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(SportsNetwork. Packers #19 Jersey .com) - The Baltimore Orioles try to draw closer to the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East tonight when the divisional foes continue a four-game set at Camden Yards. Baltimore trimmed the Blue Jays lead atop the division to 3 1/2 games on Thursday, as Delmon Young hit a two-run homer to help the Os take a 4-2 win. The Orioles handed Mark Buehrle his second straight loss, knocking him around for eight hits and four runs in 6 1/3 innings to help Baltimore win for the third time in four tries. Toronto will send righty Drew Hutchison to the mound on Friday, with a 4-4 records and a 3.96 ERA. Hutchison was roughed up his last time out on Sunday against St. Louis, as he gave up five runs and six hits in three innings. Hutchison could get himself righted on Friday, as he owns a 2.03 ERA in eight road starts compared to an 8.72 ERA in five home outings "Hes definitely pitched better on the road -- and some guys are like that," Gibbons said after Hutchisons latest turn. "Its hard to put a finger on it. But you cant pitch them on the road every time." The scuffling Blue Jays have lost five of their last six on the heels of an 18-3 stretch. Theyve also managed just nine runs in that span. "As hot as we were, we were going to cool off sooner or later," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "Well get it going. Were too good of an offense. Well be OK." In the series opening victory over the Blue Jays, Kevin Gausman (2-1) picked up his second win in a row, allowing a run on five hits and three walks over six frames. The former first-round pick was coming off his first win as a starter on Saturday against Oakland, when he struck out six in seven innings and gave up just four hits and one run. "He didnt quite have the command he had last time out," said Orioles manager Buck Showalter, "but thats kind of hard to duplicate." Buehrle (10-3) remained tied with Yankees rookie Masahiro Tanaka for the MLB lead in wins. He also lost to St. Louis on Saturday despite giving up just one run in seven innings, snapping a seven-start unbeaten streak Baltimore may have a hard time shrinking Torontos lead even more on Friday, as it turns to righty Ubaldo Jimenez, who has lost his last three decisions and is coming off an awful showing his last time out. Jimenez was banged around by Oakland on Sunday to the tune of six runs and two hits with five walks in just 2 1/3 innings, as he fell to 2-7 to go along with a 5.01 ERA. Jimenez had faced the minimum batters through two innings before the wheels came off in the third. "I started so good the first couple innings, and then that inning I lost the ability to throw a strike," Jimenez said. "Its one of those days. Its a really tough game." Jimenez is 2-2 in six starts versus the Blue Jays with a 5.23 ERA. Baltimore has won four of its seven matchups with the Blue Jays this season. Packers #90 Jersey .J. Barea during a three-game shooting slump that was getting him booed off his home court with regularity. Jeff Saturday Packers Jersey . Kershaw went 4-1 with a 2.02 ERA and an NL-leading 45 strikeouts in five July starts. He finished the month tied for the NL lead in wins and posted the third-lowest ERA among starters with at least 30.While Max Pacioretty was celebrated for having scored the game-winning goal of the series, the Montreal Canadiens can actually attribute the work of their third and fourth lines as the key contributors for their first round sweep of the Tampa Bay Lightning. There is no argument that the line of Pacioretty, David Desharnais and Thomas Vanek was one of the hottest in the NHL leading into the post-season, and they did combine for three goals and seven points, but it was the depth of all four lines that helped propel Montreal. It started in Game 1, where the fourth line took control, led by playoff veteran Daniel Briere, and capped off with the overtime winner by Dale Weise. Along with Michael Bournival, the trio tallied two goals and five points in the series with a plus-4 rating. Solid numbers for a fourth line that features a centreman who now has 51 career playoff goals and 111 points in 112 games. Briere showed this series why his off-season signing to help bring playoff experience can be very beneficial to the Canadiens. The checking line of Brandon Prust, Tomas Plekanec and Brendan Gallagher added their share of offence with the energetic Gallagher leading the Habs in playoff scoring with three goals and five points. His line had five goals and nine points. Despite the balanced attack, the big story of the series was the resurgence of Rene Bourque and Lars Eller, two players who found themselves in chateau bow-wow on more than one occasion this season, and their lack of production earnedd them some time in the press box as healthy scratches. Packers #52 Jersey. . Yet Bourque found the style of game that Michel Therrien has wanted from him all season long, and after finding success, built his confidence as the series wore on. Last season, Eller was the Canadiens best forward heading into the playoffs with Ottawa, before he was knocked out of the series. This time around, Eller had started to pick up his play over his final few games of the regular season, prior to missing a pair of games with the flu. He and Bourque have both used the post-season as a chance to hit the reset button on their seasons, and so far so good. That line which includes captain Brian Gionta, who added a critical shorthanded goal in the series, led the Habs with six goals, 11 points and a plus-11 rating, showing they were responsible on both sides of the puck. So often, playoff success is based on a balanced attack and the chance for a different hero each night. While this series saw big saves from Carey Price, some excellent plays and big minutes from PK Subban, a solid defensive job on Steven Stamkos done by the Habs blue line, especially Josh Gorges, the series win can really be attributed to depth. Now the Canadiens will have a week or so off before facing either Boston or Detroit in the second round. Again, Michel Therrien will have a balancing act to work on; the balance between rest and preparation for your next opponent, while ensuring the Canadiens stay game sharp and not lose the momentum built from the first round. ' ' ' |
