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CLEVELAND - Jason Giambi has never taken a single day as a major leaguer for granted. Phil Dawson Jersey . And at 43, the veteran sluggers not about to start. Giambi was activated from the disabled list on Tuesday by the Cleveland Indians, who also recalled right-hander Trevor Bauer from Triple-A Columbus to start against Detroit and made several other roster moves. Although he wasnt in the starting lineup to face Justin Verlander, Giambi is grateful to be back in any capacity. "Its fun to have your name on the lineup card and get a chance to help the ball club out," he said. Giambi had been placed on the DL on May 5 with a strained calf he injured a day earlier against the Chicago White Sox. It was his Giambis second trip to the DL after he fractured a rib during spring training. Before he went on the DL last month, Giambi, who has 438 career homers, was hitless in 10 at-bats. Its been a rough start. "I went basically from a broken rib, played a few games, calf injury," he said. "That kind of happens when you get that short spring training and dont get to play much. Its definitely hard to get going and come back to the cold weather, but Im excited to be back." The Indians also promoted utility man Justin Sellers from Triple-A Columbus and optioned infielder Jose Ramirez to the Clippers. First baseman Jesus Aguilar, who had two RBIs in Mondays win over Detroit, and left-hander T.J. House were optioned back to the minor leagues to clear room for Giambi and Bauer. Indians manager Terry Francona intends to use Giambi in pinch-hitting situations. Hell also be used at designated hitter, and could see more time if Carlos Santana, who is batting .148, continues to struggle. Giambi said if there was one positive about his calf injury, its that it didnt prevent him from keeping his swing sharp. "I was able to do everything," he said. "I could hit. I could do everything else. With the rib, I basically couldnt do anything. I was shut down for basically five weeks, not doing anything. "So, that was nice. I could still hit, throw, everything but run. I kept up with my hitting, which was great. I feel like I could catch up, like I dont have to make up that time to get some swings in, so thats big for me." Bauer will be making his second start. The right-hander, who went 4-1 with a 2.15 ERA in seven starts in the minors, will match up against Verlander and face Detroits fearsome lineup for the first time. The 23-year-old Bauer struck out eight in a spot start against San Diego on April 9. He took the loss, but went back to Columbus and continued to dominate. "We were glad we got a chance to glimpse the last outing, and then he went back to Triple-A and kicked it into gear," Francona said. "Weve been talking for a year, this guys a big part of what we want to do going forward. And to see him growing and understanding, its exciting." Steve Young .B. -- Canadas Rachel Homan had ideal preparation for the playoffs at the Ford World Curling Championships with a pair of hard-fought wins over tenacious opponents Thursday. Phil Dawson . Kendell, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, grew up in Ogden, Utah, far from any NFL city, and became a fan of the Los Angeles Rams because shes an Aries and liked their uniforms. REGINA -- No S.J. Green. No Brandon London. No Brandon Whitaker. No problem. With their top two receivers and starting running back out hurt, the Montreal Alouettes showed their resilience posting 356 yards of net offence in a 34-28 win Saturday over the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Jamel Richardson caught eight passes for 161 yards and third-string tailback Chris Jennings (regular backup Victor Anderson missed the game with injury too) had 125 all-purpose yards as Montreal did just enough to stave off a late Saskatchewan comeback. "Thats all we preach is team-first," said Richardson, who set up Montreals first touchdown -- an 18-yard pass from Anthony Calvillo to Bo Bowling -- with a 51-yard grab of his own. "Thats why I was never mad about my production because other guys were stepping up, and right now this is a total team effort." Richardson was referring to his diminished role in Montreal this year. He led the league in receiving last season with 1,777 yards but entered Saturdays game third on the team and 12th overall with 793. In his last two games, however, Richardson has caught 11 passes for 270 yards. "The coaches leaned on me a little bit," he said. "They told me they were going to feed me and Im hungry. Ive been missing the whole season and now its time to step up and time to win a championship." The win extended Montreals lead atop the CFLs East Division by six points over the Toronto Argonauts. The Alouettes (10-6) clinched first place Friday when Toronto lost 44-32 to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Saskatchewan (8-8) meanwhile missed a chance for the second straight week to clinch a playoff berth, though a Hamilton Tiger-Cats loss to the Calgary Stampeders later Saturday would guarantee the Riders at least a crossover spot. Montreal made the most of the breezy conditions, scoring their first 27 points with the wind at its back With the wind gusting to over 50 km/h at kickoff, Saskatchewan capped its first possession with a one-yard TD toss from Drew Willy to fullback Graeme Bell. It was Bells first touchdown since joining his hometown team in 2011 and third overall of his seven-year CFL career. Montreal took advantage of the wind in the second quarter and put up 13 unanswered points on three consecutive possessions. Calvillo found Bowling in the end zone in between Sean Whyte field goals of 23 and 52 yards. But the Riders regained the lead with two minutes left in the first half when Dressler ran a punt back 66 yards for Saskatchewans first punt return score since Jason Armstead did so in 2007 against the Edmonton Eskimos. Womens Red Anquan Boldin Elite Jersey. Backup QB Adrian McPhersons one-yard touchdown run in the third quarter gave Montreal the lead for good. He scored at 8:23 of the third after a pass interference call negated a goal-line interception by Chris McKenzie and an unnecessary roughness penalty to Odell Willis set Montreal up at the Riders three-yard line. Calvillo then ran in two touchdowns for the first time in his CFL career to cap a run of 21 unanswered points and put the game out of reach. He completed 14 of 26 passes for 256 yards. "Im trying to pick up first downs with my feet," said Calvillo. "I told myself I was going to do that as we get closer to the playoffs. It just helps our football team move forward and it just happened to be that I was running close to the end zone." It was a botched onside punt by Sandro DeAngelis that gave Montreal the ball on the Riders 45 and set up Calvillos first score of the game. They needed all of them too, as Saskatchewan answered back in the final quarter with Dresslers 12th TD grab of the year and Kory Sheets 10th rushing score. "Weve been challenging ourselves to play consistent football which we have not done," said Calvillo. "We did a decent job last week against Toronto and we wanted to follow up with a great game which today we did." Riders quarterback Darian Durant went 24-for-40 for 219 yards and one TD. Sheets ran 10 times for 45 yards but had two late-game passes go through his fingers, and Taj Smith led Saskatchewans receivers with four catches for 52 yards. "My biggest concern is to make sure this team is winning football games," said Roughriders head coach Corey Chamblin. "The playoffs dont start today. They start when they start. Its about winning football games. "Looking too far down the road you cant do anything unless you take care of today and today we have to learn how to win football games." NOTES: Calvillo has now thrown a touchdown pass in 16 straight games ... Saskatchewan and Montreal were the two least-penalized teams in the league entering Week 17 but combined Saturday for 220 yards in penalties, including the second-quarter ejection of Shea Emery after he appeared to punch a Saskatchewan lineman in the groin ... The Riders honoured long-time offensive lineman Gene Makowsky in a halftime ceremony. Makowsky is first on the teams all-time games played list and retired after the 2011 season. ' ' ' |
