SEATTLE -- Making his first big league start at first base and just his third appearance in the majors in nearly 13 months, Jesus Montero made strides in proving that he belongs with the Seattle Mariners. Montero hit his first big league home run in more than a year, played error-free in the field and helped the Mariners sweep a two-game set over the San Diego Padres with a 6-1 victory Tuesday. The former top catching prospect was suspended 50 games for his connection to the Biogenesis performance-enhancing drug investigation last year and began the season at Triple-A Tacoma. "I really appreciate the opportunity that the Mariners are giving me again," Montero said. "Its really hard for me, what I was going through last year -- very tough year. Little by little, was in Triple-A working hard to be here and they gave me an opportunity again, and I feel really happy that they were paying attention to me. Now Im here. "I just want to appreciate that opportunity that they give me again and I want to just help them, help them to win." Montero, who said he was using a heavier bat than usual as he normally does against left-handers, showed the power that has made him a top prospect by reaching out of the zone to pull a low pitch for a two-run homer to left in the second and give the Mariners a 2-1 lead. The two runs would prove to be enough for starter Roenis Elias, who pitched seven strong innings. Elias (6-5) allowed three hits and struck out six without a walk while facing the minimum in five innings. After failing to win a game for nearly a month, Elias has won three of his last four. The only mistake Elias made turned into a solo home run by Rene Rivera in the second. "It was a good day for me," Elias said through an interpreter. "I had control of it and went out and did what I was capable of doing. Thank God it worked out well for us." "He has a good, live, young arm," San Diego manager Bud Black said. "He threw some secondary pitches as the game went on when he was behind the count, which I think helped him." Robinson Cano added two more insurance runs in the fifth with his fourth home run of the season to give the Mariners a 4-1 lead and it was enough to chase San Diego starter Eric Stults. Stults (2-9) allowed four runs, six hits and a walk. The left-hander struck out five, but had trouble finding the strike zone consistently and needed a season-high 102 pitches. The Padres bullpen was unable to keep the game close, as reliever Tim Stauffer loaded the bases and then gave up a two-run double to Kyle Seager. The Seattle third baseman leads the team with 47 RBIs, the most by a Mariner through 71 games since Raul Ibanez had 49 in 2007. The Padres have scored two runs or less 10 times in the last 15 games and have recorded four hits or less 13 times this season. NOTES: The teams travel to San Diego for another two-game set. Seattle RHP Felix Hernandez and San Diego RHP Andrew Cashner are slated to pitch in the opener on Wednesday. ... Black said INF Jedd Gyorko (plantar fasciitis) is not close to returning from the 15-day DL, despite being eligible to be reinstated on Friday. Gyorko, though, may be able to shed his walking boot on Friday. Avalanche Jerseys 2020 . The Eastern Conference-leading Celtics finished their recent trek at 3-1 on Monday in Salt Lake City when Rajon Rondo made a key jumper with 24.1 seconds remaining, as Boston held off the Utah Jazz, 107-102, at EnergySolutions Arena. Colorado Avalanche Store . Louis, MO (SportsNetwork. https://www.cheapavalanche.com/. With Washington teammate Nene drawing double-teams coming off his big game against the Lakers, Gortat scored 25 points on 11-of-12 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Wizards to a 100-92 win in overtime over Milwaukee on Wednesday night. Colorado Avalanche Shirts . LOUIS -- St. Colorado Avalanche Pro Shop . Every. Single. Game. Thats 1,230 in total to cover the regular season. The man is Corey Sznajder, a soft-spoken 23-year-old Salisbury University grad who lives in Annapolis, Maryland and has been charting zone entries and zone exits throughout the NHL. I love big projects, he said. No kidding. At the 2013 Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, I met Eric Tulsky, who presented research on the value of controlled zone entries (short answer: about twice as valuable to enter with control of the puck rather than dumping it in) and Sznajder had charted a couple hundred games that were included in that study.MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Courtney Lee scored 18 points, Marc Gasol had 14 points and 12 rebounds, and the Memphis Grizzlies overcame a late three-point shooting display by Los Angeles to beat the Lakers 108-103 on Wednesday night. Tony Allen added 17 points for Memphis, while James Johnson also scored 14 and Zach Randolph added 13. Jodie Meeks led the Lakers with 19 points, Wesley Johnson added 18 and Pau Gasol had 17 points and 10 rebounds. Jordan Farmars added 16 points and MarShon Brooks had 14. The Lakers were 7 of 11 on three-pointers in the fourth quarter and Farmars three from 29 feet with about 15 seconds left pulled Los Angeles to 106-103. However, Lees two free throws closed the scoring. Memphis still led 102-89 with 2:22 left, but a three-pointer by Johnson and two by Farmar made things uncomfortable for the Grizzlies at the end. The Lakers finished shooting 49 per cent, including 15 of 28 on threes. Memphis also shot 49 per cent, but was 4 of 13 from long distance. Memphis controlled the inside, outrebounding the Lakers 45-34 and holding a 56-34 advantage on scoring in the paint. The Grizzlies dominated the first half, shooting 57 per cent, including 4 of 9 from outside the arc for a 65-46 lead at the break. Lee and Allen already had 11 points apiece, connecting on a combined 9 of 13 from the floor. The Lakers held only one lead with their first basket of the game. From there, the Grizzlies continued to build on the advantage that eventually reachhed 20 in the half.dddddddddddd Johnson had 12 points for the Lakers, who shot 43 per cent. Los Angeles committed 10 turnovers leading to 16 Memphis points. The Grizzlies also held a 34-16 scoring margin in the paint. The Lakers defence seemed to put little pressure on Grizzlies shooters in the half, contributing to Memphis field-goal percentage. The Grizzlies came out sloppy in the second half. In the first four minutes of the third, they committed three turnovers and were only 2 of 7 from the field. The Lakers managed to cut the deficit to 16, but it didnt take long for Memphis to push the lead back to 20. The Lakers pulled to 76-64 on Pau Gasols jumper, then consecutive three-pointers from Brooks and Meeks helped pull Los Angeles to 82-73 at the end of the third. Meeks had 11 in the third, and Pau Gasol added eight points as Los Angeles outscored Memphis 27-17 in the frame. Ryan Kellys three-pointer to open the fourth brought Los Angeles within six. Memphis took the lead back to double digits with a 9-2 push, before the Lakers used three-point shooting to make it interesting down the stretch. NOTES: Memphis reserve G Mike Miller had six points, ending his string of three games off the bench with at least 10 points. ... The Lakers bench, second in league in scoring at 41 points a game, scored 35 but Memphis reserves had 49. ... Lakers C Chris Kaman did not dress because of a sore back. ... Memphis is 52-7 over the past two seasons when it reaches 100 points. ' ' '