Updated: analyzes July 20, tells 2008, 8: 50 PM ET Mariners activate closer Putz but Silva leaves start with injury Comment Email Print Share Associated Press SEATTLE- Seattle Mariners closer J J. With 13 more points, McGrady will join Elvin Hayes, Moses Malone and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only other Rockets to score 2, 000 points in a season. We won' t spoil the party, though, by getting into defense. Iverson missed 17 of 24 shots and the Philadelphia 76ers were unable to stop the Detroit Pistons from winning 99- 84 on Tuesday and taking a 2- 0 lead in their first- round series " I' ve been through too many things in my life to let basketball get to me, to let it frustrate me " said Iverson, who scored 19 points.

They' ve got to think about how it' s going to affect the rest of their team- how it' s going to affect their individual possibilities of being able to perform " It' s very unfortunate I hope there' s something salvageable for him . Dantonio became the first coach at Cincinnati to have a winning record in his first season . Golden State coach Mike Montgomery hopes the youngster is ready to play significant minutes as a backup to center Adonal Foyle, particularly while rookie Ike Diogu is out with a broken hand . With the playoffs on the horizon, both he and the first- place Angels are trying to ensure that he' s as dangerous in the fall as he was in the spring This has required some adjustments . Artest planned to fly to Phoenix to join his team for Thursday night' s game against the Suns, but his flight was diverted to Ontario, Calif, because of thunderstorms.

Thursday night Yahoo! Sports reported that UConn assistant coach Andre LaFleur talked extensively to Nochimson during that period . Rosters were expanded from 30 to 32 after 2002' s 7- 7, 11- inning tie in Milwaukee, when both leagues ran out of pitchers . Series points leader Tony Stewart, who clinched his spot in the Chase by starting Sunday' s race, finished 17th . Bonzi Wells scored 16, Stromile Swift had 14 and Brian Cardinal 13 for Memphis, which set a franchise record with its fourth straight road win .

Now that bad times have returned to Sacramento, Theus believes he can turn the tide " Most of my background is on the NBA level " Theus said " I' m going to be able to utilize what I' ve done and what I' ve learned . Because there is a correlation between muscle size and strength, competitors in events that require power and short bursts of explosive strength would be most likely to benefit . The outfielder has been sidelined since last May because of lingering hamstring problems and what doctors have told him and the Rays is mitochondrial disorder, a condition that causes extreme fatigue . Players watched as the bird was perched atop the scoreboard at tip- off, refusing to go to his handler .

According to The Dallas Morning News, the Mavericks forward' s left wrist is only moderately sprained . He had 72 hours to decide and ended up choosing another year running the Warriors' high- powered offense . Prosecutors countered Wednesday that a jury should decide whether the question was unfair . There have been 23 calls reviewed this year, and eight of them were reversed .

Sprewell, who was with the New York Knicks in 2002, sued the Post and reporter Marc Berman that year over articles published Oct 4, 7 and 8 . A deputy pulled the group over after watching the car weave erratically and nearly strike another car . WheelerSpecial to ESPNArchive AP Photo/ Terry RennaHumpy Wheeler ends a 32- year run as president and general manager at Lowe' s Motor Speedway ESPN NASCAR writer David Newton asked famed promoter H . That was a good team win for those guys " Philadelphia, which trailed by as many as 23 midway through the third quarter, scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter to cut the Nets' lead to 83- 72 . The Wizards looked in good shape down the stretch when Arenas hit a pair of late 3- pointers, but Jamison missed a free throw with 14 seconds to go in regulation that gave Peterson the chance to send the game to overtime " Our record does not reflect what kind of team we are " Peterson said " Hopefully we can get it turned around. I won' t lose any sleep over it " Bryant entered the game having shot 101- of- 116( 87 1 percent) from the foul line.

Daryle Ward replaced Lee for the finale of the three- game series The Cubs open a four- game set in St Louis on Friday Lee, batting . While he sat on the sideline in a gold ensemble, Alonzo Mourning filled in quite capably, with 14 points and 13 rebounds against a depleted Wizards frontcourt . Fratello needs three wins to become the 19th coach in league history to win 600 games . Perkins went on the disabled list in May with left elbow inflammation, missing 26 games He was examined in July by noted specialist Dr . The win was marred by the loss of quarterback Colt Brennan who suffered a concussion early in the fourth quarter. C- Denny Hamlin glided a hybrid vehicle down the backstretch at Lowe' s Motor Speedway at 110 mph, one hand on the steering wheel and his head turned toward his passenger " Pretty smooth ride, huh " he grinned Smooth enough for NASCAR' s standards.

Davis beat out Stone for the unenviable job of following Rivers, starting all 11 games in a 5- 6 season and the first six games of' 05 . The Gators last played there in 1967, while Syracuse went back to 1959 It marked Donovan McNabb' s final college game Oct . The Sooners are out of the rankings for the first time since Bob Stoops' first season as coach after a 41- 24 loss to UCLA on Saturday No . We just noticed it on film " Hudson said " It' s just something they show occasionally to show that Smokey is loyal to his own team " Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press . He followed that with 63 swings in regular batting practice The Yankees expect Rodriguez to rejoin the team by May 15 Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. La Mondue told The Virginian- Pilot newspaper for a story published Thursday that he did not want to discuss the lawsuits because " these are matters that are private " La Mondue' s Web site says his law firm is " ready to assist entertainers and athletes negotiate and prepare contracts " The lawsuit against Jimmy Williams contends Williams and his father, James Williams Sr of Hampton, owe La Mondue$ 55, 149. According to the Birmingham News, Gottfried, as part of his resignation, will receive a full buyout.

Two members of that club orchestrated Tuesday' s blockbuster trade- Celtics executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge and Timberwolves vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale . The top four teams from each five- team pool advance to the second round and the top two teams in the tournament earn berths in the Beijing Olympics Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press . Updated: November 19, 2006, 7: 46 PM ET Lucky score: Ohio state lottery draws 4- 2- 3- 9 winner Email Print Share Associated Press CLEVELAND- Ohio State' s 42- 39 victory over Michigan also was lucky for players of the Ohio Lottery . Minaya wants to preserve his best prospects " I have to keep an eye not only on' 09, but I have to keep an eye on' 10' 11 and' 12 " he said Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press . He suited up the following week against Colorado in Boulder, but Justine Buries got the starting nod. He replaces Zac Roman, who had been the acting coach since Scott Edgar went on leave in the fall Edgar was fired in December. Ricciardi, who was in New York Friday to see Toronto in its last trip to Yankee Stadium " They had Geoff go down and needed someone off the bench.

Ramirez, who won' t play again until the soreness is completely gone, took part in the hitting portion of Tuesday morning' s workout . Poll Positions The top five teams in The Associated Press poll: LSU, which recovered from its own first- half malaise to beat Tulane 34- 9 on Saturday, received 33 first- place votes from the media panel and 1, 593 points . The Hawks don' t play again until opening the season at Phoenix on Wednesday . After sitting out on March 1, Allen scored at least 22 points in each of the next seven games .