Sonstiges » Polanco slid into third base.Marlins: Che

HOUSTON -- Both the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners spent the afternoon on Sunday discussing math, doing so in the context of the American League wild card and their respective odds of qualifying for the playoffs with a week left in the regular season.With Toronto (86-69), Baltimore (85-71) and Seattle (82-73) all ahead of them in the standings and all winning on Sunday, the Astros (82-74) merely kept pace by snapping their three-game skid with a 4-1 victory over the Angels. Houston entered that four-game series just one game out of the second AL wild card slot but picked an inopportune time to stub its collective toes.In the finale against the Angels the Astros received critical contributions from a trio of rookies. Right-hander Joe Musgrove worked seven strong innings while left fielder Tony Kemp and designated hitter Tyler White clubbed solo home runs. For Kemp it was the first of his career; White went deep for the first time since May 17.The Astros have relied on rookies to varying extents this season, with 13 different players making their big league debuts. Over their final six games they will need more of the same if they are to overcome the daunting math and make the playoffs.These guys are getting their first taste of important baseball in September and hopefully October, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. A lot of our other guys who were around last year know what playoff baseball is like. Weve been playing this type of wild card atmosphere for about a month now so these guys, as they get their taste and they go up and know theyre going to get a good pitch, feel good about themselves when they contribute.Right-hander Collin McHugh (12-10, 4.61 ERA) will start the series opener for the Astros. McHugh has excelled against the Mariners throughout his career, posting a 9-3 record and 3.96 ERA over 12 career appearances (seven starts). He has been particularly effective this season with a 4-0 record and 1.08 ERA over four starts.The Mariners will counter with right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma (16-12, 4.04 ERA), who is 5-6 with a 3.87 ERA over 13 career starts against the Astros. Iwakuma has faced the Astros twice this season, losing his first two starts before twirling seven shutout innings in a 1-0 win on July 16 to improve to 1-2 with a 4.24 ERA in 2016.While the Mariners have a half-game lead over Houston and the benefit of a seventh game left of the schedule to squeeze into the playoffs, the odds arent great. But Seattle last qualified for the postseason in 2001, and while the aim is to keep playing deep into October, contesting meaningful games late is an accomplishment.This is what we talked about way back in February: Can we play some meaningful games right down the stretch, right to the end, and find out a lot about our team? Mariners manager Scott Servais told MLB.com. Our players are finding out a lot about themselves. Some of these guys have never been through this before. So its exciting. They need to enjoy it and have fun. Ive said that from Day 1. Cheap Super Bowl LII Jerseys . -- In one brief spurt, Brazil turned a close game into a rout and proved again it will be a strong World Cup favourite. Wholesale Authentic Jerseys . 1, meaning problems for the doping controls at both major international sports events next year. The World Anti-Doping Agency provisionally suspended the Moscow Antidoping Center on Sunday, saying its operations must improve or a six-month ban on the facilitys accreditation will be imposed. http://www.nflauthenticjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-new-england-patriots-jerseys . -- Al Jefferson found a groove just in time for the Charlotte Bobcats. Wholesale NFL Jerseys . The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Lions have not announced the hiring, which was first reported by ESPN. Lombardi, the grandson of former Green Bay Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi, has been an offensive assistant on Sean Paytons New Orleans staff since 2007. Cheap Jerseys From China . PETERSBURG, Fla. MIAMI -- Jeremy Hellickson is making himself an attractive target for shopping contenders -- and one in particular -- as the Aug. 1 deadline approaches.Hellickson dominated the Marlins for a second straight start, throwing six innings of one-hit ball to help the Philadelphia Phillies beat Miami 4-0 on Monday night.The 29-year-old has been the subject of trade rumors, some connecting him to the Marlins. Hellickson held Miami to a run over eight innings in a 4-1 win five days ago.Just executing, Hellickson said. I dont think its this lineup in particular. The last two games my balls have been down for the most part and just getting a lot of easy outs.Hellickson retired the first nine batters he faced and finished with one walk and one strikeout. He lowered his ERA to 3.65 and pitched at least six innings for a ninth straight start.I dont want to lose him, Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. I wish he could stay here. Hes that solid. Hes been like that the whole year.Tommy Joseph hit a two-out RBI double in the top of the eighth to break a scoreless tie, and David Hernandez (2-3) pitched an inning in relief to earn the victory as four Phillies pitchers combined on a two-hitter.After that seventh inning when we didnt score I didnt think we had a chance to win this game, Mackanin said. With their bullpen, we were in trouble. ... It was a nice way to win.The Phillies scored three runs in the ninth off A.J. Ramos on an RBI single by Cesar Hernandez and two errors by the Marlins.There were a lot of goose eggs, Joseph said. It was good to get a run across and that ninth was big for us especially off of Ramos.Miami outfielder Ichiro Suzuki grounded out in his only at-bat -- a pinch-hit appearance in the eighth -- to remain at 2,996 career hits.It is the first time the Marlins lost back-to-back games since dropping three straight June 28-30. They were also blanked Sunday 3-0 by the Mets.This is nothing more than a little blip on whats going to happen through the course of the season, Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. Its not like were not going to hit. I think were going to hit. Im very confident of that.Fernando Rodney (1-3) struck out the first two batters he faced in the eighth before walking Maikel Franco, who scored from first on Josephs double to left-center field.ddddddddddddiamis Jarred Cosart made his first start since April 22 and tossed five scoreless innings. He allowed three hits and one walk while striking out three. Cosart pitched in place of lefty Wei-Yin Chen, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list before the game with a left elbow strain.The Phillies had an opportunity to break the scoreless game in the seventh before striking in the following inning.Kyle Barraclough allowed the first two batters to reach and advance on a pickoff error. He struck out the next two and Mackanin elected to send Ryan Howard to the plate as a pinch-hitter in favor of Hellickson, who had thrown 70 pitches.I wanted him to go back out there as well as he was pitching, but youve got to take advantage of opportunities to score and we dont score a whole lot, Mackanin said.Howard, who came in hitting .166 in 217 at-bats, struck out swinging to end the threat.Philadelphias Cody Asche snapped an 0-for-26 slump with a base hit in the fifth inning.TRAINERS ROOMPhillies: IF Andres Blanco (fractured left index finger) was placed on the 15-day disabled list after suffering the injury in Sundays game when Pittsburghs Gregory Polanco slid into third base.Marlins: Chen was placed on the DL retroactive to July 21. ... 1B Justin Bour (right ankle sprain) hopes to begin a rehab stint on Thursday. Hes still having some trouble with some running things and some moving around issues, but were trying to get him game-like at-bats before he is physically able to do rehab games, Mattingly said.NEXT UPPhillies: RHP Jerad Eickhoff (6-11, 3.98 ERA) will start Tuesdays game against the Marlins. Eickhoff allowed six runs, five earned, and nine hits in five innings in a 9-3 loss to the Marlins in his last start on July 21 in Philadelphia.Marlins: RHP Tom Koehler (7-8, 4.42) is scheduled to start Tuesdays game in a rematch of the July 21 game. Koehler pitched a season-high eight innings and allowed two hits and one earned run in the victory. ' ' '