Dein erstes Forum » eel a No. 54 Toyota he called "awesome

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Steve Pearce is eager to take advantage of every opportunity hes given to help the Baltimore Orioles. The 31-year-old journeyman outfielders opposite-field double snapped a scoreless tie and Nelson Cruz added his major league-leading 22nd homer, providing all the run support rookie Kevin Gausman and two relievers needed to shut down the struggling Tampa Bay Rays 2-0 for manager Buck Showalters 1,200th career win on Wednesday. Gausman pitched six innings and Pearce, who homered during a 7-5 victory over Tampa Bay on Tuesday, went 2 for 4 to boost his batting average to .324 with six homers and 15 RBIs. Not bad for a guy who was out of baseball for two days after the Orioles designated him for assignment and eventually released him in the opening month of the season. Since re-signing with the team on April 29, hes gradually built confidence while making the most of limited chances hes had to contribute. "And I want to keep continuing it and doing what I can do to help the team win," Pearce said. "Thats 10 at-bats in two days, I dont know if Ive ever had that in my career." The first of Pearces two doubles, a line drive down the right-field line, drove in Nick Markakis from first base in the fifth inning. Alex Cobb (2-5) would have gotten through the fifth unscathed if second baseman Ben Zobrist hadnt mishandled Markakis two-out grounder for an error. Cobb yielded four hits and four walks in seven innings. The right-hander fanned six in his sixth start since returning from a five-week stay on the disabled list with a left oblique strain. "Its kind of been the story of the year so far for us in the fact that on those days we pitch good, its been tough to come across some runs," Cobb said. "On the other hand of that is were pitching poorly and the offence is putting up a lot of runs," the right-hander added. "Weve just got to get on the same page and ... and play the type of baseball we should be." Gausman (3-1) allowed five hits, walked one and struck out five, including Zobrist and James Loney after the Rays loaded the bases with no outs in the first. The Rays were blanked for an AL-leading 11th time, finishing with five hits and going 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position. "We just didnt hit," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "How many times have I had to say that this year?" Pearce is hitting .444 with three homers, three doubles, five walks, five runs scored and six RBIs against Tampa Bay this year. Most of the damage has come at Tropicana Field, where the Orioles have won five of six meetings between the AL East rivals to build a 7-1 lead in the season series. Cruz, who also leads the majors with 58 RBIs, homered for the first time since June 3. The solo shot off Kirby Yates made it 2-0 in the eighth. Tommy Hunter pitched two perfect innings and Zach Britton worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his ninth save in 10 opportunities. The Rays loaded the bases in the first on a leadoff walk, Kevin Kiermaiers single and shortstop J.J. Hardys fielding error. Gausman worked out of the jam, striking out Loney and Zobrist before getting David DeJesus to foul out along the left field line to end the threat. The Rays wasted another opportunity in the sixth when Evan Longoria had a leadoff double, Loney struck out and Zobrist hit a soft liner to left field that Pearce caught on the run before tossing the ball to second for an easy double play, when Longoria continued to run, mistakenly thinking there were two outs. "Stevie just seems to be dialing up what we need," Showalter said. "Its probably no coincidence that he was involved in the double play, too. That was pretty good positioning." NOTES: Pearce, who grew up in nearby Lakeland, has three homers in 18 at-bats against the Rays this season. All of the homers have come at Tropicana Field. ... After striking out with the bases loaded in the first and hitting into a double play in the sixth, Zobrist has one hit in his last 36 at-bats with runners in scoring position. ... The Orioles have Thursday off before beginning a weekend series at Yankee Stadium, with RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (2-8) facing RHP Hiroki Kuroda (4-5) on Friday. The Rays continue a 10-day homestand, opening a four-game set against Houston, with RHP Chris Archer going against RHP Collin McHugh (4-4) on Thursday. Custom Arizona Cardinals Jerseys .com) - The Chicago Blackhawks take aim at their longest winning streak of the season on Sunday when they host the Calgary Flames in a battle at the United Center. Adrian Wilson Youth Jersey . "Yeah, [I heard them]," he said. "They made me miss the free throw." A year ago, Lowrys post-game antics may not have been so well received but what was snide and snarky is now endearing quick wit. http://www.thecardinalsshoponline.com/hakeem-butler-cardinals-jersey-zj/ . For one, he still gets to crank the intensity to the max. "I push pretty angry. I ran pretty angry too though, but I have fun doing it," Lumsden said. Byron Murphy Jersey . He managed to save par, and went on to put together his best opening round of the year. Calcavecchia and Wes Short Jr. Pat Tillman Cardinals Jersey . - The Carolina Panthers believe Steve Smith lost "top-end" speed, a big reason the franchise parted ways with its all-time leading receiver.DOVER, Del. -- Kyle Busch heard the critics who said he was too good, too dominant, too loaded with the best equipment to keep dropping down levels and routinely romping his way toward victories. His response from Victory Lane, too bad. Busch raced to his second victory of the weekend at Dover, taking the checkered flag Saturday in the Nationwide Series race to set himself up for a tripleheader sweep. "I do it for the pure love of the sport and just wanting to be out there," Busch said. "Ill keep doing it as long as we can do it." Busch followed his dominant win Friday night in the Truck Series with another stellar run in Nationwide. He led 124 of 200 laps for his 66th career victory in NASCARs second-tier series. He has 134 wins spread over NASCARs three major series, though he has yet to win a Cup championship or marquee races such as the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400, Coca-Cola 600 or All-Star race. "Ive got a 134 of em now and none of them mean nothing," Busch said. "Hopefully, someday, the big ones come." Busch had a three-race sweep in 2010 at Bristol, which he called the highlight of his career. Hell start second behind pole-winner Brad Keselowski on Sunday in the 400-mile Sprint Cup race. He has one Cup victory this season. "We unloaded fast and I think well be OK tomorrow," Busch said. Former Daytona 500 champion Trevor Bayne was second. Bayne finished strong a week after he reached a deal to race fulltime next season for Roush Fenway Racing. Joey Logano, Matt Kenseth and Chase Elliott round out the top five. Series points leader Regan Smith was 10th. Logano, the pole winner, had won the last four Nationwide races at Dover and would have tied a Nationwide record for consecutive wins at the same track with a victory. "All good things must come to an end and weell give it another shot in the fall," Logano said.dddddddddddd "Maybe a couple of years later well be sitting here going for five again." This race belonged to Busch. The only driver to sweep a weekend, Busch has been in this position before, but is just 1 for 8 in Cup races after winning the first two. "It seems like the last one is always the hardest one," he said. "Thats due to just the competition." Busch was annoyed after rough practice and qualifying sessions left him feeling as if he didnt have the car to win. Once the green flag dropped, Busch was behind the wheel a No. 54 Toyota he called "awesome." "I didnt think it was, but it was," he said. "I never got the feel I was looking for during practice." Busch, who won for the third time this season, found it when it mattered on the mile concrete track. His brother, Kurt, failed last weekend in his attempt to complete The Double -- drive all 1,100 miles of the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Kyle Busch hoped he could complete his Triple, though the Cup race is the traditional roadblock in his date with racing history. Busch also was the first driver to win the Truck and Nationwide race at Dover on the same weekend. Busch and Brad Keselowski own Truck teams, and NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. owns a Nationwide team. And with sponsorship key to funding those operations, corporations often agree to sponsorship deals with the guarantee that the driver/owners will get behind the wheel in a handful of races or more. Tracks, television rights holders and NASCAR also all benefit from the draw of racings top drivers. "I know theres a lot of naysayers that say I dont belong or shouldnt be there," he said. "Until the rules change ... Ill keep running." ' ' '