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UFC adds Roy Nelson vs. Stipe Miocic to UFC 161 main card
The original main event was scratched when Renan Barao tore ligaments in his foot
The UFC also signed heavyweight Josh Barnett

(PhatzRadio / MMA) — With the loss of UFC 161′s planned headliner between Renan Barao (30-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) and Eddie Wineland (20-8-1, 2-2), Ultimate Fighting Championship officials looked to add some firepower to the event’s lineup. Roy Nelson (19-7, 6-3) and Stipe Miocic (9-1, 3-1) answered the call.

USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today confirmed with UFC President Dana White that Nelson and Miocic have agreed to meet on the main card of the event, which takes place June 15 at MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Rashad Evans (17-3-1, 12-3-1) vs. Dan Henderson (29-9, 6-3) now headlines the card.

The planned main event was scratched when Barao suffered torn ligaments in his foot. UFC officials are currently seeking another opponent for Wineland, and if one is secured, the event will feature six fights on the evening’s pay-per-view card instead of the traditional five contests.

Nelson, the No. 8-ranked heavyweight in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie.com rankings, enters the fight with an impressive three-fight win streak that includes three first-round knockouts over Cheick Kongo, Matt Mitrione and Dave Herman. The win streak is Nelson’s longest since 2008 and has “Big Country” knocking on the door of title contention.

Meanwhile, Miocic recently cracked the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie.com Rankings’ top-15 list. The 30-year-old Ohio native opened his career with nine consecutive wins, including three UFC victories. He fought most recently in the main event of this past September’s UFC on FUEL TV 5: Struve vs. Miocic event, where he suffered a TKO loss to Stefan Struve.

Miocic had been expected to face Australian heavyweight Soa Palelei (18-3, 0-1), who is now left without an opponent. Palelei will now serve as a backup opponent should any injuries disrupt UFC 161′s heavyweight bouts of Nelson vs. Miocic or Pat Barry vs. Shawn Jordan.

UFC signs Barnett: Heavyweight Josh Barnett (32-6 MMA, 4-1 UFC) is an Ultimate Fighting Championship competitor once more.

USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie.com confirmed with promotion officials Tuesday that former UFC heavyweight champion Barnett has signed a new multi-fight deal with the promotion and is expected to make his return to the octagon later this year.

Barnett is currently ranked No. 6 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie.com rankings and was considered the world’s most-talented free-agent heavyweight.

Barnett has been fighting professionally since 1997 and made his promotional debut in 2000 with a TKO victory over Gan McGee at UFC 28. He would suffer a knockout loss to Pedro Rizzo in his next appearance before rattling off victories over Semmy Schilt, Bobby Hoffman and UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture. The win over Couture scored Barnett the UFC’s heavyweight title, though he was later stripped of the belt in 2002 after failing the evening’s post-fight drug test.

Barnett spent much of the next six years fighting in Japan, where in 2006 he made it to the finals of that year’s PRIDE open weight grand prix before losing to Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic.

In 2008, Barnett returned to the U.S., where he earned victories over Gilbert Yvel in Rizzo under the Affliction banner before that promotion folded up shop. He would later sign with Strikeforce, where he advanced to the promotion’s heavyweight grand prix final before falling short against undefeated contender Daniel Cormier. Cormier bounced back with a January win over Nandor Guelmino in Strikeforce’s final event.

Earlier this year, Barnett and the UFC appeared close to signing a deal, but the talks stagnated and briefly dissolved. However, the two parties have now reached an agreement, and “The Warmaster” is now set for an octagon return.

Morgan also writes for MMAJunkie.com

UFC / MMA: Nelson-Miocic added to UFC 161 card; UFC signs Barnett is a post from: PhatzRadio.com

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Temperatures expected to reach 122 degrees
Cooling technology in venues was part of Qatar’s bid
CEO says heat could endanger players, fans

LONDON (AP) — The head of the Bundesliga criticized FIFA on Wednesday for awarding the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, saying the decision “is not for the good of the game.”

Bundesliga chief executive Christian Seifert, speaking in London ahead of the all-German Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, said staging the tournament in the tiny desert nation’s summer heat could endanger the health of players and fans.

“The priority is always first the health of the players and this is what makes me most upset that the decision was done that ignores probably the health of the players and that ignores what is real in the game,” Seifert said. “If you make a decision which is so far away from the sports perspective if it turns out only to become, let’s say, politically driven, sports politics decision, then this is not good for the game … I’m not sure of the credibility of FIFA. Maybe first they should change the claim — because this (Qatar) is not for the good of the game.”

FIFA will not move the World Cup to winter without the request coming from Qatar — despite FIFA President Sepp Blatter saying last week that it is “not rational and reasonable” to play in the summer heat.

Air-conditioned stadiums to beat the 50-degree C (122-degree F) heat were a defining theme of Qatar’s bid, but the cooling technology is for the venues.

Since the vote in 2010, which gave the tournament to Qatar ahead of rival bids from Australia, Japan, South Korea and the United States, FIFA officials have publicly expressed concern about the heat.

“We are really happy that FIFA recognizes it’s warm in the summer in Qatar. This is a great, great finding,” said Seifert, who is also vice president of the German Football Association. “I am absolutely convinced that it is hard, if not impossible, to play a World Cup in the summer in Qatar.

“Maybe you can create an artificial second sky over the whole country or over the stadia but what does that mean for the people in the media who need to work there, what does that mean for the fans who are there?”

If the tournament was moved to the Gulf winter, it would likely be played in January and February 2022 — splitting the Bundesliga season and impacting the start and finish dates of leagues across Europe.

“From other leagues I do have the feeling they are also very upset with the situation — that the decision was done and that a four-week tournament effects maybe three years of running of professional football leagues in Europe,” Seifert said. “It shows me which FIFA, as a body which says what’s good for the game, ignores completely the day-by-day basis in those leagues who are effectively the core and the heart of football — not the tournament that comes up every four years.”

Moving the dates to winter could also spark calls for a re-vote, according to Seifert.

“I am absolutely sure if countries like England see a chance of a re-vote they will force a re-vote,” he said.

The English Premier League shares some of Seifert’s concerns about a winter tournament.

“We think moving the World Cup to winter is fraught with difficulties and not workable or desirable from a European football perspective,” Premier League spokesman Dan Johnson said.

Soccer: Bundesliga CEO rips FIFA over Qatar’s World Cup is a post from: PhatzRadio.com

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The directive Thursday by Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, which is expected to take immediate effect, would give the UAE some of the toughest anti-doping rules among high-profile racing centers. Each March, Dubai hosts the world’s richest horse race, and Sheik Mohammed’s Godolphin stables represent a global powerhouse in the sport.

Sheik Mohammed said he has “directed that a decree be issued making, with immediate effect, the import, sale, purchase or use of anabolic steroids in horse sports a criminal offence under the UAE penal laws.” No further details were given on the possible jail time or fines.

Last month, former Godolphin trainer Mahmood al-Zarooni was banned for eight years for doping race horses at Sheik Mohammed’s stables in Newmarket.

“Regrettably, one of my stables in Europe has recently fallen below the standards that I expect and will tolerate,” said the Dubai ruler, who also holds the position of UAE’s vice president.

On Monday, Godolphin’s problems deepened when British racing authorities announced that seven more horses have tested positive for steroids. The horses include Encke, the winner last year of the world’s oldest classic, St. Leger.

Al-Zarooni has appealed the severity of his initial suspension by the British Horseracing Authority.

Declan’s Warrior wins Belmont’s Gygistar Stakes

NEW YORK (AP) – Declan’s Warrior rallied to beat Tenango by a neck in the $83,300 Gygistar Stakes for 3-year-olds on Wednesday at Belmont Park.

The 1-2 favorite trailed the five-horse field rounding turn before jockey Jose Lezcano shifted the chestnut colt to the far outside to launch his bid. Trained by Nick Zito, Declan’s Warrior surged to a fourth victory in five starts, paying $3, $2.40 and $2.10.

The winning time was 1:20.85 for the seven furlongs.

Tenango returned $4.60 and $2.20 while Battier paid $2.10 to show.

Irish jockey Ahern gets 10-year ban for corruption

LONDON (AP) – The British Horseracing Authority has been banned Irish jockey Eddie Ahern for 10 years for violating corruption rules.

The 35-year-old Ahern was found guilty of conspiring to commit a corrupt or fraudulent practice in relation to bets placed on five horses between September 2010 and February 2011.

Ahern was also found to have intentionally failed to ensure that Judgethemoment was ridden on its merits at Lingfield in January 2011, and of passing inside information for reward.

Ahern, who has ridden more than 1,000 winners in Britain, plans to appeal against the panel’s findings and the severity of the suspension.

Horse owner Neil Clement, a former West Bromwich Albion footballer, was also banned for 15 years following charges linked to the same races in which Ahern was competing in.

Horse Racing Recap: UAE to criminalize use of steroids on race horses is a post from: PhatzRadio.com

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Qualifier Guido Pella defeated top-seeded Janko Tipsarevic 7-6 (7-1), 6-1
Pella will play seventh-seeded Viktor Troicki
Also advancing was No. 3 seed Juan Monaco

DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) — Top-seeded Janko Tipsarevic lost in the second round of the Power Horse Cup on Wednesday, falling 7-6 (7-1), 6-1 to Argentine qualifier Guido Pella.

It’s the biggest career win for the 101st-ranked Pella, knocking out the 10th-ranked Serb to reach the ATP World Tour quarterfinals for the first time.

Pella will play seventh-seeded Viktor Troicki of Serbia, who defeated Grega Zemlja of Slovenia 6-3, 7-6 (7-3).

Third-seeded Juan Monaco of Argentina topped Andre Ghem 6-4, 6-4 to set up a quarterfinal with Tobias Kamke, who beat Aljaz Bedene 6-1, 6-4.

Second-seeded Tommy Haas rallied past Ivan Dodig 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. The German will next play Jarkko Nieminen, who defeated Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 5-7, 6-3.

Igor Sijsling knocked out fourth-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 and will play Jan Hajek. The Czech routed Daniel Brands 6-1, 6-0.

Nice Open

NICE, France (AP) — American Sam Querrey reached the quarterfinals of the Nice Open by beating Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine 7-5, 6-3 on Wednesday.

The third-seeded Querrey broke his opponent three times, while Stakhovsky converted only one of seven opportunities.

Querrey will play French wild card Edouard Roger-Vasselin, who rallied to defeat Ricardas Berankis 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Albert Montanes advanced to the last eight by beating Victor Hanescu 7-5, 7-6 (7-2), and Pablo Andujar routed Lu Yen-hsun 6-2, 6-0.

Robin Haase beat fourth-seeded John Isner 6-4, 1-6, 7-5

Gael Monfils beat Fabio Fognini 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) in the late match.

Strasbourg International

STRASBOURG, France (AP) — Seeded players Hsieh Su-wei of Taiwan and Monica Niculescu of Romania were beaten Wednesday in the second round of the Strasbourg International.

The fourth-seeded Hsieh lost 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (3) to Misaki Doi of Japan, and fifth-seeded Niculescu fell 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 to Anna Tatishvili of Georgia.

Seventh-seeded Chanelle Scheepers of South Africa reached the quarterfinals by beating American Shelby Rogers 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Flavia Pennetta, Johanna Larsson, Eugenie Bouchard and Lucie Hradecka also advanced to the last eight.

Later Wednesday, third-seeded Alize Cornet was scheduled to play Magda Linette.

Tennis Recap: Top-seeded Tipsarevic out of Power Horse Cup is a post from: PhatzRadio.com

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Sergio Garcia’s remark shows how racist language still can stir visceral emotions.
“A fried chicken joke, that’s from the museum of historic racist comments”
Tiger Woods said he believed there was real regret and now hopes to move on

(PHatzRadio / AP) — The president of the United States is African-American. The movie 42 plays at a theater near you. We live in a post-racial world, or so we like to think, until, inevitably, we are reminded otherwise.

This time it is Sergio Garcia, the Spanish golfer who, in the midst of a public feud with Tiger Woods, unleashed a shockingly racist joke this week with ugly echoes of Fuzzy Zoeller in 1997, Archie Bunker in 1972 and minstrel shows circa 1850.

“A fried chicken joke, that’s from the museum of historic racist comments,” says Robert Thompson, director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University. “Whenever we get these moments that remind us that as far along into the 21st century as we are, as much as we think attitudes like this have changed and consciousness has been raised and enlightenment has happened, we constantly get reminders that it isn’t always the case.

“These issues and attitudes about race are still very much present in society. And not only have people gotten in trouble before for this kind of remark, they’ve gotten in trouble before for this kind of remark in golf, made against this particular golfer.”

When Woods won his first major championship, the 1997 Masters, Zoeller made an on-camera joke about telling Woods not to serve fried chicken and collard greens at the next champions’ dinner. The context: Woods was the first African American golfer to win the storied tournament at Augusta National, a club that famously had no black members less than a decade earlier.

Three years after that, in 2000, Garcia celebrated an exhibition win over Woods a bit more exuberantly than Woods felt was warranted. Their mutual antipathy has simmered since and was on view once again nearly two weeks ago at the Players Championship, when Garcia accused Woods of distracting him on his backswing.

They have traded barbs since, including this stinging line from Garcia: “He called me a whiner. He’s probably right. But that’s also probably the first thing he’s told you guys that’s true in 15 years. I know what he’s like. You guys are finding out.”

Asked Monday if he’d thought of calling Garcia to broker peace between them, Woods uttered an icy, single syllable: “No.”

That set the stage for Garcia’s remark Tuesday night at the European Tour Player of the Year awards. Asked in jest if he would invite Woods for dinner at next month’s U.S. Open, Garcia said:

“We will have him ’round every night. We will serve fried chicken.”

That was met by audible gasps.

Garcia’s original apology Tuesday night called it a “silly remark.” Later he offered “an unreserved apology. I did not want to offend anyone. My answer was totally stupid and out of place.”

Woods accepted the apology, but not the notion that the remark came in the jocular setting of a banquet for jocks. “The comment that was made wasn’t silly,” Woods tweeted Wednesday. “It was wrong, hurtful and clearly inappropriate.”

The banquet was held in England. Garcia was there with his Ryder Cup teammates, who appeared uncomfortable with the remark.

“I think he probably felt that the people he was with would not be offended by it and would think it was humorous,” says Richard Lapchick, director of the DeVos Sport Business Management program at the University of Central Florida. “I have no way to verify that but I think those types of crowds can be that way. The difference today is social media makes everything up for grabs. It’s very likely anything you say will be discovered.”

Zoeller’s remark in 1997 was captured by CNN cameras. Not long after, Russell Baker wrote this in the New York Times: “Witless cracks with a racist undertone, whether deliberate or inadvertent, are useful, because they reflect the somber reality: Try as we may to conceal it, the tendency toward racism insists on pulsing silent and apparently eternal within us.”

Zoeller was pilloried in the press and Kmart dropped its endorsement deal with him. So far, Garcia’s sponsors are sticking with him. TaylorMade-adidas Golf issued a statement calling Garcia’s comment offensive and not in line with its “values and corporate culture.” The statement said the company believes Garcia’s apology was sincere but added that “we are continuing to review the matter.”

Hoping to Move on

The PGA Tour didn’t comment. Paul Azinger, captain of the victorious 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup team, did.

“It was a really stupid question,” Azinger told USA TODAY Sports, “and, unfortunately, it was a stupider answer.”

Zach Johnson, who is defending his title at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial in Texas starting Thursday, was asked about it at a news conference.

“I guess my first reaction is we are all human,” Johnson said. “We make mistakes. I’ve made some, and I am going to make some more. Ask for forgiveness and try to move on.”

Move on — that was the theme of the day. At an impromptu news conference at the BMW PGA Championship, Garcia said: “I felt very sick about it and feel really bad, and just hope to settle things down and move on.”

Woods echoed that sentiment — a rare point of agreement — as part of his series of tweets: “I’m confident that there is real regret the remark was made. The Players ended nearly two weeks ago and it’s long past time to move on and talk about golf.”

George O’Grady, chief executive of the European Tour, said: “We have accepted (Garcia’s) full apology and consider the matter closed.”

Garcia said he was caught off guard by the banquet question from Steve Sands of Golf Channel: “It was a funny question and I wanted it to be a funny answer in reply. I started to get a sick feeling straight after the dinner and I felt so bad I thought my heart was going to come out of my body.”

Syracuse’s Thompson rejects Garcia’s contention that he didn’t intend to make a racist remark.

“I suppose that’s what one says when one apologizes,” Thompson says. “But I can’t imagine any way in which one would use that other than race. Fried chicken is not an accidental menu item that you would bring up.”

It was the second time in two years that a racially charged banquet remark against Woods was followed by apology. Caddie Steve Williams won a tournament with golfer Adam Scott in 2011 after being let go by Woods and at an awards night for caddies in Shanghai that year talked of wanting to shove that win “right up that black (expletive).” Williams apologized the next week.

‘Attitudes are still present’

The movie 42 tells the story of Jackie Robinson, who broke baseball’s color line in 1947 and foreshadowed the coming Civil Rights movement.

“Clearly in sports we are no longer in the age of Jackie Robinson,” Thompson says. “Our greatest stars in professional sports are people of color. Golf has its country club traditions but Tiger Woods has been golf’s superstar for a long time and there are people who are only interested in golf when Tiger Woods is playing.”

Woods was the only African-American player in that 1997 Masters — and again at the 2013 Masters. He is the only African-American player on today’s PGA Tour. Just two African-American players play on its developmental tour. The numbers aren’t much different on the LPGA Tour.

Garcia’s remark shows how racist language has a terrible power to stir visceral emotions.

“In the grand scheme of things, we are clearly better in 2013 than in 1913,” Thompson says.

“But to think that somehow we’ve reached a period where the rainbows have come down and we’ve joined hands and we are singing, ‘We Are the World,’ it’s simply not the case. The attitudes are still present, even in people who may not realize how present they are.”

Asks Azinger, “Don’t you think we would have gotten past this type of stuff after the 2008 election?”

Lapchick says there were 600 hate groups in the U.S. the year that Obama ran for president and 800 when he was inaugurated for the first time and more than 1,000 now.

“That’s the most in American history,” Lapchick says. “We’re not talking about the European stage anymore. We still have a lot of work to do right here.”

Contributing: Steve DiMeglio

It wasn’t always so acrimonious between Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia, shown here on April 9, 1999.(Photo: Elise Amendola, AP)

Sports: Garcia’s remark again roils racial waters in sports is a post from: PhatzRadio.com

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(PhatzRadio / AP) — MIAMI – LeBron James caught the inbounds pass, changed direction and immediately attacked the rim.

There was no one in his way.

There was no stopping him, either.

James made a layup as time expired in overtime, capping a 30-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist effort as the Miami Heat found a way to outlast the Indiana Pacers 103-102 in a wildly back-and-forth Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals Wednesday night. There were 18 ties and 17 lead changes, the last two of those coming in the final 2.2 seconds.

“Two teams fought hard,” James said. “We were able to make one more play.”

If this is how this series is going to go, then get ready for a classic between teams that absolutely wanted to face the other with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line.

Paul George saved the Pacers at the end of regulation with a 32-footer with 0.7 seconds left, and then made three free throws with 2.2 ticks left in overtime to give Indiana a one-point lead. George pumped his fist gently after the third free throw, then extended his index finger skyward as the teams retreated to their benches to get ready for the final play.

He just left James too much time, and the Pacers left their best shot-blocking option on the bench. Roy Hibbert wasn’t on the floor for the final play, and without a 7-foot-2 barrier to contest him, James made the winner look easy.

“Two great teams just throwing punch for punch,” Indiana coach Frank Vogel said. “Our spirit is very high, very confident. We know we can play with this basketball team.”

Vogel said he left Hibbert off the floor for the final play out of concern of what defending champion Miami would do with Chris Bosh in that scenario. Afterward, he acknowledged he might have different thinking next time.

“I would say we would probably have him in next time,” Vogel said.

Game 2 is Friday night in Miami.

Officials reviewed James’ play at the end, though it was clear he beat the clock, and the Pacers walked slowly toward their locker room, lamenting one that got away — by no fault of George’s.

“Gut-wrenching,” Hibbert said.

George was fouled by Dwyane Wade on the play where the Pacers had to think they had stolen the series opener. Referee Jason Phillips said Wade hit George, and the Pacers’ star made all three free throws for the 16th lead change of the night.

The final lead change came moments later.

“Welcome to the Eastern Conference finals,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Back and forth the whole way.”

Wade scored 19 points, Bosh had 17 and Chris Andersen had 16 on 7-for-7 shooting for Miami.

George scored 27 for the Pacers, who got 26 from David West and 19 from Hibbert. The Pacers have won only two series in NBA franchise history after dropping a Game 1.

“It just felt like everything was in our favour,” George said.

The final few seconds of regulation were stunning, with Ray Allen — the sixth-best free-throw shooter in NBA history — missing one that proved big, and George making a miracle happen.

Trailing by two with 17.7 seconds left, the Pacers had to foul Allen, who surely would have been their last choice. But he missed one of the two free throws, and it remained a one-possession game. Indiana brought the ball into the frontcourt, called time, and then seemed to have nothing really working as the final seconds of regulation ticked away.

So George simply made something happen.

From 32 feet — from the newly applied Eastern Conference finals sticker on the side of the court, technically — George connected with 0.7 seconds left, tying the game and giving Indiana life.

Allen didn’t get much of a desperation shot off at the end of regulation, and to overtime the teams went.

“It took an overtime to get it done,” Spoelstra said. “Glad to get that one.”

The Pacers kept landing the first punches in the extra session. George made a pair of free throws to open the OT, and Andersen tied it with a pair of his own. Hibbert scored from close range, and Wade answered with an easy one after a runout for the 16th tie of the night.

George was far from done. He went past James, got into the lane, tossed up a shot after contact and started what became a three-point play that put the Pacers up 99-96. Miami had three chances at the tie — a desperation 3-pointer by Shane Battier as the shot clock was expiring, then a 3-point try by Bosh and another 3 attempt by Battier.

All missed.

But Bosh grabbed the rebound of the last Battier shot that bounced off the rim in that sequence, scored while being fouled by George with 49.7 seconds left, calmly swished the free throw and the teams were — what else? — tied again at 99-all.

James scored on a drive with 10.8 seconds left in the overtime, and George answered with the three free throws. With Hibbert on the bench, Indiana had one plan for James on the last play.

“We wanted LeBron to shoot a jumper right there,” George said.

He was just better.

And after 3 hours, 18 minutes, it was over.

“We’re excited about the win,” James said. “But we have to get better going into Game 2.”

NOTES: Celebrities in attendance included Jimmy Buffett and Anna Kournikova. … James picked up two first-quarter fouls for just the ninth time in 125 career playoff games. … West’s 18 first-half points were his most before halftime since March 24, 2011, when he had 20 through two quarters against Utah. … From the not-often-seen department, a lane violation against the Pacers that led to James getting a second (and successful) chance on a missed free throw, and a 5-second call against Wade, both of those coming in the first half.

NBA Playoff Roundup: James scores at buzzer, Heat top Pacers 103-102 in Game 1 of East finals is a post from: PhatzRadio.com

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(PhatzRadio / AP) — TORONTO — Jose Bautista homered twice and drove in the winning run with a 10th-inning single, leading the Toronto Blue Jays to a 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday.

Bautista went 4 for 4 with a walk and four RBIs. Three other players had one hit, but that was it for Toronto’s offense.

Facing Cesar Ramos (1-1), Colby Rasmus reached on an infield single to begin the 10th. Rasmus moved to second on Emilio Bonifacio’s sacrifice, then took third on Munenori Kawasaki’s grounder. Pinch hitter Mark DeRosa walked and Kyle Farnsworth came on to face Bautista, who singled into shallow right for the Blue Jays’ first game-ending hit of the season.

Aaron Loup (2-3) pitched one inning for the win as Toronto took two of three to win a series against Tampa Bay for the first time since August 2010. The Rays had won their past 15 series against the Blue Jays.

The teams were tied at 2 before Tampa Bay got a run in the ninth. Evan Longoria hit a one-out double off closer Casey Janssen, extending his hitting streak to 16 games. James Loney followed with an RBI single.

But Fernando Rodney couldn’t nail down the save, yielding a leadoff home run to Bautista in the bottom half.

ORIOLES 6, YANKEES 3

BALTIMORE — Chris Davis went 4 for 4, including his AL-leading 14th homer, and Baltimore got a three-run shot from Matt Wieters in a victory over New York.

Nick Markakis added a solo home run for the Orioles, who took two of three from New York to pull within three games of the first-place Yankees in the AL East.

Curtis Granderson homered, doubled and singled for New York. Needing a triple to reach the cycle, he drew a walk in the seventh inning.

David Adams hit a ninth-inning homer for the Yankees, his second in three games. The teams combined for 13 home runs in the series, including five in the finale.

Yankees starter Hiroki Kuroda left in the third with a bruised right calf, one inning after he was struck in the leg by a line drive off the bat of Manny Machado. Kuroda (6-3) allowed five runs and eight hits in two-plus innings.

Jason Hammel (6-2) gave up two runs and seven hits in 6 2-3 innings to even his lifetime record against the Yankees to 3-3. After Kuroda retired the first two batters he faced, Markakis homered. Adam Jones followed with a single and Davis hit a 3-2 pitch over the wall in center.

RANGERS 3, ATHLETICS 1

ARLINGTON, Texas — David Murphy and Adrian Beltre homered in a three-run first inning, Ross Wolf was strong in his first major league start and Texas avoided a sweep with a victory against Oakland.

The 30-year-old Wolf was making his first big league appearance since Oct. 1, 2010, as a reliever with Oakland. He retired the first nine hitters and gave up one run with three strikeouts and two walks in five innings.

Neal Cotts preserved Wolf’s lead by striking out the side with no outs and two runners on in the sixth. Joe Nathan pitched a perfect ninth for this 14th save.

Jarrod Parker (2-6) was down 3-0 just four batters into the game, but went seven innings.

Parker retired 11 of the next 12 Rangers after falling behind 3-0 and allowed six hits and five strikeouts and one walk in seven innings.

ANGELS 7, MARINERS 1

ANAHEIM, Calif. — C.J. Wilson struck out 10 in eight innings, Josh Hamilton had a two-run single and Los Angeles handed Seattle its season-worst sixth straight loss.

Wilson (4-3) allowed a run and six hits in his longest outing since June 8, 2012, when he also went eight innings in a 7-2 interleague victory at Colorado. The left-hander won for the first time since May 1 at Oakland after losing his previous three starts, including back-to-back 3-0 decisions against Chris Sale of the Chicago White Sox.

Seattle rookie Brandon Maurer (2-6) made his first major league start near his hometown of Newport Beach, and it was a disaster. The right-hander, who played his high school ball a few miles away from Angel Stadium, gave up seven runs and 11 hits in three innings.

ASTROS 3, ROYALS 1

HOUSTON — J.D. Martinez hit a two-run homer off James Shields, Jordan Lyles pitched six effective innings and Houston beat Kansas City.

Lyles (2-1) allowed one run and six hits in his 50th career game. Travis Blackley and Hector Ambriz each got three outs before Jose Veras pitched a perfect ninth for his eighth save one night after the bullpen struggled in a 7-3 loss.

Houston took two of three from Kansas City for its fourth series win this season.

Shields (2-5) struck out seven in seven innings while yielding two runs and seven hits. He has gone seven or more innings in each of his last six starts, but hasn’t won since April 30 due in part to his offense providing him with just five runs combined in his last four starts.

TIGERS 11, INDIANS 7

CLEVELAND — Justin Verlander overcame a rocky start and rain delay to get his fifth win and Miguel Cabrera hit another homer as the Detroit Tigers beat Cleveland, sweeping the two-game series between the AL Central’s top teams.

Verlander (5-4) was two outs from qualifying for a victory, when the game was stopped with the Tigers leading 9-5 in the fifth. The right-hander came back after the weather break and finished the inning to get the win, ending a run of five straight victories by the Indians over former Cy Young winners.

The game was delayed 62 minutes by rain in the fifth and another 48 minutes in the eighth.

Victor Martinez hit two sacrifice flies off Ubaldo Jimenez (3-3).

Cabrera connected for a two-run homer in the eighth, his fifth in three games and 13th this season. The shot was helped over the wall by center fielder Michael Bourn, who ran back to the warning track and was in position to make the catch but had the ball bounce out of his glove and into the stands.

MLB – AL Roundup: Jose Bautista hits 2 HRs in Toronto’s 4-3 win over Tampa Bay is a post from: PhatzRadio.com

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(PhatzRadio / AP) — MILWAUKEE — Dodgers manager Don Mattingly criticized his team and benched All-Star right fielder Andre Ethier, then watched Los Angeles beat the Milwaukee Brewers 9-2 on Wednesday.

Mattingly, in the third and final year of his contract, discussed his club’s lack of mental toughness and said he wanted a balanced team that has grit and fight. He benched Ethier for the third time in six games and said he was “putting out my lineup that I feel is going to be the most competitive and going to compete the hardest.”

Carl Crawford and Scott Van Slyke had two RBIs apiece and Ramon Hernandez hit his first home run with the Dodgers, who took two of three from the Brewers but remain in last place in the NL West. Hyun-Jin Ryu (5-2) allowed two runs and six hits in a season-high 7 1-3 innings.

Milwaukee starter Wily Peralta (3-5) gave up six runs — four earned —and seven hits in 1 2-3 innings.

NATIONALS 2, GIANTS 1, 10 INNINGS

SAN FRANCISCO — Ian Desmond singled in Bryce Harper in the 10th inning, helping Washington avoid a three-game series sweep.

Harper hit his 12th homer in the sixth and sparked the winning rally with a one-out double. Ryan Zimmerman was walked intentionally before Desmond came up with his big hit against Jeremy Affeldt (1-1).

Tyler Clippard (3-1) pitched a perfect 10th for the win and Rafael Soriano got three outs for his 14th save. He failed to convert each of his last two chances, including Tuesday night’s 4-2 loss.

Buster Posey hit a tying RBI single for San Francisco in the eighth. Marco Scutaro went 0 for 3 with two walks, ending his 19-game hitting streak. He flew out to deep left to end the game.

ROCKIES 4, DIAMONDBACKS 1

DENVER — Carlos Gonzalez homered and drove in two runs, Jorge De La Rosa pitched effectively into the sixth and the Rockies took two of three from the Diamondbacks.

Dexter Fowler had two hits in his first start in the cleanup spot and Nolan Arenado added an RBI double as the Rockies caught the Diamondbacks in the standings. Colorado, Arizona and San Francisco are now tied atop the NL West with 26-21 records.

De La Rosa (6-3) allowed a run and six hits in 5 1-3 innings. Edgmer Escalona and Matt Belisle bottled up Arizona to get the ball to Rex Brothers, who closed the ninth with Rafael Betancourt sidelined by a groin injury. It was Brothers’ first save of the season.

Arizona right-hander Trevor Cahill (3-5) was charged with four runs and seven hits in six innings.

CARDINALS 5, PADRES 3

SAN DIEGO — Tyler Lyons pitched seven solid innings in his major league debut on the same day St. Louis lost Jaime Garcia for the season.

Lyons, who was promoted from Triple-A Memphis after Garcia went on the disabled list, allowed one run and four hits. The 25-year-old left-hander was a ninth-round draft pick in 2010 out of Oklahoma State.

The Cardinals announced before that game that Garcia will have season-ending shoulder surgery this week. The lefty went 5-2 with a 3.58 ERA in nine starts this year, helping St. Louis bolt to the majors’ best record at 30-16.

Yadier Molina had four hits and Carlos Beltran finished with three as the Cardinals took two of three from the Padres.

San Diego rookie Burch Smith (0-1) failed to record an out in the second inning for the second time in three major league starts. The right-hander struggled with his command, walking three before he was lifted with no outs in the second.

REDS 7, METS 4

NEW YORK — Brandon Phillips bounced a bizarre double over first base to snap a ninth-inning tie, and the Reds completed a three-game sweep.

Joey Votto homered and Zack Cozart had a career-high four hits, all off Matt Harvey, in a game that featured a little bit of everything — including a testy exchange in the dugout between Cincinnati starter Mat Latos and teammate Jay Bruce.

Still, the Reds regrouped and won for the 10th time in 12 games. They finished a 7-2 trip against the bottom three teams in the NL East, moving a season-best 11 games over .500 at 29-18.

Daniel Murphy had three hits and two RBIs in the leadoff spot for New York. Bobby Parnell (4-1) got the loss.

Alfredo Simon (4-1) worked the eighth for the win, and Aroldis Chapman got three outs for his 10th save in 12 tries.

Latos and Bruce had an animated argument in the dugout after the fifth inning. Latos wouldn’t comment on the exchange, and Bruce called it a “non-issue.”

PHILLIES 3, MARLINS 0

MIAMI — Cliff Lee pitched a three-hitter for his 12th career shutout and Delmon Young homered for the second straight game for Philadelphia.

Lee (5-2) struck out five, walked two and hit a batter in his first shutout since Sept. 5, 2011. The Marlins were blanked for the ninth time this season.

Lee also helped himself by getting two hits.

Young hit a solo home run off Kevin Slowey (1-5) in the fourth. It was Young’s third homer, including a drive off Miami’s Jose Fernandez on Tuesday night.

Slowey exited before the sixth inning with a strained left lat muscle. The Marlins said he was day to day.

Philadelphia scored twice off Wade LeBlanc with two outs in the sixth.

PIRATES 1, CUBS 0

PITTSBURGH — Francisco Liriano continued his torrid start, scattering two hits over seven innings to help Pittsburgh to the win.

Liriano (3-0) struck out nine and walked one to remain unbeaten since making his season debut against the New York Mets two weeks ago. Mark Melancon survived a bumpy ninth inning for his first save of the season.

Andrew McCutchen doubled twice for the Pirates and scored the game’s only run on a single by Garrett Jones in the first. Pittsburgh has won 10 of 12 to move 10 games over .500 (28-18).

Chicago’s Jeff Samardzija (2-6) nearly matched Liriano pitch for pitch, giving up just three hits in seven innings, but received no help. The Cubs have dropped four of five.

INTERLEAGUE

BRAVES 8, TWINS 3

ATLANTA — Evan Gattis kept up an amazing rookie season with his first grand slam, and Atlanta finished off a sweep of woeful Minnesota.

B.J. Upton and Ramiro Pena also homered as the Braves stretched their winning streak to six games with a second straight series sweep, making things easy for starter Paul Maholm (6-4). The left-hander held the Twins to an unearned run in 7 1-3 innings.

With the Braves already leading 4-0, Gattis struck again less than 24 hours after his two-out, pinch homer in the ninth allowed the Braves to pull out a 5-4 win over the Twins in extra innings.

He was swinging away on a 3-0 pitch with the bases loaded in the fourth and launched an opposite-field drive just inside the right-field pole for the 10th homer of his improbable debut season.

Vance Worley (1-5) had another dismal outing for Minnesota, failing to make it through the fourth as the Twins lost their eighth in a row. He surrendered eight runs and 10 hits in 3 2-3 innings, and was demoted to Triple-A Rochester after the game.

MLB – NL Roundup: Carl Crawford has two RBIs; Dodgers beat Brewers, 9-2 is a post from: PhatzRadio.com

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