Pirate Galaxy » an outsider. Coaches are sympathetic, but they still

BOSTON -- Felix Doubront knows hes been consistent on the mound so hes not about to change a thing on his off days. Doubront pitched seven shutout innings to continue his run of strong starts and Jacoby Ellsbury drove in two runs to lift the Boston Red Sox to a 4-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday. Doubront (8-5) gave up five singles, struck out five, didnt walk a batter and allowed just one runner to reach second base in holding an opponent to three runs or fewer for the 15th straight start. Its the most by a Red Sox left-hander since at least 1920. "Being consistent in my five-day routines and just taking my plan for my next outing, thats the most important one to me," he said. "Were working on that every fifth day." The 25-year old left-handers current string of three-run or fewer games is the best since by a Boston pitcher since Tim Wakefield went 17 straight in 1995. "Felix, he quickly got back into a number of counts," Boston manager John Farrell said. "First pitch strikes were a little elusive, but he was able to go to a breaking ball or a changeup to get the timing back in his delivery. Just a workmanlike seven shutout innings." It was Bostons seventh win in nine games, completing a 5-2 homestand. The AL East leaders play 16 of the next 19 away from Fenway Park, beginning Monday night in Houston. Koji Uehara, the third Boston reliever, closed out the combined eight-hitter. Diamondbacks starter Brandon McCarthy (2-5), activated before the game after being on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation since May 31, gave up two runs on five hits in 4 1-3 innings. Cody Ross and Martin Prado each had two singles for Arizona, which lost for the sixth time in eight games. "They pitched good but, you cant give them too much credit," Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said. "We had eight singles today and didnt put anything together." Doubront, who experienced control troubles in a number of starts last year, had a simple reason why hes throwing more strikes. "A lot of playing catch, a lot of front toss and a lot of that, that makes me be more consistent with pitches," he said. Former teammate Ross saw a big difference. "Yeah, a little bit more mature. He was good last year for a rookie," he said. "He pitched well. Today, we had him on the ropes and couldnt get anything when we needed to. He made some good pitches and located the ball well, but we had our opportunities and we blew it, and they didnt." Boston grabbed a 2-0 lead and chased McCarthy with two runs in the fifth. Ellsburys sacrifice fly made it 1-0 after consecutive singles. Shane Victorino then singled just over the head of McCarthy -- a scary image since the right-hander was hit in the head by a line drive last year -- before Pedroias RBI double made it 2-0. David Ortiz was intentionally walked, loading the bases, but Will Harris relieved and got the next two hitters to pop out. While with Oakland last September, McCarthy sustained what were described at the time as life-threatening injuries when he was struck in the head by a line drive off the bat of the Angels Erick Aybar. The pitcher had an epidural hemorrhage, brain contusion and a skull fracture. Emergency surgery was performed that night and he was released from the hospital six days later. Arizona right fielder Gerardo Parra had a tough day, dropping a fly ball in the first for and error and losing another in the sun for Ellsburys RBI single that made it 3-0 in the sixth. Victorino followed Ellsburys hit with a run-scoring single. McCarthy held Boston hitless until Mike Carps two-out single in the fourth. Boston reliever Matt Thornton left the game in the eighth inning with tightness in his right oblique area. "Thorntons dealing with a little bit of a right oblique issue." Farrell said. The Diamondbacks had a singles in four of the initial five innings against Doubront, but thanks to two double plays and solid pitching none of the runners reached second. NOTES: Doubront has given up more than three runs just once in his 20 starts this season. ... Farrell said right-handed knuckleballer Steven Wright will make his first career start on Tuesday at Houston. "The reason being is that were just trying to get guys an extra day of rest this time through," Farrell said. ... The Diamondbacks designated left-handed reliever Tony Sipp (3-1, 3.86 ERA in 48 games) for assignment before to game. ... Farrell turned 51 on Sunday. ... RF Victorino hit his left hip hard on the top of the wall, attempting to make a leaping grab of A. J. Pollocks foul ball in the third. He walked back to his position slowly, but stayed in the game. ... John Lackey (7-8, 3.23 ERA) pitches for Boston against Houstons Brett Oberholtzer (1-0, 3.77 ERA) in the opener of a three-game series on Monday. ... Wade Miley (8-8, 3.68 ERA) is slated to go for the Diamondbacks when they open a two-game set against the Rays and Jeremy Hellickson (10-4, 4.60 ERA) on Tuesday.Marvin Jones Jr Youth Jersey .Gather a group of friends, or find a league to join online, draft your team, set your lineup and compete in a number of different formats. Calvin Johnson Youth Jersey . The (11-11-4) Jets are seventh in the Central Division with 26 points. Fifth place Dallas and sixth-seeded Nashville also have 26 points, but the Stars have three games in hand on Winnipeg while Nashville has two. http://www.authenticnfllionslockroom.com/Youth-Kerryon-Johnson-Elite-Jersey/ . Carey Price didnt, but he still came out on top against one of his rivals for the No. 1 job at the Sochi Games. The Anahim Lake, B.C., native was stellar in making 39 saves in his home province and Lars Eller got credit for a bizarre short-handed winner as the Canadiens defeated the Canucks 4-1. Kenny Golladay Jersey . Deulofeu injured a muscle in his right leg in Evertons 4-1 win over Fulham in the English Premier League on Saturday. Barcelona says that its team doctors will "co-ordinate" with Evertons medical staff as Deulofeu recovers. Calvin Johnson Lions Jersey . LOUIS -- Heading into the final stretch of the season, the issues for the Chicago Bears banged-up defence only seem to be getting worse.FRISCO, Texas -- Tony Romo stopped a reporter in the middle of what appeared to be the first question in his first meeting with the media since August.The Dallas quarterback brought a statement, and he wasnt going to answer any questions Tuesday.The 36-year-old coming off his fourth back injury in less than four years conceded the starting job to Dak Prescott , who has led the Cowboys (8-1) to a franchise season record-tying eight straight wins and the best record in the NFL.And a somber Romo didnt hide his disappointment while reading the five-minute statement.Hes earned the right to be our quarterback, Romo said of the 23-year-old rookie. As hard as that is for me to say, hes earned that right. Hes guided our team to an 8-1 record and thats hard to do.Romo, who broke a bone in his back in a preseason game, is expected to be Prescotts backup Sunday at home against Baltimore (5-4). It should be the first time Romo is active since Thanksgiving last year, and the first time in 10 years he isnt the Dallas starter.If you think for a second that I dont want to be out there, then you probably never felt the pure ecstasy of competing and winning, Romo said. That hasnt left me. In fact, it may burn now more than ever.Romo was surprisingly reflective as well, recalling the early days of his career when he was an unheralded free agent fighting to stay on the roster. Now hes the franchise leader in passing yards and touchdowns, ahead of Super Bowl winners Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman.But hes also in the same place Drew Bledsoe was in 2006 when Romo replaced an ineffective Bledsoe at halftime of a loss to the New York Giants six games into the season and never gave up the starting job.I remember the feeling like it was yesterday, Romo said. It really is an incredible time in your life. And if I remember one thing from back then, its the people that helped me along when I was young. And if I can be that to Dak, I tried to be and I will be going forward.Romo signed the first $100 million contract in franchise history in 2013 and counts $20.8 million against the salary cap this season. The cap hit next year is nearly $25 million, but the Cowboys can reduce it by roughly $5 million if they release him.The mood was more jovial earlier in the day when owner and generall manager Jerry Jones made one of his weekly radio appearances.dddddddddddd paid a lot of money for a backup quarterback as you well know, Jones said, referring to Kyle Ortons $3 million salary as Romos backup several years ago. And this, by the way, is going to be the record for having paid this for a backup quarterback.The Cowboys went 1-11 in the 12 games Romo missed last season with a twice-broken left collarbone. When he immediately grabbed his back after getting tackled awkwardly from behind in the preseason against Seattle, Dallas hopes seemed doomed again.But Prescott had already shown promise in the preseason. And after a one-point loss to the New York Giants in the opener, he has led fourth-quarter comebacks and easy victories alike while compiling the fourth-best passer rating (106.2) with 14 touchdowns and just two interceptions.We all know something magical is happening to our team, Romo said. Im not going to allow this situation to negatively affect Dak or this football team by becoming a constant distraction. I think Dak knows that I have his back. And I think I know that he has mine.After Romo went down in Seattle, the initial word was that his surgically repaired back had withstood the hit. But the broken bone was diagnosed the next day, with an initial timeframe of six to 10 weeks to recover.Getting hurt when you feel like you have the best team youve ever had was a soul-crushing moment for me, Romo said. You almost feel like an outsider. Coaches are sympathetic, but they still have to coach. And youre not there. Its a dark place, probably the darkest its ever been.Part of the darkness came from Romo realizing where he is in his career.Seasons are fleeting, he said in a speech with several pauses. Games become more precious. Chances for success diminish. Your potential successor has arrived, injured two years in a row and now in the mid-30s, the press is whispering, everyone has doubts, youve spent your career working to get here.And now Romos a backup again.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Schuyler Dixon on Twitter at https://twitter.com/apschuyler ' ' '