Europa » was going through last year -- very toug

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. Guy Lafleur Jersey .com) - Delon Wright made all 12 of his free throws and finished with 21 points and six assists as No. Jean Beliveau Jersey ... maybe even more than that. Maybe all season I have to take a few blows. http://www.authenticcanadienspro.com/Kar...nadiens-jersey/. -- Chris Jones and Louisville have done a tremendous job protecting the basketball this season and thats led to easy victories. Larry Robinson Jersey . -- Howie Kendrick had a two-run single in his first game batting leadoff this season, Chris Iannetta hit a pair of RBI singles and the Los Angeles Angels beat Cleveland 6-4 Tuesday night, sending the Indians to their fifth straight defeat. Max Domi Jersey . Its the games against the leagues struggling franchises that have proved to be an issue.TORONTO – The Toronto Rock has announced the signing of four players, all to one-year agreements, pending league approval. Defenders Hayden Smith and Eric Pitre along with forwards Dylan Webster and Keegan Bal will all try to earn spots with the Rock when training camp opens in less than two months. Smith played four games with the Buffalo Bandits in 2013, his rookie season in the NLL after being selected in the 2nd round, 13th overall by the Bandits in the 2012 NLL Draft. The 61, 195-pound native of Owen Sound, Ontario, is a tenacious defender who is not afraid to mix it up. He finished the 2014 season on Buffalos practice roster, making Smith a free agent at seasons end. The 23-year old capped off his 2-year Junior A career by capturing the Minto Cup Canadian Junior A Lacrosse Championship with the Orangeville Northmen in 2012. He spent the early portion of his Junior lacrosse career playing for his hometown Junior B club, the Owen Sound North Stars. Smith has split his two years of Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) between Brampton and Kitchener-Waterloo. Following his 3rd round selection by the Rock in the 2013 NLL Draft, Keegan Bal was placed on the Rocks draft list as he was committed to completing grad school in England at the University of Durham where he obtained his Masters degree in Business Management and Finance. This year, the offensive righty will come to training camp with an eye on a roster position. Bal has enjoyed two successful summers in the Western Lacrosse Association (WLA) playing for the New Westminster Salmonbellies. Prior to playing Canadian Senior A lacrosse, he played his Junior A laacrosse with the same New Westminster organization and was a top-10 scorer in his final year of eligibility putting up 57 points in just 16 games.dddddddddddd He also had a fantastic NCAA career at Lake Erie College where he was named the ECAC Division 2 Offensive Player of the Year as a senior in 2013. He established a school record with 80 points in his final year of college outdoor lacrosse. Lefty forward Dylan Webster will bring some intangibles to the table as he is also a terrific on faceoffs. He went undrafted in the 2014 NLL Draft and has signed with Toronto as a free agent. Webster has a great touch around the net and is a pure finisher, scoring at a 20-goal per season pace throughout his 4-year Junior A career with the Brampton Excelsiors. In his first year of Junior lacrosse, he scored 50 goals in 19 games with the Halton Hills Junior B Bulldogs. In his senior year of NCAA Division 1 outdoor lacrosse at Quinnipiac, Webster had his most successful season in the goal scoring department, notching 26 goals and starting all 14 games at Attack. This past summer, in his rookie season of MSL with the Brampton Excelsiors, the Brampton native scored 9 points in 8 games and handled a great deal of the faceoff load for the club. Eric Pitre, also a free agent addition, has played the last two summers of MSL for the Oakville Rock under the watchful eye of Toronto Rock GM Terry Sanderson who also serves in the same role for the Oakville summer Senior A club. Pitre is a physical defender who often flies under the radar. The 23-year old played his Junior A lacrosse with his hometown Toronto Beaches. ' ' '