Forumregeln » added a 25-yard boot 12:09 into the third after the Alouettes

SECAUCUS, N.J. -- The Houston Astros had the No. 1 pick again, and this time, they took a pitcher polished beyond his years. California high school left-hander Brady Aiken was the first selection in the Major League Baseball draft Thursday night. "Its the most advanced high school pitcher Ive ever seen in my entire career," Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said. "He has command like Ive never seen before of his stuff." The 17-year-old from San Diegos Cathedral Catholic High School is just the third prep pitcher to be selected first overall, joining fellow lefties Brien Taylor (1991, Yankees) and David Clyde (1973, Rangers). The Miami Marlins made it the first time high school pitchers were the top two picks in the draft when they selected Tyler Kolek, a hard-throwing right-hander from Shepherd High School in Texas. Twenty pitchers were taken in the first round, tying the draft record set in 2001. The Astros are the first team to select first in three consecutive drafts, having picked shortstop Carlos Correa in 2012 and right-hander Mark Appel last year. Aiken is in line to receive a huge contract. The allotted slot bonus for the top pick is nearly $8 million. "Unbelievable. Its really a dream come true," Aiken said. "This is something that Ive wanted ever since I was a young kid. Im at a loss for words. This is my dream and its finally starting to come true." Aiken is also the first high school lefty to be drafted in the first five picks since Adam Loewen went fourth overall to Baltimore in 2002. The UCLA recruit, who compared himself to Clayton Kershaw and David Price, has terrific control of a fastball that hits 96-97 mph, a knee-buckling curve and a tough changeup that sits in the low- to mid-80s. The 6-foot-5 Kolek has a fastball that sits in the high-90s and touched 100-102 mph several times, causing many to compare him to fellow Texas flamethrowers such as Nolan Ryan, Kerry Wood and Josh Beckett. "How do you pass up a guy throwing 100?" Marlins manager Mike Redmond said after Miamis 11-6 win at Tampa Bay. "So, Im happy with the pick. Its a big, old, country strong right-hander." The Chicago White Sox selected North Carolina State left-hander Carlos Rodon with the third overall pick. The 6-3, 235-pound junior was widely regarded as the top college pitcher available and had been in the mix to go No. 1 overall. He followed a dominant sophomore year with a solid but not spectacular junior season. Indiana slugger Kyle Schwarber went No. 4 overall to the Chicago Cubs as the first position player selected. He is a finalist for the Johnny Bench Award as the best catcher in Division I, although he could move to third base or the outfield in the pros. "Well let that play out," Cubs senior vice-president of scouting and player development Jason McLeod said. Nick Gordon, the son of former big league pitcher Tom Gordon and brother of Dodgers second baseman Dee Gordon, went fifth overall to Minnesota. The Florida high school slick-fielding shortstop was the first of the seven prospects in attendance at MLB Network Studios to have his name called by Commissioner Bud Selig, who is retiring in January and presiding over the draft for the final time. After a few interviews, Gordon breathed a big sigh of relief and gave his father a huge hug. "This is a proud moment. Its hard to describe," Tom Gordon said. "I have nothing but pride and pure joy for my boys." Gordon, from Orlandos Olympia High School, also has some family bragging rights now: His father was a sixth-rounder by Kansas City in 1986, while his brother was a fourth-rounder by Los Angeles in 2008. "Were pretty much the same player," Nick Gordon said of the brothers. "You know, hes got a little bit more speed than I do, Ive got a little bit more pop than he does. But, you know, we model our game after each other." A few other players followed in the footsteps of famous family members. Wichita State first baseman Casey Gillaspie went 20th overall to Tampa Bay, 17 spots ahead of where his brother Conor, the White Soxs third baseman, was picked in 2008. "I cant really compare myself to him because hes in the big leagues," Casey said. "It was cool when it happened, but now Im just ready and focused." San Francisco outfielder Bradley Zimmer was taken 21st by Cleveland. His brother, Kyle, was the fifth overall pick by Kansas City in 2012. With the next pick, Detroit took California high school outfielder Derek Hill, whose father Orsino was a first-rounder in January 1982 and is now a scout for the Dodgers. California high school catcher Alex Jackson went sixth to Seattle, which intends to move him to the outfield. "Ive been playing multiple positions my whole life," Jackson said. "Its nothing extra ordinary that has been thrown my way. Im looking forward to getting out there competing." LSU righty Aaron Nola was the seventh overall selection by Philadelphia. Evansville lefty Kyle Freeland, a Colorado native, went No. 8 to the Rockies and said hes used to pitching in the thin Denver air and isnt afraid of it. East Carolina right-hander Jeff Hoffman went ninth to Toronto, which also took Kennesaw State catcher Max Pentecost two picks later. The New York Mets rounded out the top 10 picks by selecting Oregon State outfielder Michael Conforto. In the year of Tommy John surgery in baseball, two pitchers who recently had the operation were selected in the first 18 picks -- a sign that teams are confident in the success rate of the procedure. Even though theyll likely be sidelined for 12-18 months, Hoffman and UNLV righty Erick Fedde (No. 18 to Washington) remained attractive prospects. Vanderbilt righty Tyler Beede was the 14th overall pick by San Francisco, becoming the 18th player in draft history to be selected in the first round of two June drafts. He went 21st to Toronto in 2011. St. Louis wrapped up the first round of the draft, which is held over three days and 40 rounds, by selecting California high school righty Jack Flaherty at No. 34 -- seven picks after taking Florida State right-hander Luke Weaver. Gareth Morgan, from Toronto, was the first Canadian selected this year. The right-handed outfielder was drafted out of Blyth Academy by the Seattle Mariners, 74th overall. "Im honoured that the Mariners selected me and its also very special to be the first Canadian to be taken in the draft," said Morgan from his home in Toronto where he was following the draft with his family. "I have worked very hard throughout my career for this moment and Im excited for what the future holds." Mike Cuellar Astros Jersey .What they got was a bevy of players chipping in to pick up the slack.Josh Smith scored 18 points and James Harden added 17 as the Rockets used a balanced scoring effort to outlast the Mavericks for a 99-94 victory. Cesar Cedeno Astros Jersey . Joakim Nordstrom and Garret Ross also scored for Chicago and Corey Crawford made 30 saves. Tomas Tatar scored twice for Red Wings (2-3-0), Jonathan Ericsson added a goal and Gustav Nyquist had three assists. https://www.cheapastros.com/1483o-nolan-ryan-jersey-astros.html . He did one better Sunday by holing out a pitching wedge from 142 yards for eagle, capping a remarkable 28 on the back nine to win The Championship at Laguna National. Astros Jerseys China . Richard Jefferson scored 17 points and Diante Garrett had a career-high 15 points as the Jazz had seven players with 10 points or more in Utahs largest margin of victory this season. Bryan Abreu Jersey . - The Baltimore Ravens and tight end Dennis Pitta reached agreement on a five-year contract Friday.MONTREAL - When they were 1-7 in August, it was far-fetched even to think about the Montreal Alouettes making the playoffs.But a 17-14 win over the Toronto Argonauts on Sunday afternoon lifted the Alouettes to 9-8 to clinch a home playoff date. They have a chance to finish first in the CFL East Division with a regular season-ending win on Saturday in Hamilton.Its going to be a great Grey Cup documentary, said receiver Duran Carter, who had career highs of 11 catches and 181 yards. Highlights, low lights, all of it.We feel pretty much unstoppable. Weve got one more week in the regular season and were not going to take our foot off the gas.Carter scored the game-winning touchdown on a 23-yard toss from Jonathan Crompton at 5:41 of the fourth quarter. A relentless Alouettes defence did the rest, holding an opponent to 17 or fewer points for a sixth game in a row, all wins.They will be the first CFL team ever to finish at or above .500 after being six games below .500.A win in Hamilton would give Montreal first place and a bye to the East final, while a loss may drop them to second and see them host the East semifinal against a crossover team from the West Division.The loss pushed Toronto (7-10) to the brink of elimination. They must win their finale against Ottawa and hope Montreal beats the Tiger-Cats (8-9) to stay alive.We werent good on second and medium, said Argonauts coach Scott Milanovich. Coming up a yard short, not getting to the sticks. That is why we werent able to score more points.Too many times in the second half we werent able to get enough to keep the drive moving.Tyrell Sutton ran in a TD for Montreal and Sean Whyte had a field goal, although his string of 21 in a row ended with a 45-yard attempt against a stiff wind.Mike Bradwell caught a one-yard TD pass from third string quarterback Mitchell Gale and Swayze Waters had two boots for the Argonauts.Starting quarterback Ricky Ray, who completed 26 of 35 passes for 209 yards and was sacked three times, left with 2:29 to go in the game after he was slammed into the turf by John Bowman to end Torontos comeback hopes. Milanovich had no update on his condition.As the game ended, the crowd of 22,013 at Percival Molson Stadium stood and cheered the Alouettes, as much for what theyve done over the last three months as for winning the game.Coach Tom Higgins said the turnaround came on a road trip to Regina and Winnipeg in August. While they didnt win those games, they felt were playing better and vowed to try for an 8-2 record over the final 10 games to make the playoffs. They are 8-1 since then.I feel good for the organization, said Higgins. Its an organization thats used to winning and wrapping up a playoff spot a lot earlier.It just took us a little while and we got it done. But its a neat story thats being written by this football team. They just dont give up. Thats the sign of a champion.ddddddddddddThe turnaround coincided with Crompton taking over as the starting quarterback. While he isnt the slickest QB in the league, he has managed to move the ball enough and put up enough points to win, thanks largely to the defence.He completed 13 of 26 passes for 251 yards, nearly all of them to Carter. There was one completion each to Eric Deslauriers and S.J. Green, and third stringer Tanner Marsh completed one to Green.But Crompton overthrew a wide open Carter on what would have been a sure touchdown, and a trick play saw Green fire a 50-yard pass that went off a wide open Carters fingertips.Weve been waiting to run that forever and they finally call it and I just misjudged it, said Carter, who also had a fumble on his record. I thought it was coming right in my hands and it was little bit far.Its terrible. I owe receiver money for that. If you ask me, I had a bad game. Im just fortunate they trust me with the ball.Crompton said he was looking for whoever Toronto left open and that happened to be Carter most of the time.That says a lot about him and about our receiving corps not to staying anything, said Crompton. They knew that if were getting one on one, no matter who it is, were going to take a shot. The guys did a good job running their routes, and especially blocking on the run game.Sutton carried 23 times for 135 yards.Wind was a factor and Toronto got the only points of a flag-free first quarter on Waterss 21-yard kick.The Alouettes used the wind on a six-play 69 yard drive capped by Suttons 17-yard TD run up the middle 4:02 into the second.A punt single off Carters fumble and a 56 yard drive into the wind led to Bradwells one-yard TD catch at the end of the second quarter gave the Argonauts an 11-7 half time lead.Waters added a 25-yard boot 12:09 into the third after the Alouettes lost a gamble on third and 3, when ball carrier J.C. Beaulieu came up a yard short.Montreal got three back to open the fourth, and then Crompton led a four-play drive topped by a toss over the middle to Carter.Toronto got a last chance with the ball when Waters got to his own punt for an extra set of downs, but backup QB Trevor Harris was unable to move the ball.At the beginning of the year, everybody wasnt on the same page, said Alouettes defensive tackle Alan-Michael Cash. We were missing too many tackles, blowing assignments. But as the year went on, we came together. I think we are the best defence in the CFL.Montreal defensive back Geoff Tisdale left late in the first half with a concussion after a kick in the head while defending a pass. Higgins said holding him out was a precaution and Tisdale may be ready to return against Hamilton.The Argos lost defensive tackle Marcus Thomas (foot) and defensive back Vincent Agnew (left leg) to injuries. In the fourth, linebacker Matt Ware was helped off. ' ' '