ekansekans's blog: "df"

ATLANTA -- Jeff Samardzijas splitter baffled the Atlanta Braves. NaVorro Bowman Jersey . Again. Samardzija had a career-high 11 strikeouts, Luis Valbuena hit a tiebreaking three-run double in the seventh and the Chicago Cubs won 4-1 on Monday night. Samardzija (6-7) yielded one run and four hits in seven innings, rebounding from a rough June. The right-hander was 0-4 with a 12.27 ERA in his previous four starts, allowing a season-high nine runs during a 17-1 loss to the Mets on Wednesday. "Its about time, you know?" Samardzija said. "I just thought I took my time from pitch to pitch. I thought I made the right pitch selection based on the previous pitch." Samardzija began the night with a 5.05 ERA. But he also was sharp in his first start against Atlanta this season, tossing seven solid innings in a 5-1 victory at Wrigley Field on May 7. "Both times Ive faced him, hes had unbelievable stuff," Atlanta pitcher Tommy Hanson. "He throws hard and has that good split and starts throwing those sliders in there. Anytime youre mixing three pitches, its tough." Cubs manager Dale Sveum said the key for Samardzija was using his slider, splitter and fastball, allowing "a three-pitch pitcher to be a three-pitch pitcher." The splitter was the most devastating option. "There were a couple times he threw it four or five times in a row," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "And we had no chance on it. Especially left-handed hitters." Anthony Rizzo connected for Chicago, which has won four straight and six of seven. Rizzo, one of the Cubs top prospects, has two homers in six games since he was recalled on Tuesday. "The way were playing right now is exciting," Samardzija said. "Its solid all around." Samardzija said it may not be a coincidence that the Cubs surge has come since Rizzo joined the team. "It definitely hasnt hurt," Samardzija said. "Rizzos presence in our lineup has been big, a big left-handed hitter." Rizzo, who had two hits, is hitting .304. Jeff Russell pitched the ninth for his second save. Hanson (9-5) gave up four runs and seven hits in seven innings for his first loss since May 28. He went 4-0 with a 3.13 ERA in June. Hanson made it through seven innings for only the sixth time in 17 starts, but appeared to fade in his final inning. Bryan LaHair and Steve Clevenger started the seventh with singles, and Darwin Barney walked to load the bases. Valbuena, the No. 8 hitter who began the day with a .226 batting average, then doubled to right field for a 4-1 lead. "I wanted to throw a back-door slider right there and it kind of leaked over the middle," Hanson said. "I felt really good with my stuff. I was throwing strikes and getting ahead of guys. It just came down to that last inning." Rizzo hit Hansons first pitch of the fourth inning over the wall in left-centre for his second homer. Atlanta tied it in the sixth. With two outs, Michael Bourn doubled to left field and scored on Martin Prados single. The Braves only hit through five innings came with two outs in the second, when Dan Uggla, hustling all the way, beat out a grounder to shortstop Starlin Castro. Andrelton Simmons led off the Atlanta third with a walk, took second on his first career stolen base and advanced to third on a wild pitch by Samardzija. Hanson then struck out and Bourn lined into a double play. Barney made a diving stop on Simmons ground ball behind second base and threw him out in the eighth. The second baseman then went the other way to snag a sharply hit grounder by pinch-hitter Eric Hinske for the second out. NOTES: Cubs 3B Ian Stewart, who has been on the disabled list since June 12, will have surgery on his left wrist. Sveum said the date for the procedure has not been set. Stewart is batting .201 with five homers and 17 RBIs in 179 at-bats. ... Cubs RHP Ryan Dempster, who has been on the 15-day DL since June 18 with tightness in his right lat muscle, threw 40 pitches in the bullpen. Barring a setback, he plans to throw again in the bullpen on Wednesday. Sveum said he doesnt think Dempster will need a minor league rehab stint. ... Braves C Brian McCann, who was only 3 for 21 on the homestand before Monday night, was moved down to seventh in the batting order, the first time he has hit below sixth this season. McCann was 0 for 3 and is hitting only .224. ... The four-game series continues on Tuesday night with RHP Jair Jurrjens facing Cubs RHP Chris Volstad. ... Samardzijas previous high of nine strikeouts came on April 24 against St. Louis. Vernon Davis Super bowl Jersey . Rosario was claimed from the Miami Marlins on Wednesday. In four games for them this season, he gave up six runs in three innings. He has pitched in 10 major league games, all with Miami during the last three seasons. Kaepernick Super bowl Jersey . The 34-year-old Mengual has called a news conference in Barcelona, and is expected to forego the chance to compete at the London Olympics this summer. http://www.49ersjerseygear.com/aldon-smith-jersey . TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie has learned that if Dudley takes a position with Montreal, as could happen by the end of the month, it would be conditional on him not being able to work on the NHL Draft for the Canadiens. Donte Whitner Jersey . The Mariners made the moves on Tuesday before their game against Toronto. Seattle was down two pitchers in the bullpen after trades Monday night that sent Steve Delabar to Toronto and Brandon League to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Colin Kaepernick Pink Jersey . Cozart sustained a concussion after being hit in the helmet by a pitch from Chad Billingsley in the fifth inning. The rookie shortstop held his head with both hands while lying on his stomach for several anxious moments before walking off under his own power.BELEK, Turkey - Tiger Woods beat Rory McIlroy by six strokes Thursday to advance to the semifinals of the World Golf Final, turning the first head-to-head match between the worlds top two players into a one-sided contest. McIlroy, No. 1 in the world, was eliminated from the $5.2 million exhibition after slumping to a third consecutive group match defeat on a day of low scoring at the Antalya Golf Club. Woods shot 7-under 64 for a second straight victory and will face Justin Rose of England in the semifinals later Thursday. "It felt good and I really hit it good out there," said Woods, who won just a half-point from four matches in the U.S. teams loss to Europe in the Ryder Cup last month. "My game is starting to turn around a bit and I am beginning to hit it like I did at the start of the year." Rose shot a course-record 62 to beat U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson by five strokes and also stay perfect in the event, which has a first prize of $1.5 million. Charl Schwartzel shot an 8-under 63 to defeat American Matt Kuchar by two strokes for his third straight win. The South African, who won the 2011 Masters, will next play Lee Westwood after the fourth-ranked Englishman shot 64 to beat Hunter Mahan by three strokes. McIlroy will leave Turkey with a check forr $300,000 but still has to return on Friday for a pro-am involving all eight competitors after the final. Vernon Davis Pink Jersey. The Northern Irishman hit his tee shot on the first hole into the water and wasnt under par for the round until he birdied No. 17. "Im not that disappointed because Ive got the afternoon off around the pool," said McIlroy, who was cheered on by his girlfriend, tennis player Caroline Wozniacki. "I just came here because I have never played in Turkey and theres a lot of good players here, and I thought it would be a fun week and it has been," McIlroy said. McIlroy shot rounds of 76, 71 and 70 — the first time he shot back-to-back scores in the 70s since finishing in 60th place at the British Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes in July. Players returned to action Thursday morning after the final group matches were suspended on Wednesday because of thunderstorms. McIlroy was the only player not to shoot a round in the 60s, with Rose particularly impressive to finish at the top of Group Two. "It was a good game out there," Rose said. "(I) ended up 9 under and Webb was 5 under but it was a much closer game than that. Ive now got Tiger later ... and it looks like that will be a tough game as he is playing well and got himself into some form." ' ' '