in the second put the Angels ahead 1-0

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- If Joel Ward needed any reminder of how close the San Jose Sharks came to winning the Stanley Cup, it was right there in front of him one night this summer in his hometown of Toronto.While Ward was out getting dinner with his girlfriend, he ran right into a Stanley Cup celebration party held by Pittsburgh defenseman Trevor Daley.I just happened to sneak a peek at a bar downtown and it was his, Ward said. I had to go chug a beer when I got home. Let it go. But understood. Hats off to them. They won.The Sharks opened training camp Friday, looking to put the disappointment of that Cup final loss to the Penguins in the past and gear up for another long season that they hope ends with a trophy celebration.Obviously with the way last season ended we should feel good about the journey and have a little bit of a bad taste in our mouth about losing in the final and come back re-energized and ready to make that journey again, coach Peter DeBoer said.The Sharks were without seven key players who are taking part in the World Cup in Toronto, including captain Joe Pavelski, alternates Joe Thornton and Logan Couture, key defensemen Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Brent Burns, and forwards Joonas Donskoi and Mikkel Boedker.Pavelski and Donskoi are expected to rejoin the Sharks soon with the United States and Finland having been eliminated from the tournament, while the others may not be back until early October with the tournament possibly ending as late as Oct. 1.They were supposed to be without an eighth player but forward Tomas Hertl pulled out because he was still recovering from a knee injury suffered in Game 2 of the final against the Penguins.Hertl said it was hard to miss the tournament but his priority is being healthy for the NHL season.I think I am ready to go, he said. Nothing the past two or three weeks bothers me. I can turn, I can hit, I can do whatever. I think its ready.The Sharks dont expect those absences to play a major role because the team is in the second year of DeBoers system and is only making tweaks instead of wholesale changes like last season.Also, most of the core is back with the only significant additions being Boedker and defenseman David Schlemko.Its a lot easier when you know what to expect and the way he likes to run practices and what he expects out of you day in and day out, defenseman Paul Martin said. Im sure hell throw a couple of new things in here to keep it fresh but for the most part it makes it easier having that familiarity.After a slow start to the season that had the Sharks near the bottom of the Western Conference in early January last season, the team hit its stride after that as the players learned DeBoers system and Couture returned from an injury.San Jose was one of the top teams in the league over the final three months and made the playoffs as the third-place team in the Pacific Division after missing the postseason for the first time since 2003 the previous season.The Sharks then knocked off their nemesis, the Los Angeles Kings, in the first round and won a seven-game series in the second round against Nashville before qualifying for the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history with a Game 6 win at home in the Western Conference final against St. Louis.The run ended when San Jose met up with a faster and deeper Pittsburgh team in the Stanley Cup Final and lost to the Penguins in six games.Youre still mad that you lost in the finals, but you know you get another chance at it next year, forward Patrick Marleau said. Thats the motivation. Will Grier Jersey . General manager Jarmo Kekalainen told Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch on Friday that he wants to see Gaboriks contributions go beyond the scoresheet before considering a long-term deal for the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent. Greg Little Panthers Jersey . Tuesdays surgery at Atlantas Piedmont Hospital was performed by Dr. Xavier Duralde and Hawks team physician Dr. Michael Bernot. http://www.thepanthersofficialstore.com/authentic-christian-miller-panthers-jersey/ . Aduriz headed home Markel Susaetas cross in the sixth minute to open the scoring at San Mames Stadium. He bettered that with a long-range blast that went in off the goal frame in the 18th, and converted a penalty in the 72nd after Diego Mainz was sent off for fouling Aduriz with only the goalkeeper to beat. Greg Olsen Youth Jersey . The lawyers filed a 33-page amended complaint Tuesday in federal court in Manhattan, expanding on the suit originally filed Oct. 3 in New York Supreme Court. Arbitrator Fredric Horowitz last week refused to compel Selig to testify in the grievance, and Rodriguez then walked out of the hearing without testifying. Greg Olsen Panthers Jersey . The 28-year-old from Calgary matched his career best after missing just one shot in his two rounds of shooting in the mens 10-kilometre sprint competition. Smith finished in 23 minutes 15. OAKLAND, Calif. -- Derek Norris asks for pinch hitting advice from Oakland hitting coach Chili Davis and other veterans who have played in the NL. That assistance paid off on Saturday as Norris had a pinch-hit two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning in the Athletics 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. "It does take a little different mindset," Norris said after getting his first career pinch hit in 17 at-bats. "Its not an easy thing to do. Relievers are so good these days you want to be aggressive and look for something early in the count." Jed Lowrie also drove in a run for the As, who won their second straight and five of seven overall. Coco Crisp added two hits. "Thats just the way we play baseball," Norris said. "Theres no one guy like a (Miguel) Cabrera or a Chris Davis. We have a group of guys who can put together things." Tommy Milone (9-8) allowed four hits over seven innings, allowing one run. He walked four and struck out six. "I felt good, minus the four walks," Milone said. "Id like to think thats not the type of pitcher I am. Fortunately none of them scored. It was nice to get through." Josh Hamilton hit a booming home run for the Angels, who lost their second straight and five of seven overall. Grant Richards, making his first start since April 30, pitched five shutout innings. He gave up three hits, walked two and struck out four. "I was just going to go out there and try not to overthrow," Richards said. "Strike one was a big priority for me." Ryan Cook pitched the eighth and Grant Balfour got the final three outs for his 28th save in 29 chances. Richards, who came out of the bullpen in his past 26 appearances, gave up seven runs in 5 2-3 innings in his last start, also against the As. "It started off a little fuzzy, with him trying to find his release point," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Once he did, he pitched a strong game." Scott& Downs (2-3) entered the game in the seventh after Dane De La Rosa got Chris Young to hit into a fielders choice.dddddddddddd The As countered with Norris, who promptly delivered his first career pinch hit, a two-run shot into right field bleachers that put the As ahead. "Not by any means do I have it figured out," Norris said. "Today it worked." Downs allowed his first run in 30 appearances, one short of tying the Angels club record. "I cant remember the last time Downs gave up a home run," Scioscia said. "You like the matchup with his sinker and hopefully he can get the double play ball." After getting an out, Crisp singled and scored when Lowrie doubled off the right field wall, ending Downs day. Hamiltons home run with one out in the second put the Angels ahead 1-0. Milone allowed three runs or more (5.79 ERA) in each of his six previous starts. The four hits matched his season low. "He gives up a home run right away and then he hangs in there," As manager Bob Melvin said. "The next thing you know, he gives us seven innings. We needed him to go seven based on our offence." NOTES: Angels DH Albert Pujols returned to Los Angeles to have his sore left foot evaluated. He aggravated the injury running out a single in the ninth inning of Fridays game. ... RHP Tommy Hansen (4-2, 4.75) starts Sundays series finale for the Angels. It will be his second start since returning from the DL. Hansen is 2-0 in three road starts. ... RHP Jarrod Parker (6-6, 3.79) makes the start for the Athletics on Sunday. Hes 4-0 with a 2.17 ERA over his past 10 starts. He has a no-decision in each of his past five starts. ... As LHP Brett Anderson threw a 51-pitch bullpen session, with a break in the middle. ... The Angels had won the past 14 games in which Hamilton recorded an RBI. ... The As and Angels participated in a Throwback Day to 1969, which included Country Joe McDonald, of Woodstock fame, singing the national anthem. ' ' '