Despite losing two in a row, the Toronto Blue Jays will sti

[blueberryjerry]

Despite losing two in a row, the Toronto Blue Jays will still be in control of the American League East once they close out a four- game series with the Chicago White Sox this afternoon. . Toronto, which has posted back-to-back wins only once since the first week of June, is still 1 1/2 games in front of Baltimore for the lead in the division, with just two weeks remaining before the All-Star Break. Yesterday the Jays made things interesting in the bottom of the ninth inning when they drew to within a single run, but that was as close as the hosts would get in the 4-3 setback. Darin Mastroianni stroked his first home run of the season and plated two of his teams three runs, the other RBI coming from Munenori Kawasaki. Starting pitcher Marcus Stroman made it through 6 2/3 innings before giving way to the Toronto bullpen. The hurler allowed just two runs on a pair of hits and two walks, while striking out six. Dustin McGowan was charged with the loss, his third of the season, after permitting three runs on three hits in just one inning of action. "If you could do things over, you leave him in," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said of Stroman. "But my thinking was, he pitched his butt off, it was kind of uncharted territory, I dont want him to lose the game right there. Thats the way it goes. But you always look back on things like that. I had a plan and it just didnt work." "Its tough, because obviously I want to be out there," said Stroman. "I felt strong but Im also young, so that was Gibbys choice. "Dustin has been great for us all year, so its not like I was mad about coming out of the game. I had 100-percent confidence for Dustin to come in and get that out. Just one of those things and Im sure hell be right back to it." McGowan was charged with giving up a three-run home run by Dayan Viciedo, one of his two hits on the day. Adam Dunn added a pair of hits and two walks as well for a Chicago squad that is fourth in the AL Central, six games below .500 and 8 1/2 games out of contention. Chris Sale was credited with the win for the White Sox as he worked through seven innings, permitting just two runs on four hits, although he did have some issues with his control, issuing five walks. Sale also struck out six on the day. Zach Putnam stepped in late to collect his first save of the season. The Sox now turn their attention toward Jose Quintana, their starter for the series finale today. The left-hander had gone four outings without a win until picking up a much-needed victory on Tuesday versus Baltimore on the road. In that clash Quintana surrendered just a single run on six hits and three walks, striking out eight over the course of seven innings for his fourth win of the season. When it comes to his experience against the Jays, Quintana, now in his third major league season, has a record of 3-1 with a 2.18 ERA in five starts. Going up against the Chicago batting order is former White Sox standout Mark Buehrle. Selected by Chicago in the 38th round of the 1998 draft, the left- hander started his major league career with the Sox in 2000 and remained on the staff until 2011. Now just four wins shy of 200 for his career, Buehrle has struggled of late, last earning a victory against Kansas City on the first of the month. Most recently the Missouri native went up against the New York Yankees on Tuesday, permitting four runs on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings, but even though the Jays eventually came away with the 7-6 win, Buehrle did not factor into the decision. Against his former Chicago team, Buehrle is 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA. Chicago, which won the season series with the Jays each of the last two years, now owns a 2-1 edge in 2014 battles. .com) - The Miami Heat stopped a four-game losing streak last time out and thats the same length slide their opponents Wednesday night, the Denver Nuggets, will try to halt when the two teams meet at the Pepsi Center. . Mohamed Diame put West Ham ahead in the 47th minute before goals by substitutes Carlton Cole and Joe Cole condemned Fulham to a fifth straight defeat, keeping the visitors in the bottom three. . Arsenal had already scored its goals in the third round fixture when the fierce rivalry turned ugly in the final ten minutes as Walcott was being carried off on a stretcher.The last time most UFC fans saw Daniel Kelly, the Australian middleweight was sitting forlornly on his stool — an ice bag on a damaged knee.The former judo Olympian had just lost to Sheldon Westcott via first-round submission in episode 6 of The Ultimate Fighter Nations: Canada vs. Australia, which aired in February. That was embarrassing, Kelly said after limping back to his stool.No it wasnt, said Australia coach Kyle Noke.Yes it was, said Kelly.On Friday, the 37-year-old from Melbourne returns to the cage to face American Luke Zachrich on the undercard of a UFC Fight Night card in Sydney. Its awesome, Kelly said. I was really really really happy for the opportunity. Because the (TV) show didnt go very well. Its a bit of a chance at redemption for me.American Luke Rockhold, ranked fifth among middleweight contenders, takes on No. 9 Michael Bisping of England in the main event Also on the undercard at the Allphones Arena, Canadian welterweight Chris (The Menace) Clements faces Australias Vik Grujic.Kelly (7-0) has fought once since his appearance on The Ultimate Fighter, which was filmed in late 2013. He choked out Ben Kelleher in the second round in May in a local promotion.The Australian tore his medial ligament as well as his lateral meniscus during the Westcott bout — which didnt count against his professional record because it was only a two-round fight. The Canadian went right at Kelly and injured his knee by slamming him to the canvas.The lateral meniscus hasnt healed but its still manageable now, Kelly said. Anyone who fights is walking around with some kind of injury.Surgery was one option.I possibly could have gone that track, Kelly conceded. But I run my own business, I run a gym (Melbournes Resilience Training Centre) and I really couldnt afforrd to take the time out to have surgery.dddddddddddd So its just an (injury) management thing.Kelly has mixed feelings about his time in rural Quebec during filming of the reality TV show. He knows it gave him a leg up in competing in the UFC. But being locked away for seven weeks a continent away from his family — he has kids aged eight and five — was difficult.It was harder than I thought it would be, he said.Kelly also found it weird watching himself on TV when the series began to air. And he called the episode in which he fought uncomfortable to watch.But he makes no excuses for the loss to Westcott. Sheldon was better than me on that night.Kelly, who co-owns his gym, is the only Australian to make four Olympic teams in judo (2000, 04, 08 and 12). His highest finish was seventh in 2004.He also wrestled at the 2002 Commonwealth Games and has coached judo.Kelly has enjoyed a long career but acknowledges it has put a lot of miles on the body. He monitors his training carefully as a result.Still he savours learning MMA, a sport he only jumped into in late 2012.I was always a fan and I just thought Id have a go at it ... I became a little obsessed with it and here I am, he said with a chuckle. My wife keeps saying At some point, youre going to have to stop all of this.But I love it, he added. And at the moment Im doing OK.The 32-year-old Zachrich (14-3) was a cast member on Season 7 of The Ultimate Fighter. The brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu is 1-1 in the UFC, winning a decision over Guilherme Vasconcelos last time out at UFC 175. Hes well-rounded. Hes got good standup, good jiu-jitsu so its going to be a hard fight, said Kelly. Theyre all hard fights at the UFC level so Im looking forward to the challenge. Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter ' ' '

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