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MINNEAPOLIS -- An unexpectedly strong performance in the middle gave the Minnesota Timberwolves a big lift Sunday night. Randall Cobb Super Bowl Jersey . Kevin Love had his usual solid performance with 26 points, 10 rebounds and five assists to lead the Timberwolves to a 104-102 victory over the Sacramento Kings. But it was the other double-double that was unexpected. In his first career start, rookie Gorgui Dieng had his first career double-double with season highs in points (12) and rebounds (11) for Minnesota. He also had five blocks. "Were a man short right now and Gorgui, he just came in and did what we needed him to do and thats just rebound and alter shots at the basket," said Kevin Martin, who had 31 points Dieng, the 21st pick in last summers draft, made his first career start in place of Nikola Pekovic, who sat out with soreness in his right ankle. "I was prepared if I get minutes or not I was just going to keep working," Dieng said. "I think you should work more when you dont play a lot. I didnt get minutes. I never got frustrated. Just keep working and I know my time will come one day." A former Timberwolves player saw Diengs potential firsthand. "I told him since the first day he got here that its your job to block shots. You got drafted to rebound and block shots. His post games getting better as well. If he sticks with that hes going to be a good player in this league," said Derrick Williams, who scored 26 points and had 11 rebounds off the bench for Sacramento. Williams knows about being a young player in Minnesota. The second-overall pick in the 2011 Draft, Williams had two disappointing seasons with the Timberwolves before being traded to Sacramento on Nov. 26 for Luc Mbah a Moute, who has been a non-factor for Minnesota. "I think anybody who gets traded wants to play good against the team that traded them," he said. "I just wanted to be aggressive because (DeMarcus) Cousins was out and I was the next man up. Coach wants me to be aggressive and thats what I did tonight." Cousins, the Kings starting centre, missed the game with right knee tendinitis. He was replaced by Aaron Gray, who hadnt seen action since Feb. 25. Gray finished with four points in 20 minutes. "Its a testament to Aarons work ethic and his positive attitude for him to be ready to play tonight after not playing in so many games," coach Michael Malone said. "It was good to see him out there." Love hit 3 of 6 3-pointers, including one with 1:07 to play to give Minnesota a 97-95 lead and the Timberwolves hung on to win for the 33rd time, their most wins since 2005-06. Sacramentos Isaiah Thomas had 27 points, including two 3-pointers in the final 15 seconds to keep it close. Thomas scored from beyond the arc with 13.2 seconds left to get the Kings within two. After Martin made two free throws to make it 102-98 with 12.1 seconds left, Thomas answered with another 3-pointer before Martin made two more free throws with 5.7 seconds left. It was the second straight night the Kings couldnt close out a game, leaving them with a 2-5 record on a season-long seven-game road trip. They were outscored by six points in the fourth quarter and lost 94-87 in Chicago Saturday. "We were in there; we had a chance to win, but we just couldnt capitalize," Thomas said. Down 29-19 late in the first quarter, Williams provided a spark by scoring 10 straight points off the bench to get the Kings within three by quarters end. Williams had six more in the second quarter as the Kings took a 54-53 halftime lead. NOTES: Sacramento has officially been eliminated from playoff contention. ... Listed as day to day, Pekovic missed 13 games earlier this season -- including all of February -- with bursitis in his right ankle. ... Minnesota entered the game averaging a league-low 3.5 blocks per game. ... Thomas reached 1,000 career assists with a first-quarter helper, becoming the eighth player in Sacramento history to have that many in his first three seasons with the Kings. ... Martin made his 1,000th career 3-pointer in the fourth quarter. ... Twelve of Sacramentos final 15 games are in the Pacific time zone. Jimmy Graham Super Bowl Jersey . -- John Fox will coach the Denver Broncos from the sideline and not the booth upon his return Sunday five weeks after heart surgery. Dean Lowry Super Bowl Jersey .com) - The surprising Calgary Flames host the winless New Jersey Devils at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Friday.KELOWNA, B.C. -- Jackson Whistle made 26 saves for his first shutout of the season as the Kelowna Rockets blanked the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes 5-0 on Saturday in Western Hockey League action. Myles Bell and Rourke Chartier each had a goal and an assist for the Rockets (40-6-2), who extended their win streak to four games, while Marek Tvrdon, Justin Kirkland and Tyson Baillie scored a goal apiece. Defencemen Lenny Hackman and Kade Jensen both were minus-3 for the Hurricanes (9-38-5), who dropped their eighth game in a row and sit last in the WHL standings. Lethbridges Jonny Hogue turned away 44-of-49 shots in a losing cause. --- REBELS 4 PATS 0 REGINA -- Patrik Bartosak stopped all 41 shots his way as Red Deer blanked the Pats for its fourth straight win. Scott Feser had a pair of goals for the Rebels (26-21-2) while Aspen Sterzer and Presten Kopeck added the others. Dawson MacAuley allowed four goals on 19 shots for Regina (25-21-5) before giving way to Daniel Wapple, who stopped seven shots in 16 minutes of relief. Red Deer went 1 for 5 on the power play as the Pats failed to score on eight chances with the man advantage. --- BLADES 3 BRONCOS 2 (OT) SASKATOON -- MacKenzie Johnston scored 3:16 into overtime and Troy Trombley made 40 saves as the Blades slipped past Swift Current. Cory Millette and Nikita Scherbak scored in regulation for Saskatoon (14-33-4) and Dylan Busenius assisted on both. The Broncos (25-18-8) got goals from Andrew Johnson and Colby Cave. Swift Currents Landon Bow turned away 35-of-38 shots in a losing cause. --- WHEAT KINGS 6 COUGARS 3 BRANDON -- Peter Quenneville scored twice and Ryan Pulock had a goal and an assist as the Wheat Kings doubled up Prince George. Quinton Lisoway, Eric Roy and Ryan Pilon also scored for Brandon (26-17-5) and Tim McGauley had two assists. Todd Fiddler scored once for the Cougars (18-26-7) and set up Jansen Harkins and Klarc Wilson. Curtis Honey made 25 saves for the Wheat Kings as Ty Edmonds stopped 25-of-30 shots for Prince George. --- OIL KINGS 7 HITMEN 3 EDMONTON -- Riley Keiser had a goal and two assists and Brett Pollock scored twice as the Oil Kings toppled Calgary for their fourth win in a row. Curtis Lazar, Tyler Robertson, Brandon Baddock and Griffin Reinhart also scored for Edmonton (32-13-1) while Tristan Jarry made 26 saves for the win. Greg Chase had a pair of goals for the Hitmen (31-11-5), and also assisted on Adam Tambelllinis goal. Preston Smith Super Bowl Jersey. Chris Driedger started in net for Calgary but was pulled after giving up five goals on 27 shots in 24 minutes of action. Mack Shields turned aside 17-of-19 shots in relief. --- ICE 6 WARRIORS 2 CRANBROOK, B.C. -- Sam Reinhart had a hat trick and Luke Philip scored once and set up two more as Kootenay handed Moose Jaw its seventh straight loss. Landon Peel and Tim Bozon also scored for the Ice (24-20-4) while Rinat Valiev chipped in with three assists. Scott Cooke and Jack Rodewald scored for the Warriors (13-28-8). Mackenzie Skapski made 31 saves for Kootenay. Moose Jaws Justin Paulic allowed five goals on 33 shots before giving way to Brody Wills, who stopped 5-of-6 shots in nine minutes of relief. --- TIGERS 4 BLAZERS 0 KAMLOOPS, B.C. -- Nick Schneider only had to make 19 saves for his first-career shutout as Medicine Hat blanked the Blazers. Cole Sanford and Curtis Valk each had a goal and an assist for the Tigers (28-17-3) while Blake Penner and Miles Koules added the others. Sam Grist was a team-worst minus-3 for Kamloops (11-33-5). Bolton Pouliot stopped 30-of-34 shots for the Blazers. --- ROYALS 3 GIANTS 1 VANCOUVER -- Patrik Polivka made 32 saves, including 12 in the third period, as Victoria hung on to defeat the Giants. Jordan Fransoo, Brandon Magee and Logan Nelson scored for the Royals (33-16-2), who jumped out to a 3-0 lead midway through the second period. Dalton Sward responded for Vancouver (24-19-8). Payton Lee turned away 20-of-23 shots in a losing cause. --- THUNDERBIRDS 4 SILVERTIPS 3 (OT) KENT, Wash. -- Roberts Lipsbergs scored 1:48 into extra time as Seattle edged Everett. Shea Theodore had a goal and three assists for the Thunderbirds (30-15-5) while Ryan Gropp and Mathew Barzal each scored once. Manraj Hayer and Joshua Winquist had a goal and an assist apiece for the Silvertips (25-16-8) and Jujhar Khaira had the other. Seattles Taran Kozun made 25 saves for the win as Everetts Daniel Cotton turned away 31-of-35 shots in a losing cause. --- CHIEFS 2 AMERICANS 1 (SO) SPOKANE, Wash. -- Mike Aviani scored the shootout winner as Chiefs halted Tri-Citys four-game win streak. Reid Gow scored on the power play for Spokane (29-15-4) at 16:38 of the first period. Brian Williams responded for the Americans (24-21-5) at 14:12 of the third. Eric Williams made 20 saves for the Chiefs. Tri-Citys Eric Comrie stopped 35-of-36 shots in defeat. ' ' '

(SportsNetwork. Casey Stengel Jersey .com) - The Edmonton Oilers have no hopes of spoiling the Anaheim Ducks playoff chances, but they can put a dent in their quest for the Pacific Division title. Anaheim kicked off a three-game homestand on Monday by welcoming Winnipeg to town, but the Jets were rude visitors as they went up 4-0 at the 10:54 mark of the second period. However, Anaheim was able to rally for a 5-4 overtime victory. The Ducks could have used some help from the Oilers last night, but instead Edmonton was defeated 5-4 by San Jose. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had two goals and an assist, Taylor Hall notched a goal and three assists and Jordan Eberle finished with a goal and two helpers. "We battled extremely hard," Edmonton coach Dallas Eakins said. "In my recent memory I cant remember a game where we were supporting and fighting and battling [like we did]. I liked our compete level." Ben Scrivens allowed all five goals on 33 shots in the setback. Anaheim is to 4-0-1 in its last five games and looking for its third straight victory. "We didnt have a great start [Monday vs. Winnipeg]. Being down 4-0 halfway through the game, its tough to overcome," Perry said. "But we said in here, if we keep pushing and playing that style we established in the second half of the second period, no team can play with us. Thats the way weve got to keep playing." The Ducks set a club record with their 49th win of the season, surpassing the 48-win total set by the Stanley Cup-winning 2006-07 club, and moved three points ahead of the San Jose Sharks for first place in the Pacific Division. The Sharks were able to pull back to within a point following Tuesday nights victory over the Oilers, but the Ducks have two games in hand. The Ducks and Oilers, who sit last in the Western Conference with 61 points, will wrap their season series with two meetings over the next five days. Anaheim will visit Edmonton on Sunday after concluding its homestand on Friday versus the Nashville Predators. The Ducks won their first two encounters with the Oilers this season to push their series winning streak to six in a row before the Oilers won the most recent encounter 4-3 in overtime at home on March 28. Anaheim has still won 16 of the last 19 meetings overall as well as three straight and seven of the previous nine at home. Whitey Ford Jersey .C. -- Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe is resigning after 13 seasons at the school. Andy Pettitte Jersey . -- Colin Kaepernick insists he just happened to pull on a pair of socks with dollar bill prints all over them Wednesday morning -- before he learned he had struck a new fortune with the San Francisco 49ers.CINCINNATI - The Giants bid goodbye to Cincinnati with high-fives. They havent done that very often. Left-hander Madison Bumgarner got his career-high sixth straight win, and San Francisco beat the Reds 6-1 on Thursday afternoon, taking a series in Cincinnati for the first time in five years. San Francisco moved a season-high 18 games over .500 with its 11th win in 14 games. The Giants have the best record in the majors at 39-21. After making four errors in the series opener and falling 8-3, the Giants were reminded that theyve had a tough time in Great American Ball Park the last couple of years. They won the next two games and moved on with smiles for a change. "Its been a tough park for us," manager Bruce Bochy said. "Gosh, between our defence and our pitching, we hadnt had a lot of success here. Of course we did bounce back at a critical time in 2012 (playoffs), but I know weve had some of our worst baseball here. "So it was good, particularly after losing the first game the way we did, to bounce back and play the type of ball we did the next two days." Cincinnati has been one of their most dreaded stops. The Giants won a series in Cincinnati for the first time since August 18-20, 2009. Theyve dropped 11 of their last 14 in Cincinnati during the regular season. The one bright moment was their division series win in Cincinnati in 2012, the starting point for their World Series title. Bumgarner (8-3) gave up three hits in eight innings, including Todd Fraziers homer, and retired the last 16 batters he faced. Hes 6-0 in his last seven starts, the best such streak of his career. Michael Morse hit a two-run homer, and Brandon Crawford broke out of a slump with a three-run shot off Mike Leake (3-5), who had overwhelmed the Giants the last four times he faced them. Bumgarner was the NLs Pitcher of the Month in May and carried it into June with another stingy performance on the road. Bumgarner has allowed three or fewer runs in each of his last 20 road starts, a franchise record. The Reds came out swinging and got two of their three hits in the first inning. Once Bumgarner saw what was happening, he changed his approach early in the count and got them hitting the ball on the ground. Jonathan Loaisiga Jersey. . "They came out aggressive," said Bumgarner, who retired 23 of the last 24 he faced. "After that first inning, when they came out swinging, I made some adjustments and the defence was phenomenal. They made a lot of good plays. "Today was the best you can hope for, really. I got a lot of quick outs and got the team back in the dugout." George Kontos retired the side in the ninth as the final 19 Reds went in order. Cincinnati didnt have a base runner after Frazier singled with two outs in the third inning. They won the series by finally getting to Leake, who was 4-0 in his last four starts against the Giants while allowing only three earned runs. Leake lasted only five innings and gave up eight hits, a walk and five runs. Morse homered for the second straight game, connecting for his team-high 13th homer in the second inning. That ended Leakes streak of six straights without giving up a homer. Crawfords seventh homer in the fourth inning was his first since May 21. The shortstop was in a 4 for 32 slump. Pablo Sandoval singled three times and scored a pair of runs, improving to 11 for 17 career against Leake with two homers. Hunter Pence extended his hitting streak to six games. Frazier hit his team-high 12th homer in the first inning, his second homer in two games. Hes got a six-game hitting streak that includes three homers. NOTES: The Giants open a 10-game homestand against the Mets, Nationals and Rockies on Friday. Matt Cain (1-3) will be activated off the DL to face Jonathon Niese (3-3). ... The Reds continue their 10-game homestand against the Phillies, with Johnny Cueto (5-4) going against LHP Cole Hamels (1-3). ... Reds manager Bryan Price won a challenge in the third. Umpire Larry Vanover decided that Brayan Pena pulled his foot off first base while reaching for a throw, leaving Buster Posey safe. The call was overturned on review. ... The Reds are undecided on whether RHP Mat Latos, who left a rehab start on Wednesday night after 67 pitches because of a calf cramp, will need to make one more start in the minors before hes activated. ' ' '

OSLO, Norway -- Buoyed by two gold medals from the Sochi Olympics, Norwegian biathlete Ole Einar Bjoerndalen says he will continue for two more years and not retire this season as planned. Rashan Gary Super Bowl Jersey . Bjoerndalen, who had failed to win any major race for two years before Sochi, writes in a Facebook entry that he is "full of energy and inspiration" after winning the 10-kilometre sprint and mixed relay at last months Olympics. The 40-year-old Norwegian says he will continue his career until the 2016 world championships in Oslo. With 13 Olympic medals, including eight gold, Bjoerndalen is the most decorated Winter Games athlete of all time. Marquez Valdes-Scantling Super Bowl Jersey . Joining him in this years class were Switzerlands Patrick Huerlimann and Norways Eigil Ramsfjell. The announcement was made at the world mens curling championship at Capital Indoor Stadium in China. JK Scott Super Bowl Jersey . The Stampeders announced the move on Wednesday. Bell spent his first two CFL seasons with the B.MINNEAPOLIS -- Rookie Danny Santana had another big game and Kyle Gibson pitched well at home again. 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 recorrd to 4-1 with a 1. Raven Greene Super Bowl Jersey. 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. ' ' '

GAP, France - Canadian forward Matt Carter has been provisionally suspended by the French ice hockey federation after testing positive for the banned stimulant ephedrine. Jimmy Johnson Jersey .The 27-year-old Carter, who plays for French club Rapaces de Gap, tested positive after a league match on Dec. 23. His club said Friday that Carter was using an over-the-counter asthma medicine sold in the United States that contained the substance.The club insisted that Carter, the second-leading scorer in the league this season with 13 goals, took the medicine without consulting team doctors but will help him give further proof of his good faith. John Taylor Jersey . Starters, when they struggle, have to live with it for five days. For Sergio Santos and Steve Delabar, two of the three men who authored one of the ugliest pitched innings in Blue Jays franchise history on Thursday night, the bounce-back chance came right away. Joe Montana Jersey . Johansen scored twice and Derek MacKenzie, Brandon Dubinsky and Cam Atkinson also had goals to lead the Blue Jackets to a 5-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Thursday night, ending a three-game losing skid.VANCOUVER -- More than four years after the Olympic flame went out on the West Coast, the Vancouver Organizing Committee has released its final reports and turned out the lights. VANOC says the 2010 Games broke even, with total revenues and expenses just shy of $1.9 billion. At the end of the day, the federal government contributed $74.4 million, the British Columbia government $113.4 million, other governments $176 million, and the International Olympic Committee $659 million in sponsorships and contributions to cover tthe tab. Lawyer Milloy Jersey. The report says all sites have been remediated and turned over to local governments as legacy venues and the organizing committee was dissolved after its final meeting on June 27. The final report says several claims and disputed contracts have been resolved since the event, as well as an 18-month coroners review of the Whistler Sliding Centre, where a Georgian luger was killed in a training accident. Board chairman Ken Dobell says the Games left a debt-free legacy for the country. ' ' '

TSNs Jack Armstrong offers his thoughts on the Raptors need for a good start, a healthy Anderson Varejao, the return of Danny Granger, the improved De Andre Jordan and the Rockets juggling free agent addition Asik with Howard. Armani Watts Super Bowl Jersey . 1. Raptors open pre-season action: Last season, the Raptors only lost one game in the pre-season and played really well before having a disastrous 4-19 start to the regular season and for all intents and purposes, the season was over. Getting off to a good start come Oct 30 and beyond is what matters. I was one of the ones lured in by the impressive pre-season only to be disappointed by the early season play. This season, whatever works for head coach Dwane Casey and his staff in their preparation for the Oct 30th opener vs. Boston is paramount. They know exactly what they need to work on, what they have to put into their offensive and defensive systems and, most importantly, how they want to experiment with roles/playing time so you know your team well enough when the games count for real. The Ws are nice at any time, yet a cohesive/prepared group at the end of the month is the goal. Here we go. 2. Anderson Varejao (Cavs): Having him healthy and in the lineup will be huge for the Cavaliers. He was having a very nice season (14ppg and 14rpg) last year before he got injured. You have him out there and you get some minutes from Andrew Bynum and this team will be tough to play against. Ive already heard the discussion that Varejao will be trade bait since hes got an expiring contract. Maybe so, but developing a winning team that makes the playoffs is huge for an organization hoping to take the next step and maybe lure Varejaos old teammate (some guy in Miami) back to Ohio next summer. Varejao helps the Cavs have a better chance at winning and, unless they get blown away by a trade offer for him, concentrate on getting Ws. 3. Danny Granger (Pacers): Good to see him back on the court. Real curious how he will adjust to Paul Georges increased role/profile on the team and his role possibly changing. Hes a good professional scorer who will add a new element of firepower and depth to the Pacers attack. Over the course of a long season, having a guy like Granger is quite a luxury. It will be very interesting to see how head coach Frank Vogel handles the situation on a daily basis and whether president Larry Bird stays with Granger or tries to dangle him in the trade market. Either way, a healthy Granger helps the organization. 4. De Andre Jordan (Clippers): I found Doc Rivers comments about him to be encouraging. Rivers alluded to the fact that he would have loved having Kevin Garnett in LA yet not at the expense of Jordan and also emphasized that hes a very valuable defender and much improved. Obviously, Rivers is trying to pump up Jordans tires and let him know that hes a significant piece to the new-look Clippers. Hes a guy that can protect the paint, rebound on both ends, get you garbage points in the lane and play with energy. Can he be a consistent post player and free-throw shooter? Can you have him on the court in crunch time? Only time will tell but its clear that Rivers wants to see it through for a while and figure out whether hes got more room for growth. 5. Omer Asik (Rockets): They made a run at him, luring him away from the Bulls as a free agent last year and now hes trying to figure out where hell fit with the new free agent, Dwight Howard. Do I see the two of them being able to play extensively together? Highly unlikely. How Kevin McHale sees this through will be important for this potential trade chip. If given minutes, hes a player that can be a consistent double/double guy for you. Asik has already expressed concern about how it will all unfold. My guy tells me that GM Daryl Morey is a bold/forward thinking operator and wont let this fester for long. If its not working, theyll be swinging a deal. Better to be proactive than reactive. Tony Gonzalez Super Bowl Jersey . Bayern led second-place Leverkusen by 10 points with a game in hand, while Dortmund was another four points off the pace. Freiburg midfielder Felix Klaus scored in the last minute as his side twice came from behind to climb provisionally out of the relegation zone. Dorian ODaniel Super Bowl Jersey . Next up, the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Cleveland Browns in the AFC North. Baltimore Ravens In 2014, the 8-8 season that the Baltimore Ravens experienced was to be expected. HONOLULU -- Will Wilcox finally got around to making his debut as a PGA Tour rookie and was surprised as anyone to be in the final group at the Sony Open. As for Chris Kirk and Harris English, its no surprise at all. Kirk got up-and-down from a bunker on the par-5 18th by making a 10-foot birdie putt for a 5-under 65, giving him a one-shot lead going into the final round of a Sony Open that remains up for grabs among at least a dozen players. Cloudy conditions and only a gentle, Pacific breeze kept everyone in the mix Saturday at Waialae, even John Daly. And even Wilcox. The 27-year-old from Alabama made birdie on his last two holes for a 64 and was one shot behind. Wilcox once qualified for the Canadian Open in 2010, and for the U.S. Open in 2011 at Congressional. He finally made it to the big leagues by finishing 10th on the Web.com Tour money list, although he didnt play in the Web.com Tour Finals or in the fall for what he only said were "unfortunate, personal things." And here he is. "I didnt know what was going to happen this week," Wilcox said. "Making the cut was a dream come true. Playing good on Saturday was a dream come true. Getting to have a decent shot tomorrow is ridiculous. Well see." Kirk, who was at 12-under 198, won the McGladrey Classic in November, his final tournament of 2013 before taking time off for the birth of his second child. He returned at Kapalua and shook off some rust. And while he closed with a 73 at Kapalua, it was a good day of scrambling and gave him a small measure of momentum on Oahu. English, who had a 67, won the final event of 2013 in the OHL Classic at Mayakoba. He goes for his third win in his last 16 starts on the PGA Tour. "It was just kind of Grind it til you find it. This course is tough," English said. "Its hard to hit the fairways, and youve just got to be a wizard around the greens, and thats kind of how I approached today. I didnt have my best golf, but I scraped it around at 3-under par and Im still in this golf tournament." So is everyone else it would seem. At one point there was a six-way tie for the lead. An hour later, 14 players were separated by a single shot. Daly matched the low score of the third round with a 64 and was five shots behind. Masters champion Adam Scott wasnt making up any ground, dropped two shots late in his round and finished with a two-putt birdie for a 71 and was two shots behind. A dozen players were separated by three shots going into Sunday, a group that includes Kapalua winner Zach Johnson as he tries to become the first player since Ernie Els in 2003 to sweep the Hawaii swing. Alex Okafor Super Bowl Jersey. The plan for all the contenders is to not worry about anyone else because there would be too many players to worry about. "When its so close like that, everybody is going to be making some birdies here and there," Kirk said. "So I probably wont look at leaderboards as much as I normally would. A lot of courses I think lend themselves to you need to know what your position is going into any given hole, but out here, I dont think thats really the case. Theyre just so volatile with guys making birdies and bogeys. "Ill just probably try to keep my head down and make as many birdies as I can." Former Sony Open champion Jerry Kelly (66) and Jimmy Walker (67) were at 10-under 200, while the group at 201 included Robert Allenby (65), Pat Perez (66), Retief Goosen (66) and Johnson, who had a 66. Brian Stuard, who had a one-shot lead going into the third round, had a 71 and also was still only three shots behind. Perez was among those tied for the lead until he four-putted the 14th, the final three putts from 3 feet. PGA champion Jason Dufner three-putted from 3 feet on the 18th hole for a bogey and was four shots behind. The long shot would have to be Wilcox, who learned to play from his mother, a golf pro at Pine Harbor in Alabama. Small for his age, he played at least 36 holes a day as a kid, a habit that only changed after he was old enough to drive. On his bucket list is to play on the PGA Tour. He checked that off. His dream foursome includes Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Boo Weekley, and he already has played with Weekley. The idea of winning is too far away, even though only 18 holes remain. "I saw I was beating James Hahn by two or three. He was like 51st and I was in 13th or something," Wilcox said. "Youve just got to play tight and make a couple of clutch putts, which I did today. I dont know. Well see." Having a decent shot might seem like a dream for Allenby considering where his game has been. He made only five cuts in 24 tournaments last year and had to use an exemption from career money (top 25) to get his card. Allenby has been making enough putts to at least give himself a chance, and for that, he credits the games he plays at home in Florida. What should have been taken as an insult as turned into a benefit. "Ive been playing the guys at Admirals Cove, all the 60-year-olds, and they make me putt out because theyre like waiting for me to miss," he said. "I keep shooting 7-, 8-, 9-unders and stuff with them. Theyve put me in a good mental state for out here on tour." ' ' '

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Yadier Molina got the loudest boos during pregame introductions. Bryan Bulaga Super Bowl Jersey . The five-time All-Star catcher got booed again as he rounded the bases for his game-turning homer. On opening day, he was driving them batty in Cincinnati again. Molina broke a seventh-inning time with a home run and made a pair of slick defensive plays on Monday, leading the defending National League champion St. Louis Cardinals to a 1-0 victory over the Reds. Everyone knew the star of this one. "Matt Holliday said it best when we were coming in shaking hands: Yadi wins," starter Adam Wainwright said. It wasnt all Molina. The Cardinals impeccable pitching was in top form, too. The Reds were blanked on opening day for the first time since 1953, ending the second-longest streak of scoring in at least one run in season openers in major league history. The Phillies went 62 years without being blanked in an opener from 1911-72. Wainwright used his refined sinker to finally get the best of the Reds, who have hit him like no other team. Wainwright allowed three hits in seven innings, fanning nine. "Ive never pitched great against the Reds," said Wainwright, who threw 105 pitches. "Today I wanted to make the emphasis on executing pitches. I tried to simplify it as much as possible." St. Louis escaped a threat in the eighth, when the Reds had runners on first and third with nobody out. Trevor Rosenthal retired all three batters in the ninth, finishing a three-hitter. "We werent able to get a hit there," said Bryan Price, who lost his managing debut. "It was disappointing, but there will be more disappointments along the way." During pregame introductions, Molina got by far the loudest boos from the crowd of 43,134 -- the second-largest for a regular-season game in Great American Ball Park history. Fans still havent forgiven the five-time All Star catcher for a 2010 brawl at home plate with Brandon Phillips. They were booing again after his first-pitch homer in the seventh, his second career off Johnny Cueto (0-1). It was one of only three hits off Cueto in seven innings. Not that the catcher noticed all the commotion from the stands. "I come over here and try to win games," he said. "Thats why Im here." Molina also fielded Joey Vottos grounder in front of the plate to start a double play in the third inning, part of an impressive game all-around. "Im biased, but I think hes the best Ive ever seen at that position," Wainwright said. Wainwright won 19 games and finished second in the NL Cy Young Award voting last season, when he had his biggest trouble with the Reds. He went 1-3 in four starts with a 7.77 ERA against Cincinnati, getting knocked around so much that he called it a "head-scratcher." Wainwright (1-0) refined a sinker in spring training and was in control on a breezy, 64-degree afternoon. He fanned new Reds leadoff hitter Billy Hamilton four times. The Reds best chance came in the eighth, when the Cardinals committed two errors. Phillips became the first Reds runner to reached third base, but was caught in a rundown on Jay Bruces grounder. Carlos Martinez fanned Todd Frazier for the final out, stranding a runner at third. Cuetos third straight opening-day start was a reminder that its a matter of staying healthy. He was on the disabled list three times last season, limited to 11 starts. He changed his delivery slightly to try to avoid injury, and was on the mark on opening day until Molina connected. There were no close plays that merited replays. NOTES: Cincinnatis last shutout loss on opening day was a 2-0 loss to the Milwaukee Braves. ... Former Reds SS Barry Larkin and Dave Concepcion threw ceremonial pitches. ... Cueto was hit on the left wrist by Matt Carpenters comebacker on his fifth pitch of the game. A trainer checked him, and he made a few practice throws. ... Hits king Pete Rose attended the game. ... The teams are off on Tuesday. Michael Wacha starts for St. Louis on Wednesday night against LH Tony Cingrani. Dean Lowry Super Bowl Jersey . And once again, Team Homan emerged as the victor with the reigning national champions defeating Team Sweeting at the Pintys All-Star Curling Skins Game Friday night in the tournaments opening draw at The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre in beautiful Banff National Park. JK Scott Super Bowl Jersey . Prado stuck his glove down with Colorados Charlie Blackmon sliding into the bag, and quickly jumped back in pain after applying the tag. Prado held his left wrist as trainers came out of the Diamondbacks dugout to check him.METAIRIE, La. -- The New Orleans Pelicans have exercised third-year options on the contracts of 2012 first-round draft choices Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers. Davis, the first overall pick in the 2012 draft, averaged 13.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 1.2 steals and was named an NBA All-Rookie First Team member last season. The 6-foot-10 former Kentucky star was a regular starter at power foorward. Josh Jackson Super Bowl Jersey. His 20 double-doubles led all rookies. Rivers was the 10th overall pick in the draft. He averaged 6.2 points, 2.1 assists and 1.8 rebounds, but saw his rookie campaign cut short by a hand injury in early March, during a game in which hed scored 10 first-half points against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Pelicans announced the moves, which were expected, on Wednesday. ' ' '

MILWAUKEE -- Cardinals starters are feeling right at home on the mound at Miller Park. Neil Smith Jersey . A night after Lance Lynn shutout the Brewers, fellow hard-throwing right-hander Shelby Miller followed Tuesday by striking out seven and allowing three hits over six innings to lead St. Louis to a 6-1 win. Mark Ellis had two RBIs in his return from the disabled list, while Matt Holliday and Jhonny Peralta each hit solo shots in the ninth for the Cardinals, who handed Milwaukee its second straight loss following a nine-game winning streak. Miller (1-2) routinely fired fastballs clocked into the mid-90s past hitters before turning the game over to the bullpen in the seventh. He bounced back after starting the year with two losses and a 6.35 ERA in his first two starts. "That looks more like Shelby. The velocity was there," manager Mike Matheny said. Only Aramis Ramirez managed to break through off Miller hitting a solo homer in the fourth. "Sneaky fast. Hes throwing. Its not only sneaky ... he spots his fastball really well on the outside corner, inside," Ramirez said. "Hes going to come right at you, so weve got to make some adjustments." They didnt make enough of them Tuesday. The Brewers have just one run and six hits over the first two games of the three-game set with their NL Central rival. Marco Estrada (1-1) took the loss after allowing three runs over six innings. The right-hander, who was off to a good start with a 2.31 ERA entering Tuesday, had a little uncharacteristic trouble with his command. He hit a batter in the second, then issued a walk in the third to Matt Carpenter that set up Allen Craigs RBI double. Estrada also threw a wild pitch in the fourth, but did allow just five hits. "When they battle like that and keep the team in the ballgame, thats their job. Theyre not going to feel good every time out," manager Ron Roenicke said. It would have been more than adequate pitching during the Brewers long winning streak. But that was before Milwaukee had to face the aces from St. Louis. Lynn was in control Monday night after striking out 11 over seven innings. Miller was just as effective. He got Jean Segura to ground out to second and caught Ryan Braun looking on a 94 mph fastball to start the fourth. The only mistake was a fastball down the middle of the plate that Ramirez turned on for his second homer and team-best 12th RBI. Miller recovered nicely to end the fourth by getting Jonathan Lucroy to hit a one-hopper to first. Miller, who improved to 4-0 career against the Brewers, had a 2.03 career ERA against Milwaukee entering Tuesday. "A lot of power in that lineup. Really throughout the whole lineup is pretty solid, so the biggest thing you do is try and keep them off balance as much as possible," Miller said. The Cardinals had built a 3-0 lead by the top of the fourth to back Miller. After missing the seasons first 13 games with left knee tendinitis, Ellis made a nice debut by driving in a run in the second on a groundout, and another in the fourth off a sacrifice fly. "Mark did a great job -- all the little things we talk about," Matheny said. NOTES: Kolten Wong had started 12 of the teams first 13 games at second until Ellis rejoined the club. Manager Mike Matheny said he didnt necessarily have a plan on how he would split playing time. "We just watch how hes going, watch how Koltens going," Matheny said. "Realize that we have a very, very good option there at second base and just kind of take it day by day." ... The Cardinals were 8-1 on Tax Day since 2005 entering Tuesdays game. ... Brewers manager Ron Roenicke managed his 500th career game to become the sixth skipper in franchise history to reach that plateau with the organization. ... The teams wrap up the three-game set with a Wednesday matinee. The Cardinals Joe Kelly (1-0) will be opposed by the Brewers Wily Peralta (1-0) on the mound. Tyrann Mathieu Jersey . Espanyol midfielder Sanchez intercepted Bilbao goalkeeper Gorka Iraizozs clearance and, having spotted a gap, risked using his less-favoured left foot to fire a beautifully precise long-range shot that bounced in from high up the near post in the 24th minute. Eric Fisher Jersey . That assertion is getting harder and harder to make, especially given the way 23-year-old Danilo Gallinari has been playing this season.Steve Nash will play for the Los Angeles Lakers Friday. According to a report from the Los Angeles Daily News, the veteran point guard participated in a non-contact practice Thursday and expects to suit up Friday against the Washington Wizards. Nash has struggled with nerve irritation in his back and hamstrings that has cost him all butt 10 games this season. Andrew Wylie Jersey. The Lakers are in need of Nashs services after Jordan Farmars injury left the team with just one true point guard in Kendall Marshall. In Nashs 10 games the Canadian has averaged 7.6 points and 4.7 assists. The former two-time MVP says he still plans to play next season as well. ' ' '

CHICAGO -- This time, it was hard work for the Chicago Blackhawks. Marcus Allen Jersey . No pretty goals on this night, just get to the front of the net and fight for a chance. Pushed, poked and prodded by the Minnesota Wild, Jonathan Toews and Co. found a way. Toews had a tough rebound goal early in the third period, and the Blackhawks beat the Wild 2-1 on Sunday to take a 3-2 series lead in the Western Conference semifinals. "The whole game, the whole series has been very tight," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. "Still not a lot of room and space, but thats what weve got to fight through. I thought we showed more determination in the puck area tonight." Bryan Bickell also scored and Corey Crawford made 27 saves as Chicago bounced back from consecutive losses in Minnesota that handed the momentum to the Wild heading into Game 5. But the Blackhawks were back at the United Center, where they improved to 6-0 in this post-season and 17-2 over the past two playoffs. "As the game went on, we found ways to play better as a five-man unit," Toews said. "Once one line would generate a good shift and get us some energy, the next line would follow it right up. I think thats when were an effective team, when we have four lines going like that and contributing." Erik Haula scored in the first period for the Wild, and Ilya Bryzgalov had 26 stops. Minnesota became the first team to score first in the second round of the NHL playoffs and lose, dropping that record to 19-1, according to STATS. "We tried to hang on to something we wanted to have happen and we fell victim to it," Wild coach Mike Yeo said. Game 6 is Tuesday night in Minnesota, where the Wild are undefeated in this post-season. Minnesota had a chance to grab the lead in the third but Crawford made a nice kick save on Cody McCormick about 2 1/2 minutes into the period. He also had a solid glove stop on Ryan Suter with the Blackhawks clinging to a 2-1 lead with 4:38 to go. "We just need a better effort," Wild star Zach Parise said. "Not that it was terrible. I mean, we had our chance to win at the end of the game. We did some things really well. But I think we can be better, and we know we can be better." Toews, Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp combined to put Chicago in front 4 1/2 minutes into the third. Hossa sent the puck in front to Toews at the right post. The captain was stopped by Bryzgalov, but he managed to slam home a backhand for his fifth goal of the playoffs. "It was an ugly goal," said Toews, who also had a big hit on Wild forward Mikael Granlund right before he scored. "As a line we were playing well and looking to find a way to score. I happened to get an ugly one on the side." The first period looked similar to much of the past two games in Minnesota, with the Wild using their speed and checking ability to shut down Chicagos high-powered attack. The Wild also outworked the defending Stanley Cup champions early on as Quenneville tried several line combinations looking for a spark. Blackhawks defenceman Brent Seabrook was whistled for tripping just 29 seconds into the game, and Granlund sent an open look off the outside of the right post on the ensuing power play. A terrific individual effort by Haula put Minnesota in front at 16:33 of the first. He drove through the Chicago zone and kept moving after his first try was stopped by Crawford, flipping a backhand into the net for his third goal of the post-season. Chicago started to generate more chances in the second, but most of its early shots came from outside and Bryzgalov gobbled them up easily. Marcus Kruger sent a pass through the Minnesota crease, but no one was there for the Blackhawks. It took a well-timed dash by a seldom-used role player to set up Chicagos third goal in the past three games. Playing for the first time since April 12, Peter Regin drove to the net to draw a hooking penalty on Jonas Brodin. Regin was active for the first time in the playoffs after the Blackhawks scratched Andrew Shaw with a lower-body injury, and Brandon Bollig sat out with a two-game suspension for boarding Wild defenceman Keith Ballard in Game 4. On the ensuing power play, Patrick Kanes slap shot went off Bickells left leg and past Bryzgalov to make it 1-1 at 9:18 of the second. It was Bickells sixth goal of the playoffs. NOTES: Game 7 would be Thursday in Chicago. ... The Wild played without Ballard (upper-body injury) and forward Matt Moulson (lower-body injury). ... Blackhawks D Michal Rozsival was scratched after he struggled in Game 4. D Sheldon Brookbank and F Kris Versteeg returned to Chicagos lineup. Alex Smith Jersey . Riethers apparent stamp on Manchester United midfielder Adnan Januzaj during Saturdays Premier League match at Craven Cottage was missed by the match officials. A three-man panel of former referees reviewed the incident and all agreed that it was a sending-off offence. Gary Spani Jersey . -- Billy Donovans bench came up big, bailing out top-seeded Florida in a tight game against what was supposed to be an overmatched opponent.TORONTO -- After sitting out the previous two games, Kenny Ryan made a loud statement Sunday according to his head coach Steve Spott. The Marlies centre set up three goals, including the game-winner, as Toronto cruised to a 4-1 victory over the Oklahoma City Barons in American Hockey League action. "He came in and gave us great minutes on that fourth line with (Brad) Staubitz and (Jamie) Devane," said Spott. "Kennys one of those guys that can be an unsung hero. He kills penalties, he plays against other teams top lines and he brings us that speed and energy that you need on the depth of your lineup." After Anton Lander opened the scoring, Ryan set up Greg McKegg and Devane sixty-eight seconds apart in the second. Ryan also set up McKeggs second of the night in the third. Brandon Kozun had the other goal for the Marlies (31-17-4) whove won three straight and earned a spilt in the season series with Oklahoma City winning one game a piece. "I think Ive been struggling a little bit trying to get my feet underneath me and felt like the breaks werent going my way," said Ryan, who was playing in his 27th game with the Marlies. "Tonight I was pretty confident out there. Making plays, hanging on to pucks as long as I could and fortunately got a couple bounces." With the loss the Barons (23-24-7) dropped two of three in a three-game, three-night stretch over the weekend. The Barons won the only other meeting of the season between the two clubs, 5-3, Jan. 30 in Oklahoma City. Garret Sparks, who was making his first start since Jan. 31, made 38 saves for the win and improved to 2-2-0 at Ricoh Coliseum this season. Richard Bachman made 27 saves for his 14th loss of the season. Kozun made it 4-1, on a power play, at 17:10 re-directing a T.J. Brennan shot past Bachman. McKeggs second of the night at 9:42 gave the Marlies a 3-1 lead. McKegg picked up a pass from Ryan and beat Bachman blocker-side for his 13th of the season on a power play. With the two-goal game, McKegg now has four goals and four assists in seven February games. "Hes now turning himself into a legitimate NHL prospect and Im sure theres a number of teams, not only the Toronto Maple Leafs, but the 29 other teams that are seeing that as well," said Spott. "Its great to see the confidence that hes playing with. Austin Reiter Jersey. " The Marlies scored twice in just over a minute during the middle frame to erase an early 1-0 deficit. McKegg tied it 1-1 at 8:34 taking a Stuart Percy feed and one timing it over the glove hand of Bachman for his 12th of the season. Just over a minute later, Devane slapped a loose puck past a screened Bachman for his third of the season giving Toronto its first lead, 2-1. Oklahoma City opened the scoring on a second period 5-on-3 power play as Landers pass re-directed off of Korbinian Holzer and past Sparks at 3:48 of the second. Toronto had an excellent chance to open the scoring at 12:15 of the first period as Josh Leivo re-directed a Ryan feed past Bachman, but hit the post. With a minute remaining in the opening period, Mark Acrobello beat Sparks glove-side but rang his shot off the post. Just prior to the Acrobello chance, Peter Holland got a shot through the pads of Bachman, but Barons defenceman David Musil was there to clear the rolling puck before it crossed the goal line. "Hes so dynamic. The challenge we have now is do you play him with Kozun, Leivo, Abbott so well have to make some decisions as we go forward," Spott said of Holland. "Hes a puck procession guy, he likes to move the puck and hes just so dynamic through the neutral zone. "A good effort by him. He hasnt played hockey in a long time. Hes been off for quite some time with the break. Hell only get better as we go." Holland was playing his first game with the Marlies since being re-assigned on Saturday. In three games with the Marlies this season, Holland has three goals. With the March 5 NHL trade deadline fast approaching a plethora of scouts were in attendance to watch the Maple Leafs and Oilers affiliates Sunday. Spott said hes noticed chatter among his players. "We have a room there where guys get coffee, you definitely hear some of the banter, but all they can do is control their play," said Spott. "They cant control anything else outside of that so, its just staying positive and allowing them to play. "Were a four line team, we get everybody out on the ice, and if they want an opportunity to continue to play in the National Hockey League, its a great program to be in." ' ' '

Youve got to admit - when Lost Boys Colby Rasmus and Casey Janssen led the Blue Jays to that thrilling 10-inning win at Tropicana Field Thursday night, it felt like something magical was unfolding with this club. Gary Roberts . Rasmus, who had been benched for the platoon of Anthony Gose and Kevin Pillar, pinch hit for John Mayberry Jr. and promptly slugged a game-winning solo homer in the top of the 10th. Then in the bottom of the 10th, Janssen -  another free agent-to-be at the end of the season - chalked up his 21st save. Who writes this stuff up? A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the Blue Jays best September runs - all of which revolved around their five division titles and two World Series victories. But I purposely left one out in case a circumstance like this came up. Remember - though the Jays have won five in a row, theyre still 4 1/2 games back of Detroit for that final wild card slot in the American League and they still have to jump over three teams - the Yankees, Seattle and Detroit - to reach their goal. That said, I bring you the run of 1988. It was the Blue Jays final full season at old Exhibition Stadium. They started September at 66-68 and were fifth in the seven-team American League East, 9 1/2 games back of division-leading Detroit. In fact, they were only a 1 1/2 ahead of sixth-place Cleveland and there were already whispers that manager Jimy Williams could be gone by the end of the season, if not sooner. The 1988 season was the second-last year the Million Dollar Outfield of George Bell, Lloyd Moseby and Jesse Barfield played together as a unit. The pitching staff was anchored by the likes of Dave Stieb, Jimmy Key and Mike Flanagan with youngsters like Todd Stottlemyre and David Wells coming along. The bullpen had the 1-2 punch of Tom Henke and Duane Ward. With Pat Borders, Fred McGriff, Tony Fernandez and Kelly Gruber also on hand, this team had underachieved for the first five months of the season. Then, all of a sudden, something special happened in September. The Blue Jays won six in a row to start the month, followed by four in a row and closed the season on Oct. 2 with a six-game winning streak. In total, they went 21-7 over the last 32 days of the campaign. There was no wild card in those days, so it was win the division or bust. Detroit, Boston and the Yankees all hovered around the .500 mark for September. Milwaukee, like the Jays, put on a strong stretch run going 17-8. But at the end of the day, Bostons 15-14 mark for the final month was good enough to let them win the division by just a single game ahead of Detroit - the team that had beaten the Jays out the year before in that gut-wrenching final weekend series at Tiger Stadium. As for the Blue Jays and Milwaukee, they finished in a tie for third at 87-75 1 1/2 games ahead of the Yankees. It was one of the closest division races in history. As a post script, the 1989 Blue Jays got off to a slow start at 12-24, Williams was fired and caught fire under promoted hitting coach Cito Gaston. They won their second division title before losing the ALCS to Rickey Henderson and the Oakland As. One other note from that 1988 season, the Montreal Expos also finished third in the National League East. However, they wound up at 81-81 and ended their season 20 games behind the division-winning New York Mets. I know baseball - and sports for that matter - is all about performance, but it was kind of sad this week to see Kansas City designate veteran lefty Bruce Chen for assignment, especially with the club so close to possibly ending its post-season appearance drought. You can never write off a lefty, but if this is it, Chen compiled an 82-80 record over his 16 seasons in the majors with a 4.58 ERA and one save. He pitched for 10 different organizations - including the Expos - and next to Rod Carew and Mariano Rivera is probably the third most famous Major Leaguer to hail from Panama. The Cubs High A ball affiliate the Daytona Cubs eliminated the Dunedin Blue Jays in two straight in their first round playoff series in the Florida State League. But one of the Cubs prospects caught my eye, or at least his name did. Daytona has a first baseman with one of the All-time great names - Rock Shoulders. Hope hes a clean-up hitter in the majors one day. Oscar McBride . -- Canadian womens amateur golf champion Brooke Henderson is a little less starstruck as she prepares for her second career appearance at an LPGA Tour major event. Cheap NFL Jerseys China Team .com) - After Tom Brady added to an already illustrious legacy, Malcolm Butler established his by leaving the Seattle Seahawks, well, deflated.ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - Receiver Mike Williams acknowledged he has some growing up to do while addressing questions about his troubled past Monday. For Williams, theres no place better to start fresh than in his hometown of Buffalo. "Its like being drafted all over, especially to my hometown, and get to come back and play in front of the people that know me, where I came from," Williams said during a news conference three days after the Bills acquired him in a trade with Tampa Bay. "The people know what type of guy I am." Calling the homecoming "a dream come true," Williams returns to the place he was a high school star. He went on to a successful yet troubled career at Syracuse, where Williams abruptly quit the team in November 2009 during his junior season. This is the second — and potentially final — chance for Williams to put behind off-field distractions, which led to the Buccaneers parting ways with their starter in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick. The deal was made a year after Williams signed a six-year, $40 million contract. The breaking point came two weeks ago, when Williams was allegedly stabbed in the leg by his brother, Eric Baylor, who has since turned himself in to police. Williams passed his physical in Buffalo and said the injury from the stabbing wont prevent him from reporting for voluntary team workouts, which begin April 22. Williams acknowledged making mistakes and vows to do better, saying there are people depending upon him, including his infant son. "When you get a lot of bad attention or bad this, or bad that, its about: Are you going to let the bad attack you? Are you going to fall?" Williams said. "Or are you going to get up and try again? Thats why I think a fresh start is needed." On the field, Williams has displayed the potential as a No. 1 receiver. A fourth-round draft pick iin 2010, Williams led NFL rookies with 65 catches for 964 yards and 11 touchdowns. Jordan Willis. Though a hamstring injury limited Williams to just six games last year, he has 215 catches for 2,947 yards and 25 touchdowns in 54 career games. The Bills are in need of an experienced player to complement returning starter Stevie Johnson, who led an otherwise young group of receivers. Its off the field where questions have arisen. The Tampa Bay Times has reported that Williams neighbours in Tampa were unhappy with noise issues and damage to the players rented home. Without providing specifics, Williams said two of the numerous accusations were made up. When pressed on which two, Williams said the Bills requested that he not discuss it. In trading Williams, Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht referred to the deal as something the team "felt was best for both sides." In Buffalo, coach Doug Marrone is willing to provide Williams the benefit of the doubt. Marrone was in his first season at Syracuse when Williams left the team. Marrone signed off on the trade by saying what happened at Syracuse "is in the past for both of us." Marrone went further by picking up Williams at the airport upon the players arrival in Buffalo. Williams said he and Marrone cleared the air by speaking on the phone before the trade was completed. "He made mistakes. I made mistakes," Williams said. "The situation wasnt handled how it was supposed to be handled. But the past is the past. So were kind of looking forward." Williams acknowledged that one of Marrones concerns at Syracuse was the player skipping classes. That wont be an issue now. "He didnt think I went to class. But since its the pros, he knows Im going to go out there and do my job on the field," Williams said. "Youre always going to get the great Mike on the field." ' ' '

The season is ending early for Green Bay Packers rookie running back Jonathan Franklin. Jaire Alexander Super Bowl Jersey . The Packers announced Wednesday that Franklin was placed on injured reserve after he suffered a concussion returning the opening kickoff against the Vikings on Sunday. The Packers drafted Franklin in the fourth round of this years NFL draft out of UCLA. Used primarily on special teams, Franklin shined in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals, totaling 103 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries.  Franklins season ends with just 107 yards on 19 carries. Linebacker Victor Aiyewa was promoted from the practice squad to replace Franklin on the active roster. JK Scott Super Bowl Jersey . The seventh-ranked Berdych wants to focus on the ATP Tour after helping the Czechs beat the Netherlands in the first round. Seeking their third straight Davis Cup title, the Czechs will rely again on veteran Radek Stepanek. Aaron Rodgers Super Bowl Jersey . McCutchen was cut before the series opener against Seattle on Monday night, when Lewis was set for his first start for Texas since July 18, 2012. Texas selected Lewis contract from Triple-A Round Rock.MONTREAL -- Montreal Canadiens defenceman Josh Gorges was sent home from Phoenix on Thursday to have a hand injury re-examined by team doctors. Gorges is believed to have suffered the injury while blocking a shot with a hand during Montreals win overr the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. Preston Smith Super Bowl Jersey. The Canadiens added to their defensive depth this week by acquiring veteran Mike Weaver from the Florida Panthers. The Canadiens are to face the Coyotes in Phoenix on Thursday night. ' ' '