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vive123654
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Nov 5 2014, 12:48 AM
Post #1
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WASHINGTON -- Doug Fister did the splits while covering first base and reached backward to make a how-did-he-do-that stab of a grounder while on the mound, adding a bit of gymnastics to another pinpoint outing. No one can accuse the 6-foot-8 righty of being either ungainly or inaccurate. He won his fourth straight start Thursday, another walk-free outing of seven innings with just two runs and four hits allowed as the Washington Nationals beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 to complete a three-game sweep. Fister (4-1) struggled in the Nationals debut last month after missing all of April with a lat strain. He hasnt allowed more than two runs in a game since. In six starts, hes walked only two batters. "Id rather them earn it," he said, "than give it away." And earning it is that much harder with a pitcher as flexible as Fister. The college first baseman did a full split while not quite hanging on to a throw to first that would have completed a double play in the first inning. "Yeah, thats not comfortable," Washington manager Matt Williams said. For the player or the manager? "For both," Williams said. Then there was the play in the third inning, when Fister flipped himself around to rob Ben Revere of a hit up the middle -- a play that proved more valuable when Jimmy Rollins followed immediately with a double. "Hes a cat out there on the mound," reliever Tyler Clippard said. "Hes getting everything." Sounds like hes the teams unofficial "pepper" champ. "I try to do a lot of work with groundballs up the middle and try to work on reaction time," Fister said. "Being able to field my position is something I take a lot of pride in." Fisters start is the latest in whats starting to look like the tough-act-to-follow rotation expected from the Nationals this season. Jordan Zimmermann threw eight scoreless innings in the series opener Tuesday, and Stephen Strasburg fanned 11 in Wednesdays win. Overall, the Nationals have won five of six. They have out-scored opponents 38-12 in those half-dozen games, including 19-6 in each of the three-game series against the Texas Rangers and the Phillies. Now comes a 10-game road trip to San Diego, San Francisco and St. Louis. "We have a really hard road trip coming up against some really good teams," Williams said. "Without going too far, were happy with where were at it right now and the way its gone. We have to continue to push." It would be easier if they could keep playing the Phillies, who have lost six straight, are an NL-worst 9-20 since May 5. A team meeting on Tuesday yielded nothing productive, and Rollins can already envision a possible lost season in which key players are traded away. "Its getting out of control now," Rollins said. "Weve got a chance to go out there and change that tomorrow. If not, then thats a decision theyre going to make either way. But wed like to put a streak together going the other direction. Be up in that left column, and find a way to win some games." Kyle Kendrick (1-6) allowed four runs over seven innings and walked a season-high five. He is 1-11 in his last 19 starts, has an 11-start winless streak on the road and hasnt won a day game since 2012, going 0-6 in his last nine starts in the sunshine. But the problems are team-wide. The Phillies are batting .224 over their last 29 games. "Its been time to straighten it out," Philadelphia manager Ryne Sandberg said. NOTES: With the matinee following a rain-delayed game the night before, Nationals SS Ian Desmond and Phillies OF Marlon Byrd were given a day off for the first time this season. Desmond had started every game up to Thursday, while Byrd had started all but one. ... Adam LaRoche hit a two-run homer, and Rafael Soriano picked up his 12th save for the Nationals. Bill Bentley Jersey . First reported by FOX Sports Ken Rosenthal, its unknown if the impetus for the deferral proposal came from players or management, but it never left the preliminary stages. Riley Reiff Jersey . Blown save in the ninth inning? No problem. http://www.thelionsproshop.com/kids-george-johnson-black-jersey/ . Play hard, play tough and play rough. The philosophy has been a lesson in frustration for opponents. Nick Fairley Lions Jersey . -- The Erie Otters won their eighth straight game with a four-goal outburst in the third en route to an 8-4 win over the Sarnia Sting in Ontario Hockey League play Saturday. Larry Warford Jersey . The Montreal Canadiens goaltenders dogs Motty ("short for Mozart") and Duke got loose overnight.TSN.ca presents its latest weekly power rankings for the 2013-14 Barclays Premier League season. Rankings were weighted evenly between separate lists made by TSN.cas soccer editors. 1. Chelsea (Last Week-1) For 51 minutes Chelsea searched for a breakthrough against Fulham. Enter Andre Schurrle who would hit in the 52nd, 65th and 68th minutes to capture a 3-1 victory to expand Chelseas lead at the top of the table. 2. Liverpool (LW-3) Luis Suarez, Raheem Sterling and Steven Gerrard were all on target as Liverpool rolled to a convincing 3-0 victory over Southampton. Despite the dominance, keeper Simon Mignolet was forced to make a few big stops to keep his clean sheet. 3. Manchester City (LW-2) Did not play this week due to participation in the Capital One Cup. 4. Arsenal (LW-4) Arsenals title challenge took a step backwards as they fell 1-0 to Stoke City at Britannia Stadium. The difference was a penalty awarded when Laurent Koscielny was penalized for playing the ball with his arm in the defensive area. 5. Tottenham (LW-5) Roberto Soldado scored in the first half and Tottenham rode that marker to a 1-0 victory over Cardiff City at White Hart Lane. Hugo Lloris picked up the clean sheet in the victory. 6. Everton (LW-7) After a month on the sidelines, Romelu Lukaku returned to action and as a substitute scored the only goal as Everton defeated West Ham 1-0. 7. Manchester United (LW-6) Game rescheduled due to opponents participation in Capital One Cup. 8. Newcastle United (LW-8) A 4-1 victory for Newcastle over Hull has been overshadowed by the actions of manager Alan Pardew. After Hull midfielder David Meyler pushed him aside to get a ball that had gone out of bounds, Pardew confronted and then head butted Meyler. The Newcastle boss was sent off for the incident, immediately fined by the team and charged with violent conduct by the FA in the aftermath. 9. Southampton (LW-9) Southampton got all they could handle and more in a 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Liverpool. The Saints saw time on the ball but were not able to generate any offence, thouugh they had chances.dddddddddddd 10. Aston Villa (LW-14) After falling behind in the third minute, a Christian Benteke brace, a goal from Leandro Bacuna and an own goal by Sebastien Bassong, all before the half, led Aston Villa to a 4-1 victory over Norwich. 11. Stoke City (LW-15) Jonathan Walters converted a 76th minute penalty to provide Stoke with their margin of victory in a 1-0 triumph over Arsenal. The penalty was given thanks to a Laurent Koscielny handball in the box. 12. West Ham United (LW-10) West Ham looked like they were on their way to a solid road point when they conceded the winning marker, 10 minutes from time in a 1-0 loss to Everton. 13. Swansea City (LW- 12) It looked like Jonathan De Guzmans first half marker was going to be enough to lead the Swans to victory before Crystal Palace was awarded a penalty in the 82nd minute which they converted in a 1-1 draw. 14. Hull City (LW-11) In a game that will be remembered for a contentious incident between Hull City midfielder David Meyler and Newcastle head coach Alan Pardew, the Tigers were thrashed 4-1 at home. 15. Norwich City (LW-13) After a third minute Wesley Hoolahan goal gave Norwich a lead over Aston Villa, they crumbled to a 4-1 defeat. All four goals they conceded, including a 41st minute own goal, were all scored before the half. 16. Crystal Palace (LW-17) Glenn Murray converted a penalty in the 82nd minute to rescue a point for Crystal Palace in a 1-1 draw with Swansea City. 17. West Bromwich Albion (LW-16) Game rescheduled due to opponents participation in Capital One Cup. 18. Sunderland (LW-18) Did not play this week due to participation in the Capital One Cup. 19. Fulham (LW-19) John Heitingas 74th minute consolation goal was all Fulham could manage in a 3-1 loss at the hands of Chelsea. 20. Cardiff City (LW-20) Ole Gunnar Solskjaers side slumped to another defeat as they continue to battle relegation, falling this time 1-0 at the hands of Tottenham. The loss leaves the Welsh side three points from 17th place and with the second worst differential in the league. ' ' '
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