Group Info
Padres have 11 sacrifice flies this season.
The Toronto Blue Jays will look to build on a convincing 7-3 win as they host the Boston Red Sox in the third game of four at Rogers Centre tonight. Swell Pullo Hinta . Toronto will send R.A. Dickey, who has lost six of his last seven starts, to the mound. Dickey lost to Texas on Friday and was hit for five runs and six hits in seven innings. However, he did strike out seven batters without issuing a walk, but still fell to 7-10 with a 3.95 ERA. Dickey is 3-3 in 12 games (6 starts) versus the Red Sox with a 4.85 ERA. His opposition on the mound, Clay Buchholz, has been on point of late for the Red Sox, winning three of his last four decisions, including his last two starts. After tossing a three-hit shutout to beat Houston before the All-Star break, Buchholz defeated Kansas City on Friday, limiting the Royals to four runs and 10 hits in six innings to run his record to 5-5 to go along with a 5.46 ERA. After getting hammered in Mondays opener, Toronto bounced back on Tuesday, as Jose Reyes, Melky Cabrera and Dioner Navarro all drove in a pair of runs to help the Blue Jays to a 7-3 win. Navarro doubled and homered, while Reyes added a solo shot among his three hits and Cabrera finished 3-for-5 for the Blue Jays, who rebounded from Mondays series-opening 14-1 loss. J.A. Happ (8-5) tossed six scoreless innings, allowing seven hits and one walk while fanning four. "That might have been, in my opinion, his best outing of the year," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said of Happ. Stephen Drew hit a two-run homer and David Ortiz collected a solo blast for the Red Sox, who saw their five-game winning streak come to an end. Jake Peavy (1-9) lasted 6 1/3 innings, and was charged with five runs on eight hits with three walks and seven strikeouts. "Its frustrating to lose," said Peavy. "Run support and no run support, its not fun to lose." "I gave up some loud outs and some loud hits for the first couple of innings, but thats another team that swings the bat, and they put some balls in play that found some holes and led to a couple of runs," Buchholz said Friday. "The way the guys fought back tonight ... that was reminiscent of last year." Buchholz is 1-1 against the Jays this season and 10-6 lifetime against them with a 2.71 ERA in 20 games (19 starts). Toronto has won five of its eight meetings with the Red Sox this season. Swell Vesipullo . The 57-year-old Tietjens has coached New Zealand to nine IRB World Sevens titles and to four Commonwealth Games gold medals as its only coach in the professional era. New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew said the re-signing was made with a focus on 2016 when sevens will be in the Olympics. Swell Pullo . The three goals bring Messis career tally for Barcelona to 371 in all games -- including friendlies -- breaking the club record of 369 held by Paulino Alcantara since 1927. The 26-year-old Messi was already the clubs all-time leading scorer in official games. Messi assured Barcelonas fans they will enjoy his goals for years to come, saying "as long as people want me, I will stay here.PHILADELPHIA -- A.J. Burnett and Marlon Byrd were the two acquisitions the Philadelphia Phillies were hoping would help them get back to the post-season. Well, they helped them get a win in a season going nowhere. Burnett threw 7 1-3 sharp innings, Byrd hit a three-run homer and the Phillies beat the San Diego Padres 5-2 on Tuesday night. "Create some momentum. We just have to carry it over into tomorrow," manager Ryne Sandberg said. Back from a 1-5 trip that left them tied with the Cubs for the worst record in the NL, the Phillies opened a six-game homestand with only their 13th win at Citizens Bank Park. Burnett (4-5) allowed two runs and three hits to earn his first win since May 20. "It all starts with our pitching," Burnett said. "If we hold them down and give our guys a chance, the better off well be." Jonathan Papelbon left the bases loaded in a scoreless ninth to record his 300th career save, becoming the 26th pitcher to reach that mark. He has 14 consecutive saves after blowing his first try. "It was tough because I didnt feel that emotion in a while," Papelbon said. "It means a lot to me, more than most people would think." Will Venable hit a solo homer for San Diego. Starter Ian Kennedy (5-7) gave up five runs and seven hits in seven innings. Kennedy retired the first nine batters before Ben Revere lined a double to right to start Philadelphias fourth. Chase Utleys RBI single tied it at 1. After Ryan Howard singled, Byrd hit an opposite-field shot into the seats in right-centre field for a 4-1 lead. "It seems theres always one pitch youd like to take back and that was the pitch," Kennedy said. "Not a good location." Utley and Howard hit consecutive singles before Byrd drove in another run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth to make it 5-1. That was enough for Burnett, who shook off his recent struggles and was in control throughout. The righty was 1-4 with a 7.25 ERA in his previous six starts. Burnett waalked two after issuing 10 in his last two starts. Swell Juomapullo. "It looked like he was throwing more strikes and he had some contact outs early in counts," Sandberg said. "He also mixed in some two-seam fastballs, which worked for him in getting ground-ball outs to left-handed hitters." Burnett only threw 89 pitches before giving way to Jake Diekman, who got the final two outs in the eighth on strikeouts. Diekman reached 100 mph on one of his fastballs. "I dont like to come out of a game, period," Burnett said. "But he throws a little harder than me." The Padres took a 1-0 lead in the third when Venable lined a 3-1 pitch into the seats in right for only his second homer in 179 at-bats. Venable hit a career-high 22 homers last season. The light-hitting Padres entered with the worst batting average in the majors at .218. Carlos Quentin snapped an 0-for-24 slump with a seventh-inning double. But Everth Cabrera (0 for 18) and Jace Peterson (0 for 18) were 0 for 5 to extend their hitless streaks. Quentin scored on Yonder Alonsos sacrifice fly to cut it to 5-2. NOTES: The Phillies had some positive injury news. LHP Cliff Lee could start throwing soon. Hes missed the last four starts because of an elbow strain. 3B Cody Asche (hamstring) should start a rehab assignment this weekend. An MRI showed that RHP Mike Adams doesnt have a torn labrum. Adams will get a cortisone shot and expects to return after a stint on the DL. ... Only Arizona has fewer home wins (12) than Philadelphia. ... Papelbons save was his first since May 24. ... The Padres lost for only the 11th time when having a lead at any point in a game. Thats the third-fewest total in the majors. ... The Phillies and Padres have 11 sacrifice flies this season. Only Pittsburgh had fewer (9). ... The Phillies signed RHP Aaron Nola, the seventh overall pick in last weeks amateur draft. ... RHP Tyson Ross (6-5, 3.22) of the Padres faces LHP Cole Hamels (2-3, 3.49) on Wednesday night. ' ' '
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Activity: May 25 '20
