TOKYO -- Second-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga needed four match points to beat Gael Monfils 6-3, 7-6 (8) on Monday to advance to the second round of the Japan Open. Juan Thornhill Jersey . Tsonga fired 11 aces and didnt drop a service game in the match to improve his record to four wins in five tour-level matches against his French compatriot. After Tsonga got the decisive break of the first set in the second game, the second set went with serve until the tiebreaker. Monfils rallied from a 5-1 deficit to level the tiebreaker at 5-5, then fought off three match points before Tsonga sealed the victory. "I started well and played offensively," Tsonga said. "I know this is the only way for me to beat Gael." Tsonga began the year strongly, reaching the quarterfinals at the Australian Open and the semifinals at the French Open. After finishing runnerup to Andy Murray at Queens, however, Tsonga was forced to retire with a knee injury in the second round at Wimbledon and did not enter the U.S. Open as a result. "I have not played much in the last two or three months, so it will take me time to adjust," said Tsonga, adding that was cramping near the end of the match. In other first-round action, sixth-seeded Nicolas Almagro of Spain beat German qualifier Benjamin Becker 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3) and Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine defeated Daniel Brands of Germany 6-3, 6-1. Top-seeded Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina was scheduled to play Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus in a first-round match on Tuesday, when defending champion Kei Nishikori was due to meet Jurgen Melzer of Austria. Darrel Williams Jersey . The right-hander said he threw about 30 pitches in a routine bullpen session Sunday at Yankee Stadium, his final hurdle before starting Tuesday night at Tampa Bay. Daniel Sorensen Jersey . (January 11, 2014) – Once again Kevin Martin proved why he is the all-time TSN skins leader, winning $11,500 in prize money and a spot in the Travelers All-Star Curling Skins Game presented by Pintys final following a semifinal victory over Brad Jacobs earlier this evening at the Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre in Banff, Alta. http://www.prochiefsauthentic.com/Youth-Xavier-Williams-Elite-Jersey/ . The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. SEATTLE -- Mariners rookie Roenis Elias has flashed signs of brilliance in the first two months of his major league career. A strong fastball. A big, bending curveball that can buckle hitters at the knees. Against the Detroit Tigers on Sunday, Elias put the entire package together against one of the leagues strongest lineups. The 25-year-old left-hander from Cuba kept Detroit off balance in throwing a three-hitter, pitching Seattle to a 4-0 win. Elias (4-4) struck out eight and walked one in his 12th major league start, and the first one to last longer than seven innings. Elias is the first Mariners rookie to record a shutout since Freddy Garcia on Aug. 24, 1999, against the Tigers. "He had all his secondary stuff," manager Lloyd McClendon said. "I thought his changeup was exceptional. He kept the fastball down for the most part. Pitched in and out. The curveball was good as well but I thought the changeup was the equalizer today." Heading to the mound for the ninth inning, Elias had to face the heart of Detroits lineup in Ian Kinsler, Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez. All three hitters are hitting over .300 and were facing Elias for the fourth time in the game, but he made quick work of the trio to close out the victory. "I didnt think there was much that would affect this guy as far as nerves were concerned given his situation and where he came from," McClendon said. "He didnt disappoint. He just went out and did his job. Elias recorded five of his eight strikeouts with the curveball. "When he keeps (the curveball) in the zone and guys have to respect it as a strike and then he can use it as a put-away pitch, thats when its really working well for him," catcher Mike Zunino said. The Tigers only moved one runner in scoring position, and Elias matched a career high with 111 pitches. "I was told that to have success (in the majors) you have to have command of three pitches," Elias said through a translator. "The curveball, the changeup and the fastball were all working today.. Morris Claiborne Jersey. ." Elias threw the first complete game shutout for Seattle since Aaron Harang on June 11, 2013, in a 4-0 win over the Houston Astros. Elias said it was only his second career complete game, the other coming in Single-A. The Tigers were shut out for the third time this season and second time on their current road trip. The Tigers have lost 10 of their last 14 games. "He had a good curveball with a good down angle. Its tough to square up on," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "It was just one of those days where we made quick, easy outs and didnt really put up much of a fight. Max Scherzer (6-2) gave up four runs and nine hits in 6 2-3 innings. In his last three outings, he has allowed 16 earned runs with a 7.32 ERA. His ERA for the year has climbed to 3.20. "They did a good job hitting some pitches that were up and capitalized on some off-speed mistakes that sailed up in the zone," Scherzer said. Endy Chavez hit a leadoff double in the Seattle first and Michael Saunders doubled for a 1-0 lead. Willie Bloomquist and Chavez each singled in the third, putting runners at the corners with no outs. James Jones flied out, Saunders struck out and Bloomquist was thrown out at home plate on a double steal attempt. In the fifth, Dustin Ackley led off with a single and swiped second base. Bloomquist hit an RBI double and James singled home a run. Brad Miller homered off Scherzer in the seventh. NOTES: Seattle 2B Robinson Cano was out of the lineup for a fourth straight game. He is day to day while dealing with a bone bruise on his left hand. ... Jones was removed from the game for precautionary reasons in the eighth with tightness in his left groin. He was replaced defensively by Cole Gillespie. ... Detroit C Bryan Holaday has thrown out just two of 10 runners who have tried to steal against him. Ackley and Jones both stole bases in the fifth inning for Seattle. ... Seattle SS Miller homered for the first time since April 11 against Oakland, his fourth on the year. ' ' '