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NEW YORK -- Miguel Gonzalez and the surprising Orioles are doing all they can to crash the Yankees party in the AL East. Nike Air Max 90 Dam Online . The rookie struck out a career-high nine over seven shutout innings in a masterful pitching performance and Mark Reynolds homered twice as Baltimore tightened the division race Friday night with a 6-1 victory over New York. J.J. Hardy added a solo shot for the Orioles, who moved within two games of the first-place Yankees by winning the opener of their big three-game series. Thats the closest Baltimore has been since a 1 1/2-game deficit on June 22, less than a month before the Yankees opened a season-high 10-game cushion on July 18. "Keep doubting, we dont care," Reynolds said. "Were coming in, doing our jobs and doing the little things to win baseball games." Buck Showalters young team has been gaining ground all month, winning 18 of its last 25 to head into September as serious playoff contenders for the first time in 15 years. The latest victory increased Baltimores lead over Tampa Bay to 2 1/2 games for the second AL wild-card spot. Sitting at his locker, however, reliever Luis Ayala wore an orange T-shirt that summed up the Orioles primary goal: "Buck the Yankees." "You can tell, especially in this clubhouse, the quiet confidence that everyone has, expecting to win every night," Reynolds said. "So were just going to keep riding this wave as long as it lasts." Reynolds made two spectacular plays at first base and Chris Davis had a sacrifice fly in Baltimores three-run second against Hiroki Kuroda (12-10), the Yankees most consistent and durable starter this season. The 37-year-old right-hander gave up eight hits in 8 1-3 innings, going at least eight for the fourth straight outing, but again was hurt by a lack of run support. Pitching on 10 days rest, Gonzalez (6-3) yielded only four harmless singles to win for the fourth time in five decisions. He walked one and threw 66 of 97 pitches for strikes in his second win at Yankee Stadium. The right-hander beat New York 5-4 on July 30, setting his previous career best with eight strikeouts in 6 2-3 innings. "I think the adrenaline gets me going, helps me out," Gonzalez said. "I just like pitching against a good offensive team, I guess." Featuring a fine changeup and spotting his sneaky 91-93 mph fastball effectively, Gonzalez pitched like a poised veteran in his 10th major league start as the Orioles improved to 5-2 at Yankee Stadium this year. He didnt have a three-ball count until the sixth inning. "He was real fresh tonight. Obviously, he responded," Orioles pitching coach Rick Adair said. "I think Gonzos a guy that really stays in the moment. He knows where hes been. ... Hes a very fierce competitor. So were glad to have him." Swisher whiffed all four times up for the skidding Yankees, who have dropped seven of 10 and nine of 14. This was the first of 10 consecutive games against Baltimore and Tampa Bay, their two closest pursuers in the AL East. The 28-year-old Gonzalez, born in Mexico, sat out the 2008 and 2009 seasons because of a knee injury and Tommy John surgery. He was 0-7 with a 5.40 ERA at three spots in Bostons farm system last season, then was released by the Red Sox in December. He signed with Baltimore during spring training and began the season at Triple-A Norfolk. "I think hes a guy thats just letting it fly and trusting himself," Showalter said. "He doesnt have anything to lose. Heck, hes had a lot of people in his career tell him that he couldnt do something and I think he knows hes in a place where people get him and know what he brings." The absence of injured sluggers Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira is catching up with the Yankees. Dominated by Gonzalez, they have three hits in 21 at-bats with runners in scoring position over the past two games. "It just seemed like his fastball was getting on the hitters quicker than they thought," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. Darren ODay worked the eighth and Brian Matusz gave up Curtis Grandersons 34th home run in the ninth before finishing the five-hitter. But the story was Gonzalez. "He was just filling up the strike zone," Swisher said. "Hes kind of a shorter guy, kind of throws it right out of his ear. Youve just got to give him credit, man. He shut us down tonight." Adam Jones and Matt Wieters opened the second inning with consecutive singles before Davis sacrifice fly put the Orioles in front. Reynolds followed with a two-run drive into the second deck in left. Reynolds connected again off Derek Lowe with two outs in the ninth. Nick Markakis added an RBI single to make it 6-0. Hardy hit his 18th homer off Kuroda in the sixth. Baltimore has won 18 games in a month for the first time since September 2004. NOTES: Baltimore announced the signing of 36-year-old LHP Randy Wolf, cut by Milwaukee last week. Both lefties in the teams bullpen are converted starters: Wolf and Matusz. ... It was Reynolds 16th career multihomer game and second this season. ... New York juggled its rotation for this weekend. Rookie RHP David Phelps will start Saturday instead of Sunday, and RHP Phil Hughes was moved up from Monday to Sunday. Freddy Garcia was bumped back from Saturday against the Orioles to Tuesday at Tampa Bay. ... Rodriguez (broken left hand) went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts and a walk in the first game of a rehab assignment with Class-A Tampa at Lakeland. RHP David Aardsma (Tommy John surgery) pitched a scoreless inning. Nike Air Max 90 Herr Rea . Speaking to TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun on Friday, Brodeur said "Ive come to the conclusion that Im definitely going to be available July 1. Nike Air Max 90 Dam Rea . Kitna told The Dallas Morning News (http://dallasne.ws/1aaJ38v ) of his plans Wednesday. Kitna retired after the 2011 season, his 15th in the league, and was coaching football at Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Wash.TORONTO – This time it was the Leafs stifling their opponent, furiously dictating the play, and peppering the opposing netminder. But in what was easily their most complete performance of the season they were on the wrong side of the scoresheet. "Its amazing isnt it?" said an optimistic Randy Carlyle late Wednesday night. "Thats what pro sports [is], theres always something that happens that makes you shake your head. By far was our best effort in the last couple months, but no reward for it." Despite outshooting their opponent for just the fourth time all season – yielding just 23 shots while firing 39 at rookie netminder Martin Jones – the Leafs ultimately fell for the 12th time in the past 18 games (6-9-3), edged 3-1 by the savvy L.A. Kings at the ACC. In control of the play for the better part of 60 minutes – while playing without the suspended Dion Phaneuf – the Leafs more closely resembled the plucky, feisty group they were for so much of last season. Energetic on the forecheck, feisty on the backcheck, and finally effective at moving the puck out of the defensive zone, there was a lot to like for the home side in defeat. "Ive got no complaints with the work ethic of our group," said Carlyle. "We executed from a defensive standpoint. We made good breakout passes, we attacked, we forechecked, but we didnt win. Simple as that." "Its what we were discussing and what we needed to do to give ourselves better chances to win games," said Cody Franson, the 26-year-old who scored his first goal of the year in defeat. No team in the NHL has yielded more shots nightly than the Leafs this season – 37 per game prior to Wednesdays game – but against the Kings it was something different entirely. Facing his former team for the first time, Jonathan Bernier saw just 23 shots or about half of the 44 he had faced on average in his previous four starts. "We definitely played our best game of the year tonight," said Bernier. "We deserve a better fate." "Be better on the defensive side of the puck and in turn thatll give us more good offensive chances," said Franson. "It showed tonight. We really paid attention to the details of defence and we were able to keep them to a lower shot count than us for the first time in a while. We had some good chances, we just didnt score enough tonight." Coming off back-to-back shutouts, Jones stopped 38 of 39 shots, including an impressive stop on Joffrey Lupul shortly after Franson scored the lone Leaf goal. Jones held the Kings in it long enough for Jeff Carter to score the go-ahead marker midway through the final period, a bad pinch from Paul Ranger ending up in the back of the net. The Leafs were fortunate to swipe many victories in the opening two months on the shoulders of goaltending and a terrific power-play, but rare was the game in which their performance rarely wavered from start to finish. Despite falling short of the desired result, this was one of those nights. Amid a difficult portion of the schedule – the Blues, Blackhawks and Penguins are up next – more of the same will be needed in the days ahead. "If we have that type of dogged work ethic, if we can effectively move the puck out of our zone the way we did tonight and backcheck as hard and create as many offensive opportunities then well win our share of games," said Carlyle. "But pushing that snowball, every time you lose it gets bigger." "Weve got to build off what weve done," Mason Raymond said. "I dont think theres any question that was one of our better games weve played in a long time. The shot totals, not giving up odd-man rushes, a lot of good things you can take from it. "Sometimes you dont deserve wins and you get them and we were on the opposite of that maybe tonight." Five Points 1. Bernier vs. L.A. Then the head coach of the Anaheim Ducks, Carlyle got his first glimpse of Jonathan Bernier in London, England at the O2 Arena on Sept. 29, 2007. It was the first start of Berniers NHL career and the outset of the 2007-08 season. "He was a young kid then," Carlyle recalled of the now 25-year-old Leafs netminder, drafted by the Kings in the first round of the 2006 Draft. Bernier stopped 26 of 27 shots that day across the pond, backstopping Los Angeles to a 4-1 win. "For an 18-year-old to come out of junior hockey and start in the NHL it was quite a feat," said Carlyle. Starting against his former team for the first time, Bernier made 20 saves. He was beaten five-hole by Carter for the eventual game-winner. Speaking prior to the game, Carlyle said the Leafs were "very, very fortunate" to have Bernier on their side. "Theres been a focus right from the day we acquired him that he was going to be our starting goaltender, he was going to be this, he was going to be that, he was here to seize the opportunity, seize the job, and he hasnt disappointed," said Carlyle of Bernier, who owns a .927 save percentage this season. 2. Rielly Checks In Simplicity was the message for Morgan Rielly as he re-entered the lineup on Wednesday night. "The simple things are the best way to go right now," Carlyle said in regards to Rielly prior to the game. Nike Air Max 90 Dam Prisjakt. "Make the simple play; make the good first pass, take the body, stop progression, jump up in the play when you have an opportunity, but move the puck. Move the puck, move it effectively. Dont try to do too much." Paired with Jake Gardiner for the first time all season, the 19-year-old logged nearly 20 minutes against the Kings, replacing John-Michael Liles on the Toronto back-end. Rielly had been a healthy scratch in the previous three games. "We felt Morgan Riellys worked hard and is deserved of an opportunity and well make decisions again for the next one [Thursday] night," said Carlyle. 3. Defensive Effort Among the more encouraging elements of the Leafs game in defeat was the ferocity with which they defended, eliminating many of the odd-man opportunities which had plagued their game in October and November. Especially impressive for the group in that regard was the effort of the forwards on the backcheck. "If youre not giving up odd-man rushes it makes easy on a goaltender and the shot numbers as I kind of mentioned earlier," said Raymond. "We were better on the defensive side of the puck," said Franson. "Our forwards worked real hard on our forecheck and they backchecked hard all night and made it an easier night on [the defence] to make reads when to jump in and when to back out." The 23 shots against was the second fewest for the Leafs all season. Back on Nov. 25, they yielded just 22 in a 6-0 blowout loss to Columbus. 4. Welcome to the NHL It was the lockout year (2005-06) and a young Jason Spezza was playing in Jerry DAmigos hometown of Binghamton, New York. DAmigo was just in bantam hockey then, but it was there at a team function with the Senators AHL affiliate – spaghetti dinner! – that he met Spezza. Befitting of his welcome into the NHL, the 22-year-old lined against the Senators captain over the weekend and was suitably in awe. "It was just crazy just seeing him out there and playing against him," DAmigo told the Leaf Report. "I actually thought to myself Im like wow this actually really happened." 5. Road to the NHL Picked in the sixth round of the 2009 Draft, DAmigo played in 208 games with the Marlies before finally getting his first NHL opportunity with the Leafs. "Its definitely been awhile," said DAmigo, limited to just under five minutes against the Kings. "The three years I spent in the minors, it seems like a long time, but when [I was called up] obviously everything kind of flushes from your mind and you dont think about that stuff anymore. You just think about that youre here and youre not wanting to leave basically." DAmigo arrived at his first NHL training camp in the fall of 2010 amid considerable hype and (probably unfair) expectation. There was even talk that he might crack the Leafs opening night lineup. But when that failed to materialize the buzz on the former American World Junior star quieted down to the point of his long-awaited debut against the Stars on Dec. 5. "It was one of those things where I had high hopes to make it, but I didnt know how hard it was going to be and then I sort of got that," DAmigo said. "You want to think its going to happen soon, but it doesnt. It takes a lot of hard work and a lot of learning of systems, learning how to prepare on and off the ice basically and thats what I had to do the past couple years to sharpen those tools a little bit and be where I am now." Former Marlies coach and now Oilers bench boss Dallas Eakins often spoke of the need for DAmigo and other young Toronto prospects to learn what it takes to become a professional. "And you dont really notice it until it happens, until you see the progression that youve made," DAmigo said. "I can see my first year, my weight, my eating habits were terrible. Ive had guys along the way that helped me, especially Dallas, and a lot of other coaches and players as well." Stats Pack 6-9-3 – Leafs record over the past 18 games. 4 – Games this season in which the Leafs have outshot their opponent. 4 – Consecutive games with a point for Jake Gardiner. Gardiner has a goal and three assists in that span and now has 10 points in 31 games this season. 19:28 – Minutes for Morgan Rielly against the Kings. 1 – Goal for Cody Franson this season, scoring his first against the Kings on a five-on-three advantage. 216 – Consecutive games streak snapped Wednesday for Dion Phaneuf, who served the first of a two-game suspension against the Kings. 9 – Consecutive games in which the Leafs have allowed a power-play goal. 6 – Shots for David Clarkson against the Kings, a season-high. 35-21 – Shots advantage for the Leafs at even-strength. Special Teams Capsule PP: 1-3Season: 24 per cent (4th overall) PK: 1-2Season: 76.6 per cent (27th overall) Quote of the Night "Sometimes you dont deserve wins and you get them and we were on the opposite of that maybe tonight." -Mason Raymond, on falling to the Kings despite the largely positive performance. Up Next The Leafs get right back at it on Thursday night, visiting the Blues in St. Louis. cheap nfl jerseys cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
