If youve been revelling in the glorious feast of World Cup action like me, you will have noticed a distinct difference between the tempo and excitement of the round robin phase versus the careful and more conservative approaches in the knockout rounds. Trae Young Hawks Jersey . The group stage of Brazil 2014 may never be equalled in terms of entertainment and production. Goals were flying in, teams were in the mood to attack and managers seemingly took the shackles off their players. Not unlike the pre-World Cup Vancouver Whitecaps who scored nine goals in three games leading into the MLS-imposed break. But once the knockout stages in Brazil took hold and the stakes became infinitely higher, the games changed. No less drama, but certainly less expanse, far less risk and fewer goals. Saturday night at BC Place, the Whitecaps took an early lead, did create some opportunities to stretch their advantage, but ultimately provided a performance that felt very World Cup quarterfinals-like. Germany scored first against France, Argentina tallied in the eighth minute against Belgium and Brazil got an early goal against Columbia. We could be forgiven for thinking those goals would have opened the games up and led to more of what we saw in the group stage. Instead, those matches became very well managed. Brazil did get the benefit of a David Luiz howitzer to briefly make it comfortable for the hosts, but the hallmarks of those three quarterfinals were very similar; the team with the lead wasnt going to be left exposed and wasnt going to give away possession cheaply. At BC Place, Erik Hurtado had a chance to seal the game thanks to a brilliantly weighted, defence-splitting ball from the best player on the park, Pedro Morales, but beyond that, the Whitecaps looked like a side that was committed to keeping what they had, rather than adding to it. And the stakes were certainly higher than during the World Cup break run-in. Winless in three and coming off two listless performances, Vancouver needed maximum points at home and especially against a Western rival that was missing arguably its best five players. After the season opening New York victory, coach Carl Robinson shared one particular philosophy during his post game address; the best way to kill off a game is to keep attacking, which on that occasion, Vancouver did. But instead of introducing a fresh-legged Darren Mattocks to run at a tired Seattle back line Saturday, Robinson took the advice of his assistants (Gordon Forrest and Martyn Pert) and subbed Nigel Reo-Coker on for Kekuta Manneh at the 68-minute mark. The savvy Englishman rarely gave the ball away after that. The Whitecaps, as a group, strung minutes-worth of passes together, all on the heels of Seattles best spell of the match. It was a mature coaching decision that changed the momentum back in Vancouvers favour and it was a sage, professionally executed performance by the younger team on the field. While the Whitecaps didnt reach a World Cup semi-final with the win, they did end a mini-slide, improved their league and Cascadia Cup prospects, while proving to themselves that theyre capable of grinding out a result. Something tells me theyll need the same nerve this Saturday when they host a Chivas USA side thats won three in a row, and is starting to appear in the Western Conference rearview mirror...a tasty appetizer to the World Cup final a day later. Evan Turner Jersey . Its the second straight year he has decided not to play as he cuts back his schedule. Stricker was replaced in the field by Ryo Ishikawa of Japan. Custom Atlanta Hawks Jerseys . Lauzon rushed for 42 yards on 15 carries for the Vert et Or (2-3) while quarterback Jeremi Roch completed 19-of-32 passes for 251 yards and one interception. Alexandre Aube scored the other touchdown for Sherbrooke. https://www.thehawkslockerroom.com/Pete-Maravich-City-Edition-Jersey/ . -- Oakland Athletics starting pitchers Jarrod Parker and A.MIAMI -- The Arizona Diamondbacks started fast and held on late. Aaron Hill and Cliff Pennington hit home runs in the first inning for the Diamondbacks, who beat the Miami Marlins 3-2 on Friday night. All five runs in the game were scored in the first inning. "We hit some balls hard with three runs and then they scored two in the first and our pitching shut them down," Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said. Trevor Cahill (3-8) pitched 6 2-3 innings, allowing two runs and six hits. Addison Reed pitched the ninth for his 29th save in 34 chances. Marlins starter Brad Hand (2-5) allowed three runs in seven innings. The Marlins, trailing 3-2, loaded the bases in the seventh, but Matt Stites got Donovan Soloano to ground into a fielders choice to end the scoring threat. The Marlins threatened again in the eighth, but Jarrod Saltalamacchia bounced into an inning-ending double play, one of four turned by the Diamondbacks. "They hurt us tonight for sure," said Marlins third baseman Casey McGehee, who grounded into two of the four. "Its going to happen from time to time, but it doesnt make you feel any better about it." Pennington hit his first homer since May 1, 2013, against San Francisco, and Hill added a two-run shot, his 10th of the season. "Im going up there just looking for something up," Hill said. "I typically dont swing at the first pitch, but it worked out and it ended up being all right." The Marlins responded with RBI singles by Giancarlo Stanton and Garrett Jones. "Thats the beauty of the big leagues," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "Both teams come out swinging the bats and then zeroes the rest of the way." Diamondbacks rookie Ender Inciarte eextended his hitting streak to 15 games with a single in the fifth. Evan Turner Hawks Jersey. TRAINERS ROOM Diamondbacks: LHP Matt Reynolds (Tommy John surgery) threw live batting practice to SS Chris Owings (left shoulder strain) in Scottsdale, Arizona. Marlins: RHP Henderson Alvarez is expected to rejoin the rotation on Saturday after missing two starts with right shoulder inflammation. "He threw a bullpen the other day and he looks great," Redmond said. "...Whatever stillness he had is gone and hes ready to go." ON DECK Diamondbacks LHP Wade Miley (7-8, 4.61) will oppose Alvarez (8-5, 2.48), who is 5-2 with a 1.48 ERA at home. Miley is 2-1 with a 0.89 ERA in three career starts against the Marlins. SHOW AND GO With the Diamondbacks in the middle of a season-high, 10-game road trip, which included a pair of long nights in Cleveland, Gibson elected to give his team extra time off before the game. The team showed up just two hours before game time and did not partake in batting practice. "Experience just tells you that its something smart to do," Gibson said. "Mentally its a good lift for them to give them a little extra time to chill out and do some other things and not overthink things." The plan is the same for Saturday, which excited the players. "Its funny, you should have heard the reaction from everybody when (director of team travel) Roger (Riley) yelled it was show and go," Hill said. "We obviously cant do it every day, but on a long road trip. Its funny how a bunch of grown men get excited about the little things." POSTGAME MOVE Marlins RHP Anthony DeSclafani was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans to make room for Alvarez, who will be reinstated from the disabled list on Saturday. ' ' '