Öffentlicher Bereich » activated LHP Eric OFlaherty

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Sonny Grays fastball wasnt as sharp as it usually is, and the Oakland Athletics young pitcher even had a quirky replay go against him. A rediscovered curveball, stellar defence behind him and timely hitting on offence made it all a moot point. Grey allowed four hits over seven innings to bounce back from his worst start of the season and the As beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1 on Thursday night. "The idea is to really get that (curve) going again because I think the last five or six starts its been OK, but it hasnt been a big factor for us," said Gray, who walked three and struck out five. "We did some things a little different this week and I was able to find that again and get it going, especially early in the game." Gray (8-3) was knocked around in his previous start when he was tagged for five runs in five innings against Miami on June 28. He was much sharper this time around and got some help from Oaklands defence which turned three double plays, including one in the eighth after Josh Tholes leadoff single. Jose Reyes hit a fly out to deep right and Oaklands Brandon Moss made a strong throw back to first baseman Nate Freiman, who tagged out Thole trying to get back to the bag. "Hes still a little spotty with his fastball," As manager Bob Melvin said. "That kind of makes him at times who he is, too. He can paint you on two pitches and then miss by a foot. His curveball was a big factor today." Grey might have been in line for a shutout were it not for an odd replay in the second inning. After Toronto loaded the bases against Gray with one out, Anthony Gose hit a grounder to Freiman. Freiman appeared to tag Munenori Kawasaki as he ran for second base, but umpire Vic Carapazza ruled Freiman missed the tag and Kawasaki was safe. Freiman then threw to catcher Stephen Vogt, who stepped on home plate for a forceout with Edwin Encarnacion, the runner on third, approaching. Toronto manager John Gibbons requested the review, arguing that Kawasaki was out and that Encarnacion should be allowed to score because there would have been no force play at the plate. After a delay of 4 minutes, 27 seconds, the call was overturned and the Blue Jays were given a 1-0 lead. "We cant put runners back," crew chief Bill Miller said. "We have to go with what happened on the field, and what happened on the field was (Vogt) tagged home plate but he did not tag the runner. Unfortunately that was in direct relation to the call on the field at first base." Melvin immediately came out to argue and the As played the remainder of the game under protest. It didnt matter. Freiman doubled in Brandon Moss in the bottom of the inning, and Vogt scored on a passed ball to put the As up 2-1. Craig Gentry singled off Toronto starter R.A. Dickey (6-8) in the eighth and scored on John Jasos double. Alberto Callaspos sacrifice fly made it 4-1. "We just didnt get anything going offensively," Gibbons said. "They outplayed us, pure and simple." Dickey, who beat the As on May 24, when he allowed two runs over 8 1-3 innings in his best outing of the season, lost his fourth straight start. The knuckleballer struck out six and walked three. The loss drops the Blue Jays into a first-place tie with Baltimore in the AL East. Its the first time since May 21 that Toronto has not held sole possession of the top spot in the division. Dan Otero pitched the eighth and Sean Doolittle worked the ninth for his 12th save. NOTES: Dickey had not lost four straight starts since 2004. ... As slugger Yoenis Cespedes went 0 for 4 to snap a 15-game hitting streak. ... Oakland 3B Josh Donaldson (lower back stiffness) was held out of the starting lineup for a second straight game. ... The As activated LHP Eric OFlaherty from the 60-day DL and designated LHP Jeff Francis for assignment. OFlaherty underwent Tommy John surgery last year and hasnt pitched in the majors since May 17, 2013. ... The As reached agreement on a 10-year lease extension with the Oakland Coliseum. As part of the deal, the As will pay $10 million for the installation of new video scoreboards as well as other upgrades to the aging facility. ... Toronto OF Colby Rasmus was held out of the lineup after injuring his right wrist running into the wall during the series against Milwaukee. ... Oakland LHP Tommy Milone (6-3) faces Toronto RHP Marcus Stroman (4-2) on Friday. Discount Baltimore Ravens Jerseys . The two-time Olympic halfpipe gold medallist informed ESPN on Monday he plans to compete in Apsen, Colo. Cheap Baltimore Ravens Jerseys Online . George Hill had 13 points and seven rebounds for the Pacers, who stayed atop the overall NBA standings despite losing twice on their West Coast trip. Los Angeles kept it close into the second half before the Pacers finished an easy win over the injury-riddled Lakers, who have lost five straight. http://www.cheapravens.com/.com) - In the absence of Dwight Howard, Donatas Motiejunas had a career night to keep the Houston Rockets winning streak alive. Stitched Baltimore Ravens Jerseys .Martin Caceres marked his return from injury by scoring in the 3-1 win at Napoli and he believes Juventus sent out a warning to the rest of the league with that result.We go out on the pitch every game looking to give our all, Caceres said. Wholesale Baltimore Ravens Jerseys . Knapp defeated American Alison Riske 6-3, 7-5 to secure Italys victory in the best-of-five series. She held a 5-2 lead in the second set, only to let Riske tie it at five.TORONTO - Bob Murray was California dreaming about the American Hockey Leagues new Pacific Division because the Anaheim Ducks general manager will be able to wake up and drive down the coast to see his minor-league team in San Diego.Thats impossible for Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers executives, but those Canadian NHL teams will also benefit from the AHLs Westward relocation. Starting next season the Flames will have their top affiliate in Stockton, Calif., and the Oilers in Bakersfield in an attempt to give those organizations better development and access to minor-league players.As part of the all-California cluster, the Los Angeles Kings will have a team in Ontario and the Sharks in their own arena in San Jose.Us and Calgary dont have the luxury that the California teams do, but the division is going to be highly competitive and that will be really good on the development side, Oilers president Kevin Lowe said on a conference call Thursday. From our perspective, its the proximity for the other teams within our own division and the benefit that well get for our players in terms of having more practice days. Thats the biggest benefit.The Flames AHL team currently resides in Glens Falls, N.Y., which is a drive to a major airport and then a long flight from Alberta. The Oilers AHL team is in Oklahoma City.San Joses AHL team is now in Worcester, Mass., Anaheims in Norfolk, Va., and Los Angeless in Manchester, N.H.One practical implication is that these teams can now recall players from the AHL on shorter notice if injuries occur.You cant always control travel, but you would suspect in California youve got less of the travel issues as it relates to weather and those types of things, Calgary GM Brad Treliving said in a phone interview. The fact of the matter is its easier to get a body from Stockton, Calif., to Calgary than it is from the East Coast to Calgary, for a host of different reasons.These five AHL teams will play fewer games than the current 76 on the schedule, which Lowe said was part of the deal in creating the Pacific Division. Its unclear just how many there will be.Its going to drop, and the purpose of that is more emphasis on development and really to try to reduce completely the three (games) in three nights, Lowe said. Most people on the management side of hockey teams will suggest that its not great for development.This idea has been bandied about for several years. Murray said at a news conference in San Jose that he and former GM Brian Burke talked about it as soon as they got to Anaheim. The Pacific Division is the first phase of trying to geographically balance out the AHL, which histtorically has been centred in the East.dddddddddddd think it was just a matter of time, Treliving said. Its taken a long time and its not an easy undertaking. Theres a lot of moving pieces here.AHL president David Andrews called relocating five teams a complex process but one that launches a new era for the American Hockey League and for professional hockey in California.The Kings, Sharks and Ducks will get the benefit of having their teams in the same state. San Joses AHL team will even share SAP Center with the Sharks, an arrangement no other organization currently has.The Toronto Maple Leafs top affiliate, the Marlies, are in the same city, and the Philadelphia Flyers once had the Phantoms in another arena across the parking lot.Torontos a perfect example: Theres a benefit of being right there and theres a reason why they moved their team to Toronto, Treliving said. A player pulls a groin in Toronto on a morning skate, you can get a guy to drive across town.Edmonton to Bakersfield and Calgary to Stockton isnt that close, but its an improvement. Lowe estimated that the AHLs Condors will have about 20 to 25 extra practices per season than the Barons had in Oklahoma City, when the closest opponent was a six-hour bus ride away.This isnt a full-scale relocation as the Vancouver Canucks AHL team will remain in Utica, N.Y., and the Winnipeg Jets in St. Johns, N.L., for at least next season. But there are rumours of each NHL club wanting the same type of move as their Western Conference Canadian counterparts.The Jets have been linked to Thunder Bay, Ont., or even Winnipeg itself, and the Canucks potentially to Abbotsford, B.C., which used to be the home of the AHLs Heat. The Arizona Coyotes would like to join this movement, as well, and could put a team in Scottsdale.Theres no question that weve been involved in a lot of these discussions with a lot of our compadres in the West, and we hope to be a part of the Pacific Division if at all possible as early as the following season, Coyotes president and CEO Anthony LeBlanc said before his teams game against the Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre. I would anticipate well be the ones to break the mould and our franchise wont be in California but itll be in Arizona.A bigger Pacific Division is very possible for the 2016-17 season. At that point it may even include a minor-league affiliate paired with a Las Vegas expansion team.The division has a flexibility if it grows in the future to play strictly in our own division, Lowe said. We like to think that the division will grow in time, but theres nothing concrete at this point.___Follow @SWhyno on Twitter Cheap Buffalo Sabres Gear Wholesale Calgary Flames Jerseys Cheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche Jerseys Montreal Canadiens Outlet Store Wholesale New Jersey Devils Jerseys Adidas Arizona Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Adidas Boston Bruins Jerseys Cheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys Chicago Blackhawks Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Columbus Blue Jackets Jerseys Dallas Stars Shop Free Shipping Cheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings Jerseys Anaheim Ducks Jerseys China Wholesale Edmonton Oilers Jerseys Florida Panthers Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Los Angeles Kings Jerseys Minnesota Wild Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Nashville Predators Jerseys Cheap Adidas New York Islanders Jerseys New York Rangers Winter Classic Jerseys Cheap Adidas Ottawa Senators Jerseys Cheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers Jerseys Wholesale Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys Cheap Adidas San Jose Sharks Jerseys St. Louis Blues Winter Classic Jerseys Wholesale Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys Toronto Maple Leafs Outlet Store Vancouver Canucks Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Adidas Washington Capitals Jerseys Cheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '