Neue Mitglieder » yoff race over the last few weeks despite being well out

OAKLAND, Calif. - One after another, the starting pitchers for the Oakland Athletics are shutting down opponents and making up for most of the clubs shortcomings. Especially the back of the bullpen. Jesse Chavez struck out seven and came up an inning short of his first complete game, and the As held on to beat the Chicago White Sox 5-4 on Monday night for their season-high fifth straight win. "We all feed off of each other," Chavez said. "And I think thats what makes a good staff." Chavez (3-1) gave up five hits and walked two for the AL-West leading As, who have outscored opponents 28-8 during the winning streak. The former reliever allowed only solo home runs to Dayan Viciedo and Jose Abreu, whose major-league leading 14th long ball in the ninth chased the right-hander. Josh Donaldson hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the fifth, and Josh Reddick hit a tying triple in the second off John Danks (3-3) during Oaklands win. Jed Lowrie added a two-run double in the seventh that proved pivotal after the White Sox scored three runs in the ninth and nearly forced extra innings. Left-hander Sean Doolittle recorded the final three outs, striking out pinch-hitter Tyler Flowers and Leury Garcia to strand the tying runner on second. "Didnt want it to get to that point, but thats how it got there," As manager Bob Melvin said. Danks gave up six hits and three runs in six innings, striking out five and walking two. Chicago, which has lost four of five, came up just short and too late. "It wasnt a lack of trying. Sometimes you hit it and its right at people," said White Sox manager Robin Ventura, who was agitated after a 5-1 home loss to Arizona on Sunday, calling it "uninspired" effort. After Abreus homer, Fernando Abad walked Adam Dunn. Then struggling Jim Johnson gave up a double to Viciedo and an RBI single to Alexei Ramirez, setting off another shower of boos. Pinch-hitter Paul Konerkos sacrifice fly sliced Oaklands lead to 5-4 before Doolittle struck out the final two batters for his second save this season. "I think it was important for me tonight not getting caught up in the moment of trying to get the save and stop the bleeding," Doolittle said. The AL-West leading As, coming off a home sweep of Washington, added another layer of frustration for a Chicago team beginning a nine-game road trip that also stops in Houston and Kansas City. The White Sox spent about eight hours on a plane Sunday night because of storms in Chicago that delayed their flight to the Bay Area, then they played a late game on the West Coast. They still started strong but wasted an opportunity to retake the lead when they advanced runners to second and third on Chavezs wild pitch in the fifth. Conor Gillaspie hit a hard line drive with two outs — but right into centre fielder Craig Gentrys glove. Then came Donaldsons drive in the fifth, lining a 2-0 fastball into the seats in left for his eighth home run. Lowrie added a two-run double off reliever Daniel Webb in the seventh to stretch Oaklands lead to 5-1. Chavez kept inducing quick outs and nearly finished the game himself. He had never completed more than seven innings, which he has done three times this year. Chavez has allowed one earned run or fewer in six of his eight starts this season. The As are a 7-1 when he pitches. "We faced him in the spring. Hes good," Dunn said. :Hes going to be around the strike zone. When a guy has that many pitches, you try to get him early. It didnt work out." NOTES Athletics CF Coco Crisp took swings in batting practice before sitting out for the fifth straight game with a strained neck. He is day to day. ... White Sox LHP Chris Sale, out since April 17 because of a strained muscle near his left elbow, is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment in Triple-A Charlotte on Thursday. ... LHP Drew Pomeranz (2-1, 1.45 ERA) makes his second start for the As opposite Chicagos Scott Carroll on Tuesday. Alex Tuch Golden Knights Jersey . The kind he has every so often. The kind he has when Dwyane Wade sits. James scored 43 points -- 25 in a bewildering first-quarter shooting display -- and Chris Bosh added 21, leading the Miami Heat to a 100-96 win Tuesday night over the Cleveland Cavaliers, who played their first game without injured All-Star guard Kyrie Irving. Brayden McNabb Golden Knights Jersey . We wonder if the price of a Roberts rookie card has at least gone up a few cents? Tribute Tweets #Padres Tony Gwynn had 287 career plate appearances against #Braves trio of Maddux, Glavine, & Smoltz, he hit . http://www.goldenknightssale.com/authentic-jon-merrill-golden-knights-jersey/ . Head of clinic Josef Obrist tells the Austria Press Agency on Thursday that Morgenstern "is doing surprisingly well. ... He still has a memory gap but thats nothing unusual." Morgenstern has moved to a rehabilitation clinic in Klagenfurt for further recovery. William Karlsson Golden Knights Jersey . The Oilers will try to get back in the win column on Monday when they continue a four-game road trip with a battle against the Buffalo Sabres. Edmonton won its third straight game last Wednesday against visiting San Jose, beating the Sharks 3-0 as Scrivens stopped 59 shots to set an NHL record for saves in a regular-season shutout. Reilly Smith Golden Knights Jersey .com) - Cincinnati Reds pitcher Mat Latos had an arthroscopic procedure performed on his right elbow last week, the teams official site reported Wednesday.(SportsNetwork.com) - The Ottawa Senators won for just the second time in nine games last time out to keep their slim playoff chances alive. They face a tough task on Sunday evening, however, as they host a Calgary Flames team that has taken to the role of spoiler as of late. Listen to the Senators vs. Flames live on TSN Radio 1200 Ottawa starting at 5pm et. The Senators have 74 points with nine games to play, leaving them eight points back of Columbus and Detroit for the two wild card spots in the Eastern Conference. Ottawa has done little to help its cause as of late, going 2-4-3 over the last nine contests. Both wins have come in Ottawas last three games and the club picked up a big 5-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday to begin a five-game homestand. Clarke MacArthur notched his 23rd goal of the season and tallied two assists. Kyle Turris also lit the lamp for the 23rd time this season and the duo are tied with Bobby Ryan for the club lead. Ryan, though, wont play again this season after undergoing sports hernia surgery this week. Erik Condra, Cody Ceci and Milan Michalek all added goals on Friday and Craig Anderson made 46 saves in his first start since March 10. He had been out with an upper-body injury. "The bottom line is, we got two points and we found a way to win, and thats all that really matters," said Anderson. "We played pretty solid and for the most part we did what it took to get the job done.dddddddddddd." Anderson should get the start this evening and is 6-6-0 lifetime versus the Flames with a 2.45 goals against average. Calgary has thrived on impacting the playoff race over the last few weeks despite being well out of contention. The Flames have won six of their last nine games and bested the playoff-hopeful New York Rangers 4-3 on Friday. Mike Cammalleri notched the deciding tally late in the second period, taking a kick pass from defenseman Chris Butler up the right wing. Cammalleri then skated into the zone and beat New Yorks Henrik Lundqvist through the pads with 7.8 ticks on the clock. "Thats an opportunity maybe to get a shot off in stride where you might not usually," Cammalleri said. "I just tried to shoot it in stride the best I could. I thought by our [defense] making a quick up-play there, we were able to create a gap. Their [defense] got caught." Karri Ramo did the rest and finished with 38 saves, while Joe Colborne, Mark Giordano and Kevin Westgarth added goals. The Flames did lose defenseman Ladislav Smid to an upper-body injury on Friday in the opener of a five-game road trip. Ramo could start again today and is 0-2-1 with a 3.88 GAA in five career games versus the Senators, including two starts. The Flames have won nine of their past 12 versus the Senators, including a 4-1 victory in Calgary on March 5. ' ' '