Sports Log
Baseball
Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro was held out of the starting lineup against Atlanta last night, one night after television cameras caught him not paying attention in the field as a pitch was thrown. As reliever James Russell went into his motion in the sixth inning of Sunday night’s 6-2 loss to the Cardinals, Castro kicked at the dirt and then walked toward the outfield, never looking toward home plate when the pitch was thrown. Cubs manager Mike Quade said yesterday he was “real disappointed’’ and was giving Castro “a mental day off.’’ . . . Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a groin strain, and All-Star third baseman Placido Polanco (sports hernia) was activated from the DL . . . The Indians put designated hitter Travis Hafner on the 15-day DL with a strained right foot . . . The Pirates put righthander Kevin Correia on the 15-day DL with a strained oblique, the second Pitsburgh starter to head to the DL in the past week. Paul Maholm was put on the DL Friday with a left shoulder strain . . . Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan has taken a leave of absence to tend to his ailing wife. Jeanine Duncan underwent major surgery Sunday that will require additional tests and rehabilitation . . . Jake Fromm’s line-drive homer to center highlighted a three-run ninth and helped Warner Robins, Ga., top LaGrange, Ky., 8-5, and advance at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa. Georgia will face Pennsylvania tonight after Clinton County routed Lafayette, La., 10-0. Earlier, Langley, British Columbia beat Kaoshiung, Taiwan, 5-3, to become the first Canadian team to beat a squad from Taiwan after 16 straight losses.NHL
Agent denies Crosby suffered setback The agent for Penguins star Sidney Crosby refuted a Canadian television report that said the former MVP has experienced a setback in his recovery from a pair of concussions and wouldn’t be ready when the team opens camp next month. Pat Brisson said Crosby “hasn’t been shut down by anyone’’ and instead has adjusted his summer program to address the different needs for his recovery . . . Veteran Stephane Veilleux headed a list of 12 players signed by the Devils. Also signing were a pair of former Boston College players - rookie forward Joe Whitney and defenseman Peter Harrold, who played the past five seasons with the Kings - and former Yale forward Brad Mills.Golf
Blomquist takes early lead at NEPGA Making a bid to become the first woman to win the New England PGA championship, Allison Blomquist (Weston GC) opened with a 2-under-par 70 to take a one-shot lead at Pinehills Golf Club in Plymouth. Tied for second are John Hickson, Lou Rivers (Foxborough CC), Dave Lane III (Hopkinton CC), and RJ Ziats (Stratton Mountain CC) . . . Defending champion Peter Uihlein, a New Bedford native, shot a 4-under 68 at Erin Hills Golf Course, one shot behind the three leaders after the first day of the US Amateur in Erin, Wis. Herbie Aikens of Pembroke and Davis Mullany of Great Barrington each had 75, Aikens at Erin Hills, Mullany at Blue Mound Golf & Country Club, which is the second course being used in stroke play. The low 64 after today’s second round of stroke play advance to match play . . . J.B. Holmes withdrew from The Miscellany
Piermarini gets 2,000th win at Suffolk Jockey Tammi Piermarini won two races at Suffolk Downs, giving her 2,000 victories in her career. The 44-year-old Amesbury native is the fifth woman to reach the milestone . . . A man who went to the West Linn, Ore., home of Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph to sell marijuana said he was beaten with a pool cue in a dispute over the price of pot. The man told sheriff’s deputies at least three men assaulted him but Randolph was not among them. No arrests have been made . . . Los Angeles Lakers forward Luke Walton plans to work as an assistant to University of Memphis coach Josh Pastner until the NBA lockout ends . . . Christina McHale upset sixth-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova, 7-5, 6-3, in the first round of the New Haven Open. The 19-year-old American was down, 4-2, and a break in the first set before reeling off three consecutive games en route to the 7-5 win. She broke Kuznetsova to open the second set and breezed to the straight-set victory . . . Crew chief Jerry Baxter apologized for pulling Steve Wallace’s hair after the Nationwide Series race in Montreal. Baxter said he was upset because contact between Wallace and Patrick Carpentier ended Carpentier’s race.© Copyright 2011 Globe Newspaper Company.



