Struggling D.C. United hosts the Portland Timbers in a battle of two teams fighting for playoff spots Saturday at RFK Stadium.D.C. United (5-8-9) is winless in its last six league games and sits in eighth place on the Eastern Conference table with 24 points. The club has failed to maximize their current four-game homestand, settling for consecutive draws against Montreal and Philadelphia.D.C. United is two points behind sixth-place New England for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.No question we feel like we left some more points on the table these last two weeks, but were a win out of a playoff spot, and I told our guys theres so much good to this team, United coach Ben Olsen told the teams website. I think the upside and the quality that this team can produce is better than maybe any team that Ive coached here.The Timbers (8-8-8) have been unable to build momentum off of last years championship, but are sitting just above the red line in the Western Conference with 32 points. They werent among last years favorites when the postseason began, but were able to make a run to the title. Despite Portlands inconsistent play, Diego Valeri and company could still be a threat in the playoffs -- if they can get in.A win over the fading D.C. United would certainly help. But the Timbers have yet to post a win on the road this season.Difficult game, Portland coach Caleb Porter said of Saturdays road tilt. Theyre a lot better team than where theyre at. Its an important game for them, so we expect it to be really tight game. Obviously, we havent won on the road, but weve been very close. Weve gotten six results. So its not like weve bad on the road, weve just not found that breakthrough, that goal or been able manage that last 10 minutes to not concede.But weve played as well as we have in other years, he added. In the last two years, weve had 14 (road) wins and been one of the best teams in the league. And I think our performances have been in line with that. We just havent found that breakthrough. But Im confident we will Saturday. Marvin Webster Jersey . In what the team had called a retirement, Ryan said Thursday that he is resigning as chief executive of the Rangers in a move effective at the end of this month. Nate McMillan Jersey . Ancelotti says Ronaldo has recovered from a hamstring injury but "but he doesnt feel comfortable yet so we wont risk him." Madrid is third in the Spanish league, six points behind leader Barcelona, going into Saturdays game against Valladolid. https://www.supersonicsjerseys.com/810s-paul-silas-jersey-supersonics.html .J. Ellis hit two-run homers and the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-0 Saturday night. Danny Vranes Jersey . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. Vladimir Radmanovic Jersey . The return match will take place next Wednesday. Udinese leads Fiorentina 2-1 in the other semifinal. Napoli staged a second-half comeback from two goals down after Gervinhos opener and a stunning strike from Kevin Strootman. PHOENIX -- The Arizona Diamondbacks-Atlanta Braves series is anything but dull.Long, sure, but not dull.The teams combined for 47 runs and 77 hits in the first three games of the four-game set that concludes Thursday night, when Arizona left-hander Robbie Ray will face off against Atlanta right-hander Matt Wisler, who is being recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to rejoin the rotation.The Braves have one more run in the series and one more loss, both times when Arizona walked them off, in the ninth inning Monday and in the 11th Wednesday.The teams have used 38 pitchers who have thrown 1,071 pitches.They have played 29 innings and 11 hours, 27 minutes.Eventually we got it done, Arizona manager Chip Hale said after the Diamondbacks survived a four-run Braves ninth inning Wednesday to win on Brandon Drurys short sacrifice fly in the 11th.Even that play was a little different. With the bases loaded and one out, Drury hit a line drive to short left field that Matt Kemp, playing in, caught with a dive. However, Kemp could not get up in time to get much on his throw to the plate, and Jake Lamb scored the winning run.Arizona right-hander Zack Greinke recorded his 2,000th career strikeout in the fourth inning, but he also gave up four runs in six innings. Atlanta not only rallied to tie the game with four runs in the ninth but later had runners on first and third with one out in the ninth and runners on second and third with two outs in the 10th but could not push across the go-ahead run.We had a legit chance to win against one of the better pitchers in baseball, and its a tough one to lose, Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said.Arizona has five homers and Atlanta has four in the series, with first basemen Paul Goldschmidt and Freddie Freeman leading the way with two apiece.It also has been a good series to rub it in to a former team.Diamondbacks center fielder Michael Bourn is getting a little payback against Atlanta, which released him late in spring training in order to give time too younger players in a rebuilding season.dddddddddddd. Bourn had two triples in a four-hit game Wednesday and is 7-for-15 with five runs in the series.Bourn spent time in the Toronto minor league system before returning to the majors with Arizona in May.Atlanta center fielder Ender Inciarte also has starred against his former team. Inciarte, traded to the Braves at the winter meetings with right-hander Aaron Blair and shortstop Dansby Swanson for right-hander Shelby Miller, had four hits Wednesday and also is 7-for-15 with three runs in the series.Arizona could believe it has the advantage in the pitching matchup Thursday.Ray is the reigning NL Pitcher of the Week after giving up two runs in 12 innings in victories over the New York Mets on Aug. 15 and San Diego on Saturday. Ray struck out a career-high 13 in seven innings against the Padres, fanning the side in the second and the fourth with a fastball that tops out in the 97-98 mph range.He is 2-0 with an 0.95 ERA in his past three starts.Command, manager Chip Hale when asked to explain Rays recent success. Just being able to command that fastball. Its such a devastating pitch. Hes throwing his breaking ball better, better locations with it. The main thing is fastball command and not having to throw so many pitches. Getting deeper in games.Wisler spent the first four months of the season in the rotation and was 4-11 with a 5.16 ERA in 21 appearances, 20 starts, before being optioned to Gwinnett the first week of August. He was 2-1 with a 3.71 ERA in four starts at Gwinnett, and he gave up no more than three earned runs in any of them. He went seven innings to beat Charlotte in his most recent start, last Friday.Wisler will be facing the Diamondbacks for the first time. Ray has opposed the Braves just once, when he allowed three runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings at Atlanta on Aug. 14, 2015. ' ' '
