TORONTO -- Sebastian Giovinco scored three goals and added an assist to break out of an eight-game scoring drought in Toronto FCs 4-1 victory over D. Carlos Martinez .C. United 4-1 on Saturday night.The Italian star put in a show in front of 26,349 fans on a steamy night at BMO Field. Two goals came on free kicks 18 minutes apart in the first half, with the third coming in second-half stoppage time as he poked home Mark Blooms cross to up his goals total to 11 this season.Giovinco had not scored in league play in more than two months -- 70 days to be exact -- since scoring twice in a 4-3 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps on May 14.Marky Delgado also scored for Toronto (6-7-6)Jeffrey scored for D.C. United (5-7-7).IMPACT 5. UNION 1MONTREAL -- Didier Drogba broke out with a hat trick to lead the Montreal Impact to a 5-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union on Saturday night.The 38-year-old Ivorian striker hadnt scored since May 28. He returned last week after missing three games with a thigh injury.Ignacio Piatti returned after sitting out a one-game suspension to score a goal and add two assists. Recent signing Matteo Mancuso, who went in for Drogba in the 79th minute, added his first MLS goal.Montreal improved to 7-5-8.Chris Pontius scored for Philadelphia (8-7-6).GALAXY 2, TIMBERS 1PORTLAND, Ore. -- Robbie Keane and Gyasi Zardes scored in the opening 11 minutes and Los Angeles eat Portland to snap the Timbers nine-game undefeated streak.The Galaxy (3-8) have won fourth straight victory in Major League Soccer play.Zarek Valentin scored for Portland (7-7-8). The Timbers were stung when they lost veteran defender Nat Borchers to what appeared to be a left ankle injury late in the first half. Borchers was a key piece to the Timbers team that won the MLS Cup last season.The Timbers were already without defender Liam Ridgewell, who has a strained right calf and will also miss the MLS All-Star Game against Arsenal next week in San Jose.ORLANDO CITY 2, CREW 2, TIECOLUMBUS, Ohio -- Kevin Molino scored in the 65th minute and assisted on Cyle Larins goal in the 70th to help Orlando City tie Columbus.Orlando City (4-5-11) pulled within one when Kakas corner resulted in a loose ball scramble in front of the goal that Molino finally punched it in. Five minutes later, Molinos wide cross found Larin for a header from the top of the 6-yard box.Tony Tchani and Ola Kamara had first-half goals for Columbus (3-7-10).REVOLUTION 1, FIRE 0FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Je-Vaughn Watson scored on a header in the 85th minute to lift New England past Chicago.Bobby Shuttleworth earned his fifth shutout of the season for New England (6-7-6).Chicago dropped to 4-10-5. John Brebbia . Rousey will put her perfect 8-0 record and hardware on the line against another undefeated fighter, 7-0 Sara McMann in the main event of UFC 170, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas Nevada on February 22nd. Adolis Garcia . There was no hesitation from the 40th-ranked Pospisil, from Vernon, B.C., who admitted that he cut back on his training sessions over the last few days to conserve energy as the long ATP season finishes next week at the Paris Masters. http://www.custommlbcardinalsjersey.com/custom-dizzy-dean-jersey-large-291q.html . Uniteds eighth defeat of a wretched campaign means Liverpool, which currently occupies the fourth and final Champions League place, could go nine points clear of its fierce rival by beating West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. Charlie Adam scored both of Stokes goals at Britannia Stadium either side of Robin van Persies equalizer, with a miserable day for seventh-place United capped by first-half injuries to centre halves Jonny Evans and Phil Jones that forced them off. HOUSTON -- Houstons struggles against Texas might cost the Astros a playoff spot.Ken Giles allowed two runs in the ninth inning of the Astros 3-2 loss to the Rangers on Tuesday night. Giles had converted nine consecutive save opportunities.Houston (75-70) has won just three times in 18 games against Texas this year. It is 4 1/2 games back of Toronto and Baltimore for the top spot in the wild-card standings.Ive seen and been in some tough ones, Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. This ones pretty hard. We had every chance to win the game and obviously strange things happen when we play these guys.Giles trouble started when Rougned Odor reached on a wild pitch after striking out with one out. He swiped second and scored on Elvis Andrus two-out triple. Jurickson Profar followed with a tiebreaking RBI single.Things didnt go our way, go my way, Giles said. Its my responsibility to shut the guys down. I didnt do my job today. I take full responsibility for that. I didnt make the pitches when I needed to so Im just going to take the good from the bad and just bounce back for the guys next time.It was the first blown save for Giles (2-4) since June 18 against Cincinnati. Alex Claudio (4-1) pitched the eighth for the win, and Tanner Scheppers worked a perfect ninth for his first save.These guys play complete games across the way and we havent been able to solve them, Hinch said.Jose Altuve homered in the fourth and Jason Castro connected in the sixth, sending a drive to the upper deck in right field to give the Astros a 2-1 lead.Adrian Beltre led off the second with his 30th homer for AL West-leading Texas (87-59). Beltre fell to a knee after swinging, but his towering shot traveled all the way to the Crawford Boxes in left.Houston right-hhander Brad Peacock allowed three hits in six innings. Vada Pinson. He retired his last 10 batters.Texas right-hander A.J. Griffin also pitched well, striking out seven in a season-long seven innings. Griffin has allowed 26 homers this season and seven over his three September starts.TRAINERS ROOMAstros: LHP Dallas Keuchel, who hasnt pitched since Aug. 27 because of inflammation in his left shoulder, probably will not throw Wednesday, Hinch said. We are going to go day to day and see if we can increase any type of activity, but his target date is a little gray area than anything else, Hinch said.WATCH YOUR STEPOn Evan Gattis towering popup in the fifth, Andrus came in from shortstop and walked up the back of the pitchers mound. As he made the catch, Andrus appeared to trip on the top of the mound and fell, but hung on to the ball.Altuve also lost his footing during the game, but his fall did not have a good result. Altuve hit an infield single off third base in the sixth that was fielded by Andrus. Altuve made a wide turn around first and slipped in the dirt about 15 feet past first. Andrus double-pumped and then fired to first as Altuve had issues getting his footing back and was tagged out.UP NEXTRangers: LHP Derek Holland (7-7) will start Wednesday instead of RHP Yu Darvish, manager Jeff Banister said following Tuesdays game. Darvish will move behind LHP Cole Hamels in the rotation and start Saturday.Astros: RP Joe Musgrove (2-4) will take the mound Wednesday night for the Astros looking to repeat the success he had in his last start Friday against the Cubs when he allowed two runs in six innings. ' ' '
TORONTO -- Sebastian Giovinco scored three goals and added an assist to break out of an eight-game scoring drought in Toronto FCs 4-1 victory over D. Carlos Martinez .C. United 4-1 on Saturday night.The Italian star put in a show in front of 26,349 fans on a steamy night at BMO Field. Two goals came on free kicks 18 minutes apart in the first half, with the third coming in second-half stoppage time as he poked home Mark Blooms cross to up his goals total to 11 this season.Giovinco had not scored in league play in more than two months -- 70 days to be exact -- since scoring twice in a 4-3 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps on May 14.Marky Delgado also scored for Toronto (6-7-6)Jeffrey scored for D.C. United (5-7-7).IMPACT 5. UNION 1MONTREAL -- Didier Drogba broke out with a hat trick to lead the Montreal Impact to a 5-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union on Saturday night.The 38-year-old Ivorian striker hadnt scored since May 28. He returned last week after missing three games with a thigh injury.Ignacio Piatti returned after sitting out a one-game suspension to score a goal and add two assists. Recent signing Matteo Mancuso, who went in for Drogba in the 79th minute, added his first MLS goal.Montreal improved to 7-5-8.Chris Pontius scored for Philadelphia (8-7-6).GALAXY 2, TIMBERS 1PORTLAND, Ore. -- Robbie Keane and Gyasi Zardes scored in the opening 11 minutes and Los Angeles eat Portland to snap the Timbers nine-game undefeated streak.The Galaxy (3-8) have won fourth straight victory in Major League Soccer play.Zarek Valentin scored for Portland (7-7-8). The Timbers were stung when they lost veteran defender Nat Borchers to what appeared to be a left ankle injury late in the first half. Borchers was a key piece to the Timbers team that won the MLS Cup last season.The Timbers were already without defender Liam Ridgewell, who has a strained right calf and will also miss the MLS All-Star Game against Arsenal next week in San Jose.ORLANDO CITY 2, CREW 2, TIECOLUMBUS, Ohio -- Kevin Molino scored in the 65th minute and assisted on Cyle Larins goal in the 70th to help Orlando City tie Columbus.Orlando City (4-5-11) pulled within one when Kakas corner resulted in a loose ball scramble in front of the goal that Molino finally punched it in. Five minutes later, Molinos wide cross found Larin for a header from the top of the 6-yard box.Tony Tchani and Ola Kamara had first-half goals for Columbus (3-7-10).REVOLUTION 1, FIRE 0FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Je-Vaughn Watson scored on a header in the 85th minute to lift New England past Chicago.Bobby Shuttleworth earned his fifth shutout of the season for New England (6-7-6).Chicago dropped to 4-10-5. John Brebbia . Rousey will put her perfect 8-0 record and hardware on the line against another undefeated fighter, 7-0 Sara McMann in the main event of UFC 170, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas Nevada on February 22nd. Adolis Garcia . There was no hesitation from the 40th-ranked Pospisil, from Vernon, B.C., who admitted that he cut back on his training sessions over the last few days to conserve energy as the long ATP season finishes next week at the Paris Masters. http://www.custommlbcardinalsjersey.com/custom-dizzy-dean-jersey-large-291q.html . Uniteds eighth defeat of a wretched campaign means Liverpool, which currently occupies the fourth and final Champions League place, could go nine points clear of its fierce rival by beating West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. Charlie Adam scored both of Stokes goals at Britannia Stadium either side of Robin van Persies equalizer, with a miserable day for seventh-place United capped by first-half injuries to centre halves Jonny Evans and Phil Jones that forced them off. HOUSTON -- Houstons struggles against Texas might cost the Astros a playoff spot.Ken Giles allowed two runs in the ninth inning of the Astros 3-2 loss to the Rangers on Tuesday night. Giles had converted nine consecutive save opportunities.Houston (75-70) has won just three times in 18 games against Texas this year. It is 4 1/2 games back of Toronto and Baltimore for the top spot in the wild-card standings.Ive seen and been in some tough ones, Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. This ones pretty hard. We had every chance to win the game and obviously strange things happen when we play these guys.Giles trouble started when Rougned Odor reached on a wild pitch after striking out with one out. He swiped second and scored on Elvis Andrus two-out triple. Jurickson Profar followed with a tiebreaking RBI single.Things didnt go our way, go my way, Giles said. Its my responsibility to shut the guys down. I didnt do my job today. I take full responsibility for that. I didnt make the pitches when I needed to so Im just going to take the good from the bad and just bounce back for the guys next time.It was the first blown save for Giles (2-4) since June 18 against Cincinnati. Alex Claudio (4-1) pitched the eighth for the win, and Tanner Scheppers worked a perfect ninth for his first save.These guys play complete games across the way and we havent been able to solve them, Hinch said.Jose Altuve homered in the fourth and Jason Castro connected in the sixth, sending a drive to the upper deck in right field to give the Astros a 2-1 lead.Adrian Beltre led off the second with his 30th homer for AL West-leading Texas (87-59). Beltre fell to a knee after swinging, but his towering shot traveled all the way to the Crawford Boxes in left.Houston right-hhander Brad Peacock allowed three hits in six innings. Vada Pinson. He retired his last 10 batters.Texas right-hander A.J. Griffin also pitched well, striking out seven in a season-long seven innings. Griffin has allowed 26 homers this season and seven over his three September starts.TRAINERS ROOMAstros: LHP Dallas Keuchel, who hasnt pitched since Aug. 27 because of inflammation in his left shoulder, probably will not throw Wednesday, Hinch said. We are going to go day to day and see if we can increase any type of activity, but his target date is a little gray area than anything else, Hinch said.WATCH YOUR STEPOn Evan Gattis towering popup in the fifth, Andrus came in from shortstop and walked up the back of the pitchers mound. As he made the catch, Andrus appeared to trip on the top of the mound and fell, but hung on to the ball.Altuve also lost his footing during the game, but his fall did not have a good result. Altuve hit an infield single off third base in the sixth that was fielded by Andrus. Altuve made a wide turn around first and slipped in the dirt about 15 feet past first. Andrus double-pumped and then fired to first as Altuve had issues getting his footing back and was tagged out.UP NEXTRangers: LHP Derek Holland (7-7) will start Wednesday instead of RHP Yu Darvish, manager Jeff Banister said following Tuesdays game. Darvish will move behind LHP Cole Hamels in the rotation and start Saturday.Astros: RP Joe Musgrove (2-4) will take the mound Wednesday night for the Astros looking to repeat the success he had in his last start Friday against the Cubs when he allowed two runs in six innings. ' ' '
