Advertisement

Pablo Sandoval hit a two-run homer to boost his bid for an All-Star spot and stake rookie Ryan Sadowski to an early lead, and the San Francisco Giants routed the Houston Astros 13-0 on Friday night.

Travis Ishikawa added a three-run homer that was initially ruled a double before the umpire crew went to the replay booth, at the urging of San Francisco skipper Bruce Bochy. The ball hit off the railing of the right-field arcade and Ishikawa stayed at second until getting to finish his trot about 3 minutes later.

The reviewed hit was the first this season at AT&T Park, where there was one in late September last year after replay was implemented.

Randy Winn added a two-run triple and Nate Schierholtz an RBI single in the Giants' six-run second that chased Felipe Paulino (2-5). San Francisco, which already had 14 of its 15 hits in the third inning, snapped a six-game losing streak to the Astros.

The Giants' runs were a season high and this was their majors-best 10th shutout. Jonathan Sanchez pitched two innings of relief to finish it.

Sadowski pitched another gem in his home debut, not allowing a hit until Lance Berkman's one-out single in the fourth. The 26-year-old righty has 13 scoreless innings to start his career, the longest such streak by a Giant since Mike Remlinger's 15 shutout innings in 1991, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Sadowski worked six innings in his first big league start last Sunday in a 7-0 win at Milwaukee, then topped that with seven more scoreless inning. Pretty impressive for a guy who was never in major league camp this spring training and whose bio is buried among the minor leaguers in the back of the media guide.

Sandoval had an RBI triple in the third. If he and starters Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum are all All-Stars, it would be the first time the Giants have sent three players to the Midsummer Classic since Barry Bonds, Robb Nen and Benito Santiago in 2002.

Printable Send To Friend Back

When the Texas Rangers sent Josh Hamilton to Triple-A Oklahoma City for rehabilitation, they didn't envision their All-Star slugger getting two games' worth of at-bats in one night.

That's essentially what Hamilton got Wednesday, when he went 1 for 7 and struck out twice as the designated hitter for the Redhawks in a 1-0 victory over Iowa that went 14 innings.

Hamilton was expected to play center field, but the Rangers decided to play it safe and use him as the DH. Hamilton, who led off the game by striking out, singled up the middle in the 10th and struck out to end the 14th.

"My first at-bat I was a little anxious, you know, just being out there. And then after that, you could see the progression of at-bats getting better and that's what you want to see," Hamilton said.

Hamilton will likely play in the field for the RedHawks on Thursday and possibly Friday as well. He said he's hoping to rejoin Texas for Saturday's home game against Tampa Bay.

Hamilton has been on the disabled list since May 31 with a slight abdominal tear. He has played in 35 games for the Rangers this season, batting .240 with six homers and 24 RBIs.

"I'm ready about four days ago," Hamilton said before Wednesday's game. "Right now, everything is fixed. Everything is better. I'm just going through the soreness as far as getting into game shape. It almost feels a little bit like spring training again."

Hamilton, now three weeks removed from surgery, went 1 for 4 with a stolen base as the DH for Double-A Frisco on Monday night. On Tuesday, he shagged fly balls and took batting practice before joining the Redhawks in Des Moines, where they are playing a three-game series against Iowa.

"I guess with the day off yesterday, they don't want me to jump right into the field. They want to give me another day swinging the bat and running around the bases," Hamilton said.

The real test for Hamilton will be when he plays the field. Both of his trips to the disabled list this season followed injuries sustained crashing into walls.

Printable Send To Friend Back

Venus Williams is just about the perfect older sibling: She supports Serena endlessly, protects her fiercely and even lets her pick which bedroom she wants when they're on the road. Where does Venus draw the line? At Grand Slam championships. The sisters face each other again in a major final, meeting Saturday for the Wimbledon title for the fourth time.

"I'm happy for her to be in the final, but I have to face her and defeat her," Venus said after reaching her eighth final at the All England Club by routing top-ranked Dinara Safina 6-1, 6-0. "I don't necessarily want her to lose, but for sure I want me to win."

After their showdown, the sisters become teammates for the doubles final, where they are the defending champions.

Besides having won five Wimbledon singles titles, beating Serena in last year's final, Venus is trying to become the first woman to win three straight championships since Steffi Graf from 1991-93.

"Even if she's not playing her best, just that fight she has, you're facing that," Venus said. "So there's so much to face when you play her. It's definitely a lot to get your mind around."

Serena showed her fight Friday, saving a match point against Elena Dementieva before winning 6-7 (4), 7-5, 8-6. The match, longer by time than any Wimbledon women's semifinal or final on record, was one of the most exciting of this year's tournament.

But if that was tough, wait until Serena faces an opponent that has won 20 consecutive matches on Wimbledon's manicured lawns, the last 17 in straight sets.

"You know, it's not the easiest opponent on grass," Serena said. "I hope I win. Obviously, if I do, I'll be really, really excited. So we'll see."

Off the court, the sisters often share an apartment for Wimbledon, and sibling rivalry doesn't really come into play when it comes to choosing the better room.

"I always defer. She picks first," said Venus, noting that back home in Florida their rooms are the same size. "It makes me happy. You know, I want her to pick."

Printable Send To Friend Back

Rising, rising, rising, high above the most famous patch of grass in tennis, Roger Federer channeled Pete Sampras on match point in the Wimbledon semifinals Friday, tucking both feet back beneath his body and uncorking an overhead smash.

And now, after years of chasing Sampras, Federer is poised to surpass him.

A victory over No. 6-seeded Andy Roddick of the United States in Sunday's final at the All England Club would give Federer his 15th Grand Slam singles championship, breaking a tie with Sampras for the most in history. It also would give Federer a sixth Wimbledon title and a return to No. 1 in the rankings.

As it is, No. 2 Federer's overwhelming 7-6 (3), 7-5, 6-3 victory over No. 24 Tommy Haas of Germany in Friday's opening match on Centre Court put the Swiss star in a seventh consecutive Wimbledon final and 20th career Grand Slam final — establishing two other marks.

"I'm very proud of all the records I've achieved, because I never thought I would be that successful as a kid. You know, I would have been happy winning a couple tournaments and maybe collecting Wimbledon," the 27-year-old Federer said. "It's quite staggering."

Yes, Roger, it certainly is.

When he finished off Haas with that Sampraslike leaping putaway, Federer simply waited at the net to shake hands. Then he gave a little wave of his racket in the direction of his pregnant wife, his parents and other supporters in the guest seats above a scoreboard, before making the same gesture toward the Royal Box, where past greats of the game Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver were among the invited guests.

Winning a Wimbledon semifinal — indeed, any Grand Slam semifinal — is all so very been-there, done-that for Federer: He is 20-3 in major semis over his career, reaching 16 of the past 17 major finals.

"I know what's on the line," Federer said. "I hope I can play another good match."

Printable Send To Friend Back

DALLAS (AP) — The Dallas Mavericks are targeting Orlando center Marcin Gortat,
sending coach Rick Carlisle as one of their recruiters. Gortat backed up Dwight Howard as a rookie last season and is now a restricted free agent, which means the Magic could keep him by matching any offer. However, with the addition of Vince Carter and his salary, Orlando isn't likely to invest heavily in the backup to their franchise player. Dallas could view Gortat as a backup to Erick Dampier or possibly his eventual
replacement. Dampier's expiring contract makes him potential trade bait this summer,
so the starting spot could be open in months or by next season if Dampier ends up
playing out his deal.

Printable Send To Friend Back

UNDATED (AP) — Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva are on the move. Kobe Bryant is
staying put. A person with knowledge of the negotiations says the Detroit Pistons have agreed in principle to free-agent contracts with Gordon and Villanueva. The team is not allowed to announce the free-agent signings until next week. Gordon took a five-year pact worth at least $50 million after averaging 20.7 points for Chicago last season. Villanueva's contract is worth at least $35 million over five seasons. Villanueva averaged 16.2 points and 6.7 rebounds last season for the Bucks. The contracts came a day after President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars fired head coach Michael Curry following a 39-and-43 season. Dumars says he wants a new coach in place before Tuesday's opening practice for the NBA developmental league.

Meanwhile, a Lakers' spokesman confirms that Bryant has chosen not to terminate the
final two years of his contract and will remain in Los Angeles. The MVP of the NBA finals had until Tuesday to become an unrestricted free agent. Now the Lakers and Bryant's agent will negotiate a contract extension. He has spent his entire 13-year career with the team, winning four NBA championships.

And first-round draft pick Eric Maynor has officially signed with the Utah Jazz. He
was the 20th overall selection.

Printable Send To Friend Back

One day after her dismissal as the University of Texas at Tyler women's basketball coach Terry Deike says she's considering legal action against the school. Deike told KTBB's David Smoak Wednesday on Sportstalk that the athletic department is also guilty of minor NCAA rules violations that have not been reported.

Deike on KTBB-FM Sports Talk .

Printable Send To Friend Back

Contract Not Renewed for Terri Deike

The University of Texas at Tyler has chosen not to renew the contract of head women's basketball coach and associate athletic director Terri Deike.

"We thank Coach Deike for her dedication and service to UT Tyler, the athletics department, and the women's basketball program," said UT Tyler Athletic Director James Vilade. "Coach Deike played a major role in helping UT Tyler move toward NCAA membership and she was involved in many other facets of the athletics department."

Assistant Coach Cassi Little will assume the women's basketball coaching duties on an interim basis and a national search for a new head coach will begin immediately. Deike will continue in her role as associate athletics director until August 31st.

Deike was UT Tyler's first women's basketball coach and had a 90-61 record over six seasons. Her teams won three ASC East Division Championship and appeared in the American Southwest Conference tournament twice.

Printable Send To Friend Back

Major League Baseball has loaned millions to Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks, Yahoo! reported.

The league would not go into details about any borrowing, but said it was assisting Rangers owner Tom Hicks with the sale of the franchise.

"Tom is the control person, and there was no issue of making payroll," Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer, said Thursday. "Major League Baseball is working with the Rangers to sell the team, as Tom requested."

Hicks did not respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

Yahoo!, citing a major league source, first reported Thursday that a loan was made to Hicks Sports Group and that the amount was believed to be for less than $15 million.

The sport's central office routinely withholds $15 million to $20 million owed each team from central revenues and the sale of the Montreal Expos, and teams may borrow from that with the permission of commissioner Bud Selig.

A caller Wednesday to an XM radio station said the Rangers had failed to make payroll and had to get $15 million from Major League Baseball. The host, former Rangers manager Kevin Kennedy, said he knew something about the situation.

Reports of the radio broadcast were published by rangerfans.com, a Web site that follows the team.

Texas began the season with a payroll of $68.6 million, 22nd among the 30 big league teams.

It's not unprecedented for teams to borrow from MLB. In 1992, the Detroit Tigers borrowed about $5 million to make payroll one month.

Hicks said in May he was willing to sell controlling interest in the franchise. Earlier this year, Hicks Sports Group defaulted on $525 million in loans backed by the Rangers and the NHL's Dallas Stars, the other U.S. sports franchise Hicks owns.

Hicks bought the Rangers for $250 million in 1998. Last month, Forbes valued the franchise at $405 million, 15th among the 30 major league teams.

Two years ago, Hicks combined with Montreal Canadiens owner George Gillett Jr. to buy Liverpool of the English Premier League through a different entity, Kop Football (Holdings) Ltd. It has been negotiating to refinance 350 million pounds ($574 million) debt before a July 24 deadline.

Printable Send To Friend Back

Josh Ellis
DallasCowboys.com

The seventh installment of Spike TV's 4th and Long is in the books (and available for viewing on Spike.com), and as always, DC.com is here to give you observations ad naseum. Here goes:

Last week, the seven remaining players were put through a gauntlet of endurance tests, lasting five whole hours. The first player to take off his jersey would be the player cut, but no one gave in, so all seven are still alive and kicking.

This week, the players will deal with a "rivalry" game. On that team will be the five players who have been cut already: wide receivers Preston McGann, Luke Swan and Steve Gonzalez, and defensive backs Erick Jackson and Stephen Andrews.

And coaching Team Rivals is none other than the greatest wide receiver in NFL history, and the greatest pain in the side of the Cowboys teams of the '90s, former 49er Jerry Rice.

The rules for the game are as follows: if a Rival outplays a "home" team player, the could take that players spot on the show, so the Rivals players are not only looking for a certain measure of revenge, but they're also getting a second chance at their dream.

The first competition leading up to the game is the Team Speed Sprint. Wide receivers coach Joe Avezzano explains that the average NFL play lasts six seconds, and that all those have to add up to 12 minutes (the math on this kind of stumps me; is he factoring in the time the clock is running between plays?). The two teams will be running on a treadmill that's moving at 20 miles an hour, and so no one hurts themselves, they'll be harnessed in. The clock stops when a player stops running and the harnesses are switched. The first player to get to 12 minutes wins (confusing, I know). The winning team gets the opening kickoff in both halves.

About nine minutes in, the Rivals lead by about 30 seconds. Andrews starts puking after a go on the treadmill, showing why he was the first player cut in the show. But for the final six seconds, his number is called, and he barely beats out defensive back Moses Washington for the win.

The next day, we're taken out to the practice field, where the two teams will be doing one-on-ones. The Rivals players get the privilege of choosing which player they will go against. Here's the breakdown of what we get to see (and we don't get to see much):

* Swan makes a good move against defensive back Eddie Moten.
* Gonzalez makes a leaping catch against defensive back Donte Gamble.
* McGann makes a nice move against Ahmaad Smith, and gets away untouched with a catch.
* Andrews tries to get physical with wide receiver Montrell Jones, and fails miserably, allowing a catch and getting manhandled.
* We don't get to see Jackson, Washington, or wide receivers Jesse Holley and Andrew Hawkins go.

Here's your first DC.com stock report. Stocks up for Swan, Gonzalez and McGann. Stocks down for Andrews and Smith.

Now it's time for the game, with the voice of the Dallas Cowboys, Brad Sham, doing color commentary.

The Rivals, after winning the sprint drill, get the opening kickoff. Here are some quick hit observations and key points from the game:

* Gonzalez returns the opening kickoff for an impressive 33 yards. McGann makes a good catch on Gamble for 16 yards, followed by a 44-yard bomb to Gonzalez for a touchdown, putting the Rivals up 7-0.
* The home team responds with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Holley over Andrews.
* On the next possession, McGann gets the best of Gamble again with a slant route that Jerry Rice pretty much let him know was coming on the sideline. Gamble doesn't respond well to Rice's ribbing him and barks back at him. I don't think anyone on the field, not even Michael Irvin, has the clout to bark at Rice. Anyway, the Rivals score after that with a fade pass to Swan over Washington, putting them up 13-7.
* On the ensuing kickoff, Moten makes a monster of a kick return, taking the ball 83 yards before being knocked out just shy of the end zone. But the next play, a pitch to Hawkins, who lined up in the backfield, results in a fumble out of the end zone for a touchback.
* The Rivals get the ball back into home team territory, but Gonzalez gets knocked down and doesn't get up for a while, forcing a defensive back, Erick Jackson, to line up at receiver. McGann gets another touchdown, though, despite Jackson playing receiver and the quarterback fumbling the snap.
* Washington returns the next kickoff, but is stopped plenty short of the end zone as the clock runs out.
* At halftime, the Rivals are up 19-7. Avezzano just rips into Washington for fielding that kick, since he was supposed to be a part of the wedge. On the other sideline, Gonzalez wants to go against the trainer's advice and try and play even though he can't lift his arm more than two inches. Thankfully, for his livelihood and long-term career goals, he's held out, although he's not happy.
* The second half opens with a kickoff return by Andrews that ends short at the 17-yard line. McGann beats Gamble again with a nice crossing route, and then slips a few tackles. Gamble makes another mistake next with a defensive hold on a diving catch by Swan, who comes up lame again with a shoulder injury.
* Apparently, the home team got the ball back, since Hawkins scored on a short touchdown pass to get the home team closer, now trailing 19-14.
* Finally, Gamble makes a heady play, getting a pick on an out route and returning it for a touchdown to put the home team up 21-19.
* Inexplicably, Andrews returns the ball again on the resulting kickoff for the Rivals. And he pretty much signs his death certificate by allowing Holley to strip the ball from him, resulting in a recovery for a touchdown by Hawkins. Home team up 28-19.
* Now the home team is piling on. Ahmaad Smith gets a pick after Washington tipped the ball on a pass. Smith fumbles on the return, but an anonymous teammate (non-4th and Long players wear nameless, numberless jerseys) recovers for a touchdown. Home team leads 35-19.
* But the unsinkable Preston McGann answers again, with a touchdown on a fade route over, who else, Donte Gamble. Gamble argues for a push-off, but is denied.
* The Rivals line up to go for two in order to make it a one-possession game. The quarterback gets pushed out of the pocket and heaves it to a receiver in the front of the end zone, but Moten steps in front of it and intercepts it, effectively ending the game. Home team wins 35-25.

Here are some notable stat lines from the game: McGann - nine catches, 152 yards, two touchdowns; Gamble - three missed tackles, two penalties, and one interception returned for a touchdown; Hawkins - one fumble lost in the end zone, two touchdowns; Holley - two catches, 49 yards, one touchdown.

And here's your second Stock Report. Stocks down for Washington, Andrews, Hawkins, Swan and Gonzalez. Stock way up for McGann. Stock way down for Gamble.

Now it's Cut Day. Judging by Irvin's comments in the War Room before making cuts, this will focus on Gamble and McGann.

The Turk, Nate Newton, is told to bring everyone on both teams up. Irvin asks McGann and Gonzalez whose jersey they would take given the opportunity. McGann picks Washington, who by some miracle is still around. Gonzalez picks Gamble, who audibly objects. Irvin asks Gamble if anyone deserves his jersey, and he says no.

Andrews and Jackson are sent back to the bus immediately, meaning their chances at redemption just died. Swan and Gonzalez soon follow because of injuries. Everyone but Gamble is sent back to the locker room, meaning they're safe.

So it comes down to McGann and Gamble. Irvin says he has to project out an entire season based on this one game, suggesting that he thinks McGann's big day was a flash in the pan. McGann is again sent home.

Whatever hope that gave Gamble is short-lived, because Irvin sends him home too. Despite making a key interception, he just made too many mistakes.

So that's it for Episode Seven. Be sure to check out your DC.com Power Rankings below and tune in next Monday.

Eliminations
Stephen Andrews, DB - Ep. 1
Preston McGann, WR - Ep. 2
Erick Jackson, DB - Ep. 3
Luke Swan, WR - Ep. 4
Steve Gonzalez, WR - Ep. 5
Donte Gamble, DB - Ep. 7

Power Rankings, WRs
1. Jesse Holley (+1)
2. Andrew Hawkins (-1)
3. Montrell Jones (same)

Power Rankings, DBs
1. Eddie Moten (+1)
2. Ahmaad Smith (-1)
3. Moses Washington (same)

Power Rankings, overall
1. Jesse Holley, WR (+1)
2. Eddie Moten, DB (+3)
3. Andrew Hawkins, WR (-2)
4. Montrell Jones, WR (same)
5. Ahmaad Smith, DB (-3)
6. Moses Washington, DB (same)

Printable Send To Friend Back

BETHESDA, Md. (AP) — It's not often that a player is bold enough to challenge Tiger
Woods on the golf course. Rarer still is when it happens during a pro-am round from
one of his amateur partners. "That still puts me 1 up," Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo told him Wednesday morning. "Does it, now?" Woods replied, not sounding the least bit concerned. The world's No. 1 player then smoked a fairway metal down the 17th at Congressional Country Club. Romo, a scratch player who asked to play from the championship tees, followed with a 3-wood that traveled about a yard farther. On the par-3 second, Romo appeared to have the edge when Woods bladed a bunker shot over the green and into the gallery. He didn't finish out the hole. Romo three-putted from the fringe. They didn't mention the stakes or how many shots Woods gave Romo — if any — although it had a familiar conclusion. The bold move by Woods was playing with the Cowboys' quarterback in Washington Redskins country, and while it attracted a large gallery for the 6:30 a.m. tee time, the cheers and jeers were relatively tame.

Printable Send To Friend Back

MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) — Managua, Nicaragua, mayor and former boxing champion
Alexis Arguello has been found dead in his home. He was 57. Arguello turned pro in 1968 and won his first title by knocking out Ruben Olivares for the featherweight crown. He later captured the super featherweight and lightweight belts, becoming the sixth boxer to win titles in three weight classes. He retired in 1995 with a record of 82-8, with 65 knockouts, and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992. His Sandinista party's Radio Ya says coroners are conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Printable Send To Friend Back

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A judge has lifted Jeremy Mayfield's suspension, saying the
NASCAR driver should be allowed to race. U.S. District Court Judge Graham Mullen says "the court finds the harm to Mr. Mayfield significantly outweighs any harm to NASCAR."
NASCAR had indefinitely suspended Mayfield on May 9 after he tested positive for
methamphetamines May 1. In his ruling, Mullen says NASCAR can test Mayfield extensively, including hair samples, to determine "if he's been a meth-head or not."

Printable Send To Friend Back

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Tommy Haas will be the next hurdle in Roger Federer's
quest for a record 15th Grand Slam title. The 24th-seeded German reached his first Wimbledon semifinal by upsetting fourth-seeded Serb Novak Djokovic 7-5, 7-6, 4-6, 6-3. The 31-year-old Haas is the oldest player to reach the quarterfinals, while the
22-year-old Djokovic is the youngest. Federer moved a step closer to a sixth Wimbledon championship by beating hard-serving Ivo Karlovic of Croatia, 6-3, 7-5, 7-6. Federer never faced a break point against the 6-foot-10 Karlovic, who had not lost serve in his first four matches of the fortnight.

Third seed Andy Murray delighted the Centre Court crowd with a 7-5, 6-3, 6-2
drubbing of Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero. It put the Scotsman into his first
Wimbledon semifinal and kept alive hopes he can become the first British man to
capture the All England title since Fred Perry in 1936. Murray is the first Briton since Tim Henman in 2002 to reach the final four at Wimbledon. He'll face Andy Roddick next. The sixth-seeded American reached his fourth Wimbledon semifinal by beating 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt 6-3, 6-7, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4.

The women's semifinals highlight Thursday's Wimbledon action, and both matches
feature a Williams sister. Second seed Serena Williams opens play at Centre Court
with a match against No. 4 Elena Dementieva before two-time defending champ Venus Williams takes on top-ranked Dinara Safina.

Printable Send To Friend Back

Greg Young will resign as the men's basketball coach at Jacksonville College effective on July 1st.

Young will become an assistant coach at UT-Arlington of the Southland Conference.

Young was 66-54 in four-years with the Jaguars, including 21-10 in 2008-2009 and a berth in the Region XIV Tournament.

He is the third head coach in Region XIV to leave during the off-season, with Ross Hodge leaving Paris for the head coaching job at Midland College, and Jerry Cole leaving Port Arthur-Lamar.

David Smoak

Printable Send To Friend Back