Pirate Galaxy » their successful Ashes campaign.Henc

BOSTON -- Terry Francona returned to Fenway Park and found some more pleasant memories. A standing ovation. A video tribute to his time as manager of the Boston Red Sox. And, most importantly, a win for his Cleveland Indians. Drew Stubbs, Mark Reynolds and Michael Bourn combined for nine hits and eight RBIs and the Indians had 16 hits in their 12-3 win on Thursday night. "I tried to keep my emotions inside," said Francona, who led the Red Sox to two World Series championships in eight years. "I didnt want to be the main focus. You want to let the players play." Francona, let go by Boston after the 2011 season, got the ovation after the first inning during a video display on the centre-field scoreboard. He raised his left hand to the crowd and tapped his heart with his right. "I was honoured," he said. And, perhaps, just a bit emotional. "It was just neat to see the organization do that for him," Reynolds said. "I think I saw him teary-eyed a little bit during that thing. It was pretty neat and I was glad to be a part of it." It was the fans only chance to cheer for Francona. He didnt bring out the lineup card and didnt have to leave the visiting dugout during the game because all of Clevelands pitching changes came at the start of an inning. He had left Boston as the second winningest manager, behind Joe Cronin, in club history. In his first year as Clevelands manager, he has the Indians in first place in the AL Central after they went 68-94 last season. Theyre 22-9 in their last 31 games. "Theyve got a good team and are in first place for a reason, not by accident," said Boston manager John Farrell, Franconas former pitching coach with the Red Sox. The 12 runs are the most scored by the Indians in the park since June 28, 2005 and the most they scored there without a home run since 1953. "Homers (have) been known to be rally killers," Reynolds said. "You keep having guys on base, it keeps the pressure on the pitcher and it makes him be precise." Zach McAllister (4-3) allowed three runs in five innings. He hasnt allowed more than three earned runs in any of his nine starts this year. Scott Barnes earned his first major-league save by pitching three shutout innings. "I think everyone wanted to go out there and get a win, not just for the team but for (Francona) also," McAllister said. "Hes been great for us this year and hes well liked everywhere he is. Its definitely exciting to get him a win." Ryan Dempster (2-5) gave up four runs in three innings with four walks in his third straight poor start for Boston. "My command has been terrible," he said. "I have walked 10 guys in the last nine innings. Bottom line is Ive got to fix that. I cant get myself in that kind of trouble." Every Cleveland starting batter had a hit and all except Jason Kipnis scored. Carlos Santana reached base five times with a single and four walks. The Indians took a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI double by Stubbs and made it 4-0 in the third, scoring on a two-run single by Reynolds and a force play at second on a grounder by Mike Aviles. The Red Sox cut that to 4-3 in the third on David Ortizs eighth homer of the season but wasted a chance for a bigger inning. Jacoby Ellsbury led off with a single and took second on a walk to Daniel Nava. Dustin Pedroia then singled, but Ellsbury was thrown out at the plate by centre fielder Bourn. Ortiz then hit the next pitch for his three-run homer. Run-scoring singles by Asdrubal Cabrera in the fourth and Bourn in the fifth made it 6-3 before the Indians scored six runs when they sent 10 men to the plate in the sixth. They loaded the bases with no outs on a walk to Cabrera, a single by Michael Brantley and a walk to Santana. Alex Wilson replaced Clayton Mortensen and gave up an RBI single to Reynolds. Yan Gomes followed with a two-run double after first baseman Mike Napoli dropped his foul pop for an error. Aviles hit an infield pop for the first out, but Stubbs tripled in two runs and Bourn singled in another before Wilson struck out the next two batters. That was more than enough for Francona to relax the rest of the way with a big lead. "Hes one of the best managers to ever manage here," Boston catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia said. "I wasnt surprised by the (fans) reaction. It is all earned and deserved." Notes: Dempster had his shortest start of the season, lasting three innings. His previous shortest came in his prior start, 4 2-3 innings. ... The Indians recalled LHP Barnes from Triple-A Columbus and designated LHP David Huff for assignment. ... Boston 3B Will Middlebrooks left the game in the top of the fifth with lower back spasms. He was called out on strikes on both his at bats before being replaced by Pedro Ciriaco. ... Clevelands Nick Swisher missed his third straight game while on the paternity list. ... Justin Masterson (7-2) pitches for the Indians against John Lackey (2-4) in the second game of the four-game series on Friday night. Custom NCAA Shirts From China . Vettel was 0.168 seconds faster than Red Bull teammate Mark Webber around the Suzuka circuit. Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg was two tenths of a second off Vettel. "The car balance is decent, but I think we can still improve," Vettel said. Discount Custom College Jerseys . Halifax beat the Saint John Sea Dogs 7-5 on the strength of two goals apiece from Nikolaj Ehlers, Matt Murphy and Brent Andrews. Jonathan Drouin also scored and had three assists while Zachary Fucale made 17 saves for the Mooseheads (16-8-0), who led 6-1 after two periods. http://www.customjerseysncaa.com/ .com) - Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer were easy first-round winners Tuesday at the Australian Open. Wholesale Custom College Jerseys . Jon Montgomerys gold medal in skeleton at the Whistler Sliding Centre and his subsequent auctioning off of a pitcher of beer in the village square elevated him to folk-hero status. Stitched Custom NCAA Shirts .In my heart and mind Im competing for India, luge competitor Shiva Keshavan told The Associated Press in an email interview. Every day Im flooded with messages from Indians all over the world telling me they are supporting me. The furore over Faf du Plessis mint-sucking episode brought a whole new connotation to the word gobsmacked, following Australias complete capitulation at the Bellerive Oval.Like the capitulation, du Plessis misdemeanour could prove to be a watershed moment. The former turned the spotlight on Australian selections, while the latter might have a similar effect on the ball-tampering law.On the basis that if you cant beat them you might as well join them, I proposed a few years ago that players should be allowed to do one thing that assisted them in swinging the ball.Like wristspin, the swinging delivery is crucial to Test crickets viability as a competitive and entertaining sport. In both cases the bowler has to bowl a full length to encourage the batsman to drive, and this often leads to one of two outcomes: it either brings about a classical shot for a boundary, or a misjudgement that prematurely ends an innings. The risk-reward aspect of these two forms of bowling adds greatly to the anticipation and enjoyment of cricket fans. Both arts should be encouraged by selectors and law-makers.With this in mind, I suggested that the law-makers should invite international captains to check with their players and then provide a list of things they felt enhanced swing bowling. Once these lists were submitted, the law-makers could then decide on one thing that enhanced swing bowling that could be made legal. A player using any other method of enhancement would face a ban, with severe consequences for straying. By compromising in this manner, the administrators would not only enhance the game but also simplify life for the officials at the ground and give the players an incentive to obey the law.By making one method of preparing the ball legal, there would also be less pressure on teams to try and outdo their opponents. There would also be less risk that one side would be caught while another got off scot-free. The greatest successs on the field would then be achieved by the most skilful swing bowlers.dddddddddddd.It was pretty obvious that du Plessis was angered by his fine and the inference that he was a cheat. He responded exactly as you would expect from a proud, strong-minded person, by making a defiant century at Adelaide Oval. By the time du Plessis was celebrating his three-figure score, Ill bet there were many Australian supporters who wished they hadnt inspired the South African captain by booing him on his way to the crease.The fact that no opponent of du Plessis was enraged by his actions, and many were even supportive, suggests that, as has been inferred, all teams are doing it. Englands Marcus Trescothick even revealed in a book that the 2005 team used sweets to assist with the shining of the ball in their successful Ashes campaign.Hence the feeling that if you cant beat em, join em.If international batsmen were to object to a proposal to legalise a ball-shining enhancement, it would be hypocritical. Firstly, many of the current laws and playing conditions favour batsmen over bowlers. Secondly, the majority of captains are batsmen and they are happy to condone their own players questionable actions when the team is in the field.With the advent of leagues like the IPL, which attract many overseas players, there are now virtually no secrets in the game. Also, through these leagues players from different international teams have become quite close friends, and consequently they are reluctant to be critical of each other.Producing late-swinging deliveries has always been a destructive weapon for bowlers and an exciting aspect of the game for fans. At Bellerive, Australia was beaten by the better bowling side rather than an opposing captain who liberally applied gobs of mint-flavoured saliva to the ball. ' ' '