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Sep 25 '17
MINNEAPOLIS -- After three straight 100-loss seasons, the Houston Astros lineup is suddenly filled with sluggers who can change a game with one swing. Ryan Murray Jersey . Chris Carter and Jon Singleton hit their first career grand slams to power Houston to a 14-5 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday. Carters slam in the seventh inning sailed over the limestone overhang in right field and gave Houston a 9-3 lead. Singleton lined a fastball off Glen Perkins over the right-field wall that made it 14-5 in the ninth. Dexter Fowler and George Springer also homered for the Astros. Houston has now hit 69 homers this season, well on pace to surpass last seasons total of 148, third-worst in the American League. "It puts more strain on the opposing pitchers," Astros manager Bo Porter said. "They feel like, I cant make a mistake here, I cant make a mistake here. That can drain on a staff." The only other time two Astros players hit grand slams in the same game was July 30, 1969, at New York when Denis Menke and Jimmy Wynn both hit slams in an 11-run ninth inning against the Mets. Houston players are also sensing a different vibe now that the lineup is filled with more power. "Its been fun. We like playing off of each other," Singleton said. "Thats definitely a bonus. When one person does well, it carries over and its contagious." Darin Downs (1-0) got the last eight outs as the third reliever to follow starter Colin McHugh, who fanned six and allowed one run over 4 1/3 innings. He walked five and was removed after throwing 101 pitches. Trevor Plouffe and Josh Willingham hit RBI singles as Minnesota made it 5-3 in the fifth, but couldnt get any closer before Carter and Singleton powered the game away. Houston batted around in the fourth inning, scoring three runs after Samuel Deduno (2-4) loaded the bases with nobody out by walking two batters and hitting another. The Astros have won seven of eight on the road and 11 of their last 15 overall as they try to snap a three-year streak of losing 100 games. It was the third time in club history Minnesota allowed two grand slams in the same game. The last time it happened was April 22, 1988, in Cleveland. "They got us today," Perkins said. "I think they swing hard in case they hit it, and they hit them today. Theyre not as bad as people think they are. Gotta give credit to them the way they swing the bat and pitch the ball pretty well." The Twins also officially signed free-agent designated hitter/first-baseman Kendrys Morales on Sunday to bolster their inconsistent offence. But if Minnesota -- now three games under .500 -- wants to remain in the playoff race, its going to need better starting pitching. Deduno walked four and hit two while allowing five runs in three innings on Sunday, raising his ERA to 4.45. As a group, Minnesotas starters are 19-25 with a 4.97 ERA. "Not a good day pitching today. Used a lot of innings out there," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We still have three games to go (before the next off day), so well get through it. Thats the way it is. They killed it at the end." McHugh struck out four batters in a row during one stretch and extended his scoreless innings streak to a career-high 16 2/3 before Eduardo Nunez homered in the fourth. Springer, named American League rookie of the month after hitting 10 home runs in May, led off the eighth by hitting his second homer in three games. "Its nice to have other guys in the lineup who do the same thing and have more protection where guys cant just pitch around me or pitch around another guy," said Carter, who led Houston with 29 homers last season. "Theres another guy behind him always. Its good for all of us." NOTES: To make room on the roster for Morales, Minnesota released Jason Kubel, who appeared in 798 games over parts of eight seasons with the Twins, but was hitting .224 this year and just .158 since April. ... The Astros recalled LHP Rudy Owens to pitch out of the bullpen and sent Paul Clemens back to Triple-A Oklahoma City for the sixth time this season. ... The Twins unveiled a new bronze statue on the Target Plaza before the game: team mascot T.C. Bear. ... Jonathan Villar singled three times for Houston. ... Ricky Nolasco (4-5, 5.65 ERA) starts for the Twins against Torontos R.A. Dickey (6-4, 4.25 ERA) on Monday. ... Houstons Jarred Cosart (4-5, 4.16 ERA) faces Josh Collmenter (4-2, 3.63 ERA) to kick off a two-game series in Arizona on Monday. Ryan Murray Blue Jackets Jersey . Both of Padakins goals came in the second period while Zane Jones added a single in the first period for Calgary (13-6-4). Hitmen goaltender Chris Driedger finished with 30 saves for the shutout. Nick Foligno Blue Jackets Jersey .com) - Former New York Mets general manager Omar Minaya is joining the Major League Baseball Players Association staff as a senior advisor to executive director Tony Clark.SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Archie Goodwin scored 12 of his career-high 29 points in the fourth quarter and the Phoenix Suns defeated the Sacramento Kings 104-99 Wednesday night in the season finale for both teams. The Suns outscored the Kings 33-25 in the fourth quarter to snap a three-game losing streak. Goodwin, a rookie guard with little playing time this season, made a jumper to put the Suns ahead for good with 3:49 left in the game. Marcus Morris had 10 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter for the Suns. Twin Markieff Morris scored 15 points and Gerald Green 12. Phoenix played without guard Goran Dragic (sore left ankle), who led the Suns in scoring and assists. Ben McLemore had 31 points and five assists, both career highs, for the Kings, who lost for the sixth time in seven games while playing starters Rudy Gay and Isaiah Thomas limited minutes. Travis Outlaw had 15 points and Ray McCallum 13. It was a disappointing season for the Suns (48-34), who missed the playoffs despite a dramatic turnaround under rookie coach Jeff Hornacek after winning 25 games a year ago. Only the Suns and Golden State (2007-08) have won 48 games and failed to make the playoffs since the NBA went to the 16-team playoff format. After winning nine of 11 and moving into seventh last week in the Western Conference, the Suns dropped three straight games in a four-night span. The Memphis Grizzlies clinched the last available playoff berth Monday night in Phoenix, eliminaating the Suns with a 97-91 victory. Columbus Blue Jackets Hoodie. Sacramento was without leading scorer and rebounder DeMarcus Cousins. He was called for a technical foul in Sundays victory over Minnesota and drew an automatic one-game suspension for getting his 16th technical foul of the season. It was another lacklustre season for the Kings (28-53), who matched their win total from last year and failed to make the playoffs for an eighth straight season. Goodwin converted on three-point play to give the Suns a 92-87 lead midway through the fourth quarter. After the Kings tied the score, Goodwin made a layup and a 3, putting Phoenix ahead 99-94. The Kings shared the ball and shot 50 per cent in the third quarter to take a 74-71 lead into the fourth. McLemore, who has experienced a difficult first season, surpassed his previous career-high of 18 points when he hit a 3 at the 10-minute mark in the third quarter. NOTES: Former Kings standout Mitch Richmond was honoured at halftime for his recent induction into the Hall of Fame. . Before the game, Gay accepted the Oscar Robertson Triple-Double Award, which is presented to the Kings player who best exemplifies winning characteristics as both a player and an active community member. . The award was presented by Robertson, a Hall of Fame player who played for the franchise when it was the Cincinnati Royals. . Channing Frye became the first Suns player to start all 82 regular-season games since Amare Stoudemire did it in 2009-10. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys AuthenticWholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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