Pirate Galaxy » 3.Gatland knows his reputation is on

TORONTO -- Troy Tulowitzki is the newest member of Torontos 20-homer club.Tulowitzki and Russell Martin hit back-to-back home runs, Marcus Stroman pitched 6 1/3 innings to win for the first time in four starts and the Blue Jays beat the Houston Astros 9-2 on Sunday.Tulowitski joined Edwin Encarnacion, Josh Donaldson and Michael Saunders as Blue Jays with 20 or more home runs. Toronto and Baltimore are the only teams in the majors to boast four hitters with 20 or more homers.Thats what we do best, manager John Gibbons said.Toronto has hit 166 home runs this season, second to Baltimore, which has hit 176.Encarnacion hit his 33rd home run, a solo blast off Luke Gregerson, as the Blue Jays won for the eighth time in 10 meetings with the Astros. Encarnacion is second in homers in the majors, behind Baltimores Mark Trumbo, who has 34.Containing Torontos powerful bats proved too much for the Astros, who dropped two of three to the AL East leaders.They never let up, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said of the Blue Jays. Their offense is pretty potent when it gets going.Toronto (67-51) is a season-best 16 games above .500.Tulowitzki went 3-for-4 with three RBI. He hit an RBI single in the first, singled and scored in the fourth, and homered in the fifth.Martin followed with a first-pitch blast off Mike Fiers. It was the seventh time this season Toronto has hit consecutive home runs.First-pitch changeup, Fiers said. It seemed like he was sitting on it.Martin also made the defensive play of the game, leaning into Houstons first base dugout to catch Alex Bregmans foul pop-up in the seventh.For a catcher, thats as good an opportunity youre going to get to make a nice play, Martin said. It felt good for sure.Stroman (9-5) allowed two runs, one earned, and five hits to win for the first time since July 20 at Arizona.Carlos Correa had three hits and Jason Castro hit a solo home run for the Astros, who lost their second straight following a four-game win streak.American League batting leader Jose Altuve went 0-for-4 and failed to reach safely for the first time in 44 road games.We often go the way he goes, Hinch said. Im sure everybody in the ballpark is pretty surprised when he doesnt get on base.Astros first baseman Marwin Gonzalez was hit on the left knee by a pitch from Stroman in the second. Gonzalez stayed in to run the bases but was replaced by Tyler White in the bottom of the inning. X-rays were negative and Gonzalez is day to day.He didnt feel like he could move around at full speed so I pulled him, Hinch said.In the third, Encarnacion was hit on the left hand by a pitch from Fiers. He remained in the game. He doubled and scored in the fifth, then homered in the seventh.Fiers (8-6) allowed five runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. The right-hander has surrendered five home runs in his past two outings.They made me pay in that one inning, Fiers said. A couple of swings and the game is changed.AMAZING ARMSAs part of its 40th season celebrations, the Blue Jays honored seven former pitchers in a pre-game ceremony. Dave Stieb and former Cy Young award winners Pat Hentgen and Roy Halladay all threw out ceremonial first pitches.CANADIAN CLUBBERSMartin and Michael Saunders (20) are the second pair of Canadian teammates to hit 10 or more home runs in a season. The first to do it were Corey Koskie (25) and Justin Morneau (19) for Minnesota in 2004.TRAINERS ROOMAstros: OF Jake Marisnick (right groin) missed his fourth straight game. Marisnick could return Tuesday against St. Louis. Houston is off Monday.UP NEXTAstros: LHP Dallas Keuchel (7-11, 4.56) faces Cardinals LHP Jamie Garcia (9-8, 3.93) on Tuesday. Keuchel pitched a three-hitter against Texas on Aug. 5.Blue Jays: Toronto opens a three-game series in New York against the Yankees on Monday. RHP R.A Dickey (8-12, 4.61) starts against RHP Chad Green (1-2, 4.94). Dickey has a 7.61 ERA in his past five starts. Asics Gel Shoes Australia . The Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, and Texas Rangers all won on Sunday meaning the Rangers will host the Rays in a play-in game on Monday. Air Max 270 Australia . The All-Pro lineman got the leg bent under him while trying to make a tackle during the first half of a 22-20 overtime loss at Miami on Thursday night. The medical staff initially thought hed torn the ligament, and the test a day later in Cincinnati confirmed it. http://www.salenikeshoesaustralia.com/ .C. -- After a listless first half, the Washington Wizards used a big third quarter run to beat the Charlotte Bobcats Bradley Beal scored 21 points and the Wizards used a 17-0 run in the third quarter to take control of what had been a close game and beat the Bobcats 97-83 on Tuesday night. Cheap Nike Vapormax Australia .C. -- Chris Thorburn thinks one of the reasons the Winnipeg Jets have been successful under new coach Paul Maurice is that theyre playing together as a team. Vapormax Flyknit Australia . The Lightning are 2-0 so far on a four-game road trip, giving the club five straight wins as the guest and improving Tampas away record this season to 11-8-2. Warren Gatland has endorsed Dylan Hartleys credentials to captain the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand next year after noting his improved disciplinary record.Now that Gatland has been reappointed head coach for the gruelling 10-fixture odyssey that culminates in a three-Test series against the All Blacks, attention turns to the identity of his assistants and skipper.The 52-year-old Kiwis tracksuit lieutenants will be announced in December, but it is the identity of the captain that will really set minds racing over the coming months.Sam Warburton has been installed as bookmakers favourite since Gatland was unveiled as head coach on Wednesday but his main rival is Hartley, who has led England to the Grand Slam and a 3-0 series whitewash of Australia under Eddie Jones.Hartley was picked by Gatland for the 2013 tour Down Under only to then be ruled out after being suspended for verbally abusing referee Wayne Barnes in the Aviva Premiership final. A dismal disciplinary record has stalked the Northampton hooker for much of his career, but Gatland has seen enough to view him as a viable contender.Dylan has always played on the edge and that has been one of the traits that has made him such a competitor as a player, Gatland said. Hes obviously matured and hes done a great job with England. Eddie rates him incredibly highly. He has a lot of respect from the players as well.The pleasing thing is his discipline. He hasnt been suspended for a while. Thats a big tick against his name. Hopefully he continues in that vein and continues to be successful. Its easier to select players who are coming in from a winning environment with a lot of confidence. Its the same when you are picking captains.There are players youre familiar with, that you have been leading alreaddy, that has certain advantage.dddddddddddd. Have you been on previous tours? There are lots of considerations.Apart from obvious names, there will be quite a few others (that) come into consideration by the end of the season.The 2017 Lions face the most challenging odds in their history with a set of fixtures highlighted by a three Tests against the All Blacks, but also including five matches against Super Rugby teams and a clash with the Maori.Adding to the task facing the Lions is an itinerary that includes five fixtures against Super Rugby teams and a clash with the Maori and scheduling that sees domestic finals being played just a week before the tour opener on June 3.Gatland knows his reputation is on the line, but is armed with the conviction that the All Blacks can be toppled.Coaching the Lions isnt the safest environment to be in as a coach because if you lost the series things didnt look pretty afterwards, Gatland said. I knew how tough it was going to be and youve got to be successful because if youre not then a lot of people turn on you. Thats the nature of the beast.I experienced part of that in 2013, but it makes you tougher, it makes you strong. Im one of those people who doesnt dwell on the negatives, I always look at the positives. I know theyre there, but theyre what bring you down. If you talked to coaches in Wales, they would describe me as the eternal optimist. Thats the way youve got to be.Ive spoken about the lack of preparation time, how tough this tour is going to be - but I cant change that. If I start talking about that, if I start letting that affect me, then thats a negative and I have got to move on. ' ' '