nd mnd m | Forum

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Texas Rangers finally gained some ground in the AL wild-card race with their fifth consecutive victory. Swingman Oscar Robertson Jersey . They still dont have a playoff spot with only two games left in the regular season. "These last two games are going to be exciting. We definitely bettered our chances," closer Joe Nathan said after the Rangers 5-3 victory Friday night. "Today was a crucial game." Alex Rios had a tiebreaking RBI single in the seventh inning, and the Rangers moved closer in the wild-card standings for the first time during their winning streak. Wild-card leader Tampa Bay lost at Toronto, dropping the Rays into a tie with Cleveland for the two spots after the Indians beat Minnesota. The Rangers, looking for their fourth consecutive playoff appearance, are a game back. "We just want an opportunity, just want that shot," Elvis Andrus said. Ian Kinsler led off the seventh with a walk off Juan Gutierrez (1-5), then moved to second on an errant pickoff throw by the reliever who had taken over after C.J. Wilson threw 121 pitches in six innings. Rios had his run-scoring hit after a sac bunt by Andrus, then scored on a two-out infield single by A.J. Pierzynski. The Rangers dont have to wait long to play again -- Saturdays game was moved up eight hours to an 11:05 a.m. start. The weather forecast called for moderate showers and thunderstorms in the area by early afternoon and increasing in intensity throughout the day and into the night, when the game was originally scheduled. "This is where we want to be ... still in the hunt," manager Ron Washington said. The loss was the 82nd for the Angels, ensuring them of only their second losing record the past 10 seasons -- a period in which they were AL West champions five times. "To be totally honest with you, whether we had run off and gotten over .500 or not doesnt or cant mask our challenge ahead of how we need to get better," manager Mike Scioscia said. "It is very frustrating. Nothing has changed as far as if you want to talk about the whole season being frustrating. I think thats a pretty good buzzword to put on it." Alexi Ogando allowed three runs with four strikeouts over 5 1-3 innings. Nathan, the winner Thursday night when the Rangers won on rookie Jurickson Profars game-ending homer, worked a perfect ninth for his 42nd save in 45 chances. After Ogando struck out Mark Trumbo to start the sixth, Jason Frasor struck out the next two batters. Neal Cotts (6-3) and Tanner Scheppers both worked perfect innings with two strikeouts. The Angels didnt even get a runner on base against the four relievers. Texas went ahead 3-1 after a wild 31-pitch third inning for Wilson, the left-hander who went to the Angels in free agency after being part of the Rangers only two World Series teams (2010 and 2011) . "I just thought C.J. was off all night," Scioscia said. "He was behind every count. It was just a struggle for C.J. Still he got through six innings giving us a chance, he just wasnt sharp out there." Andrus had a one-out single and got to third on two wild pitches, the second which came on ball four to Rios. Wilson then hit consecutive batters with pitches -- Adrian Beltre in the left knee to load the bases before getting Pierzynski in the shoulder blade to drive in a run. Rios scored on another wild pitch, sliding into the plate almost simultaneously with Wilson, who slipped while coming to cover and got tangled up with the runner. In all, there were three wild pitches by Wilson and two hit batters in the third. But he struck out the last two batters, starting a stretch of retiring 10 in a row before finishing with six strikeouts and four walks. "One out of every four (balls) was rubbed up, and then three out of every four were basically brand new," Wilson claimed afterward. "The balls were kind of squirting around, a couple of balls got away. If youre a lefty and you hit a lefty with a slider, thats obviously not what youre trying to do right there. ... You going to call it a coincidence? Its not a coincidence. Lets be honest." NOTES: Within minutes after the Rays had lost, the Angels got even 3-all on a two-out single by Josh Hamilton for his 1,000th career hit. ... Rios drove in a run with a fielders choice in the first, when Kinsler scored after walking and going to third on a perfectly executed hit-and-run play by Andrus. ... Hamilton has a 12-game hitting streak, matching his longest of the season. ... Wilson finished 17-7 with a 3.39 ERA. He was 9-0 his last 12 road starts. Jabari Parker Jersey . The winner Saturday will remain in the elite 10-team field next year. "We talked about wanting to be disciplined and stick with our game plan and good things will come," Draisaitl said, who had two goals for the victors. Swingman Jabari Parker Jersey . The incident occurred at 19:56 of the second period of the Kings 4-2 road win over Edmonton on Sunday. Nolan punched Oilers forward Jesse Joensuu in the jaw in front of the Kings goal during a scrum. http://www.nbabucksonline.com/Customized/ . Breaking three of his own world records on his way to winning in Paris, Chan silenced the critics and left the audiences standing in appreciation and awe.It was on the 19th of November last year that the Blue Jays pulled off their massive 12-player deal with Miami that was supposed to set the table for a playoff season in 2013. Of course it didnt work out that way, but I suppose the point of this is, the deal came right out of nowhere. There were no hot rumours, no build-up. It just happened. This years Winter Meetings are being held from Dec. 9-12 at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort in Orlando. This is the third time the meetings have been held at this facility. The last time was in 2010. Its interesting to look back now at some of the rumours involving the Blue Jays back then and what actually went down. One of the hottest rumours had the Jays offering a package that might have included right hander Kyle Drabek, outfielder Travis Snider and a couple of other prospects to Kansas City for right hander Zach Greinke who was fresh off winning the American League Cy Young Award. There was also talk the Jays were going after Arizona outfielder Justin Upton and even Manny Ramirez. None of those deals came to fruition. Alex Anthopoulos did pull off the first major swap of those meetings though, sending right-hander Shaun Marcum to Milwaukee for Brett Lawrie. Again, though, there were no rumours surrounding that deal. It just happened. Arguably, the Jays most significant deal of that offseason didnt come until the New Year. They sent Vernon Wells and his huge contract to the Angels for catcher/1B/DH Mike Napoli and outfielder Juan Rivera. Four days later they flipped Napoli to Texas in a deal involving closer Frank Francisco. Wells incidently will be heading into the final year of his contract next season. Though Vernon will earn $21 million, the Yankees are only on the hook for $2.4 million of that. According the Baseball Reference.com, the Angels are paying the rest, some $18.6 million. Rumours and Deals There was actually a trade this week, with the Dodgers getting outfielder Jeremy Hazelbaker and cash from Boston for outfielder prospect Alex Castellanos. The rumour mill really figures to start heating up at the Owners and GMs meetings running from Nov. 11-13 at Orlando. Usually those meetings are where the ground work is laid for the bigger deals and free agent signings to come through the fall and over the winter. Ray Allen Bucks Jersey. This brings us back to the two big rumours of the past week or so, put out by ESPN contributors. One had the Mets possibly offering right-hander Jon Niese, outfielder prospect Cesar Puello and another prospect for Jose Bautista. The Mets really need a power bat to offer some support for David Wright, and J.P. Ricciardi who now works in the Mets front office acquired Bautista for the Blue Jays in the first place from Pittsburgh. Puello is supposed to be the key in the deal for the Blue Jays. Hes supposedly a top-notch right field prospect who plays the game with boundless hustle. Some have compared him to Yasiel Puig, without the hotdogging. Trouble is Puello was suspended for 50 games for using PEDs in connection with Biogenesis. But again its only another rumour. Another hot one had the Blue Jays being in the thick of the race for Cincinnatis out-of-favour second baseman Brandon Phillips. Though some say he had an offseason and caused some friction for the Reds by comparing his contract to that of Joey Votto and for getting into a beef with a reporter, Phillips is still one of top second basemen in the game. Even in an "off year" he knocked in 103 runs. If new Reds manager Bryan Price moves closer Aroldis Chapman into the starting rotation as has been rumoured, maybe Anthopoulos can offer some of the Blue Jays bullpen depth and a prospect or two for Phillips. But as a cautionary note, Phillips will be 33 next season and is owed $50 million on his contract over the next four years. If the Blue Jays are truly going to go "all-in" again next season, this is the deal that they might actually pursue. Still, its just another one of those rumours you hear this time of year, and most of these rumours as we learned from 2010, dont ever turn into reality. Tampa Bay, Oakland and Pittsburgh are three of the teams that proved this season that you can win with a lower-echelon payroll. But of the final four teams that were alive in the post-season, three were in the top five in money spent, and St. Louis was number 11. Wholesale Jerseys China' ' '