throws to extend Portlands lead to

ORLANDO, Fla. Mark Grace Jersey . -- Boston Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington was voted The Sporting News baseball executive of the year following the teams worst-to-first turnaround. The award, based on a vote of 31 major league executives, was announced Monday night at the annual GM meetings. Voting ended before the post-season, when the Red Sox went on to win their third World Series title in 10 years and first since Cherington succeeded Theo Epstein as general manager in October 2011. Cherington received 15 votes, followed by Pittsburghs Neal Huntington (nine), Kansas Citys Dayton Moore (four) and Atlantas Frank Wren (three). Boston won the award for the fourth time, following owner Tom Yawkey (1946) and GM Dick OConnell (1967 and 75). Founded in 1886, TSN ended its print edition at the end of last year but remains available online. "Definitely unexpected," Cherington said. "I consider this to be an award for the organization, not for me. Coming off the year we had in 2012, I also sort of see it as usually an award that goes to an organization that does work over a period of time and not necessarily in one year." Following a late collapse in 2011, Boston was decimated by injuries last year and went 69-93 under first-year manager Bobby Valentine, its poorest record since 1965. A roster turnover began in August 2012 when Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford and their big-money contracts were traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a deal that saved Boston just more than $261.66 million through 2018. Valentine was fired after the season and replaced by former Toronto manager John Farrell, Bostons pitching coach from 2007-10. The Red Sox restocked during the off-season by signing seven major league free agents for contracts of three years or fewer at a total of $100.45 million, a group that included Mike Napoli, Shane Victorino, Jonny Gomes, Koji Uehara, Stephen Drew, David Ross and Ryan Dempster. They helped Boston win the AL East, return to the playoffs for the first time since 2009 and help the city heal following the Boston Marathon bombings in April. Drew, Napoli and Jacoby Ellsbury turned down Bostons $14.1 million qualifying offers Monday, and the Red Sox would receive additional draft picks at the end of the first round in June if they sign elsewhere. Cherington said the Red Sox continue to talk with the three along with free-agent catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia. "Theres real interest, but nothing more than that," Cherington said. For Cherington and his staff, the 2013 title is an accomplishment to savour, but its also in the past already. Sammy Sosa Jersey . The third-seeded Bouchard, from Westmount, Que., was coming off a semifinal appearance at the French Open. She took the opening set before the unseeded American came back for the 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory. Anthony Rizzo Jersey . - Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Jason Babin is now a free agent. http://www.cubsauthentic.com/cubs-ernie-banks-jersey/ .C. -- After a listless first half, the Washington Wizards used a big third quarter run to beat the Charlotte Bobcats Bradley Beal scored 21 points and the Wizards used a 17-0 run in the third quarter to take control of what had been a close game and beat the Bobcats 97-83 on Tuesday night.Boston, MA (SportsNetwork.com) - LaMarcus Aldridge scored 20 points and pulled down 14 rebounds as Portland edged the Celtics 94-88 on Sunday. The Trail Blazers were behind at the half but got hot from the field later in the game and finally erased a Boston lead that persisted through the entire first half. Portland got great contributions from its bench, led by veterans Chris Kaman and Steve Blake. Kaman scored 16 points and grabbed eight boards in 17 minutes, and Blake chipped in 11 on 5-of-8 shooting from the floor. They both have had some very good games for us, said Portland head coach Terry Stotts. I think its typical of what theyve given us. Steve is very consistent defensively ... Chris is very consistent, hes been consistent all season as far as scoring and rebounding off the bench. Jared Sullinger and Jeff Green tied for the Celtics lead with 19 points apiece. Rajon Rondo ran the Boston offensive effectively with 13 points on nine shots and a game-high eight assists. Avery Bradley also scored 13 despite shooting just 1-of-8 from beyond the arc. Damian Lillard scored 12 points and finished with a career-high nine rebounds. The Celtics got off to an early lead thanks to great work on the offensive glass. They led 7-0 just a minute and a half into the game thanks to two offensive rebounds and five points from Sullinger. Portland was unable to hit a shot from the field until the 7:16 mark of the quarter when Robin Lopez tipped in a missed layup to cut Bostons lead to 9-4. Portlands 6-0 run in the final two minutes of the quarter left them with a 23-21 deficit after one. Boston led by as much as 10 points in the first half. Commenting on his teams defense, Celtics coach Brad Stevens said, As we enter a five-day stretch before we play two more contenders, we haave something to build off of. Ben Zobrist Jersey. Despite six third quarter turnovers, Portland was able to erase Bostons 49-44 halftime lead four and a half minutes into a third period that saw both teams shoot a high percentage. The Trail Blazers grabbed their first lead on an Aldridge layup at 7:35. Aldridge scored Portlands first four points of the quarter and capped off the 15-8 run that gave them that lead. On his star forward, Portland coach Terry Stotts said, He fought through some adversity offensively because he had shots at the rim that werent falling, and I thought tonight was as much of a mental toughness game for him as a physical toughness game. The two teams traded the lead throughout the rest of the period with neither leading by more than three. Blakes jumper with 34 seconds left tied the game at 72 heading into the fourth. It looked like Portland was poised to take over the game in the fourth with a 10-0 run to start, highlighted by 3s from Wesley Matthews and Lillard. The Celtics fought and stayed in the game though. With less than five minutes to go, Aldridge scored his 20th point by sinking a pair of free throws to extend Portlands lead to 12, but Boston went on an 11-3 run to make it a 92-88 game with 1:30 to play. Bradley and Sullinger hit back-to-back 3s to cap that run. That would be the last shot the Celtics would make though, as they missed their last three shots from the field. Matthews dunk with 11 seconds left sealed the game. Game Notes Portland has won four straight games against Boston ... Boston is now riding a four-game home losing streak ... Jeff Greens 19 points put him over the 7,000 mark for his career ... Boston has not beaten a Western Conference team this season in six attempts. ' ' '