One month after Pete Rose sued him for defamation over a statutory rape allegation,?former Major League Baseball special counsel John Dowd filed for dismissal of the federal lawsuit.The motion filed Tuesday by Dowd, who led the 1989 MLB investigation of Roses gambling that resulted in his banishment, says the suit fails to establish that Rose suffered any financial damage from what Dowd said last year.In a July 13, 2015, radio interview, Dowd said Roses ex-associate, Michael Bertolini, told us that not only did he run bets, but he ran young girls for him down in spring training, ages 12 to 14.In his conversation with WCHE-AM of West Chester, Pennsylvania, Dowd added: Isnt that lovely? So thats statutory rape every time you do that.When NJ.com published Dowds remarks three weeks later,?Rose said they were shocking and unbelievable, and Bertolinis attorney provided a statement saying his client categorically denies them.The Rose suit, which seeks unspecified damages to be determined by a jury, says Dowds comments were false and malicious and caused footwear company Skechers and pharmaceutical company Ducere Pharma to opt against renewing endorsement contracts under which Rose would have received $315,000.One contention of Roses suit is that Dowd knew he had a deal with Skechers that would continue, and he made his comments with the intent to prevent renewal of the contract. The Tuesday filing calls the claim facially absurd.Dowds motion to dismiss says Roses suit offers no facts or chronology on the non-renewals, does not substantiate any connection between the radio interview and the two companies respective decisions and does not address other potential explanations such as:??a March 2015 Cincinnati Enquirer report with allegations that Rose financed cocaine deals;??an Outside the Lines report in June 2015 revealing a long-sought Bertolini notebook from 1986 that indicated Rose bet on baseball, including on his Cincinnati Reds, while he was still a player. Rose has always denied that, despite his 2004 admission of betting when he was just their manager in 1987-88;??the December 2015 decision by MLB commissioner Rob Manfred rejecting Roses petition for reinstatement.Roses suit says when he and Manfred met on Sept. 24, 2015, about his possible reinstatement, they discussed Dowds accusation and Rose vehemently denied it. Tuesdays dismissal motion notes that Manfreds ruling contained no reference to the Dowd radio comments.Manfred gave permission for Rose, 75, to participate in Cincinnati ceremonies in June when the Reds inducted him into their Hall of Fame and retired his number 14. MLBs all-time hits leader lives in Las Vegas, where he often signs memorabilia at a store adjacent to a casino. Rose, a Fox Sports analyst, is ineligible for election to the Baseball Hall of Fame, but he was in Cooperstown, New York, last month signing autographs, as hes done for many induction weekends.A longtime criminal defense attorney and former federal prosecutor, Dowd, also 75, states in his motion that a Nevada defamation law should apply to the Rose suit, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia. That law requires a plaintiff to file a written demand for retraction in order to collect anything other than proven economic damages. Dowds filing asserts that Roses noncompliance with his home states mandate should negate his other claims, such as for punitive damages and for allegedly suffering personal humiliation and mental anguish from the Dowd interview.Contacted Tuesday by Outside the Lines, Roses attorney Martin Garbus said, The motion will be denied, its a delaying tactic.Garbus added, Mr. Dowd will ultimately have to testify in court. A Pennsylvania jury will find that Pete Rose was libeled.Mitchell Schwartz Jersey . The 31-year-old Spain midfielder hasnt played since Madrid lost in the Copa del Rey final to Atletico Madrid in May due to back and foot injuries. Reggie Ragland Jersey .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have placed centre Cody Hodgson on injured reserve and recalled two players from their AHL affiliate in Rochester. http://www.prochiefsauthentic.com/Youth-Daniel-Sorensen-Elite-Jersey/ . 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Armani Watts Jersey . -- Ryan Blaney provided more evidence that Penske Racings No.TORONTO -- Backed by a big offensive outburst, Francisco Liriano earned his first win with the Blue Jays and helped the team into the AL East lead.Russell Martin and Justin Smoak each homered and drove in five runs as Toronto hammered Minnesota 15-8 Friday night, handing the Twins their eighth straight loss.Josh Donaldson, who drove in three runs, and Darwin Barney, who had three hits, also each homered.The offense came to life and it was a big night, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said.Liriano pitched five innings to win for the first time in four starts since Toronto got him a trade with Pittsburgh on Aug. 1. The Blue Jays took a one-game division lead over Boston.Trevor Plouffe hit a solo homer for the last-place Twins. Minnesota has been tagged for at least eight runs in four straight games.Liriano gave up four runs and two hits. He is 7-12 overall, and 3-1 in five career starts against Minnesota, his team from 2005 to 2012.Three of the four batters who walked against Liriano came around to score.I was a little bit wild today, Liriano said through a translator. Thank God that the offense hit the ball well today.Smoak connected off Pat Dean (1-4) in the second inning and Donaldson followed three batters later with his 30th.Smoak also hit RBI singles in the third and seventh.He stepped up tonight, Gibbons said. A lot of the guys did.Barney homered off Andrew Albers to begin a four-run sixth for the Blue Jays. Martin capped the inning with a three-run double off Pat Light.Toronto batted around a second time in the seventh. Martin had the big blow again, a two-run homer off Ryan ORourke. Seven of Martins 15 home runs have come in his past 11 games.When those guys get hot, theyre tough, Albers said. You saw it all year last year. They can put up 12 or 15 against anybody.Starting inn place of Hector Santiago (bruised left thumb), Dean allowed six runs and eight hits in three innings.dddddddddddd.Hes got to learn to continue to trust that he has to change speeds a little bit more, manager Paul Molitor said. A lot of things coming in there around the same speed.Before the game, Toronto got switch-hitting catcher Dioner Navarro in a trade with the Chicago White Sox, reacquiring a member of their 2015 AL East championship team.General manager Ross Atkins said Navarro was excited about the opportunity to return.I could see the smile through the phone, Atkins said. This should be a boost of energy for him, coming into a contender.COMING THROUGH WHEN IT COUNTSSmoaks homer snapped an 0-for-29 slump with runners in scoring position. His last hit with a runner in scoring position was June 18.DO IT AGAINDonaldson reached the 30-homer mark in consecutive seasons for the first time.TRAINERS ROOMTwins: 1B Joe Mauer (quadriceps) missed his third straight game. Hes expected to return Saturday. ... RHP Alex Wimmers was selected from Triple-A Rochester and made his major league debut with a scoreless eighth.Blue Jays: 2B Devon Travis (right ring finger) took swings Friday but sat for the fourth straight game. Manager John Gibbons said Travis would return Saturday. ... OF Kevin Pillar was scratched with flu-like symptoms. ... OF Michael Saunders (hamstring) missed his second straight game.UP NEXTTwins: RHP Ervin Santana (6-10, 3.39) struck out a season-high 10 batters in his previous start but took the loss against Kansas City.Blue Jays: RHP Marcus Stroman (9-5, 4.47) is 1-1 with a 2.10 ERA in four August starts, allowing six runs in 25 2/3 innings. ' ' '