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 Geplaatst: 19-06-2019 07:15:01 Onderwerp: LOS ANGELES -- When Scott Dixon stood next to the Astor Cup |
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| LOS ANGELES -- When Scott Dixon stood next to the Astor Cup on a stage in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday, he was still a bit surprised to be so close to IndyCars championship trophy heading into the season finale. Cheap Edgar Martinez Jersey . Just two weeks ago, Dixon needed an enormous amount of help to take control of the overall IndyCar race. Helio Castroneves gave it to him with a broken gearbox during a wild doubleheader in Houston, allowing Dixon to head for California with his third series title in sight. "Its been such an up-and-down season for us that its kind of hard to believe were here," said Dixon, the series champion in 2003 and 2008. "We started so poorly, but we managed to find some redemption at midseason and got back in the hunt. And then Houston happened, and now were here. Its been a wild ride." Indeed, Dixon hadnt been on top of the overall standings all season long until he left Houston with the lead. The last time Dixon led the championship was back in 2009, with one race to go -- and Dario Franchitti sped past him to claim the title. Thats why Dixon isnt cocky about his chances in IndyCars season finale at Fontana on Saturday night. "Its very easy to jinx yourself," Dixon said. "I think maybe you start thinking its a given, and you get too complacent. Everybody knows its not over. If were leading at the end of this race, then job accomplished, but we could still very well lose it." The New Zealander realizes he only needs a fifth-place finish to stay ahead of Castroneves for the overall title, but he wont change tactics just to stay safe. He expects a dynamic race on the long oval east of Los Angeles -- but hopefully without the pyrotechnics of the Houston doubleheader, which ended with teammate Franchitti in a hospital with two broken vertebrae, a broken ankle and a concussion. Castroneves had led the overall standings for 14 of the 18 races this season, and the Brazilian had a 49-point lead in the overall standings heading to Houston. But mechanical failures in both races left him 25 points behind Dixon, who won the first race of the doubleheader and finished second in the second race. Despite the horrific results in Houston, Castroneves hasnt lost his usual chipper demeanour -- or given up hope for a dramatic comeback. Hes the only racer who could mathematically catch Dixon for the title. "The reason Im not mad is because its not over," Castroneves said. "We have a chance. Some things happened in Houston that youd never expect. Breaking the gearbox? No way to predict something like that could happen." Roger Penske said his team "fell on our face" in Houston, a failure that could leave Penske just short of the title for the sixth time since 2006. "In our case, with the scenario, its pretty simple," Penske Racing President Tim Cindric said. "Winning is really the only thing at the end of the day, and then you still have to hope." Dixon was among the first people to realize Castroneves championship hopes were in trouble during that second race in Houston: Oil from Castroneves gearbox doused Dixons car from the second or third lap onward, and Dixon screamed about it into his radio. Even when Castroneves was forced to stop, Dixon got no enjoyment from Castroneves woes. "Youre thinking, If its happening to him, it could very well happen to us as well," Dixon said, realizing Castroneves problems probably were caused by contact with a bump on Turn 1 in Houston. "Youve had so many situations where you think its great, and then five laps later, you have a problem yourself. Its very easy to get ahead of yourself and lose focus." Both Castroneves and Dixon are changing engines for the Fontana race, a common tactic on an oval track that makes the resulting speed more important than the 10-spot penalty on the starting grid for making a switch. Castroneves had easily the fastest race car at the Fontana test last month, and hes counting on that speed to give him a shot at the title. Dixon also will have a new teammate as he goes for the Cup: Alex Tagliani is the temporary replacement for Franchitti with Target Chip Ganassi Racing. "Its going to come down to the last lap, the last corner, probably," Dixon said. "Were going to have to dig deep. Im just excited to be a part of it." Wholesale Mariners Jerseys .The third-seeded Murray, who won here in 2009, will face seventh-seeded Kevin Anderson of South Africa next on the indoor hard court. Cheap Ken Griffey Jersey . That was OK with him. He was just happy his team came away with two points. Letestu redirected Jack Johnsons shot from the point with 2:38 left, lifting the Blue Jackets past the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 on Monday night. http://www.cheapmarinersjerseys.com/ . In five games last month, Billings led all scorers with 11 goals, 27 assists and 38 points as the Rock posted a 2-3 record.ST. LOUIS -- Tim Hudson still refuses to take credit for his quick start to the season. "There comes a lot of luck with it," he said. "Im just throwing the ball and missing (bat) barrels." The San Francisco right-hander threw seven shutout innings and Joaquin Arias keyed a four-run first inning with a two-run single to lead the Giants to an 8-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday. The Giants have won five of six and have the best record in the NL at 37-20. St. Louis has lost four of five. The Cardinals managed just four hits. Hudson (6-2) gave up three hits, struck out six, and walked two in improving to 4-4 against St. Louis. Hudsons previous win against the Cardinals came on July 19, 2007, as a member of the Atlanta Braves. He retired the last 11 batters he faced on Sunday. The 38-year-old has a 1.75 ERA, second in the NL, and has gone at least seven innings in nine of 11 starts. Hudson missed the final two months of last season with a fractured ankle, but has rebounded with one of the best starts of his 14-year career. Hudson took control early after his teammates gave him four early runs. "Great job," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. "You go seven innings and no runs against this club, youre doing something." Catcher Buster Posey said Hudson simply keeps rolling along. "Nothing fancy, he just goes out there and pitches to contact, like he always does," Posey said. "Hes smart and he knows how to attack the hitters. Hudson said he was able to relax after the early run support. "I just went out there and tried to pound the strike zone," he said. "A starting pitcher always welcomes early runs. It makes our job a whole lot easier." Arias came through with a key hit. He got the start after Michael Morse fouled a ball off his left foot in batting practice. In his second start in the past 24 games, Arias went 3 for 4 with three RBIs. He broke out of a 0-for-14 skid with a bases-loaded single in the first. "He stays ready and hes got a lot of poise," BBochy said. Cheap Mariners Jerseys Authentic. "He really needed a game like this." Morse is expected back in the lineup on Tuesday when the Giants play at Cincinnati, according to Bochy. Posey had three hits in returning to the lineup after missing three games with tightness in his lower back. "I feel pretty good," Posey said. "Hopefully, it is something I can manage." Lance Lynn (6-3) gave up seven runs, four earned, and eight hits in 3 1-3 innings after posting his first career shutout on Tuesday against the York Yankees. "One of those days where that will happen," Lynn said. "A tough one." Angel Pagan, Hunter Pence and Posey singled to start the four-run first. Poseys RBI hit came on Lynns 10th pitch. Gregor Blanco reached on an error by Kolten Wong and Pence scored on a groundout by Brandon Crawford. Brandon Hicks walked to set the stage for Arias bases-loaded single. The error, on a potential double play ball, led to three unearned runs. "If an out is made there," Lynn said. "We are out of the inning with one run." Arias pushed the lead to 5-0 with a run-scoring single in the third. Crawford added an RBI double in the fourth. Blanco brought in the final run with a triple in the sixth. "Youre just going to have those days," St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. "We just couldnt get anything going." St. Louis third baseman Matt Carpenter extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a first-inning single. It is the longest current streak in the NL. Notes: Former University of Missouri mens basketball coach Norm Stewart threw out the first pitch. ... The Giants finished May with an NL-best 19-9 record. ... St. Louis OF Matt Holliday walked in the third inning and has reached safely in all 28 home games. ... St. Louis rookie OF Oscar Taveras singled in the second and has hit safely in both of his starts. ... San Francisco third baseman Pablo Sandoval extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a double in the second inning. 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