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OAKLAND, Calif. Victor Cruz Red Jersey . —Bartolo Colon
finally received some early run support from his Oakland teammates. He didnt
need much at all as it turned out, even if his fastball was lacking its regular
zip. The 39-year-old Colon scattered seven hits over eight innings, extending
his shutout streak to 16 1-3 innings and leading the Athletics to a 4-1 win over
the slumping Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday night. “Early in the game I didnt
know if he had his best stuff, to tell you the truth,” As manager Bob Melvin
said. “I dont know if our gun was off today, but you saw a lot of 86s, 87s
(mph), which you dont normally see out of him. But he finds a way. He makes you
make the adjustment.” Colon (8-8) didnt do much out of the ordinary while
winning his second consecutive start. The right-hander relied primarily on his
fastball, changing speeds just enough to keep the Blue Jays off balance. He
retired 15 of 18 during one stretch and pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the
sixth by getting Rajai Davis to ground out. Colon had three strikeouts and one
walk. The As staked him to a 3-0 lead following Josh Reddicks two-run homer in
the third. Thats something Oakland hasnt done much with Colon on the mound. In
12 of his 21 previous starts, the As were held to two runs or fewer, “I dont pay
much attention to it,” said Colon, who has not allowed a run since the fourth
inning against the New York Yankees on July 22. “Its more important for me to do
the best that I can when Im on the mound and let the team do whatever they
want.” Brandon Inge and Seth Smith also drove in runs for the As, who improved
to 14-5 since the All-Star break. Oakland, held to no more than one run in three
of its previous four games, moved past the Los Angeles Angels into second place
in the AL West. The As are 4 1/2 games behind Texas. The Blue Jays have lost
five straight, matching their season high. “Were in a stretch where runs are at
a premium,” Toronto manager John Farrell said. “Its difficult to string hits
together right now. You have to credit Colon. He stayed out of the middle of the
plate.” Colby Rasmus, Edwin Encarnacion and Yunel Escobar had two hits apiece
for Toronto. Eric Sogard singled leading off the third, went to second on a wild
pitch and scored on Smiths single to right. Reddick followed with his 23rd home
run, a towering shot into the bleachers above the right-field scoreboard to give
Oakland a 3-0 lead. “(Colon) has done great all year and we havent gotten him
the run support that he deserves, so for me to be able to do that was huge,”
said Reddick, who was mired in a career-worst 0-for-21 slump before singling in
the first. “I went home last night and had a long talk with (my) dad, and it
seemed to work out.” The As missed an opportunity to add on when Davis misplayed
Coco Crisps fly to left. Davis appeared to lose the ball in the lights as it
sailed past his glove and rolled to the fence. Crisp, who slowed to a trot on
his way to first, raced to third but was stranded there after Brandon Moss later
grounded out with the bases loaded. Colon did the rest. Henderson Alvarez (7-8)
struggled with his control and lost for the second time in six decisions. He had
a career-high five walks, pitched with runners on base in all but one of his
five-plus innings, and struck out one. Oakland made it 4-0 in the seventh when
Inge singled home Chris Carter to extend his hitting streak to 12 games. The
Blue Jays scored in the ninth to avoid the shutout. David Cooper doubled leading
off against Sean Doolittle, went to third on Davis infield single and scored two
batters later on Moises Sierras groundout. Four of Torontos 10 hits didnt leave
the infield. NOTES: Smith, the As DH, left the game after straining his left
hamstring trying to run out a comebacker in the fifth inning. ... Escobar has
hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games. ... Oakland SS Cliff Pennington (left
elbow) may begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento on Friday, but the
team has no plans to call him up soon. “Well probably ease into it a little
bit,” Melvin said. ... Oakland made a pair of roster moves, adding INF
Adam Rosales from Sacramento while INF Brandon Hicks was optioned down. Hicks
was batting.183 with three home runs and seven RBIs in 20 games. ... Rookie RHP
Dan Straily will make his first major league start for the As on Friday. Straily
has more strikeouts (175) than any other pitcher in professional baseball,
including major league leader Stephen Strasburg of the Washington Nationals. LHP
Brett Cecil (2-4) goes for Toronto. Chase Blackburn Womens Jersey . Castrillon
scored his third goal of the season on a headeer in the 61st minute, and Rivero
added his first MLS goal in the 74th. Brian Mullan assisted on both goals.
Colorado improved to 5-5-0, and Dallas dropped to 3-4-3. Martellus Bennett Elite Jersey . The 2014
Olympics might still be almost two years away, but its currently front of mind
for the man in charge of assembling Team Canada. http://www.newyorkgiantsgears.com/victor-cruz-jersey/
.J. Kennington is ready jump into his comfort zone. Eli Manning Giants Jersey . Clijsters
physiotherapist, Sam Versleghers, said the 29-year-old Belgian felt the injury
on Thursday during her tough two-set quarterfinal against Francesca Schiavone.
The announcement came just hours before Clijsters was due to play Urszula
Radwanska, who subsequently advanced to the final. Hakeem Nicks Authentic Jersey . But one of
the leagues more outspoken individuals kept his cards close to his vest when it
came to the potential labour stoppage. “The leagues doing all the talking about
the collective bargaining agreement,” Burke told reporters. MILWAUKEE —Having
hit for the cycle less than two weeks ago, Aaron Hill had a plan for when he
came up with a shot at a second one. Well, as much as one can plan for the rare
batting feat. “You cant think about it,” he said. “You look for a ball up and
hope things work out.” It did. Hill hit for the cycle for the second time in 12
days and Ian Kennedy pitched seven strong innings, leading the Arizona
Diamondbacks to a 9-3 victory over the Brewers on Friday night. Hill also
singled, doubled, tripled and homered on June 18 against Seattle. Brooklyns Babe
Herman is the only other major leaguer to hit for two cycles in one season since
1900, according to STATS LLC. He accomplished the feat in 1931. “A cycle is one
of those crazy things and to do it twice in (12) days—thats crazy,” Brewers
starter Randy Wolf said. Hill doubled for his 1,000th hit in the first, singled
in the third and hit his 11th home run of the season, a two-run shot in the
fourth. All those hits came off Wolf (2-6). Hill tripled in the sixth inning off
Livan Hernandez. His headfirst slide into third easily beat the relay throw from
the outfield. Brewers manager Ron Roenicke wasnt surprised by Hills hitting
prowess. “He can really hit,” Roenicke said. “This is a really good hitter. We
made some bad pitches.” Brewers catcher George Kottaras appreciated the pressure
Hill was under. Last season, Kottaras became the seventh player in franchise
history to hit for the cycle, “Hes swinging really well,” Kottaras said. “I know
its tough to do it once.” Hill seemed a bit dumbfounded by, but still happy with
his good fortune. “Its great,” the Diamondbacks second baseman said. “Obviously,
its great to get the win, too. It wouldnt have been as enjoyable if we came away
with a loss. It was just a fun game.” Paul Goldschmidt came close to hitting for
the cycle, too. He doubled, homered, singled and walked before a fan interfered
with his hard grounder down the left field line in the ninth. Goldschmidt most
likely would not have made third even without the spectators glove deflecting
the ball. Kennedy (6-7) allowed a ruun in the first, but then kept Milwaukee off
the board until the sixth when he created his own jam that led to two unearned
runs. Jason Pierre-Paul Red Jersey. Rickie Weeks
tapped back to the mound and Kennedys wide throw pulled the first baseman off
the bag for an error. After he walked Kottaras, Cesar Izturis doubled off the
wall in deep right-centre. Kennedy gave up six hits, walked one and struck out
seven, including five in a row as he rebounded from his previous start at home
against the Chicago Cubs. He went a season low-tying 4 1-3 innings Saturday,
allowing five runs and 10 hits. He was also much better this time against the
Brewers who beat him 7-1 on May 25 when he allowed four runs on seven hits in 5
2-3 innings. It was his first start at Miller Park since pitching six innings in
the decisive Game 5 of the NL division series on Oct. 7. Nyjer Morgans RBI
single in the bottom of the 10th inning off J.J. Putz gave Milwaukee a 3-2
victory and the Brewers playoff series win in 29 years. Wolf allowed five runs
on five hits in the third. He failed to retire any of the first five batters and
that collapse cost him a chance at his first victory since April 30, a span of
11 starts. After the first two hitters reached on hits, Justin Upton and
Jason Kubel followed with run-scoring singles. Goldschmidt then cleared the
bases with his 11th homer of the season. Hills two-run homer in the fourth came
after Willie Bloomquist reached on second baseman Weeks throwing error. Wolf
went a season-low tying four innings. He was charged with seven earned runs on
nine hits and struck out six. Aramis Ramirezs run-scoring groundout gave Wolf a
brief 1-0 lead in the first, but after that it was all Diamondbacks. NOTES:
Brewers RHP Shaun Marcum probably wont pitch until after the All-Star game.
During a pre-game throwing session, he continued to experience right elbow
tightness. The right-hander (5-3, 3.39 ERA) last pitched on June 14 and has
missed two starts since. ... Arizona has won two consecutive games away from
home after snapping a season-high four-game road skid with Thursdays 3-2 victory
over Atlanta. ... Hill became the sixth Diamondback to hit for the cycle. ’ ’ ’