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It took Cagliari just two minutes
Topic Started: Mar 22 2013, 08:27 AM (11 Views)
kaisy

MILWAUKEE -- One day after his worst outing in a difficult season, Canadian John Axford lost his job as the Milwaukee Brewers closer. Alonzo Mourning jersey . Manager Ron Roenicke said before Tuesday nights game against St. Louis that Francisco Rodriguez will be handling ninth-inning duties while Axford, from Simcoe, Ont., tries to get his confidence back in lower-pressure situations. "Its always difficult when youre talking about a guy that we feel the way we do about Ax," Roenicke said. "We still remember what he did last year for us. So yeah, its always hard to do. But it is the right thing to do, so I didnt feel bad about doing it. I felt good about doing it, because I feel like this is the best way to get him back." Handed a two-run lead against the Cardinals on Monday night, Axford allowed three runs in the ninth inning and the Brewers lost 3-2. Axford has 16 saves in 22 chances this season, struggling to find the dominant form he showed in 2011. "It was a decision I kind of expected after yesterday, yesterdays performance," Axford said. "Its frustrating the way things have been going this year, so maybe itll be a breath of fresh air to step back a little bit, try and get back into the swing of things the way I was last year." Axford said he wasnt surprised by the decision and didnt try to talk Roenicke out of it because he wanted to put the team first. And Axford acknowledged that his recent struggles have shaken his confidence. "Id be lying if I said it was the same as its always been," Axford said. "Today was actually one of the rougher days Ive ever had. Generally, Im pretty good about letting go after blown saves or losses or anything like that. But yesterday, just because I couldnt feel anything -- I literally, as I told (pitching coach Rick) Kranitz, it literally seemed like I was pitching with new mechanics and never threw a curveball before." Axford played a critical role in the Brewers run to the NL championship series last season, saving 46 games in 48 chances. Axford had 49 consecutive saves between April 24, 2011 and May 4, 2012 -- the fourth-longest streak in history. But Axford has struggled since then, and his control issues were at their worst in Monday nights meltdown. "He was at a point where he was really frustrated," Roenicke said. "He said that was the worst he has felt on the mound as far as having a feeling where the balls going. With the fastball or the breaking ball, he had no idea where it was going." Rodriguez, who has 292 career saves, has been primarily an eighth-inning setup man since coming to the Brewers in a trade last season. He is 2-4 with a 3.67 ERA this season with one save -- April 10 at Chicago. He has not allowed a run in his past five appearances. Roenicke said Rodriguezs fastball has been "really good," while hes still trying to throw his slider as consistently as he has in the past. And Rodriguez knows how to close. "Its certainly what he wants to do," Roenicke said. "And he is -- hes a closer. Hes a great closer. I think Frankies such a professional that whether I have him setting up or whether I have him closing, he knows how important he is to our team to win." While the Brewers scramble to try to get back into contention, Roenicke doesnt want Axford to be seen as a scapegoat. "I didnt think about it that way, and I dont want him to think about it that way," Roenicke said. "Because hes not. Thats not all thats going on with us. Weve been inconsistent with every phase of the game. So its a little part of it we need to fix, and weve got a great guy to try to fix it with." Authentic Miami Heat Jersey .J. -- After New Jersey blew a two-goal lead in the final 7:15 of regulation, the undefeated Devils were even more determined in overtime. Chris Bosh Authentic Jersey . Jones was 2-0 with a 2.73 ERA in 26 appearances out of the bullpen. He was previously placed on the inactive list on August 19. The team also announced that pitching coach Bill Pulsipher has left the team and returned to his home in Port St. http://www.officialheatteamshop.com/alonzo-mourning-jersey/ . The 32-year-old Poulter will be competing in his fourth Ryder Cup since making his debut in 2004 while Colsaerts will be playing in his first and is the only rookie on Olazabals squad. "It is true Nicolas is going to be the only rookie on the team but we do have an experienced team," said Olazabal. Udonis Haslem jersey . Today, she solidified her place in history as the first African-American woman to win an Olympic all-around title at the London 2012 Olympic Games, shattering records in the process. LeBron James Authentic Jersey .Y. -- With Cincinnati and Syracuse tied and the clock ticking down in the final minute, the Oranges Jerami Grant drove the lane, and when his shot didnt fall arms flailed all around the rim trying to corral the ball.MILAN, Italy -- Napoli missed the chance to close the gap on Serie A leader Juventus as it drew 1-1 at Fiorentina on Sunday. Fiorentina took the lead following a terrible blunder from Morgan De Sanctis. The Napoli goalkeeper rushed out of his area to intercept a long pass from Facundo Roncaglia by the halfway line, but completely misjudged the ball which bounced over him and into the goal. Napoli was level three minutes from halftime as Edinson Cavani headed in Marek Hamsiks free kick for his 100th Serie A goal. Alberto Aquilani could have won it for Fiorentina in stoppage time but blasted a good chance over the bar. Napoli, which had a two-point penalty for match-fixing rescinded on Thursday, is level on points with second-placed Lazio, five points behind defending champion Juventus. Fiorentina remains fifth but it is only two points above AC Milan, which beat Bologna 2-1 thanks to a brace from Giampaolo Pazzini. Roma slipped to seventh after it drew 1-1 at home to an understrength Inter Milan. Milan dominated and Bologna didnt even have a single touch in the opposition penalty area in the first half. Pazzini, who had missed several earlier chances, broke the deadlock in the 65th when he brought down Ignazio Abates cross, rounded Mikael Antonsson and fired home, with the ball taking a massive deflection off the Bologna defender. Pazzini doubled his sides lead with a stunning goal eight minutes from time, controlling the ball brilliantly before flicking it over Daniele Portanova and volleying home. It was Pazzinis fifth goal against Bologna this season, after he scored a hat trick in the reverse fixture. Philippe Mexes scored a comical own goal moments later to give Bologna hope, but it couldnt find the equalizer. In Rome, Inter was without Antonio Cassano, Diego Milito, Walter Samuel, Philippe Coutinho, Ricky Alvarez, Dejan Stankovic and Luca Castellazzi. Marko Livaja was given his first Serie A start and he almost marked it with a goal, but hit the post. Roma took the lead when it was awarded a penalty in the 20th minute when Andrea Ranocchia was judged to have fouled Michael Bradley, althhough it looked as if the American had jumped over a sliding tackle from the Inter defender. Mike Miller Jersey. Francesco Totti stepped up to smash home a powerful spot kick. It was Tottis 222nd Serie A goal, putting him just three behind second-place Gunnar Nordahl in the all-time scoring charts. Rodrigo Palacio tapped in the equalizer in first-half stoppage time following good work from Fredy Guarin. Pablo Osvaldo had two goals ruled out for offside for Roma. Parma remains two points behind Inter after drawing 1-1 at Chievo Verona. Parma took the lead five minutes from halftime when Ishak Belfodil smashed an effort into the bottom left corner. However, Alberto Paloschi scored against his old team 11 minutes after the break to give Chievo a share of the points. At the other end of the table, rock-bottom Siena won its first game since November as it beat Sampdoria 1-0. Substitute Erjon Bogdani was left unmarked to head home Alessio Sestus cross for the only goal of the game in the 71st. The victory will be all the sweeter for Siena coach Giuseppe Iachini, who led Sampdoria to promotion last season but was then fired as the club wanted a bigger name. Siena is six points off safety after 17th-place Cagliari drew 1-1 at 10-man Atalanta. The match was delayed for half an hour to clear snow and ice. It took Cagliari just two minutes to take the lead when former player Michele Canini accidentally bundled the ball into his own net. A glancing header from Guglielmo Stendardo saw Atalanta draw level in the 57th before Luigi Giorgi was sent off after picking up two yellow cards. Cagliari is level on points with Pescara which lost 2-0 at home to Torino. Mario Alberto Santana and Alessio Cerci scored in the first half and matters worsened for Pescara when Vladimir Weiss picked up a second yellow for diving and was sent off. Genoa remains in the relegation zone after it lost 2-0 at home to Catania, which hadnt won a top flight match at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris since 1963. Gonzalo Bergessio opened the scoring in the fourth minute and Pablo Barrientos sealed the match four minutes from time. ' ' '
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