Alabama. "It was Allisha Gray have looked like All-Americans sometimes and been non factoeasy for me to pick stuff up," W

MIAMI -- Jerad Eickhoff is a big man at 6-4 and 245 pounds, and the Philadelphia Phillies right-hander works in a way that befits his imposing stature.In his first full year in the majors, the 26-year-old Eickhoff has yet to miss a start.Thats my job, Eickhoff told the media after his most recent start. I take pride in being able to do that.He will get start No. 28 on Monday, when the Phillies (60-76) open a three-game series at the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. The Phillies are hoping to snap a six-game losing streak.Meanwhile, the Marlins (68-69) come home after a brutal 1-6 road trip, including a 6-5 walk-off loss at the Cleveland Indians on Sunday. Miami relievers allowed six runs, including three in the ninth. That loss put the Marlins four games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the race for the second and final wild-card playoff berth.Miami is under .500 for the first time since April 28.Eickhoff will seek to take advantage of the Marlins slump and will be looking to pitch more like last year, when he made his major league debut, going 3-3 with a 2.65 ERA in eight starts. He was 7-for-8 in terms of quality starts, using a low-90s fastball and a hammer curve to neutralize batters.This year hasnt been quite as good for Eickhoff, who has 15 quality starts, a 9-13 record and a 3.90 ERA. His batting average allowed has increased from .212 last year to .261 this year, when he has allowed 22 home runs.Eickhoff was at his best this June, when he went 3-2 with a 2.23 ERA. But his ERA was 4.50 in July and 4.85 in August.Among Eickhoffs problems includes the fact that he has struggled on the road -- his 4.55 ERA away from Philly is almost one run higher than it is at home.In addition, Eickhoff has struggled late in his starts. He has a 2.64 ERA in the first five innings but 12.32 thereafter.Yet another problem has been Eickhoffs inability to consistently handle lefty hitters, who are batting .279 with 14 homers against him. He is holding righty hitters to a .239 average and eight homers.The Marlins, who will start rookie right-hander Jake Esch against him, will likely look to load the lineup with lefty batters.Among the lefty hitters who could do some damage for the Marlins are first baseman Derek Dietrich, second baseman Dee Gordon and outfielders Ichiro Suzuki and Christian Yelich.They and the rest of the Marlins offense will try to support Esch, who will be making just his second major league appearance.Esch, a 26-year-old Minnesota native who played shortstop in high school, was a pitcher/hitter in his college days at Georgia Tech. The Marlins made him their 11th-round pick in 2011, drafting him as a pitcher even though he had just five innings on the mound in his junior year.With a fastball that ranges from 90 to 94 mph, Esch is not overpowering, and -- like Eichhoff -- hes had his struggles against lefty batters.But with the Marlins rotation injuries -- left-handers Adam Conley and Wei-Yin Chen are on the disabled list -- Miami has little choice but to give Esch a chance.In his first big-league start, last week against the New York Mets, Esch averaged 91 mph on his fastball and lasted just 4 1/3 innings. He allowed seven hits, three walks and two runs, striking out two.The Mets hit .389 against Esch, who escaped with a no-decision.Theres nothing like getting thrown into the fire, Esch told the media after allowing a two-run homer to Mets infielder Wilmer Flores. I wish I could have taken back that one mistake.Esch, who had 20 family members in the stands for his big-league debut in New York, should have a more normal pregame experience leading up to Monday.But even if Esch were to give Miami a good start, the Marlins bullpen is suddenly a concern. Closer Fernando Rodney was dominant with the San Diego Padres earlier this year, posting a 0.31 ERA in 28 games, earning an All-Star berth.But in 29 games since he was acquired by Miami, Rodney is 2-2 with a 4.45 ERA. He inherited a two-run lead on Sunday and couldnt hold it, giving up a tying hit with two outs and a 1-2 count.Set-up man A.J. Ramos, who was an All-Star closer before the Marlins got Rodney, had a 2.25 ERA before the All-Star Game and a 6.28 ERA since then, including an 8.22 mark in August. NHL Jerseys China . LOUIS -- Rookie Tavon Austin has missed another day of practice, lessening the odds hell be ready for the St. NFL Jerseys China . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. http://www.jerseysnhlfromchina.us/ . He says so-called TRT is only one problem and he wants to go even further than the ban. "Its about time," St-Pierre told reporters at a promotional event in Montreal on Friday. "I think its a good thing. Wholesale Jerseys . Both players have lower body injuries that will keep them out of the lineup until at least January 31, which is the first game they can be activated from IR. Cheap NHL Jerseys China . Clarkson had been dealing with an elbow injury in early January and will be out of action for at least one week. He has three goals and five assists through 36 games with the Leafs this season. COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Alaina Coates cant imagine a better post duo in the country than she has with South Carolina teammate Aja Wilson.Shell get no argument from Clemson after the two combined for 39 points, 20 rebounds, seven asissts -- mostly to each other -- and six blocks in the sixth-ranked Gamecocks 83-61 victory Thursday night.The high-low is great, Coates said. I mean, weve got the best high-low duo in the nation. The fact is were doing better getting each other the ball.And the overmatched Tigers (8-2) had little chance of preventing it as South Carolina (8-1) won its seventh straight in the rivalry series.They have a ton of weapons and theyre really tough, Clemson coach Audra Smith said. The inside game is impossible to stop.Wilson finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Coates had 19 points and 10 rebounds for her sixth double-double in nine games this season.Wilson and Coates combined for six points when South Carolina came out of the break with a 17-6 run. The Tigers (8-2) could not respond.South Carolinas rivalry win streak ties the longest in series history, matching the run Clemson had from 1996 through 2001. Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley also improved to 4-0 over her former college teammates at Virginia, Clemsons Smith.Wilson added four assists and two blocks while Coates added three assists, two steals and four of South Carolinas season-high 11 blocked shots. Kaela Davis had 17 points for South Carolina.Nelly Perry had 20 points to lead the Tigers. They lost their second in a row after opening 8-0.Clemson was shorted-handed before things started with its two leading rebounders in forward Kobi Thornton and Aliyah Collier limited by injuries. Thornton was out after hitting her head Monday night in loss to No. 25 Oregon. Collier, who averaged 7.9 rebounds this season, played just three minutes because of continuing knee problems.Smith said she expected Collier back for her next game. Thornton, who had returned from a concussion when she hit her head again, could take a bit longer.THE BIG PICTUREClemsoon: The Tigers started the season 8-0 against non-Power Five opponents.dddddddddddd The Tigers, though, have lost their past two to No. 25 Oregon (87-59) on Monday night and the rival, sixth-ranked Gamecocks. While Clemson has improved -- its already doubled its four-win season from 2015-16, it is not yet ready to consistently play toe-to-toe with its better opponents. And there are plenty of those coming up once Atlantic Coast Conference play starts next month.South Carolina: The Gamecocks certainly dont look like the team yet thats rolled to the past three Southeastern Conference titles. Their post duo of 6-foot-5 Wilson and 6-4 Coates are strong and engaged. On the perimeter, though, there are questions. Kaela Davis and Allisha Gray have looked like All-Americans sometimes and been non factors at others. Point guard Bianca Cuevas-Moore has also struggled at taking over the on-court leadership role that Khadijah Sessions handled so well the previous few years.ALL CHANGINGTalk about differing ways to win. The Gamecocks used 16 3-pointers (second best in program history) to blow past Minnesota last Sunday. This time, South Carolina made just four of 14 long-range baskets while relying on its inside advantage to defeat Clemson. Weve got a lot of ways to win, Staley said. Weve got to take advantage of them.HEY, ROOMIEStaley and Smith were roommates for a short stretch at Virginia in the late 1980s until Staleys night-owl tendencies did not mesh with Smiths early-to-bed style. Each sought more suitable people to live with. But theyve remained good friends since college and Staley was impressed with Smiths building program. Im happy for her and the program, Staley said. Even though theyre our rivals, we want to see all South Carolina teams do well.UP NEXTClemson returns home to face South Carolina State on Sunday.South Carolina closes a three-game home stand against No. 9 UCLA on Sunday. ' ' '