The Indians, who were swept in Cincinnati, returned the favor at Progressive Field by beating the Reds on Thursday night to complete a two-game sweep of their own.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Quick hands and a nice swing can take a player a long way in baseball. Especially if those things consistently show themselves with two out and runners in scoring position.

Thursday night in the fourth inning, Michael Brantley started a two-out, seven-run rally with an RBI single to lead the Indians to a 7-1 victory over the Reds at Progressive Field.

Left-hander Scott Kazmir played his part in the victory as well, but the seven-run fourth inning made things a lot easier all the way around.

It's not the first time Brantley has done it. He's hitting .400 (10-for-25) this season with two out and runners in scoring position. Thursday he drove a two-strike pitch from Homer Bailey into left center field to score Asdrubal Cabrera and start the rally.

"Brantley has really good hands," said manager Terry Francona. "He's rolled over on a couple of balls lately and he's aware of that. When he stays through the ball like he did tonight, he's got a really pretty swing.

"He really hits the ball hard the other way."

• Reds-Indians boxscore | Scoreboard | Standings

Brantley's swing, and the fact that he rarely changes it, is the reason Francona has hit him in every spot in the lineup except No. 9. He did not vary from that description Thursday.

"I don't do anything different," said Brantley. "I don't want to say I concentrate more. ... I just try to stay within myself and put a good swing on the ball."

As for hitting with two strikes, Brantley said: "I believe in myself. I'm very confident in my ability to make sure that, even with two strikes, I'm going to put a good swing on the ball."

The Indians looked like a club in need of serious repair when they came off a 1-5 trip Tuesday after playing Boston and Cincinnati. They blew saves Saturday and Sunday in Boston. The blown save Sunday cost them closer Chris Perez, who went on the disabled list with a sore right shoulder.

In Cincinnati they started the Battle of Ohio by losing two straight to the Reds.

Maybe they just needed to get home, where they're 17-10. On Wednesday, they beat the Reds, 5-2. On Thursday, it was all about the fourth inning and Kazmir as the Indians recorded their ninth straight victory over Cincinnati in Cleveland.

Kazmir, facing the Reds for the first time in his career, held them to one run in seven innings for the victory. It was his longest start since he went seven innings for the Angels against St. Louis on May 23, 2010.

"It seemed like from the first pitch of the game, he stuck his fastball (threw it for strikes), whether it was in or out," said Francona. "He threw it downhill, kept locating it and was so aggressive with it that it just set everything else up."

Kazmir (3-2, 5.13) struck out five, walked one and allowed eight hits. He needed only 93 pitches to get through seven.

Bailey (3-4, 3.84) started the fourth by hitting Cabrera in a scoreless game. Nick Swisher struck out, but Carlos Santana singled to right as Cabrera stopped at second.

Bailey struck out Mark Reynolds. That's when Brantley singled to score Cabrera for a 1-0 lead and move Santana to third. Yan Gomes, who had three of the Tribe's 11 hits, made it 2-0 with a single to left.

Consecutive doubles by Ryan Raburn and Michael Bourn stretched the lead to 5-0. Brantley scored on Bourn's double and Gomes and Raburn scored on Bourn's double just inside the foul line in the left field corner.

Jason Kipnis kept the inning going with an RBI single to knock Bailey out of the game. Alfredo Simon relieved and gave up an RBI double to Cabrera before finally ending the inning by getting Swisher on a fly ball to center.

Bailey allowed seven runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings. Bailey, who made his big league debut against the Indians, is 2-3 against them lifetime.

"Brantley opened the door for us and everybody else just followed suit," said Raburn, who left the game in the fifth inning with a tight right calf.

CANTON, Ohio -- Mentor's athletic success in 2012-13 continued Thursday when the Cardinals defeated Brunswick, 6-3, in a Canton Division I regional baseball semifinal at Thurman Munson Stadium. "It's an amazing feeling," said Cardinals junior shortstop Corey Plavcan, reflecting on his two-out, two-run double in the top of the sixth that broke open a scoreless pitchers' duel between Brunswick's...

CANTON, Ohio -- Mentor's athletic success in 2012-13 continued Thursday when the Cardinals defeated Brunswick, 6-3, in a Canton Division I regional baseball semifinal at Thurman Munson Stadium.

"It's an amazing feeling," said Cardinals junior shortstop Corey Plavcan, reflecting on his two-out, two-run double in the top of the sixth that broke open a scoreless pitchers' duel between Brunswick's Gerry Salisbury and Mentor's Kade McClure.

Regional football champs followed by a state title in boys basketball and now regional championship games for baseball and softball mark a banner year at Mentor.

The Cardinals face Aurora for the regional title today at 5 p.m. at Munson Stadium.

"[Our players] have huge hearts and they play with a lot of emotion," Cards baseball coach Len Taylor said.

They also pitch well and play great defense.

McClure, a 6-6 junior right-hander, was the beneficiary of three stellar defensive plays. Senior center fielder Albert Giebel made two catches in the third, which kept the Blue Devils from scoring.

His diving grab in left-center took extra bases away from senior Joey Verbiak and then, with runners at second and third and two out, he took two RBI away from junior Cory Welsh with a running catch in right-center.

"I couldn't have done it without my defense," said McClure (10-1), after yielding eight hits, fanning seven and walking one. He already is committed to Louisville.

"I just put my head down and got three quick steps," said Giebel, also 2-for-2, with a sacrifice bunt and a run scored.

Mentor second baseman Brandon Kasberg had a defensive gem as well.

With two outs in the top of the sixth of a scoreless game, and with Cards senior Nick Delisa on second, Brunswick chose to intentionally walk No. 3 hitter Danny Trimble. Plavcan drilled a shot into left-center field, chasing home Delisa and Trimble. Junior Sam Vilk followed with an RBI single. The Cardinals plated three more runs in the seventh to go up 6-0.

Brunswick (21-10) did not go quietly. The Blue Devils bunched four hits against McClure and scored three runs in the seventh, highlighted by Ohio State recruit Kyle Michalik's two-run double to deep left. Salisbury (5-4), a senior lefty headed to Ohio, took the loss.

Aurora 7, North Canton Hoover 5: Relentless offense and solid defense lifted the Greenmen to an impressive win over Hoover in a Canton Division I regional semifinal.

"It feels awesome," said Aurora senior left fielder Tyler Thomas, after batting 2-for-3 with two RBI. "We've worked really hard for it."

Aurora (27-4) came in with a .335 team batting average and pounded 13 hits, including six extra-base hits, and kept on the attack, despite having its running game blunted by the Vikings. Spacious Munson Stadium might have played to speedy Aurora's advantage.

Sophomore third baseman Nick Ely enjoyed a 2-for-3 day at the plate, with two doubles, one run and an RBI. He also turned in a fielding gem in the top of the fifth when Hoover's left-handed leadoff hitter, Joe Jackson, bunted along the line.

Ely charged, fielded the ball barehanded and threw a strike to first to retire Jackson.

"I was hoping to make a play like that at some point this year, and I got my chance today," said Ely, who along with sophomore shortstop Matt Carpenter (nine chances, 0 errors) walled off the left side.

Hoover belted three triples to Aurora's two. But the Greenmen socked four doubles and broke the game open with two runs in the bottom of the fifth for a 6-3 lead.

After junior center fielder Kirk Janoch singled to left and stole second, sophomore second baseman Andy Weber stroked a triple to right and came home on a throwing error.

With a broken bone in his push foot, senior right-hander Jake Czerwinski (7-1) worked six gutsy innings for the win. Senior Adam Berger hurled the seventh frame and earned his third save.

Guan Tianlang, 14, flipped his ball to a fan, also 14, and the fellow eighth-grader was ready to ask the Chinese amateur to come over and hang out.

DUBLIN, Ohio -- Mop-topped and a little mopey, Rory McIlroy really knows how to wrap his arms around sad. Among current top athletes, maybe no one bounces from unstoppable to unwatchable as fast as the 24-year-old second-ranked golfer in the world.

His shots leaking to the right again and again, McIlroy's 78 Thursday in the first round of The Memorial bested just six players among the 120 in the field. It'll take a Rory rally Friday to keep him around for the weekend.

“I need to shoot something like 66 or 65,” McIlroy said, curls peaking out around his ears under his cap.

Remember sad Rory when he shot an 80 in the final round and blew the lead at The Masters in 2011? Or sad Rory when he shot a 79 on Friday last year at Muirfield Village and missed the cut? After that, McIlroy won three times the rest of last year, including the PGA Championship.

This year, he's been sad again. He walked off the course at the Honda Classic at 7-over on Friday and went straight to his car. He later apologized for that. So Thursday was his second-saddest full round of the PGA Tour season, behind only a 79 in the third round at The Masters. But he didn't leave. He four-putted No. 12 for double bogey from 47 feet and stuck around to talk about his round and look sad.

“I'm pretty frustrated. I'm trying not to let it get to me,” McIlroy said. “A few bad rounds of golf isn't going to ruin anything. But I'd definitely like to start playing.”

Others would like to see him play, too. It's more fun that way. After his interview, McIlroy went into a quick run up the hill toward the clubhouse. He had a little jump to his step. Probably because he wanted to get inside and get sad some more.

Jack Brim, a 14-year-old fan from Columbus, shows off the golf ball that 14-year-old Guan Tianlang, who is just two months older than Brim, flipped to him after shooting a first-round 72 at The Memorial Tournament on Thursday.Doug Lesmerises

Guan, you wanna play some video games? When 14-year-old amateur Guan Tianlang headed to the clubhouse after a fantastic bogey on No. 18 saved an even-par round of 72, he flipped his golf ball to a kid -- 14-year-old Jack Brim of Columbus, an eighth-grader who is two months younger than Guan and walked over to the course from his house after school.

“That made my year,” Brim said to his friends. “I'm going to ask him to hang out.”

If the message could have been relayed to Guan, he probably would have loved it. One thing a 14-year-old golfer playing in a grownup golf tournament doesn't get to do much is hang out with his peers. Guan's options also include hanging with 52-year-old Fred Couples, who could almost be his grandfather.

Brim said he followed Guan for the last nine holes and offered regular words of encouragement. Now he said Guan can come over and play a golf video game, as himself he if wants to.

At the very last, it sounds like Guan has a fan for the next 50 or so years of his career.

Guan, that was a great bogey: The flip, by the way, came with a little Guan smile after his final 5 that could have been an 8. On a slick, fast green, when Guan's second shot landed about 30 feet above the hole, you just knew he was going to run the putt way, way, way past the hole. It was a 14-year-old thing to do. He did.

He ran it so far past the hole, the ball rolled off the green, down a hill and back into the fairway. It wasn't the first time it happened to a golfer at The Memorial. Far from it.

Now lying three, an 8 would have been easy. Afraid of landing above the hole again, golfers have chunked chips from there and seen the ball roll back to their feet. Do that, then chip it past the hole and three-putt, and you've got a round-ending quad.

Instead, Guan's two-hopper stopped about six inches from the hole for a tap-in, easy 5. Not bad for 14. He's tied for 41st.

Buckeye business at the golf course: Buckeyes are always everywhere at Muirfield Village. Among the former football players spotted Thursday were linebacker Andrew Sweat and kicker Aaron Pettrey. And for the third straight year, Ohio State football made news in the middle of for Buckeye Jack Nicklaus' Memorial.

Two years ago Jim Tressel was forced to resign on Memorial Day, and the fallout dominated the Ohio sports scene for the week as the tournament rolled on. Last year, Buckeyes Jake Stoneburner and Jack Mewhort found themselves headlining the 6 o'clock news after they were cited on a misdemeanor for public urination near the course in the wee hours.

Now, though he said the words in December, OSU president Gordon Gee stole the show Thursday after the Associated Press reported some inflammatory jokes he made about Notre Dame and the SEC.

Also, McIlroy, who had joked about his scarlet and gray attire on Wednesday, wore the colors again Thursday. And, as you know, shot 78.

Worth the wakeup call: Josh Teater got out in the first group and posted a 67 that held up surprisingly well on a day that looked like it might welcome a lot of low scores.

“You kind of set the tone and people see what's going on and know that it's out there,” Teater said.

It sat there all day and only Charl Schwartzel and Scott Piercy beat it. Three others tied it. It left Teater's afternoon free, so he planned to check out the Columbus-area courses he'll be playing Monday in his U.S. Open qualifier. So he could handle getting up at 4:30 a.m. to do it.

“You get the beauty of perfect greens,” Teater said. “Once you get out there and get going, everything except the wakeup call is great. Obviously on the weekend we want to be playing late.”

Did you see that? Was that Tiger Woods taking an angry upside-down swipe with his club, grabbing his putter and loudly swear after flubbing a flop shot from behind the green on No. 15? Yes. Yes it was.

Presidents preview: At least one “U-S-A” chant rattled through the stands as Woods, the presumed anchor for the U.S. Team at the Presidents Cup in October and Fred Couples, the U.S., captain for the event, finished the 14th hole. They smiled. Patriotically.

Meanwhile, someone was trying to scare the Americans in the crowd with the pairing Thursday and Friday that features Masters champ Adam Scott of Australia and South Africans Ernie Els and Charl Schwartzel. Scott leads the International team point standings, while Schwartzel is third and Els fourth. Thursday, the crowd clapped for them, as Schwartzel took the lead, and Scott and Els both shot 73 to tie for 58th.

The crowd clapped for them now. They won't get as many cheers in October.

The Americans should be favored then. But it wouldn't be a bad idea to get another scouting look at the group Friday.

“I'm sure we are the underdogs,” Schwartzel said of the International team.

Phil, it got better: Marshals were out holding paddles warning fans to keep their cell phones in their pockets Thursday, and no players were forced to withdraw after being driven bonkers by cell phone photos.

So, no Phil Mickelson repeat from last year. It almost made you wish Mickelson was around this week to see the change. He skipped The Memorial this year.

Word from some of the popular groups was that a handful of phones were taken. But it did get better.

BASEBALL REGIONAL FINALS

BASEBALL

REGIONAL FINALS

Note: Games start at 5 unless noted and are subject to weather and field conditions. Contact the host school for updates.

DIVISION I

CANTON REGIONAL

at Thurman Munson Stadium

Aurora vs. Mentor

BOWLING GREEN REGIONAL

At Case Western Reserve University

St. Ignatius vs. Tol. St. Francis

Division II

HUDSON REGIONAL

At The Ball Park

Youngstown Cardinal Mooney vs. Archbishop Hoban

TIFFIN REGIONAL

At Tiffin University

Granville vs. Defiance

Division III

MASSILLON REGIONAL

At Washington H.S.

Youngstown Ursuline vs. Orrville

Division IV

COPLEY REGIONAL

At Copley H.S.

Cuyahoga Heights vs. New Middletown Springfield

SOFTBALL

REGIONAL FINALS

Note: Games start at noon unless noted and are subject to weather and field conditions. Contact the host school for updates.

DIVISION I

AKRON REGIONAL

At University of Akron

Saturday

Mentor vs. Medina, 3

CLYDE REGIONAL

At Clyde H.S.

Saturday

Oregon Clay vs. Elyria

Division II

AKRON REGIONAL

At Firestone Stadium

Saturday

Fairless vs. Walsh Jesuit

BUCYRUS REGIONAL

At Bucyrus H.S.

Saturday

Mansfield Madison vs. Granville

Division III

MASSILLON REGIONAL

At Washington H.S.

Saturday

Columbia vs. Leavittsburg LaBrae

Division IV

KENT REGIONAL

At Kent State University

Saturday

Vienna Mathews vs. N. Robinson Col. Crawford

Baseball Regional semifinals

Baseball

Regional semifinals

DIVISION I

CANTON REGIONAL

Hoover012 001 1-- 5 8 1

Aurora102 121 x-- 7 13 1

H (22-8): Szendry (L). A (27-4): Czerwinski (W, 7-1).

Notable: Thomas (A) 2-1B, 2 RBI.

Mentor000 003 3-- 6 8 0

Brunswick000 000 3-- 3 8 0

M (23-5): McClure (W). B (21-10): Salisbury (L).

Notable: Kasberg (M) 2B, RBI.

BOWLING GREEN REGIONAL

Avon Lake100 000 1-- 2 9 0

St. Ignatius030 000 x-- 3 5 0

AL (17-11): Kiser (L, 4-3). SI (25-6): Rolle (W, 6-0). S: Fabian.

Notable: Hennessey (SI) 1-3, 2B, GWRBI.

Toledo St. Francis 10, Perrysburg 5

DIVISION II

HUDSON REGIONAL

Youngstown Cardinal Mooney 8, Canton South 4

Archbishop Hoban 3, Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin 2

TIFFIN REGIONAL

Granville 6, Wapakoneta 5

Defiance 15, Holy Name 1

DIVISION III

MASSILLON REGIONAL

Ursuline000 410 1-- 6 12 0

Keystone000 100 0-- 1 4 4

U: Donko (W, 9-1). K: Brodnik (L, 5-2).

Wickliffe000 020 2-- 4 10 0

Orrville300 14x -- 8 13 1

W (15-14): Wilson (L, 4-2). O (16-15): Kerr (W, 8-2).

Sherlock (W) 3-4, 3-1B, 2 R.

DIVISION IV

COPLEY REGIONAL

Dalton000 000 0-- 0 3 1

Cuyahoga Hts.130 000 x-- 4 4 3

D (21-8): Husted (L, 6-2). CH (14-8): Lowther (W, 8-2).

Notable: Kleppel (CH) 1-2, 2B, 2 RBI, GWRBI.

New Middletown Springfiled 6, Attica Seneca East 0

Softball

Regional semifinals

DIVISION I

AKRON REGIONAL

Medina310 000 1--5 9 6

Aus. Fitch010 011 0--3 6 0

M (23-7): Paradise (W). AF: Franken (L).

Notable: Tata (M) SB, 3B, 3 RBI.

CLYDE REGIONAL

Elyria310 000 5--9 6 0

St. Joseph Academy000 000 0--0 1 7

E (25-5): Minney (W, 20-3). SJA (13-19): Heffernan (L, 11-11).

Notable: Minney CG, 13K.

DIVISION II

AKRON REGIONAL

Geneva000 000 0--0 0 2

Walsh Jesuit002 020 x--4 9 0

G (21-3): Pitcher (L, 17-3). WJ (25-5): Rahach (W, 18-5).

Notable: Rahach CG, 13 K, BB, 2-3, 1B, 2B, 2 R.

BUCYRUS REGIONAL

Granville300 104 3--11 13 0

Firelands000 000 0-- 0 1 5

G (23-6): Barker (W, 15-2). F (18-12): Dostall (L, 11-7).

DIVISION III

MASSILLON REGIONAL

Leavittsburg LaBrae 10, Youngstown Ursuline 2

DIVISION IV

KENT REGIONAL

N. Robinson Col. Crawford 2, N. Jackson Jackson-Milton 1

Boys track

Regional meet

DIVISION II

BEDFORD REGIONAL

How they stand: 1. Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy 22; 2. St. Vincent-St. Mary 16; 3. Salem 13; 4. (tie) West Branch, Perry, Jefferson Area 11; 7. Orange 10; 8. (tie) Manchester, Crestwood 8; 10. Lakeview 7; 11. (tie) Field, Bay 6; 13. Fairless 5; 14. (tie) Garrettsville Garfield, Buchtel 4; 16. (tie) Hawken, University School 3; 18. (tie) Fairview, Canton C.C., Newton Falls 2; 21. (tie) Chagrin Falls, Mooney 1.

Discus: 1. Shivers (Salem) 190-4 (stadium record); 2. Hull (Manchester) 164; 3. Sharp (West Branch) 159-2; 4. Monroe (Crestwood) 158-8. Long jump: 1. Carter (Orange) 22-9; 2. Junius (SVSM) 22-31/2; 3. Hanshaw (Field) 22-3; 4. Hurd (Perry) 22-11/2. Pole vault: 1. Hamilton (Jefferson Area) 13-6; 2. Sprague (CVCA) 13-3; 3. (tie) Lauria (Perry), Guest (Fairless), 12-9. 4x800: 1. CVCA (Adams, Kortze, LeBay, Schwarz) 7:59.87; 2. SVSM (Campbell, Heller, Oswald, Iacofano) 8:04.85; 3. Bay (Fell, Mertic, Orr, Baumgard) 8:05.83; 4. West Branch 8:06.19.

Girls track

Regional meet

DIVISION II

BEDFORD REGIONAL

How they stand: 1. (tie) Garrettsville Garfield, Vermilion, Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy 10; 4. (tie) Lake Catholic, St. Vincent-St. Mary, Salem 8; 7. (tie) Fairless, Orange, Chagrin Falls, Crestwood 7; 11. Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin 6; 12. Orrville 5; 13. (tie) Triway, Woodridge, Keystone 4; 16. (tie) Kirtland, Southeast 3; 18. (tie) Padua, Streetsboro 2. 20. (tie) Marlington, Newton Falls 1.

Shot put: 1. Svonavec (GG) 41-7; 2. Trybend (Salem) 41-51/2; 3. Zbinovec (NDCL) 40-103/4; 4. Hallisy (Lake Catholic) 40-73/4. High jump: 1. Bartlome (Vermilion) 5-6; 2. (tie) Fortner (Fairless), Willis (Orange), Scott (Orrville) 5-2. 4x800: 1. CVCA (Blair, Pasicznyk, Myers, Bockoven) 9:23.78 (stadium record); 2. SVSM (Mendiola, Haas, Iacofano, Rossetti) 9:24.23 (stadium record); 3. Chagrin Falls (Girouard, Cantlay, Dustin, Allen) 9:33.50; 4. Crestwood (Chiller, Midgley, Sorrick, Soltisz) 9:38.47.

Sophomore Taylor Rahach threw a no-hitter as Walsh Jesuit, ranked eighth in the final Division II state poll, beat Geneva, 4-0, Thursday in a regional semifinal game. The Warriors (25-5) earned a chance to win their third regional title when they face Fairless (25-4) on Saturday.

Sophomore Taylor Rahach threw a no-hitter as Walsh Jesuit, ranked eighth in the final Division II state poll, beat Geneva, 4-0, Thursday in a regional semifinal game.

The Warriors (25-5) earned a chance to win their third regional title when they face Fairless (25-4) on Saturday.

Rahach, who walked one and struck out 13, also produced with the bat for the North Coast League Blue Division champions, going 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. It was Rahach's sixth no-hitter this season, including a perfect game.

Geneva, champion of the Premier Athletic Conference, bows out at 21-3.

Elyria 9, St. Joseph Academy 0: Third-ranked Elyria (25-5) will play fifth-ranked Oregon Clay (26-3) in Saturday's Division I regional final at Clyde, thanks to the semifinal win. Caitlyn Minney pitched a one-hitter, walked one and struck out 13 to pick up the win, while MacKenzie Phares got two of the Pioneers' six hits. The Jaguars, who committed seven errors, finished the season at 11-19.

Granville 11, Firelands 0: The Falcons (18-12) were limited to one hit, a single by Samantha Hribal, as their season came to an end in a Division II regional semifinal loss at Bucyrus. Meanwhile, sixth-ranked Granville (23-6) collected 13 hits off Firelands pitcher/Baldwin Wallace recruit Samantha Dostall. Only three runs she gave up were earned because Firelands committed five errors, as Granville scored three runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back.

Baseball

Cuyahoga Heights 4, Dalton 0: The unranked Redskins (14-8), in their third regional in four seasons, once again got solid pitching and timely hitting to advance to the title game at Copley. Zac Lowther, who ripped an RBI double, surrendered just three hits and struck out 12. Jason Kleppel's double and two RBI sparked Heights' offense.

Ursuline 6, Keystone 1: Four Ursuline runs in the top of the fourth inning did in the 16th-ranked Wildcats, as did their four innings in the Division III regional semifinal setback at Massillon. Dion Felger accounted for four of the Fighting Irish's 12 hits, while Marcus Gunter got half of Keystone's four hits. It was only the second loss in 11 games for the Wildcats, who were making their third straight regional appearance.

Orrville 8, Wickliffe 4: The Blue Devils (13-13) had their win streak end at five games as well as their season in the Division III regional semifinal at Massillon. Matt Sherlock headed Wickliffe's 10-hit offense with three singles and scored two runs.

Regional track

Division II at Bedford: Garrettsville Garfield, Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy and Vermilion have 10 points each to share first place in the girls meet. Garfield had sophomore Edie Svonavec win the shot put with an effort of 41-7. CVCA and St. Vincent-St. Mary bettered the stadium record in the 4x800 relay with the Royals edging the Irish, 9:23.78 to 9:24.23. Alex Blair, Natalie Pasicznyk, Mallory Myers and Sammy Bockoven made up the Royals' victorious relay, while SVSM's foursome consisted of Julia Mendiola, Cynthia Haas, Rachel Iacofano and Marissa Rossetti. CVCA's boys, thanks to first-place showing of 7:59.87 by the 4x800 relay of Ryan Adams, Sherman Kortze, Noah LeBay and Benny Schwarz, led the field with 22 points. SVSM is second with 16 points. Will Carter of seventh-place Orange earned his team's 10 points when he went 22-9 to win the long jump.

LeBron James scores 30 points as the Heat moves a win away from its third straight trip to the NBA Finals.

View full sizeLeBron James drives against Indiana's Paul George. James scored 30 points for the Heat Thursday night.C.W. Griffin, Miami Herald 

MIAMI -- The game was very much in doubt. A sold-out arena was basically silent. The chance of getting back to the NBA Finals for a third straight year could have slipped away.

Cue LeBron James.

A third quarter for the ages by the four-time MVP turned the game, and perhaps the entire Eastern Conference finals, around. James scored 16 of his 30 points in the quarter, fueling what was a 20-point turnaround at one point, and the Heat beat the Indiana Pacers 90-79 in Game 5 on Thursday night.

The Heat lead the series 3-2, with a chance to finish it off in Indiana on Saturday night and move on to a finals matchup with the San Antonio Spurs.

"That's what I came here for, to be able to compete for a championship each and every year," James said. "I'm one step away from doing it once again. It's not promised. It's not promised at all. I made a tough decision. Obviously, I think we all know the story. I envisioned something that was bigger as far as a team ... and we've got an opportunity as a team, once again, for the third year straight to make a trip to the NBA Finals."

Indiana was up 46-40 early in the third, surely sensing a chance to grab total control of the series. Over the next 11 minutes, the Heat outscored the Pacers 30-10, with James either scoring or accounting for 25 Miami points. He shot 7 for 10 in the third quarter; the Pacers shot 3 for 14. He had four rebounds in the quarter; the Pacers, as a team, grabbed six. He had four assists in the quarter; the Pacers had one.

"That's LeBron showing his greatness and making it look easy," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "What we talked about was doing whatever it takes and competing for each other without leaving anything out there. His engine in that third quarter was incredible. He was tireless, he was making plays on both ends of the court, rebounding, covering so much ground defensively and then making virtually every play for us offensively. It's really remarkable."

James added eight rebounds and six assists, and Udonis Haslem made his last eight shots on the way to a 16-point night. Mario Chalmers scored 12 and Dwyane Wade added 10 for the Heat, who ousted the Pacers in six games in a second-round matchup last season and will look to do the same this time around, albeit one round deeper.

Paul George had 27 points and 11 rebounds for the Pacers, who got 22 points from Roy Hibbert and 17 from David West. The Pacers led by as many as seven at one point, but had no answer for the Heat in the third and now have to win back-to-back games -- against a team that hasn't lost consecutive games since early January.

"I don't really know," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said, when asked if there's anything a team can do when James gets on a roll like the one he had in the third quarter. "He was pretty special tonight. There's no question about it. This whole team is special. It's one of the best teams that this league's ever seen and we're enjoying competing against them. We know we can beat them, but we've got to play better than we did tonight."

Haslem said Juwan Howard threw a few things in the locker room and had a few choice words for teammates at halftime -- "a lot of bleeps and stuff like that," Haslem said -- and that James echoed the same remarks just before the start of the third.

"We had 24 minutes to play for our livelihoods," Haslem said. "And that's how we played in the second half."

Haslem's first shot of the night was a complete brick, bouncing off the top of the backboard. He was perfect the rest of the way, including going 5 for 5 in the third.

For the second time in the series, Haslem -- who has struggled with his shot for the better part of two years -- finished 8 for 9.

"That burned us," Vogel said.

Haslem got past Hibbert easily and into the lane for a dunk that put Miami up 47-46, the first Heat lead since 4-2. The Pacers were back on top by a point with 6:58 left in the third when fighting words reappeared, on a play where George Hill was called for an offensive foul after getting caught pushing off on a drive. West angrily approached Chalmers after the play and both of those players, along with Haslem, got technicals when it was all said and done.

It clearly fired up Miami.

James and Haslem combined to score 18 of their team's 21 points in the final 6:04 of the third. Everything came on jump shots, including a 3-pointer from Chalmers, three jumpers averaging 20 feet from Haslem, and five more from James, including a 3-pointer with 16 seconds left in the quarter that put Miami up 70-56 and had him yelling at no one in particular as the arena roared.

"We didn't have enough fight," West said. "We stalled."

George didn't sound overly impressed even after James' third-quarter numbers.

"He just came out and make some shots," George said. "You take away that third, and we're in the ballgame."

As if this one needed any more buildup, there was plenty of news long before tipoff.

The NBA announced Thursday morning that it fined James, West and Lance Stephenson $5,000 each for flopping in Game 4, plus upgraded a foul that West committed against Wade in the fourth quarter of that game to a flagrant-1. Then Hibbert and West, speaking after Indiana's morning practice, said they have to protect their knees when Shane Battier is in the game for Miami, though neither flatly accused the Heat forward of dirty play.

And all that happened more than eight hours prior to game time.

Things didn't exactly calm down once the ball went into the air.

Indiana was blown out in Game 5 of a tied-up series at Miami last season, never holding the lead and losing by 32 points. This one took a much different tone from the outset, with the Pacers running out to a 15-9 lead that could have been worse for Miami given that West and Hibbert combined to miss three easy layups in the opening minutes.

"There's no question, we blew some opportunities in the first quarter," Vogel said.

George and Hibbert combined for all of Indiana's 23 points in the first quarter. Indiana's lead was four after the period, and when the second began, the reminders that these teams simply do not like each other started coming fast and furious.

Chris Andersen and Tyler Hansbrough needed to be separated early in the second, and both got technicals after Andersen appeared to hit Hansbrough twice, first with a shoulder and then with a two-hand shove. Andersen also picked up a flagrant-1 for his efforts, things cooled off a bit for the rest of the half, and Indiana went into the break up 44-40.

The Pacers then scored the first basket of the third.

After that, all Heat. Or more specifically, all James and Haslem, who put together a burst that the defending champions desperately needed.

"It's the playoffs," Wade said. "Shane Battier said this is when you feel alive, when your back's against the wall. ... You've got to go out there and play. This is what we prepared for all season."

A year ago, the Heat lost Game 5 of the East finals to Boston, and needed a 45-point game from James in Game 6 just to extend their season.

Not this time.

The finals are now one win away.

"We were able to respond," James said.

NOTES: The last time Haslem had a 10-point third quarter was also against Indiana -- but in March 2009. ... David Beckham was courtside near the Heat bench, Floyd Mayweather Jr. was courtside near the Pacers' bench. ... Hansbrough left in the fourth quarter with a sprained right ankle after falling over Battier, who was down on the court after going for a rebound. ... Both teams seemed a tad nervous in the opening moments. Wade had two airballs in the first quarter, Haslem had a jumper bounce off the top of the backboard, and Hill tossed an alley-oop that missed everybody and bounced off the backboard like a fastball.

Highlights include Indians' home game against Tampa Bay and second-round play at the Memorial Tournament hosted by Jack Nicklaus.

CLEVELAND, Ohio

Today's TV and radio sports listings

AUTO RACING

10 a.m. Lucas Oil 200 qualifying, Speed Channel

11 a.m. FedEx 400 practice, Speed Channel

12:30 p.m. 5-Hour Energy 200 practice, Speed Channel

3 p.m. FedEx 400 qualifying, Speed Channel

5 p.m. Lucas Oil 200, Speed Channel

BASEBALL

7 p.m. Boston at N.Y. Yankees, MLB Network

7 p.m. LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS at Dayton, AM/1330

7:05 p.m. AKRON AEROS at Reading, AM/1350

7:05 p.m. Tampa Bay at CLEVELAND INDIANS, SportsTime Ohio; AM/1100, FM/100.7

10 p.m. Chicago White Sox at Oakland, WGN

COLLEGE BASEBALL REGIONALS

Noon Troy vs. Alabama, ESPNU

3 p.m. Kansas State vs. Wichita State, ESPNU

7 p.m. St. Louis vs. South Carolina, ESPN2

7 p.m. East Tennessee State vs. Vanderbilt, ESPNU

11 p.m. Columbia vs. Cal State Fullerton, ESPNU

COLLEGE SOFTBALL WORLD SERIES

7 p.m. Washington vs. Tennessee Florida, ESPN2

9 p.m. Texas vs. Oklahoma, ESPN2

GOLF

9 a.m. Nordea Masters, Golf Channel

Noon ShopRite Classic, Golf Channel

2:30 p.m. Memorial Tournament, Golf Channel

7 p.m. Principal Charity Classic (tape), Golf Channel

MAJOR LEAGUE LACROSSE

7:30 p.m. Charlotte at New York, CBSSN

TENNIS

5 a.m. French Open, third round, ESPN2

10 a.m. French Open, third round, Tennis Channel

Turner's temperament is a departure from last season's offensive coordinator, Brad Childress, who rarely raised his voice on the field. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio – Training camp doesn’t begin for at least another seven weeks. The Browns don’t play their first regular-season game until Sept. 8.

But don’t tell offensive coordinator Norv Turner a missed assignment on May 30 is inconsequential. During a jalapeno-hot Thursday morning practice, the 61-year-old was barking at quarterbacks, hollering at receivers and grousing about mis-alignments. On one play, Turner tore into backup quarterback Jason Campbell for missing a receiver and wideout Mike Edwards for running the wrong route.

Did we mention these are voluntary organized training activities?

“They gave Norv the double shot of espresso this morning instead of the decaf with two sugars and two creams,” receiver Greg Little said. “He knows how to stay on top of you, but knows how to do it. He can be funny at times, but he’s definitely a perfectionist.”

Some coaches mellow with age, but Turner hasn’t lost his intensity or ability to talk a little trash with players almost young enough to be his grandkids. Cornerback Joe Haden was asked if he had heard the coordinator telling rookie Leon McFadden the offense would beat him deep in practice.

“He says that to me every day,” Haden said laughing. “He’s like, ‘Joe, we’re going to double move you today.’ Like, whatever. He just likes to talk.”

Coach Rob Chudzinski, who worked under Turner in San Diego, said little has changed about Turner’s demeanor.

“Norv's been that way his whole career,” Chudzinski said. Turner’s temperament is a departure from last season’s offensive coordinator, Brad Childress, who rarely raised his voice on the field. Quarterback Brandon Weeden said Turner reminds him of his coaches at Oklahoma State.

“He coaches me every play, and I can't ask any more than that,” said Weeden, who also caught an earful Thursday. “He expects the highest level out of me, and that’s what I want. He's making me a better player. He apologized. He blew a gasket, but it’s going to happen. That's football. You've got to be on your toes. You can't mess up.”

Bonding time: Haden said he loves the aggressive mindset of Ray Horton and the trust the new defensive coordinator is developing in him.

“That’s a coach who believes in me, a coach who’s going to have me guarding No. 1 (receivers),” Haden said. “He said I’m his guy, I’m the corner he’s been looking for.”

After a few weeks of practice, Haden said it’s easy to see Horton’s objective as they install their multi-front defense.

“It’s 'get to the quarterback or bust,'” Haden said. “I think that’s why we went so hard to get D-linemen and pass rushers who can get to the quarterback and make things happen.”

Helping hands: Weeden and his wife, Melanie, spent several days in Moore, Okla., the city devastated by the killer tornado last week.

Melanie is a Moore native, and Weeden visited extensively with her relatives, while also assisting in the clean-up.

“We basically just went around the neighborhood,” he said. “You couldn't drive anywhere because of the traffic, it was just all backed up, so we stayed in there and basically just went from house to house and asked people if they needed help -- anything we could do.

“So basically threw on some gloves and got in the rubble and started sorting everything into piles and did it for Friday and then I had other events I had to do throughout the weekend. I watched all the coverage leading up to it and it was worse than I imagined.”

Security change: A year of significant change continues as the organization will switch security firms for game days. Cleveland-based Tenable Protective Service will no longer work stadium events, the club confirmed to The Plain Dealer.

"This, along with everything we do at FirstEnergy Stadium is designed to maximize the experience and enjoyment of all fans who come to the stadium for any event, and also create a safe and fan-friendly environment," team spokesman Neal Gulkis wrote in an email.

The club would not reveal what company is taking over. Several sources indicate Contemporary Services Corporation (CSC), one of nation's largest crowd management companies, Is expected to provide security at FirstEngergy Stadium events.

Brownies: Linebacker Paul Kruger was absent because of a family obligation. ... Defensive end Desmond Bryant, who missed last Thursday because of a legal matter, returned to practice. ... Tight end Jordan Cameron, who sat out last Thursday with a groin injury, also was back in action. ... Among those working off to the side Thursday were: safety Jamoris Slaughter (torn Achilles), offensive lineman Chris Faulk (knee) and receiver Jordan Norwood (undisclosed).

Mike Aviles is proving to be exactly what Terry Francona hoped for ... a super-sub for the Indians.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Seen and heard before the Indians and Rays watched the rain pelt down at Progressive Field Friday night.

Clubhouse confidential: Mike Aviles was given the start at second base and batted second Friday against Tampa Bay lefty Matt Moore. Aviles subbed for left-handed Jason Kipnis, who is 5-for-37 in his last 10 games.

Aviles entered hitting .275 with three homers and 15 RBI in 35 games. The Indians acquired him, along with catcher Yan Gomes, from Toronto in the off-season. He was Boston's regular shortstop in 2012 and played for Terry Francona with the Red Sox for a part of 2011.

"Mike is giving us what I thought we'd be getting -- and why I was so excited when he was part of that trade,'' Francona said. "On good teams, you need to have guys who want to play every day, who are good enough to play every day, but who accept their role.

"He can play second, short, third, left and right. He can hit a fastball. He can hit anywhere in the order. He can steal a base. He's very valuable. And when he's not playing, he makes your team better by being a good teammate.''

Status quo: Francona said right-hander Brett Myers (elbow) and closer Chris Perez (shoulder) will be re-evaluated Sunday. Myers has been on the disabled list since April 20; Perez, since May 27.

"Nothing's changed,'' Francona said.

Big men: Browns left tackle Joe Thomas and other linemen were guests of the Indians. They received a behind-the-scenes tour that included the batting cages.

Finally: The Indians' rotation has posted an ERA of 3.52 in the last 32 games.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Five local football players from Glenville and St. Ignatius have made the first nomination list for next year's U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Glenville has three players up for consideration -- offensive lineman Marcelys Jones (Ohio State commit), wideout Marshon Lattimore and DB Erick Smith. The nominees from St. Ignatius are linebacker Kyle Berger (Ohio State) and...

St. Ignatius linebacker Kyle Berger is among five local incoming seniors being considered for next year's U.S. Army All-American Bowl. - (Special to The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Five local football players from Glenville and St. Ignatius have made the first nomination list for next year's U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Glenville has three players up for consideration -- offensive lineman Marcelys Jones (Ohio State commit), wideout Marshon Lattimore and DB Erick Smith. The nominees from St. Ignatius are linebacker Kyle Berger (Ohio State) and offensive lineman Jimmy Byrne (Notre Dame).

The full list of nominees  includes 26 players from Ohio. The game will be played Jan. 4.

The athletes were nominated by the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Selection Committee, which consists of All American Games, 247Sports and All American Games' network of regional coaches throughout the country.

Of the 400 nominees, 90 will be selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Final selections will be announced throughout the fall.

PLAIN CITY, Ohio - It was moving day on Friday at the Ohio High School Athletic Association's boys tennis state tournament. It did pose difficulties, but juniors Jacob Dunbar from Cloverleaf and Aaron Sandberg from Walsh Jesuit refused to give in to the weather-related circumstances. Both advanced to Saturday's Division I singles semifinals after each won matches at two...

Walsh Jesuit junior Aaron Sandberg won his morning match against Cameron Raglin of Reynoldsburg. Rain forced the state tournament to move to Plain City. Sandberg won his second match indoors to reach Saturday's semifinals. - (Tony Coles, ImpactActionPhotos.com)

PLAIN CITY, Ohio - It was moving day on Friday at the Ohio High School Athletic Association's boys tennis state tournament.

It did pose difficulties, but juniors Jacob Dunbar from Cloverleaf and Aaron Sandberg from Walsh Jesuit refused to give in to the weather-related circumstances. Both advanced to Saturday's Division I singles semifinals after each won matches at two sites.

The Hawken pairing of junior Adam Lee and freshman Vid Yadav won two indoor matches and will try to bring home a second straight Division II doubles title for the Hawks and a third straight for Northeast Ohio.

The tournament took an abrupt turn when weather set in about 10:45 a.m. After nearly completing the first round of Division I singles at the Ohio State Outdoor Varsity Tennis Courts, the rain came and a 15-mile move to the Elysium Tennis Center in Plain City was under way. Play resumed about two hours later using both indoor and outdoor courts at the facility.

After getting his morning win against senior Rathnakishore Giri of New Albany, 6-0, 6-1, Dunbar had his racket full of problems in windy conditions against junior Luke Tsai of Mason.

After a 40-minute lightning delay in the ninth game, Dunbar won the first set, 6-3, but the tennis ball was at the mercy of the wind on numerous points as the players were either hitting with it or against it.

"It was hard both ways," said Dunbar, who improved to 34-0 this season. "You couldn't go with it and you had to change back and forth."

Tsai, who was on the championship doubles team last year, was looking good at 5-3 in the second set. But after holding serve, Dunbar found winning shots at the net to break and get even, 5-5. He held serve once again and won it, 7-5, as Tsai was forced into return errors.

"I'm definitely happy I grinded it out," said Dunbar, who will meet fellow Richmond recruit Canyon Teague from Gahanna Lincoln in a semifinal. "A third set would have been a rush."

Teague had to rally in his quarterfinal to get past Willoughby South sophomore Vince Anzalone, who won the first set, 6-4. Teague righted himself to win the next two, 6-2, 6-1. Fifth out of the Northeast district, Anzalone pulled off the upset of the day when he knocked off Southwest district champion Zach Berry of Springboro in the morning, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.

Sandberg earned a second straight trip to the semfinals by knocking off sophomore Cameron Raglin of Reynoldsburg, 6-2, 6-1, in the morning. Then playing inside, he defeated senior Jeffrey Schorsch of Perrysburg, 6-4, 6-4.

Down, 1-4, in the first set, Sandberg came back to avenge one of his three losses this season, the other two coming against Dunbar the past two weekends.

"I would have liked to play [Schorsch] outside because of his serve and forehand," said Sandberg. "I played a really sloppy game and it was almost like a wake-up call for me. I put my feet down and got the ball deep in the court. I'm feeling good and strong, but it's only going to get harder."

Sandberg will play senior Stuart Little of Upper Arlington, whom he defeated in last year's quarterfinals. Little opened his tournament with a win against Hudson senior Steven Boslet, 3-6, 6-0, 6-3. 

For a second straight year, St. Ignatius sophomore Nate Griffin won his first match, but was stymied in the quarterfinals. After defeating Miguel Cepeda of Mason at OSU, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, he lost to Little outside at Elysium, 6-3, 6-0.

"I can't complain," said Griffin. "I did as well as last year and Stu is a tough player. My hope is to work harder and get back here."

Hawken's Lee and Yadav defeated the team from West Union Milton, 6-1, 6-1, and continued their solid play by besting seniors Annu Reddy and Navdeep Bais from Maumee Valley Country Day, 6-1, 6-3.

"We talked about not getting too caught up with the crowd and everything," said Lee, both players at their first state tournament. "We just took it like another tennis match. We were down in the second set, but we didn't get down about it. Our volleys were working well."

Hawken's team of Daniel Lubarsky and Sid Ahuja won last year's Division II title. This year's version will play the team from Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy.

There was little to cheer about in doubles for Northeast Ohio as eight of the nine teams lost openers. All five Division I doubles teams were eliminated.

Two Solon teams were outsted. Juniors Eric Goldberg and Dillon O'Brien and the team of seniors David Shankman and Brian Yang went down. Westlake sophomores Connor Michelich and Cal Craven, brothers Austin and Aten Gavin from Copley, along with Oberlin district winners Andrew Ong and Jarad Pennington from Copley, also fell in the first round.

In Division II, the Orange duo of junior Ron Bellinson and Austin Smedira, Perry seniors Alex Guthrie and Dan Walker and the University School duo of sophomore Robert Stroup and senior Clay Hribar were eliminated.

Gilmour Academy junior Weston Noall, the lone area singles player in Division II, dropped his opener to returning state runner-up Patrick Wildman of Cincinnati Country Day, 6-2, 6-3.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
jmaxse@plaind.com, 216-999-5168

On Twitter: @JoeMaxse

World's No. 2 player will have to come back Saturday morning to officially make the cut for the final two rounds.

DUBLIN, Ohio -- You can run but you cannot hide while wearing neon green pants. Not even on a golf course.

Rich, young, famous, brilliantly talented, temporarily flummoxed and presently golf's great curiosity, Rory McIlroy couldn't have blended into the Memorial Tournament crowd had he walked out in flip flops and a Buckeyes T-shirt.

After shooting his worst first-round score (78) of his PGA Tour career Thursday, then bounding up the hill to sign his name to the ugliness, McIlroy came out Friday loud and proud.

His second-round work on a stop-and-go day reached 4 under -- until rain and high winds suspended play for the third and final time, delaying the conclusion of the round until Saturday morning. McIlroy stood at one shot under the cut line at plus-2 for the tournament.

For one day at least, no one was suggesting he put more sweat equity into his craft or throw his Nike clubs in the nearest trash receptacle.

During the first-round mess that sharpened the skewers aimed at him this season -- some for good reason -- McIlroy's four-putt on No. 12 was the signature moment. Three-putts are a sharp stick to the eye. Four-putts can be a EZ pass to that part of the brain where doubt takes its toll.

"Rory now +6 thru 12," Butch Harmon Tweeted after watching the disaster. "not sure what's going on in his head. but he needs a change. Go back to basic's and get rid of the posse hit the range."

The posse reference isn't nearly as handy in understanding McIlroy's woes as is Harmon's reminder that even the most gifted must dig remedies out of the driving range dirt now and then.

McIlroy is not as lost as is consistently claimed -- he's had Top 10 successes in 2013 -- but his troubles do point to a golf season casually approached, and perhaps to talent taken for granted. He is, after all, 23 with a $100 million Nike deal and two majors won.

He switched equipment, went on holiday and showed up at Abu Dhabi in January unprepared. Missing the cut there, he took a month off, during which his game did not magically repair itself. Go figure.

A first-round elimination in the Accenture Match Play wasn't surprising under the circumstances. At Honda he foolishly withdrew and trotted out his "wisdom tooth pain" excuse. For the first time he acted immature for his years, and apologized for it.

At one point while collecting another trophy, Tiger Woods texted his new Nike teammate and told him to -- a gentle paraphrase here -- get off his butt.

His peers have admitted to wondering about the state of his game. That was hardly left to interpretation over the past couple years when he emerged as Woods' heir.

"I think (his struggles) have been exaggerated to an extent," Adam Scott said Saturday. "I was really interested in playing with him at TPC. He really impressed me. He just hasn't quite put it altogether. But it's all right there for him."

It's too simple to trace his issues solely to his new equipment, though surely it's a factor. The size of the Nike deal catapulted him to a direct and discomfiting comparison with Woods, whose work ethic gets compromised only by injury. OK, and scandal.

McIlroy is assured of taking his No. 2 ranking with him this week, made cut or missed cut. But he's the object in Woods' side mirror that isn't closer than it appears. Truth is -- and it's been pointed out before -- his flourishes and collapses are more reminiscent of Phil Mickelson than Tiger.

"A few bad rounds of golf isn't going to ruin anything," McIlroy said this week. "But I'd definitely like to start playing (good golf)."

Friday was not the best day to find oneself. Not while playing hide-and-seek with the weather. The wind made it an adventure for even the most consistent ball strikers. McIlroy, on this day at least, was one of them.

Three birdies on the front easily negated a bogey on No. 8. Two more birdies -- at No. 10 and No. 13 -- put him at 2-over and under the cut line for the first time all day.

The third and final weather delay stalled his momentum in the greenside bunker at No. 15.

"I played much better," McIlroy said. "The major goal today was to try to make it into the weekend."

As goals go, that's not Everest. From where he stood Thursday, it's a steep ascent nonetheless.

Terry Francona isn't worried about the minor-league struggles of pitcher Trevor Bauer.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Right-hander Trevor Bauer recently has struggled at Class AAA Columbus. The composite line from his last three starts is ugly by any standard: 16 1/3 innings, 17 hits, 18 runs, 16 earned runs, 14 walks, 10 strikeouts, six homers.

In Bauer's most recent start, May 29 at Louisville, he gave up seven runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. The Bats hit four homers.

Indians manager Terry Francona said Friday not to read too much into Bauer's rough stretch, maintaining that it is the inconsistency that comes with the developmental process.

"I also know we've told him that, while he is developing -- and this is the case with a lot of guys -- to use certain pitches in certain situations," Francona said. "We're trying to make sure that, when guys get to the major-league level, they can execute what they're supposed to."

Last season, Bauer made changes in his delivery to compensate for a groin issue. In spring training, he told coaches that it was as uncomfortable as he ever had been while throwing. Bauer is attempting to get back to where he was mechanically before the groin injury.

"He's progressing, and I think he's excited about where he's going," Francona said.

Overall, Bauer is 2-2 with a 5.05 ERA in seven starts for the Clippers. He is 1-2, 2.76 in three starts for the Indians.

Tribe brass wants Bauer to narrow his pitching repertoire, from eight or nine to no more than five. It also wants him to focus more on pitching to contact instead of strikeouts.

Done deal: When the Indians-Reds series unfolded without incident Wednesday and Thursday at Progressive Field, some fans wondered why no fireworks in the aftermath of Aroldis Chapman vs. Nick Swisher on Monday in Cincinnati.

Indians players say the score was settled Tuesday night in Cincinnati, even if it didn't come with horns and trumpets.

In the ninth inning Monday, Reds closer Chapman threw a pitch high and to the backstop while facing Swisher. Evidently, Chapman did not appreciate Swisher's surprised look toward the mound, because the next pitch was in the neighborhood of Swisher's head. Swisher eventually flied out in a 4-2 loss.

The Indians fumed, believing the second pitch to be intentional. Chapman did not admit to anything, of course, but he and his teammates knew the Indians would get even. Both clubs agreed that it happened Tuesday night. With a runner on second and none out in the fifth inning, Tribe right-hander Zach McAllister drilled Brandon Phillips in the ribs with a 2-0 fastball. The Indians trailed by two runs.

The Tribe lost, 8-2. After the game, McAllister said the pitch simply ran too far inside, and that "there was no carryover." But Reds right-hander Mat Latos, who earned the victory, said he was "100 percent" convinced McAllister plunked Phillips on purpose.McAllister's teammates said that the right-hander sufficiently answered Chapman by plunking a player the caliber of Phillips. They said it did not matter that McAllister publicly said there was no carryover.

"What do you expect him to say -- that he did it on purpose?" one Indian said Friday. "Of course he's not going to say that. He took care of it, and Phillips knew he took care of it. Phillips didn't react. He knew."

McAllister's teammates insisted that no one needed to mention the Chapman-Swisher incident before the game. They were certain that the coaching staff didn't say anything, either.

"Ultimately, it's the starter's call, and everybody knows it," another Indian said. "And if he doesn't find a spot for it, it's the next guy's call. I'll tell you what: Mac showed me something. He didn't hit Phillips out of any kind of frustration and make a scene. He hit him as part of the game, then got out of the jam."

He's back: Right-hander Chris Archer, fifth-round pick of the Indians in 2006, will start for the Rays Saturday afternoon against Ubaldo Jimenez.

Archer spent three years in the Cleveland system. He was traded to the Cubs, along with right-hander Jeff Stevens and left-hander John Gaub, for Mark DeRosa on Dec. 31, 2008.

Archer, 24, was traded to the Rays in January 2011 and made his major-league debut last season. He went 1-3 with a 4.60 ERA in six appearances, including four starts. He is making his first appearance for the Rays this season after going 5-3 with a 3.96 ERA for Class AAA Durham. He entered 2013 as Baseball America's No. 2 prospect in the Rays organization behind outfielder Wil Myers.

The series concludes Sunday afternoon with Rays right-hander Jeremy Hellickson opposing McAllister.

The Indians will not face former teammate Roberto Hernandez. The man formerly known as Fausto Carmona, pitched superbly in a victory over Miami on Wednesday. He is 3-5 with a 4.87 ERA in 10 starts.

AUSTINTOWN, Ohio -- Solon hardly is a hardscrabble town, but when it comes to track and field, area schools are hard-pressed to beat the Comets. Solon claimed girls and boys Division I championships for the second straight year at the Austintown-Fitch regional Friday night.

AUSTINTOWN, Ohio -- Solon hardly is a hardscrabble town, but when it comes to track and field, area schools are hard-pressed to beat the Comets.

Solon claimed girls and boys Division I championships for the second straight year at the Austintown-Fitch regional Friday night.

"It's an honor to be out there for Solon because a lot of other schools are able to recruit, and we're just straight off the streets of Solon," senior Khoury Crenshaw said. "It's really cool, and this is great for the city."

Led by four-event state qualifiers Jelvon Butler and Therese Haiss, Solon's girls dominated with 79.5 points. Host Fitch was second (42 points), and Massillon Perry (39), Green (34) and Canton McKinley (33) rounded out the top five.

Krenshaw, the defending 100-meter state champ, looked fully recovered from a mid-season illness and advanced in three events as the Comets piled up 86 points for their third straight title. They were ahead of Fitch (57), Glenville (46), Cleveland Heights (42) and Mentor (35).

Solon's girls and boys teams both won five events. The question becomes how will they hold up against the rest of Ohio next Friday and Saturday at the state meet in Jesse Owens Stadium. The top four in each event at the regional advanced to Columbus.

"I strongly believe Solon can win a state championship," said junior Tinisee Kandakai, who ran on the state-qualifying girls 4x200 and 4x400 relays. "There's a lot of talent on this team, and secondly, it's our drive to get better. We're fortunate to have so much talent and good people on one team."

Butler, a junior, won the 100 meters in a meet-record 11.80 seconds with a steady but legal tailwind. She and runner-up Stephanie Ferrante of Chardon (11.89) broke Euclid grad Jessica Beard's meet and stadium record (11.90).

In the next event, the 4x200, Butler took the final exchange two seconds behind and nipped Beaumont's Brianna Johnson at the finish in 1:41.03. Butler beat Ferrate again in the 200. Butler led off the 4x400, which had the lead until the last lap in which Haiss battled, but finished second.

Haiss had a long day. The senior and Oregon recruit won the 1,600 (5:05.88), but the race took a toll. She's defending state 800-meter champ, and was 12th in the 800 final after 400 meters. She needed a furious sprint to grab the fourth qualifying spot. On Wednesday, Haiss advanced with the fourth-place 4x800 relay.

"It's not my day," she said. "I felt exhausted running the 16."

Solon thrower Alexis Gray added a runner-up discus finish to her shot put title on Wednesday.

Crenshaw won the boys 100 in 10.63, after a wind-aided 10.53 in Wednesday's prelims. He was fourth in the 200 and anchored the winning 4x100. Long jump champ Darian Hicks led off the 4x100.

Solon junior Kevin Blank, who anchored the winning 4x800 Wednesday, was second in the highly anticipated 1,600 that became a one-man race when Twinsburg junior Garrett Crichlow went out in 61 seconds and no one chased him. Crichlow won in a meet-record 4:14.26, six seconds ahead of Blank, followed by Hudson's Kyle Mau and Kenston's Owen Norley.

Other meet highlights:

• Defending state champs Chantel Richardson (long jump) of West Geauga and Morgan Estes (pole vault) of Green won titles. Richardson also won the 110 hurdles.

• Glenville senior Jacquez Riggs won the 400, held off Cleveland Heights anchor Shelton Gibson to win the 4x400 (3:17.56), and he anchored the runner-up 4x200. Glenville senior William Robinson led off the 4x400 and won the 300 hurdles.

• Chardon junior Nicholas Elswick crushed the boys 3,200 field by 12 seconds in 9:14.09.

• Willoughby South senior Kareem Hunt, the long jump runner-up Wednesday, pulled a hamstring in the 100 and placed eighth. After a short rest, he barely cleared 6-6 in the high jump to earn a state berth.

"It's very disappointing, because I had a very good shot in the 100," he said. "I definitely am competing in the jumps next week, no doubt about it."

• After nearly falling out at 6-2, Cleveland Heights senior Camerin Cross rallied to win the high jump with a personal-best 6-8.

• Nordonia senior Taylor McDonald won the girls 300 hurdles and was the 100 hurdles runner-up.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: twarsinskey@plaind.com, 216-999-4661

On Twitter: @TimsTakeCLE

Bill Haas leads by three shots but lots of golf remains.

DUBLIN, Ohio -- Watching Keegan Bradley and watching the 38th Memorial Tournament were one of the same.

Start. Stop. Start. Stop. Start. Stop.

That's how things went on a weather-plagued Friday at Muirfield Village, where the Memorial went through its seemingly annual rite of interruptions, delays and finally, postponement.

Tournament officials called a halt at approximately 7:07 p.m. with 42 players still on the course, rain falling and the winds gusting. The second round is scheduled to begin Saturday at 7:30 a.m. The projected cut of 60 players and ties stood at 3-over 147.

"Here we are at the Memorial," said Slugger White, the PGA's vice president of rules and competitions, referring to the history of bad weather. "I was in hopes that as bad of weather as we've had all year, that this might be the year for the Memorial. But, it didn't happen."

When play resumes, Bill Haas holds a three-shot lead over Matt Kuchar, Kyle Stanley, first-round leader Charl Schwartzel and hard-charging Bubba Watson, who was on the 15th hole when play was suspended.

• Second-round Memorial leaderboard

Saturday's forecast is not promising. Another storm is expected to arrive around 2:30 p.m. and linger. While saying he was optimistic for a Sunday finish, White did not rule out the possibility of being extended to Monday.

"It might be late Sunday, but I'm confident we can finish," he said.

On the positive side, White said the golf course withstood Mother Nature's onslaught.

"The golf course stood up extremely well," he said. "My hat is off to (director of grounds operations) Paul Latshaw and his staff."

Haas, who beat the weather by playing in the morning wave, took the lead with a round of 5-under 67 and is at 9 under for the tournament. Watson was at 5 under after starting the day six shots back.

Schwartzel, who had the tournament lead at 7 under, also was stranded on the course after making a routine par on the 538-yard 15th. A double bogey on the 402-yard ninth and a 3-putt bogey on the 464-yard 10th knocked him out of the lead.

Kuchar, who also played early, began the day at 4 under and on the 10th tee. He eventually got to 7 under, but a bogey on the ninth cost him a stroke and sole possession of second place.

"This course is hard without the wind," said Kuchar. "It's difficult and challenging on a normal day. With 20-plus mph winds it becomes very difficult. If you have steady winds you're fine, but when it comes up and down you have to make changes."

Watson, seeking his first victory of the year, began the day six shots behind Schwartzel. He birdied four of his first eight but couldn't get any lower than 4 under because of a bogey on the par-3 fourth when he missed the green short and right. He had three pars and two birdies on the back before play was called.

He said playing in the second wave was not an issue.

"We played in the afternoon, started in the afternoon, so we knew it was windy," he said. "We knew it was going to happen later today, so we saw it was tough. People were shooting some high numbers. People were shooting some good numbers. You just have to go out there and stay focused and committed to each shot."

Haas, the son of Champions Tour star Jay Haas, did not have to deal with any weather issues. After a first-round 68, Haas teed off at 7:53 a.m. He had to deal with a little wind, but nothing like the afternoon wave.

Haas, who usually flies under the radar because he is not flamboyant or long-hitting, made two birdies and an eagle through the first six holes. His eagle came on the 520-yard fifth, when he holed out from a greenside bunker 65 feet from the hole.

He got to 8 under with a birdie on the next hole by draining a 16-foot putt and went to 9 under with a birdie at 11 and 10 under on the par-5 15th by making a 7-footer. He gave it back on the closing hole when he missed the green with his second shot and failed to get up and down.

Stanley got himself into contention when he birdied two of the three par-5 holes before he was stopped on the 13th. When asked about having to make an early return to the golf course, Stanley summed up the history of the Memorial.

"It is what it is," he said. "We get up early all the time. That's nothing new."

Friday was the 40th round in 38 years suspended or canceled due to inclement weather.

DUBLIN, Ohio -- If it is raining in central Ohio, it must be the week of the Memorial Tournament.

You can almost take it to the bank that if they are playing golf at Muirfield Village it is going to rain. And the wind will blow. It happened again Friday, when the second round of the Memorial was twice interrupted, once by the fear that a severe storm was about to strike at 2:36 p.m. and again at 4:49 p.m. when the storm finally swept over Muirfield.

It marked the 40th round in 38 years that the tournament has been suspended or canceled due to inclement weather. Total time of suspended play was 1:49 on Friday.

Stopped before starting: Brandt Snedeker did not resemble a guy with a victory in a significant event (AT&T Pebble Beach) and six top-10 finishes when he started his second round on Friday. After shooting a 72 on Thursday, Snedeker bogeyed the 567-yard 11th (his second hole of the day) when his drive found the right rough and it took him three shots to reach the green.

He followed with two pars but disaster struck on the 363-yard 14th. He drove out of bounds and ended up with a triple bogey when it took him two shots to escape a greenside bunker. A bogey followed on the 538-yard 15th when he drove it out of bounds again. He followed with a double bogey on the 201-yard 16th when his tee shot found the pond left of the green. He made the turn at 7-over 43.

Power of Bubba: It's been well documented that Bubba Watson can hit the ball a long way. He showed it Friday before the rain delay when he hit his drive 347 yards on the 520-yard fifth hole, clearing the creek that dissects the fairway. He ended up making birdie.

Mighty Matt: Matt Kuchar, who finished his second round in second place, leads all Tour players with 34 top-10 finishes over the last four seasons. Luke Donald, not in contention here, is second with 31.

Bogey train: No one has been able to put together a bogey-free round to this point.

No Haas-been: Second-round leader Bill Haas became the third player since 1983 to go birdie-eagle-birdie on holes 4-5-6. Jeff Maggert was the last to do it in 2010.

Coming back: After winning the 2012 Waste Management Phoenix Open, Kyle Stanley went 34 events before his next top-10 finish. Stanley's opening-round 67 was his first round in the 60s in seven Memorial starts.

Can he rally? If Tiger Woods is to win an unprecedented sixth Memorial this week, he will have to stage the biggest comeback of his career. Woods trails Haas by 10 shots. His largest comeback victory after 36 holes was nine strokes at the 1999 Farmers Insurance Open.

Charming Charl: First-round leader Charl Schwartzel is in the Memorial for the sixth time. He has made the cut in each of his starts but his best finish was a tie for 19th last year. Entering this week, Schwartzel (69.566) was second on the Tour to Woods (68.516) in scoring average.

CANTON, Ohio – The dramatic play, which brought Aurora a 2-1 win over Mentor and a regional baseball championship, is going to need a name. How about "Sivillo's Mad Dash?"

Aurora won its first regional baseball title on Friday in the bottom of the seventh inning when Frank Sivillo scored from first on a liner by Nick Ely.

CANTON, Ohio – The dramatic play, which brought Aurora a 2-1 win over Mentor and a regional baseball championship, is going to need a name.

How about "Sivillo's Mad Dash?"

That one might be taken. But with all due respect to the late Enos Slaughter, hero of the 1946 World Series, Frank Sivillo's mad dash from first to home was better.

The slide was head first, just ahead of the relay, and, more importantly, it was a walk-off winner, lifting the Greenmen to their first state tournament berth.

"For Aurora baseball to get this far is just an amazing feeling," said Sivillo, a senior catcher, who graduated Thursday night. "For our senior class, and all of the underclassmen to help us out like this, going this far for the first time in school history is the best feeling in the world."

Aurora, ranked 19th in the Division I state coaches poll, will face No. 2 Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller (28-2) in a state semifinal Friday at 4 p.m. at Columbus' Huntington Park.

In a 1-1 tie, Sivillo walked to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning. With the hit-and-run on, sophomore Nick Ely hit an eye-high pitch that sliced toward the right field line. Steering away from the catcher and using his left hand to swipe over the plate, Sivillo's dash ended Friday's Division I Canton thriller at Thurman Munson Stadium.

Ely, a slick-fielding third baseman, had a brilliant regional tournament, handling nine chances without an error, batting 3 for 6 with three doubles, and delivering likely the biggest RBI since Aurora started playing baseball.

"I felt confident both days," said Ely. "I love playing defense probably more than I like hitting. That probably sounds weird, but I love playing defense."

Not lost in the drama was the effective pitching of Aurora's Adam Berger (9-1). The 6-foot-4 senior right-hander went the distance and worked out of several scrapes leaving nine Mentor base runners stranded.

"We call him the Ice Man for a reason," said first-year Aurora coach Tim Derring.

Berger scattered seven hits, fanned two and walked two, one intentionally.

"I knew my defense was going to make the plays behind me, so I just needed to throw strikes," said Berger. "I'm in no way a strikeout pitcher. I want groundouts."

Aurora (28-4) smacked three singles in a row to start the bottom of the first and led, 1-0, on an RBI single by senior left fielder Tyler Thomas.

Mentor starter Danny Trimble (7-1) then throttled Aurora's attack until the seventh.

"I think (Trimble) was pumped up too much," said Mentor coach Len Taylor. "We needed him to calm down, and he did. He pitched a whale of a game. We just needed to muster up some runs."

After Trimble and junior shortstop Corey Plavcan hit back-to-back singles to start the sixth, senior first baseman Garrett Graehling's groundout plated Trimble for Mentor's (23-6) only run.

Jeff Brewer is a freelancer in Green.

Woods' rounds was his worst at The Memorial since 2009, when he shot a 74 in the second round - and then went on to win.

DUBLIN, Ohio – Tiger Woods turned toward the question Friday after his 74, furrowed his brow and dropped a bombshell.

“I haven't won every tournament I've played in,” said the No. 1-ranked player in the world. Research confirmed the assertion, which came in response to the suggestion that maybe Woods had to chalk up this Memorial as one of those times when it isn't his week.

But Woods, in fact, has struggled before. He blamed a fight with the wind more than problems with his shots, saying, “I'm not too disappointed with it. I'm not that far off.”

He's tied for 46th at 1 over, with 42 golfers having to finish their second round Saturday morning.

In 300 PGA Tour events, a nice round number coming into this week, Woods had won 78 times. That's 26 percent of the tournaments he played in. At The Memorial, where he has won more than anyone, he has five victories in 13 starts. That's 38 percent.

In 2000, when he won three majors and nine events, he did so in 20 attempts. That's 45 percent. This year, he's won four out of seven events. That's 57 percent. In 2008, before his knee surgery ended his season after six events, he'd won four. That's 67 percent.

So really, asking for anything more than winning two-thirds of the time is just ridiculous.

In his last four events before The Memorial, he posted three victories and a tie for fourth. He'll take next week off, then he'll win the U.S. Open. Otherwise, it will officially qualify as a victory drought.

One of Woods' worst: In his first 52 rounds at The Memorial, Woods shot par or better 45 times. Friday was just the eighth time he didn't. Four rounds came in his first two Memorials in 1997 and 1998, before he won for the first time in 1999.

He hadn't shot this high since a 74 in the second round in 2009. And he won that year, thanks to a Sunday 65.

Bubba Watson battled cell phones and allergies but still found himself tied for second after play finished Friday at The Memorial.Associated Press

Watson fights allergies: What could possibly keep 6-3 bomber Bubba Watson from playing golf? Allergies. Maybe. They at least might keep him from playing in Central Ohio much longer.

“I don't play Tampa anymore because of allergies,” Watson said Friday. “This is another one I'm close to not playing because of allergies. Every day of my life I take allergy pills, nose spray and eye drops.”

But with “stuff flying around,” Watson said he still battled all day, wearing sunglasses in part to keep his eyes protected. He did look a little drained while stopping to talk under the roof outside the clubhouse, arriving in a van that drove him in from the rain.

Through that, Watson managed six birdies and one bogey through 14 holes and is tied with Matt Kuchar, Charl Schwartzel and Kyle Stanley at 6 under, three shots behind leader Bill Haas.

Silence the cell: Watson was in the same first-round group with Phil Mickelson last year where cell phone camera clicks drove Mickelson so batty, he withdrew after the first round. Watson was bothered, too, and it turned out the stricter measures this year didn't save Watson on Friday.

Asked if the phones were still an issue, Watson smirked and said only, “Bad weather today.”

Clubhouse drama: If you think the tension gets thick on the back nine Sunday, you should have seen the players trying to get off the course and into their Lexus courtesy cars after the rain hit.

Fatherhood and first place: Bill Haas experienced one of the most powerful performance enhancers not just in sports, but in life, at The Memorial this week.

A good night's sleep for a new parent.

Haas' first child, Williams Jr., was born on May 13 and this is the first tournament he has played since the arrival. Both his parents and his in-laws are home helping his wife, Julie, with the baby. And dad has recharged with some shut-eye.

“It's been a couple great nights,” said Haas, who did look fresh after his Friday 67.

Haas once caddied for his father, Jay, when he played at The Memorial. In another 20 years his son could be doing the same for him.

“I'm hoping I'm playing long enough where he can caddy for me,” Haas said.

For now, he's experiencing the joy of fatherhood, and the peace of a good night's sleep. But he's still a golfer.

“Part of me thought I wasn't going to get mad at the golf course,” Haas said, anticipating that the afterglow of a new life in the family would change his world view. “But that first bogey I made, I caught myself getting angry.”

Work on the high-fives: Sometimes you're just watching millionaires hit a white ball. And the next you're watching a 44-year-old give awkward high-fives and perform a little wiggle dance in the middle of the fairway.

Ken Duke's shot on No. 18 deserved the dance, though he does need to work on the high-fives. From the deep rough left of the fairway 130 yards out, Duke whacked his approach shot to the back of the green, then watched his ball spin back into the hole for an eagle two.

Duke ducked into his car after the round before he could talk about his shot, but caddy Chris Carpenter said Duke just sort of hit it and let the wind blow it.

“I assume it carried enough. We couldn't see it,” Carpenter said. “We just watched the crowd and it went, 'Ahhhhhh,' and then the roar. It was awesome.”

That led Duke to engage in not one high-five, but three, the last with Carpenter.

“It was a turning point. We've been needing some help like that this week,” Carpenter said. “That's what it's about. We love to caddy and we're in it for that kind of moment. He just hasn't had any mojo and it's a good turn for us.”

Duke, who started on No. 10, then went on and made birdie at No. 1. A bogey at No. 3 moved him back to 3-over, which is the projected cut line.

The golfer from where? The amateur from a so-far untapped golf market could only shake his head after finishing his two rounds at 14 over. Not the amateur from China. The amateur from New Hampshire.

“It's not a golf mecca,” Peter Williamson said.

Guan Tianlang, the 14-year-old Chinese amateur who made the cut at The Masters, will miss the cut at The Memorial after shooting 7 over. So will Williamson, a 22-year-old Dartmouth grad, though to much less fanfare. With a bandaged wrist, and while playing with Guan, he shot a 77 Friday after an 81 Thursday, but at least he might have been the smartest guy in the field.

Unless you can name another Ivy League golfer. Williamson recently moved to Florida and plans to turn pro sometime next year. He said he'll give himself somewhere between three and five years to make it as a pro. And then he might fall back on his geography/studio art double major and work in architecture.

Told he should talk to Jack Nicklaus about course design, and that Nicklaus seems to appreciate talking to young players, Williamson smiled and said, “He has to know them first.”

Calm Kuchar: Matt Kuchar could be alone in second if his 17-foot uphill putt on No. 6 hadn't stopped on the lip. But that guy is cool. He walked to the next hole flipping his golf ball like he didn't have a worry in the world.

Kuchar is coming off a runner-up finish last week, hasn't missed a cut in 17 tournaments and has more top 10 finishes since 2010 (34) than anybody on tour.

So he can be cool.

Indians-Rays set to resume after lengthy rain delay.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Friday night's game between the Indians and Tampa Bay Rays at Progressive Field resumed at 12:13 a.m. The game was scoreless entering the bottom of the second inning.

The start was delayed 1 hour, 57 minutes because of rain. Tribe righty Corey Kluber threw the first pitch to Ben Zobrist at 9:02.

Kluber worked a 1-2-3 first that included two strikeouts. Rays lefty Matt Moore retired the side in order in the first.

Rain returned to Progressive Field by the end of the inning. Kluber retired the first two Rays in the second before play was halted at 9:18.

Two of the umpires met with Rays manager Joe Maddon, the other two with Indians manager Terry Francona. As much as Francona likes Kluber, Maddon had the most to lose because Moore is one of the game's best pitchers this season. Moore entered at 8-0 with a 2.21 ERA in 10 starts.

Play resumed at 9:31, but the rain kept coming. Kluber struggled with his grip as he walked Luke Scott, then got Desmond Jennings to line to second. The umpires called for the tarp again at 9:34. Yes, it's true: The teams competed for three minutes.

Dollar-dog-fueled fans were able to counter boredom by watching the Tigers-Orioles game from Baltimore on the scoreboard big screen. The Tigers squandered a two-run lead in the ninth inning and lost, 7-5. Cheers followed Chris Dickerson's game-winning homer, which dropped Detroit into a first-place tie with Cleveland at 29-24.

As of 11:00, fans could purchase two hot dogs for $1 while supplies lasted.

At 11:25, Francona, Maddon, two umpires and Indians General Manager Chris Antonetti walked to left field and huddled for five minutes.

At 11:43, the grounds crew pulled the tarp off the infield.

Kluber was coming off a terrific performance in Boston last Sunday. He allowed one run on three hits in 6 2/3 innings and struck out 10 in a no-decision. The Red Sox rallied in the ninth inning to win, 6-5.