Clanregeln » own and study the form of Wake Fore

MIAMI -- Chicago White Sox left-hander Carlos Rodon reached 100 mph with his fastball in his most recent start, Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles.Now Rodon, a native of Miami who is of Cuban ancestry, is headed straight toward his hometown team like, well, one of his breathtaking fastballs.Rodon (2-8, 4.49 ERA) will take on Miami right-hander Andrew Cashner (4-8, 4.96 ERA) in the series opener at Marlins Park on Friday.The Marlins (60-54) own a better record than the White Sox (54-60), who lost 2-1 to the Royals in Kansas City on Thursday night.Rodon, though, can be an equalizer if he is on his game.He moved to North Carolina in time for high school. Rodon threw a no-hitter as a junior, won a state title as a senior and signed with North Carolina State, turning down an offer from the Milwaukee Brewers, who drafted him in the 16th round.College proved to be a wise choice for Rodon, who became the first Atlantic Coast Conference player to win that leagues Pitcher of the Year award as a freshman, going 9-0 with a 1.57 ERA. He finished third nationally in strikeouts.He followed that in 2013 by leading N.C. State to its first College World Series since 1968, setting the Wolfpacks single-season record as a sophomore with 184 strikeouts.As a junior, he broke the schools record for career strikeouts, and the White Sox were convinced, drafting him third overall in 2014 -- and that is where the tie-in with Miami continues.The Marlins, who picked second in 2014, had a chance to draft the hometown hero, the college-ready pitcher.Instead, the Marlins opted for a high school pitcher, hard-throwing right-hander Tyler Kolek, who has yet to move past low Class A ball and is out for the year due to elbow surgery.Rodon, meanwhile, made his major league debut last year, going an impressive 9-6 with a 3.75 ERA.This season, Rodon went on the disabled list on July 9 due to a sprained left wrist. That injury has put a damper on his year. The 23-year-old returned to action July 31, but he has not won a road game since April 13.Last Saturday, in just his second start back from the DL, Rodon seemed to recapture his standout form, allowing just five hits and one run in six innings while striking out seven.Even in that first inning, he reared back and had some velocity, White Sox manager Robin Ventura said after the game. That was very impressive. His slider was great -- it had a lot of break.This was one of his better games, being able to go deep in a game and keep a lineup like that off balance. He has great stuff.Ventura was asked about Rodons enthusiasm and fire on the mound.He has that fire, although sometimes its directed at the water cooler, Ventura said. You just hope he can direct it toward home plate.If Rodon can do that on Friday, he could be a load for the Marlins, who are suddenly struggling at the plate. Miami, shut down by the San Francisco Giants this week, has not scored in 17 consecutive innings.The Marlins also have scored just two runs in their past 25 innings, and that is a big reason why they dropped two out of three games against the Giants.Miamis offense -- which has been shut out five times since the All-Star break -- should see the return of right fielder Giancarlo Stanton on Friday. He did not start on Wednesday, largely due to a sore hip. He did serve as a pinch hitter, flying out to center.The Marlins could use help from power-hitting first baseman Justin Bour, who has been on the disabled list since July 5. Originally, the diagnosis called for a quick return, likely two weeks, but Bour has had setbacks.At this point, (Bours injury) has gone from his ankle to different areas, Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. His Achilles has been bothering him, and he has had trouble moving.Without Bour, the Marlins are using a platoon of Chris Johnson against left-handers and Derek Dietrich against right-handers. Johnson is likely to start Friday.Cashner, acquired from the San Diego Padres at the trade deadline, will be making his fourth appearance for the Marlins, although he has yet to win a game for Miami.He was solid in his first start (six innings, one run), got rocked in his second start (five innings, seven runs) and gave up the winning hit when used in an emergency relief role in the 14th inning on Monday against San Francisco.Now he aims to match Rodon, the prodigal son of Miami, pitch for pitch when they square off Friday night.In other story lines:--Ventura said he is not changing closers despite the fact that David Robertson blew two save chances earlier this week.--White Sox right-hander Miguel Gonzalez, who started on Thursday night against the Royals, departed after just 21 pitches due to a strained groin. As a result, the Chicago bullpen enters the Friday game depleted after picking up eight innings Thursday. Calgary Flames Gear . Uniteds eighth defeat of a wretched campaign means Liverpool, which currently occupies the fourth and final Champions League place, could go nine points clear of its fierce rival by beating West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. Charlie Adam scored both of Stokes goals at Britannia Stadium either side of Robin van Persies equalizer, with a miserable day for seventh-place United capped by first-half injuries to centre halves Jonny Evans and Phil Jones that forced them off. Calgary Flames Store . The mixed zone is not a place to make friends. https://www.cheapflames.com/ . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. Fake Flames Jerseys . -- When the Florida Panthers fell behind by two goals in the first period to the top team in the NHL, it appeared they were on their way to yet another loss. Calgary Flames Pro Shop . Laudrup revealed Thursday he was notified of his dismissal in "the briefest of letters which gave no reasons why such hasty and final action was deemed necessary. It has been a pretty good week for French horseback riders. In Rio de Janeiro, Astier Nicolas, Thibaut Vallette, Mathieu Lemoine, and Karim Florent Laghouag collected Olympic gold medals in the team competition of three-day eventing, while Nicolas added a silver medal in the individual event category.Meanwhile, in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, a mini-Olympics of sorts will convene on Saturday at Arlington Park, where the 34th running of the Arlington Million tops a juicy 10-race program. French is very much on the menu.Hot-handed Florent Geroux (from Argentan, in Normandy), Flavien Prat (from Melun, 70 miles east of Paris), and veteran Brice Blanc (from Lyon) each have mounts in the $700,000 Beverly D. at 1-3/16 miles on turf. Advantage Geroux in this one aboard Sea Calisi for Chad Brown and Martin Schwartz, although Pretty Girl and Blanc deserve more than a glance, trained as she is by Mikel Delzangles, who knows how to take his game on the road.Prat would be overlooked in the Beverly D. if it wasnt for the outfit hell be wearing atop the French filly Marypop, trained by Mike Stidham. She is owned by Richard Duchossois, the Arlington Park chairman who first presented the Arlington Million in 1981 and then added the Beverly D. seven years later to honor the memory of his wife. Any jock who wins this race for the boss gets the keys to a couple of cities.Geroux, 30, and Prat, 24, have developed a friendly rivalry that transcends the time zones. They communicate often, trash-texting in French, and keep close track of how the other guy is doing. This season, the answer is theyre doing just fine.Prat leads the Del Mar standings with 20 wins through Wednesdays card. His mount earnings of $6.9 million put him 11th in the national standings, while Geroux is sailing along in fifth with $9.4 million.(It should be mentioned that Julien Leparoux, 33, and the third of the three young French musketeers, sits in ninth with $7.5 million and would have been at Arlington on Saturday had he not fractured his wrist in a fall at Saratoga last Sunday.)In the $450,000 Secretariat, at 1-1/4 miles on grass, Geroux is live once again for Brown with Beach Patrol, while Prat rides Arlington Classic winner Surgical Strike for trainer Ben Colebrook. Last time out, the two colts were third and fifth in the Belmont Derby, separated by half a length.The $300,000 American St. Leger, open to all comers at 1-1/16 miles, is led by Geroux and Da Big Hoss, the winner of the lengthy Belmont Gold Cup. Prat is riding Billabong, a 7-year--old with baffling form that includes his most recent race in Qatar, in February, for trainer Pascal Bary.dddddddddddd It was Bary who put the 16-year-old Prat on a ton of winners in France as an apprentice, however, so perhaps there will be some magic at work for their reunion.Finally, it will be no surprise that Geroux is in with a big chance in the Million itself. He won the race last year aboard The Pizza Man -- who is back to defend under Mike Smith -- but now goes for two straight aboard World Approval for Mark Casse. World Approval won the American Derby over the course last year and most recently took the United Nations at Monmouth Park.With John Velazquez otherwise occupied at Saratoga, Prat has picked up the ride on Man o War Stakes winner Wake Forest in the Million. If things turn out well, someone might want to mark the day since this will be Prats first ride for Brown.Ive been impressed with his riding from afar, particularly on the turf, Brown said. And he was available.Which doesnt always happen when a jock is leading a meet. For Brown, Prat and agent Derek Lawson were quick to save the date.As of Thursday morning, Prat had yet to knuckle down and study the form of Wake Forest, a German-bred 6-year-old who split the field in last years Million for Andreas Wohler and was then sent to Brown. In addition to his win for Brown in the Man o War on very firm turf, Wake Forest was second in the Pan American and third in the United Nations. Wake Forest is in stall 10 of 13 entered, just inside of World Approval and the likely favorite, Godolphin Racings Tryster.The horse is pretty straightforward, so I wont tell Flavien too much, Brown said of Wake Forest. Just try to work out a good trip from a challenging post.Prat missed a chance to make his debut on the big stage last fall at the Breeders Cup while recovering from fractured vertebrae. He rode Hoppertunity to a solid third-place finish for Bob Baffert in the Dubai World Cup in March, and it appears as if he will be riding Dortmund for Baffert against California Chrome and Beholder in next weeks Pacific Classic.Its what we are looking for, to ride for the big trainers, Prat said. You dont want to feel pressure, no matter who you ride for. But it is exciting, and it is an honor to ride for Chad Brown. I hope we do well.Like Rick said to Louis Renault in foggy Casablanca, it could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship. ' ' '