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35 to 40 pitches in batting practice on Saturday.
Toronto FC appears to have delivered on that international splash they promised their fans. Aaron Rodgers Super Bowl Jersey . According to the UK-based Daily Mirror, Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe has agreed to a four-year offer to join Toronto FC. The move - expected to take effect during the January transfer window - is believed to be worth £90,000 per week and is also believed to include a £6 million transfer fee to Tottenham. On Wednesday the MLS club said the report is "inaccurate." Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment CEO Tim Leiweke promised an upgrade to his MLS franchises talent pool in late September, promising: "Im going to be in Europe in the next few weeks to find two world class strikers for that soccer team once and for all - stop the chatter and perform and deliver." When asked about the mission and whether he thought a franchise-altering talent like former Los Angeles Galaxy addition David Beckham was to be had, he did not mince words. "Are we going to be able to get a player as good or better than David Beckham? Yes," Leiweke told the press. The 31-year-old Defoe will earn a raise of £28,000 per week over his current salary. Defoe has been held goalless in eight Barclays Premier League appearances with Spurs this season, but has registered two goals in two League Cup games as well as seven goals in five Europa League appearances. The striker has earned 55 caps with Englands senior mens team, scoring 19 goals and appeared for England in both the 2010 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2012. David Bakhtiari Super Bowl Jersey .ca contributor Grant McCagg provides a look at some risers and fallers on the prospect watch. Ray Nitschke Super Bowl Jersey . - The New England Patriots needed help on defence so they added three experienced players at midseason. ATLANTA -- Craig Kimbrel found ninth-inning drama before a big stretch by Freddie Freeman saved the night for the Braves. Justin Upton hit a three-run homer to continue another strong April, Ervin Santana earned his third win and the Atlanta Braves held off the Cincinnati Reds 5-4 on Friday night. Kimbrel gave up a leadoff single to Roger Bernadina and walked Zack Cozart to open the ninth. Kimbrel struck out Brayan Pena and Chris Heisey before earning his seventh save on Joey Vottos groundout. Freeman made a long stretch at first base for Chris Johnsons throw from third base on Heiseys groundball. Reds manager Bryan Price challenged first base umpire Vic Carapazzas ruling that Freemans foot remained on the bag. The call was confirmed, ending the game. "Freddie did a terrific job staying on the bag," said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez. He acknowledged he was nervous about the challenge before seeing the replay on the video board "and I felt kind of relaxed." Price said that when looking across the field he thought he saw "a huge gap" between Freemans foot and the bag. He said he agreed with the confirmed out call after seeing the replay. "I had a chance to come up here and look at our own video, which is what theyre getting in New York, and it was a confirmed out call," Price said. "They got the call right in the end, which is what were looking for." Two Cincinnati players left the game with injuries. Third baseman Todd Frazier was pulled in the fifth with tightness in his left leg. Catcher Devin Mesoraco strained his left hamstring and stumbled after rounding third base in the seventh, before limping across home plate. Price said he was protecting Frazier, who had previous tightness in his groin. Santana (3-0) gave up four runs on nine hits in 6 2-3 innings. Following singles by B.J. Upton and Freddie Freeman off Homer Bailey (1-2) in the first inning, Justin Upton hit his team-leading sixth homer. He leads the team with 15 RBIs. &qquot;Weve seen him do this before and carry us for a while," Gonzalez said. Aaron Jones Super Bowl Jersey. In 2013, Justin Upton led the majors with 12 homers in April, becoming the fastest player in Braves franchise history to reach the mark. He has hit 35 homers in April for his career, his highest total for any month. "Im just getting it going," said Upton, who is hitting .296 and leads the team with 15 RBIs. Freeman had three hits for Atlanta to shake a mini-slump. B.J. Upton, who was hitting .205, had one hit in his first game wearing prescription glasses. "Well see how the glasses work and if Ill keep them," he said. "I could see the ball better on both sides of the plate. It was good tonight." Bailey allowed five runs on nine hits in six innings. He allowed at least four earned runs for the fourth time in five starts this season and has a 6.15 ERA. The Braves increased their lead to 4-0 in the second on Jason Heywards RBI single. Evan Gattis drove in a run in the third for a 5-0 lead. Jay Bruce had a run-scoring single in the Reds two-run sixth. Cincinnati added two more in the seventh, knocking Santana out of the game. Mesoraco scored on Billy Hamiltons double. Votto had a run-scoring single off Luis Avilan. A strong defensive play by right fielder Jason Heyward helped Santana in the first inning. Votto doubled with one out in the first and moved to third on Phillips bloop single. Votto was thrown out at the plate on a strong throw by Heyward on Jay Bruces fly ball. Votto, sliding head-first, was tagged out in the batters box and never reached the plate. NOTES: Price said closer Aroldis Chapman, recovering from facial fractures and a mild concussion when hit by a line drive on March 19, will throw 35 to 40 pitches in batting practice on Saturday. If it goes well, it should be Chapmans final test before he is cleared for a minor league rehab assignment. ... Braves RHP David Hale will look for his first win of the season when he faces Reds RHP Mike Leake on Saturday. ' ' '
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Activity: May 25 '20
