MINNEAPOLIS - As Joe Mauer walked back to the dugout, the bat in his hand and a sour look on his face, there were boos from the Minnesota crowd. Los Angeles Lakers Gear . Mauer struck out to end the inning, with a runner on third base in the seventh on Wednesday and the Twins trailing 1-0. Everybody does this, of course, in a sport with a 30 per cent success rate at the plate long proven to be a benchmark of excellence. Failures this year have piled up for Mauer faster than usual for the six-time All-Star, three-time American League batting champion and one-time AL MVP. "Im a heck of a lot more frustrated than they are," Mauer said that night, when asked about those jeering fans. The sound of those boos has been jarring, considering hes the hometown guy from St. Paul with the handsome looks and the hitting skills to build a .321 career batting average, the best among all active players in baseball with at least 3,000 plate appearances. Minnesotans are fiercely proud of and protective of their natives, so Mauer figured to have a lifetime pass in the popularity department here. After signing that $184 million, eight-year contract extension in 2010, though, he has become a more-frequent target of criticism from fans frustrated by the teams struggles the past several years. The 28 home runs he hit in 138 games in 2009 were a one-year wonder. Lingering lower-body injuries limited him to 82 games in 2011. This season, his on-base-plus-slugging percentage was at a career-low .704 entering the weekend series in New York. Mauer is also on pace to blow by his career-high strikeout total of 89 set last year. "I feel pretty good actually, which is even more frustrating," he said. "Im hitting a lot of balls hard and just not having much to show for it. So hopefully that turns here soon." Mauer isnt the only one sputtering with the Twins. The teams batting average with runners in scoring position fell to .214, the second-worst in the league, after losing three of four games to Texas this week. "Were putting together a lot of good at-bats but still not driving people in with runners in scoring position. Thats the main focus, getting guys on, but we cant get them in," second baseman Brian Dozier said. Mauer reluctantly gave up his job as the catcher to better protect himself from another concussion, after missing the final six weeks of last season following a foul tip that hit him in the head. The loss to the Twins of Mauers intelligence and defence behind the plate was supposed to be trumped by an increase in his availability and production at a less-taxing position. He missed five games with back spasms earlier this month, but since then he said he feels fine. The problem has been these paltry totals: nine extra-base hits and 15 RBIs through Thursday. "The expectations are very high for him. People get frustrated. I just dont want Joe to get frustrated. I know he is a little bit right now, because he doesnt have the results he wants. But I dont want to put any more pressure on the guy," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "I just want him to just keep being himself, keep swinging, and hell be fine." ___ Dave Campbell on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DaveCampbellAP Lakers Jerseys 2019 . Rodriguez, who has steadfastly denied using banned substances while with the New York Yankees, made the decision nearly four weeks after arbitrator Fredric Horowitz largely upheld the discipline issued last summer by baseball Commissioner Bud Selig. "I think its a good move for him," former Commissioner Fay Vincent said. Los Angeles Lakers Shirts . Its been two seasons in one for both parties and neither will look back on the first 18 games fondly. "I think I took the fall for a lot of things," said Gay, reflecting on his short time in Toronto ahead of Wednesdays game against his former club. https://www.lakersjerseycheap.com/ . Under the deal, the Vikings will donate an undisclosed sum of money to five gay rights-related charities over the next five years. Kluwe said he wont receive any money as part of the settlement. "This will help a lot of people that really do need that help," Kluwe said.SAO PAULO - The World Cup stadium in the Brazilian host city of Cuiaba is staging its first official match with only half of its seats installed and construction work still underway. The Arena Pantanal will open on Wednesday with a Brazilian Cup match between Santos and Mixto, but work is far from complete at the stadium, one of three yet to be declared ready for the World Cup in two months time. The official inauguration is set for April 26. The opening match in Cuiaba comes a day after labour officials prevented construction from resuming in part of the stadium hosting the World Cup opener in Sao Paulo. The decision was made because of safety concerns following a workers death over the weekend, the third at the venue and seventh overall. As in most World Cup stadiums in Brazil, infrastructure work around the Arena Pantanal continues at full speed, with bulldozers, cranes and dump trucks still at the site as hundreds of workers try to finish access roads, sidewalks and temporary structures. Wednesdays match will have limited attendance because organizers could only install about 20,000 of the 41,000 seats at the stadium. Fans will only occupy the lower seating sections. The delay came in part because the initial bidding process for the seats was suspended over prosecutors claims that they were overpriced. A court battle ensued over thee suppliers and the installation took longer than expected to begin. Stitched Lakers Jerseys. The match is not going to be considered an official test event for local the World Cup organizing committee in part because not all security measures will be in place. The stadium was one of the six that were not finished by the end of last year as expected by FIFA. Sao Paulo was already behind schedule even before the death of a 23-year-old worker on Saturday, which prompted labour officials to halt the installation of the temporary seats that will be needed for the Brazil-Croatia opener. Work isnt expected to resume until next week as constructors scramble to add safety features to the site. Local organizers and FIFA said the work stoppage is not expected to significantly delay the stadiums date of completion. Local officials said it will be inaugurated in April, but FIFA expects the stadium fully ready only in mid-May, about a month before the opener. The Arena da Baixada, in the southern city of Curitiba, is also expected to be ready in May. But last week the local governments watchdog group recommended a halt on public financing for the stadiums renovation until organizers can explain alleged irregularities in the stadiums budget. FIFA almost excluded Curitiba from the tournament earlier this year because of the delays at the stadium. ' ' '

A compelling new documentary film series commissioned by The R&A will premiere on Tuesday on Sky Sports, featuring 14-time major champion Tiger Woods. Pirates Jerseys 2019 . The series, Chronicles of a Champion Golfer, tells the individual stories of the worlds greatest players at The Open, providing exceptional insight into the skill and determination needed to become Champion Golfer of the Year.In the first film, airing on Tuesday at 7:00pm on Sky Sports 4, Woods speaks candidly about his 20 years playing in The Open and relives his three victories in golfs greatest Championship. It looks at the impact of the death of his father prior to his win at Royal Liverpool in 2006 and his thoughts on what the future holds. The series takes a fresh and innovative approach to documentary production and includes unparalleled access to golfs most celebrated players including Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Greg Norman, Sir Nick Faldo, Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy. Woods and Jack Nicklaus both feature in the series The centrepiece to each 30-minute film is a stylised interview where each player speaks introspectively about his life, his golfing career and the path he took to become Champion Golfer of the Year. The interviews are accompanied by footage from The R&As extensive video library and newsreel archive.David White, Producer and Director of the series, said, The Chronicles of a Champion Golfer tells the story of The Open in a way that hasnt been done before - from the perspective of the greatest players to ever play the game. To capture each of them speaking so openly about their lives and what it means to be a Champion Golfer was a privilege. I am delighted that audiences will be able to view the films over the coming months in the build-up to The Open this July.The next film in the series, featuring Norman, will air on 19 and 20 April followed by Watson on 3 and 4 May. The series will continue to run through to the week of The 145th Open at Royal Troon, 10-17 July, and will be available on Sky Sports On Demand. Also See: Opinion Golf on Sky Sports 4 Schedule Get Sky Sports Pirates Jerseys 2020 . Bjoerndalen, who had failed to win any major race for two years before Sochi, writes in a Facebook entry that he is "full of energy and inspiration" after winning the 10-kilometre sprint and mixed relay at last months Olympics. Wholesale Pirates Jerseys . Charlottetown scored four times in the third period en route to a 5-2 win over the defending champion Halifax Mooseheads on Friday. https://www.cheappiratesjerseys.us/ . The two-time Olympic halfpipe gold medallist informed ESPN on Monday he plans to compete in Apsen, Colo.TORONTO -- In the moments before the Toronto Raptors took the court for Game 4 in Brooklyn, they huddled in the locker-room and watched footage of their fans gathered back home in Maple Leaf Square. The Raptors went on to win Game 4 and even up the series and say theyve drawn inspiration from the swell of support theyre receiving in their home city. "I told the team, the fans are doing their part, weve got to do our part as a team, as a group of guys to lead the fight on the court, because the fans are behind us 100 per cent and theyre loud and theyre very proud. And they should be," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. The Raptors expect a repeat of Sunday, when a capacity crowd of 2,500 red-clad fans jammed Maple Leaf Square to watch the game on the giant screen outside the Air Canada Centre. Thousands more packed the roads leading up to the ACC in a raucous outdoor celebration similar to the citys playoff party during the Maple Leafs brief run last year. "Oh man, its unbelievable, our fan base," Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry said. "It makes you want to just be a part of it. Things that were doing right now and the way the fan base is going out there, we want to go out there and play hard and give them a reason to keep coming back and packing Maple Leaf Square and packing the ACC. "We need our fans, we love our fans. . . We cant wait to see (Wednesday) night, the vibe and the energy were going to get." The series has been a spirited battle even before the first ball was tossed up, thanks to general manager Masai Ujiris now-famous F-bomb. Its been a fierce fight on the court. Casey said Kyle Lowry looked like hed been through a 15-round bout after Game 4, and the coach expects both teams to come out swinging in Game 5 on Wednesday. "Its not going to be all smiles and bubble gum and fruitcakes. . . Its going to be a street fight," Casey said. "Thats the way weve got to come out, with that mentality." The Raptors, said Lowry, were caught on their heels Game 1 of the series. The less-experienced Raptors -- three of the teams starters had never made a playoff appearance -- werent prepared for how physical post-season action would be. They lost that game. They put up a fight in Sundays Game 4 victory in Brooklyn, holding the Nets to just three baskets in a scrappy fourth quarter. But they were forced to battle back from a lackadaisical third quarter, a bad habit the Raptors havent been able to shake all season long. Pittsburgh Pirates Store. "Weve got to compete like that for 40-plus (minutes)," Casey said. "The third quarter has been our nemesis. . . thats what we have to remedy, coming out of the locker-room at halftime with that desperate disposition." Despite being the No. 3 seed, the Raptors were considered underdogs in this series based on playoff experience. DeMar DeRozan said theyve played with a chip on their collective shoulder with that underdog mentality all season, so this is nothing new. "We understood coming into this series that people still counted us out, people still doubted us, people said: Brooklyns experience, this, that and the third. . . whatever you want to hear," said DeRozan, who struggled through playoff jitters in Game 1 but has shone for Toronto in the three games since. "Weve been counted out so long, weve got the underdog mentality. I dont think thats going anywhere." Playoff experience was a major theme when this best-of-seven series began. Future Hall of Famer Paul Pierce alone -- with 136 playoff appearances -- had played in almost as many post-season games as the entire Raptors roster combined. None of Torontos starters -- Lowry, DeRozan, Terrence Ross, Amir Johnson and Jonas Valanciunas -- had ever started in a playoff game. DeRozan, Ross and Valanciunas had never played in the post-season, period. The Raptors say that four games in, experience doesnt mean much anymore. "Its just who wants it more from here on out. Thats what it boils down to now," DeRozan said. Added Casey: "I dont think were as wide-eyed and bushy-tailed as we were in Game 1." Ross remains the one Raptor struggling with the playing on the big stage of the post-season. The athletic sophomore, who poured in 51 points in a game earlier this season, scored zero in Game 4. Casey and the players remain fiercely supportive of the 21-year-old. "Im not going to do anything to crush that young mans confidence or what hes brought to the table thus far," said Casey, pointing out that Ross has done some good things on the defensive end. "And its not about Terrence Ross, its about our entire team," the coach added. "The spotlight should not be on him in any way whatsoever. The reason why we win or lose is not because of what Terrence Ross did or didnt do." ' ' '

MONTREAL - While Connor McDavid will be the star, he will likely share the 2015 world junior championship spotlight with goaltender Zach Fucale. Nike Air Max Axis Nz .Fucale will not only be one of the local boys, he is also a Montreal Canadiens draft pick and will have a huge cheering section when Canada opens the tournament Dec. 26 at the Bell Centre against Slovakia.Theres pressure everywhere, whether its in junior or anywhere you step on the ice, the Halifax Mooseheads goalie said Monday as Hockey Canada released a list of 29 players invited to the team selection camp that opens Dec. 11 in Toronto.Were living the moment and we dont really have time to think about it. We just try to get ready for the games.Canada finds itself in a five-year gold medal drought — and two years without any medal at all — at the event officially called the IIHF Under-20 World Championship. It hopes to end that by icing a team of mostly 19-year-old players, at least seven of whom are returning from last years tournament in Malmo, Sweden.They include Fucale, defencemen Chris Bigras of the Owen Sound Attack and Josh Morrissey of the Prince Albert Raiders, plus forwards McDavid of the Erie Otters, Frederik Gauthier of the Rimouski Oceanic, Nic Petan of the Portland Winterhawks and Sam Reinhart of the Kootenay ice.All are 19 except McDavid, the 17-year-old phenom who is expected to go first overall in the NHL draft in June. The Newmarket, Ont., native broke a bone in his right hand in a fight Nov. 12 with the Mississauga Steelheads Bryson Cianfone.While McDavid, who was leading the Ontario Hockey League with 51 points in 18 games when he got hurt, has not returned to action, there was no concern about inviting him to the selection camp. He is expected to skate with the team in camp and be ready for the tournament.Its a no-brainer to select him, said Scott Salmond, Hockey Canadas vice-president for national teams. Even with one hand, he still might be one of the best players in the world.Weve had good conversations with Connor and his family and we feel hes going to be 100 per cent ready to go. Hes getting another evaluation (on Dec. 9) and hopefully gets clearance at that time. Well ease him back into the process, but we expect that on Dec. 26, hell be a huge part of our team.Still unclear is whether some 19-year-olds currently playing in the NHL will be loaned to Team Canada. The clubs have until the Dec. 19 NHL roster freeze to decide.Hockey Canada has already been told that Florida defenceman Aaron Ekblad will remain with the Panthers, but there is a chance to have Jonathan Drouin of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Curtis Lazar of the Ottawa Senators or Bo Horvat of the Vancouver Canucks, who played at last years world juniors, or New York Rangers forward Anthony Duclair.Actually, 2013 first overall pick Nathan MacKinnon is still eligible, but hes firmly established with the Colorado Avalanche.The team coached by Benoit Groulx will be pared to 22 players for the tournament. The 29 invitees include 10 defencemen, 17 forwards and only two goalies: Fucale and Eric Comrie of the Tri-City Americans.Seven will be cut after camp to leave two goalies and likely seven rearguards and 13 up front.It is a second year in a row Canada has chosen its goalies in advance. Director of player personnel Ryan Jankowski said Fucale and Comrie have been the countrys most consistent junior puck-stoppers over the last two years. A third goalie can be added during the tournament if needed.It gives them longer to prepare mentally for the challenge ahead of them, said Jankowski. They know theyre the goalies and we have confidence in them. Thats more important than a competition in camp.Added Salmond: Zach is a very composed young man. We really believe Zachs the guy who can handle that pressure. We talked about it in depth. We believe his ability on the ice and his mental capacities and maturity will allow him to be at his best.Last years team coached by Brent Sutter was its second-youngest ever at the tournament. It was seen at the time as a planned move to have a more experienced squad with this years event played at home. Canada plays the group stage in Montreal and the knockout games in Toronto.Among 19-year-olds who could make the team are six-foot-seven defenceman Samuel Morin of Rimouski and six-foot-four Darnell Nurse of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, first round picks in 2013 by Philadelphia and Edmonton respectively.Among forwards, there are first rounders Max Domi of the London Knights (Arizona) and Morgan Klimchuk of the Regina Pats (Calgary).Some highly regarded 18-year-olds (born in 1996) include the Kelowna Rockets Rourke Chartier, currently leading the Western Hockey League with 29 goals and 48 points in 27 games, Vancouver first rounder Jake Virtanen of the Calgary Hitmen and Red Deer Rebels defenceman Haydn Fleury, taken seventh overall in June by Carolina.This team will be built on speed and skill, said Salmond. There will be an opportunity for all four lines to play with skill.When we look at the last couple of years, we havent got the production from what people would term our bottom six. So were looking for more production from those guys, which translates into more skill on the third and fourth lines.Other defencemen invited were Madison Bowey of Kelowna, Dillon Heatherington of the Swift Current Broncos, Joe Hicketts of the Victoria Royals, Travis Sanheim, a Flyers first rounder from the Hitmen, and Seattles Shea Theodore.Hicketts is fifth in WHL scoring with 36 points, including seven goals.Forwards also invited were Nick Baptiste of Erie, Lawson Crouse of the Kingston Frontenacs, Michael Dal Colle of the Oshawa Generals, Jason Dickenson and Robby Fabbri of Guelph, Remi Elie of the Belleville Bulls, Nick Paul of the North Bay Battalion, Brayden Point of the Moose Jaw Warriors and Nick Ritchie of the Peterborugh Petes.Jankowski said Paul and Elie were not on the teams radar a year ago but have played themselves into contention. Elie, Hicketts, Chartier and Crouse were not invited to the teams camp last summer, but also changed some minds over the last six months.A danger of going with an older squad is that there will be few returnees for 2016, when the tournament will beheld in Helsinki. It will be back in Montreal and Toronto in 2017.Were focused on this year, said Jankowski. Last year, it wasnt a great group of 94s.Thats why all the 95s ended up playing. As much as wed like to prepare some guys for next year, its about winning now. Well deal with next year as we move forward. Nike Air Max 270 Nz Womens . According to a report from CSN Bay Area, the 49ers are bracing for 6-8 game suspension for their outside linebacker. Air Max 720 Mens Nz . PETERSBURG, Fla. http://www.airmaxnzwholeale.com/cheap-air-max-180-nz.html . The Argentina striker has not played for the Premier League leaders since September when he refused to warm up during a Champions League match and only returned last week from a three-month unauthorized absence at home. City coach Roberto Mancini had initially told Tevez he would never play for City again after his act of public insubordination, but later softened his stance and only asked for an apology. BOSTON - The Boston Bruins signed restricted free agents Torey Krug and Reilly Smith on Monday. Both players received one-year contracts worth $1.4 million. TSN hockey analyst Aaron Ward tweeted Monday morning that Krug will be paid $900,000 in salary with a $500,000 signing bonus. Krug, 23, played 79 games for the Bruins last season and ledd all NHL rookie defensemen in goals (14), assists (26) and points (40). Nike Air Max Motion Nz. The 23-year-old Smith arrived in Boston as part of the Tyler Seguin trade with the Dallas Stars in July 2013. The forward is coming off a tremendous campaign in which he racked up 20 goals and 31 assists for 51 points over 82 games -- all career highs. ' ' '

Sochi, Russia (SportsNetwork. Jordan From China .com) - James van Riemsdyk, Dustin Brown and David Backes tallied in a three-goal first period, as the United States put 32 years of frustration to rest and gained a spot in the semifinals thanks to a 5-2 decision over the Czech Republic on Wednesday. Zach Parise and Phil Kessel also lit the lamp for the Americans, who hadnt beaten the Czechs -- or its previous incarnation as Czechoslovakia -- in Olympic play since 1980 and will face Canada in a Friday semifinal. Ryan Suter added three assists to back a 21-save effort by Jonathan Quick. Ales Hemsky recorded both scores for the Czechs, who came up short in their quest to medal for the first time since taking bronze in Torino eight years prior. Starter Ondrej Pavelec was pulled early in the second period after yielding four goals on 12 shots. Alexander Salak finished up with 12 stops. China Shoes Store .com) - Top seed Klara Zakopalova reached the second round, while former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone came up a loser Tuesday at the inaugural Rio Open tennis event. China Shoes To USA . Then he got back at the team that released him five days before the start of last season, hitting a tiebreaking double in the ninth inning of the first game at Fenway Park since Boston won the World Series last October. https://www.chinashoes.us/ . He was 40. Firefighters were called about 11 a.m. Friday because Brown was unresponsive at his home near the Inner Harbor, fire spokesman Battalion Chief Kevin Cartwright said. He said Brown was dead when firefighters arrived. MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota Timberwolves President Flip Saunders says his phone hasnt stopped ringing as the NBA draft approaches. Saunders is a popular man because it is well known that star forward Kevin Love is available for the right offer. Saunders says trade talks in general, not just for Love, are "at a feeding frenzy" two days before Thursday nights draft. The Golden State Warrioors, Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets are among the many teams known to have inquired about Love. Nike Shoes From China. But Saunders says he will only make a trade if he feels the Timberwolves will be better off after the deal. If Love is not traded by draft night, things could pick up again when free agency opens. The Houston Rockets could get involved if they miss out on LeBron James. ' ' '

The Sunday Supplement is on our screens for the final time this season as our panel of journalists discuss all the biggest football talking points. Cheap White Sox Jerseys . Henry Winter (The Times), Andy Dunn (Sunday Mirror) and Shaun Custis (The Sun) will join Neil Ashton for the final episode of the season.The panel will be discussing Sundays back pages, previewing the final day of the season, and also looking ahead to Roy Hodgsons England squad announcement for Euro 2016 on Monday. If you cant catch Sunday Supplement on the box, look out for the podcast available after the show.Tune in for Sunday Supplement from 8.30am on Sky Sports 1 HD this Sunday. Also See: Soccer AM Sunday Supplement Goals on Sunday The FantasyFC White Sox Jerseys China . The American secured his first back-to-back ATP match wins since June to leave Tsonga relying on his performance at next weeks Paris Masters to clinch one of the final three places for the season-ending event in London. Tsonga would have moved up one spot to No. 6 with a win over Querrey at the City of Arts and Sciences, but his serve deserted him in the second set as the 116th-ranked American broke twice to reach the quarter-finals. Chicago White Sox Gear .com) - NFL owners have unanimously approved the sale of the Buffalo Bills. https://www.cheapwhitesox.com/ . The Wizards gave up two seldom-used players — forward Jan Vesely and point guard Eric Maynor. Vesely goes to the Nuggets, while Maynor gets shipped to the 76ers. Philadelphia receives two second-round draft picks, one from the Wizards in 2015 and one from the Nuggets in 2016.The season is not quite done yet for a pair of Toronto Maple Leafs players. Goaltender James Reimer and defenceman Morgan Rielly have agreed to represent Canada at the 2014 IIHF World Championship. The 26-year-old Reimer appeared in 36 games for the Leafs this season, posting a 12-16-1 record with a 3.29 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage. Rielly, 20, posted two goals and 25 assists through 73 games this season, finishing the season second among all rookie NHL defencemen in assists and sixth in points at 27. Toronto finished sixth in the Atlantic Division with a 38-36-8 record. Reimer previouusly represented Canada at the 2011 World Championship, posting a 3-0 record with a . Fake White Sox Jerseys. .920 save percentage. Canada would finish fifth at the tournament. The Morweena, Man. native was also selected to represent Canada at the World Under-18 Championships but did not play due to injury. Rielly, a Vancouver native, has represented Canada at both the 2011 Under-18s and 2013 World Juniors, finishing fourth at both tournaments. The World Championship begins May 9 in Minsk, Belarus. Canada has been drawn into Group A alongside Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Italy, Norway, Slovakia and Sweden. ' ' '

PARIS -- Rafael Nadals path to a record-extending ninth French Open title could take him through a series of matches against the men who beat him on clay this season. Colorado Rockies Store . The top-seeded Nadal was drawn Friday to possibly face No. 21 Nicolas Almagro in the fourth round, then No. 5 David Ferrer in the quarterfinals. "Those are opponents that know how to play well on clay," Nadal said. "But its never easy." The other mens quarterfinal matchups could be No. 2 Novak Djokovic vs. No. 8 Milos Raonic, No. 3 Stan Wawrinka vs. No. 7 Andy Murray, and No. 4 Roger Federer vs. No. 6 Tomas Berdych. The possible womens quarterfinals are No. 1 Serena Williams vs. No. 7 Maria Sharapova in what would be a rematch of last years final won by Williams, No. 2 Li Na vs. No. 6 Jelena Jankovic, No. 3 Agnieszka Radwanska vs. No. 8 Angelique Kerber, and No. 4 Simona Halep vs. No. 5 Petra Kvitova. Ferrer, who lost to Nadal in the 2013 final at Roland Garros, upset him in the Monte Carlo quarterfinals last month. Almagro ended Nadals 41-match winning streak in Barcelona by beating him in the quarterfinals there a week later. Those defeats were both in best-of-three-set matches. The French Open, like all Grand Slam tournaments, uses a best-of-five format for men, and Nadal was asked Friday whether that gives him an advantage on clay. "I give my most every point, every game, every set. Whether its (best of) three or five, if you want to win, you have to play well," he said. Nadal has three losses on clay in a season for the first time since 2004, when he was only 17 and had yet to play a match at the French Open. He was beaten in the Rome final last weekend by Djokovic; they only could meet in the final in Paris. Djokovic has won the pairs last four meetings, but Nadal is 5-0 head-to-head at the French Open, including victories in the 2012 final and 2013 semifinals. Djokovic, a six-time major champion who needs a French Open title to complete a career Grand Slam, and Federer, owner of a record 17 major titles, were drawn to meet in the semifinals. Nadal, who stands third among men with 13 Grand Slam trophies, could meet Australian Open champion Wawrinka in the semifinals. Nadal is 59-1 for his career at the French Open, with four titles in a row in 2005-08 and again in 2010-13. Williams won the clay-court Grand Slam tournament in 2002, beating her older sister Venus in the final, then waited 11 years before adding a second French Open trophy in 2013. The Williams sisters were drawn Friday to face each other in the third round, which would be their earliest meeting at a Grand Slam tournament since their very first matchup, in the second round of the 1998 Australian Open. Venus is seeded 29th at the French Open. Shes won seven Grand Slam singles titles, 10 fewer than Serena, who holds a 14-10 edge in head-to-head matches. "It never gets easier," Serena said. "Shes essentially the love of my life, so its definitely difficult." Rockies Jerseys China . TSNs Farhan Lalji reports the Edmonton Eskimos non-import DT has a workout scheduled with an NFL team next week and isnt expected to sign a deal with any team until then. Stitched Rockies Jerseys .ca MLB Power Rankings, the third consecutive week that the As have held top spot and the third straight week that they have been one ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays. https://www.cheaprockiesjerseys.us/ . Setting United on its way to a 2-0 victory, Rooney sent the ball high from inside the halfway line over goalkeeper Adrian after just seven minutes. "Its just instinct, Ive turned and had a quick look and seen the goalkeeper off his line," Rooney said. WASHINGTON -- The Washington Wizards are inching closer to their first playoff spot since 2008 and can earn a post-season berth Sunday if the Golden State Warriors beat the New York Knicks. After the Wizards sloppy 101-97 win over the free-falling Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night, they insisted theyre not looking ahead -- at least not publicly. "If the Knicks lose, Ill be more excited. Id know Id be playing in the playoffs," John Wall said. Wall scored 25 points and Drew Gooden added 16 for Washington, which is sixth in the Eastern Conference. Wall scored 13 points in the last 7:16 of the third quarter and the Wizards finally escaped the pesky Hawks, who have lost six straight and 20 of 26. Jeff Teague scored 19 points and Paul Millsap 17 for Atlanta. Washington had to overcome a slow start coming off its impressive 13-point win over Eastern Conference leader Indiana on Friday to beat the Hawks, who lead the Knicks by 1 1/2 games for the final playoff berth in the East. They also had to deal with the effects of a Saturday afternoon hockey game at the Verizon Center. Because of the Washington Capitals game with the Boston Bruins, the starting time of the Wizards game was pushed back an hour. The changeover left the floor slippery and may have caused a groin injury to Washington forward Trevor Ariza. "Good thing nobody got seriously injured, but we got to work on that. Somebody couldve really got hurt. We got to keep ourselves safe," Ariza said. "I tried to play the game as fast as I can all the time, but after I fell and slipped, I slowed down for sure." He finished with 13 points. Bradley Beal had 14. "That floor was awful tonight. I apologize for that," coach Randy Wittman said. Washington led 99-89 with 2:38 to play, but the Hawks scored eight straight including three free throws by Lou Williams and a three-point play by Teague with 39.8 to play. Teagues three points came immediately after Wall missed two foul shots. With the Wizards leading 99-97,, Marcin Gortat blocked Teagues shot with 11. Colorado Rockies Shirts. 1 seconds left. Gooden was fouled by Teague and hit two free throws to secure the win. "We call this fatigue. We call this fatigue and too relaxed. Im glad we won that game. Otherwise, Id probably shoot myself at home," Gortat said. He had 12 points and 11 rebounds. Wittman wasnt pleased with how his team closed out the game. "Disappointed in that, but theres not a bad win in this league. Well take the win," Wittman said. Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer, whose team played well despite missing three of its five leading scorers, had been hoping for a comeback. "Its amazing how long an NBA game is and what can happen in the last two minutes," Budenholzer said. The game was interrupted countless times by the condensation, which seemed to bother Wizards players more than Hawks. It was reminiscent of a Jan. 11 game that featured two lengthy stoppages when a heavy rainstorm hit the area and delayed Washingtons game with Houston. The Hawks started hot, hitting seven of their first eight shots and running out to a 21-11 advantage, but Washington got eight late points from Gooden, outscoring the Hawks 16-7 in the last 4:31 to lead 28-27 after one. Thanks to nine points in the last five minutes by Pero Antic, Atlanta led 52-50 at halftime. Walls third-quarter offensive display gave the Wizards a 75-71 lead after going into the fourth. NOTES: Washington F/C Nene, who has missed 17 games with a left knee sprain is progressing, though Wittman isnt guessing when he may return. "Hes going on the floor a little bit, on his own, just kind of getting on his legs a little bit," Wittman said. "Where that takes us I dont know. Hes going in a good direction." ... Atlanta was without G/F Kyle Korver (back spasms) and G DeMarre Carroll (stomach virus). ... Wizards G Andre Miller was called for a flagrant foul on Hawks G Dennis Schroder in the fourth quarter, but Schroder missed both foul shots. ' ' '

LONDON -- Michael Laudrup is taking legal advice after being fired as Swansea manager on Tuesday. Victor Caratini Cubs Jersey . Laudrup revealed Thursday he was notified of his dismissal in "the briefest of letters which gave no reasons why such hasty and final action was deemed necessary." The Dane adds that he is "of course taking legal advice" and the League Managers Association has "already written to the club asking for a proper explanation." Swansea is 12th in the standings but just two points above the relegation zone after picking up only six points from its last 10 matches. Laudrup also said Swansea has banned him from going to the training ground, even to say goodbye to the players. Laudrup steered Swansea to its first major trophy, winning the League Cup last February. Carlos Zambrano Cubs Jersey . Mako Vunipola was promoted from the reserves, with Matt Mullan called up to the bench on Thursday. "It is important that Joe is with his partner at this exciting time," England coach Stuart Lancaster said. Chicago Cubs Gear . Trailing by a goal after 20 minutes of play, Joe Pavelski responded with three goals and an assist as the Sharks snapped a two-game losing skid with a 5-2 victory over the struggling Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. https://www.cheapcubs.com/1380t-kerry-wood-jersey-cubs.html . A steady downpour and low temperatures were predicted for much of the night. No makeup date was immediately announced, although it was determined that the game will not be part of a doubleheader on Wednesday.ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Detroit Tigers had seen enough from their shaky bullpen to know something had to be done. So the AL Central leaders acquired right-hander Joakim Soria. "Obviously, Im excited to have Joakim on the team," manager Brad Ausmus said Thursday before the Tigers began a four-game series with the Los Angeles Angels. "Anytime you can get help of his calibre, especially at the back end of the bullpen, I dont think there would be a manager who wouldnt be excited about it." Detroit dealt pitching prospects Corey Knebel and Jake Thompson to the Texas Rangers to get the 30-year-old Soria on Wednesday night. "We gave up a lot, guys that we valued," Dave Dombrowski, the Tigers general manager said. "But it was a necessity." The Tigers have been working on improving their bullpen for weeks because closer Joe Nathan has been inconsistent and Joel Hanrahan apparently will not be able to pitch this year. Setup man Joba Chamberlain has been their only reliable reliever. Soria was 1-3 with a 2.70 ERA, saving 17 games in 19 chances this year with the Rangers. He is 15-18 with a 2.51 and 177 saves in 199 chances over five years with the Kansas City Royals and two in Texas. The Rangers signed Soria to an $8 million, two-year contract before last season as he was recovering from his second Tommy John surgery. His contract includes a $7 million club option for 2015 with a $500,000 buyout, making him even more attractive to the Tigers. Soria sounded as if he will be happy with whatever role the Tigers give him. He is joining a franchise aiming for its first World Series championship since 1984 and leaving a last-place team that has had high hopes dashed by a slew of injuries. "This is a good feeling," the Mexican-born Soria said at his locker in Angel Stadium while accepting welcoming handshakes from several of his new teammates. "Im grateful to Texas, because they picked me up when I was hurt. So I wish all the best for them. But now Im in a different family, its a different feeling. Im willing to do whatever they want me to do and do whatever it takes to help this team win as many games as we can. My goal is to win the World Series." Aussmus said that Nathan, a six-time All-Star, will remain as the closer with Soria starting out as the seventh-inning reliever and Chamberlain staying in his current setup role. Robel Garcia Jersey. "Id probably leave Joba in the eighth inning because hes pitched so well there," Ausmus said. "I talked to Joakim about pitching in the eighth if Joba wasnt available, and in the ninth of Joe wasnt available. So he was open to help any way he can. Hes pitched in all those roles before, so having someone with Joakims experience in the ninth if Joe cant go is enormous." Ausmus is grateful for the chance to have two closers with All-Star credentials at his disposal, but insisted that Nathan is his guy right now -- although he wouldnt use him more than three days in a row. "I never saw (Soria) as a threat as a teammate," Nathan said. "Hes another great arm that we brought over here. Hes a gamer. Hes a winner. He wants the baseball and he just loves to compete." Nathan has struggled at times this season, but not enough to give Ausmus a reason to take him out of the closer role. "Even though Ive done quite a bit in this game, one of those things Ive also done is pull myself out of the closer role when I dont feel as if Im helping the club," Nathan said. "But right now is not one of those instances. Im definitely throwing the ball with more consistency and getting a lot more swings and misses, which is always a good sign. But with that said, this is Brads decision." When the Tigers were considering making a move to add Soria, they asked Nathan and Ian Kinsler about him. "Both of them were effusive in their praise of him as a player and a pitcher and as far as his makeup on the team," Dombrowski recalled. "One of the comments was, Why dont we have him yet? It was a real plus for us to know we can have another quality pitcher for next year." To help this season, Detroit signed Hanrahan to a $1 million, one-year deal in May -- a year after he had elbow surgery -- to pitch out of the bullpen. Dombrowski, though, said it is "highly unlikely," that Hanrahan will pitch this season. "Were not counting on him at all," Dombrowski said. ' ' '

LOS ANGELES - Greg Norman and Joe Buck will call the U. Nike Air Max 98 Womens Australia .S. Open when it moves to Fox next year. The network signed a 12-year rights deal with the U.S. Golf Association in August to air the Open and its other championships. Fox said Wednesday that two-time British Open champion Norman would join Buck on its lead golf announcing team. Buck is already Foxs top play-by-play voice for its NFL and Major League Baseball coverage. An avid golfer, he currently plays at a 3 handicap. NBCs last U.S. Open will be at Pinehurst No. 2 in June. Nike Air Max Cheap Wholesale . The Tiger-Cats announced on Friday the linebacker has signed a new contract with the team through the 2016 season. Air Max 97 Mens Australia . The Pope greeted Klose at his general audience Wednesday and the pair had a long chat. Klose is German like the pope, although he was born in Poland. In Sundays derby, Lazio took the lead in the seventh minute after Maarten Stekelenburg brought down Klose, resulting in the Roma goalkeeper being sent off and a penalty that Hernanes converted. http://www.outletairmaxaustralia.com/nike-off-white-buy-australia.html . Tensions rose in the first period when Penguins defenceman Brooks Orpik hit Bruins forward Loui Eriksson with what appeared to be a clean hit.MILWAUKEE -- A short jumper off the glass. A stutter-step shot that drew a foul. An easy layup after a teammate sealed off a defender in the middle. After a bruising tussle with Marquette in the first half, Shannon Scott helped energize No. 10 Ohio State early in the second half for a big win on the road. Scott scored 13 points, including the three buckets during the 12-4 run after halftime, and the Buckeyes pulled away for a 52-35 win Saturday over the cold-shooting, 17th-ranked Golden Eagles. Sam Thompson also scored 13, while Aaron Craft added 10 points and 10 assists for the Buckeyes (3-0), who ended Marquettes 27-game home winning streak, second-longest in the nation. It was the schools first loss at home since Vanderbilt beat the Golden Eagles 74-57 on Dec. 29, 2011. Only South Dakota State (30) had a longer winning streak in the country entering Saturday. Didnt look like they could pull it off after shooting just 27 per cent in the first half. But things opened up after halftime, when coach Thad Mattas team was 15 of 26 from the field (58 per cent). "Eventually, its got to go in the basket," Matta said in recounting a halftime talk. "Fortunately we had that run. It was the difference in the game." Scott, Craft and Thompson were the sparks, while Marquette (2-1) came out flat in the second half in front of a full house of 18,700 friendly fans in the BMO Harris Bradley Center. "As I told our guys, I dont feel sorry for us at all. They beat us," coach Buzz Williams said. "They beat us straight up. They beat us at home before a sellout crowd." It certainly didnt help that the Golden Eagles had 20 turnovers and shot just 10 of 53 (19 per cent) for the game, including 4 of 24 (17 per cent) in the second half. Tied at 19 at halftime, the game opened up with Ohio State going on the run and finding room to manoeuvr inside. Centre Amir Williams started the spurt by muscling out Chris Otule in the post for a basket. Then Williams sealed off Otule in the lane to allow Scott to go in for an uncontested layup. After forcing a steal of Jake Thomas,, Scott sped down the court and drew a foul on Thomas on the stutter-step jumper. Air Max 97 Womens Australia. Lenzelle Smith Jr. lowered his head driving the baseline and flipped up a tough shot around Marquettes big men for a 31-23 lead with 16:21 left. "Defensively, we just didnt get back in transition, and from that point on they had the advantage," point guard Derrick Wilson said. Coach Williams called a timeout that briefly settled his team before the Buckeyes pulled away again. Ohio State had just three turnovers in the second half to 10 for the Golden Eagles, who are breaking in a new backcourt with last years starting trio of Vander Blue, Junior Cadougan and Trent Lockett all gone. Wilson is the new starter at the point. Todd Mayo, helping to fill the minutes left by Blues departure at shooting guard, led the Golden Eagles with 11 points. Whatever the reason, Ohio State found its rhythm on the fastbreak, with a 16-0 edge, including 12-0 in the second half. "The biggest thing we wanted to do was get out in transition," Craft said. "If we could get rebounds and run, we could get lay-ups before they could set up. And thats what we wanted to do." It was another momentous day in Crafts career after he eclipsed 1,000 career points, to become the first player in team history to have that many points along with 500 assists and 200 steals. The bruising first half featured tussles under the bucket, plenty of rebounds and lots of missed shots. The teams combined to shoot 13 of 55 in a half that ended in a 19-all tie on Buckeye forward Marc Lovings 3 from the corner with 7 seconds left. The Golden Eagles had briefly taken control with an 8-0 midway for an 18-14 lead with 4:47 left through the half by making tough shots in the lane, mainly with Amir Williams on the bench. Marquette managed to outrebound Ohio State 50-34. Davante Gardner had 10 points and six rebounds. The teams were scheduled to meet last year in the Carrier Classic in Charleston, S.C. aboard the USS Yorktown, but the game was called off because weather conditions caused a slippery court. ' ' '

KANSAS CITY, Mo. Wholesale Shoes From China . - The Royals signed former Twins right-hander Yohan Pino on Monday and designated reliever Casey Coleman for assignment.The 30-year-old Pino went 2-5 with a 5.07 ERA in 11 starts for Minnesota last season. He made his debut June 19 against the White Sox and earned his first win against Seattle on July 10.Pino, who also has pitched for the Indians, Blue Jays and Reds organizations, spent most of last season at Triple-A Rochester. He went 10-2 with a 2.47 ERA for the Red Wings.Coleman went 1-0 with a 5.25 ERA in 10 appearances for the Royals last season. He was 5-1 with a 2.15 ERA for their Triple-A affiliate in Omaha. Cheap Shoes China Wholesale . Louis still looking for a way out of Tampa Bay, the 38-year-old NHL veteran isnt showing his cards. Wholesale China Shoes Free Shipping . - Pete Rose didnt want it to be about him, not on a day when four new members were elected to baseballs most exclusive club. http://www.wholesaleshoes.us.org/ . The 25-year-old McIlroy, who is from Northern Ireland, was eligible to play for either Ireland or Team GB when golf makes its return to the Olympics in Brazil for the first time since 1904.SAITAMA, Japan -- Canadas Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford won a pairs bronze medal at the world figure skating championships Thursday while Mao Asada of Japan set a world record to finish first in the womens short program. Duhamel, from Lively, Ont., and Radford, from Balmertown, Ont., were third with 210.84 points. Teammates Kirsten Moore-Towers of St. Catharines, Ont., and Dylan Moscovitch of Toronto were fourth. Duhamel and Radford, who were seventh at the Sochi Olympics, also won bronze at last years world championships in London, Ont. "In some ways I think that this bronze medal feels even better than the last one," Radford said. "This season was just a lot more difficult and we had a lot more downs than we did last season. Especially after the Olympics, with our sort of disappointing result, we had to really pull ourselves together and to shift our point of view to just go out here and do it for ourselves. "And then to go out there and to actually do it and be back on the podium, its a huge thing for us. We are just so proud of ourselves." Germanys Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy won the gold, claiming their fifth title in the event they have dominated since 2008. Skating to Chopins Nocturne, Asada hit her trademark triple Axel at the start of her routine and completed all her remaining jumps to finish with 78.66 points, surpassing the previous record of 78.50 set by Yuna Kim at the Vancouver Olympics. "As the last competition of this season, I am happy to skate the best short program," said Asada, a two-time world champion. "My mission here is to perform both programs perfect so already half is done and tomorrow I want to focus on showing everything I have practised." Carolina Kostner of Italy was second with 77.24 points followed by Julia Lipnitskaia of Russia, who had 74.54 points. Kim, the defending champion, has retired and Olympic gold medallist Adelina Sotnikova of Russia isnt competing at the worlds. Kaetlyn Osmond of Marystown, N.L., was eighth and Gabrielle Daleman of Newmarket, Ont., was 14th. Skating to music from the "Alice in Wonderland" soundtrack, Duhamel fell on a triple Salchow in what was supposed to be a three-jump combination for the Canadian pairs team. It was an otherwise clean performance. &"When you make a mistake as a figure skater, you need to put that mistake behind you as quickly as possible and continue skating as if you were skating cleanly. Wholesale Shoes 2020. And weve been able to do that before, but at the Olympics after we made one mistake, things started to unravel a little bit," Duhamel said. "So we were really aware, as soon as I fell, that was not going to take away from our performance, that we were still going to go strong right until the end." Savchenko and Szolkowy were solid on all their elements in their program to "The Nutcracker," and earned 224.88 points to beat Russias Olympic silver medallists Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov, who had 215.92 points. "A fifth title is quite amazing," Szolkowy said. "We did and very good performance yesterday and were very good today." Savchenko and Szolkowy, who won the Olympic bronze in 2010 and 2014, have been together since August of 2003 and will split up after the world championships. "I can hardly believe it is over now. It feels very strange," Savchenko said. "To be honest, it felt like I was skating in an exhibition gala." Duhamel and Radford, in only their fourth year together, will continue competing next season. "I think that we have just learned a lot about where skating fits into our lives and the way that we approach our competitions. We spent the beginning of the season trying so hard to get every other point, and to really please the judges," Radford said. "Weve realized that if we go out and just skate the way that we want, we tend to skate better and we get better points. "Knowing that, we will take a very different approach going into next season. I think we will have a lot more streamlined programs, maybe a little bit simpler, just to create as much flow as possible and in turn we will perform more relaxed." Paige Lawrence of Kennedy, Sask., and Rudi Swiegers of Kipling, Sask., were 12th overall out of 16 pairs. In womens singles, Osmond pulled off all three of triple flip, triple toe and triple Lutz in the short program for the first time in competition. "I was really excited with the program," said Osmond. "It meant a lot to me to be able to do that here at worlds." ' ' '

LAS VEGAS -- Canelo Alvarez gets a pass, if only because everyone who fights Floyd Mayweather Jr. Stitched Orioles Jerseys . gets a pass. Lose a second fight to someone not named Mayweather, though, and the red-haired Mexicans star could begin to fade. "I learned a lot from fighting Floyd, but Im ready to get back in the ring to maintain the path that I was on before," Alvarez said. "This is what I love to do." The path Alvarez was on took a detour in September when Mayweather dominated him over 12 rounds, handing Alvarez his first loss. He gets a totally different type of opponent Saturday night, taking on slugger Alfredo Angulo in a junior middleweight fight that likely wont be wanting for action. The story line against Mayweather was whether a young and strong champion could solve a puzzle no other boxer had been able to. The story line against Angulo will be whether Alvarez can come back from the loss and establish himself again as one of the stars of the sport. "What happened in September is in the past," Alvarez insisted. "Im fully concentrated on this fight." Alvarez didnt pick a walkover for his comeback fight, the first of what he hopes to be three bouts this year. Angulo is a rugged and hard-hitting contender who may come into the ring as a big underdog but will have more than just a punchers chance. Angulo was stopped in his last fight by Erislandy Lara after his left eye swelled shut in the 10th round. But he had knocked Lara down twice earlier and was holding his own before suddenly turning his back to Lara in a sign he couldnt go on. "Im ready to chase him or fight him like a true Mexican warrior," Angulo said. "I plan to test him like hes never been tested before. I dont think anyone has ever hit Canelo as hard as Im going to hit him." The fight is part of a pay-per-view card on Showtime that was supposed to include a fight between IBF light middleweight champion Carlos Molina and challenger Jermall Charlo. That fight was cancelled Friday, though, while Molina remained in a Las Vegas jail on a 2007 felony warrant for failing to register as a sex offender. Promoters elevated a lightweight fight between Ricardo Alvarez, brother of Canelo Alvarez, and Sergio Thompson to the televised spot instead. Alvarez weighed in at 155 pounds Friday, the contract limit, to 154 1/2 for Angulo. Angulo (22-3, 18 knockouts) has had his own issues with jail, spending eight months at a detention facility in California after turning himself in for being in the U.S. on an expired visa. The native of Mexico says he has since cleared up his immigration issues, and devoted himself to his boxing career at the age of 31. "There were a couple times when I was in the immigration detention centre that I wanted to quit," Angulo said. "But my team of lawyers always motivated me, wouldnt let me stay down for too long and kept telling me that justice would prevail and that I shouldnt give up. I always dreamed of being a headliner on a major card, and here it is. I am so ready for Saturday." Alvarez (42-1-1, 30 knockouts) was overmatched in his fight against Mayweather, losing almost every round and never being able to figure out how to get inside Mayweathers defence. He vowed to use his first defeat as a learning experience, though, and wants to regain the stature that has made him a reliable pay-per-view attraction in recent fights. To do that he must win -- and win impressively -- against a fighter who might have more guts than talent. "Angulo presents a difficult challenge because hes a fighter who can punch and take a great punch," Alvarez said. "I know I have to prepare and establish my game plan early. But you know how it can be with game plans. Sometimes, once a fight starts, you have to do what you have to do to win." Angulo said that is just one of the reasons the fight should be an entertaining one, no matter how long it lasts. "Style-wise, this is a great matchup for the fans and both of us," he said. " Fans are going to get a great fight." Baltimore Orioles Shirts . -- Jerel Worthy and his Michigan State teammates charged across the field, holding four fingers in the air while celebrating another sweet victory over their biggest rival. Cheap Orioles Jerseys . Argentina, who have yet to beat New Zealand in 17 meetings, rocked the All Blacks with an early converted try to backrower Juan Manuel Leguizamon and led 7-0 after five minutes. But Smiths double in the 23rd and 26th minutes - when Argentina was reduced to 14 men by the sin-binning of hooker Eusebio Guinazu - turned the tide of the match and set up New Zealands third straight Championship win. https://www.cheaporioles.com/ . The shortstop still grieves, but it will be nights like the one Segura had in a 5-2 victory Monday over the Cincinnati Reds that will provide some distraction.BALTIMORE -- The Colorado Rockies used the Orioles favourite weapon to hand Baltimore another painful defeat. Colorado hit four home runs, including a tiebreaking, two-run shot by Wilin Rosario in the seventh inning, and stretched Baltimores losing streak to four with a 6-3 victory Friday night. Charlie Culberson, Charlie Blackmon and Todd Helton also homered for the Rockies, who have won six of seven. It was Culbersons first major league home run in 55 at-bats. The Orioles got homers from Nate McLouth and Matt Wieters in extending their big league lead to 163. But Baltimore also has given up 156, most in the majors. After ending a 14-year run of losing seasons last year, the Orioles are seeking a return trip to the playoffs. Their current skid is not helping. "I think this is honestly something that we needed, kind of a kick in the pants to wake us up," centre fielder Adam Jones said. "Were in a unique position, in back-to-back years trying to do something special. Last year, everybody said we couldnt. This year, we created the expectation. This is something youve got to go through to get to it." Blackmons drive was the 73rd in the history of Camden Yards to land on Eutaw Street beyond the right-field wall. Since Colorado hasnt played in Baltimore since 2007, the significance of the homer was lost on Blackmon. "I dont really know anything about it. They were telling me after the game that its cool if you can do it," he said. "Theyll give you a plaque out there with your name on it, and theres not a whole lot of plaques with my name on it going up anywhere." Juan Nicasio (7-6) allowed two runs, four hits and four walks over six innings to earn his first win in five starts since July 20. The right-hander yielded 15 runs over 14 innings in his previous three outings and was 0-3 with a 7.79 ERA in four interleague starts this season. Wei-Yin Chen (6-6) retired 12 of his first 13 batters but couldnt get out of the seventh inning. He gave up four runs and five hits in 6 1-3 innings in losing his third straight start. It was only the second time in 15 starts this season that Chen allowed more than three runs. "Early innings I felt really good, but had some trouble in the late innings," Chen said through a translator. &"I feel bad because its my fault. Orioles Jerseys 2019. I couldnt keep the guys in the ballgame. But tomorrow is another day and we still have 41 games to go." The Orioles were coming off three straight one-run defeats in Arizona and hoping to get back on track at home against a sub-.500 team. But the Rockies bounced back from a 2-0 deficit by scoring in the fifth through ninth innings. "Its a cozy park, but youve still got to hit it," manager Walt Weiss said. "We put some good swings on it." With the score tied at 2 in the seventh, Chen walked leadoff hitter Michael Cuddyer and Rosario hit the left-handers next pitch over the 25-foot scoreboard in right field. Blackmon made it 5-2 in the eighth with a pinch-hit homer off Francisco Rodriguez. Helton connected in the ninth off struggling reliever Jim Johnson. The drive lifted him past Joe DiMaggio into sole possession of 76th place on the career home run list with 362. Wieters homered in the bottom half against Rex Brothers. The game started well for the Orioles. McLouth hit Nicasios third pitch into the bleachers, his 12th career leadoff homer and second this year. Baltimore went up 2-0 in the third when Jones singled in a run to break an 0-for-15 skid. Nicasio then retired Nick Markakis and Wieters with the bases loaded. Chen was in complete control early. After Troy Tulowitzki hit a one-out double in the first, the left-hander retired 10 straight batters before Rosario doubled leading off the fifth. One batter later, Nolan Arenado delivered an RBI single. Culberson connected in the sixth to tie it at 2. NOTES: After the game, the Orioles optioned OF Henry Urrutia to Triple-A Norfolk. They are expected to recall a reliever on Saturday. ... Rodriguez left in the eighth inning with a strained right groin. ... Blackmon is 5 for 13 as a pinch hitter. ... Baltimore pitching coach Rick Adair went on a leave of absence to resolve some personal issues and was replaced by bullpen coach Bill Castro. ... Bud Norris takes the mound for the Orioles on Saturday night in the second game of the series. Chad Bettis makes his fourth big league start for the Rockies. ... J.J. Hardys 11-game hitting streak ended, as did teammate Brian Roberts run of three straight multihit games for Baltimore. ' ' '