Offtopic/fun » national day whod gathered to watch fire

PHOENIX -- Tyler Skaggs had never pitched in front of a bigger crowd, and he had never been better in his very young and so promising big league career. Skaggs tossed eight innings of three-hit ball in his return to Arizonas rotation, and the Diamondbacks opened a 10-game homestand with a 5-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Friday night. "He reminded me of Barry Zito when he was with Oakland," said Michael Cuddyer, who had one of Colorados three singles. "He had a two-seamer away and then in the middle innings he started throwing that curveball, which is a plus-plus curveball. It was very reminiscent of Zito in Oakland." Skaggs, who turns 22 next week and is considered one of the top pitching prospects in the game, struck out five and walked one after he was recalled from Triple-A Reno for the second time this season. "I feel awesome," the left-hander said. "Its great. To be up here this young is a dream come true." Paul Goldschmidt drove in two runs with a double and single, raising his NL-leading total to 71 RBIs. A.J. Pollock had two hits and scored three times, and Aaron Hill had a two-run single. Colorados Jorge De La Rosa (8-5) gave up three runs and seven hits in 5 1-3 innings. He had allowed three runs combined in his previous three starts. Corey Dickerson and Nolan Arenado also had a single for the Rockies. J.J. Putz got three outs to complete the three-hitter for Arizona. The Diamondbacks, who concluded a 10-game trip with a 5-4, 15-inning victory at the New York Mets on Thursday, played in front of a sellout crowd of 45,505. It was the biggest total for Chase Field since opening day. It also was their first home game since 19 Arizona firefighters died while trying to extinguish an erratic wildfire last Sunday. The Diamondbacks paid tribute to the victims of the tragedy during a pregame ceremony that featured a bagpipe band playing "Amazing Grace" while photos of each of the fallen firefighters were shown on the ballparks giant video screen. Colorado had four baserunners, and only one of them reached second. One was thrown out trying to steal second, and another erased on a double play. Skaggs (2-1) retired 12 in a row in one stretch. "After the road trip we needed him to come out and eat some innings up," Goldschmidt said. "For him to go eight, and obviously not give up any runs as well, was huge. He set the tone early, was working quick. That was humongous tonight. "We really needed a good outing to give the bullpen a little bit of rest, and it kind of energized the guys as well. You couldnt ask him to do anything more." The Rockies, already with Troy Tulowitzki on the 15-day disabled list, were without Carlos Gonzalez because of a sore back. Pollock tripled and scored on De La Rosas wild pitch in the first, and came up with another big hit in the third. Didi Gregorius led off with a single, and was sacrificed to second by Skaggs. Pollock then hit a soaring fly ball to the left-field corner that bounced off the yellow line atop the Diamondbacks bullpen fence for a double, despite Dickersons attempt to haul it in. Umpires reviewed the play and upheld the call on the field. That left runners at second and third with one out. Gregorius was caught in a rundown on Hills chopper to third, but Goldschmidts soft single to centre brought in Pollock. After Skaggs cruised through a seven-pitch sixth, Arizona got another run and ended De La Rosas night in the bottom half. Hill led off with a double to the right-field corner, and then Goldschmidt scorched a line drive RBI double over the head of centre fielder Tyler Colvin. Arizona tacked on two more against Adam Ottavino in the seventh. Gregorius reached on his second single, and was sacrificed to second by Skaggs. Pollock walked, and Hill singled to shallow centre to bring both of them home. NOTES: Gonzalez expects to be back in the lineup Saturday night or Sunday. ... Arizona INF Willie Bloomquist said after the game that he has two broken bones in his left hand and expects to be sidelined six to eight weeks. He was injured when he was hit by a pitch in a June 26 game at Washington. ... LHP Wade Miley (4-7, 4.29 ERA) starts for Arizona and LHP Drew Pomeranz (0-1, 8.31 ERA) goes for Colorado in Saturday nights game. ... The Diamondbacks play 10 straight home games and the Rockies 10 straight on the road leading to the All-Star break.Jamie Vardy England Jersey .C. -- Rodney Hood connected from all over the court while freshman Jabari Parker was busy swatting shots and scoring in transition. Phil Jones Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. http://www.englandsoccerpro.com/Marcus-Rashford-England-Jersey/ . Sgt. Eric ONeal says most of the arrests at Monday nights game were for public drunkenness, though one person was taken into custody on suspicion of trying to steal a seat from the stadium. Jordan Henderson England Jersey . -- In a span of seven Washington Redskins offensive plays, Justin Tuck sacked Robert Griffin III four times. Harry Kane Jersey . Oaklands loss to Seattle clinched the ALs best record for the Red Sox with one day to spare in the regular season. "I think everybody was kind of watching," catcher David Ross said. "Demp (Ryan Dempster) came out before he went to the bullpen and was just yelling that they lost.PRO FOOTBALLENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos have upped their offer to Von Miller by offering to guarantee the Super Bowl MVP a record $70 million of the six-year deal, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press.The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity to share candid details of the blockbuster offer that also was reported by ESPN and the NFL Network. The sides have until 4 p.m. EDT Friday to get a signed deal into NFL headquarters.Millers agent, Joby Branion, and the Broncos agreed to the parameters of a six-year, $114.5 million deal last month but Millers camp held out for more guaranteed money.The June offer included $38.5 million in guarantees over the first two years, another $1.3 million in workout bonuses, plus the chance to earn another $19.5 million in guaranteed money in 2018.BASEBALLBOSTON -- The Boston Red Sox acquired All-Star Drew Pomeranz from the San Diego Padres, adding a third left-hander to the rotation as they push to return to the playoffs after consecutive last-place finishes.Boston sent righty Anderson Espinoza to San Diego. The 18-year-old righty was ranked the No. 15 prospect in the country by Baseball America.Pomeranz, 27, who will make his Boston debut Wednesday, is 8-7 with a 2.47 ERA in 17 starts for San Diego this season. He pitched a scoreless inning in Tuesday night in the All-Star game.PHOENIX -- The Arizona Diamondbacks have sent pitcher Shelby Miller to Triple-A Reno.Miller has been a major disappointment after the Diamondbacks got him in an offseason trade with Atlanta for outfielder Ender Inciarte, 2015 No. 1 overall draft pick Dansby Swanson and top pitching prospect Aaron Blair.The right-hander is 2-9 with a 7.14 ERA. He was on the disabled list with a finger injury and worked in the minors to find his form. After some progress in is return, Miller had another rough night last week in a 13-6 home loss to San Diego. After blanking the Padres for three innings, he gave up five runs in the fourth when Arizona had a 4-0 lead.NEW YORK -- The owner of a training and sports medicine clinic sued Major League Baseball and several of its employees, claiming they caused the companys social media accounts to be illegally hacked during the sports Biogenesis investigation.Neiman Nix, a 29th-round draft pick of the Cincinnati Reds in 1998, and his DNA Sports Performance Lab, claimed an MLB investigator misrepresented herself as law enforcement and MLB intimidated the companys clients and hacked accounts on YouTube, Facebook and PayPal. The allegations are similar to those filed in a suit two years ago that was dismissed.Vincent White, Nixs new lawyer, said former MLB investigator Ed Dominguez is cooperating and will testify MLB employees illegally gained access to electronic accounts of individuals they investigated through various exploits and phishing schemes. We believe these tactics may have extended to players, team staff and ownership groups.AUTO RACINGLOUDON, N.H. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. has dropped out of the Sprint Cup race Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway because of symptoms of a concussion.Earnhardt was evaluated in Charlotte, North Carolina, this week and doctors did not clear him to race. Hendrick Motorsports said it had no timetable for his return. Alex Bowman will drive in his place.NASCARs most popular driver, Earnhardt was involved in a 22-car wreck in Daytona this month and also wrecked last month at Michigan International Speedway. He says he was feeling fine last week and thought the problem was allergies. When that didnt help, hee met with a neurologist.ddddddddddddPRO BASKETBALLSAN ANTONIO -- The San Antonio Spurs signed Pau Gasol, beefing up a front line that will be without Tim Duncan next season for the first time in 19 years. They brought back guard Manu Ginobili, too.The 7-foot Gasol has won two NBA titles and is a six-time All-Star. Gasol is one of six players in NBA history to reach 19,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, 3,000 assists and 1,500 blocks, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille ONeal, Kevin Garnett and Duncan, who retired earlier this week.Ginobili, a four-time champion with the Spurs, will return for his 15th season. He has averaged 14.0 points, 4.0 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.37 steals in 923 games.MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Memphis Grizzlies wanted to keep Mike Conley so much that they gave their veteran point guard the richest contract in NBA history. For Conley, the basketball -- and pressure -- is in his court after signing a five-year, $153 million deal.Conleys play will be closely monitored during an upcoming season in which he will earn more than new Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant, a seven-time All-Star with four league scoring titles and an NBA Most Valuable Player award. Durant signed a two-year, $54.3 million deal.NEW YORK -- Former No. 1 overall pick Anthony Bennett is getting another chance in the NBA.The Brooklyn Nets signed Bennett. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.Bennett averaged 1.5 points and 1.2 rebounds in 19 games last season for Toronto, his third team since Cleveland surprisingly took him with the top pick of the 2013 draft. Bennett, 23, has averaged 4.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 12.8 minutes as a pro.PAT SUMMITTKNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Pat Summitt was remembered as a loving mother, a loyal friend and a tireless fighter as well as a champion coach in a public ceremony honoring the person who built the Tennessee womens basketball dynasty.She was the epitome of what being great is all about, said Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings, one of the dozens of former Lady Volunteers who paid respects to Summitt at a Celebration of Life ceremony at Thompson-Boling Arena.Catchings later added that this is not a goodbye, but until we meet again.The ceremony at Thompson-Boling Arena gave the public a chance to honor Summitt, who won eight national titles and a Division I record 1,098 games in her 38-year coaching tenure. A private funeral was held June 30, two days after Summitt died at the age of 64.CYCLINGMONT VENTOUX, France -- Fans celebrating Bastille Day created dramas at the Tour de France, causing a crash involving race leader Chris Froome that ensured it wasnt until hours after the 12th stage concluded that organizers decided the British rider could keep the yellow jersey.The problems at cyclings most prestigious race were overshadowed in France hours later, when a truck drove on to the sidewalk and plowed through a crowd of revelers celebrating the national day whod gathered to watch fireworks in the French resort city of Nice.The races first time trial comes Friday with a hilly 23-mile leg from Bourg-Saint-Andeol to La Caverne du Pont-DArc, where Froome will be looking to add to his lead in calmer circumstances.In Thursdays racing drama, Richie Porte crashed headfirst into a motorbike carrying a TV camera, and Froome, who was right behind his former teammate, also hit the pavement in the final kilometer on the wind-shortened climb up legendary Mont Ventoux. ' ' '