Chandler Parsons then exchanged rim-rattling dunks in rapid succe

DETROIT -- Despite falling a single short of hitting for the cycle in front of his childhood idol, Eugenio Suarez still had a memorable game. Playing in just his eighth career game, Suarez had a double, triple, homer, two RBIs and scored three runs in Detroits 12-9 victory Saturday. He grounded into a force out in the eighth inning, ending his bid for the cycle. Making it even better, former Tigers star Magglio Ordonez was watching from a Comerica Park suite. Suarez grew up in Venezuela with Ordonez as his favourite player, and wears the same No. 30 jersey. "I didnt know I was ready to have a game like that," Suarez said. "It was great to have the chance at the cycle, even if I didnt get it, but it was more special because Magglio was here." The 22-year-old Suarez started the season in Double-A, and only got 12 games at Triple-A before coming up to the Tigers early this month. Hes hitting .400 with three homers in the big leagues. "We knew that he had some power, but we didnt expect him to come out like this," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "Hes become a major part of our offence a lot faster than we expected." One of Detroits veteran leaders, Victor Martinez, is also surprised at the way Suarez has arrived in the majors. "Hes been playing great for us, both on offence and defence," Martinez said. "When I came up to the majors, it took me a while to adjust and get into a rhythm, but he has just stepped right up." Suarez led off Detroits seven-run third inning with a homer and added an RBI double before it was over, but the Tigers had to hold on after jumping out to an 11-1 lead. The Twins scored eight runs in the final three innings against a slumping Tigers bullpen. "Weve got to be able to finish off games better than that," Ausmus said. "We had to get our top two guys up, and we used almost everyone else. That cant happen." Ian Krol got his first major league save by getting the last four outs, but also gave up a two-run homer. "Ive never been part of anything like that," said Krol, whose only other professional save came in Double-A. Detroit came into the game having lost 17 of 24 after a fast start to the season, but it was helped by another strong pitching performance. Anibal Sanchez (3-2) was charged with three runs and four hits in 6 1-3 innings. Sanchez, Drew Smyly and Max Scherzer have combined for a 1.69 ERA in Detroits last three games. Sanchez was in complete control before he walked the leadoff hitter in the seventh and allowed a one-out RBI triple to Eduardo Nunez. Evan Reed then came in, and Nunez scored on a passed ball. Samuel Deduno (2-5) lasted just 2 2-3 innings for Minnesota, which had won three in a row. The right-hander allowed seven runs and seven hits, struck out three and walked two. "Nothing was good today," he said. "I didnt make good pitches, and I didnt get much luck. I just couldnt stop their offence." Suarez started the third with a drive over the bullpens in left, moments after Ordonez was shown on the video board and received a huge ovation. Suarez drove in Nick Castellanos with a double later in the inning, and Torii Hunter also had an RBI double. Martinezs drive off the top of the right-field wall was originally ruled a double, but quickly became a two-run homer after a replay review. Ian Kinsler drove in the seventh run of the inning with an infield single, and third baseman Trevor Plouffe strained his left oblique diving for the ball. Plouffe stayed in the game for another batter, but had to leave after aggravating the injury while throwing out Hunter to end the inning. Suarez added a triple in the seventh. Only one player -- Cliff Heathcote of the 1918 St. Louis Cardinals -- has recorded a cycle within the first eight games of his career. The Twins scored three times in the seventh and eighth to close to 12-7, but Krol retired Joe Mauer with the bases loaded for the final out of the eighth. Krol allowed Brian Doziers homer in the ninth before finally finishing a game that had lasted almost four hours. "We kept swinging, and they didnt pitch very well after the starter came out, so we had chances," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We got back into it, and the guys were up and yelling in the dugout." NOTES: With the homer and double in the third, Suarez became the first Tigers player with two extra-base hits in an inning since Ordonez on Aug. 12, 2007. ... The teams finish the three-game series Sunday afternoon with Detroits Rick Porcello facing Minnesotas Ricky Nolasco. ... Gardenhire said Plouffe will probably go on the disabled list Sunday, and that he is also concerned about Nunez, who injured a hamstring late in the game. Yeezy Boost 350 V2 For Sale .com) - Manchester City will face a steep test in the Champions League knockout stage as the English champions were drawn with Barcelona on Monday. Ultra Boost NZ .com) - John Wall supplied 24 points and 11 assists in leading the Washington Wizards to a 102-91 win over the New York Knicks on Christmas Day. http://www.yeezyshoesnz.com/yeezy-boost-700-nz/yeezy-700-vanta.html . So true. It is one thing to create a winning football team, and another to keep it winning. Each and every week it changes. The NFL creates a unique interest of not who is "the best", but much more who is "the best this week". Ultra Boost 3.0 NZ . Watch the action live on TSN and listen on TSN 1050 Radio beginning at 7pm et/4pm pt. The Raptors maintained their spot atop the Atlantic Friday after defeating the Wizards, 96-88, for their second win in a row. NMD Sale NZ . “Im not sure well get Melky Cabrera at all,” said Gibbons. The 29-year-old left fielder struggled all season with knee and hamstring problems. Cabrera was first on the disabled list from June 27-July 20 with tendinitis in his left knee.HOUSTON -- James Harden was out with a thumb injury, and then Dwight Howard got off to a slow start. It sure looked as if it was going to be a long night for the Houston Rockets. Then everything changed in the third quarter. Howard got back on track and a pair of role players stepped up to help Houston rally for a 97-90 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday. The Rockets trailed by as many as 15 points in the first half before scoring 33 in the third to go on top. San Antonio used an 11-3 spurt to pull within two in the final minutes, but Howard and Jeremy Lin helped Houston hold on for the win. "We just kept grinding it out," Rockets coach Kevin McHale said. "We changed a couple of things defensively and the guys kind of dug in and got stops." Howard had 23 points and 16 rebounds for Houston, which enjoyed a 55-39 advantage on the glass. Terrence Jones scored 21 points and Lin added 18 points and eight assists while starting in Hardens spot. Harden, who leads the team with 23.7 points a game, was out with a bruised left thumb. "I know I missed a lot of shots early," Howard said. "I didnt lose focus. I got a little frustrated because I wanted to make those shots, especially against Tim (Duncan). But I just tried to stick with it and show the team that no matter what Im going to battle." Boris Diaw scored a season-high 22 points for the Spurs, and he also had 11 rebounds. Tony Parker added 17 points and Duncan had 12 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks. Houston was clinging to a 90-88 lead with less than two minutes left when Howard had a dunk and Lin made a jumper. Duncan had a layup on the other end, but Lin sunk a pair of free throws to secure the victory. Houston has won all three meetings with the Southwest Division-leading Spurs to secure the season series for the first time since 1996-97. They have one scheduled game left on April 14 in Houston. San Antonios 90-point performance ended a streak of 15 straight games with at least 100 points and sent the Spurs to consecutive losses for the first time this season. The last time they were held below 100 was a 111-98 loss to Houston on Christmas Day. The Spurs got within six on a hook shot by Diaw early in the fourth quarter. Lin then scored five quick points to extend Houstons lead to 81-70.dddddddddddd Houston was up by four points with four minutes left in the third quarter when San Antonio resorted to the "Hack-a-Howard" defence, fouling the centre every time the Rockets got the ball. Howard made 13 of 25 foul shots on the night, leaving him at 52.2 per cent from the line for the season. "I figured they were going to do it," he said. "Im just glad I made most of them." Duncan lamented that the tactic backfired for the Spurs. "Thats what he had to do to get us out of it," Duncan said. "He made free throws and he hurt us with them." The Spurs employed the strategy on eight straight possessions, with Howard making 10 foul shots while they had six points as Houston extended its lead to 70-62. Diaw made a jump shot at the end of the third quarter to cut Houstons lead to 72-64 entering the fourth. The Rockets opened the second half with an 11-2 run, capped by a two-handed dunk by Howard, to take their first lead of the game at 50-48. Lin started the run with a 3-pointer and also had two free throws in the surge. Manu Ginobili made four free throws for San Antonio before Houston scored six straight points to take a 56-52 lead. Ginobili and Chandler Parsons then exchanged rim-rattling dunks in rapid succession. The 36-year-old Ginobili injured himself on his jam and was soon limping and holding his upper left leg. He remained in the game for a bit before walking off the court and into the locker room at the next timeout. The team said he had tightness in his left hamstring. He missed time earlier this month with the same problem. San Antonio led by 10 points in the second quarter before Howard made his first basket of the night after starting the game 0 for 8. The bucket was the first of five straight points for Howard with San Antonios only points in that stretch coming on a layup by Marco Belinelli, helping Houston close to 46-39 at halftime. Houston struggled early without Harden and San Antonio jumped to a 9-0 lead thanks to five points from Diaw. The Spurs pushed the lead to 21-6 with about five minutes left in the first. NOTES: Harden injured his thumb in Houstons last game at Memphis on Saturday. ... Diaw has scored at least 10 points 20 times this season. ' ' '