Funkerstation » four hits in 4 1/3 innings of Saturdays 10

VANCOUVER -- Brad Knighton was used sparingly during his time with the Philadelphia Union. Now he has a chance to show them what they missed. Knighton is slated to start against his former squad for the first time Saturday as the Vancouver Whitecaps host the Union at B.C. Place Stadium. If all goes according to plan, the goalkeeper will attempt to keep the Whitecaps (9-6-5) unbeaten at home against the Union (8-6-7), which is in contention for top spot in the Eastern Conference. Vancouver has gone 7-0-3 at home. Knighton sports a 6-2-2 mark and two shutouts. "All you can ask for is a chance, and its what you do with that chance," said Knighton after practice on the clubs home turf Friday. "You try and make the most of it and try and show people that have written you off that you deserve to be here, and youre a No. 1 in this league." Knighton was released by Philadelphia after playing just eight games in 2010, his first and only season with the club. He posted a respectable, albeit unspectacular 3-3-1 record during that span. The Union put him on waivers, but there were no takers, and Knighton was forced to play the next season in a lower-tier circuit with the Carolina RailHawks. Current Vancouver coach Martin Rennie guided Carolina that season and, after watching Knighton play every minute of the campaign, brought him to the Whitecaps in 2012. Knighton, a 28-year-old Hickory, N.C., native, was never drafted by a Major League Soccer club but he has fought his way to starting status last season, when he played in Vancouvers first playoff game, and again this season after Joe Cannon, now the third-stringer, began the campaign as No. 1. Accordingly, the opportunity to play against the Union is highly meaningful to Knighton. "I pride myself on how hard Ive worked to get where I was, and all the obstacles that Ive had to come through," said Knighton, who entered the pro ranks after four seasons as a starter with the University of North Carolina-Wilmington. "And to be able to find a place where Ive been able to get a good run of games and show my capabilities as a starting keeper in this league has been fantastic for me, and its helped my confidence tremendously." But Knightons run could come to an end if he cant help his current club succeed against his old one. The Whitecaps signed Danish goalkeeper David Ousted, who became eligible to play July 9. Ousted has been waiting in the wings since then as Knighton enjoyed centre stage. Knighton has helped the Whitecaps stay unbeaten in six of their last seven games, but the Caps are coming off a road loss to Los Angeles last weekend. Ousted, who was signed after the Whitecaps traded defender Alain Rochat to D.C. United to clear cap space, reportedly earns much more than Knightons $66,000 annual base pay. So Rennie, who has praised Knightons play in recent weeks, could be compelled to make a switch if the Whitecaps are not successful this weekend. But Knighton, who was also cast adrift by New England following the 2009 season, is determined to keep his place after going down and up the pro soccer ladder. "Obviously, (succeeding) at the lower level is something a bit different than doing it at the higher level," he said. "Ive been fortunate this year and last year to get a chance at a higher level. Im just trying to make the most of it and show people that I deserve to be here for a long time." Meanwhile, striker Kenny Miller is also looking to excel after he signed a rare six-month contract extension this week. "Obviously, thats a mark now that has been put to rest," said Miller, who has six goals in the 11 games in which he has played this season. ... I can just concentrate on the football now, the game (Saturday) and our undefeated home record and, hopefully, continue our good momentum at home as well and get another three points, which should push us up the table and get us to where we feel we should be ... which is the top of the league." Meanwhile, Whitecaps striker Darren Mattocks has been sidelined indefinitely with a knee injury. Rennie said Mattocks underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Thursday. The coach said the team does not put a time frame on recoveries, but he does not expect the Jamaican international to miss extended time. Mattocks has struggled in his second MLS season after leading the club with seven goals as a rookie. He has started just six of the 13 games in which he has appeared, recording three goals and one assist. Notes: Whitecaps defender Jordan Harvey will also get a chance to play against his former Philadelphia squad. ... Former Whitecap Sebastien Le Toux will suit up for the Union. He spent part of last season with the Whitecaps after being acquired in a trade from Philadelphia. The Frenchman leads the league in assists with nine. ... Whitecaps central defender Andy OBrien (hamstring) is not expected to play. ... Vancouver captain Jay DeMerit (torn Achilles tendon) has resumed training with the team, but is not expected back until late-August.Paul Millsap Jersey . The team says the Spain international has a muscle pull in his right leg. Barcelona hosts third-division side Cartagena in the return leg of their round-of-32 tie after winning their first meeting 4-1. Custom Denver Nuggets Jerseys . Arsenal failed to take full advantage of its main rivals stumbles on Saturday as substitute Gerard Deulofeu levelled with a hard shot from a tight angle in the 84th minute to give Everton a deserved point. Ahead of a crucial fortnight that will see them play against Napoli in the Champions League, Manchester City and Chelsea, Arsenal leads by five points ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea. http://www.nuggetsproshop.com/Jarred-Vanderbilt-Nuggets-Jersey/ . Terms of the deal were not immediately available. The 26-year-old finished last season with Clevelands Triple-A affiliate in Columbus after signing with the Indians in August. Jarred Vanderbilt Jersey .J. Jefferson has been charged with assaulting his girlfriend. Allen Iverson Nuggets Jersey . -- Teemu Selanne scored the first goal of his 22nd NHL season, and the Anaheim Ducks extended the best start in franchise history with their fifth straight victory, 3-2 over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night.NEW YORK -- The Texas Rangers have achieved numerous things this season.One thing they were not able to get due to a large bullpen collapse Wednesday was tie a club record with their 21st win in June.The Rangers will look to set that mark and rebound from their major league-leading eighth walk-off loss of the season Thursday afternoon when they conclude a four-game series with the New York Yankees.Texas was two outs away from being able to play for its record-setting 22nd win of June and its first four-game sweep in New York but let a 7-2 lead slip away and wound up with a 9-7 loss.Cesar Ramos gave up Brian McCanns first home run in the eighth and Sam Dyson allowed McCanns three-run home run in the ninth and Didi Gregorius game-winner.Obviously when you have your closer on the mound in a save situation, theyre very challenging, Texas manager Jeff Banister said. Four-run lead there in the 9th, and weve been really good at closing those games out.Even though the bullpen now has a 4.84 ERA, this has still been a good month for the Rangers. They are 20-7 this month and can equal the record for wins in a month set in Sept. 1978 (21-10) and matched in June 2010 (21-6).The Rangers also will be looking to go unbeaten in their last 13 series (13-0-1) and improved to 14-1-1 in its last 16. The only series loss was a three-game sweep by Oakland in mid-May but since then Texas is 29-9.The Yankees will be hoping the late dramatics can finally springboard them into marking a run as they will try to reach .500 for the seventh time since May 22.Probably the biggest win of the year, Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez said.New York has never been more than two games over and since getting to 31-30 June 10, the Yankees are 8-9.A win on Thursday will mean the Yankees dont head into July with a losing record for thee first time since 2007.dddddddddddd A win also means the Yankees will not face a double-digit through the end of June for the seventh time since divisional play began in 1969.Theres a sense of urgency, Girardi said. As days tick away, you start to run out of time, and you dont want to bury yourself. Baltimore is playing extremely well. Boston has run into a few bumps here, but theyve played well. Torontos played well. And so you cant mess around too long and expect to be there.A.J Griffin is 3-0 with a 3.08 ERA in seven starts this season and will be on the mound Thursday for Texas.Griffin made his first start off the disabled list and took a no-decision after allowing two runs and four hits in 4 1/3 innings of Saturdays 10-3 win over the Boston Red Sox. He has held opponents to .200 average and allowed three earned runs or less in each start.The right-hander has had similar success in his career against the Yankees. He is 3-0 with a 2.49 ERA in four starts against New York, including April 26 in Arlington when he allowed one run and four hits in eight innings of a 10-1 victory.The Yankees will hope Michael Pineda can continue his decent stretch. Although Pineda is 3-7 with a 5.51 ERA, he is 1-1 with a 3.00 in four starts this month.Pineda leads the Yankees with 96 strikeouts and has at least eight strikeouts in four of five starts this month. The latest instance was Saturday when he took a no-decision and allowed one run and two hits in six innings against Minnesota.Pineda is 0-3 with a 5.04 ERA in four starts against Texas. The last time he faced the Rangers at home was May 22, 2015 when he allowed seven runs (four earned) and eight hits over six innings of a 10-9 loss. ' ' '