09-07-2019, 02:55 AM
ATLANTA -- Gerald Laird drove in two runs with two hits, including a tiebreaking single in the eighth, and the Atlanta Braves beat Colorado 3-2 on Friday night after the Rockies lost third baseman Nolan Arenado to a broken finger. Arenado left the game in the second inning after fracturing his left middle finger on a head-first slide into second base. Michael Cuddyer hit a home run for Colorado. Ramiro Pena, who replaced third baseman Chris Johnson in the third inning, led off the eighth with a double to the centerfield wall off Adam Ottavino (0-1). After Andrelton Simmons and Dan Uggla struck out, Laird lined the single to left field and advanced to second when Corey Dickersons throw bounced past catcher Jordan Pacheco. David Carpenter (4-0) pitched a scoreless eighth and Craig Kimbrel struck out the side in the ninth for his 13th save. The Rockies did not immediately say if Arenado will be placed on the disabled list. Arenado led off the second with a double to left field. Left fielder Justin Uptons throw was caught by Uggla, who flipped the ball to shortstop Andrelton Simmons at second base. Simmons kept the glove down as Arenado slid past the bag. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez asked for a review as replays indicated Simmons might have tagged Arenados foot off the bag. The play stood following the review of 3 minutes, 48 seconds. Arenado grabbed his hand following the slide but remained in the game to score from third on Pachecos groundout. Charlie Culberson replaced Arenado at third base in the bottom of the inning. The loss of Arenado would be a blow to the Rockies. Arenado is hitting .305 with six homers and 28 RBIs. His 28-game hitting streak from April 9 to May 8 is the longest in the National League this season. The Braves also had a switch at third base. Pena replaced Johnson after Johnsons strikeout to lead off the second. The Braves did not say why Johnson left the game. Uggla walked and scored on Lairds double in the second. The Braves took a 2-1 lead in the third. B.J. Upton scored from third base on Justin Uptons groundout. Cuddyers homer, his fourth, tied the game in the sixth. Gavin Floyd allowed two runs on seven hits in 6 2-3 innings for Atlanta. Jordan Lyles gave up two runs on six hits and one walk in six innings for Colorado. The Braves loaded the bases in the seventh but couldnt score. Rex Brothers gave up one-out singles to pinch-hitter Tyler Pastornicky and Jason Heyward before walking B.J. Upton. Brothers struck out Freddie Freeman. Cuddyer made a running catch in right field of Justin Uptons fly ball off Ottavino to end the inning. First base umpire Lance Barksdale called Pacheco out on a pickoff throw to first by Floyd in the seventh. The call was overturned following a review which lasted 1:30. NOTES: Javy Lopez, a catcher for Atlanta from 1992-2003, Dave Pursley, a longtime trainer with Milwaukee and Atlanta from 1962-2001, and Rabbit Maranville, a shortstop with the Boston Braves for 15 seasons, were inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame. .... Rockies manager Walt Weiss said OF Carlos Gonzalez (swollen left index finger), who didnt start for the second straight day, was available. Gonzalez aggravated the inflammation in the finger on Wednesday night. ... Braves LHP Mike Minor will face Rockies RHP Juan Nicasio on Saturday. Mark Bavaro Jersey . Last years runner-up, Sara Errani, also reached the last eight in straight sets. Flipkens converted all four of her break points against Meusburger, and the third-seeded Errani broke Karin Knapps serve five times to win their all-Italian match 6-4, 6-3. Lawrence Taylor Jersey . Minutes before the final whistle of Sporting Kansas Citys 3-0 victory over a shorthanded Montreal Impact squad on Saturday afternoon, Saputo tweeted: "Our fans deserve better. http://www.giantsonlineteamshop.com/mich...cheap.html. - Wesley Matthews got a chance to practice his bow-and-arrow 3-point celebration on Sunday night. Carl Banks Giants Jersey . The Brazilian-born strikers brace drew him level with Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo as the leagues leading scorers with 17 goals apiece through 16 rounds. "The important thing is to help the team win, not the goals," Diego Costa said. After a first half dominated by defence, Atletico pressed Valencia into its area and Diego Costa did the rest. Dexter Lawrence Jersey . -- The Chicago Bears have agreed to terms with safety Brock Vereen and QB David Fales on four-year contracts.With the NHL Draft coming up on June 27 and free agency opening on July 1, discussions between NHL general managers are already heating up towards a busy off-season. Each day, TSN.ca provides the latest rumours, reports and speculation from around the NHL beat. Farewell to Broadway? Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe reports that the New York Rangers are considering using a compliance buyout on centre Brad Richards. Ricards is 34-years-old and has six remaining on his current deal that carries an annual cap hit of $6,666,667. The former Conn Smythe-winner is unlikely to see out his full contract and, if he were to retire early, the Rangers would be on the hook for the remainder of the deal as per the new CBAs cap benefit recapture penalty. This would effectively mean that the Rangers would be carrying dead money against the cap, something that would cripple any club. Since the implementation of the compliance buyout option, teams have used it for 15 players including Richardss former Tampa Bay Lightning teammate, Vincent Lecavalier. Not so Wild about Vanek? Thomas Vanek is no longer a sure thing for the Minnesota Wild, so says Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The connection to Minnesota for Vanek is obvious.dddddddddddd. Vanek starred for a the 2003 NCAA Champion Minnesota Golden Gophers, winning the Frozen Four MVP and became the first-ever freshman to do so. Still, Russo believes that the emergence of the Wilds young core that helped upset the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the playoffs, coupled with Vaneks poor post-season with the Montreal Canadiens means that the team has cooled its interest in the Austrian. Vanek had five goals and five assists in 17 playoff games for the Canadiens. Getting Drafty in here? Josh Cooper of the Tennessean writes that the Nashville Predators could be looking at acquiring a second first-round pick in this months NHL Draft. The Predators hold the 11th pick in the draft, but also have two second-round selections (numbers 42 and 46 with the latter gained from the Detroit Red Wings as part of the David Legwand trade) and could use both of those to grab a second pick in the first round. Poile says that no movement will happen until the actual day of the draft. The last time the Predators had two first-rounders was in 2008, when they selected Colin Wilson and Chet Pickard. ' ' '