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TORONTO -- After suffering through three straight extra-innings defeats, the Blue Jays won stylishly in regulation Wednesday thanks to a strong outing by rookie pitcher Marcus Stroman and a three-run homer by pinch-hitter Danny Valencia. Jose Bautista also homered for the second day in a row as Toronto defeated the Boston Red Sox 5-2. Toronto (67-66) scored four runs -- including two unearned -- in the seventh inning with Valencia recording his first homer as a Jay. That made a winner out of Stroman, who was on cruise control other than hitting a two-run bump in the sixth inning. "He was terrific today," Toronto manager John Gibbons said of the 23-year-old right-hander. "Weve seen him like that a few times this year so its not like all of a sudden that came out of nowhere. But he had been in a little bit of a rut. "But thats what the kids capable of." The Jays, who had gone 1-3 during a run of four straight extra-inning games, can now look forward to an off-day before hosting Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees on Friday. Stroman (8-5) left to an ovation from the Rogers Centre crowd of 30,285 with two outs in the eighth. He gave up one unearned run on five hits, striking out six and walking one. Stroman threw 112 pitches, 73 for strikes. "He was sticking that fastball," said Gibbons. "It was down at the knees most of the night which is different (from) when he struggles. And he had that nice little breaking ball." Left-hander Brett Cecil retired David Ortiz to end the eighth inning and struck out the side in the ninth for his fifth save. The win was just Torontos seventh in 23 games in August. The Jays had lost 10 of their last 13 games and 12 of 17. Boston (58-75) came into the game having won two in a row since snapping an eight-game losing streak. Stroman has struggled of late, losing his last three decisions. But he was razor-sharp Wednesday, retiring the first eight batters he faced before issuing a walk. He retired 10 of 11 before giving up a walk to Ortiz with one out in the fourth inning with the damage quickly erased by a double play. He allowed just one hit and faced 16 batters in the first five innings, just one over the minimum. Contrast that to his last outing, when he gave up 10 hits and six runs in five innings against Tampa Bay. prior to that he failed to survive the first inning against the White Sox, yielding five runs on five hits. Like Gibbons, Stroman pointed to keeping his fastball down as a key for the turnaround. "Its just baseball," he added. "Sometimes you just go through a rough stretch." Confidence is not an issue for Stroman, whose baseball cap -- jauntily worn backwards during a post-game interview -- read FAME on the front. Stroman has won all three starts against Boston, posting an 0.83 earned-run average with five walks and 21 strikeouts. Stromans strong showing was timely given that Toronto had used 10 pitchers and a position player on the mound the last two games. Things went slightly south in the sixth, however, with the Jays leading 1-0. Third baseman Juan Franciscos throwing error put David Ross on with one out and Ortiz singled him home after back-to-back singles by Brock Holt and Dustin Pedroia loaded the bases. Holt then scored from third on a wild pitch to make it 2-1. Stroman limited the damage, dispatching the next two batters to strand Red Sox runners on second and third. Red Sox starter Joe Kelly was stingy in his first appearance against the Jays before leaving after facing one batter in the decisive seventh inning. Outside of a home run and single by Bautista, he allowed two walks and a hit batsman in the first six innings. Kelly, who left his last start Friday with a "minor tweak" in his shoulder, exited in the seventh after giving up a double to Edwin Encarnacion. Ross then dropped a Dioner Navarro pop foul and the Toronto catcher took advantage, hitting a single to put Jays on first and third. Boston manager John Farrell pulled left-hander Tommy Layne (1-1) in favour of Junichi Tazawa and Valencia greeted the right hander with a three-run shot to left field. "I missed my location," Tazawa said through an interpreter. It was the 20th career homer given up by Tazawa, eight of which have come against Toronto. Tazawa and manager John Farrell suggested the pitcher may have been tipping his pitches against Toronto in the past. "I think they picked up something that we felt like we corrected, probably two and a half months ago," said Farrell. "Tonight was a matter of a ball that ran back to the inner third of the plate against Valencia, rather than staying down and away from him." Valencia celebrated the homer with a fist pump as he rounded the bases. "I was fired up. I was turnt up," he said, using some modern vernacular for excited. The Toronto hit parade continued with a Kevin Pillar double and RBI single by Jose Reyes, upping the Toronto lead to 5-2. Bautista, who snapped an 0-17 slump with a home run Tuesday, went deep again in the first inning with a solo shot to centre field -- his 26th homer of the season. Bautistas shot off the facing of the first outfield deck marked the first time in eight games that Toronto had scored first. While there were costly errors on both sides, the fans were also treated to some fine fielding from Mike Napoli, Will Middlebrooks and Holt on the Boston side and Reyes, Munenori Kawasaki and Adam Lind for Toronto. Bautista crashed into the stands down the first-base line trying to chase down a foul ball in the eighth inning but stayed in the game. Ortiz, given Monday and Tuesday off after being hit by pitches on the elbow and foot on the weekend, returned to his DH role. 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The operation was performed Thursday in Los Angeles.PHOENIX - While Russell Wilson was throwing interceptions in the NFC championship game, punter Jon Ryan kick-started Seattles rally with his arm.Could the Seahawks try another fake field goal against New England in the Super Bowl?This overall arching thought that once a trick play has happened that you cant do another one, I dont think thats the way it is, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said.We try to pull it off at the time when it works out right for us and we can take the most advantage of it and we always have to be on the lookout, we always have to be attentive to it.The Seahawks were trailing the Green Bay Packers 16-0 in the conference title game when Ryan set up to hold for Steven Hauschkas field goal attempt.But Ryan pulled the ball away on Hauschkas follow-through. He scrambled to his left, drew the defence in and lobbed a 19-yard TD pass to offensive lineman Garry Gilliam.It might have been a little bit of a spark that we needed, Ryan said. We hadnt scored up until that point. As it turns out, we kind of turned it around from there.The Seahawks got another big play on special teams when they recovered an onside kick with just over 2 minutes left in regulation to set up a go-ahead TD.Wilson overcame four interceptions and threw a TD pass to Jermaine Kearse in overtime to give the Seahawks a chance to win their second straight Super Bowl.Whether its another fake, a long return or a last-second kick, special teams could determine who wins Sunday. Both the Seahawks and Patriots have returners who can go the distance and players who can impact the game in other areas.Heres a look at key special teamers on both clubs:STEPHEN GOSTKOWSKI: The Patriots won two Super Bowls on last-second field goals by Adam Vinatieri a decade ago. Gostkowski, a three-time Pro Bowl pick, is quite capable of doing the same. Gostkowski is coming off his best season, converting 94.6 per cent (35 for 37) of his field goals.Its a big deal, but to me its just a game and itss a game that I want to win, Gostkowski said.ddddddddddddI never like to lose. Im very competitive and I have a chance to be a champion. Ive gotten close twice and it didnt work out for us. Hopefully third time is the charm.STEVEN HAUSCHKA: Hauschka missed six of 37 field goals this season, and is 0 for 3 in three games at University of Phoenix Stadium. He grew up a Patriots fan and his favourite player was Vinatieri.You honestly dont have to think much at all this week, Hauschka said. The key is just to go out there and let your body do what it wants to do. I know how to swing, and no mental thoughts are going to make me swing better right now.JON RYAN: Ryan proved he can pass, but hes good at his primary job. Ryan had a net average of 38.3 yards and dropped 28 punts inside the 20.RYAN ALLEN: Allen had a net average of 39.9 per punt two straight years and 25 of his punts this season fell inside the 20.JULIAN EDELMAN: Edelman has four career TDs on punt returns, including an 84-yard score in New Englands win over Denver in November.Special teams are one-third of the game, Edelman said. Anytime you have an explosion play in special teams, whether its a kickoff return, punt return, good coverage, all of those types of things give momentum to a team and percentages of winning the game go out the roof when those kinds of things happen.BRYAN WALTERS: Walters averaged 7.7 yards per return for Seattle and his longest was 21 yards.DANNY AMENDOLA: Amendola averaged 24.1 yards per kick return for New England this season. His longest return was 81 yards against Denver, though he didnt score.DOUG BALDWIN: Baldwin became Seattles primary kick returner after Paul Richardson tore his ACL. Baldwin fumbled in the NFC title game and only has 16 kick returns in his career. He ran one back 69 yards in the playoffs last season.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL___Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_RobMaaddi Cheap Buffalo Sabres Gear Wholesale Calgary Flames Jerseys Cheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche Jerseys Montreal Canadiens Outlet Store Wholesale New Jersey Devils Jerseys Adidas Arizona Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Adidas Boston Bruins Jerseys Cheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys Chicago Blackhawks Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Columbus Blue Jackets Jerseys Dallas Stars Shop Free Shipping Cheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings Jerseys Anaheim Ducks Jerseys China Wholesale Edmonton Oilers Jerseys Florida Panthers Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Los Angeles Kings Jerseys Minnesota Wild Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Nashville Predators Jerseys Cheap Adidas New York Islanders Jerseys New York Rangers Winter Classic Jerseys Cheap Adidas Ottawa Senators Jerseys Cheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers Jerseys Wholesale Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys Cheap Adidas San Jose Sharks Jerseys St. Louis Blues Winter Classic Jerseys Wholesale Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys Toronto Maple Leafs Outlet Store Vancouver Canucks Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Adidas Washington Capitals Jerseys Cheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '