ekansekans's blog: "df"

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Max Scherzer tried to focus on simply giving his team a chance to win. The Detroit right-hander struck out seven in six innings and Miguel Cabrera had four hits and drove in two runs, helping the Detroit Tigers to a 5-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday night. Scherzer (7-5) allowed two runs and four hits in his second start following the death of his brother earlier this month. The right-hander was replaced after walking the only batter he faced in the seventh inning. "As difficult as the time is for me, you know for me its about going out there and pitching well and helping the team," Scherzer said. "We want to win. Any time I can go out there and give our team a chance to win, thats what Im all about." Cabrera hit a solo homer in the ninth and had two singles and a double to continue a hot stretch in which hes hit .342 over the past 46 games. The slugger has 11 RBIs in his last 13 games and seven homers in June after hitting nine in 51 games over April and May. His run-scoring single off James Shields (7-5) gave Scherzer a 4-1 lead. Delmon Young, Alex Avila and Quintin Berry also drove in runs for the Tigers off Shields, who allowed four runs and a career-high 14 hits in 7 2/3 innings. Austin Jackson had four hits off the Rays starter, helping Detroit end a two-game losing streak while extending Tampa Bays skid to four. "We were able to swing the bat good. When you swing good (good things happen)," said Cabrera, whos batting .312 with 16 homers and 62 RBIs. Scherzer, who has won six of his past eight decisions, gave up a RBI single to Elliot Johnson in the fifth inning. He walked Jeff Keppinger leading off the seventh, and Tampa Bay scored its second run when Brooks Conrad doubled off reliever Phil Coke and Berry mishandled the hit into the left-field corner for an error. Tigers manager Jim Leyland said Scherzer has been more consistent with his delivery lately. "When he gets the right arm slot going, and is not flopping around off the mound ... hes pretty consistent," Leyland said. "It was a good game. ... We pitched very well," Leyland added. "We got some big hits. Scherzer was good. The bullpen was good." The Rays have lost seven of nine and are 5-11 since June 11, when they were last in first place in the AL East. Theyre 1-3 against the Tigers this season and have dropped 10 of 12 to them. Scherzer left the Tigers this month after his brothers death, and returned two days later and allowed three runs and three hits over six innings of a 4-1 loss to Pittsburgh on June 23. Young, Avila and Berry staked Scherzer to an early three-run lead in this one that could have been much larger. The Tigers had a runner thrown out at the plate in the fourth and stranded eight while scattering 11 hits off Shields through the first five innings. They scored twice in the third, but may have had a much bigger if perfectly positioned Rays second baseman Keppinger hadnt snared Cabreras rising liner and turned what likely would have been a run-scoring extra-base hit into an unassisted double play. Scherzer didnt allow a runner past first base until Conrad doubled off the right-field wall and scored on Johnsons one-out single in the fifth for Tampa Bay. Coke and Joaquin Benoit got the Tigers through the seventh and eighth innings. Jose Valverde pitched the ninth to earn his 14th save in 17 opportunities. Detroit finished with 15 hits, including 11 singles off Shields. "They found every single hole you can possibly find. Theres nothing you can do about it," the Rays starter said. Shields didnt take solace in keeping his team close and pitching deep into the game. "You can compete all you want, and you can go deep into the game all you want," Shields said. "But the bottom line is you lost the game. Ive got to do a better job." NOTES: Rays 3B Evan Longoria, out since May 1, hasnt resumed baseball activities since feeling discomfort in his injured left hamstring during a minor league rehab assignment that was cut short on June 18. ... Tampa Bay activated DH Luke Scott (back stiffness) from the 15-day disabled list and optioned RHP Chris Archer to Triple-A Durham. RHPs Jeremy Hellickson (right shoulder inflammation) and Kyle Farnsworth (right elbow strain) are expected to return from the DL on Saturday. ... Tigers DH Victor Martinez had a follow-up MRI that shows improvement in his injured left knee. The best case scenario for a return this season remains mid-to-late September. Colin Kaepernick Elite Jersey . -- Jishan Sharples scored in double overtime as the McGill Redmen edged the Western Mustangs 7-6 on Sunday to win the Baggataway Cup. Colin Kaepernick Womens Jersey . Street, who has converted all 21 saves opportunities this season, was put on the DL before Saturday nights game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. http://elevatedcolor.com/new.html .J. -- The NFL players union might challenge former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue replacing Roger Goodell as the appeals officer in the Saints bounties case. SALT LAKE CITY -- Al Jefferson got two stiches over his left eye and returned to the game. Nothing was going to keep him from getting the Utah Jazz into the playoffs. When it mattered most, Jefferson came up huge, scoring eight straight points late in the fourth quarter to seal Utahs 100-88 victory over the Phoenix Suns, earn the Jazz the Western Conferences last playoff berth. "Its good to make people eat their words," Jefferson said of doubters who thought Utah was too young and inexperienced to reach post-season. "Thats what we did. Now its time to go and shock the world." Jefferson left the game with 7:30 remaining in the third quarter after suffering a gash over his left eye. "You should have seen me back there rushing the doctors," Jefferson said. He returned just as teammate Derrick Favours picked up his fourth foul. Then in the fourth, Aprils Western Conference player of the month took over. The Suns trailed 85-80 when Jefferson dunked off a baseline move then hit an 18-footer to start his personal run. He finished with 18 points and 16 rebounds, accepted high fives from his teammates then raised his right index finger skyward and punched the air as the final buzzer ended. "We contained Al for three quarters and then he started scoring all over the place," Phoenix centre Marcin Gortat said. "He got hot." Jefferson had put all the pressure on himself, calling Tuesday the biggest game of his career as he sought to get back to the playoffs for the first time since he was a rookie with Boston in 2005. The victory halted Utahs seven-game losing streak to the Suns, dating to March 2010. The Jazz can still move up to the No. 7 seed if they beat Portland on Thursday at home and Denver loses its final two games. The Suns, meanwhile, will miss the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Phoenixs regular-season finale at home against San Antonio on Wednesday could be Steve Nashs final game for the Suns. The two-time MVP and eight-time All-Star will become a free agent this summer and is seeking a three-year deal. "Phoenix feels like my team," he said as he iced down and enjoyed a beer with Jazz assistant Jeff Hornacek in the locker room. "It has the feel -- and you dont always get it in professional sports -- but it feels like a high school or college team. I spent so many years here and had so much success here. Its a special place for me, no question." Nash finished with 14 points and 11 assists but also had five turnovers. Jared Dudley and Michael Redd scored 15 apiece for Phoenix, and Hakim Warrick had 12 for thee Suns, who were without 6-foot-11 forward Channing Frye because of a shoulder injury.dddddddddddd Forward Grant Hill tried to play after missing four games with a sore knee. But he started 0 for 3 and lasted only 3 minutes. "Their bigs gave us a really hard time," Nash said. "Without Channing and Grant, it would have been just too much to ask." It didnt help that the Jazz have a new Big 3. It used to be Karl Malone, John Stockton and coach Jerry Sloan. Now its a lineup that features Jefferson at centre, moves Paul Millsap to small forward and inserts Favours, a second-year pro, at power forward. Tuesday night they combined for 57 points, 42 rebounds and eight blocked shots. "On the offensive end, it creates a mismatch," said Millsap, who led Utah with 26 points and 15 rebounds. "On the defensive end you got me out there roaming, and got two shot-blockers down the middle. We got the best of both worlds." The Jazz return to the playoffs after missing out last year in a season that saw Hall of Famer Sloan abruptly resign Feb. 10, 2011, and the team trade superstar point guard Deron Williams two weeks later. They did it despite being two games under .500 after a March 14 loss at Phoenix, playing lineups jumbled by injuries and by giving their under-21 players plenty of playing time. Utah also has played seven overtime games, including a double-overtime loss to Toronto, triple-overtime win over Dallas and quadruple-overtime loss in Atlanta. Seventeen other games have been decided by five points or fewer. The Jazz go into the playoffs with seven of their 14 players age 26 or younger, including four who are 21 or younger -- Gordon Hayward, Favours, Enes Kanter and Alec Burks. Though young, they are on a roll. Tuesdays win was their fourth straight, much to the delight of the crowd, which rose to its feet and chanted "Playoffs, Playoffs" toward games end. Jefferson cracked up at the thought. Hes used to hearing chants for the No. 1 draft pick. "Seven long years, seven long years since Ive been in the playoffs," Jefferson said. "Its a great opportunity. A lot of people counted us out. Its a great group of guys and everyone on our team deserves it." NOTES: The Jazz announced backup PG Earl Watson wont play again until next season after right knee surgery April 17. ... Jazz SG Raja Bell was active for the first time after missing 13 games with a knee injury but did not play. ... Favours five blocks in the first half tied his career high. ... Hayward tied a career high with eight assists. ' ' '