going into the round of 16 from zgr123's blog
ST. Doug Gilmour Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Salvador Perez gave the Royals a late lift Wednesday night heading into a key midseason series. Perez hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the ninth inning and Kansas City beat Tampa Bay 5-4 to take two of three from the Rays. The second-place Royals return home Thursday night to begin a four-game series against AL Central-leading Detroit, which has a 4 1/2-game lead. "That was a huge win for us," Kansas City manager Ned Yost said. "Thats the difference between 4 1/2 games back compared to 5 1/2 games back. Definitely nice to have a little momentum going home for the last four games before the All-Star break. Its a lot better than the alternative." Kirby Yates (0-1), the fifth Tampa Bay reliever, entered with runners at the corners and gave up Perezs one-out shot into the left-field corner. Perez wasnt sure if the drive would stay fair or even clear the low fence near the foul pole. "As soon as the ball hit on the other side, good for us," he said. Its been a big week for Perez, chosen Sunday to start at catcher for the American League in next weeks All-Star game. Aaron Crow (4-1) pitched a scoreless eighth and Greg Holland got three outs for his 24th save. All-Star outfielder Alex Gordon (sprained right wrist) and third baseman Mike Moustakas (flu) were not in Kansas Citys starting lineup. In addition, left-hander Jason Vargas was taken to the hospital for an appendectomy. Gordon entered as a ninth-inning defensive replacement. He will have an MRI exam Thursday. "I dont think its anything serious," he said. Kevin Kiermaier went 4 for 4 with a grand slam for the Rays. Tampa Bay, which lost for the fourth time in 14 games, missed a chance to gain a game on AL East-leading Baltimore. The Rays remained nine games back of the Orioles in fourth place. "It stings a little bit," Yates said. "Its a game we could have won and we needed to win. Obviously, it doesnt feel good. Its a situation where you let your team down, but theres nothing I can do about it now." After starter Yordano Ventura walked light-hitting Jose Molina to load the bases with two outs in the fourth, Kiermaier sent a shot into the right-field stands to give Tampa Bay a 4-2 lead. Eric Hosmer hit a first-pitch solo homer with two outs in the first off Alex Cobb that put the Royals up 1-0. It was the first time Cobb pitched against Kansas City since being struck near the right ear June 15 last year by a liner hit by Hosmer. Cobb, sidelined for two months due to problems that included a concussion and symptoms of vertigo, allowed two runs and six hits in 6 2-3 innings. Ventura gave up four runs, five hits and four walks in five innings. He struck out five. The Royals loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth, but scored just once to take a 2-0 lead on Raul Ibanezs grounder. Kansas City failed to score with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh when reliever Grant Balfour got a pop fly from Perez. NOTES: Kansas City is 2-37 when trailing entering the ninth inning. ... Tampa Bay SS Yunel Escobar (shoulder) could return Friday. ... Kansas City RHP Jeremy Guthrie (5-7) and Tigers LHP Drew Smyly (4-8) are Thursdays scheduled starters. ... The Rays are off Thursday before starting a three-game series Friday night against Toronto. Al Macinnis Blues Jersey . The 22-year-old Spanish midfielder recently signed a new three-year contract with Chelsea, and after spending last season on loan with Valencia in La Liga, Romeu will move to the Bundesliga for the 2014-15 campaign. Brian Sutter Jersey . - Henrik Samuelsson and Curtis Lazar each had two goals and two assists as the Edmonton Oil Kings secured top spot in the Eastern Conference by defeating the host Red Deer Rebels 7-4 on Saturday in Western Hockey League action.MANCHESTER, England -- Juan Mata is on the brink of becoming the most expensive player in Manchester Uniteds history after the Premier League champions announced Friday they have reached an agreement with Chelsea over the transfer of the Spain midfielder. United released a statement saying Mata will move for a club-record fee "subject to a medical and the agreement of personal terms." Although United didnt give any further details, the club this week made a bid of 37 million pounds ($61 million) for Mata, which would eclipse the 30.7 million pounds that United paid to sign striker Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham in 2008. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said Mata had requested to leave Stamford Bridge after losing his place in the London clubs starting lineup. "I asked him (Mata), Are you really happy to go?" Mourinho said. "He said, Yes, Im really happy to go. "We hope he does well," Mourinho added in a news conference. "We are convinced he is going to do well. If Man United pays their record for a player, its because they know exactly what they want from him. And they know exactly what he can give them." The 25-year-old Mata was Chelseas player of the year for the last two seasons but has been marginalized at the London club this campaign following the return of Mourinho as manager. He has largely been on the bench, with Mourinho preferring Eden Hazard, Willian and Oscar as his playmakers. "If he cannot be fully happy here because he is not playing 100 per cent like he was the last two years, if he has a big club that wants him -- even if its a rival club and in England -- the club decided, and I was on the clubs side for this feeling, that you cannot stop people to be happy," Mourinho said. United refused to negotiate with Chelsea in the off-season when Mourinho lodged two bids for Wayne Rooney, who was pushing for a transfer afteer losing his regular place in Uniteds team. Joe Mullen Jersey. Mourinho said that hadnt been a factor in dealing with Mata. "Would Chelsea supporters be happy if we stop a fantastic person, that they all like, from being happy, if we say you only can go to Russia, China, to France or to Portugal, not England?" Mourinho asked. "To say now, You cannot go, Juan, to United because United refused in the summer to sell us Wayne Rooney, I dont think its fair to Juan. So if they decide not to sell (Rooney, its) their decision." United will hope the arrival of Mata, who is likely to be in Spains squad for the World Cup in Brazil, proves to be a turning point in its so-far lacklustre season under new manager David Moyes. The team is languishing in seventh place in the Premier League -- 14 points behind leader Arsenal -- and facing a fight to secure one of the four Champions League places. United exited the FA Cup at the first hurdle and the League Cup in the semifinals. The bright spot is still remaining in Champions League title contention going into the round of 16 against Olympiakos next month. Chelsea, meanwhile, has already found a replacement for Mata in Mohamed Salah after striking a deal with Swiss team Basel for the pacey Egypt winger. Salah still needs to agree personal terms and pass a medical with Chelsea. Mourinho laughed off criticism by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who said Thursday that Chelsea had timed the sale of Mata specifically to hurt its Premier League rivals. United has already played Chelsea twice -- most recently on Sunday -- but still has to play Manchester City and Wengers Arsenal in the run-in. "Wenger complaining is normal, because he always does. Its something that we know," Mourinho said. "We dont do the market, we dont do the rules." Two points separate Arsenal with third-place Chelsea with 16 games left. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
The Wall