TORONTO – Jose Bautista missed his fourth consecutive game with an injured left hamstring when the Blue Jays took the field against the White Sox on Thursday night. Matt Slauson Jersey . He confirmed he wouldnt be able to play on Friday night either. But Bautista is progressing. “Better,” he said. “That is the best way I can describe it. It feels better than when it happened, better than the day after. So theres been a lot of progress. But Im obviously not ready to play, not today.” The first tests of Bautistas hamstring were passed on Monday and Tuesday. “Just to make sure I didnt need to go on the DL,” he said. The next test will be conducted on Saturday morning, hours before the third game of this four-game series. Bautista will run a series of sprints and, if his leg holds up, hell be available to at least pinch hit on the weekend. The Jays havent faced a left-handed starting pitcher since the Cardinals Jaime Garcia on June 8, a span of 17 games. Chicago will send three left-handers to the mound from Friday to Sunday, including most difficult challenges on Saturday (ace Chris Sale: 6-1, 2.27 ERA) and Sunday (Jose Quintana: 4-7, 3.69 ERA). Bautistas right-handed power bat would be especially welcomed. He admitted it can be difficult to remain patient as the hamstring heals. “Its tough because I dont want to handcuff the team by not being available,” said Bautista. “But at the same time I dont think I need the extra week to come back and, after two weeks, you normally would have to get some at-bats somewhere. I just dont want to go through that process because I dont feel like I need it.” In 77 games this season, Bautista is hitting .305/.433/.526 with 15 home runs and 59 walks to 48 strikeouts. He is baseballs leader in on-base percentage (.433) and bases-on-balls. Defensively, Bautistas eight outfield assists place him in a three-way tie for second. BAUTISTA CALLS FOR SUPPORT FOR ENCARNACION Edwin Encarnacion entered Thursdays action with 24 home runs, making him the major league co-leader with Baltimores Nelson Cruz. He is listed as a designated hitter on the All-Star fan voting ballot and currently sits fourth at the position behind Cruz, Bostons David Ortiz and Victor Martinez of the Tigers. Jose Bautista isnt happy about it. If the fans dont put Encarnacion into the game, Bautista expects the American League manager will. That man: former Jays skipper John Farrell. “How could you not pick the guy who is leading the league in home runs and RBIs?” asked Bautista. “Im surprised still that the fans havent come out and supported him better and hes not leading the votes for his position, but you cant control that as much as you can control a manager picking a player.” Encarnacion captured the imagination of Toronto fans and baseball in general with his 16-home run May. “I think, either way he should make the team,” said Bautista. “It would be a huge disappointment and let-down to all fans if you dont have a guy like Edwin dressed up for that game. No matter if its the other players or the manager picking him.” Bautista is the captain of the American League team for the annual Home Run Derby, which is held the night before the All-Star Game. Players who take part in the derby dont have to be participants in the game. However, Encarnacion has already told Bautista he wants no part of the derby. Bautista is actively recruiting potential derby-mates. He plans to speak to Chicagos rookie slugger, Jose Abreu (23 home runs) at some point this weekend. “I dont want to pick guys that dont want to do it and I dont want to force guys into doing it if they dont really feel like it, if theyre uncomfortable or they have some health issues,” said Bautista. “I want to win this, so Im not going to pick anybody who is going to be reserved in any way when they go and pick up a bat.” TOLLESONS VISION IMPROVING Steve Tolleson replaced Juan Francisco at third base in the seventh inning of Thursdays game against the White Sox, his first action on the homestand. He began suffering from dryness of the eyes and blurred vision on the last road trip. Tolleson made a Thursday visit to a cornea specialist, his fourth trip to an eye doctor in as many days, and came away with the diagnosis of an allergic reaction to contact lenses. Braden Smith Jersey . He insists hes not counting. "If youre thinking hits, youre not paying attention to wins," Altuve said Sunday after leading the Houston Astros past the Texas Rangers 3-2. Braden Smith Colts Jersey . Claude Noel will be the man behind the bench when the team hits the ice of the MTS Centre to begin its inaugural season. http://www.coltsproshopnfl.com/AUTHENTIC-NYHEIM-HINES-COLTS-JERSEY/ . Hes just beginning to get similar results. The right-hander struggled after winning the honour in 2008 and 2009, but a retooling of his game has begun to pay off and has the San Francisco Giants thinking about the Lincecum of old.MONTREAL -- The Hamilton Bulldogs couldnt recover from two goals in quick succession. Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Buddy Robinson scored 43 seconds apart in the second period to lead the Binghamton Senators to a 4-1 victory over the Bulldogs in American Hockey League action Friday night at the Bell Centre. The goals came off defensive lapses - missed coverage, and a mistake by goaltender Dustin Tokarski. Pageau was left alone in the slot for the equalizer, and Robinson benefited from Tokarskis lax play for the winner. "Those were two gifts. We gave them those goals," said Bulldogs coach Sylvain Lefebvre. "Those were glaring mistakes." With Hamilton leading 1-0 in the second period, the Senators tied the game at 15:00 when Pageau beat Tokarski above the glove into a gaping top corner. Pageau was left unmarked just outside the crease following a defensive breakdown, and could make no mistake from such close range. Robinson put Binghamton ahead less than a minute later, slotting home his ninth of the year past a sprawling Bulldogs goaltender. After an initial shot from the point, Tokarksi tried to smother the puck with his glove, but Senators forward Derek Grant got to it before him. Grant poked it out to a wide-open Robinson. "Its tough to come back from that," said Lefebvre. "Those really hurt your confidence. And were in a tough stretch right now, so confidence isnt coming easy to us. Sometimes we get discouraged too easily." The Bulldogs (22-24-5) found no way back after the abrupt turnaround. Instead, they were kept at bay by Binghamton (33-15-4) netminder Andrew Hammond, who was in fine form. Hammond made 31 saves, including 10 in the third period, for his 17th win of the season. Hamilton is slumping of late. Theyve gone 2-7-1 in their last 10 games, and have only scored four times in their last three. "Thats the story of our season so far," said forward Gabriel Dumont, who was kept off the score sheet for the fourth straight game. "Were trying to keep it simple and drive to the net, put pucks on the net, but were having trouble finding the back of the net." Dumont, whos played two games with the Montreal Canadiens this seasonn, has been a Bulldog for the last four years. Indianapolis Colts Jerseys. His struggling team has fallen to 13th in the Western Conference, and is eight points out of a playoff spot. "Its a frustrating season with some highs, and a lot of lows," he added. "Were still looking for consistency. Tonight, we were only able to score one goal." The goal was Nick Tarnaskys, and it opened the scoring at 4:18 of the second period. The six-foot-two Bulldogs forward used defenceman Mike Sdao as a screen to fool Hammond with a shot between the legs. "I got a lucky bounce at the blue-line," said Tarnasky, who was on a partial breakaway when he entered the Binghamton zone. "I heard somebody yelling: Youre on a two-on-one. But I wasnt. I was going to pass, but there was nobody there. "It was lucky enough that (Sdao) was coming across at the same time as I shot it. I dont think the goaltender was able to see it. That play gave us a little lift at the time." But it was all Binghamton after their two quick strikes later in the frame. Andre Petersson scored on a great individual effort at 12:29 of the third period to seal the victory, and Mike Hoffman added another in an empty net in the games final two minutes. Hoffman has 10 points (five goals, five assists) in his past five games. Hes second in the AHL in points with 65. Tokarski made 18 saves. There was little love lost between the teams to start the game. Tarnasky and Binghamtons Darren Kramer set the tone before the encounter even got underway, exchanging words and a few slashes during the pre-game warm-up. Tarnasky and Kramer waited only seven minutes into the game to solve their differences, dropping the gloves to earn fighting majors. Jarred Tinordi and the Senators Mark Borowiecki also fought in a first period that saw 34 penalty-minutes doled out by the referees. Notes: The attendance at the Bell Centre was 8,771. a The Senators, Ottawas AHL affiliate, are in first place in the East Division. Theyve won four games in a row. a This was the second and last matchup of the season between Hamilton and Binghamton. Tinordi scored in overtime to lead the Bulldogs to victory over the Senators on Feb. 8. Wholesale NFL T-shirts Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping NFL Jerseys Wholesale China NFL Gear Wholesale NFL Camo Jerseys Cheap NFL Hoodies Camo China NFL Jerseys ' ' '