BLACKBOARD » punches. I knew in the final round that I h

DETROIT -- Jim Leyland is usually pretty confident about his managerial moves. Thursday, though, he wasnt entirely sure if he had done something smart or stupid. With the game tied in the eighth, Omar Infante started the inning with a single, and Leyland decided to have Torii Hunter bunt him to second. That put the go-ahead run in scoring position, but meant taking the bat out of the hands of Miguel Cabrera, baseballs hottest hitter. "That was a tough call," Leyland acknowledged after the game. "Thats definitely a move that the fans are going to discuss, and I dont have any problem with that. I wasnt sure, either." Sure enough, Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire immediately signalled for the intentional walk. The reason Leyland took the chance? Prince Fielder was coming up next, and facing right-hander Jared Burton. "If they had a tough lefty to pitch to Prince -- maybe Glen Perkins if it had been the ninth inning -- I might not have bunted," Leyland said. "Prince has 40 RBIs hitting behind Miguel Cabrera, so I was willing to roll the dice with him." The plan worked, but only barely. Fielder hit what looked like a possible double-play grounder, but it deflected off Burtons glove and past second baseman Brian Dozier. Infante scored easily, and the Tigers held on to win 7-6. "You hate walking anyone to pitch to Prince Fielder, I can tell you that right now," Gardenhire said. "But youve got to take your choice, and the way Cabrera is swinging the bat, youve got to do it. We got the groundball. It just didnt work out." Before the intentional walk, Cabrera had driven in three runs, including his sixth homer in four games. Hes matched a career high by homering in four straight games. He has also walked five times in the four games, and Fielder has followed all five with hits, driving in seven more runs. In the four games, the pair have combined to drive in 20 runs. "Its absolutely incredible what they are doing," Tigers starter Rick Porcello said. "If I were pitching against them, Id just walk both of them every time they came up." Joaquin Benoit (1-0) picked up the win with a perfect inning of relief, while Jose Valverde pitched the ninth for his fifth save. The Tigers trailed 6-3 going into the bottom of the seventh, but scored three times off three Minnesota pitchers. Infante singled and Cabrera walked with one out, bringing Brian Duensing into the game. He allowed RBI singles to Prince Fielder and Victor Martinez before giving way to Burton. Jhonny Peralta greeted Burton (0-2) with a game-tying double, and Matt Tuiasosopo was hit by a pitch to load the bases before Brayan Pena and Andy Dirks popped out to end the inning. "We gave the game over to our bullpen, and they usually do the job," Gardenhire said. "Just didnt happen today." The Tigers had taken a 2-0 lead in the first when Cabrera lifted a 2-2 pitch into the bullpens beyond the left-field fence. It was the first of his six homers in four games that he had pulled -- the others had all been to centre field or right-centre. Porcello almost got a second straight inning-ending double play in the second, but Jhonny Peralta juggled Doziers grounder and Dozier beat the relay throw to allow Justin Morneau to score. Minnesota started the third with three straight singles, tying the game, and Josh Willingham made it 5-2 by pulling Porcellos pitch deep into the left-field stands. Scott Diamond retired 10 straight batters after Tuiasosopos second-inning single, but Detroit loaded the bases with two out in the fifth on two singles and a walk. Cabrera bounced an infield single up the middle, making it 5-3, but Diamond got Fielder to pop out and end the inning. Detroit threatened again in the sixth, putting runners on second and third with two out, but Fien came on to strike out pinch-hitter Andy Dirks. Willingham then moved the lead to three runs with a solo homer off Darin Downs in the seventh. "Thats a tough loss," Willingham said. "I felt good at the plate, and I was able to get the pitchers to elevate the ball. Thats the key to doing what I do." NOTES: The start of the game was delayed for an hour by rain. ... Twins shortstop Pedro Florimon left the game after the top of the third with an sprained right index finger. Florimon appeared to sustain the injury while sliding head-first into third base. Gardenhire said after the game that Florimon is day-to-day. ... The fans broke into a chant of "Lets Go Red Wings" in the top of the fifth inning as news spread that Detroit had taken a 1-0 lead over the Blackhawks in the second period of the playoff game. The hockey game was played at Joe Louis Arena, about five minutes from Comerica Park. ... Cabrera also homered in four straight games with the Marlins in April 2004. Authentic Custom Suns Jersey . With the first unit struggling of late and Amir Johnson - one of the teams iron men - hobbling on an injured right ankle, Patterson knew he could get the nod in a challenging matchup against one of the leagues up and coming players at his position. Penny Hardaway Jersey Large . Vettel was 0.168 seconds faster than Red Bull teammate Mark Webber around the Suzuka circuit. Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg was two tenths of a second off Vettel. "The car balance is decent, but I think we can still improve," Vettel said. http://www.customsunsjersey.com/custom-penny-hardaway-jersey-large-72r.html . And follow TSN.ca right through Deadline Day for all the updates. From Pierre LeBrun While Anaheim GM Bob Murray said earlier this season he was not going to trade Jonas Hiller despite the fact hes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, some sources have told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun that Murray might be willing to move another goalie. Cheap Custom Suns Jersey . Listen to the game live on TSN Radio 1050 at 7pm et. The Raptors traded Rudy Gay, Quincy Acy and Aaron Gray to the Sacramento Kings on Monday, in exchange for Greivis Vasquez, John Salmons, Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes. Suns Jerseys China . But now that hes in the NHL, the Calgary Flames centre showed big improvement in that department by scoring the winner in the eighth round of a 5-4 shootout victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Monday. Bring on March 4.Welterweight world titleholder Danny Garcia plowed through huge underdog Samuel Vargas with ease, knocking him out in the seventh round of a nontitle fight Saturday at Temple Universitys Liacouras Center in Philadelphia to set up big business next year.The victory in the tune-up fight of the Premier Boxing Champions card in Garcias hometown was the final hurdle before a hugely anticipated world title unification fight against Keith Thurman, who joined the Spike broadcast team, on March 4 at a venue to be determined.Regardless of where the fight takes place, the Thurman-Garcia fight is one of the most eagerly anticipated in boxing and a showdown between two of the best in the deep 147-pound weight division. They did their part to drum up interest with Garcia pummeling the hapless Vargas and then getting into a verbal confrontation and going nose to nose during a joint post-fight interview in the ring.First Garcia (33-0, 19 KOs) had to dispose of Vargas (25-3-1, 13 KOs), and he did so easily in a one-sided destruction.Just before the bell ended the second round, Garcia sent Vargas tumbling to the mat on the end of a powerful right hand. He barely beat the count, getting up just as referee Gary Rosato was about to finish the 10-count.By the third round, Vargas left eye was black and blue and swelling. Garcia continued to pound him round after round and even threw him to the canvas like a rag doll during the seventh round, which drew a stern warning from Rosato.Later in the seventh round, Garcia, 28, blasted Vargas, 27, who is from Colombia and fights out of Toronto, with two left hooks along the ropes and then fired six more hard shots. Vargas was in bad shape, and Rosato jumped in to wave off the fight at 2 minutes, 17 seconds, just as Vargas corner was throwing in the towel.I got beat up in there, Vargas said. It takes a lot of courage to come to North Philadelphia and fight the champ. It just wasnt my night. Ive been hit harder before, but it was the accumulation of punches that got to me.I thought hed be a heavier hitter. Hes a great fighter and a great person for his city. I will be back. This was a great experience.With Vargas dismissed, it didnt take long to bring the hype for March 4. Garcia stormed to the ring ropes and peered down at Thurman at his broadcast position and began to jaw with him.Ive been waiting for this, man, Thurman said. I asked for this fight this year. This is what his team wanted -- they wanted a tune-up. I was ready this year. He got to put on a nice performance for his fans. He got his confidence. He feels strong. He got his daddy [trainer Angel Garcia] in his ear talking and pumping him. This is going to be the third daddys boy that I beat. Believe that.Later, Thurman assessed Garcias performance.Danny looked strong. He always looks strong when hes sitting there flat-footed and letting big hooks go, Thurman said. His opposition was never a threat to him at any point. Danny had a decent victory. They said that he wanted to tune up. Now hes ready to come see me.You have two big punchers on March 4. I dont see how the fight can go 12 rounds. Danny, in my opinion, is someone who has been slightly exposed in the past. I see myself as the best competition that Danny has ever faced. He may see himself as the best fighter Ive faced. But I believe that Danny Garcia is actually going to have a problem with many true welterweights. I think my counters and my power is going to be the ultimate game-changer.Garcia, the former unified junior welterweight world champion, vacated his titles and moved up to welterweight in mid-2015. In January, he easily outpointed Thurman victim Robert Guerrero to win a vacant welterweight title, one of the belts Floyd Mayweather vacated upon his retirement.Garcia had not fought since then and wanted a tune-up fight to get ready for Thurman (27-0, 22 KOs), 27, of Clearwater, Florida.I came here to do what I did today. I havent fought since January. I came to get some good rounds in and knock my opponent out at the end, and thats what I did, Garcia said.When asked about the impending Thurman bout, Garcia whipped his hometown fans into a frenzy.Philly, if you all want to see me whip this guys ass, make some noise, Garcia shouted to the crowd on the open mic.The crowd went wild.Im gonna whup him, Garcia said. Theres not much more to say. He got what he asked for, and now hes going to face a real big dog. March 4 fans can expect what theyy always get from me.ddddddddddddIts going to be fireworks. Im a Philly champion. I have the heart of a champion, and Im coming to win and unify titles.Thurman had entered the ring and was standing just feet away from him when he responded, Im a different caliber. Im not no cherry [picker]. Im no easy pickins, boy.Then they went nose-to-nose, yelling at each other.Danny can talk whatever he wants, and Angel can say whatever he wants, Thurman said. They can talk smack all day, but I know for a fact that everyone who faces Keith Thurman will tell you that Im the hardest puncher theyve faced.To be continued March 4.Hurd hammers DanHot junior middleweight prospect Jarrett Hurd (19-0, 13 KOs) dominated the smaller Jo Jo Dan (35-4, 18 KOs), a longtime fringe welterweight contender and late replacement coming off a 14-month layoff, en route to a sixth-round knockout in the co-feature.Hurd, 26, of Accokeek, Maryland, laid a beating on Dan, 35, a former welterweight world title challenger from Romania and living in Montreal. He bashed Dan, a southpaw, repeatedly with heavy right hands. A terrible right hand way below the belt in the third round took a lot of starch out of Dan, who went down to the mat and was in agony. Although Hurds punches were powerful, Dan, who looked much smaller, could not inflict any damage with his shots.In the sixth round, Hurd badly rocked Dan with a right hand and then landed several more punches, which prompted trainer Howard Grant to throw in the towel and referee Benjy Esteves Jr. to wave off the fight at 1 minute, 6 seconds.He was wobbly and shaky, Hurd said. I probably would have taken him out in the next round. We knew he was a crafty southpaw. We wanted to take our time because we didnt know how he would come out. We felt him out at first. We didnt think hed come in as much. I thought hed try to move around. But he brought the fight a little closer than I expected.This does a lot for me. These fights Im getting are bringing me closer to the belt. Hopefully, this moves me up the rankings. There are a lot of great fighters in this division, and whoever I can get in there with, Ill be ready for.Dan chalked up the result to the massive size difference.The weight was a big difference. I took the fight on short notice, but Im a natural 147-pounder, and I dont struggle to make that, Dan said. Hes a tough guy. I gave him some good shots, and I took some good shots. At the end of the day, this is boxing. I couldnt do enough to get the win.In the opener of the triple-header, lightweight Javier Fortuna (31-1-1, 22 KOs), a former junior lightweight world titleholder from the Dominican Republic, won a spirited unanimous decision against Omar Douglas (17-1, 12 KOs) by scores of 96-93, 96-93 and 95-94. Fortuna, 27, overcame a knockdown on a clean left hook to the chin by Douglas, 25, of Wilmington, Delaware, during a back-and-forth exchange in the first round.He got me cold in the first round. I wasnt surprised that he came out sharp, Fortuna said. I worked very hard to come back and win almost every round. I didnt feel the punch from the knockdown very long. It was easy to recover.Every time that I was aggressive, I tried to follow it up with more punches. I knew in the final round that I had to finish it well to make sure I won the fight with no questions. The decision is done, so theres nothing else to say. I felt like I won almost every round after the first one.Douglas said he felt he won.He put it all on the line, and so did I. I knocked him down based on reflexes. The left hook was there for me, Douglas said. I worked hard in there, and I did my part. I feel like I won the fight. The decision was absurd. He held me the whole fight. I definitely want a rematch. Hes a former world champion. I gave it my all, but I just didnt get the decision.Douglas is unlikely to get a rematch -- at least not right away. Instead, Fortuna is likely headed to a rematch with secondary world titleholder Jason Sosa, who upset Fortuna by 11th-round knockout in June. Sosa (20-1-4, 15 KOs), of Camden, New Jersey, retained his belt earlier Saturday by unanimous decision against Stephen Smith in Monte Carlo and now owes Fortuna a contractually obligated rematch.I want Jason Sosa next, Fortuna said. That is a very big fight, and beating him this time would push my career up fast. ' ' '