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WASHINGTON -- Its not too often than an 18-31 coach keeps his job in the NBA. Its especially rare if the 18-31 coach turns out to be the only candidate in the teams coaching search. In fact, the Washington Wizards didnt really conduct a search. Randy Wittman was the choice all along for team President Ernie Grunfeld, who announced Monday that the early-season replacement for Flip Saunders has signed a new deal. "It wasnt a secret which direction we were going in," Grunfeld said. "We felt comfortable with the situation that we were in." Coaching announcements can hardly get more low-key. Grunfeld and owner Ted Leonsis had hinted that Wittman would remain, and the news conference making it official attracted less media that a routine regular season game. Leonsis did not attend, but even he would have been hard-pressed to create much buzz about a status quo move for a team thats finished more than 25 games below .500 for four straight years. "They hadnt told me I wasnt going to coach," said Wittman, who was still under contract from the deal he had signed as an assistant coach, "so I just continued on as I normally would." Wittman had been Saunders lead assistant since 2009, and he took over when Saunders was fired in January. The switch didnt make much of an impact on the won-loss record until late in the season, following a trade for veteran centre Nene. The Wizards went 20-46 -- second-worst in the NBA -- but they finished on an upswing, winning their last six and eight of their last 10. "Weve got to continue to take the positive steps that we did the last four to six weeks," Wittman said. "You could see it -- there was not the disconnect anymore of guys trying to do things for themselves." Grunfeld agreed, saying that Wittman "made the players accountable." Saunders had been originally hired to lead a veteran-laded team three years ago, while Wittman appeared to have a better rapport with the young players on the roster. Former No. 1 overall pick John Wall was among the players who publicly lobbied for Wittman to return. "Its always nice that your players are responding in a positive manner," said Grunfeld, who also signed a new deal this year. "But they didnt have to say it. ... I think they spoke louder by their actions on the court." Wittman previously coached the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves, and his career record on the bench is a very modest 118-238. He said the main thing hes learned is that he cant "reinvent the game," but he is looking forward to implementing some ideas during the summer and at training camp that werent feasible to introduce in the middle of a compressed season. "Summers your time to change," he said. Wholesale Jerseys . The White Sox acquired Houston reliever Brett Myers on Saturday for two minor league pitchers and a player to be named. Wholesale Soccer Jerseys . Jimenez joins Paul McGinley, Darren Clarke and Thomas Bjorn for Europes defence of its Ryder Cup title against the United States at the Medinah Country Club in Chicago from Sept. http://elevatedcolor.com/hot.html . The two-time AL champion Rangers said Feliz will have surgery on Wednesday. On Tuesday, the AL West leaders acquired ace Ryan Dempster from the Chicago Cubs. Feliz was 3-1 with a 3.CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Astros interim manager Tony DeFrancesco dreaded the sight of closer Aroldis Chapman jogging in from the bullpen, ready to hit triple digits on the radar gun and extend his two-month streak of perfect endings. For one night, the left-hander couldnt do either. Matt Dominguez hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning Friday night that broke Chapmans streak of 27 consecutive saves and powered Houston to a 5-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Chapman (5-5) hadnt blown a save chance since June 24, putting together a club-record streak of converting saves. He had it broken by a player who was out of the starting lineup because of a sore left wrist and wound up getting his face splattered with shaving cream by joyous teammates. "That was worth the whole time Ive been here," said DeFrancesco, who took over on Aug. 19 after Brad Mills was fired. "They come in the locker room, theyre smiling, they give him the pie in the face. It was a good feeling for us. "Thats a good team over there. I felt like Rocky versus Apollo Creed today." Shockingly, the 95-loss Astros were the last ones standing. "He showed hes not perfect," Reds manager Dusty Baker said of Chapman. "Hes been as near perfect as anybody for the last two months. "It was just their night." Tyler Greene and J.D. Martinez singled off Chapman with one out in the ninth. Dominguez, who got into the game after second baseman Jose Altuve got hurt, fouled off a 98 mph fastball, then connected on one at 98 mph for his second career homer. Dominguez was expecting the 100 mph fastball that is Chapmans distinctive pitch. "Theres nothing else you can really look for," Dominguez said. "He got a fastball up in the zone. I took a good swing at the first one and fouled it off. I happened to get the barrel on the second one." Although the wrist was still sore, the immensity of the moment took over. "A couple of days ago, it was hard to hold a bat," he said. "Today I could still feel it, but with all the adrenalin and stuff going in the game, I didnt feel it too much." It was the fourth homer allowed this season by Chapman, who is 35 of 40 in save chances overall. Hector Ambriz (1-0) got two outs in the eighth. Wilton Lopez pitched the ninth for hhis third save in six chances.dddddddddddd It was the sixth time the Reds bullpen -- the best in the NL -- failed to close out a win for Homer Bailey, leaving him stuck at 10 victories. Bailey pitched into the seventh inning, giving up two runs on a first-inning homer by Justin Maxwell. Ryan Ludwick had a two-run single, and Jay Bruce singled home the tiebreaking run in the fifth off Lucas Harrell. The Reds had Joey Votto back at first base for the second straight game. Votto missed 48 games because of torn cartilage in his left knee. He flied out and drew three walks, one of them intentional. Although Votto was back, the Reds were missing the other side of the infield. Third baseman Scott Rolen had an MRI that found inflammation in his lower back and will miss at least a few games. Shortstop Zack Cozart was still bothered by a sore back, which he hurt on Tuesday. Bailey and Harrell also went head-to-head on Saturday in Houston, each allowing one run and failing to get the decision. The Astros won it on an error in the ninth. Maxwells two-run homer on Friday was a familiar development in a couple of ways. Maxwells solo homer accounted for the only run Bailey allowed last Saturday in Houston. Also, Maxwell has 14 homers this season, eight in games in which Harrell pitched. The Reds opened the bottom of the first with two singles and a four-pitch walk to Votto. Ludwick singled to tie it 2-all. "I felt like I was awful today," said Harrell, who gave up seven hits and walked four in six innings. "I couldnt throw pitches where I wanted." Chris Heisey tripled in the fifth inning and scored on Bruces opposite-field single, giving the right fielder a seven-game hitting streak. Heisey had three hits overall. Notes: Astros 3B Brandon Laird got sick before the game, prompting the Astros to give Matt Downs his 11th start at the position. 3B Scott Moore was out with a strained groin, and Dominguez had the sore left wrist. Dominguez got into the game in the third inning after Altuve left with a strained abdomen, forcing Downs to move to second base. ... Downs had a 13-pitch at-bat before striking out in the sixth. ... Reds 3B Todd Frazier has reached base in each of his last 29 games, passing Votto for the longest streak by a Red this season. ' ' '