Freischaltung » Team Up North.Ohio State coach Urba

NEW YORK -- Vernon Wells glanced at the scoreboard and noted that the fastball hed seen well clocked in at 96 mph. Big slump or not, Wells felt good about his pinch-hit at-bat with the Yankees trailing Tampa Bay in the seventh inning Saturday. So with a confident swing, he smashed a three-run, go-ahead double that carried New York to a 7-5 win over the Rays. Wells was in a 9-for-87 slide that landed him on the bench the past two days, with rookie outfielder Zoilo Almonte starting in his place. But with the Yankees down 5-4, Wells batted for No. 9 hitter Chris Stewart with the bases loaded and two outs. "Through his struggles, I think his at-bats against lefties were still pretty good," manager Joe Girardi said. "We just liked the matchup. Verns been doing it for a long time in big spots." Wells drive to right-centre bounced above the top of the wall, where it hit a fans glove and was ruled fan interference. The umpires allowed all three runners to cross home plate, determining David Adams would have scored from first base if not for the fan interference. They sent Wells back to second, but the Yankees suddenly had a 7-5 lead. Rays manager Joe Maddon argued that it should have been called a ground-rule double, with only two runs scoring. "It was good to hit a ball and it not land in somebodys glove," Wells said. "And it came at a great time." Tampa Bay led 5-3 after top prospect Wil Myers hit a grand slam for his first career home run in the sixth. Wells first extra-base hit since May 31 got CC Sabathia (8-5) off the hook after he allowed five runs in seven innings. "Its frustrating," Sabathia said. "Im happy these guys came back and were able to overcome that." Mariano Rivera worked a scoreless ninth for his 26th save. Meanwhile, Almonte kept up his hot hitting, starting in Wells place in left field. On Friday night, he went 3 for 4 with a home run. He was 1 for 2 with two walks and three RBIs on Saturday. "Its not easy at all, but Im trying my best," Almonte said through a translator. "I feel like Im seeing the ball really well and I just hope it continues." David Robertson came on after the Yankees took the lead and pitched a perfect eighth with two strikeouts. Joel Peralta (1-4) took over for the Rays in the seventh and immediately got in trouble. He loaded the bases with one out on two walks and Lyle Overbays double, and was pulled for lefty Jake McGee. McGee struck out Jayson Nix for the second out but walked Adams to force in a run, the second time the Yankees scored on a bases-loaded walk. Adams had never drawn a walk in 86 career plate appearances before Saturday; he had two in the game. Wells then batted for Stewart, who was 0 for 3 with a double play to end a second-inning threat. As bad as his numbers looked, Wells insisted he had felt OK at the plate. The time off gave him the chance to work on his swing in the batting cage. "I never lose confidence," he said. "As soon as you lose confidence, youre done." The Rays trailed 3-1 when the Yankees intentionally walked Evan Longoria with two outs to get to Myers. The rookie came in hitting .190 in five games since he was called up from the minors at the beginning of the week. Hed had exactly one hit in four straight games before going 3 for 4 on Saturday in his first start as a designated hitter. Longoria was 2 for 2 with a double and a solo homer that accounted for the Rays lone run when the Yankees intentionally walked him. On a 1-2 count, Myers hit a high fly to centre. Brett Gardner jumped at the fence and the ball bounced off the webbing of his glove and into the stands, though it appeared to already be over the wall when he touched it. "It was just awesome to be down two strikes and the crowd cheering and to be able to put a swing like that on it," Myers said. "Just a cool experience." Rays rookie starter Alex Colome is yet to allow an earned run over 10 innings in two career starts. He gave up three unearned runs, five hits and five walks with three strikeouts in 4 1-3 innings. The Rays handed out a season-worst nine walks. "Walks really kicked our butt today," Maddon said. With two outs in the third, Almonte singled on a two-strike count to drive in two runs and give the Yankees a 2-1 lead. He walked with the bases loaded in the fifth. NOTES: Myers became the first visiting player to hit a grand slam at Yankee Stadium for his first career home run since Detroits Ricky Peters in 1980. Myers is the second player in club history with a grand slam for that first homer. Jorge Velandia did it in 2007, also against the Yankees. ... Rays LHP Alex Torres allowed no hits and struck out three in 1 2-3 innings, extending his scoreless streak to open the season to 20 innings. ... Yankees 2B Robinson Cano had a career-high four walks. ... RHP Ivan Nova (2-1) looks to extend his career record against Tampa Bay at Yankee Stadium to 5-0 on Sunday, the parks 67th Old-Timers Day. Rays RHP Chris Archer (1-3), their second straight rookie starter, is 0-5 on the road in his career. Seth Brown Jersey . On June 12, just as the sun sets on the magnificent historical city of Sao Paulo the inventors, innovators and purveyors of “joga bonitowill” open their campaign. The opponent, Croatia and all its football might and will. As opposites do attract we are set for a corker of an opener. Skye Bolt Jersey . Aside from the trilogy main event title fight, there are a number of intriguing matchups in the heavyweight, welterweight and lightweight divisions. https://www.cheapathleticsonline.com/305m-mike-andrews-jersey-athletics.html .Y. -- Leading 3-0 with only 11:25 left, the Colorado Avalanche committed a seemingly meaningless penalty to give the New York Islanders a power play. Grant Holmes Jersey . Didier Drogba gave away the penalty that put Senegal one goal away from a major upset, but the veteran striker will get another chance -- probably his last -- at the World Cup after Salomon Kalous injury-time strike sealed the Ivorians place in Brazil next year. Beau Taylor Jersey . -- Matt Kuchar and Harris English ran away with the Franklin Templeton Shootout, shooting a 14-under 58 on Sunday in the final-round scramble to break the tournament course record. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Never mind that No. 2 Ohio States clash with No. 3 Michigan this week is the most meaningful contest between the bitter rivals in a decade. In Columbus, the game against The Team Up North doesnt need any additional hype.Legendary Ohio State coach Woody Hayes hung the TTUN moniker on Michigan so he wouldnt have to say the name of the hated state and school. The tradition continues to this day here. So does the contempt.We dont like them, and they dont like us, quarterback J.T. Barrett said.We dont say that M word, guard Billy Price said.Both teams are 10-1, and the winner of the rivalry games 113th version likely will end up in the final four of the College Football Playoff.We approach it as its `The-Team-Up-North week, so that already has its own standard and level of expectation, Barrett said. So as far as us being ranked in the top five, both teams, I dont think thats changed it.Ohio State will see the nations top-ranked defense after windy conditions forced the Buckeyes to take to the ground to beat Michigan State 17-16 last Saturday. The win came also thanks to a failed 2-point attempt after the Spartans scored with 4:41 left in the game. Chris Worley intercepted a Tyler OConnor pass in the end zone that would have put Michigan State ahead. Gareon Conley picked off another pass late in the fourth quarter to seal it.Michigan struggled with Indiana and the weather last week, beating the Hoosiers 20-10 in the blowing snow. Theres a good chance the Wolverines will again haave their backup quarterback John OKorn playing in place of injured Wilton Speight.dddddddddddd OKorn also will face a stout Ohio State defense thats given up just 12 touchdowns this season and allowed only four rushing TDs.When we play its always going to be a battle, linebacker Chris Worley said. You can take the records and throw them out, you can take the seasons and throw them out, honestly. Its all about one thing -- just beat `The Team Up North.Ohio State coach Urban Meyer has emphasized rivalry games at every coaching stop, and he thinks that was developed while growing up in Ohio and being around the culture of Ohio State-Michigan.I think that came from Coach Hayes and (former Michigan coach) Bo Schembechler, Meyer said. I just think that was the classiest -- both programs had a tremendous respect for each other, both coaches did, and they played so damn hard.Elflein, who grew up and went to school in the Columbus suburb of Pickerington, said the magnitude of the annual game was drilled home for him years ago.It was like another holiday, I remember that, Elfelin said. Youd have your Thanksgiving Day celebration and there was a quick turnaround for a big party, a big celebration.---More AP college football at www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 .---This version corrects to OKorn---Follow Mitch Stacy at http://twitter.com/mitchstacy ' ' '