BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Based on the three strikeouts he posted in his one inning of work, its understandable why Sergio Santos feels hes ready to return to the Toronto Blue Jays. Santos, pitching for the Buffalo Bisons, fanned three of the four batters he faced, shutting out the Toledo Mud Hens in the seventh inning of a 4-2 loss. On the disabled list since April 15 with a right triceps strain, Santos allowed a one-out single in the first triple-A game of his rehab assignment. He threw 12 of his 20 pitches for strikes. Prior to joining Buffalo, Santos appeared in five games with single-A Dunedin and allowed four hits and two walks with two strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings. "I felt good. It was definitely a little different atmosphere than I was used to in Dunedin," Santos said. "I had a little more adrenaline going, facing better hitters. It was a better task for me and I was able to get a better gauge of where Im at." After a little prodding, Santos admitted he felt ready to make the short jaunt along the Queen Elizabeth Way to Toronto. "It was a good days work," Santos said. "If it was up to me, Id like to be back as soon as possible." Buffalo manager Marty Brown differed slightly, indicating Santos needs more seasoning. "He definitely needs another outing or two," Brown said. "Just to see where hes at. He was a little amped up tonight." Brown added: "He threw the ball well, but threw too many pitches. I liked what I saw, but hes not where he needs to be with his slider." Santos felt that the hit he allowed provided a benefit, forcing him into a situation with a runner on base. "Thats what I need to work on," he said. "It feels so foreign sometimes when theres runners on base and theres stuff happening. It kind of felt more game-like, in situations I would face during the season. It was good to have that kind of pressure and not let any runs come across." Outfielder Melky Cabrera also joined the Bisons (49-48) to continue his rehab work, but did not play. He was placed on Torontos disabled list on June 27 with left knee tendinitis and has played two games with Dunedin and three with double-A New Hampshire, batting .294 (5-of-17) in five games. Cabrera is expected to make his Buffalo debut on Friday. Thad Weber (3-4), who made four appearances with Toronto in May and June, started for Buffalo and battled through five innings. He matched his season-high with four runs allowed on six hits and a season-high four walks. Weber entered the game with five quality starts in his last six appearances and had last worked fewer than six innings on June 4. Buffalo, in its first game since the all-star break, was held to seven hits, including a two-out triple by Kevin Pillar in the first inning. Pillar has been a revelation at triple-A, batting .347 with hits in 20-of-25 games with the Bisons. Munenori Kawasaki, optioned to Buffalo last Saturday when Brett Lawrie made his Toronto return, was 1-of-3 with an infield single and a walk. Both of the Bisons representatives in the triple-A all-star game, held Wednesday in Reno, played against Toledo. Jim Negrych and Mauro Gomez each went 1-of-3 and scored runs.Lanny McDonald Jersey . Sulaiman, 44, was chosen unanimously Tuesday in a vote by the leadership, the World Boxing Council said. Sulaiman becomes the sixth president of the organization. Kasperi Kapanen Jersey .com) - Following a late-game loss to the reigning NBA champs, the Toronto Raptors will look to sustain their recent high-level play as they travel to Indiana to take on the Pacers. http://www.mapleleafsteamstoreonline.com/authentic-darcy-tucker-maple-leafs-jersey/ . -- Anaheim Ducks captain and leading scorer Ryan Getzlaf has been scratched from Sunday nights game against the Vancouver Canucks because of an upper-body injury. 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Third-seeded Murray had the easiest path to victory on New Years Eve, barely breaking a sweat during his 6-0, 6-0 win over 2,129th-ranked Qatari wildcard recipient Mousa Shanan Zayed.LOS ANGELES -- USC?coach Clay Helton said Thursday hell announce the teams starting quarterback Aug. 20, the day after the schools Salute to Troy event.That would give redshirt junior Max Browne or redshirt freshman Sam Darnold, the two quarterbacks competing for the job, two weeks to prepare for the Sept. 3 opener against Alabama.Helton echoed previous statements he made after spring practice, that if he had to name a starter Browne would win the job, but that there wasnt enough separation between the two to make a final decision.Today, both of them played well, Helton said after USC opened camp. I thought that they made good decisions. Just like it was in the spring, both are playing at a very high level.USC has 17 scheduled practices remaining before Helton names a starter.Because of NCAA rules that mandate two nonpadded practices to start training camp, Thursdays night session was in shorts and helmets. The environment isnt ideal for evaluating quarterbacks in game-like situations, but both had their ups and downs. There were several long touchdown passes, but both also threw interceptions.For Browne, who committed to USC when Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin was the Trojans head coach, it might be tempting to look ahead to the first game of thee season.dddddddddddd But after serving as?Cody Kesslers?backup the past two seasons, Browne said hes putting most of his energy into winning the starting job.Browne said he has spent a good amount?of time studying Alabama.But maybe not as much as youd think, Browne said. Because I have to go out and beat [USC defensive coordinator] Clancy Pendergasts defense first before I worry about Nick Saban.Preparing for the Crimson Tide has occupied a bit more time for Helton, who said he has been ending every day holed up in his office, falling asleep while watching film of Alabama.I got my couch up in my office. I watch film until I find myself passed out on the chair, then I flop on the couch and wake up, get a cup of coffee and start again, Helton said. Its all-encompassing. You worry about your team, but youre also, in the back of your mind, every little waking second that you get, youre preparing for your next game, and our next game is Alabama.Linebacker Cam Smith and offensive lineman Toa Lobendahn, both of whom missed the end of last season and all of spring practice with knee injuries, were full participants in practice Thursday. ' ' '
