Stars und Sternchen! » Machado will "probably"

ATLANTA -- The San Francisco Giants put together quite a mind-boggling statistic in their first three-game sweep at Turner Field. San Francisco did not have a hit with a runner in scoring position, but still won three straight over the Atlanta Braves. Credit belongs to strong pitching and seven home runs. Brandon Crawford hit two home runs and Madison Bumgarner helped the Giants beat Atlanta 4-1 Sunday, handing the Braves their sixth straight loss. The Giants were 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position on Sunday and 0-for-7 in the series. Still, the NL West leaders left town with a five-game winning streak. "Thats incredible," manager Bruce Bochy said. "What a job our pitching did here. ... The long ball, thats what won it for us because we couldnt get a hit. They had great pitching as well." It was San Franciscos first sweep in Atlanta since 1988 -- long before Turner Field opened in 1997 and before Bumgarner was born in 1989. "Thats a big series for us," Bumgarner said. The Braves skid is their longest skid since an eight-game slide in May 2012. Atlanta, which leads the NL East, was held to one run in each of the losses to San Francisco. "Weve been struggling," said Dan Uggla, who was 0 for 4 and is hitting .190. "Weve got to turn the corner and just turn this thing around. Like, now." Bumgarner (3-3) allowed one unearned run and three hits in six innings, striking out nine. Improved control allowed Bumgarner earn his first win since April 11. He walked only one batter after issuing a combined eight passes in his last three starts. "I still felt like I got behind a lot of times when I wanted to get ahead, but its a big step forward," Bumgarner said. Santiago Casilla pitched the ninth for his first save. Closer Sergio Romo was rested after recording saves in two straight games. Crawford gave the Giants a 2-1 lead with his homer off Alex Wood (2-5) in the fourth. Crawford hit a two-run shot off Jordan Walden in the eighth for his first career multihomer game. He began the day with only one homer this season. Wood lost his fourth straight start, again receiving almost no run support. The one run scored by Atlanta on Sunday is the only offence Wood has received in that span, which included back-to-back 1-0 losses. The left-hander has a 3.00 ERA after allowing two runs on seven hits and one walk in five innings. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez, who hinted he may tweak his slumping lineup, said an offensive turnaround is coming. "Somebodys going to have to pay for it," Gonzalez said. "Sooner or later somebodys going to come in here and were going to score 10 runs a game for two or three weeks. Thats my mindset Ive got going on right now." The Giants only runs in their first two wins of the series came on five solo homers. They found another way to score in the first when Hunter Pence hit a one-out double, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Buster Poseys grounder to first base. Atlantas Evan Gattis was called for catchers interference on Poseys grounder, and the umpires initially ruled Posey was safe at first and Pence had to return to third base. Bochy took advantage of Rule 6.08c, which allows a manager to take the live play instead of the interference ruling. Jason Heyward hit a sacrifice fly in the Atlanta third. The Giants reclaimed the lead on Crawfords homer to right-centre with two outs in the fourth. NOTES: Bumgarner has allowed only one earned run in winning three straight starts against the Braves, including two wins in 2013. ... Gonzalez said SS Andrelton Simmons was held out for personal reasons and is expected to start on Monday. ... Braves RHP Gavin Floyd (elbow surgery) came off the 15-day DL and will start on Tuesday against St. Louis as RHP Ervin Santana has his scheduled start skipped due to swelling below his right thumb. Gonzalez said he expects Santana to start on Saturday against the Cubs. ... The Giants open a series at Pittsburgh on Monday as RHP Matt Cain starts. ... The Braves homestand continues on Monday night with RHP Aaron Harang facing Cardinals RHP Shelby Miller. San Diego Padres Jerseys . The stakes were higher, the competition more fierce and the atmosphere was that of a playoff game - something the young, upstart Raptors have five weeks to better prepare themselves for or the result will be eerily similar. Matt Szczur Jersey . Whenever United loses, its crisis. When other top teams slip up, its the quirky nature of the Premier League. The predictable reaction speaks to the sky-high expectations for a team proven perennial contender and 13 times Premier League champion. http://www.padresrookiestore.com/Padres-Johnny-Manziel-Kids-Jersey/ . Szabados joined the Southern Professional Hockey League team last week. The 27-year-old goaltender from Edmonton backstopped the Canadian womens hockey team to Olympic gold Feb. Carlos Asuaje Jersey . -- Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew practiced in a limited capacity Friday, a positive sign he might be able to play against the Tennessee Titans. Hunter Renfroe Jersey . Bibeau, Torontos sixth-round pick at No. 172 overall in last years draft, was named the outstanding goaltender of the 2014 MasterCard Memorial Cup.CHICAGO -- Jake Arrieta said he enjoyed running into some of his old Orioles teammates before Fridays game at Wrigley Field. Then he had an even better time on the mound, shutting down Baltimore in his first start against his former club. Arrieta held Baltimore to four hits in seven innings and Javier Baez homered again as the Chicago Cubs beat the Orioles 4-1. "There was a little more to it, being your former team," Arrieta said. "You know after the first inning, it was just kind of business as usual. "It was nice to face those guys and see a lot of them again. Its been awhile." The Orioles traded Arrieta to Chicago with reliever Pedro Strop in a multi-player deal during last season. Hes turned into Chicagos ace this season. "A really well-played game all the way around," Chicago manager Rick Renteria said. "The stage was actually set by Jake. Jake did a great job; a phenomenal seven innings of work. Baez hit his sixth homer in his 18th game since getting called up from Triple-A, Luis Valbuena also homered, and Logan Watkins and Arismendy Alcantara each drove in runs with singles as the Cubs snapped AL East leading Baltimores four-game winning streak. Baltimores Nelson Cruz hit his major league-leading 34th homer, a solo shot off Arrieta (7-4) in the seventh. It came on a change-up that Arrieta said "wasnt too bad of a pitch." Cruz wasnt one of Arrietas teammates on the Orioles, but he had faced the right-hander before. "I think he looked more mature," Cruz said. "He has command of all his pitches. He doesnt make many mistakes." Baltimores Kevin Gausman (7-5) allowed three runs on six hits through five innings, He struck out seven. Hector Rondon pitched a perfect ninth for his 20th save. Arrieta retired the first 13 Baltimore hitters before Chris Davis lined a solid single to centre wwith one out in the fifth, one of only two innings when the Orioles managed baserunners against Chicagos 6-foot-4 right-hander.dddddddddddd He struck out five and walked only one. Valbuena, batting cleanup with Starlin Castro out due to a family emergency, tied a career-high with his 12th homer that put the Cubs ahead 1-0 in the fourth. Ryan Sweeney doubled one out later, then scored on Watkins single. Baez hit a towering shot just inside the left-field foul pole, on a 3-2 pitch with two out in the fifth to make it 3-0. Cruz ended Arrietas shutout bid with a homer that reached the left field basket. TRAINERS ROOM Orioles: A person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press that third baseman Manny Machado will "probably" have season-ending surgery on his injured right knee. The person spoke to the AP on Friday under condition of anonymity because there was no official confirmation of Machados plans. A decision was expected this weekend. Yahoo! Sports first reported earlier in the day that the 22-year-old All-Star was likely done for the year. Cubs: RHP Brian Schlitter, on the DL since Aug. 10 (right shoulder inflammation) has resumed throwing and made a relief appearance with the Cubs rookie league affiliate in Mesa, Arizona, on Thursday night. UP NEXT Orioles RHP Bud Norris (11-7, 3.69) faces Cubs RHP Kyle Hendricks (5-1, 1.48) on Saturday at 1:20 p.m. CDT. Hendricks has six straight quality starts since rejoining the Cubs on July 22. NOT O-K Including Fridays game Cubs hitters have struck out 104 times in their last nine games. Baez, a free-swinging rookie had fanned 18 times in 33 at-bats. In his 18 games with Chicago, he has fanned 31 times. "It feels good," Baez said of his homer on Friday. "I know I keep fighting to hit the ball hard. Im not afraid to strike out, so Im just going to keep throwing the bat." ' ' '