MINNEAPOLIS -- Jim Johnson struggled again.
Bruno
Alves Portugal Jersey . The Oakland Athletics picked up their new closer
with a strong finish. Derek Norris hit a three-run homer in the 11th inning, and
the As bounced back from another blown save by Johnson to beat the Minnesota
Twins 7-4 on Wednesday. "When someone doesnt come through the next guy comes up
and fills in for him. ... Its a nice chemistry we have here for that to happen,"
Norris said. Jared Burton (0-1) gave up the one-out drive by the backup catcher
Norris, who went deep on Tuesday night, too. Dan Otero (1-0) got the last eight
outs for the victory in relief of Johnson, who has given up seven runs, nine
hits and six walks in five appearances with the As. Hes simply been falling
behind in too many counts. "Whatever hes got to do to change that he will,"
Norris said, adding: "Hes going to go on a roll, and this isnt going to be a
matter any longer I dont think." Minnesota trailed 4-0 after a rocky first
inning by Phil Hughes, who needed 40 pitches to get his first out. Jason Kubel
homered in the second and Brian Dozier went deep in the eighth. Johnson, who had
50 saves for Baltimore last season, gave up the third of four hits by Kubel to
start the ninth. With the bases loaded and one out, Johnson nearly had
Eduardo Escobar struck out, but a foul tip was ruled on his two-strike swing.
Escobar then poked a single into to left field to cut Oaklands lead to 4-3. A
one-hop throw to third baseman Josh Donaldson nearly forced out Kurt Suzuki, who
was ruled safe, and a video review ruled the call stood -- meaning there was not
"clear and convincing" evidence to overturn it. Donaldson said he closed his
glove on the ball before Suzukis foot hit. But As manager Bob Melvin didnt waste
time arguing, instead replacing Johnson with Otero. "I just had to go get him. I
didnt feel great about it, but I had to do it. Keep working to get him right,"
Melvin said, declining to speculate on whether Johnsons closer job was in
jeopardy. Dozier hit a sacrifice fly to right field, just deep enough for Suzuki
to race home and sneak a hand onto the plate in front of the tag by Norris.
Another umpire-initiated review confirmed the safe call, and the crowd of 22,973
cheered loudly when the video board provided the proof. There was more drama
before Norris came up again. Glen Perkins struck out Donaldson to end the 10th
inning, and the Twins closer shouted some obscenities and pointed at Donaldson,
who gestured and "started to red line," as Donaldson put it afterward.
Donaldsons path to Perkins was cut off by the Twins, and after the dugouts
mostly emptied the tension de-escalated. Donaldson nearly homered during that
at-bat, but the ball drifted foul. Perkins said he thought Donaldson was
admiring his drive too long. "I dont feel like I disrespected him at all. Im up
there trying to win a game for our team, and hes trying to win a game for his
team. Juices are flowing," Donaldson said. Said Perkins: "There were things that
happened in that at-bat that we both could have done differently. So well leave
it at that." Donaldson hit an RBI double after Hughes walked the first two
batters of the game. Brandon Moss tacked on a two-run single, and
Alberto Callaspo added an RBI single. None of the hits were particularly hard,
but the damage was done. Hughes walked three and struck out three in five
innings, with five hits surrendered. Twins starters have one win in eight turns,
with a collective 6.43 ERA. Oakland starter Jesse Chavez pitched seven smooth
innings with no walks and nine strikeouts. As starters have allowed three runs
or fewer in each of their first eight games, for a 2.02 ERA. NOTES: The As held
CF Coco Crisp out again following a cortisone shot he had in his left wrist and
likely will do so again on Thursday. ... The Twins honoured Gardenhire before
the game for his 1,000th career victory by giving him a hand-crafted humidor
filled with, yep, 1,000 cigars. ... Oakland has eight straight wins over
Minnesota, all with at least seven runs. ... The As will send RHP Dan Straily
(0-1, 4.50 ERA) to the mound for the series finale, and RHP Mike Pelfrey (0-1,
5.06 ERA) is set to pitch for the Twins.
Nani
Jersey . Canada will host the second stop on the circuit, the 2014 Skate
Canada International in Kelowna, British Columbia from October 31 - November 2,
2014 at Prospera Place.
Custom Portugal
Soccer Jersey . The Spanish champions decision not to sign a defender
during the January transfer window may have backfired after Valencia took
advantage of a lethargic, uninspired effort by its hosts at the Camp Nou, where
former Spain coach Luis Aragones -- who previously coached the Catalan side --
was honoured after his death on Saturday.
http://www.soccerportugalproshop.com/c-10-pepe-portugal-jersey.aspx . With the Rangers already leading 2-0, Carey Price was taken down early in the
second period of New Yorks 7-2 pounding of the Canadiens in Game 1 of the
Eastern Conference final on Saturday afternoon.Boris Diaw was on his way out of
the NBA when he arrived in San Antonio, where the Spurs were trying to breathe
new life into a core that had not won a championship in five years. They proved
to be a perfect match, and after playing a key role in the Spurs latest
championship, Diaw found no reason to continue his career renaissance elsewhere.
Diaw tweeted Sunday night that he agreed to terms on a new contract with the
Spurs and a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press that its
a three-year contract worth $22 million. The person requested anonymity because
the contract cannot be signed until the leagues moratorium ends Thursday. "Hey
spurs fans, Good news," the French-born Diaw tweeted, "i stay in san antonio for
a few more years. Lets win it again." For the 32-year-old Diaw, it was a chance
to get one last big payday that he earned by providing some essential
versatility on both ends of the court for the Spurs. He averaged 9.1 points, 4.1
rebounds and 2.8 assists and shot over 52 per cent in 25 minutes per game last
season. For the Spurs, it was the chance to keep together a team that posted the
best record in the NBA last season and dominated the two-time defending champion
Miami Heat in the finals. They have already learned this summer that Tim Duncan
is returning next season and backup point guard Patty Mills will be back as well
after a long rehabilitation of a shoulder injury. The Spurs decided to give Diaw
a hearty raise after watching him blossom in a ssystem Gregg Popovich designed
to keep the ball moving at all costs.
Adrien
Silva Jersey. But they also protected themselves by only partially
guaranteeing the third year of the deal, which was first reported by Yahoo!
Sports. He will be guaranteed $15.5 million over the first two seasons of the
contract, a big boost from the $4.7 million he made last year. "Hes perfect for
them," former Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman said about Diaw and the Spurs
during the season. Diaw was considered a rising star in the early portion of his
career in Phoenix, a lithe, athletic, big man with the vision of a point guard
that flourished with the run-and-gun Suns. But his career nose-dived soon after
when he was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats in 2008. He put on weight and didnt
appear interested in playing for a team with no hope of contending. The Bobcats
waived Diaw near the end of the 2012 season, and the Spurs brought him in to see
if he could rediscover his game while playing alongside close friend and
countryman Tony Parker. Thats exactly what happened. It didnt take long for Diaw
to make a good impression with Popovich, and he signed a two-year deal to stay
with the Spurs that summer. He still carries a few extra pounds, but the deft
passing, precise defensive positioning and floor-stretching shooting all have
reappeared and been vital to San Antonios two straight finals appearances and
its run this spring to a fifth championship. ___ Follow Jon Krawczynski on
Twitter: http://twitter.com/APKrawczynski
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