Kritik und Lob » how hard it is to beat the All Blacks once, so back

MIAMI -- Miami Marlins right-hander Henderson Alvarez had thrown only 72 pitches after six shutout innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates when manager Mike Redmond yanked him for a pinch-hitter. The game was scoreless, the bases were loaded, and Redmond figured Miami might not muster another threat. His move paid off when pinch-hitter Placido Polanco put the Marlins ahead with an infield single, and they went on to win 2-0 Friday night. "Its always a tough decision when somebody is pitching as well as Alvarez was," Redmond said. "But thats the best pitching staff in the National League that were going against, and I wasnt sure we were going to get another chance. We went for it, and it worked out." Lowly Miami beat the Pirates at their own game, combining dominant pitching with just enough offence. Alvarez earned his first National League victory, and four relievers completed a five-hitter. The shutout was only the third by the Marlins, but their starters have an ERA of 2.44 since the All-Star break. Theyre 4-4 over that stretch even though they have totalled only 15 runs. "Its unreal going in knowing you have a chance even though the bats havent been there, and knowing one run may be enough," slugger Giancarlo Stanton said. "You can go about the game completely differently." Stanton provided an insurance run in the seventh with his 12th homer. Jeff Locke (9-3) allowed two earned runs in 6 2-3 innings and had a career-high nine strikeouts, but he lost for the first time in his past 10 road starts. He walked six, and his ERA rose to 2.15. "Kind of sloppy," the left-hander said. "I felt really good, but just command wasnt there." Alvarez (1-1) hit 98 mph on the radar gun, gave up just two hits in six innings, and lowered his ERA to 2.64. "That was a great performance," Redmond said. "Thats the hardest Ive seen him throw. You could tell he was pumped up. When youre playing a playoff team, its good to see guys take it up a notch." The start was Alvarezs fifth after he sat out the first half of the season because of right shoulder inflammation. "He just had explosive stuff," the Pirates Russell Martin said. "His fastball was electric." Steve Cishek, Miamis fifth pitcher, gave up a pair of two-out singles in the ninth inning but earned his 21st save in 23 chances, including 16 in a row. He retired pinch-hitter Jose Tabata on a groundout with two on to end the game. Pittsburgh managed only six baserunners, including one erased on a double play, and went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position. The Pirates struck out six times in the final three innings against Marlins relievers. The game was scoreless until the sixth, when Locke gave up two walks sandwiched around a single by rookie Jake Marisnick, his first major-league hit. With the bases loaded and one out, Polanco batted for Alvarez and tapped a dribbler toward third for an RBI infield hit. Third baseman Pedro Alvarez charged to field the ball but made no throw. "We went for it," Redmond said. "It wasnt pretty, but it worked." Stanton went 2 for 2 with two walks in four trips to the plate. He led off the seventh inning with a homer off Locke. "I got the sense he was like, All right, he hasnt seen anything all day. Im going to see what he can do with it," Stanton said. "Youve got to make sure you take advantage of that." The Marlins had a hit in each of the first five innings, but during that stretch they grounded into a double play and had two runners thrown out. Catcher Martin absorbed a blow when he tagged out Jeff Mathis, who was trying to score from first on Alvarezs two-out double in the second inning. Martin said he tweaked his left knee on the play, and he left the game in the seventh, but said the injury was minor. Jordy Mercer extended his hitting streak to a career-best 11 games with a single in the third. That was the Pirates lone hit until Starling Marte reached on a bunt single with two out in the sixth. Notes: RF Tabata (right forearm) was held out of the starting lineup for the second game in a row. ... Pittsburgh 1B Gaby Sanchez, a Miami native and former Marlin, had 25 friends and relatives at the game in a suite provided by the Marlins. ... RHP Charlie Morton, scheduled to start Saturday, is 2-3 with a 5.06 ERA in six starts against the Marlins. Cheap Panthers Jerseys . Thats about all he can do right now, so hes trying not to think about when he might be able to play again for the Los Angeles Lakers. Florida Panthers Shirts .S. -- Nikolaj Ehlers registered a hat trick for the third straight game and Jonathan Drouin had a goal and five assists as the Halifax Mooseheads hammered the host Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 10-1 on Tuesday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. https://www.panthersjerseycheap.com/ . 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. Florida Panthers Store . Vokoun departed practice on Saturday morning after discovering swelling in his thigh. He was taken to a local hospital where the clot was revealed. The club announced the surgery following a 5-3 exhibition loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Panthers Jerseys 2021 .J. Ellis hit two-run homers and the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-0 Saturday night. Saturday, kick-off 17:30Aviva StadiumIrish fans will descend on the Aviva Stadium this weekend wondering whether lightning might strike twice. Having ended their 111-year hoodoo against the All Blacks in Chicago, Ireland now have an opportunity to do the unthinkable; win two games in a row against the world champions. It is sure to be an emotional occasion, as the Dublin crowd get the first real chance to welcome their heroes home. Joe Schmidt made 15 changes for last weeks win over Canada, so they should be well rested too. Indeed, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has suggested his side are the underdogs ahead of the clash, but that can surely be written off as brinkmanship of the highest order. Especially as he has welcomed back several senior stars for the trip to Dublin. What we do know is that the atmosphere inside the Aviva will be electric, with most of those in attendance willing on another famous win for the boys in green.Team newsJoe Schmidt has made just one change to the starting XV that played in Chicago, with Jordi Murphys long-term injury opening the door for Sean OBrien to start at openside. That means that Leinster flanker Josh van der Flier remains on the replacements bench where he is joined by Ulster fly-half Paddy Jackson.New Zealand have made five changes to the side that was beaten in Chicago. Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock are both fit again and will start, while Malakai Fekitoa and Anton Lienert-Brown form the centre partnership having impressed against Italy, and there is also a start for Israel Dagg.Ireland: Kearney, Trimble, Payne, Henshaw, Zebo, Sexton, Murray; McGrath, Best (captain), Furlong, Ryan, Toner, Stander, OBrien, HeaslipReplacements:?Cronin, Healy, Bealham, Henderson, Van der Flier, Marmion, Jackson, RingroseNew Zealand:?Smith, Dagg, Fekitoa, Lienert-Brown, Savea, Barrett, Smith, Moody, Coles, Franks, Retallick, Whitelock, Squire, Cane, Read (captain)Replacements: Taylor, Crockett, Faumuina, Barrett, SSavea, Perenara, Cruden, NaholoKey head-to-headNew Zealand were rattled in Chicago.dddddddddddd. Their lineout, normally imperious, misfired on three ocassions and they conceded 17 turnovers as they struggled to reel Ireland in. One reason for that was the performances of Donnacha Ryan and Devin Toner in the Irish second row. However, the experienced duo will face a sterner test in Dublin as first-choice All Blacks locks Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick return and the battle of the boiler room may well prove pivotal to the outcome of the game. If Ireland can capitalise on any rustiness then another famous win might just be on the cards.Key stats *Ireland had lost 22 matches in a row against the All Blacks prior to the Chicago Test.*In Chicago, Ireland had less territory (49 percent) and missed more tackles (16-13) than New Zealand.*On the only previous occasion that Ireland avoided defeat to the All Blacks [a 10-10 draw at Landsdowne Road in January, 1973] they lost the teams next meeting.WeatherThe forecast for Saturday in Dublin is at least dry, but it is predicted to be bitterly cold with the six degree temperature feeling a lot cooler than that. The chill will probably be more of a concern for the supporters than the players, however.PredictionIreland know how hard it is to beat the All Blacks once, so backing up that performance just two weeks after their momentous night in the States seems a tall order. They have had the best part of a fortnight to prepare for this match, but then so too have New Zealand. Hansens side are a wounded animal, and will have spent the last two weeks pinpointing exactly where they went in wrong in Chicago. It will be Ireland wearing green in Dublin, but they are about to find out when its a good idea to make the All Blacks angry. New Zealand to win this one with a late flourish. ' ' '