Das Feller-Forum » putting together a handful of sublimely spectacular das

SAN FRANCISCO -- Rene Rivera remembers his last home run, three years ago next month at Oakland for the Minnesota Twins. His latest will certainly be memorable, too, and did plenty to give San Diegos inconsistent offence a boost. Rivera hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the fifth to follow his two-run double for a career-high five RBIs, single handedly backing Tyson Ross in the Padres 6-4 victory against the San Francisco Giants on Monday night. "Sooner or later our hittings going to come around," Rivera said. "We needed this one. Its a good feeling. Its good for the team." Ross (3-3) did just enough over 5 1-3 innings to beat the Giants for the second time in 11 days, allowing eight hits and four runs with four strikeouts and two walks. After Michael Morse put San Francisco ahead on two-run single in the fourth, Rivera answered with his first homer of the year. He hadnt driven in a run all season before Monday, and the five RBIs were most by a Padres player at 15-year-old AT&T Park. "We needed a game like that from one of our guys," manager Bud Black said. "Its been a long time coming. Weve had a hard time scoring runs in bunches." Brandon Hicks homered for the second straight day, following his walkoff a day earlier against Cleveland with a leadoff shot in the fifth. Hunter Pence hit an RBI triple in the fourth. First base umpire Angel Hernandez had two calls overturned by replay. Giants manager Bruce Bochy came out in the third to request a review after Hernandez called Xavier Nady safe on a close play at first. The umpiring crew overturned the call in 1 minute, 31 seconds. Hernandez was involved in another overturn in the fourth when Black requested a review. Ross was ruled thrown out by third baseman Pablo Sandoval. In 1:18, the call was overturned and Sandoval was charged with an error. Giants starter Madison Bumgarner (2-3) walked a season-high four, and his four earned runs matched his most of 2014. He didnt pitch into the sixth for the third time in his six starts and lost three straight outings for the first time since Aug. 25-Sept. 5, 2012. The Giants had won seven straight home games against the Padres started by the lefty. "I think its fair to say hes made a few more mistakes than were accustomed to," Bochy said. "A strange night. We just couldnt get it done." Ross, born in Berkeley and raised in Oakland, faced the minimum through three -- helped by double plays in the first and second then two strikeouts in the third. The right-hander pitched eight scoreless innings with nine strikeouts in his April 18 win against San Francisco at Petco Park as San Diego took two of three from its division rival. "Its always nice to come back home and get a win," Ross said. "The defence was great tonight and got me out of a couple jams, and the offence came to play." Alexi Amarista drove in an insurance run in the top of the ninth. Huston Street, San Diegos fourth reliever, then finished for his 10th save in as many tries and 35 of 36 dating to last May. He lowered his ERA to 0.82. NOTES: A moment of silence and a video tribute were held before the game for Hall of Fame Padres broadcaster Jerry Coleman, who died in January at 89. Another moment of silence was held for victims of the ferry disaster in South Korea as the Giants celebrated Korean Heritage Night. ... San Diego OF Seth Smith missed his third straight start as he nurses a strained groin sustained Thursday night against the Nationals. He could return this series. ... Chase Headley, out since April 25 with a strained right calf, is improving and took some swings in the indoor cage. ... Padres INF/OF Tommy Medica was recalled from Triple-A El Paso three days after being optioned and flying from Washington, D.C., to Sacramento. "Thats the Schwarzenegger special, Sacramento to D.C.," Black said of former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. 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He also returned two kickoffs for 79 yards including a 61-yarder.PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The do-everything, be-everything centre is slumping, at least as far as superstar slumps go.The elder statesman, resident prankster and unquestioned heart is out for the year and maybe forever with blood that just wont behave.The wunderkind 20-year-old defenceman beat cancer but not a shaky shoulder.The businesslike and still kind of mysterious rookie head coach remains months away from the real litmus test, but the early results are encouraging.And then theres the mumps.For the better part of a month, the Pittsburgh Penguins saw their roster almost comically ravaged by a childhood virus that temporarily —and quite painfully — turned Sidney Crosbys face into something created by a 4-year-old with Play-Doh and took a handful of teammates along for the ride.Yet here Sidney Crosby and the new-look Penguins are at the midpoint of an already eventful season back in their usual spot this time of year: near the top of the Eastern Conference and cruising toward the playoffs, which is only barometer that really matters.Pittsburgh trails the first-place New York Islanders by a point in the Metropolitan Division and are on pace for the second-best regular season in team history. Not bad considering nearly three dozen players — including a steady stream of prospects or minor leaguers thrust into action out of necessity rather than merit — have suited up.It hasnt been easy but to everybodys credit theyve done what they had to do, general manager Jim Rutherford told The Associated Press.Even if Pittsburgh is doing it in sometimes very un-Penguinlike ways. With defence. With goaltending. With responsible checking and attention to detail. While coach Mike Johnston allows plenty of work remains to be done by the time April rolls around, considering what his team has gone through during Johnstons first four months in charge, things could be a worse.The first half we were still learning a lot of different things, getting used to a new system still, forward Brandon Sutter said. Now I think in the second half its been kind of time to cement that into our game.The Penguins hired Johnston to replace Dan Bylsma last summer and tasked him with finding a system that could thrive in both the regular season and the playoffs. The first six weeks went relatively smoothly, even with forward Pascal Dupuis sent to injured reserve with blood clots that have jeopardized his career and Olli Maatta missing a few weeks while a cancerous tumour was removed from his thyroid.It was a mirage. The injuries and illnesses began piling up in December, forcing Johnston to abandon teaching the finer points and simply trying to find enough healthy bodies to throw onto the ice on a given night.ddddddddddddIts also forced the Penguins to learn to win by any means necessary, relying more heavily on goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and less on the scoreboard-tilting exploits of Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Pittsburgh is just ninth in the league in scoring, with Crosby on pace for his lowest goal total over a full season. A sputtering power play over the last month hasnt helped, though Crosby did score an overtime goal at Montreal last weekend.Crosby brushes off any concern about his production. Really, wasnt the point of the off-season front office overhaul to find a way to make the team less reliant on their two centerpieces? Crosby and Malkin are both in the top five in the league in points and the Penguins have had 24 different players find the back of the net, the most of any team in the league.In the whole scheme of things its more about how youre playing and making sure the chances are there and everyone is contributing, Crosby said. That goes further than anything.Crosby hardly looked like a guy struggling to find his game in a 7-2 win over Minnesota on Tuesday, collecting three assists and putting together a handful of sublimely spectacular dashes to the net.Weve had so many injuries and so many moving parts here, both him and (Malkin) dont get to play with the same guys all the time, Rutherford said. Hopefully we can get these guys some regular linemates.The process is already well underway. Forward Chris Kunitz appears all the way back from a foot injury that kept him out for 10 games. Rutherford acquired David Perron from Edmonton on Jan. 2, and the talented forward has four points in his first four games, including a slick forehand to backhand rebound from in front of the net on Tuesday night that showcased his soft hands.Rutherford isnt sure the Penguins are done shopping. With Blake Comeau and Patric Hornqvist also nearing returns from their own medical issues and a schedule that includes games against the Rangers, Philadelphia and Chicago over the next couple weeks, theres a chance to build chemistry and make a statement at the same time.Ill get a better sense for it by the middle of February, Rutherford said. I want to see Hornqvist and Comeau get back in there and get that group of forwards together. I do feel were edging in the right direction. ' ' '