g the run. The Celtics shot 69.6 per cent (16 of 23) and led 4

BALTIMORE -- Two weeks after trading their closer to Oakland, the Baltimore Orioles agreed to a two-year, $15 million contract with former Athletics closer Grant Balfour on Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the deal. Balfours contract will not be completed until the right-hander passes a physical, the person told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because the transaction had not been announced by the Orioles. Balfour fills the vacancy left by the trade of closer Jim Johnson, who was dealt to Oakland because Baltimore didnt want to pay him about $10 million a season. Johnson had 50 saves in each of the past two seasons but was in line for a huge raise. "Its really about the allocation of resources and to have a competitive team," Orioles executive vice-president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said at the time. "You have to have proper balance." Balfour is the first significant addition this off-season by the Orioles, who went 85-77 in 2013 but came up short in their bid to reach the post-season for a second straight year. Balfour, who turns 36 on Dec. 30, went 1-3 with 38 saves in 41 opportunities with Oakland last season. He made $4.5 million with the Athletics in 2013. He had a 2.59 ERA and 72 strikeouts, with 27 walks in 62 2-3 innings. In 2012, he had 24 saves in 26 chances. In 10 seasons with Minnesota, Milwaukee, Tampa Bay and the Athletics, Balfour is 28-17 with 72 saves and a 3.27 ERA. The addition of Balfour means the Orioles wont have to try Tommy Hunter or Darren ODay at closer. Both likely will be tried in a setup or situational role. Cheap Real Jordans . The Argentine midfielder made the announcement himself on Twitter on Tuesday and posted a picture of his swollen left foot. His message said he would be out "at least three weeks. Wholesale Authentic Jordans . - Jayden Hart scored once and set up two more as the Prince Albert Raiders downed the host Red Deer Rebels 5-3 on Tuesday to clinch the final Western Hockey League playoff berth. http://www.realjordanshoescheap.com/ .C. - The housecleaning continues for the B. Discount Jordan Shoes . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. Cheap Jordans From China . Fellow Argentina forward Gonzalo Higuain also had a brace for Napoli. And Samuel Etoo scored for his fourth different team. On a night of standout individual performances Wednesday, Schalke goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand had a game hell want to forget.BOSTON -- The Detroit Pistons have been known for their inside scoring this season. Brandon Jennings made sure teams realize theyre dangerous from the outside, too. Jennings scored 28 points, making a key 3-pointer with 46.7 seconds left, and matched his season high with 14 assists Wednesday night and the Pistons held on for a 107-106 win over the Boston Celtics. It was one of Jennings five 3-pointers in the game. The Pistons, who entered the game leading the NBA in points in the paint per game with 51.6, went 10 for 27 from beyond the arc. It started with Jennings, who went 9 of 21 from the floor. "He made plays," Pistons coach Maurice Cheeks said. "If it wasnt for him, he made it for other players like (Greg) Monroe and had plays down low." Jennings said the confidence his coach has in him made a big difference when he was taking key shots. "He tells me to go be great with five minutes to go in the game, so thats what Im trying to do," he said. Andre Drummond scored 14 points with 16 rebounds and Josh Smith added 20 points for the Pistons, who won for the seventh time in 11 games. It was the Pistons sixth road win in their past seven. Detroit trailed by 21 points in the first half after giving up 42 points in the opening quarter. It was the most given up in a quarter by the Pistons and Bostons season high. "I thought our second half was obviously better than our first half," Cheeks said. "The first quarter, number one, our energy level was low. We picked our energy up and got back in the game." Jared Sullinger scored 19 points, Jordan Crawford had 17, Avery Bradley 14 and Jeff Green 13 for Boston, which lost for just the third time in nine games. "Its easy for all of us, myself included, to be really focused on We had a 19-point lead and didnt win the game, but we got outplayed for 36 minutes," Boston coach Brad Stevens said. Green missed a driving one-hander wildly just before the horn sounded. He said it was the play that Stevens drew up. "Yeah, but not very shot falls," he said. "Josh made a good attempt, trying to block it. I redirected my shot and kind of missed it." The Pistons held a seven-point lead after Smiths basket with 2:56 to play before Boston scored the next eight points, with Sullingers 3-pointer from the top capping the spree with 61 seconds left. Jennings then made a 3-pointer over Bradley 14 seconds later. On Bostons next possession, Sullinger was fouled, hit tthe first free throw, but missed the second and Boston trailed 107-106 with 41.dddddddddddd seconds left. Jennings missed a long jumper and Drummond failed to convert the put-back attempt and Sullinger grabbed the rebound, setting up Bostons final shot. Neither team held more than a one-possession lead in the opening six minutes of the fourth quarter until Drummonds hook in the lane gave the Pistons a 96-91 lead with 5:46 to play. Smith then had the next three Pistons baskets, trading scores with Boston as the Pistons maintained between a four and seven-point edge. Detroit had taken the lead 92-89 on Jennings shot-clock beating 3 from the right wing with 6:49 left. The Pistons used an 11-0 run early in the second half, slicing an 11-point halftime deficit to one before Jennings made a 3-pointer and was fouled on the shot by Bradley. He hit the free throw, giving them their first lead of the game 74-73 with 5:01 left in the third. After shooting 61.5 per cent (24 of 39) in the first half, Boston hit just seven of 24 attempts (29.2) in the third as the Pistons closed it to 81-80 after three. The Celtics held a 63-52 halftime edge. Boston, which led by 19 after one quarter, pushed it to 52-32 on Kelly Olynyks layup before the Pistons scored 14 of the next 18 points to slice it to 56-46. Greg Monroe scored three straight baskets during the run. The Celtics shot 69.6 per cent (16 of 23) and led 42-23 after one quarter, ending the quarter on Gerald Wallaces well-placed alley-oop feed to Sullinger at the buzzer. With 0.2 seconds left in the quarter, Detroits Kyle Singler was called for travelling in front of Bostons bench. Wallace inbounded the ball just past the rim to Sullinger, who tipped it in as the horn sounded. Boston led 26-20 before closing the quarter by scoring 16 of the final 19 points. Bradley had a pair of 3s and scored eight in the spree. Detroit, which entered the game leading the league in points in the paint, was outscored 18-8 in the lane during the opening quarter. NOTES: Trade rumours were circling around the Celtics the past two days with forward Brandon Bass, guard Courtney Lee and injured guard Rajon Rondo being mentioned. ... Boston F Wallace arrived in the locker room about 90 minutes before tip-off and talked about how his approximately 10-mile commute took an hour and a half. ... The Pistons beat Eastern Conference-leading Indiana on the road in their previous game on Tuesday. ... The Pistons beat Boston 87-77 at home on Nov. 3. ' ' '