Galerie » r performers, even if the two Hart Trophy runners-up

TORONTO – Jose Bautista hit a home run (his 15th), threw a runner out trying to score, lined into a triple play and was denied a catch down the right field line thanks to fan interference (although the hitter, Tony Cruz, was ruled out when the Blue Jays challenged the ruling). All in a nights work for the slugger as the Jays won a sixth-straight game, 3-1 over the St. Louis Cardinals. “I think its got to be the most eventful game Ive ever had in my career,” said Bautista. “Id like to see if anybody could find somebody else to have a game with that combination of plays. Thatd be pretty awesome.” Whats becoming clearer as the days go by is that this is a good Blue Jays team. Mediocre or bad teams dont win nine in a row, drop a couple and then respond with another win streak thats now reached six. Torontos been victorious in 20 of its last 24 games, is at or near the top of the sports key offensive statistical categories and continues to get solid starting pitching and defence. “Were playing great baseball and were enjoying a great couple of months and we need to keep doing that so we can get to the playoffs,” said Bautista. “We just need to stay with the consistency. Same approach, same effort that were putting forward every single night and its a lot of fun when youre winning. Its the first time Ive ever experienced anything like this at this level so Im enjoying it a lot as well.” Marcus Stroman won his second-straight start and improved his big league record to 3-0, hurling six-plus innings of one-run ball. After a shaky start - he allowed the run in the first, and backed by strong defensive plays by Bautista and Brett Lawrie - Stroman settled in and ended up striking out seven Cardinals. His curveball, which confounded the Royals last Saturday, made for more misery for another Missouri-based team. “Its been huge just because I dont feel like I necessarily have to throw a fastball in a fastball count,” said Stroman. “Just being able to mix it up and keep guys off balance has been pretty good this year.” When Stroman was lifted by manager John Gibbons in the seventh, the fans gave him a standing ovation. “Yeah, its pretty special,” said Stroman. “I tried to do my best tough guy impersonation and tried not to smile but it was definitely pretty special walking off. Just to go out there and put my team in a position to win was awesome.” 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF ROGERS CENTRE Jimmy Key threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Ernie Whitt on Friday night. The two formed the battery for the first ever pitch thrown at SkyDome, a strike to Milwaukees Paul Molitor on June 5, 1989. It was a trip down memory lane in a stadium that so often is unfairly maligned. A technological wonder when it was built, some still see it that way. “Its a nice piece of architecture,” said Jose Bautista. “You come in here and you expect it to be kind of old and beat down and look out of place because its so old but it actually looks pretty modern from the outside looking in. I was surprised the first time I saw it. I was expecting something different. I was pleasantly surprised.” Fans old enough to remember that June night in 1989 and the four Blue Jays playoff appearances in the SkyDomes first five years may have a different opinion of the facility than the younger crowd thats yet to experience a winner. Still, fond memories abound, even those of the more recent variety. “Itd have to be probably the day that I hit the 50th home run,” said Bautista of September 24, 2010. “It was a pretty nice crowd in a day game and one of the unique features of the stadium was highlighted that day, you know, open roof on a beautiful day.” Only Cito Gaston has managed more games in Rogers Centre/SkyDome than John Gibbons. “Its an entertaining place,” said Gibbons. “Exciting, fans come here because some crazy things can happen. The ball flies. Youve got some bouncy turf. I really enjoy this place. One thing youre guaranteed, youre always going to have a game because they can close that roof.” NO QUIT When a team has won six in a row, 15 of 17 and 20 of 24 like the Blue Jays have after Fridays action, chances are resiliency is one of its characteristics. The clubs star player sees it. “Its something that I always thought, even from last year, that we never give up,” said Bautista. “We had a lot of tough games last year. We lost a lot of close games and we battled back from some blowouts and came close, not quite enough to come out with a win. I always noted that about this team where we never give up and we always fight.” Amid the wreckage of last years lost season, 32 of Torontos 74 victories were comeback wins. So far this season, the Blue Jays have 13 come-from-behind victories. RASMUS AND SANTOS UPDATES Centrefielder Colby Rasmus is nearing a return to game action as he recovers from a right hamstring injury. “Colbys doing baseball activities down (in Florida),” said Gibbons. “We figure at the beginning of the week hell probably get into a game.” Rasmus has been on the disabled list since May 13. What he originally believed wouldnt require a DL stint has turned into a near-month absence, a reminder of how uncertain muscle injuries can be. Sergio Santos threw a bullpen session before Thursdays game in Detroit. Gibbons wasnt clear on the plan moving forward. Earlier in the week the plan was for Santos to throw sides on Thursday (he did) and on Sunday and if he passed both tests, hed leave for Buffalo and a rehab assignment perhaps as early as Monday. Paul Krause Jersey . There are surprises among the Vezina candidates, but most of the others are standard top-tier performers, even if the two Hart Trophy runners-ups have never been quite as good as they have been through the first half of the season. Fran Tarkenton Jersey . Almost 40 years to the day, the two teams will meet again, this time at BC Place, to celebrate the past and try to earn important points for the present. http://www.authenticvikingspro.com/Adam-thielen-vikings-jersey/ . They named Mark Washington as their defensive co-ordinator on Thursday and appear to be closing in on an offensive co-ordinator. Dalvin Cook Jersey . -- Kevin Harvick pulled away on a restart with 47 laps to go and ended Chase Elliotts two-race winning streak in NASCARs Nationwide Series with a dominating victory early Saturday at Richmond International Raceway. Custom Minnesota Vikings Jerseys .com) - James Harden had 32 points, including a tying layup late in regulation, and the Houston Rockets scored eight of their 13 points in overtime at the foul line to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 117-111 on Friday night.Chapel Hill, NC (SportsNetwork.com) - Coming off a surprising loss at home in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, the 12th-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels look for some perspective, as they play host to instate rival East Carolina at the Smith Center on Sunday. Roy Williams squad has probably underachieved in the early going this season, now sitting at 5-2 on the year. The Tar Heels have impressive wins over the likes of UCLA and Florida on their resume, but have dropped a pair of games to Butler (74-66) and most recently, Iowa (60-55). UNC alum Jeff Lebo is in his fifth season as head coach of East Carolina. The Pirates havent exactly gotten off to a fast start, sitting at an even 4-4 through eight games. The team has alternated wins and losses thus far and enters this game off a 72-63 road loss at Florida Atlantic. North Carolina has won all three previous meetings with East Carolina, including the last one, a 93-87 shootout at the Smith Center in 2012. An obvious lack of consistency has plagued the Pirates in the early stages of the season, despite the team shooting a decent .467 from the floor overall. ECU is averaging 73.4 ppg this year and holds a +6.0 scoring margin to date. B.J. Tyson hasnt started a single game yet, but he does lead the team in scoring at 16.0 ppg. Caleb White is next in line at 14.4 ppg, followed by Terry Whisnant and his 11.5 ppg. The team did lose some depth early on with a hiip injury to Marshall Guilmette (12.dddddddddddd0 ppg) leaving him sidelined after just two games. It was poor shooting that did in the Pirates at FAU last week, as the team collectively shot just .388 from the floor, including a mere 3-of-11 from behind the arc. White led three Pirates in double figures in the loss, posting 18 points. Tyson added 16 off the bench, while Kanu Aja finished with 11. Poor shooting was what did in the Tar Heels at home last week against Iowa, as the hometown team shot under 30 percent from the floor in both halves and finished the game at a dismal 27.9 percent efficiency. The team made just 19 field goals overall and was an ugly 4-of-23 from long range. Kennedy Meeks continued his strong play in the frontcourt, posting a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds. Marcus Paige had 13 points in the loss, but failed to dole out a single assist in the game. The 55 points against the Hawkeyes were a season-low by a large margin, as UNC enters this game averaging a still impressive 77.6 ppg. Four of the teams five starters are averaging double-digit scoring totals, starting with Paiges 14.9 ppg. The 6-foot-9, 270-pound Meeks has been a force down low, shooting .633 from the field and averaging a double-double with 14.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. Justin Jackson and Brice Johnson round out the productive quartet with 11.0 and 10.1 ppg, respectively. Blackhawks Jerseys Store Cheap Wild Jerseys Cheap Red Wings Jerseys Cheap Maple Leafs Jerseys Penguins Jerseys Store Capitals Jerseys For Sale Blues Jerseys Store Cheap Kings Jerseys Adidas Lightning Jerseys Stars Jerseys For Sale Cheap Predators Jerseys Ducks Store Sharks Jerseys For Sale Cheap Sabres Jerseys Rangers Jerseys For Sale ' ' '