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Johnny Manziel’s attempt to restart his football career brought him to a game on Saturday in a high school stadium that was largely empty.

Manziel [url=http://www.anaheimducksteamshop.com/authentic-blake-mclaughlin-jersey]Blake McLaughlin Ducks Jersey[/url] , 25, and two seasons removed from the sport, prefers a return to the NFL, would settle for the Canadian Football League, but has landed for now in The Spring League.

It’s a four-team showcase of practices and two games designed as an audition for pro scouts.

On Saturday, Manziel played about two quarters, completing 8 of 16 passes for 79 yards and a touchdown in windy, unseasonably cold conditions – temperatures in the low 40s – with a few hundred fans watching, many of them cheering for him.

Manziel was sacked four times, fumbled once [url=http://www.vikingsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-mike-remmers-jersey]http://www.vikingsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-mike-remmers-jersey[/url] , an issue he mentioned as a problem he had in the NFL, and could not lead his team in the final two minutes to a touchdown that would have won the game.

Manziel said he was frustrated by the final drive but added, ”It’s good to be back on the field. I’m healthy. I had fun. This is a huge step for me.”

As Manziel angles for a return to the NFL, the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner wants to distance himself from the personal issues that hurt him in the past.

Selected out of Texas A&M by Cleveland in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft – No. 22 overall – Manziel threw as many interceptions (seven) as touchdown passes with the Browns during two seasons.

In 2016, a domestic assault charge against Manziel in Dallas was dismissed after Manziel took an anger management course and participated in the NFL’s substance-abuse program.

In a recent interview, Manziel said he’s been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and has stopped drinking alcohol.

He recently reminded people about his lackadaisical approach in the past by telling radio host Dan Patrick that the Browns should have known he wasn’t a student of the game, an expert on the X’s and O’s of football, when they drafted him.

But Manziel said he is taking medication for the bipolar disorder and is devoted to the improvement of his life and career.

”No matter what happens football-wise, I’ve repaired a lot of relationships,” Manziel said. ”There was a lot of myself that needed a lot of work. The message that I’m sending is showing up every day [url=http://www.eaglesauthorizedshops.com/authentic-dallas-goedert-jersey]http://www.eaglesauthorizedshops.com/authentic-dallas-goedert-jersey[/url] , going to (team) meetings, being engaged. If the NFL pops up, cool. If not, I’m gonna work until I get back there.”

Standing in foul territory, Steven Matz stared at the ball he had just mishandled and started to give it an angry kick, then changed his mind and instead just picked it up.

Matz and the New York Mets keep their cool Sunday, barely, overcoming three errors and escaping the NL East cellar after a one-day stay by beating the Miami Marlins 5-2.[img]http://www.sndpic.com//nike_nfl_jerseys/nike_tampa_bay_buccaneers/nike_buccaneers_2737.jpg[/img]

The Mets, who endured their worst June ever, won for only the second time in the past 12 games to reach the season’s halfway point at 33-48.

”We’re all disappointed with where we’re at [url=http://www.authenticsphiladelphiaeagles.com/cheap-markus-wheaton-jersey]Markus Wheaton Color Rush Jersey[/url] ,” Matz said. ”We had higher expectations. We’re just going to keep pushing.”

Matz (4-5) did that in the series finale, when he pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed only an unearned run. It scored on his error, and he worked around misplays by two teammates – an encouraging sign from a pitcher still learning not to let setbacks snowball.

”You still see him get a little flustered out there,” manager Mickey Callaway said. ”But he regroups and makes the next pitch. Today he won the game for us because he did that, because they easily could have tacked on some runs there early. He held them right where he needed to hold them.”

New York’s bullpen leads the majors in losses but limited Miami to one hit in the final 3 2/3 innings. Jeurys Familia completed the four-hitter with a perfect ninth for his 15th save.

Asdrubal Cabrera hit his 14th homer off Dan Straily (3-4). Todd Frazier had two hits and scored three times, and Kevin Plawecki doubled home New York’s first run.

Straily allowed three runs in seven innings, matching his longest outing of the year. Cameron Maybin hit his first homer for the Marlins, but they slipped back into last place in the division.

”We just didn’t do a whole lot with Matz,” manager Don Mattingly said. ”That’s probably the best I’ve seen him.”

Matz loaded the bases with two out in the second by walking Straily, an .056 career hitter [url=http://www.authenticskansascitychiefs.com/cheap-derrick-nnadi-jersey]Derrick Nnadi Color Rush Jersey[/url] , but then struck out Starlin Castro to escape.

Matz also reached behind his legs to snare Lewis Brinson’s grounder and retire him in the fourth. But the left-hander failed to come up with Straily’s safety squeeze bunt with two out in the inning, allowing Miguel Rojas to score from third.

”If I had taken my time I would have had him, but I rushed it,” Matz said.

MISCUES

Callaway talked before the game about how the Mets needed to play better defense, but they didn’t. Second baseman Cabrera and third baseman Frazier misplayed grounders for errors.

Miami misplays in the eighth led to the Mets’ final two runs. Center fielder Brinson failed to catch Frazier’s drive after a long sprint, and the play was ruled an RBI double.

”He probably should have caught that,” Mattingly said. ”I know they gave him a hit there, but if you ask him he gets to that ball and catches that pretty much all the time.”

Frazier then came home on a wild pickoff throw by catcher J.T. Realmuto.

UNEXPECTED CONTRIBUTION

Matz was 2 for 26 this year before he hit a two-out single in the fourth for his first RBI of the season.

”I was in a slump,” he said, ”but I’m out of it now.”

NIMMO SLUMP

The Mets’ Brandon Nimmo [url=http://www.authenticswashingtonredskins.com/cheap-geron-christian-jersey]Geron Christian Color Rush Jersey[/url] , hit by a pitch on his right hand a week ago, went 0 for 5 and is in a 1-for-19 slump.

”I’m super late. My bat speed is not there,” he said. ”But my hand feels fine.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mets: INF Dominic Smith, who had a cortisone shot for his sore right wrist, pinch-hit in the eighth and flied out. … OF Jay Bruce (hip) is expected to begin taking batting practice in the next few days.

UP NEXT

Mets: After an off day, RHP Zack Wheeler (2-6, 4.47) is scheduled to start Tuesday at Toronto.

Marlins: LHP Wei-Yin Chen (2-5, 6.14) is scheduled to start Monday against Tampa Bay to begin a three-game series.

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