Plauderkasten^^ » manager and being in baseball as long as Ive bee

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Toronto Blue Jays bats went silent over the weekend.Jose Bautista, Josh Donaldson and Edwin Encarnacion did not have an extra-base hit or drive in a run in the three-game series at Kansas City.Yordano Ventura pitched effectively into the seventh inning Sunday and Kendrys Morales hit a grand slam as the Royals beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-1.Today was a little frustrating, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. Its always tough to play here. Theyre world champs. Theyre that for a reason and they held us in check. We really havent been swinging that good since the beginning of the last homestand. Weve been in kind of a rut, so were due to explode.The fired duds against Ventura. Ventura (7-9), who was 0-5 in seven starts since a June 17 victory over the Detroit Tigers, limited the Blue Jays to one run and five singles in 6 2/3 innings, walking four and striking out four.Its hard to be hot for 162, losing pitcher Marcus Stroman said. Our guys are some of the best hitters in the league and were aware of that and the droughts not going to last. Its just one of those spurts and Im sure theyll break out pretty soon.The Blue Jays had four hits and two walks in the first four innings, but wound up stranding eight men and went 0 for 4 with runners in scoring position.Morales third career grand slam and his first since July 30, 2012, while with the Los Angeles Angels came off left-hander Brett Cecil with two out in the eighth to break the game open. Raul Mondesi, Alcides Escobar and Cheslor Cuthbert led off the inning with singles. It appeared Toronto might escape unharmed after Lorenzo Cain and Eric Hosmer struck out, but Morales hit Cecils first pitch out to straight-away center.Stroman (8-5) allowed three runs and seven hits in five innings. He threw 95 pitches before being replaced by Scott Feldman.Gibbons called it a solid outing by Stroman.He pitched good enough to win, and they made him work, Gibson said. They beat us at their game, really. They threw out some hits, and the safety squeeze, things like that. Three runs in five innings, youll take that. Whatd we score, one? There you go.Drew Butera and Mondesi delivered run-producing singles in the second. Butera cracked his bat on his hit to bring home Alex Gordon, while Mondesis bunt single scored Paulo Orlando, who logged his fourth straight multi-hit game.Theyre a dynamic team with their speed, Stroman said. They dont have to beat you with homers. Theyre looking to move the ball, move guys. Very fast and they put the ball in play.Escobar homered -- only his second of the season -- to lead off the fifth.Ventura was pulled after walking Darwin Barney and giving up a single to Devon Travis with two out in the seventh. Peter Moylan replaced Ventura and struck out Jose Bautista, but not before a wild pitch allowed Barney to score.TRAINERS ROOMBlue Jays: CF Kevin Pillar jammed his left thumb sliding into second base Saturday and not in the lineup as a precaution.UP NEXTBlue Jays: RHP R.A. Dickey, who is second in the AL with 12 losses, will start against the Rays in the opener of a six-game homestand. Tampa Bay will start RHP Jake Odorizzi.Royals: After a day off Monday, Edinson Volquez will start Tuesday against the White Sox. Volquez has a 9.82 ERA in losing his past two starts. Landry Shamet Jersey . Aside from the trilogy main event title fight, there are a number of intriguing matchups in the heavyweight, welterweight and lightweight divisions. Mfiondu Kabengele Jersey . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. https://www.clipperslockerroom.com/Montrezl-Harrell-City-Edition-Jersey/ . 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Ryan Doumit hit the go-ahead single in the seventh inning, Minnesotas bullpen pitched six scoreless innings and the Twins beat the Houston Astros 6-4 on Saturday night. Swarzak made sure to connect with Gibson -- also a young up-and-comer -- about keeping his head up after a string of bad outings: hes allowed nine runs in his past six innings. "Hes got unbelievable stuff I told him. He was born to be here in this league, we all see that," said Swarzak, who has allowed just one earned run in his past 16 innings. "Now its just putting it all together. When I got called up in 09, I was kind of doing the same thing hes doing now. You want to do good so bad, it kind of works against you sometimes." After Gibson allowed four runs and nine hits in three innings, Swarzak struck out five in the next three innings and the American Leagues second-best bullpen came through for Minnesota. Brian Duensing (4-1) followed with a scoreless seventh and Casey Fien a scoreless eighth to set up All-Star Glen Perkins for his 26th save. "Swarzy was the star of the game for us," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "That was huge to pick us up." Minnesota relievers allowed only one hit and struck out 10 over the games last six innings. Brett Wallace homered for Houston and Erik Bedard allowed three runs in six innings before leaving with a 4-3 lead. Houstons bullpen entered the game with a 5.11 ERA -- worst in the majors -- and couldnt hang on to get Bedard his first win since June 26. With Lucas Harrell (5-12) on the mound, Brian Dozier doubled home Clete Thomas to tie the game at 4. After Harrell walked Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau, Doumit dumped a single that landed just in front of centre fielder Brandon Barnes to give Minnesota the lead. Harrell walked Oswaldo Arcia later in the inning with the bases loaded to make it 6-4. "Its definitely frustrating. If I dont pitch better Im going to be gone," Harrell said. "Being realistic, thats the way it is. Hopefully theyll even give me another chance to go back out. Hopefully finish the rest of the year and have a couple good outings and end on a high note." Dozier and Arcia led off the first and second innings with triples off Bedard and eventually scored. The Twins took a 3-1 lead in the secondd on a blooper-reel type of play that left Jose Altuve and Wallace staring at each other while Bedard pounded his glove in frustration.dddddddddddd With runners on first and third and one out, Dozier struck out and Doug Bernier got caught in a rundown trying to steal second. With an eye on Thomas creeping off third, Altuve chased Bernier back to first and bumped into Wallace as Thomas scampered home. Thomas was credited with a steal of home, Minnesotas first since Torii Hunter swiped home versus Detroit on May 4, 2002. "We were moving around pretty good out there," Gardenhire said. "All hes gotta do is get in a rundown in that situation. They got a little confused, and there ya have it." Bedard settled down after the mishap and appeared on his way to snapping a five-game losing skid. Houston grabbed a 4-3 lead after Wallaces solo homer which was part of five straight two-out hits in the third. But Harrell -- typically a starter -- allowed a leadoff double to Thomas in the seventh and struggled from there. Harrell has been used out of the bullpen recently after several trades shook up Houstons rotation. Friday nights game lasted 13 innings and required manager Bo Porter to get a little creative with his pitchers. "This being my first year as a manager and being in baseball as long as Ive been in baseball, this is arguably the toughest stretch Ive witnessed -- whether its player, coach, manager -- of bullpen woes," Porter said. Robbie Grossman and Barnes each had two hits for Houston. Dozier extended his hitting streak to 10 games. NOTES: The Astros will recall Brad Peacock from Triple-A Oklahoma City to start Sundays series finale. Peacock is 6-2 with a 2.73 ERA in the minors and 1-3 with an 8.07 ERA in nine appearances with Houston this season. Outfielder Jimmy Paredes will be sent down. ... Andrew Albers will make his major-league debut for the Twins on Tuesday against Kansas City. The Canadian lefty arrived in Minnesota a couple of hours before Saturdays first pitch, bleary-eyed but excited for his opportunity. "Its been a whirlwind last day-and-a-half. Just trying to take it all in right now. Not sure if its really sunk in," said Albers, 11-5 with a 2.86 ERA at Triple-A Rochester. "Im really thrilled to be here." ... Altuve returned after missing the past two games with a sore quad. ... Mike Pelfrey (4-9, 5.31) takes the mound for Minnesota on Sunday and will try to break a three-game losing streak. ' ' '