Lob / Kritik / Wünsche » t could sideline him for the rest

HASTINGS, Mich. -- Former major league outfielder Chad Curtis was sentenced Thursday to seven to 15 years in prison for inappropriately touching teenage girls. Curtis was sentenced in Michigan by Barry County Circuit Judge Amy McDowell, who called the two-time World Series champion a "predator." But Curtis, who this summer was found guilty of six counts of criminal sexual conduct, told McDowell Thursday that the three victims lied. He described himself as a Christian servant and said he and one of the victims "could write a book together someday, and it could have a positive impact on a lot of people." According to prosecutors, Curtis, 44, sexually assaulted the girls last year when he was a volunteer weight-room strength trainer at a high school in Barry County, located between Grand Rapids and Lansing. A 16-year-old girl said he touched and kissed her breasts. Two 15-year-old girls said Curtis inappropriately touched their buttocks. "You certainly are a threat to any community you get into," McDowell told Curtis. One of the girls spoke during the sentencing hearing, saying Curtis was a manipulator who knew what he had done. Between 1992 and 2001, Curtis played for the then-California Angels, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees and Texas Rangers. He won the two World Series rings with the Yankees. Toronto starts Marcus Stroman, whos appealing a six-game suspension he was docked with after an incident against Baltimore on Monday in game three of a four-game series against the New York Yankees on Saturday afternoon. Stroman threw over the head of an Orioles player whod apparently tried to step on the hand of teammate Jose Reyes earlier in that game, but he denied any intent. "Fastball that just kind of slipped out of my hand," he said. "Its late in the game. I got two big strikeouts. Im a little excited, and trying to get out of the inning. I know its possibly my last hitter. Just trying to execute a fastball in." Stroman had won three straight starts with a 1.59 earned run average before allowing five runs in six innings of the loss to the Orioles. Hes allowed five runs four times in six weeks, and given up two or fewer in the other four starts during that stretch. In two starts against New York, hes 1-1 with a 2.31 ERA. Toronto has lost six in a row while scoring just 15 runs and allowing 33. The playoff-pursuing Yankees will continue to chase an unlikely postseason berth -- and may have to do it without big-ticket outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury. New York needs to pass three teams in its final 10 games to earn the American Leagues second and final wild card playoff slot. Its tied with Cleveland and is behind Seattle, Oakland and Kansas City. A failure to do so would be the first time since 1993 that the Yankees have missed the postseason in two straight years.dddddddddddd Things were getting better on the field as the Yankees secured their third straight victory overall and second in a row in the series with the Blue Jays, before Ellsbury sustained a hamstring injury that could sideline him for the rest of the season. "End strong, see what happens," New York relief pitcher Adam Warren said. Ellsbury injured his leg on a fourth-inning ground ball, but left the game in the fifth inning. His absence for the rest of the season was called a "distinct possibility" by manager Joe Girardi. New York starts veteran Chris Capuano, whos made 10 starts with the Yankees since arriving in late July. He allowed two hits in six innings of a game the team lost, 1-0, on Monday at Tampa Bay. Hes got a 2.92 ERA in two meetings with Toronto while with New York. On Friday, Brian McCann drove in a run for the Yankees, who beat Toronto, 5-3. Hiroki Kuroda (11-9) gave up three runs -- two earned -- on seven hits while striking out seven over 6 2/3 innings. Edwin Encarnacion hit a two-run homer for the Blue Jays. Mark Buehrle (12-10) continued to struggle against the Yankees, allowing five runs on eight hits over six innings. The left-hander fell to 1-14 lifetime against New York, with 12 consecutive losing decisions. The Yanks are 10-7 against the Jays this season. ' ' '