very poll since the start of the 2014-15 seaso

MIAMI -- Helped by a couple of small victories against Giancarlo Stanton, Steven Matz earned a big win for the New York Mets.Matz pitched six innings Sunday for his first win since May, twice escaping trouble by getting Stanton to ground out with a runner in scoring position, and the Mets took the rubber game of their series against Miami, 3-0.It was good to go out there and put up zeroes and get a win, Matz said.The Mets won two of three games in the series and returned home trailing second-place Miami by half a game in the NL East.This was crunch time for us, manager Terry Collins said. We couldnt lose any more ground. This was a good series for us to win.Matz (8-6) allowed four hits, walked two and struck out six. Pitching despite a bone spur in his elbow, he had been 0-5 in his past nine starts with an ERA of 4.73.He retired the Marlins in order only once, but twice ended threats by retiring Stanton, who has six homers against the Mets this month.It was just not giving in, not giving him that good pitch that he can hit, Matz said.Matz had help in the first inning from an unlikely source. Michael Conforto, starting in center field for the first time as a professional, sprinted to left and made a diving catch and rob leadoff hitter Miguel Rojas.Conforto also went 2 for 2 before being replaced in the seventh. Collins breathed a sigh of relief that the experiment started well.Hes here because he can hit, Collins said. If we dont play him in center field, we have no place to play him. Were not going to find out if he can play center until we get him out there.Jose Reyes drove in the first run with a two-out RBI triple in the third inning. Reyes, who joined the Mets this month, had five hits in the series to raise his average to .242.This guy is going to help us, Collins said. When he gets 150 at-bats, you are going to see a dynamic leadoff hitter.Yoenis Cespedes and James Loney contributed consecutive RBI singles in the eighth.Miami drew consolation from an encouraging start by Jose Urena (1-2), who allowed only one run in six innings. It was the right-handers second start this season after being recalled from Triple-A, and he could become a fixture in the Marlins thin rotation.They lost a starter when left-hander Wei-Yin Chen went on the 15-day disabled list because of a sprained elbow. The move was announced after the game.We dont feel like its anything crazy, but we also want to be cautious, manager Don Mattingly said.Matz, who beat Miami for the first time in four career starts, helped the Mets notch their ninth shutout this year. He retired the side in order only once but didnt allow any extra-base hits.Thats probably the best Ive seen him, Mattingly said.His fastball had late life, Collins said. He had a lot of swings and misses on his fastball. His changeup and curve ball he threw for strikes.Three relievers completed a five-hitter, and Jeurys Familiar pitched a perfect ninth to earn his 51st consecutive save, tied for the third-longest in major league history. He has 35 saves this year, most in the majors.A wild pitch on a strikeout helped the Mets in the eighth, when Alejandro De Aza reached that way to lead off. New York went on to score twice in the inning and won with just six hits.SUZUKI UPDATEThe Marlins Ichiro Suzuki, who didnt start in the series, struck out as a pinch hitter in the seventh and remained four hits shy of 3,000.UP NEXTMets: They begin a nine-game homestand Monday, when RHP Noah Syndergaard (9-4, 2.43) is scheduled to pitch against Cardinals RHP Carlos Martinez (9-6, 2.83). The Marlins start a three-game series Monday against the Phillies.Miami: RHP Jarred Cosart will be recalled from New Orleans to start Monday in place of Chen against the Philadelphia Phillies and RHP Jeremy Hellickson (7-7, 3.84). Noah Syndergaard Jersey . -- There were so many positives from the Orlando Magics first victory of the season that it was hard for coach Jacque Vaughn to stop praising his players. Brandon Nimmo Jersey .com) - The Calgary Flames aim to bounce back from their first regulation home loss of the campaign on Friday night when they host a Detroit Red Wings club that they swept in three meetings a season ago. http://www.metsbaseballauthentic.com/pete-alonso-mets-jersey/ . Takahashi, who had a 10-point lead after the short program, received 268.31 points after the free skate to finish 15 points ahead of second-place Nobunari Oda. Wilson Ramos Mets Jersey . The winner Saturday will remain in the elite 10-team field next year. "We talked about wanting to be disciplined and stick with our game plan and good things will come," Draisaitl said, who had two goals for the victors. Keith Hernandez Jersey . -- Mike Smith never saw his first NHL goal go in. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Dawn Staley knows her South Carolina team plays its best when the offense is balanced.The third-ranked Gamecocks did just that to rout No. 4 Louisville 83-59 on Sunday in the Basketball Hall of Fame womens challenge.Alaina Coates had 17 points and 14 rebounds while Aja Wilson and Allisha Gray also scored 17 points apiece for the Gamecocks (5-0), who turned a tight game into a blowout, using a 17-3 run spanning the half to take control.Were pretty balanced offensively. They did a good job of playing off our point guards, Staley said. Our post players are used to playing with each other.South Carolina led 39-32 when Kaela Davis hit consecutive 3-pointers to expand the advantage to double digits. Fellow transfer Allisha Gray then added a three-point play with 6:42 left in the third quarter that made it 48-32 and capped the burst.Louisville (6-1) could get only within 14 the rest of the way.Getting strong play from Davis and Gray helps the Gamecocks, as teams cant just focus on their talented post players.Its huge for us, Wilson said. Our guards knocking down shots on the outside, it helps open up the high-low. Thats our thing. When the guards are hitting the outside and moving, were looking good.Mariya Moore scored 17 and Asia Durr added 13 for the Cardinals, who had cruised through their first six games. ACC player of the year Myisha Hines-Allen was saddled by foul trouble all game and didnt score until early in the fourth quarter, when the game was already out of reach. She finished with just those two points.Even though we lost I think it was a great game, Moore said. We did a lot of great stuff and learned a lot of stuff for the future.The two teams got off to hot starts on offense and Louisville held a 20-18 lead after the first quarter. Foul trouble started mouunting for both squads, slowing down the pace.dddddddddddd The Gamecocks led 31-29 with 3:22 left before halftime and then scored the final six points before the break. The last three came when Coates saved a ball going out of bounds near midcourt, crashing into the announcers table. Mikiah Herbert Harrigan finished off the play with a basket and free throw to give the Gamecocks a 37-29 lead at the break.BIG PICTURESouth Carolina: This is the first game of a tough three-contest stretch, with games at Texas and Duke on the horizon. ... The Gamecocks are one of two teams (UConn) to be in the top five of every poll since the start of the 2014-15 season.Its a great start to a tough week for us, Staley said. I think our players really enjoy and focus in a little more when the competitions a little stiffer. We see them come up and play this way and rise to the level of a competitive basketball team.Louisville: The Cardinals won their first six games by an average of 28 points. The schedule gets a lot tougher now with Maryland, Kentucky, Western Kentucky and South Dakota State coming up.DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINECoates has reached double figures in scoring and rebounding in four of the five games this season. Shes averaging a double-double while playing just 24 minutes.USA EXPERIENCELouisville coach Jeff Walz and South Carolina coach Dawn Staley worked together on the Under-18 and Under-19 USA Basketball teams that won gold medals at the FIBA Americas and FIBA World Championship in 2014-15. Wilson was MVP of both tournaments.UP NEXTSouth Carolina: Plays at Texas on Thursday for the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.Louisville: Hosts Maryland on Thursday in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. ' ' '