New York, NY (Sports Network) - The National Hockey League issued a one-game suspension Wednesday to Phoenix Coyotes forward Martin Hanzal for his actions during Tuesday's Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals.

Hanzal checked LA forward Dustin Brown from behind and into the end boards during the latter stages of the third period, drawing a major for boarding and a game misconduct as a result.

"Hanzal finishes Brown forcefully and at a very dangerous distance from the boards. After chipping the puck from the blue line, Brown does not possess, or even touch it again. Hanzal is directly behind Brown and his gaze is focused on Brown. He then recklessly initiates the check from behind. He does not avoid contact, and he does not attempt to minimize it," said NHL discipline czar Brendan Shanahan.

"We have taken into account that while Brown was shaken up on the play, he returned to the game and completed it. It is also important to note that Hanzal has never been fined or suspended previously during his five-season NHL career."

Game 3 of this series, which the Kings lead 2-0, takes place at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday night.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie has received a four-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for his aggressive actions toward umpire Bill Miller during Tuesday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Lawrie's tirade took place in the bottom of the ninth inning. Trailing 4-3 with one out, Lawrie appeared to draw a walk when Fernando Rodney's 3-1 pitch caught Jose Molina's glove nearly a foot off the plate.

Lawrie, 22, began his trot to first base but was stopped in his tracks when Miller made a late strike call.

Rodney's payoff pitch looked out of the strike zone, and Lawrie again started towards first with an apparent walk. This time, Miller wasted little time calling the pitch a strike, and Lawrie erupted.

Just as Miller was ejecting him from the game, Lawrie spiked his helmet in the umpire's direction, and it struck Miller in the leg after hitting the ground.

Blue Jays manager John Farrell needed to separate the two, and he too was ejected by the time Lawrie made his way to the dugout.

Rodney retired the next hitter to complete Tampa Bay's sweep of the two-game series.

Lawrie has elected to appeal the suspension and is in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the New York Yankees.

Nashville, TN (Sports Network) - Titans wide receiver Kenny Britt, who is recovering from a torn ACL and MCL suffered early last season, underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee Wednesday.

Titans general manager Ruston Webster said the procedure was "commonplace" with knee injuries because it helps clean up the area of the operation.

"It's not one of those things that was, 'Wow, we're having surgery.' It's very common, and if it helps his rehab process, it's well worth doing. Our goal is to have him play this year. You don't want to get into the middle of camp and (need to do something)," Webster said.

Britt was injured in the second quarter of a 17-14 win over the Denver Broncos on Sept. 25 of last year. He hauled in a swing-pass down the right sideline and appeared to twist his knee as he turned up the field, fumbling the ball in the process.

He remained on the ground for a few minutes before being helped to the sideline and was then carted off the field.

Britt entered that Week-3 game with an AFC-leading 271 yards receiving.

Although he has had numerous run-ins with the law since he was taken in the first round of the 2009 draft by the Titans, Britt has 101 catches for 1,765 yards and 15 touchdowns in just 31 NFL games.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie has received a four-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for his aggressive actions toward umpire Bill Miller during Tuesday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Lawrie's tirade took place in the bottom of the ninth inning. Trailing 4-3 with one out, Lawrie appeared to draw a walk when Fernando Rodney's 3-1 pitch caught Jose Molina's glove nearly a foot off the plate.

Lawrie, 22, began his trot to first base but was stopped in his tracks when Miller made a late strike call.

Rodney's payoff pitch looked out of the strike zone, and Lawrie again started towards first with an apparent walk. This time, Miller wasted little time calling the pitch a strike, and Lawrie erupted.

Just as Miller was ejecting him from the game, Lawrie spiked his helmet in the umpire's direction, and it struck Miller in the leg after hitting the ground.

Blue Jays manager John Farrell needed to separate the two, and he too was ejected by the time Lawrie made his way to the dugout.

Rodney retired the next hitter to complete Tampa Bay's sweep of the two-game series.

Unless appealed, Lawrie is scheduled to begin serving his suspension Wednesday night, when the Blue Jays open a two-game series against the New York Yankees. If appealed, Lawrie's suspension will be held in abeyance until the process is complete.

Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Denver Nuggets forward Al Harrington underwent successful surgery Wednesday to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.

Harrington averaged 14.2 points and 6.1 rebounds in 64 games for Denver this season and is expected to return for summer workouts.

The 32-year-old originally injured the knee on April 1, but missed just two of the team's final 13 contests.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Indiana Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird was named the winner of the 2011-12 NBA Executive of the Year award on Wednesday.

Bird becomes the first person to win MVP, Coach and Executive of the Year honors.

The Pacers earned the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 42-24 record this season, the first full campaign under head coach Frank Vogel, who had served on an interim basis last year after replacing Jim O'Brien.

Bird strengthened the roster by signing two-time All-Star David West and trading for Leandro Barbosa.

Bird totaled 88 points and received 12 first-place votes from a panel of his fellow team executives throughout the league. San Antonio's R.C. Buford finished second with 56 points and eight first-place votes.

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - The Pittsburgh Pirates recalled pitcher Evan Meek from Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.

The 2010 All-Star reliever began the season with the Pirates, but struggled and his ERA sat at 5.59 after nine appearances. He was placed on the disabled list on April 30 with right shoulder tendinitis.

Meek registered a 5-4 mark with a 2.14 ERA and four saves in 2010, while recording a 1-1 record with a 3.48 ERA in 2011.

To make room for Meek on the roster, Pittsburgh optioned outfielder Alex Presley to Indy. The 26-year-old has hit .220 with two home runs and seven RBI in 34 games for the Pirates this year.

Tempe, AZ (Sports Network) - The Arizona Cardinals signed defensive end Landon Cohen on Wednesday.

Cohen has played in 25 career games (five starts) with the Lions, Jaguars and Patriots, recording 31 tackles.

Nashville, TN (Sports Network) - Titans wide receiver Kenny Britt, who is recovering from a torn ACL and MCL suffered early last season, will reportedly undergo arthroscopic surgery on his knee Wednesday.

The Tennessean reports that the surgery is being termed as "minor."

Britt was injured in the second quarter of a 17-14 win over the Denver Broncos on Sept. 25 of last year. He hauled in a swing-pass down the right sideline and appeared to twist his knee as he turned up the field, fumbling the ball in the process.

He remained on the ground for a few minutes before being helped to the sideline and was then carted off the field.

Britt entered that Week-3 game with an AFC-leading 271 yards receiving.

Although he has had numerous run-ins with the law since he was taken in the first round of the 2009 draft by the Titans, Britt has 101 catches for 1,765 yards and 15 touchdowns in just 31 NFL games.

Irving, TX (Sports Network) - Dallas Cowboys guard Mackenzy Bernadeau is expected to miss 2-3 months of action after undergoing a procedure on Saturday to repair a nagging hip injury.

Bernadeau, one of Dallas' top free-agent signings this offseason, spent the last four seasons with the Panthers. The 6-foot-4, 308-pounder played in 47 games (20 starts) with Carolina.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - The NBA has fined Los Angeles Lakers forward Devin Ebanks and center Andrew Bynum for separate violations.

Ebanks has been fined $25,000 for actions prior to and following his ejection from the Lakers' 119-90 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series on Monday.

Following his ejection, Ebanks knocked over a chair and ripped off his shirt before making his way through the tunnel.

Bynum has been fined $15,000 for not making himself available to the media following the Lakers' practice on Tuesday.

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Former Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Kevin Hickey, who later served as Chicago's batting practice pitcher, passed away on Wednesday. He was 56.

Hickey, who pitched six major league seasons with the White Sox from 1981-83 and the Orioles from 1989-91, was pronounced dead at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

Hickey had been in intensive care since he was found unresponsive in the team hotel in Dallas before Chicago's season-opener against Texas.

"Ask anyone in our clubhouse, every person here appreciated what Kevin did to help the White Sox win baseball games," said White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko. "No one wanted to win more, no one was more optimistic, no one cared more and no one took more pride in his job. He made all of us better."

The colorful left-hander registered a 9-14 career mark with a 3.91 ERA and 118 strikeouts.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - For Brandon Weeden, it's a unique opportunity to make the most of a second chance. The Cleveland Browns, meanwhile, are simply hoping that the third time's a charm.

The first minicamp of a player's professional career can be a very nerve- racking endeavor, but Weeden displayed all the calm and confidence of an established veteran when the Browns opened their rookie minicamp this past week. And that sweatless demeanor really should come as no surprise, considering the newest candidate to take his turn at solving the team's never- ending quarterback riddle has been down this road before.

As most followers of last month's NFL Draft are fully aware, Weeden toiled five seasons in baseball's minor leagues as a pitcher for three different organizations before reinventing himself as a highly desired passing prospect in Oklahoma State's revved-up spread attack, giving the mildly surprising recent first-round choice a rare perspective that even the two headliners of this year's diverse rookie quarterback crop -- Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III -- can't offer to their new teams.

That experience with handling failure under high-pressure circumstances likely played a big part in the Browns' decision to target the 28-year-old Weeden as the expected next leader of their terminally lethargic offense. And thick skin should be an absolute prerequisite as well, as Cleveland has been beset by one mishap after another at the game's most vital position ever since rejoining the NFL wars as a reincarnated expansion franchise in 1999.

The Browns have used a first-round pick on a quarterback twice previously since their revival, and both times it led to disastrous results. Tim Couch never came close to fulfilling his potential as the top overall choice of the 1999 draft, with injuries, a poor supporting cast and a loss of faith by then- head coach Butch Davis all contributing to the former Kentucky gunslinger's nondescript five-year tenure in Cleveland.

The team then thought it had the answer in Brady Quinn in 2009, but soon turned the page on the popular Ohio native after three seasons and 12 mostly inconsequential starts.

Cleveland also missed big on Charlie Frye, another local product taken in the third round of the 2005 draft.

Colt McCoy, a 2010 third-round pick and Weeden's chief competition for the starting job in camp, hasn't embarrassed himself as the club's main field general the past two years, but the undersized ex-University of Texas standout's arm strength and playmaking limitations have been underscored in the Browns' lackluster offensive performance.

McCoy proponents have often blamed his mediocre numbers on the subpar collection of skill players he's been surrounded with, and the addition of phenomenally talented rookie running back Trent Richardson should no doubt boost the offense's overall efficiency no matter who's taking the snaps this season. Keep in mind, however, that the Browns had a nearly 1,200-yard rusher in Peyton Hillis during McCoy's rookie year of 2010, yet still finished 5-11 and 29th in passing yards.

In fact, Cleveland has ranked 23rd or worse in passing offense in 11 of 13 seasons since its 1999 rebirth. Not coincidentally, the two times the Browns were 18th or better in that category (2002 and 2007) also were their only two winning seasons over that span.

That information didn't seem to be lost on the Browns' brain trust of president Mike Holmgren, general manager Tom Heckert and head coach Pat Shurmur, the matchmakers behind this strange but sensible union between the oldest first-round pick in NFL history and a team that's chosen quarterbacks about as well as another Cleveland institution -- The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame -- has selected its inductees (sorry, just the venting of a lifelong Rush fan coming out there).

Whether the Browns have finally found their Mr. Right -- and with Weeden turning 29 in October, he better be Mr. Right Now as well -- remains to be seen. While there are no reservations about his maturity and leadership abilities, his effectiveness and acumen in an NFL offense are still questions the one-time New York Yankees prospect will have to answer in his debut.

Weeden built his credentials playing in a spread system that's become the en vogue trend in the college ranks, but the results of its products making a successful transition to a pro scheme have been rather mixed over the years. Cam Newton and Sam Bradford made seamless conversions as rookies; others such as Alex Smith, Tim Tebow and Blaine Gabbert have had noticeably harder adjustments.

Having Shurmur in his corner, however, may very well work to Weeden's advantage as he attempts to grasp Cleveland's West Coast system. The current head coach was St. Louis' offensive coordinator and play-caller during Bradford's banner 2010 intro in which the former Heisman Trophy winner threw for over 3,500 yards and was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

"I like what I've seen from him just in terms of throwing the football, for sure," Shurmur said of Weeden at the conclusion of the rookie camp. "His touch and accuracy are all part of it. I think that it's kind of a natural thing, that (some quarterbacks) just know to take a little off of it because a guy's five yards away and then whether to put it on the right or left shoulder based on where the defender is so he can turn away from it."

With quarterbacks like Roger Staubach and Kurt Warner still amassing excellent careers despite late starts, the fact that Weeden was born seven weeks before Aaron Rodgers and is also older than Smith, Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan, among others, may not be as much an impediment as at first glance. His age also may not be the primary reason why his window as an NFL starter could possibly be a short one.

The Browns have a whopper of a schedule in 2012, with eight of their 16 games coming against teams that reached the playoffs a year ago and only four versus ones that ended 2011 with a losing record. And that doesn't count potentially daunting home assignments against Philadelphia and San Diego plus a road test at Dallas.

The offseason has so far been unkind for Cleveland as well. Two key members of a defense that was unquestionably the Browns' backbone in 2011, tackle Phil Taylor and veteran linebacker Scott Fujita, will miss significant time this season. Fujita must serve a three-game suspension for his involvement in New Orleans' infamous bounty program during his prior tenure with the Saints, while the promising Taylor will be out until at least midseason after tearing his pectorals while working out last week.

So if Weeden struggles or can't beat out McCoy, and the Browns also falter under the heavy burden of the league's third-toughest schedule, the prospect of more tough decisions looming in the near future certainly exists. It's not out of the question that Cleveland finds itself in position to land one of the two top quarterbacks, Southern California's Matt Barkley or Arkansas' Tyler Wilson, in next year's draft. Both are at least six years younger than Weeden and have already demonstrated proficiency operating pro-style offenses during their time in college.

And if the Browns' regression continues in 2012, the chances of Weeden's support group of Holmgren, Heckert and Shurmur being split up or completely removed from power for his second season infinitely increase.

So to put it in baseball terms, a guy who's yet to step to the plate in the big leagues may already be nearing the seventh-inning stretch of his career.

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Former Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Kevin Hickey, who later served as Chicago's batting practice pitcher, passed away on Wednesday. He was 56.

Hickey, who pitched six major league seasons with the White Sox from 1981-83 and the Orioles from 1989-91, was pronounced dead at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

Hickey had been in intensive care since he was found unresponsive in the team hotel in Dallas before Chicago's season-opener against Texas.

The colorful left-hander registered a 9-14 career mark with a 3.91 ERA and 118 strikeouts.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Indiana Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird was named the winner of the 2011-12 NBA Executive of the Year award on Wednesday.

Bird becomes the first person to win MVP, Coach and Executive of the Year honors.

The Pacers earned the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 42-24 record this season, the first full campaign under head coach Frank Vogel, who had served on an interim basis last year after replacing Jim O'Brien.

Bird strengthened the roster by signing two-time All-Star David West and trading for Leandro Barbosa.

Bird totaled 88 points and received 12 first-place votes from a panel of his fellow team executives throughout the league. San Antonio's R.C. Buford finished second with 56 points and eight first-place votes.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Celtics head coach Doc Rivers and Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert were amongst those announced as members of the league's new 10-member competition committee on Wednesday.

Last month, the board of governors voted to change the composition of the committee to include two owners, four general managers, three head coaches and a representative from the NBA Player's Association.

Members of the new committee also includes owner Joe Lacob (Golden State); general managers Bryan Colangelo (Toronto Raptors), Mitch Kupchak (L.A. Lakers), Kevin O'Connor (Utah Jazz), and Sam Presti (Oklahoma City); and coaches Rick Carlisle (Dallas Mavericks) and Lionel Hollins (Memphis Grizzlies). The NBPA will designate one of its members to serve on the Committee.

The committee was previously made up of the 30 general managers in the league before last month's changes.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - The New York Mets have been selected to host the 2013 All-Star Game.

Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig unveiled Citi Field as the site of the 2013 event on Wednesday. The 84th All-Star Game is scheduled to be played on Tuesday, July 16.

"As we celebrate the franchise's golden anniversary this year, I am pleased to award the 2013 All-Star Game to the New York Mets and their loyal fans," Selig said. "We are delighted to bring the Midsummer Classic to Citi Field, a wonderful ballpark that has carried on the remarkable National League tradition in New York City. The Mets will be superb hosts to next summer's greatest sporting event."

The Mets have hosted the Midsummer Classic one other time, in 1964, the inaugural year of Shea Stadium. The National League won that contest 7-4, thanks to a three-run walk-off homer by the Phillies' Johnny Callison.

This year's All-Star Game will be played at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, the first time the Royals are holding the event since 1973.

With Wednesday's announcement, the Los Angeles Dodgers now become the team with the longest active hosting drought (1980).

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The Ohio State University football program has had quite a year, and it has absolutely nothing to do with any success, or lack thereof, the team had on the field of play.

This time last year, under the direction of the highly-successful, yet somewhat controversial Jim Tressel, the Buckeyes began to fall apart at the seams as the NCAA launched an investigation into allegations that several players were involved in a cash-for-memorabilia scandal. In the end, the damage was substantial as the governing body of all things related to college athletics lowered the boom by suspending several key players, taking away nine scholarships, posing a bowl ban for the 2012 campaign, and placing the program on three years probation. Additionally, mounting pressure forced Tressel to resign, and Luke Fickell was handed the reins on an interim basis.

With his lame duck status in tow, Fickell directed the team to a tumultuous 6-7 season, and simply put, that kind of lackluster effort just won't do at Ohio State. Therefore, Urban Meyer was courted heavily to leave his cushy TV job and take over a program in dire need of stabilization as it looks toward a rapid return to national prominence.

Meyer, who began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Ohio State back in the mid-1980s, and who won two national championships while at Florida, is one of the top two or three coaches in the country. Few can dispute that, but he didn't come to Columbus without some questions, most notably his desire to stay the course and be in this for the long haul. There is also the fact that during his three years in Gainesville, 25 of his players were arrested on various charges, and there were also rumblings about rampant drug use among his players as well. Apparently none of that detracted from OSU's love affair with Meyer, and he was signed to a perk-filled, six-year, $24 million contract last November.

Never one to shy away from hard work, Meyer knows this isn't going to be a quick fix. He has assembled a stellar staff of assistants which includes retaining Fickell as his Defensive Coordinator, and bringing in former North Carolina [interim] head coach Everett Withers. While perhaps lacking the kind of identifiable star power the Buckeyes have had in the past, Meyer has a solid core of returning players which includes seven starters on offense and nine on defense.

There are some who thought it would take some time for Meyer to convince prospective student-athletes that the issues that have recently plagued Ohio State were in the past, but that was clearly not the case as the Buckeyes landed one of the top recruiting classes in the nation this year. Meyer and his coaches worked tirelessly to assure that they would get their share of top- flight talent, however, since that initial influx, two players have de- committed, including four-star LB Alex Anzalone who apparently had contact with a registered sex offender during an on-campus visit. Anzalone, while taking back his oral commitment, claims he doesn't hold Meyer or the university responsible for the debacle and hasn't ruled out Ohio State entirely, but this is clearly not the way Meyer envisioned his first year at the helm beginning.

Even with the recent defections, Meyer and his assemblage of teachers and motivators will need to mold the rest into a cohesive unit. But as mentioned, the Buckeyes' success this fall won't hinge on the efforts of a bunch of inexperienced, albeit talented newcomers, but rather on the guys who have already been in their share of Big Ten battles, and have the scars, both physical and emotional, to show for it.

After a freshman campaign in which he led the team in rushing (951 yards, seven TDs) and passing (85-of-157, 1,159 yards, 13 TDs, four INTs), Braxton Miller appears to be the man Meyer will entrust to run his spread offense in 2012. With a lack of proven playmakers around him, Miller may have to improvise early as his cohorts hone their skills. The defense, which ranked in the upper half of the Big Ten in allowing 323.5 total ypg in 2011, should be able to keep most teams at bay, giving the offense ample opportunity to produce.

The fact that Ohio State will play eight home games this season is a benefit for sure, but having more than 100,000 scarlet and gray-clad fanatics scrutinizing your every move could be a negative as well, particularly if the team struggles. Now that shouldn't be the case early on, as the team opens with four straight in Columbus against non-conference foes Miami-Ohio, UCF, California and UAB, but the Big Ten slate is littered with potential pitfalls so Meyer's honeymoon could be short-lived, particularly if he doesn't lead the Buckeyes past hated rival Michigan. The Wolverines earned their first win over Ohio State since 2003 last season.

Meyer was clearly the best choice to be the Buckeyes' new head football coach, and while his track record suggests success isn't far away, this is Ohio State -- a place already synonymous with excellence. Coaching the team isn't the issue. But saying the right things to the media, and doing the right things by the players, the university and loyal fan base certainly is, and that means keeping the distractions to a minimum. Time will tell.

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia Phillies placed pitcher Vance Worley on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow inflammation.

The move is retroactive to May 12.

Worley was scheduled to start Wednesday's game against the Cubs in Chicago. Kyle Kendrick gets the nod in his place.

The 24-year-old Worley has made seven starts for the Phillies this season, going 3-2 with a 3.07 earned run average. The bespectacled right-hander has recorded 45 strikeouts to 15 walks in 44 innings.

To fill Worley's spot on the 25-man roster, the Phillies recalled lefty Joe Savery from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. A former first-round pick, Savery, 26, has compiled a 4.50 ERA in eight appearances for Philadelphia this year.

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - John Baker collected three hits, drove in three runs and scored once as the San Diego Padres salvaged a split of a two- game set with the Washington Nationals with a 6-1 win on Tuesday. Anthony Bass (2-4) tossed eight strong innings in the victory, fanning seven while allowing just five hits, a walk and a run. James Darnell also homered as the Padres snapped a two-game skid. Stephen Strasburg (3-1) was smacked around for four runs on seven hits and two walks over just four frames. It was Strasburg's shortest outing of the season, and tied for the second-shortest in the young ace's career. Bryce Harper hit a solo shot for the Nationals, who have lost two of three.

Final Score: Philadelphia 4, Houston 3 (10 innings)

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Hunter Pence's second home run of the game, a line-shot to left in the bottom of the 10th inning, sent Philadelphia over Houston by a 4-3 count to sweep a two-game series. Pence won the game off former Phils hurler Brett Myers (0-1), who began the frame by retiring Shane Victorino on a foul out to third. But Myers hung a slider and Pence got enough to muscle it over the left-field wall. It made a winner of Jake Diekman (1-0), who tossed 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief in his major- league debut. Starter Cliff Lee did not earn a decision despite scattering five hits and one run over eight innings, fanning a season-high 10 batters. Brian Schneider hit a two-run homer for the Phillies, who put together their first three-game win streak of the season.

Final Score: St. Louis 7, Chicago 6

St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Yadier Molina hit a two-out, game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead the Cardinals past the Cubs, 7-6, in the finale of a two-game set. After Alfonso Soriano had tied the game in the top of the ninth with a solo homer, Matt Holliday led off the home half with a single off of Rafael Dolis (2-3). Three batters later, Molina sliced a slow grounder into the hole, off the glove of second baseman Darwin Barney and into right. Holliday, who had moved to second on a David Freese groundout, raced home to snap St. Louis' four-game losing streak and prevented the club from going winless on a homestand of four or more games for the first time since 1983. Jason Motte (2-1) pitched the ninth to get the victory.

Final Score: Milwaukee 8, New York 0

Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Travis Ishikawa homered twice and knocked in a career-high five RBI as the Milwaukee Brewers hammered the New York Mets, 8-0, in the finale of a two-game series. Rickie Weeks also went deep for the Brewers, who snapped a two-game slide. Zack Greinke (4-1) struck out seven while allowing five hits and no walks through seven scoreless innings to earn the win. Dillon Gee (2-3) was touched for seven runs on eight hits and a walk in 5 1/3 innings in New York's third loss in five games.

Final Score: Atlanta 6, Cincinnati 2

Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Tim Hudson spun seven strong innings of two-run ball and the Braves defeated the Reds, 6-2, to close out a quick two-game series at Turner Field. Hudson (2-1) scattered nine hits while walking two and striking out three. Martin Prado finished with three hits, an RBI and a run scored, Michael Bourn also smacked three hits and scored twice, and Brian McCann added a solo homer to help the Braves win their fourth game in five tries. Johnny Cueto (4-1) lasted just four innings, yielding a season-high six runs -- five earned -- on eight hits and two walks to suffer his first loss of the year. Ryan Hanigan and Drew Stubbs each plated a run for the Reds, who had their two-game win streak halted.

Final Score: Miami 6, Pittsburgh 2

Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Josh Johnson picked up his first win of the season, Hanley Ramirez hit a pair of RBI doubles and the Marlins defeated the Pirates, 6-2, on Tuesday. Johnson (1-3) went seven innings and allowed two runs on six hits. He struck out six and issued just one walk. Omar Infante and John Buck finished with two RBI apiece for the Marlins, who salvaged a split of this two-game series. They are 11-3 since May 1. Kevin Correia (1-4), who has lost each of his last four starts, gave up six runs on eight hits over 3 2/3 innings. Michael McKenry had a solo homer for Pittsburgh, which saw its season-high three-game win streak come to an end.

Final Score: Arizona 5, Los Angeles 1

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Miguel Montero and Jason Kubel each had two hits, an RBI and a run scored as the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-1, in the finale of a quick two-game series. Wade Miley (4-1) allowed one run on eight hits and a walk while striking out five through 6 2/3 innings to earn the win for Arizona, which snapped its three-game slide. Chad Billingsley (2-3) gave up four runs on eight hits and two walks in four-plus innings to suffer the loss. Mark Ellis homered for the Dodgers, who saw their five-game win streak come to an end.

Final Score: Colorado 5, San Francisco 4

San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Marco Scutaro hit a go-ahead leadoff homer in the top of the ninth inning on Tuesday and the Rockies defeated the Giants, 5-4, in the finale of two-game series. The Giants scored three runs in the seventh to tie the game, but left the bases loaded in the eighth and Scutaro got just enough of a 1-2 fastball from Santiago Casilla (0-2) to send it over the left field wall in the ninth. Rex Brothers (2-2) pitched out of the bases-loaded jam in the eighth, striking out Brandon Belt and Melky Cabrera to end the inning and Rafael Betancourt fanned Nate Schierholtz with two aboard in the ninth to record his seventh save of the season. Jeremy Guthrie returned from the disabled list and allowed one unearned run over 5 1/3 innings for the Rockies, who halted a four-game skid and earned a split of the series. Although Cabrera struck out to end the eighth, he helped tie the game an inning earlier when he hit a two-run double and later scored on Angel Pagan's two-out single. Tim Lincecum gave up four runs in seven innings for the Giants, who saw their three-game win streak come to an end.

Miami, FL (Sports Network) - With the game on the line, All-Stars LeBron James or Dwyane Wade didn't take the final shot for Miami, and Indiana held on to even their Eastern Conference semifinal series after two games. David West scored 16 points and George Hill added 15, including a big free throw with 14.1 seconds left, as the Pacers earned a 78-75 victory Tuesday night. The Heat had a chance to tie at the buzzer, but a three-point try from Mario Chalmers hit off the rim. James had 28 points and Wade scored 24 for the shorthanded Heat, who shot just 34.6 percent and were outscored 28-14 in the third quarter. The Heat captured the opener on Sunday with a 95-86 triumph, but lost forward Chris Bosh to a lower abdominal strain. Miami will likely not have Bosh back for the remainder of this series. Game 3 of the best-of- seven series will be in Indianapolis on Thursday.

Final Score: San Antonio 108, LA Clippers 92

San Antonio, TX (Sports Network) - The San Antonio Spurs tied a franchise playoff record with 13 three-pointers and never trailed in the second half of their series-opening 108-92 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. There were 12 lead changes in a tight first half of this Western Conference semifinal, but the well-rested Spurs opened up a 19-point lead in the third quarter and never looked back. Tim Duncan led the way with 26 points and 10 rebounds while Manu Ginobili chipped in 22 points in San Antonio's 15th straight win dating back to the regular season, which included an opening-round sweep of the Utah Jazz. The Clippers, two days removed from a Game 7 win in Memphis, were led by Eric Bledsoe's 23 points. Caron Butler and Blake Griffin each chipped in 15, while Chris Paul netted just six on 3-of-13 shooting. Game 2 of the series will be in San Antonio on Thursday.

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Chicago Bulls team physician Brian Cole provided an update on Derrick Rose and said the star point guard could be sidelined the next 8-to-12 months following surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

"He really has to meet certain objective parameters that we progress him through," Cole said during a press conference at Rush University Medical Center. "It's really a series of progressions, very knee focused initially, which is what we're doing now. We spread out from there, doing entire body conditioning, performance training and so forth."

With the timetable that Cole provided, Rose will miss at least part of the 2012-13 season.

Rose, who had the surgery Saturday, suffered the injury in the first playoff game against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 28. Chicago won the game, but went on to lose the series as the 76ers defeated the Bulls, the top seed in the Eastern Conference, in six games.

Rose, 23, missed 27 of the 66 games this season with several injuries, including back spasms and a pulled groin. When he did play, he averaged 21.8 points and 7.9 assists per game.

Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Major League Baseball is set to award the 2013 All-Star Game to the New York Mets, according to the New York Times.

The game will be played at Citi Field in Flushing, which opened as the home of the Mets for the 2009 season.

Major League Baseball and the Mets, along with the City of New York, announced a press conference for Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. (et), but the subject wasn't revealed. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is expected to attend, as well as the Mets principal owner Fred Wilpon and Bud Selig, commissioner of Baseball.

The Mets were expected to be awarded the game after the Yankees hosted the 2008 All-Star Game, the last year both the old Yankee Stadium and Shea Stadium were open.

This will be the second time in team history the Mets will host the game. The first was in 1964 -- Shea Stadium's inaugural season.

Citi Field will also play host to the pre-All-Star Game festivities. The Sunday before the game, there will be a Futures Game featuring the brightest prospects from around the league as well as a celebrity softball event.

The day before the game will feature a workout for all players involved and in the evening, the ever-popular Home Run Derby is held. The 2013 All-Star Game will be held on a Tuesday night.

Vancouver, BC (Sports Network) - The British Columbia Lions announced on Tuesday that wide receiver Akeem Foster had signed a contract extension.

Foster, BC's fourth round selection in 2010, has appeared in 24 regular season games for the Lions. After being used primarily on special teams in 2010, Foster became a mainstay in BC's starting lineup in 2011.

Foster hauled in 33 catches for 593 yards and six touchdowns in 2011.

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Derek Lowe tossed a shutout, scattering six hits while walking four, to lead the Indians to a 5-0 win over the Twins in the finale of a short two-game series at Target Field. Despite failing to record a strikeout Lowe (6-1) was able to earn his first shutout since he blanked the Cubs in 2005. Shin-Soo Choo and Carlos Santana each doubled and hit solo homers, while Asdrubal Cabrera added a solo homer and two RBI for the Tribe, winners of two straight. Casey Kotchman also added an RBI. Brian Dozier went 3-for-4 with a double and Alexi Casilla also doubled for Minnesota, which has lost three of its last four contests. Jason Marquis (2-3) was pegged with the loss after surrendering five runs on nine hits over five frames.

Final Score: Detroit 10, Chicago 8

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Austin Jackson belted a go-ahead three-run homer to cap an eight-run sixth inning as the Tigers took a 10-8 victory over the White Sox to wrap up a two-game series at U.S. Cellular Field on Tuesday. Ryan Raburn added a three-run blast and knocked in four runs, while Miguel Cabrera crushed a two-run homer in the sixth as the Tigers finished a nine- game road trip at 4-5. Collin Balester (2-0) got the win in relief of starter Max Scherzer, who allowed six runs -- five earned -- on eight hits and three walks in four-plus innings. A.J. Pierzynski finished 5-for-5 and knocked in three runs while Paul Konerko added a solo shot and scored three times, but the White Sox dropped their third game in four tries. Will Ohman (0-2) took the loss after giving up Jackson's go-ahead blast in relief of starter Jake Peavy, who cruised through five frames before giving up six earned runs in the sixth.

Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - The Oakland Athletics have claimed left-handed pitcher Travis Blackley off waivers from the San Francisco Giants.

Blackley, who started the season at Triple-A Fresno, appeared in four games for the parent club this season, posting a 9.00 ERA over five innings.

To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the A's transferred right-handed pitcher Joey Devine to the 60-day disabled list. He underwent "Tommy John" surgery on his right elbow April 10.

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Twins' first baseman Justin Morneau will be activated from the 15-day disabled list prior to Wednesday's game against Detroit, the team announced following a 5-0 loss to the Indians Tuesday.

Morneau played in 20 games before landing on the DL retroactive to May 1 with a sore wrist, batting .230 with four homers and nine runs batted in.

To make room for Morneau, Minnesota optioned first baseman Chris Parmelee to Triple-A Rochester.

Parmelee hit just .179 with three RBI over 27 games.

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - San Diego Padres outfielder Jeremy Hermida underwent successful surgery Tuesday to repair an abdominis tear of his left abdominal wall.

The surgery was performed by Dr. Bill Meyers in Philadelphia.

Hermida is expected to recover from the surgery in six weeks.

The eight-year veteran appeared in 13 games for the Padres this season before he was placed on the 15-day disabled list April 28.

Hermida hit .250 with three walks, two runs batted in and two runs scored.

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - New York Yankees reliever David Robertson has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left oblique strain.

The injury comes less than two weeks after Robertson was named the Yankees' closer in the wake of Mariano Rivera's ACL tear. Rafael Soriano is now likely to take over ninth inning duties for New York.

Robertson got two quick outs in a non-save situation during Friday's 6-2 win over Seattle after a difficult first save in his new role followed by a blown save.

An All-Star last season, the righty is 0-1 with a 2.51 earned run average over 14 1/3 innings in 2012.

The Yankees replaced Robertson on the roster by recalling pitcher Cody Eppley from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Jeff Niemann was put on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday due to a small fracture in his right fibula.

He suffered the injury during Monday's 7-1 win against Toronto when he took a line drive off his leg from Adam Lind in the first inning.

Niemann, who could be out four to six weeks, is 2-3 with a 3.38 earned run average in seven starts this season.

The Rays also recalled right-handed pitcher Josh Lueke from Triple-A Durham.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The Houston Astros recalled right-hander Jordan Lyles from Triple-A Oklahoma City to make a Tuesday start against the Phillies.

Lyles' second major-league outing this season found him allowing six hits and three runs -- one earned -- with four strikeouts over six innings in a no- decision as the Astros dropped a 4-3 decision in 10 innings.

To make room on the roster, Houston optioned pitcher David Carpenter to Oklahoma City.

Helsinki, Finland (Sports Network) - Paul Stastny totaled a goal and two assists as the United States downed Switzerland, 5-2, on the final day of preliminary round play at the 2012 World Championship.

Cam Fowler, Alex Goligoski, Bobby Ryan and Jeff Petry also tallied for the Americans, who will face Finland in the quarterfinals on Thursday. Jimmy Howard added 25 stops for the USA, which finished second in Group H to Canada.

Ivo Reuthemann and Morris Trachsler scored for the Swiss, who ended the tourney with a 2-5 mark. Reto Berra coughed up all five goals on 24 shots in defeat.

Earlier in the day, Ryan O'Reilly scored a pair of goals and Cam Ward made 17 saves, lifting Canada to a 5-1 win over Belarus.

Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also scored for Canada, which finished with a 6-0-1 mark. The lone loss for the Canadians came against the United States in overtime.

Canada will square off against Slovakia in the quarterfinals. The Slovaks clinched a spot in the next round Tuesday with a 5-4 win over France.

In Stockholm, Norway scored five goals in the second period en route to a 6-2 rout of Denmark. The Norwegians will face Russia in the quarterfinals.

The Swedes concluded the preliminaries with a 4-0 decision over Latvia. Henrik Zetterberg notched three points on a goal and two helpers, backing a 22-save performance from Viktor Fasth.

Sweden will take on the Czech Republic in the quarters.

Maris Jucers stopped 40 shots in the loss, as Latvia finished fifth in Group S at 2-5.

The Czechs finished the preliminary round on a strong note, thrashing Germany by an 8-1 count. Petr Koukal tallied twice, David Krejci totaled three points, while Lukas Krajicek, Ales Hemsky and Jiri Novotny added a goal and assist each.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - They may not play the most exciting brand of hockey, but the New York Rangers have found a winning formula that is as effective as the natural process of erosion.

Like erosion, where soil and rock are removed from the earth's surface by wind or water, the Rangers' ability to wear the opposition down seems to be an inevitable occurrence.

Under head coach John Tortorella, New York has become a defensive juggernaut that relies on shot blocking and the superb goaltending of Henrik Lundqvist to grind out close victories. Although the tooth-and-nail style has allowed the opposition to stay close in both games and series this postseason, the Rangers have been able to outlast the competition.

Since New York was coming off seven-game series in each of the first two rounds, there was some concern the Rangers would be tired heading into the Eastern Conference finals. However, a 3-0 win over the New Jersey Devils in Game 1 went a long way toward putting those fears to rest.

After eliminating Washington in Game 7 on Saturday, the Rangers had just one day off to prepare for the Devils on Monday. New Jersey appeared to be the better team for the first two periods, but New York weathered the storm and the teams were tied at 0-0 after 40 minutes of play.

If New York was battling fatigue in Game 1, it certainly did not show it in the third period. The Rangers got stronger as the game wore on and never wavered after defenseman Dan Girardi tallied the game's first goal just 53 seconds into the period.

At times the Rangers may look tired because they're not a team that pushes the pace offensively. This means they can go long stretches without generating many scoring chances, but as long as Lundqvist holds down the fort -- something he's done all season long -- New York is eventually able to capitalize on a mistake and turn it into a game-changing goal.

The outspoken Tortorella is one person who is sick of answering questions about how tired his club should be at this stage. It's a valid question since no team has ever won a Stanley Cup title after going seven games in each of the first two rounds, but New York's bench boss doesn't think fatigue is an issue at all.

"I don't know where you guys get all this stuff being tired. If we're tired this time of the year, there's something the matter," Tortorella said. "We still have a month to play. You might as well not even ask me questions about being tired. We're not a tired hockey club. We are ready to play."

While the fatigue factor was expected to be an advantage for the Devils, if the Rangers aren't tired, then the task for New Jersey going forward will be to adjust to their new opponent. In the last round, New Jersey faced a Philadelphia team that was used to playing an attacking style and the Devils were able to force the Flyers into committing many costly turnovers.

Although the Devils' forecheck was effective early in Game 1 against the Rangers, New York is a much more disciplined club than Philadelphia and will not be pressured into forcing the issue on offense. Of course, the Rangers also have the always-steady Lundqvist between the pipes to erase most mistakes committed by his teammates, while the Flyers ride the roller coaster that is goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov.

Devils head coach Peter DeBoer and his assistants pushed the right buttons in Round 2, allowing New Jersey to win four straight against the Flyers after suffering a Game 1 loss. It seems unlikely New Jersey will be able to deliver as dramatic a turnaround in this conference final series. The Rangers are simply better equipped to handle the pressure that the Devils are able to produce with their relentless forecheck.

The hockey world has been waiting all season for the Rangers to run out of gas, but if consecutive Game 7s and a one-day layoff between rounds didn't slow the club down, it doesn't seem like anything will.

Like waves crashing into a rocky shore, the Rangers never let up and always seem to get their way in the end.

HUNTER LEAVES CAPS

Although it had been rumored for quite some time that Dale Hunter had no interest in remaining the Washington Capitals head coach beyond this season, it was still surprising when the club announced on Monday that Hunter was indeed leaving the post to return to his duties with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League.

While it's refreshing that Hunter, who is co-owner, president and head coach of the junior club, chose the Knights over the glamour of leading an NHL team, his decision leaves Washington in limbo. Hunter completely transformed the Capitals from an up-tempo offensive club into a defensive powerhouse that resembled Tortorella's Rangers. In fact, before succumbing to the Rangers in Game 7, it appeared that Hunter's Caps were a mirror image of top-seeded New York.

In some ways Hunter was the NHL's version of Kwai Chang Caine, the character David Carradine played in the popular 1970s TV show, "Kung Fu." Like Caine, Hunter, who replaced fired head coach Bruce Boudreau in November, swooped into D.C., fixed what was wrong with the Capitals and quickly moved along.

The decision for general manager George McPhee is who to bring in as Hunter's replacement and whether or not he wants the next bench boss to stick to the defensive blueprint that the predecessor utilized to solid results. Do the Capitals continue on the trail blazed by Hunter or revert to the more offensive style of play they used under Boudreau?

Ultimately, McPhee's will need to consider how his next head coach meshes with superstar winger Alex Ovechkin. It's no secret Ovechkin's ice time dwindled under Hunter, but the Russian sniper is still the face of the franchise and it seems unlikely that the team is ready to part ways with No. 8.

Although Ovechkin's playing time suffered as a result of Hunter's strict game plan, he actually was a better player by the time the playoffs came around. Sure, Hunter's bold choices may have rubbed Washington's star player the wrong way, but whether Ovechkin knows it or not, the coach actually helped add a missing dimension to his game.

Hunter proved many points about Washington's hockey team during his brief tenure. McPhee would be unwise to simply go back to the way things were before Hunter came to town.

Dallas, TX (Sports Network) - The Dallas Mavericks announced on Tuesday that they have agreed to a new contract with head coach Rick Carlisle.

The original four-year contract signed by Carlisle, who guided the Mavericks to the NBA championship last spring, was set to expire on July 1.

"We are excited that Rick will be back with the Mavericks for at least the next four years," said club owner Mark Cuban in a release. "He is a proven winner, a great teacher and a coach that will help the Mavericks improve as a team and as an organization."

Carlisle has led the Mavs to a 198-114 regular season record over his four campaigns on the bench and has compiled a 23-18 mark in the postseason.

Dallas was swept in the first round of the 2012 playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Prior to his head coaching position in Dallas, Carlisle was at the helm for two seasons with Detroit and four with Indiana. He was the league's Coach of the Year in 2001-02 when he guided the Pistons to a 50-win season and has an overall mark of 479-325.

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - The Chicago White Sox activated right-handed pitcher Jesse Crain from the 15-day disabled list prior to Tuesday's game against the Detroit Tigers.

Crain was returning from a rehab assignment at Triple-A Charlotte after the club placed the 30-year-old on the DL with a strained left oblique in late April.

Over six games this season, Crain accrued a 2.57 earned run average with 10 strikeouts in seven innings.

To make room for Crain on the roster, Chicago designated left-hander Eric Stults for assignment. Stults made one start for the White Sox and received a no-decision after yielding two runs over six innings in the second game of a doubleheader on May 7 at Cleveland.

St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - The St. Louis Cardinals have placed outfielder Jon Jay on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right shoulder.

Jay missed six games last month after hitting the outfield wall during an April 19 game against Cincinnati. He returned on April 27.

In 27 games this season, Jay is batting .343 with a pair of homers and eight runs batted in.

The Cardinals recalled outfielder Shane Robinson from Triple-A Memphis to fill the roster spot. Robinson was optioned to Memphis on Sunday after batting .311 in 23 games with St. Louis this season.

(Sports Network) - New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker has signed his franchise tender.

Welker disclosed the news on his Twitter account.

"I signed my tender today. I love the game and I love my teammates! Hopefully doing the right thing gets the right results," the four-time Pro Bowl choice tweeted.

The franchise tender guarantees Welker about $9.5 million for the 2012 season, although the two sides can still work toward a long-term agreement.

Welker, a nine-year veteran, has spent the past five seasons with the Patriots.

In 2011, Welker paced the NFL in receptions for the third time since joining New England, finishing with an AFC-best and franchise-record 1,569 receiving yards on 122 catches and a career-high nine touchdowns.

Only once in his five years as a member of the Patriots has Welker caught fewer than 111 passes -- 86 in 2010.

The 31-year-old veteran has totaled 554 receptions, 6,105 yards and 31 touchdowns in 77 career games with New England.

Welker played one game with San Diego in 2004 before joining the Dolphins. He spent the rest of the '04 campaign and two more years in Miami before the Patriots dealt a pair of draft picks to the Dolphins in March 2007 to acquire the Texas Tech product.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The Houston Astros recalled right-hander Jordan Lyles from Triple-A Oklahoma City to make a Tuesday start against the Phillies.

This will be Lyles' second major-league outing this season, after a loss at Cincinnati on April 29.

To make room on the roster, Houston optioned pitcher David Carpenter to Oklahoma City.

Richmond, VA (Sports Network) - The Atlantic 10 has further solidified its position as the premier non-BCS college basketball conference by adding Virginia Commonwealth to its ranks.

The move, which is effective for in the upcoming academic year, was announced at a press conference Tuesday by VCU president Michael Rao.

In the ever-changing landscape of conference realignment -- driven, primarily, by college football -- is another significant addition for the A-10, a league that does not sponsor football but boasts solid basketball programs.

Four of its teams earned bids to the NCAA tourney in 2012, while VCU is a year removed from its unprecedented First Four-to-Final Four run in the NCAA Tournament.

Said A-10 commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade, "One of the driving forces and priorities of the A-10 is to further enhance our national prominence in men's basketball, build our brand and strengthen our current footprint. In addition to bringing in well-rounded sports programs across the board, VCU solidifies the A-10 academically and athletically."

The move shores up the conference following two departures. One of its traditional powerhouses, Temple, is departing for the Big East in 2013-14, and UNC Charlotte will join Conference USA in the same academic year.

The A-10 had already filled one of those spots by luring Butler -- national runners-up in 2010 and 2011 -- away from the Horizon League earlier in May.

Virginia Commonwealth, meanwhile, moves up from the Colonial Athletic Association, a league that despite having two Final Four teams in the past six seasons is traditionally a one-bid conference.

"VCU believes the A-10 represents the best opportunity to meet our long-term aspirations for national academic and athletic achievement," said Rao.

The school will pay a $250,000 exit fee to its former conference, and will also forgo several millions of dollars in NCAA Tournament win shares accumulated over the past six seasons -- including those from its Final Four run.

George Mason, the first CAA institution to reach the Final Four, announced Friday that it would remain in the league after much speculation that it was seeking a bid to the Atlantic-10.

The Colonial also may lose another key member in Old Dominion. ODU, which has a strong FCS football program, has reportedly been mulling an invitation to join BCS football by way of C-USA.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer of BYU and national championship coaches Jimmy Johnson and Phillip Fulmer highlight the 2012 class for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

A total of 14 players and three coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly I-A) were selected for enshrinement. Induction ceremonies are set for December 4 in New York.

Joining Detmer among players are quarterbacks Steve Bartkowski from California and Tommy Kramer of Rice, running backs Charles Alexander of LSU, Otis Armstrong from Purdue, wide receiver Art Monk of Syracuse, Notre Dame tight end Dave Casper, offensive linemen Jonathan Ogden of UCLA and John Wooten of Colorado, split end Hal Bedsole of Southern California, defensive tackle Gabe Rivera of Texas Tech, Kansas State linebacker Mark Simoneau and defensive backs Greg Myers of Colorado State and Scott Thomas of Air Force.

Johnson, who coached at Miami-Florida and Oklahoma State, and Tennessee's Fulmer will be joined by Texas A&M's R.C. Slocum as coaches in this year's class.

"We are extremely proud to announce the 2012 College Football Hall of Fame Class," said Archie Manning, a 1989 College Football Hall of Famer from Ole Miss and the chairman of the National Football Foundation. "Each year the selection process becomes increasingly more difficult, but Gene Corrigan and the Honors Court do an amazing job of selecting a diverse group of the most amazing players and coaches in our sport's rich history. This class is certainly no exception, and we look forward to honoring them and celebrating their achievements throughout the year ahead."

Detmer won the 1990 Heisman Trophy and was twice a consensus All-American from 1988-91 at BYU. He finished his career with 15,031 passing yards and 121 touchdowns -- both NCAA bests at the time -- and still holds nine NCAA records.

The sixth Cougar inducted into the Hall, Detmer helped BYU to three conference championships and a record of 37-13-2. He went on to play 14 seasons in the NFL with the Packers, Eagles, 49ers, Browns, Lions and Falcons.

Johnson spent five seasons as head coach at Oklahoma State, then went on to a highly-successful five-year run at Miami-Florida. The Hurricanes were 52-9 under Johnson with five New Year's Day bowl appearances, and his 1987 squad won the national championship with a 20-14 victory over Oklahoma in the 1988 Orange Bowl.

A member of Arkansas' national championship team as a player in 1964, he posted an overall collegiate record of 81-34-3 from 1979-88. He left for the NFL in 1989 and guided the Dallas Cowboys to a pair of Super Bowl titles. In addition to his five-year stint with Dallas, Johnson also coached the Miami Dolphins from 1996-99.

Fulmer was the head coach at Tennessee from 1992-2008, a 17-year tenure highlighted by the school's sixth national championship in 1998. He led the Volunteers to a record of 152-52 with 15 bowl appearances and a pair of SEC titles.

Bartkowski is the 16th Cal player selected for the Hall of Fame. He led the nation in passing with 2,580 yards in his senior year of 1974 and was then the first pick of the 1975 NFL Draft. Bartkowski was the league's top rookie with the Falcons and played 11 seasons with Atlanta and one year with the Rams.

Kramer was fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting during his senior season of 1976 at Rice when he led the nation with 3,317 passing yards and 3,272 yards of total offense while earning Southwest Conference Player of the Year honors. He was a first-round pick by the Vikings in the 1977 draft and played 14 years in the NFL.

Alexander, the eighth LSU player inducted into the Hall, left LSU after the 1978 season as the SEC's all-time leader in rushing attempts, yards and touchdowns. He ran for 1,172 yards and 14 touchdowns in his senior season of 1978 and went on to a seven-year pro career with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Armstrong was the Big Ten MVP as a senior at Purdue in 1972 and was eighth in that year's Heisman Trophy balloting. His 3,315 career rushing yards set school and conference records at the time. He was a first-round pick of the Denver Broncos in 1973, led the NFL in rushing in 1974 and helped the franchise to its first Super Bowl after the 1977 season.

Monk, a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee in 2008, was the top player in the East as a freshman in 1976 and again as a senior in 1979. He led Syracuse in receiving for three straight seasons and helped the school to its first bowl win in 13 years with a 31-7 victory over McNeese State in the 1979 Independence Bowl. A first-round pick of Washington in 1980, Monk spent 14 seasons with the Redskins, winning three Super Bowl titles, and one year with the Jets.

Casper, the 44th Notre Dame player chosen for the Hall, was the Irish's offensive MVP during his senior season of 1973 when he led the school to a national championship. He went on to play 11 seasons in the NFL with Oakland, Houston and Minnesota, earning four Pro Bowl berths, a Super Bowl title with the Raiders and selection to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002.

Ogden, the 1995 Outland Trophy winner and a unanimous All-American in his senior year, is the 11th UCLA member of the Hall of Fame. He was a four-year starter at left tackle, then played 12 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. An 11-time Pro Bowl selection, he helped Baltimore to the Super Bowl title after the 2000 season.

Wooten, selected by the veterans' committee, was a 1958 All-American at Colorado. The Buffaloes had one of the nation's top rushing attacks during his three seasons, during which the school was 20-9-2 and beat Clemson in the 1957 Orange Bowl. He played 10 seasons in the NFL with Cleveland and Washington.

Bedsole helped USC to the 1962 national championship and is the 30th Trojan to enter the Hall. He caught 33 passes for 827 yards with 11 touchdowns during an All-America senior season of '62, capping the record-setting year with a pair of TD catches in the 1963 Rose Bowl win over Wisconsin.

Rivera, nicknamed Senor Sack, averaged 80 tackles per season from 1979-82 at Texas Tech and was a consensus All-American his senior year when he compiled 62 solo stops, 43 assists, 10 tackles for loss and five sacks. After being chosen with the 21st pick in the 1983 draft, his promising NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers was cut short in his rookie year by a car accident that left him a paraplegic.

Simoneau was a two-time All-America during his career from 1996-99 at Kansas State and holds the school record with 251 career unassisted tackles. He was the 1999 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and helped the Wildcats to a record of 42-7 before going on to an 11-year NFL career with Atlanta, Philadelphia, New Orleans and Kansas City.

Myers was the 1995 Jim Thorpe Award winner as the nation's top defensive back and was a four-time All-WAC selection. He was also a three-time All-WAC pick as a return specialist.

Thomas notched 221 career tackles with 10 interceptions while averaging 28.8 yards per kickoff return from 1982-85 at Air Force. He helped the Falcons to their first WAC title during his senior season as well as a record of 7-1 against Army and Navy with three Commander-in-Chief trophies.

Slocum led Texas A&M to a record of 123-47-2 from 1989-2002 and is the winningest coach in Aggie history. His teams produced a Southwest Conference record of 28-0-1 from 1991-94 and three titles. He also led the Aggies to 11 bowl games, including five New Year's Day appearances.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Miami remains the prohibitive favorite to come out of the Eastern Conference in the NBA playoffs, but what looked like a coronation a couple days ago has morphed into a dogfight after the injury to Heat big man Chris Bosh.

Bosh, who scored 13 points before suffering a strained lower abdominal muscle shortly before halftime of the Heat's 95-86 win over Indiana in Game 1 of the East semifinals on Sunday, is out indefinitely.

The seven-time All-Star, who averaged 18.4 points and 8.1 rebounds in 2011-12, was expected to handle a number of critical roles against the Pacers' imposing 7-foot-2 center Roy Hibbert.

Miami coach Erik Spoelstra envisioned Bosh's perimeter acumen forcing Indiana's big man away from the basket on defense, opening up lanes to the hoop so the team's two superstars, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, could drive to the bucket with impunity. Meanwhile, his quickness and top-tier offensive skills also were expected to help get Hibbert into foul trouble.

Both of those plans were coming to fruition during Game 1 before Bosh drove around Hibbert for a jam and strained his ab while extending for the hoop and the harm.

Miami persevered without its top interior presence thanks in large part to the newly minted NBA MVP James, who had 32 points, 15 rebounds and five assists as the Heat grinded out the Game 1 victory,

The contest was deadlocked after three quarters, however, and Indiana was as close as 86-85 when George Hill buried a 3-pointer with five minutes remaining before James took over down the stretch.

With or without Bosh, it was alarming that the Pacers hung around on Miami's home floor despite the fact that Danny Granger, typically Indiana's top offensive threat, was held scoreless in the first half for the first time since April 10, 2007, and finished with just seven points on 1-of-10 field-goal shooting.

"We're not going to change," Pacers forward Davis West said. "We didn't play a good enough game tonight as a group to compete with these guys. We can play a lot better than we did."

That's got to be a scary thought for Spoelstra since he needed the game's best player clicking on all cylinders to dispose of a team that struggled.

Spoelstra wouldn't say who will start in Bosh's place for Monday's Game 2 or how long he expects his big man to sit out.

"We're not even going to speculate," the Miami mentor said. "We just have to see day-to-day. There absolutely isn't a timetable right now. He was in today doing treatment."

Bosh, however, essentially ruled himself out of the semifinals.

"This season has to be extended for me to play again," he said. "So that's what's on my mind. "

James, meanwhile, compared the Heat losing Bosh to Chicago's injury troubles. The top-seeded Bulls, of course, lost both Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah and lost to the No. 8 Philadelphia in the first round.

"It's going to be a challenge for us. We're missing the biggest part of our team, probably the biggest part of our team," stated the MVP. "Nobody feels sorry for the Bulls losing (Derrick Rose) or Joakim Noah getting hurt. Nobody feels sorry for you and we don't want anybody feeling sorry for us. We look forward to the challenge. And we'll be ready."

Ronny Turiaf started the second half of Game 1 after Bosh exited and Spoelstra also could go with shot-blocking specialist Joel Anthony or slide veteran power forward Udonis Haslem over.

Turiaf, who signed with Miami on March 21 after being waived by Denver, plays with energy and offers the opportunity to keep the rest of his rotation intact. Anthony is the best athlete and defensive option, a player who can erase mistakes on the perimeter, while Haslem is probably best-served staying put.

"We feel this team was built with a great deal of versatility. We feel that is one of our best strengths," Spoelstra said. "This will be an opportunity for guys to step forward. But it also will be an opportunity for us to use some of this versatility that we've been talking about."

With James and Wade playing at a high level, the Heat remain the favorites in the East, but losing the other piece of "Miami Thrice" puts Indiana, along with Boston or Philadelphia, back in the conversation.

"It changes their team, but we've got to understand it doesn't allow you to play 5-on-4," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "They have got great players they can fill in for him. Obviously, not having to worry about Bosh helps because he's such a terrific player."

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Minnesota Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic underwent surgery Tuesday to have bone spurs removed from his right ankle.

Pekovic missed eight games this season because of the issue. He averaged 13.9 points and 7.4 rebounds in 47 games for the Wolves.

The 6-foot-11 center finished third in the voting for the NBA's Most Improved Player award.

Lake Forest, IL (Sports Network) - The Chicago Bears on Tuesday signed safety Brandon Hardin to a four-year contract.

Chicago's third-round draft pick out of Oregon State, Hardin played in 38 games, starting 15, and recorded 105 tackles, three forced fumbles and an interception for the Beavers. He missed his senior season because of a shoulder injury.

With the signing, the entire Bears' 2012 draft class is under contract.

Helsinki, Finland (Sports Network) - Ryan O'Reilly scored a pair of goals and Cam Ward made 17 saves, lifting Canada to a 5-1 win over Belarus on the final day of preliminary round play at the 2012 World Championship.

Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also scored for Canada, which finished atop Group H with a 6-0-1 mark. The lone loss for the Canadians came against the United States in overtime.

Canada could face the U.S. or Slovakia in the quarterfinals on Thursday. The Slovaks clinched a spot in the next round Tuesday with a 5-4 win over France, while the Americans will play later against Switzerland and would finish fourth in the group with a loss.

O'Reilly gave Canada the lead just 2:16 into the game, but Sergei Kostitsyn tied it for Belarus with 5:35 left in the first. Canada then scored three times in the second period, as Perry, Getzlaf and Nugent-Hopkins tallied in a span of 5:01 for a 4-1 lead, and O'Reilly added his second of the game midway through the third.

Also Tuesday in Stockholm, Norway scored five goals in the second period en route to a 6-2 rout of Denmark. The Norwegians will face Russia or Sweden in the quarterfinals.

Helsinki, Finland (Sports Network) - Ryan O'Reilly scored a pair of goals and Cam Ward made 17 saves, lifting Canada to a 5-1 win over Belarus on the final day of preliminary round play at the 2012 World Championship.

Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also scored for Canada, which finished atop Group H with a 6-0-1 mark. The lone loss for the Canadians came against the United States in overtime.

Canada will face either Slovakia or France in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

O'Reilly gave Canada the lead just 2:16 into the game, but Sergei Kostitsyn tied it for Belarus with 5:35 left in the first. Canada then scored three times in the second period, as Perry, Getzlaf and Nugent-Hopkins tallied in a span of 5:01 for a 4-1 lead, and O'Reilly added his second of the game midway through the third.

Also Tuesday in Stockholm, Norway scored five goals in the second period en route to a 6-2 rout of Denmark. The Norwegians will face Russia or Sweden in the quarterfinals.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving has been named the NBA's Rookie of the Year.

Irving, the first overall pick of last June's draft, was a near unanimous choice. He received 117 first-place votes and 592 points from a panel of 120 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout North America.

Minnesota's Ricky Rubio was second in the balloting with 170 points despite not receiving a first-place vote. Kenneth Faried of Denver was next with 129 points, followed by San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard and Iman Shumpert of the New York Knicks. Faried, Leonard and Shumpert each garnered one first-place vote.

Irving led all first-year players in scoring with an average of 18.5 points and was second in assists with 5.4 per game. He joined Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, Allen Iverson and LeBron James as the only top overall picks to average at least 18.0 points and 5.0 assists.

The Duke product was first among rookies in field goal shooting at 46.9 percent and free throw shooting at 87.2 percent. He joined James, in 2003-04, as the only Cavaliers to earn top rookie honors.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - It wasn't that long ago that the Western Athletic Conference was making noise on the football field, with seldom-seen programs like Boise State, Fresno State, Hawaii and Nevada all clamoring for national attention.

The Broncos have had one of the best records since joining the Football Bowl Subdivision of any team in the country, regardless of league affiliation, and the Bulldogs, under the direction of head coach Pat Hill, were willing to play any opponent, anywhere, anytime. Hawaii's Colt Brennan was setting passing records and leading the Warriors into the national rankings and a BCS postseason appearance, while Hall of Fame head coach Chris Ault was forcing opponents to try and defend his unique Pistol Offense as the Wolf Pack set offensive standards that are difficult to match.

However, the changing landscape in college sports, with the almighty dollar being the impetus for massive shifts in program alignment, has caused a conference like the WAC to fall apart at the seams and practically dissolve before our eyes.

Boise State was the first school to make a course correction and join up with the Mountain West Conference, somewhat of a lateral move considering both the WAC and MWC were seen as second-tier conferences. The Broncos met with immediate success in 2011 with a record of 6-1 in league play and 12-1 overall, losing only to TCU by a single point, 36-35, during the second week of November. Unfortunately, that lone setback kept BSU from making an appearance in another BCS bowl game and instead was left to demolish Arizona State, 56-24, in the Las Vegas Bowl.

The Broncos are slated to play another year in the MWC before presumably joining the ranks of the Big East Conference, a move that was a head-scratcher to begin with given Idaho's location on the map. Initially the move was meant to give Boise State a chance at an automatic bid to a BCS game, but the Big East isn't assured anything anymore and that has the Broncos questioning their decision to make such a drastic move and perhaps stay where they are and make a go of it in the MWC instead.

So, with Boise State having abandoned the WAC, the pressure was on for Fresno State, Hawaii and Nevada to carry the league but they too have decided that the Mountain West is a better place for them and they will be joining forces with the Broncos, at least for the time being.

The evolution of college football has diluted more than enhanced the Western Athletic Conference, an entity that began in 1962 and should be basking in the glow of five decades of sportsmanship and high-caliber competition instead of being on life-support, ever so close to extinction.

Entering the 2012 campaign there are now just seven schools that make up the WAC when it comes to football. Louisiana Tech, the league champion from a year ago, sported a record of 6-1 in conference but was just 8-5 overall so those Bulldogs are still fighting an uphill battle for recognition. The other hold- overs from a year ago are Utah State, San Jose State, New Mexico State and Idaho, the latter thinking about possibly dropping back down to the Football Championship Subdivision which is a move that is almost unheard of these days.

This just in...Idaho's flirtation with perhaps rejoining the Big Sky Conference at the FCS level might not be that far off base. The LaTech Bulldogs made the announcement earlier this month that they are leaving for Conference USA as of July 1, 2013 and both USU and SJSU have held press briefings to declare their intentions to jump to the MWC on that same date as well. With those moves and the potential for the Vandals to drop down a level in competition, NMSU might have to consider a similar fate since the program has under-performed against FBS opponents.

Typically, expansion is the goal of most conferences, if for no other reason than to become eligible to produce a league championship game even before the real postseason begins. That was the plan for this conference before all of the notable defections, and that brings us to another chapter in the book of WAC football.

Ready to make their mark on the WAC are Texas State and Texas-San Antonio, a couple of institutions that combined educate more than 65,000 students in the Lone Star State. Reeling in UTSA wasn't all that difficult, considering 2011 was the first year that the school even fielded a football team.

Larry Coker, the head coach for the Roadrunners of UTSA, was hired in hopes of giving the program instant credibility and the school has certainly used his resume' to its advantage, highlighting his 2001 National Championship with the Miami Hurricanes and his selection as National Coach of the Year on two occasions. However, UTSA is still going to experience significant growing pains following an inaugural season which resulted in a 4-6 record, half of those victories coming against programs such as Bacone and Minot State.

The Bobcats of Texas State certainly have much more of a history when it comes to playing football, but that doesn't mean they'll be competing for a league title any time soon. Head coach Dennis Franchione, who has made previous stops at New Mexico, TCU, Alabama and Texas A&M, is back for his second term with the Bobcats after guiding the squad for a couple of years two decades ago and that should attract future recruits, but not guarantee tallies in the win column just yet.

So, the future of the WAC appears to be in the hands of new additions Texas State and UTSA, right? Not so fast.

The Roadrunners and Bobcats are only making pit stops in the WAC, the former heading to Conference USA and the latter the Sun Belt Conference a year from now, so go out right away and buy all of that team apparel with the Western Athletic logos because they're bound to be collectors items. Treating a league like a stepping stone was something that former WAC Commissioner Karl Benson would have railed against, but he's no longer in charge and unwritten rules simply do not apply anymore.

By the way, the Sun Belt's new commissioner is the aforementioned Benson, who had been the WAC's head man since 1994 before he too took the leap from that sinking ship. Coincidence? You be the judge.

What the future holds for the WAC is anyone's guess, but the fact that even the latest additions to the conference don't intend to stick around beyond this season could signal the beginning of the end.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The Baltimore Orioles' hot start has them tied for first place in the American League East. If they end up on top, it would perhaps be the greatest worst-to-first run in major league history.

Another major league team that finished last in 2011 is contending for a division crown this season. No, the Miami Marlins winning the NL East wouldn't be as stunning as Baltimore beating out the likes of the New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox to claim the AL East, but it would be the first division title in Marlins history. The club was a wild card when it captured World Series titles in 1997 and 2003.

Unlike the Orioles, who did not have too many earth-shattering transactions during the offseason, the Marlins made numerous moves with clear designs on being a playoff contender in their first season in Marlins Park.

After adding expensive free agents Jose Reyes, Heath Bell and Mark Buehrle, Miami boosted its payroll to an un-Marlin-like $118 million - more than double the club's payroll last year. At least on paper, it looked like the team that finished last in the NL East with a 72-90 record in 2011 would contend this season.

The early part of this season couldn't have gone much worse for the Marlins, though. Among the litany of problems, not even including manager Ozzie Guillen's five-game suspension for having said "I love Fidel Castro" during an interview with Time magazine:

* Ace pitcher Josh Johnson, who was leading the NL in ERA last year before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury, has not been himself. After seven starts, Johnson is still winless. He's allowed a whopping 51 hits in 38 1/3 innings, and his ERA is 5.87. His velocity is down, and Guillen has already speculated aloud that Johnson might not be fully healthy.

* Bell, signed to a three-year, $27 million contract to become the closer, has already been removed from the ninth-inning gig. Guillen really had no other choice, not after Bell blew four of his first seven save opportunities. In his first 11 2/3 innings, Bell has surrendered 18 hits and 13 earned runs for a 10.03 ERA. He also has walked 12 and struck out eight.

* Giancarlo Stanton, who hit 34 homers in 2011 when he was still known as Mike Stanton, didn't hit one out of the park until April 29. He has since gotten on a hot streak, and now has seven homers and 22 RBIs through his first 125 at- bats. When the Marlins' offense was in a major funk during April, though, Stanton's lack of power was the chief culprit.

* Reyes won the NL batting title last season with the New York Mets, but he has put up pedestrian numbers from the leadoff spot: a .261 batting average and .348 on-base percentage through his first 134 at-bats - OK stats, but underwhelming for a big-ticket free agent.

* Hanley Ramirez has handled the move from shortstop to third base quite well, committing just one error at his new position. He also has paced the Marlins with 23 RBIs. However, he is batting a measly .221 through his first 140 at- bats.

* After hitting 19 homers in each of his previous two seasons as the Marlins' first baseman, Gaby Sanchez has just one homer and 10 RBIs through his first 111 at-bats.

* As a team, the Marlins are batting just .236 - 23rd in the majors.

Despite all that, Miami is still in the race, possibly because the other NL East contenders have had problems of their own. The main reason for the Marlins' success, though, has been their pitching.

Other than notable exceptions Johnson and Bell, the Marlins have been outstanding on the mound. Aside from Johnson, here are their other starters' ERAs: Mark Buerhle (2.81), Ricky Nolasco (3.65), Annibal Sanchez (2.28) and Carlos Zambrano (1.88).

Sure, the Marlins' new ballpark looks like it's going to be extremely pitcher- friendly, but those four starters' ERAs would be impressive in any park. That kind of pitching is always going to keep the Marlins in games.

The bullpen - again, with the exception of Bell - has been solid. Edward Mujica, Steve Cishek and Randy Choate should be able to hold the fort as a committee until Bell can straighten his pitching out. There are 27 million reasons to believe he'll get more opportunities to right the ship.

The Marlins' offense should improve, too. Reyes, Ramirez, Stanton and Sanchez should all be able to easily increase their production over the remainder of the season. Only one hitter in the lineup - Omar Infante (.304, six homers, 17 RBIs) - is off to what would be called a career year. Even if Infante returns to his career norm, improvement from the rest of the lineup should do more than make up the difference.

So, what are the Marlins' chances of winning the division? They're 18-17, currently fourth in the five-team NL East, four games behind the first-place Washington Nationals. Their chances seem decent, since the rest of the teams in the NL East have problems of their own.

The defending champion Philadelphia Phillies' offense is in the middle of the pack in the NL East mostly because two key hitters - Ryan Howard (Achilles) and Chase Utley (knee) - have yet to play this season. If they both come back soon and hit like they usually have, the Phillies will be dangerous. Their return to form, though, is hardly a given.

The Washington Nationals are going to be without one of their top players - right fielder Jayson Werth - for three months, following last week's surgery on his broken left wrist. On Saturday, they lost catcher Wilson Ramos, possibly for the rest of the season, with a torn ACL.

And this is a Nationals team that has had to endure injuries to Michael Morse and closer Drew Storen, neither of whom has appeared in a game this season. Ryan Zimmerman only recently returned to the lineup after sitting out more than two weeks with a shoulder injury.

If Morse doesn't return soon, the additional absence of Werth is going to make it tough for Washington to generate enough power, even though 19-year-old phenom Bryce Harper is looking like he belongs.

Injuries haven't been a major issue for the Atlanta Braves, aside from the need to give aging Chipper Jones the occasional off day to preserve him for the long haul. The Braves, however, have had to overcome the sudden fall from grace of pitcher Jair Jurrjens. An NL All-Star last July, Jurrjens' poor April led to an unexpected demotion to the minors. It put more pressure on youngsters Mike Minor and Randall Delgado, and they've lacked consistency like young pitchers do.

The pesky Mets, not expected to contend, have done well to keep pace in the NL East despite a season-ending injury to pitcher Mike Pelfrey. They're still without left fielder Jason Bay (rib) and shortstop Ruben Tejada (quad strain). They play hard for manager Terry Collins and their lineup is better than most baseball fans realize, but the Mets are still likely to finish fifth if for no other reason than their almost complete lack of depth.

As for the Marlins, they could easily finish anywhere from first to fourth. First is probably more likely than fourth, though, because they appear to have no serious injury concerns, and their two players who are struggling most - pitchers Johnson and Bell - have track records that make them decent bets to eventually turn things around.

Jeff Saukaitis is a former Sports Network writer/editor who has been a professional sportswriter since 1985.

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Ian Desmond roped the go-ahead two-run double in the sixth inning and 19-year-old phenom Bryce Harper crushed his first major league home run as the Washington Nationals topped the San Diego Padres, 8-5, in the opener of a brief two-game series on Monday. Desmond finished with three hits, Chad Tracy and Xavier Nady each had solo homers, Ryan Zimmerman added an RBI single and Adam LaRoche chipped in with an RBI groundout for the Nats, who bounced back from a 9-6 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday for their fourth win in five games. Harper's first career longball came in the third inning off Padres starter Tim Stauffer. Harper showed patience during the at-bat by taking the first two pitches for balls, and after a called strike, He got a hanging slider and crushed it deep to center field, over the wall and onto the lawn. He circled the bases slowly and came out for a curtain call after crossing the plate to give the Nats a 4-1 lead at the time. Craig Stammen (3-0) earned the win with two scoreless innings in relief of starter Ross Detwiler and Sean Burnett got struggling closer Henry Rodriguez out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth to record his first save of the year Miles Mikolas (0-1) was charged with the loss after allowing Desmond's hit, while Orlando Hudson smacked a two-run single and Stauffer and Chase Headley each added RBI for the Padres, who have lost four of their last five.

Final Score: Philadelphia 5, Houston 1

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Placido Polanco notched his 2,000th career hit with a two-run homer in the eighth, which put the finishing touches on the Philadelphia Phillies' 5-1 win over the Houston Astros. Polanco's first home run of the season, as well as a three-hit, two-RBI effort by Freddy Galvis, backed Joe Blanton's solid performance on the mound. Blanton (4-3) extended his unbeaten streak at Citizens Bank Park by allowing six hits and just one run -- on a homer by Marwin Gonzalez -- over seven-plus innings. He improved to 8-0 in 21 home appearances (19 starts) since May 8, 2010. The Astros dropped their third straight and Lucas Harrell (2-3) took the loss after surrendering three runs -- two earned -- on five hits in 5 2/3 frames.

Final Score: Chicago 6, St. Louis 4

St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Bryan LaHair continued his early-season surge, collecting three hits, including a two-run homer, as the Cubs bested the Cardinals, 6-4, in the first of a two-game set on Monday. Alfonso Soriano drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning that would prove to be the difference and Tony Campana scored twice as Chicago won its second straight. Shawn Camp (2-1) tossed two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit in relief of Ryan Dempster to get the victory, and Rafael Dolis struck out two in a perfect ninth for his fourth save of the year. Yadier Molina doubled in two runs for St. Louis while Mitchell Boggs (0-1) allowed two runs -- one earned -- on two hits and a walk in two relief frames to suffer the setback, the club's fourth in a row.

Final Score: New York 3, Milwaukee 1

Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Miguel Batista tossed seven scoreless innings to lead the New York Mets past the Milwaukee Brewers, 3-1, in the opener of a two-game set at Citi Field. Batista (1-1) struck out five while allowing just four hits and a walk in New York's seventh win in nine games. Daniel Murphy had an RBI, a run scored and two of the Mets' three hits, while Frank Francisco stranded the tying runs on the bases in the ninth to earn his ninth save of the year. Yovani Gallardo (2-4) gave up two runs on two hits and six walks with six strikeouts through six innings for the Brewers, who have dropped two straight.

Final Score: Cincinnati 3, Atlanta 1

Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Brandon Phillips hit a go-ahead RBI double in the top of the eighth and the Reds downed the Braves, 3-1, in the opener of a two-game series on Monday. It was 1-1 entering the eighth when Phillips launched a slider from Jonny Venters (2-2) off the wall in center field, plating Drew Stubbs, who reached on an infield single to start the inning. Phillips came around to score on a double from Chris Heisey, who finished the game with three hits, and Sean Marshall shut the door in the ninth for his sixth save of the season as the Reds won their second straight. Logan Ondrusek (3-0) got the victory after recording the final out of the seventh for starter Homer Bailey, who allowed one run on six hits and two walks. Atlanta starter Randall Delgado received a no-decision after tossing 6 2/3 innings and giving up just one unearned run on four hits and three walks. Martin Prado finished with two hits and plated the only run for the Braves, who were coming off a three-game sweep of St. Louis over the weekend.

Final Score: Pittsburgh 3, Miami 2

Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Pedro Alvarez hit the go-ahead RBI double in the sixth inning, as Pittsburgh came away with a 3-2 win over Miami in the opener of a two-game series. Rod Barajas collected two hits including a home run for the Pirates, who have won three straight. Brad Lincoln (3-0) tossed six innings of four-hit, two-run ball for the victory. Joel Hanrahan saw to it that Miami couldn't put together another walk-off win, retiring the side in order in the ninth for his seventh save. Hanley Ramirez homered among his two hits for the Marlins, who have dropped two of three. Anibal Sanchez (2-1) took the loss, charged with six hits and three runs over seven full frames.

Final Score: Los Angeles 3, Arizona 1

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Clayton Kershaw pitched seven scoreless innings to lift the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Arizona Diamondbacks, 3-1 in the opener of a two-game set. Kershaw (3-1) scattered four hits and three walks while striking out six in the Dodgers' fifth straight win. Kenley Jansen worked a perfect ninth inning to earn his fourth save of the year. Ian Kennedy (3-3) allowed three runs -- two earned -- on six hits and two walks over six full frames as Arizona dropped its third straight game and eight of its last nine.

Final Score: San Francisco 3, Colorado 2

San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Brett Pill drove in the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning as the San Francisco Giants knocked off the Colorado Rockies, 3-2, in the opener of a two-game set at AT&T Park. Gregor Blanco finished 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and a solo homer and Buster Posey added an RBI single among his two hits for the Giants, who have won three straight games. Sergio Romo (2-0) earned the win after recording the final out in the eighth and Santiago Casilla allowed a run in the ninth, but recovered to secure his eighth save of the year. Wilin Rosario slugged a solo homer run and Marco Scutaro plated the other run on an error by Giants third baseman Joaquin Arias for Colorado, which has lost four in a row. Rex Brothers (1-2) was tagged with the loss after allowing Blanco to reach with an infield single in the eighth before scoring the go-ahead run.

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Dodgers placed outfielder Matt Kemp on the 15-day disabled list Monday with a strained left hamstring.

Kemp, who was recently named the National League Player of the Month for April, was batting .359 with five doubles, 12 home runs, 28 RBI and 29 runs scored through 34 games this season.

He sat out Monday's 3-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks, snapping his streak of 399 consecutive games played. Prior to missing the game, the 27- year-old All-Star had not missed a game since August 18, 2009.

Los Angeles recalled outfielder Jerry Sands form Triple-A Albuquerque to fill the roster spot.

Sands made his MLB debut with the Dodgers last season, appearing in 61 games. He hit .253 with 15 doubles, four home runs, 26 runs batted in and 20 runs scored.

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Mark Teixeira hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning Monday night and the New York Yankees topped the Baltimore Orioles, 8-5, in the opener of a two-game series. Curtis Granderson also homered and Alex Rodriguez had three hits in New York's fourth win in five games. Derek Jeter grounded into two double plays but also passed Robin Yount for 16th place on the all-time hits list with a single in the third inning, his 3,143rd hit. J.J. Hardy had a two-run homer for the Orioles, who have dropped two in a row. David Phelps (1-1) earned the win with a scoreless inning of relief.

Final Score: Tampa Bay 7, Toronto 1

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Luke Scott and Sean Rodriguez each drove in two runs as the Tampa Bay Rays downed the Toronto Blue Jays, 7-1, in the opener of a two-game set. Ben Zobrist hit a solo home run and scored twice while Elliot Johnson also drove in a run for the Rays, who have won their past two. Tampa starting pitcher Jeff Niemann suffered a small fracture in his right fibula during the game. Niemann gave up a single and a walk in the first inning, then took a line drive off his right leg from Adam Lind. Niemann got Lind out at first then, after getting checked by a trainer, retired Edwin Encarnacion He came out for the second inning and started to warm up, but was removed after talking with the trainer and manager Joe Maddon. After the game, the team stated that he was put in a walking boot and was on crutches and that he would be out four to six weeks. Five relievers combined to pitch the final eight innings with Cesar Ramos (1-0) getting his first career win after giving up one run on two hits with three walks over three innings. The final four pitchers gave up just one hit and two walks over five innings. Kelly Johnson had two hits and drove in the lone run for the Blue Jays, who have lost three of their last four. Brandon Morrow (4-2) was touched for six runs -- all but one unearned -- on four hits with four walks and seven strikeout over five innings.

Final Score: Boston 6, Seattle 1

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Jon Lester went the distance and Daniel Nava belted a two-run home run as Boston continued its roll with a 6-1 decision over Seattle in the first of two between the clubs at Fenway Park. Kelly Shoppach added a solo homer, while David Ortiz, Adrian Gonzalez and Marlon Byrd drove in a run apiece for the Red Sox, who have won four in a row. Lester (2-3) allowed eight hits and one run, fanning six without issuing a walk for his first win in three starts. Jason Vargas (4-3) was charged with seven hits and five runs over six full frames for the Mariners, who slipped to 1-3 on their current 10-game road swing.

Final Score: Kansas City 3, Texas 1

Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Alcides Escobar's two-run single in the fifth inning was the difference as the Kansas City Royals downed the Texas Rangers, 3-1, in the opener a two-game series. Bruce Chen (2-4) allowed a run on five hits and two walks while striking out seven through 6 2/3 innings for the Royals, who earned their third straight win and their fifth in six games. Jonathan Broxton worked a scoreless ninth for his eighth save of the year. Scott Feldman (0-1) gave up two unearned runs on three hits and a walk in 4 2/3 innings to suffer the loss. Nelson Cruz homered for Texas, which lost for the second time in three games.

Final Score: Chicago 7, Detroit 5

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Dayan Viciedo crushed a two-run homer and added a go-ahead two-run single in the sixth as the White Sox came from behind to beat the Tigers, 7-5, in the opener of a two-game set at U.S. Cellular Field on Monday. Viciedo finished with four RBI, Adam Dunn belted a two-run blast in the first and Addison Reed fired a scoreless ninth for his third save of the year to help the White Sox snap a brief two-game skid. Zach Stewart (1-1) earned the victory after tossing three scoreless innings in relief of starter John Danks, who was charged with all five runs on nine hits in three-plus innings of work. Luke Putkonen (0-2) took the loss as he surrendered three runs on four hits in just a third of an inning. Prince Fielder finished with three hits, including a two-run double for the Tigers, who have lost three of their last four games.

Final Score: Cleveland 5, Minnesota 4

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Shin-Soo Choo knocked in the game-winning run in the top of the ninth inning as the Cleveland Indians earned a 5-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins in the opener of a two-game set at Target Field. With Matt Capps (0-2) on the mound, Casey Kotchman started the rally with a one-out single. After Aaron Cunningham popped out, Kotchman advanced to second on a wild pitch by Capps, and Choo ripped a 3-2 two-seam fastball into right field to bring home pinch-runner Lou Marson. Chris Perez worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the inning to nail down his 12th save of the season, which made a winner out of Joe Smith (3-1), who got the final out of the home eighth.

Final Score: Oakland 5, LA Angels of Anaheim 0

Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Seth Smith drove in two runs and scored once as the Oakland Athletics posted a 5-0 win over the LA Angels of Anaheim in the opener of a two-game set. Tyson Ross (2-3) started on the hill and gave up just five hits and a walk with two strikeouts over six innings for the Athletics, who have won three of four. Josh Reddick hit a solo home run in the win. Dan Haren (1-4) was touched for four runs on six hits with four walks and four strikeouts in six innings for the Angels, who have dropped three of four. Maicer Izturis had three of the eight hits for the Angels in the loss.

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Mark Teixeira hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning Monday night and the New York Yankees topped the Baltimore Orioles, 8-5, in the opener of a two-game series. Curtis Granderson also homered and Alex Rodriguez had three hits in New York's fourth win in five games. Derek Jeter grounded into two double plays but also passed Robin Yount for 16th place on the all-time hits list with a single in the third inning, his 3,143rd hit. J.J. Hardy had a two-run homer for the Orioles, who have dropped two in a row. David Phelps (1-1) earned the win with a scoreless inning of relief.

Final Score: Tampa Bay 7, Toronto 1

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Luke Scott and Sean Rodriguez each drove in two runs as the Tampa Bay Rays downed the Toronto Blue Jays, 7-1, in the opener of a two-game set. Ben Zobrist hit a solo home run and scored twice while Elliot Johnson also drove in a run for the Rays, who have won their past two. Tampa starting pitcher Jeff Niemann suffered a small fracture in his right fibula during the game. Niemann gave up a single and a walk in the first inning, then took a line drive off his right leg from Adam Lind. Niemann got Lind out at first then, after getting checked by a trainer, retired Edwin Encarnacion He came out for the second inning and started to warm up, but was removed after talking with the trainer and manager Joe Maddon. After the game, the team stated that he was put in a walking boot and was on crutches and that he would be out four to six weeks. Five relievers combined to pitch the final eight innings with Cesar Ramos (1-0) getting his first career win after giving up one run on two hits with three walks over three innings. The final four pitchers gave up just one hit and two walks over five innings. Kelly Johnson had two hits and drove in the lone run for the Blue Jays, who have lost three of their last four. Brandon Morrow (4-2) was touched for six runs -- all but one unearned -- on four hits with four walks and seven strikeout over five innings.

Final Score: Boston 6, Seattle 1

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Jon Lester went the distance and Daniel Nava belted a two-run home run as Boston continued its roll with a 6-1 decision over Seattle in the first of two between the clubs at Fenway Park. Kelly Shoppach added a solo homer, while David Ortiz, Adrian Gonzalez and Marlon Byrd drove in a run apiece for the Red Sox, who have won four in a row. Lester (2-3) allowed eight hits and one run, fanning six without issuing a walk for his first win in three starts. Jason Vargas (4-3) was charged with seven hits and five runs over six full frames for the Mariners, who slipped to 1-3 on their current 10-game road swing.

Final Score: Kansas City 3, Texas 1

Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Alcides Escobar's two-run single in the fifth inning was the difference as the Kansas City Royals downed the Texas Rangers, 3-1, in the opener a two-game series. Bruce Chen (2-4) allowed a run on five hits and two walks while striking out seven through 6 2/3 innings for the Royals, who earned their third straight win and their fifth in six games. Jonathan Broxton worked a scoreless ninth for his eighth save of the year. Scott Feldman (0-1) gave up two unearned runs on three hits and a walk in 4 2/3 innings to suffer the loss. Nelson Cruz homered for Texas, which lost for the second time in three games.

Final Score: Chicago 7, Detroit 5

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Dayan Viciedo crushed a two-run homer and added a go-ahead two-run single in the sixth as the White Sox came from behind to beat the Tigers, 7-5, in the opener of a two-game set at U.S. Cellular Field on Monday. Viciedo finished with four RBI, Adam Dunn belted a two-run blast in the first and Addison Reed fired a scoreless ninth for his third save of the year to help the White Sox snap a brief two-game skid. Zach Stewart (1-1) earned the victory after tossing three scoreless innings in relief of starter John Danks, who was charged with all five runs on nine hits in three-plus innings of work. Luke Putkonen (0-2) took the loss as he surrendered three runs on four hits in just a third of an inning. Prince Fielder finished with three hits, including a two-run double for the Tigers, who have lost three of their last four games.

Final Score: Cleveland 5, Minnesota 4

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Shin-Soo Choo knocked in the game-winning run in the top of the ninth inning as the Cleveland Indians earned a 5-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins in the opener of a two-game set at Target Field. With Matt Capps (0-2) on the mound, Casey Kotchman started the rally with a one-out single. After Aaron Cunningham popped out, Kotchman advanced to second on a wild pitch by Capps, and Choo ripped a 3-2 two-seam fastball into right field to bring home pinch-runner Lou Marson. Chris Perez worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the inning to nail down his 12th save of the season, which made a winner out of Joe Smith (3-1), who got the final out of the home eighth.

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Jeff Niemann suffered a small fracture in his right fibula during Monday's game against Toronto.

Niemann gave up a single and a walk in the first inning, then took a line drive off his right leg from Adam Lind. Niemann got Lind out at first then, after getting checked by a trainer, retired Edwin Encarnacion

He came out for the second inning and started to warm up, but was removed after talking with the trainer and manager Joe Maddon. Cesar Ramos took over duties on the hill.

After the game, the team stated that he was put in a walking boot and was on crutches and that he would be out four to six weeks.

Coming into the game, Niemann was 2-3 with a 3.48 earned run average in six starts.

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Evan Turner scored the go-ahead layup with his back to the basket Monday night and the 76ers survived a frantic finish to beat the Celtics, 82-81, and even their semifinal series at a game apiece. Jrue Holiday scored 18 points, Andre Iguodala had 13 and the Sixers nearly let another double-digit lead go to waste before pulling away in the final minute. Kevin Garnett hit a 3 at the buzzer for the one-point margin. He was called for an offensive foul on a key Boston possession in the final seconds. Game 3 of the Eastern Conference series is Wednesday night in Philadelphia.

Final Score: Oklahoma City 119, LA Lakers 90

Oklahoma City, OK (Sports Network) - The Oklahoma City Thunder made an emphatic statement Monday, annihilating the title-tested Los Angeles Lakers, 119-90, in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series. The Thunder, well-rested following an opening-round sweep of the defending champion Mavericks, led by as many as 35 in the rout thanks to 53 percent shooting and productive games by their All-Star duo and Sixth Man of the Year. Russell Westbrook totaled 27 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, while Kevin Durant added 25 points and eight boards for Oklahoma City, which got 17 points off the bench from James Harden. Andrew Bynum led the Lakers with 20 points and 14 rebounds, and Kobe Bryant also netted 20 points, but Los Angeles was already looking forward to Wednesday's Game 2 by the time the fourth quarter rolled around. Two days after winning a deciding Game 7 against the Nuggets, Los Angeles trailed by 15 at halftime and was outscored 39-24 in third.

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Mark Teixeira hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning Monday night and the New York Yankees topped the Baltimore Orioles, 8-5, in the opener of a two-game series. Curtis Granderson also homered and Alex Rodriguez had three hits in New York's fourth win in five games. Derek Jeter grounded into two double plays but also passed Robin Yount for 16th place on the all-time hits list with a single in the third inning, his 3,143rd hit. J.J. Hardy had a two-run homer for the Orioles, who have dropped two in a row. David Phelps (1-1) earned the win with a scoreless inning of relief.

Final Score: Tampa Bay 7, Toronto 1

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Luke Scott and Sean Rodriguez each drove in two runs as the Tampa Bay Rays downed the Toronto Blue Jays, 7-1, in the opener of a two-game set. Ben Zobrist hit a solo home run and scored twice while Elliot Johnson also drove in a run for the Rays, who have won their past two. Tampa starting pitcher Jeff Niemann left the game after the first inning with a right foot injury. He took a liner off his foot from Adam Lind, but was able to finish the inning. He came out for the second and started to warm up, but exited after a conference with the team trainer and manager Joe Maddon. Five relievers combined to pitch the final eight innings with Cesar Ramos (1-0) getting his first career win after giving up one run on two hits with three walks over three innings. The final four pitchers gave up just one hit and two walks over five innings. Kelly Johnson had two hits and drove in the lone run for the Blue Jays, who have lost three of their last four. Brandon Morrow (4-2) was touched for six runs -- all but one unearned -- on four hits with four walks and seven strikeout over five innings.

Final Score: Boston 6, Seattle 1

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Jon Lester went the distance and Daniel Nava belted a two-run home run as Boston continued its roll with a 6-1 decision over Seattle in the first of two between the clubs at Fenway Park. Kelly Shoppach added a solo homer, while David Ortiz, Adrian Gonzalez and Marlon Byrd drove in a run apiece for the Red Sox, who have won four in a row. Lester (2-3) allowed eight hits and one run, fanning six without issuing a walk for his first win in three starts. Jason Vargas (4-3) was charged with seven hits and five runs over six full frames for the Mariners, who slipped to 1-3 on their current 10-game road swing.

Final Score: Kansas City 3, Texas 1

Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Alcides Escobar's two-run single in the fifth inning was the difference as the Kansas City Royals downed the Texas Rangers, 3-1, in the opener a two-game series. Bruce Chen (2-4) allowed a run on five hits and two walks while striking out seven through 6 2/3 innings for the Royals, who earned their third straight win and their fifth in six games. Jonathan Broxton worked a scoreless ninth for his eighth save of the year. Scott Feldman (0-1) gave up two unearned runs on three hits and a walk in 4 2/3 innings to suffer the loss. Nelson Cruz homered for Texas, which lost for the second time in three games.

Final Score: Chicago 7, Detroit 5

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Dayan Viciedo crushed a two-run homer and added a go-ahead two-run single in the sixth as the White Sox came from behind to beat the Tigers, 7-5, in the opener of a two-game set at U.S. Cellular Field on Monday. Viciedo finished with four RBI, Adam Dunn belted a two-run blast in the first and Addison Reed fired a scoreless ninth for his third save of the year to help the White Sox snap a brief two-game skid. Zach Stewart (1-1) earned the victory after tossing three scoreless innings in relief of starter John Danks, who was charged with all five runs on nine hits in three-plus innings of work. Luke Putkonen (0-2) took the loss as he surrendered three runs on four hits in just a third of an inning. Prince Fielder finished with three hits, including a two-run double for the Tigers, who have lost three of their last four games.

Final Score: Cleveland 5, Minnesota 4

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Shin-Soo Choo knocked in the game-winning run in the top of the ninth inning as the Cleveland Indians earned a 5-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins in the opener of a two-game set at Target Field. With Matt Capps (0-2) on the mound, Casey Kotchman started the rally with a one-out single. After Aaron Cunningham popped out, Kotchman advanced to second on a wild pitch by Capps, and Choo ripped a 3-2 two-seam fastball into right field to bring home pinch-runner Lou Marson. Chris Perez worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the inning to nail down his 12th save of the season, which made a winner out of Joe Smith (3-1), who got the final out of the home eighth.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Henrik Lundqvist posted 21 saves for his second shutout of the playoffs and the New York Rangers took a 3-0 win over the New Jersey Devils in Game 1 of these Eastern Conference Finals. Artem Anisimov, Chris Kreider and Dan Girardi each posted a goal and an assist for the Rangers, who needed seven games to defeat the Senators in the first round and then needed seven games to take down the Capitals in the second round to reach the conference finals for the first time since 1997. Martin Brodeur turned aside 25-of-27 shots for the Devils, who defeated the Panthers in seven games in the opening round then took down the Flyers in five games in the second round to make the conference finals for the first time since winning the Cup in 2003. This series is a rematch of the 1994 conference finals, which the Rangers won in seven games before going on to win the Stanley Cup.

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Luke Scott and Sean Rodriguez each drove in two runs as the Tampa Bay Rays downed the Toronto Blue Jays, 7-1, in the opener of a two-game set. Ben Zobrist hit a solo home run and scored twice while Elliot Johnson also drove in a run for the Rays, who have won their past two. Tampa starting pitcher Jeff Niemann left the game after the first inning with a right foot injury. He took a liner off his foot from Adam Lind, but was able to finish the inning. He came out for the second and started to warm up, but exited after a conference with the team trainer and manager Joe Maddon. Five relievers combined to pitch the final eight innings with Cesar Ramos (1-0) getting his first career win after giving up one run on two hits with three walks over three innings. The final four pitchers gave up just one hit and two walks over five innings. Kelly Johnson had two hits and drove in the lone run for the Blue Jays, who have lost three of their last four. Brandon Morrow (4-2) was touched for six runs -- all but one unearned -- on four hits with four walks and seven strikeout over five innings.

Final Score: Boston 6, Seattle 1

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Jon Lester went the distance and Daniel Nava belted a two-run home run as Boston continued its roll with a 6-1 decision over Seattle in the first of two between the clubs at Fenway Park. Kelly Shoppach added a solo homer, while David Ortiz, Adrian Gonzalez and Marlon Byrd drove in a run apiece for the Red Sox, who have won four in a row. Lester (2-3) allowed eight hits and one run, fanning six without issuing a walk for his first win in three starts. Jason Vargas (4-3) was charged with seven hits and five runs over six full frames for the Mariners, who slipped to 1-3 on their current 10-game road swing.

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Ian Desmond roped the go-ahead two-run double in the sixth inning and 19-year-old phenom Bryce Harper crushed his first major league home run as the Washington Nationals topped the San Diego Padres, 8-5, in the opener of a brief two-game series on Monday. Desmond finished with three hits, Chad Tracy and Xavier Nady each had solo homers, Ryan Zimmerman added an RBI single and Adam LaRoche chipped in with an RBI groundout for the Nats, who bounced back from a 9-6 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday for their fourth win in five games. Harper's first career longball came in the third inning off Padres starter Tim Stauffer. Harper showed patience during the at-bat by taking the first two pitches for balls, and after a called strike, He got a hanging slider and crushed it deep to center field, over the wall and onto the lawn. He circled the bases slowly and came out for a curtain call after crossing the plate to give the Nats a 4-1 lead at the time. Craig Stammen (3-0) earned the win with two scoreless innings in relief of starter Ross Detwiler and Sean Burnett got struggling closer Henry Rodriguez out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth to record his first save of the year Miles Mikolas (0-1) was charged with the loss after allowing Desmond's hit, while Orlando Hudson smacked a two-run single and Stauffer and Chase Headley each added RBI for the Padres, who have lost four of their last five.

Final Score: Philadelphia 5, Houston 1

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Placido Polanco notched his 2,000th career hit with a two-run homer in the eighth, which put the finishing touches on the Philadelphia Phillies' 5-1 win over the Houston Astros. Polanco's first home run of the season, as well as a three-hit, two-RBI effort by Freddy Galvis, backed Joe Blanton's solid performance on the mound. Blanton (4-3) extended his unbeaten streak at Citizens Bank Park by allowing six hits and just one run -- on a homer by Marwin Gonzalez -- over seven-plus innings. He improved to 8-0 in 21 home appearances (19 starts) since May 8, 2010. The Astros dropped their third straight and Lucas Harrell (2-3) took the loss after surrendering three runs -- two earned -- on five hits in 5 2/3 frames.

Final Score: Chicago 6, St. Louis 4

St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Bryan LaHair continued his early-season surge, collecting three hits, including a two-run homer, as the Cubs bested the Cardinals, 6-4, in the first of a two-game set on Monday. Alfonso Soriano drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning that would prove to be the difference and Tony Campana scored twice as Chicago won its second straight. Shawn Camp (2-1) tossed two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit in relief of Ryan Dempster to get the victory, and Rafael Dolis struck out two in a perfect ninth for his fourth save of the year. Yadier Molina doubled in two runs for St. Louis while Mitchell Boggs (0-1) allowed two runs -- one earned -- on two hits and a walk in two relief frames to suffer the setback, the club's fourth in a row.

Final Score: New York 3, Milwaukee 1

Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Miguel Batista tossed seven scoreless innings to lead the New York Mets past the Milwaukee Brewers, 3-1, in the opener of a two-game set at Citi Field. Batista (1-1) struck out five while allowing just four hits and a walk in New York's seventh win in nine games. Daniel Murphy had an RBI, a run scored and two of the Mets' three hits, while Frank Francisco stranded the tying runs on the bases in the ninth to earn his ninth save of the year. Yovani Gallardo (2-4) gave up two runs on two hits and six walks with six strikeouts through six innings for the Brewers, who have dropped two straight.

Final Score: Cincinnati 3, Atlanta 1

Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Brandon Phillips hit a go-ahead RBI double in the top of the eighth and the Reds downed the Braves, 3-1, in the opener of a two-game series on Monday. It was 1-1 entering the eighth when Phillips launched a slider from Jonny Venters (2-2) off the wall in center field, plating Drew Stubbs, who reached on an infield single to start the inning. Phillips came around to score on a double from Chris Heisey, who finished the game with three hits, and Sean Marshall shut the door in the ninth for his sixth save of the season as the Reds won their second straight. Logan Ondrusek (3-0) got the victory after recording the final out of the seventh for starter Homer Bailey, who allowed one run on six hits and two walks. Atlanta starter Randall Delgado received a no-decision after tossing 6 2/3 innings and giving up just one unearned run on four hits and three walks. Martin Prado finished with two hits and plated the only run for the Braves, who were coming off a three-game sweep of St. Louis over the weekend.

Final Score: Pittsburgh 3, Miami 2

Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Pedro Alvarez hit the go-ahead RBI double in the sixth inning, as Pittsburgh came away with a 3-2 win over Miami in the opener of a two-game series. Rod Barajas collected two hits including a home run for the Pirates, who have won three straight. Brad Lincoln (3-0) tossed six innings of four-hit, two-run ball for the victory. Joel Hanrahan saw to it that Miami couldn't put together another walk-off win, retiring the side in order in the ninth for his seventh save. Hanley Ramirez homered among his two hits for the Marlins, who have dropped two of three. Anibal Sanchez (2-1) took the loss, charged with six hits and three runs over seven full frames.

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Jeff Niemann left Monday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays after the first inning.

Niemann gave up a single and a walk in the first inning, but retired Adam Lind and Edwin Encarnacion.

However, he was unable to come out for the second inning due to a leg injury and Cesar Ramos took the mound for Tampa Bay.

Coming into the game, Niemann was 2-3 with a 3.48 earned run average in six starts.

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Rays placed outfielder Desmond Jennings on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 12, with a sprained left knee.

Jennings originally suffered the injury on May 6 against Oakland and he left that game. However, he did make two pinch-hit appearances since then.

Jennings, who is one of seven Rays on the DL, is batting .265 with three homers and 11 RBI in 31 games this season.

To take his spot on the roster, the team recalled outfielder Stephen Vogt from Triple-A Durham.

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Dodgers placed infielder Juan Uribe on the 15-day disabled list Monday with a left wrist injury.

Uribe was hitting .250 with four doubles, a home run and 10 RBI through 25 games for the Dodgers this season.

Los Angeles purchased the contract of infielder/outfielder Elian Herrera from Triple-A Albuquerque to replace Uribe.

Herrera hit .358 with nine doubles, two homers and 14 RBI in 28 games for the Isotopes this season. He has appeared at shortstop, third base, second base, center field and left field.

The Dodgers designated outfielder Trent Oeltjen for assignment to make room for Herrera on the 40-man roster.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Philadelphia Eagles left tackle Jason Peters re-ruptured his surgically repaired Achilles tendon after a rolling walker he was using malfunctioned, according to a report.

Peters needed a second surgery after his Roll-A-Bout broke and he fell on his face in his kitchen, Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia reported.

The Eagles confirmed that Peters re-ruptured the Achilles.

The CSN report said Peters, who was originally hurt in March and had surgery in early April, planned to sue the manufacturer of the device.

It said his recovery was set back three weeks, leaving his availability for the upcoming season in further jeopardy.

Peters, a five-time Pro Bowl pick, has started 42 games at left tackle for the Eagles over the past three seasons since coming over from the Bills in an April 2009 trade.

Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - The Golden State Warriors announced on Monday that the club promoted Kirk Lacob to assistant general manager.

Lacob joins Travis Schlenk, also an assistant GM and director of player personnel, in reporting directly to general manager Bob Myers.

The son of Warriors co-owner Joe Lacob, and a graduate of Stanford, Kirk spent the last two seasons as the club's director of basketball operations and player development representative with the league office.

In addition, the younger Lacob serves as general manager of the Dakota Wizards, Golden State's affiliate in the NBA Development League, a post to which he was named last August.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - The 100-game suspension for Colorado Rockies catcher Eliezer Alfonzo has been rescinded for issues nearly identical to the ones resolved in Ryan Braun's overturned ban.

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced the decision Monday and said Alfonzo, currently on the roster of the Rockies' Triple-A affiliate in Colorado Springs, is eligible to play immediately.

Alfonzo was suspended Sept. 14 after a second positive test for performance- enhancing drugs.

MLB said his penalty was rescinded by mutual agreement with the players union and after his appeal raised issues similar to the Braun case.

"It is not anticipated that any other future cases will be impacted by the circumstances raised in the grievances of these two players," MLB said in a statement.

Braun, of course, was the first major league player to have a positive test overturned after it was found the man who collected his urine sample waited two days to ship it to a testing facility. The collector said he was only following protocol after he couldn't find a nearby FedEx office that was open.

The reigning NL MVP was facing a 50-game ban.

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - The Cleveland Indians designated reliever Dan Wheeler for assignment Monday.

The right-hander, who signed with the Indians in January, has an 8.76 earned run average in 12 appearances this season with two strikeouts and seven walks in 12 1/3 innings.

The Indians, in Minneapolis to play the Twins, called up righty Jeremy Accardo from Triple-A Columbus. Accardo has an 0-2 record with a 2.76 ERA and four saves in 13 games for the Clippers this season.

Morehead, KY (Sports Network) - Morehead State officially welcomed new head coach Sean Woods to the fold on Monday.

Named to the post on Saturday, Woods arrives from Mississippi Valley State, which he guided to the NCAA Tournament this past season. He becomes the 13th man to hold the post in program history.

"It's an honor to come back home and do something I love," Woods said. "You're not going to meet a guy more personable, energetic or passionate (about what he does) than me. We're going to be a high-octane team. We're going to play fast, be entertaining and you're going to love the student- athletes we bring to Morehead State."

Woods takes over for Donnie Tyndall, who was hired as head coach at Southern Mississippi last month.

Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - The Kansas City Royals on Monday placed starting pitcher Danny Duffy on the 15-day disabled list.

Duffy departed Sunday's 9-1 win over the White Sox with elbow tightness. He retired two batters and walked Gordon Beckham in the bottom of the first inning before leaving.

An MRI later Monday revealed a torn left ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). Duffy will get a second opinion.

The 23-year-old lefty is 2-2 with a 3.90 earned run average in six starts this season.

Kansas City replaced Duffy on the roster by calling up Nate Adcock from Triple-A Omaha. Adcock pitched to a 1-1 record with a 4.39 ERA over 27 games with the Royals in 2011 and 2012, including three relief appearances this season.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Major League Baseball issued a 50-game suspension to Baltimore Orioles prospect Billy Rowell on Monday.

For Rowell, who was the club's top selection in the 2006 first-year player draft, the ban came as a result of his second violation of baseball's minor league drug prevention and treatment program.

The 6-foot-5 Rowell played his high school baseball in suburban Philadelphia. A four-year starter at Bishop Eustice Prep in Pennsauken, New Jersey, Rowell batted .505 with 157 RBI in 103 games.

He hit just .243 with one home run, eight doubles and 18 RBI in 58 combined games with Baltimore's Gulf Coast and Double-A affiliates last season.

The ban will begin at the start of the New York-Penn League's Aberdeen IronBirds' season, effective June 18.

Helsinki, Finland (Sports Network) - Valtteri Filppula had two goals and two assists for Finland, as the reigning gold medalist cruised past Kazakhstan, 4-1, on Monday at the 2012 World Championship.

Jussi Jokinen and Mikko Maenpaa also lit the lamp for Finland, which finished preliminary-round play with five wins and two defeats. With 15 points, Finland sits second in Group H and trails Canada by just one point.

Petri Vehanen made 17 saves for the victors.

Konstantin Pushkaryov scored the lone goal for Kazakhstan. Vitali Kolesnik stopped 44-of-48 shots.

For Kazakhstan, the tournament is over. Finland will now get ready for the quarterfinals.

Also in Helsinki, Johann Auvitu scored with 1:17 remaining to give France a 2-1 win over Belarus.

France now has nine points and can qualify for the quarterfinals if they beat Slovakia in regulation time on Tuesday.

In Stockholm, Mikhail Biryukov made 21 saves to lead Russia to a 4-0 win over Italy.

Yevgeni Kuznetsov had a goal and an assist for the Russians, who won all seven of their preliminary-round games to finish first in Group S. Pavel Datsyuk, Yevgeni Biryukov and Alexander Popov also scored.

Russia will face either Norway or the Czech Republic in the quarters.

Morten Green and Morten Madsen scored second-period goals to lift Denmark over Latvia, 2-0. Frederik Andersen made 35 saves.

Norway qualified for the quarterfinals due to the result.

Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - The Kansas City Royals on Monday placed starting pitcher Danny Duffy on the 15-day disabled list.

Duffy departed Sunday's 9-1 win over the White Sox with elbow tightness. He retired two batters and walked Gordon Beckham in the bottom of the first inning before leaving. He underwent an MRI earlier Monday.

The 23-year-old lefty is 2-2 with a 3.90 earned run average in six starts this season.

Kansas City replaced Duffy on the roster by calling up Nate Adcock from Triple-A Omaha. Adcock pitched to a 1-1 record with a 4.39 ERA over 27 games with the Royals in 2011 and 2012, including three relief appearances this season.

Arlington, VA (Sports Network) - Dale Hunter will not return as head coach of the Washington Capitals next season.

Capitals general manager George McPhee said Monday during the team's season- ending media session that Hunter will be heading back home to London, Ontario for family reasons. He was the head coach of the Ontario Hockey League's London Knights before taking over behind the bench of the team with which he spent a majority of his NHL playing career.

"It's a tough decision," said Hunter. "I enjoyed coaching these guys here, and being back with my team. It's the right thing for me and my family."

Hunter took over on November 28 after Bruce Boudreau was fired and led the Capitals to the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. After dethroning the Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins in seven games of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, the Capitals came up one win short in the next round and lost to the New York Rangers in seven games, falling 2-1 on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.

The Capitals were 12-9-1 when Hunter took over and went 30-23-7 over the final 60 games to finish the regular season at 42-32-8.

"I came in with a little different philosophy," Hunter noted. "The work ethic and commitment the players [showed] down the stretch and in the playoffs... We took a very good team to Game 7 and anything could have happened."

Hunter, one of just four players to have his number retired by the Capitals, was in his 11th season with the Knights when he was called upon to replace Boudreau. He owns the highest winning percentage in OHL history with a record of 451-189-23-24.

"It wasn't unexpected," said McPhee on Monday. "I've always talked to Dale over the years about coaching this club. He wasn't able to leave [London] before. When we talked to him this time around, we knew that he may not be able to go beyond this year. He did a great job of coming in and helping us out."

The 51-year-old Ontario native played 19 seasons in the NHL and ranks second in league history with 3,565 penalty minutes. He was also a productive player with 323 goals and 697 assists for 1,020 points in 1,407 games for Quebec, Washington and Colorado.

Hunter spent 11 full seasons and part of another with Washington, and was the team's captain from the 1994-95 campaign until his trade to Colorado late in the 1998-99 season. He appeared in 872 games with the Capitals and his 100 career playoff games are tied for first in team history, while his 82 points and 47 assists both top the club's playoff list.

(Sports Network) - The Atlantic 10 will further solidify its position as the premier non-BCS college basketball conference by adding Virginia Commonwealth, according to a report.

Sources told CBSSports.com on Monday that VCU, a year removed from its unprecedented First Four-to-Final Four run in the NCAA Tournament, will announce the move, effective 2013, on Tuesday.

In the ever-changing landscape of conference realignment -- driven, primarily, by college football -- it would be another significant addition for the A-10, a league that does not sponsor football but boasts solid basketball programs.

Four of its teams earned bids to the NCAA tourney in 2012.

The move, if confirmed, shores up the conference following two departures. One of its traditional powerhouses, Temple, is departing for the Big East in 2013-14, and UNC Charlotte will join Conference USA in the same academic year.

The A-10 has already officially filled one of those spots by luring Butler -- national runners-up in 2010 and 2011 -- away from the Horizon League earlier in May.

VCU, meanwhile, moves up from the Colonial Athletic Association, a league that despite having two Final Four teams in the past six seasons is traditionally a one-bid conference.

George Mason, the first CAA institution to make a Final Four run, announced Friday that it would remain in the league after much speculation that it was seeking a bid to the Atlantic-10.

The Colonial also may lose another key member in Old Dominion. ODU, which has a strong FCS football program, has reportedly been mulling an invitation to join BCS football by way of C-USA.

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - The San Diego Padres have reinstated pitcher Tim Stauffer from the 15-day disabled list.

Stauffer began the season on the DL with a strained right elbow and will start Monday night against the Nationals.

Stauffer went 9-12 with a 3.73 earned run average in a career-high 31 starts for the Padres last year.

San Diego also optioned left-handed pitcher Josh Spence to Triple-A Tucson.

Spence was 0-1 with a 4.35 ERA in 11 relief appearances for the Padres this year.

St. Paul, MN (Sports Network) - Governor Mark Dayton on Monday signed off on a bill that will give the Minnesota Vikings a new stadium.

The $975 million project won final legislative approval last Thursday.

The new fixed-roof stadium will sit on the current site of the Metrodome, where the Vikings have played since 1982. The Vikings hope to open the stadium for the 2016 season.

The Minneapolis City Council still has to approve the bill.

Arlington, VA (Sports Network) - Dale Hunter will not return as head coach of the Washington Capitals next season.

Hunter took over on November 28 after Bruce Boudreau was fired and led the Capitals to the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. After dethroning the Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins in seven games of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, the Capitals came up one win short in the next round and lost to the New York Rangers in seven games, falling 2-1 on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.

Capitals general manager George McPhee said Monday during the team's season- ending media session that Hunter will be heading back home to London, Ontario. He was the head coach of the Ontario Hockey League's London Knights before taking over behind the bench of the team with which he spent a majority of his NHL playing career.

The Capitals were 12-9-1 when Hunter took over and went 30-23-7 over the final 60 games to finish the regular season at 42-32-8.

Hunter, one of just four players to have his number retired by the Capitals, was in his 11th season with the Knights when he was called upon to replace Boudreau. He owns the highest winning percentage in OHL history with a record of 451-189-23-24.

The 51-year-old Ontario native played 19 seasons in the NHL and ranks second in league history with 3,565 penalty minutes. He was also a productive player with 323 goals and 697 assists for 1,020 points in 1,407 games for Quebec, Washington and Colorado.

Hunter spent 11 full seasons and part of another with Washington, and was the team's captain from the 1994-95 campaign until his trade to Colorado late in the 1998-99 season. He appeared in 872 games with the Capitals and his 100 career playoff games are tied for first in team history, while his 82 points and 47 assists both top the club's playoff list.

(Sports Network) - The St. Louis Cardinals are embroiled in their own instance of Lynn-sanity.

As it commonly goes in sports, Cardinals new starter Lance Lynn is another prime example of the "next man up" scenario: when one player goes down, another fills the gap.

The hole Lynn filled is more like an abyss.

Lynn was better known for a bullpen err during the 2011 World Series, but now he's currently regarded as the Cardinals' most reliable pitcher. The converted reliever has taken over the rotation spot for 2005 NL Cy Young Award winner and two-time champion Chris Carpenter, and he said his new role would be a challenge.

Cardinals first-year manager Mike Matheny touched on that.

"We all understand the importance of Chris Carpenter and how badly we want him to get right," Matheny said. "But when the game deals you what it deals you, you hope somebody steps up. And to see (Lynn) step up is gratifying to those guys in (the clubhouse)."

With a healthy mix of fastballs, curves, a cutter and a change-up, Lynn pitched his way to a sizzling 6-0 record through his first six outings, receiving a hefty amount of run support. The Cardinals averaged seven runs in that stretch and Lynn pitched no less than five innings each times.

Lynn, though, tasted defeat for the first time this season in Sunday's 7-4 loss against the Atlanta Braves and couldn't help his club avoid a sweep at Busch Stadium. Lynn pitched well in the loss, surrendering a season-high three runs in six innings with seven strikeouts. He threw a season-high 121 pitches and struck out seven for the fourth time, and was trying to become the first pitcher to win seven straight games to open a season since Brandon Webb won his first nine with Arizona in 2008.

Opposing hitters have taken notice of Lynn, too. Milwaukee Brewers slugger and reigning NL MVP Ryan Braun did so early on this season.

"I was surprised that somebody could transition from the bullpen to a starter and maintain his stuff," Braun said after Lynn's first start in April. "His velocity was consistently in the mid-90s. He has really good command of his fastball to both sides of the plate, and last year he didn't throw much of his slider/cutter pitch, whatever he was throwing today. I was impressed."

Despite the first loss, Lynn, who has made nine career starts in 25 appearances, leads the National League with six victories and leads the Cardinals with 44 strikeouts. The right-hander will have the next few days off before getting back to work and should be in the St. Louis rotation at least until after the All-Star Game.

That's when Carpenter is expected to return from a bout of nerve irritation in his right shoulder. The Cardinals don't anticipate having Carpenter back before the break since he hasn't thrown a baseball in about two months.

Carpenter must pass a rigorous strength test before resuming throwing duties, and it will take about four to six weeks for the former staff ace to build his arm back to normal. Of course, there could be stumbling blocks along the way and it all boils down to how Carpenter's golden right arm responds to the treatment. So basically there's no need to rush him back just yet.

"I want my shoulder to work right," Carpenter said. "I want to be able to throw properly. I don't want my arm getting numb. I don't want to get weak. I want to feel normal and then move on from there."

Whether the Cardinals can move on with Lynn back in the bullpen is a hurdle they will have to clear when the time comes. But by then, Lynn could still be among the league leaders in wins.

Do we see a six-man rotation in the Cardinals' future with Lynn, Carpenter, Kyle Lohse, Jake Westbrook, Adam Wainwright and Jaime Garcia?

We shall see in early July.

Ashburn, VA (Sports Network) - The Washington Redskins have re-signed unrestricted free agent running back Tim Hightower.

Hightower started five games in 2011 before a torn ACL in Week 7 forced him to miss the final 11 contests of the season.

He rushed for 321 yards on 84 carries with one score. The Richmond product also had 10 receptions for 78 yards and one touchdown.

Prior to joining the Redskins in a trade, Hightower played three seasons for the Arizona Cardinals (2008-2010).

In 53 career games with Arizona and Washington, Hightower has carried the ball 523 times for 2,054 yards and 24 touchdowns. He has also caught 128 passes for 879 yards and one score.

In a corresponding roster move, the Redskins waived tight end Rob Myers.

Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh is sidelined indefinitely after an MRI exam on Monday revealed a strained abdominal muscle.

Bosh suffered the injury shortly before halftime of Sunday's Eastern Conference semifinal opener against the Indiana Pacers.

Bosh dunked over Pacers center Roy Hibbert and drew the foul with 1:06 remaining in the second quarter, but landed awkwardly and remained on the floor momentarily. He made the free throw, cutting Miami's deficit to 48-42, and contested Hibbert's miss on Indiana's next possession before departing for the locker room.

In six playoff games, Bosh has averaged 14.7 points and 6.8 rebounds. He averaged 18.0 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 57 regular-season games.

The Heat went on to a 95-86 win on Sunday to take a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 is set for Tuesday in Miami.

St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - The St. Louis Cardinals have given veteran pitcher J.C. Romero his unconditional release.

Romero had no record with a 10.13 earned run average in eight innings over 11 games this season for the Cardinals.

The 34-year-old lefty is 34-28 with a 4.15 ERA in 675 career games, just 22 of which have been starts.

St. Louis recalled right-handed pitcher Eduardo Sanchez from Triple-A Memphis to fill the roster spot.

The 23-year-old Sanchez was 3-1 with a 1.80 ERA in 26 games for the Cardinals last season. He struck out 35 batters and recorded five saves.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Hooray for Hollywood while Memphis and the Mile High City are in mourning.

Let's take a look at the two NBA playoff series that went the distance and what's in store for the winners:

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS-MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

The fourth-quarter blues struck the Grizzlies again on Sunday in the seventh and deciding game of their Western Conference first-round matchup and it sent them packing for the summer.

The Clippers outscored the Grizzlies, 27-16, in the final quarter to win only their third playoff series in the 41-year history of the franchise.

Kenyon Martin, a late-season pickup by the Clips, scored seven of his 11 points in the fourth and chipped in with 10 rebounds to help Los Angeles close out the game and the series.

"That's why it's seven games," Martin said. "If you don't do it before, you get another chance. So they did what they had to do, they came and stole home court back on our floor. ... We had a chance to close it out. We knew we let it go, an opportunity (getting) away."

The Grizzlies hit just 4-of-18 field-goal attempts in the final quarter and didn't overcome awful shooting performances by O.J. Mayo (1-for-11), Mike Conley (2-for-13) and Zach Randolph (3-for-12), who combined to shoot 6-for-36 (16.6 percent).

The Game 7 defeat marked the third time in the series the Grizzlies lost after leading through three quarters. They outscored the Clippers, 640-635, in the series, but Los Angeles won the fourth quarters and overtimes, 183-146.

As for the Clippers, the task will be even more daunting in the second round as they take on the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs. Their best player, Chris Paul, will have to face a fellow All-Star who also got strong MVP consideration, Tony Parker.

Parker got the better of Paul in their two head-to-head meetings in the regular season, which were both Spurs' wins.

In only the second game for both teams in late December, San Antonio routed the visiting Clippers, 115-90.

Parker was 6-for-9 from the floor and had 14 points, nine assists and one turnover, while Paul shot just 3-for-10 and had 10 points, nine assists and two turnovers.

In the second meeting in mid-February, the Spurs won in overtime in Los Angeles, 103-100.

Parker led the way with 30 points on 11-for-22 field-goal shooting, along with 10 assists and just two turnovers. Paul hit 6 of 19 shots and had 21 points, six assists and two turnovers.

The Clippers' point guard had a huge game (36 points, 11 assists, one turnover) against the Spurs on March 9 when they won in San Antonio, 120-108, but it came with Parker sidelined with a sore thigh.

The Clippers have to get a lot of credit for both winning this opening-round playoff series and playing the kind of defense a team needs in the postseason, but the performance they had against the Grizzlies won't be good enough to get it done against the Spurs.

DENVER NUGGETS-LOS ANGELES LAKERS

Even with terrific games from Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Metta World Peace and Steve Blake, the Lakers barely survived their Game 7 with the Nuggets in the Western Conference first round.

The Lakers' twin towers were heavily criticized for their lackluster play in the Game 5 and 6 losses, and rightfully so, but they delivered big-time in the win-or-go-home seventh game.

Gasol did it all, with 21 points, 17 rebounds, including six offensive rebounds, six assists and four blocks. Bynum also helped control the paint and the boards with 18 rebounds, including nine off the offensive glass, and six blocked shots.

"We were aggressive," Gasol said. "We attacked the paint better. We pounded the boards as hard as we could, every single time. ... Our backs against the wall also had something to do with it."

The game marked the return of Metta World Peace from his seven-game suspension, and his lockdown defense on Andre Miller and Danilo Gallinari, who combined to shoot 2-for-19, played a huge role in the win.

"He made plays tonight that won't show up in the stat sheet that were absolutely amazing for us defensively," Lakers coach Mike Brown said. "Just his presence alone helped us out, and that's what we missed the first six games. ... He was monstrous for us tonight."

Backup point guard Steve Blake was also a monster for the Lakers. He shot 7- for-11 from the floor, including 5-for-6 on 3-pointers while scoring a playoff career-high 19 points.

It's now onto Oklahoma City for the Lakers and a second-round meeting with the Thunder. Unlike the opening-round series with the Nuggets, the Lakers will not have home-court advantage, and that's not good news for a team that was 15-18 on the road during the regular season.

There will be a lot less margin for error against the Thunder and the Lakers will not be able to withstand some of the bad performances they got from Gasol and Bynum against Denver in this series.

Even if the Lakers get their usual performance from their two big men and Kobe Bryant, they still will probably need solid efforts from Ramon Sessions and Blake to advance past the Thunder.

Against Denver, Sessions wasn't aggressive and didn't look confident and really faded as the series progressed. Over the final three games, he shot 9-for-29, rarely attacked the basket and shied away from open jumpers. Play like that makes Bynum and Gasol less effective on the inside.

As for Blake, they need him to hit open jumpers, something he hasn't done on a consistent basis all season as he shot just 37.7 percent from the floor and 33.5 percent on 3-pointers.

Columbus, OH (Sports Network) - Todd Richards will remain the head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The team removed the interim tag from Richards, who took over for the fired Scott Arniel on January 9, and gave him a two-year deal on Monday.

Columbus was a league-worst 11-25-5 when Richards was promoted from his position as assistant and the Blue Jackets went 18-21-2 the rest of the way. The 29 wins and 65 points were still the fewest in the NHL.

"As we analyzed available coaching candidates and individuals who might become available, it became very clear to us that he is the right person to lead our team," said Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson about Richards. "Our team continuously improved under Todd and he has earned the opportunity to build upon the work he started."

The Blue Jackets were 16-14-1 over the final 31 games of the season, winning seven of their last 11 contests.

"We have a lot of work to do to give our fans the type of team they want, but I am really excited about what lies ahead," Richards stated Monday. "We made strides last season and I'm confident that our players are ready for the challenges before us."

Richards joined the Blue Jackets last June after spending two seasons as head coach of the Minnesota Wild. He had a record of 77-71-16 during his brief tenure in St. Paul, but the club failed to make the playoffs either season.

Prior to joining the Wild, Richards served as an assistant with San Jose in 2008-09. He was the head coach at Pittsburgh's American Hockey League affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for two years from 2006-08, guiding the team to a mark of 98-49-13 with an appearance in the Calder Cup Finals in the spring of 2008.

The 45-year-old Richards, a Minnesota native, spent most of his 13-year playing career in the minors, but did appear in eight NHL games for the Hartford Whalers between 1990-92.

Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Andy Pettitte gave up two-run homers to Casper Wells and Justin Smoak in his long-awaited return to the mound, which allowed the Seattle Mariners to beat the New York Yankees, 6-2. Pettitte (0-1), making his first start in the big leagues since 2010, was charged with four runs on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings. The soon-to-be 40-year-old left- hander walked three and fanned two. Pettitte retired after the 2010 season, but returned to the team in spring training on a minor league contract after sitting out last year. The three-time All-Star was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre prior to Sunday's game. The Mariners got a strong outing from Kevin Millwood (1-4), who allowed one run on three hits over seven innings. Millwood struck out six and walked four en route to his first victory of the season. Robinson Cano and Russell Martin each had an RBI for the Yankees, who failed to pick up their first sweep of the Mariners in the Bronx since May 23-25, 2008.

Final Score: Boston 12, Cleveland 1

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Jarrod Saltalamacchia registered three hits, including a two-run home run, to go with five runs batted in as the Boston Red Sox routed the Cleveland Indians, 12-1, in the finale of a four-game set. Daniel Nava added two doubles, three RBI and three runs scored in the onslaught for Boston, which has won three straight after dropping eight of its previous nine contests. Will Middlebrooks belted a solo shot among his two hits, scored three runs and drove in two while Adrian Gonzalez chipped in with a pair of doubles and two runs scored. Daniel Bard (3-4) surrendered a run on six hits and four walks in six innings for the Red Sox. Justin Masterson (1-3) was touched for six runs on seven hits and a walk in six innings for Cleveland, which has dropped five of its last six.

Final Score: Minnesota 4, Toronto 3

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Brian Dozier homered, Ryan Doumit hit a two-run single and the Minnesota Twins hung on to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays, 4-3, in the finale of a four-game series. Scott Diamond (2-0) pitched seven scoring frames, allowing five hits while walking none and fanning four for Minnesota , which split the set. Matt Capps worked around a one-out hit in the ninth to pick up his seventh save. Ricky Romero (4-1) suffered his first loss of the year, allowing four runs on nine hits and five walks over 5 1/3 innings. Edwin Encarnacion tallied three hits in the setback.

Final Score: Tampa Bay 9, Baltimore 8

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Ben Zobrist drove in three runs, including an eighth-inning solo homer that proved to be the difference, as the Tampa Bay Rays held on to beat the Baltimore Orioles, 9-8, in the finale of a three-game series at Camden Yards. Elliot Johnson went deep in front of Zobrist in the eighth for Tampa Bay, which avoided being swept in Baltimore for the first time since July 24-26, 2007. Nick Markakis doubled twice and knocked in three for the Orioles. The Rays scored three runs in the second and fourth innings against Baltimore starting pitcher Jake Arrieta (2-4) en route to taking a 7-1 lead. But the Orioles put up a three-spot in the sixth, with J.J. Hardy and Markakis hitting back-to-back doubles and Matt Wieters launching a home run to right-center. Tampa Bay starter James Shields (6-1) couldn't make it out of the seventh. Robert Andino began the frame with a single and Ryan Flaherty reached on a throwing error. After striking out Xavier Avery, who made his major league debut, Shields was replaced by Burke Badenhop. Hardy then grounded into a fielder's choice and scored along with Andino when Markakis doubled off Jake McGee.

Final Score: Kansas City 9, Chicago 1

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Jeff Francoeur homered and drove in two runs and Johnny Giavotella added a go-ahead two-run double as Kansas City used a late burst of offense to down Chicago, 9-1, in the rubber match of a three- game set. Billy Butler, Eric Hosmer, Irving Falu and Alcides Escobar picked up an RBI each in a six-run ninth for the Royals, who won by a 5-0 count on Saturday and have taken four of five overall. Luis Mendoza (2-2) worked 5 2/3 innings, scattering seven hits and one run with four strikeouts. He was called upon since starter Danny Duffy left the game after recording just two outs and facing three batters with an unknown injury. Paul Konerko knocked in the lone run for the White Sox, who had won three in a row before dropping the final two this weekend. Matt Thornton (1-3) was charged with the deciding run while retiring one batter in the seventh inning.

Final Score: Detroit 3, Oakland 1

Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Justin Verlander tossed seven strong innings of two-hit ball, lifting the Detroit Tigers to a 3-1 win over the Oakland Athletics in the finale of a four-game set on Sunday. Verlander (4-1) fanned eight and didn't surrender his first hit until Josh Reddick looped a single into center with two outs in the fourth inning. Seth Smith's leadoff homer in the fifth accounted for Oakland's other hit off the American League's reigning Cy Young Award winner and MVP. Austin Jackson's bases-loaded walk in the sixth plated the go-ahead run, while Miguel Cabrera added three hits and two RBI for the Tigers, who earned a split of the series. Jarrod Parker (1-1) allowed two runs on six hits and four walks in 5 2/3-innings for Oakland, which had won the previous two games of the set.

Final Score: Texas 13, LA Angels of Anaheim 6

Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Nelson Cruz hit a grand slam, Josh Hamilton had three RBI and the Rangers cruised past the Angels, 13-6, on Sunday in the finale of a three-game series. Cruz had four hits, finished a triple shy of the cycle and scored three times while Adrian Beltre drove in two runs for Texas, which handed Angels' starter Jered Weaver his first loss of the season. Hamilton extended his hit streak to 13 games with a two-run double in the fourth inning and also drove in a run in the seventh. He now has 18 RBI over his last seven games. Neftali Feliz (3-1) allowed two runs on four hits over six innings to earn the win. He walked two and struck out five. Mark Trumbo hit a two-run homer while Vernon Wells and Kendrys Morales added solo shots for the Angels, who fell to 15-20 on the season. Weaver (5-1) lasted just 3 1/3 innings and gave up eight runs on 10 hits.

Glendale, AZ (Sports Network) - Jonathan Quick might like to give back the goal he allowed from center ice, but the Los Angeles Kings will keep the win. Dustin Brown scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and Quick had 25 saves Sunday night, leading the Kings to a 4-2 win over the Phoenix Coyotes in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. Quick, the Vezina Trophy finalist, let Derek Morris' center-ice slap shot from the right boards flutter in to tie the game in the first period. The Coyotes came back from a one-goal deficit twice, but Brown scored 2:11 into the third and Dwight King got his second goal of the game into an empty net to seal the win. Anze Kopitar also scored for the eighth-seeded Kings, who made the conference finals for the first time since Wayne Gretzky led them to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1993. Indeed, it's a series no one could have predicted between two heated division rivals who caught lightning in a bottle behind good goaltending. The third-seeded Coyotes, riding Mike Smith as much as the Kings have relied on Quick, are in the conference finals for the first time ever. Smith faced 47 shots, letting in three, and Mikkel Boedker also scored in the loss. Game 2 is Tuesday in Glendale.

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving is set to be named NBA Rookie of the Year, according to a report Sunday.

Irving, a likely winner after his star-making first season, will collect the trophy on Tuesday, The Plain Dealer reported.

Last year's No. 1 draft pick out of Duke, Irving averaged 18.5 points and 5.4 assists in 51 games for the Cavaliers.

Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Giancarlo Stanton celebrated Mother's Day in grand style. The Marlins right-fielder belted a first-pitch grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning -- capping a six-run rally -- to lift Miami to a dramatic 8-4 win over the New York Mets in the rubber match of a three-game series. Stanton's second career walk-off home run came after the Mets pulled ahead in the top of the ninth against embattled reliever Heath Bell (2-3). New York broke a 2-2 tie when pinch-hitter Justin Turner delivered a two-out, two-run double to right field. Frank Francisco (1-3) faltered when asked to preserve the Mets' lead. For the second time in three innings, Emilio Bonifacio led off with a triple and John Buck, who launched a game-tying two-run homer in the seventh off Ramon Ramirez, worked a walk before a pinch- hitting Greg Dobbs stroked an RBI single to center.

Final Score: Cincinnati 9, Washington 6

Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - A heavy downpour pounded Great American Ballpark on Sunday, delaying the start of the finale of a three-game set between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals by three hours and 36 minutes. The lengthy delay, however, didn't seem to hinder Joey Votto. Votto smacked three home runs, including the game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning, lifting the Reds to a 9-6 win over the Nationals. The 2010 National League MVP registered four hits, drove in six and scored a quartet of runs for the Reds, who salvaged a game in the set. Sean Marshall (1-2) tossed a scoreless ninth to pick up the win. Sunday marked the seventh and final meeting between the teams this season, so officials did everything in their power to get the game in.

Final Score: Philadelphia 3, San Diego 2

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Fresh off his five-game suspension for plunking Washington Nationals rookie Bryce Harper, Cole Hamels tossed seven strong innings to help the Phillies take the rubber match of a three-game set with the Padres, 3-2, on Sunday. Hamels (5-1) allowed one run on five hits and three walks with five strikeouts, lowering his earned run average to 2.28, and Jimmy Rollins hit a solo home run for Philadelphia. Jonathan Papelbon struck out two in a scoreless ninth for his 10th save in as many opportunities. Jeff Suppan (2-1) was the tough-luck loser for San Diego, allowing three runs -- two earned -- on six hits without a walk over six frames. Jesus Guzman had an RBI and a run scored in the setback.

Final Score: Pittsburgh 3, Houston 2 (12 innings)

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Josh Harrison smacked a game-winning single in the bottom of the 12th inning to give the Pirates a 3-2 victory over the Astros in the finale of a three-game weekend series at PNC Park on Sunday. Clint Barmes led off the frame with a double into left off of Fernando Rodriguez (1-4) before Harrison lofted a single into left, allowing Barmes to score from second as the Pirates wrapped up a nine-game homestand at 5-4. Tony Watson (3-0) got the victory after tossing a scoreless top of the 12th while starter A.J. Burnett yielded just two runs on six hits while striking out four over eight innings of work. Houston starter Wandy Rodriguez surrendered one run on three hits while fanning seven over eight innings before Brett Myers suffered his first blown save of the season when he allowed a run in the ninth. Carlos Lee finished with two hits and scored both of the Astros runs but Houston fell for the third time in four tries.

Final Score: Chicago 8, Milwaukee 2

Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Ian Stewart and Reed Johnson each belted solo home runs and the Cubs pounded out 13 hits in an 8-2 victory over the Brewers in the finale of a three-game weekend series at Miller Park. Shawn Camp (1-1) earned the victory despite allowing a run on two hits and a walk when he entered in the sixth in place of starter Jeff Samardzija, who gave up one run on three hits and two walks while fanning six. Tony Campana had three hits and an RBI, while Starlin Castro and Alfonso Soriano each knocked in a run as the Cubs snapped a 10-game losing streak in Milwaukee dating back to April 9, 2011. Kameron Loe (2-1) suffered the loss after giving up an unearned run in the seventh. Starter Marco Estrada yielded two runs on five hits over his six innings on the bump and Taylor Green knocked in two runs as the Brewers dropped to 5-2 against the Cubs this season.

Final Score: Atlanta 7, St. Louis 4

St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Jason Heyward hit a three-run double to help the Atlanta Braves complete a three-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals with a 7-4 win at Busch Stadium. Freddie Freeman doubled twice and knocked in a run for Atlanta, which has won seven of its last nine games. Tommy Hanson (4-3) gave up a solo home run to St. Louis' Carlos Beltran among five hits in five-plus innings. He walked three and recorded a season-high nine strikeouts.

Final Score: San Francisco 7, Arizona 3

Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - Brett Pill crushed a two-run home run and the Giants pounded out 14 hits to take a 7-3 victory over the Diamondbacks in the finale of a three-game set at Chase Field on Sunday. Barry Zito (2-1) surrendered three runs on five hits and three walks over six innings in the start, while Gregor Blanco knocked in three runs and Melky Cabrera added an RBI and four hits for the Giants, who wrapped up a six-game road trip at 3-3. Joe Saunders (2-3) was tagged for six runs on 10 hits and a walk over five frames for Arizona. Jason Kubel smacked three hits and tallied two RBI, but the Diamondbacks finished 1-5 on their six-game homestand.

Final Score: Los Angeles 11, Colorado 5

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - A.J. Ellis hit a three-run homer and Bobby Abreu added a bases-clearing double to fuel a six-run fifth inning as Los Angeles finished off a sweep of Colorado with an 11-5 victory at Dodger Stadium. Ellis drove in four, while Scott Van Slyke posted two RBI for the Dodgers, winners of four straight and six of eight. One player who was not around for the finish was center fielder Matt Kemp, who departed in the fourth inning with an irritated left hamstring. Ted Lilly (5-0) gave up five runs -- four earned -- on six hits and three walks over 6 1/3 innings but was bailed out by the LA offense. Carlos Gonzalez drove in a pair of runs and Marco Scutaro picked up two hits, an RBI and scored twice for the Rockies, who skidded to their eighth loss in nine contests. Alex White (0-2) was rocked for five hits and six runs over 4 1/3 frames.

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Kansas City Royals starter Danny Duffy departed Sunday's 9-1 win over the White Sox with elbow tightness.

Duffy retired two batters and walked Gordon Beckham in the bottom of the first inning before leaving.

Luis Mendoza took over from there and picked up the win after scattering seven hits and one run over 5 2/3 frames of long relief.

Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Andy Pettitte gave up two-run homers to Casper Wells and Justin Smoak in his long-awaited return to the mound, which allowed the Seattle Mariners to beat the New York Yankees, 6-2. Pettitte (0-1), making his first start in the big leagues since 2010, was charged with four runs on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings. The soon-to-be 40-year-old left- hander walked three and fanned two. Pettitte retired after the 2010 season, but returned to the team in spring training on a minor league contract after sitting out last year. The three-time All-Star was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre prior to Sunday's game. The Mariners got a strong outing from Kevin Millwood (1-4), who allowed one run on three hits over seven innings. Millwood struck out six and walked four en route to his first victory of the season. Robinson Cano and Russell Martin each had an RBI for the Yankees, who failed to pick up their first sweep of the Mariners in the Bronx since May 23-25, 2008.

Final Score: Boston 12, Cleveland 1

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Jarrod Saltalamacchia registered three hits, including a two-run home run, to go with five runs batted in as the Boston Red Sox routed the Cleveland Indians, 12-1, in the finale of a four-game set. Daniel Nava added two doubles, three RBI and three runs scored in the onslaught for Boston, which has won three straight after dropping eight of its previous nine contests. Will Middlebrooks belted a solo shot among his two hits, scored three runs and drove in two while Adrian Gonzalez chipped in with a pair of doubles and two runs scored. Daniel Bard (3-4) surrendered a run on six hits and four walks in six innings for the Red Sox. Justin Masterson (1-3) was touched for six runs on seven hits and a walk in six innings for Cleveland, which has dropped five of its last six.

Final Score: Minnesota 4, Toronto 3

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Brian Dozier homered, Ryan Doumit hit a two-run single and the Minnesota Twins hung on to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays, 4-3, in the finale of a four-game series. Scott Diamond (2-0) pitched seven scoring frames, allowing five hits while walking none and fanning four for Minnesota , which split the set. Matt Capps worked around a one-out hit in the ninth to pick up his seventh save. Ricky Romero (4-1) suffered his first loss of the year, allowing four runs on nine hits and five walks over 5 1/3 innings. Edwin Encarnacion tallied three hits in the setback.

Final Score: Tampa Bay 9, Baltimore 8

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Ben Zobrist drove in three runs, including an eighth-inning solo homer that proved to be the difference, as the Tampa Bay Rays held on to beat the Baltimore Orioles, 9-8, in the finale of a three-game series at Camden Yards. Elliot Johnson went deep in front of Zobrist in the eighth for Tampa Bay, which avoided being swept in Baltimore for the first time since July 24-26, 2007. Nick Markakis doubled twice and knocked in three for the Orioles. The Rays scored three runs in the second and fourth innings against Baltimore starting pitcher Jake Arrieta (2-4) en route to taking a 7-1 lead. But the Orioles put up a three-spot in the sixth, with J.J. Hardy and Markakis hitting back-to-back doubles and Matt Wieters launching a home run to right-center. Tampa Bay starter James Shields (6-1) couldn't make it out of the seventh. Robert Andino began the frame with a single and Ryan Flaherty reached on a throwing error. After striking out Xavier Avery, who made his major league debut, Shields was replaced by Burke Badenhop. Hardy then grounded into a fielder's choice and scored along with Andino when Markakis doubled off Jake McGee.

Final Score: Kansas City 9, Chicago 1

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Jeff Francoeur homered and drove in two runs and Johnny Giavotella added a go-ahead two-run double as Kansas City used a late burst of offense to down Chicago, 9-1, in the rubber match of a three- game set. Billy Butler, Eric Hosmer, Irving Falu and Alcides Escobar picked up an RBI each in a six-run ninth for the Royals, who won by a 5-0 count on Saturday and have taken four of five overall. Luis Mendoza (2-2) worked 5 2/3 innings, scattering seven hits and one run with four strikeouts. He was called upon since starter Danny Duffy left the game after recording just two outs and facing three batters with an unknown injury. Paul Konerko knocked in the lone run for the White Sox, who had won three in a row before dropping the final two this weekend. Matt Thornton (1-3) was charged with the deciding run while retiring one batter in the seventh inning.

Final Score: Detroit 3, Oakland 1

Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Justin Verlander tossed seven strong innings of two-hit ball, lifting the Detroit Tigers to a 3-1 win over the Oakland Athletics in the finale of a four-game set on Sunday. Verlander (4-1) fanned eight and didn't surrender his first hit until Josh Reddick looped a single into center with two outs in the fourth inning. Seth Smith's leadoff homer in the fifth accounted for Oakland's other hit off the American League's reigning Cy Young Award winner and MVP. Austin Jackson's bases-loaded walk in the sixth plated the go-ahead run, while Miguel Cabrera added three hits and two RBI for the Tigers, who earned a split of the series. Jarrod Parker (1-1) allowed two runs on six hits and four walks in 5 2/3-innings for Oakland, which had won the previous two games of the set.

Memphis, TN (Sports Network) - Chris Paul set the pace with 19 points, nine rebounds and four assists, and the LA Clippers ousted the Memphis Grizzlies, 82-72, in an intensely physical Western Conference quarterfinal Game 7 on Sunday. It was the first Game 7 victory, and just the third playoff series win, in the franchise's 42-year history. The Clippers' reserves were critical down the stretch, posting all but two of the team's 27 fourth quarter points. Kenyon Martin, Mo Williams and Nick Young combined to finish with 33 points and 12 rebounds off the bench. Rudy Gay and Marc Gasol scored 19 points apiece, but Mike Conley shot just 2-of-13 from the floor and the team managed a dismal 25-of-77 mark, including missing all 13 of their three-point attempts. The Clippers advance to face the top-seeded Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals beginning on Tuesday night in San Antonio.

Final Score: Miami 95, Indiana 86

Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Newly-minted NBA MVP LeBron James had 32 points, 15 rebounds and five assists on Sunday and the Heat grinded out a 95-86 win over the Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The game was tied after three quarters, but Miami opened the fourth with an 8-2 run and never relinquished the lead after that. Dwyane Wade added 29 points for the second-seeded Heat, who defeated the Knicks in five games to advance to the second round. They have won 13 straight playoff home games versus Eastern Conference opponents. Chris Bosh scored 13 points but suffered a lower abdominal strain shortly before halftime and did not return. David West and Roy Hibbert both recorded a double-double for the Pacers, who also won their opening series in five games, downing the Dwight Howard-less Magic to reach the second round for the first time since 2005. Game 2 is set for Tuesday in Miami.

Memphis, TN (Sports Network) - Chris Paul set the pace with 19 points, nine rebounds and four assists, and the LA Clippers ousted the Memphis Grizzlies, 82-72, in an intensely physical Western Conference quarterfinal Game 7 on Sunday. It was the first Game 7 victory, and just the third playoff series win, in the franchise's 42-year history. The Clippers' reserves were critical down the stretch, posting all but two of the team's 27 fourth quarter points. Kenyon Martin, Mo Williams and Nick Young combined to finish with 33 points and 12 rebounds off the bench. Rudy Gay and Marc Gasol scored 19 points apiece, but Mike Conley shot just 2-of-13 from the floor and the team managed a dismal 25-of-77 mark, including missing all 13 of their three-point attempts. The Clippers advance to face the top-seeded Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals beginning on Tuesday night in San Antonio.

Final Score: Miami 95, Indiana 86

Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Newly-minted NBA MVP LeBron James had 32 points, 15 rebounds and five assists on Sunday and the Heat grinded out a 95-86 win over the Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The game was tied after three quarters, but Miami opened the fourth with an 8-2 run and never relinquished the lead after that. Dwyane Wade added 29 points for the second-seeded Heat, who defeated the Knicks in five games to advance to the second round. They have won 13 straight playoff home games versus Eastern Conference opponents. Chris Bosh scored 13 points but suffered a lower abdominal strain shortly before halftime and did not return. David West and Roy Hibbert both recorded a double-double for the Pacers, who also won their opening series in five games, downing the Dwight Howard-less Magic to reach the second round for the first time since 2005.

Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Giancarlo Stanton celebrated Mother's Day in grand style. The Marlins right-fielder belted a first-pitch grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning -- capping a six-run rally -- to lift Miami to a dramatic 8-4 win over the New York Mets in the rubber match of a three-game series. Stanton's second career walk-off home run came after the Mets pulled ahead in the top of the ninth against embattled reliever Heath Bell (2-3). New York broke a 2-2 tie when pinch-hitter Justin Turner delivered a two-out, two-run double to right field. Frank Francisco (1-3) faltered when asked to preserve the Mets' lead. For the second time in three innings, Emilio Bonifacio led off with a triple and John Buck, who launched a game-tying two-run homer in the seventh off Ramon Ramirez, worked a walk before a pinch- hitting Greg Dobbs stroked an RBI single to center.

Final Score: Philadelphia 3, San Diego 2

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Fresh off his five-game suspension for plunking Washington Nationals rookie Bryce Harper, Cole Hamels tossed seven strong innings to help the Phillies take the rubber match of a three-game set with the Padres, 3-2, on Sunday. Hamels (5-1) allowed one run on five hits and three walks with five strikeouts, lowering his earned run average to 2.28, and Jimmy Rollins hit a solo home run for Philadelphia. Jonathan Papelbon struck out two in a scoreless ninth for his 10th save in as many opportunities. Jeff Suppan (2-1) was the tough-luck loser for San Diego, allowing three runs -- two earned -- on six hits without a walk over six frames. Jesus Guzman had an RBI and a run scored in the setback.

Final Score: Pittsburgh 3, Houston 2 (12 innings)

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Josh Harrison smacked a game-winning single in the bottom of the 12th inning to give the Pirates a 3-2 victory over the Astros in the finale of a three-game weekend series at PNC Park on Sunday. Clint Barmes led off the frame with a double into left off of Fernando Rodriguez (1-4) before Harrison lofted a single into left, allowing Barmes to score from second as the Pirates wrapped up a nine-game homestand at 5-4. Tony Watson (3-0) got the victory after tossing a scoreless top of the 12th while starter A.J. Burnett yielded just two runs on six hits while striking out four over eight innings of work. Houston starter Wandy Rodriguez surrendered one run on three hits while fanning seven over eight innings before Brett Myers suffered his first blown save of the season when he allowed a run in the ninth. Carlos Lee finished with two hits and scored both of the Astros runs but Houston fell for the third time in four tries.

Final Score: Chicago 8, Milwaukee 2

Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Ian Stewart and Reed Johnson each belted solo home runs and the Cubs pounded out 13 hits in an 8-2 victory over the Brewers in the finale of a three-game weekend series at Miller Park. Shawn Camp (1-1) earned the victory despite allowing a run on two hits and a walk when he entered in the sixth in place of starter Jeff Samardzija, who gave up one run on three hits and two walks while fanning six. Tony Campana had three hits and an RBI, while Starlin Castro and Alfonso Soriano each knocked in a run as the Cubs snapped a 10-game losing streak in Milwaukee dating back to April 9, 2011. Kameron Loe (2-1) suffered the loss after giving up an unearned run in the seventh. Starter Marco Estrada yielded two runs on five hits over his six innings on the bump and Taylor Green knocked in two runs as the Brewers dropped to 5-2 against the Cubs this season.

Final Score: Atlanta 7, St. Louis 4

St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Jason Heyward hit a three-run double to help the Atlanta Braves complete a three-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals with a 7-4 win at Busch Stadium. Freddie Freeman doubled twice and knocked in a run for Atlanta, which has won seven of its last nine games. Tommy Hanson (4-3) gave up a solo home run to St. Louis' Carlos Beltran among five hits in five-plus innings. He walked three and recorded a season-high nine strikeouts.

Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Andy Pettitte gave up two-run homers to Casper Wells and Justin Smoak in his long-awaited return to the mound, which allowed the Seattle Mariners to beat the New York Yankees, 6-2. Pettitte (0-1), making his first start in the big leagues since 2010, was charged with four runs on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings. The soon-to-be 40-year-old left- hander walked three and fanned two. Pettitte retired after the 2010 season, but returned to the team in spring training on a minor league contract after sitting out last year. The three-time All-Star was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre prior to Sunday's game. The Mariners got a strong outing from Kevin Millwood (1-4), who allowed one run on three hits over seven innings. Millwood struck out six and walked four en route to his first victory of the season. Robinson Cano and Russell Martin each had an RBI for the Yankees, who failed to pick up their first sweep of the Mariners in the Bronx since May 23-25, 2008.

Final Score: Boston 12, Cleveland 1

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Jarrod Saltalamacchia registered three hits, including a two-run home run, to go with five runs batted in as the Boston Red Sox routed the Cleveland Indians, 12-1, in the finale of a four-game set. Daniel Nava added two doubles, three RBI and three runs scored in the onslaught for Boston, which has won three straight after dropping eight of its previous nine contests. Will Middlebrooks belted a solo shot among his two hits, scored three runs and drove in two while Adrian Gonzalez chipped in with a pair of doubles and two runs scored. Daniel Bard (3-4) surrendered a run on six hits and four walks in six innings for the Red Sox. Justin Masterson (1-3) was touched for six runs on seven hits and a walk in six innings for Cleveland, which has dropped five of its last six.

Final Score: Minnesota 4, Toronto 3

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Brian Dozier homered, Ryan Doumit hit a two-run single and the Minnesota Twins hung on to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays, 4-3, in the finale of a four-game series. Scott Diamond (2-0) pitched seven scoring frames, allowing five hits while walking none and fanning four for Minnesota , which split the set. Matt Capps worked around a one-out hit in the ninth to pick up his seventh save. Ricky Romero (4-1) suffered his first loss of the year, allowing four runs on nine hits and five walks over 5 1/3 innings. Edwin Encarnacion tallied three hits in the setback.

Final Score: Tampa Bay 9, Baltimore 8

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Ben Zobrist drove in three runs, including an eighth-inning solo homer that proved to be the difference, as the Tampa Bay Rays held on to beat the Baltimore Orioles, 9-8, in the finale of a three-game series at Camden Yards. Elliot Johnson went deep in front of Zobrist in the eighth for Tampa Bay, which avoided being swept in Baltimore for the first time since July 24-26, 2007. Nick Markakis doubled twice and knocked in three for the Orioles. The Rays scored three runs in the second and fourth innings against Baltimore starting pitcher Jake Arrieta (2-4) en route to taking a 7-1 lead. But the Orioles put up a three-spot in the sixth, with J.J. Hardy and Markakis hitting back-to-back doubles and Matt Wieters launching a home run to right-center. Tampa Bay starter James Shields (6-1) couldn't make it out of the seventh. Robert Andino began the frame with a single and Ryan Flaherty reached on a throwing error. After striking out Xavier Avery, who made his major league debut, Shields was replaced by Burke Badenhop. Hardy then grounded into a fielder's choice and scored along with Andino when Markakis doubled off Jake McGee.

Final Score: Kansas City 9, Chicago 1

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Jeff Francoeur homered and drove in two runs and Johnny Giavotella added a go-ahead two-run double as Kansas City used a late burst of offense to down Chicago, 9-1, in the rubber match of a three- game set. Billy Butler, Eric Hosmer, Irving Falu and Alcides Escobar picked up an RBI each in a six-run ninth for the Royals, who won by a 5-0 count on Saturday and have taken four of five overall. Luis Mendoza (2-2) worked 5 2/3 innings, scattering seven hits and one run with four strikeouts. He was called upon since starter Danny Duffy left the game after recording just two outs and facing three batters with an unknown injury. Paul Konerko knocked in the lone run for the White Sox, who had won three in a row before dropping the final two this weekend. Matt Thornton (1-3) was charged with the deciding run while retiring one batter in the seventh inning.

Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Andy Pettitte gave up two-run homers to Casper Wells and Justin Smoak in his long-awaited return to the mound, which allowed the Seattle Mariners to beat the New York Yankees, 6-2. Pettitte (0-1), making his first start in the big leagues since 2010, was charged with four runs on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings. The soon-to-be 40-year-old left- hander walked three and fanned two. Pettitte retired after the 2010 season, but returned to the team in spring training on a minor league contract after sitting out last year. The three-time All-Star was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre prior to Sunday's game. The Mariners got a strong outing from Kevin Millwood (1-4), who allowed one run on three hits over seven innings. Millwood struck out six and walked four en route to his first victory of the season. Robinson Cano and Russell Martin each had an RBI for the Yankees, who failed to pick up their first sweep of the Mariners in the Bronx since May 23-25, 2008.

Final Score: Boston 12, Cleveland 1

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Jarrod Saltalamacchia registered three hits, including a two-run home run, to go with five runs batted in as the Boston Red Sox routed the Cleveland Indians, 12-1, in the finale of a four-game set. Daniel Nava added two doubles, three RBI and three runs scored in the onslaught for Boston, which has won three straight after dropping eight of its previous nine contests. Will Middlebrooks belted a solo shot among his two hits, scored three runs and drove in two while Adrian Gonzalez chipped in with a pair of doubles and two runs scored. Daniel Bard (3-4) surrendered a run on six hits and four walks in six innings for the Red Sox. Justin Masterson (1-3) was touched for six runs on seven hits and a walk in six innings for Cleveland, which has dropped five of its last six.

Final Score: Minnesota 4, Toronto 3

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Brian Dozier homered, Ryan Doumit hit a two-run single and the Minnesota Twins hung on to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays, 4-3, in the finale of a four-game series. Scott Diamond (2-0) pitched seven scoring frames, allowing five hits while walking none and fanning four for Minnesota , which split the set. Matt Capps worked around a one-out hit in the ninth to pick up his seventh save. Ricky Romero (4-1) suffered his first loss of the year, allowing four runs on nine hits and five walks over 5 1/3 innings. Edwin Encarnacion tallied three hits in the setback.

Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh suffered a lower abdominal strain shortly before halftime of Sunday's Eastern Conference semifinal opener against the Indiana Pacers.

He will not return to the game.

Bosh dunked over Pacers center Roy Hibbert and drew the foul with 1:06 remaining in the second quarter, but landed awkwardly and remained on the floor momentarily. He made the free throw, cutting Miami's deficit to 48-42, and contested Hibbert's miss on Indiana's next possession before departing for the locker room.

He did not return to the court with his teammates for the start of the third quarter.

Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - The San Francisco Giants activated pitcher Jeremy Affeldt from the 15-day disabled list on Sunday.

Affeldt last pitched on April 27 when he surrendered two runs on three hits over two innings before being placed on the DL one day later with a right knee sprain.

The Giants also recalled infielder Charlie Culberson, who is slated to make his major league debut on Sunday when he starts at second base. The former first-round pick was batting .284 with five homers and 24 runs batted in over 36 games with Triple-A Fresno.

To make room on the roster, San Francisco designated left-hander Travis Blackley for assignment and optioned infielder Conor Gillaspie to Fresno.

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Kansas City Royals starter Danny Duffy departed Sunday's game with an unknown injury.

Duffy retired two batters and walked Gordon Beckham in the bottom of the first inning before leaving. Luis Mendoza took over from there.

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - The Boston Red Sox placed outfielder Darnell McDonald on the 15-day disabled list Sunday.

The 33-year-old, who is suffering from a left oblique strain, is batting a mere .179 with two home runs and eight RBI in 26 games this season.

The club selected first baseman Mauro Gomez, 27, to the active roster from Triple-A Pawtucket.

To make room for Gomez on the 40-man roster, Boston transferred Jacoby Ellsbury to the 60-day disabled list. The runner-up in 2011 American League MVP voting was placed on the 15-day disabled list on April 14 with a right shoulder subluxation.

Helsinki, Finland (Sports Network) - Jimmy Howard made 18 saves and the United States took down Finland, 5-0, on Sunday to clinch a spot in the quarterfinals at the 2012 World Championship.

Max Pacioretty and Chris Butler each had a goal and an assist for the Americans, who passed Finland for second place in Group H with 13 points.

Kyle Palmieri, Justin Faulk and Bobby Ryan also lit the lamp.

Kari Lehtonen stopped 25-of-30 shots for Finland, the reigning gold medalist. Lehtonen left the game with about eight minutes to go due to an injury.

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - The Pittsburgh Pirates have reinstated closer Joel Hanrahan from the bereavement list.

Hanrahan comes into Sunday's action with a 1-0 record, six saves and a 4.22 earned run average in 11 games this season.

Pittsburgh also placed pitcher Daniel McCutchen on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left oblique.

McCutchen suffered the injury while taking batting practice prior to Saturday's game against the Astros. He was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday, when Hanrahan was put on the bereavement list.

St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - The St. Louis Cardinals activated first baseman Lance Berkman from the 15-day disabled list on Sunday.

He is in the lineup for Sunday's matchup with Atlanta.

The six-time All-Star was placed on the DL on April 20 (retroactive to April 19) with a strained left calf. He missed 20 games.

Berkman, in his second season with the Cardinals, is batting .348 with a pair of runs batted in through seven games. He hit .301 with 31 homers and 94 runs batted in last year, earning NL Comeback Player of the Year honors.

To make room for Berkman on the roster, St. Louis optioned outfielder Shane Robinson to Triple-A Memphis. Robinson was batting .311 over 23 games for the big league club.

Helsinki, Finland (Sports Network) - Jimmy Howard made 18 saves and the United States took down Finland, 5-0, on Sunday at the 2012 World Championship.

Max Pacioretty and Chris Butler each had a goal and an assist for the Americans, who passed Finland for second place in Group H with 13 points.

Kyle Palmieri, Justin Faulk and Bobby Ryan also lit the lamp.

Kari Lehtonen stopped 25-of-30 shots for Finland, the reigning gold medalist. Lehtonen left the game with about eight minutes to go due to an injury.

Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - The Washington Nationals placed catcher Wilson Ramos on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Ramos suffered the injury during Saturday's 2-1 win over the Reds.

The injury occurred as Ramos was tracking down a passed ball from Jordan Zimmermann. Ramos hurried to the ball, but as he went to pick it up, his knee buckled underneath him.

Ramos remained on the ground while wincing in obvious pain for several minutes before being carried off the field.

Ramos was hitting .265 with three home runs and 10 RBI in 25 games this season.

Washington selected the contract of catcher Sandy Leon from Double-A Harrisburg to fill the roster spot.

Leon batted .319 with 10 doubles, one home run and 12 RBI in 27 games this season with the Senators.

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - It took seven games and a series of trials but the Los Angeles Lakers finally put away the Denver Nuggets. On the cusp of elimination, the sixth-seeded Nuggets stormed back with two straight wins and held a lead in the fourth quarter on Saturday, but the Lakers persevered, getting 23 points, 17 rebounds and six assists from Pau Gasol en route to a 96-87 victory. Los Angeles, seeded third, will visit the second-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday in the Western Conference semifinals. Al Harrington and Ty Lawson scored 24 points apiece for the Nuggets, who fell just one victory short of their first-ever series win over the Lakers.

Final Score: Boston 92, Philadelphia 91

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Rajon Rondo recorded his eighth career playoff triple-double on Saturday and guided the Celtics to a 92-91 win over the 76ers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Rondo finished with 13 points, 17 assists and 12 rebounds and helped Boston overcome a 10-point fourth quarter deficit. Kevin Garnett added 29 points and 11 rebounds for the fourth-seeded Celtics, who defeated the Hawks in six games to advance to the second round for the fifth straight season. Andre Iguodala, who sent the eighth-seeded 76ers into the second round with a pair of last-second free throws on Thursday, scored a team-high 19 points in the loss. Game 2 is set for Monday in Boston.

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Rajon Rondo recorded his eighth career playoff triple-double on Saturday and guided the Celtics to a 92-91 win over the 76ers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Rondo finished with 13 points, 17 assists and 12 rebounds and helped Boston overcome a 10-point fourth quarter deficit. Kevin Garnett added 29 points and 11 rebounds for the fourth-seeded Celtics, who defeated the Hawks in six games to advance to the second round for the fifth straight season. Andre Iguodala, who sent the eighth-seeded 76ers into the second round with a pair of last-second free throws on Thursday, scored a team-high 19 points in the loss. Game 2 is set for Monday in Boston.

Final Score: LA Lakers 96, Denver 87

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - It took seven games and a series of trials but the Los Angeles Lakers finally put away the Denver Nuggets. On the cusp of elimination, the sixth-seeded Nuggets stormed back with two straight wins and held a lead in the fourth quarter on Saturday, but the Lakers persevered, getting 23 points, 17 rebounds and six assists from Pau Gasol en route to a 96-87 victory. Los Angeles, seeded third, will visit the second-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday in the Western Conference semifinals. Al Harrington and Ty Lawson scored 24 points apiece for the Nuggets, who fell just one victory short of their first-ever series win over the Lakers.

Miami, FL (Sports Network) - David Wright collected four hits and drove in three runs to power the New York Mets to a 9-3 win over the Miami Marlins. Andres Torres contributed a two-run single for the Mets, who had their five- game winning streak snapped in Friday's series opener. New York's Daniel Murphy finished 3-for-4 with a walk and an RBI, while Lucas Duda also had three hits. R.A. Dickey (5-1) gave up nine hits but limited the Marlins to two runs over six innings. Former Met Jose Reyes registered four hits for Miami, which fell to 9-2 in May. Ricky Nolasco (4-1) will have to wait at least one more outing to establish the franchise mark for career wins. The Marlins right-hander was tagged for six runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings and remains tied with Dontrelle Willis (68) for the record.

Final Score: Milwaukee 8, Chicago 2

Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Edwin Maysonet's first career grand slam highlighted a five-run sixth inning, helping the Milwaukee Brewers down the Chicago Cubs, 8-2, in the middle test of a three-game set. Shaun Marcum (2-1) fanned six and allowed a run on three hits and two walks over seven strong innings. Travis Ishikawa smacked two doubles and scored a pair of runs for Milwaukee, which has won three of its last four contests. Tony Campana had two hits, including an RBI double for Chicago, which has dropped 10 consecutive games in Milwaukee.

Final Score: San Diego 2, Philadelphia 1

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Jesus Guzman drove in the go-ahead run with a seventh-inning sacrifice fly and the Padres held on to defeat the Phillies, 2-1, on Saturday. Will Venable hit an RBI double earlier in the game and Edinson Volquez (2-2) gave up just one run on six hits in as many innings to earn the win. Dale Thayer stranded a runner at third base in the ninth to record his third save of the season. Roy Halladay (3-3) allowed two runs on seven hits over seven innings. He struck out 10, issued just one walk and is now winless in his last five starts -- the longest such stretch of his Phillies career. Freddy Galvis had an RBI double for Philadelphia, which won the opener of this three-game series on Friday after being swept by the Mets earlier in the week.

Final Score: Pittsburgh 5, Houston 2

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Andrew McCutchen finished the game with four hits, including a solo homer, as the Pirates defeated the Astros, 5-2, in the middle test of a three-game series at PNC Park on Saturday. Charlie Morton (2-3) allowed two runs -- one earned -- on seven hits and a walk over six innings to notch the victory and Juan Cruz spun a scoreless ninth to record his third save of the season. Jose Tabata added a solo homer and scored twice, while Neil Walker also knocked in a run as the Pirates snapped a brief two- game skid. J.A. Happ (2-3) tossed five-plus innings and was charged for all five runs on six hits and a walk. Jordan Schafer smacked an RBI double and Jose Altuve scored a run for the Astros, who have dropped four of their last six games.

Final Score: Washington 2, Cincinnati 1

Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Jordan Zimmermann tossed seven solid innings while Danny Espinosa launched the go-ahead solo home run in the sixth, leading the Washington Nationals to a 2-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in the middle test of a three-game set. Zimmermann (2-3) fanned nine and surrendered just a run on five hits and a walk for Washington, which has won three straight on the heels of a three-game losing skid. Wilson Ramos added a solo shot, but left the game in the seventh inning with an apparent knee injury. Mat Latos allowed a run on three hits and five walks in five innings for the Reds, who have lost three of their last four. Jose Arredondo (2-1) relieved Latos in the sixth and was immediately welcomed by Espinosa, who smacked a solo homer to right field, making it 2-1 in favor of Washington. Tyler Clippard threw a scoreless eighth and Henry Rodriguez struck out the side in the ninth to notch his eighth save of the season.

Final Score: Atlanta 7, St. Louis 2

St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Michael Bourn went 3-for-6 with a solo home run, two RBI and two runs scored and Brandon Beachy pitched six strong innings as the Atlanta Braves took a 7-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in the second of a three-game set. Beachy (4-1) gave up just one run on two hits with four walks and six strikeouts for the Braves, who have won six of eight. Brian McCann went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored while Dan Uggla scored twice as the Atlanta offense gave Beachy plenty of support. Adam Wainwright (2-4) gave up five runs on nine hits with five walks and five strikeouts in just 4 1/3 innings for the Cardinals, who have dropped the first two games of this set after winning four straight. Rafael Furcal and Allen Craig each drove in a run in the loss.

Final Score: San Francisco 5, Arizona 2

Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - Matt Cain tossed six innings of one-run ball and added a two-run double at the plate as the Giants downed the Diamondbacks, 5-2, in the middle contest of a three-game series at Chase Field on Saturday. Cain (2-2) fanned eight and allowed three hits and two walks, while Santiago Casilla fired a scoreless ninth to record his seventh save of the season. Melky Cabrera smacked three hits and knocked in two runs while Angel Pagan finished 3-for-3 as the Giants won at Chase Field for the first time since June 15, 2011. Trevor Cahill (2-4) lasted 5 2/3 innings, yielding four runs on six hits and three walks to take the loss. Aaron Hill and Jason Kubel each scored a run, but Arizona saw its nine-game win streak over the Giants come to an end.

Final Score: Los Angeles 2, Colorado 1

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Tony Gwynn Jr. knocked in the go-ahead run with a pinch-hit single in the bottom of the eighth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Colorado Rockies, 2-1, on Saturday. Aaron Harang (2-2) got the win over Rockies starter Juan Nicasio, giving up a run on four hits and two walks with two strikeouts in eight innings. Kenley Jansen struck out one in a perfect ninth inning to wrap up the win, the Dodgers' fourth in their last five games. They won the opener of this three- game series 7-3 on Friday. Tyler Colvin homered in the seventh to tie the game, but the Rockies lost for the seventh time in eight games. Nicasio struck out nine in seven innings and gave up just one run on five hits with no walks in a no decision.

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Rajon Rondo recorded his eighth career playoff triple-double on Saturday and guided the Celtics to a 92-91 win over the 76ers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Rondo finished with 13 points, 17 assists and 12 rebounds and helped Boston overcome a 10-point fourth quarter deficit. Kevin Garnett added 29 points and 11 rebounds for the fourth-seeded Celtics, who defeated the Hawks in six games to advance to the second round for the fifth straight season. Andre Iguodala, who sent the eighth-seeded 76ers into the second round with a pair of last-second free throws on Thursday, scored a team-high 19 points in the loss. Game 2 is set for Monday in Boston.

Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Kendrys Morales broke a seventh-inning tie with a sacrifice fly, helping the visiting Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim beat the Texas Rangers, 4-2, in the middle installment of a three-game series. Mark Trumbo belted a two-run homer with two outs in the fourth for the Angels, who snapped a five-game losing streak to their AL West rivals. Los Angeles has won five of seven overall. After rain cut short his outing last night, former Ranger C.J. Wilson did something Saturday afternoon that hadn't been done in nearly a decade: start back-to-back games. Wilson faced only five batters before play was halted in the first inning Friday night. He was charged with four runs and the loss. On Saturday, he received a no-decision after allowing two runs on five hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings. David Carpenter (1-1) issued a walk to load the bases but recorded the final out in the sixth to earn the win. Josh Hamilton clubbed his 18th homer of the season -- a solo blast off Wilson -- for Texas, which suffered its second loss in six games. Matt Harrison (4-3) was tagged for four runs on four hits in six-plus innings.

Final Score: New York 6, Seattle 2

Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Phil Hughes pitched into the eighth inning and Jayson Nix hit a two-run home run as the New York Yankees took a 6-2 win over the Seattle Mariners in the second of three games. Hughes (3-4) gave up just one run on six hits with a walk and four strikeouts while Raul Ibanez hit a solo home run for the Yankees, who have won three straight and five of six. Sunday's finale will see the much anticipated debut of Andy Pettitte on the hill for New York. It will be his first appearance since Game 3 of the 2010 ALCS against Texas as he retired after the 2010 season and sat out the 2011 season before signing with the Yankees this past March. He is 11-11 with a 4.33 earned run average over 23 starts against Seattle in his career. Mike Carp hit a solo home run and an RBI double for the Mariners, who have dropped three of their last four. Hector Noesi (2-4) gave up five runs on six hits over seven innings to take the loss.

Final Score: Baltimore 5, Tampa Bay 3

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Adam Jones drove in two runs, Bill Hall belted a solo homer in his Baltimore debut and the Orioles posted a 5-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in the second portion of a three-game set at Camden Yards. Hall had his contract purchased from Triple-A Norfolk before the game after the Orioles placed third baseman Mark Reynolds on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left oblique. The veteran utility player started in left field and his eighth-inning blast provided insurance for his new team. Brian Matusz (2-4) gave up three runs -- two earned -- on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings to pick up the win, the third in four games for Baltimore. Jim Johnson earned his 11th save of the season with a flawless ninth. Luke Scott knocked in two of Tampa Bay's three runs, while Matt Moore (1-3) allowed four runs -- one earned -- on four hits and four walks in 4 1/3 innings to absorb the loss. The Rays have dropped three in a row and six of seven overall.

Final Score: Boston 4, Cleveland 1

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Felix Doubront tossed six innings while Dustin Pedroia went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored as the Boston Red Sox downed the Cleveland Indians, 4-1, in the third game of a four-game set. Doubront (3-1) gave up just one run on three hits with two walks and five strikeouts for the Red Sox, who have won their past two. Cody Ross clubbed a solo home run, Mike Aviles added an RBI and a run scored and David Ortiz drove in the other run. Jason Kipnis drove in the lone run for the Indians, who have lost four of their last five games. Zach McAllister (1-1) was charged with four runs on eight hits with eight strikeouts over seven innings to take the loss.

Final Score: Kansas City 5, Chicago 0

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Luke Hochevar tossed seven shutout innings as the Kansas City Royals blanked the Chicago White Sox, 5-0, in the second portion of a three-game series. Hochevar (3-3) allowed just three hits and a walk while retiring the last 11 batters he faced, lowering his ERA from 9.00 to 7.20. Billy Butler, Alcides Escobar and Humberto Quintero each had two hits and an RBI for the Royals, who won for the third time in four games. Chris Sale (3-2) gave up three runs on seven hits and two walks to suffer the loss for Chicago, which had its three-game win streak snapped.

Final Score: Toronto 2, Minnesota 1

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Drew Hutchison tossed six solid innings and Jose Bautista laced a go-ahead solo home run in the sixth frame, helping the Toronto Blue Jays down the Minnesota Twins, 2-1, in the third test of a four- game set. Hutchison (2-1) surrendered a run on three hits and four walks for Toronto, which has won three of its last four. Adam Lind added an RBI single while Casey Janssen picked up his second save of the season with a 1-2-3 ninth. Former Blue Jay P.J. Walters (0-1) made his Twins debut and allowed two runs on six hits in six frames. Minnesota has lost six of its last eight.

Final Score: Oakland 3, Detroit 1

Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Brandon McCarthy struck out 10 batters through seven scoreless innings to lead the Oakland Athletics past the Detroit Tigers, 3-1, in the third test of a four-game series. McCarthy (3-3) scattered four hits and did not walk a batter for Oakland, which improved to 3-2 on a six- game homestand. Brian Fuentes allowed a run in the ninth but still recorded his second save of the year. Doug Fister (0-1) gave up a run on five hits and two walks while striking out eight in a losing effort. Alex Avila knocked in the lone run for the Tigers, who dropped consecutive games for the first time since a five-game slide from April 22-27.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - The New York Rangers are off to the conference finals for the first time in 15 years after escaping another Game 7. Henrik Lundqvist made 22 saves and the Rangers beat the Washington Capitals 2-1 on Saturday night in the sixth straight game in the series decided by one goal. The Rangers will host New Jersey in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference on Monday at home. Brad Richards scored New York's first goal just 92 seconds in and Michael Del Zotto made it 2-0 midway through the third period, but Roman Hamrlik replied for Washington just 38 seconds after that to cut the deficit in half. Lundqvist had 11 of his 22 saves in the second period. He stopped 26 shots in a 2-1 victory over Ottawa in Game 7 of the first round to keep the top-seeded Rangers from being chased out early. They improved to 5-0 in Game 7s at Madison Square Garden and won their seventh straight playoff series with home-ice advantage. The Caps, meanwhile, failed to make the conference finals for the first time since 1998, a year after the Rangers last did. They also played their second Game 7 of these playoffs after topping No. 2 seed Boston in the first round. Rookie goaltender Braden Holtby made 29 saves in the loss but couldn't get off the ice for an extra attacker until there was about a minute left in the third period because of New York pressure.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - The NBA fined Indiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel $15,000 on Saturday for calling the Miami Heat "the biggest flopping team" in the league and wondering how referees will call the upcoming semifinal series between the teams.

The NBA said the fine was for "comments about how the referees should officiate the Pacers' upcoming series with the Heat." Vogel made the comments during a media session on Thursday

Game 1 of the Pacers-Heat series is Sunday afternoon in Miami.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - The NBA handed down fines to Atlanta Hawks co- owner Michael Gearon and rookie forward Ivan Johnson on Saturday.

Gearon was fined $35,000 for publicly criticizing NBA officiating and making negative comments about an opposing player.

He called Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett "the dirtiest guy in the game" at a speaking engagement on Wednesday.

Johnson was fined $25,000 for making an obscene gesture toward fans after an 83-80 loss in Boston on Thursday that knocked the Hawks out of the playoffs.

NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson announced the fines.

Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - The Oakland Athletics have placed outfielder Yoenis Cespedes on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 7, with a strained muscle in his left hand.

Cespedes was hitting .245 with five doubles, five home runs and a team-high 21 RBI through 28 games this season.

He leads all rookies in RBI and stolen bases (four) while also tying for the lead in home runs.

The A's recalled infielder Josh Donaldson from Triple-A Sacramento to fill the roster spot.

Donaldson appeared in nine games for Oakland earlier this season, batting .094 with an RBI, a stolen base and 13 strikeouts in 32 at-bats.

Miami, FL (Sports Network) - David Wright collected four hits and drove in three runs to power the New York Mets to a 9-3 win over the Miami Marlins. Andres Torres contributed a two-run single for the Mets, who had their five- game winning streak snapped in Friday's series opener. New York's Daniel Murphy finished 3-for-4 with a walk and an RBI, while Lucas Duda also had three hits. R.A. Dickey (5-1) gave up nine hits but limited the Marlins to two runs over six innings. Former Met Jose Reyes registered four hits for Miami, which fell to 9-2 in May. Ricky Nolasco (4-1) will have to wait at least one more outing to establish the franchise mark for career wins. The Marlins right-hander was tagged for six runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings and remains tied with Dontrelle Willis (68) for the record.

Final Score: Milwaukee 8, Chicago 2

Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Edwin Maysonet's first career grand slam highlighted a five-run sixth inning, helping the Milwaukee Brewers down the Chicago Cubs, 8-2, in the middle test of a three-game set. Shaun Marcum (2-1) fanned six and allowed a run on three hits and two walks over seven strong innings. Travis Ishikawa smacked two doubles and scored a pair of runs for Milwaukee, which has won three of its last four contests. Tony Campana had two hits, including an RBI double for Chicago, which has dropped 10 consecutive games in Milwaukee.

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose had surgery on Saturday to repair his torn anterior cruciate ligament.

The team said on Saturday that the surgery was successful while the Chicago Sun-Times reported earlier in the day that last season's MVP had the procedure at the Rush University Medical Center and it was performed by Chicago team physician Dr. Brian Cole.

The team said it will release more information regarding the prognosis and his recovery time later in the week.

Rose suffered the injury in the first playoff game against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 28. The injury occurred with 70 seconds left in the game as he went down after driving to a jump-stop in the lane and throwing a pass out to the right.

Chicago won the game, but went on to lose the series as the 76ers defeated the Bulls, the top seed in the Eastern Conference, in six games.

Rose, 23, missed 27 of the 66 games this season with several injuries, including back spasms and a pulled groin. When he did play, he averaged 21.8 points and 7.9 assists per game.

Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - The Oakland Athletics have placed outfielder Yoenis Cespedes on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 7, with a strained muscle in his left hand.

Cespedes was hitting .245 with five doubles, five home runs and a team-high 21 RBI through 28 games this season.

He leads all rookies in RBI and stolen bases (four) while also tying for the lead in home runs.

The A's recalled outfielder Michael Taylor from Triple-A Sacramento to fill the roster spot.

Taylor appeared in four games for Oakland earlier this season, batting .188 with a double and two runs scored.

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - The Baltimore Orioles placed third baseman Mark Reynolds on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a strained left oblique.

Reynolds is batting .191 with two homers and nine RBI this season.

The Orioles also selected the contract of utility player Bill Hall from Triple-A Norfolk. Hall, 32, was hitting .222 in 15 games for the Tides.

A veteran of over 1,000 major league games, Hall saw time with Houston and San Francisco last season.

To make room for Hall on the 40-man roster, the Orioles designated pitcher Brad Bergesen for assignment.

Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Kendrys Morales broke a seventh-inning tie with a sacrifice fly, helping the visiting Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim beat the Texas Rangers, 4-2, in the middle installment of a three-game series. Mark Trumbo belted a two-run homer with two outs in the fourth for the Angels, who snapped a five-game losing streak to their AL West rivals. Los Angeles has won five of seven overall. After rain cut short his outing last night, former Ranger C.J. Wilson did something Saturday afternoon that hadn't been done in nearly a decade: start back-to-back games. Wilson faced only five batters before play was halted in the first inning Friday night. He was charged with four runs and the loss. On Saturday, he received a no-decision after allowing two runs on five hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings. David Carpenter (1-1) issued a walk to load the bases but recorded the final out in the sixth to earn the win. Josh Hamilton clubbed his 18th homer of the season -- a solo blast off Wilson -- for Texas, which suffered its second loss in six games. Matt Harrison (4-3) was tagged for four runs on four hits in six-plus innings.

Final Score: New York 6, Seattle 2

Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Phil Hughes pitched into the eighth inning and Jayson Nix hit a two-run home run as the New York Yankees took a 6-2 win over the Seattle Mariners in the second of three games. Hughes (3-4) gave up just one run on six hits with a walk and four strikeouts while Raul Ibanez hit a solo home run for the Yankees, who have won three straight and five of six. Sunday's finale will see the much anticipated debut of Andy Pettitte on the hill for New York. It will be his first appearance since Game 3 of the 2010 ALCS against Texas as he retired after the 2010 season and sat out the 2011 season before signing with the Yankees this past March. He is 11-11 with a 4.33 earned run average over 23 starts against Seattle in his career. Mike Carp hit a solo home run and an RBI double for the Mariners, who have dropped three of their last four. Hector Noesi (2-4) gave up five runs on six hits over seven innings to take the loss.

Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - The Cincinnati Reds placed third baseman Scott Rolen on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left shoulder Saturday.

It is the same shoulder Rolen received surgery on last season, limiting the 17-year veteran to just 65 games.

Rolen has hit .174 with six doubles, two home runs and 11 RBI through 29 games this season.

Cincinnati purchased the contract of third baseman Mike Costanzo from Triple-A Louisville to fill the roster spot.

Costanzo batted .291 with six doubles, three homers and 11 RBI in 23 games for Louisville this season.

The 28-year-old will be making his MLB debut.

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - The Kansas City Royals reinstated pitcher Greg Holland off the 15-day disabled list Saturday.

Holland made seven appearances out of the bullpen this season with an 0-2 record and an 11.37 earned run average before missing the last 18 games with a left rib stress reaction.

The Royals optioned pitcher Nate Adcock to Triple-A Omaha to make room on the roster.

Adcock had a 2.89 ERA with no decisions in three relief appearances for Kansas City.

Helsinki, Finland (Sports Network) - Dion Phaneuf scored two goals, Devan Dubnyk made 24 saves and Canada posted a resounding 8-0 win Saturday over Kazakhstan to clinch a spot in the quarterfinals at the 2012 World Championship.

Captain Ryan Getzlaf and Duncan Keith collected three assists apiece for the Canadians, who broke the game open with a five-goal third period barrage.

Canada is pacing the tournament with 16 points, one more than Russia and Sweden. Both of those teams are in the other group.

Earlier in Helsinki, Slovakia exploded for four goals in a span of three minutes and 40 seconds during the second period en route to a 5-1 win over Belarus, while France pulled off an upset with a 4-2 win over Switzerland.

In Stockholm, Gabriel Landeskog and Erik Karlsson both registered a goal and an assist in the Swedes' 4-0 shutout of Italy.

Viktor Fasth stopped 19 shots for Sweden, which secured a berth in the quarterfinals.

Also in Stockholm, Norway blanked Latvia, 3-0, and Germany edged Denmark, 2-1.

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Cleveland Indians pitcher Josh Tomlin was scratched from Saturday's scheduled start against Boston because of a sore right wrist and placed on the 15-day disabled list.

The move is retroactive to May 8 and to take his spot in the start the team recalled right-hander Zach McAllister from Triple-A Columbus. McAllister, who was optioned to Columbus on Tuesday, will be making his second start of the season as he beat Chicago on Monday.

Tomlin developed a sore wrist in his last outing five days ago in the second game of a doubleheader against Chicago from gripping a wet ball. He is 1-2 with a 4.67 earned run average in six games, including five starts, this season.

Also on Saturday, the team purchased the contract of infielder Jose Lopez from Columbus, optioned infielder Jason Donald to Columbus and designated outfielder Nick Weglarz for assignment.

Lopez has played five games for the Indians this season and he has four hits, including a home run, in 21 at-bats.

Donald batted just .178 with four runs batted in over 16 games this season.

Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Kendrys Morales broke a seventh-inning tie with a sacrifice fly, helping the visiting Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim beat the Texas Rangers, 4-2, in the middle installment of a three-game series. Mark Trumbo belted a two-run homer with two outs in the fourth for the Angels, who snapped a five-game losing streak to their AL West rivals. Los Angeles has won five of seven overall. After rain cut short his outing last night, former Ranger C.J. Wilson did something Saturday afternoon that hadn't been done in nearly a decade: start back-to-back games. Wilson faced only five batters before play was halted in the first inning Friday night. He was charged with four runs and the loss. On Saturday, he received a no-decision after allowing two runs on five hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings. David Carpenter (1-1) issued a walk to load the bases but recorded the final out in the sixth to earn the win. Josh Hamilton clubbed his 18th homer of the season -- a solo blast off Wilson -- for Texas, which suffered its second loss in six games. Matt Harrison (4-3) was tagged for four runs on four hits in six-plus innings.

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose reportedly had surgery on Saturday to repair his torn anterior cruciate ligament.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that last season's MVP had surgery at the Rush University Medical Center and it was performed by Chicago team physician Dr. Brian Cole.

Rose suffered the injury in the first playoff game against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 28. The injury occurred with 70 seconds left in the game as he went down after driving to a jump-stop in the lane and throwing a pass out to the right.

Chicago won the game, but went on to lose the series as the 76ers defeated the Bulls, the top seed in the Eastern Conference, in six games.

Rose, 23, missed 27 of the 66 games this season with several injuries, including back spasms and a pulled groin. When he did play, he averaged 21.8 points and 7.9 assists per game.

Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Miami Heat forward LeBron James was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player for the 2011-12 season.

James was selected as MVP for the third time in the last four seasons and becomes the eighth player in league history to be honored on at least three occasions.

In his second season with the Heat, James averaged 27.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists in 62 games. He captured his first two MVPs in 2009 and '10 for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

James received a total of 1,074 points, including 85 first-place votes, in balloting from a panel of 120 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout North America, as well as a fan vote. He easily outdistanced Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant, who picked up 24 first-place votes and a total of 889 points.

"This is my ninth year in the NBA," James said during a ceremony at American Airlines Arena. "Less than 10 years ago, I had dreams of being in the NBA. I had dreams of putting on an NBA uniform. I never dreamt about being a Most Valuable Player."

James joins Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6), Michael Jordan and Bill Russell (5), Wilt Chamberlain (4) and Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Moses Malone (3) on the list of players with at least three MVPs. James, Abdul-Jabbar, Chamberlain and Malone are the only players to win an MVP with two different teams.

"Even though, this is an individual award, it's not an individual award," James added while thanking his family, the Heat organization and his teammates, who eventually joined him on the stage.

"The reason I'm up here today is because of those guys," he said addressing his teammates. "If those guys don't sacrifice what they sacrifice... I wouldn't be up here."

James is the only one of the eight three-time MVP winners without an NBA title. The Heat reached the NBA Finals last spring, losing to Dallas, and will play Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Indiana on Sunday.

"I'd give all three of them back for an NBA championship," stressed James, who became the first Heat player to be named MVP. "It's all about the team... It's my main goal."

James finished third in the NBA in scoring, behind Durant and Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant. He led the Heat in assists and tied for the team lead in rebounding, while averaging a career-low 37.5 minutes per game.

Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers was third in the balloting with 385 points, followed by Bryant and San Antonio's Tony Parker. Paul, Bryant and Parker each received first-place votes.

Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Miami Heat forward LeBron James was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player for the 2011-12 season.

James was selected as MVP for the third time in the last four seasons and becomes the eighth player in league history to be honored on at least three occasions.

In his second season with the Heat, James averaged 27.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists in 62 games. He captured his first two MVPs in 2009 and '10 for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

James joins Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6), Michael Jordan and Bill Russell (5), Wilt Chamberlain (4) and Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Moses Malone (3) on the list of players with at least three MVPs. James, Abdul-Jabbar, Chamberlain and Malone are the only players to win an MVP with two different teams.

However, James is the only one of the eight without an NBA title. The Heat reached the NBA Finals last spring, losing to Dallas, and will play Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Indiana on Sunday.

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Cleveland Indians pitcher Josh Tomlin was scratched from Saturday's scheduled start against Boston because of a sore right wrist.

The Indians will instead send right-hander Zach McAllister to the Fenway Park mound for his sixth career big league start. McAllister is 1-0 after beating the White Sox on Monday for his first career win.

Tomlin developed a sore wrist in his last outing five days ago in the second game of a doubleheader against Chicago from gripping a wet ball. He is 1-2 with a 4.67 ERA in six games, including five starts, this season.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The Celtics' experience is largely the reason they have been installed as heavy favorites to beat the upstart Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

It also happens to be the only way they can lose.

That may sound contradictory but age is almost always the unwelcome accomplice to experience and while the "Boston Three Party" of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen is as battle-tested as they come, they are also retreating in the one war they will all eventually lose.

As competitive as K.G. is, no amount of bulletin board material coming from team owners or media members will matter when Father Time decides the hourglass has run its course and takes his scythe to the skills of Garnett or his fellow future Hall of Famers.

In fact, that process has already started and can't be halted.

The 35-year-old Garnett has been playing solid basketball recently and put together an impressive 28-point, 14-rebound performance against Atlanta in Game 6 when Boston punched its ticket to the semis by jettisoning the fifth- seeded Hawks.

Of course, that kind of effort used to be a regular occurrence for the 14-time All-Star, not the type of spike in performance that makes people take notice. Now eight years removed from his MVP season, Garnett may still sport the swagger that makes him the NBA's resident bully but the skills have begun eroding and he is simply not the player he used to be.

Allen, on the other hand, looks like the closest to the finish line. The 36- year-old, 10-time All-Star has been the NBA's best pure shooter for over a decade but he's also spent so much time racing around screens, that his right ankle is toast and will likely require surgery after the season is complete.

Allen was able to give Doc Rivers some solid minutes earlier in the series against Atlanta but looked shot by Game 6, showing little lift or explosion en route to finishing a dismal 1-of-7 from beyond the arc.

You shouldn't start playing Taps for Allen's career just yet but Rivers doesn't know what he is going to get from the UConn product on a game-to-game basis these days.

The 34-year-old Pierce, meanwhile, is still chugging along at a nice clip, perhaps since he never really relied on freakish athleticism to become an All- Star in the first place. "The Truth" remains one of the game's best closers and a professional scorer thanks to his tremendous body control and innate ability to set defenders up.

That said, Pierce is now dealing with a sprained MCL in his left knee, the type of injury that seems to crop up so much more frequently when players hit their mid-30s.

"Yeah, I expect to play," Pierce said on Friday. "I'm just getting the treatments. I'm dealing with a sprained knee, getting as much ice as possible. It's probably not going to heal until the season is over so I'm just doing the necessary steps that I can to make sure I don't overdo it or put myself in a position where I could really hurt my career."

Rivers sounded far from optimistic that he would have Pierce and Allen anywhere near full strength for Game 1 against the Sixers after a short two- day turnaround for both clubs.

"It's a challenge because of bodies," Rivers said before the Celtics' film session and light shootaround on Friday. "The Sixers are pretty healthy, we're not, so that's the challenge. Ray is struggling today, Paul is struggling today. That's a challenge."

So while most are escorting the Celtics through the EZ-Pass lane on to the East finals, Rivers is worried about his young and athletic, albeit poor shooting, opponents understanding that the Sixers present a bigger hurdle than most think.

"That's not the greatest team to pick to play," Rivers said. "We've got a bunch of gazelles coming in here; they only beat us by 1,000 in two of our three games. I can tell you the key to the series right now is we can't turn the ball over. If we do, it's a guaranteed basket against them."

Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - The Chicago Cubs have placed relief pitcher Carlos Marmol on the 15-day disabled list because of a right hamstring strain.

Marmol was hurt during Friday's game against Milwaukee, leaving the contest with two outs in the seventh inning. He returned to Chicago for an MRI exam, which revealed the severity of the injury.

Replaced as the team's closer last week, Marmol had struggled to a record of 0-1 with two saves and a 6.35 earned run average in 15 appearances this season. He had 34 saves last year and 38 saves in 2010.

The Cubs recalled pitcher Casey Coleman from Triple-A Iowa to fill the roster spot. Coleman was 2-3 with a 3.48 ERA in seven games, including six starts, for Iowa.

In 31 career major league games, 25 of which have been starts, Coleman is 7-11 with a 5.48 ERA. He was 3-9 with a 6.40 ERA in 19 games, all but two as a starter, last season for the Cubs.

Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Raul Ibanez belted a go-ahead three-run homer off Felix Hernandez and the New York Yankees opened a three-game series with a 6-2 win over the Seattle Mariners on Friday night. Ibanez's homer made it 4-2 in the sixth and Andruw Jones added a two-run shot in the eighth for the Yankees, who have won four of five. Robinson Cano went 4-for-4 and starter Hiroki Kuroda (3-4) earned the win in seven good innings. He gave up two runs on six hits and three walks with two strikeouts. Both Seattle runs came on solo homers hit by Dustin Ackley to lead off the game and Jesus Montero to start the sixth inning, which gave the Mariners a 2-1 lead. Hernandez (3-2) had been 3-0 with a 0.38 ERA in three previous starts at the new Yankee Stadium and 4-1 in five starts overall in the Bronx prior to Friday's tilt. But the 26-year-old righty was charged with four runs on 11 hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.

Final Score: Baltimore 4, Tampa Bay 3

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Nick Johnson's two-run blast in the bottom of the seventh inning was the difference, as Baltimore topped Tampa Bay, 4-3, in the opener of a three-game set from Camden Yards. Adam Jones and Nick Markakis each hit solo homers for the Orioles, who were coming off losing three of four at home against Texas. Darren O'Day (3-0) turned in a scoreless top of the seventh to earn the win, and Jim Johnson notched his 10th save with a perfect ninth. Elliot Johnson and Carlos Pena drove in the runs for the Rays, who skidded to their fifth loss in six games. Joel Peralta (0-2) took the loss and the blown save after serving up the deciding home run.

Final Score: Boston 7, Cleveland 5

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Dustin Pedroia went 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored as the Boston Red Sox took a 7-5 win over the Cleveland Indians in the second of a four-game set. Will Middlebrooks drove in two while Ryan Sweeney went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored for the Red Sox, who had lost their previous three games. Clay Buchholz (4-1) went 6 1/3 innings and gave up three earned runs on eight hits with three walks and three strikeouts to grab the win. Carlos Santana and Michael Brantley each drove in two runs for the Indians, who have dropped three of their past four games. Ubaldo Jimenez (3-3) was torched for seven runs on nine hits over 4 1/3 innings to take the loss.

Final Score: Chicago 5, Kansas City 0

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Alex Rios hit a two-run triple and Gavin Floyd pitched into the eighth inning, as the Chicago White Sox downed Kansas City, 5-0, in the first edition of a three-game series. Adam Dunn homered and Gordon Beckham also knocked in a run for the White Sox, who have won three in a row. Floyd (3-3) scattered five hits and walked two while fanning five over 7 2/3 innings. Jarrod Dyson picked up a pair of hits for the Royals, who had taken two of three from Boston. Felipe Paulino (1-1) was charged in defeat for seven hits and four runs despite six strikeouts in 5 2/3 frames.

Final Score: Texas 10, LA Angels of Anaheim 3

Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Josh Hamilton belted two home runs and Mitch Moreland homered and knocked in three runs as the Rangers hammered the Angels, 10-3, in the opener of a three-game series. Yu Darvish (5-1) allowed three runs on three hits and three walks while fanning seven through 5 1/3 innings for Texas, which won for the fifth time in seven games. Nelson Cruz added two RBI and Craig Gentry also knocked in a pair in the victory. C.J. Wilson (4-3) suffered the loss against his former team, giving up four runs on three hits and a walk in just one-third of an inning as he did not return to the mound after the game went into an hour and 56 minute rain delay in the first inning.

Final Score: Minnesota 7, Toronto 6

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Darin Mastroianni drove in three runs as the Minnesota Twins edged the Toronto Blue Jays, 7-6, in the second of four games. Ryan Doumit drove in two runs while Denard Span and Joe Mauer each scored twice for the Twins, who had dropped five of six coming into the game. Nick Blackburn (1-4) gave up five runs on six hits with three walks and three strikeouts over five-plus innings of work. Jose Bautista hit two home runs, Eric Thames added a two-run home run and Edwin Encarnacion donated a solo shot for the Blue Jays, who had won their previous two. Kyle Drabek (2-4) gave up three runs on four hits over 4 1/3 innings to take the loss.

Final Score: Oakland 11, Detroit 4

Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Brandon Inge continued his tear with a three- run home run and four RBI as the Oakland Athletics crushed the Detroit Tigers, 11-4, in the second of a four-game set. Over his past five games, Inge has homered four times, including two grand slams, and has driven in 16 runs. He has four, four-RBI games during that time and is the first player to accomplish that since Yankee great Lou Gehrig turned the feat in 1931. Joining Inge in the outburst on Friday was Josh Reddick, who went 4-for-4 with a three-run and solo home run, five RBI and four runs scored for the Athletics, who had lost their previous two. Tom Milone (5-2) gave up two runs -- one earned -- on five hits with a walk and six strikeouts over seven innings to grab the win. Miguel Cabrera drove in a pair of runs while Rick Porcello (3-3) was touched for four runs on nine hits with three walks and four strikeouts over five innings for the Tigers, who have exchanged wins and losses over their past 12 games.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Carlos Ruiz and John Mayberry both hit a two-run homer and an RBI single on Friday and the Phillies defeated the Padres, 7-3, in the opener of a three-game series. Vance Worley (3-2) earned the win, allowing three runs on six hits with two walks and nine strikeouts over six innings. Freddy Galvis added an RBI double for Philadelphia, which had lost five of its previous six games and was swept by the Mets in its last series. Clayton Richard (1-5) was charged with five runs on eight hits over 5 1/3 innings and lost his fifth consecutive start. Yonder Alonso had a solo homer and an RBI single for San Diego, which had just taken two of three from the Rockies.

Final Score: Houston 1, Pittsburgh 0

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Bud Norris spun six scoreless innings of three-hit ball and the Astros held off the Pirates, 1-0, in the opener of a three-game weekend set at PNC Park on Friday. Norris (3-1) struck out eight without walking a batter, Brett Myers threw a perfect ninth for his ninth save of the season and Chris Johnson finished with two of Houston's four hits to give the Astros their second win in three tries. James McDonald (2-2) was stellar in the setback, tossing eight innings of one-run ball on four hits and two walks with eight strikeouts. Rod Barajas tallied two base hits for the Pirates, who dropped their second straight contest.

Final Score: Miami 6, New York 5

Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Greg Dobbs' RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the Miami Marlins over the New York Mets, 6-5, in the opener of a three-game series. Down 5-4, Giancarlo Stanton started the home ninth with a double to left-center field off Frank Francisco (1-2). Stanton moved to third when Gaby Sanchez flied out and crossed the plate on Emilio Bonifacio's RBI single to right. Bonifacio then stole second and scored the game-winning run on Dobbs' two-out bloop single to right.

Final Score: Washington 7, Cincinnati 3

Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - The Washington Nationals scored seven runs in the first four innings and held on for a 7-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds in opener of a three-game weekend set Friday. Roger Bernadina hit a two-run homer and drove in three, Danny Espinosa launched another two-run shot and Adam LaRoche added two RBI as Washington won its second in a row on the heels of a season-worst three-game losing streak. Gio Gonzalez (4-1) went five innings, allowing two runs on five hits and four walks while fanning a season-high nine batters, including six straight at one point. Mike Leake (0-5) was touched for six runs on seven hits over just three frames. Jay Bruce had two hits, an RBI and a run scored in the losing effort.

Final Score: Milwaukee 8, Chicago 7 (13 innings)

Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Corey Hart belted a game-tying two run blast in the ninth and added a game-winning RBI single in the 13th inning as the Brewers defeated the Cubs, 8-7, in the opener of a three-game series at Miller Park on Friday. Rickie Weeks and Ryan Braun were each hit by a pitch from Lendy Castillo (0-1) to start the bottom of the 13th inning before Aramis Ramirez singled into right to load the bases with no outs. Hart then slapped a single up the middle for his fourth hit of the night, scoring Weeks from third to give the Brewers their ninth straight home victory over the Cubs. Vinnie Chulk (1-0) got the victory after tossing two scoreless innings in relief. Hart and Jonathan Lucroy each knocked in three runs as Milwaukee won its second contest in three tries. David DeJesus smacked a grand slam and added an RBI triple while Alfonso Soriano added two hits and an RBI, but the Cubs dropped their second in their last three.

Final Score: Atlanta 9, St. Louis 7 (12 innings)

St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Jason Heyward's two-run homer in the top of the 12th inning lifted the Atlanta Braves over the St. Louis Cardinals, 9-7, in the opener of a three-game series. Dan Uggla added a solo homer for the Braves, who improved to 5-2 on a nine-game road trip. Freddie Freeman, Tyler Pastornicky, Chipper Jones and Brian McCann added an RBI apiece. Atlanta starter Mike Minor gave up six runs on eight hits over 4 2/3 innings. Livan Hernandez (1-0) pitched two scoreless frames of relief to pick up his first win in a Braves uniform. Carlos Beltran hit a pair of homers and finished a single shy of the cycle for the Cardinals, who had a four-game winning streak snapped. Matt Carpenter and Allen Craig each hit solo home runs. Jaime Garcia gave up five runs -- four earned -- on nine hits over 5 2/3 frames, while Kyle McClellan (0-1) surrendered two walks and the hit to Heyward over two innings in the setback. Former Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, who won two World Series titles with the club, had his No. 10 jersey retired in a pre-game ceremony. It was the 12th number to be retired by the Cardinals organization.

Final Score: Arizona 5, San Francisco 1

Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - Patrick Corbin outdueled Madison Bumgarner on Friday and the Diamondbacks opened a three-game series with a 5-1 win over the Giants. Bumgarner entered Friday on a five-game win streak but Corbin (2-1), making his third major-league start, held San Francisco to one run on one three hits over seven innings. He struck out four and did not issue a walk. Miguel Montero hit a go-ahead RBI double in the fifth inning for Arizona and Paul Goldschmidt followed with a two-run homer. A.J. Pollock hit his first career home run in the sixth for the Diamondbacks, who halted a five-game skid. They have won a franchise-best nine straight games over the Giants. Bumgarner (5-2) was charged with five runs -- four earned -- on seven hits over six innings. He walked two and struck out five. Melky Cabrera had a first-inning home run for San Francisco, which has lost 10 of its last 16 games overall.

Final Score: Los Angeles 7, Colorado 3

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Chris Capuano tossed seven innings of one- run ball as the Los Angeles Dodgers topped the Colorado Rockies, 7-3, to open a three-game series at Dodger Stadium. Capuano (5-0) allowed four hits and did not issue a walk while striking out three for the Dodgers to remain undefeated on the season. Mark Ellis homered and knocked in three runs, while Andre Ethier also went deep and finished with two RBI for Los Angeles, which has won two straight and four of its last six. Jamie Moyer (1-3) gave up five runs on seven hits and a walk with seven strikeouts for the Rockies, who lost for the sixth time in seven games.

San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - The San Diego Chargers retired Junior Seau's number during a public memorial service for the former star on Friday.

The 12-time Pro Bowler committed suicide on May 2.

"There is only one Junior and only one number 55, and from tonight forward the number-55 Chargers jersey will always say 'Seau.' It is officially retired," said Chargers president Dean Spanos.

Thousands gathered at Qualcomm Stadium for the "Celebration of Life."

"His legacy includes his remarkable foundation, which has donated millions to causes that help children and young adults. Junior spent time with other teams near the end of his career, but all of us will always remember him as a San Diego Charger," San Diego mayor Jerry Sanders said.

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Mike Conley hit the go-ahead three-pointer, Marc Gasol poured in 23 points and the Memphis Grizzlies lived to fight another day with a 90-88 victory over the LA Clippers in Game 6 of the Western Conference quarterfinals. Conley finished with 13 points, Zach Randolph had 18 to go with 16 rebounds and Rudy Gay chipped in another 13 points for the Grizzlies, who have forced a decisive Game 7 in consecutive seasons. Memphis took Oklahoma City to a Game 7 in last season's conference semifinals, but was routed by 15 points. Blake Griffin netted a team-high 17 points for the Clippers despite spraining his knee in Game 5 on Wednesday. Chris Paul had 11 points and seven assists while dealing with a strained right hip flexor, also suffered Wednesday. Game 7 is set for Sunday in Memphis. The West's No. 1 seed, San Antonio, awaits the winner in the Western semifinals.

Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Raul Ibanez belted a go-ahead three-run homer off Felix Hernandez and the New York Yankees opened a three-game series with a 6-2 win over the Seattle Mariners on Friday night. Ibanez's homer made it 4-2 in the sixth and Andruw Jones added a two-run shot in the eighth for the Yankees, who have won four of five. Robinson Cano went 4-for-4 and starter Hiroki Kuroda (3-4) earned the win in seven good innings. He gave up two runs on six hits and three walks with two strikeouts. Both Seattle runs came on solo homers hit by Dustin Ackley to lead off the game and Jesus Montero to start the sixth inning, which gave the Mariners a 2-1 lead. Hernandez (3-2) had been 3-0 with a 0.38 ERA in three previous starts at the new Yankee Stadium and 4-1 in five starts overall in the Bronx prior to Friday's tilt. But the 26-year-old righty was charged with four runs on 11 hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.

Final Score: Baltimore 4, Tampa Bay 3

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Nick Johnson's two-run blast in the bottom of the seventh inning was the difference, as Baltimore topped Tampa Bay, 4-3, in the opener of a three-game set from Camden Yards. Adam Jones and Nick Markakis each hit solo homers for the Orioles, who were coming off losing three of four at home against Texas. Darren O'Day (3-0) turned in a scoreless top of the seventh to earn the win, and Jim Johnson notched his 10th save with a perfect ninth. Elliot Johnson and Carlos Pena drove in the runs for the Rays, who skidded to their fifth loss in six games. Joel Peralta (0-2) took the loss and the blown save after serving up the deciding home run.

Final Score: Boston 7, Cleveland 5

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Dustin Pedroia went 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored as the Boston Red Sox took a 7-5 win over the Cleveland Indians in the second of a four-game set. Will Middlebrooks drove in two while Ryan Sweeney went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored for the Red Sox, who had lost their previous three games. Clay Buchholz (4-1) went 6 1/3 innings and gave up three earned runs on eight hits with three walks and three strikeouts to grab the win. Carlos Santana and Michael Brantley each drove in two runs for the Indians, who have dropped three of their past four games. Ubaldo Jimenez (3-3) was torched for seven runs on nine hits over 4 1/3 innings to take the loss.

Final Score: Chicago 5, Kansas City 0

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Alex Rios hit a two-run triple and Gavin Floyd pitched into the eighth inning, as the Chicago White Sox downed Kansas City, 5-0, in the first edition of a three-game series. Adam Dunn homered and Gordon Beckham also knocked in a run for the White Sox, who have won three in a row. Floyd (3-3) scattered five hits and walked two while fanning five over 7 2/3 innings. Jarrod Dyson picked up a pair of hits for the Royals, who had taken two of three from Boston. Felipe Paulino (1-1) was charged in defeat for seven hits and four runs despite six strikeouts in 5 2/3 frames.

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - The Clippers' two All-Stars, point guard Chris Paul and forward Blake Griffin, started Friday's Western Conference quarterfinal Game 6 after sustaining lower body injuries in Game 5.

Paul suffered a strained right hip flexor with 5:16 remaining in the fourth quarter of Wednesday's contest against the Grizzlies, while Griffin sprained his left knee with 1:31 remaining in the third. An MRI taken Thursday confirmed that there was no structural damage to Griffin's knee.

Los Angeles leads Memphis, 3-2, in the best-of-seven set and can close out the series with a win in Game 6.

Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Miami Heat forward LeBron James will reportedly become the eighth player in NBA history to win at least three Most Valuable Player awards.

James is expected to be named MVP for the third time in the last four seasons on Saturday, the Miami Herald reported Friday night, citing an unnamed source.

He would join Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6), Michael Jordan and Bill Russell (5), Wilt Chamberlain (4) and Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Moses Malone (3) on the list of players with at least three MVPs.

In his second season with the Heat, James averaged 27.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists in 62 games. He captured his first two MVPs in 2009 and '10 for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

James finished third in scoring behind the Thunder's Kevin Durant and the Lakers' Kobe Bryant.

The Heat open their Eastern Conference semifinal series against Indiana at home on Sunday.

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - The Baltimore Orioles placed pitcher Matt Lindstrom on the 15-day disabled list and selected the contract of pitcher Dana Eveland from Triple-A Norfolk to make a start on Friday.

The moves came just prior to the beginning of a three-game set against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Lindstrom is sidelined with a right middle finger injury. He did not allow an earned run in his first 12 appearances this season, but was touched for three hits and two earned runs over one inning in Thursday's 7-3 loss to Texas in the back end of a doubleheader.

Eveland went 3-2 with a 2.21 earned run average in six starts for Norfolk this season. The 28-year-old left-hander was 3-2 with a 3.03 ERA in five starts with the Dodgers last season. He was dealt to Baltimore in early December.

To make room for Eveland, the O's designated infielder Zelous Wheeler for assignment.

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Baltimore Orioles left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada had elbow ligament replacement surgery on his pitching arm Friday.

The procedure was performed by Dr. Lewis Yocum in Los Angeles.

"The procedure went as planned and Dr. Yocum felt good about how it went. He predicts a full recovery," Wada said in a statement released through the team.

"I'm glad to have this over with and look forward to beginning my rehabilitation so I can get back to pitching for the Orioles as soon as possible."

Wada, 31, signed a two-year deal with the Orioles in December but was injured before the regular season started and is expected to be sidelined until next year.

Berea, OH (Sports Network) - Cleveland Browns head coach Pat Shurmur revealed on Friday that Phil Taylor will need surgery after the defensive tackle tore his left pectoral muscle on Thursday.

Taylor, a first-round draft pick in 2011, was injured while lifting weights during a team training program.

The 6-foot-3, 335-pound Taylor started all 16 games last season for the Browns and racked up 59 tackles to go with four sacks.

"I think anytime you lose a starter, I think it provides opportunity for other guys to fill in," Shurmur said. "We never want to lose a player. Unfortunately, at this point, Phil has to deal with what professional athletes have to deal with sometime and that's going through a surgery, going through a rehab and then coming back stronger than ever. I talked to him yesterday and today. His mood is good, he understands it and we'll get him fixed up and get him back."

The injury could force Taylor to miss the entire 2012 season.

"It's too early to speculate. Typically with these surgeries, the rehab is months so I don't want to say exactly. I don't want to cancel him out for the year, no," Shurmur said.

Syracuse, NY (Sports Network) - The defamation lawsuit filed against Syracuse and head men's basketball coach Jim Boeheim by two men who accused an assistant coach of molestation has been dismissed.

Supreme Court Justice Brian F. DeJoseph threw out the case Friday, saying the suit failed "as a matter of law" because Boeheim's statements questioning the accusations were clearly matters of opinion and not fact.

Former Syracuse ball boys Bobby Davis and Mike Lang were seeking damages for diminished career opportunities, damage to their reputations and what they said was "lasting emotional harm" in the wake of the comments.

Davis and Lang accused Bernie Fine of molesting them during the 1980s and 90s. In November, Davis told ESPN's "Outside the Lines" that he was molested by Fine for more than 12 years beginning in 1983, before he was in the seventh grade.

The men had hired civil rights attorney Gloria Allred for their suit against Boeheim after the longtime Syracuse head coach defended Fine while questioning the motives of the accusers, intimating they would sue for money.

Boeheim apologized for his comments, but the suit went forward.

DeJoseph wrote that the "content, tone, and purpose of Boeheim's statements would clearly signal to the reasonable reader, that what was being read in the articles published in the days after the initial ESPN report were likely to be an opinion - a biased, passionate, and defensive point of view of a basketball coach - rather than objective fact."

Thus, DeJoseph said, the claim against the coach failed as a matter of law. He dismissed a suit against Syracuse because it was "predicated on the same alleged defamatory statements."

Fine, who was fired by the university in late November, has not been charged with a crime and has denied the allegations.

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Dodgers have placed infielder/outfielder Jerry Hairston Jr. on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain.

The move is retroactive to May 7.

Hairston is batting .315 with three doubles, a home run and four RBI in 19 games with Los Angeles this season.

The Dodgers recalled infielder Justin Sellers from Triple-A Albuquerque to fill the roster spot.

Sellers is hitting .150 with three runs scored and two doubles in 10 games with the Dodgers this year.

Green Bay, WI (Sports Network) - The Green Bay Packers signed first-round draft pick Nick Perry on Friday.

Perry, a 6-foot-3, 265-pound linebacker out of USC, was selected by the Packers with the 28th overall pick in this year's draft.

Perry was a defensive end in college, but will play outside linebacker for Green Bay.

Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - The New York Yankees activated third baseman Eric Chavez from the seven-day disabled list after he suffered a concussion during a game last week.

The Yankees optioned utility man Eduardo Nunez to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes- Barre.

Chavez came out of a game during an at-bat May 2 against Baltimore after he was injured the previous half-inning diving in an attempt to stop a ball hit down the line.

He was hitting .290 with a .303 on-base percentage, three homers and five RBI in 15 games before going on the DL.

He was expected to be in the starting lineup as a designated hitter against Seattle on Friday night.

Helsinki, Finland (Sports Network) - Justin Faulk scored his second goal of the game with 22 seconds remaining in overtime to lift the United States to a 3-2 win over Kazakhstan at the 2012 World Championship.

Facing a winless Kazakhstan team, the Americans probably expected a far easier game, considering they came away with a 10-0 victory in the previous meeting.

But Friday's contest required overtime when Talgat Zhailauov tied it with 4:06 left in regulation. Faulk, who put Team USA up 2-1 early in the third, won the game off a feed from Max Pacioretty.

J.T. Brown potted the other American goal, while Richard Bachman stopped 17- of-19 shots.

Vitali Kolesnik played well in defeat, recording 47 saves for Kazakhstan, including 16 in a scoreless first period.

Brown and Konstantin Pushkaryov traded second-period tallies. Pushkaryov lit the lamp while United States captain Jack Johnson served a charging penalty.

Later in Helsinki, Jeff Skinner and John Tavares both had a goal and an assist as Canada beat Finland, 5-3, to move atop the group.

Evander Kane, Jordan Eberle and Alexandre Burrows also scored goals for the Canadians, who moved one point ahead of Finland with 13. Cam Ward had 35 saves in the win.

Kari Lehtonen allowed four goals on 25 shots for Finland, which has the same number of wins (4) as Canada but one fewer point. Mikko Koivu, Jussi Jokinen and Antti Pihlstrom each scored while Jokinen added an assist.

In Stockholm, Evgeni Malkin had a hat trick and five points in Russia's 7-3 win over Sweden.

Russia has won all five of its games and leads all teams with 15 points, three ahead of Sweden in their group. Semyon Varlamov had 43 saves in the win while Viktor Fasth allowed seven goals on 36 shots for Sweden.

Also in Stockholm, Petr Caslava scored two goals and Jakub Stepanek stopped 20 shots for the Czech Republic in a 6-0 rout of Italy.

Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - The New York Mets reinstated infielder Ronny Cedeno from the 15-day disabled list Friday.

Cedeno, 29, went on the DL last month with a left intercostal strain. He is batting .250 with a .438 on-base percentage in 10 games this season.

To make room for him on the roster, the Mets optioned infielder/outfielder Vinny Rottino to Triple-A Buffalo. Rottino was 0-for-4 in three games, including one start.

Houston, TX (Sports Network) - The Houston Texans signed quarterback John Beck on Friday.

Beck, a second-round draft selection out of Brigham Young in 2007, spent the last three seasons with the Washington Redskins. The 30-year-old started three games with the Redskins last year and threw for 858 yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions.

Over the course of his five-year career with the Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens and Redskins, Beck has thrown for 1,417 yards to go with three touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Helsinki, Finland (Sports Network) - Justin Faulk scored his second goal of the game with 22 seconds remaining in overtime to lift the United States to a 3-2 win over Kazakhstan at the 2012 World Championship.

Facing a winless Kazakhstan team, the Americans probably expected a far easier game, considering they came away with a 10-0 victory in the previous meeting.

But Friday's contest required overtime when Talgat Zhailauov tied it with 4:06 left in regulation. Faulk, who put Team USA up 2-1 early in the third, won the game off a feed from Max Pacioretty.

J.T. Brown potted the other American goal, while Richard Bachman stopped 17- of-19 shots.

Vitali Kolesnik played well in defeat, recording 47 saves for Kazakhstan, including 16 in a scoreless first period.

Brown and Konstantin Pushkaryov traded second-period tallies. Pushkaryov lit the lamp while United States captain Jack Johnson served a charging penalty.

Later in Helsinki, Jeff Skinner and John Tavares both had a goal and an assist as Canada beat Finland, 5-3, to move atop the group.

Evander Kane, Jordan Eberle and Alexandre Burrows also scored goals for the Canadians, who moved one point ahead of Finland with 13. Cam Ward had 35 saves in the win.

Kari Lehtonen allowed four goals on 25 shots for Finland, which has the same number of wins (4) as Canada but one fewer point. Mikko Koivu, Jussi Jokinen and Antti Pihlstrom each scored while Jokinen added an assist.

In Stockholm, Petr Caslava scored two goals and Jakub Stepanek stopped 20 shots for the Czech Republic in a 6-0 rout of Italy.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia Phillies put outfielder Laynce Nix on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a strained left calf among several other roster moves.

The Phillies recalled left-handed reliever Jake Diekman from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to fill Nix's roster spot and help out in the struggling bullpen.

Raul Valdes, another lefty reliever, and infielder Hector Luna were selected from Lehigh Valley and joined the Phillies prior to Friday night's game with the Padres, while right-hander Justin De Fratus was transferred from the 15- day DL to the 60-day DL with a right elbow sprain.

Nix, who was signed to a two-year deal in December, is batting .326 with two homers and 11 RBI in 22 games.

Fairfax, VA (Sports Network) - After having discussions with the Atlantic 10 about joining its conference, George Mason announced Friday that it will stay in the Colonial Athletic Conference, its home since 1985.

"Through this process we've engaged in open communication with senior executives at George Mason University. We respected the process George Mason University went through and are pleased it decided that continued membership in the CAA is in the best interest of the university and its athletic programs," said CAA commissioner Tom Yeager in a statement.

Last week, it was announced that Butler was leaving the Horizon League to join the Atlantic 10, which will lose Temple to the Big East and Charlotte to Conference USA in 2013-14.

Fairfax, VA (Sports Network) - After having discussions with the Atlantic 10 about joining its conference, George Mason announced Friday that it will stay in the Colonial Athletic Conference, its home since 1985.

"Through this process we've engaged in open communication with senior executives at George Mason University. We respected the process George Mason University went through and are pleased it decided that continued membership in the CAA is in the best interest of the university and its athletic programs," said CAA commissioner Tom Yeager in a statement.

Last week, it was announced that Butler was leaving the Horizon league to join the Atlantic 10, which will lose Temple to the Big East and Charlotte to Conference USA in 2013-14.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The San Diego Padres placed rookie hurler Joe Wieland on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a strained right elbow.

The move is retroactive to May 7, a day after he pitched 5 2/3 innings in a 6-3 loss to the Miami Marlins.

Wieland, 22, made his major league debut this season and has gone 0-4 with a 4.55 earned run average in five starts.

To fill Wieland's roster spot, the Padres recalled infielder/outfielder James Darnell from Triple-A Tucson.

At the time of his promotion, Darnell was hitting .267 in 31 minor league games with six doubles, seven homers and 21 runs batted in. He appeared in the majors for the first time in 2011, batting .222 in 18 games for San Diego.

Lake Forest, IL (Sports Network) - The Chicago Bears signed their 2012 first- round selection Shea McClellin to a four-year contract with a fifth-year option.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Boise State defensive end was taken 19th overall after registering 130 tackles, 20 1/2 sacks and four interceptions over his college career. He earned second team All-America honors as a senior last season.

In addition, the Bears inked free-agent defensive tackles John McCargo and DeMario Pressley and defensive end Cheta Ozougwu.

Orchard Park, NY (Sports Network) - Former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Vince Young signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills on Friday.

Young, who famously dubbed Philadelphia the "Dream Team" prior to last season, started three of the six games he played for the Eagles. He completed 66- of-114 passes for 866 yards with four touchdowns and nine interceptions.

The third player chosen in the 2006 NFL Draft, Young spent five years with the Tennessee Titans before joining the Eagles in 2011.

Young has thrown for 8,964 yards with 46 touchdowns and 51 interceptions in 60 career games. He also has 12 rushing touchdowns.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist is regarded as one of the game's best between the pipes. No further evidence is needed outside of his dual Vezina and Hart Trophy nominations for his play this season.

Yet, there stands a decent chance he could be watching the Eastern Conference finals at home next week. That's because Washington Capitals rookie goaltender Braden Holtby has surprisingly managed to go toe-to-toe with the one they call "King Henrik."

Few might have foreseen the seventh-seeded Capitals even advancing to the second round of the postseason, let alone taking the top-seeded Rangers to a crucial Game 7, scheduled for Saturday. For most of the season, Washington looked like a club without an identity, a former offensive firepower struggling in its attempt to morph into a solid defensive club.

But things eventually clicked under head coach Dale Hunter, who took over during the season from the fired Bruce Boudreau, and the club appears to be fully committed to his style at just the right time.

Washington's solid defensive play has kept a chunk of pressure off Holtby, who himself appears up to the task of knocking off the East's top team when the puck finds its way toward the net.

The Capitals began their playoff run with a surprising elimination of the defending Cup champion Bruins, outscoring Boston by a slim 16-15 margin in the seven-game series. Holtby opened the series as the starter thanks to injuries to both Tomas Vokoun and Michal Neuvirth. Neither has been heard from since.

It was an up-and-down series for the youngster, who appeared in just seven regular-season games in 2011-12. He gave up four goals in two of the first- round losses and was touched for three goals in a Game 5 win. However, he stopped 31-of-32 shots faced in a 2-1 overtime victory in Game 7, the fourth game to go past regulation in the series.

The situation has been just as tight through six games with the Rangers, with each of the past five contests decided by just one goal. In fact, the two clubs have been tied or separated by just one goal for 90 percent of the series.

That would seem like a lot for a player like Holtby, who had never appeared in the Stanley Cup playoffs prior to this season, but the 22-year-old has not only kept himself from making a series-changing mistake, but at times he has been the Caps' best player on the ice.

Take Wednesday's 2-1 victory in Game 6. Holtby not only outdueled his Rangers counterpart - turning aside 30 shots to Lundqvist's 21 and not allowing a goal until the game's final minute - but he helped Washington keep New York off the scoreboard during five power-play chances. That included a big four-minute kill in the second period following a high-stick call to Jeff Halpern with the Capitals up 2-0.

"It's one of those accidental things again. It starts with your goalie - (Braden Holtby) was sound and penalty killers sacrificed, blocked shots, worked their tails off and got the job done," Hunter said.

The kill not only impacted the game, but it could have given the Capitals the confidence they need to go into Madison Square Garden on Saturday and secure a win. After all, many wondered about the psyche of Washington after the way it lost Game 5: two power-play goals allowed on a four-minute high-stick call to Joel Ward, the first with only 6.6 seconds left in regulation and the winner 1:35 into overtime.

Washington could have easily folded following that 3-2 loss. Instead, the Capitals improved to 4-0 in Game 6's when facing elimination since 2007-08.

"It's a big (victory)," Holtby said after Game 6. "I think we earned it in a way that is going to benefit us in the long run. We played a very solid team game. Very gutsy effort and we got rewarded tonight."

Enough can't be said about how Holtby has performed under the pressure of tight hockey games. He halted 10-of-11 shots in the third period on Wednesday and now has gone 29 straight NHL starts, including all 13 playoff games, without suffering back-to-back losses. He is 6-0 with a 1.24 goals against average and .960 save percentage following a loss this postseason.

"Just staying focused, staying in the moment," said forward Jason Chimera of avoiding a losing streak in the postseason. "We know we've been in every game. Every game, we've had a chance to win. That's a big thing. It's hard to be upset about a game when we've been in every game. We haven't put ourselves out of it. And Holtby came back and played a good game for us."

Chimera scored the game-winner in the second period on Wednesday, giving the Capitals a rare two-goal lead. That was enough for Holtby, who came within 50.5 seconds of the shutout.

"It's obviously nice, but you still have to play (the game) the same," Holtby said of having a two-goal lead. "You can't get comfortable at all with guys playing in the playoffs for everything."

No player has faced more shots in the NHL playoffs than Holtby, who has stopped 400-of-428 pucks fired his way. Not only that, but his numbers in this season's playoffs are very similar to Lundqvist; both have a 7-6 record, while the Rangers' netminder has a 1.73 GAA and a save percentage of .936. Holtby has been just as good, posting a 1.95 GAA and .935 save percentage.

Both netminders have seen plenty of teammates block shots in front of them, a gritty part of the game that really shines through in the postseason. But when pucks are getting through, Holtby and Lundqvist have stood tall.

That isn't surprising for the latter. For Holtby, it's been the reason the Capitals are making a run at the conference finals.

East Rutherford, NJ (Sports Network) - The New York Giants have inked all of their 2012 NFL Draft picks, headlined by first-round selection David Wilson and second-rounder Rueben Randle.

With the final pick in the first round, the Giants took Virginia Tech running back David Wilson, who rushed for 1,709 yards last season.

Randle, a wide receiver from LSU, caught 53 balls for 917 yards and eight touchdowns last year.

The Giants also signed Virginia Tech cornerback Jayron Hosley (third round), Cincinnati tight end Adrien Robinson (fourth round), Auburn offensive lineman Brandon Mosley (fourth round), UAB offensive lineman Matt McCants (sixth round) and North Carolina State defensive tackle Markus Kuhn (seventh round).

Helsinki, Finland (Sports Network) - Justin Faulk scored his second goal of the game with 22 seconds remaining in overtime to lift the United States to a 3-2 win over Kazakhstan at the 2012 World Championship.

Facing a winless Kazakhstan team, the Americans probably expected a far easier game, considering they came away with a 10-0 victory in the previous meeting.

But Friday's contest required overtime when Talgat Zhailauov tied it with 4:06 left in regulation. Faulk, who put Team USA up 2-1 early in the third, won the game off a feed from Max Pacioretty.

J.T. Brown potted the other American goal, while Richard Bachman stopped 17- of-19 shots.

Vitali Kolesnik played well in defeat, recording 47 saves for Kazakhstan, including 16 in a scoreless first period.

Brown and Konstantin Pushkaryov traded second-period tallies. Pushkaryov lit the lamp while United States captain Jack Johnson served a charging penalty.

In Stockholm, Petr Caslava scored two goals and Jakub Stepanek stopped 20 shots for the Czech Republic in a 6-0 rout of Italy.

Charlotte, NC (Sports Network) - The Carolina Panthers have signed all seven of their selections in the 2012 NFL Draft, headlined by first-rounder Luke Kuechly.

The Panthers took the Boston College linebacker ninth overall. Kuechly started all 12 games during his junior season in 2011, registering a school-record 191 tackles.

For his performance, the 6-foot-3, 237-pounder was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and captured the Butkus Trophy, the Rotary Lombardi Award, the Lott Trophy and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy.

The Panthers also signed Midwestern State guard Amini Silatolu (second round), Oklahoma defensive end Frank Alexander (fourth round), Arkansas wide receiver Joe Adams (fourth round), Coastal Carolina cornerback Josh Norman (fifth round), Wisconsin punter Brad Nortman (sixth round) and California safety D.J. Campbell (seventh round).

All the rookies were signed to four-year contracts.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - For former Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand, making it to the NFL was always his dream. He had a productive career for the Scarlet Knights, playing in 31 games and recording 60 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and three fumble recoveries, and with strides in his junior and senior seasons, that dream had the potential to become a reality.

That all changed on October 16, 2010, when late in the game against Army, LeGrand made a tackle that fractured two vertebrae in his neck and left him paralyzed.

Or so he thought.

Following the injury, doctors told him that he would be resigned to a ventilator to assist with his breathing. A mere five weeks later he resumed breathing on his own. He was also told that there was a strong chance that he'd never walk again. Now he is able to stand upright with the help of a metal frame.

While he continues to show progress in his physical therapy with each passing day, nothing could prepare LeGrand for the phone call he received last week from his former coach Greg Schiano, who is now the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"I was in shock," said LeGrand. "(Coach Schiano) called me Monday and he just said 'We're picking you.' This is a dream come true for me to go to the NFL."

After being around LeGrand during his time at Rutgers, Schiano knows the type of man he is, and made it a point to make him a part of the Buccaneer family in whatever way possible.

"Leading up to the draft, I couldn't help but think that this should've been Eric's draft class," said Schiano. "This small gesture is the least we could do to recognize his character, spirit and perseverance. The way Eric lives his life epitomizes what we are looking for in Buccaneer Men."

LeGrand's story began to garner national attention after he made his return to the football field on October 29, 2011, just a year after his injury, to lead his team out onto the field at Rutgers' High Point Solutions Stadium. A month later he joined his fellow seniors on the field for Senior Day, which helped inspire a Scarlet Knight triumph over Big East rival Cincinnati.

His return to the field graced the cover of Sports Illustrated's 2011 year-end issue and was voted the magazine's Moment of the Year. He also received the Most Courageous Athlete Award from the New Jersey Sports Writers' Association and is slated to receive the Unsung Hero Award at the New Jersey Hall of Fame induction ceremony this June, honoring his courage, strength and character.

LeGrand has always had a great relationship with Schiano, and after all the two have been through in the past year and a half, he is more than happy to continue to be part of his coach's plans.

"It shows the person (Schiano) is, still keeping in touch with me," said LeGrand. "He still calls me every week, once a week. He's been thinking about me and my family since day one. He's been getting me the best doctors, the best care. He's down in Tampa right now, but he's making sure we know that he's not forgetting about my family or me up here. He's like a father figure to me."

LeGrand will never suit up for the Buccaneers, and he is unsure of what his future roll could be, but the organization will surely benefit from his never- give-up attitude and positive spirit.

"I'll meet with (Coach Schiano) soon," said LeGrand, who has no intentions of moving from New Jersey to Tampa. "I've got to talk to them and see what we can do and work some things out. I'm sure he has something planned."

In addition to his rehabilitation, LeGrand is able to continue his studies online and through Skype and he even served as the color commentator during some games last season for the Rutgers' radio broadcast. He plans to graduate next fall with a degree in labor studies and hopes to eventually continue his broadcasting career.

No matter what the future has in store for LeGrand, if he shows even a fraction of the determination and heart he has demonstrated thus far, he's going to be a success. The odds have been stacked against him since the accident, but that doesn't stop him from continuing to defy them en route to his ultimate ambition.

"My goal is to walk," said LeGrand. "I know that down the road it is going to happen."

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Give coach Tom Thibodeau credit.

Evan after his No. 1-seeded Chicago Bulls were jettisoned by the upstart Philadelphia 76ers in the most painful way possible, Thibodeau never made excuses despite missing superstar Derrick Rose and starting center Joakim Noah for most of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.

In fact, he repeated what almost became a mantra for the Bulls: "I do believe we had more than enough to win with," the coach said after watching his team fall, 79-78, in a sixth and deciding game Thursday night.

He was probably right.

In Tuesday's Game 5, something Sixers coach Doug Collins called a "human nature game" for Philadelphia, human nature was evidently a euphemism for an inability to shoot the basketball.

With a chance to close out the Bulls, Philadelphia was putrid in the Second City. Chicago limited the Sixers to just 32.1 percent field-goal shooting with the second quarter proving particularly challenging for the 76ers. They trailed 17-16 after one, but managed just 10 points in the second on 4-of-23 shooting and never recovered.

Meanwhile, the 69 points Philadelphia mustered were the fewest points the team scored in the postseason since laying a 68-point egg to Orlando in Game 2 of the first round of the playoffs back in 1999.

Perhaps more importantly, it meant the young Sixers failed a very big test and failed it miserably. This wasn't getting a 69 on your mid-term, this was putting up a 40 on a test your professor graded on a scale.

In the Sixers' first chance to eliminate a playoff opponent since capturing Game 6 against New Orleans in the East quarterfinals back in 2003, this group built around young players like Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner and unproven playoff veterans like Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand, came up smaller than Earl Boykins at the Bol family reunion.

The Sixers, of course, are far from the first team to take their foot off the gas after amassing a 3-1 series lead, but considering they were an eighth-seed coming in against the NBA's No. 1 team, you would think a sense of urgency wouldn't be too hard to create.

Of course, the only thing worse than sleepwalking through a Game 5 would be a lackadaisical Game 6 at home. Let's be honest, you could sit Rose, Noah, Taj Gibson, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Bob Love and the Sixers weren't winning a Game 7 in the Windy City.

So Thursday was it for Philadelphia. Win or go home, albeit after a quick stopover for the Game 7 sacrifice in Chi-town.

It's still hard to figure out how the Sixers beat the Bulls in Game 6 at Wells Fargo Center. Chicago outrebounded Philadelphia, 56-33, and had 29 second- chance shots compared to just to five for the Sixers. Philly didn't even snare an offensive board until about eight minutes were left in the game.

The last time an NBA team won a postseason game when being outrebounded by 23- plus boards was April 18, 1986, when Washington topped the Sixers despite Philadelphia's 58-29 advantage on the glass.

Through all of that, however, Iguodala was at the free throw line with 2.2 seconds left to win it.

Buoyed by the staggering rebounding edge, the Bulls were up one late with Omer Asik at the line, but the big man missed a pair of three throws to set up an Iguodala dash to the rim.

"(Omer) Asik is a bad shooter, I knew I had a chance to get the rebound," Iguodala said. "Spencer (Hawes) did a great job boxing out."

The Sixers' most polarizing figure, often criticized for his late-game play, was fouled at the rim.

Once an 80 percent shooter from the charity stripe, Iguodala had fallen on hard times this season. The defensive stalwart hit just 61.7 percent of his freebies in the regular season. He was at 45.1 percent in the fourth quarter and was a dismal 7-for-18 in what the NBA calls clutch-time free throws.

Let's just say the fans in Philly were ready to pounce on the quiet guy with the quirky personality whom they never embraced.

So what did Iguodala do?

With a little help from veteran big man Tony Battie, who didn't even play in the series, he calmly swished them both and didn't even hit the rim while doing it.

"On the free throws, Tony Battie told me to think of something that you love when shooting free throws," Iggy said. "I thought of my son and it was easy after that."

When C.J. Watson's desperation heave came up empty, the Big House in South Philly exploded as the Sixers won their first postseason series since '03, becoming just the fifth eighth-seed to take out a No. 1.

"I don't know how you could write a better script than Andre Iguodala getting a rebound, driving the length of the floor," Collins said. "He struggled all year at the foul line and stepped up, made two free throws to win a playoff series to get to the second round for the first time. I don't know what else you can say. I know how much it means to him and this team."

And Iguodala, the Sixers' best player since Allen Iverson left town, was finally the conquering hero in a city that never accepted him because he wasn't the original A.I.

"For Dre, he's gone through a lot," Collins said. "He's gone through a lot here. I told him, I said 'Nobody deserves this more than you do to have this moment. To move on and be able to experience this.'"

His reward in the country's toughest sports town?

Beat Boston or the boos are back.

"I told (Iguodala and the Sixers), 'Now you are in the high-rent district. Now you start finding out what it's all about,'" Collins said.

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - The Toronto Blue Jays signed outfielder/designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero to a minor league contract on Thursday.

The 37-year-old played for Baltimore last season and batted .290 with 13 homers and 63 RBI over 145 games.

Over his 16 seasons in the majors, he has clubbed 449 home runs along with 1,496 RBI and a .318 batting average. He has played for Montreal, the Angels, Texas and Baltimore in his career.

He will report to Blue Jays extended spring training in Dunedin, Florida.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - At least for one night, Andre Iguodala is in the city of Philadelphia's good graces. Iguodala drained two free throws with 2.2 seconds to play, lifting the Sixers past the top-seeded Chicago Bulls, 79-78, and into the Eastern Conference semifinals with a Game 6 victory. Chicago, buoyed by a staggering 56-33 rebounding edge, rallied from a 12-point deficit to seize the lead late, but Omer Asik missed a pair of free throws to set up Iguodala's dash to the rim and subsequent free throws. The polarizing figure galvanized for his late-game play rung the bell this time, making both shots and then watching as C.J. Watson's desperation halfcourt heave hit off the back rim. Iguodala scored a game-best 20 points to go along with seven assists, while Jrue Holiday joined Louis Williams in double figures with 14 points. The Sixers became the fifth eighth-seed to knock off a top seed and now will face Boston in the next round. Luol Deng and Richard Hamilton each posted 19 points, while Deng grabbed 17 rebounds as well. Taj Gibson scored 14 points off the bench for the Bulls, who couldn't find enough offense without the services of last season's MVP Derrick Rose, who tore his ACL in a Game 1 injury that altered the series' landscape. Joakim Noah dressed but didn't play again, missing his third consecutive game with an ankle sprain.

Final Score: Boston 83, Atlanta 80

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Atlanta was fortunate to avoid elimination after a series of mental mistakes in the closing seconds of Game 5, but the late- game hijinks tilted Game 6 in Boston's favor on Thursday. Kevin Garnett swished a turnaround jumper with 30.4 seconds remaining to put the Celtics in front and they held on for a dramatic 83-80 series-clinching victory at TD Garden. Trailing 81-79, with possession and 3.1 seconds remaining, the Hawks found Al Horford -- who had erupted for 10 points in the fourth quarter to that point -- in the paint on an inbounds pass. He was promptly fouled. He missed the first free-throw, and with so little time on the clock, the strategic play appeared to be to miss the second and try for an offensive rebound. But Horford converted the second at the stripe, Paul Pierce hit 2- of-2 at the line a few moments later and the Celtics escaped to face Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Garnett finished with game-highs in points (28) and rebounds (14) in the victory, while Josh Smith led Atlanta with 18 points in the season-ending defeat.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - At least for one night, Andre Iguodala is in the city of Philadelphia's good graces. Iguodala drained two free throws with 2.2 seconds to play, lifting the Sixers past the top-seeded Chicago Bulls, 79-78, and into the Eastern Conference semifinals with a Game 6 victory. Chicago, buoyed by a staggering 56-33 rebounding edge, rallied from a 12-point deficit to seize the lead late, but Omer Asik missed a pair of free throws to set up Iguodala's dash to the rim and subsequent free throws. The polarizing figure galvanized for his late-game play rung the bell this time, making both shots and then watching as C.J. Watson's desperation halfcourt heave hit off the back rim. Iguodala scored a game-best 20 points to go along with seven assists, while Jrue Holiday joined Louis Williams in double figures with 14 points. The Sixers became the fifth eighth-seed to knock off a top seed and now will face Boston in the next round. Luol Deng and Richard Hamilton each posted 19 points, while Deng grabbed 17 rebounds as well. Taj Gibson scored 14 points off the bench for the Bulls, who couldn't find enough offense without the services of last season's MVP Derrick Rose, who tore his ACL in a Game 1 injury that altered the series' landscape. Joakim Noah dressed but didn't play again, missing his third consecutive game with an ankle sprain.

Final Score: Boston 83, Atlanta 80

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Atlanta was fortunate to avoid elimination after a series of mental mistakes in the closing seconds of Game 5, but the late- game hijinks tilted Game 6 in Boston's favor on Thursday. Kevin Garnett swished a turnaround jumper with 30.4 seconds remaining to put the Celtics in front and they held on for a dramatic 83-80 series-clinching victory at TD Garden. Trailing 81-79, with possession and 3.1 seconds remaining, the Hawks found Al Horford -- who had erupted for 10 points in the fourth quarter to that point -- in the paint on an inbounds pass. He was promptly fouled. He missed the first free-throw, and with so little time on the clock, the strategic play appeared to be to miss the second and try for an offensive rebound. But Horford converted the second at the stripe, Paul Pierce hit 2- of-2 at the line a few moments later and the Celtics escaped to face Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Garnett finished with game-highs in points (28) and rebounds (14) in the victory, while Josh Smith led Atlanta with 18 points in the season-ending defeat.

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Baltimore belted five home runs to back 7 2/3 strong innings from Wei-Yin Chen, then survived a late scare to take a 6-5 decision over Texas in the opener of a twinbill from Camden Yards. In the second game, Josh Hamilton hit a two-run homer and Elvis Andrus added two RBI as Texas tripped up Baltimore, 7-3.

Final Score: New York 5, Tampa Bay 3

Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - CC Sabathia was at his best, outdueling Tampa Bay ace David Price, as the Yankees downed the Rays, 5-3, in the rubber match of a three-game set at Yankee Stadium. Sabathia (5-0) gave up an unearned run in each of the first two innings but then dominated over the next six frames, scattering seven hits with 10 strikeouts and one walk. Curtis Granderson hit his 11th home run of the season and Robinson Cano added a two- run shot for the Yankees, who have won three of four overall. Price (5-2) gave up five runs on 11 hits with four strikeouts and three walks over seven frames, laboring throughout as the Yankees kept the pressure on. Sean Rodriguez finished with two hits and Elliot Johnson added two hits and scored two runs for the Rays, who have dropped four of five.

Final Score: Cleveland 8, Boston 3

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Michael Brantley went 4-for-5 with two runs batted in and a run scored as the Cleveland Indians downed the Boston Red Sox, 8-3, in the opener of a four-game set. Jack Hannahan hit a two-run homer and Jason Kipnis hit a solo home run for the Indians, who had dropped their previous two after winning three straight. Derek Lowe (5-1) gave up two runs on nine hits over six innings to win his third straight decision. Dustin Pedroia hit a solo home run while Daniel Nava and Mike Aviles each drove in a run for the Red Sox, who have lost three straight and eight of their last nine. Josh Beckett (2-4), who was under heat for playing golf last week after missing a start with soreness in his right side, didn't make it out of the third inning as he was tagged for seven runs on seven hits for his second straight loss.

Final Score: Toronto 6, Minnesota 2

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Yunel Escobar went 4-for-4 with three runs scored as the Toronto Blue Jays took a 6-2 win over the Minnesota Twins in the opener of a four-game set. Brett Lawrie and Edwin Encarnacion each drove in two runs for the Blue Jays, who have won their past two. Henderson Alvarez (3-2) gave up just two runs -- one earned -- on seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts over seven innings. Josh Willingham hit a solo home run in the loss for the Twins, who have dropped five of six. Jason Marquis (2-2) gave up six runs -- five earned -- on seven hits in just four innings of work.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - At least for one night, Andre Iguodala is in the city of Philadelphia's good graces. Iguodala drained two free throws with 2.2 seconds to play, lifting the Sixers past the top-seeded Chicago Bulls, 79-78, and into the Eastern Conference semifinals with a Game 6 victory. Chicago, buoyed by a staggering 56-33 rebounding edge, rallied from a 12-point deficit to seize the lead late, but Omer Asik missed a pair of three throws to set up Iguodala's dash to the rim and subsequent free throws. The polarizing figure galvanized for his late-game play rung the bell this time, making both shots and then watching as C.J. Watson's desperation halfcourt heave hit off the back rim. Iguodala scored a game-best 20 points to go along with seven assists, while Jrue Holiday joined Louis Williams in double figures with 14 points. The Sixers became the fifth eighth-seed to knock off a top seed and and now will face Boston in the next round. Luol Deng and Richard Hamilton each posted 19 points, while Deng grabbed 17 rebounds as well. Taj Gibson scored 14 points off the bench for the Bulls, who couldn't find enough offense without the services of last season's MVP Derrick Rose, who tore his ACL in a Game One injury that altered the series' landscape.

Final Score: Boston 83, Atlanta 80

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Atlanta was fortunate to avoid elimination after a series of mental mistakes in the closing seconds of Game 5, but the late- game hijinks tilted Game 6 in Boston's favor on Thursday. Kevin Garnett swished a turnaround jumper with 30.4 seconds remaining to put the Celtics in front and they held on for a dramatic 83-80 series-clinching victory at TD Garden. Trailing 81-79, with possession and 3.1 seconds remaining, the Hawks found Al Horford -- who had erupted for 10 points in the fourth quarter to that point -- in the paint on an inbounds pass. He was promptly fouled. He missed the first free-throw, and with so little time on the clock, the strategic play appeared to be to miss the second and try for an offensive rebound. But Horford converted the second at the stripe, Paul Pierce hit 2- of-2 at the line a few moments later and the Celtics escaped to face Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Garnett finished with game-highs in points (28) and rebounds (14) in the victory, while Josh Smith led Atlanta with 18 points in the season-ending defeat.

Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant started Game 6 of the Western Conference quarterfinals against Denver after missing Thursday's shootaround prior to the contest because of a stomach illness.

He was considered a game-time decision.

Bryant is averaging 31.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists through the first five games of this series.

The Lakers enter Thursday's contest with a 3-2 series lead and can close it out with a victory.

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Stephen Strasburg burst onto the major league scene with a seven-inning, 14-strikeout debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 8, 2010. He nearly duplicated that performance in Thursday's series finale against the Bucs at PNC Park. Strasburg (3-0) racked up 13 strikeouts over six innings while giving up two runs -- one earned -- on five hits and three walks in a 4-2 victory for Washington, which snapped a three- game skid and helped it avoid being swept by the Pirates for the first time since the franchise relocated from Montreal. Ryan Mattheus and Tyler Clippard tossed scoreless seventh and eighth innings, respectively, and Henry Rodriguez worked around an error in the ninth to nail down his seventh save of the season. Rick Ankiel and Roger Bernadina hit solo homers and Adam LaRoche added a two-run shot for the top club in the NL East. Andrew McCutchen and Neil Walker had RBI base hits for the Pirates, who had a two-game winning streak snapped. Kevin Correia (1-3) gave up three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out one over seven frames in defeat.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - At least for one night, Andre Iguodala is in the city of Philadelphia's good graces. Iguodala drained two free throws with 2.2 seconds to play, lifting the Sixers past the top-seeded Chicago Bulls, 79-78, and into the Eastern Conference semifinals with a Game 6 victory. Chicago, buoyed by a staggering 56-33 rebounding edge, rallied from a 12-point deficit to seize the lead late, but Omer Asik missed a pair of three throws to set up Iguodala's dash to the rim and subsequent free throws. The polarizing figure galvanized for his late-game play rung the bell this time, making both shots and then watching as C.J. Watson's desperation halfcourt heave hit off the back rim. Iguodala scored a game-best 20 points to go along with seven assists, while Jrue Holiday joined Louis Williams in double figures with 14 points. The Sixers became the fifth eighth-seed to knock off a top seed and now waits for the Atlanta-Boston winner in the next round. Luol Deng and Richard Hamilton each posted 19 points, while Deng grabbed 17 rebounds as well. Taj Gibson scored 14 points off the bench for the Bulls, who couldn't find enough offense without the services of last season's MVP Derrick Rose, who tore his ACL in a Game One injury that altered the series' landscape.

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Baltimore belted five home runs to back 7 2/3 strong innings from Wei-Yin Chen, then survived a late scare to take a 6-5 decision over Texas in the opener of a twinbill from Camden Yards. Ryan Flaherty, J.J. Hardy and Nick Markakis slugged first-inning homers for the Orioles, who had dropped the first two of this four-game set before a Wednesday rainout. Adam Jones and Wilson Betemit added blasts as Chen (3-0) scattered six hits and two runs while fanning five. Jim Johnson survived a shaky final inning to post his ninth save. David Murphy belted a three-run shot in the ninth for the Rangers, who scored a combined 24 runs in those two series-opening victories. Yorvit Torrealba added three hits, including two doubles, and drove in a run. Despite striking out a career-best 12 batters, Colby Lewis (3-2) served up all five longballs -- also a career high -- part of a five-hit, six-run outing over seven full frames.

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - The Clippers' two All-Stars, point guard Chris Paul and forward Blake Griffin, are game-time decisions for Friday's Game 6 after sustaining lower body injuries in Game 5.

Paul suffered a strained right hip flexor with 5:16 remaining in the fourth quarter of Wednesday's contest. He left the game but later returned.

Griffin sprained his left knee with 1:31 remaining in the third quarter, also eventually returning to the floor following medical clearance. An MRI taken Thursday confirmed that there was no structural damage to his knee.

Los Angeles leads Memphis, 3-2, in the best-of-seven set and can close out the series with a win at Staples Center on Friday.

Tempe, AZ (Sports Network) - The Arizona Cardinals agreed to terms on a five-year contract with defensive end Calais Campbell on Thursday.

The club had originally placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Campbell back in early March.

A product of Miami-Floirida, Campbell started all 16 games last season and set career highs of 73 tackles, eight sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception.

Campbell, 25, has recorded 208 tackles and 21 sacks along with five blocked field goals in 63 career games with the club since they selected him in the second round of the 2008 draft.

Frisco, TX (Sports Network) - Former Dallas head coach and general manager Bob Gainey returned to the Stars' fold on Thursday, named the club's senior advisor to the hockey department.

"I'm extremely pleased that we are adding a respected hockey man the caliber of Bob Gainey as a senior advisor to our staff," said Stars general manager Joe Nieuwendyk. "His experience and wisdom in this business is second-to-none, and he'll be an incredible asset as we continue to build our team to championship levels."

Gainey had worked in the Montreal Canadiens organization in a variety of roles between 2003 and February of 2010, primarily as general manager. He also spent two separate stints as interim head coach during that period.

The 58-year-old Hall-of-Famer came to the organization in 1990 as head coach of the then-Minnesota North Stars and moved with the franchise to Texas. He was head coach from 1990-96 -- a run that included a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1991 -- and GM from 1992-2002, aiding the club to its only title in 1999.

"I have great faith in the vision Tom Gaglardi, Joe Nieuwendyk and Jim Lites have in rebuilding this franchise," said Gainey. "I'm looking forward to rejoining the organization, and lending my advice and guidance as we strive to get the Stars back on top."

A 16-year pro, all with the Canadiens (1973-89), Gainey won five Cups, four Selke Trophies and a Conn Smythe Trophy during a distinguished playing career.

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - The Baltimore Orioles placed outfielder Endy Chavez on the 15-day disabled list on Thursday and recalled pitcher Tommy Hunter from Triple-A Norfolk.

Chavez has a left oblique strain and his DL move is retroactive to May 9.

Over 20 games this season, he is batting just .133 with one RBI and six runs scored.

Hunter had started six games earlier in the season for Baltimore and went 2-1 with a 5.00 earned run average.

Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim catcher Chris Iannetta will have right wrist surgery on Friday.

The injury occurred on May 2 when he was hit by a pitch in his first at-bat against Minnesota, the same game that saw Jered Weaver toss a no-hitter for the Angels.

Iannetta's procedure will be performed by hand and wrist specialist Dr. Steven Shin and Iannetta is likely to be out 6-to-8 weeks.

In 26 games this season, the 29-year-old is batting just .197 with three home runs and nine RBI.

Foxboro, MA (Sports Network) - The New England Patriots announced position responsibilities for the 2012 season for several current coaches, and two new additions to the staff on Thursday.

Matt Patricia has been tabbed as defensive coordinator, Josh Boyer will guide the cornerbacks, Brian Flores will coach safeties, Patrick Graham will take control of the defensive line and Pepper Johnson will head up the linebacking corps.

Offensively, George Godsey will coach the tight ends.

In addition, Joe Judge has been named special teams assistant and Steve Belichick, son of Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, has been named a coaching assistant.

Patricia will enter his ninth season in the NFL and served as the Pats' linebackers coach for the past five seasons (2006-10). Boyer will begin his seventh NFL season after three seasons as the defensive backs coach.

Flores originally joined New England as a scouting assistant in 2004 and will enter his fifth season on staff. Graham was the defensive line coach in 2011 and will enter his fifth year in the NFL.

Johnson enjoyed a 13-year playing career as a linebacker with the New York Giants, Jets, and the Cleveland Browns and will begin his 13th season on staff with New England.

Godsey joined the Pats in 2010 as an offensive assistant coach, while Belichick walked on to the Rutgers University football team as a long snapper in 2011.

Judge joins New England after a three-year stint as a football analyst at the University of Alabama under head coach Nick Saban.

Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - The Anaheim Ducks gave head coach Bruce Boudreau a two-year extension on Thursday, locking up the colorful bench boss through the 2014-15 season.

"I'm really happy about this, Boudreau admitted. "I'm convinced we have a great core of players and a bright future, and I'm excited to be a part of it."

Fired by the Washington Capitals on November 28, Boudreau was hired three days later by Anaheim as a replacement for Randy Carlyle, who was let go after the club posted a 7-13-4 mark to start the season.

The Ducks ended up going 27-23-8 under Boudreau, but it was only good enough to finish 13th in the Western Conference with 80 points, 15 back of a playoff spot.

"Since joining the organization last November, Bruce has done an outstanding job with the team," said Anaheim general manager Bob Murray. "He's committed to us and determined to lead us back to the playoffs."

Boudreau has a record of 228-111-48 in the regular season and reached the 200-win plateau faster than any coach in modern NHL history.

Berea, OH (Sports Network) - The Cleveland Browns announced Thursday that defensive tackle Phil Taylor suffered an injury to his left pectoral muscle.

Taylor, a first-round draft pick in 2011, was injured while lifting weights during a team training program. He will be evaluated further on Monday, at which time a proper course of treatment will be determined.

The 6-foot-3, 335-pound Taylor started all 16 games last season for the Browns and racked up 59 tackles to go with four sacks.

Miami, FL (Sports Network) - The Miami Heat issued an apology on Thursday for public-address announcer Michael Baiamonte's "inappropriate choice of words" for Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire.

Stoudemire fouled out late in the fourth quarter of the Knicks' 106-94 loss on Wednesday at American Airlines Arena. Baiamonte said Stoudemire "has been extinguished from the game."

The remark came off as a cheap shot at Stoudemire, who punched the glass case of a fire extinguisher after New York's loss in Game 2 of the best-of-seven series on Monday in Miami. He was treated for a laceration to his left hand at the arena and underwent a procedure on Tuesday to repair a small muscle.

"Last night at our game, our PA Announcer had a momentary lapse of judgment and used a poor choice of words in describing Amar'e Stoudemire's fouling out of the game," The Heat said in a statement Thursday. "This is not who we are as an organization or who he is as an announcer. Both the Miami Heat and Michael Baiamonte apologize to Amar'e and the New York Knicks for the inappropriate choice of words."

Helsinki, Finland (Sports Network) - Jimmy Howard made 23 saves and five different players scored a goal for the United States in a 5-3 victory over Belarus on Thursday at the 2012 World Championship.

Justin Abdelkader, Cam Atkinson, Nate Thompson, Bobby Ryan and Paul Stastny all lit the lamp for the Americans, who now have eight points and sit third in the Group H standings.

The USA plays again on Friday against Kazakhstan.

Alexei Kalyuzhny, Yevgeni Kovyrshin and Alexei Ugarov scored for Belarus. Vitali Koval stopped 25-of-28 shots in almost 50 minutes of action, while Andrei Mezin surrendered two goals on eight shots.

With the game tied at two, Thompson gave the USA the lead for good near the end of the middle stanza. Thompson came around the Belarus net and fired the puck off Kovyrshin and into the goal.

Ryan's deflection of a Cam Fowler point shot made it 4-2 with 7:50 to play. Stastny added a goal of his own over three minutes later to essentially put the game away.

Kovyrshin scored with 10 seconds left to account for the final margin.

Jussi Jokinen scored twice and Mikko Koivu added a goal and three assists for Finland, as the reigning gold medalist dominated France, 7-1.

Valtteri Filppula dished out three assists for Finland, which scored four power-play goals to improve to 6-0 against France in its World Championship games.

Petri Vehanen stopped 17-of-18 shots as Finland stayed perfect through four games. They sit first in the Group H standings with 12 points.

In Stockholm, Russia stayed unbeaten with a 3-1 win over Denmark.

Yevgeni Malkin, Yevgeni Medvedev and Dmitri Kalinin scored for Russia, which is tied for first place with Sweden in the Group S standings with 12 points.

Konstantin Barulin stopped 35-of-36 shots for the Russians.

The Czech Republic earned a 3-1 win over Latvia to move into third place in Group S with eight points.

Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Denver Nuggets center Chris "Birdman" Andersen has had property seized from his home as part of an ongoing investigation into internet crimes against children.

The Post reported Thursday that the Douglas County Sheriff's office contacted Andersen regarding the investigation, and that the 33-year-old cooperated fully with officials.

"The Denver Nuggets are aware of today's media reports involving forward/center Chris Andersen. It involves a legal investigation and we are awaiting further details. Chris has been excused from all team-related activities indefinitely as he deals with the reported investigation. Per team policy, the Nuggets will not comment on any ongoing legal circumstance involving any player or employee."

According to the paper, the Douglas County unit responsible for dealing with internet crimes against children received a tip in February from a California law enforcement agency. Andersen is a native of Long Beach, a city south of Los Angeles along the Pacific Ocean.

The colorful Blinn College product lives in Larkspur, a small town roughly 40 miles south of Denver. Though agency spokesperson Deborah Sherman declined to say if Andersen is a suspect, the Post revealed that property records show at least one other person lives in the house with him.

His manager, Mark Bryant, declined comment.

Denver plays at home on Thursday night in Game 6 of a Western Conference quarterfinal against the Lakers, trailing three games to two.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Oklahoma City Thunder guard James Harden has been selected as the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year.

Harden, who led all NBA reserves in scoring with 16.8 points per game, came off the bench in 60 of his 62 appearances this season and helped the Thunder finish with the NBA's third-best record at 47-19.

Harden received 584 of a possible 595 points, including 115 of a possible 119 first-place votes from a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. Philadelphia's Louis Williams finished second in the voting with 231 points and Jason Terry of the Dallas Mavericks finished third with 81 points.

In order to be eligible for this award, a player must have come off the bench in more games than he started. Harden scored in double figures in 58 of his 62 contests, while averaging 4.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 31.4 minutes per game. He eclipsed the 20-point mark 15 times and the Thunder went 14-1 in those games.

The award was first presented to Philadelphia 76ers forward Bobby Jones in 1982-83.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Oklahoma City Thunder guard James Harden has been selected as the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year.

Harden, who led all NBA reserves in scoring with 16.8 points per game, came off the bench in 60 of his 62 appearances this season and helped the Thunder finish with the NBA's third-best record at 47-19.

Harden received 584 of a possible 595 points, including 115 of a possible 119 first-place votes from a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. Philadelphia's Louis Williams finished second in the voting with 231 points and Jason Terry of the Dallas Mavericks finished third with 81 points.

In order to be eligible for this award, a player must have come off the bench in more games than he started. Harden scored in double figures in 58 of his 62 contests, while averaging 4.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 31.4 minutes per game. He eclipsed the 20-point mark 15 times and the Thunder went 14-1 in those games.

The award was first presented to Philadelphia 76ers forward Bobby Jones in 1982-83.

Tampa, FL (Sports Network) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Da'Quan Bowers has suffered a torn Achilles tendon while participating in the club's offseason program.

Plans for surgery on Friday are being finalized.

Selected by Tampa Bay in the second round of the 2011 draft, Bowers had 25 tackles and 1 1/2 sacks in 16 games last season.

Earlier Thursday, the Bucs waived defensive lineman Myles Wade following the signing of wide receiver Tiquan Underwood. But Wade is now back with the team due to Bowers injury.

Instead, Tampa Bay has decided to waive rookie quarterback Jordan Jefferson.

St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - A group of St. Louis investors led by Tom Stillman gained the unanimous approval of the National Hockey League's Board of Governors to purchase the Blues on Wednesday.

On Thursday, the new owners were formally introduced.

"We are honored and humbled to take ownership of the St. Louis Blues," said Stillman, who gained local fame as a beer distributor. "Our new ownership group is 100 percent local, and we are 100 percent committed to the Blues and to St. Louis. We see the Blues as an important civic institution, and we know what the Blue Note means to this city and to the best fans in the NHL."

Stillman, who has been a minority owner of the Blues since 2007, becomes the eighth owner of the Blues since the franchise's inception, following Dave Checketts/SCP Worldwide (2006-2012), Bill Laurie (1999-2006), Kiel Center Partners (1991-1999), Mike Shanahan (1986-1991), Harry Ornest (1983-1986), Ralston Purina (1977-1983) and the Salomon family (1966-1977).

"We are extremely pleased to welcome Tom and his group, who are so devoted to the Blues and to the community," said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. "Success on the ice, an outstanding home arena, tremendous fan support and Tom's passionate commitment all point toward an extremely positive future for the franchise."

The group will be paying about $130 million for the Blues, their American Hockey League affiliate Peoria Riverman, and "significant interest" in the Peabody Opera House.

The native of Minneapolis heads a collective of 17 persons, the most notable name among them John C. Danforth, a former Missouri senator and one-time Ambassador to the United Nations.

Checketts' group was part of Chicago-area businessman Matthew Hulsizer's bid to buy the team, but the NHL terminated the arrangement in January due to financial issues.

St. Louis won the Central Division for the first time since 2000 this past season, but despite racking up 109 points, suffered a four-game sweep in the second round to the upstart Los Angeles Kings.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - One of the more popular debates during the Stanley Cup playoffs is the old rest vs. rust argument.

On one side of the debate, there are those who favor extra time off for players between rounds, and at the other end of the spectrum are those who believe too much down time will cause a team to lose its edge.

The New Jersey Devils and head coach Peter DeBoer are currently faced with this conundrum after needing only five games to eliminate the rival Philadelphia Flyers in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

The Devils will have to wait until Saturday, when the New York Rangers host the Washington Capitals in a decisive Game 7, to find out who they'll be playing for the right to represent the East in this year's Stanley Cup Finals.

The NHL has released a start date for the East finals and it will begin on Monday. Where Game 1 of the series will be played is another story, as New Jersey would have home-ice against Washington, but the top-seeded Rangers would hold that advantage over the No. 6 Devils.

Considering the Devils polished off the Flyers on Tuesday, the schedule gives New Jersey the better part of a week to prepare for their first conference finals appearance since 2003.

Of course, coaches and players rarely disclose their true feelings to the media on the topic of rest vs. rust. More than likely, if a team gets significant down-time between series, then the company line becomes some variation of "we could use the rest." Likewise, if they only get a day or two off, then the mantra is "we're eager to get back out there."

The elder statesman for the Devils is goaltender Martin Brodeur, and at 40 years of age it's safe to say Brodeur is not just blowing smoke when he says he could use the time off.

"It's nice, I think we deserved it," Brodeur told NHL.com. "We played really hard this series, we survived a few scares in the first series. So it's nice that we finished this off today and looking forward to a little break here and see what we're going to face in the conference finals."

Brodeur received a rest of sorts in his team's dominating series win over the Flyers. After allowing four goals on 36 shots in New Jersey's Game 1 loss, Brodeur never saw more than 28 shots in any of the final four games, all of which were wins for the Devils.

The fact that New Jersey went seven games in Round 1 with Florida before getting just two days off prior to the Philadelphia series would suggest the Devils don't need the extra rest.

After all, DeBoer and his coaching staff had all the time they needed to create a winning game plan for the Flyers, who were coming off a spectacular offensive performance in the first round against Pittsburgh. Philly scored 30 times over six games against the Penguins, but the Devils held the Flyers to 11 goals in the conference semifinals.

DeBoer and assistants Larry Robinson and Adam Oates likely will have to come up with a new strategy for the conference finals. Unlike the up-tempo Flyers, the Capitals and Rangers both are utilizing conservative styles that rely on defense and goaltending. Oddly enough, that's the type of system the Devils used to win three Stanley Cup titles from 1995-2003, but the team that recently disposed of the Flyers employed an aggressive fore-checking strategy.

The main task for DeBoer and his staff is keeping his team on the same page. The Devils picked Philadelphia apart mainly because they played better as a team. From New Jersey's biggest star Ilya Kovalchuk all the way down to the fourth-line grinders, the Devils' biggest strength in the last round was their ability to pull together in the same direction.

It will be interesting to see how the Devils emerge from their lengthy layoff when the East finals get underway. Once the battle for a spot in the Cup Finals begins, it should be easy to tell if New Jersey if the vacation left the Devils rested or rusty.

Red Bank, NJ (Sports Network) - The Ivy League announced on Thursday that its directors of athletics have decided not to continue to pursue proposals for postseason tournaments in men's and women's basketball.

"After careful consideration of these proposals, the athletic directors decided that our current method of determining the Ivy League champion and our automatic bid to the NCAA Championship is the best model moving forward," remarked Robin Harris, Ivy League executive director.

Instead of using a postseason tournament, the Ivy League relies on conference record to determine a champion. Ivy League institutions in men's and women's basketball play a 14-game, double round-robin schedule in which each team plays each other home and away. The team with the best conference record is then awarded the league title and an automatic NCAA Tournament bid.

St. Paul, MN (Sports Network) - The new stadium plan for the Minnesota Vikings was passed by the state Senate on Thursday.

The bill is awaiting the signature of governor Mark Dayton.

The Senate approved the $975 million project on a vote of 36-30.

The state's House of Representatives approved a version of the proposal earlier this week, and an amended plan passed the House early Thursday morning by a vote of 71-60.

The revamped proposal will add $50 million to the team's cost, but the club's ownership of Zygi and Mark Wilf gave an affirmative nod to the increase.

The new fixed-roof stadium would sit on the current site of the Metrodome, where the Vikings have played since 1982.

According to the original plan unveiled in March, the Vikings were set to contribute $427 million toward the up-front costs, but the increase will make that $477 million.

The city of Minneapolis will still commit $150 million and the state of Minnesota will now fund $348 million, instead of the original $398 million. The city's part would come from redirecting a portion of existing convention center taxes, while the state would expand charitable gaming to pay its portion.

Despite the lack of a lease, the Vikings are set to play in the Metrodome next year, even if construction on a new building starts, and would likely play just one season in TCF Bank Stadium on the campus of the University of Minnesota -- a venue exposed to the elements.

The franchise played in, and exploited the benefits of, open-air Met Stadium from their inception through the end of the 1981 campaign.

Providence, RI (Sports Network) - Providence College announced on Thursday that sophomore Carson Desrosiers will transfer to the university from Wake Forest.

Desrosiers, a 7-foot, 235-pounder out of Windham, New Hampshire, appeared in 62 games for the Demon Deacons over the last two seasons, averaging 4.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.

Due to NCAA rules, Desrosiers will be eligible to practice with the Friars, but will not be able to suit up until the 2013-14 campaign. He will then have two years of eligibility remaining.

St. Paul, MN (Sports Network) - The new stadium plan for the Minnesota Vikings was passed by the state Senate on Thursday.

The bill is awaiting the signature of governor Mark Dayton.

More to follow.

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - The Pittsburgh Pirates have placed closer Joel Hanrahan on the bereavement list.

Hanrahan is 1-0 with six saves and a 4.22 earned run average in 11 games this season.

Pittsburgh also recalled pitcher Daniel McCutchen from Triple-A Indianapolis. He went 5-3 with a 3.72 ERA in 73 appearances for the Pirates in 2011.

Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant missed Thursday's shootaround prior to Game 6 of the Western Conference quarterfinals against Denver because of a stomach illness.

He is considered a game-time decision.

Bryant is averaging 31.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists through the first five games of this series.

The Lakers enter Thursday's contest with a 3-2 series lead and can close it out with a victory.

Tampa, FL (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed wide receiver Tiquan Underwood to a two-year contract.

Underwood played collegiately at Rutgers under new Bucs coach Greg Schiano. He becomes the seventh former Scarlet Knight on the roster and the fifth to be acquired since Schiano took over.

The three-year veteran may best be known for being released by the New England Patriots the day before the Super Bowl in February. The Patriots dropped him from the 53-man roster to make room for defensive end Alex Silvestro.

New England re-signed Underwood a few days later, but released him earlier this month just prior to signing receiver Jabar Gaffney.

In six games last season with the Patriots, Underwood caught three passes for 30 yards. He spent his first two NFL seasons with Jacksonville and has 11 career receptions for 141 yards in 19 games.

The Buccaneers waived defensive tackle Myles Wade to open a roster spot for Underwood.

Waltham, MA (Sports Network) - Boston Celtics star forward Paul Pierce will play through a sprained MCL in his left knee.

The Celtics revealed the injury just hours before their Game 6 matchup with the Atlanta Hawks.

Pierce has averaged 21.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists through the first five games of this Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.

The 13-year veteran suffered the injury on Sunday morning during a shootaround prior to Game 4. He then reinjured the knee during the game.

Celtics officials are denying reports of any tears or bone spurs in Pierce's knee.

Boston can close out the series Thursday night at home.

St. Paul, MN (Sports Network) - The Minnesota Wild signed defenseman Clayton Stoner to a two-year contract extension on Thursday.

Stoner had one goal and four assists in 51 games last season for the Wild. His plus-3 rating was the best among all Wild defensemen.

Selected by Minnesota in the third round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Stoner has three goals and 13 assists in 116 career contests with Minnesota.

Helsinki, Finland (Sports Network) - Jimmy Howard made 23 saves and five different players scored a goal for the United States in a 5-3 victory over Belarus on Thursday at the 2012 World Championship.

Justin Abdelkader, Cam Atkinson, Nate Thompson, Bobby Ryan and Paul Stastny all lit the lamp for the Americans, who now have eight points and sit third in the Group H standings.

The USA plays again on Friday against Kazakhstan.

Alexei Kalyuzhny, Yevgeni Kovyrshin and Alexei Ugarov scored for Belarus. Vitali Koval stopped 25-of-28 shots in almost 50 minutes of action, while Andrei Mezin surrendered two goals on eight shots.

With the game tied at two, Thompson gave the USA the lead for good near the end of the middle stanza. Thompson came around the Belarus net and fired the puck off Kovyrshin and into the goal.

Ryan's deflection of a Cam Fowler point shot made it 4-2 with 7:50 to play. Stastny added a goal of his own over three minutes later to essentially put the game away.

Kovyrshin scored with 10 seconds left to account for the final margin.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - When is the right time to panic?

And when is the right time to start believing?

I guess the answer to both those questions depends on where your team happens to be in the standings.

If you expected your favorite baseball team to be five games up already and they're five back, now might be a good time to start panicking.

On the flip side, if you expected your team to stink, and instead they have a two-game lead in the division and the starting pitching is holding up, maybe, just maybe, you can start to believe.

It's the whole optimist-versus-pessimist, glass-is-half-full, glass-is-half- empty kind of deal.

Baseball, with its marathon 162-game schedule, weeds out the pretenders and, for the most part, gives the contenders enough time to right things.

For fans, though, that logic doesn't apply.

Fans, short for fanatics, live day to day with their teams.

A bad loss on Monday followed by another on Tuesday, well, that can mean just one thing: it's time for the manager to go.

And while you'll drive yourself crazy with that approach, it's just another thing that makes baseball such a wonderful game. You can live to play another day in baseball and you always want to believe.

It's just the opposite in football, where, in essence, every game is the equivalent of a 10-game block in baseball. Sixteen games versus 162, if you catch my drift.

Trying to equate losing two straight football games to 20 straight baseball games seems odd, but it's about right if you're willing to stretch your imagination.

Lose two straight and the best you can be, if you're perfect the rest of the way, is 14-2 in the NFL.

Win 10 games and the odds are pretty good you'll make the playoffs. Win the equivalent of 100 baseball games and you'll win your division.

The math is not perfect, and the numbers don't all line up, but we're in the ballpark, so to speak.

But let's get back to our main point. When is it time to panic or believe? Baseball gives us plenty of options.

Some will say that after 50 games you'll have a pretty good idea of where your team stands.

Others use Memorial Day as their line of demarcation.

Perhaps the most popular is the Fourth of July.

By then, all teams have played around 90 games and by that time the leopard has shown its stripes.

Today is May 10. They're still playing playoff hockey (do they ever actually stop playing hockey?) and they're still playing playoff basketball. Heck, they'll be doing those things for another month.

And that's the point, while 30 to 35 games in (about where most teams are) has a nice ring to it, it's not enough time to separate the good from the not so good. The boys from the men, etc.

What day do I use? I thought you'd never ask.

I always go with Aug. 1. We're past the All-Star Game, any major injuries that happened early on, like the San Francsico Giants losing closer Brian Wilson, have already been factored in and accounted for, and well over 100 games have been played.

Of course, we have the new wrinkle of another wild card team getting into the postseason in each league, something I don't care for in the least, but they didn't ask me.

Now, if my team needs to win its last game to grab that last wild-card spot, might I change my tune about not liking it? Sadly, yes.

But, back to what we said earlier, accepting things you don't like on the surface at one point that ends up helping your team later is what makes us fans.

We don't care how we get in, we just want to get in.

That's why, ultimately, I guess, it's never too early to panic and it's never too late to believe.

Drew Markol has been a sportswriter and columnist for several Philadelphia- area newspapers for over 25 years.

St. Paul, MN (Sports Network) - The new stadium plan for the Minnesota Vikings progressed further early Thursday morning and only a vote from the state Senate is needed to put it into action.

After the state's House of Representatives approved a version of the proposal earlier this week, an amended plan passed the House on Thursday morning by a vote of 71-60.

The revamped proposal will add $50 million to the team's cost, but the club's ownership of Zygi and Mark Wilf gave an affirmative nod to the increase.

"A huge day for the state, the fans and the Vikings' organization," said team vice president Lester Bagley. "It was a long day of negotiations with state leaders, back and forth to put a package together that solved the problem. The Wilfs stepped up, the Viking organization stepped up to close this deal out, which is what it took. We're just happy we're one step away."

The Senate is expected to vote on the plan later Thursday. If approved, the bill will move to Governor Mark Dayton, who is expected to sign it into legislation.

At a projected cost of $975 million, the new fixed-roof stadium would sit on the current site of the Metrodome, where the Vikings have played since 1982.

According to the original plan unveiled in March, the Vikings were set to contribute $427 million toward the up-front costs, but the increase will make that $477 million.

The city of Minneapolis will still commit $150 million and the state of Minnesota will now fund $348 million, instead of the original $398 million. The city's part would come from redirecting a portion of existing convention center taxes, while the state would expand charitable gaming to pay its portion.

Despite the lack of a lease, the Vikings are set to play in the Metrodome next year, even if construction on a new building starts, and would likely play just one season in TCF Bank Stadium on the campus of the University of Minnesota.

Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Cincinnati broke a scoreless tie when Joey Votto delivered with a two-out RBI double in the top of the ninth inning, and the Reds held on to beat the Milwaukee Brewers, 2-1, in the rubber match of a three-game series. Ryan Braun homered to left-center field off Sean Marshall to begin the home ninth. Marshall retired two in a row, but was replaced by Logan Ondrusek after Jonathan Lucroy and pinch-hitter Norichika Aoki hit back- to-back singles. Ondrusek walked pinch-hitter George Kottaras to load the bases, but he notched his first major league save when pinch-hitter Travis Ishikawa popped up the first pitch he saw to left field.

Final Score: Chicago 1, Atlanta 0

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Bryan LaHair continued his early-season production, knocking in the game's only run in the seventh inning to help the Cubs take the rubber match of a three-game set with the Braves, 1-0, on Wednesday. David DeJesus singled to lead off the seventh, moved to second on Tony Campana's sacrifice bunt and third on Starlin Castro's groundout. LaHair then roped a single into the hole in left and DeJesus jogged home. LaHair raised his average to .384 and batted in his 18th run of the season. He's reached base in 27 straight games.

Final Score: Colorado 6, San Diego 2

San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Wilin Rosario and Chris Nelson drove in two runs apiece as the Rockies salvaged the finale of a three-game set with the Padres, 6-2, on Wednesday. Christian Friedrich (1-0) picked up the win with a strong start in his major league debut, allowing five hits and two runs -- one earned -- with seven strikeouts over six innings to help Colorado snap a five-game losing streak. Anthony Bass (1-4) suffered another setback, surrendering five runs -- just one earned -- on nine hits in 5 2/3 frames. Jesus Guzman and Yonder Alonso each collected two hits and an RBI as San Diego finished a nine-game homestand with a 4-5 record.

Final Score: New York 10, Philadelphia 6

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The Mets came back to defeat the Phillies for the third consecutive game Wednesday, this time scoring seven straight runs to spoil the return of Cliff Lee with a 10-6 victory in the finale of a three-game set. Ike Davis hit a three-run homer, Andres Torres homered, tripled and knocked in two runs, and David Wright and Scott Hairston collected two hits and an RBI apiece to help New York sweep Philadelphia. Tim Byrdak (2-0) pitched a third of an inning in relief of Dillon Gee to earn the win. Kyle Kendrick (0-3) gave up four hits, all doubles, two walks and five runs over an inning-plus to suffer the setback. Freddy Galvis tripled, doubled and drove in three runs as the Phillies dropped their fifth in six tries. Lee -- placed on the DL on April 21 after suffering a left oblique strain during a 10-inning outing against the Giants -- was strong in his six innings of work, allowing two runs on five hits. He was in line for the win before Philadelphia's bullpen imploded once more.

Final Score: Pittsburgh 4, Washington 2

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Andrew McCutchen finished 4-for-4 with a solo home run and two RBI as the Pittsburgh Pirates topped the Washington Nationals, 4-2, in the middle tilt of a three-game set at PNC Park. Neil Walker and Casey McGehee added an RBI apiece for the Pirates, who have taken the first two games of this series. Brad Lincoln (2-0) tossed three innings of relief to earn the victory behind starter Erik Bedard, who was removed after just one inning due to back spasms. Lincoln allowed one unearned run on a hit and a walk while fanning four. Joel Hanrahan struggled in the ninth but picked up his sixth save of the year. Chad Tracy drove in a run with a pinch- hit sacrifice fly and Xavier Nady added an RBI base hit for the Nats, who have lost six in a row on the road and three straight overall. Ross Detwiler (3-2) gave up three runs on seven hits and did not walk a batter while striking out four.

Final Score: Miami 5, Houston 3 (12 innings)

Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Omar Infante hit a bases loaded, two-run single in the top of the 12th inning on Wednesday and the Marlins completed a historically successful road trip with a 5-3 win over the Astros. Brian Bogusevic sent the game into extra innings with a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the ninth, but Logan Morrison singled to begin the 12th and walks to Giancarlo Stanton and John Buck loaded the bases with two outs. Infante then lined a base hit to center field off of David Carpenter (0-2) to push across the winning run. Ryan Webb (2-1) tossed 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to earn the win and Josh Johnson allowed two runs on four hits while striking out six over a seven-inning start. Jose Reyes and Buck both had an RBI for Miami, which took two of three from the Astros in this series and recorded a franchise-record eight wins on its nine-game trek. Chris Johnson hit a solo home run for Houston and Lucas Harrell was charged with three runs -- two earned -- over 5 1/3 innings in the start. Despite the loss, the Astros recorded their first 6-3 homestand since 2010.

Final Score: St. Louis 7, Arizona 2

Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - Allen Craig hit a two-run home run and Kyle Lohse threw five strong innings as the St. Louis Cardinals capped a three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 7-2 win on Wednesday. Lohse (5-1) gave up just one run on seven hits and added a basehit and a run scored from the plate for the Cardinals, who went 4-2 on their six-game road trip. Matt Holliday hit a two-run double while Rafael Furcal went 4-for-5 with a run scored in the win. Wade Miley (3-1) gave up three runs on 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings and also drove in a run for the Diamondbacks, who have lost five straight and seven of eight. Aaron Hill drove in the other run while Lyle Overbay and Ryan Roberts each posted three hits.

Final Score: Los Angeles 6, San Francisco 2

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Tony Gwynn Jr. hit a pinch-hit three-run triple on Wednesday and the Dodgers defeated the Giants, 6-2, in the finale of a three-game series. Chad Billingsley allowed two runs in a four-inning start and Jamey Wright (2-2) tossed two perfect innings of relief to earn the win. Juan Uribe had an RBI single, a double and a two runs scored for Los Angeles, which took two of three in this series to improve to 20-11 on the season. Tim Lincecum (2-3) gave up four runs on eight hits while striking out eight over five innings to take the loss. He added and RBI single for San Francisco, which has lost nine of its last 15 games.

Miami, FL (Sports Network) - LeBron James had a solid all-around effort with 29 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, and the Miami Heat dominated the shorthanded New York Knicks, 106-94, to win their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series in five games. The Heat, seeded second, will play Indiana in the conference semifinals. The third-seeded Pacers finished off Orlando in five games Tuesday night. Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh each tallied 19 points, while Mario Chalmers scored 10 for the Heat. But it was James who forced the action all night, going 13-of-15 from the foul line. Overall, Miami missed just five of its 34 foul shots. Carmelo Anthony had 35 points on 15-of-31 shooting for New York. J.R. Smith went just 3-of-15 from the field and had 12 points. Amare Stoudemire ended with 14 points, but he fouled out.

Final Score: Memphis 92, LA Clippers 80

Memphis, TN (Sports Network) - The Memphis Grizzlies held on for a 92-80 win over the Clippers on Wednesday and managed to avoid elimination in Game 5 of this best-of-seven series. Memphis, which squandered a 27-point lead in a Game 1 loss, was up by as many as 24 on Wednesday before Los Angeles pulled within single digits late in the fourth quarter. The Grizzlies, though, closed the game on an 11-5 run to send the series back to Los Angeles for Game 6 on Friday. Marc Gasol had 23 points in the win, Zach Randolph added 19 and 10 rebounds and Rudy Gay finished with 14 points. The Clippers, who had won the previous two games of this series and were looking to advance to the second round for the first time since 2006, were led by Mo Williams' 20 points. Chris Paul scored 19, but re-aggravated a groin injury late in the game. Blake Griffin, who had 15 points and 11 rebounds, appeared to injure his left knee in the third quarter but remained in the contest.

Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Cincinnati broke a scoreless tie when Joey Votto delivered with a two-out RBI double in the top of the ninth inning, and the Reds held on to beat the Milwaukee Brewers, 2-1, in the rubber match of a three-game series. Ryan Braun homered to left-center field off Sean Marshall to begin the home ninth. Marshall retired two in a row, but was replaced by Logan Ondrusek after Jonathan Lucroy and pinch-hitter Norichika Aoki hit back- to-back singles. Ondrusek walked pinch-hitter George Kottaras to load the bases, but he notched his first major league save when pinch-hitter Travis Ishikawa popped up the first pitch he saw to left field.

Final Score: Chicago 1, Atlanta 0

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Bryan LaHair continued his early-season production, knocking in the game's only run in the seventh inning to help the Cubs take the rubber match of a three-game set with the Braves, 1-0, on Wednesday. David DeJesus singled to lead off the seventh, moved to second on Tony Campana's sacrifice bunt and third on Starlin Castro's groundout. LaHair then roped a single into the hole in left and DeJesus jogged home. LaHair raised his average to .384 and batted in his 18th run of the season. He's reached base in 27 straight games.

Final Score: Colorado 6, San Diego 2

San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Wilin Rosario and Chris Nelson drove in two runs apiece as the Rockies salvaged the finale of a three-game set with the Padres, 6-2, on Wednesday. Christian Friedrich (1-0) picked up the win with a strong start in his major league debut, allowing five hits and two runs -- one earned -- with seven strikeouts over six innings to help Colorado snap a five-game losing streak. Anthony Bass (1-4) suffered another setback, surrendering five runs -- just one earned -- on nine hits in 5 2/3 frames. Jesus Guzman and Yonder Alonso each collected two hits and an RBI as San Diego finished a nine-game homestand with a 4-5 record.

Final Score: New York 10, Philadelphia 6

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The Mets came back to defeat the Phillies for the third consecutive game Wednesday, this time scoring seven straight runs to spoil the return of Cliff Lee with a 10-6 victory in the finale of a three-game set. Ike Davis hit a three-run homer, Andres Torres homered, tripled and knocked in two runs, and David Wright and Scott Hairston collected two hits and an RBI apiece to help New York sweep Philadelphia. Tim Byrdak (2-0) pitched a third of an inning in relief of Dillon Gee to earn the win. Kyle Kendrick (0-3) gave up four hits, all doubles, two walks and five runs over an inning-plus to suffer the setback. Freddy Galvis tripled, doubled and drove in three runs as the Phillies dropped their fifth in six tries. Lee -- placed on the DL on April 21 after suffering a left oblique strain during a 10-inning outing against the Giants -- was strong in his six innings of work, allowing two runs on five hits. He was in line for the win before Philadelphia's bullpen imploded once more.

Final Score: Pittsburgh 4, Washington 2

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Andrew McCutchen finished 4-for-4 with a solo home run and two RBI as the Pittsburgh Pirates topped the Washington Nationals, 4-2, in the middle tilt of a three-game set at PNC Park. Neil Walker and Casey McGehee added an RBI apiece for the Pirates, who have taken the first two games of this series. Brad Lincoln (2-0) tossed three innings of relief to earn the victory behind starter Erik Bedard, who was removed after just one inning due to back spasms. Lincoln allowed one unearned run on a hit and a walk while fanning four. Joel Hanrahan struggled in the ninth but picked up his sixth save of the year. Chad Tracy drove in a run with a pinch- hit sacrifice fly and Xavier Nady added an RBI base hit for the Nats, who have lost six in a row on the road and three straight overall. Ross Detwiler (3-2) gave up three runs on seven hits and did not walk a batter while striking out four.

Final Score: Miami 5, Houston 3 (12 innings)

Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Omar Infante hit a bases loaded, two-run single in the top of the 12th inning on Wednesday and the Marlins completed a historically successful road trip with a 5-3 win over the Astros. Brian Bogusevic sent the game into extra innings with a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the ninth, but Logan Morrison singled to begin the 12th and walks to Giancarlo Stanton and John Buck loaded the bases with two outs. Infante then lined a base hit to center field off of David Carpenter (0-2) to push across the winning run. Ryan Webb (2-1) tossed 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to earn the win and Josh Johnson allowed two runs on four hits while striking out six over a seven-inning start. Jose Reyes and Buck both had an RBI for Miami, which took two of three from the Astros in this series and recorded a franchise-record eight wins on its nine-game trek. Chris Johnson hit a solo home run for Houston and Lucas Harrell was charged with three runs -- two earned -- over 5 1/3 innings in the start. Despite the loss, the Astros recorded their first 6-3 homestand since 2010.

Final Score: St. Louis 7, Arizona 2

Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - Allen Craig hit a two-run home run and Kyle Lohse threw five strong innings as the St. Louis Cardinals capped a three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 7-2 win on Wednesday. Lohse (5-1) gave up just one run on seven hits and added a basehit and a run scored from the plate for the Cardinals, who went 4-2 on their six-game road trip. Matt Holliday hit a two-run double while Rafael Furcal went 4-for-5 with a run scored in the win. Wade Miley (3-1) gave up three runs on 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings and also drove in a run for the Diamondbacks, who have lost five straight and seven of eight. Aaron Hill drove in the other run while Lyle Overbay and Ryan Roberts each posted three hits.

Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Brandon Morrow threw six strong innings of one- run ball and the Toronto Blue Jays topped Oakland, 5-2, to earn a split of a two-game series on Wednesday. Morrow (4-1) scattered four hits and walked four while striking out 10. He allowed his first run since an April 23 start against the Kansas City Royals. Casey Janssen worked a perfect ninth to nail down his first save of the season. Adam Lind smoked a two-run homer and Edwin Encarnacion and J.P. Arencibia added solo shots, while Colby Rasmus contributed an RBI single for the Blue Jays, who snapped a three-game skid. Josh Reddick and Jonny Gomes had an RBI apiece and Jemile Weeks added a pair of hits for the Athletics, who had their three-game winning streak halted. Tyson Ross (1-3) allowed three runs on five hits and three walks while fanning three in 5 2/3 innings.

Final Score: Tampa Bay 4, New York 1

Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Matt Joyce's three-run homer off David Robertson in the ninth inning gave the Rays a dramatic 4-1 victory over the Yankees. For the second straight night, the Rays loaded the bases in their final at-bat. Robertson, New York's setup-man turned closer in the wake of Mariano Rivera's season-ending injury, escaped with a save on Tuesday, but was unable to hold a 1-0 lead in the middle test of this three-game set. B.J. Upton tied the game with a sacrifice fly, and Joyce got just enough of a 1-2 fastball to send it into the first row of seats in right-center despite turning his ankle while finishing his swing. The Rays had been 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position prior to Joyce's blast against Robertson (0-1), who had not allowed a run in 27 innings dating back to last year. Fernando Rodney (2-0) tossed two scoreless innings of relief to earn the win behind Jeff Niemann, who allowed one run on six hits over seven solid innings.

Final Score: Chicago 8, Cleveland 1

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Jake Peavy threw seven strong innings and the Chicago White Sox pounded Cleveland, 8-1, at a rainy Progressive Field. Alejandro De Aza's two-run single highlighted a six-run fourth inning, as the White Sox took the final two contests in this four-game series. Adam Dunn belted a two-run homer in the opening inning. Peavy (4-1) allowed seven hits, a run, walked one and struck out five. Jeanmar Gomez (2-2) was shelled for nine hits and eight runs over 6 2/3 innings. The start of the game was delayed 64 minutes due to inclement weather.

Final Score: LA Angels of Anaheim 6, Minnesota 2

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Mike Trout went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two more driven in, as the Angels finally gave Ervin Santana some run support in their 6-2 win over the Minnesota Twins. The Angels did not score for Santana over his previous five starts and had pushed just two runs across when he's been on the mound this season. But a 14-hit attack, including a two-hit, two-RBI effort from Albert Pujols, propelled Santana (1-6) to his first win after he allowed two runs on six hits over 7 1/3 innings. Carl Pavano (2-3) lasted just four-plus innings for the Twins, getting touched for five runs -- four earned -- on 10 hits.

Final Score: Kansas City 4, Boston 3

Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Brayan Pena knocked in a pair of runs as the Kansas City Royals edged the Boston Red Sox, 4-3, in the rubber match of a three-game series at Kauffman Stadium. Bruce Chen (1-4) scattered seven hits and three runs with five strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings for the Royals, who won for the third time in five games. Jonathan Broxton pitched his way out of a jam in the ninth inning to earn his seventh save of the season. Jon Lester (1-3) gave up four runs -- one earned -- on six hits and a walk through five innings, while Adrian Gonzalez drove in all three runs for Boston, which dropped its seventh game in eight tries.

Final Score: Seattle 2, Detroit 1

Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - John Jaso knocked in the deciding run in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the Seattle Mariners over the Detroit Tigers, 2-1, in the finale of a three-game set at Safeco Field. Jason Vargas (4-2) tossed eight strong innings, allowing one run on five hits while striking out six for the Mariners, who won for the fourth time in five games. Brandon League faced the minimum in the ninth to record his eighth save of the season. Luke Putkonen (0-1) gave up the deciding run to suffer the loss in relief of Drew Smyly, who allowed just one run on two hits and two walks in a six-inning start. Austin Jackson supplied the offense for Detroit, which has alternated wins and losses over its last 10 games.

Texas at Baltimore, Postponed

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Wednesday's game between the Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles has been postponed due to rain. The contest will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Thursday, starting at 4:05 p.m. (et). It will mark the last two contests of this four-game series. On Tuesday, Josh Hamilton produced one of the best single-game offensive performances in major league history, going 5-for-5 with a double, four homers, eight RBI and 18 total bases in Texas' 10-3 win. Hamilton leads the majors with a .406 batting average, 14 homers and 36 RBI through Texas' first 30 games of 2012. The Orioles have been outscored 24-6 over the first two contests. Going back to last season, Baltimore has allowed at least 10 runs five times to the Rangers. Colby Lewis was slated to start Wednesday for the Rangers, while Wei-Yin Chen was scheduled as the Orioles starting pitcher. Those pitchers will go in the opener on Thursday. Derek Holland goes for Texas in the nightcap, while Tommy Hunter gets the ball for Baltimore.

Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Cincinnati broke a scoreless tie when Joey Votto delivered with a two-out RBI double in the top of the ninth inning, and the Reds held on to beat the Milwaukee Brewers, 2-1, in the rubber match of a three-game series. Ryan Braun homered to left-center field off Sean Marshall to begin the home ninth. Marshall retired two in a row, but was replaced by Logan Ondrusek after Jonathan Lucroy and pinch-hitter Norichika Aoki hit back- to-back singles. Ondrusek walked pinch-hitter George Kottaras to load the bases, but he notched his first major league save when pinch-hitter Travis Ishikawa popped up the first pitch he saw to left field.

Final Score: Chicago 1, Atlanta 0

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Bryan LaHair continued his early-season production, knocking in the game's only run in the seventh inning to help the Cubs take the rubber match of a three-game set with the Braves, 1-0, on Wednesday. David DeJesus singled to lead off the seventh, moved to second on Tony Campana's sacrifice bunt and third on Starlin Castro's groundout. LaHair then roped a single into the hole in left and DeJesus jogged home. LaHair raised his average to .384 and batted in his 18th run of the season. He's reached base in 27 straight games.

Final Score: Colorado 6, San Diego 2

San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Wilin Rosario and Chris Nelson drove in two runs apiece as the Rockies salvaged the finale of a three-game set with the Padres, 6-2, on Wednesday. Christian Friedrich (1-0) picked up the win with a strong start in his major league debut, allowing five hits and two runs -- one earned -- with seven strikeouts over six innings to help Colorado snap a five-game losing streak. Anthony Bass (1-4) suffered another setback, surrendering five runs -- just one earned -- on nine hits in 5 2/3 frames. Jesus Guzman and Yonder Alonso each collected two hits and an RBI as San Diego finished a nine-game homestand with a 4-5 record.

Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Brandon Morrow threw six strong innings of one- run ball and the Toronto Blue Jays topped Oakland, 5-2, to earn a split of a two-game series on Wednesday. Morrow (4-1) scattered four hits and walked four while striking out 10. He allowed his first run since an April 23 start against the Kansas City Royals. Casey Janssen worked a perfect ninth to nail down his first save of the season. Adam Lind smoked a two-run homer and Edwin Encarnacion and J.P. Arencibia added solo shots, while Colby Rasmus contributed an RBI single for the Blue Jays, who snapped a three-game skid. Josh Reddick and Jonny Gomes had an RBI apiece and Jemile Weeks added a pair of hits for the Athletics, who had their three-game winning streak halted. Tyson Ross (1-3) allowed three runs on five hits and three walks while fanning three in 5 2/3 innings.

Texas at Baltimore, Postponed

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Wednesday's game between the Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles has been postponed due to rain. The contest will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Thursday, starting at 4:05 p.m. (et). It will mark the last two contests of this four-game series. On Tuesday, Josh Hamilton produced one of the best single-game offensive performances in major league history, going 5-for-5 with a double, four homers, eight RBI and 18 total bases in Texas' 10-3 win. Hamilton leads the majors with a .406 batting average, 14 homers and 36 RBI through Texas' first 30 games of 2012. The Orioles have been outscored 24-6 over the first two contests. Going back to last season, Baltimore has allowed at least 10 runs five times to the Rangers. Colby Lewis was slated to start Wednesday for the Rangers, while Wei-Yin Chen was scheduled as the Orioles starting pitcher. Those pitchers will go in the opener on Thursday. Derek Holland goes for Texas in the nightcap, while Tommy Hunter gets the ball for Baltimore.

Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Brandon Morrow threw six strong innings of one- run ball and the Toronto Blue Jays topped Oakland, 5-2, to earn a split of a two-game series on Wednesday. Morrow (4-1) scattered four hits and walked four while striking out 10. He allowed his first run since an April 23 start against the Kansas City Royals. Casey Janssen worked a perfect ninth to nail down his first save of the season. Adam Lind smoked a two-run homer and Edwin Encarnacion and J.P. Arencibia added solo shots, while Colby Rasmus contributed an RBI single for the Blue Jays, who snapped a three-game skid. Josh Reddick and Jonny Gomes had an RBI apiece and Jemile Weeks added a pair of hits for the Athletics, who had their three-game winning streak halted. Tyson Ross (1-3) allowed three runs on five hits and three walks while fanning three in 5 2/3 innings.

Texas at Baltimore, Postponed

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Wednesday's game between the Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles has been postponed due to rain. The contest will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Thursday, starting at 4:05 p.m. (et). It will mark the last two contests of this four-game series. On Tuesday, Josh Hamilton produced one of the best single-game offensive performances in major league history, going 5-for-5 with a double, four homers, eight RBI and 18 total bases in Texas' 10-3 win. Hamilton leads the majors with a .406 batting average, 14 homers and 36 RBI through Texas' first 30 games of 2012. The Orioles have been outscored 24-6 over the first two contests. Going back to last season, Baltimore has allowed at least 10 runs five times to the Rangers. Colby Lewis was slated to start Wednesday for the Rangers, while Wei-Yin Chen was scheduled as the Orioles starting pitcher.

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - The Pittsburgh Penguins announced that defenseman Zbynek Michalek underwent successful hip surgery on Wednesday.

Michalek had the procedure done by Dr. J.W. Byrd and is expected to recover by the beginning of training camp.

The 29-year-old logged 13 points in 62 games in the regular season and one point over six postseason contests this season.

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Pittsburgh Pirates lefty Erik Bedard was removed from Wednesday's game against the Washington Nationals in the second inning due to back spasms.

Bedard tossed a perfect first inning, but felt tightness while warming up and was accompanied to the dugout by Pirates medical personnel and manager Clint Hurdle. He was replaced on the mound by Brad Lincoln.

Bedard, who signed with the Bucs this offseason, is 2-4 with a 2.57 earned-run average, 37 strikeouts and 14 walks.

Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera was hospitalized for a blood clot in his right calf.

Doctors discovered the blood clot while he was being examined for his torn ACL in his right knee. He is now on blood thinners and this will not affect his recovery from the season-ending injury.

"I was more concerned with the blood clot than the knee, you know," said Rivera. "For a while there I was thinking, what else is going to happen."

Rivera was carted off the field last Thursday after suffering a torn ACL while shagging fly balls during batting practice.

He will have surgery to repair the knee sometime in the next couple of weeks as he needs to strengthen the knee before having the surgery.

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Carl Beane, the public address announcer at Fenway Park since 2003, died in a one-car accident on Wednesday afternoon. He was 59.

The Red Sox released a statement saying Beane had a heart attack while driving.

According to the office of Worcester District Attorney Joseph D. Early, a preliminary investigation found Beane's sport utility vehicle crashed into a tree and wall after crossing over the double solid lines on Holland Road in Sturbridge. He was pronounced dead at Harrington Hospital in Southbridge a short time later.

According to his personal website, Beane, who was born in Agawam, Mass., had worked in sports broadcasting since 1972.

"We are filled with sadness at this tragic news," said Red Sox President/CEO Larry Lucchino. "No one loved his role with the Red Sox more than Carl did his. He adored the opportunity to pay homage each game to Sherm Feller, and to contribute to the culture of Fenway Park, a place he loved passionately. His legion of friends with the Red Sox and the media will miss him enormously, and all of Red Sox Nation will remember his presence, his warmth, and his voice."

Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera was hospitalized for a blood clot in his right calf.

Doctors discovered the blood clot while he was being examined for his torn ACL in his right knee. He is now on blood thinners and this will not affect his recovery from the season-ending injury.

"I was more concerned with the blood clot than the knee, you know," said Rivera. "For a while there I was thinking, what else is going to happen."

Rivera was carted off the field last Thursday after suffering a torn ACL while shagging fly balls during batting practice.

He will have surgery to repair the knee sometime in the next couple of weeks as he needs to strengthen the knee before having the surgery.

Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Brandon Morrow threw six strong innings of one- run ball and the Toronto Blue Jays topped Oakland, 5-2, to earn a split of a two-game series on Wednesday. Morrow (4-1) scattered four hits and walked four while striking out 10. He allowed his first run since an April 23 start against the Kansas City Royals. Casey Janssen worked a perfect ninth to nail down his first save of the season. Adam Lind smoked a two-run homer and Edwin Encarnacion and J.P. Arencibia added solo shots, while Colby Rasmus contributed an RBI single for the Blue Jays, who snapped a three-game skid. Josh Reddick and Jonny Gomes had an RBI apiece and Jemile Weeks added a pair of hits for the Athletics, who had their three-game winning streak halted. Tyson Ross (1-3) allowed three runs on five hits and three walks while fanning three in 5 2/3 innings.

Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera was hospitalized for a blood clot in his right calf.

Doctors discovered the blood clot while he was being examined for his torn ACL in his right knee. He is now on blood thinners and this will not affect his recovery from the season-ending injury.

Rivera was carted off the field last Thursday after suffering a torn ACL while shagging fly balls during batting practice.

He will have surgery to repair the knee sometime in the next couple of weeks as he needs to strengthen the knee before having the surgery.

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Carl Beane, the public address announcer at Fenway Park since 2003, died in a one-car accident on Wednesday afternoon. He was 59.

According to the office of Worcester District Attorney Joseph D. Early, a preliminary investigation found Beane's sport utility vehicle crashed into a tree and wall after crossing over the double solid lines on Holland Road in Sturbridge. He was pronounced dead at Harrington Hospital in Southbridge a short time later.

According to his personal website, Beane, who was born in Agawam, Mass., had worked in sports broadcasting since 1972.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Welcome back, From the End of the Bench loyalists. It's been awhile since we last met on the first Monday night in April, or should I say the early morning hours after Kentucky finished off its a fate accompli by hoisting the national championship.

Since then, the Wildcats' starting five entered the NBA draft in one press conference - the main draw of a collegiate exodus that included the likes of North Carolina's Kendall Marshall and Harrison Barnes, Connecticut's Jeremy Lamb just in time for the Huskies' one-year NCAA Tournament suspension and Baylor's Perry Jones and Quincy Miller after one underwhelming season apiece.

Seth Greenberg was hosting a recruit when he heard of a hastily called news conference to announce his termination at Virginia Tech. Larry Eustachy parlayed his second life and subsequent success at Southern Mississippi into a better gig at Colorado State. His predecessor, Tim Miles, took his halftime Twitter prowess to Nebraska. Johnny Jones packed his bags for LSU after former head coach Trent Johnson departed for TCU.

And all of those moving places came into place before we could even reflect back on the 2011 season. College basketball's transition period is so brief, allowing just enough time for Kentucky to clean up its streamers before jumping into a barrage of early entries and coaching changes.

Luther Vandross provides three minutes for reflection, then it's full steam ahead on the same plane as David Axelrod and the President's re-election campaign: FORWARD.

Yet the game's biggest leap forward to date was a step back to the past. The op-ed below isn't to wax poetic about Larry Brown's many accomplishments, of which there are many. My Sports Network colleague Phil Neuffer already laid about Brown's collegiate and professional feats in a column last week.

The point of this exercise is to look deeper, at the historical significance of the hire, the monkey in the room on the recruiting trail (Brown's age), and a nomad's (inability to maintain his interest in a game that has evolved greatly since he was last part of it.

SMU's journey to the Big East was a piece of opportunistic desperation that stemmed from power players' mass exodus from a once-proud league, and that very league's necessary search west of the Mississippi River to find teams eager to jump at the lore of major conference money, television appearances and a seat at the grown-ups' table. What SMU had going for it was its proximity to a major media market (Dallas), its football history and its willingness to say yes. The jump from Conference USA to the Big East had nothing to do with basketball; it just so happened that Brown came along for the ride in a move made for headlines.

The Mustangs haven't made the NCAA Tournament since 1992-1993, yet they have shown recent interest in improving their program, beginning with the hire of former North Carolina head coach (and one-time Brown assistant) Matt Doherty followed by the building of a new multi-million dollar basketball facility and, now, the increased exposure of playing in the Big East.

The Doherty plan failed, but in its wake still lays a sparkling recruiting showcase to the best the Lone Star State has to offer. Currently nine Mustangs hail from Texas, and Brown's first priority is not only going after a typical SMU recruit, but aiming at the state's upper-echelon talent normally reserved for Rick Barnes in Austin, Bill Self in Lawrence or Coach K out east in Durham.

Which brings us to Brown's sell job, and, more specifically, the whispers sure to reach every SMU target's ears however long his tenure lasts. Larry Brown is a winner; he has proven it by winning national championships (as he did at Kansas in 1988), NBA titles (with Detroit in 2004) and amassing over 1,200 victories between the professional and collegiate ranks. His Rolodex is filled with some of the game's greats, power brokers at every level and scouting experts from Mount Rainer to Mount Pocono.

Suffice to say, Brown is one of the game's most respected elder statesmen, on the surface a major coup for an athletic department trying to make its hoops program relevant. His hire was the first step, and with the accomplishments listed above, Brown brings a street creed that will resonate with many students of the game, those players drawn to the poetic imagery that comes with playing for an icon.

But what about the harder sells? What happens when a workaholic like John Calipari is pulling all-nighters to get from one summer camp to the next? Does Brown have that drive left? Being 71 isn't a standalone issue, but it strikes a chord with 17-year-old athletes when combined with Brown's nomadic lifestyle, his strong dislike for the micromanaging and roster construction that comes with a head coach's responsibility.

Brown will never be outworked, and rarely outcoached, on the floor, but college athletics has transformed so much since the late 1980s. The game is faster, the players are stronger, the pool of talent for power programs much greater, the recruiting game far more aggressive, the recent changes to the by-laws governing the rat race more stringent in an ever-changing world of advanced technology.

Can Larry Brown tweet? Does he even text? Is he up on new recruiting language or the affects of the APR (Academic Performance Rating) on in-season scholastic monitoring? To put it bluntly, Brown had a tough enough time following the rules during his first collegiate foray (UCLA vacated a 1980 national championship game appearance after violations of playing with ineligible players, and Kansas was barred from defending its national championship because of recruiting violations during Brown's tenure).

Brown's family tree has branched off to produce some successful head coaches, namely Self and Calipari, but the roots have aged and been through so many battles that one wonders whether they have enough left to grow another program.

Because that's what SMU is asking. They understand this isn't a quick fix, yet they hired a quintessential win-now guy, a name brand with plenty of longevity, but a quick itch to bolt town at the first faint feeling of boredom.

I can envision the competition now: Go play for Larry Brown. But think for a second whether or not you want to be stuck at a second-rate Big East program when Brown inevitably bolts for retirement, or mucks up the recruiting waters or simply realizes what many in the game think but are afraid to say.

Why is Larry Brown jumping back into an unfamiliar arena filled with familiar faces? Why is he partaking in the painstaking legwork he has always detested? And better yet, how in the world did he convince SMU's athletic hierarchy that his track record warranted a rebuilding project?

This isn't the NBA. In fact, this isn't Kansas or UCLA. SMU was a job for a young basketball coach who didn't mind living out of suitcases or pulling all- nighters to build a program brick by brick.

That's not Larry Brown, and I'd say SMU would realize that several years down the road, but let's be honest, knowing Brown, this experiment probably won't last that long.

Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Cincinnati broke a scoreless tie when Joey Votto delivered with a two-out RBI double in the top of the ninth inning, and the Reds held on to beat the Milwaukee Brewers, 2-1, in the rubber match of a three-game series. Ryan Braun homered to left-center field off Sean Marshall to begin the home ninth. Marshall retired two in a row, but was replaced by Logan Ondrusek after Jonathan Lucroy and pinch-hitter Norichika Aoki hit back- to-back singles. Ondrusek walked pinch-hitter George Kottaras to load the bases, but he notched his first major league save when pinch-hitter Travis Ishikawa popped up the first pitch he saw to left field.

Final Score: Chicago 1, Atlanta 0

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Bryan LaHair continued his early-season production, knocking in the game's only run in the seventh inning to help the Cubs take the rubber match of a three-game set with the Braves, 1-0, on Wednesday. David DeJesus singled to lead off the seventh, moved to second on Tony Campana's sacrifice bunt and third on Starlin Castro's groundout. LaHair then roped a single into the hole in left and DeJesus jogged home. LaHair raised his average to .384 and batted in his 18th run of the season. He's reached base in 27 straight games.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The 2011 college football season finished with a pair of prolific passers sitting atop the NFL's list of future stars. Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III went first and second, respectively, in the recent draft after solidifying themselves as "can't miss" prospects.

In addition to Luck and Griffin, other college signal-callers found themselves drafted, including Ryan Tannehill, Brandon Weeden, Russell Wilson, Kirk Cousins, Brock Osweiler and Nick Foles, while the NCAA's all-time winningest QB, Kellen Moore, was added to an NFL roster as a free agent.

With so much talent moving on from the collegiate ranks, the question heading into the 2012 season is, who is going to step into the spotlight and carry the banner for quarterbacks across the nation?

MATT BARKLEY: The obvious choice as the nation's top signal-caller heading into 2012. Barkley (6-foot-2, 220 pounds) decided to forgo the NFL Draft and a possible Top 10 selection, following his junior season at USC where he delivered on nearly 70 percent of his passes for 3,528 yards, with 39 TDs against just seven interceptions. With Southern California's two-year bowl ban over, the Trojans are poised to be in the thick of the national title race thanks in large part to Barkley's decision to return to finish up his collegiate career. There's a good chance Barkley saved his best for last. The rest of the Pac-12 is in for a long season if that's the case and a huge campaign should he remain healthy will cement Barkley's status as the top quarterback in the country and perhaps the No. 1 overall choice in next year's NFL Draft.

TYLER WILSON: Ryan Mallett moved on to the NFL and star running back Knile Davis was lost for the season prior to the campaign even starting, leaving Arkansas with some serious issues heading into 2011. However, Wilson (6-3, 220) road in on a white horse and saved the day in Fayetteville, leading the Razorbacks to 11 wins, including a Cotton Bowl victory over Kansas State. As a junior, Wilson completed 64.3 percent of his throws for 3,638 yards and 24 TDs. With only six interceptions in 438 pass attempts, it was Wilson's ability to limit mistakes that proved to be the difference. The Razorbacks are under new leadership at the top with the dismissal of Bobby Petrino, but with a healthy Davis back in the fold and Wilson continuing to mature under center, the Razorbacks will make a run at the SEC crown.

GENO SMITH: The 6-3 Smith capitalized on Dana Holgorsen's offensive scheme at West Virginia. A gifted athlete, Smith is considered one of the nation's premier passers, completing just over 65 percent of his throws for over 4,800 yards - a whopping 346.8 yards per game - with 31 TDs against just seven picks in 2011. The Mountaineers are in the Big 12 this season and Smith's gunslinging should fit right in. The Sooners, Longhorns, Cowboys and Co. may be thinking it's deja vu after having to deal with RG3 last year.

TYLER BRAY: His place on this list is not based on his 2011 numbers, but more on what he is capable of delivering in 2012. Tennessee's signal-caller threw for just under 2,000 yards as a sophomore, with 17 TDs and just six interception, but the 6-6 Vol also missed five games. The prototype for what the NFL is looking for in a quarterback, Bray possesses great height and above- average mechanics and awareness. With an offense that returns a lot of veterans, look for Bray to put up big numbers in 2012.

LANDRY JONES: The Oklahoma State QB didn't have a great season in 2011 (by his own standards), but that wouldn't have prevented Jones from being a first-round draft pick. He still passed for nearly 4,500 yards, with 29 TDs and 15 INTs as a junior. The 6-4, 230-pound Sooner is back in Norman for one more go-around and would like nothing better than to put Oklahoma back into the national spotlight. The likelihood of that happening depends a lot on Jones' supporting cast. Gone is All-American wideout Ryan Broyles, but the hope is that Jones can stay healthy and spread the ball around a little more, while bouncing back from a inconsistent 2011.

AARON MURRAY: This Georgia Bulldog had a down year in 2011 (compared to his freshman season), but his numbers were still impressive in his second stint in the SEC. He lacks ideal size (6-1, 211), but has shown flashes of absolute brilliant play. Last season, Murray completed just under 60 percent of his throws, but amassed 3,149 yards and 35 TDs. There is every reason to believe that a strong second half of 2011 will carry over into 2012 and it could result in a magical junior season in Athens for Murray. A favorable schedule void of LSU and Alabama won't hurt his stats at all.

CASEY PACHALL: TCU was supposed to suffer a lull with the departure of Andy Dalton to the NFL, but that simply wasn't the case. Enter the 6-5 Pachall, who filled the void nicely, completing over 66 percent of his throws as a sophomore, for just under 3,000 yards. His decision-making is what really got him noticed, as Pachall threw 25 TDs against just seven interceptions in 2011. The Horned Frogs will be competing in a new conference this year - the Big 12 - and Pachall's ability to make the right reads and protect the football will go a long way in determining TCU's initial foray into the conference.

TAHJ BOYD: The 6-1, 230-pound Clemson QB burst on the scene as a sophomore in 2011, leading the Tigers to their first ACC title in 20 years. A gifted athlete, Boyd has the ability to beat teams with his arm and legs. Last season, he completed 298-of-499 passes for 3,828 yards and 33 TDs. Nine of his 12 total interceptions came in the final six games of the season, but that shouldn't detract from Boyd's huge campaign. Clemson returns a slew of talent on the offensive side of the ball in 2012, including All-American wideout Sammy Watkins. The duo should pick up where it left off in 2011 and become one of the nation's premier "pitch-and-catch" combos. With Boyd under center, Clemson certainly has the inside track at another conference crown.

DENARD ROBINSON: A Heisman hopeful a couple of seasons ago, this extremely talented Michigan QB took a step back in his maturation process under center. The nation's top dual-threat, the 6-foot Robinson rushed for a team-high 1,176 yards and 16 TDs, while passing for 2,173 yards and 20 scores. However, it was offset a bit by 15 interceptions and a completion percentage of just .550. Inconsistency has been the biggest problem for Michigan's top playmaker. The Wolverines finished at 11-2 in Brady Hoke's first season at the helm and, of course, Robinson was a big reason for it. If he can limit his mistakes and deliver on a more consistent basis, the Wolverines may find themselves back atop the Big Ten.

JAMES FRANKLIN: The 6-2, 225-pound Missouri QB had a strong sophomore season both as a rusher and passer. The Tigers' top playmaker, Franklin completed just over 63 percent of his throws in his first year as a starter in 2011, for 2,865 yards, with 21 TDs. He also found time to finish second on the team in rushing, amassing 981 yards and half of the team's 30 rushing TDs. Franklin was named the Independence Bowl MVP after throwing for 132 yards and one TD, while rushing for 142 yards and two more scores. It is that kind of diversity that will fuel the Tigers in 2012 and keep them relevant in the new-look Big 12.

HONORABLE MENTION: A.J. McCarron (Alabama), Logan Thomas (Virginia Tech), Keith Price (Washington), Bryn Renner (North Carolina), Collin Klein (Kansas State), Mike Glennon (North Carolina State).

Greensboro, NC (Sports Network) - The Atlantic Coast Conference and ESPN have extended their television deal through the 2026-27 season on Wednesday.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed by either side, but it's being reported that it's worth $3.6 billion over 15 years.

"We are excited to have further enhanced our partnership with ESPN through the extension of our multimedia contract," said ACC Commissioner John Swofford. "We are proud that ESPN has invested so deeply in the ACC both from a resource and exposure standpoint. As we look to the future, this relationship will be tremendous for our schools, fans, coaches and student-athletes."

With Pittsburgh and Syracuse set to join the conference, moving there from the Big East, next season will see an 18-game schedule in both men's and women's basketball conference play.

On the football side, ESPN will now have the right to televise three Friday night ACC contests each year, which includes Boston College each hosting one game and an afternoon or evening game on Thanksgiving.

Also, more Olympic sports will be covered by the ESPN family of channels throughout the year.

Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - The Anaheim Ducks signed veteran center Saku Koivu to a one-year contract extension on Wednesday.

The 37-year-old Finn completed his third season with the Ducks last month. In 74 games, he registered 11 goals and 27 assists.

Prior to joining the Ducks, Koivu spent the first 13 seasons of his career with the Montreal Canadiens, for whom he served as captain for 10 years, a mark matched only by Jean Beliveau in the franchise's illustrious history.

The 21st overall selection in the 1993 draft, Koivu has totaled 236 goals and 776 points in 1,012 NHL games.

Helsinki, Finland (Sports Network) - Captain Ryan Getzlaf scored a tiebreaking goal 8:02 into the third period to lift Canada to a 3-2 win over Switzerland Wednesday at the 2012 World Championship.

Jordan Eberle and John Tavares registered a goal and an assist for the Canadians, who improved to 3-0-1-0 in this tournament.

Cam Ward made 28 saves in the win, while his Swiss counterpart, Tobias Stephan stopped 27 shots.

Damien Brunner opened the scoring in the first period for Switzerland and helped set up Goran Bezina's power-play goal that tied the game early in the third.

In Stockholm, the Swedes got goals from five different players in a 5-2 win over Germany.

Johan Franzen, Erik Karlsson, Viktor Stalberg, Marcus Kruger and Niklas Persson lit the lamp for the host nation, while lightly-tested Viktor Fasth recorded 15 saves.

Sweden has won all four of its preliminary round games thus far.

In earlier action Wednesday, Tomas Kopecky scored twice in the third to help Slovakia defeat Kazakhstan, 4-2, and Norway was a 6-2 winner over Italy.

Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman Jacob Bell was placed on the reserve/retired list on Wednesday.

He retired from the NFL before playing one snap for the Bengals, who signed him back on April 12.

Bell would have been entering his ninth season this year. He spent the previous four seasons with the St. Louis Rams and started 12 games for the team last season.

He broke into the NFL in 2004 with the Tennessee Titans, who selected him out of the University of Miami-Ohio in the fifth round of the 2004 draft.

He played in 109 games over his career with 100 starts.

Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - The Royals recalled second baseman Johnny Giavotella from Triple-A Omaha and placed pitcher Jonathan Sanchez on the 15- day disabled list Wednesday.

Kansas City's second baseman of the future, Giavotella batted .247 with two home runs and 21 runs batted in over 46 games in his first stint in the majors, in 2011.

Giavotella was a second-round pick in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft.

Sanchez has been battling left biceps tendinitis in his first year with Kansas City, and it has impacted his effectiveness. He has pitched to a 6.75 earned run average and a 1-2 record over six starts this season.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday activated pitcher Cliff Lee from the 15-day disabled list, hours before he is scheduled to start against the Mets.

Lee was placed on the DL on April 21 after suffering a left oblique strain during his 10-inning outing against the Giants just a few days earlier.

The 33-year-old left-hander is 0-1 with a 1.96 ERA this season.

To make room for Lee in on the roster, Philadelphia optioned reliever Michael Schwimer to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - After enduring a season marred by a record-setting amount of losses, the Minnesota Vikings are inching closer toward capturing what may be the most significant victory in the franchise's over 50-year history.

Maybe.

A major hurdle to the Vikings' long-term existence in Minnesota was potentially cleared when both components of the state legislature approved a controversial plan to construct a new stadium in downtown Minneapolis this week, though a host of revisions to the initial proposal still has the team's future residency in the Land of 10,000 Lakes on somewhat thin ice.

The bill was passed by the Minnesota House of Representatives on Monday, but only after the Vikings' contribution to the estimated $975 million project was raised from $427 million to $532 million. The Senate voted to ease the club's burden to $452 million -- still a $25 million increase over the original agreement -- but tacked on a set of user fees on stadium amenities that would reduce the team's cut of game-day proceeds while defraying the state's portion of the cost.

Suffice to say, the Vikings aren't enamored with the legislature's audible, and they appear to have a reasonable gripe. The $427 million that the Wilf family, the team's majority owner, had previously consented to paying would be the third-highest sum of private funds allotted to the construction of an NFL stadium, and count for roughly 44 percent of the venue's estimated cost.

In comparison, nearly three quarters of the price tag on Target Field, the beautiful ballpark that became home to Major League Baseball's Minnesota Twins in 2010, was paid for by public money.

In addition to applying fees on parking, selected team-oriented merchandise and stadium suite purchases or rentals, the Senate also rejected a stipulation that would have given the Wilfs a five-year exclusive-rights window to pursue a Major League Soccer team that would play in the new stadium. The lawmakers may have drawn the NFL's ire as well after putting in a provision that would prohibit local television blackouts at the facility in the event a Vikings game doesn't sell out.

The changes are enough to make a Vikings organization that has been admirably patient throughout the drawn-out process of trying to build a replacement for the outdated Metrodome seriously weigh all of its options, and there's one very lucrative one that could be on the table. Los Angeles has made no secret of its desire to rejoin the NFL fray by luring an existing team, and the prospect of having the second-largest market in the United States as part of its footprint once again is an idea that has obvious appeal to the league as well.

The NFL would rather the Vikings not be that team, however, which was made clear by commissioner Roger Goodell's visit to the Minnesota State Capitol last month to lobby for a revival of the stadium bill. And with the Vikings no longer bound to the Twin Cities (their lease with the Metrodome expired at the conclusion of this past season), the fact that the Wilfs have continued to push hard for a new stadium strongly indicates their willingness to remain in Minnesota.

That preference to stay doesn't seem to be lost on the public officials trying their best to bleed as much as they can from the Vikings, while attempting to appease both the proponents and staunch combatants of a very hot-button topic in the process.

They just better make sure they don't overplay their hand.

No one would have believed in a state where hockey is a religion that the NHL's North Stars would have bolted Bloomington for the greener pastures of Texas back in 1993. But a combination of low attendance, a failure to upgrade existing facilities and an out-of-town owner without any sentimental ties to the area caused the unthinkable to actually happen.

Nearly two decades later, Minnesota finds itself in an eerily similar predicament. The Metrodome's age and lack of a sufficient supply of luxury boxes and club seating have placed the Vikings near the bottom of the NFL in total revenue, and primary owner Zygi Wilf is a New Jersey native who's not a resident of the Gopher State.

And after politely allowing their stadium issue to be placed on the back burner for years while the Twins and the University of Minnesota were each green-lighted for publicly funded new buildings, it's hard to blame the Vikings for being a little antsy and ticked off.

"The last governor said in 2006 we'll come back and work on yours next year," Vikings vice president of public affairs and stadium development Lester Bagley told the St. Paul Pioneer Press in April. "That was six years ago. No action this year is a decision."

The events of the past few days are signs of tangible progress, however, and the prospect of some sort of compromise being reached seems much more attainable today than it did a week or two ago.

Still, with plenty of strong opposition to the project despite the economic benefits (namely, a possible Super Bowl in the future) that both the stadium and its construction will provide, and the legislature scheduled to adjourn for the remainder of the year on May 21, the outcome remains very much touch- and-go.

In other words, the Vikings are about to run the most critical two-minute drill they've ever had.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Rumor has it the Texas Rangers have already begun discussions with pending free agent outfielder Josh Hamilton on a long-term deal.

They'd probably be best served to get that deal done real soon because Hamilton's price tag seemingly goes up by the day.

On Tuesday, Hamilton became the 16th player in major league history to hit four home runs in a game and also set an American League record with 18 total bases in Texas' 10-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles.

"Just seeing how excited my teammates were, then touching home plate and going into the dugout, the reaction from them was the best part," Hamilton said afterward. "Getting hugs ... those are the guys you go out and battle with every day. It doesn't always work out, but we give it everything we got."

How locked in is the former AL MVP?

Well, in his last six plate appearances Hamilton has taken 10 swings, hit five home runs, one double and driven in 10 runs. He is the first player with extra- base hits in six straight at-bats since Ken Griffey Jr., on July 1-2 1998, and the first player with five home runs in six at-bats since Shawn Green on May 23-24 2002.

"Obviously, other than the World Series, it's the highlight of my big league career," Hamilton said. "I never hit three before in a game. When I did that, it was like, what a blessing. To hit four is an awesome feeling."

For the year, he is now hitting .406 with 14 home runs and 36 RBIs.

"The best individual performance I have ever seen," Rangers infielder Michael Young said. "I've never seen anything like it. It was fun to be a part of. He's an incredible player."

But nights like Tuesday, as special as they are, and they are special when you consider there have been less four home run achievements than perfect games on the mound, are still a sad reminder as to what could have been for Hamilton had it not been for his own transgressions early on.

Everyone knows the story. Selected first overall by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1999, Hamilton was injured early in his minor league career and fell into a pattern of drug abuse shortly thereafter that ultimately got him suspended from the game.

Upon reinstatement, Tampa eventually cut ties with the outfielder in 2006, leaving him exposed to the Rule 5 Draft, where he was selected by the Chicago Cubs before being moved to the Cincinnati Reds later in the day.

Hamilton shined for the Reds in 2007, but was dealt to the Rangers the following winter. Hamilton's comeback really took off in Arlington, as he became an All-Star in 2008, stealing the show with a breathtaking performance in the Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium that year.

He's since been a league MVP, while being the unquestioned offensive leader on for the two-time defending AL champions.

A long-term deal should be a slam dunk. So what's the holdup?

Well, a deal was close to being done this past winter, but Hamilton's slip-up with alcohol put those talks on hold. So much so that some in the Rangers' organization were wondering whether or not their long-term money would be better served going to someone like Prince Fielder.

Someone is going to take a chance on Hamilton. He's that good.

And as every day passes, he gets that much closer to leaving. Free agency is a different monster. It's not often a player of his caliber tests the waters, then returns home. Especially a player who doesn't play in New York.

You also can understand Texas' hesitancy, though. Forget the injuries that have plagued him almost all of his career, would you commit the type of money that Hamilton is worth to a player who obviously has demons most people cannot begin to fathom?

When he is on the field and right, though, he is bar none the most dynamic bat in the game. And he proved as much on Tuesday in Baltimore.

But still you're left wondering what could have been.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - A group of St. Louis investors led by Tom Stillman has purchased the Blues.

The National Hockey League's Board of Governors unanimously approved the sale, which became official on Wednesday.

Stillman, who has been a minority owner of the Blues since 2007, becomes the eighth owner of the Blues since the franchise's inception, following Dave Checketts/SCP Worldwide (2006-present), Bill Laurie (1999-2006), Kiel Center Partners (1991-1999), Mike Shanahan (1986-1991), Harry Ornest (1983-1986), Ralston Purina (1977-1983) and the Salomon family (1966-1977).

Stillman is also CEO of Summit Distributing, a St. Louis-based beer distributor, and his group will be paying about $130 million for the Blues, their Peoria Rivermen affiliate of the American Hockey League and "significant interest" in the Peabody Opera House.

Checketts' group was part of Chicago-area businessman Matthew Hulsizer's bid to buy the team, but the NHL terminated the arrangement in January due to financial issues.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The 2011 college football season finished with a pair of prolific passers sitting atop the NFL's list of future stars. Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III went first and second, respectively, in the recent draft after solidifying themselves as "can't miss" prospects and cornerstones of their NFL teams for the next decade or so.

In addition to Luck and Griffin, other college signal-callers found themselves drafted, including Ryan Tannehill, Brandon Weeden, Russell Wilson, Kirk Cousins, Brock Osweiler and Nick Foles, while the NCAA's all-time winningest QB, Kellen Moore, was added to an NFL roster as a free agent.

With so much talent moving on from the collegiate ranks, the question heading into 2012 is, who is going to step into the spotlight and carry the banner for quarterbacks across the nation?

MATT BARKLEY: The obvious choice as the nation's top signal-caller heading into 2012. Barkley (6-foot-2, 220 pounds) decided to forgo the NFL Draft and a possible Top 10 selection, following his junior season at USC where he delivered on nearly 70 percent of his passes for 3,528 yards, with 39 TDs against just seven interceptions. With Southern California's two-year bowl ban over, the Trojans are poised to be in the thick of the national title race thanks in large part to Barkley's decision to return to finish up his collegiate career. There's a good chance Barkley saved his best for last. The rest of the Pac-12 is in for a long season if that's the case and a huge campaign should he remain healthy will cement Barkley's status as the top quarterback in the country and perhaps the No. 1 overall choice in next year's NFL Draft.

TYLER WILSON: Ryan Mallett moved on to the NFL and star running back Knile Davis was lost for the season prior to the campaign even starting, leaving Arkansas with some serious issues heading into 2011. However, Wilson (6-3, 220) road in on a white horse and saved the day in Fayetteville, leading the Razorbacks to 11 wins, including a Cotton Bowl victory over Kansas State. As a junior, Wilson completed 64.3 percent of his throws for 3,638 yards and 24 TDs. With only six interceptions in 438 pass attempts, it was Wilson's ability to limit mistakes that proved to be the difference. The Razorbacks are under new leadership at the top with the dismissal of Bobby Petrino, but with a healthy Davis back in the fold and Wilson continuing to mature under center, the Razorbacks will make a run at the SEC crown.

GENO SMITH: The 6-3 Smith capitalized on Dana Holgorsen's offensive scheme at West Virginia. A gifted athlete, Smith is considered one of the nation's premier passers, completing just over 65 percent of his throws for over 4,800 yards - a whopping 346.8 yards per game - with 31 TDs against just seven picks in 2011. The Mountaineers are in the Big 12 this season and Smith's gunslinging should fit right in. The Sooners, Longhorns, Cowboys and Co. may be thinking it's deja vu after having to deal with RG3 last year.

TYLER BRAY: His place on this list is not based on his 2011 numbers, but more on what he is capable of delivering in 2012. Tennessee's signal-caller threw for just under 2,000 yards as a sophomore, with 17 TDs and just six interception, but the 6-6 Vol also missed five games. The prototype for what the NFL is looking for in a quarterback, Bray possesses great height and above- average mechanics and awareness. With an offense that returns a lot of veterans, look for Bray to put up big numbers in 2012.

LANDRY JONES: The Oklahoma State QB didn't have a great season in 2011 (by his own standards), but that wouldn't have prevented Jones from being a first-round draft pick. He still passed for nearly 4,500 yards, with 29 TDs and 15 INTs as a junior. The 6-4, 230-pound Sooner is back in Norman for one more go-around and would like nothing better than to put Oklahoma back into the national spotlight. The likelihood of that happening depends a lot on Jones' supporting cast. Gone is All-American wideout Ryan Broyles, but the hope is that Jones can stay healthy and spread the ball around a little more, while bouncing back from a inconsistent 2011.

AARON MURRAY: This Georgia Bulldog had a down year in 2011 (compared to his freshman season), but his numbers were still impressive in his second stint in the SEC. He lacks ideal size (6-1, 211), but has shown flashes of absolute brilliant play. Last season, Murray completed just under 60 percent of his throws, but amassed 3,149 yards and 35 TDs. There is every reason to believe that a strong second half of 2011 will carry over into 2012 and it could result in a magical junior season in Athens for Murray. A favorable schedule void of LSU and Alabama won't hurt his stats at all.

CASEY PACHALL: TCU was supposed to suffer a lull with the departure of Andy Dalton to the NFL, but that simply wasn't the case. Enter the 6-5 Pachall, who filled the void nicely, completing over 66 percent of his throws as a sophomore, for just under 3,000 yards. His decision-making is what really got him noticed, as Pachall threw 25 TDs against just seven interceptions in 2011. The Horned Frogs will be competing in a new conference this year - the Big 12 - and Pachall's ability to make the right reads and protect the football will go a long way in determining TCU's initial foray into the conference.

TAHJ BOYD: The 6-1, 230-pound Clemson QB burst on the scene as a sophomore in 2011, leading the Tigers to their first ACC title in 20 years. A gifted athlete, Boyd has the ability to beat teams with his arm and legs. Last season, he completed 298-of-499 passes for 3,828 yards and 33 TDs. Nine of his 12 total interceptions came in the final six games of the season, but that shouldn't detract from Boyd's huge campaign. Clemson returns a slew of talent on the offensive side of the ball in 2012, including All-American wideout Sammy Watkins. The duo should pick up where it left off in 2011 and become one of the nation's premier "pitch-and-catch" combos. With Boyd under center, Clemson certainly has the inside track at another conference crown.

DENARD ROBINSON: A Heisman hopeful a couple of seasons ago, this extremely talented Michigan QB took a step back in his maturation process under center. The nation's top dual-threat, the 6-foot Robinson rushed for a team-high 1,176 yards and 16 TDs, while passing for 2,173 yards and 20 scores. However, it was offset a bit by 15 interceptions and a completion percentage of just .550. Inconsistency has been the biggest problem for Michigan's top playmaker. The Wolverines finished at 11-2 in Brady Hoke's first season at the helm and, of course, Robinson was a big reason for it. If he can limit his mistakes and deliver on a more consistent basis, the Wolverines may find themselves back atop the Big Ten.

JAMES FRANKLIN: The 6-2, 225-pound Missouri QB had a strong sophomore season both as a rusher and passer. The Tigers' top playmaker, Franklin completed just over 63 percent of his throws in his first year as a starter in 2011, for 2,865 yards, with 21 TDs. He also found time to finish second on the team in rushing, amassing 981 yards and half of the team's 30 rushing TDs. Franklin was named the Independence Bowl MVP after throwing for 132 yards and one TD, while rushing for 142 yards and two more scores. It is that kind of diversity that will fuel the Tigers in 2012 and keep them relevant in the new-look Big 12.

HONORABLE MENTION: A.J. McCarron (Alabama), Logan Thomas (Virginia Tech), Keith Price (Washington), Bryn Renner (North Carolina), Collin Klein (Kansas State), Mike Glennon (North Carolina State).

Vancouver, BC (Sports Network) - With a new contract extension in his own back pocket, Vancouver Canucks general manager Mike Gillis has made it clear that his next order of business will be to secure his head coach, Alain Vigneault, to a similar extension.

But even if Vigneault comes to an agreement to extend his stay in Vancouver, don't think for a second that it's a guarantee the all-time coaching wins leader in Canucks franchise history will be around to fulfill the entire term of that extension, or will even last to the end of this upcoming season.

While Gillis, publicly and behind closed doors, may be fully confident that his head coach can get the Canucks to the promise land and end the 42-year-and- counting Stanley Cup drought in Vancouver, even he knows the fate of his head coach will be largely dependent on how his team fares next season.

That's especially the case considering the Canucks are coming off their most underachieving playoff run in team history after being bounced in the first round by the Los Angeles Kings despite winning their second consecutive Presidents' Trophy as the best regular-season team and being picked by many pundits at the outset of the postseason to be a favorite to win it all. They had come up just one victory shy of winning the Stanley Cup last year.

Gillis has never been one to bow to public pressure - if he were, then Vigneault likely would not have lasted a year into his tenure as general manager and certainly not the last four - but it would be hard for him to ignore the already simmering discontent among the fan base if the Canucks were to fall below expectations for a second straight year.

Vigneault has come under criticism for some of his coaching tactics which, at times, includes changing his line combinations on a whim or benching certain players for inordinate lengths of time while giving other underachieving performers more ice time than they are arguably entitled.

Gillis is also aware that his team's window of opportunity to win with their current core group is slowly beginning to close with netminder Roberto Luongo expected to be moved out in the coming weeks, the Sedin twins turning 32 before the start of the season and the likes of Alexandre Burrows and Alexander Edler headed for unrestricted free agency at the conclusion of the 2012-13 season.

He would be hard-pressed not to make a change if the Canucks were to come up short again in next year's postseason or even if they were to stumble significantly out of the gate in the regular season.

For now, Gillis appears to be willing to write-off this season's disappointing end as an aberration, but don't be surprised if his patience with his head coach wears thin quickly even if a contract extension is agreed upon.

Vigneault's current deal, which was signed just after Gillis' arrival in Vancouver for the start of the 2008-09 season, expires at the end of this upcoming season.

Vigneault was originally hired by former Canucks GM Dave Nonis to coach Vancouver's farm team, the AHL's Manitoba Moose, in 2005-06. He was promoted to head coach of the Canucks the following season and won the Jack Adams Award as NHL Coach of the Year that season.

Nonis was relieved of his duties as the Canucks' GM following the 2007-08 season - the only season to date the Canucks failed to make the playoffs with Vigneault behind the bench.

Hamilton, ON (Sports Network) - To the surprise of no one, the Saskatchewan Roughriders selected Ben Heenan with the first overall pick in the 2012 CFL Canadian Draft last Thursday.

Heenan, a 6-foot-4, 310-pound offensive lineman who spent four years with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, was ranked the No. 2 prospect heading into the draft.

The top-rated prospect was Boise State defensive end Tyrone Crawford. He was the 81st overall pick in the NFL Draft two weeks ago. The Dallas Cowboys made him their third-round pick.

It became clear that no CFL team would take a chance on Crawford, so the only question as the draft approached was, would the Riders trade away their first- round pick?

The answer, as provided by Riders president and CEO Jim Hopson, was an emphatic no.

The Riders gave that answer in front of 2,000 witnesses. On draft day morning, the Huskies held their annual fund-raising event, cleverly called the "Dogs Breakfast."

"I'm pleased to announce that later today, with the first pick in the 2012 draft, the Saskatchewan Roughriders will be selecting University of Saskatchewan offensive lineman Ben Heenan," Hopson said.

The crowd erupted.

"I had a strong inkling the past few days, but nothing was official until today," Heenan told a media conference.

"It meant a lot to spend today with 2,000 Huskie supporters, my teammates and my family," the native of Grand Coulee, Saskatchewan, said.

Ask any Saskatchewan-born football player, either high school or university, what it means to them to play for the Riders and you'll get the same answer. Heenan is no different and he says it means a lot to his family.

"They're incredibly happy. For them to be here and share this moment with me, they're pretty stoked about it. It's a special day for everyone."

Heenan said all the attention he's received from the media and football fans isn't common for him, especially being an offensive lineman.

"It's a little overwhelming," he admitted. "It sinks in more and more as every hour passes. Being here now (Mosaic Stadium) for the first time and seeing everybody here, it's going to be something special, and something I'll cherish forever."

Being the first overall selection is one thing, but add in the fact that he's a local product and Heenan will be under the microscope.

"Obviously, there's a bit of pressure that goes with being the No. 1 pick, but nobody has high expectations than myself," he said.

There was a little bit of drama with the next selection.

The Edmonton Eskimos, who had the No. 2 pick, which they acquired in the deal that sent Ricky Ray to Toronto, traded the pick to the B.C. Lions, who selected Eastern Michigan defensive end Jabar Westerman.

The Lions made the move because they had an inkling the Winnipeg Blue Bombers also wanted Westerman. In fact, the Bombers made a trade with Hamilton just before the draft, moving up to third overall.

Mike Benevides, the new head coach of the Lions, was ecstatic after the draft.

"When you look at him as far as athleticism, his size, he's an impact player," Benevides said. "He fits exactly into our scheme. He's exactly what we were looking for. There was a threat that we may lose him, so, we had the flexibility to move up to two to get him."

Westerman, 6-2 and 285 pounds, is the younger brother of Miami Dolphins defender Jamaal Westerman.

The Lions weren't finished with the first round. With the seventh overall pick, they selected offensive lineman Kirby Fabien from the University of Calgary.

"Kirby is a big, long athlete," Benevides said. "When you look at his measurables, when you look at his length, how he moves, the thing about Kirby is he's a big man -- and he moves and he's light on his feet. He plays tackle and he can potentially grow at that position. But what you really like about him is -- because I want intelligent football players -- Kirby is a guy that steps in right away ... He's super intelligent with the game, he's got a lot of football IQ. When you ask his offensive line coach in Calgary, he's the guy that picks it up right away. He controls everybody and he leads, and that's what you want."

Another offensive lineman was selected third overall by the Blue Bombers, Washington State's Tyson Pencer.

The rest of the first-round picks were: No. 4., offensive lineman Austin Pasztor of Virginia to Edmonton; 5., defensive end Ameet Pall of Wofford to Calgary; and 6., wide receiver Shamawd Chambers of Wilfrid Laurier to Edmonton.

QUINLAN NOT DRAFTED

- More than a few eyebrows were raised because not one player from the Vanier Cup champion McMaster Marauders was selected in the draft, including highly touted quarterback Kyle Quinlan.

However, this week Quinlan signed a free-agent contract with the Montreal Alouettes.

- Two other draftees have accepted invitations to join NFL teams. Wilfrid Laurier receiver Shamawd Chambers and Laval linebacker Frederic Plesius, who was taken 10th overall by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, will be a part of the Philadelphia Eagles' rookie mini-camp.

- Calgary led all CIS programs for the second year in a row with four selections in the draft. Laval and Sherbrooke followed with three apiece.

Canada West was the most prolific of the four CIS conferences with eight draftees, followed by the RSEQ (seven), OUA (five) and the AUS (four).

Ted Michaels is the host of the Fifth Quarter on AM900 CHML.

Comments? Criticism? Applause?ted@900chml.com

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The Big East Conference has been transformed dramatically in the past year and earlier this week found itself making yet another change. Commissioner John Marinatto resigned from his post on Monday putting the leadership of the conference in transition as it attempts to navigate through a tumultuous shake up over the coming years.

"I felt that this was the right time to step aside and to let someone else lead us through the next chapter of our evolution," said Marinatto, "I am extremely confident about the future of this league that I love very much."

Although Marinatto publicly displayed confidence in the conference's fortunes going forward, the Big East is anything but steady as it attempts to make up for losses of a number of important programs.

It was announced in September that both Syracuse and Pittsburgh would be leaving the Big East in all sports in favor of the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2014, following in the footsteps of Miami-Florida and Virginia Tech, which moved out of the Big East in 2004 and Boston College which left in 2007. The losses of Syracuse and Pittsburgh are a particularly huge blow to the Big East's reputation as one of the top basketball conferences in the nation.

Syracuse is one of the founding members of the Big East and has appeared in the NCAA Tournament 24 times, including a No. 1 seed last season and the 2003 national title. The Orange will be a major loss beyond basketball, especially in sports like lacrosse and football.

Pittsburgh has been a Big East member since 1982 and despite a down year last season, it has been to 18 NCAA Tournaments. In football, the program has been in a bowl in nine of the last 12 seasons, including a trip to a BCS Bowl game in 2004, a loss to Utah in the Fiesta Bowl.

The losses didn't just stop there as West Virginia also made a move by aligning itself with the Big 12 beginning in 2013. This takes away arguably the most important football program in the Big East with the Mountaineers making 10 straight bowl appearances including wins in three BCS Bowl trips, including a 70-33 win over Clemson in last season's Orange Bowl.

The loss of these programs has forced the Big East to look for replacement teams. The result is the addition of a number of teams, forming what will eventually be a 18-team mega-conference in basketball and a 13-team conference in football.

The two biggest acquisitions for the Big East have got to be Memphis and Boise State, adding powerful programs in basketball and football, respectively. Memphis will join as a full member, while the Broncos come in solely as a football member.

Although joining in all sports, getting Memphis is a much bigger deal for the Big East in terms of basketball. Memphis' basketball program has been a mainstay in the Top 25 and NCAA Tournament out of Conference USA over the last decade including a trip to the NCAA Title game under John Calipari in 2008. The Tigers will begin battling in the Big East in 2013.

"Over the past decade, the University of Memphis has demonstrated an unwavering commitment of competing at the highest level in college sports," said Marinatto when the move was announced in early February.

Memphis will certainly help ease the pain of losing Syracuse and Pittsburgh, thanks to the Tigers' success on the hardwood and with the addition of other solid former mid-major basketball programs like Temple and San Diego State.

Temple is an especially intriguing addition considering the Owls are just eight years removed from being ousted from the Big East, where they competed in football from 1991-2004. Temple has done a great deal to resurrect what was a woeful football program in recent years, accumulating a 35-27 record in the last five seasons, including two bowl appearances capped off by a win in the New Mexico Bowl last season. To put that in perspective, Temple had not had a winning record in the previous 16 years before this five-year run of success and hadn't been in a bowl game since 1979.

The Owls' most important addition will be in basketball, which will begin play in the Big East in the 2013-2014 season, a year after the football program. Temple has one of the more respected programs outside of the power conferences. Temple was one of the most dominant programs in the Atlantic 10 and is coming off a season in which it made its fifth straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. Temple is also a natural pick due to its geographic location and the fact that it comes with a built-in rivalry with fellow Philadelphia school Villanova.

"There is no other conference that is a better fit for Temple than the Big East," said Temple Director of Athletics Bill Bradshaw.

Boise State seems like the clear replacement for West Virginia, with the Broncos' recent history of success in football despite the handicap of playing outside of a BCS conference. Now the Broncos have the chance to compete for national championships with the Big East's automatic BCS bid. Even without automatic bids, the Broncos made it to a pair of BCS Bowl games, both of which Boise State won, including the famous 2006 Fiesta Bowl victory over Oklahoma. The Broncos have been ranked in the Top 25 at some point in 10 straight years and have reached as high as No. 2 in the national rankings, while compiling an incredible 114-13 record during the stretch with two undefeated seasons.

Bringing in Boise State is just one move that has the Big East expanding outside of its namesake's geographic region. Also joining the conference will be Houston, SMU and San Diego State expanding the reaches of the conference to the West Coast.

"Much like the conference as a whole, the Big East name has evolved into a highly respected brand that transcends borders, boundaries or regions. It's national. Our membership makeup is now reflective of that," said former commissioner Marinatto of the moves that will open the Big East up into a number of new television markets.

With Marinatto out the conference will now turn to Joseph A. Bailey III as commissioner on a interim basis. Bailey has served in a number of executive positions in the NFL.

"The Big East has a terrific future," said Bailey of a conference that will also be adding the programs of UCF and Navy, "I'm excited to participate in shaping a new structure and strategic plans for the conference, and I look forward to engaging on these matters with the leadership of all of the conference's members, old and new alike."

Whether or not the Big East's future is bright or not one thing is for sure; it will certainly be a drastically different conference than the one of the last few decades.

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Josh Hamilton tied a major league record with four home runs and knocked in eight runs overall as the Rangers dominated the Orioles, 10-3, in the second game of a four-game set at Camden Yards on Tuesday. Hamilton became the 16th player in MLB history -- sixth in the American League -- to accomplish the feat and first since Carlos Delgado did it on Sept. 25, 2003, for the Toronto Blue Jays against Tampa Bay. Hamilton launched four two-run homers, scoring Elvis Andrus on each occasion. He finished the game 5-for-5 and set an AL record with 18 total bases in the game, one shy of the major league record of 19 set by Shawn Green on May 23, 2002 as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Adrian Beltre added a solo shot and scored twice while Neftali Feliz (2-1) fanned a season-high eight and allowed just one run on four hits with two walks over six innings to help the Rangers win consecutive games for the first time since April 24-25 of this season.

Final Score: New York 5, Tampa Bay 3

Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Raul Ibanez hit two home runs, Ivan Nova threw seven solid innings and David Robertson anxiously closed out the Yankees' 5-3 win over the Rays in a rain-soaked series opener between the division foes. Nova (4-1) allowed two runs on six hits while walking two and striking out eight for New York, which had lost seven straight to its AL East rival dating back to last season. Curtis Granderson also homered off Rays starter James Shields (5-1), who had his five-start win streak snapped as he surrendered three runs on four hits and three walks over six frames. Jose Molina and Luke Scott both hit solo homers in the loss, Tampa Bay's third straight.

Final Score: Chicago 5, Cleveland 3 (10 innings)

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Alex Rios tripled home the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th inning, as the Chicago White Sox posted a 5-3 win over the Cleveland Indians in the third installment of a four-game series at Progressive Field. Paul Konerko singled off Chris Perez (0-1) to begin the 10th and pinch-runner Brent Lillibridge came around to score on Rios' second triple of the season. Rios then hustled home on a fielder's choice. Addison Reed retired the Indians in order in the bottom of the frame to earn his second save. Rios finished with three hits for Chicago, which snapped a three- game losing streak. The White Sox had lost four straight to their AL Central rivals, including Monday's split doubleheader. Hector Santiago (1-1) worked the ninth to pick up his first major league win. Carlos Santana hit a two-run single as part of a three-run eighth for the Indians, who had their winning streak halted at three games.

Final Score: Minnesota 5, LA Angels of Anaheim 0

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - In his first start of the season, and just his eighth overall in the big leagues, Scott Diamond tossed seven scoreless innings of four-hit ball and the Twins blanked the Angels, 5-0, in the middle test of a three-game series on Tuesday. Diamond (1-0) fanned six and walked just one batter in the longest outing of his career to earn his second major league victory. Ryan Doumit belted a two-run homer, while Josh Willingham and Brian Dozier each added two hits, an RBI and a run scored for the Twins, who had lost eight of their previous nine at home. Dan Haren (1-3) didn't make it out of the fourth, yielding five runs on eight hits and two walks over 3 2/3 innings as the Angels offense mustered just four hits to snap their three-game win streak.

Final Score: Kansas City 6, Boston 4

Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Billy Butler hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning Tuesday night to lift the Kansas City Royals to a 6-4 win over the Boston Red Sox. The Royals evened up their six-game homestand against the Yankees and Red Sox on Butler's blast off Matt Albers, who had just come into the game for Boston starter Daniel Bard (2-4). Jarrod Dyson and Alex Gordon drew back-to-back walks before Butler launched a 1-1 pitch into the fountain behind left-center field. Jose Mijares (2-1) gave up two singles but faced just seven batters in the seventh and eighth innings to earn the win. Royals starter Danny Duffy, who beat the Yankees his last time out, gave up four runs -- three earned -- in 4 1/3 innings. The Red Sox had snapped a five-game losing streak in an 11-5 win in the opener of this three-game series on Monday, but let the Royals come back in this one. Bard, the former reliever making his fifth start, was charged with five runs on six hits in seven-plus innings.

Final Score: Oakland 7, Toronto 3

Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Brandon Inge left the field with his shirt untucked after a wild celebration at the plate with his Oakland Athletics teammates. Moments earlier he left the park with a walk-off grand slam. Inge's blast off Toronto Blue Jays closer Francisco Cordero capped a five-run ninth inning and lifted the A's to a 7-3 victory in the opener of a two-game series on Tuesday night. Cliff Pennington had a tying RBI single off Cordero as Oakland came back after the Blue Jays took a 3-2 lead in the top of the ninth on Kelly Johnson's base hit. Inge, in his seventh game with the A's after being cut loose by the Detroit Tigers, lined a 1-0 breaking pitch over the left field wall to cap a wild ninth.

Final Score: Detroit 6, Seattle 4

Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Down by two runs with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, Jesus Montero of the Mariners looped a ball down the right-field line in foul territory. Detroit's Don Kelly charged hard and secured the catch, but not before taking a hard tumble into the stands. The tremendous stab preserved a 6-4 Detroit Tigers win over the Seattle Mariners in the second test of a three-game set. Justin Verlander (3-1) fanned six and allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks in six innings for the Tigers, who snapped a five-game losing skid to Seattle. Kelly's catch allowed Jose Valverde to notch his sixth save of the season. Kevin Millwood (0-4) gave up five runs on eight hits and five walks in five innings for Seattle.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Lucas Duda and Kirk Nieuwenhuis both drove in two runs to help the New York Mets rally past the Philadelphia Phillies, 7-4, in the middle test of a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park. David Wright and Daniel Murphy also knocked in a run for New York, which has won four in a row on the heels of a four-game losing streak. Hunter Pence clubbed a two-run homer for the Phillies, who have dropped four of five.

Final Score: Pittsburgh 5, Washington 4

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Rod Barajas hit a game-winning two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning on Tuesday and the Pirates defeated the Nationals, 5-4, in the opener of a three-game series. Adam LaRoche gave Washington a 4-3 lead in the top of the inning with a two-run blast, but Alex Presley singled on the bottom half and Barajas followed with a two-out shot down the left-field line off of Henry Rodriguez (1-2). Tony Watson (2-0) recorded the final out in the top of the ninth to earn the win and A.J. Burnett allowed two runs on six hits over and eight-inning start. He struck out 10 and walked one. Andrew McCutchen hit his first home run of the season and Garrett Jones homered in the same inning for Pittsburgh, which improved to 13-16. Wilson Ramos hit a home run and Rick Ankiel added and RBI single for Washington, which was coming off a 4-2 homestand and had just taken two of three games from the Phillies.

Final Score: Atlanta 3, Chicago 1

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Dan Uggla had three hits, including a go-ahead two-run single in the top of the eighth inning, lifting the Atlanta Braves past the Chicago Cubs, 3-1, in the second test of a three-game set. Michael Bourn went 1-for-5, extending his hitting streak to 12 games, to go with a run scored for the Braves, who have won four of their last five games. Kris Medlen (1-0) picked up the win with a 1-2-3 seventh inning, while Craig Kimbrel retired the side in order in the ninth to notch his 10th save of the season. Alfonso Soriano was responsible for Chicago's lone run with an RBI double in the sixth.

Final Score: Houston 3, Miami 2

Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Brian Bogusevic drove home the game-winning run with a pinch-hit double in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Houston Astros edged the Miami Marlins, 3-2, in the middle test of a three-game set at Minute Maid Park. Bogusevic's double was the only extra-base hit for Houston, while six other Astros added singles, including starter Aneury Rodriguez, who gave up two runs on two hits while fanning six over six innings. Wilton Lopez (3-0) tossed a scoreless eighth to collect the win and Brett Myers earned his eighth save of the season despite allowing a hit in the ninth. Houston snapped a brief two-game skid. The Marlins got solo homers from Omar Infante and John Buck, but it wasn't enough as their seven-game winning streak came to an end. Ryan Webb (1-1) allowed Bogusevic's game-deciding hit to absorb the loss.

Final Score: Milwaukee 8, Cincinnati 3

Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Aramis Ramirez hit a three-run triple, Jonathan Lucroy hit a two-run single and the Brewers handled the Reds, 8-3, on Tuesday. Yovani Gallardo (2-3) earned the win, allowing two runs on four hits over six innings. He walked two, struck out eight and added an RBI single. Cesar Izturis hit a solo homer for Milwaukee, which halted a three-game skid. Homer Bailey (1-3) lasted just 3 2/3 innings and gave up six runs on six hits in the loss. Jay Bruce hit a two-run homer for the Reds, who had won two straight, including the opener of this three-game series on Monday. Scott Rolen added an RBI double for Cincinnati. It was the 506th two-bagger of his career, which ties him with Babe Ruth for 48th on the all-time list.

Final Score: St. Louis 6, Arizona 1

Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - Carlos Beltran provided all the offense the Cardinals needed Tuesday, crushing a two-run homer and a grand slam in the first two innings of a 6-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the middle tilt of a three-game set at Chase Field. Matt Holliday and Skip Schumaker had two hits apiece and Jon Jay added a triple for the Cardinals, who have won three straight. Jake Westbrook (4-2) was superb on the mound as he gave up just four hits and two walks while whiffing eight in seven scoreless frames. Kyle McClellan tossed a perfect eighth and Mitchell Boggs gave up a run in the ninth, but closed it out to secure the win for the Cards. Miguel Montero knocked in the only run of the game for the D-Backs with a double, while Aaron Hill added three hits. Ian Kennedy (3-2) allowed six runs on six hits and a pair of walks while striking out six over seven innings for Arizona, which has lost four straight and six of its last seven.

Final Score: San Diego 3, Colorado 1

San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Jeff Suppan pitched his way to another win and the Padres sent the Rockies to a fifth straight loss with a 3-1 decision on Tuesday. Suppan (2-0), who made his first MLB appearance in over a year with five shutout innings over the Brewers last Wednesday, went five frames again and allowed one run on four hits and two walks. Will Venable went 2- for-4 with a run scored and another driven in for San Diego, which improved to 4-4 on a nine-game homestand that can end in a three-game sweep on Wednesday. Alex White (0-1), in his first start of the season after getting recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs, was the hard-luck loser, having allowed two runs on six hits and two walks in 6 1/3 innings.

Final Score: San Francisco 2, Los Angeles 1

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Ryan Vogelsong tossed 7 1/3 innings of one- run ball and the San Francisco Giants slipped past the Los Angeles Dodgers, 2-1, in the middle test of a three-game series at Dodger Stadium. Vogelsong (1-2) scattered eight hits and issued three free passes while striking out one hitter. Javier Lopez took over for Vogelsong in the eighth and got Andre Ethier to ground into a crucial inning-ending double play, and Santiago Casilla got the final out in the ninth to notch his sixth save of the season. Brett Pill provided the offense for San Francisco with a two-run home run while five other Giants had singles. San Francisco has won three of its last four contests. On the other end of this superb pitcher duel was Clayton Kershaw (2-1), who gave up two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out seven over eight innings. Kershaw had won his previous 12 decisions at Dodger Stadium entering play on Tuesday. James Loney knocked in the only run for the Dodgers with an RBI double, while Dee Gordon added two hits in the loss. Los Angeles has dropped two of its last three.

Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) - Darren Collison scored 15 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter Tuesday and the Indiana Pacers pulled away for a 105-87 victory over the Orlando Magic to advance past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2005. Indiana will play the winner of the series between the Miami Heat and New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Danny Granger added 25 points for Indiana, while George Hill had 15, David West contributed 12 with eight rebounds and Roy Hibbert finished with 11 points and seven boards in Game 5. Jameer Nelson connected on 5-of-8 three-pointers en route to a game-high 27 points to go along with five assists for the Magic, who won the first game of the series before dropping the next four.

Final Score: Atlanta 87, Boston 86

Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Al Horford and Josh Smith shook off injuries and posted double-doubles to keep the Atlanta Hawks' season alive with a hard- fought 87-86 victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series. Horford, battling through a still-bothersome pectoral injury that caused him to miss most of the regular season, totaled 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Smith chipped in 13 and 16 despite dealing with a sore knee. Smith nearly threw away a chance to seal the win when his inbounds pass with 10.9 seconds remaining was stolen by Rajon Rondo. Down by one, Rondo pushed the ball up the court and dribbled into the left corner. Smith and Horford switched defensive responsibilities, and Horford disrupted Rondo's dribble as time wound down. By the time Rondo recovered and threw to Kevin Garnett at the top of the key, Smith tipped the ball away as the buzzer sounded, pulling the Hawks within 3-2 of a series that continues Thursday back in Boston.

Final Score: Chicago 77, Philadelphia 69

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - The shorthanded Chicago Bulls avoided elimination on Tuesday, riding a strong defensive effort to a 77-69 win over the 76ers in Game 5 of their first-round series. The Bulls, playing without star point guard Derrick Rose and starting center Joakim Noah, limited Philadelphia to just 32.1 percent shooting. Luol Deng made four three-pointers and led Chicago with 24 points while Carlos Boozer added 19 points and 13 rebounds. The 76ers had won three straight in the series since a Game 1 loss, which saw Rose go down for the rest of the season with a torn ACL. They still lead the series 3-2 and can become just the fifth No. 8 seed in NBA history to knock off a No. 1 seed with a win in Game 6 on Thursday in Philadelphia. Jrue Holiday scored a team-high 16 points on 5-of-17 shooting in the loss.

Final Score: Denver 102, LA Lakers 99

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - The Denver Nuggets can breathe a sigh of relief. Kobe Bryant went on an offensive onslaught in the fourth quarter, and with his team trailing by as many as 15 in the final frame, Bryant had a chance to tie the contest with a three-pointer in the waning seconds, but his shot from the left wing was too strong. Following a Steve Blake offensive rebound, Ramon Sessions then had an opportunity to send the game into overtime, but his right-wing trey clanged off the rim and the Nuggets escaped and staved off elimination with a 102-99 triumph in Game 5 of this Western Conference first-round series. Andre Miller scored 17 of his 24 points in the second half to pace Denver, which heads back to the Pepsi Center for a Game 6 on Thursday. Bryant netted 14 of his 43 points in the fourth.

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Josh Hamilton tied a major league record with four home runs and knocked in eight runs overall as the Rangers dominated the Orioles, 10-3, in the second game of a four-game set at Camden Yards on Tuesday. Hamilton became the 16th player in MLB history -- sixth in the American League -- to accomplish the feat and first since Carlos Delgado did it on Sept. 25, 2003, for the Toronto Blue Jays against Tampa Bay. Hamilton launched four two-run homers, scoring Elvis Andrus on each occasion. He finished the game 5-for-5 and set an AL record with 18 total bases in the game, one shy of the major league record of 19 set by Shawn Green on May 23, 2002 as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Adrian Beltre added a solo shot and scored twice while Neftali Feliz (2-1) fanned a season-high eight and allowed just one run on four hits with two walks over six innings to help the Rangers win consecutive games for the first time since April 24-25 of this season.

Final Score: New York 5, Tampa Bay 3

Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Raul Ibanez hit two home runs, Ivan Nova threw seven solid innings and David Robertson anxiously closed out the Yankees' 5-3 win over the Rays in a rain-soaked series opener between the division foes. Nova (4-1) allowed two runs on six hits while walking two and striking out eight for New York, which had lost seven straight to its AL East rival dating back to last season. Curtis Granderson also homered off Rays starter James Shields (5-1), who had his five-start win streak snapped as he surrendered three runs on four hits and three walks over six frames. Jose Molina and Luke Scott both hit solo homers in the loss, Tampa Bay's third straight.

Final Score: Chicago 5, Cleveland 3 (10 innings)

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Alex Rios tripled home the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th inning, as the Chicago White Sox posted a 5-3 win over the Cleveland Indians in the third installment of a four-game series at Progressive Field. Paul Konerko singled off Chris Perez (0-1) to begin the 10th and pinch-runner Brent Lillibridge came around to score on Rios' second triple of the season. Rios then hustled home on a fielder's choice. Addison Reed retired the Indians in order in the bottom of the frame to earn his second save. Rios finished with three hits for Chicago, which snapped a three- game losing streak. The White Sox had lost four straight to their AL Central rivals, including Monday's split doubleheader. Hector Santiago (1-1) worked the ninth to pick up his first major league win. Carlos Santana hit a two-run single as part of a three-run eighth for the Indians, who had their winning streak halted at three games.

Final Score: Minnesota 5, LA Angels of Anaheim 0

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - In his first start of the season, and just his eighth overall in the big leagues, Scott Diamond tossed seven scoreless innings of four-hit ball and the Twins blanked the Angels, 5-0, in the middle test of a three-game series on Tuesday. Diamond (1-0) fanned six and walked just one batter in the longest outing of his career to earn his second major league victory. Ryan Doumit belted a two-run homer, while Josh Willingham and Brian Dozier each added two hits, an RBI and a run scored for the Twins, who had lost eight of their previous nine at home. Dan Haren (1-3) didn't make it out of the fourth, yielding five runs on eight hits and two walks over 3 2/3 innings as the Angels offense mustered just four hits to snap their three-game win streak.

Final Score: Kansas City 6, Boston 4

Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Billy Butler hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning Tuesday night to lift the Kansas City Royals to a 6-4 win over the Boston Red Sox. The Royals evened up their six-game homestand against the Yankees and Red Sox on Butler's blast off Matt Albers, who had just come into the game for Boston starter Daniel Bard (2-4). Jarrod Dyson and Alex Gordon drew back-to-back walks before Butler launched a 1-1 pitch into the fountain behind left-center field. Jose Mijares (2-1) gave up two singles but faced just seven batters in the seventh and eighth innings to earn the win. Royals starter Danny Duffy, who beat the Yankees his last time out, gave up four runs -- three earned -- in 4 1/3 innings. The Red Sox had snapped a five-game losing streak in an 11-5 win in the opener of this three-game series on Monday, but let the Royals come back in this one. Bard, the former reliever making his fifth start, was charged with five runs on six hits in seven-plus innings.

Final Score: Oakland 7, Toronto 3

Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Brandon Inge left the field with his shirt untucked after a wild celebration at the plate with his Oakland Athletics teammates. Moments earlier he left the park with a walk-off grand slam. Inge's blast off Toronto Blue Jays closer Francisco Cordero capped a five-run ninth inning and lifted the A's to a 7-3 victory in the opener of a two-game series on Tuesday night. Cliff Pennington had a tying RBI single off Cordero as Oakland came back after the Blue Jays took a 3-2 lead in the top of the ninth on Kelly Johnson's base hit. Inge, in his seventh game with the A's after being cut loose by the Detroit Tigers, lined a 1-0 breaking pitch over the left field wall to cap a wild ninth.

Owings Mills, MD (Sports Network) - Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs had successful surgery on his Achilles tendon, the team said Tuesday.

It's not clear how long the NFL's reigning Defensive Player of the Year will miss, though he could be out for the entire 2012 season or at least a large part of it.

The Ravens didn't say if he suffered a full or partial tear of the Achilles but they expect him to make a full recovery.

Reports last week indicated Suggs was hurt playing basketball, but he refuted those claims to a newspaper, telling the Carroll County (Md.) Times that he was practicing a conditioning test.

The linebacker later said on Twitter that he would be in a Ravens uniform in 2012.

Suggs helped the Ravens to a 12-4 record and an AFC North title, recording 14 sacks with 70 tackles, seven forced fumbles and a pair of interceptions this past season.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Lucas Duda and Kirk Nieuwenhuis both drove in two runs to help the New York Mets rally past the Philadelphia Phillies, 7-4, in the middle test of a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park. David Wright and Daniel Murphy also knocked in a run for New York, which has won four in a row on the heels of a four-game losing streak. Hunter Pence clubbed a two-run homer for the Phillies, who have dropped four of five.

Final Score: Pittsburgh 5, Washington 4

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Rod Barajas hit a game-winning two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning on Tuesday and the Pirates defeated the Nationals, 5-4, in the opener of a three-game series. Adam LaRoche gave Washington a 4-3 lead in the top of the inning with a two-run blast, but Alex Presley singled on the bottom half and Barajas followed with a two-out shot down the left-field line off of Henry Rodriguez (1-2). Tony Watson (2-0) recorded the final out in the top of the ninth to earn the win and A.J. Burnett allowed two runs on six hits over and eight-inning start. He struck out 10 and walked one. Andrew McCutchen hit his first home run of the season and Garrett Jones homered in the same inning for Pittsburgh, which improved to 13-16. Wilson Ramos hit a home run and Rick Ankiel added and RBI single for Washington, which was coming off a 4-2 homestand and had just taken two of three games from the Phillies.

Final Score: Atlanta 3, Chicago 1

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Dan Uggla had three hits, including a go-ahead two-run single in the top of the eighth inning, lifting the Atlanta Braves past the Chicago Cubs, 3-1, in the second test of a three-game set. Michael Bourn went 1-for-5, extending his hitting streak to 12 games, to go with a run scored for the Braves, who have won four of their last five games. Kris Medlen (1-0) picked up the win with a 1-2-3 seventh inning, while Craig Kimbrel retired the side in order in the ninth to notch his 10th save of the season. Alfonso Soriano was responsible for Chicago's lone run with an RBI double in the sixth.

Final Score: Houston 3, Miami 2

Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Brian Bogusevic drove home the game-winning run with a pinch-hit double in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Houston Astros edged the Miami Marlins, 3-2, in the middle test of a three-game set at Minute Maid Park. Bogusevic's double was the only extra-base hit for Houston, while six other Astros added singles, including starter Aneury Rodriguez, who gave up two runs on two hits while fanning six over six innings. Wilton Lopez (3-0) tossed a scoreless eighth to collect the win and Brett Myers earned his eighth save of the season despite allowing a hit in the ninth. Houston snapped a brief two-game skid. The Marlins got solo homers from Omar Infante and John Buck, but it wasn't enough as their seven-game winning streak came to an end. Ryan Webb (1-1) allowed Bogusevic's game-deciding hit to absorb the loss.

Final Score: Milwaukee 8, Cincinnati 3

Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Aramis Ramirez hit a three-run triple, Jonathan Lucroy hit a two-run single and the Brewers handled the Reds, 8-3, on Tuesday. Yovani Gallardo (2-3) earned the win, allowing two runs on four hits over six innings. He walked two, struck out eight and added an RBI single. Cesar Izturis hit a solo homer for Milwaukee, which halted a three-game skid. Homer Bailey (1-3) lasted just 3 2/3 innings and gave up six runs on six hits in the loss. Jay Bruce hit a two-run homer for the Reds, who had won two straight, including the opener of this three-game series on Monday. Scott Rolen added an RBI double for Cincinnati. It was the 506th two-bagger of his career, which ties him with Babe Ruth for 48th on the all-time list.

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Josh Hamilton tied a major league record with four home runs and knocked in eight runs overall as the Rangers dominated the Orioles, 10-3, in the second game of a four-game set at Camden Yards on Tuesday. Hamilton became the 16th player in MLB history -- sixth in the American League -- to accomplish the feat and first since Carlos Delgado did it on Sept. 25, 2003, for the Toronto Blue Jays against Tampa Bay. Hamilton launched four two-run homers, scoring Elvis Andrus on each occasion. He finished the game 5-for-5 and set an AL record with 18 total bases in the game, one shy of the major league record of 19 set by Shawn Green on May 23, 2002 as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Adrian Beltre added a solo shot and scored twice while Neftali Feliz (2-1) fanned a season-high eight and allowed just one run on four hits with two walks over six innings to help the Rangers win consecutive games for the first time since April 24-25 of this season.

Final Score: New York 5, Tampa Bay 3

Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Raul Ibanez hit two home runs, Ivan Nova threw seven solid innings and David Robertson anxiously closed out the Yankees' 5-3 win over the Rays in a rain-soaked series opener between the division foes. Nova (4-1) allowed two runs on six hits while walking two and striking out eight for New York, which had lost seven straight to its AL East rival dating back to last season. Curtis Granderson also homered off Rays starter James Shields (5-1), who had his five-start win streak snapped as he surrendered three runs on four hits and three walks over six frames. Jose Molina and Luke Scott both hit solo homers in the loss, Tampa Bay's third straight.

Final Score: Chicago 5, Cleveland 3 (10 innings)

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Alex Rios tripled home the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th inning, as the Chicago White Sox posted a 5-3 win over the Cleveland Indians in the third installment of a four-game series at Progressive Field. Paul Konerko singled off Chris Perez (0-1) to begin the 10th and pinch-runner Brent Lillibridge came around to score on Rios' second triple of the season. Rios then hustled home on a fielder's choice. Addison Reed retired the Indians in order in the bottom of the frame to earn his second save. Rios finished with three hits for Chicago, which snapped a three- game losing streak. The White Sox had lost four straight to their AL Central rivals, including Monday's split doubleheader. Hector Santiago (1-1) worked the ninth to pick up his first major league win. Carlos Santana hit a two-run single as part of a three-run eighth for the Indians, who had their winning streak halted at three games.

Final Score: Minnesota 5, LA Angels of Anaheim 0

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - In his first start of the season, and just his eighth overall in the big leagues, Scott Diamond tossed seven scoreless innings of four-hit ball and the Twins blanked the Angels, 5-0, in the middle test of a three-game series on Tuesday. Diamond (1-0) fanned six and walked just one batter in the longest outing of his career to earn his second major league victory. Ryan Doumit belted a two-run homer, while Josh Willingham and Brian Dozier each added two hits, an RBI and a run scored for the Twins, who had lost eight of their previous nine at home. Dan Haren (1-3) didn't make it out of the fourth, yielding five runs on eight hits and two walks over 3 2/3 innings as the Angels offense mustered just four hits to snap their three-game win streak.

Final Score: Kansas City 6, Boston 4

Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Billy Butler hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning Tuesday night to lift the Kansas City Royals to a 6-4 win over the Boston Red Sox. The Royals evened up their six-game homestand against the Yankees and Red Sox on Butler's blast off Matt Albers, who had just come into the game for Boston starter Daniel Bard (2-4). Jarrod Dyson and Alex Gordon drew back-to-back walks before Butler launched a 1-1 pitch into the fountain behind left-center field. Jose Mijares (2-1) gave up two singles but faced just seven batters in the seventh and eighth innings to earn the win. Royals starter Danny Duffy, who beat the Yankees his last time out, gave up four runs -- three earned -- in 4 1/3 innings. The Red Sox had snapped a five-game losing streak in an 11-5 win in the opener of this three-game series on Monday, but let the Royals come back in this one. Bard, the former reliever making his fifth start, was charged with five runs on six hits in seven-plus innings.

Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) - Darren Collison scored 15 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter Tuesday and the Indiana Pacers pulled away for a 105-87 victory over the Orlando Magic to advance past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2005. Indiana will play the winner of the series between the Miami Heat and New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Danny Granger added 25 points for Indiana, while George Hill had 15, David West contributed 12 with eight rebounds and Roy Hibbert finished with 11 points and seven boards in Game 5. Jameer Nelson connected on 5-of-8 three-pointers en route to a game-high 27 points to go along with five assists for the Magic, who won the first game of the series before dropping the next four.

Final Score: Atlanta 87, Boston 86

Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Al Horford and Josh Smith shook off injuries and posted double-doubles to keep the Atlanta Hawks' season alive with a hard- fought 87-86 victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series. Horford, battling through a still-bothersome pectoral injury that caused him to miss most of the regular season, totaled 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Smith chipped in 13 and 16 despite dealing with a sore knee. Smith nearly threw away a chance to seal the win when his inbounds pass with 10.9 seconds remaining was stolen by Rajon Rondo. Down by one, Rondo pushed the ball up the court and dribbled into the left corner. Smith and Horford switched defensive responsibilities, and Horford disrupted Rondo's dribble as time wound down. By the time Rondo recovered and threw to Kevin Garnett at the top of the key, Smith tipped the ball away as the buzzer sounded, pulling the Hawks within 3-2 of a series that continues Thursday back in Boston.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Lucas Duda and Kirk Nieuwenhuis both drove in two runs to help the New York Mets rally past the Philadelphia Phillies, 7-4, in the middle test of a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park. David Wright and Daniel Murphy also knocked in a run for New York, which has won four in a row on the heels of a four-game losing streak. Hunter Pence clubbed a two-run homer for the Phillies, who have dropped four of five.

Final Score: Pittsburgh 5, Washington 4

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Rod Barajas hit a game-winning two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning on Tuesday and the Pirates defeated the Nationals, 5-4, in the opener of a three-game series. Adam LaRoche gave Washington a 4-3 lead in the top of the inning with a two-run blast, but Alex Presley singled on the bottom half and Barajas followed with a two-out shot down the left-field line off of Henry Rodriguez (1-2). Tony Watson (2-0) recorded the final out in the top of the ninth to earn the win and A.J. Burnett allowed two runs on six hits over and eight-inning start. He struck out 10 and walked one. Andrew McCutchen hit his first home run of the season and Garrett Jones homered in the same inning for Pittsburgh, which improved to 13-16. Wilson Ramos hit a home run and Rick Ankiel added and RBI single for Washington, which was coming off a 4-2 homestand and had just taken two of three games from the Phillies.

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah will be a game-time decision Tuesday when his team attempts to avoid elimination at the hands of the eighth-seeded Philadelphia 76ers.

Noah suffered a sprained left ankle in the third quarter of Game 3 and sat out Sunday's Game 4 loss.

The Bulls have dropped three straight games in this best-of-seven series after winning the opener. If they lose on Tuesday they will become just the fifth No. 1 seed to fall to a No. 8 seed in NBA history.

Chicago is also without star point guard Derrick Rose, who was lost for the rest of the season after suffering a torn ligament in his left knee in Game 1.

Owings Mills, MD (Sports Network) - The Baltimore Ravens signed former Houston Texans wide receiver Jacoby Jones to a two-year deal and gave safety Bernard a three-year extension.

The moves were confirmed by the team Tuesday.

Jones, 27, spent his first five NFL seasons with the Texans and had 31 catches for 512 yards and two touchdowns in 2011-12.

Pollard, also 27, was signed by the Ravens last August after the lockout ended and played all 16 games this past season, starting 13. The six-year pro had 75 tackles, two sacks and one interception in his first season for the team.

Denver, CO (Sports Network) - The Colorado Rockies say without Jerry McMorris there may never have been Major League Baseball in Denver.

One of the original owners -- and former chairman, president and CEO of the team -- McMorris died Tuesday.

"The Colorado Rockies family is deeply saddened by the passing of Jerry McMorris," Rockies owner, chairman and CEO Dick Monfort said in a statement. "I believe it is fair to say without the efforts of Jerry there may have never been Major League Baseball in Denver. He will be greatly missed by us all."

McMorris died after a long battle with pancreatic cancer, the Denver Post said. He was 71.

A group led by McMorris purchased controlling interest in the Rockies in 1992 and he took over as chairman, president and CEO of the team four months later. He held those titles until 2001 and remained a member of the ownership group until 2005.

In a statement, MLB commissioner Bud Selig said McMorris quickly established himself as a leader in the sport, playing a key role in a number of committees as he served the Rockies and the whole league.

"I am very saddened by the loss of my friend Jerry McMorris, whose efforts were integral to bringing Major League Baseball to Colorado in 1993," said Selig.

"Under Jerry's leadership, the Rockies attracted more than three million fans in each of the club's first nine years and became a first-class franchise in a wonderful ballpark."

Normal, IL (Sports Network) - Illinois State named Dan Muller its new head men's basketball coach on Tuesday.

The position was left open when Tim Jankovich resigned several weeks ago to accept a position at Southern Methodist.

Muller, who as a player led ISU to NCAA Tournament appearances in 1997 and 1998, had been an assistant at Vanderbilt for 12 seasons, helping the Commodores to seven 20-win campaigns and six trips to the NCAAs.

"I'm honored to be the head coach at Illinois State, and it is great to be back home," said Muller. "I have the fortune of coming back to the ISU campus to lead a group (of players) with high character and a lot coming back."

Illinois State lost to Stanford in the second round of the National Invitation Tournament last season and finished with a 21-14 record.

The last time the Redbirds reached the NCAA Tournament was Muller's senior season.

"I'm very happy for Illinois State and I'm very happy for Dan," said current Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings, who also coached Muller throughout his collegiate career. "He's worked hard for this opportunity and I think that the fans, the players, the program and the administration will be very, very pleased and feel very fortunate to have him as their head coach."

San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - The San Diego Padres optioned outfielder Blake Tekotte to Triple-A Tucson and selected the contract of pitcher Alex Hinshaw from Tucson on Tuesday.

Tekotte was recalled from Tucson on April 28 and went 0-for-3 with a stolen base in five games with the Padres.

Hinshaw has not appeared in a major league game since 2009 with San Francisco, pitching to a 12.00 ERA in six innings of relief through nine appearances.

The 29-year-old left-hander has a 3.72 earned run average with 18 strikeouts and 10 walks through 14 relief outings for Tucson this season.

Also on Tuesday, San Diego transferred pitcher Micah Owings from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The New York Mets placed catcher Josh Thole on the seven-day disabled list with a concussion and selected the contract of catcher Rob Johnson from Triple-A Buffalo.

Thole was injured during a home plate collision with the Phillies' Ty Wigginton in the eighth inning Monday.

In 26 games this season, Thole is batting .284 with a home run and seven RBI.

Johnson was hitting .291 with three doubles, two homers and seven RBI in 15 games with the Bisons. He spent the entire 2011 campaign with San Diego, batting .190 in 67 games.

To make room on the 40-man roster for Johnson, the Mets transferred pitcher Pedro Beato to the 60-day disabled list.

Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Tuesday that the club plans to add left-hander Andy Pettitte to the active roster and have him start this Sunday at home against the Seattle Mariners.

The start will be the 39-year-old's first in the majors since Game 3 of the 2010 American League Championship Series. Pettitte retired after that season ended, but returned to the team in spring training on a minor league contract after sitting out last year.

In his lone Triple-A start this past Sunday, Pettitte gave up five runs -- three earned -- on eight hits over five innings as Scranton/Wilkes-Barre lost, 7-5, to the Pawtucket Red Sox.

He has compiled a 3.71 earned run average in four minor league outings.

Pettitte has a career record of 240-138 and a 3.88 ERA in 489 games -- all but 10 as a starter -- with the Yankees (1995-2003, 2007-10) and the Houston Astros (2004-06).

San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - The San Diego Chargers agreed to terms with first and second-round picks Melvin Ingram and Kendall Reyes on Tuesday.

Both players agreed to four-year contracts, while seventh-round pick David Molk also signed a four-year deal.

Ingram, a linebacker from South Carolina, was taken with the 18th overall pick. His deal includes a team option for a fifth season.

Reyes, a 6-foot-4 defensive end from Connecticut, was selected by the Chargers with the 49th overall pick.

Helsinki, Finland (Sports Network) - Jarkko Immonen and Valtteri Filppula each scored a pair of goals for Finland, as the reigning gold medalist took down Switzerland, 5-2, at the 2012 World Championship on Tuesday.

Leo Komarov also lit the lamp and Kari Lehtonen made 26 saves for Finland, which holds a perfect 3-0 record in the tournament.

Also in Helsinki, Belarus scored three goals in the second period to beat Kazakhstan by a 3-2 margin.

Yevgeni Kovyrshin, Konstantin Koltsov and Mikhail Grabovski scored for Belarus, which got 28 saves from Andrei Mezin.

Vadim Krasnoslobodtsev scored both of Kazakhstan's goals. Vitali Yeremeyev stopped 29-of-32 shots.

In Stockholm, Semyon Varlamov stopped 30 shots to help Russia blank Germany, 2-0.

Nikolai Zherdev and Alexei Tereshenko scored for the Russians, who improved to 3-0.

Ronalds Kenins, Oskars Bartulis and Miks Indrasis all had a goal and an assist for Latvia in a 5-0 win over Italy.

Edgars Masalskis recorded his fifth career World Championship shutout with a 23-save performance.

Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - The Milwaukee Brewers announced contract extensions on Tuesday for general manager Doug Melvin and manager Ron Roenicke.

Melvin, who was also promoted to president of baseball operations, has been extended through 2015, while Roenicke's contract now runs through 2014 and includes a club option for 2015.

"In two of the past four years we reached significant milestones by advancing to the postseason, and we have reached a point where we expect to field a perennially competitive team. This was one of my highest priorities when I first became involved with the Milwaukee Brewers, and we could not have accomplished it without the efforts of Doug Melvin and his baseball operations staff," said Brewers chairman and principal owner Mark Attanasio. "Doug is one of the most respected leaders in the industry, and he is a key resource for me as we continue to work toward building a championship team."

During his tenure, Melvin has engineered trades that landed former AL Cy Young Award winners CC Sabathia and Zack Greinke while signing home-grown talent to long-term deals, such as reigning NL MVP Ryan Braun and two-time All-Star Corey Hart.

"I want to thank Mark Attanasio and his ownership group for their confidence in me and my staff, and for their support year in and year out," said Melvin, who is in his 10th season with the Brewers.

Roenicke is in just his second year as a major league manager. In 2011, he guided the Brewers to their first division title since 1982, a franchise- record 96 wins and a berth in the NLCS.

"Ron has been a tremendous addition to our staff and his leadership is instrumental in not only guiding a successful team, but also developing one of the best clubhouse environments in all of baseball," Melvin said. "He and his staff have worked tirelessly to put us in a great position to win, and he has been very supportive of everything we are looking to accomplish."

Houston, TX (Sports Network) - The Houston Texans signed kicker Shayne Graham Tuesday.

Houston will be the 11-year veteran's fifth team in the last two years after splitting last season with the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins, and the 2010 season with the New England Patriots and New York Giants.

The former Pro Bowler has made 214-of-249 field-goal attempts through his career, while also connecting on 323-of-328 extra points.

Vancouver, BC (Sports Network) - Vancouver Canucks forward Ryan Kesler had successful shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum, the team announced on Tuesday.

Kesler had 22 goals and 27 assists in 77 games this season. He added three assists in five playoff contests for the Canucks, who were upset in the first round by the eighth-seeded Kings.

"After consultation with our team physicians following the playoffs, it was deemed that Ryan would require a procedure on his shoulder," said Canucks president and general manager Mike Gillis. "We expect a full recovery and determined this procedure would best serve both Ryan and the team's long term goals."

Kesler won the Selke Trophy last year after posting a career-high 41 goals and 32 assists in 82 games.

The former first-round pick has 153 goals and 184 assists in 561 career contests with the Canucks.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The Indiana Pacers are on the brink of reaching the second round of the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2005.

In fact, the Pacers have three chances to jettison a reeling Orlando team playing without injured superstar Dwight Howard, starting with Tuesday night's Game 5 in Indianapolis.

For the most part, it's been an uneven ride for the Pacers, who blew a big fourth quarter lead on Saturday in Game 4 for the second time in their quarterfinals set with the Magic.

Indiana came back to win in overtime, however, thanks in large part to David West. The old-school power forward posted a game-high 26 points with 12 rebounds, as the Pacers held on for a 101-99 decision and a 3-1 series advantage over Orlando, despite squandering a 19-point fourth-quarter lead.

The Pacers have now won three straight since surrendering 11 unanswered points in the final minutes of Game 1 to suffer an 81-77 defeat.

"He was dominant, they had no answer for him," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said when talking about West. "He either scored or got doubled and found somebody for a 3-point shot. That's the vision we have for our power post offense. He was at his best."

When you think Pacers basketball these days, Danny Granger is the name most often mentioned with a few defaulting to ascending center Roy Hibbert, who made his first All-Star Game in February.

But, West has quickly turned into Indiana's best player. A former two-time All-Star in New Orleans, the veteran is the prototypical power forward who can push people around on the blocks thanks to his impressive strength.

He is averaging a double-double of 16.8 points and 10.0 rebounds against the Magic in the postseason and torturing the NBA's Most Improved Player, Ryan Anderson, a player who is the polar opposite of West.

Anderson, a 3-point specialist who usually stretches the floor for opposing defenses, has been unable to get going against West and the Pacers. The sharpshooter, who averaged 16.1 points per game and shot nearly 40 percent from beyond the arc in the regular season, is down to 8.5 ppg in the playoffs with West hounding his every move.

Magic coach Stan Van Gundy surely knew that Anderson would have trouble checking West down low and that's proven to be the case. On the other hand, SVG certainly thought Anderson would give West fits at the offensive end by drawing him away from the basket and that's been anything but the case due to West's impressive athleticism and length.

"He's a great player," Anderson said. "He's got a lot of length. He's strong. He's a great player from that position."

The 7-foot-2 Hibbert was basically Indiana's lone interior presence during his first three seasons in the NBA, but West's arrival has freed the Georgetown product's ability to focus on defense and rebounding -- his two major strengths.

Hibbert has blocked 17 shots in the series, including a franchise playoff record of nine in Game 1 while also averaging 11.8 rebounds a game.

It's hard to imagine the Magic putting up much of a fight now, and the Pacers are set to match up with Miami, which currently sports a commanding 3-1 edge over New York in its first-round series.

Things aren't perfect in Indy. Surrendering those large fourth-quarter leads needs to be addressed. But with injuries decimating top-seed Chicago, the Pacers' pending series with the star-studded Heat could serve as Miami's biggest test before the NBA Finals.

Like most coaches, Vogel is trying to stay focused and in the moment for now.

"It would be a big step," the Pacers mentor said of making the second round of the playoffs. "We talked last year when we got into the playoffs that it was a big step for us to get back to the playoffs. And that this year our goal is to take an even bigger step. So (making the second round), that's definitely the goal."

With West on his side, it may be time for Vogel to start thinking bigger.

Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - The Kansas City Royals recalled pitcher Vin Mazzaro from Triple-A Omaha Tuesday.

The 25-year-old righty was 1-1 with an 8.26 earned run average in seven games -- four starts -- with the Royals last season.

In three major league seasons, the New Jersey native has posted an 11-18 record with a 5.13 ERA in 48 games, 39 of which were starts, with Kansas City and Oakland.

Kansas City optioned pitcher Tommy Hottovy to Omaha to make room on the roster for Mazzaro.

Hottovy has made five appearances out of the bullpen for the Royals this season, pitching to a 3.38 ERA with no decisions.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - One could argue the Washington Nationals fired the first shot, the Lexington and Concord if you will, in their new rivalry with the Philadelphia Phillies back in early February with a simple PR move.

It was then that the Nationals launched their "Take Back the Park" initiative, aimed at limiting the number of Phillies fans invading Washington's home ballpark when the National League East residents get together in the nation's capital. The plan involved single game tickets for the May 4-6 series at first being limited to only season ticket holders and residents of the Washington D.C., Maryland or Virginia areas.

It was an odd -- and let's be honest, silly -- way for the franchise to announce it was ready to be taken seriously. A better method was to win on the field, something the Nationals have done to the tune of an 18-10 record, good enough for first place in the NL East.

Two of those wins came this past weekend at the expense of the Phillies. They outgrinded the five-time defending division champions for an 11-inning victory in Friday's opener, then outslugged them in a 7-1 victory the following day.

But if Washington's ticket stunt started the war, than Sunday's finale was Bunker Hill.

Philadelphia starter Cole Hamels, a former World Series MVP, plunked 19-year- old Washington phenom Bryce Harper square in the back in the first inning with a pitch that seemed targeted at the young outfielder.

In fact, it was, as Hamels admitted afterwards.

"It's just, 'Welcome to the big leagues.' I was trying to hit him. I'm not going to deny it," admitted Hamels.

Rivalry on.

Though Harper got the last laugh in that incident, moving to third on a Jayson Werth single and then stealing home off Hamels, and took the high road by calling the Phillies starter a 'great guy, great pitcher" and "an All-Star," Philadelphia got a bit of its swagger back with a 9-3 win.

Hamels explained his actions further, citing old-time baseball as the reason he hit a 19-year-old with just a few games of experience.

"That's just something that I grew up watching, that's kind of what happened. I'm just trying to continue old baseball because I think some people kind of get away from it," Hamels said. "I remember when I was a rookie, the strike zone was really, really small and you didn't say anything because that's the way baseball is. I think, unfortunately, sometimes the league's protecting certain players and making it not as old school, prestigious baseball."

Not only were Hamels' comments idiotic in nature, they were completely unnecessary. What Hamels tried to accomplish in hitting Harper is baffling, but his unprovoked admittance earned him a five-game suspension from the league.

Out of Phillies camp, manager Charlie Manuel said he wished Hamels would have been more discreet about his actions, which isn't surprising because that is what ultimately earned Hamels the ban, while general manager Ruben Amaro did not condone the beaning.

"If what he said is true, yeah I'm kind of disappointed in, one, the fact that it happened and, two, more importantly, that he made those kind of comments," Amaro said on Monday. "That's a little disappointing. I kind of wish the incident didn't happen, but that's part of the game and we'll move on from there."

Things were much more heated from Washington's side. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo ripped Hamels in an interview with the Washington Post, but like Hamels probably should have just kept quiet.

"He thinks he's sending a message to us of being a tough guy. He's sending the polar opposite message. He says he's being honest; well, I'm being honest. It was a gutless chicken (bleep) (bleeping) act. That was a fake-tough act. No one has ever accused Cole Hamels of being old school," Rizzo told the newspaper.

Rizzo can talk all he wants, but it is his players who have to respond.

One Nationals player did have something to add to the budding rivalry, but it was actually directed at the fans. Werth, a beloved member of the Phillies' 2008 World Series championship team, took exception to how Phillies fans at Nationals Park (so much for taking back the park) reacted when he suffered a painful wrist injury on Sunday that will required surgery and could keep him out of action for 10-to-12 weeks.

"After walking off the field feeling nauseous knowing my wrist was broke and hearing Philly fans yelling 'You deserve it,' and, 'That's what you get,' I am motivated to get back quickly and see to it personally those people never walk down Broad Street in celebration again," Werth, who signed a seven-year, $126 million deal with the Nats in December 2010, wrote in an email to the Washington Post.

Rivalries make for interesting storylines, but the one brewing between these two teams needs to grow more organically on the field. Talk is cheap and neither Hamels, Rizzo or Werth are looking like class acts at the moment.

Still, though it is going to take some time for the Phillies-Nationals rift to join the likes of Yankees-Red Sox, Dodgers-Giants or even Phillies-Mets, there is no doubt that the two clubs have planted a seed that could sprout into a forest.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - For the first time since the NHL's playoff format was altered for the 1993-94 season, the Western Conference finals will feature a battle between Pacific Division teams.

While that may not be the ideal matchup for hockey purists, it's hard to argue that the Los Angeles Kings and Phoenix Coyotes didn't earn the right to play for the West title.

The Central Division was considered to be the strongest division out West during the regular season, as it sent four of five teams to the postseason and all four of those clubs recorded over 100 points. Meanwhile, the Pacific placed three teams in the playoffs this season, but none of them reached the 100-point mark, including the Coyotes, who won the division crown with 97 points to earn the West's No. 3 seed.

Along with the Coyotes and Kings, the San Jose Sharks were the other Pacific Division team to qualify for the postseason. Although Dallas and Anaheim finished outside the playoff picture, they were good enough to make the Pacific the only division in the NHL with three teams over 90 points and none with less than 80.

As always, the true strength of an NHL club is determined in the postseason, and by picking their way through the first two rounds, the Kings and Coyotes have boosted the perception of their division considerably.

Phoenix took out a pair of Central teams in reaching Round 3, eliminating both Chicago and Nashville in six games, respectively. Meanwhile, the eighth-seeded Kings have blazed a more impressive trail to the conference finals, shocking Vancouver -- the defending West champions and winner of consecutive Presidents' trophies -- in five games before sweeping the second-seeded St. Louis Blues in the second round.

In getting this far, both the Kings and Coyotes have achieved memorable firsts for their respective franchises. Los Angeles earned its first four-game sweep of a playoff series while ousting the Central Division champion Blues, and the Coyotes, who also were known as the Winnipeg Jets from 1972-96, are in the conference finals for the first time in franchise history.

Outside the Pacific Division connection, the biggest storyline heading into this series is the tremendous goaltending both Western Conference finalists have received in these playoffs.

Vezina Trophy finalist Jonathan Quick has posted a 1.55 goals against average and .949 save percentage while leading the Kings to an 8-1 record through the first two rounds.

As good as Quick has been, Mike Smith's goaltending probably has meant even more to Phoenix. He has faced 400 shots over 11 games this postseason and turned aside 379 of those pucks for a .948 save percentage and 1.77 GAA. Quick was less busy in the first two rounds, facing 274 shots over his nine starts.

With those guys in the crease, goals likely will be hard to come by in the West finals. The Kings and Coyotes, who played the last of six regular-season meetings on Feb. 21, split the 2011-12 season series and L.A. outscored Phoenix by a combined 13-12 margin in those encounters. However, nine of the 25 goals scored over the six battles came when the Coyotes posted a 5-4 shootout victory in the finale regular-season clash on Feb. 21.

While Los Angeles and Phoenix play in less than ideal hockey markets, that should have little effect on the quality of play in this upcoming series. The Coyotes finished just two points ahead of the Kings in the regular-season standings and both teams have played their best hockey of 2011-12 over the last few months.

Although the fan bases in both cities will never be confused with the rabid crowds that cheer for the NHL's Original Six clubs, the Kings and Coyotes should produce an excellent product on the ice.

These teams play similar styles that rely on toughness and goaltending, and there's hardly ever a shortage of animosity when two divisional rivals meet at any point in the playoffs.

Now that a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals is on the line, it's safe to say the acrimony between these franchises will be at an all-time high.

(Sports Network) - In real estate, it's all about location, location, location.

A strong rotation and a dependable bullpen are arguably two of the top three ingredients to succeed in baseball with the other being timely hitting.

The San Francisco Giants are playing a risky game of dominoes and the tiles are now stacked against their relievers. The first bone dropped when energetic closer and fan favorite Brian Wilson was lost for the entire 2012 campaign because of a right elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery to repair.

"We got bad news on Wilson," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said in April. "He took an MRI, and it shows structural damage with his elbow."

Injuries open the door for others to step up and Santiago Casilla has yet to relinquish his role as the ball club's closer. The right-hander inherited Wilson's job and has five saves in 13 games, but blew his first of the season (seventh of career) in Sunday's win over Milwaukee. Still, Casilla has plenty of upside and will keep his post unless injury or failure to get outs becomes problematic.

Speaking of dilemmas, the Giants will have to find a reliable replacement for relief pitcher Guillermo Mota, who was just slapped with a suspension larger than the gap in right-center field at AT&T Park. Mota was suspended 100 games after testing positive for clenbuterol, a performance-enhancing substance, and the Giants might as well just give up on him. A repeat offender and seemingly dependant on breaking the rules, Mota was already handed a 50-game ban for a performance-enhancing substance violation in November 2006.

Some athletes struggle to get by without substances or supplements, but when one frequently violates Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, it's comparable to a criminal ending up back in court for a violation of probation and/or parole. Not to say Mota belongs behind bars, but he's a habitual abuser and deserves the proper punishment. Mota, who is just the third player to be suspended for 100 games as a two-time offender, will reportedly appeal the suspension. Good luck with that.

"The Giants are disappointed to learn of Guillermo Mota's suspension. We support Major League Baseball's Drug Prevention and Treatment Program," the team said in a recent statement.

Steroids, HGH and other supplements were a part of baseball's fabric at one time, and since then MLB has cleaned up its act. One more strike (no pun intended) for Mota and he's gone for good. And that's disappointing for a 14- year veteran who still has some gas (literally) left in his right arm. The 38- year-old is 0-1 with a 5.06 ERA in nine appearances this season with nine strikeouts and four walks, spanning 10 2/3 innings.

The loss of Mota leaves Bochy with a depleted bullpen. That's not good when only one of the five starters in the rotation has a winning record. Thank Madison Bumgarner, Giants fans. Bochy touched on having only a few relievers.

"If we get in a situation where we think we need a pitcher, we're going to have to make a change. Right now we're going with 11 pitchers."

Eleven pitchers? That's almost unheard of.

Besides Casilla in the bullpen, the Giants have Clay Hensley, Javier Lopez Sergio Romo and Travis Blackley as notable candidates to see more action. Casilla and Hensley have the most appearances with 13 apiece. Jeremy Affeldt will be another strong option when he returns from the disabled list because of a knee injury.

Of course, San Francisco can go the minor league route and pluck some young faces to join the big leaguers. Dan Otero, Heath Hembree, Shane Loux and even Brett Bochy are possible candidates for promotion. Only time will tell.

The Giants' starters are led by Bumgarner's 5-1 record in six starts this season.

Two-time NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum is beginning to return to form with a 2-0 mark in his last three starts following an 0-2 record and an awful 10.54 ERA over his first three appearances. Lincecum has since trimmed his ERA down to 5.68. Matt Cain signed a megadeal in the offseason and has responded with a 1-2 mark and a 2.38 ERA in six starts. The Giants will need their two horses in Lincecum and Cain to start dominating again in order to take the pressure off the bullpen.

Barry Zito is 1-1 with a 2.21 ERA in six starts, while Ryan Vogelsong has struggled to an 0-2 mark in four outings to go along with a decent 3.42 ERA. Zito and Vogelsong sit fourth and fifth, respectively, in the rotation. In the starters' defense, the Giants are only 22nd in the majors in runs scored (109) and home runs (21), but are ninth with a .258 batting average.

When all three phases come together for the Giants, they'll be back in the mix as one of top teams in the National League. For now, though, Bochy has some decisions to make and ambitions to play out.

Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Oakland Athletics rookie Jarrod Parker will start Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays.

Brandon McCarthy was originally scheduled to start Tuesday, but he will now start on Wednesday.

Oakland announced the pitching change on its Twitter account. The Athletics had originally switched the two on Sunday, saying McCarthy would start Tuesday and Parker would go Wednesday.

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - The Washington Nationals have placed right fielder Jayson Werth on the 15-day disabled list and activated third baseman Ryan Zimmerman off the DL.

Werth underwent surgery on Monday to repair a broken left wrist. He suffered the injury during Sunday's 9-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Werth's rehab will begin immediately and he is expected to begin strengthening exercises in six weeks. He will likely need 10-to-12 weeks to fully recover.

Zimmerman hasn't played since April 20 versus Miami because of right shoulder inflammation and was batting .224 with a home run and seven RBI at the time.

Charlotte, NC (Sports Network) - The Carolina Panthers have signed veteran punter Nick Harris.

Harris punted in 11 games for the Jaguars last season. Jacksonville then released Harris after taking punter Bryan Anger in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft.

Harris will compete with Brad Nortman after the Panthers selected the Wisconsin product in the sixth round of this year's draft.

In 170 career games with the Bengals, Lions and Jaguars, Harris has averaged 42.5 yards per punt. He hasn't had a punt blocked since 2004.

Flowery Branch, GA (Sports Network) - The Atlanta Falcons have released fullback Ovie Mughelli, who spent most of the 2011 season on injured reserve.

Mughelli appeared in just seven games last year, suffering a right knee injury in a game against Detroit.

The 31-year-old Wake Forest product spent five years with Atlanta after playing his first four NFL seasons in Baltimore. Known for his blocking ability, he was a Pro Bowl pick in 2010.

Mughelli has carried the ball just 42 times for 120 yards with one touchdown in his career. He also has 62 receptions for 490 yards with six scores.

Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Defensive lineman Ryan McBean, formerly of the Denver Broncos and recently signed by the Baltimore Ravens, reportedly has had a drug suspension reduced from six to three games.

According to the Denver Post, McBean settled a lawsuit he filed against the league in exchange for a reduction of the suspension. He was one of three Broncos suspended by the NFL in March for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Linebacker D.J. Williams was also hit with a six-game ban and tight end Virgil Green was suspended four games. Williams also filed a lawsuit, while Green did not.

McBean spent the past three seasons with Denver and signed with Baltimore on Monday.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Ever since the Cleveland Browns returned to the NFL for the 1999 season, they've been unable to find a long-term answer at the quarterback position.

They've tried several times to draft their franchise quarterback, but Tim Couch, Brady Quinn and Colt McCoy were all mediocre at best as the Cleveland Browns' starter. Veteran acquisitions like Jeff Garcia and Jake Delhomme brought even worse results.

In fact, the new Cleveland Browns have played in only one playoff game during their 13 seasons (Trivia question: Who was the Browns' starting QB in that 2002 postseason game? It was journeyman Kelly Holcomb.).

At the recent NFL Draft, the Browns took another stab at finding that elusive franchise quarterback. With the 22nd overall pick, Cleveland selected Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden, and he figures to be one of the NFL's most intriguing players in 2012.

Weeden is not your typical NFL rookie. He's going to turn 29 on Oct. 14, which makes him three years older than McCoy, the man he's expected to replace. At 28 years and 195 days on draft day, Weeden became the oldest first-round draft choice in NFL history.

It's hard to say how this is going to work out. In two seasons as Oklahoma State's starter, Weeden was tremendously productive, throwing for 71 touchdowns. He engineered 2011 wins over all three of the quarterbacks selected ahead of him in the draft - Stanford's Andrew Luck (Indianapolis Colts), Baylor's Robert Griffin III (Washington Redskins) and RyanTannehill (Miami Dolphins).

On the other hand, Weeden played in a spread offense. There's going to be a learning curve as he tries to master the Browns' West Coast attack.

The optimist would point out that since Weeden is more mature than the average NFL rookie, that he should more easily adjust to being a professional. Heck, he already was a professional athlete for five years, having spent 2002-06 as a minor-league pitcher in the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers and Kansas City Royals organizations.

The pessimist would argue that, despite his age, Weeden has no more quarterbacking experience than other typical rookies. Being a baseball player for five years basically took away the potential for five more years of development as a quarterback.

Weeden made 26 college starts. By comparison, Griffin made 41 starts at Baylor and Andrew Luck 38 at Stanford. And Luck made those starts in a pro-style offense. Weeden did not.

When comparing Weeden to the incumbent McCoy, though, the rookie is bigger, stronger and possesses superior arm strength. On the flip side, a major reason why Weeden gave up baseball in favor of football was that shoulder injuries - a torn labrum and rotator cuff tendinitis - had stunted his development as a pitcher. It's hard to imagine those injuries didn't raise some red flags for teams that were considering drafting a quarterback.

Weeden has drawn comparisons to former Florida State Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke, since Weinke was an ex-minor-league baseball player who was 29 when he began his rookie season with the Carolina Panthers in 2001. Weinke didn't have much success in his pro career, but Weeden has much more physical talent and will undoubtedly be a superior NFL quarterback.

But the big questions are these: How much can Weeden improve the Browns, and will he finally end Cleveland's search for a franchise quarterback?

The Browns stumbled to a 4-12 record last season with McCoy as their primary starter, so there's plenty of room for improvement. The team is much better positioned to be successful now, thanks to the addition of top draft pick Trent Richardson, the elite running back from Alabama. Chosen at No. 3 overall, he should instantly become a top-five NFL running back.

Cleveland also will be bringing back the key components from a defensive unit that ranked 10th overall last season. The upgrade at running back will allow the Browns to play a more effective ball-control offense, which should only help an already solid defense.

It's not all good news for Weeden, though. McCoy's biggest obstacle to success in Cleveland was a lack of skill position talent. The team's usual starting wide receivers last year were Mohamed Massaquoi and rookie Greg Little, neither of which is likely to ever be a true No. 1 target.

Although wide receiver was considered by many to be the deepest position in the 2012 draft, the Browns didn't pick one until taking Miami's Travis Benjamin in the fourth round. Their lack of elite receiving talent is probably going to limit the rookie production of Weeden, who threw to Justin Blackmon (who went No. 5 overall to Jacksonville) at Oklahoma State. There's no receiver as good as Blackmon on the Browns' roster.

Although the Browns' interest in Weeden was widely reported during the week leading up to the draft, they were supposedly leaning toward taking Baylor wide receiver Kendall Wright with the No. 22 pick. The Tennessee Titans, however, surprisingly picked Wright at No. 20. Instead of taking the next wide receiver on their draft board, the Browns picked Weeden at 22.

I wasn't a fan of the move on the first night of the draft because I thought the Browns could have taken a wide receiver at No. 22, such as Georgia Tech speedster Stephen Hill (who went to the New York Jets at No. 44), and still come back at No. 37 to pick Weeden.

It became obvious on Day 2 of the draft, though, that Cleveland didn't really like many of the consensus top-rated wide receivers. A.J. Jenkins (San Francisco 49ers) and Brian Quick (St. Louis Rams) were the only wide receivers who went off the board in between the Browns' 22nd and 37th picks, and they still did not pick one at 37. The Browns instead drafted California's Mitchell Schwartz, who is expected to start at right tackle.

Since the Browns' biggest needs were at the skill positions, I believe taking Richardson, Weeden and Hill would have been a better way to go than Richardson, Weeden and Schwartz, but Schwartz also filled a need at right tackle. And, with Richardson looking like a can't-miss prospect, this draft will probably always be judged by what Weeden becomes anyway.

So, what will he become? I suspect he'll be an upgrade over McCoy, based on arm strength. His transition to the NFL will be aided by the fact that Cleveland can lean on a solid ground attack and defense to lead the way, putting less pressure on Weeden to have to carry the load. The 2012 result will be probably be something like Mark Sanchez's 2009 rookie season with the Jets (albeit with fewer wins, most likely).

I suspect that Weeden will have the ability to get Cleveland to the playoffs once or twice during his career, but two things will probably prevent him from becoming the Browns' first consistent winner at quarterback since Bernie Kosar.

First, the AFC North is possibly the best division in the NFL, and Cleveland is clearly last in the pecking order right now (with no signs that Pittsburgh, Baltimore or Cincinnati will tumble out of contention for the next few seasons). Those three teams have particularly tough defenses. Secondly, it's going to take a couple of years for Weeden to master the offense. When he does, he could, unfortunately, be simultaneously entering his phase of physical decline.

Then again, who knows for sure? There's never been an NFL rookie quarterback quite like Weeden, and how his career plays out is going to make the Browns an interesting team to watch during the next few seasons.

Jeff Saukaitis is a former Sports Network writer/editor who has been a professional sportswriter since 1985.

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - The new stadium plan for the Minnesota Vikings has received approval from the state's House of Representatives.

After passing by a margin of 73-58, the proposal will next move to the state Senate.

"It's the first hurdle, a couple more to go, but we're really excited," said Vikings vice president Lester Bagley.

The new downtown stadium has a projected cost of $975 million and would sit on the current site of the Metrodome, where the Vikings have played since 1982.

According to the plan unveiled in March, the Vikings would contribute $427 million toward the up-front costs, while the city of Minneapolis would commit $150 million and the state of Minnesota would fund $398 million. The city's part would come from redirecting a portion of existing convention center taxes, while the state would expand charitable gaming to pay its portion.

Part of Monday's debate in the House included increasing the team's share of the cost. Exact details of the financing would still need to be ironed out.

The Vikings are set to play in the Metrodome next year, even if construction on a new building starts, and would likely play just one season in TCF Bank Stadium on the campus of the University of Minnesota.

Glendale, AZ (Sports Network) - National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman announced on Monday that the Phoenix Coyotes will be sold to a group led by former San Jose Sharks CEO Greg Jamison.

The tentative deal will be finalized in the "not so distant future," Bettman said at a press conference announcing the agreement, later adding that he hoped it would be completed in "weeks as opposed to months."

The team, which is currently owned by the NHL, has been in turmoil ever since former owner Jerry Moyes filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2009. Several bids for the team have fallen through, including some potential buyers that had hoped to move the team.

The announcement cames just a few hours before the team advanced to its first- ever conference final as a 2-1 defeat of Nashville on Monday helped the team win its semifinal series in five games.

"At the end of the day, we didn't want this to be a distraction" from the playoff game, Jamison said as the press conference concluded.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Philadelphia Flyers forward Claude Giroux has been suspended one game -- Tuesday's crucial Game 5 -- for his hit on the Devils' Dainius Zubrus during Sunday's Eastern Conference semifinal Game 4.

As time was winding down in the second period of a 4-2 New Jersey victory, Giroux struck Zubrus in the head with his shoulder after the Devils forward had dumped the puck in the Philadelphia zone.

It capped an angry shift which began by his protest of a non-call on Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur, who appeared to have clearly played a puck beyond the trapezoid behind his net.

Giroux was given a minor for an illegal check to the head for his efforts.

"After pulling even with Zubrus on the backcheck, Giroux chops down across the back of Zubrus' stick, and then well after the puck has been chipped in the corner, Giroux comes across Zubrus' body and drives upward with his shoulder making principle point of contact with Zubrus' head," said NHL vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan in a video explanation of his decision.

"In spite of the fact that Zubrus is bent over and is in a skating posture, the positioning of his head does not significantly change before Giroux recklessly picks him. We feel this rises to the level of supplemental discipline. We have taken into consideration...Zubrus returned to the game and completed it.

It is also important to note that Giroux hasn't been fined or suspended previously during his four-year NHL career."

The Flyers star forward has put together one of the finest playoff performances in recent league history, picking up eight goals and nine assists in 10 games, but has just two goals and an assist in the conference semifinals.

Now trailing the series three games to one, Philadelphia faces a must-win situation without the player called the "engine" of the club.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels was suspended five games and fined by Major League Baseball for throwing at Nationals rookie Bryce Harper on Sunday night.

The suspension and fine were announced Monday and came after Hamels admitted to hitting Harper in the back with a pitch in the first inning of a 9-3 win.

"They're probably not gonna like me for it, but I'm not going to lie and say I wasn't trying to do it," Hamels said. "I think they understood the message and they threw it right back."

Harper made his much-anticipated major league debut last month. He stole home plate later in the first inning Sunday for Washington's first run.

Hamels said throwing at Harper was a "welcome to the big leagues" moment for the 19-year-old outfielder, who is batting .308 in his first eight games.

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo told The Washington Post that Hamels was "fake tough" for saying he was practicing old-school baseball by hitting the young player.

"Cole Hamels says he's old school? He's the polar opposite of old school. He's fake tough," said Rizzo. "He thinks he's going to intimidate us after hitting our 19-year-old rookie who's eight games into the big leagues? He doesn't know who he's dealing with."

Rizzo also said: "He thinks he's sending a message to us of being a tough guy. He's sending the polar opposite message. He says he's being honest; well, I'm being honest. It was a gutless chicken [bleep] [bleeping] act. That was a fake-tough act. No one has ever accused Cole Hamels of being old school."

Hamels (4-1) pitched eight innings for the win. Both dugouts were warned by home plate umpire Andy Fletcher after Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann plunked Hamels in the knee in the third inning.

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Casey Kotchman and Shin-Soo Choo each hit two-run doubles in a five-run third inning, as Cleveland held on and topped Chicago, 8-6, in the opener of a twinbill. Travis Hafner finished 2-for-4 with a homer and Asdrubal Cabrera also knocked in a run for the Indians, who have won five of their last six. Zach McAllister (1-0) allowed six hits and four runs -- two earned -- over six innings. Alexei Ramirez collected two hits and knocked in three runs for the White Sox, who have lost five of six. Brent Lillibridge and Kosuke Fukudome added an RBI apiece in defeat. Philip Humber (1-2) didn't make it out of the third inning, charged with nine hits and eight runs with two walks while recording seven outs.

Final Score: Cleveland 3, Chicago 2

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Shelley Duncan's run-scoring double in the bottom of the eighth inning helped the Cleveland Indians take a 3-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox and complete the sweep of a day-night doubleheader at Progressive Field. The Indians won the early portion, 8-6, behind a pair of two-run doubles by Casey Kotchman and Michael Brantley. Brantley and Jason Kipnis each knocked in runs in the nightcap for the Indians, who won for the sixth time in seven games. Joe Smith (2-1) earned the win despite giving up the tying run in the top of the eighth inning. Tony Sipp tossed a scoreless ninth for his first save of the year. Matt Thornton (1-2) allowed the deciding run to suffer the loss for Chicago, which dropped its third straight game.

Final Score: Texas 14, Baltimore 3

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Brandon Snyder belted a three-run blast and knocked in six runs as the Rangers pounded out 19 hits to beat the Orioles, 14-3, in the opener of a four-game set at Camden Yards on Monday. Matt Harrison (4-2) allowed three runs on six hits and a walk over seven frames. Michael Young and Josh Hamilton each smacked two-run homers while Nelson Cruz finished with three hits and three runs scored to help the Rangers earn their second win in three tries. Brian Matusz (1-4) surrendered seven runs on 10 hits and two walks over five-plus innings of work. Wilson Betemit crushed a two-run homer and Robert Andino added a solo blast, but the O's saw their five-game win streak come to an end.

Final Score: LA Angels of Anaheim 8, Minnesota 3

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - In his first start since tossing a no- hitter against Minnesota on May 2, Jered Weaver spun six strong innings of one-run ball to lift the Angels over the Twins, 8-3, in the opener of a three- game set at Target Field. Weaver (5-0) allowed just three hits and walked two over six frames as he became the first pitcher since Derek Lowe in 2002 to throw a no-hitter against a team and then face them in his next outing. Albert Pujols ended his home run drought at 139 at-bats on Sunday and knocked in two runs on Monday while Alberto Callaspo added a two-run homer and finished with three RBI to help the Angels earn their third straight victory. Francisco Liriano (0-5) is still in search of his first win in 2012 after giving up four runs on five hits and three walks over five innings. Denard Span and Joe Mauer each knocked in a run as Minnesota dropped its third straight.

Final Score: Boston 11, Kansas City 5

Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Will Middlebrooks hit a three-run and two- run home run as Boston pounded Kansas City, 11-5, in the opener of a three- game set. Dustin Pedroia added a two-run home run while David Ortiz belted a solo shot and scored three for the Red Sox, who snapped a five-game skid. Felix Doubront (2-1) gave up five runs -- four earned -- on seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings. Alex Gordon had two hits and an RBI while Jarrod Dyson added three hits and scored a run for the Royals, who have lost their past two. Jonathan Sanchez (1-2) didn't make it out of the fourth inning as he was tagged for six runs on six hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

Final Score: Seattle 3, Detroit 2

Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Doug Fister returned from the disabled list Monday and tossed a gem against the team he commenced his career with. But the Seattle Mariners spoiled his masterpiece by rallying for three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning as they topped the Detroit Tigers, 3-2, in the opener of a three-game set. Fister, who broke in with the Mariners in 2009 before being sent to the Tigers as part of a six-player deal near last year's trade deadline, allowed just four hits over seven strong innings. His spectacular effort, though, was blown by Octavio Dotel (1-1) in the ninth. Trailing 2-0 entering the bottom half of the frame, Brendan Ryan and Ichiro Suzuki worked back-to-back walks to start it. With Jesus Montero batting, a wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third before Ryan scored on a passed ball later in the at-bat. Montero then drilled a double off the center-field wall to plate Suzuki. Munenori Kawasaki came on to pinch-run for Montero, while Duane Below replaced Dotel on the mound. Kyle Seager moved Kawasaki to third with a sacrifice bunt and he came home on John Jaso's sacrifice fly to right field, ending the game.

Salt Lake City, UT (Sports Network) - There will be no embarrassing first- round exit for the Western Conference's top-seeded team this year. A year after a spectacular collapse to the Memphis Grizzlies in the opening round of the playoffs, the San Antonio Spurs completed a first-round sweep of the Utah Jazz with an 87-81 victory at EnergySolutions Arena Monday. Manu Ginobili led the way with 17 points off the bench while Tony Parker and Tim Duncan contributed 11 apiece for the Spurs in an effort that was not efficient, but nonetheless was effective. Neither team shot over 38 percent from the field, but San Antonio connected on 10-of-22 three-point tries, while Utah missed all 13 of its attempts from beyond the arc. The victorious Spurs may have a shot at avenging their 2011 defeat, as they advance to face the winner of the Memphis/Los Angeles Clippers series. LA holds a 3-1 series lead after winning, 101-97, in overtime later Monday. Utah's Al Jefferson paced all scorers with 26 points and 10 boards, Derrick Favors -- who replaced Josh Howard in the starting lineup for Game 4 -- finished with 16 and 10, and Paul Millsap donated 10 and 19 in the Jazz's final game of the season.

Final Score: LA Clippers 101, Memphis 97 (OT)

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Chris Paul had just two points in the fourth quarter and was unable to get a shot off before the final buzzer in regulation, but his mastery in overtime has the Los Angeles Clippers on the brink of advancing to the West semifinals. Paul netted eight of his 27 points in the extra session to go with nine rebounds and seven assists as the Clippers downed the Memphis Grizzlies, 101-97, in Game 4 of this tightly-contested NBA first-round series. Blake Griffin added 30 points, seven assists and five rebounds for Los Angeles, which took a 3-1 series edge with Game 5 slated in Memphis on Wednesday. Mike Conley had 25 points to go with eight assists and seven rebounds for Memphis. Rudy Gay poured in 23 points.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - It's not likely Jordany Valdespin would have forgotten his first major league hit anyway. Now there's no chance. Valdespin, called up from the minors before the game, hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning Monday night to lift the New York Mets to a 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a three-game series. The 24-year-old's first MLB hit came off Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon and capped a Mets comeback from a 2-0 deficit in the last four innings. Roy Halladay struck out seven in seven innings for the Philles, giving up two runs on five hits and a walk, but remained winless in his last four starts as the Phillies opened an eight-game homestand.

Final Score: Chicago 5, Atlanta 1

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Bryan LaHair, Ian Stewart and Geovany Soto all smacked homers, while Jeff Samardzija tossed seven solid frames as the Chicago Cubs down the Atlanta Braves, 5-1, in the opener of a three-game set. Samardzija (4-1) fanned seven and allowed a run on five hits and two walks for the Cubs, who have won three of their last four games. Jason Heyward belted a solo shot for the Braves, who were coming off a three- game sweep over the Colorado Rockies. Tommy Hanson (3-3), gave up two runs on five hits and two walks in six innings.

Final Score: Miami 4, Houston 0

Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Carlos Zambrano threw his first shutout since the 2009 season and the Miami Marlins blanked the Houston Astros, 4-0, in the opener of a three-game series at Minute Maid Park. Zambrano (1-2) allowed just three hits and one walk while fanning nine en route to his first win in a Marlins uniform. Giancarlo Stanton crushed a two-run homer, while Hanley Ramirez and John Buck added solo shots for the Marlins, who have won seven consecutive games. Jose Altuve, Brian Bogusevic and Travis Buck each had a hit for Houston, which has dropped two straight following a five-game winning streak. Wandy Rodriguez (3-3) gave up four runs on six hits and two walks while fanning two in eight-plus innings to suffer the loss.

Final Score: Cincinnati 6, Milwaukee 1

Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Jay Bruce smacked a three-run homer, part of a five-run fourth inning that helped propel the Cincinnati Reds past the Milwaukee Brewers, 6-1, in the opener of a three-game series Monday. Zack Cozart also hit a solo shot in the inning for the Reds, who have won four of five. Bronson Arroyo (2-1) picked up the win by scattering six hits and one run with nine strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings. Ryan Braun homered for the Brewers, who saw Marco Estrada (0-2) surrender five runs on eight hits with five strikeouts over seven frames as they dropped their third in a row.

Final Score: St. Louis 9, Arizona 6

Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - Five Cardinals banged solo home runs and Lance Lynn became the first pitcher to reach six wins as St. Louis topped the Arizona Diamondbacks, 9-6, in the opener of a three-game set at Chase Field. David Freese ripped an RBI double and a solo homer, while Carlos Beltran, Matt Holliday, Rafael Furcal and Allen Craig also hit solo shots and Yadier Molina contributed an RBI single for the Cardinals, who have won back-to-back games after dropping three straight. Lynn (6-0) gave up three hits and four walks in five scoreless innings while racking up seven punchouts. Jason Motte worked around two hits in the ninth to nail down his fifth save of the season Cody Ransom crushed a two-run homer, Ryan Roberts added a two-run double, while Gerardo Parra and Miguel Montero had an RBI each for the Diamondbacks, who have lost three straight. Joe Saunders (2-2) was rocked for seven runs -- six earned -- on nine hits and one walk while fanning two over just 3 1/3 innings.

Final Score: San Diego 3, Colorado 2

San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Yonder Alonso finished 2-for-3 with two runs batted in as the San Diego Padres took the first game of a three-game set with the Colorado Rockies in 3-2 fashion Monday. Edinson Volquez (1-2) picked up his first win of the season by allowing two runs on five hits and four walks while fanning five over 5 1/3 innings to help the Padres snap a three-game skid after being swept by Miami. Dale Thayer recorded his first save in almost three seasons, since his major league debut on May 22, 2009 with Tampa Bay. Drew Pomeranz (0-2) suffered the setback, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks over three frames. He also hit the first home run of his professional career as the Rockies dropped their fourth in a row.

Final Score: Los Angeles 9, San Francisco 1

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Andre Ethier finished 2-for-4 with a two- run single and a walk as the Los Angeles Dodgers trounced the San Francisco Giants, 9-1, in the opener of a three-game set at Dodger Stadium on Monday. Juan Rivera added two RBI, Mark Ellis, Adam Kennedy and A.J. Ellis contributed an RBI apiece and Matt Kemp went 3-for-3 with a run scored an a walk, raising his major league-leading batting average to .406. Los Angeles has won two of its last three games. Ted Lilly (4-0) gave up just one run on four hits and two walks while striking out six in six innings. Joaquin Arias went 3-for-4 and knocked in the only run for the Giants, who took two of three from the Milwaukee Brewers over the weekend, Barry Zito (1-1) yielded three runs on eight hits and four walks over six innings while whiffing three.

Salt Lake City, UT (Sports Network) - There will be no embarrassing first- round exit for the Western Conference's top-seeded team this year. A year after a spectacular collapse to the Memphis Grizzlies in the opening round of the playoffs, the San Antonio Spurs completed a first-round sweep of the Utah Jazz with an 87-81 victory at EnergySolutions Arena Monday. Manu Ginobili led the way with 17 points off the bench while Tony Parker and Tim Duncan contributed 11 apiece for the Spurs in an effort that was not efficient, but nonetheless was effective. Neither team shot over 38 percent from the field, but San Antonio connected on 10-of-22 three-point tries, while Utah missed all 13 of its attempts from beyond the arc. The victorious Spurs may have a shot at avenging their 2011 defeat, as they advance to face the winner of the Memphis/Los Angeles Clippers series. LA holds a 2-1 series lead entering Monday's Game 4. Utah's Al Jefferson paced all scorers with 26 points and 10 boards, Derrick Favors -- who replaced Josh Howard in the starting lineup for Game 4 -- finished with 16 and 10, and Paul Millsap donated 10 and 19 in the Jazz's final game of the season.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Brad Richards tied the game late in regulation and Marc Staal won it 1:35 into overtime as the Rangers snatched a 3-2 victory over the Capitals in Game 5 at Madison Square Garden. Anton Stralman scored the other goal while Henrik Lundqvist made 16 stops for the Rangers, who now hold a 3-2 lead in this best-of-seven series and are a win away from advancing to the conference finals for the first time since 1997. New York will have the chance to close out this series on Wednesday as Game 6 will take place in Washington. Brooks Laich and John Carlson each scored for the Capitals, who will have to win the last two if they want to advance to the conference finals for the first time since 1998. Braden Holtby stopped 35 shots in the loss.

Final Score: Phoenix 2, Nashville 1

Glendale, AZ (Sports Network) - Monday was a good day for the Phoenix Coyotes. Just a few hours after NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced that the league has found a new owner for Phoenix, the team took a 2-1 win over the Nashville Predators to advance to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history. Martin Hanzal and Derek Morris each scored a goal while Mike Smith stopped 32 shots as the Coyotes won this semfinal series in five games. The Phoenix/Winnipeg franchise had won just two playoff series in its history, and that included a six-game defeat of Chicago in this year's playoffs. The Coyotes will next face the Kings, who defeated the top-seeded Canucks in the first round and second-seeded Blues in the second round, in the conference finals. Colin Wilson scored late in the third while Pekka Rinne made 15 saves for the Predators, who defeated the Red Wings in the first round to make the semifinals for a second straight year, but have still never advanced to the conference finals.

Glendale, AZ (Sports Network) - National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman announced on Monday that the Phoenix Coyotes will be sold to a group led by former San Jose Sharks CEO Greg Jamison.

The tentative deal will be finalized in the "not so distant future," Bettman said at a press conference announcing the agreement, later adding that he hoped it would be completed in "weeks as opposed to months."

The team, which is currently owned by the NHL, has been in turmoil ever since former owner Jerry Moyes filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2009. Several bids for the team have fallen through, including some potential buyers that had hoped to move the team.

The announcement cames just a few hours before the team advanced to its first- ever conference final as a 2-1 defeat of Nashville on Monday helped the team win its semifinal series in five games.

"At the end of the day, we didn't want this to be a distraction" from the playoff game, Jamison said as the press conference concluded.

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Casey Kotchman and Shin-Soo Choo each hit two-run doubles in a five-run third inning, as Cleveland held on and topped Chicago, 8-6, in the opener of a twinbill. Travis Hafner finished 2-for-4 with a homer and Asdrubal Cabrera also knocked in a run for the Indians, who have won five of their last six. Zach McAllister (1-0) allowed six hits and four runs -- two earned -- over six innings. Alexei Ramirez collected two hits and knocked in three runs for the White Sox, who have lost five of six. Brent Lillibridge and Kosuke Fukudome added an RBI apiece in defeat. Philip Humber (1-2) didn't make it out of the third inning, charged with nine hits and eight runs with two walks while recording seven outs.

Final Score: Cleveland 3, Chicago 2

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Shelley Duncan's run-scoring double in the bottom of the eighth inning helped the Cleveland Indians take a 3-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox and complete the sweep of a day-night doubleheader at Progressive Field. The Indians won the early portion, 8-6, behind a pair of two-run doubles by Casey Kotchman and Michael Brantley. Brantley and Jason Kipnis each knocked in runs in the nightcap for the Indians, who won for the sixth time in seven games. Joe Smith (2-1) earned the win despite giving up the tying run in the top of the eighth inning. Tony Sipp tossed a scoreless ninth for his first save of the year. Matt Thornton (1-2) allowed the deciding run to suffer the loss for Chicago, which dropped its third straight game.

Final Score: Texas 14, Baltimore 3

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Brandon Snyder belted a three-run blast and knocked in six runs as the Rangers pounded out 19 hits to beat the Orioles, 14-3, in the opener of a four-game set at Camden Yards on Monday. Matt Harrison (4-2) allowed three runs on six hits and a walk over seven frames. Michael Young and Josh Hamilton each smacked two-run homers while Nelson Cruz finished with three hits and three runs scored to help the Rangers earn their second win in three tries. Brian Matusz (1-4) surrendered seven runs on 10 hits and two walks over five-plus innings of work. Wilson Betemit crushed a two-run homer and Robert Andino added a solo blast, but the O's saw their five-game win streak come to an end.

Final Score: LA Angels of Anaheim 8, Minnesota 3

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - In his first start since tossing a no- hitter against Minnesota on May 2, Jered Weaver spun six strong innings of one-run ball to lift the Angels over the Twins, 8-3, in the opener of a three- game set at Target Field. Weaver (5-0) allowed just three hits and walked two over six frames as he became the first pitcher since Derek Lowe in 2002 to throw a no-hitter against a team and then face them in his next outing. Albert Pujols ended his home run drought at 139 at-bats on Sunday and knocked in two runs on Monday while Alberto Callaspo added a two-run homer and finished with three RBI to help the Angels earn their third straight victory. Francisco Liriano (0-5) is still in search of his first win in 2012 after giving up four runs on five hits and three walks over five innings. Denard Span and Joe Mauer each knocked in a run as Minnesota dropped its third straight.

Final Score: Boston 11, Kansas City 5

Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Will Middlebrooks hit a three-run and two- run home run as Boston pounded Kansas City, 11-5, in the opener of a three- game set. Dustin Pedroia added a two-run home run while David Ortiz belted a solo shot and scored three for the Red Sox, who snapped a five-game skid. Felix Doubront (2-1) gave up five runs -- four earned -- on seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings. Alex Gordon had two hits and an RBI while Jarrod Dyson added three hits and scored a run for the Royals, who have lost their past two. Jonathan Sanchez (1-2) didn't make it out of the fourth inning as he was tagged for six runs on six hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - It's not likely Jordany Valdespin would have forgotten his first major league hit anyway. Now there's no chance. Valdespin, called up from the minors before the game, hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning Monday night to lift the New York Mets to a 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a three-game series. The 24-year-old's first MLB hit came off Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon and capped a Mets comeback from a 2-0 deficit in the last four innings. Roy Halladay struck out seven in seven innings for the Philles, giving up two runs on five hits and a walk, but remained winless in his last four starts as the Phillies opened an eight-game homestand.

Final Score: Chicago 5, Atlanta 1

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Bryan LaHair, Ian Stewart and Geovany Soto all smacked homers, while Jeff Samardzija tossed seven solid frames as the Chicago Cubs down the Atlanta Braves, 5-1, in the opener of a three-game set. Samardzija (4-1) fanned seven and allowed a run on five hits and two walks for the Cubs, who have won three of their last four games. Jason Heyward belted a solo shot for the Braves, who were coming off a three- game sweep over the Colorado Rockies. Tommy Hanson (3-3), gave up two runs on five hits and two walks in six innings.

Final Score: Miami 4, Houston 0

Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Carlos Zambrano threw his first shutout since the 2009 season and the Miami Marlins blanked the Houston Astros, 4-0, in the opener of a three-game series at Minute Maid Park. Zambrano (1-2) allowed just three hits and one walk while fanning nine en route to his first win in a Marlins uniform. Giancarlo Stanton crushed a two-run homer, while Hanley Ramirez and John Buck added solo shots for the Marlins, who have won seven consecutive games. Jose Altuve, Brian Bogusevic and Travis Buck each had a hit for Houston, which has dropped two straight following a five-game winning streak. Wandy Rodriguez (3-3) gave up four runs on six hits and two walks while fanning two in eight-plus innings to suffer the loss.

Final Score: Cincinnati 6, Milwaukee 1

Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Jay Bruce smacked a three-run homer, part of a five-run fourth inning that helped propel the Cincinnati Reds past the Milwaukee Brewers, 6-1, in the opener of a three-game series Monday. Zack Cozart also hit a solo shot in the inning for the Reds, who have won four of five. Bronson Arroyo (2-1) picked up the win by scattering six hits and one run with nine strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings. Ryan Braun homered for the Brewers, who saw Marco Estrada (0-2) surrender five runs on eight hits with five strikeouts over seven frames as they dropped their third in a row.

San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - The San Diego Chargers released linebacker Travis LaBoy Monday.

LaBoy spent last season with San Diego after signing with the team as an unrestricted free agent, recording 38 tackles and a sack in 14 games.

A second-round draft pick by the Tennessee Titans in 2004, LaBoy has appeared in 95 career games for Tennessee, Arizona, San Francisco and San Diego, amassing 202 tackles, 29 1/2 sacks and one interception.

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim placed reliever LaTroy Hawkins on the 15-day disabled list Monday with a fractured right pinkie finger.

Hawkins injured the finger while making the catch on an Omar Vizquel comebacker that resulted in a game-ending double-play in Sunday's 4-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

The 39-year-old righty has an 0-1 record with a 1.08 earned run average in 10 appearances out of the bullpen for the Halos.

To take his place on the roster, the Angels selected the contract of right- hander David Pauley, who holds a 2.29 ERA in 19 2/3 innings with Triple-A Salt Lake this season.

Vancouver, BC (Sports Network) - Vancouver Canucks president and general manager Mike Gillis has agreed to terms on a contract extension, the team announced Monday.

Gillis, the 10th general manager in franchise history, completed his fourth season in the front office this year. He has led the Canucks to Northwest Division titles every season since joining the organization as well as back- to-back Presidents' Trophies the past two years.

"I am very pleased to be signing this extension to remain the president and general manager of the Vancouver Canucks," Gillis said in a statement. "I am proud of the work our entire organization has done these past four years and look forward to continuing to build on our success. We are driven every day to try and win the Stanley Cup and will continue to focus on being a strong organization both on and off the ice."

Last season, Gillis' Canucks racked up a franchise-record 117 points on their way to the Stanley Cup Finals -- which ended with a loss to the Boston Bruins in seven games.

This year, the team again won the Presidents' Trophy with 111 points, but suffered a first-round loss in five games to the Los Angeles Kings.

During his tenure, Gillis has locked up several core players with long-term contracts through the 2012-13 season, including: Kevin Bieksa, Chris Higgins, Dan Hamhuis, Manny Malhotra, Ryan Kesler, Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Roberto Luongo, Alex Burrows and Alex Edler.

Englewood, CO (Sports Network) - The Denver Broncos and general manager Brian Xanders have mutually agreed to part ways, the Denver Post reported Monday.

Xanders joined Denver's staff in May 2008 as assistant general manager, having spent the previous 14 years with Atlanta in player personnel, coaching and football operations. He was promoted to GM in February 2009, part of a major staff overhaul following the firing of long-time head coach Mike Shanahan.

Responsible for draft preparation among other duties, Xanders drafted such talents as Tim Tebow, Perrish Cox and Von Miller.

But the Post noted that the 41-year-old Xanders never had authority over personnel decisions; most recently, Hall of Famer John Elway has run the front office.

Since Elway joined the Broncos' staff in 2011, Denver's roster has been radically revamped, most notably with the signing of Peyton Manning and the departure of Tebow.

Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Rockies pitcher Jhoulys Chacin will be placed on the disabled list rather than report to Triple-A as previously planned, the team has announced.

Colorado demoted Chacin to Colorado Springs on May 2 after an 0-3 start but rescinded their option Monday, instead opting to place him on the 15-day DL with right shoulder inflammation.

The right-hander has struggled with command and confidence issues this season.

Chacin's ERA ballooned to 7.30 in five starts after he gave up seven runs and 11 hits in 4 2/3 innings in a loss to the Dodgers on May 1.

Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Alex Gonzalez has a torn ACL in his right knee.

Gonzalez suffered the injury in the second inning of Saturday's game against the San Francisco Giants while sliding into second base when his knee buckled as he reached the bag. He immediately slammed his helmet on the infield dirt and called for Brewers medical personnel.

He then had to be carried off the field by manager Ron Roenicke and head athletic trainer Dan Wright.

An MRI on Monday confirmed the extent of the injury.

The 14-year veteran has a .259 average with four home runs, 15 RBI and eight runs scored through 24 games with Milwaukee this season.

Eden Prairie, MN (Sports Network) - The Minnesota Vikings released 15-year veteran kicker Ryan Longwell Monday.

Longwell has spent the last six seasons with the Vikings after playing the previous nine years with the Green Bay Packers.

The 37-year-old connected on 135-of-157 field-goal attempts and 228-of-233 extra points for Minnesota, giving him 633 points to make him the Vikings' third all-time leading scorer.

"Ryan has meant a great deal to the Vikings organization both on and off field over the past six seasons," Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier said. "We wish him all the best in the future and thank him for his service to the Minnesota Vikings."

Longwell is the Packers' all-time leading scorer with 1,054 points, going 226- for-277 on field goals and 376-for-380 on extra-point attempts in his time with the team.

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - The Baltimore Orioles announced Monday that they have optioned catcher Ronny Paulino and right-hander Tommy Hunter to Triple-A Norfolk, while recalling right-handed pitcher Jason Berken and selecting the contract of righty Stu Pomeranz from the Tides.

Paulino has just nine hits and three runs batted in over nine games in his first season with Orioles, while Hunter had his shortest outing of the season Sunday at Boston after allowing five earned runs in 4 1/3 innings to press his earned run average to 5.00 over six starts this year.

Berken was recalled once before this season but did not make an appearance for the O's. He owns a 1.23 ERA in five starts at Norfolk but has not received a decision.

Pomeranz will be making his Major League debut and has appeared in eight games in the minors this year with two saves and 32 strikeouts while walking just two in 19.0 innings.

The O's also transferred left-handed pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada to the 60-day disabled list to make room for Pomeranz on the 40-man roster.

Alameda, CA (Sports Network) - Oakland Raiders safety Tyvon Branch has signed his franchise tender offer.

The announcement was made Monday, a little over two months after the Raiders designated the four-year pro as their franchise player.

Branch, 25, has started all 48 games for the Raiders the past three seasons and had a team-high 109 tackles, one sack and one interception this past season.

Renton, WA (Sports Network) - The Seattle Seahawks and first-round pick Bruce Irvin have come to terms on a contract.

Irvin, a defensive end from West Virginia, broke the news on his Twitter feed Monday afternoon and the team later confirmed it.

"I'm just ready to work the money is cool," Irvin wrote. "If you took the money away I still would play this game for free! #WVU #12thman."

The Seahawks selected Irvin with the 15th overall pick in April's draft. A junior college transfer, he had 8 1/2 sacks as a senior in 2011 after leading the Big East with 14 sacks in 2010.

The Seahawks also signed seven other draft choices: linebackers Bobby Wagner and Korey Toomer; quarterback Russell Wilson; cornerback Jeremy Lane; safety Winston Guy; guard J.R. Sweezy; and defensive end Greg Scruggs.

Only two fourth-round draft picks -- running back Robert Turbin and defensive tackle Jaye Howard -- have yet to agree ahead of this weekend's rookie minicamp.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - New York Knicks guard Baron Davis will have surgery later this week on his injured right knee after he left Sunday's Game 4 Eastern Conference quarterfinal matchup with the Miami Heat with a dislocated right patella.

An MRI on Monday revealed a partial tear of the patella tendon and complete tears of the anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament in his right knee.

Davis left the game with 5:15 remaining in the third quarter when his knee buckled as he drove to the basket. He remained on the floor in agony and a stretcher was brought on to escort him to the locker room.

The 33-year-old guard had assumed a starting role for the Knicks in the playoffs after point guard Jeremy Lin suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee in late March and guard Iman Shumpert tore his ACL and meniscus in his left knee during New York's Game 1 loss.

The Knicks won the game, 89-87, to avoid the sweep and Game 5 is slated for Wednesday in Miami.

San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - San Francisco Giants pitcher Guillermo Mota has been suspended 100 games after testing positive for a performance- enhancing substance, the office of the commissioner of Baseball announced Monday.

Mota, who received a 50-suspension for a performance-enhancing substance violation on November 1, 2006, tested positive for Clenbuterol, which is on the list of substances that violate Major League Baseball's joint drug prevention and treatment program.

"The Giants are disappointed to learn of Guillermo Mota's suspension," the Giants said in a statement. "We support Major League Baseball's drug prevention and treatment program."

The 14-year veteran has made nine appearances with the Giants this season, recording an 0-1 record with a 5.06 earned run average in 10 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. His suspension is effective immediately.

San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - San Francisco Giants pitcher Guillermo Mota has been suspended 100 games after testing positive for a performance- enhancing substance, the office of the commissioner of Baseball announced Monday.

Mota, who received a 50-suspension for a performance-enhancing substance violation on November 1, 2006, tested positive for Clenbuterol, which is on the list of substances that violate Major League Baseball's joint drug prevention and treatment program.

The 14-year veteran has made nine appearances with the Giants this season, recording an 0-1 record with a 5.06 earned run average in 10 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. His suspension is effective immediately.

Helsinki, Finland (Sports Network) - Andrej Sekera's goal late in the first period proved to be the deciding tally, as Slovakia toppled the United States, 4-2, in Monday action at the 2012 World Championship.

Dominik Granak and Branko Radivojevic also scored in the first period for Slovakia, which was coming off a 1-0 loss to defending-champion Finland.

Jan Laco stopped 18-of-20 shots.

Paul Stastny and Justin Faulk lit the lamp for the Americans, who fell victim to a classic trap game after an emotional 5-4 overtime victory against Canada.

Jimmy Howard allowed three goals on 31 shots in defeat.

Stastny brought the USA to 3-2 with 1:13 remaining in the second, but Miroslav Satan provided his country with a valuable insurance goal into the empty net.

Earlier in the day at Hartwall Arena, Patrick Sharp notched a goal and four assists as Canada shook off that loss to the USA and dispatched France, 7-2.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jamie Benn each totaled two goals and a helper for the Canadians, who got 19 saves from Devan Dubnyk.

Corey Perry and Jordan Eberle added tallies for Canada, which next plays Switzerland on Wednesday.

Alexandre Rouleau and Brian Henderson scored for France, while Fabrice Lhenry was dented for all seven scores on 37 shots.

At Stockholm, Michael Frolik's marker before the eight-minute mark in the third period helped send the Czech Republic past Norway, 4-3.

Ales Hemsky scored twice and David Krejci also hit the net to back a 28-save performance from Jakub Kovar.

Jonas Holos and Mathis Olimb each registered a goal and assist for the Norwegians. Lars Haugen made 27 stops in the setback.

Sweden took a 6-4 decision over Denmark in front of its home crowd in the late contest from Globe Arena. Loui Eriksson and Viktor Stalberg each picked up a pair of goals and Johan Franzen added three assists.

Jhonas Enroth didn't play well to get the win, allowing four goals on just 18 shots.

Nichlas Hardt registered two goals and a helper, and Daniel Nielsen also lit the lamp for the Danes. Frederik Andersen allowed all six goals on 42 shots.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels was suspended five games and fined by Major League Baseball for throwing at Nationals rookie Bryce Harper on Sunday night.

The suspension and fine were announced Monday and came after Hamels admitted to hitting Harper in the back with a pitch in the first inning of a 9-3 win.

"They're probably not gonna like me for it, but I'm not going to lie and say I wasn't trying to do it," Hamels said. "I think they understood the message and they threw it right back."

Harper made his much-anticipated major league debut last month. He stole home plate later in the first inning Sunday for Washington's first run.

Hamels said throwing at Harper was a "welcome to the big leagues" moment for the 19-year-old outfielder, who is batting .308 in his first eight games.

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo told The Washington Post that Hamels was "fake tough" for saying he was practicing old-school baseball by hitting the young player.

"Cole Hamels says he's old school? He's the polar opposite of old school. He's fake tough," said Rizzo. "He thinks he's going to intimidate us after hitting our 19-year-old rookie who's eight games into the big leagues? He doesn't know who he's dealing with."

Rizzo also said: "He thinks he's sending a message to us of being a tough guy. He's sending the polar opposite message. He says he's being honest; well, I'm being honest. It was a gutless chicken [bleep] [bleeping] act. That was a fake-tough act. No one has ever accused Cole Hamels of being old school."

Hamels (4-1) pitched eight innings for the win. Both dugouts were warned by home plate umpire Andy Fletcher after Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann plunked Hamels in the knee in the third inning.

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Washington Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth underwent surgery on Monday to repair a broken left wrist suffered during Sunday's 9-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Nationals announced that Werth had the procedure performed by Dr. Richard A. Berger at the Mayo Clinic. While a recovery time is unclear, most players who suffer this type of break usually take 10-to-12 weeks to fully recover.

Werth's rehab will begin immediately and he is expected to begin strengthening exercises in six weeks.

With two down in the sixth inning, Phillies third baseman Placido Polanco sliced a fly ball to right. Werth, playing deep, came charging in for the ball, went into a slide to make the catch and bent back his wrist. The ball fell out of his glove and Werth immediately grabbed the wrist in pain.

Werth has a history of trouble with the wrist, which was broken on a pitch from A. J. Burnett in 2005. He was able to play 102 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers that season, but surgery revealed two ligament tears, which caused him to miss the entire 2006 campaign.

In that instance, Dr. Berger was able to provide a proper diagnosis which prevented a premature end to Werth's career, The Washington Post reported earlier Monday.

Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Milwaukee Bucks forward Luc Mbah a Moute had right knee surgery to address his patellar tendonitis, the team said Monday.

Mbah a Moute underwent the successful procedure last Friday in Los Angeles and is expected to recover fully and be ready for training camp in October.

He re-signed a multi-year contract in December and averaged 7.7 points and 5.3 rebounds in 43 games this season, including 22 starts.

He missed 19 games due to right knee soreness and tendonitis, including the last three of the season.

San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - San Francisco Giants pitcher Guillermo Mota has been suspended 100 games after testing positive for a performance- enhancing substance, the office of the commissioner of baseball announced Monday.

Mota, who received a 50-suspension for a performance-enhancing substance violation on November 1, 2006, tested positive for Clenbuterol, which is on the list of substances that violate Major League Baseball's joint drug prevention and treatment program.

The 14-year veteran has made nine appearances with the Giants this season, recording an 0-1 record with a 5.06 earned run average in 10 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. His suspension is effective immediately.

Foxboro, MA (Sports Network) - The New England Patriots re-signed wide receiver Jabar Gaffney on Monday.

Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Gaffney spent the 2006-08 seasons with the Patriots, recording 85 receptions for 1,059 yards and eight touchdowns in that span.

He spent the next two years with the Denver Broncos before playing last season with the Washington Redskins.

A former second-round draft pick by the Houston Texans in 2002, Gaffney has 443 career receptions for 5,622 yards and 24 touchdowns in 155 games for Houston, New England, Denver and Washington.

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Casey Kotchman and Shin-Soo Choo each hit two-run doubles in a five-run third inning, as Cleveland held on and topped Chicago, 8-6, in the opener of a twinbill. Travis Hafner finished 2-for-4 with a homer and Asdrubal Cabrera also knocked in a run for the Indians, who have won five of their last six. Zach McAllister (1-0) allowed six hits and four runs -- two earned -- over six innings. Alexei Ramirez collected two hits and knocked in three runs for the White Sox, who have lost five of six. Brent Lillibridge and Kosuke Fukudome added an RBI apiece in defeat. Philip Humber (1-2) didn't make it out of the third inning, charged with nine hits and eight runs with two walks while recording seven outs.

Helsinki, Finland (Sports Network) - Andrej Sekera's goal late in the first period proved to be the deciding tally, as Slovakia toppled the United States, 4-2, in Monday action at the 2012 World Championship.

Dominik Granak and Branko Radivojevic also scored in the first period for Slovakia, which was coming off a 1-0 loss to defending-champion Finland.

Jan Laco stopped 18-of-20 shots.

Paul Stastny and Justin Faulk lit the lamp for the Americans, who fell victim to a classic trap game after an emotional 5-4 overtime victory against Canada.

Jimmy Howard allowed three goals on 31 shots in defeat.

Stastny brought the USA to 3-2 with 1:13 remaining in the second, but Miroslav Satan provided his country with a valuable insurance goal into the empty net.

At Stockholm, Michael Frolik's marker before the eight-minute mark in the third period helped send the Czech Republic past Norway, 4-3.

Ales Hemsky scored twice and David Krejci also hit the net to back a 28-save performance from Jakub Kovar.

Jonas Holos and Mathis Olimb each registered a goal and assist for the Norwegians. Lars Haugen made 27 stops in the setback.

Earlier in the day in Helsinki, Patrick Sharp notched a goal and four assists as Canada shook off that loss to the USA and dispatched France, 7-2.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jamie Benn each totaled two goals and a helper for the Canadians, who got 19 saves from Devan Dubnyk.

Corey Perry and Jordan Eberle added tallies for Canada, which next plays Switzerland on Wednesday.

Alexandre Rouleau and Brian Henderson scored for France, while Fabrice Lhenry was dented for all seven scores on 37 shots.

Canada seized control of the game with a four-goal first period.

Metairie, LA (Sports Network) - The New Orleans Saints and defensive tackle Remi Ayodele agreed to terms on a one-year contract Monday.

Ayodele spent last season with the Minnesota Vikings, recording 15 tackles and 1 1/2 sacks in 16 games, including 13 starts.

The 29-year-old played three years with the Saints prior to signing with the Vikings. He had a total of 70 tackles and 2 1/2 sacks through 37 games for New Orleans.

A six-year veteran with Dallas, Baltimore, New Orleans and Minnesota, Ayodele has 90 tackles and four sacks in 60 career games.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Philadelphia Flyers forward Claude Giroux has been suspended one game -- Tuesday's crucial Game 5 -- for his hit on the Devils' Dainius Zubrus during Sunday's Eastern Conference semifinal Game 4.

As time was winding down in the second period of a 4-2 New Jersey victory, Giroux struck Zubrus in the head with his shoulder after the Devils forward had dumped the puck in the Philadelphia zone.

It capped an angry shift which began by his protest of a non-call on Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur, who appeared to have clearly played a puck beyond the trapezoid behind his net.

Giroux was given a minor for an illegal check to the head for his efforts.

"After pulling even with Zubrus on the backcheck, Giroux chops down across the back of Zubrus' stick, and then well after the puck has been chipped in the corner, Giroux comes across Zubrus' body and drives upward with his shoulder making principle point of contact with Zubrus' head," said NHL vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan in a video explanation of his decision.

"In spite of the fact that Zubrus is bent over and is in a skating posture, the positioning of his head does not significantly change before Giroux recklessly picks him. We feel this rises to the level of supplemental discipline. We have taken into consideration...Zubrus returned to the game and completed it.

It is also important to note that Giroux hasn't been fined or suspended previously during his four-year NHL career."

The Flyers star forward has put together one of the finest playoff performances in recent league history, picking up eight goals and nine assists in 10 games, but has just two goals and an assist in the conference semifinals.

Now trailing the series three games to one, Philadelphia faces a must-win situation without the player called the "engine" of the club.

Foxboro, MA (Sports Network) - New England Patriots veteran offensive tackle Matt Light made his retirement official at a Monday press conference.

A mainstay at the left tackle position, the 33-year-old Light played 155 games -- all but two of them starts -- since being selected by the Patriots in the second round of the 2001 draft.

"Matt has really been the definition of a dependable, durable, consistent player that has held one of the toughest positions in the game for a long time and made it a real strong point of our team," said Patriots coach Bill Belichick. "It's been a pleasure to coach him."

Light played in five Super Bowls for New England, winning three championships with the team, and was named to the AFC Pro Bowl team in 2006, 2007 and 2010.

(Sports Network) - The Seattle Seahawks and first-round pick Bruce Irvin have apparently come to terms on a contract.

Irvin, a defensive end from West Virginia, broke the news on his Twitter feed Monday afternoon.

"I'm just ready to work the money is cool," Irvin wrote. "If you took the money away I still would play this game for free! #WVU #12thman."

The Seahawks selected Irvin with the 15th overall pick in April's draft. A junior college transfer, he had 8 1/2 sacks as a senior in 2011 after leading the Big East with 14 sacks in 2010.

Owings Mills, MD (Sports Network) - The Baltimore Ravens have signed nose tackle Ryan McBean and also announced that cornerback Cary Williams has signed his tender offer.

McBean spent the past three seasons with Denver and was one of three Broncos suspended by the NFL in March for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances. He was hit with a six-game penalty.

In 16 games, including three starts, last season, McBean posted 33 tackles and four sacks. The Oklahoma State product played one game for Pittsburgh in 2007 before joining the Broncos and has 77 tackles in 47 games.

Williams had hip surgery for a torn labrum in February and on Monday inked a one-year tender worth $1.972 million. He became a starter last year and in 16 games posted 78 tackles with two forced fumbles.

The 27-year-old Washburn product appeared in five games over two seasons with Tennessee before joining Baltimore in 2009.

Orchard Park, NY (Sports Network) - Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson has signed a contract extension.

Terms were not disclosed, but the Buffalo News reported it to be a two-year deal that will keep him with the club through 2014. He was entering the final season of a four-year deal he signed in May of 2009.

Jackson appeared in 10 games for the Bills last season and had rushed for 934 yards with a 5.5-yard average before suffering a fractured fibula in November. He added 39 catches for 442 yards, and his 1,376 yards from scrimmage trailed only Chicago's Matt Forte at the time of his injury.

The 31-year-old veteran from Coe College has spent each of his five NFL seasons with the Bills. He has rushed for 3,794 yards in 66 games, including 38 starts. His best season was 2009 when he ran for 1,062 yards.

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Washington Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth will undergo surgery to repair a broken left wrist suffered during Sunday's 9-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.

A source close to the situation told The Washington Post on Monday that Werth will have the procedure done at the Mayo Clinic. While a recovery time is unclear, most players who suffer this type of break usually take 10-to-12 weeks to fully recover.

With two down in the sixth inning, Phillies third baseman Placido Polanco sliced a fly ball to right. Werth, playing deep, came charging in for the ball, went into a slide to make the catch and bent back his wrist. The ball fell out of his glove and Werth immediately grabbed the wrist in pain.

Werth has a history of trouble with the wrist, which was broken on a pitch from A. J. Burnett in 2005. He was able to play 102 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers that season, but surgery revealed two ligament tears, which caused him to miss the entire 2006 campaign.

In that instance, Dr. Richard Berger from Mayo was able to provide a proper diagnosis which prevented a premature end to Werth's career, according to the paper.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - When will they start to listen?

When will they learn?

Will they ever learn?

One would like to think there have been enough examples dished out already, but every time a new one is issued, there is shock and disbelief.

Stop already. Roger Goodell isn't buying it.

The guy is trying to remove the "kill" shot and clean up the game of NFL football and continues to put the hammer down on those who don't comply.

The crackdown on the New Orleans Saints, and linebacker Jonathan Vilma, is the latest Thor blow delivered by Goodell and it was a mighty one.

Vilma got banged with a year suspension for his part as one of the ringleaders in the whole "bounty" system in New Orleans.

A year? Wow! Think about that. The career of most NFL players is a blip. A year or two for most. Six or seven for the lucky ones. Ten if the stars line up exactly for a guy. To take away a year, that stings.

But that's the point. Until the situation changes, Goodell is going to continue to make the fine a large one until his message gets through.

And you know what? I agree with him.

He has said all along that penalties levied by him would be harsh, and until the players started to wake up and smell what he was doing, they would continue. Like it or not, the guy has kept his word (Vilma is appealing his suspension. It will be interesting to see how it plays out).

Many have said Goodell is taking the best thing about pro football - the violence - out of the game.

And that he's being hypocritical because for years the NFL has sold the violence, marketed it to death and profited from it greatly.

Yes, the league did all of those things to the extreme. Big hits sell and the NFL was all about them.

It still is, but now the biggest weapon, the helmeted head cracking the helmeted head, is on the endangered list and Goodell plans to make it extinct the way he sees fit.

Yes, he's judge and jury in the cases in which players lead with their heads on a tackle and big fines are the norm. That's the way it is and he'll keep doing it until they stop doing it.

He wants players to relearn how to tackle to try and stop concussions from being enemy No. 1, and that's fine. The shoulder is a very useful tackling instrument.

(The best solution I've ever heard for helping players learn the right way to tackle came from a long-time high school football coach. While holding a helmet, the coach was asked what could be done to stop the ever-growing problem of concussions on all levels of football. He took the helmet and tossed it in a nearby trash can. He then said, "Get rid of those and players will learn how to tackle. They have no fear when they're wearing one and that's the biggest problem."

Sound advice from a sage, but the NFL isn't going to ban the helmet.

They've tried to limit kickoff returns by moving the ball up on kicks.

There's talk of doing away with the three-point stance to try and limit collisions.

And players continually get flagged for blows to the head and a few days later they get hit in the wallet with a fine.

Slowly, hopefully, the message will seep in. That message: "You don't have to take a dude's head off to bring him down" is a good one.

Goodell is an easy guy to blame. It's the old ivory tower deal in which he sits on high and dishes out the punishment while not taking part in the game.

Well, fellas, guess what, you guys keep testing him. Heck, the Saints were warned by the NFL long before the bounty thing became public and still kept doing it, and he keeps delivering the hits to you.

Wake up and live with the new reality. Another season is coming soon and he's not going to change.

Drew Markol has been a sportswriter and columnist for several Philadelphia- area newspapers for over 25 years.

Jacksonville, FL (Sports Network) - The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed quarterback Jordan Palmer and waived wide receiver Jarrett Dillard.

Palmer, the younger brother of Oakland quarterback Carson, spent four seasons as a backup in Cincinnati and will join a depth chart in Jacksonville that features Blaine Gabbert and Chad Henne.

Dillard started five games and appeared in nine others last season for the Jaguars, catching 29 passes for 292 yards with a touchdown.

The Jaguars also waived quarterback Dan LeFevour, safety Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, receivers Nelson Rosario and Jarrett Boykin and defensive end Frank Trotter, while signing fullback Naufahu Tahi, defensive tackle Odrick Ray, receivers Mike Brown and Chris Forcier, linebacker Donovan Richard and defensive back Jeremiah Brown.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Dallas is done. Carmelo was too hot for the Heat and the Lakers' other trade-deadline acquisition makes his presence felt again.

Those are just some of the stories we look at from this weekend's NBA playoff action.

DALLAS MAVERICKS

The Dallas Mavericks' reign as NBA champions ended Saturday, as the Oklahoma City Thunder completed a four-game sweep of their Western Conference opening- round series with a 103-97 road win.

The Mavs were missing some key pieces from last season's championship team while trying to defend their title, as owner Mark Cuban let three integral players (Tyson Chandler, J.J. Barea and DeShawn Stevenson) depart from that squad to create lots of cap space this summer to pursue potential free agents.

Despite the early first-round elimination, Cuban doesn't regret the decision.

"If you want to nail me for something, I'll be the first to admit that it was a huge (expletive) that I didn't fight for the new (collective bargaining agreement) harder," Cuban said. "I said it before. I'll say it again. It put us and other teams in a bad spot, and it was an overnight handshake deal that I should have fought harder. I'm the first to say that. That was my mistake, because once that thing passed, our hands were tied in a lot of respects. But within that, we did the best we could. And we're not out of it yet."

Even with Chandler winning the Defensive Player of the Year Award with the New York Knicks, the Mavericks owner maintains that if he signed the free agent center after the NBA lockout, he wouldn't have had enough financial flexibility to put together a competitive team this season.

Following the Mavs' elimination, free-agent-to-be Jason Terry said Cuban knew they couldn't make another serious title run without some of the core group returning.

"Yeah, he knows it, the city knows, we all know it as players," Terry said. "But with the team we have, the nucleus we have, the core group of guys, we feel like we can beat anybody; that's just us as competitors. But, again, you have to have the personnel. You have to have the personnel to get it done.

"Every year I've been on the Mavericks team and we've had a realistic chance, it's because of the personnel. Look at your personnel and what they surround you with - your core nucleus and you can see if you have a realistic shot. For us, it was a long shot. Nobody's going to downplay that at all. If you look at our roster to a man, it was a long shot this year. But we still made the playoffs, but we just didn't have enough."

Dirk Nowitzki, last season's Finals MVP, wishes the Mavericks could have gone to war with the same group this year.

"Knowing as players, we were for sure disappointed in December in free agency when we didn't get the same team back," Nowitzki said. "That's for sure." The eleven-time All-Star has to play the waiting game, just like his owner, to see if Cuban made the right decision.

"We would have loved to keep the troops together as players," Nowitzki said. "We would have loved to get the guys back and give it a true shot to defend, but Mark and (Mavs president of basketball operations) Donnie (Nelson), they made a business decision to really go for cap space for the first time really since I can remember being a Maverick. We never had cap space, so they made the decision to go for that, and we'll just have to wait and see what comes out of that."

One free agent the Mavericks will likely have their eyes on is New Jersey Nets point guard Deron Williams, who is a Dallas native. But recent reports indicate there's a good chance he'll end up following the Nets to their new home in Brooklyn, and even Jason Kidd, who also will be a free agent, can see the allure, and thinks other free agents will too.

"I think going to Brooklyn brings a lot of attention," Kidd said. "The last professional team there was the Dodgers, so I think they're going to be very excited. And then with the Russian owner (Mikhail Prokhorov), I mean, he's not short on money, so I think they're going to go out and make a splash."

Kidd has expressed an interest in backing up Williams, whether it's in Dallas or Brooklyn.

"What's wrong with that? That's not a bad guy to help out," Kidd said. "If it comes to that would not be a bad situation. I know I wouldn't have to play 30 minutes."

CLIPPERS-GRIZZLIES

Two bad fourth quarters have put the Memphis Grizzlies in a 2-1 hole. Saturday's performance in Game 3 wasn't nearly as bad as blowing a 21-point lead in the series opener, but more offensive struggles in the final quarter cost Memphis the game, even though Los Angeles tried to give it away with some horrendous foul shooting down the stretch.

Marc Gasol's jumper with 7:11 left in the game was the Grizzlies' first field goal of the quarter and they didn't have another one until Rudy Gay hit on consecutive 3-pointers with 12.9 and 8.9 seconds remaining, respectively. Prior to Gay's shots from downtown, the Grizzlies had scored only nine points in the quarter.

"We shut down and only scored 15 points in the fourth quarter," Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said. "We took too many quick shots and gave up second-chance points. "

Poor foul shooting, which has been the Clippers' Achilles heel all season, was almost their downfall again as they missed five of six free throws in the final 12 seconds. But thanks to Gay missing a three at the buzzer, it didn't cost them this time.

Los Angeles was 13 of the 30 from the line for the game, eliciting this response from Chris Paul: "We missed 17 free throws?" said the All-Star point guard. "We did? It shows how much fight we have. It's unacceptable."

It may be unacceptable, but with the Clippers having some of the worst foul shooters in the league in Blake Griffin (52 percent), DeAndre Jordan (52 percent), Reggie Evans (51 percent) and Kenyon Martin (37 percent), it's a problem that's not going to magically disappear.

KNICKS-HEAT

Break up the Knicks!

New York ended its NBA-record 13-game playoff losing streak on Sunday by barely holding on for a 89-87 win over the Miami Heat.

It took a 41-point outburst from Carmelo Anthony for the Knicks to get their first postseason win since 2001. They overcame yet another injury as Baron Davis went down with a dislocated right kneecap in the third quarter.

The game also marked the return of Amar'e Stoudmire, who missed Game 3 with a lacerated left hand. He made his presence felt with a 20-point, 10 rebound effort in helping the Knicks break their long postseason victory drought.

"I think it's the first of many," Stoudemire said. "Tonight was a great win for us, for our fans to finally get over that hump of those consecutive games that we lost, I guess the Knicks, lost over those years in the playoffs."

It's amazing how one win can make someone so delusional. Barring injuries to both LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, the simple fact is the Knicks are not getting past the first round, and from where I stand I highly doubt there's going to be a great deal of postseason success in the future with one- dimensional players like Anthony and Stoudemire.

As for the Heat, they failed to cash in on an opportunity for some extended rest by not being able to close out the series.

"We'd love to take the week (off), but it's not in the cards for us to do that in this round," said Wade, who missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer with two seconds left. "You know, we'll adjust. We play Wednesday in Miami at 7 o'clock. We'll be ready to play and give our fans another exciting game."

By another exciting game, I wonder if Wade means the usual game when he, James, and fellow All-Star Chris Bosh have to carry the offensive load.

Miami's "Big Three" have accounted for 67 percent of the team's offense in the series. The Heat are averaging 94.5 points over the first four games, with James, Wade and Bosh accounting for 63 points per game. The Heat's bench, which was 27th in the league in scoring during the regular season at 24.4 points per game, has been even worse in the postseason, averaging just 16.7 points while shooting a miserable 34 percent from the field.

And the bench has been nearly invisible in the last two games, putting up just five and nine points in Games 3 and 4, respectively, and connecting on only four of its 21 shots (19 percent).

So despite having two superstars in James and Wade, and a seven-time All-Star in Chris Bosh, the Heat are not a great team and no lock to even reach the NBA Finals despite the road getting a lot easier with Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose going down with a torn ACL.

CELTICS-HAWKS

The return of center Al Horford on Sunday wasn't nearly enough for the Atlanta Hawks to overcome some blistering first-half shooting by the Boston Celtics and another great performance by Rajon Rondo as the Celtics went up 3-1 in the series. Boston connected on 28 of 43 shots from the field in the first half (65 percent), en route to a 64-41 lead at intermission.

"Their team set the tone from the jump ball and we weren't able to recover," said Horford, who played for the first time in almost four months and scored 12 points and grabbed five rebounds in 20 minutes. "It's disappointing for us to lose this way, but the good thing is we're going back home. It's 3-1 and I'm sure a lot of people are writing us off already. But we feel pretty good about going back home."

The Celtics, meanwhile, have to feel great about the play of Rondo. Two nights after putting up a triple-double in the Celtics' overtime win in Game 3, he was arguably even better Sunday as he put up 20 points and 16 assists and had just one turnover.

Boston's All-Star point guard became the first player with at least 20 points and 16 assists with no more than one turnover in a playoff game since Tim Hardaway for the Golden State Warriors in 1991.

I marvel at the way Rondo controls the tempo and pace of the game. With Rose now sidelined, no team still alive in the Eastern Conference can match up with Boston at the point.

If the Celts can get some reasonable contributions from the banged up Paul Pierce (sprained knee), Ray Allen (sore ankle) and Avery Bradley (dislocated shoulder) through their playoff run, they will certainly have a very good chance to come out of the East.

NUGGETS-LAKERS

The Los Angeles Lakers took a commanding 3-1 lead in the series with Sunday's 92-88 win in Denver.

Steve Blake, who scored 10 points off the bench, including a 3-pointer with 18 seconds left that basically sealed the victory, got a lot of attention after the game, but I think the most important reserve was Jordan Hill.

The third-year power forward was a key contributor in the Lakers' opening-game win with 10 points and 10 rebounds, and he came up big again in Game 4 with 12 points and 11 rebounds, including seven offensive boards in just 23 minutes. Hill is averaging 9.3 rebounds in just 20.5 minutes per game in the series. What a huge difference it is for the Lakers to bring him off the bench to spell Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol, as opposed to Josh McRoberts and Troy Murphy, who filled that role prior to the deal that brought him to Los Angeles in the Derek Fisher trade.

Who would've thought that Hill would play an integral role in Kobe Bryant's quest for a sixth championship ring?

New York, NY (Sports Network) - New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma has formally appealed the year-long suspension he received from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for his involvement in the club's bounty program.

Vilma was suspended last Wednesday, hit hardest among the four players who received bans from the commissioner.

Goodell issued the suspension and will also hear the appeal, as stated under the new collective bargaining agreement.

In addition to Vilma, defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove, now with Green Bay, was suspended eight games, defensive end Will Smith was hit with a four-game ban and linebacker Scott Fujita, now playing for Cleveland, will sit for the first three games of the 2012 campaign.

The NFL Players Association also filed a grievance against the NFL last week on behalf of the suspended players. The NFLPA reportedly wants any appeal to be heard by officers Ted Cottrell and Art Shell, who handle appeals of discipline rulings that stem from activity on the field.

All of the suspensions are without pay and stem from the bounty system run from 2009-11 by former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who was suspended indefinitely in March. Saints head coach Sean Payton was also suspended for a year for his knowledge of the program.

Vilma's suspension was immediate, keeping him away from the club's training facility, but he can now return to the team's headquarters until the appeal is heard. The other three will begin their penalties at the start of the 2012 regular season.

Helsinki, Finland (Sports Network) - Patrick Sharp notched a goal and four assists as Canada shook off its Saturday overtime loss to the USA and dispatched France, 7-2, in Monday action at the 2012 World Championship.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jamie Benn each totaled two goals and a helper for the Canadians, who got 19 saves from Devan Dubnyk.

Corey Perry and Jordan Eberle added tallies for Canada, which next plays Switzerland on Wednesday.

Alexandre Rouleau and Brian Henderson scored for France, while Fabrice Lhenry was dented for all seven scores on 37 shots.

Canada seized control of the game with a four-goal first period, begun by Nugent-Hopkins 1:59 after the opening faceoff. Sharp followed with a power- play score at 9:56, Benn registered his first of the game just shy of the 14- minute mark then lit the lamp again at 17:21.

Helsinki, Finland (Sports Network) - Patrick Sharp notched a goal and four assists as Canada shook off its Saturday overtime loss to the USA and dispatched France, 7-2, in Monday action at the 2012 World Championship.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jamie Benn each totaled two goals and a helper for the Canadians, who got 19 saves from Devan Dubnyk.

Corey Perry and Jordan Eberle added tallies for Canada, which next plays Switzerland on Wednesday.

Alexandre Rouleau and Brian Henderson scored for France, while Fabrice Lhenry was dented for all seven scores on 37 shots.

Canada seized control of the game with a four-goal first period, begun by Nugent-Hopkins 1:59 after the opening faceoff. Sharp followed with a power- play score at 9:56, Benn registered his first of the game just shy of the 14- minute mark then lit the lamp again at 17:21.

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Washington Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth suffered a broken left wrist in the sixth inning of Sunday's 9-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.

With two down in the inning, Phillies third baseman Placido Polanco sliced a fly ball to right. Werth, playing deep, came charging in for the ball, went into a slide to make the catch and bent back his wrist. The ball fell out of his glove and Werth immediately grabbed the wrist in pain.

Nationals manager Davey Johnson as well as team medical personnel went to tend to Werth, who got up and walked off the field under his own power. He was replaced in right field by Xavier Nady.

"He has a broken wrist and is going to be down a while," said Johnson after the game. "He's going to go see a specialist. It's broken on the opposite side of where he had the other problem. It's a clean break and he will be out for a while."

Werth has a history of trouble with the wrist, as it was broken on a pitch from A. J. Burnett in 2005. He was able to play 102 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers that season, but surgery revealed two ligament tears, which caused him to miss the entire 2006 campaign.

The Nationals can ill-afford another injury, as they are already missing Ryan Zimmerman and power-hitting outfielder Michael Morse.

Werth went 1-for-2 at the plate before leaving the game and is hitting .276 with three home runs and 12 RBI this season.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia 76ers have the NBA's No. 1 overall seed on the brink of elimination. The only good news for the shorthanded Chicago Bulls? They get to go back home to try and turn it all around. Jrue Holiday scored six of his 20 points on back-to-back 3s late in the fourth quarter Sunday and the Sixers beat the Bulls, 89-82, in Game 4 to take a 3-1 lead in their first-round series. The Sixers have won three straight since Bulls star Derrick Rose went down for the rest of the season with an injury late in Game 1. Chicago played this one without another key starter, center Joakim Noah, who sprained his left ankle in Game 3. Game 5 is Tuesday in Chicago.

Final Score: New York 89, Miami 87

New York, NY (Sports Network) - With his team on the brink of elimination, Carmelo Anthony poured in 41 points and the Knicks defeated the Heat, 89-87, in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal matchup at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. Amare Stoudemire, who missed Game 3 with an injured left hand which he suffered when he punched a fire extinguisher after a loss in Game 2, returned to the lineup and scored 20 points and grabbed 10 boards to help the Knicks earn their first playoff victory in over a decade. The Knicks had lost an NBA-record 13 straight consecutive playoff games, dating back to April 29, 2001, but still have plenty of work to do as they trail Miami 3-1 in their best-of-seven series. The series returns to Miami for Game 5, which is slated for Wednesday. LeBron James scored 27 points, Dwyane Wade chipped in 22 and Chris Bosh added 17 but the Heat were unable to complete their first series sweep since the second round of the 2005 playoffs against the Washington Wizards.

Final Score: Boston 101, Atlanta 79

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - After needing overtime to take Game 3 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal against the Hawks, the Boston Celtics routed Atlanta, 101-79, in Game 4 on Sunday. Boston shot 60 percent from the floor in the first three quarters, building a lead as large as 37, and led by double-digits for the game's final 37 minutes. Paul Pierce netted 24 points and Rajon Rondo followed up his Game 3 triple-double with 20 points and 16 assists, two of six Celtics to score in double-figures as they took a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. The Celtics can punch their ticket to the semifinals in Game 5, slated for Tuesday in Atlanta. After missing Game 3 with a shoulder injury, Josh Smith returned to Atlanta's starting lineup and paced the Hawks with 15 points in defeat.

Final Score: LA Lakers 92, Denver 88

Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Ramon Sessions hit the go-ahead three-pointer with 48.1 seconds to play and the Los Angeles Lakers took a 92-88 win over the Denver Nuggets in a closely contested Game 4 of this Western Conference quarterfinal series. Kobe Bryant posted 22 points, eight rebounds and six assists, Andrew Bynum added 19 points and seven boards while Pau Gasol donated 13 points, nine rebounds and six assists for the Lakers, who hold a 3-1 advantage in this best-of-seven series after splitting the two games in Denver. Los Angeles can now close out this series at home on Tuesday night in Game 5. Danilo Gallinari scored 20 points and pulled down six rebounds while Andre Miller added 15 points and seven boards off the bench for the Nuggets, who got 11 points and six assists from Ty Lawson.

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Washington Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth suffered a broken left wrist in the sixth inning of Sunday's 9-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.

With two down in the inning, Phillies third baseman Placido Polanco sliced a fly ball to right. Werth, playing deep, came charging in for the ball, went into a slide to make the catch and bent back his wrist. The ball fell out of his glove and Werth immediately grabbed the wrist in pain.

Nationals manager Davey Johnson as well as team medical personnel went to tend to Werth, who got up and walked off the field under his own power. He was replaced in right field by Xavier Nady.

Werth has a history of trouble with the wrist, as it was broken on a pitch from A. J. Burnett in 2005. He was able to play 102 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers that season, but surgery revealed two ligament tears, which caused him to miss the entire 2006 campaign.

The Nationals can ill-afford another injury, as they are already missing Ryan Zimmerman and power-hitting outfielder Michael Morse.

Werth went 1-for-2 at the plate before leaving the game and is hitting .276 with three home runs and 12 RBI this season.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - New York Knicks guard Baron Davis left Sunday's Game 4 Eastern Conference quarterfinal matchup with the Miami Heat with a dislocated right patella.

Davis left the game with 5:15 remaining in the third quarter when he suffered the injury while attempting to drive to the basket.

Davis remained on the floor in agony and a stretcher was brought on to escort him to the locker room.

The 33-year-old guard had assumed a starting role for the Knicks in the playoffs after point guard Jeremy Lin went down with a left knee injury in late March.

The Knicks won the game, 89-87, to avoid the sweep and Game 5 is slated for Wednesday in Miami.

Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - R.A. Dickey pitched into the ninth inning and the Mets supported the knuckleball specialist with clutch two-out hitting in Sunday's 3-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Dickey (4-1) was vying for his third career shutout but issued a leadoff walk to Gerardo Parra and a run- scoring double to Justin Upton. Tim Byrdak relieved Dickey and retired Jason Kubel on a deep fly ball to left field. Frank Francisco then entered from the bullpen and struck out Paul Goldschmidt swinging before Miguel Montero flied out to the warning track in right. The first-year Met recorded his seventh save in eight opportunities this season. New York took two of three from the visiting Diamondbacks, who lost four of five to conclude their road trip with a 5-5 mark.

Final Score: Cincinnati 5, Pittsburgh 0

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Drew Stubbs belted a two-run homer, Mat Latos overcame a sluggish start to pitch six strong innings and the Cincinnati Reds blanked the Pittsburgh Pirates, 5-0, in the rubber match of a three-game series at PNC Park. Stubbs finished 3-for-4 and scored three runs for the Reds, who have won five of their last seven games. Latos (2-2) limited the Pirates to two singles and struck out a career-high 11 batters. Three relievers combined to complete the three-hit shutout. Pittsburgh starter Charlie Morton (1-3) was tagged for five runs -- four earned -- on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts in six frames. The Pirates were trying to win back-to-back games for the first time since April 17-18.

Final Score: St. Louis 8, Houston 1

Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Tyler Greene recorded his first career multi- home run game and drove in four runs, powering the St. Louis Cardinals to an 8-1 win over the Houston Astros in the finale of a three-game series at Minute Maid Park. Allen Craig also homered and finished with three RBI for St. Louis, which snapped its three-game losing streak. Adam Wainwright (2-3) continued his dominance of the Astros, tossing seven strong innings on Sunday. The right-hander scattered seven hits, walked one and struck out seven to improve to 10-1 in his career against Houston. J.A. Happ (2-2) allowed six runs on six hits and four walks in five frames for the Astros, who had their winning streak snapped at five games.

Final Score: Chicago 4, Los Angeles 3 (11 innings)

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - David DeJesus was tagged out trying to score the winning run in the ninth, but his patience produced the game-winning walk two innings later. DeJesus walked in the winning run with the bases loaded in the 11th to push the Chicago Cubs past the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-3, in the finale of a three- game set at Wrigley Field. Rafael Dolis (2-2) pitched the final two of five scoreless frames for the Cubs bullpen to record the victory. Jamey Wright (1-2) pitched the 10th without incident but did not record an out in the 11th in defeat, while Javy Guerra blew a save for the third time this season in the ninth. Juan Rivera hit a two-run homer for Los Angeles.

Final Score: Atlanta 7, Colorado 2

Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Freddie Freeman hit a three-run homer, Brandon Beachy pitched into the seventh inning and the Braves earned a three-game sweep of the Rockies with a 7-2 win on Sunday. Beachy (3-1) gave up two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out five over 6 1/3 frames. Dan Uggla added a solo home run and drove in a pair for Atlanta, which recorded its first road sweep of the Rockies since 2003. Michael Cuddyer and Tyler Colvin had an RBI apiece for Colorado, which fell to 12-15 on the season. Juan Nicasio (2-1) allowed six runs on eight hits and three walks over five- plus innings to suffer the loss.

Final Score: San Francisco 4, Milwaukee 3 (11 innings)

San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Hector Sanchez knocked in the game- winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning and the San Francisco Giants edged the Milwaukee Brewers, 4-3, in the finale of a three-game set at AT&T Park on Sunday. Facing Tim Dillard (0-1), Buster Posey started the frame with a single up the middle before Angel Pagan dropped down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move pinch- runner Emmanuel Burriss to second. Brandon Belt was intentionally walked and Ryan Theriot also walked to load the bases. Sanchez got ahead in the count 3-0 before slicing a 3-2 sinker into left to plate Burriss. Javier Lopez (3-0) recorded the final out of the top of the 11th to earn the win. Conor Gillaspie, Angel Pagan and Theriot all knocked in runs for the Giants, who took the last two games of this series after dropping four straight.

Final Score: Miami 6, San Diego 3

San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Ricky Nolasco tossed seven innings of two-run ball as the Miami Marlins completed a three-game sweep of the San Diego Padres with a 6-3 victory at Petco Park. Nolasco (4-0) scattered five hits and a walk while striking out three batters to earn his 68th career win with the Marlins, tying Dontrelle Willis' franchise record. Jose Reyes and Emilio Bonifacio each had two hits and a run scored for Miami, which completed its second straight three-game series sweep. Andrew Cashner (2-2) allowed four runs -- three earned -- on three hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning to suffer the loss for the Padres, who had won two straight before dropping each game of this series.

Final Score: Philadelphia 9, Washington 3

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Hunter Pence blasted a pair of two-run homers and the Philadelphia Phillies avoided a three-game sweep with a convincing 9-3 victory over the Washington Nationals in Sunday's series finale at Nationals Park. Placido Polanco finished 3-for-5 with an RBI single, Freddy Galvis smacked a two-run single, while Shane Victorino had an RBI triple and Juan Pierre knocked in a run for the Phils, who snapped a seven-game losing streak against Washington. Cole Hamels (4-1) was fantastic on the mound, giving up one run on five hits and a walk while fanning eight in eight innings. He also added a hit at the plate. Roger Bernadina ripped an RBI double, Ian Desmond beat out an infield single for an RBI and Bryce Harper produced a run by stealing home in the first inning for the Nats, who had their four-game winning streak snapped. Jordan Zimmermann (1-3), who had walked only three batters in five previous starts this season, issued four free passes and gave up three runs on seven hits while striking out one in six-plus innings.

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Dustin Brown scored the go-ahead goal and then sealed the win with an empty-netter as the Los Angeles Kings defeated the St. Louis Blues, 3-1, in Game 4 to complete the series sweep of the Western Conference semifinals. The Kings advanced to the conference finals for the first time since 1993 with their first sweep of a seven-game series in franchise history. They will face either the Phoenix Coyotes or Nashville Predators. Jordan Nolan also scored, while Jonathan Quick made 23 saves for Los Angeles, which became the first eighth seed to eliminate a No. 1 and a No. 2 in the same playoff year. Brian Elliott stopped 16-of-18 shots for St. Louis, which was last swept by Vancouver in the 2009 quarterfinals. Kevin Shattenkirk netted the lone goal for the Blues.

Helsinki, Finland (Sports Network) - One goal proved to be enough again for Finland, as the reigning gold medalist shut out Slovakia, 1-0, at the 2012 World Championship on Sunday.

Janne Pesonen scored the game's lone goal at the 7:32 mark of the first period, and Petri Vehanen made 26 saves for the host nation. Jan Laco stopped 21 shots in defeat.

The Finns blanked Belarus by the same score in their tournament opener two days earlier.

In Stockholm, Russia posted a 4-2 win over Norway.

Pavel Datsyuk, Denis Denisov, Nikolai Kulyomin and Alexander Perezhogin scored for the Russians, who got 19 saves from Semyon Varlamov.

Morten Ask and Marius Holtet both contributed power-play goals for Norway. Lars Volden played well in the loss, turning aside 42 shots.

Switzerland and Latvia were also winners. Kevin Romy scored a tiebreaking goal in the third period to send the Swiss to a 3-2 victory over Belarus, while Latvia topped Germany by the same score.

In earlier action Sunday, Italy edged Denmark, 4-3, on Giulio Scandella's overtime goal, while France doubled up Kazakhstan, 6-3.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - New York Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire is slated to start Game 4 of the team's Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against Miami despite a hand injury that required surgery on Tuesday.

Stoudemire missed New York's Game 3 loss on Thursday with the injury, which he suffered when he punched the glass case of a fire extinguisher after New York's Game 2 loss on Monday in Miami. He was treated for a laceration to his left hand at the arena and underwent a procedure on Tuesday to repair a small muscle.

The Knicks went 14-5 without Stoudemire in the lineup during the regular season. He missed most of the final month because of a bulging disc in his lower back.

The Knicks are currently mired in a 3-0 hole against the Heat in their best- of-seven series.

Miami, FL (Sports Network) - The Miami Dolphins have extended the contract of linebacker Cameron Wake through the 2016 season.

Wake has spent his entire three-year career with the Dolphins after being signed by the team as a free agent in 2009.

Prior to signing with Miami, he played two years in the Canadian Football League, where he received the Defensive Player of the Year award after both seasons.

Last season, Wake had 42 tackles and 8 1/2 sacks and played in all 16 games. The best year of his career came in 2010 when he had 57 tackles and a team- high 14 sacks to earn his lone trip to the Pro Bowl.

Through 46 career games, including 31 starts, the 30-year-old has 122 tackles, 28 sacks and eight passes defended.

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - The Boston Red Sox placed right-hander Aaron Cook on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a left knee laceration and activated lefty Andrew Miller off the DL.

Cook was injured in the second inning Saturday against Baltimore when he slid knee-first to block the plate on a passed ball and was spiked by the Orioles' Chris Davis.

He received stitches from the training staff and returned to pitch, but got just three more outs after that in his first start since being called up from Triple-A Pawtucket.

Miller started the season on the disabled list with a left hamstring strain and made 12 rehab appearances in the minors.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah was out of the lineup Sunday for Game 4 against the 76ers because of a sprained left ankle.

Noah hurt the ankle in the third quarter of Friday's Game 3 loss when he stepped on the right foot of Sixers forward Andre Iguodala.

His absence leaves the Bulls without two of their top starters.

They were already missing star point guard Derrick Rose, who was lost for the rest of the season after suffering a torn ligament in his left knee in Game 1.

The top-seeded Bulls trail the best-of-seven series against Philadelphia, 2-1.

Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Minnesota Twins designated hitter Justin Morneau was put on the 15-day disabled list due to a sore right wrist.

The Twins made the move following a 7-0 loss to Seattle Saturday night.

Morneau, who is hitting .230 with four homers and nine RBI this season, hasn't played since April 30.

The team also announced they will recall left-handed pitcher Scott Diamond on Monday and will select the contract of infielder Brian Dozier on Monday as well.

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Chris Capuano tossed seven scoreless innings and helped his own cause with a two-run double, as the Los Angeles Dodgers posted a 5-1 win over the Chicago Cubs in the middle test of a three-game series at Wrigley Field. Capuano (4-0) scattered three hits, walked two and struck out seven. The southpaw is off to his best start since going 5-0 for the Brewers in 2007. Matt Kemp, Dee Gordon and Matt Treanor each knocked in a run for Los Angeles, which avoided its first three-game losing streak of the season. Struggling Chicago right-hander Chris Volstad (0-4) started in place of Matt Garza, who was scratched because of the flu, and surrendered five runs on four hits and three walks in five frames. Volstad is 0-9 over his last 17 outings.

Final Score: Washington 7, Philadelphia 1

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Jayson Werth clubbed a three-run home run to help the Washington Nationals take a 7-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in the second of three games. Chad Tracy hit a two-run home run and Ian Desmond added a solo shot for the Nationals, who have won four straight. Gio Gonzalez (3-1) lasted seven innings and gave up just one run on four hits with a walk and seven strikeouts. Carlos Ruiz drove in the lone run for the Phillies, who have dropped three of their last four. Vance Worley (2-2) was touched for five runs on 11 hits over six innings to take the loss.

Final Score: San Francisco 5, Milwaukee 2

San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Madison Bumgarner tossed seven innings of one-run ball and the San Francisco Giants topped the Milwaukee Brewers, 5-2, in the middle test of a three-game set at AT&T Park. Bumgarner (5-1) gave up just six hits and one walk while striking out five. Javier Lopez finished off the eighth after Guillermo Mota served up a leadoff home run and Santiago Casilla tossed a scoreless ninth to record his fifth save of the season. Bumgarner also added an RBI double. Buster Posey finished 2-for-4 with an RBI single, while Hector Sanchez, Conor Gillaspie and Brett Pill had an RBI apiece for the Giants, who snapped a four-game skid. Ryan Braun cracked a solo homer and Alex Gonzalez added an RBI single for the Brewers, who have dropped three of their last four contests. Randy Wolf (2-3) was tagged for four runs on nine hits while striking out three and did not walk a batter over six full frames.

Final Score: New York 4, Arizona 3

Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Johan Santana tossed seven strong innings to earn his first win since the 2010 season as the New York Mets downed the Arizona Diamondbacks, 4-3, in the middle test of a three-game series at Citi Field. Santana (1-2) scattered nine hits and three runs with a walk and five strikeouts for his first victory since September 2, 2010 at Atlanta. The two- time Cy Young Award winner missed all of last season after having surgery on his shoulder. Andres Torres and Mike Nickeas each knocked in a pair of runs for the Mets, who snapped a four-game slide. Frank Francisco stranded the tying run on second base in the ninth to capture his sixth save of the year. Patrick Corbin (1-1) allowed four runs on five hits and two walks through 3 1/3 innings to suffer the loss as Arizona dropped its third game in four tries.

Final Score: Pittsburgh 3, Cincinnati 2

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Neil Walker hit a two-run home run and Alex Presley added a solo shot as the Pittsburgh Pirates topped the Cincinnati Reds, 3-2, in the middle test of a three-game set at PNC Park. James McDonald (2-1) allowed one run on six hits and two walks while striking out seven through 6 1/3 innings to earn the win. Joel Hanrahan tossed a perfect ninth to record his fifth save of the season as Pittsburgh won for the second time in three games. Mike Leake (0-4) gave up three runs on four hits and four walks in seven full frames for the Reds, who had their two-game win streak snapped.

Final Score: Houston 8, St. Louis 2

Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Chris Johnson belted his first career grand slam and the Houston Astros pounded the St. Louis Cardinals, 8-2, in the second portion of a three-game series at Minute Maid Park. Jed Lowrie crushed a two-run homer, Justin Maxwell contributed an RBI double and starter Bud Norris helped his own cause with a sacrifice fly for the Astros, who have won five in a row. Norris (2-1) gave up one unearned run on three hits and four walks while fanning four over six strong innings. Wesley Wright and Wilton Lopez combined for a scoreless seventh, David Carpenter gave up a run in the eighth and Fernando Abad closed it out with a perfect ninth. Carlos Beltran and Matt Holliday had an RBI single apiece for the defending World Series champs, who have dropped three consecutive contests. Jaime Garcia (2-2) gave up six runs on four hits and four walks while striking out two over six innings.

Final Score: Atlanta 13, Colorado 9

Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Matt Diaz crossed the plate with the go-ahead run on a bases-loaded walk as part of a four-run seventh inning and the Atlanta Braves rallied from a six-run deficit to claim a 13-9 win over the Colorado Rockies in the middle test of a three-game set at Coors Field. Chipper Jones went 3-for-6 with five RBI, Diaz and Jason Heyward hit solo home runs, Michael Bourn added an RBI and scored three times, while Freddie Freeman had two RBI and Brian McCann had two hits and an RBI for the Braves, who rallied from at least a five-run hole for the second consecutive night. Cristhian Martinez (2-0) tossed a scoreless sixth to earn the win, while Esmil Rodgers (0-2) was tagged for five runs on three hits and three walks in 1 1/3 innings. Michael Cuddyer clubbed a grand slam, Wilin Rosario added a solo homer and a two-run shot and Carlos Gonzalez finished 4-for-4 with a two-run double for the Rockies. who have dropped three of their last four games.

Final Score: Miami 4, San Diego 1

San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Mark Buehrle tossed his first complete game as a Marlin and the 28th of his career, lifting Miami to its fifth straight win as it defeated the San Diego Padres, 4-1, in the middle test of a three- game set. Buehrle (2-4) allowed a run on five hits and two walks. He threw 77 of his 116 pitches for strikes. Greg Dobbs came on to pinch-hit in the eighth and slapped the go-ahead single, while Hanley Ramirez went 3-for-4 with a run scored. Giancarlo Stanton added a solo homer in the ninth. Clayton Richard (1-4) fanned seven and gave up three runs on nine hits and a walk for San Diego, which has dropped five of its last seven.

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - The Baltimore Orioles scored seven runs in the third inning to take advantage of an early injury to Boston starter Aaron Cook, as they cruised to an 8-2 win over the Red Sox in the second of three games at Fenway Park. Mark Reynolds hit a three-run homer and Adam Jones added a two-run shot for Baltimore, which has won four in a row and six of its last seven. Jason Hammel (4-1) struck out eight while allowing just two runs on four hits and a walk over 6 2/3 strong innings. Cook (0-1) was tagged for seven runs -- six earned -- on eight hits over just 2 2/3 innings after being injured in the second for the Red Sox, who have dropped four straight.

Final Score: Chicago 3, Detroit 2

Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Adam Dunn smacked a two-run home run in the ninth inning to help the Chicago White Sox rally for a 3-2 win over the Detroit Tigers in the second of three games. With Jose Valverde (2-1) on the mound, Alejandro De Aza led off with a single and Alexei Ramirez followed with a sac bunt that moved De Aza, who had stolen second, to third base. Dunn then crushed a 1-0 fastball over the wall in right. Hector Santiago got the first out of the home ninth, but then walked Jhonny Peralta. After Andy Dirks flied out, Ryan Raburn doubled to put the tying run 90 feet away from the plate. Addison Reed then took the mound and struck out Austin Jackson to end the game for his first career save. Paul Konerko hit a solo home run while Gavin Floyd gave up just two runs on seven hits over seven innings and struck out six for the White Sox, who snapped a three-game slide. Nate Jones (1-0) pitched a flawless eighth inning for the first win of his career. Austin Jackson and Dirks each drove in a run for the Tigers, who have dropped two of their last three. Max Scherzer lasted seven innings in the start and was touched for just one run on four hits with nine strikeouts.

Final Score: Texas 5, Cleveland 2 (11 innings)

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Adrian Beltre smacked a three-run homer in the 11th inning as the Texas Rangers topped the Cleveland Indians, 5-2, in the second of three games. Mitch Moreland went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored while Nelson Cruz scored twice for the Rangers, who snapped a three- game slide. Derek Holland pitched 7 1/3 innings and gave up two runs -- one earned -- on five hits with three walks and six strikeouts. Alexi Ogando (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings to get the win. Asdrubal Cabrera went 4-for-5 with an RBI for the Indians, who had a three-game winning streak stopped. Derek Lowe gave up nine hits and two runs with two walks and a strikeout over six innings.

Final Score: Oakland 4, Tampa Bay 3 (12 innings)

St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - Jonny Gomes led off the 12th inning with a homer, giving Oakland a 4-3 win over the Rays, handing Tampa Bay just its second loss at Tropicana Field this season. Gomes, who was drafted by Tampa Bay in 2001 and played for them through the 2008 season, banged a 1-2 split fastball from Joel Peralta (0-1) barely over the wall in left field. Brian Fuentes (2-0) allowed one hit over two innings and Grant Balfour secured his seventh save of the year when Matt Joyce grounded into a game-ending double play. Josh Reddick also homered and knocked in two for the Athletics, who have won three of their last four games. Carlos Pena, Ben Zobrist and Elliot Johnson went deep for the Rays, who had their six-game winning streak snapped. They fell to 13-2 at home and lost in the 1,000th game of manager Joe Maddon's tenure with the Rays.

Final Score: Kansas City 5, New York 1

Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Billy Butler smacked two doubles and drove in three runs as the Kansas City Royals downed the New York Yankees, 5-1, in the third test of a four-game set. Alex Gordon added four hits, a pair of runs scored and an RBI for Kansas City, which has won three of its last four. In his first start of the season, Felipe Paulino (1-0) tossed six shutout innings and fanned six while allowing four hits and two walks. Hiroki Kuroda (2-4) gave up three runs -- two earned -- on six hits and three walks for the Yankees, who went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base.

Final Score: LA Angels of Anaheim 6, Toronto 2

Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - The slumping Albert Pujols looked on from the dugout as his team ended a dry spell of its own. C.J. Wilson tossed eight solid innings as the Angels downed the Blue Jays, 6-2, in the third test of a four-game set. Wilson (4-2) fanned nine and allowed two runs on six hits and three walks. Bobby Wilson's RBI single in the second frame ended the Angels' 23 2/3 inning scoreless drought -- Toronto's Brandon Morrow and Henderson Alvarez spun back- to-back shutouts in the first two contests of this series. Pujols, the 12-year-veteran who signed a 10-year $240 million contract during the offseason, is hitting just .194 and is in the midst of the longest homerless schneid -- 137 at-bats overall and 108 to start the year -- of his career. He was given the night off. Pujols, 32, has just two hits over his last 27 at-bats and one run batted in over his last 18 contests. His replacement, Mark Trumbo, had a solo homer among his two hits. Mike Trout smacked his first homer of the season and added two RBI and a pair of runs scored for Los Angeles, which has won four of its last six. Kyle Drabek (2-3) gave up five runs on eight hits and five walks in five innings for Toronto, which had its four-game winning streak snapped.

Final Score: Seattle 7, Minnesota 0

Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Felix Hernandez and Steve Delabar combined on a one-hit shutout, and Kyle Seager homered and ended with four RBI in Seattle's 7-0 rout of Minnesota. Hernandez (3-1), who gave up only a single to Denard Span leading off the fourth inning, walked two batters and piled up nine strikeouts. Ichiro Suzuki added a two-run triple during a five-run seventh inning, as the Mariners snapped a seven-game slide. Jason Marquis (2-1) allowed four hits and a pair of runs while walking six over six innings for the Twins, who have dropped four of their last five contests. They've been shut out in three of their last four games.

Orlando, FL (Sports Network) - The Indiana Pacers blew a big fourth quarter lead for the second time in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series, but this time they came back to win in overtime. David West posted a game-high 26 points with 12 rebounds, and George Hill's 12 points included the game-winning free throws with 2.2 seconds to play in OT as the Pacers held on for a 101-99 decision over the Orlando Magic in Game 4, despite seeing a 19-point fourth-quarter lead erased. Danny Granger added 21 points and Roy Hibbert contributed 14 points with 11 boards for Indiana, which took a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. The club has won three straight since surrendering 11 unanswered points in the final minutes of Game 1 to suffer an 81-77 defeat. Indiana can move into the second round when the series shifts back to Bankers Life Fieldhouse for Tuesday's Game 5.

Final Score: LA Clippers 87, Memphis 86

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Chris Paul netted 24 points and dished out 11 assists as the Los Angeles Clippers edged the Memphis Grizzlies, 87-86, in a tense Western Conference quarterfinal Game 3. Blake Griffin tallied 17 points and Randy Foye hit 4-of-5 three-point attempts, including the game-tying trey in the final minutes, en route to 16 points for Los Angeles, which took a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series. Caron Butler -- who was expected to miss 4-6 weeks after fracturing his left hand in Game 1 -- started the game, and contributed four points. Rudy Gay finished with 24 points, Zach Randolph chipped in 17 and Marc Gasol had 11 points to go with 10 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who saw Gay's potentially game-winning jumper bounce off the rim as time expired.

Final Score: Oklahoma City 103, Dallas 97

Dallas, TX (Sports Network) - James Harden scored 15 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter as the Oklahoma City Thunder completed the series sweep of the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks with a 103-97 victory in Game 4 of the Western Conference quarterfinals. The Mavericks became the first defending champions to be swept out of the first round of the playoffs since the Miami Heat in 2007. Kevin Durant added 24 points and 11 rebounds, while Russell Westbrook finished with 12 points, six assists and five rebounds for second- seeded Oklahoma City, which will face the winner of the series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets. Dirk Nowitzki paced the Mavericks with 34 points and Jason Kidd added 16 with eight assists and seven boards.

Final Score: San Antonio 102, Utah 90

Salt Lake City, UT (Sports Network) - Tony Parker poured in 27 points and San Antonio moved to the brink of advancing to the second round of the playoffs with a 102-90 victory over the Utah Jazz. Tim Duncan tallied 17 points and Danny Green 14 for the top-seeded Spurs, who can complete the sweep of their Western Conference quarterfinal series Monday in Salt Lake City. Al Jefferson had 21 points and 11 rebounds, while Devin Harris also scored 21 for Utah.

Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Albert Pujols was not in the starting lineup for the Angels' game against the Blue Jays on Saturday.

The 12-year-veteran, who signed a 10-year $240 million contract during the offseason, is hitting just .194 and is in the midst of the longest homerless drought -- 137 at-bats overall and 108 to start the year -- of his career.

Pujols, 32, has just two hits over his last 27 at-bats and one run batted in over his last 18 contests.

Mark Trumbo got the start at first base.

Orlando, FL (Sports Network) - The Indiana Pacers blew a big fourth quarter lead for the second time in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series, but this time they came back to win in overtime. David West posted a game-high 26 points with 12 rebounds, and George Hill's 12 points included the game-winning free throws with 2.2 seconds to play in OT as the Pacers held on for a 101-99 decision over the Orlando Magic in Game 4, despite seeing a 19-point fourth-quarter lead erased. Danny Granger added 21 points and Roy Hibbert contributed 14 points with 11 boards for Indiana, which took a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. The club has won three straight since surrendering 11 unanswered points in the final minutes of Game 1 to suffer an 81-77 defeat. Indiana can move into the second round when the series shifts back to Bankers Life Fieldhouse for Tuesday's Game 5.

Final Score: LA Clippers 87, Memphis 86

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Chris Paul netted 24 points and dished out 11 assists as the Los Angeles Clippers edged the Memphis Grizzlies, 87-86, in a tense Western Conference quarterfinal Game 3. Blake Griffin tallied 17 points and Randy Foye hit 4-of-5 three-point attempts, including the game-tying trey in the final minutes, en route to 16 points for Los Angeles, which took a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series. Caron Butler -- who was expected to miss 4-6 weeks after fracturing his left hand in Game 1 -- started the game, and contributed four points. Rudy Gay finished with 24 points, Zach Randolph chipped in 17 and Marc Gasol had 11 points to go with 10 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who saw Gay's potentially game-winning jumper bounce off the rim as time expired.

Dallas, TX (Sports Network) - Oklahoma City Thunder center Kendrick Perkins left Game 4 of Saturday's Western Conference quarterfinal with a strained right hip and will not return.

Perkins suffered the injury late in the first quarter while defending the Mavericks' Jason Terry.

The Thunder's starting center pulled up after making a move to his right and immediately grabbed his hip.

Perkins had two rebounds and two assists before exiting the game.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah is doubtful to play Sunday against Philadelphia due to a badly sprained left ankle.

Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said while Noah's status is considered day-to-day, he said Noah would "most likely be out" for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. The top-seeded Bulls trail the best-of-seven series, 2-1.

Noah hurt the ankle in the third quarter Friday in a 79-74 loss. The Sixers ended the game on a 23-5 run.

Noah was driving down the lane in transition when he stepped on the right foot of Sixers forward Andre Iguodala, rolling his ankle badly enough that his foot buckled sideways underneath it.

He remained on the floor under the basket for several moments, in obvious pain and grasping at the ankle, but stayed in to make two foul shots with 7:57 left in the quarter.

Noah played another 1:11 before he was subbed out and went to the locker room. He returned to the bench minutes later and went back in the game in the fourth quarter, but left for good after that and scored 12 points.

The Bulls, of course, are already missing star point guard Derrick Rose, who was lost for the rest of the season after suffering a torn ligament in his left knee in Game 1.

Omer Asik could replace Noah in the starting lineup. Asik had four points and four rebounds Friday.

Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Trent Lockett, who led Arizona State in scoring last season, will transfer to Marquette to finish his college basketball career.

The guard is making the move to be closer with his mother, who has been diagnosed with cancer. She lives in Minnesota.

"We continue to support Trent and his family through this difficult time," Arizona State coach Herb Sendek said in a statement. "We are proud of all that he has accomplished at Arizona State, including being able to celebrate his graduation this weekend with family and friends, and know he will always be a Sun Devil at heart. We are glad he has found a good place to complete his college career close to home so he can provide support to his mom Judy and know the Sun Devil nation will continue to follow his career."

Lockett, who averaged 13 points and 5.8 rebounds in 25 starts last season, graduated with a degree in business communications from ASU.

"Words can't express my gratitude to the program and all it has given me," Lockett said. "I am now a proud graduate of ASU. I appreciate ASU's patience with me over the last few weeks as my family and I have made this difficult decision to transfer to another school and be closer to home. It's the hardest decision I've ever had to make. The reason I am transferring is to be closer to my mom, but at the same time I needed to make a good basketball decision, and Marquette provides a great fit for me to finish my collegiate basketball career."

San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - San Diego Padres pitcher Huston Street was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right lat.

The 28-year-old Street injured the lat in the 10th inning of Friday's game against the Miami Marlins.

Street has four saves with a 0.93 earned run average in 9 2/3 innings this season.

The Padres selected the contract of Miles Mikolas from Double-A San Antonio and transferred infielder Logan Forsythe to the 60-day disabled list.

San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Alex Gonzalez left Saturday's 5-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants in the second inning after injuring his right knee.

Gonzalez ripped an RBI single into center field, but was hurt sliding into second base when his knee buckled as he reached the bag. He immediately slammed his helmet on the infield dirt and called for Brewers medical personnel.

He had to be carried off the field by manager Ron Roenicke and head athletic trainer Dan Wright. The team later said that Gonzalez will undergo an MRI and be evaluated further.

Gonzalez's injury is the latest in a slew of setbacks for the Brewers, who also announced on Saturday that speedy center fielder Carlos Gomez will be placed on the 15-day disabled list after suffering a left hamstring strain in Friday's win over the Giants.

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Chris Capuano tossed seven scoreless innings and helped his own cause with a two-run double, as the Los Angeles Dodgers posted a 5-1 win over the Chicago Cubs in the middle test of a three-game series at Wrigley Field. Capuano (4-0) scattered three hits, walked two and struck out seven. The southpaw is off to his best start since going 5-0 for the Brewers in 2007. Matt Kemp, Dee Gordon and Matt Treanor each knocked in a run for Los Angeles, which avoided its first three-game losing streak of the season. Struggling Chicago right-hander Chris Volstad (0-4) started in place of Matt Garza, who was scratched because of the flu, and surrendered five runs on four hits and three walks in five frames. Volstad is 0-9 over his last 17 outings.

Final Score: Washington 7, Philadelphia 1

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Jayson Werth clubbed a three-run home run to help the Washington Nationals take a 7-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in the second of three games. Chad Tracy hit a two-run home run and Ian Desmond added a solo shot for the Nationals, who have won four straight. Gio Gonzalez (3-1) lasted seven innings and gave up just one run on four hits with a walk and seven strikeouts. Carlos Ruiz drove in the lone run for the Phillies, who have dropped three of their last four. Vance Worley (2-2) was touched for five runs on 11 hits over six innings to take the loss.

Final Score: San Francisco 5, Milwaukee 2

San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Madison Bumgarner tossed seven innings of one-run ball and the San Francisco Giants topped the Milwaukee Brewers, 5-2, in the middle test of a three-game set at AT&T Park. Bumgarner (5-1) gave up just six hits and one walk while striking out five. Javier Lopez finished off the eighth after Guillermo Mota served up a leadoff home run and Santiago Casilla tossed a scoreless ninth to record his fifth save of the season. Bumgarner also added an RBI double. Buster Posey finished 2-for-4 with an RBI single, while Hector Sanchez, Conor Gillaspie and Brett Pill had an RBI apiece for the Giants, who snapped a four-game skid. Ryan Braun cracked a solo homer and Alex Gonzalez added an RBI single for the Brewers, who have dropped three of their last four contests. Randy Wolf (2-3) was tagged for four runs on nine hits while striking out three and did not walk a batter over six full frames.

Final Score: New York 4, Arizona 3

Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Johan Santana tossed seven strong innings to earn his first win since the 2010 season as the New York Mets downed the Arizona Diamondbacks, 4-3, in the middle test of a three-game series at Citi Field. Santana (1-2) scattered nine hits and three runs with a walk and five strikeouts for his first victory since September 2, 2010 at Atlanta. The two- time Cy Young Award winner missed all of last season after having surgery on his shoulder. Andres Torres and Mike Nickeas each knocked in a pair of runs for the Mets, who snapped a four-game slide. Frank Francisco stranded the tying run on second base in the ninth to capture his sixth save of the year. Patrick Corbin (1-1) allowed four runs on five hits and two walks through 3 1/3 innings to suffer the loss as Arizona dropped its third game in four tries.

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - The Baltimore Orioles scored seven runs in the third inning to take advantage of an early injury to Boston starter Aaron Cook, as they cruised to an 8-2 win over the Red Sox in the second of three games at Fenway Park. Mark Reynolds hit a three-run homer and Adam Jones added a two-run shot for Baltimore, which has won four in a row and six of its last seven. Jason Hammel (4-1) struck out eight while allowing just two runs on four hits and a walk over 6 2/3 strong innings. Cook (0-1) was tagged for seven runs -- six earned -- on eight hits over just 2 2/3 innings after being injured in the second for the Red Sox, who have dropped four straight.

Final Score: Chicago 3, Detroit 2

Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Adam Dunn smacked a two-run home run in the ninth inning to help the Chicago White Sox rally for a 3-2 win over the Detroit Tigers in the second of three games. With Jose Valverde (2-1) on the mound, Alejandro De Aza led off with a single and Alexei Ramirez followed with a sac bunt that moved De Aza, who had stolen second, to third base. Dunn then crushed a 1-0 fastball over the wall in right. Hector Santiago got the first out of the home ninth, but then walked Jhonny Peralta. After Andy Dirks flied out, Ryan Raburn doubled to put the tying run 90 feet away from the plate. Addison Reed then took the mound and struck out Austin Jackson to end the game for his first career save. Paul Konerko hit a solo home run while Gavin Floyd gave up just two runs on seven hits over seven innings and struck out six for the White Sox, who snapped a three-game slide. Nate Jones (1-0) pitched a flawless eighth inning for the first win of his career. Austin Jackson and Dirks each drove in a run for the Tigers, who have dropped two of their last three. Max Scherzer lasted seven innings in the start and was touched for just one run on four hits with nine strikeouts.

Orlando, FL (Sports Network) - The Indiana Pacers blew a big fourth quarter lead for the second time in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series, but this time they came back to win in overtime. David West posted a game-high 26 points with 12 rebounds, and George Hill's 12 points included the game-winning free throws with 2.2 seconds to play in OT as the Pacers held on for a 101-99 decision over the Orlando Magic in Game 4, despite seeing a 19-point fourth-quarter lead erased. Danny Granger added 21 points and Roy Hibbert contributed 14 points with 11 boards for Indiana, which took a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. The club has won three straight since surrendering 11 unanswered points in the final minutes of Game 1 to suffer an 81-77 defeat. Indiana can move into the second round when the series shifts back to Bankers Life Fieldhouse for Tuesday's Game 5.

Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - The Seattle Mariners recalled pitcher Shawn Kelley from Triple-A Tacoma Saturday.

Kelley appeared in one game out of the bullpen for the Mariners this season, allowing a home run in one-third of an inning.

The 28-year-old has an 8-6 record with a 3.75 ERA in 75 career games with Seattle.

The Mariners optioned pitcher Erasmo Ramirez to Tacoma to make room on the roster for Kelley.

Ramirez made his MLB debut this season and pitched to a 2.45 ERA in seven relief appearances for Seattle, allowing three runs on nine hits and four walks while striking out five through 11 innings.

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - The Baltimore Orioles scored seven runs in the third inning to take advantage of an early injury to Boston starter Aaron Cook, as they cruised to an 8-2 win over the Red Sox in the second of three games at Fenway Park. Mark Reynolds hit a three-run homer and Adam Jones added a two-run shot for Baltimore, which has won four in a row and six of its last seven. Jason Hammel (4-1) struck out eight while allowing just two runs on four hits and a walk over 6 2/3 strong innings. Cook (0-1) was tagged for seven runs -- six earned -- on eight hits over just 2 2/3 innings after being injured in the second for the Red Sox, who have dropped four straight.

Helsinki, Finland (Sports Network) - Jack Johnson scored twice, including the winner 1:47 into overtime as the United States took down Canada, 5-4, at the 2012 World Championship on Saturday.

Patrick Dwyer posted a goal and an assist while Nate Thompson and Jim Slater also scored for the United States, which moved to the top of Group H with five points. Jimmy Howard made 30 saves.

John Tavares, Jeff Skinner, Keith Duncan and Evander Kane all scored for Canada, which trails the United State by one point. Cam Ward turned aside 41 shots.

Tavares took a delay of game call in the extra session when he knocked the puck over the glass and that led to Johnson's wrister that beat Ward for the big win.

It was only the second time since 1985 that the United States has defeated Canada in this event.

Canada hasn't taken home a medal at this event since capturing the silver in 2009 while the United States is seeking its first medal since a bronze in 2004.

In earlier action on Saturday, Russia took a 5-2 win over Latvia while Switzerland downed Kazkahstan, 5-1.

Playing in Stockholm, Sweden, Evgeni Malkin posted two goals and an assist while Ilya Nikulin added a goal and an assist and Semyon Varlamov made 24 saves for the Russians, who failed to capture a medal for the first time in four years in last year's event.

Latvia got goals from Kaspars Daugavins and Miks Indrasis while Edgars Masalskis allowed all five goals on 40 shots.

Mark Streit and Ivo Ruthemann each posted two goals and an assist while Reto Berra made 19 stops for Switzerland, which hasn't taken a medal at this event since 1953.

Roman Savchenko scored the only goal and Vitali Kolesnik gave up all five goals on 34 shots in the loss for Kazakhstan.

The last game on Saturday came from Stockholm and saw Sweden put on a show for the hometown crowd with a 4-1 win over the Czech Republic.

Joel Lundqvist and Niklas Persson each had a goal and an assist while Johan Franzen and Niklas Kronwall also scored for the Swedes, who moved to the top of Group S with the win. Viktor Fasth made 16 stops.

Jakub Petruzalek scored the lone goal while Jakub Stepanek allowed three goals on 19 shots for the Czechs, who had blanked Denmark in the opener on Friday.

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Chris Capuano tossed seven scoreless innings and helped his own cause with a two-run double, as the Los Angeles Dodgers posted a 5-1 win over the Chicago Cubs in the middle test of a three-game series at Wrigley Field. Capuano (4-0) scattered three hits, walked two and struck out seven. The southpaw is off to his best start since going 5-0 for the Brewers in 2007. Matt Kemp, Dee Gordon and Matt Treanor each knocked in a run for Los Angeles, which avoided its first three-game losing streak of the season. Struggling Chicago right-hander Chris Volstad (0-4) started in place of Matt Garza, who was scratched because of the flu, and surrendered five runs on four hits and three walks in five frames. Volstad is 0-9 over his last 17 outings.

Final Score: Washington 7, Philadelphia 1

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Jayson Werth clubbed a three-run home run to help the Washington Nationals take a 7-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in the second of three games. Chad Tracy hit a two-run home run and Ian Desmond added a solo shot for the Nationals, who have won four straight. Gio Gonzalez (3-1) lasted seven innings and gave up just one run on four hits with a walk and seven strikeouts. Carlos Ruiz drove in the lone run for the Phillies, who have dropped three of their last four. Vance Worley (2-2) was touched for five runs on 11 hits over six innings to take the loss.

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Mike Green scored a power-play goal with 5:48 remaining in the third period, and the Washington Capitals edged the visiting New York Rangers, 3-2, to even their Eastern Conference semifinal series at two wins apiece. Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom supplied the other goals for seventh-seeded Washington, which hasn't dropped two consecutive games since March 22-23. Braden Holtby stopped 18 New York shots. You have to go back to last season to find the last time the Capitals' young goaltender has lost two straight starts in the NHL. He went 0-2-1 from November 13-22, 2010. Artem Anisimov registered a goal and an assist for the top-seeded Rangers, who got 23 saves from Henrik Lundqvist. The teams return to Madison Square Garden for Game 5 on Monday.

Helsinki, Finland (Sports Network) - Jack Johnson scored twice, including the winner 1:47 into overtime as the United States took down Canada, 5-4, at the 2012 World Championship on Saturday.

Patrick Dwyer posted a goal and an assist while Nate Thompson and Jim Slater also scored for the United States, which moved to the top of Group H with five points. Jimmy Howard made 30 saves.

John Tavares, Jeff Skinner, Keith Duncan and Evander Kane all scored for Canada, which trails the United State by one point. Cam Ward turned aside 41 shots.

Tavares took a delay of game call in the extra session when he knocked the puck over the glass and that led to Johnson's wrister that beat Ward for the big win.

It was only the second time since 1985 that the United States has defeated Canada in this event.

Canada hasn't taken home a medal at this event since capturing the silver in 2009 while the United States is seeking its first medal since a bronze in 2004.

In earlier action on Saturday, Russia took a 5-2 win over Latvia while Switzerland downed Kazkahstan, 5-1.

Evgeni Malkin posted two goals and an assist while Ilya Nikulin added a goal and an assist and Semyon Varlamov made 24 saves for the Russians, who failed to capture a medal for the first time in four years in last year's event.

Latvia got goals from Kaspars Daugavins and Miks Indrasis while Edgars Masalskis allowed all five goals on 40 shots.

Mark Streit and Ivo Ruthemann each posted two goals and an assist while Reto Berra made 19 stops for Switzerland, which hasn't taken a medal at this event since 1953.

Roman Savchenko scored the only goal and Vitali Kolesnik gave up all five goals on 34 shots in the loss for Kazakhstan.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - On Tuesday it was the third quarter, tonight it was the fourth.

For the second straight game, a lopsided frame cost the Bulls a game and another injury to a key starter has the NBA's No. 1 overall seed facing an unlikely elimination unless they can figure things out quickly.

Doug Collins called it the play of the year for the 76ers. Chicago's Tom Thibodeau called it a "will play."

The Sixers have had trouble closing out games all season. At times Collins has gone with Andre Iguodala, Lou Williams or Jrue Holiday in late game situations with modest results for Philly.

On Friday Collins went to, perhaps, his most talented player with the basketball in his hands, second-year pro Evan Turner.

Turner hasn't always seen eye-to-eye with his coach and vice versa but there is something about the Ohio State product, something Collins can no longer deny.

John Lucas had just deposited a three to draw the Bulls within one with 49 seconds left in the contest when Turner took things into his own hands.

The former No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft wanted the ball and Collins wanted him to have it. He drove deep into the paint but Luol Deng was there to send his shot back. Turner got the offensive rebound and tried to gather himself, lost it, got in back again and went up into the body of the massive Omer Asik, virtually forcing Joey Crawford to blow the whistle.

With 20.1 ticks left on the clock, Turner calmly stepped to the line and buried a pair of free throws.

"I honestly believe that the single biggest play of the year for us was Evan Turner," Collins said. "The play he made under the basket ... Evan just fought, fought, fought, got fouled and made those two free throws. That was the singular biggest play for us, of the season."

When Deng missed a long three at the other end -- the Sixers had done it and taken a stunning 2-1 lead over the NBA's best regular season team.

Asked why such an ugly series meant so much, Collins answered : "Not to me. I thought it was beautiful. Evan Turner is a big-time competitor. Big time. He is at his best in these kind of games. He really is. He played great in Chicago. They booed him on every possession and he played great there."

The two have finally seemed to overcome a somewhat rocky relationship this season with Turner's playing time resembling a yo-yo at times.

"I think it is a high point," Turner said of his relationship with his coach. "The last two plays, he ran the play for me. As a player, that's the big thing, that you can show me you have confidence in me. Thankfully he did that. ... It was pretty cool. He had confidence in me to give me the ball in crucial parts of the game."

As for Chicago. It had already lost their superstar Derrick Rose to a torn ACL in Game 1, and center Joakim Noah grotesquely twisted his ankle in a third quarter on Friday.

Collins, an All-Star player himself until injuries derailed his career, isn't happy to see any player go down but also realizes his Sixers need to take advantage of the situation.

"We're playing a team that has some injuries," Collins said, "and we'll see if we can do something about that."

Spencer Hawes, who scored a career playoff-high 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds in Game 4 for Philadelphia seconded Collins' thinking.

"We have a huge opportunity here in the playoffs and we have to try and capitalize on it."

The Bulls never wavered or felt sorry for themselves when Noah went down and actually dominated through the third quarter and the opening of the fourth before fatigue finally set in. The young, athletic Sixers ended on an amazing 23-5 run.

"Our fourth quarter has to be our best quarter and tonight it wasn't," Chicago forward Carlos Boozer said. "We had good looks down the stretch and just missed them."

Perhaps, but the Sixers also played stifling defense, In fact, the 74 points allowed by Philadelphia was the fewest ever allowed by the Sixers in a playoff game.

Noah's injury came midway through the third quarter when he stepped on Andre Iguodala's foot driving down the lane and his left ankle rolled over. He instantly grabbed his left ankle in pain. Moments later, Noah amazingly limped off under his own power.

"He's gutsy man," Boozer said of Noah. "I mean, he sprained it real good. He's a warrior man. Tough injury. I don't know how he'll be ready for Sunday.

Judging by the way Noah hobbled down the hall in the bowels of the Wells Fargo Center after the game, he won't be ready.

But the Bulls aren't about excuses.

"We can't feel sorry ourselves," Thibodeau said. "We have one day to make corrections and get back to it on Sunday. You need guys who have that great will to win, no matter what the circumstances."

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - David DeJesus fell a home run shy of the cycle and Alfonso Soriano went 3-for-3 with two RBI as Chicago slipped by Los Angeles, 5-4, in the opener of a three-game weekend set from Wrigley Field. DeJesus finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and run scored, and Joe Mather hit a pinch-hit homer for the Cubs, who were coming off a split in Cincinnati. Paul Maholm (3-2) scattered three hits and one run over six strong innings for the win. Rafael Dolis turned in a scoreless ninth for his second save. Jerry Hairston was 3-for-4 with a solo shot and two RBI for the Dodgers, who have lost three of four. Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp drove in a run each in defeat. Chad Billingsley (2-2) was charged in the loss for four runs on eight hits over six full frames.

Final Score: Washington 4, Philadelphia 3 (11 innings)

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Wilson Ramos knocked in the game-winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning and the Washington Nationals snuck past the Philadelphia Phillies, 4-3, in the opener of a three-game set at Nationals Park. With Michael Schwimer (0-1) on the mound, Steve Lombardozzi started the rally with a two-out single before Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth drew walks to load the bases. After falling behind 0-2 and fouling off a couple of tough pitches, Ramos got a slider up and stroked it into center field to score Lombardozzi. Ryan Perry (1-0) tossed a perfect top of the 11th to earn the win. The Nationals have won three consecutive games.

Final Score: Cincinnati 6, Pittsburgh 1

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Johnny Cueto allowed just one run on seven hits in a complete-game win Friday, as the Cincinnati Reds easily handled the Pittsburgh Pirates, 6-1, in the opener of a weekend three-game set. Zack Cozart and Drew Stubbs hit back-to-back solo home runs and Jay Bruce added his own blast for the Reds, who saw Cueto (4-0) continue his early-season success, lowering his earned run average to a paltry 1.31. He struck out four and walked none. Kevin Correia (1-2) suffered the loss, surrendering five runs on nine hits through seven frames. Nate McLouth had two hits and scored for the Pirates, who have dropped three of four.

Final Score: Arizona 5, New York 4

Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Cody Ransom's RBI singled capped a three-run eighth inning the Arizona Diamondbacks used to down the New York Mets, 5-4, in the first of a three-game set at Citi Field. Ransom also hit a two-run home run and finished with three RBI for the Diamondbacks, who snapped a two-game slide. Brad Ziegler (1-1) earned the win with a scoreless inning of relief, while Wade Miley allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks in a six-inning start for Arizona. J.J. Putz tossed a perfect ninth for his sixth save of the year. Jon Rauch (3-1) took the loss, giving up three hits and a run in two- thirds of an inning on the mound. Dillon Gee started the game for the Mets, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks over six full frames. Scott Hairston drove in a pair of runs for New York, which dropped its fourth straight game.

Final Score: Atlanta 9, Colorado 8 (11 innings)

Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Eric Hinske put on a hitting clinic Friday at Coors Field. The burly slugger racked up four hits, including the go-ahead two-run homer in the top of the 11th inning as the Atlanta Braves topped the Colorado Rockies, 9-8, in the opener of a three-game series. Hinske finished with three RBI, while Freddie Freeman added a two-run shot among his four hits, Brian McCann contributed a two-run single and Chipper Jones went 3-for-5 with a solo shot and three runs scored for the Braves, who dropped 2-of-3 to the Philadelphia Phillies earlier in the week. Chad Durbin (2-0) tossed a scoreless 10th inning to pick up the win and Craig Kimbrel gave up a run in the 11th, but nailed down his ninth save of the season. Jonathan Herrera ripped a solo homer among his two hits, while Todd Helton finished 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI and two runs scored. Dexter Fowler added a two-run single for the Rockies, who have dropped two of their last three. Edgmer Escalona (0-1) was saddled with the loss after giving up Hinske's homer.

Final Score: Milwaukee 6, San Francisco 4

San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Aramis Ramirez ripped a go-ahead two- run single in the top of the seventh inning and the Milwaukee Brewers topped the San Francisco Giants, 6-4, in the opener of a three-game weekend series at AT&T Park. Jonathan Lucroy clubbed a two-run single and Travis Ishikawa added an RBI on a sacrifice bunt for the Brewers, who snapped a brief two-game skid. Kameron Loe (2-0) got the final two outs in the sixth inning in relief of starter Zack Greinke to earn the win, and John Axford tossed a 1-2-3 ninth to nail down his sixth save of the season. Melky Cabrera ripped an RBI triple, while Buster Posey and Joaquin Arias added RBIs for the Giants, who have dropped four in a row. Clay Hensley (1-3) was saddled with the loss after giving up Ramirez's hit in the seventh.

Final Score: Houston 5, St. Louis 4

Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Jose Altuve blasted a three-run homer in the second inning and the Houston Astros held on to best the St. Louis Cardinals, 5-4, in the opener of a three-game weekend set Friday. Altuve had two hits and scored twice as the Astros won a season-high fourth game in a row. Lucas Harrell (2-2) picked up the win in his first ever start against the Cardinals, tossing 5 1/3 innings while scattering seven hits and allowing four runs -- three earned -- with three strikeouts. Brett Myers converted his seventh save in as many opportunities, erasing a Rafael Furcal single on a double play and striking out Matt Holliday to face the minimum in the ninth. Kyle Lohse (4-1) was charged with his first loss of the year, after being touched for five runs -- three earned -- on seven hits over five frames. Holliday had two hits, including a triple, scored a run and batted in another as the Cardinals dropped their second straight.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - On Tuesday it was the third quarter. tonight it was the fourth.

For the second straight game, a lopsided frame cost the Bulls a game and another injury to a key starter has the NBA's No. 1 overall seed facing an unlikely elimination unless they can figure things out quickly.

Doug Collins called it the play of the year for the 76ers. Chicago's Tom Thibodeau called it a "will play."

The Sixers have had trouble closing out games all season. At times Collins has gone with Andre Iguodala, Lou Williams or Jrue Holiday in late game situations with modest results for Philly.

On Friday Collins went to, perhaps, his most talented player with the basketball in his hands, second-year pro Evan Turner.

Turner hasn't always seen eye-to-eye with his coach and vice versa but there is something about the Ohio State product, something Collins can no longer deny.

John Lucas had just deposited a three to draw the Bulls within one with 49 seconds left in the contest when Turner took things into his own hands.

The former No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft wanted the ball and Collins wanted him to have it. He drove deep into the paint but Luol Deng was there to send his shot back. Turner got the offensive rebound and tried to gather himself, lost it, got in back again and went up into the body of the massive Omer Asik, virtually forcing Joey Crawford to blow the whistle.

With 20.1 ticks left on the clock, Turner calmly stepped to the line and buried a pair of free throws.

"I honestly believe that the single biggest play of the year for us was Evan Turner," Collins said. "The play he made under the basket ... Evan just fought, fought, fought, got fouled and made those two free throws. That was the singular biggest play for us, of the season."

When Deng missed a long three at the other end -- the Sixers had done it and taken a stunning 2-1 lead over the NBA's best regular season team.

Asked why such an ugly series meant so much, Collins answered : "Not to me. I thought it was beautiful. Evan Turner is a big-time competitor. Big time. He is at his best in these kind of games. He really is. He played great in Chicago. They booed him on every possession and he played great there."

The two have finally seemed to overcome a somewhat rocky relationship this season with Turner's playing time resembling a yo-yo at times.

"I think it is a high point," Turner said of his relationship with his coach. "The last two plays, he ran the play for me. As a player, that's the big thing, that you can show me you have confidence in me. Thankfully he did that. ... It was pretty cool. He had confidence in me to give me the ball in crucial parts of the game."

As for Chicago. It had already lost their superstar Derrick Rose to a torn ACL in Game 1, and center Joakim Noah grotesquely twisted his ankle in a third quarter on Friday.

Collins, an All-Star player himself until injuries derailed his career, isn't happy to see any player go down but also realizes his Sixers need to take advantage of the situation.

"We're playing a team that has some injuries," Collins said, "and we'll see if we can do something about that."

Spencer Hawes, who scored a career playoff-high 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds in Game 4 for Philadelphia seconded Collins' thinking.

"We have a huge opportunity here in the playoffs and we have to try and capitalize on it."

The Bulls never wavered or felt sorry for themselves when Noah went down and actually dominated through the third quarter and the opening of the fourth before fatigue finally set in. The young, athletic Sixers ended on an amazing 23-5 run.

"Our fourth quarter has to be our best quarter and tonight it wasn't," Chicago forward Carlos Boozer said. "We had good looks down the stretch and just missed them."

Perhaps, but the Sixers also played stifling defense, In fact, the 74 points allowed by Philadelphia was the fewest ever allowed by the Sixers in a playoff game.

Noah's injury came midway through the third quarter when he stepped on Andre Iguodala's foot driving down the lane and his left ankle rolled over. He instantly grabbed his left ankle in pain. Moments later, Noah amazingly limped off under his own power.

"He's gutsy man," Boozer said of Noah. "I mean, he sprained it real good. He's a warrior man. Tough injury. I don't know how he'll be ready for Sunday.

Judging by the way Noah hobbled down the hall in the bowels of the Wells Fargo Center after the game, he won't be ready.

But the Bulls aren't about excuses.

"We can't feel sorry ourselves," Thibodeau said. "We have one day to make corrections and get back to it on Sunday. You need guys who have that great will to win, no matter what the circumstances."

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Rajon Rondo made up for missing Game 2 in a big way, recording his seventh-career playoff triple-double to lift the Celtics to a 90-84 overtime victory over the Hawks in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal matchup at TD Garden on Friday. Rondo scored the first four points for Boston in the extra session, but a Joe Johnson layup had the Hawks within two with under two minutes to play. After both teams came up empty on their next possessions, Rondo got to the bucket but missed long on a layup attempt. However, Kevin Garnett was there for the putback slam to make it a four-point game and Boston went 2-of-4 from the line down the stretch to hang on for the victory. Rondo, who missed Game 2 as he served a one-game suspension for making contact with an official in Game 1, finished with 17 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists. Game 2 hero Paul Pierce added 21 points while Garnett added a double-double with 20 points and 13 boards to give Boston a 2-1 edge in the series. The Hawks, playing without star forward Josh Smith after he injured his knee late in their Game 2 loss, got 29 points from Johnson, while Jeff Teague chipped in 23 points and six assists. Game 4 of the series is slated for Sunday in Boston.

Final Score: Philadelphia 79, Chicago 74

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Spencer Hawes scored 21 points and the Philadelphia 76ers finished on a big run Friday night to beat the Chicago Bulls, 79-74, in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series. The Sixers ended on a 23-5 run to take a 2-1 lead in the series with Game 4 set for Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia. Jrue Holiday scored 17 points, Evan Turner had 16 and Lou Williams added 14 off the bench, but Hawes was the star. The 7- foot-1 center gave the Sixers the lead for good with a long jumper just inside the three-point line with 2:11 remaining. The top-seeded Bulls, after losing star Derrick Rose to a torn knee ligament in Game 1, saw center Joakim Noah roll his ankle badly in the third quarter of this one. Noah came back in the game, but eventually left for good. Carlos Boozer had 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Bulls.

Final Score: Denver 99, LA Lakers 84

Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Ty Lawson scored 25 points on Friday and the Nuggets rode a strong start to a 99-84 win over the Lakers in Game 3 of a Western Conference quarterfinal matchup. Denver had never led in the series entering Friday, but jumped out to a 16-point advantage in the first quarter and Los Angeles never fully recovered. JaVale McGee added 16 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks for the Nuggets, who lost forward Al Harrington to a fractured nose in the third quarter. Danilo Gallinari and Andre Miller both scored 13 and Kenneth Faried finished with 12 points and 15 rebounds. Andrew Bynum scored 18 points -- all in the second half -- and grabbed 12 points for the Lakers. Kobe Bryant scored 18 points on 7-of-23 shooting. Game 4 is set for Sunday in Denver.

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Travis Hafner hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the sixth inning, Johnny Damon added a two-run triple in the seventh and the Indians defeated the Rangers, 6-3, on Friday in the opener of a three-game series. Jeanmar Gomez (2-1) allowed three runs on eight hits and a walk for Cleveland, which got a two-run homer from Shin-Soo Choo and a solo shot from Jack Hannahan. The Indians have gone 13-6 over their last 19 games after starting the season 1-4. David Murphy had an RBI double for the Rangers, who have lost a season-high three straight games. Colby Lewis (2-1) gave up six runs on 10 hits over 6 2/3 innings.

Final Score: Detroit 5, Chicago 4

Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Jhonny Peralta belted a game-winning two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, lifting the Detroit Tigers to a 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox in the opener of a three-game set on Friday. Alex Avila smacked a solo shot among his three hits and scored twice for Detroit, which has won 10 of its last 12 games against Chicago at Comerica Park. Paul Konerko had two singles, the first of which moved him past Eddie Collins (2,007) into sole possession of fourth place on the White Sox' hits list. Gordon Beckham added three hits, including a two-run homer, and three runs batted in for the White Sox, who have dropped eight of their last 10. Jake Peavy fanned six and allowed three runs on seven hits and a walk in 7 2/3 innings for Chicago.

Final Score: Tampa Bay 7, Oakland 2

St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - David Price tossed eight stellar innings of one-run ball as the Rays continued their home dominance with a 7-2 victory over the Athletics in the opener of a three-game series at Tropicana Field. Price (5-1) fanned a season-high 12 batters while allowing just three hits and one walk as the Rays won their 10th straight home game and improved to 13-1 at the Trop this season. B.J. Upton smacked two RBI doubles and scored twice, Luke Scott also knocked in two and Jose Molina added a two-run homer for Tampa Bay. which has won six straight overall. Tyson Ross (1-2) was touched for all seven runs on nine hits in just 3 1/3 innings to take the loss. Cliff Pennington belted a solo blast in the ninth and Kurt Suzuki knocked in the only other run with a double in the second as Oakland saw its brief two-game win streak come to an end.

Final Score: Baltimore 6, Boston 4 (13 innings)

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Chris Davis hit a go-ahead RBI single in the 13th inning and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Boston Red Sox, 6-4, in the opener of a three-game series Friday night. Mark Reynolds added a sacrifice fly to score the second run in the 13th as the Orioles won their third straight game to go 9-2 in their last 11. Reynolds also hit a solo homer earlier in the game. Troy Patton (1-0) pitched two innings for the win and Jim Johnson threw a perfect 13th for his eighth save of the season. The Baltimore bullpen pitched eight scoreless innings in relief of rookie Wei- Yin Chen, who gave up four runs -- three earned -- in five innings. Red Sox starter Jon Lester allowed three runs on five hits and three walks in six innings and left with a 4-3 lead. Adrian Gonzalez had three hits and scored a run for Boston, which has dropped three in a row.

Final Score: New York 6, Kansas City 2

Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Eduardo Nunez's go-ahead RBI triple was part of a four-run top of the seventh inning for New York, and the Yankees downed the Kansas City Royals, 6-2, in the second test of a four-game set. Derek Jeter smacked a two-run homer in the seventh, while Mark Teixeira added a two-run shot in the first for New York, which snapped a three-game slide. CC Sabathia (4-0) allowed two runs on seven hits in eight innings. Alex Gordon had an RBI double to go with a run scored for the Royals, who had their brief two-game winning streak snapped.

Final Score: Toronto 4, LA Angels of Anaheim 0

Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Henderson Alvarez tossed Toronto's second consecutive shutout and Jose Bautista added a two-run homer as the Blue Jays downed the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 4-0, in the second test of a three- game set. Alvarez (2-2) allowed six hits and walked one while fanning three in his first career shutout. Brandon Morrow fanned eight in his second career shutout against Los Angeles on Thursday. Albert Pujols, who was booed during his final two plate appearances, has now gone 108 at-bats without a home run, the longest drought of his career. After an 0-for-4 night, his averaged dipped to .194. Ervin Santana (0-6) struck out 10 while giving up three runs on three hits and two walks for the Angels, who haven't tallied a run in their last 22 innings. Los Angeles has been shut out in Santana's last five starts.

Final Score: Minnesota 3, Seattle 2

Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Joe Mauer hit a go-ahead RBI single in the seventh inning on Friday and the Twins downed the Mariners, 3-2, in the opener of a three-game series. Minnesota, which was no-hit by the Angels' Jered Weaver on Wednesday, trailed 2-0 entering the seventh before loading the bases with one out. Chris Parmelee then scored on a throwing error by reliever Tom Wilhelmsen (1-1), Alexi Casilla crossed the plate on a groundout and Mauer made it 3-2 with a base hit up the middle. Carl Pavano (2-2) earned the win, allowing two runs on eight hits without issuing a walk over six innings. Matt Capps recorded his fifth save of the season for the Twins, who had been shut out in their previous two games. Kyle Seager and Mike Carp both had an RBI double in the fifth inning for Seattle, which has lost seven straight.

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - David DeJesus fell a home run shy of the cycle and Alfonso Soriano went 3-for-3 with two RBI as Chicago slipped by Los Angeles, 5-4, in the opener of a three-game weekend set from Wrigley Field. DeJesus finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and run scored, and Joe Mather hit a pinch-hit homer for the Cubs, who were coming off a split in Cincinnati. Paul Maholm (3-2) scattered three hits and one run over six strong innings for the win. Rafael Dolis turned in a scoreless ninth for his second save. Jerry Hairston was 3-for-4 with a solo shot and two RBI for the Dodgers, who have lost three of four. Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp drove in a run each in defeat. Chad Billingsley (2-2) was charged in the loss for four runs on eight hits over six full frames.

Final Score: Washington 4, Philadelphia 3 (11 innings)

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Wilson Ramos knocked in the game-winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning and the Washington Nationals snuck past the Philadelphia Phillies, 4-3, in the opener of a three-game set at Nationals Park. With Michael Schwimer (0-1) on the mound, Steve Lombardozzi started the rally with a two-out single before Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth drew walks to load the bases. After falling behind 0-2 and fouling off a couple of tough pitches, Ramos got a slider up and stroked it into center field to score Lombardozzi. Ryan Perry (1-0) tossed a perfect top of the 11th to earn the win. The Nationals have won three consecutive games.

Final Score: Cincinnati 6, Pittsburgh 1

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Johnny Cueto allowed just one run on seven hits in a complete-game win Friday, as the Cincinnati Reds easily handled the Pittsburgh Pirates, 6-1, in the opener of a weekend three-game set. Zack Cozart and Drew Stubbs hit back-to-back solo home runs and Jay Bruce added his own blast for the Reds, who saw Cueto (4-0) continue his early-season success, lowering his earned run average to a paltry 1.31. He struck out four and walked none. Kevin Correia (1-2) suffered the loss, surrendering five runs on nine hits through seven frames. Nate McLouth had two hits and scored for the Pirates, who have dropped three of four.

Final Score: Arizona 5, New York 4

Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Cody Ransom's RBI singled capped a three-run eighth inning the Arizona Diamondbacks used to down the New York Mets, 5-4, in the first of a three-game set at Citi Field. Ransom also hit a two-run home run and finished with three RBI for the Diamondbacks, who snapped a two-game slide. Brad Ziegler (1-1) earned the win with a scoreless inning of relief, while Wade Miley allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks in a six-inning start for Arizona. J.J. Putz tossed a perfect ninth for his sixth save of the year. Jon Rauch (3-1) took the loss, giving up three hits and a run in two- thirds of an inning on the mound. Dillon Gee started the game for the Mets, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks over six full frames. Scott Hairston drove in a pair of runs for New York, which dropped its fourth straight game.

Final Score: Atlanta 9, Colorado 8 (11 innings)

Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Eric Hinske put on a hitting clinic Friday at Coors Field. The burly slugger racked up four hits, including the go-ahead two-run homer in the top of the 11th inning as the Atlanta Braves topped the Colorado Rockies, 9-8, in the opener of a three-game series. Hinske finished with three RBI, while Freddie Freeman added a two-run shot among his four hits, Brian McCann contributed a two-run single and Chipper Jones went 3-for-5 with a solo shot and three runs scored for the Braves, who dropped 2-of-3 to the Philadelphia Phillies earlier in the week. Chad Durbin (2-0) tossed a scoreless 10th inning to pick up the win and Craig Kimbrel gave up a run in the 11th, but nailed down his ninth save of the season. Jonathan Herrera ripped a solo homer among his two hits, while Todd Helton finished 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI and two runs scored. Dexter Fowler added a two-run single for the Rockies, who have dropped two of their last three. Edgmer Escalona (0-1) was saddled with the loss after giving up Hinske's homer.

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Travis Hafner hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the sixth inning, Johnny Damon added a two-run triple in the seventh and the Indians defeated the Rangers, 6-3, on Friday in the opener of a three-game series. Jeanmar Gomez (2-1) allowed three runs on eight hits and a walk for Cleveland, which got a two-run homer from Shin-Soo Choo and a solo shot from Jack Hannahan. The Indians have gone 13-6 over their last 19 games after starting the season 1-4. David Murphy had an RBI double for the Rangers, who have lost a season-high three straight games. Colby Lewis (2-1) gave up six runs on 10 hits over 6 2/3 innings.

Final Score: Detroit 5, Chicago 4

Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Jhonny Peralta belted a game-winning two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, lifting the Detroit Tigers to a 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox in the opener of a three-game set on Friday. Alex Avila smacked a solo shot among his three hits and scored twice for Detroit, which has won 10 of its last 12 games against Chicago at Comerica Park. Paul Konerko had two singles, the first of which moved him past Eddie Collins (2,007) into sole possession of fourth place on the White Sox' hits list. Gordon Beckham added three hits, including a two-run homer, and three runs batted in for the White Sox, who have dropped eight of their last 10. Jake Peavy fanned six and allowed three runs on seven hits and a walk in 7 2/3 innings for Chicago.

Final Score: Tampa Bay 7, Oakland 2

St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - David Price tossed eight stellar innings of one-run ball as the Rays continued their home dominance with a 7-2 victory over the Athletics in the opener of a three-game series at Tropicana Field. Price (5-1) fanned a season-high 12 batters while allowing just three hits and one walk as the Rays won their 10th straight home game and improved to 13-1 at the Trop this season. B.J. Upton smacked two RBI doubles and scored twice, Luke Scott also knocked in two and Jose Molina added a two-run homer for Tampa Bay. which has won six straight overall. Tyson Ross (1-2) was touched for all seven runs on nine hits in just 3 1/3 innings to take the loss. Cliff Pennington belted a solo blast in the ninth and Kurt Suzuki knocked in the only other run with a double in the second as Oakland saw its brief two-game win streak come to an end.

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - David DeJesus fell a home run shy of the cycle and Alfonso Soriano went 3-for-3 with two RBI as Chicago slipped by Los Angeles, 5-4, in the opener of a three-game weekend set from Wrigley Field. DeJesus finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and run scored, and Joe Mather hit a pinch-hit homer for the Cubs, who were coming off a split in Cincinnati. Paul Maholm (3-2) scattered three hits and one run over six strong innings for the win. Rafael Dolis turned in a scoreless ninth for his second save. Jerry Hairston was 3-for-4 with a solo shot and two RBI for the Dodgers, who have lost three of four. Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp drove in a run each in defeat. Chad Billingsley (2-2) was charged in the loss for four runs on eight hits over six full frames.

Final Score: Washington 4, Philadelphia 3 (11 innings)

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Wilson Ramos knocked in the game-winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning and the Washington Nationals snuck past the Philadelphia Phillies, 4-3, in the opener of a three-game set at Nationals Park. With Michael Schwimer (0-1) on the mound, Steve Lombardozzi started the rally with a two-out single before Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth drew walks to load the bases. After falling behind 0-2 and fouling off a couple of tough pitches, Ramos got a slider up and stroked it into center field to score Lombardozzi. Ryan Perry (1-0) tossed a perfect top of the 11th to earn the win. The Nationals have won three consecutive games.

Final Score: Cincinnati 6, Pittsburgh 1

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Johnny Cueto allowed just one run on seven hits in a complete-game win Friday, as the Cincinnati Reds easily handled the Pittsburgh Pirates, 6-1, in the opener of a weekend three-game set. Zack Cozart and Drew Stubbs hit back-to-back solo home runs and Jay Bruce added his own blast for the Reds, who saw Cueto (4-0) continue his early-season success, lowering his earned run average to a paltry 1.31. He struck out four and walked none. Kevin Correia (1-2) suffered the loss, surrendering five runs on nine hits through seven frames. Nate McLouth had two hits and scored for the Pirates, who have dropped three of four.

Final Score: Arizona 5, New York 4

Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Cody Ransom's RBI singled capped a three-run eighth inning the Arizona Diamondbacks used to down the New York Mets, 5-4, in the first of a three-game set at Citi Field. Ransom also hit a two-run home run and finished with three RBI for the Diamondbacks, who snapped a two-game slide. Brad Ziegler (1-1) earned the win with a scoreless inning of relief, while Wade Miley allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks in a six-inning start for Arizona. J.J. Putz tossed a perfect ninth for his sixth save of the year. Jon Rauch (3-1) took the loss, giving up three hits and a run in two- thirds of an inning on the mound. Dillon Gee started the game for the Mets, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks over six full frames. Scott Hairston drove in a pair of runs for New York, which dropped its fourth straight game.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah rolled his left ankle in the third quarter Friday against the 76ers and eventually left the game.

Noah was driving down the lane in transition when he stepped on the right foot of Sixers forward Andre Iguodala, rolling his ankle badly enough that his foot buckled sideways underneath it.

He remained on the floor under the basket for several moments, in obvious pain and grasping at the ankle, but stayed in to make two foul shots with 7:57 left in the quarter.

Noah played another 1:11 before he was subbed out and went to the locker room. He returned to the bench minutes later and went back in the game in the fourth quarter, but left for good after that and scored 12 points.

Chicago lost the game, 79-74, and fell behind 2-1 in the series.

The Bulls, of course, are already missing star point guard Derrick Rose, who was lost for the rest of the season after suffering a torn ligament in his left knee in Game 1.

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Rajon Rondo made up for missing Game 2 in a big way, recording his seventh-career playoff triple-double to lift the Celtics to a 90-84 overtime victory over the Hawks in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal matchup at TD Garden on Friday. Rondo scored the first four points for Boston in the extra session, but a Joe Johnson layup had the Hawks within two with under two minutes to play. After both teams came up empty on their next possessions, Rondo got to the bucket but missed long on a layup attempt. However, Kevin Garnett was there for the putback slam to make it a four-point game and Boston went 2-of-4 from the line down the stretch to hang on for the victory. Rondo, who missed Game 2 as he served a one-game suspension for making contact with an official in Game 1, finished with 17 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists. Game 2 hero Paul Pierce added 21 points while Garnett added a double-double with 20 points and 13 boards to give Boston a 2-1 edge in the series. The Hawks, playing without star forward Josh Smith after he injured his knee late in their Game 2 loss, got 29 points from Johnson, while Jeff Teague chipped in 23 points and six assists. Game 4 of the series is slated for Sunday in Boston.

Final Score: Philadelphia 79, Chicago 74

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Spencer Hawes scored 21 points and the Philadelphia 76ers finished on a big run Friday night to beat the Chicago Bulls, 79-74, in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series. The Sixers ended on a 23-5 run to take a 2-1 lead in the series with Game 4 set for Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia. Jrue Holiday scored 17 points, Evan Turner had 16 and Lou Williams added 14 off the bench, but Hawes was the star. The 7- foot-1 center gave the Sixers the lead for good with a long jumper just inside the three-point line with 2:11 remaining. The top-seeded Bulls, after losing star Derrick Rose to a torn knee ligament in Game 1, saw center Joakim Noah roll his ankle badly in the third quarter of this one. Noah came back in the game, but eventually left for good. Carlos Boozer had 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Bulls.

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - David DeJesus fell a home run shy of the cycle and Alfonso Soriano went 3-for-3 with two RBI as Chicago slipped by Los Angeles, 5-4, in the opener of a three-game weekend set from Wrigley Field. DeJesus finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and run scored, and Joe Mather hit a pinch-hit homer for the Cubs, who were coming off a split in Cincinnati. Paul Maholm (3-2) scattered three hits and one run over six strong innings for the win. Rafael Dolis turned in a scoreless ninth for his second save. Jerry Hairston was 3-for-4 with a solo shot and two RBI for the Dodgers, who have lost three of four. Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp drove in a run each in defeat. Chad Billingsley (2-2) was charged in the loss for four runs on eight hits over six full frames.

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith will miss Friday's Game 3 of his team's Eastern Conference quarterfinal matchup against the Boston Celtics with a sore left knee.

Smith suffered the injury late in the fourth quarter of Tuesday's 87-80 Game 2 loss to the Boston Celtics while battling for position underneath the basket. He immediately went to the locker room and an MRI on Wednesday discovered a strained tendon in his left knee.

The 26-year-old forward posted averages of 19.0 points, 15.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game over the first two games of the series, which is knotted at one game apiece.

Game 4 of their best-of-seven series is slated for Sunday in Boston.

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen is slated to return for the team's Game 3 Eastern Conference quarterfinal matchup against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday.

Allen hasn't played since an April 10th matchup with the Miami Heat, missing 11 consecutive games with a sore right ankle.

The 10-time All-Star and the NBA's all-time leader in three-point makes averaged 14.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 46 games during the regular season.

The Celtics are currently knotted at a game apiece in their best-of-seven series with the Hawks.

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - The Baltimore Orioles have placed left fielder Nolan Reimold on the 15-day disabled list with a herniated disc.

The move, announced before Friday's game against the Red Sox, is retroactive to Tuesday.

Reimold is batting .313 with five homers, 10 RBI and a .333 on-base percentage in 16 games this season.

The Orioles called up catcher Luis Exposito from Triple-A Norfolk to take his spot. Exposito is making his major league debut.

Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - If Mariano Rivera was noncommittal about his future after a potentially career-ending injury Thursday, he did not mince words Friday.

"I'm coming back. Write it down in big letters. I'm not going out like this," the all-time major league saves leader told reporters prior to the Yankees' game against the Royals.

Rivera was carted off the field Thursday after suffering a torn ACL while shagging fly balls during batting practice. Many -- including Rivera himself -- questioned whether or not the 42-year-old would ever take the mound again.

Asked Thursday if his career was over, Rivera had replied: "I don't know."

He was far more upbeat Friday. "Thank you fans, friends and family for your prayers, well wishes and support," the dominant righty posted on his Twitter account.

"I will be ok. I will be back," he added.

If Rivera returns, he would be continuing an illustrious career that includes a 76-58 record with a 2.21 earned run average, 608 saves and 1,119 strikeouts in 18 seasons -- all with New York.

Helsinki, Finland (Sports Network) - The United States, Canada and defending-champion Finland all opened up play at the 2012 World Championship with victories on Friday.

Kyle Okposo scored two goals, Max Pacioretty registered a goal and two assists and the United States crowned France by a 7-2 count.

Paul Stastny and Justin Faulk both collected three assists for the Americans, who are seeking their first medal at this yearly event since capturing bronze in 2004.

Canada narrowly edged out plucky Slovakia by a 3-2 score. Jordan Eberle and Andrew Ladd broke a 1-1 tie with goals 2:51 apart late in the second period for the Canadians, who got 19 saves from Cam Ward.

The Finns gave the home crowd something to cheer about, topping Belarus by a 1-0 score. Janne Niskala registered the lone goal in the first period, spoiling a 37-save outing by Belarussian netminder Vitali Koval.

Kari Lehtonen paced the host nation with 21 stops.

In Stockholm, Sweden put to rest last year's shocking upset loss to Norway by sending their Scandinavian neighbors to a 3-1 defeat.

Jakob Silfverberg, Marcus Kruger, and Loui Eriksson scored. Daniel Alfredsson added a pair of assists as the Swedes unloaded 44 shots on Lars Haugen.

Ales Hemsky and Petr Tenkrat provided the offense for the Czech Republic, who turned back Denmark, 2-0. Jakub Kovar made 26 saves, besting his counterpart Frederik Andersen, who clocked in with 22 stops.

Christoph Ullmann set up all three goals and Dennis Endras turned aside 22 shots in Germany's 3-0 win over Italy.

Calgary, AB (Sports Network) - The Calgary Flames announced that forward Olli Jokinen underwent successful surgery earlier this week to repair a tear in an abdominal muscle.

Tuesday's procedure was performed by Dr. William Meyers at the Vincera Core Physicians Clinic in Philadelphia.

Jokinen, who will need 3-to-4 weeks to recover, first reported discomfort in late March and opted to play through the pain.

The 33-year-old Finn registered 23 goals and 38 assists while playing all 82 games in 2011-12.

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - The Texas Rangers on Friday acquired outfielder Ryan Spilborghs from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for cash considerations.

Spilborghs has been assigned to the Rangers' Triple-A affiliate, the Round Rock Express.

A non-roster invitee to spring training, the 32-year-old Spilborghs did not play a game for the Indians. He batted .250 and drove in 13 runs with Cleveland's Triple-A club in Columbus, Ohio.

Spilborghs has appeared in 619 games at the major league level, all with the Colorado Rockies from 2005-11. He is a career .272 hitter with 42 home runs and 218 RBI.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Orlando Magic swingman Ryan Anderson has been named the NBA's Most Improved Player for the 2011-12 season.

Anderson received 260 of a possible 605 points to earn the honor, including 33 of 121 first-place votes, besting Ersan Ilyasova of the Milwaukee Bucks and Minnesota's Nikola Pekovic.

The native of Sacramento, who will turn 24 on Sunday, posted career highs in scoring (16.1 points per game), rebounds (7.7 rpg), field-goal percentage (.439) and free-throw shooting. In addition, Anderson led the NBA in total three-point field goals made (166) and attempted (422).

A California product selected by the Nets in the first round of the 2008 draft, Anderson is the fifth member of the franchise to be given the award, first presented in 1986.

Hedo Turkoglu (2008), Tracy McGrady (2001), Darrell Armstrong (1999) and Scott Skiles (1991) were previously selected while suiting up for the central Florida team.

Kevin Love of the Timberwolves won last season.

Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - The Detroit Tigers reinstated outfielder Delmon Young from the restricted list on Friday, the first day he was eligible to return from a seven-day suspension issued by Major League Baseball.

The punishment stems from his arrest last week in New York City.

Young has batted .242 in 18 games this season with a home run and five runs batted in.

The Tigers made room for Young by designating the contract of designated hitter Brad Eldred for assignment. Eldred went 3-for-16 in five games with the Tigers.

Foxboro, MA (Sports Network) - The New England Patriots revealed that veteran tackle Matt Light will announce his retirement at a Monday press conference.

A mainstay at the left tackle position, the 33-year-old Purdue product appeared in 155 games -- all but two of those starts -- since being selected by the Patriots in the second round of the 2001 draft.

He was a vital part of three Super Bowl champions and was named to the AFC Pro Bowl team in 2006, 2007 and 2010.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - This wasn't supposed to be how it ended for Mariano Rivera.

While most assumed this was going to be the great Rivera's final season, the reality of it all may have set in on Thursday night when the future Hall of Famer tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, thus ending his season and perhaps the career of the greatest reliever to ever appear in a Major League Baseball game.

It's almost too crazy to believe, especially when you consider how it happened.

Prior to the Yankees' 4-3 loss in Kansas City, Rivera was shagging fly balls during batting practice, something he has done almost every day of his 18-year career. He lunged for a ball hit by Jayson Nix near the warning track in left- center field when his knee buckled and he lost his footing. He immediately clutched at the knee and was writhing in pain.

"I grabbed myself between the grass and the dirt. I couldn't pull my leg up and twisted it (the knee). It's an ACL. Torn actually. Meniscus also," Rivera said.

With concerned teammates looking on, manager Joe Girardi jogged to the outfield wall with members of the training staff to attend to Rivera, who was placed onto a flatbed truck and carted back around the diamond.

"He broke for a ball like he always does, and then it kind of went funny," said Yankees pitcher David Robertson, who saw the injury up close. "At first, I thought it was funny -- and then all of a sudden I realized he was injured, he was down. That's when I really got worried. There's nothing I can do except stand there and watch. It's a miserable feeling."

By the way, for anyone who wants to kill Girardi for even having him out there, get a clue. Rivera actually took pride in his work in the outfield before games, often commenting that his dream was to play center field before he retired.

It was a freak accident. It happens.

Now we have to wonder if this is it. Does Rivera's career end with him being carted off the field? When he announced in spring training that he already knew his decision concerning his future, I assumed, like most, that this was probably it.

I mean what more does he have to prove. He's won five World Series titles, he has the all-time saves record and is quite possibly the most respected player in the league.

There is nothing left for him to prove.

But, this isn't on his terms. I'd find it hard to believe that this is the sendoff he envisioned. Dollars to doughnuts, Rivera is back for one more season.

So, where do the Yankees go from here?

For the past few years, Robertson has been considered the heir apparent, especially after his spectacular All-Star season of 2011 that saw him pitch to a 1.08 ERA with 100 strikeouts in 66 2/3 innings of 70 games.

He'll be given first crack at it, but should he falter the team also has another former closer on their roster in Rafael Soriano, who will now become the team's eighth-inning pitcher. And don't be surprised if Phil Hughes finds his way back to the pen once Andy Pettitte is ready to step into the rotation, perhaps as soon as next week.

Luckily the Yankees have bullpen depth and are in better position to deal with this than most other teams. But you can't replace Rivera. Robertson and Soriano will probably be fine, but they'll never be Rivera. That's not a knock on them. There will never be another Mariano Rivera.

"Mo is a vital part of this team on the field, off the field. He's going to be missed," Yankees captain Derek Jeter said. "There's no other way to put it. You don't replace him. Someone else can do his job, but you can't really replace him."

I've long argued that Rivera is not only the best closer to ever play the game, but he is best player of his generation. Understandably it's hard to justify that for a player who appears, for the most part, one inning a night, 60 times a year.

But if you can find me a more dominant or important player in this era than Rivera, go right ahead.

The stats on Rivera are mind-boggling. His 2.21 lifetime ERA is the second- lowest in history for a pitcher with more than 1,000 innings, since ERA became an official statistic in 1913.

Actually the more amazing thing about that is that Babe Ruth is fourth on the list.

As impressive as the 608 regular-season saves are for Rivera, it's the 42 that he has in the postseason that separates himself from just about anyone who has ever pitched in October.

Comparing Rivera to anyone in the postseason, though, is ridiculous. It's his domain. He's appeared in 96 games and has pitched to a 0.70 ERA. He's so good that his blown saves have become actual events. He has thrown 141 postseason innings with just one loss.

That's right, one loss. He's about the closest thing to automatic as there has been.

And if in fact this is it, mark your calendars for July 22, 2018, because that's the day he'll be inducted into the Hall of Fame. It's not a question of if he gets in, the only question is will he receive more votes than any player? Nolan Ryan currently holds that distinction with 491 votes, while Tom Seaver has the highest percentage of votes, as he was named on 425 of 430 ballots.

Rivera may challenge both. One because he was that good and two there may not be a player who was more respected and revered by the media simply because he doesn't show anyone up and treats his opponents with the same respect he shows his teammates.

Former Minnesota Twins manager Tom Kelly may have had the best quote of all- time when describing Rivera.

"We don't want to face him anymore," Kelly said. "He's too good. He belongs in a higher league. He should be banned from baseball."

Let's hope Rivera gets to leave on his terms.

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Dodgers signed veteran outfielder Bobby Abreu to a one-year contract on Friday.

Abreu, 38, was released by the Angels last week after batting .208 in eight games this year. He joined the Angels in 2009 and averaged 14 home runs, 33 doubles and 80 RBI in three full seasons with the club.

"Bobby has consistently performed throughout his career and brings his winning experience to the clubhouse," said Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti. "He gives us a left-handed bat off the bench and will also see time in the outfield. He has been a very good hitter throughout his career, he knows how to work a count and has been a run producer."

The native of Venezuela is a career .293 hitter with 557 doubles, 284 homers, 393 stolen bases and 1,330 RBI over 17 seasons with the Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees and Angels.

A two-time All-Star, Abreu is one of four players in MLB history with more than 250 home runs, 350 stolen bases and 500 doubles, joining Barry Bonds, Rickey Henderson and Craig Biggio.

To make room on the roster for Abreu, the Dodgers optioned infielder Justin Sellers to Triple-A Albuquerque.

Helsinki, Finland (Sports Network) - Kyle Okposo scored two goals, Max Pacioretty registered a goal and two assists and the United States opened the 2012 World Championship with a 7-2 win over France in Helsinki.

Paul Stastny and Justin Faulk both collected three assists for the Americans, who are seeking their first medal at this yearly event since capturing bronze in 2004.

Tied 1-1 after 20 minutes, captain Jack Johnson and Bobby Ryan scored consecutive power-play goals for the United States. Shortly after a penalty to American Kyle Palmieri had expired, France's Pierre-Edouard Bellemare made it a one-goal game again.

But Pacioretty lit the lamp with just 21.5 seconds remaining in the middle frame to make it 4-2.

The Americans added goals from Jim Slater, Okposo and Jeff Petry in the third period.

United States goaltender Jimmy Howard made 21 saves, while his French counterpart, former NHLer Cristobal Huet, stopped 28 shots.

Canada was also a winner in Helsinki, edging Slovakia by a 3-2 score.

Jordan Eberle and Andrew Ladd broke a 1-1 tie with goals 2:51 apart late in the second period for the Canadians, who got 19 saves from Cam Ward.

Milan Bartovic scored early in the third period for Slovakia, while Peter Hamerlik recorded 27 saves in defeat.

In the preliminary round opener from Stockholm, Christoph Ullmann set up all three goals and Dennis Endras turned aside 22 shots in Germany's 3-0 win over Italy.

Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - The Oakland Athletics have placed outfielder Coco Crisp on the 15-day disabled list with an inner ear infection.

The move is retroactive to Thursday.

Crisp is batting .194 with five RBI and four stolen bases in 18 games for the A's this season. He has been successful in each of his last 27 stolen base attempts, one shy of the Oakland record set by Stan Javier in 1995.

To fill Crisp's roster spot, the A's recalled outfielder Michael Taylor from Triple-A Sacramento. The 26-year-old Taylor was leading the River Cats in batting (.347) and doubles (13) and ranked second in RBI (18) at the time of his promotion.

Taylor made his major league debut in 2011, going 6-for-30 with a home run in 11 games with Oakland.

Orchard Park, NY (Sports Network) - The Buffalo Bills released veteran cornerback Drayton Florence on Friday.

The 31-year-old Florence started all but one of the 46 games he played for Buffalo over the last three seasons. In 2011, he recorded 50 tackles and three interceptions, one of which returned for a touchdown in Buffalo's Week 3 win over New England.

Bills general manager Buddy Nix cited the team's influx of youth for parting ways with Florence.

"We have some good, young talent at the cornerback position that has tremendous upside," he said. "They need to take as many of the reps at practice as they can to continue to develop that talent."

The Bills selected South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore 10th overall in last week's NFL Draft.

(Sports Network) - The NFL Players Association has reportedly filed a grievance challenging the authority of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to suspend four players for their involvement in the New Orleans Saints' bounty program.

According to a story by ESPN, the grievance claims that conduct prior to the new collective bargaining agreement, which was ratified last August 4, is not subject to discipline by the league.

Additionally, since the actions in question took place on the field, the appeals should be handled by hearing officers Ted Cottrell and Art Shell, not Goodell, the story said.

On Wednesday, Goodell suspended Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma for the 2012 season, current Green Bay defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove for eight games, Saints defensive end Will Smith for four games and linebacker Scott Fujita, now with Cleveland, for three games.

Tampa, FL (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed defensive tackle Gary Gibson to a two-year contract on Friday.

Gibson played in all 16 games -- starting one -- for the St. Louis Rams last season.

A Rutgers product, Gibson has recorded 79 tackles and three sacks in 49 career games (22 starts) with the Carolina Panthers and St. Louis.

The Buccaneers also released defensive tackle John McCargo and waived wide receiver Raymond Webber.

Helsinki, Finland (Sports Network) - Kyle Okposo scored two goals, Max Pacioretty registered a goal and two assists and the United States opened the 2012 World Championship with a 7-2 win over France in Helsinki.

Paul Stastny and Justin Faulk both collected three assists for the Americans, who are seeking their first medal at this yearly event since capturing bronze in 2004.

Tied 1-1 after 20 minutes, captain Jack Johnson and Bobby Ryan scored consecutive power-play goals for the United States. Shortly after a penalty to American Kyle Palmieri had expired, France's Pierre-Edouard Bellemare made it a one-goal game again.

But Pacioretty lit the lamp with just 21.5 seconds remaining in the middle frame to make it 4-2.

The Americans added goals from Jim Slater, Okposo and Jeff Petry in the third period.

United States goaltender Jimmy Howard made 21 saves, while his French counterpart, former NHLer Cristobal Huet, stopped 28 shots.

In the preliminary round opener from Stockholm, Christoph Ullmann set up all three goals and Dennis Endras turned aside 22 shots in Germany's 3-0 win over Italy.

St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - Jeff Keppinger hit a two-run homer and Desmond Jennings had a two-run triple in the second inning Thursday afternoon and the Tampa Bay Rays held on for a 4-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners to sweep a four-game series. The Rays have won 11 of their last 12 games overall and eight straight against the Mariners. Jeff Niemann (2-3) picked up the win despite allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings, while Fernando Rodney worked around an error in the ninth inning to get his ninth save. Kevin Millwood (0-3) dropped his third straight start for Seattle after giving up four runs on seven hits and two walks in 6 1/3 innings. The Mariners lost six in a row to finish 4-6 on a 10-game road trip.

Final Score: Cleveland 7, Chicago 5

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Jason Kipnis smacked a run scoring triple in the third and added a three-run homer in the seventh as the Indians downed the White Sox, 7-5, in the rubber match of a three-game series at U.S. Cellular Field on Thursday. Asdrubal Cabrera belted a solo shot and knocked in two while Casey Kotchman finished with two hits, an RBI and a run scored as Justin Masterson (1-2) got his first win of the season after allowing three runs on eight hits and three walks in 6 1/3 innings. Chris Perez got the final two outs of the game to record his ninth save of the year as the Indians took the last two of the series after dropping the opener. Adam Dunn launched a two-run blast in the ninth and Alejandro De Aza added three hits and two RBI for Chicago, which has lost seven of its last nine. John Danks (2-4) tossed seven innings, but surrendered seven runs -- six earned -- on nine hits and a walk to take the loss.

Final Score: Kansas City 4, New York 3

Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - After 10 consecutive home losses to start the year, the Kansas City Royals finally recorded a win at Kauffman Stadium. Mike Moustakas had two hits, including a solo home run, to go with three runs batted in as the Kansas City Royals edged the New York Yankees, 4-3, in the opener of a three-game set on Thursday. Moustakas also made a nifty barehanded play on Alex Rodriguez's slow roller down the third-base line to end the ballgame, stranding Derek Jeter at third base. Danny Duffy (2-2) allowed two runs on six hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings for Kansas City, which has won five of its past seven games. Prior to the game, Mariano Rivera tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while attempting to snag a fly ball along the warning track. He leapt at the wall and as he came down, his knee buckled underneath him. He immediately clutched at his knee and was in visible pain. Rivera, whose 608 saves are the most in MLB history, had to be carted off the field as concerned teammates and coaches looked on.

Final Score: Toronto 5, LA Angels of Anaheim 0

Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Brandon Morrow tossed the second shutout of his career, lifting the Toronto Blue Jays to a 5-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the opener of four-game set. Morrow (3-0) fanned eight and allowed just three hits for Toronto, which has won five of its last six. J.P. Arencibia smacked a three-run homer, while Kelly Johnson, Yunel Escobar and Brett Lawrie each had two hits and a run scored. Dan Haren (1-2) gave up five runs -- three earned -- on five hits and two walks for the Angels, who had their three-game winning steak snapped.

Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, an injury that could potentially end his illustrious career.

He tore the ACL during batting practice Thursday prior to his club's game against the Kansas City Royals.

Rivera, 42, injured his knee while attempting to snag a fly ball along the warning track. He leapt at the wall and as he came down, his knee buckled underneath him. He immediately clutched at his knee and was in visible pain.

"I grabbed myself between the grass and the dirt. I couldn't pull my leg up and twisted it (the knee). It's an ACL. Torn actually. Meniscus also," Rivera said.

Rivera, whose 608 saves are the most in MLB history, had to be carted off the field as concerned teammates and coaches looked on.

"I don't know" was his response when asked if he'd be able to pitch again.

"It all depends how the rehab is going to happen," Rivera said. "From there, we'll see."

He initially thought the injury wasn't that severe.

"I thought it wasn't that bad," Rivera said. "I mean I was walking a little bit. But it's torn. I have to fix it."

Rivera regularly shags fly balls during batting practice as a way to keep in shape.

He has five saves and is 1-1 with a 2.16 earned run average in nine games for New York this season.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - LeBron James scored the first 11 points of the fourth quarter for Miami and finished with 32 points, lifting the Heat to a 87-70 victory over the Knicks in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal matchup at Madison Square Garden on Thursday. Dwyane Wade added 20 points and Mario Chalmers chipped in 19 on 5-of-8 shooting from three-point range as the Heat gained a commanding 3-0 advantage in their best- of-seven series. The Heat will look for the series sweep on Sunday at Madison Square Garden. Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks with 22 points and eight rebounds while Tyson Chandler recorded a double-double with 10 points and 15 boards. Forward Amare Stoudemire was relegated to a spectator's role after injuring his hand when he punched a fire extinguisher after the Knicks' Game 2 loss. The Knicks shot just 31.9 percent from the field in the setback and suffered an NBA record 13th consecutive playoff loss.

Final Score: Oklahoma City 95, Dallas 79

Dallas, TX (Sports Network) - Kevin Durant scored 31 points on Thursday and the Oklahoma City Thunder dismantled the Dallas Mavericks, 95-79, in Game 3 of this quarterfinal series. Russell Westbrook added 20 points, James Harden scored 10 and Serge Ibaka finished with 10, 11 rebounds and four blocks. The Thunder, who won the first two games of this series by a combined four points, never trailed in Game 3 and led by as many as 26. They will look for a sweep of this best-of-seven set on Saturday in Dallas. Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks with 17 points while Jason Kidd added 12 and Jason Terry finished with 11. The defending NBA champs shot just 34.2 percent from the field in the setback.

Newark, NJ (Sports Network) - Alexei Ponikarovsky scored with 2:39 left in overtime to give the New Jersey Devils a 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 3 of this Eastern Conference semifinal series. Ilya Kovalchuk, who sat out Game 2 with a lower body injury, made a stretch pass from his own zone to Ponikarovsky while the Flyers were making a line change. Ponikarovsky skated down the right wing on a 2-on-1 and his initial shot was stopped by Ilya Bryzgalov, but he got his own rebound and backhanded it in for the win. Kovalchuk posted a goal and two assists while Ponikarovsky and Patrik Elias each had a goal and an assist for the Devils, who took a 2-1 lead in this best-of-seven series. Martin Brodeur posted 25 saves for the 105th win of his playoff career. Brayden Schenn, Matt Carle and Danny Briere each scored for the Flyers, who wasted a pair of power plays in the overtime prior to the Devils scoring. Bryzgalov stopped 27 shots in the loss. Game 4 of this series will take place on Sunday night in New Jersey.

Final Score: Los Angeles 4, St. Louis 2

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Drew Doughty posted a goal and two assists to lead the Los Angeles Kings to a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues in Game 3 of this Western Conference semifinal series. The Kings, seeded eighth, now hold a 3-0 lead in this best-of-seven series and can become the first team to advance to the conference finals when they host Game 4 on Sunday afternoon. Vezina Trophy candidate Jonathan Quick stopped 18 shots while Mike Richards added a goal and an assist for Los Angeles, which has not played in a conference final since advancing to the Cup finals in 1993. Chris Stewart scored both goals while Brian Elliott gave up all four goals on 22 shots for the Blues, who face a big hole to climb out of if they want to advance to the conference finals for the first time since 2001.

San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - The San Francisco Giants placed third baseman Pablo Sandoval on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with a fractured hamate bone in his left hand.

Sandoval injured the hand in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Miami Marlins.

The 25-year-old third baseman had surgery last May to repair a broken hamate bone in his right hand.

Sandoval set a Giants record by recording a hit in each of his first 20 games this season and is batting .316 with five homers and 15 runs batted in.

The Giants recalled infielder Conor Gillaspie from Triple-A Fresno to fill the vacated roster spot. Gillaspie is hitting .362 with three homers and 13 RBI over 23 games at Fresno this season.

Newark, NJ (Sports Network) - Alexei Ponikarovsky scored with 2:39 left in overtime to give the New Jersey Devils a 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 3 of this Eastern Conference semifinal series. Ilya Kovalchuk, who sat out Game 2 with a lower body injury, made a stretch pass from his own zone to Ponikarovsky while the Flyers were making a line change. Ponikarovsky skated down the right wing on a 2-on-1 and his initial shot was stopped by Ilya Bryzgalov, but he got his own rebound and backhanded it in for the win. Kovalchuk posted a goal and two assists while Ponikarovsky and Patrik Elias each had a goal and an assist for the Devils, who took a 2-1 lead in this best-of-seven series. Martin Brodeur posted 25 saves for the 105th win of his playoff career. Brayden Schenn, Matt Carle and Danny Briere each scored for the Flyers, who wasted a pair of power plays in the overtime prior to the Devils scoring. Bryzgalov stopped 27 shots in the loss. Game 4 of this series will take place on Sunday night in New Jersey.

Newark, NJ (Sports Network) - New Jersey Devils sniper Ilya Kovalchuk was back on the ice for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Philadelphia on Thursday.

Kovalchuk sat out Game 2 on Tuesday, which the Devils won, 4-1, to even the best-of-seven series after dropping the opener. He was out with a lower body injury.

His presence was felt on Thursday as he scored a goal and two assists, including the helper on Alexei Ponikarovsky's overtime winner to give the Devils a 4-3 win and a 2-1 lead in this best-of-seven series.

In 77 games during the regular season, he led the Devils with 37 goals and 83 points.

Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Joe Blanton pitched his first shutout in almost five years and the Philadelphia Phillies made a quick turnaround Thursday in a 4-0 win over the Atlanta Braves. Blanton (3-3) threw 67 of his 88 pitches for strikes in a game that lasted just over two hours -- about half as long as Wednesday night's wild 11-inning shootout. He gave up three hits, didn't walk a batter, and struck out six for his first shutout or complete game since the 2007 season with Oakland. Laynce Nix hit a solo homer and Shane Victorino had a two-run shot for the Phillies, who won two of three in the series. Braves starter Randall Delgado (2-3) gave up two runs on six hits in eight innings to lose his third straight start. He struck out five.

Final Score: Cincinnati 4, Chicago 3 (10 innings)

Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Scott Rolen's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th inning provided the winning run, as Cincinnati rallied from a late three-run deficit to beat Chicago, 4-3, in the final contest of a truncated two-game series. Zack Cosart singled to begin the frame and moved to third when Rafael Dolis (1-2) threw wild to first on a Chris Heisey sacrifice bunt attempt. Rolen then lofted a ball deep enough to right field to bring in the deciding run. It made a winner of Logan Ondrusek (2-0), who turned in a scoreless top of the 10th. Starter Homer Bailey worked six full frames, yielding nine hits and three runs. Willie Harris, Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips scored in the ninth for the Reds, who dropped the opener on Wednesday. Starlin Castro, Bryan LaHair and Geovany Soto hit solo homers for the Cubs, who have lost three of their last five.

Final Score: Pittsburgh 6, St. Louis 3

St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Pedro Alvarez hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth inning, and Clint Barmes also drove in two runs as Pittsburgh avoided a sweep with a 6-3 decision over St. Louis in the finale of a three- game set from Busch Stadium. Jose Tabata added three hits and scored twice for the Pirates, who were coming off a series victory against the Braves. Erik Bedard (2-4) worked five innings for the win, allowing five hits and two runs while fanning a season-high 11 batters. Allen Craig drove in two runs and David Freese added a run-scoring double for the Cardinals, who lost for just the second time in their last seven. Jake Westbrook (3-2) was touched in defeat for nine hits and four runs over 6 1/3 frames.

Final Score: Miami 3, San Francisco 2

San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Anibal Sanchez spun seven strong innings of one-run ball as the Marlins completed a sweep of the Giants with a 3-2 victory in the finale of a three-game series at AT&T Park on Thursday. Sanchez (2-0) scattered seven hits and issued one walk while fanning five and Edward Mujica pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save of the year. Hanley Ramirez had two runs batted in despite being held hitless while Brett Hayes tallied three hits and scored twice for the Marlins, who have won four of their last six on the heels of a six-game skid. Ryan Vogelsong (0-2) allowed two runs -- one earned -- on eight hits and four walks over seven innings of work and Gregor Blanco added three hits and scored twice as the Giants suffered their seventh straight home loss to the Marlins. Angel Pagan extended his league-leading hit streak to 17 games with a leadoff single in the seventh.

Final Score: Washington 2, Arizona 1

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson moved 19-year-old phenom Bryce Harper up from No. 7 in the batting order to No. 3 prior to Thursday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Good decision. Harper slapped a go-ahead opposite field RBI double in the sixth inning, lifting the Nationals to a 2-1 win over the Diamondbacks in the rubber match of a three-game set. The youngest player in the major leagues has been red-hot since making his much anticipated debut against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday. Harper is 6-for-16 (.375) with four doubles, three RBI and two runs scored through five games. Ross Detwiler (3-1) allowed a run on three hits and three walks over 6 1/3 innings for the Nationals, who have won two straight on the heels of a five- game skid. Tyler Clippard had a 1-2-3 eighth frame, while Henry Rodriguez registered his sixth save of the year after retiring the side in order in the ninth. Ian Kennedy (3-1) was the hard- luck loser -- his first loss in 13 starts -- after giving up two runs on four hits and a walk in seven innings for Arizona, which has dropped two in a row following a three-game winning streak.

San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Angels received right-handed pitcher Ernesto Frieri from the San Diego Padres for infielder Alexi Amarista and right-handed pitcher Donn Roach.

The 26-year-old Frieri was 1-0 with a 2.31 earned run average in 11 games with San Diego this season.

Amarista, 23, batted .273 with 12 runs batted in and 11 runs scored in 18 games for Triple-A Salt Lake, while Roach went 5-0 with a 2.16 ERA in six starts for Single-A Inland Empire this year.

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Dodgers designated pitcher Mike MacDougal for assignment and were informed that pitcher Ronald Belisario was reinstated from the restricted list by Major League Baseball on Thursday.

MacDougal has pitched in seven games out of the bullpen this season and has given up five runs and nine hits with six walks over 5 2/3 innings.

Belisario was suspended by the league for 25 games in the offseason for failing to comply with the drug policy.

Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera was injured during batting practice Thursday prior to his club's game against the Kansas City Royals.

Rivera, 42, injured his right knee while attempting to snag a fly ball along the warning track. He leapt at the wall and as he came down, his knee buckled underneath him. He immediately clutched at his knee and was in visible pain.

Rivera, whose 608 saves are the most in MLB history, had to be carted off the field as concerned teammates and coaches looked on.

An MRI is scheduled for later Thursday night.

Rivera regularly shags fly balls during batting practice as a way to keep in shape.

He has five saves and is 1-1 with a 2.16 earned run average in nine games for New York this season.

Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Mariano Rivera was injured during batting practice Thursday prior to the Yankees' game against the Kansas City Royals.

Rivera, 42, injured his right knee while attempting to snag a fly ball along the warning track. He leapt at the wall and as he came down, his knee buckled underneath him. He immediately clutched at his knee and was in visible pain.

Rivera, whose 608 saves are the most in MLB history, had to be carted off the field as concerned teammates and coaches looked on.

An MRI is scheduled for later Thursday night.

Rivera regularly shags fly balls during batting practice as a way to keep in shape.

He has five saves and is 1-1 with a 2.16 earned run average in nine games for New York this season.

Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Mariano Rivera was injured during batting practice Thursday prior to the Yankees' game against the Kansas City Royals.

Rivera apparently injured his right knee while shagging fly balls in the outfield.

The 42-year-old, whose 608 saves are the most in MLB history, immediately received attention in the outfield and had to be carted off the field.

Rivera has five saves and is 1-1 with a 2.16 earned run average in nine games for New York this season.

Foxboro, MA (Sports Network) - The New England Patriots have re-signed veteran defensive lineman Gerard Warren.

He has spent the past two seasons with New England and last year saw him play 12 games and total 12 tackles and a sack.

Since coming into the league in 2001 as the third overall draft pick by Cleveland, he has played 163 games and started 137 of them.

Between Cleveland, Denver, Oakland and New England, he has totaled 467 tackles, 36 1/2 sacks, 18 passes defensed, seven forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.

Also on Thursday, the team released wide receiver Tiquan Underwood. Over 19 games between New England and Jacksonville in his three seasons, he has caught 11 passes for 141 yards.

San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - The San Francisco Giants placed third baseman Pablo Sandoval on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with a fractured hamate bone in his left hand.

Sandoval injured the hand in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Miami Marlins.

The 25-year-old third baseman had surgery last May to repair a broken hamate bone in his right hand.

Sandoval set a Giants record by recording a hit in each of his first 20 games this season and is batting .316 with five homers and 15 runs batted in.

The Giants recalled infielder Conor Gillaspie from Triple-A Fresno to fill the vacated roster spot. Gillaspie is hitting .362 with three homers and 13 RBI over 23 games at Fresno this season.

Newark, NJ (Sports Network) - New Jersey Devils sniper Ilya Kovalchuk was back on the ice for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Philadelphia on Thursday.

Kovalchuk sat out Game 2 on Tuesday, which the Devils won, 4-1, to even the best-of-seven series after dropping the opener. He was out with a lower body injury.

In 77 games during the regular season, he led the Devils with 37 goals and 83 points.

Over eight playoff games in this postseason, he has three goals and three assists.

Colorado Springs, CO (Sports Network) - The United States men's basketball team added forward Anthony Davis and guard James Harden to the roster of finalists for the 2012 Olympic National team.

Davis was the college player of the year and is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft as he led Kentucky to the NCAA Championship in early April.

The 6-foot-10 freshman averaged 14.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.7 blocks per game as he led Kentucky to a mark of 38-2.

Harden is a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA and his team is currently in the playoffs. In the regular season, his third in the NBA, he averaged 16.8 points and 4.1 rebounds over 62 games.

For his career, the Arizona State alumni has averaged 12.7 points and 3.4 rebounds in 220 games, all with the Thunder.

There are now 18 players in the pool as previous selections Dwight Howard and Derrick Rose were lost to injury. The 12-man roster will be announced later this year.

Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Mariano Rivera was injured during batting practice Thursday prior to the Yankees' game against the Kansas City Royals.

Rivera apparently injured his right knee while shagging fly balls in the outfield.

The 42-year-old, whose 608 saves are the most in MLB history, immediately received attention in the outfield and had to be carted off the field.

Rivera has five saves and is 1-1 with a 2.16 earned run average in nine games for New York this season.

Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Mariano Rivera was injured during batting practice Thursday prior to the Yankees' game against the Kansas City Royals.

Rivera apparently injured his right knee while chasing fly balls in the outfield.

The 42-year-old has five saves and is 1-1 with a 2.16 earned run average in nine games for New York this season.

Foxboro, MA (Sports Network) - The New England Patriots have re-signed veteran defensive lineman Gerard Warren.

He has spent the past two seasons with New England and last year saw him play 12 games and total 12 tackles and a sack.

Since coming into the league in 2001 as the third overall draft pick by Cleveland, he has played 163 games and started 137 of them.

Between Cleveland, Denver, Oakland and New England, he has totaled 467 tackles, 36 1/2 sacks, 18 passes defensed, seven forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.

Also on Thursday, the team released wide receiver Tiquan Underwood. Over 19 games between New England and Jacksonville in his three seasons, he has caught 11 passes for 141 yards.

Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Joe Blanton pitched his first shutout in almost five years and the Philadelphia Phillies made a quick turnaround Thursday in a 4-0 win over the Atlanta Braves. Blanton (3-3) threw 67 of his 88 pitches for strikes in a game that lasted just over two hours -- about half as long as Wednesday night's wild 11-inning shootout. He gave up three hits, didn't walk a batter, and struck out six for his first shutout or complete game since the 2007 season with Oakland. Laynce Nix hit a solo homer and Shane Victorino had a two-run shot for the Phillies, who won two of three in the series. Braves starter Randall Delgado (2-3) gave up two runs on six hits in eight innings to lose his third straight start. He struck out five.

Final Score: Cincinnati 4, Chicago 3 (10 innings)

Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Scott Rolen's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th inning provided the winning run, as Cincinnati rallied from a late three-run deficit to beat Chicago, 4-3, in the final contest of a truncated two-game series. Zack Cosart singled to begin the frame and moved to third when Rafael Dolis (1-2) threw wild to first on a Chris Heisey sacrifice bunt attempt. Rolen then lofted a ball deep enough to right field to bring in the deciding run. It made a winner of Logan Ondrusek (2-0), who turned in a scoreless top of the 10th. Starter Homer Bailey worked six full frames, yielding nine hits and three runs. Willie Harris, Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips scored in the ninth for the Reds, who dropped the opener on Wednesday. Starlin Castro, Bryan LaHair and Geovany Soto hit solo homers for the Cubs, who have lost three of their last five.

Final Score: Pittsburgh 6, St. Louis 3

St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Pedro Alvarez hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth inning, and Clint Barmes also drove in two runs as Pittsburgh avoided a sweep with a 6-3 decision over St. Louis in the finale of a three- game set from Busch Stadium. Jose Tabata added three hits and scored twice for the Pirates, who were coming off a series victory against the Braves. Erik Bedard (2-4) worked five innings for the win, allowing five hits and two runs while fanning a season-high 11 batters. Allen Craig drove in two runs and David Freese added a run-scoring double for the Cardinals, who lost for just the second time in their last seven. Jake Westbrook (3-2) was touched in defeat for nine hits and four runs over 6 1/3 frames.

Final Score: Miami 3, San Francisco 2

San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Anibal Sanchez spun seven strong innings of one-run ball as the Marlins completed a sweep of the Giants with a 3-2 victory in the finale of a three-game series at AT&T Park on Thursday. Sanchez (2-0) scattered seven hits and issued one walk while fanning five and Edward Mujica pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save of the year. Hanley Ramirez had two runs batted in despite being held hitless while Brett Hayes tallied three hits and scored twice for the Marlins, who have won four of their last six on the heels of a six-game skid. Ryan Vogelsong (0-2) allowed two runs -- one earned -- on eight hits and four walks over seven innings of work and Gregor Blanco added three hits and scored twice as the Giants suffered their seventh straight home loss to the Marlins. Angel Pagan extended his league-leading hit streak to 17 games with a leadoff single in the seventh.

Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Joe Blanton pitched his first shutout in almost five years and the Philadelphia Phillies made a quick turnaround Thursday in a 4-0 win over the Atlanta Braves. Blanton (3-3) threw 67 of his 88 pitches for strikes in a game that lasted just over two hours -- about half as long as Wednesday night's wild 11-inning shootout. He gave up three hits, didn't walk a batter, and struck out six for his first shutout or complete game since the 2007 season with Oakland. Laynce Nix hit a solo homer and Shane Victorino had a two-run shot for the Phillies, who won two of three in the series. Braves starter Randall Delgado (2-3) gave up two runs on six hits in eight innings to lose his third straight start. He struck out five.

Final Score: Cincinnati 4, Chicago 3 (10 innings)

Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Scott Rolen's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th inning provided the winning run, as Cincinnati rallied from a late three-run deficit to beat Chicago, 4-3, in the final contest of a truncated two-game series. Zack Cosart singled to begin the frame and moved to third when Rafael Dolis (1-2) threw wild to first on a Chris Heisey sacrifice bunt attempt. Rolen then lofted a ball deep enough to right field to bring in the deciding run. It made a winner of Logan Ondrusek (2-0), who turned in a scoreless top of the 10th. Starter Homer Bailey worked six full frames, yielding nine hits and three runs. Willie Harris, Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips scored in the ninth for the Reds, who dropped the opener on Wednesday. Starlin Castro, Bryan LaHair and Geovany Soto hit solo homers for the Cubs, who have lost three of their last five.

Final Score: Pittsburgh 6, St. Louis 3

St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Pedro Alvarez hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth inning, and Clint Barmes also drove in two runs as Pittsburgh avoided a sweep with a 6-3 decision over St. Louis in the finale of a three- game set from Busch Stadium. Jose Tabata added three hits and scored twice for the Pirates, who were coming off a series victory against the Braves. Erik Bedard (2-4) worked five innings for the win, allowing five hits and two runs while fanning a season-high 11 batters. Allen Craig drove in two runs and David Freese added a run-scoring double for the Cardinals, who lost for just the second time in their last seven. Jake Westbrook (3-2) was touched in defeat for nine hits and four runs over 6 1/3 frames.

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - The National Hockey League Players' Association has decided to appeal the 25-game suspension handed down to Phoenix Coyotes forward Raffi Torres.

TSN of Canada reported on Thursday that the basis of the appeal is for the length of the ban, and not the actual suspension.

Torres was handed the stiff penalty by NHL vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan on April 21, four days after his late, hard hit on Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa in the first period Game 3 of that Western Conference quarterfinal, eventually won by the Coyotes.

Hossa was lost for the remainder of the series due to the collision.

"My main concern is for the healthy recovery of Marian Hossa, and I hope that he will be able to get back on the ice to compete again soon. I sincerely regret injuring Marian," Torres said in a statement on the same day the suspension was announced. "Regarding the severity of the suspension issued, I will take the next few days to decide whether or not to appeal the decision."

Torres' 25-gamer was the longest since Chris Simon, then of the New York Rangers, drew a 30-game ban for stomping on the ankle of Pittsburgh's Jarkko Ruutu in December of 2007.

Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - The New York Yankees have placed third baseman Eric Chavez on the seven-day disabled list with a concussion.

The move came Thursday, one day after Chavez left a game against Baltimore in the middle of an at-bat in the fifth inning.

Chavez had hit the ground hard diving for J.J. Hardy's double down the line leading off the top of the inning and was seen grasping the left side of his jaw in the dugout.

The Yankees called up infielder Jayson Nix from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and moved pitcher Joba Chamberlain to the 60-day DL. Chamberlain hasn't played this season because of a dislocated right ankle.

New York was starting a four-game series in Kansas City on Thursday.

Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - The Kansas City Royals have placed second baseman Yuniesky Betancourt on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right ankle.

The move, announced Thursday, is retroactive to Wednesday.

Betancourt is batting .280 with one homer and three runs batted in over 15 games this season.

The Royals called up second baseman Irving Falu from Triple-A Omaha and moved closer Joakim Soria from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL. Soria had Tommy John surgery last month, ending his season.

St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - Jeff Keppinger hit a two-run homer and Desmond Jennings had a two-run triple in the second inning Thursday afternoon and the Tampa Bay Rays held on for a 4-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners to sweep a four-game series. The Rays have won 11 of their last 12 games overall and eight straight against the Mariners. Jeff Niemann (2-3) picked up the win despite allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings, while Fernando Rodney worked around an error in the ninth inning to get his ninth save. Kevin Millwood (0-3) dropped his third straight start for Seattle after giving up four runs on seven hits and two walks in 6 1/3 innings. The Mariners lost six in a row to finish 4-6 on a 10-game road trip.

(Sports Network) - The Saskatchewan Roughriders took offensive lineman Ben Heenan No. 1 overall Thursday in the CFL Canadian Draft.

Heenan was the second University of Saskatchewan player ever taken with the first pick in the Canadian football league's draft, the school said.

"Although my name was the one being called out, everybody from Huskie athletics helped me get to this point today and for that I am incredibly thankful and forever indebted to them," Heenan said after learning he would be the No. 1 pick.

The 6-foot-4, 310-pound lineman was ranked No. 1 in CFL Entry Draft Scouting Bureau until last week. He was a Canadian Interuniversity Sport All-Canadian selection in 2010 and '11.

Heenan joined former University of Saskatchewan safety Dylan Barker, who was selected first overall by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 2008 draft.

The BC Lions took defensive lineman Jabar Westerman with the second pick and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers selected offensive lineman Tyson Pencer third.

San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - The San Francisco Giants placed third baseman Pablo Sandoval on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with a fractured hamate bone in his left hand.

Sandoval injured the hand in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Miami Marlins.

The 25-year-old third baseman had surgery last May to repair a broken hamate bone in his right hand.

Sandoval set a Giants record by recording a hit in each of his first 20 games this season and is batting .316 with five homers and 15 runs batted in.

The Giants recalled infielder Conor Gillaspie from Triple-A Fresno to fill the vacated roster spot. Gillaspie is hitting .362 with three homers and 13 RBI over 23 games at Fresno this season.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Although there have been times this postseason when Marian Gaborik seemed invisible, the mercurial New York Rangers forward certainly was easy to spot early Thursday morning.

That's because after nearly five hours of battling the pesky Washington Capitals in Wednesday night's Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, Gaborik was able to deliver the winner in a classic triple-overtime battle.

There were many heroes for the Rangers in the game that lasted 114 minutes, 41 seconds, including goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, who stopped 45-of-46 shots. Defenseman Ryan McDonagh also deserves to be lauded for blocking eight shots while eating up a massive amount of ice time (53:17).

Yet, while Lundqvist and McDonagh have been studs for the Rangers since the playoffs began, for the most part, Gaborik has been a no-show.

For Gaborik, it was just the second goal in 10 playoff contests this spring and his first since scoring in New York's postseason opener against Ottawa on April 12.

The highly paid Slovakian winger is known for his speed and sniping ability, but his big goal on Tuesday night was all about going to the net. With just over five minutes remaining in the third extra session, Gaborik parked himself outside the crease and Rangers center Brad Richards fed him the puck. All Gaborik did was flip the puck between the pads of Washington goaltender Braden Holtby to give New York a 2-1 victory and a 2-1 edge in the best-of-seven series.

Although he is second on the team this postseason with seven points, Gaborik's goal-scoring woes had become a major concern for the Rangers. After all, New York is not a team with a great deal of offensive firepower. Instead, the Blueshirts have relied heavily on strong defensive play and the superior goaltending of Lundqvist to eke out close wins.

That formula has been effective for the Rangers, but getting Gaborik on the right track will be key if New York wants to claim its first Stanley Cup title since 1994.

Even after Richards signed a nine-year, $60 million contract to join the Rangers last summer, Gaborik is still the team's highest-paid player, earning $7.5 million a season. Gaborik experienced little difficulty in providing a large chunk of the offense during the regular season, scoring 41 times -- 12 more goals than Ryan Callahan, who was next on the team with 29 markers.

However, until delivering the big goal in Game 3 against Washington, Gaborik seemed to be wilting under the spotlight of the playoffs. At times during this postseason, Gaborik appeared lost and his rudderless play led head coach John Tortorella to cut his star winger's ice time in certain games.

Gaborik's disappearing act could have led to a lesser team losing to eighth- seeded Ottawa in the opening round, but New York's defense and goaltending covered for his lack of production. The Rangers outscored the Senators by a 14-13 margin in Round 1 and New York is stuck in a similar dogfight early in its series with the Capitals. The Blueshirts have seven goals to Washington's five over the first three games, but Gaborik could help turn the tide if his game-winner gets him on a hot streak.

"I hope it gets Gabby (Gaborik) going. It's a guy we need as we continue," Tortorella said after Game 3.

In addition to getting Gaborik back on track, Wednesday's thrilling victory was also a relief to the Rangers as a whole. The club had lost seven straight overtime playoff games -- including two this spring against Ottawa -- before finally coming through past regulation last night.

Going forward, the Rangers have to keep their focus against a Washington team that is attempting to mirror New York's sound defensive strategy. Although the Capitals are not as relentless on the forecheck as the Rangers are, Washington does seem comfortable playing these close games.

However, while New York has been doing this all season long, Washington has slowly been transformed by head coach Dale Hunter since he took over the reins in late November. If there was a team that is closer to cracking it would appear to be the Capitals.

As the most dynamic offensive player the Rangers have, Gaborik could play the biggest role in hastening Washington's demise.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - The NBA has released its list of early-entry candidates for the 2012 draft.

A total of 66 players, including 49 players from United States colleges and 17 international players, have declared for the draft. Those players still can withdraw from draft consideration by June 18.

Among the notable players that applied for the draft were five players from Kentucky's national championship team, as freshmen Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Marquis Teague joined sophomores Doron Lamb and Terrence Jones in making their announcement at the same time.

Others included North Carolina standouts Harrison Barnes, Kendall Marshall and John Henson, Duke freshman Austin Rivers, Ohio State star Jared Sullinger and Kansas All-American Thomas Robinson.

The NBA Draft is scheduled for June 28 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Last year, 89 players declared early for the draft.

Owings Mills, MD (Sports Network) - Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs has suffered an Achilles injury that could force him to miss the entire 2012 season, or at least a large part of it.

Various reports, including from ESPN and 105.7 The Fan in Baltimore, had earlier indicated that Suggs was hurt playing basketball and had suffered a torn Achilles, an injury that would likely have cost him the entire season.

Suggs, however, quickly refuted those reports, telling the Carroll County Times of Maryland that he was practicing a conditioning test.

"We do a conditioning test every year, and I was practicing it," Suggs told the paper in a text message. "And I went to stop and turn and I thought I sprained it. Went to doc and said it's a partial tear."

Suggs then went to social media to declare that he will return some time in 2012.

"I'm am SO SORRY," he wrote on Twitter. "To all my loyal and true fans, know that everything the can and needs to be done, WILL BE DONE!!!!!! I WILL BE IN A RAVENS UNIFORM IN 2012!!"

The team's website said Suggs will visit a foot specialist next week.

Suggs was the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year in 2011. He helped the Ravens to a record of 12-4 and an AFC North title, recording 14 sacks with 70 tackles, seven forced fumbles and a pair of interceptions.

Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - The Milwaukee Bucks said Carlos Delfino had successful surgery Thursday morning to repair a sports hernia.

Delfino is expected to return to on-court activity in 6-to-8 weeks.

He averaged 9.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 54 games this season for the Bucks, including 53 starts.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh will be a game- time decision Thursday for Game 4 of the team's playoff series against New York after returning to Florida for the birth of his first child.

Bosh left the team in New York on Wednesday night and his wife gave birth to a boy at about 3 a.m. (et) on Thursday morning.

"From a Dream, To a Thought, To Reality, To being in our Arms :) Thank you all for the Positive wishes & thoughts!" Bosh's wife wrote on her Twitter account.

Bosh averaged 15.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in the Heat's first two playoff games, both wins over the Knicks in Miami.

Jacksonville, FL (Sports Network) - The Jacksonville Jaguars have released cornerback Drew Coleman.

After five seasons with the New York Jets, Coleman signed with Jacksonville as a free agent last July and played all 16 games, starting four, in 2011. He compiled 46 tackles with two interceptions and a pair of sacks.

Coleman, a sixth-round pick by the Jets in 2006 out of TCU, has 165 career tackles and four interceptions in his six-year career.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - When Roger Goodell speaks, his words usually resonate.

There was something different, however, about the NFL commissioner's latest edict, the one that was supposed to close the book on the sordid saga best known as "Bountygate" once and for all. And it wasn't as if one of the most hard-line disciplinarians the professional sports world has ever come across suddenly turned soft, either.

Just a few short hours after the ever-uncompromising Goodell handed down a season-long suspension to New Orleans linebacker Jonathan Vilma and multi-game bans to three other current or former Saints players for their prominent roles in the team's elaborate bounty scheme, word began to spread of legendary linebacker Junior Seau's sudden and shocking death from an apparent self- inflicted gunshot wound at his Southern California home.

The news rendered a usually front-page message about the sport's biggest offseason scandal to a mere footnote, while Seau's heart-wrenching fate and its frightening link to that of many other former players should have the league thinking twice about some of its present policies.

In many ways, Seau had the kind of career of which every athlete dreams. A San Diego native, he was drafted in the first round by his hometown Chargers in 1990, spent 13 decorated and glorious seasons with the franchise and became arguably its greatest player ever -- certainly its most popular. He was also the fiery defensive force behind the only Super Bowl team in Chargers' history, the star-crossed 1994 squad that's now seen an alarming eight former members die before the age of 45.

But what really made Seau even more of an icon in his native city was his effervescent personality and excessive philanthropy. His foundation established numerous programs and raised countless millions for needy children in San Diego, while the community residents who would often cross paths with the 12-time Pro Bowl representative saw him as a regular guy they were intensely proud to call their own.

Seau's life off the field, however, wasn't quite as easy as it was on it. His marriage eventually failed, a sports-related television show after retirement was short-lived, and he was involved in a mysterious car accident two years back that many speculated to be a suicide attempt.

While that still didn't make Wednesday's events any less startling, it's not as if there weren't subtle warning signs or that Seau's deadly actions were foreign to those of other members of his creed. Former NFL safeties Dave Duerson and Ray Easterling both shot themselves to death within the last 15 months following long bouts with depression believed to be caused by repeated concussions, and ex-Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Andre Waters took his own life in a similar fashion in 2006. Three former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive linemen, most notably Hall of Fame center Mike Webster, all died under strange and tragic circumstances between 2002 and 2005, with each revealed to be suffering from mental illness brought on by the inherent violence of the game.

None of those players were quarterbacks or wide receivers, the glamour guys whom the league has gone on a virtual crusade to ensure their proper protection with recent rule changes and a continued increase in defensive unnecessary roughness penalties. And it's understandable why those positions have been looked out for with an increased urgency. They're the ones more often placed in vulnerable, unguarded situations that expose them to potential injury. But most importantly, people are paying to see Tom Brady and Calvin Johnson, not Jake Long and Joe Thomas.

That's not to say the NFL isn't greatly concerned about the safety for all of its players. However, its methods toward creating a less hazardous working environment still remain somewhat misguided.

Giving players more down time in the offseason and eliminating a few padded practices a year aren't going to solve the problem. It's the speed, power and intensity of the actual games that create the catastrophic cases like the ones above.

Yet three years from now, when many of the league dignitaries will be speaking of Seau in heroic reverence while he's being enshrined as a first-ballot Hall of Famer, there's better than a 50/50 chance the NFL will either be on or embarking upon an 18-game regular-season schedule.

Sure, it's an easy call for Goodell and the owners to make, when all they're sacrificing is a few additional dollars that will without question be recouped and then some by an extra meaningful home game. It's the guys like Webster, Waters, Duerson ...and now Seau... who wind up paying the ultimate price for that short-sighted decision.

So by that measure, maybe Goodell is actually doing Vilma a favor with his 12- month exile, as a year away from the game certainly can't hurt the disgraced defender's long-term health prognosis. And the Saints really weren't devastated by the commissioner's most recent ruling, as the team already had a contingency plan in place for Vilma's expected lengthy absence by signing free agents Curtis Lofton and David Hawthorne, both of whom are younger and coming off a better 2011 season than the man they will be replacing.

The loss of top pass rusher Will Smith for the first four games may have been more of a stinging blow when realizing New Orleans' utter dearth of proven options in that area. Still, when considering that over 20 players were rumored to be involved in banished ex-defensive coordinator Gregg Williams' illegal program -- including such other key Saints still around as safety Roman Harper, linebacker Scott Shanle and tackle Sedrick Ellis -- the damage really could have been far worse.

Other teams wound up bearing the brunt of Goodell's latest wrath, however, despite being nothing more than victims of circumstance. Green Bay defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove and Cleveland linebacker Scott Fujita were levied eight- and three-game bans, respectively, after their level of participation in the program during previous tenures with the Saints was revealed.

It's a break that's both unfortunate and a bit unfair for the Packers and the Browns, neither of whom did anything scandalous or wrong. It's too bad a deal couldn't have been brokered that punishes the player but not the team, like if Hargrove and Fujita remained eligible to compete but had to forfeit their salaries for those games, but there's no way the Players Association would ever agree to such a scenario.

Of course, the union indirectly had a willing hand in the process by allowing Goodell to solely stay as judge, jury and executioner of all player discipline when the new collective bargaining agreement was drawn up last summer. That may not stop it from pursuing a repeal through the outside courts, a process that could drag on conceivably for another year or more, meaning the story that the NFL wishes would just go away may not be over.

Unfortunately, Seau's death was a sad and sobering indication that the league's initiative on player safety also remains an ongoing fight.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - When Roger Goodell speaks, his words usually resonate.

There was something different, however, about the NFL commissioner's latest edict, the one that was supposed to close the book on the sordid saga best known as "Bountygate" once and for all. And it wasn't as if one of the most hard-line disciplinarians the professional sports world has ever come across suddenly turned soft, either.

Just a few short hours after the ever-uncompromising Goodell handed down a season-long suspension to New Orleans linebacker Jonathan Vilma and multi-game bans to three other current or former Saints players for their prominent roles in the team's elaborate bounty scheme, word began to spread of legendary linebacker Junior Seau's sudden and shocking death from an apparent self- inflicted gunshot wound at his Southern California home.

The news rendered a usually front-page message about the sport's biggest offseason scandal to a mere footnote, while Seau's heart-wrenching fate and its frightening link to that of many other former players should have the league thinking twice about some of its present policies.

In many ways, Seau had the kind of career of which every athlete dreams. A San Diego native, he was drafted in the first round by his hometown Chargers in 1990, spent 13 decorated and glorious seasons with the franchise and became arguably its greatest player ever -- certainly its most popular. He was also the fiery defensive force behind the only Super Bowl team in Chargers' history, the star-crossed 1994 squad that's now seen an alarming eight former members die before the age of 45.

But what really made Seau even more of an icon in his native city was his effervescent personality and excessive philanthropy. His foundation established numerous programs and raised countless millions for needy children in San Diego, while the community residents who would often cross paths with the 12-time Pro Bowl representative saw him as a regular guy they were intensely proud to call their own.

Seau's life off the field, however, wasn't quite as easy as it was on it. His marriage eventually failed, a sports-related television show after retirement was short-lived, and he was involved in a mysterious car accident two years back that many speculated to be a suicide attempt.

While that still didn't make Wednesday's events any less startling, it's not as if there weren't subtle warning signs or that Seau's deadly actions were foreign to those of other members of his creed. Former NFL safeties Dave Duerson and Ray Easterling both shot themselves to death within the last 15 months following long bouts with depression believed to be caused by repeated concussions, and ex-Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Andre Waters took his own life in a similar fashion in 2006. Three former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive linemen, most notably Hall of Fame center Mike Webster, all died under strange and tragic circumstances between 2002 and 2005, with each revealed to be suffering from mental illness brought on by the inherent violence of the game.

None of those players were quarterbacks or wide receivers, the glamour guys whom the league has gone on a virtual crusade to ensure their proper protection with recent rule changes and a continued increase in defensive unnecessary roughness penalties. And it's understandable why those positions have been looked out for with an increased urgency. They're the ones more often placed in vulnerable, unguarded situations that expose them to potential injury. But most importantly, people are paying to see Tom Brady and Calvin Johnson, not Jake Long and Joe Thomas.

That's not to say the NFL isn't greatly concerned about the safety for all of its players. However, its methods toward creating a less hazardous working environment still remain somewhat misguided.

Giving players more down time in the offseason and eliminating a few padded practices a year aren't going to solve the problem. It's the speed, power and intensity of the actual games that create the catastrophic cases like the ones above.

Yet three years from now, when many of the league dignitaries will be speaking of Seau in heroic reverence while he's being enshrined as a first-ballot Hall of Famer, there's better than a 50/50 chance the NFL will either be on or embarking upon an 18-game regular-season schedule.

Sure, it's an easy call for Goodell and the owners to make, when all they're sacrificing is a few additional dollars that will without question be recouped and then some by an extra meaningful home game. It's the guys like Webster, Waters, Duerson ...and now Seau... who wind up paying the ultimate price for that short-sighted decision.

So by that measure, maybe Goodell is actually doing Vilma a favor with his 12- month exile, as a year away from the game certainly can't hurt the disgraced defender's long-term health prognosis. And the Saints really weren't devastated by the commissioner's most recent ruling, as the team already had a contingency plan in place for Vilma's expected lengthy absence by signing free agents Curtis Lofton and David Hawthorne, both of whom are younger and coming off a better 2011 season than the man they will be replacing.

The loss of top pass rusher Will Smith for the first four games may have been more of a stinging blow when realizing New Orleans' utter dearth of proven options in that area. Still, when considering that over 20 players were rumored to be involved in banished ex-defensive coordinator Gregg Williams' illegal program -- including such other key Saints still around as safety Roman Harper, linebacker Scott Shanle and tackle Sedrick Ellis -- the damage really could have been far worse.

Other teams wound up bearing the brunt of Goodell's latest wrath, however, despite being nothing more than victims of circumstance. Green Bay defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove and Cleveland linebacker Scott Fujita were levied eight- and three-game bans, respectively, after their level of participation in the program during previous tenures with the Saints was revealed.

It's a break that's both unfortunate and a bit unfair for the Packers and the Browns, neither of whom did anything scandalous or wrong. It's too bad a deal couldn't have been brokered that punishes the player but not the team, like if Hargrove and Fujita remained eligible to compete but had to forfeit their salaries for those games, but there's no way the Players Association would ever agree to such a scenario.

Of course, the union indirectly had a willing hand in the process by allowing Goodell to solely stay as judge, jury and executioner of all player discipline when the new collective bargaining agreement was drawn up last summer. That may not stop it from pursuing a repeal through the outside courts, a process that could drag on conceivably for another year or more, meaning the story that the NFL wishes would just go away may not be over.

Unfortunately, Seau's death was a sad and sobering indication that the league's initiative on player safety also remains an ongoing fight.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - When Roger Goodell speaks, his words usually resonate.

There was something different, however, about the NFL commissioner's latest edict, the one that was supposed to close the book on the sordid saga best known as "Bountygate" once and for all. And it wasn't as if one of the most hard-line disciplinarians the professional sports world has ever come across suddenly turned soft, either.

Just a few short hours after the ever-uncompromising Goodell handed down a season-long suspension to New Orleans linebacker Jonathan Vilma and multi-game bans to three other current or former Saints players for their prominent roles in the team's elaborate bounty scheme, word began to spread of legendary linebacker Junior Seau's sudden and shocking death from an apparent self- inflicted gunshot wound at his Southern California home.

The news rendered a usually front-page message about the sport's biggest offseason scandal to a mere footnote, while Seau's heart-wrenching fate and its frightening link to that of many other former players should have the league thinking twice about some of its present policies.

In many ways, Seau had the kind of career of which every athlete dreams. A San Diego native, he was drafted in the first round by his hometown Chargers in 1990, spent 13 decorated and glorious seasons with the franchise and became arguably its greatest player ever -- certainly its most popular. He was also the fiery defensive force behind the only Super Bowl team in Chargers' history, the star-crossed 1994 squad that's now seen an alarming eight former members die before the age of 45.

But what really made Seau even more of an icon in his native city was his effervescent personality and excessive philanthropy. His foundation established numerous programs and raised countless millions for needy children in San Diego, while the community residents who with often cross paths with the 12- time Pro Bowl representative saw him as a regular guy they were intensely proud to call their own.

Seau's life off the field, however, wasn't quite as easy as it was on it. His marriage eventually failed, a sports-related television show after retirement was short-lived, and he was involved in a mysterious car accident two years back that many speculated to be a suicide attempt.

While that still didn't make Wednesday's events any less startling, it's not as if there weren't subtle warning signs or that Seau's deadly actions were foreign to those of other members of his creed. Former NFL safeties Dave Duerson and Ray Easterling both shot themselves to death within the last 15 months following long bouts with depression believed to be caused by repeated concussions, and ex-Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Andre Waters took his own life in a similar fashion in 2006. Three former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive linemen, most notably Hall of Fame center Mike Webster, all died under strange and tragic circumstances between 2002 and 2005, with each revealed to be suffering from mental illness brought on by the inherent violence of the game.

None of those players were quarterbacks or wide receivers, the glamour guys whom the league has gone on a virtual crusade to ensure their proper protection with recent rule changes and a continued increase in defensive unnecessary roughness penalties. And it's understandable why those positions have been looked out for with an increased urgency. They're the ones more often placed in vulnerable, unguarded situations that expose them to potential injury. But most importantly, people are paying to see Tom Brady and Calvin Johnson, not Jake Long and Joe Thomas.

That's not to say the NFL isn't greatly concerned about the safety for all of its players. However, its methods toward creating a less hazardous working environment still remain somewhat misguided.

Giving players more down time in the offseason and eliminating a few padded practices a year aren't going to solve the problem. It's the speed, power and intensity of the actual games that create the catastrophic cases like the ones above.

Yet three years from now, when many of the league dignitaries will be speaking of Seau in heroic reverence while he's being enshrined as a first-ballot Hall of Famer, there's better than a 50/50 chance the NFL will either be on or embarking upon an 18-game regular-season schedule.

Sure, it's an easy call for Goodell and the owners to make, when all they're sacrificing is a few additional dollars that will without question be recouped and then some by an extra meaningful home game. It's the guys like Webster, Waters, Duerson ...and now Seau... who wind up paying the ultimate price for that short-sighted decision.

So by that measure, maybe Goodell is actually doing Vilma a favor with his 12- month exile, as a year away from the game certainly can't hurt the disgraced defender's long-term health prognosis. And the Saints really weren't devastated by the commissioner's most recent ruling, as the team already had a contingency plan in place for Vilma's expected lengthy absence by signing free agents Curtis Lofton and David Hawthorne, both of whom are younger and coming off a better 2011 season than the man they will be replacing.

The loss of top pass rusher Will Smith for the first four games may have been more of a stinging blow when realizing New Orleans' utter dearth of proven options in that area. Still, when considering that over 20 players were rumored to be involved in banished ex-defensive coordinator Gregg Williams' illegal program -- including such other key Saints still around as safety Roman Harper, linebacker Scott Shanle and tackle Sedrick Ellis -- the damage really could have been far worse.

Other teams wound up bearing the brunt of Goodell's latest wrath, however, despite being nothing more than victims of circumstance. Green Bay defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove and Cleveland linebacker Scott Fujita were levied eight- and three-game bans, respectively, after their level of participation in the program during previous tenures with the Saints was revealed.

It's a break that's both unfortunate and a bit unfair for the Packers and the Browns, neither of whom did anything scandalous or wrong. It's too bad a deal couldn't have been brokered that punishes the player but not the team, like if Hargrove and Fujita remained eligible to compete but had to forfeit their salaries for those guys, but there's no way the Players Association would ever agree to such a scenario.

Of course, the union indirectly had a willing hand in the process by allowing Goodell to solely stay as judge, jury and executioner of all player discipline when the new collective bargaining agreement was drawn up last summer. That may not stop it from pursuing a repeal through the outside courts, a process that could drag on conceivably for another year or more, meaning the story that the NFL wishes would just go away may not be over.

Unfortunately, Seau's death was a sad and sobering indication that the league's initiative on player safety also remains an ongoing fight.

Owings Mills, MD (Sports Network) - Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs has reportedly suffered an Achilles injury that could force him to miss the entire 2012 season.

Various reports, including ESPN and 105.7 The Fan in Baltimore, had indicated that Suggs was hurt while playing basketball. There had also been speculation that he suffered a torn Achilles, which would likely sideline him for the entire season, but the severity of the injury and exactly how it occurred have not been verified.

The Ravens have not commented officially, but the team's website said Suggs will visit a foot specialist early next week

Suggs was the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year in 2011. He helped the Ravens to a record of 12-4 and an AFC North title, recording 14 sacks with 70 tackles, seven forced fumbles and a pair of interceptions.

Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - The Chicago Cubs have activated pitchers Ryan Dempster and Kerry Wood off the 15-day disabled list.

Dempster, scheduled to start Thursday's series-finale against Cincinnati, last pitched on April 17 against Miami and had been sidelined with a strained right quad muscle. He entered the day with a record of 0-1 and a 1.33 earned run average in three starts this season.

Wood was out with right shoulder fatigue following his last appearance on April 13. He entered Thursday's action with a lofty 11.57 ERA and an 0-1 record in four relief outings.

The Cubs optioned pitchers Scott Maine and Randy Wells to Triple-A Iowa to clear space on the roster.

Maine was 0-1 with a 1.59 ERA in five relief appearances after being recalled April 20 to fill Wood's roster spot. Wells was 0-1 with a 6.23 ERA in two starts for the Cubs following his recall on April 22.

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs has reportedly suffered a torn Achilles tendon and will likely miss the entire 2012 season.

According to 105.7 The Fan in Baltimore, Suggs was hurt while playing basketball.

The Ravens' website said the team has been in contact with Suggs, who will visit a specialist early next week.

Suggs was the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year in 2011. He helped the Ravens to a record of 12-4 and an AFC North title, recording 14 sacks with 70 tackles, seven forced fumbles and a pair of interceptions.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - It's never too late to go back to school. Just ask Larry Brown. It's been more than 20 years since Brown stepped onto a college campus to direct a basketball program, but that all changed last week when it was announced that Brown would take the reins at Southern Methodist University.

Brown is largely remembered for his efforts on the sidelines in the NBA where he coached seven different teams in the last 22 years, including stops with the New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers and Indiana Pacers.

During his NBA coaching career Brown won 1,098 games, which is currently ranked sixth all-time, and he won an NBA Championship in 2004 with Detroit, making him the only coach to win titles in both the NCAA and NBA. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame back in 2002.

However Brown got his first head coaching job at the college level. After playing for seven seasons in the ABA, Brown took over the top the coaching job at Davidson College in 1972, although he never actually coached a game for the Wildcats as he took over the Carolina Cougars of the ABA during the off-season leading into 1972.

Brown made his first real dive into college basketball as he took one of the more prestigious jobs in the country by taking over at UCLA. Brown got off to a fast start with the Bruins, leading the team to the 1980 NCAA Championship game, resulting in a loss to Louisville. The appearance in the Final Four would later be vacated after it was revealed that UCLA had played with ineligible players. The following season also earned an NCAA Tournament bid for Brown and the Bruins but not nearly the amount of success. Brown then stepped down that off-season to take a job coaching in the NBA with the New Jersey Nets.

Brown wouldn't stay away from college for long, taking another big time job after spending two seasons leading the Nets. Brown became the head coach for the Kansas Jayhawks beginning in 1984 and had a more successful and longer tenure in Lawrence than he had in Los Angeles.

In five seasons Brown led the Jayhawks to a 129-44 overall record, made it to the NCAA Tournament every year including a pair of Final Four appearances culminating in a National Championship at the end of the 1988 season.

It was at Kansas that the widespread influence Brown has had in the current coaching landscape really began to take shape. Current Kansas head coach Bill Self was a graduate assistant under Brown in Lawrence during the 1985-1986 season and John Calipari, who just won the 2012 NCAA Championship as head coach of Kentucky, also served as an assistant for Brown.

The coaching tree doesn't stop there as several former Kansas players that were coached by Brown took on head coaching jobs at the college level, including current Maryland head coach Mark Turgeon and Colorado coach Tad Boyle.

"The coaches who have coached with me have been the most loyal and great people I could ever imagine and they're doing unbelievable things at great spots," said Brown of his influence on the coaching in college basketball.

Despite his success at Kansas, and in the college ranks in general, Brown wouldn't coach in college again after stepping down after the national title with Kansas.

Brown will not be taking over such a prestigious program at SMU.The Mustangs have had only one winning season since 2003-2004 and have not been to the NCAA Tournament since the 1992-1993 season when they were eliminated in the first round. Last year's squad finished 13-19, including a 4-12 mark in Conference USA which put the Mustangs at second to last in the conference standings.

"I can't promise you wins and losses but I get the feeling if we prepare a lot, if we do the right things and coach kids up we're going to be able to put a good group on the court that's going to give us a chance to be successful," said

This year's team lost three players from the 2012 squad including forward Robert Nyakundi who led the team in points (14.8 pg) and rebounds (4.8 pg).

Although the SMU roster has not yet been set and practices haven't begun Brown gave some insight into how he hopes to coach the Mustangs next season during his announcement press conference.

"I want to play fast if we're better. I want long athletic kids who can guard. I can't play in multiple defenses so we'll play man-to-man," said Brown who also joked that he would need to learn to text to adapt to how recruiting has changed in his years away from the college game.

The Mustangs will also be a considerably young team with only one senior returning, London Giles who finished second on the team in points (10.0) last season.

Age might also be a concern for more than just the roster. At 71, Brown will be the second oldest coach in NCAA basketball behind 75-year-old Tevester Anderson who currently heads the program at Jackson State. Although aware of this Brown doesn't seem to be worried about his age being a factor.

"When I look in the mirror I get kind of scared but inside I feel like I could do this forever. [Coaching] has been a labor of love for me," said Brown.

Brown will be leading SMU as it makes a move into the Big East next season. The Big East is largely considered one of the top basketball conferences in the country, despite Syracuse and Pittsburgh moving to the Atlantic Coast Conference.

"I don't take this opportunity lightly. I know how important this hire was to this university," said Brown of the responsibility he has taken on in trying to revamp a program with just four NCAA Tournament appearances in the last 44 years, "The competition [in the Big East] is amazing but walking around this campus if we can get a kid to visit here I can't imagine him going anywhere else."

Brown has already begun to make his presence felt at SMU, hiring former Illinois point guard (200-2004) Jerrence Howard as an assistant coach last week while also conducting meetings with individual players, some of whom it has been rumored may not remain with the team next season.

South Bend, IN (Sports Network) - Notre Dame quarterback Tommy Rees and linebacker Carlo Calabrese were arrested early Thursday morning.

The South Bend Tribune cited St. Joseph County police as saying Rees was arrested for public intoxication, resisting law enforcement, minor consumption and battery to law enforcement. Calabrese was taken into custody for disorderly conduct and was released on $150 bond.

Rees, who will turn 20 years old on May 22, started 12 games last season as a sophomore. Calabrese, 21, played all 13 games last season.

San Antonio, TX (Sports Network) - Tony Parker scored 18 points and dished out nine assists as the San Antonio Spurs earned a dominant 114-83 victory over the Utah Jazz in Game 2 of this Western Conference quarterfinal. Tim Duncan added 12 points and 13 rebounds, while Kawhi Leonard netted 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting for San Antonio, which took a 2-0 lead in the series. Game 3 of the best-of-seven series will be on Saturday in Utah. Josh Howard and Al Jefferson scored 10 points apiece to lead the Jazz, who shot just 34.4 percent in the game, including a 1-for-6 mark from three-point range.

Final Score: Indiana 97, Orlando 74

Orlando, FL (Sports Network) - Danny Granger scored 26 points, Roy Hibbert had 18 and the Indiana Pacers ran away in the second half for a 97-74 win over the Orlando Magic in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series. The Pacers outscored the Magic 32-17 in the third quarter and 53-36 in the second half to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Game 4 is Saturday in Orlando. Glen Davis scored 16 of his 22 points for Orlando in the second quarter, J.J. Redick had 13 points off the bench and Jameer Nelson added 10. The Pacers pulled away in the third quarter behind 12 points from Hibbert and better than 52 percent shooting from the field.

Final Score: Memphis 105, LA Clippers 98

Memphis, TN (Sports Network) - There was no heroic comeback this time around. Rudy Gay led six players in double figures with 21 points and Memphis kept the Clippers at arm's length down the stretch, claiming a 105-98 Game 2 victory to even the best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinals series. O.J. Mayo scored 20 points off the bench, Mike Conley posted 19 points and six assists and Zach Randolph added 15 points and eight rebounds. The Grizzlies, who entered the playoffs on an 11-game winning streak and finished 26-7 at home during the regular season, appeared on their way to a Game 1 rout before a stunning collapse that gave the visitors the improbable comeback from a 27-point There was no such theater on Wednesday, as Memphis answered every call, holding a lead no smaller than four in the final quarter. Chris Paul's four-point play brought the Clippers within 83-79, but Memphis answered with six straight to create some breathing room. Paul and Blake Griffin accounted for a large chunk of the Clippers' offense, scoring 29 and 22 points respectively. Paul also dished out six assists and picked up five steals, while Griffin grabbed nine rebounds in the loss. The Clippers return home to host Game 3 on Saturday.

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Marian Gaborik tallied with 5:19 remaining in the third overtime, sending the New York Rangers past Washington, 2-1, in Game 3 of this Eastern Conference semifinal from Verizon Center. Rangers center Brad Richards gained control of the puck off a Dan Girardi wraparound to the left rear of the Washington net, and fed in front for Gaborik, who ripped a wrister home to cap the marathon contest. The score prevented the Blueshirts from sharing a slice of dubious NHL history. New York had dropped seven straight OT playoff games, one off the league mark held by both the Flyers and Flames. Ryan Callahan netted a second-period power-play goal for the Rangers, who snagged a 2-1 series edge. Henrik Lundqvist stopped 45 shots, while his counterpart Braden Holtby made 47 saves. John Carlson picked up the regulation score for the Capitals, who have two days off to regroup before hosting Game 4 on Saturday afternoon.

Final Score: Nashville 2, Phoenix 0

Nashville, TN (Sports Network) - Pekka Rinne picked a good time for his first playoff shutout. The Vezina Trophy candidate posted 32 saves to help the Nashville Predators take a 2-0 win over the Phoenix Coyotes in Game 3 of this Western Conference semifinal series from Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday night. Nashville had dropped the first two games of this best-of-seven series in Phoenix, but the home crowd helped it get back into the series thanks to Rinne's shutout and goals from David Legwand and Mike Fisher 66 seconds apart in the first period. The Predators grabbed the win without forwards Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn, who were both suspended by the team for this game on Tuesday after violating team rules. Mike Smith was touched for both goals on 26 shots for the Coyotes, who had won all three road games in their opening-round series against Chicago. Game 4 will be played on Friday night in Nashville.

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Ricky Romero struck out six over eight strong innings to remain unbeaten as the Blue Jays defeated the Rangers, 11-5, in the finale of a three-game set at Rogers Centre on Wednesday. Romero (4-0) surrendered five runs on six hits and three walks, Yunel Escobar added three hits, including a three-run triple, and Edwin Encarnacion belted a three-run blast for the Jays, who have won four of their last five. Matt Harrison (3-2) had a forgettable outing, yielding eight runs on eight hits and two walks in just 3 1/3 innings of work. Elvis Andrus had two hits and knocked in two runs, while Brandon Snyder hit his first major league home run. The Rangers have now dropped their last two series and lost consecutive games for the first time all season.

Final Score: Kansas City 3, Detroit 2

Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Chris Getz slapped a go-ahead RBI single in the top of the ninth inning Wednesday as the Royals downed the Tigers, 3-2, in the finale of a weather-shortened two-game series at Comerica Park. Royals starter Jonathan Sanchez carried a no-hitter into the fifth before a two-out double ended it. Jose Mijares and Kevin Herrera also held the Tigers scoreless but Aaron Crow served up a game-tying two-run blast to Brennan Boesch in the bottom of the eighth. The Tigers scored the go-ahead run off Joaquin Benoit (0-1), who entered for Detroit starter Justin Verlander. Benoit retired the first hitter, but served up a double to Mike Moustakas, who quickly advanced to third on a ground out before Getz plated him with an RBI single to give the Royals their 3-2 lead. Tim Collins (1-0) got the win after retiring the final two hitters in the eighth while Jonathan Broxton tossed a scoreless bottom of the ninth to record his fourth save of the season.

Final Score: Baltimore 5, New York 0

Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Orioles starter Jake Arrieta sparkled, striking out nine batters and giving up just five hits in eight innings Wednesday night to shut down the New York Yankees in a 5-0 win. Arrieta (2-2) didn't allow a walk, throwing 76 of his 111 pitches for strikes, and Jim Johnson pitched a perfect ninth inning to finish off the shutout. Matt Wieters and Nick Markakis hit solo homers for the Orioles, who won the last two of the three-game series after starting the season 0-4 against the Yankees. New York starter Ivan Nova (3-1) was knocked around for five runs and nine hits in 6 1/3 innings to take his first loss in five starts this season.

Final Score: Oakland 4, Boston 2

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Seth Smith drove in a pair of runs and Brandon McCarthy shut down Boston's bats over 6 2/3 solid frames, as Oakland downed Boston, 4-2, in the rubber match of a three-game set at Fenway Park McCarthy (2-3) was steady if not spectacular at times, surrendering just one run on five hits with four strikeouts and three walks for his second straight win. Brian Fuentes nailed down his first save of the season in place of Grant Balfour for the A's, winners of two straight. Daniel Bard (2-3) took the loss, giving up four runs on eight hits with two walks and one strikeout over 5 1/3 innings. Dustin Pedroia and Marlon Byrd drove in runs for the Red Sox, who have dropped three of four.

Final Score: Tampa Bay 5, Seattle 4

St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - Luke Scott's go-ahead leadoff homer in the sixth inning lifted the red-hot Tampa Bay Rays to a 5-4 win over the Seattle Mariners in the third test of a four-game set. James Shields (5-0) fanned 11 and became the first MLB pitcher to reach five wins despite allowing four runs on five hits and four walks in six innings. Sean Rodriguez smacked a two-run homer for the Rays, who have won 10 of their last 11 games. Kyle Seager belted two homers and drove in four for Seattle, which has dropped five straight. Blake Beavan (1-3) gave up five runs on seven hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings.

Final Score: Cleveland 6, Chicago 3

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Jack Hannahan's go-ahead RBI double in the eighth inning lifted the Cleveland Indians to a 6-3 win over the Chicago White Sox in the middle test of a three-game set on Wednesday. Carlos Santana smacked a three-run home run and Travis Hafner provided a two-run shot for Cleveland, which has alternated wins and losses over its last six games. Joe Smith (1-0) picked up the win by tossing a scoreless seventh frame. Adam Dunn belted a solo homer and Alexei Ramirez added a two-run single for the White Sox, who have dropped six of their last eight contests.

Nashville, TN (Sports Network) - Pekka Rinne picked a good time for his first playoff shutout. The Vezina Trophy candidate posted 32 saves to help the Nashville Predators take a 2-0 win over the Phoenix Coyotes in Game 3 of this Western Conference semifinal series from Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday night. Nashville had dropped the first two games of this best-of-seven series in Phoenix, but the home crowd helped it get back into the series thanks to Rinne's shutout and goals from David Legwand and Mike Fisher 66 seconds apart in the first period. The Predators grabbed the win without forwards Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn, who were both suspended by the team for this game on Tuesday after violating team rules. Mike Smith was touched for both goals on 26 shots for the Coyotes, who had won all three road games in their opening-round series against Chicago. Game 4 will be played on Friday night in Nashville.

Nashville, TN (Sports Network) - Pekka Rinne picked a good time for his first playoff shutout. The Vezina Trophy candidate posted 32 saves to help the Nashville Predators take a 2-0 win over the Phoenix Coyotes in Game 3 of this Western Conference semifinal series from Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday night. Nashville had dropped the first two games of this best-of-seven series in Phoenix, but the home crowd helped it get back into the series thanks to Rinne's shutout and goals from David Legwand and Mike Fisher 66 seconds apart in the first period. The Predators grabbed the win without forwards Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn, who were both suspended for this game by the team on Tuesday after violating team rules. Mike Smith was touched for both goals on 26 shots for the Coyotes, who had won all three road games in their opening-round series against Chicago. Game 4 will be played on Friday night in Nashville.

Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Chris Johnson hit two home runs and knocked in a career-high six RBI as the Houston Astros defeated the New York Mets, 8-1, to complete the sweep of a three-game set at Minute Maid Park. Wandy Rodriguez (3-2) allowed one run on six hits and two walks while striking out five over seven innings for Houston, which took all three games of a series against New York for the first time since August 1-3, 2008. Chris Schwinden (0-1) gave up five runs on six hits and two walks in just four innings to suffer the loss. Ruben Tejada had three of New York's seven hits, while Andres Torres knocked in the lone run for the Mets, who lost for the fourth time in six games.

Final Score: Colorado 8, Los Angeles 5

Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Jason Giambi got Jim Tracy off the hook and delivered his team a walk-off win. Giambi hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning Wednesday to lift the Colorado Rockies over the Los Angeles Dodgers, 8-5, in the finale of a three-game series. Giambi's heroics came a half-inning after Tracy called for an intentional walk to Matt Kemp with two outs, leading to Dee Gordon's game-tying two-run double for the Dodgers. Jamey Wright (1-1) walked Eric Young and Marco Scutaro to start the bottom of the ninth and Giambi smoked Scott Elbert's one-out fastball over the wall in right-center field to give the Rockies two wins in the series. Carlos Gonzalez hit two homers for Colorado, including a tiebreaking two-run shot in the bottom of the eighth inning off Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw, who struck out six but gave up five runs in 7 1/3 innings, remained unbeaten in his last 15 starts.

Final Score: San Diego 5, Milwaukee 0

San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Jeff Suppan tossed five scoreless innings and Cameron Maybin added a two-run single in a three-run third, helping San Diego take down Milwaukee, 5-0, in the rubber match of a three-game set. Jesus Guzman contributed a pinch-hit, two-run double for the Padres, who won the final two in the series following a three-game losing skid. Suppan (1-0), called up from Triple-A Tucson and making his first major-league start since the tail end of 2010, scattered four hits, walked two and struck out two. Yovani Gallardo (1-3) was charged in the loss for seven hits and three runs over six full frames for the Brewers, who have lost five of seven.

Final Score: Washington 5, Arizona 4

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Ian Desmond's two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the Washington Nationals over the Arizona Diamondbacks, 5-4, in the second test of a three-game series at Nationals Park. Bryce Harper had three hits, an RBI and scored twice for the Nationals, who snapped a five-game slide. Henry Rodriguez (1-1) tossed a scoreless inning of relief to earn the win. J.J. Putz (0-2) gave up Desmond's blast to suffer the loss as Arizona had its three-game win streak come to an end.

Final Score: Atlanta 15, Philadelphia 13 (11 innings)

Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Chipper Jones hit a two-run home run in the 11th inning as the Braves outlasted the Phillies, 15-13, in the second of three games from Turner Field. After Chad Durbin (1-0) set the Phils down in order in the 11th, Dan Uggla led off the bottom of the inning with a single off of Brian Sanches (0-1) and Jones followed with a shot on a 3-2 pitch over the wall in center. Brian McCann hit the eighth grand slam of his career, Martin Prado went 3-for-6 with three RBI and a run scored and Tyler Pastornicky went 3-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored for the Braves, who had dropped three of four coming into the game. Carlos Ruiz hit a three-run home run and drove in a career-high seven runs while Layne Nix added a three- run double for the Phillies, who had won three of four coming in. Neither starter factored into the decision as Roy Halladay was torched for eight runs on 12 hits in 5 1/3 innings for Philadelphia while Tommy Hanson gave up four runs on eight hits over 3 2/3 frames for Atlanta.

Final Score: Chicago 3, Cincinnati 1

Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Jeff Samardzija tossed 7 2/3 innings of one- run ball and the Chicago Cubs edged the Cincinnati Reds, 3-1, in the opener of a rain-shortened two-game series at Great American Ball Park Samardzija (3-1) gave up just three hits and two walks while fanning seven. Rafael Dolis got the last out in the eighth and Carlos Marmol finished it off in the ninth to earn his second save of the season. Bryan LaHair and Ian Stewart crushed solo home runs and Geovany Soto added an RBI single among his two hits for the Cubs, who bounced back from a 6-4 loss to Philadelphia on Monday. Bronson Arroyo (1-1) yielded three runs on nine hits and one walk while fanning three in defeat for the Reds, who had a brief two-game winning streak snapped. Jay Bruce smacked the groundout to first which allowed the lone Cincinnati run to score.

Final Score: St. Louis 12, Pittsburgh 3

St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Carlos Beltran finished 4-for-5 with a pair of three-run home runs and a career-high seven RBI as the St. Louis Cardinals rolled to a 12-3 thrashing of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the middle test of a three-game set at Busch Stadium. Matt Holliday went 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI and three runs scored, while Daniel Descalso added an RBI triple and Rafael Furcal had an RBI single among his two hits for the Cardinals, who have taken the first two games of this series. Lance Lynn (5-0) tossed 6 2/3 strong innings, giving up two runs on three hits and one walk while fanning six. Marc Rzepczynski got the final out in the seventh and Kyle McClellan worked a scoreless eighth before Mitchell Boggs closed it out in the ninth. Josh Harrison went 2-for-2 with two RBI, Clint Barmes added an RBI double and Pedro Alvarez chipped in with a pair of hits and scored all three runs for the Pirates, who have dropped three of their last four. A.J. Burnett (1-2) was torched for all 12 runs on 12 hits and a walk while striking out two in 2 2/3 innings.

Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Chris Johnson hit two home runs and knocked in a career-high six RBI as the Houston Astros defeated the New York Mets, 8-1, to complete the sweep of a three-game set at Minute Maid Park. Wandy Rodriguez (3-2) allowed one run on six hits and two walks while striking out five over seven innings for Houston, which took all three games of a series against New York for the first time since August 1-3, 2008. Chris Schwinden (0-1) gave up five runs on six hits and two walks in just four innings to suffer the loss. Ruben Tejada had three of New York's seven hits, while Andres Torres knocked in the lone run for the Mets, who lost for the fourth time in six games.

Final Score: Colorado 8, Los Angeles 5

Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Jason Giambi got Jim Tracy off the hook and delivered his team a walk-off win. Giambi hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning Wednesday to lift the Colorado Rockies over the Los Angeles Dodgers, 8-5, in the finale of a three-game series. Giambi's heroics came a half-inning after Tracy called for an intentional walk to Matt Kemp with two outs, leading to Dee Gordon's game-tying two-run double for the Dodgers. Jamey Wright (1-1) walked Eric Young and Marco Scutaro to start the bottom of the ninth and Giambi smoked Scott Elbert's one-out fastball over the wall in right-center field to give the Rockies two wins in the series. Carlos Gonzalez hit two homers for Colorado, including a tiebreaking two-run shot in the bottom of the eighth inning off Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw, who struck out six but gave up five runs in 7 1/3 innings, remained unbeaten in his last 15 starts.

Final Score: San Diego 5, Milwaukee 0

San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Jeff Suppan tossed five scoreless innings and Cameron Maybin added a two-run single in a three-run third, helping San Diego take down Milwaukee, 5-0, in the rubber match of a three-game set. Jesus Guzman contributed a pinch-hit, two-run double for the Padres, who won the final two in the series following a three-game losing skid. Suppan (1-0), called up from Triple-A Tucson and making his first major-league start since the tail end of 2010, scattered four hits, walked two and struck out two. Yovani Gallardo (1-3) was charged in the loss for seven hits and three runs over six full frames for the Brewers, who have lost five of seven.

Final Score: Washington 5, Arizona 4

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Ian Desmond's two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the Washington Nationals over the Arizona Diamondbacks, 5-4, in the second test of a three-game series at Nationals Park. Bryce Harper had three hits, an RBI and scored twice for the Nationals, who snapped a five-game slide. Henry Rodriguez (1-1) tossed a scoreless inning of relief to earn the win. J.J. Putz (0-2) gave up Desmond's blast to suffer the loss as Arizona had its three-game win streak come to an end.

Final Score: Atlanta 15, Philadelphia 13 (11 innings)

Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Chipper Jones hit a two-run home run in the 11th inning as the Braves outlasted the Phillies, 15-13, in the second of three games from Turner Field. After Chad Durbin (1-0) set the Phils down in order in the 11th, Dan Uggla led off the bottom of the inning with a single off of Brian Sanches (0-1) and Jones followed with a shot on a 3-2 pitch over the wall in center. Brian McCann hit the eighth grand slam of his career, Martin Prado went 3-for-6 with three RBI and a run scored and Tyler Pastornicky went 3-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored for the Braves, who had dropped three of four coming into the game. Carlos Ruiz hit a three-run home run and drove in a career-high seven runs while Layne Nix added a three- run double for the Phillies, who had won three of four coming in. Neither starter factored into the decision as Roy Halladay was torched for eight runs on 12 hits in 5 1/3 innings for Philadelphia while Tommy Hanson gave up four runs on eight hits over 3 2/3 frames for Atlanta.

Final Score: Chicago 3, Cincinnati 1

Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Jeff Samardzija tossed 7 2/3 innings of one- run ball and the Chicago Cubs edged the Cincinnati Reds, 3-1, in the opener of a rain-shortened two-game series at Great American Ball Park Samardzija (3-1) gave up just three hits and two walks while fanning seven. Rafael Dolis got the last out in the eighth and Carlos Marmol finished it off in the ninth to earn his second save of the season. Bryan LaHair and Ian Stewart crushed solo home runs and Geovany Soto added an RBI single among his two hits for the Cubs, who bounced back from a 6-4 loss to Philadelphia on Monday. Bronson Arroyo (1-1) yielded three runs on nine hits and one walk while fanning three in defeat for the Reds, who had a brief two-game winning streak snapped. Jay Bruce smacked the groundout to first which allowed the lone Cincinnati run to score.

San Antonio, TX (Sports Network) - Tony Parker scored 18 points and dished out nine assists as the San Antonio Spurs earned a dominant 114-83 victory over the Utah Jazz in Game 2 of this Western Conference quarterfinal. Tim Duncan added 12 points and 13 rebounds, while Kawhi Leonard netted 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting for San Antonio, which took a 2-0 lead in the series. Game 3 of the best-of-seven series will be on Saturday in Utah. Josh Howard and Al Jefferson scored 10 points apiece to lead the Jazz, who shot just 34.4 percent in the game, including a 1-for-6 mark from three-point range.

Final Score: Indiana 97, Orlando 74

Orlando, FL (Sports Network) - Danny Granger scored 26 points, Roy Hibbert had 18 and the Indiana Pacers ran away in the second half for a 97-74 win over the Orlando Magic in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series. The Pacers outscored the Magic 32-17 in the third quarter and 53-36 in the second half to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Game 4 is Saturday in Orlando. Glen Davis scored 16 of his 22 points for Orlando in the second quarter, J.J. Redick had 13 points off the bench and Jameer Nelson added 10. The Pacers pulled away in the third quarter behind 12 points from Hibbert and better than 52 percent shooting from the field.

Oceanside, CA (Sports Network) - Former NFL star linebacker Junior Seau was found dead Wednesday at his home in Oceanside, California.

Police said Seau died of a gunshot wound to the chest. They are investigating it as a suicide.

Seau was 43 years old.

According to Oceanside police chief Frank McCoy, a call was placed by Seau's girlfriend at 9:35 a.m. local time Wednesday morning. She had returned home and found Seau unconscious with a gunshot wound to the chest.

Police and fire department personnel arrived and found Seau in one of the bedrooms. McCoy said life-saving efforts were performed and were not successful.

"Our hearts and prayers of the city go out to Seau's family," said the chief, who added he would not be able to answer any questions.

Seau spent 13 seasons with the Chargers, helping the franchise to its only Super Bowl appearance after the 1994 season. He also played three seasons for Miami and four more for New England before retiring after the 2009 campaign.

"Everyone at the Chargers is in complete shock and disbelief right now," the Chargers said in a statement. "We ask everyone to stop what they're doing and send their prayers to Junior and his family."

Seau was a 12-time Pro Bowl selection during his 20-year pro career. He was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame this past November.

He is the eighth member of San Diego's Super Bowl team to pass away, joining linebackers Lew Bush, Dave Griggs and Doug Miller, running back Rodney Culver, defensive linemen Shawn Lee and Chris Mims and center Curtis Whitley.

"All of us are deeply saddened about Junior Seau, a great player loved by teammates who also worked hard to serve his community," said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in a statement. "Junior and his family will remain in our thoughts."

Reactions poured in from across the sport, some in the form of statements and some on social media. Ex-teammates, like fellow former linebacker Jason Taylor talked of Seau's personality on an off the field.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who played with Seau for two seasons in San Diego, said he was sad to hear the news.

"Junebug. Buddy," Brees wrote on Twitter. "The greatest teammate a young guy could ask for. This is a sad day. He will be missed greatly."

Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning said Seau and Bruce Smith were the two most dominating defenders when he entered the league in 1998. Manning called Seau and Ray Lewis the best linebackers he ever played against.

"Junior was truly a once-in-a-lifetime player," Manning said. "I remember how many times we would be getting ready to play him and the Chargers and someone would say, 'This is a blitz here.' And I would say, 'That's not a blitz; that's just Junior Seau smelling something and going after it.'

"He was very difficult to play against because his instincts would always lead him to the right place on defense -- or the wrong place for the offense."

San Diego Padres president Tom Garfinkel offered condolences on behalf of the team and called Seau "a great San Diegan and an inspiration, not only on the playing field, but in how he positively impacted people's lives."

In October 2010, Seau was hospitalized after driving his car off a cliff in Carlsbad, California just hours after being arrested on suspicion of domestic violence in the wake of an incident with his live-in girlfriend. He was never charged.

Speculation had surfaced at the time that Seau was trying to kill himself, but he said he fell asleep at the wheel.

Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Chris Johnson hit two home runs and knocked in a career-high six RBI as the Houston Astros defeated the New York Mets, 8-1, to complete the sweep of a three-game set at Minute Maid Park. Wandy Rodriguez (3-2) allowed one run on six hits and two walks while striking out five over seven innings for Houston, which took all three games of a series against New York for the first time since August 1-3, 2008. Chris Schwinden (0-1) gave up five runs on six hits and two walks in just four innings to suffer the loss. Ruben Tejada had three of New York's seven hits, while Andres Torres knocked in the lone run for the Mets, who lost for the fourth time in six games.

Final Score: Colorado 8, Los Angeles 5

Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Jason Giambi got Jim Tracy off the hook and delivered his team a walk-off win. Giambi hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning Wednesday to lift the Colorado Rockies over the Los Angeles Dodgers, 8-5, in the finale of a three-game series. Giambi's heroics came a half-inning after Tracy called for an intentional walk to Matt Kemp with two outs, leading to Dee Gordon's game-tying two-run double for the Dodgers. Jamey Wright (1-1) walked Eric Young and Marco Scutaro to start the bottom of the ninth and Giambi smoked Scott Elbert's one-out fastball over the wall in right-center field to give the Rockies two wins in the series. Carlos Gonzalez hit two homers for Colorado, including a tiebreaking two-run shot in the bottom of the eighth inning off Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw, who struck out six but gave up five runs in 7 1/3 innings, remained unbeaten in his last 15 starts.

Owings Mills, MD (Sports Network) - The Baltimore Ravens signed nose tackle Maake Kemoeatu on Wednesday.

An eight-year veteran, he rejoins the team that signed him as a rookie free agent in 2002.

The 33-year-old spent his first four seasons with Baltimore then moved to Carolina for the next three campaigns. He played for Washington in 2010, the last time he was in the league.

Over 121 games, he has totaled 185 tackles and four sacks.

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - The Boston Red Sox placed infielder Kevin Youkilis on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 29, with a low back strain.

Youkilis has struggled in the early going, hitting just .219 with two home runs, two doubles and nine RBI in 18 games.

The Sox also recalled infielder Will Middlebrooks and pitcher Clayton Mortensen from Triple-A Pawtucket.

The 23-year-old Middlebrooks is expected to make his major league debut at third base on Wednesday as the Oakland A's come to town.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp has been unanimously voted the National League Player of the Month for April.

Through 23 games during the month, Kemp led the majors with a.417 batting average and 12 home runs, while ranking at the top of the NL in hits (35), RBI (25), runs (24) and slugging percentage (.893). He also finished the month second in on-base percentage (.490).

His 12 home runs set a Dodgers franchise record for the most home runs in April and were the fifth-most ever in the month behind Albert Pujols (14), Alex Rodriguez (14), Luis Gonzalez (13) and Ken Griffey Jr. (13).

The 27 year-old's hot start at the plate helped get the Dodgers off to a 16-7 record in April, the team's best start since 1983.

This is his first career monthly award.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Wade Miley was named National League Rookie of the Month for April.

Over five appearances in April, Miley led all N.L. rookies with a 3-0 record and a 1.29 earned run average. He also struck out 15 batters over 21 innings while giving up just 10 hits and walking seven.

He began the season in the bullpen and won in his first appearance against San Francisco on April 8, pitching four innings without giving up a hit or run. His last two appearances were both starts and were both wins as he defeated Philadelphia on April 23 and Miami on April 29.

Other rookies receiving votes included St. Louis Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter, Mets outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Cincinnati shortstop Zack Cozart.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Washington Nationals righty Stephen Strasburg has been named the National League Pitcher of the Month for April.

Strasburg went 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA and a league-best 34 strikeouts and just six walks in five April starts to earn his first career monthly honor.

Other pitchers receiving votes were the Nationals' Jordan Zimmermann; Lance Lynn and Kyle Lohse of the St. Louis Cardinals; Arizona's Joe Saunders; San Francisco's Madison Bumgarner; Ted Lilly of the Dodgers and Johnny Cueto of the Cincinnati Reds.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Wade Miley was named National League Rookie of the Month for April.

Over five appearances in April, Miley led all N.L. rookies with a 3-0 record and a 1.29 earned run average. He also struck out 15 batters over 21 innings while giving up just 10 hits and walking seven.

He began the season in the bullpen and won in his first appearance against San Francisco on April 8, pitching four innings without giving up a hit or run. His last two appearances were both starts and were both wins as he defeated Philadelphia on April 23 and Miami on April 29.

Other rookies receiving votes included St. Louis Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter, Mets outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Cincinnati shortstop Zack Cozart.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Chicago White Sox right-hander Jake Peavy was named American League Pitcher of the Month for April after going 3-1 with a 1.67 earned run average in five starts.

Peavy, 30, struck out 33 batters and issued just five walks in 37 2/3 innings for Chicago. He threw two complete games, including a shutout, and captured the award for the first time.

Other pitchers receiving votes were Seattle's Felix Hernandez, Texas' Yu Darvish and Colby Lewis, the Angels' Jered Weaver, Cleveland's Derek Lowe, Baltimore's Jason Hammel and Jim Johnson and Tampa Bay's James Shields and Fernando Rodney.

Oceanside, CA (Sports Network) - Former NFL star linebacker Junior Seau was found dead Wednesday at his home in Oceanside, California.

Police said Seau died of a gunshot wound to the chest. They are investigating it as a suicide.

Seau was 43 years old.

According to Oceanside police chief Frank McCoy, a call was placed by Seau's girlfriend at 9:35 a.m. local time Wednesday morning. She had returned home and found Seau unconscious with a gunshot wound to the chest.

Police and fire department personnel arrived and found Seau in one of the bedrooms. McCoy said life-saving efforts were performed and were not successful.

"Our hearts and prayers of the city go out to Seau's family," said the chief, who added he would not be able to answer any questions.

Seau spent 13 seasons with the Chargers, helping the franchise to its only Super Bowl appearance after the 1994 season. He also played three seasons for Miami and four more for New England before retiring after the 2009 campaign.

"Everyone at the Chargers is in complete shock and disbelief right now," the Chargers said in a statement. "We ask everyone to stop what they're doing and send their prayers to Junior and his family."

Seau was a 12-time Pro Bowl selection during his 20-year pro career. He was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame this past November.

He is the eighth member of San Diego's Super Bowl team to pass away, joining linebackers Lew Bush, Dave Griggs and Doug Miller, running back Rodney Culver, defensive linemen Shawn Lee and Chris Mims and center Curtis Whitley.

"All of us are deeply saddened about Junior Seau, a great player loved by teammates who also worked hard to serve his community," said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in a statement. "Junior and his family will remain in our thoughts."

In October 2010, Seau was hospitalized after driving his car off a cliff in Carlsbad, California just hours after being arrested on suspicion of domestic violence in the wake of an incident with his live-in girlfriend. He was never charged.

Speculation had surfaced at the time that Seau was trying to kill himself, but he said he fell asleep at the wheel.

Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Chris Johnson hit two home runs and knocked in a career-high six RBI as the Houston Astros defeated the New York Mets, 8-1, to complete the sweep of a three-game set at Minute Maid Park. Wandy Rodriguez (3-2) allowed one run on six hits and two walks while striking out five over seven innings for Houston, which took all three games of a series against New York for the first time since August 1-3, 2008. Chris Schwinden (0-1) gave up five runs on six hits and two walks in just four innings to suffer the loss. Ruben Tejada had three of New York's seven hits, while Andres Torres knocked in the lone run for the Mets, who lost for the fourth time in six games.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish was named the American League Rookie of the Month for April.

Darvish pitched to a perfect 4-0 record with a 2.18 ERA, including 33 strikeouts and 17 walks, over 33 innings on the mound in five starts to earn the honor.

The Osaka, Japan native participated in just the seventh all-time meeting between Japanese-born starting pitchers in an April 24th duel with the New York Yankees' Hiroki Kuroda.

Darvish's best performance of the month came in that matchup as he tossed 8 1/3 scoreless innings while scattering seven hits and striking out 10 batters.

Other players receiving votes included Athletics center fielder Yoenis Cespedes, Tigers pitcher Drew Smyly and Orioles pitcher Wei-Yin Chen.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton was named American League Player of the Month for April.

Hamilton batted .395 while leading the league with nine home runs and 25 RBI to earn his fourth career monthly award. His nine homers in the month matched a team record for April held by Ivan Rodriguez in 2000, Alex Rodriguez in 2002, Carl Everett in 2003 and Ian Kinsler in 2007.

The 30-year-old hit safely in 13 of his first 14 games and 19 off 22 overall in the month while recording four straight multi-hit games.

He also added his career high-tying five RBI performance in an 18-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox on April 17.

Other players considered for the award were Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz, Blue Jays infielder and DH Edwin Encarnacion, Twins outfielder Josh Willingham and Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter.

Oceanside, CA (Sports Network) - Former NFL star linebacker Junior Seau was found dead Wednesday at his home in Oceanside, California.

Police said Seau died of a gunshot wound to the chest. They are investigating it as a suicide.

Seau was 43 years old.

According to Oceanside police chief Frank McCoy, a call was placed by Seau's girlfriend at 9:35 a.m. local time Wednesday morning. She had returned home and found Seau unconscious with a gunshot wound to the chest.

Police and fire department personnel arrived and found Seau in one of the bedrooms. McCoy said life-saving efforts were performed and were not successful.

"Our hearts and prayers of the city go out to Seau's family," said the chief, who added he would not be able to answer any questions.

Seau spent 13 seasons with the Chargers, helping the franchise to its only Super Bowl appearance after the 1994 season. He also played three seasons for Miami and four more for New England before retiring after the 2009 campaign.

"Everyone at the Chargers is in complete shock and disbelief right now," the Chargers said in a statement. "We ask everyone to stop what they're doing and send their prayers to Junior and his family."

Seau was a 12-time Pro Bowl selection during his 20-year pro career. He was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame this past November.

He is the eighth member of San Diego's Super Bowl team to pass away, joining linebackers Lew Bush, Dave Griggs and Doug Miller, running back Rodney Culver, defensive linemen Shawn Lee and Chris Mims and center Curtis Whitley.

In October 2010, Seau was hospitalized after driving his car off a cliff in Carlsbad, California just hours after being arrested on suspicion of domestic violence in the wake of an incident with his live-in girlfriend. He was never charged.

Speculation had surfaced at the time that Seau was trying to kill himself, but he said he fell asleep at the wheel.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler was named Wednesday as the 2011-12 NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

Chandler became the first Knicks player to win the award, ending a three-year winning streak for Orlando's Dwight Howard.

Oklahoma City's Serge Ibaka finished second in the voting, Howard was third and Miami's LeBron James finished fourth.

Chandler, third in last year's voting as a member of the NBA champion Dallas Mavericks, was traded to New York in December as the centerpiece of a three- team deal.

The former second overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft averaged 1.4 blocks and 9.9 rebounds in 62 games, including 6.5 defensive boards. He also averaged 11.3 points.

The Knicks are currently in an 0-2 hole against the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs.

San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Former NFL star linebacker Junior Seau has been found dead at his home in Oceanside, California.

The Chargers confirmed the reports Wednesday.

"Everyone at the Chargers is in complete shock and disbelief right now," the team's statement read. "We ask everyone to stop what they're doing and send their prayers to Junior and his family."

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Seau died of an apparent self- inflicted gunshot wound at his beachfront home. He was 43 years old.

The paper said police were called to the home Wednesday morning in response to a possible suicide.

Seau spent 13 seasons with the Chargers, helping the franchise to its only Super Bowl appearance after the 1994 season. He also played three seasons for Miami and four more for New England before retiring after the 2009 campaign.

In October 2010, Seau was hospitalized after driving his car off a cliff in Carlsbad, California just hours after being arrested on suspicion of domestic violence in the wake of an incident with his live-in girlfriend. He was never charged.

Speculation had surfaced at the time that Seau was trying to kill himself, but he said he fell asleep at the wheel.

Seau was a 12-time Pro Bowl selection during his 20-year pro career. He was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame this past November.

He is the eighth member of San Diego's Super Bowl team to pass away, joining linebackers Lew Bush, Dave Griggs and Doug Miller, running back Rodney Culver, defensive linemen Shawn Lee and Chris Mims and center Curtis Whitley.

Montreal, QC (Sports Network) - The Montreal Canadiens have named Marc Bergevin their new general manager.

Bergevin, a well-traveled defenseman for 20 years in the NHL from 1984-2004, had spent the past seven years in various front office roles for the Chicago Blackhawks. He was the club's assistant general manager under Stan Bowman for the 2011-12 season.

A Montreal native, Bergevin was also an assistant coach, scout and director of player personnel with Chicago after his playing days ended. He began his career with the Blackhawks after the club selected him in the third round of the 1983 draft.

"I took this position because I know that I'm ready," Bergevin said at a news conference Wednesday. "If I wasn't, I wouldn't be sitting here today."

Bergevin's first order of business on Wednesday was to announce that interim head coach Randy Cunneyworth would return to his position as an assistant. Cunneyworth took over for the fired Jacques Martin on December 17.

The Canadiens finished last in the Eastern Conference this season with a record of 31-35-16.

Bergevin notched 36 goals and 145 assists for 181 points in 1,191 games with the Blackhawks, New York Islanders, Hartford Whalers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins and Vancouver Canucks.

The Canadiens needed a replacement at GM for Pierre Gauthier, who was fired in late March.

Greenburgh, NY (Sports Network) - New York Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire believes he could be ready for Game 4 of the team's Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against Miami despite a hand injury that required surgery on Tuesday.

Stoudemire punched the glass case of a fire extinguisher after New York's loss in Game 2 of the best-of-seven series on Monday in Miami. He was treated for a laceration to his left hand at the arena and underwent a procedure on Tuesday to repair a small muscle.

"It wasn't as if I was trying to take out the fire extinguisher," Stoudemire told reporters at the Knicks' practice facility on Wednesday. "I was just trying to make some noise. It was out of frustration."

Reports have indicated that Stoudemire could miss the remainder of the series, which the Knicks trail 2-0. He will sit out Game 3 on Thursday at Madison Square Garden and is expected to be evaluated again prior to Game 4 on Sunday.

"I think there's a great chance I could play on Sunday," a hopeful Stoudemire added.

The Knicks went 14-5 without Stoudemire in the lineup during the regular season. He missed most of the final month because of a bulging disc in his lower back.

San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Former NFL star linebacker Junior Seau has reportedly been found dead.

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Oceanside, California police were responding to a report of a shooting at the beachfront home of the former Chargers star and the celebrity website TMZ.com cites sources as saying Seau was found dead in his home.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - While Andy Pettitte does his part in the waste of time known as the Roger Clemens perjury retrial, the New York Yankees are desperately awaiting his return to the major leagues.

And for manager Joe Girardi, it can't come soon enough.

What started out as a nice little comeback story has developed into a situation in which the Yankees really need him to come back and not only pitch, but pitch well.

The Yankees rotation, considered a strength heading into spring training even before Pettitte shocked the baseball world and announced he was returning, is in shambles less than a month into the season, as the group has produced the second-highest ERA in the majors at 5.83.

Michael Pineda has been a disaster and is gone for the season after shoulder surgery, Freddy Garcia has already been demoted to the bullpen and it's gotten to the point with Phil Hughes that the Yankees are throwing him bouquets when he at least makes it to the sixth inning and only gives up three runs, as was the case on Tuesday.

CC Sabathia and Ivan Nova are both unbeaten, but that has more to do with the Yankees' tremendous lineup, especially the case with the latter, as Nova is pitching to a 5-plus ERA. Hiroki Kuroda has actually been the best of the bunch, but even he has a losing record (2-3).

So, yeah, Pettitte can't get to New York soon enough. But it still looks as if he's another rehab start away from joining the big club. The target date could be the May 11-13 home series versus the Seattle Mariners.

"Everybody is looking forward to him coming back because of what he can add to our team not only on the field but in the clubhouse," Sabathia said.

"Everybody still needs to go out and do their job and perform and let somebody else make the decision on what's going to happen. I don't really think it has any effect on guys other than knowing we're going to get a really good pitcher back here in a couple of weeks."

First, though, Pettitte had to testify in the ongoing Clemens trial. On Wednesday, he actually may have helped out his former teammate, when he said he could have misunderstood a conversation where Clemens had said he used human growth hormone back in 1999 or 2000.

That's basically been his stance all along. Back in his 2008 deposition, Pettitte mentioned a few times he might have misunderstood Clemens. Although it appears there is no relationship between the two now, Pettitte clearly was uncomfortable testifying against his one-time mentor.

So why would the government make him such a key witness when his testimony would be shaky at best?

Maybe it was to find out if he had ever hit a home run, which was how they closed his portion of the proceedings on Wednesday. Other than to humiliate Chan Ho Park, who Pettitte did in fact homer off in 2006, it had absolutely no bearing on anything, other than to show what a complete farce and waste of time and money all this is.

With Pettitte's testimony picked apart by the defense, the prosecution's star witness is now trainer Brian McNamee. Good luck proving his credibility.

Clemens is probably going to walk and, of course, once again proclaim his innocence. But like, Barry Bonds, Ryan Braun and others, he's already been found guilty in the court of public opinion.

But off the soap box and back to actual on-field goings-on, where Pettitte will indeed have an impact on a Yankees team that despite all its pitching problems still finds itself three games over .500 and just 2 1/2 games back of first place in the ultra-competitive AL East.

By the way, how crazy is it that here we are in 2012 and the Yankees are waiting on Pettitte to come save their season, while Derek Jeter is holding down the offense with a major-league best 40 hits and an AL-best .400 average?

And, oh yeah, Mariano Rivera is still the best reliever in the game.

Are we still living in 1996?

Lake Forest, IL (Sports Network) - The Chicago Bears have agreed to terms with wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, the club's second-round pick in the 2012 draft.

Financial terms of the four-year deal were not disclosed.

Jeffery finished his three-year career at South Carolina with 183 catches and a school-record 3,042 receiving yards. He also tied a school mark with 23 touchdown receptions.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma has been suspended for the entire season as a result of his participation in the club's bounty program.

Vilma, said to have offered $10,000 in cash to any player who knocked Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner out of a 2009 divisional playoff game, was one of four players to receive suspensions from the league and was easily penalized the hardest.

Defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove, now with Green Bay, has been suspended eight games, defensive end Will Smith was hit with a four-game ban and linebacker Scott Fujita, now playing for Cleveland, will sit for the first three games of the 2012 campaign.

All of the suspensions are without pay and stem from the bounty system run from 2009-11 by former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who was suspended indefinitely by commissioner Roger Goodell in March. Saints head coach Sean Payton was also suspended for a year for his knowledge of the program.

Similar to Payton's ban, Vilma's year-long penalty will begin immediately. The three other players can participate in offseason programs with their respective teams, including preseason games, prior to the suspensions taking effect.

Each of the players can appeal the decision within three days.

"It is the obligation of everyone, including the players on the field, to ensure that rules designed to promote player safety, fair play, and the integrity of the game are adhered to and effectively and consistently enforced," Goodell said in a statement issued Wednesday. "Respect for the men that play the game starts with the way players conduct themselves with each other on the field."

The evidence, according to the league's release, conclusively demonstrated that from 2009-11 Saints players, of their own accord, pledged significant amounts of their own money toward bounties, that players accepted payments for "cart-offs" and "knockouts" of injured opposing players, and that the payout amounts doubled and tripled for playoff games.

While a significant number of players participated in the pay-for-performance program, whether by contributing funds to the pool or collecting cash rewards, the players disciplined participated at a different and more significant level, Goodell noted.

"In assessing player discipline," Goodell said, "I focused on players who were in leadership positions at the Saints; contributed a particularly large sum of money toward the program; specifically contributed to a bounty on an opposing player; demonstrated a clear intent to participate in a program that potentially injured opposing players; sought rewards for doing so; and/or obstructed the 2010 investigation."

Vilma was accountable for the most noteworthy contribution. As a captain of the defensive unit, he is said to have helped establish and fund the program. In addition to his $10,000 bounty on Warner, sources told the NFL that he also pledged the same amount on then-Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre in the NFC Championship game the following week.

Hargrove submitted a signed declaration to the league that established not only the existence of the program, but also that he knew about and participated in it. The evidence showed that Hargrove told at least one player on another team that Favre was a target of a large bounty. Hargrove also actively obstructed the league's 2010 investigation into the program by being untruthful to investigators.

The NFL also said sources confirmed that Smith, also a defensive captain, and Fujita each pledged significant sums to the program.

"No bounty program can exist without active player participation," Goodell continued. "The evidence clearly showed that the players being held accountable today willingly and enthusiastically embraced the bounty program. Players put the vast majority of the money into this program and they share responsibility for playing by the rules and protecting each other within those rules."

Goodell also sent the NFL Players Association a list of participating players that were not disciplined.

The initial penalties for the team and coaches were issued on March 21. In addition to Payton and Williams, general manager Mickey Loomis was suspended for the first eight games and assistant head coach Joe Vitt was slapped with a six-game ban. Vitt was named interim head coach in place of Payton for the 2012 season. The Saints were also fined $500,000 and docked second-round draft picks in 2012 and 2013.

Vancouver, BC (Sports Network) - The IIHF World Hockey championship may be primarily a consolation tournament for the NHL players who are not fortunate enough to still be participating in the Stanley Cup playoffs, but there is still plenty on the line at this year's event beyond just a chance to capture a gold medal.

For a number of the players on Team Canada, it's an opportunity to put themselves on the radar of the national team brass before the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, assuming, of course, the NHL and the Players' Association negotiate participation in the upcoming Games in their next Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Here are three members of this year's Canadian national team roster who could be dark horse selections for the 2014 Olympic squad:

Cam Ward, Goalie, Carolina Hurricanes

Ward was considered for the 2010 squad and was one of the 46 players who were invited to the summer orientation camp that took place in the August leading up to the 2010 Games. He might have had a better chance at being named to the team had he not suffered a leg injury in the month leading up to the selections, but was still a long shot behind no-brainer selections Roberto Luongo, Martin Brodeur and even Marc-Andre Fleury, who was coming off a Stanley Cup championship the previous spring.

Ward has quietly been one of the league's most consistent netminders while tucked away in Carolina, racking up 30-or-more wins in all but one of his six seasons as the team's No. 1 goalie. But he hasn't managed to reach the same heights as he did back in 2006 when he captured the Stanley Cup as a rookie and will be going up against tough competition again in 2014 when he has to compete against not only returnees Luongo and Fleury but other emerging superstar netminders such as the Phoenix Coyotes' Mike Smith, Detroit Red Wings' Jimmy Howard and St. Louis Blues' Brian Elliott.

Ward has represented Canada twice at the international level, capturing a gold medal at the 2007 World Championship in Russia and winning silver the following year in Quebec City/Halifax.

Jordan Eberle, Forward, Edmonton Oilers

Eberle may still be two weeks shy of his 22nd birthday and just coming off his second season in the NHL, but he's shown he can more than keep up with the big boys.

While most of the buzz in Edmonton over the past two seasons has been for former first overall picks Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Eberle has established himself to be in a class of his own. He nearly doubled both his goal total and his point total from his rookie season with 34 goals and 76 points in 2011-12, making him the fifth-leading point producer in the NHL's Western Conference behind only Henrik Sedin, Marian Hossa, Ray Whitney and Joe Thornton. That's also more goals and points than the likes of 2010 Olympians Eric Staal (24-46-70), Jarome Iginla (32-35-67) and Patrick Marleau (30-34-64), who are expected to be among the forwards who will merit consideration for selection to the 2014 squad.

Eberle's previous experience suiting up for Team Canada can't hurt, either. He's the all-time Canadian leader for career goals (14) at the World Junior Championship and has a pair of medals - a gold medal from 2009 and a silver medal from 2010 - to show for it. This also will be the third straight year that he suits up for Canada at the World Championship, making him one of just four members of this year's squad to be have appeared in three consecutive World Championships (the others are fellow Oiler Devan Dubnyk, the New York Islanders' John Tavares and the Winnipeg Jets' Evander Kane).

Patrick Sharp, Forward, Chicago Blackhawks

Over the past three seasons, Sharp has cemented his status as being one of the league's top offensive talents. His point production has not gone unnoticed despite playing behind elite players such as Marian Hossa, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane in Chicago.

If Sharp earns a spot on the 2014 roster, however, it won't likely be in a top-six forward role with all the offensive talent Canada has available to it. Instead, it is Sharp's ability to be effective at both ends of the ice that will make Canada take a long and hard look at him.

This season, Sharp finished with the best plus-minus rating among all Western Conference forwards at plus-28 while averaging just less than 20 minutes of ice time per game, which included time spent on both the power play and penalty kill.

Team Canada management also will be looking to see what type of leadership qualities Sharp brings to the table. Sharp is the second-oldest on this year's squad, behind only the Vancouver Canucks' Alexandre Burrows, and has the second-most NHL seasons under his belt compared to any other player on the roster behind only the Calgary Flames' Jay Bouwmeester. Sharp will be 32 years old by the time the 2014 Games are underway.

The IIHF World Hockey championship will be just the second time in his career that Sharp has represented Canada internationally. He won a silver medal at the 2008 World Championship in Quebec City/Halifax.

Canada will open the worlds against Slovakia on Friday. Canada has not won this tournament since 2007 and has not medaled since earning silver in 2009.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma has been suspended for the entire season as a result of his participation in the club's bounty program.

Vilma, said to have offered $10,000 in cash to any player who knocked Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner out of a 2009 divisional playoff game, was one of four players to receive suspensions from the league and was easily penalized the hardest.

Defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove, now with Green Bay, has been suspended eight games, defensive end Will Smith was hit with a four-game ban and linebacker Scott Fujita, now playing for Cleveland, will sit for the first three games of the 2012 campaign.

More to follow.

Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia Phillies have placed first baseman Jim Thome on the 15-day disabled list with a lower back strain.

The move is retroactive to April 29.

The left-handed slugger has just two hits in 12 games this season after signing a one-year deal in November to return to Philadelphia, where he spent three seasons from 2003-05.

Catcher Erik Kratz was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to replace Thome on the active roster. Kratz is hitting .294 with three home runs and nine runs batted in over 14 games with Lehigh Valley this season.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - When the Indianapolis Colts selected Andrew Luck with the number one pick in last week's NFL Draft, it was no doubt a proud moment for Stanford. His presence helped catapult the Cardinal from an afterthought in the Pac-12 to a national powerhouse, and after leading the team to back-to-back BCS Bowl berths and tossing 82 touchdowns in his illustrious career, he was more than worthy of being Stanford's first top overall pick since John Elway nearly 30 years ago.

However, with the Andrew Luck chapter officially closed, Stanford's second-year head coach David Shaw now has the unenviable task of replacing the once-in-a- generation type signal caller.

Stanford began spring workouts with five quarterbacks in competition for the starting job: Brett Nottingham, Josh Nunes, Robbie Picazo, Evan Crower and Kevin Hogan.

When the Cardinal hit the field for their annual Cardinal & White intra-squad spring game however, it became clear that it has become a two-horse race between the junior Nottingham and the senior Nunes.

Of course, playing behind Luck throughout their careers thus far, neither owns much game experience. Nunes completed just 1-of-2 passes for seven yards in 2010, and did not even attempt a pass in the 2011 season. Nottingham served as the primary backup in 2011, seeing action in six games while going 5-of-8 for 78 yards and a touchdown.

Despite Nottingham having the upper-hand on the depth chart last season, it was Nunes who saw the majority of the reps in the spring game. He looked effective at times, throwing for 167 yards and two touchdowns, including an impressive 45-yard score to Ty Montgomery hauled in between two defenders. With the positive moments came plenty of negative as well, as he connected on just 11- of-29 passes and also tossed an untimely interception.

"I felt like I left a lot of plays on the field today," said Nunes of the spring game. "We've got some of the best defensive linemen and outside linebackers in the country, so they definitely gave us a run for our money."

While Nunes received the bulk of the playing time and found the end zone twice, Nottingham arguably had a better afternoon, completing one more pass than Nunes (12) on 10 fewer attempts (19), finishing with 118 yards.

Despite his impressive performance, Nottingham is fully aware that he is in the midst of a tight competition, knowing full well that the momentum could swing at any moment.

"I still have a lot of stuff I can clean up," Nottingham said of his performance. "I feel the offense, especially the wide receivers, stepped up and made some really nice plays today. It was tough for our offense to get into a rhythm today."

Even though it's still early in the process of selecting his future starter, Coach Shaw found plenty to like about his quarterbacks' play, but also acknowledged that there is a lot of room for improvement.

"I felt our top two quarterbacks (Nottingham and Nunes) played pretty well at times," said Shaw. "Josh made some really nice throws that were dropped and missed a couple of checks and reads we can't miss."

"Nottingham made some good throws, but once again, the same thing," he continued. "There are some things you can't see from the stands, but he missed some things as well."

Shaw and the rest of the coaching staff know that they cannot replace Luck, who finished his career as Stanford's all-time leader in touchdown passes (82), completion percentage (.687), passing efficiency (162.76) and total offense (10,387 yards). Achieving numbers anywhere near as good as Luck's would be nearly impossible and unfair to expect.

Filling Luck's shoes will be even more difficult considering the other players Stanford lost to the professional ranks last week. One of last year's most trusted targets, tight end Coby Fleener (34 receptions, 667 yards, 10 touchdowns), will be joining Luck in Indianapolis after being selected with the second pick in the second round.

The Cardinal also said goodbye to their most trusted offensive lineman in David DeCastro, who was taken by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round with the 24th overall pick.

Though no one should expect Heisman-caliber numbers from either Nunes or Nottingham, that doesn't mean the Cardinal can't continue to be successful. The offense does retain one of the best running backs in the conference in Stepfan Taylor, who carried the ball 242 times for 1,363 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2011, while also adding 25 receptions for 182 yards and two scores.

Shaw will continue to lean heavily on Taylor this fall. The Cardinal had a specific style of offense with Luck at the helm, and that isn't expected to change with a new leader.

"Just like when Andrew was here, we still need to run the ball effectively," said Shaw. "Our play action has to be effective. Our tight ends have to perform and of course we have to defend. Then it's up to our coaches to find the right matchups."

"We might not go through the first half up 28 points on a team," he continued, "but we have a great scheme that tries to utilize the talents of each person. It's going to be exciting to see how we morph and change to utilize the talents we have."

Shaw insists that the competition between Nunes and Nottingham remains a dead- heat and will continue throughout the spring and summer until one candidate emerges as the go-to guy come the 2012 season opener against San Jose State. The incumbent will never live up to his predecessor, but the right choice will be crucial if Stanford has any hope in continuing its success in the Pac-12.

Tampa, FL (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed defensive tackle Eric LeGrand, a former Rutgers player who had his career cut short by a paralyzing injury in 2010.

LeGrand played under new Bucs head coach Greg Schiano.

"Leading up to the draft, I couldn't help but think that this should've been Eric's draft class," Schiano said in a statement Wednesday. "This small gesture is the least we could do to recognize his character, spirit and perseverance. The way Eric lives his life epitomizes what we are looking for in Buccaneer men."

In an October 16, 2010 game against Army, LeGrand suffered fractures of two vertebrae and a serious spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed. Despite being told he would be a quadriplegic and resigned to a ventilator, LeGrand resumed breathing on his own just five weeks after the injury and later was able to stand on his own with the support of a metal frame.

LeGrand returned to Rutgers a year after his injury and led his team onto the field on October 29, 2011, also joining his fellow seniors for Senior Day on November 19. He has resumed his studies at Rutgers and is planning to graduate next fall with an eye toward a broadcasting career.

In 31 games during his brief playing career, LeGrand recorded 60 tackles with 2 1/2 sacks and three fumble recoveries.

Montreal, QC (Sports Network) - The Montreal Canadiens have named Marc Bergevin their new general manager.

Bergevin, a well-traveled defenseman for 20 years in the NHL from 1984-2004, had spent the past seven years in various front office roles for the Chicago Blackhawks. He was the club's assistant general manager under Stan Bowman for the 2011-12 season.

A Montreal native, Bergevin was also an assistant coach, scout and director of player personnel with Chicago after his playing days ended. He began his career with the Blackhawks after the club selected him in the third round of the 1983 draft.

Bergevin notched 36 goals and 145 assists for 181 points in 1,191 games with the Blackhawks, New York Islanders, Hartford Whalers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins and Vancouver Canucks.

The Canadiens needed a replacement for Pierre Gauthier, who was fired in late March with the team on the way to a last-place finish in the Eastern Conference at 31-35-16.

Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Without Rajon Rondo or Ray Allen, Paul Pierce put the Celtics on his back, scoring 36 points and grabbing 14 rebounds to lead Boston to an 87-80 victory over the Hawks in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal matchup at Philips Arena. Rondo missed the contest after being suspended for one game by the NBA for making contact with referee Marc Davis with 41 seconds left in the Celtics' 83-74 Game 1 loss Sunday, while Allen missed his 11th straight game with an injured right ankle. Kevin Garnett recorded 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Rondo's replacement, Avery Bradley, added 14 points to help the Celtics even the best-of-seven series. Joe Johnson led the way for Atlanta with 22 points and Jeff Teague chipped in 18. Josh Smith added 16 points and 12 boards, but departed the game with a left knee sprain with 4:20 left in the fourth quarter. Game 3 is slated for Friday in Boston.

Final Score: Philadelphia 109, Chicago 92

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - The 76ers found a way to turn out the lights on a Bulls team trying to rally without Derrick Rose. They shot 'em out. Jrue Holiday, Lou Williams and Evan Turner combined to score 65 points Tuesday night and Philadelphia shot almost 60 percent to beat Chicago 109-92 and even their first-round series at a game apiece. The Bulls won the series opener on Saturday but lost the reigning MVP Rose for the rest of the season to a torn ligament in his left knee. Game 3 is Friday in Philadelphia. Holiday scored 26 points, Williams had 20 off the bench and Turner added 19 for the Sixers, who shot 59 percent for the game and led by as many as 24 down the stretch. They shot better than 68 percent while outscoring the Bulls 36-14 in a third quarter punctuated by alley-oop dunks and 11 fast-break points.

Final Score: LA Lakers 104, Denver 100

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Kobe Bryant poured in 38 points to propel the Los Angeles Lakers to a 104-100 Western Conference quarterfinal Game 2 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday. Andrew Bynum followed up his Game 1 triple-double with a playoff career-high 27 points and Pau Gasol contributed 13 points and 10 rebounds to help the Lakers hold on in a game they never trailed. Ramon Sessions chipped in 14 points as the Lakers went up 2-0 in the best-of-seven series. Ty Lawson connected on 11-of-17 shots from the floor en route to 25 points, but Denver still lost its eighth consecutive road playoff game. Kenneth Faried scored 14 points and grabbed 10 boards while four other Nuggets scored in double figures. Game 3 is set for Friday at Pepsi Center.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Injuries create opportunities for other players, and Adam Larsson made the most of his chance on Tuesday night. The rookie defenseman scored in his playoff debut, igniting a four-goal third period that propelled the New Jersey Devils to a 4-1 win over the host Philadelphia Flyers in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series. Larsson, the fourth player taken in the 2011 draft, had been a healthy scratch for each of New Jersey's first eight postseason games. A lower-body injury to sniper Ilya Kovalchuk enabled the 19-year-old Swede to get in the lineup and help the sixth-seeded Devils even up this series.

Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Without Rajon Rondo or Ray Allen, Paul Pierce put the Celtics on his back, scoring 36 points and grabbing 14 rebounds to lead Boston to an 87-80 victory over the Hawks in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal matchup at Philips Arena. Rondo missed the contest after being suspended for one game by the NBA for making contact with referee Marc Davis with 41 seconds left in the Celtics' 83-74 Game 1 loss Sunday, while Allen missed his 11th straight game with an injured right ankle. Kevin Garnett recorded 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Rondo's replacement, Avery Bradley, added 14 points to help the Celtics even the best-of-seven series. Joe Johnson led the way for Atlanta with 22 points and Jeff Teague chipped in 18. Josh Smith added 16 points and 12 boards, but departed the game with a left knee sprain with 4:20 left in the fourth quarter. Game 3 is slated for Friday in Boston.

Final Score: Philadelphia 109, Chicago 92

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - The 76ers found a way to turn out the lights on a Bulls team trying to rally without Derrick Rose. They shot 'em out. Jrue Holiday, Lou Williams and Evan Turner combined to score 65 points Tuesday night and Philadelphia shot almost 60 percent to beat Chicago 109-92 and even their first-round series at a game apiece. The Bulls won the series opener on Saturday but lost the reigning MVP Rose for the rest of the season to a torn ligament in his left knee. Game 3 is Friday in Philadelphia. Holiday scored 26 points, Williams had 20 off the bench and Turner added 19 for the Sixers, who shot 59 percent for the game and led by as many as 24 down the stretch. They shot better than 68 percent while outscoring the Bulls 36-14 in a third quarter punctuated by alley-oop dunks and 11 fast-break points.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - A day after punching the glass case of a fire extinguisher in a fit of anger, New York Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire had a small muscle in his left hand repaired by a surgeon Tuesday.

Stoudemire will miss Game 3 of New York's series against the Miami Heat and is doubtful for Game 4, the team said in a statement.

Though the Knicks said he would be re-evaluated after that, the New York Post reported that Stoudemire isn't expected back for the entire series.

Stoudemire was treated for a laceration to his hand after Monday's 104-94 loss to the Heat, which sunk the Knicks into a 2-0 hole in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.

He left American Airlines Arena with his hand bandaged and his arm in a sling, then apologized to fans and teammates via Twitter, saying he was "not proud of my actions" and that "we have all done [things] out of anger that we regret."

Game 3 of the best-of-seven series is Thursday at Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks went 14-5 without Stoudemire in the lineup during the regular season. He missed most of the final month because of a bulging disc in his lower back.

St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - The St. Louis Cardinals announced they will retire the uniform No. 10 of former manager Tony La Russa prior to a Friday, May 11 game against the Atlanta Braves.

With 1,408 wins at the helm of the Cardinals, La Russa is the winningest manager in team history. He announced his retirement shortly after the team won its 11th World Series title last fall.

The 67-year-old skipper went out as the third winningest manager in major league history with 2,728 victories for the White Sox (1979-1986), Athletics (1986-1995) and Cardinals (1996-2011). Only Connie Mack has managed more games than the 5,097 La Russa has skippered.

"Tony's managerial tenure with the Cardinals will always stand out as one of the greatest eras in Cardinals history," said Bill DeWitt, Jr., Cardinals Chairman and CEO. "His passion for winning and his leadership skills were hallmarks of a style that Cardinals fans will always remember with fondness. We look forward to May 11th as we will honor Tony for his historic achievements as a Cardinal."

He led the Cardinals to eight division titles, three National League pennants and two World Series championships.

La Russa's uniform No. 10 will be the 12th retired by the Cardinals. He will join Whitey Herzog as the only managers who didn't play for the team to have their uniform numbers retired.

La Russa, who is currently working as a consultant with Major League Baseball, will manage the National League All-Star team at this year's contest in Kansas City on Tuesday, July 10.

San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - The San Francisco Giants placed pitcher Jeremy Affeldt on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with a right knee sprain.

Affeldt has made 10 relief appearances for the Giants this season, allowing nine runs -- five earned -- on 15 hits in 11 innings.

In a corresponding roster move, the Giants purchased the contract of fellow left-hander Travis Blackley from Triple-A Fresno.

Blackley hasn't pitched in the majors since making two starts for San Francisco in 2007. He was having a solid season for Fresno at the time of his promotion, compiling a 3-0 record with a 0.39 ERA.

To make room for Blackley on the 40-man roster, the Giants designated outfielder Tyler Graham for assignment.

Alameda, CA (Sports Network) - The Oakland Raiders have signed free agent quarterback Matt Leinart.

The 10th overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft, Leinart played in two games for Houston last season and completed 10-of-13 passes for 57 yards and a touchdown. The 2004 Heisman Trophy winner at USC, Leinart suffered a fracture in his throwing shoulder last season.

In 31 games over five seasons with the Cardinals and Texans, Leinart has completed 350-of-608 passes for 3,950 yards with 15 TDs against 20 interceptions.

St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria has been placed on the 15-day disabled list and will miss the next four to eight weeks with a partially torn left hamstring.

Longoria left Monday's game against Seattle after an awkward slide into second base on a steal attempt in the third inning. He limped off the field under his own power and the injury was initially described as sore behind the left knee.

Longoria was off to a great start for the 2012 season, batting .329 in 23 games with four homers and a team-best 19 runs batted in.

To replace Longoria on the active roster, infielder Will Rhymes has been selected from Triple-A Durham, while right-handed pitcher Kyle Farnsworth has been transferred from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL to make room on the 40- man roster for Rhymes.

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte testified in the perjury trial of Roger Clemens on Tuesday, remembering how his longtime friend had told him that he used human growth hormone.

Pettitte's anticipated appearance came almost 10 months after a judge declared a mistrial in the first go-round of the Clemens case.

Clemens, who racked up 354 wins in 24 major league seasons, is on trial for allegedly lying about taking performance-enhancing drugs during testimony to Congress in 2008.

During his testimony Tuesday, recounted by The New York Times, Pettitte said Clemens admitted to him in 1999 or 2000 that he used HGH.

Pettitte -- who has also copped to using the drug -- said Clemens accused him seven years ago of not remembering their conversation correctly, saying it was Clemens' wife who had used HGH and not the pitcher.

U.S. District Court Judge Reggie Walton declared a mistrial in the case last July 14 after the prosecution presented evidence he deemed inadmissible.

The evidence was video footage showing a congressman reading an affidavit from Pettitte's wife which corroborated the pitcher's claims that Clemens discussed the use of HGH with him.

Prosecutors were given permission by Walton in September to again put Clemens on trial.

Pettitte, who retired last year after 16 major league seasons, is attempting a comeback after re-signing with the Yankees in March. His appearance on Tuesday came during the third day of testimony in the re-trial.

St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria will miss the next four to eight weeks with a partially torn left hamstring.

Longoria left Monday's game against Seattle after an awkward slide into second base on a steal attempt in the third inning. He limped off the field under his own power and the injury was initially described as sore behind the left knee.

"He's always been a pretty good healer. He's had some hamstring issues in the past and has come back from them pretty quickly, relatively speaking," said Rays executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman on Tuesday. "We're not going to put a firm timeline on it, but to get back here, I would say a best-case scenario for him to get back before six weeks or around six weeks."

Longoria was off to a great start for the 2012 season, batting .329 in 23 games with four homers and a team-best 19 runs batted in.

Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Houston Rockets guard Kyle Lowry underwent successful surgery on Tuesday to repair a sports hernia.

He is expected to resume his regular offseason training in six-to-eight weeks.

Lowry, 26, played in 47 games this season for the Rockets while averaging 14.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game -- both career-highs -- as well as 6.6 assists per contest.

Houston finished the 2011-12 campaign 34-32, two games behind the Utah Jazz for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

In six NBA seasons with Memphis and the Rockets, the Villanova product has career averages of 10.4 points and 4.8 assists.

Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Houston Astros pitcher Kyle Weiland underwent arthroscopic surgery to treat an infection in his right shoulder.

Tuesday's procedure, performed by Dr. Pat McCulloch at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, was done to clean out the shoulder.

Weiland, who was put on the 15-day disabled list Friday, has gone 0-3 with a 6.62 earned run average in three starts thus far for Houston. The right-hander was traded from Boston to the Astros this past winter.

St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - Tampa Bay Rays minor league shortstop Tim Beckham has been suspended 50 games for a second violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program for a drug of abuse.

"We are very disappointed by Tim's actions," said Rays executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. "Tim possesses great potential and he must rededicate himself in order to become the person and player we know he can be."

The office of the commissioner of baseball announced the suspension, effective immediately, on Tuesday.

"I regret that my poor judgment resulted in me letting my teammates and the Tampa Bay Rays organization down," Beckham said in a statement on Tuesday. "I take full responsibility for my actions and I will use this experience to refocus my commitment to baseball. I recognize that I am blessed to be able to play baseball for a living. I owe it to my teammates, my family and to myself to respect the game and the responsibilities that go with playing it as a professional. I am sorry."

Beckham, the first overall pick in the 2008 MLB Amateur Draft, is currently on the roster of the Triple-A Durham Bulls.

Houston, TX (Sports Network) - The Houston Texans released wide receiver Jacoby Jones Tuesday.

A third-round pick by the Texans in the 2007 draft, Jones had 31 receptions for 512 yards and two touchdowns in 16 games last season.

Through 75 career games with Houston, the 27-year-old has 127 catches for 1,741 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Jones has also served as the Texans' punt returner, averaging 10.2 yards with three touchdowns in 179 career returns.

Blacksburg, VA (Sports Network) - Virginia Tech athletic director Jim Weaver announced Tuesday that former assistant coach James Johnson will take over as the Hokies' head men's basketball coach.

Johnson spent the last five seasons on the men's basketball staff, serving as an assistant coach from 2007-11 before being named associate head coach prior to last season.

"I am very pleased to welcome James Johnson as the new head men's basketball coach at Virginia Tech," Weaver said. "He is an individual with 19 years of coaching experience, who has spent the last five years here at Virginia Tech. He knows and has recruited most of our current players. We believe that he is the right person at this moment in time."

The Virginia native had accepted an assistant coaching position at Clemson last month, but returned to Blacksburg after former head coach Seth Greenberg was fired on April 23 after nine years at the helm.

Johnson spent two years as an assistant at George Mason, where he helped the Patriots to a 45-23 record and an NCAA Final Four appearance in 2006, before joining the staff at Virginia Tech.

St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - Tampa Bay Rays minor league shortstop Tim Beckham has been suspended 50 games for a second violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program for a drug of abuse.

The office of the commissioner of baseball announced the suspension, effective immediately, on Tuesday.

Beckham, the first overall pick in the 2008 MLB Amateur Draft, is currently on the roster of the Triple-A Durham Bulls.

St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - Tampa Bay Rays minor league shortstop Tim Beckham has been suspended 50 games for a second violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program for a drug of abuse.

The office of the commissioner of baseball announced the suspension, effective immediately, on Tuesday.

Beckham, the Rays first overall pick in the 2008 MLB Amateur Draft, is currently on the roster of the Triple-A Durham Bulls.

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - The Cleveland Indians added veteran outfielder Johnny Damon to the roster prior to Tuesday's game against the Chicago White Sox.

Damon, who signed a minor league contract last month, had been preparing to play at the team's spring training facility in Arizona.

To make room, the Indians designated infielder Jose Lopez for assignment.

Damon, 38, is entering his 18th major league season. He batted .261 with 16 home runs, 29 doubles, 73 RBI and 19 stolen bases in 150 games for Tampa Bay last year -- his 16th consecutive season of at least 140 games played.

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - The Cleveland Indians added veteran outfielder Johnny Damon to the roster prior to Tuesday's game against the Chicago White Sox.

Damon, who signed a minor league contract last month, had been preparing to play at the team's spring training facility in Arizona.

To make room, the Indians designated infielder Jose Lopez for assignment.

Damon, 38, is entering his 18th major league season. He batted 261 with 16 home runs, 29 doubles, 73 RBI and 19 stolen bases in 150 games for Tampa Bay last year -- his 16th consecutive season of at least 140 games played.