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Friday MLB — Cardinals at Cubs, 11 a.m., WGN MLB — Giants at Diamondbacks, 6:30 p.m., CSNB MLB — White Sox at Athletics, 7 p.m., CSNC Tour de France — Stage 18, 5:30 a.m., VERSUS Golf — Senior British Open, 9 a.m., ESPN2 PGA — Canadian Open, Noon, TGC Sports 1B Friday July 23, 2010 MLB begins HGH testing in minors NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball implemented random blood testing for human growth hormone in the minor leagues on Thursday, the first professional sports league in the United States to take the aggressive step against doping. The blood testing becomes part of the Minor League Drug Pre- vention and Treatment Program, which commissioner Bud Selig introduced in 2001 to test for per- formance-enhancing drugs. ‘‘The implementation of blood testing in the minor leagues repre- sents a significant step in the detection of the illegal use of human growth hormone,’’ Selig said in a statement. ‘‘HGH testing provides an example for all of our drug policies in the future.’’ Testing will be limited to play- ers with minor-league contracts because they are not members of the players’ associa- tion, which means blood testing is not subject to collective bargaining. ‘‘Obviously, we make a separate deci- sion with regard to the minor-league program, but the Major League Baseball Players Association has been proactively engaged in conversations with us on the scientific and logistical issues associated with blood test- ing at the major league level,’’ said Rob Manfred, executive vice pres- ident labor relations for Major League Baseball The players association has long been against blood testing. ‘‘The union’s position on HGH testing remains unchanged,’’ union executive director Michael Weiner said. ‘‘When a test is avail- able that is scientifically validated and can be administered safely and without interfering with the players’ ability to compete, it will be considered. ‘‘We have been engaged with the Commissioners’ Office on this subject for several months, though they have not shared with us the specifics behind their decision to begin blood testing of minor lea- guers,’’ Weiner said. ‘‘We look forward to further discussions.’’ Outside experts have long questioned the union’s logic against blood testing. Told of baseball’s announcement, Gary Wadler, who chairs the committee that determines the World Anti- Doping Agency’s banned-sub- stances list, said it was ‘‘a signifi- cant step forward.’’ ‘‘One important thing is, as young players evolve through the minor leagues, the concept of a blood test will no longer be alien to them,’’ Wadler said. ‘‘It will be easier to implement it in the major leagues as more players in the minor leagues recognize it makes sense.’’ Travis Tygart, the CEO of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, also welcomed the news. ‘‘This is another important step in the fight to return all of the play- ing fields in the U.S. to clean ath- letes,’’ he said. ‘‘We applaud MLB’s efforts in this regard.’’ Tigers president and GM Dave Dombrowski said in an e-mail to The Associated Press: ‘‘Seems like a positive step for the game.’’ Dodgers manager Joe Torre said: ‘‘Whatever has to be done to gain the full trust of the fans, we have to do what we can.’’ Blood samples will be collect- ed after games by the National Center for Drug Free Sport, the organization that currently collects urine samples in the minor leagues. The blood samples will be taken from the non-dominant arm of players who are not mem- bers of a major league team’s 40- man roster, and sent to a testing laboratory in Salt Lake City for analysis. Dr. Gary Green, the medical director for Major League Base- ball, called the testing ‘‘a major development in the detection of a Golf couple medals substance that has previously been undetectable.’’ ‘‘The combination of wide- spread availability and the lack of detection have led to reports of use of this drug amongst athletes,’’ Green said. ‘‘This is the first gen- eration of HGH testing and Major League Baseball will continue to fund the Partnership for Clean Competition for ongoing research to refine testing procedures in this area.’’ The Partnership for Clean Competition is a coalition of MLB, the NFL, USADA and the U.S. Olympic Committee that funds research for drug testing. The NFL doesn’t currently conduct blood tests for perfor- mance-enhancing drugs. But the league has recently said it would like to begin such tests, while the union has long been against them. With the current collective-bar- gaining contract due to expire in March, the issue is expected to be a key point in upcoming negotia- tions. Giants beat Arizona 3-0 PHOENIX (AP) — Matt Cain pitched eight sharp innings in a com- bined three-hitter and the San Francisco Giants took advantage of the tired Arizona Diamond- backs for a 3-0 win Thursday night. Andres Torres hit a solo homer off Rodrigo Lopez (5-9) and rookie Buster Posey extended his hitting streak to 16 games, helping the Giants (53-43) reach a season-high 10 games over .500 after their 13th win in 17 games. Cain (8-8) one-hit Arizona on May 28 and was near- ly as dominant the second time around against a Dia- mondbacks team that played its longest game in nearly eight years the night before. Brian Wilson pitched a perfect ninth for his 27th save in 29 chances and 13th straight. Blake, Langer and Mason lead Senior British Open CARNOUSTIE, Scotland (AP) — Jay Don Blake shot a 4-under 67 to lead a strong American showing in the open- ing round of the British Seniors Open at Carnoustie on Thursday. Blake is in a three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard alongside Germany’s Bernhard Langer and England’s Carl Mason. Below that trio the only non-American in the next 17 places was Scotsman Sam Torrance, who shot a 69. Carnoustie, widely rated as the toughest links layout on the British Open championship rotation, is vastly different from most of the courses on the Champions Tour. ‘‘It’s a golf course where you can’t be aggressive because Courtesy photo Joan and Roy Christ finished with the second lowest net score at the Women’s Golf Association of Northern California's two-day Hers ‘n His Couples tournament. Special to the DN Wilcox Oaks Golf Club members Roy and Joan Christ were winners in the Women’s Golf Association of Northern California two day Hers ‘n His Couples tournament at Quail Lodge Golf and Country Club in Carmel Valley and Corral de Tierra Golf and Country Club in Salinas on July 19-20. Roy, who just turned 80, and his wife Joan played a field of 112 teams in a stableford format and won sec- ond low net in their flight with a score of 83. Joan also won closest to the pin at Quail Lodge the first day — only five inches from the hole. This was their third win in this tournament over the years, winning first place in the previous two. In addition, over the past two decades, Joan has participated in other WGANCtournaments and won 18 medals. Contador closes in on 3rd Tour title in 4 years COL DU TOUR- MALET, France (AP) — Alberto Contador never wavered. Under a blistering attack from Andy Schleck, the Spaniard tightened his grip on a third Tour de France title in four years by match- ing every acceleration his rival threw at him during the ride up a fabled Pyre- nean climb in Thursday’s 17th stage. Schleck delivered on his promise to ride well on the last mountain of this year’s race. It just wasn’t enough to shake Contador. Schleck set a punishing pace up the last 6 miles on the ascent of the Col du Tourmalet, but the Spaniard shadowed him wheel-to- wheel the whole way. In the end, Schleck won the 108.1-mile trek from Pau by a half bike-length, but failed in his bid to take the yellow jersey from Conta- dor and gain time on his rival ahead of Saturday’s time trial. ‘‘I did short accelera- tions really many times, it was the only possibility I had to try to drop him,’’ Schleck said. ‘‘But he was too strong.’’ The Tourmalet was the last of three tough climbs in the stage made in cool tem- peratures under a drizzle and fog. Frenzied fans — including some near-streak- ers — ran alongside the duelists on the ascent, at least once seeming to irk Schleck. On the second climb, the Col du Soudor, a flock of sheep strayed into the road, causing some rid- ers to swerve, brake and stop, though no one crashed. With only three days of racing left before Sunday’s finish in Paris, and two of the stages unlikely to alter the top of the standings, the two men knew that Thurs- day’s leg was crucial. Schleck had vowed to make an all-out effort. On the Tourmalet, he repeatedly turned around, at times speaking to Contador or trying to catch his gaze in an attempt at mind games. The Spaniard never took the bait. ‘‘I wanted him to pass, I wanted to be behind and attack him, but of course, he’s very smart, and I knew that he only had to stay in my wheel,’’ Schleck said. ‘‘I think Alberto did the right thing, he’s a great pro- fessional.’’ Every time Schleck made a burst, Contador was right there, dancing lightly side to side up out of his saddle in a smooth rhythm. Contador did what he needed to, and appeared to slow at the end, leaving Schleck to win his second stage this Tour, in 5 hours, 3 minutes, 29 seconds. ‘‘He was really so strong and at the end, the sprint for me was not the most impor- tant thing,’’ said Contador, who finished in the same time to remain in front by 8 seconds. ‘‘Today, the most important thing for me was not to lose time.’’ The wild card now is Saturday’s 32.3-mile time- trial, a discipline in which Contador excels. Schleck said before Thursday’s stage that he’d need to pick up a minute on Contador to have a chance of victory. It was a day of scaled- down and revised expecta- tions. ‘‘I changed my mind when I crossed the finish line today,’’ Schleck said. ‘‘We will see in the time trial.’’ ‘‘My dad always used to say that the one who did a good time trial, he fell off the bike when he finished,’’ Schleck said, ‘‘and that’s what I plan to do on Satur- day.’’ Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong, who fin- ished 4:12 behind the lead- ing duo in 17th place, again revised down his hopes at the Tour. At the start of the three- week race, the 38-year-old Texan had hoped to be a contender in his last Tour. That aspiration vanished in the debut in the Alps in Stage 8, when crashes slowed him down three See TOUR, page 2B you can’t fly the ball at flags like we are used to over in the courses we play in America,’’ said Blake, who had six birdies and two bogeys. ‘‘I have had to learn a whole new game, which is fun. It’s exciting, but it’s tough. ‘‘I just tried to stay out of the death bunkers, as I call them, because it’s a certain one-shot penalty getting in them.’’ Mason, playing in the afternoon after wind had subsided, was the only player to get to 5 under after a run of five birdies in six holes. However, his chances of an outright lead were ruined when his 3-iron approach to the 10th hole ended with his ball plugged in the steep face of a greenside bunker. ‘‘It was so bad, there was no way I could get the ball out at the first attempt,’’ he said after taking a double-bogey 6. Among the Americans chasing the leaders were U.S. Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin (69) and former captain Tom Lehman (71). Of the three former European captains in the field, only Torrance emerged from the first round under par. He’s hop- ing to complete a golfing double for his 78-year-old father. Bob Torrance was the coach who built Padraig Harring- ton’s swing before his 2007 victory at Carnoustie in the British Open. With his game in poor shape, Sam went home this week to seek some fatherly advice. ‘‘He’s a great coach,’’ Sam Torrance said. ‘‘He sees things that nobody else sees. He gave me a great swing thought and it worked. I would love to win here now at Carnoustie, but there is a long way to go.’’ 49ers’ Ray McDonald pleads not guilty to DUI SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Ray McDonald has pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence. San Mateo County Assistant District Attorney Karen Guidotti said Thursday that McDonald’s attorney entered the plea on the player’s behalf on Monday. Guidotti says a pretrial conference has been set for Sept. 28 and a jury trial for Oct. 18, if he does not resolve the case. McDonald was arrested June 12 after a California Highway Patrol officer pulled him over in his black BMW on Interstate 280 for allegedly driving 94 mph. His blood-alcohol content was not released. McDonald publicly apologized after he was booked into a Redwood City jail. If convicted, the 25-year-old could face a maximum of six months in jail.