WASHINGTON -- With Stephen Strasburg joining Joe Ross as sidelined members of the Washington Nationals starting rotation, the teams young prospects like A.J. Cole are filling the void.Coles latest effort was done in by one bad inning as he surrendered two third-inning homers in Washingtons 4-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday night.Peter Bourjos led off the third with a blast off the left field foul pole and, with two outs, Ryan Howard lifted a fly ball that carried over the fence in center.He just made a couple of pitches that he wished he had back tonight, manager Dusty Baker said. One homer hit the foul pole and the other one scraped the wall. He seems kind of unfazed by the challenges of the big leagues.Cole (1-2), coming off his first major league win, allowed four runs and five hits in five innings. He struck out eight batters without a walk.Ive always believed in myself as being a big league pitcher, Cole said, and Ive got to be able to show that, and thats what Im doing right now.The Nationals received hopeful news regarding Strasburg, who left his start in the third inning Wednesday night after feeling a pinch in the back of his elbow.Strasburg has a strained flexor mass in his elbow and the Nationals dont know when he will pitch again, but Baker and director of athletic training Paul Lessard voiced optimism after an MRI revealed no ligament damage.We have young guys here that I know they can throw, catcher Jose Lobaton said. Hopefully (Reynaldo) Lopez and A.J. can be good for the team.Alec Asher (1-0) pitched six innings of two-hit ball coming off a suspension for the Phillies.Asher, acquired from the Rangers in the trade for Cole Hamels, ended last season in the Phillies starting rotation and went 0-6 with a 9.31 ERA in seven starts.The right-hander pitched to contact, walking one batter without a strikeout, and throwing 75 pitches in earning his first major league victory.I felt like I wasnt myself at the end of last year and I kind of let the moment get to me, Asher said. I just said Im going to go out there and have fun.Asher (1-0) was suspended for 80 games while on the disabled list with Triple-A Lehigh Valley in June after a positive drug test. He made four minor league appearances beginning in late August and his suspension ended Sept. 4.Everythings in the past now, Asher said. Its unfortunate what happened. Theres nothing I can do but come up here and pitch now.The Phillies snapped a nine-game losing streak against the Nationals.Trailing 4-0, Washington loaded the bases with one out in the eighth inning. Daniel Murphy hit a sacrifice fly to the warning track and Bryce Harper struck out.Jeanmar Gomez pitched the ninth for his 36th save.Howards homer was career No. 378, tying him with former Nationals manager Matt Williams for 72nd on the all-time list.DOUBLE DOINGSMurphy picked up his 40th double of the season, matching his career high. Hes the first second baseman in Nationals history (2005-present) to post a 40-double season.TRAINERS ROOMNationals: Normally (these injuries) come around very well with treatment and strengthening programs, Lessard said of Strasburgs elbow. Its not a season-ending injury, but we still need to take time (so) that hes nice and strong because of his past.... Baker said RHP Ross (right shoulder inflammation) is progressing well and the team is trying to determine where hell pitch next with few minor league games remaining.UP NEXTPhillies: RHP Jake Thompson (1-5, 6.48) makes his seventh career start and second against the Nationals. He allowed two runs and seven hits in seven innings of a 4-0 loss to Washington on Aug. 29.Nationals: RHP Tanner Roark (14-8, 2.89) looks to continue his recent mastery of the Phillies. Hes 3-0 with a 0.64 ERA versus Philadelphia this season. His career mark against them is 5-5 with a 3.81 ERA in 11 games, including nine starts. Replica Soccer Jerseys .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. Stitched Soccer Jerseys . Shot outdoors against the stunning backdrop of Banff, Alta., the networks 30-minute original production airs tonight at 8pm et/5pm pt on TSN2. The four All-Star teams will play for $100,000 in prize money during TSNs annual skins game, airing live this weekend on TSN from The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre. https://www.soccerjerseyschina.us/ . -- Adam Snyder returned to the San Francisco 49ers this season because the offensive lineman thought it was his best opportunity to win a championship. Cheap Soccer Jerseys Authentic . Self was acquired from the Buffalo Bandits in a trade for Alex Hill midway through last season, and made his debut in Rochester on March 16, 2013. Clearance Soccer Jerseys . Darren Helm scored on Detroits sixth attempt in the shootout and then Jonas Gustavsson stopped Andrew Shaws shot, lifting the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night. Some of the sports stories The Associated Press is covering Wednesday. A full Sports Digest will be sent by about 3 p.m. All times EST:- For every Peyton Manning who survived a rough rookie year on his way to NFL stardom, theres a much longer list of players rushed onto the field too early or with not enough help before being discarded in the continuing search for the franchise quarterback. Not even being picked first or second overall is a guarantee, but the first 24 games of a career are a pretty good measure of future success -- or failure.- BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Ravens understand how embarrassing it would be to lose to the winless Cleveland Browns on national television. They would rather focus on the benefits of a victory, which would thrust them into sole possession of first place in the AFC North.- The Cleveland Browns are winless, 0-9 for the first time in franchise history. They are ranked dead last at No. 32 in the AP Pro32. And now they must play on a short week at their hated rival, the Ravens -- who used to be the Browns before fleeing to Baltimore in 1996.- Nick Saban is on the verge of another milestone victory, another number that gives a glimpse at how dominant his teams have been at Alabama. A victory by the Crimson Tide against Mississippi State on Saturday in Tuscaloosa will be Sabans 40th when Alabama has been ranked No. 1, matching Bobby Bowden and Woody Hayes for the most by a coach.- While offensive stars like Lamar Jackson and Deshaun Watson more often than not command the lions share of the ACC limelight on game day, there are plenty of stars on the other sidde of the ball who have helped elevate the conference to new heights.dddddddddddd There is no Heisman hype for the Big 12 Conference, even with some impressive performances this season from players like Oklahoma receiver Dede Westbrook and Texas running back DOnta Foreman. Still, the Big 12 isnt likely to have a player in New York next month for the Heisman Trophy ceremony. Maybe next year.- COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Texas A&Ms Trevor Knight is the highest profile graduate transfer in the Southeastern Conference this season, jumping in to fill a major void at quarterback for the 10th-ranked Aggies. However, teams across the league are sprinkled with players who moved into the SEC as graduate students after careers at other schools.- PHOENIX -- On the last full day of the annual general managers meeting, Major League Baseball goes over possible rules changes.- MIAMI -- Dwyane Wade will play Thursday in Miami for the 525th time, and for the first time in some other teams uniform. When the Chicago Bulls visit the Heat, itll be a homecoming for the three-time NBA champion.- COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Some of Americas best soccer players returned this week to central Ohio, where a 20,000-seat stadium named for its insurance company sponsor is considered a spiritual home of the mens national team.- East Kilbrides players are the talk of Scottish soccer and beyond thanks to a 27-match winning run that has the tiny community-led club from the outskirts of Glasgow dreaming big. ' ' '