," Locke said. "Ive never had anything pop up like this." Gerrit

PITTSBURGH -- Jeff Lockes back forced the issue of whether the lefthander would pitch in next weeks All-Star game. The Pittsburgh Pirates starter will miss Sundays game against the New York Mets and sit out the midsummer classic due after his back tightened up during a 2-1 loss to Oakland on Tuesday. "It hasnt happened before, thats why Im speechless," Locke said. "Ive never had anything pop up like this." Gerrit Cole will start in Lockes place against the Mets and National League manager Bruce Bochy will have to find a replacement for Locke on the 34-man All-Star roster. The 25-year-old Locke has been one of the biggest surprises for one of baseballs most surprising teams. The lefthander emerged from a heated battle during spring training to make the team as the fifth starter and has flourished. He is 8-2 in 18 starts and his 2.15 ERA ranks second in the majors behind Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw. Locke said he felt some discomfort toward the end of his seven innings of work against the Athletics. The symptoms lingered into Wednesday and flared up again during a weightlifting session. "I felt like I opened up the wound again," he said. He went through his normal bullpen routine on Friday and against Saturday but he and the Pirates decided it was best not to force the issue with Cole available. The former No. 1 pick is 4-2 with a 3.68 ERA and will start on five days rest. Locke, a New Hampshire native, will travel to New York for the All-Star festivities but will not be available to play. Barring a setback, Locke will make his next start on Sunday, July 21 against the Cincinnati Reds. "The only thing Im disappointed about is not being able to go (Sunday)," Locke said. "Its not one of those things where I cant go (Sunday) but I can go in the All-Star game. I think itd be disrespectful to the team. I dont think its even questionable ... Ill just go there and enjoy it and come back after the break." Nike Zoom Online Shop . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter. Nike Zoom Sale USA . -- Its been a long road back for Sean Bergenheim. http://www.cheapnikezoom.us/ .C. -- Al Jefferson joked that he feels he can score from anywhere on the court. Cheap Nike Zoom Sale .com) - The Calgary Flames aim to bounce back from their first regulation home loss of the campaign on Friday night when they host a Detroit Red Wings club that they swept in three meetings a season ago. Nike Zoom Shoes Online . Luis Suarezs double powered Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Fulham, and Southampton easily overcame Hull 4-1 to continue the south coast clubs impressive start to the season. Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home. Eddie Jones insists improved lines of communication between England and the Aviva Premiership clubs have been established since the training camp that resulted in three serious injuries.Wings Anthony Watson and Jack Nowell and flanker Sam Jones have been ruled out of the Old Mutual Wealth autumn series after picking up knocks during a three-day England gathering on the south coast at the start of October.The intensity of the training concerned the clubs and was the subject of a critical statement from Premiership Rugby, but common ground was found during recent discussions with Red Rose head coach Jones.I had a good meeting with the directors of rugby, Jones said. We had two unfortunate injuries at the camp - that is part of rugby - and out of that meeting came a couple of things that need to happen. We need to communicate better with the clubs and we have taken that on board.We also need to have a better and more rigorous medical communication in and out of the clubs and in and out of the interrnational side.dddddddddddd We are both committed to that which I think will help the player welfare.It was a very positive meeting. We are always going to have our ups and downs, but I think generally there is a commitment from everyone to want to make the players better.England play South Africa, Fiji, Argentina and Australia on consecutive Saturdays, starting on November 12. They prepared at the beginning of this month in Brighton, where Baths Watson suffered a broken jaw, Exeters Nowell picked up a calf injury, and Wasps back-rower Jones broke a leg in a judo session.Each camp is different. That was a camp where we needed to train with intensity to get ready for the November internationals, Eddie Jones said. The camp we had in August was completely... they didnt even go on a rugby field. For the January camp, when we get to that we will assess what we need to do. ' ' '