ding 40th homer and Tom Murphys RBI single. Arenados 129 runs lead the NL and he joined Vinny Castilla (1996-98) and Andres Galarraga (1996-97) as the only Rockies hitte

ATHENS, Greece -- Michel Platini will be allowed to address European soccer leaders before his successor as UEFA president is elected, despite serving a four-year ban from the sport.UEFAs eagerness to ensure Platini can deliver a speech in Athens on Wednesday is in keeping with how the body has stood by the disgraced Frenchman since he was first suspended in October. No interim leader was installed as Platini was allowed to exhaust all legal routes in an attempt to overturn his ban over a payment of 2 million Swiss francs ($2 million) from FIFA in 2011.The ban prevents Platini from holding any position of power in soccer or carrying out any activity that gives the impression he is still acting as an official. But the FIFA ethics committee said UEFA asked for an exception for Mr. Platini to be able to make a short farewell address at the congress in the Greek capital.The chairman of the adjudicatory chamber, Mr. Hans-Joachim Eckert, granted this exception as a gesture of humanity, the judges office said in a statement to The Associated Press.After being led since 2007 by Platini, a former France captain, UEFAs next president will be a largely unknown administrator -- either UEFA vice president Michael van Praag of the Netherlands or Slovenian federation leader Aleksander Ceferin.Platinis home federation of France has publicly backed Ceferin, as has Poland federation president Zbigniew Boniek, a former teammate of Platini at Juventus.In Athens, Platini is due to be publicly re-united with former UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino, who seized on his boss being banned to pursue the FIFA presidency.Sepp Blatter, who was banned along with Platini for authorizing the payment, was not allowed to deliver a similar farewell address to the FIFA congress in February when Infantino was elected president.The careers of Platini and Blatter effectively ended when Swiss police raided FIFA after an executive committee meeting last September and questioned both about the payment.Switzerlands attorney general opened criminal proceedings against Blatter, while Platini is being treated as between a witness and an accused person. There has been no recent update on the status of the case.---Rob Harris is at www.twitter.com/RobHarris and www.facebook.com/RobHarrisReportsEnder Inciarte Braves Jersey . Argentina winger Ezequiel Lavezzi and France midfielder Blaise Matuidi scored, with star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic setting up both despite having a poor game by his high standards. Forward Eduardo gave Ajaccio the lead in the sixth minute after being set up by right winger Benjamin Andre, and the Corsican side looked comfortable in the first half, with the lively Johan Cavalli causing problems with his probing runs from midfield. Ronald Acuna Jr. Jersey . -- The St. Johns IceCaps weathered a wild first period with the help of goaltender Jussi Olkinuora, before finding offensive inroads in the second. https://www.cheapbraves.com/ . Shot outdoors against the stunning backdrop of Banff, Alta., the networks 30-minute original production airs tonight at 8pm et/5pm pt on TSN2. The four All-Star teams will play for $100,000 in prize money during TSNs annual skins game, airing live this weekend on TSN from The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre. Babe Ruth Jersey . Once again, DeLaet finished tied for second at a PGA Tour stop on the weekend, this time at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The pride of Weyburn, Sask. Atlanta Braves Store . -- Aldon Smith believes he is on the path to being sober for good.LOS ANGELES -- Jon Gray reached double-digit strikeouts for the sixth time this season. Nothing else came easy for him.The right-hander labored through 106 pitches over four innings, giving up four runs and three hits in Colorados 5-2 loss to the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night. The Rockies endured their 81st defeat and fourth in five games.I knew from the beginning it would be a tough day with no fastball command, Gray said. Fastball command is number one when it comes to pitching. Without that it is incredibly tough to succeed.Joc Pederson and pinch-hitter Andre Ethier hit back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning for the Dodgers after an emotional pre-game ceremony honoring Vin Scully.Both teams crowded their dugouts to watch speakers including Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax and current ace Clayton Kershaw honor Scully, who is retiring at 88 after 67 years broadcasting Dodgers games.Getting to see that takes a little sting out of that loss, Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. That was special. Vin is a special guy. You can see how everyone felt. It was very heartfelt.Gray (10-9) has 26 strikeouts in his last two games, the most in such a span in Rockies history.His stuff was crisp, he just didnt command it well, Weiss said.Their third straight victory trimmed the Dodgers magic number for clinching a record fourth consecutive NL West title to two. Their division lead increased to seven games after San Francisco lost at San Diego 7-2.Pederson worked the count to 3-2 during a nine-pitch at-bat before homering off Gray with two outs. Ethier followed with his first homer of the season into the lower right field seats, extending the Dodgers lead to 4-0.Yasmani Grandals RBI single gave Los Angeles a 2-0 lead in the first. Corey Seager scored from third and Colorado catcher Tom Murphy had his back to the plate as he fielded the throw froom right field, allowing Justin Turner to score from second.ddddddddddddRoss Stripling (5-8) got the win in relief of injured Scott Kazmir. The rookie right-hander allowed two hits in three innings, struck out four and walked two.Kenley Jansen retired the side with two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth for his 47th save in 53 chances.Kazmir allowed two hits while tossing just 19 pitches in his first start for the Dodgers since Aug. 22. He left after one inning because of spasms in his ribs and chest. The left-hander spent the past month on the disabled list with neck inflammation.Colorado scored its runs in the sixth on Nolan Arenados NL-leading 40th homer and Tom Murphys RBI single. Arenados 129 runs lead the NL and he joined Vinny Castilla (1996-98) and Andres Galarraga (1996-97) as the only Rockies hitters to post consecutive 40-homer seasons.He is doing big-time stuff, Weiss said. His first few years in the league, hes special.40 DOUBLESColorados Carlos Gonzalez doubled in the eighth, giving him 40 doubles for the first time in his career. He finished 2 for 4. Hes had six doubles in 14 games since Sept. 9.WHAT A CATCHJosh Reddick charged a ball hit by Colorados DJ LeMahieu to right field, catching it on the run and completing a cartwheel to hold the runner at third base with two outs in the third. LeMahieu went 0 for 4, ending his 38-game on-base streak and 13-game hitting streak. He continues to lead the majors with a .349 batting average.UP NEXTRockies: RHP Chad Bettis (13-7, 4.79) has career highs in victories, starts (30) and innings pitched (174 2/3). He is 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in seven career games, including four starts, against Los Angeles.Dodgers: Kershaw (11-3, 1.73) is 7-1 with a 1.19 ERA in nine home starts. ' ' '