e starts. Cessa took a tough 2-0 loss in Tampa Bay T | Forum

MONTREAL -- The new guys in Major League Soccer didnt take much time to get to the top. Travis Sanheim Jersey . Halfway through their second season in the league, the Montreal Impact lead the Eastern Conference with a league-best 9-4-4 record. And although they have played fewer games than most clubs, their 31 goals also lead the 19-team league. "You see a team that knows how to get points in this league," fullback Jeb Brovsky said Monday. "Last year, we gave up a few goals. "The mental focus is what it takes. Weve learned what it takes to win." As an expansion team in 2012, Montreal went 5-9-3 through the first 17 games of the 34-game regular season. They ended up 12-16-6 for 42 points to finish out of the playoffs in seventh place in the East. This year, they already have 31 points -- a 13-point improvement from the halfway mark last year. They have done it with most of the same players they had by the end of the 2012 campaign, but with new coach Marco Schallibaum replacing MLS rookie Jesse Marsch. It seems the former Swiss international and veteran coach was just what a team led by older Italian stars needed to take the next step. Even if the fiery Schallibaum has already served three one-game suspensions. "I see the team is motivated on the field and is progressing, its all very positive," said Schallibaum. So far, the 2013 campaign has been all about winning. It started in the pre-season when they won the Disney Soccer Classic tournament in Orlando, Fla. While running off victories in regular season play, they also won the Voyageurs Cup by beating Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps in the Amway Canadian Championship. The challenge will be to keep that pace up through the second half with opponents tightening defences to shut down league-leading scorer Marco Di Vaio, who has 11 goals. Also, the Impact are playing four additional games thanks to their qualification for the CONCACAF Champions League. The team ended the first half in a mini-slump that saw them blow a lead to lose 4-3 at home to Colorado, then eke out ties with Toronto and Chivas USA, two of the leagues lowest ranked clubs. The question is whether it is a temporary slide or a sign they have already peaked. "Theres certainly been some wake-up calls and reality checks," said goalkeeper Troy Perkins. "Thats to be expected. "Were into July, halfway through the season. Its always like this. Good things will happen to the teams that can grind it out and stay the course. We look back and we have to understand we are a good team. In the first half, weve done great things. We should be able to do it again." The season started with surprise wins in Seattle and Portland, so they matched their total of away victories in 2012 in the opening two games. The Impact were winners through most of their 18 seasons in lower leagues before they joined MLS, so it is not a total surprise they were able to assemble a competitive squad in short order. Most of the current team were brought together in their expansion year, including striker Di Vaio and AC Milan great Alessandro Nesta. Both will be 37 by the end of July. There is a strong Italian accent with Nestas central defence partner Matteo Ferrari and two newcomers, Di Vaios former Bologna teammates Daniele Paponi and Andrea Pisanu. But raised in Europe where soccer is a winter game, they will be tested in the summer heat. "Certainly for the guys from Italy, this is a new thing for them," said Perkins. "Theyre in a for a rude awakening. "When we play some teams from the south, its going to be hot. You have to be willing to suffer through the pain to get the result." Fullbacks Brovsky and Hassoun Camara and midfielders Patrice Bernier, Felipe Martins, Davy Arnaud, Justin Mapp, Sanna Nyassi and Collen Warner all started last season in Montreal and remain key figures on the squad. Perkins was acquired late last season and has been an improvement in goal over the unhappy Donovan Ricketts. Under Schallibaum, the 33-year-old Bernier has thrived despite being moved to a more defensive position, and Mapp, a frequent target of fans invective last season, was a standout until sidelined by a recent injury (hes expected back for a game Saturday in New York). Warner and Nyassi have seen their minutes drop from last season, but have played well mainly as substitutes. The extra depth on the roster, including rookie midfielder Blake Smith and sophomore striker Andrew Wenger, has helped overcome some injuries. "Overall, were extremely happy with where we are," said sporting director Nick De Santis. "We know its going to be very hard to stay in first pace. "The objective from Day One was the make the playoffs. And, of course, its important if we can continue getting points and stay up there as well." With the international transfer window opening this week, De Santis said he would look for another "creative" offensive player and some long-term help on defence. Nesta is not expected back next season, and central defender Nelson Rivas missed most of last season and has yet to play in 2013. De Santis wants him on the field soon, if only to test his ailing knees. Claude Giroux Flyers Jersey . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Michael Raffl Jersey . The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. http://www.nhlflyersproauthentic.com/claude-giroux-hockey-jersey/ .com) - Manchester City midfielder David Silva is expected to miss the next four weeks because of a calf problem. NEW YORK -- On Sept. 15, Hanley Ramirez capped a stirring comeback for the Boston Red Sox over the New York Yankees at Fenway Park with a ninth-inning, game-winning home run off Dellin Betances.It began a memorable 11-game winning streak and the Red Sox are now the verge of winning the American League East. Boston will have its first opportunity to clinch Tuesday night when it visits New York for the opener of a three-game series at Yankee Stadium.Before Ramirezs dramatic home run, the Red Sox were 81-64 and led the division by one game. Now the Red Sox are 92-64, six games up and can clinch with either a win or a Toronto Blue Jays loss to Baltimore Tuesday.During this streak, the Red Sox are batting .271 (101-for-373) and their offense has been powered by retiring designated hitter David Ortiz, Ramirez and Mookie Betts.Ortiz is 16-for-39 (.410) with four home runs and 13 RBI while Ramirez is batting .390 (16-for-41) with five home runs and 13 RBI. Betts is hitting .444 (20-for-45) during a 12-game hitting streak.Ortizs latest big hit occurred in the 10th inning of Sundays 3-2 win over the Rays at Tampa Bay when he doubled in Dustin Pedroia. Ortiz has 124 RBI this year and his latest occurred one when Pedroia eluded the tag at the plate several times.That was a crazy play, Ortiz said. I saw Dustin looked like he was dancing around the catcher.The win Sunday gave the Red Sox an eighth straight road victory and a 26-9 mark against divisional opponents since the start of July. The Red Sox have won 11 of 16 meetings with the Yankees, with seven of those coming after July 1.During the four-game sweep at Fenway, Boston batted .378 (14-for-37) and scored 11 times in the seventh inning or later.Besides a potential division title celebration, Ortiz will be playing his final series at New York. Ortiz announced himself as a key figure in the rivalry with two home runs at New York in the AL Championship Series on July 4, 2003 and hasnt stopped hitting Yankees pitching ever since.This year he is batting .315 (17-for-54) with six home runs and 13 RBI against the Yankees. Including the time he spent with the Minnesota Twins, Ortiz has batted .307 (271-for-884) with 53 home runs and 171 RBI in 240 regular-season games against New York.Competing in New York, playing in New York is very special for me, Ortiz told MLB. Eric Lindros Flyers Jersey. com. The fans are very into every inning. You have to be on the tips of your toes because you want to make something happenWhile everything has gone right for the Red Sox in the last two weeks, it has been the opposite for the Yankees. A seven-game winning streak from Sept. 5-10 brought the Yankees back into the AL Wild Card and division races but they have dropped 11 of 15 since.Following a 5-1 win over Tampa Bay on Sept. 10, the Yankees were one game out in the Wild Card race and three games out of first. Now they are 5 1/2 games out of the second Wild Card spot and 12 games behind Boston.Our team has been fighting all year, first baseman Mark Teixeira said. Were probably not going to make the playoffs. Were just going to enjoy ourselves the rest of the year and keep fighting.The Yankees concluded a 3-8 road trip with a wild 7-5 win at Toronto on Monday, which featured two benches-clearing incidents in the early innings. New York wound up getting the win by scoring five times in the ninth on Teixeiras solo home run and a two-run shot by Aaron Hicks.Obviously we got some serious long odds but we have to win, Yankees third baseman Chase Headley said. It felt good to win.David Price will be on the mound for the Red Sox and will be seeking his ninth straight win. Price has a 2.82 ERA in his last nine starts since losing Aug. 7 at Dodger Stadium and kept the streak going by allowing three runs and six hits in seven innings Thursday at Baltimore.Price is 17-8 this season but 1-2 with a 7.71 ERA in four starts against the Yankees this season. Price last faced New York Sept. 17 in Boston and allowed five runs and nine hits in six innings in a no-decision.Luis Cessa will make his eighth start for the Yankees and New York has dropped his last three starts. Cessa took a tough 2-0 loss in Tampa Bay Thursday when he allowed two runs and six hits in six innings.Since entering the rotation Aug. 20, he is 2/3 with a 3.83 ERA and allowed six hits or less in each outing and three runs or less in six of those starts. Home runs have been an issue for Cessa as 22 of the 30 runs he has allowed have come on 15 homers. ' ' '