Suzuki needed five stitches to close a cut after taking

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Kai Forbath spent his first morning in Minnesota at the stadium where hell make his debut with the Vikings, testing his footing on the artificial turf and gawking a bit at the light-filled, luxurious building that will give him the advantage of a controlled climate.Such conditions are every kickers preference. The same goes for the fresh start Forbath will be afforded with his new team and its discouraged fan base.This isnt my first time coming in and replacing someone, said Forbath, who finalized his contract with the Vikings on Wednesday following the teams fourth straight loss and the release of struggling incumbent Blair Walsh.Forbath, whos 69 for 82 on field goals (84.1 percent) and 124 for 127 on extra points (97.6 percent) over his NFL career, also has the benefit of working with fellow UCLA products long snapper Kevin McDermott and punter/holder Jeff Locke.So Im feeling pretty confident going into it, said Forbath, who was part of a six-man tryout group last week before the Vikings decided to give Walsh one more opportunity to escape his slump.Forbath overlapped with McDermott and Locke in the program for three years, and theyre offseason workout partners in Los Angeles along with, coincidentally, Walsh, who missed his league-most fourth extra point last week at Washington.Having been cut by the Redskins one game into the 2015 season, Forbath knew that feeling of sudden job loss.Ive learned the hard way that this is a tough business. I obviously wish him the best, Forbath said, adding: He did really well for a long time. Im just here to take it one kick at a time, and hopefully Ill be here for a long time.Forbath estimated the long end of his field goal range around 57 yards. One of the reasons Washington cited in cutting him last year was a lack of distance on kickoffs, but Forbath said he believes he has improved that skill through experience.Locke handled kickoffs at UCLA, leaving Forbath to focus on extra points and field goals, but the Vikings want Locke to stay solely a punter during what has been a solid season for him.Its nice to have that familiarity especially with a quick change like this, McDermott said.The cold, hard nature of NFL business sure hit the Vikings specialists hard this week.Its vicious sometimes, and its really hard to see people go through it, but hes going to get an opportunity to go somewhere else, McDermott said.I believe that hes going to be successful in the future and hes just an unbelievable guy, so I really have just the utmost respect for him. I consider him one of my closest friends.With the Vikings (5-4) still tied for first place in the NFC North, they werent willing to keep risking victories with missed kicks.It was just something we felt like we needed to do, kind of move forward, coach Mike Zimmer said.Were all accountable for the things we have to get done, and I think we gave him a lot of opportunities. Although Blairs a great kid and it was hard to do, its just part of the business.In a season of an almost unfathomable series of shuffles the Vikings have had to make, its only fitting that theyll have another new left tackle Sunday when they host Arizona.Jake Long had surgery Wednesday on his left Achilles tendon, bringing the total of tackles the Vikings have lost to injury since the week before training camp to five.Zimmer wouldnt reveal who would start against the Cardinals, but left guard Alex Boone sounded as though hell be the one to move so the Vikings can keep T.J. Clemmings at right tackle.Ive played it before, Boone said. I just feel like itd be an easier move for me than T.J., but at the end of the day its up to the coaches.In that scenario, Jeremiah Sirles would move to left guard. He has played every position but center this year.We know everyone thats going to be out there, Boone said. Weve just got to figure out where theyre going to be.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Tramon Williams Super Bowl Jersey . Fred Couples, captain of the U.S. side, put it all into perspective. "We know whos in charge," he said. Davante Adams Super Bowl Jersey . Newcastle dominated in the early stages but City weathered the storm and then raised its game in extra time. Negredo broke the deadlock from close range after a simple move in the 99th minute before Dzeko took the ball round goalkeeper Tim Krul to seal the victory in the 105th. https://www.packersrookiestore.com/Packers-Josh-Jackson-Jersey/ . However, he did make them miss him a little less. Cundiff, who had the unenviable job of replacing Dawson last season, agreed Thursday to a one-year, $1. Montravius Adams Super Bowl Jersey . - The Washington Redskins have cut defensive lineman Adam Carriker and punter Sav Rocca. Ray Nitschke Super Bowl Jersey . -- An ugly goal by Nick Bonino helped the Anaheim Ducks overcome the defensive-minded Phoenix Coyotes on a night when their ragged power play continued to struggle. NEW YORK -- Brian Dozier remains the brightest light in yet another dismal season for the Minnesota Twins.Dozier extended his career-best hitting streak to 20 games with an infield single in Friday nights 3-0 loss to the New York Mets and Bartolo Colon.At the end of the day, kind of doesnt mean anything, to be honest with you, Dozier said.Minnesota is a major league-worst 55-93, losing 92 games or more for the fifth time in six seasons. Dozier, whose 41 home runs rank second in the majors behind Mark Trumbos 42 for Baltimore, watched across the field with envy as the Mets pursued an NL wild card.The opportunity to kind of learn these last couple of weeks, to see these teams and how they play when they are in the running for something special, thats what you have to take from these games right now, he said.The 43-year-old Colon (14-7) won for the fourth time in five decisions, allowing three singles in seven innings. Rookie pitcher Jose Berrios singled softly to right in the third in his first big league plate appearance, and Dozier reached on a slow bouncer to third that left Jose Reyes with no throw. Colon then retired Jorge Polanco on a flyout to escape a bases-loaded jam.Polanco singled in the sixth for the Twins last hit. Jeurys Familia worked around a pair of walks in the ninth to complete the three-hitter, retiring pinch-hitter Kennys Vargas on a flyout to deep left for his 49th save in 53 chances.Really, we hit one ball hard, said Minnesotas Paul Molitor, managing on the 20th anniversary of his 3,000th hit.Reyes and Asdrubal Cabrera hit consecutive home runs against Berrios in the third, and Yoenis CCespedes added an RBI single in the seventh off Pat Light.ddddddddddddThe 22-year-old Berrios (2-7) was 2 when Colon made his big league debut in April 1997. Berrios allowed two runs and four hits in four innings and has given up 12 home runs in 48 2/3 innings. He dropped to 0-6 in seven starts since beating Cleveland on Aug. 1 in his return from the minors.After walking the bases loaded in the first, Berrios retired T.J. Rivera on an inning-ending flyout.I went over and I told him it might not be the prettiest zero youve ever put up, but it was a zero and regroup and get yourself back out there, Molitor said.WAY BACK WHENBerrios said the hit was his first since high school.It was a beautiful moment, he added. It was something that you sometimes dream about.DIFFERENT TYPE OF JAMMinnesotas second bus from its hotel arrived at Citi Field about 2 hours, 40 minutes ahead of game time after getting stuck in traffic.TRAINERS ROOMTwins: Joe Mauer, a DH on Thursday after missing four games due to a sore quadriceps, started at first base and went 0 for 1 with three walks. ... C Kurt Suzuki took a foul ball to the mask with Curtis Granderson batting in the seventh. Suzuki needed five stitches to close a cut after taking a foul ball off the mask from Detroits Cameron Maybin. Thankfully his stitches held, Molitor said.UP NEXTRHP Ervin Santana (7-10) is to start Saturday for the Twins and RHP Seth Lugo (4-2) for the Mets. Santana is 1-2 in four interleague starts this year despite a 2.96 ERA. ' ' '