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Weekend Softball — Red Bluff at Pleasant Valley Tournament PGA— The Masters, NBC, Sat, 12:30 p.m., Sun, 11 a.m. MLB — Braves at Giants, Sat, 5 p.m., FOX, Sun, 1 p.m., CSNBA Sat — NBA— Mavericks at Kings, 7 p.m., MNT-21 Sat — NBA — Warriors at Clippers, 7:30 p.m., CSNCA Sun —MLB — A’s at Angels, 12:35 p.m., CSNCA Sports 1B Weekend April 10, 2010 Rowand’s 13th inning single lifts Giants in home opener SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco Giants needed every available player on their roster to stay unbeaten in what turned into a marathon home opener. Barry Zito, set to make his next start Monday against Pittsburgh, was manager Bruce Bochy’s next option to pitch. Aaron Rowand drove in the win- ning run with two outs in the 13th inning on an infield single, salvaging the Giants’ season debut in their waterfront ballpark and keeping alive their unbeaten start with a 5-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Friday. ‘‘We’re just trying to keep it rolling — 4-0 is not too bad,’’ Rowand said. ‘‘It definitely gives you some momen- tum, some confidence.’’ It was the fifth game-ending hit of Rowand’s career and scored Juan Uribe, who drew a one-out walk from Kris Medlen (0-1) before stealing sec- ond. Uribe went to third on catcher Brian McCann’s throwing error, and Rowand brought him home. Not without some flair for the dra- matic: a headfirst dive into first base. ‘‘I have no idea how close I was. I have no idea where the ball was,’’ Rowand said. ‘‘All I know is I was safe.’’ Jeremy Affeldt (2-0) pitched one inning for the win in the longest game in the majors this season and the longest home opener in San Francisco history. Edgar Renteria hit a tying two-run homer off Braves closer Billy Wagner with one out in the ninth. Atlanta man- ager Bobby Cox was ejected in the top of the 13th for arguing balls and strikes, the 154th ejection of his career. ‘‘Great game. Quite an opener,’’ Bochy said. San Francisco rallied from an early 3-0 deficit after a dazzling season debut by Braves starter Tim Hudson. At 4-0, the Giants are off to their best start since winning their first seven games in 2003, their last playoff year. Both teams missed early chances to end it. San Francisco closer Brian Wilson pitched a 1-2-3 10th, striking out sen- sational rookie Jason Heyward to end the inning, before loading the bases in the 11th. Sergio Romo relieved and got Troy Glaus on a flyout. In the 12th, San Francisco slugger Pablo Sandoval led off with a double and went to third on Andres Torres’ sacrifice, but the Giants couldn’t con- vert. Torres was San Francisco’s last available position player. The Giants’ last home opener of 13 or more innings was a 14-inning affair won 4-2 by the Boston Braves on April 20, 1917. Bochy has said all along Renteria deserved a chance to show what he MNG photo Aaron Rowand is mobbed by teammates after Friday’s game. can do healthy. He played in pain all last year and was limited to 124 games in his first season with the Giants, largely because of two aching shoul- ders and a troublesome right elbow that required surgery late in the season to remove bone chips and spurs. ‘‘When you play a guy like Billy Wagner, he’s one of the best relievers in the game,’’ Renteria said. ‘‘So I got lucky on that one.’’ He’s 11 for 16 (.388) with three multihit games already this season. ‘‘Thanks, Edgar,’’ Rowand said. ‘‘Edgar’s been the man,’’ Mark DeRosa added. Renteria’s one-out single up the middle in the fourth marked the Giants’ first baserunner against Hud- son, who allowed three hits and two runs, struck out two and didn’t walk a batter in an impressive seven-inning, 77-pitch outing on a spectacular, clear day in the Bay Area. ‘‘It was a good game for me,’’ Hud- son said. ‘‘I felt pretty good I was pounding the strike zone and staying down in the zone with some sinkers and changing speeds. I was just going out there being aggressive, keeping my defense in the game and was able to get pretty deep in the game.’’ The Braves had a good feeling about Hudson’s comeback from Tommy John surgery, giving the hard- throwing right-hander a $28 million, three-year contract in November. Two of England’s best are atop the leaderboard at a major for the first time. Phil Mickelson is back in the hunt, rejuvenated by Augus- ta National. Anthony Kim, the sassy young American, has his swagger back. And a Masters that seems to have unlimited possibilities gets even more compelling with one improbability. Tiger Woods is right there in the middle of it all. ‘‘I usually put myself in contention most of the time here,’’ Woods said Friday after a 2-under 70 that put him two shots behind Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter. ‘‘And this year, I’m right there.’’ He made it sound so mat- ter-of-fact, as if this is where he is supposed to be. What makes it all so surprising — to most everybody except him — is where Woods had been. A swift and spectacular downfall from a sex scandal kept Woods out of golf for five months. He has been humiliated in the media for confessions of cheating on his wife, returning to public life at a major that can jangle nerves even in peaceful times. ‘‘Never would we really second-guess his ability on the golf course,’’ ‘‘He’s got a new arm,’’ Cox said before the game. While it was a tough first travel day for the Braves, they didn’t play like a team that just flew across the country. They landed in San Francisco early Friday following a home game the previous night against the Cubs, arriv- ing at the hotel a little before 2:30 a.m. ‘‘We play the schedule,’’ Cox said. ‘‘Where they tell us to go we go.’’ Heyward, coming off his first hit- less outing Thursday after going 3 for 8 in the opening two games, had four strikeouts and a walk. He hit a mon- strous 451-foot, three-run homer on his first major league swing Monday. Notes: The two new guys in the middle of the Giants’ order after San- doval — cleanup hitter Aubrey Huff and No. 5 man DeRosa — went a combined 0 for 7 in their first home game. ... The Braves stranded 14 baserunners to the Giants’ two. ... Two-time reigning NL Cy Young win- ner Tim Lincecum will receive his award before Saturday night’s game. ... The Braves were swept in a three- game series at AT&T Park last season and are 12-22 since the ballpark opened in 2000, their worst road win- ning percentage. ... Jerry Rice threw out the ceremonial first pitch caught by his former 49ers quarterback and fellow Hall of Famer Steve Young. Rice then ran a route and Young tossed the ball to him. Poulter, Westwood in Masters lead; Woods 2 back AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Matt Kuchar said. ‘‘It’s pretty amazing.’’ And the best of this Mas- ters is still to come. Poulter, who once boast- ed that it would be just him and Woods when he reached his potential, made his only bogey on the 18th hole for a second straight 68. West- wood had everything from an eagle to a double bogey in his wild round of 69. They were at 8-under 136, the first time either of them has been in the lead in a major. Mickelson needed a birdie on the 18th hole to be paired with Woods, just as they were in the final round last year. His 65-foot putt banged off the back of the cup before spinning away, giving Lefty a 71. ‘‘To only be two back, to be in third place going into the weekend ... there’s noth- ing like being in contention on the weekend at Augusta National,’’ Mickelson said as he goes after a third green jacket. ‘‘There’s no better feeling in the game. There’s nothing you dream of more. I’m within two shots. I’m playing very well, and I feel like I’m right on the edge.’’ Woods, has won the Masters all three times when going into the weekend in a tie for third or better. He and Mickelson were at 138, along with Kim, K.J. Choi and Ricky Barnes. Y.E. Yang, who rallied to beat Woods at the PGA Championship eight months ago, had a 72 and was at 5- under 139. ‘‘There’s a great buzz on the golf course,’’ said Poul- ter, who played the first two days in front of Woods. ‘‘I was happy to tee off when I did. The crowds are 10- deep. That’s always good. I think the tournament is a good one.’’ Westwood pulled him- self out of a deep slump to regain his status as the best in Europe, and he has been closing in on an elusive major. He came within one putt of getting into a playoff in the U.S. Open in 2008 and the British Open last year. ‘‘It makes me sort of feel that I can contend in these big events now that my game is up to this level,’’ Westwood said. ‘‘All in all, I’m delighted the way things are going.’’ It was a wild ride, for sure. Westwood moved quickly to the top of the leaderboard with a 6-iron into 18 inches for eagle on the second hole, and he had two tries at an eagle at the par 5s on the back nine. But there also was a hook into the trees on the 14th that led to double bogey, and anoth- er tee shot into the pines on the 18th that kept him from the outright lead. Westwood didn’t seem the least bit concerned that Woods was lurking. ‘‘I played with Tiger the last round of the U.S. Open (both shot 73 at Torrey Pines), so that’s not really an issue,’’ he said. ‘‘And I learned a few things, stuff I’m not going to share, because I think if you get into these situations and learn stuff, what’s the point of passing it on? That’s what going through these experi- ences is all about.’’ Poulter began making his move on the par-3 12th with a shot over the bunker to about 8 feet for birdie. There was muted applause, partly because it’s difficult for the fans to see the green, and partly because most of them weren’t watching. ‘‘Tiger was on the 11th green,’’ Poulter said with a grin. Few players are as brash as Poulter, starting with his stylish, colorful clothes. He wore all pink in the final round of the 2006 U.S. Open. Free batting clinic Sunday A free batting clinic will be held Sunday from 1 p.m. to around 2:30 p.m. at Red Bluff High School for ages nine to 19 and for all coaches. The clinic is being hosted by Red Bluff American Legion Baseball Club. The featured batting instructor is 2009 Coach of the Year Bob Anderson from the 32-2 Central Valley Falcons. Anderson will be assisted by local coaches. Spartans open 2-1 at first day of PV tourney It wasn’t a perfect start to the Pleasant Valley tour- nament for the Lady Spar- tans, but they still did enough to earn a first round bye when bracket play begins Saturday. Red Bluff opened up Friday with a 5-3 loss to Paradise, but rebounded with a 4-0 win over Oroville and a 5-1 victory over Wheatland. Against Wheatland, Emily McEnaney was a single shy of hitting for the cycle. McEnaney doubled, tripled and homered to lead Red Bluff. Megan McColpin pitched seven strong innings — the only run was unearned. At the plate she went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Danisha Slay also picked up two hits and drove in a run. Bryce Etzler scattered four hits in seven shutout innings against Oroville. McEnaney tripled and scored a run. McColpin drove in a run and scored and Haley Matheson also scored a run. There were still some strong performances in the Par- adise defeat. Haley Harris homered twice, including one shot that went over the fence. Jerilynn Purcell and McEnaney picked up hits and Brit- tany Fletcher drove in a run. All five runs were unearned as McColpin pitched six innings, but poor play in the first hurt the Spartans. Athletics win again, beat Los Angeles 10-4 ANAHEIM (AP) — Daric Barton and Rajai Davis each had three hits and two RBIs, No. 9 batter Cliff Pennington added a three-run homer, and the Oakland Athletics sent the Los Angeles Angels to their fourth straight defeat with a 10-4 victory Friday night. Pennington’s homer, which gave Oakland a 10-2 lead, was the 10th allowed by Angels pitchers during their first five games. The three-time defending AL West champs, coming off a 10-1 loss to Minnesota on Thursday, are 1-4 for the first time since 1988. The club hasn’t opened 1-5 since its inaugural 1961 season, when manager Bill Rigney’s squad lost eight in a row after winning the opener. Gio Gonzalez (1-0) allowed two runs and six hits over six-plus innings in his season debut, striking out six and walking one. The left-hander, who began each of the previous two sea- sons at Triple-A before getting called up to the big club, got the chance to start this year on the 25-man roster because of an impressive spring training and an injury to Trevor Cahill. Matt Palmer (0-1) was charged with seven runs — five earned — and eight hits over five-plus innings in a spot start for Scott Kazmir, whose spring training was interrupted because of hamstring and shoulder injuries. Kazmir pitched 6 1-3 innings in a tuneup with Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday night, allowing three runs and eight hits while striking out six. He is expected to return to the rota- tion next week at Yankee Stadium. It was a profoundly somber anniversary for the Angels, one year after promising young pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed in a car accident. Adenhart, only 22, had just thrown six scoreless innings against the A’s in a no-decision at Angel Stadium with his father watching from the stands. He went out to celebrate his best big league outing but was killed in an early morn- ing crash that also took the lives of his friends Henry Pear- son and Courtney Stewart, and seriously injured former Cal State Fullerton catcher and infielder Jon Wilhite. Oakland catcher Kurt Suzuki, a teammate of Wilhite’s at Cal State Fullerton who helped raise funds for his friend’s rehabilitation, had an RBI single to help the A’s win their fourth in a row following an opening night loss at home to Seattle. The 4-1 start is their first since 2004. Hideki Matsui, back in the DH slot for the Angels after playing left field for the first time since June 2008, drove Gonzalez’s first pitch of the second inning for his second homer this season and 600th RBI in the majors. The eight- year veteran drove in 889 runs during 10 seasons in Japan with the Yomiuri Giants. NOTES: RHP Jered Weaver was presented with the inaugural Nick Adenhart Award in a pregame ceremony. It will be given annually to the Angels’ most successful pitch- er of the season, as voted on by his teammates. Weaver was the winning pitcher in the Angels’ first game after Aden- hart’s death. ... Angels RHP Bobby Cassevah made his big league debut after getting promoted from Triple-A, allow- ing only a broken-bat single over the final 2 1-3 innings. The Athletics got him from the Angels in the winter meet- ing draft last December before returning him to their divi- sion rivals.