Magicgames II » A hit by Garcia

Scotland captain Darren Fletcher admits he was thrilled when former international midfielder Gary McAllister linked up with the squad this week. McAllister joined former Leeds, Coventry and Scotland team-mate Gordon Strachans squad this week for several days on the training ground at Mar Hall.And Fletcher appreciated the gesture ahead of Saturdays Group F World Cup Qualifier against Lithuania at Hampden, live on Sky Sports. Gary McAllister was my favourite player growing up and we had the pleasure of him being with the squad, Fletcher said. Former Scotland winger Neil McCann says Gordon Strachan has tough decisions to make on who starts up front for the World Cup qualifier against Lithuania Its always nice to listen to his stories and tap into his information. Hes got great football knowledge and he was up here to help us.We know how close he is with the manager and whenever we have any ex-players and good players like that who want to be part of the Scotland squad, its great. You see all the players really take notice because they grew up watching players like them. Gary McAllister (left) with Scotland boss Strachan during training this week Just as Fletcher looks up to McAllister, a number of young players in the Scotland squad will undoubtedly be keen to learn from the West Brom midfielder.The likes of Callum Paterson, Kieran Tierney and Oliver Burke are pushing to make their competitive Hampden debuts on Saturday. Lithuania manager and former Hearts striker Edgaras Jankauskas has warned his team to expect a fearsome atmosphere at Hampden Park Fletcher knows exactly what it is like to make an impact on such an occasion - he scored the winner against Saturdays opponents in 2003 in his first Hampden appearance to set up a European Championship play-off against Holland.And he will aim to ensure the Scotland newcomers enjoy the atmosphere and encounter.Its about giving them a platform to perform and giving them small bits of advice when I can, the 32-year-old said. Celtic defender Kieran Tierney training with Scotland But the biggest thing is just trying to let them be themselves and play without fear and no pressure.Let them be the young players in the squad and let the older players take the pressure and the other stuff that goes on, let them express themselves, be creative and make a mark for themselves.You can watch Englands tour of Bangladesh, plus Premier League football and the Japan Grand Prix on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy three months at half price! Also See: Scotland latest Scotland fixtures Scotland stats Table Colorado Rockies Shirts . "Weve given ourselves now a tougher task," said Carlyle after the Friday practice, the Toronto head coach notably chipper and upbeat throughout. "But the bottom line is we just have to win our share of games [and] not worry about what anybody else is doing. Kevin Ritz Jersey . But qualifying for her first Scotties Tournament of Hearts after years of falling short in tough Manitoba provincial championships is as good as consolation prizes get for the 29-year-old from Winnipegs Fort Rouge Curling Club. https://www.cheaprockiesjerseys.us/1054t...ey-rockies.html. Josh Bailey had a goal and an assist as the New York Islanders earned a 2-1 win over Ottawa Wednesday, leaving the Senators five points out of a playoff spot with just five games to play and four teams ahead of them. John Vander Wal Jersey .C. -- Al Jefferson said he feels like hes playing the best basketball of his 10-year NBA career. Dale Murphy Jersey . -- Golden State Warriors reserve centre Ognjen Kuzmic is expected to miss at least six weeks after undergoing surgery on his fractured right hand.ST. LOUIS -- The Atlanta Braves used a two-run rally in the ninth to end their road trip with a win. Ryan Doumit scored on a wild pitch and the Braves got two runs in the ninth inning to rally past the St. Louis Cardinals for a 6-5 win. The Braves have been held to two runs or fewer 19 times, but they managed to score twice off St. Louis closer Trevor Rosenthal (0-2) to take the game Sunday. "We got a happy flight," said Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman, who reached base four times. "We grinded all day and so did the offensive hitters. We never caved today and we gut one out in the ninth." Freeman started a ninth-inning rally with a leadoff single off St. Louis closer Trevor Rosenthal (0-2). With two outs, Freeman went to third on pinch hitter Ryan Doumits double to right. Rosenthal intentionally walked pinch hitter Evan Gattis to load the bases and then walked Jordan Schafer to force in the tying run. Carlos Martinez relieved Rosenthal and had a wild pitch while facing Ramiro Pena that scored Doumit to make it 6-5. "A battle royal there at the end," Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "We just kept getting good at-bats and its nice to win this one. Maybe it will get us going in the right direction." St. Louis dropped a game it was close to winning. "It would have been a big win, no question," St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. "Theyre all tough, but to have a lead in the ninth, even a slim one, that a tough one to lose." Dan Carpenter (3-0) pitched 1 1-3 innings of scoreless relief for the win. Craig Kimbrel pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth for his 11th save in 13 chances. The save was the 150th of Kimbrels career. Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia pitched seven innings in his first outing in more than a year. Garcia, who underwent surgery in May 2013 to repair a torn labrum and rotator cuff in his pitching shoulder, allowed four runs and five hits with five strikeouts.dddddddddddd. The outing was Garcias 100th appearance in the major leagues, but first since May 17, 2013. "I made some good pitches, I made some mistakes," Garcia said. "I had some butterflies going on in the first inning, but nothing different." Kolten Wong drove in three runs with a bases-loaded double in the second inning. Freeman went 3 for 3, including a solo home run in the first and a two-run single in the sixth. Justin Upton homered leading off the fourth for the Braves. The homer was the 10th for Upton, who also doubled and scored two runs. "Its big," Freeman said. "I dont know if you can say a must win, but its definitely nice to get one." The Braves failed twice to close out innings due to defensive miscues with two outs. That allowed the Cardinals to score four runs. With two outs in the seventh and Yadier Molina on first, Jhonny Peralta hit a high fly ball to centre field. Schaefer lost the ball in the sun and it fell just to his right side. Peralta was credited with a double and Molina scored to give the Cardinals a 5-4 lead. In the second inning, Braves starter Gavin Floyd appeared headed for an easy second inning when he struck out Peter Bourjos for what would have been the third out. But the ball got away from catcher Gerald Laird for a passed ball, allowing Bourjos to reach first. A hit by Garcia and a walk to Matt Carpenter loaded the bases and Wong cleared them with a double down the line in left to make it 3-1. Atlanta rallied to tie the game 4-4 on Freemans two-run single with one out in the sixth. NOTES: Molina extended his hitting streak to seven games with a fifth-inning single. ... Atlantas Dan Uggla went 0 for 3, dropping his average to .178. Uggla has just two hits in his past 29 at-bats. ... Pat Neshek got one out in the eighth inning to extend his scoreless streak to 13 2-3 innings. ' ' '