Lohse dazzles in St. Louis opener
MIAMI, April 4 (UPI) -- Kyle Lohse did not give up a hit until the seventh inning Wednesday and carried St. Louis to a 4-1 win over Miami in baseball's North American season opener.
Lohse, who gave up less than a hit an inning while compiling a 14-8 record in 30 starts last year, came through with an overwhelming performance as the Cardinals opened defense of their World Series title.
The game was the first regular-season contest played in Miami's new ball park, and the dramatic opening night also featured an appearance by boxing icon Muhammad Ali in the first-pitch ceremony.
Ali, whose disability due to Parkinson's disease prevents him from throwing a baseball, was driven to the mound in a golf cart prior to the game and he handed the ball to Miami third baseman Hanley Ramirez.
It has been 16 years since the former heavyweight champion, already suffering from the disease, ignited the Olympic flame during the opening ceremonies of the Atlanta Games.
Lohse had a no-hitter working until Jose Reyes singled to right leading off the seventh. Lohse eventually allowed a run on two hits over 7 1/3 innings.
Jason Motte, beginning his fifth season with the Cardinals, worked the ninth for his first career save.
David Freese singled in two runs in the first inning and Rafael Furcal had an RBI base hit in the second to support Lohse. Freese scored the final St. Louis run in the eighth on a groundout by Daniel Descalso.
Josh Johnson gave up three runs on 10 hits in six innings to take the loss.
The Major League season began last week with Seattle and Oakland splitting two games in Tokyo.
Rain descends on Masters
AUGUSTA, Ga., April 4 (UPI) -- Rain hit the Augusta National Golf Club on the eve of the Masters Wednesday and weather loomed as a likely problem for golf's first major event of the year.
The start of the sport's major championship season is set for 7:50 a.m. EDT Thursday, but forecasters said there was a 50 chance of thunderstorms in the area during the opening round.
Rain is also in the forecast for Friday, but conditions are expected to improve for the weekend.
A field of 96 players will compete over the historic course -- created by golfing legend Bobby Jones and the scene of some of the sport's most dramatic events.
This year's tournament has drawn special attention because of the recent PGA Tour victory produced by Tiger Woods, his first in more than two years. Woods will try to resume his chase of the career major championship record currently held by Jack Nicklaus.
Nicklaus won 18 majors in his career, the last coming on this course 26 years ago, and Woods needs four more to equal that mark.
The world's best will be on hand, including top-ranked Luke Donald and second-ranked Rory McIlroy.
McIlroy led after each of the first three rounds at the Masters a year ago, but suffered though a dismal closing-round 80 that left him in a tie for 15th place -- 10 shots off the winning score turned in by Charl Schwartzel.
McIlroy went on to win the U.S. Open and now stands among the likely challengers for this year's crown.
Woods is scheduled to begin play at 9:35 a.m. in the company of Miguel Angel Jimenez and Sang-Moon Bae. McIlroy will be paired with Angel Cabrera and Bubba Watson at 12:42.
Three-time winner Phil Mickelson will be in the final threesome of the day, starting play at 12:53 p.m. with Hunter Mahan and Peter Hanson. Mahan, thanks to two victories on the tour this year, has climbed to No. 4 in the world and is the leading American in the rankings.
Wednesday's rains brought an early halt to the annual par-3 contest, leaving Padraig Harrington and Jonathan Byrd being declared co-winners. They both shot a 22 over the nine-hole course.
Spurs win ninth in a row
BOSTON, April 4 (UPI) -- Matt Bonner scored the winning points with 49 seconds left Wednesday and the San Antonio held on to beat Boston 87-86 for their ninth straight win.
The Celtics had an eight-game home winning streak snapped, San Antonio clinching the victory when Tim Duncan forced Paul Pierce into a difficult shot that misfired as the buzzer sounded.
Bonner's jumper gave the Spurs a four-point cushion but Ray Allen hit a 3-pointer for the Celtics with 44 seconds left.
San Antonio's Danny Green then missed a 3-point try at the end of the shot clock, giving Boston plenty of time to set up a potential game-winning attempt. Pierce, however, could not shake free from Duncan and was forced to toss up a well-contested effort.
Green scored 14 points for the Spurs, who won despite hitting just 41 percent of their field goal attempts. Gary Neal had 13 while both Duncan and Bonner had 10.
San Antonio took an 11-point halftime lead but then scored just nine points in the third quarter.
Avery Bradley led Boston with 19 points. Rajon Rondo had 17 and Kevin Garnett produced 16.
Boston, which had won five in a row overall, remained 1 1/2 games in front of Philadelphia for the lead in the Atlantic Division.
Reds sign Votto to lucrative 10-year deal
CINCINNATI, April 4 (UPI) -- The Cincinnati Reds announced Wednesday they have signed first baseman Joey Votto to a 10-year contract, reported to be one of the most lucrative in history.
Reds General Manager Walt Jocketty didn't disclose the terms of the deal, but USA Today reported it was worth $225 million, which would make it the fourth-largest ever in the annals of professional sports.
The new contract, which includes a no-trade clause, will kick in at the conclusion of the Canadian slugger's current three-year contract, which he signed in January 2011.
The club also has an option for 2024.
"We recognize the historical significance of this signing. Ownership has committed to Joey, and we anticipate that he will continue to be one of the best players in baseball for the next decade or so," Jocketty said.
"He wants to stay here, and we want him here. We have shown we are committed to building a solid foundation from within the organization."
Votto batted .309 with 29 home runs and 103 runs batted in last season.
The 2010 National League Most Valuable Player has compiled a .313 batting average during his five years with the Reds, belting 119 home runs with 401 RBI during the span.
