MINNEAPOLIS -- Rookie Danny Santana had another big game and Kyle Gibson pitched well at home again.
Cheap Custom
Jerseys . On Saturday, that formula added up to an impressive win. Santana
drove in five runs, Gibson pitched seven strong innings and the Twins beat the
Houston Astros 8-0. Santana, who hit his first major league home run on Friday
night, flied out to lead off the first inning. He then got hits in his next four
at-bats, raising his batting average to .373. "Dannys a good player. Hes
electric," Gibson said. "He puts a lot of pressure on the defence, and being a
switch-hitter and being as versatile as he is on defence as well makes for a
great player to have up here." Santana is normally an infielder, but he also has
played centre field this year. The last two games, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire
has written Santana into the lineup at designated hitter. It doesnt seem to
matter where hes playing, however -- hes valuable wherever the Twins put him.
Santana hit a two-run single in the second, helping to chase Astros starter
Scott Feldman (3-4). He added a two-run double in the fourth as the Twins broke
it open with four runs against reliever Paul Clemens. Santana also had a pair of
singles off Jerome Williams and drove in another run in the seventh. Thats four
hits off three different pitchers -- not bad for a player with 67 career at-bats
in the major leagues. "Hes taking his swings," Gardenhire said. "He doesnt know
these pitchers so hes making some adjustments. He sees the breaking ball the
first time and then hes ready for it the next time." The Twins have played the
last two days without another rookie, slugging right fielder Oswaldo Arcia, who
sprained his ankle on Thursday against the Brewers. Hes been available only to
pinch-hit, and his absence has been noticed by Gardenhire. "You lose a guy like
Arcia out of your lineup and you think, Wheres it going to happen now?" he said.
"But somebody else just has to pick up the slack." Gibson (5-5) scattered three
hits and three walks while striking out five, allowing only one runner to reach
second base. He pushed his home record to 4-1 with a 1.54 ERA this year, but he
remains searching for an answer for his road numbers -- 1-4, 7.39. "I dont know
what it is. Im just comfortable throwing here," Gibson said. "Im definitely
comfortable on the road as well, and I dont think the numbers really get in my
head -- Im still making pitches on the road. Maybe just not as many in big
situations like I do at home." He was especially effective at keeping the ball
on the ground -- he induced 12 ground ball outs, including the last nine batters
he retired. Feldman was chased in the second inning as the Twins jumped to a 3-0
lead. After a perfect first, Feldman hit Josh Willingham leading off the second.
Trevor Plouffe followed with a grounder that third baseman Matt Dominguez
misplayed for an error. A walk to Kurt Suzuki loaded the bases with one out, but
Feldman appeared to be on the verge of escaping when he struck out
Eduardo Escobar. Shortstop Marwin Gonzalez bobbled Aaron Hicks grounder up the
middle and a run scored. Santana hit a two-run single to right to put the Twins
ahead 3-0, and Feldman got yanked after walking Brian Dozier to load the bases.
"Brutal," Feldman said of his outing, which matched the shortest of his career.
"I needed a pitch, (but it) just never happened. " "It was one of those days,
back-to-back guys struggle to command the strike zone," Astros manager Bo Porter
said. "Give Minnesota credit, they took pitch after pitch after pitch and put
themselves into some good hitting counts. We didnt help ourselves by allowing
them to extend innings." Clemens retired Joe Mauer on a fly ball to end the
inning. But Clemens walked five batters in the fourth inning as the Twins scored
four more runs. NOTES: The Twins promotional giveaway on Saturday was the "Gardy
Gnome," a figurine depicting a gnome-like version of Gardenhire kicking a hat.
"I told the promotions people, Whatever you want to do, go ahead," a slightly
sheepish Gardenhire said. ... The Astros had won their previous six road games
before Saturdays loss.
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http://www.cheapnfljerseysall.us.com/Nhl-jerseys/ . -- Cordell Cato scored his first goal of the season and the San Jose
Earthquakes survived a full half playing a man down to beat FC Dallas 2-1
Saturday night.WASHINGTON -- To prepare for the playoffs, Denver coach Brian
Shaw said he wants his high-scoring team to learn to win tough games. There was
no better training ground for bump-and-grind basketball than Mondays 75-74
victory over the Washington Wizards. Wilson Chandler scored 17 points, Nate
Robinson added 16, and Kenneth Faried had a key block and transition dunk with
33 seconds left. Washington had three possessions after Faried put Denver ahead,
but John Wall missed a layup, Trevor Ariza missed a 3-pointer, Chandler blocked
a layup try by Garrett Temple, and Robinson stripped the ball from Wall in the
closing seconds. Denver, which came in sixth in the NBA in scoring (104 points
per game), had its lowest output of the season -- falling 13 points below its
previous low -- but was able to conclude a 4-2 road trip. Holding Washington
without a field goal for the final 4:04, Denver showed some of the grit that it
hopes to employ later in the season. "We didnt even get into the 80s tonight,"
Shaw said. "But just being able to execute down the stretch, make tough
defensive stops when we needed to, I thought we did that tonight, especially at
the end of the game." Chandler also had eight rebounds as the Nuggets rallied
from 12 points down in the second half, and Robinson helped the Denver reserves
outscore their depleted Washington counterparts 34-5. Wall finished with 20
points and eight assists, Marcin Gortat scored 16 points, and Trevor Booker
added 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Wizards. Wall was miffed by a no-call at
the end of the game, when Robinson made the last of his four steals. "Same thing
that was happening all game but I didnt get the call," Wall said. "Nate Robinson
was grabbing my arm every time I went by him and thats how I lost the ball and
we lose a tough game tonight." In the other locker room, Robinson told reporters
that he would "let you all make that decision." Robinson had another key play
when sneaked through a screen, stole a pass, and streaked for a fast-break
layup, giving Denver its first lead since the second quarter, 73-72. "You gotta
be scrappy, do whatever it takes to win," Robinson said. Washington led most of
the way behind Wall, but with four rotation players out, Washington got only
five points from six reserves who played a combined 62 minutes and shot just 2
for 13.
Cheap MLB
Jerseys. "Weve got to get more than five points from our bench," Wizards
coach Randy Wittman said. "Thats gotta get better for us, no question about it.
I think we got up 12 at the end of the third. I looked up, its two right away. I
gotta figure out a way to find guys that are gonna go out there and increase it
by 12, keep it at 12, keep it at 10, keep it at eight, until you can get your
main guys back." Neither team led by more than four points in a stagnant first
half until Washington scored six straight points, including four by Wall, to go
up 43-36 with 2 minutes to go before the break. Washington remained in command
in the third quarter, pushing its lead to 58-46 on a jumper by Wall. However,
the 5-foot-9 Robinson came off the bench for Denver and scored eight points.
Timofey Mozgovs tip-in before the end of the quarter pulled Denver to 60-58. The
Wizards still had control until midway through the fourth quarter when reserve
forward Jordan Hamilton hit consecutive 3-pointers and former Wizards guard
Randy Foye followed with another 3-pointer with a drive and pass to Chandler for
a dunk, setting the scene for the final grind. "We missed a lot of open shots.
They missed a lot of open shots. It was terrible basketball," Faried said. "Its
like that sometimes but we came out with a win, so well take it." NOTES: The
Wizards announced during the game that forward Al Harrington underwent surgery
on Monday to remove particles from his right knee and will be re-evaluated in
four weeks. ... Washington also disclosed that top scorer Bradley Beal has been
cleared to increase basketball activities. The second-year guard, who missed his
seventh straight game on Monday, has been out with a stress injury to his left
fibula. ... Washington also was without Nene (foot tendinitis) and Martel
Webster (ankle sprain), who remain day-to-day. ... Denver was without top scorer
Ty Lawson (hamstring), who missed an opportunity to play in his hometown.
Front-court players Danillo Gallinari and Javale McGee remain out for the
Nuggets . With Beal and Webster out, Glen Rice Jr. made his starting debut for
Washington.
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