CLEVELAND -- The Indians found someone to boost their sagging offence. Mark Grace Jersey . They now have to hope its not too late. After scoring just three runs in three games while being swept in Atlanta, the Indians acquired outfielder Jason Kubel and cash on Friday from Arizona to help their playoff push. Kubel, who hit 30 homers last season for the Diamondbacks, has struggled in 2013, his second year with Arizona. He was designated for assignment earlier this week. In exchange for Kubel, the Diamondbacks will receive a player to be named later or cash. A left-handed hitter, the 31-year-old joins Cleveland just as it opens a three-game series in Detroit. The Indians trail the AL Central-leading Tigers by 6 1/2 games and are four back in the wild-card chase. "Were excited to bring him back to the American League and give him a chance to contribute," Indians general manager Chris Antonetti said. Kubel was batting just .220 with five homers and 32 RBIs in 89 games, and had been reduced to mainly pinch-hitting duties before Arizona designated him on Tuesday. The Diamondbacks had 10 days to trade, release or put Kubel on waivers, but found a trading partner with the Indians, who are in a collective batting slump at the worst possible time. The Indians went 0-for-18 with runners in scoring position against the Braves, and everyone in Clevelands batting order is underperforming. The Indians are batting only .238 since the All-Star break and .227 in August. Their leading hitter, All-Star second baseman Jason Kipnis, is batting .285 entering the weekend. "Hes another left-handed bat," Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. "We dont know how much hell play." Antonetti said Kubel can play some outfield and will be used as a designated hitter and to pinch-hit over the seasons final month -- and hopefully in the playoffs. "Itll be nice to have another bat here," Francona said. "If he gets a big hit or two, it wont bother us." Kubel, who is not expected to join the Indians until Saturday in Detroit, spent seven seasons in Minnesota before signing as a free agent with Arizona in 2011. Hes making $7.5 million this year with a club option worth $7.5 million for next season. Kubels familiarity with the AL Central is another reason the Indians acquired him. Of Clevelands final 29 games, 19 are against divisional opponents. Also, the Indians signed free agent catcher Kelly Shoppach to a minor league deal and assigned him to Triple-A Columbus. Shoppach spent four seasons (2006-09) with the Indians after he was acquired in a trade with from Boston. The 33-year-old spent the first 2 1/2 months with Seattle, batting just .196 with three homers and nine RBIs in 35 games before he was released on June 20. "Kelly offers us an opportunity to improve our depth," Antonetti said. "Hes a veteran catcher who has had success at the big league level. He can still run a game, handle a pitching staff and control the running game." Shoppach was also with Washingtons and Pittsburghs Triple-A affiliates this season. Alcides Escobar Royals Jersey . - Gatineaus line of Martin Reway, Simon Tardif-Richard and Marc-Olivier Brouillard combined for six goals and 12 points as the Olympiques crushed the visiting Saint John Sea Dogs 8-4 on Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League play. Jorge Soler Jersey . But until the 10th inning, the Colorado Rockies outfielder was hitless. That changed quickly when Dickerson drove a two-out, 0-1 pitch into the pool deck beyond the right field fence for the tiebreaking home run in the Rockies 5-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Jordan Spieth couldnt see any of the 240 yards to the green on the toughest hole at the TPC Sawgrass. He was in the rough so far right of the 14th fairway that he was closer to a water hazard on No. 12 that he didnt know even existed. His ball was on the back side of a mound. One wrong move could have led to a big number. "Probably the best shot Ive hit here this week," Spieth said Saturday. The contact was perfect. The ball landed about pin-high in a bunker, setting up another par. It was like that all day at The Players Championship. Every time the 20-year-old Texan landed in trouble, he answered with a recovery shot, a chip-and-run, and always a putt that kept him without a bogey through 54 holes and gave him a share of the lead with Martin Kaymer going into the final round. Spieths final act was an escape through the trees on the 18th hole and a 12-foot par putt from the fringe for a 1-under 71. Kaymer missed his par putt from just inside 10 feet on the final hole and had to settle for a 72. They were at 12-under 204, three shots clear of former Players winner Sergio Garcia (69) and John Senden (68). Not since Greg Norman won The Players in 1994 has anyone gone through the opening three rounds without a bogey. Then again, Spieth has shown over the last year that he is capable of remarkable feats. "I didnt play with him the first two days, but there were a couple today where you think its a tough one to save par, and he always pulled it off," Kaymer said. "If it wasnt a brilliant chip, it was a good putt. So its very tough to beat those guys that dont make mistakes. ... Seems like he doesnt make many mistakes." Kaymer wasnt too shabby on the toughest day all week at Sawgrass -- warm, humid, blustery and increasingly frightening. He picked up a pair of birdies on the front nine to build a two-shot lead, only to lost two birdie opportunities on the par 5s on the back nine. Even when he heard a few cheers after missing his par putt on the 18th, which allowed Spieth to share the lead, Kaymer was in a good spot. A former world No. 1 and major champion, Kaymer is trying to end more than two years without winning. "Its very important that you enjoy the day," Kaymer said. "Its a rare opportunity that youre in the leading group one of the biggest tournaments we play all year." For Spieth, who still didnt have a PGA Tour card lastt year, the final group is familiar territory. Ryan Goins Blue Jays Jersey. He has contended on the weekend in four tournaments already this year, and only a month ago had a two-shot lead with 11 holes to play in the Masters until he finished in a tie for second behind Bubba Watson. "Augusta left me feeling a little hungry for it again, and here we are," Spieth said. "And I have an opportunity to kind of really draw back on that round and the positives, the negatives and everything in between and go out there tomorrow and try and play the same way I played the first two rounds." Even so, he knows hell have to play better and possibly score better. There were some good bounces -- a soft bounce on a wedge at the 16th that possibly prevented his ball from going into the water -- and some good breaks, such as getting a free drop from a drain in the rough that took pine trees out of his line on the 15th. Spieth repeatedly pumped his fist when his final par putt dropped into the cup, a clutch moment worth celebrating. He now has gone 69 consecutive holes dating to Hilton Head without making a bogey. The question is whether that streak can last as the pressure increases. "I was all over the place," Spieth said. "In order to win, Im going to have to drive the ball better. Today I got the breaks, got the bounces, and made the 3- and 4-footers to stay alive. Im not going to be able to keep doing that." Brantford, Ont., native David Hearn shot a 68 to finish Round 3 in a tie for eighth place. This course gets tougher on the weekend, especially on Sunday. And there were still plenty of players poised to either make a run or be waiting if either of the leaders slip up. Garcia turned a birdie chance into a bogey on the 17th hole by missing a short putt. He did enough right in his round of 69 that he will have another chance to experience the thrills on the back nine of Sawgrass. Along with winning in 2008, he was tied for the lead going to the 17th hole last year until hitting three balls in the water the rest of the way as Tiger Woods went on to win. Senden won at Innisbrook earlier in the year and played the par 5s in 5 under, including an eagle at No. 9. Justin Rose was in the group at 7-under 209 until it was determined after his round that his ball moved slightly before he chipped it on the 18th. That turned his par into a double bogey and he wound up seven shots behind. Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys ' ' '
