Sippenforum » trainers) know a lot more than I do and it worked.W

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Marc Gasol made the winning free throws, but Tony Allens defense made the difference down the stretch.Thats his job, Gasol said. Thats what he does, and hes really good at it.Gasol scored 25 points, including a pair of free throws with 12.2 seconds remaining to give the Memphis Grizzlies a 95-94 victory over the Orlando Magic on Thursday night.Gasols free throws completed a 14-point comeback in the fourth quarter as the short-handed Grizzlies snapped a two-game losing streak.Though Gasol carried the offense, both coaches pointed to Allens defense as the reason for a 13-0 Memphis run that brought the Grizzlies back into the game.He just took over that game defensively, Memphis coach David Fizdale said.Added Magic coach Frank Vogel: Credit his energy. He just made a lot of hustle plays that turned the game around.After Gasols free throws gave Memphis its first lead since early in the second half, Orlando still had a chance to win the game. But JaMychal Green stole the ball from Elfrid Payton near the top of the key. The ball ended up in Gasols hands as time ran out.Troy Daniels finished with 19 points for the short-handed Grizzlies, who dressed nine players due to injuries. Andrew Harrison had 11 points and eight assists.Evan Fournier led the Magic with 28 points, while Nikola Vucevic had 18 points and 11 rebounds. Jeff Green scored 12 of his 14 points early in the fourth as Orlando built its lead.JaMychal Greens steal from Payton was his second in the fourth quarter. Allen also had a pair and disrupted the Orlando offense.That one hurts. Hurts bad, Fournier said. They just played more aggressive than us in the final 5 minutes.And Fournier didnt leave out Allen as the reason either.Tony Allen changed the game by just being more aggressive, getting in the passing lane and getting more deflections, the Magic guard said.TIP-INSMagic: Payton, listed as questionable with a right ankle sprain, came off the bench in the first quarter. ... Jodie Meeks remained out recovering from a right foot injury. ... Fournier hit all seven of his shots in the first half before ending the night 11 of 14, including 3 of 5 from outside the arc.Grizzlies: The game was the final one of a seven-game stretch against Eastern Conference teams. ... Gasol had a steal in the second quarter and flipped the ball backward over his head the length of the court for an assist on Troy Williams breakaway dunk. ... Memphis has won nine straight home games against Orlando. The Magic have not won at FedExForum since a 112-85 defeat on Jan. 23, 2008. ... Memphis is now 5-0 on the second night of back-to-backs.TRIAGE UNITThe Grizzlies remained short-handed based on injuries and personal leave. Memphis dressed only nine players as it did in Wednesday nights loss in Toronto. Among the injured: G Mike Conley, F Vince Carter, F James Ennis, F Chandler Parsons and F/C Brandan Wright. Also, F Zach Randolph is not with the team due to the death of his mother last week. Fizdale has begun calling the healthy group The Nasty Nine.STREAK STILL ALIVEFournier connected on a 3-pointer in the first quarter, making 757 straight games Orlando has made a shot from outside the arc. The last game without a 3-pointer was March 14, 2007.DOUBLE-DOUBLE, BUT NOT ENOUGHVucevic recorded his 10th double-double of the season and almost put a dagger in the Grizzlies comeback hopes. After JaMychal Greens 3-pointer cut the Magic lead to 94-93, Vucevic fired a 26-footer with 24 seconds left. The ball rattled in the rim before popping out, setting the stage for Gasols final free throws.UP NEXTMagic: Continue a five-game road trip on Friday night, playing the Sixers in Philadelphia.Grizzlies: Remain home to face the Lakers on Saturday. WASHINGTON -- On the day the Dodgers announced Clayton Kershaw suffered an injury setback, the lineup and starter Scott Kazmir stepped up. Some cramp-curing pickle juice and spicy mustard helped as well.Chase Utley drove in three runs with three hits, including a leadoff homer that quickly spoiled Reynaldo Lopezs major league debut and sent the Los Angeles Dodgers to an 8-4 win over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night.Los Angeles swept three games from Washington at home in June and has won six straight in the series.Scott Kazmir (8-3) gave up one run and four hits in seven innings, striking out eight. He extended his unbeaten streak to 12 starts, going 6-0 in that span.The Dodgers also improved to 12-6 since their ace pitcher was placed on the disabled list.With what were going through, guys have to step up, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. It starts with starting pitching. It was a great outing by (Kazmir). Everything was working.Lopez (0-1), considered one of Washingtons top prospects, allowed six runs and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out nine, featuring a fastball in the upper 90s mph.The NL East-leading Nationals lost their second in a row following a five-game winning streak.Daniel Murphy doubled twice in his first start since the All-Star break. Murphy, who began the day as the top hitter in the majors, had been slowed by a hamstring injury.The Nationals promoted Lopez from Triple-A Syracuse before the game. Utley hit the rookies third pitch over the right-center wall before the sellout crowd.Howie Kendricks opposite-field single extended his hitting streak to 11 games and Justin Turner doubled before Lopez retired a batter.Joc Pederson, activated from the disabled list earlier in the day, hit a two-run, two-out single for a 3-0 lead in the first.We liked what we saw, Nationals manager Dusty Baker said of Lopez. I am sure it shocked him to have his first big-league hitter hit the ball out of the park.Despite the early strugglees, Lopez struck out at least one batter in every inning, fanned the side in the third and Grandal three times.ddddddddddddI was very excited at first and I felt a little nervous, Lopez said. I just had a better feel for my pitches (as the game went on) and that allowed for it to come to me a little better.Grandal homered and Turner had three hits.Jose Lobaton homered for the Nationals and Trea Turner hit a two-run triple.Yasiel Puigs RBI single in the fifth put the Dodgers up 6-0 and ended the Lopezs outing.Cruising with a 6-0 lead in the fifth, Kazmir landed awkwardly after jumping to field Danny Espinosas groundout. Lobaton then homered.The postgame explanation, cramps. The cure? Electrolyte drink, pickle juice, some spicy mustard, Kazmir explained sheepishly. (The trainers) know a lot more than I do and it worked.WOWIE, HOWIEKendrick went 2 for 4 with a walk. During the 11-game streak, he is batting .454 (20 for 44) with five doubles, a home run and six RBI.OUT OF POSITIONMurphy, Washingtons regular second baseman, committed a throwing error in his first start this season at third base with Anthony Rendon (illness) sidelined for a second straight game.TRAINERS ROOMDodgers: Manager Dave Roberts said ace Clayton Kershaw, out since June 27 because of mild disk herniation, will remain on the disabled list after feeling discomfort following a throwing session on Saturday.Nationals: RHP Joe Ross (right shoulder inflammation) threw around 35 pitches before Tuesdays game, manager Dusty Baker said. Barring any setbacks, the right-hander is expected to increase his workload over the weekend in the minors.UP NEXTDodgers: Based on the Kershaw situation, Roberts moved RHP Bud Norris (5-7, 4.17) up one day in the rotation.Nationals: LHP Gio Gonzalez (5-8, 4.70) is 2-1 with a 1.73 ERA over his last four starts against the Dodgers. ' ' '