Hobbyclub » receiver. He leads Baltimore wit

WASHINGTON -- Doug Fister made quick work of the New York Mets, and thats one reason why his teammates on the Washington Nationals provided him with ample hitting support. Fister took a five-hit shutout into the eighth inning, Adam LaRoche homered twice and Danny Espinosa also connected as the Nationals cruised to a 7-1 victory Wednesday night. Fister (11-3) allowed one unearned run and six hits in 7 1-3 innings. He struck out seven and reduced his ERA to 2.49. In his first season with Washington, Fister has made a positive impression with his new team by working rapidly and going after opposing hitters. The technique confounded the Mets and provided the Nationals with plenty of time to take their hacks against New York starter Jonathon Niese (5-8). "Its no coincidence that I feel like a lot of runs get scored when Doug pitches," LaRoche said. "I think its a matter of really quick innings. Hes pitching to contact, guys are on their toes, and theres a lot of action. Seems like when hes pitching, were out there for 30 minutes on defence and spend two hours in the dugout." The Mets, who had faced Fister only once previously, seemingly werent prepared for his rapid-fire style. "He works real quick, throws a lot of strikes, doesnt walk anybody," New York manager Terry Collins said. LaRoche hit a two-run drive in the first inning and a solo shot in the eighth, his 23rd career multihomer game. Espinosa went deep with two on in the sixth and Anthony Rendon hit two doubles to help NL East-leading Washington increase its lead over sputtering Atlanta to four games. Niese gave up a season-high six runs on eight hits in six innings. It was only the second time in his last 25 starts the left-hander yielded more than three earned runs. Niese is 0-4 with a 5.76 ERA in four starts since coming off the disabled list with a left shoulder strain. "It seemed like when I didnt feel 100 per cent, thats when I was pitching best," Niese said. "My arm feels a lot better so Ive got to figure out how to pitch with that." Washington got all the offence it needed in a three-run first. Rendon doubled with one out, Jayson Werth hit an RBI single and LaRoche followed with his 14th home run. "Its certainly nice to get that," Fister said. "Ive still got to go out there, still got to put up a zero and get our guys back in to hit." In the sixth, Ian Desmond singled, Bryce Harper walked and Espinosa sent a 1-1 pitch over the left-field wall. It was his seventh home run of the season, the first since May 12. Fister left with two on and one out in the eighth with Washington up 6-0. Newcomer Matt Thornton gave up a two-out RBI single to Daniel Murphy. Washington leadoff hitter Denard Span singled in the third to extend his streak of games reaching via a hit or walk to 32. TRAINERS ROOM Mets: Collins said he expects RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (right elbow) to throw off a mound by next week and to make a rehabilitation appearance soon after that. Matsuzaka, who was placed on the disabled list July 26, is 3-3 with a 3.87 ERA. Nationals: Werth was pulled in the seventh with a shoulder strain. "Jaysons got a shoulder thats been bothering him a little bit. Tonight he was a little tight in his neck," manager Matt Williams said. UP NEXT Mets: Rookie Jacob deGrom (6-5) seeks to win his sixth straight start when New York and Washington meet Thursday afternoon to close out the three-game series. Nationals: Washington will start RH Jordan Zimmermann (7-5), who hasnt given up a home run at home in nine games since April 9. SCOREBOARD WATCHING Williams said he had too much to do as a player to be a scoreboard watcher. "I couldnt afford to. I wasnt good enough," he said. "I didnt have time for it." Hes not checking out the out-of-town scores now, either. "Theres no reason to see what anybody else is doing because were trying to take care of our business today," he said. "If we win today, the position that were in, there cant be any movement." Eddy Pineiro Jersey . The Pope greeted Klose at his general audience Wednesday and the pair had a long chat. Klose is German like the pope, although he was born in Poland. In Sundays derby, Lazio took the lead in the seventh minute after Maarten Stekelenburg brought down Klose, resulting in the Roma goalkeeper being sent off and a penalty that Hernanes converted. Jordan Williams-Lambert Jersey . Both the top-seeded Djokovic and sixth-seeded Fish took relatively easy paths, with the Serb winning when opponent Jo-Wilfried Tsonga retired in the second set with a sore arm and Fish dominating Janko Tipsarevic in two quick sets. http://www.cheapbearsjerseysauthentic.co...ik-cohen-jersey. 5 Trade Deadline is drawing closer and teams will be deciding on whether to buy or sell while figuring out which players can make the biggest difference and hold the greatest value. Leonard Floyd Jersey .C. - Blair Jones scored the eventual winner in the third period as the Abbotsford Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Oil Barons 3-2 in American Hockey League action on Friday. Kyle Long Jersey . - The Carolina Panthers believe Steve Smith lost "top-end" speed, a big reason the franchise parted ways with its all-time leading receiver.OWINGS MILLS, Md. - When he was cut by the Carolina Panthers in March, Steve Smith cried.Smith spent his entire 13-year NFL career with the Panthers. The leading receiver in franchise history with 836 catches for 12,197 yards, Smith fully expected to add to those totals before being released in a cost-cutting move.We sat down as a family, we prayed, we thought about it and we discussed it, Smith recalled Wednesday. My wife cried, my kids cried. They didnt see me; I shed a few tears. And then we got back up, dusted ourselves off and we said, What is the plan for the Smith family?Two days later, Smith signed with the Baltimore Ravens.This Sunday, months after that sombre family meeting, Smith has the opportunity to have the last laugh when the Panthers (2-1) come to Baltimore (2-1).Im not bitter because I get to play, Smith said. But do I want to show certain individuals that I can still play? Honestly, I dont have to. They are game-planning for me. (Panthers defensive co-ordinator) Sean McDermott knows what I bring to the table.With the Ravens, Smith has proven hes still got the talent to be a No. 1 receiver. He leads Baltimore with 18 catches and 290 yards receiving, and has also been a leader in the locker room.Its pretty obvious as a football player what hes meant to us, coach John Harbaugh said. Hes made plays. Hes a fiery competitor. Hes been a leader. Its a young group of receivers, and hes had an impact on those guys. But he hasnt done it in an overbearing way. Hes been himself. Hes fit in really well.Smith has a reputation for being loud and feisty. He trash-talks with the best of them a€” so much so that Harbaugh made light of it.My advice to Steve would be, Shock the world. Surprise everybody. Dont even say a word the whole game. Go into a shell! Harbaugh said. But I dont think hes going to take that advice.Especially if Smith catches a pass in front of a former teammate.If he catches the ball, hes going to let people know how good of a job he did right there, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco saidd.dddddddddddd I dont think this week is going to be any different. Im sure hes talked some trash in 1-on-1s the last handful of years with all the guys over there. So hell probably pick up right where he left off.Smith said: My enthusiasm will be out of this world, but it will also be fun to play against guys that I know their tendencies.And the Panthers certainly know about Smith, who rarely eased up in practice or during a game.He was one of those guys who never wanted to back down from anything, and I was the same way, Carolina cornerback Josh Norman said. He will probably be in the Hall of Fame, and you have to respect that.Another reason to respect Smith? Hes just about as good today as when he was drafted in the third round of the 2001 draft out of Utah.Hes still got it, Norman said. He never dropped off from what he was. The older you are, the finer the wine, I guess.Smith is happy to be with the Ravens, and theyre delighted to have him. There are more and more No. 89 jerseys popping up around Baltimore these days, too.But he will always have a huge place in his heart for Carolina.I miss everything about Carolina, Smith said. I miss my home. I miss my friends. Guys that I have grown with. But I also understand that its a business. And sometimes in business, youve got to temporarily go somewhere else.Playing a€” and starring a€” in Baltimore has helped ease the sting being dismissed by general manager Dave Gettleman without ceremony.Unless you hate your job, I dont think anybody has walked out of your job and has been fired or released and go Yay, Smith said. I was taken aback by it, but I took my time to kind of reflect to kind of see it. To be honest, I knew a long time ago. I knew when I had my meeting with Gettleman what was going to happen, and thats what happe