Gästebereich » well we can play -- strengthening

TORONTO -- Esmil Rogers started so well after he moved from the bullpen to the starting rotation for the Toronto Blue Jays on May 29. But the right-hander has struggled over his previous few starts, including Friday, where he lasted only three innings in the Blue Jays 14-6 loss to the Oakland Athletics. It was Rogers fifth consecutive loss. "Hes not in the strike zone as much, thats pretty obvious." Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "Theyre barrelling him up, theyre not missing many right now." Josh Reddick hit three home runs and drove in five in Oaklands victory. The As hit a season-high five home runs as Jed Lowrie and Yoenis Cespedes also added solo shots. It was a needed win for Oakland, who has won only two of their past eight games. With Fridays victory, the As ended their three-game losing streak. Lowrie picked up four RBIs and recorded his third four-hit game of the season, while As second baseman Eric Sogard extended his career-best hitting streak to 14 games -- the longest hitting streak by an As player this season. "I finally got something to go my way," said Reddick, who entered Friday struggling with a .145 batting average and an 0-for-20 slump before homering in the third inning against Rogers. "You hit it over there, they cant catch it." Rogers (3-7) has an earned-run average of 8.50 over his past seven starts. But the 27-year-old, whos thrown 96 2/3 innings so far this season, was quick to dismiss fatigue as a reason for his recent struggles. "I dont feel tired," Rogers said. "I dont even know how many innings I got. At the end of the day I passed the innings from last year, but I dont think about it. I dont think my body is hurting, and I feel great." He said the problem lies in his breaking ball. "I cant even use my breaking pitch because I cant even throw it for a strike," Rogers said. "Yes, its really hard for me. I think thats my key. My secondary pitch is my breaking ball. When Im only using my fastball, everybody can hit the fastball at this level. "Im not doing anything different. I think today, something was wrong with my mechanics, but I think everything is okay. I keep working on my arm motion. I think thats the key." Despite the struggles from his starter, Gibbons doesnt think Rogers should be pulled from the rotation. "Hes earned that," Gibbons said of Rogers spot. "Hes battling out there. Hes a competitor. Hes going through a really tough time." The Blue Jays, who have now lost two in a row, hit two home runs against As reliever Pat Neshek in the eighth inning. Jose Bautista hit his 26th homer of the season and Colby Rasmus followed with his 18th. It was the opener of a seven-game home stand for the Blue Jays (53-62) who returned from a 5-5 West Coast trip that included winning two of three games against the Athletics (65-49). Brett Lawrie doubled in the second inning to extend his hit streak to 11 games, the longest for a Blue Jay this season. As right-hander Jarrod Parker (8-6) allowed six hits and three runs in six innings to win his sixth successive decision dating back to May 28. Parker has a 2.90 ERA in that span of 13 starts. Oakland got things off to a quick start by plating its first four batters of the game. Coco Crisp led off with a single, Sogard walked and Lowrie hit his ninth homer of the season to right field. Cespedes then hit his 18th homer of the season to left on the next pitch before Rogers retired the next three batters. The As added two runs in the second on a single by Crisp that sent Seth Smith across the plate. Sogards sacrifice fly scored Stephen Vogt for the second run of the inning. But the Blue Jays scored three runs in their half of the second inning to cut Oaklands lead to 6-3. Rasmus drew a one-out walk and scored on a double by Lawrie as the ball bounced pass Crisp in centre field. Emilio Bonifacio singled in a run, stole second and scored on a double by Jose Reyes. Oakland increased the lead to 7-3 in the third when Reddick homered with two out. He hit his second homer of the game to left with two out in the fifth against reliever Neil Wagner. Smith and Vogt doubled to increase the lead to 9-3. Reddicks three-run home run, his third homer of the game and eighth of the season, came against left-hander Juan Perez in the sixth inning. Perez left with two out in the seventh with an elbow injury. "It doesnt look good. Theres nothing definite right now," Gibbons said of Perezs injury, adding that his reliever will be re-examined on Saturday. The Blue Jays will most likely put Perez on the disabled list and call up a replacement for the bullpen. NOTES: Attendance at Rogers Centre was 31,862. ... Catcher Josh Thole started for the fourth game in a row on Friday. Manager John Gibbons said that regular catcher J.P. Arencibia (right knee bursitis) was available to play if needed and might start on Saturday. Infielder Mark DeRosa is the emergency catcher .a The Athletics assigned on option right-hander pitcher Evan Scribner to triple-A Sacramento to make room for Adam Rosales, who was claimed on waivers from Texas on Thursday. The Rangers had claimed Rosales from the As on Aug. 2. a Left-handed pitcher Mark Buehrle (7-7, 4.41 earned-run average) will start Saturdays game for the Blue Jays against Athletics right-hander Sonny Gray (0-0, 0.00.) who is 10-7, with a 3.42 ERA in 20 starts at triple-A Sacramento. Gray will make his third career major-league outing and first start. Astros Jerseys China . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . Wholesale Custom Astros Shirts . 10 Texas A&Ms offence dominated as usual against SMU. http://www.customastrosjersey.com/ . LOUIS -- St. Custom Astros Jerseys . During the athletes parade, the 23-strong Ukrainian team was represented by a lone flagbearer in an apparent protest at the presence of Russian troops in Ukraines Crimean peninsula. Cheap Custom Astros Jersey . While hell be dialed in to that tournament on a course he loves, you can forgive him if his eyes glance down the calendar just a bit, towards April. Although hes just 28, San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills has long been a source of pride for Australians.After honing his basketball skills at the Australian Institute of Sport, he made a name for himself in the United States as a collegian at Saint Marys. He was selected in the second round of the 2009 NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers and spent two seasons in the Pacific Northwest. He joined the Spurs in 2011 and won an NBA championship in his third season in San Antonio.Now heading into his eighth NBA season, hes moving into elite company in terms of longevity, with only two Australians having played more seasons in the league -- Andrew Bogut (11 and counting) and Luc Longley (10). We recently caught up with Mills to discuss his homeland, the upcoming season, the Rio Olympics, footy and more.Q: How satisfying was it to bring the NBA championship trophy home to Australia in 2014?A: Huge, mate. Really huge. Australia hasnt experienced the NBA in any form or fashion ever, so having that opportunity to not only win the championship, but to take it home to let other people experience. ... At the time, it was me and Aron Baynes on the team, and we felt that support [from Australian fans] throughout the whole season. So I felt it was only the right thing to take the trophy back and let them experience it as well, because to an extent, they were a huge part of it as well. So going back and sharing it was very important. We took it to Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns [Baynes hometown] ... and up to the Torres Strait, where my family is from. Its one of those things that gives me the tingles thinking about doing that. Im very proud of that.Q: How does the retirement of Tim Duncan change the chemistry of the Spurs this season?A: Theres obviously an empty feeling in the locker room and on the court, and theres no way to fill that. Tim Duncan has been here for millions of years, and theres no way you can fill that. But I might say that weve all done a great job in trying to pick up his slack to the best of our ability -- to understand that weve got another year here where were trying to reach the Finals again and put ourselves in the best position to hopefully win another championship.Q: How do you see the prospects for the Spurs this season -- especially considering the attention the Golden State Warriors are getting after adding Kevin Durant?A: That hasnt changed from year to year. Weve always been able to go about our business and slide under the radar, and whatever else happens around the league doesnt really bother us. Were really focused on ourselves and how well we can play -- strengthening our weaknesses and getting everyone to buy into our culture and onto the same page. Whatever else goes around the league is beside the point for us.Q: You take a lot of pride in your homeland. How does that manifest itself in your style of play and the way you carry yourself?A: It definitely carries over a lot of passion and pride in who I am and where I come from and making sure I represent those people the right way. And I think that mental attitude I take to everything I do, no matter what it is ... because I want to bring the best out of myself. For me, thats just a small motivation that adds fuel to the fire that I use to get myself going to try and achieve great things.Q: Now that youve had some time to reflect on the Olympics, how do you assess Australias performance in Rio -- in particular, the Boomers narrow bronze-medal game loss to Spain?A: Its one of those things tthats going to sting and hurt for a while, but I have had time to reflect on it.dddddddddddd Its a bitter feeling, because we did try very hard to win a medal and create history for Australia. We fell short [Spain won 89-88] by millimeters or by seconds or however you want to see it. Now Im teammates with one of those guys [Pau Gasol] who won the bronze medal, so I cant complain a whole lot. But from an Australian point-of-view, the feedback we got when we arrived back in Australia was really comforting. It was really good to know how many people followed our journey -- but not only followed it, they felt like a part of our journey from the beginning until the end. They rode our highs, and they rode our lows as well.Q: You were once pursued by the AFLs Sydney Swans. Do you ever consider what might have been if you had decided to play professional Australian rules football?A: I still do every now and again when I watch a game or I watch the Grand Final. Thats a good story that not a lot of people know. I love playing my footy, and I miss it. I have a Sherrin [AFL game ball] in my locker at the moment, actually, that I bring out onto the court to kick around with the boys.Q: Youre heading into your sixth season with San Antonio. Are you beginning to pick up any of the Texas accent?A: You tell me, mate! Well, this is my sixth season, and the South twang is very hard to ignore. But I think Im doing a decent job of it so far.Q: What do you think of the food in San Antonio?A: I love it. I love other cultures. Theres a Hispanic culture here with Tex-Mex. Theres a country culture with Texas barbecue. I love being amidst it and sampling new stuff. Six out of the 10 years that Ive been in the States have been here in San Antonio. So a big part of my life is here.Q: You will be a free agent next offseason. How much will the opportunity to be a starter influence your decision on where to play?A: Its a factor that I cant ignore. Ive obviously wanted to be a starting point guard in the NBA for a long time as a goal. But you know, every situation is different, and Ive learned stuff along the way. I think Im a better point guard now than I was when I first came to San Antonio. That credit goes to the environment here and how Ive been able to develop my game. Thats something that Im going to have to consider. Its not the be-all and end-all of my decision, but well see when it comes. This is obviously a big year for our team and trying to be able to concentrate and stay focused team-wise on trying to get to that next level of a championship. But if I can concentrate and focus on this team and what I can do to help this team, I think everything else will take care of itself.Q: Youre a long way from the end of your career, but would you have interest in playing in the Australian NBL (National Basketball League) when youre done competing in the NBA?A: Its definitely a consideration -- especially how well the NBL is doing now. They have my full backing and support, because the league has definitely risen to a whole other level in the last couple years, which is pleasing to see. I definitely would consider playing back in Australia at the end of my career. Not a lot of my family have been able to come over [to the U.S.] and watch me play. To be able to play in front of family and friends is very important to me, [so they could] be able to see me play live and not just on TV. ' ' '