(SportsNetwork.
https://www.sanfranciscofootballshop.com/58-Jersey .com) - The Toronto Blue Jays have blown two late leads to open up a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates, who play their third game of a nine-game homestand today, aim to put the Blue Jays out of their misery with a sweep at PNC Park. Pittsburgh won Fridays opener 6-5 and took the series with an 8-6 triumph on Saturday. They scored four runs in the seventh inning to tie the game and Neil Walkers two-run double in the eighth put Pittsburgh ahead for good. In Saturdays loss, Jose Bautista belted his ninth home run, Brett Lawrie collected three hits and Josh Thole went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. R.A. Dickey got the start for the Jays and did not record a decision with six innings of three-run ball. Todd Redmond gave up the go-ahead runs and Aaron Loup was reached for three runs in relief. "I felt pretty strong tonight," Dickey said. "But Loup is really good. He had a tough night tonight ... I thought it was a good call. It just didnt work out." Blue Jays catcher Dioner Navarro hasnt played since Thursdays win at Kansas City because of a right quadriceps issue and could return Sunday. The Jays will visit Philadelphia for two games after their trip to Pittsburgh and will start a nine-game homestand later in the week. Taking the hill for the Blue Jays Sunday will be Dustin McGowan, who is 1-1 in five starts to go along with a 5.87 ERA. McGowan hasnt registered a decision in his last three outings and previously toed the rubber in Tuesdays 10-7 loss at Kansas City, where he permitted three runs, two of which were earned, in six innings of work. McGowan had allowed nine runs in his past two starts (8 IP). The right-hander won his only career start against Pittsburgh back on June 22, 2008, as he lasted five innings and gave up four runs (3 earned) in an 8-5 victory in the Steel City. The Jays and Pirates are tangling for the first time since 2011, when Pittsburgh took two of three games north of the border. "Part of the reason I think you pull it off is you keep pushing and you keep believing," said Pirates manager Clint Hurdle. "The guys keep rooting each other on, keep going up there trying to get something done." Jordy Mercers two-run double highlighted the seventh inning, while Josh Harrison ended 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored and Clint Barmes finished with a pair of hits. Pittsburghs late heroics made a winner out of relief pitcher Bryan Morris, who improved to 3-0 with a scoreless top of the eighth inning. Mark Melancon worked around a hit in the ninth for his first save and starter Francisco Liriano struggled through 3 2/3 innings, allowing five runs -- four earned -- and six hits. San Francisco and St. Louis are scheduled to visit the Steel City as well. The Pirates will hand pitching duties to Edinson Volquez on Sunday and he has lost his last two trips to the mound. He allowed two runs in seven innings of a 4-1 loss to Cincinnati on April 22, then was pounded for six runs and seven hits through 5 2/3 frames in last Sundays 7-0 loss at St. Louis. Volquez dropped to 1-2 on the season with a 3.21 earned run average in six games (5 starts) after the loss to the Cardinals. He has allowed 10 runs over his last three appearances. The right-hander has made three career starts against Toronto, going 0-2 with a lofty 8.16 ERA. Opposing batters are hitting just .230 against Volquez. Toronto looks to avoid the sweep and has lost eight of its last 10 games.
https://www.sanfranciscofootballshop.com/68-Jersey . After falling 5-0 on home ice in a game that could have tied them for second in the wild card standings, Washington head coach Adam Oates had some strong words for Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin.
https://www.sanfranciscofootballshop.com/2-Jersey .com) - New England Patriots starting center Bryan Stork will not play in Sundays AFC Championship against Indianapolis due to a knee injury the rookie sustained last week.HOUSTON - Ian Kinsler hit a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning to rally the Detroit Tigers past the Houston Astros 4-3 on Saturday after Max Scherzer struck out a season-high 13 batters. Detroit trailed by one before Kinsler sent an 81 mph slider from Jerome Williams (1-4) to left-centre for a 4-2 lead. Kinsler also had a double in his seventh straight multihit game and 33rd this season. Nick Castellanos and Eugenio Suarez both singled in the ninth before Kinsler connected. Suarez finished with three hits, including an RBI single in the fifth. Scherzer, last years AL Cy Young Award winner, gave up two runs in the first before settling in. He yielded seven hits and one walk in seven innings. Phil Coke (1-1) pitched a scoreless eighth and Joe Nathan allowed a run in the ninth before earning his 17th save in 22 chances. Astros manager Bo Porter used closer Chad Qualls to face the heart of the order in the eighth, leaving Williams, who has allowed at least one run in eight of his last 11 appearances, to pitch the ninth. Alex Presley had a two-run single in the first inning and added a solo homer in the ninth for Houston. Jose Altuve extended his tear at the plate, getting two hits with a pair of steals. It was his major league-leading 34th multihit game this season and seventh in the last 10 games. He leads the majors with 113 hits and the AL with 34 stolen bases. Houstons Brett Oberholtzer was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City to make a spot start for Dallas Keuchel, who was scratched with inflammation in his left wrist. Oberholtzer allowed five hits and a run in 6 1-3 innings. Astros rookies George Springer and Jon Singleton hit bacck-to-back singles with one out in the first inning.
https://www.sanfranciscofootballshop.com/40-Jersey. Springer advanced to third on Singletons hit, and Singleton reached second on the throw. Presleys hit to centre field scored them both to give Houston a 2-0 lead. Castellanos drew a walk with one out in the seventh and Bryan Holaday singled to chase Oberholtzer. Suarez singled off Josh Zeid to load the bases before Rajai Davis grounded into a force at the plate. Houston left fielder L.J. Hoes sprinted to make a diving catch on a ball hit by Kinsler to end that threat. Scherzer had struck out five of six when Marwin Gonzalez singled to start the seventh. But he was caught trying to steal second. It was the third time Scherzer has fanned at least 13 in his career, and his most strikeouts since he had a career-high 15 in 2012 against Pittsburgh. NOTES: Porter said the Astros dont think the problem with Keuchel is serious and they expect him to make his next scheduled start. ... The series wraps up Sunday when Houstons Scott Feldman opposes Drew Smyly. ... Astros reliever Jake Buchanan, who picked up his first major league win Friday night, was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City to make room on the roster for Oberholtzer. ... Houston centre fielder Dexter Fowler was out of the lineup for the second straight game with tightness in his back. ... Altuve became the first player in the majors to get multiple steals in three straight games since B.J. Upton did it for the Rays in 2009. It was Altuves fifth straight game with at least one steal, which ties a franchise record. ... The Tigers agreed to terms with their fifth-round draft pick, C Shane Zeile, and their ninth-round selection, RHP Josh Laxer. ' ' '