| 1764 Beiträge - Hardcoreposter
|
|
|
CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Indians have found their stride again. Perfect timing, too. Asdrubal Cabrera hit a three-run homer, Nick Swisher had a solo shot and the surging Indians beat the New York Mets 9-4 on Saturday night. Cleveland has won four in a row for the first time since it captured eight straight from July 24-Aug. 1. Swisher finished with two hits and two RBIs as the Indians stayed in the hunt for the ALs second wild-card slot. "This is such a great opportunity for us and were starting to get to the middle of September," Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. "Every time we win, were getting closer to where we want to be. Its a great chance for this team to shine and I think theyre enjoying that." Corey Kluber (8-5), the first of seven Cleveland pitchers, allowed two runs in five-plus innings. Kluber, pitching for the first time since Aug. 5 after being sidelined by a sprained right middle finger, was pulled after walking the leadoff hitter in the sixth. Jonathon Niese (6-7) lost for the first time in six starts since coming off the disabled list on Aug. 11. The left-hander allowed six runs over six innings in New Yorks fifth loss in the last six games. Cleveland began the day just two games back of Tampa Bay for the second AL wild card. The Indians and Orioles are tied with 76-65 records. The Indians went 1-5 on a road trip to Atlanta and Detroit, but they have won four of five on their current homestand. "Theres something to be said for just playing through ups and downs," Francona said. "Thats really what the season is. And now you get toward the last month, because weve endured a lot, every game, every inning is so meaningful." Swisher, who hit a grand slam Friday, belted a one-out homer in the second that travelled 402 feet. He also had an RBI double in Clevelands five-run first. "This is the push," Swisher said. "Its been a while since this teams been in this opportunity. This is where it really counts." The Indians jumped all over Niese. Ryan Raburns three-run double was the big hit in the productive first. Following Swishers double, Carlos Santana added a run-scoring single. New York responded with Matt den Dekkers two-out RBI single in the second, and then added three more runs in the sixth. Justin Turner had a two-run double and Juan Lagares singled in a run against Vinnie Pestano. Cleveland used four pitchers in the inning, which finally ended when Nick Hagadone struck out den Dekker. Thanks to the expanded September rosters, Francona has 15 relievers at his disposal, and he used six against the Mets. With Clevelands lead cut to 6-4, Cabrera put the game away with his home run off Scott Atchison in the seventh. The drive, which curled around the foul pole in right field, snapped an 0-for-19 slump. "Swish looks like hes starting to swing it and Cabby had a big, big hit," Francona said. "That would be so good to get both those guys hot right about the right time." Michael Bourn started Clevelands big first inning with a leadoff single. He stole second and scored on Swishers double into the left-field corner. Jason Kipnis then put down a sacrifice and Nieses throw to first appeared to be in time for the out. Umpire Paul Emmel ruled the throw pulled Lucas Duda off the bag and Kipnis was safe. Mets manager Terry Collins argued the call and Niese was charged with an error. "Thats why I went out there, because I thought he was out," Collins said. "Paul said (Duda) never touched the bag. If you dont touch the bag.... I havent looked at the replay so I dont know what happened." Santana singled for a 2-0 lead and Yan Gomes single loaded the bases. After Cabrera flied out, Raburn sent a liner into the gap in right-centre. Niese settled down after the shaky start, allowing two hits over the final 4 2-3 innings. He had pitched well since coming off the DL, where he spent nearly two months with a partially torn rotator cuff. Niese was 3-0 with a 2.14 ERA in his first five starts after being sidelined. Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy was hitless in four at-bats, ending his 10-game hitting streak. Lagares extended his hitting streak to a career-high 12 games. NOTES: Mets 3B David Wright (strained right hamstring) will rejoin the team next week in New York to continue his rehab. Wright, who has been working out in Florida, hopes to play again this season. The seven-time All-Star hasnt played since Aug. 2. ... The Indians have no timetable for when OF Michael Brantley will rejoin the team. He returned to his home in Florida to be with his wife, who is expecting their first child. ... Francona said RHP Justin Masterson (strained left oblique) will get treatment for the next several days before the next course of action is decided. ... RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (0-3, 10.95 ERA) will start for the Mets in Sundays series finale. He pitched most of the season at the Indians Triple-A team in Columbus, but was released at his request last month. RHP Danny Salazar (1-2, 3.00 ERA) starts for the Indians. ... New York has called up RHP Frank Francisco from Triple-A Las Vegas. The veteran hasnt pitched for the Mets this season. Cheap NFL Jerseys . There are some early surprises in the race for the Hart Trophy, but two of the contenders are the leagues biggest stars over the past decade. There are many more players in contention for the awards than just the three that Ive named, and a good or bad week can easily alter the landscape, but through the first 20 or so games of the NHL season, this is how the awards races look to me. Cheap MLB Jerseys . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. http://www.chinastorenflfactory.com/ . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros. NFL Jerseys Factory . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . Jerseys NFL China . The catch: It needs a lot of money, and it needs it fast. BALTIMORE -- Brian Roberts had to endure a tremendous amount of hardship waiting for the chance to contribute to a playoff run. Now, finally, it all seems worth it. Roberts hit a grand slam, Adam Jones homered and had three RBIs, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Oakland Athletics 9-7 Friday night to gain ground in the wild-card race. Its been a grind for the 35-year-old Roberts over the past few years. Hes had to deal with one injury after another, from a serious concussion to a groin strain to hip surgery. He was powerless to do anything but watch last year as the Orioles made their first trip to the playoffs in 15 years. This season, after another bout with injuries, Roberts is finally playing the role he longed for since launching his major league career in 2001. "Its fun. This is what we all play for," he said. "You want to be in the race in August and September, and I havent had a whole lot of opportunities to do that in my career. Unfortunately missed the fun last year. So to be able to contribute and be a part of it and just be one of the 25 guys is awesome." Roberts and Jones connected in a six-run fourth inning that put Baltimore up 6-3. After Oakland rallied to take the lead, Jones drove in the go-ahead run during a three-run seventh. The victory moved the Orioles past Cleveland into third place in the wild-card hunt. Tampa Bay is on top and Baltimore now stands two games behind Oakland. The top two teams make the playoffs. Making his fifth start for Baltimore since coming in a trade with Houston, Bud Norris yielded seven runs and nine hits in 4 2-3 innings. In four appearances against Oakland this season, hes 0-3 with a 9.35 ERA. "This is about the team battling back," Norris said. "They picked me up. To win that one, the first game of the series, is huge." Coco Crisp homered, had a career-high tying four hits and scored three runs for the As, who have lost four of six and are 15-17 since the All-Star break. "Were going to go out there and play as hard as we can, and if we end up making it to the playoffs that would be fantastic," Crisp said. "If not, we knew we gave it our best shot and thats what everyone in here is doing right now." In the Baltimore seventh, Jesse Chavez walked Nate McLouth and was replaced by Ryan Cook (5-3). A single by Mannny Machado put runners at the corners, and McLouth scored when second baseman Eric Sogard misplayed a grounder by Chris Davis.dddddddddddd. Jones followed with a run-scoring groundout and Nick Markakis capped the uprising with an RBI single. Francisco Rodriguez (2-0) got the win and Jim Johnson, the fourth Baltimore reliever, worked a perfect ninth for his 40th save. He had blown his previous three attempts. "You could see the look in his eye," Roberts said. "I thought tonight he came out really aggressive. He threw the ball incredible. We all looked at each other and were like, Whoa. This is almost a different guy." The victory assured the Orioles their first season series win over Oakland since 1998. Theyve won four of five with two to play. As starter Dan Straily allowed six runs, four hits and four walks in 3 1-3 innings. Although he walked off the mound with the As trailing 6-3, the right-hander avoided losing his sixth straight decision when Oakland took the lead with a four-run fifth. Crisp led off the fifth with a single and scored on a double by Jed Lowrie, who came home on a single by Josh Donaldson. Following a double play, two walks and a single loaded the bases and ended Norris night. Troy Patton then gave up a two-run single to Sogard. Oakland got a first-inning run when Crisp led off with a single and scored on a two-out single by Brandon Moss. Crisp and Moss hit solo shots to right field in the third, even though Norris struck out the side. At that point, the As were sailing. Then came the Baltimore fourth inning. Davis drew a walk and Jones followed with an opposite-field drive to right. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases for Roberts, who hit a high fly to right that plopped onto the flag court beyond the 25-foot scoreboard for his sixth career grand slam, the first since 2009. NOTES: Straily has allowed 11 homers in his last 11 starts . ... The As acquired C Kurt Suzuki in a trade with Washington. Suzuki fills the void left by the absence of John Jaso (concussion) and Derek Norris (broken toe). ... Baltimore sold minor league pitcher Freddy Garcia to Atlanta. ... Oakland RF Josh Reddick (wrist) took full batting practice Friday and could return Saturday. ... As OF Seth Smith was back in the lineup for the first time in almost a week because of an astigmatism. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China ' ' '
|