Finally, in his last at bat -- and with the game long decided -- Arenado laced a double that landed squarely on the white left-field line. Thats the way its been going lately for one of the Colorado Rockies hottest hitters. Arenado ran his hitting streak to 26 games and Carlos Gonzalez had five of Colorados season-high 21 hits as the Rockies routed the Texas Rangers 12-1 on Tuesday night. "Just nice to get that," Arenado said of his RBI double in the seventh. His streak is one away from tying the team record of 27 set by Michael Cuddyer last season. Its also the longest for anyone 23 years or younger since Albert Pujols hit in 30 straight games in 2003. "It was a little dramatic, but he finally did it," Gonzalez said. "It was a great night for him -- a very important night for him." For Gonzalez, too. Hes been struggling all season with finger and knee ailments that have hampered his swing. And yet the Rockies still lead the majors in most offensive categories. "Just imagine when Cargo starts swinging it the way he should," Arenado said. The first four hitters in Colorados lineup -- Charlie Blackmon, Drew Stubbs, Troy Tulowitzki and Gonzalez -- went a combined 13-for-20 with two homers and seven RBIs to help the Rockies take two games from Texas at Coors Field. Colorado now travels to Arlington, Texas, for two more in a home-and-home situation. Blackmon led off with a homer. Stubbs added another in the seventh. "We got guys up and down the order and on the bench that can really swing it," Arenado said. Juan Nicasio (4-1) got through five innings without his best command, giving up two hits and one run. He also walked a season-high five. Robbie Ross Jr. (1-3) had a rough outing as he allowed six runs and 12 hits in 5 1-3 innings. The Rangers most effective pitcher on this night was actually an outfielder. Given the lopsided score, and to save his bullpen, manager Ron Washington sent Mitch Moreland to the mound for the eighth. He set the Rockies down in order as he became only the sixth position player to pitch in Rangers history. Its the first time hes pitched since 2008 and that was in a minor league game. Moreland was hitting around 94 mph, too. "I tried to let a couple go, especially early in the count, just to have some fun," Moreland said. "Its tough in a game like that to have some fun, but its always been a dream of mine." Leading 4-1, the Rockies broke open the game with a six-run sixth in which they sent 12 batters to the plate. Pinch hitter Brandon Barnes even got up twice, hitting singles both times. "They put the ball in play and found holes. There was nothing we could do about it," Washington said. Arenados glove set the stage for the run eruption. He robbed Adrian Beltre of two hits and, along with it, potentially big innings for the Rangers. He felt a little bad, too. "Beltres my favourite player," Arenado said. "Hes one of the last players Id want to rob." In the third, Arenado, the reigning Gold Glove winner at the hot corner, gobbled up a hot grounder from Beltre and threw him out at first. Beltre playfully looked at Arenado and raised hands as if to say, "Did that just happen?" Arenado has been stealing hits all season. So much so that before the game Washington said of Arenado: "That kid over there is a highlight reel." In the fifth, Arenado got Beltre again as he snared a two-out slow roller with his bare hand and made a strong throw that barely beat Beltre. "Ive got to do what Ive got to do," Arenado said. Nicasio struggled to find the strike zone, with catcher Jordan Pacheco and pitching coach Jim Wright making frequent visits to settle him down. It worked as Nicasio improved to 3-0 at home this season. Ross nearly had his first major league hit as he beat out a grounder to second. But Rockies manager Walt Weiss challenged the play and it was reversed upon review. "I think hell get another one," Weiss said, laughing. "I think he will." NOTES: Beltre hit his first homer of the season, a solo shot in the first. ... RHP Colby Lewis (2-1) will pitch Wednesday as the Rangers return from a five-game road swing. The Rockies counter with LHP Jorge De La Rosa (3-3). ... Tulowitzki is hitting .608 with six homers and 22 RBIs at home this season. . This weeks topics include his take on the Kevin Pillar incident, All-Star snubs, the firing of Padres general manager Josh Byrnes and more. . -- A deflected pass that landed in DeSean Jacksons hands.
http://www.cheapsaintsjerseyssale.com/? ... ersey-sale. On Sunday, hell attempt to become the youngest driver to win a NASCAR Nationwide race on Iowas short track. The 20-year-old Blaney wont be the only kid pushing a podium finish. . With the team he supported as a child on the verge of reaching the Champions League semifinals for the first time in 19 years, Ba instead scored the goal that knocked them out. .The Canadian teenage golf sensation announced Thursday shell join the LPGA Tour in 2015 instead of attending the University of Florida.SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Oklahoma City Thunder know as well as anybody this season how difficult it is to overcome adversity, so forgive them if they have no sympathy for the Sacramento Kings right now.Been there, done that — and perhaps better for it.Russell Westbrook had 32 points and seven assists, Kevin Durant scored 26 and the Thunder beat the reeling Kings 104-92 on Tuesday night for their seventh straight win.It was the first game for the Kings since Michael Malone was fired as coach and lead assistant Tyrone Corbin was promoted to interim coach. They dropped to 2-8 while franchise centerpiece DeMarcus Cousins recovers from viral meningitis.This is an I-dont-feel-sorry-for-you league, Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. When we had guys hurt, I didnt get a lot of text messages, Hey, hang in there, from the other 29 coaches in the league.The Thunder went ahead by 16 in the first quarter, led by just seven at halftime and pulled away again in the closing minutes behind their leading duo. Oklahoma City improved to 7-1 since Durant returned from a broken right foot.Defensively, I think weve been locking in, said Durant, who played a season-high 35 minutes. We have little spurts where were bad, but overall I think we did a good job in playing defence.Rudy Gay scored 22 points, and reserve Carl Landry added 14 for the Kings. Sacramento had 19 turnovers that led to 26 points for the Thunder.The Kings twice went ahead in the fourth quarter on jumpers by Landry. Then Oklahoma City clamped down on defence, and Westbrook and Durant took turns making shots to help the Thunder take a 98-88 lead with 2:47 remaining.Oklahoma City outshot Sacramento 47.1 per cent to 42.9 per cent.These guys showed a lot of fight when theyve faced a lot stuff in the last couple of days, Corbin said. They came out against a great team and had a chance to win the ballgame.The Thunder (12-13) started the season 3-12 while dealing with injuries to Durant and Westbrook but are rediscovering their championship-contender form with both healthy again.The Kings (11-14) have struggled since losing theirr top player and are now dealing with a surprising coaching change.ddddddddddddSacramento fired Malone late Sunday night just 24 games into his second season, citing philosophical differences.Kings owner Vivek Ranadive and general manager Pete DAlessandro — who was hired two weeks after Malone — want a more up-tempo, offence-oriented system, while Malone preached defence and rebounding.Ranadive sat in his usual courtside seat. Corbin limped on the sideline with a walking boot on his left leg, which he injured a couple of weeks ago while working out.Some fans in the white towel-waving sellout crowd of 17,317 began booing after the Thunders opening burst, and the game looked ready to become a rout.Oklahoma City went up 34-18 in the first quarter, but Sacramento sliced the Thunders lead to three in the second. The Kings also had the highlight of the half when Gay dunked over Serge Ibaka, who finished with a season-high seven blocks, including a couple during Oklahoma Citys final surge.This is not a time to put our heads down and feel sorry for ourselves, Kings point guard Darren Collison said. Teams are coming in here and they dont care what our situation is.___TIP-INSThunder: Durant, who is 26 years old, became the second-youngest player to surpass 15,000 points. Only LeBron James (25) was younger. ... The Thunder improved to 2-0 against Sacramento this season.Kings: Omri Casspi sat out with a bruised left knee. He is day to day. ... Rookie forward Eric Moreland was recalled from the Reno Bighorns, the teams NBA Development League affiliate. He did not play.PROUD PEJAThe Kings retired Peja Stojakovics No. 16 jersey during a halftime ceremony. Former teammates Vlade Divac, Bobby Jackson, Doug Christie, Brad Miller and Scott Pollard attended the ceremony. Stojakovic said he was honoured and humbled to have his jersey retired.GAYS OUTBURSTGay was called for a technical foul in the third quarter for arguing with official Lauren Holtkamp. Durant missed the technical free throw.UP NEXTThunder: At Golden State on Thursday.Kings: Host Milwaukee on Thursday. ' ' '
