Willkommen! » expected to start Tuesday at PNC Park against the Br

SEATTLE -- Even as Washington is reaching heights not seen in more than a decade, climbing to No. 5 in this weeks AP Top 25 , there is another number taking precedence this week.Twelve. And no, that has nothing to do with the Seattle Seahawks.Its the number of Washingtons consecutive losses to Oregon, one that has grown each year since 2003 and will continue to linger over the Huskies football program until its losing streak to the Ducks is finally snapped.So will it be brought up this week by Washington coach Chris Petersen? Dont even think about it.I dont know why Id do that. No, Petersen said Monday.From the time he left Boise State to accept the job at Washington, the question of when Petersen would end the Huskies losing ways has followed him everywhere. Its the biggest topic among fans and alumni, more so than anything related to in-state rival Washington State.This week presents what could be Washingtons best chance to end the losing skid against the Ducks. The Huskies are coming off a thorough dismantling of Stanford 44-6 on Friday night -- one of its most impressive victories in years -- while the Ducks are wounded, having lost three straight after an 18-point loss at Washington State.There may not be a better time for Washington to end the losing skid. But even in the simplest of ways, the Huskies are avoiding talk about the skid. Washingtons game notes mentions Oregon has had the edge of late, winning 17 of the last 21, but doesnt mention having lost 12 straight.You hear that a lot. So we get it. We know its important. But all these games are important, Petersen said. I mean, I want our guys to just do what theyve been doing, just preparing hard and staying focused on the right things and showing up on Saturday with great energy and playing as a team. You cant tell them, `OK, now were going to prepare really hard. Thats ludicrous. That doesnt make any sense. These guys have been giving everything they can possibly give, so we just need to stick to that and stay focused and not pay attention to all the stuff that doesnt really matter.Still its a different week around the Huskies program and not simply because they have their highest ranking in the AP poll since finishing No. 3 following a Rose Bowl victory at the end of the 2000 season. There is a buzz about Washington different from any other time during Petersens tenure or under his predecessor Steve Sarkisian.The win over Stanford validated the hype surrounding Washington. It also kicked all that attention into overdrive.Were kind of burying our head in the sand. I think they have done a good job of just paying attention to whats important and practicing hard and all those type of things, Petersen said. I do think its important that we pay attention to it as coaches and talk about those things, because it can be distracting, theres no question about it. Its distracting to me to have to sit here and talk to you.Because of that, Petersen has made players off-limits for interviews this week for the third time since arriving at Washington. He said its not specifically because of the opponent, but more to give his players a break with classes having started last week.It has nothing to do with the opponent, Petersen said. It has to do with us -- it always has to do with us. Its never about the opponent. Nike Shox Clearance Wholesale . After a lengthy wait, persistent rain finally forced the postponement of the Nationals game against the Miami Marlins on Saturday night. The teams, and a few thousand fans, waited nearly four hours from the 7:05 scheduled start time before an announcement was made shortly before 11 p. Nike Shox Cheap Wholesale . Shot outdoors against the stunning backdrop of Banff, Alta., the networks 30-minute original production airs tonight at 8pm et/5pm pt on TSN2. The four All-Star teams will play for $100,000 in prize money during TSNs annual skins game, airing live this weekend on TSN from The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre. http://www.nikeshoxdiscount.com/ . Patrice Bergeron and Daniel Paille scored 20 seconds apart a few minutes after Stamkos was taken off the ice on a stretcher with a broken right leg, and the Bruins beat the Lightning 3-0 on Monday afternoon. Nike Shox Discount . -- There were a lot of firsts for the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. Nike Shox Cheap China . With their top three point guards and Kobe Bryant all sidelined by injury, the Lakers signed Marshall out of the D-League on Friday before their home game against Minnesota. WASHINGTON -- If Dusty Baker had gotten the sign to his catcher faster, the Washington Nationals and Pittsburgh Pirates might still be playing.Instead, Baker was slow on the trigger in asking for an intentional walk, and the Nationals lost to the Pirates 2-1 in 18 innings Sunday on Starling Martes solo home run off Oliver Perez.Baker took responsibility for the mistake of not getting his four fingers up in time to alert Wilson Ramos and Perez to intentionally walk Marte with pitcher Jonathon Niese on deck and Pittsburgh out of hitters.Before I could, he hit the first pitch out of the ballpark, Baker said. It hurts to make a mistake like that. I was aware of the situation, before I could get Wilsons attention.The 18-inning marathon, shorter than only the 19 innings Cleveland and Toronto played July 1, took 5 hours, 48 minutes. Seventeen pitchers combined for a total of 540 pitches, but it was the one Perez (2-3) shouldnt have thrown that the Nationals lamented afterward.It is a good idea in that case to walk him, but they gave me an opportunity to pitch against him, Perez said. In that case I tried to make a difficult pitch for him to hit. Unfortunately he made good contact o that pitch. It was my mistake.Martes seventh home run of the season, which went into the mostly-empty left-field seats, was enough of a boost to help Niese (8-6) get through a third inning of relief. Whether it was Niese, starter Chad Kuhl or the relievers in between, the Nationals couldnt get much going at the plate and finished with eight hits.The biggest of those came on a 2-2 count with two outs in the when with injured infielder Daniel Murphy took Pittsburgh All-Star closer Mark Melancon deep. Murphy was out of the lineup for a third consecutive day with a sore left hamstring, but his drive led to the Nationals and Pirates playing two.I was trying to get a good pitch to hit and get my `A swing off, said Murphy, whos unsure if hell be able to play Tuesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. I got a pretty good pitch to hit and put a pretty good move on it.Murphys home run took Max Scherzer off the hook for what wouldve been hiis second 1-0 loss in three starts.dddddddddddd. Scherzer gave up one run and six hits and struck out seven in seven efficient innings.As impressive as Scherzer was, Chad Kuhl outdueled him with six innings of one-hit baseball. The Pirates righty allowed one hit and two runners and struck out five in six shutout innings.It was a start we needed out of him, and I think its a start he expected out of himself, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said.By the time the game dragged into extra innings, the starts by Scherzer and Kuhl felt like distant memories.It was so long I dont even remember Scherzer even pitching, Baker said.Even with all the other twists and turns, a perfect 16th-inning relay from center fielder Michael A. Taylor to shortstop Danny Espinosa to Ramos to get Eric Fryer out at the plate was a cause for some amazement. Hurdle accurately called it a crazy game.How about the relay they had in the 16th inning? Hurdle said. Its the best relay in the history of the game in the 16th inning. Ever. Its fantastic baseball.TRAINERS ROOMPirates: OF Gregory Polanco remained out with a sore left hamstring, but general manager Neal Huntington hopes hell play Tuesday against the Milwaukee Brewers. ... C Francisco Cervelli was set to play another inning on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis, and Huntington said well see about him being back as soon as Tuesday.Nationals: 3B Anthony Rendon was scratched with flu-like symptoms. Baker said Rendon was sick as a dog. ... LHP Sammy Solis will be placed on the disabled list Tuesday with a right knee injury.UP NEXTPirates: After an off-day Monday, top pitching prospect Jameson Taillon (2-1, 3.86 ERA) is expected to start Tuesday at PNC Park against the Brewers. RHP Chase Anderson (4-10, 5.44) is scheduled to start the series opener for Milwaukee.Nationals: With RHP Joe Ross not ready to come off the disabled list, RHP Reynaldo Lopez will make his major league debut Tuesday against Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Scott Kazmir (7-3, 4.52). Wholesale Hoodies NFL Shirts Outlet Jerseys NFL Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '