Kreativecke » allowed an earned run in nine appearances since

NEW YORK -- Americas pastime might be poised to make its strongest push toward establishing a footprint in the United Kingdom.Major League Baseball is discussing playing a two-game series in London in 2018, and the news was met with excitement by members of the Great Britain team competing in this weeks World Baseball Classic qualifier in Brooklyn.British manager Liam Carroll is strongly hoping the plan comes to fruition, and he believes such an event could be a significant step in raising the profile of the sport in the UK.It would be amazing, Carroll said. Its something were really hoping for. There had been rumors that it would happen as soon as 2017. Then [the story] kind of went cold. So to see the story of the London mayor, Sadiq Khan, coming out to New York and meeting with MLB has got us really excited for that again.Khan threw out the ceremonial first pitch at a New York Mets game on Sunday, and the Evening Standard reported that he met with MLB commissioner Rob Manfred to discuss bringing major league games to London in 2018.?Im keen to make London the sporting capital of the world, Khan told the Standard. Ive been really encouraged by my discussions with the MLB. Ive told them there are huge baseball fans in London, all around the UK and in Europe.Carroll said he has heard soccer stadiums discussed as possible host venues, but its his understanding that the renovated Olympic Stadium is the likely destination. He estimates that venue could accommodate about 50,000 spectators when configured for baseball.Longtime MLB relief pitcher Trevor Hoffman, who serves as bullpen coach for the British WBC team, sees MLB games in the UK as a logical step toward expanding baseball awareness abroad.I think it would be great, Hoffman said. I know Liam and the staff has put in a lot of time to try and develop the grass roots and bring baseball to the forefront as a sport. Its something thats going to take time, but I think it would be great to go over to Europe and show off the game of baseball.Hall of Fame shortstop Barry Larkin, who is managing the Brazilian team at the WBC qualifier, echoes the sentiments about growing the game but said the process of playing abroad is a difficult one for athletes who already play a 162-game schedule in a 181-day window.I think it would be fantastic in terms of growing the game internationally, Larkin said. But logistically, thats a long, long way to go to play some baseball games.Larkin said the most realistic scenario would be similar to what MLB did when it opened the 2014 regular season in Sydney, Australia. That year, the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers were given several days off before and after playing two games abroad. Both teams then resumed the regular season a week later after several exhibition games.As a member of the San Diego Padres, Hoffman played regular-season games in Monterrey, Mexico, in 1996 and 1998, and in Hawaii in 1997. He was also with the Padres when they played an exhibition series in China in 2008. He understands the difficulties involved in holding such events but believes the benefits far outweigh the negatives.I think you have to have that growth mentality, Hoffman said. You re growing the game in different parts of the world. I understand it does conflict with some guys routines, but I think having done it and looked back, its the opportunity of a lifetime.Ultimately, if the myriad details can be worked out, MLB games in London would signify a landmark event in the mind of Great Britain second baseman Richard Klijn, who grew up in Cark, Cumbria.That would be something for English people to really think baseball is more than just a hobby, Klijn said. It would be huge. Jonathan Isaac Jersey . -- Derrick Rose shook off poor shooting early to hit clutch shots late and Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 104-95 preseason victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. Tracy Mcgrady Jersey . Q: Team Canada announces their Olympic roster three weeks from today. Who is general manager Steve Yzerman watching? LeBrun: Over the last 48 hours, hes taken in the home-and-home between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche with Jamie Benn and Matt Duchene being the obvious targets. http://www.magicauthentic.com/kids-shaquille-o-neal-magic-jersey/ .Y. -- Injured Buffalo Sabres forward Marcus Foligno did not practice with the team Monday and head coach Ron Rolston said its unlikely hell play in Wednesdays season opener in Detroit. Penny Hardaway Jersey . Brandon Morrow allowed five runs on six hits over three innings. He struck out two, walked one and hit a batter. Edwin Encarnacion had a two-out, bases loaded two-RBI double in the third inning. Terrence Ross Jersey . Newcastle dominated in the early stages but City weathered the storm and then raised its game in extra time. Negredo broke the deadlock from close range after a simple move in the 99th minute before Dzeko took the ball round goalkeeper Tim Krul to seal the victory in the 105th. WASHINGTON -- T.J. Rivera will not forget his first major league home run anytime soon.The rookie second baseman belted an 0-2 pitch off Mark Melancon into the left-field seats with one out in the 10th inning to lift the New York Mets to a 4-3 victory over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night.All I could do was go up there and try to have a good at-bat, Rivera said. He left something up and luckily I was able to put the barrel on it. That was pretty much my whole concept, my whole idea for that at-bat was really just compete because Id never faced him before.The Mets pulled within nine games of Washington in the NL East and remained a half-game ahead of St. Louis in the NL wild-card race. New York has won eight of its last 10 and is 17-6 since Aug. 20, gaining 3 1/2 games on Washington in that stretch.Jeurys Familia (3-3) earned the victory despite surrendering two runs in the ninth to blow his fourth save of the season. Left-hander Jerry Blevins struck out Daniel Murphy for the final out to earn his first save since 2012.I was trying to put it into play, said Murphy, who earlier had two hits and has hit safely against the Mets in 18 consecutive games this season. I was unsuccessful.Rivera, who won the Pacific Coast League batting title this season and entered the night with 41 career at-bats in the majors, probably would not have played if Wilmer Flores wasnt dealing with a stiff neck. Manager Terry Collins gave Rivera the start, and the move paid off even before the home run.Rivera had an RBI single in the third and a sacrifice fly in the fifth, then took Melancon (2-2) deep after the Nationals rallied to force extra innings.Somebody has to surprise you, Collins said. Somebody you dont expect has to come through, and tonight it was T.J.Washington mustered only four hits in the first eight innings, but quickly got to Familia in the ninth. Murphy led off with an infield single, and third baseman Jose Reyes threw Bryce Harpers grounder into the seats. Anthony Rendon and Wilson Ramos then delivered consecutive singles to tie it.Familia then got Ryan Zimmerman to line out and pinch-hitter Clint Robinson to hit a soft liner to second that fooled pinch-runner Wilmer Difo, who was doubled off first.We have arguably the best closer in the game and they hit four groundballs and three of them didnt get out of the infield and the games tied, Collins said. He was frustrateed by it and we certainly understand it, but we wouldnt be sitting where we are without him.ddddddddddddAfter Jayson Werths two-out single off Fernando Salas in the 10th brought the winning run to the plate, Collins called on Blevins. He got two strikes on Murphy, who then worked a full count before missing a curveball to end it.Hes so good and an MVP candidate for a reason, Blevins said. You try to take advantage of some aggressiveness and get him to swing at your pitch.Noah Syndergaard struck out 10 over seven innings for the Mets, yielding just one run and four hits.When you run probably your best pitcher out, you have to win that game, Collins said. You have to win this game tonight with Noah on the mound. He pitched great.Nationals starter A.J. Cole allowed three runs and nine hits in five innings.SYNDERGAARDS MILESTONESyndergaards 10-strikeout outing of the season gave him 205 for the season. The 24-year-old is the fifth Met to record 200 strikeouts at that age or younger, joining Tom Seaver (1968 and 1969), Jon Matlack (1973), Dwight Gooden (1984-86) and Sid Fernandez (1986).ZEROES FOR RZEPCZYNSKIWashington reliever Marc Rzepczynski retired the lone Met he faced and has not allowed an earned run in nine appearances since being acquired from Oakland on Aug. 25. Rzepczynski has yielded four hits and three walks in 8 1/3 innings since joining the Nationals.TRAINERS ROOMMets: INF Flores (stiff neck) remained out of the lineup and was going to try to hit in the batting cage before the game. Flores has not played since Saturday. ... OF Justin Ruggiano, on the DL since Aug. 27, underwent left shoulder surgery. He hit .350 with two homers in 20 at-bats this season.Nationals: 1B Zimmerman, who did not start the last two times Syndergaard pitched against Washington, was in the lineup against the right-hander. Zimmerman entered the night 1 for 8 lifetime against Syndergaard and went 1 for 3 against him.UP NEXTMets: RHP Robert Gsellman (2-1, 3.92) faces Washington for the second time this month. The rookie allowed one run in six innings to earn the victory against the Nationals on Sept. 3.Nationals: RHP Tanner Roark (14-8, 2.85), who has quality starts in seven of his last nine outings, starts the finale of the three-game series for Washington. ' ' '