miaowang123: Tampa Bay RHP Jeremy Hellickson (elbow) made his second rehab start

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PARIS – Eugenie Bouchard could downplay expectations. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Jersey . Nobody would blame her. Shes only 20-years-old after all and playing in just her second French Open. But when asked what would need to happen to make her campaign at Roland Garros this season a success, Canadas rising star doesnt hold back. "To win it," Bouchard said, her own boldness yielding a laugh. But, make no mistake, she is dead serious. "I always expect high things of myself and Ive been working so hard for so many years that nothing is a real surprise to me and I have big ambitions in tennis. I want to achieve great things." Bouchard certainly isnt lacking confidence. She showed that during a magical run to the Australian Open semifinals in January. But Bouchard has a specific reason to have a hop in her step these days. On Saturday, she beat Karolina Pliskova in the championship match of the Nuremberg Cup, earning her first career WTA title. "Just so happy," said Bouchard describing the emotions in the moments after match point. "To go to a city and leave and not lose a match and win all the matches is something special." Bouchard almost didnt play in the tournament. Most top players will not travel to an event in the week before a grand slam choosing instead to rest, practice and arrive at the venue early. But after disappointing first-round straight-set losses at tune-up events in Madrid (v No. 3 Agnieszka Radwanska) and Rome (v No. 61 Francesca Schiavone) Bouchard was convinced that playing more was the best way to prep for the seasons second major. "We were debating whether to even come to Nuremberg and I said, You know what? I want to play matches. I want to keep trying and keep working. We got here early and practiced. It was pretty cold early in the week, it was tough practices, tough conditions, but I kept working hard and Im proud of myself for that. When you work hard good things happen. I think thats what happened this week." That Bouchards first career championship came on clay is a bit of a surprise. It is not her favourite surface. "My game is pretty aggressive, so I like to step in and control the point and the clay just slows it up a little bit, but its a good thing. It teaches me patience ... sometimes Im not so patient. "It adds different dimensions to your game and if I can perform well on clay it will show myself that I can have a well-rounded game." Last year Bouchards run at the French Open ended in the second round at the hands of eventual finalist Maria Sharapova. It was a tough loss (6-2, 6-4), but one that made the Montreal native stronger. "I think it helps for sure. I got to play on centre court, experienced a rain delay, my match was over two days and its all part of the experience. I always enjoy the chance to play one of the great players and I always learn so much. Ive learned from that match." Bouchard wont have to deal with Sharapova or any other top name early in the tournament this time around. Thats one of the perks of being the 18th seed. Bouchard will open against 86th ranked Israeli Shahar Peer, who has lost all three matches to the Canadian in her career including one in March (6-2, 6-2 in Acapulco). Waiting in the second round should Bouchard advance will be either German Julia Goerges or Portugals Michelle Larcher De Brito. Both are outside the top 100 in the latest rankings. The third round is when things may get tougher as No. 12 Flavia Pennetta would be a formidable roadblock, but far from unbeatable. But first things first: Bouchard needs to get settled in France. One negative repercussion from playing in the week before a slam is that it makes for a tight turnaround. There was a 90-minute flight from Nuremberg to Paris on Saturday night followed by a practice on Sunday. Bouchards match against Peer is set for Monday. Although theres actually a chance the short rest time may be a good thing. "I always like playing matches so, for me, the more I can play the better. I can get in a rhythm of playing competitive matches and I think it gives me extra confidence." Extra confidence? Not a fun thought for those in Bouchards section of the draw. Grant Fuhr Jersey .S. international midfielder Michael Bradley is complete. Brian Ferlin Jersey . The three Calgary natives will compete after the sport was skipped by the Vancouver Games in 2010 but later included on the program for Sochi, Russia. The fight to include womens ski jumping prior to Vancouver went to the courts only to have the Supreme Court of Canada rule against the athletes appeal in 2009.HOUSTON -- Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon peered at the box score through his thick, black-framed eyeglasses after Friday nights game against the Houston Astros and kept repeating one word. "Wow," Maddon said three times as he read off his pitchers strikeout totals. "I didnt realize we had that many." Alex Cobb had 11 of the Rays season high-tying 16 strikeouts, helping Tampa Bay to its first road win in almost a month, 6-1 over the Astros. Ben Zobrist, Matt Joyce and Evan Longoria drove in two runs apiece to break a 10-game road skid dating to May 16. Its just the third win in the last 17 games overall for the Rays, who have the worst record in the majors at 26-42. "This was more like were supposed to play, like we can play," Maddon said. "Got the hits, a couple hits when we needed it." The six runs they scored on Friday night matched the total number of runs theyd managed in their previous six games combined. Cobb (2-4) rebounded from his worst start of the year to allow three hits and one run with a season best in strikeouts in 6 1-3 innings. He gave up 10 hits and seven runs in a season-low 4 1-3 innings in his last outing. "You go borderline crazy after bad starts," Cobb said. "You start running your mechanics through your mind thousands of times and it keeps you up at night sometimes. It feels good to come out and see that your adjustments paid off." Joyce put the Rays up with his two-run double in the second and Zobrist, who finished with three hits, extended the lead to 4-1 with a triple that drove in two in the fifth inning. Longoria padded the lead with his bases-loaded two RBI single in the ninth. Houston rookie Jon Singleton continued his hot start, hitting his fourth homer in his 11th career game. He also homered on Thursday night. But the rest of the Astros couldnt get anything going as the team managed just three other hits and set a season high for strikeouts. Houston manager Bo Porter believes that some of his teams struggles on Friday night could be attributed to second baseman Jose Altuve sitting out. Altuve missed the game after being hit in the hand by a pitch on Thursday night and is day to day. Boyd Gordon Jersey. "Any time you dont have Jose in your lineup, its going to hurt you from the standpoint of hes arguably our best player and leads Major League Baseball in hits for a reason," Porter said. "His presence will be missed any time hes not in the lineup." Collin McHugh (4-4) allowed five hits and four runs in five innings for the loss. James Loney reached on an error by shortstop Jonathan Villar to start the second inning before a double by Zobrist. Joyces double made it 2-0. Houstons Chris Carter singled with two outs in the second inning for his first hit that wasnt a homer since June 3. He had hit five straight homers in that span. Robbie Grossman walked after that but Cobb struck out Marwin Gonzalez to end the threat. Singleton sent Cobbs first pitch of the fourth inning opposite field into the Crawford Boxes in left field to cut the lead to 2-1. Cobb walked Matt ominguez with one out in that inning before he got rolling, retiring the next eight, including striking out the side in the sixth inning. He also struck out the first three batters of the game. The Astros didnt get another hit until Dominguez singled to start the seventh. Carter followed by knocking a ball about 425 feet to straightaway centre field, but Jennings raced up the hill to grab it. Brad Boxberger replaced Cobb and struck out two batters in 2-3 innings and Joel Peralta fanned the side in the eighth. Jennings doubled with no outs in the fifth before Loney drew a two-out walk. Zobrist made it 4-1 with his triple to centre field which snapped an 0 for 26 streak with runners in scoring position. NOTES: Houston recalled RHP Josh Zeid from Triple-A Oklahoma City and optioned LHP Rudy Owens to the minor league team before the game. ... Tampa Bay RHP Jeremy Hellickson (elbow) made his second rehab start Thursday for Triple-A Durham. He allowed six hits and four runs in 2 1-3 innings. Maddon said he isnt as concerned about the results as he is how hes feeling. He could rejoin the rotation at the end of the month. ... The series continues on Saturday when Tampa Bays Chris Archer opposes Jarred Cosart. Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Cheap NFL Gear Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap Jerseys NFL Jerseys China ' ' '