Forum » Pettine gets our vote for best coaching decision

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Jason Bourgeois came up in the right place at the right time Wednesday night, with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning for the Tampa Bay Rays, who needed a win to break a six-game losing streak. The 31-year-old backup outfielder delivered his first hit for the Rays, an RBI single to cap a two-run rally that lifted Tampa Bay over the Seattle Mariners 5-4. "No outs, bases loaded, thats like a hitters dream to be in that situation with the game on the line," said Bourgeois, who had entered the game as a pinch runner in the eighth. "I was looking for pitch up and out over the plate. I got it and took advantage of it." The Rays trailed 4-3 when Ben Zobrist opened the ninth with a triple off the top of the right-field wall against rookie Danny Farquhar (0-1). Matt Joyce singled to tie it, Evan Longoria doubled and Wil Myers was intentionally walked to load the bases. Bourgeois, playing in only his fourth game after being called up from Triple-A Durham on Aug. 6, singled to right over the Mariners drawn-in outfield. "Weve just been waiting on that big moment. I think this is going to keep us going a little bit," he said. "It seems to open a lot and take some (pressure) off the pitcher whos starting for us tomorrow." The win broke the Rays longest losing streak since the first six games of the 2011 season, and it marked only their third win in 43 games this season in which they trailed after eight innings. "Its almost never easy," said a relieved manager Joe Maddon. "When things are getting a little bit awkward, it normally takes an awkward game to win, in order to get you back on task, on track." Joel Peralta (2-5) pitched one inning. Farquhar didnt retire any of the five batters he faced. Myers two-run homer, his ninth of the season, cut Seattles lead to 4-3 in the sixth after a leadoff double by Longoria. Rookies Brad Miller and Nick Franklin drove in three runs with back-to-back extra-base hits in the fifth to give the Mariners a three-run lead. David Price failed in his bid to become the first Rays starting pitcher to win this month. Price pitched seven innings, giving up four runs on five hits while striking out seven. All four Mariner runs came on two-out hits. "I wasnt able to make pitches. Thats what Ive been doing, but its what I didnt do as well tonight, especially with two outs, and thats how innings start," Price said. "Our team winning is the biggest thing right now. To come from behind against Farquhar, who slammed the door on us yesterday, thats huge." Kendrys Morales drove in Seattles first run with a single in the first. With two outs, Kyle Seager was hit by a pitch, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Morales hit. Facing the Mariners for the first time in his 138th major league start, Price then retired 12 straight before walking Dustin Ackley with two out in the fifth. Humberto Quintero reached on an infield chopper, Miller tripled into the left-field gap and Franklin doubled. Mariners starter Aaron Harang, pitching in his 33rd different major league ballpark, gave up only three singles until the sixth, when the Rays opened with four straight hits and finished him. NOTES: RHP Alex Cobb will start for the Rays on Thursday, pitching in the majors for the first time since being struck on the right ear by a line drive exactly two months ago. ... Rays LHP Matt Moore threw 55 pitches in a bullpen session Wednesday, but the All-Star pitcher is not satisfied that he is 100 per cent and will not come off the disabled list this weekend. Moore plans to throw again Sunday, but Maddon said it will not be off a mound. ... Rays starting pitchers are 0-6 in their last 11 games after going 16-2 in the preceding 21 games. . . . Rays CF Desmond Jennings, who is on the disabled list with a fractured left middle finger, hit off a tee. He is eligible to come off the DL on Monday . . . Farquhar had recorded the first five saves of his career in his preceding five appearances for the Mariners. . . . The umpire crew of Wally Bell, Marvin Hudson, Marty Foster and Jordan Baker visited the All Childrens Hospital as part of the Umps Care Charities Blue for Kids program. Air Max 97 Plus Cheap Wholesale . -- Joe Thornton scored the tiebreaking goal with 5:39 left in regulation to help the San Jose Sharks overcome a two-goal deficit to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3 on Thursday night. Air Max 97 Plus Black .J. - The New Jersey Devils know the odds are against them as they chase a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. http://www.wholesalenikeshoesclearance.c...nt-shoes.html.C. -- The Carolina Hurricanes have activated defenceman Joni Pitkanen from injured reserve. Cheap Nike Shoes From China . Hawkins severely sprained his left ankle while making a diving catch during training camp and went on injured reserve with a designation he could return midway through the season. He was back at practice Wednesday. Fake Air Max 1 For Sale . The (11-11-4) Jets are seventh in the Central Division with 26 points. Fifth place Dallas and sixth-seeded Nashville also have 26 points, but the Stars have three games in hand on Winnipeg while Nashville has two.Handing Johnny Football a clipboard and baseball cap has worked out nicely for the Cleveland Browns.Rookie coach Mike Pettines decision to start Brian Hoyer instead of first-round pick Johnny Manziel wasnt popular among fans, but the Browns are 5-3 and in the mix in the AFC North.Hoyer has rebounded from knee surgery to put his hometown team in position to make a run at its first playoff appearance since 2002 and post only its second winning season in the last 12 years.Were doing a good job of finding ways to win, Browns four-time All-Pro tackle Joe Thomas said. Part of that is having a quarterback whos making the clutch throws.For picking Hoyer over Manziel, Pettine gets our vote for best coaching decision in the first half.Here are more unofficial, offbeat awards at midseason.WORST COACHING DECISIONRex Ryan sticking with Geno Smith after benching him at halftime of the New York Jets 31-0 loss to San Diego in Week 5. The Jets were 1-4 and Ryan couldve given Michael Vick a chance to rescue the season at that point. Instead, he gave Smith three more starts before pulling him against Buffalo on Oct. 26.BEST FREE-AGENT SIGNINGDenver signing four-time All-Pro DeMarcus Ware after he was cut by Dallas. Ware already has eight sacks, and has improved the run defence along with the pass rush.HonourablE MENTIONS: Wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. (Baltimore); cornerback Brandon Flowers (San Diego); wide receiver Brandon LaFell (New England); safety Malcolm Jenkins (Philadelphia).WORST FREE-AGENT SIGNINGDetroit signing kicker Alex Henery to replace rookie Nate Freese, who missed four of seven attempts in three games. Henery lasted two games, missing all three of his field-goal attempts in a 17-14 loss to Buffalo on Oct. 5. Freese, Henery and new Lions kicker Matt Prater are 3 for 13 from beyond 40 yards. David Akers was 7 for 10 from that distance for Detroit in 2013 but didnt get a contract offer.HonourablE MENTIONS: Offensive tackle Michael Oher (Tennessee); running back Maurice Jones-Drew and defensive end LaMarr Woodley (Oakland); running back Toby Gerhart (Jacksonville).BEST TRADEPhiladelphia acquiring running back Darren Sproles from New Orleans for a fifth-round pick. Sproles has 472 yards rushing and receiving and three TDs. He also has a punt return for a TD.WORST TRADESeattle received only a conditional pick from the Jets for wide receivver Percy Harvin after trading a 2013 first-round and seventh-round draft choices and a 2014 third-rounder to get him two years ago.ddddddddddddBEST PLAYCALLSt. Louis coach Jeff Fisher called a fake punt on a 4th-and-3 from the Rams 18 with a 28-26 lead and 2:55 left in the game. Punter Johnny Hekker tossed an 18-yard pass to Benny Cunningham and the Rams upset Seattle.WORST PLAYCALLPhiladelphia coach Chip Kelly calling a run out of the shotgun formation on 3rd-and-inches from the Cardinals 2 in a tie game late in the fourth quarter. LeSean McCoy was stopped for no gain and the Eagles kicked a go-ahead field goal. Arizona answered with a 75-yard TD pass to win it.BEST PLAYSt. Louis returner Stedman Bailey had a 90-yard touchdown on a trick punt return that had the Seahawks thinking another player was going to field the punt. Tavon Austin drew most defenders to the opposite side of the field by staggering under the imaginary ball. That allowed Bailey a clear path down the sideline after fielding the punt across the field.WORST PLAYSan Franciscos Colin Kaepernick fumbling on a quarterback sneak at the goal line on the final play in a 13-10 loss to the Rams.BEST GAMEIn a Super Bowl rematch, the Seahawks again beat the Broncos but needed overtime to do it. Marshawn Lynchs 6-yard run gave Seattle a 26-20 win and prevented Peyton Manning from touching the ball in OT.WORST GAMETampa Bay trailed Atlanta 56-0 going into the fourth quarter of a 56-14 loss. The Buccaneers have five losses by less than a touchdown but two losses by a 104-31 margin.BEST PERFORMANCEPittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had 522 yards passing, 40 completions, and six touchdowns to help the Steelers beat Indianapolis 51-34.WORST PERFORMANCESmith tossing three interceptions on three straight series before getting yanked against the Bills.BEST COMEBACK PERFORMANCEJeremy Maclin returning from ACL surgery to lead the Eagles with 45 catches, 790 yards receiving and eight TDs.WORST COMEBACK PERFORMANCEMatt Schaub hasnt rejuvenated his career in Oakland. He couldnt beat out rookie Derek Carr in training camp and has thrown one pass for the winless Raiders.___AP Sports Writer Tom Withers in Cleveland contributed to this report.___AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL___Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_RobMaaddi ' ' '