h pass bounced in front of Cedric and str | Forum

PHOENIX - The Arizona Diamondbacks have made an art of the comeback, rallying for victories 30 times in their first 112 games. Custom Miami Marlins Jerseys . No. 31 may have been the most impressive — and improbable — of the bunch. Martin Prado hit a two-run single in the eighth after Arizona blew a three-run lead the inning before, helping the Diamondbacks rally for a 9-8 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night. "Thats who we are, what we are," Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said. It was a wild game from the start, featuring 28 combined hits, 12 pitchers and a team-record six double plays by Arizona. Tampa Bay went up 3-0 in the first inning. Arizona rallied against the Rays bullpen after starter Chris Archer left in the second, taking a 7-4 lead by the fifth. Tampa Bay fought back, scoring four runs in the seventh on two-run hits by Evan Longoria and pinch-hitter Sam Fuld. J.J. Putz (3-1) gave Arizona a chance with a scoreless eighth inning and Arizona took its turn in the bottom half, loading the bases against Joel Peralta (1-5) and Fernando Rodney. Prado followed with his two-run single to right and Brad Ziegler worked around two baserunners in the ninth for his seventh save, completing Arizonas 22nd win in its last at-bat. "The one thing we can be consistent with is go all the way through, 27 outs," said Prado, who had four RBIs and four of Arizonas 12 hits. "This team, every single guy is ready to go up there." The Rays had 16 hits, fought back after Archer went out with forearm stiffness and were up 8-7 after their four-run seventh. They just couldnt match the Diamondbacks hit for hit, losing their first series since June 18-19 at Boston and consecutive road games for the first time since June 21-22 at the Yankees. "It was very difficult because we played hard," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "We definitely played hard tonight and well enough to win it. Our bullpen was just not normal tonight. Beyond all the double plays, etc., our bullpen is usually more lockdown than that." The Rays got off to a good start, scoring three runs in the first inning off Randall Delgado, capped by Yunel Escobars two-run double. Archer, the ALs pitcher of the month in July, gave up a run on Paul Goldschmidts RBI single in the first inning and got two outs in the second before leaving after throwing three pitches to Didi Gregorius. Archer was taken out for precautionary reasons and said he didnt think it was anything serious. "I am glad they are cautious with me, thinking about the future and hopefully it just dissolves and my next start I am out there at normal game speed," Archer said. The games speed picked up from there. Arizona took advantage of Tampa Bays bullpen, scoring three runs in the third and fifth innings. Prado hit a two-run homer off Alex Torres in the third and Aaron Hill followed a two-run double. In the fifth, Chavez had a run-scoring single, Hill another run-scoring double and Wil Nieves had a sacrifice fly that made it 7-4. The Rays took their turn against Arizonas bullpen once Delgado was gone, loading the bases against Josh Collmenter in the seventh inning. Longoria followed with a two-run double off Will Harris, and Fuld, who replaced Wil Myers (asthma symptoms), put the Rays up 8-7 with a two-run flare single to left off Joe Thatcher. Problem was, the Diamondbacks still had outs left. Arizona rallied in the eighth to set up Prados hit and Ziegler induced a game-ending double play after Tampa Bay put two on with one out in the ninth, finishing off the two-game sweep. "This is one of those games that tells you that you can go out there and finish strong," Prado said. "Thats what were looking for." Notes: Gregorius made a spectacular diving stop at shortstop on a grounder by Escobar in the fourth inning, throwing from his knees to start a double play. ... Myers singled in the first inning and has reached base in 21 straight games, second-longest by a Tampa Bay rookie behind Rocco Baldellis 24 games in 2003. ... The Rays will have their third of four off days in a span of 12 days on Thursday before David Price faces the Dodgers Chris Capuano on Friday. ... The Diamondbacks have Thursday off before left-hander Patrick Corbin goes for his 14th win of the season in the opener of a three-game series against the Mets on Friday. Wholesale Marlins Jerseys . Dallas hasnt ruled out the star quarterback for Sunday nights game against Philadelphia, but all signs point to Romos back injury pushing Kyle Orton into the starting role after two years of limited play as the backup. Surely Ortons name isnt the first that comes to mind for fans wanting a change after years of damaging interceptions, fumbles or, most infamously, the field goal flub when Romo dropped the snap on a kick that could have won his first playoff game in 2006. Miami Marlins Gear . The showiest items on Calgarys lot were forwards Mike Cammalleri and Lee Stempniak. Both will be unrestricted free agents this summer. https://www.cheapmarlinsjerseys.us/ . Aaron Harrison scored a 22 points for Kentucky (6-1), which has won four in a row following a Nov. 12 loss to current No. 1 Michigan State. Julius Randle overcame a scoreless first half and added his sixth double-double in as many games with 14 points and 10 rebounds. PARIS -- Cristiano Ronaldo didnt make the same mistake twice.In a semifinal penalty shoot-out against Spain at the 2012 European Championship, Portugals star played no part.He was fifth in line to step up to the spot. But, by then, the match was already lost. Spain had won the shootout 4-2 and Ronaldo never even got to take his kick.Against Poland on Thursday, Ronaldo was first in line.The end result was a victory that sends Portugal to the semifinals for a fifth time.It will next play the winner of Belgiums match against Wales.Here are five things to know about Portugals quarterfinal win in Marseille.---PORTUGALS NEW STARWith three-time world player of the year Ronaldo nearer the end of his career than the beginning, the search was already on for Portugals next star.Look no further.At just 18, and making only his ninth appearance for the national side, Renato Sanches stole Ronaldos thunder in his first start at the European Championship.Sanches equalizer for Portugal that cancelled out Robert Lewandowskis early goal oozed quality and remarkable self-confidence for a player so young and inexperienced on such a big stage.Sanches both started the move and finished it. Running, full of attacking intent, headlong into the Polish box, he flicked the ball wide to the quick-thinking Nani, who tricked the Polish defense by heeling it straight back to Sanches.Caressing the ball onward with his right foot, Sanches set himself up for a left-footed thump. A touch off Grzegorz Krychowiak made an already tough job nigh impossible for Polish `keeper Lukasz Fabianski, who couldnt get fingers to the ball despite his dive.The goal wasnt Sanches only contribution. The attacking midfielder was all over the pitch. He harassed Polish players and selflessly tracked back -- unlike Ronaldo -- from his right wing to help out with defense and then get Portugal going forward again.Portugals youngest ever player to be called up for a major tournament, surpassing the mark previously held by Ronaldo, is now heading to Bayern Munich, which paid Benfica 35 million euros ($40 million) for him.Could be a bargain.---WHO STOLE THE REAL RONALDO?Before scoring Portugals first penalty in the 5-3 shootout win, Ronaldo had been just a shadow of his usual self.Swinging a left leg at what could have been a match-winning goal in the last minutes of normal time but then missing the ball entirely: Was that Ronaldo or some impostor?That failure to connect with a golden opportunity to break the deadlocked score of 1-1 wasnt Ronaldos only glitch.He squandered a first half chance, scuffing the ball wide. Through on goal again in the second half, he hit into the side netting.And he thumped a free kick from 35 meters out straight into the Polish wall.Had he scored in normal time, Ronaldo would have matched Michel Platinis tournament record of nine European Championship goals.Instead, the accumulated misses made him look human.---RONALDO SHOULD HAVE HAD A PENALTYFelix Brych has mounds of experience, having officiated World Cup, Champions League and other matches. Marlins Jerseys 2019. . But the German referee made a very debatable call in the first half, not awarding what looked like a penalty for Ronaldo.In the heart of the Polish defense, Michal Pazdan stuck to Ronaldo like a shadow. He got too close in the 30th minute, shoving Ronaldo in the back and to the ground as the Portuguese forward prepared to receive Nanis in-bound cross in a threatening position in the box.The Real Madrid stars penalty appeals fell on deaf ears. Ronaldo looked terribly aggrieved, and understandably so.---LIKE HIM, LOATHE HIM, BUT ALSO RESPECT HIMIn the tunnel before kick-off, Portuguese defender Pepe was all sweetness and light, high-fiving the kids who accompanied the players onto the pitch.But the whistle brought the fighter out of him.By far the most experienced player in the Portuguese back line, with more caps (76) than the three other defenders -- Jose Fonte (14); Cedric (13) and Eliseu (18) -- combined, Pepe provided leadership and stability at the back.Few players divide opinion quite like the Real Madrid defender, notorious for his gamesmanship.But he was on his best behavior against Poland.He got a leg to a dangerous first-half shot from Arkadiusz Milik, diverting it away.He used his body to thwart Krychowiak as the midfielder made a scorching second-half run for the Portuguese area.Most important, his cool head and instructions to other players helped the team recover after Lewandowski scored the second-fastest goal in tournament history, just 100 seconds into the match.---PORTUGALS WEAK LINK:Poland quickly found a soft spot in Portugals defense, and exploited it ruthlessly.At 24, Cedric Soares was the youngest player in the Portuguese back four and the defender with the least national team experience.Polish winger Kamil Grosicki targeted the right-back with his first foray into Portugals half, collecting a pass from Lewandowski and then using his superior speed to overhaul the Southampton defender, who just -- but only just -- managed to get a foot to the ball and kick away the danger.It was an early warning for what happened seconds later: A long Polish pass bounced in front of Cedric and straight over his head to Grosicki, who was lurking behind him and then tore away downfield to center a cross to Lewandowski.The Bayern Munich striker scored with his first touch, right-footing the ball into the Portuguese netIt was Lewandowskis first goal in 645 minutes of European Championship football, since he scored against Greece in Polands first match of Euro 2012.----John Leicester is an international sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at jleicester(at)ap.org or follow him at http://twitter.com/johnleicester ' ' '