ekansekans's blog: "df"

BALTIMORE -- Add Camden Yards to the expansive list of stadiums that cant contain the masterful bat of Albert Pujols. Stephen Nicholas Jersey . Pujols homered in his first game in Baltimore, C.J. Wilson allowed one run in seven innings, and the Los Angeles Angels had a season-high 17 hits in a 7-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night. Held hitless by the Orioles during a three-game series on the West Coast in April, Pujols promptly doubled in his first at-bat against Brian Matusz. Then, in the fifth inning, the slugger ripped a 1-0 pitch into the inviting left-field seats to stake the Angels to a 3-0 lead. Pujols has now homered in 33 ballparks off 282 different pitchers. "Its just a testament to what a career hes had," teammate Mark Trumbo said. "He sure didnt wait very long. Best hitter in this era." If Pujols was impressed with the feat, he apparently had no desire to talk about it. Long after the game ended, he still hadnt arrived at his locker. Los Angeles finished with a season-high four homers. Peter Bourjos, Trumbo and John Hester also connected for the Angels, who have won 12 of 16 overall and 12 of their last 13 road games. "This park is always been a park where the ball flies," manager Mike Scioscia said. "In this park you just have to put it in your mind there are going to be home runs. Its a nice offensive park." It hasnt been that way lately for the Orioles, who were held in check by Wilson (9-4). The left-hander gave up six hits, struck out two and walked two to improve to 5-0 in seven starts since May 18. Wilson has a 1.30 ERA over that span. "My sinker was great the first couple of innings and then just checked out of the hotel. It was going to Toronto I guess," he joked. "We had to adjust on the fly." Steve Pearce and Wilson Betemit homered for the Orioles, who have lost five of seven. Baltimore has scored a total of 11 runs over those seven games. The Orioles went 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position and are 2 for 41 in that situation over their last eight games. "You have to take the positive out of it. We keep getting ourselves into position, we just need to hit," centre fielder Adam Jones said. "Weve left some guys on base, we had the opportunity to score more runs, and we didnt. But we had the opportunity. We have to bear down, get in scoring position and get that hit. Its not easy." Matusz (5-9) allowed five runs and a career-high 13 hits in five-plus innings. He has lost four straight starts, and on each occasion failed to get out of the sixth inning. "Its been just a couple pitches here and there each game," the left-hander said. "Its just being able to eliminate the mistakes and get back on track." Pujols hit his team-high 18th double with two outs in the first inning but was stranded. In the second, Los Angeles had runners at second and third with two outs before Hester hit a fly ball to the warning track in left. The Angels broke through in the third, going up 1-0 when Mike Trout led off with a double and scored on a single by Torii Hunter. In the Los Angeles fourth, Erick Aybar inexplicably tried to score from first on a two-out single to centre by Hester and didnt get near the plate before being tagged out by Matt Wieters. After going hitless over the first three innings, Baltimore used two singles and a stolen base to put runners at the corners with one out in the fourth. The next two batters, however, failed to hit the ball out of the infield. Pujols homered in the fifth after Hunter singled. Pearce connected in the bottom half, the first homer off Wilson in eight starts since May 12, but Baltimore couldnt add on after getting runners to second and third with one out. Bourjos chased Matusz in the sixth with a two-run drive, and Trumbo hit a shot in the seventh off Tommy Hunter that travelled an estimated 448 feet. Hester homered off Kevin Gregg in the eighth, and Betemit connected with a man on against Jason Isringhausen in the bottom half. NOTES: Pujols has 11 homers and 34 RBIs in 38 games since May 15. ... Hester finished with a career-best three hits. Howie Kendrick also had three hits. ... Jones stole third base in the fourth inning, Baltimores first steal in 18 games since June 5. ... In the series finale Wednesday, the Angels will send Jered Weaver (7-1) to the mound and the Orioles will start Jason Hammel, whos 4-0 at home and 8-2 overall. ... Los Angeles is 35-19 since a 6-14 start. ... Aybar extended his hitting streak to 11 games. Sean Weatherspoon Jersey . The moment Jones said hell savour in retirement came after a dramatic homer that can help his chances of one more post-season. Jones hit a three-run homer off Jonathan Papelbon with two outs in the ninth inning, capping a five-run rally that sent the Atlanta Braves over the Philadelphia Phillies 8-7 on Sunday. Jonathan Babineaux Jersey . Scott Cullen breaks down Monday nights NHL playoff action. GOING SEVENThe New York Rangers forced a Game Seven in their opening round series with the Ottawa Senators, winning 3-2 in Ottawa in Game Six. http://www.theatlantafalconsgear.com/matt-bryant-jerseys . The win on grass a week ahead of Wimbledon was just Clijsters second since returning from a three-month hip injury. She lost the opening set to Romina Oprandi on Sunday and struggled in the second before taking control of that match. Elite Roddy White Jersey . The NHLs senior vice-president of hockey operations will oversee a rules summit with key stakeholders in the game Tuesday and Wednesday that is tasked with examining the way hooking, holding and interference calls were handed out last season. Elite Julio Jones Jersey . -- In their season opener, the Orlando Magic embraced new coach Jacque Vaughns free-flowing style and grabbed a surprise lopsided victory.VANCOUVER -- For much of the season, it was almost considered a given. But as the end of Major League Soccers regular season draws near, the playoff spot that seemed to be a sure thing is not necessarily so anymore for the Vancouver Whitecaps. With that in mind, the visiting Whitecaps will attempt to put some distance between themselves and FC Dallas in the standings when the teams meet Saturday in a Texas showdown. The fifth-place Whitecaps (10-11-7) lead sixth-place Dallas (8-12-9) by four points in the race for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. After a strong start to the season, Vancouver has struggled through most of the second half. The Whitecaps have lost four straight, while surging Dallas has gone 3-1-2 in its past six. "You have to be smart and not panic, because were not in a panic stage," said Vancouver captain Jay DeMerit. "Were still in a good spot. After a pretty long slide, were still in a pretty good spot, so thats a major positive for us, because we know that weve had great instances of character this year." They need a another one now. The Whitecaps are coming off a disappointing 2-0 away loss to Los Angeles and a two-week international break due to World Cup qualifying. Several regulars did not suit up against the powerhouse Galaxy because of suspension, injuries and coach Martin Rennies desire to rest players before the stretch drive to the seasons finish line. Most of the regulars are expected back, including top scorer Darren Mattocks, who was suspended for the L.A. game after picking up a red card against Portland, and steady defenders Young-Pyo Lee and Alain Rochat, who were rested. Their return offers an opportunity for a better result. However the Whitecaps are still trying to develop more consistency after making several mid-season roster moves. Newcomers Barry Robson, Dane Richards, Kenny Miller and Andy OBrien have played well, but have not yet made a difference in the standings. Still, DeMerit is confident that the Whitecaps can excel at crunch time. Tony Gonzalez Jerseys. "Weve bounced back and had some good performances, and the guys that have done that are still here," he said. "Weve added quality players that are still trying to work into doing that with us ... we all know that theres enough in the dressing room to go not only to the playoffs, but to try to compete in the playoffs. That has to be our goal." Saturdays contest is Vancouvers second-last road test of the regular season before four home games and a season-ender in Salt Lake. Rennie said he is not overly upset about the teams play of late, but he still wants to see a better effort. "Its something that we have to improve on, but Im more focused on what we do next rather than what we did before," he said. The coach and his staff have focused on keeping the teams confidence high during the rough patch and getting better. Never mind that the four-game losing skid is Vancouvers longest of the season. "Were not getting too down about it, but at the same time we know that its a very important time in the season -- and we know that its most important that we finish strong," said Rennie. As it stands now, the second-year Whitecaps are in a much better position than they were at this time last season, when they finished with just six wins -- all at home -- and finished last in the league. Even with another loss, they will have an opportunity to control their own destiny in the final homestand. But president Bob Lenarduzzi did not downplay the importance of Saturdays game in relation to the teams post-season hopes. "We need to get out of (the losing skid) ... you have to play your way out of it, and thats where the coaching staff and the players need to come together," he said. "If you cant get up for the next game against Dallas, you shouldnt be in this league. Thats a game that, if we get the right result, we could pretty much see them off in terms of catching us." ' ' '