Auktionen » South African unraveled at the end to miss out on a firs

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Rick Porcello hasnt won any Cy Young awards like three of his teammates, but he has pitched some of the better games of the season for the Detroit Tigers. One of them came Wednesday night when Porcello pitched a three-hitter for his AL-leading third shutout, a 6-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. "Nine shutout innings. You literally cant ask for anything more," said Tiger manager Brad Ausmus. Victor Martinez hit a grand slam and drove in five runs for the Tigers, who handed the Rays their fourth loss in a row. Porcello (14-8) moved into a tie for the league lead in wins, retiring 20 straight batters after Ben Zobrists double in the first. "I felt pretty good from the get-go really," he said. "Even the hit I gave up to Zobrist was a good pitch, and I felt pretty confident that if I kept making pitches like that I was going to get guys out and pitch deep into the game." Porcello walked none and struck out four in his first win since Aug. 2. He matched Miamis Henderson Alvarez for the major league lead in shutouts and became the first Tiger with three in a season since Jeff Weaver in 2002. "I think the biggest thing, when you get a game going like that, is to get the first guy out," Porcello said. "If you can get the first guy out, especially for me, or keep the double play intact when somebody does get on base, that makes the game a lot quicker." The Rays were shut out for the 15th time, most of any American League team. They didnt get a leadoff man on base until the eighth. "From the side it looked like a wiffle ball, like playing in your back yard and the ball is just doing all kinds of weird things," said Rays manager Joe Maddon. "For the most part (Porcello got) a lot of groundball outs. Thats what he is." Martinez hit his fourth career slam, connecting off Kirby Yates in the seventh inning, completing a five-run burst started by Rajai Davis two-out double. It was the 24th homer of the season for Martinez. Martinez drove in the Tigers first run with a two-out double in the first after Miguel Cabreras single. Cabrera also walked twice and scored two runs. Wil Myers, the reigning AL Rookie of the Year, went 0 for 3 as the designated hitter in his return to the Rays lineup after missing 70 games because of a broken right wrist. "Really didnt get a pitch over the plate to hit. Its just one of those games," Myers said. "I could have been coming into this game and been really hot, but the way he pitched I think the results would have been the same." Rays starter Jake Odorizzi (9-10) gave up three runs while striking out seven in 6 2/3 innings. TRAINERS ROOM Tigers: RHP Justin Verlander (sore right shoulder) could rejoin the rotation Saturday after missing one start. Rays: OF David DeJesus (broken left hand) resumed a rehab assignment with Single-A Charlotte. He had taken three days off due to soreness in the hand. UP NEXT Former Rays ace David Price (12-8) will face his old team Thursday for the first time since being dealt to Detroit on July 31. Tampa Bay will counter with RHP Alex Cobb (8-6). "Its still weird, but once the game starts, its me vs. the Tigers lineup," Cobb said. "Its going to be more weird for him, I think, facing the Rays." HIT IT HARD PGA Tour golfer John Daly threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Daly, who has a hit song called "Hit it Hard" on The Highway Sirius Channel 56, lives in Clearwater, Fla. Byron Murphy Jersey . -- Billy Donovans bench came up big, bailing out top-seeded Florida in a tight game against what was supposed to be an overmatched opponent. Pat Tillman Womens Jersey . Braden Calverts Winnipeg rink rallied to defeat Italy 8-7. After giving up three points in the second end, Calvert came back with a single, then stole two more points in the next two ends to tie it up at the fifth-end break. http://www.thecardinalsshoponline.com/Youth-Kurt-Warner-Cardinals-Jersey/ .com) - The Carolina Hurricanes hope to remain perfect at home in January on Friday night as they welcome the Vancouver Canucks to PNC Arena. Kyler Murray Cardinals Jersey . -- The top-seeded Alberta Pandas set up of an all-Canada West final against arch rival UBC at the CIS womens volleyball championship after a 3-0 win over the No. Andy Isabella Womens Jersey . HEROES Alex Ovechkin – Scored a pair of goals in Washington’s 4-0 win over Pittsburgh. With 13 goals in the past 13 games, Ovechkin now has 29 goals on the season to lead the league.JOHANNESBURG - Andy Sullivan won his first European Tour title with a brilliant birdie on the first playoff hole as Charl Schwartzel let slip a five-shot overnight lead in a late collapse at the South African Open on Sunday.Schwartzel (74) finished terribly, making two bogeys and a double-bogey in his last five holes to fall back to 11-under and allow Sullivan (67) a chance at victory in the playoff.Both players missed the fairway off the tee in the playoff, but Sullivan sent a low pitch from under a tree onto the green, and then holed out for an unexpected birdie to win.Its unbelievable, Sullivan said. After Saturday I didnt think I stood much of a chance with Charl getting ahead that far.The Englishman made up seven shots on Schwartzel in the final round and was waiting in the clubhouse when the South African unraveled at the end to miss out on a first South African Open title after leading by four shots with five holes to play.Schwartzel found a greenside bunker on No. 14, three-putted on No.dddddddddddd 16 for double-bogey and fluffed a tee shot on 17 to drop another shot. He also found the rough off the tee on No. 18 and had to scramble for a par to send the tournament to a playoff.Both drove into the long grass when they teed off at No. 18 again. But Sullivan recovered with a sublime low punch through the tree branches and to 12 feet, before rolling in the putt for his maiden tour title. He pumped his fist with delight after a missed birdie on the last in regulation play appeared to have ensured he would have no chance at victory.Sullivan became just the second Englishman to win the South African Open — the second oldest tournament in professional golf — after Tommy Horton in 1970. His seven-shot comeback was the biggest in the final round since the event joined the European Tour in 1997.Lee Slattery was third on 10 under. Ernie Els, who was in the mix after a first-round 67, finished with a 72 and in a tie for 20th. ' ' '