k man, Im still working on my treatment. Coming from the program I was just in made me a better person, a wiser person.Danie

LOS ANGELES -- Yasiel Puig returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, seemingly chastened by a monthlong demotion to the minors to work on his hitting and his attitude.The former All-Star started in right field against the San Diego Padres after being called up earlier in the day from Triple-A Oklahoma City.Ultimately, we felt he made us better, manager Dave Roberts said. He can impact a game in a lot of different ways.The 25-year-old Cuban hit .358 with five home runs and 14 RBI in 24 games since being optioned to the minors on Aug. 2. He had been hitting just .260 with seven homers and 34 RBI in 81 games with Los Angeles.They made the right choice sending me down there but now I was doing the correct things to come back, Puig said through a translator. Im here now and Im grateful for the opportunity.Earlier in the week, Puig was reportedly placed on revocable waivers and claimed by at least one other club without a trade being worked out.I dont decide those things, he said. If Im here in Los Angeles, Im going to take advantage of the opportunity and enjoy the city. If its with another team, then thats something that I cant control. I am thankful for the opportunity and Im going to try to do my best to be a good teammate.Puig said he learned discipline and how to be a better teammate during his minor league stint.It wasnt embarrassing. I earned the demotion, he said. I feel like Im a better person and Im here now to show it, to play well, to do things that will positively affect my future.While he was away, the Dodgers maintained a tenuous hold on first in the NL West, something Puig admitted was difficult to watch from afar. He met with some of his teammates before batting practice.They explained to me what they needed from me, he said. Thats really what I was looking for was a talk with the teammates, a talk with everyone, and having that understanding of what was needed from me to succeed on this team.Roberts said the organization is very hopeful the episode proves to be a turning point for Puig.He was humbled to go down to Triple-A, the manager said. To swallow your pride, to take care of business and to look at yourself in the mirror and say, `I got to be better, thats tough to do. But for him to do that, it says a lot about his character.Roberts and Andrew Friedman, president of baseball operations, first discussed bringing Puig back with a handful of veteran players.If they said that they didnt want him, I would have been surprised, Roberts said. They know the character of Yasiel and what he can bring to help us win baseball games and thats the ultimate goal. I certainly would have been surprised if they had nixed the idea.Puigs status in right field isnt guaranteed. While he was gone, the Dodgers acquired Josh Reddick, who has shared time with rookie Andrew Toles. Veteran Andre Ethier is expected back this month after missing most of the season with a broken leg.Now Im going to get to work, Puig said, and hopefully youll see the success of 2013. Thats what Ill be working for. Custom Teemu Selanne Jersey . Murray beat Sam Querrey 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-3 to clinch Britains opening-round victory against the United States on Sunday at Petco Park. "Im proud of the way Im playing just now, because I had to do a lot of work to get back to where I want to be," Murray said after celebrating with his teammates on the red clay court in a temporary stadium in left field of the downtown home of baseballs San Diego Padres. Wholesale Custom Ducks Shirts . -- Sergey Tolchinksy scored his second goal of the game 3:56 into overtime as the Sault Ste. http://www.customducksjersey.com/ . Artturi Lehkonen, Joni Nikko and Ville Leskinen had the other goals for Finland (1-0) while Juuse Saros stopped 28 shots. Tim Robin Johnsgard had the lone goal for Norway (0-2). Custom Ducks Jerseys .Y. -- Leading 3-0 with only 11:25 left, the Colorado Avalanche committed a seemingly meaningless penalty to give the New York Islanders a power play. Authentic Custom Ducks Jersey . Isner, ranked No. 14, won his eighth career singles title and took the title in New Zealand for the second time after his victory in 2010. The match was similar to Isners quarterfinal victory over fifth-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber which went to three sets, all tiebreaks and contained no breaks of serve. OAKLAND, Calif. -- Texas Rangers reliever Jeremy Jeffress has been reinstated by Major League Baseball and joined the team Friday after being placed on the restricted list following an arrest on a drunken driving charge last month.Jeffress was arrested Aug. 26, less than a month after being acquired in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers before the Aug. 1 deadline.The right-handed reliever was at an inpatient rehab clinic for a little more than three weeks, Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said.Jeffress was also suspended twice in the minor leagues for violating baseballs drug rules.I just want to move forward from this, Jeffress said in the visitors dugout in Oakland. Im still a sick man, Im still working on my treatment. Coming from the program I was just in made me a better person, a wiser person.Daniels said it wasnt clear whether Jeffrress would be on the teams postseason roster if the Rangers made it there.dddddddddddd The teams magic number to clinch the AL West entering Friday night was one.Right now were in a little more of an evaluation phase, Daniels said. I expect therell be some combination of bullpen and maybe live [batting practice] before he gets into a game, then well see how much time is left before the end of the season.Jeffress, who turned 29 on Wednesday, expressed hope that hell be ready to pitch in the postseason.It could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but knowing that Ive got myself in a better state of mind, I know Ill be OK with it if Im not, I know going forward theres a next year, theres years to come, Jeffress said. ' ' '