Saturday, July 9, 2011

SPORTS - Haas takes two-shot lead at Pebble Beach (AP)

SPORTS - Haas takes two-shot lead at Pebble Beach (AP)
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SPORTS - Ohio State vacates 2010 football wins, Sugar Bowl (AP)

SPORTS - Ohio State vacates 2010 football wins, Sugar Bowl (AP)
Urijah Faber, Domiick Cruz AP – Urijah Faber, left, trades punches with Dominick Cruz during the first round of their UFC bantamweight …

LAS VEGAS – Dominick Cruz retained the bantamweight title and avenged his only career loss, unanimously outpointing Urijah Faber in a five-round bout in UFC 132 on Saturday night.

Cruz, the aggressor throughout who utilized his awkward style to land a number of leg kicks and solid strikes. had winning scores of 50-45, 49-46 and 48-47 from the judges.

In the co-main event at MGM Grand Garden Arena, Chris Leben rebounded from a loss in his last fight to stop Wanderlei Silva in 27 seconds.

On the undercard, former light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz won for the first time in nearly five years with a first-round submission victory over Ryan Bader.

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SPORTS - Funeral set for man who fell at Rangers game (AP)

SPORTS - Funeral set for man who fell at Rangers game (AP)
Willie Bloomquist AP – Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder Willie Bloomquist narrowly misses the catch on a ball hit by St. Louis …

ST. LOUIS – Daniel Hudson had a very good day at the plate. Perhaps too good.

The Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher had two hits, a sacrifice bunt and two RBIs against Chris Carpenter, helping to build a four-run cushion. But the 24-year-old Hudson was gone without getting an out in the sixth inning and the St. Louis Cardinals rallied against the bullpen for a 7-6 victory Saturday night.

Hudson thought being on the basepaths so much might have hurt him on the mound. Plus, Cardinals hitters worked him for 109 pitches.

"I guess I got a little bit tired, I don't know," Hudson said. "I don't know if that contributed to me having nothing out there in the sixth inning. It was a little humid, but their guys have to deal with it, too."

It was the Cardinals' biggest comeback of the season and the Diamondbacks' biggest blown lead. No surprise that the 24-year-old right-hander was not impressed with his nine RBIs and 12 hits, both major league-leading totals, to go with a .333 average.

"I don't really go up there with any kind of plan or anything like that," Hudson said. "I just kind of swing hard in case you hit it. It would have been nice if we'd have gotten the win, but whatever."

Hudson failed to retire any of the three batters he faced in the sixth and gave up three runs, two earned. Left fielder Willie Bloomquist robbed Lance Berkman with a leaping catch at the wall to save at least one run ending the fifth.

"I felt OK, didn't feel great obviously," Hudson said. "Give credit to their guys. Every guy it felt like I had two strikes and they fouled off maybe four pitches, and it drove my pitch count up a lot."

Albert Pujols tied it in the eighth inning with his first home run since returning the disabled list and rookie pinch-hitter Tony Cruz hit a game-ending RBI double with one out in the ninth.

Pujols' 18th homer, and first in four games back from a broken left wrist, was a two-run shot off Yhency Brazoban that tied it at 6. Pujols was 3 for 4 with a walk and three RBIs, a breakout game after going 1 for 12 in his first three games back.

Pujols singled off a slider against Brazoban to start the seventh and homered off a fastball in the eighth.

"It's tough because the first time he smoked a slider," Arizona catcher Miguel Montero said. "So I'm thinking, 'Let me try to go fastball,' and he hit it even harder.

"He's a smart hitter, you can't repeat pitches to him. He's pretty special."

Cruz's first hit in six pinch-hit at-bats came off Joe Paterson (0-3), who gave up two hits and a walk. It's the biggest comeback of the season for the Cardinals, who lost three of their first four with Pujols and dropped out of the NL Central lead. They won despite stranding 12 runners.

Arizona committed two fielding errors in the eighth, one of them allowing a run after center fielder Eric Young fumbled the ball after catching a flyout.

The Diamondbacks' bullpen was a "little light" according to manager Kirk Gibson, and Brazoban allowed three runs in two innings.

"Everybody was available," Gibson said. "But you just can't keep throwing the same guys out there all the time."

Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter had only one perfect inning, aided by a double-play ball in the first, and gave up four earned runs in six innings. He was not as sharp as in three previous starts, all victories while allowing only two runs in 24 innings.

Berkman singled to start the ninth and Yadier Molina walked with one out ahead of Cruz's winner. Fernando Salas (5-2) worked a scoreless ninth with one strikeout.

Hudson had a two-run single in a three-run second, Young had an RBI double in the third and Kelly Johnson's RBI double made it 5-1 in the sixth.

Ninth-place hitter Skip Schumaker had three hits, including RBI singles his last two trips, for St. Louis.

Notes: Carpenter needs one strikeout to tie Jesse Haines (979) for fifth on the franchise's career list. ... The Diamondbacks entered with an NL-leading 292 extra-base hits and had three doubles. ... Hudson has worked only nine innings combined in his last two starts. ... Sean Burroughs executed his first sacrifice bunt since May 15, 2005, against Florida. ... Ryan Roberts is 5 for 10 as a pinch hitter for Arizona and drove in his first run in that role in the seventh to make it 6-3.

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SPORTS - Agassi reflective at Hall of Fame induction (AFP)

SPORTS - Agassi reflective at Hall of Fame induction (AFP)
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SPORTS - Bute retains title with 4th-round KO of Mendy (AP)

SPORTS - Bute retains title with 4th-round KO of Mendy (AP)
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SPORTS - Diamondbacks fade in 7-6 loss to Cardinals (AP)

SPORTS - Diamondbacks fade in 7-6 loss to Cardinals (AP)
Stage winner Rui Alberto Costa of Portugal celebrates on the podium of the 8th stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 189 kilometers (117.5 mil AP – Stage winner Rui Alberto Costa of Portugal celebrates on the podium of the 8th stage of the Tour de France …

SUPER-BESSE, France – The attacks never came on the first mountain trek of the Tour de France, as defending champion Alberto Contador and his main rival Andy Schleck both held fire and let others contest victory during the eighth stage.

There was much hype about the possibility of a first hilltop duel following a crash-marred week of nervous racing on flats roads.

But with much harder climbs to follow in the Pyrenees and Alps, three-time Tour winner Contador preferred to save energy on Saturday's stage in the Massif Central, which Rui Alberto Costa held on to win after a solo breakaway.

When Costa surged ahead late on the 117-mile trek from Aigurande to Super-Besse, the likes of Alexandre Vinokourov of Kazakhstan and Philippe Gilbert of Belgium tried — and failed — to chase the Portuguese rider down.

But, with neither Gilbert nor Vinokourov a real threat for the overall title, Contador was not going to follow them for the sake of it. The Spaniard has bigger battles to win later on, harder mountains to climb.

The final climb up to the Super-Besse ski resort was less than one mile long and, even if he had hunted down Gilbert and Vinokourov, Contador would not have been able to drop Schleck and Evans on such a minor climb — making chasing futile.

"It was not too testing a climb at the end and it was too difficult to split the pack," Contador said after Costa won his first ever Tour stage in a time of 4 hours, 36 minutes, 46 seconds ahead of Gilbert. Evans, the Australian, was third.

"We rode at a high tempo all day and we didn't have time to get a rhythm going in the climbs," Contador added.

Norwegian rider Thor Hushovd kept the overall lead heading into Sunday's ninth stage, just one second ahead of Evans, something Hushovd described as "a miracle" since he's not a renowned climber and had expected to lose the jersey.

Schleck remains 12 seconds off the lead in sixth place, while Contador is still 1:42 behind Hushovd in 20th.

Although Contador and his rivals did not take the bait by committing themselves to an all-out attack, they still checked each other out. Heading into the mountain stages, riders always look for indications as to what shape their rivals are in.

As Vinokourov and Gilbert surged after Costa, Contador, Evans and Schleck took turns to launch micro-attacks, but only because they were trying to test each others' reactions.

"It was interesting to see how every one would end up," Contador said. "I can see we are all very close. it's very important to get the measure of other contenders."

Even though he resisted the chance to go after Gilbert, Contador secretly felt he would have caught him.

"I had felt very, very good today," Contador said. "I was capable of following Gilbert."

After withstanding Gilbert's charge, Costa waved his hands in delight and punched the air as he crossed the line.

"I knew I could get in the breakaway today. The team put me in the best position," Costa said. "I was lucky that I managed to hold on until the end. I'm very happy with this win.

"I attacked on my own at the end. I saw that my legs were good and that I could hold it alone. When it got to two kilometers from the end, I really worked hard and managed to reach my objective."

Costa paid tribute to Spanish cyclist Xavier Tondo, who died in May in a freak accident after he was crushed between his car and a garage door.

"I want to dedicate this win to all the people who believed in me and supported me," Costa said. "To my family, my teammates, to Xavier Tondo."

The stage featured a sharp category-2 climb up Col de la Croix and a final climb of 1 mile.

Gilbert of Belgium made up a huge amount of time on it, but finished 12 seconds adrift of Costa, with Evans finishing 15 seconds back.

"I needed a few more hundred meters," Gilbert said. "The stage was very fast, there was a favorable wind. The last climb was very hard, I had to sit back down near the end of the line.

"The last 200 meters were very long, but I'll take a second place on the Tour de France any day."

Hushovd has been wearing the leader's yellow jersey since his Garmin-Cervelo team won last Sunday's time trial. Hushovd, who is not a renowned climber, was certain he was going to lose the yellow jersey before the stage.

"Maybe I was a bit pessimistic," he said. "I didn't think I could do it. Another day in yellow, it's a miracle."

Vinokourov, meanwhile, ran out of steam as he had no teammates to help him when riding for several punishing miles on his own. By contrast, Gilbert — winner of the race's opening stage on July 2 — was fresher after sitting in with the main pack for much of the day's climbs. He overtook Vinokourov after launching an attack with about a quarter of a mile left. Vinokourov finished in 22nd place as many of the pack swallowed him up.

"Vino is really very strong, I take my hat off to him," Gilbert said. "He deserved to win this stage."

Hushovd, a two-time winner of the green sprint jersey, only has to survive one more day in the mountains to keep hold of the yellow jersey into Monday's rest day and wear it on Tuesday's 10th stage.

"I live in the south of France, in Monaco, and I train a lot in the mountains," Hushovd said, joking about his newfound climbing prowess. "I also train a lot with Philippe Gilbert, and he pushes me."

Sunday's ninth stage is another medium mountain route from Issoire to Saint-Flour, before riders get a well-earned rest day on Monday.

___

AP Sports Writer Samuel Petrequin and Associated Press writer Greg Keller contributed to this report.

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SPORTS - Rivals Contador, Schleck, Evans hold fire at Tour (AP)

SPORTS - Rivals Contador, Schleck, Evans hold fire at Tour (AP)
Will Power AP – Will Power, of Australia, sits in his car in the pits in practice for the Toronto Indy auto race, Saturday, …

TORONTO – Will Power will defend his title at the Honda Indy Toronto from the pole position.

Power posted a lap of 59.577 seconds on the 1.75-mile road course at Exhibition Place.

Scott Dixon will start second after turning a lap of 59.665 and Dario Franchitti is in the third position, clocking 59.900 in qualifying Saturday afternoon.

Alex Tagliani of Lachenaie, Quebec, was the top Canadian and will start in ninth place. Toronto rookie James Hinchcliffe finished 13th. Danica Patrick will start from the 21st spot.

Although Hinchcliffe was the top finishing rookie Saturday, the 24-year-old was disappointed in his qualifying result. He's making his first start in the IndyCar finale after years on the junior formulas and a lifetime as a local fan watching from the grandstands.

"I guess it's a sign of our competitiveness when as a rookie you're angry to be 13th," Hinchcliffe said. "But you always want to get the maximum performance out of your package and we didn't do that today.

"Tomorrow is going to be about survival, this race often turns into a race of attrition and there's definitely some places to pass. We know that tomorrow is a different day, and these races are very long and a lot can happen."

The race is scheduled for Sunday.

Power, driving the No. 12 car for Team Penske, will be looking for his third victory in Toronto after taking the checkered flag also in 2007.

However, he says it won't come easy, as Toronto is the kind of street circuit where mayhem happens and cars can surge from the rear of the pack.

"I don't think qualifying is big deal because I really think you can come from the back and win this race," Power said.

"It's such a fun track because you absolutely wring the car's neck in every possible way. On the brakes, on power, everywhere. It's always fun."

If it is possible to win the Toronto Indy from behind in the starting field, that's promising news for the Canadian drivers.

Alex Tagliani of Lachenaie, Quebec, will start in ninth place, Hinchcliffe in 13th and local veteran Paul Tracy in the 24th position.

"You are never set in this particular race until the checkered flag drops," Tagliani said. "You need to be pretty much on your toes here in Toronto. Anything can happen, and we'll try to be on the right end of the strategy tomorrow."

Also in the mix Sunday will be top-six qualifying finishers Mike Conway of Britain, American Graham Rahal and Hinchcliffe's Newman/Haas Spanish teammate Oriol Servia. Brazilian Tony Kanaan will start 16th.

Franchitti leads the IndyCar championship with 303 points, 20 more than his rival Power and 73 more than Dixon.

Rahal, whose father Bobby Rahal took the checkered flag at the inaugural Toronto event 25 years ago, is hoping to capitalize on any mistakes and then make his move.

"You're pushing people hard, hopefully they'll make some mistakes and you can get around them. You can definitely race here that's for sure."

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SPORTS - Hamilton's HR gives Texas 7-6 win over Oakland (AP)

SPORTS - Hamilton's HR gives Texas 7-6 win over Oakland (AP)
Brandon McCarthy AP – Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy (32) winds up to deliver to the Texas Rangers in …

ARLINGTON, Texas – Josh Hamilton knew he had a game-ending home run when he hit the ball.

While the crowd went crazy and his Texas Rangers teammates gathered at home plate to mob him and celebrate their sixth straight victory, 7-6 over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday night, Hamilton put his head down and started trotting around the bases. His mind had to wander during what has been an emotional few days.

Hamilton's two-run homer came two nights after Brownwood firefighter Shannon Stone's accidental fatal fall at the stadium after reaching out to catch a ball tossed his way by the reigning AL MVP.

"It's been an up-and-down, roller coaster-type weekend, with everything that happened to Mr. Stone and his family. Obviously we're thinking about him and grieving about the situation," Hamilton said. "Tonight takes you from one extreme to the other pretty quick. I feel blessed I had the opportunity to do it."

Flags remained at half-staff at Rangers Ballpark and players on both teams again wore black ribbons in memory of Stone, who tumbled over a rail and fell about 20 feet to the concrete behind the left-field wall during the second inning of the series opener Thursday night, when he was at the game with his 6-year-old son. Stone died less than an hour later. His funeral is Monday.

Hamilton connected on a 2-0 pitch with two outs in the ninth off A's closer Andrew Bailey (0-2), a 435-foot shot into the second deck of seats in right field. It was Hamilton's fourth hit of the game, and his 11th homer of the season.

"I know as soon as I hit it, it was fun," Hamilton said.

Elvis Andrus reached on an infield single that first appeared to be a game-ending grounder. Second baseman Jemile Weeks' soft throw was a bit late and wide to first baseman Conor Jackson and when Jackson reached out to try to catch the ball, the speedy Andrus collided with him and both players went to the ground.

"I hit it in the right spot. I want hard as I could to get on base," Andrus said, knowing Hamilton was waiting on deck. "He's carried this team the last three or four years. ... I get on base, and everybody saw what he can do when he's under pressure."

The only other six-game winning streak for the AL West-leading Rangers came when they opened this season 6-0.

"The last six days, we're starting to play the way we're capable of playing," manager Ron Washington said. "I don't think they lack confidence in that clubhouse."

A day after Stone's fall, Hamilton chose to play Friday night instead of taking the day off Washington offered him.

He went 1 for 5, and in the sixth inning fouled off a ball that hit a fan in the head. The fan, who wasn't paying attention, needed stitches to close the cut but was OK.

Before his second career game-ending homer Saturday — coming exactly three years to the date after his other one in 2008 against the Los Angeles Angels — Hamilton had a pair of doubles, a single and drove in a run with a groundout.

"You've got to get ahead. You can't fall behind to that guy 2-0. He's one of the best players in the game. You can't put yourself in that position," Bailey said. "He's looking fastball, he put a good swing on it and we lost. You've got to tip your cap to him."

It was the first time since that 2008 game that Texas won at home after trailing with two outs in the ninth. The Rangers were 0-30 this season when trailing after eight innings.

Adrian Beltre, who will start for the AL along with Hamilton at next week's All-Star game, also homered for Texas.

Beltre will replace Alex Rodriguez in the starting lineup after the New York Yankees' third baseman withdrew from the game because of a right knee injury.

Coco Crisp and Josh Willingham homered for Oakland (39-52), which lost for the 12th time in 17 games and fell a season-worst 13-games under .500.

Crisp's fourth homer, a solo shot in the seventh off reliever Tommy Hunter, had given the A's a 6-5 lead.

Both starting pitchers — Oakland's Brandon McCarthy and Rangers right-hander Colby Lewis — allowed five runs over six innings.

Lewis struck out nine, but was gone after throwing 105 pitches and missed a chance to join teammates C.J. Wilson and Alexi Ogando as nine-game winners before the All-Star break.

Darren Oliver (2-5) worked 1 2-3 scoreless innings.

Oakland went ahead with a four-run second, the final run coming home when Hideki Matsui reached on catcher's interference with the bases loaded. Matsui hit what appeared to be an inning-ending infield popup, but home plate umpire Eric Cooper immediately signaled the play dead and catcher Yorvit Torrealba tabbed his chest protector as if to acknowledge his mistake.

Josh Willingham led off the second with his 11th homer before Cliff Pennington and Weeks had consecutive RBI singles.

Texas had a four-run outburst in the fifth. Beltre capped that with his 18th homer, a solo shot that tied the game at 5-all after he almost fell down coming out of the batter's box.

Notes: Oakland 3B Scott Sizemore made a nifty grab in the eighth, reaching high over his head and leaning over the wall to catch a foul ball. ... Lewis has allowed an AL-high 23 homers, 15 of them solo shots.

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SPORTS - Kyle Busch wins inaugural Cup race at Kentucky (AP)

SPORTS - Kyle Busch wins inaugural Cup race at Kentucky (AP)
Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch AP – Kurt Busch (22) leads Kyle Busch (18) through the fourth turn early in the running of the inaugural NASCAR …

SPARTA, Ky. – Kyle Busch won the inaugural Sprint Cup race at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday night, pulling away from Jimmie Johnson on a restart with three laps to go to collect his 99th NASCAR series victory.

Busch won the Trucks race here on Thursday night and had little trouble finding his way to Victory Lane for the second time in three days at the 1.5-mile oval. He started from the pole and dominated long stretches of the 400-mile race to pick up his third Cup win of the season.

David Reutimman slipped past Johnson to finish second. Ryan Newman was fourth, followed by Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth.

The first visit by NASCAR's top series provided few fireworks on the track, but plenty off it as traffic issues plagued the race.

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SPORTS - Cruz outpoints Faber in UFC 132 (AP)

SPORTS - Cruz outpoints Faber in UFC 132 (AP)
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SPORTS - Rogge would be 'delighted' by US 2020 bid (AP)

SPORTS - Rogge would be 'delighted' by US 2020 bid (AP)
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SPORTS - Power takes pole position at Indy Toronto (AP)

SPORTS - Power takes pole position at Indy Toronto (AP)
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SPORTS - Jeter homers for 3,000th hit, goes 5 for 5 in win (AP)

SPORTS - Jeter homers for 3,000th hit, goes 5 for 5 in win (AP)
Derek Jeter, David Price, John Jaso, Jim Wolf AP – New York Yankees' Derek Jeter follows through on a solo home run for his 3,000 career hit during the …

NEW YORK – This was so Derek Jeter.

Pressure mounting, time running out, all eyes on him at Yankee Stadium.

He delivered — and then some — on a defining day in his championship career.

Jeter homered deep into the left-field bleachers for his 3,000th career hit, making him the first New York Yankees player to reach the mark. He tied a career best by going 5 for 5. And he capped Saturday's show by singling home the go-ahead run in the eighth inning.

"Just one of those special days," Jeter said.

Mobbed by his pinstriped pals after the ball sailed into the seats, showered by ovations from his fans, Jeter stood alone in Yankees lore. A fitting crown for the captain, on a sunny afternoon when it seemed he could do anything he wanted in a 5-4 win over Tampa Bay.

Almost as if he saved his best swing of the season to counter his critics and doubters, to prove that he still was, indeed, Derek Jeter. How else to explain it? His first home run in the Bronx this year, for No. 3,000.

"You want to hit the ball hard," he said. "I didn't want to hit a slow roller to third base and have it be replayed forever."

"It's a number that's meant a lot in baseball," he said. "To be the only Yankee to do anything is special."

Oh, and for good measure: Jeter stole a base, too. For any hitter, a perfect game. Something out of "The Natural," really.

"I don't think you can script it any better," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "This is already movie-ready."

Added the Rays' Johnny Damon, a former teammate: "Hopefully he can act very well and hopefully he can play himself in his own movie, that's the type of day this was."

In fact, HBO will soon show a documentary about Jeter's pursuit.

"Nobody better in the clutch," Yankees star Jorge Posada chimed in. "He looks forward to that moment, and today was a perfect example."

With a swift swing of his shiny black bat, Jeter jolted himself into historic company, hitting a solo home run off All-Star ace David Price in the third inning. He became the 28th major leaguer to hit the mark and joined former teammate Wade Boggs as the only players to do it with a home run.

Jeter watched the ball fly as he left the batter's box and gave a big clap as he rounded first base. Rays first baseman Casey Kotchman was the first to salute Jeter, doffing his cap as Jeter passed by.

"Hitting a home run was the last thing I was thinking about," Jeter said. "I was pretty relieved."

By then, all of Jeter's teammates were already celebrating in the dugout, raising their arms almost in unison. A special time for No. 2 — his second hit of the game, and right at 2 p.m.

He looked every bit like a spry 27-year-old with those bright green eyes and an even brighter future, rather than a 37-year-old shortstop with his best days behind him.

Jeter finished the day with 3,003 hits.

The only thing left, it seemed, was a triple — Jeter has never hit for the cycle. Instead, he singled in the sixth, and bounced a tiebreaking single through a drawn-in infield.

"I was expecting the triple," Yankees closer Mariano Rivera kidded. "That's the way it is."

The prize ball, one of the specially marked ones put in play for the occasion once Jeter got to 2,999 hits, disappeared into a cluster of fans a few rows beyond the wall. Christian Lopez of Highland Mills, N.Y., sitting in Section 236, emerged with the valuable memento after it bounced off his father's hand.

The 23-year-old former football player from St. Lawrence University gladly gave the ball back to Jeter, saying it never occurred to him to keep it. The Yankees rewarded him with four tickets to every game for the rest of the year, and memorabilia autographed by Jeter — three bats, three balls and two jerseys.

"Mr. Jeter deserved it," Lopez said. "It's all his."

Jeter 3K merchandise, meanwhile, began flying off the shelves at the souvenir stands. Hats, pins, shirts and more, all commemorating No. 3,000, hadn't gone on sale until it occurred.

True to his nature of staying focused on the game, Jeter briskly rounded the bases. When Boggs got his 3,000th, he knelt down and kissed home plate.

Not Jeter's style. But there was no way this moment was would pass without plenty of fanfare.

Posada, his good buddy, greeted Jeter with a bear hug after he crossed the plate. Rivera and the rest of the Yankees were right behind, swallowing up Jeter before he could reach the dugout. The bullpen gate swung open, too, as New York's relievers came pouring in.

Jeter, still in the midst of a most difficult season, waved to the crowd several times, then pointed up to the box where his dad and steady girlfriend, actress Minka Kelly, were sitting. His dad was in attendance — his mom and sister were absent, attending a christening.

"It was tremendous," Jeter's father, Charles, told the YES Network. "I can't describe how I was feeling. We need a victory, first of all. ... Very emotional for me, very happy for him."

All the Yankees greats left their distinct marks. Babe Ruth set the home run record, Lou Gehrig became the Iron Horse, Joe DiMaggio hit in 56 straight games, Yogi Berra won the most championships, Mickey Mantle launched the longest drives. They all won World Series rings, certainly, with Jeter owning five.

The 3,000 hits, that will be Jeter's legacy forever.

"I want to give him a big hug. It's an absolute wonderful accomplishment," Berra said in a statement.

Whenever Jeter retires, a plaque in Monument Park is guaranteed to follow. Someday, he'll surely have a monument, too. Because on the list of monumental baseball achievements, this ranks up there.

Along with 28 players with 3,000 hits, there are 25 members of the 500-homer club and 23 pitchers in the 300-win circle. And the Yankees: They've got 27 World Series championships.

Jeter desperately wanted to achieve the mark at home, and the Yankees only had two games left in the Bronx before the All-Star break, with an eight-game road trip looming to start the second half.

"I felt a lot of pressure to do it here," he said, joking that, "I was lyin'" when he said it didn't matter much.

Girardi wasn't worried about Jeter trying too hard.

"He's never had a problem with pressure in his life," Girardi said before the game.

As always, Jeter walked to the plate after a recorded introduction by late, longtime Yankee Stadium public address announcer Bob Sheppard. His intonation of "Deh-rick Jee-tuh" has been imitated over the years by thousands of Yankees fans, if not millions.

Jeter smiled after his first hit as the sellout crowd of 48,103 roared. That singled came on a full count.

"He could've thrown it in the dugout and I would've swung," Jeter said.

The crowd sensed history was on deck when Jeter came up next. There was a buzz when he stepped into the batter's box — Jeter loves to put up his right arm to ask the umpire for time.

As the at-bat built, there was a hush each time Price went into his windup.

After connecting on a 78 mph curveball to tie the score at 1, Jeter remembered to honor his opponents. He pointed at Price while many of the Rays applauded the accomplishment, some of them coming out of the dugout to cheer. Price later took a brief break and went to the bench.

Fans kept chanting and cheering throughout a celebration that lasted 4 minutes, and Jeter montages filled the videoboard for the next couple of innings.

Far away, the tributes began. At the All-Star game festivities in Phoenix, fans crowded around televisions to watch Jeter's postgame interview.

Longtime Yankees great Don Mattingly, now manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, saw Jeter's homer on a TV in the clubhouse at Dodger Stadium.

"Only Jeet. Everything's like that with him," his former teammate said. "He always comes up dramatic, doesn't he? It's awesome."

Tony Gwynn, another member of the 3,000 club, also was at Dodger Stadium when Jeter homered.

"The only time I ever said anything to him about hitting was when he came up to me during Game 1 of the World Series in New York in '98," the former Padres star said. "I was standing on second base and he said: `Man you need to teach me how to hit.' And I said: `Yeah, right. You're kidding me, right?"

Having grounded a leadoff single to left field in the first inning — much like his first career hit on May 30, 1995, against Seattle's Tim Belcher at the old Kingdome — Jeter achieved the milestone in his next at-bat.

Jeter casually chatted with Rays catcher John Jaso when he came to the plate, fouled off a couple of full-count deliveries and homered on Price's eighth pitch. Jeter, in fact, homered when the future All-Star lefty made his major league debut in 2008.

He doubled to left his next time up in the fifth inning for No. 3,001, breaking a tie with Roberto Clemente. He showed off his Jeterian, inside-out swing to right-center for a single in the sixth.

Jeter was the first big leaguer to get 3,000 since Craig Biggio in 2007, who reached it with his third hit in a five-hit effort.

Rafael Palmeiro, Rickey Henderson and Cal Ripken were the previous players to get there.

There was a time when some wondered whether Jeter would have a chance to break Pete Rose's career record of 4,256 hits. Jeter, in fact, was eight days younger than Rose when he got to 3,000.

But Jeter has been slowing down. He came into the game hitting only .257 with just two home runs, and recently pulled out of his 12th All-Star game to rest the strained right calf that recently landed him on the disabled list.

"I really don't worry about my age too much," he said.

Jeter hadn't homered at all since May 8, and this was his first homer at Yankee Stadium since last July 22.

Boggs, Dave Winfield and Rickey Henderson each got plenty of hits with the Yankees on the way to 3,000 and the Hall of Fame, but were gone when the milestone came. Paul Waner got one hit for New York after he passed the mark.

Jeter said it's "mind-boggling" when he first found out no Yankees player had 3,000, a fact he discovered while perusing the team media guide several years ago during spring training.

"Congratulations, first of all, to Derek Jeter on joining the 3,000 hit club. It is an exclusive honor, achieved by only a select group, that not many people can call their own," Boggs said. "I had the opportunity to play with Derek when he was a rookie in 1996, and I had no doubts that Derek would reach this milestone."

Jeter is the 11th player to get all 3,000 with one team, a list by Stan Musial, who had 3,630 hits for the St. Louis Cardinals, Carl Yastrzemski (3,419 for the Red Sox) and Ripken (3,154 for the Orioles).

About the only people disappointed that Jeter hit 3,000 this day were the thousands of fans who lined up trying to get tickets, many of them having paid whopping amounts to get into Friday night's game that was rained out.

John Verbeek made trips on the New Haven rail line for two straight days from his home in Milford, Conn., to see Jeter's chase. He headed back to the train station without seeing a single pitch or at-bat.

"I got the tickets on StubHub for a premium, hoping to see the game last night," Verbeek said. "My daughter is a real Jeter fan and she raced all the way in from Boston to get here on time last night."

"And now we can't get in today. We're very, very disappointed," he said.

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SPORTS - Blue Jackets add another Russell (AP)

SPORTS - Blue Jackets add another Russell (AP)

DURBAN, South Africa – IOC President Jacques Rogge said Saturday he would be "delighted" if the United States decides to bid for the 2020 Olympics despite the stinging rejection of American cities in the race for two previous Summer Games.

New York failed in its bid for the 2012 Games and Chicago was eliminated in the first round for the 2016 Olympics, despite the appearance of President Barack Obama in Copenhagen for the vote in 2009.

National Olympic committees have until Sept. 1 to submit the names of applicant cities for 2020.

The U.S. Olympic Committee has said it won't consider a bid until it reaches final agreement with the International Olympic Committee on a new revenue-sharing agreement, an issue that has festered for years and contributed to the humiliating losses for New York and Chicago.

"As far as the U.S. situation is concerned, there are declarations from the USOC that they are still waiting but, of course, if there is a good bid coming from the United States we would be delighted," Rogge said at a news conference at the close of the IOC's four-day session in Durban.

On another issue, Rogge said he expects half a dozen candidates to try to succeed him as IOC president when his term expires in 2013, but stressed he would not support or groom a successor.

"There is no lack of potential good successors and this is very good for the IOC," he said.

Rome is the only officially declared bid city so far for 2020, but several other cities are expected to join the race in the coming days and weeks.

Madrid, Tokyo and Istanbul are likely contenders. Doha, Qatar, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, could be potential candidates.

South Africa could still revive a 2020 bid, with Durban as the likely city, after the government said in late May that the time was not right for an Olympic campaign.

"You are as a nation ready to host the Olympic Games," Rogge said, referring to South Africa. "It's up to you what you do ... I have felt, speaking with your politicians, there was a desire to bid in the future. It might not be 2020, it might be 2024."

The U.S. hasn't hosted a Summer Olympics since the 1996 Atlanta Games.

American bids have been hampered by lingering international resentment over the USOC's long-standing 20 percent share of global sponsorship revenues and 12.75 percent cut of U.S. broadcast rights deals.

IOC and USOC officials met here Thursday for a new round of revenue talks and reported progress toward a final agreement. They agreed to meet again in the next few weeks in New York with the goal of concluding a deal.

Agreement on a revenue-sharing plan would open the way to a possible 2020 bid.

"We're not going to have any substantive discussions or make any decisions until this is behind us," USOC CEO Scott Blackmun told The Associated Press on Thursday. "We haven't spent a lot of time looking at whether there is still time to bid, but because it's theoretically possible, we don't want to rule it out."

U.S. cities mentioned as potential bidders include New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Minneapolis and Tulsa, Okla. Several IOC officials told AP that New York would be the most viable U.S. candidate.

With the 2008 Summer Olympics in Asia (Beijing), 2012 in Europe (London) and 2016 in South America (Rio de Janeiro), geography could be an advantage for North America in 2020.

The Olympics have never been held in Africa.

"Many people believe this is the right time to bid because, as the saying goes, strike while the iron is hot," South African IOC member Sam Ramsamy said, adding the issue will be raised again by the country's sports minister with President Jacob Zuma.

The centerpiece of the IOC's meeting in Durban was the selection on Wednesday of Pyeongchang, South Korea, as the host for the 2018 Winter Games. The IOC rewarded Pyeongchang for its persistence in bidding for a third consecutive time after losses for 2010 and 2014.

Rogge, meanwhile, said he would keep his distance from the IOC's presidential election campaign.

"I will look at it from the front row with great pleasure and interest, but I will not be involved," he said.

Rogge was elected to an eight-year term in 2001 and won a final four-year mandate in 2009.

"I will absolutely not groom and I will not support anyone," he said. "I have always remained very neutral and I will continue to do that."

Rogge did not name any potential candidates, but they include Germany's Thomas Bach, Richard Carrion of Puerto Rico, Sergei Bubka of Ukraine and Denis Oswald of Switzerland.

"I believe in the IOC half a dozen members will have the profile and maybe even the desire to run," Rogge said.

With just over a year ago until the London Olympics, Rogge said he was "absolutely delighted" by the "exemplary" preparations led by organizing committee chief Sebastian Coe.

"What do they have to do until next year?" he said. "I would say remain focused. Remain humble, prepare for the unexpected. Seb is an athlete, he knows that you can never, never be lazy and you have to continue to fight every day to be fit."

___

AP Sports Writer Gerald Imray contributed to this report.

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SPORTS - Jets GM, SAP co-CEO share game plans for winning (AP)

SPORTS - Jets GM, SAP co-CEO share game plans for winning (AP)
Gene Smith AP – Ohio State director of athletics Gene Smith, second from left, talks with members of the media during …

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State's 2010 Big Ten championship, its 12-1 season, its victories over rival Michigan and in the Sugar Bowl — all gone. Coach Jim Tressel is out and so is star quarterback Terrelle Pryor.

Left behind: two years of self-imposed probation.

The question now is whether it will be enough to save Ohio State football from more severe penalties in an upcoming trip to see the NCAA committee on infractions.

In response to NCAA violations committed by football players who traded autographs and memorabilia for cash and tattoos — and by a coach who covered it up — Ohio State issued its official response on Friday. Athletic director Gene Smith hoped it would appease the NCAA ethics police.

The measures taken by the school included vacating all the Buckeyes' wins from last season, a year in which Ohio State captured a record-tying sixth straight Big Ten title and won an unprecedented seventh straight game over Michigan.

"All I know is that this is significant," Smith said. "A lot of people may not view it that way externally, but this is significant. When you think about all the other athletes who participated in those games, those records will be gone. ...

"Might the NCAA do more? I just can't speculate on that."

Tressel found out in April 2010 that his players were taking improper benefits from a local tattoo-parlor owner. Despite contractual and NCAA obligations to report it, he didn't tell anyone at the university or the NCAA for more than nine months. And what was just a five-game suspension for five players suddenly blossomed into a major violation that included a coach knowingly playing ineligible players throughout the 2010 season.

"Coach Tressel acknowledged that when he received the information, he knew the players could not sell the memorabilia or receive preferential treatment," Tressel said through his attorney in response to the allegations. "He also understood that the university policy called for him to notify the compliance office regarding possible violations. He has explained his thinking at the time, but offers no excuses here for his decisions."

In a reversal, Ohio State — which earlier said it had asked for Tressel's resignation on May 30 — said Friday it had now agreed to allow him to call it a retirement. The school also said he did not have to pay a $250,000 fine levied against him for his actions. On top of that, Tressel will receive the last month of his base pay ($54,000), has agreed to cooperate when Ohio State goes before the NCAA infractions committee on Aug. 12, and both he and the university agreed that they wouldn't sue each other.

Just last month Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee vowed that Tressel "will pay the fine."

Tressel's attorney, Gene Marsh, confirmed to The Associated Press earlier Friday that the former coach, who led the Buckeyes to the 2002 national title, would be on hand in Indianapolis when Ohio State gets its day with the NCAA.

Smith said there was no evidence whatsoever that anyone at Ohio State other than Tressel had any knowledge of the players' violations before January of this year.

The response to the NCAA doesn't mean Ohio State's woes are over. The governing body for college sports could still impose tougher sanctions, such as a ban on postseason play and a reduction in scholarships. The NCAA is expected to hand down its sanctions six to eight weeks after the August hearing.

Even though many Buckeyes fans blame the school's compliance department for the violations, Smith said it had done its job. He promised adjustments to how athletes are monitored and educated, but said he was not displeased with compliance director Doug Archie or anyone else on his staff.

He said compliance would use "a lot of different strategies" to do a better job.

In arriving at the self-imposed penalties, faculty athletic representative John Bruno said Ohio State surveyed other cases.

"We've looked at precedents around the nation for similar types of violations and sanctions that were imposed, either by the (NCAA) or self-imposed," he said. "These seem to be quite consistent."

The scandal unfolded in two stages. First, OSU officials were told of the memorabilia trading and sales in December and suspended five players for the first five games of 2011 and one player for the opener.

They had frequented a tattoo parlor and had sold autographs, signed equipment, championship rings and even a bowl sportsmanship award — all contrary to NCAA bylaws which prevent athletes from profiting off their name or fame.

Then in January, the university learned that Tressel had known about the violations since April 2010. After backing him for weeks, the university pressured him to resign on Memorial Day.

Smith said a continual drumbeat of revelations and allegations all but forced Ohio State to "separate" from Tressel. He said he was stunned when he learned of Tressel's deception.

"In the moment, yes, I felt betrayed. Why not bring that to me?" Smith said. "But I've gone on."

Officials said Friday they believed they'd uncovered all possible violations by football players.

"You never know, but we've done a lot of due diligence," said John Bruno, faculty athletics representative. "We looked weeks to months to find something else and nothing has come up."

Pryor was among the original group of players who was suspended for the first five games of this year. But he left OSU to try his luck in the NFL soon after Tressel quit. The NCAA added a five-game suspension for yet another player earlier this week.

The current Buckeyes almost seem to be expecting more severe penalties.

"We're only promised 12 games," safety Orhian Johnson said this week.

Interim coach Luke Fickell said his players, in the midst of summer conditioning, have accepted many of the changes he has implemented in the program but no one knows how they'll respond when the sanctions are finalized.

"I think they're buying in but you don't know," he said. "Until other adversity and other situations happen, you'll see what happens."

___

Follow Rusty Miller on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/rustymillerap

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SPORTS - Yao's agent mum on All-Star center's future (AP)

SPORTS - Yao's agent mum on All-Star center's future (AP)
Agassi reflective at Hall of Fame induction AFP/Getty Images/File – Eight-time Grand Slam champion Andre Agassi, pictured in February 2011, reflected upon things he would …

NEWPORT, Rhode Island (AFP) – Eight-time Grand Slam champion Andre Agassi reflected upon things he would have changed about his fabled career Saturday as he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

The 41-year-old American legend and Fern "Peachy" Kellmeyer, a long-time WTA Tour contributor, joined the sporting shrine's stars, including Agassi's wife and "the women who still takes my breath away every day," Steffi Graf.

Agassi noted he was pushed into the sport at age five by his father but praised tennis for giving him the fame and fortune to start a school for needy youth, one where he helps children "win their own personal Grand Slams."

"They know already what it took me decades to find out: To shine in secret, and to give when there's no one applauding," Agassi said. "It's not to late to be inspired. It's not too late to change. It's not too late."

Agassi knows about comebacks, as his tennis career shows. He spent 101 weeks atop the rankings, then plunged to 141st in the world before working his way back to the top at age 33 for 12 weeks, becoming the oldest World No. 1.

"Rock bottom is an interesting place. I moved in and spent some time there," Agassi said. "Going from 141 back to No. 1 was not an accomplishment. It was the reflection of an accomplishment. It was a symptom of good choices."

One of those choices, Agassi said, was embracing tennis in the final act of a career that began with him as a long-haired rebel and angry young man but ended with him as a shaved-headed icon with a career Grand Slam.

"I didn't always live carefully. I didn't always pay tennis the respect it deserved," Agassi said. "I didn't know myself and I didn't realize that my troubles were of my own making."

Agassi, the 1996 Olympic men's singles champion, won 60 career titles in a 20-year career, including the 1995, 2000, 2002 and 2003 Australian Opens, the 1994 and 1999 US Opens, the 1992 Wimbledon and 1999 French Open crowns.

"I fell in love with tennis far too late in my life, but the reason I have everything I hold dear is because tennis has loved me back," Agassi said.

"If we're lucky in life, we get a few moments where we don't have to wonder if we made our parents proud. I want to thank tennis for giving me those moments."

Agassi, who played for Davis Cup-winning US teams in 1990 and 1992, turned professional at age 16 in 1986, won his first ATP crown the following year and retired in 2006 after a third-round loss at the US Open.

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SPORTS - Mediator sets NFL meeting on July 19 (AP)

SPORTS - Mediator sets NFL meeting on July 19 (AP)
Baseball fans wait for the gates to open to the Texas Rangers Ballpark in Arlington as a Texas flag the sits at half staff before the game against the AP – Baseball fans wait for the gates to open to the Texas Rangers Ballpark in Arlington as a Texas flag the …

ARLINGTON, Texas – After a fan fell out of the club level of seats at Rangers Ballpark while trying to catch a foul ball last July, the team immediately assessed the railings throughout the stadium.

Since all the railings exceeded international and local building codes, and the only similar accident occurred during the ballpark's first game in 1994, it was determined that everything was adequate. Though there already were signs cautioning fans against leaning or sitting on the railings, the team made sure the signs were in every section.

A year and a day later, an eerily similar fall, this one fatal, has the Rangers again facing questions about safety at the stadium and evaluating whether they need to make changes.

Funeral services will be held Monday for Shannon Stone, a Brownwood firefighter who died less than an hour after he tumbled headfirst over a rail out of the seats in left field during a game Thursday night. Stone fell about 20 feet to concrete behind the outfield wall after reaching out to catch a ball tossed his way by All-Star outfielder Josh Hamilton.

The Rangers already have been in contact with city officials, as well as ballpark contractors and architects, about how to ensure safety for fans attending games played in the American League champion's stadium.

"More meetings will be taking place early in the week," team spokesman John Blake said Saturday. "The safety of Rangers fans is our top priority and we will be doing a thorough review to address this in a timely manner."

All flags inside and around the stadium, including three dozen Texas state flags flying high above center field, remained at half-staff for Saturday night's game against the Oakland Athletics. Players from both teams again wore black ribbons on their uniforms.

Texas won 7-6 after Hamilton hit a game-ending, two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning. It was Hamilton's fourth hit of the game.

The protective railing in left field where Stone fell is at least 33 inches high.

Arlington building officials inspected the stadium Friday in the wake of Stone's fatal fall and again determined that everything was up to code. City building requirements are that guardrails must be at least 26 inches high.

"We're going to look into anything that we can do to make our stadium safer for our fans," team president Nolan Ryan said. "We will do a study on that, and we don't know what, if there is anything, that we can do. But we certainly are open to anything that we can do."

Stone's funeral will be held at First United Methodist in Brownwood, a town about 150 miles from Arlington. The 39-year-old Stone had been a firefighter there for 18 years.

Visitation is scheduled for Sunday night at Davis Morris Funeral Home in Brownwood.

Stone was at Thursday night's game with his 6-year-old son, Cooper.

During the second inning, Hamilton heard someone call out to him for a ball. He turned to see Stone and his son in the first row of seats, then responded to the pair with a nod. The boy's favorite player is the reigning AL MVP.

A few pitches later, Oakland's Conor Jackson hit a foul ball that ricocheted into left field. Hamilton scooped up the ball and tossed it their way.

When Shannon Stone reached out and caught the ball, he slipped over the rail and fell as his son watched and a nearby fan unsuccessfully tried to grab the man.

Fire officials said Stone, who witnesses said was conscious after the fall, "went into full arrest" in the ambulance and was pronounced dead at the hospital. Authorities said Friday that he died from blunt force trauma to the head caused by a fall from a height.

Stone fell through a gap of several feet between the first row of seats and the 14-foot-high outfield wall that has a video scoreboard on it.

That electronic board was installed before the 2009 season, replacing a hand-operated scoreboard that had been there since the stadium had opened.

As part of those changes, a deck-like covering that had been over the gap was removed. That covering, in part, protected workers operating the old scoreboard from falling objects such as baseballs and items dropped from the stands.

Ryan said that decking also created a safety hazard when baseballs were there, not far out of reach from fans in the seats.

"What we found was that it encouraged people when a ball was up there to jump down on to that surface and get the ball," Ryan said. "And we felt like that it increased risk, and so we removed it trying not to encourage people to do that."

A black tarpaulin was installed over the gap before Friday night's game. Ryan said the purpose of that tarp was to keep fans from taking pictures or gawking at the area behind the outfield wall where Stone fell.

Last July at Rangers Ballpark, a man survived after tumbling from an upper deck along the first-base side as he tried to catch a foul ball.

Tyler Morris, a firefighter from the Lake Cities Fire Department near Dallas, sustained a fractured skull and sprained ankle when he fell over a rail and dropped onto seats where other fans were sitting.

Morris then called the incident a "100 percent, total accident that could have happened to anybody." He said he didn't blame the Rangers or the ballpark.

In 1994, a Plano woman sustained multiple injuries when she fell about 35 feet as she posed for a picture after the Rangers' first game at the stadium.

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SPORTS - Celtic shrug off Rangers plane stunt (AFP)

SPORTS - Celtic shrug off Rangers plane stunt (AFP)
Celtic shrug off Rangers plane stunt AFP – A group of local Rangers fans tried to goad their bitter rivals Celtic by organising a plane to fly over …

PERTH, Australia (AFP) – Celtic manager Neil Lennon has shrugged off a light plane stunt by rival Rangers fans before their Australian pre-season game in Perth.

A group of local Rangers fans tried to goad their bitter rivals Celtic by organising a plane to fly over the stadium before kick-off trailing a banner boasting about Rangers' three consecutive Scottish League titles.

Celtic beat A-League side Perth Glory 2-0 and after the match Lennon took the Rangers stunt with a shrug of the shoulders.

"Well, you'd think they'd have better things to do following their team in Germany (for their pre-season tour) than pay a lot of money to annoy us," Lennon told reporters on Saturday.

"I think they're a wee bit obsessed with us at the minute."

Lennon also had no qualms about an incident that left Celtic's Israeli midfielder Beram Kayal nursing a broken nose during the Perth game.

Kayal slumped to the turf and had blood gushing out of his nose after taking a swinging elbow from Glory midfielder Adam Hughes as the pair competed for a header midway through the first half.

The Israeli was clearly frustrated as he came off the ground, kicking away a sound-effects microphone as he made his way to the changing room to receive further treatment.

"I don't think it was over-physical," Lennon said. "I think (it was) very reminiscent of a game back home really.

"But I was expecting that anyway. For the lads, they want to make a name for themselves and compete against our players.

"We've got no complaints about that, it's just one of those unfortunate things."

Kayal looks likely to miss Wednesday's final Australian friendly against Melbourne Victory in Melbourne.

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SPORTS - Dodgers get first hit in 9th, edge Padres 1-0 (AP)

SPORTS - Dodgers get first hit in 9th, edge Padres 1-0 (AP)
Rubby De La Rosa AP – Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Rubby De La Rosa delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game …

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers were still searching for their first hit of the game with two outs in the ninth inning. Nine pitches later, they had an improbable victory.

Juan Uribe doubled to left for Los Angeles' first hit and Dioner Navarro drove him in with a single to center, sending the Dodgers to a 1-0 victory over the San Diego Padres on Saturday.

"Everybody wants to get that hit and be the guy," Navarro said. "We just kept telling ourselves to be patient and do the best we can. I knew there was a base open and they were going to pitch around me, which they did. But then he threw a fastball in there. I was looking for a pitch up in the strike zone and I put some good wood on it."

Uribe's hit came on a 1-2 pitch and Navarro delivered on a 3-1 offering from Luke Gregerson (2-2), who struck out Matt Kemp to begin the inning, then got James Loney to ground out.

"I've seen some crazy things in my nine years in the big leagues," Padres second baseman Orlando Hudson said, "but that's the way the game goes. So what are you going to do? You just keep playing."

Rubby De La Rosa and three relievers combined on a one-hitter that gave the Dodgers three consecutive shutout victories for the first time since July 1991. Los Angeles has won nine of its last 19 games, and seven of those victories have been shutouts — including the last five.

Uribe was down to his last strike when he drove the pitch from Gregerson over the head of left fielder Chris Denorfia. The Padres have never had a no-hitter in their 43-year history.

"To tell the truth, I don't think anyone in the bullpen knew there was a no-hitter going," Gregerson said. "The starter was out of the game, so what did it matter at that point? It's only fun if the starter goes nine innings and throws a no-hitter and your guys score some runs. But a loss is a loss at the end of the day.

"I made one bad pitch and that was it. It's as simple as that," Gregerson added. "The slider was working really good today and I just left one up and paid for it. I made a good pitch to Navarro and he got it. That's all that matters."

Blake Hawksworth (2-2) pitched a perfect ninth inning for the Dodgers after Matt Guerrier and Mike MacDougal each got three outs.

Aaron Harang started for San Diego and worked six innings, finishing with six strikeouts and three walks while throwing 95 pitches. Josh Spence came on and struck out his only batter, Andre Ethier, before Chad Qualls escaped a jam to keep the game scoreless.

Matt Kemp reached on a two-base throwing error by shortstop Jason Bartlett and James Loney was intentionally walked before Qualls retired Uribe on a foul popup and Navarro on a comebacker.

Mike Adams got out of another scrape in the eighth, retiring Tony Gwynn Jr., Rafael Furcal and Ethier after Jamey Carroll drew a leadoff walk and third baseman Chase Headley committed a throwing error on a sacrifice by pinch-hitter Trent Oeltjen.

The 33-year-old Harang had missed 26 games because of a bruised right foot, which occurred during his 7-2 victory over Washington on June 9. At the time of his injury, he had a string of five straight starts in which he did not allow more than two runs.

Harang might have gone longer in this one had he not thrown 37 pitches in the first inning.

"I think if it was a different situation and I got through seven, it's probably going to be a different," Harang said. "I felt great. I felt like I was commanding the ball well and my off-speed stuff was there. But obviously that first inning killed me. Even if I get through that inning in 20 pitches, it puts the aspect of going back out there in a different scenario. That was the difference in me staying out there, I think."

De La Rosa, who had no more than six strikeouts in any of his six previous big league starts, fanned seven of his first 10 batters while matching zeros with Harang through the first six innings.

"That kid's got a bright future ahead of him," Hudson said. "He's good. He had good stuff. He's got a great fastball, good command of his changeup and he's got a good slider."

Cameron Maybin had the first hit of the game, following Denorfia's leadoff walk in the fifth with a clean single through the box. Both runners advanced on a one-out grounder by Rob Johnson, but De La Rosa escaped the jam by striking out Harang.

NOTES: On Sept. 9, 1965, Cubs LHP Bob Hendley pitched a one-hitter at Dodger Stadium — and Sandy Koufax beat him 1-0 with a perfect game. ... Kemp, who will be swinging for the fences in Monday's All-Star Home Run Derby, has homered only twice in his last 24 games and 81 at-bats. He averaged a home run every 12.3 at-bats through his first 67 games this season. ... The Dodgers gave Derek Jeter his due, replaying his 3,000th hit on the videoboard before the game while organist Nancy Bea Hefley played a rousing rendition of "Yankee Doodle Dandy." Another member of the 3,000-hit club — Tony Gwynn Sr. — watched it live from a couch in the Dodgers' clubhouse, just a few feet from his son's locker. "The only time I ever said anything to (Jeter) about hitting was when he came up to me during Game 1 of the World Series in New York in '98," Gwynn recalled later in the Padres' dugout. "I was standing on second base and he said: `Man you need to teach me how to hit.' And I said: `Yeah, right. You're kidding me, right? You're such a good hitter.' I always thought he was a good hitter, ever since he came up. You just knew that, as consistent as he was, sooner or later he was going to get to this point." ... The Padres optioned RHP Pat Neshek to Triple-A Tucson to open a roster spot for Harang.

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