Spiele » offensive linemen who started the first three games in 2015

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Getting the chance to play first base for the first time, Tim Beckham figured he might as well hit like a slugging first baseman instead of a middle infielder.Beckham made the most of his emergency position switch by hitting a homer and sparking a four-run inning with his eighth straight hit over three games to lead the Tampa Bay Rays to a 7-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Thursday night.Thats not an easy thing, manager Kevin Cash said. Thats uncomfortable to go play somewhere in a big league ballgame. You can imagine theres probably some nerves and anxiety.With Logan Morrison sidelined by an injured right forearm and Steve Pearce needing a day off, Beckham was Tampa Bays best option to play first despite never having played the position.He took infield before the game and got some quick lessons from bench coach Tom Foley before taking the field with one of Pearces gloves.I just told myself I trust in my ability, Beckham said. Just trust in my ability and be comfortable over there. It helped out.While he played error-free defense and made a nice play on a forceout in the ninth, it was his bat that did the biggest damage.He followed up a five-hit game in Colorado on Wednesday by hitting a solo homer in the second against Sonny Gray (4-9) and then adding a leadoff single in the big fifth inning that gave Tampa Bay the lead for good.Beckham, who started the streak with a single in his final at-bat Monday, was finally retired when he popped out to end the sixth but by then he had done his damage. His eight hits in eight at-bats -- he walked in his other plate appearance -- were one more hit than he had in 41 at-bats in all of June.Corey Dickerson homered and drove in three runs, and Logan Forsythe, Brad Miller and Evan Longoria added RBI hits in the fifth inning to back a solid start by Matt Moore (6-7).Moore allowed a three-run homer to Jake Smolinski in the second but nothing else in seven innings to earn his first win in eight road starts this season.I think that kind of woke me up, Moore said of the homer. It was early in the game. We were just trying to set the tone by throwing strikes, pounding the zone early.Alex Colome got three outs for his 21st save in as many chances to give the Rays their first three game winning streak since June 12-15. Tampa Bay has won four of five following a 3-24 stretch that was the worst in franchise history.Gray, who snapped a seven-game losing streak last Saturday against Toronto, was unable to build on that success. He allowed seven runs and nine hits in five innings.That game kind of went how my years been, giving up the home run then having the big inning, Gray said. I thought at the start of the fifth inning I made some pretty good pitches, and suddenly its first and second with nobody out and then it didnt go well from there.TRAINERS ROOMRays: Morrison got an injection in his injured forearm and is expected to be fine in a day or two.Athletics: LHP Rich Hill (blister) played catch before the game with protection on his middle finger. He is still not ready to throw curveballs or pitch off the mound. ... RHP Zach Neal was recalled from Triple-A Nashville and LHP Patrick Schuster was optioned to Nashville.TRADE TALKAs RF Josh Reddick said hes tuning out any talk about a possible trade before the Aug. 1 deadline, saying the game is hard enough without worrying about things out of his control. But Reddick did say he is upset there hasnt been more progress on a long-term deal to keep him in Oakland past this season.Its kind of disheartening to know something hasnt been worked out so far, and weve been four months into it, he said.UP NEXTRays: Jake Odorizzi (4-5) snapped a six-start winless streak last Sunday against Baltimore when he allowed two runs in six innings for his first win since June 8.Athletics: Sean Manaea (3-5) faces the Rays for the first time in his career in the second game of the series. Shoes Canada Shop .J. -- Marshawn Lynch said Thursday it will be good to get back to football after the Seattle quiet talking running back wrapped up his final mandatory media session of Super Bowl week. Shoes Canada Cheap . The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling "puts an end to my dreams of being a top player," the 27-year-old Troicki said in a statement. "I worked my entire life for it, and it has been taken away from me in one afternoon by a doctor I didnt know," said Troicki, whose ranking peaked at No. https://www.shoescanadaonline.com/ .5 million, one-year contract on Friday. Hawkins, who turns 41 in December, will compete with Rex Brothers for the closers role at spring training. Shoes Canada Free Shipping . The 19-year-old Olsen played 34 games with the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL this season. In that time, hes recorded 17 goals and 17 assists with 36 penalty minutes. Shoes Canada Sale . Coach Mike Munchak says Fokou stretched ligaments in his left knee Oct. 13 against Seattle, which could keep out up to five weeks even though the linebacker didnt need surgery. LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- While history says his teams make a jump in Season 2, John Fox wasnt making any bold predictions for the Chicago Bears.He just knows they are in a better spot than they were a year ago.Its hard to predict whats going to happen, he said. But ... Im pleased with where we are this year. If I had to compare to something, it would be this time last year and I feel much better about where we are now than I did at this time a year ago.The Bears enter their second training camp under Fox and general manager Ryan Pace with a different look after a busy offseason. Their sights are set higher coming off a last-place finish in the NFC North at 6-10.They did look more like a professional outfit after being engulfed by chaos the previous season. But they are seeking more.Foxs record suggests they can expect that in Season 2. Carolina went from seven wins in 2002 to 11 and won the NFC championship in 2003, while Denver went from eight wins in 2011 to 13 in 2012.Here are some things to watch during training camp:TAKE TWO: Now that Kevin White is healthy after missing his rookie season with a stress fracture in his left shin, maybe he and Alshon Jeffery will form the dynamic receiver tandem the Bears envisioned.Then again, Jeffery is a bit of a question mark after injuries limited him to nine games. He still led the team in receiving. But calf, hamstring, groin and shoulder problems raised questions about his durability even though he played in all 16 games the previous two years.Jeffery also stayed away from the teams voluntary organized activities after being designated a franchise player during free agency.REPLACING PLAYMAKERS: The Bears are down two of their top playmakers on offense now that Matt Forte and tight end Martellus Bennett are gone. And they are banking on players who are somewhat unproven or have long injury histories to replace them.The decision not to offer two-time Pro Bowler Forte a contract after eight seasons dealt a blow to both the running and passing games. It also created a big opportunity for Jeremy Langford, who showed promise as a rookie and finished with 537 yards rushing and 279 receiving. KaDeem Carey, Jacquizz Rodgers and fifth-round pick Jordan Howard also figure in the mix.At tight end, the Bears are eentrusting Zach Miller after trading Bennett to New England.dddddddddddd Thats hardly a sure thing: Miller missed the 2012, 2013 and 2014 seasons because of injuries. But he re-established himself in Chicago last season, catching 34 passes for 439 yards and a team-leading five touchdown receptions. That led to a two-year contract in March.DEFENSIVE BOOST: The Bears have been overhauling a defense that ranked among the worst in franchise history ever since Pace and Fox arrived. That continued during the offseason.The Bears signed Danny Trevathan from Super Bowl champion Denver and added Jerrell Freeman from Indianapolis to fill needs at inside linebacker. They traded up to draft Georgia outside linebacker Leonard Floyd with the ninth pick, believing his athleticism will give them a pass-rush threat who can also drop back into coverage.The Bears, a franchise built on a foundation of defense, tied for 22nd in sacks and 30th in interceptions. But they believe they are poised to make a jump.PROTECTION: Only one of the five offensive linemen who started the first three games in 2015 -- Kyle Long -- figures to be in the lineup for the opener. And he is at a different position, back at right guard after filling in at right tackle a year ago. That switch was made possible by the signing of Bobby Massie. The Bears have Hroniss Grasu at center, with Charles Leno at left tackle and rookie Cody Whitehair and veteran Ted Larsen at left guard.CONTINUITY FOR CUTLER: The Bears lost their offensive coordinator when Adam Gase took the Miami Dolphins head coaching job. But they at least maintained some continuity by promoting quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains. That should mean a smoother transition for Jay Cutler, who had a career-high 92.3 passer rating and cut his interceptions from 18 to 11 in 15 games.INJURY WATCH: Linebacker Pernell McPhee had arthroscopic knee surgery in the offseason, and it was not clear if he will be ready for the start of camp. McPhee slowed after a strong start last season, finishing with six sacks after getting five in the first seven games.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '