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The wild West was tough in the heart of a cold, wet spring. Even though he took in grand scenery Zack Greinke Jersey down the Oregon coast, he was broadsided by wind and rain. A mere 40-something miles from his second stop, Oakland, he suffered the biggest scare Authentic Torii Hunter Jersey of the trip to date.

Pedaling through downtown Petaluma, Calif., known to astute baseball fans as the hometown of Angels of Anaheim Torii Hunter Jersey Reds slugger Jonny Gomes, O'Donnell took the worst of an encounter with slick pavement and an uncooperative train track. He fell, uttered a few choice words, examined his bike, which wasn't too banged up, surveyed his road rash -- a gnarly gash in his knee, a rosy spot on his shoulder -- and Brewers Ryan Braun Jersey got back in the game. He reached his friend's house in Berkeley that evening.

"He's amazed me so far," says Scaturro, who's following O'Donnell, along with a growing number of fascinated online onlookers, on the cyclists's Facebook page

"That kid is tough. It's a hard, hard adventure to do, but he's doing great."

O'Donnell is becoming a bit of a celebrity as the journey spins along. Before he started the trip, he and Jim crafted a letter that they sent out to all 30 Major League clubs informing them of the adventure.

"This trip combines Darren's avid interest in baseball and its unique characteristics with his commitment to bicycle riding as a viable and efficient transportation mode," the Brewers Rickie Weeks Jersey letter reads, adding that O'Donnell's ride hopes to promote healthy, active and sustainable lifestyles, including the benefits of bike riding, as well as promoting the benefits of food cooperatives and encouraging support of local food banks and volunteering in one's community."

Teams have noticed and jumped into the escapade themselves.

O'Donnell was invited onto the field before a game at Tropicana Field, where he met pitcher David Price, with whom he had traded tweets, and the Rays' bike-friendly manager, Joe Maddon. The Rays presented him with a jersey bearing No. 11, signifying that St. Petersburg was the 11th stop on his itinerary.

"I woke up the Angels of Anaheim Jered Weaver Jersey next morning and was like, 'Did that really happen?'" O'Donnell says. "I saw the jersey and was like, 'It did happen! That's awesome!'"

In Miami, after being discovered on Twitter by Marlins marketing supervisor Boris Menier, O'Donnell rolled into another Major League welcome. Menier gave O'Donnell a tour of the club's offices and Sun Life Stadium, showed him the team's Authentic Ryan Braun Jersey two World Series trophies, escorted him into the dugout, Jered Weaver Jersey introduced him to outfielder Logan Morrison, another Twitter follower, interviewed him on TV and decked him out with shirts, shorts and hats.

And then the pinnacle: O'Donnell got to meet one of his father's heroes, former Reds star, Hall of Famer and current Florida special assistant Tony Perez.

"That was something else," Jim O'Donnell says. "It seems like something Authentic Jered Weaver Jersey great happens everywhere he goes. We're just extremely proud of him. He set his mind to do this, he planned it out, and now he's getting it done. It's fantastic."

* * *

But there's no time to celebrate Brewers Zack Greinke Jersey ... yet. Wheels roll on. Darren has more American asphalt to conquer, cities and stadiums to visit, and magic to discover.

For example, he's learned how valuable a smartphone can be. He's been able to do radio and Ryan Braun Jersey newspaper interviews while riding, take photos, write journals at night and post them online, and get directions and road conditions from Jim and his girlfriend, Amber, who have been in contact with state and city transportation departments.

He's been comped breakfasts and Gatorades by random diner and convenience-store patrons enchanted by his story.

He's begun splurging on inexpensive hotel rooms rather than camping out in abandoned lots or under bridges, having learned that lesson in the middle of Texas when he heard "some sort of wildlife rustling up against my tent ... maybe it Kendry Morales Jersey was a raccoon or armadillo. I assumed it wasn't an alligator."

He's enjoying all the ballgames and stadiums. He took in the beauty of the ballpark Authentic Zack Greinke Jersey by the Bay from upper-level seats at AT&T Park in San Francisco and correctly predicted a stirring extra-inning comeback victory by the D-backs in Phoenix.

He and Baltimore starter Jeremy Guthrie have traded tweets about possibly biking to Camden Yards together when O'Donnell arrives there Torii Hunter Jersey in early August.

O'Donnell has ridden up to 166 miles in a single day and seems to be getting mentally stronger with each leg of the route.

And he's pitching a shutout against America's high gas prices, too.

"He's Authentic Kendry Morales Jersey got the spirit," Scaturro says. "That's the Angels of Anaheim Kendry Morales Jersey biggest thing, and he's got it.

"I know he's gonna do it." 

Marlins interim manager Jack McKeon said during his pregame meeting with the media Sunday afternoon that he returned to the dugout at 80 years old to win.

Well, the Marlins look like they've gotten the message during McKeon's two weeks on the job.

They continued to show a stronger heartbeat under McKeon, scoring four runs with two outs in the top of the Anaheim James Loney Jersey eighth on Sunday, erasing a one-run deficit to rally past the Rangers, 6-4, before a sellout crowd at Rangers Ballpark.

McKeon conceded before the game that he believes he's making an impact. The Marlins are now 6-6 with "Trader Jack" at the helm after losing 19 of their previous 20 games under Edwin Rodriguez, who resigned on June 19, and bench coach Brandon Hyde, who filled in for one game before McKeon took over on Authentic Matt Kemp Jersey Jersey June 20.

"You hope to light a fire under a lot of guys," McKeon said. "Let them have fun. I think they're having fun. We're playing Anaheim Casey Blake Jersey with more energy."

The Marlins won their second Authentic Albert Pujols Jersey straight road series after winning two out of three games in Oakland. They Anaheim Clayton Kershaw Jersey were 5-4 on the road trip, and might have taken the set in Seattle if not for a wild pitch on an intentional walk.

"It's always a good feeling to have more wins than losses," said left fielder Logan Morrison, one Anaheim Rafael Furcal Jersey of the heroes on this night, "no matter what happened before or what happens in the future."

Morrison had the big Albert Pujols Jersey hit -- a two-out, two-run double in a lefty-lefty matchup with Rangers reliever Darren Oliver. Morrison's line drive eluded a diving Nelson Cruz in right field and rolled to the wall. Mike Stanton followed with an RBI single off Authentic Clayton Kershaw Jersey Rangers closer Neftali Feliz for a 5-2 lead. The Marlins had tied the game when Hanley Ramirez reached on an error by Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus.

But it was Bryan Petersen starting the eighth-inning rally with a double to center that drew the raves of McKeon and Morrison. Petersen, who was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans on Saturday and has started consecutive games, that has been a spark for the Marlins, along with leadoff hitter Emilio Bonifacio, whose sacrifice bunt moved Petersen to third and chased Rangers starter C.J. Wilson, who Authentic James Loney Jersey had given the Marlins fits most of the night.

"We're trying to get good at-bats off of C.J. all night," Petersen said. "He threw me a 1-2 pitch away, and I got good Authentic Rafael Furcal Jersey wood on it. I was lucky to get a bat on it."

Omar Infante grounded out sharply to third, forcing Petersen to stay at third. After Gaby Sanchez walked, Ramirez hit a show roller to shortstop that Andrus couldn't field cleanly, allowing Petersen to score the tying run and setting up the rest of a stirring Marlins rally.

"That was a very big win," McKeon said. "The kid [Petersen] came through in fine fashion and started the rally."

Javier Authentic Casey Blake Jersey Vazquez also Cardinals Albert Pujols Jersey played a key role, keeping the Marlins in the game with Wilson pitching so well. Vazquez made his third consecutive solid start since McKeon took over the team. He did give up solo shots to Nelson Cruz in the Anaheim Matt Kemp Jersey Jersey second inning and Adrian Beltre in the fourth to fall behind 2-0, but that was it in six innings. He has James Loney Jersey allowed four earned runs in his last four starts.

"He did a good job of keeping us in Rafael Furcal Jersey the game," McKeon said. "He gave two runs, two solo shots, but you'd rather that than a bunch of walks."

For most of the night, the Marlins could not solve Wilson, who was named to his first All-Star Game on Sunday. Wilson pitched like an All-Star, allowing four hits and striking out nine.

The Marlins finally scored in the sixth inning as leadoff hitter Bonifacio helped manufacture a run by beating out an infield single. He advanced to second on a grounder to shortstop by Infante, and scored on Clayton Kershaw Jersey a single to left by Sanchez, who was also named to his first Midsummer Classic.

That was enough offense to keep the Marlins close until the eighth inning. They Matt Kemp Jersey Jersey are clearly playing more relaxed under McKeon, and that showed as they rallied against four Rangers relievers in a dramatic eighth inning.

"He's very energetic on the bench," Morrison said. "He keeps you locked in. He's a good man to have at the helm." 

Dan Haren knows what he's up against Tuesday.

The Angels' right-hander will face the Tigers' Justin Verlander, who leads the American League Adam Lind Jersey in wins and strikeouts and Authentic Adam Lind Jersey has given up the fewest walks and hits per nine innings.

One pitcher whose first half compares with Verlander's is Angels starter Jered Weaver.

"I don't think anybody's even close to those two guys," Haren said. "I'm looking forward to the challenge of facing the Tigers."

Haren isn't having a bad season himself. He Athletics Andrew Bailey Jersey is 8-5 with a 2.85 ERA, 10th in the AL.

"They're totally different in the way they pitch," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Verlander has that electric Michael Morse Jersey power stuff. He Blue Jays Adam Lind Jersey relies on stuff and movement, changing movement from fastball to breaking ball to changeup. As opposed to Dan Haren, who relies on locating pitches with Nationals Michael Morse Jersey a different variety of looks. They have different Authentic Ryan Zimmerman Jersey ways of going about it, but Stephen Strasburg Jersey are two of the best pitchers in baseball."

Surprisingly, several Angels hitters have Authentic Andrew Bailey Jersey hit Verlander well in their careers. Maicer Izturis, Vernon Wells, Torii Hunter, Bobby Abreu and Erick Aybar have all hit better than .300 against Detroit's ace.

The Angels won the opener of the three-game series, 5-1, on Monday.

Tigers: Knapp key in Verlander's development
The Tigers fired pitching coach Rick Knapp Adam Lind Jersey over the weekend, but manager Jim Leyland said Knapp was instrumental in the development of several of Nationals Stephen Strasburg Jersey Detroit's pitchers.

"If you are going to shed some of that blame to Rick Knapp, about the overall staff not doing as well as we expected, you also have to give him credit for [Jose] Valverde and Verlander and [Al] Alburquerque and other guys," Leyland said.

Angels: Looking to keep pace with Texas
The Angels moved into a first-place tie with the Rangers on Sunday, the first Ryan Zimmerman Jersey time they've been at the top of the division since May 27.

The Angels have won Authentic Michael Morse Jersey six of seven and each of their last six series, compiling a 15-6 record in their last 21 games.

? Abreu entered Monday's game a career .335 hitter against the Tigers, fourth-highest among Nationals Adam Lind Jersey active players.

Worth noting:
? The Angels are 51-28 Nationals Ryan Zimmerman Jersey against the Tigers since 2002.

? If Verlander wins Tuesday, he will become the third Tigers pitcher in 23 years to win eight straight starts, joining Jeremy Bonderman (2007) and Dave Authentic Adam Lind Jersey Mlicki (1999).

? Verlander has gone at least six innings in each of his 18 starts this season. Authentic Stephen Strasburg Jersey