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BOSTON -- So much for Bostons mini surge of offence. Saints #76 Jersey . The Red Sox managed just two hits and were beaten by the Chicago White Sox 4-0 on Monday night, Bostons sixth loss in seven games. Scott Carroll pitched 6 2-3 innings of one-hit ball, and Dayan Viciedo hit a three-run homer off Clay Buchholz in the fourth as Boston was shut out for the ninth time this season and tied its season-low hit output. Adam Dunn also homered off Buchholz, but he recovered well from the rocky start and kept the Red Sox in the game. All four runs came on home runs as Buchholz (3-5) allowed five hits, struck out a season-high seven and walked one. "Its been real frustrating, especially tonight. Buchholz threw a good game," said Boston leadoff hitter Brock Holt, who went 0-for-4. "We werent able to get anything going. Two hits. Two singles." A.J. Pierzynskis third-inning single was the lone hit off Carroll. Jackie Bradley Jr. singled off Javy Guerra to lead off the eighth for the only other Red Sox hit. Boston entered Monday having scored 22 runs in its last four games, but allowed 32 during the same span. Buchholz was willing to talk about the mistakes he made to Dunn in the second and Viciedo in the fourth, but stood up for his teammates when asked about the lack of run support. The Red Sox scored just one run in his previous start, a 2-1 loss to the Cubs in Boston. "Im done talking about the offence. Its not like theyre out there not trying or anything," he said. "Its just not working right now. Im not going to answer any more questions about our offence." Making the eighth -- and best -- start of his career, Carroll (3-5) walked two and struck out five while shutting down the defending World Series champions. Dunn hit a solo homer in the second inning and doubled and scored on Viciedos home run in the fourth. The start of the game was delayed by 39 minutes because of severe weather moving through the area. There were two brief but torrential downpours during the game that sent fans scurrying but didnt stop play. NOTES: Carroll allowed seven runs on 10 hits and three walks in six innings in his previous start. ... The Red Sox won a managers challenge at first base even though replays showed that Jim Joyces original call, that Mike Napolis foot came off the base, was correct. ... The Red Sox activated 1B/OF Mike Carp from the 15-day disabled list and optioned INF Jonathan Herrera to Triple-A Pawtucket. ... The Red Sox fell to 2-5 against Chicago teams, having been swept by the Cubs at home last week in a three-game interleague series. Vinnie Sunseri Saints Jersey . Its a break team chairman Ed Snider would love to abolish. Mason stopped 38 shots, and Mark Streit and Michael Raffl scored goals, leading the Philadelphia Flyers past the Colorado Avalanche 3-1 on Thursday night. Saints #98 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.REGINA -- Corey Chamblin knows who his starting quarterback will be for the next little while. The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed veteran Darian Durant to a multi-year extension Wednesday after leading the club to just its fourth Grey Cup title last year. Knowing he has the 31-year-old Durant for the long-term -- reportedly through the 2016 season -- is a big relief for Chamblin, named the CFLs coach of the year following Saskatchewans Grey Cup championship. "In order to win championships you need to have a quarterback and to win multiple championships you have to have a quarterback who believes in the head coach and I think thats what we have," Chamblin said during a news conference announcing Durants extension. "Its huge to have that security. "Thats the biggest security blanket knowing whos going to be under centre for the next few years." The five-foot-11, 214-pound Durant, a native of Florence, S.C., had one year left on his previous deal. Hes entering his ninth CFL season, all with Saskatchewan. "A lot of guys dont get the opportunity to stay with one franchise their whole career," Durant said. "It was basically a no-brainer for me to stay a part of this organization. "Its the best in the league." And theres certainly continuity at the top as this off-season the Riders have re-signed Durant, Chamblin and general manager Brendan Taman to new extensions. Taman also added the title of vice-president of football operations to his job description Taman called Durants deal "win-win" in that the player receives a fair-market contract that the Riders can afford while the team maintains the nucleus of its roster. "It wasnt about taking as much money as he can get, it was about keeping our team together and that tells you all about Darian," Taman said. "There was a market that was out there that was laid out by other quarterbacks that had signed. "We worked through it and both parties are happy. I think the key in all this is Darian Durant should be recognized as an elite quarterback in this league, which we are prepared to do from our end and were able to get to an agreement with him on a multi-year extension." Exact contract and financial details werent divulged but Durant said his new deal doesnt make him the CFLs highest-paid player in 2014. Its generally regarded B.C. Lions quarterback Travis Lulay enjoys that distinction with a reported salary of about $450,000 this year. Veteran Henry Burris of thee expansion Ottawa Renegades is said to have a similar deal if he can stay healthy this season. Saints #7 Jersey. While Durants deal appears to offer the Riders salary-cap savings in 2014, the burning question remains what the quarterbacks average salary might be over the term of the contract. But Chamblin believes Durant can be even better moving forward. "Brendan mentioned him being an elite quarterback, I think Darian has been a very good quarterback," Chamblin said. "Im excited to see him become a great quarterback and one that we can talk about for years." Its not the first time Durant has made a commitment to Saskatchewan. In January 2009 he re-signed with the Riders rather than test the free-agent waters. Durant enjoyed a solid 2013 campaign, passing for 4,154 yards and a league-high 31 TD passes with 12 interceptions. He threw for 550 yards and five TDs with no interceptions in leading Saskatchewan to victory in the West semifinal and final. And then Durant threw for 245 yards and three TDs against Hamilton in the Grey Cup game at Mosaic Stadium, leading Saskatchewan to a 45-23 victory. Durant has completed 1,745 of 2,842 passes (61.4 per cent) for 22,711 yards and 125 touchdowns against 87 interceptions over his career. Hes also a two-time Grey Cup champion, having earned his first championship ring in 07 as a backup with the Riders. But Durants goal is to become the first starting quarterback in Riders history to lead the club to two Grey Cup titles. "If you look at the history of this organization the quarterbacks that have won Grey Cups only have one," he said. "In order for me to separate myself . . . you have to get that second ring and get multiple Grey Cups. "Thats definitely a motivating factor." However, the Riders will definitely sport a different look in 2014. Among the players to leave this off-season are running back Kory Sheets (Oakland, NFL), slotback Weston Dressler (Kansas City, NFL), backup quarterback Drew Willy (Winnipeg, CFL) and defensive tackle Keith Shologan (Ottawa, CFL). "Any time you win theres going to be change, whether its in the coaching staff, the front office or guys looking for raises on other teams," Durant said. "Ive been in this league long enough and played football long enough to know that change is going to come. "I love Dress, I love Sheets, I love those guys to death but the challenge is turning another guy into one of those stars. I look forward to that." ' ' ' |
