Dein erstes Forum » o the game with a defense that is

NEW YORK -- One by one, the hard-throwing young starters on the Mets pitching staff got hurt. Bartolo Colon, like Ol Man River, keeps on rollin along.The 43-year-old limited the Twins to three singles in seven innings, Jose Reyes and Asdrubal Cabrera hit consecutive home runs off rookie Jose Berrios in the third, and New York beat Minnesota 3-0 Friday night in the opener of the Mets final homestand this season.If we wouldnt have had him in our rotation, Im not sure where we would be right now, Mets manager Terry Collins said.Matt Harvey hasnt pitched since early July, and Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz all have been slowed by injuries. Colon (14-7) made his team-high 30th start and lowered his ERA to 3.14.Matched against a pitcher nearly half his age, Colon also helped himself with his glove -- starting an inning-ending 1-6-3 double play in the first and covering first base on a grounder to the right side in the seventh. He also picked off a runner in winning for the fourth time in five decisions.The burly, 285-pound pitcher smiled when asked about his quick move to the third base side of the mound on Jorge Polancos comebacker, which started the double play.Thats a routine play. I always do that, Colon said through a translator.New York opened a two-game lead over St. Louis for the second NL wild card and is one game behind San Francisco.Hopefully he continues to pitch like that because were going to need him, Reyes said.Colon, whose fastball averages just over 90 mph, was a free agent when he re-signed in December. New York expected Zack Wheeler to return in midseason and for Colon to shift to the bullpen, a role he excelled in last October.We thought it was a good signing knowing that he would give us innings early, Collins said. And here he is right in the pennant stretch in late September still carrying the staff.Colon allowed soft singles in the third to Berrios and Brian Dozier, who extended his hitting streak to 20 games with a slow bouncer to third, then retired Polanco on a flyout to escape bases-loaded trouble. Polanco singled in the sixth.He doesnt miss spots, Dozier said. I was telling some of these young guys just to kind of watch him tonight.Addison Reed pitched the eighth and Jeurys Familia worked around a pair of walks to complete the three-hitter, retiring pinch-hitter Kennys Vargas on a flyout to deep left for his 49th save in 53 chances.The 22-year-old Berrios (2-7), who was 2 when Colon made his big league debut in April 1997, allowed two runs and four hits in four innings. He was impressed by Colon.To be able to paint the corners like that is awesome, Berrios said through a translator.Reyes homered over the right-field wall on a curveball and, three pitches later, Cabrera sent a fastball into the right-field second deck. Yoenis Cespedes added an RBI single in the seventh off Pat Light.After the Twins, the Mets host the Atlanta Braves and Phillies before finishing with a six-game trip to Miami and Philadelphia.All weve got to continue to do is not worry about anything else except our business of trying to win a game each and every night, Collins said.REFRESHEDNew York is 14-2 after off days. The Mets have one remaining, on Sept. 29.HAIRYMets reliever Jerry Blevins joined Cabrera and Reyes with dyed blond hair.WHOOPSCespedes tried for a nonchalant basket catch on Max Keplers soft leadoff fly to left in the fourth only to have the ball tick off the webbing of his glove for an error. Colon then picked off Kepler, originally ruled safe by first base umpire Brian Gorman but called out on video review.WHIFFSTravis dArnaud is hitting .109 (5 for 46) with runners in scoring position. ... Jay Bruce was 0 for 3 and booed. He is hitting .200 in September (8 for 40). ... Curtis Granderson was 0 for 3 and is in a 1-for-22 slide.TRAINERS ROOMMets: Cabrera left after eight innings because of a right leg cramp but expects to play Saturday. ... deGrom (right forearm soreness) is scheduled to start Sunday and will be limited to 75 pitches in his first appearance since Sept. 1. ... 1B Lucas Duda (stress fracture in lower back) is to be activated from the DL on Saturday; he last played on May 20. ... Matz (shoulder tightness) is to throw a bullpen Saturday; he has not pitched since Aug. 14. ... OF Juan Lagares (surgery to repair torn ligament in left thumb) was activated Friday. He has not played since July 28 and will be limited to a defensive-replacement role. ... INF Wilmer Flores, out since a home-plate collision Sept. 10, said he had an injection of painkiller in his right wrist Thursday and could return in a few days.UP NEXTRHP Seth Lugo (4-2) is to start for the Mets on Saturday, and RHP Ervin Santana (7-10) for the Twins.Stitched Authentic Jerseys .ca NBA Power Rankings, ahead of the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs. Wholesale China Jerseys . Both players have lower body injuries that will keep them out of the lineup until at least January 31, which is the first game they can be activated from IR. https://www.chinajerseysfreeshipping.com/ . Howard Ganz, an MLB lawyer, said in a letter to U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos that Rodriguezs claims do not come "remotely close" to what is needed to overturn an arbitration decision in federal court. Cheap Jerseys From China . Speaking Thursday on TSN 1050 Thursday, the Leafs GM also touched on the questions surrounding the teams leadership and the struggles of his big-name free-agent signing. “Its not from lack of effort from the coaching staff. Wholesale Jerseys For Sale . -- The goal posts lying flat on the field, Arizonas fans lingered on the field, congregating around the locker room entrance nearly 30 minutes after rushing out of the stands.EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants seemingly are heading into their quick turnaround game with the Philadelphia Eagles short-handed.Coach Ben McAdoo disclosed Monday evening that third-down back Shane Vereen reinjured his triceps in his second game back after tearing the muscle in the third week of the season and having surgery.McAdoo did not know if Vereen would require surgery again, and he was not willing to say the six-year veteran would miss the rest of the season.Its unfortunate, the rookie coach said. He worked his tail off to get back to where he was, and I am disappointed for Shane.There also is concern about shutdown cornerback Janoris Jenkins for Thursday nights game against the Eagles (5-9) in Philadelphia. He took a knee to the back in the second quarter of the Giants 17-6 win over Detroit and did not return.It was a nasty collision, we took every precaution we could, said McAdoo, adding it was too early to say whether Jenkins would be able to play in what might be a playoff-clinching game for the Giants. Everything checked out. Right now, its a painful bruised back.If the Giants win, they are back in the postseason for the first time since 2011.The Giants head into the game with a defense that is peaking. The unit has given up 13 points total in beating division leaders Dallas and Detroit in the past two weeks.However, this is a rivalry game and it doesnt make a difference that the Giants have won eight of their last nine while the Eagles are riding a five-game losing streak.You can throw the records out the window, McAdoo said. Its going to be a physical game on a short week. We just need to focus on taking care of the task at hand.McAdoo said the key will be to take advantage of every second in getting the players ready. If that means tailoring the way the guys learn, they will do that.Eli Manning, who threw for four touchdowns iin the Giants win over the Eagles earlier this season, said there is no use complaining about the schedule.ddddddddddddFor me, its just about getting mentally prepared, learning all the plays and seeing the defense and getting the preparation done, he said. Obviously understanding for the offensive linemen, defensive linemen, running backs, linebackers, its about getting your body back. Just the soreness. It can depend on the week before. How many hits you take or how sore you are if youre dealing with an injury.Right now, late in the year, its a chance to earn a playoff spot.Manning felt the struggling offense played a little better against the Lions in a 17-6 win. The running game generated more than 100 yards and the offense did not turn over the ball.Even the defense feels there is room for improvement.Weve had some really good moments and weve had some not-so-great moments, defensive tackle Damon Harrison said. You can ask anyone around the defense, any player or coach, and theyll tell you. Were still not where we need to be as a defense. It was great to have some successes every now and then, but we just want to be more consistent.If the defense is on Thursday night, the Giants might be back in the postseason show.Game notesWR Odell Beckham Jr. was amused that Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliott was not immediately fined by the NFL for jumping into a Salvation Army kettle after scoring a touchdown on Sunday night. He tweeted: `Thats funny theres no fine for that. I could only imagine if I was the one to do it. Just bein honest. Beckham has been fined repeatedly by the league, recently for criticizing officials after a loss in Pittsburgh.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and -http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '