Clan-Members » Diaz said.Stephenson was aware of Diaz

BAYAMON, Puerto Rico -- ?Alabama volleyballs upset bid over No. 16 Florida State fell just short in Fridays match at the Puerto Rico Clasico, falling in five sets by scores of 25-22, 21-25, 25-20, 19-25 and 12-15.Alabama (4-2) held a 2-1 match lead over Florida State (3-0) before the Seminoles battled back to win the fourth and narrowly escaped a late push by the Tide in the fifth. Krystal Rivers was Alabamas scoring leader at the pin and at the service line, finishing with 29 kills and four service aces, both just one shy of tying career highs. Kat Hutson finished in double figures for the third time this season with 11 kills and Hayley McSparin was close behind with nine, including a .421 hitting percentage. Shannon Mikesky finished with 57 assists and Natalie Murison led the passing effort with 15 digs.Alabama got off to a hot start in set one, pulling ahead 6-1 as Florida State was forced to burn an early timeout. The Tide steadily increased its lead, eventually pulling ahead 14-7 on a block by Brittany Thomas and McSparin as the Seminoles took its final timeout. Florida State made a late push, eventually drawing within two points down 23-21 with Alabama burning both of its timeouts during the run. The Tide reached set point, 24-21, and the Seminoles managed to get one point back but a service error gave Alabama the 25-22 win.The Tide took an early 8-7 lead in set two but the Seminoles responded with five-straight points to take a 12-8 lead at the half as Alabama took a timeout. A 7-3 run allowed the Tide to tie it at 15-15 and the teams continued to battle back and forth until Florida State reached set point, 24-21, and Alabama took its final timeout. A solo block ended the set with Florida State winning, 25-21, to even the match at 1-1.Tied at 4-4 in set three, three-straight points by Alabama prompted an early Florida State timeout with the score 7-4 and the Seminoles had to take its second timeout just past the halfway point with the Tide on top 14-7. Out of the break, Florida State scored four unanswered points to draw within three, down 14-11, and Alabama looked to halt the momentum with a timeout. The Tide stretched its lead back out to as many as five points before the Seminoles drew back within two, down 20-18 as Alabama took a timeout. After each team scored two more points, Alabama reached set point on back-to-back attack errors by Florida State and another Seminole error would end it and give the Tide the 25-20 set victory.Florida State scored the first point of the fourth set and would not fall behind for the remainder of the frame. Alabama took its first timeout down 9-5 and, trailing later by the same margin 16-12, the Seminoles added a pair of points to extend the lead to 18-12 as Alabama took its second timeout. The Tide would draw back within four but that was the closest they would get as the Seminoles held on to win the frame, 25-19, and force a deciding fifth set.The two teams traded back and forth early in set five until Florida State strung three-straight points together to take a 9-5 lead as Alabama took a timeout. The Seminoles eventually reached set point, 14-11, but a kill by Rivers made it 14-12 and gave the Tide possession as Florida State took its own timeout. The Seminoles ended it on the next rally however, scoring a kill to win the set, 15-12, and the match, 2-1.The Crimson Tide concludes its weekend on Saturday, Sept. 3 against Temple (2-1) at 2 p.m. CT. MLB Jerseys China . The 29-year-old Baines has established himself as one of the top attacking full backs in the country and was the subject of two bids from United during the last off-season. Everton manager Roberto Martinez says that keeping Baines at the club is a "massive boost and exciting for the future" because he brings "maturity and football knowledge in a very specialized position on the pitch" and an "infectious and positive influence to the rest of the squad. Wholesale Baseball Jerseys . With the first unit struggling of late and Amir Johnson - one of the teams iron men - hobbling on an injured right ankle, Patterson knew he could get the nod in a challenging matchup against one of the leagues up and coming players at his position. https://www.mlbjerseyschina.us/ . -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago. Cheap Nike MLB Jerseys . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. MLB Jerseys Outlet . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. ST. LOUIS -- Two days after losing his childhood friend, Miami Marlins ace Jose Fernandez, in a boating accident, Cardinals shortstop Aledmys Diaz hit the first grand slam of his career Tuesday in his teams crucial 12-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds.Its amazing, you know, Diaz said. To come back and hit that grand slam, I cant explain that. Im very grateful.After getting the ritual splash of water to the face from Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez, Diaz emerged to acknowledge a curtain call from the relatively small crowd -- announced as 34,286 -- at Busch Stadium that nonetheless was roaring its approval. Diaz doffed his batting helmet, then jabbed it at the sky and looked up at the stars.Every time I put on a uniform, I want to think of him and the way he played baseball. He gave everything every day, Diaz said. I think thats his legacy for every MLB player, especially for the Cuban players. He was living the American dream. He made it, so every time I come here to this clubhouse and put on the uniform, I want to think of him.The Cardinals trail the New York Mets by 1? games for the first wild card and the Giants by one game for the second.?Diaz, 25, grew up just a few houses down from Fernandez in Santa Clara, Cuba. Fernandez defected to the United States when he was 15, eight years before Diaz left the island in 2014.Diaz spent Monday back in Florida with his family and Fernandezs mother and grandmother. Fernandez told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in 2015 that Diazs father, Rigoberto, was the reason he became a baseball player.The Cardinals were hesitant to use Diaz in the preceding games, in part due to his grief. He was due to pinch hit in Sunday nights game in Chicago but never got the chance because Aroldis Chapmman struck out Jose Martinez?and stranded?Diaz in the on-deck circle as the game ended.dddddddddddd.Tuesdays blast off Reds right-hander Robert Stephenson came in Diazs second at-bat since Fernandezs death. Diaz said he feels he can best honor Fernandez by playing the game with passion and joy and competing as fiercely as Fernandez did.Even now, I cant believe it, Diaz said.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.Watching him cross the plate and watching his reaction as he [shook hands] with the guys, [it] 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.Diaz and Cardinals catcher Brayan Pena, a fellow Cuban, taped a No. 16 Fernandez jersey to the Cardinals dugout wall before the game. Pena predicted Diaz would hit a home run in Tuesdays game. Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright compared it to Mondays home run by Marlins leadoff batter Dee Gordon, who cried after going deep against Bartolo Colon in the teams first game since Fernandezs death.I felt some serious goose bumps when he hit that, you know, Wainwright said. I almost got choked up. I know he was and we were all excited for him, and he wanted to make some good swings for Jose, Im sure. I dont know if theres a spot all year we needed that more than we did tonight.The Associated Press contributed to this report. ' ' '