Arizona

VS. ARIZONA When: 8. Where: Honda Center. On the air: TV: Prime Ticket; Radio: 570. Records: UCLA 7-7, 0-2 in Pac-12; Arizona, 10-4, 1-0. Update: This is the fourth time Arizona has played in the Wooden Classic game and the Wildcats are 3-0 so far. Four Arizona players average in double figures in scoring, led by Solomon Hill (12.1). Arizona has held five opponents to less than 40% shooting this season. UCLA has shot less than 45% its last three games.

Arizona 5, Dodgers 3 AT THE PLATE: Carl Crawford collected his first hits in six months, slapping two singles and driving in two runs. Crawford's last hits had come Aug. 17, before the Boston Red Sox traded him to the Dodgers as part of a multiple-player package. Crawford singled through the left side of the infield in the third inning. His fifth-inning single to center field drove in Elian Herrera and Dee Gordon. ON THE MOUND: With Josh Beckett pitching in a simulated game instead of making his scheduled start, mound duties fell to a collection of relievers.

When the Arizona State Senate broke into disarray last week during its fourth special session in four months to deal with this state's seemingly perpetual budget crisis, Senate President Robert "Bob" Burns told his colleagues: "It amazes me we're having this much trouble. This is the easy part." It took until Monday for the GOP-controlled Legislature to pass $300 million in spending cuts, ones they had already approved in June but which were vetoed by the state's Republican governor, Jan Brewer.

at Arizona 4, Houston 3: Diamondbacks closer Chad Qualls suffered a dislocated left kneecap when hit by Jason Michaels' line drive on the final play. Shortstop Stephen Drew picked up the ball and threw Michaels out to end the game. at Philadelphia 3, Atlanta 2: Carlos Ruiz hit a two-run, go-ahead double for the Phillies. at Milwaukee 4, Pittsburgh 1: The Brewers beat the Pirates for the 21st consecutive time at home. at St. Louis 2, Washington 1: Adam Wainwright earned his major league-leading 16th victory.

In recent years, the onset of summer in Phoenix meant two things -- triple-digit temperatures and a budget battle between the Republican-dominated Legislature, which regularly pushed to cut taxes, and Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano, who pushed to maintain them to save or expand services. In January, Napolitano moved to Washington to become secretary of Homeland Security, and Jan Brewer, a staunch fiscal conservative who was then Arizona's secretary of state, took her spot.

There are no guarantees in life. But UCLA freshman forward Shabazz Muhammad came close to making one. The Bruins, who lost to Oregon on Saturday, face sixth-ranked Arizona in Tucson on Thursday. “We have to win this game, especially after losing to Oregon,” Muhammad said. Muhammad took it a little further, taking personal responsibility. “I'm taking it upon myself to win this game,” Muhammad said. Easier said than done. The problems UCLA had against Oregon could pop up again in Tucson.

Wrestling with a multibillion-dollar budget deficit, Arizona decided Friday to close nearly all of its state parks, including the famed Tombstone Courthouse and Yuma Territorial Prison. The State Parks Board unanimously voted to close 13 parks by June 3. Eight others had already been closed, and the decision would leave nine open -- but only if the board can raise $3 million this year. The action represents the largest closure of state parks in the nation, although several other states are considering similar moves.

WASHINGTON - Former Surgeon General Richard Carmona, a Democrat, was unable to overcome Republican Rep. Jeff Flake, keeping the Senate seat from Arizona in the GOP column. Carmona enjoyed a late surge in the historically Republican state as a moderate, and Latino, candidate, with the state showing signs of an emerging Democratic tilt. But funding from Democrats nationally and a visit from former President Clinton were not enough to outpace Flake, a six-term congressman from Mesa who is  a conservative leader in the House.

PHOENIX -- The Dodgers have two games scheduled Friday and given the way their pitching is backing up, they'd like to play both. "This is a day where you want two games," Manager Don Mattingly said. He may not get his wish though. The chance of rain is 45% Friday afternoon, when the Dodgers are scheduled to play the Giants in Scottsdale, rising slightly to 50% for the night game at home with the Reds. It rained Friday morning. But much of the news Friday was coming from the trainer's room and the batting cages Friday anyway.