Sonstiges » Mets asked the Nationals if theyd want t

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Twins have cut longtime third baseman Trevor Plouffe, the first significant move by new front office leaders Derek Falvey and Thad Levine.Plouffe cleared waivers and has elected to become a free agent.The 30-year-old was a first-round draft pick of the Twins back in 2004. After struggling to earn a spot as a shortstop, he turned himself into a reliable third baseman with solid power.Plouffe hit .247 with 96 home runs and 357 RBI in seven seasons with the Twins. The move appears to open a spot at third base for young slugger Miguel Sano, who bounced around between designated hitter, third base and the outfield last year.Third base has always been Sanos preferred position.Plouffe was limited to 84 games last season because of injuries. He batted .260 with 12 homers and 47 RBI.The Twins also outrighted catcher Juan Centeno off the 40-man roster Friday.The team says outfielder Adam Brett Walker has been claimed off waivers by the Milwaukee Brewers.Wholesale Air Max 90 . -- If this was Aaron Gordons final home game at Arizona, and it almost certainly was, then he went out in style. Buy Air Max 90 Essential . The 15th-ranked Canadian men lost the opening two games of their European tour: 19-15 to No. 17 Georgia and 21-20 to No. http://www.outletairmax90cheap.com/ .com) - The Calgary Flames aim to bounce back from their first regulation home loss of the campaign on Friday night when they host a Detroit Red Wings club that they swept in three meetings a season ago. Air Max 90 Essential White . -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. Wholesale Air Max 90 Essential . And when it opened, every player was at his stall. Thats a sure sign that a team is in a slump and is searching for answers. "Its embarrassing to be at home and play the way we did," said defenceman Josh Gorges.NEW YORK -- Even though theyre comfortably ahead in the NL East, the Washington Nationals are waiting to really take off. At least, thats what manager Dusty Baker says.I still believe that we havent hit our stride yet. I mean, every teams won seven, eight, nine, 10 in a row except us. So, I still believe our best time of the year is yet to come, he said Sunday night.The Nationals wound up leaving Citi Field with two straight losses, the latest when rookie Seth Lugo pitched the New York Mets to a 5-1 win.Reynaldo Lopez (2-3) gave up three runs on six hits, three wild pitches and a walk in four innings. Called up from Triple-A before the game, he did get his first major league hit.Lopez hit the upper 90s mph, but as hes learned from his back-and-forth trips between the majors and minors, its hard to overwhelm big leaguers with pure heat.Hitters are very intelligent, and thats not about power on my end. Its not about trying to throw the ball past everybody. Ive got to pitch intelligently and got to be smart and get smarter, he said through a translator.Curtis Granderson and Jay Bruce each hit a two-run homer as the Mets won for the 11th time in 15 tries and stayed within one game of St. Louis for the second NL wild-card slot.Lugo (3-2) limited the Nationals to one run and six hits in seven innings, walking none and striking out four. The 26-year-old righty has won three straight starts, permitting a total of three runs, to help rejuvenate an injury-plagued rotation.Lugo wobbled in the first inning, giving up two quick hits, plunking a batter, making multiple pickoff throws and drawing a visit from pitching coach Dan Warthen. Lugo escaped a bases-loaded jam by retiring Wilson Ramos on a nubber and later set down 10 hitters in a row.Had him on the ropes in the first inning and we didnt cash it in. It could have been a different ballgame, Baker said.Granderson drove in three runs. New York set a team record with its 97th homme run at home in a season, topping the 96 at Shea Stadium in 2006.ddddddddddddDanny Espinosa matched a career high with his 21st homer for Washington.Daniel Murphy singled and has a hit in all 16 games this season against the Mets, the team he helped send to the World Series last year.Granderson hit his 23rd homer. Bruce connected for his 29th off Mat Latos, who made his Washington debut after being released by the White Sox in June.ITS A FAKENationals star Bryce Harper always gets booed at Citi Field, and drew another earful after faking out the New York crowd. The right fielder caught a ball near the line to end the first and pretended to flip it to Mets fans, then cut across the diamond and tossed the souvenir to kids wearing Washington hats above the dugout.HATS OFFThe Mets and Nationals both wore hats honoring New Yorks police, fire, Port Authority and other first responders during batting practice. The Mets also will wear them next Sunday on Sept. 11. This was their last home game before the 9/11 anniversary and they received permission from Major League Baseball for the tribute. The Mets asked the Nationals if theyd want to join them, and they did.These guys need to be rewarded, Mets manager Terry Collins said, wearing an NYPD hat.TRAINERS ROOMNationals: RHP Stephen Strasburg (sore elbow) threw a bullpen before the game and Baker said the reports were good. There is a chance the ace could start Wednesday at home vs. Atlanta.Mets: RHP Jacob deGrom (forearm) is still resting and its very possible he could miss two starts, Collins said.UP NEXTNationals: RHP Max Scherzer (15-7, 2.89 ERA) was returning to Washington early to prepare for his start at 4:05 p.m. Monday against Atlanta. His start was pushed back a day to give him extra rest. Ryan Weber (1-0, 5.24) was to pitch for the Braves. ' ' '