MINNEAPOLIS -- The Cleveland Indians kept their edge in the AL wild-card race. [url=http://www.nflcoltsgearsshop.com/Andrew-Luck.html?cat=871]Andrew Luck Jersey[/url] . They mightve lost their struggling closer. Reliever Joe Smith struck out pinch-hitter Oswaldo Arcia to stop a ninth-inning rally by M

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Cleveland Indians kept their edge in the AL wild-card race. Andrew Luck Jersey . They mightve lost their struggling closer. Reliever Joe Smith struck out pinch-hitter Oswaldo Arcia to stop a ninth-inning rally by Minnesota, and the Indians won their seventh straight game, holding off the Twins 6-5 on Thursday night after Chris Perez gave up four runs in the final frame. "It didnt go as planned, but the good news is we won, and thats what we set out to do," a rattled manager Terry Francona said. "That got a little closer than we wanted." Cleveland leads Texas by one game for the second wild-card spot. Each team has three games left in the regular season. Tampa Bay is on top in the chase, one game ahead of the Indians. Bryan Shaw (7-3) picked up the victory in relief of Zach McAllister by getting five key outs over the fifth and sixth innings. Yan Gomes hit a towering two-run homer off Twins starter Andrew Albers (2-5), and Michael Brantley added three hits and two RBIs from the leadoff spot. The Indians were cruising again until Perez came in for what looked like mop-up duty in the ninth. But Alex Presley hit an RBI triple, Brian Dozier drove in another run with a groundout, Josmil Pinto hit a two-run homer and suddenly the Twins were within one. Smith entered and gave up an infield single and a walk before fanning Arcia on three pitches for his third save. Perez has walked a tightrope on and off the field this season, and most of the time hes been in the news its been negative. The most glaring this year was his arrest for a marijuana delivery to his house. Francona measured his words carefully after the game when asked about Perezs status as the closer, but he hinted at a change. "You know what? I think well always figure out a way to win. Thats kind of the way I always view it," Francona said. Smith, Shaw and Justin Masterton are other options for the ninth-inning role. The manager said Perez poked his head in the office and apologized for his performance. "Well see. He felt bad. He was actually very team-oriented. Thats what youre looking for," Francona said. "Hes having a tough time, and hes owning up to it, and he doesnt want to cost us wins." Francona added: "Were not a team made of one person. Well figure it out." Perez has a 7.52 ERA in August and September, with 30 hits and seven homers allowed in 20 1-3 innings. "Anytime your closer is struggling a little bit, its tough," McAllister said. "Hes a great pitcher. Hes been great for his whole career. You dont become All-Stars for no reason. He knows how to pitch, and hell be ready." McAllister had a shutout intact despite allowing runners on in every inning. After a walk and a single with one out in the fifth, Shaw was summoned and got Ryan Doumit on a double-play grounder. McAllister gave up six hits and two walks. This was the right-handers shortest start in September, and the 68 pitches were his second-lowest total of 24 starts this season. "You definitely want to have that chance to get the win out there and stay in the game as long as you can, but its September now," McAllister said. "We have a lot of guys in the bullpen, and every games an important one. So you cant question anything." Shaw is 5-0 in 13 appearances this month, and hasnt permitted a run in 15 1-3 innings. Francona said he wanted to leave McAllister in but couldnt. "I just thought it was time. If Id have been managing with my heart, I wouldve left him in," Francona said. The Indians caught quite a break with their September schedule, facing the teams with the three worst records in the league in 14 of their final 17 games: the Twins, White Sox and Astros. The Twins have won a mere four of their last 21 home games since mid-August. Theyve lost 17 of 22 overall. The Twins had to watch their opponents celebrate division-clinching wins in each of the last two series, in Oakland and then Detroit here in their own ballpark. Theyll have to win a couple of games this weekend to prevent another party at Target Field. "Like the way they finished and got after it," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Just needed one more hit." NOTES: The Indians will start RHP Corey Kluber (10-5, 3.61 ERA) on Friday night against LHP Pedro Hernandez (3-2, 6.05 ERA). Kluber has won a career-best four straight decisions. ... The Indians kept CF Michael Bourn out again with a sprained right wrist. He was available to run but not hit. Reggie Wayne Jersey . But San Diego had even more trouble against right-hander Tanner Roark, who pitched a three-hitter for the first complete game of his career as the Nationals shut out the Padres 4-0. The 27-year-old set down the first 16 batters before San Diego catcher Rene Rivera, an . Darius Butler Jersey . Theres little time for rest, too. The Flyers and Rangers play again Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. Simmonds scored in the first period and twice more in the second for his first career post-season hat trick. Mason survived a busy first period and stopping 31 straight shots until Carl Hagelin scored late in the third. http://www.nflcoltsgearsshop.com/Jack-Doyle.html?cat=879 . According to a report from the Hamilton Spectator, Infrastructure Ontario has informed the City of Hamilton and the Tiger-Cats the stadium may not be ready by the June 30 deadline.ABBOTSFORD, B.C. -- Forward Ben Street has been a welcome addition since being sent back to the Abbotsford Heat. Street scored once and assisted on Corban Knights winner late in the third period as the Abbotsford Heat edged the visiting Charlotte Checkers 4-3 on Wednesday in American Hockey League action. Street put a shot on net from the slot and Knight was parked in front of goaltender Mike Murphy to slide the rebound in to break a 3-3 at 16:27 of the third. "Whenever Street has the puck in the offensive zone you know something good is going to happen," said Knight. "I just went to the netaand lucky for me, it was a wrapped present." Street scored for the second straight night since being reassigned by the Calgary Flames and now has 19 goals 37 points in 33 games with the Heat. "Streets such an important part of this team, both on the ice and in the dressing room," said Knight. "He brings a calming presence and veteran leadership a lot of guys look up to. We knew hed be at the top of his game." The line of Knight, Street and Brett Olson - who had three assists in the game - was praised by head coach Troy Ward following the game. "They were our best line the last two games, consistently in all three zones," said Ward. "We threw Ben to the left wing, which he really hasnt done all year here. Hes usually a centre. There was a glimpse a couple months ago when Knight kept finding Street on the power play and he was burying goals. We knew there was some chemistry." With 20 seconds left in the contest, Abbotsfords Olivier Roy made the biggest of his 32 saves after sliding across to rob Charlottes Chris Terry on a back-door play to preserve victory. "That save at the end of the game, the sprawl out, thats a reaction save," said Ward. "Those types of saves he made all night. Its tough to win two in a row against any team in this league, andd tonight Roy was a big part of that. Barkevious Mingo Jersey. " Sven Baertschi and Markus Granlund also scored for Abbotsford (30-14-4), which won its fourth game in a row. Dan Biega scored his first two professional goals and Zach Boychuk had the other for Charlotte (22-22-1) while Murphy made 24 saves in defeat. The Heat opened the scoring when Baertschi buried his third goal of the season, taking a feed from Corey Locke and backhanding the puck over the outstretched glove of Murphy at 12:43 of the first period. The Checkers, however, tied the game a few minutes later. Charlotte broke out on a four-on-one rush and Biega finished a give-and-go with Brett Sutter, beating Roy five-hole. Granlund put the Heat back up by one just 1:21 into the second period, finish off a two-on-one with Olson while shorthanded. Granlund beat Murphy for his team-leading 21st of the season and fifth in as many games. The Checkers drew even again at 15:26 of the second. Boychuk skated in and wired a shot past Roy from the top of the circle, blocker side, for his team-leading 22nd of the year. Street put the Heat back up by one at 9:30 of the third. With the puck lost in a maze of skates at the right face-off dot, Street spun around and fired the puck past Murphy. Biega once again, though, knotted the game up for the visitors, driving out of the corner towards the net before sliding the puck under Roy at 11:11. Heat defenceman Tyler Wotherspoon thought he had the winner on his stick with less than six minutes to go when he got open in the slot, but Murphy kicked his left pad up into the air to deny him of the sure goal. "He had a good look, a good release," said Ward. "Thats an old-time save, a throwback, like Tommy Barrasso or Martin Brodeur, double stacking and throwing the pads up. It was a good save." Abbotsford will look to extend its four-game win streak Saturday when they host the Texas Stars. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '