Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Matt Joyce drives in the game winning run with a broken bat double against the Tigers (photo courtesy of Mike Carlson/AP)

Shields continues Rays' solid pitching in win over Tigers
ST. PETERSBURG, FL. (AP) - James Shields gave up two runs over 6 2-3 innings, Matt Joyce hit a tie-breaking RBI double and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Detroit Tigers 3-2. Carlos Pena put the Rays ahead 2-0 on a two run homer in the first, but the Tigers tied it up in the sixth on a hit and an error. Then in the top of the ninth with the bases loaded, Miguel Cabrera hit into a game ending double play. Shields (9-9) allowed nine hits, one walk and had seven strikeouts. Detroit's Justin Verlander (12-6) allowed three runs and five hits in his second complete game of the season.

Rays first baseman Carlos Pena stretches to get Miguel Cabrera out for a game ending double play (photo courtesy of Mike Carlson/AP)

Ramirez helps White Sox pound Mariners 11-0
CHICAGO (AP) - Alexei Ramirez, Andruw Jones and Paul Konerko homered, powering Gavin Floyd and the Chicago White Sox to an 11-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners. Ramirez finished with three hits and three RBI's, and Jones also drove in three for the White Sox, who led 8-0 after three innings. A.J. Pierzynski hit a two out, two run single in Chicago's four run first against Ryan Rowland-Smith. With the win, Chicago owns a one game lead over Minnesota and a four game lead over Detroit in the A.L. Central standings.

Valencia has three RBI's, Twins batter KC 11-2
KANSAS CITY, MO. (AP) - Rookie Danny Valencia drove in three runs, Carl Pavano won his eighth straight decision and the Minnesota Twins battered Kansas City 11-2. Joe Mauer, Michael Cuddyer and J.J. Hardy all had two RBI's apiece for the Twins, who totaled 19 hits one night after getting 20. In their last three games, the shell-shocked Royals have been beaten 12-6 by the Yankees and 19-1 and 11-2 by the Twins, snapping the team record of 40 runs allowed in three consecutive games.

OTHER TUESDAY A.L. SCORES
Cleveland 4 - N.Y. Yankees 1
Toronto 8 - Baltimore 2
Texas 3 - Oakland 1 (10 innings)
Boston 4 - L.A. Angels 2

Berkman hits slam, Astros beat Cubs 6-1
HOUSTON (AP) - Brett Myers pitched a complete game, Lance Berkman hit his first grand slam since 2008 and the Houston Astros beat the Chicago Cubs 6-1 on Tuesday night. It is the 10th career complete game for Myers (8-6) and his first since May. He allowed four hits and tied a career high by striking out 12 batters. Berkman's fifth career grand slam came in Houston's six run seventh inning with the team leading 2-0.

OTHER TUESDAY N.L. SCORES
Philadelphia 9 - Arizona 5
Washington 3 - Atlanta 0
N.Y. Mets 8 - St. Louis 2
Cincinnati 12 - Milwaukee 4
Pittsburgh 4 - Colorado 2
L.A. Dodgers 2 - San Diego 0
San Francisco 6 - Florida 4

White Sox retire Frank Thomas' No. 35
CHICAGO (AP) - The White Sox are retiring the No. 35 of Frank Thomas, who is rejoining Chicago as a team ambassador. The team said Tuesday the two-time AL MVP will be honored at Frank Thomas Day at U.S. Cellular Field on Aug. 29. Thomas will make appearances for the team and join its speakers bureau, which includes Carlton Fisk, Minnie Minoso, Ron Kittle, Bill Melton and Bill Skowron. Thomas' number will be the 10th retired by the White Sox.

Boy, 15, shoots record 62 to lead Michigan tourney
BOYNE VALLEY TOWNSHIP, MI. (AP) - A 15 year old has shot a tournament record-tying 10 under 62 to take a two stroke lead after two rounds of the Boyne Tournament of Champions. Henry Do of Ypsilanti shaved 10 shots Tuesday off his even-par opening round of 72. He's a sophomore at Ann Arbor Greenhills High School. LPGA Tour player Allison Fouch of Grand Rapids shot back to back four under rounds of 68 and trails Doe by two shots entering today's final round of stroke play. The field of 111 was cut to the top 71 after Round 2.

Nagel shoots 5 under, medalist at Women's Amateur
ST. CLAIR TOWNSHIP, MI. (AP) - Michigan State's Elizabeth Nagel has finished stroke play at five under to win medalist honors at the Michigan Women's Amateur. The player from DeWitt shot a three under 69 Tuesday for a two round total of 139 at the St. Clair River Country Club. Defending champion Britney Hamilton led after Round 1 but went two over Tuesday to finish at two under 142. The field was cut to 32 for match play, which runs today through Friday.

Colts sign 5th-round pick, Oklahoma TE Eldridge
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The Indianapolis Colts say they've signed fifth round draft pick Brody Eldridge, a tight end out of Oklahoma. The team announced the signing Tuesday. Terms aren't being disclosed. The 6 foot 5 inch, 265 pounder was a four year letterman with the Sooners. He appeared in 48 career games, with 27 starts. Eldridge joins linebacker Kavell Conner and defensive back Ray Fisher as draft picks who have signed with the Colts. Indianapolis opens training camp at Anderson University on Sunday.

Michigan speedway opens NASCAR track to public
BROOKLYN, MI. (AP) - NASCAR racing wannabes note: Michigan International Speedway is giving members of the public a chance to drive on the two mile track normally reserved for race cars. The track in Brooklyn is charging $25 for three laps around the track. The Detroit News says drivers will have to keep their cars under 70 miles per hour but are free to drive up the high banks. Public access to the track will be offered next Monday through Wednesday, then again Aug. 6 and Aug. 23-25.

Catchings' double-double leads Fever past Sky
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Tamika Catchings had 16 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Indiana Fever to a 78-74 win over the Chicago Sky for their fifth straight win. Briann January added 15 points and Katie Douglas scored 13 for the Fever (16-7). Catchings' double-double was the 65th of her career, tying her for seventh all time in WNBA history. The Fever remain one game ahead of Atlanta (16-9) for first place in the Eastern Conference.

WEDNESDAY SPORTS SCHEDULE
IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE
Minnesota (Duensing 3-1) at Kansas City (Bannister 7-9), 2:10 p.m.

Boston (Beckett 1-1) at L.A. Angels (Pineiro 10-7), 3:35 p.m.

N.Y. Yankees (A.J.Burnett 8-8) at Cleveland (Carmona 10-7), 7:05 p.m.

Baltimore (Guthrie 4-10) at Toronto (Mills 0-0), 7:07 p.m.

Detroit (Bonine 4-0) at Tampa Bay (Niemann 8-3) (6:50 PM - ESPN Radio 1230)

Oakland (Cahill 9-4) at Texas (C.Lewis 9-6), 8:05 p.m.

Seattle (J.Vargas 6-5) at Chicago White Sox (Buehrle 9-8), 8:10 p.m.

IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE
Chicago Cubs (R.Wells 5-7) at Houston (Norris 2-7), 2:05 p.m.

Cincinnati (Tr.Wood 0-1) at Milwaukee (Narveson 8-6), 2:10 p.m.

Arizona (E.Jackson 6-9) at Philadelphia (Halladay 11-8), 7:05 p.m.

Atlanta (T.Hudson 10-5) at Washington (L.Hernandez 7-6), 7:05 p.m.

Florida (Sanabia 1-1) at San Francisco (J.Sanchez 7-6), 7:05 p.m.

St. Louis (J.Garcia 9-4) at N.Y. Mets (J.Santana 8-5), 7:10 p.m.

Pittsburgh (Ohlendorf 1-8) at Colorado (Cook 4-6), 8:40 p.m.

L.A. Dodgers (Kuroda 8-8) at San Diego (Richard 7-5), 10:05 p.m.