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Were rebuilding so thats going to be tough
Topic Started: Dec 6 2012, 01:10 AM (53 Views)
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MINNEAPOLIS -- In the last year of his contract with the languishing Chicago Cubs, Ryan Dempster is a prime candidate to be traded this summer. Prince Amukamara Jersey . Dempster was the one who was dealing on Sunday afternoon. The right-hander further raised his market value with eight shutout innings, and the Cubs beat the Minnesota Twins 8-2 for their fifth win in the last 25 games. "Whether its making a start, getting in the lineup or coming out of the pen, you just have to try and make the most of those opportunities," Dempster said. After an 18-start winless streak dating to last August 11, Dempster (2-3) won his second game this week, another gem for this Cubs team that brought the worst record in the majors into the series finale at Target Field. He scattered four singles, walked one, hit a batter and struck out six, three by Joe Mauer, to stretch his scoreless streak to 15 innings. "Its good hes going back to the National League, I guess, after a performance like that," said Mauer, who had never faced Dempster before. Dempster lowered his ERA to 2.31 and handed the Twins just their third defeat in their last 12 games. "It was a good way for us to end a not-so-good road trip," Dempster said. Alfonso Soriano, who homered three times in the first two games of the series, hit another ball hard, a two-out double in the first inning against Francisco Liriano (1-7). Left fielder Josh Willingham had trouble tracking the ball, turning back and forth in the bright sun until Sorianos drive glanced off his glove. Soriano batted .316 with 12 RBIs and eight runs on this 10-game trip, and the Cubs won against a left-handed starter for only the third time in 16 tries this year. David DeJesus drove in three runs, and Reed Johnson and Starlin Castro scored three times each. Johnson reached base on 10 of 15 plate appearances this series. "We scored some runs for him the second time in a row," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. "That was good. He was pretty dominant again. Its been pretty much a phenomenal run hes had." The 35-year-old has been the rock of the rotation for the reeling Cubs. He has allowed two runs or fewer in eight of his 11 starts and finished six or more innings 10 times. Dempster threw 38 of his first 47 pitches for strikes and dug deep when he did find trouble against a Twins team batting .302 with runners in scoring position since May 16 entering Sunday. Justin Morneau grounded out with two runners on to end the first. Mauer struck out to finish the third with a man on third. Ben Revere bounced out to end the fifth with two on base. "Assortment of pitches," was the assessment from Twins manager Ron Gardenhire. "We couldnt even figure out what one of em was. Everybody kept asking." The consensus was a high, cut fastball he kept getting the Twins to chase. Ryan Doumits sacrifice fly against Cubs closer James Russell in a non-save situation in the ninth finally put the Twins on the board and Jamey Carroll tacked on an RBI double, but they were too far behind to mount a serious rally. "We needed to go out with this off day coming and get some good self-esteem on the team," DeJesus said. "At least we can go off feeling, Yes, we got the game." After two strong starts in his return to the rotation, Liriano regressed a bit but was still in fine form for most of his appearance. He gave up four hits, four runs and three walks in 5 1-3 innings to leave with a 4-0 deficit, but he struck out six. The leadoff walk to Johnson, who started the game with a single, cost him badly in the sixth. Castro followed with a sharp double, DeJesus drove in a run with a groundout and Joe Mathers RBI double prompted the pitching change by Gardenhire. NOTES: Neither team plays Monday. The Cubs host Detroit on Tuesday, with LHP Paul Maholm (4-5, 5.10 ERA) pitching against RHP Max Scherzer (5-4, 5.88). The Twins stay home and play Philadelphia, sending RHP Nick Blackburn (2-4, 7.75) to the mound against Phillies RHP Kyle Kendrick (2-5, 4.44). ... The Twins need another starter in six days, and Gardenhire said RH Liam Hendriks could be called up from Triple-A Rochester. Hendriks, who started the season in the rotation before being sent down in May, struck out 10 in 8 2-3 shutout innings for the Red Wings on Saturday. ... Sveum on the teams pace to pass the franchise record for most losses in a season, 103 in 1962 and 1966: "You have to change the pace. ... You laugh about it, but its definitely there." Phil Simms Jersey . Durant scored 18 of his 36 points in a scintillating final 7 minutes, Serge Ibaka added a career-high 26 points and the Thunder evened the series at two games apiece by beating the San Antonio Spurs 109-103 Saturday night. Domenik Hixon Jersey . The 18-year-old from Richmond, B.C., scored 20 goals in 19 games for the Whitecaps residency team in 2011-12. A Canadian under-20 international, Clarke is the Whitecaps sixth homegrown signing. http://www.giantsteamstore.com/victor-cruz-jersey . This time, however, Spain and Italy are playing for the European Championship and a place in the history books. Mark Bavaro Jersey . The Capitals fell to 1-2-2 in their last five games after blowing a three-goal lead in Fridays 4-3 overtime loss to visiting Winnipeg. That setback came one day after Washington dropped a 2-1 shootout decision in Philadelphia. Michael Boley Womens Jersey . -- Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Aaron Ross is heading back to London. METAIRIE, La. -- Although Anthony Davis has shared the court with some of the greatest basketball players in the world, he does not see himself as an NBA player quite yet. "I just feel like a guy whos just playing basketball right now," the Hornets rookie and top overall draft choice said. "Until I play an NBA game, then I (cant) consider myself an NBA player." With training camp opening next Tuesday, Davis stopped by the Saints training headquarters, which is now in the process of becoming the headquarters for the Hornets under new owner Tom Benson. Davis brought his gold medal with him, and acknowledged his experience playing for the U.S. at the London Games should put him ahead of the NBA rookie curve. "My game developed more than what I expected just by playing the Olympics and being around them guys," Davis said. "But theres still a lot to learn and a lot more to do so Ive got to continue working." Davis is staying away from offering any expectations for how the Hornets might do this season. He knows they have talent in not only him, but 10th overall draft pick Austin Rivers, not to mention veterans Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson. Davis also will have help in the paint from 7-footers Robin Lopez and Jason Smith. "Were rebuilding so thats going to be tough," Davis said. "But I think were goinng to have a great team this year. Ahmad Bradshaw Jersey. " Hornets coach Monty Williams preaches a defence-first philosophy, which the 6-foot-11 Davis expects to suit him well as a shot-blocker who can play power forward or centre in a zone defence. Davis said one of his priorities is to bulk up in the hope he can become more effective guarding the post against physical and bigger players. "Its a physical game. Very physical. I definitely got to stay in the weight room," he said. Davis said he has already added weight to the 220-pound build he had while winning a national title with Kentucky last spring. "Im not sure how much. Just feel it," Davis said, cracking a playful grin. "Feel like Im Superman." Being a top overall pick generally brings with it pressure to perform right away, but Davis said he is not worried about that, partly because of Williams philosophy that the job of young players is to learn and develop, not carry the team. "Coach Williams does a great job of taking that pressure off of me and putting it on the team and organization," Davis said. "Were all young guys. Im 19 years old going into a grown mans league. I think he does a great job taking that pressure off of one player, not just me. Eric, Austin, Robin, everybody on the team and just trying to put it on the organization and team as one." ' ' '
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