WASHINGTON -- After Jordan Zimmermann put the Washington Nationals in position to win on the mound, Denard Spans legs and Ryan Zimmermans bat made sure they
beat the Chicago Cubs.
Joc Pederson Dodgers Jersey . Zimmermans eighth inning single drove in Span for the go-ahead run as the surging Nationals
capped a strong weekend with a 2-1 win over the Cubs on Sunday. The expected
pitchers duel took place as Zimmermann outdueled Jake Arrieta over six innings
and left with a 1-0 lead. "The starter for them today was as advertised, tough,"
Zimmerman said of Arrieta. "The way Jordan pitched, that was a game we needed to
win." The Cubs tied it in the seventh on Starlin Castros sacrifice fly against
Drew Storen. Spans hustle turned a soft hit to right field off Pedro Strop (1-4)
into a double leading off the eighth. The Cubs challenged the play, but replay
showed that the sliding Span avoided the tag. "The fact that he broke out of the
box hard and thought two (bases) from the beginning of it was key for us,"
Nationals manager Matt Williams said. Two outs later, the Cubs intentionally
walked Adam LaRoche to bring up Zimmerman, who ripped a single to left to score
Span from second. Tyler Clippard (6-2) worked out of trouble in the eighth
inning. Rafael Soriano pitched the ninth and earned his 21st save for the
Nationals, who have won seven of eight. Washington moved within one-half game of
NL East-leading Atlanta. The Nationals took two of three games in the series,
including 13-0 on Saturday to break Chicagos four-game winning streak.
Zimmermann allowed seven hits with one walk and struck out five. He has given up
two earned runs or fewer in seven straight starts. The right-hander is 3-2 with
a 1.26 ERA in that span. "I think he found his slider," Williams said. "Gives
him another weapon." The Cubs had at least one hit in each of the first six
innings, but couldnt generate a clutch one versus Zimmermann. Chicago left 12
runners on base and went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position. "I fell
behind hitters and wasnt able to throw first-pitch strikes," Zimmermann said.
"Guys got on base, and I had to work out of a few jams. Other than that I threw
the ball well." Following this weekends blockbuster trade that sent starters
Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel to the Oakland As, Arrieta inherited the No. 1
role in the Cubs rotation. He has pitched to that level lately. The righty won
his four previous starts and flirted with no-hitters in his last two. Arrieta
carried a perfect game into the seventh inning on June 24 against Cincinnati and
went 7 2-3 innings without allowing a hit at Boston on June 30. Washington ended
such hopes immediately. Span hit a fly ball that sailed over the outfielders for
a double leading off the first. One out later he scored on Jayson Werths
groundout for a 1-0 lead. Arrieta allowed four hits and one run over six innings
with three walks and five strikeouts. He gave up two singles to open the fifth,
but escaped the jam. Zimmermann struck out while attempting to bunt the runner
over. "It was a dogfight," Arrieta said. "I really had to grind it out there. I
had guys on base. I had to make pitches in big situations. I was able to do
that." Storen entered having allowed only three earned runs this season and only
one in 17 appearances since May 17. The Cubs threatened in the eighth, putting
runners at second and third with one out against Clippard, but didnt score.
Pinch-hitter Wellington Castillo struck out looking, and Ryan Sweeney grounded
out. Justin Ruggiano, Anthony Rizzo, and John Baker all had two hits for the
Cubs. NOTES: The Cubs recalled RHP Blake Parker from Triple-A Iowa before the
game. Parker takes the roster spot created by the trade with Oakland. ...
Chicago hasnt announced who will replace Samardzija and Hammel when their
rotation spots come up Wednesday and Thursday. Edwin Jackson (5-8, 4.99) will
open the five-game series at Cincinnati on Monday against fellow RHP Mike Leake
(6-7, 3.47). ... Nationals RHP Stephen Strasburg (7-6, 3.53) will face RHP
Chris Tillman (7-4, 4.21) on Monday when Baltimore visits Washington.
Dodgers Jersey . White Sox slugger Jose Abreu, named American League co-player of the week earlier in the day, went 2 for 4 with a walk and an RBI,
his 32nd. But it was the lesser trio that did most of the damage, driving in
five of the seven runs.
Maury Wills Jersey . Today is the eve of many a Big Dance dream being shattered and powerhouses upset as conference
tournaments and, for some, college careers end before Selection Sunday. Missouri
All-American Michael Sam says he is gay, and the defensive end could become the
first openly homosexual player in the NFL. In interviews with ESPN, The New York
Times and Outsports that were published Sunday, Sam said he came out to all his
teammates and coaches at Missouri in August. "I am an openly, proud gay man," he
said. Sam will participate in the NFL combine later this month in Indianapolis
and is currently projected to be a mid-round draft pick in May. "Its a big deal.
No one has done this before. And its kind of a nervous process, but I know what
I want to be ... I want to be a football player in the NFL," he told ESPN. The
6-foot-2, 255-pound Sam participated in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., last
month after leading the Southeastern Conference in sacks (11.5) and tackles for
loss (19). He was the SEC defensive player of the year. There have been a few
NFL players who have come out after their playing days, including Kwame Harris
and Dave Kopay. Last year, NBA player Jason Collins announced he was gay after
the season. Collins, a 35-year-old backup centre, was a free agent when he came
out and has not signed with a new team this season. MLS star and U.S. national
team player Robbie Rogers also came out a year ago. "His courage will inspire
millions to live their truth," Rogers tweeted about Sam. Division III Willamette
kicker Conner Mertens, a redshirt freshman, said last month he was bisexual. "We
admire Michael Sams honesty and courage," the NFL said in statement. "Michael is
a football player. Any player with ability and determination can succeed in the
NFL. We look forward to welcoming and supporting Michael Sam in 2014." Sams
announcement comes at a time gay rights issues and sports have collided at the
Olympics in Sochi. Russias anti-gay law has received much attention, and
criticism, because of the games. "By rewriting the script for countless young
athletes, Michael has demonstrated the leadership that, along with his
impressive skills on the field, makes him a natural fit for the NFL," said Sarah
Kate Ellis, president of GLAAD, a leading lesbian gay, bisexual and transgender
media advocacy organization. "With acceptance of LGBT people rising across our
coasts -- in our schools, churches, and workplaces -- its clear that America is
ready for an openly gay football star." The NFLs sexual orientation,
anti-discrimination and harassment policy states: Coacches, General Managers and
others responsible for interviewing and hiring draft-eligible players and free
agents must not seek information concerning or make personnel decisions based on
a players sexual orientation.
Hyun-Jin Ryu Jersey. This includes asking questions during an interview that suggest that the players sexual orientation
will be a factor in the decision to draft or sign him. Examples: Do you like
women or men? How well do you do with the ladies? Do you have a girlfriend?
Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams tweeted: "I could care less
about a mans sexual preference! i care about winning games and being respectful
in the locker room!" Williams teammate, cornerback Drayton Florence, posted on
his Twitter account: "No comment but it can be a distraction in the locker room.
At least hes open with it much respect!" Sam said many people at the Senior
Bowl, an all-star game for NFL prospects, seemed to know he was gay. "I didnt
realize how many people actually knew, and I was afraid that someone would tell
or leak something out about me," he told ESPN. "I want to own my truth. ... No
one else should tell my story but me." Sam told the Times he dated a man on the
Missouri swim team and came out to teammates LDamian Washington and Marvin
Foster about a year ago, before letting the whole team know during last
preseason. "Coaches just wanted to know a little about ourselves, our majors,
where were from, and something that no one knows about you," Sam told ESPN. "And
I used that opportunity just to tell them that I was gay. And their reaction was
like, Michael Sam finally told us." Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said in a
statement Sunday night he was proud of Sam and how he represented the program.
"Michael is a great example of just how important it is to be respectful of
others, hes taught a lot of people here firsthand that it doesnt matter what
your background is, or your personal orientation, were all on the same team and
we all support each other," Pinkel said. "If Michael doesnt have the support of
his teammates like he did this past year, I dont think theres any way he has the
type of season he put together." Missouri linebacker Donovan Bonner was a
teammate of Sams for five years. "We knew of his status for 5 years and not one
team member, coach, or staff member said anything says a lot about our family
atmosphere," Bonner tweeted.
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