Uncle Greg's forum » , usually a substitute, made his firs

CLEARWATER, Fla. Mike Nugent Jersey . -- Jose Bautista hit a long home run off Roberto Hernandez three batters into the game, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-3 Wednesday in rain-shortened spring training opener for both teams. Bautistas home run landed outside of the ballpark at Bright House Field. The game was called in the middle of the seventh inning. "It felt pretty good, I cant deny that," Bautista said. "More importantly I felt like I was seeing the ball great. I havent been playing for a while so thats a positive." Bautista missed the last six weeks of the season with a hip injury, the second straight year in which he ended the season on the disabled list. He hit 28 home runs in 2013 after reaching 27 the year before. He was 1 for 2 with a walk and two runs scored Wednesday. Ryan Howard and Marlon Byrd each had run-scoring singles off former Phillies left-hander J.A. Happ in the bottom of the first. STARTING TIME Phillies: Hernandez, making his Phillies debut, allowed two runs on four hits in two innings. He is the front runner for the fifth starters job after signing a one-year, $4.5 million contract as a free agent this winter. "When I face him I try to throw changeups and sinkers down," Hernandez said of the home run to Bautista. "But today I got down in the count and had to throw it down the middle. I missed up." Blue Jays: Happ struggled in his only inning against his former team. Although he ended up striking out the side, he gave up four hits and a walk in facing eight batters. Happ finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2009, when he went 12-4 with a 2.93 ERA. Happ was 5-7 with a 4.56 ERA in 18 starts with the Blue Jays last season. TRAINERS ROOM Philadelphia left-hander Cole Hamels threw off the mound for the first time this spring. The 30-year-old Hamels entered camp behind the rest of the pitchers after experiencing biceps soreness in November. Hamels will throw another side session on Saturday and isnt likely to pitch in a Grapefruit League game for another two weeks. HOWARDS END Howard got off to a fast start, singling in a run in the bottom of first. The Phillies first baseman played only 80 games last year because of knee problems. Manager Ryne Sandberg is impressed with Howards progress. "I really like Howards aggressiveness early in the count with men on base," Sandberg said. KNUCKLED Cliff Lee will make his first start of the spring on Thursday, when the Phillies take on the Blue Jays for the second straight day, this time in Dunedin. But several Phillies regulars will not be in the lineup, including Howard, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley. Toronto is starting knuckleball pitcher R.A. Dickey. But Sandberg says hes not sitting his regulars because of Dickeys unusual pitch. "I dont think that comes into play that much," Sandberg said. "If they keep it simple, it comes down to see the ball and hit it." Andre Tippett Jersey . With Bernard hurt, the second-round pick has emerged.Hill ran for 152 yards during a 27-10 win at New Orleans on Sunday, his second big game. He also ran for 154 yards against Jacksonville earlier this season. Adam Butler Jersey .She struggled with a hacking cough, she was sick, and she twice celebrated too early, but she held her composure in a 6-3, 7-6 (5) victory on Saturday.On her third match point, she let her racket go before hearing a let call to what she thought was an ace. https://www.patriotsjerseysale.com/1801p-junior-seau-jersey-patriots.html . -- Among the 31 players at the Montreal Canadiens rookie camp, none feels closer to cracking the NHL roster than right winger Aaron Palushaj. VANCOUVER -- The Vancouver Whitecaps couldnt stop Landon Donovan when they needed to Saturday night. Donovans goal in just the third minute gave the Los Angeles Galaxy a 1-0 win over the Whitecaps before a disappointed sellout crowd of 21,000 at B.C. Place Stadium. The marker came on his only shot of the game, which was also L.A.s only attempt on target. The Whitecaps made a strong second-half rally, but could not get the equalizer after being denied on two back-to-back chances. "It was obviously a bad start, the worst start you could have got, with the goal so early," said Whitecaps coach Martin Rennie. "That was disappointing. "But after that, I thought that we played well. We got forward and created a number of good chances." The Galaxy (12-9-4) posted their fifth straight victory and secured sole possession of second place in the tight Western Conference. The Whitecaps (10-9-6) suffered their second consecutive loss as their hold on the fifth and final playoff berth became more tenuous. "You end up on the wrong end of a 1-0 (loss), but I dont feel like we played badly tonight," said Rennie. "I feel like L.A.s probably the best team in MLS. Whether thats the case or not remains to be seen, but thats my opinion." The Whitecaps suffered just their second loss in 13 games at home this season. "Thats the type of game that champions win," said Donovan. "We know when the playoffs come, hopefully, thats what games might look like. That was a huge performance today." Donovan scored his fourth goal in three games after A.J. DeLaGarzas pass hit Whitecaps central defender Johnny Leveron and came to him. The Galaxy captain planted a high shot in the left corner of the net over Whitecaps goalkeeper David Ousted. "It helps a lot when youre on the road," said Donovan of the early goal. "It puts your team in a really good position, and even if they score a goal, youre back where you started, so its a nice way to start a game. "We can play a little more cautiously and just worry about defending and trying to counter -- and it really played to our advantage tonight." Donovan needs four more goals to become the all-time leading scorer in MLS history. L.A. goalkeeper Jaime Penedo recorded his first MLS shutout in only his second career league appearance and third overall appearance with the Galaxy. Usually, prolific offensively at home, Vancouvers offence struggled most of the first half and missed striker Camilo, who entered the game tied for the MLS scoring lead with 14 goals. He spent the game on the bench after determining he could not play due to a slight groin strain sustained last weekend against Colorado. "So that was disappointing," said Rennie. "And, obviously, in a game like that today that was really tight, a player like Camilo is someone who could make a difference and could perhaps get us a goal." The sit ended Camilos string of 17 consecutive starts in league games dating to April 27. Rennie said the club did not waant to risk further injury by putting him in, and expects him to be back soon. Nate Ebner Jersey. Darren Mattocks, who recently returned from a knee injury that required minor surgery, started in his place. It was the Jamaican internationals first start since the last meeting between L.A. and Vancouver at B.C. Place on May 11, when he scored. But he did not do much, rarely touching the ball before subbing out in the second half. Meanwhile, central defender Andy OBrien started his first game since suffering a hamstring injury June 8 in Seattle. Vancouvers revised back line was victimized early as Donovan opened the scoring from about 20 yards out. L.A. ultimately clinched the win after the Whitecaps were denied on back-to-back chances in the 82nd minute. Second-half substitute Kekuta Manneh hit the post in a sequence following a Vancouver corner-kick. Then L.A. goalkeeper Penedo, who signed with the Galaxy after starring for Panama at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, dove back the other way and made a miraculous save on Jordan Harveys shot off the rebound. "To get back like that for a huge save was unbelievable," added L.A. midfielder Robbie Keane. "Thats a world-class save." Mannehs insertion after halftime ignited Vancouvers dormant offence. The Whitecaps finished with 12 attempts on goal -- nine on target -- during their second-half rally. L.A. had nine attempts on goal, but only two in the second half. Penedo recorded five saves, including four in the second half while Vancouver counterpart Ousted did not get credit for a single stop. "It was a grind-out road victory, one that we havent had all year, so it was good to get one," said L.A. coach Bruce Arena. Donovan, who is playing in the final year of his contract, took exception to Rennies comment Friday that the American star is extra-motivated as he seeks a new deal. "Ive been motivated my whole life, and I think people are quick to forget what people have done," said Donovan. "Were back-to-back MLS champions. I scored the game-winning goal in both games, so I think Im pretty motivated." Notes: Keane and Donovan criticized the quality of the B.C. Place Stadium artificial turf which, barring a change, is slated for use in the 2015 Womens World Cup. ... Whitecaps captain Jay DeMerit, close to returning from a torn Achilles tendon suffered early in the first game of the season, did not dress. He could get a game with Vancouvers reserve squad before returning to MLS action. DeMerit, a 33-year-old Green Bay, Wisc., native, is scheduled to marry Canadian 2010 ski cross gold medallist Ashleigh McIvor in Whistler, B.C., on Sunday. ... Like the Whitecaps, the Galaxy has started three different goalkeepers this season. Its the third consecutive season that L.A. has deployed three goalkeepers. Colorado, Real Salt Lake and Seattle have also given three different goalkeepers starting assignments. ... Whitecaps midfielder Matt Watson, usually a substitute, made his first start since July 3 against Kansas City before subbing out for Manneh. ' ' '