Wichtiges » left Achilles - against Toronto, a team he has u

After ripping the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks for 10 runs in the ninth inning on Sunday afternoon, the Winnipeg Goldeyes bats have gone inexplicably silent. Thursday night at Shaw Park, three Sioux City Explorers pitchers combined on a seven-hit 2-0 shutout as the Xs came to Winnipeg and swept the Fish right out of their own ballpark. Tuesday night, starter Patrick Johnson beat the Goldeyes 2-1; on Wednesday, John Straka beat Winnipeg 9-2; and on Thursday, Greg Holt beat the Fish 2-0. In three games at home, the hottest bats in the American Association could muster only three runs. “It looks like we gave up our allotment of hits with two out and men on base in Fargo,” said Goldeyes manager Rick Forney after the game. “We scored three runs in three games and you just cant afford to do that and expect to win baseball games. “Sioux City pitched us great again tonight. They were masters of that low, outside strike and they didnt throw it just once in at bat. Theyd throw it two or three times. They were real good all week.” With the loss, the Fish fell to 34-17 on the season, still in first place in the American Associations North Division, 6 1/2 games ahead of second place St. Paul. Thursday night, the Explorers scored twice in the first inning on a single by Oscar Mesa, a double by Rene Tosoni, a sacrifice fly off the bat of Andres Perez and an RBI single by Peter Barrows. And that was it for the offense. Goldeyes starter Nick Hernandez settled down and did allow another run, nor did relievers Kaohi Downing and Brendan Lafferty. Holt, the Sioux City starter, pitched six strong innings and was picked up by Greg Broussard and Rob Wort out of the pen. Sioux City finished with two runs on 10 hits, while the managed couldnt scratch out a run on seven scattered hits. Holt (3-7, 5.02 ERA) got the win for the Explorers while Hernandez (5-1, 3.69 ERA) suffered the loss. Wort got the save. Friday night at 7 p.m. at the downtown ballpark, the Fish will open a three-game weekend series against the Gary Southshore RailCats, a team that is coming off a three-game sweep in Fargo. Chandler Barnard (3-0, 3.38 ERA) will get the start for Winnipeg, while Stephen Hiscock (5-4, 4.12 ERA) will take to the hill for Gary. Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys . -- Wichita State is all alone in the record book. Steven Stamkos Jersey . Basketball fans around the globe will be watching as Kobe Bryant makes his season debut - 240 days after tearing his left Achilles - against Toronto, a team he has used as his own personal punching bag. http://www.hockeylightning.com/authentic...ghtning-jersey/. The first of the three games will be played in Week 4, when the Oakland Raiders will take on the Miami Dolphins on Sept. Ryan McDonagh Jersey .com) - The Calgary Flames were again involved in a game in which a team was held scoreless, only this time they came out on the winning side. Vincent Lecavalier Jersey . -- John Fox will coach the Denver Broncos from the sideline and not the booth upon his return Sunday five weeks after heart surgery.TORONTO – Mason Raymond doesnt much like talking about himself. "First of all, Im not a guy that [is] going to sit here and blab about myself," Raymond said in conversation with the Leaf Report, asked if he had something to prove this season. "You go and you play hockey. Thats the way it goes. Theres not much more to say than that." Fortunately for the Maple Leafs, his play on the ice has done all the talking. Raymond has 11 goals and 25 points in 37 games this season and is on pace to either match or exceed career-highs in goals, assists, points and ice-time. The 28-year-old has been one of the few bright spots in Toronto this season. Drafted and developed by the Canucks – he was a second round pick in 2005 – Raymond spent his first six NHL seasons in Vancouver. But he went unsigned by the organization this past summer and found himself without a job right up until the eve of training camp, a victim no doubt of the cap crunch in 2013 – which saw the caps upper-limit fall to $64 million. He landed with the Leafs on an unlikely pro tryout and was signed subsequently for a very modest $1 million on a one-year deal. The deal has proven a bargain thus far and his adjustment to Toronto – at least on the ice – has appeared seamless. "Sometimes change is good," said Raymond, who played 374 regular season games with Vancouver. "For me here, [Im] getting different opportunities, playing with some good players and playing minutes. "Id only known one thing – Id only known Vancouver," he continued. "I went from one city to this city; different coach, different players, different systems, different everything, so theres things to adjust to and thats part of being a pro and adjusting to it and learning.&qquot; Raymond chalks up his exit from the Canucks to business, though he concedes that "youre out to prove that possibly they made a mistake in not signing you".dddddddddddd "I was a free agent and they chose not to pursue with me anymore and so be it," he said. "Thats hockey and thats just the way it went." His addition, a strike for speedy depth initially, has been of considerable importance for the Leafs, who have struggled to find their way this season. Be it because of injuries – mostly down the middle – or suspensions, the club has needed every bit of offence it has received from Raymond, who sits third in team scoring, trailing only Phil Kessel and James van Riemsdyk. Among the more consistent and versatile options in the Toronto lineup, Raymond has not gone more than four games without a point and is tied for second in December scoring after leading the team in November. He is averaging what would be a career-high of more than 18 minutes. With the increased opportunity, Raymond is on pace to best the career year he had in 2009-10. That season, playing mostly alongside Ryan Kesler, he totaled 25 goals and 53 points, numbers hes in line to match or even exceed this season. Is he a better player now? "I like to think I have more experience and have learned from a lot of situations that Ive been through," said Raymond, his recovery from broken vertebrae in his back and a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2011 among the challenges and experiences. "All those things, any person will tell you in any aspect of life, having experience will help you in many situations." Raymond may not like "putting the spotlight" on himself, but the Leafs have to hope his play keeps doing it anyway. ' ' '