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SAN FRANCISCO - Hanley Ramirezs daily chats with hitting instructor Manny Mota
are already paying big dividends for the Dodgers. Arian Foster Jersey . Now its even more clear
why the Los Angeles front office didnt flinch when pursuing a deal for the
high-priced slugger this week. Ramirez hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning
and the Dodgers beat the San Francisco Giants 5-3 on Friday night in a matchup
of the top two teams in the NL West. “Its why Im here,” Ramirez said. “Manny
Mota spoke to me and told me, Dont try to do too much. Just do what you know how
to do. Every day he comes and talks to me. I have a lot to learn from him.” Two
days after being acquired from Miami in a trade meant to boost the Dodgers
offence and playoff hopes, Ramirez went hitless in his first four at-bats
against the Giants before homering to left-centre on an 0-1 pitch from reliever
Sergio Romo (3-2). Ramirezs 15th home run of the season extended a stellar start
to his Los Angeles career. The infielder slugger had three hits in the first two
games with his new club and is batting .364 since the trade from the Marlins.
“Just another lethal bat in our lineup,” catcher A.J. Ellis said. “That ball was
crushed.” Ramirez also made a potential run-saving play in the field when he
dove into foul territory to catch a throw from rookie pitcher Stephen Fife for a
forceout following Matt Cains attempted sacrifice bunt in the fourth. It was
exactly the type of performance manager Don Mattingly hoped for from Ramirez
after the third baseman had some issues in Miami. “Hanleys an intelligent guy,”
Mattingly said. “Hes been easy to deal with.” Andre Ethier, who walked ahead of
Ramirezs home run, had two hits and scored twice to help pull Los Angeles within
two games of first-place San Francisco. The Giants, looking to bolster their
light-hitting offence, obtained veteran infielder Marco Scutaro from Colorado in
a deal that was announced during the game. “Its no secret were looking for
experience and depth,” San Francisco general manager Brian Sabean said. Even
with their offence sputtering, the Giants didnt go quietly. Kenley Jansen gave
up back-to-back singles to Melky Cabrera and Buster Posey to open the bottom of
the 10th. Jansen struck out the next two batters and then got Joaquin Arias to
fly out for his 20th save. “We needed that win,” Ramirez said. “We have a couple
months left and were just going to go out there and keep winning series.”
James Loney and Juan Rivera had two hits apiece for the Dodgers, who beat the
Giants for the third time in seven games this season. Shawn Tolleson (1-0)
pitched one inning for his first major league win. Los Angeles needed this one
after getting shut out in three consecutive games here earlier this season. The
Dodgers got a stellar outing from rookie starter Stephen Fife and just enough
from the bullpen until Ramirezs heroics in the 10th. Fife was called up from the
minors before the game to make his second career start and pitched into the
seventh inning. He also helped end the Dodgers 38-inning scoreless streak at
AT&T Park when he doubled off Cain in the fifth for his first career hit.
Jerry Hairston Jr. followed with an RBI double and scored on Mark Ellis single
to give Los Angeles a 2-1 lead. Before that the Dodgers had not scored at the
Giants waterfront ballpark since Sept. 11, 2011, including a series sweep
earlier this season. Los Angeles got to Cain again in the sixth when Ethier hit
a leadoff double and scored on Loneys single. Cain allowed three runs and nine
hits over seven innings. The All-Star right-hander, who struck out two and didnt
walk anyone, has only one win over his last six starts and was on the hook for
the loss until San Francisco scored twice in the eighth. Cabrera singled and
went to third on Angel Pagans one-out double. Brandon Belt followed with his
third hit, a looping single to centre that drove in two and tied the game at 3.
The Giants biggest problem isnt their pitching, however. Thats why they made the
deal for Scutaro. He was hitting .271 with four home runs and 30 RBIs in 95
games for the Rockies. NOTES: SS Luis Cruz has a 10-game hitting streak for Los
Angeles. ... Giants 3B Pablo Sandoval is making progress and could return to the
lineup as early as this weekend, according to manager Bruce Bochy. ... Dodgers
LHP Ted Lilly threw a bullpen session and will pitch for Class-A Rancho
Cucamonga on Sunday before the team decides what to do next with the 36-year-old
pitcher. ... San Francisco backup catcher Hector Sanchez (left knee sprain)
played seven innings for Triple-A Fresno and might see time at first base before
getting activated from the DL. ... The Dodgers placed LHP Scott Elbert (elbow
inflammation) on the 15-day DL. The move, which was made to open a roster spot
for Fife, is retroactive to July 26. ... A fan ran onto the field and made it to
home plate before being taken away by security in the middle of the fifth
inning. ... Dodgers RHP Chad Billingsley (5-9) faces LHP Barry Zito (8-6) in
Saturdays game, which was originally scheduled as a night game before being
changed to 1:05 p.m. for television. J.J. Watt Youth Jersey . —Free agent
running back Ryan Grant is considering a contract offer from the Detroit Lions,
according to his agent. Andre Johnson Jersey . The 38-year-old, a
two-time All-Star, had been relegated to part-time duty and was batting .208 in
24 at-bats for the last-place Angels (6-14). http://www.nikehousttexansjerseyssale.com/j-j-watt-jersey?women=18
. The excruciating mountain climbs and the explosions of power that pushed him
past other heaving cyclists on narrow Alpine roads. The legions of fans wearing
yellow Livestrong bracelets cheering on the cancer survivor whose grit and
determination gave them hope. Brooks Reed Jersey . LOUIS —Milwaukee
left-hander Randy Wolf committed a cardinal sin on Friday night. Arian Foster Womens Jersey . Gordon singled
in the go-ahead run with two outs in the 11th inning and the Dodgers, who blew a
five-run lead in the fifth, beat the San Diego Padres 6-5 for their third
straight win.GRAPEVINE, Texas—Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said his team filed
“a real good brief” in its challenge of a $10 million salary cap reduction by
the NFL, and followed the rules before being penalized. A hearing is set
Thursday before arbitrator Stephen Burbank on appeals by the Cowboys and the
Washington Redskins, whose cap was reduced by $36 million. The two NFC East
teams were penalized for overloading contracts in the 2010 uncapped season
despite league warnings. “I know we followed the rules, and the league has not
said that we did not follow the rules, and those were approved contracts,” Jones
said Wednesday. “But this is a complicated issue.” The Cowboys and Redskins
filed their grievances against the league and players association. Both teams
will be represented by attorneys at Thursdays hearing, which is the first step
in the appeals process. Jones wouldnt elaborate on his teams brief or what
specifically he anticipates from the hearing. “I cant, and wont, address the
specifics and certainly wouldnt dare try to predict what the resolution would
be,” he said. “Im glad weve got an opportunity to present it under the labour
agreement to a mediator, and thats what (Thursday) is all about. ... It wont
resolve the issue, but it will help decide whether or not we can go before a
mediator.” Jones said there are highly technical issues involved, but again
diddnt go into details. Arian Foster Youth Jersey. Dallas split its
$10 million reduction, taking a $5 million cut this year and the rest next
season if the penalty isnt overturned. Even with $5 million less, the Cowboys
were able to fill some pressing needs in free agency. They then moved up eight
spots while giving up their second-round pick in the draft to select LSU
All-America cornerback Morris Claiborne sixth overall. Dallas got its top
off-season target in free agency, signing cornerback Brandon Carr to a $50
million, five-year contract with $26.5 million guaranteed. Offensive linemen
Mackenzy Bernadeau and Nate Livings got starter-worthy multiyear contracts, and
Dallas also signed backup quarterback Kyle Orton, safety Brodney Pool,
linebacker Dan Connor and fullback Lawrence Vickers. “Certainly weve been able
to adjust. It was a big surprise to us to have that downward adjustment in our
cap,” Jones said. “We usually always are looking for room under the cap, so it
was very meaningful for us to have to make that adjustment, but I can tell you
as we stand here right now, we didnt not do anything that we wanted to do.” But
Jones said the reduction forced the team to “go into the future and get some of
those dollars that we wouldnt have had to do had we not had that adjustment. So
that will just create a challenge for us in the future.” ’ ’ ’