Gemeindeorgane, Zentrale Funktionen » great player. Let him make play

OAKLAND T.J. Hockenson Jersey , Calif. — Two pitchers looking to create a first positive memory of Sunday’s opponent go head-to-head when the Cleveland Indians and Oakland Athletics complete a three-game series.

The A’s have won the first two games of the series, getting outstanding performances from starters Paul Blackburn and Edwin Jackson in 3-1 and 7-2 victories.

Oakland, which has won six in a row, allowed five total runs in its last four games.

Right-hander Frankie Montas (4-1, 3.68 ERA) will attempt to continue that run, but will do so in the wake of three consecutive shaky efforts, during which he has allowed 12 earned runs and 24 hits in 15 innings.

The 25-year-old has never started a game against the Indians, but faced them three times in relief, going 0-0 with a 3.86 ERA in 4 2/3 innings.

One of those bullpen outings against Cleveland came last May, when he gave up two runs in an 8-4 loss.

Montas will have big shoes to fill after the outings by Blackburn and Jackson, who held the Indians to a total of two runs in 13 innings.

With the recent emergence of Blackburn and Jackson and news that Trevor Cahill appears on schedule to return to the starting rotation after the All-Star break, Montas might only have a few opportunities to turn things around before losing his job.

A’s manager Bob Melvin gushed over the performance of Jackson on Saturday in his second straight sharp outing after having been signed off the scrap heap.

“I wouldn’t say I’m surprised Zach Brown Jersey ,” Melvin said. “That he was available to us was a surprise.”

Having seen the veteran firsthand, the Indians might be wondering why they weren’t the ones who gave the 99-game winner a shot.

Especially with news Saturday that Danny Salazar, a 14- and 11-game winner for the Indians in recent years, will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder Monday, putting his season in question.

Right-hander Mike Clevenger (6-3, 3.03), who got a greater opportunity last year while Salazar had health issues and responded with a 12-win season, will attempt to salvage one win in Oakland for the Indians on Sunday.

He has pitched well in his last four starts, allowing six earned runs, but he has never beaten the A’s in his career, going 0-1 with a 7.04 ERA in two games (one start).

The A’s last saw the 27-year-old in a relief role in August 2016 and cuffed him around for four hits and three runs in one inning of a 9-1 victory.

Clevenger will have to hope for more offensive support than the Indians provided Trevor Bauer and Adam Plutko in the first two games of the series. Both pitched well enough to win, allowing five runs and 11 hits in 12 1/3 innings.

The A’s have used the long ball to get the upper hand against the Indians in the first two games. Jed Lowrie Kyler Murray Jersey , Josh Phegley, Dustin Fowler and Matt Olson all hit homers, accounting for six of Oakland’s 10 runs.

Calvin Ridley set a Falcons rookie record with three touchdown receptions among a bunch of big plays — in a bittersweet afternoon for the young wide receiver.After barely factoring in Atlanta’s first two games, he was targeted a team-high eight times, caught a team-best seven passes and registered a game-high 146 yards. It wasn’t enough, though, because Drew Brees‘s half-yard sneak pushed the New Orleans Saints to a 43-37 overtime victory Sunday.That left the first-round draft choice less happy to talk about his scoring plays of 18, 75 and 9 yards.“I’d really rather have the win, but it means a lot,” Ridley said after lighting up the Saints. “It feels pretty good.”Ridley didn’t have a catch in Atlanta’s opening game, an 18-12 loss at Phildelphia on Sept. 6.He had four receptions in a 31-24 win over the Panthers a week ago.On Sunday, he was busy from the jump.He lined up in the backfield on Atlanta’s first offensive snap and later in the game as well Byron Murphy Jersey , and also ran three reverses. Two were wiped out by penalties, leaving him with a carry for 9 yards.All of his catches counted and the Saints struggled to figure out a way to slow him, especially in the first half when he had five receptions for 129 yards and two scores.On the first, he beat embattled New Orleans cornerback P.J. Williams to catch an 18-yard touchdown in the right corner of the end zone. Ridley beat Williams for an 11-yard catch to start the Falcons’ next possession. Shortly before halftime, he blew past Williams on a 75-yard scoring play.After hauling in the long pass from Matt Ryan, he easily outran Saints safety Marcus Williams to the end zone.Ridley said he wasn’t necessarily looking to be matched up on Williams, and that play was nothing special.“I just came in ready for anybody. I was prepared. I was ready to help the team win,” he explained. “(It was) just a go ball, run deep. … I’m just getting comfortable, confident.”Atlanta star wide receiver Julio Jones, who has had a franchise-record 40 games with 100 or more receiving yards, didn’t seem surprised that Ridley riddled the Saints for his first. They both played at Alabama.“I knew it all along Andy Isabella Jersey ,” Jones said after catching five passes for 96 yards. “He’s a great player. Let him make plays. He made some great plays for us today.”Ridley’s best play might have come early in the third quarter, when Ryan scrambled left on second-and-goal from the New Orleans 9-yard line.By that time, the Saints had subbed cornerback Ken Crawley for Williams, who had decent coverage on Ridley in the end zone. When the play broke down, though, Crawley was caught looking at Ryan, and the rookie receiver broke behind left behind the cornerback and the quarterback found him for a score.With 12 minutes left in the third quarter, Atlanta led 21-16.“I thought Calvin played really well,” Ryan said after completing 26 of 35 passes for 374 yards and a career-high five touchdown passes. “He stepped up when he had the opportunity to. It was clear from the start it was two guys to account for Julio. That leaves Calvin singled up in 1-on-1 coverage. … Today was special.”But, even greater for Ridley if the Falcons pulled out a win.“We knew it was going to be a high-scoring game coming in,” Ridley said. “We’ve just got to be better next time.”___