Allgemeines » when the Orioles finally turned things around in 2012

PHOENIX -- Phoenix was flying high after a blowout win over Indiana. USA Soccer Shirts . Then the Washington Wizards came to town and brought down the Suns with a thud. Trevor Ariza scored 23 points, Bradley Beal sank a pair of crucial shots down the stretch and the Wizards opened a four-game road trip Friday night with a 101-95 victory. Beals 3-pointer with 2:03 left gave the Wizards the lead for good at 96-93. His 15-footer made it 99-95 with 26.9 seconds to go, then he finished with a game-ending dunk. "I knew that eventually the ball was going to come my way and I just stayed ready," Beal said. "I wasnt making too many shots throughout the game, but I just stayed with it and stayed confident." John Wall had 18 points and 12 assists for the Wizards. Nene scored 18, Beal 17 and ex-Sun Marcin Gortat 14 for Washington. Goran Dragic had 19 points and 11 assists for the Suns, who had handed the Pacers their worst loss of the season, a 24-point blowout on Wednesday night. Channing Frye scored 16, Miles Plumlee 14 and Markieff Morris 13 for Phoenix. "We cant play that way," Frye said. "Too many turnovers and terrible defence." After making 11 of 16 3-pointers against Indiana, the Suns were 7 of 22 against Washington, just 1 of 12 in the second half. Washington, which pulled back to .500 with the win, outrebounded Phoenix 44-30, including 19-9 on the offensive boards. After nine turnovers against Indiana, Phoenix had 21 on Friday. "There was a bunch of things," Suns coach Jeff Hornacek said. "We had 21 turnovers. Its been probably six or seven games since we have a big turnover night. Then the offensive rebounds -- they got 19 of them. So all that stuff adds up." The Suns rallied from an eight-point deficit late to tie it at 93 on Plumlees hook shot with 2:43 to go. But P.J. Tucker missed two free throws that would have given Phoenix the lead, then Beal made the go-ahead 3. Nene made one of two free throws with 1:38 to go to boost the lead to 97-93, and Plumlees dunk on a pass from Dragic cut it to 97-95 with 41.9 seconds left. Beals 15-footer with 26.9 seconds remaining put Washington ahead 99-95, then after a pair of missed 3s by the Suns, his dunk ended it. Frye said the Suns are mistaken to think that the win over Indiana was a big deal. "If your season was betting on beating the Pacers one time at home," he said, "then, hey, I think we need to sit you back down and let you know youve got 81 more." Ariza switched onto Frye and shut him down after a 12-point first quarter. "It was just defensive intensity," he said. "When we press up defensively and get stops, it ignites our offence. Its what gets me going. When we play good defence, were a good team." Phoenix led 57-51 at halftime and was up 59-51 after Frye opened the third quarter with a basket. Washington then took off on a 17-4 run. Hornacek drew a technical during the outburst for complaining about an offensive foul call on Dragic. Nenes driving layup capped the spurt and put the Wizards up 68-63 with 7:06 left in the third quarter. Nenes dunk put the Wizards ahead 89-81 with 8:17 to go, then Dragic led the Suns back. He sank a 16-footer, Gerald Green got a layup after Nenes turnover, then Dragic scored on a driving layup to cut Washingtons lead to 89-87 with 6:13 to go. But Dragic missed a layup in traffic that would have tied it, Nene rambled down the lane for a dunk and Washington led 91-87 just 5:28 from the finish. Phoenix managed to get even one more time, but then Beal finished it off. "It didnt all go our way," Wizards coach Randy Wittman said. "We had a couple of breakdowns there and they tied it up but we came down and made some plays." There were 19 lead changes in the game and neither team led by double figures. NOTES: Wizards F Martell Webster sat out with the flu. ... Hornacek said rookie G Archie Goodwin would play two games for Phoenixs D-League team in Bakersfield, then rejoin the Suns on Sunday in Cleveland. ... The Wizards opened a stretch of four road games in five nights. ... The Suns finished their homestand 3-2 and begin a four-game, five-night trip Sunday in Cleveland. Fake USA Soccer Jerseys . Thornton emerged as one of the leagues best defensive ends against the run in 2013. The former undrafted free agent from Division II Southern Arkansas led Philadelphias linemen with 78 tackles and had one sack. USA Soccer Jerseys China . -- The Sacramento Kings and guard Jimmer Fredette have completed a buyout of his contract, clearing the way for the former BYU sensation to become a free agent. https://www.cheapusasoccer.com/ . Costa Rica followed up its wins over Uruguay and Italy by holding England to a dour 0-0 draw on Tuesday, enough to finish first in Group D.BALTIMORE - Nick Markakis endured the lean years with the Baltimore Orioles, suffering through one losing season after another during the worst stretch in franchise history.If that wasnt bad enough, when the Orioles finally turned things around in 2012, Markakis sat out the playoffs with a broken thumb.Now, nine years into his major league career, the 30-year-old right fielder is getting his first taste of post-season baseball. No one on Baltimores current roster has spent more time with the team than Markakis, whose loyalty to the Orioles has never wavered since they made him their first-round pick in the 2003 draft.Even after Baltimore went 70-92, 69-93 and 68-93 in his first three major league seasons, Markakis remained confident he would ultimately reach the playoffs with the Orioles.So he signed a six-year extension in 2009 during Baltimores miserable run of 14 straight losing seasons.In the past, judging by the development and the direction the team was going, I knew it was just a matter of time, Markakis said. Thats one reason I signed here, because I knew eventually it was going to happen. Good things come from a little hard work, patience and dedication. It was just a matter of plugging in players here and there, and weve got it now.Using deft moves by executive vice-president Dan Duquette and the guidance of manager Buck Showalter, the Orioles are in the AL Championship Series for the first time since 1997. When they open at home Friday night against Kansas City, there will be plenty of fans among the sellout crowd wearing No. 21 jerseys with MARKAKIS on the back.Markakis, the Orioles leadoff hitter, ranks among the top 10 in franchise history in games, at-bats, runs, hits, double, RBIs and walks. In his own understated way, hes made a name for himself on lists that include Hall of Fame stars Cal Ripken, Brooks Robinson and Frank Robinson.You look at the all-time leaders in hits in Baltimore history, that gets your attention, manager Buck Showalter said. Sometimes we dont completely grasp what weve watching here.Showalter remembers how disappointed Markakis was in 2012, when the Orioles finally shed their losing ways and earned a spot in the playoffs as a wild card. USA Soccer Store. Markakis season ended on Sept. 9 when he was struck in the left thumb by a fastball from New York Yankees ace C.C. Sabathia.It still bothers me, Showalter said. That was a kick in the (rear). It reminded all of us how fleeting this is.For Markakis, watching the post-season from the bench didnt come close to the feeling of playing the game.Every kid wants to be part of something. When theyre doing something and youre not part of it, it makes you appreciate what youre missing, Markakis said. I understand that now. I had it taken away from in 2012, but here I am with a second chance.Hes making the most of it, too. Markakis had three RBIs and scored three runs in the Orioles three-game sweep of Detroit in the AL Division Series, the highlight a two-run homer in Game 2.I know hes excited about being in the playoffs and were all excited to have him, Baltimore shortstop J.J. Hardy said. Hes kind of one of the steady guys we have on this team. Hes out there every single day, giving 100 per cent playing through pain and all kinds of stuff.The only time in the last seven years that Markakis failed to play in at least 155 games was that lamentable 2012 season.As manager, thats one less thing you have to worry about, Showalter said. Hes such a self-starter a€” and so consistent.That contract Markakis signed in 2009 comes with a club option next season. He will receive $17.5 million in 2015, or the Orioles must pay a $2 million buyout.When he signed in 2009, it was with the notion that he would spend his entire career in Baltimore.High risk, high reward. It was a good decision on my part, Markakis said. I knew what this city was capable of doing and it paid off. Im enjoying this.He cant imagine what it would have been like to spurn the extension, become a free agent and sign with the highest bidder.Theres always an easy way out, Markakis said. You can sign with the team with the most money and best players and everything else, but I always believe in putting in your time and being loyal to the team that who gave you that opportunity.Thats what I abide by, thats how I was raised. I wouldnt have it any other way. ' ' '