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Senzatela worked out of a first-inning jam en route to throwing seven scoreless innings in his first start of the season Lorenzo Carter Jersey , Nolan Arenado hit his National League-leading 22nd home run and the Colorado Rockies beat the San Francisco Giants 8-1 on Tuesday night.

Colorado’s Charlie Blackmon had three hits, including his first homer since June 20. Trevor Story had an RBI triple for the Rockies, who have won five of their last six games.

D.J. LeMahieu added a run-scoring double for Colorado, which has beaten the Giants in 14 of the past 16 games at Coors Field dating to Sept. 7, 2016.

Senzatela, recalled earlier in the day from Triple-A Albuquerque, struck out four and walked none while limiting the Giants to three hits but two of them came in the first inning. He got out of the two-on, two-out jam by retiring Pablo Sandoval, getting him to pop-out on a 2-0 changeup.

”To get out of that inning with a zero, stranding those runners, was huge,” Senzatela said through a translator. ”I settled down pretty nicely and I’m glad I gave the team a chance to win.”

Arenado said Senzatela’s ability to work out of first inning trouble helped set the tone for the rest of the game.

”Getting out of that first inning with no runs was huge,” Arenado said. ”I feel like sometimes we always give up a run in the first and lately they haven’t. He was just great Frank Gore Jersey , pounding the zone, throwing strikes getting ahead of guys. It was awesome. Our pitching in general lately has been huge for us and I think that’s why lately we have been playing better.”

Senzatela started in the spot vacated by struggling Jon Gray, who started for the Rockies in their season opener but was optioned to Albuquerque last weekend.

Senzatela (3-1) made the team out of spring training and began the season in the Rockies’ bullpen before being optioned on May 2 to Albuquerque, where he went 3-1 with a 2.15 ERA in eight starts prior to his recall. As a rookie last season, Senzatela had most of his success as a starter, going 10-5 with a 5.03 ERA in 20 starts.

Chris Stratton (8-6) went 5 2/3 innings and allowed eight runs on 11 hits, including Blackmon’s solo shot in the first inning as well as Arenado’s three-run drive.

”His fastball command wasn’t real sharp tonight,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. ”Fastballs missed their spots there. That’s usually his forte, he commands it so well. He threw some good fastballs to Arenado and the changeup stayed in the middle. He wasn’t real sharp with his command. He threw strikes but he needed to work the edges.”

The Giants broke through for a run on Alec Hanson’s RBI single in the eighth off reliever MikeDunn.

The Giants were trailing 3-0 when Arenado broke the game open in the fifth with a three-run homer. Stratton walked LeMahieu to start the inning and Blackmon singled before Arenado drove a 3-2 offering over the left-center field wall.

GIANTS NEMESIS

Arenado has driven in 90 runs in 100 career games against the Giants, the second most among active players. Matt Kemp leads with 93 career RBIs against the Giants. Said Arenado: ”I think they bring out the best in all of us. They bring out the best in me – three World Series rings and they’ve always been one of the top tier teams in our division. It’s always a tough place to play and I always want to beat them because I always feel like they’ve beaten us in the past, a lot.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Giants: The team’s starting rotation is nearing full strength again. Manager Bruce Bochy said that RHP Johnny Cueto is slated to be reinstated from the 60-day disabled list on Thursday, when he’s scheduled to start against the St. Louis Cardinals. Cueto was placed on the DL, retroactive to April 29 Dalvin Tomlinson Jersey , because of a right elbow sprain. RHP Jeff Samardzija is slated to start Saturday’s game against St. Louis after being reinstated from the 10-day DL. Samardzija went on the DL after leaving a May 30 start against Colorado following one inning due to tightness in his pitching shoulder.

Rockies: RHP Chad Bettis has gone on the 10-day disabled list with a blister on his right middle finger. Bettis left his last start on Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers after three innings because of the finger injury. Senzatela was recalled from Albuquerque to fill Bettis’ roster spot and started Tuesday against the Giants in the place of RHP Jon Gray, who was optioned Saturday to Albuquerque.

UP NEXT

Giants: LHP Andrew Suarez (3-4, 4.18 ERA) is coming off a strong outing in which he allowed one run on seven hits over six innings in a 2-1 win against Arizona.

Rockies: LHP Tyler Anderson (5-3, 4.23 ERA) has gone 1-3 with a 5.26 ERA in eight previous starts at Coors Field this season.

The fadeaway.

With cold-blooded precision, James worked the 24-second shot clock down to single digits before sinking one fadeaway after the next in Game 2 on Thursday night, each swish pushing the top-seeded team in the Eastern Conference closer to ending a season that was supposed to conclude differently.

Instead, it’s a replay: another Raptors extinction is expected.

Back from LeBronto, as some have nicknamed Canada’s multi-cultural metropolis, James and the Cavaliers – featuring a rejuvenated Kevin Love – will host Game 3 on Saturday night. They look to tighten their stranglehold on a semifinal series that has gotten away from the Raptors.

In the East’s other semifinal, the Philadelphia Sixers are trusting their process – and that Ben Simmons will shake off a horrible performance in Game 2 – before they fall into their own 3-0 hole against a Boston Celtics team that added a spectacular comeback to a season of overcoming long odds. Boston wiped out Philly’s 22-point lead on Thursday to open a 2-0 lead.

For the Raptors, this is all so familiar, so painful.

They insist that the magnificent James Brandon Fusco Jersey , who has won eight straight playoff games against the Raptors and eliminated Toronto from the past two postseasons, is not in their heads. That’s what the Raptors are saying; they might not believe it.

After James dropped shots and jaws with 43 points on 28 shots with 14 assists and eight rebounds in Game 2, All-Star forward DeMar DeRozan insisted the Raptors will fight back.

”It’s the first one to win four,” he said. ”It’s not over.”

History begs to differ.

James is 21-0 in playoff series in which he has held a 2-0 lead, and the 33-year-old seems intent on dispatching the Raptors for a third straight postseason and maybe get to his eighth straight Finals.

”When he retires, that’s what you admire what he’s done,” said Toronto coach Dwane Casey. ”Right now he’s the enemy and we’ve got to do a better job of not being part of history. We’ve got to make LeBron work harder for his catches and work harder for some of his possessions. You’ve got to live with something. Some of those shots are indefensible.”

A closer look at Saturday’s games:

CELTICS AT 76ERS

Boston leads 2-0. Game 3, 5 p.m. EDT, ESPN

NEED TO KNOW

The Sixers are headed back to the Wells Fargo Center where they won 30 regular-season games and two more in a first-round playoff series over Miami. Philly won a franchise-record 16 straight games to close the season, so a comeback isn’t totally out of reach. But history – and a Celtics team clicking – is working against the Sixers. Boston has won all 36 playoff series when it has a 2-0 lead.

KEEP AN EYE ON

Simmons. He was a leading contender for rookie of the year and a regular threat to notch a triple-double. But where was he in Game 2 when he failed to score a field goal for the first time? Simmons said he was ”overthinking.” Perhaps his mind was racing from Boston’s physical defense, which kept him from driving to the basket and forced him into five turnovers.

INJURY UPDATE

Jaylen Brown returned to the Celtics after sitting out the opener with a strained right hamstring. He came off the bench and played 25 minutes, scoring 13 points and grabbing four rebounds.

PRESSURE IS ON

Sixers coach Brett Brown. The playoffs are about adjustments and he needs to make one to free Simmons from Boston’s defensive clutches. If Simmons continues to struggle, Brown may have to stick with backup point guard T.J. McConnell Ryan Fitzpatrick Jersey , who sparked the Sixers with eight points, five assists and two steals in 17 minutes of Game 2.

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RAPTORS AT CAVALIERS

Cleveland leads 2-0. Game 5, 8:30 p.m., ESPN

NEED TO KNOW

James continues to ascend and astound. He’s averaging 34.4 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists and 41.7 minutes in his 13th postseason. He has led Cleveland in points and assists in 10 consecutive playoff games, tying Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson for the longest such streak in postseason history.

KEEP AN EYE ON

Toronto’s defense on James and Love, who scored 31 in Game 2. Casey has to try something new to slow down James because nothing is working. His ability to post up creates a dilemma: guard him with one player and he gets to the rim; double-team him and risk him finding an open teammate for an uncontested shot.

The Raptors need to force some mistakes after the Cavs had a franchise playoff record-low three turnovers in Game 2.

INJURY UPDATE

Both teams are relatively healthy.

PRESSURE IS ON

DeRozan and Raptors guard Kyle Lowry. They’ve spent the past two years chasing and not catching James. The only way for the Raptors not to be considered pretenders again is for them to dethrone King James and they’re running out of time.

Four of the highly rated quarterbacks in this crop also will be at AT&T Stadium – Josh Allen, Sam Darnold, Lamar Jackson and Josh Rosen. Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield has chosen not to attend.

Barkley and Chubb are projected to go in the top five picks.

The other AP All-Americans planning to be on hand April 26 are Alabama safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, Iowa cornerback Josh Jackson Logan Paulsen Jersey , Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith, and Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward.

Also attending will be UCF linebacker Shaquem Griffin. Griffin, the American Athletic Conference defensive player of the year, had his left hand amputated when he was 4.

The NFL said Thursday that other draft-eligible players attending will be:

Louisville CB Jaire Alexander, Florida DT Taven Bryan Jarius Wright Jersey , Texas-San Antonio DE Marcus Davenport, Virginia Tech LB Tremaine Edmunds, Alabama LB Rashaan Evans, LSU RB Derrius Guice, Florida State S Derwin James Oren Burks Jersey , UCLA T Kolton Miller, Boise State LB Leighton Vander Esch, Washington DT Vita Vea, and Texas T Connor Williams.

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The Carolina Panthers are keeping their kicking game intact.

The Panthers announced Tuesday they have signed Pro Bowl kicker Graham Gano to a four-year contract extension.

The deal is worth $17 million overall with $9 million guaranteed, a person familiar with the situation said. The person spoke to The Associated Press on Tuesday on condition of anonymity because the financial terms of the contract have not been publicly released.

Gano was set to become an unrestricted free agent and the team had considered using the franchise tag on him Trevor Williams Jersey , but came to an agreement just hours before the deadline to use the tag.

The 30-year-old Gano is coming off his best NFL season, converting all 29 field goals from inside of 50 yards and 29 of 30 overall. He made 34 of 37 extra points.

Gano also set a franchise record and tied the NFL postseason record with his 58-yard field goal in a Wild Card playoff loss at New Orleans.

He’s spent the last six seasons in Carolina.

The Panthers drafted Harrison Butker in the seventh round last year providing Gano with some competition. But Gano outkicked Butker in training camp and held on to the job. Gano went on to lead the NFL with a touchback percentage of 85.4, belting a franchise-record 70 of his kickoffs into the end zone.

Butker was cut and later signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.

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 Womens James Washington Jersey

Now he can’t wait to see what they do back home in Winnipeg with a chance at history.

The franchise that just won its first playoff series in the first round is heading home for Game 6 with a chance to eliminate the Presidents’ Trophy winners and clinch Winnipeg’s first berth in the Western Conference final.

”It’s going to be awesome Jerry Rice Jersey ,” Hellebuyck said. ”Our home fans have been waiting for this for a while.”

Kyle Connor had two goals and an assist as the Winnipeg Jets beat the Nashville Predators 6-2 on Saturday night to grab a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven conference semifinal.

Jets captain Blake Wheeler said they have a little bit of experience with a chance to close out an opponent. Winnipeg ousted Minnesota in five games in the first round.

”We’re going to have to play our best game of the year,” said Wheeler, who had three assists. ”This is a team that doesn’t go away. We’ve played them 10 times now this year and they fight to the very end every single game. We have a ton of respect for how hard they play every night.”

Dustin Byfuglien and Mark Scheifele each had a goal and an assist, and Paul Stastny and Mathieu Perrault also scored as the Jets got four goals on 14 shots in the second period. Nikolaj Ehlers added two assists.

Yannick Weber and Ryan Johansen each scored for Nashville. The Predators have not won consecutive games since taking a 2-0 lead over Colorado to start the playoffs, but defenseman P.K. Subban insisted they will be back for a Game 7.

”We’ve got a ton of experience in here,” Subban said. ”We’ve had our backs against the wall before. Like I said, we’re going to go to Winnipeg, we’re going to win a game, we’re going to come back here. Every single guy in here believes that.”

Nashville coach Peter Laviolette noted his Predators have won in Winnipeg before. They won 2-1 Thursday night to tie up the series at 2-2.

”The plane’s already booked, and we were ready to go,” Laviolette said. ”There’s no group that I’d rather be with to win one hockey game than this group.”

Pekka Rinne Justin Jones Jersey , Nashville’s Vezina Trophy finalist, was pulled for the third time this postseason after giving up six goals on 26 shots.

Lady Antebellum became the latest star act to handle the U.S. anthem, and the Grammy-winning trio missed part of the lyrics. But Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton waved the rally towel, and one of first catfish to hit the ice was tossed by Caleb Daniel, a 5-year-old Predators fan with a new heart.

Laviolette switched his lines again, swapping out Scott Hartnell for Kevin Fiala. This change didn’t work.

Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice brought back Perrault on the third line after missing eight games with an upper-body injury.

The Predators had plenty of great scoring chances while outshooting the Jets 11-7. Only a great performance by Hellebuyck kept it scoreless through the first period for the first time in this series.

”It starts with Connor,” Connor said of Hellebuyck. ”He’s been the backbone the whole year. He played great again tonight.”

They made up for that in the second. Patrik Laine helped get the Jets on the board with a shot that deflected off Stastny’s right hand and past Rinne at 7:44. Defenseman Yannick Weber tied it up for Nashville with a wrister from the left circle at 11:08.

Then the Jets scored two of their next three goals 2:05 apart.

First, Connor scored off the rebound of a shot by Scheifele with 7:30 left for his first postseason goal, then Rinne lost his stick in a scrum in the crease. The puck squirted out, and Byfuglien scored with a slap shot for a 3-1 lead with 5:25 remaining. Connor made it 4-1 with a wrister from the slot with just under three minutes to go.

The period seemed to be slipping further away from Nashville when Viktor Arvidsson went to the box for slashing. But Johansen scored his fifth goal this postseason with 2:01 remaining for the first short-handed goal of his career in the postseason.

The Jets made it 5-2 just 28 seconds into the third, stifling any Nashville rally when Scheifele scored his ninth goal this postseason from the slot. Perreault capped the scoring at 6:23 to chase Rinne for the second time this series.

NOTES: Nashville now is 0-4 when trailing after two periods this postseason. … Weber’s goal was the fourth of his career in the postseason and first with Nashville.

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Jon Lester won his fifth straight start Russell Bodine Jersey , Javier Baez backed him with three hits and two runs, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0 on Wednesday.

Lester (9-2) gave up five hits over seven innings. Baez had two doubles, a triple and a steal. He also made some solid plays at shortstop and second base.

Kyle Schwarber hit his 14th homer, and Kris Bryant added two hits and an RBI. And the Cubs handed Ross Stripling his first loss since April 30, taking two of three in a rematch of the past two NL Championship Series.

Lester walked three and struck out one batter. Anthony Bass worked the final two innings to finish the six-hitter.

Stripling (6-2) had won six straight starts. The right-hander went six innings, allowing three runs and eight hits while striking out seven without a walk.

YANKEES 7, MARINERS 5

NEW YORK (AP) – Giancarlo Stanton lined a two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, and New York erased a five-run deficit to beat Seattle.

Gary Sanchez tied the score with a two-run homer against Alex Colome in the eighth, and the Yankees went on to complete their largest comeback victory of the season.

Didi Gregorius singled with two outs in the ninth and Stanton hammered an 0-2 breaking ball from reliever Ryan Cook (1-1). The drive traveled a projected 453 feet to left-center for Stanton’s first walk-off homer with the Yankees – his previous one came in April 2014 for the Marlins (also vs. Seattle).

New York is a season-high 27 games above .500 with the majors’ best record at 49-22.

Aroldis Chapman (3-0) pitched a perfect inning for the win.

The Mariners have lost three straight for the first time since April 17-19 against the World Series champion Astros.

ASTROS 5, RAYS 1

HOUSTON (AP) – Jose Altuve homered twice, including the last of three straight by the Astros in the sixth inning Shareece Wright Jersey , to lift Houston over Tampa Bay.

The game was tied in the bottom of the sixth when George Springer’s 15th homer made it 2-1. Two pitches later Alex Bregman sent an 87 mph slider from Rays starter Nathan Eovaldi (1-3) into the seats in left field for his 11th home run.

But the Astros weren’t done yet, as Altuve put one on the train tracks atop left field for the second time on Wednesday night to push the lead to 4-1. It was the first time the Astros hit three home runs in a row since May 2, 2008, when Miguel Tejada, Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee did it against Milwaukee.

It was a welcome display of power for a team that managed just five singles in a 2-1 loss to the Rays on Tuesday night that snapped Houston’s 12-game winning streak. The win made the Astros the first team to reach 50 victories this season.

Houston starter Charlie Morton (9-1) allowed just two hits and one unearned run in six innings.

TWINS 4, RED SOX 1

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Robbie Grossman and Max Kepler homered to back an effective start by Lance Lynn as Minnesota beat Boston.

Grossman led off the bottom of the first with a home run and Kepler added a two-run shot off David Price (8-5). Brian Dozier added a pair of doubles to help the Twins win for the fourth time in five games.

Lynn (5-5) again struggled with command, issuing five walks, but he gave up just one unearned run and three hits in five innings.

Four relievers combined for four scoreless innings, with Fernando Rodney securing his 16th save in 19 chances.

PHILLIES 4, CARDINALS 3

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Odubel Herrera hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the seventh inning, Cesar Hernandez had a two-run shot and Philadelphia beat St. Louis.

Herrera ripped a 91 mph slider from Sam Tuivailala (1-3) off the scoreboard on the facing of the second deck in right field to give the Phillies a 4-3 lead. Herrera has a homer in four straight games.

Yadier Molina hit a pair of homers for the Cardinals off Phillies starter Jake Arrieta.

Edubray Ramos (2-0) got five outs and Adam Morgan retired the last two batters with the tying run on second for his first career save. The Phillies took two of three to win a series against the Cardinals for the first time since August 2014.

Cardinals starter Michael Wacha left in the fourth with a left oblique strain.

INDIANS 12 Harry Carson Jersey , WHITE SOX 0

CLEVELAND (AP) – Corey Kluber became the first pitcher with 11 wins this season and Jose Ramirez and Jason Kipnis hit three-run homers in Cleveland’s victory over Chicago.

Reigning AL Cy Young winner Kluber (11-3) allowed only a second-inning single past third base by Omar Narvaez and a third-inning walk to Charlie Tilson in seven dominant innings. The right-hander struck out seven and retired the last 14 batters before giving way to George Kontos to begin the eighth. Josh Tomlin surrendered a double to Jose Abreu in the ninth before completing the combined two-hitter.

Kluber now has one more victory than Washington’s Max Scherzer and the Yankees’ Luis Severino.

Ramirez put the Indians ahead 3-0 in the first with his team-high 22nd home run off starter Reynaldo Lopez (2-5). He also extended his on-base streak to a career-high 28 games, scored three times and stole a base.

Kipnis’ three-run shot and Edwin Encarnacion’s two-run double were part of a six-run sixth against Bruce Rondon that pushed the lead to 11-0.

ATHLETICS 12, PADRES 4

SAN DIEGO (AP) – Light-hitting Franklin Barreto connected for a 424-foot, three-run home run, one of five long balls Oakland hit in routing San Diego.

Josh Phegley, Mark Canha, Matt Olson and Jed Lowrie also went deep for Oakland.

The A’s hit seven homers in sweeping the two-game series. Stephen Piscotty tied Tuesd Authentic Womens Denzel Ward Jersey

The announcement came Friday Alex Mack Jersey , the same day Indy opened its rookie mini-camp.

Nelson was selected No. 6 overall and is expected to start immediately at left guard.

The Colts also signed two of their four second-round picks – defensive ends Kemoko Turay and Tyquan Lewis.

Running backs Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins, receivers Daurice Fountain and Deon Cain and linebackers Matthew Adams and linebacker Zaire Franklin also agreed to deals.

Terms were not immediately available.

Indy still has two unsigned draft picks, linebacker Darius Leonard and guard Braden Smith.

The Colts also signed free agent receiver Kasen Williams, claimed defensive end Rakeem Nunez-Roches off waivers from Kansas City and waived outside linebacker Josh Perry and receiver DeAndre Smelter.

Williams played in 10 games and made two starts over the past two seasons with Cleveland and Seattle. He has 10 receptions fo4 92 yards and one carry for five yards in his career.

The 6-foot-3, 307-pound Nunez-Roches played in 34 career games and started 16 in three seasons with the Chiefs. Last year DeAndre Washington Jersey , he started 11 times and finished with a career-high 24 tackles. He had 23 tackles, five tackles for loss and one sack in 2016.

Those moves follow signings earlier this week of free agent offensive linemen Austin Howard, a 6-7, 300-pound tackle who started 88 career games with four different teams, and 6-5 Laremy Tunsil Jersey , 236-pound defensive end Chris McCain, who has 34 tackles and seven sacks in his four-year career.

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Former NFL tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. has been arrested on charges of rape and other sex crimes on the day he was to appear in court on an unrelated burglary charge.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports sheriff's deputies arrested Winslow on Thursday at his home in the San Diego suburb of Encinitas.

The 34-year-old Winslow was charged with two counts of rape, two counts of kidnapping with intent to commit rape and single counts of forcible sodomy, oral copulation and indecent exposure. He's free after posting $50,000 bail.

Defense attorney Brian Watkins declined to comment to the Union-Tribune.

Winslow was due to appear in court Thursday after being charged with burglary following an incident last month at a mobile home park. He now faces arraignment Friday.

The son of Hall of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow Terron Armstead Jersey , the younger Winslow spent 10 seasons in the NFL from 2004-13 with Cleveland, Tampa Bay, New England and the New York Jets. The former University of Miami star had 469 catches for 5,236 yards and 25 touchdowns in 105 games.

Once NFL's highest-paid tight end, he was suspended in 2013 with the Jets for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy. In November 2013 Stephone Anthony Jersey , he was arrested after a woman told police she saw him masturbating in a parked car outside of a New Jersey department store. Winslow was arrested for possession of synthetic marijuana, and the charge was dropped after he completed court-ordered terms.

Drafted No. 6 overall by Cleveland, he broke his right leg in his rookie season, then sustained a serious right knee injury in a motorcycle accident that offseason.

PHOENIX — Crack the door Michael Strahan Jersey , and these days the Arizona Diamondbacks will blow right through.

Three times in their last four games, Arizona has made an opponent pay and pay and pay for a blunder here or a miscue there.

The Diamondbacks did it again Tuesday, when they took advantage of three throwing errors in a six-run first inning for the impetus needed for a 13-8 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Chase Field. The game was not decided until Jon Jay’s three-run homer in the seventh inning, but the decisive first inning helped them build an 8-0 lead.

“Those are some of the characteristics of a good team, that when they sniff a little blood, they are going to go out there and execute,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “When you get second chances in this game, you have to take advantage. Our guys are ready for that.

“We talk about them (opponents) being in their most vulnerable state when they are making mistakes, and we have to be ready. It’s not a good feeling when you are on the (other) side of it and it is not going well. But when you are executing and fighting back a little bit Manti Te'o Jersey , it is very gratifying.”

Arizona right-hander Zack Greinke, who has lost only one of his last 25 starts at Chase Field, will oppose Pirates right-hander Jameson Taillon in the final game of the series Wednesday.

The Pirates have lost eight straight series, and a failure to execute has hurt in the first two games of this series. They blew a 5-0 lead entering the seventh inning in a 9-5 loss Monday, when the Diamondbacks combined timely hitting and extra benefits, including hit batter, an infield error, two wild pitches and a balk.

First baseman Josh Bell and second baseman Josh Harrison had throwing errors and pitcher Trevor Williams made an errant pickoff throw in the first inning Tuesday around two singles and Ketel Marte’s two-out, two-run triple. Five of the six runs were unearned.

“We didn’t handle the ball like we needed to handle the ball Stefan Charles Jersey ,” Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. “We weren’t able to execute defensively the way we needed to execute defensively. We’ve got work to do. We are not playing at the level we are capable of playing.”

Arizona scored six runs in the eighth inning of a 12-7 victory at Colorado on Saturday, capitalizing on a double-error by reliever Bryan Shaw early in the inning. Only one of those six runs was earned.

“That’s what you have to do,” said Jay, who had his first three hits in his fifth game with the Diamondbacks on Tuesday. “When you have chances, you have to make the most out of the opportunities. We’ve been able to do that the last couple of days, and we just have to keep it going.

“I think that’s the mentality they have here. I saw that last year playing on the other side. That’s just the mentality you have to have.”

The Diamondbacks have scored 51 runs in their five-game winning streak, with heavy contributions from Paul Goldschmidt and Marte. Goldschmidt is hitting .477 with five homers and 12 RBIs in the last 11 games, with six multi-hit games. Marte is hitting .389 with 11 extra-base hits and 11 RBIs in the last 11. He hit his NL-leading seventh triple Tuesday.

Greinke (5-4, 3.53 ERA) has won his last two decisions and is 3-2 with a 2.96 ERA and a .229 opponents’ batting average since beating the Dodgers at Chase Field on April 30. He is undefeated at home this season Kyzir White Jersey , going 3-0 with a 1.64 ERA in seven starts while continuing the success he had at home last year. Greinke was 13-1 with a 2.87 ERA in 18 home starts in 2017.

Greinke took a no-hitter into the eighth inning of a 2-1 victory over Pittsburgh at Chase Field last season, losing it when Gregory Polanco led off with a homer down the right-field line. Greinke struck out 11 and walked one in that game, his lone start against the Pirates last season. He is 7-3 with a 4.59 ERA in 11 career starts against the Pirates, about half of those games coming when he was with Milwaukee in 2011-12.

Taillon (3-5, 4.08) has been effective for the most part, but a few rocky outings this season caused his ERA to jump over 4.00. He has given up three runs or fewer in 10 of his 13 starts, but has given up five, seven and six in the other three.

After winning his first two decisions and giving up two earned runs in his first 20 2/3 innings, Taillon is 1-5 with a 5.36 ERA. He has not faced the Diamondbacks in his three seasons.

The sudden passing of Vikings offensive line coach Tony Sparano left the team with an opening at a key staff position. The Vikings will fill it with a pair of coaches.

The Vikings have announced that Clancy Barone and Andrew Janocko will serve as co-offensive line coaches. Barone previously served as the team’s tight ends coach. Janocko had been the assistant offensive line coach.

Former Raiders offensive coordinator Todd Downing will replace Barone as the tight ends coach. He previously spent 2001 through 2005 with the Vikings Kyle Murphy Jersey , in a variety of roles.

Coach Mike Zimmer, a defensive specialist, told PFT on Saturday that he’ll likely spend a extra time on the offensive side of the ball this year, due to the absence of Sparano. John DeFillippo is the team’s new offensive coordinator, replacing new Giants coach Pat Shurmur.

"I think the biggest thing is we're laying a foundation," said Wilks, who had the team assembled beginning last week for strength and conditioning work. "I wanted those guys to understand my vision, expectations."

Not much attention is paid to the Cardinals outside Arizona these days.

"Right now we're flying below the radar and that's great," he said Tuesday. "I like where we are, and I'll continue to start there until the time is right."

There is plenty going on inside the team's Tempe offices and meeting rooms. Wilks said he is busy trying to build relationships because "that's what it's all about."

Meanwhile, the defense is adjusting from the previous 3-4 scheme to the 4-3 Wilks used last year as defensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers. The offense, under the direction of coordinator Mike McCoy, is pretty much being invented from scratch around the abilities of running back David Johnson Joshua Garnett Jersey , wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and new quarterback Sam Bradford.

Bradford, with his injury history, will be brought along slowly.

"The biggest thing we're going to do with Sam is to make sure that he's ready to play 16-plus games," Wilks said. "I've seen what he can do over the years. I'm not concerned about trying to get him out there as quick as possible to throw the ball."

The coach said that he, along with the training and medical staff, have developed a plan for Bradford to follow.

"He knows his body more than us," Wilks said. "We're trying to make sure that we give him the things that he needs on a day-to-day basis to make sure that he feels healthy when he goes out there and he feels very confident about that. I feel great where he is right now. I think he's making great progress in what we're doing but once again we want to make sure that he's here for the long haul."

In the meantime, the new quarterback will have a voice in the shaping of the offense.

"With a veteran guy like Sam, he's going to have a lot of input in the things we're trying to do Spencer Ware Jersey ," Wilks said. "Most importantly, the guy's smart. He understands the game. He's played for a while. We want his input, most importantly, to be able to give him some accountability with this offense."

Wilks sat courtside with Fitzgerald at Sunday night's NBA game between the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns.

It's part of what Wilks called "up-close-and-personal time" he's had with the star receiver.

"He's everything that's advertised," Wilks said, "a true gentleman, a pillar not only of this community but a pillar of this league. It's great to have him back not only for his performance on the field but the things that he brings off the field as well. His leadership, his commitment to excellence, all those things are great."

Wilks commended the NFC West-rival Rams for their offseason moves.

"They're doing a tremendous job Tom Brady Jersey ," he said. "Look at some of the guys they've brought in this offseason."

He said it would be "a very competitive division."

"I'm going to keep the focus on us," he said. "I think when you really pull the layers back we have a lot of great talent as well."

Wilks has talked about holding some outdoor practices in training camp, a bit of a challenge considering the scorching desert heat of late July and August.

But he said he's experienced that heat, and he has associates relaying their experiences, as well.

"I'm listening to the stories people have been telling me," he said. "I'm saying we'll be outside, but we'll see."

Osuna has not pitched since May 6, two days before he was put on administrative leave when he was charged with one count of assault in Toronto.

Major League Baseball said Friday the suspension is retroactive to May 8 and covers 75 games. Osuna will wind up missing 89 days DeShone Kizer Jersey , which would cost him about $2.54 million of his $5.3 million salary.

”I don’t have much of a reaction other than you take what MLB does and trust that and live with that and let it go through its course,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said before Friday night’s road game against the Los Angeles Angels. ”We knew something was coming down. Actually, it took a while. Hopefully, it all gets worked out on both sides and everyone gets the help they need and everything works out fine.”

Osuna will participate in a confidential and comprehensive evaluation and treatment program supervised by the joint policy board of MLB and the players’ association.

The 23-year-old Osuna is 0-0 with nine saves and a 2.93 ERA in 15 games this season. The righty was an All-Star last year, when he went 3-4 with 39 saves and a 3.38 ERA.

Asked if it was better the Blue Jays now knew the length of the penalty, Gibbons said: ”I guess that helps.”

”We’ve kind of moved past that anyway and made do with what we’ve had,” he said.

—

 New York Jets Elite Jerseys

James Shields of the Chicago White Sox and the Cincinnati Reds play in opposite leagues and rarely see each other Melvin Gordon Jersey , yet they currently have much in common.

Now that they’re starting to make something out of what appeared to be a totally lost season, they’d like to keep it going.

The Reds got off to the worst start in baseball at 8-27, one so bad that getting to .500 looked to be as much of a challenge as winning a division title would be for most teams.

But when the Reds (36-48) take on the right-handed Shields and the White Sox on Monday night at Great American Ball Park, in the teams’ first matchup since 2015, they’ll be one of the majors’ hottest clubs. They’ve won 11 of 14 after taking the final two games of a four-game weekend series against the Milwaukee Brewers, and interim manager Jim Riggleman now has a 33-33 record for a last-place team.

Considering that Riggleman took over a Reds team that was 3-15 under former manager Bryan Price, that’s something of an accomplishment. And the Reds own a 6-1 record in interleague games.

“We know we can play with these teams that are in first place in their division,” Riggleman said.

They’re winning now in grand fashion, too. Jose Peraza hit the team’s major league-leading ninth grand slam Sunday in an 8-2 win over the Brewers, their second in two games (pitcher Michael Lorenzen hit a pinch-grand slam Saturday) and sixth in 17 games. They’ve already tied a club season record.

“We’ve been getting better at-bats … and we’ve happened to have men on base,” Riggleman said.

Cincinnati starter Matt Harvey pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings before being lifted after a rain delay DeSean Jackson Jersey , and the Reds dealt Brewers rookie Freddy Peralta (3-1), who gave up three runs in five innings, his first major league loss. Peralta allowed only one hit in seven shutout innings against the Kansas City Royals in his previous start.

“That’s probably the best I’ve felt since 2013,” said Harvey (4-5), who won his third straight start.

Shields (3-9), likewise, is beginning to see a ray of sunshine in what previously was a gloomy season. He’s coming off his best start of the year, pitching seven shutout innings and giving up four hits Wednesday in a 6-1 win over the Minnesota Twins. It was his 12th quality start of the season, or five more than he had all of last season.

Shields still isn’t the pitcher that won 13 or more games seven times from 2008 to 2015, but it hasn’t helped that he’s pitching for a team that’s off to the second worst start in franchise history. He has allowed a respectable six earned runs in his last four starts, and twice yielded one or no runs while lasting at least seven innings.

At age 36 Tarvarius Moore Jersey , Shields is making adjustments to compensate for his decreased velocity, yet has pitched at least six innings in 12 of his last 13 starts for a last-place team.

“My body’s feeling really good this year, and this is kind of what I’ve done my whole career,” Shields told reporters after the game against the Twins. “I strive to go as deep as I possibly can in games and so far it’s been good.

“I’m not throwing as hard as I used to. If I were to throw over the top, I’d still throw a little harder than I am right now. (But) at the end of the day, I’m feeling really good with my delivery right now, my mechanics. It’s been a lot of fun making these adjustments.”

Shields goes against Reds right-hander Luis Castillo (5-8), who was 1-3 with a 6.75 ERA in five June starts. He retired the first 11 batters he faced Wednesday at Atlanta, only to give up four quick runs on a walk and five consecutive singles, although the Reds came back to win 6-5.

Castillo is 0-1 in two starts against American League clubs this season, giving up eight runs in six innings. He has never faced the White Sox.

Shields is 18-18 with a 4.57 ERA in interleague play and 0-2 in two career starts against the Reds Adrian Peterson Jersey , the last of which was in 2015.

The White Sox (29-54) ended a three-game losing streak Sunday by salvaging the final game of a three-game series against the Texas Rangers, winning 10-5 as Avisail Garcia went 4-for-5 with a double and an RBI.

The Reds have won five consecutive interleague games but are facing the White Sox at Great American Ball Park for the first time since 2009. The White Sox are 16-4 overall against the Reds and 10-2 in Cincinnati, though that success there predated any of the current players.

When Cowboys owner Jerry Jones made it to the Hall of Fame last year, the celebration included a surprisingly self-aware smattering of references to the nutty things he has said over the years.

The best? In 2012, Jones explained at training camp that “I’ve been here when it was gloryhole days, and I’ve been here when it wasn’t. And so having said that, I want me some gloryhole.”

(The best actually got better; Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple tried to save Jones by pointing out that “gloryhole is a commonly used expression in the oil and gas exploration business,” and Jones interrupted by saying, “That’s news to me.”)

As Jones continues his quest for the kind of gloryhole to which he was referring (I think), he has offered up another all-time quote. This one happened not publicly but within the confines of his party bus, during a visit withBig Game author Mark Leibovich Reggie Ragland Jersey , whose bloodstream eventually was polluted with excessive amounts of Johnnie Walker Blue but whose recording device remained sober as a league-appointed arbitrator.

In the same conversation during which Jones applied specificity to the “shocking” price he’d pay for a Super Bowl win ($250 million, which further underscores the wisdom of a hard salary cap), Jones talked about his love of business, of selling. He once sold shoes in his youth. And he really, really liked the job.

Leibovich emerged from his Walker Blue Persuasion long enough to notice that Jones had mentioned “spending the afternoon masturbating over selling shoes.” Leibovich sought clarification.

“I’ve sold shoes, and I’ve masturbated in my shoes,” Jones said.

Jones went on to explain that sales isn’t about the product but about having fun while selling the product. (Apparently, a whole lot of fun.)

And Dalrymple, who was present for the exchange, did not even try to explain that “masturbated in my shoes” is a commonly used expression in the oil and gas exploration business.

Russell Wilson likes to dabble in baseball Coby Fleener Jersey , but is transitioning from trying to play to trying to own.

According to Maury Brown of Forbes.com, the Seahawks quarterback has signed on as an owner/investor in a group trying to bring baseball to Portland.

The Portland Diamond Group is having a press conference this afternoon to announce plans, and Wilson and his wife Ciara are part of the group.

He won’t be the first quarterback to get involved in another sport this offseason, as Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers bought a stake in the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks.

Wilson was drafted twice by Major League Baseball, and played in college. In two minor league seasons, the diminutive second baseman hit .229. He has also made frequent appearances in spring training camps. including with the Yankees this year.

"We have guys that are here and in play," Gruden said, noting that the Redskins drafted Guice because he was the best player available in the 59th spot, "not because we weren't satisfied with the backs we have."

The contenders as the No. 1 back now start with Rob Kelley and Samaje Perine.

Kelley, with 16 starts in two seasons Trent Brown Jersey , missed most of last season with a variety of injuries but ran for 704 yards and six touchdowns in 2016. Perine made eight starts last season and became the first Redskins running back with consecutive 100-yard performances since Alfred Morris in 2013. He had 603 yards and one TD last season.

Nonetheless, the Redskins' 90.5-yard rushing average was fifth-worst in the NFL, and Guice was looked at as a great find in the second round. Projected as a first-round pick, his stock fell amid reports of character concerns.

Gruden said none of those ever surfaced and he looks forward to Guice being 100 percent next season.

"We're obviously very upset for Derrius. He's put a lot of work in and (had) a very promising rookie season ahead of him, but unfortunately these injuries happen," Gruden said. "... We had high hopes for him and what he could do for this football team and what he would accomplish his rookie year as a person and all that good stuff."

Instead, he's hoping Kelley, Perine or veteran third-down specialist Chris Thompson, who is recovering from a broken fibula last season, can create as much excitement.

"I've been impressed with both of those guys Chad Henne Jersey ," Gruden said about Kelley and Perine. "A lot of talk has been on Derrius and deservedly so. He's had a great camp and OTAs, but Rob Kelley has lost a little bit of weight. He looks quicker in the hole to me and Samaje just looks more comfortable to me. He had a couple nice licks in the game the other night."

An increased opportunity was secondary in Kelley's mind after practice Saturday.

"It's real tough," Kelly said about Guice's injury. "He brought an energy I can't even explain to the room. I feel like everybody in the room feels a certain type of way about that. Just want to go out there and compete for him."

Kelley, based on his own experience with injuries, also offered Guice some advice.

"I just told him to come back stronger than ever, show people what they're missing out on," he said.

Star linebacker Ryan Kerrigan said he learned about Guice's status Friday when he came to the team's practice facility, and "it kind of took me a couple of minutes to get going with my workout and whatnot. ... He was the focal point of 'Skins camp, I would say, so far. I mean Earl Thomas III Jersey , people were wondering how many yards this guy's going to rush for and if they should pick him for their fantasy team. Things like that. People were really excited for him."

In the interim, the season goes on, and the Redskins running backs and everyone else will get to show their stuff against a different team in the next three days as the New York Jets come to Richmond for joint workouts.

"The Jets have a great run defense. They always have," Gruden said. "... So, just to get a different look, different perspective on how they do things, different speed at linebacker, safeties are very, very good over there so, we have to account for them. I mean there's a lot of things that they do differently that we'll have to account for and it'll be interesting to see how we adjust. So Sean Harlow Jersey , running backs, offensive linemen, tight ends in the running game, receivers in the running game. So, I think everybody will get a good-great challenge against these guys."

Notes: The Redskins signed tight end J.P. Holtz, linebacker Jeff Knox and defensive lineman Jalen Wilkerson, waived fullback Elijah Wellman and placed Guice and tight end Manasseh Garner on their reserve-injured list. ... Gruden said defensive lineman Matt Ioannidis has a slight sprained ankle and a slight knee strain and is listed as week-to-week, but added: "Matt's a tough guy and he'll probably get back here tomorrow. He's a nutjob." ... The Jets' arrival means Terrelle Pryor will be back in Richmond. Pryor caught 20 passes last season for the Redskins, but was hobbled by injuries.

The 40-year-old Borrego joins the Hornets after 15 seasons as an NBA assistant coach Tramon Williams Jersey , including the last three with the San Antonio Spurs under Gregg Popovich.

The Hornets have set an introductory news conference for Friday.

Borrego gained some head coaching experience when he served as the Orlando Magic’s interim head coach for the final 30 games of the 2014-15 season after Jacque Vaughn was dismissed.

Hornets general manager Mitch Kupchak said in a release that Borrego ”is considered one of the NBA’s most well-regarded assistant coaches and it’s great to have him as part of our team.”

Borrego said he’s ”confident” in the coaching foundation he has gained during stops at San Antonio, Orlando and New Orleans.”

—

Sam Darnold and Josh Allen are spending their weekend watching greatness, and for once it’s not other football players.

They’re at Shinnecock Hills for the U.S. Open.

Selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft – Darnold by the New York Jets, Allen by the Buffalo Bills – the two quarterbacks are headed to the pros but are far from done learning.

”We talk about it all the time in the quarterback room: Whenever we get a chance to watch greatness, whatever it is, we want to do it and learn from it,” Darnold said. ”Even last weekend with Justify winning the Triple Crown Charles Clay Jersey , you appreciate that as a quarterback and someone who’s striving to be great. .

”Then to see what guys like Dustin Johnson are able to do, it’s just so cool to watch.”

That’s who Darnold and Allen are rooting for, too. Johnson entered Saturday on top of the leaderboard, 4 over par, but was struggling in the third round.

Darnold and Allen checked out all 18 holes, spending a long time by the green of No. 8, just watching everyone putt. Each golfer’s ability to pinpoint a shot never ceased to amaze them. But it’s what comes before the swing that they really admire and respect: the preparation before the action.

”It’s like what me and Sam would do as quarterbacks Tedric Thompson Jersey , evaluating the defense before we snap the ball and trying to get understanding of what they’re doing,” Allen said. ”And that’s what they’re doing on the course. Before every shot, they’re trying to gauge the wind, trying to gauge the distance, and ultimately trying to have the right swing to put the ball where they want.”

That also includes zoning in on the task and blocking out distractions.

Darnold, who has played maybe a half-dozen times, actually ended up being the cause of such a distraction.

A fan recognized Darnold in the crowd and shouted Mohamed Sanu Jersey , ”J-E-T-S! Jets! Jets! Jets!” The outburst came in the middle of a player’s backswing. Darnold couldn’t recall whose swing, but it was his second shot on a par 3.

”He was just laser focused,” Darnold said. ”Still hit a really good shot, and it’s just really cool to watch these guys do what they do. Even with all the hecklers, everything that’s going on, they’re still able to just focus.”

That’s a standard Darnold and Allen can take back to the football field.

Darnold completed 63.1 percent of his passes and averaged 295.9 yards per game in his last season at Southern California. He was picked third overall.

Allen, who brought his dad – his frequent golfing partner – to Shinnecock Hills Nick O'Leary Jersey , hit 56.3 percent of his passes for 1,812 yards and averaged 164.7 yards per game at Wyoming last year. He went seventh overall.

”I love football, so there’s nothing that’s going to replace that,” Allen said. ”But golf, it’s a second.”

If the Cardinals got no one in this draft besides Josh Rosen Danielle Hunter Jersey , fans would have called it a rousing success.

And offense turned out to be the theme. Only one of the six players drafted by the Cardinals plays defense, even though their new coach Steve Wilks was defensive coordinator last year at Carolina.

The choices were simply a function of the names on the Arizona draft board, general manager Steve Keim said.

"In a perfect world, coach and I would have been thrilled to have balance and to fill some positions defensively if those guys warranted those picks," Keim said. "But we had such high grades on those offensive players, we didn't want to stray away from the board."

In the second round, Arizona went with homegrown wide receiver Christian Kirk from Texas A&M in the second round.

The Cardinals picked center Mason Cole out of Michigan in the third round and, with their first choice Saturday dipped into the FCS ranks to grab running back Chase Edmonds of Fordham.

It marked only the second time in the draft's modern era (which began in 1967) that the Cardinals have used their first four picks on the offense. The other was in 1993.

Finally, in the sixth round, Arizona went defense, grabbing cornerback Chris Campbell of Penn State. The Cardinals' final pick came third to last in the seventh and final round when they selected offensive tackle Korey Cunningham of Cincinnati.

But this draft was, first and foremost, about that long-awaited young quarterback for Arizona.

When Carson Palmer retired at the end of last season, there were no QBs on the roster. Now they have Sam Bradford, Mike Glennon and Rosen Jim Plunkett Jersey , who will begin his new job in earnest at the rookie minicamp in two weeks.

HOME SWEET HOME

No Arizona draftee could have been happier than Kirk, who grew up in the Phoenix area, starring at Saguaro High in Scottsdale before choosing Texas A&M over staying home at Arizona State. Now he's coming home and keeps describing the situation as "surreal."

Kirk said he got to know star receiver Larry Fitzgerald when he played on the same Pop Warner team as Kurt Warner's son. Warner would sometimes bring Fitzgerald along to games and they struck up a friendship.

"I think I was probably in the fourth grade at the time, third or fourth grade, and every time they came out, it was just so crazy," Kirk said.

Kirk will use his old No. 13. That was the Hall of Famer Warner's number, too.

"Exactly, I have to rock it well," Kirk said. "I have a lot to live up to."

CHARACTER

Keim said that as he evolves through his fifth year on the job, he's paying more attention than ever to off-the-field character and the player's love of the game as he assesses who should be selected. He noted all but Campbell in this year's class were team captains.

The idea was to go with "strong character guys" that match what Wilks calls his team's DNA.

"I've almost promised myself that we would take guys, even if they're a little less talented, but they have that makeup," Keim said. "... Especially in our first draft together, we wanted to make a statement."

FCS SUCCESS

Almost every year Lorenzo Carter Jersey , the Cardinals dip into the talent at the FCS level, or lower.

This year it was Edmonds, the all-time leading rusher in the Patriot League for yards and touchdowns who could be in a crowded competition for a backup spot behind 2016 All-Pro David Johnson, as well as a kick and punt returner.

"I'm just looking forward to whatever role Arizona asks me," he said. "Whether it's being a special teams player, being a third-down back, on the slot, something like that. I'm looking forward to it."

Keim called Edmonds' production "off the charts" and said he would have set the FCS career rushing record had he not been injured during his senior season.

Some prior Arizona draftees from the FCS ranks or lower include Johnson, taken in the third round out of Northern Iowa in 2015; wide receiver John Brown, selected in third round out of Pittsburg State (Kan.) in 2014; and cornerback/special teams player Justin Bethel, picked in the sixth round out of Presbyterian in 2012.

Oh, and quarterback John Skelton out of Fordham in the fifth round in 2010. He's no longer around.

STILL NEED

Look for defensive players to be signed as undrafted free agents, as well as maybe some late veteran signings. Arizona still needs to find a cornerback to play opposite Patrick Peterson and is looking for depth at linebacker as the team transitions from a 3-4 base formation to a 4-3. The Cardinals also could use some depth at tight end.

The U.S. opened with victory over Canada Peyton Barber Jersey , the tournament favorite seeking a third title in four years and captained by NHL leading scorer Connor McDavid

Chasing its first medal at the tournament since bronze in 2015, the 5-4 win over Canada in a penalty shootout set the pace for the U.S. in Group B, followed by victories against host Denmark (4-0), Germany (3-0), Latvia (3-2 in OT) and South Korea (13-1).

The decision to make Kane captain after a disappointing season with his Chicago Blackhawks has paid off.

The 29-year-old star forward last played at the world championships in 2008, his first season in the NHL and also the last time the Blackhawks missed the playoffs. In the meantime he won three Stanley Cup titles with the Blackhawks and was in the U.S. team at the 2010 and 2014 Olympics.

”It’s a huge honor to represent the United States of America, the greatest country in the world,” Kane said.

He has proved a leader on ice, scoring three goals and adding nine assists in the first five games at the championship.

Kane was also key to other players being keen to join the team.

”His influence was as a magnet to attract players,” U.S. general manager Bill Zito said.

The team includes game-breakers such as forwards Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings, Anders Lee of the New York Islanders, Chris Kreider of the New York Rangers and Johnny Gaudreau of the Calgary Flames. Cam Atkinson of the Columbus Blue Jackets has been the team’s leading scorer at the championship with five goals.

But there’s also promising young talent, such as defenseman Quinn Hughes, a top 10 prospect in the 2018 NHL draft.

”Lot of good players, lot of young guys on this team Kareem Hunt Jersey , so it’s been a fun team to be around,” Kane said.

Kane’s Chicago teammate Alex DeBrincat, who is on the national team after scoring 28 goals in his rookie season with the Blackhawks, praised Kane’s leadership qualities.

”He wants to be the best, he’s always out there to be the best player on the ice,” DeBrincat said. ”For me, it’s taking that mentality and just using it. Everyone wants to be the best but some guys want that so much more and he’s one of those guys.”

Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy and Nashville Predators forward Nick Bonino have joined the team to strengthen the roster after the elimination from the NHL playoffs.

With a quarterfinal spot all but ensured, the U.S. faces Norway on Sunday and Finland on Tuesday in their remaining Group B games.

”The most important game is the next one, so we’ll look to continue improving as we get set for Norway,” head coach Jeff Blashill said.