Forums » News and Announcements
head. "Couldnt stop the two-out hits
-
MIAMI - Not much happened in the NBA this week. Ruben Loftus-Cheek Jersey .Klay Thompson scored an NBA-record 37 points in a perfect quarter that defied even video-game logic, Kobe Bryants season likely ended, Brandon Jennings season definitely ended, the All-Star starter selections were revealed with Stephen Curry winning the overall vote and Kyle Lowry getting enough Twitter love to edge Dwyane Wade as a starter, Atlanta remained insanely hot, LeBron James airballed a free throw and Miamis Hassan Whiteside became the sixth player to post a 14-point, 13-rebound, 12-block game.OK, other than that, not much happened.So what will this coming week do for an encore?Well, theres the announcement of the All-Star reserves, which will bring a fair amount of intrigue. The Hawks — now winners of 16 straight — play the final three games of their seven-game homestand, so that streak might not be ending anytime soon. And dont look now, but the Cleveland Cavaliers have suddenly won six in a row, putting a quick end to all that speculation about David Blatts short-term job security.Heres a more in-depth look at the week ahead:SOUTHWEST BATTLES: The best divisional race in the NBA will be in the Southwest, and it heats up this week when Memphis faces Dallas on Tuesday, then the Mavericks meet Houston the following night. Heres how good those teams have been this season: San Antonio is a fourth-place team in that division right now.PIERCE IN L.A.: Washington visits the Lakers on Tuesday, which means Paul Pierce returns to Los Angeles — he was born in Oakland, but went to high school in the L.A. suburb of Inglewood. In 34 past games in Los Angeles, including playoffs, Pierce has averaged 23.3 points.BIG SUNDAY IN BOSTON: The Celtics are home on Sunday, playing host to the Miami Heat. If Boston fans, some of the best in the NBA, seem distracted its for a very good reason: That game starts 5 1/2 hours before the New England Patriots meet the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl. Theres only two NBA games on Super Bowl Sunday, both should end long before kickoff and none of the teams involved — the Heat, Celtics, Lakers and Knicks — have to play the next day, so everyone would theoretically have the chance to watch the Pats-Seahawks game if so inclined.HAWKS WEEK: Atlanta has games against Brooklyn, Portland and Philadelphia, as the Hawks look to extend their winning streak. The Hawks are 37-8 so far this season. They went 38-44 last season.CAVS AT WOLVES: Kevin Love makes his return to Minnesota in Cleveland colours on Saturday night, and as if proof is needed that the former Timberwolves stars first appearance there as an opponent is a big deal, consider that tickets on the secondary resale markets are going for about five times as much as they do for most other Minnesota games.___STAT OF THE WEEK, PART I: Thompson has more 37-point quarters this season on his own — one — than four teams, Brooklyn, Detroit, Indiana and Miami.STAT OF THE WEEK, PART II: On Saturday, Pierce made his 2,000th 3-pointer of his career. Hes the fourth player in NBA history to get there, and the first forward on that list (joining Ray Allen, Reggie Miller and Jason Terry). Fabian Delph Jersey . 5 Trade Deadline is drawing closer and teams will be deciding on whether to buy or sell while figuring out which players can make the biggest difference and hold the greatest value. Phil Jones Jersey .Y. - Terry and Kim Pegula have no immediate plans to tinker with their new NFL team.NEW YORK -- It was a great night for the greybeards at Citi Field. Bobby Abreu went 4 for 4 with two RBIs and Bartolo Colon pitched four-hit ball into the eighth inning as the New York Mets turned to a pair of 40-somethings to beat the San Diego Padres 6-2 on Friday night. "Representing the 40s. When we go to the field, we throw everything that weve got," Abreu said. "Been playing this game for a long time, so pretty much we know what we have to do." Abreu scored twice in the rain-delayed opener of a three-game series between fourth-place teams struggling to score. Colon (6-5) set down 18 straight batters and improved to 4-0 with a 1.78 ERA in his last five starts, sending the Mets to only their second victory in 10 games. "We needed to have him get deep in the game. It was important for us because we were so short in the pen," manager Terry Collins said. Rene Rivera hit a two-run homer but Andrew Cashner (2-6) failed to hold a rare lead for the Padres, who have dropped five straight and nine of 11. The hard-throwing Cashner, who entered with a 2.13 ERA, has lost five straight decisions. He gave up four runs and eight hits over six innings in his second start since spending more than three weeks on the disabled list with a sore right elbow. Fans were advised to take cover on the concourse during the rain delay because of dangerous weather. Game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals between the New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings was shown on the big video screen in centre field for most of a delay at the start that lasted 1 hour, 56 minutes. And even after the ballgame began, some in the sparse crowd announced at 28,085 seemed to be paying much more attention to hockey. With the Rangers trying to stave off elimination again, an audible groan went up in the seventh inning -- just as New York defenceman Ryan McDonagh hit the post with a shot in overtime. After the final out, some fans lingered near TVs inside the ballpark to keep watching. In the end, the Rangers lost in double overtime. The 41-year-old Colon had uncharacteristic trouble with his command at the start. He walked his first batter and gave up Yonder Alonsos leadoff single in the second before Rivera connected for his fourth home run. "I got a little mad. I was meaning to throw that pitch outside and I just went in a little too much so that really got me fired up," Colon said through a translator. "I think it was just a matter of getting through the first two innings. After that I got really comfortable, fouund my zone and kept going from there. Raheem Sterling England Jersey. " The home run gave Cashner an uncommon 2-0 lead -- the Padres had scored only once in his previous 33 innings. Colon, however, quickly regrouped and retired his next 18 batters until Alexi Amarista opened the eighth with a double. "Ive known Bart for a long time and at times, youll see him get stronger as the game goes on. I think you saw that tonight," Padres manager Bud Black said. "He held his velocity throughout the game, even into the eighth inning." After throwing a called third strike past pinch-hitter Tommy Medica with his 118th pitch, Colon was lifted. He walked off the mound to a warm hand and softly clapped his hands. Vic Black retired cleanup man Carlos Quentin with the bases loaded to end the inning. Batting fourth in place of Curtis Granderson (calf), the 40-year-old Abreu hit a leadoff double in the second and scored on Taylor Teagardens two-out single. "Anytime they need me there, Im always going to be ready to play the game," Abreu said. He singled in the fourth and Lucas Duda tied it 2-all on a two-out double just beyond the reach of diving centre fielder Will Venable. Matt den Dekker blooped a ground-rule double that put New York ahead. "Couldnt stop the two-out hits," Cashner said. Abreu added RBI singles in the fifth and seventh. Slumping star David Wright had a long sacrifice fly in the seventh. It was the first four-hit game for Abreu, who did not play in the majors last season, since May 30, 2011, with the Angels at Kansas City. "I made two good pitches to him," Cashner said. "Hes a good hitter, a professional hitter. Couldnt get him out." NOTES: Padres RHP Jesse Hahn will be recalled from Double-A San Antonio to make his second major league start Saturday. Hahn was a high school teammate of injured Mets ace Matt Harvey in Groton, Connecticut, about a 2-hour drive from Citi Field, and expects to have family and friends in the stands. ... Granderson was out of the starting lineup for the second consecutive night and might sit out again Saturday, Collins said. ... Mets LF Eric Young Jr. (strained right hamstring) had his rehab assignment moved to Double-A Binghamton, and the team hopes hell be ready to return at the end of the weekend. ... Mets closer Jenrry Mejia (stiff back) had an MRI and was given medication. "They said itll probably be a day or so before hes going to be available," Collins said. ' ' '