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the stadiums before games include racial slurs
MINNEAPOLIS -- Rookie Danny Santana had another big game and Kyle Gibson pitched well at home again. http://www.officiallionsgear.com/Lions-Kerry-Hyder-Draft-Jersey/ . 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 record to 4-1 with a 1.54 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. http://www.officiallionsgear.com/Lions-Devon-Kennard-Draft-Jersey/ . Mars announced Saturday that the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers will join him as part of his halftime show. Super Bowl halftime performers often have collaborators. Michael Roberts Jersey . He also had some help Monday night.Hibbert scored a season-high 29 points to help Indiana beat the Utah Jazz 97-86 Monday night, ending the Pacers six-game losing streak.ASHBURN, Va. -- An NFL game official was suspended Friday for one game without pay for making "a profane and derogatory statement" to a Washington Redskins player, an incident that has led to a call for NFL players to stop using the N-word on the field and in the locker room. The league announced Friday that umpire Roy Ellison will not work an NFL game this weekend as punishment for words directed at left tackle Trent Williams late in the second quarter of the Redskins loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. The National Football League Referees Association issued a statement Friday evening saying that it will file a grievance, that the suspension was a rush to judgment without hearing Ellisons side of the story. Williams said he was called vulgar names -- although not the N-word -- by Ellison and did nothing to provoke it. A replay from the second quarter shows Ellison gesturing at Williams while walking backward just before a snap, with Williams, quarterback Robert Griffin III and tight end Niles Paul turning to look back at the umpire. Redskins coach Mike Shanahan was among those who supported Williams, saying: "You just cant use that type of language to get your point across." But John Wooten, chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, group that includes minority coaches and officials, said his organization spoke to game officials who said that Ellison was responding after Williams directed the N-word at Ellison. Both Williams and Ellison are African-American. The incident, coming in the wake of allegations involving racially charged texts allegedly sent by Richie Incognito to a Miami Dolphins teammate, led the alliance to issue a statement imploring all NFL players to stop using the racial slur. "I think that we all understand clearly that in terms of supporting Roy, were not in any way condoning his reaction to what happened," Wooten told The Associated Press. "Theres no question in our mind what provoked all of this, that there was a disrespectful communication going on between Trent and an Eagle player. They were using the N-word along with all other type of profanity, and the N-word is what caused Roy to say, Hey, you need to be more respectful." Wooten, 76, said Williams then directed the profanity at Ellison. "There is no question in my mind that Trent said this to Roy, and I dont question that," said Wooten, wwho noted that he has not spoken to Ellison directly. http://www.officiallionsgear.com/Lions-Deshawn-Shead-Draft-Jersey/. "And thats what, with Incognito and all this stuff and the N-word and how its used in the locker room, that caused us to say, Hey, lets put an end to this." Wooten, who played nine seasons in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns and Redskins, said Ellison should have thrown a flag on Williams instead of escalating the exchange. In announcing the suspension, the NFL said that "game officials are expected to avoid personal confrontations with players and be respectful of players and coaches at all times." Michael Arnold, NFLRA legal counsel, said Ellison is an accomplished 11-year veteran who is highly respected. "The NFL imposed its judgment upon him without consideration of all the facts," Arnold said. "The decision was arbitrary and unjustified and will be challenged with an immediate grievance." Jim Quirk, NFLRA executive director, said the "NFLs decision to suspend Mr. Ellison creates a double standard for what is acceptable on field conduct." He and Arnold cited the leagues decision to take no action against Williams. "The League insists that officials are held to a high standard but others involved in the game are held to no standard," Quick added. "Apparently the NFL accepts and condones a culture where players, coaches and teams can use racial slurs and profanity toward each other and at officials. "Music played in locker rooms and in the stadiums before games include racial slurs (including the "N" word) and references to sexual violence with impunity. These types of cheap slurs and racial banter on the field often lead to angry and emotional responses which can result in fighting and injury. This is completely contrary to the atmosphere of sportsmanship and respect the league says should exist in the game." Williams, 25, said on Wednesday he didnt expect the league to punish Ellison, saying the NFL would "probably sweep it under the rug." He also reiterated that he did not say anything provocative to Ellison. "If I said something of that nature to him, its at least a flag, or Im thrown out of the game," Williams said. "Id never say anything like that to a referee." Said Wooten: "I know that Trent has said he didnt say that. If thats what he wants to live with, he can live with that." Cheap Washington Nationals Gear Cheap Philadelphia Phillies GearCheap 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 Gear Cheap Kansas City Royals Gear Cheap Detroit Tigers Gear Cheap Cleveland Indians Gear Cheap Chicago White Sox Gear ' ' '
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Activity: May 25 '20
