SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Padres have agreed with former Detroit Tigers closer Joaquin Benoit on a $15.5 million, two-year contract, a person familiar with the situation said Wednesday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal is pending Benoit passing a physical. In his first season as Tigers closer, Benoit had 24 saves in 26 chances. But in Game 2 of the AL championship series, he allowed a tying grand slam by Bostons David Ortiz that was a turning point in the series. A starter early in his career, Benoit has been strictly a reliever since 2006 while with the Texas Rangers. He is 44-35 lifetime with a 4.11 ERA and 37 saves. Benoit, who turns 37 on July 26, is expected to replace setup man Luke Gregerson, who was traded to Oakland for outfielder Seth Smith. He could also be insurance for closer Huston Street, whos been on the disabled list three times the last two seasons. Street is entering the final year of a $14 million, two-year deal. The Padres hold a $7 million option for 2015. Andre Johnson Youth Jersey . - Pierre-Maxime Poudrier scored twice and added an assist, and Antoine Bibeau made 43 saves as the Val-dOr Foreur downed the Baie-Comeau Drakkar 6-3 on Sunday to force Game 7 in their Quebec Major Junior Hockey League final series. Max Scharping Womens Jersey . -- Arizona coach Bruce Arians says there "were obviously very, very many problems" with the officiating in the Cardinals 24-21 loss at Philadelphia. http://www.officialhoustontexanspro.com/...-texans-jersey/. - Considering where Jeff Gordon was after Richmond, left out of the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship in part due to some late-race shenanigans, he couldnt have been happier on Sunday. DeAndre Hopkins Texans Jersey . Pistorius denied the allegation that he said to the close friend of the girlfriend he killed: "How can you sleep at night?" The accusation by Kim Myers provided a bizarre twist during the trial of the world-famous double-amputee Olympian, who is facing 25 years to life in prison if convicted of premeditated murder for shooting dead Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model, at his home last year. Andre Johnson Jersey . The right-hander pitched into the seventh inning and boosted Cincinnatis struggling offence by hitting a double and scoring as the Reds ended a seven-game losing streak by beating the Atlanta Braves 1-0 Saturday night.LAS VEGAS -- The time for scouting is over. Brad Jacobs is using the Continental Cup to make sure his team is ready for the tournament that really matters. Jacobs, who will represent Canada at the Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia next month, said hes just trying to prepare his team for curlings biggest stage. Watching what other teams are up to isnt on the Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., natives agenda. "Weve played them before," said Jacobs on Sunday. "We focus on our game. Everyones throwing the rock well right now, thats the main thing for our team. I really like what I see as skip from the other end. "Its really nice to be here playing on this great ice surface in really serious competition that everyones trying their hearts out at." Jacobs skipped Team North America to a second straight Continental Cup championship with a 36-24 win over Thomas Ulsruds Team World. Team North America won the winners cheque of $52,000 and a bonus of $13,000 for collecting the most points in the skins game Sunday, while the World team took home $26,000. The victory was clinched in the sixth end when Ulsrud missed his final shot, giving Team North America a 4-1 win, and the half-point it needed to push it to the 30-point threshold in the overall standings. Jacobs was joined at the Continental Cup on the womens side by Winnipegs Jennifer Jones, who will also go to Sochi for Canada. "I really dont know what to expect in Sochi," said Jacobs. "For this event the crowds and everything, phenomenal. Obviously the arena, I dont think is as big as this one over at the Olympics. Theres a lot of Canadians here, its really made this event a huge success so far." Jacobs may not have been focusing on the competition but at least one of his opponents made sure to watch what Canada was doing. Ulsrud, of Norway, captured silver at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. He said it was beneficial to play the Olympic ccontenders.dddddddddddd. "The Canadian team are obviously a really good team, but were going to have to make them work for it Sochi when they meet Norway," said Ulsrud. "We couldnt have asked for more or for it (the week) to go any better," said Jones. "We just feel real good with the ice and how were playing heading into Sochi." But with the different format at the Continental Cup, Jones added she didnt get many new tips about her Olympic opponents. "We know these teams really well. You know what to expect and you know youre going to have to play great to beat them," said Jones. "Weve been training really well and feel like everythings going according to plan which is exactly what you want it to be heading into the Olympics." Scotlands David Murdoch called it "quite unique" to see Olympic teams so close to the Games. "You want to make sure youre throwing it nice and try to take some good form into the Olympics," said Murdoch. Eve Muirhead, who won gold for Scotland at last years womens world championship and will skip for Great Britain in Sochi, credited ice technician Hans Wuthrich for simulating the conditions at Sochi. "Youve got Hans making the ice, the same icemaker who is going to be at the Olympics," she said. "This was fantastic prep for the Games." Muirheads Team World lost 3-2 on Sunday to Team North America, skipped by Erika Brown of Oakville, Ont./Madison, Wisc. Brown will represent the United States in Sochi. The Continental Cup features six teams from North America facing off against six World teams in various curling matches including traditional games, mixed doubles, singles and skins play. In the mixed skins game, Team North Americas Jeff Stoughton, Emma Miskew, Mark Nichols and Lisa Weagle rolled to a 4-1 win over Team Worlds David Murdoch, Satsuki Fujisawa, Scott Andrews and Miyo Ichikawa. ' ' '