into the third. Barzal put Canada ahead 2-1 at 7:40 before Kameno

CHICAGO -- The first two happened in a single game in Colorado. There was a fly ball that barely cleared the wall, and then a screaming drive to right-centre. Jose Abreu quickly hit two more home runs against Cleveland. He beat Tampa Bay with a game-ending grand slam, an absolute laser for his second shot of the game. Some 6,000 feet of homers in just six weeks, another successful mile in a well-travelled bridge from Abreus native Cuba to the Chicago White Sox. The big first baseman is punishing major league pitching while making a difficult transition to the United States look almost routine. "I come from a place where there is very good baseball, but theres nowhere you can compare that baseball to this one," Abreu said through a translator. "This is the best baseball in the world. But the only way to achieve this, to come here and be successful, is to be disciplined, to have a lot of discipline, thats the way you improve." Abreu looks right at home. The 6-foot-3, 255-pound slugger connected in Oakland on Wednesday to become the fourth player in major league history to hit 15 homers in his first 42 games, joining Wally Berger, Kevin Maas and Wally Joyner. He is batting .271 with 41 RBIs heading into a weekend series at Houston. Abreu, who defected in 2012 and finalized a $68 million, six-year deal with the White Sox in October, is among the major league leaders in several offensive categories. Playing at hitter-friendly U.S. Cellular Field, he is a legitimate threat to become baseballs first rookie home run king since Mark McGwire for the Athletics in 1987. "Its just his strength, his power," White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham said. "I mean hes just strong. You can do what he does with how strong he is, because he doesnt do a lot with his swing, his body to get ready to hit. He just drops the head of the bat on it and its gone." All that power has captured the attention of baseball fans across the country, but it is Abreus appreciative attitude that has quickly endeared him to his teammates. No small feat considering Abreus arrival pushed franchise icon Paul Konerko into a reserve role. "Hes such a good team person and you like to see stuff like this happen to people like him," manager Robin Ventura said. Abreu is the latest in a new wave of Cuban stars finding success all over baseball, and part of a long history of successful Cuban players in Chicago. Sluggers Yoenis Cespedes of Oakland and Yasiel Puig of the Dodgers are two of the majors most dangerous bats. Cincinnati left-hander Aroldis Chapman has blossomed into an All-Star closer. Miami right-hander Jose Fernandez was the NL Rookie of the Year last season. There were a record 19 Cuban players on opening-day rosters and inactive lists this year. "I think clubs are learning more and more how to do it," Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said. Cuban players often travel a dangerous road to the majors. According to court documents in a federal lawsuit in Miami, smugglers who helped Puig leave his country on a speedboat have made death threats against him and against a boxer who says he defected with Puig. When they make it to the U.S., they face what can be an isolating transition to a completely different culture and the rigours of the majors. One of the biggest challenges is the language barrier, but they also have to work through changes brought on by a level of wealth and fame far beyond what they could have experienced in their home country. Major league teams are more careful than ever these days about creating a positive atmosphere for the Cuban players, making sure there is a translator in the clubhouse and help nearby when it comes to challenges on and off the field. The 27-year-old Abreu has three Cuban teammates; shortstop Alexei Ramirez, outfielder Dayan Viciedo and catcher Adrian Nieto. Lino Diaz, the manager of cultural development for the White Sox, also is around if Abreu needs any assistance. The White Sox have had 18 Cuban-born players in franchise history, tied with the Los Angeles Angels for fourth among all major league franchises, according to STATS. Minnie Minoso, regarded as baseballs first black Latino star, played 12 of his 17 seasons in Chicago and remains a team ambassador. Orlando Hernandez helped the White Sox win their last World Series title in 2005. Abreus fast start is drawing interest back home. The slugger is followed as closely as possible in a country where, despite the appearance of recorded major league games on state TV starting in March 2013, games featuring Cuban defectors are still not shown. Cubans with access to the Internet and bootleg versions track his career and often discuss it at the "hot corner," a spot in Havanas Parque Central where baseball fans gather to discuss international and Cuban players. "Abreu is a powerful hitter, he was really good here, but personally I think that with his major league results hes really exceeded expectations," said Jose Estrada, 55. "All over Cuba were following him much more than before because hes Cuban and he represents Cuba in the country with the best baseball in the world, the major leagues, and hes showing everyone the level of Cuban baseball." That level looks better than ever right now. Vapormax Off White Cena . LeBron James and Chris Bosh didnt need any more. Williams scored 11 points in 10 minutes, Alan Anderson scored 17 points, and the Brooklyn Nets finished the exhibition season with a 108-87 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night. Vapormax Boty Cz . Tristan Jackson returned a missed field goal 129 yards early in the fourth quarter as the Roughriders beat the B.C. http://www.vapormaxlevne.cz/vapormax-plus-boty/vapormax-plus-a-erna-sleva.html . Miikka Kiprusoff had just announced his retirement after a decade-long run in Calgary and it would be up to Berra and Ramo to fill the void. Vapormax Flyknit Levně . Kuznetsov, who was selected by the Capitals in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, has been playing for his hometown team Chelyabinsk Traktor of the KHL. Nike Vapormax Levne . Henderson (20-3) received winning scores of 48-47 and 49-46, and the other judge scored it 48-47 for Thomson (20-6). The announcement drew boos from the United Center crowd. "Train this hard for this long, its such a long camp and I see my title shot disappear," said Thomson, who fought most of the fight with a broken right hand.IMATRA, Finland -- Canada lost more than just its final preliminary-round game at the world under-18 hockey tournament Tuesday. Kirill Pilipenko scored in the shootout to earn Russia a 3-2 win over Canada, the defending champions first defeat at the event. But the Canadians also lost forward Brayden Point to an upper-body injury in the first period thats expected to sideline him for the reminder of the tournament. Russian Danil Vovchenko drove Point head-first into the boards at 7:23 of the first. Vovchenko received a five-minute major for checking from behind and a game misconduct on the play. "Thats a huge loss for our side," Canadian team coach Kevin Dineen said. "Hes a big part of so many facets of our game. "He plays on both of our special teams and centres the top line. Hes a big loss but thats the advantage, we have other people to fill roles." Point had an assist in Canadas four preliminary-round games but the five-nine, 160-pound Calgary native recorded 36 goals and 55 assists in 72 games this season with the WHLs Moose Jaw Warriors. Pilipenko scored on Russias first shot of the shootout against Canadian goalie Mason McDonald. But it was all the offence the Russians needed as Canadas Conner Bleackley, Jared McCann and Jake Virtanen all couldnt beat goalie Alexander Trushkov. Trushkov replaced Maxim Tretiak, the grandson of legendary Soviet goaltender Vladislav Tretiak, to start the shootout. "Thats tournament hockey," Dineen said. "Obviously were disappointed it ended like that but you take a breath, look at the big picture and say our team earned points in all four games annd finished first in our side of the pool.dddddddddddd" Vladislav Kamenovs power-play goal with 35 remaining in regulation forced overtime. Mathew Barzal and Travis Konecny scored for Canada (3-0-0-1, 10 points), which still finished atop Group A despite the loss. The Canadians will resume tournament action Thursday in a quarter-final game against Switzerland. Ivan Nikolishin had the other goal for Russia (1-0-2-1, eight points), which needed a win in regulation over Canada to finish first in Group A. Konecny opened the scoring at 1:49 of the second period before Nikolishin replied just 27 seconds into the third. Barzal put Canada ahead 2-1 at 7:40 before Kamenov converted on the man advantage at 19:25. Dineen, who led the Canadian womens team to Olympic gold in Sochi, Russia, said he was pleased with his teams defensive play against Russia, especially with the man advantage. The Russians finished 1-for-5 on the power play. "I really give our guys credit . . . they came out and guys were blocking shots, making plays along the boards," Dineen said. "I give the Russians a lot of credit, they really did a good job with their possession game and created a lot of chances. "Obviously your goaltender has to be extremely large and Mason played a whale of a game for us." McDonald likely earned himself the start for the Canadians in the quarter-final game. He stopped 29 shots as Russia outshot Canada 31-25. "Mason McDonald was the player of the game," Dineen said. "I think its going to be pretty hard for us to pull away from him. "He played a heck of a game." ' ' '