off-speed pitches, slider was terrible, changeup was equal

Memphis forward Zach Randolph has agreed to a contract extension with the Grizzlies, his agent said Friday. Raymond Brothers confirmed to The Associated Press in a text message a Yahoo Sports report that Randolph is exercising his $16.5 million option for the 2014-15 season and has agreed on a two-year extension worth $20 million. Since coming to Memphis in 2009, Randolph has been a cornerstone of the Grizzlies franchise. His return indicates the Grizzlies will bring back the nucleus of a team that won 50 games this season and lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. Randolph averaged 17.4 points and 10.1 rebounds this season to lead the Grizzlies in both categories, though he was suspended for the final game of the Oklahoma City series after punching Thunder centre Steven Adams in the jaw. He owns career averages of 17.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 13 NBA seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers and Grizzlies. After bouncing around a few organizations early in his career, Randolph has found a home in Memphis while helping the Grizzlies make four consecutive playoff appearances. Randolph, who turns 33 on July 16, made the All-Star game in 2010 and 2013 to become the only Memphis player with multiple All-Star appearances. He helped lead the Grizzlies to a Western Conference finals appearance in 2013. He also emerged as arguably the teams most popular player for the way he exemplified the Grizzlies "grit n grind" mentality. The Randolph extension stole most of the attention on a day when the Grizzlies also introduced first-round draft pick Jordan Adams and second-round selection Jarnell Stokes. Adams, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard from UCLA picked 22nd overall, could boost the offence of a Grizzlies team that averaged just 96 points last season. Stokes, a 6-foot-8 forward from Tennessee, should provide energy and rebounding. "I think theyre going to be pros for the next 10 years," Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger said. "I really do." Stokes selection represents a homecoming for the Memphis native who recalled watching Grizzlies games "from the nosebleeds" section while in high school. The Grizzlies traded for Stokes after the Utah Jazz drafted him with the 35th overall pick. "I was just watching every single thing that players do," Stokes said. "I really liked Zach Randolph. I really liked how he used his leverage and how hes able just to find a way to make it happen when guys continuously doubt him. I definitely would love to learn from a guy like Zach Randolph." Now hes going to get that chance. Shaquille ONeal Celtics Jersey . -- Creighton apparently has Villanovas number. Reggie Lewis Jersey . -- Jerome Williams glanced at Philadelphias schedule and realized he would be facing the Oakland Athletics yet again, with another new team. http://www.authenticcelticsproshop.com/Marcus-Smart-Jersey/ .com) - The collective hearts of Chicago Bulls fans sank on Friday night when Derrick Rose went down with a leg injury against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Gordon Hayward Celtics Jersey .com) - The University of Montana named Bob Stitt as its new head football coach on Tuesday. Gordon Hayward Jersey .J. -- The New York Jets have promoted Tony Sparano Jr.BALTIMORE -- Playing on the road against a team they have struggled against all year, the last-place Tampa Bay Rays begrudgingly accepted a doubleheader split. After rookie right-hander Alex Colome excelled in a 5-2 victory in the opener, the Rays fell to Chris Tillman and the Orioles 4-1 on Friday night. "They outpitched us in the second game, but we actually pitched well tonight," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "Nevertheless, you will always take a split in a day-night doubleheader, but after you win the first one you get a little greedy." Tampa Bay is 2-8 against the Orioles this season, 1-3 in Baltimore. In the first game, the Orioles mustered only three hits -- one after the second inning. Added to the roster for the doubleheader as the 26th man, Colome (1-0) gave up one run, two hits and four walks in 5 2-3 innings to earn his second big league victory. The first came against Miami in his debut on May 30, 2013. Its been a strange year for Colome, who served a 50-game suspension until May 25 for violating the leagues drug policy. He was activated by the Rays and pitched four innings of relief against Toronto on May 26 before being optioned to the minors after the game. In his last start for Triple-A Durham, Colome gave up nine runs in 1 1-3 innings against Syracuse on June 21. He had far more success against the Orioles, holding them to one hit after Nick Markakis opened with a single. Jake McGee worked the ninth for his second save Orioles starter Kevin Gausman (3-2) yielded five runs, seven hits and a career-high four walks in five-plus innings. Baltimore got a first-inning run when Nick Markakis singled and scored on a groundout by Chris Davis. In the second, Brandon Guyer hit the first of his three doubles to knock in a run, and Matt Joyce followed with an RBI single. A two-out RBI single by Jose Molina made it 3-1 in the fourth. Doubles by Guyer and Joyce, along with a single by Sean Rodriguez, added two runs in the sixth. In the nightcap, the Orioles were again struggling to score before Nick Hundley homered to put Baltimore ahead in the sixth and Nelson Cruz added a twoo-run shot in the seventh.dddddddddddd Hundley connected off Juan Carlos Oviedo (3-3) for a 2-1 lead, and Cruz hit his 25th home run -- tied for the major league lead -- off Joel Peralta after Adam Jones led off with his fourth hit of the game. That gave Baltimore 38 homers in June, most in the majors. "We have a lot of power on this team, a lot of guys who can hit it out anywhere on the field. Thats why this lineup is so dangerous," Hundley said. "When you have a team, a lineup, with this much depth and this much power to all fields, it makes it tough to pitch to." Tillman (7-4) gave up one run and four hits over eight innings to earn his first win in seven home starts this season. He was 0-4 with a 2.78 ERA. Zach Britton got three outs for his 10th save. Rays starter Jake Odorizzi allowed one run and six hits in five innings, striking out six. "I had no pitches tonight. I had no fastball command, no off-speed pitches, slider was terrible, changeup was equally as bad," the rookie said. "My curveball, I think I threw it twice. It was just an all-around bad, bad experience out there." But Tampa Bay pitchers got nine strikeouts in the nightcap, giving them a major league record 261 in June. Cleveland had 253 in June 1964. James Loneys fourth homer gave the last-place Rays a 1-0 lead in the second inning, but Baltimore matched that in the bottom half with an RBI single by Hundley. Odorizzi threw 31 pitches in the inning, the last a third strike to Manny Machado with the bases loaded. Baltimore loaded the bases again in the fifth before J.J. Hardy fouled out and David Lough struck out. The Orioles stranded nine through five innings and were 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position. NOTES: The first game was the makeup for an April 15 rainout. It drew a season-low crowd of 15,614. ... TB SS Yunel Escobar tested his sore right shoulder by playing catch but was not yet ready to return. He last played Tuesday. ... Evan Longoria had three hits in the nightcap, two off Tillman, and is 13 for 30 (.433) lifetime against the right-hander. ... Jones four hits tied a career high. ' ' '