Liberty open season with victory
Bill Laimbeer thinks his Liberty could be a WNBA title contender. After a lackluster effort in the season opener, he let his team know it was unacceptable.
Tina Charles scored 12 points and Epiphanny Prince had 11 to help the New York Liberty beat the short-handed San Antonio Stars 73-64 on Saturday in the season opener for both teams.
“I hope this is the worst game we play all year. It was awful,” the veteran coach said. “We didn’t execute the things we were supposed to. We didn’t box out, gave up way too many offensive rebounds. Missed free throws all over the place . ... Collectively top to bottom I thought this was about as worse an effort they could have put forth and I told them so in very strong language.”
New York was facing a San Antonio team that was missing its starting backcourt, including top draft pick Kelsey Plum, who sprained her right ankle last week. She was still in a walking boot and the team is hopeful she’ll be back soon. San Antonio also was missing Moriah Jefferson. The No. 2 pick in last season’s draft was sidelined with right knee soreness.
“We can’t play like that and compete for a championship and I told them so,” Laimbeer said.
Charles echoed coach’s sentiment.
“I’m very happy Bill did that,” the Liberty’s star forward said. “I’ve been waiting for him to do that the last three or four years I’ve been here. Just the fact his sense of urgency and his confidence in us as individuals gains more respect in him. He’s willing to correct us because he believes we can get it done.”
Prince sparked the Liberty, who turned an 11-9 advantage into a 37-28 halftime lead. New York slowly pulled away in the third quarter, scoring seven straight points to go up 5035 on Shavonte Zellous’ layup off a nifty length of the court pass from Brittany Boyd. The lead grew to 17 at the end of the third quarter
TRAINER’S ROOM
her
Rays: OF Steven Souza Jr. returned to the lineup after missing the previous four games with a bruised right thumb . ... RHP Tommy Hunter, on the 10-day disabled list with a strained right calf, threw a bullpen session and felt fine.
Red Sox: DH Hanley Ramirez, who left an interleague start at first base earlier this week with a muscle spasm in his right shoulder, was out of the lineup before San Antonio cut it to nine on Monique Currie’s three-point play midway through the fourth quarter.
Boyd then had four straight points and the Stars couldn’t get within nine the rest of the way.
Currie had 23 points to lead the Stars and Isabelle Harrison added 15.
The game marked the head coaching debut of Vickie Johnson, who started her career in New York as a player when the WNBA debuted in 1997. She spent nine years in New York before going to San Antonio as a player. She then became an assistant coach for the Stars before being promoted before this season.
“I thought it was good,” Johnson said of the opener.
for the third straight game, but Farrell said he could be available Sunday . ... LHP Dave Price, sidelined since early spring training with a strained left elbow, is set to make a rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket on Sunday.
CHASING PEDRO
Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez is the only other Red Sox pitcher to reach seven straight double-digit strikeout games. He posted eight twice, his last coming in “I thought if we could have made some free throws we would have won. We worked hard as a team. Defensively we had a couple breakdowns.”
TIP-INS
SIDELINED: Plum said she’s feeling better after stepping on a male practice player’s foot and injuring her right ankle.
“I feel good, it’s tough as I was really looking forward to (playing),” she said. “It was a freak thing that happened in practice. I never missed a game in my college career. It’s frustrating, but I know it’s not shortterm, it’s long term. Moriah’s out too. We’ll get our pieces back. I’m trying to be patient, but it’s not a good virtue of mine. I’m walking
the final starts of his AL Cy Young Award-winning 1999 season.
MORE SALE
Sale has 85 strikeouts through eight starts, tied with Randy Johnson — then with Houston in 1998 — for the most ever by a pitcher after their initial eight starts with a new team.
JUMP
First base umpire Laz Diaz had to jump out of the way of a rolling bat that got
CLOSER CHANGE
Neftali Feliz is out as the Brewers’ closer. He was 8 of 9 in save opportunities but 0-4 with a 6.19 ERA in 18 appearances. General manager David Stearns said Feliz in part was getting in trouble after falling behind the count and becoming a “little more predictable pitcher at that point.” Manager Craig Counsell said both Feliz and setup man Corey Knebel, who has a 1.00 ERA, were not available on Friday, so he mixed and matched out of the bullpen. around in rehab doing different stuff. Swimming twice a day.”
Johnson said that neither Plum nor Jefferson will play in Washington on Sunday.
STARS: Johnson starred for the Liberty from 19972005 and is the team’s career leader in scoring (3,246), rebounding (1,053) and games (282). New York honored her with a video tribute midway through the second quarter. Johnson cracked a smile coming out of the timeout and waved to the fans . ... San Antonio was 17 for 29 from the free throw line.
LIBERTY: New York was picked third in the preseason AP WNBA power poll . ... The Liberty have won three consecutive home openers.
UP NEXT
New York hosts Minnesota on Thursday.
San Antonio completes a back-to-back in Washington on Sunday.
away from Tampa Bay pinch hitter Brad Miller.
UP NEXT
Rays: RHP Matt Andriese (2-1, 3.12 ERA) is set to start the series finale Sunday. He has given up three or fewer runs in his last six starts.
Red Sox: LHP Drew Pomeranz (3-2, 5.23 ERA) looks to rebound from a rough outing when he gave up six runs in four innings during a loss Tuesday.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mets: The team did get a key piece back with 1B Lucas Duda returning from a stint on the 10-day disabled list with a hyperextended left elbow. Duda hit seventh and went 1 for 4, bouncing into an inning-ending double in his first at-bat in the second.
Brewers: Sogard took the roster spot of Braun, who was placed on the 10day disabled list before the game with a strained left calf, retroactive to Thursday. Stearns said he expected a short stay for Braun on the DL.