Rams at Giants: Matchup to Watch

RAMS (0-1) at GIANTS (0-1), Monday at 8:30 p.m. Eastern, ESPN

Giants’ Secondary vs. Sam Bradford
Allowing Rex Grossman to pass for 305 yards in Week 1 didn’t do much to help the mood surrounding the Giants’ makeshift secondary, which was weakened by injuries during the preseason. The Giants say their mistakes are correctable, but Bradford — despite an injured finger — has the arm to hurt the Giants if the uncertainty returns. Look for safeties Antrel Rolle and Kenny Phillips to be more of a force if the Giants are to show improvement.

Number to watch: 75

That was how many rushing yards the Giants totaled in Week 1, with starter Ahmad Bradshaw recording 44 yards on 13 carries and his backup, Brandon Jacobs, getting only 6 touches for 29 yards. The Giants moved away from the running game against the Redskins, but establishing a ground attack is imperative if they are going to have success. This week could be a prime opportunity for the backs to break out: the Rams allowed 236 rushing yards in Week 1.

Quotation of the Week

“I plead the fifth.”
Giants linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka, when asked if the Giants’ defense would target Bradford’s injured finger.

Lexi Thompson, 16, is youngest winner of LPGA Tour event

Lexi Thompson, 16, became the youngest player to win an LPGA Tour event when she captured the victory at the Navistar LPGA Classic in Prattville, Ala., on Sunday.

Thompson, who is from Coral Springs, Fla., eclipsed the mark of Paula Creamer, who was 18 when she won her first event in 2005. Thompson clinched the victory at 17-under-par 271 with a 70 on Sunday and finished five shots ahead of Tiffany Joh.

"This has been my dream, like, my whole life," said Thompson, who has brothers playing on the PGA Tour and in college. "It's the best feeling ever."

Although she admitted to being nervous, Thompson said, "Once I hit the first tee shot I was like, 'OK, I'm good.' "

Thompson, who qualified for her first pro tournament at 12 and turned pro at 15, is in the process of attaining an LPGA Tour card. Her petition for qualifying school was granted this summer, and she won the first stage by 10 strokes in July. There are two more stages to go.

"We haven't really talked about that yet," said her father, Scott Thompson, who caddied for her. "We'll worry about that as it comes, so we'll see."

-- Dan Loumena

Photo: Lexi Thompson with the winner's trophy after her victory in the Navistar LPGA Classic on Sunday. Credit: Lloyd Gallman / Associated Press

Angels hope fast start puts pressure on Rangers

The Angels' game in Baltimore will probably be entering the fourth inning Sunday before the team they're chasing in the American League West, the Texas Rangers, start their contest with the Mariners three time zones away.

So if the Angels get off to a quick start against the Orioles they'll be hoping the Rangers, scoreboard-watching in Seattle, will notice.

"You put some pressure on them," the Angels' Bobby Abreu said. "That just makes them look up, 'Hey we have to win today. If we lose, it’s going to be another game.' For us, it’s good right now that we play [earlier]. If we win you put pressure on those guys."

It hasn't worked so far this weekend with the Angels losing their first two games in Baltimore. They've lost four of their last six overall, falling 4 1/2 games behind the Rangers with 11 games to play.

And desperate times call for desperate measures, which is one reason the Angels are starting right-hander Jered Weaver on three days' rest Sunday. Weaver has pitched on short rest just one other time in his career and it didn't go well with the Rangers reaching him for seven runs in six-plus innings. But by shaking up the rotation, Angel Manager Mike Scioscia can start Weaver three more times while the Angels Big Three of Weaver, Dan Haren and Ervin Santana will combine to pitch seven of the final 11 games.

Scioscia said Sunday he was not considering using Haren and Santana on short rest down the stretch.

The lineups:

Angels

SS -- Erick Aybar

2B -- Howie Kendrick

DH -- Bobby Abreu

RF -- Torii Hunter

1B -- Mark Trumbo

3B -- Alberto Callaspo

LF -- Vernon Wells

CF -- Peter Bourjos

C -- Jeff Mathis

P -- Jered Weaver

Baltimore Orioles

CF -- Matt Angle

SS -- J.J. Hardy

RF -- Nick Markakis

DH -- Vladimir Guerrero

1B -- Chris Davis

3B -- Josh Bell

2B -- Robert Andino

LF -- Kyle Hudson

C -- Craig Tatum

P -- Alfredo Simon

-- Kevin Baxter in Baltimore

Floyd Mayweather Jr., Victor Ortiz debate knockout ending

Not that anyone was expecting an apology, but Floyd Mayweather Jr. didn’t give one for the way he ended his world welterweight title victory over Victor Ortiz on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

“What goes around, comes around,” Mayweather Jr. said in celebration of his fourth-round knockout. “You wanted a knockout, that’s what I gave you.”

Questions of sportsmanship, boxing ground rules and fairness were raised from the conclusion of the bout, which was set up by Ortiz delivering a vicious head butt to Mayweather’s mouth in the closing seconds of the fourth.

Referee Joe Cortez stopped the action, and quickly deducted a point from Ortiz, who had forced a close round after losing the first three on two of three judges’ scorecards.

Ortiz actually kissed Mayweather on the cheek after the cheap shot, and Mayweather fumed as he tasted blood from cuts inside his mouth.

Action had yet to resume, and Ortiz was still seeking forgiveness, asking for a hug when Mayweather had immediate revenge on his mind.

“You could see the anger on your face, like all the experience of your long career was being used to get this guy back,” a reporter said to Mayweather.

“Thank you,” Mayweather said, placing his hand on the questioner’s arm. “It was time to fight. What was he going to do? Hug me again? This guy who said I was a dirty fighter?”

So Mayweather watched Cortez closely, and even though Cortez’s gaze was directed elsewhere, Mayweather said boxing ethics are that once the combatants touch gloves, “It’s fight time. It’s open season.”

Did Ortiz hear “Box!” from Cortez? He said no.