I thought we were going to dig in
today,” Babcock said, adding he
hoped Lidstrom and Datsyuk would
be back for Game 5 on Wednesday.
Johan Franzen also scored for the
Red Wings, a momentum swinging
goal from far out on the right side
with 20.7 seconds left in the first as
he was being defended by Brian
Campbell. The shot eluded Huet
and made it 2-0.
Jonathan Toews had Chicago’s
lone goal on a second-period power
play.
Chris Osgood made 18 saves in
two periods before he became dehy-
drated and had to be replaced by Ty
Conklin in the third.
Hossa scored a short-handed goal
on a 2-on-1 break on a nice give-
and-go pass from Filppula in the
first, quickly quieting the crowd at
the United Center.
In the second, after Toews scored
to cut it to 3-1, Hossa skated in 12
seconds later and beat Huet for his
second goal, prompting the switch
to Crawford.
Zetterberg made it 5-1 when he
scored on the power play against
Crawford when the Red Wings had
a two-man advantage in the second.
Hossa put the Red Wings up early
after four Blackhawks, including
Campbell, got caught deep in the
MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 7
Series glance
(Detroit leads 3-1)
May 17: Detroit 5, Chicago 2
May 19: Detroit 3, Chicago 2, OT
May 22: Chicago 4, Detroit 3, OT
Sunday: Detroit 6, Chicago 1
Wednesday: Chicago at Detroit,
7:30 p.m., Versus
Saturday: Detroit at Chicago, 8
p.m., if necessary, Versus
Monday, June 1: Chicago at
Detroit, 7:30 p.m., if necessary,
Versus
Detroit zone. Hossa started a 2-on-
1, short-handed break and made a
nice crossing pass to Filppula,
whose perfectly timed return pass
to Hossa allowed him to beat Huet.
Huet’s first appearance of the
playoffs came Friday night in Game
3 when he replaced Khabibulin
(lower body) to start the third period
of Chicago’s 4-3 overtime win.
— The Associated Press
Detroit 2 3 1 — 6
Chicago 0 1 0 — 1
First Period: 1, Detroit, Hossa 5 (Filppula), 8:41 (sh). 2, Detroit, Fran-
zen 10, 19:39. Penalties: Zetterberg, Det (holding), 7:41; Franzen,
Det (roughing), 11:09; Seabrook, Chi (roughing), 11:09; Pahlsson, Chi
(roughing), 13:43; Holmstrom, Det (roughing), 17:32; Byfuglien, Chi
(roughing), 17:32; Walker, Chi (roughing), 20:00.
Second Period: 3, Detroit, Filppula 1 (Hossa, Rafalski), 1:13 (pp).
4, Chicago, Toews 7 (Barker, Kane), 3:53 (pp). 5, Detroit, Hossa 6
(Filppula, Lebda), 4:05. 6, Detroit, Zetterberg 8 (Rafalski, Kronwall),
7:42 (pp). Penalties: Lebda, Det (delay of game), 3:06; Walker, Chi
(interference), 7:06; Versteeg, Chi (cross-checking), 7:06; Versteeg,
Chi (roughing), 9:11; Eager, Chi, misconduct, 15:05.
Third Period: 7, Detroit, Zetterberg 9 (Rafalski, Kronwall), 12:47
(pp). Penalties: Hossa, Det (cross-checking), 3:47; Bolland, Chi
(cross-checking), 4:14; Eager, Chi, game misconduct, 7:29; Keith,
Chi (roughing), 7:29; Brouwer, Chi (tripping), 11:42; Filppula, Det
(hooking), 13:24; Versteeg, Chi, misconduct, 14:59; Ericsson, Det
(roughing), 18:17; Barker, Chi (roughing), 18:17; Burish, Chi, double
minor (roughing), 20:00.
Shots on Goal: Detroit 14-10-9: 33. Chicago 9-10-9: 28.
Power-play opportunities: Detroit 3 of 8; Chicago 1 of 4.
Goalies: Detroit, Osgood 11-4-0 (19 shots-18 saves), Conklin (0:00
third, 9-9). Chicago, Huet 1-1-0 (26-21), Crawford (4:05 second, 7-6),
Huet 1-1-0 (0:00 third).
A: 22,663 (20,500). T: 2:34.
Referees: Marc Joannette, Kevin Pollock. Linesmen: Brad Lazaro-
wich, Jay Sharrers.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Wild get OK to interview Richards; Finals could start earlier
New Minnesota general manager
Chuck Fletcher, moving fast to fill the
Wild’s coaching vacancy, has
received permission to interview
San Jose assistant Todd Richards,
according to two sources cited by
The (Minneapolis) Star Tribune.
Fletcher, who was hired away
from the Pittsburgh organization
on Friday, was responsible as Pen-
guins assistant G.M. for hiring
Richards to coach the team’s AHL
affiliate at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Richards, a former University of
Minnesota player, was hired by the
Sharks before the season.
“Our organization has a lot of
respect for Todd—his intellect, his
communication skills, his passion
for the game. He pushes the pace,”
Penguins G.M. Ray Shero told The
Star Tribune. “One of the first things
I heard back on Todd from Chuck
was that our pregame skate was
harder than some team’s practices.
He really pushes the pace and
makes players better.
“He’ll be a great head coach in the
NHL, I believe, for whoever will
give him that opportunity.”
Fletcher has made it clear he
wants an uptempo playing style,
unlike the defensive style former
coach Jacques Lemaire preached in his
nine seasons with the Wild.
If the Penguins and Red Wings
wrap up their conference finals
series by Wednesday night, the
Stanley Cup finals likely would
start on Saturday, May 30 in
Detroit, according to ESPN.com.
Last week, the NHL indicated
that the finals would begin on June
5 if both series didn’t end in sweeps.
Despite his reputation and the fact that Calgary fired him Friday, Mike Keenan was on the receiving end of praise from one of his former players.
Pittsburgh can close out Carolina
in four games Tuesday night, while
the Wings can advance with a win
on Wednesday.
The report, citing multiple sources,
said the league was working closely
with NBC to come up with a solution
that would spare a potentially
embarrassing eight-day layoff.
Cliff Fletcher, Chuck Fletcher’s
NHL
INSIDE DISH
73-year-old father, told Sun Media he
wants to remain involved with the
NHL—but only with the Toronto
Maple Leafs, not as a figure in his son’s
new organization in Minneapolis.
“The Toronto Maple Leafs,”
Fletcher said in a phone interview
from his Phoenix-area home. “In
some capacity, I’d very much like to
have that relationship. I’m not inter-
ested in any other teams.”
ROSS D. FRANKLIN / AP
New Maple Leafs president and
G.M. Brian Burke confirmed in an e-mail
that the interest is mutual. “I plan on
having him back,” Burke wrote.
Fletcher, a former Toronto presi-
dent and G.M., returned to the orga-
nization early in 2008 to replace fired
president John Ferguson. His job was to
bridge the gap until the Leafs hired a
full-time president, which they did
late last fall when Burke was hired
for his dual role.
Fletcher remained as a consultant
for the remainder of the season.
Calgary star Jarome Iginla had
heard all the horror stories about
Mike Keenan—the over-the-top inten-
sity, the anger and the mind
games—when he was hired as
Flames coach in June 2007.
But the older, calmer Keenan Iginla
played under for two seasons never
lived up to the storm warnings and
he expressed regret when he learned
Iron Mike had been fired Friday.
“I think he changed a little bit,”
Iginla told the Toronto Star. “We
definitely still saw his passion and
intensity at different times. And his
competitiveness. But, no, it wasn’t
quite crazy, like the things you
heard from before. Although he
wasn’t soft by any means, he was
still very intense.”
Iginla also said, that as captain of
a team that fell short in the first
round of consecutive playoffs, he
even feels responsible in a way.
“I was surprised (at the news), to
be quite honest,” Iginla told the news-
paper. “I knew he had another year
left on his contract. And I was hoping
we would get another chance next
year with Mike as our coach.”
Carolina coach Paul Maurice has
news for anybody who thinks the
Hurricanes trail Pittsburgh 3-0 in
the Eastern Conference finals
because they’re not scoring goals:
That’s not the problem.
“I don’t think the crux of our
game has been a lack of offense, or
that we should be able to go out and
score seven a night if everybody is
MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 8
Playoff glance
CONFERENCE FINALS
(Best-of-7), all times ET
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Carolina vs. Pittsburgh
(Pittsburgh leads series 3-0)
May 18: Pittsburgh 3, Carolina 2
May 21: Pittsburgh 7, Carolina 4
May 23: Pittsburgh 6, Carolina 2
Tuesday: Pittsburgh at Carolina,
7:30 p.m., Versus
Friday: Carolina at Pittsburgh, 7:30
p.m., if necessary, Versus
Sunday, May 31: Pittsburgh at
Carolina, 7:30 p.m., if necessary,
Versus
Tuesday, June 2: Carolina at
Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m., if necessary,
Versus
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Chicago vs. Detroit
(Detroit leads series 3-1)
May 17: Detroit 5, Chicago 2
May 19: Detroit 3, Chicago 2, OT
May 22: Chicago 4, Detroit 3, OT
Sunday: Detroit 6, Chicago 1
Wednesday: Chicago at Detroit,
7:30 p.m. Versus
Saturday: Detroit at Chicago, 8
p.m., if necessary, Versus
Monday, June 1: Chicago at
Detroit, 7:30 p.m., if necessary, Versus
playing well,” Maurice told The
(Raleigh) News & Observer. “I don’t
think that’s it. We’re getting enough
offense in our game. We’re just not
defending well enough.
“With that being said, our offen-
sive players have to defend, as well.”
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com NBA MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 9
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
Orlando 99, Cleveland 89

Magic take shot, physical attitude from Cavs

ORLANDO—LeBron James had no making peace, they were sending Cleveland 17 24 22 26 — 89
Orlando 24 18 26 31 — 99
shot. players to the free-throw line.
Dwight Howard scored 24 Unlike Games 1 and 2, the Magic CLEVELAND Min FG FT Reb A PF PTS
James 41:57 11-28 18-24 0-7 9 3 41
points—14 on free throws—and didn’t fall behind by double digits Varejao 20:15 1-2 2-2 3-4 0 6 4
Rafer Alston added 18 as the Orlando and need to rally. They got out fast, Ilgauskas 30:53 3-10 3-4 1-9 1 6 9
MWilliams 41:51 5-16 2-3 3-7 3 4 15
Magic, sick of seeing replays of stayed close despite Howard’s early West 42:40 5-11 1-2 0-1 3 5 12
James’ dramatic Game 2 buzzer- foul trouble and put the Cavs away Wallace 15:05 2-2 0-0 4-6 0 3 4
Pavlovic 25:04 0-2 0-0 0-4 1 3 0
beater, downed the Cleveland Cava- at the line. Smith 19:18 2-6 0-0 0-4 0 3 4
liers 99-89 on Sunday night to take a Howard, a notoriously poor foul Gibson 2:57 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Kinsey 0:01 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0
2-1 lead in an Eastern Conference shooter, went 14-of-19 from the line Totals 240:01 29-78 26-35 11-42 17 34 89
finals getting nastier by the minute. and the Magic made 39-of-51
Percentages: FG .372, FT .743. 3-Point Goals: 5-26, .192
James scored 41 on just 11-of-28 attempts. In the fourth quarter (M.Williams 3-10, West 1-2, James 1-8, Gibson 0-1, Pavlovic 0-2,
shooting and missed five free throws alone, Orlando made 19-of-23 to hold Ilgauskas 0-3). Team Rebounds: 13. Team Turnovers: 15 (21
PTS). Blocked Shots: 3 (Ilgauskas, James, Smith). Turnovers: 15
in the fourth quarter. But once again, off the top-seeded Cavaliers, who (M.Williams 5, West 4, James 2, Varejao 2, Pavlovic, Wallace). Steals:
Cleveland’s superstar didn’t get began the playoffs with eight straight 7 (James 2, Smith 2, Pavlovic, Varejao, West). Technical Fouls: West,
1:08 fourth.
enough help from his teammates. wins and have now dropped two of
Mo Williams, who needed four their last three. ORLANDO Min FG FT Reb A PF PTS
Turkoglu 41:23 1-11 11-12 0-10 7 2 13
stitches to close two gashes around Cleveland better figure out a way Lewis 39:32 5-8 3-5 0-2 1 5 15
his left eye after being elbowed in to win in steamy Florida fast. The Howard 27:54 5-8 14-19 4-9 2 6 24
Alston 36:53 6-13 4-4 0-4 3 2 18
the first half, Delonte West and Cavs, who were thumped here by 29 Lee 37:23 4-9 0-0 1-4 3 1 9
Zydrunas Ilgauskas shot a combined on April 3, have six lost six of their Gortat 23:37 2-3 0-2 0-5 0 2 4
Pietrus 26:04 4-9 7-7 3-6 0 3 16
13-of-37. last seven in Orlando. Johnson 6:16 0-2 0-2 0-0 0 2 0
Game 4 is Tuesday night. The Magic seem to have a spell Battie 0:58 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0
Totals 240:00 27-63 39-51 8-40 16 24 99
The first two games of the series over the Cavs.
in Cleveland were each decided by Despite his lack of help, James Percentages: FG .429, FT .765. 3-Point Goals: 6-17, .353 (Alston
2-4, Lewis 2-4, Lee 1-2, Pietrus 1-5, Johnson 0-1, Turkoglu 0-1).
one point. This one was resolved by kept Cleveland within striking dis- Team Rebounds: 11. Team Turnovers: 13 (10 PTS). Blocked Shots:
elbows, shoves and hard fouls. tance in the fourth and scored on a 4 (Gortat 2, Pietrus 2). Turnovers: 13 (Alston 3, Pietrus 3, Turkoglu 3,
Lewis 2, Howard, Lee). Steals: 9 (Alston 3, Lee 3, Pietrus 2, Turkoglu).
Howard, Ilgauskas and Cleve- three-point play while getting How- Technical Fouls: Howard, 2:50 third. Flagrant Fouls: Johnson,
land’s Anderson Varejao all fouled ard’s fifth foul with 2:34 to play to 5:44 second.
out as the officials called 58 person- pull the Cavs to 90-86. PHELAN M. EBENHACK / AP A: 17,461 (17,461). T: 2:58. Officials: Joe Crawford, Greg Willard,
als, handed out two technicals, a fla- Howard, wrapped up underneath, Cleveland G Mo Williams received the brunt of Sunday’s physical play after taking an elbow from Orlando’s Anthony Johnson. Mark Wunderlich.
grant and spent half the night then made two free throws before
stepping between players on both James was fouled and rimmed out control when Howard caught James and made two more to finish the job. postseason. one game after he receives his sev-
sides as tempers flared inside an two at the other end. On Orlando’s from behind and blocked his Turkoglu was just 1-of-11 from the He was called for pushing Ben enth technical foul in the playoffs.
overheated Amway Arena. next trip, Mickael Pietrus, who came 3-pointer. The refs saw it otherwise floor but made 11 free throws and Wallace underneath, and upset with “I didn’t say anything to Joey
“We just kept fighting. That’s what off the bench to score 16, grabbed a and called a three-shot foul on added 10 rebounds and seven the whistle, he said something on Crawford,” Howard said. “The
we got to do, we fight to the end,” long rebound, got fouled and was Superman, who couldn’t believe it. assists. his way to the bench that referee response was to the other team. I
Howard said. “We can’t worry about pushed in the back by West, who James made all three shots, but After sitting the final seven min- Joey Crawford didn’t like and was didn’t say anything to Joey Craw-
nothing, we can’t worry about the was handed a T. the Cavs were short on time. utes of the first half with three fouls, T’d up. Orlando coach Stan Van ford. I’m not stupid enough to get in
calls, can’t worry about nobody else. Pietrus made his free throws to Rashard Lewis’ free throw made it Howard made it through 9:10 of the Gundy had warned his star to keep his face and say anything, so I try to
We just got to get out there and play.” make it 94-86 and the Magic 95-89 and after another Cleveland third quarter before getting No. his composure because the league keep it to the other team.”
When the referees weren’t appeared to have things under miss, Hedo Turkoglu was fouled 4—and technical No. 5 of the automatically suspends a player for — The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Orlando 99, Cleveland 89
Orlando’s Game 3 rebound means one thing—this team has arrived
ORLANDO—He strolled into the locker room 90
minutes before tip, the billionaire owner who
made this all happen. And that meant exactly
squat to his highly annoyed, half-pint grandkids
in tow.
“Can we leave, grandpa?” the blonde grandson
whined.
“I want you to meet my young
friends here,” Orlando owner
Rich DeVos said while the Magic
mulled around prior to Game 3
of the NBA Eastern Conference
finals. “They’re on the edge of
stardom.”
The Magic are already there.
Matt Hayes They’re not LeBron, or Kobe or
BASKETBALL
’Melo or any other single name
or single identity.
They’re merely the biggest matchup nightmare
in the NBA. In other words, the most dangerous
team in the NBA playoffs.
Orlando’s 99-89 victory over top-seeded Cleve-
land Sunday night simply underscored what we’ve
seen play out the last three weeks. The team that
should’ve beaten the defending champion Celtics
in five games in the East semifinals, that should
be up 3-0 on the Cavs and on their way to a sweep,
has arrived.
“We understand,” said Magic point guard Rafer
Alston, “that it could easily be 3-0 Magic.”
If only Orlando could figure out how to close out
games, they’d be the talk of the playoffs. Instead,
they’re a speed bump on the way to LeBron vs.
Kobe.
At least that’s what all those fatcat television
execs hope. LeBron vs. Kobe is sexy; it sells and is
the first major marketing boon for the league since
Michael Jordan vs. Magic Johnson nearly two
decades ago.
When James hit the game-winner in Game 2 to
save Cleveland’s season from sinking into Lake
Erie, all those issues for the team with the best
record and best defense in the league seemingly
vanished. LeBron had surpassed Michael Jordan
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
(quick update, everyone: Jordan has six champi-
onships, LeBron has zilch), and the Cavs had van-
quished the rich tradition of losing in Cleveland.
One problem: the Cavs still can’t cover Rashard
Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu, still have no answer
inside for Dwight Howard, still have the best
player on the planet and a lot of guys who wait for
the best player on the planet to take or make a shot
(not that there’s anything wrong with that).
“Coming down the court, we’re already at a dis-
advantage,” said Cavs point guard Mo Williams.
“They create matchup problems; it’s evident. We
know it, everyone knows it. But when you’re in
position where you have to double guys, it’s going
to put you at a disadvantage. We’re trying things
we haven’t tried all year. It’s amazing how we’re
still in games sometimes.”
It’s amazing the rest of the basketball world
hasn’t embraced it yet. When Lewis and Turkoglu
are hitting shots and when Howard is controlling
the paint, the Magic are impossible to defend.
When Howard is making free throws (he made
14-of-19), no one will beat them.
Two of the three best defenses in the league
(Cleveland and Boston) have had no answers for
Orlando’s inside-outside game. The Magic have
tough role players (Rafer Alston, Mickael Pietrus)
who can shoot, and a talented rookie guard (Court-
ney Lee) who can shoot and defend on the
perimeter.
Howard still has to learn to give up shots. He
can’t defend on every play, and he certainly can’t
defend James every trip down the court. These
days, there arethree givens in life: death, taxes and
LeBron scoring or getting fouled—I mean, getting
a call.
A game ago, James hit what Howard called a
“movie three” to win Game 2. While his legend
continues to grow, the Magic continue to win.
“We don’t find it disrespectful that people are
counting us out,” Howard said. “What we can
control is how we’re playing on the court.”
Right now, no one in the NBA is playing better.
mhayes@sportingnews.com
NBA MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 10
NOTEBOOK
Cavs’ Williams latest
casualty of rough play
Orlando already has been hit twice by
the NBA for physical play, with Dwight
Howard and Rafer Alston serving one-
game suspensions in the first two
rounds.
Don’t be surprised if the league takes a
long look at another hit—this time from
backup Orlando point guard Anthony
Johnson, who hit Cavs point guard Mo
Williams with an elbow after the two
came together on Johnson’s drive to the
basket. Williams’ eye was cut on his eye-
lid and under his eye, and he looked like
he went a few rounds with Kimbo Slice.
“He did the same thing in Game 2,”
Williams said of Johnson. “I have bigger
fish to fry; I have to hit some shots. I could
care less about Anthony Johnson; he
plays 12 minutes a game.”
The free stuff
The teams combined to shoot 86 free
throws—almost two a minute—and much
of that came from Cleveland’s strategy to
deal with Orlando’s multiple threats on
offense.
The Cavs want to foul Howard when
he gets the ball and force him to make
free throws, and want to extend defen-
sively to the perimeter to disrupt the
Magic’s pick-and-roll game with point
forward Hedo Turkoglu. The problem: it
led to 34 fouls and 51 free throws for the
Magic.
Williams said the Cavs are trying
“things we haven’t tried all year” to bet-
ter defend the Magic.
“We’ve got to do a better job of not foul-
ing way out on the floor,” said Cavs coach
Mike Brown. “It’s going to be interesting
AP PHOTO to watch the tape and see some of those
With Orlando C Dwight Howard (12) and F Rashard Lewis seemingly all over the ball, Cleveland fouls.”
is having a hard time covering, much less keeping up with, the Magic. — Matt Hayes
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Nuggets must ‘play a little smarter,’ worry less about crowd
DENVER—The Denver Nuggets
don’t just need work on their
inbounds play. If they’re to bounce
back from a second last-minute
loss to the Lakers they’ll also have
to play to the rim tonight and not
the crowd as they did in Game 3.
The Nuggets didn’t spend their
Sunday lamenting Trevor Ariza’s
deja vu steal in the final minute to
help the Lakers snare a 2-1 lead in
the Western Conference finals.
Instead, they talked about how
they tried too hard to rile up their
crowd, an ill-suited strategy that
resulted in them missing 22 of 27
shots from outside the arc and
shooting a playoff-low 39 percent
while losing at home for the first
time in 75 days.
The Nuggets’ three best 3-point
shooters were all off the mark:
Carmelo Anthony was 1-for-7,
Chauncey Billups 2-for-7, J.R.
Smith 2-for-10.
Kenyon Martin said he couldn’t
believe the Nuggets fired up that
many 3-pointers, “but we were
trying to put them away.”
“We’d go up seven, eight points
and trying to get the building to
erupt,” Martin said. “We’ve done
that so much during the season
and throughout the playoffs. So,
we figured that’s the way it was
going to be. And it’s not always
going to be that way. You’ve got to
grind it out sometimes, take the
tough two or get to the line and
score points that way.”
Billups agreed the Nuggets “shot
some bad 3-point shots at bad
points of the game, just taking
chances, trying to hit the dagger,”
Lakers F Trevor Ariza has a team-high eight steals in three games, helping his team gain a 2-1 advantage over Denver heading into Game 4.
and vowed that would change for
Game 4 tonight.
In their half-dozen blowouts at
the Pepsi Center in these playoffs,
the Nuggets had turned their
crowd into a major factor by using
their transition game, pull-up 3s,
kick-outs and rim-rattling dunks
to turn tight games into runaways
and their arena into a jet engine.
NBA
WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
Against Los Angeles, however,
the 3-pointers rimmed out all
night, allowing the Lakers to stick
around long enough for Kobe Bry-
ant to win it for them in the fourth
quarter with a little help from
Ariza, who also stole the Nuggets’
inbounds pass in the final minute
to seal Game 1.
“I think we got caught up in the
MARK J. TERRILL / AP
emotion of the moment of a great
crowd, a great challenge,” Nuggets
coach George Karl said. “I think
we tried to hit too many home runs
rather than just take a single here,
a double here and win the game
that way. We tried to hit too many
bombs.
“We’ve got to challenge the Lak-
ers to play defense on every
possession. I think we took too
many shots where they didn’t have
to play defense.”
The Nuggets were simply too
excited about playing in front of
their boisterous crowd for the first
time since eliminating the Maver-
icks 10 days earlier, and that
resulted into too many bricks.
“Being home and just knowing
how great this crowd is when we
make 3s, when we make dunks, I
think we may have put too much
into that and wanted to feed off of
that too much instead of playing a
little smarter,” Billups said.
The Nuggets had hoped playing
at the Pepsi Center would give
them some leeway to atone for mis-
takes, “but we can’t bank on that,”
Billups said. “We’ve got to play the
right way, like we’ve been playing
the entire playoffs.”
Which means being more
patient, getting to the basket and
attacking the rim.
The Nuggets had come to expect
big games from Anthony, who had
averaged 35 points in his previous
five games, but he had an off night,
shooting 4-for-13 for 21 points, just
three after halftime.
“It was just one of them nights
that the shots didn’t go down,”
Anthony said.
For anyone, it seemed, except
the guys who aren’t paid for their
points.
Denver defensive specialists
Dahntay Jones and Chris “Bird-
man” Andersen shot a combined
10-for-15, which means their team-
mates were 23-for-69, or 33
percent.
MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 11
Today’s game
Conference finals
(Best-of-7), all times ET
L.A. Lakers at Denver,
9 p.m., ESPN
Betting line
Today
FAVORITE ..........LINE ... O/U .........UNDERDOG
at Denver..................4½.... (209) .............L.A. Lakers
The Lakers have their own
issues, including Ariza’s sore hip
and groin and Bryant’s banged-up
body. And they got off to a slow
start Saturday night. They know if
not for the Nuggets’ bad shot selec-
tion, they could very well be the
ones facing a 2-1 hole.
“We’ve got to come out with
more focus, more energy and
really just execute a lot better in
the defensive end of the floor,” said
Bryant, who characterized the
team mood as “still a little edgy, a
little upset.”
Bryant needed an IV after the
game Saturday night and said that
was the most exhausted he’d ever
been after a playoff game.
“For two, three years now I’ve
been playing nonstop,” Bryant
said. “Then, the physical series we
had against Houston and these
guys grabbing and holding more
than the Houston series. It’s been
a really physical series. They’re
making me work for everything,
so it’s a combination of all that.”
— The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Report: Cavs owner has deal with Chinese investors
Citing multiple sources within
the organization, The (Cleveland)
Plain Dealer reported that Cavaliers
owner Dan Gilbert has a tentative
agreement in place to sell a large
chunk of interest in the team to a
group of Chinese investors. The
paper reported that the group is led
by Chinese businessman Kenny
Huang, who was in attendance at
Games 1 and 2 of the East finals this
week.
“Dan Gilbert has been approached
multiple times over the past few
years by investors that wanted to
join the Cavs’ ownership group,”
said Cavs president Len Komoroski in
a statement. “This has recently hap-
pened again. As has been done pre-
viously, we’re in the process of
reviewing the possibility presented
to us. Beyond that, we do not feel it
would be appropriate to give fur-
ther comment at this time.”
One of the more intriguing
prospects in this year’s draft is Ohio
State C B.J. Mullens, who put his name
in after one fairly unimpressive
year of college (he averaged 8.8
points and 4.7 rebounds). Mullens
has size (7-0) and athleticism, but
because he is almost a blank slate as
far as post moves go, he is definitely
a project and scouts rank him all
over the board. In addition to a lack
of post moves, Mullens’ body is
viewed as soft by most NBA-types.
“That will change,” Joe Abunussar,
who is training Mullens, told SN
Today. “In just a few weeks, he has
already put on a lot of muscle and
has room for more. I think those
who think of B.J. as soft are going to
B.J. Mullens, left, entered the NBA draft after one year at Ohio State, and while he lacks post moves, his size and athleticism intrigues scouts.
be surprised when they see him.”
The Hornets’ financial situa-
tion—they’re in luxury-tax terri-
tory, and don’t really have the
revenue to support being a tax
payer—hasn’t changed since the
team’s season ended in the first
round of the playoffs. But the fran-
chise isn’t necessarily looking to a
trade of C Tyson Chandler (which they
NBA
INSIDE DISH
attempted to do in February) as the
only way to dodge the tax, and there
are certainly no plans to trade PG
Chris Paul. There is one possibility:
the balky back of SF Peja Stojakovic
could, according to The (New
Orleans) Times-Picayune, force him
to retire. That would not offer the
Hornets immediate cap relief, but if
Stojakovic retires and does not
come back, the team would be
TERRY GILLIAM / AP
allowed to take his $15 million sal-
ary off the books in 2010-11.
With Blake Griffin potentially
entering the fold in Los Angeles,
Clippers F Marcus Camby wants to
stay with the team. Despite those
wishes, Griffin’s arrival would
create a logjam in the Clippers’
frontcourt, and Camby could be
the odd man out, according to The
Boston Globe. The 35-year-old
Camby has a contract paying $12.1
million next season and $13 mil-
lion the following season, and
averaged 10.3 points, 11.1
rebounds, and 2.1 blocks in 2008-
09. The Globe lists San Antonio,
Dallas, Miami, and Atlanta as
teams who could have interest.
Other players affected by Griffin’s
arrival—Chris Kaman and Zach Ran-
dolph—could stick with the Clip-
pers. Kaman’s contract (three
years, $33.9 million) is reasonable,
while Randolph’s (two years, $33.3
million) is not, according to the
Globe.
The Heat, who have worked
out several potential second-round
point guards including BC’s Tyrese
Rice and Gonzaga’s Jeremy Pargo, will
keep a close eye on Pacers PG Jamaal
Tinsley’s July 27 grievance hearing,
according to The Miami Herald. If
Indiana refuses to play the 31-year-
old Tinsley, he’ll be available as a
free agent. Indiana banished Tins-
ley from the team after the 2008-
09 season because of several
off-the-court issues, but refused to
buy him out or trade him.
The Wizards aren’t looking to
move Javale McGee, according to The
Washington Post. Rumors had circu-
lated that the team was contemplat-
ing trading McGee, a rookie in
2008-09, and the fifth pick to
Oklahoma City for the third pick.
McGee, a 7-foot 21-year-old former
first-round pick, averaged 6.5
points and 4.9 rebounds, but dis-
played impressive athleticism.
MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 12
Playoff glance
CONFERENCE FINALS
(Best-of-7), all times ET
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Cleveland vs. Orlando
(Orlando leads series 2-1)
May 20: Orlando 107, Cleveland 106
May 22: Cleveland 96, Orlando 95
Sunday: Orlando 99, Cleveland 89
Tuesday: Cleveland at Orlando,
8:30 p.m., TNT
Thursday: Orlando at Cleveland,
8:30 p.m., if necessary
Saturday: Cleveland at Orlando, 8:30
p.m., if necessary
Monday, June 1: Orlando at
Cleveland, 8:30 p.m., if necessary
WESTERN CONFERENCE
L.A. Lakers vs. Denver
(Lakers lead series 2-1)
May 19: L.A. Lakers 105, Denver 103
May 21: Denver 106, L.A. Lakers 103
May 23: L.A. Lakers 103, Denver 97
Today: L.A. Lakers at Denver,
9 p.m., ESPN
Wednesday: Denver at L.A. Lakers,
9 p.m., ESPN
Friday: L.A. Lakers at Denver, 9 p.m., if
necessary
Sunday, May 31: Denver at L.A.
Lakers, 8:30 p.m., if necessary
NBA calendar
June 4—NBA finals start date (pos-
sible move-up to June 2).
June 15—NBA draft early entry
entrant withdrawal deadline (5 p.m.
ET).
June 18—NBA finals latest possible
end date.
June 25—NBA draft.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Rodriguez returns, but pitching status is uncertain
New York Mets closer Francisco
Rodriguez was back with the club
Sunday, feeling better after being
hospitalized with back spasms after
Saturday night’s game.
Mets manager Jerry Manuel told
reporters he was unsure when Rodri-
guez would be available to pitch, but
added that he expects SS Jose Reyes to
play today against the Nationals.
Reyes has been sidelined with tendi-
nitis in his right calf.
Manuel said that Rodriguez
couldn’t even walk after batting
practice before Saturday night’s
game against the Red Sox. Rodri-
guez told the New York Daily News
that his legs locked up, prompting
medical personnel to take him to an
ambulance on a stretcher.
“As soon as the medicine started
kicking in, I started feeling a lot better.
And by this morning I was doing a lot
of things that I wasn’t capable of last
night,” he told the newspaper.”
David Ortiz might be dropped
from the third spot in Boston’s bat-
ting order. “I think that’s something
we’re going to discuss,” Red Sox hit-
ting coach Dave Magadan said after
Ortiz went O-for-5 in Sunday’s 12-5
win over the Mets, dropping his bat-
ting average to .195. “We’ll probably
talk about it on the flight (to Minne-
sota). We want to do not only what’s
best for David but what’s best for the
team,” he added. “He’s got to be a big
part of our offense. By no means do I
feel like I feel he’s at the end of the
rope.”
The Rockies placed C Chris Ian-
netta on the 15-day disabled list Sun-
day, moments before the first pitch of
their game against the Tigers.
INSIDE DISH
Back spasms hospitalized Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez, who has 12 saves in 12 attempts.
Iannetta strained his right hamstring
while running the bases in Saturday
night’s game. The Rockies also pur-
chased the contract of C Paul Phillips
from Class AAA Colorado Springs
and announced that IF Jeff Baker will
go on the 60-day disabled list with a
hand injury.
The Reds optioned RP Homer
Bailey to Class AAA Louisville Sun-
day, less than 24 hours after he
failed to last five innings in his first
major league start this season.
IF Wilkin Castillo was recalled from
Louisville to fill Bailey’s roster spot.
Bailey, who was recalled Friday
when RP Edinson Volquez went on the
15-day disabled list, was roughed
Baseball
KATHY WILLENS / AP
up for six runs on three hits and six
walks over 4 1/3 innings in his Sat-
urday start against the Indians.
The slumping Royals made a
flurry of moves Sunday, sending RP
Luke Hochevar to Class AAA Omaha
and putting RP Robinson Tejada and SS
Mike Aviles on the 15-day disabled list.
Hochevar was 0-2 with a 10.80 ERA
in three starts since being recalled.
Tejada, who has a 2.65 ERA in 12
relief appearances, has tendinitis in
his right rotator cuff, and Aviles is
hitting .183 while battling a strained
forearm. The Royals called up RP
Roman Colon and IF Tug Hulett from
Omaha and activated LP John Bale
(thyroid surgery) from the D.L.
MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 13
THE LAUNCHING PAD
Get outta here
What to expect in the major leagues today
Orioles RP Koji Uehara will throw There is plenty of day baseball on this Memorial Day, and there should be
his normal side session Tuesday plenty of action when the Yankees visit the Rangers this afternoon. These two
teams lead the majors in home runs, and Rangers Ballpark in Arlington has a rep-
before the team determines whether
utation as a hitter-friendly park. In other words, it could be a long day for Yankees
a left hamstring injury will force him starter Phil Hughes (six homers allowed this season) and Rangers starter Matt
to miss his next scheduled start Harrison (seven homers allowed). And it also should be a long day for Yankees
Thursday. Uehara left Saturday third baseman Alex Rodriguez. He has been treated as a villain by Rangers fans
night’s game against the Nationals ever since his trade from Texas to New York, and this will be his first trip back
since admitting steroids use during his Texas career.
after three innings.
Rays manager Joe Maddon criti- Moyer’s milestone
Phillies lefthander Jamie Moyer seemingly will pitch until he is 55, and the
cized a $500 fine he received from
46-year-old probably will have to in order to have a shot at 300 career wins.
MLB for a May 17 confrontation that For now, he’d settle for 250. Moyer has been stuck on 249 for the past four
occurred when Indians RP Kerry Wood starts, during which time he has posted a 10.80 ERA. Moyer will attempt to
threw behind B.J. Upton and then end the drought tonight against the Marlins, and the odds are in his favor. In
threw his next pitch inside, as well. 13 career starts against Florida, Moyer is 12-1 with a 2.84 ERA.
Indians C Victor Martinez, who had
dodged an inside pitch earlier in the Price check
series, got into a shouting match with With the struggling Scott Kazmir on the disabled list because of a quad
injury, the Rays had a rotation void to fill. And who better to fill that void
the Rays’ bench and both dugouts
than 2008 postseason hero and prized prospect David Price? Despite his
emptied. The only fine levied was late-season and postseason dominance in 2008, Price began this season at
against Maddon for inciting the situa- Class AAA. Tampa Bay wanted him to polish a few things and also wanted
tion. “That’s totally unjust,” Maddon to limit his innings. Price was just 1-4 with a 3.93 ERA in eight starts in the
said Sunday. “I didn’t incite anybody. minors but will face the Indians tonight.
I was reacting. I think the reaction — Chris Bahr
part of the thing—if that’s going to be
fined, the inciter should also be fined.
To indicate I was the inciter is a total
misconception, misappropriation,
lack of good judgment.”
The St. Louis Cardinals acti-
vated Rick Ankiel from the 15-day dis-
abled list Sunday, reversing course
from a day earlier because Ankiel
had a strong workout. He had been
on the D.L. since May 4 after a head-
first crash into the wall while making
a running catch. IF Tyler Greene was
optioned to Class AAA Memphis.
The Baltimore Sun reports that
Orioles OF Lou Montanez is expected to
undergo surgery next week to repair
a torn ligament in his right thumb, an ROB CARR / AP
injury that could keep him out for a Alex Rodriguez is back in Arlington for the first time since admitting steroid use.
good part of the season.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY
Steve Palermo doesn’t regret breaking up a mugging that left him paralyzed.
www.sportingnews.com Baseball
Q&A with ... MLB umpire supervisor Steve Palermo
‘If I had to do it all over again, yes, I would do it’
Steve Palermo was considered one
of the A.L.’s top umpires before he was
shot in the spinal cord and partially
paralyzed while trying to break up a
mugging in 1991. Today, Palermo is
a major league umpire supervisor as
well as a motivational speaker who tells
the story of how he—with the help of
his wife Debbie—battled back from
an injury that had left him unable to
walk. Palermo walks today with the
aid of a cane and a leg brace. He talked
to Sporting News Today’s Stan McNeal
about his two careers.
Q: What is your message
when you speak?
A: I talk about the result of
consequences for actions
that were taken when I was shot,
both on my part, my wife’s part
and even the shooter’s part. It’s a
love story between my wife and I
and what we went through. We
had been married for only five
months when it happened and for
Debbie to stick it out, takes a
special person. She easily could
have said, “You’re not walking
again? Well, I’m walking, right
out of here.”
Q: What’s the question
you’re most often asked
when you speak?
A: If you had to do it all over
again, would you do it? My
response is always the same. Yes,
I would. I would have loved to
been shot in the butt or the pinkie
as opposed to hitting my spinal
cord. But as much as I hate this
phrase, “It is what it is.”
JOHN CORDES FOR SN Q:
watch?
Who are a couple of
pitchers you like to
A: Pitchers who work fast.
If Mark Buehrle is not
No. 1, he’s on the short list. Cliff
Lee is another. This season,
Zack Greinke is one. He gets the
ball and goes. It’s a rhythmic
thing. Hitters get into a rhythm,
catchers do, the umpire does.
You can almost see third-base
coaches give signs quicker. The
reason why these guys work
quickly is because they’re
throwing strikes.
Q: What do umpires think
when they read that
Greg Maddux and Tom
Glavine always were given
strikes even when they threw
six inches outside?
A: You’re telling me that I’m
cheating. I bristle at that.
It’s upsetting. Here’s a news flash
for you: The reason why umpires
called more strikes with them
was because they were throwing
strikes.
Q: If an umpire calls 270
pitches in a game, what
is the average that he calls
correctly?
A: These guys are damn
good. We have umpires
grade out at 100 percent some-
times. The average is in the high
90s.
Q: Who are the best
arguers you’ve run
across in the 25 years you’ve
spent in the majors?
A: No offense to today’s
managers, but they’re not
in the same class as Gene Mauch,
Billy Martin, Dick Williams and
the guy at the top of my list, Earl
Weaver. Billy and I fought as
good as anybody my first two
years, but after a couple of years,
he came up and said he wouldn’t
argue with me anymore. He said
I was working harder than
anyone in the park. After that,
he’d come out and ask what had
happened. Before, he would come
out and tell me what had
happened.
Q: Can you recall a
A:
memorable argument?
Earl and I didn’t see eye to
eye on much, but one time
I agreed with him. He came out
after I was giving it to someone
in his dugout for hollering at me.
Earl comes out and says, “Calm
down. You see those guys in
there? In a couple of years, they’ll
be gone. Then they’ll be a new
bunch and they’ll be gone after a
few years. And you know what?
You’ll still be here. So don’t
worry about what’s going on in
there.” I said, “You’ve got a point,
Earl. Now get outta here.”
Q: Where is instant replay
heading?
A: Hopefully right where it
is. Commissioner (Bud
Selig) has said this is where I
want it to be because (calling
home runs) are the most difficult
calls for umpires in these fan-
friendly ballparks where fans can
hang over the fences. So baseball
has realized these are difficult
calls. It’s a good point of jumping
off and stopping right there.
MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 14
Q: Any rule changes you’d
like to see?
A: I’d like to see the obstruc-
tion rule change. That’s
when the defense hinders the
offense. When the offense hinders
the defense, it’s interference. The
obstruction rule is too convoluted,
and there’s too much gray area. An
umpire’s job is black and white.
Q: What was the most
memorable game you
called?
A: There’s three. The Dave
Righetti no-hitter on July 4,
1983, even though I didn’t realize
he had a no-hitter until I saw the
crowd stand and cheer for him
when he came out for the ninth.
The 1978 (Bucky Dent) playoff
game between the Red Sox and the
Yankees. History looks back on
that as being a great game. We
knew it was a great game during
the game because it was so intense
and so hotly contested.
Game 5 of the 1983 World
Series. I had blown out my knee
earlier that year and had surgery
that was supposed to keep me out
12 weeks. I knew I had a shot at
working the World Series that
season and made it back in six
weeks. That game started late
afternoon and with the October
sun, there was a bad glare in
center field. Rick Dempsey, the
Orioles catcher, said, “Steve, stay
with me. I’m having a hard time
picking up the ball, especially the
high pitch.” “Rick,” I said, “I don’t
need to hear that. Why can’t you
have trouble with the low and
outside ones?”
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 15
Fantasy Focus LEAGUE LEADERS
American League Standings
Batting Average Home Runs East W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str Home Away
Waiver-wire pickups Boston 26 18 .591 — — 5-5 W-1 17-6 9-12
A.L. N.L. A.L. N.L. Toronto 27 20 .574 ½ — 4-6 L-6 16-6 11-14
Player Team Player Team Player Team Player Team New York 25 19 .568 1 ½ 8-2 L-1 14-9 11-10
Bartlett Tampa Bay .373 Beltran New York .361 CPena Tampa Bay 15 Ibanez Philadelphia 17 Tampa Bay 23 23 .500 4 3½ 7-3 L-1 11-10 12-13
Baltimore 18 26 .409 8 7½ 4-6 L-1 11-11 7-15
VMartinez Cleveland .371 Ibanez Philadelphia .352 Bay Boston 13 AdGonzalez San Diego 16
MiCabrera Detroit .367 DWright New York .350 Morneau Minnesota 13 Dunn Washington 14 Central W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str Home Away
AdJones Baltimore .359 CGuzman Washington .349 Teixeira New York 13 Pujols St. Louis 14 Detroit 24 18 .571 — — 7-3 L-2 15-7 9-11
Kansas City 22 22 .500 3 3½ 4-6 W-1 14-10 8-12
AHill Toronto .350 Zimmerman Washington .348 Inge Detroit 12 Bruce Cincinnati 12 Minnesota 22 23 .489 3½ 4 4-6 W-4 17-9 5-14
MYoung Texas .343 Pence Houston .348 Kinsler Texas 12 Reynolds Arizona 12 Chicago 19 24 .442 5½ 6 4-6 L-1 12-10 7-14
Morneau Minnesota .343 Tejada Houston .345 Six tied 1 ASoriano Chicago 12 Cleveland 17 28 .378 8½ 9 4-6 L-1 7-11 10-17
West W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str Home Away
Runs Stolen Bases Texas 26 17 .605 — — 7-3 W-3 14-6 12-11
Los Angeles 23 20 .535 3 2 5-5 W-1 12-8 11-12
A.L. N.L. A.L. N.L. Seattle 21 24 .467 6 5 5-5 W-1 12-12 9-12
Oakland 16 25 .390 9 8 3-7 W-1 9-12 7-13
Player Team Player Team Player Team Player Team
BRoberts Baltimore 39 Pujols St. Louis 38 Crawford
Figgins
Tampa Bay
Los Angeles
28
19
Bourn
Taveras
Houston
Cincinnati
14
12
National League Standings
AdJones Baltimore 38 Ibanez Philadelphia 37 East W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str Home Away
Markakis Baltimore 36 Zimmerman Washington 37 Ellsbury Boston 18 Burriss San Francisco 11 Philadelphia 24 18 .571 — — 8-2 W-1 8-12 16-6
Morneau Minnesota 36 Hudson Los Angeles 33 Abreu Los Angeles 15 Fowler Colorado 11 Atlanta 23 20 .535 1½ 2½ 7-3 W-3 11-12 12-8
Scutaro Toronto 36 ASoriano Chicago 33 Bartlett Tampa Bay 14 JosReyes New York 11 New York 23 20 .535 1½ 2½ 5-5 L-1 12-8 11-12
Florida 20 25 .444 5½ 6½ 3-7 W-1 9-14 11-11
Bay Boston 35 Werth Philadelphia 32 BUpton Tampa Bay 14 Three tied 10 Washington 13 30 .302 11½ 12½ 2-8 W-1 7-16 6-14
JOHN BAZEMORE / AP Pedroia Boston 35 Four tied 31 Crisp Kansas City 11
Central W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str Home Away
Phillies lefty J.A. Happ gets a start this week. Milwaukee 26 18 .591 — — 6-4 L-3 12-7 14-11
RBIs Pitching (4 decisions) St. Louis 26 18 .591 — — 6-4 L-1 17-9 9-9
J.A. Happ, SP, Phillies. The young Cincinnati 23 20 .535 2½ 2½ 4-6 W-1 10-12 13-8
A.L. N.L. A.L. N.L. Chicago 21 21 .500 4 4 3-7 L-7 12-7 9-14
6-6 lefthander is getting a chance Player Team Player Team Player Team Player Team Pittsburgh 20 24 .455 6 6 6-4 W-1 11-9 9-15
to start for the Phillies. His first Longoria Tampa Bay 49 Ibanez Philadelphia 43 Palmer Los Angeles 5-0 1.000 Broxton Los Angeles 5-0 1.000 Houston 18 24 .429 7 7 4-6 L-4 9-15 9-9
outing was encouraging (6 IP, 2 Bay Boston 45 Fielder Milwaukee 42 Frasor Toronto 4-0 1.000 Martis Washington 5-0 1.000 West W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str Home Away
ER, 4 K). Plus, he gets the Nation- Morneau Minnesota 40 Dunn Washington 39 Halladay Toronto 8-1 .889 Meredith San Diego 4-0 1.000 Los Angeles 30 15 .667 — — 7-3 L-1 18-5 12-10
Markakis Baltimore 38 Pujols St. Louis 38 Greinke Kansas City 7-1 .875 Condrey Philadelphia 4-0 1.000 San Diego 22 22 .500 7½ 4 9-1 W-9 17-6 5-16
als this week. San Francisco 20 23 .465 9 5½ 2-8 L-1 13-8 7-15
CPena Tampa Bay 38 Cantu Florida 35 Slowey Minnesota 6-1 .857 Cain San Francisco 5-1 .833 Arizona 19 25 .432 10½ 7 6-4 L-1 9-15 10-10
Hunter Los Angeles 37 Three tied 34 Buehrle Chicago 6-1 .857 Pelfrey New York 4-1 .800 Colorado 18 25 .419 11 7½ 5-5 W-2 7-10 11-15
J.J. Putz, RP, Mets. With Fran- AHuff Baltimore 36 Penny Boston 4-1 .800 Stults Los Angeles 4-1 .800 z-first game was a win
cisco Rodriguez dealing with back
spasms, Putz could get some save Doubles Strikeouts
Pitching Matchups Today’s Games (All times Eastern)
opportunities this week. Putz A.L. N.L. A.L. N.L. American League The Line
hasn’t pitched too great this year, Player Team Player Team Player Team Player Team Toronto (Tallet 2-2) at Baltimore (Guthrie 3-4), 1:35 p.m. at Bal -105, Tor -105
but the idea of closing opportuni- Longoria Tampa Bay 20 Hudson Los Angeles 16 Verlander Detroit 77 Peavy San Diego 79 N.Y. Yankees (Hughes 2-2) at Texas (Harrison 4-3), 2:05 p.m. at Tex -110, NYY +100
ties should get his blood pumping. Callaspo Kansas City 16 Kotchman Atlanta 16 Greinke Kansas City 73 Lincecum San Francisco 76
MYoung Texas 16 FSanchez Pittsburgh 16 Boston (Penny 4-1) at Minnesota (Liriano 2-5), 2:10 p.m. at Min -130, Bos +120
FHernandez Seattle 66 JSantana New York 75
Byrd Texas 15 FLopez Arizona 15 Detroit (Verlander 4-2) at Kansas City (Meche 2-4), 2:10 p.m. Det -130, at KC +120
Adam Kennedy, 2B, A’s. Kennedy Halladay Toronto 63 JVazquez Atlanta 73
Lind Toronto 15 HaRamirez Florida 15 Lester Boston 58 Billingsley Los Angeles 69 Seattle (Jakubauskas 3-4) at Oakland (Bre.Anderson 1-4), 4:05 p.m. at Oak -135, Sea +125
has been on fire since the A’s Lowell Boston 15 Tejada Houston 15 Garza Tampa Bay 53 Haren Arizona 63 Tampa Bay (Price 0-0) at Cleveland (Carmona 2-4), 6:05 p.m. at Cle -115, TB +105
picked him up. His hot streak is Three tied 14 Two tied 14 Beckett Boston 51 JoJohnson Florida 59 Chicago White Sox (Danks 3-3) at L.A. Angels (E.Santana 0-1), 9:05 p.m. at LAA -155, ChW +145
unlikely to last, but he’s worth tak-
ing a flier on in AL-only leagues Triples Saves National League The Line
for short-term help. A.L. N.L. A.L. N.L.
Houston (W.Rodriguez 5-2) at Cincinnati (Harang 4-4), 1:10 p.m. Hou -110, at Cin +100
—George Winkler Player Team Player Team Player Team Player Team St. Louis (C.Carpenter 2-0) at Milwaukee (Gallardo 4-2), 2:05 p.m. at Mil -120, StL +110
Crisp Kansas City 5 Kemp Los Angeles 4 Fuentes Los Angeles 12 FrRodriguez New York 12 L.A. Dodgers (Stults 4-1) at Colorado (De La Rosa 0-4), 3:10 p.m. at Col -120, LAD +110
Andrus Texas 4 Victorino Philadelphia 4 Papelbon Boston 11 Bell San Diego 12 San Diego (Gaudin 1-3) at Arizona (D.Davis 2-6), 3:40 p.m. at Ari -130, SD +120
MORE COVERAGE JBuck Kansas City 3 Bourn Houston 3 Jenks Chicago 10 Franklin St. Louis 11 Atlanta (J.Vazquez 4-3) at San Francisco (J.Sanchez 1-4), 4:05 p.m. Atl -130, at SF +120
Crawford Tampa Bay 3 Morgan Pittsburgh 3 FFrancisco Texas 10 Hoffman Milwaukee 11 Florida (Volstad 3-3) at Philadelphia (Moyer 3-4), 7:05 p.m. at Phi -130, Fla +120
Get everything you need to Cuddyer Minnesota 3 JUpton Arizona 3 MaRivera New York 9 Cordero Cincinnati 11 Washington (Lannan 2-3) at N.Y. Mets (Maine 3-3), 7:10 p.m. at NYM -165, Was +155
dominate your fantasy league at DeJesus Kansas City 3 Winn San Francisco 3 Sherrill Baltimore 9 Broxton Los Angeles 11
sportingnews.com/fantasy/baseball Pittsburgh (Maholm 3-1) at Chicago Cubs (Dempster 3-3), 8:05 p.m. at ChC -185, Pit +175
15 tied 2 DWright New York 3 Rodney Detroit 8 Qualls Arizona 11
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball FHECEJ?ED

INTERLEAGUE
Philadelphia 4, N.Y. Yankees 3, 11 innings

Ruiz makes Manuel’s decision pay off

Phillies 4, Yankees 3, 11 innings
Philadelphia AB R H BI BB
Rollins ss 5 1 1 1 1
SO
1
Avg.
.233
HIGHEST
PERFORMERS
Victorino cf 6 1 3 1 0 0 .269
Ibanez dh 5 0 2 1 0 0 .352
Howard 1b 5 0 2 0 0 0 .256
Werth lf 5 0 0 0 0 3 .262
Mayberry rf 5 0 0 0 0 1 .250
Feliz 3b
Bruntlett 2b
a-Utley ph-2b
Ruiz c
Totals
5 0 0 0 0
3 0 0 0 0
1 1 0 0 1
4 1 3 1 1
44 4 11 4 3
0
1
1
0
7
.295
.118
.297
.302
SWEEPSTAKES
New York AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Jeter ss 5 0 3 0 0 1 .287 Own a piece of baseball history! Enter for a chance to win one of
Damon lf 5 0 2 1 0 0 .307
Teixeira 1b 5 1 2 1 0 0
A.Rodriguez 3b 4 0 0 0 1 3
.268
.189 twenty 22x28 prints of the game’s legendary heroes taken by the greatest
Cano 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0 .313
1-R.Pena pr-2b 1 1 0 0 0 0 .250 baseball photographer of all time, Charles M. Conlon.
Me.Cabrera rf 5 0 3 1 0 0 .328
H.Matsui dh 5 0 0 0 0 2 .241
Cervelli c 3 1 1 0 0 0 .306
b-Swisher ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .225
Cash c 1 0 0 0 0 0 .059 From 1904 to 1942, Sporting News photographer, Charles M. Conlon,
KATHY WILLENS / AP Gardner cf 4 0 1 0 0 0 .244
Carlos Ruiz hit an 11th-inning double to improve Philadelphia’s road record to an MLB-best 16-6. Totals 43 3 13 3 1 6
immortalized the sport’s greatest players and created some of baseball’s
Philadelphia 002 001 000 01 —4 11 1
NEW YORK—Phillies manager Charlie Clay Condrey (4-0) worked two New York 001 001 001 00 —3 13 0 most famous photographs. Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio,
Manuel thought about hitting for Car- scoreless innings. a-struck out for Bruntlett in the 9th. b-grounded out for
Ted Williams—these visually stunning, black and white photographs of
Cervelli in the 9th. 1-ran for Cano in the 9th. E: Bruntlett
los Ruiz in the 11th inning, and ended Chase Utley got the winning rally (1). LOB: Philadelphia 10, New York 8. 2B: Rollins (9),
up sending the catcher to the plate. started with a two-out walk against Ibanez (11), Ruiz (6), Damon (10), Cervelli (1). HR: baseball’s golden age are instantly recognized around the world.
Teixeira (13), off Hamels. RBIs: Rollins (17), Victorino
Good decision. Brett Tomko (0-1). Utley stole second (24), Ibanez (43), Ruiz (8), Damon (29), Teixeira (34),
Ruiz hit a two-out RBI double and before Ruiz lined the ninth pitch of Me.Cabrera (20). SB: Victorino (6), Howard (2), Utley
(3), Jeter (9), R.Pena (2), Me.Cabrera (4). CS: Me.Cabrera
Philadelphia overcame another blown the at-bat down the third-base line. (2), Gardner (2). Runners left in scoring position:
save by Brad Lidge to beat the New
York Yankees 4-3 on Sunday.
A strong contingent of Phillies fans
in the crowd of 46,986, the biggest at
Philadelphia 5 (Mayberry 3, Werth, Victorino); New York
4 (A.Rodriguez, H.Matsui, Gardner, R.Pena). DP: Phila-
delphia 2 (Ruiz, Ruiz, Rollins), (Utley, Rollins, Howard).
ENTER TODAY!
Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino and Yankee Stadium since opening day,
Philadelphia IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
sportingnews.com/mlb/draft/sweeps
Raul Ibanez drove in runs for Philadel- cheered wildly as Utley scored. Hamels 6 8 2 2 0 5 109 4.68
phia, and Ruiz blocked the plate to stop Melky Cabrera hit a tying single off Durbin H, 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 16 4.32
S.Eyre H, 7 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 4 3.48
Johnny Damon from scoring early. Lidge in the ninth as the Yankees Madson H, 9 2⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 5 2.95
The Phillies went 8-2 on their three- nearly rallied for their fifth walkoff Lidge BS, 4-12 1 2 1 1 0 1 16 9.15 This opportunity is brought to you by Gillette Clinical Strength Anti-Perspirant Deodorant. NO
Condrey W, 4-0 2 2 0 0 1 0 33 2.19 PURCHASE NECESSARY. For complete rules and regulations, visit sportingnews.com/mlb/
city, 10-day trip and improved to a win of a wildly successful 10-game New York IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
major league-best 16-6 on the road. homestand, where New York went 8-2. Sabathia 8 9 3 3 0 4 110 3.42 draft/sweeps. Starts 12:01 AM ET 05/01/2009 and ends 11:59 PM ET 06/30/2009 when
Veras 1 0 0 0 1 2 15 5.59 all entries must be received. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States/DC, 18
“We ended the trip well and needed “Today we didn’t get it done but that Ma.Rivera 1 1 0 0 0 1 19 2.75 years of age or older as of the date of entry except employees of Sponsors, their immediate
that,” Manuel said. “We wish we doesn’t take away from what we did Tomko L, 0-1 1 1 1 1 2 0 30 4.15
families, and those living in the same household. Void outside the 50 United States/DC and
could’ve taken yesterday’s game too, on the homestand,” manager Joe IBB: off Condrey (A.Rodriguez). WP: Sabathia. where prohibited. Odds of winning depend on the number of entries received. ARV of 20
but they beat us. I like the way that we Girardi said. “We can’t expect these Umpires: Home, Mike Estabrook; First, Randy Marsh;
prizes: $150 each. Sponsor: Sporting News, 750 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10016 and
Second, Mike Winters; Third, Lance Barksdale. T: 3:58.
are playing. We’re starting to play bet- guys to do it every time.” A: 46,986 (52,325). Procter and Gamble Distributing, LLC, Cincinnati, OH 45202.
ter, more consistent baseball.” — The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 17
INTERLEAGUE
Boston 12, N.Y. Mets 5 Atlanta 10, Toronto 2
McCann leads Braves 10, Blue Jays 2

After losing HR to review, Youkilis strikes back Braves to sweep

Toronto
Scutaro ss
AB R H
4 0 2
Jo.McDonald ss 1 0 0
A.Hill 2b 5 0 2
BI
0
0
0
BB
0
0
0
SO
0
0
1
Avg.
.276
.222
.350
Rios rf 4 0 1 0 0 0 .260
BOSTON—Kevin Youkilis usual black one his third time Red Sox 12, Mets 5 of sliding Jays V.Wells cf
Lind lf
4 2 2
4 0 0
0
0
1
0
1
2
.262
.295
completed his home run trot up, went 0 for 5 and stranded New York AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Bautista 3b 3 0 1 1 1 0 .304
Dan.Murphy 1b 4 1 1 0 1 1 .248 Overbay 1b 3 0 1 1 1 1 .266
around the bases a little later eight runners, dropping his Pagan rf 2 1 0 0 2 2 .286 ATLANTA—Blurry vision R.Chavez c 4 0 1 0 0 0 .242
than he wanted. average to .195. He was 0 for Beltran dh 4 0 1 1 0 0 .361 couldn’t stop Brian McCann, Richmond p 2 0 0 0 0 1 .000
Sheffield lf 3 1 1 1 1 1 .263 Millar ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .286
Youkilis hit a three-run 12 in the three-game series. D.Wright 3b 4 0 1 1 0 1 .350 and neither could Toronto’s Carlson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
homer two innings after his “No more breaks,” he said Reed cf 4 0 1 1 0 1 .311 defensive shift. Camp p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
R.Castro c 4 1 2 1 0 0 .253 Frasor p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
long foul ball was upheld by a when asked if maybe it was R.Martinez ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 .087 McCann hit two homers, Inglett ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 .000
replay review, helping the Bos- time for more time off like a-Tatis ph-ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 .278 including a three-run shot in League p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
Castillo 2b 4 1 1 0 0 0 .273 Totals 36 2 10 2 3 7
ton Red Sox avoid being swept last weekend when he didn’t Totals 33 5 8 5 4 6 Atlanta’s seven-run seventh
at home for the first time this play in Seattle. “A lot of at- inning, and the Braves beat the Atlanta AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Boston AB R H BI BB SO Avg. K.Johnson 2b 5 2 3 3 0 0 .252
season by beating the New bats from now on.” Ellsbury cf 4 1 1 0 1 0 .297 Blue Jays 10-2 on Sunday to cap Kotchman 1b 3 1 0 0 1 0 .284
York Mets 12-5 on Sunday. On Saturday night, Santos’ Pedroia 2b 2 2 1 1 3 0 .329 a three-game sweep. G.Anderson lf 3 0 1 1 0 1 .256
D.Ortiz dh 5 0 0 0 0 2 .195 McCann c 4 2 3 4 0 0 .303
Youkilis, who hit a high fly- long fly that hit off a table in Youkilis 1b-3b 4 2 1 3 1 1 .383 The Blue Jays were the first Prado 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 .267
Francoeur rf 4 1 1 0 0 2 .265
ball near the left-field foul pole the first row of the Green Bay lf 4 1 1 1 1 0 .286 team that tried to stop McCann D.Hernandez ss 4 2 2 0 0 0 .250
J.Drew rf 5 2 4 1 0 1 .271
in the fifth inning, waited near Monster seats and bounced Lowell 3b 5 2 3 3 0 1 .291 by placing three players on the Schafer cf 3 1 1 0 1 1 .211
Jurrjens p 2 0 0 0 0 2 .105
second base as the umpiring back onto the field—initially 1-J.Bailey pr-1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 .190 right side of the infield. Moylan p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Kottaras c 5 1 3 1 0 1 .200
crew headed toward the tun- ruled a double—but ended up N.Green ss 5 1 2 2 0 1 .309 It may be a long time before O’Flaherty p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
Bennett p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
nel in the Boston’s dugout to being called a homer when Totals 39 12 16 12 6 7 McCann faces another shift. C.Jones ph 1 1 1 1 0 0 .322
review their on-field call that the umpires used the first McCann had three hits and R.Soriano p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
New York 013 010 000 — 5 8 0 Norton ph 1 0 0 1 0 0 .115
the ball was foul. replay review in Fenway Boston 030 032 40x — 12 16 0 drove in four runs, leaving him Acosta p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
After a brief delay, third Park’s history. 6-for-10 in the series. He is hit- Totals 34 10 13 10 2 6
a-grounded out for R.Martinez in the 8th. 1-ran for Low-
base umpire and crew chief Boston rallied with three ell in the 8th. LOB: New York 6, Boston 9. 2B: R.Castro ting .396 (19 for 48) in 14 games Toronto 000 101 000 — 2 10 0
(4), Ellsbury (9), J.Drew 2 (11), Lowell (15), Kottaras 2 Atlanta 200 000 71x — 10 13 1
Joe West, who made the ini- runs to take a 6-5 edge against (4). HR: R.Castro (3), off Wakefield; Lowell (8), off Red- with his new glasses.
tial call, climbed back up the starter Tim Redding (0-1) in ding; Youkilis (7), off Stokes. RBIs: Beltran (30), Sheffield “We can’t be satisfied with E: D.Hernandez (1). LOB: Toronto 11, Atlanta 3. 2B:
(11), D.Wright (30), Reed (3), R.Castro (13), Pedroia (15), V.Wells (12), Bautista (5), K.Johnson (6), Prado (8),
steps from the dugout and the fifth. George Kottaras’ Youkilis 3 (26), Bay (45), J.Drew (21), Lowell 3 (32), Kot- the sweep,” McCann said. Schafer (8). HR: K.Johnson (5), off Richmond; McCann
waved that it was foul. RBI double chased Redding taras (5), N.Green 2 (15). SB: Pagan (3). S: Pagan. Run- “We’ve got to keep going.” (4), off Richmond; McCann (5), off Frasor. RBIs: Bautista
ners left in scoring position: New York 4 (Sheffield, (7), Overbay (22), K.Johnson 3 (15), G.Anderson (9),
“I thought it was a fair before Green singled home R.Castro 2, Tatis); Boston 5 (D.Ortiz 2, Lowell 2, N.Green). McCann missed 13 games McCann 4 (17), C.Jones (16), Norton (3). SB: V.Wells
ball,” Youkilis said. “He two runs on the first pitch DP: Boston 1 (Pedroia, N.Green, Youkilis). while on the disabled list from 2 (8). CS: K.Johnson (2). SF: G.Anderson. Runners
left in scoring position: Toronto 6 (R.Chavez, Rios,
called it a foul ball and I guess from reliever Sean Green. New York IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA April 23 to May 8 with blurred Millar, Bautista 2, V.Wells); Atlanta 3 (D.Hernandez 2,
there was no camera angle.” “I was trying to overthrow Redding L, 0-1 4 2⁄3 8 6 6 4 4 94 6.75 vision, including a failed exper- K.Johnson). DP: Toronto 1; Atlanta 2.
S.Green 1⁄3 1 0 0 0 0 1 7.36
Replays shown in the press WINSLOW TOWNSON / AP at times. I tricked them for a Takahashi 2⁄3 0 1 1 1 1 14 3.86 iment with contact lenses. Toronto IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
box were from the side of the Mets 3B David Wright couldn’t quite track down a second-inning foul ball. while there, got a couple of big Stokes 1 1⁄3 6 5 5 1 1 33 2.89 The score was 2-all before Richmond 5 5 2 2 0 5 77 3.63
Feliciano 1 1 0 0 0 1 13 2.50 Carlson 1 1 0 0 0 0 11 3.38
pole or behind home plate. outs after the Lowell home Boston IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA pinch-hitter Chipper Jones drove Camp L, 0-2 1⁄3 2 3 3 1 0 14 5.40
“I thought it was close, real Monster seats in left-center and Jonathan Papelbon gave the run,” Redding said. “But these Wakefield W, 6-2 6 7 5 5 4 3 94 3.99 in the go-ahead run with a bases- Frasor 2⁄3 3 4 4 1 0 22 2.70
Delcarmen H, 2 2 1 0 0 0 2 28 0.86 League 1 2 1 1 0 1 13 4.35
close,” said Boston manager capped a four-run seventh. Mets a 3-2 win. guys, even with Ortiz not Saito 1 0 0 0 0 1 15 3.38 loaded single in the seventh. Atlanta IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Terry Francona, who went Mike Lowell also hit a three- “To win two out of three I swinging the bat as hot as he’s Jones missed the first two Jurrjens 6 8 2 2 2 3 102 2.07
Inherited runners-scored: S.Green 2-2, Stokes 1-1. Moylan 1⁄3 1 0 0 1 1 20 5.17
onto the field to argue. “(West) run homer, J.D. Drew went 4 think was huge for us here in capable of, these guys still take Balk: Takahashi. Umpires: Home, Ed Rapuano; First, games of the series after hurt- O’Flaherty 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 5 2.25
said, ‘I’ve got a better view for 5 and Nick Green had a tie- this ballpark,” New York man- a lot of pitches and they still Chad Fairchild; Second, Paul Nauert; Third, Joe West. T: ing his right big toe on Thurs- Bennett W, 2-1 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 3 2.29
2:57 (Rain delay: 0:36). A: 37,446 (37,373). R.Soriano 1 0 0 0 0 1 10 1.37
than you.’ I said, ‘I know. I breaking two-run single as ager Jerry Manuel said. “That’s make you throw strikes and if day night. He didn’t start on Acosta 1 1 0 0 0 1 20 0.00
just want you to check.’” the Red Sox rebounded from a a big boost for us in the situa- you’re inconsistent in the zone, Sunday but made good on his Inherited runners-scored: Frasor 3-3, O’Flaherty
The next time there was no rough loss Saturday night tion we’re in right now.” you’re going to pay for it, espe- first pinch-hit appearance of 3-0, Bennett 3-0. IBB: off Frasor (Kotchman). HBP: by
Moylan (Rios). Umpires: Home, Brian Gorman; First,
doubt, as Youkilis’ drive off when Omir Santos’ replay- David Ortiz, who changed cially in this ball park. the season. C.B. Bucknor; Second, Mike Everitt; Third, Gerry Davis. T:
Brian Stokes went into the Green reversed homer against closer to a lighter colored bat from — The Associated Press — The Associated Press 2:59. A: 23,971 (49,743).
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 18
INTERLEAGUE
L.A. Angels 10, L.A. Dodgers 7 Angels 10, Dodgers 7 Seattle 5, San Francisco 4
Los Angeles (A) AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Figgins 2b 4 2 2 1 1 1 .293

Hunter doesn’t slow Abreu rf

Hunter cf
J.Speier p
4 2
4 1
0 0
Matthews Jr. cf 0 1
2 0
2 3
0 0
0 0
1
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
.303
.314
---
.276
Beltre, Griffey provide pop
down despite crash J.Rivera lf
K.Morales 1b
Napoli c
E.Aybar ss
5 1
4 0
5 0
3 1
3 2
2 2
1 0
2 1
0
0
0
1
0
0
3
0
.292
.284
.293
.292
SEATTLE—Adrian Beltre and
Ken Griffey Jr. provided the
Mariners 5, Giants 4
San Francisco AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Quinlan 3b 5 2 2 1 0 1 .242 Rowand cf 5 0 2 1 0 3 .277
LOS ANGELES—The way Torii Hunter crashed into the fence catching power that’s been missing in the Renteria ss 4 0 1 1 0 0 .241
Palmer p 2 0 0 0 0 2 .000
Matt Kemp’s flyball in the fourth inning, it didn’t look like he would Bulger p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- middle of the Seattle Mariners’ Winn rf 4 0 1 0 0 2 .278
a-Willits ph-cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 .222 B.Molina dh 4 0 0 0 0 2 .267
stay in the game. Oliver p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- lineup. F.Lewis lf 4 2 1 1 0 0 .277
Not only did he keep playing, he made another good defensive Fuentes p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- Beltre and Griffey homered, Ishikawa 1b 3 1 0 0 1 2 .219
Totals 38 10 16 10 4 9 Uribe 3b 4 0 0 0 0 2 .283
play two innings later and also drove in three runs to help the leading Felix Hernandez and the Burriss 2b 4 0 2 0 0 1 .257
Angels beat the Dodgers 10-7 on Sunday in the rubber game of Los Angeles (N) AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Mariners over the San Francisco Whiteside c 3 1 1 1 0 0 .333
Pierre lf 4 0 2 0 1 0 .388 a-Schierholtz ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .226
the Freeway Series. Leach p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- Giants 5-4 Sunday. Totals 36 4 8 4 1 12
“It’s just fun to watch him play,” teammate Robb Quinlan said. Troncoso p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Beltre hit a three-run homer in
Martin c 5 0 0 0 0 0 .260
Seattle AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
“I mean, we’re getting to the point now where we’re assuming Hudson 2b 4 2 2 0 1 1 .342 the fifth inning off Barry Zito I.Suzuki rf 4 1 2 0 0 0 .319
Blake 3b-lf 5 2 3 1 0 0 .305
that he’s going to catch everything because he’s done such a great Loney 1b 4 1 1 2 0 0 .282 (1-5) to give the Mariners a 5-3 Y.Betancourt ss 1 1 0 0 2 0 .264
Kemp cf 5 1 2 0 0 1 .289 Beltre 3b 4 1 1 3 0 0 .215
job out there.” lead. Franklin Gutierrez walked Griffey Jr. dh 3 1 1 2 1 1 .239
Hoffmann rf 4 1 2 4 0 1 .333
The eight-time Gold Glove winner, who has played in 202 con- J.Castro ss 3 0 0 0 0 2 .346 and Ichiro Suzuki singled prior Branyan 1b 4 0 0 0 0 3 .305
c-Loretta ph-3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 .333 Jo.Lopez 2b 2 0 1 0 1 0 .226
secutive games without making an error, had the wind knocked Billingsley p 2 0 0 0 0 1 .227 to Beltre’s second home run of Balentien lf 3 0 0 0 0 2 .244
out of him and spent several anxious moments flat on his back in Wade p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 the year. Ro.Johnson c 3 0 0 0 0 0 .197
Ohman p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 F.Gutierrez cf 2 1 0 0 1 0 .258
the warning track while trainers Ned Bergert and Rick Smith b-Ethier ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 .256 “I think it was a low cutter, Totals 26 5 5 5 5 6
ran to his aid along with manager Mike Scioscia. Mota p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 slider-type,” Beltre said. “He hung
d-Furcal ph-ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 .238 San Francisco 000 030 010 — 4 8 0
“When we got out there, he still hadn’t caught his breath,” Scio- Totals 38 7 12 7 3 7 it over the plate and I was able to Seattle 200 030 00x — 5 5 1
scia said. “Once he did, he said: ‘I’m playing.’ Ned and Smitty Los Angeles (A) 002 003 203— 10 16 0 make good contact. Safeco is tough,
checked him out, and I don’t think he was going to come out of the Los Angeles (N) 040 000 021— 7 12 1 but I hit it good and I thought it a-fouled out for Whiteside in the 9th. E: Branyan (3).
LOB: San Francisco 6, Seattle 3. 2B: Jo.Lopez (7). HR:
game at that time unless they tied him up and put him on a a-struck out for Bulger in the 7th. b-struck out for Ohman had enough to go.” F.Lewis (3), off F.Hernandez; Griffey Jr. (5), off Zito; Beltre
stretcher.” in the 7th. c-was intentionally walked for J.Castro in the Griffey hit a two-run homer in (3), off Zito. RBIs: Rowand (19), Renteria (18), F.Lewis
8th. d-grounded into a fielder’s choice for Mota in the (7), Whiteside (1), Beltre 3 (19), Griffey Jr. 2 (12). SB:
Hunter helped the Halos recover from a 4-0 deficit with an RBI 8th. E: Blake (4). LOB: Los Angeles (A) 7, Los Angeles (N) the first. It was his 616th career Burriss (11). S: Y.Betancourt. Runners left in scoring
single that triggered a three-run sixth. Juan Rivera followed that 8. 2B: Figgins (7), Quinlan (3), Pierre (9), Hudson (16), homer and fifth of the season. position: San Francisco 3 (Winn, Renteria, Rowand);
Blake (9), Loney (9), Hoffmann (1). 3B: Abreu (2). HR: Seattle 2 (F.Gutierrez, Ro.Johnson). GIDP: Y.Betancourt,
hit with a run-scoring single and Kendry Morales added a sacri- Hoffmann (1), off Palmer. RBIs: Figgins (12), Hunter Zito allowed five runs in 6 1/3 Beltre. DP: San Francisco 2 (Renteria, Burriss, Ishikawa),
3 (37), J.Rivera 2 (16), K.Morales 2 (28), E.Aybar (11), (Ishikawa, Renteria, Ishikawa).
fice fly to put the Angels ahead 5-4. Quinlan (1), Blake (28), Loney 2 (32), Hoffmann 4 (4). innings. He gave up five hits, five
“See how many gold gloves he has? He’s been doing it to people SB: Quinlan (1), Pierre 2 (9). SF: K.Morales, E.Aybar, walks and fanned five. San Francisco IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Loney. Runners left in scoring position: Los Angeles Zito L, 1-5 6 1⁄3 5 5 5 5 5 111 4.02
forever,” Kemp said. “He told me he was gonna do that, too. He (A) 3 (K.Morales, Willits, Quinlan); Los Angeles (N) 6 “I didn’t really get in a groove Valdez 1 2⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 9 3.29
said: ‘Don’t hit it to me.’ That’s my boy.” (Martin 2, Blake, Pierre 2, Kemp). DP: Los Angeles (N) 2 today,” he said. “I had some four- Seattle IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
(Loney, Loney, J.Castro, Loney), (Hudson, Loney).
When Hunter returned to the dugout after his great grab, start- F.Hernandez W, 5-3 8 7 4 1 1 10 112 3.76
pitch walks that were inexcus- Aardsma S, 6-6 1 1 0 0 0 2 14 1.25
Los Angeles (A) IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
ing pitcher Matt Palmer stopped him and told him how much his GUS RUELAS / AP Palmer 4 2⁄3 5 4 4 2 3 82 4.71 able losing focus like that. It came
Bulger W, 2-1 1 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 2 19 5.74 Inherited runners-scored: Valdez 1-0. WP:
efforts were appreciated. Angels CF Torii Hunter hit the wall on this fourth-inning catch but played on. to a head, and Beltre hit the slider. F.Hernandez. Balk: Zito. Umpires: Home, Derryl
J.Speier H, 3 1 1 0 0 0 2 15 5.51
“I asked him if he was OK and then I said to him: ‘You know Oliver H, 3 1 4 2 2 1 0 30 2.18 I got back to challenging guys Cousins; First, Jim Joyce; Second, Brian Runge; Third, Bill
Fuentes 1 2 1 1 0 0 17 4.32 Miller. T: 2:15. A: 36,616 (47,878).
what? You’re an amazing guy. Not all Gold Glovers can do that “Under different circumstances, Torii probably could have fin- Los Angeles (N) IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA after that, but it was too late.”
kind of stuff.’ He’s one of the best players in baseball,” Palmer ished the game. But we’re not going to stretch him at this point,” Billingsley L, 6-2 6 9 5 4 1 6 108 2.82 Beltre just wanted to try to
Wade 2⁄3 3 2 2 1 1 30 6.14
said. “I thought he was a great player before I knew him. Then Scioscia said. “Every day, this guy just seems to do something Ohman 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 5 5.25 score Gutierrez from third.
once I started to get to know him and his personality, I told him better than the day before. I’m sure tomorrow it’s going to be sore, Mota 1 0 0 0 1 1 22 7.94 “He got me in the third to
Leach 1⁄3 1 1 1 0 0 9 7.20
he was by far my favorite player.” so we’ll just evaluate him and see how he is.” Troncoso 2⁄3 3 2 2 1 1 24 2.22 ground into a double play,” Beltre
Hunter, who leads the Angels with 37 RBIs and 10 home runs, Rookie Jason Bulger (2-1) earned the victory, retiring all four Inherited runners-scored: Bulger 2-0, Ohman 2-0, said of Zito. “After that, I was
extended the margin to 7-4 with a bases-loaded two-run single in batters he faced after relieving Palmer with two outs in the fifth Troncoso 1-1. IBB: off Oliver (Loretta), off Wade (Abreu), trying to get a pitch to get a fly
off Troncoso (Matthews Jr.). PB: Martin. Umpires:
the seventh. But the two-time All-Star left the game in the bottom inning. Palmer gave up four runs and five hits after winning his Home, Laz Diaz; First, Eric Cooper; Second, Mike Reilly; ball in the air so we could score a
of the inning because of tightness in his right leg, and was replaced first five starts. Third, Chuck Meriwether. T: 3:48. A: 54,122 (56,000). run and tie the game.”
by Reggie Willits. — The Associated Press — The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 19
INTERLEAGUE
Florida 5, Tampa Bay 4, 11 innings Marlins 5, Rays 4, 11 innings Washington 8, Baltimore 5
Tampa Bay AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
B.Upton cf 6 1 1 0 0 1 .195
Crawford lf 4 1 1 1 2 0 .317
Dunn’s two homers carry Nats
‘5-2 defense’ doesn’t work on Gload Longoria 3b
C.Pena 1b
Zobrist rf
Bartlett ss
5 0 2 1
4 0 0 0
5 0 0 0
4 1 1 1
1
1
0
1
2
3
0
1
.333
.238
.277
.373 WASHINGTON—Adam Dunn Nationals 8, Orioles 5
Iwamura 2b 4 1 3 0 0 0 .310 found the perfect way to foil the Baltimore AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Howell p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- B.Roberts 2b 4 2 1 0 1 0 .291
MIAMI—With one out and the bases W.Aybar ph-2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 .278 lefty-lefty matchup when the Ad.Jones cf 4 2 1 2 0 1 .359
loaded in the 11th inning, Florida’s Ross Navarro c 4 0 1 0 1 0 .212 Orioles summoned a southpaw Markakis rf 5 0 1 2 0 1 .310
J.Shields p 3 0 0 0 0 1 .000 A.Huff 1b 4 0 2 1 1 0 .266
Gload waited to bat while the Tampa Balfour p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- to face him. Wigginton 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 .215
Bay Rays set their defense. J.Nelson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- He hit a drive into the Balti- Reimold lf 3 0 0 0 1 1 .256
Wheeler p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- Walker p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
Right fielder Ben Zobrist trotted in to Brignac ph-2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 .250 more bullpen. Hendrickson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
Cormier p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
grab a smaller glove, then took a spot near Shouse p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- Dunn launched two home Moeller c 4 0 1 0 0 0 .208
Andino ss 3 0 0 0 1 1 .194
second base as a fifth infielder. Left fielder Totals 42 4 9 3 6 9 runs, including a go-ahead Bergesen p 3 1 1 0 0 0 .333
Carl Crawford moved to right field, and Florida AB R H BI BB SO Avg. grand slam in the seventh C.Ray p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
Bonifacio 3b 6 0 1 0 0 2 .258 Pie lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 .190
center field B.J. Upton went to left. inning, for a career-high six Totals 35 5 7 5 4 5
Hermida rf 5 0 3 0 1 2 .271
“You can’t overanalyze it, because it’s Ha.Ramirez ss 5 0 1 0 1 1 .319 RBIs and the Washington
Gload 1b 6 1 3 1 0 2 .279 Washington AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
too crazy,” Gload said. Nationals rallied for an 8-5 vic- W.Harris cf 4 1 2 0 0 0 .279
Uggla 2b 2 0 0 0 2 0 .205
The alignment failed to foil Gload. He Jo.Baker c 4 2 3 2 1 0 .284 tory over the Orioles on C.Guzman ss 3 0 0 0 0 1 .349
C.Ross cf 5 1 1 1 0 1 .239 Zimmerman 3b 3 2 1 0 1 0 .348
lined a two-strike sinker through the Coghlan lf 5 0 3 0 0 1 .191
Sunday. Dunn 1b 4 2 2 6 0 0 .284
right side of the infield for a game-win- Jo.Johnson p 3 0 1 1 0 1 .091 “(Dunn) showed today the dif- Beimel p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
Nunez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- Hanrahan p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
ning single, and the Marlins snapped a Helms ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .212 ference that he makes in our Willingham lf 4 0 1 0 0 0 .215
four-game losing streak by beating Lindstrom p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- lineup and how much we needed Belliard 2b-1b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .172
Calero p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- Kearns rf 4 1 2 0 0 1 .223
Tampa Bay 5-4. Meyer p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 him over here,” Nationals man- Nieves c 4 1 2 1 0 0 .283
“The 5-2 defense—I’m going to recom- Sanches p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- ager Manny Acta said. Martis p 2 0 1 1 0 0 .278
Cantu ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 .276 Villone p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
mend that for the New York Jets,” Gload Hayes pr 0 1 0 0 0 0 1.000 With Washington trailing a-A.Hernandez ph-2b 2 1 1 0 0 1 .284
said. “You’re just trying to hit the ball Totals 43 5 17 5 5 10 5-4, pinch-hitter Anderson Her- Totals 34 8 12 8 1 4
hard. If I could control where the ball Tampa Bay 001 011 010 00 —4 9 1 nandez led off the seventh with a Baltimore 002 010 200 — 5 7 1
went, I would be a lot better than I am.” Florida 030 001 000 01 —5 17 0 single against Chris Ray (0-1). Washington 000 022 40x — 8 12 1
The Rays played with five infielders at E: Crawford (2). LOB: Tampa Bay 11, Florida 13. 2B: Willie Harris singled, Cristian a-singled for Villone in the 7th. E: Ad.Jones (4),
Crawford (11), Longoria (20), Iwamura (13), Gload (1),
the end after losing their second base- C.Ross (11). 3B: B.Upton (1). HR: Bartlett (7), off Nunez; Guzman sacrificed and Ryan C.Guzman (6). LOB: Baltimore 8, Washington 5. 2B:
A.Huff (12), Moeller (3), W.Harris (4), Kearns (6), Nieves
man in the eighth. Akinori Iwamura Jo.Baker (6), off J.Shields. RBIs: Crawford (21), Longoria Zimmerman was intentionally (2). 3B: Markakis (1). HR: Ad.Jones (10), off Martis; Dunn
(49), Bartlett (30), Gload (7), Jo.Baker 2 (19), C.Ross
hurt his left knee when hit while trying (26), Jo.Johnson (2). SB: Crawford 2 (28), Bartlett (14), walked to load the bases. (13), off Bergesen; Dunn (14), off Walker. RBIs: Ad.Jones
Uggla (1). S: Uggla. Runners left in scoring position: 2 (32), Markakis 2 (38), A.Huff (36), Dunn 6 (39), Nieves
to turn a double play and was carted off Jamie Walker relieved, and (5), Martis (2). SB: Ad.Jones (4). S: C.Guzman. Runners
Tampa Bay 6; Florida 5. DP: Tampa Bay 2.
the field. He was to fly back to St. Peters- Dunn fouled off a 2-2 slider left in scoring position: Baltimore 5; Washington 2.
Tampa Bay IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA DP: Baltimore 1.
burg, Fla., to undergo an MRI. J.Shields 6 2⁄3 12 4 4 2 7 102 3.63
before hitting a shot to left field
With the score 4-all, Jorge Cantu led Balfour 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 3 4.95 for his 10th career grand slam. It Baltimore IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
J.Nelson 1⁄3 2 0 0 0 1 10 5.50 Bergesen 5 2⁄3 8 4 4 0 2 89 5.49
off Florida’s 11th with a pinch-hit single LYNNE SLADKY / AP
Wheeler 2⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 3 4.86 was his 14th home run this C.Ray L, 0-1 2⁄3 2 3 3 1 0 14 10.13
against Lance Cormier (0-1). Jeremy Tampa Bay 2B Akinori Iwamura (1) was carted off after this collision with Florida’s Chris Coghlan in the eighth. Howell 1 0 0 0 0 1 9 2.86 season. Walker BS, 1-1 2-3 1 1 1 0 0 10 4.50
Cormier L, 0-1 1 1⁄3 1 1 1 2 1 24 2.30 Hendrickson 1 1 0 0 0 2 20 5.56
Hermida singled off Brian Shouse to put Shouse 0 2 0 0 1 0 17 3.77 “I was just trying to not pull Washington IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
runners at the corners with one out, and home to the Rays, and were outscored Florida nearly let another game slip Florida IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA off and hit into a double play,” Martis 6 7 5 5 2 2 89 4.86
Jo.Johnson 7 6 3 3 3 7 114 2.67 Villone W, 2-0 1 0 0 0 2 0 19 0.00
Hanley Ramirez was intentionally 25-5 in the first two games of the series. away, squandering leads of 3-0 and 4-3. Nunez BS, 2-2 1 2 1 1 0 1 18 3.63 Dunn said. “In that situation, Beimel H, 7 1 0 0 0 0 1 9 5.00
walked. Gload followed with his hit. Florida improved to 9-24 since an 11-1 John Baker had three of the Marlins’ 17 Lindstrom 2⁄3 0 0 0 3 0 26 6.50 with a one-run lead and with Hanrahan S, 5-8 1 0 0 0 0 2 13 5.91
Calero 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 3 2.42
“We were just trying to get a groundball start. “We needed this,” said Josh John- hits, including a home run, and Gload Meyer 1 1 0 0 0 1 16 2.79 as many ground balls as I’ve Martis pitched to 2 batters in the 7th. Inherited
and get a double play,” Shouse said. “That son, who pitched seven innings and left and Chris Coghlan each had three hits. Sanches W, 1-0 1 0 0 0 0 0 11 0.00 been hitting, I think they were runners-scored: C.Ray 1-0, Walker 3-3. IBB: off C.Ray
(Zimmerman), off Martis (Andino). HBP: by Bergesen
was the whole goal. It didn’t work out.” with a 4-3 lead. “It just takes one win, The game was delayed six minutes in Inherited runners-scored: Balfour 2-0, Wheeler 2-0, probably playing the percent- (W.Harris), by Martis (Ad.Jones). Umpires: Home, Jim
Shouse 1-1, Calero 3-0. IBB: off Shouse (Ha.Ramirez),
With Gload’s single, Florida finished 5 and hopefully we can turn it around and the eighth while trainers tended to Iwa- off Lindstrom (Longoria). WP: Jo.Johnson 2. Umpires: ages. I can see why they do it, Reynolds; First, Angel Hernandez; Second, Bill Welke;
Third, Tim Welke. T: 2:36. A: 30,880 (41,888).
for 12 with runners in scoring position. get that feeling of winning again. We mura, who was hurt when Coghlan slid Home, Tim Tschida; First, Bob Davidson; Second, Jeff but it’s kind of a pride deal and
Nelson; Third, Mark Carlson. T: 3:51. A: 12,839 (38,560).
Tampa Bay went 1 for 11. have a great team. We know we’re a lot into him. I don’t like it.”
The Marlins had lost eight in a row at better than we’ve been playing.” — The Associated Press — The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 20
INTERLEAGUE
Kansas City 3, St. Louis 2 Minnesota 6, Milwaukee 3

Bannister helps end Cardinals’ win streak Adjustment works for Baker
MINNEAPOLIS—A slight change Twins 6, Brewers 3
ST. LOUIS—The St. Louis Cardinals’ stingy pitching run is over Royals 3, Cardinals 2 in mechanics allowed Scott Milwaukee AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Counsell ss 4 0 1 0 0 0 .314
and so is their five-game winning streak. Not that the Kansas Kansas City AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Baker to stand taller in more McGehee 2b 4 1 1 0 0 1 .300
Crisp cf 4 0 1 0 0 0 .234
City Royals exactly clobbered Joel Pineiro. DeJesus lf 4 0 0 0 0 0 .236 ways than one. Braun lf 4 0 1 0 0 0 .333
Fielder 1b 4 1 1 2 0 0 .270
Brian Bannister worked six strong innings and drove in a Butler 1b 4 1 2 0 0 0 .286 Baker pitched into the ninth M.Cameron cf 4 1 1 1 0 2 .286
J.Guillen rf 4 0 1 1 0 0 .290
run and pinch-hitter Mike Jacobs’ RBI single snapped a sev- J.Cruz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- inning, Justin Morneau hit a Hart rf 4 0 1 0 0 3 .245
Gamel dh 3 0 0 0 0 0 .250
enth-inning tie, helping the Royals avoid a three-game sweep Teahen 3b 4 0 0 0 0 2 .264 grand slam, and the Minnesota Mi.Rivera c 3 0 1 0 0 1 .333
Callaspo 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 .307
in the I-70 interleague series with a 3-2 victory on Sunday. Olivo c 4 1 1 0 0 2 .234 Twins completed a three-game Hall 3b 3 0 0 0 0 1 .224
Totals 33 3 7 3 0 8
“Their staff has obviously been on a roll, the same way we Bloomquist ss 4 1 1 0 0 0 .309 sweep of the Milwaukee Brew-
Bannister p 2 0 1 1 0 1 .500
were a couple weeks ago,” Bannister said. “I made pitches when a-Jacobs ph 1 0 1 1 0 0 .268 ers with a 6-3 victory Sunday Minnesota AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Gomez cf 4 1 1 0 0 1 .224
I had to, kept the ball on the ground and then was able to get 1-Hulett pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- night. Mauer c 3 2 2 1 0 0 .438
Ho.Ramirez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
around (Albert) Pujols.” Bale p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- Baker (2-5) allowed seven hits Morneau dh 3 1 1 4 1 0 .343
Cuddyer rf 3 0 0 0 1 0 .287
Pujols was walked intentionally twice on Sunday, once with Maier rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 and struck out six in 8 1/3 Crede 3b 2 1 2 1 0 0 .240
Totals 35 3 8 3 0 5
two out and none on in the seventh, and drew seven walks in innings for his first win in three Tolbert 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 .193
Buscher 1b 2 0 0 0 2 1 .200
the series. St. Louis AB R H BI BB SO Avg. starts since May 8. He worked B.Harris 2b-3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 .255
Schumaker 2b 5 0 2 0 0 0 .301
The Royals ended a 24-inning scoreless drought and finally Rasmus cf 4 0 1 0 0 0 .233 closely with pitching coach Rick Delm.Young lf 4 0 0 0 0 3 .264
Punto ss 2 1 0 0 1 0 .186
got to a staff that shut them out 5-0 each of the first two games. Pujols 1b 2 0 0 0 3 0 .327 Anderson since allowing four Totals 28 6 6 6 5 6
Duncan lf 4 0 1 0 1 0 .257
Kansas City, which has only two pinch-hit RBIs all season, has Ankiel rf 4 1 1 0 0 2 .247 earned runs in five innings last
Milwaukee 000 100 002 — 3 7 0
won only five of its last 15 games. Y.Molina c 4 1 1 1 0 1 .284 Tuesday in Chicago. Minnesota 100 100 40x — 6 6 0
Thurston 3b 2 0 0 0 1 1 .231
Manager Trey Hillman said a first-inning run “took the mon- b-K.Greene ph-ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 .208 “We worked on mechanical
LOB: Milwaukee 3, Minnesota 5. 2B: Hart (11). HR:
key off our back, no doubt.” Pineiro p 3 0 2 1 0 1 .158 adjustments so that I could be M.Cameron (9), off S.Baker; Fielder (10), off S.Baker;
Motte p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
“We still only scored a few more,” Hillman added, “but it was c-Stavinoha ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .240 more consistent down,” Baker Mauer (10), off Bush; Crede (8), off Bush; Morneau
(13), off Stetter. RBIs: Fielder 2 (42), M.Cameron (22),
enough.” McClellan p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 said. “Sometimes it’s like a light Mauer (29), Morneau 4 (40), Crede (21). Runners left
Barden ss-3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 .263
The Cardinals entered the finale with a five-game winning Totals 34 2 8 2 5 6 switch—it just clicks sometimes, in scoring position: Milwaukee 1 (Gamel); Minnesota
1 (Delm.Young). GIDP: Fielder, Cuddyer, B.Harris. DP:
streak behind stingy starters who allowed only one run in 36 2/3 the ball’s coming good out of the Milwaukee 2 (Counsell, McGehee, Fielder), (Counsell,
Kansas City 100 010 100 — 3 8 0
innings. Even with Sunday’s loss they’ve allowed five runs in six St. Louis 000 002 000 — 2 8 0 hand and everything’s down. McGehee, Fielder); Minnesota 1 (Buscher, Punto,
Buscher).
games for the first time since Sept. 14-18, 1982. It’s really not part of the thought
a-singled for Bannister in the 7th. b-struck out for
The run began with Pineiro’s three-hit shutout of the Cubs on Thurston in the 8th. c-grounded out for Motte in the process anymore.” Milwaukee IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Bush L, 3-1 6 2⁄3 5 4 4 4 4 116 3.92
Tuesday and ended when Pineiro (5-4) allowed three runs in seven TOM GANNAM / AP 8th. 1-ran for Jacobs in the 7th. LOB: Kansas City 5, Expected to be the ace of the Stetter 0 1 2 2 0 0 5 4.15
St. Louis 11. 2B: Butler (14), J.Guillen (5), Olivo (4),
innings on Sunday to offset a rare RBI single from the .090-hitting Kansas City P Brian Bannister picked up his fourth win and his first RBI. Bloomquist (2), Rasmus (7), Ankiel (7). RBIs: J.Guillen Twins’ young staff, Baker had Villanueva 2⁄3 0 0 0 1 1 13 4.15
DiFelice 2⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 8 1.31
pitcher. Pineiro worked his fourth straight game without a walk (20), Bannister (1), Jacobs (25), Y.Molina (17), Pineiro allowed nine earned runs and Minnesota IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
(1). S: Rasmus. Runners left in scoring position:
and emphasized a sinker that produced 14 groundball outs, but fell Bannister (4-1) allowed two runs on seven hits in six innings and Kansas City 3 (Teahen, Callaspo, DeJesus); St. Louis 5 12 hits in his previous two S.Baker W, 2-5 8 1⁄3 7 3 3 0 6 106 6.32
Nathan 2⁄3 0 0 0 0 2 9 2.76
to 3-1 with a 2.05 ERA in four starts at home this season. the Cardinals totaled one hit off three relievers with Juan Cruz (Ankiel 2, Duncan 2, Barden). starts. He allowed at least five
“I hung a changeup to Jacobs and that was the ballgame to working the ninth for his second save in four chances and first Kansas City IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA earned runs in four of his previ- Stetter pitched to 2 batters in the 7th. Inherited
runners-scored: Stetter 2-2. HBP: by Bush (Crede), by
me,” Pineiro said. “Everything else was fine. Everything was since April 30. The Royals are 9 for 16 in save chances, but only 2 Bannister W, 4-1 6 7 2 2 2 4 99 2.79 ous seven starts, and at least Stetter (Mauer). Umpires: Home, Adrian Johnson; First,
Ho.Ramirez H, 2 2⁄3 0 0 0 2 0 17 7.36
working.” for 9 without injured closer Joakim Soria, and this was first overall Bale H, 1 1 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 2 13 0.00 four earned runs in six of Dan Iassogna; Second, Sam Holbrook; Third, Charlie
Reliford. T: 2:49. A: 38,959 (46,632).
Bannister’s hit was not nearly as surprising as Pineiro’s, given since May 7 against the Mariners. J.Cruz S, 2-4 1 1 0 0 1 0 15 3.15 seven.
St. Louis IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
he’s 7 for 21 for his career with three RBIs after his hit in the “I think it gave everybody a sigh of relief down there,” Hill- Pineiro L, 5-4 7 8 3 3 0 3 92 3.52 “It’s something I’ve always
fifth made it 2-0. Pineiro improved to 10 for 110 with seven RBIs man said. Motte 1 0 0 0 0 1 11 3.50 kind of had to battle, kind of had
McClellan 1 0 0 0 0 1 9 2.11
after his full-count single lofted just out of the reach of shortstop Cardinals manager Tony La Russa allowed Pineiro to hit with to fight to stay consistent down
Willie Bloomquist and tied it at 2 in the sixth. two on and two out in the sixth because of a low pitch count and Inherited runners-scored: Bale 2-0. IBB: off in the zone. (Anderson) knows
J.Cruz (Pujols), off Ho.Ramirez (Pujols), off Bannister
The Royals’ scoring drought ended in the first on two-out hits by Pineiro surprised with his RBI single, but the Royals knocked (Thurston). WP: Ho.Ramirez. Umpires: Home, Todd us really well and sees when we
Billy Butler and Jose Guillen, and they went ahead 2-0 on Bannis- him out with a two-out rally in the seventh. Tichenor; First, Jerry Layne; Second, Tony Randazzo; need to make the adjustment.”
Third, Chris Guccione. T: 2:32. A: 44,213 (43,975).
ter’s RBI single in the fifth. — The Associated Press — The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 21
INTERLEAGUE NATIONAL LEAGUE
Texas 5, Houston 0 San Diego 7, Chicago Cubs 2

McCarthy answers critics with 124 pitches Padres make it nine straight
SAN DIEGO—Petco Park has Padres 7, Cubs 2
HOUSTON—Brandon McCarthy dealt with injuries his first Rangers 5, Astros 0 never looked better to the San Chicago AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Texas AB R H BI BB SO Avg. A.Soriano lf 4 0 0 0 0 0 .257
two seasons with the Texas Rangers. He heard whispers this Diego Padres. Theriot ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 .263
Kinsler 2b 5 1 1 1 0 0 .284
year that he lacked the strength to go into the late innings. M.Young 3b 4 1 1 0 1 0 .343 The Padres capped the first Hoffpauir 1b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .280
Hamilton cf 4 2 3 1 1 0 .257 Bradley rf 4 1 1 0 0 0 .188
After Sunday, that supposition should be put to rest. 9-0 homestand in franchise Re.Johnson cf 3 1 1 2 0 1 .237
N.Cruz rf 5 0 2 1 0 0 .288
McCarthy scattered nine hits in his first career complete game Byrd lf 3 0 1 1 0 0 .290 history on Sunday with a 7-2 Fontenot 2b 3 0 1 0 0 0 .208
C.Davis 1b 4 0 1 0 0 0 .204 Soto c 3 0 0 0 0 0 .202
and the Rangers beat the Houston Astros 5-0 for a sweep. win over the punchless Chicago Scales 3b 3 0 1 0 0 2 .265
Saltalamacchia c 4 1 1 1 0 1 .252
“They talk about his stamina,” Rangers manager Ron Andrus ss 3 0 1 0 1 0 .291 Cubs that included small ball Lilly p 1 0 0 0 0 1 .105
McCarthy p 4 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Heilman p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
Washington said. “I think that question’s finally answered.” and large ball at their spacious b-Fukudome ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .308
Totals 36 5 11 5 3 1
Josh Hamilton, Ian Kinsler and Jarrod Saltalamacchia hom- downtown ballpark. Cotts p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
Houston AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Totals 30 2 4 2 0 5
ered as the A.L. West leaders beat Houston for the third Kevin Kouzmanoff hit a
Bourn cf 5 0 0 0 0 2 .282
straight day and moved nine games above .500. The Astros Tejada ss 4 0 4 0 0 0 .345 three-run home run and fin- San Diego AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Berkman 1b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .225 Eckstein 2b 2 0 0 1 0 1 .226
lost their fourth in a row. ished with four RBIs, Chris Hairston cf 4 0 1 0 0 1 .322
Ca.Lee lf 4 0 0 0 0 0 .317
McCarthy (4-2) struck out six and walked one while out- Pence rf 4 0 1 0 0 1 .348 Young pitched well and added Ad.Gonzalez 1b 3 2 1 0 1 1 .282
Blum 3b 3 0 1 0 0 0 .266 Kouzmanoff 3b 4 1 2 4 0 0 .236
pitching Mike Hampton (2-4). a two-run single, and the Hundley c 4 0 0 0 0 2 .250
Maysonet 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 .000
McCarthy had pitched eight innings in a game in 2005, but K.Matsui 2b 3 0 0 0 1 0 .224 Padres threw in a suicide Headley lf 4 1 1 0 0 2 .229
Quintero c 4 0 2 0 0 1 .190 Macias rf 3 1 1 0 1 0 .333
had never gone the distance. He worked around a one-out squeeze bunt for good Jo.Wilson ss 3 1 0 0 1 0 .167
Hampton p 1 0 1 0 0 0 .375
single in the ninth, and needed seven pitches to strike out a-Michaels ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 .188 measure. C.Young p 2 0 2 2 0 0 .333
Michael Bourn to end it. McCarthy threw a career-most 124 R.Ortiz p 1 0 0 0 0 0 .200 San Diego’s nine-game win- a-E.Gonzalez ph 1 1 1 0 0 0 .175
b-Erstad ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .152 Gregerson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
pitches after throwing 118 in his last start. Totals 36 0 9 0 1 6 ning streak is the longest in the G.Burke p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
“It’s a confidence thing more than anything else,” McCarthy NL this season and the longest Totals 30 7 9 7 3 7
Texas 103 100 000 — 5 11 0
said. “It’s just knowing I can get through that deep in a game Houston 000 000 000 — 0 9 0 active one in the majors. Even Chicago 000 000 200 — 2 4 1
and still make quality pitches.” so, it merely pulled the Padres San Diego 000 031 30x — 7 9 0
a-struck out for Hampton in the 5th. b-popped out
After giving up a pair of singles in the third, McCarthy for R.Ortiz in the 9th. LOB: Texas 8, Houston 10. 2B: back to .500. They also swept a-doubled for C.Young in the 7th. b-grounded out for
retired Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee to end the inning. M.Young (16), Hamilton (3), Byrd (15), Andrus (4), the Reds and Giants on this Heilman in the 8th. E: Lilly (3). LOB: Chicago 2, San
Tejada (15). HR: Hamilton (6), off Hampton; Kinsler Diego 4. 2B: Ad.Gonzalez (4), Kouzmanoff (7), Macias
Miguel Tejada, who had four hits, doubled to put runners (12), off Hampton; Saltalamacchia (5), off Hampton. homestand. (3), E.Gonzalez (2). HR: Re.Johnson (1), off C.Young;
on second and third in the fifth before McCarthy retired Berk- RBIs: Kinsler (33), Hamilton (20), N.Cruz (31), Byrd The homestand came after a Kouzmanoff (4), off Heilman. RBIs: Re.Johnson 2 (8),
(19), Saltalamacchia (19). SB: N.Cruz (7), Tejada (2). Eckstein (13), Kouzmanoff 4 (16), C.Young 2 (2). SB:
man to escape. CS: N.Cruz (1). SF: Byrd. Runners left in scoring posi- 0-6 road trip, which included Fontenot (2), Headley (6). S: Lilly, Eckstein 2. Runners
Washington said he was tempted to take McCarthy out tion: Texas 5 (C.Davis 2, Byrd, McCarthy 2); Houston 7 three losses to the Cubs at left in scoring position: Chicago 2 (Soto, Theriot);
(Quintero 2, Ca.Lee 2, Berkman 2, Bourn). San Diego 2 (Hairston, Jo.Wilson). GIDP: Hairston,
before the ninth, but he was pitching so well he just couldn’t. Wrigley Field. Ad.Gonzalez. DP: Chicago 2 (Fontenot, Theriot, Hoff-
Texas IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA pauir), (Theriot, Fontenot, Hoffpauir).
“I didn’t see any fatigue,” Washington said. “You know, DAVE EINSEL / AP “This team’s got some char-
McCarthy W, 4-2 9 9 0 0 1 6 124 4.67
people change. This spring we wanted him to get in shape and P Brandon McCarthy improved his record to 4-2 with a complete-game victory Houston IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA acter to it,” Young said. “There’s Chicago IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
that gave Texas a series sweep over in-state rival Houston. Hampton L, 2-4 5 8 5 5 1 0 75 5.63 Lilly L, 5-4 6 1⁄3 8 5 5 2 4 95 3.77
show some stamina and that’s what he’s done.” some fight in the guys. We cer- Heilman 2⁄3 1 2 2 1 2 19 5.30
R.Ortiz 4 3 0 0 2 1 75 4.88
Saltalamacchia was impressed with McCarthy’s work. tainly weren’t going to hang Cotts 1 0 0 0 0 1 12 5.40
Umpires: Home, Fieldin Culbreth; First, Gary Ceder- San Diego IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
“He threw all of his pitches and got ahead of hitters,” the Hamilton’s solo home run to the Crawford Boxes in left field our heads after that last road C.Young W, 4-2 7 4 2 2 0 4 101 4.76
strom; Second, Jim Wolf; Third, Brian O’Nora. T: 2:37. A:
Texas catcher said. “That’s the McCarthy I know. Before he put Texas up 1-0 in the first. 36,749 (40,976). trip. But now we’ve got to con- Gregerson 1 0 0 0 0 1 11 3.76
G.Burke 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 0.00
was trying to make his pitches go to a certain place, but I told Kinsler opened the third inning with a homer, starting a tinue it. It’s a long season.
him: ‘You just got to worry about attacking the hitters,’ and he three-run burst. Nelson Cruz had an RBI single and Marlon There’s still a lot of baseball to Inherited runners-scored: Heilman 1-1. IBB: off
Lilly (Jo.Wilson), off Heilman (Ad.Gonzalez). Umpires:
did that today.” Byrd had a sacrifice fly. play.” Home, Hunter Wendelstedt; First, Brian Knight; Second,
Hampton, who has been bothered by a cut on his left thumb, Saltalamacchia pushed the lead to 5-0 with a solo home run Young retired the first 14 bat- Dana DeMuth; Third, Doug Eddings. T: 2:18. A: 39,593
(42,691).
allowed five runs and eight hits in five innings. in the fourth inning. ters before Mike Fontenot sin-
“No, it was not the finger,” Astros manager Cecil Cooper Russ Ortiz allowed three hits and struck out one in four gled to left-center with two outs
said. “The finger was doing fine. He’s not consistent in the shutout innings for Houston. in the fifth.
strike zone like he needs to be.” — The Associated Press — The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 22
INTERLEAGUE
Cincinnati 4, Cleveland 3, 11 innings Reds 4, Indians 3, 11 innings Colorado 3, Detroit 1
Cleveland AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
A.Cabrera ss 5 0 1 0 0 0 .316

Light-hitting Gonzalez fills in nicely Sizemore cf

V.Martinez 1b
Choo rf
4 1 2 1 0
4 0 0 0 1
5 0 2 0 0
2
1
2
.221
.371
.306
Hammel, Rockies glad to win
DeRosa 3b 4 0 0 0 0 3 .254
B.Francisco lf 5 0 0 0 0 2 .238 DETROIT—Throughout his win- Rockies 3, Tigers 1
Shoppach c 2 1 0 0 2 2 .219
CINCINNATI—Minus their two biggest bats, Valbuena 2b 5 1 2 1 0 0 .211 less stretch, Jason Hammel never Colorado AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
the Cincinnati Reds counted on an eighth- Cl.Lee p 1 0 0 0 1 0 .000 questioned his performance. His Fowler cf 3 1 2 0 1 0 .271
a-J.Carroll ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .316 Tulowitzki ss 4 0 1 0 1 0 .239
place hitter who was barely at .200. Herges p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- first victory still felt pretty Helton 1b 5 1 2 2 0 1 .342
Alex Gonzalez delivered. c-Dellucci ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 .275 good. Murton lf 4 0 1 1 0 0 .269
R.Betancourt p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- S.Smith lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
Gonzalez doubled home the winning e-Jh.Peralta ph 0 0 0 0 1 0 .269 Hammel (1-3) allowed one run Spilborghs rf 2 0 0 0 2 0 .270
run with one out in the 11th inning and Vizcaino p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- on six hits and three walks in six- Atkins dh 4 0 1 0 0 1 .190
Totals 37 3 8 2 5 12 Torrealba c 3 0 0 0 0 0 .233
the Reds defeated the Cleveland Indians plus innings in his ninth appear- Barmes 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .235
4-3 to win the all-Ohio series. Cincinnati AB R H BI BB SO Avg. ance for the Rockies, including Stewart 3b 4 1 1 0 0 2 .190
Taveras cf 5 0 1 0 0 1 .277 Totals 33 3 8 3 4 5
The Reds won after first baseman Joey Hairston Jr. 2b 5 1 1 1 0 1 .252 six starts, and the Rockies beat
Votto was scratched from the lineup with Bruce rf 5 0 0 0 0 2 .228 the Detroit Tigers 3-1. Detroit AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Gomes lf 5 1 1 0 0 2 .300 J.Anderson lf 4 0 0 0 0 2 .263
a recurrence of the dizziness that forced Fisher p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- “I’ve been pitching pretty Santiago 2b 4 0 0 0 0 2 .338
him to miss 10 starts earlier this month. R.Hernandez 1b 5 1 3 0 0 1 .291 well, so I just knew I needed to Thomas rf 2 0 0 0 1 1 .258
1-Janish pr 0 1 0 0 0 0 .289 c-Raburn ph-rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 .222
They also were missing second baseman A.Rosales 3b 4 0 1 0 0 1 .260 keep plugging away,” he said. Mi.Cabrera 1b 4 0 1 0 0 0 .367
Brandon Phillips, who had an N.L.-lead- Ale.Gonzalez ss 5 0 3 3 0 0 .225 “Today, I had my sinker work- Granderson cf 4 0 0 0 0 0 .240
Hanigan c 3 0 0 0 1 0 .309 Ordonez dh 3 1 2 0 1 0 .266
ing 27 RBIs in May before breaking his Cueto p 2 0 0 0 0 0 .158 ing well, so I just had to throw Inge 3b 4 0 1 0 0 2 .271
thumb Saturday night. b-L.Nix ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .276 strikes and let the defense make Everett ss 2 0 1 0 1 0 .305
Weathers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- d-Polanco ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .263
“Guys have to pull together during Cordero p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
plays behind me.” Sardinha c 2 0 1 1 0 0 .095
tough times,” Reds manager Dusty d-Votto ph 0 0 0 0 1 0 .371 Hammel moved into the rota- a-Larish ph 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239
Rhodes p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- b-Laird ph-c 1 0 0 0 0 0 .243
Baker said. “Things will get going our Dickerson lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237
tion in late April, and Colorado Totals 32 1 6 1 3 7
way soon.” Totals 40 4 10 4 2 8 manager Clint Hurdle was
Colorado 000 010 200 — 3 8 0
The Reds took two of three. Carlos Cleveland 000 100 200 00 —3 8 1
happy to see him help the Rock- Detroit 010 000 000 — 1 6 1
Fisher (1-0), Cincinnati’s fifth pitcher, Cincinnati 100 101 000 01 —4 10 1 ies beat the Tigers for the sec-
a-was announced for Sardinha in the 7th. b-lined out for
pitched a scoreless 11th to get the win in TOM UHLMAN / AP
One out when winning run scored. a-lined out for
ond time in two days. Larish in the 7th. c-grounded out for Thomas in the 8th.
his major league debut. Cleveland C Kelly Shoppach, bottom, holds onto the ball to tag out Cincinnati’s Adam Rosales in the fourth. Cl.Lee in the 7th. b-grounded out for Cueto in the 7th. “We were very pleased with d-flied out for Everett in the 9th. E: Thomas (1). LOB:
c-singled for Herges in the 9th. d-walked for Cordero in Colorado 9, Detroit 7. 2B: Fowler (9), Helton (9), Murton
Ramon Hernandez led off the Reds’ the 9th. e-walked for R.Betancourt in the 11th. 1-ran for
his effort,” Hurdle said. “I (3), Atkins (6), Ordonez (6). RBIs: Helton 2 (31), Murton
11th with a single against Luis Vizcaino people were down on him, but we weren’t. however, ruled that Rosales obstructed R.Hernandez in the 11th. E: DeRosa (7), A.Rosales (2). thought there was more of an (4), Sardinha (2). SB: Fowler (11), Tulowitzki (4). S:
LOB: Cleveland 10, Cincinnati 8. 2B: Valbuena 2 (6), Fowler, Torrealba. Runners left in scoring position:
(1-2), and pinch-runner Paul Janish He’s just now approaching 100 at-bats— Sizemore on the way home and awarded A.Rosales (4), Ale.Gonzalez (5). 3B: Sizemore (1). HR:
edge to his pitching today, and Colorado 7 (Torrealba, Helton 2, Murton 2, Spilborghs,
moved up on Adam Rosales’ sacrifice. and a lot of consecutive at bats.” the tying run to the Indians. Rosales Hairston Jr. (5), off Cl.Lee. RBIs: Sizemore (28), Valbuena the one time he did get into Stewart); Detroit 4 (J.Anderson 2, Everett, Inge). GIDP:
(1), Hairston Jr. (11), Ale.Gonzalez 3 (15). S: A.Cabrera, Tulowitzki, J.Anderson. DP: Colorado 1 (Barmes, Tulow-
Gonzalez followed by lining a 3-2 pitch Cleveland was 1-for-10 with runners in was charged with an error. DeRosa, A.Rosales. Runners left in scoring position: trouble, he was able to mini- itzki, Helton); Detroit 1 (Everett, Santiago, Mi.Cabrera).
over the head of center fielder Grady scoring position, which didn’t escape “The umpire didn’t say a word to me,” Cleveland 6 (DeRosa, Choo, A.Cabrera 2, Valbuena, mize the damage.”
V.Martinez); Cincinnati 2 (Cueto 2). DP: Cincinnati 2 Colorado IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Sizemore for his third RBI of the game. Cleveland manager Eric Wedge’s notice. Rosales said. “I try not to talk to (Cueto, Ale.Gonzalez, R.Hernandez), (R.Hernandez, Ale. Three relievers finished the Hammel W, 1-3 6 6 1 1 3 4 86 4.10
“They kept pitching me away, away, “The bullpen’s done a good job lately,” umpires. I didn’t feel him. Jonny Gonzalez, R.Hernandez). Rockies’ interleague series win, R.Flores H, 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 13 0.00
Corpas H, 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 8 5.95
away,” Gonzalez said. “They weren’t Wedge said. “The difference in this (Gomes) made an outstanding play. I Cleveland IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA with Huston Street pitching the Street S, 7-7 1 0 0 0 0 1 9 3.44
going to pitch me inside. It was a slider, game was not getting the big hit.” don’t see how you can take it away, but Cl.Lee 6 8 3 3 1 4 98 3.04 ninth for his seventh save in as Detroit IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Herges 2 0 0 0 0 1 22 1.54 Willis L, 1-1 6 2⁄3 7 3 3 4 4 105 3.57
middle away.” Down 3-1, the Indians tied it in the it’s over. We won.” R.Betancourt 2 0 0 0 1 3 25 4.01 many tries. Todd Helton had a Lyon 1 1 0 0 0 0 11 5.95
Gonzalez, who missed nine games seventh on an unusual play. Jerry Hairston Jr. put the Reds ahead Vizcaino L, 1-2 1⁄3 2 1 1 0 0 9 2.57 tying RBI double in the fifth Seay 1 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 15 4.73
Cincinnati IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
earlier this month with a strained mus- Sizemore hit an RBI triple, and tried 1-0 in the first, connecting off Cliff Lee Cueto 7 6 3 2 3 7 111 2.37 and a go-ahead RBI single in Hammel pitched to 1 batter in the 7th. Inherited
cle in his left side, extended his hitting to score on the play when the relay throw for his fifth homer of the season. Weathers 1 1 0 0 1 0 17 2.87 the seventh. runners-scored: R.Flores 1-0, Lyon 1-0, Seay 1-0.
Cordero 1 1 0 0 0 1 16 1.89 Umpires: Home, Marty Foster; First, D.J. Reyburn;
streak to five games and boosting his got through Rosales at third base. Left Cleveland tied it with two outs in the Rhodes 1 0 0 0 0 3 11 0.56 “We’re looking for traction Second, John Hirschbeck; Third, Wally Bell. T: 2:39. A:
batting average from .206 to .225. fielder Jonny Gomes ran in, retrieved fourth. Johnny Cueto hit Kelly Shop- Fisher W, 1-0 1 0 0 0 1 1 14 0.00 right now, and this is the type 34,606 (41,255).
“We knew (Gonzalez) was better than the ball near the dugout and threw home pach with a two-strike pitch, and Luis HBP: by Cueto (Shoppach, Sizemore). WP: Cl.Lee, of win that can help,” Hurdle
he’d been doing,” Baker said. “It was a to get Sizemore at the plate. Valbuena hit an RBI double. Cueto. Umpires: Home, Mark Wegner; First, Tim Tim- said.
mons; Second, Jeff Kellogg; Third, Rob Drake. T: 3:34. A:
matter of him getting some reps. Other Third base umpire Rob Drake, — The Associated Press 27,796 (42,319). — The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 23
INTERLEAGUE
Pittsburgh 4, Chicago White Sox 3 Oakland 6, Arizona 2

Bucs’ Wilson ends slump with 9th-inning rally Team effort helps A’s avoid sweep
OAKLAND—The Oakland Ath- Athletics 6, Diamondbacks 2
CHICAGO—Jack Wilson had tried just Pirates 4, White Sox 3 letics have been waiting for the Arizona AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Pittsburgh AB R H BI BB SO Avg. R.Roberts 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 .324
about everything else to snap out of his Morgan cf-lf 5 1 3 0 0 0 .290 day when their offense, defense G.Parra rf 3 1 0 0 1 0 .279
slump, so he jumped at first baseman Delw.Young rf 5 0 1 1 0 2 .319 and pitching all came together. J.Upton dh 4 0 2 0 0 1 .320
McLouth cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270 S.Drew ss 3 0 0 1 1 0 .195
Adam LaRoche’s offer to throw him bat- F.Sanchez 2b 5 1 2 0 0 0 .297 It’s been rare so far. There Reynolds 1b 3 0 0 0 1 1 .265
ting practice. Monroe dh 4 0 2 0 0 1 .263 have been late-inning collapses Snyder c 1 0 0 0 2 0 .233
Hinske 1b 4 1 2 2 0 0 .254 a-Tracy ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 .196
It turned out to be a wonderful idea. An.LaRoche 3b 4 0 1 0 0 2 .287 by a tired, overworked bullpen Byrnes lf 3 0 1 0 0 0 .211
Wilson hit a tying home run with two Moss lf-rf 4 0 1 0 0 0 .266 and demoralizing one-run b-Montero ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 .231
R.Diaz c 4 0 2 0 0 0 .321 Ojeda 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 .265
outs in the ninth inning off closer Bobby Ja.Wilson ss 4 1 2 1 0 0 .260 defeats when the offense C.Young cf 3 1 1 0 0 0 .175
Jenks and the Pittsburgh Pirates went Totals 39 4 16 4 0 5 couldn’t get it done. Totals 30 2 6 1 5 2
on to beat the Chicago White Sox 4-3 on Chicago AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Jason Giambi homered a day Oakland AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Sunday. Podsednik cf 4 0 1 0 0 0 .268 after reaching the 400 milestone O.Cabrera ss 5 1 1 0 0 0 .240
Al.Ramirez ss 3 0 1 0 0 1 .226 Kennedy 2b 5 0 2 2 0 1 .400
“Adam said he was going to get me Thome dh 4 0 0 0 0 1 .239 and Landon Powell hit a tiebreak- Cust dh 4 0 1 0 0 1 .262
right,” said Wilson, who homered for only Konerko 1b 2 0 0 0 2 0 .307 ing shot for his first career home Holliday lf 3 0 1 0 1 0 .269
Pierzynski c 4 0 0 0 0 1 .262 Giambi 1b 3 1 1 1 1 0 .221
the second time since Sept. 17, 2007. “I did Quentin lf 4 1 1 0 0 1 .223 run as the A’s avoided a sweep Hannahan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167
take (LaRoche) deep a couple times. Got to Bri.Anderson rf 4 2 2 2 0 1 .286 with a 6-2 victory over the Ari- R.Sweeney cf 4 1 2 0 0 0 .255
Getz 2b 4 0 1 0 0 1 .244 T.Buck rf 4 0 0 0 0 0 .205
give credit to the BP thrower. Fields 3b 3 0 1 1 0 1 .217
zona Diamondbacks on Sunday.
Crosby 3b-1b 3 1 1 0 1 0 .209
Perhaps the Pirates should have tried CHARLES CHERNEY / AP Totals 32 3 7 3 2 7 “It’s good to get one of these Powell c 2 2 1 2 2 0 .211
that tactic earlier in the series. They Pittsburgh’s Nyjer Morgan, left, scored the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth off Delwyn Young’s single. in our favor,” Powell said. “I Totals 33 6 10 5 5 2
Pittsburgh 100 000 012 — 4 16 0
were shut out in the first two games and Chicago 020 010 000 — 3 7 0 hope it gives us momentum.” Arizona 100 000 010 — 2 6 0
were frustrated for most of Sunday, Pirates closer Matt Capps succeeded John Grabow (3-0) pitched the eighth Giambi, who on Saturday Oakland 000 003 12x — 6 10 1
LOB: Pittsburgh 8, Chicago 5. 2B: Morgan (5), Hinske
managing only one run in the first seven where Jenks failed, striking out Carlos for the win. (6), Quentin (5). HR: Hinske (1), off Dotel; Ja.Wilson (1), night became the 44th player a-singled for Snyder in the 9th. b-singled for Byrnes in
innings despite getting 12 hits off White off Jenks; Bri.Anderson (1), off Karstens. RBIs: Delw. the 9th. E: O.Cabrera (8). LOB: Arizona 6, Oakland 8. 2B:
Quentin, Brian Anderson and Chris Getz The White Sox completed their home- Young (8), Hinske 2 (7), Ja.Wilson (15), Bri.Anderson 2
in major league history with
J.Upton (10), Byrnes (10), Cust (6). HR: Powell (1), off
Sox ace Mark Buehrle. in the ninth for his ninth save as the Pirates stand with a 4-2 record but most will (6), Fields (14). S: Al.Ramirez. Runners left in scor- 400 homers, provided an Garland; Giambi (5), off Slaten. RBIs: S.Drew (12), Ken-
Octavio Dotel, who came in with the ing position: Pittsburgh 2 (An.LaRoche 2); Chicago 2 nedy 2 (11), Giambi (20), Powell 2 (11). Runners left
snapped a three-game losing streak. remember the two losses. They fell to (Quentin, Pierzynski). DP: Chicago 2 (Getz, Al.Ramirez),
insurance run with his sev-
in scoring position: Arizona 4 (Reynolds, C.Young,
third-lowest ERA of any A.L. reliever “We’ve been struggling and that’s a Minnesota 20-1, tying the most lopsided (Al.Ramirez, Getz, Konerko). enth-inning solo drive. Ojeda 2); Oakland 4 (O.Cabrera 2, R.Sweeney, Giambi).
(0.66) gave up a two-out, eighth-inning good way to get out of it,” Pirates man- defeat in team history, and on Sunday Rookie Josh Outman (2-0) DP: Oakland 4 (O.Cabrera, Kennedy, Giambi), (Crosby,
Pittsburgh IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Kennedy, Giambi), (O.Cabrera, Kennedy, Giambi), (Ken-
homer to Eric Hinske. And after retir- ager John Russell said. “We started by lost for the first time all season when Karstens 5 1⁄3 5 3 3 1 2 79 5.19 worked out of jams and hung nedy, O.Cabrera, Crosby).
ing the first two batters in the ninth on S.Burnett 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 2 3.10
getting a lot of hits but still weren’t scor- leading after eight innings. J.Chavez 1 1⁄3 1 0 0 0 1 9 1.86
tough with Jon Garland (4-3), who
Arizona IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
weak grounders, Jenks served up Wil- ing any runs. I think Hinske, when he Eleven of the 12 hits against Buehrle Grabow W, 3-0 1 1 0 0 1 1 15 4.95 pitched five scoreless innings Garland L, 4-3 6 7 3 3 4 1 105 4.70
Capps S, 9-11 1 0 0 0 0 3 15 6.60 Slaten 1 1⁄3 1 1 1 0 1 22 6.75
son’s shot—only the shortstop’s third hit hit the home run, he kind of lifted the were singles—Hinske’s first-inning RBI Chicago IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA before running into trouble. Vasquez 2⁄3 2 2 2 1 0 16 5.65
in his last 21 at-bats. guys a little bit. Then we put together a double being the exception—and the Buehrle 7 12 1 1 0 3 106 2.59 The A’s lost 8-7 in 11 innings Oakland IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Dotel H, 8 1 1 1 1 0 2 19 1.17 Outman W, 2-0 7 2⁄3 4 2 1 5 0 106 2.90
Jenks, who entered the game with a good ninth with two outs against one of left-hander escaped jam after jam thanks Jenks L, 0-2 BS, 1-11 1 3 2 2 0 0 17 3.38 Saturday and had played four Wuertz H, 4 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 5 1.96
0.00 ERA in save situations and 10 the better closers in the game.” to help from his teammates. Center straight one-run games. Their Ziegler 1 2 0 0 0 1 19 3.72
Inherited runners-scored: S.Burnett 2-0, J.Chavez
saves in as many opportunities, then Hinske was playing because LaRoche fielder Scott Podsednik and right fielder 2-0. IBB: off Grabow (Konerko). Umpires: Home, Bruce win Sunday ended a three- IBB: off Garland (Holliday). WP: Garland, Vasquez.
gave up Nyjer Morgan’s double into the got the day off and Young was in the out- Anderson each threw out a runner and Dreckman; First, Paul Emmel; Second, Angel Campos; game skid overall and six-game Umpires: Home, Scott Barry; First, Jerry Meals; Sec-
Third, Gary Darling. T: 2:29. A: 28,309 (40,615). ond, James Hoye; Third, Dale Scott. T: 2:38. A: 13,792
right-field corner and Delwyn Young’s field to give Nate McClouth some rest. second baseman Getz and shortstop home losing streak to Arizona. (35,067).
RBI single down the left-field line on “It was a big day for us as a team,” said Alexei Ramirez began double plays after The Diamondbacks had won
consecutive pitches. Hinske, whose previous homer came for making outstanding stops. a season-high four in a row.
“We were trying to go away and it Tampa Bay in last year’s World Series. Anderson hit a two-run homer in the Powell, the backup catcher
came back middle up,” Jenks said of the “Losing that game would have been first and also scored in the fifth after who has been nursing a strained
1-0 pitch to Wilson. “The way I look at it tough. Anytime you win it melts any reaching on a bunt single. He had gone 3 hamstring, connected in the sixth
is if I blow one out of every 11, and if I get frustration away. We were going crazy for 23 over his previous eight games. and gingerly rounded the bases.
44 chances, that’s a pretty good year.” ... very excited, to say the least.” — The Associated Press — The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY
INSIDE DISH
Riggs says he’s leaving
Tommy Baldwin Racing
Scott Riggs is parting ways with
Tommy Baldwin Racing following
today’s Coca-Cola 600, Riggs said
Sunday.
Riggs has qualified for eight of
the first 12 races with a top finish
of 25th in the Daytona 500. Riggs
ran only 54 laps at Richmond and
101 laps at Darlington before his
day ended because of mechanical
issues.
Riggs said Sunday he wasn’t
optimistic that the No. 36 team
could continue to compete for the
full length of future events without
significant sponsorship and that,
combined with the team’s perfor-
mance, made it time for him to
leave. He will start the Coca-Cola
600 in the 43rd spot.
“I’m a competitor, and I’m a
racer,” Riggs said. “It kills my soul
to know that we go to the racetrack
and we’re not going to be competi-
tive. Even if the car is competitive,
we’re not going to be there around
at the end to be competitive.”
Riggs said he and Baldwin
talked about the situation this past
weekend and the decision was
made for him to leave.
“I want somewhere that I can
grow, I can build, I can race and be
competitive,” said Riggs, 38.
— Bob Pockrass, SceneDaily.com
Ten drivers are scheduled to
attend a tire test June 1-3 at India-
napolis Motor Speedway, accord-
ing to Goodyear’s Rick Heinrich.
Goodyear is looking to avoid a
repeat of last year’s Allstate 400 at
the Brickyard when its tires lasted
www.sportingnews.com
only about 12 laps and NASCAR
was forced to throw the caution so
teams could change tires. The tires
just created dust, never laid rubber
on the track and wore out quickly.
The test was added after Good-
year, in previous tests, could not
get a tire that could lay down
enough rubber on the track to pro-
vide adequate grip and then not
blister the tires.
Goodyear officials hope to settle
on a tire and then bring 12 teams to
the track for a confirmation test
June 15-17. The race is July 26.
— Bob Pockrass
NASCAR randomly drug-
tested 10 crew members from 10
teams during the rain delay at the
Coca-Cola 600, an apparent tweak
to the first three months of in-sea-
son testing, The Associated Press
reported.
Before Sunday night, crew chiefs
said NASCAR typically informed
them when the garage opened if a
team member had been selected to
give a sample. The individual had
four hours to report to testing.
Drivers can be tested on any day of
the race weekend.
But at Lowe’s Motor Speedway,
NASCAR waited until after the
scheduled start of the Coca-Cola
600 to inform teams and ordered
individuals to report for testing at
the end of the race. Because rain
delayed the start, crew members
were seen entering the infield care
center, where the tests were con-
ducted during intermittent
showers.
NASCAR
Rain postpones Coca-Cola 600 to today
A member of Kyle Busch’s pit crew runs for cover as a heavy downpour hits before the start of the Coca Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
BY REID SPENCER
rspencer@sportingnews.com
CONCORD, N.C.—Persistent rain forced
postponement of the Coca-Cola 600
NASCAR Sprint Cup race from its
scheduled Sunday start to noon ET
today.
A heavy shower drenched the
track just as crews were rolling cars
out of the garage after prerace cere-
monies at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
With rain continuing to fall through-
out the evening, NASCAR
announced at 8:26 p.m. the race had
been postponed.
Track president Marcus Smith
said even if the rain stopped, the
time needed to dry the 1.5-mile track
would prevent the race from being
concluded at a reasonable hour.
Today’s forecast calls for scattered
thunderstorms with a 60 percent
chance of rain. Gates are scheduled
to open at 9 a.m., and the garage will
open at 9:30. Fox will broadcast the
race.
Crew chiefs of the respective Cup
teams will have a lot of work to do
before the start of the race.
“Everyone was set up for racing
at night,” said driver Kurt Busch,
who will start 17th in the No. 2 Pen-
ske Dodge. “This will really have
everyone scratching their heads,
that’s for sure. We were hoping to
have an adjustable setup here
tonight.
“Running here (Monday) will defi-
nitely put a bigger premium on the
adjustability factor. I know everyone
will be really loose at the start of the
race because all the rubber got
washed off the track. It’ll get tighter
as the race goes on, and that’s where
the adjustability comes in.”
Elton Sawyer, competition direc-
tor for Red Bull Racing, which fields
Toyotas for Brian Vickers and rookie
Scott Speed, said the delay was an
JOHN BAZEMORE / AP
inconvenience but would have a neg-
ligible effect on the team’s ability to
get to Dover in time for next Sun-
day’s Cup race.
“As far as Dover, yeah, we do have
time,” Sawyer said. “We can run
tomorrow and still be able to meet
our schedule. Our truck can be out
of there Wednesday and be ready for
Dover and not be a real problem.
“The worst part is (Monday) is a
holiday, and everyone wants to be on
the lake. You can’t do anything about
the weather, so we’ll do what we have
to do.”
This is the second time the 600
has been postponed, but the first
because of weather. The first 600, in
1960, was pushed back three weeks
because of construction delays.
The race has been shortened by
rain three times, the most recent in
2003 to 414 miles (276 of 400 laps).
Jimmie Johnson was declared the
winner.
MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 24
Coca-Cola 600
At Lowe’s Motor Speedway
When: Today, noon ET
TV: FOX
Radio: PRN/Sirius XM Satellite
Ch. 128
Track layout: 1.5-mile oval
Race distance: 400 laps/600
miles
2008 winner: Kasey Kahne
2008 polesitter: Kyle Busch
Starting lineup
(Car number in parentheses)
1. (39) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 188.475
2. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 188.258
3. (24) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 188.193
4. (5) Mark Martin, Chevrolet, 188.166
5. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 187.820
6. (9) Kasey Kahne, Dodge, 187.493
7. (09) Mike Bliss, Dodge, 187.422
8. (83) Brian Vickers, Toyota, 187.396
9. (42) Juan Pablo Montoya, Chevrolet, 187.188
10. (21) Bill Elliott, Ford, 187.169
11. (87) Joe Nemechek, Toyota, 187.162
12. (1) Martin Truex Jr., Chevrolet, 186.916
13. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 186.864
14. (20) Joey Logano, Toyota, 186.832
15. (19) Elliott Sadler, Dodge, 186.825
16. (16) Greg Biffle, Ford, 186.735
17. (2) Kurt Busch, Dodge, 186.599
18. (82) Scott Speed, Toyota, 186.574
19. (99) Carl Edwards, Ford, 186.548
20. (96) Bobby Labonte, Ford, 186.477
21. (00) David Reutimann, Toyota, 186.368
22. (29) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 186.233
23. (47) Marcos Ambrose, Toyota, 186.220
24. (33) Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet, 186.181
25. (66) Dave Blaney, Toyota, 186.014
26. (77) Sam Hornish Jr., Dodge, 185.970
27. (88) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 185.829
28. (14) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 185.778
29. (71) David Gilliland, Chevrolet, 185.707
30. (17) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 185.605
31. (98) Paul Menard, Ford, 185.593
32. (13) Max Papis, Toyota, 185.433
33. (26) Jamie McMurray, Ford, 185.319
34. (6) David Ragan, Ford, 185.172
35. (12) David Stremme, Dodge, 185.096
36. (07) Casey Mears, Chevrolet, 184.704
37. (7) Robby Gordon, Toyota, 184.590
38. (44) A J Allmendinger, Dodge, 184.338
39. (55) Michael Waltrip, Toyota, 183.949
40. (31) Jeff Burton, Chevrolet, 183.281
41. (34) Tony Raines, Chevrolet, Owner Points
42. (43) Reed Sorenson, Dodge, Owner Points
43. (36) Scott Riggs, Toyota, 184.433.
Failed to Qualify
44. (41) JJ Yeley, Toyota, 184.093
45. (73) Mike Garvey, Dodge, 182.457
46. (64) Todd Bodine, Toyota, 182.426
47. (06) David Starr, Dodge, 179.081
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com NFL MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 25
Q&A with ... Jets C Nick Mangold

‘Once something bad happened, it just started snowballing’

After a recent practice, Jets cen-
ter Nick Mangold told Sporting News
Today’s Bill Eichenberger that the arrival
of coach Rex Ryan has been like a shot
of adrenaline for a team still hurting
after a late-season collapse cost them a
playoff berth. Mangold said the energy
and enthusiasm have returned in a big
way to the team’s training complex in
Florham Park, N.J.
Q: Who would that be? in—last year was his 11th in the
league—was unbelievable,
A: A big one right in our own
backyard is Shaun
(O’Hara of the Giants). He is a
especially the way that he carries
himself and his personality. He’s
very help-friendly. He’s there to
fantastic center who has been answer questions, but at the
doing it at a high level for a long same time he didn’t come in and
time. try to impose his will. Instead it
was, “Hey, here’s what I’ve done.
Q: From the outside, it
appears the Jets’
Let’s see what you’ve done, and
we’ll talk it out.”

Q:
for Ryan?
What are your first
impressions playing
offensive line is a clear
strength of this team. Do you
view it the same way? Q: Have you reflected on
last season? Have you

A: It’s been fantastic. He has

a great passion for the
game. The defense is fired up.
A: Definitely. I believe that
the line drives your team,
at least on the offensive side. And
learned any lessons from that?

A: As I look back at it, I

And as an offense, going against
that kind of defense every day is
only going to make us better. But
it still is kind of a pain in the butt.
our guys take that to heart. We
try to be the leaders, to set the
tempo, to get our guys going, to
make sure we are doing all the
right things.
realize now that you
have to keep things going.
When you get on a roll like we
were on midway through last
season, you have to keep that
going. Offensively, we were

Q: Why is that?

Q: What’s your
running the ball and doing all
the things we wanted to do. But

A: His defense, the schemes

that he brings in, they are
pretty complex. They are making
assessment of the
competition for the starting
job at quarterback?
when things started to go
wrong, we needed to sit back,
take a deep breath and collect
us think upfront.
A: I haven’t really even seen
Mark Sanchez (much). ...
ourselves. And I don’t think we
ever did that. Once something

Q: Recently in Sporting
News Today, RealScouts,
a group of former NFL scouts,
But Kellen Clemens, we came in
together. He’s put in a lot of work
to learn the system and knows
bad happened, it just started
snowballing.

rated you as the No. 1 center in

the league. What’s your
reaction to that?
what he needs to do. And he’s
really grown. Not only does he sit
and watch the film and read the
Q: Knowing Brett Favre
as you do, do you think
he will come out of

A: That’s kind of them.

Should I send a thank-
playbook, but he also asks
questions of the offensive line. So
retirement and play in the
NFL this season?
you note? he knows what we’re thinking.
A: If he’s healthy, I think he
is going to try. One of the

Q: Do you think you

deserve that sort of
ranking?
Q: How much of an impact
did the arrival a year
ago of veteran left guard Alan
big things I learned from Brett
was how important it is to love
the game. He loves the game

A: Seriously, I really do
appreciate it, but there are
some guys out there who are
heads and shoulders above me.
Faneca of the Steelers have on
you and the rest of the line?
more than any person I’ve met or
heard of. I just think anyone is
A: For me, having that kind
of experience come
going to have a hard time turning
him away. Jets C Nick Mangold feels first-year coach Rex Ryan is creating enthusiasm, and brings a defensive scheme that keeps the offense thinking.
JOHN DUNN FOR SN
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com NFL MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 26
INSIDE DISH

Jags defense ‘shooting, not hesitating’; 49ers want to involve gifted LB

Although the Jaguars overhauled
the offense in the offseason, G.M.
Gene Smith and coach Jack Del Rio
pretty much brought back the
defense intact. That’s a curious
move considering the team ranked
17th in the league in yards allowed.
Ten starters return in ’09, with
free-agent S Sean Considine being the
exception. Rookie DT Terrance Knigh-
ton could win a starting job, dou-
bling the new players in the lineup.
The team also will use a more
straight-forward approach now
that former coordinator Gregg Wil-
liams is gone. Williams used a more
complicated scheme.
“Last year, it was kind of a mixture
of the two defenses,” DT Derek Landri
told The Florida Times-Union. “(Now)
it’s more of what Del Rio is used to.
We’ll be shooting, not hesitating.”
Mel Tucker has succeeded Williams.
Niners coaches are simplifying
the plan for OLB Manny Lawson in an
attempt to tap into his massive
potential. Lawson, the 22nd-overall
pick in the ’06 draft, had been asked
to lose weight to cover running
backs and wide receivers in pass
coverage. Later, he was asked to add
bulk to hold up better in run sup-
port at the point of attack.
Lawson, 24 and almost two years
removed from ACL surgery, mostly
will be deployed to attack the quar-
terback, and coach Mike Singletary says
a simplified scheme will benefit Law-
son the most. That’s why they didn’t
draft a pass rusher last month.
“They just said, ‘Manny, we’re
going with a true 3-4 (defense),” Law-
son told the Oakland Tribune. “You’re
not always going to (drop into
coverage). And when it comes to our
third-down package, we’re going to
take the handcuffs off and let you go.”
The Raiders and personnel
director Rich Snead have parted ways,
two years after replacing Mike Lom-
bardi, according to RaiderBeat.com.
Former Raiders assistant coach
Keith Rowen reportedly will play a
larger role in the front office.
Dolphins WR Tedd Ginn Jr. hardly
has had an impact since being the
ninth-overall pick in the ’07 draft.
Said G.M. Jeff Ireland last month: “It’s
time for Ted Ginn to really show what
he was drafted here to do.”
Coach Tony Sparano wants Ginn to
improve reading coverages and beat-
ing bump-and-run coverage.
Derek Anderson, 25, is trying to
keep the long view in mind even as
he competes with Brady Quinn for the
short-term assignment of being the
Browns’ starting quarterback. If
Anderson stays healthy and per-
forms well but still loses the job to
favorite Quinn, Anderson still will
hit free agency at age 27.
Dolphins DE Randy Starks has
been charged with using his truck
to hit a police officer who tried to
stop the vehicle on foot.
Miami Beach Police say the offi-
cer tried to stop the 25-year-old
player when he was driving a truck
packed with 13 people early Sunday
in heavy traffic. Police say Starks
kept slowly moving forward even
as the officer was beside the truck.
They say Starks swerved the vehi-
cle slightly, hitting the officer in the
Jaguars DT Derek Landri believes adjustments made on defense will allow for more aggression.
chest and pinning him against
another vehicle.
The officer wasn’t injured, but
BOB LEVERONE / SN
Starks was charged with aggra-
vated battery. Starks remained in a
Miami jail Sunday afternoon.
DE Shaun Smith’s time with the
Browns could be running short,
according to The (Cleveland) Plain
Dealer. Browns coaches reportedly
are tiring of his more-bark-than-
bite routine on the field.
Bills rookie DE Aaron Maybin, the
11th overall pick, is struggling so far
in offseason practices. One source
told ProFootballTalk.com that May-
bin has been “brutal” in workouts.
Maybin is expected to be used mostly
as a pass-rush specialist as a rookie.
Redskins DE Phillip Daniels, 36,
reports that he is 100 percent after
tearing his knee ligament in train-
ing camp last year. He has bulked
up to 311 pounds as he has added
muscle mass to improve his perfor-
mance against the run.
“I’m stronger this year,” he said
via the team’s website. “(The injury)
gave me a year of rest, which is good
for me at my age. Also, I’m still in
power lifting and I’m stronger than
I was at this point last year.”
Patriots RB Fred Taylor says he
has targeted Jim Brown’s mark of
12,312 yards rushing as a goal. Tay-
lor, entering his 12th NFL season,
needs 1,041 yards to match Brown’s
career mark.
“I’ve always said I wanted to
catch Jim Brown,” Taylor told The
Florida Times-Union. “Whether I do
or don’t, it’s been great playing in
the NFL for this long. ...”
The Jets’ Kareem Brown, a practice
squad player as a defensive end last
year, has shed 30 pounds in an attempt
to make the roster as a tight end.
“I played scout team tight end last
year a lot during the season and
that went pretty well,” Brown told
The Journal News.
“A guy that can play tight end, a
guy that can play defensive end and
do different things for us, special
teams,” coach Rex Ryan told The Jour-
nal News. “He is going to be a valu-
able member of our team. He is
coming along.”
Courtney Roby and Skyler Green are
competing for the Saints’ kick return
job. The winner also will make spo-
radic appearances on offense, but the
loser likely will be cut.
CB Eric Green said he signed with
the Dolphins knowing he wouldn’t
be handed the starting job. He and
Will Allen are the projected starters,
but the team spent two of its first
three picks on CBs Vontae Davis and
Sean Smith.
“The first thing they said was,
‘Hey, we ran 80 guys through this
roster last year,’ On a 53-man roster,
that’s telling you there’s guys being
cut every week because of the com-
petition. If you’re injured, if you’re
on the sideline, you’re going to get
pushed back and you’re going to be
out of here. So even if you’re a
starter, you’re not set as a starter.”
A Saints team spokesman says
TE Jeremy Shockey was taken to a
hospital but is doing fine.
Celebrity gossip site TMZ.com
first reported that the four-time Pro
Bowler was taken out of the Hard
Rock Hotel in Las Vegas by stretcher
after being found unconscious Sun-
day afternoon.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Remaining free agents
A quick look at the remaining NFL free agents by position
(R-restricted free agent, F-franchise tagged player):
OFFENSE
Quarterbacks—Brooks Bollinger, Dallas; Ken Dorsey,
Cleveland; Gus Frerotte, Minnesota; Charlie Frye, Seattle;
Drew Henson, Detroit; Quinn Gray, Kansas City; Trent Green,
St. Louis; Rex Grossman, Chicago; Brad Johnson, Dallas; J.P.
Losman, Buffalo; Jamie Martin, San Francisco; Craig Nall,
Houston; Marques Tuiasosopo, Oakland; Anthony Wright, NY
Giants.
Running backs—Darian Barnes, New Orleans; Tatum Bell,
Denver; Brian Calhoun, Detroit; Jesse Chatman, NY Jets; P.J.
Daniels, Baltimore; Reuben Droughns, NY Giants; Warrick
Dunn, Tampa Bay; DeShaun Foster, San Francisco; Samkon
Gado, St. Louis; Nick Goings, Carolina; Ahman Green, Houston;
Andre Hall, Denver; Kay-Jay Harris, NY Giants; Maurice Hicks,
Minnesota; Edgerrin James, Arizona; Rudi Johnson, Detroit;
Deuce McAllister, New Orleans; Travis Minor, St. Louis; Chris
Perry, Cincinnati; Andrew Pinnock, Denver; Michael Pittman,
Denver; P.J. Pope, Denver; Cecil Sapp, Houston; Aaron Stecker,
New Orleans; Selvin Young, Denver.
Wide receivers—Drew Bennett, St. Louis; Marty
Booker, Chicago; Drew Carter, Oakland; Jason Carter;
Carolina; Keary Colbert, Detroit; Jayson Foster, Denver; D.J.
Hackett, Carolina; Dante Hall, St. Louis; Marvin Harrison,
Indianapolis; Ike Hilliard, Tampa Bay; Darrell Jackson,
Denver; Nate Jackson, Denver; Matt Jones, Jacksonville;
Joe Jurevicius, Cleveland; Ashley Lelie, Oakland; Brandon
Lloyd, Chicago; Dane Looker, St. Louis; Marcus Maxwell,
Baltimore; Anthony Mix, Tampa Bay; Ben Obomanu (R),
Seattle; Tab Perry, Miami; Jerry Porter, Jacksonville; Kevin
Robinson, Kansas City; Koren Robinson, Seattle; Edell
Shepherd, Denver; Travis Taylor, Detroit; Amani Toomer,
NY Giants; Kelley Washington, New England; Todd Watkins
(R), Oakland; Harry Williams, Houston; Reggie Williams,
Jacksonville; Wallace Wright (R), NY Jets.
Tight ends—Courtney Anderson, Houston; Adam Bergen,
Denver; Mark Bruener, Houston; Scott Chandler, San Diego;
Owen Daniels (R), Houston; Nate Lawrie, Cincinnati; Michael
Merritt, Kansas City; Martrez Milner, NY Giants; Chad Mustard,
Denver; Jeff Robinson, Seattle; Derek Schouman (R), Buffalo;
Stephen Spach (R), Arizona; Daniel Wilcox, Baltimore; Kris
Wilson, San Diego.
Offensive tackles—Tyson Clabo (R), Atlanta; Anthony
Davis, St. Louis; Jon Dunn, Detroit; Wayne Gandy, Atlanta;
Kwame Harris, Oakland; Jonas Jennings, San Francisco;
Levi Jones, Cincinnati; James Marten (R), Oakland;
Fred Miller, Chicago; Rob Petitti, St. Louis; Jon Runyan,
Philadelphia; Charles Spencer, Jacksonville; Barry Stokes,
New England; Mark Tauscher, Green Bay; Mark Wilson (R),
Oakland.
Guards—Lennie Friedman, Cleveland; Pete Kendall,
Washington; Matt Lentz, Detroit; Terrence Metcalf, Chicago;
Edwin Mulitalo, Detroit; Chris Naeole, Jacksonville; Grey
Ruegamer, NY Giants; Kendall Simmons, Pittsburgh; Rob Sims
(R), Seattle; Jason Whittle, Buffalo.
Centers—Brennen Carvalho, Green Bay; Jean-Philippe
Darche, Kansas City; Melvin Fowler, Buffalo; Matt Lehr, New
Orleans; Andy McCollum, Detroit; Jeremy Newberry, San
Diego; Scott Peters, Arizona; Cory Withrow, St. Louis.
NFL MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 27
DEFENSE
Defensive ends—Kevin Carter, Tampa Bay; Earl Cochran,
Houston; Sean Conover, NY Jets; Nick Eason, Pittsburgh;
Kalimba Edwards, Oakland; Ebenezer Ekuban, Denver;
Thomas bulks up, hopes to be Saints’ bruiser
John Engelberger, Denver; Simon Fraser, Atlanta; Roderick METAIRIE, LA.—Pierre Thomas still Illinois’ Herb Donaldson (5-10,
Green, San Francisco; Travis LaBoy, Arizona; Jayme Mitchell,
Minnesota; Jerome McDougle, NY Giants; Julius Peppers
was a senior at Illinois when the 226)—as undrafted free agents.
(F), Carolina; Josh Savage, New Orleans; Anthony Weaver, speedy Reggie Bush and powerful Payton also spoke of his interest in
Houston; James Wyche, Jacksonville. Deuce McAllister combined to seeing what reserves Mike Bell
Defensive tackles—Kenderick Allen, Minnesota; Gary
give the ‘06 Saints a dynamic run- (6-0, 225) and Lynell Hamilton
Gibson, Carolina; La’Roi Glover, St. Louis; Vonnie Holliday, ning game that helped carry New (6-0, 235) could do with more time
Miami; Antwan Lake, New Orleans; Langston Moore, Detroit;
Kindal Moorehead, Atlanta; Dewayne Robertson, Denver; Orleans into the playoffs. to adjust to the Saints’ system.
Orpheus Roye, Pittsburgh; Hollis Thomas, New Orleans; Josh With McAllister now gone, “They think they need a bigger
Thomas, Indianapolis; John Thornton, Cincinnati; Darwin Thomas has bulked up for his back,” Thomas said. “I can do most
Walker, Carolina; Ellis Wyms, Minnesota; Brian Young, New
third NFL season with the hope of of the same things Reggie does. ...
Orleans; Jeff Zgonina, Houston.
Linebackers—Rufus Alexander, Indianapolis; Jason Babin,
proving he can be the Saints’ I’m very versatile. I can be used in
Kansas City; Rocky Boiman, Kansas City; Derrick Brooks, Tampa power runner. so many different ways—special
Bay; Khary Campbell, Washington; Anthony Cannon, Detroit; “I want the same thing Deuce and teams, out there on the wideout, in
Dan Cody, Baltimore; Rosevelt Colvin, New England; Donte’
Reggie had in ’06, so me and Reggie the backfield—so I think that’s what
Curry, Carolina; Donnie Edwards, Kansas City; Keith Ellison (R),
can do the same thing,” Thomas they see me as, but I’m trying to
Buffalo; Troy Evans, New Orleans; Gilbert Gardner, Chicago;
Curtis Gatewood, Kansas City; Morlon Greenwood, Houston; said after practice this week. show them I can be that power back
Marques Harris, San Diego; Napoleon Harris, Minnesota; Last season, Thomas’ playing that they need.”
Abdul Hodge (R), Cincinnati; Mike Humpal, Pittsburgh; Brad weight was around 210 pounds. Indeed, Thomas was effective
Kassell, NY Jets; Jason Kyle, Carolina; Teddy Lehman, Buffalo;
Now with a more barrel-chested in several roles, particularly on
Paris Lenon, Detroit; Wesly Mallard, Seattle; Jim Maxwell,
Cincinnati; Willie McGinest, Cleveland; Marques Murrell (R), NY
look, the result of a new weight- screen plays. He had 31 catches for
Jets; Ryan Nece, Detroit; Shantee Orr, Cleveland; Antwan Peek, lifting regimen, Thomas said he 284 yards and three touchdowns.
Cleveland; Carlos Polk, Dallas; Junior Seau, New England; Matt weighs between 220 and 225 He also returned 31 kickoffs for
Sinclair, Washington; Gary Stills, St. Louis; Terrell Suggs (F),
pounds, pushing beyond the limit 793 yards (a 25.6-yard average),
Baltimore; Dontarrious Thomas, Minnesota; Pisa Tinoisamoa,
coaches had set for him. with a long of 88 yards.
St. Louis; Marcus Washington, Washington; Nate Webster,
Denver. “Hopefully, they’ll raise up my Late in the season, however, the
Cornerbacks—David Barrett, NY Jets; Fakhir Brown, St. Louis; weight limit to 225, but I don’t Saints settled on Courtney Roby
Terry Cousin, Cleveland; Jason Craft, St. Louis; Travis Fisher, know yet,” said Thomas, who as their primary kick returner to
Detroit; Reynaldo Hill, Tennessee; Roderick Hood, Arizona; stands 5-11. “I’m going by their allow Thomas to focus more on
William James, Jacksonville; Michael Lehan, New Orleans; Sam
Madison, NY Giants; Ricky Manning Jr., St. Louis; Derrick Martin
rules, but I’m trying to show them running back. Roby remains on
(R), Baltimore; Chris McAlister, Baltimore; Mike McKenzie, I can play with this weight.” the roster.
New Orleans; R.W. McQuarters, NY Giants; Deltha O’Neal, New For now, there are no full-contact Thomas, meanwhile, also has
England; Dunta Robinson (F), Houston; Lewis Sanders, New
practices. That begins in training been trying to improve his leg
England; Duane Starks, Jacksonville; Brandon Sumrall, NY
camp in July. Until then, it can be strength, increasing his squats
Giants; DeJuan Tribble, San Diego; Jason Webster, New England;
Jimmy Williams, Houston; Stanley Wilson, Detroit. tough for running backs—espe- from 495 pounds to 675.
Safeties—Oshiomogho Atogwe (F), St. Louis; Michael cially those trying to show they can CARLOS OSORIO / AP “I can break the one-arm tack-
Boulware, Minnesota; Mike Brown, Chicago; Oliver Celestin, be human battering rams—to know Saints RB Pierre Thomas changed his lifting regimen and added roughly 15 pounds of muscle. les and if (tacklers) are there, I can
Kansas City; Corey Chavous, St. Louis; Will Demps, Houston; how well they’re doing. put my shoulder down and I’ve
Mike Doss, Cincinnati; Hiram Eugene, Oakland; Mike Green,
Washington; Rodney Harrison, New England; Terrence Holt,
Sharing carries with Bush in ’08, and Denver last season, but coach lowest percentage of runs for got enough leg power that I could
New Orleans; Dexter Jackson, Cincinnati; Sammy Knight, NY Thomas was the Saints’ leading Sean Payton said the main problem losses in the NFL. probably burst through or knock
Giants; Marquand Manuel, Denver; Marlon McCree, Denver; rusher with 625 yards on 129 car- with those particular plays had And yet after McAllister’s release them back a few yards,” Thomas
Lawyer Milloy, Atlanta; Chad Nkang, Jacksonville; Jarrad Page
ries, an average of 4.8 yards per more to do with blocking than in the winter, Payton talked of add- said. “My speed is not there com-
(R), Kansas City; Pierson Prioleau, Jacksonville; Chris Reis (R),
carry. His nine rushing touchdowns Thomas. ing another big running back. pared to Reggie’s for an outside
New Orleans; Dwight Smith, Detroit; Jimmy Williams, San
Francisco; Cameron Worrell, Chicago. also led the Saints, and one of those For the season, the statistics During the draft, the Saints run. ... I can get it out there and I
scoring runs went for 42 yards, his seemed to back Payton up. attempted to trade for Ohio State can make some guys miss, but I
SPECIAL TEAMS
longest run of the season. Thomas was stopped for only six running back Chris “Beanie” Wells. feel that the inside run is more my
Kickers—John Carney, NY Giants; Matt Stover, Baltimore. Thomas had a few glaring fail- losses—4.7 percent of the time. After that failed, the Saints signed a style, more my feel and it will
Punters—Mitch Berger, Pittsburgh; Mike Dragosavich,
Indianapolis; Sam Koch (R), Baltimore; Kyle Larson, Cincinnati; ures in crucial short-yardage situa- Among running backs with at pair of burly backs—Wisconsin’s work better for me.”
Ryan Plackemeier, Cincinnati. tions during losses at Washington least 100 carriers, that was the P.J. Hill (5-10, 218) and Western — The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Tressel gearing up for coaches’ tour of Middle East
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel has
never been overseas. That will
change Wednesday when he leaves
to visit U.S. military installations in
the Middle East.
“I had to get a passport one other
time, maybe seven or eight years
ago, for a Nike thing in Mexico,”
Tressel, 56, told The Columbus Dis-
patch. “I’ve got one stamp on it.”
Texas coach Mack Brown, Ole Miss’
Houston Nutt, Air Force’s Troy Calhoun
and former Auburn coach Tommy
Tuberville also are making the trip,
which is sponsored by the Depart-
ment of Defense. The tour will include
visits to Qatar, United Arab Emir-
ates, Afghanistan and possibly Iraq.
“I can’t wait to get there; it’s going
to be a lot of fun,” Tressel told the
Dispatch. “I want to make sure those
young men and women know we
appreciate what they’re doing and
that everyone back home is think-
ing about them. And it sheds a little
different light on this (Memorial
Day) weekend.”
Notre Dame and Army will play
in 2010—the question is where?
Army athletic director Kevin Ander-
son told the Times Herald-Record
(Middletown, N.Y.) that the teams
have signed on for several games,
starting in 2010.
“Next year we are supposed to
play Notre Dame,” Anderson told
the newspaper. “But we haven’t
closed a deal on a venue. Right now,
anything is possible.”
Even Yankee Stadium?
“Wouldn’t that be great if there is
a chance to play in Yankee Sta-
dium?” Anderson said.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
INSIDE DISH
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel doesn’t travel a lot internationally, but he’s anxious to visit the troops.
Last week, Notre Dame athletic
director Jack Swarbrick told The New
York Times that the Yankees were
open to having college football at the
new stadium and that he’d like the
Irish to be the first team to play there.
New Mississippi State coach
Dan Mullen has been going about his
business quietly but couldn’t resist
an opportunity to take a jab at
Auburn’s new coaching staff dur-
ing his recent booster stop in Bir-
mingham, Ala.
“We don’t need to make national
headlines to recruit,” Mullen said,
according to the Birmingham News.
“Taking our budget, instead of buy-
ing fancy limos, we’re going to maybe
get more sneakers for our players.”
Auburn coaches rode in a rented
white stretch limo during recent
College Football / College Basketball
MATT YORK / AP
recruiting trips in the state.
Stanford two-sport standout
Toby Gerhart said recently he is leaning
toward staying in school and playing
football this fall even if he is selected
in baseball’s amateur draft in June.
Gerhart, a rising junior running
back, rushed for 1,136 yards last
year to set the school record for a
season and scored 15 touchdowns.
He is finishing up his junior season
on the baseball team, playing the
outfield and hitting .286 with seven
home runs and 35 RBIs.
“As of now, I’m coming back to
play football,” Gerhart recently told
the San Francisco Chronicle.
Gerhart has said it would take a
“multimillion dollar” contract to
get him to leave early,” according to
the newspaper.
UCLA’s Holiday trying to detemine
draft status, isn’t close to deciding
UCLA freshman G Jrue Holiday
is in line to become a middle or
higher first-round pick in the
upcoming NBA draft, according
to many analysts.
But he still hasn’t signed with an
agent and told the Los Angeles Daily
News he isn’t close to deciding
whether he will stay in the draft or
return to UCLA—he has until June
15 to make up his mind.
“Honestly, I don’t know if I’m lot-
tery or not,” Holiday told the Daily
News. “I’ve been in Florida for a few
weeks, and they shipped me to
Sacramento. Really, I’m focused on
playing hard and doing my best.
“I’ve already turned in two
papers, and I’m keeping my
grades up.”
Holiday worked out for the Sac-
ramento Kings on Thursday and
was scheduled to do the same for
the Phoenix Suns on Sunday. He
is practicing at point guard, a
position he didn’t play last season
for the Bruins.
“We did a lot of shooting drills,
ball-handling drills and went up
and down (the court) and played
three-on-three,” Holiday said of
his workout with the Kings.
“Having the ball in my hands and
making decisions, it’s natural.
“When we did three-on-three, I
did really well and my team did
really well. I’m not saying it’s
because of me, but I do feel really
comfortable. I really do.”
Holiday will be in Chicago on
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
INSIDE DISH
JEFF LEWIS / AP
Freshman Jrue Holiday (21) isn’t sure if he’s a
lottery pick, so he hasn’t hired an agent.
Wednesday for the pre-draft
combine.
“I want to go through the whole
process before (making) a deci-
sion,” he told the newspaper. “It’s
an adventure for me, and right
now it is fun for me.”
The possibility that Memphis
might schedule an annual home-
and-home series with Arizona,
where new Tigers coach Josh Pastner
MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 28
played and was an assistant under
Lute Olson, appears to be more spec-
ulation than likelihood.
“I think that would be fun,” Past-
ner told the Memphis Commercial
Appeal. “But also I think regarding
the schedule, we have to make sure
that it’s best for the University of
Memphis, and if we’re going to play
away, we have to try to play in areas
where we’re going to recruit. Not
that we can’t recruit in Arizona,
but probably our target areas
would be different.”
The Tigers probably will try to
schedule some non-conference
games with schools in Texas, where
Pastner has a lot of recruiting ties
and the pool of players is much big-
ger, according to the newspaper.
New Alabama coach Anthony
Grant says he thinks last season
was an aberration for the SEC,
which placed only three teams in
the NCAA Tournament—and one
of those because Mississippi State
won the SEC Tournament.
Grant, the coach at Virginia
Commonwealth the last three
years, was an assistant at Florida
the previous 10 seasons.
“Bring in the league 10 years, I
can’t ever remember a year like
last year,” Grant told the Mobile
Press-Register. You look at the cali-
ber of teams for next year; I think
it will prove that. I think pre-
season, maybe three or four teams
should be in the top 25.”
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
INDIANAPOLIS 500
Castroneves caps emotional spring with third Indy win
INDIANAPOLIS—The tears flowed as
soon as Helio Castroneves turned
his red-and-white car into Victory
Lane, and he really got emotional
when Roger Penske leaned over to
give his driver a hug.
“Thanks for giving my life back,”
Castroneves said between sobs.
He could’ve lost it all. He could’ve
gone to prison for six years. Instead,
he was celebrating another win at
the Indianapolis 500.
Castroneves capped a perfect
month of May by winning at the
Brickyard for the third time Sun-
day, a triumph that was especially
poignant given what he was facing
just 5½ weeks ago.
From accused tax cheat to Indy
champion—this race was a lot lon-
ger than 500 miles.
“Let’s celebrate now!” he screamed
to the quarter of a million fans.
Castroneves became the ninth
driver to win the historic race three
times, and his timing couldn’t have
been better. On April 17, he was
acquitted of most charges at a fed-
eral tax evasion trial, and the
remaining count was finally
thrown out last Friday.
“This is the best month of May
ever,” Castroneves said, and it was
hard to argue otherwise.
He won the pole. Then he won
the pit-stop competition. And now,
the biggest win of all, No. 3 for the
guy who drives car No. 3, leaving
him only one win away from join-
ing the most elite group of all: four-
time Indy winners A.J. Foyt, Al
Unser and Rick Mears.
For Penske, it was Indy win No.
MICHAEL CONROY / AP 15—more than any other car owner
Last month, Indianapolis 500 champ Helio Castroneves was in court on tax evasion charges. and ensuring that the Captain has
IRL
never gone more than three years
between wins at this place, except
for the time he didn’t run because
of a split in open-wheel racing.
“He smiles only two times: on his
birthday and when he wins the Indy
500,” Castroneves said of his boss.
Castroneves pulled away over
the final laps to beat Dan Wheldon
and Danica Patrick, who eclipsed
her historic fourth-place finish as a
rookie in 2005 by crossing the
strip of bricks in third.
Patrick, however, was never
really a factor on this day. It
belonged to Castroneves, who
pumped his fist all the way down
the final straightaway.
“I want to climb the fence,” said the
driver known as “Spiderman,” refer-
ring to his signature celebration.
Then he did just that, climbing
out of his car after the victory lap
and scaling the fence along the
main grandstand with his pit crew.
Someone tossed him a green-and-
yellow Brazilian flag.
It was clearly a popular victory.
The fans who turned out on a swel-
tering late spring day were on their
feet, cheering and waving their
caps as Castroneves sped around
the 2.5-mile oval for the final time.
“You guys kept me strong,” Cas-
troneves told the crowd. “You guys
are the best. I’m honored to have
fans like you.
Crashes took out some of the biggest
names in the field, including Tony
Kanaan, Marco Andretti and Graham
Rahal. The most frightening wreck
occurred on lap 173, when Brazilians
Vitor Meira and Raphael Matos got
together going into the first turn.
Meira’s car veered head-on into
the padded outside wall. He was
removed from the car, put on a
stretcher and taken to a nearby hos-
pital complaining of severe lower-
back pain. Later, IndyCar officials
said he sustained two broken verte-
brae in his back, but the injury
should be treatable without surgery.
The lengthy caution period after
the Meira-Matos crash ensured
that everyone had enough fuel to
get to the finish. When the race
restarted with 17 laps to go, Castro-
neves got a great jump on Wheldon
and Patrick and pulled away to
win by nearly 2 seconds, more than
two football fields.
“At the end, I just didn’t have
enough for Helio,” said Wheldon,
who won the race in 2005.
The winning speed was 150.318
mph in a race that had only four
leaders: Castroneves and Penske
teammate Ryan Briscoe, along
with the last two winners, Scott
Dixon and Dario Franchitti.
Dixon, the defending champion,
led more laps than anyone (73), and
2007 winner Franchitti, returning
to Indy after a foray into stock cars,
was out front for 50. Castroneves
led 66 and Briscoe the other 11.
Castroneves started from the
pole and led the first seven laps,
then laid back for a good part of the
overcast, sweltering afternoon.
Finally, on a restart after the sixth
of eight yellow flags, Castroneves
surged past Dixon to reclaim the
lead with 59 laps to go.
It was his the rest of the way.
“I’m very happy for him,” Patrick
said. “I’m glad to have him back, and
obviously he’s great for the sport.”
— The Associated Press
MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 29
Indianapolis 500 results
1. (1) Helio Castroneves, 200 laps.
2. (18) Dan Wheldon, 200.
3. (10) Danica Patrick, 200.
4. (24) Townsend Bell, 200.
5. (9) Will Power, 200.
6. (5) Scott Dixon, 200.
7. (3) Dario Franchitti, 200.
8. (17) Ed Carpenter, 200.
9. (13) Paul Tracy, 200.
10. (16) Hideki Mutoh, 200.
11. (33) Alex Tagliani, 200.
12. (26) Tomas Scheckter, 200.
13. (11) Alex Lloyd, 200.
14. (20) Scott Sharp, 200.
15. (2) Ryan Briscoe, 200.
16. (19) A.J. Foyt IV, 200.
17. (21) Sarah Fisher, 200.
18. (27) Mike Conway, 200.
19. (28) John Andretti, 200.
20. (30) Milka Duno, 199.
21. (14) Vitor Meira, 173, contact.
22. (12) Raphael Matos, 173, contact.
23. (15) Justin Wilson, 160, contact.
24. (29) E.J. Viso, 139, mechanical.
25. (31) Nelson Philippe, 130, contact.
26. (25) Oriol Servia, 98, mechanical.
27. (6) Tony Kanaan, 97, contact.
28. (23) Robert Doornbos, 85, contact.
29. (22) Davey Hamilton, 79, contact.
30. (8) Marco Andretti, 56, handling.
31. (4) Graham Rahal, 55, contact.
32. (32) Ryan Hunter-Reay, 19, contact.
33. (7) Mario Moraes, 0, contact.
Winner’s average speed: 150.318 mph.
Time of race: 3:19:34.6427.
Margin of victory: 1.9819 seconds.
Cautions: 8 for 61 laps.
Lead changes: 6 among 4 drivers.
Lap leaders: Castroneves 1-7,
Franchitti 8-52, Briscoe 53-63, Dixon
64-85, Franchitti 86-90, Dixon 91-141,
Castroneves 142-200.
Point standings: 1, Franchitti, 122. 2,
Castroneves, 117. 3, Briscoe, 114. 4, Dixon,
111. 5, Kanaan, 110. 6, Patrick, 109. 7,
Wheldon, 106. 8, Power, 99. 9, Hunter-
Reay, 84. 10, Andretti, 83.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com IRL MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 30
INDIANAPOLIS 500
NOTEBOOK

Meira breaks back in crash-filled race

Vitor Meira will need some
time to recover from the India-
napolis 500. Past Indy 500 champions
The 2008 runner-up survived 2009 — Helio Castroneves 1959 — Rodger Ward
a dangerous fire in the pits and 2008 — Scott Dixon 1958 — Jimmy Bryan
later broke two vertebrae in his 2007 — Dario Franchitti 1957 — Sam Hanks
DARRON CUMMINGS / AP lower back during a frightening 2006 — Sam Hornish Jr. 1956 — Pat Flaherty
A stuck fuel hose didn’t help Dario Franchitti’s chances of winning the Indianapolis 500. 2005 — Dan Wheldon 1955 — Bob Sweikert
crash in Sunday’s race. IndyCar 2004 — Buddy Rice 1954 — Bill Vukovich Sr.
officials said he will spend the
Small mistakes ruin Ganassi drivers next two days at Methodist Hos-
2003 — Gil de Ferran
2002 — Helio Castroneves
1953 — Bill Vukovich Sr.
1952 — Troy Ruttman
INDIANAPOLIS—For Dario Franchitti, disastrous pit stop. pital, where doctors plan to fit 2001 — Helio Castroneves 1951 — Lee Wallard
2000 — Juan Montoya 1950 — Johnnie Parsons
the difference between winning and And the frustration was just him for a back brace. He does not 1999 — Kenny Brack 1949 — Bill Holland
losing Sunday came down to a stuck beginning for the Ganassi team. need surgery. 1998 — Eddie Cheever 1948 — Mauri Rose
fuel hose. Dixon, trying to become only the “It was just an unfortunate 1997 — Arie Luyendyk Sr. 1947 — Mauri Rose
1996 — Buddy Lazier 1946 — George Robson
For defending Indy champ Scott second driver since 1971 to win incident,” rookie Raphael Matos
1995 — Jacques Villeneuve 1942-45 — No races,
Dixon, it was a wheel nut. back-to-back titles, led a race-high said after colliding with Meira. 1994 — Al Unser Jr. World War II
The errors kept Target Chip 73 laps. He was running third when “We had a good car, and the team 1993 — Emerson Fittipaldi 1941 — Floyd Davis and
Ganassi’s two drivers out of the top he made his final pit stop with 39 had worked so hard. It was just 1992 — Al Unser Jr. Mauri Rose
1991 — Rick Mears 1940 — Wilbur Shaw
five at the Indianapolis 500 and laps to go. unfortunate to end like that.” CHRIS HOWELL / AP
1990 — Arie Luyendyk Sr. 1939 — Wilbur Shaw
lamenting life in the pits. Then disaster struck again. In all, 10 cars went out of the A fire in the pits was just part of a bad day for Vitor Meira and his car. 1989 — Emerson Fittipaldi 1938 — Floyd Roberts
With 66 laps left, Franchitti entered Dixon was delayed getting out of race in accidents, and an 11th, 1988 — Rick Mears 1937 — Wilbur Shaw
the pits running second behind team- the pits because of a problem chang- Marco Andretti’s No. 26, eventu- through the first turn before ner club. 1987 — Al Unser Sr. 1936 — Louis Meyer
1986 — Bobby Rahal 1935 — Kelly Petillo
mate Dixon. Seconds later, Franchitti ing the right rear tire. Suddenly, he, ally left because of handling making contact. Graham Rahal Although he finished second, 1985 — Danny Sullivan 1934 — Bill Cummings
was out of contention. too, was out of contention, and set- problems after returning from crashed on lap 56. moving up 14 spots from his 1984 — Rick Mears 1933 — Louis Meyer
On pit road to get four tires and tled for a sixth-place finish. an earlier crash. Andretti’s teammate, Tony qualifying position, Wheldon 1983 — Tom Sneva 1932 — Fred Frame
fuel, Franchitti was given the go “It just happens,” said Mike Hull, In the closing laps, Meira and Kanaan, one of the pre-race acknowledged he was too busy 1982 — Gordon Johncock 1931 — Louis Schneider
1981 — Bobby Unser 1930 — Billy Arnold
sign. One problem—the fuel hose the team’s managing director who Matos were running side-by-side favorites, limped away after trying to hold off Danica Patrick 1980 — Johnny Rutherford 1929 — Ray Keech
was attached. That’s when was in Dixon’s pits. “Everything heading into the first turn when twice hitting the wall hard when for third to chase down Helio 1979 — Rick Mears 1928 — Louis Meyer
Franchitti—or a crew member—let happens for a reason, and today the two locked wheels. Matos hit his rear suspension broke just Castroneves for the win. 1978 — Al Unser Sr. 1927 — George Souders
out a yelp over the radio as they was just Helio (Castroneves’) day.” the SAFER barrier and stopped before the midway point. He had “I’m incredibly excited,” the 1977 — A.J. Foyt 1926 — Frank Lockhart
1976 — Johnny Rutherford 1925 — Pete DePaolo
stopped the car and pushed it back A surprise? Maybe not. in the middle of the track, result- been running third at the time. 2005 winner said. “I have to say 1975 — Bobby Unser 1924 — L.L.Corum and
to lose the fuel hose. On Friday, a wheel-gun failure ing in a bruised right knee. Davey Hamilton, the oldest there have not been many races 1974 — Johnny Rutherford Joe Boyer
“I think after that, I was so far kept Franchitti’s team out of the pit Meira, by far, got the worst of starter at 46, crashed on lap 83. where the team has executed 100 1973 — Gordon Johncock 1923 — Tommy Milton
1972 — Mark Donohue 1922 — Jimmy Murphy
back in the pack, we just couldn’t challenge finals. it. His car slid along the wall— Justin Wilson, 30, and Nelson percent, and they did it today.”
1971 — Al Unser Sr. 1921 — Tommy Milton
make it up,” Franchitti said. “We Who won? Castroneves’ crew. two wheels on the ground and Philippe, a Champ Car veteran 1970 — Al Unser Sr. 1920 — Gaston Chevrolet
probably needed 150 laps to come Sunday was no different. two wheels above the concrete and Indy rookie, both crashed, Fisher improving 1969 — Mario Andretti 1919 — Howard Wilcox
back from that position. That one “I think I had the best car, but wall—before finally flipping over too, and Ryan Hunter-Reay and Sarah Fisher broke one record 1968 — Bobby Unser 1917-18 — No races,
1967 — A.J. Foyt World War I
stop was the difference.” we’ll never know and that’s not to on four wheels and stopping. rookie Robert Doornbos also left by starting her eighth Indy 500, 1966 — Graham Hill 1916 — Dario Resta
It ended Franchitti’s hopes of his take anything away from Helio,” And that was after the car was after contact. the most of any woman. 1965 — Jimmy Clark 1915 — Ralph DePalma
second Indy win in three years, Franchitti said after changing into engulfed in flames on pit road. Her fledgling team also pro- 1964 — A.J. Foyt 1914 — Rene Thomas
with an ill-fated season in stock street clothes. “They had a little The tone of the day was set Not enough duced a career-best effort. Fisher, 1963 — Parnelli Jones
1962 — Rodger Ward
1913 — Jules Goux
1912 — Joe Dawson
cars in between. Franchitti wound luck on their side, but Scott and I early when 22-year-old Marco Former Indy winner Dan who started 21st, finished 17th— 1961 — A.J. Foyt 1911 — Ray Harroun
up seventh, not what he expected both had fast cars.” Andretti and 20-year-old Mario Wheldon didn’t quite have her best Indy finish. 1960 — Jim Rathmann — The Associated Press
after leading 50 laps before the — The Associated Press Moraes didn’t even make it enough to join the two-time win- — The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Lacrosse

MEN’S NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP: CORNELL VS. SYRACUSE Today, 1 p.m., ESPN

Big Red’s attack runs through freshman Pannell

BY CHRISTIAN SWEZEY
InsideLacrosse.com

FOXBOROUGH, MASS.—Cornell freshman Rob Pannell

was compared on Sunday to Tim Goldstein, a two-
time first-team All-American attackman at Cornell in
the late-1980s. Yet there is one sense in which Pannell
would not like to emulate Goldstein.
Goldstein was part of the Cornell team that lost to
Syracuse in a national championship game, in 1988.
That was the last time the Big Red (13-3) advanced to
the championship before this year’s team made it fol-
lowing a 15-6 victory over No. 1-seeded Virginia before
36,594 at Gillette Stadium in a semifinal on Saturday.
The Big Red are shooting for their first NCAA title
in 32 years, and there is a familiar foe in the way. Syra-
cuse (15-2) and Cornell first played in 1920 and have
met in the regular season every year dating from 1979.
That includes a 15-10 Syracuse victory on April 7.
Pannell enters the title game with 24 goals and 41
assists. It took him 10 games to set the school scoring
record for a freshman.
“He’s a guy who can control the tempo of an
offense,” Cornell coach Jeff Tambroni said. “He seems
to be the guy who has the ball in his stick the major- MICHAEL DWYER / AP
ity of the time.” Rob Pannell, left, and Max Seibald are Cornell’s offensive stars.
The Syracuse defense is fresh off a 17-7 victory over
No. 3 Duke in the semifinals. In that game, senior Sid The game-within-the-game will center on Cornell
Smith held Duke’s Ned Crotty, the nation’s leader in senior midfielder Max Seibald (26 goals, 10 assists)
assists, scoreless over the final 49-plus minutes. Crotty against Orange sophomore longstick midfielder Joel
finished with two assists. White (57 groundballs).
Syracuse can use Smith or sophomore John Lade Seibald initiates a lot of Cornell’s offensive plays and
against Pannell. Another key matchup involves Cor- is the team’s physical and emotional leader. White is
nell fifth-year senior goalie Jake Myers. He transferred an excellent athlete and aggressive defender.
from Syracuse in 2006 and began this year as a Cornell’s defense will have to handle a Syracuse
backup. He became the starter on April 11—just after offense that has two very good crease attackmen.
the loss to the Orange. Sophomore Stephen Keogh (47 goals on 91 shots) is a
Despite having a save percentage of 50%, Myers has creative shooter inside and does not need much time
given up only 10 goals in the past two games. or space for a shot. Junior Cody Jamieson has six goals
“He played with us our freshman year,” said Syra- in the NCAA tournament.
cuse senior midfielder Matt Abbott of Myers. “He is a
good friend, a great guy and a pretty good player from
what I remember. I’m happy for him that he’s succeed- MORE COVERAGE
ing at Cornell and it should be an interesting game.” For more Tournament coverage, go to: InsideLacrosse.com
SUBSCRIBE TODAY
www.insidelacrosse.com
 ON SALE NOW!
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Golf MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 32

Despite heavy heart, Sabbatini enjoys win Leaderboard

Sunday at TPC Four Seasons Resort
Irving, Texas
IRVING, TEXAS—Rory Sabbatini knelt Purse: $6.5 million; Yardage: 7,166; Par: 70
down on the 18th green as his two young Final (FedEx Cup points in parentheses)
children charged to congratulate him Rory Sabbatini (500), $1,170,000 68-64-65-64—261 -19
Brian Davis (300), $702,000 68-65-66-64—263 -17
with hugs and kisses. D.A. Points (190), $442,000 68-66-65-65—264 -16
Scott McCarron (123), $286,000 66-69-68-62—265 -15
“The beauty about it is just seeing the Dustin Johnson (123), $286,000 68-65-66-66—265 -15
innocent joy in their eyes,” Sabbatini John Mallinger (100), $234,000 67-65-65-70—267 -13
John Senden (90), $217,750 71-68-65-64—268 -12
said after his victory Sunday in the Fred Couples (78), $182,000 69-66-67-67—269 -11
Byron Nelson Championship. Jeff Maggert (78), $182,000 71-66-65-67—269 -11
Marc Leishman (78), $182,000 68-70-63-68—269 -11
Wearing a pink shirt in a show of sup- Briny Baird (78), $182,000 69-64-67-69—269 -11
James Nitties (65), $149,500 65-68-68-69—270 -10
port for Amy Mickelson, recently diag- Danny Lee (0), $125,667 69-67-69-66—271 -9
nosed with breast cancer, and heavy Glen Day (58), $125,667 69-66-65-71—271 -9
Kevin Streelman (58), $125,667 67-69-64-71—271 -9
hearted because of the rapidly deteriorat- Greg Chalmers (52), $91,186 68-69-69-66—272 -8
Vijay Singh (52), $91,186 70-67-69-66—272 -8
ing health of a buddy with Hodgkin’s Robert Garrigus (52), $91,186 70-66-69-67—272 -8
lymphoma, Sabbatini shot a 6-under 64 Justin Leonard (52), $91,186 75-63-66-68—272 -8
Steve Marino (52), $91,186 69-69-66-68—272 -8
for a two-stroke victory over late-charging Mike Weir (52), $91,186 66-71-66-69—272 -8
George McNeill (52), $91,186 69-67-66-70—272 -8
Brian Davis in Lord Byron’s tournament. Jimmy Walker (43), $48,777 71-68-69-65—273 -7
“Obviously this tournament is very Rod Pampling (43), $48,777 72-67-69-65—273 -7
Chris Riley (43), $48,777 71-68-68-66—273 -7
special,” Sabbatini said. “It’s one that I Tim Wilkinson (43), $48,777 69-67-70-67—273 -7
Ken Duke (43), $48,777 65-69-71-68—273 -7
wish I had have been able to win it and Tommy Armour III (43), $48,777 67-71-68-67—273 -7
look up and see Byron sitting there at the TONY GUTIERREZ / AP Ted Purdy (43), $48,777 74-65-66-68—273 -7
Alex Cejka (43), $48,777 69-69-67-68—273 -7
18th green. ... What a wonderful name to Rory Sabbatini tips his cap to fans after winning the Byron Nelson Championship. Charlie Wi (43), $48,777 73-66-64-70—273 -7
be associated with now.” Michael Letzig (43), $48,777 68-68-67-70—273 -7
Bryce Molder (43), $48,777 68-68-66-71—273 -7
After an 8-foot putt at No. 17 for his including The Players Championship. much just skin and bones,” Sabbatini Charley Hoffman (43), $48,777 71-66-65-71—273 -7
Steve Flesch (35), $32,744 70-69-69-66—274 -6
third straight birdie, Sabbatini got to enjoy “I’m disappointed I didn’t win. But all said. “It really puts everything we do out
the champion’s walk up No. 18. And it you can do is put yourself in position,” here into perspective.”
Joe Ogilvie (35), $32,744
Greg Owen (35), $32,744
James Driscoll (35), $32,744
69-70-68-67—274
68-71-68-67—274
67-66-69-72—274
-6
-6
-6 MORE THAN
didn’t matter that his 7-foot par putt slid Davis said. “I played great, stuck in D.A. Points (65) was 16 under for his
900 INSIDERS
Martin Laird (30), $26,000 72-67-68-68—275 -5
Matt Kuchar (30), $26,000 70-69-68-68—275 -5
past and he had to tap in for bogey. there, and I’m ecstatic with that.” career-best finish of third. Scott McCar- David Mathis (30), $26,000 72-67-67-69—275 -5
Once the final putt dropped, Sabbati- It was the first win for Sabbatini since ron (62) and Dustin Johnson (66) tied for John Rollins (30), $26,000 72-66-68-69—275 -5
Kris Blanks (30), $26,000 68-71-66-70—275 -5
ni’s 5-year-old son and 3-year old daugh-
ter—with “Team Sabo” inscribed on
2007 at Colonial, and he will return to
Hogan’s Alley next week as that tourna-
fourth at 15 under.
Davis made a 26-foot eagle putt at the
Brad Adamonis (30), $26,000
Ben Crane (23), $18,219
Harrison Frazar (23), $18,219
66-70-69-70—275
71-68-71-66—276
73-66-71-66—276
-5
-4
-4
TALKING ABOUT...
their clothing—ran out to greet him. He ment’s most recent champion. Phil 546-yard No. 16 to get to 17 under. Sab- Chris DiMarco (23), $18,219 67-69-72-68—276 -4
Jeff Klauk (23), $18,219 72-66-69-69—276 -4
then embraced wife Amy and Peggy Mickelson withdrew from the Nelson batini, coming off a birdie, was standing Hunter Mahan (23), $18,219 71-68-67-70—276 -4 s MLB’s 50 Best Players
Nathan Green (23), $18,219 70-69-66-71—276 -4
Nelson, the widow of Byron Nelson. and Colonial, suspending his playing on the 16th tee box at the time, and could Charles Howell III (23), $18,219 66-69-68-73—276 -4
Sabbatini, the 33-year-old South Afri- schedule indefinitely after his wife only shake his head when his lead sud- Mark Calcavecchia (16), $14,934 68-70-75-64—277
Jay Williamson (16), $14,934 68-71-71-67—277
-3
-3
s2009 NBA & NHL Awards
can who lives in nearby Fort Worth, fin- Amy’s diagnosis. denly shrunk from three to one. Troy Matteson (16), $14,934 68-69-71-69—277 -3
ished at 19-under 261 at TPC Four Seasons Along with his pink shirt, Sabbatini But Sabbatini responded with a tap-in Matt Weibring (16), $14,934
Colt Knost (16), $14,934
67-69-71-70—277
67-72-67-71—277
-3
-3 s2009 MLB Draft
Resort Las Colinas to break the tourna- also had a pink ribbon attached to his cap, birdie on the same hole, after his 21-foot Davis Love III (16), $14,934 73-64-69-71—277 -3
ment mark of 18 under set by Loren Rob- like most of the players and caddies, as a eagle try slid just past and sent him
Brian Bateman (16), $14,934 69-70-66-72—277
Nicholas Thompson (16), $14,934 73-66-64-74—277
-3
-3 sChargers QB Philip Rivers
erts and playoff loser Steve Pate in show of support for the Mickelson crouching in disbelief when it didn’t go Cliff Kresge (9), $14,040 70-69-74-65—278 -2
Todd Hamilton (9), $14,040 71-67-71-69—278 -2
1999—when the Cottonwood Valley family. in the hole. Ricky Barnes (9), $14,040 69-70-69-70—278 -2
Y.E. Yang (9), $14,040 69-67-69-73—278 -2
course also was used the first two days. Sabbatini went from smiling to tears Davis opened with six consecutive J.J. Henry (9), $14,040 71-68-66-73—278 -2
Sabbatini earned $1.17 million for his welling up in his eyes later when he pars before four birdies in a five-hole Bob Heintz (5), $13,455 68-70-73-68—279 -1
Notah Begay III (5), $13,455 73-65-70-71—279 -1
fifth PGA Tour victory. talked about the Mickelsons and his stretch. Then came the eagle at No. 16, Jesper Parnevik (5), $13,455 67-68-69-75—279 -1
Robert Allenby (5), $13,455 67-67-70-75—279 -1
Davis shot a bogey-free 64 to finish friend battling cancer who he saw at the though he had to make a 13-footer to save Kent Jones (1), $13,000 67-70-74-69—280 E
second for the third time in his career, Masters last month. par at the 198-yard 17th when his tee David Berganio, Jr. (1), $13,000 72-65-72-71—280 E
though he’s still looking for his first vic- “This is a guy that’s 6-foot-2, 205 shot landed 56 feet from the pin and his
Jonathan Byrd (1), $13,000
Shaun Micheel (1), $12,740
68-70-66-76—280
72-67-70-72—281 +1
E Subscribe Today and SAVE 88%!
Aaron Watkins (1), $12,610 67-71-69-76—283 +3
tory. It was the 34-year-old English- pounds, and showed up at Augusta, and first putt caught up on a ridge. James Oh (1), $12,480 71-68-74-74—287 +7 One Year just $14.97
man’s third consecutive top-five finish, he looks about 85 years old and pretty — The Associated Press
1-800-777-6785 s www.sportingnews.com
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Hewitt withstands 55 aces,
guts out five-set winner in opener
PARIS—Lleyton Hewitt lunged and whiffed
at some serves, his racket hitting only air.
He simply stood and watched other balls
whirr past.
Over and over and over again Sunday,
Hewitt’s opponent in the French Open’s
first round, the 6-foot-10 Ivo Karlovic,
smacked aces from on high, finishing with a
tournament-record 55. Those easy points
helped Karlovic take the first two sets—and
made Hewitt think back to the day in 2003
when he was the defending champion at
Wimbledon and lost his opening match to
the tallest player in tour history.
“The angle he gets, you can’t touch a lot of
his serves,” Hewitt said. “It’s physically
impossible.”
This time, as the 26th-seeded Karlovic
tired in heat that topped 80 degrees, Hewitt
grew more and more comfortable, and the
two-time major champion’s bothersome hip
looked fine while he climbed all the way
back for a 6-7 (1), 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4), 6-4, 6-3
victory.
Karlovic was similarly befuddled, saying:
“It is difficult to explain.”
Theirs amounted to the most riveting
match of Day 1 at the only Grand Slam tour-
nament that starts on a Sunday. Otherwise,
there were straight-set wins for defending
champion Ana Ivanovic, Andy Murray and
Marat Safin—who is appearing in his final
French Open, but please be sure not to ask
him about that—and straight-set exits for
2004 champion Gaston Gaudio and two-
time major winner Amelie Mauresmo.
No. 16 Mauresmo and No. 19 Kaia Kanepi
were the seeded women who lost, while
Karlovic was the only seeded man who
departed. No. 9 Victoria Azarenka and No.
11 Nadia Petrova—who beat Lauren Embree
of Marco Island, Fla.—won, as did No. 7
Gilles Simon, No. 8 Fernando Verdasco, No.
Tennis MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 33
FRENCH OPEN
Schedule
Play begins on all courts at 5 a.m. EDT
q-qualifier; wc-wild card; ll-lucky loser
Results
Sunday at Stade Roland Garros, Paris
Purse: $21.8 million (Grand Slam); Surface: Clay-
Singles, Men
Court Philippe Chatrier
Rafael Nadal (1), Spain, vs. Marcos Daniel, Brazil
Alberto Martin, Spain, vs. Roger Federer (2),
Singles, Women
Court Philippe Chatrier
Dinara Safina (1), Russia, vs. Anne Keothavong,
Outdoor
Singles
Men, First Round
Britain Andrey Golubev, Kazakhstan, def. Denis Gremelmayr,
Switzerland Marion Bartoli (13), France, vs. Pauline Par-
13 Marin Cilic and No. 14 David Ferrer. Court Suzanne Lenglen Germany, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2.
mentier, France Lleyton Hewitt, Australia, def. Ivo Karlovic (26), Croatia,
Paul-Henri Mathieu (32), France, vs. Laurent Court Suzanne Lenglen
Safin is seeded 20th, and his talent and Recouderc, France 6-7 (1), 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4), 6-4, 6-3.
Ai Sugiyama, Japan, vs. Aravane Rezai, France Dudi Sela, Israel, def. Jean-Rene Lisnard, Monaco, 6-4,
temperament long have conspired to make Andy Roddick (6), United States, vs. Romain Venus Williams (3), United States, vs. Bethanie 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.
Jouan, France Mattek-Sands, United States
him as capable of reaching the semifinals at Court 1 Mathieu Montcourt, France, def. Yen-Hsun Lu, Taiwan,
Court 1 6-2, retired.
Roland Garros, something he did in 2002, Nicolas Devilder, France, vs. Stanislas Wawrinka Anastasiya Yakimova, Belarus, vs. Maria Marat Safin (20), Russia, def. Alexandre Sidorenko,
(17), Switzerland Sharapova, Russia
as he is of falling in the first round, some- Bjorn Phau, Germany, vs. Jeremy Chardy, France France, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.
Vera Dushevina, Russia, vs. Caroline Wozniacki Marin Cilic (13), Croatia, def. Jan Hernych, Czech Republic,
thing he did in 2006. Court 2 (10), Denmark 6-0, 6-4, 6-3.
Nikolay Davydenko (10), Russia, vs. Stefan Court 2
He reached the second round this year by Koubek, Austria Fernando Verdasco (8), Spain, def. Florent Serra, France,
Stephanie Cohen-Aloro, France, vs. Jie Zheng 6-2, 6-1, 6-4.
defeating Alexandre Sidorenko of France Guillaume Rufin, France, vs. Eduardo Schwank, (15), China Josselin Ouanna, France, def. Marcel Granollers, Spain,
Argentina Flavia Pennetta (14), Italy, vs. Alexa Glatch,
6-4, 6-4, 6-4. When the 29-year-old brother Court 3 7-5, 2-6, 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-1.
United States Nicolas Almagro (31), Spain, def. Agustin Calleri, Argen-
of the tournament’s top-seeded woman, Franco Ferreiro, Brazil, vs. Feliciano Lopez (28), Court 3 tina, 6-4, 6-1, 6-3.
Spain Tamarine Tanasugam, Thailand, vs. Camille
Dinara Safina, walked off the court, he was Fabio Fognini, Italy vs. Igor Andreev (25), Russia Radek Stepanek (18), Czech Republic, def. Gaston Gaudio,
Pin, France Argentina, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1.
asked by a French TV interviewer whether Court 4 Rossana De Los Rios, Paraguay, vs. Agnieszka David Ferrer (14), Spain, def. Frederico Gil, Portugal, 6-2,
Mischa Zverev, Germany, vs. Potito Starace, Italy Radwanska (12), Poland
this is his last appearance at Roland Garros. CHRISTOPHE ENA / AP
Janko Tipsarevic, Serbia, vs. Albert Montanes, 6-4, 6-4.
Court 4 Philipp Petzschner, Germany, def. Peter Polansky, Canada,
Safin replied: “I’m tired of talking about Lleyton Hewitt toughed out a five-set victory. Spain Tsvetana Pironkova, Bulgaria, vs. Jill Craybas, 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-3.
Court 5 United States
this.” Rui Machado, Portugal, vs. Kristof Vliegen, Andy Murray (3), Britain, def. Juan Ignacio Chela, Argen-
Court 5 tina, 6-2, 6-2, 6-1.
Pressed, he said: “Well, yeah, I decided, I Belgium Alisa Kleybanova (23), Russia, vs. Polona Gilles Simon (7), France, def. Wayne Odesnik, United
Court 6 Hercog, Slovokia
think, to stop. I had my 12 years of my career. Robin Soderling (23), Sweden, vs. Kevin Kim, States, 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.
Patricia Mayr, Austria vs. Mariya Koryttseva,
It was a great experience, but it’s time to Glance United States Ukraine
Robert Kendrick, United States, def. Daniel Brands, Ger-
many, 6-7 (7), 7-5, 7-6 (11), 4-6, 6-3.
Robby Ginepri, United States, vs. Pablo Andujar, Court 6
move on.” Men’s seeded winners: No. 3 Andy Murray, Spain Ernests Gulbis, Latvia, def. Sam Querrey, United States,
Lucie Safarova, Czech Republic, vs. Sabine 7-6 (1), 6-1, 3-6, 6-1.
Like Safin, Hewitt has been ranked No. 1 No. 7 Gilles Simon, No. 8 Fernando Verdasco, Court 7 Lisicki, Germany Women, First Round
Fernando Gonzalez (12), Chile, vs. q-Jiri Vanek, Jarmila Groth, Australia, vs. wc-Kinnie Laisne,
and has won a U.S. Open title. Hewitt, who No. 13 Marin Cilic, No. 14 David Ferrer, No. 18 Czech Republic Li Na (25), China, def. Marta Domachowska, Poland, 6-4,
France 6-2.
is a year younger, has given no indication he Radek Stepanek, No. 20 Marat Safin, No. 31 Simone Bolelli, Italy, Tomas Berdych (19), Czech Court 7 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (27), Russia, def. Ioana Raluca
Republic Stephanie Foretz, France, vs. Kirsten Flipkens,
plans to walk away from the sport anytime Nicolas Almagro. Court 8 Olaru, Romania, 6-3, 6-2.
Belgium Timea Bacsinszky, Switzerland, def. Emilie Loit, France,
soon. Men’s seeded losers: No. 26 Ivo Karlovic. Nicolas Massu, Chile, vs. Daniel Koellerer, Tathiana Garbin, Italy, vs. Ayumi Morita, Japan 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.
Austria Court 8
He certainly never quit for a moment Women’s seeded winners: No. 8 Ana Diego Junquiera, Argentina, vs. Paul Capdeville, Ana Ivanovic (8), Serbia, def. Sara Errani, Italy, 7-6 (3), 6-3.
wc-Irena Pavlovic, France, vs. Akgul Amanmu- Vitalia Diatchenko, Russia, def. Mathilde Johansson,
against Karlovic, even if the situation Ivanovic, No. 9 Victoria Azarenka, No. 11 Chile radova, Uzbekistan France, 2-6, 6-2, 10-8.
Court 10 Court 10
seemed grim. Hewitt had lost all three pre- Nadia Petrova, No. 25 Li Na, No. 27 Anastasia q-Ilja Bozoljac, Serbia, vs. Nicolas Kiefer, Ger- Julie Coin, France, def. Nuria Llagostera Vives, Spain, 7-5,
q-Yvonne Meusburger, Austria, vs. Lucie 6-2.
vious career matches against Karlovic, and Pavlyuchenkova, No. 32 Iveta Benesova. many Hradecka, Czech Republic Iveta Benesova (32), Czech Republic, def. Julia Goerges,
Oscar Hernandez, Spain, vs. Ivo Minar, Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, Czech Republic,
faced that daunting two-set deficit Sunday. Women’s seeded loser: No. 16 Amelie Republic Germany, 7-5, 4-1, retired.
vs. Lourdes Dominguez Lino, Spain Elena Vesnina, Russia, def. Severine Bremond Beltrame,
Then there were all of those aces: By the end Mauresmo, No. 19 Kaia Kanepi. Court 11 Court 11 France, 6-3, 6-3.
Denis Istomin, Uzbekistan, vs. q-Santiago wc-Olivia Rogowska, Australia, vs. Maria
of the third set, Karlovic already had Stat of the day: 55 — Aces hit by Karlovic Giraldo, Colombia Nadia Petrova (11), Russia, def. Lauren Embree, United
Kirilenko, Russia States, 6-1, 6-2.
41—enough to top the previous French Open in his 6-7 (1), 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4), 6-4, 6-3 loss to Igor Kunitsyn, Russia, vs. Teimuraz Gabashvili, Court 14 Arantxa Rus, Netherlands, def. Olivia Sanchez, France,
Russia q-Corinna Dentoni, Italy, vs. Agnes Szavay
record of 37, set by Andy Roddick in 2001. Lleyton Hewitt, setting a French Open Court 14 6-1, 6-1.
(29), Hungary Yaroslava Shvedova, Kazakhstan, def. Kaia Kanepi (19),
The final tally of 55 is the most in a tour- record. Thomaz Bellucci, Brazil, vs. Martin Vassallo q-Michelle Larcher de Brito, Portugal, vs. Estonia, 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-2.
Arguello, Argentina Melanie South, Britain
level match since the ATP began keeping Quote of the day: “Any win on the clay is Court 16 Gisela Dulko, Argentina, def. Tamira Paszek, Austria, 6-1,
Olga Govortsova, Belarus, vs. Vera Zvonareva 6-3.
ace records in 1991, bettering the mark of 51 a great win. I know the Americans don’t do Mikhail Youzhny, Russia, vs. Gilles Muller, (6), Russia Victoria Azarenka (9), Belarus, def. Roberta Vinci, Italy,
Luxembourg Court 16
shared by Karlovic and Joachim Johansson. well over here, so it’s good to get us on the Jose Acasuso, Argentina, vs. Santiago Ventura, 6-4, 6-2.
Edina Gallovits, Romania, vs. Carla Suarez Kristina Barrois, Germany, def. Maria Emilia Salerni,
And, according to the book The Bud Collins board.” — Robert Kendrick after his 6-7 (7), Spain Navarro (22), Spain Argentina, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Court 17 ll-Mariana Duque Marino, Colombia, vs. Anna
History of Tennis, it’s the second-most in 7-5, 6-7 (11), 6-4, 6-3 win over Daniel Brands. Victor Hanescu (30), Romania, vs. Stever Darcis, Alla Kudryavtseva, Russia, def. Varvara Lepchenko, United
Chakvetadze (26), Russia States, 6-3, 6-3.
history, behind only the 59 hit by Ed Kauder On the web: rolandgarros.com/en_FR/ Belgium Court 17 Anna-Lena Groenefeld, Germany, def. Amelie Mauresmo
at the 1955 U.S. Championships. index.html Dominika Cibulkova (20), Slovakia, vs. Alona (16), France, 6-4, 6-3.
Bondarenko, Ukraine
— The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Torres slips but still victorious in 50 free event
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS—Dara Torres easily won
the 50-meter freestyle at a meet on Sunday and
still didn’t like her performance.
The 42-year-old Torres, who won a silver
medal in the event in Beijing last summer, took
the 50 free at the Texas Senior Circuit No. 2
meet at Texas A&M on Sunday in 24.62 sec-
onds, improving on her time of 24.73 seconds
from the morning preliminaries.
But Torres said she swallowed water—an
unlikely gaffe for someone who’s competed in
five Olympics—and hurried her strokes early
in the race. She came up coughing and gasp-
ing for breath after touching the wall.
Torres swam the 50 free in 24.07 seconds
in Beijing, an American record. She missed
the gold by 0.01 seconds to Germany’s Britta
Steffen.
Soccer
CHICAGO—Fulham midfielder Clint Dempsey,
Los Angeles forward Landon Donovan, and
striker Jozy Altidore of Spanish club Xerez
headed the United States’ 24-man training
squad announced ahead of next month’s
World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica and
Honduras.
The U.S. team will be at nearly full strength
for the games. Right back Steve Cherundolo is
sidelined following hip surgery last month
and forward Eddie Johnson was ignored by
coach Bob Bradley. Altidore, who scored
three goals in the April 1 qualifying win over
Trinidad and Tobago, is included following
surgery on both big toes on April 16.
Seven players are from Major League Soc-
cer, and five are based in England.
Lacrosse
TOWSON, MD.—Northwestern won its fifth
straight NCAA championship in women’s
Division I lacrosse with a 21-7 victory over
North Carolina. Hilary Bowen scored five
goals, and Katrina Dowd and Danielle Spen-
cer had four apiece to lead the Wildcats in the
Back Page MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 34
IN BRIEF
BASEBALL
TRANSACTIONS
American League
Menchov of Russia. KANSAS CITY ROYALS: Assigned RHP Luke Hochevar to Omaha
The United States (PCL). Placed RHP Robinson Tejada and INF Mike Aviles on the
Formula One 15-day DL, Tejada retroactive to May 21. Purchased the contract
MONACO—Brawn GP’s Jenson Button won World Cup roster: of RHP Roman Colon from Omaha. Recalled INF Tug Hulett from
Omaha. Activated LHP John Bale from the 15-day DL.
the Monaco Grand Prix, capturing his fifth Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa, National League
victory in six races to extend his Formula One England), Tim Howard (Everton, England) CINCINNATI REDS: Optioned RHP Homer Bailey to Louisville (IL).
championship lead. Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes, Recalled INF-OF Wilkin Castillo from Louisville.
“We’ve got Monaco baby,” Button said after France), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), COLORADO ROCKIES: Placed C Jeff Iannetta on the 15-day DL.
Danny Califf (Midtjylland, Denmark), Jay Purchased the contract of C Paul Phillips from Colorado Springs
crossing the finish line 7.6 seconds ahead of DeMerit (Watford, England), Frankie Hejduk (PCL). Transferred INF Jeff Baker to the 60-day DL.
teammate Rubens Barrichello. Button’s (Columbus), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard ST. LOUIS CARDINALS: Activated OF Rick Ankiel from the 15-day
fourth start-to-finish victory of the season Liege, Belgium), Heath Pearce (Hansa DL. Optioned INF Tyler Greene to Memphis (PCL).
was the first for a British driver from pole at Rostock, Germany), Jonathan Spector (West SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS: Purchased the contract of C Eli Whiteside
Ham, England), Marvell Wynne (Toronto) from Fresno (PCL). Optioned LHP Pat Misch to Fresno. Transferred
the famed street circuit race since Jackie LHP Noah Lowry to the 60-day DL.
Midfielders: Freddy Adu (Monaco),
Stewart 36 years ago. DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers, Southern League
Button leads with 51 points. Scotland), Michael Bradley (Borussia CAROLINA MUDCATS: Announced INF Eric Eymann was promoted
Moenchengladbach, Germany), Maurice to Louisville (IL). Added IF Jason Louwsma from Sarasota (FSL).
Golf Edu (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland), Benny Northern League
SCHAUMBURG FLYERS: Agreed to terms with RHP Cephas Howard.
BEACHWOOD, OHIO—Michael Allen ended his Feilhaber (Aarhus, Denmark), Sacha Kljestan
(Chivas USA), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado), WINNIPEG GOLDEYES: Released C Hank Lanto.
long victory drought with two late birdies, Jose Francisco Torres (Pachuca, Mexico)
shooting a 3-under 67 to hold off Larry Mize Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Xerez, Spain), Brian
by two shots in the Senior PGA Champion- Ching (Houston), Charlie Davies (Hammarby,
ship—the first Champions Tour major of the Sweden), Clint Dempsey (Fulham, England),
season. Landon Donovan (Los Angeles) Major League Soccer
Allen became only the fourth player to win EASTERN CONFERENCE
W L T Pts GF GA
a major championship in his Champions Tour Chicago 4 0 6 18 17 11
debut, joining Roberto De Vicenzo (1980 U.S. Each of the 16 host schools selected by the D.C. 3 1 7 16 17 15
Toronto FC 4 3 4 16 16 16
CLAUDE PARIS / AP
Senior Open), Arnold Palmer (1980 Senior NCAA’s Division I baseball committee are Kansas City 4 4 3 15 15 13
PGA) and Jack Nicklaus (1990 Tradition). guaranteed berths in the 64-team tourna- New England 2 3 4 10 8 16
Jenson Button captured his fifth Formula One victory Columbus 1 2 6 9 12 15
in six races at Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix. ment, which starts Friday. New York 2 6 3 9 10 13
CORNING, N.Y.—Taiwan’s Yani Tseng won The Atlantic Coast Conference led the field WESTERN CONFERENCE
game at Towson University. the final LPGA Corning Classic when South with four schools—Clemson, Florida State, W L T Pts GF GA
Chivas USA 7 1 3 24 15 6
Northwestern (23-0) broke the record for Korea’s Soo-Yun Kang missed a 3-foot par Georgia Tech and North Carolina—selected Seattle 4 2 4 16 14 8
goals in the title game and has won 20 con- putt on the final hole. as hosts. The Southeastern Conference was Houston 4 2 3 15 11 7
Colorado 3 2 4 13 13 11
secutive tournament games, one shy of the The 20-year-old Tseng, the 2008 McDon- next with three: Florida, LSU and Real Salt Lake 3 5 2 11 14 13
record set by Maryland from 1995 to 2002. ald’s LPGA Championship and LPGA rookie Mississippi. Los Angeles 1 1 8 11 12 12
FC Dallas 1 6 3 6 9 17
of the year, closed with a 5-under 67 for a The other hosts are: Arizona State, Cal State San Jose 1 6 2 5 9 19
Cycling 21-under 267 total. Fullerton, East Carolina, Oklahoma, Rice and NOTE: Three points for victory, one point for tie.
FAENZA, ITALY—Levi Leipheimer has another Texas. The rest of the field, including the top
May 23 Thursday’s Game
chance to shed his “perennial runner-up” College baseball eight national seeds, will be announced today. Toronto FC 3, New England 1 Chicago at Chivas USA, 10:30 p.m.
label today in stage 16 of the Giro d’Italia. The Top-ranked UC Irvine was selected Sun- Each four-team regional is double-elimina- D.C. United 0, Real Salt Lake 0, tie Saturday’s Games
Kansas City 1, Chivas USA 1, tie Colorado at New York, 7:30 p.m.
Montana native battled through 95-degree day to host an NCAA college baseball regional tion, with the 16 winners advancing to the FC Dallas 1, Los Angeles 1, tie D.C. United at New England, 7:30 p.m.
heat and hung with the other leaders in the for the first time in school history. The Ant- super regionals, beginning June 5. The eight Houston 3, San Jose 1 Toronto FC at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Colorado 2, Seattle FC 2, tie Columbus at Seattle FC, 10:30 p.m.
15th stage Sunday. He enters the potentially eaters (43-13), a College World Series partici- super regional winners advance to the Col- Sunday’s Games Kansas City at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.
decisive uphill leg to Monte Petrano third pant two years ago, joined Louisville and lege World Series, which begins June 13. Chicago 1, New York 0 Real Salt Lake at San Jose, 10:30 p.m.
Wednesday’s Game Sunday, May 31
overall, 43 seconds behind race leader Denis TCU as first-time hosts. — The Associated Press San Jose at Columbus, 7:30 p.m. FC Dallas at Chicago, 3 p.m.