Inland Waterways » Pinch-hitter Hector Sanchez hit a three-run

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). Demarcus Robinson Jersey .com) - Robert Upshaw made a putback jumper to put 17th-ranked Washington ahead with 1:27 remaining in the game and the Huskies held on to beat Eastern Washington 81-77 on Sunday. Derrick Thomas Jersey . The Cavaliers first-year forward will miss at least three weeks with a strained left knee, the latest setback for the No. http://www.officialkansascitychiefsfootball.com/authentic-laurent-duvernay-tardif-jersey-womens . The third-ranked Lewis, a three-time winner this year on the LPGA Tour, had a 9-under 135 total at Emirates Golf Course in the Ladies European Tours season-ending tournament. Jarvis Jenkins Jersey . The Argentina striker has not played for the Premier League leaders since September when he refused to warm up during a Champions League match and only returned last week from a three-month unauthorized absence at home. City coach Roberto Mancini had initially told Tevez he would never play for City again after his act of public insubordination, but later softened his stance and only asked for an apology. Tyreek Hill Jersey . The young man, never lacking confidence, thought he could be really good.PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The way Ramon Foster figures it, the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line deserved a little bit of good karma. Heck, probably more than a little bit.Every spring over the last five years it seemed the Steelers would make retooling and rebuilding the offensive line a top priority. And every fall the five guys penciled in to start would either get hurt or get shuffled around to cover up a leak.It was frustrating and, at times, borderline cruelly comic:—Centre Maurkice Pounceys ankle injury that kept him out of the 2011 Super Bowl;—The busted knee for guard David DeCastro that hampered his rookie season in 2012;—Tackle Marcus Gilberts various nicks and scrapes;—The shredded knee that limited Pouncey to all of eight plays in 2013.So calling the line patchwork would be an insult to patches.Finally, mercifully, those days appear to be over. The backbone of Pittsburghs first division title since 2010 — and the most productive offence in franchise history — is the jelling of a line that has come of age now that its found a way to stay out of the trainers room. Pouncey, DeCastro and left tackle Kelvin Beachum didnt miss a start, while minor injuries forced Foster and Gilbert to sit a handful of games combined.Maybe we were owed one by the football gods, Foster said with a laugh.Either way, the group that takes the field Saturday night when the Steelers (11-5) host Baltimore (10-6) in the wild-card round is thriving. All five are young — ranging in age from 24-28 — but have each started at least 33 games. It goes from perennial All-Pro Pouncey to Beachum, a sixth-round flier in 2012 who has blossomed into an undersized but competent revelation protecting Ben Roethlisbergers blind side.The line — with more than a little help from tight ends Heath Miller, Matt Spaeth, fullback Will Johnson and tailback LeVeon Bell — kept Roethlisberger upright and the Steelers rolling. Roethlisberger took every snap and was sacked just 33 times, easily the fewest in a season in which hes played every game — even though he set a career high with 608 passes. His protection got better as the season went along. Roethlisberger hit the ground just twice during the four-game winning streak that propelled the Steelers back to the post-season afterr a two-year absence.ddddddddddddThe results were scoreboard stretching. Pittsburghs 436 points were the most in the franchises 82-year history. Antonio Brown broke every significant team single-season receiving record, and Bell found enough room to finish second in the AFC in yards rushing and second in the league in yards from scrimmage.The season included a 43-23 domination of the Ravens on Nov. 2. While Baltimore managed to get to Roethlisberger three times, he still lit up the Ravens depleted secondary for 340 yards and six touchdowns.Hell likely need to be just as effective on Saturday with Bells status uncertain. The running back is dealing with a hyperextended right knee that forced him to miss practice again Thursday.Pittsburgh won the last meeting even with Bell being limited to 20 yards on 10 carries. If hes unable to go, it puts more pressure on the line to give Roethlisberger time to work against a defence that finished with 49 sacks, second most in the league. Baltimores front seven will be bolstered by the return of nose tackle Haloti Ngata, who sat the last four games after violating the NFLs policy on performance enhancing drugs.We know theyre going to be coming, Beachum said. Theyve got some great players, but were playing with a lot of confidence.A feeling that trickles from the top down.The Steelers hired Hall of Famer Mike Munchak as their third offensive line coach in as many years. Munchaks calming presence simplified the blocking scheme. It also worked in lockstep with offensive co-ordinator Todd Haleys commitment to a creative scheme that requires Roethlisberger to get the ball out of his hands quickly.Foster calls Munchak by far one of the best coaches Ive been around, one who isnt prone to wild mood swings.If you have a bad play, hes not going to make it seem like youre the worst player in the world, Foster said. He wants you to build on top of that.The foundation set over the last four years is at last paying dividends the Steelers believe will extend into Saturday night and beyond.Weve got to put it on our shoulders, Foster said. 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