News » breaking down-building up process meant

HOUSTON -- Jon Singletons major league debut didnt get off to a great start. The 22-year-old slugger, who is no stranger to adversity, made up for it at the end. Singleton shook off a game that included two strikeouts and a pair of errors at first base to homer in the eighth inning for his first major league hit and help the Houston Astros to a 7-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels. He was surprised by how he felt after he launched a towering shot off Matt Shoemaker into the bullpen in right-centre to make it 6-2. "I was taken back. It felt like Id never done it before, to be honest," said Singleton who slugged 75 homers in the minors. "It felt like it was something new. My heart was racing so fast once I hit home plate, it didnt make any sense. I was still excited, still pumped from the adrenaline." Singleton, a highly touted prospect expected to help Houston back to respectability, made his major league debut a day after agreeing to a five-year, $10 million contract. Fellow young talent George Springer, who was called up in April, stood up in the dugout cheering and yelling as Singleton rounded the bases on his homer. The players danced and laughed together when Singleton returned to the dugout, a rare scene in recent years as the Astros plummeted to Major League Baseballs basement. "Winning breeds that," manager Bo Porter said of the moment. "When you start to win and your confidence continues to grow, youre going to have more fun." Singleton served a 50-game suspension last season for a second violation of a drug of abuse. He told The Associated Press in spring training that he has an addiction to marijuana and had spent a month in a rehabilitation centre last year. He moved past his problems this season and got the call to the majors after hitting .267 with 14 homers and 43 RBIs for Triple-A Oklahoma City. He said that Tuesday meant even more because of his past struggles. "Its been a long road for the last 16 months so I cant be more appreciative and thankful of this moment I have right now," he said. Singleton is the fourth Astro to homer in his debut and the first since 2008. He joins Ken Caminiti as the only players in team history to walk and homer in their debuts. Chris Carter followed Singletons home run with his opposite field shot to the seats in right field to give Houston back-to-back homers for the first time this season. Jason Castro and Robbie Grossman drove in two runs apiece as Houston took the lead with a five-run third inning. The Angels were done in by C.J. Wilsons lack of control. Wilson (6-5) walked a season-high five batters, including four in the third, in just 2 2-3 innings. Wilson has been slowed by flu-like symptoms this week, but was making no excuses. "Youre not going to feel 100 per cent, so you just go out there and give everything you have," Wilson said. Josh Hamilton had a solo homer in the eighth inning in his return from the disabled list after breaking his left thumb on April 8. Fellow Angels outfielder Mike Trout was back after missing two games with a stiff back, but left in the second inning with more back trouble. "I just didnt feel comfortable," he said. "I didnt want to risk it by pushing it too much ... I dont think its that severe, but well see." Collin Cowgill replaced Trout and homered in the eighth. Wilson walked three of the first four batters in the third inning to load the bases. Castros single to right field to put Houston up 2-0. Matt Dominguez singled to load the bases again and Wilson walked Singleton on four pitches to give the rookie his first career RBI. Wilson struck out Carter for the second out before Grossmans full-count single drove in two more to stretch the lead to 5-0 and chase Wilson. Houston starter Collin McHugh (4-3) allowed two hits over five scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 2.52. NOTES: All three of Hamiltons home runs this season have been in Houston. ... The Angels optioned right-hander Jarrett Grube to Salt Lake on Sunday to make room on the roster for Hamilton. ... They also selected the contract of right-hander Cam Bedrosian from Double-A Arkansas and optioned right-hander Michael Kohn to Salt Lake. Bedrosian, a 22-year-old reliever, has a 1.47 ERA in 17 games this season for Arkansas. He struck out one in a scoreless sixth. ... Houston optioned 1B Marc Krauss to Oklahoma City to make room on the roster for Singleton. Wholesale Fake Yeezys . The Argentine midfielder made the announcement himself on Twitter on Tuesday and posted a picture of his swollen left foot. His message said he would be out "at least three weeks. Fake Yeezys . The two-time former Formula One champion downplayed his third-place finish three weeks ago in China and said progress is going slow for Ferrari as it tries to make up ground on Mercedes. http://www.fakeyeezysforsale.com/ .com) - Ryan Miller made 28 saves to record his fifth shutout of the season and second in as many nights as the Vancouver Canucks defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0 on Friday. Fake Yeezys Online ." Argos general manager Jim Barker uttered those words during an interview with TSN 1050 radio just prior to the CFLs annual free agent frenzy. Fake Yeezy Boost 350 V3 . Kelli Stack and Alex Carpenter also scored for the Americans, who avoided a repeat of Finlands upset at the Four Nations Cup in Lake Placid, N.Y., in November. Finnish goalie Noora Raty made 58 saves in that one, but the three-time Olympian could stop just 40 of 43 U.(SportsNetwork.com) - A pair of division leaders collide on Beale Street Wednesday with the Memphis Grizzlies set to host the Toronto Raptors. The Southwest-leading Grizzlies are 1-1 on a five-game homestand and are looking to rebound from Mondays 103-95 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Mike Conley scored 22 points, Marc Gasol added 20 and Zach Randolph recorded a double-double of 18 points and 15 rebounds. Mavs star Dirk Nowitzki got eight of his 21 points in a game-ending 14-4 run and the Grizzlies missed nine of their last 10 shots. Hes been doing that his whole career, said Randolph, in reference to Nowitzkis late-game scoring. As a team, we have to do a better job of not allowing him to get to his sweet spots. Randolph has recorded six straight double-doubles and 11 in his last 12 games. Memphis, which had a four-game winning streak stopped, shot 42.4 percent for the game and couldnt build on Saturdays 102-98 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. The Grizzlies are still 8-4 in the last 12 games and will also welcome Philadelphia and Orlando to FedExForum on this homestand. They are 16-5 as the host this season. Toronto will continuue a three-game road trip Wednesday and kicked off the sojourn with Mondays 92-89 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.dddddddddddd Kyle Lowry led six players in double figures with 18 points, Terrence Ross had 16 and Lou Williams netted 15 points. Jonas Valanciunas recorded 11 points and 13 rebounds, while Amir Johnson and Greivis Vasquez scored 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the Raptors. I think we needed this type of win tonight, said Lowry. The fact that it was competitive, it wasnt a blowout, it was a good game. We did a good job of handling the pressure. DeMar DeRozan, who recently missed 21 games (12-9) with a groin injury, finished with zero points and four assists in 26 minutes. The Atlantic-leading Raptors won for the third time in the last 10 games and improved to 11-7 on the road. They will close the road swing Friday at Philadelphia. Lowry is averaging 24.2 points on the road this season. Toronto posted a 96-92 victory over Memphis on Nov. 19 at Air Canada Centre and was led by DeRozans 21 points. Gasol ended with 22 points and 12 rebounds in that one for Memphis, which is winless in the last three meetings with Toronto. ' ' '