Boston Herald - Boston Herald

Ed Reed, Brian Cushing miss Texans' spring workout

Associated Press — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:32:33 -0400

HOUSTON — Safety Ed Reed missed the Houston Texans' first spring workout on Monday as he recovers from hip surgery in Colorado.

Coach Gary Kubiak said Reed is "doing really well."

The nine-time Pro Bowler signed a three-year contract in free agency and will miss organized team activities.

"The expectations are for him to leave Colorado sometime this week," Kubiak said. "But it's going good."

S Reed, LB Cushing out for OTAs

Associated Press — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:25:55 -0400

HOUSTON — Texans coach Gary Kubiak says safety Ed Reed is doing "really well" as he recovers from hip surgery.

The nine-time Pro Bowler signed a three-year, $15 million contract in free agency and will miss all of the Texans' organized team activities, which began Monday.

Linebacker Brian Cushing will also miss the OTAs as he recovers from left knee surgery. Cushing says he has no restrictions on the knee, but coaches are playing it safe.

Raiders plan for Woodson visit

Associated Press — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:25:54 -0400

ALAMEDA, Calif. — Charles Woodson will receive quite a greeting from Oakland Raiders fans when he makes a free agent visit to the team's facilities on Tuesday.

A few of his potential teammates in Oakland will give him a warm reception as well.

Woodson spent his first eight NFL seasons with the Raiders after being selected with the fourth overall pick in 1998. He signed with Green Bay following the 2005 season and helped the Packers win a Super Bowl title five years later before being released by the team in February.

Seattle opens OTAs with off-field distractions

Associated Press — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:25:53 -0400

RENTON, Wash. — Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks started organized team activities on Monday with very little talk about anything that took place on the field.

That was understandable considering the recent news about suspensions and arrests.

Police: Guns, cash stolen from Ray Rice's Md. home

Associated Press — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:25:52 -0400

TOWSON, Md. — Police say the Maryland home of Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice was burglarized over the weekend, and $2,000 and two guns were stolen.

Baltimore County police spokeswoman Cpl. Cathleen Batton said Monday that the burglary happened between 8:30 p.m. Friday and 12:50 a.m. Saturday at the home in Reisterstow.

Batton says Rice was out of town for the weekend, but a friend was staying at the home and reported the burglary to police.

Ryan Dempster returns to Chicago as visiting player

Associated Press — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:21:16 -0400

CHICAGO — Ryan Dempster picked his son up at school, and then he got to play with him on the field at the ballpark.

It was just like the old days. Just at a different ballpark and wearing a different uniform.

Dempster was back in Chicago on Monday when the Boston Red Sox opened a three-game series against the White Sox. It was the pitcher's first game in the city since he was traded from the Cubs to the Texas Rangers on July 31.

AJ Allmendinger taking life 1 day at a time

Associated Press — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:42:38 -0400

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — AJ Allmendinger's parents attended their first Indianapolis 500 in 1979, when they camped in a grassy lot and watched Rick Mears win his first 500.

Their son was born two years later — Greg Allmendinger named him after A.J. Foyt, his favorite driver — and for a time it seemed like the Allmendingers would make it back to Indy with him. Allmendinger had risen through the open-wheel ranks to become one of the top drivers in the Champ Car Series with a five-win 2006 season.

Jonny Gomes: 2-year deal with Red Sox has allowed him to emphasize the intangibles

Scott Lauber — Tue, 21 May 2013 01:00:00 -0400

CHICAGO -- For the first time in his career, Jonny Gomes isn't worried about next year.

In November, Gomes signed a two-year, $10 million contract with the Red Sox, marking the first time in his career that he isn't playing on a one-year deal. And the security has allowed him to focus on things other than his statistical production.

Shane Victorino on hamstring injury: 'I just want to get back to being healthy'

Scott Lauber — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:45:00 -0400

CHICAGO -- Playing in Bill Murray’s hometown, Shane Victorino starred in his own version of “Groundhog Day.”

AL roundup: Orioles lose to Yankees 6-4, skid reaches 6

Associated Press — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:43:00 -0400

BALTIMORE — Vernon Wells doubled in the tiebreaking run in the 10th inning and the New York Yankees hit four solo homers in a 6-4 victory over the Orioles on Monday night, extending Baltimore's losing streak to six games.

New York trailed 4-3 in the ninth before Travis Hafner homered with one out on a 3-1 pitch from Jim Johnson, who has blown three straight save opportunities after converting a franchise-record 35 in a row. All three of those botched saves have come during Baltimore's current skid.

Red Wings top Blackhawks 3-1, take 2-1 series lead

Associated Press — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:28:00 -0400

DETROIT — The young Detroit Red Wings have made the mighty Chicago Blackhawks look vulnerable, beating them two straight times to gain an advantage in their last playoff matchup as Western Conference rivals.

Gustav Nyquist and Drew Miller scored 31 seconds apart midway through the second period and Pavel Datsyuk restored a two-goal lead in the third to help Detroit beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-1 Monday night and take a 2-1 lead in the second round series.

NL roundup: Gallardo mistakes lead to Dodgers win over Brewers

Associated Press — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:01:00 -0400

MILWAUKEE — Clayton Kershaw scattered three singles in his second complete game of the year and Matt Kemp hit his first home run since April 24, lifting the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 3-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night.

Ryan Braun managed a pair of singles and Yuniesky Betancourt also singled for the only hits off Kershaw (5-2). The lefty struck out five and walked one.

Andre Ethier homered and tripled for the last-place Dodgers before being ejected by plate umpire Dan Bellino for arguing a called third strike in the eighth inning.

Healthy issue in Bailey

Michael Silverman, Red Sox Beat — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

CHICAGO — Andrew Bailey has two roles with the Red Sox.

That’s one too many.

As of yesterday, he returned to being the closer — for the fourth time.

The moment also marked the return of the most mysterious man on the Red Sox roster.

That’s no reflection on Bailey’s personality, which is as sunny, cooperative, good-humored and helpful as anyone in that clubby clubhouse.

The mystery with Bailey is that nobody has any idea how long he can stay healthy.

Not Jon Lester’s kind of town

Scott Lauber — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

CHICAGO — When Jon Lester took the mound last night, he was trying to become the first Red Sox lefty starter since 1973 to go at least 7-0 to begin a season.

But he also was facing his personal kryptonite.

In his best and worst seasons, Lester struggles against the White Sox. He can’t explain it, but it has become as predictable as winter blizzards in Chicago. In nine previous starts against the White Sox entering the series opener here, the Red Sox ace lefty had a 5.20 ERA, by far his highest against any AL team.

Terrence Williams up on charges

Mark Murphy — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Terrence Williams, accused of brandishing a firearm Sunday afternoon during an argument with the mother of his 10-year-old son, had bail set by a judge at $25,000 during a court appearance yesterday in Kent, Wash.

The next hearing for the Celtics guard, who posted bail and was released, will be held tomorrow, stemming from his arrest following a confrontation in an apartment complex parking lot. He is being investigated for second-degree domestic assault.

Salty, Middlebrooks go deep, but fall short

Michael Silverman — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

CHICAGO — Last night, an ill wind from the Windy City blew down the Red Sox’ best chances to swiftly turn a 6-4 loss into a closer ballgame.

Two long outs — one by Jarrod Saltalamacchia in the seventh, the other by Will Middlebrooks in the ninth — made all the difference for an offense that could not catch up with the White Sox.

Rob Gronkowski gets good news

Karen Guregian , Ron Borges — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Rob Gronkowski appears to have dodged one bullet. The nasty infection that’s dogged him for months looks to be a thing of the past, as doctors yesterday were able to install a new plate in his surgically repaired left forearm.

But there’s another sizable worry on the table. The Pro Bowl tight end will likely tackle back surgery next. Gronkowski has been battling a disc problem for at least the past year. He recently underwent an MRI to determine the extent of the injury.

Bruins on clean-up duty

Steve Conroy — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

The Bruins’ 5-2 victory over the New York Rangers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series Sunday afternoon might have been the best of both worlds for the coaching staff.

Overall, it was a good effort. The B’s got scoring from three of the four forward lines and a couple from the defense. And they got excellent goaltending from Tuukka Rask.

Steve Gregory joins another team at Randolph High

Karen Guregian — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Patriots owner Robert Kraft (and his late wife, Myra) has long been an advocate of having players in the organization volunteer their time for worthy causes.

Steve Gregory appreciates the sentiment. Before arriving in Foxboro last year, the Patriots safety and his wife, Roseanne, were known in San Diego for having a positive impact in the community. That hasn’t changed in New England.

Transition game revs up Reading

Bruce Lerch, Schools — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Late-night shooting practice Sunday paid big dividends for Reading yesterday, as Charlie Colvin registered five goals and two assists while Connor Frazier added four goals and two helpers in the host Rockets’ 15-7 victory over Beverly in nonleague play. Reading’s potent transition game played a key role.

“We work on that every day. We start at one restraining line and we transition ourselves every day,” coach Charlie Hardy said.