Hard und Software » win 20 games and earned the first of his three

DETROIT -- Matt Boyd has quietly been one of the Detroit Tigers most consistent starters in the second half of the season.Coming into Tuesday night, he was 5-1 since July 1 with a 2.56 ERA in 11 appearances, 10 of them as a starter. He hasnt gotten the same attention as Justin Verlander or Michael Fulmer, but hes been a big reason the Tigers have been able to stay in the wild-card race.Thats why it was surprising when everything blew up in his face against the Minnesota Twins.Boyd gave up seven runs, eight hits and a walk in 3 2/3 innings as the Tigers lost 8-1.I was just out of sync, Boyd said. I wasnt right physically. I feel great, but my mechanics were off. I couldnt repeat my delivery, and thats a recipe for disaster.That cant happen at this time of year.The Tigers lost for the third time in 14 games against Minnesota, costing them precious ground in a crowded race for the AL wild-card spots. They are now two games behind the Blue Jays and the Orioles and tied with the Yankees.Kyle Gibson went eight innings for the Twins and didnt allow a run after Miguel Cabreras first-inning single. He did have to navigate one major jam. In the fourth, with the Twins up 7-1, he walked Tyler Collins and Erick Aybar to load the bases with two out.After a conference with pitching coach Neil Allen and catcher John Ryan Murphy, he threw three straight changeups to Jarrod Saltalamacchia. After two swinging strikes, Gibson got a routine pop fly to end the inning.Thats an offense that can put up runs in a hurry, he said. I wanted to limit them to zero or, at worst one. I had missed on seven straight heaters, so when Murph suggested the changeup, it sounded good to me.Gibson (6-9) threw a perfect fifth inning and never looked back. The win ended a four-start winless streak, including when Gibson allowed five runs in five innings to Detroit on Aug. 23.Jorge Polanco homered and drove in four runs and Brian Dozier added three more hits to his torrid second half.Dozier entered hitting .318 with 26 homers since the All-Star break. Hes hit safely in 17 consecutive games.Buck Farmer saved Detroits bullpen by pitching 4 1/3 scoreless innings, but now the Tigers long reliever will be unavailable for starts by Anibal Sanchez and Mike Pelfrey on Wednesday and Thursday. Sanchez has struggled all year, while Pelfrey will be pitching for the first time since July and is expected to be on a low pitch count.He was outstanding, and it helped us a ton, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. That frees up the rest of the bullpen for the next couple days.Boyd got into trouble quickly, allowing two runs before recording an out. Dozier led off with a base hit and Polanco blooped a double down the right-field line. Robbie Grossman lined Boyds 11th pitch of the night into center for a two-run single, but the Tigers defense prevented further damage.Kennys Vargas hit a hard grounder up the middle, but Jose Iglesias fielded it behind second and got off a backhanded flip toward the bag. Ian Kinsler caught it in his bare hand and threw in one motion to turn the double play.After Cabrera got the Tigers on the board, Polancos two-run homer gave the Twins a three-run lead in the third. Grossman followed with a double, giving the top three in Minnesotas order six hits in six plate appearances, including three doubles and a homer.Polanco had two shots at the triple he needed for the cycle but popped out and walked.TRAINERS ROOMTigers: Justin Upton didnt play after aggravating a calf injury on Monday. Upton, one of Detroits hottest hitters over the last three weeks, hopes to return within a day or two.OLYMPIAN IN THE HOUSEFor the second day in a row, a medalist from the 2016 Summer Olympics threw out the first pitch. After boxing gold medalist Claressa Shields did the honors on Monday, it was Canadian Shelina Zadorsky, who won bronze as a member of the womens soccer team after a college career at the University of Michigan.UP NEXTThe teams play the third of a four-game series Wednesday night, with Sanchez (7-13, 5.69) facing Minnesotas Tyler Duffey (8-11, 6.13). Sanchez has shown some signs of improvement, going 1-1 with a 3.34 ERA in his last five starts. Yeezy For Sale . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. Fake Yeezy . Halifax beat the Saint John Sea Dogs 7-5 on the strength of two goals apiece from Nikolaj Ehlers, Matt Murphy and Brent Andrews. Jonathan Drouin also scored and had three assists while Zachary Fucale made 17 saves for the Mooseheads (16-8-0), who led 6-1 after two periods. https://www.wholesaleyeezyauthentic.com/ . There are some early surprises in the race for the Hart Trophy, but two of the contenders are the leagues biggest stars over the past decade. There are many more players in contention for the awards than just the three that Ive named, and a good or bad week can easily alter the landscape, but through the first 20 or so games of the NHL season, this is how the awards races look to me. Replica Yeezy . - Connor McDavid scored 53 seconds into overtime as the Erie Otters came from behind to defeat the visiting Guelph Storm 4-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Yeezy 700 Outlet . The Lightning are 2-0 so far on a four-game road trip, giving the club five straight wins as the guest and improving Tampas away record this season to 11-8-2. Ralph Brancas baseball life will always be defined by one pitch.Branca, who gave up a home run to the Giants Bobby Thomson, the Shot Heard Round the World that cost the Brooklyn Dodgers the 1951 National League pennant, has died at the age of 90.?His son-in-law, former major league manager Bobby Valentine, said that Branca died Wednesday at a nursing home in Rye, New York. No cause of death was given. Valentine announced Brancas death on Twitter.Thomsons home run on Oct. 3, 1951, one of the most famous in baseball history, completed the Miracle of Coogans Bluff, the Giants climb from a 12?-game deficit in the NL.Commissioner Rob Manfred issued a statement that said in part, Ralph was a true gentleman who earned universal respect in the game he loved and served so well. Ralphs participation in the Shot Heard Round the World was eclipsed by the grace and sportsmanship he demonstrated following one of the games signature moments.He is better remembered for his dedication to the members of the baseball community. He was an inspiration to so many of us.Branca was born in 1926, the 15th of 17 children, and was raised in Mount Vernon, New York, just north of New York City. He arrived in the major leagues as an 18-year-old in 1944.On April 15, 1947, Branca was standing next to Jackie Robinson during pregame ceremonies as Robinson prepared to break baseballs color barrier. Mindful of the death threats that had been made against Robinson, Brancas brother John worried that he could have been collateral damage in any attempt on Robinsons life.What if the guys a lousy shot, John Branca asked.Then I wouldve died a hero, Ralph answered.Branca went on to have his best season in 1947, posting a 21-12 record with a 2.67 ERA. He became the second-youngest pitcher to win 20 games and earned the first of his three consecutive All-Star Game selectioons.ddddddddddddBranca to me was a hero. I admired him so much, Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda said in a statement released by the Dodgers. Ralph and I became very close, my family and his family. I always enjoyed being around him. He was a tough one in every way and I really admired him.Branca pitched in the major leagues for 12 seasons, posting an 88-58 record, but hes best remembered for the home run he gave up to Thomson.The Dodgers held a 4-2 lead in the third game of a three-game playoff against the Giants when Branca came on in relief of Don Newcombe with one out and two men on. Thomson hit Brancas second pitch down the left field line for the game-winning home run.Later Branca recalled sitting with a priest and family friend, asking why this had happened to him.Because, he was told, youre strong enough to bear it.Branca and Thomson, wedded in baseball lore, later forged a friendship that carried through appearances and card shows. Thomson died in 2010 at the age of 86.I was closer to Ralph than to any other Dodger. We traveled around the world and became very good friends, Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully said in the Dodgers statement. He carried the cross of the Thomson home run with dignity and grace. I was grateful for his friendship and I grieve at his death. He was a great man.When he retired, Branca became a financial executive, selling insurance policies. He appeared as a contestant on the game show Concentration in 1963, winning 17 consecutive times. And he became a driving force behind the Baseball Assistance Team (B.A.T.) that helps former ballplayers who fall on hard times.Branca and his wife, Ann, had two daughters, Patricia and Mary. Valentine married Mary Branca in 1977. ' ' '