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OAKLAND, Calif. Eric Weddle Jersey . – Brandon Inge is
putting on a home run derby for all his former teammates to see. The ex-bosses,
too. Inge hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs for the fourth time in
five games, Josh Reddick homered twice and had a career-high five RBIs, and the
Oakland Athletics pounded the Detroit Tigers 11-4 on Friday night. “What else
can he do?” Reddick said of Inge. “Hes been great. I dont know what those guys
across the way were thinking when they let him go.” Inge sent a 2-1 pitch into
the elevated left-field bleachers in the sixth inning for his fifth homer of the
year and fourth since joining the As on April 30 after the Tigers cut him. It
was his second longball in two nights after he hit a grand slam in Thursdays
10-6 loss. Inge also delivered a game-ending grand slam on Tuesday against
Toronto. Inge became the first player with four games with four or more RBIs in
a five-game stretch since Lou Gehrig in 1931, according to information provided
by the As from the Elias Sports Bureau. Inges big bat backed Tommy Milone (5-2),
who struck out six in seven innings to win for the fourth time in five starts
and become Oaklands first pitcher with five victories this year. He retired the
final 10 batters he faced in order. “The way I was last year and early this
year, it seemed like when I did get good wood on the ball it went right at
somebody,” Inge said. “So there is a flip side of it, things should usually
balance out. When things go like this and you get hot you feel like you get all
the breaks. But I also know things dont go like this all the time.”
Miguel Cabrera singled twice and drove in two runs for the Tigers, who havent
won consecutive games since a four-game winning streak from April 15-18. Reddick
hit a solo homer in the third and a three-run shot in the seventh for his first
career two-homer game, and he matched his career best with four hits. Seth Smith
doubled among his three hits and Kila Kaaihue doubled twice and scored two runs
for Oakland, which evened the four-game series by scoring its most runs of
season. The As outhit the Tigers 13-8 on the way to their first double-digit run
total of 2012. Inge let his old team have it again. “I dont know what to say
about that,” As manager Bob Melvin said. “Its been phenomenal.” Inge was
acquired by Oakland to fill a void at third base after the As tried several
options at the spot following Scott Sizemores season-ending knee injury at the
start of spring training. Inge is doing plenty at the plate, too. “Hes really
swinging well right now. Hes got a second wind, and its a good thing obviously
for him,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. “Hes swinging the bat as good as Ive
seen him swing it for a while. Hes in a pretty good groove right now.” This
marked his 14th career game came with for or more RBIs—and he received a nice
ovation from the crowd of 26,721 at the Coliseum after flying out to the warning
track in centre in the eighth on a warm spring night in the Bay Area. Inge was
released by the Tigers on April 26 after batting .100 (2 for 20) with one home
run and two RBIs in nine games this season. Inge, who turns 35 on May 19, joined
his first new team in his 12th major league season. “Its good to feel wanted.
Thats an important thing,” Inge said. “The other part is coming into this group
of guys, theres not one guy on this team who has given me a hard time, if its
not joking. The whole attitude of this ballclub is very much laid back, but at
the same time you step between the lines and its very much business.” Milone
fell behind 1-0 in the first after allowing Cabreras double-play grounder, but
the As answered in the bottom half against Rick Porcello (3-3). Reddick hit a
two-out single and Kaaihue doubled him home. Inge added an RBI single two
batters later. Leylands Detroit lineup, featuring two left-handed hitters with
slugger Prince Fielder batting cleanup and Andy Dirks in the No. 2 hole, couldnt
hang in what became a hitting show by the suddenly powerful As. They came into
the game as the second-lowest scoring team in the American League. Porcello was
tagged for nine hits and four runs in five innings, falling to 12-5 with a 2.85
ERA in 17 career starts in May. Inge and Co. sure are taking some pressure off
ailing rookie As cleanup hitter Yoenis Cespedes, who missed his fourth straight
game after straining the top of his left hand before Tuesdays game, when he was
a late scratch. “It doesnt hurt a lot but it hurts me some,” Cespedes said
before the game. Melvin said Cespedes did fine taking some swings in the cage
and could play Saturday night. NOTES: Oakland scored its most runs since a 15-5
victory at Boston on Aug. 26, 2011. ... Tigers catcher Alex Avila got the night
off, with Gerald Laird starting in his place. Leyland said with a lefty starter,
it was a good time to rest Avila and his sore left knee. ... RHP
Brandon McCarthy deemed himself ready for Saturdays start after he nursed a
tender shoulder this week. ... Dirks is still dealing with a troublesome
hamstring. “Id really like to settle him into that 2 spot, but hes really not
running full speed,” Leyland said. “Im a little concerned about it.” Leyland
said the teams athletic trainer told him Thursday night Dirks can play through
the problem and still be 100 per cent. ... Detroit RHP Luis Marte, on the DL
with a strained left hamstring, was set to face hitters in extended spring
training Saturday in Lakeland, Fla. ... Reddick and Cliff Pennington pulled a
double-steal in the fourth. Ryan Mathews Jersey . The International
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the past six seasons as an assistant in Los Angeles, helping the Kings capture
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Fletcher has announced that former-Leaf Joe Nieuwendyk has been named the hockey
clubs special assistant to the general manager.TORONTO—Byron Parker and Lin-J
Shell are looking forward to coming home. The veteran defensive backs return to
Rogers Centre on Monday when the B.C. Lions visit the Toronto Argonauts (Live on
TSN). Parker spent seven seasons with the Double Blue before heading to
Vancouver as a free agent in February, while Shell played three seasons with the
Argos before being released by the club and subsequently signed by the defending
Grey Cup champions. “Im excited, I cant wait,” Parker said. “Its going to be
like a home game for me. “It will be good to see my former teammates and former
coaches like coach OShea (special-teams co-ordinator Mike OShea) and coach
Steinauer (secondary coach Orlondo Steinauer). Its going to be a good time.”
Shell agrees. “It will be a good homecoming,” he said. “When I was there, what
was important to me at the end of the day was playing well for my teammates and
the fans.” Redemption, both say, will be the furthest thing from their mind when
they step on to the turf at Rogers Centre. “I kind of knew at the end of last
year that I likely wouldnt be coming back,” said Parker. “After I signed with
B.C., I came back (to Toronto) and joked around with (Argos GM) Jim Barker. “For
me, it was time for a change. Ive done pretty much everything you can do up here
as a player except win a Grey Cup. (The Argos) are playing great right now but
at the time I wanted to go where I felt I had the best chance to play for a Grey
Cup.” Unfortunately for Shell, he wasnt afforded that luxury. He suddenly found
himself unemployed after being abruptly released by the Argos (3-2) in January
before eventually finding a new home with B.C. (3-2). “You know, a lot of the
guys I came in with are no longer there (in Toronto),” Shell said. “Right now,
my main concern is winning games for the B.C. Lions. “(Facing Toronto) just
makes the game a little more interesting … but really, a game is a game and
all youre trying to do is win as many as you can.” Parker, 31, and the
30-year-old Shell have helped solidify an already veteran Lions secondary that
includes proven stalwarts Ryan Phillips, Dante Marsh, Korey Banks and nickelback
Anthony Reddick. B.C heads into Mondays contest with the CFLs top-ranked defence
(288.6 yards per game) and second in fewest points allowed (22 per game).
Toronto will counter with the leagues second-ranked offence (394 yards per game)
and No. 2 aerial attack (308 yards per game). Quarterback Ricky Ray, acquired in
the off-season from Edmonton, is second overall in passing yards with 1,542
yards and is the Argos offensive catalyst. But Ray also has some solid weapons
at his disposal. Tailback Cory Boyd leads the league in rushing with 424 yards
(5.7 yards per carry) while receiver Chad Owens is not only a threat through the
air with 28 catches for 392 yards and three TDs but also on punt and kickoff
returns. Owenss has firmly established himself as a bona fide threat returning
kicks—he was the CFLs top special-teams player in 2010—but Parker and
Shell both said the former Hawaii star is a very under-rated receiver. Ryan Mathews Womens Jersey. “He gets a lot of
recognition for his special-teams skills but hes a great receiver,” Parker said.
“He catches just about everything thrown his way and is very tough to cover.”
Added Shell: “Chad is really hot right now. We have to find a way to keep him
out of his rhythm.” A humble Owens accepted his former teammates praise. “Those
guys were my brothers here for two seasons and we went against each other every
day,” he said. “The same goes for me. “Theyre two of the best defensive backs in
this league.” However, Owens said that wont stop him, Shell or Parker from
playing to win Monday. “Its still going to be competitive because when the
lights come on those guys are top competitors and so am I,” Owens said. “But at
the same time as soon as the whistle blows after the play well smile at each
other and share a joke because its a friendship. “With that being said, though,
were still going to go out there and compete. Theyre going to do their best to
not let me catch any balls and score and Im going to do my best to get open.”
Despite the presence of proven talent in the secondary, B.C. is ranked last in
the CFL in interceptions with three, none of which have come from defensive
backs. Parker, for one, certainly has a reputation of being a ballhawk with 28
career picks and has returned a CFL-record nine for TDs. But the 2003 NCAA
slam-dunk champion from Tulane says hes a traditionally slow starter when it
comes to interceptions. “I usually dont get started until Labour Day,” he said.
“And when they do come, they tend to come in bunches.” When it comes to
neutralizing Torontos offence, Parker said the best approach is trying to
pressure Ray and take him out of his comfort zone. “Ricky is playing great
football,” Parker said. “If you have a guy who can control the ball like he does
and make the throws like he does, that makes everyones job easier. “That offence
is definitely an offence the Toronto Argonauts have been looking for a while.”
The Lions counter with a pretty solid offence of their own, anchored by
quarterback Travis Lulay, last years CFL and Grey Cup MVP. Other stalwarts
include tailback Andrew Harris and veteran slotbacks Arland Bruce III and Geroy
Simon. Argos head coach Scott Milanovich said his team will need to play a
complete game to beat B.C. and secure a third straight victory. “We have a long
way to go because weve not played a full game,” Milanovich said. “We know it,
our guys know it. “Weve had our flashes but to beat a team like B.C. thats the
defending champion youre going to have to play four quarters in all facets.” ’ ’
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