Dein erstes Forum » left in the third. Mouillierat tipped home a Zach R

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Grady Sizemores long journey back from a series of injuries that almost ended his promising career is complete: He will be the Boston Red Soxs starting centre fielder on opening day. The three-time All-Star is set to play for the World Series champions Monday at Baltimore. "Its very exciting," Sizemore said Friday. "Its been a long road for me and Im happy to keep moving forward and to be in this position for this team." Sizemore beat out highly regarded prospect Jackie Bradley Jr. for the starting job. The Red Sox said Friday that Bradley will begin the season at Triple-A Pawtucket. Sizemore has not played in the majors since September 2011 with Cleveland. He has undergone seven operations since 2009, including surgery on both knees, his back and elbow. The Red Sox lost star centre fielder Jacoby Ellsbury to the Yankees in free agency during the off-season. Boston signed the 31-year-old Sizemore in January, hoping he could still make an impact. Sizemore hit .333 in spring training, going 13 for 39 with a home run, two doubles, three walks, and four strikeouts. He held up well in the outfield, playing 82 innings. "This is one of those situations where the game was taken away from a player and now that its back in his reach, that appreciation is only going to grow," Farrell said. "Theres a greater appreciation that I think any player goes through when theyre able to attain that level again. "He hasnt had any push back with the repetition and the volume in spring training, saying his body cant take it," Farrell added. "We have had a cautious level of optimism with each passing day." Entering spring training, the Red Sox were not sure what to expect from Sizemore. But hes passed every marker. Whats left is to see how he holds up during the rigours of a full season. "As far as the durability question, we answered it as best we could given the number of spring training games," Farrell said. "He will still be on a progression in the month of April where theres a prescribed number of games played and theres a progression to that. Its premature to give you an exact number of games per week. But were working toward an everyday status." Sizemore was a third-round pick of the Montreal Expos in 2000 before being acquired in a six-player deal by Cleveland in 2002 when Farrell was the Indians director of player development. Before his injuries, Sizemore was one of baseballs most dynamic players. A left-handed batter, he hit 20 or more home runs with 20 or more stolen bases in each of his first four full seasons, from 2005-08, the most 20-20 seasons in Indians history. The only other players ever to record three 20-20 seasons within their first four big league seasons are Darryl Strawberry (1984-86) and Bobby Bonds (1969-71). Despite his time away from the game, Sizemore never gave up on his baseball career, though. "I didnt think it was over," he said. "I just didnt know if Id ever get back to feeling healthy. It wasnt really a matter of playing baseball. It was the little things like being able to run. It was one of those things where youre just trying to find answers." The last few years have not been easy on Sizemore. After appearing in a total of 639 games from 2005-08, he has played in just 210 since. But, on Monday, expect that to change. "Its nice to have some positive news," Sizemore said. "In the last couple of years everythings been so negative. Its almost hard to realize whats going on. Hard to sink in." Fred VanVleet Jersey . Four years after winning gold on home ice in Vancouver, the Canadians will get a chance to make it two in a row Sunday against Sweden after beating the United States 1-0 in the Olympic semifinals Friday at Bolshoy Ice Dome. Tracy Mcgrady Raptors Jersey . -- Cheyenne Woods, the niece of Tiger Woods, shot a 2-under 69 on Tuesday to finish first in stroke-play qualifying at the Womens U. https://www.raptorsrookiesshop.com/Lucas-Nogueira-City-Edition-Jersey/ . DETROIT LIONS AT CHICAGO BEARS, 1:00 PM (ET) Detroit - G Rodney Austin, WR Ryan Broyles, DT Nick Fairley, QB Kellen Moore, DT Caraun Reid, CB Mohammed Seisay, DE Larry Webster Chicago - S Chris Conte, DT Brandon Dunn, QB David Fales, K Robbie Gould, CB Terrance Mitchell, OT Michael Ola, DE Trevor Scott GREEN BAY PACKERS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS, 1:00 PM (ET) Green Bay - LB Carl Bradford, DT Bruce Gaston, C Garth Gerhart, CB Davon House, WR Jeff Janis, TE Justin Perillo, QB Scott Tolzien Tampa Bay - OT Anthony Collins, CB Isaiah Frey, WR Robert Herron, RB Mike James, WR Solomon Patton, FB/TE Evan Rodriguez, LB Lawrence Sidbury KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS, 1:00 PM (ET) Kansas City - WR Donnie Avery, CB Marcus Cooper, OT Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, OL Eric Kush, QB Aaron Murray, RB Charcandrick West, DT Nick Williams Pittsburgh - WR Justin Brown, DE Clifton Geathers, G Chris Hubbard, QB Landry Jones, S Troy Polamalu, TE Matt Spaeth, CB Ike Taylor MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS, 1:00 PM (ET) Minnesota - LB Anthony Barr, OT Carter Bykowski, DB Ahmad Dixon, OT Charlie Johnson, FB Zach Line, CB Shaun Prater, TE Kyle Rudolph Miami - G Nate Garner, WR Matt Hazel, S Don Jones, WR Rishard Matthews, LB Chris McCain, G Dallas Thomas, RB Daniel Thomas NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT NEW YORK JETS, 1:00 PM (ET) New England - CB Kyle Arrington, RB LeGarrette Blount, OL Dan Connolly, CB Alfonzo Dennard, OT Jordan Devey, WR Julian Edelman, RB James White NY Jets - DT T. Malachi Richardson Jersey . -- Each time the Utah Jazz threatened Memphis lead, the Grizzlies responded with defensive stops. Matt Thomas Raptors Jersey . LOUIS -- The St.ST. JOHNS, N.L. -- Travis Morin made sure the Texas Stars Game 3 finish was just as good as their start. Morin scored in overtime as the Stars held off the St. Johns IceCaps 2-1 on Wednesday to take a 2-1 series lead in the American Hockey Leagues Calder Cup final. Morin tipped home a point shot from Brendan Ranford while stationed on the doorstep 7:20 into OT, but Stars coach Willie Desjardins credited his teams start in the win. "We had a really good first two periods, probably the best two weve played," he said. "The (IceCaps) showed they are resilient and came back, and overtime could have gone either way. Both teams are resilient." A low-scoring affair suits the IceCaps game plan perfectly, according to St. Johns coach Keith McCambridge, although he wasnt content with how his team started. "Thats our type of game, keeping it close like that and not giving up a lot of chances. It took us probably two periods to get our feet underneath us and to get our speed up and get our feet moving," said McCambridge. "(I thought) we did that in the third period, we were able to create some chances and get in the game. I liked our third, but was only OK with our first or second. As the game wore on, we realized we have to have our speed at a higher level." Brett Ritchie also scored for the Stars, while Kael Mouillierat had the lone goal for St. Johns. A scoreless first period extended into the second when IceCaps goaltender Michael Hutchinson made a spectacular save at 10:53. Hutcchinson sprawled out for a high-glove save on a one-timer by Morin, who wired a slapshot from the left face-off dot.dddddddddddd The Stars opened the scoring when Ritchie tapped in a rebound five-hole while stationed in front of the net 15:54 into the second period. Hutchinson made the first save, but the puck bounced right onto the stick of Ritchie. The IceCaps levelled the game with 8:16 left in the third. Mouillierat tipped home a Zach Redmond point shot into the high corner of the Stars net. Just 3:05 into overtime the IceCaps thought they had a goal after jarring the puck loose from Stars goalie Cristopher Nilstorp, but the referee had blown his whistle thinking the puck was covered. Nilstorp finished with 31 saves, while Hutchinson stopped 34 shots. Desjardins praised both goalies for their play. "I liked (Nilstorp) all night long, I thought he played pretty good," said Desjardins. "I think (Hutchinson) has been good all series. Hes a good goaltender. He (has saved) anything he can get a good look at." Game 4 is Monday in St. Johns. While not ideal, McCambridge said losing Game 3 isnt a "morale blow" for the IceCaps. "Its just one game, a lost game. You cant expect to win every single game. We have a really good character group. We realize we didnt play our best for two periods. Well get back to the rink tomorrow and get back to where we need to be for Game 4 ... We wouldnt expect anything but a long series here. Playoffs arent decided in one game." ' ' '