LATROBE http://www.panthersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-christian-miller-jersey , Pa. (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger acknowledged on Friday that he had a unique on-field connection with wide receiver Antonio Brown.Roethlisberger also admitted before the Steelers’ first practice of training camp that it would be different without Brown on the line of scrimmage this season. But he’s excited to move on after the Steelers traded Brown to Oakland following a messy public offseason divorce.“I think the things we did together were some things that no one’s really ever done,” Roethlisberger said. “It was pretty special, so it’s going to be hard to make up for that. But I’m going to do my best to still bring my “A” game, and I know we have other guys on this team who are ready to step up.”Roethlisberger and Brown combined for 74 touchdowns, the most in team history and sixth-best in NFL history. They also ended with 797 completions, second-most between a quarterback and receiver tandem in NFL history.But Brown decided to bail on his teammates before a must-win Week 17 home game against Cincinnati last season. The four-time All-Pro spent most of the offseason lashing out at the organization after a late-season collapse kept Pittsburgh from the playoffs for the first time since 2013. Brown also criticized Roethlisberger, once saying that he felt the two-time Super Bowl winner had an “owner mentality.”Roethlisberger said he isn’t using offseason criticism from ex-players as motivation this season.“I’m only focused on the guys that are here,” he said. “That’s all that really matters to me, the guys who are in this locker room, and on this team, and that’s all I should focus on.”The charismatic JuJu Smith-Schuster is now the unquestioned No. 1 receiver on the team after the 22-year-old finished with 111 catches for 1,426 yards and seven touchdowns last season. Roethlisberger has noticed a difference in the third-year receiver, who was named team MVP last season.“I think JuJu is still himself and that’s what makes him special,” Roethlisberger said. “He’s still fun-loving and silly at times, but you see some growth and maturity, and you see him kind of accepting that leadership role.”The Steelers have several options to fill the void opposite Smith-Schuster, including veterans Donte Moncrief Jordan Scarlett Jersey , Ryan Switzer, and Eli Rogers. They also have James Washington, last year’s second-round pick, and Diontae Johnson, the team’s third-round selection this year.“I know they can catch, I know they can play,” Roethlisberger said. “I want to see who makes the least amount of mistakes, who can get a subtle hand signal, who can interpret visual signals, the little subtle nuances.”Roethlisberger, in his 15th season, led the league in passing last year and also broke his own franchise record with 34 touchdown passes. The 37-year-old Roethlisberger says he’s not as fast entering year 16 but feels his arm is just as strong as it was 10 years ago.“I really spent a lot of time with my trainer, working on my shoulders and back and things for throwing,” Roethlisberger said. “I feel as good as I ever have physically, and I still feel sharp mentally, too, so that’s important.”Roethlisberger also plans to stick around at least for another three years after signing a contract extension that will keep the two-time Super Bowl winner in Pittsburgh through the 2021 season.“I’m going to play to the end of my contract and then I’ll decide anything after that David Montgomery Jersey ,” Roethlisberger said. “I’ve honored all of my contracts to date. That’s my goal.”Roethlisberger also wants to win another Super Bowl.“That’s much more motivation for me than what people say,” Roethlisberger said. “I’ll be selfish when it comes to that. I want to win Super Bowls. Truthfully, that should be all of our motivation because that’s what’s driving me right now.” Billy Hamilton eluded a rundown tag, and the Cincinnati Reds escaped with a victory.

Joey Votto hit a bases-loaded triple in the 10th inning after Hamilton slipped out of a rundown, and the Reds beat the Royals 5-1 on Tuesday night.

”Billy showed his athleticism and got out of that jam there and set it up for Joey,” Reds manager Jim Riggleman said.

Hamilton got hung up between third and home when pitcher Kevin McCarthy (4-3) tipped Tucker Barnhart’s line drive with his glove. McCarthy picked up the ball behind the mound and threw home, and Hamilton looked done until he sidestepped Alcides Escobar’s tag and dived back safely into third base to leave the bases loaded with one out.

”I see the guy running back toward third base, I said, `Gimme the ball,”’ Escobar said. ”When I tried to tag him I thought, `Oh my God, where did the guy go?’ That was a great move right there.”

Hamilton’s speed and maneuvering set up the victory.

”That goes down as one of the more crazy things I’ve seen him do,” said Barnhart, who homered in the ninth to tie it.

Royals manager Ned Yost argued with third base ump Jeff Nelson that Hamilton ran out of the base path.

”In their judgment he didn’t leave the baseline,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. ”I said, `In my judgment he did. Can you check with Laz (Diaz, plate umpire)?’ Laz was of the same opinion. You don’t really have much ground there.”

Votto then tripled on a 2-1 count to the right-center wall http://www.bearsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-riley-ridley-jersey , and Eugenio Suarez singled home Votto.

”I was looking for a quality pitch that I could put a little air on,” Votto said. ”Can’t hit the ball on the ground there. Can’t hit it too shallow. I got a good pitch and put a good swing on it.”

Dave Hernandez (2-0) hit a batter and struck out two.

Barnhart drove a 2-2 pitch by Kelvin Herrera over the right-field fence into in the Royals’ bullpen to lead off the ninth.

It was Herrera’s second blown save in 16 opportunities.

After Barnhart’s home run, Herrera walked Votto for his first walk of the season in his 27th relief appearance. He also walked Jesse Winker with two outs before retiring Adam Duvall on a groundball to end the inning.

Ian Kennedy, who has won one of his last 27 home starts, pitched eight scoreless innings, allowing three singles. He was removed after 104 pitches and the Royals holding a 1-0 lead.

”I leave it up to the staff to make that decision, not me,” Kennedy said on coming back for the ninth. ”I kind of felt like Kelvin has been so good this year I imagined that was probably my last inning.”

Kennedy retired 12 straight after navigating his way out of a bases-loaded jam to end the second.

The Reds loaded the bases in the second inning on Scooter Gennett’s leadoff single and walks by Suarez and Duvall. Kennedy got out of that jam when Jose Peraza flied out to center fielder Abraham Almonte, who threw out Gennett attempting to score.

Hunter Dozier led off the fifth with a 425-foot homer to left on a 2-2 pitch by Sal Romano.

That was the only hiccup for Romano. He allowed only three singles outside of Dozier’s home run in eight innings.

The Royals have dropped eight of nine and have lost 22 of 32 home games.

SPELLING LESSON

The Kaufman Stadium scoreboard spelled the opposing team as ”Cincinatti.”

ROSTER MOVES

Royals: RHP Justin Grimm (low back stiffness) was recalled from his minor league injury rehab with Triple-A Omaha and activated. The Royals optioned rookie RHP Trevor Oaks to the Storm Chasers. OF Jorge Bonifacio, who is finishing an 80-game suspension, will begin a minor league rehab assignment Tuesday with Omaha. Major League Baseball suspended Bonifacio for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Reds: RHP Homer Bailey (right knee inflammation) allowed five runs on six hits in three innings in a rehab start Sunday for Triple-A Louisville. All the runs scored in the fifth when Bailey allowed two doubles and a triple. ”I talked to (Louisville bench coach) Dick Schofield and he basically said the first two innings looked good and then he got hit hard,” Reds interim manager Jim Riggleman said.

Royals: Jorge Soler (bruised left big toe) returned to the lineup for the first time since Friday.

UP NEXT

Reds: RHP Tyler Mahle has allowed two earned runs over 10 innings in his first two June starts, going 1-0.

Royals: RHP Jason Hammel is 2-1 with a 2.59 ERA in his past four starts.

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