LITTLE ROCK — BASEBALL Royals acquire Shields The Kansas City Royals acquired former All-Star James Shields and fellow right-hander Wade Davis from the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday night for outfielder Wil Myers and a package of minor league prospects. Kansas City has been working all off season to shore up a starting rotation that has been abysmal for years, re-signing Jeremy Guthrie and acquiring Ervin Santana from the Los Angeles Angels. But the trade for Shields and Davis represents the most aggressive move yet under General Manager Dayton Moore, who believes the Royals are primed to contend as early as this season. Along with giving up Myers, widely voted the minor leagues’ top player last season, the Royals also traded away right-hander Jake Odorizzi, who would have competed for a spot in the Kansas City rotation this season. Left-hander Mike Montgomery and third baseman Patrick Leonard also are headed to the Rays, while the Royals will receive a player to be named or cash.
The Philadelphia Phillies have acquired seven-time All-Star infielder Michael Young from the Texas Rangers for two relief pitchers. The deal was announced Sunday, a day after Young agreed to waive his no trade clause. The Phillies are sending right-hander Josh Lindblom and minor league righty Lisalverto Bonilla to the Rangers to get Young, who fills a void at third base. The Rangers also will pay a significant portion of Young’s salary for 2013. Young is due to earn $16 million. Reports say the Phillies will pay him about $6 million. Young batted .277 with 8 home runs and 67 RBI in 2012, a down year for him. In the nine previous seasons, Young hit at least .300 seven times and averaged 17 homers and 90 RBIs. A former AL Gold Glove winner at shortstop, Young hasn’t play third base regularly since 2010. Seven Phillies started at third base last year, including often-injured former All-Star Placido Polanco.
BASKETBALL NBA fines Scott
Cleveland Cavaliers Coach Byron Scott has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for criticizing the officiating following a 91-73 loss at the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night. The Cavs attempted just nine free throws to Minnesota’s 35, and Scott said the officiating was “that bad.” He said: “I mean I understand we’re playing in Minnesota, but 35-9, we went to the basket just as much as they did.” The NBA announced the fine on Sunday.
Chris Wilcox of the Boston Celtics has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for making an obscene gesture toward fans during a game. The incident occurred with 8:47 left in regulation during the Celtics’ 95-94 overtime loss at Philadelphia on Friday night. The league announced the fine on Sunday.
SOCCER
Messi breaks goal record
Lionel Messi has broken German great Gerd Mueller’s 40-yearold record for most goals in a single year by scoring for the 86th time in 2012. The Argentina forward scored twice as Barcelona led 2-0 against Real Betis by the 25th minute of a Spanish league match on Sunday. His first was an individual effort in the 16th minute to equal Mueller’s record, and he eclipsed the 1972 feat with a familiar left-footed finish nine minutes later. Messi has scored 74 goals for Barcelona and 12 times for Argentina this year. Mueller scored 85 for Bayern Munich and West Germany. Messi scored 73 times for Barcelona in the 2011-12 season, passing Mueller’s milestone of 67 goals for Bayern Munich in 1972-73. He also established a Spanish league record of 50 goals last season. Messi is a finalist for the FIFA’s world player of the year award.
Nikita Kotlov scored off a header pass from Eriq Zavaleta midway through the second half to give Indiana a 1-0 victory over Georgetown on Sunday to win the NCAA men’s soccer championship. It is the eighth championship for the Hoosiers (16-5-3), their first since 2004. Indiana midfielder Patrick Doody lofted a crossing pass to the right of the goal that brought Georgetown goalkeeper Tomas Gomez out from the net. Zavaleta got to the ball before the Hoyas’ Jimmy Nealis, sending a header to Kotlov that he easily kicked into the open net. The best scoring opportunity for Georgetown (19-4-3) came in the first half when Tyler Rudy sent a straight-on shot that diving Indiana goalkeeper Luis Soffner barely stopped with his fingertips. It was the third consecutive 1-0 victory for the Hoosiers. Indiana allowed a total of two goals in its five NCAA tournament games.
GOLF
Perry, O’Hair win shootout
Kenny Perry and Sean O’Hair birdied five of the last six holes to win the Franklin Templeton Shootout on Sunday in Naples, Fla. Rory Sabbatini and Charles Howell III made a charge on the back nine that included an eagle on a par-4 but finished one stroke back at 30-under 186. They had a 15-under 57 in the scramble format in the final round. Perry, 52, became the oldest player to win the Shootout, and also won for the third time with the third different partner. He won with John Huston in 2005 and Scott Hoch in 2008. Perry joins Steve Elkington, Fred Couples, Brad Faxon and Scott McCarron with three Shootout wins; Elkington and Couples also won with three different partners. Jason Dufner and Vijay Singh finished third at 28 under.
Scotland’s Scott Jamieson won his first European Tour title on Sunday, beating England’s Steve Webster and Spain’s Eduardo de la Riva in a playoff after the Nelson Mandela Championship was reduced to a 36-hole shootout because of rain in Durban, South Africa. Jamieson shot an 8-under 57 in his second round at the shortened Royal Durban Golf Club course in Durban, South Africa, which was adjusted to a par-65 and reduced by about 1,600 yards after being under water on Thursday and Friday because of thunderstorms. Jamieson’s score - the second 57 of the day after South Africa’s Jaco van Zyl - gave him a 7-under total of 123 to sit tied with Webster and De la Riva. Jamieson won on the second playoff hole after Webster made a bogey. De la Riva was eliminated on the first extra hole.
FOOTBALL Malzhan hires Harbison
Auburn Coach Gus Malzahn has hired Clemson co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Charlie Harbison to the same position. Malzahn announced the hiring Sunday of Harbison, who will work with defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson. Harbison spent the past four seasons with Clemson and previously worked with Johnson during one of two stints at Alabama and another at Mississippi State. He replaced Johnson as Mississippi State’s defensive coordinator in 2008. Malzahn calls Harbison “a true professional and one of the class guys in college coaching.” Harbison coached defensive backs at Alabama from 1998-2000 and wide receivers from 2003-06.
Iowa defensive back Micah Hyde had another run-in with police over the weekend and now faces a disorderly conduct charge. The Quad-City Times reported that Hyde was ticketed Sunday after Iowa City police responded to a loud party in his apartment building. Hyde, who started 38 games for Iowa before his career ended last month, was also arrested in October on suspicion of public intoxication and interference with official acts. Hyde pleaded guilty to interference and was ordered to pay nearly $400 in fines, but he faces a Dec. 27 court date on the intoxication charge.
SKIING
Hirscher wins giant slalom
Defending World Cup champion Marcel Hirscher of Austria protected his first-run lead to comfortably win a giant slalom race on Sunday in Val D’Isere, France, with some help via Frenchman Alexis Pinturault’s clumsy mistake three gates from the end. Hirscher, who was third in Saturday’s slalom, secured his first win of the season, his third consecutive podium spot and fifth so far. He finished 1.16 seconds ahead of Germany’s Stefan Luitz, with American Ted Ligety climbing up from sixth to finish 1.42 behind in third place on the Stade Olympique de Bellevarde course. Pinturault was left just as stunned as the home fans by his error as he caught an inside ski and put his hand down with the finish line in sight, missing out on the chance of a second straight success after winning Saturday’s slalom.
HORSE RACING
Doinghardtimeagain wins Doinghardtimeagain rallied to win the $196,000 Soviet Problem Stakes by 2 1/4 lengths on Sunday at Betfair Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif., giving Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and jockey Martin Garcia their second stakes win in as many days. They teamed to win the $200,000 Bayakoa Stakes with Lady of Fifty on Saturday in the same come-from-behind style. Doinghardtimeagain ran seven furlongs in 1:23.93 and paid $15.80, $6.20 and $5 as the 6-1 third choice in the betting. Unusual Way returned $4 and $3 while 69-1 shot Awe Golly Molly was another 4 1/4 lengths back in third and paid $12.60 to show. Home Journey, the 7-10 favorite, finished last in the field of eight.
Sports, Pages 16 on 12/10/2012