Scoreboard
Baseball
American League
East Division
W L Pct GB
Boston 49 39 .557 --
Baltimore 47 40 .540 1 1/2
New York 47 40 .540 1 1/2
Toronto 44 45 .494 5 1/2
Tampa Bay 29 61 .322 21
Central Division
W L Pct GB
Chicago 58 29 .667 --
Minnesota 48 39 .552 10
Cleveland 47 42 .528 12
Detroit 42 45 .483 16
Kansas City 31 57 .352 27 1/2
West Division
W L Pct GB
Los Angeles 53 36 .596 --
Texas 46 40 .535 5 1/2
Oakland 44 43 .506 8
Seattle 39 48 .448 13
Thursday's Games
N.Y. Yankees 8, Boston 6
Kansas City 12, Detroit 9
Chicago White Sox 1, Cleveland 0
Tampa Bay 3, Toronto 0
L.A. Angels 3, Minnesota 2
Texas at Oakland, 9:05 p.m.
Baltimore at Seattle, 9:05 p.m.
Friday's Games
N.Y. Yankees (Wang 6-3) at Boston (D.Wells 6-5), 6:05 p.m.
Kansas City (Carrasco 4-3) at Detroit (Douglass 2-0), 6:05 p.m.
Chicago White Sox (Garcia 8-3) at Cleveland (Sabathia 6-5), 6:05 p.m.
Tampa Bay (Hendrickson 3-6) at Toronto (Chacin 7-5), 6:07 p.m.
L.A. Angels (Colon 11-5) at Minnesota (Radke 6-8), 7:10 p.m.
Texas (Park 8-3) at Oakland (Zito 6-8), 9:05 p.m.
Baltimore (Lopez 8-5) at Seattle (Pineiro 3-4), 9:05 p.m.
Saturday's Games
N.Y. Yankees at Boston, 12:20 p.m.
Chicago White Sox at Cleveland, 12:20 p.m.
Texas at Oakland, 3:05 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Toronto, 3:07 p.m.
L.A. Angels at Minnesota, 5:10 p.m.
Kansas City at Detroit, 6:05 p.m.
Baltimore at Seattle, 9:05 p.m.
Sunday's Games
Kansas City at Detroit, 12:05 p.m.
Chicago White Sox at Cleveland, 12:05 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Toronto, 12:07 p.m.
L.A. Angels at Minnesota, 1:10 p.m.
Texas at Oakland, 3:05 p.m.
Baltimore at Seattle, 3:05 p.m.
N.Y. Yankees at Boston, 5:05 p.m.
National League
East Division
W L Pct GB
Washington 52 37 .584 --
Atlanta 50 40 .556 2 1/2
Philadelphia 46 44 .511 6 1/2
New York 45 44 .506 7
Florida 44 43 .506 7
Central Division
W L Pct GB
St. Louis 56 32 .636 --
Houston 44 43 .506 11 1/2
Chicago 44 44 .500 12
Milwaukee 43 46 .483 13 1/2
Pittsburgh 39 49 .443 17
Cincinnati 35 53 .398 21
West Division
W L Pct GB
San Diego 48 41 .539 --
Arizona 43 47 .478 5 1/2
Los Angeles 40 48 .455 7 1/2
San Francisco 37 50 .425 10
Colorado 31 56 .356 16
Wednesday's Games
No games scheduled
Thursday's Games
Milwaukee 4, Washington 2
Chicago Cubs 5, Pittsburgh 1
Philadelphia 13, Florida 7
N.Y. Mets 6, Atlanta 3
Arizona at San Diego, 9:05 p.m.
San Francisco at L.A. Dodgers, 9:10 p.m.
Friday's Games
Pittsburgh (Fogg 4-4) at Chicago Cubs (Wood 2-2), 1:20 p.m.
Florida (Moehler 4-6) at Philadelphia (Lidle 8-6), 6:05 p.m.
Atlanta (Smoltz 9-5) at N.Y. Mets (Glavine 6-7), 6:10 p.m.
Colorado (Jennings 5-8) at Cincinnati (Harang 4-8), 6:10 p.m.
Washington (L.Hernandez 12-3) at Milwaukee (Sheets 5-6), 7:05 p.m.
Houston (Pettitte 6-7) at St. Louis (Mulder 10-5), 7:10 p.m.
Arizona (Webb 8-6) at San Diego (W.Williams 5-5), 9:05 p.m.
San Francisco (Lowry 5-9) at L.A. Dodgers (Lowe 5-9), 9:40 p.m.
Saturday's Games
Pittsburgh at Chicago Cubs, 3:05 p.m.
San Francisco at L.A. Dodgers, 3:10 p.m.
Washington at Milwaukee, 6:05 p.m.
Florida at Philadelphia, 6:05 p.m.
Atlanta at N.Y. Mets, 6:10 p.m.
Colorado at Cincinnati, 6:10 p.m.
Houston at St. Louis, 6:15 p.m.
Arizona at San Diego, 9:05 p.m.
Sunday's Games
Atlanta at N.Y. Mets, 12:10 p.m.
Colorado at Cincinnati, 12:15 p.m.
Florida at Philadelphia, 12:35 p.m.
Washington at Milwaukee, 1:05 p.m.
Houston at St. Louis, 1:15 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Chicago Cubs, 1:20 p.m.
Arizona at San Diego, 3:05 p.m.
San Francisco at L.A. Dodgers, 3:10 p.m.
Thursday linescores
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Tampa Bay 000 001 011 -- 3 7 0
Toronto 000 000 000 -- 0 6 0
Fossum, DBaez (8) and THall; Lilly, Chulk (8), Schoeneweis (8), MBatista (9) and Zaun. W--Fossum 4-7. L--Lilly 7-9. Sv--DBaez (14). HR--Tampa Bay, Hollins (8).
Chicago 100 000 000 -- 1 7 0
Cleveland 000 000 000 -- 0 4 0
Contreras, Politte (8), Marte (8), Hermanson (9) and Pierzynski; Millwood, Howry (9), Sauerbeck (9) and VMartinez. W--Contreras 5-5. L--Millwood 3-8. Sv--Hermanson (22).
New York 021 011 012 -- 8 14 0
Boston 401 000 100 -- 6 9 1
Mussina, Sturtze (7), Gordon (8), MRivera (9) and Posada, Flaherty (8); Arroyo, MMyers (6), Bradford (7), Embree (7), Timlin (8), Schilling (9) and Varitek. W--Gordon 3-3. L--Schilling 1-3. Sv--MRivera (21). HRs--New York, Sheffield (18), ARodriguez (24), JaGiambi (11), BWilliams (6). Boston, DOrtiz (22), Nixon (10).
Kansas City 200 011 260 -- 12 13 1
Detroit 000 101 340 -- 9 15 2
Greinke, Burgos (6), MWood (7), Affeldt (8), MacDougal (9) and Buck; Bonderman, Spurling (7), JWalker (7), German (8), Dingman (8) and IRodriguez. W--Greinke 2-11. L--Bonderman 11-6. Sv--MacDougal (12). HRs--Kansas City, Stairs 2 (10). Detroit, Shelton (8), Monroe (10).
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Pittsburgh 001 000 000 -- 1 2 0
Chicago 002 300 00x -- 5 10 3
MRedman, Snell (5), STorres (8) and Cota; Prior, Dempster (9) and HBlanco. W--Prior 6-3. L--MRedman 4-9. HR--Chicago, TWalker (4).
Washington 011 000 000 -- 2 4 0
Milwaukee 010 001 02x -- 4 11 1
JoPatterson, Ayala (7), Eischen (7), Majewski (7) and Schneider; DDavis, Wise (8), Turnbow (9) and DMiller. W--Wise 3-2. L--Majewski 2-1. Sv--Turnbow (18). HRs--Washington, PrWilson (16). Milwaukee, Jenkins (10).
Atlanta 000 100 200 -- 3 6 1
New York 010 100 13x -- 6 8 1
HRamirez, Brower (8), Foster (8), Boyer (8) and JEstrada; Benson, RHernandez (8), Looper (9) and Piazza, RCastro (9). W--RHernandez 5-2. L--Brower 3-2. Sv--Looper (21). HRs--Atlanta, LaRoche (12). New York, Piazza (10), Wright 2 (13).
Florida 031 000 102 -- 7 12 0
Philadelphia 040 024 03x -- 13 13 1
Burnett, Resop (6), De Los Santos (6), Vargas (7), Messenger (8) and Lo Duca; BMyers, Madson (7), Urbina (8), Cormier (9) and Lieberthal. W--BMyers 7-5. L--Burnett 5-6. HRs--Florida, MiCabrera (18), Lo Duca (3). Philadelphia, Burrell 2 (19), Howard (4), Lieberthal 2 (8).
Victory League
Saturday
North Division playoffs
Fort Ripley 12, Brainerd 2
Harding 8, St. Mathias 6
Sunday
North Division playoffs
Harding 4, Fort Ripley 2
St. Mathias 11, Brainerd Braves 3
East Division playoffs
Buckman 7, Pierz Bulldogs 3
Pierz Brewers 5 Lastrup 1
Upcoming playoff games
July 16
St. Mathias at Fort Ripley, 1:30 p.m.
July 17 games
Pierz Brewers at Buckman, 1:30 p.m.
Pierz Bulldogs at Lastrup, 1:30 p.m.
Basketball
WNBA
WESTERN CONFERENCE
W L Pct GB
Sacramento 12 5 .706 --
Houston 10 6 .625 1 1/2
Los Angeles 10 7 .588 2
Minnesota 9 8 .529 3
Seattle 8 10 .444 4 1/2
Phoenix 6 11 .353 6
San Antonio 5 14 .263 8
EASTERN CONFERENCE
W L Pct GB
Connecticut 12 4 .750 --
Indiana 9 6 .600 2 1/2
New York 8 7 .533 3 1/2
Washington 9 8 .529 3 1/2
Detroit 7 8 .467 4 1/2
Charlotte 3 14 .176 9 1/2
Wednesday's Games
Minnesota 71, Detroit 61
Indiana 64, Connecticut 53
Washington 78, Seattle 71
Phoenix 82, Charlotte 62
Thursday's Game
Sacramento 72, San Antonio 61
Friday's Games
Houston at Connecticut, 6:30 p.m.
Minnesota at New York, 6:30 p.m.
Detroit at Indiana, 7 p.m.
San Antonio at Seattle, 9 p.m.
Washington at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Saturday's Games
Washington at Sacramento, 9 p.m.
Seattle at Los Angeles, 9:30 p.m.
Sunday's Games
Houston at Charlotte, 3 p.m.
Indiana at Detroit, 4 p.m.
Connecticut at Minnesota, 5 p.m.
Cycling
Tour de France
Thursday
At Digne-les-Bains, France
12th Stage
116.2 miles from Briancon to Digne-les-Bains
1. David Moncoutie, France, Cofidis, 4 hours, 20 minutes, 6 seconds.
2. Sandy Casar, France, Francaise des Jeux, 57 seconds behind.
3. Angel Vicioso, Spain, Liberty Seguros, same time.
4. Patrice Halgand, France, Credit Agricole, same time.
5. Jose Luis Arrieta, Spain, Illes Balears, same time.
6. France Pellizotti, Italy, Liquigas-Bianchi, same time.
7. Axel Merckx, Belgium, Davitamon-Lotto, same time.
8. Juan Manuel Garate, Spain, Saunier Duval, same time.
9. Thor Hushovd, Norway, Credit Agricole, 3:15.
10. Stuart O'Grady, Australia, Cofidis, same time.
11. Massimo Giunti, Italy, Fassa Bortolo, same time.
12. Stephan Schreck, Germany, T-Mobile, 3:18.
13. Giovanni Lombardi, Italy, CSC, 3:21.
14. Robbie McEwen, Australia, Davitamon-Lotto, 10:33.
15. Peter Wrolich, Austria, Gerolsteiner, same time.
16. Janeck Tombak, Estonia, Cofidis, same time.
17. Sebastien Hinault, France, Credit Agricole, same time.
18. Fred Rodriguez, United States, Davitamon-Lotto, same time.
19. Yuriy Krivtsov, Ukraine, AG2R Prevoyance, same time.
20. Philippe Gilbert, Belgium, Francaise des Jeux, same time.
Overall Standings
(After 12 stages)
1. Lance Armstrong, United States, Discovery Channel, 46 hours, 30 minutes, 36 seconds.
2. Mickael Rasmussen, Denmark, Rabobank, 38 seconds behind.
3. Christophe Moreau, France, Credit Agricole, 2:34.
4. Ivan Basso, Italy, CSC, 2:40.
5. Alejandro Valverde, Spain, Illes Balears, 3:16.
6. Santiago Botero, Colombia, Phonak, 3:48.
7. Levi Leipheimer, United States, Gerolsteiner, 3:58.
8. Francisco Mancebo, Spain, Illes Balears, 4:00.
9. Jan Ullrich, Germany, T-Mobile, 4:02.
10. Andreas Kloden, Germany, T-Mobile, 4:16.
11. Floyd Landis, United States, Phonak, same time.
12. Alexandre Vinokourov, Kazakhstan, T-Mobile, 4:47.
13. Jorg Jaksche, Germany, Liberty Seguros, 5:33.
14. Cadel Evans, Australia, Davitamon-Lotto, 5:55.
15. Yaroslav Popovych, Ukraine, Discovery Channel, 6:25.
Stages-Winners
July 2 -- Stage 1, Fromentiere to Noirmoutier-en-L'Ile, individual time trial, 19 km (11.8 miles) (stage: David Zabriskie, United States; overall: Zabriskie)
July 3 -- Stage 2, Challans to Les Essarts, 181.5 (112.8) (Tom Boonen, Belgium; Zabriskie)
July 4 -- Stage 3, La Chataigneraie to Tours, 212.5 (132) (Boonen; Zabriskie)
July 5 -- Stage 4, Tours to Blois, team time trial, 67.5 (41.9) (Discovery Channel; Lance Armstrong, United States)
July 6 -- Stage 5, Chambord to Montargis, 183 (113.7) (Robbie McEwen, Australia; Armstrong)
July 7 -- Stage 6, Troyes to Nancy, 199 (123.7) (Lorenzo Bernucci, Italy; Armstrong)
July 8 -- Stage 7, Luneville to Karlsruhe, Germany, 228.5 (142) (McEwen; Armstrong)
July 9 -- Stage 8, Pforzheim, Germany, to Gerardmer, France, 231.5 (143.8) (Pieter Weening, Netherlands; Armstrong)
July 10 -- Stage 9, Gerardmer to Mulhouse, 171 (106.3) (Mickael Rasmussen, Denmark; Jens Voigt, Germany)
July 11 -- Rest day in Grenoble
July 12 -- Stage 10, Froges to Courchevel, 178.5 (110.9) (Alejandro Valverde, Spain; Armstrong)
July 13 -- Stage 11, Courchevel to Briancon, 173 (107.5) (Alexandre Vinokourov, Kazakhstan; Armstrong)
July 14 -- Stage 12, Briancon to Digne-les-Bains, 187 (116.2) (David Moncoutie , France; Armstrong).
July 15 -- Stage 13, Miramas to Montpellier, 173.5 (107.8)
July 16 -- Stage 14, Agde to Ax-3 Domaines, 220.5 (137)
July 17 -- Stage 15, Lezat-sur-Leze to Saint-Lary Soulan, 205.5 (127.7)
July 18 -- Rest day in Pau
July 19 -- Stage 16, Mourenx to Pau, 180.5 (112.2)
July 20 -- Stage 17, Pau to Revel, 239.5 (148.8)
July 21 -- Stage 18, Albi to Mende, 189 (105)
July 22 -- Stage 19, Issoire to Le Puy-en-Velay, 153.5 (95.4)
July 23 -- Stage 20, Saint-Etienne to Saint-Etienne, individual time trial, 55.5 (34.5)
July 24 -- Stage 21, Corbeil-Essonnes to Paris, Champs-Elysees, 144.5 (89.8)
Transactions
BASEBALL
American League
BALTIMORE ORIOLES--Recalled RHP Jason Grimsley from Bowie of the Eastern League and activated him from the 60-day DL. Designated RHP Steve Reed for assignment.
CHICAGO WHITE SOX--Activated LHP Damaso Marte from the 15-day DL. Optioned LHP Kevin Walker to Charlotte of the IL.
DETROIT TIGERS--Placed RHP Troy Percival on the 15-day DL. Purchased the contract of RHP Craig Dingman from Toledo of the IL.
LOS ANGELES ANGELS--Activated OF Steve Finley from the 15-day DL. Agreed to terms with SS Ryan Mount on a minor league contract.
NEW YORK YANKEES--Placed RHP Chien-Ming Wang on the 15-day DL. Purchased the contract of RHP Tim Redding from Columbus of the IL. Designated INF Eric Crozier for assignment.
OAKLAND ATHLETICS--Optioned LHP Ron Flores to Sacramento of the PCL. Sent RHP Ryan Glynn outright to Sacramento. Agreed to terms with OF Travis Buck.
TEXAS RANGERS--Recalled LHP Erasmo Ramirez from Oklahoma of the PCL.
National League
CINCINNATI REDS--Sent OF Jason Romano outright to Louisville of the IL.
FLORIDA MARLINS--Designated LHP Al Leiter for assignment. Recalled LHP Jason Vargas from Carolina of the Southern League.
HOUSTON ASTROS--Recalled RHP Ezequiel Astacio from Round Rock of the PCL. Optioned RHP Travis Driskill to Round Rock. Agreed to terms with INF Koby Clemens on a minor league contract.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS--Recalled RHP Steve Schmoll from Las Vegas of the PCL. Optioned OF Cody Ross to Las Vegas.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS--Recalled OF Adam Shabala from Fresno of the PCL. Transferred the option of RHP Jeremy Accardo from San Jose of the California League to Fresno.
BASKETBALL
National Basketball Association
NEW YORK KNICKS--Named Michelle Harris manager of entertainment marketing.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS--Signed G Jarrett Jack to a multiyear contract.
FOOTBALL
National Football League
NFL--Announced Miami selected DT Manuel Wright in the supplemental draft.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS--Agreed to terms with DT Jason Jefferson on a three-year contract.
NEW YORK JETS--Acquired CB Pete Hunter from Dallas for a conditional draft pick.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS--Signed LB Cornelius Wortham to a multiyear contract.
HOCKEY
National Hockey League
DALLAS STARS--Named John Weisbrod and Shane Churla scouts.
DETROIT RED WINGS--Agreed to terms with Mike Babcock, coach.
NEW JERSEY DEVILS--Named Larry Robinson coach.
COLLEGE
ILLINOIS--Signed Bruce Weber, men's basketball coach, to a two-year contract extension.
Fishing
Minnesota Report
By Outdoor News
BRAINERD/NISSWA
Bass and northerns have been the hot ticket in this area. Fish them in six to 16 feet off the weedbeds. Jig a sucker or try a bass spinner tipped with a leech or worm. Walleyes are in slightly deeper water, hitting redtails and leeches.
CASS LAKE
Lindy rigs with leeches or crawlers are attracting walleyes at all depths on Cass Lake. Small jig and minnow combos also are working. If you're fishing in the evening, try pulling crankbaits across North Cedar Bar. Pike and muskies are hitting spinnerbaits and Suicks off Boomerang Bar in Allens Bay. Bluegills are in 10 to 14 feet, along the weedlines, in Allens Bay.
HACKENSACK
Crawlers and leeches have produced a few walleyes on Birch Lake in 20 to 24 feet of water. There's some decent walleye action after dark with crankbaits or leeches on Ten Mile Lake and Stoney Lake. Look to the sand and rocks on Deep Lake for smallmouth bass, while Big Bass Lake and Birch Lake are kicking out largemouth. Scattered panfish reports are coming off lakes such as Birch and Pleasant this week.
LAKE MILLE LACS
East -- Leeches and crawlers on live bait rigs or spinners are turning a few walleyes off the edges of the mud flats in 28 to 32 feet of water. Look to the Blue Jug Flat, Seven Mile, and Eight Mile as likely starting spots. Slip bobbers and leeches also will produce fish on the mud after dark and on the shallow rocks in 12 to 14 feet of water. The best bets for muskies are crankbaits, bucktails, and topwater baits on the weed edges outside of most bays. Smallmouth bass are an easy catch on the rocks and near docks with tube jigs or crankbaits.
West -- Slip bobbers and leeches continue to produce walleyes after dark in 28 to 34 feet of water. Curley's Flat, Sherman's Flat, and Seguchie's Flat have provided the best action. The day bite has been more inconsistent with a few fish coming off the mud. Spinner rigs tipped with leeches or crawlers are the best way to cover a lot of water and pick off an occasional walleye. Northern pike remain active along the weed edges of Wigwam Bay and St. Alban's Bay. Look to these areas for muskies with bucktails or sucker minnows.
LEECH LAKE
Jigs and minnows or live bait rigs and leeches are producing walleyes on the south humps in Walker Bay. There's some decent evening walleye action with slip bobbers and leeches off Sand Point in eight to 12 feet of water. Work the breaks south of Cedar Point for walleyes with live bait rigs and crawlers as well. Shingobee Bay and Kabekona Bay are kicking out good-sized bluegills in 12 feet of water, while muskie anglers are seeing more fish on the rocks and weedlines this week.
McGREGOR
Largemouth bass continue to bite in the weeds on most lakes, but look to Lake Minnewawa for better numbers of big fish. Crappies continue to be caught on Big Sandy Lake in 12 to 14 feet of water early and late in the day. Walleye reports have been limited, although there are a few fish coming off Big Sandy Lake during the evening hours in 15 feet of water.
PARK RAPIDS
Leeches and nightcrawlers are producing walleyes in 15 to 20 feet of water on Fish Hook Lake. On Big Sand Lake, look for walleyes in 30 feet of water during the day, but as shallow as 12 feet during low-light periods. The weed edges of Big Mantrap Lake continue to produce an occasional muskie and numbers of northern pike. Fish Hook Lake and the Crow Wing Chain of Lakes are the area's best options for crappies and bluegills in 12 feet of water.