TORONTO -- This time when the Toronto Argonauts mounted their rally, Henry Burris and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats had an effective answer.
Kenley Jansen Authentic Jersey . Burris threw two TD passes, including a key 15-yard fourth-quarter strike to Bakari Grant that effectively countered a Toronto comeback bid and led Hamilton to a 33-19 victory. Toronto (9-5) had won its previous four games -- all on the road -- and each time rallied for the victory. After falling behind 22-6 at halftime, the Argos showed their resiliency, pulling to within 23-19 early in the fourth. But Burris responded with an eight-play, 75-yard drive he capped by finding an open Grant for a 30-19 Hamilton lead before 28,467 spectators with the Rogers Centre roof closed. It was Torontos second-largest crowd of the season behind the 29,852 that watched the defending Grey Cup champions open their season by overcoming a nine-point deficit to down the Ticats 39-34. Burris then took Hamilton 49 yards on 11 plays as Brett Lauthers 29-yard field goal at 14:44 cemented the win. Burris finished 19-of-31 passing for 274 yards with the two TDs and an interception as the Ticats (7-7) bounced back from last weekends dismal 35-11 home loss to Calgary. "We were embarrassed last week," Burris said. "That was huge for us to be able to get those drives going and move the ball downfield, especially in the fourth quarter where theyve been known to be the kings in the fourth quarter. "It was good to see us be that team in the fourth quarter. Thats an area weve struggled in, especially against the great teams in terms of closing out wins. It was good to see us come out and seal the deal." Toronto (9-5) suffered its second straight home loss. The Argos made their first Rogers Centre appearance since a 20-9 setback to Montreal on Sept. 3, the contest after starter Ricky Ray suffered a shoulder injury in a home defeat to Calgary. Ray returned to the lineup as the No. 3 quarterback behind starter Zach Collaros and backup Trevor Harris. Collaros was 21-of-32 passing for 277 yards, no TDs and one interception. Hamilton pulled to within four points of front-running Toronto in the East Division standings, with the two rivals capping their home-and-home series Oct. 14 at Alumni Stadium in Guelph, Ont. Ticats linebacker Brandon Isaac made his first appearance against the Argos after being released by them earlier this season. Isaac was a thorn in the side of his former team, registering two sacks and five tackles. An emotional and vocal player on the field, Isaac said Thursday he was looking forward to talking smack with his former teammates but resisted that temptation on the field. "I thought about it and I didnt want to be a butt hole," he said. "I just wanted to show my professionalism that its bigger than me. "They made a decision, theyve got to live with that decision as well as I did. It was a tough pill to swallow however with this win Im over it. I can move forward and move in a direction with this organization. However, it was also apparent the pain of being released still lingers within Isaac. "I felt kind of betrayed, I felt really let down," Isaac said. "I felt like if they had a problem with me they couldve come and addressed me and I wouldve done my best to do better but I wasnt given that opportunity. "I was let go to the wolves and Hamilton took me in and we were able to come in and win a big game. I was given an opportunity that allowed me to do what I do. Im a blitzing linebacker . . . I know how to do that and I was able to make plays for this team." After a dismal opening half, Toronto opened the third with a smart nine-play, 80-yard march that culminated with Swayze Waters nine-yard field goal. The Argos then got the ball at the Hamilton one-yard line when Curtis Steele blocked Josh Bartels punt that Marcus Ball recovered. Collaross one-yard TD run at 6:37 cut the Ticats lead to 22-16. After Lauthers single off a missed 42-yard field goal try, Waters pulled Toronto to within 23-19 with a 42-yard boot at 4:05 of the fourth. But the Argos also didnt help themselves with eight second-half penalties for 80 yards. Overall, they were flagged 12 times for 110 yards. "Just a sloppy performance," Toronto head coach Scott Milanovich said. "We were undisciplined in terms of penalties, there was certainly a lot more on our guys." Collaros, who dropped to 4-2 as Torontos starter since Rays injury, said Hamiltons defence featured many different wrinkles the Argos werent expecting. "They showed a lot of things we didnt see on film . . . they did a good job of mixing up coverages and looks," Collaros said. "You cant win with field goals, especially against a good team like Hamilton." Milanovich was non-commital when asked if Ray would play in the rematch. "Its still to be determined," he said. "Id like to see him get a little bit better. "Great if its next week (when Ray returns) but Zach has done a great job. He didnt lose us the game tonight." Hamilton tied the season series with Toronto at 1-1. Burris planned to savour the victory but said it really wont mean much if the Ticats cant sweep the home-and-home set in Guelph. "We havent won back-to-back games this season and if theres any time we need to do that its right now," he said. "This is a great test for us at the right time and if we really want it, heres our opportunity." But Ticats head coach Kent Austin said Fridays win could be an important one heading down the stretch. "Its just a real testament to the guys digging in and wanting to be good and not letting this game slip away," he said. Luke Tasker, C.J Gable and Dan LeFevour had Hamiltons touchdowns. Lauther booted the converts, a field goal and single while Bartel also had a single. Waters kicked four field goals and a convert for the Argos. NOTES -- Burris moved past the late Ron Lancaster into fourth in all-time passing yards with a 34-yard completion to Dobson Collins in the first . . . Toronto receiver John Chiles, who has a team-high eight TD grabs, didnt play due to a cut on his hand that required 10 stitches to close. But receiver Chad Owens, the CFLs outstanding player last year, returned to the lineup after missing four games with a rib injury . . . Special-teams standout Marc Beswick was among Hamiltons pre-game scratches. Receiver Romby Bryant was one of Torontos four scratches . . . Isaac, offensive lineman Joel Reinders and defensive back Evan McCullough all earned Grey Cup rings with Toronto last season but are all now Ticats . . . Hamilton offensive lineman Tim ONeill appeared in his 100th CFL game.
Andre Ethier Jersey . Patrick Deslisle-Houde and David Rose each scored in the second to give the fourth-seeded Redmen a 3-1 lead after Jean-Philippe Mathieu scored in the first.
Hyun-Jin Ryu Jersey . -- Canadian Kevin Pangos had 18 points, Drew Barham matched his career high with 17 points off the bench, and Gonzaga beat Pacific 70-53 on Thursday night to clinch the outright West Coast Conference regular season title. HOUSTON -- Dallas Keuchel had a simple answer for what was working for him Tuesday night. "Everything," Keuchel said. "I felt good with every pitch." Keuchel (4-2) pitched a seven-hitter for his first major league shutout, leading the Houston Astros over the Texas Rangers 8-0. Keuchel struck out seven without a walk. He gave up just one extra-base hit, a double by Adrian Beltre in the first inning, and threw his second career complete game. "When youre able to plus and minus your fastball and have the type of command that Dallas has, hes able to ... cut the ball into the righties," Houston manager Bo Porter said. "He can sink it away from the righties. He runs it in on the lefties. He has confidence to throw his breaking ball, his changeup in any count." It was the second straight start where Keuchel hasnt walked anyone, which Porter said shows his confidence in attacking the strike zone. Keuchel didnt think that part of his line was a big deal. "I dont really think about that," he said. "When I throw strikes Im good, if I dont Im not very good. So I just have to throw strikes and be good." L.J. Hoes and Carlos Corporan each homered and drove in three runs. The Astros were shut out 4-0 in the series opener, but jumped on Matt Harrison (1-1) for three runs in the second before he left with back stiffness. Hoes hit a two-run homer in the inning. "I felt OK warming up, but looking up (at the radar) I noticed that my velocity just kept going down further and further," Harrison said. "Then I knew at that point, something wasnt right." He said he will go to Dallas on Wednesday to visit a doctor. They were up by four before a four-run fifth inning powered by an RBI single by Hoes and a three-run shot by Corporan. The roof at Minute Maid Park was open to start the game, but it was closed during the eighth inning with a storm approaching. It was the first Astros game where the roof was both open and closed since 2006. Houston was up by four before a four-run fifth inning powered by an RBI single by Hoes and a three-run shot by Corporan.
Josh Beckett Authentic Jersey. . Texas slugger Prince Fielder was thrown out in the fourth, trying to stretch the first of two singles into a double in the fourth. He was initially ruled safe, but Porter challenged the call and it was overturned. Keuchel struck out the side in the second inning and was helped by his defence turning double plays in the third, sixth, seventh and ninth innings. "He was changing speeds really well," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "And when he had to make a pitch, he threw that sinker. We just could not centre it. Everything we hit, we just kept beating it into the ground. And he kept throwing it, and we just kept beating it into the ground." Designated hitter Chris Carter, who entered the game batting just .168, had a season-high three hits, Jose Altuve tripled and doubled and rookie George Springer had an RBI and walked three times. It was the first time since 2006 that a Houston rookie walked three times in a game. Hoes hit his first homer since opening day, a two-run shot to the Crawford Boxes in left field to give Houston a 2-0 lead in the second. Altuve hit a two-out double before Springer walked. Harrison was replaced by Justin Germano after an RBI single by Dexter Fowler made it 3-0. Harrison allowed four hits and walked three before he was pulled after 1 2-3 innings to tie his shortest career outing. He laboured from the start and had already thrown 55 pitches when he left the game. NOTES: Keuchels other complete game came on June 23, 2012, against Cleveland. ... The Rangers will recall Nick Tepesch from Triple-A Round Rock before Wednesdays game to start the finale against the Astros against Scott Feldman. ... Houston general manager Jeff Luhnow said Tuesday that RHP Jose Cisnero will have Tommy John surgery on his right elbow next week. ... Luhnow also said that reliever Matt Albers, who is on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis, has some inflammation and wont throw for the next 10 days. ' ' '