2012 » e $300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes by three-quarters of a len

PITTSBURGH -- Adam Frazier is an unlikely source of power. The Pittsburgh Pirates 5-foot-10 utilityman had hit just three home runs in his first four years of professional baseball coming into Sundays game against the Philadelphia Phillies.But with the game tied in the seventh inning, Frazier sent an Edubray Ramos fastball into the right-field seats to lead the Pirates to a 5-4 victory.It was up and in and I figured he was coming back with a fastball after just missing with two off-speed pitches, Frazier said, while noting that he got a scouting report from his time playing with Ramos in the Arizona Fall League in 2015. I got my hands to it and got the barrel out front.The 407-foot pinch-hit homer was not only his first bopper in the majors since being called up June 24, it also was his first at any level since Sept. 5, when he was with Double-A Altoona. He hit just three total minor-league home runs in the Pirates organization since being drafted out of Mississippi State in 2013.I was pretty excited to see the ball clear the fence, he said. In a tie game, I was just trying to do whatever I can. It was pretty big.Making his second appearance since a trip to the disabled list for a fatigued shoulder, Pittsburgh starter Jameson Taillon struck out seven batters in six innings but was also hittable at times. He surrendered four extra-base hits, including solo home runs by Odubel Herrera and Andres Blanco, which allowed the Phillies to build a 4-2 lead.Pirates manager Clint Hurdle credited Taillons maturity for him to allow big hits early but remain focused and effective.He made some mistakes and he paid for them, but he kept us in the game and he really didnt fold or go away, Hurdle said. He stayed on the aggression throughout the outing.The Pirates comeback started in the sixth inning, when Starling Marte lead off with a double to center and Matt Joyce sent a first-pitch fastball from Philadelphia starter Vince Velasquez 434 feet off the batters eye beyond the centerfield wall.The home run was the 10th of the season for Joyce, his most since 2013 despite only having a part-time role. He is slugging a career-high .563 on the season, after posting a career-low .291 mark in 2015 with the Anaheim Angels.I felt (when we got him) we got a good, plum ballplayer that could bounce back and have a good season, Hurdle said. I didnt think about numbers. Obviously, these are eye-catching numbers. Hes leading the team in home runs at home. In the role hes playing, thats pretty impressive, as well. Good for him. Hes worked hard and this is part of the game you love as a coach.Joyce also walked and scored as part of the Pirates two-run second inning. Marte led off the inning with a single and Elias Diaz drove him in with a groundout to record his first career RBI. Sean Rodriguez then drove in Joyce with a double to center.The Phillies scored a pair off Taillon in the third when he gave up a leadoff single to Velasquez. Cesar Hernandez drove in Velasquez with a triple off the wall in center field and then came around to score on Herreras groundout.Mark Melancon pitched the ninth inning to record his 30th save, the third most in the National League. He became the first Pirates pitcher to have three consecutive seasons with 30 or more. He led the big leagues with 51 saves in 2015, and his 114 saves since the start of 2014 are the most in the majors.Ramos took his first career loss to fall to 1-1. Fraziers homer made a winner of Pirates reliever Neftali Feliz, who is 4-0.The game was delayed an hour and 32 minutes by a thunderstorm in the bottom of the eighth inning.TRAINING ROOMPhillies: Blanco left the game with a fractured left index finger after applying a tag on Gregory Polanco at third base in the fifth inning. Polanco was attempting to steal third. Blanco took the throw from catcher Carlos Ruiz in plenty of time and tagged Polanco, who contacted Blancos glove with his foot. Blanco was replaced by Maikel Franco. It was Francos first action since being removed from Fridays game after being hit by a pitch in his wrist. He went 1 for 2 at the plate. ... Catcher Cameron Rupp did not play as a precaution after being hit in the head with a pitch Saturday. Concussion tests done Saturday night and before the game Sunday were negative.Pirates: Right-handed pitcher Tyler Glasnow was placed on the 15-day disabled list before the game with right shoulder discomfort.UP NEXTPhillies: Jeremy Hellickson (7-7, 3.84 ERA) will start a three-game set in Miami. In his last seven starts, hes walked just seven batters and has a 0.98 WHIP while lowering his ERA by half a run. The Phillies enter the series 9 1/2 games behind the Marlins for the final NL Wild Card spot.Pirates: Francisco Liriano (6-9, 4.96 ERA) will begin a two-game series against the Seattle Mariners after an off day Monday. The Pirates have rearranged their starting rotation to keep Liriano and Gerrit Cole on as close to five days of rest as possible during a stretch where they have four days off in a three-week span.Wholesale Custom Jerseys . Team physician Dr. Steve Traina performed the surgery Friday. Robinson was injured in a spill underneath the Nuggets basket during the first quarter of Wednesday nights loss to the Charlotte Bobcats. Custom Soccer Jerseys . Down by seven with 90 seconds left in regulation, thats where they looked comfortable. http://www.customjerseysnearme.com/ .J. -- Marshawn Lynch said Thursday it will be good to get back to football after the Seattle quiet talking running back wrapped up his final mandatory media session of Super Bowl week. Authentic Custom Jerseys . -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. Custom Football Jerseys .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach.ARCADIA, Calif. -- Breaking from the rail sure isnt a problem for California Chrome.Drawing the No. 1 post for the second straight race, Chrome led all the way in cruising to a 2 1/4-length victory in the $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita, improving to 6-0 this year as the front-runner for Horse of the Year honors.Three-time defending champion Beholder lost to Stellar Wind in the $300,000 Zenyatta Stakes, extending the longest skid of her career to three races. She also lost to Stellar Wind in the Clement L. Hirsch and to Chrome in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar this summer.Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Chrome ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.07 and paid $2.80, $2.10 and $2.10 as the 2-5 favorite in one of five Grade 1 stakes on the card with Breeders Cup implications in front of 18,563.Hes a challenging horse to run against because hes versatile on top of his talent, Espinoza said. He can run on the front end and can come from behind. If someone wants to try and run with us again, maybe Ill take back the next time. Thats the best part, he doesnt have to be up there on the lead.Espinoza was aboard Stellar Wind in the Zenyatta, winning by a neck to earn his third victory of the day. The 4-year-old filly claimed an automatic berth in the BC Distaff.Chrome earned an all-fees paid berth in the $6 million BC Classic next month on the same track. The victory also kept alive the 5-year-olds bid to earn a $1 million bonus for sweeping the Pacific Classic, Awesome Again and BC Classic.Chrome won the Pacific Classic by five lengths from the inside post last month.Two down, one to go.Each race seems a little bit better, its a little scary, said Art Sherman, Chromes 79-year-old trainer. I never had the ability to buy the most expensive horses. This is just like a gift from, I dont know where.Dortmund returned $2.20 and $2.10, while Win the Space was another 4 1/2 lengths back in third and paid $2.80 to show.It was nearly a match race between Chrome and Dortmund, who dueled at the front while the other three runners lagged behind. Chrome pulled away from Dortmund approaching the final turn. Espinoza didnt use his whip in the stretch and eased Chrome nearing the finish line.Hard Aces was fourth and Soi Phet last.Chrome, the 2014 Kentucky Derby winner, ran the opening quarter-mile in a speedy 22.76 seconds.I ran the first part fast yes, but then eased up on him, Espinoza said. I didnt want to overuse him. Weve got a big race coming up. It seemed like he was doing everything very easily. Hopefully hell run big in the Breeders Cup.As Chrome and Espinoza made their way past the grandstand, the jockey waved to cheering Chromies, the horses fans.Weaaring blinkers for the first time since his career debut, Dortmund lost for the first time in six starts at Santa Anita under trainer Bob Baffert.ddddddddddddThe victory, worth $180,000, increased Chromes career earnings to $13,432,500 as North Americas career earnings leader.In the Zenyatta, Stellar Wind ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:35.06 and paid $6 to win. Beholder was the 2-5 favorite in the field of five. Argentina-bred Vale Dori finished 11 3/4 lengths back in third.Beholder went to the lead, which wasnt the plan in the five-horse field.Nothing really went wrong except I was on the lead and a sitting duck once again, her jockey Gary Stevens said. I flat got out-run. Unfortunately, three losses in a row and its tough for a champion. Hopefully, we can bounce back and get some pace in the Breeders Cup.In other stakes:- Espinoza rode Gormley to a three-length upset in the $300,000 FrontRunner Stakes, giving the 2-year-old colt a berth in the BC Juvenile.Gormley ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.57 and paid $23.60, $9 and $3 at 11-1 odds. Hes owned by Jerry and Ann Moss and trained by John Shirreffs, the same group that campaigned superstar mare Zenyatta.I like that when he got into that big gear he has, he didnt get too excited for a young horse and today he was all business, Shirreffs said.Gormley also won his career debut by 4 1/2 lengths at Del Mar on Sept. 4.Klimt, the 1-5 favorite trained by Baffert, finished second. Straight Fire was third.Secret House, a 60-1 shot, was rambunctious in the starting gate and jockey Santiago Gonzalez stepped off before the gate opened. That triggered an inquiry by the stewards, who ruled Secret House was a non-starter and the track refunded all money wagered on him. Gonzalez did something similar in a race last week at Los Alamitos.Gonzalez was ordered to appear before the stewards on Sunday to discuss his actions.- Avenge won the $300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes by three-quarters of a length to earn a berth in the BC Filly & Mare Turf.Ridden by Flavien Prat, Avenge ran 1 1/4 miles in 1:58.52 on turf and paid $12.40 to win.Zipessa, the 2-1 favorite, was second and Britain-bred Frenzified took third.- Noted and Quoted won the $300,000 Chandelier Stakes by a half-length to claim a berth in the BC Juvenile Fillies.Ridden by Rafael Bejarano and trained by Baffert, the 2-year-old gray filly ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.88 and paid $16.80 to win.With Honors finished second and 5-2 favorite Zapperkat was third.American Cleopatra, a full sister to 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, finished eighth. ' ' '