Clan-Members » azy to go out in the streets," Munoz

HOUSTON -- Moments after Colombia wrapped up its victory over Uruguay in the World Cup, a trio of Colombian drivers headed to the rain-soaked podium at the Grand Prix of Houston. One by one, Carlos Huertas, Juan Pablo Montoya and Carlos Munoz unfurled their yellow, blue and red flags in a celebratory Saturday for their country. It was the first all-Colombian podium in IndyCar history. Huertas, a 23-year-old rookie, used strategy to grab his first career victory. He was followed by Montoya, in his highest finish in this years return to IndyCar, and then Munoz, who was moved to third-place when Graham Rahal wrecked Tony Kanaan on an aborted final restart. It put Montoya, a former champion who also raced in Formula One and NASCAR, on the far right of the podium next to a pair of young drivers who grew up idolizing him. "Look, its just like beating any other driver," Huertas said. "You guys, the fans, they know what he has done. They keep reminding us. It just shows the level of the series, if I do a good job, I can beat guys like that. My objective is to beat all the drivers and I treat them all the same." Stoic and unemotional, Huertas insisted he was thrilled with the victory and the footnote he and his countrymen had on the big day for Colombia. But Montoya and Munoz were adamant the day was historic. "I think today is the first day in motor racing in the world that three Colombians are on the podium, its unbelievable and its exciting and, in my opinion, theyve got a good shot in World Cup as well," Montoya said. Munoz preferred to be sticking in Houston for Sundays second race of the doubleheader weekend. "We are really lucky to be here in America and not in Colombia, because right now Colombia should be really crazy to go out in the streets," Munoz said. "Everybody celebrating. This is a big deal. This is terrific for Colombia, first time 1-2-3 on a podium in a motorsports race, and first time we go to quarterfinals. We showed what Colombians are made of, and showed the bad image people have of Colombia, its not about one thing." It was an unpredictable and wet race through the temporary street course at Reliant Park. Originally scheduled for 90 laps, IndyCar decided right before the start to go to a timed race at 1 hour, 50 minutes because the conditions would take too long to go the scheduled distance. Dale Coyne Racing used strategy to get Justin Wilson and Huertas to the front, but Wilson eventually had to pit for fuel, and Huertas assumed the lead with just over seven minutes to go. Then Ryan Briscoe turned Sebastian Saavedra, the fourth Colombian in the field, to bring out a caution with five minutes to go. IndyCar believed it had enough time after the cleanup to run one final lap and Huertas lined up with Montoya, Tony Kanaan, Graham Rahal and Munoz behind him, But as they inched toward the green flag, Rahal anxiously turned Kanaan and the start was waved off. Rahal was assessed a 30-second penalty for the contact with Kanaan, and it gave Munoz the final spot on the podium. Montoya, an idol to all young Colombian drivers, went to victory circle to congratulate Huertas. "Hes a good kid and he did a good job today," said Montoya, who then scolded Huertas to zip up his firesuit. "I do tease him a lot. He had the suit all open and I told him, Youve got to look good. " Kanaan was livid after the accident and wouldnt even look at Rahal when Rahal came to apologize after the race. "I cant do what I really want to do," Kanaan said. "What a shame. To be taken out, I think its stupid. He was having a good day, too, and it ruined his day, too. I wanted to believe he didnt do it on person, and of course he came to apologize." Rahal took full blame. "With the stack-up on the restart, I was trying to keep the tires as dry as I could, and I was to the left and when I stacked up, I just didnt see him at all," Rahal said. "I just got into the back of him." It ended a strong run for Rahal, who stalled on the standing start but had rallied through the field and used a strong late drive to move into fourth before the last caution. Had the race gone green one last time, Rahal thought he had the winning car. Cheap Vans Shoes Free Shipping . Ho-Sang is a highly regarded prospect, as seen in TSNs Midseason Rankings. This was Game 3 of their playoff series and that wasnt the only strange incident in Londons 10-2 win over Windsor. Discount Vans Shoes . While he was away, it was the division-rival Baltimore Orioles conducting a little business of their own, scooping up Ubaldo Jimenez on Monday evening to a reported four-year, $50-million contract. http://www.cheapvansfromchina.com/. -- After a year spent travelling the world, Brooks Koepka suddenly is in a position to play a lot more golf at home. Cheap Vans Shoes China . Early in the first period, Stuart pinched in from the blue line, hit Nash and was assessed a minor penalty for elbowing. Nash remained in the game for the rest of the first period, but did not return for the second. Cheap Vans Shoes From China . The Marlies centre set up three goals, including the game-winner, as Toronto cruised to a 4-1 victory over the Oklahoma City Barons in American Hockey League action.(The Sports Network) - Max Scherzer has a tough act to follow. The Detroit Tigers turn to baseballs lone 20-game winner this season tonight as they try to leave Boston with a 2-0 edge over the Red Sox in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series. Scherzer topped the majors with a 21-3 record over 32 starts this past regular season, posting a 2.90 earned run average. He followed up with a pair of victories over Oakland in the ALDS, winning a Game 1 start before notching a win in relief last Tuesday in Game 4 to force a final fifth game in the set. The right-hander threw seven innings of two-run ball with 11 strikeouts to open the series, then yielded a run over two innings in relief. Scherzer, who has a lifetime postseason ERA of 3.64, doesnt expect the relief appearance to impact him tonight. "Oh, not at all. Im on normal rest, pitching Game 2, so Im fully ready to go. Arm feels good. My relief appearance was just needed," he said. Scherzer, 29, has posted a 7.02 ERA over eight career meetings with the Red Sox, but split two starts versus them this year with a solid 2.57 ERA. While Scherzer led baseball in wins, teammate Anibal Sanchez led the American League in earned run average and he kept the Red Sox off the board in a near no-hitter on Saturday night as the Tigers took Game 1 by a 1-0 score, holding Boston to just a single hit. Despite the shutout loss, Boston worked Sanchez as he threw 116 pitches over six scoreless innings. Sanchez walked six and struck out 12. Al Alburquerque, Jose Veras and Drew Smyly followed with two hitless innings and Joaquin Benoit came on in the ninth to protect the 1-0 lead and the no- hitter. Benoit struck out Mike Napoli to begin the frame before Daniel Nava punched a single into center field. "I wasnt thinking anything about the no-hitter at that point," Nava said of his final at-bat. "It was still a 1-0 game. We had been battling all night and hadnt gotten anything to fall. Fortunately, I got that one to fall." The Red Sox had the tying run on base despite having just gotten their first hit, but Benoit settled down to get Stephen Drew to fly out before an infield popout by Xander Bogaerts ended the game. "Besides the no-hitter, the mmost important thing is to win," said Sanchez.dddddddddddd"Especially in this series. In a short series, winning is key to getting ahead." Jhonny Peralta plated the games only run in the sixth, while Sanchez, Alburquerque, Veras, Smyly and Benoit racked up a franchise-record 17 strikeouts. Jon Lester was a hard-luck loser, giving up just one run on six hits and a walk over 6 1/3 frames for the Red Sox, who were shut out in a postseason game at home for the first time since Game 5 of the 1918 World Series. Boston will now try to split the first two games of this series at home before heading to Detroit for Game 3 on Tuesday. "I think well be ready to go (Sunday) night. If you havent been around us this year, we have the ability to put tonight behind us and well be ready to go," said Boston manager John Farrell, who turns to Clay Buchholz in Game 2. The 29-year-old righty was limited to just 16 starts this season due to a neck and shoulder issue, but still went 12-1 with a 1.74 ERA in 16 starts. He missed three months between June 8-Sept 10, going 3-1 with a 1.88 ERA in four starts to close the regular season. "In the starts that hes made since coming off the DL, theres still been a little bit of a building component, building his stamina and endurance inside of a given day," said Farrell of his starter. "But the touch and feel to secondary pitches are consistent to pre-injury. "And I think coming out of particularly the last three starts, where weve been able to get him over a hundred, 110 pitches on each of those outings, I think he comes away with greater confidence on the physical side of things." Buchholz made the second start of his postseason career last Monday, getting the start in Game 3 versus Tampa Bay. He did not factor into a 5-4 loss, giving up three runs on seven hits and three walks over six innings. He did not face the Tigers this year, and is 2-1 with a 3.58 ERA in eight lifetime meetings. Boston and Detroit have been playing one another since 1901, but amazingly this is the first postseason matchup between the charter AL clubs The Tigers were 4-3 against the Red Sox in 2013, winning three of four at Comerica Park in June and dropping two of three at Fenway in September. ' ' '