Jeff Hart

Charlie Manuel watched Brad Lidge struggle with reduced velocity and a bad arm slot. A cortisone shot didn't help enough. A one-week rest didn't solve the problem. So the Philadelphia Phillies put their struggling close on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with what the team said was a sprained right knee.

The Orlando Magic skipped past their point guard controversy in style Tuesday night. Rafer Alston helped the Magic get back into the NBA finals, scoring 20 points to lead them to a 108-104 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3.

The Georgia Department of Education is trying to save a state-funded sports program for disabled students.

Pittsburgh's desperation 2-1 victory Tuesday in Game 6 extended a flighty finals in which almost no game resembles the one before it. The two teams will reunite Friday in Detroit for the deciding Game 7 with the Stanley Cup awaiting the winner.

Atlanta selected pitcher Mike Minor of Vanderbilt with their first pick of the amateur draft on Tuesday night, grabbing the left-hander at No. 7 overall. He was the highest Braves' choice since Mike Kelly was taken at No. 2 in 1991.

Donavan Tate, who led Cartersville High School to back-to-back state championships, parlayed that success into being chosen by the San Diego Padres No. 3 overall in baseball's amateur draft Tuesday night.

A lot of new faces will be heading sports programs at Lumpkin County High next season. Lumpkin County Athletics Director Tommy Jones announced Tuesday that five new coaches will be taking over head coaching duties.

The local Georgia IronDawgs weightlifting team, who won the State championship back in April, added more honors to its resume. The IronDawgs won the 2009 APC National Powerlifting and Bench Press Championships.

The NBA finals move to Orlando Tuesday night with the Los Angeles Lakers holding a two games to none lead. The Magic nearly returned from Los Angeles with the best-of-seven series tied. Instead, they're down 2-0, and now Bryant has a promise for Game 3.

David Ross' bases-loaded infield single in the 15th inning drove in Jeff Francoeur to give the Atlanta Braves a 7-6 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in a game that lasted almost 5 hours Monday night.