PHOENIX -- The Arizona Diamondbacks took on the big boys of Major League Baseball in the competition to land Japanese pitching sensation Masahiro Tanaka only to see him sign, hardly to anyones surprise, with the New York Yankees. Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers, speaking to a handful of reporters in a conference call on Wednesday, thanked the teams ownership for allowing him, for what he said was the first time, to "sit at the table in a high stakes poker game for one of the elite free agents." Towers said the Diamondbacks made "a very competitive offer." But not competitive enough. The 25-year-old right-handers deal with the Yankees pays him $155 million over seven years, in addition to the $20 million due as a posting fee to his Japanese club. Now Towers moves on in search, via free agency or a trade, of help for the Diamondbacks rotation, seeking either a No. 1 starter or a strong No. 2. And, he said, those are hard to find. The Diamondbacks contingent of managing partner Ken Kendrick, Towers, manager Kirk Gibson and star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt met with Tanaka and his entourage about three weeks ago. "All you can do is put your best foot forward, which is what we did," Towers said. The Diamondbacks emphasized their family atmosphere, the weather, the fact that the team trains in Arizona. Tanaka would have been the unquestioned No. 1 pitcher on the staff. That and what undoubtedly was a substantial money offer, certainly by Diamondbacks standards, wasnt enough. There is no large Japanese community in Phoenix. Towers said international players often are lured by the "Yankee pinstripes." He noted the Yankees have two veteran Japanese pitchers who can ease Tanaka into his new life. The Diamondbacks will continue to see what the possibilities are for landing a pitcher. "It doesnt stop just because we didnt get Tanaka," Towers said. But the Diamondbacks dont want to sign any pitcher to a contract longer than three years, Tanaka being an obvious exception. Unsigned free agent starters include Ervin Santana, Matt Garza and Ubaldo Jimenez. Towers insisted that if Arizona does not acquire another starter, hes comfortable with the returning staff, specifically mentioning the possibility of talented young flame-thrower Archie Bradley competing for a spot in the rotation this spring. Because of their early-season trip to Australia to face the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Diamondbacks will be the first team to gather for spring training. Pitchers and catchers report Feb. 6 with the full squad due on Feb. 11. Wholesale Air Max 97 . Lawrie was hit on the hand by Cincinnati pitcher Johnny Cueto in the second inning of Sundays 4-3 loss to the Reds. Air Max 97/1 Sean Wotherspoon Fake . Crawford hit his slam off Pirates starter Edinson Volquez to give San Francisco a four run lead in the fourth and they never looked back. Brandon Belt had three runs batted in as well. Bumgarner pitched all nine innings and allowed just four hits. http://www.outletairmax97.com/wholesale-...undefeated.html. Lynn was tied for 16th entering the fourth round, six shots behind leader Paul Waring. He started with two birdies and added three more on his last five holes at the Oceanico Victoria course for an 18-under total of 266. Air Max 97 Shanghai . -- Joe Thornton scored the tiebreaking goal with 5:39 left in regulation to help the San Jose Sharks overcome a two-goal deficit to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3 on Thursday night. Air Max 97 Fake For Sale . Geovany Soto had an RBI for the Cubs. Carlos Silva gave up one run on three hits over six innings to pick up the win. Josh Willingham drove in the lone run for the Nationals, who had just four hits.CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Manu Ginobili said he needed a game like this.Maybe its the game the San Antonio Spurs needed to get things turned around, too.Ginobili was the focal point of the Spurs offence Wednesday night, scoring 27 points on 10-of-14 shooting in San Antonios 98-93 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.When the Spurs needed a big play, they didnt hesitate to turn to the 13-year NBA veteran.In the past few games Ive had the opportunity to have the ball in my hands a lot of times, Ginobili said. Sometimes it is not that easy against very athletic teams. Today I made a couple of shots and made better decisions, so I am happy about it.The Spurs, seventh in the Western Conference standings, played for the second straight night on the road. The defending NBA champions will look to make a push when the play eight of their next 10 games at home.We had an opportunity to win some other games and weve blown them, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. Tonight we came through so it feels pretty good.Danny Green scored 18 points and Tim Duncan added 14 points and 10 rebounds to help the Spurs snap the Hornets five-game win streak. The Spurs have won eight straight against the Hornets.Nothing seems to be easy for us this year, Ginobili said. We are playing a lot of close games. But we are learning from it.Ginobili was the key to this win.After the Hornets drew to 86-85 with 4 minutes, the left-hander drove the right side of the lane and made a high-banking shot off the glass over two leaping Hornets. Then he hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key on the next possession to make it a six-point game. He followed that with a feed to a cutting Tiago Splitter for a layup to push the lead to 93-85.Kemba Walker had 28 points on 9-of-24 shooting after averaging 30.2 points during the Hornets winning streak.Lance Stephenson returned from a 14-game absence due to a pelvic sprain and had eight points in 19 minutes. Stephenson said he didnt feel winded, and said the time off helped give him a new perspective.When I was out, I watched people share the ball and play without negative energy, Stephenson said. So I dont want to play with any negative energy and bring everybody down.ddddddddddddhe Spurs appeared on the verge of running away from the Hornets late in the first half when Green hit back-to-back 3-pointers to push the lead to 16.But the Hornets climbed within 10 after getting some production from an unlikely source — centre Bismack Biyombo. In a span of 10 seconds, Biyombo slid underneath Matt Bonner and tipped in a missed free throw, blocked a shot on defence and then grabbed an offensive rebound and scored while drawing a foul for a 3-point play.But Ginobili halted any momentum the Hornets had by draining a 26-footer from the top of the key at the buzzer to give the Spurs a 57-45 lead at the break.The Hornets has several defensive lapses in the second quarter and were outscored 35-27, which Charlotte coach Steve Clifford called the key to the game.Every team has a different level of room for error, Clifford said. We dont have room for error. We cant have that.___TIP-INSSpurs: Boris Diaw, who previously played in Charlotte, was booed almost every time he touched the ball.Hornets: The Hornets were 23 of 35 from the free throw line. ... Gerald Henderson had a technical foul for arguing calls.BIZ MODE: Biyombo continues to improve, finishing with 12 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks while filling in for Al Jefferson. He played with a ton of energy, though he was a little embarrassed when he air-balled a free throw.LEONARD NEEDED: Popovich said after the game the Spurs stink on defence without Kawhi Leonard. Thats the bottom line, Popovich said. He does all kinds of stuff for us. He guards the best player. He guards a couple of different guys. He rebounds the position. He makes steals. He covers for his teammates. He is huge on D.SMOOCHING RIVERA: Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera, sitting courtside, was shown on the Kiss Cam and he drew a big roar from the crowd when he leaned over and gave wife Stephanie a smooch. The Panthers lost Saturday night to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC divisional playoffs.UP NEXTSpurs: Host Portland on Friday night.Hornets: Host Indiana on Saturday night. ' ' '