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Jul 11 '16 | By zhaoqi123 | 168 Profile Views | support user content | Comments: 0
(Sports Network) - The Toronto Blue Jays will resume their trip out west tonight in the opener of a four-game series against the Oakland Athletics at the Coliseum. Blank Chile Jersey . The Jays took two of three meetings with Seattle at Safeco Field and recorded a 5-1 win in Wednesdays series finale. Adam Lind hit a three-run homer and both Edwin Encarnacion and Colby Rasmus added solo shots for Toronto, which was coming off a 13-7 victory on Tuesday and won for the fourth time in five tries. The Blue Jays are a season high-tying three games over. 500 (63-60). Former Mariners pitcher Brandon Morrow earned the win with six innings of one- run ball and 12 strikeouts. "The way Brandon came out, right from the first pitch of the outing tonight, he was extremely powerful," Blue Jays manager John Farrell said. "Just overpowering for the six innings tonight." Ricky Romero has been overpowering opponents for four straight wins and gets the nod for Farrells club tonight. The Jays have won each of Romeros last five starts and the right-hander continued his surge with seven innings of one-run ball in an 11-2 drubbing of the Angels on Saturday. Romero lifted his record to 11-9 in 24 starts with a 2.87 ERA. He is 5-6 in 12 road starts this season and 3-0 with a 1.98 ERA in four career starts against the Athletics. Oakland will continue a 10-game homestand Thursday and is 2-4 so far on the residency. It won the last two meetings of a three-game series versus the Baltimore Orioles and is coming off Wednesdays 6-5 triumph in which Kurt Suzuki homered twice and Josh Willingham added two RBI. "You go from a few days where you feel like youre completely lost and havent played baseball in your entire life, to a day where you feel really good at the plate, really good behind the plate and everythings clicking," Suzuki said on the teams site. "Moving forward, this definitely gives you a little more confidence. Ive just gotta keep it going." Brandon Allen knocked in a run and Brandon McCarthy barely got the win on the mound, as he allowed four runs on eight hits and two walks in six innings. Andrew Bailey permitted a run in the ninth and held on for his 15th save. Trevor Cahill gets the call for the As tonight and hes 1-6 in his last seven decisions. Cahill lost to Texas in Saturdays 7-1 setback and was reached for four runs -- three earned -- and seven hits in 7 1/3 innings, falling to 9-11 with a 3.92 ERA in 26 starts this season. Cahill, a right-hander, beat Toronto with eight innings of one-run ball and seven strikeouts in a 2-1 win on April 7 at Rogers Centre. He is only 1-2 with a 5.70 ERA in four career starts against the Blue Jays. The 2011 series between Toronto and Oakland is even at three games apiece, with all six matchups played up north. Gary Medel Jersey . The award is presented annually to the most valuable player in the NHL, as voted by fellow members of the National Hockey League Players Association. The three centres are also the finalists for the Hart Trophy, awarded by the NHL to the player considered most valuable to his team. Chile Soccer Jersey . Mario Balotellis 54th-minute penalty secured a 2-1 win for Italy over the Czech Republic to seal first place in Group B, while Robin van Persies second-half double in a 2-0 win at Andorra guaranteed the Dutch top spot in Group D. LOS ANGELES -- History? Pressure? Jason Collins would have none of it after becoming the NBAs first active openly gay player. After all, it was almost game time. "Right now Im focusing on trying to learn the plays, learning the coverages and the game plan and the assignments. So I didnt have time to really think about history," Collins said at a crowded press conference less than an hour before his Brooklyn Nets faced the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night. Collins signed a 10-day contract with the Nets earlier Sunday and played in the first half against the Lakers, grabbing a rebound and committing a couple of fouls. The 35-year-old centre revealed at the end of last season he is gay, but he was a free agent and had remained unsigned. Collins said he was aware of the magnitude of his signing, but repeatedly said he was most concerned with learning the Nets schemes. "The pressure is playing in an NBA game tonight and last time I played in an NBA game was last April," Collins said. "So I think thats enough pressure right there." With a need for another big man, the Nets turned to the 7-foot Collins, who helped them reach two NBA Finals in the early 2000s. "The decision to sign Jason was a basketball decision," general manager Billy King said in a statement. "We needed to increase our depth inside, and with his experience and size, we felt he was the right choice for a 10-day contract." Collins has played 12 NBA seasons, including his first seven with the Nets, when they were in New Jersey and Jason Kidd was their point guard. Kidd is now the Nets coach and Collins has been a teammate of several other current Nets. "Jason told us that his goal was to earn another contract with an NBA team. Today, I want to commend him on achieving his goal. I know everyone in the NBA family is excited for him and proud that our league fosters an inclusive and respectful environment," Commissioner Adam Silver said. The Nets worked out Collins during the All-Star break and met with him again Sunday, with his twin brother, Jarron, hinting that history would be made. "Hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday. Today should be a pretty cool day!" Jarron Collins wrote on Twitter. The news on Jason Collins comes as Michael Sam, the SEC co-defensive player of the year from Missouri who recently revealed he is gay, is taking part in the NFL draft combine. Sams on-field workouts in Indianapolis are scheduled for Monday. Collins was asked if he felt the tide is turning regarding gay players coming out, including Sam. "I hope so. What Michael said was it was about him being a football player and me being a basketball player, and going out there and trying to help our respective teams win," Collins said. He played 38 games last season with Boston and Washington and averaged 1.1 points and 1.6 rebounds in limited minutes. For his career, the 7-foot Collins averages 3.6 points and 3.8 rebounds. "Im a solid veteran, and hopefully Ill be in the right place" on the court, Collins said. "I know I can execute the game plan. Its just about focusing on the task at hand and not thinking about history or anything along those lines. Claudio Bravo Jersey. I just want to make it difficult for the Lakers tonight." Collins entered the game with 10:28 left in the second quarter and the Nets leading 35-26 after Nick Young made the first of his two free throws. The crowd welcomed him with a nice ovation when public address announcer Lawrence Tanter announced his name. Collins announcement last spring was followed by numerous NBA players insisting he would be welcomed in the locker room. Collins has played for five other teams and is well respected inside and outside the league -- he attended the State of the Union as a guest of first lady Michelle Obama. "I just know Jason as a person and as a player. Thats what Im happy about. He has earned it. Hes a great guy. Its good for the league. The important thing is to judge him as a person and a basketball player," Chicago coach Tom Thibodeau said. "I know people who have coached him, and I know how highly thought of he is." Former Suns player Kevin Johnson, now Sacramentos mayor, said he saw Collins two weeks ago at the White House "and I thanked him for his courage and being strong and wished him well and to keep fighting hard. "I think its incredible for him. I think its incredible for the league. If Im on the Nets, my commitment is I want to get in the playoffs and I want to go far. All that is fine but I need him to win games and I think hes up for that challenge." The Nets had an opening for a big man after trading Reggie Evans along with Jason Terry to Sacramento on Wednesday for guard Marcus Thornton. King said Thursday that Collins would be among the players they would look at, insisting they wouldnt be concerned about any extra attention the signing of Collins would provide. "Were going to bring in a basketball player," King said. "Its not about marketing or anything like that." The Nets posted a photo on their Twitter account of Kidd watching Collins sign his contract, encouraging followers to retweet it to welcome Collins to Brooklyn. Collins is third in Nets history with 511 games played, and also ranks in their top 10 in minutes played, and offensive rebounds and total rebounds. A limited offensive player, the Nets hope he still provides a presence defensively and on the boards. "I know Jason Collins is a competitor. One thing I know about him is he fouls very hard," Miamis Dwyane Wade said with a laugh. "Hes one of those tough veterans. Im sure hes happy to be back playing in the league. Welcome back." Since making his announcement last year, "Life is more exciting for me," Collins said. "I mean, I dont have to hide who I am and I can be my normal self. The past 10 months have been incredible. Im making new friends, hearing different peoples stories, sharing experiences. Its just been an overall positive." Collins grew up in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles and has a house here, so there was some normalcy to his day. "It was pretty easy for me just to come to the game tonight," Collins said, "drive down the 405, take the 10 and get here in 20 minutes." Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys ' ' ' 

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