COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Michael Bradley has a special place in his heart for Columbus Crew Stadium and now his Toronto FC teammates do as well.
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Bradleys goal in the 11th minute was enough for TFC to end the Crews unbeaten
run with a 2-0 victory on Saturday. Bradley scored from a tough angle, beating
goalkeeper Steve Clark at the near post with a shot taken two yards from the end
line. Substitute Issey Nakajima-Farran added a goal in the 85th minute off a
cross by Justin Morrow. Crew Stadium is where Bradley scored twice for the U.S.
national team in a 2-0 victory against Mexico in a World Cup qualifier on Feb.
11, 2011. "Ive been fortunate to get a few goals here," he said. "Great stadium
and the atmospheres always good. So far my records not bad here." Bradley played
90 minutes and had a goal and an assist vs. Mexico in 2-2 friendly on Wednesday
but showed few effects against Columbus although he was replaced by Jeremy Hall
in the 73rd minute. "The idea is to always go 90," Bradley said. "Physically I
started to feel it a bit. The important thing now is to recover and get ready
for the weekend." TFC coach Ryan Nelsen says he was not surprised by Bradleys
effort. "Thats Michael," he said. "He has this willingness to grab the game by
the scruff of the neck. Its instinctive." On the goal, Bradley ran onto an entry
pass from Mark Bloom on the right side of the box, outpacing Crew midfielder
Bernardo Anor. Bradley then startled Clark with a shot that went five-hole. "At
first I was just thinking of getting there before the ball gets out of bounds,"
Bradley said. "At that point youre looking across. Given the field and the way
the goalie is positioned, if I can really nail this ball low and hard its got a
good chance." The goal was his second in MLS and first with TFC (3-1-0) in his
fourth game after returning from Europe. His previous league goal was Oct. 16,
2005, with the New York MetroStars. TFC was minus several starters, most notably
forward Jermain Defoe. He had scored all three of Torontos goals this season
before suffering a hamstring injury in the last match against Real Salt Lake in
a 3-0 loss. Also, defender and captain Steven Caldwell was suspended for the
match, midfielder Jonathan Osorio was out because of a hamstring problem and
defender Doneil Henry sat due to a knee injury. TFC did get midfielder Jackson
back from suspension and rookie Nick Hagglund, raised two hours south of
Columbus in Cincinnati, made his first appearance, starting in the central
defence with Bradley Orr. "He was fantastic," Nelsen said of Hagglund. "I
thought the centre backs, Nick and Brad, were incredible. Youd never know thats
those guys first games at centre back in an MLS game." Hagglund had about 50
family members and friends on hand and said the game was almost perfect. "I
could have scored a couple of goals," he joked. "No, absolutely it was an
incredible experience to play in Columbus on this pitch with these guys and get
the shutout." TFC goalkeeper Julio Cesar had critical stops on Bernardo Anor and
Tony Tchani in the second half when it was 1-0 to preserve the lead against the
Crew (3-1-0) before a crowd of 12,045. "I attribute this loss to two things, a
bad start to the game and to a very well organized Toronto FC," Crew coach Gregg
Berhalter said. Toronto returns to BMO Field April 12 to host the Colorado
Rapids.
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The Oakland Athletics could be a American League playoff team not because theyre
a great hitting club but because theyre opportunistic. Toronto Blue Jays manager
John Gibbons knows that "they make you pay if you dont throw strikes." In
beating the As 5-4 Saturday afternoon at Rogers Centre, the Blue Jays did some
of that themselves. Opportune offence gave them an early lead, then Jose Reyes
solo homer in the seventh was enough insurance to help them snap a two-game
skid. The Blue Jays got only five hits, and three of them were from
Jose Bautista, but they manufactured runs thanks to some walks and other Oakland
mistakes. "I think youve just got to take advantage of it," Gibbons said. "Any
time you can get those freebies, that puts extra pressure on a pitcher, you get
guys on, he throws more pitches. All those little things add up over time." They
added up to three early runs against As pitcher Sonny Gray, who was making his
first career major-league start. Bautistas 27th home run of the season in the
first inning was a two-run shot because of Maicer Izturis walk, and Reyes
fielders choice scored Brett Lawrie in the second after the third baseman got on
thanks to a strikeout and passed ball. "Thats why you always preach on the other
side, Dont walk batters," Gibbons said. "It puts you in a jam, and it also puts
you in a bad frame of mind." Even if he wasnt perfect, Gray didnt implode,
surrendering only three earned runs in six innings. But with another small-ball
run in the third, the Blue Jays gave starter Mark Buehrle a cushion to work
with. Buehrle was efficient, if not spectacular, giving up three earned runs on
seven hits and striking out five in 5 1/3 innings including a home run to As
right-fielder Josh Reddick. The big lefty iimproved to 8-7 this season, as
Gibbons called the performance "typical Buehrle.
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kind of feel like I stole the win today. It was one of those ones that you dont
feel like you deserve," he said. "I feel like Im not doing my job if I dont go
at least six innings." Buehrle got the hook in the sixth after allowing his
third run and putting a runner on third. All-star lefty reliever Brett Cecil got
Toronto hit a batter before recording two big outs to leave the game unscathed.
As Gibbons kept spinning the bullpen wheel, it kept working out for the Blue
Jays. Aaron Loup for two outs, Sergio Santos for one and Darren Oliver for three
got Toronto to reliable closer Casey Janssen. "They all fell in line, did their
jobs," Gibbons said. "Great effort by the bullpen." Reyes line-drive home run
gave that bullpen some breathing room, and Janssen needed the insurance run.
Reddick led off the ninth with a homer, and the next two As batters reached. "It
got hairy there, no question," Gibbons said. With catcher Derek Norris back
bothering him, backup Stephen Vogt pinch-hit with two on and no outs and couldnt
get his bunt attempt in the right spot. Janssen fielded it and threw to third to
force out the lead runner, easily the biggest defensive play of the game. "I
dont think that was a gamble," Janssen said. "I think I field my position well.
The bunt wasnt good enough where my clock in my head said I had a chance." A
flyout and a strikeout got a relieved Janssen his 21st save of the season. "I
had to grind, it wasnt pretty, I didnt draw it up getting a lead-off homer and
then the first two guys on," he said. "I think this was one of the more
satisfying closes Ive had this year."
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