Archives for March 2010

He wasn’t needed against Maryland over the weekend.So Florida State sophomore pitcher Brian Busch was rested and ready Tuesday night for Florida. That turned out to be bad news for the Gators. The left-hander followed a season-best outing by starter Geoff Parker (4 2/3 innings pitched, three hits, two unearned runs) with a sensational effort in relief as the No. 6 Seminoles beat their archrivals 7-2 in front of 9,276 fans at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.

“(Parker) was shutting them down all night,” said Busch, who struck out six, walked none and allowed three hits in 4 1/3 innings to earn the win. “And I kind of wanted to come in and pick up where he left off.” Which is exactly what he did.

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The No. 9 baseball team is entering the start of probably the most important stretch of their season with a five-game home stand against Arkansas-Pine Bluff and the No. 7 Texas Longhorns starting Tuesday. The Sooners (20-3, 3-1) open up the home stand with the Golden Lions at 7 p.m. Tuesday with a two-game series. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (2-10) is limping into L. Dale Mitchell Park with a three-game losing streak with its most recent loss coming at the hands of the Missouri Tigers by a score of 28-2.

Even though the short, midweek series with the Golden Lions will not impact the Sooners’ Big 12 ranking, it is critical because OU is trying to avoid a losing streak after losing the final game of this weekend’s series against Nebraska. Also, a loss in the series could bring down any confidence the Sooners built up during their impressive start.

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The San Francisco Giants announced the signing of three pitchers to contract extensions: right-handed starter Matt Cain, left-handed setup man Jeremy Affeldt and right-handed closer Brian Wilson. Cain's deal, which was extended through 2012, pays him $4.5 million in 2010, $7 million in 2011 plus a $1 million signing bonus, and $15 million in 2012.

Cain was a first-time All-Star in 2009 and finished with a 14-8 record and 2.89 ERA in 33 starts. His four complete games tied for first in the National League. "It just shows appreciation for the things I've done, and the way they run the organization," Cain said. "It shows that we can do something to benefit both sides.

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Jamie Moyer bolstered his bid to win Philadelphia's fifth starter spot by giving up one hit over 6 2-3 innings in the Phillies' 3-0 victory over the New York Yankees on Friday night. The 47-year-old left-hander is competing with Kyle Kendrick, who has a 1.37 ERA in 19 2-3 innings over five games. Moyer struck out six and hit one batter with a pitch.

Phil Hughes, one day after becoming the Yankees' No. 5 starter, allowed one run and two hits in three-plus innings. The 23-year-old struck out five and walked four during a 71-pitch outing. Yankees star Alex Rodriguez went 0 for 3. His meeting Friday with federal investigators probing a Canadian doctor was delayed, and the slugger remained at spring training rather than traveling to Buffalo.

Derek Jeter wants to eventually be like Mike. The New York Yankees captain told The Associated Press that once his career is over, he envisions himself pursuing ownership of a professional sports franchise — like Michael Jordan.

Jeter, one of several athletes who endorses the Jordan Brand, was in Tampa Thursday at an event celebrating the launch of his ninth signature shoe, the Jordan Jeter Throwback.

Jordan recently purchased majority ownership of the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats. Jeter stressed he has no interest in owning a small, non-controlling share of a baseball team.

"Oh yeah," he said. "The only interest I have in ownership is to be able to call the shots. I've said that time and time again."

Jeter clearly has given some thought to life after baseball. He's known Jordan since the Hall of Famer gave up basketball to pursue a short-lived pro baseball career, and said he hopes to learn from him.

"I'm happy for him. I know it's something he's wanted to do for quite some time. ... Not too many former players get an opportunity to be an owner. It's something I'd like to do as well," Jeter said.

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Torii Hunter hit his first two homers of spring, Hideki Matsui connected for the first time and Mike Napoli for his fifth, and the Los Angeles Angels beat a split squad of Kansas City Royals 8-6 on Wednesday using what will likely be their opening day lineup.

"This is a lineup you'll see at some point in the season," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "This is a lineup we're excited about. These next eight to 10 days we'll get a little idea of the continuity in the workings. If we don't juggle it from here it's a lineup that makes sense.

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Nick Hundley hit a two-run homer in San Diego's five-run sixth inning, helping the Padres to a 9-6 win over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday. Tony Gwynn had three hits and scored three runs for the Padres, who finished with 14 hits. Chase Headley had two RBIs.

Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzalez and Chris Iannetta homered for the Rockies. Jason Hammel pitched five-plus innings, yielding five runs and seven hits. San Diego's Kevin Correia gave up four runs and nine hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked none.

Mauer would be paid an average of $23 million per season and receive a full no-trade clause as a part of the 2011-2018 contract, the Twins said on their website (minnesota.twins.mlb.com).The team have scheduled a news conference for Monday to discuss the deal.Considered the best catcher in baseball.

The 26-year-old is coming off his most productive season in which he won the American League Most Valuable Player award, hitting 28 home runs, 96 runs batted in and with a .365 average.Mauer was eligible to become a free agent following the 2010 season and there was concerns that the native of Minnesota would leave the team.

Stormy weather has forced the postponement of the second game of a Big 12 doubleheader between Oklahoma and Baylor. The Sooners (18-2, 1-0 Big 12) were ahead 5-0 in the third inning when rain and lightning hit Friday night. The game is scheduled to resume on Sunday.

In the first game, Chris Ellison had a two-run homer and reliever Jeremy Erben held Baylor scoreless over the final three innings as Oklahoma beat the Bears (11-7, 0-1) 7-6. The Sooners took a 5-3 lead in the second on Danny Black's two-run single, Ellison's homer and a home run by Caleb Bushyhead. The Sooners tacked on two more runs in the third. Baylor's Landis Ware hit a two-run homer in the fourth and the Bears got one more run in the fifth, but the rally fell short.

Carl Crawford went 0 for 2, walked and stole a base in the Tampa Bay Rays' 6-4 loss to the New York Yankees on Thursday night. Crawford is set to earn $10 million in the final season of a $33.5 million, six-year contract. The Rays and Crawford are not expected to resume contract negotiations until after the season, which is already causing speculation about the Yankees making a serious bid should the three-time AL All-Star opt for free agency.

The Yankees got a two-run double from Derek Jeter, who flexed his throwing hand several times after diving for a ball in the fourth, but remained in the game. New York starter Javier Vazquez went three innings, allowing one run and two hits. He had three strikeouts and two walks.