ide on an option run as Tennessee had three runs for more than 15 yards in their first 19 offensive plays.We just had a lot of misfits, guys just wanting to do ttoo much rather than just play within the

ST. LOUIS -- Aledmys Diaz made a vow Monday to the family of childhood friend Jose Fernandez, the late Miami Marlins ace who died in a boating accident early Sunday.I told them that every single time I put on the uniform, I would be thinking of him, Diaz said. And that I would give 100 percent because thats how he played the game.Fernandez would have been proud of his longtime buddy on Tuesday night.Back in the lineup after attending a private ceremony for Fernandez in Florida on Monday, Diaz hit his first career grand slam and the St. Louis Cardinals finished with five home runs in a 12-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.St. Louis remained one game behind San Francisco for the final NL playoff spot, and 1 1/2 games behind the New York Mets.The Giants routed Colorado 12-3. The Mets, who lead the wild-card standings, won 12-1 at Miami.Jhonny Peralta had a three-run homer and drove in four runs for the Cardinals, who had lost four of five. Matt Carpenter, Randal Grichuk and Matt Adams also homered.Joey Votto and Scott Schebler went deep for the Reds, who beat St. Louis 15-2 on Monday.Diaz slammed a 2-1 pitch from Cincinnati starter Robert Stephenson over the left-field wall. The 408-foot drive erased a 2-1 deficit and served as a wake-up call for the Cardinals, who grabbed their first lead since Saturday.The Cuban-born Diaz pointed to the sky after he crossed home plate and fell into the arms of teammate Yadier Molina. Diaz had tears in his eyes as he came out of the dugout for a curtain call.I felt some serious goose bumps when he hit that, Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright said. I almost got choked up. I know he was. He wanted to make some good swings for Jose.The emotional home run triggered an 11-run outburst in a span of three innings.Watching him cross the plate, and watching his reaction as he (shook hands) with the guys, really hit me on how much that meant to him, St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. You can never understand what each persons going through when they suffer a loss like that. The show goes on and so does life. But its a tough thing for anyone to go through.Stephenson (2-3) ended up allowing five runs in four innings.Wainwright (13-9) gave up five runs and 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings.Adams connected for a pinch-hit homer in the sixth, extending the franchise record to 16 this season.St. Louis has hit an NL-leading 218 homers this year.Carpenter hit his 20th home run, giving the Cardinals five players with 20 or more.The Cardinals broke out of a hitting slump after scoring just three runs in their previous two games.Theres no telling how big this could be, Wainwright said.Votto was 3 for 5 and finished a triple shy of the cycle.Stephenson rolled through the first three innings, giving up just a solo homer to Carpenter.I felt a lot better today, especially at the beginning of the game, Stephenson said. I was a lot more under control. Just a nightmare inning in the fourth inning.Stephenson was aware of Diazs relationship with Fernandez.I thought that was real unfortunate timing for me, Stephenson said. But really, a special moment for him.TRAINERS ROOMReds: SS Zack Cozart, who has not played since Sept. 10 due to a sore right knee, was placed on the disabled list and will not return this season. ... 2B Brandon Phillips left in the seventh after hurting his wrist when he checked his swing. He is day to day. ... Schebler had a cramping issue and was removed in the eighth.Cardinals: Carpenter was back in the starting lineup after missing Mondays game with a right finger injury.UP NEXTReds RHP Anthony DeSclafani (8-5, 3.38 ERA) faces RHP Mike Leake (9-11, 4.72) in the third game of the four-game series Wednesday. DeSclafani has 13 quality starts in 19 starts this season. Leake is 0-1 with an 8.31 ERA in three starts against his former team. Cris Carter Youth Jersey . Perhaps Carroll was so prepared for a break because he believes there is very little the Seattle Seahawks need heading into the off-season. "I dont see anything that we need to add. We just have to get better," Carroll said. Mike Hughes Vikings Jersey .ca! Kerry, Two nights after the Scott-Eriksson incident in Buffalo, the Bruins returned home to play San Jose. In that game, Zdeno Chara put a check on Tommy Wingels that clearly targeted his head. http://www.authenticvikingspro.com/Dalvin-cook-vikings-jersey/ . And when it opened, every player was at his stall. Thats a sure sign that a team is in a slump and is searching for answers. "Its embarrassing to be at home and play the way we did," said defenceman Josh Gorges. Mike Hughes Youth Jersey . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. Paul Krause Vikings Jersey .C. -- Manny Malhotra had two goals and an assist, leading the Carolina Hurricanes to a 6-3 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. ALAMEDA, Calif. -- After watching DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry run through his first-team defense with relative ease during the third exhibition game, Oakland Raiders coach Jack Del Rio said he took those struggles personally as a former NFL linebacker who prides himself on having a stout defense.Del Rio wasnt as outwardly concerned Monday after the teams first practice following the preseason game against Tennessee, confident that the problems of players lining up in the wrong spots, staying in their gaps and not trying to do too much will be easily fixed before the games start counting for real on Sept. 11 in New Orleans.You can work on these things, Del Rio said. You get these opportunities during the preseason to tighten these things up. I expect well be ready to roll when the regular season gets here.The Titans had few problems moving the ball on the ground against the Raiders starting defense on Saturday night. Murray ran for 40 yards on eight carries in the first half, scoring one touchdown. He exploited the Raiders a few times with cutbacks into open lanes vacated by overaggressive defenders.Henry, a more bruising rookie running back, also had success with 12 carries for 49 yards and a touchdown.Quarterback Marcus Mariota also managed to beat the Raiders to the outside on an option run as Tennessee had three runs for more than 15 yards in their first 19 offensive plays.We just had a lot of misfits, guys just wanting to do ttoo much rather than just play within the defense, defensive tackle Dan Williams said.dddddddddddd Everyone was just trying to shed blocks too fast or jump gaps. DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry did a great job finding holes. When we got out of our gap, they made us pay for it.That comes after the Raiders allowed three long runs in the first half against Arizona in the exhibition opener and struggled to contain Eddie Lacy the following week in Green Bay.After fortifying the defense in the offseason by rebuilding the secondary and adding linebacker Bruce Irvin, the Raiders are counting on having a defense that wont be so easily pushed around.Were very young, Williams said. Were just learning how to play with each other. We have a lot of good pieces. Especially when you have guys from new teams you have to learn a new language.Game notes Del Rio said hes not ready to announce whether Menelik Watson or Austin Howard will start at right tackle. But signs point to Watson winning that role as he has gotten the bulk of playing time with the first-team offense and has drawn praise from Del Rio. ... Del Rio said he also wants to see more of Cory James at first-team middle linebacker this week after James split time there last game with Ben Heeney.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '