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CLEVELAND -- Terry Francona thinks nerves are a good thing at this time of the season. Keith Tkachuk Jersey . If thats the case, the Indians manager hopes his players are on edge sometime into October. Scott Kazmir struck out a season-high 12 in six innings, Nick Swisher hit a grand slam and the Indians continued their playoff push with an 8-1 win over the New York Mets on Friday night. "This is a fun time of year," Francona said. "When you show up to the ballpark and youre nervous about the game, thats really exciting." Kazmir (8-7) struck out at least one batter in each inning, including the side in the first, third and sixth. The left-hander, who has been pushed back in the rotation for extra rest over the last month, held the Mets to four hits, allowed no walks and hit a batter in winning for the first time since Aug. 4. The Mets took Kazmir with the 15th overall pick in the 2002 draft, but he never pitched a game for them. Kazmir was dealt to Tampa Bay two years later for pitcher Victor Zambrano. The trade turned out to be one of the worst in Mets history as Kazmir made the All-Star team twice with the Rays and Zambrano went 10-14 in parts of three seasons in New York, and was out of baseball in 2007. "Its great it was against the team that drafted me, but that definitely wasnt crossing through my mind when I was out there on the mound," Kazmir said. "Were playing for a playoff spot right now. Thats the one thing Im thinking about when I go out to the mound." Kazmir, signed as a minor league free agent after pitching in an independent league last season, fell one strikeout short of his career high, which came when he struck out 13 against Oakland on Aug. 25, 2007. "Getting 12 strikeouts, thats the most Ive gotten in a long time," he said. "Just to be able to throw my fastball consistently in the location I wanted to, thats something I was very pleased with." "Thats the best Ive ever seen him pitch and I saw him pitch in Tampa for a while," Mets manager Terry Collins said. Swishers grand slam came in the eighth and Carlos Santana added two RBIs. Cleveland entered Friday three games out of the second wild-card spot. The Indians have won three of four on their homestand after losing ground in the playoff chase during a difficult road trip. "I wish we had a better record, but were in this every bit as much as about four or five other teams," Francona said. Swishers grand slam was the eighth of his career and produced fireworks exploding from the scoreboard. Earlier in the day, the team announced that Swisher, as a thank you to the fans, is paying the bill for the team to have an extra fireworks show on Sept. 21. "Weve got to keep winning games," he said. "This team lost close to 100 games last year. For us to just be in this spot, it goes to show you what this organization is doing." Mets pitcher Zack Wheeler (7-4) allowed three runs in five innings and lost for the first time in his career on the road. The right-hander, who was called up on June 18, won his first five decisions away from Citi Field. Justin Turners seventh-inning homer, his first of the season, accounted for the Mets run. The Indians played the game without outfielder Michael Brantley, who returned to his home in Florida to be with his wife, who is expecting their first child. Clevelands first two runs came on sacrifice flies by Santana in the first and Michael Bourn in the second. Santana added an RBI single in the fifth and Lonnie Chisenhall had a run-scoring double in the sixth. Wheeler, 23, is considered one of the top prospects in baseball. The Mets won 10 of his first 14 starts and hes only the second rookie in team history to win five straight road decisions in one season. Jerry Koosman won his first six road decisions in 1968. NOTES: While the live chicken the Indians used as a good luck charm Wednesday has been returned to its owner, the bird was still being talked about Friday. Rumours of Boston players eating fried chicken and drinking beer in the clubhouse during games in 2011 surfaced after Francona was let go by the Red Sox following that season. Asked if he enjoyed his most recent chicken experience better than the first, Francona laughed and said, "As long as the chicken wasnt drinking beer, were good to go." ... Mets LHP Scott Rice, who leads the majors with 73 appearances, will have sports hernia surgery and miss the remainder of the season. ... Niko Lanzarotta, an 8-year-old Indians fan with cerebral palsy who had a special wish granted last month at Progressive Field, will return to the ballpark Saturday. Prior to the July 24 game, Lanzarotta asked Santana and 2B Jason Kipnis if they would hit a home run for him. Both players did and Niko will receive the home run balls from the fans who caught them. ... RHP Corey Kluber, who has been out since Aug. 6 with a sprained middle finger, will be activated to start Saturday for the Indians against LHP Jonathon Niese. Nikolaj Ehlers Jersey . -- The Minnesota Twins have granted relief pitcher Matt Guerrier his unconditional release, making the 35-year-old right-hander a free agent. Winnipeg Jets Jerseys . -- The Anaheim Ducks have signed left wing Dany Heatley to a one-year deal, returning the 33-year-old unrestricted free agent to the Pacific Division. http://www.hockeyjetsauthority.com/tyler-myers-jets-jersey-c-17/ .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable.LONDON - Eden Hazard and Diego Costa scored as Premier League leaders Chelsea responded to its first loss of the season with a 2-0 victory over 10-man Hull.Hazard scored his eighth goal of the season in the seventh minute, and Hull midfielder Tom Huddlestone was dismissed on the hour after being shown a second yellow card for a reckless studs-up challenge on Filipe Luis.Hazard then turned provider in the 68th as Costa scored his first goal in five games to seal the win. It came a week after Chelseas unbeaten start to the season was ended by Newcastle.Chelsea remains three points ahead of Manchester City, which won 1-0 at Leicester.Less than seven minutes were on the clock when Chelsea opened the scoring. A clumsy challenge by John Obi Mikel on Sone Aluko was missed and play continued, with the ball sprayed out wide to Oscar whose cross was nodded home by Hazard.It was a bad start which soon got worse for Hull as injury forced Steve Bruce to bring on son Alex in place of the injured Michael Dawson.Hull responded fairly strongly considering those early blows, with Jake Livermore flashing a strike wide before Aluko missed the target in a move started by Mikel being dispossessed. But Hull midfielder David Meyler was booked after a comical attempt to hook a corner back into play with a hand, bbefore Chelsea counterpart Willian was booked for taking a tumble as play became stretched. Adam Lowry Jersey. Epitomizing a scrappy first half, Chelsea defender Gary Cahill was also booked after a late lunge which saw Aluko require treatment.Chelseas sloppy performance continued in the second half, with Livermore firing just wide from the edge of the box after some intricate passing.Jos Mourinhos side was creating few chances and perhaps that was behind Cahills apparent dive in the box. Hull had expected Chris Foy to hand the centre back a second booking, only to be incensed when the referee pointed for a goal kick.Hull players harangued Foy, who was soon under pressure from Chelsea after Alex Bruce smashed through Willian. Bruce was only given a booking — the same punishment dished out to Costa for diving soon after, despite having clearly been caught by Huddlestone.One decision Foy definitely got right, though, was the red card shown to Huddlestone.With an extra man, Chelsea went further in front. Hazard followed a long run by playing a lovely one-two with Branislav Ivanovic, before putting through Costa to turn home.Oscar and Cahill saw efforts blocked in quick succession, before Ivanovic fired over. Substitute Andre Schurrle twice saw efforts blocked as the clock wound down. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '