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[b]Matt Miazga Jersey[/b] . PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Jered Weaver had no problem sitting through two long delays Sunday on his way to a 7-5 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. There was a 19-minute wait after lightning struck a nearby power substation, causing some lights to go out at Tropicana Field. Even before then, the Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher watched his team score five runs in a 46-pitch first inning off Rays starter Jake Odorizzi. "I played a little catch in the cage to stay loose, but I guess you cant complain too much when they put five runs on the board in the first," Weaver said. "It makes it a little easier." Mike Trout, who had three hits and stole a base, hit an RBI double to key the big inning, which also included an RBI single by Howie Kendrick after a 13-pitch at bat. "I dont remember that. That was yesterday," Kendrick joked after the game that took about four hours. "It was one of those things where the bases were loaded and you want to try to get something done. He was making good pitches, I was able to foul some off. Im glad it ended the way it did," he said. The Angels took two of three and handed the Rays their first series loss since early July. Weaver (12-6) gave up six hits and four walks, but only two runs in six innings. He is 4-0 lifetime at Tropicana Field and unbeaten in his last nine starts. Huston Street pitched the ninth for his sixth save with the Angels. It took 20 minutes for Odorizzi (7-9) to get the first out of the game. That came after two walks, Trouts double and consecutive singles by Josh Hamilton, Erick Aybar and Kendrick. "It started bad and didnt get any better in the first inning," Odorizzi said. "You start a game like that, I didnt give our team any help at the start." The first of two sacrifice flies by David Freese and a double by Efren Navarro drove in the final two runs of the first inning. Trouts second hit and Freeses second sacrifice fly drove in runs for the Angels later in the game. James Loney, who has reached base in 22 straight games, had three hits and drove in two runs for the Rays. Tampa Bay left 12 runners on base. TRAINERS ROOM Angels: Outfielder Collin Cowgill (broken nose) could be activated from the disabled list in the next couple days. Rays: Catcher Ryan Hanigan (strained left oblique) felt soreness after his first rehab game Saturday with Single-A Charlotte and has been shut down for a week. ... Right fielder Wil Myers, out since May 31 with a broken right wrist, could start a rehab assignment Saturday. ON DECK Los Angeles: The Angels start a four-game stretch against the Los Angeles Dodgers with a two-game road series Monday night. The Angels have won 15 of the last 22 games between the teams. Tampa Bay: The Rays open a 10-game road trip Monday night at Oakland. Manager Joe Maddon and the Rays often set a theme for the teams road swings, and this one is James Bond formal wear. BOWDEN BALL College football coaching great Bobby Bowden threw the ceremonial first pitch. He won two national championships at Florida State. 13 MORE Kendricks at-bat in the first, which included 10 foul balls, was one of two 13-pitch at bats in the game. Logan Forsythe walked on the 13th pitch from Angels reliever Kevin Jepsen to load the bases in the Tampa Bay seventh.
[b]Nick Lima Jersey[/b] . TSN was honoured with several awards, with Rod Smith and James Duthie sharing the win for Best Sports Host for SportsCentre and the NHL: Season On The Brink coverage, respectively.
[b]Darlington Nagbe Jersey[/b] . -- Ricky Romeros comeback bid hit another road bump Tuesday in an ugly 18-4 Jays loss to a Detroit Tigers split squad.With a second-place finish at the womens rugby World Cup, Canada showed it deserved a place among the sports elite teams. Figuring out how to stay there is the next challenge, and it could be a big one. The Canadian womens team received unprecedented exposure during its run to the final of the World Cup, which ended in a tough 21-9 loss to England on Sunday. Canadas games were televised live, and winger Magali Harveys brilliant 100-metre try against France in Canadas semifinal win made highlight reels across the country. But even after such a successful tournament, head coach Francois Ratier said in an interview after the final that its possible the team might be forgotten after what he called its "15 minutes." It remains to be seen how Rugby Canada builds on the historic World Cup performance, the precedent set by the sustained interest in womens soccer after Canadas bronze-medal performance at the London Olympics could serve as a possible model. "I think the fact that it was shown on TV is going to make a huge difference, because women around the world and especially in Canada got to see what we were doing on the field and see what it was all about," Harvey said on a conference call Wednesday. "So Im hoping that its going to promote the sport and push females around Canada to try that sport or any other sport." But as helpful as the exposure is, there are hurdles. Ratier said fundraising for the team was a considerable obstacle and getting fixtures against quality teams is a challenge for Canada, but not European teams. Ratier said Wednesday one of the key challenges facing Canada over the next three years is developing depth. While Canadas roster has star power — Harvey won the IRB womens rugby player of the year award, while captain Kelly Russell, who Ratier calls Canadas best player, was a finalist — heavyweights like New Zealand, England and France have more overall depth and can overcome injuries and fatigue easier. "Its iincreasing the depth in certain positions, and making sure that when we have an injury we can replace her with a (quality player)," Ratier said.
[b]Marcelo Balboa Jersey[/b]. "Its identifying more talent and developing more players in the key positions. This is the key for the next three years." And those players will likely have to incur a substantial cost to participate in the next World Cup. Ratier estimated that Canadian players spent around $10,000 out of their own pockets to attend the World Cup and the preparation tournaments leading up to it. Ratier said its a big commitment "considering we are playing teams that are funded, like New Zealand, England and France. "When you see the French who are paid 120 euros a week when they are away, its not big but at least they can survive," he said. "For us, some of the girls had to resign from their job to go to this World Cup." Money doesnt appear to be an issue for Harvey, who said she doesnt think about the big contracts athletes of her calibre get in mainstream professional sports. "I do it for the love, I do it for the passion, and I do it because I love representing Canada," she said. But representing Canada is not always easy, especially in the three years that follow a World Cup. Ratier after Sundays final that Canada has trouble lining up quality opponents at the same time that France and England are playing in the prestigious Womens Six Nations Championship. There are also some lingering infrastructure issues compared to countries where rugby is considered a top-tier sport for women. Harvey said she was offered little guidance when she first got into rugby in high school, though she added the level of coaching in Canada is improving. "It was pretty scary because there were no coaches who knew how to play rugby so they would just put you on the field and tell you to play," she said. "Now its getting better. Coaches are more informed and teach you more." ' ' '
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