spinners really. Weve been very good at first-innings runs in the last 12 months, and that was the big challenge. Your first-innings runs set up ga

NEW YORK -- Just when things are starting to fall in place for the surging New York Mets, another key injury clouded what should have been a jubilant clubhouse after one of their biggest wins this year.After Kelly Johnsons three-run double in the eighth inning broke a tie and lifted the Mets to a 5-2 win over the Miami Marlins on Wednesday night, manager Terry Collins announced that second baseman Neil Walker would probably have season-ending surgery on a herniated disc in his back.After all the evidence has been gathered, he thinks thats where hes probably headed, Collins said.Walker is expected to discuss his condition Thursday.Already without Matt Harvey (thoracic outlet syndrome) for the remainder of the year and with lingering injuries to Noah Syndergaard (bone spur), Steven Matz (shoulder/elbow), Asdrubal Cabrera (knee) and Yoenis Cespedes (quad), the loss of Walker comes at an inopportune moment. The Mets have won 10 of their last 13 to climb back into the National League wild-card race.This year, Walker has been a big part of this team, its a shame, infielder Wilmer Flores said. Weve had a lot of injuries but we have to keep playing with what we have.Cespedes singled off A.J. Ramos (1-2) to start the winning rally. Curtis Granderson walked. Flores flew out to center, advancing a hustling Cespedes to third. After Jay Bruce flew out to right, Travis dArnaud walked to load the bases, bringing up Johnson.Johnson, who was 25-for-79 with the bases loaded in his career with 74 RBI, drove the ball into the right field corner. He emphatically clapped his hands and swung his arms into the air after reaching second base.I cant explain the importance of having a veteran player who has been through many, many different situations, who can come off the bench and be a big hitter in big situations, Collins said.The victory gave New York a 15-14 record in August, their first winning month since April. Theyve moved to within 1 1/2 games of St. Louis for the NLs second wild card.Addison Reed (4-2) pitched a perfect eighth inning for the win. Jeurys Familia closed for his 44th save, a franchise record.Ramos also blew the save in Mondays series opener.I threw a slider that I was trying to make it around the zone and he took advantage of it, he said. He did what hes supposed to do with that in a big situation.Christian Yelich homered for Miami, which dropped its fifth consecutive game.New York had plenty of opportunities against starter Jake Esch, who was making his major league debut. After a pair of strikeouts in the first inning, Esch allowed four consecutive runners in the second, including Flores 15th home run. He pitched himself of out trouble in the fourth by inducing a double play from Mets starter Bartolo Colon.The Marlins caught a break when 42-year old Ichiro Suzuki leaped above the center-field wall to take a potential two-run homer away from Curtis Granderson in the fifth.With New York already leading 2-1 and runners on first and second, All-Star Marcell Ozuna made a diving catch on Flores sinking line drive to end the third inning. After initially stepping to his left, Ozuna quickly changed direction, ranging to his right and made a nifty grab before tumbling over. He rolled over several times before coming to a stop.Ozuna was removed from the game in the next inning. X-rays were negative and is day-to-day.TRAINERS ROOM:Marlins: RHP David Phelps, originally scheduled to start Wednesdays game, was placed on the 15-day DL with a strained oblique. He hurt himself on his first swing during pitchers batting practice Tuesday.UP NEXT:Mets: RHP Jacob deGrom (7-7, 2.96 ERA) pitches the series finale; deGrom (rest) was scheduled to pitch in Fridays opener against Washington after a nine-day layoff, but was moved up a day with Matz not yet ready to come off of the disabled list.Marlins: RHP Jose Urena (2-5, 5.83 ERA) opposes deGrom. Hes lost four of six starts since moving to the Marlins rotation on July 19.MAKING MOVES:The Mets announced some moves after the game. First, they acquired 31-year old reliever Fernando Salas from the Anaheim Angels for pitcher Erik Manoah. Salas was 3-6 with a 4.47 ERA with the Angels but has four saves and a 2.93 ERA since the All-Star Game. Manoah was 5-5 with Class-A Brooklyn. OF Justin Ruggiano was moved to the 60-day DL to make room. The team also traded minor league catcher Nevin Ashley to Texas for cash. Cheap Bill Russell Jersey . Their experience showed Tuesday as the No. 10 Badgers blunted a Saint Louis surge to win 63-57 and advance to face West Virginia in Wednesdays finals of the Cancun Challenge. Cheap Larry Bird Jersey . 24 Baylor in a Big 12 clash between teams trending in opposite directions. Andrew Wiggins made 10-of-12 from the foul line and scored 17 for Kansas (14-4, 5-0 Big 12), which capped a stretch of four straight games against ranked opponents unscathed. http://www.cheapcelticsjerseys.com/ .B. - Sebastien Auger made 44 saves as the Saint John Sea Dogs edged the visiting Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2-1 on Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Cheap Celtics Jerseys . Self was acquired from the Buffalo Bandits in a trade for Alex Hill midway through last season, and made his debut in Rochester on March 16, 2013. Cheap Swingman Celtics Jerseys . Hamelin, who triumphed in the 500 on Saturday, edged out Victor An of Russia by 0.021 seconds to maintain his lead in the World Cup standings. Russias Vladimir Grigorev was third. In the relay, Canada took control six laps from the finish line to beat Russia and the Netherlands. Australias batsmen were guilty of poor decisions to squander their first innings advantage and begin the slide to defeat against Sri Lanka at Pallekele, while the left-arm spinner Jon Holland is all but assured of a Test debut in Galle. The coach Darren Lehmann offered these conclusions as he set about working with the captain Steven Smith to keep the tourists in the series and atop the world rankings.Lehmann has always emphasised the need for big first-innings runs, and noted that the bowlers claimed 20 wickets so could be seen to have done something like their best job in the first Test. He was far more critical of his batsmen, who fell in a rush on the second morning and left Australia with a first-innings lead of only 86 - not enough to safeguard against a brilliant innings by Kusal Mendis and exposure to Rangana Herath. Smiths second innings response, to play within his limitations and look for ones and twos, was closer to what Lehmann wanted.Theyve got to be better at decision-making. The disappointing thing was we gave up a big lead, Lehmann said of his batsmen. We shouldve made more runs in the first innings. We let them off the hook there. The positive was we got 20 wickets again. If we keep getting 20 wickets, it gives you a good chance that if your batters are making runs to win games of cricket.That was the pleasing thing for us, especially when we had a bowler down in the second innings. And theres enough upside there that we know were on the right path with the type of team we want to play. It gets down to just the execution against their spinners really. Weve been very good at first-innings runs in the last 12 months, and that was the big challenge. Your first-innings runs set up games, and that was what we needed to do.I thought some of the guys really applied themselves better in the second innings than the first. Probably decision-making cost them at the end of the day. That sort of innings was very good from Steven. The wicket might be different batting first here at Galle, if you win the toss. I think itll still spin from day one, but it just is what it is.The Australians were repeatedly hit on the pads or bowled by Herath deliveries that skidded on, much as they were by Yasir Shah and Zulfiqar Babar in the UAE against Pakistan in late 2014. Too often the batsmen misread the length and weere caught trying to defend deliveries they did not get to the pitch of, and Lehmann said this had been a matter for repeated discussion.ddddddddddddWell, when theyre getting hit on the pads, its probably not spinning, Lehmann said. I think we had the problem in Dubai with Zulfiqar. So weve addressed that, we addressed in Dubai, obviously a different playing group, we addressed it before the series here. Theyve just got to get better at it. [Herath] Bowled at the stumps. Consistently at the stumps. Something that weve got to do.I cant remember a better preparation. I know that sounds a bit silly when you get bowled out for 200 and 160. I think the batters are in a really good space, probably their decision making wasnt quite up to scratch in this Test match - well, it wasnt up to scratch. We had starts but no-one go on with it, we had partnerships but no one had a big one, which is something we have done really well in the last 12 months - we have had big partnerships. Thats a challenge for the batting group, getting through those tough times.Now they have seen [Lakshan] Sandakan, it is going to be a lot easier to play and Herath is obviously a very quality bowler. They have got to work out a plan. We have talked about it a lot so they know what to do, its just executing more than anything else.Holland met the Test squad on their arrival into Galle on Sunday, and can expect a rapid promotion from Victorias Sheffield Shield final team, to Australia A in Brisbane, to a baggy green in Sri Lanka in the place of the injured Steve OKeefe. Hes obviously a very crafty left-arm spinner, Lehmann said. We obviously had that loss of SOK in the second innings which hurt us. But injuries happen so you cant complain about that.Hes tall, hes got good shape on the ball, he bowls at a decent pace. Im sure hell have success here. We think its a really good way to go. Well have to wait and see what the wicket is, but Im pretty sure well play two spinners again. Hes always been thought of really highly. Especially with the Shield final - he ended up with eight for the game and he bowled very well. So his record when hes up and fit has been excellent, hes just had a lot of injuries the last few years. ' ' '