CHICAGO -- The first two happened in a single game in Colorado. There was a fly ball that barely cleared the wall, and then a screaming drive to right-centre. Jose Abreu quickly hit two more home runs against Cleveland. He beat Tampa Bay with a game-ending grand slam, an absolute laser for his second shot of the game. Some 6,000 feet of homers in just six weeks, another successful mile in a well-travelled bridge from Abreus native Cuba to the Chicago White Sox. The big first baseman is punishing major league pitching while making a difficult transition to the United States look almost routine. "I come from a place where there is very good baseball, but theres nowhere you can compare that baseball to this one," Abreu said through a translator. "This is the best baseball in the world. But the only way to achieve this, to come here and be successful, is to be disciplined, to have a lot of discipline, thats the way you improve." Abreu looks right at home. The 6-foot-3, 255-pound slugger connected in Oakland on Wednesday to become the fourth player in major league history to hit 15 homers in his first 42 games, joining Wally Berger, Kevin Maas and Wally Joyner. He is batting .271 with 41 RBIs heading into a weekend series at Houston. Abreu, who defected in 2012 and finalized a $68 million, six-year deal with the White Sox in October, is among the major league leaders in several offensive categories. Playing at hitter-friendly U.S. Cellular Field, he is a legitimate threat to become baseballs first rookie home run king since Mark McGwire for the Athletics in 1987. "Its just his strength, his power," White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham said. "I mean hes just strong. You can do what he does with how strong he is, because he doesnt do a lot with his swing, his body to get ready to hit. He just drops the head of the bat on it and its gone." All that power has captured the attention of baseball fans across the country, but it is Abreus appreciative attitude that has quickly endeared him to his teammates. No small feat considering Abreus arrival pushed franchise icon Paul Konerko into a reserve role. "Hes such a good team person and you like to see stuff like this happen to people like him," manager Robin Ventura said. Abreu is the latest in a new wave of Cuban stars finding success all over baseball, and part of a long history of successful Cuban players in Chicago. Sluggers Yoenis Cespedes of Oakland and Yasiel Puig of the Dodgers are two of the majors most dangerous bats. Cincinnati left-hander Aroldis Chapman has blossomed into an All-Star closer. Miami right-hander Jose Fernandez was the NL Rookie of the Year last season. There were a record 19 Cuban players on opening-day rosters and inactive lists this year. "I think clubs are learning more and more how to do it," Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said. Cuban players often travel a dangerous road to the majors. According to court documents in a federal lawsuit in Miami, smugglers who helped Puig leave his country on a speedboat have made death threats against him and against a boxer who says he defected with Puig. When they make it to the U.S., they face what can be an isolating transition to a completely different culture and the rigours of the majors. One of the biggest challenges is the language barrier, but they also have to work through changes brought on by a level of wealth and fame far beyond what they could have experienced in their home country. Major league teams are more careful than ever these days about creating a positive atmosphere for the Cuban players, making sure there is a translator in the clubhouse and help nearby when it comes to challenges on and off the field. The 27-year-old Abreu has three Cuban teammates; shortstop Alexei Ramirez, outfielder Dayan Viciedo and catcher Adrian Nieto. Lino Diaz, the manager of cultural development for the White Sox, also is around if Abreu needs any assistance. The White Sox have had 18 Cuban-born players in franchise history, tied with the Los Angeles Angels for fourth among all major league franchises, according to STATS. Minnie Minoso, regarded as baseballs first black Latino star, played 12 of his 17 seasons in Chicago and remains a team ambassador. Orlando Hernandez helped the White Sox win their last World Series title in 2005. Abreus fast start is drawing interest back home. The slugger is followed as closely as possible in a country where, despite the appearance of recorded major league games on state TV starting in March 2013, games featuring Cuban defectors are still not shown. Cubans with access to the Internet and bootleg versions track his career and often discuss it at the "hot corner," a spot in Havanas Parque Central where baseball fans gather to discuss international and Cuban players. "Abreu is a powerful hitter, he was really good here, but personally I think that with his major league results hes really exceeded expectations," said Jose Estrada, 55. "All over Cuba were following him much more than before because hes Cuban and he represents Cuba in the country with the best baseball in the world, the major leagues, and hes showing everyone the level of Cuban baseball." That level looks better than ever right now. Robert McClain Jersey .55 million euros (US$18.6 million) to Spanish tax authorities on Monday to cover any potential irregularities in its signing of Neymar, all the while maintaining its innocence of the fraud charges levied against it. Josh Robinson Jersey .com) - Delon Wright scored 17 points and No. www.thebuccaneersfansclub.com/Black-Friday-Charles-Sims-Jersey/. The game was the first of two international friendlies that Canada is playing during the international break, with the second game against Slovenia set for Tuesday in Celje. Canada looked uncomfortable defensively throughout the game, and every free kick that came into Canadas penalty box looked like ending up in the back of the net. Kevin Pamphile Jersey . The actual winners on transfer deadline day are those clubs such as Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City who were well prepared and managed to get their main incoming business done well ahead of the transfer window closing. Tottenham were able to add seven players by spending over 100 million pounds and also ensured maximum return for the Gareth Bale transfer to Real Madrid by managing the move superbly. Vernon Hargreaves III Jersey .com) - Nicolas Colsaerts fired an 11-under 60 on Thursday and grabbed a 3-stroke lead with the opening round of the Portugal Masters suspended by rain.OKLAHOMA CITY - Finally, good things are happening for the Thunder.Reggie Jackson scored 22 points, and Oklahoma City snapped a six-game skid with a 97-82 victory over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night.Jeremy Lamb scored 21 points and Serge Ibaka added 20 for the Thunder, who shot 48 per cent. Five of the six losses during the skid were by seven points or fewer, and the Thunder were determined to avoid that result again.It felt really good to get a win, thats for sure, Thunder forward Nick Collison said. Weve been sticking with it. It was good to see us get rewarded for continuing to grind it out.Better days might be on the horizon, too. Kevin Durant (broken right foot) and Russell Westbrook (broken right hand) will be reevaluated in the next few days to see if they are ready to return. Durant, the reigning MVP, hasnt played this season, and Westbrook, a three-time All-Star point guard, has played just two games. Without them, the Thunder stumbled out to the worst record in the Western Conference. Now, at least, there is hope.The last couple of days in practice, they did some contact things on the court, so that was good, Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. That has been progressing over the last couple of weeks.A return for Westbrook appeared more likely as the Thunder announced Wednesday night that they waived backup point guard Sebastian Telfair.Gordon Hayward scored 24 points, and Enes Kanter and Trey Burke each added 16 for the Jazz, who lost their fourth straight and matched their lowest point total of the season.The Thunder shot 53 per cent in the first half and led 56-48 at the break, their highest point total before halftime this season. Jackson scored 14 points and Lamb had 13. Hayward scored 14 points in the second quarter to keep the game close.Ibaka made a 3-pointer with just under 5 minutes left in the third quarter to give the Thunder a 66-58 edge, and Anthony Morrow drained one a feww minutes later to push Oklahoma Citys lead to 13.dddddddddddd The Thunder took a 74-62 lead into the fourth quarter.Kendrick Perkins missed a free throw, but he got the rebound and found Morrow for a 3-pointer that extended the lead to 95-75 with just under four minutes to play.I dont want to say they were desperate, but they clearly were hungry, and I dont think we were ready for that, Jazz coach Quin Snyder said.TIP-INSThunder: F Mitch McGary (left foot fracture) and F Perry Jones (right knee contusion) both are still out. McGary has not played since the preseason and Jones missed his 11th consecutive game. ... Lamb scored eight points in the last 1:02 of the first quarter to help the Thunder take a 31-29 lead at the end of the period. ... F Collison was issued a technical foul for making excessive contact with Joe Ingles in the second quarter.Jazz: G/F Rodney Hood missed his 10th straight game with right foot inflammation. ... The Jazz squandered a 10-point lead in the first quarter. ... Hayward scored 16 points in the first half, and would have had more, but the 86 per cent free throw shooter missed 5 of 10 from the line before the break.SHORT-TERM MEMORYLamb, had made 11 of 37 shots the previous five games and had seen his minutes dwindle since Andre Roberson returned to the rotation. Lamb made 7 of 8 against the Jazz in 24 minutes before fouling out.PIVOTAL MOMENTThe Jazz cut the Thunders lead to nine on a layup by Derrick Favours with 6:49 remaining in the fourth quarter, but Lamb responded with a 3-pointer that sparked a 12-1 run for Oklahoma City.QUOTE OF THE NIGHTIts just the little things, Snyder said. Its missing free throws, turnovers and negative plays that we have talked about the whole year.UP NEXTOklahoma City: Plays host to New York on Friday.Utah: Plays host to the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.___Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '