Dein erstes Forum » ree-time Cup champion Tony S

HOUSTON -- Before leaving for a seven-game trip last on July 18, the Miami Marlins had won just once in their previous seven games. What a difference a week made. Garrett Jones and Marcell Ozuna homered to lead the Marlins over the Houston Astros 4-2 Sunday to complete a three game sweep and a 6-1 trip. Its the first time theyve ever swept in Houston and was their first series sweep since beating the Rays in consecutive two-game series from June 2-5. "It feels good that we were able to come in here and not have a letdown after a great series in Atlanta," Miami manager Mike Redmond said. "I think thats probably the biggest thing. We did what we needed to do to win, and thats a good feeling out there right now." Jones homer capped a three-run first for the Marlins, and Ozuna padded the lead with his solo shot in the sixth. "It was huge to get this last win and head home and confidence is high," Jones said. "Weve got the Nationals coming in so its going to be a big next few games. It was good to have a good road trip and just take that confidence going back home and continue playing good baseball." Jacob Turner (4-6) allowed one run and six hits in 5 2-3 innings to win his second start since moving from the bullpen. "I really just felt like I had to battle all day, didnt have my best stuff," Turner said. "But at the same time made some pitches when I needed to, got out of jams and that was huge." Steve Cishek allowed one run in the ninth before getting his 26th save in 29 chances. Houstons Collin McHugh (4-9), back from a disabled list stint caused by a finger blister, made his first start since July 6 and gave up four runs and seven hits 6 1-3 innings with nine strikeouts for his sixth straight loss. "When you start talking ... (records) for a starting pitcher, a lot of things have to go right," manager Bo Porter said. "You can pitch well and still not factor into the decision. Weve got to score runs. Thats pretty much the difference in the game." Jose Altuve hit a leadoff homer, and Jon Singleton had a solo drive in the ninth for the Astros, who have lost five in a row and eight of 10. Altuve homered and singled twice for his second straight three-hit game and 18th this year. He leads the major leagues with a .344 average and 148 hits, and he also swiped his AL-best 42nd base. Miamis Giancarlo Stanton struck out four times and has fanned in six straight at-bats. Christian Yelich hit a leadoff single and scored on a triple by Jordany Valdespin, who came home on Casey McGehees sacrifice fly. Jones made it 3-0 with his 11th homer, a drive about five rows into the eight-field stands. Altuves second leadoff homer of the season and third of his career cut the lead to 3-1 in the bottom half. Ozuna extended the lead to 4-1 with a sixth-inning homer into the Crawford Boxes in left. Singletons ninth-inning homer off Cishek was his first since July 7 and stopped an 0 for 11 skid. "Its been a while since I hit a ball hard," said Singleton, who is hitting just .178. "Its always nice when you can hit a ball like. Hopefully we can pick up some momentum from what happened (Sunday). NOTES: RHP Mark Appel, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 amateur draft, has been promoted to Double-A Corpus Christi from Class A Lancaster, where he was 2-5 with a 9.74 ERA in 12 starts. ... The Astros recalled RHP Paul Clemens from Triple-A Oklahoma City before the game. ... Brett Oberholtzer is scheduled to pitch for Houston on Monday, when the Astros open a three-game series with Oakland. ... The Marlins return home to start a three-game series against Washington with Nathan Eovaldi pitching. Cheap Los Angeles Dodgers Jerseys .com) - A chant of Zeke reverberated around AT&T Stadium before Ezekiel Elliott powered into the end zone for his fourth and final touchdown. MLB Jerseys Wholesale .A. Happs hold on a spot in the Blue Jays starting rotation is in question. http://www.mlbjerseyschina.com/. Kyle Shanahan was hired as offensive co-ordinator Monday after spending the previous four years in the same role with the Washington Redskins. Cheap Milwaukee Brewers Jerseys . Tony Parker had 33 points and nine assists and San Antonio never trailed in a resounding 116-92 victory over Portland, bullying the younger Trail Blazers in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals. Cheap MLB Jerseys Online . Louis Blues, having added Ryan Miller and Steve Ott from Buffalo, remain the No.WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- AJ Allmendingers journey is almost complete. With a new contract, sponsor extensions and a solid one-car team at JTG Daugherty Racing, Allmendinger became a winner in Sprint Cup for the first time on a sombre Sunday, outdueling Marcos Ambrose in the final two laps at Watkins Glen International. "I dreamed about this moment and Im not going to forget it," said Allmendinger, making his 213th Cup start. "Its just a dream come true." The day began on a solemn note when three-time Cup champion Tony Stewart pulled out of the race 12 hours after he struck and killed 20-year-old sprint car driver Kevin Ward Jr. in a race after Ward climbed from his car on a small dirt track in nearby Canandaigua. Allmendinger offered his condolences to the Ward family after he won, saying, "Were a community here, were thinking about you." "Its a tough time for everybody," Allmendinger said. "This NASCAR community, as a whole, were a family. When anything like that happens, its something that you dont get time to erase and forget about. Our thoughts and prayers go to the Ward family and what happened. "And it also goes to Tony. Its not like hes sitting there and forgetting about it." In a statement released during the race by a spokesman, Stewart said: "There arent words to describe the sadness I feel about the accident that took the life of Kevin Ward Jr. Its a very emotional time for all involved, and it is the reason Ive decided not to participate in todays race at Watkins Glen. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and everyone affected by this tragedy." Regan Smith drove Stewarts car and finished 37th after having to start from the back of the 43-car field and getting caught in a late accident. It was the second straight time Stewart missed the race at The Glen, where he has a NASCAR-record five victories. Last year, he broke his leg in a sprint car accident in Iowa days before the Cup race and missed the rest of the season. Allmendingers life changed two years ago in the hours before the July race at Daytona International Speedway. NASCAR officials had just kicked him out of the track, suspending Allmendinger indefinitely for failing a random drug test. The failed drug test sidelined him for more than three months and cost him his job with Penske Racing. It also spurred much soul searching, and after a handful of one-off Cup rides he eventually landed a full-time Cup ride last August with JTG Daugherty Racing. To break through the way Allmendinger did only added to the lore of this race, which has been decided four straight times by fender-banging dashes to the checkered flag. Ambrose won two of those and Kyle Busch the other. An expert road racer from his days in open-wheel, Allmendinger beat the best in Ambrose,, who has been dominant in NASCARs top two series at The Glen, also winning four straight Nationwide events.dddddddddddd Ambrose was going for a weekend sweep after capturing the Zippo 200 on Saturday. "Im thrilled for AJ," said Ambrose, who drove for JTG Daugherty before Allmendinger. The victory made JTG Daugherty Racing eligible for the Chase for the Sprint Cup title, and Allmendinger isnt planning on stopping there. "Its huge to be in the Chase," he said. "I didnt want to just say, Just be there. We want to make some noise. To be able to say were a Chase team, were working hard and trying to get it back. When it comes to the Chase with the new format, it doesnt mean we cant get hot early. You dont have to be amazing for 10 races." Allmendinger held off Ambrose through the first two turns on the final restart and opened a lead after both cars bumped and won going away. "I try to get better every day. Im still not where I want to be," Allmendinger said. "I wouldnt want to go back and change the process. I wouldnt change a thing about this." There were three restarts in the decisive closing laps. Allmendinger got the jump on Ambrose in the first one with nine laps to go, but Jimmie Johnson was bumped in the first turn and his No. 48 spun around, collecting two other cars and precipitating a caution. The race restarted again with five laps left and both Ambrose and Allmendinger were side-by-side through the esses, banging against each other before Ambrose took the lead in the chicane as hes done so many times in the past, dirt flying as both cars hit the grass. Allmendinger wasnt done, regaining the lead on the next lap as he out-braked the Australian into Turn 1 before a crash involving Denny Hamlin caused another red flag with four laps left. The 90-lap race on the 2.45-mile layout was red-flagged for 1 hour, 21 minutes just past the midpoint after a violent crash involving Ryan Newman and Michael McDowell that involved three other cars. Newmans Chevrolet spun hard into the Armco barrier lining the track, ripping a big hole in the barriers metal. The car then spun around twice and went back across the racing surface, collecting McDowell in his No. 95, which incurred heavy damage in the rear. Newman, McDowell and Alex Bowman were treated in the infield care centre and released. Allmendinger gained the lead on Lap 64 after pit stops, with Kurt Busch and Ambrose close behind. Ambrose outbraked Busch into Turn 1 for second two laps later and set his sights on Allmendinger, who had a 2-second lead that was wiped out by the late stoppages. Jeff Gordon started from the pole and led the first 29 laps, holding Ambrose at bay. But Gordons engine died on lap 50 as he lost all power and couldnt get it refired, spoiling a promising day. ' ' '