high school.Theres a consistent training system, Constantini sai

CHICAGO -- James Shields insisted career win No. 130 was just like every other one. He offered no sign of relief or satisfaction. There was just praise for his defense and a big smile.It was simply time to move on.Shields broke out of a slump with 6 2/3 innings against one of baseballs worst lineups, helping the Chicago White Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 9-6 on Wednesday night.It was coming out of his hand better and he was finishing, White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. Locating better as well. Just the way it was out of his hand, it was getting better and better.Shields (3-9) allowed one run and eight hits in his first win since he tossed seven scoreless innings for San Diego at Milwaukee on May 12. The right-hander got hit hard after he was acquired by Chicago in a trade June 4, going 0-2 with a 15.80 ERA in his first four starts.It was a tough stretch, he said. Its nice to get off the schneid there and get a win, but I dont really focus on that kind of stuff. Ive been around this game for a long time, but my main focus is to win games for this team right now.Todd Frazier, Brett Lawrie and Tyler Saladino homered for the White Sox, who improved to 7-1 against the Twins after losing 4-0 in the series opener on Tuesday. Saladino and Tim Anderson each had two hits and two RBI.Chicago carried a 9-1 lead into the ninth, but Max Keplers two-run double got Minnesota within three with two out. Nate Jones then came in with runners on second and third and retired Eduardo Escobar on a fly ball to left for his second save.Somehow we got the tying run to the plate there in the ninth inning, manager Paul Molitor. But it was too big of a deficit.Eduardo Nunez homered on Shields second pitch of the game, but it was a mostly frustrating night for Minnesota at the plate. The Twins, who rank near the bottom of the majors in several offensive categories, went 2 for 14 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base.Nunez finished with three hits and Brian Dozier extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a double in the sixth. Dozier also has at least one extra-base hit in a franchise-record 10 straight games.Minnesota had a chance to tie it at 2 in the fifth, but Kurt Suzuki was cut down by Adam Eatons major league-best 11th assist when he tried to score on Nunezs double to the wall in right. Suzuki was basically forced to head home when Nunez nearly ran him over near third.Kurt has to be somewhat protective of the catch, Molitor said. Nunies focus was more on where the ball was rolling than the runner in front of him and we got into a tough spot there. We ended up losing an opportunity.Saladino belted a solo shot against Ricky Nolasco in the bottom half, and the White Sox broke it open with five runs in the sixth. Frazier led off with his 22nd homer and Anderson contributed a two-run single.Nolasco (3-6) was charged with seven runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings in his second straight loss.I felt fine, a lot better than the last start, Nolasco said. Good enough that I thought we could salvage the game there for the last few innings, but it just didnt work out.MISSING MELKYWhite Sox outfielder Melky Cabrera had an MRI on his ailing right wrist and will miss a couple of days with a mild sprain.Its difficult because I want to play, but the doctors said the best for me right now is just to take a rest for a couple of days because I have inflammation there, Cabrera said through a translator.WORTH NOTINGThe White Sox optioned left-hander Matt Purke to Triple-A Charlotte after the win. They said they will make a corresponding move before the series finale.TRAINERS ROOMTwins: Molitor said RHP Phil Hughes has peace of mind after learning he needs season-ending shoulder surgery, explaining his fatigue and loss of velocity. It spoke to the fact that he had trouble sustaining himself and stiffening, Molitor said. Hughes, already sidelined with a knee injury, is scheduled for surgery next Wednesday.White Sox: RHP Zach Putnam is working out while he rests his ailing right elbow. Season-ending surgery is a possibility. Obviously the goal is to avoid that if possible, he said. I think we are going to give it the old college try and try to see if we can get through the rest of the season without having to do a procedure.UP NEXTLeft-handers Tommy Milone of the Twins and Carlos Rodon of the White Sox face off in the series finale on Thursday. Milone (0-2, 5.33 ERA) is 4-1 with a 2.02 ERA in his career against the White Sox. Rodon (2-6, 4.09 ERA) is winless in his last five starts despite a 3.41 ERA for that stretch.---Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap Jose Berrios Twins Jersey . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early. Trevor May Jersey . Each of Houstons starters scored in double figures as the Rockets improved to 2-0 against the Spurs this season, with both victories coming on the road. They also moved within 3 1/2 games of San Antonio (22-7) for the lead the Southwest Division. https://www.cheaptwins.com/772t-ian-miller-jersey-twins.html . By having more great seasons. Manning was the only unanimous choice for the 2013 Associated Press NFL All-Pro team Friday. Terry Steinbach Jersey . The Vancouver coach and an announced sellout crowd of 18,910 watched in dismay as the Canucks lost 7-4 to the New York Islanders on Monday night by squandering a 3-0 lead in the third period. Kent Hrbek Twins Jersey . Hey!" The lower tier of the School End of Queens Park Rangers Loftus Road was packed solid with a very festive-sounding Chelsea choral section in this particular part of South Africa Road London, W12. NEW YORK -- Kanak Jha is having quite a year. He spent nine months playing professional table tennis in Europe, threw out the first pitch at a New York Mets game on his birthday and qualified for the Rio Olympics.And get this: Hes only 16.Im happy that Im the youngest, but I dont think about it so much, said Jha, who in April, when he was still 15, became the youngest male to qualify for table tennis in Olympic history. In the end, its just men.If he sounds mature for his age, he comes across that way. Jhas competitive during a match, but easygoing away from the table. He recently trained at the Lily Yip Table Tennis Center in the New York area with his five Olympic teammates and signed autographs for fans.He has a good fighting spirit, said U.S. Olympic coach Massimo Costantini. Sometimes at that age, they get upset and are not mature. Were working on the mental side to make him stronger. A simple mistake can compromise the entire match.You need a strong mental balance, Costantini said. Its not just managing success, but failure.Yip, who competed for the U.S. in table tennis at the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Games, is one of the national team coaches. She hosted the current Olympic team, which wrapped up three days of practice with an exhibition and fundraiser at her club in Dunellen, New Jersey.During the exhibition match, Jha started his serve by holding the ball and paddle a few inches from his nose, then tossing the ball 4 feet into the air before making contact. After the point, he wiped the table with his hand, a common players habit before serving.Although he lost the match to an older and higher-rated Chinese player, Jha drew warm applause from the mostly Asian audience.Gordon Kaye, CEO of the USA Table Tennis, says its rare to find a young player of his caliber that is so aware and comfortable within his surroundings.Its certainly not your basement pingpong, with quick best-of-7 singles matches played to 11 points. There are different styles -- defensive choppers or offensive loopers, who play a more aggressive game.The Chinese men and women are the best in the world, winning Olympic gold with regularity. Since the 1988 Olympics, China has won 47 medals, followed by South Korea (18) and Germany (5).The U.S. has never medaled in the sport, which offers singles and team competition. Gold-medalist Jike Zhang will return to defend his title in Rio, where competition begins Aug. 6.So why are the Chinese so good, aside from their devotion to the sport and its prominence in the culture?Theyre very strong, especially in the first three shots off the rally -- serve, receive and third-ball attack, Jha said.dddddddddddd They really dominate the rally.Yue Jennifer Wu, like Yip, was born in China before becoming an American citizen. She moved from Beijing to New York eight years ago and improved her English by coaching at the club run by Wang Chen, a U.S. Olympian in the 2008 Games.The 26-year-old gives lessons in New York at Spin, a table tennis club and restaurant co-owned by Susan Sarandon. Wu recently went home to Beijing and Japan to train and played tournaments in Croatia and Slovenia.Table tennis in China is like the NBA here, everybody plays, Wu said. My mom plays three times a week and people love to watch.She ate no meat for a month while in Beijing, saying her concerns about banned steroids given to cattle trump those of the Zika virus in Rio. Wise decision, because drug testers arrived at 6:40 a.m. when she returned home in Fort Lee, New Jersey.Wu said it was a big dream to make the Olympics since she was 8 years old. She was quiet on the bus after qualifying for the Rio Olympics at the Pan Am Games last year because its hard to make Olympics, you work so very hard.Jha, who took up the sport at 5 at a recreation center near San Jose, California, lived in Sweden with his 19-year-old sister Prachi, who played on the national team but didnt qualify for Rio. He took online courses during his sophomore year in high school.Theres a consistent training system, Constantini said of the European circuit. A coach, trainer, physiotherapist. Its something you cant find in the U.S.Jhas parents are from India, and he was born in the U.S. His father Arun came to America to study business and works at Oracle. His mother Karuna worked at Sun Microsystems before starting her own hypnotherapy and reiki business.She feels my energy, Kanak said of the reiki treatments.Kanak uses positive imagery and self-talk before and during matches.Its kind of a ritual, he said. I just keep reviewing strategy and say some motivational things to myself. I talk (silently) to myself a lot. More than other athletes.The personal pep talks and affirmations seem to be working. Even so, his mom says she was so nervous watching the Olympic qualifying event in April in Markham, Ontario.Jha says hes looking forward to the athletes village and mingling with players from all over the world.Its a great opportunity at this young age to see how the Olympics works, Constantini said. He will be ready by 2020. ' ' '