e also out for Miami. ... Tomlin said hell wait to see how the week go

NEW YORK -- In their first game since trading longtime catcher Carlos Ruiz, the Philadelphia Phillies looked like a team without its quarterback.Wilmer Flores launched a grand slam, Asdrubal Cabrera homered from both sides of the plate and even Bartolo Colon had two helpful hits while pitching the New York Mets to a 9-4 victory over the Phillies on Friday night.Hours before the game, there was a message from Ruiz to his ex-teammates written on the white grease board in Philadelphias clubhouse, signed with his nickname:I will miss all of you guys. Good luck the rest of the season. Love you all, Chooch! Gracias.Ruiz was sent with cash to the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday, a day off for the Phillies. In exchange, they received veteran catcher A.J. Ellis, minor league pitcher Tommy Bergjans and a player to be named.The 37-year-old Ruiz spent 11 seasons with the Phillies and helped them win five straight NL East crowns (2007-11), two pennants (2008-09) and the 2008 World Series championship. He had been in the organization for more than 17 years since signing out of Panama in 1998.Its tough. Im trying to think of the right words. The thing about Chooch, he was the quarterback, in a sense, said first baseman Ryan Howard, now the only remaining player from Philadelphias 2008 title team.The way he handled the pitching staff, the way he prepared himself for games with the pitchers from a defensive standpoint, and just kind of knowing different situations, Howard added. And then just the way he played the game. He was a fireball. He was a fireball out there. Im definitely going to miss him.Ellis is expected to join the Phillies in time for Saturday nights game against the Mets. Cameron Rupp started behind the plate Friday and went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts.Jose Reyes and Cabrera opened the Mets half of the first inning with consecutive home runs, just the second time the franchise has accomplished that feat.The 43-year-old Colon (12-7) carried a two-hitter into the eighth and took over the team lead in wins as New York began a pivotal 10-game homestand by winning for the fifth time in its past six.Colon is different than any pitcher you see nowadays. You dont see too many guys throwing 88 (mph), just fastballs, just sinking it, Phillies outfielder Peter Bourjos said. Hes kind of a rare bird.He does a good job of locating the ball, changing speeds on his fastball and working quick.At the plate, the pudgy pitcher lashed two sharp hits that delighted the crowd, a leadoff double in the fifth and a line-drive single in the sixth. He scored both times, first ahead of Flores third career slam and then in front of Cabreras second homer of the night.The switch-hitting shortstop became the first Mets player to go deep from both sides in one game since Carlos Beltran at Colorado on May 12, 2011.A tiring Colon gave up four straight hits to start the eighth but walked off the mound to a warm ovation. The only other time he got two hits in a game was in August 2002 with the Montreal Expos against Milwaukee.Colon just seems to own us, Philadelphia manager Pete Mackanin said. We cant square the ball up off of him.Phillies starter Adam Morgan (1-8) gave up two homers on his first five pitches but soon recovered. He was trailing 2-1 when Neil Walker worked a nine-pitch walk to load the bases with two outs in the fifth.Flores reached down and lofted the next delivery over the fence in left-center.Morgan, who has dropped eight straight decisions, allowed eight hits and matched a career high with eight strikeouts in five innings. He was unable to build on a strong outing his last time out against St. Louis.Itll happen. Im definitely not giving up on myself or this team, Morgan said.The left-hander was fortunate to avoid a serious injury, too, when he barely ducked out of the way of Yoenis Cespedes screaming line drive.Morgan, hit by a liner earlier this season, spun around and crouched in front of the mound as he caught his breath. The crowd let out a trio of collective groans as the big video board showed three replays of the ball whizzing just above Morgans head.I just know that Im learning. I see improvements. Sure, the home runs and the numbers will tell you different, but I see improvements, Morgan said.QUICK LOOKBefore the game, the Phillies called up touted catching prospect Jorge Alfaro from Double-A Reading. Alfaro, acquired from Texas last year in the trade for Cole Hamels, did not play and probably wont stay long. He is expected to be sent back down when Ellis arrives.UP NEXTPhillies RHP Jeremy Hellickson (10-7, 3.60 ERA) starts the middle game of the series Saturday night against Noah Syndergaard (11-7, 2.61). Hellickson, set to make his fourth start this season against the Mets, has won four consecutive decisions overall and six of his last seven. Syndergaard, who is 3-0 with a 1.40 ERA in three career starts against Philadelphia, is coming off eight scoreless innings of two-hit ball Sunday at San Francisco. Jordan Brown Jersey . -- Jaye Marie Green shot a 4-under 68 on Thursday to increase her lead to five strokes after the second round of the LPGA Tours qualifying tournament. Chris Worley Jersey . LOUIS -- Lance Lynn was one of the more enthusiastic participants as the St. http://www.cheapbengalsjerseyselite.com/?tag=cheap-darrin-hall-jersey .S District Court against Major League Baseball, the Office of the Commissioner and his own union, the MLBPA. C.J. Uzomah Jersey . Westbrook has missed 27 games since having a procedure on Dec. 27 to deal with swelling in his injured right knee — the third operation on the knee in nine months. Hunter Sharp Jersey . John Lucas, signed as a mentor for rookie Trey Burke, showed he can score if required, scoring 12 points of his 16 points in the second quarter as Utah built an 18-point lead. PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Cam Heyward has embraced his role as a leader over the last few seasons, filling a void left by the retirements of Brett Keisel, Casey Hampton and Aaron Smith. Hes become a voice of reason in the locker room and a mentor to youngers Stephon Tuitt and Javon Hargrave.Now its time to see if the kids can make it on their own.Coach Mike Tomlin declared Heyward out for Sundays game at Miami, thanks to a left hamstring injury, meaning the Steelers (4-1) will play without Heywards familiar No. 97 in the lineup for the first time since he was taken with the 31st overall pick in the 2011 draft.Heyward was injured in the first half of last Sundays 31-13 win over the New York Jets and underwent an MRI to determine the extent of the damage. Tomlin declined to get into specifics about how much time Heyward might miss, though the chances of him returning by an Oct. 23 showdown with New England seem bleak.He doesnt fall in the realm of whats normal in everything he does, Tomlin said.Making Heyward difficult to replace for a variety of reasons. His three sacks led the team, all of them coming in a romp over Kansas City on Oct. 3 following a whipping in Philadelphia that Heyward blamed almost entirely on the defensive front. He responded with the best statistical game of his career. Tomlin hinted its unlikely the Steelers will use just one player in Heywards spot, likely rotating out Hargrave, a rookie, and veteran Ricardo Matthews.Hargrave, drafted as a nose tackle, spent time on the end against the Jets, with positive results, while Matthews impressed Tomlin wiith his aggressiveness.dddddddddddd.Hes got a motor, Tomlin said. Hes highly conditioned for a guy of his size. Those are things we like.Perhaps, but the role of communicator along the line will fall to Tuitt. Now in his third year, hes reveled in being mentored by Heyward. Their lockers are a handful of stalls apart after Heyward migrated from his previous spot next to Ben Roethlisberger. Asked recently if he spends a lot of time in the playbook, Tuitt joked he gets the game plan from Heyward and goes from there.Now its Tuitts turn to do the talking. Asked after the victory over the Jets if Tuitt is ready to take on the role, Heyward laughed.He better be ready, Heyward said. I dont know how long Ill be out. But hes got to step up. Hes telling me hes talking a lot more and we need him to do that. When I come back, we can do that twice as much. Hes only going to grow in this situation.The early returns were promising. The Jets managed just 100 yards in the second half as Pittsburgh pulled away for a relatively easy victory.Game notes Safety Shamarko Thomas (groin) and backup offensive lineman Cody Wallace (knee) are also out for Miami. ... Tomlin said hell wait to see how the week goes before deciding the status of right tackle Marcus Gilbert (left ankle), wide receiver Markus Wheaton (shoulder), linebacker Ryan Shazier (knee), cornerback Justin Gilbert (knee) and safety Robert Golden (hamstring).---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL e also out for Miami. ... Tomlin said hell wait to see how the week go'