My Profile » Discussions


10-day road trip that also includes

  • May 24, 2019
    TORONTO - Maicer Izturis made sure a strong outing from Blue Jays starter Josh Johnson didnt go to waste. Izturis drove in the games only runs with an RBI single in the eighth inning Monday as Toronto pushed its win streak to six games with a 2-0 interleague victory over the Colorado Rockies. Johnson struck out 10 while giving up five hits and walking two through 7 1-3 innings but is still winless in seven starts since being acquired by the Blue Jays in the off-season. After a rough start to the year and stint on the disabled list with a triceps injury, Johnson has rounded into form as of late. Hes given up a combined four runs in his last three starts, including Monday nights gem which was twice pushed back due to a blister on one of his fingers. "It is what it is at the beginning of the year, but now were winning and thats the fun part and the key thing," said Johnson. "You win games and everything else takes care of itself." Mondays victory marked Torontos first six-game winning streak since May 2011 and moved the club (33-36) to three games below .500 for the first time since April 21. The streaking Blue Jays, who have won nine of 11, are coming off a 5-1 road trip that included the clubs first-ever four-game sweep of the Rangers in Texas. Toronto broke open a 0-0 game with Colorado in the eighth when Davis greeted Rockies reliever Matt Belisle (4-4) with a single to right and stole second before Colby Rasmus walked. J.P. Arencibia advanced the runners on a short chopper back to the mound to set up Izturis, who sent a flair into short left field to cash in two runs. After Melky Cabrera hit into a double to end the inning, Casey Janssen sealed the win with his 15th save in the ninth. Blue Jays manager John Gibbons says Izturis — another off-season acquisition who struggled early in the season — is finally starting to settle in with the team. "I think new guys, a new place, its not uncommon for guys to press or whatever it is," said Gibbons. "I think hes settling in and feels comfortable now, part of the team. The way hes playing now is the way hes done his whole career. He looks a little more relaxed and settled in." Jorge De La Rosa pitched seven innings of one-hit ball while striking out four and walking three for the Rockies (37-34), who kicked off a tough nine-game, 10-day road trip that also includes stops in Washington and Boston. Rockies skip Walt Weiss said De La Rosas game was affected by a bruise on his right thumb that developed as the game progressed. "He was pretty uncomfortable the last couple of innings he was out there but he threw the ball well," Weiss said of his left-hander. "Its not anything thats going to be an issue with his next start. It just made him uncomfortable tonight." Johnson looked sharp out of the gate, throwing seven pitches — all strikes — for a three-up, three-down first inning. He got into some trouble in the second as right-fielder Michael Cuddyer reached on a single to lead off the inning, giving him a career-high 15-game hitting streak. Todd Helton put runners at the corners with no outs, but Johnson retired Wilin Rosario and Tyler Colvin before Nolan Arenado flied out to end the inning. "I could feel it that first inning," said Johnson. "I felt good. Just aggressive, a lot more aggressive than my last outing (a 6-4 home loss to Texas on June 9). Trying to pound the zone, throw my slider, my curve ball. Mostly inside on lefties. It worked out." After Colorado kept the Jays hitless through three innings, Johnson continued to do his part by mowing down more batters. He came back from a 3-0 count to retire slugger Carlos Gonzalez, forced a ground out from Cuddyer and struck out Helton to end the fourth with six strikeouts. But the Jays struggled to give Johnson run support. Jose Bautista, in the lineup as the designated hitter for the second straight game, and Edwin Encarnacion both grounded into fielders choices before the red-hot Adam Lind grounded out to D.J. LeMahieu to end the threat. Lind came into the game having recorded a hit in 17 of his last 19 games dating back May 23 while batting .453 with 13 multi-hit outings over that span. Johnson made it eight strikeouts in the fifth after retiring Rosario and Colvin, before giving up an extra base hit to Arenado. Jon Herrera smacked one up the middle that looked like it would score a run, but a fantastic stop and throw to first by Izturis kept it scoreless. The Blue Jays shortstop then did it with his bat in the sixth when he erased any ideas of a De La Rosa no-hitter by cracking the ball to right for Torontos first hit. However, the Jays couldnt capitalize as Cabrera popped out and Bautista sent one to the warning track, drawing groans from the 20,946 in attendance at Rogers Centre. Those fans were on their feet in the eighth to salute Johnson, whose impressive night ended when LeMahieus bunt pushed Herrera and Fowler to second and third with one out. "Great outing," Gibbons said of Johnson. "Since hes been back, two out of three have been dominating performances. He had everything going on — good fastball, good breaking ball. He was attacking pretty good. Hes looking to bounce back and contribute. I think he felt really good tonight." Blue Jays reliever Brett Cecil (3-0) came in and induced a line out from Gonzalez, then walked Cuddyer to load the bases before Helton grounded out. Cecil has been lights out in recent weeks. The intentional walk to Cuddyer snapped a streak of retiring 25 straight batters dating back to May 31. He hasnt give up a run since May 10. The last meeting between the teams was in 2010 when the Rockies swept a three-game set at Coors Field. Colorado was swept in its last visit to Toronto in 2007. Notes: Gibbons said before the game that shortstop Jose Reyes and right-hander Brandon Morrow played for single-A Dunedin on Monday night. Reyes has been sidelined since April 12 with a severely sprained left ankle, while Morrow is recovering from a right forearm strain. ... The Rockies made the trip without infielder Troy Tulowitzki, who will be out 4-6 weeks with a broken rib. ... Esmil Rogers (2-2, 3.21) is scheduled to start for Toronto on Tuesday against Canadian Jeff Francis (2-4, 5.87). Cheap Air Max 97 Ireland . But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle. Wholesale Air Max 97 Ireland . -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar will be out for roughly four weeks after tearing his left hamstring. http://www.airmax97cheapireland.com/ . -- On the field, it was business as usual for Jameis Winston and No. Air Max 97 Ireland . Wall made the comment in a speech to a Regina business crowd that included Lesnar. The U.S. wrestler and retired mixed martial artist says he was visiting his brothers farm in Saskatchewan and decided he wanted to hear what the premier had to say. Cheap Air Max 97 Ireland Sale . The 28-year-old from Calgary matched his career best after missing just one shot in his two rounds of shooting in the mens 10-kilometre sprint competition. Smith finished in 23 minutes 15. The Jarryd Hayne sideshow has departed the NFL, but a potential Australian-grown star has emerged in his place.His name is Adam Gotsis, a 193cm tall, 130kg rookie defensive tackle from the Melbourne suburb of Abbotsford who has bulldozed his way onto the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos 53-man squad.Not only that. The 23-year-old Gotsis earned his spot in the Broncos defensive unit - the top-rated and most feared in the NFL - while overcoming a torn left anterior cruciate ligament.Adam Gotsis is looking incredible out there,?Broncos Super Bowl MVP Von Miller recently told reporters.The NFL regular season opens on Thursday (Friday AEST) when the Broncos host the Carolina Panthers in a re-match of Denvers 24-10 Super Bowl victory.A few months ago Australia had a record 10 players in contention to play in NFL this season.With Hayne returning to the NRL and other hopefuls failing to make rosters, it appears Gotsis, offensive lineman David Yankey (Carolina Panthers) and punters Brad Wing (New York Giants), Jordan Berry (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Lachlan Edwards (New York Jets) will be representing Australia.However, injuries and the cut-throat nature of the NFL, where players are fired for a misguided punt, fumble or just to save money, opens up the likely prospect other Australians will receive a call from a team.AUSTRALIANS IN THE NFL ADAM GOTSIS (Denver Broncos) Position: defensive endAge: 23Height: 193cmWeight: 130kgBorn: Melbourne With the lack of American football leagues in Melbourne, Gotsis was forced as a 14-year-old to play 18-year-olds and then, in his later teenage years, battle grown men.He scored a scholarship to Georgia Tech, but in last years fourth and final season tore up his knee. The Broncos, particularly defensive line coach Bill Kollar, was not deterred and the team made a surprise move by taking the Australian with their valuable second round pick at Aprils NFL draft.DAVID YANKEY (Carolina Panthers)Position: guardAge: 24Height: 198cmWeight: 145kgBorn: Sydney After being drafted in 2014 by the Minnesota Vikings and then cut, the Panthers threw Yankey a lifeline but then waived him last week.He received another chance when the Panthers signed him to their practice squad.BRAD WING (New York Giants)Position: punterAge: 25Height: 191cmWeight: 93kgBorn: MMelbourne After a making headlines for good and bad reasons at Louisiana State University, being cut by the Philadelphia Eagles and last year losing an Aussie vs Aussie battle with Jordan Berry at the Pittsburgh Steelers, Wing has found a home at the Giants.ddddddddddddLast season he tied the Giants franchise record of 33 punts inside the 20-yard line and in the just finished pre-season topped all punters by averaging 47.3 yards a punt.JORDAN BERRY (Pittsburgh Steelers)Position: punterAge: 25Height: 196cmWeight: 88kgBorn: Melbourne The Steelers have had a revolving door at the punter position, but the consistent Berry who is skilled at directional punting has become an integral member of the team.LACHLAN EDWARDS (New York Jets) Position: punterAge: 24Height: 196cmWeight: 97kgBorn: Mornington Peninsula, Victoria To make the Jets squad Edwards went head to head in the off-season and beat the most heralded Australian punter in US college history, Tom Hackett.The Jets are high on Edwards, using a seventh round draft pick on him, and the local press have also become fans of the punter.Lachlan Edwards may only be a punter, but hes going to be a damn good one in the NFL, New Jerseys Star-Ledger told readers last week.AUSTRALIANS IN WAITING- Tom Hackett made history when he won back-to-back Ray Guy Awards for best college punter at the University of Utah. But his crafty, rugby style punting apparently was not as attractive to the Jets as Edwards more traditional style. Theres a good chance an NFL team will take a punt and sign Hackett in coming weeks.- Blake Muir, another giant Sydney-born offensive lineman, spent the off-season at the 49ers before being cut. There are reports he worked out with the Green Bay Packers at the weekend so could end up with the coveted gig of protecting star quarterback Aaron Rodgers.- Adelaide goal kicker Brad Craddock, after a record-setting stint at the University of Maryland, was signed by the Cleveland Browns, but in May the team cut him.- Former AFL player Joel Wilkinson was hoping to use his athletic 186cm tall body in the defensive cornerback position at the Arizona Cardinals, but the team released him in May. ' ' '