Mets’ 17-run display ends 4-game losing streak

CHICAGO — If the Friendly Confines were any friendlier to them yesterday, the Mets would have each needed a postgame cigarette.

This was a much-needed laugher, allowing the Mets to forget about errors, bullpen woes and base-running blunders for a day.

By the time it ended, manager Terry Collins’ crew had a season high in homers and runs scored in a 17-1 demolition of the Cubs at Wrigley Field. The victory snapped a four-game skid and allowed the Mets (40-36) to avoid the indignity of getting swept three games by the worst team in the majors.

Scott Hairston’s sixth-inning grand slam made the loudest noise in the Mets’ four-homer barrage, but Daniel Murphy homered twice and Ike Davis hit his fifth home run since June 12.

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TWICE IS NICE: Daniel Murphy is greeted at home plate by Ike Davis in the fourth inning after Murphy hit the first of two home runs in yesterday’s 17-1 Mets rout over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. The homers were Murphy’s first of the season.

After going 352 at-bats without a homer, Murphy got pitches to drive in consecutive plate appearances and hit two. Murphy’s first homer, a two-run shot against Jeff Samardzija, gave the Mets a 3-1 lead. In the fifth, Murphy hit a solo blast against Casey Coleman to give the Mets their 10th run.

BOX SCORE

“I feel like I’m swinging the bat better and it’s nice to get rewarded for that today,” said Murphy, who entered in a 4-for-21 (.190) skid over the team’s previous 10 games. “But it’s still a long season and I’ve got a long way to go.”

Murphy was asked if he was relieved to finally end his home-run drought.

“It was a relief to help the team win,” he said. “If we win ballgames and we make the playoffs, I don’t need to hit another one this year.”

David Wright was 2-for-3 with five RBIs as part of the Mets’ 17-hit attack. The Mets took a 10-0 lead after scoring six runs in the fifth.

Jon Niese (6-3) held the Cubs to one run on eight hits with one walk and six strikeouts over seven innings. The lefty is 3-1 with a 1.89 ERA in June after a rough May.

“He had a terrific June and as we get into this summer I think there’s going to be some great competition among our starters to outdo each other,” Collins said. “Jon Niese is going to be right in the mix of it.”

Niese deflected talk of him stepping up as a stopper yesterday.

“The offense did more than anything,” Niese said. “They scored 17 runs and that just makes the pitcher’s job a lot easier. Fortunately, the offense was on the top of their game today.”

The Mets made it a runaway in the fifth, with Davis’ three-run homer making it 9-1. Wright’s two-run double earlier in the inning and Murphy’s solo blast after Davis’ homer accounted for the other three runs in the inning.

Next stop is Los Angeles for four games against the Dodgers, who lost Andre Either to an oblique injury yesterday. Matt Kemp remains on the disabled list with a strained hamstring.

“They are in first place so we are used to that,” Collins said. “We are used to playing those teams sitting atop the standings. Ethier got hurt so that doesn’t help them.

“But we’ve got to go and play our game. Not that we’re going to score 17 runs, but swing the bats like we’re capable of and use that as a stepping stone to move forward.”

Collins said the Dodgers without Kemp and Ethier would seem vulnerable.

“This is when you’ve got to take advantage of them,” he said. “Because the next time we play them they’ll have those guys. So we’ve got to go in and pitch — I like the way our rotation is set up going in there — and we’ve just got to play well.”

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Mets lacking Chicago fire

Ken Davidoff
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Blog: Baseball Insider

CHICAGO — Tired. Irritable. Sloppy. Pick your favorite negative adjective, slap it on the Mets right now and you won’t be wrong.

Yeah, when you hear manager Terry Collins use “stinking,” you know what’s going on with this Mets season.

“It’s not his fault,” the fiery manager said, referring to first-base umpire Manny Gonzalez, “that we didn’t hit with stinking guys all over the bases.”

Gonzalez ruled Steve Clevenger safe, incorrectly, on an attempted eighth-inning pickoff. When Ike Davis challenged the call, touching Gonzalez with his glove in what looked accidental, he earned an immediate, automatic ejection.

Reuters

PLANE OLD TIRED: Dillon Gee — reacting in the second inning of last night’s 5-3 loss — and the Mets have played terribly since arriving in Chicago early Monday morning following a Sunday night game.

It marked the low point within the greater low point for the Mets, who lost their fourth straight game Tuesday night, 5-3 to the Cubs at Wrigley Field. They have now lost their second straight series, this one to baseball’s worst team, and Collins wondered afterward if the team was fatigued following a killer, 25-game stretch — all against winning teams — that concluded Sunday night with a tough loss to the Yankees at Citi Field.

“We played two bad baseball games here,” Collins said. “You can only go on the circumstances in front of you. We’ve got to get out of this.”

It wasn’t just Davis’ accidental ejection — he was due up third in the ninth inning — nor the Mets going 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position and stranding 12 men on base overall. There also was what Collins called Dillon Gee’s worst start in a long time; the right-hander allowed four runs in five innings. There was Lucas Duda’s critical baserunning error in the third inning, when he didn’t pick up third-base coach Tim Teufel’s send and stayed at third on Davis’ double.

There was Ruben Tejada’s throwing error in the eighth on Reed Johnson’s infield single, following Davis’ ejection, which allowed Darwin Barney to score an insurance run.

A brutal night in all, against a starting pitcher, Randy Wells, who didn’t seem particularly interested in sticking around. Cubs manager Dale Sveum lifted Wells after just three-plus innings, with the Cubs holding a 3-2 advantage, and Sveum earned a win for his aggressiveness, though he needed six innings of bullpen help to get it done.

Collins shrugged off Monday night’s mailed-in, 6-1 loss to the Cubs. Tuesday night, he appeared far more upset when speaking with reporters, though he then ate at a table with some players and cracked some light jokes. Later, he and Duda spoke calmly in Collins’ office, surely about Duda’s baserunning transgression.

This is still a young, developing team, and Collins knows he needs to push different buttons at different times. Yet this is a club that had itself believing it would contend for the duration of the summer.

That belief must fuel a Mets resurgence now. The team has enjoyed enough time to rest, even with Wednesday’s day game following a night game.

“There’s all kind of different elements. Travel is one of them,” Cubs manager Dale Sveum said before the game. “The bottom line is, you have to do it. Day games after night games. You build your roster around people that can handle all of that stuff.Once you get between the lines, you don’t know that you’re traveling or flying or whatever.”

Sveum can speak particularly well to this issue because he took part in one of the most remarkable regular seasons in recent memory. He served as a backup infielder on the 1998 Yankees from April through July and hung around even after the team released him.

“We had a pretty unbelievable group of guys,” Sveum said. “The ultimate professional team. Very talented, but very focused on what they had to do every day.”

Now, to be clear, no one is confusing the 2012 Mets with the 1998 Yankees. These Mets could be robot versions of themselves, immune to human conditions, and they wouldn’t sniff the results of the ’98 Yankees.

What we’re discussing is the need to maximize each and every day. To possess the self-awareness Collins did and figure out a way to overcome the emotional and physical fatigue.

To not lose close games to bad teams because of execution errors.

To wake up soon, before this Mets season loses its dream-like quality.

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Checks in the mail!

Talk about a summer bonus!

Bernie Madoff’s investors could finally see fat checks after the US Supreme Court yesterday greenlighted the bankruptcy trustee’s plan for calculating payouts to victims of the huge Ponzi scheme.

The court declined to hear an appeal by lawyers opposing Madoff trustee Irving Picard’s method for determining victims’ losses — a decision that frees up as much as $2.3 billion for burned investors, based on The Post’s calculations.

Picard said that only investors who withdrew less than they invested with Madoff should be entitled to a slice of the recovery pot. He went after so-called net winners who he said took out more than they put into the scheme.

But some investors argued that his loss formula should be based on their final account statements from Madoff — even if those turned out to be bogus.

By declining to review the case, the high court sided with Picard and the lower-court decisions that have upheld his method.

Picard claimed victory yesterday and promised to follow up with another round of distributions. But he stopped short of giving any details about how much might be available in the next round.

According the trustee’s website, $6.5 billion of the total $9.1 billion recovered so far is “unavailable” due to appeals and reserves. Subtract the $344 million that Picard distributed in the first round, and that leaves $2.3 billion.

Assuming the same 1,230 accounts that received checks in the last go-round, the average payout is in the ballpark of $1.8 million.

A spokeswoman for Picard declined to comment on the funds available for distribution or the number of accounts that could be eligible.

What’s more, Picard said $5 billion from a settlement with Madoff’s deceased pal Jeffry Picower could be freed up by a July 16 deadline, if there are no additional objections to that settlement. That would swell the average check to $5.9 million.

According to the trustee’s website, Picard has approved 2,434 claims, which would cut the amount of the average distributions in half.

Picard has doled out just $344 million since he was appointed the trustee in 2009, while his law firm has reaped $554 million in fees over the same period. That has led to skepticism among some Madoff victims.

“It’s certainly in his [Picard’s] interest to drag this out for as long as he can milk it and make money,” said a 68-year-old Great Neck resident, who lost $5.6 million to Madoff and asked to remain unnamed. “I think all the victims would like to have a clearer handle as to when these distributions will be made.”

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The Post's All-City boys volleyball honors

It was the year of the Eagle in boys volleyball.

Academy of American Studies rolled through the city almost untouched to win its first city championship – and the first-ever boys title of any kind for the small Long Island City school. The scary part is almost the entire core returns next year.

In the CHSAA, Regis continued its run of success, winning a fourth city crown in the last five years. The Raiders were competitive against the top PSAL teams, which hasn’t happened often for teams in the fledgling Catholic league.

All-City boys volleyball Player of the Year: Michal Kasza, Academy of American Studies

Denis Gostev

Academy Of American Studies' Michal Kasza is The Post's All-City boys volleyball Player of the Year.

Denis Gostev

Academy Of American Studies' Joshua Yang is The Post's All-City boys volleyball Coach of the Year.

Unstoppable swings at the net. Ferocious serves. Pinpoint passing. Relentless defense.

There wasn’t a phase of the game that Kasza didn't excelt in as he led Academy of American Studies to its first-ever PSAL boys volleyball championship. The 5-foot-11 junior had 14 kills in the final against Bronx Science after not being happy with his performance in the semifinals. Kasza left little doubt who the best player in the city was.

“He is just a phenomenal talent,” Academy coach Josh Yang said.

All-City boys volleyball Coach of the Year: Josh Yang, Academy of American Studies

Yang had all the talent for a city title run in the preseason, but had to meld it together to make all of American Studies' pieces work. He moved Conrad Zajkowsk to middle hitter from the right side and had former libero take over at outside hitter. The fiddling proved to be the right recipe for success – and at the end of the day Academy of American Studies was hoisting the PSAL championship banner.

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OH Tyler Gaugler, Cardozo

At one point, there was a fear that Gaugler would miss the entire playoffs with an ankle injury. But fighting through the pain and wearing a brace, the hard-hitting junior ended up leading Cardozo all the way to PSAL semifinals to cap a big year.

S Jerry Henriquez, Bronx Science

Possessing all the tools to be a college setter, Henriquez led Bronx Science to its second PSAL championship match in three years. The junior’s size at 6-foot-1 put him a step above other players at his position and his pinpoint setting was exceptional.

S Piotr Kasza, Academy of American Studies

Just a sophomore, Kasza was praised time and time again by coach Josh Yang for being a leader and the general out on the court. His brother, Michal, gets most of the attention, but Piotr was just as vital to American Studies' championship run.

OH Dukhyun Ko, Brooklyn Tech

The senior waited his turn and watched as other stars took Brooklyn Tech deep into the playoffs. This year, it was Ko’s time, the hard-hitting, athletic outside hitter pounding the upstart Engineers past the opposition and into the PSAL semifinals.

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Garden City Hotel to be sold

The renowned Garden City Hotel, owned by the Nelkin family, is under contract to be sold to Fortuna Realty Group’s Morris Moinian, sources said.

The 272-room, nine-story hotel sits on 8.5 acres of manicured grounds in the posh Long Island community. It is topped by a distinctive clock tower and boasts a popular and extensive catering and event space.

No price was disclosed. The hotel had been marketed in 2008, but a deal for nearly $100 million was never completed. Moinian did not return a call for comment.

The hotel, where high society, diplomats and celebrities have long hobnobbed, opened in 1874 and has been refurbished several times, most recently in 1983 by the late Myron Nelkin. His daughter, Cathy Nelkin Miller, is the current president of the hotel, which is now a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts.

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Yankees give parting gift for Braves' Chipper Jones

Chipper Jones spent much of his career tormenting Mets fans by drilling balls all over Shea Stadium, but a few games against the Yankees to give him a new appreciation of The Bronx.

“I love this ballpark,” Jones said of the homer-friendly stadium. “It’s my new favorite stadium. It only took me taking BP in it one time to realize that. If you can’t get up to play on that stage right there, man. I told the guys this morning, ‘If I could play on that stage every day, I’d never quit.’ ”

But the 40-year-old is retiring at the end of the season, which is why the Yankees had Derek Jeter and former teammate Andruw Jones present the Atlanta third baseman with third base from Tuesday’s game.

“That base was nice to get,” Jones said after the Braves’ 10-5 victory over the Yankees yesterday at the Stadium. “I’m going to have some great stuff in my Man Cave. The teams have been great to me. It’s been awfully touching. I’d be hard-pressed to find another time when a New York crowd was so good to me.”

That’s probably because Jones was part of two Braves teams that lost to the Yankees in the World Series, though he did hit .340 with five homers and 18 RBIs in 103 regular season at-bats against the Bombers.

* After the Yankees failed to land Cuban outfielder Jorge Soler, who signed with the Cubs last week, they were able to agree to terms with left-hander Omar Luis Rodriguez yesterday, according to a source.

The deal for the 19-year-old is expected to be worth $4-5 million as the team tries to build up the pitching in its farm system. Like Soler, it was important to sign Rodriguez before July 2, when restrictions included in the new collective bargaining agreement limit how much teams can pay international players.

* Clay Rapada struck out all four batters he faced and has now held batters hitless in each of their last 20 at-bats against him, matching a career high, according to Elias. ... Robinson Cano homered for the third time in four games with his sixth-inning shot. He has hit six home runs in his last 11 home games.

Bernie Williams will manage the World Team at the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game on July 8 at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City. George Brett is set to manage the US team. ... The Yankees will begin HOPE Week Monday. The team has players participating in initiatives for various individuals and organizations.

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Knicks' Smith sues Chinese team to recoup $1M in fines

Knicks guard J.R. Smith is disputing he missed 80 practices with his Chinese team — virtually all of them — in a lawsuit filed with FIBA to recoup the $1,078,500 withheld from his salary.

In the complaint obtained by The Post, a four-page list of other alleged transgressions depict a player who had blatant disregard for the Zhejiang Chouzhou rules during his short tenure. Smith did not attend a series of pregame team meetings and took trips to Shanghai, Bejing and the United Kingdom during practice days without telling the club. Every missed practice was denoted by date from Oct. 25, 2011-Feb. 15, 2012.

AP

JR Smith

The Chinese team also alleged it requested Smith’s sister Stephanie be sent home to the U.S., claiming she was “abusive’’ and “the root’’ of Smith missing virtually every practice because she had him take her shopping. (Stephanie reportedly choked a Chinese fan during a game).

The case will be ruled upon in the coming weeks by a FIBA arbitrator in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Chinese team, which claims in documents Smith “breached’’ his contract, has until Monday to answer Smith’s complaint. The contract states FIBA would rule on a dispute.

Smith was scheduled to make $2.88M — signing Sept. 13 during the NBA lockout. The Chinese club agreed to pay all his taxes. The complaint alleges Smith received just $1.82 million of his wage and didn’t pay him $18,500 in bonuses based on victories.

Smith’s offcourt behavior has been an issue in the NBA, but the Knicks are leaning toward bringing him back even if he opts out by Tuesday’s deadline and becomes a free agent July 1.

Smith has had his shaky moments since signing in February, including the NBA fining him $25,000 for tweeting a partially naked photo of a woman in his Milwaukee hotel room. Last month, he was arrested in Miami Beach on an outstanding bench warrant for driving a scooter without a license.

“It is not possible in the reasonable course of things the player did not attend so many practices [most probably all], held by the club,’’ Smith’s complaint reads. “On the contrary, the player attended many practices and he has presented his excuse for any non-attendances.’’

The complaint argues Smith did not miss a single game — playing all 32 — and led the club in scoring average (36.4) and hence “showed outstanding performance.’’

Smith’s attorneys also contest the Chinese team did not give him any formal notice they were bothered by any missed practices nor did they issue any fines until after the season, after which they prepared a list of his alleged mishaps which totaled well over $600,000 in fines. The complaint said the Chinese team had a right to terminate his contract if he missed multiple practices and chose not to.

However, the Chinese team states in documents it tried to terminate his contract but was thwarted for vague reasons.

“We were delighted to terminate our agreement with J.R. Smith early on in the season but was asked not to by the agent involved because it would jeopardize the image of the player for NBA purposes,’’ the team wrote.

After his Chinese experience ended. Smith signed with the Knicks a one-year deal with an option for a second year at $2.6 million. Smith has until Tuesday to inform the Knicks he wants to exercise the option. His market value in the new CBA is a mystery because of his baggage and playoff disaster in which he shot 31.6 percent against. Miami, including a 5-of-28 showing from the 3-point line.

While other clubs may deem him a big risk, the Knicks, desperate at guard with Iman Shumpert’s injury, are likely to take advantage of CBA rules and give him a 20-percent raise that would allow him to re-sign without the club using any of their $5 million midlevel exception.

Smith is represented by CAA, but the case is being assisted by a Turkish law firm. CAA lawyer, Jennifer Duberstein, did not return phone calls.

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Baseball

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CWS: Kent State vs. South Carolina ESPN2

5 p.m.

CWS: Florida St. vs. Arizona ESPN2

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Marlins at Red Sox MLBN

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CWS: Arkansas vs. Kent St.-S. Carolina winner ESPN2

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Thunder at Heat, Game 5
ABC, ESPN (98.7 FM)

Golf

9 a.m.

European: BMW International Open,
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Manulife Financial LPGA Classic, first round
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PGA: Travelers Championship, first round GOLF

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2:45 p.m.

Euro 2012, Quarterfinal:
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Water Sports

10 p.m.

U.S. Olympic Diving Trials NBCSN

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Royal Ascot: Gold Cup TVG

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Belmont Ch. 71

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Buffett pushes to protect Wells Fargo stake

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway stormed back into court yesterday in a continued effort to upend the government-sanctioned reorganization of crippled mortgage lender ResCap.

The billionaire investor, having already beaten Uncle Sam by gaining court approval to name an independent examiner to probe ResCap’s pre-Chapter 11 settlements, pushed Bankruptcy Judge Martin Glenn to name his firm as the leading bidder for ResCap’s mortgage business.

Buffett failed on that account — although he forced Fortress Investment Group, run by New York hedge fund titan Wes Edens, to up its bid and cut its breakup fee.

The hearing yesterday capped a whirlwind two-day blitz of witnesses, charges and countercharges in Buffett’s full-frontal assault on the government-backed plan to rid itself of ResCap’s toxic mortgages.

The court matter also left some lawyers at the hearing scratching their heads over why Buffett — whose Berkshire conglomerate is not in the mortgage-servicing game — is making such a hard run at the ResCap reorganization.

The only position Buffett holds in ResCap is secured bonds — and he’s already assured of getting paid full face value on that paper.

Some lawyers who were in the courtroom said that Buffett might be making such an intense run at ResCap in order to undo the settlement by Ally with the insurers of ResCap’s soured mortgages.

Ally recently settled with several insurers on a batch of bad mortgages worth $8.7 billion — agreeing to pay them 4 percent of issuance, a source said.

“Ally paid so it did not have to wait years and years” to rid itself of mortgage liability, the source close to the bankruptcy said.

That 4 percent settlement, sources said, is twice as much as defunct Countrywide Financial agreed to pay to settle its toxic mortgage liability.

Buffett, lawyers said, may be looking to protect his huge stake in Wells Fargo and other banks.

Wells Fargo and the other banks have set aside about 2 percent of its toxic mortgage liability.

The lawyers, speaking on background and not on the record during the court hearing, said Wells and the other banks could have to pony up more capital if Ally’s 4 percent settlement became the yardstick for future bank settlements.

Therefore, the lawyers added, Buffett is aggressively pushing to probe ResCap’s pre-Chapter 11 deals — which includes the 4 percent settlement — possibly with an eye toward undoing the Ally settlement and re-settling it closer to 2 percent.

Berkshire Hathaway owns a leading 7.4 percent stake in Wells Fargo, worth $12 billion, and $5 billion in preferred Bank of America shares.

Buffett has personally invested an undisclosed amount in JPMorgan Chase.

In court, a Berkshire lawyer said Buffett is pushing for the examiner because he believes a lower settlement would maximize value for creditors.

Berkshire Hathaway did not return calls.

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Davis provides Mets offense with grand slam

At 8:37 last night, Ike Davis came to the top step of the Mets’ dugout and waved to the crowd of 29,014 at Citi Field, taking a much needed curtain call.

For the first time all season, Davis could exhale and enjoy the moment.

His sixth-inning grand slam to center field off a first-pitch fastball from Jake Arrieta that landed on the Party City Deck was the hit that Davis and the Mets fans had been waiting for all season. The first grand slam of his career, and first home run of the season at Citi Field, lifted the Mets and the Amazin’ R.A. Dickey to a 5-0 win over the Orioles.

Neil Miller

THAT’S GRAND: Ike Davis of the Mets watches the flight of his grand slam last night at Citi Field.

This was Davis’ first curtain call of his career.

BOX SCORE

“It’s really cool,’’ Davis said later. “I wasn’t expecting it. In the dugout R.A. said, ‘Hey, you’ve got to get out there,’ so he gave me his helmet and I went out there and did it.’’

This grand slam is why Davis was never sent to the minors. This is why manager Terry Collins rode out Hurricane Ike. The Mets have little power as a team. They need Davis to hit home runs. It’s really that simple.

They need Slam City. Davis is one of the few Mets who can supply that kind of power.

“It is nice to hit a home run and you score multiple runs vs. six hits and you score two runs, ’’ Davis said.

Dickey, who fluttered his way to a second straight one-hitter, is magic. The Mets have the oddest of aces, the knuckleballer who cannot be touched. Dickey is 11-1. The Mets own a great 1-2 pitching punch in Dickey and Johan Santana.

What they really need is another big bat to help take the pressure off David Wright. Davis has to be that bat.

“I talked to two managers in the last two series and they asked about Ike,” Collins noted, “and one of the things they brought up is: ‘He still scares us to death when he comes to the plate’ and they know he’s hitting .165. When he gets it going, he’s dangerous, and right now he’s getting it going. When you get the hit to win a game, it’s got to lift your confidence.’’

The home run lifted Davis’ average to .196 and gave him a nine-game hitting streak. He has seven home runs after a tortuous start. The Mets came into the night with only 53 home runs as a team, which ranked 22nd in the majors.

The offense also got a lift from rookie Jordany Valdespin, who doubled and tripled and scored twice as he started at second base in place of Daniel Murphy. Expect Valdespin to be back at second tonight.

Valdespin plays with a certain enthusiasm that has been lacking in this Mets lineup. He just needs to know when to turn it up and when to tone it down.

When Davis came to the plate in the bottom of the eighth, the fans cheered again. There is something about Davis that makes him so likeable. Before the game he took the time to compliment a young reporter on getting a haircut.

That’s Ike. He’s easy to like.

Davis has been through his share of woes this year, including his bout with Valley Fever, but when he took that sixth-inning curtain call, a cloud lifted on his season.

“The fans have been behind me all year, even when I wasn’t doing anything and striking out every at-bat, they still were cheering for me,’’ Davis said

The Mets need Davis and the fans know that.

“It’s easier to play the game when you’re actually doing stuff,’’ Davis added with a smile. “You can’t pout. You are going to go through bad streaks — mine was just longer than anyone would want. I think we’d hit a lot more home runs if we didn’t play in this ballpark. It’s still a big ballpark.’’

Yes, it is. That’s no alibi, that’s Ike being Ike, finally.

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Japan Domestic Demand Spurs Recovery

TOKYO—The Bank of Japan said domestic demand rather than overseas exports was the driving force for economic growth for the first time in at least 20 years, as the euro-zone crisis and slow U.S. growth continue to suppress global demand.

The BOJ upgraded its overall assessment of the economy, crediting activity following the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in northern Japan.

"Japan's economic activity has started picking up moderately as domestic demand remains firm, mainly supported by reconstruction-related demand," the central bank said in its monthly report.

A rise in domestic demand would be a welcome development for the BOJ, because wage growth is seen as the best way to break the long-running deflationary cycle that has seen price rises remain around zero.

Still, the BOJ remains cautious about prospects overseas as the euro-zone crisis sparked by Greece continues to grind away. "There remains a high degree of uncertainty in the global economy," the BOJ said, adding that particular attention should be paid to "developments in global financial markets" amid the European debt crisis.

After the collapse of the asset-inflated bubble in early 1990s, growth in Japan's economy has almost always been driven by its strong exports, as domestic demand largely stagnated. But it appears that things are different this time, as global demand falters amid the euro-zone debt crisis and continued weak growth in the U.S.

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Domestic demand is being fueled by a total of ¥19 trillion ($240 billion) in public-works spending over the next five years, a key factor in creating a 4.7% annualized growth rate in gross domestic product for the first quarter.

The consensus among private-sector economists is for a slowdown in growth to around 1.9% annually in the April-June period, but they don't see a return to an overall economic contraction. Instead, consumer spending, which accounts for about 60% of the economy, has firmed as people buy eco-friendly and fuel-efficient cars and housing.

Consumers now appear more willing to undertake discretionary spending following self-imposed restraint after last year's disasters.

"There is no doubt that domestic demand is now the key driver," said a person familiar with the BOJ.

Some private-sector economists say the economy could be supported, at least for this year, without a surge in exports. With Japan's long-running deflation, individual wages were stagnant in 2011, falling 0.2% from a year earlier.

"Exports are unlikely to be a factor that drags down the economy," said Akihiko Suzuki, chief economist at Mitsubishi UFJ Research & Consulting. "The focus is on whether or not wages will increase" to facilitate a self-sustainable recovery, he added.

The authorities aren't banking on an "export-free" recovery, saying that the traditional reliance on exports is still a critical factor, representing 15.1% of GDP for the fiscal year ended March.

The central bank sees a rise in exports and production as a precondition for the Japanese economy to embark on a full-blown recovery. "Japan's economy is expected to return to a moderate recovery path as domestic demand remains firm and overseas economies emerge from a period of deceleration," it said.

Write to Tatsuo Ito at tatsuo.ito@dowjones.com

Bank of Japan, Japan, BOJ, domestic demand, overseas exports, global economy, gross domestic product, global demand, Mitsubishi UFJ Research & Consulting, economic growth, debt crisis

Online.wsj.com

Music heat wave

Ah, sweet summer. It brings back memories of sunburn, sand in your bathing suit and that certain song. Maybe these magazines will mention the tune you will be humming during the next blizzard.

The June edition of Rolling Stone should have been dubbed “the bad boy” issue. It has a disheveled Charlie Sheen on the cover, a Q&A with potty-mouth comedian Louis C.K. and an interview with Jennifer Aniston’s ex, John Mayer, who claims the “womanizer” title is no longer appropriate since he hasn’t had a date in years. The interview is a must-read — not because of his earnest introspection following vocal cord surgery — but for the details of his new life in Montana picking up his beer from the local Albertson’s. While Mayer is busy trying to steer clear of gossip site TMZ, he does a good job of putting the gossip machine into high gear with his views on country music sweetheart Taylor Swift, who famously wrote about their break-up.

Vibe knows what sells, and slaps a “Sexy Issue” banner on its cover. But is that reminder even necessary? Sex and booty banter have always been the guiding principles of the hip-hop magazine. The music reviews, especially when it comes to female artists, seem more focused on a star’s “hotness” than anything else. Still, the issue’s oddball article on how African-Americans get “shafted” in the porn industry threw us for a loop. We’re all for equality, but that would seem to us to be quite a bit further down on the list of priorities.

P-R-E-T-E-N-T-I-O-U-S! Uncut’s cover story on Patti Smith, of G-L-O-R-I-A fame from her 1975 breakthrough album “Horses,” starts by telling us she did not want to discuss her rocker past, just her new record. Not surprisingly, the editors love the record. Unlike its top-40-obsessed peers, Uncut deserves some credit for catering to an older generation while trying to find something interesting in today’s music.

If you thought real rock ’n’ roll was dead a long time ago, Spin says you might want to check out Cuba’s thriving punk and heavy metal scenes. Havana’s tattooed thrashers — who, unlike their US counterparts, may consistently have something obvious to rebel against — include Gorki Aguila. Lyrics like “El Comandante wants me to applaud his bullsh—t sermonizing” got Aguila banned and imprisoned by Castro a couple of times. Elsewhere, we enjoyed the table of ratings for guitar gods, which, for example, gives the “pre-sobriety” Eric Clapton far higher marks than the “post-sobriety” Eric Clapton. The latter ranks just above Jimmy Fallon, Conan O’Brien and “A Guitar Hero master.”

We’re not sure whether or not it says anything about the state of the Big Apple under Mayor Bloomberg, but most of New York’s nine suggestions for cooling off in the water this summer take place in one of two places: on the street or on the roof — and yes, there does seem to be a pattern here. If you’re not out chartering a yacht in Montauk (suggestion No. 7), you are advised to order bottle service at the rooftop deck of the Gansevoort Hotel or, if you can manage it, rent a rooftop “beach cabana” at the Dream Downtown in Chelsea ($1,500 a day). But if you fall into the other category of customer, you are invited to check out the public pool, a neighborhood fire hydrant or the boardwalk at Coney Island alongside “the seething mass of humanity.” Or, perhaps most fittingly, strip yourself down to your last assets for a jaunt on the nude beach at Sandy Hook.

The New Yorker has awakened to the crisis in publishing that’s being created by Eric Holder’s chuckleheaded pursuit of an antitrust case against Apple over e-books. While the president’s prosecutor-in-chief frets over the price of book downloads like it’s a question of national security, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos’ price-slashing dominance — an actual, real-live antitrust issue — is poised to kill the book industry as we know it. Amazon is “focused on customers, not competitors,” a Seattle exec says, which is a “peculiar way of describing your suppliers,” media reporter Ken Auletta notes. It’s also a typically absurd rhetorical flourish from Amazon, as if editors and presses have never been anything more than pesky middlemen getting in the way of the public’s thirst for cheap, mediocre reading.

Whenever Time runs a cover story about an afflicted group — war refugees, political prisoners, underwater homeowners — it seems unable to resist the urge to collect pages and pages of chiaroscuro close-up photos of its subjects, wearing grim, weathered, determined faces. This week, undocumented immigrants are given the treatment. “It’s recognizing people’s existence, that they are people, not abstract numbers,” according to photographer Gian Paul Lozza. Maybe a while back, years or decades ago, before Time had done this dozens and dozens of times. Now, however, it could be said that the deluge of sullen portraiture is so plentiful that it flirts with commoditization. On top of it all, we must confess we’re feeling a little browbeaten.

John Mayer, Eric Clapton, Charlie Sheen, Taylor Swift, Louis C.K., cover story, cover story, Patti Smith, Amazon

Nypost.com

MarShon looking ahead

The Nets may not have a full team yet, but MarShon Brooks is working hard on improving his game this offseason.

While both Deron Williams and Gerald Wallace are expected to test the free-agent market this summer, Brooks is prepping for his second season with the Nets whether or not Williams and Wallace make the move to Brooklyn.

“We don’t really have a team right now,” Brooks told The Post. “I’m just working as hard as I possibly can to be ready for whatever role they give me. I’ve been doing a lot of lifting, trying to get stronger. I think that will help me with my defense, my long range shot.”

Brooks admitted he doesn’t have any inkling what the two All-Star free agents will do when the free-agent signing period begins July 1.

“I haven’t talked to Gerald in a while, but [Deron Williams] he’s still around lifting and things like that at the practice facility,” Brooks said at a Sprint NBA Nation event at South Street Seaport. “[Deron] is a tough guy to read. I really can’t control [whether or not they come back], that’s between them, their family and their agent.”

NETS' FREE-AGENT TRACKER

In his rookie season, Brooks averaged 12.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.3 steals in 56 games and was named to the league’s All-Rookie second team. He credited the veteran leadership of Williams and Wallace as part of the reason he has experienced success early on in his NBA career.

“Of course I would like to see them come back,” Brooks said. “[They mean] everything. They taught me how to handle myself. Deron, at the beginning of training camp, always looked at me as a talented scorer but I didn’t always make the right play. I had the opportunity to watch him, see him make the right play every time, learn defenses, see where the help is coming from.”

Playing in his first season in the NBA was not a simple task for Brooks, who was unable to maintain his workout schedule as nagging injuries built up throughout the lockout-shortened season. Brooks plans to change that and hopes to benefit from a more traditional training camp.

“I think last year one of the things that happened to me, during such a tight schedule, I wasn’t really able to lift and maintain my body mass like I wanted to and you know the little nagging injuries that you have they had a real big influence on the game,” he said. “I’m looking to come into training camp in the best shape possible and lead the team.”

The on-court improvement is not the only thing Brooks is looking forward to next season. The former first-round pick is excited to move into New York and about the support fans are showing the fans are showing for the team.

“It’s really surprising to see so many Brooklyn Nets hats already,” he said. “There’s a great fan base and it’s New York. You can’t do much better than New York. It’s exciting.”

Brooks also expects the Knicks-Nets rivalry to be at an all-time high next season.

“It’s going to be crazy,” Brooks said. “It was already crazy right across the river, but I feel like it’s territorial at this point. They’ve been in New York, we’re coming to New York. We’re the newcomers.”

asulla-heffinger@nypost.com

Deron Williams, Williams, Gerald Wallace, MarShon Brooks, The Nets, Nets, NBA, New York, Brooklyn Nets

Nypost.com

Conditional viewpoint

TechStars, an NYC-based tech incubator, recently unveiled its new crop of innovating companies.

Particularly intriguing was Condition One’s technology for iPhones and iPads.

While watching a video, if you move your device up, down, left or right, the camera angle changes to reflect that movement.

Condition One hopes to have a consumer version of the program out by year’s end.

incubator, technology, ebook download

Nypost.com

Verdict will move defendants to seek deals

John Crudele

Who’s next?

If you are employed on Wall Street and happen to be dishonest, then you are probably pretty nervous right now after the quick-decision conviction of former Goldman Sachs director Rajat Gupta for insider trading.

By someone else’s count there are 120 cases of insider trading pending around the country, many in the jurisdiction of Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara, who prosecuted both Gupta and his pal, Raj Rajaratnam.

Rajaratnam was convicted of getting tips from Gupta. Raj made millions, while Rajat scored brownie points with his friend, who was the head of the Galleon hedge fund. Raj is serving his 11-year sentence in a federal prison in Massachusetts. Now, Rajat will also be imprisoned.

You can expect many of those 120 other defendants to now seek deals. The mood in America today is decidedly anti-Wall Street, and anyone foolish enough to take his case to trial will not only face huge legal fees but also juries that simply aren’t very sympathetic.

Gupta didn’t have a chance. Even if the handsome, sophisticated and rich 63-year-old former head of McKinsey & Co. had testified on his own behalf, jurors are no longer swayed by the argument that it was illogical for someone like Gupta to have cheated to make money he didn’t need.

Americans have experienced Wall Street greed firsthand and none of the financial crimes we’ve seen over the past many years are very logical.

Gupta faces a possible 25 years in prison. In all likelihood, Judge Jed Rakoff, who defended inside traders when he was a lawyer, will sentence Gupta to less than the maximum. Rakoff, according to a former prosecutor I know, is known for giving sentences below the federal guidelines.

Even so, Gupta will likely be imprisoned right after he is sentenced, even if he decides to appeal. That could be the end of it, except that Gupta has one card he could play.

As a director of Goldman, Gupta was a fly on the boardroom wall at a time of chaos in the financial markets. He could easily snitch about what that company was up to and win himself a handsome reward — part of his life back.

It’s possible that Goldman did nothing wrong, in which case the card Gupta is holding is really a joker. But federal investigators are actively looking into Goldman’s actions during the 2007 and 2008 financial crisis. And until that investigation is complete, Gupta’s card is aces.

Gupta had better hope he can barter information that investigators consider valuable for precious time off his sentence.

Gupta could soon be the one deciding who is next.

john.crudele@nypost.com

Goldman Sachs director Rajat Gupta, Raj Rajaratnam.Rajaratnam, Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara, insider trading, Wall Street, federal prison

Nypost.com

Hughes lifts Bombers to 7th straight win

WASHINGTON — This city has plenty of lawyers, guns and money. History, museums and narcissistic politicians are abundant, too.

What the nation’s capital didn’t have last night was an answer for the blistering Yankees.

The hottest team in the NL was no match for the best of the AL at a sold-out Nationals Park where the Yankees hung a 7-2 loss on the hosts in front of a crowd that included many Yankees fans in the 41,406.

The Yankees’ season-high seventh straight victory is the longest active streak in the majors and hiked their record to 39-23.

Coupled with the Orioles losing to the Braves, the Yankees’ win increased the AL East lead to 1 1/2 games.

Reuters

PHIL UP THE TANK: Phil Hughes, who allowed one run on six hits over six Innings while striking out nine, delivers a pitch during the third innings of the third inning of the Yankees' 7-2 victory over the Nationals lst night. Hughes won his fourth straight decision and has not lost since May 17.

The Yankees have won 12 of their last 14 games and are 8-2 in interleague play.

The hot stretch has been fueled by strong starting pitching. In the 14 games the starters are 11-1 with a 2.40 ERA.

Phil Hughes improved to 7-5 with his fourth straight victory. Hughes hasn’t lost since May 17 at Toronto.

YANKEES BOX SCORE

“You don’t want to be the one who lets it down,’’ said Hughes, who went six innings, gave up one run and two walks. He fanned a season-high nine and it was the first time in 13 games he didn’t surrender a home run.

Gio Gonzalez started the game for the Nationals with an 8-2 record and a 2.35 ERA. Nevertheless, it was more of the same for the lefty against the Yankees.

In six innings, Gonzalez allowed three runs and five hits. The former A’s hurler has dropped his last five decisions to the Yankees and is 1-5 with a 6.75 ERA.

Curtis Granderson homered and doubled in two runs. It was Granderson’s 20th homer of the season.

David Robertson worked the final frame. It was his first outing since injuring a left rib cage muscle May 11.

For the first six weeks of the season manager Joe Girardi’s starters weren’t awful but very inconsistent. Lately, they look like five Cy Young candidates.

“I think they were better than the way they were pitching,’’ said Girardi, who bagged his 500th win as a manager (421 with the Yankees). “They seem to be pitching the way they are capable of.’’

Staked to a 2-0 lead in the third when Alex Rodriguez, who tied Jimmie Foxx for sixth place on the all-time RBI list at 1,924, and Nick Swisher delivered RBI singles, Hughes faced his biggest challenge in the home half of the frame.

Consecutive singles by Steve Lombardozzi and 19-year-old stud Bryce Harper which went off Hughes’ foot, were followed by a fly ball out and a walk to Adam LaRoche that loaded the bases.

“I made a horrible pitch and hung a curveball,’’ Hughes said of the 0-2 pitch Michael Morse laced to center or an RBI single.

Hughes rebounded to induce Ian Desmond to bang into a 6-4-3 double play and kill the rally.

Four runs in the seventh put the game away for the Yankees who were helped by Desmond’s throwing error. Granderson supplied a two-run double to left field and Derek Jeter (2-for-5) drove in a run with an infield single that Desmond committed a throwing error on and allowed a second run to score. Granderson added his 20th homer in the ninth.

As for Hughes turning around a 1-5 start, Girardi has noticed a big difference.

“The last seven or eight starts he has been tremendous, good command of the fastball and expanding [strike zone] with breaking ball and that has been the key,’’ Girardi said. “This is as good as we have seen him.’’

Phil Hughes, the Yankees, lawyers, guns and money, Yankees, straight victory, the Nationals, Joe Girardi

Nypost.com

Jets vow to be true team this season

The Jets have spent the past five months putting the 2011 season behind them, and now the 2012 season is nearly upon them.

the Jets broke mini-camp yesterday confident the chemistry issues that plagued the team last year are done with.

“I don’t know how many wins we’ll have, but I know we’ll have that [problem] corrected,” coach Rex Ryan said. “We will have a close football team. We’re not going to beat ourselves with some of the in-fighting or all that other stuff. That’s a thing of the past.”

As is the offseason. With their final mini-camp practice yesterday, the Jets said goodbye to a crazy offseason that began with players sniping at each other, followed by the hiring of new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano and, of course, the trade for Tim Tebow.

“I’m excited about where this team is,” Ryan said. “I really am. Anytime you put in a brand-new offense, I’m excited about how far we’ve come. All the formations changed, everything, the motion, the tempo and the verbiage ... are we there yet? No, but we made strides.”

The focus from the outside during the offseason program has been on the quarterbacks: Tebow and Mark Sanchez. It seems like 90 percent of the questions asked by reporters centered around those two. There is only going to be more scrutiny in six weeks when training camp opens in Cortland, N.Y.

Sanchez finished with a thud yesterday, completing just 1-of-10 passes with a sack in team drills. Tebow, who went 3-for-4, did not run any Wildcat plays during the time the media was permitted to watch practice this spring.

The focus inside the locker room was not on the quarterbacks, but on installing a new offense and improving on defense. Sparano brought his run-heavy attack with him and rode the players in practice with his voice that could be still heard in Miami, where he was head coach from 2008-11.

“I was thinking today, sometimes you hear coaches say something, and you’re like, ‘Whatever. They’re just saying it because they’re coaches,’ ” guard Brandon Moore said. “On my own, I felt like we accomplished a lot, made a lot of strides, nowhere near where we need to be, but we accomplished a lot in the time we had.”

The defense of Ryan and Mike Pettine did not change as drastically as the offense, but underwent a facelift of its own. Pettine stressed speed in the offseason program and players, most notably linebacker Bart Scott, came back slimmer and quicker.

The Jets also have shifted to using more four-man fronts with first-round pick Quinton Coples allowing Pettine to do different things with the defense. All spring long, the Jets have been lining up with four down linemen, something the 3-4 team had done less of in years past.

Pettine was asked if he believes the Jets will use more four-man lines than three-man this year.

“We will,” he said without hesitation. “Even in base defense or nickel, I see us being in more four-down groupings. We feel like we have two pretty good bookends in Quinton and [Muhammad Wilkerson] and we have a pretty good rotation of guys inside.”

The defense believes it can get back to its 2009 form, when it was No. 1 in the NFL. It dropped to No. 5 last year.

“I think we’re going to be a force to be reckoned with this season,” linebacker David Harris said. “Guys out there are flying around, having fun. We probably had the least amount of mental errors in practice this OTAs and mini-camp than ever before.”

* Defensive tackle Kenrick Ellis reports to a Virginia jail today to begin serving a 45-day sentence after entering an Alford plea last month to an assault and battery charge stemming from a 2010 incident. Ellis did not want to discuss his legal situation yesterday. ... Wide receivers Santonio Holmes and Stephen Hill both sat out team drills for the third day of mini-camp with hamstring injuries. Holmes did not speak to the media during mini-camp, in violation of league policy.

brian.costello@nypost.com

The Jets, the Jets, Tony Sparano, Mike Pettine, Rex Ryan, offseason program, offseason program, Mark Sanchez, team drills, training camp online, Jets, Quinton Coples

Nypost.com

Sports Shorts

MLB: Huff hurt after Cain’s perfect game

Giants first baseman Aubrey Huff has become the second big leaguer to get injured this month while celebrating a no-hitter. Huff sprained his right knee while trying to jump over the dugout railing and join the postgame celebration of Matt Cain’s perfect game Wednesday night. Two weeks ago, Mets pitcher Ramon Ramirez hurt his hamstring following Johan Santana’s no-hitter.

The Rockies said All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki will undergo a precautionary MRI exam after aggravating a groin injury in a rehab assignment.Tulowitzki took himself out of a game Wednesday at Triple-A Colorado Springs after feeling not quite right.

NFL: Kubiak, Smith receive extensions

The Texans announced contract extensions for general manager Rick Smith and head coach Gary Kubiak, rewarding them for taking the team to the playoffs last year for the first time.Smith’s extension is for four years, which will keep him with the team through 2016.

Kubiak’s is a three-year agreement which re-does the last year of his current deal and keeps him under contract through 2014.

When he tore his right Achillies tendon in April, Terrell Suggs spoke optimistically about returning to the Ravens as soon as November.The five-time Pro Bowl linebacker had surgery on May 8 and recently discarded his crutches, yet the slow pace of his rehabilitation has made him realize that he will almost certainly be sidelined longer than originally anticipated.

ETC.: LeGrand wins perseverance award

Paralyzed former Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand has been selected to receive the Jimmy V Perseverance Award at the ESPYS next month.LeGrand, who has vowed to walk again, suffered a spinal cord injury in a game against Army in 2010.

Starting today, Division I men’s basketball coaches will be able to send unlimited texts and make unlimited calls to recruits who have wrapped up their sophomore year of high school. The NCAA also will allow coaches to send private messages to prospective players through social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.

Former Jazz coach Jerry Sloan has withdrawn his name from consideration for the Bobcats’ coaching job, Sports Illustrated reported.

Aubrey Huff, Troy Tulowitzki, Rick Smith, Matt Cain, Gary Kubiak, Mets pitcher Ramon Ramirez, perfect game, Kubiak, Colorado Springs, Huff, Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand, Johan Santana, Terrell Suggs, groin injury

Nypost.com

John Adams' multi-sport star Kanhoye first flag football Wingate winner

Shantana Kanhoye has played four other sports at John Adams, but it was her last that led to her etching her place into PSAL history. The senior was a standout basketball, softball and volleyball player at the Ozone Park, Queens school. Monday night at the Brooklyn Marriott, however, she was accepting the league’s first-ever Wingate Award, to the top senior in each sport, for flag football.

“I didn’t even know there was such a thing as women’s football,” she said. “It’s going to get big. In Queens, it’s going to be serious.”

She came out for the team at the encouragement of Mike Apfel, who also coached Kanhoye as a junior varsity player in multiple sports. He knew he had the potential for something special in the kid he called the best athlete at John Adams.

Denis Gostev

Shantana Kanhoye of John Adams was the first player to win the PSAL Wingate Award for flag football.

“Like Apfel said, ‘I’m the George Washington,’” she said of being the award's first recipient.

Kanhoye admitted that she didn’t take her new sport serious at the start, but her competitive nature took over. She became a dynamic player on the football field as the team's quarterback and top defensive back, leading Adams in touchdowns. The Spartans went 7-1 and won the Queens division title before falling to CSIHS/McCown in the opening round of the playoffs. Her coach raved about her perfect passes, accuracy and ability to catch passes in traffic.

“Because she is a good athlete, she ended up being the best player in the city,” Apfel said. “It came natural to her because she is such a great athlete.”

It will be basketball, her main sport, that Kanhoye will play in college at Division II Bloomfield in New Jersey. The combo guard averaged 24.4 points and 6.6 rebounds, leading John Adams to a 12-6 record, a fourth place finish in Queens A East and a playoff win over Morris. Kanhoye, the ‘A’ league’s eighth-leading scorer, is known for her shooting prowess. She wanted to try something new by getting away from home for college.

“Try something,” she said. “Spread the wings.”

It something she did during her four years at John Adams, no matter what sport she played.

“A player like this comes along once in a blue moon,” Apfel said.

jstaszewski@nypost.com

John Adams, Shantana Kanhoye, Mike Apfel, Ozone Park, Queens school, PSAL, football field, Queens

Nypost.com

Tomorrow’s Belmont Park Entries

All horses appear in post position order

FIRST-7f(T); $70,000; mdn spcl wt; 3up; (f&m)

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 a-IndyDreamng(L),119

J Lezcano

6-6-x

Mott

10-1

1A a-Crafty Push(L),119

JCastellan

8-3-x

Domino

10-1

2 Conquesta(L),119

CNakatani

5-3-2

Ribaudo

5-2

3 Bargain Blitz(L),119

J Alvarado

10-2-6

Mott

7-2

4 Unrivaled Score(L),119

JVelazquz

4-2-x

Terranov

5-1

5 Star Lillie(L),123

RDomingz

4-5-5

Donk

6-1

6 Trophy Wife(L),119

A Garcia

4-3-3

McGgeyII

8-1

7 Jayezaa(L),119

E Prado

3-3-x

McLaghln

5-1

8 Street Dreams(L),119

JLeparoux

4-5-6

Romans

15-1

9 Darnley Bay(L),119

NoRider

7-x-x

Lerman

15-1

SECOND-6f(T); $39,000; cl($35,000); 3up; (f&m)

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 a-Paws Up(L),117

A Smith

5-6-1

P Kelly

15-1

2 BlushingMartha(L),117

J Alvarado

3-2-3

Reed

5-2

3 Concept(L),117

A Lezcano

5-1-6

Peebles

15-1

4 She's Striking(L),117

RDomingz

5-2-1

S Klesaris

5-1

5 PrincessReyana(L),117

J Espinoza

4-3-9

Persaud

20-1

1A a-Rough Winter(L),117

A Smith

5-5-1

P Kelly

15-1

6 Princess Malia(L),117

E Prado

1-7-7

R Dutrow

7-2

7 SimpleExchang(L),121

CVelasquz

2-3-2

P Kelly

4-1

8 VendorFinncng(L),117

P Lopez

1-x-x

Pompay

4-1

9 KarakorumMgc(L),121

M Studart

1-6-2

Chtterpl

15-1

10 Beautiful One(L),121

CVelasquz

1-3-2

Rice

8-1

11 MarvelosMrgrt(L),117

J Lezcano

5-8-5

C Martin

6-1

12 ShezaClssyLdy(L),117

R Maragh

1-7-3

Levine

3-1

THIRD-1m(T); $81,000; alw opt clm; 3up

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 Abilio(L),123

CVelasquz

7-1-1

Rice

3-1

2 Philly Ace(L),123

JLeparoux

1-7-1

Clement

6-1

3 YankeeFourtun(L),121

R Maragh

3-6-2

McLaghln

2-1

4 SouperSpectclr(L),121

JVelazquz

5-4-4

Mott

8-1

5 PocketCowbys(L),121

JCastellan

6-3-4

Schwrtz

10-1

6 Paris Vegas(L),121

RDomingz

3-5-3

Voss

5-1

7 Evolutionist(L),121

E Castro

6-4-3

Mott

6-1

8 Joan's Choice(L),121

NoRider

4-2-2

Violette

9-5

9 SchoolyrdDrms(L),121

RDomingz

3-2-4

R Dutrow

2-1

10 Tap Attack(L),121

A Lezcano

4-6-6

Persaud

15-1

FOURTH-6f; $45,000; mdn cl($50,000); 2YO; (f)

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 Lively Times(L),118

RNaprvnk

3-2-8

Small

4-1

2 Spicy Devine(M),118

JLeparoux

x-x-x

Kennelly

5-1

3 Value in Motion(L),111

W Garcia

4-8-x

Persaud

12-1

4 Wildcat'sElmnt(M),118

JCastellan

x-x-x

Galluscio

2-1

5 Heart of Rome(L),118

RDomingz

4-3-x

Salzman

3-1

6 Giggle Fit(M),118

CVelasquz

x-x-x

Rice

6-1

7 Watch Your Biz(L),118

R Maragh

4-x-x

Schwrtz

15-1

FIFTH-6 1/2f; $55,000; mdn spcl wt; 3up; (f&m)

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 Corinthin'sLrk(M),119

R Maragh

x-x-x

B Brown

12-1

2 Bella Silver(M),116

W Garcia

9-8-x

Ferraro

30-1

3 Jitney(L),119

CVelasquz

5-5-x

Hertler

6-1

4 White Sangria(M),119

JCastellan

x-x-x

Bush

12-1

5 BluffingQuality(M),119

JLeparoux

x-x-x

Wilkes

12-1

6 Typhoon Teri(L),119

RNaprvnk

4-3-x

Galluscio

5-1

7 Paper Plane(L),123

RDomingz

2-2-6

Kennelly

1-1

8 That's the Move ,112

K Coa

6-9-8

Ferraro

50-1

9 NeverMissTrck(M),119

I Ortiz, Jr

x-x-x

Englehrt

12-1

10 TmprnCmmnd(M),119

JVelazquz

x-x-x

Romans

10-1

SIXTH-6f; $28,000; cl($14,000); 3up

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 Ezzy(L),121

RDomingz

7-1-3

Rodrigez

3-1

2 Pleasendthnky(L),121

JCastellan

1-6-1

Servis

4-1

3 Al's Lark(L),121

I Ortiz, Jr

3-2-5

Levine

5-1

4 No La Hace(L),121

CVelasquz

1-2-1

Rice

5-1

5 Galaxy Kat(L),114

J Ortiz

4-2-2

Aquilino

12-1

6 Missile Motor(L),121

M Studart

2-6-4

Chatterpl

8-1

7 Metaurus(L),121

CNakatani

5-6-2

Gullo

12-1

8 My Italian Ex(L),121

R Maragh

3-3-1

Farro

6-1

9 System Restore(L),121

RNaprvnk

5-7-3

Balsamo

15-1

10 Marquet Rebel(L),116

W Garcia

6-5-7

Parker

50-1

SEVENTH-6f(T); $55,000; mdn spcl wt; 3up; (f&m)

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 Simple Rules(L),119

JCastellan

6-8-x

Hushion

6-1

2 Given Fire(L),119

R Maragh

7-x-x

Benzel

15-1

3 PegasusDimnd(L),119

M Luzzi

2-4-8

LO'Brien

12-1

4 Hermosura(L),119

RNaprvnk

9-x-x

Gldberg

10-1

5 Cozy App(L),112

J Ortiz

3-6-7

Sallusto

8-1

6 Mighty Reward(L),119

J Lezcano

7-2-10

Shuman

5-1

7 Jennys Creek(M),119

A Smith

x-x-x

C Martin

20-1

8 FlirtatiosSprng(L),123

RDomingz

5-10-x

Rice

4-1

9 Ave's Halo(L),119

CVelasquz

4-7-x

Rice

2-1

10 Anchovy(L),119

NoRider

9-4-x

Barbara

5-2

EIGHTH-6 1/2f; $72,000; alw opt clm; 3up

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 Associate(L),121

RDomingz

2-3-1

R Dutrow

6-5

2 Spin Out(L),119

RNaprvnk

1-3-2

Zito

12-1

3 MyGoldenOpnn(L),121

J Lezcano

1-4-4

Rodrgez

15-1

4 Bravo Romeo(L),114

W Garcia

1-2-3

Rodrgez

15-1

5 Green Monster(L),121

CVelasquz

2-1-1

B Brown

5-2

6 Saint of Saints(L),117

JVelazquz

8-1-2

Romans

3-1

7 DangerousTrick(L),117

P Lopez

2-5-4

Pompay

20-1

NINTH-6f(T): $32,000; mdn cl($25,000); 3up

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 Carolina Chant(L),123

A Lezcano

8-9-8

Persaud

50-1

2 WinfortheZippr(L),119

E Castro

4-4-9

Toner

5-2

3 Four Zees ,119

JCastellan

x-x-x

Lerman

8-1

4 Star Walk(L),116

ACanchari

6-6-2

Sciacca

20-1

5 Tell Grant(L),123

CVelasquz

7-8-6

Rice

6-1

6 Side PartyRalph(L),119

A Smith

7-5-4

Sallusto

12-1

7 Midnight Michael ,116

W Garcia

x-x-x

J Ortiz

30-1

8 Succinct(M),123

RNaprvnk

x-x-x

Trombett

6-1

9 RudyardRewrd(L),119

M Luzzi

9-7-9

Antoncc

15-1

10 Leroidessioux(L),123

R Maragh

2-2-8

Chatterpl

2-1

11 Vengeful Pride(L),119

J Espinoza

8-7-8

LO'Brien

20-1

12 Harvest King(M),116

W Garcia

x-x-x

Reiff

10-1

13 PadmoreVillage(L),123

J Alvarado

10-x-x

Benzel

3-1

PN Horse, PN Horse, PN Horse, 3upPN Horse, 3upPN Horse, 3upPN Horse

Nypost.com

Today's Sports on the Air

Baseball

7 p.m.

Yankees at Braves YES, WCBS (880 AM)

7 p.m.

Mets at Rays SNY, WFAN (660 AM)

Basketball

8 p.m.

WNBA: L.A. at Connecticut ESPN2

Soccer

Noon

Euro 2012, Group B:
Portugal vs. Denmark ESPN

2:45 p.m.

Euro 2012, Group B:
Germany vs. Netherlands ESPN

Horse Racing

12:50 p.m.

Belmont Ch. 71

12:50 p.m.

Monticello Ch. 71

Rays SNY, WFAN, WCBS online

Nypost.com

Power Plays

3 STARS

1. Dustin Brown

The Kings captain was electric in the first period, scoring the opening goal and assisting on two more as his emotion and hard-nosed play allowed the home team to take over the game from the start.

2. Jeff Carter

The Kings forward scored two big goals, the second coming in the second period and giving the Kings breathing room with a 4-0 lead.

3. Jonathan Quick

The Conn Smythe-winning goaltender was solid whenever his team needed him, finishing with 17 saves.

TURNING POINT

With 10:10 gone by in a scoreless first period, Devils forward Steve Bernier chased Kings defenseman Rob Scuderi behind the L.A. net and planted him face-first into the glass. Bernier received a five-minute major and a game misconduct, and on the ensuing power play the Kings scored three times, allowing them to go into intermission with a comfortable 3-0 lead.

TO QUOTE....

“I wish I could take that play back. I didn’t want to hurt my team. I wanted to help them. This is extremely hard. It’s been a long playoff run for us. To finish on that note, it’s not fun for sure. But there’s nothing I can do now.”

— Steve Bernier on game-misconduct penalty for his hit on Rob Scuderi

Steve Bernier, Jeff CarterThe Kings, Dustin BrownThe Kings captain, Rob Scuderi, game misconduct, the Kings breathing room

Nypost.com

Bosses should ‘check’ it out

TECH CORNER

Here’s some fast relief for the ongoing headache of payroll management. If you’re an employer, SurePayroll lets you quickly enter the amount owed to your employees, pay the necessary taxes and directly deposit employees’ salaries into their bank accounts or print out your own checks.

SurePayroll works online, or with one of its mobile apps for the iPhone, iPad or Android-based phones and tablets. The service claims you can enter, approve and submit your pay roll in just a few minutes.

In SurePayroll’s account center, you can view a roster of your hourly and salaried employees. For each employee, you can enter the number of hours they worked. Their salary is already listed, but you can make any necessary adjustments or one-time deductions. You can then review each employee’s pay for accuracy before submitting it for approval.

SurePayroll will also calculate and arrange for payment of any federal, state and local taxes for you.

The date and amount being withdrawn from your account is highlighted when you complete payroll, so you can make sure you’re not overdrawn.

If you pay all your employees the same hourly wages or salary each pay period, you can process payroll through the service’s even faster one-click setting.

SurePayroll’s service is device-independent, so you can start processing payroll online and complete it on your iPad. You can also use it with time-clock software, which enables you to automatically enter your employees’ hours into payroll.

SurePayroll offers customer support over the phone or via e-mail or SurePayroll’s online help center 24 hours a day.

The cost to use SurePayroll for your business depends on the number of employees and the payroll frequency. But the average small business would pay $25 to $50 per pay period|.

hlewis@nypost.com

SurePayroll, salaried employees, pay roll, payroll

Nypost.com

The week's winners and losers

WINNERS

ELVIS

The King lives! Owners of the late Mr. Presley’s image make deal to use Elvis holograms in TV, film and, er, “live” performances.

DICK COSTOLO

Twitter CEO says mobilead biz is “doing delightfully well.”

JEFF ZUCKER

Ex-NBC Universal boss’ name is floated to run everything from Yahoo! to Tribune.

LOSERS

BOB GREIFELD

Despite landing Kraft listing for his exchange, the Feds are probing his Nasdaq, NYSE is sniping, investors are irate.

JIM WALTON

It may be “good night, Jim Boy” for CNN boss as network sees lowest ratings in 20 years.

JOSH BERKOWITZ

Hedgie’s Woodbine fund losing both partners and capital.

NYSE, Nasdaq, Yahoo!

Nypost.com

Pistorius off Olympic mark

Sanya Richards-Ross was too inconsistent, Tyson Gay too injured, Bernard Lagat too old. With a number of top Americans trying to disprove doubters — and foreign runners such as South African double amputee Oscar Pistorius also providing juicy storylines — yesterday’s adidas Grand Prix at Randall’s Island was a tantalizing Olympic appetizer for track fans.

Pistorius — called Blade Runner due to the carbon fiber prosthetics he wears — failed in his bid to get the Olympic A qualifying time he needs by month’s end, clocking a last-place 46.14 in the 400 meters.

But Richards-Ross, Lagat and Gay all turned in statement victories while David Rudisha of Kenya and Johan Blake of Jamaica stamped themselves as gold-medal favorites for the London Games.

Richards-Ross — the wife of former Giants cornerback Aaron Ross — has ranked No. 1 in the world four times since 2005, but has never won the Olympic 400. After an ankle injury in 2010 and a crisis of confidence last year, she turned in a 49.3 last weekend — her best 400 in three years — and blazed an impressive turn to clock 22.09 in the 200 yesterday.

That time is her personal best in the event and the fastest in the world this year, which bodes well for her making the U.S. team in the 200 and 400 at the Olympic trials two weeks from now in Eugene.

“I lost a bit of confidence last year, and I feel it coming back,’’ said Richards-Ross, 27. “I think it’s a good indicator of where I am. It’s a personal best. And any time my 200 is really fast, my 400 gets easier. I asked coach [Clyde Hart] could I double, and he said let’s see how I run. Hopefully I made my point I’ll be able to do both in Eugene. ... I know I’m in the best shape of my life.’’

Blake won the 100-meters ‘A’ race in 9.90, but Gay’s run in the ‘B’ heat was big for the U.S. He had not raced in a year following hip surgery last July, but he got a surprising start — never his strong suit — and ran a 10.0 into a 1.5-mph wind.

“My agent tricked me: He said we’re going to put you in a low-key heat, and then I saw the cameras out there on the track,” said Gay, 29, who won’t run the 200 in Eugene. “I was pretty nervous, but it really did [help].

“[Coach Jon] Drummond told me it’s better to run in this atmosphere to get all the jitters out, all the nerves, because I didn’t run any big meets. It’s better to get it out of the way rather than go to the trials and [be] really anxious and nervous.’’

If Lagat showed nerves in his win in the 1,500 meters, they were made of steel. He waited to outkick Ayanleh Souleiman to break the tape in 3:34.63 after running 14th last week at the Prefontaine Classic.

“They said they might’ve seen the end of me, but it’s not,” said Lagat, 37. “These two races last week and this tell me my body is ready to pick up any pace, told me so much that I’m ready. It told me I’m strong, my speed is back. I’m confident I can do well in the 5,000. ... I’m going to go for that first spot.’’

Rudisha dominated the 800 meters in 1:41.74, just .63 seconds off his own world record. Dominican Luguelin Santos ran 45.24 to edge American Jeremy Wariner (45.30) in the 400 meters as Pistorius brought up the rear.

“It was just about finding the rhythm,” Pistorius said. “I started out pretty flat. It wasn’t the race I wanted to run. But I can tell I’ll be back to where I need to be in the next couple of weeks.’’

Pistorius has the African championship at month’s end to again attempt to make the qualifying standard, and also will pick between small meets in France and Belgium.

After three false starts — two by Aries Merritt, who was disqualified — Jason Richardson won the 110-meter hurdles in 13.18.

“When you have so many false starts, you have to stay focused,’’ Richardson said. “That’s what I did. I could probably move objects with my mind, that’s how strong it is. I can run through rain in Shanghai and false starts in New York.’’

brian.lewis@nypost.com

Oscar Pistorius, Tyson Gay, Sanya Richards-Ross, Bernard Lagat, Richards-Ross, Lagat, Aaron Ross, David Rudisha, Johan Blake, Eugene

Nypost.com

Mets pick up speed as Dickey dominates

WASHINGTON — R.A. Dickey won’t be participating in the Subway festivities, so he had to settle yesterday for conquering the Beltway.

Johan Santana is the most celebrated pitcher in the Big Apple after last week’s no-hitter, but the best might be Dickey. The knuckleballer’s scoreless streak is 24 2/3 innings and counting after the Mets’ 3-1 victory over the Nationals that put a three-game losing streak in the rearview mirror.

“I’m really glad [Dickey] is on my side,” Daniel Murphy said after watching his teammate toss 7 1/3 shutout innings, allowing four hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. “He’s just unbelievable — awesome stuff.”

AP

ZERO WORSHIP: R.A. Dickey is congratulated by his teammates after throwing 7 1/3 innings against the Nationals to run his scoreless innings streak to 24 2/3 in the Mets’ 3-1 win in D.C. yesterday.

METS BOX SCORE

Dickey’s scoreless streak is the longest by a Mets pitcher since Mike Pelfrey threw 27 straight scoreless innings in 2010. The franchise record is Jerry Koosman’s 31 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings in 1973.

The Mets (32-26) will arrive in The Bronx for three games against the Yankees confident they can compete against their cross-town rivals.

“We let one get away the first night in here and we needed to have this game to go into Yankee Stadium with,” manager Terry Collins said. “But also, I’m worried about the Washington Nationals. This kept us close to them.”

The Mets trail the Nationals by 1 1/2 games in the NL East and continue to show signs of life during a difficult stretch of games. Santana, pitching tonight for the first time since his no-hitter against the Cardinals seven days ago, will attempt to keep that momentum going.

But the Mets will try not to overemphasize the next three games.

“We’re always measuring ourselves, whether it’s the Nationals or the Yankees or the Rays,” Dickey said. “I don’t think we’re going to put any more pressure on ourselves just because it’s the Yankees. That is something that happens naturally.

“But as far as, ‘If you beat the Yankees, you’ve arrived, and if you don’t, then you haven’t,’ that’s not how we operate.”

Dickey (9-1, 2.44 ERA) was removed with one out in the eighth and then watched Bobby Parnell finish the inning before Frank Francisco allowed a solo homer to Ryan Zimmerman in the ninth.

“[Dickey] has the best command of the knuckleball of anybody I’ve seen,” Collins said. “He’s got the best one, and today was the hardest one I’ve seen him throw in quite awhile.”

Murphy’s RBI single in the seventh gave the Mets a cushion, extending their lead to 3-0. Murphy finished 2-for-4 and snapped a hitless drought that had extended to 19 at-bats.

Lucas Duda’s two-run homer in the fifth gave the Mets their initial runs. The blast was Duda’s 10th of the season, making him the first Mets player to reach double digits in 2012. Kirk Nieuwenhuis had singled leading off the inning against Chien-Ming Wang and stole second before Duda unloaded with two outs.

Dudaism has been thriving lately — the lefty slugger has homered five times since May 30.

“He has no fear right now,” Collins said. “I truly believe when he gets in the batter’s box nobody intimidates him, and he’s gotten big hits. It’s nice that he’s always hitting behind somebody [David Wright], who is always standing on second base. That helps.”

Duda is just glad he doesn’t have to face Dickey’s knuckleball.

“That’s harder to hit than a 100-mph fastball,” said Duda, who took batting practice against Dickey in spring training. “You can’t judge which way it goes. It has a life of its own.”

mpuma@nypost.com

the Mets, the Nationals, R.A. Dickey, Daniel Murphy, scoreless innings, scoreless streak, Dickey, Dickey, Mets ebook download, Washington Nationals, manager Terry Collins

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Wife: I didn’t nag McNamee about Clemens

WASHINGTON — Wearing a blue floral print dress, Eileen McNamee presented herself as a soft-spoken first-grade schoolteacher who never nagged her now-estranged husband about Roger Clemens. She went on to contradict the government’s key witness many times — and even came up with a different brand of beer to associate with the crucial evidence in the perjury trial of the former pitcher.

On a day in which the judge lost his temper twice with Clemens’ lawyers, the defense turned yesterday to the soon-to-be-ex-wife of Brian McNamee. This was the woman who McNamee testified harangued him with the words “You’re going to go down! You’re going to go down! You’re going to go down!” — pestering him until he saved medical waste from an alleged steroids injection of Clemens so that he wouldn’t be the fall guy in any sort of drugs investigation.

She says she never said anything of the sort. She said McNamee didn’t tell her back then that he was injecting Clemens, and that she wasn’t especially bothered by the extended time her husband spent away from home working with the seven-time Cy Young Award winner. Brian McNamee said the days apart had become a source of friction in the marriage.

“I probably complained once in a while,” Eileen McNamee said. “But I did not fuss about it.”

Clemens is charged with lying when he told Congress in 2008 that he never used steroids or human growth hormone. Brian McNamee is the only witness to claim firsthand knowledge of Clemens using those substances. He testified last month that he injected Clemens in 1998, 2000 and 2001 and saved the needle and other waste from a 2001 injection. He said he put some of it in a Miller Lite can to bring home because his wife was giving him a “hard time every single day.”

Roger Clemens, Eileen McNamee, Brian McNamee

Nypost.com

MLB First-Year Player Draft notebook: GW's Sanchez goes to Braves in 16th round

One day and one round after teammate Nelson Rodriguez was drafted, Fernelys Sanchez was picked.

The similarities between the good friends end there. Whereas Rodriguez was disappointed he wasn’t chosen higher, Sanchez was thrilled with the opportunity the Atlanta Braves gave him, taking him in the 16th round (509th overall) after he missed most of the year with a broken left fibula.

“I was shocked, I was excited, I’m happy it happened,” the gifted outfielder said. “I’m ready to keep doing good things. I’m going to go there and do my best. I’m going to do what I can to keep moving up to the next level.”

Robert Cole

George Washington's Fernelys Sanchez was all smiles on Wednesday after the Atlanta Braves took him in the 16th round of the First-Year Player Draft.

Because of the injury, suffered during the preseason, Sanchez was unable to attend any pre-draft workouts. A few weeks ago, his doctor sent a copy of his last medical report to Major League Baseball, which was distributed to every team,

He has yet to play the field for GW, but he has hit .417 with five RBIs and nine runs scored in five playoff games.

One area scout familiar with Sanchez thinks the injury set him back, as far as the draft is concered.

“If he came back earlier when guys could’ve gotten in to see him, I believe he would’ve went higher,” the scout said.

Sanchez was pleased to be taken where he was by the Braves, a team that has followed him for years. He expects to sign with them and begin his professional career shortly. Before then, however, he will be at MCU Park in Coney Island on Friday, hoping to lead George Washington to its second straight PSAL Class A title.

“Good things are happening this week,” he said. “I feel like I’m ready to play pro ball.”

MAAC Player of the Year Burke goes to Padres in 18th round: Iona College third baseman Chris Burke, the MAAC Player of the Year, was sitting by himself in his room at his parents’ Islip, L.I., home when he saw his name flash across the computer screen.

In the 18th round (555th overall) on Wednesday, the San Diego Padres took the hard-hitting 6-foot-1 senior who contended for conference triple crown honors this season, hitting .351 with 11 home runs and 50 RBI in 53 games played and .409 with five home runs and 26 RBI in 23 MAAC contests.

“I heard my name called, I just up and gave my mom a big hug,” he recalled. “It’s really a dream come true. I can’t describe it.”

Burke figured the odds were good it would be the Padres. He worked out for the organization’s higher-ups at a pre-draft camp and had dialogue with the team leading up to the draft.

“I was happy it was them, I’m really happy with how everything turned out,” said Burke, Iona’s all-time hits leader with 226 and the first Gael to be drafted since James LaSala in 2006. “It’s a great organization. I’m excited to get to camp, improve myself and work my way up.”

Notes: Grand Street Campus shortstop Jose Cuas, a Maryland recruit, was taken by the Blue Jays in the 40th round (1,125), though it is highly unlikely he will sign, coach Melvin Martinez said. The Blue Jays, Martinez said, went to Cuas in the 10th round, but his financial demands were too high. … Former Clinton shortstop Melvin Mercedes, who just finished a JUCO year at College of Central Florida, was drafted by the Oakland A’s in the 16th round (499). … Manhattan College center fielder Anthony Vega was selected in the 30th round (912) by the Baltimore Orioles and LIU pitcher Justin Topa went to the Cincinnati Reds in the 33rd round (1,012). … Former Poly Prep center fielder Kevin Heller of Amherst College was taken by the Boston Red Sox in the 40th round (1,231).

zbraziller@nypost.com

Atlanta Braves, Fernelys Sanchez, Nelson Rodriguez, Chris Burke, George Washington, Padres, San Diego Padres, Major League Baseball, Sanchez, Iona College

Nypost.com