OAKLAND -- Oakland As right-hander Kendall Graveman was 12 starts into the season and was searching for answers. He was 2-6 with a 5.28 ERA, and opposing hitters were batting .309 with 11 home runs against him.Thats when pitching coach Curt Young made a suggestion that helped turn Gravemans season around.Curt came up to me and said, You got to find what works for you, what makes you have a chip on your shoulder, whats going to lock you in, Graveman said.Graveman said he remembered how locked in he was in 2014, when he visualized his pitches before every game and rocketed through the Toronto Blue Jays system, earning five promotions and finishing the season in the major leagues.It was something that I just had to get back to, visualize throwing every pitch to both sides of the plate to lefties and righties, Graveman said. Its almost like youre visualizing a pitch that you want to make in a big situation to try to get someone out, but also just visualizing quality pitches.I think for me it sets up nicely because I get to see the movement when I visualize it. Youve seen it so much after you throw it and watching video that I think that just reinforces it. The minds a powerful thing. I think we know that now in the game of baseball. You start really thinking positively before a start, I think positive outcomes will happen.In his past six starts, Graveman has gone 4-0 with a 2.68 ERA, and opposing hitters are batting .232 with two home runs.Graveman will take a career-high five-game winning streak into his start Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays and left-hander Drew Smyly.Smyly has lost a career-high seven straight games and is trying to escape the worst slump of his career. Hes 2-11 with a 5.64 ERA. Smyly, who missed 105 last year because of a left shoulder injury, entered this season with a career record of 24-15 with a 3.24 ERA.Its just been a slump, man, Smyly said. I wish I had an answer but I dont. You just got to keep grinding, keep searching. Im healthy. I feel fine. Every chance I get Im competing my hardest, so hopefully I can get it turned around. It is what it is.Despite Smylys struggles, the Rays have no plans to take him out of the rotation, manager Kevin Cash said.Were very confident he is going to pitch his way out of this, Cash said before the Rays 1-0, 13-inning loss to Oakland. Were looking forward to getting him on the mound (Saturday). I sat down and talked to him casually with him after his start in Colorado. Hes doing all the right things. The results just arent coming. Sometimes youve got to let it kind of work its course and one start, one, two good innings of something clicking can be really beneficial for him.Smyly gave up five runs and needed 100 pitches to get through five innings in a 7-4 loss to the Rockies on Monday at Coors Field.First of all, I believe hes healthy, too, Cash said. Weve talked to Drew. I think its just inconsistencies in his off-speed pitches. He has not gone into a start here recently where hes really had his wipeout cutter or wipeout breaking ball and it becomes difficult. Youre facing some good hitters, good lineups and to go out there with just a fastball -- he tries to get really picky with the fastball knowing that he doesnt have that. I know thats kind of been the focal point for him, to try to get one if not two of those off-sped pitches going for him.Graveman, who relies heavily on a nasty sinker, is 1-1 with a 2.04 ERA in three career starts against Tampa Bay. He took the loss on May 14 at Tropicana Field, allowing four runs over 5 2/3 innings in a 6-0 defeat.Smyly is 1-2 with a 6.87 ERA in six appearances against the As, including three starts. Duke Snider Jersey . The catch: It needs a lot of money, and it needs it fast. Sid Fernandez Jersey .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. https://www.cheapmetsjerseys.us/2120l-stephen-nogosek-jersey-mets.html . -- Linebacker Myles Jack ran for four touchdowns, defensive end Cassius Marsh caught a scoring pass, and No. Rick Aguilera Jersey . Just not the game. Kyle Palmieri scored two straight goals in the third period to rally the Anaheim Ducks past the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Tuesday night. Drew Gagnon Jersey .C. Lions has come to an end. Banks told TSN on Jan 2 that he had no interest in playing out the option year of his contract with the Lions in 2014, and he again made that clear in a conversation with Lions GM Wally Buono last week.SAN FRANCISCO - Marco Estrada went from feeling funny to feeling good and it worked to his advantage. Estrada pitched five strong innings, Norichika Aori drove in two runs, Khris Davis hit a home run and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the San Francisco Giants 6-1 on Wednesday night. Estrada gave the Brewers more than they could expect in his first start in two months. The right-hander allowed a hit, did not walk anybody and struck out six. "At first I felt a little weird out there," Estrada said. "As I got going I felt more comfortable. Overall, I thought it went pretty well." Estrada was activated from the disabled list before the game to make the start in place of left-hander Tom Gorzelanny, who is still bothered by a sore elbow. Estrada had only a pair of rehab starts and his pitch count was limited. He retired his last 14 batters and 15 of 16 overall. "His command was outstanding," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "He kept his curve down in the zone and his fastball had life to it. For him, coming back after two starts and throwing only 2 2-3 innings, I thought it was really good." Alfredo Figaro (2-3) pitched two innings to earn the win. Burke Badenhop and Michael Gonzalez each added a scoreless inning. Jeff Bianchi and Martin Maldonado also drove in runs for the Brewers, who won their third in four games. The Brewers did lose infielder and leadoff hitter Rickie Weeks to a strained left hamstring. He appeared to injure himself trying to beat out an infield grounder in the eighth. "I took two or three steps out of the box and I felt a little pop," Weeks said. Weeks added that he has never had hamstring problems before. Buster Posey drove in a run for the Giants, who have lost four of five. "I was working a lot during my bullpens and I was excited to be back out there," Estrada said. "I tried to stay relaxed and not show any emotion." Davis made a shoestring catch on PPoseys fly, saving at least one run and possibly avoiding a rally.dddddddddddd Madison Bumgarner (11-7) took a shutout into the eighth inning, but lost. He gave up four runs — three earned — on five hits in seven-plus innings. He walked three and struck out four. "For whatever reason, we dont look like the same team we were last year," Bumgarner said. "There are things I could have done differently. There are things everyone could have done differently. Its been the same story all year." The game was scoreless into the bottom of the seventh. Brandon Crawford walked and Brandon Belt singled to open the inning. After a passed ball, Posey hit a sacrifice fly. The first four Brewers reached base against Bumgarner in eighth. They all scored. Davis singled and Yuniesky Betancourt doubled to start the rally. Bianchi beat out an infield single to drive in one run and another came home when Bumgarner threw wildly past third on a bunt. "We didnt do a whole lot against him," Roenicke said. "When you go up against a guy that good and win, its a great game." Santiago Casilla took over on the mound and got one out before Aokis sharp single up the middle scored two. Its the first time in 10 starts that Bumgarner allowed more than three runs while pitching at least seven innings. Davis homered and Maldonado singled home a run against Barry Zito in the ninth. NOTES: Gorzelanny (elbow contusion) threw a bullpen session and will likely make his next start on Saturday in Seattle. ... The Brewers sent IF Scooter Gennett to Triple-A Nashville to make room for Estrada. ... Giants OF Jeff Francoeur started in centre field for the third time in his career. He made 176 starts there in the minors. ... Giants OF Gregor Blanco, .067 (3 for 45) since the All-Star break, will be given a day or two to clear his mind. "This will give him a chance to catch his breath," SF manager Bruce Bochy said. ' ' '