Bewerbungen » Red Sox: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (9-2, 3.86) was on a

METAIRIE Jordan Scarlett Jersey , La. (AP) — When Saints star running back Alvin Kamara walked out to Thursday’s minicamp practice wearing reserve quarterback Teddy Bridgewater’s red practice jersey, teammates including Drew Brees were amused.They also found it fitting, given the dynamism and versatility Kamara has come to embody in his prolific first two NFL seasons.“He’s definitely a guy that could probably get out there and do it; that’s the scary thing,” Brees said of Kamara playing quarterback. “He’s such a phenomenal athlete — and he always talks about wanting to throw the ball.”Kamara rules out very little when it comes to what he might do next to provide a new wrinkle to New Orleans’ already prolific offense. He also sounds very open to trying new things — whether in his training, diet or on the field.“That’s where the anxiety comes from with me; it’s not a bad anxiety, but a good anxiety — like, I’m anxious to see: What else?” Kamara said. “Where else could I line up? What else could I do? How else could I be successful?”Kamara has been one of New Orleans’ top two rushers and receivers in each of his two pro seasons since the Saints made him a third-round draft choice out of Tennessee. He was the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2017, when he had 1,554 yards and 13 touchdowns from scrimmage (728 yards and eight TDs rushing, 826 yards and five TDs receiving) to go with a 106-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. And there was no sophomore slump. Last season, he gained 1,592 yards and scored 18 TDs from scrimmage (883 yards and 14 TDs rushing, 709 yards and four TDs receiving).Improving on that kind of production year after year is a challenge, but Kamara says he’s determined to adopt offseason goals that give him a chance to do so — and to evolve as a player.“Anything new, anything one of my teammates has to lend me, like some advice or somebody with some experience in the field of nutrition or strength or training — I try to take little gems from everybody,” Kamara said. “Changing diets and looking for new things to get faster Greedy Williams Jersey , stronger, get in better shape — I’m looking for all of it.”Certain unusual elements of Kamara’s offseason workouts have become sensations on social media.This offseason, he could be seen catching a three-pronged HECOstix with each hand while standing on a BOSU ball .Kamara describes his balance as “pretty elite,” and that was a workout designed to keep it that way.During the 2018 offseason, there was a popular video of the 5-foot-10, 215-pound Kamara pulling a Jeep attached to a harness around his waist while balancing weights on his shoulders.Meanwhile, Kamara has sought to emulate his record-setting quarterback’s mental approach to the game.“My rookie year — everybody says it was easy — I’m like, ‘Man, look, there was sometimes I was out there, I didn’t know what was going on,'” Kamara said. “I kind of took a step back and was like, ‘All right, well, if I want to be the best, then I got to know what the best knows, and I think Drew is probably one of http://www.ravensfootballauthentics.com/justice-hill-jersey-authentic , if not the smartest people playing football right now.”Brees calls Kamara “inquisitive.”“There’s a level of awareness with him that I think that’s unique,” Brees said. “He picks up on things very quickly. I think that’s unique. And so then combine that with exceptional athletic skills and you get the player that he is.”Saints coach Sean Payton touts Kamara’s “real, real, exceptionally high football IQ” and even gave the running back a fidget spinner as a funny, friendly way of saying he realized Kamara might need something to occupy himself while coaches are explaining things to his teammates.“He can get bored with it, and that’s why we give him one of those,” Payton deadpanned.Perhaps this season, coaches could have Kamara spinning footballs instead.Payton, known as one of the NFL’s more inventive play designers, affirmed his belief in Kamara’s throwing ability, recalling a touchdown pass the running back threw at Tennessee out of a “wildcat” formation.The throw was “like a tight end pop pass that was pretty good,” Payton said.But the coach also stressed there’s good reason to avoid too much tinkering with the running and receiving plays Kamara has executed so well the past couple of seasons.“Some of the stuff he does extremely well now — that still sells,” Payton said. “That’s still really, really good.”Notes: Brees said missing two voluntary practices last week and one mandatory practice this week to testify in his lawsuit alleging fraud against a San Diego jeweler was “Very tough.” Brees added, “Obviously I’m quarterback of his football team and I want to be with the team, but unfortunately there were things that were a bit out of our control that we had to take care of. So take care of that and take life as it comes.” After slugging their way to wins in the first five games against the Los Angels Angels, the Boston Red Sox needed some strong defense to complete the season sweep.

Jackie Bradley Jr. made a leaping catch at the wall in center to keep the Angels from scoring in the first inning and broke open the game with a two-run homer in the seventh as the Red Sox beat the Angels 4-2 on Thursday night.

”It feels good when you get the results Ben Powers Jersey ,” Bradley said. ”Both were very pivotal for the game.”

Bradley’s shot to right was the 20th homer the Red Sox hit in six games against Los Angeles, sweeping the season series against the Angels for the first time since they joined the American League as an expansion club in 1961.

Boston outscored Los Angeles 49-12 while taking all six games, which according to the Red Sox is the first six-game season sweep in club history.

The Red Sox have won four straight and six of seven as they head to New York to open three-game series between the rivals on Friday night with first place in the AL East on the line.

Hector Velazquez (6-0) pitched two scoreless innings of relief, allowing just one hit and striking out three. Craig Kimbrel earned his 24th save with a scoreless ninth inning.

With scheduled starter Steven Wright on the DL, the Red Sox had to shuffle their rotation. Manager Alex Cora said he was pleased to get four innings out of starter Brian Johnson and two more from Velazquez, setting up the bullpen to finish off the Angels.

”We got to where we wanted to get,” Cora said. ”B.J. (Johnson) was outstanding using his fastball, mixing up his breaking ball – very pleased with the way we got six innings out of those guys.”

The Angels have lost six straight, although they were in contention in the last two games at Fenway Park.

”There’s no doubt we hit the ball harder than looking at six hits,” manager Mike Scioscia said. ”We probably squared up five other balls that they made nice plays on. That’s the way it goes sometimes.”

Andrelton Simmons hit a solo homer and Albert Pujols had an RBI single for the Angels, who had a potential rally going in the eighth with runners on first and second with one out but were robbed of another hit when Andrew Benintendi made a leaping catch at the wall that rivaled what Bradley did in the first.

”That was amazing,” Bradley said. ”We were able to make some big plays for our pitchers and get the win.”

Los Angeles was up 1-0 until Devers led off the fifth with his 13th homer, to center off of Jaime Barria (5-4).

Barria was pulled after giving up a one-out walk to J.D. Martinez with one out in the sixth and the score still tied 1-1. Jose Alvarez gave up a double to Mitch Moreland, with Martinez moving to third. Xander Bogaerts was then walked intentionally to load the bases, and Brock Holt drew a walk to drive in Martinez for Boston’s first lead. Alvarez then got Devers to ground into a double play to end the inning.

Barria was charged with two runs on four hits and two walks, striking out two over 5 1/3 innings.

”Jaime was good. He had to work hard to get to that point of the game,” Scioscia said. ”There was one fastball he just left down the heart of the plate and it was down to Devers and he hit it out to center. But I thought he gave us a chance to win http://www.ravensfootballauthentics.com/iman-marshall-jersey-authentic , there’s no doubt about that.”

Bradley’s homer, his sixth, in the seventh off of Noe Ramirez pushed Boston’s lead to 4-1.

BRONX BOUND

The Red Sox were busy packing their bags in the locker room after the game and were headed to New York, where the three-game series was scheduled to open Friday. The Red Sox (55-27) hold a slight lead on the Yankees (52-26), who were off Thursday.

While the series is big, Bradley said the division title is not on the line – yet.

”I think if you win, that takes care of everything. You don’t have to think about anything else,” Bradley said. ”You get that done, I don’t think you’ve got to worry about any other teams.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Angels: Placed rookie reliever Jake Jewell on the DL with a broken right leg that could cause him to miss the rest of the season. He’s scheduled to have surgery Friday. Jewell was carted off the field at Fenway Park on Wednesday night. … The Angels recalled RHP Eduardo Paredes from Triple-A Salt Lake and added RHP Taylor Cole to the major league roster.

UP NEXT

Angels: RHP Felix Pena (0-0, 5.40 ERA) gets his third start of the season and first on the road when the Angels open up a weekend series in Baltimore on Friday.

Red Sox: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (9-2, 3.86) was on a six-start winning streak before taking the loss Saturday against Seattle. Rodriguez is scheduled to go up against Yankees LHP C.C. Sabathia (4-3, 3.18) in the series opener Friday night.

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