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.Com Open, the first stop on the 2014-15
ANAHEIM, Calif. Discount MLB Jerseys . - Even after every momentum swing, dramatic hit and terrible relief performance in an 11-inning game, the Oakland Athletics still were unshakably confident somebody would pull them through. Josh Donaldson and Jim Johnson stepped up and got it done. Donaldson drove in Jed Lowrie with an 11th-inning double, and the As overcame Mike Trouts tying homer in the ninth for a 10-9 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night. The AL-leading As have won four straight and eight of nine largely because of their strength in tough situations, a product of back-to-back playoff appearances. Even Trouts dramatic two-run shot off Sean Doolittle didnt shake Oaklands belief. "It seemed like it was only a matter of time before we put a run across and figured out how to get a win," Doolittle said. "Weve been playing great this whole road trip, and we scrapped and clawed and came from behind. Theres a sense in this clubhouse that if the game is close or tied, were going to figure out a way to get it done. Whos it going to be this time?" Lowrie led off the 11th with a single against Yoslan Herrera (0-1), and Donaldson hit a sharp grounder inside third base. Johnson (2-2) pitched two gritty innings for Oakland, getting Howie Kendrick on a groundout with Trout and Albert Pujols in scoring position to end the As 15th win in 21 games at Angel Stadium. "It was one of the first times all year that our starting pitching struggled," Donaldson said. "The ninth inning happened, but we were able to come back and get it. Our pitching and defence have been doing really well this year, and tonight it was our offence picking them up." Both teams erased late three-run deficits during two dismal bullpen performances. The Angels trailed 9-6 in the eighth after leading 6-3 heading to the seventh. "It felt like three different games," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. "We got behind early and came roaring back again, but give them credit. The momentum shifts go back and forth, and it comes down to will." Brandon Moss, Alberto Callaspo and pinch-hitter Derek Norris had RBI singles during a four-run eighth for the As. One night after Angels closer Ernesto Frieri blew a one-run lead, newcomer Joe Smith squandered a 6-5 advantage by giving up four runs, three hits and two walks without getting an out. "I was absolutely terrible out there," Smith said. "Theres no other way to say it. Thats as bad as Ive ever performed. Weve got to get some stuff figured out, as far as the late innings go in the bullpen. I mean, its no secret right now. Me and Ernie, weve got to win those games — especially against this team." The Angels third loss in four games came with more bad news: Leadoff hitter Kole Calhoun is headed to the disabled list after turning his right ankle while running out a grounder in the 11th inning. Smith even blamed himself for Calhouns injury. "When one of your guys goes down in the late innings, where if you just do your job, the game is over and he doesnt get hurt, and we have one more guy healthy, thats what hurts the worst," he said. David Freese had an RBI single in the eighth for Los Angeles, and Calhoun led off the ninth with a double off Doolittle. Trout, who had three hits and drove in three runs, tied it with a no-doubt shot to left, his fifth homer of the season and the Angels major league-best 23rd of the year. Chris Iannetta had a two-run double for the Angels, who chased Dan Straily in the fourth inning before the bullpen gave it all back. Straily was the first As starter to give up more than three earned runs all season, yielding seven hits and six runs. The right-hander gave up more than three runs for the first time in nine starts since last Aug. 28. Garrett Richards pitched seven innings of eight-hit ball for the Angels, but Smiths meltdown denied him his third victory. NOTES: Pujols went 0 for 5, snapping his 10-game hitting streak. ... Iannetta stole his first base since Sept. 4, 2012, on a botched pitchout by Oakland. ... Manager Mike Scioscia said hitting coach Don Baylor could be back with the Angels in a limited pregame capacity when they return from a lengthy road trip later this month. Baylor broke his leg on opening day and isnt likely to be in the dugout during games for several weeks. Clearance MLB Jerseys . - The Chicago Bears have agreed to a one-year contract with free-agent centre Brian de la Puente. MLB Jerseys Outlet . Watching them over the past year - and in some cases, two years - has given us a starting point for this seasons Craigs List.Worn down. Aching back. Sore hips. Mental fatigue. Sounds more like the final round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs than the FedEx Cup playoffs. But to hear the golfers talk, the ridiculous schedule that has been thrust upon those lucky enough to make it all the way to the last PGA Tour event of the year means this will be a hobble to the $8 million purse and the $10 million bonus. While there wont be much sympathy for guys in slacks vying for millions and millions of dollars, the game is clearly suffering at whats supposed to be its big finale. "I did take a month off before coming into the stretch," said Jim Furyk, who is among the remaining golfers in the field this week in Atlanta. "So Im now playing my eighth event in the last nine weeks. Im definitely a little tired. Im a little worn down." Phil Mickelson pulled out of the BMW Championship because hed had enough and was hoping to send a message to the calendar planners. And the No. 1 player in the world made a detour on the way home from the BMW in Denver to enjoy the simple things. "Its amazing what a night in your own bed can do," admitted Rory McIlroy. "I mean, just one night. Its funny, I was standing in the shower on Monday morning in Denver and I was thinking to myself: Why am I going to Atlanta today? So I didnt. I changed and Im going to go to Florida. Im going to go home for a day and a half." The driving range and putting green last week were ghost towns as golfers preserved their energy. Thats not much fun for spectators. How beat up are some of these guys? Consider that Dr. Craig Davies, Canadian chiropractor and trainer to many of the top players on tour has been travelling with a portable hyperbaric chamber, a device that can speed up healing thrrough pressurized oxygen. MLB Jerseys China. This years schedule compacted the FedEx Cup playoffs into a four-week squeeze, something no one seems to want and is unlikely to happen again. Certainly that was the word from on high from the commissioner. "Four in a row doesnt really work," Tim Finchem said last week. "So we understand that. We didnt like it this year. Were not going to do it going forward." But the problem is deeper than just the final four weeks. There is a stretch from the Open Championship through this week where there are two majors, a World Golf Championship event and then four playoff stops. Somewhere in there are also the RBC Canadian Open and the Wyndham Championship. Those tournaments have found it necessary to sponsor golfers, including Furyk, to get them to tee it up on the field. Pity poor Brandt Snedeker who has sponsorships with both companies meaning a nine-week stretch was possible, although he only made if as far as the second week of the playoffs. Not only does this schedule hurt the quality of play in these events, but it means that golfers dont play as much before it, saving up their energy for the big run. Theres no easy solution other than cutting back on the total events, which isnt going to happen. Perhaps the playoffs could be three events instead of four, but thats unlikely, especially with millions on the table. You could create an off-season, longer that is, than the three weeks between the Tour Championship and the Frys.Com Open, the first stop on the 2014-15 calendar. For now, its going to be the last man standing come Sunday afternoon. After that, dont expect to see too many of these guys for a while. Oh wait. . . 12 of them are playing in the Ryder Cup. At least theyll get one week off. ' ' '
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Activity: May 25 '20
