MLB
RAMIREZ POWERS RED SOX PAST INDIANS
Manny Ramirez pounded a Joe Borowski pitch for a two-run home run on Monday night in the ninth inning to help Boston get a 6-4 come-from-behind win over the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field.
The home run raised Ramirez' career total to 493 as he closes in on the magical 500 plateau.
The Indians led the game 4-3 as Borowski was handed the ball to close out the win. But Boston got the game tying run on a Dustin Pedroia sacrifice fly. After Jacoby Ellsbury, running for David Ortiz, came into the game, Ramirez went deep for the difference.
The loss drops the Indians to 5-8 on the season while Boston improves to 8-6.
OTHER SCORES
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Kansas City 5, Seattle 1
Oakland 2, Chicago White Sox 1
New York Yankees 8, Tampa Bay 7
Detroit 11, Minnesota 9
LA Angels 7, Texas 4
Baltimore 4, Toronto 3
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Pittsburgh 6, LA Dodgers 4
San Francisco 5, Arizona 4
NBA
PACERS LOSE, HAWKS SOAR INTO PLAYOFFS
With just two days left in the regular NBA season, the Atlanta Hawks have assured that their season is not over on Wednesday. For the first time in this century, the Hawks will not be heading for the golf course at the end of the season. Thanks to Indiana's 117-110 loss to the Washington Wizards, Atlanta is assured of eighth place in the East.
That's the good news for Mike Woodson's team. The bad news is that the 37-43 Hawks have a mountainous uphill climb if they intend to extend their playoff stay past the first round. Their Mount Everest wears green and comes from Boston. The Celtics are 65-16 with two days left in the season, so Joe Johnson and friends will need lots of ropes and perhaps a helicopter or two to climb the next peak.
OTHER NBA SCORES
San Antonio 101, Sacramento 98
Toronto 91, Miami 75
Cleveland 91, Philadelphia 90
Washington 117, Indiana 110
Boston 99, New York 93
Chicago 151, Milwaukee 135
Utah 97, Houston 87
Phoenix 122, Golden State 116
NHL
PENS TAKE 3-0 LEAD OVER SENS
A three-goal third period carried the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 4-1 win and a 3-0 lead in their best-of-seven first-round series with the Ottawa Senators.
The Sens got on the board first in the game at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa. Nick Foligno got the home team on the board just 1:11 into the second period. But that was it for the Senators' offense.
Max Talbot tied the game just four minutes later, and the teams took their second break knotted at a single goal apiece.
Pittsburgh came out of the locker room rolling. Sidney Crosby let just 12 seconds expire before he scored to make it 2-1. A little over a minute later, Jordan Staal got his first goal of the playoffs. And at 8:55, Marian Hossa silenced the crowd and Ottawa's hopes by making it 4-1.
The teams will step out onto the ice again on Wednesday at the same location as Pittsburgh goes for the sweep.
OTHER STANLEY CUP SCORES
Nashville 5, Detroit 3
Detroit leads the series 2-1
Minnesota 3, Colorado 2 (OT)
Minnesota leads the series 2-1
SPORTS SPECTRUM INSIDER
Getting to the heart of what matters in life
TODAY'S FEATURE
MORGAN ENSBERG, New York Yankees
BIO NOTE: Ensberg joined the Yankees during the offseason.
RECENT NEWS: On Monday, Ensberg hit his first home run for the Yankees.
FAITH QUOTE: "If we didn't have accountability, we'd be in deep trouble because our sinful nature ultimately will break. It ultimately comes down to the fact that we can't do it alone. We need help."
-Sports Spectrum magazine
MINI MEMOS
Putting the SS spin on today's sports news
JOHNSON RETURNS, FANS SEVEN
Randy Johnson can still bring it. Although he has been pitching in professional baseball since 1985, the lanky lefty can still sneak a fastball past major leaguers. On Monday, Johnson took the mound for the Arizona Diamondbacks and added seven more strikeouts to his career total. He also left the game in the fifth inning with a 0.00 ERA since the three runs he gave up were not earned. Pretty remarkable for a guy who will be 45 years old during the 2008 season.
COMERICA VICTORY
Who know it would take this long for the Detroit Tigers to get their first home victory? Playing like it's 2003, the highly paid team had won just two games so far and none of them at Comerica Park. But on Monday, they mounted a six-run inning late in the game to beat Minnesota 11-9. Detroit had scored just 37 runs in their first 12 games before breaking things open on Monday. Of particular note, Miguel Cabrera had two hits to raise his batting average above the Mendosa line. He's hitting .205 now.
SPRINT CUP STANDINGS
With eight races in the books, here's a look at the leaders in the Sprint Cup standings. The next race will take the drivers to Talladega for the Aaron's 499.
| Driver |
Points
|
| 1. Jeff Burton |
1215
|
| 2. Kyle Busch |
1135
|
| 3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
1129
|
| 4. Jimmie Johnson |
1116
|
| 5. Kevin Harvick |
1112
|
| 6. Denny Hamlin |
1078
|
| 7. Tony Stewart |
1078
|
| 8. Clint Bowyer | 1044 |
| 9. Carl Edwards | 1041 |
| 10. Greg Biffle |
1039
|
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
MIKE D'ANTONI, head coach, Phoenix Suns
The NBA playoffs are almost here, and again the Phoenix Suns will be in the middle of the fight for the Western Conference crown. Frank Giardina had a chance to talk with Mike D'Antoni about the Suns and what might be on the horizon for them as they start the playoffs.
