Regular`s Table » up for the game and both suggested

KAMLOOPS, B.C. -- It was a game neither skip wanted to play, but a series of missed shots by Quebec gift-wrapped the bronze-medal match for Manitoba Sunday at the Canadian mens curling championship. Manitobas Jeff Stoughton won 9-5 in nine ends after scoring two in the first and stealing two in the second on a missed Quebec runback at the Tim Hortons Brier. He stole another in the third on a gentle Quebec hit that overcurled and two more in the fourth on Jean-Michel Menards tap-back attempt that barely brushed Manitobas stones. It put Manitoba up 7-0 going into five. Menard drew for one finally in five and raised his arm in a good-natured salute to the applause of the half-filled arena. He let alternate Pierre Charette skip eight and he stole two to keep the game going when Stoughton missed a hit for one. Manitoba also put alternate Garth Smith in at lead. Neither skip was up for the game and both suggested it shouldnt even be part of the Brier. "I was personally totally mentally exhausted," said Menard. "Playing two back-to-back games, having only five hours sleep because of the time change . . .We werent really focused, expecially me, and it cost us early in a few ends." Stoughton minimized the win and said they werent really focused either. "We got lucky in the first end. If he makes his shot they probably steal two and they win the game," he said. "Its a disappointing game to play because youre not going to win the Brier. Its a game that Quebec and Manitoba didnt want to play. Its not a game that anyone wants to play." Menard agreed. "Ill try to be nice, but this game shouldnt exist, its useless," he said. Stoughton said the winner of the 3-4 playoff game should decide the bronze medal. That would have seen Quebec take it, since they beat Manitoba to qualify for the semifinal. Menards five-game winning streak overcame his weak 3-4 start at the Brier to get him into fourth spot and the playoffs. He then defeated Stoughton 7-6 Saturday as missed shots allowed Quebec to steal two for a three-point lead in their playoff game. But he lost 9-8 in the semifinal later Saturday to Alberta and Kevin Koe, who plays John Morris and British Columbia Sunday evening for the championship. Stoughton finished in a three-way tie for the lead at the Brier at 9-2 but the way the tiebreaking formula was applied and pushed him out of the 1-2 playoff game, which B.C. took over Alberta. Chris Sale Jersey . -- Hee Young Park topped the leaderboard at 8 under Friday in the suspended second round of the Kingsmill Championship. Jackie Bradley Jr Jersey .com) - The Chicago Blackhawks take aim at their longest winning streak of the season on Sunday when they host the Calgary Flames in a battle at the United Center. http://www.officialredsoxfanstore.com/au...sox-jersey/.com) - Nate Buss 3-pointer with 5. Christian Vazquez Jersey . -- Crystal Webster avoided elimination at the 2013 Capital One Road to the Roar Olympic pre-trial curling tournament with an 8-5 win over Amber Holland on Thursday. Craig Kimbrel Jersey . The freestyle skier from Calgary finished sixth in the qualification round with a total of 82.00 points. Groenewoud won a silver medal at the X Games last month, just over five weeks after undergoing double knee surgery.ATLANTA -- Ricky Nolasco is trying to block out speculation he may soon be traded. The right-handers focus served him well against an Atlanta team that has given him the most trouble in his career. Nolasco tossed seven strong innings, Justin Ruggiano hit a three-run homer and the Miami Marlins beat the Braves 6-3 on Wednesday night. Nolasco managed a laugh when asked if it has become easier to deal with the possibility he could be traded from Miami, perhaps before he can make another start. "Easier?" he asked, apparently surprised by the question. "It is what it is," Nolasco said. "Its been going on for a while. Im not believing anything, Im trying not to read anything until something actually happens or if it happens. "Im just trying to block it out as much as I can, going out there and just trying to go every fifth day and eat up as many innings as I can and give us a chance to win. Whatever happens, happens is my mindset on it. I think thats been helping me out." Nolasco (5-8) allowed only two runs on six hits. He had no walks with seven strikeouts, giving him 1,001 for his career. The 1,000th strikeout came against Brian McCann to end the sixth with a runner on third. McCann hit a homer -- the eighth of his career off Nolasco -- in the fourth. "Its kind of funny the 1,000th K would be against the guy that has given me the most problems throughout my whole career, so at least I can say that," Nolasco said. Nolasco had one of the biggest at-bats of the game, a two-out walk in the fifth that set up Ruggianos homer. "Two-out walk to the pitcher," said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez. "If its not in the rule book, it should be written in the rule book." The Braves led 2-0 before Ruggianos homer off Mike Minor (8-4) in the fifth. Miami added a run in the sixth when Placido Polanco singled and scored on Adeiny Hechavarrias double. Jeff Mathis added a two-run double in the eighth. There was steady rain but no delay in the game. Minor said the wet balls were a factor in his key walk to Nolasco. "I was trying to throw the ball right down the middle and I walked him," Minor said. "It was some of the balls I was getting back. I really didnt complain about it because both pitchers are pitching in it. No matter what ball I got back, it was still wet from being on the side." After Chad Qualls pitched a scoreless eighth, Mike Dunn gave up singles to Freddie& Freeman and Dan Uggla in the ninth.dddddddddddd Closer Steve Cishek struck out B.J. Upton before giving up a run-scoring single to Chris Johnson. Cishek earned his 16th save when Tyler Pastornicky hit a grounder to the mound to end the game. The Marlins got their first victory in five games against the Braves this season and ended an eight-game losing streak in the NL East rivalry, dating to Sept. 19, 2012. Nolasco improved to 6-10 in his career against Atlanta. He holds the Marlins franchise record with 81 career wins. "He made his pitches," said Marlins manager Mike Redmond. "It was fun to watch him. I know it wasnt easy, but he battled. That pretty much sums up Ricky." Minor couldnt overcome a key walk. Donovan Solano led off Miamis fifth with a double to right field before advancing to third on a wild pitch. Minor struck out Hechavarria and Jeff Mathis before walking Nolasco. Ruggianos homer to left field gave the Marlins a 3-2 lead. B.J. Upton led off the third with an infield single and scored on Andrelton Simmons single to right. Brian McCann pushed the lead to 2-0 by using a golf swing to line a low pitch from Nolasco over the right-field wall with one out in the fourth. Minor gave up four runs on six hits and three walks in six innings. He has only one win in six starts since posting a 4-0 record and 1.98 ERA in May. Each of Ruggianos 12 homers has come on the road. According to STATS and the SABR Home Run Log, that is tied for the seventh-most consecutive road homers to open a season. The record is 17 by Washingtons Goose Goslin in 1926. The Dodgers James Loney also hit his first 12 homers on the road in 2009. NOTES: Redmond said 1B Logan Morrison was given a rest because his back was stiff following a collision at first base with Kris Medlen on Tuesday night. ... Braves OF Jordan Schafer hit a groundout to second base as a pinch-hitter in the seventh. He said he can jog but not run on his sore right ankle after fouling a ball off the ankle on June 26. He was limping after a pinch-hit single on Tuesday night. ... Upton said he had no lingering symptoms after leaving Tuesday nights game with left forearm spasms. ... There is a forecast for more rain Thursday night when RHP Henderson Alvarez is scheduled to come off the disabled list and make his 2013 debut against Atlantas Julio Teheran. Alvarez has been recovering from right shoulder inflammation. ' ' '