ekansekans's blog: "df"

(Sports Network) - Rookie Chad Jenkins will be in tough as he faces Jeremy Hellickson and the Tampa Bay Rays who will be going for a three-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays at Tropicana Field. Jenkins, will be making his first big league start after 10 consecutive relief outings. The 24-year-old allowed two hits and no runs through his first five outings across seven innings, but has been scored upon at least once in each of his last five performances. He tossed five innings against the Rays on Sept. 2 and was touched for seven hits and two runs in Tampa Bays 9-4 win. Overall, in 18 1/3 innings, Jenkins has allowed 21 hits and 10 runs with six walks and eight strikeouts, allowing a .280 opposition batting average. Hellickson was 13-10 with a 2.95 earned run average in his initial full season in the big leagues, but has struggled with run support for much of 2012 while winning just eight of 18 decisions -- in spite of a 3.31 ERA. Hes failed in five tries at win No. 9 since his last victory against Kansas City on Aug. 20, when he allowed a run on six hits in seven innings. Hes 0-2 with three no-decisions since while the Rays have been outscored, 17-13. He last faced Toronto on Aug. 31 and dropped a 2-1 decision after giving up just two runs on four hits in six innings. In five career starts against the Blue Jays, he is 2-2 with a 3.41 ERA. On Saturday, Evan Longoria belted a three-run homer, one of four long balls hit by the Rays in an 11-5 thrashing of the Blue Jays. Desmond Jennings went 3-for-3 with a solo homer and scored four times. Jose Molina added three hits, including a solo homer. B.J. Upton also went deep, as the Rays won their fourth in a row, although time is dwindling for their playoff chances. With 10 contests remaining, Tampa Bay is 3 1/2 games behind Oakland for the second AL wild card spot. Adam Lind knocked in three runs for the Blue Jays, losers of five straight contests. The Rays have scored 43 times during their winning streak, the best run production over a four-game span in club history. Burke Badenhop (3-2) replaced Rays starter Matt Moore after just 2 2/3 innings and recorded four outs to get the win. Brandon Morrow (8-7) was touched for five runs over four innings, and Brad Lincoln imploded in the fifth by giving up six hits and as many runs while getting only two outs. Tampa Bay is 13-4 this season against the Blue Jays and has won its last seven at home against them. Authentic RG3 Jersey .500 tonight when they host the Kansas City Royals in the second portion of a four-game series at Rogers Centre. Authentic Robert Griffin III Jersey . -- Ai Miyazatos closing birdie on Sunday provided exactly what the Japanese star needed to get over the victory hump at the NW Arkansas Championship. http://www.dancewithmeusa.com/new.html . The Celtics decided to let LeBron James get his in Game 3 while double-teaming Dwyane Wade. Without the injured Chris Bosh in the lineup as a third option for the Heat, Doc Rivers plan enabled Boston to jump out to a sizeable lead and survive a late Miami push in a 101-91 win.PHOENIX -- Lance Lynn wasnt at his best Monday night -- just good enough for five scoreless innings and another victory. The big, young St. Louis right-hander gave up three hits to become the majors first six-game winner and the Cardinals held on for a 9-6 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Rafael Furcal hit the 30th leadoff home run of his career for St. Louis, the first of five homers for the Cardinals on the night. Carlos Beltran and Matt Holliday hit consecutive homers to open the third off Joe Saunders (2-2). Allen Craig and David Freese homered to start the seventh after Arizona had scored six times in the sixth to cut the lead to 7-6. "It was nice for them to come out swinging the bats right from the top, a pretty good display of some power," manager Mike Matheney said. "Then obviously the ones we got later were a lot more valuable than what we thought they would be." Lynn (6-0), the first St. Louis pitcher to start the season with six wins since Bob Tewksbury in 1994, left with a 7-0 lead. Cody Ransom hit a two-run homer in the Diamondbacks rally. "Were winning games while Im on the mound," Lynn said. "Thats all that matters." Jason Motte gave up a pair of singles in the ninth but no runs for his fifth save in six tries. Lynn struck out seven and walked four. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound 24-year-old has allowed six earned runs in six starts. It was his shortest outing of the season, and he acknowledged he had problems with his command. "Tonight was a struggle," Lynn said. "You know youre not going to have your best stuff every time out. Tonight I was able to battle through it." Saunders, who entered the game with a 1.24 ERA, allowed seven runs, six earned, on nine hits in 3 1-3 innings. "I just didnt have it," he said, "plain and simple." The Diamondbacks, back from a 5-5 road trip, have lost three in a row and five of six. They have dropped eight of their last 10 at home. "We havent played the way were capable of recently," manager Kirk Gibson said. "If were going to beat this team were going to have to play a lot better." Furcal put St. Louis ahead to stay with a leadoff shot an estimated 441 feet onto the porch in left-centre, just above the 413-foot sign. After two outs, Allen CCraig singled, then scored on Freeses double into the left field corner.dddddddddddd The Cardinals made it 3-0 when Yadier Molina singled to right field. Justin Uptons throw to the plate was high and Freese slid under catcher Miguel Monteros tag. Beltrans eighth home run, leading off the third, followed by Hollidays sixth homer of the season, put the Cardinals up 5-0. They made it 7-0, with help of an unearned run, in the fourth. Tyler Green singled, then Montero threw the ball away on Lynns sacrifice bunt try. Furcal followed with an RBI single, then Holliday walked to load the bases. Reliever Brad Ziegler walked home the seventh run on four pitches. Arizona broke through against reliever J.C. Romero, who faced five batters without an out in the sixth inning. Montero led off with a single, then Ransom hit his fourth home run of the season, a 452-foot shot into the left field seats. Lyle Overbay walked and Aaron Hill singled, then both scored on Ryan Roberts double. A.J. Pollack reached on an infield single, then Gerardo Parras bunt brought Roberts home to make it 7-5 with no outs. Fernando Salas relieved Romero and retired the next two batters, but Monteros RBI singled up the middle cut the lead to 7-6. Reliever Bryan Shaw gave up home runs to Craig and Freese to start the seventh as St. Louis stretched it to a three-run game. NOTES: St. Louis batters have hit consecutive home runs four times this season. ... The Cardinals Lance Berkman, on the DL with a left calf strain, says he expects to be activated on Friday. ... The Diamondbacks were without first base coach Eric Young because of the death of his father. Bullpen coach Glen Sherlock filled in at first base. ... Upton batted second in the lineup for the first time since Sept. 14, 2010. He was 0 for 3 with two strikeouts before being lifted in a double switch after the fifth. ... The Cardinals have scored in the first inning in each of their last seven games. ... The Diamondbacks send ace Ian Kennedy (3-1, 3.23) to the mound Tuesday night against the Cardinals Jake Westbrook (3-2, 2.12). ... Arizonas franchise record for coming from behind to win is six runs, accomplished six times. ... The final seconds of the Phoenix Coyotes series-clinching NHL playoff victory over Nashville were shown on the Chase Field big screen. ' ' '