Allgemeine Diskussionen » make sure we defended really well

NEW YORK – The Blue Jays entered Thursdays series finale at Yankee Stadium losers of eight of their last 11 games. Theyd dropped 15 in a row in the Bronx dating back to 2012 and had seen their lead over their pinstriped rivals in the American League East dwindle to two and a half games. This is a slump. Its lasted for about two weeks. The downturn comes on the heels of a terrific May, when Toronto won 21 of 30 games and Edwin Encarnacion captured the imagination of fans with his 16-home run month. This is not is the end of the world, nor does this slump suggest a long-term trend. This is on the offence and thats a good thing because theres too much talent in the Blue Jays lineup for the widespread malaise to continue. To wit: The starting pitching has been fine. You could say its been good and you wouldnt be wrong. In the last 11 games, Jays starters have allowed four or more earned runs only twice and have pitched to a staff ERA of 3.71. The starting pitching was supposed to be the weakness. So far it has held up. The Jays have hit only four home runs in their last 11 games. Not surprisingly, three of the home runs came in two of the three victories. Toronto continues to lead baseball with 93 team home runs, which is crucial to the clubs attack. Of the 338 runs the Jays have scored this season, 147 (43.4 per cent) have come via the long ball. Jose Bautista hasnt hit a home run in 11 games, his longest power drought of the season. Hes still hitting for a respectable average, .275 with five of his 11 hits going for doubles, but the Jays miss his power bat as the club struggles, having scored three or fewer runs eight times in the span. This is a phase, both for the individual and for the ballclub, Bautista said, that was bound to happen. "If you can execute every single day for 162, youd probably win 140 games," said Bautista. "We dont expect to execute every single day. But we do have to pick it up. Its one thing, were running into some St. Louis good pitching, some other pitching staffs. I dont want to speak badly or worse about the Yankees or the Orioles but its not the same. We faced much better pitching at home during the last homestand than we have on this road trip, except for Tanaka, who did a tremendous job. So we shouldve won some of these games that we lost." It hasnt helped, either, that Edwin Encarnacion has hit only one home run in the last 11 games. "Weve lacked some timely hitting," said Bautista. "Our pitching has been there enough, I think, that we shouldve won some of these games that weve lost. We just need to keep going on offence. We got really hot at one point and kind of hitting a little cold spurt now. Weve just got to overcome it and not get 10 hits a day but get them when you get the baserunners on." Bautista has repeatedly acknowledged hes bought in to hitting coach Kevin Seitzers philosophy of using all fields. The slugger has become a better all round hitter. His 1,000th career big league hit, achieved in the eighth inning of Wednesday nights loss, was a double to right field. That alone would have been a story last season. This year its commonplace. "I think Im more aware of some situations where people are going to keep challenging me inside, especially when Im behind in the count or theres the right situation when theres a defensive shift," said Bautista. "Why not try to go over there and it ended up working out again? But the previous at bat I tried going that way and I hit into a force out, when Melky got forced out at second. So it works sometimes, sometimes it doesnt." Its difficult to watch a team go into a funk, especially when it had become customary for fans to watch Toronto out-slug and, often, out-pitch opponents. Despite the recent struggles, the Jays offence remains top 10 in important statistical categories: Home runs – 93 (1st)On-base percentage - .329 (5th)On-base plus slugging percentage - .760 (2nd)Walks – 243 (9th) Kylian Mbappe Jersey . Russell Wilson against Darrelle Revis, former teammate Brandon Browner and whatever schemes Bill Belichick dreams up. Raphael Varane France Jersey .2 million in 2012, according to tax returns the league has submitted. http://www.soccerfranceproshop.com/c-35-...jersey.aspx.com) - Troy Brouwer scored the game-winning goal with just 12. Benjamin Pavard France Jersey . Both moves were announced Tuesday. The Titans had waived Matthews on Saturday when they promoted wide receiver Michael Preston from the practice squad. France Blank Jerseys . Virtanen opened the scoring at 6:45 of the first period, then gave Canada a two-goal lead with a power-play goal 1:03 into the second. Sweden cut the lead in half when Daniel Muzito Bagenda scored a power-play goal at 10:57 of the second. MONTREAL -- As soon as Impact manager Frank Klopas was handed his championship medal, he kissed it. In the midst of a tough season in Major League Soccer, Klopas and his Montreal squad were awarded the silverware after defeating Toronto FC 1-0 in the second leg of the Amway Canadian Championship final on Wednesday. Montreal defended its Voyageurs Cup, taking home the trophy for the second consecutive year after winning the two-legged final 2-1 on aggregate. The win is a major victory for a squad sitting at the bottom of the league standings. "You have to seize the moment," said Klopas, who won his first trophy as an MLS coach. "This was one of our goals as a team. When its there in front of you, you cant let opportunities get away. You cant take them for granted." Because the Impact scored a crucial away goal in a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the final at BMO Field on May 28, a scoreless draw in Montreal would have been sufficient for the overall victory. And the game was scoreless heading into stoppage time before Felipes first Canadian championship goal sealed Montreals win. Felipe powered home a decisive strike to the right of TFC goalkeeper Joe Bendik minutes before the final whistle to give the Impact their third Voyageurs Cup in the competitions seven-year history. "When I get on the field, I just want to do my best and do my job and keep doing the job I did today," said the soft-spoken Felipe after the game. As a result, the Impact (2-1-1) advance to the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League and will represent Canada in the annual club competition featuring 24 teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean. The Impact join the New York Red Bulls and El Salvadors C.D. FAS in Group 3 of the Champions League, which gets underway in August. "Its important for us to represent Canada well," added the Brazilian-born Felipe. Montreal has now taken back-to-back Canadian championships after Toronto FC lifted the trophy four consecutive years from 2009 to 2012. Montreal won the inaugural event in 2008. Toronto (1-2-1) made it interesting late Wednesday. Needing just one goal to move on, Jonathan Osario came awfully close to the winner in the 83rd minute of play when he skipped past an Impact defender and hit the post to keeper Evan Bushs left. "We just couldnt get that goal," said TFC manager Ryan Nelsen. "Hitting the post really summed it up. We had nice periods of play, controlled the ball for most of the time, but just couldnt get that break that would have won us the tournament." Toronto has otherwise had Montreals number since the tournament launched. TFC are now 7-2-2 all-time against the Impact in the Canaadian championship.dddddddddddd Nelsens men came out flying from the get-go, putting instant pressure on Bush. Benefiting from winger Alvaro Reys good speed down the touchline, Toronto got several good crosses into the box in the games first 30 minutes. Star striker Jermain Defoe had a volley blocked in the fourth minute of play, and skied a free kick from an advanced position in the sixth. In the 26th, a rocket by midfielder Kyle Bekker missed the net just wide. "I played a very young team over two legs that deserved to win," said Nelsen, whose team is sixth in the league with 16 points from 10 games. "Imagine whats going to happen next year when they start to mature. This is great experience for those guys. They played against Montreals top team. Next year well be even better." The tide turned in Montreals favour at the half-hour mark, with the Impact seemingly gaining confidence from a Jack McInerney header off a corner that missed just over the bar. From there, the Impact came close to opening the score on many occasions. Two left-footed volleys from Marco Di Vaio went wide, and a Hernan Bernardello free kick forced a good save from Bendik, who sprawled to his left to stop the shot in the 43rd minute. It was Montreals only attempt on target in the first half. In the end, the clean sheet was the Impacts second in as many games. Montreal has not conceded a goal in the Canadian championship at Saputo Stadium since joining Major League Soccer three years ago. "I knew it was going to be a close game," said Klopas of the second leg. "With the quality players (Toronto) have in the final third, we just had to make sure we defended really well. Sometimes things are just meant to be." Montreal will look to build on the victory when the team returns to MLS action on June 11. With just two wins from 12 league games, the Impact are last in the Eastern Conference. "Regardless of how we started the season, things take time," said Klopas. "My group never lost faith. We stuck together as a team. Winning some games has made us even stronger." Last season, the Impact finished last in their CONCACAF group. In 2008-09, the team reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, losing 5-4 on aggregate to Mexicos Santos Laguna. Toronto FC were also beaten by Santos in the semifinals of the tournaments 2011-12 edition. "I want to wish Montreal the best in the next leg representing Canada," said Nelsen. "I hope they do really well." Notes: Acquired on Monday by Montreal, Mamadou Danso was ineligible to play in the final. a Toronto heads back to BMO Field for an MLS game with the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday. 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