Baugebiete » set a week ago against Tennessee-Martin. I

HOUSTON -- Mired in a prolonged offensive slump, the Houston Astros enter a decisive series against a recent nemesis at precisely the wrong time.The Astros are 1-9 against the Texas Rangers this season and have lost 17 of the past 20 games in the Lone Star Series. The American League West rivals open a three-game set at Minute Maid Park on Friday.Houston (56-52) lost for the eighth time in 10 games Thursday night, falling 4-1 to the Toronto Blue Jays. The Astros have scored 21 runs during that span to fall 6 1/2 games behind the Rangers (63-46) in the division.When we get a chance to play against a team thats in front of us, thats always an opportunity, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. I look at it as weve got to worry about ourselves and playing our brand of baseball no matter if were playing the Blue Jays, the Rangers, the Twins, Toronto next week. Our schedule is pretty tough the next couple of months, and theyre next on the docket.I wasnt circling this series as the end all, be all. Weve got to play all of our games, but it will be nice to get back in the division and get a look at their new team. Theyre the team people are chasing, so why wouldnt you want to play them?Left-hander Dallas Keuchel (6-11, 4.86 ERA) will make his 18th career start against the Rangers, his most against any opponent. Keuchel is 4-7 with a 4.58 ERA in his career against Texas, including 0-3 with a 7.91 ERA in three starts this season.Keuchel recorded seven consecutive quality starts before getting shelled in Detroit on Sunday, allowing seven runs on seven hits in five innings. That marked his fourth start this season of less than six innings.The Rangers, who salvaged the series finale against the Baltimore Orioles with a 5-3 victory Thursday night, will turn to left-hander Martin Perez (7-7, 4.22 ERA) in the opener. Perez defeated the Astros 5-3 on June 9, allowing two runs on four hits and four walks with two strikeouts over six innings. He is 5-2 with a 1.88 ERA in seven career starts against Houston.Texas is working to integrate a pair of deadline-deal acquisitions into its offense: designated hitter Carlos Beltran and catcher Jonathan Lucroy. The Rangers traded with the New York Yankees to land Beltran while getting Lucroy from the Milwaukee Brewers at Mondays non-waiver deadline.The Rangers recorded a season-high six doubles Thursday as part of their seven extra-base hits, also a season high. It was Lucroy who delivered the non-double extra-base knock, belting his first home run with his new club.Any time you have extra-base hits like that, you have guys that can put some numbers up offensively, Lucroy told MLB.com. I think any one of these guys in that lineup out there can do that. Theres a lot of different weapons and a lot of different ways we can hurt you.Texas manager Jeff Banister added, To get away with this win tonight (in a) close ballgame is (good). Our guys got some nice production up and down the lineup. Cheap Vans Shoes China . -- Charlie Graham stopped 67 shots as the Belleville Bulls edged the visiting Guelph Storm 6-5 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Wholesale Vans Shoes .C. -- Rodney Hood connected from all over the court while freshman Jabari Parker was busy swatting shots and scoring in transition. http://www.cheapvansfromchina.com/ . Breaking three of his own world records on his way to winning in Paris, Chan silenced the critics and left the audiences standing in appreciation and awe. Wholesale Vans Shoes China . Badenhop was 2-3 with a 3.47 ERA in 63 relief appearances for Milwaukee this season. He is 18-20 in his career with three saves and a 3. Discount Vans Shoes . Fernandez, coached in Toronto by former two-time Olympic silver medallist Brian Orser, scored 267.11 points and is the first champion to successfully defend since Russias Evgeny Plushenko in 2005 and 2006. ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands -- Deandre Burnett scored a career-high 41 points, and Mississippi pulled away in overtime to hold off Oral Roberts 95-88 Friday on the opening day of the Paradise Jam tournament.Terence Davis added 13 points, and Sebastian Saiz and Rasheed Brooks had 11 each for the Rebels (3-0), who had to rally from a five-point deficit in regulation.Mississippi trailed 79-74 with 1:20 remaining when Burnett scored five unanswered points, capped by a 3-pointer with 33.4 seconds remaining to tie the score.It just shows how resilient this team is, said Burnett, whose previous career best (23 points) was set a week ago against Tennessee-Martin. It shows we can battle, and be resilient down the stretch. We fix a couple things, and well be pretty good.Brooks opened overtime by hitting a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws to put the Rebels ahead to stay.Emanuel Nzekwesi had 20 points and 14 rebounds for Oral Roberts (1-2), with Albert Owwens adding 22, Kris Martin 15 and Jalen Bradley 12.ddddddddddddGive them credit -- they made the plays down the stretch, Golden Eagles coach Scott Sutton said. Its a tough, tough loss. We still had the game where we wanted it -- up five with under two minutes left. We had to close it out, and didnt do it.BIG PICTUREOral Roberts: Is now 0-5 all-time against Mississippi. ... Had its highest-scoring game this season, and its third of 80 or more points. ... Lost guard Aaron Anderson to a leg injury in the first half.Mississippi: Coach Andy Kennedy picked up his 216th career win, moving him past Auburns Joel Eaves for 20th on the SEC career victories list.UP NEXTOral Roberts: Plays Loyola-Chicago Saturday in a consolation-round game.Mississippi: Gets a day off, then faces Saint Josephs on Sunday in the Paradise Jam semifinals. ' ' '