Six runs in the ninth inning meant little to the Mets. The only numbers to take solace in were the ones on the out-of-town scoreboard. An improbable rally fell just short when Paul Lo Duca flied out with a runner on third, and New York’s 10-9 loss to the scrappy Washington Nationals cost the NL East leaders another chance to expand their cushion.
Flyers forward Scottie Upshall could miss up to six weeks with a broken wrist and forward R.J. Umberger also needs surgery on his hand and could miss two weeks. Upshall and Umberger were both hurt in Philadelphia’s 4-2 loss against Ottawa on Tuesday night, and the Flyers said both players were scheduled for surgery Thursday.
The Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks have brought the oldest team trophy in North American sports back home to England. The Ducks, who practiced at the O2 Arena for the first time Wednesday, will open the NHL season in the British capital on Saturday against the Los Angeles Kings — a game far away from home and one which Ducks coach Randy Carlyle could have done without.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward has a sprained right knee and is doubtful for Sunday’s game at Arizona. Ward has missed only three games due to injury in 10 NFL seasons, and Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday he hasn’t ruled Ward out of the game. “I have learned not to count a guy like Hines Ward out,” Tomlin said.
In Deuce McAllister’s locker, front-and-center on the top shelf, is a gold-painted wooden carving of the word: “Believe!” After his second season-ending knee injury in three seasons, the Saints’ 28-year-old all-time leading rusher wants to believe he will return to the NFL as an elite running back. It won’t be easy, and he knows it.
Magna Entertainment Corporation acquired full ownership of Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park on Monday after exercising its option to purchase the remaining interest in The Maryland Jockey Club. Magna Entertainment will pay about $18.3 million plus interest to the De Francis Entities, under the terms of an option agreement put in place in 2002.
Big Truck and Expect the End won divisions of New York-bred stakes for 2-year-olds Sunday at Belmont Park. Big Truck, unbeaten in two starts, rolled to a 2-length win over Spanky Fischbein in the $104,300 Bertram Bongard Stakes. Ramon Dominguez was aboard for trainer Barclay Tagg as the colt ran the seven furlongs in 1:23.64 on the fast track.
On a night of comebacks, the Boston Red Sox were most encouraged by the return of Manny Ramirez. Ramirez singled in his first at-bat after missing 24 games, Kevin Youkilis came back from a seven-game absence and Curt Schilling won for the first time in more than a month as the Red Sox beat the Oakland Athletics 7-3 Tuesday night.
On a night of comebacks, the Boston Red Sox were most encouraged by the return of Manny Ramirez. Ramirez singled in his first at-bat after missing 24 games, Kevin Youkilis came back from a seven-game absence and Curt Schilling won for the first time in more than a month as the Red Sox beat the Oakland Athletics 7-3 Tuesday night.
Ninety minutes before Tuesday’s game, Lou Piniella sat in the Chicago Cubs’ dugout reciting a familiar mantra few believe. “There’s no curse,” Piniella said. “There’s no curse.” Keeping say it, Lou. Eager to sew up the NL Central, Piniella’s Cubs instead managed only two hits in eight innings against Dontrelle Willis and lost to the last-place Florida Marlins 4-2.
