Join us » Though a short week awaits Houston with a Thursday night meeting

MIAMI -- With Ricky Nolasco on the trade market, the San Diego Padres liked what they saw. Their hitters did, anyway. Will Venable drove in three runs and Logan Forsythe hit a two-run homer Friday night to help San Diego beat Nolasco and the Miami Marlins, 9-2. Nolasco (4-8) allowed six runs and 11 hits in five-plus innings to match or surpass his worst effort of the season in all three categories. San Diego is among the teams believed to be interested in the right-hander, who is the Marlins leader in career victories. "Im sure there were a lot of scouts in the stands watching," Padres manager Bud Black said. Nolasco said recent trade talk didnt affect his performance. "You read about it and see it on the Internet," Nolasco said. "But my job is to focus on what I have to do every fifth day. Just because I didnt get it done today doesnt mean Im not focusing or trying everything I can." Nolasco is on the market because he is by far the highest-paid player for cost-conscious Miami, and he becomes a free agent after the season. He predicted teams interested in him wont be dissuaded by his latest outing. "Whether I pitched good or bad tonight, I dont think thats going to dictate what kind of pitcher I am or what theyre going to get," he said. Black said the Padres had a good plan against Nolasco, who threw 110 pitches. "We drove his pitch count up early, so he was stressed and working hard," Black said. "That takes its toll on a pitcher for sure. The mistakes that he did make, we did some damage." Venable and Forsythe each had three of the Padres 15 hits. Edinson Volquez (6-6) gave up two runs in six innings for the Padres, who have outscored Miami 20-3 this season while winning all four games. The Marlins loss snapped a three-game winning streak that matched their longest this year. It was the first time in the past 11 games that theyve allowed more than three runs. Miami managed at least one hit in each of the first eight innings but went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position. "We werent crisp," manager Mike Redmond said. "We didnt give them our best." Volquez struck out eight, including six looking, and lowered his ERA to 5.50. He also singled and scored. "I felt great," Volquez said. "Everything was working tonight." The Padres made it 1-all in the second when Chase Headley singled, stole second and scored on Venables two-out single. They took the lead for good in the third when Volquez singled and Forsythe hit his third homer. With San Diego ahead 3-2, Miami had a runner at second base when Venable charged from right field and made a diving catch of Nolascos soft fly to end the fourth inning. "I didnt think he was going to catch it," Nolasco said. "I was more worried about getting thrown out at first." The Padres ended Nolascos night with four consecutive hits to start the sixth. Yasmani Grandal and Venable hit RBI singles, and another run scored on an error by shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria. "I couldnt put those guys away in the sixth, and a decent ballgame turns into a terrible one," Nolasco said. When asked if he thought he had pitched his final game for Miami, Nolasco said: "Im the wrong person to ask that question. Im not thinking like that." NOTES: Padres 2B Jedd Gyorko, who aggravated his strained right groin while on a rehabilitation assignment Wednesday with Double-A San Antonio, rejoined the Padres to undergo treatment and is expected to miss at least a few more games. He said he felt much better than when he was first hurt June 9. ... San Diego SS Everth Cabrera (strained hamstring) took part in pregame drills and might come off the disabled list Tuesday, the first day hes eligible to return. Hes expected to go on a brief rehabilitation assignment before being activated. ... The barrel of Logan Morrisons shattered bat flew into the 13th row when he grounded out in the eighth, but no one was hurt. ... The Padres signed OF Jordan Paroubeck, the 69th overall selection in this months draft, and have signed 18 of their first 19 picks. ... Headley is 8 for 18 (.444) against Nolasco. Nick Markakis Braves Jersey . -- Ken Appleby made 32 saves for his first shutout of the season to lead the Oshawa Generals to a 2-0 win over the Belleville Bulls on Wednesday in Ontario Hockey League action. Dansby Swanson Jersey .Y. -- Paul Byron and Matt Stajan scored as the Calgary Flames started a five-game road trip with a 2-1 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday afternoon. http://www.baseballbravesproshop.com/adam-duvall-braves-jersey/ . James, who turned 29 on Monday, injured his groin Friday during the Heats overtime loss at Sacramento. He sat out the following game, a 108-107 win Saturday in Portland, before coming back to help send the Nuggets to their seventh consecutive loss. Mike Foltynewicz Jersey . Giroud, who wasnt in the starting lineup for two matches after allegations about his private life and a decline in form, scored twice in the first half. Tomas Rosickys chip made it 3-0 before half time at Emirates Stadium, while defender Laurent Koscielny scored an unmarked header in the second half. Custom Atlanta Braves Jerseys . The Swede became the first golfer to win the PGA Tours FedEx Cup and European Tours Race to Dubai in the same season. "It is still taking a little time to sink in what Ive achieved this week as was the case when I won the FedEx Cup but then it just kept getting better and better as the days went on and I am sure this will be the same," he said. Houston climbed to No. 6 in the rankings and the Cougars are leaving tracks based on two of the most significant wins ever for the American Athletic Conference powerhouse.The Cougars took down Florida State to end the 2015 season and kicked off 2016 in style, upsetting third-ranked Oklahoma at NRG Stadium with an echo that rattled the national rankings, propelling UH from No. 15 to sixth.Of course, Houston coach Tom Herman was willing to celebrate only after identifying the many areas he wants the Cougars to improve entering Saturdays game (Noon ET) against Lamar.We had some coverage busts in the secondary, Herman said. Then at the four-minute mark we were about to go up 40-17 on the No. 3 team in the country and we fumbled the ball going into the dang end zone and put our defense back out on the field. Thats obviously very unacceptable.Houston came out of the massive win over the Sooners a little worse for wear in the backfield. Quarterback Greg Ward Jr. required an MRI exam on his sore shoulder but was expected to participate in practice after Herman said theres nothing structural, just some soft tissue stuff. Ward lost the fumble Herman bemoaned but otherwise played with precision in orchestrated the upset.Ward had 321 passing yards and two touchdowns in the opener.From last year to this year, its like night and day, Herman said.Though a short week awaits Houston with a Thursday night meeting against Cincinnati in the AAC opener next week, complacency is likely to be squashed by the energetic Cougars staff this week. Expectations are sky high and only rising for Hermans club, which is 15-1 since he came to town from Ohio State.The culture that is ingrained in this program will not allow it, Herman said. I think these guys know that if coach McKnight or any of ourr assistants for one minute think that there is complacency or the foot is being let off the gas, theyre going to get smacked in the face with the proverbial shovel and reminded of what our culture demands of them.ddddddddddddOf course, Lamar is not Oklahoma. It will not bring a national television audience or months and weeks of massive hype. This is not a statement game on the surface, but Herman wants to ensure it is just that.The Lamar football program returned in 2010 after a hiatus and had 31 wins in six seasons as a Southland Conference member.That might not generate a buzz on Houstons campus this week but hes hopeful TEDCU Stadium will be a popular place Saturday and going forward.If we fashion ourselves to be a big time football program, like the big time programs in the country, it does not matter what the opponent is or what is on their jersey, Herman said. Their fans, students and alumni come and support and watch their team play.Along with Ward, running back Duke Catalon (ankle) is expected to be in the lineup against Lamar.He finished up the game, we expect him back, Herman said.Lamars offense is not without impact players.Senior running back Kade Harrington was the runner up for the STATS FCS National Offensive Player of the Year award in 2015. He became the seventh player in Division I history to rush for 2,000-plus yards in 10 games and set all sorts of program marks. Harrington ended the 2015 regular season as the nations leader in rushing yards (2,092), rush yards per game (190.2), all-purpose yards (213.4), rushing touchdowns (21) and was second nationally in scoring (12.5 per game) and third in yards per carry (7.86). ' ' '