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s Francisco Liriano (3-1, 2.35 ERA) faces Cincinnati | Forum
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Nov 19 '16, 07:10AM
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. Harrison Barnes USA Jersey . -- Peyton Mannings mind is on New England, not his neck. When answering a question last week about whether he could still enjoy the playoffs given his previous post-season disappointments, Manning dropped in a phrase that "the light is at the end of the tunnel for me, no question." Meaning, that at age 37 he certainly has more games and seasons behind him than ahead. Following Denvers 24-17 win over San Diego on Sunday that sent the Broncos into the AFC championship, Manning was asked whether a medical exam on his surgically repaired neck following the season, which ESPN reported will determine whether he even plays in 2014, was weighing on his mind. "Its really not," Manning said. "Whats weighing on my mind is how soon I can get a Bud Light in my mouth. Thats priority one." Neither Manning nor the Broncos have any indication whatsoever that Manning wont pass his medical exam in March -- if anything were wrong, he wouldnt be playing right now. And Manning is coming off the best statistical season of his brilliant career, one in which he threw for a record 55 touchdowns and 5,447 yards. But hes not one who likes to look too far ahead anyway, just like he hates going down memory lane or talking about his health publicly. Now, Patriots pass-rushers Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich might be among his concerns this week. But he didnt even want to talk about the Patriots following Denvers win over the Chargers, much less about his upcoming medical exams or his football future. "It was an intense game and up and down and a lot of emotions," Manning said. "Even the Patriots is (too far) ahead. And that question is way far ahead. I am not there. This team has been a one-week-at-a-time season. For all weve been through, losing our coach, losing different guys to injury, that approach has served us well and I think we need to keep that approach from here on out." Manning has always said that if doctors had told him after his spinal fusion surgeries two years ago that he shouldnt continue playing football, he would have walked away from the game without regret and that hed do the same if he receives such medical advice down the road. All parties expect him to receive the go-ahead to play next season when he has his medical exam in March, which is just like the one he had after last season. Manning was released by the Indianapolis Colts in March of 2012 after four neck operations that weakened his throwing arm. He signed with the Broncos and has gone 27-7 in Denver with 97 TD passes and 24 interceptions, counting playoffs. The Broncos (14-3) on Sunday host the Patriots (13-4), who havent played on the road in the AFC playoff bracket since losing to Manning and the Colts 38-34 in the AFC title game following the 2006 season. Authentic Dirk Nowitzki Mavericks Jersey . Paul Pierce couldnt believe he missed at the end. Young scored a season-high 26 points to spark a huge effort from the leagues most productive bench, and Los Angeles beat the Brooklyn Nets 99-94 on Wednesday night after blowing a 27-point lead. Michael Jordan USA Jersey . LOUIS -- Mike Smith is used to facing plenty of shots, so this was nothing new. http:///...ll-Westbrook-Jersey/ . They reached the 100-point plateau for the fourth time in five games, bested the visiting Trail Blazers by 34 in the paint and scored 19 of the final 25 points in regulation. PITTSBURGH -- Neil Walker eyed Johnny Cuetos fastball and turned on it. Before the Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman could get the bat out of his hands, the ball was nestled into the glove of Cincinnati first baseman Joey Votto. In one motion Walker flipped his bat in faux disgust then turned back toward the dugout. "You hit a ball hard and sometimes you see that its the guys night and it seemed like it was one of those," Walker said. It always seems that way when Cueto faces the Pirates. The Cincinnati ace allowed one hit over eight dominant innings as the Reds pounded Pittsburgh in a 6-0 win on Friday night. Cueto (3-0) struck out six, walked one and allowed just three balls out of the infield. Pittsburghs Brandon Inge provided the lone Pirates hit with a single to left with one out in the fifth. "He looked really good tonight, though, like the Johnny Cueto of old," Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker said. "He had great stuff, great stamina and he really pitched a heck of a ballgame." Cueto improved to 13-4 all-time against the Pirates while shaving his career ERA against Pittsburgh to 2.33. Not bad for a player who missed more than a month with a back injury. There appeared to be no such issues in his third start since being taking off the disabled list on May 19. Mixing an effective changeup with a fastball that still topped out at 94 mph in the eighth, Cueto kept Pittsburgh off balance all night. "I feel good," Cueto said. "I make the adjustment that I had to make and I feel good so far. It feels good to come back here and pitch well." Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips hit solo home runs off Pittsburghs Wandy Rodriguez (6-3) before piling on late against reliever Mike Zagurski in a rare hiccup by baseballs best bullpen through the first third of the season. Bruce has struggled against Rodriguez throughout his career entering the night just 2 for 32 (.063) against the veteran lefthander. Those numbers inched up when he took a 2-0 fastball and sent it into the first row of seats in right centre for his eighth homer of the year. "You know its there but Im a better hitter than I have shown against him in the past," Bruce said. "Its nice to get one off him and now I have to keep on going when I face him." Phillips followed suit in the sixth, lining a shot that scraped the top of the leftfield wall just over the glove of Pittsburghs Starling Marte. Jimmy Butler Bulls Jersey. Wandy Rodriguez (6-3) kept Cincinnati in check otherwise on a night he struggled with his command at times. The left-hander surrendered five hits and walked three with five strikeouts in seven innings. While Cuetos had his way with Pittsburgh in his 20 career starts, the Pirates have made inroads recently. They spoiled his chance at winning his 20th game in his final start last season and he left a 3-1 loss to the Pirates on April 13 with a strained back that sidelined him for five weeks. He returned with five effective innings in a 4-3 victory over the New York Mets on May 20 then backed it up an even stronger performance six days later against the Chicago Cubs. He exited with a three-run lead the bullpen ultimately gave away in a 5-4 10-inning loss. This time, Cueto hardly needed the bullpen at all. Inges single in the fifth was a harmless one-hopper in front of leftfielder Derrick Robinson. If Inge doesnt get the ball down, theres a chance the Reds no-hit the Pirates for the second time in eight months. Homer Bailey threw a no-no in Pittsburgh last September. "Luckily Brandon saved us all with a half-swing base hit," Walker said. "Maybe we should all have half-swinged tonight. Nothing else really worked for us." The momentum Inge provided lasted all of one pitch. Clint Barmes ended the inning by hitting into a double play and Pittsburgh didnt manage another baserunner the rest of the way. "Johnny was Johnny," Bruce said. "He was brilliant. Obviously, his numbers in the game spoke for themselves. Hes a huge piece of the puzzle to have back." NOTES: Votto went 0 for 3 but walked twice to push his season total to a National League-leading 46 ... The game was the 1000th played at PNC Park, which opened in 2001. The Pirates are 488-512 all-time at PNC, including 49-52 against the Reds ... Pittsburgh finished May 19-9, the franchises best record in a calendar month since September, 1992, the last time the Pirates made the playoffs ... The series continues on Saturday when Pittsburghs Francisco Liriano (3-1, 2.35 ERA) faces Cincinnatis Mike Leake (4-2, 3.02). As part of Heritage Weekend the Pirates will wear replica uniforms of the Homestead Grays while the Reds will wear Cincinnati Tigers jerseys. Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '
