As the divulges Orioles left imparts the field, Palmeiro raised his helmet and thanked the fans. That' s hard to do sometimes, but winning ballclubs do that " Sabean quickly added that did not mean the team didn' t want to have any power in the lineup " We' re not looking to have a Punch and Judy team " he said " Nor is Carney going to be a Punch and Judy hitting coach. The Cubs were 8# 189; games back of the Brewers in late June last season after a slow start before overtaking Milwaukee to win the NL Central " We don' t want to put ourselves in the position where we have to go from last to first " like last year, said Cubs shortstop Ryan Theriot, who will flip with Soriano in the batting order " I don' t think anybody is pushing the panic button " Yost will take the early two- game cushion " It doesn' t matter when you play " he said " We lost the division by two games last year " Piniella said his team isn' t feeling the pressure already because of the high expectations " Pressing for what? We' ve only played a couple of games " Piniella said " The concern is that we start playing better baseball and that' s not even a concern- that' s what we need to do " Suppan( 1- 0) gave up Lee' s home run leading off the fourth on a 41- degree day and left after allowing Geovany Soto' s home in the seventh. Seattle scored four in the second against Oakland rookie Clayton Mortensen( 0- 2, who was called up from the minors earlier in the day to make only his second start in the majors " I started getting my balls up and they hit them hard " Mortensen said " I fell behind in the count and I had to try to focus afterward on throwing my sinker down in the strike zone. The 49th player chosen overall in the 2004 draft, Ratliff played in 51 games, with eight starts, and had 101 tackles, three interceptions, 13 passes defensed and one forced fumble He also returned 72 punts for an average of 7 5 yards. Among them: the personal trainer for San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds. But Brown earned his postseason shot last weekend against Toronto for " the way he got them out " meaning the likes of Carlos Delgado and Vernon Wells.

He originally signed with the Angels as a minor league free agent in 1993 . According to the report, McNamee said he injected Clemens with steroids in 1998 while with the Toronto Blue Jays, and steroids and HGH in 2000 and 2001, while with the New York Yankees . Totally fine " Adande: Stuck In Reverse? Most NBA teams have an identity or a plan The Chicago Bulls have neither, J A Adande writes . Both pitchers went back to Washington for medical evaluations . The MVP certainly was, hitting a home run on the second pitch he saw. The people running the public address system, oblivious to Martin' s rough start, cranked out " Can' t Touch This " It took a while, but the Nationals caught up. Associated PressST.

Thomas said he and Wade will weigh " a number of options " before deciding which course of action makes the most sense " It' s great and I feel very honored and blessed, first of all, to make it to the NBA but then to be in position where I' m on my third contract now and have a team want you and be a big part of the future " Wade said " That' s a testament in itself . Reid said McNabb was making progress and it was too early to rule him out " I know how Donovan' s wired and he' s a tough guy " Reid said " I' ve got to make sure that myself and the doctors and trainers evaluate that as we get closer . Mora became the third of five arbitration- eligible Orioles to agree to a contract, joining Jerry Hairston and Luis Matos, who settled last week Outfielder Jay Gibbons and pitcher B J Ryan remain scheduled for hearings next month . Just ask Ed Whitson, Rickey Henderson and even Roger Clemens, persona non grata in the Big Apple now that he has been so closely tied to steroids and human growth hormone . We did a good job of waiting him out and getting balls that were up in the zone " Rookie Chad Reineke( 2- 1) pitched five innings for the win and combined with five relievers on a three- hitter. Fast Facts# 8226& nbsp; The Padres have won four straight and five of six overall# 8226& nbsp; Chris Young got the win and improved to 5- 1 in his last six starts dating back to 2008# 8226& nbsp; Tim Lincecum gave up four runs in 5 1/ 3 innings, ballooning his ERA to 7 56 this season. Schaub was a restricted free agent this spring and the Falcons made him the highest qualifying offer possible, at$ 2 3 million.

Witnesses at the strip club told authorities that Jones grabbed money from a large plastic trash bag and showered strippers on stage with cash in an act known as " making it rain " A melee ensued, and shots were fired later outside the club . The Bills' defense is just 28th in DVOA for quarters 1- 3, but improves to fourth in the NFL during the final quarter . Tommy Henrich drove in four runs and Joe DiMaggio had three hits . I just know it' s a really good thing for kids " Rodriguez donated$ 200, 000 on Tuesday to the Children' s Aid Society to benefit mental health programs that work with young students in Manhattan " I would never just talk about it to talk about it . Drew hit a two- out, two- run homer in the bottom of the inning to complete the scoring. Mike Hinckley, Joe Beimel and Joel Hanrahan followed with 2 2/ 3 innings of perfect relief " This was a very important outing " Nationals manager Manny Acta said " Starting the season 0- 7, with all the pressure of' Who' s going to win the first game' Who' s going to have the first quality start " Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins went 1- for- 6 with two walks while Martis was in the game " If he can shut that offense down " Dunn said " he can shut any offense down " Dunn hit a three- run shot off Joe Blanton( 0- 1) in the first inning, while Josh Willingham hit his first homer with the Nationals as a pinch- hitter in the seventh off Chad Durbin. That does not, however, appear to be the case, given Lewis' comments.

The program was inspired by former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin, who told commissioner Roger Goodell last August during his induction in Canton that he wished someone had taken him through the Hall of Fame when he was a rookie . Williams The team called his return probable in the second period, when he was seen standing on the sideline wearing a wrap on the knee . He had to be carted off the field, the crowd giving him an ovation and chanting his name He was released after the season . Samkon Gado, signed Tuesday, would be the backup while hurrying to absorb enough of the playbook to contribute . As far as the terminology and things like that, I' m pretty much up to speed on that. Missing one day of the season is not the end " Until Foulke gets straightened out, the Red Sox will be forced to shuffle their bullpen " We' ve always felt with the game on the line, we want Foulke[ Alan] Embree[ Mike] Timlin " Francona said " I still feel that way. Gomez homered to left, Casilla singled and Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau delivered consecutive RBI doubles.

Aquino had entered in the sixth with no outs after Tribe starter Jeremy Sowers, who breezed through five innings, walked the bases loaded on 13 pitches . Right fielder Jermaine Dye slipped and fell while retrieving Hideki Matsui' s double, and still made the relay from flat on his back " It was a total team loss " Pierzynski said . Chanting " Lift the Cup " fans waved Greece' s blue- and- white flags, blared car horns as midday parties sprang up in Athens and Thessaloniki, Greece' s second- largest city . Hicks spoke several times Tuesday to Rodriguez, and said the shortstop was " happy " to remain with the Rangers " I' m 100 percent certain that when the Rangers show up for spring training in Surprise, Ariz, the guy that will be working the hardest and the guy that will be our team leader will be Alex Rodriguez " Hicks said . Junior Circuit RulesThe American League won this round of interleague play The NL gets its chance again on June 13. He played briefly with the Indiana Pacers, before rejoining the Timberwolves in 1995 and playing there until his 2002 retirement. After intentional walks to Stephen Drew and Justin Upton, Troncoso missed with a 3- 2 fastball to Mark Reynolds, who had fouled off a pair of pitches with two strikes " I was just trying to put the ball in play " Reynolds said " I just fouled off some tough pitches and was able to work a good AB " Torre said he walked Drew and Upton to set up a force at home.

1 seconds remaining Friday night, giving Washington a 106- 104 victory over the New York Knicks " A big play " Arenas said " I told him I was going to give him$ 10, 000 in gift certificates " Knowing Gilbert " responded Haywood, the team' s runaway miser " he' ll give me$ 10, 000 in gift certificates to Victoria' s Secret . At first glance, the addition of von Oelhoffen might appear to be an awkward fit for the Philadelphia defense . Running back Bruce Hall came off the practice squad to fill Hardy' s roster spot . Nobody expected the Dolphins to be in the hunt this late in the season, and some of the credit for that goes to offensive line coach Mike Maser and his work in Long' s development . But, now that he' s agreed to don the pinstripes, owner George Steinbrenner' s edict that requires a clean- cut look from the Yankees is expected to strip Damon of the physical identity that made him unique- his long hair and beard. Matthews' signing probably means versatile Chone Figgins will move from center field to third base unless the Angels add another third baseman " It makes Figgy a lot better to be able to concentrate on one position " Scioscia said Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. Tampa Bay went ahead in the first on an RBI groundout by Pena after singles by Akinori Iwamura and Carl Crawford.

Tony Allen finished with 16 points for Boston, including a pair of big baskets in the final 1: 46 . I made some bad decisions and I owned up to all my decisions " Jones said June 4, after his second workout with the Cowboys and the first open to the media " Now I worry about the future " That was the only extensive interview Jones has done at Valley Ranch since being cleared by Goodell to return to the field for practices and preseason games . Aybar led off the first with a double, advanced to third on Marcus Giles' single and scored on Renteria' s sacrifice fly . Werre, a 28- year- old Houston native who once aspired to be a bodybuilder, now works by day as a pharmacy technician in a small, corner drugstore in a medical building . Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis went deep for the Orioles, who have lost four straight and five of six. Washington OF Josh Willingham remained sidelined with a stomach virus. After 12 consecutive losing seasons, the Clippers won for the seventh time in eight games and improved to 11- 10 on the road, surpassing their total of 10 road wins in each of the last two seasons " It gives us a lot of confidence " said Elton Brand, who had six of his 30 points in the game- ending surge " That we can go on the road and win those tough, tight games shows a lot about our character " The Celtics lost their fourth straight game and their failure to come through down the stretch shows a lot about their youthfulness.

The former Georgetown star called it " surreal " to walk past the Hoyas' locker room in the Verizon Center . Louis last spring as a free agent, but was released just before the start of the season . Updated: April 23, 2009, 9: 17 PM ET Punter Smith agrees to deal with Skins Comment Email Print Share Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS- Longtime Indianapolis Colts punter Hunter Smith will join the Washington Redskins next season, his agent said Thursday " Hunter has agreed to terms with the Redskins " Thomas Mills, Smith' s agent, wrote in an e- mail to The Associated Press . 312 with seven homers, 52 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 2002 in helping the Angels win their first World Series He batted 270 with six homers and 40 RBIs in 2001 and 266 with nine homers and 72 RBIs in 2000 He began his major league career with St Louis in 1999, hitting 255 with one homer and 16 RBIs in 35 games . Orlando Cabrera was picked off first base in the third inning- with Willits already occupying second As a result, Vladimir Guerrero was intentionally walked. The biggest crowd of the series- 31, 971 bought tickets for a Bronson Arroyo bobblehead giveaway- spent much of the evening collectively groaning. In 2004, Thomson' s first season with the Braves, he was 14- 8 with a 3 73 ERA Atlanta could have bought out the option for$ 500, 000 Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press.

The Blue Jays have 10 days to trade, release or send him outright to the minors . 143 opponents batting average was second among major league relievers . 724 August win percentage stands third best all- time- ESPN Stats& Information Pettitte( 12- 6) was poised to finish the seventh without allowing a baserunner, but former Oriole Jerry Hairston Jr . Sunday' s loss dropped them 14 games back of division- leading St . We' re fortunate it wasn' t as bad as it looked " O' Neal is averaging 12 9 points and 9 3 rebounds. Burke left Sunday' s game in the fifth inning with a bruised left elbow after being hit by a pitch earlier in the game He was listed as day- to- day. Milton Bradley put Oakland ahead in the first with an RBI single, but Mike Sweeney hit a run- scoring double in the third.

Ross was replaced in right field by Joe Borchard in the top of the eighth inning, as many who remained in the crowd of about 13, 000 chanted " Co- dy! Co- dy " Anibal should maybe take him out to dinner " Girardi said " I' ve said all along, when Cody plays, he usually makes an impact Cody has the ability to do a lot of special things . After going 2- 14 last season, the right- hander got off to an encouraging start last week by throwing three shutout innings against the New York Mets But this outing lifted his ERA to 7 20 . Mariners star Ichiro Suzuki singled to start the sixth for a 10- game hitting streak, then doubled in the seventh . With Brantley reversing his tracks back and forth between throws, Cuddyer finally chased him to second and made a lunging tag- but dropped the ball as both players tumbled " Too bad it isn' t like the NFL where the ground can' t cause a fumble " Cuddyer said . Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. Updated: November 21, 2003, 9: 21 PM ET Analyst was suspended after pot arrest Email Print Share Associated Press ANAHEIM, Calif- Rex Hudler is returning as the Anaheim Angels' television analyst next season. The NL West- leading Dodgers, who were the only team left in the majors without an extra- inning win, have won 15 of 16 games, making their 1- 13 skid after the All- Star break a distant memory.

Brewers RHP Rick Helling is to have surgery Thursday on his left knee to repair torn cartilage St . Clemens' name did not appear in the document, as was previously reported " When this grossly inaccurate story broke in October 2006, Roger said it was untrue and the Los Angeles Times chose not to believe him . They did everything that we could have asked them to, but they battled back in the end " Game notes The Indianapolis Indians of the International League will remain the Triple- A affiliate of the Pirates at least through the 2012 season . He slumped to 8- 7 last season and struggled so badly this year that the Indians sent him down to rookie ball in June " He established himself in the first inning " Wedge said " He pitched out of trouble a couple of times . Associated PressSAN FRANCISCO- Giants manager Bruce Bochy was a little nervous about his ace pitcher Tim Lincecum put him at ease. The 7- footer from the Congo signed his first 10- day contract Jan 21 and averaged 1 5 points and 1 5 rebounds in four games Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. The Clippers' sixth consecutive loss matched their longest skid of last season.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report . As Cook cracked " He can' t hear that phone on his tractor, anyway " Chris Mortensen is ESPN' s senior NFL analyst . 500 for the first time since 1988 " It is fun to be a part of " said Curtis Granderson, who had a career- high five RBI " When we go out to the grocery store, people are stopping us to tell us we' re doing a good job " One of the 31, 241 fans even held up a sign that asked " When do playoff tickets go on sale " but Tigers manager Jim Leyland thought the fan was getting a little too excited in May " My cigarettes have filters on them " he said " I don' t think that guy' s did " Nate Robertson( 5- 2) moved to 4- 0 in his last seven starts, allowing three runs- two earned- and seven hits in six- plus innings He walked one and struck out two . Ryan Howard doubled and drove in two, and Shane Victorino had two RBIs for the Phillies, who have scored 17 runs in consecutive wins over the Dodgers after entering Friday night with 61 runs in 19 games( 3 . With two on and two out, Acta pinch- hit for Zimmermann, and there were some boos from the few fans still around when Alex Cintron was announced as the batter Cintron flied out. Golden State coach Don Nelson has criticized his team for its slow starts, but that wasn' t a problem Sunday. I have been looking at my videotape from 2003 " Hernandez, who was 7- 5 with a 4.