Kathrynpires2015
member
offline  |
| |
| posts: |
425 |
| joined: |
10/29/2015 |
| from: |
hefei, AL |
|
|
 |
|
|
| injuries mounting on that side |
| OAKLAND, Calif. -- If the Seattle Mariners can get into the AL wild card game against Jon Lester and the Oakland Athletics, theyll be plenty confident with King Felix on the mound. Kyle Seager and Corey Hart homered leading off the seventh inning to back Felix Hernandezs stellar start, and the Mariners rallied to beat the As 2-1 on Wednesday to win the three-game series between playoff contenders. "I think we match up well," Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said. "Weve got a few bullets to throw at them that toe the rubber. We like our chances." McClendon and the Mariners were in a light-hearted mood after the victory. The manager pointed out that Hernandez looked well rested despite his much-maligned move to push his ace back a day before his last start against the Washington Nationals -- which was Hernandezs worst outing of the season -- by referencing a profanity-laced quote from former Indiana basketball coach Bobby Knight. McClendon could crack jokes mostly because of the homers that erased an otherwise brilliant performance by Lester (13-10) and helped Hernandez (14-5) win for the first time in four outings. Adam Dunns homer in the fourth accounted for the only run Hernandez allowed in eight innings. The right-hander gave up three hits, struck out four and walked two to outduel Lester in a matchup of two of the ALs best pitchers. The Mariners tagged Lester for seven hits in eight innings. Fernando Rodney pitched a perfect ninth for his 41st save in 44 chances. "It was special," said Hernandez, adding that he promised his wife a win for her birthday. "We came here to win the series and thats what we did." Hernandez improved to 19-7 against Oakland, including 4-0 in five starts this season. He said hes just happy to finally be pitching in a playoff race. "It feels great. It feels really good. Its fun to do that," he said. The As have lost seven of nine, including a four-game series at the AL West-leading Los Angeles Angels before dropping two of three to Seattle at the Coliseum. The Mariners remain right behind Detroit and Oakland in the chase for the ALs two wild cards. And for most of the sun-splashed afternoon, it looked like a possible preview for that game. Hernandez, who allowed a career-high four home runs in his last start against the Washington Nationals, returned to his dominant ways for all but one pitch. It was Dunns second homer in three days since being traded from the Chicago White Sox, his 22nd this season and 462nd of his career, tying him with former As slugger Jose Canseco for 34th in major league history. Lester looked to be in his All-Star form, scattering hits and keeping batters off balance, but Seattle changed that on the left-handers first three pitches of the seventh. Seager and Hart hit back-to-back homers to give the Mariners the lead. It was Seagers 22nd home run this season, tying a career high, and Harts fifth. "Two mistakes, two solo homers," Lester said. "Nothing else really to talk about as far as the game went for me." INJURED VOGT: As first baseman Stephen Vogt was replaced in the seventh after spraining his left ankle, which he injured sliding into second on a failed hit-and-run in the fifth. Vogt said X-rays were negative and hes hoping hes only out a few days. TRAINERS ROOM Mariners: Chris Young, chased Monday after getting just two outs in the shortest outing of his career, threw a bullpen session and felt fine. Manager Lloyd McClendon will decide Thursday whether the 35-year-old right-hander will make his next start Saturday. Athletics: CF Coco Crisp felt better after receiving trigger-point injections Wednesday to help relieve tightness and pain in his neck. He could return to the lineup Friday. ... Reliever Sean Doolittle (strained right intercostal) played long toss. He will take Thursday off and resume his rehab Friday. ... INF Nick Punto (hamstring) got a cortisone shot earlier in the week and will try running sprints Friday. UP NEXT Mariners: LHP Roenis Elias (9-12, 3.97 ERA) starts the opener of a four-game series at Texas on Thursday. Hes 1-1 with a 2.60 ERA in three starts against the Rangers. Athletics: After an off day Thursday, RHP Jeff Samardzija (4-4, 3.57 ERA) starts the opener of a three-game series against Houston. He has gone eight innings in his last two starts. Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping . He wound up deciding the game. Penas second career pinch-homer started Cincinnatis big eighth-inning rally and swept the Reds over the Milwaukee Brewers 8-3 Thursday night. Wholesale Jerseys China .When Schultz does have a rare shot to score, the defenceman enjoys the chance to cash in.It must be nice to be a goal scorer, he said. http://www.wholesalejerseyscc.us.com/. -- Siyani Chambers scored 17 points and Harvard became the first team to clinch a berth in this years NCAA tournament with a 70-58 win over arch-rival Yale on Friday night to capture the Ivy League title. Wholesale Jersey .C. -- The Bobcats announced theyve signed centre Justin Hamilton to a 10-day contract.Annapolis, MD (SportsNetwork.com) - The Cincinnati Bearcats and Virginia Tech Hokies will close out their 2014 seasons in the Military Bowl on Dec. 27, as they take the field at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Tommy Tubervilles Bearcats closed the regular season with seven straight wins, earning a share of the American Athletic Conference crown, their fifth conference championship in the last seven years. Cincinnati opened the 2014 campaign with two straight wins, but then suffered three consecutive losses to Ohio State, Memphis and Miami-Florida. However, Tuberville righted the ship and the Bearcats responded with nothing but wins, finishing up the season at 9-3 and earning the conference title. Tuberville knows how rare conference success can be. Yeah, 2004 (at Auburn in the SEC), 10 year reunion, said Tuberville. Its been a long time. There are a lot of guys coaching in this profession that never win one. And I didnt have much to do with it, its about the players. They did a good job. Its fun to watch kids win championships. Ive been on several that have done great things like these kids did here and its satisfying to be able to watch and listen to them out there celebrating then it is thinking about yourself. Cincinnati is 8-7 all-time in bowl games and has participated in the Belk Bowl the last two seasons, beating Duke in 2012 (48-34) and losing to North Carolina (39-17) last year. Frank Beamers Hokies didnt have quite the same success in 2014. Virginia Tech was able to record a marquee win, handing Big Ten champion Ohio State its only loss of the season and in Columbus (35-21), but the Hokies really struggled to remain consistent and actually needed a 24-20 victory over rival Virginia in the regular-season finale just to become bowl eligible at 6-6. Still, the win over the Cavaliers extended Virginia Techs streak of consecutive bowl appearances to 22, the second-longest active streak in the nation. Beamer recognized this was a different kind of year for the Hokies following the win over Virginia. I really like this football team, Beamer said. I know the record hasnt been as good as some of them, but the quality of kid, the determination and the hard play - we didn?t always play well, but we played hard. I really appreciate the type of kid we have in our program and particularly this group of players. Virginia Tech is 10-17 in bowl games all-time and has lost three of its last four outings in the postseason, including a humbling 42-12 rout at the hands of UCLA in last years Sun Bowl. This marks the 11th all-time meeting between these two programs. Cincinnati tied things up at 5-5 with a 27-24 in 2012, the last time these teams met. These two teams met in the 2009 Orange Bowl, a game won by Virginia Tech, 20-7. The Bearcats are a dangerous offensive squad, ranking 24th nationally in scoring (35.4 ppg) and 27th in total offense (457.8 ypg). The teams preference for moving the football is via the pass, where Cincinnati ranked 13th nationally at a hefty 300.2 yards per game. Notre Dame transfer Gunner Kiel has settled in under center and had a tremendous sophomore season, completing 60.2 percent of his passes, for 3,019 yards and 30 touchdowns. Kiel was naamed an All-AAC honorable mention as a result.dddddddddddd The key to Cincinnatis strong passing attack is an array of weapons down the field. Three players finished up with 40+ receptions, led by Shaq Washingtons 61 catches, for 661 yards and four scores. MeKale McKay (42 rec, 690 yds, 8 TDs) and Chris Moore (26 rec, 570 yds, 6 TDs) are big time playmakers as well. The UC ground game produced almost 160 yards per game this season, led by tailbacks Mike Boone (601 yards, 9 TDs) and Rod Moore (596 yards, 5 TDs). A lot of the offensive success was made possible by a strong offensive line, anchored by All-AAC first-team members Parker Ehinger (OG) and Eric Lefeld (OT). The Cincinnati defense had its ups and downs this season. The numbers overall werent anything to brag about, as the team allowed a generous 447.8 yards per game. Teams found success both running (181.5 ypg) and passing (266.3 ypg) against the Bearcats. Still, Cincinnati as a unit is capable of making big plays, with 32 sacks and 23 takeaways on the season. Two of those superb playmakers reside in Cincinnatis front seven. Former Florida State Seminole Jeff Luc was a monster for Cincinnati this season. The 6-foot-1, 256-pound senior LB posted 121 total tackles, with 9.5 TFL, 6.5 sacks and an eye popping six forced fumbled, en route to All-AAC first team honors. Joining him on that elite list is senior defensive end Terrell Hartswell, who finished with 34 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 8.0 sacks and three fumble recoveries. Other defenders of note include sophomore safety Zach Edwards (110 tackles, 1 INT) and senior linebacker Nick Temple (108 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 3.0 sacks). Offense was not Virginia Techs strength this season. The Hokies managed 23.3 ppg on a modest 367.9 ypg. Part of the problem was injuries decimating the backfield, resulting in rather bland rushing numbers. The lack of balance put a lot on quarterback Michael Brewers shoulders. He played brilliantly at times, but lacked consistency under center. Brewer completed 59.5 percent of his passes this season, for 2,598 yards and 17 touchdowns, but threw an alarming 14 interceptions as well. Still, Virginia Tech has depth at the receiver position, including Isaiah Ford (53 rec, 665 yds, 6 TDs), Willie Byrn (44 rec, 374 yds) and Bucky Hodges (42 rec, 517 yds, 7 TDs). While the Virginia Tech offense struggled at times, the defensive effort could be relied on week-in and week-out, despite injuries mounting on that side of the football as well, including losing stars like cornerback Brandon Facyson and defensive tackle Luther Maddy. Still, the Hokies ranked 17th nationally in scoring defense (20.4 ppg) and finished among the nations best in sacks with 46. A strong secondary has anchored the defensive unit in Blacksburg, highlighted by safety Kyshoen Jarrett (86 tackles, 3 INT) and cornerbacks Chuck Clark (68 tackles) and Kendall Fuller (50 tackles, 1 INT), who earned some All-America accolades, as well as being tabbed All-ACC first team. With the secondary blanketing opposing receivers, defensive ends Dadi Nicolas (63 tackles, 17.5 TFL, 9.0 sacks) and Ken Ekanem (46 tackles, 13.5 TFL, 8.5 sacks) were able to pin their ears back and get upfield. wholesale jerseys authentic wholesale jerseys store cheap jerseys Cheap Jerseys china wholesale jerseys ' ' ' |
|
|
|
|
|
Email To Friend | 
Set Alert To This Topic
New Topic | 
Post Reply 
posted on: 10/29/2015 08:09:29 AM
Edit
Quote
Report
Profile
Reply