think Buffalo cares much if were the No. 1

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MINNEAPOLIS -- The Tampa Bay Rays didnt lose their edge during their recent slide. Theyre still strategizing with a World Series in mind. Saving Chris Archers right arm is one example, and he was so good on Friday night there was no concern of overexertion. Archer spun six scoreless innings, and the Rays added to their slim wild-card lead by beating the Minnesota Twins 3-0. "There was no moment that really showed up. He pretty much had his way," said manager Joe Maddon, who was more than satisfied with 87 pitches by the rookie. "I just want to really eye him up, because our intent is to play well into October, and I want to make sure that hes well." The Rays hold the second wild-card spot with four teams still in striking range. They nudged their advantage to 1 1/2 games over Cleveland, due to a loss by New York that pushed the Yankees to two games back. Baltimore (2 1/2 games behind) and Kansas City (3 1/2) are lurking, too. Archer (9-7) scattered three singles and struck out seven without a walk, following a pair of rough outings to start September. In his 20th start, he lowered his ERA to 3.03. "I still feel mentally and physically there. But I have an understanding of the big picture and maybe saving a couple extra innings, just in case if we do make that magical playoff run," Archer said. Yunel Escobar had an RBI double among his three hits for the Rays, and Desmond Jennings and James Loney drove in runs with singles against Kevin Correia (9-12), whose defence behind him was less than ideal. "We need to make the plays that should be made. Were not good enough to make up for that right now," Correia said. After losing 13 of 17 games, the Rays picked up an important victory on Thursday night over AL East-leading Boston on a tiebreaking eighth-inning double by rookie standout Wil Myers. The Rays started their weekend reprieve against the floundering Twins before 11 straight games against wild-card competitors Texas, the Orioles and Yankees. Tampa Bay has won 10 straight games against the Twins, including five this year. The Twins, who lost 15 of their last 18 home games, struck out 11 times. "I know hittings not easy. Ive been there. But you have to defend the plate. You have to put the ball in play. You have no chance when you dont swing," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. Correia, who leads the Twins in wins, starts, innings and strikeouts, left with no outs and two on in the seventh, and reliever Caleb Thielbar escaped with a popped-up bunt by Ben Zobrist that became a double play and a pickoff throw that caught David DeJesus stealing. That was about the only sequence for the Rays that went wrong. Archer took advantage of the weakened Twins lineup, missing star Joe Mauer and a whole lot more, and never let a runner advance past second base. In the fifth inning, he hit Darin Mastroianni with a pitch to put two on with one out. But Archer retired Clete Thomas and Eduardo Escobar on called third strikes, skipping off the mound and pumping his arm with a clenched fist on his way to the dugout. His changeup was extra sharp. "Ive had games where its been decent, but tonight was the best its been in my career," Archer said. Jake McGee, Joel Peralta and Fernando Rodney each pitched a scoreless inning in relief, and Rodney recorded his 35th save in 43 tries with a perfect ninth. So Archer left the game in good hands, even if he felt he couldve pitched longer. "Hes got a long career ahead of him, so at one point hes got to understand that and realize its not a bad thing," catcher Jose Molina said. NOTES: Mauer (concussion) felt good working out for the second straight day, and general manager Terry Ryan said the team will consider taking him on the road next week. ... RHP Jesse Crain, who has yet to pitch for the Rays since being acquired in a July trade with the White Sox because of a shoulder problem, might be ready for game action next week. ... LHP Matt Moore (15-3, 3.18 ERA) will try to extend his seven-game winning streak on Saturday for the Rays, against Twins rookie LHP Andrew Albers (2-2, 3.35 ERA). ... Zobrist became the Rays leader in career walks, passing Carlos Pena on the franchise list. Antonio Garcia Youth Jersey .com) - Former New York Mets general manager Omar Minaya is joining the Major League Baseball Players Association staff as a senior advisor to executive director Tony Clark. 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Born in Berkeley and raised in Oakland, where he later pitched for the As, Ross beat the Giants for the first time in six career appearances by throwing eight scoreless innings to lead the San Diego Padres to a 2-1 victory Friday night.FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots wore pads as they practiced hard in the rain inside their stadium Wednesday.No light workout on the adjacent field where they usually prepare even though Sundays game against the Buffalo Bills has no impact on either teams playoff status.Not from coach Bill Belichick, who has plenty of experience preparing his teams for the post-season.Well do the same thing we always do, he said. It wont be any different this week than its been any other week. It wont be any different this year than its been any other year. Well do what we feel is best for our football team, period.Hes just not saying what that is.Having clinched the top seed in the AFC and home-field advantage throughout the conference playoffs, the Patriots (12-3) could limit the playing time of quarterback Tom Brady, tight end Rob Gronkowski and other key starters.No sense exposing them to injury against the Bills (8-7), who missed the playoffs for the 15th straight season, the longest current drought.Whatever Belichick plans, his players arent saying even if they know.Were players, safety Devin McCourty said. We dont decide who plays or what plays are called. We can only do one thing and thats to be ready to play.They may be more motivated after squeaking out a 17-16 win over the lowly New York Jets last Sunday. Theyd like to go into their first-round bye with a solid performance.When you win a bunch of games, you string a bunch together, you can build some momentum, Brady said. Weve worked pretty hard to get to this point. I think this is the time to put the pedal to the metal and not really go the other direction.For the fourth time in Belichicks 15 years as coach of the Patriots, they clinched their playoff spot before their last game. In three of those years, starters sat out or played less than usual. In the other, 2007, the Patriots were trying to finish 16-0 and did it with a 38-35 win over the New York Giants.Buut this season they clinched the No.dddddddddddd 1 seed when the Cincinnati Bengals beat Denver on Monday night, eliminating the Broncos from contention for that spot.That was really out of our control, Brady said. We did our best to do our part on Sunday, which was good, but still the season is not over for us. There is plenty of time to think about things down the road. This isnt the time for it.The Bills are coming off a 26-24 upset by the Oakland Raiders but have a formidable defence that has allowed the fourth fewest yards and fifth fewest points.But their running game is weak and the Patriots havent allowed a second-half touchdown in their last five games.I dont think Buffalo cares much if were the No. 1 seed, McCourty said. We talk about how after Thanksgiving its important for us to get better each time we step on the field. So I think getting the No. 1 seed doesnt change that. We still want to play good football every time we go out there.Belichicks constant message to his players is not to look beyond the next game. But theres one game that five of them would love to miss — the Pro Bowl.Thats scheduled for the weekend before the Super Bowl and those players hope to be preparing for that.Special teams captain Matthew Slater was humbled to be chosen for the fourth straight season but said, I have no desire to play in it. What goes on in this locker room is more important to me.Brady, Gronkowski, cornerback Darrelle Revis and kicker Stephen Gostkowski also were picked.But this week theyre focused on beating the Bills at home for the 14th straight time.We have to stay in tune, Revis said. We have to keep that level of energy that we had throughout the course of the year.No matter who plays.Were going to do whats best for the New England Patriots, Belichick said. Thats what Ive always done. I cant imagine ever doing anything different.___AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '