Kritik und Lob » arting for Califo

HOUSTON -- Matt Dominguez was touted for his defensive skills when he joined the Houston Astros. Lately, hes shown that hes pretty good on offence, too. Dominguez hit a three-run homer and Jason Castro added a solo shot to give the Houston Astros a 6-5 win over the Kansas City Royals on Monday night. The Astros trailed by one in the fourth inning before Dominguez launched his fourth homer of the season in left field to give Houston a 6-4 lead. "Im trying to figure some things out and be more consistent," said Dominguez, who is batting .239. "Ive been able to get some big hits, and hopefully, the average will be there by the end of the year. But most importantly, Ill get the RBIs and get the (wins)." Dominguez has hit all of his homers in the past nine games and his 21 RBIs are second on the team. "This guy is growing up right before our eyes," Houston manager Bo Porter said of the 24-year-old. "Hes getting more and more confidence ... I think hes gotten to the point where he understands himself, he understands what the league is trying to do to him, and now hes picking his spots and you see that he has some power." Castros homer came in Houstons two-run third inning before Kansas City took the lead on a three-run home run by Miguel Tejada in the fourth. It was his first homer since 2011. Houstons Dallas Keuchel (1-1) allowed nine hits and four runs while striking out six in 6 2-3 innings for the win. He was helped by three double plays turned by his defence, which lead the majors with 60. Closer Jose Veras struck out two in a perfect ninth for his seventh save. "Keuchel did a great job of, one, attacking the zone and being very efficient with his pitches and did a good job of pitching to both sides of the plate and using his off-speed stuff to induce ground ball double plays," Porter said. Kansas City starter Jeremy Guthrie (5-2) allowed eight hits and a season-high six runs in five innings -- his shortest start of the season. He had gone 18 games without a loss before allowing 19 hits and 11 runs in the past two games to lose two straight. "I never really got into a groove, and its my own fault," Guthrie said. "Whether it was a walk or falling behind guys, I just wasnt able to put anybody away. For the most part, none of my pitches were super well-executed, and they just made me pay." The Royals cut the lead to 6-5 when Eric Hosmer doubled and Jeff Francoeur sent him home with a double, which dropped just in front of a diving Jimmy Paredes in the eighth inning. Francoeur, who entered the game in a 0 for 11 slump, had a season-high three hits for his first multi-hit game since April 30. The Royals mustered a little more offence on Monday that they had in a weekend sweep by the Athletics when they managed just five runs in three games. But their losing streak stretched to four games after going 3 of 10 with runners in scoring position on Monday. Royals catcher Salvador Perez was shaken up when he crashed hip-first into the railing near Houstons dugout chasing a foul ball in the fifth inning. He finished the inning, but was replaced by George Kottaras for the sixth inning. Manager Ned Yost said he has a bruised right hip and is listed day to day. Kansas Citys three-run fourth inning ended a 36-inning streak where the Royals didnt score more than one run in a frame. Perez singled to start the inning before a one-out single by Francoeur set the table for Tejadas shot, which landed in the back of the Crawford Boxes in left field and gave Kansas City a 4-3 lead. It was the first home run for the 38-year-old Tejada, who didnt play in the majors last season, since July 16, 2011. "Right now, for me, even if I get a hit, its great," Tejada said. "When I get an opportunity, I just want to help my team win a game. Im excited to hit a home run, but Im just trying to do my best to help us win." Carlos Pena walked and Paredes singled in the fourth before the homer by Dominguez put Houston up 6-4. Marwin Gonzalez led off Houstons third with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Gonzalez took third on an error by Elliot Johnson when he missed the catch on a pickoff try. A sacrifice fly by Jose Altuve gave Houston a 2-1 lead. Castros fourth homer of the season pushed Houstons advantage to 3-1. Hosmer and Francoeur hit consecutive one-out singles in the second inning before Johnsons RBI single with two outs put Kansas City up 1-0. Carter walked with one out in the second and Pena followed with a double to the corner of right field. The Astros tied it at 1-all when Carter scored on a groundout by Paredes. Hosmer, the first baseman, made a nifty catch to end the seventh inning. He jumped high into the air and extended his glove to snag a liner by Paredes. He fell backward to the ground and glanced at his glove as if to double check that he actually made the catch. NOTES: The series continues on Tuesday when Houstons Bud Norris, who had his start pushed back two days after leaving his last outing because of lower back spasms, opposes Wade Davis. ... Houston OF Justin Maxwell, on the disabled list with a broken bone in his left hand, got the OK from his doctor to remove his brace on Saturday and took swings at underhand soft tosses on Monday. He said his hand is still sore but hes feeling much better. He isnt sure when hell be ready for a rehabilitation assignment, but when he does go hell wear a batting glove with hard plastic on the side to protect the bone he broke. ... New Astros president Reid Ryan, son of Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan, said Monday that hed like Houstons Double-A affiliate Corpus Christi to play an exhibition game at Minute Maid Park in the future. Nike Air Max 180 Nederland .H. -- Matt Kenseth made it 2 for 2 in the Chase, holding off teammate Kyle Busch to win Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Nike Air Max 97 Dames Sale . Listen to the game live on TSN Radio 1050 at 7pm et. The Raptors traded Rudy Gay, Quincy Acy and Aaron Gray to the Sacramento Kings on Monday, in exchange for Greivis Vasquez, John Salmons, Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes. http://www.airmaxkopennederland.com/uitverkoop-air-max-97/max-97-heren.html . The lawyers filed a 33-page amended complaint Tuesday in federal court in Manhattan, expanding on the suit originally filed Oct. 3 in New York Supreme Court. Arbitrator Fredric Horowitz last week refused to compel Selig to testify in the grievance, and Rodriguez then walked out of the hearing without testifying. Nike Air Max Uitverkoop . One game after a miserable showing in Oklahoma City, Gay tied a career high with 41 points and the Sacramento Kings cruised to a 114-97 victory at the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. Nike Air Max Thea Goedkoop . Duchene scored two goals and had an assist, helping the Colorado Avalanche beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Friday night to match the best 10-game start in team history. RIO DE JANEIRO --?Ashleigh Johnson and KK Clark joined a couple of Brazilian dancers for a samba lesson. Maggie Steffens grabbed an American flag for the party on the pool deck. One by one, the players draped their gold medals around the neck of grieving coach Adam Krikorian.The U.S. saved its best for last, and Italy never stood a chance. Johnson made nine saves, Kiley Neushul scored three goals on four shots and the United States routed Italy 12-5 on Friday for its second straight Olympic gold medal in womens water polo.To play as well as we did today in that moment and that atmosphere in a gold-medal game when youve been thinking about this for the last four years is just, its a dream come true, Krikorian said.Makenzie Fischer and Rachel Fattal each had two goals for the Americans, who stretched their win streak to 22 games with their sixth victory in Rio by a combined score of 73-32.I think we really did change the game, said Johnson, who was voted the top goaltender of the tournament.?We played completely different than the games ever been played before. Really fast, intelligent, its really fun to watch and its great to play.Russia took home the bronze, beating Hungary 19-18 on penalty shots. Its the first womens water polo medal for Russia since 2000.Neushul and Steffens each gave Krikorian a big hug as they left in the final minute, and Neushul patted him on the head. When the final seconds ticked off, Krikorian walked over to congratulate Italy coach Fabio Conti, and then he was tackled into the pool by a couple of his jubilant players.In another Olympics dominated by U.S. women, Steffens -- the MVP and probably the best player in the world -- and her teammates shined as brightly as any of them.The water polo tournament shifted to the Olympic Aquatics Stadium following the swimming competition, and the array of Pac-12 stars who dominate the U.S. roster picked up right where Katie Ledecky & Co. left off, wearing down their opponents with superior speed, athleticism and strength.The U.S. women were the overwhelming favorites all along -- and they played like it. The 12 goals and seven-goal margin were records for the Olympic final.USA is, in this moment, a team of another universe, Conti said. The Americans pounded Brazil 13-3 befoore outslugging Hungary 14-10 in the semifinals.dddddddddddd They held the lead after 23 of their 24 quarters and trailed for a total of only 44 seconds -- in the first quarter against Hungary on Wednesday.Its one of the best teams Ive ever been a part of, and Ive been a part of some really amazing teams, Neushul said. The team is so versatile, so many different threats. We have speed. We have size. We have athleticism, and I think this team was one of the first teams to display all those different styles in one team.By the time Krikorian and the U.S. staff hit the pool for a celebratory swim, the Americans possessed each of the major crowns in womens water polo, adding a second Olympic gold to their world championship, World Cup and World League Super Final titles.The scene after the final was the top of an emotional roller coaster for Krikorian, who rushed home before the United States first game to be with his family after the sudden death of his brother Blake, a former water polo player at UCLA and beloved Silicon Valley entrepreneur. Before departing for California, Krikorian met with his players and urged them to make the most of their Olympic experience.He returned in time for an opening 11-4 victory over Spain, and then he nearly broke down in tears while talking about his brother after the win. Blakes 49th birthday would have been Thursday, and Krikorians wife, Anicia Mendez, surprised him in Rio to be there with him for the sad day and then the final.Its not about me and its about the team, and that has actually helped me and thats made it actually fairly easy, Krikorian said, and that doesnt take away from the love I have for my family or my brother. Its more of a sign of respect and love that I think we all have for each other.Krikorian brushed away any talk of winning it all for him and his family, insisting Blake himself would think it was a ludicrous notion, but his players pledged their support for their mourning coach. And they delivered with their play -- all the way to the gold medal.Thats what were about, Steffens said, is going out there, having fun and playing the best water polo we can. ' ' '