SAN FRANCISCO -- After slow starts to the season, Ryan Vogelsong and Pablo Sandoval have had a resurgence that has helped send the San Francisco Giants to the top of the standings. [url=https://www.cheapathleticsonline.com/]Oakland Athletics Store[/url] . Vogelsong struck out seven in 6 2-3 innings o

SAN FRANCISCO -- After slow starts to the season, Ryan Vogelsong and Pablo Sandoval have had a resurgence that has helped send the San Francisco Giants to the top of the standings. Oakland Athletics Store . Vogelsong struck out seven in 6 2-3 innings of a second straight scoreless start and Pablo Sandoval homered for the fourth time in six games to lead the Giants to a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday night. "I feel like when Im out there, I can throw anything in any count," Vogelsong said. "Thats a great feeling. Its not always like that, but the last couple of games it has been that way. It definitely helps your mentality on the mound." Vogelsong (3-2) followed up seven scoreless innings against Miami by limiting the Twins to three hits and one walk to give him a 1.35 ERA in his past six starts. The win gave the Giants (31-18) the best record in baseball. Josmil Pinto broke up the shutout bid with a leadoff homer in the ninth inning against Sergio Romo, but that was all the Twins could manage. Romo retired the next three batters to get his 16th save in 18 chances. Samuel Deduno (1-3) allowed two runs in 5 2-3 innings after being moved up a day in Minnesotas rotation, but ended up on the short end because of the performances from Vogelsong and Sandoval. Sandoval got off to a slow start in a contract year and was batting under .200 as late as May 13. But he has found his stroke of late to lead the way for San Francisco. "He has his timing and he has his confidence going," manager Bruce Bochy said. "That usually comes with success. That was the longest tough streak he has ever gone through. It looks like he has come out of it and is making great contact right now." Sandoval gave San Francisco the lead for good in his first at-bat for the second straight night, sending an 0-2 pitch from Deduno over the wall in left-centre to lead off the second inning with his sixth homer of the season. It was a rare two-strike hit for Sandoval, who came in with just five hits in 79 at-bats for an .063 average after reaching two strikes. "I missed a changeup," Deduno said. "I like to throw it on the ground, but it was just a little bit up. Thats why he hit it." Sandoval added a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning after a poor throw from second baseman Brian Dozier cost the Twins the chance at a double play. That was enough for Vogelsong, who pitched out of trouble in the first three innings before finding his groove. The Twins had a runner on second with one out in each of the first three innings, but couldnt score against Vogelsong, who has rebounded after posting a 7.71 ERA in his first four starts. "He was throwing good cutters to both sides of the plate," Twins outfielder Jason Kubel said. "If youre thinking cutter, hell throw the straight one in at you, too, and it gets guys to chase. Hes got a good curveball. When hes got his pitches, hes tough to hit." Vogelsong was replaced after making a throwing error on Aaron Hicks comebacker with two outs and no on in the seventh. Juan Gutierrez got pinch-hitter Chris Herrmann to ground out to escape the inning. NOTES: The Giants improved to 23-4 when scoring first. ... Minnesota OF Josh Willingham (left wrist) is expected to be activated from the DL on Monday when the team opens a four-game homestand vs. Texas. Oswaldo Arcia (right wrist) is also expected to be activated. ... Giants RHP Matt Cain will miss his scheduled start Monday because of an injured hamstring that did not feel 100 per cent during a pregame bullpen session. Yusmeiro Petit will start in his place. ... Madison Bumgarner (5-3) will start the series finale for San Francisco against Ricky Nolasco (2-4). Athletics Jerseys 2020 . Jacobs scored two in the first end, but Jahr briefly took charge with two in the second end and two more in the third. Jacobs, from Sault. Marie, Ont., gave Canada some breathing room, following his big fourth end by adding two more points in the fifth to go up 7-4. Oakland Athletics Pro Shop . Rookie Christian Vazquez got his first three major league hits and drove in three runs, while David Ortiz had three RBIs to break open the game in the sixth inning and lead Boston over the Houston Astros 8-3. https://www.cheapathleticsonline.com/ . -- Michigan coach John Beilein is willing to give Nik Stauskas a little leeway when it comes to shot selection.PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Dick LeBeaus defence is not easy to grasp. For that, the Hall of Fame Pittsburgh Steelers defensive co-ordinator is unapologetic.Yet for all the wrinkles the ever-tinkering LeBeau adds on a weekly basis, there is an underlying simplicity. Containment, not chaos, is the key to success.We always talk about having a lid on the can, cornerback Ike Taylor said. Once that lid comes off man, anything can happen. Anything can come out of that can.All too often this season, it has.While the Steelers (8-5) remain in the midst of a claustrophobic race for the AFC North, theyve done it on the power of an offence that is obliterating the club record book, one thats done its best to overcome the alarming number of momentum-shifting plays allowed by a defence that cant seem to find anything resembling consistency.Pittsburgh has allowed 13 pass plays of more than 40 yards this season, including five in the last four games. Thats only three less than the team allowed from 2011-13 combined. Not exactly the way to end a two-year playoff drought with the erratic but explosive Falcons looming.Its a little bit of everything, safety Troy Polamalu said. Were not executing right and theyre making great plays too. Its definitely something that were going to need to stop, thats for sure.And quickly.While coach Mike Tomlin is quick to defend his secondary, hes well aware the breakdowns need to slow down.We shouldnt be surprised that these guys are capable of getting deep, but at the same time its our job to minimize it, he said.Quarterbacks have been targeting every member of the Pittsburgh secondary deep.Last Sunday, Taylor couldnt get a hand on Cincinnatis A.J. Green at the line of scrimmage in the second quarter. Moments later, Green was racing across the goal line after an 81-yard touchdown.The week prior, Taylor kept his eyes on New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees instead of wide receiver Kenny Stills only to see Stills sneak behind himm for a game-breaking 69-yard score. Oakland Athletics Gear. In a victory over Tennessee, Nate Washington darted by William Gay for an 80-yard touchdown. Even Michael Vick and the offensively challenged New York Jets hit the Steelers for a 67-yard strike to T.J. Graham in the first quarter of a 20-13 upset.And Julio Jones awaits in Atlanta. All he did was torch the Green Bay Packers for 259 yards last week.He is that offence, Taylor said.And this version of the Pittsburgh defence hardly resembles the one that went 13 straight years ranked in the top 10, thanks in part to injuries and inconsistent play.Taylor missed eight games with a broken right forearm. Cortez Allen received a five-year deal on the eve of the opener only to lose his confidence, his starting job and ultimately his season due to a busted thumb. Safety Mike Mitchell has yet to make a significant impact and the splash plays Polamalu provided regularly for years have all but disappeared.Now guys like Brice McCain and Antwon Blake, both of whom began the season near the bottom of the depth chart, are learning on the job. And while the Steelers point to progress — namely the way they shut down the Bengals in the fourth quarter last week — plenty of work remains to be done.Best to do it in the midst of a playoff race. It hasnt been perfect — not even close — but thats unnecessary when the offence is more than holding its own.I feel like the concrete is settling with the secondary, Taylor said. I feel like everybody understands now what we need to do.They just need to do it better. Now.NOTES: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was given Wednesday off for the second straight week but it was not injury related. ... Taylor (shoulder/forearm), Gay (quadriceps), linebacker James Harrison (knee) did not practice. ... Right tackle Marcus Gilbert, who has missed the last two weeks with an ankle injury, did practice.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '