FLORENCE, Italy -- Police had to intervene after Mario Balotelli was subjected to racist chants at Italys World Cup training base on Wednesday. Kids outside the Coverciano complex were responsible for the chants, and Balotelli appeared visibly disturbed. The training session was open to media, and Balotelli could be heard saying as he ran by reporters, "Only in Rome and Florence are they that stupid." While most of the fans cheered for Balotelli, police approached the area where the chants came from and they quickly ended. Balotelli was born in Sicily to Ghanaian immigrants and brought up by an Italian foster family. He has faced racist chants throughout his professional career. "Its unbelievable that in 2014 we still have this form of racism," Balotellis fellow forward, Ciro Immobile, said. "Its not great for the nation. We represent Italy." Immobile, from the Naples area, noted how insulting anti-Naples chants have pervaded Serie A stadiums recently. "When I hear that it saddens me, because I have a lot of pride in my city," Immobile said. Balotelli was also the focus of much speculation on racist abuse before the 2012 European Championship, and UEFA placed spotters inside stadiums, resulting in fan behaviour by Spain and Croatia being sanctioned. FIFA claims it will have zero tolerance for racism at the World Cup but has not announced plans yet on how it will control behaviour inside stadiums. Don Lund Jersey . - The width of Alec Martinezs shin guard was the difference between the Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks in their playoff series opener. Sam Crawford Jersey . Pedroia reached the milestone with a little panache, hitting a grand slam in the sixth inning and propelling the Boston Red Sox to a 7-1 win over the Oakland Athletics on Friday night. https://www.cheaptigers.com/619z-doug-br...tigers.html.com) - They didnt meet in the regular season, so Sam Houston State might be saying it won the de facto title game between the two Southland Conference co-champions Saturday. Matthew Boyd Jersey . But last years runner-up Jarkko Nieminen crashed out despite winning the first set against Denis Istomin. Istomin fired 10 aces and won 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-2 to even his career record against Nieminen at 3-3. Gregory Soto Jersey . Unlike last year when nobody got in, there have been estimates of as many as five getting voted in this time around and as few as one, Greg Maddux.SEATTLE -- Kole Calhoun thinks the Angels showed off their many talents in a win over the Mariners. Erick Aybar hit a three-run homer, Matt Shoemaker pitched effectively into the sixth inning and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Seattle Mariners 7-5 on Thursday night. "Theres a lot of weapons in here, one through nine, and guys have their special thing they bring to the team," said Calhoun, who reached base safely four times from the leadoff spot. Even with star Albert Pujols on the bench with a scheduled day off, the Angels had 15 hits, the fourth time in a week the club has had at least 11 hits in a game and its most in a game since getting 16 against the Yankees on April 25. Recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday, Shoemaker (3-1) set down the side in order four times in 5 1-3 innings. He allowed three runs on four hits, equaled a career-high six strikeouts and did not walk a batter for the first time in five career starts. "We were able to use all four pitches effectively, be able to throw them for strikes, get ahead of them," the right-hander said. "Definitely a confidence builder. Just knowing Im able to pitch at this level." Shoemaker didnt allow a baserunner until James Jones dropped a double in front of a diving Mike Trout in centre field to lead off the fourth. One out later, Michael Saunders lined a two-run home run to right, cutting the deficit to 5-2. Saunders added a sacrifice fly in the sixth, but the Angels bullpen cruised into the ninth until Kyle Seager hit a two-run home run off Fernando Salas. Ernesto Frieri came on to record two outs for his eighth save in 10 chances. "Outside of Fernando Salas maybe just losing some counts in the ninth and giving up the home ruun, the bullpen did a terrific job, Kevin Jepsen especially," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.dddddddddddd Mariners starter Brandon Maurer (1-4) lasted just four innings, allowing five runs on six hits and four walks. Its the fifth time in seven starts this season that Maurer has failed to reach the fifth inning. "I agree he has struggled," Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon said of his young starter. "When you lk at options you have to sit down and make sure you have a viable option. That is something Jack (Zduriencik, the general manager) and I will talk about and see where we go from here." Los Angeles tk a quick lead in the first when Trouts sacrifice fly to right field scored Calhoun. Trout drove in another run in the sixth with a sharp single up the middle, but the Angels, leading 6-2, were unable to blow the game open, as Seattle reliever Dominic Leone got two outs to leave a pair of runners stranded. NOTES: OF Josh Hamilton, who sustained a bone bruise to his injured left thumb during a rehab assignment on May 22, worked out and tk batting practice with the Angels. If all goes well, Hamilton is expected to join Triple-A Salt Lake in Tacoma on Friday. ... Mariners 2B Robinson Cano didnt feel well Thursday and was a late scratch. Stefen Romero replaced Cano in the lineup at DH and Nick Franklin moved to second base. ... RHP Taijuan Walker, on the 15-day DL with a right shoulder impingement, said he felt gd after his first rehab start with Triple-A Tacoma on Wednesday and expects to throw a bullpen on Friday. "Its sore, obviously, its sore," Walker said. "Its the normal soreness in the right spots. Sore in the right spots. Its nothing bad. I felt like I pitched yesterday." ' ' '