Sports Log

Girardi supports emotional Burnett

August 22, 2011

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Baseball

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said he is far more concerned with getting embattled starter A.J. Burnett to control his fastball than he is with getting him to control his emotions. Girardi defended Burnett yesterday after television cameras caught the righthander cursing as he was pulled in the second inning of a 9-4 loss to the Twins Saturday night. Initially it appeared as though Burnett was speaking to Girardi, but both said afterward that the pitcher’s anger was over the umpire’s strike zone. “Some of the time I think people forget there’s emotions involved,’’ Girardi said. “And the way A.J. reacts is because he cares.’’ Burnett stormed off the mound Aug. 3 after he was pulled in the fifth inning, having allowed seven runs. He is 9-10 with a 4.96 ERA this season. “The reality is he needs to pitch better, plain and simple,’’ Girardi said.

Weaver gets five-year, $85m extension The Angels and ace Jered Weaver, 28, agreed to a five-year, $85 million contract extension, with a full no-trade clause, according to multiple reports. The Angels have scheduled a press conference tomorrow to announce the deal. Weaver, who would have been eligible for free agency after next season, is 14-6 and leads the American League with a 2.10 ERA . . . The Pirates signed outfielder Jose Tabata to a six-year, $14.75 million contract extension, with three club options that could keep him in Pittsburgh through 2019. The options are for $6.5 million in 2017, $7.5 million in 2018, and $8.5 million in 2019, a potentially hefty investment for one of baseball’s more budget-conscious teams . . . The Giants will continue their playoff push minus All-Star closer Brian Wilson, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his right elbow . . . Patrick Zimmer tossed five shutout innings to help lead Billings, Mont., past Lafayette, La., 3-1, in Little League World Series pool play in South Williamsport, Pa. Huntington Beach, Calif., registered a 10-0, four-inning win over LaGrange, Ky. Maracay, Venezuela, posted an 8-0 victory over British Columbia, Canada. Mexicali, Mexico, beat Hamamatsu City of Japan, 3-2, in seven innings.

Tennis

Injured Djokovic suffers rare defeat Novak Djokovic’s remarkable winning streak ended with a grimace. The world’s top-ranked player was forced to retire in the second set because of a sore right shoulder, giving Andy Murray the championship at the Western & Southern Open in Mason, Ohio. Djokovic had won 16 consecutive matches since his only previous loss of the season, in the French Open semifinals against Roger Federer. Murray won the first set, 6-4, and was ahead, 3-0, in the second when Djokovic retired. Djokovic, who is 57-2 this year, said he is confident he’ll be ready for the US Open, which begins Aug. 29 . . . Maria Sharapova rallied to beat Jelena Jankovic, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, in the Western & Southern Open women’s final in Cincinnati . . . The inaugural New Haven Open at Yale got underway, with third seed Francesca Schiavone defeating Alexandra Dulgheru, 6-1, 6-2. The tournament was formerly called the Pilot Pen.

Soccer

Eto’o will become highest-paid player Inter Milan has reached a deal with Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala for the transfer of striker Samuel Eto’o, a deal that should make the Cameroon international the highest-paid soccer player in the world. Italian media reported that the clubs have agreed on a transfer fee of $38.9 million and that the deal will be formalized today. Anzhi is expected to give Eto’o, 30, a three-year contract worth $28.8 million per season, surpassing the estimated $17.3 million that Cristiano Ronaldo earns at Real Madrid and the $15.1 million that Lionel Messi is paid by Barcelona . . . In Major League Soccer, the Chicago Fire won for the first time since June 12 as Dominic Oduro and Dan Gargan scored in a 2-0 home victory over Toronto FC . . . Kei Kamara converted a loose ball into an early goal for host Sporting Kansas City in a 1-0 victory over D.C. United . . . The fourth-ranked Boston College women’s team beat Fairfield, 1-0, at Newton Soccer Field. Senior goalkeeper Jillian Mastroianni set a program record with her 50th victory.

Miscellany

LSU players seek counsel for bar fight Four LSU football players hired a defense attorney and put off a meeting with police about a bar fight last week that started when a patron honked at a crowd blocking his exit from a parking lot, Baton Rouge, La., police said. Quarterback Jordan Jefferson, offensive lineman Chris Davenport, defensive lineman Josh Johns, and receiver Jarvis Landry had been asked to give their side of the story at police headquarters today, but attorney Nathan Fisher arranged a postponement. Police interviewed four people who were treated and released - three for minor injuries and a fourth for a more serious injury that could bring a felony charge of second-degree battery . . . North Carolina State defensive tackle and senior captain J.R. Sweezy will be out six weeks with a broken foot . . . The Tulsa Shock set a WNBA record with their 18th consecutive loss, 73-67 to the visiting Sparks. Candace Parker led Los Angeles with 23 points . . . The Connecticut Sun broke a two-game skid by beating the Atlanta Dream, 96-87, at Mohegan Sun Arena. Renee Montgomery had 21 points and seven assists . . . Katie Douglas scored 15 points to lead the Indiana Fever over the Washington Mystics, 83-51, in Indianapolis . . . Three-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Calvin Borel was arrested Saturday night on a drunken driving charge in Evansville, Ind.