Breitmann Tuning » y to address the media on Wednesday but dec

WASHINGTON -- Alec Ashers first tour with the Philadelphia Phillies went very badly.This time around hes off to a great start.Ryan Howard hit a three-run homer, Asher pitched six innings of two-hit ball coming off a suspension, and the Phillies defeated the Washington Nationals 4-1 on Thursday night.Asher, acquired from the Rangers in the trade for Cole Hamels, ended last season in the Phillies starting rotation and went 0-6 with a 9.31 ERA in seven starts.Its a testament to his makeup, manager Pete Mackanin said of Ashers improvement. Last year he looked like he was a little nervous most of the time and got rocked around. It was good to see him confident.The right-hander pitched to contact, walking one batter without a strikeout, and throwing 75 pitches in earning his first major league victory.I felt like I wasnt myself at the end of last year and I kind of let the moment get to me, Asher said. I just said Im going to go out there and have fun. Im going to pitch to my strengths.Asher (1-0) was suspended for 80 games while on the disabled list with Triple-A Lehigh Valley in June after a positive drug test. He made four minor league appearances beginning in late August and his suspension ended Sept. 4.Everythings in the past now, Asher said. Its unfortunate what happened. Theres nothing I can do but come up here and pitch now. Happy to be back and looking to stay.Peter Bourjos homered for the Phillies, who snapped a nine-game losing streak against the Nationals.Trailing 4-0, Washington loaded bases with one out in the eighth inning. Daniel Murphy hit a sacrifice fly to the warning track and Bryce Harper struck out.Jeanmar Gomez pitched the ninth for his 36th save.The Nationals received hopeful news regarding Stephen Strasburg, who left his start in the third inning Wednesday night after feeling a pinch in the back of his elbow.Strasburg has a strained flexor mass in his elbow and the Nationals dont know when he will pitch again, but manager Dusty Baker and director of athletic training Paul Lessard voiced optimism after an MRI revealed no ligament damage.A.J. Cole (1-2), one of the pitchers the Nationals may rely on in Strasburgs absence, allowed four runs and five hits in five innings. He struck out eight batters without a walk.Ive always believed in myself as being a big league pitcher, Cole said, and Ive got to be able to show that, and thats what Im doing right now.Bourjos led off the third with a blast off the left field foul pole and, with two outs, Howard lifted a fly ball that carried over the fence in center. It was his 21st homer and career No. 378, tying him with former Nationals manager Matt Williams for 72nd on the all-time list.He just made a couple of pitches that he wished he had back tonight, Baker said of Cole. He seems kind of unfazed by the challenges of the big leagues.THREES COMPANYAsher joins Jerad Eickhoff and Jake Thompson -- who were also part of the Hamels trade -- in the starting rotation. Its kind of cool to see ... guys we got in the trade all in the rotation, Mackanin said. Its going to be fun to watch, I hope.DOUBLE DOINGSMurphy picked up his 40th double of the season, matching his career high. Hes the first second baseman in Nationals history (2005-present) to post a 40-double season.TRAINERS ROOMPhillies: 3B Mikail Franco (sore right thumb) was out of the lineup for the second straight game. Im not going to play him today just because its a little sore, Mackanin said. Theres a little bruising there.Nationals: Normally (these injuries) come around very well with treatment and strengthening programs, Lessard said of Strasburgs elbow. Its not a season-ending injury, but we still need to take time (so) that hes nice and strong because of his past.... Baker said RHP Joe Ross (right shoulder inflammation) is progressing well and the team is trying to determine where hell pitch next with few minor league games remaining.UP NEXTPhillies: Thompson (1-5, 6.48) makes his seventh career start and second against the Nationals. The right-hander allowed two runs and seven hits in seven innings of a 4-0 loss to Washington on Aug. 29.Nationals: RHP Tanner Roark (14-8, 2.89) looks to continue his recent mastery of the Phillies. Hes 3-0 with a 0.64 ERA versus Philadelphia this season. His career mark against them is 5-5 with a 3.81 ERA in 11 games, including nine starts.Air Max 90 Femme Pas Cher . There was no hesitation from the 40th-ranked Pospisil, from Vernon, B.C., who admitted that he cut back on his training sessions over the last few days to conserve energy as the long ATP season finishes next week at the Paris Masters. Air Max Pas Cher En Ligne . Miller reached right to deflect Mikhail Grabovskis attempt with just over 2 minutes remaining in regulation, and then made two more saves in the shootout Sunday to give the Sabres a 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals. http://www.outletairmaxpascher.fr/fausse-air-max-97-ultra.html . Just not the game. Kyle Palmieri scored two straight goals in the third period to rally the Anaheim Ducks past the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Tuesday night. Air Max Tn Pas Cher Chine . Malkin got tangled up with Detroits Luke Glendening early in the third period and his left skate took the brunt of collision with the boards behind Pittsburghs net. Basket Air Max 270 Pas Cher Femme . Emery skated the length of the ice and fought an unwilling Holtby during the third period of the Flyers 7-0 loss Friday night in Philadelphia. He was given 29 penalty minutes, including a game misconduct. But Emery did not face even a disciplinary hearing with NHL senior vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan because rules 46.North Melbourne great Brent Harvey might not be angry at his AFL club, but plenty of supporters remain livid at the Kangaroos shock cull.Harvey admitted he was a bit flat and sad after being informed this week he would not be offered a contract for next season, along with teammates Drew Petrie, Nick Dal Santo and Michael Firrito.The AFLs games record holder released a heartfelt message on his Facebook page on Thursday as backlash over his axing continued to grow.Angry supporters are planning a protest at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night when the Roos take on Greater Western Sydney in what could be the last game the quartet play in Melbourne.An online petition calling for the club to reverse its decision and offer Harvey a one-year deal has also been set up, with more than 3300 signatures gathered by Thursday evening.North and coach Brad Scott were roundly criticised over the timing and manner of Wednesdays announcement.The eighth-placed Roos still have a finals series to contest and premiership player David King has deemed the announcement - in a media release via Twitter - befitting of a rookies delisting, not someone of Harveys standing.Harvey, however, did his best to diffuse tensions.He admits he would have broken down had he fronted the media to speak about the end of his career with the Kangaroos and added his demand to know his fate had played a part in the timming.ddddddddddddRight now, I feel a bit flat and sad because I wont be playing at North Melbourne next year, Harvey wrote.But that was always going to be the case no matter when my career at Arden Street ended.I know there are a lot of angry and disappointed fans out there and I love you all for your passion and care for me in this situation.But I need you all to know that Im ok with whats happened.Its okay to feel upset, Brad and those in charge had a tough decision to make. Im not angry at them about it at all, and have been in footy long enough to understand how it all works and that no individual is ever, bigger than the club.More than anything, I appreciate Brads honesty because I put him in a difficult situation when I asked to know where I stood. He did the right thing and told us all the truth.All four players were offered the opportunity to address the media on Wednesday but declined. Harvey said this wasnt because he was too angry and that he would speak publicly when the time was right.It is considered unlikely Harvey will seek to play on at another club, but he has said he will contemplate his future after the Roos season is over.Firrito also took to social media to thank the club for its support over the course of his career. ' ' '