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LOS ANGELES —John Axford is heading toward another huge season for the
Milwaukee Brewers—if he doesnt get burned out in the process. Brandon Jacobs Jersey . Axford recorded his
third save in three days and 10th in 11 chances this season, pitching a hitless
ninth inning to close out a 6-3 win for Yovani Gallardo over the Los Angeles
Dodgers on Wednesday night. The right-hander had converted 49 straight save
opportunities before blowing a lead on May 11 against the Chicago Cubs. The
streak was the fourth-longest in big league history behind Eric Gagne (84),
Tom Gordon (54) and Jose Valverde (51). Now hes on another run, but will
probably get Thursday off after pitching four straight days. “I felt good
tonight and thats the reason I was in there,” said Axford, who set a Brewers
franchise record last season with 46 saves and tied Atlantas Craig Kimbrel for
the NL lead. “I felt better today than I even did yesterday. I just wanted to
make my pitches, try and get out of there quickly without throwing 25. The last
two nights I kept my pitch count down—for me, anyway.” Carlos Gomez tied a
career high with four hits, including a a go-ahead two-run single against
Clayton Kershaw, and the Brewers handed the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner
his third loss in five starts. Gallardo (4-4) was charged with three runs and
eight hits in six-plus innings with eight strikeouts and three walks. The
right-hander was lifted after the Dodgers loaded the bases with none out in the
seventh, and Elian Herrera slapped Manny Parras first pitch the other way
through the right side to cut the Brewers lead to 5-3. Parra minimized the
damage by striking out James Loney and retiring Tony Gwynn Jr. on a double-play
grounder, one of three the Dodgers hit into in consecutive innings. The Brewers
got an insurance run in the eighth before Francisco Rodriguez and Axford helped
seal the win. Dodgers centre fielder Matt Kemp, playing his second game since
coming off the disabled list, re-injured his left hamstring while scoring all
the way from first base on a two-out double by Andre Ethier in the first inning.
Last years MVP runner-up was replaced in the field by Gwynn in the second. “I
just felt it grab a little bit. Its hurting pretty good right now, so well see
what the MRI says tomorrow,” said Kemp, who is hitting .355 with 12 homers and
28 RBIs in 36 games. “We went through all the tests, and I was running real hard
and doing everything normal. I dont know what happened. “It feels worse than the
first time,” Kemp said. “This my first time ever really having any hamstring
problems, so I dont know how to really treat it.” Kershaw (4-3) allowed with
five runs and eight hits in 5 2-3 innings, walked four and struck out seven. The
left-hander retired only six of his final 15 batters, three on bunt plays and
one on a double play. “It was just a rough one tonight,” Kershaw said. “I threw
a lot of pitches and just couldnt put anybody away. I felt like I had decent
stuff, but I just didnt make pitches when I needed to. But give them credit.
They had really good at-bats all night.” Los Angeles still has the best record
in the majors at 32-18 despite its first three-game losing streak of the season,
and leads San Francisco by 5 1/2 games in the NL West. The Dodgers were the only
team that hadnt lost more than two in a row. “This is our first tough stretch of
the year, but well come out of it and well be better for it,” Kershaw added. “We
dont know how long Matts going to be out, but weve got to play like we did the
first time he was out, and the guys who stepped up have got to keep doing that.”
After giving up the Dodgers first run, Gallardo walked his next two batters
before retiring A.J. Ellis on a line drive that held up for Gomez in centre
field. “I struggled in that first inning, so it was big for me to get into the
seventh,” Gallardo said. “Ive was able to command my slider and curve ball
behind or ahead in the count whenever I needed to.” Gomez put the Brewers ahead
2-1 in the fourth with his bases-loaded two-run single through the left side of
the infield, and they tacked on three more runs in the sixth. Rickie Weeks led
off with a double and scored on a safety-squeeze bunt to first base by
Martin Maldonado. Gallardo followed with an RBI single that hit the left field
fence on the fly, chasing Kershaw after 117 pitches. Corey Harts bloop single
against Javy Guerra put runners at the corners, and Norichika Aoki used his
speed to turn a routine grounder to second base into an RBI single as Herrera
fielded the ball flat-footed and was a step too late with the throw. NOTES:
Gallardo threw 35 pitches in the first inning and Kershaw made 34 in the fourth.
... Brewers C Jonathan Lucroy will undergo surgery Thursday on to put a pin in
his broken right hand. Lucroy was injured Sunday night when his wife moved a
suitcase in their hotel room and it fell on his hand. Carlos Rogers Jersey . —Arizona Cardinals
coach Ken Whisenhunt says hes not quite ready to name a starting quarterback but
indicates a decision could come soon. Dwight Clark Jersey . – Two-time tournament
champion Jim Furyk, 2012 Players Championship winner Matt Kuchar and 2012 US
Open champion Webb Simpson will be among those trying to dethrone defending
champion Sean OHair at the US$5. http://www.49erssuperbowl47proshop.com/deion-sanders-jersey
. The Mariners made the moves on Tuesday before their game against Toronto.
Seattle was down two pitchers in the bullpen after trades Monday night that sent
Steve Delabar to Toronto and Brandon League to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Aldon Smith Authentic Jersey . But before the
Oilers can plug those numbers into the equation, theyll have to beat the Anaheim
Ducks at Rexall Place on Thursday and the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on
Saturday. Justin Smith Super Bowl Jersey . After
needing last-second shots to win their first two games, the Spurs required
another valiant effort from Tony Parker after squandering a 19-point lead
against the Utah Jazz.TORONTO—After being eliminated from playoff contention
in midweek, Toronto FC has nowhere to go but up. With players jobs and holding
onto season ticket-holders on the line, the 5-17-6 MLS team knows it needs to
make a point in the final six games of the season—starting Saturday with the
visit of the almost equally woeful Philadelphia Union (7-13-5). You can watch
the game live at 1pm et/10am pt on TSN. Toronto manager Paul Mariner ripped his
team for its lack of fight after Wednesdays 2-1 loss to the visiting Chicago
Fire, wondering about everything from its fitness to mental resolve. He called
it the low point of his time in charge of the struggling franchise. “Still is,”
he said after a rainy practice Friday at the teams training facility in north
Toronto. “Im glad we have a game (Saturday), because we hopefully can put things
right. “Sleeps not been top of my priority,” added the former England
international. “It eats me inside, I hate it. I dont go outside of my house when
I go home. I just come to work and go home and plan for the next game. “Its
something that Im not used to, to be honest. Im not used to getting beat.” Asked
if his players are feeling the same way, Mariner replied: “Well if theyre not,
theyre obviously deaf. “Because theyve been told in no uncertain terms that this
is totally unacceptable from a playing viewpoint, league table, fans, everybody.
Everybody feels it. ... I hope the players are going to respond (Saturday).”
Mariner said he made his feelings known to the team. It seems clear his patience
is limited. “You can only reason with people for a certain period of time.. Vernon Davis Jersey. And then youve got to
bring the hammer down. Thats what I did.” Defender Richard Eckersley says the
team has got the message. “It wasnt good enough against Chicago, especially the
first 60 minutes. It was awful,” he said. “Weve got a point to prove …
Everyones playing for their career, really.” It will hardly be a clash of titans
Saturday. Toronto is winless in eight, 0-6-2 in league play since defeating
Colorado 2-1 on July 18. Philadelphia is winless in six, 0-3-3 since beating New
England 2-1 on July 29. The good news for Mariner is that forward Ryan Johnson
and midfielder Terry Dunfield are back from international duty. Fullback Ashtone
Morgan is also back in the fold but is suspended due to accumulation of yellow
cards. Captain-defender Darren ODea is a question-mark after injuring his shin
late in the Chicago debacle. Johnson or Dunfield could take over the captains
armband if needed. Wednesdays game drew just 14,623 to BMO Field, the smallest
crowd for a league game this season in Toronto. At 18,681 fans a game, Toronto
FC now stands ninth out of 19 teams in league attendance. With season-ticket
renewals going out soon, a two-month winless streak makes for very poor timing.
Injuries to designated players Danny Koevermans and Torsten Frings have taken
their toll on Mariners team. The midfield remains a mess, although with Morgan,
ODea and Eckersley, the future for the defence seems to be a bit brighter if
another centre back can be found. In the meantime, the team has yielded 50 goals
this season—or a league worst 1.79 goals a game. Toronto ranks 15th in
goal-scoring, averaging 1.11 goals a game. ’ ’ ’