Gildenbeschreibung » otsteps of countryman Tom Hackett, who won back-to-bac

WASHINGTON -- Two big innings were enough for the Washington Nationals to overcome the Atlanta Braves and top prospect Dansby Swansons inside-the-park home run Tuesday night.Pinch-runner Michael A. Taylor scored the go-ahead run on catcher Tyler Flowers throwing error as part of a three-run eighth inning as the Nationals defeated Atlanta 9-7.Youve got to believe and think it and everybody was believing, Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. The power of positive thinking goes a long way, especially in this game. That brought the crowd back into the game.Washington had a five-run third inning for the second consecutive night.We just sometimes cant stay away from that crooked number in one inning, Atlanta interim manager Brian Snitker said.Taylor pinch-ran after Braves reliever Jose Ramirez (2-2) walked Ryan Zimmerman. Taylor stole second and, after Danny Espinosas walk, scored when an off-balance Flowers threw pinch-hitter Ben Reveres bunt attempt well to the left of third baseman Adonis Garcia.I knew if I got my hand on it, it had to be quick, Flowers said. When I went through it all in my head, I imagined it being a little more accurate in my head before it happened. Its a do-or-die play. The game is essentially on the line. I tried to be an athlete and it just didnt work out.Trea Turner then hit a two-run single for Washington, which beat Atlanta for the 13th time in 15 meetings this season.Koda Glover (2-0) retired the only two batters he faced to earn the victory, while Mark Melancon got his 39th save in 42 opportunities.Washington used seven relievers, who combined to retire 17 of the 20 batters they faced.They did a great job tonight, Zimmerman said. Theyve done a really great job all year long, coming into games and keeping us where were at. Theyre not an easy team to pitch to.Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper secured his first career 20 homer-20 steal season with a stolen base in the seventh.Swanson, the 2015 overall No. 1 draft pick, hit an inside-the-park home run in the second inning. The shortstop lined a pitch from Gio Gonzalez over Turner and high off the fence in center field, 399 feet away. The ball caromed toward the infield, and Swanson slid home headfirst, easily beating the throw from Harper. It was his first career home run.Swanson, who made his big league debut Aug. 17, entered the game hitting .236 with four RBI in 55 at-bats. Atlantas previous inside-the-park home run was by Wes Helms on Oct. 7, 2001.It was one of those things where I thought it was going to be my first triple, Swanson said. Then as I kept going, judging by the reaction in the dugout and the crowd, I thought `Maybe Ill get an inside-the-parker. I just kept going.Swansons homer gave Atlanta a 3-1 lead, and the Braves added another run in the third on Freddie Freemans RBI single. But Washington blasted starter Williams Perez in the third inning, collecting three singles before Rendon launched an 0-2 pitch to left for his first career grand slam. Zimmerman chased Perez two batters later with a solo homer.Perez allowed six runs in 2 1/3 innings. Gonzalez didnt fare much better, allowing six runs in three innings.STREAKS CONTINUEOF Ender Inciarte singled twice to extend his hitting streak to 17 games, two shy of his career high. Freeman pushed his hitting streak to 13 games with a single.TRAINERS ROOMBraves: RHP Matt Wisler (sore side) played catch a day after he missed his scheduled start Snitker said Wisler would likely need a couple of side sessions before returning to the rotation.Nationals: Washington recalled INF Wilmer Difo and RHP Lucas Giolito from Triple-A Syracuse. Difo hit .257 with five RBI in 35 at-bats in earlier stints with the Nationals, while Giolito is 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA in four starts in the majors.UP NEXTBraves: RHP Mike Foltynewicz (8-5, 4.31) starts the series finale for Atlanta. Foltynewicz earned a victory in his only previous start this year against Washington, allowing four runs in 5 2/3 innings on Aug. 12.Nationals: Strasburg (15-4, 3.59) will return from the DL and start Wednesday. Strasburg has not pitched since Aug. 17 because of right elbow soreness. He is 2-1 with a 4.26 ERA in three starts against Atlanta this season. A.J. Cole Jersey . But Bourque, who has missed three games with a lower-body injury, wont be in the lineup when the Habs travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres on Wednesday. Curtis Riley Jersey . Peter Holland and Brad Staubitz were sent to Toronto on Saturday as the Maple Leafs traded defenceman Jesse Blacker and draft picks to the Anaheim Ducks. http://www.cheapraidersjerseyschina.com/jordan-devey-jersey/ . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. George Blanda Jersey . Mickelson barely made the cut but had the best round of the day with nine birdies and an eagle coupled with two bogeys to sit two shots behind leader Craig Lee of Scotland. Lee shot a 69 for a 12-under 204 total. "I just love the fact I am in contention and have an opportunity in my first tournament of the year here in Abu Dhabi," Mickelson said. John Matuszak Jersey . After slipping from the summit during the week, the Gunners overcame struggling Crystal Palace 2-0 on Sunday thanks to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlains second-half brace. Our preseason All-American team was loaded with Heisman contenders: Deshaun Watson, Leonard Fournette and Christian McCaffrey, to name a few front-runners.Our midseason All-American team? Well, as further evidence that 2016 has been a wild ride, none of those three players are on the list.Heres a look at the surprising -- hello, Lamar Jackson -- and the not-so-surprising -- welcome back, Jabrill Peppers -- from the first half of 2016. ?OffenseQB: Lamar Jackson, LouisvilleLamar Jackson has emerged as the Heisman favorite after his nearly unstoppable performance this season. Jackson ranks No. 2 in the nation in total offense (2,638 yards) and has 30 touchdowns (15 rushing, 15 passing), using his combination of arm strength, speed and elusiveness to become the toughest player in the nation to defend. -- Andrea AdelsonRB: Donnel Pumphrey, San Diego StatePumphrey leads the nation with 1,111 rushing yards. Thats 169 more than the next closest (BYUs Jamaal Williams) and hes played one fewer game. Hes rushed for 11 touchdowns and averages 185.2 yards per game. -- Kevin GemmellRB: Dalvin Cook, Florida StateCook heard the criticisms after a slow start, and it fueled him to the best four-game stretch in his career. The past four weeks hes rushed for 672 yards and totaled five touchdowns. An improved receiver, he leads the country in scrimmage and all-purpose yards (1,256). -- Jared ShankerWR: Chad Hansen, CalBuried behind lots of NFL talent the past couple of years, Hansen finally got his opportunity and has flourished. Hes hauled in 59 catches for 770 yards with eight touchdowns. His 9.8 catches per game ranks third nationally. -- Kevin GemmellWR: James Washington, Oklahoma StateHe ranks ninth nationally in receiving yards per game and second since Week 3 after posting the highest total against a Power 5 team this season with 296 yards in the Cowboys win over Pitt. -- Mitch ShermanTE: Evan Engram, Ole MissThrough the first half of the season, Engram doesnt just lead all SEC tight ends in receiving yards. He leads all players with 590 yards on 37 receptions. Hes also tops in the league with 12 receptions of 20 or more yards. -- Greg OstendorfOT: Cam Robinson, AlabamaLike last season, the future first-round pick has started out slowly. But Alabamas production in the run game, ranking fourth in the country and leading the SEC in rushing yards, speaks for itself. -- Alex ScarboroughOG: Braden Smith, AuburnThe Tigers are second in the SEC in rushing despite losing their three top running backs from a season ago. Why? It starts up front with the offensive line, and Smith has been the best of the bunch. -- Greg OstendorfC: Ethan Pocic, LSUAlthough the senior ranks among the top centers in the country, his ability to play every line position has come in handy lately. Injuries along LSUs offensive line have forced Pocic to fill in at right tackle. -- David ChingOG: Dorian Johnson, PittJohnson has been a rock for Pitt, starting 33 straight games at left guard for the 5-2 Panthers. The 6-foot-5, 315-pound senior has led an offensive line that has surrendered just five sacks on the season, the fewest in the ACC (and tied for ninth-fewest nationally). Pitt is also second in the league in rushing (239.1 yards per game), good for 19th nationally. -- Matt FortunaOT: Trey Adams, WashingtonWith an average of 49.5 points per game, Washington leads the Pac-12 in scoring offense and is third nationally. Adams is the man protecting the blindside of quarterback Jake Browning and paving the way for a rushing offense that averaged 229 yards per game and has 12 touchdowns on the ground. -- Kevin GemmellDefenseDL: Myles Garrett, Texas A&MA lower leg injury slowed him recently but even with that, he has been an impact player, picking up a team-high four sacks, six tackles for loss, six quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. -- Sam KhanDL: : Montravius Adams, AuburnEverybody wants to talk up Carl Lawson on the outside, but Adams has been just as disruptive on the insiide.dddddddddddd The senior has four tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, eight quarterback hurries and recently scored his first career touchdown. -- Greg OstendorfDL:?Christian Wilkins, ClemsonWhen Austin Bryant went down with an injury this spring, Clemson was desperate for an edge rusher. Conveniently, the Tigers had a 310-pound one happy to oblige. Wilkins had blossomed into a star on the interior of the line as a true freshman in 2015, but hes proven to be the countrys most versatile big man in his sophomore season, working both inside and out for the Tigers defensive line while also playing fullback, tight end and starring on special teams. -- David M. HaleDL: Derek Barnett, TennesseeBarnett is pushing for SEC Player of the Year honors with six sacks (all in SEC play), 11.5 TFLs, five QB hurries, three passes defended, one interception and two forced fumbles. He helped force two turnovers against Alabama. -- Edward AschoffLB: Reuben Foster, AlabamaMiddle linebacker didnt drop off when Reggie Ragland left. If anything, Foster is even more athletic and covers more of the field, leading Alabama with 41 tackles. -- Alex ScarboroughLB: Jabrill Peppers, MichiganThe electric redshirt sophomore is really a linebacker in name only. Hes floated around the Wolverines top-ranked defense giving opponents a moving target to track at all times. He has 10 tackles for loss, but his biggest highlights have come while returning punts or moonlighting as a Wildcat quarterback. -- Dan MurphyLB: Raekwon McMillan, Ohio StateThe individual numbers may be down, and if Ohio State was worried about it, it could offer a couple of easy excuses for the junior captain. But when the Buckeyes arent blowing out opponents or he isnt setting up teammates for big plays, McMillan is proving once again to be one of the best tacklers in the nation and a crucial leader for a defense loaded with first-time starters around him. -- Austin WardS: Malik Hooker, Ohio StateAs quickly as the redshirt sophomore can break on a pass over the middle, Hooker has emerged as one of the most dynamic defensive backs in the country, Hooker has wasted no time making an impact with four interceptions and a touchdown in the first six starts of his career. -- Austin WardS: Budda Baker, WashingtonBaker is the quarterback of a Washington defense that ranks seventh nationally (14.2 points per game) and leads the Pac-12. Through the first half of the season hes tallied 29 stops, including 20 solo, with 2.5 for a loss and an interception. -- Kevin GemmellCB: Minkah Fitzpatrick, AlabamaHe plays a little cornerback, a little nickel back and a whole lot of defense. The true sophomore mixes instincts and training well, leading the team in interceptions and passes defended. -- Alex ScarboroughCB: Jalen Tabor, FloridaOne of the nations best cover corners, Tabor hasnt been thrown at a lot, but when he has, hes taken full advantage. He has defended five passes, but four of them have been interceptions, including one going back for a touchdown against Missouri. -- Edward AschoffSpecial teamsK: Daniel Carlson, AuburnHes no longer perfect on field goals, but 13 of 14 is still pretty good, especially when you consider his only miss came from 56 yards out. For the year, hes still 2 of 3 on kicks from 50 yards or more. -- Greg OstendorfP: Mitch Wishnowsky, UtahUtah continues to be rewarded for its faith in the Australian punter pipeline. Wishnowsky is following in the footsteps of countryman Tom Hackett, who won back-to-back Ray Guy Awards for the Utes. Wishnowsky leads the nation in punting average (49.1) and hes placed 15 of his 31 punts inside the opponents 20. -- Kevin GemmellAP: Eddie Jackson, AlabamaWhether its in the return game or at safety, Jackson is the epitome of a playmaker. The senior already has a pair of punt return touchdowns and one pick-six to go with his 21 tackles. -- Alex Scarborough