Laberecke » Bakers single drove in Valbuena and Nate Schierholtz scored

Montreal Canadiens head coach Michel Therrien isnt giving up on Dustin Tokarski, announcing that the 24-year-old goaltender will get the start again in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final against the New York Rangers on Thursday. Tokarski, who had played in three games earlier in the regular season, allowed three goals on 30 shots in a 3-1 loss to the Rangers in his playoff debut on Monday. Therrien also sent a message to Thomas Vanek to pick up his game, rotating the struggling winger on the fourth line at Wednesdays practice with Michael Bournival, Daniel Briere and Brandon Prust at practice. Vanek, who has four goals in the second round against the Boston Bruins, has been held off the scoresheet in Montreals first two games of the Eastern Conference Final. The Canadiens had 41 shots on Henrik Lundqvist in Game 2, with none from Vanek. He had only one shot in their 7-2 loss in Game 1. Therrien told reporters not to read into it as it all could change again ahead of Game 3. "One thing, the (Tomas) Plekanec line needs to give us more," he said. "Im ready to stick sometimes with combinations and with three guys working together as long as I see results. "Sometimes the results are not there but the chances are there. But if I see there are no chances, not much happening, now Im at a point where I have to make some decisions. Hopefully by making some changes, somethings going to happen." Max Pacioretty came to Vaneks defence, noting how difficult it can be to score in the postseason. "In playoffs its even harder," he said. "If you walked into one of (the Rangers) meetings, theyll talk about a guy like Thomas Vanek and they talk about him around the net and having to play physical on him. Being expected to deliver every night, its impossible and youve seen it in these playoffs with numerous stories of different players. "All you can ask now is, if theyre not contributing offensively, is to help out in other areas. Hes a great guy in the room as well. Hes helped me, especially through my slump. Theres other areas you can contribute. Its not just on the scoreboard." With Vanek sliding down to the fourth line, winger Dale Weise moved up to the third line and Brian Gionta was bumped up to the second with Tomas Plekanec and Alex Galchenyuk. Wednesdays Practice Lines: Pacioretty - Desharnais - GallagherGalchenyuk - Plekanec - GiontaBourque - Eller - WeisePrust/Bournival - Brière - VanekMoen - White - Parros Markov - EmelinGorges - SubbanBeaulieu - WeaverMurray - Bouillon TokarskiBudaj PP1: Pacioretty - Desharnais - GallagherMarkov - Subban PP2: Brière - Eller - VanekBeaulieu - Weaver David Justice Jersey . Sweeting scored two in the first and three in the second before Strong (4-4) got two back in the fourth. Sweeting then scored three in the fifth, two in the sixth and one in the seventh to grab a commanding 9-2 lead. Dale Murphy Jersey . And though his comeback night didnt quite go to script, Bryant couldnt help reflecting on the work necessary to get back on that court -- and all the months of steady labour ahead to reclaim his game. Bryant had nine points and eight rebounds in his season debut, but Amir Johnson scored a career-high 32 points in the trade-depleted Toronto Raptors 106-94 victory over Los Angeles on Sunday night. http://www.baseballbravesproshop.com/deion-sanders-braves-jersey/ . - PGA Tour rookie Tony Finau shot a 9-under 63 at Del Monte and had a two-stroke lead over Billy Andrade and Lee Janzen of the Champions Tour after Thursdays opening round of the Callaway Pebble Beach Invitational. John Smoltz Jersey . -- Shanshan Feng was alone in her opinion about the pin positions in the Kraft Nabisco Championship. Dansby Swanson Jersey . Kansas City became the first team in baseball history to win four extra-inning games in a single postseason on Friday, as Alex Gordon crushed a leadoff homer in the 10th and Mike Moustakas added the deciding two-run blast in the Royals 8-6 win.PITTSBURGH -- The National League MVP doesnt play favourites when it comes to hot streaks. Neither do the Pittsburgh Pirates, who rode Andrew McCutchen to another win Wednesday. McCutchen homered and reached base four times and the Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 4-2 at rainy PNC Park on Wednesday night. McCutchen is batting .462 during a seven-game hitting streak and has 12 extra-base hits during 10 June games. "I dont compare (career-best stretches)," McCutchen said. "Im not big on that. Im just seeing the ball hitting the ball. Im in a spurt where Im feeling really good right now." So are the Pirates, who have taken two of the first three games of the series with their NL Central rivals. Pittsburghs Brandon Cumpton (2-2) pitched five effective innings, and the offence pounded Cubs starter Jason Hammel (6-4) for 11 hits in five innings, snapping his streaks of 14 1-3 innings without allowing a run and 52 innings without allowing a homer when McCutchen hit his 10th in the first. McCutchen also had a single and walked twice. "Hes hot," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "When he gets his pitch, hes not missing." Luis Valbuena likewise continued his recent strong hitting with three hits for last-place Chicago, which has lost three of four after a season-best five-game winning streak. The games first pitch was delayed 1 hour, 38 minutes because of a severe thunderstorm that began sweeping through downtown Pittsburgh about an hour before the scheduled start time. Rain fell again during the sixth inning. McCutchens fly ball landed more than a row into the left-field seats -- but it almost became an extra-long out when leftfielder Chris Coghlan leaped into the stands. He landed in the seats and said he had a read on the ball but that a fan outmanoeuvred him for it. "Best non-catch effort Ive ever seen," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said. "I would have went there and shook his hand myself if he caught that ball," McCutchen said. The Pirates Gregory Polanco went 1 for 5 with an RBI groundout a day after his much-hyped major league debut Tuesday. Making his sixth start of the season and fourth since being given a regular rotation spot, Cumpton allowed two runs on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts. On his final pitch, he struck out Nate Schierholtz swinging with the bases loaded. "Its something I need to work on, getting through the fifth and sixth innings," Cumpton said.dddddddddddd "It was a good experience, a real confidence booster for me." Justin Wilson, Tony Watson, Mark Melancon and Jason Grilli followed with a hitless inning each. Grilli earned his 10th save of the season during what was his 400th career appearance. Hammel had won two previous starts against the Pirates this season and entered Wednesday with the second-best WHIP in the majors (0.88). He allowed 14 baserunners Wednesday. "It was rough," Hammel said with a laugh. "A lot of hits given up. Up in the zone. Obviously could have been better strikes thrown, but I battled through. It could have been a lot worse - 11 hits through five innings? Its amazing they only put up four." Hammel was spared a worse line by some poor baserunning by Pittsburgh, which hit into two peculiar double plays and had another runner thrown out at third during the seventh inning after Hammel was out of the game. The Pirates Starling Marte had two hits - including an RBI single in the fifth inning - but also was thrown out on the basepaths for the third time in two games when he was picked off third following a Travis Snider pop-up behind home plate in the fifth. The Cubs briefly tied the game at 2 in the second when John Bakers single drove in Valbuena and Nate Schierholtz scored on a groundout. Notes: Before the game, the Pirates places LHP Francisco Liriano on the disabled list because of a strained left oblique that caused him to leave his start Tuesday in the fourth inning. . The Cubs on Wednesday announced they signed their first-round draft pick, Indiana University catcher/outfielder Kyle Schwarber. Schwarber, the No. 4 overall selection, will report to the organizations short-season Class A affiliate in Boise, Idaho. . Pirates 2B Josh Harrison was removed from the game for a pinch hitter during the third inning because of discomfort in his left ankle. . A fireworks display - from the nearby annual Pittsburgh arts festival - rumbled PNC Park for several minutes during the fourth inning. . Pittsburghs Thursday scheduled starter, RHP Edionson Volquez, is 5-0 in his career against the Cubs. Chicagos probable starter, RHP Jeff Samardzija, has a 1.90 ERA in 71 career innings against the Pirates, including seven shutout innings on opening day at PNC Park. ' ' '