#1

ncarnacion to hit two ho

in Diamondcraft - Registration Wed Dec 18, 2019 3:04 am
by yyys123 • 1.785 Posts

LONG POND, Pa. -- Juan Pablo Montoya felt at home among a throng of his Colombian countrymen and fans in a very unique celebration spot. He detoured from the traditional Victory Lane party straight to the one thrown in his honour in the Pocono Raceway grandstands. The fans bounced, danced, cheered and unfurled flags for the Colombian driver who wouldnt make them wait long this season to celebrate a victory. Montoya zipped toward the checkered flag to the sight of hundreds of Colombian fans waving the flag and cheering him on. His win in the IndyCar race Sunday at Pocono Raceway was the highlight of a triumphant return to open-wheel racing after seven years in NASCAR. Up ahead, a serious run at the IndyCar championship. "I think people know Im coming," Montoya said. Montoya saved his deepest gratitude for car owner Roger Penske. Penskes faith in bringing the talented and tempestuous Montoya aboard was rewarded. "I knew it was going to take a little bit of time," Montoya said, "but having the opportunity to run for Roger, its unbelievable. Ive worked really hard physically and mentally to get here, and I feel in a really good place right now. Im really happy. Montoya won for the first time in the CART/IndyCar Series since 2000 and had his first major victory since he won a road-course race at Watkins Glen in NASCAR in 2010. Helio Castroneves was second to make it a 1-2 finish Sunday for Team Penske. With double points awarded in the 500-mile races, Castroneves moved into a tie for the points lead with Penske teammate Will Power. Carlos Munoz, Ryan Briscoe and Scott Dixon completed the top five. Montoya, who won from the pole, took the lead for good when Tony Kanaan was forced to pit for fuel with four laps left. Montoya took it from there and continued to stamp himself a player in the championship hunt. He moved to fourth in the standings. "As soon as we signed him, I knew he would be an asset for us, and a headache," Castroneves said. Montoya damaged his front wing when he connected with Power on a pass for the lead on the 167th lap. Powers penalty troubles continued at Pocono when he blocked Castroneves on the 171st lap and had to serve a drive through penalty, effectively ending his shot at victory. "You tell them, Lets keep each other on the track," Penske said. "But that was a little tight right there." After only two top 10s in his first seven starts, Montoya reeled off a third, second and seventh in his past three. Now, he has the win needed to erase any lingering doubts that has move back to open wheel was the right one. Here are 5 things to know from the IndyCar race at Pocono: POWER PENALTY: Powers latest penalty cost him a shot at racing for the win -- and his spot alone atop the points standings. Even worse, his ill-timed block almost derailed a podium finish for Penske teammate Castroneves. Power was hit with a blocking penalty on Castroneves late in the race and his drive through penalty cost him a shot at racing for the win. He finished 10th. Power said he tried to let Castroneves go and had no intention of blocking him. He unleashed a profanity over the radio toward IndyCar and was told to cool down by Penske president Tim Cindric. "Thats not doing us any good now, is it? Get your head on straight and go," he said. Power has been smacked with a rash of penalties this season that have cost him strong runs at the checkered flag. He was annoyed when he had to watch the replay after the race for NBC Sports. "It was another penalty and other drive through and another really good opportunity lost," Power said. "Time after time it happens to me and no penalty." NEWGARDEN RUN: Josef Newgarden said this weekend hed have to grade his season an F. On Sunday, that stood for fantastic. Newgarden started last after an accident in practice, then stormed his way to the front and led seven laps at the end of the race. He finished a solid eighth for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing. He surrendered the lead when he no choice but to make one final pit stop for fuel on Lap 194. "It was a big strategy race," Newgarden said. "Considering nobody did much passing today and because it was more of a track position, fuel mileage and strategy race, I thought we did a really good job of keeping up and making the moves when we needed to. That helped get us into the top 10." HAWKSWORTH OUT: Jack Hawksworth missed the IndyCar race Sunday at Pocono because of a heart contusion. Hawksworth was injured Saturday in an accident during the second practice session. He was evaluated and released from the infield care centre. Hawksworth stayed overnight for observation at a hospital and was released Sunday. Hawksworth will be re-evaluated by the IndyCar medical team Tuesday before being cleared to drive next week at Iowa Speedway. KANAAN CANT: Tony Kanaan dominated most of the race and led 78 laps. Montoya, who won from the pole, took the lead for good when Kanaan was forced to pit for fuel with four laps left. "Its obviously frustrating to dominate a race like that and not win," Kanaan said. "We just missed going the full 500-mile distance by a few laps and its heartbreaking when those things happen. But that is racing, as they say, and we will focus on Iowa now and put it behind us." SPEED RACER: The average speed of 202.402 mph was the fastest 500-mile race in IndyCar history. The 200-lap race was caution-free for the first 158 laps until Graham Rahal spun to bring out the yellow. The 158 consecutive laps of green flag racing to open a race was the longest stretch for a 500-mile race in IndyCar history. Wholesale Air Max 97 .Y. -- Mike Zigomaniss goal at 5:53 of the third period stood up as the winner as the Rochester Americans hung on to defeat the visiting Hamilton Bulldogs 3-2 on Saturday in American Hockey League action. Shoes Online Australia Free Shipping . Not Peyton Manning. Hes holding on to the heartache to stoke his competitive fire. http://www.discountaustraliashoes.com/cheap-balenciaga-fake.html . -- Stanley Johnson scored all 18 of his points in the second half, T. Discount Air Max 90 Australia . After seven wins in a row, they have to do it one more time to get into the playoffs. Air Max 90 Online Store . - John Elways philosophy is to address immediate needs in free agency, even though some of his own veterans may prove too pricey to keep around.CINCINNATI – Theres a lot to say about what happened at Great American Ballpark on Friday night but Erik Kratz needed only three words to aptly describe a 14-9 Blue Jays win over the Reds. "It was awesome," he said. Coming off an ugly three-game sweep at the hands of the Yankees, Toronto found itself in a deep hole early after the Reds put an eight spot up on starter Liam Hendriks (six runs in 1 2/3 innings pitched) and Todd Redmond in the second. All seemed lost, but then the offence, relatively dormant in a stretch of nine losses in 12 games, came to life. As it is with these Blue Jays, as it seems it must be, home runs played a significant role in the comeback. Edwin Encarnacion hit two. The first was the most important. Encarnacion took Mat Latos deep for a three-run shot in the third, a comparatively meek answer to Cincinnatis eight runs the half-inning prior, but the Jays were on the board nonetheless. Brett Lawrie hit a one out homer in the seventh to cut the deficit to 9-6. Three batters later, pinch hitter Juan Francisco hit a two-run shot off journeyman Reds reliever Jumbo Diaz. The score was 9-8, officially nail-biting time for the 33,103 predomiantly Reds fans in attendance. Encarnacion sealed the deal with another three-run home run in the ninth. By that time the Jays were ahead and the second deck shot extended the lead to 14-9. Suddenly, Encarnacion is baseballs leader with 23 home runs. He has three in two games, a sign hes coming out of his slump. "I think we got the emotion back," said Encarnacion. "Everybody in the dugout felt very happy. We felt we could come back." Starting catcher, Dioner Navarro, hit a two out, game-tying double off Jonathan Broxton in the eighth. His replacement in a double switch, Erik Kratz, hit the go-ahead double off flamethrower Aroldis Chapman in the ninth. That Jays put up runs on Cincinnatis formidable one-two bullpen punch (Broxton had a 0.40 ERA entering the game, Chapman a 0.98 ERA) was a feat in itself. "His ball, it comes out of a different slot, too," said Kratz of Chapman, who consistently throws a fastball harder than 100 miles per hour. "Hes coiled up and he comes at you with the noise and thats why hes had so much success." Adam Lind contributed a pinch hit RBI single. Jose Bautista walked four times. Brett Lawrie, who missed Thursdays game in New York with a bruised hand, returned and had three hits. Lawrie was one of six Blue Jays who registered a multi-hit performance. "Yeah, wed lost three in a row," said Kratz. "Yeah, we had lost three in a row but I dont think anybody was sitting here, like, Uh, are we going to win another game? Just like when we had won nine in a row but nobody ever said we had to win 20 in a row. We tried to win our 10th in a row and I think thats something the team does incredibly well. You saw tonight, grinding ouut each at-bat.ddddddddddddEach at-bat that we grind out is just the way were going to play the game. We cant beat anybody tomorrow but we can beat them today." Manager John Gibbons wasnt aware of the specific details but hes been around long enough to know these types of comebacks are historic. "I may never see another game like that, you may never see another game like that so enjoy it and hope it leads to better things," said Gibbons. The eight-run comeback marked the second largest deficit the Blue Jays have overcome in the franchises 38-year history. Long-time fans, certainly those old enough to remember, will recall June 4, 1989 with fondness. The Jays trailed the Red Sox 10-0 at Fenway Park and rallied for a 13-11 win in 12 innings. VOTTO TALKS ENCARNACION Toronto-born Joey Votto is taking it in from a distance. Hes enjoying the success his former teammate and good buddy, Edwin Encarnacion, is enjoying in Vottos hometown. "Hes a teammate that I really am very fond of and Im very proud of him, how well hes done," said Votto. "There are some guys you tune into and you almost, I dont want to use the word awe but you watch and you think to yourself, what do I have to do to get my swing to that point? That May stretch certainly was like that and he and Bautista are two really fun guys to watch." Encarnacions 23 home runs lead Baltimores Nelson Cruz (22). His 62 RBIs also lead the Majors. So enamored was Votto with Encarnacions 16-home run month of May, he sent Encarnacion a text on the afternoon of May 29. Votto admitted the message was profanity-laced and jokingly disparaging. He called upon Encarnacion to hit two home runs in the Jays game against the Royals that night. Encarnacion did just that. "He didnt answer me back until the second home run in the seventh inning," said Votto. "He responded back that night and I asked for some hitting tips. He was kind of coy about it." Encarnacion and Votto were teammates in Cincinnati from the time Votto broke in to the big leagues, in 2007, until Encarnacion was traded to the Blue Jays in 2009. BAUTISTA AND TWITTER Jose Bautista is amongst the major leaguers most active on social media. He has accounts on Twitter and Instagram (@joeybats19) and maintains Facebook and Youtube pages. "Its part of being an athlete today," said Bautista. "If youre not taking advantage of social media and using it to interact with your fans and giving them a sneak peak into your personal life and how you prepare and what youre about then shame on you." If you give Bautista a Twitter follow, chances are hell follow you back. Bautista is closing in on 514-thousand followers. He follows almost 230-thousand accounts. "Im glad Ive been able to use it in the right way I believe," said Bautista. "Just connecting with the fans and giving them the access that theyve wanted for so long." ' ' '

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