DENVER -- Initially inserted into the Colorado Rockies rotation as a stop-gap injury replacement, Jordan Lyles has rapidly become a fixture.
Nike Air Force 1 Černé . Lyles pitched effectively into the eighth inning for his third straight win, Justin Morneau hit a two-run homer, and the Rockies beat the Philadelphia Phillies 3-1 Saturday night. "Hes really given us a lift in that rotation," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said of Lyles. He originally was slated to begin the season at Triple-A Colorado Springs but wound up filling in for Tyler Chatwood after he strained a hamstring late in spring training. "The biggest factor is his two-seamer," Weiss added. "Its something he worked on all spring, his fastball angle and pitching to the bottom of the zone, and you could see those guys beating it into the ground. Hes a mentally tough kid. He competes. He goes after hitters. Hes been great." Lyles (3-0), acquired in December from Houston in exchange for outfielder Dexter Fowler, allowed one unearned run and five hits in seven innings. LaTroy Hawkins pitched a hitless ninth for his fifth save in five chances. "As a visitor, it wasnt fun, knowing youre coming here." Lyles said. "Balls seem to carry a little further here but guys (pitchers) try to keep the ball on the ground and they cant hit it over if they hit the top of the ball. Thats my approach and just try to let our great infield do their job." The Rockies were also helped by a reversed call that produced their first run. The game was delayed briefly a couple of times when a squirrel wandered on and off the field. The animal was eventually corraled by groundskeepers and taken away. Kyle Kendrick (0-2) went seven innings and allowed three runs on six hits in a solid outing but could not avoid a seventh straight loss, dating to last Aug. 11. The last Phillies pitcher to have a losing streak of seven games or more was reliever Brad Lidge, who lost eight in a row over 57 appearances from April 18-Sept. 23, 2009. "Made a mistake to Morneau," Kendrick said. "That first run. It was a replay. I guess thats why we have it, but its frustrating when it doesnt go (your way)." Colorado got on the scoreboard when home plate umpire and crew chief Tim Welke ruled Nolan Arenado safe on a bang-bang play at the plate in the third after initially calling him out. Weiss asked Welke to take another look at the play, and after viewing the replay, the umpire determined that catcher Carlos Ruiz had blocked the plate before he received the throw home in violation of new collision rules instituted this season to better protect catchers and base runners. Arenado scored from first on D.J. LeMahieus single that rolled through the right-centre gap. The reversal went into the books as a crew chief review rather than a managers challenge. "Its amazing how that one rule changes the game, kind of," Arenado said. "Fortunately enough, it benefited us and I guess when youre on the other side, its probably going to rub you the wrong way a little bit." Carlos Gonzalez opened the fourth with a single and Morneau drove a 1-1 pitch from Kendrick into the right field bleachers above the scoreboard for his third homer of the season to make it 3-0. The Phillies didnt get on the board until the eighth. Lyles gave up a leadoff single to Cody Asche and was relieved by Boone Logan. Pinch-hitter John Mayberry Jr. reached on Logans throwing error, with Asche moving to second. Logan then retired the next three batters, giving up a run on Jimmy Rollins grounder and striking out Chase Utley with Mayberry on second base to end the inning. Philadelphia has only scored three runs in its last four games. "Youre going to go through ruts in the season," Kendrick said. "You want to get out of it as quick as you can. Hopefully tomorrow we can swing it and score some runs. Things can turn quick." NOTES: The Phillies selected the contract of RHP Shawn Camp from Triple A Lehigh Valley, filling the roster spot of RHP Jonathan Pettibone, who was optioned to Lehigh Valley the night before. The Phillies will have to make another roster move when LHP Cole Hamels (left biceps tendinitis) is expected to be reinstated from the disabled list in time to start Wednedays game at Los Angeles. Hamels is one win shy of 100 for his career. ... Rockies OF-INF Michael Cuddyer missed a second straight game with a sore left hamstring. He remains day to day. ... Arenados leadoff single in the third inning extended his hitting streak to 10 games, matching a career best. ... RHP Roberto Hernandez (1-0) is slated to start Sundays series finale for the Phillies against Rockies RHP Juan Nicasio (2-0).
Nike Air Force 1 Pánské . Smith, an eighth overall pick, had two goals in only 276 minutes of playing time over 16 appearances last season. The left side midfielder played only 43 minutes in three games this season.
Air Force 1 Damske . Orlov, who scored two goals in the game, was assessed a major penalty for boarding on the play. The Flyers scored once on the power play and again with the extra attacker with 65 seconds remaining to send the game to overtime.CALGARY -- The Calgary Stampeders are less crowded at quarterback this season, but there is still heavy competition for the starters job. The Stampeders employed a three-man rotation in 2013 mainly because of an early-season injury to Drew Tate. Kevin Glenn started the majority of games, but Bo Levi Mitchell was a busy third-stringer. He won his three starts and came off the bench to lead Calgary to another when Glenn was also injured. Glenn was taken in the off-season expansion draft by the Ottawa Redblacks and subsequently dealt to the B.C. Lions, which leaves Tate and Mitchell vying to lead the offence of a team that posted a league-best 14-4 record last season. "It brings out the best in us and I think that being said, we could be a starting point for the team," Tate said Sunday on the first day of training camp. "If the quarterbacks are battling, everyone else is battling kind of thing." Tate, 29, was anointed Calgarys starter two years ago when Henry Burris was dealt to Hamilton. But injuries have limited the six-foot, 190-pound pivot to 153 completions over the past two seasons. A throwing arm injury on July 6 last year and a subsequent setback sidelined him until October. Training camp reps will test the durability of the arm, Tate says. "Feels good right now. Just trying to be smart with it," he said. "I feel its all moderation with the volume we have. Its a lot of volume and its really hard to mimic that in the off-season, the kind of volume we have, especially in camp. "Ever since I was three feet tall, Ive only had one speed and getting injuries, it make you have to change your approach. So far so good. Its only the a.m. of Day 1, so a lot of ball left." Mitchell, 24, completed 69 per cent of his passes for 1,156 yards and 10 touchdowns last year. Six-foot-four and 204 pounds, Mitchell says theres no jealousy between he and Tate. "Were friends through and through, no matter what," Mitchell says. "When he makes a great play, Im not looking down saying Ive got to make a better one. Im going out there, congratulating him and slapping him on the butt and saying good play. "If you look at last year, we went with three quarterbacks. I know theres not many teams in the league that are going to play one guy for 18 games every single snap, so youve got to be ready. Were going to do whatever we can to help each other prepare for the season." The two Texans both signed contract extensions in the off-season and bring different qualities to the table, says head coach and general manager John Hufnagel. "I guess the best way I could explain it is Drew is more of a jitterbug," Hufnagel explained. "Hell make plays out of nothing, just because of his mobility and elusiveness and great vision and accuracy. "Bo is a little bit of a stronger-armed guy. He has the ability to move around and make plays, but hes more of a pocket guy and throw the ball down the field." The Stampeders lost in the 2013 West Division final to the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who went onto win the Grey Cup in Regina. In addition to taking Glenn in the expansion draft, the Redblacks also selected Stampeder offensive lineman JMicheal Deane and safety Eric Fraser. Ottawa also hired away defensive co-ordinator Riick Campbell to be their head coach.
Nike Roshe One Pánské. Rich Stubler replaced Campbell after two seasons as B.C.s defensive co-ordinator. Stampeder offensive co-ordinator Dave Dickenson signed a three-year contract extension in November. Hufnagel swung a deal with Ottawa to obtain the first overall pick the Canadian college draft in May and used it to choose Laval offensive lineman Pierre Lavertu. The hope is hes a fast adapter to the CFL as centre Brett Jones was in winning the leagues rookie award last season. Among Calgarys significant contract extensions in the off-season were CFL sack leader Charleston Hughes, receivers Maurice Price, Jabari Arthur and Joe West, as well as middle linebacker Juwan Simpson and linebacker Keon Raymond. To get some experience in his backfield, Hufnagel signed halfbacks Lin-J Shell and Josh Bell, who have experience working with Stubler in Vancouver, as well as former Hamilton Tiger-Cat Dee Webb. "In the defensive backfield, it will be interesting because of the loss of players weve had in the off-season," Hufnagel said. "Theres spots to be won." Running back Jon Cornish, the CFLs leading rusher for two seasons and most outstanding player in 2013, adopted the practice of tai chi, a Chinese martial art, in the off-season. "After doing six months of it, I understand that a lot of my movement patterns were not as efficient as they could be," said Cornish. "A lot of the things I could do on the field could be optimized. Thats what Im trying to focus on this year. "Mentally I felt I could add some aspects to my game." The Stampeders also have at camp running back Martell Mallett, the CFLs rookie of the year in 2009 when he played for the Lions. Calgarys off-season was not without its drama. The team suspended defensive back Quincy Butler nine days before main camp. He was charged with two counts of assault following an incident outside a Calgary casino. Hes due to appear in court June 26. Concordia defensive tackle Quinn Smith, Calgarys seventh overall pick in the college draft, tested positive for a steroid which he says he inadvertently ingested via a supplement. The Toronto native faces a two-year ban from Canadian university football. Smith is currently at Calgarys main camp and is subject to mandatory drug testing under the CFLs drug policy. And Price chose the first day of training camp to apologize both in a press release and in a scrum with reporters for remarks he made on Twitter over a month ago that criticized gay NFL draft pick Michael Sam. The CFL fined Price for those comments. "I just wanted to come here and be face to face with the guys and not do it from a distance," Price said. "Thats why I waited until this day to just apologize. Im aware my comments were offensive and I just want to apologize to the Stamps fans, the CFL and especially Mr. Michael Sam himself." The Stampeders are training on new turf at McMahon Stadium, which makes the pounding of two-a-days feel a little less painful. "Its a lot better, 1,000 per cent better," Price said. "Thats vacation for the joints, the ankles, the knees. Im glad they got that done. That old turf was worn out and hard. When it was snowing it was icy and hard and just rough on the legs." ' ' '
