MIAMI -- Erik Spoelstra said he mentioned how daunting the task would be only once. Back in September, when the Miami Heat assembled to begin training camp, Spoelstra addressed his team about furthering its championship legacy and how rare it is for a team to find its way to the NBA Finals in four consecutive seasons. "Weve never brought it up since then," Spoelstra said. Itll get brought up now. The seed the Heat coach planted in the Bahamas at that training camp took root. The Heat are finals-bound -- for the fourth straight time. The sputtering stretches of play in March and April, surrendering the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs to Indiana, winning 12 fewer games in this regular season than a year ago, they all seem moot and meaningless now. The Heat have a chance at a third consecutive NBA title, with the finals starting Thursday night against San Antonio in a title-series rematch. "Its amazing to make it to one finals," Heat forward Shane Battier said. "To do it four times in a row for some of these guys, its a tremendous, tremendous accomplishment and it speaks volumes to the dedication, luck, and perseverance that you need to do it." Spoelstra spoke of that luck factor when he gathered his team for a locker-room huddle moments after the celebration started Friday night, after Miami wrapped up its fourth straight East crown with a 117-92 win over Indiana to win the series in six games. His words were interrupted twice by LeBron James, which nobody minded. "We dont take this for granted," Spoelstra said. "No, sir," James added, nodding. "We do not take it for granted," Spoelstra repeated. "No way," James interjected. "How tough it actually is and how many things have to go our way," Spoelstra continued. "Four times, you guys who havent been here with us the whole time, you guys inherit everything that weve experienced." Only six current Heat players appeared in the 2011 post-season, Miamis first of the "Big 3" era and the last in which it actually lost a series. James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Mario Chalmers, James Jones and Udonis Haslem are the last holdovers. Battier and Norris Cole arrived after the 2011 finals loss. Ray Allen, Chris Andersen and Rashard Lewis -- all playing huge roles these days for Miami -- came after the first title run of this Heat era in 2012. The core of last seasons title squad, with the exception of amnestied Mike Miller, was back to try it again this time around. Even with all that talent, with that championship experience, Spoelstra knew a tone had to be immediately set when the season began. "What I was really encouraged about was our attendance and commitment in training camp in the Bahamas," Spoelstra said. "Right from there, and we communicated during the summer that, if were real about this, about how difficult that journey is, that you cannot shortcut, that we would show it immediately in training camp." Theyre still showing it now. Miami is 12-3 in these playoffs, 8-0 at home, and has won a road game in 15 straight post-season series. The Heat will need to extend that streak to win the NBA Finals; the Spurs will hold home-court advantage. "Obviously, going through the weeks and weeks and weeks and grinding months of a regular season, it was a toll on all of us," James said. "But I felt like down the stretch, if we could get healthy, we could get everyone in uniform and have our full strength, it didnt matter what seed we were. I felt like we can represent the Eastern Conference again in the finals if we had the health, and we were able to accomplish that." At times, like Friday night, they make winning look easy. Collectively, they insist its much harder than it appears. "You still have to go out and do it every single night," Allen said. "Its the toughest thing Ive ever done and I guarantee the guys in this locker room would say the same thing." Only the Lakers and Celtics have appeared in four straight finals, with Boston (1984-87) the last to do so. Wade was 5 when that run ended, James was 2, and Cole, Michael Beasley and Greg Oden hadnt even been born. Now the Heat are in that club. And regarding what Spoelstra said in that first-day conversation, the point of his words then has become perfectly clear to his team now. "Having a chance to win is always a special thing," Bosh said. "We always talk about not taking it for granted from Day One. We know its a very long season. It has its rewards in the end if we stick together and do what were supposed to do. But it hasnt really hit us yet. I would rather it hit me in two weeks." Hydro Flask Standard Mouth Bottle . Hes still nowhere close to throwing yet. The four-time MVP was in good spirits when he made his first public appearance on the field since having neck surgery Sept. Hydro Flask Standard Mouth Sports Cap . The Padres made the moves before Fridays game at Washington. They promoted infielder Jace Peterson from Double-A San Antonio and right-hander Kevin Quackenbush from Triple-A El Paso. http://www.hydroflaskcoffeesale.com/hydr...wide-mouth.html. With the Pirates in the thick of the race in the NL Central, the timing couldnt be better. Liriano struck out a season-high 11 in seven innings to win consecutive starts for the first time this season and Pittsburgh beat the San Francisco Giants 3-1 on Tuesday night. 24 Oz Standard Mouth Hydro Flask . "It was a little weird looking over and seeing all the green uniforms," he said of his first game against the Boston Celtics. Hydro Flask 32 Oz Wide Mouth . TSN platforms will broadcast 75+ live games per season – tripling the networks current slate of MLB games. With the new deal TSN retains rights to ESPNs SUNDAY NIGHT BASEBALL and, for the first time, acquires rights to ESPNs MONDAY NIGHT BASEBALL and WEDNESDAY NIGHT BASEBALL.BALTIMORE -- The Oakland Athletics were cruising to another road win when Manny Machado upset them -- again. Brandon Moss hit a grand slam and Scott Kazmir threw seven scoreless innings as Oakland beat the Orioles 11-1 in a game that featured another bench-clearing confrontation between the teams. For the second time in three games, Machado, the Orioles third baseman, was in the middle of a dugout-clearing scrum. "It got pretty intense there for a while," Jaso said. "There is a certain respect you have to have for this game. Its a blessing for all of us to be where we are. When I feel somebody doesnt see that and doesnt respect the game as such, it doesnt sit well with me. "I think guys like that need to be taught a lesson because theres millions of other people that would love to have the spot that he has," Jaso said. This time, Oakland left-hander Fernando Abad threw inside to Machado in the eighth. The bat flew out of Machados hands and went down the third base line. Both players exchanged words before the benches and bullpens emptied. Machado and Abad were ejected. Crew Chief Larry Vanover said Machado was ejected for throwing the bat and Abad was tossed for throwing at him a second time. Machado said he did not mean to throw the bat. "The bat slipped out of my hands," Machado said. "Trying to make contact and the umpire thought it was intentional and he tossed me at that point." On Friday, Machado didnt like the force of the tag by Oakland third baseman Josh Donaldson and the two had to be separated. Jaso also had four RBIs for the As, who took two out of three in the series and improved to a major league-best 22-12 on the road. Baltimore allowed a season-high 11 walks in its most lopsided loss of the year. Staked with an early lead, Kazmir (7-2) dominated the Orioles lineup. He allowed four hits with seven strikeouts and no walks. Jimenez (2-7), who signed a four-year, $50 million deal in the off-season, continued to struggle with his command. He allowed a season-high six runs on two hits with two strikeouts and five walks over just 2 1-3 innings, his shortest outing since April 16, 2013, against Cleveland. He has not earned a victory since May 8 and has an ERA of 5.01 ERA over 70 innings with Baltimore (31-30). Jimenez walked three consecutive batters to open the second before Jaso appeared to clear the bases with a shot over the centre field fence. However, the umpiring crew reviiewed the play for 3 minutes, 18 seconds before ruling the ball bounced off the top of the wall for a double.dddddddddddd Jimenez then walked Nick Punto to reload the bases before Moss hit his second career grand slam. "Mentally and physically, Im good," Jimenez said. "Im never going to give up. I know I disappointed the team today and the bullpen had to come into the game early throwing so many innings, but I never give up. Im going to forgot about a tough game like this one and try to get better for the team." Jaso increased the lead to 7-0 in the fourth on an RBI single to left off right-hander Brad Brach. After Brach issued three consecutive walks to load the bases again in the fifth, T.J. McFarland entered and got Jaso to hit into a fielders choice that scored Derek Norris before allowing a two-run single to Nick Punto. That was more than enough runs that Kazmir would need. "When you get a lead like that, you have to attack the hitters," Kazmir said. "You have to get strike one. Theyre trying to get something going so they want to see some pitches. Trying to get a rally started." The Orioles finally got on the board in the ninth when Chris Davis walked with the bases loaded off right-hander Ryan Cook. A single by Kyle Blanks in the eighth boosted the margin to 11-1. "Were very close to winning two out of three against statistically the best team in the league, so theyre good." Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "We knew that. We knew that Kazmir is having about as good a year as anybody in baseball. We beat one of the best pitchers in the American League last night." NOTES: Norris left the game in the sixth after taking a back swing to the head by Machado. ... As OF Coco Crisp, in the midst of a team-high 11-game hit streak, was given a breather Sunday. "Given his neck issues, hes getting a lot better," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. ... As 2B Alberto Callaspo ended 19-game hitless streak with a double in the fourth. ...The Orioles activated RHP Tommy Hunter (left groin strain) from the 15-day disabled list Sunday. To make room, RHP Evan Meek was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. ... Orioles RF Nick Markakis extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a first inning single. ... Baltimore SS J.J. Hardy committed his fifth error in the past four games and was replaced by Ryan Flaherty in the eighth. ' ' '