Willkommen » period of success and effort

MIAMI -- Shae Simmons didnt think he would make his major league debut in a close game. But the 23-year old reliever for the Atlanta Braves was ready nonetheless. Simmons struck out Jarrod Saltalamacchia to end the eighth inning in a one-run game as the Braves went on to beat the Miami Marlins 9-5 on Saturday. "I wasnt really thinking," Simmons said. "I thought I was done for the day and Id just come tomorrow, but luckily I went in and threw strikes." Veteran catcher Gerald Laird helped Simmons settle in with the Braves leading 6-5 with runners on first and second. "I told him, Dont worry about calling your game. Let me call the game, just throw it where I call it," Laird said. "And he did a good job of that." Simmons was one of six Braves relievers used to help Ervin Santana (5-2) win his first game since May 10 against the Cubs. "I drank a whole bottle of coffee because I thought I felt like I was about to doze off out there (in the bullpen)," Simmons said. "Then all of the guys just started talking and said to treat it like any other day." Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman each drove in a pair of runs to lead the Braves offence, which pounded out 12 hits. "It was nice to add some runs up on the board," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "Guys got some good at-bats." Santana (5-2) allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings. He struck out four. Craig Kimbrel got the last two outs for his 15th save of the season, which tied him with John Smoltz for the most saves in franchise history with 154. "I know if John would have done it his whole career he would have had a lot more," Kimbrel said. "It is nice to say Im a part of something like that, but then again Ive had a lot of opportunities and played on some good ball teams in the first three or four years. If it werent for that case, we wouldnt be sitting here talking about this right now." Derek Dietrich and Casey McGehee each drove in two runs and Christian Yelich had three hits for the Marlins as starter Jacob Turner (1-3) took the loss allowing five runs in five innings. Six Miami pitchers combined to walk nine batters and three errors led to two unearned runs. "Were walking way too many guys and then you cap that off with sloppy defence," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "Were going up against the best teams in baseball. To go out there and compete we have to play better baseball." Miami bench coach Rob Leary was ejected in the bottom of the eighth inning by home plate umpire Quinn Wolcott for arguing balls and strikes during an at-bat by Giancarlo Stanton with David Carpenter on the mound. "Everybody was yelling in there," Redmond said. "They just picked Rob, the poor guy. I have to give him some money." Immediately after the ejection Stanton singled and McGehee drove him home with a double to pull Miami within 6-4. Two batters later Marcell Ozuna brought the Marlins within a run with a base hit. Carpenter exited without recording an out in the four batters he faced. Simmons struck out slumping Jarrod Saltalamacchia to end the inning with runners on first and second. Saltalamacchia is 1 for his last 21. "The kid did a nice job," Gonzalez said of Simmons. The Braves scored three runs in the ninth off A.J. Ramos on Lairds RBI single, Ramiro Penas squeeze bunt, and B.J. Uptons bases loaded walk. "I just didnt find the zone, plain and simple," Ramos said. "Whenever I missed, it was too big of a miss." Kimbrel came on in the bottom of the ninth with two runners on and the game appeared to be over on a ground ball by Stanton, but Pena dropped a routine throw to second on a fielders choice, which loaded the bases for Miami. Kimbrel calmly retired McGehee to end the game. "We played a good ball game today, we hit the ball when we needed to and we pitched when we needed to," Kimbrel said. NOTES: Kimbrels save percentage of 90.1 (154 for 171) ranks third all-time among Major League pitchers with at least 150 opportunities. ... Marlins RHP Carter Capps (elbow) will get a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews on Wednesday. ... Atlanta will send RHP Aaron Harang (4-4, 3.29) to the mound in Sundays series finale against Miami RHP Nathan Eovaldi (4-2, 3.36) Chris Kunitz Jersey . Darren Collison and Blake Griffin scored 23 points apiece and the Clippers beat the Suns 112-108 Wednesday night, their fourth win in a row and 17th in the last 19 games. Pierre Pilote Jersey . The Spanish champions decision not to sign a defender during the January transfer window may have backfired after Valencia took advantage of a lethargic, uninspired effort by its hosts at the Camp Nou, where former Spain coach Luis Aragones -- who previously coached the Catalan side -- was honoured after his death on Saturday. http://www.authenticblackhawkspro.com/John-hayden-blackhawks-jersey/ .com) - Darius Carter and Ron Baker scored 18 points apiece to help 13th-ranked Wichita State beat Evansville 61-41 on Saturday. Gustav Forsling Jersey . -- David Ortiz saved his only hit for a key moment for the Boston Red Sox. Steve Larmer Jersey . -- Damian Lillard couldnt believe when he got a clear look at the rim.Andy Murray has revealed that he felt the world No 1 ranking was not within his grasp up until the last couple of years. Reaching the final of the Paris Masters - after Milos Raonics withdrawal from their semi-final - coupled with Novak Djokovics quarter-final exit to Marin Cilic, means 29-year-old Murray will take over from the Serb at the top of the world rankings on Monday.And Murray, who first reached the No 2 spot in 2009 and has held the position for 76 weeks in total during his career, admits that it became a goal that edged closer the further up the game he got. Im very proud to have done it, he told Sky Sports. It wasnt something I dreamt of a kid. I just wanted to play tennis and become a professional tennis player and then to try and get into the top 100. Murrays magnificent year We reflect on Andy Murrays 2016 as he ascends to the top of the world rankings Once I got there, you then want to get into the top 50 and then the top 20.From No 2 to No 1 seems like a small gap. Its only one place, but it is by far the hardest one to reach and its been a long time.I thought about it a bit this year and last year, but before that it wasnt something I felt that close to. Its only been the last few months that I got close, as Novak was 7,000-8,000pts ahead of me after the French Open, so its been a great few months.The Scot becomes the the oldest first-time No 1 since John Newcombe in 1974 and had often spoken ranking as a goal for next season. Croft: Murray worthy of top spot Annabel Croft and Peter Fleming discuss Murrays rise Murray has also been adamant that it would be reward for a sustained period of success and effort, and he reserved praise for his coaching team.ddddddddddddIts a lot of hard work, he added. Many, many years I have been on the tour and not got there and Ive always been behind Novak, Roger [Federer] and Rafa [Nadal], who are three of the best players of all time, without question.Ive had to persevere and I have had to be very patient, keep learning and keep improving. I have done that, but its not only myself; its been with my whole team that I work with, who help me a lot.Big thanks to Jamie Delgado, as he is with me every single week of the year. Getting to No 1 takes 12 months and he has been there for every single moment, all of the ups and downs. He has helped me a lot.You can watch Andy Murray in the Paris Masters final on Sky Sports 3 from 2pm on Sunday when he takes on John Isner. Live ATP Masters Tennis November 6, 2016, 2:00pm Live on Get Sky Sports Get a Sky Sports pass Also See: Murray claims No 1 spot Croft: Murray worthy of top spot Murrays magnificent year Tennis on Sky ' ' '