Bayern Trupp » Bobcats coach Steve Clifford called

The Toronto Blue Jays look to capitalize on a key homestand, beginning on Friday night when they open a three-game set with the Tampa Bay Rays at Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays have their sights set on the American Leagues second wild card spot, after watching their deficit in the AL East swell from 1 1/2 games to 9 since the start of August. Toronto currently sits four games back of Detroit in the wild card race. The Blue Jays picked up a much needed 9-5 victory in Milwaukee on Wednesday after losing six of their previous seven games. The offense came alive with 15 hits, seven of which came off the bats of the No. 1-3 hitters in the lineup. Jose Bautista homered to help cap a five-run sixth inning. The nine runs marked the teams highest output in a game since July 28. "In reality, thats baseball. You go through those stretches," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "They didnt get a couple of two-out hits, might have made a difference in the game too. Sometimes the pitcher is pretty good, sometimes it doesnt take much to just miss a ball." After having Thursday off, the Blue Jays now begin a nine-game homestand. For Tampa Bay, Fridays opener kicks off a stretch of 26 straight games against AL East foes. The Rays just dropped two of three at home to the Tigers this week, and following this series theyll continue their road trip with a four-game set at AL East leader Baltimore. On Thursday, Tampa Bay managed a 1-0 victory over Detroit despite just one hit for the game, an RBI triple by Brandon Guyer in the opening frame. From there, Tigers starter David Price went the distance and mowed down the final 23 Rays batters he faced in his return to Tropicana Field. But Tampa Bays Alex Cobb was the victor of this pitching duel, as he pitched seven scoreless innings and allowed only two hits while notching six strikeouts. "Really lived up to the billing, or the advertising prior to the game," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "It just happened we won. ... I talk about it all the time. In order to beat a good pitcher, you have to outpitch him. In a very small and perverse way, we did." Maddon will give the ball to Drew Smyly for Fridays series opener. The left- hander tossed seven innings of two-run ball against the Yankees in his Rays home debut last week. It was the second straight outing he went at least seven frames after piling up nine strikeouts with no earned runs allowed at Texas in his previous start. For Toronto, Marcus Stroman looks to rebound from last Fridays start against the White Sox, in which he did not get out of the first inning. The right- hander coughed up five quick runs on five hits after going the distance against Detroit six days earlier. "Theres a lot of emotion that goes into this game, you want to do everything in your power to put your team in a position to win, and I did everything but that," Stroman said of his effort. In addition to the short outing, Stroman is coming off an extra two days rest. Toronto has a 6-4 edge over the Rays in the season series. Wholesale Phillies Jerseys . Francis told several hundred members of the European Olympic Committees that when sport "is considered only in economic terms and consequently for victory at every cost . Cheap Phillies Jerseys . Miralem Pjanic dribbled through the defence to score an extraordinary goal in the 43rd minute at the Stadio Olimpico and Gervinho added another from a rebound in the 65th for Romas ninth straight victory — ending Milans five-match winning streak. https://www.cheapphilliesjerseys.us/. - The Florida Panthers are getting some Army training to finish off their preparations for the season. Philadelphia Phillies Pro Shop .com) - Even on the day his New Hampshire football team became the nations top-ranked team two weeks ago, coach Sean McDonnell conceded something about the team they replaced at No. Phillies Jerseys China . Sources tell TSN that union executives travelled to select CFL cities Monday to open dialogue with players and answer questions. After the tentative deal was reached Saturday night, several players posted messages of frustration and disappointment on social media - and that carried over into Sunday on both the web and the field.OAKLAND, Calif. -- Al Jefferson had 30 points and 13 rebounds, Gerald Henderson added 17 points and eight rebounds and the Charlotte Bobcats blew past the Golden State Warriors 91-75 on Tuesday night in Kemba Walkers much-anticipated return. Walker finished with seven points, seven assists and six rebounds after missing the last seven games with a sprained left ankle. He played 33 minutes. The Bobcats controlled the game from the start, going ahead by 18 points late in the third quarter and 22 midway through the fourth. Charlotte, which shot 47.4 per cent, held the Warriors to a season-low 31.2 per cent shooting. Stephen Curry had 17 points and 11 assists against his hometown team, Klay Thompson scored 12 and Andrew Bogut grabbed 15 rebounds for the Warriors, who have been held below 38 per cent shooting in three of their past four games. The Warriors briefly gave their announced sellout crowd of 19,596 something to cheer for when Marreese Speights made a half-court heave as the third quarter expired to slice Charlottes lead 72-57. Any hope quickly faded when Anthony Tolliver hit a pair of 3-pointers to put the Bobcats up 78-60 lead with 9:51 remaining. The Bobcats closed out their road trip 3-1 and handed a streaky Golden State team another stinging setback. Warriors coach Mark Jackson publicly called out his team last month for playing down to their opponents too often this season, especially at home. Apparently, his players still havent received the message. The Bobcats (22-28) swept the season against the Warriorss (29-20) after beating Golden State 115-111 in Charlotte on Dec.dddddddddddd 9. And out West, they outhustled and outshot the Warriors from the start. Charlotte ran Golden States prolific shooters off the 3-point line, forcing them into difficult mid-range jumpers. The Bobcats were equally efficient on the offensive end, going ahead 26-13 after the first quarter. The Warriors simply looked lost and lethargic. They hovered just above 20 per cent shooting for most of the first half, and their usually loud crowd stayed mostly silent. The Bobcats went ahead 44-27 with 3:42 left in the second quarter and 51-39 at halftime. It was only the third time all season the Warriors had been held below 40 points in the first half. Golden State trimmed Charlottes lead to eight early in the third quarter on Thompsons 3-pointer. Bobcats coach Steve Clifford called timeout to regroup his players, who responded by building an 18-point lead before Speights hit a halfcourt shot as time expired to bring the Warriors within 72-57 entering the fourth. That was pretty much the only celebration Charlotte allowed. NOTES: The Warriors worst shooting performance before Tuesday was when they shot 35.5 per cent in a 105-83 loss at Houston on Dec. 6. ... Warriors backup centre Jermaine ONeal had nine points and eight rebounds in 16 minutes in his first game since Dec. 9 at Charlotte. He missed 26 games recovering from surgery on his right wrist. ... The Bobcats dont play again until hosting San Antonio on Saturday. ... The Warriors host the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night. ' ' '