allowed two runs on seven hits in 6 2-3 innings for Atlanta

Spencer Dinwiddie expects to be healthy and wealthy by summers end. The University of Colorado star point guard announced Thursday hes skipping his senior season and will declare for the NBA draft. Dinwiddie said at a news conference in Boulder, Colo., that despite this years deep pool of talent, "I just dont feel there are that many people in this draft that are better than me." Dinwiddies junior season was cut short when he tore his left ACL Jan. 12 at Washington and needed reconstructive surgery. He said he expects to be back on the court by August. "I think Ive got first-round talent across the board," he said. "Everybody of course is going to doubt my knee. (But, my) being able to go first week in August and being ready for the season, ... youre going to get Spencer Dinwiddie, not Spencer Dinwiddie with a bad knee." A Los Angeles native, Dinwiddie was averaging 14.7 points and nearly four assists when he got hurt. The Buffs were 14-2 with a signature win over Kansas and ranked 15th at the time. They finished 23-12 and lost to Pittsburgh in their NCAA tournament opener. Dinwiddie called it a bittersweet day, saying it was a difficult decision because he loves the program. Had he decided to return next season, the Buffaloes were expected to be a top-10 team nationally. "Weighing the chance to do something special here versus something that is more what I would like to do probably, it was really tough," Dinwiddie said. He said he was swayed last weekend when his doctor in Houston compared his recovery from knee surgery to that of Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, who returned from a torn ACL to win NFL MVP honours two seasons ago. This is the third time in four years Colorado coach Tad Boyle has lost a star underclassman to the prospect of NBA riches. Alec Burks bolted after his sophomore season in 2011 and was chosen 12th overall by the Utah Jazz and Andre Roberson left last year and was selected 26th overall by Minnesota before being traded to Oklahoma City. "Well, it doesnt make it any easier," Boyle said, but he drops their names on the recruiting trail. "You always have to use everything that happens in a positive light as best you can. Its hard as a coach when you look -- I dont let myself think about it as a coach too often -- but sometimes youre driving down the road and youre like, OK, if we had a healthy Spencer and Andre together this year with the rest of the squad that we got how special it could be. How good could we be with Spencer next year coming back? "Those are questions that kind of float into your mind, but theyve got to get out of your mind quickly. This program, we talk about it with our team a lot, its bigger than any one person, any one coach, any one player." The Buffaloes have four other point guards on their roster for 2014-15: juniors Xavier Talton and Eli Stalzer, sophomore Jaron Hopkins and incoming freshman Dominique Collier, who was named 2014 "Mr. Colorado Basketball" after leading Denver East to the Class 5A state championship. Dinwiddie said the Buffs should still be good next season without him and hes seen Collier play and suggested he, too, has a bright future. Boyle said the way the Buffs bounced back from Dinwiddies injury and subsequent midseason slump to rally and make the NCAA tournament for the third straight season was a testament to the programs strength. "Like Spencer said, weve got good players in this program and were going to continue to recruit good players to this program," Boyle said. "It certainly doesnt make it easier ... but again, we try to build sustained success. At some point everythings going to come together and the stars are going to align and guys are going to be healthy and well hopefully have a couple of NBA players on the floor at the same time playing together at the peak of their careers. "When that happens, we can make the next jump and blow the doors off this place." Jesus Molina Jersey . And theyre pointing to the NHLs biggest market: Toronto. With Gretzky paid out for what is believed to be $7 to 8 million, Gretzky may be eager to get back into the NHL and TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reports that the Maple Leafs are very much interested in The Great Ones services. Mexico Jerseys . - Leon Draisaitl scored a hat trick as the Prince Albert Raiders stormed past the Swift Current Broncos 5-2 in Western Hockey League action Tuesday. http://www.mexiconationalshop.us/Diego-Reyes-Mexico-Jersey-Soccer/ . -- Phil Mickelson will be watching the final two rounds of the Masters from home for the first time in 17 years. Miguel Layun Jersey . But Josh Bailey scored the shootout winner to lead the Islanders to a 3-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens in a battle of the Eastern Conferences two worst teams. Hector Moreno Jersey . The Jets have now won three straight at home and four of the last five at the MTS Centre. After a scoreless first period, Brad Marchand scored his first goal in eight games eight seconds into the second.ATLANTA -- Gerald Laird drove in two runs with two hits, including a tiebreaking single in the eighth, and the Atlanta Braves beat Colorado 3-2 on Friday night after the Rockies lost third baseman Nolan Arenado to a broken finger. Arenado left the game in the second inning after fracturing his left middle finger on a head-first slide into second base. Michael Cuddyer hit a home run for Colorado. Ramiro Pena, who replaced third baseman Chris Johnson in the third inning, led off the eighth with a double to the centerfield wall off Adam Ottavino (0-1). After Andrelton Simmons and Dan Uggla struck out, Laird lined the single to left field and advanced to second when Corey Dickersons throw bounced past catcher Jordan Pacheco. David Carpenter (4-0) pitched a scoreless eighth and Craig Kimbrel struck out the side in the ninth for his 13th save. The Rockies did not immediately say if Arenado will be placed on the disabled list. Arenado led off the second with a double to left field. Left fielder Justin Uptons throw was caught by Uggla, who flipped the ball to shortstop Andrelton Simmons at second base. Simmons kept the glove down as Arenado slid past the bag. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez asked for a review as replays indicated Simmons might have tagged Arenados foot off the bag. The play stood following the review of 3 minutes, 48 seconds. Arenado grabbed his hand following the slide but remained in the game to score from third on Pachecos groundout. Charlie Culberson replaced Arenado at third base in the bottom of the inning. The loss of Arenado would be a blow to the Rockies. Arenado is hitting .305 with six homers and 28 RBIs. His 28-game hittiing streak from April 9 to May 8 is the longest in the National League this season.dddddddddddd The Braves also had a switch at third base. Pena replaced Johnson after Johnsons strikeout to lead off the second. The Braves did not say why Johnson left the game. Uggla walked and scored on Lairds double in the second. The Braves took a 2-1 lead in the third. B.J. Upton scored from third base on Justin Uptons groundout. Cuddyers homer, his fourth, tied the game in the sixth. Gavin Floyd allowed two runs on seven hits in 6 2-3 innings for Atlanta. Jordan Lyles gave up two runs on six hits and one walk in six innings for Colorado. The Braves loaded the bases in the seventh but couldnt score. Rex Brothers gave up one-out singles to pinch-hitter Tyler Pastornicky and Jason Heyward before walking B.J. Upton. Brothers struck out Freddie Freeman. Cuddyer made a running catch in right field of Justin Uptons fly ball off Ottavino to end the inning. First base umpire Lance Barksdale called Pacheco out on a pickoff throw to first by Floyd in the seventh. The call was overturned following a review which lasted 1:30. NOTES: Javy Lopez, a catcher for Atlanta from 1992-2003, Dave Pursley, a longtime trainer with Milwaukee and Atlanta from 1962-2001, and Rabbit Maranville, a shortstop with the Boston Braves for 15 seasons, were inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame. .... Rockies manager Walt Weiss said OF Carlos Gonzalez (swollen left index finger), who didnt start for the second straight day, was available. Gonzalez aggravated the inflammation in the finger on Wednesday night. ... Braves LHP Mike Minor will face Rockies RHP Juan Nicasio on Saturday. ' ' '