EuroBasket 2011 - Day 5 Recap

With 1 game remaining in the preliminary round, we're down to 5 unbeaten teams. Spain defeated previously unbeaten host nation Lithuania to take sole possession of the top spot in Group A, France and Serbia are on a collision course atop Group B, and Russia and Slovenia are unbeaten atop Group D. Meanwhile, Luol Deng and Great Britain got their first win of the tournament over winless Portugal on a busy Day 5.

Photo Credit: fibaeurope.com

Here are the results from Day 5:

Poland 84 Turkey 83
United Kingdom 85 Porugal 73
Spain 91 Lithuania 79
France 91 Italy 84
Israel 91 Latvia 88
Serbia 75 Germany 64
Bosnia - Herzegovina 92 Croatia 80
Macedonia 72 Finland 70
Greece 71 Montenegro 55
Russia 89 Bulgaria 77
Georgia 69 Ukraine 53
Slovenia 70 Belgium 61


Notable Performers:

Luol Deng - United Kingdom - 31 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists
Carlos Andrade - Portugal - 24 points, 10 rebounds
Lior Eliyahu - Israel - 26 points, 10 rebounds
Janis Blums - Latvia - 27 points, 6 assists
Pero Antic - Macedonia - 14 points, 19 rebounds
Enes Kanter - Turkey - 19 points, 5 rebounds
Andrea Bargnani - Italy - 22 points, 5 rebounds
Boris Diaw - France - 21 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists

Kostas Koufos - Greece - 19 points, 4 blocks
Andrei Kirilenko - Russia - 25 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals
Deyan Ivanov - Bulgaria - 23 points, 5 rebounds

Juan Carlos Navarro - Spain - 22 points, 4 assists
Dirk Nowitzki - Germany - 25 points, 6 rebounds
Mirza Teletovic - Bosnia - Herzegovina - 26 points, 9 rebounds
Ante Tomic - Croatia - 23 points, 3 rebounds
Goran Dragic - Slovenia - 18 points, 5 steals

EuroBasket - Day 4 Recap

Russia and Slovenia both stayed unbeaten with wins over Belgium and Slovenia respectively to join the likes of Lithuania, Spain, France and Serbia at 3-0. The two nations are set to play each other in the final day of preliminary round play on September 5th with that game likely deciding the top spot in Group D.

Here are the results from Day 4:

Finlnad 92 Bosnia - Herzegovnia 64
Croatia 87 Montenegro 81
FYR Macedonia 72 Greece 58
Ukraine 67 Bulgaria 56
Russia 79 Belgium 58
Slovenia 87 Georgia 75


Notable Performers:

Henry Domercant - Bosnia - Herzegovina - 25 points
Bo McCalebb - Macedonia - 27 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists
Zaza Pachulia - Georgia - 22 points
Jaka Lakovic - Slovenia - 22 points, 4 assists
Saso Ozbolt - Slovenia - 21 points, 4 steals
Ante Tomic - Croatia - 26 points, 8 rebounds
Vitaly Fridzon - Russia - 22 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals

Nationals Prepare to Launch Strasburg

Stephen Strasburg is ready to go, folks. Strasburg completely overmatched his minor league opposition for the second straight start on Thursday night. Pitching for AA Harrisburg, Strasburg took a no-hitter into the 6th inning for the second game in row. He ended up going a full six innings- his longest start since his surgery- surrendering just a sixth inning leadoff double, and needed just 70 pitches to get 18 outs. 53 of the 70 pitches he threw were for strikes, he hit 99 mph on the radar gun, and he didn't walk a batter while finishing with four strikeouts.

Photo Credit: zimbio.com

The 23 year old finished his minor league rehab stint with an ERA of 3.54, 29 strikeouts and just 3 walks in 20 1/3 innings, and opposing hitters batted just .184 against him. He's been even more impressive in his last 2 starts. In his last 11 innings of work, he's given up just 1 run on 3 hits. And now, he's once again ready for the Big Leagues as Strasburg will make his 2011 debut on Tuesday night at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Strasburg will be matched up against veteran left-hander Ted Lilly (9-13, 4.39) as he faces L.A. for the first time in his brief career. First pitch is Tuesday at 7 Eastern.

Eurobasket 2011 - Day 3

Tony Parker and France improved to 3-0 with a big win over Dirk Nowitzki and Germany while Lithuania dealt Turkey their first loss in the other battle of unbeatens yesterday. Spain and Serbia also improved to 3-0 as just Groups A and B were in action with Groups C and D taking the court today.

Photo Credit: fibaeurope.com

Here are the results from Day 3:

Poland 81 Portugal 73
Lithuania 75 Turkey 68
Spain 86 United Kingdom 69
Italy 71 Latvia 62
France 76 Germany 65
Serbia 89 Israel 80


Notable Performers:

Pau Gasol - Spain - 21 points, 6 rebounds
Marc Gasol - Spain - 18 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists
Luol Deng - United Kingdom - 17 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists
Dusko Savanovic - Serbia - 24 points, 7 rebounds
Andrea Bargnani - Italy - 36 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks
Ersan Ilyasova - Turkey - 20 points
Ömer Asik  - Turkey - 11 points, 13 rebounds
Darius Songaila - Lithuania - 12 points, 5 rebounds
Tony Parker - France - 32 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists
Joakim Noah - France - 8 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals
Dirk Nowitzki - Germany - 20 points, 6 rebounds


As mentioned above, Groups C and D are in action today, with a full slate of games tomorrow with host nation Lithuania (3-0) facing off against defending champion Spain (3-0), while Germany (2-1) tries to rebound from their loss to France with a match against unbeaten Serbia (3-0).

Inside the Park Home Run FAIL - Baserunning 101 by Ryan Braun

Some great stuff from Ryan Braun of the Brewers on Wednesday night. Absolutely crushes a ball to center and it gets away from Cardinal center fielder Allen Craig. It looks like an inside-the-park home run  until... SNIPER!!!

Photo Credit: screenshot from mlb.com

But there's still time! He tries to get back up, but...

Photo Credit: screenshot from mlb.com

Oh no, he's down again. By now, Molina has the ball at home and all Braun can do is put his hands on his knees and give up.

Photo Credit: screenshot from mlb.com

If I'm one of Ryan Braun's teammates, there's no way this doesn't get posted all over the locker room. I honestly don't know how he doesn't hurt himself on his play.

Photo Credit: screenshot from mlb.com

Despite the chalk outlines, Braun was still back in the lineup yesterday.

Photo Credit: sportressofblogitude.com

Jones Blasts Home Run #450

39 year old Chipper Jones hit the 450th home run of his career on Wednesday night helping the Braves to a 3-1 win over the Nationals. It was a night full of milestones for Atlanta who also saw starting pitcher Derek Lowe hit the first home run of his major league career, and rookie flamethrower Craig Kimbrel break Neftali Feliz's rookie save record by recording his 41st of the season (he's since extended the record to 42).

Photo Credit: sportige.com

Jones, who recently announced he would be coming back next year for a 19th season with the Braves, delivered his 14th home run of the season off of John Lannan - a 437 foot shot to centerfield - in the second inning. Chipper would add number 451 last night off of Chien-Ming Wang in another Braves win.

The first overall pick in the 1990 draft has had quite a career. Remarkably able to stay with Atlanta for over two decades now, he has the third most home runs all time by a switch hitter trailing only Eddie Murray (504) and the great Mickey Mantle (536). Not bad company to be in. He also ranks 34th all time in home runs, just one behind Carl Yastrzemski, and trails only two other active players: Alex Rodriguez (627) and Jim Thome (602).

EuroBasket 2011 - Day 2 Results

Nine teams improved to 2-0 on Day 2 of Eurobasket 2011 including Germany, Spain, France, Russia, Turkey and host nation Lithuania. The top three teams in each of the four groups will advance to the next round.

Photo Credit: fibaeurope.com

Here are the results from Day 2:

Spain 87 Portugal 78
Serbia 92 Latvia 77
Bosnia - Herzegovina 94 Montenegro 86
Bulgaria 68 Belgium 65
Turkey 90 Great Britain 61
France 85 Israel 68
Greece 81 Finland 61
Russia 65 Georgia 58
Lithuania 97 Poland 77
Germany 76 Italy 62
FYR Macedonia 78 Croatia 76
Slovenia 68 Ukraine 64


Notable Scorers:

Pau Gasol - Spain - 20 points, 5 rebounds
Nenad Krstic - Serbia - 23 points, 3 rebounds
Luol Deng - Great Britain - 22 points, 8 rebounds
Tony Parker - France - 21 points, 8 assists
Petteri Koponen - Finland - 21 points, 3 rebounds
Andrei Kirilenko - Russia - 21 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals
Dirk Nowitzki  - Germany - 21 points, 12 rebounds
Chris Kaman - Germany - 17 points, 17 rebounds
Danilo Gallinari - Italy - 17 points, 11 rebounds


A couple big matchups on Day 3 as Hedo Turkoglu and unbeaten Turkey takes on host Lithuania, and Tony Parker, Joakim Noah and France battle Dirk Nowitzki, Chris Kaman and Germany.