- shortly after signing Strasburg as the No. 1 overa

BALTIMORE -- Cam Newton directed a 68-yard drive in his only series, then stepped aside -- for the most part -- as the Carolina Panthers lost to the Baltimore Ravens 22-19 on Thursday night in a preseason opener.Newton, the reigning NFL MVP, went 5 for 6 for 36 yards before being replaced by 33-year-old Derek Anderson.Graham Gano kicked four field goals for the Panthers, who went 15-1 last year and won the NFC championship before falling to Denver in the Super Bowl.Baltimore was without quarterback Joe Flacco, whos coming off a season-ending knee injury. Running back Justin Forsett; wide receivers Steve Smith and Breshad Perriman; and linebackers Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil were also held out of the game.The Panthers launched their preseason with a crisp 14-play march overseen by Newton, who opted not to employ the running aspect of his game.Working out of the no-huddle offense, Newton completed his first five passes before overthrowing an open Ted Ginn Jr. in the back of the end zone. That forced Carolina to settle for a field goal.He did not, however, spend the rest of the night on the sideline.Newton was flagged for going on the field while linebacker A.J. Klein was taking an interception back 95 yards for a touchdown. The score was nullified, but the Panthers ultimately got into the end zone anyway.I just got too excited, Newton said sheepishly. I was hoping they would give a warning. Its no big deal.Anderson threw a TD pass to Devin Funchess for a 10-0 lead before the Ravens answered with touchdowns by Terrance West and Javorius Allen.Ryan Mallett, who started the final two games for Baltimore last year, got the call in this one, too. He played the entire first half, going 11 for 15 for 91 yards and a score.PHELPS ON THE BIG SCREENDuring a break in the fourth quarter, footage of Olympic star Michael Phelps winning a gold medal in the 200-meter IM was shown on the scoreboard. The crowd cheered as Phelps, a Baltimore native, reached the finish line.HOT STUFFTemperature at game time was 94 degrees, with a heat index of 102 degrees.ROOKIE WATCHPanthers: First-round selection Vernon Butler, a defensive lineman out of Louisiana Tech, was credited with two tackles.Ravens: Ronnie Stanley, the sixth overall pick in the draft, played left tackle with the first-team offense.POSITION BATTLESPanthers: Cameron Artis-Payne, Fozzy Whitaker and Brandon Wegher did little to separate themselves in the battle for the backup running back spot. Artis-Payne gained 10 yards on five carries, Wegher rushed for 13 yards on 10 attempts and Whittaker had no yardage on three carries.Ravens: RBs West (25 yards, 2 TDs), Allen (6 yards rushing, 19-yard TD catch) and Ken Dixon (44 yards rushing) all looked impressive in their bid to earn a backup job.INJURY UPDATEPanthers: WR Brenton Berson left with a rib injury. It looks like a bruise, coach Ron Rivera said. Berson had five catches for 69 yards.Ravens: LB Chris Carter left for concussion protocol, returned and shared a sack in the third quarter. ... CB Tavon Young left to have his left knee examined.QUOTABLEPanthers: We came out and we executed, Newton said. Weve got to find ways to put the ball in the end zone.Ravens: Coach John Harbaugh explained why Flacco didnt play: I didnt think there was any reason to go with Joe tonight. In the big picture I dont think thats hard to understand. It makes sense. Hell go maybe next week, maybe hell go the third game. We havent decided that yet.MISTAKE PRONEPanthers: Carolina was penalized nine times for 80 yards, lost two fumbles and scored only one touchdown.Ravens: Baltimore lost two fumbles, including a muffed punt by Kaelin Clay, and Mallett threw an interception. If they dont happen its not as close a game, Harbaugh said. Walter Payton Jersey . 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On Saturday, it was fitting that Manchester Uniteds most recent dagger into the chest was delivered by Frenchman Yohan Cabaye, a wonderfully gifted central midfielder who put on an outstanding effort for Newcastle at Old Trafford. Mitchell Trubisky Youth Jersey . Goals from Jerome Boateng, Franck Ribery and Thomas Mueller extended Bayerns unbeaten run to a record 37 matches. "This record is incredible," Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said. Dan Hampton Youth Jersey . -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago.WASHINGTON -- Stephen Strasburg fiddled with the bottom of his grey T-shirt and stared blankly ahead, unaccustomed to his Washington Nationals struggling day after day the way they are at the moment. "We need to win some games," Strasburg said. "Its getting to the point where our backs against the wall." A popular pick to follow up last years majors-leading 98 wins and playoff appearance with a deep run, Washington is in a real rut right now. Wasting Strasburgs 12-strikeout performance, and held without a hit by Pittsburghs Francisco Liriano until the sixth inning, the Nationals lost to the Pirates 4-2 Wednesday night, their sixth consecutive defeat since the All-Star break. "When things get tough ... your true colours really come out. Its all about what type of person you are. Are you the type thats going to sit there and look in the mirror and do everything you can to be better out there? Or are you going to start pointing fingers?" Strasburg said. "I dont think theres a single guy in the clubhouse whos going to start pointing fingers. Every single guy in here is responsible and we all want to win just as bad as any other team out there." The reigning NL East champions are currently in third place, a season-worst nine games behind the Atlanta Braves, and the offence is mainly to blame. The Nationals have scored only 13 runs during their 0-6 slide, which is part of a 2-11 stretch. Already the owner of one previous no-hitter, Liriano (10-4) walked the first batter he faced, then retired 11 in a row before another walk. Five more outs followed, before rookie Anthony Rendon reached on what was ruled an infield single with two away in the sixth. Third baseman Pedro Alvarez -- who earlier homered off Strasburg -- dove to his left to stop the ball, but it popped out of his glove, and he couldnt quite corral it. The next batter walked, but Liriano struck out cleanup hitter Jayson Werth looking. "Everything was working the way I wanted tonight," said Liriano, who wound up allowing two hits in 7 2-3 innings. The Pirates tacked on three insurance runs in the ninth against relievers Drew Storen and Fernando Abad, thanks to Neil Walkers RBI double and Michael McKenrys two-run single. That became pivotal when Werth hit a two-run shot, his 15th homer, off Justin Wilson in the bottom half. Werth is seemingly the only Nationals batter capable of producing at the moment; hes hit five homers in the past four games. Wilson was replaced by Mark Melancon, who got the last three outs to earn his third save --- ending with a double play on which second baseman Walker whiffed on his attempted tag of lead runner Wilson Ramos.dddddddddddd "Not even close. He never tagged me," Ramos said. He argued the call with umpire Laz Diaz, to no avail. "Maybe," Ramos said, "he (wanted) to go home." Nationals spokesman John Dever declined to check whether the umpiring crew would respond to reporters request for comment. Washington centre fielder Denard Spans take: "Its no secret that the ball definitely isnt bouncing our way. That wasnt the story of the game tonight, but anything couldve happened if that play isnt called there." The Nationals are a season-worst five games under .500 at 48-53. Already having all sorts of trouble at the plate -- so much so that the club fired hitting coach Rick Eckstein this week -- Washingtons starting lineup was missing All-Star left fielder Bryce Harper and shortstop Ian Desmond. Harper was held out as a precaution after getting treatment on the left knee that landed him on the disabled list earlier this season, while Desmond is dealing with a blister on his left hand. The last time Washington lost more than six consecutive games was nearly four years ago: They dropped eight in a row from Aug. 28 to Sept. 5, 2009, according to STATS LLC -- shortly after signing Strasburg as the No. 1 overall pick in that years amateur draft. This was Strasburgs ninth career game with 10 or more strikeouts and first this season. His career high remains the 14 Ks from his major league debut on June 8, 2010, against Pittsburgh. "I want to be the big dog in the rotation; that comes with the territory. The sixth inning isnt cool anymore, for me," Strasburg said. "I want to go seven, eight and hopefully nine sometime." Strasburg (5-8) did not walk anyone in eight innings Wednesday, giving up only one run and two hits, all in the second inning. That included the leadoff shot by Pedro Alvarez, who drove a 96 mph fastball over the wall in right-centre for his 26th homer. "A backspin 2-iron," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle called it. "Ive seen a lot of home runs. Ive seen a lot of hard-hit balls. But that one got my attention." Notes: Melancon is filling in for closer Jason Grilli, on the disabled list with a strained right forearm. ... Nationals manager Davey Johnson said LHP Ross Detwiler is expected to miss a month with a back injury. ... On Thursday, the Nationals will start LHP Gio Gonzalez (7-3, 2.89) against Pirates RHP A.J. Burnett (4-7, 3.07). ' ' '