Washington Nationals manager Jim Riggleman spoke for a franchise when asked about the latest exam to be performed on Stephen Strasburg's valuable right arm. "I'm very anxious about that," Riggleman said. Thursday was a day of suspense at Nationals Park as the 22-year-old right-hander underwent his second MRI in less than a week. Read more..
With three straight wins in Milwaukee, the Los Angeles Dodgers pulled themselves back into the NL wild-card race. Casey Blake hit a two-run homer and six Dodgers pitchers combined on a two-hitter as Los Angeles beat the Brewers 7-1 Thursday for a three-game sweep. "We've been saying all along, first let's try to put something together and then we'll see where we are," Dodgers... Read more..
Padres right-hander Chris Young has thrown another simulated game as he works his way back from a shoulder injury with the goal of pitching again this season. The 6-foot-10 Young threw 55 pitches in three innings Thursday before the NL West leaders hosted the last-place Arizona Diamondbacks. Young says he felt better as the simulated game progressed. Read more..
Jordan Zimmermann has been recalled by the Washington Nationals to make his first major league start of the season against the St. Louis Cardinals. Zimmermann returned to the big leagues Thursday, just more than a year after having elbow ligament replacement surgery. He last pitched for the Nationals on July 18, 2009, and had the operation on Aug. Read more..
There's something about the Phillies that brings out the best in the Houston Astros. Wandy Rodriguez pitched seven sharp innings, Carlos Lee homered and the Astros beat the Phillies 5-1 Thursday to complete their first four-game sweep in Philadelphia in 11 years. "Houston has been a team that for years has given us problems," Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins said. Read more..
West City up for National Championship title defense
Meeting Howick for the third time, West City hoping to repeat as champs
LLOYD ELSMORE - The BNZ National Club Championship trophy will return to Auckland for the fifth successive time in the tournament's five year history.
West City hopes the hardware returns to its clubhouse - again.
On Sunday at 1pm, West City (2-1) will defend its National Championship title against Howick (3-0) in the 2010 BNZ National Championship game at Lloyd Elsmore.
"It's the game of the year," West City manager Ken Sommers said. "West City would like, as any team, to do the best we can. In terms of strategy in the game, that's something you can observe when we play."
"What would make the difference between winning and losing, believe that you just have to play a good game," Sommers said. "And that is the big goal of the West City team."
There will be few surprises in the contest between the two Auckland powers.
The meeting marks the third time the two countries have faced each other in this National Championship and the tenth time in National Championship play dating back to the inaugural event in 2005.
To get to the finals, West City defeated Canterbury, 8-0, in the final pool game on Saturday evening. Howick topped IPC, 7-1, in their final pool game on Saturday afternoon.
"I never thought it would come true, that we will be playing against them three times" Sommers said. "We were able to come up to the stage together. I really feel great respect for the Howick team for that. This really shows the strength of the baseball League in Auckland."
