ekansekans's blog: "df"

NEW YORK -- No matter who plays, who rests or how he structures his lineup, manager Terry Collins cant get the New York Mets going at the plate. Tom Brady Elite Jersey . Jordan Lyles won for the first time in two months and the Houston Astros snapped a seven-game losing streak Friday night with a 3-1 victory over the sluggish Mets, giving Tony DeFrancesco his first win as a major league manager. David Wright hit his 200th homer for the Mets, who have lost six straight and nine of 11. Despite facing the NLs two worst pitching staffs over the past five days, they have gone seven games without scoring more than two runs for the first time since September 1982, according to STATS LLC. "Its a humbling experience and what youve got to do is fight through it," Collins said. "We had the guys in there we felt was the team to get it done tonight and it doesnt seem like its the right lineup any night." Even new uniform tops on Merengue Night didnt help. New York wore special blue jerseys that read "Los Mets" but again played as if the first word should have ended with a t. Jonathon Niese (10-7) went seven innings but the Mets are 0 for 14 with runners in scoring position over their last two games, leaving them 25 for 151 (.166) in those situations this month. "Weve got to give our pitchers a little more room for error," Wright said. Tyler Greene homered and Lyles knocked in a run with his first career double as the Astros (40-86) improved to 4-0 against the Mets this season. Houston, with the worst record in the majors, won for only the eighth time in its last 51 games. It was the perfect homecoming for DeFrancesco, who spent his early childhood in the Bronx before moving to Rockland County just north of New York City and playing catcher at nearby Seton Hall. He said he expected about 40 family members and friends in the stands, including his parents, for each game of the weekend series. After a postgame champagne shower, DeFrancescos dark hair was slicked back when he welcomed his father into the visiting managers office at Citi Field. "Hey, Pop!" "Congratulations, kiddo. Only 999 more to go!" Anthony DeFrancesco replied as he rolled through the doorway in a wheelchair. Mom wasnt far behind. "Wheres my son?" she said -- and 15 minutes later there were about 25 giddy folks squeezed into the room sharing kisses, sipping beers and snapping photos. What the heck, right? Surely it wasnt the first time a big, boisterous Italian family from the Bronx threw themselves a party in someone elses house. "Im sure my phone has got a few text messages," said a smiling DeFrancesco, who gave his team a motivational speech before the game. "Im going to remember every one of those guys." It was the opener of a three-game series between teams with the two worst records in the National League since the All-Star break, and this will mark their final meeting as NL foes before Houston moves to the AL West next year. Both born as expansion franchises 50 years ago, the Astros and Mets share some notable baseball history in Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan and a classic NLCS in 1986 that New York won en route to its most recent championship. Despite their ugly record, the inexperienced Astros have dominated the head-to-head matchups this year, including a three-game sweep at home from April 30 to May 2 before Houston traded nearly all its established veterans during the summer. The youngest starting pitcher in the majors, Lyles (3-10) kept the ball on the ground and gave up three hits over six innings. The 21-year-old right-hander was 0-6 in his previous nine starts since beating San Diego on June 26. Drafted 38th overall in 2008, he improved to 5-18 in two big league seasons. Three relievers finished, with Wilton Lopez getting four outs for his second save. The Astros had dropped all four games since DeFrancesco took over as interim manager Sunday after Brad Mills was fired, getting outscored 32-8. But they broke through early against Niese, who allowed three runs and six hits. Chris Snyder drew a two-out walk in the second and scored on a double by Brandon Barnes. Lyles, who entered as a .115 major league hitter, then pulled a double into the left-field corner for his third career RBI, all this season. Wright cut it to 2-1 in the fourth with his 17th homer of the season and first since July 27 at Arizona, an opposite-field shot that curled just over the wall and inside the right-field foul pole. Umpires upheld the home run call after a replay review that took 2 minutes, 19 seconds. "Im proud that Ive been as consistent as Id like to think that Ive been," Wright said. "I never thought Id hit 200 home runs in the big leagues." Greene connected leading off the seventh for his third homer with Houston since he was acquired this month from the Cardinals. Wright singled off the fence in right in the sixth but was cut down trying for a double on a strong throw by Steve Pearce. New York fell to 11-29 since the All-Star break, which includes a 2-15 record at Citi Field. NOTES: Houston will bring up LHP Fernando Abad from Triple-A Oklahoma City to start Saturday against R.A. Dickey (15-4, 2.82 ERA). ... Collins rested slumping 2B Daniel Murphy and said he plans to do so again Saturday. Steve Gregory 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. Wes Welker Camo Jersey . Oh, and give the winner a check for $195,000. South Koreans Jiyai Shin, Kim, So Yeon Ryu and Hee Kyung Seo dominated the leaderboard, sharing the top spot at 11-under 202 on Saturday through the third round. http://www.usnflpatriots.com/julian-edelman-jerseys .C. -- Jessica Shepley became the new torchbearer for Canadian womens golf Friday -- at least temporarily. Rob Gronkowski Youth Jersey . Look no further than Impact President Joey Saputo for the reason its the Chicago Fire who are the opponent when the leagues 19th franchise take their MLS bow in la belle ville.  "For the opening game why not have the Fire come into town and try to replicate that Montreal Manic Chicago Sting game from 1981," the Montreal Impact President told TSN. Ras-I Dowling Jersey . The Calgary Stampeders running back set a new single-season rushing record by a Canadian in a 30-27 win over the Edmonton Eskimos on Friday, a record that was 56 years old.OTTAWA -- Hes never won a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup playoffs and Daniel Alfredsson thinks his Ottawa Senators are long overdue. Alfredsson and the Sens are looking to extend their season Thursday as they take on the New York Rangers in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference quarter-final series. Ottawa has an 0-for-4 franchise record in Game 7s and Alfredsson, who has never played for another NHL team, is ready to put an end to that losing streak. "Theres no better time than (Thursday)," said Alfredsson. "Every year is different, every group is different. Theres so many stats you can pay attention to, but Ive said this group has been resilient all year long and were looking for one more effort here from everybody and if we get that well keep playing." The game could be notable for more than who advances to the next round. Alfredsson has hinted in the past that he might be playing in his final playoffs, making his appearance at Madison Square Garden possibly the last time the 39-year-old captain suits up for the Senators. But Alfredsson and the Senators will have plenty of confidence heading into New York, having already won two out of three games on the Rangers home ice. After squandering the opportunity to win the series Monday night, goaltender Craig Anderson believes his teammates will give it all they have Thursday. "We have to lay everything out there because there is no tomorrow," said Anderson. "We have an opportunity to do something great and keep pushing forward. ... if we have everyone working together and we lay it all out there we can look at ourselves in the mirror at the end and say we gave it our all regardless of the result. "But obviously wed like to win." For most teams playing on thhe road wouldnt likely be the first choice, but this season the Senators played some of their best hockey away from Scotiabank Place with a 21-14-6 away record. Aaron Hernandez Limited Jersey. "Weve had some success in New York and played some good hockey there," said centre Zack Smith. "Weve faltered a bit at home and I dont know if its nerves or being a little bit anxious, but weve usually been solid on the road. "One of the sayings is you play a simple road game, which is basically nothing pretty. Get pucks deep to the net and score some greasy goals, not pretty ones, and I think thats the style weve played on the road its worked for us so far." A better power play will be one of the keys to Ottawa playing in the next round. The Senators went 1-for-5 in Game 6 and are 3-for-24 overall. The man advantage has been at its best when players have gone to the net creating traffic in front of Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. Forward Colin Greening spent time in front of the net at practice Wednesday and could see time on the first unit. Ottawa has made a number of roster changes throughout the series with Mark Stone and Jakob Silfverberg both making their NHL debuts, and Wednesdays practice saw defenceman Mark Borowiecki on the ice. Senators coach Paul MacLean wouldnt tip his hand as to who might find themselves in Thursdays lineup with players continuing to be evaluated. "Ultimately Ill have to make the final decision as to who gives us the best chance to win the game (Thursday) and thats what its based on every day for every game," said MacLean. Notes: Neither defenceman Matt Carkner nor centre Zenon Konopka took part in practice, but MacLean said both were given maintenance days. ' ' '