Jelcz » field and hitting for average and squaring balls up. Ive

LOS ANGELES -- Yasiel Puig was scratched from the starting lineup after arriving late for the Los Angeles Dodgers home opener on Friday. The rest of the team was already on the field stretching before batting practice while Puig was getting dressed in the clubhouse. He had been slated to start in right field for the afternoon game against the San Francisco Giants, who beat the Dodgers 8-4. "Im sincerely sorry," Puig said through a translator after the game, explaining that he didnt realize stretching and batting practice would be held so early with a 1 p.m. start. Puig said he apologized to manager Don Mattingly and his teammates, and they accepted. "They felt it was OK when I owned up to it and apologized," he said. "I felt bad I wasnt out there playing for all the fans." Instead, Matt Kemp replaced Puig in the lineup after manager Don Mattingly had earlier said Kemp wouldnt start. Kemp came off the disabled list on Friday after rehabilitating from left ankle and shoulder operations. He was limited to 279 games during the last two seasons because of injuries. Puig, last years runner-up for NL Rookie of the Year, was 5 for 20 through his first five games of the season. He wasnt used as a pinch-hitter because Mattingly said the situation didnt call for it. The Dodgers trailed 8-0 after two innings. Mattingly downplayed Puigs mistake. "He truly felt bad," the manager said. "You can tell by his body language; he doesnt hide things well." Mattingly said he thought not allowing Puig to play was more fitting punishment than fining him a couple hundred dollars. "He felt bad he wasnt here and I believe that," Mattingly said. "Hes a good kid. Does he have to grow up and get better? Yeah, but theres a lot of guys like that." It was the latest in a series of frustrations for the team involving Puig. Last week, Mattingly called a team meeting after the 23-year-old Cuban defector made two mistakes on the basepaths during the Dodgers opening two-game trip to Australia. The dynamic right fielder became an instant sensation last year when he made his big league debut in early June and helped lead the Dodgers from last to the NL West title. But Mattingly often was frustrated by Puigs decision-making in the field and on the bases. Puig twice was arrested for reckless driving last year, when his effort on the field also came into question at times. He went 5 for 22 (.227) with 10 strikeouts and committed defensive miscues against St. Louis in the NL championship series. He remains a fan favourite, but the Dodgers want to see Puig grow up, be consistent and show better judgment on and off the field. Catcher A.J. Ellis chalked Puigs mistake up to something that can happen to any player in the mix of day and night games. "Its one of these learning experiences," Ellis said. "Hes going to be fine. Im sure hell be very prompt and on time for the rest of his career, hopefully." Saturdays game against the Giants also starts at 1 p.m. "Ill be here early," Puig said. Connor Williams Jersey . -- Adrian Peterson takes a look around the league and sees big money flying everywhere. Deonte Thompson Cowboys 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.cowboysfootballgearshop.com/allen-hurns-jersey/ . The ongoing funk on penalty kill and an unusually quiet night on home ice for the power play divided the Leafs from the Bruins at the ACC in a rare Sunday night affair. Cowboys Jerseys . Johnny Manziel, college footballs most entertaining player with the reputation for pulling off magical plays, was selected with the No. Leighton Vander Esch Cowboys Jersey . Henry, who missed three games with a knee injury, was charged with a handball in the penalty area in the 82nd minute as he went to block a strike from Patrick Mullins. On the ensuing penalty kick, Lee Nguyen picked up his fourth goal of the season, giving the Revolution a 2-1 win Saturday afternoon.NEW YORK -- Cole Hamels needed only one run. Chase Utleys grand slam made sure he had plenty. Hamels pitched eight shutout innings and finally got some support from the offence in the Phillies 6-0 win over the Mets on Tuesday night. Hamels (6-5) has won three straight starts for the first time in almost two years, with 27 strikeouts and one walk in those victories. "Im able to throw everything in any sort of count," he said. "That just puts all the momentum back onto my side." For a while, it looked as though this one might end like his last two, 2-1 wins over the Braves and Giants. But with the Phillies up 2-0 and two outs in the seventh, Mets starter Dillon Gee (4-4) suddenly lost his control. Gee hit Ben Revere with a man on, then uncorked a wild pitch that put runners at second and third. After Gee walked Jimmy Rollins to load the bases, Josh Edgin came on for the lefty-lefty matchup against Utley. The All-Star second baseman drilled a 2-2 pitch into the upper deck in right field for his fifth career grand slam and first since 2010. He has 32 career home runs against the Mets, second to teammate Ryan Howard (40) among active players. Rollins is third after hitting his 29th on Tuesday. Hamels retired the final 13 batters to lower his ERA to 2.55. "He just really got in a groove," manager Ryne Sandberg said. "With the run support and the lead, he just pounded the strike zone." He wasnt throwing his fastball quite as hard Tuesday, but it didnt matter with the way his changeup left batters flailing. "I bet I had four hitters come back and say the changeups dynamic tonight," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "He had it all working." A day after managing just one run off 13 hits, the Phhillies scored six runs on seven hits thanks to three two-out homers.dddddddddddd. Rollins had a solo home run in the third, then Grady Sizemore added another in the fourth. Sizemores drive off the right-field foul pole was his first homer with the Phillies. The veteran outfielder was released by Boston on June 18 and signed a minor league contract with Philadelphia a week later. Since being called up July 11, Sizemore is hitting .314 in 14 games. "Hes really shown professionalism as a hitter," Sandberg said. "Tonight he showed some power. But hes been using the whole field and hitting for average and squaring balls up. Ive been impressed." FRUSTRATED BY PHILLIES Gee allowed five runs on five hits in 6 2-3 innings, striking out two and walking three. He has lost three straight starts. "The most frustrating part is I thought I threw the ball a lot better than I had in the previous couple of outings," Gee said. "When the end result still isnt there its very frustrating." Gees 7.11 career ERA against the Phillies is his highest against any opponent for at least two starts. HOT HAMELS Hamels has pitched at least seven innings in 14 of his last 16 starts, with a 1.90 ERA over that stretch. Hes allowed just two earned runs in 23 innings in his last three outings. TRAINERS ROOM Phillies: Right fielder Marlon Byrd got the day off after fouling a ball off his foot in a four-hit night Monday. Sizemore started in his place. Mets: Left-hander Dana Eveland was optimistic he could pitch Wednesday after the reliever was struck in the pitching elbow by a line drive Monday. ON DECK Zack Wheeler (5-8) starts for the Mets against Kyle Kendrick (5-10) on Wednesday afternoon in the finale of the three-game series. ' ' '