In the desert, the hits just keep coming and coming

In a game played without either a Wiffle ball or a batting tee, the Lake Elsinore Storm and the High Desert Mavericks combined for 51 runs Sunday in Lake Elsinore’s 33-18 victory.

Lake Elsinore, the San Diego Padres’ Class-A affiliate, scored eight runs in the first, six in the eighth and had two five-run innings.

High Desert, a Seattle Mariners’ affiliate, can take no solace in producing 18 runs; the Mavericks still lost by 15.

“It seemed like a never-ending game of hits,� Lake Elsinore’s Matt Clark told MLB.com after scoring seven runs and going five for six while falling a double short of the cycle.

The game lasted 4 hours and 10 minutes -- not a bad pace considering the run production.

By comparison, the New York Yankees needed 3 hours and 38 minutes to beat the New York Mets, 4-2, the same day.

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Trivia time

What is the major league record for most runs in a game?

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Some kind of appeal

What do Maria Sharapova, Gisela Dulko and Maria Kirilenko have in common?

All were unseeded heading into Wimbledon and all played at least one match on the prestigious Centre Court during the tournament’s first week.

The Sydney Morning Herald presented a theory why: “They’re easy on the eye.�

Johnny Perkins, a spokesman for the All England Club, told the Daily Mail, “Good looks are a factor. It’s not a coincidence that those [on Centre Court] are attractive.�

Perkins later backpedaled, telling the Herald that “box-office appeal� was considered when making Centre Court assignments.

John Alexander, former Australia Federation Cup captain, said this would never happen at the Australian Open.

“I can absolutely swear that at the Australian Open, it has only ever been done on the quality of the tennis,� he said.

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Desperation time

Boxer Evander Holyfield is facing foreclosure on his mansion in suburban Atlanta, prompting Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle to write:

“The house has 109 rooms, including 17 bathrooms, three kitchens and two Starbucks. It’s sad. That place cost Holyfield an arm and a leg and two ears. Holyfield is so desperate, he might have to fight Jose Canseco.�

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Trivia answer

Chicago and Philadelphia combined for 49 runs in the Cubs’ 26-23 victory on Aug. 15, 1922.

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And finally

From Dan Daly of the Washington Times, after owner Ted Leonsis’ Washington Capitals took a Swedish center with their first-round draft pick for the third time in four years: “There’s only one conclusion we can draw from this: Ted really likes to shop at Ikea.�

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