and James Bell

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ANAHEIM, Calif. - Los Angeles Angels slugger Josh Hamilton says hes feeling better and is ready for the playoffs later this week.The former AL MVP has missed 21 of the Angels last 22 games because of shoulder and other upper-body injuries.Hamilton worked out Tuesday, and said hes set for Thursday when the Angels host the wild-card winner in the opener of the AL Division Series.I feel good, just like yesterday. I ran, threw, faced a lot of pitching, so Im good to go, Hamilton said.Theres always pain, but the point is that Im not having muscle spasms. Its been responding well every day. I didnt have any spasms after I finished, so Ill see how it responds tomorrow, he said.Hamilton hit .263 with 10 home runs and 44 RBIs in 89 games. All of his homers came on the road, the first time in his career that he went an entire season without one in his home ballpark.Hamilton is in the second season of a five-year, $125 million contract, which he signed as a free agent after helping the Texas Rangers win back-to-back AL pennants.Manager Mike Scioscia said hes yet to decide whether Hamilton will be in his usual left field spot or the designated hitter.If he can play and hes healthy, he will play, Scioscia said. He really looked good moving around, throwing and running the bases. Well probably just bat him down lower to where hell have a chance to contribute without having too much pressure.Hes got a history of just coming in and finding it quickly. He did it at the end of the 2010 season, and I think theres a number of things he points to why hes comfortable and confident. And if hes locked in, it will make a big difference in our lineup, he said.Had those injuries occurred in the middle of the season, Hamilton acknowledged that he would be taking more time allowing everything to heal.I probably wouldnt have gotten the 12 shots that I got, said Hamilton, who spent almost two months on the disabled list after he tore a thumb ligament on a slide headfirst in early April.Theres a time to be smart and patient, and theres a time to just do what youve got to do to get back and play and help the team. Im looking forward to it, man, he said.Angels pitcher Matt Shoemaker also said hes feeling fine. He hasnt been in a game since Sept. 15 because of a mild oblique strain on his left side.Shoemaker threw during a bullpen session Tuesday and later seemed confident there would be no setbacks.It felt normal, which is great. I did a full bullpen again and everything felt great, the 28-year-old rookie said.It was an up-and-down bullpen, so we took a break in the middle just to simulate that. Well probably take that into tomorrow and see whats going on. It was a blessing that it was just mild and it wasnt any more severe, he said.The right-hander began the season as a reliever, but was thrust into the rotation because of season-ending injuries to Garrett Richards and Tyler Skaggs.Shoemaker made 20 starts, going 14-3 with a 2.89 ERA in those games. He also won twice in relief, and his 16 total victories set an Angels rookie record.Jered Weaver (18-9) will start Game 1 for the Angels. Scioscia has yet to announce who will pitch next in the best-of-five series.Matt Shoemaker saved our season, Scioscia said. Hes got to be the story of the year for our team, and it might be the biggest surprise in the league. Matts been a guy who has always had to prove himself. Even this year he had to prove himself. But he got the opportunity and hes made the most of it. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . As if he had been rehearsing it, Vasquez looked around with a grimacing stare as he clinched two fists and flexed his muscles. What do you think of DeMar DeRozans face after he hits a big shot, he was asked moments earlier. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . 1 goaltender tonight when they conclude a four-game road trip versus the Winnipeg Jets. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку!. Span, Danny Espinosa and Adam LaRoche had two hits apiece as Washington won the final two games of the series. The Nationals improved to 3-7 against Atlanta. They increased their division lead over the Braves to 1 1/2 games. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . Each day, TSN.ca provides the latest rumours, reports and speculation from around the NHL beat. Defensive Depth TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun is reporting the Toronto Maple Leafs have considerable interest in unrestricted free-agent defenceman Dan Boyle. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . Braden Calverts Winnipeg rink rallied to defeat Italy 8-7. After giving up three points in the second end, Calvert came back with a single, then stole two more points in the next two ends to tie it up at the fifth-end break.PHILADELPHIA -- Darrun Hilliard watched intently Saturday night as the Philadelphia 76ers retired Allen Iversons number at the Wells Fargo Center. Less than 24 hours later, in the same arena, he tried to recreate the magic of his all-time favourite player. Hilliard scored a career-high 26 points and No. 8 Villanova set a school record for regular-season wins with a 73-56 victory over Marquette on Sunday. "AI was the man," Hilliard said. "That was my favourite player. Seeing him go out and be the smallest guy on the court and doing what he did with everything against him, it was something I looked up to. So its pretty cool to be in this building." Josh Hart added 13 points and JayVaughn Pinkston had 11 points and seven rebounds for the Wildcats (26-3, 14-2 Big East), who have won four straight and 10 of 11. The Wildcats had never won 26 regular-season games in the 95-year history of the program. Villanova won 25 games four previous times, most recently in 2008-09, a season it reached the Final Four. Deonte Burton scored 13 points for Marquette (17-12, 9-7) and Todd Mayo finished with 11 points and five rebounds. "I was proud of that effort," Villanova coach Jay Wright said. "I know Marquettes a good, hungry team and they play hard. Its hard to match that level." Playing in the home of the 76ers Hilliard almost looked like an NBA guard with the kind of show he put on for the fans. The 6-foot-6 junior guard had 18 points in first half, shot 5 for 8 from 3-point range for the game and set his career high with a dazzling drive that put the Wildcats up 66-47 with 4:58 left. Hilliards previous career high of 25 points came in an upset win over Syracuse last season -- also at the Wells Fargo Center. "Darrun was on fire today," Hart said. "When you have someone whos 5 for 8 from 3s, the defence is really focusing in on him so that allowed me to get open shots." Villanova was 12 of 29 from 3-point range. Trying to make a late push to get into the NCAA tournament for the ninth straight year, Marquette came in having won five of six, including an important two-point victory over Georgetown on Thursday. But the Golden Eagles never threatened to upset the Wildcats, shooting just 4 for 15 from 3-point range and 16 for 25 from the free throw line. They committedd 15 turnovers.dddddddddddd "I would say the number one disappointment is we didnt play as hard as we have to play on the road to beat a team as good as Villanova," Marquette coach Buzz Williams said. After falling behind by 11 points at halftime, Marquette made just one field goal through the first 5 minutes of the second half to allow Villanova to open a 48-29 lead. Villanova led by double digits the rest of the way to move one full game ahead of No. 9 Creighton for first place in the Big East. The Wildcats only two conference losses have come to Creighton, which fell out of first place after losing to Xavier on Saturday. "I dont think theyre going to win our league or theyre eighth in the country based on one number," Williams said. "I think theyre really good in each phase of the game but I also think they play for one another. I think they play incredibly hard and I think they play with great spirit." Hilliard and Hart combined to score Villanovas first 20 points, before Pinkston and Tony Chennault scored the next nine for the Wildcats. Daniel Ochefu then forced a steal, ran ahead of the pack and had a transition dunk to cap a 17-4 run and send Villanova to a 31-18 lead with 3:18 left in the first half. The Golden Eagles cut the deficit to six points a couple of minutes later, but Hilliard scored five straight points to close the half, hitting two free throws after Williams was called for a technical foul and drilling a 3-pointer with 2 seconds remaining. "I thought that series was important for us," Wright said. "We were struggling a little and they were coming back." The Wildcats led 36-25 at halftime despite foul-plagued starting guards Ryan Arcidiacono and James Bell playing just 6 and 5 minutes, respectively. Neither scored in the first half and Bell, the teams leading scorer, didnt score at all and remains six points shy of 1,000 points for his career. "In the first half, when we were playing without James Bell and Ryan Arch, I thought our energy level actually went up," Wright said. "I thought we were actually a quicker team. And then those guys were really fresh in the second half. "Weve been trying to build our depth throughout the season and that was really important to have that first half like that." ' ' '