Bewerbungen » which saw Andy Pettitte (4-3) depart after 4 2/3 i

MADRID -- For Cristiano Ronaldo, theres clearly something special about playing Atletico Madrid.Ronaldo is used to performing well regardless of the opponent but the star forward often finds another level against Real Madrids crosstown rival.No one has done better than him in the Madrid derby, not even the great Alfredo Di Stefano.With his hat trick on Saturday in the 3-0 win at the Vicente Calderon Stadium, Ronaldo reached 18 goals to surpass the former Madrid great as the derbys top all-time goal scorer.To score three goals in a game like this is something that only the great players can do, said former Real Madrid forward Emilio Butragueno, currently a club director. The great players show what they can do in games of this magnitude. Its a privilege to have a player like Ronaldo playing for this club.Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said Ronaldos performance on Saturday should put an end to the debate over best player of the year award.I never had any doubt in my mind, Zidane said. He has shown that he deserves it all season long.Ronaldos performance was tough on Atletico, coming in the last Spanish league derby at the Calderon before the club moves into a new venue next season.A good result at the emotionally charged game was a matter of honor for Atletico players and fans. Watching Madrid run rampant at its ground was tough for the die-hard crowd that has packed the Calderon for the last 50 years.Atletico had been doing well against Madrid recently, unbeaten in six league games, but supporters still remember painful defeats in Champions League finals, when Ronaldo played key roles. The 31-year-old forward scored Madrids final goal in extra time in the 4-1 win in 2014, and converted the decisive penalty kick in the shootout in last seasons final in Milan.Ronaldo has scored against Atletico in three different competitions, with 11 goals coming in the Spanish league, six in the Copa del Rey and one in the Champions League.Di Stefano, who played for the club from 1953-64, scored 17 goals against Atletico.It was Ronaldos second hat trick at the Calderon, giving him a total of seven goals at the stadium that will be demolished after Atletico moves out. The other hat trick came in his first season with Madrid in 2012, and he also netted at the venue in 2014.Ronaldo scored Saturday with a free kick that deflected off the wall in the first half. He converted a penalty kick in the second after being fouled in the area and sealed the victory with an easy close-range shot after a pass by Gareth Bale.The win at the Calderon left Madrid four points clear of Barcelona, and nine points in front of Atletico, significantly diminishing the rivals title chances after only 12 matches.Madrid hasnt won the Spanish league title since 2012.---Tales Azzoni on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tazzoni Authentic Custom Kings Jersey . JOHNS, N. Cheap Custom Kings Jersey .com) - The Pittsburgh Penguins placed forward James Neal on injured reserve Tuesday. http://www.customnhlkingsjersey.com/custom-rob-blake-jersey-large-73w.html . Supported by three-run homers from Jayson Werth and Wilson Ramos, the young right-hander went seven strong innings in the Washington Nationals 8-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night. Kings Jerseys China . Pert has formerly spent time as an assistant coach with Cardiff City, Coventry City, and Bahrain mens national team. "Martyn is a highly-respected coach with experience at the top levels in England," said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson. Custom Kings Jerseys . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break.(Sports Network) - The Toronto Blue Jays are finally starting to play up to expectations. They will be put to the test this weekend, as they start a three-game series against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Thanks to a few offseason deals that landed them reigning NL Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey, as well as Jose Reyes, Melky Cabrera, Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle, Toronto was expected to compete. However, the new acquisitions have either struggled or been injured and the Blue Jays sit seven games under .500 and eight games back of the American League East-leading Yankees. Toronto, though, heads to New York having won four in a row and seven of its last 10. It could be getting hot at the right time. Following this set in the Bronx, the Blue Jays can further chip into their division deficit, as they host series against both Tampa Bay and Baltimore. "All we can do from here on out is play good consistent baseball," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "Weve dug a pretty big hole, and theres a lot of good teams in our division ... so it wont be easy. There still is a lot of time, but you got to play better baseball from here on out. "Lets face it, weve got to have some pretty good streaks in there, too." Getting the call on Friday will be one of Torontos newcomers, Buehrle, who is just 1-2 with a 6.19 ERA. Buehrle pitched well his last time out in Boston, but did not get a decision, despite yielding a run and five hits in seven innings of a 3-2 win. Buehrle could have his work cut out for him on Friday, as he is just 1-9 lifetime versus the Yankees with a 6.19 ERA in 14 starts. Hes 0-1 in two starts against them this year and has allowed seven earned runs in 12 1/3 innings of those outings, both Toronto losses.dddddddddddd He hasnt beaten them since April 10, 2004. New York, meanwhile, will counter with Japanese righty Hiroki Kuroda, who has won five of his last six decisions. Kuroda beat the Kansas City Royals on Sunday, limiting them to a pair of runs and six hits in 7 2/3 innings to run his record to 5-2 to go along with a 2.31 ERA. Kuroda defeated the Blue Jays back on April 25 and is 3-1 in five starts against them with a 3.82. New York could use a big start from Kuroda on Friday, as it enters this series having dropped two of three to the Seattle Mariners after falling 3-2 in Thursdays rubber match. Curtis Granderson finished 3-for-4 and scored a run for New York, which saw Andy Pettitte (4-3) depart after 4 2/3 innings due to a tight left trapezius muscle. The veteran left-hander, making his 499th career start, gave up two runs on four hits, walked three and struck out five. "Its been a battle my last four starts," said Pettitte. "My command just isnt what I want it to be." While the Pettitte injury doesnt seem too bad, the Yankees also lost catcher Chris Stewart to a groin injury that could land him on the disabled list. "When he went around the base and stopped, he said he felt something," Yankees skipper Joe Girardi said of his catcher. "He said it didnt pop. He said he was OK, but when we saw him run, he said it continued to hurt." The Yankees swept a four-game set from the Jays the last time these teams met in the Bronx and have won 16 of the last 18 meetings at home in this series. ' ' '