ASS News » op. Choo led off with a walk, went to s

SURREY, B.C. -- Travis Lulay always knew he would be back under centre for the B.C. Lions. He just didnt expect it to take this long. The veteran quarterback will start his first game of 2014 on Friday when the Lions visit the Ottawa Redblacks, almost a full year after injuring his throwing shoulder in a goal-line collision last September. It was hoped Lulay would be healthy in time for training camp after undergoing off-season surgery, but he instead takes charge nine games into a campaign that has seen the Lions wobble to 5-4 record in the CFLs ultra-competitive West Division. "Im excited. This is why you play the game -- to have an opportunity to play," Lulay said after Wednesdays practice. "I dont take a minute of it for granted. If I learned anything during (the last year), it was that I feel fortunate to be able to do what I do. I just love being out here with the guys." Lulay said going on the six-game injured list at the start of the regular season gave him a chance to refocus, and it was towards the end of that period when he finally started to feel like he was getting back to normal. "I knew it was a process ... I didnt know exactly when that process would come to an end," he said. "I do feel confident in my ability to play well. "There was so much unknown going into (training) camp, knowing there was a chance that I may be ready early (and) knowing there was a chance it might take a while into the season." Lulay has dressed the last three games as a backup -- seeing action late in the last two -- and with the team coming off a bye week, head coach Mike Benevides felt the time was right for the 30-year-old to take over from Kevin Glenn. "Hes as good as Ive seen him in a long, long time ... a long, long time," Benevides said of Lulay. "Hes not going to be as smooth as he wants to be a month from now, but he looks as good as Ive seen in a long time." Lulays return comes at a critical juncture for B.C., which has been consistently inconsistent so far in 2014. The Lions have road victories over the Calgary Stampeders (8-1) and Saskatchewan Roughriders (7-2), but are an uncharacteristic 2-3 at home. While travelling to the nations capital to take a 1-8 expansion team might seem like an easy game to get Lulay back in rhythm, the Lions know the Redblacks will be a stiff test, especially for B.C.s offence. "We know weve got a battle in front of us," said Lulay. "I really believe Ottawas defence is a solid defence. Theyve been playing good football and keeping their team in games." After an upbeat week of practice, Benevides said having the teams No. 1 pivot back as the starter has energized the club as it looks towards the second half of the season. "Theres no doubt the guys feel good for Travis," said Benevides. "Travis is part of who they are and a lot of guys feel for him and expect a lot of out of him. Hes just a high-tempo guy, a charismatic-type leader and its nice to have him back." Lions running back Andrew Harris, who sits fourth in the CFL with 421 yards rushing on the season, said Lulay brings a different dynamic to the club. "Hes a playmaker and hes been our leader for a long time. Its just good to have him back. Hes comfortable and were ready to rock with him," said Harris. "Theres a certain confidence and a certain little aura that comes with Travis Lulay." Added linebacker Solomon Elimimian: "Hes a general. When he talks, everybody listens." While Glenn guided the Lions to a 5-4 record with an offence that ranks second in the CFL in total yards per game, he also had a league-high 11 interceptions, with many of those picks coming at key times. In Lulay, the Lions get their franchise player back for the second half of a season that will culminate with the Grey Cup game at B.C. Place Stadium in November. "I dont feel nervous. I have the confidence of guys around me," said Lulay. "This team knows me. This team knows how I play the game and how competitive I am and all those things. I know that Im going to get a great effort from those guys and I can feel their confidence even though Ive been out of the huddle for a little while." Notes: Lions kick returner Tim Brown was named the CFLs special teams player of the month for August. ... The Lions added two new players this week, offensive lineman Cory Brandon and long snapper Mike Benson. Brandon was just cut by the Seattle Seahawks last week and looks like a good bet to start at left tackle against Ottawa because of an injury to rookie Hunter Steward. Benson was added after regular long snapper Jordan Matechuk also went down. Hydro Flask 32 OZ . Watching them over the past year - and in some cases, two years - has given us a starting point for this seasons Craigs List. Hydro Flask Wide Mouth . The Gatineau Olympiques head coach will lead Canada in its quest to end its gold medal drought at the 2015 world junior hockey championship held in Montreal and Toronto at the end of this year. http://www.sverigehydroflask.com/ . The turf is scheduled to give way to actual grass that is bright green, so we dont have to complain any more—we just have to wait a few years. Instead, do feel free to complain if the roof is closed for any reason other than to allow a game to be played. Hydro Flask Vattenflaska . PAUL, Minn. Hydro Flask Rea . Bjoerndalen, who had failed to win any major race for two years before Sochi, writes in a Facebook entry that he is "full of energy and inspiration" after winning the 10-kilometre sprint and mixed relay at last months Olympics.BOSTON -- Martin Perez put Bostons leadoff hitter on base in seven innings. Then the left-hander pitched Texas out of jams by getting five double plays. That helped the Rangers withstand a late rally and beat the Red Sox 10-7 on Tuesday night. The double play is "a pitchers best friend," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "They got on base, but he was able to eliminate them." Bostons five double plays were one fewer than the American League record for a nine-inning game shared by eight teams. The major league mark of seven was set by the San Francisco Giants in 1969. "Five double plays and we scored seven runs. Im sure thats pretty rare, too," Jonny Gomes said after Bostons fourth loss in five games. "If we can score seven runs with five double plays, I think were scratching the surface on the positive side." The Red Sox grounded into double plays by Dustin Pedroia in the first inning, A.J. Pierzynski in the second, Jackie Bradley Jr. in the third, Ryan Roberts in the fifth and Pedroia in the sixth. Perez (1-0) allowed four runs and eight hits in 6 1-3 innings. "Im not a power pitcher," he said. "Im a groundball pitcher and when you throw good pitches down in the zone that happens." Robinson Chirinos started a five-run third inning with his first homer of the season and the Rangers led 9-1 through six. Boston scored three runs in the seventh and, after Michael Choice made it 10-4 with a sacrifice fly in the ninth, the Red Sox scored three times in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single by Gomes and a two-run double by David Ortiz against Joakim Soria. Mike Napoli, who had three singles for the second straight game, struck out to end it. The Rangers finished with 13 hits, the first time in six games that they had at least 10. And they were 7 for 15 with runners in scoring position one night after going 0 for 8 in a 5-1 loss in the opener of the three-game series. But designated hitter Adrian Beltre left in the sixth with tightness in the front of his left thigh and was to return to Texas to be examined. He was bothered by tightness on the side of that thigh in spring training.dddddddddddd "We had an 8-1 lead," said Washington, who didnt know how serious the injury was. "He aggravated it. I dont see why I should leave him in there." Texas won for the second time in five games as every starter reached base by the fourth inning. Chirinos second career homer broke a scoreless tie and began an inning in which the Rangers batted around against Felix Doubront (1-1). Shin-Soo Choo singled with one out and scored on a two-out double by Prince Fielder, who entered the game with four hits in 28 at-bats and just one RBI. The other runs scored on a single by Beltre, a double by Donnie Murphy and a bases-loaded walk to Chirinos. "Once were down five, even though we got a number of leadoff hitters on base, weve got to be a little bit protective of just giving away outs," Boston manager John Farrell said. "It was the groundball double play that snuffed everything out." The Rangers added three runs in the fourth against Burke Badenhop. Choo led off with a walk, went to second on a single by Elvis Andrus and scored on a single by Fielder. Beltre followed with a run-scoring double and Murphy made it 8-0 with a sacrifice fly. Boston scored in the fourth on a double by Pedroia and a single by Napoli. Texas got that run back in the fifth on doubles by Chirinos and Choo. Adding on runs at Fenway Park is important, "especially late in this ballpark," Washington said. "Those guys have taken a lot of ballgames away, so every time you get an opportunity to put a run on the board you want to do it." The Red Sox cut the lead to 9-4 in the seventh on an RBI single by Pierzynski and a two-run double by Bradley. NOTES: Andrus and Alex Rios have hits in all eight Rangers games. ... Roberts made his debut for Boston after signing as a free agent Monday. He spent last season with Tampa Bay and spring training this year with the Chicago Cubs. ... Robbie Ross (0-0) pitches for Texas against Jake Peavy (0-0) in the series finale Wednesday. ' ' '