Kritik und Lob » in front of me (is) playing better, he explain

BOSTON -- Rick Porcello had a simple answer to why he cant think about his current success.He knows there are a lot more important things hes helping the Boston Red Sox chase.Porcello became the majors first 18-game winner and the first Red Sox pitcher in 70 years to open a season 13-0 in Fenway Park, going seven solid innings in Bostons 9-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night.When you look at the standings were still chasing so theres nothing to be complacent about. You still have to gain ground on Toronto. Were not in first place right now, the right-hander said. Thats how I kind of view it. I dont look at it as a personal level: `Im doing well so I can relax. Were still fighting so we can get where we have to be.Mookie Betts hit his 30th homer, a solo shot, and drove in two runs for the Red Sox, who hold the ALs first wild-card spot but had lost four of five.Brock Holt had three hits and drove in two runs, Travis Shaw had three hits and Chris Young added a tiebreaking two-run double for Boston.The Rays, buried in last in the AL East, have lost three of four.Porcello (18-3) allowed three runs and six hits, striking out seven without issuing a walk to become the first Boston pitcher since Dave Boo Ferriss finished 13-0 at home in 1946 to start a season by winning his initial 13 decisions in Fenway.Rick has been a model of consistency, Red Sox manager John Farrell said.Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia missed the game after a death in the family, but hes expected back Tuesday.Matt Andriese (6-6) took the loss, giving up a season-high seven runs in four-plus innings. Evan Longoria had two sacrifice flies for the Rays, who split a four-game series against the Red Sox at home last week.I just wasnt at my best, so its kind of what happens when you leave some elevated pitches up there, Andriese said of facing the majors top scoring team. Its a good hitting lineup and they made me pay.The game was tied 2-2 after three innings before Boston took charge with three runs in the fourth and two in the fifth.Really impressed with the offense that they came right back and got two quick runs to tie it back up, Rays manager Kevin Cash said. But after that Porcello seemed to kick it in gear and they kind of had Matts number a little bit.Young lined his two-run double past third baseman Longoria, moving the Red Sox ahead 4-2. Longoria seemed to mistime the speed of the liner, raising his glove a bit late. Holt added an RBI double.After the Rays cut it to 5-3, Betts lined a run-scoring double into the left-field corner. He scored on Shaws infield hit.Betts homered over the Green Monster, hitting a billboard with the ball bouncing onto the field.TRAINERS ROOMRays: Cash has decided to go with six starters when RHP Aex Cobb returns to the rotation this weekend against Toronto after being sidelined since Tommy John surgery in May 2015. We have six guys, all with the reason to be starters, Cash said.Red Sox: Farrell said RHP Koji Uehara (strained chest muscle) had another strong bullpen session. The next steps are for him to have bullpen on Wednesday before facing live hitters Saturday. .Farrell also said C Ryan Hanigan (left ankle tendinitis) is expected to come off a rehab assignment and join the team when they start a road trip in Oakland on Friday.MAGICIAL MOOKIEThe 23-year-old Betts joined Ted Williams (1939, 1941) and Tony Conigliaro (1965) as the only Red Sox with 30 homers in a season before turning 24.It feels pretty good. It affected the game. Thats what I set out to do, he said. Its pretty cool hitting 30.UP NEXTRays: RHP Jake Odorizzi (9-5, 3.53 ERA) is set to start Tuesday. He pitched seven innings at home against the Red Sox last Thursday, his longest outing in a month.Red Sox: LHP Drew Pomeranz (2-3, 4.06) is looking to build on his strong start last Thursday against the Rays when he struck out a career-best 11, but got the loss despite giving up only two runs in six innings.Jonathan Lucroy Jersey . The 19-year-old Olsen played 34 games with the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL this season. In that time, hes recorded 17 goals and 17 assists with 36 penalty minutes. Victor Caratini Cubs Jersey . According to a report from the Winnipeg Free Press, the Bombers will name Acting GM Kyle Walters to the post full time. https://www.cheapcubs.com/1280t-bill-buckner-jersey-cubs.html . Paul Pierce couldnt believe he missed at the end. Young scored a season-high 26 points to spark a huge effort from the leagues most productive bench, and Los Angeles beat the Brooklyn Nets 99-94 on Wednesday night after blowing a 27-point lead. Willson Contreras Cubs Jersey . Varlamov made 33 saves and Ryan OReilly had a goal and scored in the shootout as the Avalanche beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Thursday night. David Ross Cubs Jersey . Robredo, ranked No. 16, bounced back from an upset loss to Leonardo Mayer in the second round of the Royal Guard Open in Chile last week to down Carreno Busta in 1 hour, 25 minutes. On a day filled mostly with qualifying matches, fifth-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain also entered the second with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win over Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia, while Guido Pella of Argentina defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 7-6 (6), 6-4 to advance.NEW YORK -- Novak Djokovics U.S. Open final against Stan Wawrinka on Sunday will be the Serbs third Grand Slam title match of 2016 and his seventh in the past eight majors.It is Djokovics 21st Grand Slam final in all, second in the history of mens tennis only to Roger Federers 28. And it gives Djokovic the chance to gain more ground in the championship count, too, of course: He can raise his trophy total to 13, which would place him alone in fourth place behind Federer (17), Rafael Nadal (14) and Pete Sampras (14).After a draining, and decidedly unusual, four-set victory over Gael Monfils in the semifinals Friday, when he got both shoulders massaged by a trainer, Djokovic looked forward to a bit of rest. Thats kind of rich, considering he has spent almost exactly half as much time on court as Wawrinka so far: a tad under 9 hours vs. slightly less than 18 hours.I have an extra day now to recover and get ready for the finals, which is, you know, where definitely I desire to be whenever I come to the Grand Slams, said Djokovic, the No. 1 seed and defending champion. I want to be able to put myself in position to fight for the trophy, and everything that has happened in the tournament so far is behind me now. My thoughts are only on Sundays match.As well they should be. For while No. 3 seed Wawrinka will be participating in only his third Grand Slam final, he won each of the other two. Plus, he has won each of his past 10 finals at all tournaments. And while he is only 4-19 against Djokovic over their careers, half of Wawrinkas victories came en route to his major titles, in the quarterfinals of the 2014 Australian Open and the final of the 2015 French Open.Stan is a big-match player, Djokovic acknowledged. He loves the big stage.Hes also something of a late bloomer.Wawrinka did not reach a Grand Slam semifinal until his 35th appearance in a major, at age 28.Now, a little more than five months past his 31st birthday, he can become the oldest U.S. Open champion since Ken Rosewall was 35 in 1970. Hed also be only the fifth man in the Open era with at least two major titles after 30 (his Swiss countryman and pal, Federer, only has one since turning that age).ddddddddddddI know I have some ups and downs during the year. Im not playing my best tennis in every tournament. But Im trying to work as hard as I can to give me the chance to play well every time I step on the court, Wawrinka said after beating Kei Nishikori in a four-set semifinal. And in Grand Slams is where I want to play my best tennis, is where I want to be the better player, always find a way to find my game and to put everything together.Wawrinka, though, nearly departed Flushing Meadows last weekend. Thats when, in the third round against 64th-ranked Dan Evans, Wawrinka faced a match point in a fourth-set tiebreaker, saved it, and wound up winning in the fifth, repeatedly using whats become his trademark gesture: pointing an index finger to his temple.Whats that all about?Sometimes, I dont always find myself comfortable on the court and I have to fight with myself. So thats what Im focusing (on) here: to fight, to suffer, to accept to suffer, to accept that the player in front of me (is) playing better, he explained. And thats when Im happy with myself and proud of myself -- when I stay strong with what I want to do.Nothing he does on a court with his racket is as important as his smooth, one-handed backhand. When on-target, it might be the prettiest, and most effective, shot in all of tennis.Djokovic can lay claim to some superlatives, too. His return of serve ranks up there with the best ever. As do his body-twisting court coverage and ability to go from defense to offense just like that.This matchup will be Djokovics seventh U.S. Open final, and Wawrinkas first.In general, I know when I arrive in the final, Im ready to play my best tennis, and thats what Im looking for. Thats what Im trying to do, Wawrinka said. But ... when you play Novak, even playing your best tennis, you can also lose.---Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich ' ' '