outs in the eighth after a throwing error by Espinosa

EDMONTON - Edmonton Oilers general manager Craig MacTavish, in a testy, defensive news conference Friday, tossed the boys under the bus and doubled down on head coach Dallas Eakins.The accountability of the players to execute has to improve, said MacTavish.Visually to me were a better hockey team.(But) there isnt any tangible evidence of any of that improvement, and thats whats so difficult for everybody to swallow.MacTavish has been feeling the heat from fans and media with the team at the bottom of the NHL standings (6-15-5) in the throes of an 11-game losing streak.The Oilers have not been in the playoffs since 2006. Since then, fans have endured multiple coaching changes and failed rebuilding plans.MacTavish said the team has not progressed as fast as he expected, but said he wont deviate from his long-term plan to draft and develop talent.As painful as this process is, we feel that its a necessary step to get us to the next level, he said.Asked if the plan is not just behind schedule, but the wrong plan or the right plan executed by the wrong people, MacTavish retored: Is it time to punt out the core of these players at 23 and 24 years old as theyre developing?Ive switched out 14 or 15 players in the 18 months that Ive been on the job, and what I think I have now is a group that is capable of growth.MacTavish said everyone is under scrutiny from the front office to the dressing room, but defended his first hire, second-year coach Dallas Eakins. He suggested Eakins isnt going anywhere.Hes evolving, said MacTavish. (But) weve changed assistant coaches. Weve brought in co-coaches. Weve brought in former head coaches. (Weve had) four coaching changes (since 2009).Those coaches were all delivering the same message and we need a higher level of execution (by the players).Eakins has been criticized for giving some players too much rope, doing too much Xs and Os analysis and not enough yelling. The coach skated the players hard in Fridays practice but insisted it wasnt a punishment for poor performance, rather it was a pre-scheduled conditioning day.The worst day is when my boss and the players boss has to come in here and get pelted with bullets and questions about the team, Eakins said of MacTavishs news conference. That responsibility falls on me, my staff and the players in that room. Its something I take personally and certainly all of the players should be taking it personally.Eakins said his main concern was not whether he might lose his job but bridging the divide between the fans and the team.Were doing everything we can to repair that, he said.MacTavish has been around the Oilers for much of the last, lost decade, as a coach or in another front office capacity, but lashed out when a reporter tried to tie him to it its failings.Dont lop me in to a situation of (previous) power and influence in the management level of this organization, said MacTavish. Ive been on the job for 18 months.MacTavish has been criticized for leaving Eakins with little to work with at centre after Ryan Nugent-Hopkins while saddling him with subpar goalies in Ben Scrivens and Viktor Fasth.MacTavish said its not easy to trade when you have so few tradeable assets.There are four or five (Oilers) players that would bring us significant value, (but if you trade one) we solve one (problem) and we create another.Captain Andrew Ference agreed with MacTavish that the players need to step up.As players, we all know that everybody has a role in whats be going on, he said. All of us have different facets we have to work on and improve on which will collectively make us more successful.But fan anger this year has shifted squarely to the front office given the Oilers have drafted few meaningful players outside the first round in recent years while some Oilers players traded away flourish under other coaches and systems.Fans have also focused their vitriol on owner Daryl Katz, who came of age cheering for MacTavish, Oilers hockey operations president Kevin Lowe, and other players during the teams glory years in the 1980s.Katz is too close to his old buddies and wont pull the trigger to fix the front office, say critics.MacTavish said no one is more upset about the Oilers plight than the man in charge.I would characterize the owner as upset. Hes like a lot of our fans times 10, he said.The Oilers next play the San Jose Sharks at home on Sunday.---The Oilers are closing in on dubious history. Here is a look at record NHL and Oilers streaks:Longest NHL winless streak: 30 games, 1980-81 Winnipeg JetsLongest NHL losing streak: 17 games, 1974–75 Washington Capitals and 1992-93 San Jose SharksLongest Oilers winless streak: 14 games, 1993-94 teamLongest Oilers losing streak: 13 games, 2009-10 DaRon Payne Womens Jersey . 1 overall pick in the draft by the Houston Texans, is recovering from sports hernia surgery. Custom Washington Redskins Jerseys .com) - The NFL is investigating whether the New England Patriots intentionally deflated balls during Sundays AFC Championship Game against Indianapolis. https://www.redskinssportsgoods.com/Womens-Derrius-Guice-Inverted-Jersey/ . They all do actually — Joel-Hans Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) July 22, 2014There is no confirmation that the date is actually happening, but that didnt stop Embiid from getting dressed up. Fresh cut..... Getting ready for dinner http://t.co/NNIfKyZQzx — Joel-Hans Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) July 23, 2014 Almost 930.. Alex Smith Jersey .com) - Colorado may be ahead of the Vancouver Canucks in the Western Conference standings, but they are a club that the Avalanche may want to avoid in the playoffs. Charles Mann Jersey . The moves were the first punitive steps taken by the Dolphins since a report on the NFLs investigation of the case was released last week. Investigators found that guard Richie Incognito and two teammates engaged in persistent harassment directed at tackle Jonathan Martin, another offensive lineman and an assistant trainer.OAKLAND, Calif. -- Having discovered his power stroke at the Oakland Coliseum, Athletics catcher John Jaso was more impressed by the ball he hit that didnt leave the park than he was by his second home run in as many days. That might be because it came in the 10th inning and gave Oakland its third walk-off win of the season. Jaso doubled in pinch-runner Nick Punto with two outs in the 10th inning to lift the As to a 4-3 win over the Washington Nationals on Saturday night. Jaso, who had not hit a home run in Oakland until his solo shot in Fridays 8-0 win, also homered in the third before delivering the fourth game-ending hit of his career. "Its funny because I thought that last ball I hit I hit harder than the other two and it hung up for some reason," Jaso said. "I dont know if the wind shifted, but I thought I hit it harder than the other two." After being limited to two hits over the first eight innings, the As scored twice in the ninth off Nationals closer Rafael Soriano to force extras and storm back for their third walk-off win this season. Alberto Callaspo singled off reliever Drew Storen (2-1) to lead off the 10th before Punto replaced him at first. Storen retired Eric Sogard and Derek Norris before Jaso hit a towering fly ball that ricocheted off the scoreboard in right field as Punto rounded the bases and scored. "Sometimes certain guys come up key in games when you dont get many hits," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. "(Jaso) did most of the damage. When you get down to those situations, it just becomes a grind." The Nationals were three outs from winning and had their rock-solid closer on the mound before Oakland greeted Soriano with three consecutive hits to open the ninth. Jaso singled and scored on Jed Lowries double. Josh Donaldson followed with a line drive single to drive in Jaso with the tying run. "Going into the ninth with a two-run lead and a guy that hasnt given up a run in 25 innings and it doesnt happen for you, its disappointing," Washington manager Matt Williams said. "Thats baseball." It was Sorianos first blown save since Aug. 17, 2013, and ended his career-high streak of 25 consecutive scoreless innings.dddddddddddd. That spoiled a stellar outing by Washington starter Tanner Roark. Coming off the worst start of his season, Roark was masterful while shutting down the As offence. He allowed two hits over 7 2-3 innings, struck out five and didnt walk a batter. He gave up Jasos two-out home run in the third before retiring the next 13. The Nationals backed him with just enough offence until the bullpen broke down. Danny Espinosa hit a towering home run off Oakland starter Sonny Gray with one out in the third to give the Nats an early lead. Zach Walters and Denard Span followed with singles before Kevin Frandsen lined a two-run double to the gap in left-centre to make it 3-0. Jasos two-out home run off Roark in the bottom of the third trimmed Washingtons lead to 3-1. "Its strange how a pitcher can get on a roll like (Roark) did and everything we put in play was caught," Jaso said. "Those kind of days, thats when you want to get into the bullpen and change the momentum." Roark left with two outs in the eighth after a throwing error by Espinosa allowed Reddick to take third. Roark fielded Eric Sogards grounder cleanly, but his throw to first hit Reddick in the back of the helmet and ricocheted near the Nationals dugout. Tyler Clippard replaced Roark and retired pinch-hitter Derek Norris before the As rallied for the tying runs off Soriano. Sean Doolittle (1-2) pitched one inning for the win to help Oakland overcome an uneven outing by Gray. Gray, the AL pitcher of the month in April, struck out three and walked two. He allowed six hits over seven innings and gave up all of Washingtons runs in the third NOTES: Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche (quad strain) is headed for the disabled list after aggravating the injury on Friday. ... Injured slugger Ryan Zimmerman (right thumb fracture) has not yet resumed hitting and is scheduled to have another X-ray on Sunday. ... Oakland LHP Scott Kazmir (4-1) pitches the series finale after taking the loss in his previous outing. ... Former As starter Gio Gonzalez (3-2) goes for Washington. Gonzalez won 15 and 16 games for Oakland in 2010 and 2011, respectively. ' ' '