ekansekans's blog: "df"

WASHINGTON -- Even Matt Kemp was willing to concede the phantom run the umpires said he scored for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fourth inning -- long before his go-ahead homer in the ninth -- should not have counted. A.J. Hawk Jersey . Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson ("They obviously blew the call"), third baseman Ryan Zimmerman ("You cant just give out free runs in the big leagues") and catcher Jesus Flores ("Terrible call") were much more blunt about it. In a wild game Wednesday, Kemp was ruled safe at home to give Los Angeles a six-run lead even though TV replays clearly showed that Zimmermans head-over-heels lunging tag already had been applied to runner Adrian Gonzalez at third for the innings final out. After Washington used a six-run eighth to tie the score, Kemp led off the ninth with a homer off closer Tyler Clippard, and the struggling Dodgers grabbed a 7-6 victory for a doubleheader split that prevented the Nationals from sewing up their first playoff berth since moving from Montreal in 2005. "It looked pretty close. I actually probably should have been running just forward and not looking back. ... I dont know if I quite made it or not," Kemp said, before asking reporters whether they had seen a replay. Informed that he should not have scored, Kemp said: "Actually, yeah, I dont think I did. But we got lucky right there. We stole a run." That extra run really loomed large when the hosts -- who had won the opener 3-1 thanks largely to Jordan Zimmermanns six innings of one-run baseball -- wound up sending 12 batters to the plate while scoring six runs in the eighth. "At the time, I dont think anyone thought it was a really big deal, but it turned out to be a big deal," Zimmerman said. "It was 5-0, and they just make it 6-0." Crew chief Mike Winters declined to comment. "Calls like that, you never know when theyre going to come back and kick you," said Washingtons Michael Morse, who delivered a leadoff homer and a two-run single in the eighth. The announced crowd of 26,931 was getting loud, perhaps anticipating a comeback and playoff-clinching victory, when Kemp drove an 0-2, elevated fastball from Clippard (2-5) over the wall in centre for his 19th homer. "I cant remember ever putting a ball in that spot and getting hurt like that in my whole career," said Clippard, who earned his 32nd save of the season in Game 1. "Its a tough one to swallow, but nothing I can do about it now." Ronald Belisario (7-1) earned the win by getting the last two outs of the eighth inning. Brandon League picked up his third save with a hitless ninth. Washingtons victory in the opener was Los Angeles ninth loss in 12 games -- and lowered the hosts magic number for securing at least a wild-card spot to one. But the Nationals must wait at least another day to be certain of making the playoffs. "Were not shooting for a playoff spot. Were shooting to win a division," Clippard said. "So regardless if we won tonight or not, thats not really where we want to be." Los Angeles Game 2 starter, Josh Beckett, threw seven shutout innings but left in the eighth after allowing four runs -- three earned -- and five hits. By then, Johnson had pulled starters Jayson Werth, Zimmerman and Adam LaRoche -- Washingtons Nos. 1-3-4 hitters. While Beckett was terrific for a time, retiring 13 consecutive batters in one stretch, Nationals starter John Lannan struggled almost from the outset. Making his second start since taking over Stephen Strasburgs slot in the rotation, Lannan looked little like the guy who entered the night 3-0 with a 2.41 ERA in the majors in 2012 -- and much more like the guy who spent most of the year at Triple-A Syracuse. He was charged with three runs in each of the third and fourth innings, hurt by singles, walks and a hit batter. In all, Lannan lasted only 3 2-3 innings, giving up eight hits. He departed with the bases loaded in the fourth, giving way to Chien-Ming Wang, who had been out with a hip injury and missed about 2 1/2 months. Wangs first pitch in a major league game since June 30 missed the mark completely. The wild pitch skipped past catcher Flores, allowing a run to score. The batter, Hanley Ramirez, eventually sent a grounder to Zimmerman, who flipped over and reached out to barely tag out Gonzalez. The umpires ruled that Kemp, who was running home from third on the play, crossed the plate in time to make it 6-0 -- but he had not. Johnson, in his words, "raised a fuss" with the umpires, to no avail. "They all discussed it, and evidently nobody was paying attention," Johnson said. "Kemp wasnt running. He just wasnt running. The tag play was before. Obviously they missed it, but youd think when the three of them got together somebody wouldve been paying attention that Kemp was not at home." Hours before, as music blared in the Nationals clubhouse between games, Johnson insisted it didnt matter at all that his team had earned its 90th win and lowered its magic number for a wild-card berth to one. "The only thing thats going to mean anything to me is when we clinch the pennant," Johnson said. "Thats the only thing, the only number, Im concerned with." The Nationals 90 victories are the most for a major league club in the nations capital since 1933 -- which also was the last time a D.C. team played beyond the regular season. "Just keep the blinders on," Morse said. "Just keep pushing and pushing." NOTES: Zimmermann (11-8) got the win in Game 1; Aaron Harang (9-10) took the loss. ... Bryce Harper made a twisting, over-the-shoulder catch with his back to the infield on a drive to the deepest part of the park by Shane Victorino leading off the sixth inning in Game 2. ... Victorino stole two bases in Game 1 to raise his season total to 37, tying a career high. Jordy Nelson Womens Jersey . The Canadian entry faces Willemstad, Curacao on TSN beginning at 2pm et/11am pt. Canada opened the double-elimination tournament with a 13-9 win over Mexico on Friday. Jermichael Finley Jersey . Kevin Bradbury tweeted the news Friday about Hill, who made a late-season surge for the Lakers. Los Angeles acquired the 6-foot-10 forward at the trade deadline in March in the deal that sent Derek Fisher to Houston. http://www.officialgreenbaypackersgear.com/aaron-rodgers-jersey . The UFC once again stages its latest big show off-Broadway -- six miles away across the river at the Izod Center in New Jersey. Aaron Rodgers Youth Jersey . -- A California county has surprised both the San Francisco 49ers and city of Santa Clara leaders by pulling US$30 million in tax funds from the new 49ers stadium. Aaron Rodgers Jersey .ca! Hi All: A number of things happened in games during the weekend that stimulated questions. Let me provide you with my take on a few of them. 1)  First Adam asks, "Please explain to me the difference between the stick fouls in the third period of the Rangers/Capitals game on Saturday.SAANICH, B.C. -- Members of Canadas mens eights rowing team are contemplating their future in the sport following coach Mike Spracklens controversial departure. The rowers, who won silver at the London Olympics this summer, made the comments Thursday after participating in a tribute for the 75-year-old Spracklen, who lost his job earlier this week. Rowing Canada announced Spracklens departure on its website but did not describe the move as either a firing or a resignation. No reasons were given, but Spracklen has had a fractious relationship with the governing body for a number of years. "All along (since the Olympics), Ive been on the fence about whether I want to (leave) or not," said two-time Olympian Andrew Byrnes of Toronto, who also won gold under Spracklen in 2008 at the Beijing Games. "This plays a role and who they hire plays a role in determining what I decide to do with the team. "Im here to win. I want to be on a team thats successful and Im going to (want to) feel going into Rio that this team has that chance at success. That depends on the organization, the coaches, and the other athletes around there. Those are all things that will factor into my decision." As part of Thursdays tribute for Spracklen on a lake in suburban Victoria, supporters put their boats in the water and staged a mass start as he rode alongside in a motorized boat. The event was held after Spracklen finished training a group of junior rowers at a local club, helping a coach who is recuperating from a neck injury suffered in a boating accident. Byrnes said several other members of the mens eights team are in the same position as he is, adding that Spracklens departure and eventual replacement will affect their decisions. "Theres no substitute for hard work for winning Olympic medals," said Byrnes, 29, who has been a member of the team since 2006. "Its going to take a lot out of the next four years. You need a good coach, for sure." Byrnes, a dual Canadian-American citizen, said Spracklens presence influenced his decision to row for Canada when he was trying to choose between the two countries. Spracklens many successes during two stints with the Canadian program included silver in the mens eights this summer and Olympic gold in the same event in 1992, 2000 and 2008. Jerry Brown, a member of the 2012 silver-medal crew, said he is also contemplating his future. The 26-year-old from Cobourg, Ont., said his decision will be "highly personal," but that Spraccklens departure will also play a role. Charles Woodson Youth Jersey. "I am very disappointed, because I know Mike wanted to continue to coach, and I havent been coached by some of the others," said Brown, a former McMaster University football player who started training under Spracklen some 20 months ago. "I know in my heart that, if I wanted to do it again at a high level and I wanted to win a medal, Mikes the only guy I know -- right now -- that can take me there." Spracklen, who is expected to coach in another country, only spoke briefly with reporters on Thursday. "Its nice to see these people down here," he said. Members of the 1992, 2002, 2008 and 2008 eights crews were among the supporters at the tribute, along with three-time Olympic medallist Silken Laumann, who has blasted Rowing Canadas decision to part ways with Spracklen. "This is where I know him most deeply -- on the lake," said Laumann, standing on a dock beside the water before she rowed. "This is his home. This is our home." Laumann -- who has contended the move was based on politics rather than Spracklens track record -- said the tribute was also a protest. "Athletes have spoken so clearly and so loudly over what has happened to Mike and whats happening in the system right now," she said. Laumann, who trained under Spracklen between 1990 and 1996, said she would not have the success she had if it were not for the coach. A native of Marlow, England, Spracklen helped her win bronze in 1992 when she overcame a broken leg suffered just 10 weeks before the Barcelona Games. Laumann praised Spracklen for having the courage to go back on the water after being ousted by Rowing Canada. "Heres a guy whos just been fired by Rowing Canada, and hes not home licking his wounds," said Laumann. The tribute was organized by Kevin Light, a member of Canadas 2008 gold-medal eights crew and the 2011 silver-medal squad. Light only made the team after he won a race-off with fellow rower Scott Frandsen, who has criticized Spracklens methods and pushed for his dismissal. Spracklen has claimed that Frandsen had a "vendetta" against him because, after losing the row-off, he was forced to settle for silver in pairs in Beijing and missed a chance at gold. Spracklen declined to discuss the issue Thursday. "Do you really want to go down that road?" he asked. "Theres nothing to be gained from it. Theres nothing for me to gain. Im going. End of story." ' ' '