Could we slide up or back? Were certainly going

Posted in IYH Forums by lavender123456 at 08:56, Jun 09 2014

SAN FRANCISCO -- For one night, the defending World Series champion Giants put together a fine pitching performance, played solid defence and scored just enough to get it done. Jeff Keppinger hit a two-run double, Madison Bumgarner won for only the second time in six starts and San Francisco held off the Houston Astros 2-1 on Friday night. Miguel Tejada made several pretty stops playing for Pablo Sandoval at third base, including one on which reserve first baseman Mark DeRosa scooped up the low throw to save a run and end the third inning. "A 10," the little-used DeRosa said jokingly in ranking his defensive gem. "Out of position, wet grass, men in scoring position -- thats a 10." Bumgarner (8-12) hung tough as he waited for his team to finally give him some support, outpitching J.A. Happ (4-15), who lost his fourth straight start a day after being recalled from triple-A. San Francisco stayed three games behind first-place Arizona in the NL West after the Diamondbacks beat San Diego 5-0 in the desert. Keppinger fell behind 0-2 before delivering the big hit. One of San Franciscos downfalls has been not taking advantage with runners in scoring position. "Its big considering the pitching performance we got," Keppinger said. "Goodness, at this point we just needed one so we could tie it up and at least extend the game and keep on going. Fortunately the ball found the gap and we got two." The Giants bounced back after dropping the opener of the four-game series 3-1 on Thursday night -- their third loss in four meetings with the Astros over the last week. It sure felt like an October night at sold-out AT&T Park: cool, with a dense fog hovering over centre field. Whether the defending World Series champion Giants play in October this year remains to be seen. The reeling, stumbling Giants won for just the ninth time in their last 27 games and fourth in 11. San Francisco has played six straight games decided by two or fewer runs, and nine of 11. Keppingers two RBIs gave him five since he joined the Giants in a July 19 trade from Houston that sent Thursday night winning pitcher Henry Sosa to the Astros. "He does a good job swinging the bat," Astros manager Brad Mills said of Keppinger. "Hes a professional hitter. He battled and finally got a pitch he could hit." Manager Bruce Bochy switched up his lineup, sitting the slumping Aubrey Huff and resting an ailing Pablo Sandoval. Bochy wouldnt say whether Huff -- batting .083 (1 for 12) on the homestand -- would stay out of the starting lineup for multiple games. DeRosa played first base most of the night in his place, while Brandon Belt remained in left field. "Were mixing it up to see if we cant put a spark in the lineup, ignite it, get it going," Bochy said. "Weve had our struggles all year with it. Its been ongoing. Itd be nice to come out of it this last month, which theyre capable of doing." Huff was booed when he hit a high popup for a quick out in his first at-bat of the night in the seventh. Bochy planned to go back to his regular lineup Saturday night. Bumgarner got into trouble in the seventh after hitting leadoff batter Matt Downs, then allowing Jose Altuves single. Moments after a mound visit from pitching coach Dave Righetti, catcher Chris Stewart tried to pick off a wandering Downs at second but threw wildly into centre field as both runners advanced on the error. Downs scored on Clint Barmes RBI groundout, then Humberto Quinteros single chased Bumgarner. Ramon Ramirez relieved and Huff came in at first in the double switch. Ramirez retired pinch-hitter Brian Bogusevic on a swinging strikeout then Jordan Schafer on a groundout. Ramirez struck out two more in a 1-2-3 eighth. "He saved us," Bochy said. With injured All-Star closer Brian Wilson watching from the top step of the dugout, Santiago Casilla struck out the final two batters looking to finish a perfect ninth for his second save in three chances. Happ lasted six innings in his first big league outing since Aug. 5 after getting promoted from triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday. He was 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in three starts and worked seven shutout innings with one hit his last time out for the RedHawks. "I came back with a little different mindset and a little tweaking of mechanics," he said. "I have more conviction out there." Mills gave third baseman Jimmy Paredes the night off so Downs could get some at-bats. NOTES: Cody Ross grounded into an inning-ending double play in the third, the Giants 100th this year. ... The Giants will purchase the contract of lefty Eric Surkamp from double-A Richmond to pitch Saturday in his major league debut. The six-foot-four, 190-pound Surkamp is pitching in place of the injured Jonathan Sanchez, sidelined with a sprained ankle. Surkamp is 10-4 with a 2.02 ERA and 165 strikeouts in 23 appearances and 22 starts this season for the Flying Squirrels. "Hes got a fierce demeanour," Belt said. "He goes right after you. He gets a lot of strikeouts with his curveball. That thing is nasty." ... RHP Brett Myers (3-13) pitches for the Astros on Saturday trying to snap a career-long, seven-game losing streak over his last 11 starts. cheap jerseys . -- The Anaheim Ducks have signed defenceman Bryan Rodney to a one-year contract. wholesale nfl jerseys . The night starts off with the Shooting Stars competition, followed by the Skills Challenge, the 3-Point Shootout and the main event, a showcase of athleticism known as the Slam-Dunk Contest. http://www.salecheapjerseyschina.com/. The As rallied for their two runs in the eighth inning, chasing Romero from the game, and Brian Fuentes worked around a two-out single in the ninth to get the save. An All-Star last season, Cahill (1-0) allowed just one run on three hits, striking out seven batters without a walk. cheap nfl jerseys . Anthony Calvillo, through 20 CFL seasons, was frequently invincible and largely stoic in the heat of competition. But underneath the professional exterior he was, and is, compellingly human. wholesale jerseys .S. Womens Open champion So Yeon Ryu shot a 4-under 69 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead over fellow South Korean player Hee Kyung Seo after the second round of the LPGA Tours season-opening Womens Australian Open. FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Tim Tebows versatility could give the New York Jets some flexibility when its time for them to pick in the NFL draft. The athletic backup quarterback is expected to have several roles on offence with the Jets after they acquired him from the Denver Broncos last month. While general manager Mike Tannenbaum downplayed the effect Tebows presence likely would have on who New York selects, its something the team might keep in mind next week. "Hes our backup quarterback, so thats how were listing him, and thats how were going to carry him on our roster," Tannenbaum said Thursday while discussing the Jets preparations for the draft. "That could be more of a, Id say, like a subtle tiebreaker, knowing that he has unique skill sets and athleticism. But in terms of how we are looking at our strategy, hes clearly at quarterback for us, and thats how were listing him." The Jets have 10 picks in the three-day draft which starts next Thursday, including the 16th overall selection. Since trading for the popular Tebow last month, the Jets have insisted he will be Mark Sanchezs backup, but will be a key part of the offence while playing in wildcat packages and could see time as a running back/fullback. Because of his versatility, Tebow could be on the field for about 20 snaps a game, with several of those possibly coming in an option or wildcat-style offence. Still, the Jets said that also wont greatly affect their approach in terms of drafting skill players with experience in those types of offences. And thats despite the fact left guard Matt Slauson told reporters Monday before being honoured at an event in Manhattan that the Jets offence is setting up "like were going to be two separate teams" because of having both Sanchez and Tebow. "From an offensive standpoint, its important that were lining up in one offence, we have one Jets offence," vice-president of college scouting Joey Clinkscales said. "So that being said, you want the best wide receiver available, the best offensive guard available, the best tight end available. We arent going to specifically draft a guy or not draft a guy because of what that particular player might do -- especially if hes the backup." Tannenbaum wouldnt even rule out the team drafting a quarterback at some pooint, despite the fact the Jets already have Sanchez, Tebow and Greg McElroy, New Yorks seventh-round pick who spent his rookie season on injured reserve after dislocating his right thumb in the preseason.dddddddddddd "Sure," Tannenbaum said when asked if the Jets would look at that position in the draft. "Weve kept four (quarterbacks) before." That seems unlikely, though, especially with all the other holes the Jets have. New York is expected by many to focus on defence with its first-round pick, with players mentioned as possibilities including Alabama safety Mark Barron and linebacker Courtney Upshaw, defensive ends Melvin Ingram of South Carolina and Quinton Coples of North Carolina, and defensive tackle Dontari Poe of Memphis. Then again, given Tannenbaums reputation for wheeling and dealing on draft day, the Jets could be sitting somewhere other than No. 16 by the time they pick next Thursday. "Could we slide up or back? Were certainly going to be open to all scenarios," Tannenbaum said. "Were happy at 16. Those are the cards weve been dealt, and well maximize those opportunities." Notes: Tannenbaum sidestepped questions whether the team would be open to negotiating a new contract for CB Darrelle Revis, who has two years left on the four-year deal he signed in 2010. "Darrelle is under contract," Tannenbaum said. "Darrelle is obviously a really important part of our team, and we look forward to the 2012 season and hopefully accomplishing a lot of great things together." ... Tannenbaum said this is a "critical off-season" for OL Vladimir Ducasse, the teams second-round pick out of UMass in 2010 who hasnt lived up to expectations. ... After choosing not to re-sign WR Braylon Edwards last summer, Tannenbaum said the Jets are "open and not closed" to the possibility of bringing him back. Edwards, a free agent, signed with San Francisco last year but was cut late in the season after being hampered by a knee injury. ... Tannenbaum wants to find the next Jeremy Lin, the Knicks guard who went from obscurity to "Linsanity" in the NBA before being injured, and thinks G Caleb Schlauderaff or LB Ricky Sapp could potentially make that type of impact for the Jets. ' ' '