ch.He got me once like that once, Jeter said. Im

CINCINNATI -- The Arizona Diamondbacks continue their weekend series against the Reds at Great American Ball Park with manager Chip Hales job status looming over the club.Hale led Arizona to a 15-win improvement in 2015, his first season at the helm. After a busy offseason highlighted by the signing of Zack Greinke, the D-backs came into this year expecting to make a run at a National League West title.But, injuries and overall inconsistent play led to a 40-56 start and last-place standing in the division, leading to rumblings that Hale might be replaced by Triple-A Reno manager Phil Nevin.Im not going to make any comments about any rumors, said Hale, prior to Friday nights game. Nothing ever surprises me in this game, about anything.Following Friday nights 6-2 loss at Cincinnati, the Diamondbacks have dropped 16 of their last 20.Greinke is the latest Arizona injury. The right-handed ace threw off the mound on Wednesday for the first time since being placed on the disabled list with a strained left oblique in mid-June. He will throw again on Saturday after which Hale hopes to define the next step in his rehab.The D-backs also are without infielder Chris Owings and outfielder David Peralta, both rehabbing with the Triple-A Reno.Arizona is hoping to continue its recent success against CincinnatiLast season, the D-backs won six of seven meetings against the Reds who posted their lowest victory total against Arizona since 2002. Arizona had won the last five games at Great American Ball Park prior to Friday night.Right-hander Keyvius Sampson gets a spot start for Cincinnati on Saturday. Hell be making his eighth appearance of the season but his first start. Its the second time hes faced Arizona as a starter. He last faced the Diamondbacks on Aug. 8, 2015 when he allowed one earned run and four hits in six innings in a 4-1 Reds win.Sampson tossed four scoreless innings in his last outing in relief, allowing three hits with two walks and five Ks. It was the longest relief outing of his career and the longest by a Cincinnati reliever since 2013.Left-hander Robbie Ray will start on Saturday for Arizona. Ray threw seven shutout innings in his last start on July 17 against the Dodgers. He has struck out five or more batters in 18 consecutive starts.Ray last faced the Reds on Aug. 8, 2015 when he allowed three earned runs in six innings, the same game in which Sampson last faced the D-backs.Hell likely have to contend with the one-two punch at the top of Cincinnatis batting order in Billy Hamilton and Zack Cozart who on Friday combined to 3-for-8 with a double, two walks and three runs scored.Cozart and I are two different players, Hamilton said. Hes a doubles machine. Im not too much of a doubles machine. If I can get on base in front of him, we can score a lot of runs. Hydro Flask Coffee Cup . After Martin Skrtel put the Reds in front from close range at Stamford Bridge after only four minutes, Hazard hit back in the 17th with a superb strike. Etoo gave Jose Mourinhos team a decisive lead from Oscars back pass in the 34th. Hydro Flask 18 Oz Wide Mouth . -- Adam Snyder returned to the San Francisco 49ers this season because the offensive lineman thought it was his best opportunity to win a championship. http://www.hydroflaskcoffeesale.com/hydro-flask-coffee-flasks/16-oz-coffee.html . Varlamov made 33 saves and Ryan OReilly had a goal and scored in the shootout as the Avalanche beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Thursday night. Hydro Flask Standard Mouth Bottle .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Hydro Flask Coffee Sale . LOUIS -- St. PITTSBURGH -- Plenty of the numbers from Pittsburghs breezy 99-80 victory over Gardner-Webb looked pretty.And none of them mattered to coach Kevin Stallings. Sure shooting 54 percent and never being challenged on Monday night was nice, especially three days after needing double-overtime to hold off Eastern Michigan in Stallings coaching debut with the Panthers. Yet Stallings is more concerned about whether his team is ready for a far sterner test on Thursday against SMU at Madison Square Garden in the 2K Classic.You look at our defensive numbers, they were indicative of a team that was not really wired into play, he said. Thats my fault. Thats my job.Cameron Johnson scored 18 points and made all four of his 3-point attempts for Pitt (2-0). Michael Young put up 18 points and seven rebounds in 15 minutes after being held out of the starting lineup for only the second time in his career due to a minor violation of team rules. Sheldon Jeter added 14 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.Still, the Panthers led the Runnin Bulldogs trade baskets early in the first half and for long stretches in the second. Stallings wonders if his players are getting a little too caught up in the free-flowing offense Stallings brought with him from Vanderbilt.Maybe Ive sent the wrong message about tempo and offense and things like that, Stallings said. Were not ready to beat anybody thats equivalent to us in terms of talent because we dont sustain any type of defensive intensity.At one point in the first half, Stallings pulled the entire starting five off the floor in frustration.I think he just wanted more effort and energy, Johnson said. He cited a lack of focus for that.Not that much was required over the final 30 minutes after a 10-0 burst that included a pair of 3-pointers by Johnsoon to give the Panthers a 30-14 lead that was never threatened.ddddddddddddRUNNIN WITH THE PANTHERSLaQuincy Rideau finished with a career-high 23 points for Gardner-Webb (0-2) while adding eight rebounds and six assists. David Efianayi scored 20 points and Liam OReilly chipped in 14. The Runnin Bulldogs spread the floor to provide Rideau with room to slice his 6-foot-1 frame through the lane.I felt there was little more space where maybe we could attack the paint off the dribble, Gardner-Webb coach Tim Craft said. The problem is we werent converting. Some of the finishes were a little wild.BIG MAN DEBUTPitt junior Rozelle Nix made his long-awaited debut after missing last season with a foot injury. The 6-foot-11, 300-pound Nix entered with just over 4 minutes left and finished with four rebounds and on emphatic block on Gardner-Webbs DJ Laster that sent Nixs teammates erupting off the bench.He got me once like that once, Jeter said. Im not ashamed to admit it. Im not afraid to admit it.BIG PICTUREGardner-Webb: After managing just 44 points in a lackluster loss to SMU in the opener last week, Gardner-Webb was happy to try and keep pace with Pitt in what Craft called a learning experience for a young team that will rely on Rideau and Efianayi -- both sophomores -- to carry some of the scoring load.Pitt: Despite the defensive issues, the Panthers seem to have quickly embraced what Stallings wants to do on the other end of the floor. The Panthers made 13 of 26 3-pointers and finished with 29 assists on 35 field goals.UP NEXTGardner-Webb: plays Eastern Michigan in Indianapolis on Friday.Pitt: faces SMU on Thursday at Madison Square Garden. ' ' '