The Cleveland Browns agreed to terms on a four-deal with rookie receiver Carlton Mitchell, his agent told the Plain Dealer.

CLEVELAND -- The Browns have agreed to terms on a four-year deal for rookie receiver Carlton Mitchell, his agent Christina Phillips told the Plain Dealer today.

Financial terms were not available.

Mitchell (6-3, 215) was the Browns' first pick in the sixth-round out of South Florida. He's the second of eight draft picks to sign. The first was fellow sixth-rounder Clifton Geathers, the massive defensive lineman.

Mitchell started 18 of 37 games at South Florida, catching 105 passes for 1,648 yards and nine touchdowns.

Mitchell will report to training camp in the last week of July with the rest of the rookies. The veterans will join them July 31st.

New Cavs coach Byron Scott arrived at LeBron James' skills camp in Akron today, possibly to make a final pitch to the free agent.

Thomas Ondrey / The Plain DealerNew coach Byron Scott paid a visit to LeBron James' skills camp in Akron on Wednesday.

Updated at 2:55 p.m.

AKRON, Ohio -- With LeBron James on the brink of a decision, new Cavs coach Byron Scott got a look at the superstar. Was it his last look?

Scott arrived at the University of Akron about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday just as James was about to start his daily workout during his Nike Camp. All media had been removed from the building when Scott entered.

Scott left the camp after approximately one hour. He said he did not speak with James, but added, "I'm always hopeful."

It likely was his last chance to see James before he announces his free agent decision tomorrow night at 9 p.m. on ESPN. According to a source, while the Cavs have been in contact with James' representatives in recent days, they have not talked directly to James since last Saturday's meeting with him.

There were several Cavs players scrimmaging with James on Wednesday, including Daniel Green, Jamario Moon and 2009 first round draft pick Christian Eyenga. Cavs assistant coach Chris Jent and assistant athletic trainer Mike Mancias have also been taking part in James' workouts this week. Scott could be attending to get to know those players better.

However, Scott is seen as a key piece of the Cavs' pitch for James to re-sign. The team made sure he was hired in time for the start of free agency. Scott made a presentation to James as a part of the meeting last week.

Lakewood will leave the 18-team Northeast Ohio Conference and join the smaller West Shore Conference beginning in the 2012-13 school year. "There are a handful of issues, but this is something we've discussed for more than a year" Athletic Director Bob Thayer said.

Solon linebacker Jovon Johnson, right, has given an oral commitment to Ohio University.



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Lakewood will leave the 18-team Northeast Ohio Conference and join the smaller West Shore Conference beginning in the 2012-13 school year.

"There are a handful of issues, but this is something we've discussed for more than a year" Athletic Director Bob Thayer said.

Thayer would not elaborate on the issues. He referred all questions to assistant superintendent Jeff Patterson, who was unavailable for comment.

Sources in the NOC said Lakewood officials have been up front about a possible departure, citing travel and a lack of rivalries during monthly meetings conducted by the athletic directors.

Johnson commits to OU: Solon senior linebacker Jovon Johnson recently gave the Ohio University football program his oral commitment, becoming the second Comets player this year to do so.

Solon running back Kyle Hammonds gave the Bobcats his commitment in April and had a hand in helping Johnson make his decision.

"Knowing somebody, especially a teammate and good friend, is going to Ohio University made my decision pretty easy," said Johnson, a 6-0, 200-pounder. "He talked to me a lot about the two of us going to the same college so we'll probably be roommates."

Johnson accounted for 20 solo tackles, 31 assists and seven tackles for losses last season.

- Bob Fortuna

Locals at Nike events: Glenville is among eight football teams participating in the third Nike 7ON tournament in Beaverton, Ore.

Nike 7ON, a two-day event that ends Friday, pits teams made up of a quarterback, wide receiver and running back against linebackers and defensive backs competing on a 50-yard field.

Other participating teams are Miami (Fla.) Northwestern, HB Plant (Tampa, Fla.), David. W. Butler (Mathews, N.C.), Martin (Arlington, Texas), Gardena (Calif.), Guyer (Denton, Texas) and Dr. Phillips (Orlando).

Nike will also hold a first-ever SPARQ Rating national championship to name a top performer among 25 standouts across the country, including Willoughby South senior wide receiver Aaron Lindgren.

Washington, Grant to compete: Maple Heights senior quarterback/Cincinnati recruit Shaq Washington and St. Vincent-St. Mary senior defensive back Doran Grant have been selected to participate in the second Champion Gridiron Kings at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla., July 24-25.

The event features 65 of the best players in seven skill positions: quarterback, running back, tight end, wide receiver, linebacker, cornerback and safety.

Central Catholic hires baseball coach: Cleveland Central Catholic has hired Mario Houston as its new baseball coach.

Houston, an Edinboro graduate who owns his own business, spent the previous two seasons coaching St. Peter Chanel's team. He replaces Ken Detwiler, who is moving to Arizona.

Lorain City Schools sale: Lorain City Schools and the Lorain High Booster Club are holding a fundraiser sale Aug. 5. Among the items from the recently merged Admiral King and Southview athletic departments are uniforms, warmups, golf bags, signs and chairs. The sale will be in the Lorain High gym from 6 to 9 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults and $1 for students. Items will go to half price between 8 and 9 p.m.

Most everyone, it seems, has an opinion on what LeBron James will announce Thursday night on national television. Many aren't especially impressed about the way he's going about it.

Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer LeBron James: The look of someone who knows something.

Cleveland, Ohio -- So, Thursday night, LeBron James and ESPN will collaborate to let the world know where the NBA's two-time MVP will play basketball beginning this fall.

Will James stay with the Cavaliers or join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh with the Miami Heat? Other candidates to land James are the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets. The other team James met with last week, the Los Angeles Clippers, seemed themselves amused to be part of the conversation, with virtually no chance of getting James.

There is no shortage of opinion on what James will announce, nor on how he's conducting the process, choosing to cap it with an hour-long special after orchestrating the wait with his new twitter and website teasings.

As always, follow James and the Cavaliers on The Plain Dealer's cleveland.com website, specifically on cleveland.com/cavs.

Ian Thomsen writes for Sports Illustrated's SI.com one of the more common sentiments about James' pending nationally-televised decision:

If James is planning to leave his hometown, one of the cruelest ways to break the news would be via a one-hour TV special to celebrate his exit.
 
James has managed his image as well as any young NBA player since Michael Jordan. He has to understand how badly he would alienate fans not only throughout the country but also in his hometown if he were to abandon Cleveland in this way. For someone of his unique commercial standing, taking out an hour of live TV makes sense only if he's going to declare loyalty to his hometown and celebrate his desire above all else to win a championship for Cleveland. An announcement like this is meant to help James' image -- not damage him -- which is why I view it as a sign he'll remain with the Cavaliers.

Second that opinion

For the New York Post reporter Mike Vaccaro, James' ESPN show means this:

Mostly, it’s starting to feel like what LeBron wants most of all is to stay home. Let’s be very clear about something: If he’s gone to the trouble to reserve an hour on ESPN all so he can humiliate his hometown on national television and go elsewhere . . . well, maybe he won’t immediately become more detested than Tiger Woods in the pantheon of athletic shame (everywhere outside of his chosen city, of course), but he’ll run an awfully close second.

Sell the "brand"

The marketing of sports stars took off with Michael Jordan. Even then, it was nothing like now, writes Dan Le Batard for the Miami Herald:

Jordan was the first to really brand in basketball. But he gave birth to quite the monster, and his insatiable descendants appear to be gluttons. So Chris Bosh teases on Twitter, and Dwyane Wade hires a film crew to do a documentary as he flirts with fans, and LeBron James trumps them with a one-hour special Thursday night on ESPN to televise the merging of sports and entertainment in a way we've never quite seen before.

Cheap shot

Before getting to the point of his story, Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News delivers a low blow to Akron, James hometown:

Akron, Ohio is nobody's idea of an ideal summer destination, but this summer is a little bit different, as you might have heard.

Beautiful Akron is where the Knicks should be right now, with Amar'e Stoudemire in tow, helping to recruit LeBron James.

Here or there

A report from Adrian Wojnarowski and Marc J. Spears for Yahoo! Sports includes:

Said an official with one team that made a formal presentation to James: “It’s down to Cleveland or Miami for him.”

The three players shared a call after midnight on Wednesday, when Wade and Bosh told James they were committing to the Heat, a source said. James didn’t commit with them, but kept his own plans private for a television announcement on Thursday night. 

Elsewhere.....

Plain DealerRotary dial phones were still common when Michael Jordan (left), here going against the Cavaliers' Brad Daugherty, became a marketing giant.

LeBron James would have a tough time filling Michael Jordan's shoes, writes Lacy J. Banks for the Chicago Sun-Times.

Sean Deveney writes on SportingNews.com about ramifications of the Wade-Bosh pairing in Miami, including what it might mean about James' decision.

On CBSSports.com, Ken Berger writes about Miami's hopes of James joining Wade and Bosh.

J.A. Adande writes for ESPN.com about how James' and other free agency decisions are being made in the social networking era.

The New York Post's Mike Vaccaro gives another opinion on what James might do.

A "Dear LeBron" letter by Greg Cote of the Miami Herald asks James to join the Heat.

James is taking self-importance to a new level, writes Martin Fennelly of the Tampa Tribune. 

Fan survives fall as Indians suffer a 12-1 pasting in Texas.

View full sizeAssociated PressRangers fan Tyler Morris is in fair condition after falling from the upper deck at the Ballpark at Arlington trying to catch a foul ball in the Tribe's 12-1 loss to Texas.

The Texas Rangers added to their AL West lead and the Cleveland Indians slid lower into the AL East cellar. Not that it mattered. Evan Grant's Dallas Morning News account of Tuesday night's fall from the upper deck by a Rangers fan put everything in perspective.

The Rangers won a game Tuesday night in which C.J. Wilson allowed three hits, Andres Blanco got three hits and Joaquin Arias drove home four runs. And, really, none of that mattered.

During the fifth inning, a fan fell some 30 feet from the club concourse into the lower seating bowl while trying to catch a foul pop. It drew screams from the crowd of 20,428 fans and gasps from players who saw it. In the end, though, the fan may have escaped critical injury.

The fan fell while apparently trying to catch Nelson Cruz's foul pop. It's not clear if he was leaning over the low railing around the club seats or if he backed into it. But when he fell, he hit several people below. That may have helped save him.

"The preliminary indications are that it could have been a lot worse," Rangers President Nolan Ryan said after the game. "You are concerned for the fan and for the other people who were hurt during the fall. Our emergency personnel got there very quickly and got him stabilized. I'm very proud of that."

A Dallas TV station identified the man as a local firefighter, Tyler Morris. A spokesman for the Rangers said Morris was responsible and able to move all his extremities. He remained hospitalized at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth in fair condition, according to the hospital. A representative for the hospital said the family had requested privacy, so no details about Morris' injuries would be released.

'Scuse us for being cynical (which Starting Blocks is only willing to do because Morris survived), but no details will be released . . . until the press conference to announce the book tour and liability award.

Clubhouse reaction

Anthony Andro of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram talked to Indians and Rangers players about the fall.

Said (Indians pitcher Justin) Masterson, who saw the fall and thought it might have affected some of the players: "I'm sure in someway it did. It's not something you see at the ballpark, and you never want to again."

Said Indians manager Manny Acta. "It was just tough to watch. It didn't affect the outcome of the game at all, but I think the guys were pretty relieved when we got news that the guy was conscious and he was OK. I think everybody went back to normal when we got news that he was conscious because we were anticipating something worse. A fatality could have happened there, and you don't want to be a witness to it."

Said Rangers pitcher C.J. Wilson: "We're really relieved to hear that the guy who fell is OK and the people that were down there were OK. That's the weirdest think I've ever seen happen at a stadium. I'm just thankful I didn't see it. You saw how shook up a lot of the Indians guys were. Guys were covering their faces."

All-Star musings

Starting Blocks, just so you know, is one big worrier. Where do we find replacement bulbs for that light inside the dryer that was made when Eisenhower was a plebe at West Point? What happens to the post-Armageddon cockroaches after the last Twinkie is eaten? What kind of wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck COULD chuck wood, anyway?

Even with that, SB can't hold a candle to Jon, a blogger for waitingfornextyear.com.

He's petrified about Fausto Carmona pitching in the All-Star game in a relief role. Why? Let him tell it:

It was late July of 2006, and Mark Shapiro had just traded Bob Wickman to the Atlanta Braves, leaving the Indians with a hole in the back-end of the bullpen.

In all of his Wedgian Wisdom, the Grinder turned to a shy, 22 year-old rookie who barely spoke a word of English and had been with the team all of three months to assume the interim closer duties. And in a span of seven days . . . Fausto Carmona recorded four losses and three blown saves, shattering an otherwise promising young pitcher's confidence for the remainder of the season.

. . . We all know that the Indians have put the last two years into rebuilding Fausto's confidence, his delivery, his composure, his mound presence, his psyche. Where any of these things went is anyone's guess, but Fausto lost himself after that magical 2007. And guess how many relief appearances Fausto has had since that fateful 2006 stint as closer. None.

Until next week, that is. Since Shin-Soo Choo will not be available for the All-Star game due to injury, Fausto will represent the Cleveland Indians in Anahiem. If he pitches, it will be in a relief role, in a situation that he isn't used to, with gobs of media pressure, surrounded by players he doesn't know, and with a manager he's likely never spoken to before. And it makes me nervous.

It makes me nervous because I don't want to see Fausto fall apart again. . . . For me, only bad things can happen if he pitches. I suppose this is the essence of Cleveland Pessimism, but I can't help it.

Geez, dude. Lighten up. The last person who cared about the All-Star game was Pete Rose, and nobody got hurt when he . . .

Oops.

From The Plain Dealer

Plain Dealer beat writer Paul Hoynes had to endure the 12-1 shellacking and witness the frightening fall by the fan, but he also got a bit of possible good news: Star outfielder Shin-Soo Choo might not need surgery on his injured thumb after all.

Dr. Thomas Graham informed (the Indians) Tuesday that Choo might not need surgery on his sprained right thumb after examining the Indians' right fielder at Cleveland Clinic. It was speculated that Choo, placed on the disabled list Sunday, could miss six to eight weeks, but if he doesn't need surgery, he might be able to rejoin the Indians sooner.

Choo, who sprained the ulna collateral ligament in the thumb, must wear a splint for the next seven to 10 days to keep the thumb immobile. If the thumb shows improvement, Lonnie Soloff, Indians head athletic trainer, said Choo will go on an "aggressive" return program.

The account is in Hoynesie's Indians Insider column.

With Bosh and Wade in Miami, is LeBron considering joining Amar'e Stoudemire in New York?

Scott Shaw/The Plain DealerNBA free agent LeBron James leaves James A. Rhodes Arena on the Univeristy of Akron campus on July 7, 2010.

CLEVELAND -- There are still more than 24 hours to go, and rumors are flying that everybody but the Los Angeles Clippers still has a chance to land LeBron James. In this expanded version of The Rumor Mill, here are a few more comments, although my personal favorite observation is, "Everybody has an opinion, but nobody has a clue.''

 From Ken Berger, CBSSports.com senior writer, who used to work for AP in Cleveland:

"Upon first hearing of LeBron James' plan to announce his free-agent decision in a live TV special _ minus the American flags and yellow drapes from the Oval Office _ my first thought, after lifting my face up off my desk, was: Does this mean he's staying or leaving?

 "A logical way to examine the events of the past few days for LeBron is to consider the following: A re-launched web site, a new Twitter account that amassed more than 200,000 followers in a matter of hours and plans for an elaborate, one-hour TV announcement of his intentions can only mean one thing: James is saying good-bye. But I couldn't escape my gut feeling that there is no way James would put his hometown through such excruciating torture. The Curse of Rocky Colavito was born of no such cruelty. Not even Albert Belle, to my knowledge the most hated Cleveland sports figure to up and leave the Mistake by the Lake, would've done such a thing. And he was a far more loathsome public figure than anyone currently competing in the NBA.

 "So here is what I can report, based on conversations early Wednesday with an executive within the NBA who is directly involved in the tangled free agency web involving James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh _ a three-headed monster that literally shut down the previously brisk and uninhibited spending spree throughout the NBA on Tuesday: Chances are good that my gut feeling is right.

 "The executive, who has close ties to all three of the top free agents' inner circle of advisors, laid out the following as the most likely scenario heading into James' self-imposed 9 p.m. ET Thursday deadline to announce his plans: 1) James stays in Cleveland; 2) Wade stays in Miami; 3) Bosh joins Wade in Miami via a sign-and-trade.''

 
 From Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld.com:

  "In the last twenty-four hours, there have been lot of rumblings indicating that James could be leaning toward New York and the chance to revive the Knicks with Amar'e Stoudemire.

 "Several sources indicated that James' advisors Maverick Carter and Randy Mims could be traveling to New York on Wednesday and sources have hinted that James will be joining them for the trip. Sources also said that Carter and Mims have been picking the Knicks' brains for details and information on their salary cap and free agent plans over the past few days.

 "There have also been rumblings that the Knicks could be planning a large press conference for later this week. While the team should be officially announcing Stoudemire's five-year, $97 million contract signing, likely on Thursday, the scale of the event and extensive planning going into the press conferences indicates that something bigger may be happening in the Big Apple.

 "After being written off by the mainstream media throughout the free agency process, it appears that New York is still very alive in the LeBron sweepstakes. Many believe that the second meeting with New York and the addition of Amar'e Stoudemire to the Knicks' roster improved their pitch to the point that James could be leaning towards New York.

 "One source pointed out that Donnie Walsh is not a massive risk taker and that signing Stoudemire all by himself seemed out of character. The idea that James and Stoudemire are coming as a package deal makes more sense and lines up more with Walsh's approach.''

Politicans still have time for James. President Barack Obama reiterated he'd love to see James in a Bulls jersey, while Congressman Tim Ryan of Ohio started tweeting about James. His messages included, "King James brings $48 million to business in The Cleve and NEO; not only does he drive to the net, he drives the economy!'' and "Hoping King James will continue to serve as NEO Ambassador to US and world.''

As LeBron James announces where he'll play, this may be the biggest day in the 40-year history of the Cavaliers.

Joshua Gunter / The Plain DealerLeBron James will announce "The Decision" on ESPN Thursday night at 9.

AKRON, Ohio -- What LeBron James announces on Thursday will change everything for the Cavaliers, and their fans.

If James stays in Cleveland, the Cavs remain a legitimate contender. The last five years have been the best in the 40-year history of the Cavaliers. Having a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player under contract for several more seasons means the Cavs will be at least good enough to dream about winning a championship.

If he leaves, there is nothing owner Dan Gilbert and all of his millions can do to change the fact that Cavs are headed back to the middle of the NBA pack. They become a team battling for a playoff spot, lucky to advance to the second round.

With James, the Cavs sell out every home game and Cleveland is one of the biggest planets in the basketball universe.

Without James, the casual sports fan starts talking about when Browns’ training camp starts.

Former Cavalier Eric Snow once told me, "Everyone in the NBA either has The Guy, or is trying to get The Guy. In Cleveland, we have The Guy in LeBron."

That’s because one player makes a far more dramatic impact in basketball than nearly any other team sport. Only five play at a time, compared to nine in baseball, 22 (offense and defense) in football. No one has to wait their turn to bat, or for the ball to be hit in their direction in basketball.

James can take more shots and handle the ball more often than any of his teammates. He can play offense, defense and anything else he wants on the court.

The NBA is a star-driven league.

Every team with a star doesn’t win a title, but nearly every championship team has a superstar. Michael Jordan has six championship rings, Kobe Bryant is now chasing him with five. San Antonio’s Tim Duncan has four.

James has none ... for now.

But at the age of 25, you have to like his chances to win at least one with the Cavs or anywhere else in the next five years.

Jordan left the Bulls in 1998 with the last of his six titles. In the last 12 seasons, the Bulls have made the playoffs five times — only once have they survived the first round.

You either have The Guy or you don’t.

So the stakes are enormous for Gilbert and the Cavs. You can’t create another LeBron James.

But this is also critical to James.

While he can pledge his loyalty to his hometown of Akron and insist he’ll always help the place where he grew up, signing elsewhere will be viewed as a rejection by the fans in Northeast Ohio.

Nothing will compare with Art Modell moving the Browns to Baltimore in terms of sheer sports betrayal.

But James leaving at this point in his career would be No. 2 on the Cleveland broken hearts list.

This is not like the Indians players who left or forced trades because ownership here could not pay them what they could make elsewhere. NBA rules dictate that the Cavs can give him an extra year on his contract and at least $30 million in his pocket. It seems the Cavs have done everything reasonably possible to build a winner around him.

The recent assumption is James will join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami. That still seems doubtful because of the Heat not having that much salary cap room to pay all three players the maximum. Also, who controls the ball — Wade or James? Both have very similar styles of play.

The other hot team for James is supposed to be the Knicks, because New York recently signed Amare Stoudemire. One NBA executive (not with the Cavs) told me, "LeBron should be smarter than that. The Knicks are a team of smoke and mirrors with poor ownership and a style of play that doesn’t win in the playoffs. The Nets have a better basketball situation than the Knicks."

Chicago makes the most sense for James, in terms of talent. He’d play with Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Luol Deng. The Bulls do have a rookie coach in Tom Thibodeau and a history of splits between the coaches and the front office.

James knows the Cavs better than any other team. Over and over, the case has been made for him to stay home. If James actually stays, if he appears on national television and announces that he’s picking Cleveland and Northeast Ohio over Miami, New York, Chicago and anywhere else — it truly will cement his legacy as a local legend.

Is that a reality, or fantasy? Only James knows, but what he decides will say a lot about his priorities, and the future of the Cavs.

Author Adrian Wojnarowski slams diva actions of LeBron James and LRMR Marketing boss (and former James teammate) Maverick Carter.

View full sizePhil Long,
Special to The Plain DealerLeBron James, left, and his friend and former high school teammate, Maverick Carter (shown in 2002), draw the wrath of award-winning author Adrian Wojnarowski in his yahoo.com blog.

Cleveland, Ohio -- LeBron James has pretty much held Cleveland itself and the rest of the NBA hostage with his diva actions, according to Yahoo.com blogger Adrian Wojnarowski. The award-winning author heaps a Mount Everest pile of scorn on James' grandstanding, and especially that of Maverick Carter, CEO of LRMR Marketing.

James is throwing a few foosball tables at Boys & Girls Clubs, an empty gesture out of the empty superstar. He’s turned free agency into the title of our times, a preening pageant of fawning, begging and pleading. Hard-working people are dragged into municipalities and told to hold signs, chant scripted slogans and beg a diva who doesn’t care about them to accept a $100 million contract.

Privately, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh weren’t pleased on Wednesday morning with the belief that James’ camp was responsible for leaking their plans (to unite with the Miami Heat) to a television partner, but then again it makes perfect sense: This isn’t about Wade and Bosh choosing the Heat. It’s about LeBron getting the stage to himself on Thursday night.

That, Cavs fans, is about as easygoing as Wojnarowski gets in a well-crafted, well-worded, blistering rant.

"Well that was anticlimactic. Carlton should have announced it at 9 p.m. on ESPN this Thursday." - moseschrute

View full sizeGus Chan | The Plain DealerThe Browns and Tom Heckert got another draft pick into the fold with the signing of Carlton Mitchell.

In response to the story Cleveland Browns agree to four-year deal with rookie receiver Carlton Mitchell, cleveland.com reader moseschrute thinks the Browns draft pick went about announcing his deal all wrong. This reader writes,

"Well that was anticlimactic. Carlton should have announced it at 9 p.m. on ESPN this Thursday."

Spain outplayed Germany yet again. And now the Spanish have the biggest prize of all within their sights.

View full sizeAP Photo | Hassan AmmarSpain's Carles Puyol is hidden by celebrating teammates after scoring their first goal during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between Germany and Spain at the stadium in Durban, South Africa.

DURBAN, South Africa (AP) — Spain outplayed Germany yet again.

And now the Spanish have the biggest prize of all within their sights.

Spain will play for the World Cup title for the very first time, thanks to Carles Puyol's goal on a powerful header in the second half Wednesday night. The 1-0 victory was the same score as the European Championship final two years ago, which Spain won to end a 44-year major title drought.

But while the European title is nice, nothing compares to being the world champ.

"This is one of the greatest moments for Spain, for us to be in the final of the World Cup, it's history," said David Villa, who remains tied with the Netherlands Wesley Sneijder for tournament scoring leader at five goals. "And we want to make more history in the final."

Somebody will.

Spain faces the Netherlands on Sunday at Soccer City in Johannesburg, ensuring a first-time champion. The Dutch, who beat Uruguay 3-2 on Tuesday night, have lost in their only two trips to the final. The two teams have never met in the World Cup.

When the final whistle sounded, the Spanish players on the field thrust their arms in the air while the substitutes raced onto the field. Two teammates grabbed Villa, who has scored all but two of Spain's goals here, and carried him on their shoulders.

In the stands, Spanish fans partied deep into the night, waving flags, banging on drums and singing chorus after chorus of "Ole! Ole! Ole!"

"We worked hard to get here and now we have made the final," Villa said. "It's a great thing."

For Germany, it's yet another disappointment. The three-time champs were making their third straight trip to the World Cup semifinals. Yet just like in 2006, they are headed for the third-place game.

Captain Philipp Lahm was in tears as he watched Spain celebrate. Bastian Schweinsteiger was on his knees for several minutes, and not even a consoling pat on the back from Puyol helped.

The Germans retooled their team after the Euros loss in Vienna, bringing in youngsters such as Mesut Oezil, Sami Khedira and goal-scoring machine Thomas Mueller, who was suspended against Spain after picking up a second yellow card in the quarters. The newcomers infused Germany with a speed and smoothness few other teams could match, and it rolled over old rivals England and Argentina by a combined score of 8-1.

But there's something about Spain that brings out the worst in the Germans, and they looked as if they were back in Vienna for much of the night.

Those counterattacks that were so devastating against England and Argentina never really materialized, and the midfield spacing that had been so impressive was almost nonexistent.

Then again, making opponents look bad is becoming Spain's trademark.

Spain has been the best team in Europe — all the world, really — for much of the last four years. It's lost all of two games since November 2006, one a shocker to Switzerland in the group-stage opener. With all but two of the starting lineup playing for either Barcelona or Real Madrid, the Spanish play with a seamlessness and fluidity that's almost intuitive.

Granted, Spain hasn't had its usual polish in South Africa, with injuries taking a big toll. Fernando Torres, normally so devastating offensively, is still struggling to recover from knee surgery in April, and was dropped from the starting lineup Wednesday night. Cesc Fabregas played all of two games before the World Cup after breaking a bone in his leg in March.

But with the World Cup title so close — not to mention Queen Sofia on hand — the Spanish came through with their best game yet.

"We've shown that in the big moments we can grow even more," Villa said. "We should have scored more goals, but one from Puyol has put us in the final."

They dominated possession the entire night, and they peppered Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer so many times that a goal seemed inevitable.

Finally, they did.

Xavi swung a corner kick right into the scrum in front of Neuer in the 73rd minute. With fellow defender — and Barcelona teammate — Gerard Pique next to him and screening Neuer's view, Puyol leaped up and got the ball. He gave one mighty swing of his head, his long curls flying. Neuer dove to his left, but had no chance to stop the ball as it thundered into the net.

The Spanish players gathered for a group hug at the edge of the box, bouncing up and down and rubbing each other's heads as Lukas Podolski barked at his teammates in frustration.

"From defense through to attack I think we played a great game," Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said. "We've got another game in front of us, let's see if we are able to control the ball. We're in good shape physically, so let's see if we can win."

Bulls would still like to sign LeBron James, but the deal with Boozer means they'd have to do some salary cap-related maneuvering to have the space for James.

Matt Slocum, Associated PressCarlos Boozer will add scoring and rebounding, along with erratic defense, to the Chicago Bulls.

The Chicago Bulls will not be shut out in the free agency sweepstakes, apparently. And, their hand could be strengthened in their hopes of luring LeBron James as they have agreed to a contract with Carlos Boozer.

To get James too, though, Chicago would have to do some inventive maneuvering to create the necessary salary cap space for him.

The Chicago pact with Boozer is according to an ESPN report that cites NBA sources. Boozer, a high-statistical producer in the scoring and rebounding categories, is a 6-8 power forward who has played the last six years with the Utah Jazz. He left the Cavaliers, allegedly after a wink-and-nod agreement to stay with them, after playing his first two years in Cleveland.

An ESPN.com report includes:

Carlos Boozer is the latest domino to fall, agreeing to a five-year, $80 million contract with the Chicago Bulls, a source close to the negotiations told ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher on Wednesday.

Boozer follows agreements by premier free agents Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami, Amare Stoudemire with the Knicks and Joe Johnson in Atlanta.

The Bulls are still in the running for LeBron James, who is going to make an announcement Thursday on ESPN. But Chicago would have to do some creative financing to fit the superstar under the cap after this deal.

Sportscaster Jim Gray -- hand-picked by James' associates -- will handle the introduction, announcement and questions.

Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer LeBron James at his basketball camp on the University of Akron campus.

LeBron James is expected to announce what NBA team he will sign with by about 9:10 Thursday night, early in the hour-long special that will be televised live by ESPN.

ESPN.com also reports the location from where James will talk:

James will announce his future NBA plans within the first 10 minutes of the 9 p.m. ET special, ESPN said.

Norby Williamson, ESPN's vice president of production, said Wednesday that sportscaster Jim Gray will handle the introduction, announcement and questions. Gray was hand-picked by James' team, who approached the network last week about the special -- -- Williamson said.

Gray and James will be at the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich, Conn., where the interview will take place, ESPN said. The broadcast also will include a long-form interview with ESPN's Michael Wilbon and others via satellite from ESPN's studios in Bristol, Conn.

The Cavaliers hope to keep James, but the Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls and New Jersey Nets are also hopeful of signing the two-time NBA MVP.

The memory of venerable Plain Dealer handicapper George Lewis will be remembered Saturday when the field for the $50,000 Lewis Memorial charges from the starting gate at Thistledown.

NORTH RANDALL, Ohio -- There are long-time race trackers sprinkled throughout the grandstand each racing day at Thistledown who can fondly remember favorite race horses and jockeys of a half-century ago. A precious few can recall the top handicappers from back then, George Lewis of The Plain Dealer and Isi Newborn of the Cleveland Press.

The memory of "Lonesome George," as my father called his old friend, surfaces every year about this time as Thistledown honors his memory with the $50,000 George Lewis Memorial race. This year's event is Saturday.

Lewis was eccentric, a standout among a collection of characters that included announcer Alan Drake, publicists Van Lane and Paul Wilcox, flamboyant mutuel clerk Junior O'Malley and Lewis's handicapping rival, Newborn.

Newborn's fame came from picking long shots in the Kentucky Derby. Newborn would take a pocket full of cash to Churchill Downs, given to him by friends wanting to bet his pick -- and not knowing who'd they bet until the selection made print.

Lewis never went to the Kentucky Derby, but could name every Kentucky Derby winner going back to 1875. He felt it was his duty to stay home and keep the Thistledown fans informed.

Lewis almost always picked more winners than other newspaper handicappers. In 1976, he had at least one winner in 199 straight racing cards. Lewis picked his first winners in 1924 as a 19-year-old reporter for the Cleveland Times, moving to The Plain Dealer in 1929.

My father, Gail Egan, worked in the Thistledown and Northfield Park publicity offices before he died in 1976. He would take me to the Thistledown press box, high above the grandstand, where Lewis poured over thousands of filing cards kept in long metal cases. There was no advance racing form then, so for five to six hours each day, Lewis kept meticulous records on every horse racing at the track.

"In those days, they would finalize entries the morning of the races," said Bob Roberts, a handicapper at the Cleveland Press and The Plain Dealer. "Ohio Derby-winning jockey Tony Rini -- he won with Our Native in 1973 -- is now a Thistle trainer. He was one of the leading riders in those days and would often be listed to ride two or three horses in a single race.

"Rini said he wouldn't decide which horse to ride until he'd seen George's picks in the morning paper. If George picked him to win on a certain horse, that's the one he'd ride."

I was the Northfield Park handicapper late in Lewis's career. Because of a death in the family, Lewis wanted a few days off in 1973. On my first afternoon, aided by the real handicapper in the family, I notched eight winners. The next day, I added seven more.

On the third day, Lewis cut short his leave and was back on the job. He hated to see "a kid" stealing his thunder.

Lewis swore he'd never retire, that "they'll have to cut the uniform off me."

He fell ill in the summer of 1978 and died almost a month later. At 73, he had spent 54 years watching horses race on ovals such Thistledown and Randall, Ascot Park in Akron and the short-lived Maple Heights race track, where the first Ohio Derby was held in 1924. Black Gold won it.

The next season, Thistledown took over Cleveland's horse racing, the Ohio Derby and found a press box chair for a handicapper named George Lewis.

Another old-timer: Catlaunch is at an age when retirement should be looming, but the nine-year-old thoroughbred is still a powerhouse winner for Scioto Farms. Ohio's Horse of the Year in 2008, Catlaunch is the early favorite in the $50,000 Lewis Memorial on Saturday, trying to add to his Thistledown total of 12 wins in 29 starts and $400,055. He has won 32 of 77 in his career, and $782,054.

Catlaunch is looking to repeat in the Lewis Memorial, a 1 1/8-mile event. In the nine horse field are Pyrite Personal, third a year ago, and Sneak A Cold Treat, who won the 2009 Best of Ohio Endurance.

Northfield star: It was expected that the tough, older pacers such as Foiled Again and Won The West would be the horses to beat last Saturday in the $100,000 Battle of Lake Erie. Frank Azur's Hypnotic Blue Chip ($8.60), a four-year-old still considered a youngster, left both in his dust in the final quarter-mile for a five-length margin of victory in 1:49.4. That tied the Northfield Park track mark for age and gait.

Won The West was second, with Foiled Again third after leading much of the way.

Tuesdays are back: Tuesday night live racing is back at Northfield Park, and will be part of the harness racing scene through the end of the year. Both Northfield and Thistledown now offer live racing on Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday through August.

Merriman recovering: North America's top harness racing driver, Northfield Park regular Aaron Merriman of Macedonia, was very badly injured in a crash at The Meadows last month. He's facing a lot of healing and rehabilitation, but can't stay away from the races. He said at trackside on Saturday night he can't wait to get back in a sulky, but knows it won't happen any time soon.

Merriman had such a large lead in the North America driving standings that he's still on top, a month later, with 355 victories. That's a 25-win lead over second-place George Napolitano Jr. Merriman, who broke both wrists and shattered an elbow, is consulting with Cleveland Clinic specialists again this week. He hopes to get the casts removed from both arms soon.

Dan Charlino is challenging Merriman for the Northfield lead, ringing up nine wins in 12 outings on the 13-race card on July 2. Charlino now has 204 wins at Northfield, 17 behind Merriman.

Ohio Derby hopefuls: The $75,000 Cleveland Gold Cup was a thriller last Saturday. The trainers of the top three finishers -- Thata's a Heckofacat, Nehru and Busha' -- are considering taking advantage of free nominations for the $100,000 Ohio Derby on July 31.

"All three said they would keep their options open," said Director of Racing William Couch.

Northfield news: Helping to fill the stands at Northfield Park on Saturday night was a $10,000 giveaway, with 13 in attendance assigned a horse in the 13th race. The race winner, Unknown Soldier, won it all for long-time Northfield fan Diane Dylong. The other 12 fans won $100 each.

Browns rookie Joe Haden intends to be in camp on time, his agent says

John Kuntz / The Plain DealerBrowns rookie cornerback Joe Haden plans to be in training camp on time.

CLEVELAND -- The agent for Browns No. 1 pick Joe Haden said he expects his cllient to be signed in time for the start of training camp later this month.

"We've been in contact with the Browns and expect to begin negotiating next week,'' said agent Malik Shareef. "Our main objective is to get Joe in camp on time so he can perform to the best of his abilities. A holdout would not be in anyone's best interests.''

Haden, the No. 7 overall pick out of Florida, worked with the first- and second-teams during organized team activities and minicamp. He will compete with Sheldon Brown for a starting spot opposite Eric Wright, but figures to play a key role in sub-defenses.

Rookies report to Berea the last week in July and veterans take the field on July 31st.

Butler guard has been willing to share his experience on choosing a college with the high school campers at the LeBron James Skills Academy.

Michael Conroy / Associated PressA trip to the NCAA championship game was a thrill for Butler's Shelvin Mack, but the Bulldogs' guard says his happiness with the school goes beyond just wins and tournament berths.

AKRON, Ohio -- Butler guard Shelvin Mack could have gone to play in the SEC, going against the likes of Alabama, LSU and Tennessee for his hometown Kentucky Wildcats. However, the Bulldogs fit the way he wanted to play, and the school fit his profile for getting a college education.

Four years later, Mack has no regrets. He has been willing to share his experience with the high school campers at the LeBron James Skills Academy who are in the process of making a decision of their own.

"It was a great decision," said the guard who helped lead the Bulldogs to the championship game of the 2010 NCAA Tournament.

"A lot of kids get caught up in the hype, the name of the schools and all that. But I was looking at who was graduating, who they were recruiting, and who was coming in. Going to Butler, I knew they were graduating [two starters]. I knew I could come in and have an opportunity to play as a freshman.

"I played 30 minutes a game as a freshman, which is hard to do these days. Also, I looked at their system. The point guards get a pick every play. It's set up for guards to make plays. That fit my game perfectly."

Mack acknowledged that not many players look closely at team's systems when being recruited. They can tell if a team plays fast or slow, inside or outside, but beyond that, few know much about the system they are considering.

"I don't think people look at that like they should," Mack said. "They look at the numbers on TV, and the style, but not really the system. A couple of high school kids here asked me about [making a college decision]. I told them to watch as much film as they can to see if their style fits."

Mack also said to pay close attention to not just the majors being offered, but the classes.

"I'm taking summer classes now, and there are six people in my class," he said. "I've talked to some of the players here, and they're taking classes with 300 people. I had a class earlier this year with 80 people, and it was hard for me to stay focused in classes like that. I think having one-on-one time with the professors made Butler a great fit for me."

Mark J. Terrill / Associated PressDuke's Kyle Singler doesn't rest on the laurels of an NCAA title and has been a regular participant in the James Skills Academy.

No coasting during summer: Of all the college athletes at the camp, the one with arguably the least to prove was Duke's Kyle Singler. He could have been a NBA lottery pick this year had he chosen to leave school. But he returned for his senior season.

After a long regular season, and with another on the horizon to defend Duke's national title, one couldn't begrudge Singler a summer on the beach. Instead, he was sweating bullets in Rhodes Arena.

"I've been here every year since I was a freshman in college," he said. "I love it. Every time I come I have learned something new.

"I was home for a while in May. Those [beach] things sound nice, but so does basketball to me, and to a lot of these other guys. This is one of the things we enjoy doing. It shows how much we love the game."

All day hoops: The King City Classic begins Thursday at Cleveland State's Wolstein Center. The high school players at the Akron camp move to CSU for games witnessed by college coaches from around the country. Game times are 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Admission is $5.

This n' that: St. Vincent-St. Mary forward JaKarr Sampson said the correct spelling of his first name is with a capital 'K.'

If the talent level appears a bit thin this year, it is. Six of the top seven players on both Rivals.com Top 100 and Scouthoops.com Top 100 are not here.

As James ponders his future, it's more than about the current roster. It's about ownership, coaching and the relentless desire to win.

Mark Duncan / Associated PressStan Van Gundy is among the NBA's old-school observers who doesn't believe LeBron James will be playing for anyone other than the Cavaliers this fall. As for Thursday's 60-minute TV event? "Look, the guy's a great player and wherever he goes, my bet would be Cleveland, that place will be excited. But an hour-long special?"

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Scribbles in my notebook while waiting for LeBron James to pick a team...

1. If LeBron James remains in Cleveland and wins a title, it will be a monumental event in this town's sports history. First ever for the Cavs, first of any major sports team since the 1964 Browns. If he goes to Chicago and wins one, then he's five behind Michael Jordan. In New York, it's always "what have you done for me lately." I don't buy James and Dwyane Wade together in Miami for one second.

2. When new Cavs coach Byron Scott talked about the special feeling of winning a title with his hometown Lakers, you could see his eyes grow wide, his emotions rise. It was a long time ago, but it's still fresh to Scott. As James ponders his future, it's more than about the current roster. It's about ownership, coaching and the relentless desire to win. Of all the teams contending for James, no one has a greater financial investment in winning a title than Dan Gilbert, especially with him opening a casino downtown and his other business interests.

3. With all the hype over free agency, there's a sense that most of the major players are changing teams. So far, only Chris Bosh probably left more money on the table -- unless the Heat pull a surprise and work a sign-and-trade with Toronto. Had Bosh approved a sign-and-trade between the Cavs and Toronto, he'd have received $30 million more than if he signs with Miami as a free agent.

4. Dwyane Wade? Stayed in Miami for the extra cash. Joe Johnson turned down the Knicks and others for $30 million more to stay in Atlanta. Also remaining with their current teams are Kobe Bryant (Lakers), Paul Pierce (Celtics), Dirk Nowitzki (Mavericks), Rudy Gay (Memphis) and Channing Frye (Phoenix). All will receive more money to stay put than they could find on the open market.

5. What about Amare Stoudemire leaving the Suns for the Knicks? Because of his injury history, the Suns were not willing to offer a maximum contract. The Knicks came by with the most cash. The same with Carlos Boozer leaving Utah for Chicago. Cavs fans know Boozer is not about to go somewhere for less money. NBA leading scorer Kevin Durant was a year away from free agency. He quietly agreed for a five-year extension with Oklahoma City, keeping him under contract until 2016.

6. So what does this have to do with James? For all the talk that players have about wanting to win, when it's free agent time, nearly all follow the money. If he does re-sign with Cleveland, let's hope James gives the Cavs more than three years so they can do a better job of building around him long term -- as opposed to trading draft picks and salary cap space to win right now. But if he only wants a three-year deal, of course the Cavs sign him.

7. The ESPN special announcing his decision makes me feel about 188 years old. As do the cameras which followed Wade and Bosh as they made several stops across the country to meet with teams. Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy told Tania Ganguli of the Orlando Sentinel: "It takes 15 seconds to say I've decided to stay in Cleveland but we've got another 59 minutes and 45 seconds to, what? Promote LeBron James? As if we don't do that enough. Look, the guy's a great player and wherever he goes, my bet would be Cleveland, that place will be excited. But an hour-long special?"

8. More Van Gundy: "I've always thought LeBron is going back to Cleveland. I just think this free agent thing has been a masterful publicity opportunity for all of them. They've done a great job of creating more interest in this brand. If Wade just comes right out and says I'm going back to Miami, he can't get a film crew to follow him around to do that. Bosh had to make it look like he considered all these teams. ... If [LeBron] went anywhere but Cleveland I'd be shocked, but I'd be doubly shocked if he went to Miami. [Wade and James] both want to be the man."

The teams trying to sign LeBron James went to bed Wednesday night in the same position as his fans: in the dark about his future.

Scott Shaw / The Plain DealerWith former teammate Damon Jones alongside, LeBron James left his Nike camp for high-school and college basketball players Wednesday afternoon with most of the NBA counting down the hours until his Thursday night announcement.

• Biggest day in Cavs history: Pluto | Scribbles
• Scott visits camp | Bulls add Boozer | Heat still wants LBJ
• Windhorst's tweets | More on LeBron, Cavs

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The teams trying to sign LeBron James went to bed Wednesday night in the same position as his fans: in the dark about his future.

Thursday night, James will announce his free agent decision on ESPN in a prime-time special the network is branding "The Decision." ESPN executives said the plan was for James to reveal his selection in the first 10 minutes of the show. It will be followed by a series of interviews and small features.

James will make the announcement from a Boys and Girls Club in Greenwich, Conn. Sources said that the location, just outside New York City and a short distance from the Knicks' practice facility in Westchester, is not an indication of James' choice. Part of the reason for the selection was the proximity of the club to ESPN's headquarters in Bristol, Conn.

Some of the proceeds from the ads sold during the hour-long program will be donated to the Boys and Girls Club, James' manager Maverick Carter said.

While the show promises to deliver massive ratings with fans in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles all tuning in, it is possible that the suspense will be felt in many front offices, too. Multiple sources said Wednesday that James has not told any of the six teams who met with him last week of his intentions and, in theory, all are still in the race.

James wasn't giving any hints Wednesday, working out at his Nike camp at the University of Akron without talking to the media for a third consecutive day. James also spent time at his old high school, St. Vincent-St. Mary, and a park where he spent time as a boy to film videos for his Web site.

During the workout, new Cavs coach Byron Scott came to see James but did not speak to him. As he left, Scott said his fingers were crossed and he was hopeful.

All the tension with so little information and virtually no leaks from James' camp led to plenty of speculation and a fresh wave of rumors. The only thing clear is that two years of uncertainty will finally come to an end.

There is a feeling among executives in the league that James' top choices are down to the Chicago Bulls and Cavaliers. The Miami Heat are also an option, especially after they secured commitments from both Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. According to various reports, James, Wade and Bosh spoke about their decisions early Wednesday.

Despite the location of the meeting, the Knicks are still believed to be the dark horse.

To help their cause, the Bulls also made a move of their own on Wednesday. They got a free-agent commitment from former Cav Carlos Boozer, locking him up to a five-year deal worth a reported $75 million. The Bulls left just enough salary cap space to add James at the maximum salary.

The Bulls now have All-Stars Derrick Rose and Boozer plus rising center Joakim Noah that they can offer James.

The Knicks' case is built on Amar'e Stoudemire, who will sign a five-year, $96 million deal Friday and was using his Twitter account to appeal to James on Wednesday.

Adding to all of it, the NBA released the official salary cap numbers Wednesday night. The cap came in at $58 million, two million higher than teams were expecting. It gave the Heat some additional cap space and got them closer to getting the three maximum salary slots they have been dreaming about to add James to their free agent haul.

The numbers made the choices James had clear. If he signs with the Cavs for the full max, he can make $125 million over the next six years. If he signs with the another team, he could sign for five years and about $96 million.

Mitch Talbot lost his fourth game in the last five starts as the Indians went 1-2 at Texas. Manager Manny Acta was ejected for the first time as Indians skipper.

Tony Gutierrez / Associated PressJayson Nix (left) is welcomed at the Indians' dugout by Travis Hafner after slugging his fourth home run of the Tribe's three-game series against the Rangers on Thursday night.

ON DECK: INDIANS AT TAMPA BAY RAYS
When: Thursday through Sunday.
Where: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Fla.
TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio (all days) and WKYC Ch. 3 Saturday; WTAM AM/1100.
Pitching matchups: RHP Jake Westbrook (5-4, 4.59 ERA) vs. RHP Wade Davis (5-9, 4.86) at 7:10 Thursday; RHP Fausto Carmona (7-7, 3.69) vs. RHP James Shields (7-8, 4.83) at 7:10 p.m. Friday; LHP Aaron Laffey (1-2, 5.18) vs. RHP Matt Garza (9-5, 4.30) at 7:10 p.m. Saturday; and RHP Justin Masterson (3-8, 5.22) vs. RHP Jeff Niemann (7-2, 2.65) at 1:40 p.m. Sunday.
Season series: The Indians are 0-2 against the Rays this year. They lead, 65-31, overall.
Indians update: They enter the series having won seven of their past 11 games. On the road, however, they’ve lost 10 of 13. Carmona went 6.2 innings against the Rays on May 17 in a no-decision that the Indians lost on a squeeze bunt in the 11th inning. Jhonny Peralta had four hits in the two-game series.
Rays update: Tampa took a four-game winning streak into Wednesday night’s game against Boston. The Rays are hitting .289 as a team against the Tribe. Niemann scattered 10 hits, but allowed only three runs in a six-inning no-decision against the Tribe on May 17.
Injuries: Indians — OF Shin-Soo Choo (right thumb), RHP Anthony Reyes (right elbow), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (broken left forearm) and CF Grady Sizemore (left knee) are on the disabled list. 1B Matt LaPorta (head) is day to day. Rays — LHP J.P. Howell (left shoulder) is on the disabled list.
Next for Indians: The All-Star break. Indians resume play July 16 against the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field.
— Paul Hoynes

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The All-Star break is coming just in time for Mitch Talbot.

Talbot has been one of the biggest rookie surprises in the American League this year, but he may need a rest. Talbot lost for the fourth time in his last five starts Wednesday night as Texas came-from-behind to beat the Indians, 4-3, at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

The Indians acquired Talbot from Tampa Bay over the winter in exchange for Kelly Shoppach. Talbot, caught in a logjam of talented Rays' pitching, pitched only 68 1/3 innings last season because of right shoulder and right elbow problems.

In his final start before the break, Talbot went 5 2/3 innings against the Rangers to bring his first half total to 108 1/3 innings. Before this season, he'd never pitched more than 9 2/3 innings in the big leagues and never more than 170 2/3 in a season.

Talbot (8-7, 3.99) entered the game leading AL rookie pitchers in victories, ERA, innings pitched, winning percentage and complete games. The Rangers worked him over for four runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings.

In his last five starts, Talbot is 1-4 with a 4.99 ERA. He's allowed 17 earned runs on 32 hits in 30 2/3 innings.

Talbot entered the fifth with a 3-1 lead. He gave up an infield single to shortstop by Julio Borbon. After wild pitching Borbon to second, Michael Young homered to right center to make it a 3-3 game. Young, trying to give the Rangers five All-Stars via the fans internet vote, hit a 0-1 pitch for his 11th homer.

The Indians had a chance to break the tie when Shelly Duncan started the sixth with a double past third. Colby Lewis, who spent the last two years pitching in Japan, didn't let that happen. He threw a called third strike past Trevor Crowe, retired Andy Marte on a fly ball to left and struck out Jason Donald.

Lewis (8-5, 3.33) is 2-0 against the Indians this year. He's held them to four runs over 11 1/3 innings.

Unlike the Indians, the Rangers didn't fan on their chance to break the tie.

Matt Treanor, with two out in the sixth, doubled to the wall in left. Talbot walked switch-hitting Andres Blanco, but gave up the game-winning single to Borbon. Joe Smith relieved. He walked Elvis Andrus to load the bases, but retired Young to escape the jam.

The early part of the game belonged to Jayson Nix. Yes, he did it again for the Tribe.

Nix homered for fourth time in this three-game series to pull the Indians into a 1-1 tie in the fourth. It was Nix's fifth homer in the last five games. He hit one with the White Sox to give him six for the season.

Before the game, the former No.1 pick of the Colorado Rockies said he's never been given a chance to play every day in the big leagues. The Indians, who have struggled to find a second baseman since trading Brandon Phillips, are giving him just such a chance.

"The power has always been there," said manager Manny Acta, before Wednesday's game. "He hit double digit in homers (12) with the White Sox last year. You never know what can happen.

"It's all about being in the right time in the right place."

Carlos Santana followed Nix's homer with a double off Lewis. Jhonny Peralta delivered him with a single to left field for a 2-1 lead.

The Indians stretched the lead to 3-1 in the fifth. Michael Brantley singled with one out, took second on a Lewis wild pitch and scored with two out when Andres Blanco couldn't handle Travis Hafner's grounder to second.

After Lewis' six-inning performance, the Texas bullpen stopped the Indians cold. Alexi Ogando pitched two scoreless innings and Neftali Feliz worked the ninth. Acta was ejected during Donald's at-bat in the ninth by first base umpire Tim Timmons for protesting a checked-swing strike by Timmons.

It was Acta's first ejection as an Indians manager and just his third in the big leagues.

Felix, who almost gave up a game-tying homer to Andy Marte, walked Donald with two out. He retired Brantley on a fly ball to left for his 23rd save.

The Indians continue to be cautious with Matt LaPorta, who suffered a head injury in Monday's game. He was held out of his second straight game Wednesday against Texas.

UPDATED: 11:37 p.m.

Tony Gutierrez / Associated PressTexas shortstop Elvis Andrus stretches out to catch a pop fly hit by the Indians' Travis Hafner during the fourth inning of Thursday's game at Arlington, Texas.

INDIANS CHATTER
Clubhouse confidential: Manny Acta defended Fausto Carmona’s trip to the All-Star Game despite a 7-7 record and 3.69 ERA in 16 starts.
“A lot of people will look at his numbers,” said Acta. “They might not look very pretty for an All-Star, but this is not golf. This is a team effort and he’s done his part.
“You can’t blame him. For the first month and a half or so of the season, if we had played better baseball behind him, or gave him more run support, he could be sitting here with 11 or 12 wins. Who knows?”

Slam time: The Yankees have hit nine grand slams this year. It’s the most ever hit by a team before the All-Star break.
Three other teams, according to Elias, had eight before the break: the 2000 A’s, the 2005 Red Sox and the 2006 Indians.

Stat of the day: The average age of the players on the Indians’ 25-man roster is 27.89 years. It’s the second youngest roster in the big leagues next to Arizona, which has an average age of 27.70.
— Paul Hoynes

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Matt LaPorta, one of the Indians' hottest hitters, was out of the lineup for the second straight game Wednesday following a collision at first base Monday.

It's not certain when LaPorta will play again. Manager Manny Acta said "it's in the hands of the medical team. We want to give him as much time as is needed."

Trainer Lonnie Soloff said the Indians have to do "serial" testing on LaPorta to make sure he didn't suffer a concussion after getting accidentally elbowed in the head by Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus. LaPorta was temporarily rendered unconscious on the play.

"I feel fine," said LaPorta before Wednesday's game, "but with a head injury you have to be cautious."

LaPorta went through one test Tuesday. He said he was going to go through some aerobic testing Wednesday to raise his heart rate and blood pressure to see how he responded.

The Indians open a four-game series against Tampa Bay Thursday night at Tropicana Field. LaPorta might not be cleared to play until Friday or Saturday. He's hitting .333 (10-for-30) with four homers and nine RBI since being recalled from Class AAA Columbus on June 27.

Andy Marte started at first base for the second straight night in LaPorta's absence.

After the fall: Firefighter Tyler Morris was listed in "fair condition" at John Peter Hospital on Wednesday after falling out of the second deck Tuesday night at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Morris, from Crawford, Texas, suffered a fractured skull and ankle in the fall, according to MLB.com.

Morris was trying to catch a foul ball in the fifth inning when he lost his balance and fell over the rail. He tried to catch himself on the luxury box below the second deck, but was unsuccessful.

Four other people were injured when Morris landed in the seats behind the Texas dugout. Play was stopped for 16 minutes as paramedics tended to Morris and took him to the hospital, which is in Fort Worth.

Rangers President Nolan Ryan visited Morris on Wednesday morning. He told MLB.com that Morris was a "lifelong Ranger" fan and was in good spirits. Ryan gave Morris the foul ball he was trying to catch off the bat of Texas outfielder Nelson Cruz. A fan gave it to an usher who passed it along to the Rangers.

"He was thrilled to get [the baseball] as much as anything," Ryan told MLB.com. The four people injured in Morris' fall were treated at the ballpark.

SportsTime Ohio, which carries Indians games, filmed Morris' fall, but chose not to show it.

Ryan said the rails on the upper deck meet code specifications.

Good find: Jayson Nix, claimed on waivers on June 24 from the White Sox, hit his fifth homer as an Indian in the fourth inning Wednesday. The homer came in his 40th at-bat with Cleveland, meaning he's hitting a homer every eight at-bats.

Somebody should call Cooperstown if Nix continues that pace, but he's certainly put himself in the Indians' plans. Perhaps they've found a starting second baseman if Jason Donald, Luis Valbuena, Cord Phelps and Jason Kipnis aren't ready or need more time in the minors.

Nix might also be an alternative at third base depending if/when the Indians and Jhonny Peralta part company.

Scouting report: Here's what Jeff Johnson, head baseball coach at Chipola Junior College, had to say about LeVon Washington, the Indians' second-round pick in the June draft.

"Jose Bautista played here and I think LeVon has more ability than him," said Johnson. "I think he can be an All-Star."

Bautista is currently leading the AL with 21 homers for Toronto.

"Levon has great bat speed and running ability," said Johnson. "This was his first year in center field and his routes and jumps really improved toward the end of the year. He's still raw to the game. He hasn't played that much baseball."

Tampa Bay drafted Washington last year in the first round, but he didn't sign. The Indians have until Aug. 16 to sign him.

Finally: In the first two games of the Indians-Texas series, seven batters were hit by pitches. Austin Kearns was hit three times Monday. "We don't have any animosity with them," said Acta. "We get a long just fine. Kearns was hit three times, but two of them barely grazed him." Acta said three players were hit on the foot with breaking balls. "You have to have really good command of a breaking ball to hit a guy in a foot," said Acta, tongue-in-cheek. "You must not have anything to write about. You know there's a lot of oil in the ocean."

In nine starts at AA Akron and eight at Advanced A Kinston, the right-handed White has allowed just 69 hits in 97 innings.

Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer Alex White has a combined 5-7 record -- but a 2.23 ERA -- at Kinston and Akron this season.

FARM REPORT

AAA Columbus Clippers

Mud Hens 6, Clippers 4: Columbus 1B Jordan Brown (.301) had three hits, 2B Josh Rodriguez (.342) had two hits, and DH Luis Valbuena (.302) homered Wednesday but the Clippers dropped the International League game to visiting Toledo.

Notes: RH starter Carlos Carrasco is 7-3 with a 4.38 ERA. He's been hurt by the long ball, giving up 15 home runs in 96 2/3 innings. ... Going into Wednesday night's game, 2B Luis Valbuena was batting .300 (12-for-40) with two doubles, one triple and two home runs since being sent down by the Indians. ... 3B Jared Goedert (.324) had 12 homers in just 111 at bats -- one per every 9.25 at bats -- since being promted from Akron. He also had 12 doubles and 27 RBI. ... LF Jordan Brown (.291) had 38 RBI in just 182 at bats.

AA Akron Aeros

Aeros 10, Thunder 2: Akron 1B Matt McBride (.271) had four hits, including his 11th home run of the season, and five RBI to lead the Aeros to the Eastern League win at Canal Park.

McBride, who Monday was named the EL Player of the Week, also had two doubles and scored three times. DH Beau Mills (.219) had two hits and two RBI for the Aeros. Akron left-handed starter Eric Berger (4-4, 4.74) threw five scoreless innings, allowing three hits and six walks.

Notes: LH starter Nick Hagadone was placed on the disabled list retroactive to July 5 with left shoulder discomfort and IF Carlos Rivero (left wrist sprain) was activated from the disabled list. Hagadone, who had Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery in June, 2008, is a combined 2-3 with a 3.56 ERA this season at Akron and Kinston. With the Indians still treating his arm with caution, Hagadone has pitched 60 2/3 innings in 16 starts, striking out 69 and allowing just 51 hits and four homers, but walking 47. He pitched four innings on Sunday, striking out three and yielding three hits and two walks. ... Rivero went into Wednesday night's game batting .234 with three homers and 24 RBI in 67 games. ... RH starter Alex White, the Indians' first-round pick in the 2009 draft, is 3-4 with the Aeros, but has a 1.70 ERA. Combining his time with Advanced A Kinston, White is 5-7 with a 2.23 ERA, allowing just 69 hits in 97 innings, while fanning 69 and walking 34. ... LH starter Scott Barnes is 4-4 with a 4.31 ERA in his last nine starts, spanning 48 innings. In that stretch, Barnes has struck out 46, walked 20 and given up 42 hits. He was 0-4 with a 7.20 ERA in 30 innings over his first seven starts.

Advanced A Kinston Indians

Red Sox 4, Indians 1: Salem held the K-Tribe to five hits in winning the Carolina League game in Kinston, N.C. Indians 3B Kyle Bellows (.261) had two hits, including his 13th double of the season.

T.J. House (2-6, 3.83) started and took the loss. The left-hander went six innings and gave up four earned runs on four hits and two walks. He fanned two.

Notes: LH starter T.J. McFarland is 9-2 with a 1.94 ERA in 15 games -- the last 10 in the starting rotation. He's allowed just five homers, 19 walks and 71 hits in 83 2/3 innings, striking out 56. Batters are hitting .225 against McFarland; just .190 with runners on base. ... RH reliever Matthew Langwell allowed five earned runs on six hits in 1/3 inning during the Indians' 11-3 loss to Frederick on Monday night. That lifted his ERA from 1.75 to 2.97. Going into Wednesday night's game, Langwell was 4-2 with two saves. He had struck out 38 and walked 11 in 36 1/3 innings. ... OF Abner Abreu was 10-for-34 (.294) in his last eight games, with two of his three homers. Abreu was batting .246, but leading the team with 36 RBI.

A Lake County Captains

Captains 3, TinCaps 1: Lake County 2B Kyle Smith (.275) hit his third home run of the season, and Captains pitchers did not allow an earned run in beating Fort Wayne in a Midwest League game in Eastlake. Righty Brett Brach (2.98) started for the Captains and went 5.1 innings. He allowed four hits and an unearned run while striking out five.

Reliever Francisco Jimenez (6-1, 3.53) got the win. The lefty gave up two hits in 2.1 innings. Righty Preston Guilmet (2.61) got the final four outs, three by strikeout, to record his seventh save.

Notes: LH Matt Packer is 4-1 with a 1.29 ERA in his last seven starts, striking out 46 and walking six in 42 innings, while allowing 37 hits and two homers. Overall, Packer has pitched in 20 games, the last nine in the starting rotation, and is 6-4 with a 1.83 ERA. He has struck out 70 and walked nine in 69 innings. Opponents have a .220 batting average against him, including .163 with runners on base. ... LH Clayton Cook is 3-0 with an 0.96 ERA in his last five starts, spanning 28 innings. He's struck out 26, walked seven and given up 20 hits. ... IF Casey Frawley was batting .263 with 17 doubles, four triples, six homers and 35 RBI going into Wednesday night's game, though he was 4-for-34 (.118) in his last nine games.

A Mahoning Valley Scrappers

The Indians’ New York-Penn League affiliate was idle Wednesday.

Notes: RHP Owen Dew is 1-0 with a 1.15 ERA in three starts, pitching 15 2/3 innings while yielding eight hits and two walks and fanning nine. ... RH relievers Takafumi Nakamura and James Ehlert have both pitched well in their five games. Nakamura is 1-0 with a 1.54 ERA in 11 2/3 innings. He's struck out 11, walked two and given up eight hits. Ehlert is 0-1 with a save and 1.80 ERA in 10 innings. He's fanned 12, while giving up one walk and 11 hits.

Independent Lake Erie Crushers

Crushers 4, Freedom 3: Lake Erie’s Lee Huggins clobbered his fourth homer of the season to help the Crushers win the Frontier League game in Florence, Ky.

The Crushers’ Matt Smith pitched seven innings and struck out nine in notching his sixth win of the season.

Notes: RHP Josh Roberts is 4-0 with a 2.29 ERA in nine starts spanning 59 innings. He's struck out 34, walked 19 and allowed 48 hits. ... LHP Esmelvin Jimenez went into Wednesday night's game with a 4-2 record and 3.19 ERA in five starts and seven relief outings. He had pitched 42 1/3 innings, allowing 37 hits and 14 walks while fanning 27.