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games since the All-Star break.

JUPITER, Fla. Paul Molitor Jersey . -- Washington Nationals star Bryce Harper was ejected Wednesday after being called out at first base in a 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. Harper led off the fourth inning with a slow roller that second baseman Mark Ellis barehanded and flipped to first. The throw appeared to beat Harper and umpire Jeff Gosney called him out. The 21-year-old Harper kept his head down, screaming his displeasure as he passed Gosney on his way to the third-base dugout. Gosney threw out Harper, who didnt seem to initially realize hed been ejected. Nationals manager Matt Williams said he asked third base umpire C.B. Bucknor whether they could wait until the end of the inning before Harper had to leave the dugout. Williams said the crew wanted the All-Star outfielder to go immediately. "I just didnt want him to be embarrassed by him having to walk in front of everybody down the line," Williams said. The game was briefly delayed while Harper gathered his belongings and walked to the visiting clubhouse beyond the left-field wall. Fans extended their pens and papers requesting autographs as Harper passed the corner of the left-field bleachers that sit about 10 feet from the foul line. "We love the way he plays the game because he plays all out and he desperately wants to win so we love that about him," Williams said. "In a situation like that, he has to not take it too far, thats all." "The umpire told me that (Harper) said something to him," he said. "The question I had is, Did he say something? I didnt see him make a gesture to him or anything, but he said the magic word." The Nationals didnt make Harper available for comment. "I dont know what (Harper) said to him, but as he was walking off the field I said to him, That was a great at-bat, because it was," Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright said. "He fouled off a bunch of pitches," he said. "He kind of turned away and started walking off, then he looked back and said, Thanks, by the way." Yadier Molina drove in all three Cardinals runs. Trevor Rosenthal worked around a two-out triple to earn the save. STARTING TIME Nationals: Washington has yet to make a decision on its fifth starter. Tanner Roark and Taylor Jordan, the two competitors for the spot, will both pitch in the Nationals exhibition against Detroit on Sunday in Washington. Cardinals: Wainwright threw five scoreless innings of one hit ball to cap his spring. The Cardinals opening day starter allowed four runs in 22 2-3 Grapefruit League innings, striking out 18 while walking one. "Im ready for them to start counting," he said. "I feel good. Spring has flown by. Ive had a lot of fun down here and now its time to get going." TRAINERS ROOM Cardinals: Manager Mike Matheny doesnt expect injured pitchers Jaime Garcia and Jason Motte to make the trip north with the club for the Cardinals exhibition game at Triple-A Memphis on Friday. Matheny also wasnt sure whether the two pitchers will be part of St. Louis home-opener festivities. Nationals: Washington pitcher Doug Fister will start a minor league game on Thursday as he tries to build up his pitch count. He battled elbow inflammation earlier this spring but is scheduled to start the season with the major league club. AARDSMA ABOARD Newly signed reliever David Aardsma made his first appearance for St. Louis, allowing one hit and walking one in a scoreless inning of work. The Cardinals have spent much of spring searching for their final bullpen arm and the 32-year-old right-hander likely leaps to the front of a list of candidates that includes Kevin Butler, Scott McGregor and Jorge Rondon. Aardsma began the spring with Cleveland as a non-roster invitee. He is 23-15 with 69 saves and a 4.23 ERA during a seven-year major league career. EXTRA SWINGS Washington left third baseman Ryan Zimmerman and first baseman Adam LaRoche at their spring training complex so that the pair could get multiple at-bats in minor league games. Corey Knebel Jersey . Rockhold." Known as an aggressive striker, Belfort (23-10) instead paced himself as the engaged in the early going and showed restraint by not overcommitting against the larger Rockhold (10-2). But when the opportunity presented itself, Belfort delivered an incredible spinning heel kick that landed flush on Rockholds chin and sent him toppling to the floor. Christian Yelich Jersey . Jannero Pargo scored 14 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter to help the Charlotte Bobcats erase a 21-point deficit and rally for an 83-76 preseason victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night.The Toronto Blue Jays hope to stay in the playoff hunt and shoot for a three-game sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays Thursday at Tropicana Field. The Blue Jays are 4 1/2 games out of the second wild card spot in the American League and made it four straight wins with Wednesdays 7-4 victory. Marcus Stroman held the Rays to a pair of runs in six innings for the win and Aaron Sanchez worked the ninth to post his second save. Dioner Navarro and Edwin Encarnacion each hit a two-run homer for the Jays, who have won three in a row on the road. "We have to get greedy and try to win another one tomorrow," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "Another well-played game all the way around and thats the bottom line." Toronto, which will visit Boston next for three games, hopes Mark Buehrle can fulfill Gibbons wishes of a well-played game when he takes the mound Thursday. Buehrle is 11-9 with a 3.50 earned run average and is winless (0-2) in his past five starts. Buehrle gave up four runs in six innings of last Fridays 6-3 loss to the New York Yankees and fell to 1-8 in his last nine decisions. The left-hander has a 6-4 record in 13 road starts and is 10-5 with a 4.19 ERRA in 26 career meetings (21 starts) with the Rays. Zach Davies Jersey. Buehrle has a 2-0 mark in four starts against Tampa Bay this season. Tampa Bay lost for the seventh time in the last 10 games last night and fell to 2-4 on a 10-game homestand. Chris Archer was hammered for six runs and 10 hits in six innings by the Jays on Wednesday, while Evan Longoria belted a two-run homer and finished with three RBI for the Rays. Longoria has 37 RBI and 11 multi-RBI games since the All-Star break. "We came out flat. We rebounded, but there was too much of a deficit," said Rays manager Joe Maddon. "They hit the ball well." The Rays, who have lost 12 of 18 games since a 61-61 mark, will welcome Baltimore to the Trop next for three games. Jake Odorizzi gets the call for Tampa Bay Thursday and is 10-11 with a 4.03 ERA. He ended a two-game slide in Saturdays 7-0 win over Boston and allowed only one hit through seven scoreless innings. He is 6-3 in his last nine starts. Odorizzi has made 15 starts at the Trop this season, going 5-6 with a 2.92 ERA, and is 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in two career starts against Toronto. The Blue Jays are 9-6 against Tampa Bay this season. Cheap Washington Nationals Gear Cheap Philadelphia Phillies Gear Cheap New York Mets Gear Cheap Miami Marlins Gear Cheap Atlanta Braves Gear Cheap Texas Rangers Gear Cheap Seattle Mariners Gear Cheap Oakland Athletics Gear Cheap Los Angeles Angels Gear Cheap Houston Astros Gear Cheap Minnesota Twins GearCheap Kansas City Royals Gear Cheap Detroit Tigers Gear Cheap Cleveland Indians Gear Cheap Chicago White Sox Gear ' ' '
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