Basisphilosophie » n Slyke at second. Second base

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- LeGarrette Blount wasnt satisfied with three short touchdown runs, not against a team coming off the second greatest comeback in playoff history. So the 250-pound back who makes long runs routine took off on a 73-yarder and carried the New England Patriots to their third straight AFC championship game with a 43-22 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday night. Suddenly, the ground game has replaced Tom Brady as the heart of the Patriots offence. "Once I get into the open field, theyre going to have to chase me," Blount said. "And if they catch me, they do. And if they dont, they dont. They usually dont." They didnt two weeks earlier when he scored on runs of 36 and 35 yards in the regular-season finale against Buffalo. He also returned kickoffs 83 and 62 yards in that 34-20 victory that gave New England a first-round bye. And they didnt on his long touchdown that gave the Patriots (13-4) a 36-22 lead early in the fourth quarter against the Colts (12-6). The Patriots will face the winner of the game Sunday between the Broncos and Chargers. It will be in Denver if the Broncos win, and New England will host it if the Chargers win. "Its just a great achievement," Brady said. "People have counted us out at times this year, but I think weve got a locker room full of believers." Blount tied Curtis Martins team playoff record of 166 yards rushing, on 24 carries, two weeks after rushing for a career-high 189. "Hes got that combination of size, power and quickness and speed," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "He can run hard. He can make guys miss and he can go the distance." Blount scored on three 2-yard runs in the first half, then burst through the right side for his 73-yarder. Once he reached the end zone, he placed the ball gently on the ground made soggy by a game-long rain. On the next series, Luck threw his third interception and the Patriots capitalized with Stevan Ridleys second touchdown run, a 1-yarder that finished the scoring with 11:12 left. "Im just disappointed in myself," Luck said. "I cant commit that many turnovers and have a chance to win against a great team like this." Blount joined Ricky Watters, who had five touchdowns for San Francisco on Jan. 15, 1994, as the only players with four or more in a playoff game. The Patriots six rushing touchdowns tied the 49ers total in that game for second most in playoff history. Blounts performance came two weeks after he ran for 189 yards and returned two kickoffs for 145 in a 34-20 victory over Buffalo in the regular-season finale. Billed as a matchup between quarterbacks -- long-time great Brady and second-year star Luck -- the Patriots leader was content to hand off while Luck threw an interception on his second pass and never found consistency. He threw two touchdown passes to LaVon Brazill but also threw four interceptions. Luck had three interceptions a week earlier but led the Colts from a 38-10 deficit early in the third quarter to a 45-44 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in a wild-card game. "We had our chances, man, to make plays and get our offence back on the field," Colts safety Antoine Bethea said. "Last game, we were able to do that, but it was a great quarterback, a great offence and a great team we were facing (Saturday)." The Colts trailed 21-12 at halftime, then cut the deficit to 29-22 on a 35-yard pass to Brazill with 5:01 left in the third. The Patriots dominated the rest of the way. "We just had to keep our foot on the gas pedal," Blount said, "and make sure that they didnt to us what they did to Kansas City." Blounts first touchdown came on New Englands first offensive play after Alfonzo Dennards interception. He scored again on the Patriots second series. Luck responded with a 38-yard touchdown pass to Brazill. Former Patriot Adam Vinatieri set an NFL record with his 59th post-season extra point, making it 14-7. Blounts third touchdown came 4:06 into in the second quarter before Vinatieris 36-yard field goal made it 21-10. The Colts got a break late in the first half when Danny Aikens snap sailed over punter Ryan Allens head, ending up in a safety. The Patriots also got a break that the Colts didnt get a touchdown out of it after Allen failed to concede the safety. Allen fumbled into the air and Indianapolis Jeris Pendleton slapped the ball out of the end zone. "Ryan probably wasnt sure how close they were to him," Belichick said. Allen hurt his shoulder on the play and placekicker Stephen Gostkowski punted the rest of the game. Brady took over Allens holding duties. Indianapolis got the ball on the free kick, but the drive ended with Lucks second interception. Vinatieris 21-yard field goal early in the third quarter made it 21-15. Then the Patriots took a 29-15 lead on Ridleys 3-yard run and his carry for a 2-point conversion. But Luck came right back with his second touchdown pass to Brazill. "We didnt accomplish the ultimate goal," Colts running back Donald Brown said, "but there are definitely some positives to look back on." Brady completed 13 of 25 passes for 198 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. Luck was 20 for 41 for 331 yards. Notes: Former NBA star Charles Barkley was in the Patriots locker room after the game. "Im a big fan of his," Belichick said. ... A moment of silence was held for 17-year-old Sam Berns of Foxborough, whose battle with a rare and fatal genetic condition that accelerates the aging process inspired Patriots players and was the subject of an HBO documentary "Life According to Sam." He died Friday. He had been invited by Patriots owner Robert Kraft to be the teams honorary captain Saturday. Peja Stojakovic Jersey . The mixed zone is not a place to make friends. Buddy Hield Jersey . To get things started, heres a little photo tour to get you acquainted with all the main characters. http://www.nbakingsonline.com/Authentic-Zach-Randolph-Kings-Jersey/ . Both sides came closest to scoring in the first half, when Roma had a goal from Mattia Destro waved off for offside and Inters Rodrigo Palacio headed high. "A draw was a fair result. Neither squad had many chances," Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic said. Anthony Tolliver Jersey . Trailing by a goal after 20 minutes of play, Joe Pavelski responded with three goals and an assist as the Sharks snapped a two-game losing skid with a 5-2 victory over the struggling Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. Sacramento Kings Jerseys . "Last year we were in a ton of situations, late-game situations we couldnt pull out. Wed kind of fold under the pressure, get frustrated or let a big shot frustrate us," guard DeMar DeRozan said.LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The last time Kyle Hendricks pitched at Dodger Stadium he was in high school and there were a couple hundred people in the stands. The 24-year-old shone on a much bigger stage Friday night, scattering four hits over seven innings in the Chicago Cubs 8-2 victory over the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers, whose six-game winning streak ended. "I thought about playing up here, but I didnt think about this moment," Hendricks said. "You always have lofty dreams, but I was more concerned about the day-to-day work to get me here." Making his fourth major league start after being called up from Triple-A, Hendricks (2-1) allowed one earned run, struck out three and walked one. The rookie had two of Chicagos 13 hits, including his first in the majors. "Thats a heck of a lineup over there," he said. "I was just lucky I could go out there and throw strikes. The guys scored a ton of runs for me, which is always nice, but you cant relax. Youve got to still go after the hitters and treat it like a 1-0 lead." Starlin Castro had three hits and scored three runs, Ryan Sweeney had two hits and scored twice, and Luis Valbuena homered and drove in two runs for the last-place Cubs, who have won four of their last five. "Kyle set the tone with his ability to attack the hitters and attack that offence," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said. "That gave us an opportunity to go ahead and do what we did on offence." Hendricks got dinged in the calf on the first hit of the game by Dee Gordon, but it didnt affect him. "It was really fun, having all my family and friends here, and I saw my high school coach right before the game," he said. As much as Hendricks enjoyed himself, Dan Haren was left feeling miserable. The veteran is in the midst of a career-worst five-game skid, having lost all four of his starts in July. The right-hander (8-9) gave up seven runs — six earned — and eight hits in 4 1-3 innings, struck out three and walked two. "Im frustrated and embarrassed," Haren said. "I feel confident coming into the game, but it seems like the same things happen. I didnt have good stuff. I dont know why. I should be pitching better. I feel bad for the fans. Its the toughest time of my career." The Cubs scored three runs in the third for a 4-1 lead and another three in the fifth to make it 7-1. "We made so many mistakes," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "You know you cant win like that." The wildest play of the game occurredd on a tag play at home plate in the sixth.dddddddddddd It began when Hanley Ramirez grounded into a fielders choice to third baseman Valbuena, who forced Scott Van Slyke at second. Second baseman Arismendy Alcantara tried to complete the double play, but Ramirez got to first in time, forcing Anthony Rizzo to fire to the plate. Yasiel Puig, who was on second, had started home on the throw to first. Puig slid home, where catcher Wellington Castillo was fully sprawled on the ground. Puig reached to tag the plate with his left hand while keeping his right hand away from Castillos outstretched glove in a cat-and-mouse game. Puig was called safe, which the Cubs challenged. There was a 4-minute review before the call was upheld and the Dodgers trailed 8-2. TRAINERS ROOM Cubs: Left-hander Felix Doubront was added to the roster and placed on the 15-day DL with a strained left calf. He was acquired on Wednesday from Boston for a player to be named. He is 26-22 with a 4.82 ERA and three saves in 98 appearances in the last five years with the Red Sox. Dodgers: Reliever Paul Maholm walked out on crutches with his right knee in a brace after the game. He will have a MRI on Saturday. First baseman Adrian Gonzalez left the game in the third with a right knee contusion. Puig was taken out for precautionary reasons with mild left hamstring soreness in the seventh. The bad luck didnt escape first base coach Davey Lopes, who slipped on some steps. "I think thats it," Mattingly said with a weak smile after ticking off all the injuries. ON DECK Cubs: Tsuyoshi Wada (1-1, 3.38) takes the mound for his fourth major league start. The left-hander has struck out 13 and walked six while holding the opposition to a .254 average in his first three starts. He had Tommy John surgery two years ago, when he was in Baltimores farm system. Dodgers: Hyun-Jin Ryu (12-5, 3.44) starts against the Cubs for just the second time in his career. The left-hander has won three consecutive starts since July 13, going 3-0 with a 2.37 ERA. Ryu has limited opponents to a .186 batting average while striking out 22 and walking two in that span. ADDING ON The Cubs added infielder Chris Valaika to the 25-man roster to take Emilio Bonifacios spot. Manager Rick Renteria said Valaika will be used all over the lineup to give others a breather. GETTING CLOSE Kyuji Fujikawa could join the Cubs next week after his minor league rehab assignment. The right-hander has given up one earned run over five innings in five games at Triple A-Iowa. 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