The Detroit Tigers fell 7-2 to the Minnesota Twins on May 4th at Comerica Park in front of 21,298 fans.

 

Both teams got off to a slow start. Detroit’s starting pitcher Edwin Jackson only allowed one run in the first six innings, the score coming on Jason Kubel’s double in the second.

 

Minnesota pitcher Francisco Liriano suffered his first run in the bottom of the sixth when Miquel Cabrera smacked a solo home run to left center field.

 

Detroit couldn’t keep up the pace, however, and Minnesota soared ahead with five runs in the seventh inning. Jackson threw to four batters in the seventh, including the two run triple by Michael Cuddyer. Jackson gave away three runs with no outs before he was relieved by Brandon Lyon, who moved Delmon Young to first when he hit him with a ball.

 

Nick Punto reached on a fielder’s choice that put Michael Cuddyer out at home, but the damage had already been done. With Young and Punto at first and second, Lyon was pulled and replaced by Clay Rapada who tossed to Denard Span. Span hit a single to load the bases.  A single by Alex Casilla plates Young and Punto putting the Twins in the lead 6-1.

 

Detroit makes an attempt at a rally in the eighth, when Placido Polanco doubles, leaving Adam Everett on third, prompting a pitching change. Matt Guerrier relieves Liriano to shut down the inning, but not before plating Everett off of a Magglio Ordonez ground out.

 

“It’s been going on really since the start of the season,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. “We’ve been inconsistent with our offense. We just haven’t gotten enough guys going at the same time, same day, same night, whatever. We just haven’t gotten our offense rolling yet. We’ve got too many guys not swinging well. So we have to get that going, but we will.”
 

Minnesota added a run in the ninth when Carlos Gomez doubled, then scored on a single by Span.

 

Liriano celebrated his first win, coming off a 0-4 skid, pitching seven innings and only allowing two runs on four hits. He walked three but struck out a season high nine batters.

 

“Tonight was a great night,” said Liriano. “I was able to throw my pitches whenever I wanted. And I got that first win out of the way. I was just thinking about it every time I got out there. Hopefully, I can keep throwing the ball like that.”

Jackson suffered the loss, pitching six nearly scoreless innings and recording a season high with seven strikeouts. He allowed five runs on five hits with two walks.

“He’s (Jackson) always had stuff,” Cuddyer said. “He’s always thrown 95-98 mph. He’s always had a good slider. The rap on him is that if you wait long enough, you’ll get a free pass. Tonight [against] a lot of guys, he was 0-2, 1-2, pounding the strike zone.”

Jim Yang is a writer for sportsfantreasures.com check out his Detroit Tigers Merchandise or his Detroit Tigers Christmas Ornaments

After a 6-1 deficit in the third inning, the Seattle Mariners pulled ahead to win the series opener against the Oakland A’s on May 1st in front of 25,760 anxious fans at Safeco field,

“It is great to win that ballgame, especially after being down by five runs,” manager Don Wakamatsu said after the game. “It was outstanding to cap it off with Lopez’s 14-pitch at-bat. That was pretty special.”
 

 After reaching third on walks by Endy Chavez and Mike Sweeney, Ichiro Suzuki scores on a sacrifice fly to right field to give Seattle an early lead in the bottom of the first inning.

 

It was short lived, however as Oakland rallied in the third to plate six runners. Ryan Sweeney came out and hit a double. With two outs, Jason Giambi walked before Matt Holliday singled on a ground ball to center field to score Sweeney and Giambi.

 

Carlos Silva walked, and Kurt Suzuki doubled on a line drive to left. Travis Buck got a walk off of Silva and Bobby Crosby smacked a triple to drive Cust, Suzuki, and Buck over the plate.

 

Seattle added two in the bottom of the frame on Jose Lopez’s two RBI single to drive in Sweeney and Adrian Beltre.

 

Mike Sweeney walked off a pitch by Miguel Batista in the fifth inning , then scores on Russell Branyan’s homer on a fly ball to center field. Kenji Johima singles on a grounder before Gutierrez smacks the second homer of the bottom half.

 

Matt Holiday knotted the score in the seventh when he smashed a homer off of Sean White, but in the ninth inning Seattle came back to win the game on Jose Lopez’s RBI base hit to plate Chavez.

 

I have never had an at-bat like that,” Lopez said. “After about six pitches, I was pretty relaxed. He threw me everything, and the more pitches I saw, the more confident I got. I told myself, ‘This is my time to win the game.’”
 

Russ Springer took the mound to close the inning, allowing Endy Chavez to single before walking Sweeney. Chavez advanced to third on Beltre’s fly out, and Springer intentionally walks Branyan. With Bases loaded and two outs, Lopez and Springer battled for 14 pitches, and nine foul balls, before Lopez landed the single.

 

“I just wanted him to put it in play because, at that point, I was about out of bullets,” Springer said. “I’d have liked for him to pop up one of those balls he kept fouling off, but you just do what you do.

“You go out there and give it everything you’ve got and sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.”

Shawn Kelley was credited with his first Major League win, pitching 1.2 innings, and retiring all four batters he faced in the eight and ninth.

 

Dana Eveland suffered the loss, allowing seven runs on ten hits in just 4 2/3 innings, losing the third inning five run cushion to Branyan and Gutierrez in the fifth.

Jerry Woods is a writer for Sportsfantreasures.com. Check out his Seattle Mariners merchandise or Seattle Mariners Christmas Ornaments

Duke Blue Devils

August 27, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Duke University is private research university at Durham, North Carolina with the football team called Duke Blue Devil. The home stadium is Wallace Wade Stadium. The team has so far won one national title and 17 conference titles. However in recent years the team has not been doing well and was last in ACC- Coastal standings in 2008 with a conference tally of 1-7 and overall tally of 4-8. Duke Blue Devil store has a magnificent collection of gears, gifts and apparels to appeal everyone. The head coach David Cutcliffe is in his second year and has a challenge cut out for him. He seeks a better performance in 2009. With both quarter backs starter Thaddeus Lewis and backup Sean Renfree, the offense is better; Defensive tackle Vince Oghobaase is back after recovery from an injury ; Wide receiver Donovan Varner with Johnny Lewis will be a young pair to watch. Beside these RB Re’quan Boyette who missed 2008 season after a knee injury is back. Will Duke Blue Devil do better in 2009? Yes, if one takes in account that they won four games last season which is the combined total of the games they won in last four years.

Vijah Smith is a writer for LeatherBeltStore.com you can check out his Duke Belts or Duke Wallets or you could see his Fathers Day Gifts

Texas Longhorns

August 25, 2009 | Leave a Comment

The Texas Longhorns defeated the Oklahoma Sooners 8-5 to sweep the Big 12 conference series on April 19th at Disch-falk field. Over two daysm, the teams battled in front of 14,844 fans, marking the largest two day regular season crowd in the history of the field.

 

The Sooners put two runs on the board in the top of the second after Longhorns starting pitcher Brandon Workman loaded the bases on his second walk of the inning, putting Chris Ellison on first base.

 

Jamie Johnson smacked a two run double up the middle to score Cameron Seitzer and Tyler Ogle.

 

Texas took the lead in a four run third when Oklahoma’s Garret Richards walked four consecutive batters before being relieved by JR Robinson. Brandon Belt started the rally with a single through the left side before stealing second. Tant Shepherd, Cameron Rupp, Kevin Lusson, and Brandon Loy all walked sending Belt and Shepard across the plate. Rowe singled to send Lusson and Rupp in, and Loy was picked off at third.

 

The Texas Batter’s showed their chops. Rupp and Tucker each had two hits apiece and Torres and Rowe each notched two RBI. Belt improved his hitting streak to 14.

 

Oklahoma answered with a two RBI homer by Ellison and a sacrifice fly by Brian Heranandez to score Johnson and take the lead 5-4.

 

Texas tied the game in their half of the inning when Micheal Torres scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by Kevin Keyes.

 

After no real showing by Oklahoma in the fifth, Torres hit a two RBI triple to score Loy and Rowe, then crossed home on another sacrifice to right field by Belt for the final, 8-5.

 

Texas did rally in the seventh, but was unable to make anything happen when, with bases loaded and no outs, Belt grounded into double play putting Rowe out at home. Tucker and Torres were left on base for a second chance, but Shepherd flied out to center field.  

“It’s a disappointing weekend,” said OU Head Coach Sunny Golloway.  “They outplayed us in all three games and knocked us out of first place.  We need to regroup and focus on the rest of the season.  There is still a lot of baseball to be played and we have ground to make up.”
Chase Anderson suffered the loss for Oklahoma after handing over three hits in the fifth inning before he was relieved by both Michael Rocha and Ryan Duke who held Texas scoreless for the last three innings.

Taylor Jungmann picked up the win after throwing 4 innings of scoreless relief. He threw three strikeouts and five hits, while Austin Wood pitched his 100th game, becoming the fourth pitcher to reach that milestone in the history of the school. He struck out the only batter he faced in the eighth inning.

 

Texas claimed its 10th win in a row and seventh consecutive win in Big 12 play. They remain in first place in the conference.

 

Billy Burns is a writer for LeatherBeltStore.com you can check out his Texas Longhorn Belts or Texas Longhorns Wallets or even his Military Gifts

Florida Gators

August 23, 2009 | Leave a Comment

The Florida Gators suffered their second loss of the season when scoring in the first inning, and their second loss of the season when playing mistake free baseball, on April 19th when they played an eight inning rubber match of the series against Ole Miss at McKethan stadium. 

“I thought our game plan was good,” Gators head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “We got his (Scott Bittle) pitch count up. Our goal was to get Bittle to 100 pitches through five (innings) and that’s exactly what we did. Although we got him to 103 pitches through five innings, Bittle’s an All-American for a reason. 

“The thing that’s disappointing is that we walked six batters and three of them scored. We walked the leadoff batter four times. We talked about it, but when the leadoff guy (Jordan Henry) has 23 stolen bases coming in to the game, you have to make him hit his way on. Three of the walks scored and we lost by two.”

The Gators bit first, scoring two runs as Adams sandwiched a single around four walks. Daniel Pigott and Avery Barnes drew back to back walks with Pigott scoring on Josh Adams’ single. Brandon Mcarthur walked to load the bases then Teddy Foster walked for an RBI as Barnes crossed the plate.

 

Ole Miss tied it up in the top of the third. Henry walked before Kyle Henson smacked a two RBI homer. Smith singled and stole second but was unable to complete the journey before Miller struck out swinging.

 

Adams tried to pull something together for the Longhorns but was caught and picked off at second for the third out.

 

Ole Miss rallied two runs to one in the fifth inning to take the lead 4-3.

 

Henry walked, stole second, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Henson, then scored on a wild pitch by Greg Larson, who relieved Alex Panteliodis at the top of the inning.

 

Miller added and RBI single scoring Logan Power who’d reached on an intentional walk.

 

Preston Tucker added the solo run for Texas in the bottom of the fifth on a single by Adams.

 

Tim Ferguson crossed the plate adding the final run in the sixth as Henry hit a single with two runs on base.

 

“We just ground it out today,” said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. “Bittle struggled a bit early but he was close on his pitches. Then he settled in and really took control of the game. We got some key hits from there. Kyle (Henson) was tremendous and came up with the key home run and then hit to extend the lead. And then you look at Jordan Henry with all his walks and stolen bases today.”
 

Scott Bittle was awarded the win with three runs on five hits, walking one and retiring eight of the batters he faced in six innings on the mound.  Jake Morgan held the Longhorns with six outs for the save.

 

Panteliodis played four innings, giving up three runs on four hits and four walks while striking out two for the loss.

Freddie Smith is a writer for LeatherBeltStore.com you can check out his Florida Gator Belts or Florida Gator Wallets or you could check out his Mens Gifts

 

Georgia Bulldogs

August 21, 2009 | Leave a Comment

On April 18th, the No. 1 ranked Georgia Bulldogs took their second straight win over the Arkansas Razorbacks 4-3 at Foley field.

 

Georgia recorded three runs on six hits for the game, while Arkansas had four runs on nine hits.

 

For the second straight game, Arkansas scored first, when in the top of the third, James McCann hit a double off Geogria starting pitcher Alex McRee. Chase Leavitt followed with an RBI single to take the lead 1-0.

 

The Bulldogs couldn’t answer and Arkansas added another run in the fourth. Tom Hauksey reached second when McRee walked Andy Wilkins, then Colin Kuhn sent Hauksey over the plate on a sacrifice bunt.

 

McRee’s error on the play allowed the unearned run and left a runner on second and third with no outs. McRee struck out the next batter for the first out and Rich Poythress got the next two on a double play. McCann hit a foul to send it out of play, but Poythress jumped over the fence for the catch, then threw to home to put out Wilkins, saving the inning.

 

Poythress tied it up in the sixth with a two RBI homer, and the Dogs took the lead in the seventh.  

 

Jonathan Taylor doubled and a sacrifice bunt by Levi Hyams put him on third before Matt Cerione smacked a double to send Taylor home.

 

Poythress’ homer was the 35th of his career, and he recorded his 61st and 62nd RBI on the play.

 

Wilkins answered in the eight with his 11th career home run to tie the game at 3-3.

 

Cerione stuck another double in the ninth to score pinch runner Miles Starr for the win. He led the game with three hits and two RBI.

“Matt has been playing really well for us lately,” Georgia coach David Perno said. “He’s huge for this team and when he plays well like he has been we are a much better team.”

Alex McRee held Arkansas to two runs – one unearned on four hits in 5.2 innings. Dean Weaver, who pitched the ninth inning, was rewarded the win.

 

Colby May and Poythress each recorded two hits, including Poythress’ 17th homer of the season in the eighth.

 

Mike Bolsinger suffered the loss.

“We’re frustrated that we couldn’t put them away or get the big out” Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said.  “We should have put together a big inning and needed to do some damage.”
 

T.J. Forrest pitched six innings for Arkansas, allowing two runs on five hits. He struckout three and recorded no walks.

Wilkins had a great game as well. He was hit by a pitch, stole a base, walked and hit a home run.

 

The win marked Georgia’s third straight one run win in League play.

“We’re playing great and doing a bunch of things well,” Perno said. “Hopefully tomorrow everyone can come out swinging the bat and we can work our magic a little more.”

Joey Hall is a writer for LeatherBeltStore.com check out his Georgia Bulldog Belts and Georgia Bulldog Wallets or you could see his Corporate Gifts

LSU TIGERS

August 19, 2009 | Leave a Comment

The LSU Tigers defeated the Southeastern Louisiana Lions 6-5 on April 21st in a close game that held both teams scoreless for the last five innings of the game in Alex Box stadium.

 

Cass Hargis opened the game with a single, stole second and scored on Josh Cryer’s single to center field.

 

LSU answered in the bottom of the second when DJ LeMahieu scored on Micah Gibbs’ pop fly into double play with two on base and one out.

 

SLU scored three runs in the third inning, only to be topped by LSU at the bottom when they added five runs.

 

Ty Summerlin doubled and Hargis walked, putting two on base when

Brandon Street

popped an RBI double to score Summerlin. Hargis got in on a ground out by Cryer and Joe Sparacino singled to send Street across the plate.

 

Shawn Herring allowed five runs in the bottom of the third walking two and advancing Mikie Mahtook and Austin Nola. Mahtook scored on a ground out before Ryan Schimpt smacked his 11th homerun of the season, driving in Nola. Blake Dean homered, adding to his nine game hitting streak for his seventh home run.

 

Another error by Herring put Ochinko on the base before Jared Mitchell sent him over the plate with a single.

 

Herring suffered the loss for SLU after only three innings on the mound.

 

Robert Rugg relieved Herring to keep SLU down by one in the last five innings, allowing just one hit and two walks. Rugg retired the first nine batters he faced with four strikeouts.

 

The Lions scored one more run in the fourth when Justin Boudreaux stole second then crossed the plate on a single by Summerlin.

 

The LSU Bullpen, including Ben Alsup, Spencer Matthews, Paul Bertuccini, Daniel Bradshaw and Matty Ott, held SLU scoreless for the rest of the game. 

 

LSU defeated Southeastern Louisiana for the second time this season, allowing only five runs, despite the fact the Tiger bullpen gave up 16 hits to the Lions.

 

“Austin Nola is inordinately skilled as a shortstop,” LSU head coach Paul Mainieri said, explaining his decision to insert Nola at shortstop. “He has great instincts for getting to the ball. He’s got good range. He’s got super hands and a strong, accurate throwing arm. I think he can be one of the very best defensive shortstops around.

 

“I thought we could upgrade our infield defense by having a little more range and a chance to turn some double plays by making this move. This was a tough decision, but when you have great kids, then you can make moves that can strengthen your team.”

 

Mitchell had an impressive game, recording two hits, including an RBI single, a stolen base, and a walk. 

 

Ben Alsup was awarded his first career win, pitching for six innings, and allowing six runs -1 unearned on 10 hits with four strikeouts.

 

“It was a hard-earned victory,” Mainieri said. “We didn’t hit great. We got a few clutch hits. We got a couple of big home runs, and the kids played great on defense.

Jerry Garner is a sportswriter for LeatherBeltStore.com check out his LSU Belts or LSU Wallets or you can also see his Goomsman Gifts

Florida Football

August 17, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Florida football has been making history as of late. Tim Tebow, the phenomenal quarterback literally has been etched in history and he’s not even through. The University of Florida’s athletic department has carved in stone the promise-speech Tebow gave after their one loss of last season before going on to win yet another inspiring BCS national championship over the powerhouse offensive team Oklahoma Sooners. It was a speech that will be remembered in many people’s minds but just in case, it’s permanently carved in stone of the new football complex. If there has ever been one, Tebow and his Florida Gators could truly be the team of destiny this year.
Tim Tebow’s speech was more of a statement but whatever you may call it, it’s the kind of thing that deserves to be remembered. It started out as an apology to the fans of the University of Florida and then a promise that the loss to Ole Miss was not in vain, that something would be learned and that no other player in college football would work any harder or push his team any harder than him. It was inspirational obviously to the team but seems to deserve a little more attention now that they have been undefeated since then and have brought home another BCS championship.
Earlier in the speech he referred to his personal desire to go undefeated, that it was one of the team’s goals, and that was a reason to apologize. Any team that sees itself as that caliber of team has the capability to go down in the history books. Since that speech they have been undefeated and since Tebow is back again, this could be the year that Florida goes undefeated for the first time in school history. If they do, the promise speech from Tim Tebow could “take on a life of its own,” as Vern Lundquist has already said.
Coach Urban Meyer has somewhat downplayed the speech saying that there were a lot of players on this championship team that stepped up as leaders and of course, he is right. Meyer will have many of those leaders back for this season which is reason to believe something very special in college football is on the horizon. A big hit will be suffered with the loss of Percy Harvin to the NFL and offensive tackles Phil Trautwein and Jason Watkins have graduated but Florida’s recruiting prowess will be evident with a replacement of the few vacancies by some of the finest young athletes the country can offer.
Spring practice has already begun and a swagger and sway befitting the best football program in the nation is easily seen. High expectations are obviously there but not without reason. If the existing quarterback, the greatest in the history of Florida football, can have a speech of his etched to the side of the stadium and not be affected then there’s no reason to believe anything will distract them from winning another BCS championship on January 8, 2010. If there is a distraction between now and then, we know who we can expect to rally the Gators.
 Jay Mathews is a sportswriter for SportsFanTreasures.com check out his Florida Gators Gear and Florida Gators Shirts

San Diego Padres

August 15, 2009 | Leave a Comment

The San Diego Padres lost the series opener against the LA Dodgers at Dodgers stadium on April 30th in front of a sold out 54,628 fans.

 

The Dodgers’ Manny Rodriquez scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning when he doubled on a fly ball before he scored on a fly ball to left field by Andre Ethier.

 

The Padres answer with three runs in the top of the second to take the lead.  Adrian Gonzales singles on a line drive before Dodger starting pitcher James McDonald tosses three consecutive walks, the last resulting in a Gonzalez run.

 

With bases loaded and no outs, Luis Rodriquez grounded into double play putting out Nick Hundley at second as  Chase Headley crossed the plate. Josh Greer added a single to score Kevin Kouzmanoff before a wild pitch advanced Greer to second.

 

Brian Giles reaches first on McDonald’s fourth walk to prompt a pitching change. Jeff Weaver takes the mound and after walking David Eckstein to load the bases, Matt Kemp halted the threat on a fly out by Jody Gerut.

 

“The guys that we have … are going to be given an opportunity on a regular basis to see what they can do … to prove what they can do at this level,” Padres manager Bud Black said. “It’s a baptism by fire for a lot of these guys.”

Jeff Weaver found his groove and held the Padres scoreless in the next four innings.

 

The Dodger’s took a one point lead in the bottom of the third when with one out Rafael Furcal doubled to left field, right before Orlando Hudson and Manny Ramirez smash back to back home runs. Greer throws two fly outs to close the inning.

 

Scott Hairston walked to open the seventh frame, crossing the plate on a double by Gonzalez. Ronald Belisario replaces Will Ohman on the mound before Headley singles to put runners at the corners.

 

Headley is forced out as Kouzmanoff grounds to second baseman Hudson but not before Gonzalez crossed home.

 

The Dodgers come back in the bottom half to regain the lead with two runs.

 

Luke Gregerson replaces Greer on the mound and puts Kemp on first. Casey Blake singled advancing Kemp to third before pinch hitter Mark Loretta singled on a fly ball to score Kemp.

 

Hudson lands a single and with one out, Blake scores on a missed catch by Hundley.

 

“That shouldn’t happen, when a guy on third is stopped,” Black said. “In close games, late in games, you have to make plays.”

Gregerson intentionally walks Ramirez to load the bases before Gregerson is relieved by Edward Mujica and Ethier grounds into a double play to close the inning.

 

James Loney singles on a Kemp double and Blake drives Kemp home with a single grounder.  

 

“Some young guys are settling into the Major Leagues,” Black said of a bullpen that is filled with four rookies and several other players short on Major League service time. “Hopefully, they have the arms and the stuff. It’s been a little spotty out of the bullpen.”

John Ray is a writer for SportsFanTreasures.com check out his San Diego Padres Merchandise or his San Diego Padres Christmas Ornaments

 

Georgia Tech is a team poised for a breakout in 2009. They tied Virginia Tech for the Coastal division title in 2008, but a regular season loss to the Hokies meant that Virginia Tech got to play for the conference championship. Things will only get better as the players now have a year under their belts with coach Paul Johnson’s unique offense. Many people are expecting the Yellow jackets to be a strong contender for the ACC championship in 2009. Things are already better, as a victory over Georgia can be remembered in the Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket store for the first time in seven years.

Joshua Jones is a sportswriter for SportsFanTreasures. Check out his Georgia Tech Bookstore