Pirate Galaxy » ell, in Rio, youll be there. And you hope that

SEATTLE - Even Seattles "King" couldnt stop the Mariners slide. In fact, the problems just keep building for the Mariners. Nelson Cruz hit his 12th homer of the season, David Murphy drove in three runs and the Texas Rangers roughed up Seattle ace Felix Hernandez in a 5-2 win on Saturday night, handing the Mariners their eighth straight loss. Hernandez (5-4) was trying to rebound from a poor outing in his last start at Cleveland, but continued to leave pitches up in the zone and Texas took advantage. Murphys two-out double in the second gave Texas a 3-0 lead and Cruz added his solo homer — also with two outs — in the fifth inning. Seattles losing streak is its longest since dropping 17 straight in 2011. "This is where youve got to be tough. Youve got to stay determined, stay persistent, keep coming to the ballpark and knocking on that wall," Seattle manager Eric Wedge said. As if the losing streak wasnt bad enough, Seattle announced after the game that first baseman Justin Smoak suffered an oblique strain checking his swing after an at-bat early in the game. He was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the later innings and will be re-evaluated before Sundays series finale against the Rangers. Smoaks health is a concern, but more important might be figuring out whats happened to Hernandez in his last two starts. Derek Holland continued to pitch well in Seattle, easily getting the better of the matchup against Hernandez. Holland (4-2) went 6 2-3 innings, striking out a season-high 10, allowing no earned runs and winning for the first time since May 8 after a pair of no decisions. Meanwhile, Hernandez was done after 5 2-3 innings, unable to close out the sixth after giving up a triple to Leonys Martin and walking Elvis Andrus. Hernandez finished with nine strikeouts, but the 11 hits were a season high, giving up at least one hit in every inning. According to STATS, its just the second time since the 2010 season that Hernandez has failed to go at least six innings in consecutive starts, after lasting just five innings in his previous start at Cleveland. He went 4 innings and 4 2-3 innings in consecutive starts in September 2012. Hernandez has been bothered by a sore back, but insisted his health is fine. "I feel fine. Its not that," Hernandez said. Texas didnt pound the ball early against Hernandez. None of the first five hits he allowed were hit hard yet were enough that he was quickly trailing. Mitch Moreland opened the second inning with a dribbler down the left field line past the Mariners defensive shift, followed by A.J. Pierzynskis grounder on a hit-and-run that got by Seager playing close at third. Jurickson Profar then dumped a 0-2 sinker over the infield to score Moreland. Pierzynski was thrown out at the plate for the second out of the inning, but Murphy made sure the opportunity wasnt missed with his double to score Profar and Andrus. Hernandez then allowed Cruzs homer in the fifth immediately after getting a double play off the bat of Adrian Beltre. "We just havent missed opportunities when he threw the ball in the strike zone," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "Hes at his best when he can get you to chase some pitches. ... Tonight, when he threw some balls across the plate we were fortunate enough to put them into play." Holland had gone 21 1-3 consecutive scoreless innings against the Mariners at Safeco Field before giving up a two-out, two-run double to Kendrys Morales in the third inning. Holland would not have faced Morales, if not for Elvis Andrus error on a grounder from Michael Morse. With Morse reaching, Morales lined a 0-2 fastball off the top of the wall in right field, missing a home run by only a few feet and Morse racing around from first to score and cut the deficit to 3-2. That ended up being the extent of Seattles offence against the Texas lefty. Holland struck out the side in the fourth and got Jason Bay and Kyle Seager swinging in the fifth after Brendan Ryans leadoff single. Holland retired 12 of the final 15 batters he faced. He couldnt finish off the seventh, getting replaced with two outs after issuing a walk to Bay. Robbie Ross entered and got Seager to pop out on the first pitch. Holland is now 3-0 in his career against the Mariners in Seattle and has yet to allow an earned run against the Mariners in Seattle. Joe Nathan pitched the ninth for his 16th save. NOTES: Texas is 7-2 against Seattle this season. ... Hernandez is now 12-18 all-time against Texas. The Rangers are one of three American League teams that Hernandez has a losing record against. The others are the Angels (7-12) and White Sox (3-5). ... Nathan converted his 36th straight save opportunity on the road. Authentic Jerseys Cheap Online . -- Arizona knocked off some quality opponents, rolled over a few overmatched ones and grinded out victories even when things didnt go so well. Nike NFL Jerseys China . But when it comes to determining if Raymond will find a place on the Leafs roster when training camp concludes in a week, well, that decision will ultimately fall to the head coach. http://www.wholesalejerseysfromchinacheap.com/ . -- Playing time has been limited for Maxim Tissot this season, so the Montreal Impact defender made the most of his first scoring opportunity on Saturday. Wholesale Jerseys China . PETERSBURG, Fla. Stitched Nike NFL Jerseys . Didier Drogba gave away the penalty that put Senegal one goal away from a major upset, but the veteran striker will get another chance -- probably his last -- at the World Cup after Salomon Kalous injury-time strike sealed the Ivorians place in Brazil next year. LAS VEGAS -- It has been two years since Paul Georges life was inextricably altered during a USA Basketball exhibition game in which he snapped his right leg in gruesome fashion under the basket at the Thomas & Mack Center, an incident he now refers to simply as the injury.Hes back in Las Vegas this week. Back donning a USA jersey across his chest. Back among the games elite. Back fulfilling his reputation as a dominant talent on the court.George already restored his place in the basketball pecking order before this week, making third-team All-NBA and second-team All-Defensive in 2015-16 while putting up better overall numbers than he did for the Indiana Pacers in the season before the injury. Resuming his spot within Team USA just brings things full circle.It means a lot, George said after Team USAs opening practice of training camp in preparation for the Rio Olympics next month. This is like really a redemption to myself. All the bad that happened on that night, I owed myself this opportunity to come back out here and compete for my country.For all that has been made about stars such as?LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Kawhi Leonard bowing out of international competition this summer, Georges inclusion cant be emphasized enough.Its one of the great stories of this group, said Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketballs managing director. I mean, when you think about it, when you think back to the tragedy when the injury took place, no one could have projected where he would be. And was his career over? Was his career going to be limited because of the injury? Would he ever come back fully? And to see him back and to see what hes accomplished back in the league, its like he didnt miss a beat.While George has reclaimed his perch, its impossible not to notice all that has changed since that fateful night in August 2014, when he chased down Harden to foul him on a fast break and suffered an open tibia-fibula fracture after landing awkwardly at the base of the basket stanchion.Donald Trump went from reality TV show host to presidential hopeful; the Golden State Warriors went from a promising group to the league standard for excellence; Georges Pacers went from knocking on the door of the NBA Finals with consecutive Eastern Conference finals appearances to a new-look group thats hardly recognizable compared with what they were before the injury.Indianas core has been blown up: Frank Vogel now coaches the Orlanndo Magic; Roy Hibbert is on his second different team; David West is on his second different team; Lance Stephenson is on his third different team.ddddddddddddIt just goes to show the evolution of this game, George said. Im looked upon as the leader and the longest-[tenured] Pacer now. So its sunk in. I dont think it will officially sink in until training camps started, and Im looking around, and Im the face of it. So its just part of the game, and Ill deal with it.Indianas future, although its a promising one with the offseason additions of Jeff Teague, Al Jefferson and Thaddeus Young, is yet to be determined. What is certain is how George took a guarantee made by Colangelo shortly after the injury that there would a spot waiting for him on the 16 Olympic team, and went and proved he belonged anyway.It was meant to be an incentive for him, Colangelo said. But when you see its actually happened and hes earned it in every way, this is not a gift here. Hes literally earned this spot. Its just a lot of extra love involved in this one. So were very happy for him, and its great to have him here.This summer could end up being a reminder to the world just how good George really is. With no James or Leonard, hell team with Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony as the teams most versatile swingman.The way hes just handled everything: physically to be at the level hes at, emotionally, mentally ... coach Mike Krzyzewski said. I mean, wow. I remember being in a hospital with him. ... You try to envision and talk about, Well, in Rio, youll be there. And you hope that you believe that, you think you do, but then maybe thats not going to happen. And it is. And hopefully we win, and that would be an even better story.That story and the way it unfolds at the Olympics is the final march on Georges comeback tour.Now I know Im healthy, I know Im OK, I know Im 100 percent, George said. Im back to being myself. Its no limitations. Its no thought in my mind that Im limited to something. I kind of just feel like all the chains are off of me and Im free now.Unburdened by the injury, George is embracing being back at the scene where his progress was interrupted.Im just enjoying it, man, he said. Im just enjoying it. This trip is not about the injury. Thats behind me. It happened. Im over it. Its about preparing for a gold medal. ' ' '