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2C – Daily News – Thursday, September 23, 2010 Giants fall in Chicago Chicago beats Athletics Giants 0 Chi. Cubs 2 CHICAGO (AP) — Randy Wells pitched 7 2-3 innings and Kosuke Fukudome homered to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 2-0 victory over the San Fran- cisco Giants on Wednesday night. Leading San Diego by a half-game in the NL West and Colorado by 2 1/2 coming in, the Giants were shut out for the fourth time in their last five losses. It was the eighth time in 11 games they scored two runs or fewer. The Cubs have won seven of their last eight games, the lone loss 1-0 on Tuesday to the Giants on Buster Posey’s home run. After Wells walked Travis Ishikawa and allowed a double to Cody Ross with two outs in the eighth, Cubs closer Carlos Marmol struck out Freddy Sanchez to end the inning. Marmol struck out the side in the ninth for his 34th save in 39 chances. The Cubs have allowed 15 runs in their last 11 games, throwing four shutouts during that span. Wells (8-13) scattered six hits and struck out six with one walk. In his last start at St. Louis on Sept. 14, Wells allowed one run, five hits and no walks in eight innings of a 7-2 victory. Wells has won just three times in his 10 starts. Giants starter Jonathan Sanchez (11-9) allowed two runs, one earned, in 5 2-3 innings. He struck out six and walked two, but also had a costly wild pitch in the fifth inning, resulting in a run. In his last five starts, the left-hander has only allowed three earned runs in 32 2-3 innings. Fukudome led off the third inning with his 13th home run for a 1-0 lead. Sanchez allowed a leadoff double to Koyie Hill in the fifth inning. With Wells trying to put down a sacrifice bunt, Sanchez threw a wild pitch and Posey thought he had a chance at throwing out Hill at third, but his throw was wild and the ball rolled into foul territory allowing Hill to score without a throw to make it 2-0. After allowing a leadoff double to Jose Guillen in the second inning, Wells retired the next 13 bat- ters. Wells left Guillen stranded by getting Pablo Sandoval to ground out and fly outs from Juan Uribe and Sanchez. Notes: Giants CF Andres Torres, who had an appendectomy on Sept. 12, could be ready to play this weekend at Colorado according to manager Bruce Bochy. ... Giants INF Edgar Renteria missed his third straight game with a sore right elbow. He is listed day-to-day and Bochy said he will be reevaluated before Thursday’s game... Cubs OF Tyler Colvin was released from a Miami hospital on Wednesday, three days after part of a broken bat punctured his chest. Team spokesman Peter Chase said Colvin will return to his home in South Carolina. Bowyer’s car fails inspection NASCAR CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Clint Bowyer’s NASCAR championship chances were crippled Wednesday when his car failed a follow-up inspection and he was penalized 150 points after winning last weekend’s first race of the Chase for the Sprint Cup. NASCAR also fined crew chief Shane Wilson $150,000, and suspended him for the next six Sprint Cup races. Car chief Chad Haney was also suspended six races, and team owner Richard Childress was docked 150 owner points. The team plans to appeal the penalty. Bowyer was permitted to keep Sunday’s victory at New Hampshire — NASCAR does not typically strip wins and an official said the Richard Childress Racing team probably was punished enough. ‘‘We don’t consider taking away the win,’’ NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton said. ‘‘If you ask some, they would consider a 150-point penalty with only nine races to go in the Chase a pretty hefty penalty.’’ With Sunday’s win in the opening race of the Chase, Bowyer vaulted from 12th to second in the standings. The penalty drops him back to last place, 185 points behind leader Denny Hamlin. NASCAR said the No. 33 Chevrolet from Sunday’s race had been altered and did not meet its strict specifications. Neither Pemberton or Sprint Cup direc- tor John Darby would specifically address the infraction, cit- ing RCR’s right to appeal the penalty. Darby, however, said the issue revolved around how the team had set up the body of the car. Childress said in a state- ment that the penalty was handed down because the car was out of tolerance ‘‘less than 1/16 of an inch.’’ ‘‘We feel certain that the cause of the car being out of tol- erance by sixty thousandths of an inch, less than 1/16 of an inch, happened as a result of the wrecker hitting the rear bumper when it pushed the car into winner’s circle,’’ Chil- dress said. ‘‘The rear bumper was also hit on the cool down lap by other drivers congratulating Clint on his victory. That’s the only logical way that the left-rear of the car was found to be high at the tech center. We will appeal NASCAR’s ruling and take it all the way to the NASCAR commissioner for a final ruling, if need be.’’ Bowyer’s car passed its initial inspection at New Hamp- shire on Sunday, but was taken by NASCAR back to its North Carolina research and development center for a more thorough examination. It was there that NASCAR found the rear end of the car had been manipulated. The development came a day after NASCAR called in RCR officials to warn them that Bowyer’s Chase-clinching car from the Sept. 11 race at Richmond had nearly failed inspection because its back end was very close to the mandated limits. Pemberton said that earlier warning played a part in the punishment. Although the issues on the car at Richmond and the car at New Hampshire were not exactly the same, the infractions were in the same area of the car. Childress said his team had addressed NASCAR’s issues before Sunday’s race. ‘‘I am confident we fixed the area of concern and the New Hampshire car left the race shop well within the tolerances required by NASCAR,’’ Childress said. Speaking at an appearance Wednesday at the NASCAR Hall of Fame before the penalty was announced, Bowyer said he was aware his car was under scrutiny but pleaded ignorance as to what could be wrong with the Chevrolet. ‘‘Man, I have no idea. I show up on Friday, I bring my helmet, my HANS and I get in the car,’’ Bowyer said. ‘‘Any- thing that happens Sunday to Friday, I don’t know. I know we won the race this weekend and it was a lot of fun. We led the most laps and won the race and the guys work hard in the shop to bring fair, fast race cars. ‘‘Aside from that, I don’t know what’s going on.’’ Chi. White Sox 4 Athletics 3 OAKLAND (AP) — Mark Teahen hit a go-ahead double with two outs in the ninth right after pinch-hitter Mark Kotsay’s tying RBI single and the Chicago White Sox rallied past the Oakland Athletics 4-3 on Wednesday to end a season- worst eight game skid. The White Sox got to Oakland’s short-handed bullpen, scoring twice against Brad Ziegler (3-5). The right-hander hadn’t given up a run in his previ- ous 12 appearances. Juan Pierre stole his majors-leading 60th base with a steal of home in the eighth to make it 3-2. Pierre moved into 30th place on the all-time steals list with 519 and into second on Chicago’s career single-sea- son list. Matt Thornton (4-4) pitched 1 2-3 innings for the win. Chris Sale recorded the final out for his third save in as many tries, striking out pinch-hitter Steve Tolleson to end it with runners on first and second. Oakland’s Chris Carter hit his first career home run. White Sox slugger Manny Ramirez was a late, healthy scratch. It wasn’t known Ramirez was out until he didn’t come up to bat in the fifth spot in the second inning. Dayan Viciedo, who replaced Ramirez in the lineup, hit an RBI single in the seventh. The White Sox won for only the third time in their past 15 games. Chicago snapped its longest Septem- ber skid since dropping nine straight games from Sept. 14-23, 1976. Oakland was an out MCT photo Cliff Pennington throws to first base for a double play,Wednesday. away from its first sweep of the White Sox since Aug. 14-16, 2007. The White Sox avoided being swept in a third straight series for the first time since Aug. 19-28, 1991, by Detroit, Cleveland and Kansas City. The White Sox were eliminated from AL Central contention Tuesday night with a 7-2 loss, which clinched the division for the Minnesota Twins. On a day four of Oak- land’s top relievers weren’t available, Brett Anderson went 6 2-3 innings. He allowed one run on six hits, struck out one and walked one. Ziegler hasn’t convert- ed a save in four chances this year. The A’s added an unearned insurance run in the seventh, taking advan- tage of a wild throw past first by second baseman Brent Lillibridge. White Sox starter Edwin Jackson’s winless stretch reached four starts since a victory at Cleveland on Aug. 31. Chicago’s starters are 0-9 over their past 17 games. Since Carter began 0 for 32 in his initial 11 big league games, he is 4 for 8 in his past three games to raise his average 100 points (.100). He hit a solo homer leading off the third, then Jack Cust added an RBI single in the sixth. Oakland hosts the first-place Texas Rangers for a four-game series to end its final homestand. The A’s Jeff Larish snapped a career-worst 0- for-16 stretch with a two-out double in the seventh. It was just his second hit in 30 at- bats over his past 12 games. Gradkowski gets starting nod at QB Oakland Raiders ALAMEDA (AP) — Five months after acquiring Jason Campbell to be their starting quarterback, the Oakland Raiders benched him in favor of Bruce Grad- kowski beginning with this week’s game at Arizona. Coach Tom Cable announced the switch after practice Wednesday, hoping the spark Gradkowski pro- vided in the second half of last week’s 16-14 win over St. Louis can carry over for the rest of the season. ‘‘The reasons are pretty simple,’’ Cable said. ‘‘First and foremost is the energy and the level of intensity that was brought into the huddle when he came into the game. They way the guys responded around him. And obviously scoring points. ... That’s what we’re about. If we can get this thing to where we can score 24 points a game, I think we’ll be very tough to beat.’’ The Raiders (1-1) acquired Campbell from Washington during the draft for a 2012 fourth-round draft pick. He already had a $3.14 million contract for this season and was given a $4.5 million extension for 2011 after the trade. Oakland released draft bust JaMarcus Russell shortly after the deal and officially pronounced Campbell the starter before training camp opened in July. He lasted just six quar- ters as starter, getting benched at halftime last week. Campbell has completed 30 of 52 passes for 267 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions this sea- son. He has also been sacked six times. The Raiders players were unavailable for com- ment after the decision was made. Offensive coordina- tor Hue Jackson said he wasn’t concerned about hurting Campbell’s confi- dence with the change. ‘‘We’re all grown men,’’ Jackson said. ‘‘We’re all big boys here. Obviously, peo- ple get discouraged, get dis- NCAA Today’s Top 25 game No.19 Miami at Pittsburgh, 4:30 p.m., ESPN A’s appointed. I understand that. I get discouraged and disappointed, too, but the bottom line is, there’s a job to be done. There’s a job to be done and the job has to be done to the best of our ability.’’ Jackson said he went to Cable at halftime last week with the Raiders trailing 7- 3, suggesting the switch at quarterback. Cable said the staff had talked earlier in the week about needing better quarterback play. He went ahead with it and Grad- kowski rallied Oakland to the win. After consulting with his coaches this week, Cable announced the switch Wednesday. ‘‘When we did it, obvi- ously it was the right deci- sion, it worked, and then as we talked about it here the last couple of days and came to a decision this morning,’’ Cable said. ‘‘Again, we’ve made it and there’s no issues or contro- versies or anything like that. The decision’s been made.’’ Cable said owner Al Davis was not involved in the decision. Gradkowski never had a chance to compete for the job, missing the offseason program with a torn pec- toral muscle. He missed the first two preseason games with a groin injury. But Gradkowski played well in the final two exhibition games and was clearly the people’s choice, with fans chanting ‘‘Bruuuuce!’’ before the switch was made in the home opener. Gradkowski led the Raiders to 13 points in his first four drives, finishing 11 for 22 for 162 yards, one touchdown and one inter- ception. ‘‘The thing that stood out to me, is the same people, same day, same defense, same opponent, same peo- ple in the huddle with you, didn’t change the plan, and yet we were able to go out and move the ball and score some points,’’ Cable said. ‘‘He’ll go in there and do the job. It’s his now. Where we go from here, obviously, will be decided by how well he plays.’’ Gradkowski replaced Russell midway through last season and won two of his first three starts, beating Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. He was hurt late in the first half of his fourth start and missed the rest of the season with knee injuries. MLB West Division Texas American League WL Pct GB 83 67 .553 — 76 75 .503 7.5 Angels 75 76 .497 8.5 Seattle 58 93 .384 25.5 East Division WL Pct GB MLS WESTERN CONFERENCE WL T Pts GF GA x-Galaxy 15 5 5 50 38 19 Salt Lake 13 4 8 47 38 16 FC Dallas 10 2 13 43 33 21 Colorado 10 7 7 37 32 24 QUAKES 10 7 6 36 25 23 Seattle 10 9 6 36 30 29 Chivas USA 7 13 4 25 25 31 Houston 6 14 5 23 32 44 EASTERN CONFERENCE WL T Pts GF GA Columbus 13 7 5 44 33 27 New York 12 8 5 41 32 27 Kansas City 9 9 6 33 28 27 Toronto FC 8 10 7 31 24 28 Chicago 6 9 8 26 28 31 New England 7 14 4 25 26 43 Philadelphia 6 12 6 24 27 39 D.C. 5 17 3 18 17 39 NOTE:Three points for victory, one point for tie. x-clinched playoff berth ————————————————— Wednesday’s results FC Dallas 2, New England 2, tie Kansas City 4, Houston 3 New York 92 59 .609 — Tampa Bay 89 61 .593 2.5 Boston 84 68 .553 8.5 Toronto 76 75 .503 16 Baltimore 61 91 .401 31.5 Central Division WL Pct GB x-Minnesota 92 60 .605 — Chicago 80 72 .526 12 Detroit 77 75 .507 15 Kansas City 62 89 .411 29.5 Cleveland 62 90 .408 30 x-clinched division ————————————————— Wednesday’s results Chicago 4, Oakland 3 Boston 6, Baltimore 1 Detroit 4, Kansas City 2 Minnesota 5, Cleveland 1 Seattle 6, Toronto 3 Tampa Bay at New York, late Texas at Los Angeles, late Today’s games Texas (Cl.Lee 12-8) at Oakland (Braden 9-13),7:05 p.m.,CSNC Seattle (F.Hernandez 12-11) at Toronto (Sh.Hill 0-2), 9:37 a.m. Kansas City (O’Sullivan 2-6) at Cleveland (Talbot 9-12), 4:05 p.m. Tampa Bay (Price 17-6) at New York (Sabathia 20-6), 4:05 p.m., MLBN Gradkowski has shown the ability to avoid sacks and to get the ball to the wide receivers in his short time in Oakland. He com- pleted five passes each to starting receivers Louis Murphy and Darrius Hey- ward-Bey for 138 yards and a touchdown. The duo had just seven catches for 72 yards in three halves with Campbell. Despite not having as strong an arm as Campbell, Gradkowski was better able to get the ball down field. He completed four of eight passes that went more than 10 yards downfield, for 79 yards, according to STATS LLC. Campbell was just 3 for 14 for 69 yards on those throws. NOTES: DT Richard Seymour, who missed last week’s game with a hamstring injury, said he will be ready to play this week. ... RB Michael Bush (broken left thumb) did everything at practice and could return this week. MLB West Division National League WL Pct GB Padres 84 66 .560 — GIANTS 85 67 .559 — Colorado 82 68 .547 2 Dodgers 73 78 .483 11.5 Arizona 60 91 .397 24.5 East Division WL Pct GB Philadelphia 92 61 .601 — Atlanta 86 67 .562 6 Florida 76 75 .503 15 New York 74 78 .487 17.5 Washington 64 88 .421 27.5 Central Division WL Pct GB Cincinnati 86 67 .562 — St. Louis 77 74 .510 8 Houston 73 79 .480 12.5 Milwaukee 70 81 .464 15 Chicago 69 82 .457 16 Pittsburgh 53 98 .351 32 ————————————————— Wednesday’s results Chicago 2, San Francisco 0 Philadelphia 1, Atlanta 0 Washington 4, Houston 3 Pittsburgh 11, St. Louis 6 Florida 7, N.Y.Mets 5 Milwaukee 13, Cincinnati 1 Colorado at Arizona, 9:40 p.m. San Diego at L.A. Dodgers, 10:10 p.m. Today’s games San Francisco (Bumgarner 5-6) at Chi.(Dempster 14-10),4:05 p.m.,CSNB St. Louis (Suppan 1-7) at Pittsburgh (Burres 3-3), 9:35 a.m. Houston (Figueroa 5-3) at Washington (Detwiler 0-2), 1:35 p.m. Florida (Ani.Sanchez 12-10) at Milwaukee (Gallardo 13-7), 5:10 p.m. Colorado (Francis 4-5) at Arizona (I.Kennedy 9-9), 6:40 p.m. San Diego (Latos 14-7) at Los Angeles (Kuroda 10-13), 7:10 p.m.