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15	November 2019

. Its all over the map and how they process this is

CLEVELAND -- In a stunning season of walk-off wins, late-inning comebacks and magical moments , Jason Giambi provided the most stirring one yet. Willy Adames Rays Jersey . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. Giambi drove a 1-1 pitch from Addison Reed (5-4) deep into the lower deck in right field to prevent a potentially devastating loss for the Indians, who are trying to make the post-season for the first time since 2007. Giambis heart-pounding shot bailed out controversial closer Chris Perez, who gave up two homers in the top of the ninth and nearly blew a game Cleveland absolutely had to have. "I made him give me a hug because he needed it," Giambi said of Perez, who hasnt spoken to the media in months. "He can wipe this away and start fresh tomorrow." As he rounded third base, the 42-year-old Giambi slowed down before being engulfed at the plate by his teammates as the Indians celebrated their 13th straight win over Chicago. Giambi then wrapped his arms around manager Terry Francona and carried him off the field. "I think I have a man crush on G," Francona said. "That was pretty awesome. Boy, did he hit that ball. Wow!" The Indians have 11 walk-off wins this season, with nine players taking turns in the heros role. "Ive said this before, but this is the ultimate team Ive ever played on," Giambi said. "Its unbelievable how many people have helped us win games this season." Long after Giambis homer cut through the October-like air, fans lingered in their seats and the Indians were still in a daze. "I was giggling around the ball field and the hallways like a 7-year old kid for 10 minutes after that happened," All-Star second baseman Jason Kipnis said. "That was the coolest thing Ive ever seen." Bryan Shaw (6-3) came in after Perez had nearly given away a game the Indians couldnt afford to lose. Giambi has been a steadying force all season for the Indians in the clubhouse, and the unquestioned Drama King on it. This was his 10th career walk-off homer, and his second pinch-hit, walk-off this season. On July 29, he became the oldest player to hit a walk-off homer, breaking a mark previously held by Hall of Famer Hank Aaron. Now, Giambi has become the Indians elder statesman of swat. After he dressed, Giambi was on his way out of Clevelands clubhouse when Nick Swisher offered his assistance. "Ill carry you. Ill carry your car. Ill carry anything you need, Big G," Swisher said. "That guy has been monstrous for this organization." Perez owes him big time. In the top of the ninth, Perez, who has walked a tightrope on and off the field all season, had to be pulled by Francona after failing to close out a 3-2 lead. Cleveland remains in the second AL wild-card spot, one game ahead of Texas and one behind Tampa Bay. The Rangers beat Houston 3-2, and the Rays shut out the Yankees 7-0. With five games left, any loss can be devastating. On this night, Giambi saved Perez, the Indians -- and maybe their season. "Hes always ready, and thats why hes playing this game -- because he wants to win," Francona said. "He is willing to do anything for anybody at any time. Hes been a blessing for all of us." Even the White Sox appreciate Giambi. "Ive seen him do that before," Chicago manager Robin Ventura said. "Having played with him, just knowing how he is on the team, you might not see it in numbers, but the personality of their team and how they play, how they go about their business, I know hes a pretty big piece of that, regardless of how much hes played." With the Indians leading 3-2, Perez gave up a homer to Dayan Viciedo, a shot into the right-field seats that drew a groan from Cleveland fans the moment it left his bat. Perez struck out the next two hitters, but Alejandro De Aza connected on his next pitch, driving it over the wall in right-centre. Perez stalked around the mound with his head down before giving up a single to Alexei Ramirez. That brought out Francona to a loud ovation and Perez, who has been a lightning rod of debate over the past two seasons, was booed loudly as he left the field. "He left a couple pitches that were over the middle of the plate," said Francona, who shot down any thought of changing closer this late in the season. "Were not going to shift gears with four games, five games, however many we have left." Indians centre fielder Michael Bourn sprained his right wrist in the fifth inning and was being treated by trainer Lonnie Soloff when Giambi connected on his homer. "I almost broke Lonnies neck," Bourn said. "You dont see something like that very often." NOTES: Giambi is the 13th player since 1950 with 10 or more walk-off homers. ... White Sox 1B Paul Konerko fouled a pitch off his leg in the eighth, struck out and was pulled from the game. ... Indians All-Star RHP Justin Masterson could pitch in relief as early as Wednesday when he returns from a strained left oblique. Francona said Masterson, out since Sept. 2, will join Clevelands bullpen for the final week. Its unlikely the team leader in wins, innings and strikeouts, will start again this season unless the Indians make the playoffs and play deep into October. ... White Sox INF Jeff Keppinger will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery Thursday. Hes had soreness since spring training and decided to have the procedure now with the hope hell be ready for spring training. ... Sox DH Adam Dunn struck out four times, dropping him to .119 (7 for 59) in September. Anthony Banda Jersey . The Oilers have been shut out in three straight home games and are in last place in the Western Conference with a 4-14-2 record. "Things have obviously not gone as well as I would have thought probable. Jose De Leon Jersey . -- The Oakland Raiders added a veteran presence to their young receiving group by signing free agent James Jones to a three-year contract Monday. https://www.cheapraysonline.com/976i-jose-alvarado-jersey-rays.html . "I had a pretty good year," the soft-spoken Granberg told TSN.ca with a grin from the teams annual rookie tournament in London. A fourth-round selection in 2010, Granberg is worth keeping an eye on with NHL training camps rolling around in less than a week. The six-foot-two, 200-pound defender may not possess the wow-inspiring theatrics of fellow prospect Morgan Rielly, but nonetheless has a chance to contribute with the Leafs when all is said and done this season.TSN Hockey Insiders Bob McKenzie, Pierre LeBrun and Darren Dreger have the latest on security and safety at the Sochi Games, if the NHL is ready to expand video review, who might be available in Edmonton, could Matt Moulson be a member of the Senators, and more. Who might be available and who might be on the move in Edmonton? Darren Dreger: Sam Gagner, we know. Ales Hemsky, we know. Ryan Smyth is expected. Theres no dialog between Craig MacTavish and Ryan Smyth. The belief is that Smyth wants one more crack with a winning team to see if he can win the Stanley Cup. Hes still effective, at least in the offensive zone, so I expect his name will heat up as we get closer to the deadline. Could Matt Moulson be heading to Ottawa? Pierre LeBrun: Matt Moulson will be a very popular name as the March deadline approaches. We know hes one of the guys the LA Kings are looking at, but the Ottawa Senators are another team. A little bit of a connection with the Senators, as GM Bryan Murrays nephew Tim Murray is now GM in Buffalo. Moulsons a guy that if the Senators can stay in the playoff mix over the next few weeks, I believe they will make inquiries on him. Might Thomas Vanek, who was part of the Moulson trade, re-sign on Long Island? LeBrun: He has liked it on Long Island a lot more than he thought he would. You hear these stories about the Islanders and playing in a bad rink but Vanek has really enjoyed his time there. He loves playing with John Tavares and he likes the way hes been treated by Garth Snow, so hes got a big decision to make. I think at the end of the day hes still going to go to free agency, which makes him force the hand of Snow. For Snow, thats the number one priority; to sign Vanek before the trade deadline. How big an issue is security and safety at the Sochi Olympics? Dreger: It is a concerning issue. The threat of terrorism always is going to be concerning for a world spectacle such as this and thats not lost on neither the Players Association and National Hockey League. Both will tell you that their guest list, be it family or friends, is reducing on a week-by-week basis leading up to the Olympic Games but the NHL is confident that their safety will be insured by the Russian government and the International Olympic Organization. But iff there were significant terrorist attempts or attacks prior to the Olympics in Sochi, I think that the NHL and the NHLPA also wouldnt hesitate to remove themselves from the Games. Cole Sulser Rays Jersey. Is the NHL ready to expand video review and when? LeBrun: I think more than ever. Its all about timing and I can tell you right now that its on the GMs agenda in March when they will again tackle this. But this time, I think the league might finally get its way. We know that hockey operations has wanted to expand video review for a long time and if they get their way this year, not only will they get it moving forward but maybe even for the playoffs if they can get the owners and the NHLPA to sign off. Lots of "ifs" but certainly theres a different movement here. Bob McKenzie: I believe that Detroit goal on Saturday night was the tipping point for general managers. GMs in the past have overwhelmingly been against expanding video review but after Saturday night, I surveyed 23 NHL GMs and 22 of them said we cannot have a repeat of what happened on Saturday night. The one GM who didnt say that said they have to discuss what theyre going to do. Now, how exactly they go about that is the controversial aspect. Some guys want the coachs challenge, some guys want it only to be on the very specific play where a puck comes off the mesh, and some guys want the referees to be able to review it at the penalty bench. Its all over the map and how they process this is the controversial aspect to it. But after that goal that was scored on Saturday night, many general managers said could you imagine if the Stanley Cup was decided on a goal like that. Does anything come of Sens owner Eugene Melnyk presenting the NHL Matt Cooke investigation evidence? McKenzie: No, it doesnt. When this incident happened last season, Melnyk said that he believed in his heart that Cooke had malice and intentionally severed the tendon of Erik Karlsson. He said afterwards he was going to prove it and talked about a forensic investigation. He spent a lot of time, effort and money and put together a fully detailed medical report and presented that to the NHL in New York City on Monday. Theres not going to be any retroactive justice here, but Eugene Melnyk had his day in court, so to speak, and did what he said he was going to do. ' ' '