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PITTSBURGH -- It looked like Alfredo Simons bubble was about to burst. Joique Bell Jersey . After being one of the biggest surprises of the young season for the Cincinnati Reds by ably filling in for injured starting pitcher Mat Latos, Simon hit a rough patch in the first inning Wednesday night. He walked three batters in a row to force in a run. Then, just like that, the right-hander went back to being dominant, pitching into the seventh inning despite the erratic early control, and Jay Bruce drove in a run for a fifth consecutive game as the Reds beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2. "It was cold and I was having a hard time feeling the ball," said Simon, pitching on a blustery night when the game-time temperature was 50 degrees. "After that first inning, I felt a lot better and pitched like Ive been pitching. Simon (3-1) worked 6 2-3 innings and allowed two runs on four hits and five walks while striking out four. Simon has pitched at least six innings in each of his four starts this season as a replacement for the injured Mat Latos and has a 1.30 ERA. Simon pitched exclusively in relief the previous two years. "Hes been terrific," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "Hes been an extremely versatile pitcher for us the last two-plus seasons. Hes always been a talented guy, but hes really found himself and made himself into a very good-looking starting pitcher." Bruce had two hits and knocked in the final run of the decisive three-run fifth inning against Charlie Morton (0-3) that gave the Reds a 4-2 lead. Billy Hamilton also had two hits for Cincinnati, which stole four bases while winning seven of 10 games since a 3-7 start. "We took advantage of what we could because this is team that might not give you a lot most nights," Bruce said. "We tried to put some pressure on the defence." Jonathan Broxton pitched a scoreless ninth inning, despite allowing two hits, for his third save. Andrew McCutchen had two hits and homered for the third consecutive night for the Pirates, who lost for the 10th time in 13 games. Morton also had control issues, walking five in six innings while giving up four runs -- three earned -- and four hits with four strikeouts. "I was yanking my fastball all night," he said. "There were times were I was trying to go inside on left-handed hitters and missing in the right-handed batters box. I was literally missing by 3 feet." The Reds used their speed to go ahead in a fifth inning that included two stolen bases and the second throwing error of the game by catcher Chris Stewart. NOTES: Pittsburgh C Russell Martin was a late scratch because of a miscommunication. Martin, who is 0-for-7 against Simon, thought he was getting Wednesday off while manager Clint Hurdle thought he and Martin had decided Thursday would be an off day. ... Reds LHP Aroldis Chapman threw early batting practice, the first time he had faced hitters since suffering fractures of his eye and nose along with a mild concussion March 19 when he was hit by a line drive off the bat of Kansas Citys Salvador Perez. Chapman pitched from behind a protective screen and the next step is for him to throw batting practice without the screen sometime this weekend when the Reds visit Atlanta. ... Cincinnati INF/OF Skip Schumaker will report to the Reds extended spring training camp on Friday at Goodyear, Ariz., as he continues to rehab the left shoulder he dislocated while diving for a ball in the outfield during a spring training game March 21. ... Pittsburgh 1B Travis Ishikawa cleared waivers and elected free agency after declining an outright assignment to Triple-A Indianapolis. He was designated for assignment last Friday. ... The Pirates will recall RHP Brandon Cumpton from Indianapolis to start Thursday against LHP Tony Cingrani (1-2, 3.22) in the finale of the four-game series. James Ihedigbo Lions Authentic Jersey .J. -- Thierry Henry and Lloyd Sam scored second-half goals to give the New York Red Bulls their first win of the season, 2-1 over the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday night. Ndamukong Suh Lions Authentic Jersey . He missed a three-game series against New York this week after suffering the injury last Sunday while trying to leg out a base hit during a game in Cincinnati.BOSTON - The Boston Bruins end the season as losers. Rubbing salt in the wound, Bruins winger Milan Lucic has been labelled a sore loser in some quarters. The hulking Bruin didnt abandon his prickly game when the best-of-seven series ended in a 3-1 victory for Montreal in Wednesdays Game 7 at the TD Garden. Lucic had words with several Canadiens during the traditional post-series handshake on the ice. The 25-year-old from Vancouver aggressively shook hands and had words with fourth-liner Dale Weise and defenceman Alexei Emelin. #WhatLucicToldWeise was trending on Twitter in Canada on Thursday. An animated Lucic held onto Weises hand as he had his say and then had words with Emelin. Montreal forward David Desharnais, who was behind the defenceman, put his hands on Emelins elbow during the exchange, as if to guide him past. "Milan Lucic had a few things to say to a couple of guys," said Weise, who declined to go into specifics. "You look at a guy like Shawn Thornton who has been around the league and he plays hard and he plays that role and he had good things to say to everybody. He won with class and Milan Lucic just couldnt do that. Well, I wont get into what he said, its just a poor, its just a poor way to lose.” The Bruin reportedly said: "Im going to kill you next year," with an F-Bomb thrown in for good meeasure. Nick Fairley Lions Authentic Jersey. Lucic, clearly still feeling the emotion of the loss, was unrepentant in the locker-room. "Its said on the ice so itll stay on the ice. So If he (Weise) wants to be a baby about it - he can make it public." Asked about allegations by some Habs of Boston disrespect during the series, Lucic was agog. "Disrespect? I dont know what theyre talking about. Disrespect? Having a goal celebration, what kind of disrespect is that? Im not going to say anything. Ive got nothing to say about that." Lucics behaviour during hockeys time-honoured handshake line, seen as a mark of respect, drew a quick response. "All he can do now, though, is apologize for his error in judgment," Adam Kaufman wrote in boston.com. "Or hell be known as another guy who disrespected arguably the greatest tradition in all of sports." "Milan Lucic probably wont be up for Sportsman of the Year," tweeted Sports Illustrated in the link to its story. Others were more forgiving. But Lucic wasnt the only one talking tough after the game. "Great to see a Canadian team finally take out the Bruins in a game 7," tweeted Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The Bruins beat the Vancouver Canucks in seven games to win the Stanley Cup in 2011. Boston has also taken out both Toronto and Montreal in Game 7s in recent years. ' ' ' |
