SAN FRANCISCO — The Miami Marlins will seek to continue to work their late-game magic against the San Francisco Giants when the teams meet for the second time in a three-game series Tuesday night.

Miguel Rojas capped a three-run rally in the ninth inning Monday Authentic John Franklin-Myers Jersey , allowing the Marlins to overcome a 4-2 deficit and beat the Giants for the fourth time in five games over the past eight days.

All four wins have come in come-from-behind fashion.

Monday’s thriller could have a carryover effect on the rest of the series as Giants closer Hunter Strickland and Marlins outfielder Lewis Brinson, one of the heroes of the ninth-inning rally, exchanged words after the Marlins had taken the lead.

Brinson also had a hand in one of Miami’s rallies last week, smacking a game-tying hit off Madison Bumgarner in last Monday’s 7-5 win.

The Giants did not appreciate the way Brinson celebrated the hit, and it was no surprise when Strickland’s first pitch to him in the ninth this time around was under his chin.

But Brinson earned the right to celebrate again, lining a game-tying single to right field off Strickland, then yelling at the Giants? enforcer on his way to first base.

Brinson reached third on Rojas’ tie-breaking hit, after which Strickland was removed from the game, exiting the field toward the third base dugout and within 15 feet of Brinson.

The two then exchanged words again, setting the stage another possible encounter before the end of the series.

It was Strickland’s fourth blown save of the season, but just the Giants first loss this season in a game in which it led going into the ninth inning. They’d been 31-0.

Afterward, Giants manager Bruce Bochy credited for Marlins for once again not going down without a fight.

“We’ve had the lead; we’ve got to finish it,” he said. “They keep themselves in the ballgame. Keep it close and anything can happen.”

Monday’s 5-4 outcome was identical to last week’s 5-4 Marlins win on Wednesday, a game also started by left-handers Caleb Smith of the Marlins and Andrew Suarez of the Giants.

Tuesday’s second game of the series also will feature a pitching rematch, with right-handers Dan Straily (2-2 Kenny Clark Jersey , 4.23) of the Marlins and Dereck Rodriguez (1-1, 4.34) of the Giants going head-to-head for the second time in six days.

The Giants prevailed the first time around last Thursday despite blowing an early 3-0 lead. They needed 16 innings to win 6-3.

Rodriguez worked 6 2/3 innings in the win, allowing two runs and seven hits. It was just the third start and fourth big-league appearance of his career.

He’ll take an 0-0 and 2.70 ERA against the Marlins into the game.

Straily, meanwhile, worked five innings in the first meeting, allowing three runs and three hits. Andrew McCutchen and Mac Williamson accounted for the three runs with home runs.

The 29-year-old has never lost to the Giants, going 4-0 with a 2.82 ERA in six career starts. He’s 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA in two starts in San Francisco.

– When shortstop Xander Bogaerts is cranking out home runs, and crawling around to save runs, the Boston Red Sox know they are in good hands.

Bogaerts hit a tiebreaking home run in the sixth inning, and the Red Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 2-1 on Thursday night for their fourth consecutive victory.

David Price (8-4) pitched seven inning of four-hit ball to earn his sixth victory over his past seven appearances. He gave up a run and struck out seven. Craig Kimbrel pitched a scoreless ninth to lock down his 22nd save, pitching around two inning-opening walks by striking out Kyle Seager and getting Ryon Healy to ground into a double play.

It was Boston’s major-league leading 48th win of the season, and snapped Seattle’s four-game winning streak.

”That was a pretty cool game, 2-1,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. ”That is a good team over there.”

Bogaerts certainly had a crucial impact. He homered with two outs in the sixth, hitting a 2-2 fastball from Felix Hernandez over the left-center field wall to give Boston a 2-1 lead. It was Bogaerts’ 10th home run of the season Kevin Huber Jersey , matching his total from 2017.

It was an at-bat that certainly impressed his manager, given that Bogaerts had struck out against Hernandez in his first two at-bats.

”It seemed like he had no chance, honestly,” Cora said. ”He was swinging and missing. I think it was tough for him to see that ball when (Hernandez) was throwing the changeup.

”But he spread out and was trying to make contact. … And he gets a fastball, was short to it and he drilled it.”

Price was fantastic in outdueling Hernandez, who gave up both runs in seven innings, striking out six.

And after a slow first month, he has taken off. The zip has returned on his fastball, too, reaching 96 mph on Thursday.

”Velocity-wise, yeah (it was my best outing),” Price said. ”Command (wise), it was there, and then it wasn’t – and then it was there again. Whenever I really needed to make pitches tonight, I did.”

Price got a key out in the sixth inning in Seattle’s Jean Segura Tyler Boyd Jersey , the AL’s second-leading hitter at .347. The 11-pitch at-bat ended when Segura grounded a ball up the middle, but right to Bogaerts, who took it from his knees and crawled over to touch second base before throwing over to complete a double play.

”They made (big plays) tonight, and we didn’t,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. ”We had to somehow come up with a big hit and we just didn’t get it.”

The Mariners tied it at 1-all in the bottom of the fifth on Guillermo Heredia’s sacrifice fly to left field. Boston grabbed a 1-0 lead on Jackie Bradley Jr.’s RBI double off Hernandez (6-6) in the second.

MARINERS PROSPECT FINISHES COMEBACK

Nearly a year ago, Seattle right-handed pitcher Rob Whalen walked away from baseball.

After a July 5 start for Triple-A Tacoma, Whalen left the team, citing issues with depression. Placed on the team’s restricted list, he didn’t return the rest of the season.

However, after rediscovering joy in life, which included his passion for baseball, Whalen nearly made the big-league ballclub out of spring training.

”I just wanted to come in and have fun, enjoy life and what I get to do for a living,” Whalen said.

It showed his minor-league numbers. Whalen was 7-3 with a 4.50 ERA pitching for Tacoma, and was promoted Thursday by the Mariners to pitch in long relief.

BRADLEY SHOWING SIGNS

Boston’s Jackie Bradley Jr. came into the game in an 0-for-15 slump over his last four games Andrew Billings Jersey , and just 1 for 23 over the previous week.

Cora said no hitter in the final two games at Baltimore hit the baseball harder than Bradley. He just did not have a hit to show for it. He did drive in the game’s first run Thursday with a sharp double to right field.

”We do feel now he is in a great spot,” Cora said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Red Sox: 2B Dustin Pedroia (left knee inflammation) is still not doing any baseball activity, although he did work out in the visiting clubhouse gym Thursday. … LHP Drew Pomeranz (left biceps tendinitis) played catch and is feeling better, Cora said. … RHP Tyler Thornburg (right shoulder) was scheduled to make a start Thursday for Triple-A Pawtucket as he makes his way back from thoracic outlet surgery.

Mariners: RHP Nick Vincent (strained right groin) continues to play catch every day, as he did before the game Thursday. It is uncertain when he will get back on the mound for a bullpen session. Servais said he is hopeful Vincent and RHP Juan Nicasio (right knee) will be able to return from the 10-day disabled list early in the team’s upcoming road trip, starting Tuesday in New York.

UP NEXT

Red Sox: RHP Rick Porcello (8-3, 3.54 ERA), the 2016 AL Cy Young Award winner, has gone six innings and given up two earned runs in each of his past three starts (two wins). This will be his 13th career start against the Mariners, and he is 3-1 with a 2.22 ERA at Safeco Field.

Mariners: LHP James Paxton (6-1, 3.02 ERA) is 5-0 with a 1.87 ERA since early May. Paxton is 2-0 with a 0.39 ERA against Boston, having given up just one earned run in 23 innings. He beat the Red Sox last July with seven scoreless innings.

—

The Milwaukee Brewers sent struggling star outfielder Ryan Braun to Los Angeles on Wednesday for treatment on his achy right thumb.

Braun is expected to rejoin the first-place Brewers on Thursday when they begin a four-game series at Miller Park against St. Louis.

The Brewers planned to play without Braun on Wednesday. Turns out Authentic Preston Brown Jersey , they didn’t have to.

The finale of Milwaukee’s three-game series against Pittsburgh was postponed by heavy downpours at PNC Park that turned hallways leading from the dugouts to the clubhouses into raging rivers.

A makeup date was not immediately announced.

Officials delayed the scheduled 7:05 p.m. start Wednesday as showers loomed. Groundskeepers took the tarp off around 8 p.m., but quickly put it back in place after another rain band moved in. The game was called after a delay of 2 hours, 1 minute.

This is the second time this season the Pirates have been forced to postpone a home game due to inclement weather. It was the 39th postponement in the majors this year, matching the total from all of last season.

The Brewers are scheduled to visit PNC Park twice more this season. The teams do have a common day off on Sept. 20 right before the Brewers begin a three-game set in Pittsburgh.

Chad Kuhl, Pittsburgh’s scheduled starter on Wednesday, will instead get the nod when the Pirates begin a four-game series against Arizona on Thursday.

There was no immediate word on if the Brewers would alter their rotation against St. Louis. Brent Suter was scheduled to start Wednesday against the Pirates, with Junior Guerra slated to take the hill on Thursday.

Brewers bullpen catcher Marcus Hanel did his best to have a little bit of fun in the monsoon. He did a series of belly flops on the tarp shortly after the game was called.

By then, Braun was already on the West Coast to have cryotherapy on his right thumb.

”It’s something that he expects from time to time, and when it starts, we try to get in front of it and knock it out right away,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said.

Counsell said it’s the fifth time Braun has had the procedure done over the last few years. The six-time All-Star is hitting just .236 with eight home runs and 31 RBIs this season and is mired in a 3-for-17 slump.

The Pirates announced Wednesday that third baseman Jung Ho Kang is dealing with discomfort in his left wrist while playing for Triple-A Indianapolis.

Kang Authentic Chad Thomas Jersey , who is in the process of returning after missing the entire 2017 season following his arrest on DUI charges in South Korea, is considered ”day to day.”

The team also placed outfielder Corey Dickerson on the Family Medical Emergency List and recalled utility player Adam Frazier from Triple-A Indianapolis. The team offered no details on the reason for Dickerson’s departure, but he will be away from the club for at least three days.

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Clayton Richard says the San Diego Padres now have enough punch to make late-game comebacks.

That offense has the Padres playing like they can escape last place in the NL West.

Hunter Renfroe hit a go-ahead, two-run single in San Diego’s five-run seventh inning, Freddy Galvis had a three-run homer and went 5 for 5, and the Padres beat the Atlanta Braves 9-3 on Friday night.

”I think we have the ability to add late at the plate and that’s huge,” Richard said, adding newcomers Galvis and Eric Hosmer ”add such professionalism. They’re not going to give in. That definitely has carried over to other players.”

The Padres, who have split the first two games of the four-game series, are trying to win their sixth straight series.

Richard (6-6) allowed three runs, two earned Youth Tyquan Lewis Jersey , on six hits in six innings. Luis Castillo closed the game with two scoreless innings.

Freddie Freeman’s 15th homer gave Atlanta a 3-2 lead in the fifth. Jose Pirela hit a two-run homer for San Diego in the first.

Sam Freeman (1-3) gave up three runs in the seventh.

Before Renfroe’s single, the Padres were on the verge of wasting a bases-loaded, no-out opportunity for the second time in the game.

Pirela grounded into a double play in which pinch-runner Cory Spangenberg was forced out at the plate.

Renfroe then hit Freeman’s 1-2 pitch up the middle , driving in Travis Jankowski and Eric Hosmer.

Galvis added a three-run homer just beyond the reach of leaping centerfielder Ender Inciarte, off Peter Moylan.

”We walked too many guys in that inning,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker, referring to passes issued by Sam Freeman and Moylan.

Galvis had a run-scoring single, giving him four RBIs, in the ninth. The five hits were a career high.

Brandon McCarthy allowed two runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Home plate umpire Joe West ejected Padres manager Andy Green in the fourth after arguing West’s changed call on an apparent strikeout by Ozzie Albies. West initially clinched his right fist as if to call Albies out. He then changed his mind, apparently thinking Albies tipped the ball – which was not caught by catcher Raffy Lopez before it hit the dirt.

Green argued and was headed back to the dugout when he was tossed by West. Green then turned back toward the plate and threw his cap in the general direction of West before engaging the umpire in a more spirited argument. First-base umpire Doug Eddings eventually stepped between Green and West and helped to point the manager back toward the dugout.

”I think I’ve said absolutely everything I want to say about umpires,” Green said.

It was the second straight game Green had issues with an umpire’s call. He was upset after a video review confirmed Tyler Flowers was hit by a pitch in the Braves’ 4-2 win on Thursday night.

It was the Braves’ turn to complain in the ninth when a video review failed to overturn a safe call on Renfroe’s slide at second base. Umpires ruled shortstop Dansby Swanson failed to touch second base before throwing to first on Castillo’s grounder.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Padres: After throwing four hitless innings in a rehab start Thursday night for Class-A Lake Elsinore Youth Dante Pettis Jersey , LHP Joey Lucchesi (right hip strain) will throw a bullpen session on Saturday which will determine if he’s ready to come off the DL. Lucchesi, who has been out since May 15, could start on Tuesday or Wednesday against Oakland, or he could make another rehab start.

Braves: RHP Mike Foltynewicz, who left Saturday’s start with triceps tightness, felt good after playing catch. The team won’t make a decision about his next start until he throws off a mound. … OF Ronald Acuna Jr. (left knee sprain) ran the bases and took grounders and fly balls in left field. He will test the knee by running harder on Saturday.

HOT HITTER

Freddie Freeman’s homer gave him hits in 25 of his last 26 games. He leads the NL with his .342 batting average and 90 hits. He also ranks among the league leaders with his 15 homers and 49 RBIs. He has hit eight homers off left-handers.

FULL HOUSE

Attendance was 41,497, Atlanta’s fourth sellout of the season.

UP NEXT

Padres: RHP Jordan Lyles will make his eighth start of the season – his high mark since 10 starts with Colorado in 2015 – as the four-game series continues on Saturday.

Braves: LHP Sean Newcomb will look for his eighth win as he makes his second start of the season against the Padres. He pitched six scoreless innings in a 14-1 win at San Diego on June 5.

—

CHECK HIM

The Chicago Cubs might have further word on Yu Darvish after the Japanese ace said he felt soreness in his troubled triceps tendon following a minor league rehab start. Darvish hasn’t pitched in the majors since May 20 because of right triceps tendinitis. He threw five sharp innings for Class A South Bend on Monday [url=http://www.giantsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-saquon-barkley-jersey]Authentic Saquon Barkley Jersey[/url] , and was set to rejoin the Cubs during their series at Dodger Stadium.

”In the triceps there’s likeliness to get more fatigue there, especially if there’s a long gap between innings,” he said through a translator. ”That’s when I feel fatigue there. Not necessarily pain, but I can’t for sure say there is nothing going on in the tricep zone.”

NIMMO NEEDED

The Mets take a seven-game skid into their game against Pittsburgh, but at least they may get their most productive hitter back. Brandon Nimmo has a sore right pinkie after getting hit by a pitch Sunday, but an MRI showed no broken bones and he is day to day. He didn’t start Monday but entered as a pinch-runner in the eighth inning and stayed in the game to play left field. The Mets have also lost 14 of 15 at home and are 13-25 at Citi Field this season.

ACES ALONG I-95

Aces Luis Severino and Jake Arrieta square off as the Yankees continue a series in Philadelphia. Severino (11-2, 2.24) has never faced the Phillies, and Arrieta (5-5, 3.42) is 3-1, 3.83 in seven career starts vs. New York. The Yankees won the series opener Monday in their first appearance at Citizens Bank Park since beating the Phillies in the 2009 World Series. The Yankees improved to 14-14 against the Phillies, leaving the Los Angeles Dodgers as the only team they have a losing record (6-7) against in the regular season.

ON THE SKIDS

Carlos Martinez has lost three straight decisions entering a tough test against Corey Kluber and the Indians. Martinez (3-4, 3.24) hasn’t won since May 2, and St. Louis has dropped his past five starts [url=http://www.thebengalsfootballauthentic.com/billy-price-jersey-authentic]Youth Billy Price Jersey[/url] , a span in which he has a 7.06 ERA. Kluber (11-3, 2.10) pitched seven innings of one-hit ball in a 12-0 victory over the White Sox in his previous outing.

COLLEGES

Oregon State and Arkansas begin the College World Series, a day after the opener in their best-of-three matchup was rained out in Omaha. Luke Heimlich (16-2) starts for Oregon State against the Razorbacks’ Blaine Knight (13-0).

A two-time Pac-12 pitcher of the year, Heimlich was not picked in this month’s Major League Baseball draft. He wasn’t with the team at last year’s College World Series after it was revealed he had pleaded guilty to molesting a young relative when he was 15. He served two years’ probation and went through a treatment program, but later denied wrongdoing in interviews with Sports Illustrated and The New York Times.

Drop into just about any bank or supermarket or sports bar in the Kansas City metro area these days and there’s a good chance you’ll see one of several photographs from just a few years ago hanging on a wall.

It might be Yordano Ventura unleashing a fastball. Or Eric Hosmer sliding into home at Citi Field in New York. Or Wade Davis with his arms thrust high into the air, his blazing fastball having just closed out Game 5 of the World Series and making the Kansas City Royals the world champions.

More than likely, you’ll find the now-iconic photograph of Union Station, where an estimated 400,000 people turned out to celebrate the club’s first title in three decades.

Those photos are reminders of better times. And how quickly things can change.

The Royals, who were indeed baseball royalty in 2015, are now neck and neck with the Orioles for the worst record in baseball. They’ve traded off their star closer, their best players are struggling and the prospects that might one day raise them from the abyss are years away from joining the club.

”The record is what it is. The hitting is what it is. The pitching is what it is,” said Royals manager Ned Yost [url=http://www.officialredwings.com/authentic-adidas-henrik-zetterberg-jersey]Womens Henrik Zetterberg Jersey[/url] , who presided over the rebuild that led to back-to-back World Series appearances. ”I have to continue to lead. We have to make sure this year has not been a waste.”

How did things fall apart so quickly?

To start, the Royals doled out big contracts to players that have not produced. Left fielder Alex Gordon consumes 14 percent of the payroll in the third year of a $72 million, four-year deal, but he’s hitting just .247 with five homers and 15 RBIs. Right-hander Ian Kennedy consumes 11 percent of the payroll in the third year of a $70 million, five-year deal, and he’s 1-8 with a 5.11 ERA.

The few stars that remain on the roster have likewise struggled to produce.

Salvador Perez likely will see his streak of five straight All-Star games end. The catcher, in the third year of a $52 million, six-year deal, is hitting .255 with 11 homers and 33 RBIs.

Good luck winning many games that way.

The Royals were 25-61 heading into their off day Thursday and had lost 24 of their last 28 games. They needed to go 38-38 the rest of the way just to avoid the ignominy of 100 losses.

Making things worse: The Royals are losing that many games with a payroll of about $144 million.

Another reason for the precipitous slide was year after year of poor drafts. Only one of their 13 first-round picks since 2010 is currently on the 25-man roster; Hunter Dozier is hitting .223 in 44 games as he struggles to lock down an everyday job.

”As a young guy you know you’re going to fail, and in some ways we want you to fail because that’s how you’re going to get better,” said Yost, who is going through the same slow learning process with infielder and erstwhile top prospect Adalberto Mondesi.

The son of longtime big leaguer Raul Mondesi, he is hitting .214 in 42 at-bats this season.

”We also don’t want to heap too much on their shoulders [url=http://www.officialducks.com/authentic-adidas-john-gibson-jersey]John Gibson Jersey[/url] ,” Yost said, ”so it’s balancing act.”

Maybe that’s why the Royals have been slow to gut their roster in favor of a complete rebuild, even if that appears to be coming. They’ve already traded utility outfielder Jon Jay to the Diamondbacks and star closer Kelvin Herrera to the Nationals, getting five prospects in return that the Royals hope will help restock a farm system that remains one of the worst in baseball.

More moves could be coming, too. The Royals are hopeful of trading third baseman Mike Moustakas, who signed a one-year deal when no long-term offers materialized last offseason. Versatile infielder Whit Merrifield could land a few solid prospects, and left-hander Danny Duffy and even Perez could be made available, though both have torpedoed their value with poor seasons.

The combination of an old and bad team has been made even worse by the fact that the Royals are, well, pretty boring. They don’t hit an abundance of homers. Their starting rotation includes the first two pitchers to hit 10 losses in the majors. There are no young stars yet worth watching.

As a result, the Royals are drawing an average of 20,283 fans to Kauffman Stadium. That’s a drop of more than 7,000 from last season and more than 13 [url=http://www.officialducks.com/authentic-adidas-josh-manson-jersey]Authentic Josh Manson Jersey[/url] ,000 from their championship season.

Still, for all the gloom, the typically irascible Yost has taken a decidedly optimistic approach to this season. He’s been through these long and painful rebuilds and come out the other side.

It takes patience. It takes smart moves. It takes more patience.

”There’s a lot of things to look at that you’re happy with, even though the record is what it is,” he said. ”There is progress that you’re going to see on the back end, in the light, just as we did in 2013 and 2014, when we turned the corner the last time.”

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Markakis hit a grand slam [url=http://www.officialavalanche.com/authentic-adidas-gabriel-landeskog-jersey]Gabriel Landeskog Jersey Kids[/url] , Fried took a shutout into the seventh inning and Atlanta beat the St. Louis Cardinals 11-4 on Saturday night.

”You’ve got to give all the credit to Max,” Markakis said. ”He went out and pitched one of the better games I’ve seen. For him, two runs early on was enough for him. It was nice to get some runs and give him a nice cushion there.”

The Braves have won the first two games of the three-game set. The Cardinals have dropped three in a row.

Fried (1-2) stymied the Cardinals on 101 pitches before being pulled with two outs in the seventh. Recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to start the game, he struck out 11, allowed four singles and walked three.

”My curveball was definitely on tonight,” said Fried, who also recorded his first major league hit with a single in the fifth. ”I was able to throw it for strikes, put it in the dirt when I wanted to. The big thing for me was getting the fastball over. I felt like I was able to get strike one pretty good. That was my main goal.”

Luke Weaver (4-7) went 4 2/3 innings, giving up 10 runs on eight hits, walking two and striking out five. He gave up homers to Markakis in his final inning and a two-run shot to Ronald Acuna Jr. in the second.

”At the end of the day, I was just done on a couple big swings,” Weaver said. ”I thought I threw some pitches in good spots, but it’s got to be executed a little bit better and you’ve just got to flush these types of days.”

The Braves sent 11 players to the plate in the six-run fifth. After Ozzie Albies doubled in Fried, the Cardinals intentionally walked Freddie Freeman to face Markakis. The right fielder hit his ninth homer of the season and fourth career grand slam off a 3-2 pitch.

”To be honest with you, I was just looking to hit something into the outfield and get a run in, and I ended up one of the better at-bats in the season,” Markakis said. ”I looked back at the video and (the pitch) wasn’t exactly where he wanted it, but he threw it somewhere close to the zone and I put a good swing on it.”

He added a sacrifice fly in the sixth to bring in Albies, finishing with five RBI on the day.

Albies went 3 for 5 and has a 10-game hit streak, batting .467 (21 for 47) during that span.

The Cardinals scored all of their runs in the ninth off Matt Wisler, including a leadoff home run from Jose Martinez.

LONGEVITY

Cardinals C Yadier Molina played in his 1,800th game, joining Hall of Famers Stan Musial [url=http://www.officialducks.com/authentic-adidas-jakob-silfverberg-jersey]Jakob Silfverberg Jersey[/url] , Lou Brock, Ozzie Smith and Enos Slaughter as Cardinals to play in at least that many. Molina entered the majors in 2004 and has spent his entire career with St. Louis. He ranks 12th among active players in games played.

MOVES

To make room for Fried, the Braves designated OF Peter Bourjos for assignment. Bourjos, in his first year with the Braves, was batting .205 in 36 games. He also played for St. Louis in 2014 and 2015.

TRAINING ROOM

Braves: RHP Arodys Vizcaino (shoulder inflammation) is expected to come off the 10-day DL on Monday. The Braves closer threw a side session Saturday and is on target for his return to the team. … C Tyler Flowers, who left Friday’s game with a right hamstring cramp after flying out to end the sixth inning, didn’t start Saturday. The Braves said it was part of the regular rotation between Flowers and C Kurt Suzuki. The two have alternated starts for the past 16 games.

Cardinals: RHP Luke Gregerson (right shoulder impingement) is scheduled to begin a rehab stint at Triple A Memphis on Sunday. He has yet to appear with the minor league club since going on the 10-day DL on May 16.

UP NEXT

Braves: RHP Mike Foltynewicz (5-4, 2.14) goes for his first win in a month. After tossing a 4-0 shutout against the Washington Nationals on June 1, he went 0-1 in his final three starts of the month. He failed to get past the fifth in any his final three June outings.

Cardinals: RHP John Gant (2-2, 3.48) is coming off his best start of the season, giving up one hit over seven innings as St. Louis beat the Cleveland Indians 4-0 on Monday. This is his first appearance against his former club since a 2016 trade that saw the Cardinals send starting pitcher Jaime Garcia to the Braves in exchange for three minor leaguers, including Gant.

—

Baltimore Ravens linebacker C.J. Mosley has no problem discussing the gut-wrenching way his season ended.

He’s talked about it with family and friends for nearly a month and openly shared his thoughts with fellow Pro Bowl players this week.

At breakfast. In the locker room. On the practice field.

He’s also gotten plenty of sympathetic support.

After all, the New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars know exactly how Mosley feels.

Players from all those teams are still trying to deal with the way they exited the postseason.

”You talk about it because that’s the life of the NFL,” Mosley said Thursday. ”You fight and fight, and it always comes down to the last two minutes or the last play of the game.”

The Pro Bowl has become a gathering spot for the brokenhearted, a place to laugh, smile and joke through lingering disappointment.

”When it’s the last game of the season, it definitely sticks with you a lot longer,” Mosley said. ”It was tough, but you’ve got to live and learn from it. It just builds calluses, as Coach (John) Harbaugh says, and you try to redeem yourself next season.”

The Ravens looked as if they were headed to the playoffs in the final minute of the final game of the regular season. But Baltimore gave up a crushing [url=http://www.newyorkgiantsteamonline.com/saquon-barkley-jersey]Authentic Saquon Barkley Jersey[/url] , 49-yard touchdown pass with 44 seconds remaining and lost 31-27 loss to Cincinnati. The outcome put Buffalo in the playoffs for the first time since the 1999 season.

”I know they helped us out, but to have pretty much a home playoff game and lose to a team that’s not having a good year, that’s difficult,” Bills guard Richie Incognito said.

Incognito and other Pro Bowlers felt as if Baltimore’s stunning setback took a backseat to others in the playoffs.

New Orleans was poised to beat Minnesota in an NFC divisional game until Case Keenum completed a last-ditch heave to Stefon Diggs, who turned it into a 61-yard touchdown reception that gave the Vikings a 29-24 victory. Rookie safety Marcus Williams whiffed trying to tackle Diggs near the sideline.

”That’s tough to go and do that,” Incognito said. ”You’re in and out of it in a game like New Orleans-Minnesota and then you lose it on the last play. That’s just demoralizing. That’s going to be in that kid’s head forever.”

It dominated conversation in Minnesota for a week – until the Vikings got thumped at Philadelphia while trying to become the first team in NFL history to make the Super Bowl in its home stadium.

”That’s why you keep doing things like this, try to enjoy the moment, live in the moment and actually try to get that game off your mind,” Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes said.

”I can’t tell you how long it’s going to take, but it’ll take very long if people keep asking me questions about the game. But eventually it’ll pass.

”We’ve got to look forward to next year and hopefully we’ll go to the Super Bowl.”

Tampa Bay defensive tackle Gerald McCoy said Minnesota’s loss was the toughest to watch in the postseason.

”You have that miracle catch and that happens in the NFC title game,” McCoy said. ”That hurts. I think they just couldn’t get over the fact of how they won and it just didn’t carry over to the next game.”

Jacksonville will carry its collapse into next season, too.

The Jaguars had a 10-point lead at New England in the fourth quarter in the AFC title game. Tom Brady and the defending Super Bowl champs were so desperate to get back in the game that they turned to trick plays.

”You’ve got the champs on the ropes, everything’s flowing, you feel like you’re going to win the game, you’re out-physically them and then Tom Brady takes over,” Incognito said.

Incognito and several Jaguars defenders talked about the loss during breakfast this week, with Incognito identifying the session as ”telling war stories about Tommy.”

All of them – the Jaguars, the Vikings, the Saints and the Ravens – could take solace in knowing it could be worse. The Atlanta Falcons blew a 28-3 lead to the Patriots in the Super Bowl last February.

”It’s takes a while,” Falcons safety Keanu Neal said. ”You’ve got to forget, just get right. It takes a second. It’s going to hurt because the opportunity was there, but time heals everything.”

—

Bills center Eric Wood’s plans to announce his retirement on Monday were sidetracked due to issues arising over what he is owed over the final two years of his contract [url=http://www.oaklandraidersteamonline.com/ryan-switzer-jersey]Authentic Ryan Switzer Jersey[/url] , a person with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.

Instead of announcing his retirement in front of a large gathering of family, friends and teammates, the nine-year veteran instead spent less than two minutes reading from a prepared statement in which Wood stressed he is still on the team’s roster.

”Thanks to everyone who supported me throughout my career. And because of that, I am here today,” Wood said. ”I’m sure there are a lot of unanswered questions. I hope to address those at a later date. Thanks, and go Bills.”

With that, Wood stepped down from the stage, picked up and kissed his daughter, Grace [url=http://www.newenglandpatriotsteamonline.com/adrian-clayborn-jersey]Authentic Adrian Clayborn Jersey[/url] , and walked away behind a curtain.

Wood will never play again after tests revealed he has two discs he said are ”dangerously close to my spinal cord.”

According to the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, teams can ask for a portion of bonus money to be returned if a player retires before his contract expires. There is, however, a gray area if a player retires as a result of a career-ending injury.

The person said the question over bonus money was the reason Wood held off on announcing his retirement as had been initially planned shortly after the player learned of his diagnosis following Buffalo’s 10-3 loss to Jacksonville in the AFC wild card playoff on Jan. 7.

The person spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because neither Wood nor the team commented on the matter that delayed the start of the news conference by nearly an hour.

Wood has been informed by doctors that the injury is so severe he would no longer be cleared to play – even with surgery or further treatment.

Bills general manager Brandon Beane declined to get into specifics when speaking with reporters. He said the lengthy delay in starting the news conference was the result of Wood’s late arrival and also due to a phone call the player had with his agent.

Beane acknowledged a complication by saying the team has no room under the current salary cap to release Wood until the NFL’s 2018 business year opens in mid-March.

”It’s tough. There’s all sorts of things when you’re doing roster management and all that,” he said. ”He’ll be on our roster for a while until we figure things out.”

Wood was entering the final year of his contract before signing a two-year extension in August. He has shied away from using the word retirement since news of his neck injury first surfaced Friday.

In a separate development, the Bills announced defensive line coach Mike Waufle has retired after completing his 20th NFL season and first in Buffalo.

The Bills filled Waufle’s spot by promoting defensive line assistant Bill Teerlinck. They also hired Aaron Whitecotton to take over as Teerlinck’s assistant.

Rather than focus on Wood’s uncertain status, Beane was more interested in discussing the impact the 31-year-old had as a team leader and helping the Bills reach the playoffs for the first time in 18 years.

”This is Eric’s day. It’s about him and a heck of a career he had,” Beane said. ”It’s bittersweet, but we’re just trying to celebrate his career.”

The news conference was held in the Bills’ practice facility rather than the team’s smaller media room to handle a crowd of about 100 people – not including members of the media – attending the event. Guests included Wood’s former teammates such as quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick [url=http://www.greenbaypackersteamonline.com/kenny-clark-jersey]Kenny Clark Jersey[/url] , and current Bills, including defensive tackle Kyle Williams and running back LeSean McCoy.

Also on hand were members of his charitable foundation, The Eric Wood Fund, as well family members of people his foundation has supported.

Wood opened the news conference by apologizing for the delay. He said was ”floored” when informed of the severity of his neck injury.

Wood said he sustained ”a stinger” for the first time in his career during a 20-16 loss at Cincinnati on Oct. 8, and then a second one the following game. He said tests showed no significant damage.

Wood is from Cincinnati and spent four seasons playing at Louisville before being selected by the Bills with their second of two first-round picks in the 2009 draft. Wood earned a starting job entering his rookie season and appeared in 121 career games, including one in the playoff.

Wood was also popular in the community for his charitable work, and was the team’s Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee in 2015 and `16.

Bills fans rallied to Wood’s support by donating more than $30,000 to Wood’s foundation, with the money going toward Buffalo’s Oishei Children’s Hospital.

—

AP NFL website:

TORONTO — Toronto Blue Jays left-hander J.A. Happ will take the mound against Luis Severino on Saturday in a repeat of the Opening Day matchup won by the New York Yankees.

With the July 31 deadline for trades without waivers looking [url=http://www.greenbaypackersteamonline.com/mason-crosby-jersey]Mason Crosby Jersey[/url] , Happ is considered a prime candidate to be dealt and the Yankees would be one of the interested teams, according to speculation.

The possibility of Severino (13-2, 1.98 ERA) and Happ (10-4, 4.03) soon becoming teammates adds another intriguing dimension to their matchup in the second game of a three-game series at the Rogers Centre.

The Blue Jays started the series with a 6-2 victory Friday night with Justin Smoak capping a five-run second inning with a three-run homer.

The Yankees (56-29) are 7-4 against the Blue Jays (41-46) in the season series so far, including a 4-3 record at the Rogers Centre as they complete their third and final series of the season there this weekend.

The win Friday ended the Blue Jays’ four-game losing streak against the Yankees.

Severino is an obvious choice for the All-Star Game to be played at Washington’s Nationals Park on July 17.

Happ is one of the few Blue Jays with a legitimate chance to go to the game.

Severino will be a leading candidate to win the American League Cy Young Award if he continues his current pace. He leads the majors in wins and is second in ERA.

The 24-year-old enters Saturday with a scoreless streak of 13 2/3 innings. He has allowed three runs or fewer in 15 straight starts, the longest such streak by a Yankees pitcher since Ron Guidry had a 15-game streak April 8-June 22, 1978. The only longer streak by a Yankee is 20 set by Russ Ford during the 1910 and 1911 seasons.

“I always feel great when Sevy’s on the mound,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “The record in a lot of ways speaks for itself. The ability to get deep into games. He’s been really good against the elite competition, it seems like [url=http://www.seattleseahawksteamonline.com/rasheem-green-jersey]Authentic Rasheem Green Jersey[/url] , as well.

“He’s putting himself in that conversation as one of the best in the game. There’s no doubt about it.”

Severino is 2-3 with a 4.12 ERA in nine career games (eight starts) against the Blue Jays and 2-0 with a 0.71 ERA in two starts against them this season. In five career starts at the Rogers Centre, he is 1-1 with a 2.81 ERA.

Happ had his worst start of the season Sunday when he allowed seven runs and 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings in a 9-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers.

He did not allow a run until the fifth when Nicholas Castellanos did most of the damage with a grand slam.

“I felt like I was a pitch away from getting out of it,” Happ said after the game. “Again, I look at the hard-hit balls and there was two or three today. I didn’t feel like I was in the middle of the zone getting hurt today, but it is what it is. It’s not a pretty outing.”

His only start against the Yankees this season was a loss on Opening Day, March 29, when he allowed three runs (two earned) in 4 2/3 innings as Severino picked up the win. In 17 career starts against the Yankees, he is 8-3 with a 3.53 ERA.

The Yankees have lost five of their past seven road games and are 23-16 in away games this season. They are 7-8 when visiting American League East cities this season.

The Blue Jays are 13-20 against AL East teams. They are 4-3 on their homestand and are 23-22 at home for the season.