The Portland Timbers shored up their defence with the acquisition of veteran centre back Nat Borchers and now wait to see the outcome of Wednesdays MLS Expansion Draft. Ryan Kerrigan Jersey .The trade for Borchers was one of several player moves the Timbers made on Monday during the leagues half-day trade window. Portland also signed Ghanaian goalkeeper Adam Larsen Kwarasey from the Norwegian Premier League, Colombian winger/forward Dairon Asprilla, and Brazilian defender Jeanderson Salvador Pereira.The Timbers sent allocation money to Real Salt Lake in exchange for Borchers, a starter who was a key contributor to the 2009 MLS Cup-winning team.Borchers, a two-time MLS defender of the year, was a fixture for RSL for the past seven seasons. Hell help a Timbers team that gave up 52 goals in 24 matches last season.Hell bring some specific things that we feel are important in adding to our team, coach Caleb Porter said Tuesday during a conference call with reporters. Hes very focused. Hes disciplined. His mentality is second to none. Having that type of player in our back line, game in and game out, we think will help our chances of defending better, which will help our chances of getting more points.In an interview with The Salt Lake Tribune, general manager Garth Lagerwey said Borchers would have undoubtedly been snatched up in the expansion draft. But three teams were interested, so RSL let the hard-nosed 33-year-old defender choose where he wanted to go.Borchers posted his thanks to the team and Salt Lake City on his Facebook page.Im grateful to ownership, to the front office, and to the coaching staff. Thanks to the Utah community for always being so good to me and my family. Thanks to my teammates for their belief in me. Finally, thanks to the RSL fans who always had our backs — win or lose. This is a special place and Ill miss you all dearly, he wrote.The Timbers also traded defender Michael Harrington to the Colorado Rapids for allocation money. An eight-year MLS veteran, Harrington appeared in 25 matches last season with two assists.The team exercised the purchase option on defender Alvas Powell from his Jamaican club and signed him to a long-term deal, while picking up the 2015 contract options on midfielders George Fochive, Michael Nanchoff, Rodney Wallace and Ben Zemanski, defender Taylor Peay and goalkeepers Jake Gleeson and Andrew Weber.The team re-signed defender Jorge Villafana, who was out of contract.Portland could only protect 11 players on its roster ahead of Wednesdays expansion draft, during which Orlando City SC and New York FC will build their clubs.Left unprotected were goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, Villafana and forward Gaston Fernandez.We dont want to lose anyone, but you have to be smart, the best you can in putting out a list that will not leave yourself exposed, Porter said. Alex Smith Jersey . Mickelson shot a 2-under 70 after opening with a 77 -- his worst score of the season -- on TPC San Antonios AT&T Oaks Course. Lefty was 11 strokes behind leader Steven Bowditch, the Australian who had a 67 to reach 8-under 136. Geron Christian Jersey . Although head coach Randy Carlyle jokingly wondered how much actual training Bolland got done while in London. "I dont know how much training goes on when you go back to the junior team that you played for so I wouldnt read too much into that," laughed Carlyle after the Maple Leafs were put through an up-tempo practice that concluded with a 10-minute bag skate on Thursday.PITTSBURGH -- It looked like Alfredo Simons bubble was about to burst. After being one of the biggest surprises of the young season for the Cincinnati Reds by ably filling in for injured starting pitcher Mat Latos, Simon hit a rough patch in the first inning Wednesday night. He walked three batters in a row to force in a run. Then, just like that, the right-hander went back to being dominant, pitching into the seventh inning despite the erratic early control, and Jay Bruce drove in a run for a fifth consecutive game as the Reds beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2. "It was cold and I was having a hard time feeling the ball," said Simon, pitching on a blustery night when the game-time temperature was 50 degrees. "After that first inning, I felt a lot better and pitched like Ive been pitching. Simon (3-1) worked 6 2-3 innings and allowed two runs on four hits and five walks while striking out four. Simon has pitched at least six innings in each of his four starts this season as a replacement for the injured Mat Latos and has a 1.30 ERA. Simon pitched exclusively in relief the previous two years. "Hes been terrific," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "Hes been an extremely versatile pitcher for us the last two-plus seasons. Hes always been a talented guy, but hes really found himself and made himself into a very good-looking starting pitcher." Bruce had two hits and knocked in the final run of the decisive three-run fifth inning against Charlie Morton (0-3) that gave the Reds a 4-2 lead. Billy Hamilton also had two hits for Cincinnati, which stole four bases while winning seven of 10 games since a 3-7 start. "We took advantage of what we could because this is team that might not give you a lot most nights," Bruce said. "We tried to put some pressure on the defence." Jonathan Broxton pitched a scoreless ninth inning, despite allowing two hits, for his third save. Andrew&nbssp;McCutchen had two hits and homered for the third consecutive night for the Pirates, who lost for the 10th time in 13 games. Sammy Baugh Jersey. Morton also had control issues, walking five in six innings while giving up four runs -- three earned -- and four hits with four strikeouts. "I was yanking my fastball all night," he said. "There were times were I was trying to go inside on left-handed hitters and missing in the right-handed batters box. I was literally missing by 3 feet." The Reds used their speed to go ahead in a fifth inning that included two stolen bases and the second throwing error of the game by catcher Chris Stewart. NOTES: Pittsburgh C Russell Martin was a late scratch because of a miscommunication. Martin, who is 0-for-7 against Simon, thought he was getting Wednesday off while manager Clint Hurdle thought he and Martin had decided Thursday would be an off day. ... Reds LHP Aroldis Chapman threw early batting practice, the first time he had faced hitters since suffering fractures of his eye and nose along with a mild concussion March 19 when he was hit by a line drive off the bat of Kansas Citys Salvador Perez. Chapman pitched from behind a protective screen and the next step is for him to throw batting practice without the screen sometime this weekend when the Reds visit Atlanta. ... Cincinnati INF/OF Skip Schumaker will report to the Reds extended spring training camp on Friday at Goodyear, Ariz., as he continues to rehab the left shoulder he dislocated while diving for a ball in the outfield during a spring training game March 21. ... Pittsburgh 1B Travis Ishikawa cleared waivers and elected free agency after declining an outright assignment to Triple-A Indianapolis. He was designated for assignment last Friday. ... The Pirates will recall RHP Brandon Cumpton from Indianapolis to start Thursday against LHP Tony Cingrani (1-2, 3.22) in the finale of the four-game series. Wholesale China Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Authentic Jerseys Nike NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Nike Basketball Jerseys Hockey Jerseys China Supply Baseball Jerseys Football Jerseys Sale Authentic College Jerseys MLB Jerseys China Stitched Soccer Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap Nike Jerseys ' ' '
The Portland Timbers shored up their defence with the acquisition of veteran centre back Nat Borchers and now wait to see the outcome of Wednesdays MLS Expansion Draft. Ryan Kerrigan Jersey .The trade for Borchers was one of several player moves the Timbers made on Monday during the leagues half-day trade window. Portland also signed Ghanaian goalkeeper Adam Larsen Kwarasey from the Norwegian Premier League, Colombian winger/forward Dairon Asprilla, and Brazilian defender Jeanderson Salvador Pereira.The Timbers sent allocation money to Real Salt Lake in exchange for Borchers, a starter who was a key contributor to the 2009 MLS Cup-winning team.Borchers, a two-time MLS defender of the year, was a fixture for RSL for the past seven seasons. Hell help a Timbers team that gave up 52 goals in 24 matches last season.Hell bring some specific things that we feel are important in adding to our team, coach Caleb Porter said Tuesday during a conference call with reporters. Hes very focused. Hes disciplined. His mentality is second to none. Having that type of player in our back line, game in and game out, we think will help our chances of defending better, which will help our chances of getting more points.In an interview with The Salt Lake Tribune, general manager Garth Lagerwey said Borchers would have undoubtedly been snatched up in the expansion draft. But three teams were interested, so RSL let the hard-nosed 33-year-old defender choose where he wanted to go.Borchers posted his thanks to the team and Salt Lake City on his Facebook page.Im grateful to ownership, to the front office, and to the coaching staff. Thanks to the Utah community for always being so good to me and my family. Thanks to my teammates for their belief in me. Finally, thanks to the RSL fans who always had our backs — win or lose. This is a special place and Ill miss you all dearly, he wrote.The Timbers also traded defender Michael Harrington to the Colorado Rapids for allocation money. An eight-year MLS veteran, Harrington appeared in 25 matches last season with two assists.The team exercised the purchase option on defender Alvas Powell from his Jamaican club and signed him to a long-term deal, while picking up the 2015 contract options on midfielders George Fochive, Michael Nanchoff, Rodney Wallace and Ben Zemanski, defender Taylor Peay and goalkeepers Jake Gleeson and Andrew Weber.The team re-signed defender Jorge Villafana, who was out of contract.Portland could only protect 11 players on its roster ahead of Wednesdays expansion draft, during which Orlando City SC and New York FC will build their clubs.Left unprotected were goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, Villafana and forward Gaston Fernandez.We dont want to lose anyone, but you have to be smart, the best you can in putting out a list that will not leave yourself exposed, Porter said. Alex Smith Jersey . Mickelson shot a 2-under 70 after opening with a 77 -- his worst score of the season -- on TPC San Antonios AT&T Oaks Course. Lefty was 11 strokes behind leader Steven Bowditch, the Australian who had a 67 to reach 8-under 136. Geron Christian Jersey . Although head coach Randy Carlyle jokingly wondered how much actual training Bolland got done while in London. "I dont know how much training goes on when you go back to the junior team that you played for so I wouldnt read too much into that," laughed Carlyle after the Maple Leafs were put through an up-tempo practice that concluded with a 10-minute bag skate on Thursday.PITTSBURGH -- It looked like Alfredo Simons bubble was about to burst. After being one of the biggest surprises of the young season for the Cincinnati Reds by ably filling in for injured starting pitcher Mat Latos, Simon hit a rough patch in the first inning Wednesday night. He walked three batters in a row to force in a run. Then, just like that, the right-hander went back to being dominant, pitching into the seventh inning despite the erratic early control, and Jay Bruce drove in a run for a fifth consecutive game as the Reds beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2. "It was cold and I was having a hard time feeling the ball," said Simon, pitching on a blustery night when the game-time temperature was 50 degrees. "After that first inning, I felt a lot better and pitched like Ive been pitching. Simon (3-1) worked 6 2-3 innings and allowed two runs on four hits and five walks while striking out four. Simon has pitched at least six innings in each of his four starts this season as a replacement for the injured Mat Latos and has a 1.30 ERA. Simon pitched exclusively in relief the previous two years. "Hes been terrific," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "Hes been an extremely versatile pitcher for us the last two-plus seasons. Hes always been a talented guy, but hes really found himself and made himself into a very good-looking starting pitcher." Bruce had two hits and knocked in the final run of the decisive three-run fifth inning against Charlie Morton (0-3) that gave the Reds a 4-2 lead. Billy Hamilton also had two hits for Cincinnati, which stole four bases while winning seven of 10 games since a 3-7 start. "We took advantage of what we could because this is team that might not give you a lot most nights," Bruce said. "We tried to put some pressure on the defence." Jonathan Broxton pitched a scoreless ninth inning, despite allowing two hits, for his third save. Andrew&nbssp;McCutchen had two hits and homered for the third consecutive night for the Pirates, who lost for the 10th time in 13 games. Sammy Baugh Jersey. Morton also had control issues, walking five in six innings while giving up four runs -- three earned -- and four hits with four strikeouts. "I was yanking my fastball all night," he said. "There were times were I was trying to go inside on left-handed hitters and missing in the right-handed batters box. I was literally missing by 3 feet." The Reds used their speed to go ahead in a fifth inning that included two stolen bases and the second throwing error of the game by catcher Chris Stewart. NOTES: Pittsburgh C Russell Martin was a late scratch because of a miscommunication. Martin, who is 0-for-7 against Simon, thought he was getting Wednesday off while manager Clint Hurdle thought he and Martin had decided Thursday would be an off day. ... Reds LHP Aroldis Chapman threw early batting practice, the first time he had faced hitters since suffering fractures of his eye and nose along with a mild concussion March 19 when he was hit by a line drive off the bat of Kansas Citys Salvador Perez. Chapman pitched from behind a protective screen and the next step is for him to throw batting practice without the screen sometime this weekend when the Reds visit Atlanta. ... Cincinnati INF/OF Skip Schumaker will report to the Reds extended spring training camp on Friday at Goodyear, Ariz., as he continues to rehab the left shoulder he dislocated while diving for a ball in the outfield during a spring training game March 21. ... Pittsburgh 1B Travis Ishikawa cleared waivers and elected free agency after declining an outright assignment to Triple-A Indianapolis. He was designated for assignment last Friday. ... The Pirates will recall RHP Brandon Cumpton from Indianapolis to start Thursday against LHP Tony Cingrani (1-2, 3.22) in the finale of the four-game series. Wholesale China Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Authentic Jerseys Nike NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Nike Basketball Jerseys Hockey Jerseys China Supply Baseball Jerseys Football Jerseys Sale Authentic College Jerseys MLB Jerseys China Stitched Soccer Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap Nike Jerseys ' ' '
