NEU » it wont happen this season.Hes going to

HOUSTON -- Evan Gattis doesnt know why he hits better when he catches compared to when hes the designated hitter.Ive seen the stats and heard its kind of a big split, but I just want to pretend like Im catching when Im not, Gattis said.He was catching Saturday night, and his bat came alive.Gattis had two home runs and four RBI in his return to the lineup, Collin McHugh threw six strong innings and the Houston Astros beat the Los Angeles Angels 7-2.Gattis sat Friday with a bruised right hand after being hit by a pitch Wednesday. He came back Saturday and launched a three-run homer into the Crawford Boxes in left field in the second inning and added a solo shot off the facade in left-center in the fourth to give Houston a 5-0 lead.Glad I got a good pitch to hit, Gattis said. The first one I took I thought I took it well. It was borderline ball/strike away. Just really let the ball travel a little bit today as best I could.It was his sixth career multihomer game and first since hitting a pair Aug. 26, 2015, against the Yankees.For his career, Gattis entered hitting .260 with a .512 slugging percentage as a catcher, compared to .230 with a .422 slugging percentage when hes the DH. Hes also hit 38 homers in 153 games as a catcher, compared to 31 homers in 187 games as DH.Im sure someone smarter than me can figure it out, Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. I dont know if its actually true in the numbers. It feels like it and in all seriousness I think its the result of keeping him occupied, keeping his mind occupied, keeping his mind in the game.Carlos Correa had a solo home run to right in the fifth.McHugh (7-6) allowed two runs on six hits with six strikeouts in six innings. He continued his string of solid outings, allowing two runs or fewer for the sixth time in his last seven starts.I probably could have made some better pitches in better situations, McHugh said. But I think for the stuff we had Gatty did a really good job of guiding me through a couple of spots where I just wasnt feeling it.Houston has won 10 straight against the Angels. It tacked on a run in the third when Jered Weaver (8-8) hit Preston Tucker with the bases loaded, scoring George Springer. Springer knocked an RBI single in the fourth.Ji-Man Choi had a solo home run to the upper deck in right field to lead off the fifth, and Andrelton Simmons hit an RBI single in the sixth for the Angels.Weaver was roughed up for six runs and seven hits in four innings. The right-hander has struggled against Houston this season, allowing 16 runs in 15 1/3 innings.I just think that obviously, I dont have the same (stuff) that I used to have is first and foremost, Weaver said. They have become a pretty patient team. Not as free swinging. They make you work for it. I had to work my (butt) off there in the second and third.TRAINERS ROOMAstros: C Jason Castro was out of the lineup Saturday after being hit on the back of his right hand on a foul tip in the ninth inning Friday. This morning he felt it was OK, Hinch said. He took a few swings and felt a little bit of soreness, so I decided to scratch him.ROSTER MOVESAngels: Los Angeles called up Carlos Perez from Triple-A Salt Lake. Perez started at catcher and went 0 for 3. The Angels optioned C Juan Graterol to Salt Lake.Astros: 3B Matt Duffy was claimed off waivers by Texas. Duffy was designated for assignment July 16. ... Houston announced the signing of 22-year-old Cuban SS Anibal Sierra.UP NEXTAngels: RHP Tim Lincecum (2-3) will make his seventh start of the season Sunday and is looking for his second straight win.Astros: RHP Mike Fiers (6-4) will make his 18th start of the season and look to bounce back from two straight starts of four innings or less, including Mondays outing in Oakland where he was tagged for six runs in 3 2/3 innings. Roy Hinson Jersey Signed . Michell Burger, a woman who lives on an estate next to Pistorius gated community, said she and her husband were awoken by the screams in the pre-dawn hours of Feb. 14 last year, when Pistorius killed Reeva Steenkamp by shooting four times through a door in his bathroom. Bobby Brown Jersey Signed . -- Brandon Jennings made the most of his first game with the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night. https://www.cheapnbajerseysjustwholesale.com/jack-coleman-jersey-signed/ . The quest begins with what is supposed to be an easy one, although Germany has traditionally been a stubborn opponent to Canadian teams at international tournaments. Malik Allen Jersey Signed . With Parker having a quiet game for once, Nicolas Batum and Boris Diaw provided the scoring as France won its first major basketball title by beating Lithuania 80-66 on Sunday. It was a victory that ended a decade of frustration for Parker and a talented French generation, which lost the final against Spain two years ago and took bronze in 2005. NBA Jerseys 2020 . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Now that LeBron James has won a championship for the ages, hes set a loftier goal:Catching Michael Jordan.Long flattered to be mentioned in the same company with Jordan and other NBA legends, James has been hesitant to publicly acknowledge that he wants to be remembered as the greatest in league history.Its time now.Its a personal goal, James told The Associated Press on Monday. I just never brought it up. Its my own personal goal to be able to be greater than great. I think that should be everybodys personal goal.James became a three-time champion when he helped end Clevelands 52-year title drought with a historic comeback from a 3-1 deficit to Golden State in last seasons finals.On Monday, James discussed a variety of topics during a 10-minute interview with the AP after he spoke at the Cavs media day. James touched upon the fear he feels as a parent in light of recent police shootings and violence, his longevity and relentless drive to win and what impact All-Star Kevin Durants signing with the Warriors will have on him.James has revered Jordan since he was a kid. Like every other young basketball player in America, he wanted to be like Mike.He modeled himself after No. 23 on the court and followed some of Air Jordans moves off it as a businessman and sneaker-wearing, multi-million dollar corporation. James has often rejected the obvious comparisons between him and Jordan, but shortly after winning it all this summer with the Cavs, he told Sports Illustrated that my motivation is this ghost Im chasing. The ghost played in Chicago.Jordans spirit has consumed James and continually fueled him. His desire to match the Bulls legend, who won six championships, shouldnt be viewed as anything unusual. He feels everyone should yearn to reach their potential -- and beyond.We should all aim higher.If you work for any company or you work for any designer or anywhere, youre like, `Oh, I aspire to be that guy because hes done it right. Hes the greatest and thats who you look at, he said. So thats always been my personal goal, to use the motivation he gave me as a kid and Ill use it as motivation now as well that I want to get to where he is. Thats never changed. People kind of wanted to turn it into a conversation, but thats my personal goal and thats where I land at.James joked that he needs two more months to recover before starting the new season. But its here as the Cavaliers, for the first time as defending champions, will open training camp Tuesday.James didnt spend much time reflecting this summer because he had other commitments. Hoowever, he said the retirements of Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett -- a trio of the hoops icons -- has made him consider his legacy and basketball mortality.ddddddddddddAt 31, he sees the end of his career for the first time.Yeah, he said. My class is next.James entered the league along with Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, close friends he has hinted at playing with before hanging it up. For now, they are becoming some of the games elder statesmen, a fact accented by a larger patch of gray in James beard.Were next up in line, he said. Weve given the game all we can give. Were the next crew, so it definitely makes you reflect on everything and you dont take anything for granted. I never do, but in my career Ive always been like, `Man, this is an unbelievable moment Ive been put in. I try to give as much as I can. But we on deck.Jamess next challenge is one hes faced before -- to repeat. Its all new to the Cavaliers, who have never been on top and could suffer from a post-championship hangover. James has seen it happen, and hell do all he can so it wont happen this season.Hes going to make the Cavs keep their edge.Im just as hungry as I was before, he said. Its like I havent won. The natural, human nature would be to relax. But you work so hard and then you see what the result is. Why not have that feeling again?Cleveland celebrated its first title since 1964 with a party that carried deep into the summer. It began with a parade through the citys streets, which overflowed and engulfed James and his teammates. It was moving and motivating, something James will treasure for the rest of his life.Incredible, man, he said. Thats what I wanted to do. Thats what I came back for, to allow this city and region to celebrate. To know that I had a hand in making people forget everything that went on in Cleveland sports history, whether it was 60-year-old men and women or 13-year-old boys and girls, its all been incredible.The Cavs path to a repeat could be made harder by Durants decision to join Stephen Curry and Co. in the Bay Area. The move jolted the league. James didnt blink.Its not the first time a superstar has moved -- if anyone knows that, its James. Hes readied his body for the eight-month grind ahead, and there appear no signs of him slowing down soon.When Im done, he said. I feel good.Good enough for 10 more years?Yeah, he said, laughing. That would give me a chance to play with my son or against my son. ' ' '