News » couver Games, win the U.S. national title two years later

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The American League East standings still show the Toronto Blue Jays in first place and the Tampa Bay Rays in last, but the Rays have found a way to solve their division rivals again this season, as seen in Saturdays 7-5 win at Tropicana Field.The Rays enter Sundays series finale hoping for their second three-game sweep of the Jays this season -- theyre 9-6 against Toronto and with one more win, can clinch the season series for the eighth time in nine years.Tampa Bay has outhomered the Jays 24-20 in their meetings this season, outscoring them by an 80-60 margin, a confounding problem for Toronto manager John Gibbons.Were not getting a lot of hits, thats for sure, he said after his team was held to three singles entering the ninth inning Saturday. We didnt have too many last night and we didnt get too many tonight. Youre not going to score many runs if youre not getting hits.Absent that, the Jays will try to win with lefty J.A. Happ, whos been dominant this season with a 17-4 record and a 3.23 ERA.The Jays lost their first three Happ starts against the Rays, including a May 16 outing in which he lasted only two innings and gave up eight earned runs. He bounced back nicely on Aug. 10, throwing six shutout innings of four-hit ball in a 7-0 Jays win in Toronto. For his career, Happ is 3-3 with a 4.87 ERA against the Rays.Rays starter Chris Archer has fared well against the Jays in his career, with a 6-4 record and 3.25 ERA in 18 starts, including a 1-1 record and 3.18 ERA this season. Hes given up two earned runs or less in his last four outings against Toronto, going back to last season.The Rays recent spark has come from their bats, which came alive again in a five-run sixth inning where they struck for six hits Saturday night.We had one big inning that we put it together, Rays manager Kevin Cash said. We have not had much success against Marco Estrada ... theyre so dangerous and they wear down pitchers.Tampa Bay got its biggest and smallest hits of the night from Kevin Kiermaier, who loaded the bases in the sixth with a well-placed bunt and enough speed to pressure Estrada to throw wide. He would score in that inning, and up 5-1 in the seventh, came through with a two-run home run that would eventually provide the winning margin.Up six runs in the ninth, the Rays had another wobbly night from their bullpen -- Enny Romero faced six batters and four of them scored, with three walks that forced the Rays to use closer Alex Colome in a save situation, the game ending with the tying run on base.Ideally youre not going into that inning thinking you have to get your closer up, Cash said. Enny just had a rough patch. They got the hits they needed, found a couple holes.For Toronto to avoid a sweep Sunday, theyll need to find those hits much earlier than the ninth inning.Buy Air Max 720 Cheap . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. Air Max 720 Discount . Instead of dwelling on the negative, Oates focused on what was good about the clubs recent play. It worked. http://www.cheapairmax720.net/ .Y. -- Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers had no intention of changing his hard-hitting style before taking part in a disciplinary hearing for his illegal check to New Jersey forward Dainius Zubrus head. Cheap Air Max 720 . -- The Missouri Tigers might not have a roster full of superstars. Air Max 720 Best Price .J. -- Josh Cribbs was in the Pro Bowl in February and out of a job six months later.AUGUSTA, Maine -- Julia Clukey wanted to take one more run at an Olympic team. Instead, she decided that any potential risk to her long-term health was not worth the chance.Clukey retired from luge on Tuesday, ending a 19-year career that saw her compete in the 2010 Vancouver Games, win the U.S. national title two years later and claim a record eight national start championships. She cited ongoing complications related to Arnold-Chiari syndrome, a condition that causes brain tissue to extend into the spinal canal and cause a number of problems.Ive had a great career, Clukey said, adding she has no regrets.The 31-year-old Clukey first tried the sport at a luge recruiting event in Portland, Maine, saying she did so only in hopes of getting a free T-shirt. She got the shirt and more, including an invitation to train in Lake Placid, New York, with the national team.Clukey was an annual fixture on the World Cup circuit, racing on all the major tracks in North America and Europe for years. She had brain surgery in 2011 to help relieve the issues caused by Arnold-Chiari and was able to return to racing the following year. She said more problems have popped up in recent moonths.ddddddddddddIt wasnt an easy decision to make, but I certainly am eager and looking ahead to the future and excited for the opportunities that will come, said Clukey, who recently completed her degree in electrical engineering. I feel very fortunate for the career that Ive had in the sport of luge. Almost 20 years I spent sliding, competing and really feel so lucky that I was able to do something I love for so long.USA Luge was consulted about her health status and agreed that retiring was the right move.It was obvious the pain has escalated beyond a healthy tolerance, said Dr. Eugene Byrne, the team doctor for USA Luge. As part of this decision, we factored in the dedication and intensity of the way Julia trains and competes. Julia always wants to give 110 percent. However, she understands that the pain isnt going to go away and, that at this point, aggravating it more could cause future health concerns.Clukey is active in her native Maine with outreach programs designed to inspire schoolchildren, and plans on continuing that work. ' ' '