MLB
DODGERS GIVE TORRE SHUTOUT WIN IN LA DEBUT
The Los Angeles Dodgers gave new manager Joe Torre just what he wanted in an opening day with a new team--a victory. Los Angeles Dodgers 5, San Francisco Giants 0.
Brad Penny allowed just four hits in his first-ever opening day start, and the Dodgers jumped on San Francisco ace Barry Zito for three runs in the first inning. Former Giants star Jeff Kent delivered the big blow, a two-run home run in first inning.
Penny (1-0) earned the win with 6 2/3 strong innings of work. Zito (0-1) was roughed up for eight hits and four runs in five innings.
Torre, the longtime New York Yankees skipper, also enjoyed the sunshine that rained down on the opening day festivities that honored the 50th anniversary of the Dodgers team that moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. Fans set a new regular-season record crowd of 56,000 at Dodgers Stadium.
If things continue to go this smoothly, Joe just might find the West Coast to his liking.
NATIONAL LEAGUE SCORES
Arizona 4, Cincinnati 2
Washington 11, Philadelphia 6
New York Mets 7, Florida 2
San Diego 4, Houston 0
Milwaukee 4, Chicago Cubs 3 - 10 innings
Pittsburgh 12, Atlanta 11 - 12 innings
Colorado at St. Louis - Postponed
AMERICAN LEAGUE SCORES
Minnesota 3, Los Angeles Angels 2
Tampa Bay 6, Baltimore 2
Seattle 5, Texas 2
Cleveland 10, Chicago White Sox 8
Kansas City 5, Detroit 4 - 11 innings
Toronto at New York - Postponed
NBA
SUNS SEND NUGGETS BACK TO NINTH
The Phoenix Suns had their own goals in mind when they took on the Denver Nuggets on Monday. No one in the Western Conference has clinched anything left with just over two weeks of the season left, so all nine contending teams are playing with something on the line. Phoenix, for instance, is still gunning for the best record and home court advantage. So, when welcomed Denver to the US Airways Center, they were not about to slack off.
The result? A 132-117 win for the run-and-gun Suns. Amare Stoudemire had an even bigger game than usual as he continues to remind people that he deserves to be listed among the game's top players. Stoudemire had 41 points and 14 rebounds to lead the way for the Suns. Steve Nash wasn't far behind with 36 points and eight assists.
Denver jumped out to a 39-25 lead after the first quarter and then extended that lead to 70-51 at the half. But the Suns decided at halftime not to stand by and let the Nuggets have this game. In the second half, the Suns raced past Denver by scoring 81 points after the break, including 46 in the fourth quarter.
The win improves the Suns to 50-24 on the season and draws them to within one game of the top spot in the West. The Nuggets fell to 45-29, and they dropped to ninth in the race for a playoff spot.
Denver was led by J.R. Smith, who scored 23, Allen Iverson, who had 21, and Kenyon Martin with 19.
OTHER NBA SCORES
Dallas 93, LA Clippers 86
Toronto 104, Charlotte 100
Indiana 105, Miami 85
Atlanta 116, Memphis 99
Utah 129, Washington
PLAYOFF WATCH
* Toronto catches up with Washington in the East. Both have records of 38-36 and are tied for fifth in the conference.
* Atlanta improved its hold on eighth place in the East with a record of 34-40. They are three games ahead of New Jersey.
* Utah improves to 49-26 and is 2 _ games behind New Orleans for Western supremacy. They are in first place in the Northwest Division.
* Dallas is now 46-28, in seventh place in the West, and a full game in front of the Nuggets and a half game ahead of Golden State.
FACT OF THE DAY
HOME RUNS ON DAY 1
For most major league teams, Monday was opening day. Because everyone digs home runs, here's a look at who went deep on Monday.
Jim Thome (2) White Sox
Jermaine Dye White Sox
Franklin Gutierrez Indians
Grady Sizemore Indians
Miguel Cabrera Tigers
Carlos Guillen Tigers
Alex Gordon Royals
Eric Hinske Rays
Michael Young Rangers
Xavier Nady (2) Pirates
Eric Byrnes Diamondbacks
Jeff Salazar Diamondbacks
Chris Young Diamondbacks
Kosuke Fukudome Cubs
Josh Willingham Marlins
Jeff Kent Dodgers
Jimmy Rollins Phillies
Chase Utley Phillies
Nate McLouth Pirates
Lastings Milledge Nationals
Brian McCann Braves
Jeff Francoeur Braves
SPORTS SPECTRUM INSIDER
Getting to the heart of what matters in life
TODAY'S FEATURE
BRANDON WEBB, Arizona Diamondbacks
BIO NOTE: Brandon and his wife Alicia, have formed a foundation, called the Brandon Webb K Foundation, which helps kids in Arizona.
RECENT NEWS: On Monday, the former Cy Young Award winner got his first win of 2008 by beating Cincinnati.
FAITH QUOTE: "I think anybody who knows God knows that baseball is an extracurricular thing. He's got more important things for us to do than just play baseball. No matter what your career, the biggest thing for us to do is to spread His Word."
--Sports Spectrum magazine
MINI MEMOS
Putting the SS spin on today's sports news
NO FOOLING
The Tampa Bay Rays are in first place the American League East. The Kansas City Royals are on top in the American League Central. The Washington Nationals have the best record in all of baseball and lead the NL East. The Pittsburgh Pirates are on top in the NL Central. Yes, it is April 1, and those are not April Fool's jokes. They are baseball realities. Don't you love Opening Day and the fresh new beginning it gives every team in baseball?
SENIOR SNUB
Stay in school. Get a diploma. Enjoy the college experience to its fullest. But don't expect to be named All-American. For the first time since All-Americans were first selected in men's college basketball, only underclassmen were named to the list. This year, two of the selections were freshmen: Kevin (nephew of a Beach Boy) Love and Michael (high school nomad) Beasley. One sophomore made the squad: D. J. (replacing Kevin Durant) Augustin of Texas. The two juniors are Chris (take it to the hoop) Douglas-Roberts and Tyler (never takes a play off) Hansbrough. More than likely, none of these players will be around next season to be on the All-American team again, leaving room for next year's seniors to have a chance at it.
MORE HOOSIER TROUBLE
Whoever takes the job of coaching the Indiana Hoosiers will have his work cut out for him even more than expected. On Monday, interim coach Dan Dakich kicked two players off the team for what seems to be insubordination (failing to attend a meeting then failing to attend a disciplinary running session). With natural attrition of seniors graduating and with Eric Gordon expected to go for the NBA money, the loss of two more players would seem to leave the cupboard rather bare for the next man to come along and try to restore Hoosier glory to Bloomington.
NO WIZARDRY LEFT
Imagine being the Washington Wizards on Monday. You just finished playing an overtime game to the LA Lakers in Tinseltown the night before, then you had to get on another airplane and take another flight to another NBA city. This time, you landed in Utah, so you have no choice but to go out and play the Jazz later that day. You're dead tired, and you are down a couple of notable players: Caron Butler and Gilbert Arenas. Of course, you know that you are competing for your playoff life, and you can ill afford to lose. Toronto is breathing down your neck. But you're pooped. You played at Portland on Tuesday, at Seattle on Wednesday, and at Sacramento on Friday. You're sick of restaurants, suitcases, and airplanes. And maybe even of playing basketball. But the ball goes up and the game begins. And the Utah Jazz, who are 32-4 at home, play like they've had two weeks off to do nothing but practice their shooting. From way downtown. C.J. Miles spots up from three-point land. Nothing but net. Kyle Korver fires. Twine. Even Mehmet Okur is dumping them in from long range. You look at the scoreboard at the half, and you are down 73-41. At one time, you are down by 47 points. Korver doesn't miss a shot. Miles scores 29. The Jazz shoots 60 percent and breaks a team record with 15 threes. Finally, it's over. It's 129-87, and you have to get on another flight. This time, mercifully, it's not going to land in an NBA city where you don't live. It's taking you back home to DC. Tired, but knowing that tomorrow night you have to go out again and play again--at home. The Milwaukee Bucks are coming for a visit.
SPRINT CUP STANDINGS
With six races in the books, here's a look at the leaders in the Sprint Cup standings. Denny Hamlin took the checkered flag at Martinsville. Jeff Gordon was second, Jeff Burton third, and Jimmie Johnson was fourth. Now the teams are hauling their rigs to the Dallas area for Sunday's Samsung 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway. It's the first 500-mile race for the drives since March 9 at Atlanta.
| Driver |
Points
|
Birth date |
| 1. Jeff Burton |
915
|
June 29, 1967 |
| 2. Kevin Harvick |
876
|
Dec. 8, 1975 |
| 3. Greg Biffle |
855
|
Dec. 23, 1969 |
| 4. Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
846
|
Oct. 10, 1974 |
| 5. Kyle Busch |
831
|
May 2, 1985 |
| 6. Tony Stewart |
811
|
May 10, 1971 |
| 7. Kasey Kahne |
786
|
April 10, 1980 |
| 8. Denny Hamlin |
758
|
Nov. 18, 1981 |
| 9. Jeff Gordon |
749
|
August 4, 1971 |
| 10. Jimmie Johnson |
746
|
Sept. 17, 1975 |
SPORTS SPECTRUM RADIO
SS DAILY INTERVIEW
To hear today's interview, go to the Sports Spectrum radio home page. It can be found at www.sport.org.
THE TUESDAY GUEST
BRYANT BARR, guard, Davidson College
The Davidson Wildcats were THAT story this March Madness season. As in "Did you see THAT game with Davidson?" "Did you see THAT shot Stephen Curry made?" Indeed, they were all THAT until losing to Kansas by a bucket on Sunday. One of their key players was Bryant Barr, who became famous for his play and for being Curry's roommate. Listen to what Barr has to say about the Wildcats' remarkable run.
