Pirate Galaxy » cque Vaughn to stop

MIAMI -- After snapping the Kansas City Royals nine-game winning streak on Wednesday, the Miami Marlins will try to take the deciding game of the three-game series on Thursday.The Marlins (66-60) have the edge over the Royals (65-61) in terms of the series finales starting-pitching matchup.Marlins right-hander Tom Koehler (9-8, 3.82 ERA) is 3-0 with a 1.62 ERA over his last six starts. He has allowed just 26 hits while striking out 30 in that span.The Royals will counter with Edinson Volquez (9-10, 5.04 ERA). The right-hander has a bloated 7.16 ERA over his past five starts, allowing six homers and 26 runs in that span.If the Royals can be tied or ahead once the game gets to the bullpen, then they have the advantage. Kansas City relievers have pitched a franchise-record 34 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings.Our bullpen is doing fine, Royals manager Ned Yost said after Kansas Citys 3-0 loss to Miami on Wednesday. They came in (on Wednesday) and held (Miami) right there, did their job.The Marlins will have a new arrival Thursday, as they acquired outfielder Jeff Francoeur on Wednesday night from the Atlanta Braves.Francoeur, 32, has 160 career homers, including seven this year in 257 at-bats. He figures to give the Marlins some right-handed power off the bench.Miami general manager Michael Hill said he was looking for help since his star right fielder, Giancarlo Stanton, went down recently with a groin injury.Once the injury to (Stanton) happened, we wanted to get a right-handed outfielder, Hill said. He wanted someone who could give us punch against left-handed pitching.As well as our team has played, we wanted to do anything we could to get us to where we want to be, which is October baseball.The Marlins will have to make a roster move Thursday to clear room for Francoeur. The player most likely to go down to the minors is infielder/outfielder Robert Andino, a recent call-up.As for the Marlins regulars, manager Don Mattingly said Wednesday that he doesnt see a huge difference between starting shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria and backup Miguel Rojas.It was a surprising comment because Hechavarria is a Gold Glove-caliber shortstop who is in the prime of his career at age 27. This is his fourth year as the Marlins starter. Hechavarria came off the bench Wednesday night to make a spectacular diving catch on a line drive by Alcides Escobar for the first out of the ninth inning.That was a great play, Escobar said. That changed the game right there in that situation. I hit that ball really well. When I saw the catch, I said, Oh!Mattingly, though, seems to favor Rojas, who is also 27 but has never been an everyday starter in the big leagues. This is his third year in the majors, and he has a .598 career on-base-plus-slugging percentage (OPS). Hechavarrias career OPS isnt great, either, but it is better at .634.Defensively, Hechavarria has the edge again, posting a .979 career fielding percentage to a .976 mark for Rojas.However, Mattingly seems to value Rojas versatility and ability to play any spot on the infield, including first base.Overall, Hech is our shortstop, but Im comfortable with either guy, Mattingly said.Given Mattinglys comments, it seems as if the Marlins are setting up to trade Hechavarria in the offseason, turning to the cheaper option in Rojas.Hechavarria is making $2.6 million this season and should get a raise as he is eligible for arbitration. Rojas is making only $511,000 and is not yet eligible for arbitration.Miggy is a solid player who can do different things, Mattingly said. Miggy is valuable because he can play all over the place. Hech is more suited to play one spot (shortstop).The Royals have no controversy at shortstop, where Alcides Escobar has started all 126 games this season.Escobar went 2-for-4 on Wednesday, raising his average to .261 and his OPS to .613. In his past 12 games, Escobar has six multi-hit contests, and he is batting .378 (17-for-45) overall in that span. Cheap Custom Jerseys . Perhaps Carroll was so prepared for a break because he believes there is very little the Seattle Seahawks need heading into the off-season. "I dont see anything that we need to add. We just have to get better," Carroll said. Custom Arizona Cardinals Jerseys .Y. - General manager Billy King says the Brooklyn Nets are looking to add a big man and confirmed the team worked out centre Jason Collins, who would become the first openly gay active NBA player if signed. http://www.jerseyscustom.us/custom-san-francisco-49ers-jerseys/ . -- There were so many positives from the Orlando Magics first victory of the season that it was hard for coach Jacque Vaughn to stop praising his players. China Custom Jerseys Store .B. -- The Baie-Comeau Drakkar took over sole possession of first place atop the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League on Thursday with their sixth straight win. Wholesale Custom Jerseys . The news was first reported on Gonzalezs Twitter account and confirmed by the Rockies. Gonzalez has a six-week window before position players have their first workout at spring training in Arizona. TOKYO -- Third-seeded Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan defeated Maria Sakkari of Greece 6-4, 6-3 on Wednesday to advance to the second round of the Japan Open.Putintseva, whose first-round match was rained out on Tuesday, saved six of eight break points she faced and will next play local favorite Karumi Nara.Varvara Lepchenko of the United States ousted fourth-seeded Johanna LLarsson of Sweden 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals.ddddddddddddIn other first-round matches, Naomi Osaka of Japan beat Estonias Anett Kontaveit 6-0, 6-2, and Magda Linette of Poland overpowered Japanese qualifier Erika Sema 6-1, 6-0. ' ' '