Funkerstation » the Wildcats since replacing Pat

PHOENIX -- The Washington Nationals bring one of baseballs best road records into a three-game series against Arizona beginning Monday at Chase Field, a place the Diamondbacks have had a hard time calling home.The Nationals, 7-8 since All-Star break, are 30-24 on the road after splitting four games in San Francisco over the weekend. Only the St. Louis Cardinals (31) have more road victories in the NL.The D-backs, home after a 3-7 trip that included stops in three time zones, are 17-35 at home. Only the Atlanta Braves (14) have fewer home wins.Arizona lost four- and three-runs leads in falling twice over the weekend to the Dodgers, including a 14-3 defeat Sunday. The Diamondbacks have dropped 14 of 19.We just didnt play a really good ballgame today, Arizona manager Chip Hale said Sunday. Our defense really hurt us in that game.The Diamondbacks will attempt to turn things around while facing one of baseballs best pitchers, Stephen Strasburg. The Washington ace right-hander will face Arizona right-hander Archie Bradley in the series opener.Strasburg (14-1, 2.68 ERA) had a season-opening 13-game winning streak broken against the Dodgers on July 21 but rebounded with seven scoreless innings in a 14-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians last Wednesday. His ERA has been above 3.00 only once this season.Strasburg is 3-2 with a 3.53 ERA in seven career starts against Arizona. He is 2-2 at Chase Field and has lost starts in each of the previous two seasons there. He was charged with eight runs (seven earned) in 3 1/3 innings of a 14-6 loss defeat on May 12, 2015.Bradley (4-6, 4.17 ERA) has been the D-backs most consistent starter recently, although the results have not always shown it. He is 2/3 with a 3.06 ERA in his past eight starts, posting five quality starts in that span. Bradley, whose presence has been critical after the loss of Zack Greinke to a left oblique strain on June 28, has never faced the Nationals.The D-backs will see if Yasmany Tomass strong road trip translates in the six-game homestand that also includes a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers.Tomas hit .375 with five doubles, four homers and 10 RBI on the 10-game trip that concluded at Dodger Stadium on Sunday. He had two-homer games in Cincinnati and Milwaukee on the trip and has 14 of his 17 homers on the road this season. He is batting .309 in 45 road games and .223 in 45 home games.Washingtons Daniel Murphy, one of the most productive players in the league since signing as a free agent in the offseason, missed two weekend starts but was used as a pinch hitter Sunday. He leads the NL in batting average (.350), on-base-plus-slugging percentage (1.009), hits (131) and doubles (31).Were a different lineup without Murphy, Nationals manager Dusty Baker said.D-backs second baseman Jean Segura has hit safely in 11 of his past 13 games and is batting .353 with four doubles and two homers in that span. He is second in the NL with 129 hits.The Nationals added closer Mark Melancon in a trade with Pittsburgh to firm up their bullpen Saturday morning. Melancon, who had 30 saves and a 1.51 ERA with the Pirates, reported to the Nats on Sunday in San Francisco but did not get in the game as Washington fell 3-1 to the Giants.Melancon, who attended the University of Arizona, had a major-league-best 51 saves last season.The D-backs also renovated their bullpen over the weekend, purchasing the contracts of left-handers Adam Loewen and Steve Hathaway from Triple-A Reno while optioning lefty Zac Curtis to Double-A Mobile and designating right-hander Josh Collmenter for assignment. Setup man Tyler Clippard was traded to the New York Yankees for minor league right-hander Vicente Campos on Sunday, about three weeks after closer Brad Ziegler was sent to the Boston Red Sox.Arizona setup man Daniel Hudson also is available heading to the Monday afternoon trade deadline.The bullpen is definitely something right now that is up for grabs, Hale said.Diamondbacks third base coach Matt Williams will face his former team for the first time this season. Williams served as the Nationals manager for the last two seasons before being replaced by Dusty Baker last fall. Lunar Force 1 Canada . Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, announced Wednesday that the team would assign Swedish forward Elias Lindholm to his nations team for the upcoming tournament. Nike Shox Canada For Sale . Mitch Holmberg added a goal and three assists. Connor Chartier also scored for the Chiefs (3-0-0). Luke Harrison spoiled Garrett Hughsons shutout bid with a power-play goal at 13:17 of the third period. The Spokane goaltender finished with 28 saves, including a Brandon Fushimi penalty shot in the second period that would have tied the game 1-1. http://www.airforce1canadasale.com/sf-air-force-1-canada.html . Jon Montgomerys gold medal in skeleton at the Whistler Sliding Centre and his subsequent auctioning off of a pitcher of beer in the village square elevated him to folk-hero status. Nike Air More Uptempo 96 Canada .J. -- Josh Cribbs was in the Pro Bowl in February and out of a job six months later. Nike Shox R4 Canada . -- Anaheim Ducks captain and leading scorer Ryan Getzlaf has been scratched from Sunday nights game against the Vancouver Canucks because of an upper-body injury. LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Kentucky enters Saturday nights opener against Southern Mississippi with more urgency than usual.The Wildcats realize how critical every game is to them to reach the six-win threshold and become bowl eligible after consecutive 5-7 finishes. They also would like to build some momentum heading into next weeks Southeastern Conference opener at Florida.But that doesnt mean the Wildcats are looking past Southern Mississippi.Kentucky is facing a Southern Miss squad eager to follow up a 9-5 season and bowl appearance by upsetting a Power Five conference school. While losing to the Golden Eagles wont necessarily break the Wildcats season, their quest to reach the postseason for the first time since 2010 would become a little harder.Kentucky coach Mark Stoops understands the importance but maintains a positive approach.We do not put any more pressure on ourselves, Stoops said. We just need to go out there and do what weve been doing and have that great focus and attention to detail. Im excited about that myself because I know well be prepared.Southern Miss is kicking off its season under new coach Jay Hopson. He is replacing Todd Monken, who left to become offensive coordinator with the NFLs Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hopson previously served as the Golden Eagles defensive backs coach (2001-03) and defensive coordinator (05-07) before going on to guide Alcorn State to a 32-17 record and consecutive SWAC titles the past four years.Adding more intrigue to the opener is the return of Shannon Dawson as Southern Miss offensive coordinator after holding the same job with Kentucky last season.Though Dawson was criticized for the Wildcats late-season struggles and play-calling, Stoops and players had kind words for Dawson. The familiarity between Dawson and his former team could make things interesting.Anytime you open with an SEC opponent, you have your hands full, Hopson said. Kentucky is a well-coached football team with outstanding players.dddddddddddd. We know weve got to be ready this week.---Here are some things to watch when Kentucky hosts Southern Mississippi:BARKERS MOMENT: Kentucky sophomore quarterback Drew Barker has drawn raves from teammates and coaches about his maturity and command of the offense and huddle. Hell start his first opener for the Wildcats since replacing Patrick Towles late last season but hasnt seemed fazed by the hype and expectations. Ive had some playing time, so I kind of know what to expect, Barker said. Its just building off that confidence. I just cant wait to get back out there because it seems like its been two years.MULLENS BIG ARM: Southern Miss senior quarterback Nick Mullens threw for 4,476 yards and 38 touchdowns last season and is Conference USAs preseason offensive player of the year. He not only puts the Wildcats pass rush on notice, but the secondary as well. You cant take any plays off, free safety Marcus McWilson said. If they catch you slipping, thats when they get that one (play) and we cant let that happen.DEFENSIVE DEPTH: As if Kentucky didnt have enough holes to fill on defense, tackle Regie Meant left the team early in camp for undisclosed personal reasons and safety Darius West was lost for the season with a left knee injury. Not only will the Wildcats look to younger players again to provide depth, they need everyone to stay healthy and contribute.SERIES RENEWAL: Kentucky is 2-0 against Southern Miss in a series last played 30 years ago in Lexington. The Wildcats won that game 32-0 and have outscored the Golden Eagles 103-7 overall.---Follow Gary B. Graves on Twitter: www.twitter.com/GaryBGraves and on the APs college football page: http://collegefootball.ap.org . ' ' '