Dein erstes Forum » Rendon became the sixth National with at least 20 home

PHILADELPHIA -- The defending national champion Villanova Wildcats opened the 2016-17 season with six games in 13 days.It was a grueling stretch for the No. 2-ranked team.But they came away with six victories, including their most recent 63-47 win over the College of Charleston last Wednesday. After the win, the victorious Wildcats looked a bit weary.A much-needed break was waiting and theyll now be rested and ready when they open the Big Five portion of their schedule Tuesday night versus city rival Penn (7 p.m. ET) at the Palestra.This break comes at a good time for us, Villanova head coach Jay Wright said. It was good for us to experience this. We got a lot of our offense and defense in knowing that we would face this stretch where we wouldnt get a lot of practice in. I think it paid off for us. We were prepared but, on the other hand, I dont know if we were mentally prepared for this many games back-to-back. We had a couple of them -- Western Michigan, maybe this one -- where we didnt have great energy.Preseason player-of-the-year candidate Josh Hart led the way against the Cougars with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Hart has been a team leader and a budding star thus far this season.We need to learn to bring it every night, Wright said. That was the key to Ryan (Arcidiacono) and Daniel (Ochefu) last year. They had a mature approach to every game. Their approach was like that of a 15-year NBA veteran -- they came to work every day. Josh is really getting good at that. But our teams got to get good at that.The Quakers (2-2) opened their season with four consecutive road games -- wins at Robert Morris and Central Connecticut State and a loss at Miami and, most recently, a two-point loss at Navy last Wednesday.Junior Caleb Wood led Penn in scoring for the second game in a row with 15 points at Navy.Sophomore Jackson Donahue knocked down four treys, which are as many as he hit in the Quakers first three games combined. Donahue added six assists for a career high.But Penn made just four -- and attempted six -- free throws with none coming in the second half.Now the Quakers get a chance to come back home with a difficult matchup in Villanova. Its a daunting task for sure.It isnt easy to play on the road in college basketball, and weve started the season with four straight away from home, Penn head coach Steve Donahue told the Daily Pennsylvanian after the loss at Navy. Winning this game wouldve been a great step for us, but I think regardless of the result we showed some of the growth this team has had in the past couple weeks. Its just about overcoming some of the things we didnt do well today and getting ready for a tough game against Villanova. Sf Air Force 1 Mid Bianche . That gave fans outside Joe Louis Arena another chance to ask for autographs from the 19-year-old whose stardom in the NHL has arrived earlier than most expected. Air Force 1 Mid Nere . -- An ugly goal by Nick Bonino helped the Anaheim Ducks overcome the defensive-minded Phoenix Coyotes on a night when their ragged power play continued to struggle. http://www.airforce1outletitalia.it/scontate-air-force-1-alte-premium.html . -- Matt Kuchar and Harris English ran away with the Franklin Templeton Shootout, shooting a 14-under 58 on Sunday in the final-round scramble to break the tournament course record. Air Force 1 Sp . The Cincinnati Reds remain perfect with their speedy rookie outfielder in the starting lineup. Air Force 1 Alte Gore-Tex . Two pressure cooker bombs exploded near the finish line of the April 15 race in an area packed with fans cheering the passing runners. Three people were killed and more than 260 injured, including at least 16 who lost limbs. WASHINGTON -- Bryce Harper returned to the lineup, but neither his bat nor spot starter A.J. Cole helped the Washington Nationals in their pursuit of home-field advantage opening the playoffs.Christian Yelich homered and Dee Gordons infield single in the sixth inning scored the go-ahead run as the Miami Marlins beat the NL East champion Nationals 6-4 on Friday night.The game began following a 1 hour, 43 minute rain delay. The series opener came a day after a memorial service in Florida for Jose Fernandez. The Marlins ace died in a boating accident Sunday.Washington entered its final series of the season with a two-game lead on the Los Angeles Dodgers for home field advantage in the NL Division Series. Los Angeles played at San Francisco on Friday night.Harper went 0 for 4 with four strikeouts in his return to the Nationals lineup after sitting out the previous four days with a left thumb injury.He was rusty, Nationals manager Dusty Baker said of the right fielder. Weve got to get that rust off him before we start the playoffs.Harper said of his plate appearances, I felt great. My swing felt great.Anthony Rendon and Stephen Drew hit back-to-back home runs for Washington in a four-run fourth after Miami scored twice in the top of the inning for a 4-0 lead.Miami used five relievers including Mike Dunn (6-1). A.J. Ramos pitched the ninth for his 40th save.Sammy Solis (2-4) allowed one run in 1 1/3 innings for Washington.The Nationals honored Fernandez with a pregame video montage, by placing his No. 16 behind the pitchers mound and his jersey in their dugout. A mutual tipping of the caps across the field between players from both teams occurred as well.Nice touch by the Nationals, Marlins manager Don Mattingly said of the mound gesture. It seems like everyone has that feel for Jose. The way he carried himself and the fun that he had was really what you loved so much about him, that little kid, and that part is what seems like has taken hold on a lot of people around baseball and a lot of people around the country.Neither starting pitcher went beyond four innings and both allowed four runs. Two runs off Cole, the first of eight pitchers for Washington, were unearned.Cole, who lasted three innings, is awaiting appeal of his five-game suspension for thhrowing behind Pittsburghs Jung Ho Kang on Sunday.ddddddddddddMiamis Andrew Cashner unraveled in the fourth, allowing five hits and one walk. Jose Lobotons RBI double and Trea Turners run-scoring single in the fourth tied the game 4-4.Over the final five innings, the Nationals went 0 for 15 with 10 strikeouts and one walk.Left fielder Jayson Werth left as a precaution in the seventh inning with back tightness. He anticipates playing Saturday.Were playing for home-field advantage, which is important. But once you win the division, theres that exhale and sigh of relief, Werth said. Theres a balance there and you err on the side of caution.Yelich drove in two runs. Justin Bour had a double and two RBI singles and he scored on the hustling Gordons single off Oliver Perez.Rendon became the sixth National with at least 20 home runs this season. The 1965 Milwaukee Braves, 2003 Atlanta Braves and 2016 St. Louis Cardinals, who reached the mark later Friday, are the only other NL teams in history with six 20-plus homers.HEARTFELT MESSAGEThe Arizona Diamondbacks occupied the visitors locker room this week before Miami arrived. When the Marlins arrived, they found a touching note on a dry erase board regarding the loss of Fernandez. Dee Gordon had the most important HR of the year. Good luck fellas. Were (sic) praying for you. RIP. JF 16 -- DBacks.BABY ON BOARDNationals OF Chris Heisey is away from the team as he returned home for the birth of his second child. He is the second player on the team to leave for this reason in recent weeks. This team is a baby-making team, Baker cracked. Heisey is expected back in Washington on Saturday.TRAINERS ROOMMarlins: Mattingly said LHP Adam Conley, who came off the DL on Monday to throw three shutout innings, will be available the last two days of the season. Conley missed more than six weeks with a finger injury.Nationals: 2B Daniel Murphy (glute muscle), who last began a game on Sept. 17, isnt expected back in the starting lineup until Game 1 of the NLDS.UP NEXTMarlins LHP Wei-Yin Chen (5-4, 5.02) is set to face Nationals RHP Tanner Roark (15-10, 2.86), who needs a win to set a career-high. ' ' '