s RHP Grant Balfour stressed he was frustrated with himself and was not d

TORONTO -- Ryan Nelsen is left to improvise once more. Oakland Athletics Pro Shop . A week ago, the rookie Toronto FC head coach welcomed Argentine Maximiliano Urruti to the club. The long-coveted youngster and his fellow countryman, Matias Laba, were to spend the rest of this disappointing season playing together with other newcomers expected to be key members of the Reds of the future, offering Nelsen and supporters a glimpse of a side poised to take a run at respectability. But with Laba now out of the line-up for up to six weeks after breaking his big toe in a 2-0 loss in Columbus last Saturday, Nelsens plan to finally see his core group in action is also on the shelf. "Whether youre at the top of league or the bottom of the league, these things happen," a philosophical Nelsen said Friday before the Reds flew to Washington and a date with D.C. United on Saturday night. "Its just life." So, instead of testing the chemistry between Laba, 21, and Urruti, 22, Nelsen said he will use the injury to give others an opportunity to audition for a more regular role in the side. "Weve got to the stage now where well be putting people into the firing line," Nelsen said. "Theyve got to play well or well change the team and see what other guys can do." Jeremy Hall, 24, is expected to be the first to get the opportunity to fill Labas shoes in the defensive midfield position. its a spot he patrolled regularly earlier in the season, having made 18 starts in 2013. "Its a tough loss for the team but at the same time guys are going to have to step up and show their worth to the coach and prove that they can still contribute to the team," said Hall, who has one goal in 22 appearances after moving from defender to midfield. "Im comfortable in there, so Im just going to have to do what Ive been doing at the beginning of the season and hopefully I can continue to do well." Toronto (4-12-8) goes into D.C. having lost two straight matches, which came after the club posted its first two-game win streak in more than a year. The Reds won 2-1 in Washington on June 15. While very little has gone right in 2013 for D.C. (3-17-4), the leagues worst team has been given a spark by Luis Silva, 24. The California-born midfielder has scored three goals and added an assist in four appearances for United since being traded from Toronto for allocation money on July 9. "Its sad for us that hes not going to be on our team this weekend, but hes a good player, hes done well for D.C. and were going to have to keep an eye on him," Hall said of Silva, who leads his new club in scoring. "Im sure Luis is going to want to have a good one against us." Same goes for Toronto native and former Toronto captain Dwayne De Rosario. The 35-year-old has battled injuries this season but the veteran has always been a handful for the Reds when they travel to D.C. He has six goals in three matches between the teams at RFK Stadium since he left Toronto early in the 2011 season, including a hat trick in his first match against his former side. Saturdays match also has special significance for Toronto striker Jeremy Brockie, 25. The New Zealand native will be play his final game of a loan deal from the Wellington Phoenix of Australias A-League. Though he said Friday has was "disappointed" to have only scored once in his first 14 matches with the Reds after an A-League season in which he scored 16 times in 24 games, Brockie said hes enjoyed MLS and Toronto and would be happy to return as a loan after the upcoming A-League campaign. "Its a very well-run club and all its missing really is the playoff contention so if the possibility was to come back one day then Id definitely be open to that," said Brockie, a New Zealand international who has two years remaining on his contract with Wellington. Nelsen, a former teammate of Brockies with New Zealand, said although the striker didnt find the back of the net as much as many had hoped, "hes helped out in so many ways on and off the field." "His professionalism day-in and day-out shows the younger players what its all about," Nelsen said. Oakland Athletics Shirts . Nowitzki scored 28 points, Harris had a season-high 14 for the second straight game and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Detroit Pistons 116-106 Sunday night. Chris Bassitt Jersey . Each day, TSN.ca provides the latest rumours, reports and speculation from around the NHL beat. The latest from Bob As tweeted by TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie on Monday, the Columbus Blue Jackets need to resolve their offseason plans with forward R. https://www.cheapathleticsonline.com/ . PETERSBURG, Fla.CHICAGO -- Cesar Ramos helped keep his teammates off the field on a cold night. Ramos and two relievers combined to five-hit the Chicago White Sox in a 4-0 win by the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night. With a first-pitch temperature of 36 degrees, Ramos (1-1) pitched short, efficient innings. He gave up all five hits over five innings in his first scoreless start of the season. He started in place of Matt Moore, who had Tommy John surgery on Tuesday. Its cold. Its tough to get a grip on the ball," Ramos said. "But its just about getting in and out quick and getting my defence off the field as quick as possible, and the only way I can do that is throwing strikes and putting the ball in play." James Loney had three hits for the Rays, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Ryan Hanigan hit a two-run double to give the Rays a 2-0 lead in the second after Loney singled and Logan Forsythe walked. Loneys single extended the Rays lead to 3-0 in the third. Wil Myers scored after he doubled. White Sox starter John Danks (2-1) struggled with his command and a high pitch count. He allowed four runs and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings. He struck out four, walked four and threw a career-high 123 pitches. Danks said none of his pitches were working. "I had moments where I was able to throw only one of four over the plate but none nearly consistently enough," Danks said. "Its hard to pitch 2-0, 3-1 to these guys. Its something were definitely going to have to work on." The White Sox threatened in the fifth, loading the bases with a walk, a single and another walk. Jose Abreu grounded out against Ramos to end the inning. Abreu hit a walk-off grand slam in the White Soxs 9-6 victory over the Rays on Friday. "If he gets a hit, theyre right back in the game," Ramos said. "Thats their big guy. I made a pretty decent pitch and (Evan Longoria) made an amazing play, charging for the ball and hit Loney right in the chest." Danks exited in the sixth after allowing a two-out, RBI triple to Desmond Jennings that made it 4-0. Danks has walked 17 and struck out 18 in 31 innings this season. Ramos departed after he allowed a leadoff single in the sixth inniing in his sixth career start. Athletics Jerseys 2020. He walked two but didnt record a strikeout. Ramos has started three games this season after making four relief appearances. He allowed one run in five innings against the New York Yankees in his previous start. Ramos threw just 65 pitches, but Rays manager Joe Maddon said he wanted to pull Ramos with Paul Konerko coming to the plate. "He kept the ball down," Maddon said. "He didnt make a lot of mistakes up in the strike zone. They put the ball in play. They didnt hit him hard." Brandon Gomes threw three shutout innings and Juan Carlos Oviedo pitched a scoreless ninth. Maddon was ejected in the bottom of the eighth for his first ejection of the season. Home plate umpire Tim Timmons ejected Maddon after he appeared to protest Timmons check swing call on leadoff batter Adam Eaton. Timmons called a ball after Eaton checked his swing on a 2-2 count. Eaton grounded out. The White Sox were shutout for just the second time this season. They were averaging 5.58 runs per game, second in the majors entering Saturday. NOTES: Before the game, the White Sox placed 3B Conor Gillaspie on the 15-day disabled list due to a left hand contusion, retroactive to Tuesday. Gillaspie is batting .302 with 12 RBIs in 16 games. He said he has been battling the injury for 2-3 weeks and hopes to swing a bat within 5-6 days. Marcus Semien started at third base. ... The White Sox added RHP Hector Noesi to the roster after they claimed him off waivers from the Texas Rangers on Friday. He was 0-1 with a 14.21 ERA in 6 1-3 innings with the Rangers and Seattle Mariners. He threw 1 1-3 scoreless innings Saturday. ... Rays RHP Grant Balfour stressed he was frustrated with himself and was not directing anger at Konerko when they exchanged words after Balfour walked Konerko in the ninth inning Friday. "It was competitive stuff coming out," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "I think Paul might have been watching the Blackhawks game." ... RHP Scott Carroll will make his major league debut for the White Sox on Sunday. He is 3-1 with a 1.57 ERA for Triple-A Charlotte. LHP David Price (3-1, 4.04) will start for the Rays. ' ' '