Kritik und Lob » manager Don Mattingly said

Mile Jedinaks penalty has rescued Australia from a home World Cup qualifying defeat, salvaging a 1-1 draw against Japan and keeping the Socceroos on course for the 2018 tournament.Japan looked set for a smash-and-grab success after Genki Haraguchis fifth-minute opener.A first half played at a snails pace gave way to a helter-skelter second, allowing the Socceroos back into the contest.The Blue Samurai will rue their clumsy penalty that gifted Australia their equaliser, but will be thankful Ange Postecoglous side didnt find a second.The Socceroos surged in the final 20 minutes as they chased a winner, but their transformation from frog to prince came too late for a victory.The draw isnt a stellar one for Australias qualifying hopes - they are likely to lose top place in the group as a result.But eight points from four games is a fine tally and the result keeps Australia a point ahead of arch-rivals Japan and in control of their qualifying destiny with six qualifiers left.The Socceroos started without confidence in Melbourne and soon fell behind.Haraguchi made it three goals in as many matches when he converted a one-on-one chance.Trent Sainsbury was the guilty party, attempting an audacious pass that Haraguchi intercepted and eventually finished.With buoyant support among the 48,460 at Etihad Stadium, Japan was frustrating a lacklustre Australia.Playing with a 4-4-2 system, including surprise selection Apostolos Giannou alongside Tomi Juric up front, the Socceroos couldnt cut through.Australia subsisted on set pieces in a lacklustre first stanza.Matthew Spiranovic headed Aaron Mooys cross over and Jedinak brought a save out of Shusaku Nishikawa from a direct free kick.The break Australia desperately needed came on 51 minutes, when Juric was bundled over in the box by Japans goalscorer.Brad Smiths intelligent run and cross bore fruit, with captain Jedinak thundering the penalty home.The Socceroos, reverting to their usual 4-3-3 formation, were on top and Postecoglou gave substitutes Robbie Kruse and Tim Cahill half an hour to help find a winner.While Spiranovic climbed high again but headed a late corner over, it was Japan which came closest to a second goal.On 74 minutes, Mat Ryan produced the save of the match, diving low to his right to deny Yuto Kobayashi.Takuma Asano was unlucky not to connect with Haraguchis cross with Ryan beaten, leaving the teams to share the spoils.Postecoglou cursed his sides poor start.International goals are hard to come by and we dished up a really soft one tonight, he said.We wasted 45 minutes tonight.Im disappointed in the context of where I think were at as a team.Japanese boss Vahid Halilhodzic said he had no regrets but some frustration at not being able to snatch a win.We let the opponent have the ball because we knew we would have the chance to score ... we should have taken two more points, he said through a translator. 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LOUIS -- Attorneys for the St. LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Dodgers earned their first walk-off victory of the season, and once again rookie Yasiel Puig had a hand in things. Pinch-runner Skip Schumaker scored on the second wild pitch by Anthony Varvaro in the 10th inning of a 2-1 win over the Atlanta Braves on Friday night. "I was hoping for a long fly ball so I could cruise in," Schumaker said. "Youre ready for anything there." Ramon Hernandez started the rally with a one-out single, took second on the first wild pitch and advanced to third on a single by Luis Cruz. Varvaro (3-1) then bounced another wild pitch to Juan Uribe, allowing Schumaker, who was running for Hernandez, to score. Puig was on-deck, but he wasnt needed after his fourth homer in five career games tied it up in the sixth. "I was just trying to get some balls below the zone to get a ground ball there, and it just skipped the wrong way," Varvaro said. "Id rather it leave the yard, I guess. Thats just how it happens sometimes." Brandon League (2-2) got the win in relief. The Dodgers have won four of five since Puig, a 22-year-old Cuban defector, was called up on Monday from the minors. It was their second straight win over the NL East-leading Braves, who lost for the first time in six games on Thursday. With a runner on second in the 10th, Justin Upton hit a dribbler in front of the plate that catcher Hernandez fielded and fired to first base. Umpire CB Bucknor called Upton out to end the inning, although the replay clearly showed he had beaten the throw. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez came out to argue to no avail. "I didnt think it was as close as he thought it was," Gonzalez said. "We would have liked to get an opportunity with (Freddie) Freeman at the plate -- first and third and your hottest hitter up. But it didnt happen." Freeman was 3 for 4, and has hit safely in 12 of his last 15 games. The Dodgers had the potential go-ahead run on third with two outs in the eighth when reliever Jordan Walden intentionally walked Puig, the first time this week a team didnt want to pitch to the rookie. Mark Ellis flied out to end the inning. Puig tied the game 1-all with his fourth homer and 10th RBBI of the week with two outs in the sixth.dddddddddddd He sent an 0-1 pitch from Paul Maholm into the left field pavilion. Puig was hitless in his first two at-bats. "On the home run, to be honest, I missed by about three feet. I wasnt even trying to throw anywhere close to the zone," Maholm said. "But I hung one and hes hot. Hes a free swinger, so youve just got to make your pitches." Schumaker said, "Theres a different energy from the Cuban. Hes just been amazing for us and it feels like something is going to happen every time he comes up." Puig tied the record for most RBIs through five career games, shared by Danny Espinosa (2010) and Jack Merson (1951), according to information provided to the Dodgers by Elias Sports Bureau. "I try to prepare myself with the coaches and its just happening," Puig said through a translator. "As long as the team is pulling together, Im happy to be a part of it." The Braves led 1-0 on Dan Ugglas RBI single with two outs in the fourth. Hyun-Jin Ryu returned to the mound after missing his last start for the Dodgers. He bruised his left foot on May 28 against the Angels, when he tossed the first shutout of his career in a 3-0 victory. The left-hander allowed one run and six hits in 7 2-3 innings, struck out six and walked one. Maholm gave up one run and four hits in 7 1-3 innings, struck out three and walked two. NOTES: Puig is the second player since 1900 to hit four homers in his first five games, joining Mike Jacobs of the New York Mets in 2005, according to Elias. ... Dodgers INF Hanley Ramirez was out of the starting lineup for the second straight game on Friday because of tightness in his left hamstring, but he pinch hit in the ninth. "For me its a concern because its two days," manager Don Mattingly said. The same hamstring landed Ramirez on the DL earlier this season. ... Dodgers LHP Ted Lilly is in doubt to start Sundays series finale. He was bothered last time out by a chronic neck issue and Mattingly said if Lilly cant make his start, a minor leaguer would be called up. ... Braves RHP Brandon Beachy will make his fourth injury rehab start on Saturday for Triple-A Gwinnett. ' ' '