After an inpressive four-game home-and-home sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies, the Toronto Blue Jays welcome the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to town tonight for the start of a four-game weekend set. Marquis Haynes Jersey . The Blue Jays send Dustin McGowan amid rumors that hes battling to maintain starting status, though the teams general manager denied that hes in jeopardy of demotion. "I never understood the whole McGowan watch," Alex Anthopoulos said. "I kept hearing every start is for his job. I dont know that weve ever said it. Its been three starts in a row, every start is for his job. I just dont know that ever came from the organization." He was a 7-2 winner in his most recent outing at Pittsburgh on Sunday and has given up just three earned runs in his last 13 innings of work. "Hes definitely shown me something," Gibbons said. McGowan is 1-4 with a 3.86 ERA in five meetings with the Angels. On Thursday in Toronto, Edwin Encarnacion belted two home runs and drove in three to lead the Blue Jays to a 12-6 rout of the Philadelphia Phillies and sweep of a four-game set. Juan Francisco went 3-for-3 with a solo homer and three runs scored and Adam Lind, fresh off the 15-day disabled list, had a two-run blast and three RBI for Toronto, which outscored the Phillies, 31-11, in the series. Blue Jays starter R.A. Dickey (3-3) worked 6 1/3 innings and allowed three runs on seven hits, while fanning eight. Toronto enters with an average of seven runs scored -- including 13 home runs -- in eight games in May. "We are some kind of hot right now," manager John Gibbons said. "You put us in this ballpark, its a home run heaven here. Its tough to pitch to. Everyone is feeding off each other." Right-hander Garrett Richards will continue his prolonged audition for a spot in the Angels starting rotation tonight. Richards was a part-time starter and reliever heading into this season, but hes been strong beginning games thus far in 2014 while holding opposition batters to a paltry .184 average and striking out 40 in 38 innings. He was a 5-3 winner in his most recent outing on Saturday, when he held Texas to three runs in six innings and struck out nine. He started twice against Toronto in the late stages of the 2013 season and won both assignments while allowing a combined five runs in 13 2/3 innings. On Wednesday in Anaheim, Derek Jeter hit his first homer of the season, Vidal Nuno tossed 6 1/3 solid innings and the New York Yankees beat the Angels, 9-2, in the rubber match of a three-game series. C.J. Cron went 3-for-4 with an RBI for the Angels, who saw starter Hector Santiago (0-6) give up six runs -- two earned -- on five hits with three walks over 2 1/3 innings. "Hector wasnt able to minimize damage tonight," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Hes an emotional guy and he needs to get his confidence back." The Angels went 6-1 last season versus the Blue Jays, sweeping a three-game set in Toronto. DJ Moore Panthers Jersey . -- Detroit shortstop Jose Iglesias says he has stress fractures in both legs and isnt sure when hell be able to play again, leaving the Tigers two weeks to fill his spot for opening day and perhaps a lot longer. Panthers Jerseys . Karlovic of Croatia used his big serve to beat Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic 7-6 (6), 7-6 (7). Kohlschreiber had lost all of his three previous matches against Istomin but the German broke serve for a decisive 3-2 lead in the third set and held on to reach his first final of the year.PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates already had a four-run lead over an ailing Justin Verlander when Travis Snider threw out a runner at the plate in the second for an inning-ending double play. "It very well couldve been one of those things you talk about as a momentum-changer," manager Clint Hurdle said. Snider not only saved runs, he created them. Snider hit a pair of home runs and drove in four, Starling Marte added three RBIs and the Pirates coasted to an 11-6 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Monday night. Gregory Polanco also threw out a runner at the plate, when Rajai Davis tried to score from second on Miguel Cabreras single in the eighth. Even with a five-run lead at the time, the game couldve become much closer. "They left as many men on base as we did," Hurdle said. "They were a swing of the bat from being right back in the game three times tonight." Verlander (10-11) gave up five runs on four hits and walked two before he was removed after pitching one inning with right shoulder soreness. "Just didnt feel great," Verlander said, "and disappointing on a night that the team really needed me." The loss, coupled with Kansas Citys 3-2 win over Oakland, dropped the Tigers a half-game behind the now first-place Royals in the AL Central Division. Pittsburgh loaded the bases against Verlander with one out in the first inning, and Marte cleared them with a triple down the left-field line. Snider drove Marte home when his grounder to first took an odd hop, and Victor Martinez couldnt glove it. Verlander threw 40 pitches and bunted in the second before he was removed. He is scheduled to undergo an MRI in Detroit on Tuesday. "Id be lying if I said I wasnt a little nervous," Verlander said. "Ive never been through this before." Verlander added there was no sharp pain in his shoulder, but manager Brad Ausmus removed him from the game to risk any further injury. Snider knocked in two more in the eighth inning off Phil Coke with his eighth homer, a two-run, opposite-field shot. Martin hit his sixth home run of the year in the sixth inning, and Ike Davis followed with his eighth. Snider was 3 for 5 and scored three runs. "Just another dday," Snider said. Dontari Poe Panthers Jersey. . "For me, its nice to contribute offensively, and defensively, and help this team win." Detroit scored three runs in the sixth to get within 8-4 and knock Pittsburgh starter Jeff Locke out of the game. Cabrera, Martinez and Torii Hunter started the inning with consecutive hits, and Cabrera scored on Hunters double. Alex Avila drove Martinez home with a single, and Hunter scored when Don Kelly hit into a fielders choice. Locke (4-3) was responsible for four runs, eight hits and four walks in five-plus innings. TRAINERS ROOM Tigers: Detroit placed RHP Joakim Soria on the 15-day disabled list with a left oblique strain, retroactive to Sunday. Pirates: Pittsburgh placed CF Andrew McCutchen on the 15-day disabled list because of a broken rib. The move is retroactive to Aug. 4. ... 2B Neil Walker (back) was out of the starting lineup for the sixth straight game. ... RHP Gerrit Cole returned to Pittsburgh after making his third rehab start Sunday. He has been on the DL since July 5 with a strained right lat. There is still no timetable for his return to action. ON DECK Tigers: LHP Robby Ray (1-1, 4.70 ERA) will be recalled from Triple-A Toledo to start on Tuesday in Detroits second of two games in Pittsburgh. In one start this season against Minnesota on May 11, Ray pitched six shutout innings. Pirates: RHP Edinson Volquez (9-7, 3.70 ERA) starts for the Pirates after allowing one hit in seven shutout innings against Miami on Thursday. Volquez hasnt fared well against Detroit in two career starts, allowing eight runs in 9 2-3 innings. STAFF SHAKEUP In addition to Sorias placement on the disabled list, the Tigers optioned left-handed relievers Patrick McCoy and Blaine Hardy to Triple-A Toledo. Taking their places are RHP Justin Miller and LHP Ian Krol. The Tigers also purchased the contract of RHP Kevin Whelan from Toledo and unconditionally released LHP Casey Crosby. Detroits relievers have compiled a 4.38 ERA this season, the fifth-worst in the majors. In the starting rotation, RHP Rick Porcellos start has been pushed pack to Friday. Detroit will start RHP Buck Farmer on Wednesday and RHP Max Scherzer is slated to start Thursday. Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Womens Jerseys NFL Jerseys From China Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys China Womens NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Throwback ' ' '
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