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Carlos Carrasco masterful as Cleveland Indians win third straight over Tampa Bay Rays: DMan's Report, Game 77

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On Wednesday night against the Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla., Carlos Carrasco came within one strike of the Indians franchise's first no-hitter since Len Barker's perfect game on May 15, 1981.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Right-hander Carlos Carrasco did not allow a hit for 8 2/3 innings as the Cleveland Indians defeated the Tampa Bay Rays, 8-1, Wednesday night at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The Tribe (36-41) has won the first three of a four-game series by a combined score of 21-4. The finale is Thursday afternoon.

Carrasco's no-hit bid ended when Joey Butler punched an 0-2 slider over leaping second baseman Jason Kipnis for a single. Indians manager Terry Francona summoned Austin Adams to replace Carrasco, who exited to a standing ovation.

Carrasco became the sixth MLB pitcher in the past five years to lose a no-hit bid after 8 2/3 innings.

Butler's hit drove in Asdrubal Cabrera from third. Cabrera had led off the inning with a walk.

Adams retired Jake Elmore on a fly to center to complete a team one-hitter.

Carrasco's final line: 8.2 IP, H, R, ER, 2 BB, 13 K (124 P)

"Cookie'' Carrasco (10-6, 3.88 ERA) was perfect for 6 1/3 before Butler walked. It marked the third straight game in which a Tribe starter was perfect for at least five innings (Cody Anderson, Danny Salazar).

Carrasco relied on a fastball/slider/curve combination. He sprinkled in changeups. The slider was as nasty as it ever has been for Carrasco.

Carrasco's dominance, coupled with the Tampa Bay offense's ineptitude, produced a staggering 30 swings and misses.

Here is a pitch-by-pitch breakdown of his start:

FIRST INNING

(L) Kevin Kiermaier -- 96 fastball foul; 96 fastball inside; 89 slider foul; 96 fastball foul; 91 slider low; 90 slider swinging strikeout.

(R) Joey Butler -- 96 fastball inside; 90 swinging strike; 96 fastball inside; 90 slider swinging strike; 96 fastball, grounder to first (quality play by Carlos Santana moving to his right).

(R) Evan Longoria -- 96 fastball up and in; 96 fastball up and in; 89 slider swinging strike; 96 fastball inside; 89 slider, grounder to short.

(16 pitches)

SECOND INNING

(L) David DeJesus -- 95 fastball inside; 88 changeup swinging strike; 97 fastball foul; 92 changeup grounder to second.

(R) Logan Forsythe -- 96 fastball called strike; 95 fastball, fly to center.

(R) Steven Souza Jr. -- 89 slider swinging strike; 89 slider called strike; 90 slider swinging strikeout.

(9 pitches)

THIRD INNING

(L) Asdrubal Cabrera -- 95 fastball up and away; 94 fastball called strike (outside corner); 91 slider swinging strike; 91 slider, swinging strikeout.

(L) Marc Krauss -- 96 fastball outside; 89 slider swinging strike; 96 fastball outside; 90 changeup foul; 95 fastball outside; 89 off-speed, swinging strikeout.

(R) Curt Casali -- 95 fastball swinging strike; 89 slider called strike; 89 slider foul; 96 fastball outside; 85 curve down and away; 96 fastball, fly to center.

(16 pitches)

FOURTH INNING

(L) Kevin Kiermaier -- slider called strike; 94 fastball inside; 94 fastball outside; 88 slider foul; 96 fastball outside; 95 fastball, called strikeout (outside corner).

(R) Joey Butler -- 89 slider swinging strike; 94 fastball swinging strike; 89 slider outside; 94 fastball inside; 84 curve, swinging strikeout.

Fox SportsTime Ohio analyst Rick Manning said: "It looks like (Tampa batters) are just trying to put the ball in play.''

(R) Evan Longoria -- 96 fastball foul; 89 slider swinging strike; 95 fastball foul; 89 slider foul; 84 curve down and away; 95 fastball, grounder to second.

(17 pitches)

FIFTH INNING

(L) David DeJesus -- 81 curve called strike; 93 fastball foul; 82 curve, swinging strike.

(R) Logan Forsythe -- 95 fastball outside; 92 fastball swinging strike; 93 fastball low; 88 slider called strike; 82 curve, grounder to third (first baseman Carlos Santana good pick of throw).

(R) Steven Souza Jr. -- 88 slider called strike; 94 fastball swinging strike; 94 fastball foul; 84 curve down and away (barely); 93 fastball, swinging strikeout.

(13 pitches)

SIXTH INNING

(L) Asdrubal Cabrera -- 93 fastball outside; 94 fastball swinging strike; 94 fastball foul; 83 curve, swinging strikeout (down and in).

(L) Marc Krauss -- 95 fastball inside; 83 curve swinging strike; 94 fastball outside; 83 curve called strike; 95 fastball, called strikeout (just off outside corner).

(R) Curt Casali -- 93 fastball, looping liner to short (inside).

(10 pitches)

SEVENTH INNING

(L) Kevin Kiermaier-- 88 slider, grounder to first.

(R) Joey Butler -- 93 fastball inside; 88 slider low; 88 slider called strike; (Butler calls timeout); 90 slider called strike (barely); 94 fastball down and in; 84 curve foul; 89 slider foul; 87 slider down and away, walk.

(R) Evan Longoria -- 94 fastball inside; 87 slider called strike; 93 fastball inside; 88 slider, GIDP 3-6-3.

(13 pitches)

EIGHTH INNING

(L) David DeJesus -- 93 fastball outside; 92 fastball foul; 93 fastball, grounder to second.

Fox SportsTime Ohio play voice Matt Underwood said: "There really have not been any hard-hit balls.''

(R) Logan Forsythe -- 87 slider called strike; 83 curve foul; 93 fastball inside; 83 curve, swinging strikeout (down and away).

(R) Steven Souza Jr. -- 88 slider swinging strike; 93 fastball swinging strike; 88 slider down and away; 84 curve foul; 94 fastball, swinging strikeout (inside).

(12 pitches)

NINTH INNING

(L) Asdrubal Cabrera -- 84 curve foul; 95 fastball foul; 90 slider in dirt; 84 curve in dirt; 90 slider inside (crowd boos); 89 slider foul; 94 fastball outside, walk.

(R) Brandon Guyer (PH) -- 93 fastball, HBP.

(L) Grady Sizemore (PH) -- 94 fastball, fielder's choice 6-4 (quality play by shortstop Mike Aviles).

(L) Kevin Kiermaier -- 94 fastball swinging strike; 93 fastball outside; 92 fastball inside; 87 slider foul; 92 fastball foul; 88 changeup, swinging strikeout (off outside corner).

(R) Joey Butler -- 90 slider foul; 89 slider swinging strike; 89 slider, RBI single to right-center (outer third at knees).

(18 pitches)

(Austin Adams relieves.)

Oh, by the way: Tribe bats amassed the eight runs on 10 hits and two walks. Brandon Moss went 2-for-5 with a homer, double and five RBI. Hitting machine Jason Kipnis was 2-for-5 with an RBI and run.


Carlos Carrasco just misses no-hitter for Cleveland Indians: Reaction on Twitter

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Indians fans are disappointed for Carlos Carrasco but still impressed by his effort Wednesday night.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's the worst way to throw a one-hitter.

Disappointment, so familiar to Cleveland sports fans, struck again Wednesday night, as Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco got within one strike of throwing the first no-hitter for the Tribe since Len Barker's perfect game in 1981.

We know how it ends.

But Carrasco was in good spirits afterward, and so were Indians fans on social media, who had great appreciation for his effort despite coming up short.

Check out a sample of the reactions below:

How did Cleveland Indians Carlos Carrasco react to ruined no-hitter? He laughed

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Carlos Carrasco retired 19 straight batters and struck out 13 on Wednesday night, but with two out in the ninth he lost his no-hitter on a two-strike single by Joey Butler. Watch video

ST. PETERSBURG - Carlos Carrasco was already thinking how he'd celebrate when he struck out Joey Butler to complete his no-hitter.

"I was thinking would I throw my glove in the air or what?" said Carrasco.

Carrasco had Butler down in the count 0-2 with two out in the ninth inning Wednesday night at Tropicana Field. He was thinking one more slider down and away should do it, but that's when things changed.

He'd thrown two sliders in the same spot to get ahead of Butler. When he came back with the third, Butler lined it into right field to ruin the no-hitter in the Indians' 8-1 victory over the Rays.

"When I saw the hit, I just started laughing," said Carrasco. "I don't know if I was nervous or what. But that was my reaction."

Carrasco (10-6, 3.88) struck out a career-high 13 batters in 8 2/3 innings. He walked two and allowed one hit and one run. Carrasco's 124 pitches were a career high as well.

Butler's hit went directly over Jason Kipnis' head at second base.

"It we would have had a 6-6 second baseman maybe Carlos gets his no-hitter," said manager Terry Francona.

Kipnis is 5-11.

"He really tried to get that ball," said Carrasco. "I really appreciate that."

Butler proved to be a pain for Carrasco.

Carrasco retired 19 straight before losing his perfect game by walking Butler with one out in the seventh. Then Butler ruined his bid at history with two outs in the ninth.

"The first two at-bats I faced him, he seemed prett unhittable," said Butler. "He got ahead 0-2 and left me a pitch to hit. I did what I could with it."

The crowd of 11,394 gave Carrasco a standing ovation as he left the mound after being relieved by Austin Adams. He tipped his cap just before stepping into the dugout.

"I had my whole family here," said Carrasco, who lives in Tarpon Springs, Fla. "There were about 25 people here.

"I had the fans screaming in the ninth . . .I almost made it. I threw a slider (for the last pitch) and I hung it a little."

Akron RubberDucks top Bowie Baysox for 3rd straight win

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The RubberDucks (43-36) have won eight of their past 10 games and are now in third place in the Western Division, just two games behind the first-place Baysox.

The RubberDucks scored three runs in the eighth inning to break open a close game, defeating the Bowie Baysox, 6-2, in a Class AA Eastern League game Wednesday night at Akron.

The RubberDucks (43-36) have won eight of their past 10 games and are now in third place in the Western Division, just two games behind the first-place Baysox.

Akron fell behind, 2-0, in the second inning, but scored a run in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings to take a 3-2 lead.

In the eighth, the RubberDucks used some timely hitting and took advantage of mistakes by Bowie. Yandy Diaz started the inning with a walk, and with one out Destin Hood reached base on a fielding error by third baseman Drew Dosch.

A wild pitch by Bowie reliever Gene Escat moved the runners to second and third, and Diaz scored on a groundout to short by Ronny Rodriguez. With two outs, Bryson Myles singled to center field to bring in two runs, giving Akron a comfortable 6-2 lead.

Myles finished 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI, while Joe Sever was 2-for-4. Reliever Joseph Colon (2-0, 3.66 ERA) got the win for Akron, pitching two scoreless, hitless innings.

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, vacationing in the Bahamas

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Don't get any ideas: Dwyane Wade isn't coming to Cleveland. But these vacation pics with Wade and LeBron James are fun.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Well, it worked for Kevin Love and the Cavaliers.

But probably not for Dwyane Wade.

Wade and LeBron James were spotted vacationing Wednesday night with their wives at the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas.

Pictures of their trip circulated on Twitter by an eye witness, who later Tweeted the vacationers were sleeping on a yacht. The Northeast Ohio Media Group confirmed that James and Wade were at Atlantis Wednesday.

Wade is a free agent and had previously dropped hints he may leave the Miami Heat. He and James are also close friends, too, and of course former teammates in Miami.

Don't get any ideas, folks. Wade's not coming to Cleveland. The Love-James pool pic mojo isn't going to strike twice for the Cavs.

Where Love was seen chatting with James by a Los Angeles-area pool Sunday, only to agree to a five-year, $110 million deal with the Cavs Wednesday, Wade can't get anywhere near that kind of money from Cleveland.

The Cavs are so far over the salary cap (they spent north of $230 million to re-sign their own free agents Wednesday, and James is not yet signed) that the most they can offer Wade is about $3.3 million.

Wade opted out of the final year of his contract with Miami, worth $16.1 million, because he was upset the Heat weren't paying enough.

Wade will still probably re-sign with Miami, and James will re-sign with the Cavs, though James' agent (Rich Paul) remains focused on getting a deal done for Tristan Thompson in Cleveland.

ESPN and other outles reported Thompson and the Cavs were close on a five-year, $80 million deal.

By the way, the woman who captured the James-Wade pics had quite the night. Sierra Kirsch later took a selfie with Mike Tyson in Atlantis.

Carlos Carrasco comes within one strike of no-hitter in Cleveland Indians' 8-1 victory over Rays

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Carlos Carrasco lost his bid for a no-hitter with two out in the ninth inning Wednesday night at Tropicana Field. Joey Butler ruined it with a clean single to right field. Watch video

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Three might be company, but not when it comes to chasing history.

After watching teammates Cody Anderson and Danny Salazar flirt with no-hitters Monday and Tuesday nights, Carlos Carrasco nearly closed the deal Wednesday before allowing a two-out, two-strike single to Joey Butler in the ninth inning of the Indians' 8-1 victory over the Rays at Tropicana Field.

Carrasco was trying to become the first Indian to throw a no-hitter since Lenny Barker's perfect game on May 15, 1981 against Toronto. There have been 14 no-hitters in team history.

Carrasco came within one strike of joining Washington's Max Scherzer and San Francisco's Chris Hester as this year's no-hit pitchers. Scherzer no-hit Pittsburgh on June 20. Hester no-hit the Mets on June 9.

Butler sent a 0-2 pitch over Jason Kipnis' head at second base to score Asdrubal Cabrera for Tampa Bay's only run of the night.

On Monday night, Anderson retired 19 straight Rays before losing his bid for perfection and a no-hitter when Grady Sizemore homered with one out in the seventh. Carrasco followed that same path as he retired 19 straight before walking Butler with one out in the seventh.

The perfecto was gone, but the no-hitter was still within reach. Carrasco closed in on it quickly.

After Butler walked, he induced Evan Longoria to ground into a double play at first base on a good play by Carlos Santana. He retired the Rays in order in the eighth, striking out Logan Forsythe and Steven Souza.

In the ninth, things got very interesting.

Carrasco (10-6, 3.88) walked Cabrera to start the inning. Then he hit pinch-hitter Brandon Guyer with a pitch. Sizemore, pinch-hitting, grounded into a force play at second with Mike Aviles making a nice pick and throw from the hole at short.

That brought the Rays' lineup back to the top of the order. Carrasco struck out Kevin Kiermaier and had Butler down in the count 0-2 before he lost the no-hitter. He struck out 13 and walked two in 8 2/3 innings.

On Tuesday, Salazar was perfect through five innings before Cabrera, a former Indian like Sizemore, walked to start the sixth inning.

It was the first time in the expansion era (1961), according to Elias, that a team has had a perfect game through five innings in three consecutive games. 

The Indians jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first four innings. It marked the first time this season that they have scored five or more runs in three straight games.

Brandon Moss put the Tribe ahead 2-0 with a two-run double in the second inning. David Murphy opened with a single and Santana walked against Rays starter Alex Colome.

The double ended an 0-for-14 skid by Moss.

The Indians added two more runs in the third. Kipnis, Aviles and Michael Brantley hit consecutive singles to start the inning. Kipnis scored on Brantley's single and Aviles scored on Murphy's sacrifice fly.

Giovanny Urshela scored on Kipnis' fielder's choice in the fourth. Urhsela opened the inning with a single to extend his hitting streak to 10 games.

Moss added a three-run homer in eighth. It was his 13th of the season.

Colome (3-4, 4.70) allowed five runs on eight hits in seven innings in the loss.

What it means

The Indians (36-41) have won three straight after getting swept out of Baltimore in a three-game series over the weekend.

The winning streak coincides with a team meeting manager Terry Francona called on Monday afternoon before the Indians opened this four-game series.

Thanks for coming

The Indians and Rays drew 11,394 to Tropicana Field on Wednesday night.

What's happens next?

The Indians and Rays end this four-game series on Thursday at 12:10 p.m. when Corey Kluber (3-9, 3.66) faces Tampa Bay left-hander Matt Moore (2015 debut).

Kluber will be facing the Rays for the second time this season. He lost a 4-1 decision on June 20 at Progressive Field. He is 2-1 lifetime against the Rays.

Moore is making his 2015 debut following Tommy John surgery on his left elbow. His last start was April 7, 2014.

Building a better Cleveland 100 free skateboards at a time (photos, video)

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Cleveland community organizer Ja'Ovvoni Garrison has been giving away skateboards and free lessons -- about skateboarding and life -- as a way to foster communities and attack prejudices since 2008. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Ja'Ovvoni Garrison is a black skateboarder from Cleveland.

His is not a well-worn path to community leadership, but trailblazers are supposed to find their own way, aren't they? Garrison is doing just that on four wheels and a plywood board.

Skateboarding has taught Garrison a few things about prejudice and community in ways that are less about black and white and more about misguided perceptions. From his unique perspective, the sharp-minded community organizer has set out to build a better community - from Slavic Village to Detroit Shoreway to Garfield Heights - by connecting kids and communities with skateboards.

"The idea is talking to the kids, understanding who they are and developing relationships with them,'' he said. "These kids who are skating together and had never met each other hopefully build long-term relationships. We're planting multiple seeds because this is what works, this is what builds a community.''

Garrison, 25, has been awarding free boards and lessons - in skateboarding and in life - to area youth since 2008. Now working with Slavic Village Development, his current project goal is to raise $4,500 in donations so he can build and distribute 100 free skateboards to kids at recreation centers across Greater Cleveland. His fundraiser (gofundme.com/skatersnextdoor) is more than halfway to the goal.

For participant information, click here.

Each skateboard is to be earned, not given. Kids are to receive the boards after performing 40 hours of community service and attending his 10 free tutoring sessions at area rec centers to be determined. He'll teach skateboarding as well as how to develop and achieve personal goals, just like any other extracurricular activity.

Garrison believes skateboarding opens up the same channels for creativity, problem solving and achievement as equestrian, painting or boxing.

"With skateboarding, the way to get better is to practice. You have to focus,'' he said. "People are thinking, 'I've got to get this trick and figure out how to do it.' It creates the atmosphere for you to think about how to set a goal, achieve a goal that you feel is important.''

The lone skateboarder

Garrison graduated from Life Skills Academy at 16 and has yet to earn a college degree, but comes across as though he has a Ph.D in sociology with deep understanding of both government bureaucracy and street life. His enthusiasm is as infectious as his smile is disarming.

His title with Slavic Village Development and Ward 5 is community organizer - hey, isn't that how Barack Obama started out? - and there's an overwhelming sense that this is a young man going somewhere beyond the reach of a board and a push.

"He's a real go-getter. He relates really well to a lot of different folks,'' said Chris Alvardo, executive director of Slavic Village Development. "He's open minded, willing to listen and believes in the work that he's doing. He enjoys this neighborhood.''

Garrison grew up poor with eight brothers and sisters being raised by a single mom in East Cleveland and Slavic Village. His mother, Tressa Garrison, was tasked with caring for a sick grandmother and a daughter with spina bifida. Ja'Ovvoni did his part. Tressa Garrison often came home from work to a house cleaned from top to bottom by Ja'Ovvoni, whose name she said was inspired by her favorite deli, Giovanni's on Mayfield Road.

Tressa bought Ja'Ovvoni his first skateboard at Walmart, which he quickly broke, then another, and then better-made ones as he progressed. She told him to pursue his dream, even if it was skateboarding. Ja'Ovvoni said his mother never let her kids go hungry or let them lose sight their dreams.

"I said if it's a job, make sure it's something that's fulfilling your heart. He stuck with skateboarding because he loves it,'' Tressa Garrison said.

At first, that required breaking down prejudices. Ja'Ovvoni rolled through some tough neighborhoods as a lone skateboarder getting jeered while attempting and failing new tricks.

"Awww, white boy! Awww, you stink, Tony Hawk,'' they'd yell.

It drove him.

"Skateboarding was that perfect mental and physical challenge. Coming out of my house and skating on my street every day was a challenge knowing I'll probably get laughed at,'' he said. "It was a confidence builder for me to not let these outside forces dictate what I can or cannot do.

"After you hear it so long, I started understanding why some people don't go far in things they believe in because our social atmosphere has so much pressure, it almost forces you out of something you could have done great with. I didn't have any friends skating. I was just solo, mentally keeping myself strong because it didn't seem cool or it didn't fit in with what was accepted.''

Expanding horizons

Now the president of Public Square Group, a skateboard-promoting nonprofit, Garrison recalls his youth riding RTA from East Cleveland to Lakewood to just use its skatepark without being hassled. It's one of the reasons he named his fledgling skateboard company Skate RTA (Renegade Transit Authority).

His passion is to introduce skateboarding to urban youth while simultaneously making it acceptable in the eyes of kids and adults. He strives to attack skateboarding "slacker" stereotypes among those who believe where skateboarders go, trouble follows. Garrison said the opposite is true. In 2010, he named his outreach Skaters Next Door to emphasize that having a skateboarder next door "is a good thing.''

"Adults think it's dangerous,'' he said. "Compared to what? When I grew up, I knew kids who were going into houses and stealing copper or selling drugs. For me, skateboarding is something I hope kids do because, whether they think it's dangerous or not, it gives them some idea of focus and identity. That's what a lot of kids I meet don't have.''

Crooked RiverMiles Brown hits a patch of sunlight at the Crooked River Skate Park in the Flats in March.The only skatepark in Cleveland opened in November. 

Garrison developed his lessons and boards into community programming he uses in several Cleveland neighborhoods and recreation centers, as well as in East Cleveland and Garfield Heights. He helps lead the annual East Meets West Skateboard Festival in Slavic Village, which draws a diverse group of skaters from across the region. And he constantly lobbies Cleveland officials to add skating elements to city parks.

The Cleveland skateboarding scene received a huge boost in November when the public Crooked River Skate Park opened in the flats behind Merwin's Wharf. It is the only public skatepark in Cleveland. The concrete park features curves, ramps, rails and a wavy halfpipe built by one of the nation's top skatepark designers, but it is somewhat hidden in a quiet location between bustling bridges and the Cuyahoga River. Several skaters there this week gave it rave reviews.

For a gallery of photos from Crooked River Skate Park, click here.

"I skated a lot of parks in California and this one is right up there with them,'' said Sean Cahill, 17, of Hudson. "I like this view. This park really captures the Cleveland style, all the industry around it and the warehouses. This is where Cleveland started.''

Garrison likes the park, too, but worries the location is too far removed from residential neighborhoods. He said the city spent too much money on it when smaller parks coupled with programming spread throughout the city would have been more useful.

Programming is key for any community that builds a skatepark, he said.

"If you put in parks, but don't put in programming or events to keep people engaged in a positive sense, then they don't feel included into the bigger blueprint of what the community is,'' he said. "Otherwise, you just have a space, and it's just kids there doing whatever, or doing drugs because you have set a tone to perpetuate that negative sense.

"That's why I'm so bent on showing programming is the meat and cheese, whereas the skatepark is just the bread.''

Garrison, whose original goal was to be a professional skateboarder, wants to open gates for the future generations, if not to skateboarding careers, then to something else with skateboarding as a catalyst.

He makes that clear at the start of every lesson.

"There's 25 people here,'' he'll tell kids. "I didn't go to college, but I'm standing here and I'm giving you a skateboard because I figured out a way to make it happen. This is what I love. This is what made me who I am. It was skateboarding that gave me focus.

"Being a skateboarder, it put me outside even my own race of inclusion, and after that, I started looking at people different. It gave me an opportunity to think, 'How can I change people's perception?'"

Garrison is working to change perceptions, 100 free skateboards at a time.

"Sometimes,'' he said, "the ideas people hold in their minds about others are no more real than what a lie is.''

REI to open store in Pinecrest development in fall 2016

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REI to open store in Pinecrest development in fall 2016, bringing 50 new jobs to the area.

CLEVELAND, Ohio --  In the fall of 2016, outdoor adventurers will have a new place to shop for gear. REI plans to open a new store in the Pinecrest development, near Orange, and a second location in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

Cleveland is the second-largest market of active REI members currently without a store. REI Cleveland will be the first co-op location in Northeast Ohio and fourth store in the state since September 2012, joining stores in Cincinnati, Columbus-Easton and Columbus-Dublin, according to a press release from the company.

The 27,000 square foot store will be located in the Pinecrest development at Interstate 271 and Harvard Boulevard, bringing about 50 new jobs to the area.

With the nearest store currently more than 120 miles away in Pittsburgh, the company said the location will provide convenient access to the co-op for the outdoor community in the greater Cleveland area, offering gear and expertise for activities including biking, fitness, watersports and travel.

"Our continued growth in Ohio and Pennsylvania speaks to the active outdoor lifestyle of both communities," said Greg Medlyn, REI divisional vice president of Retail in a press release sent out Thursday. "We are excited to open our fourth store in each state and can't wait to better serve local adventurers looking to have fun and explore the outdoors."

The stores will offer the top brands for camping, climbing, cycling, fitness, hiking, paddling and snow sports. REI Cleveland will serve over 9,500 active members, while REI King of Prussia will outfit nearly 78,000 REI members in the Philadelphia area.

As a national leader in outdoor education, both locations will offer year-round REI Outdoor School classes, educating participants with a robust schedule of free and low-cost in-store classes taught by expert instructors. Popular topics include camping essentials, fitness monitoring and presentations about the best local places to play outside. The stores will also feature bike shops for expert assembly and repair.

Wherever REI has a presence, the co-op partners with nonprofit organizations to invest in the infrastructure that makes life outside more accessible to the community. REI invests millions annually in hundreds of local and national nonprofits, according to a press release.

REI has granted $60,000 to six organizations in Ohio this year, including Great Parks of Hamilton County, Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks, and Central Ohio Mountain Biking Organization. Overall, the co-op will invest $5.9 million in more than 300 nonprofits across the country to increase access to and steward over 1,000 outdoor places in 2015.

If interested in applying for one of the 50 positions at REI, candidates can sign up online to be notified when the store begins accepting applications. Employees receive a variety of benefits, including product and service discounts, competitive pay and retirement contributions.

REI is headquartered near Seattle and currently has 140 stores in 33 states.


Karlos Dansby joins us on Sports Insider, plus Cavaliers free agency and Indians talk

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Browns linebacker Karlos Dansby, Cavaliers beat reporter Chris Haynes and Indians beat reporter Paul Hoynes joined us on today's show. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Training camp is still a few weeks away, but Browns linebacker Karlos Dansby joined Chris Fedor and me on Sports Insider earlier today. We talked to him about the team's defense, Johnny Manziel this spring and Dansby's line of men's care products. Oh, and lobster mash, of course.

Chris Haynes, our Cavaliers beat reporter, also called in to give us the latest on free agency and talk about the return of Kevin Love. Paul Hoynes called us from Tampa Bay to talk Indians. Bud Shaw gave us his weekly spinoffs.

Watch Sports Insider live every Thursday at noon.

Outdoors retailer REI confirms its 1st Cleveland-area store opening in 2016 near Orange

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REI members who now drive to Columbus or travel out of state to get their fix will be able to buy all their camping, fishing, hiking, cycling, paddling and rock-climbing equipment here.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Outdoors retailer Recreational Equipment Inc. -- better known as REI -- on Thursday confirmed rumors that it will open its first Cleveland-area store in the Pinecrest development near Orange Village in fall 2016.

That means REI members who now drive to Columbus or travel out of state to get their fix will be able to buy all their camping, fishing, hiking, cycling, paddling and rock-climbing equipment here.

REI is also opening a store around the same time in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia.

"Our continued growth in Ohio and Pennsylvania speaks to the active outdoor lifestyle of both communities," said Greg Medlyn, REI divisional vice president of Retail in a written announcement. "We are excited to open our fourth store in each state and can't wait to better serve local adventurers looking to have fun and explore the outdoors."

Spokesman Mike Ferris said REI is planning a three-day store opening celebration including giveaways, with details to be announced closer to the date.

REI, based near Seattle and founded in 1938, has 140 stores in 33 states, as well as online stores at REI.com and REI.com/outlet, and a free REI mobile app. The company reported $2.2 billion in sales (up 9.9 percent from 2013) and 10,440 employees in 2014.

REI's loyalty program boasts 5.5 million members, who pay a one-time fee of $20 for a share of the company's annual dividends (a record $168 million in 2014), in addition to discounts on programs and merchandise and a 10-percent refund on purchases.

REI said Cleveland is its second-largest market of active REI members without a brick-and-mortar store, with more than 9,500 members in Northeast Ohio. The Cleveland store will be its fourth in Ohio, in addition to two stores in Columbus (at Easton Gateway and Dublin) and and one in Cincinnati.

At 27,000 square feet, the Cleveland-area store will be comparably sized and offer an assortment of merchandise from its catalogs and website, as well as an-store bike shop. The store will also house year-round REI Outdoor School, offering free and low-cost classes on topics like camping essentials, fitness monitoring, backpacking, outdoor photography, and urban emergency preparedness.

As part of companywide efforts to partner with local nonprofits to widen public access to the outdoors, REI has granted $60,000 to six Ohio organizations this year, including Great Parks of Hamilton County, Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks, and Central Ohio Mountain Biking Organization. 

REI's Cleveland store will anchor Fairmount Properties' Pinecrest development at Interstate 271 and Harvard Boulevard and employ about 50 people.

Interested candidates can sign up online to be notified when the store starts hiring. REI has for 18 years been listed on Fortune magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For."

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Mike Aviles gives Cleveland Indians 5-4 victory over Rays with 10th-inning homer

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Corey Kluber strikes out 14 in eight innings, but has to settle for a no-decision as the Tribe completed a four-game sweep of the Rays.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Thursday was another good day for the Indians' starting rotation, but not as good as the previous three at Tropicana Field.

Was that because Corey Kluber was on the mound? Perhaps because the baseball gods continued to frown on last year's Cy Young winner. Kluber struck out 14 over eight innings, but he was not around when Mike Aviles opened the 10th inning with a first-pitch homer to complete a four-game sweep by the Indians over the Rays with a 5-4 victory.

It has been a difficult year for Kluber. All his numbers except his won-loss record (3-9) rival what he did last year. He has not won a game since May 28 and is 0-4 in his last six starts.

Still, he was good Thursday. After giving up two runs in the sixth to erase the Tribe's 4-2 lead, Kluber retired 10 straight batters. Eight outs came on strikeouts.

The win went to Bryan Shaw (1-1), who pitched a scoreless ninth. Cody Allen struck out the side in order to earn his 15th save. Kluber, Shaw and Allen combined to strike out 19 batters. The 19 strikeouts set a club record for the Rays.

Lefty Xavier Cedeno (1-1), who gave up the homer to Aviles, took the loss.

Tampa Bay, down 4-2 after five innings, tied it with two runs in the sixth off Kluber. Kevin Kiermaier opened with a double off the glove of a leaping Carlos Santana at first base. Kluber retired the next two batters with Kiermaier taking third on a fly ball to center by Joey Butler.

Grady Sizemore singled to left to make it 4-3. Logan Forsythe kept the inning going with a single to move Sizemore to second. Asdrubal Cabrera followed with a grounder to Santana's right. Santana dove, but had the ball go off his glove and roll toward second as Sizemore scored the tying run.

Kluber ended the inning by striking out Brandon Guyer.

The Indians, trailing 2-0 through three innings, took a 4-2 lead in the fifth with three two-out runs.

Giovanny Urshela started the rally with a single to right off lefty Matt Moore, who was making his first start of the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. It extended his hitting streak to 11 games. Urshela went to second on a wild pitch as Aviles walked.

Jason Kipnis singled home Urshela to make it a 2-2 game. Francisco Lindor put the Tribe ahead, 3-2, with another single. Michael Brantley extended the lead to 4-2 with the third straight single of the inning to end Moore's day.

Brantley delivered the Tribe's first run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth.

The Rays took a 2-0 lead in the first as Sizemore singled home Joey Butler for the Rays' third straight hit. They were not done. With Evan Longoria on second and Sizemore on first, the Rays worked a double steal. Catcher Yan Gomes throw to third skipped into left field as Longoria scored for a 2-0 lead on the error.

What it means

The Indians, after losing three straight in Baltimore to start this 10-game trip, have won four straight to push their record to 37-41.

The Rays have ost five straight and nine of their last 11 games.

Not today

There was no flirtation with perfection for Kluber on Thursday.

After Cody Anderson, Danny Salazar and Carlos Carrasco pitched at least five perfect innings in the first three games of this series, Kluber gave up an infield single to Butler, the second Rays hitter to come to the plate.

In this four-game series Tribe starters went 3-0 with a 1.95 ERA. They struck out 31, walked five and allowed seven runs in 32 1/3 innings.

Kluber has struck out 14 batters in a game four times. Sam McDowell is the franchise leader with 14 such games.

Strategy

Rays manager Kevin Cash used closer Brad Boxberger in the eighth inning with the score tied, 4-4. Boxberger, with 20 saves, retired the Indians in order.

Most managers will use their closer in the ninth in a tie game at home. The strategy didn't burn Cash because Kevin Jepsen pitched a scoreless ninth.

Thanks for coming

The Indians and Rays drew 16,353 to Tropicana Field. They drew 49,986 for the series.

What happens next?

The Indians open a three-game series in Pittsburgh on Friday night with RHP Trevor Bauer (6-5, 3.96) vs. Pirates righty Charlie Morton (6-1, 4.28) at 7:05 p.m. SportsTimeOhio, WTAM AM/1100 and WMMS FM/100.7.

Corey Kluber, Mike Aviles power Cleveland Indians to sweep of Tampa Bay Rays: DMan's Report, Game 78

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Three Indians pitchers combined for 19 strikeouts (and one walk) against the Rays during a 5-4 victory in 10 innings Thursday afternoon in St. Petersburg, Fla.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Right-hander Corey Kluber struck out 14 in eight innings and Mike Aviles homered in the 10th as the Cleveland Indians defeated the Tampa Bay Rays, 5-4, Thursday afternoon at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. The Tribe swept the four-game series.

Here is a capsule look at the game after a DVR review of the Fox SportsTime Ohio telecast:

Remarkable turnaround: Last weekend against the Orioles in Baltimore, Md., the Indians were outscored, 16-3, and swept in a three-game series. It included a mess of a doubleheader Sunday in which they were blanked, 12-0.

They traveled to Florida to face the Rays, who were in first place in the AL East. Before the series began, Tribe manager Terry Francona held a meeting. Francona did not peel paint or throw furniture around the clubhouse, but he did urge his players to relax, perform better, relax and perform better.

Francona's players responded by outscoring the Rays, 26-8, and securing the franchise's first four-game sweep at Tropicana Field.

The Indians (37-41) are 22-18 on the road. The Rays (42-39) are 21-27 at home.

Upward mobility: In a four-day span, the Tribe will have gained at least three games on Kansas City, at least two on Minnesota, and three on Detroit in the AL Central.

From Monday through Wednesday, the Royals were swept at Houston in a three-game series and the Twins dropped two of three at Cincinnati. The Royals and Twins open a four-game series Thursday night in Kansas City, Mo.

From Tuesday through Thursday, the Tigers were swept by Pittsburgh in a three-game series at Detroit.

Ambush: Aviles socked lefty Xavier Cedeno's first pitch of the 10th into the seats in left. Cedeno had replaced Kevin Jepsen, who worked a one-hit ninth.

Cedeno figured Aviles would be hunting fastball on the first pitch and attempted to throw a get-me-over breaking pitch. Aviles kept the hands back, stayed compact  and notched his fourth homer of the season. 

Help from below: Aviles, batting ninth and playing left field, finished 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs.

His walk proved enormous, and it resulted from a professional approach.

The Tribe entered the fifth against lefty Matt Moore trailing, 2-1. Yan Gomes struck out and Brandon Moss flied out.

Giovanny Urshela punched a single to right, extending his hitting streak to 11 games. Aviles, in a 2-2 count, fouled one off. After a wild pitch pushed Urshela to third, Aviles took another wide one for the walk.

The next three batters -- Jason Kipnis, Francisco Lindor, Michael Brantley -- delivered RBI singles. Kipnis and Brantley did so on 1-2 counts.

Tampa Bay scored twice in the sixth to make it 4-4.

Interesting streak: Urshela has bagged exactly one hit in 11 straight games. The 11-for-38 includes seven 1-for-4s.

Hitting machine: Kipnis went 2-for-5 with the RBI and two runs. He is 4-for-10 in July and, for the season, is batting .347 with 108 hits.      

Whiff kings: Kluber and relievers Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen combined for 19 strikeouts. Shaw struck out two in a perfect ninth. Allen struck out the side in 10 pitches in the 10th.

Tampa Bay batters combined for 34 swings and misses.

Quality work: Kluber allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits and walked one. He threw 85 of 115 pitches for strikes.

Kluber relied on a fastball/cutter/breaking pitch combination. Everything was nasty, so nasty that it is amazing the Rays scored four against him.

Kluber capped a spectacular performance by Tribe starters in the series. In the previous three games, Cody Anderson, Danny Salazar and Carlos Carrasco combined to allow four runs (three earned) on five hits in 24 1/3 innings.     

Here is a pitch-by-pitch breakdown of Kluber's start:

FIRST INNING

(L) Kevin Kiermaier -- fastball foul; 91 fastball, grounder to short.

(R) Joey Butler -- 91 fastball down and away; 91 fastball called strike (inside corner); 91 fastball, single to third (Urshela gloves at line near bag).

(R) Even Longoria -- 91 fastball, single to center (smash over Kluber's head, over-spin hop past second baseman Kipnis).

(L) Grady Sizemore -- 92 fastball, RBI single to right (outer third).

(R) Logan Forsythe -- 88 cutter called strike; 93 fastball inside; 88 cutter down and away; 92 fastball down and away; 93 fastball called strike (Longoria steals third, Gomes throws ball into left field, Longoria scores); 90 cutter foul. 92 fastball foul; 94 fastball, swinging strikeout.

(L) Asdrubal Cabrera -- 92 fastball, grounder to pitcher.

(16 pitches)

SECOND INNING

(R) Brandon Guyer -- 87 cutter called strike; 92 fastball inside; 88 cutter down and away; 91 fastball down and away; 90 fastball down and away, walk.

(R) Jake Elmore -- 91 fastball ball (Gomes snap-throw to firt narrowly misses erasing Guyer); 90 fastball inside; 91 fastball, GIDP 6-4-3.

(R) Rene Rivera -- 87 cutter swinging strike; 91 fastball called strike; 86 breaking pitch, grounder to short.

(11 pitches)

THIRD INNING

(L) Kevin Kiermaier -- 87 cutter low; 91 fastball called strike; 83 breaking pitch, grounder to first.

(R) Joey Butler -- 88 cutter called strike; 92 fastball called strike; 84 breaking pitch down and away; 92 fastball, called strikeout (inside corner).

(R) Evan Longoria -- 89 cutter down and away; 87 breaking pitch swinging strike; 92 fastball foul; 83 breaking pitch, swinging strikeout.

(11 pitches)

FOURTH INNING

(L) Grady Sizemore -- 87 breaking pitch low; 84 changeup outside; 91 fastball foul; 91 fastball foul; 87 breaking pitch, swinging strikeout (down and in).

(R) Logan Forsythe -- 82 breaking pitch called strike; 93 fastball, fly to right.

(L) Asdrubal Cabrera -- 81 breaking pitch low; 91 fastball foul; 91 fastball called strike (outside corner); 92 fastball, called strikeout (inside corner).

(11 pitches)

FIFTH INNING

(R) Brandon Guyer -- 91 fastball foul; 92 fastball foul; 82 breaking pitch in dirt; 89 cutter, grounder to short (good play by Lindor moving to his left).

(R) Jake Elmore -- 86 breaking pitch called strike; 92 fastball foul; 93 fastball in dirt; 83 breaking pitch, swinging strikeout (down and away).

(R) Rene Rivera -- 92 fastball swinging strike; 87 breaking pitch swinging strike (in dirt); 93 fastball high; 83 breaking pitch, swinging strikeout (down and away).

(12 pitches)

SIXTH INNING

(L) Kevin Kiermaier -- 81 breaking pitch called strike (outside corner); 88 cutter down and in; 91 fastball inside; 88 cutter swinging strike; 88 cutter foul; 93 fastball foul; 82 breaking pitch, double to right (off first baseman Carlos Santana's glove).

Kiermaier's first hit in the series.

(R) Joey Butler -- 88 cutter called strike; 93 fastball low; 90 cutter swinging strike (inner half); 84 breaking pitch, fly to center (Kiermaier to third).

(R) Evan Longoria -- 83 breaking pitch swinging strike (down and away); 94 fastball low and away; 90 cutter swinging strike (down and away); 94 fastball, swinging strikeout (over plate at knees).

(L) Grady Sizemore -- 90 cutter called strike (inside corner); 94 fastball down and in; 94 fastball, RBI single to left (down and away).

Sizemore with a good piece of hitting, but Kluber needed to make a better pitch.  

(R) Logan Forsythe -- 90 cutter called strike; 90 cutter, flare single to right (Sizemore to second).

Tough break for Kluber.

(Tribe pitching coach Mickey Callaway visits mound.)

(L) Asdrubal Cabrera -- 89 off-speed swinging strike; 93 fastball called strike; breaking pitch, single to right (over plate; off diving Santana's glove).

Poorly located pitch in any count, let alone 0-2.

(R) Brandon Guyer -- 94 fastball swinging strike; 89 cutter swinging strike; 91 fastball outside; 94 fastball, called strikeout.

(27 pitches)

SEVENTH INNING

(R) Jake Elmore -- 92 fastball inside; 87 breaking pitch inside; 92 fastball foul; 91 fastball swinging strike; 88 cutter foul; 83 breaking pitch foul; 84 breaking pitch called strikeout (inside corner).

(R) Rene Rivera -- 87 breaking pitch called strike; 87 breaking pitch swinging strike; 93 fastball foul; 83 breaking pitch, swinging strikeout (down and away).

(L) Kevin Kiermaier -- 92 fastball swinging strikeout; 88 cutter, fly to right (Brandon Moss diving catch).

(13 pitches)

EIGHTH INNING

(R) Joey Butler -- 92 fastball called strike; 93 fastball called strike; 94 fastball foul; 84 breaking pitch in dirt; 94 fastball, called strikeout (outside corner).

(R) Evan Longoria -- 90 cutter swinging strike (down and away); 91 cutter outside; 94 fastball called strike (top of zone); 95 fastball foul; 91 cutter, swinging strikeout.

(L) Grady Sizemore -- 90 cutter foul; 89 cutter inside; 94 fastball called strike; 85 breaking pitch, swinging strikeout (down).

(14 pitches)

Danny Salazar trying to piece together perfection: Cleveland Indians notes

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Anyway you add the numbers, the Indians rotation flirted with perfection in their first three games against Tampa Bay.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The way Danny Salazar sees it, the Indians threw two perfect games in the first three games of their series with Tampa Bay at Tropicana Field.

On Monday Cody Anderson threw 6 1/3 perfect innings before Grady Sizemore homered. On Tuesday, Salazar threw five perfect innings before Asdrubal Cabrera walked to start the sixth inning. On Wednesday, Carlos Carrasco lost his perfect game after 6 1/3 innings when he walked Joey Butler.

Well, it was a good thought by Salazar, but he and his friends in the rotation missed by one out.

The Indians recorded a combined 53 outs without allowing a baserunner. Two perfect games would cover 54 outs.

"Basically, we threw two perfect games," said Salazar. "It's awesome. I think we're playing really hard right now. We're executing pitches out there. We're trying to stay focused and not thinking too much on the mound."

It's the first time since the expansion era (1961), according to Elias, that pitchers from the same team have thrown at least five perfect innings in three straight games.

As Anderson watched Carrasco go 6 1/3 perfect innings before losing a no-hitter with two out in the ninth inning, he didn't believe what he was seeing.

"It's been a blast," said Anderson, the rookie right-hander. "In the third inning (Wednesday night), I was like, "'This is going to happen again.' It's been a lot of fun."

The starts by Anderson, Salazar and Carrasco lowered the rotation's ERA from 4.52 to 4.34.

What might have been: A couple of bullet points from Carrasco's near no-hitter.

* It would have been the Indians' first on the road since Bob Lemon no-hit the Tigers on June 30, 1948.

* It would have been the third no-hitter thrown this season. Washington's Max Scherzer and San Francisco's Chris Heston had them last month.

* Carrasco faced the minimum 24 batters through eight innings.

* PITCHf/x had Carrasco inducing 30 swings and misses from the Rays.

* The last time the Indians lost a no-hitter with two out in the ninth, according to SABR's Stew Thornley, was July 4, 1954 against the White Sox. Minnie Minoso singled off Early Wynn, the Tribe's third pitcher. The Indians won, 2-1, as Larry Doby drove in both runs.

* It was the ninth no-hit bid, according to Elias, lost with two outs in the ninth since 2002. In that stretch, it was the third to be lost on a two-strike hit.

* The Rays were one strike away from being no-hit for the sixth time in history. Butler saved them with his two-out, two-strike single in the ninth.

Five on five: Forgotten in the sweep of Carrasco's no-hit bid was a five-RBI night by Brandon Moss. He doubled home two runs in the second and hit a three-run homer in the eighth.

It was the sixth time he's driven in five runs in a game and the second this season.

Manager Terry Francona said he was thrilled to see Moss have a big night because he's been working hard to find his swing.

"It can be kind of frustrating because there is some swing and miss, but when you look up at the end of the year, he'll probably have 30 (homers) and could be leading us in RBI," said Francona.

Moss was 0-3 with a walk Thursday, and is hitting .230 (61-for-265) with a team-high 13 homers and 42 RBI. He leads the team with 80 strikeouts, 23 more than second place Michael Bourn.

Francona said there are two reasons why he hits Moss in the lower part of the order.

"You don't need to protect him because he's going to hit what he hits," said Francona. "But I think he can protect other guys. And if he does happen to be striking out, and you hit him sixth of seventh, it's not so glaring."

When the Indians acquired Moss from Oakland in December, he had just had surgery on his right hip to repair a torn labrum. There was talk that he might miss time in spring training, but Moss breezed through his rehab and has appeared in 73 of the Tribe's first 78 games.

"(The hip operation) hasn't really been brought up," said Francona. "That's unbelievable."

Staying power: When Francona met with the Indians before Monday night's game against the Rays, he had a specific purpose in mind after they'd been swept last weekend in Baltimore.

He didn't want to get his team's attention for just Monday night's game. He wanted to give them a message they could carry for a while.

"I had time to formulate my thoughts and talk to them," said Francona. "I didn't want to get emotional. I know they care, sometimes you just get derailed by frustration, but we've got to get through that.

"I didn't want to make it a rah-rah speech just for that night because we play every day. It wasn't about getting that little jolt for a night. That's not what we're looking for."

Cleveland Cavaliers center Timofey Mozgov underwent right knee scope, out six weeks

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Cavaliers' center Timofey Mozgov had his right knee scoped and is out six weeks.

FRESNO, Calif. - The Cleveland Cavaliers announced on Thursday that center Timofey Mozgov underwent a right knee arthroscopic debridement on Wednesday.

The team is calling it a successful surgery and expects the big man to return to basketball-related activities in six weeks.

Mozgov had the surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Marymount Surgicenter and Dr. Richard Parker and James Rosneck performed the procedure.

The Cavaliers recently picked up Mozgov's option for the 2015-16 season. He averaged 10.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 46 games for the Cavaliers last season.

Dwyane Wade agrees to one-year, $20 million deal to stay with Miami Heat

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The decision ends a weeks-long, sometimes-contentious saga between the Heat and their franchise player. Wade was open to the idea of leaving Miami over a contract dispute, moreso than ever before.

MIAMI -- Dwyane Wade is staying with the Miami Heat.

Wade informed the Heat on Thursday that he will accept their one-year offer to re-sign for $20 million for next season, said a person familiar with the negotiations. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no NBA deals can be finalized this summer until July 9.

The decision ends a weeks-long, sometimes-contentious saga between the Heat and their franchise player. Wade was open to the idea of leaving Miami over a contract dispute, moreso than ever before.

But in the end, the three-time champion and the only team for whom he's played worked out a deal that conceivably could mean he will finish his career in Miami.

An 11-time All-Star, Wade averaged 21.5 points this past season.

"It has been an honor and privilege to play with the Miami Heat the past 12 years," Wade said in a statement first released to AP. "The Heat family and I have shared incredible moments over the years and I look forward to continuing our journey. I am extremely proud of my personal contributions in helping to build the Heat franchise and for bringing three NBA championship wins to our great city."

Wade could have made $16.1 million this season on the second year of a two-year deal, but opted out with hopes of getting a longer-term, more-lucrative contract.

For now, the more-lucrative part was enough to appease Miami's all-time leading scorer.

"For my entire NBA career, Miami has always been my city and my home," Wade said. "I'm overwhelmed with the love and support the Miami community have consistently shown me and my family throughout the years."

This was Wade's third foray into free agency in the last five years, and this one seemed the most dicey of all.

From talk of an impasse between the sides several weeks before free agency even began, to social-media over analysis of Wade speaking of Miami in the past tense in his role as a television analyst during the NBA Finals and even the widespread perception that a recent image of his father wearing a Cleveland Cavaliers shirt was a sign of a looming Heat departure, it has seemed like a most tenuous time.

All the angst was for naught.

Wade considered other teams -- the Los Angeles Lakers, in particular -- but lure of staying home was ultimately too strong.

"This contract is a win-win for both Dwyane and the Heat," Wade's agent, Henry Thomas, said. "Not only does Dwyane get to extend his Hall of Fame-worthy career with the only franchise for whom he has ever played, but he will have the flexibility next summer to sign an additional deal.

''And the Heat gets to keep their franchise cornerstone while having the ability to build a championship-contending roster."


Keystone TE Austin Conrad verbally commits to play football at Ohio University

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The 6-foot-3, 230-pound senior was a Division IV All-Ohio Special Mention performer in 2014.

LAGRANGE, Ohio -- Keystone tight end Austin Conrad has verbally committed to play football for Ohio University.

Conrad, a 6-foot-3, 235-pound senior emerged as a tight end and defensive end last season as the Wildcats went 8-3 and reached the Division IV playoffs.


Conrad's older brother, C.J., was one of the most heavily-recruited athletes in Northeast Ohio last season before signing to play at Kentucky.


Austin Conrad earned All-Ohio Special Mention honors at the conclusion of the 2014 season. He announced his decision Thursday via Twitter.



Keystone coach Rob Clarico says Ohio is getting an emerging athlete who has size and versatility.


"What they saw is a big, strong athlete with skill," Clarico said. "He stepped out of his brother's shadow last season and really came into his own."


Conrad, who grew two inches and added 30 pounds in the offseason, was recruited as a tight end, but will move to tailback for the Wildcats this season.


"Coach is going to get everything he can out of me this season," Conrad said.


Austin said he learned a lot during C.J.'s recruiting process.


"I went on a lot of those recruiting visits, so I got to see a lot of those schools and that made the process easier," Austin Conrad said.


Akron and Ball State were among the Mid-American Conference schools that recruited Conrad, who attended nine football camps after his junior season.



For more high school sports news, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Contact high school sports reporter Joe Noga on Twitter (@JoeNogaCLE), by email (jnoga@cleveland.comor log in and leave a message in the comments section below.


Courtney Force taking her NHRA struggles in stride

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Courtney Force is looking to start shaking off her first-half NHRA struggles this weekend at Norwalk.

IndyCar Fontana Auto RaceGraham Rahal (15) celebrates with his fiance, NHRA Funny Car driver Courtney Force, after winning the IndyCar auto race in California last week.  

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- This just has not been the kind of NHRA drag racing season  Courtney Force is used to.

Granted, at 27, the daughter of drag racing legend John Force is only in her fourth season in the Funny Car ranks. But she has been a fast study.

So sitting 11th in the standings coming into the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals this weekend in Norwalk, Ohio does not compare to her finishes of fifth, sixth and fourth the previous years.

It is the midway point in the season so there is still time to jump into the Top 10, as she is only 41 points back. But the signature marks that Force posted her first three Funny Car seasons have not consistently been there in 2015.

It's been a tough season,'' Force admitted earlier this week. "That's the way it goes. Some seasons you have a great car and everything is kind of smooth. Some seasons, like this year, just seem to be more of a struggle for me and my team.''

At first glance, the team's switch from Ford power to Chevrolet might be considered the culprit. But dad isn't having any hiccups as he is sitting well up front, second in the standings, and a threat for the top spot. But Courtney is nowhere near there, even while posting a Funny Car speed record this season of 324.12 mph in Topeka, Kansas.

That shows what her car can do. But getting it to deliver on a regular basis has been the challenge.

"We've been working hard, and in some ways we've been running into some bad luck,'' she said. "At this point it's become almost funny to my team. We can't keep having this much bad luck. We can't have this bad of a car. We know we have a good car. We know we have a good team. It's just not showing up for us on the track."

She has advanced twice to semifinal rounds. Yet in her rookie season in 2012, she was a winner by her 15th event and went on to be Rookie of the Year. She had two wins in 2013. Then last season the 5-8, 130-pound speedster won four events.

All that is very impressive considering Force races against a strong field that includes her dad. Still, this was projected to be a title contending year.

"She hasn't had the best of years, but that's the sport,'' her fiance, Graham Rahal, said earlier this week. "I hate it for her, because I know how serious she takes this. Unfortunately, that's racing sometimes.''

Rahal, working on a breakout season in IndyCar, has had his troubles on the track, so he has shared his philosophy on working through those frustrations with his future wife.

"She knows how bad of a year I had last year, even the year before that,'' Rahal said. "I was talking with her the other day and said, 'it looks like we're going to have to do trade-offs'. Last year she had a great year, and I didn't. We'll just have to support each other."

The support was there for Rahal last week when Force, with a rare weekend off, was on hand in her native California to watch him get the second victory of his career in the 500-mile race in Fontana.

"He won last week in my home state, this week I'm going to try to win in his," she said. "It's just a matter of time before it all comes together."

North Royalton pole vaulter Kristen Denk given release from Ohio State scholarship, exploring other options

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North Royalton's Kristen Denk was given a release from her scholarship to Ohio State and is exploring other options.

NORTH ROYALTON, Ohio — North Royalton pole vaulter Kristen Denk asked for and was granted a release from her scholarship to Ohio State on Monday and is exploring other options.

Denk's mother, Sally, declined to go into reasons why they asked for a release from her binding National Letter of Intent. Sally Denk added that Ohio State understood the family's reasoning and granted her release, and the two parted ways amicably.


Sally Denk said Kristen has received several scholarship offers and will try to make a decision by July 11, with the favorites being Virginia Tech and Tennessee.


Kristen Denk won the Division I state pole vaulting championship in June and set the all-time Division I record in the meet (13 feet, six inches).

Euclid hires former Central Catholic boys basketball coach Jonathan Harris as new head coach

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Former Central Catholic coach Jonathan Harris will return to the sidelines as coach of the Euclid Panthers.

EUCLID, Ohio — Euclid hired former Central Catholic boys basketball coach Jonathan Harris as its new head coach on Thursday, athletic director Patrick Higley confirmed to the Northeast Ohio Media Group.

The hiring is pending board approval on July 13.


"He's a proven winner on the basketball floor," Higley said. "He's a proven winner when it comes to his kids and getting them to the level they want to be, puts kids in college which is obviously a big deal for us. And he knows how to build a program."


Harris resigned as Central Catholic's coach in 2014, after three seasons. His resignation was a stunner.


Harris stepped down in the middle of a playoff run, one day before the top-seeded and state contender Ironmen were to play Tallmadge in a Division II district semifinal. A main motivation was a desire to spend more time with his family.


"The timing was bad, but there was a lot of stuff going on," Harris told the Northeast Ohio Media Group at the time. "There's a time where you have to take a stand. Nothing bad happened; I got my family. Even in a playoff push, you want to have your mental state right."


Said Harris on Thursday night: "The time off was really good to me. I just feel rejuvenated. I enjoyed my time away, but the opportunity that presented itself was too great to pass up."


Harris led Central Catholic to a 15-6 regular season record in 2014 and won two playoff games before his resignation.


Before Central Catholic, Harris coached at Rhodes for three seasons. Administrators did not rehire him for the 2009-10 season because he is not a member of the Cleveland Teachers Union or a district employee. Union members get preference for positions within the Cleveland schools.


Euclid went 6-17 last season. Former coach Gary Hicks resigned at the end of the season, ending a two-year run with the Panthers.


Starting this season, Euclid will move from the Lake Erie League to the Greater Cleveland Conference. The GCC features strong teams such as Shaker Heights, Mentor, Brunswick, Elyria and Medina.


Coaching in the GCC is a challenge Harris is looking forward to in his first season with Euclid.


"I just feel like going into this new league, it has some really good teams. But you go in and you just work," Harris said. "You get the guys to buy in. It's amazing what you can probably have happen if you can get people to buy in with that community. I think they've got some great things to offer and I think they'll be able to compete. As time goes on, we'll be able to compete and challenge for the league at some point."

Cleveland Indians Mike Aviles not sure if game-winning homer would clear wall

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Here's what Mikes Aviles, Cory Kluber, Terry Francona and Cody Allen had to say about Thursday's victory over the Rays. Watch video

ST. PETERSBURG - Here's what the Indians said after beating the Tampa Bay Rays, 5-4, Thursday in 10 innings at Tropicana Field to complete a four-game sweep.

Mike Aviles

Did he know his game-winning homer was out when he hit it?

"When I hit it, I thought it was out. But the way (Joey) Butler (Rays' left fielder) was running I'm thinking 'I can't even hit the ball good when I try.' I thought I did when I hit it, but you never know nowadays."

Have you faced Xavier Cedeno before?

"I played with him in the World Baseball Classic. I faced him when the Rays were in Cleveland."

Explanation: Aviles hit his game-winning homer on the first pitch Cedeno threw in the 10th.

Corey Kluber

Are your continued problems in the first inning connected to guys swinging early in the count against you?

"I think that's how guys just generally attack me. At times, that allows me to go deep in the game, too, if I can get them out early in the count."

On giving up two runs in the first inning against Tampa Bay (one of the runs was unearned because of Yan Gomes' throwing error).

"Today they had two groundball hits and a not-really-hard-struck line drive. It was kind of the same thing in the sixth inning. They put some balls in play and placed them in the right spot. Its not like they were hitting the ball over the wall."

Explanation: The opposition is hitting .351 (23-for-74) with 15 earned runs against Kluber in the first inning of his 17 starts. He has a 7.94 ERA in the first inning this season.

What are your thoughts on a pitcher's won-loss record?

"I think I've said this numerous times. To me, the team's won-loss record is more important that any individual's won-loss record. If you go out there and you're your team a chance to win, that's your most important job as a starting pitcher."

Manager Terry Francona

On the importance of sweeping Tampa Bay after being swept in Baltimore to start this 10-game trip.

"We needed it. You can't come into a series getting ahead of yourself, but we needed to get greedy today. We win three and it's easy to go, "Well, three out of four (is pretty good).' But we needed to win today and that was a hard one to win.

"We've got to keep going. This can't be, we take a deep breath, we've played a good series. We've got to get after it."

On Corey Kluber's problems in the first inning.

"It seems like he starts out where there's a hit either like an infield hit or a screwy hit, and then an error. That's kind of the way it's been playing out for him early.

"But then, man, he buckled down and threw the ball so well."

Explanation: Kluber threw and eight-inning no decision against the Rays. He allowed four runs, three earned, on seven hits and one walk. On the plus side, he struck out 14, walked one and threw 74 percent (85-of-115) of his pitches for strikes.

Closer Cody Allen

On Kluber, Bryan Shaw and himself striking out the last nine Rays to bat.

"(Catcher) Yan Gomes had a real good game plan. We were speeding them up early with hard stuff and getting them out with breaking stuff in the dirt."

Explanation: The Rays set a franchise record by striking out 19 times.

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