its not about winning, although winnin

WASHINGTON -- A Washington homestand that began with three losses to Atlanta was about to culminate in a six-game winning streak and the Nationals at .500 for the first time since mid-July. One swing of the bat rewrote that happy ending. Pinch-hitter Hector Sanchez hit a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning and the San Francisco Giants beat the Nationals 4-3. Down to his last strike, Sanchez connected off closer Rafael Soriano (2-3) on a 3-2 pitch. The drive landed just inside the right field foul pole in the second deck. "That one hurt. That one hurt," Washington manager Davey Johnson said. The loss kept the Nationals (59-61) from reaching .500 for the first time since July 20. Ian Desmond doubled home two runs and Jayson Werth added two hits for the Nationals. Buster Posey led off the ninth with a single against Soriano and Roger Kieschnick drew a two-out walk. That set the stage for Sanchez, who was pinch hitting for Javier Lopez. Soriano, pitching for the third straight day, got ahead in the count 0-2, but Sanchez worked the count to 3-2 on a pitch that umpire Jim Joyce ruled high, but that Soriano felt was a strike. Sanchez homered on the next offering. "I try to throw (a) cutter in. I think it was a bad pitch," Soriano said of the home run pitch. "At the same time, I think the game (should have been over). That (2-2) pitch, to me, I think it (was) a strike. I think thats when the game changed." Johnson pointed to the walk to Kieschnick. "Basically (Joyce) called the low strike all day and didnt call the high strike. He was consistent with that," Johnson said. "He gave a lot of borderline pitches low. It wasnt that pitch. Walking the left fielder and he had Posey two strikes and threw a hanger. But walking the left fielder." Lopez (2-2) pitched 1 2-3 scoreless innings of relief to earn the win. Sergio Romo worked a scoreless bottom half for his 29th save. The loss spoiled Dan Harens six-inning, one-run effort. Since coming off the 15-day disabled list on July 8, Haren has a 3.20 ERA in seven starts. "Dan did a great job. Hes been great," said Desmond, who reflected on the winning streak. "A lot more positives than negatives, but right now I think were just kind of resting on the negative. Shake that off and well be ready to go tomorrow." Brandon Belt homered for the Giants and extended his hitting streak to 10 games. Ryan Vogelsong allowed three runs in the third inning, all with two outs. San Francisco snapped a three-game losing streak. "It doesnt get any bigger than that. Youre down to your last strike and he hit it," manager Bruce Bochy said one day after a Giants ninth-inning rally fell short in 6-5 loss. "But the boys needed this. To come up short last night after fighting so hard there in the ninth. Save a little sanity here." Vogelsong laboured during a 39-pitch third inning. Desmonds double into the gap in left-centre drove home both Denard Span and Werth. Adam LaRoche then followed with an RBI single to score Desmond and put the Nationals up 3-0. In the seventh inning, LaRoches line drive struck Giants reliever Sandy Rosario in the chest. Rosario immediately left the game and was replaced by Lopez. Bochy said Rosario has a bruised sternum and is day-to-day. San Franciscos struggling offence did little against Haren, who during one stretch allowed just two runners to reach base out of 14 batters. One of those runners came via error and was erased by a double play. Belt snapped that stretch with a home run in the sixth inning to cut the deficit to 3-1. But Haren escaped the inning without further damage. He threw 98 pitches and gave up three hits with two walks and three strikeouts. NOTES: Washington agreed to terms Thursday with international free agent 3B Anderson Franco, 16, of the Dominican Republic. . The Nationals recalled RHP Drew Storen from Triple-A Syracuse and optioned RHP Ryan Mattheus to Syracuse. ... Nationals C Wilson Ramos (strained hamstring) missed his second straight game. Washington manager Davey Johnson said Ramos will return to the lineup Friday in Atlanta. . The Nats begin a three-game series with the NL East-leading Braves. RHP Taylor Jordan (1-3, 4.14) opposes LHP Alex Wood (2-2, 2.78). Discount Yeezy 350 v2 . Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey last Sunday. The fine is the fourth this season for Goldson. He was fined $30,000 for a hit on the New York Jets Jeff Cumberland in Week 1. Air Max 97 Store . Didier Drogba gave away the penalty that put Senegal one goal away from a major upset, but the veteran striker will get another chance -- probably his last -- at the World Cup after Salomon Kalous injury-time strike sealed the Ivorians place in Brazil next year. http://www.cheapshoesstorewholesale.com/ . Isner, ranked No. 14, won his eighth career singles title and took the title in New Zealand for the second time after his victory in 2010. The match was similar to Isners quarterfinal victory over fifth-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber which went to three sets, all tiebreaks and contained no breaks of serve. Cheap Air Max Tn Plus . -- Ohio States Urban Meyer has never had any issue acclimating to the biggest stages in college football. Cheap Air Max 90 Wholesale . 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. SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- It was less than a year ago that the?Dallas Cowboys star rookie duo of running back Ezekiel Elliott and quarterback Dak Prescott were at the NFL Combine attempting to woo potential suitors through myriad tasks testing their mental and physical attributes. Today, the two are starters in the NFL on the current best team in the league, at 8-1, and first-rounder Elliot could challenge for league MVP.On Tuesday at the LCS Arena near the beaches of Los Angeles, 20 League of Legends amateurs began their own journey to write the script of their future careers. Under the support of four NA LCS teams in Immortals, Counter Logic Gaming, Echo Fox and Team Liquid, four teams were born to represent the elemental Drakes inside Summoners Rift: Mountain (IMT), Cloud (CLG), Infernal (FOX) and the aptly dubbed Ocean (TL).These ramshackle squads were represented by members of the team guiding the rookies through the combine. CLGs Ocean, for example, had both captain Zaqueri Aphromoo Black and head coach Tony Zikzlol Gray to shepherd the prospects. From there, the brainy quartet sat down in a private room to commence the drafting portion of the event, dividing the rookies into four even teams. The first overall pick, to Ocean, was jungler Omar OmarGod Amin, who entered the rookie field as one of the favorites to impress in the weeklong test of skills.Following the top selection, AD carry Deftly was selected by Team Infernal, mid laner Tuesday was picked up by Mountain, and another jungler, Wiggily, was scooped up by Liquids Team Ocean to round out the first-round picks.After the draft, the players dispersed into their newly chosen tribes and put on fresh uniforms to begin their quest to be the last team standing at the end of the week. The teams will play through Friday night, and a standout player might find himself earning a contract from one of the observing NA LCS clubs. While the players got to know each other, the first day was essentially up to the teams themselves -- no official matches are scheduled until Wednesday night.A team could have theoretically taken their respective rookies to an amusement park for the day; however, as expected, teams went straight into working, with scrimmages scheduled into the nightt.dddddddddddd Also, each team was partnered with a media crew, and ESPN Esports was selected to cover Team Mountain for the duration of the tournament.While several teams stayed at the LCS Arena studios to play in the scrimmage rooms, Team Mountain trekked to the Immortals team house to get the full experience of playing as professionals. A few players reflected on the feeling of sitting in the chairs of some of the elites in the league, such as former MVP and 2016 all-star Kim Reignover Ui-jin.We only get to train them for so many hours for so many days. We wanted to make sure all of our picks were above average or better, Team Mountain coach and new Immortals strategic head coach David Hermes Tu said after a pair of scrimmages to begin the day. We werent shooting too high, like star players, and we werent shooting too low. We didnt want any problem [players] we couldnt resolve by the end of the week, so I think we started out our draft strong.On what he looks to get out of the experience, he said his teams victories would be his own.[Ill enjoy] hopefully what they will enjoy, which is to make sure they know its not about winning, although winning is nice, Hermes said. It might be their sole experience and being exposed to what professional play is like and whether if they want to do it or not. I hope it gives them a good perspective of what is ahead of them.Although a winner will be crowned at the end of the combine, Hermes preached learning and achieving goals as a unit over taking the top prize. With only four days to play together before the event is over, this could be the one chance these players have to separate themselves from the faceless slew of amateurs in the North American ladder.A team house, dedicated scrims, playing side-by-side with your teammates and a legitimate coaching staff behind you make for an opportunity of a lifetime for Team Mountain.Tuesday, the top pick of the team, is confident he can impress in the mid lane, but itll take a five-man effort to stand above the rest. The official games begin Wednesday, and the hopes of a few prospects will begin to be snuffed out. ' ' '