andere Teams » defenders in forward Daniel Ochefu and guard Ryan Arc

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- After another deflating loss, Brett Gardner knows the math is tough for the New York Yankees to reach the playoff.We need to win 11 games, the left fielder said after Thursday nights 2-0 defeat to the Tampa Bay Rays.When told 10 remained, he responded: We need to win 11 out of 10.Blake Snell and the Rays bullpen combined to strand 11 New York runners, preventing a much-needed three-game sweep by the Yankees.New York went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position, including 0 for 7 against Snell. The Yankees are three games behind Detroit for the second AL wild-card spot and also trail Baltimore, Houston and Seattle.Snell (6-8) gave up five hits and three walks. New York had scoring threats in four of five innings against him, leaving the bases loaded in the third when Chase Headley flied out. Headley returned to New Yorks lineup after missing three games because of back tightness.We had a couple innings set up but werent able to get a hit, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. I felt like we were going to break through if we can keep it close, but tonight we werent able to.Chase Whitley, in his third game since returning from Tommy John surgery, allowed two hits in 2 2/3 innings, and Alex Colome finished for his 35th save in 37 chances.The feel that he has for his off-speed right now says a lot about him because you just dont see that from guys coming back from an extensive rehab, Rays manager Kevin Cash said of Whitley.Brad Miller had an RBI single in the first after Logan Forsythe led off with a catchable popup to right field that Aaron Hicks allowed to drop in front of him for a hit. Girardi said Hicks lost sight of the ball off the bat.Corey Dickerson hit a solo homer in the sixth off Luis Cessa (4-3), who gave two runs and six hits in six innings.Yankees rookie catcher Gary Sanchez threw out Kevin Kiermaier at second base in the third inning to end the speedsters run of 18 consecutive successful stolen bases attempts. Sanchez picked Curt Casali off second one inning later.Sanchez went 0 for 2 but walked twice.He can help you in so many ways, Girardi said.ROOKIES RITUALNew York rookies, including Sanchez, were given blue Yankees one-sie pajamas to wear for the flight from Florida to Toronto, where a four-game series with the Blue Jays starts Friday night. Teams through the majors have similar trips in September for rookies.TRAINERS ROOMYankees: RHP Masahiro Tanaka will miss his start Monday at Toronto due to a slight lower right forearm strain. ... 2B Starlin Castro (right hamstring) expects to be back soonRays: LHP Xavier Cedeno (neck) wont play again this season.INSTRUCTION TIMEYankees 1B Greg Bird (right labrum surgery) remains on target to take batting practice against pitchers at instructional league early next week. . Reggie Jackson and Alex Rodriguez are expected to spent time as instructors with the Yankees instructional league team.MOVING DAYYankees: Minor league LHP Phil Coke was traded to Pittsburgh for $1.Rays: INF Juniel Querecuto had his contract selected from Double-A Montgomery and started at third base in his big league debut.UP NEXTYankees: RHP Bryan Mitchell (1-1) will start against LHP Francisco Liriano (1-2) Friday night.Rays: RHP Chris Archer (8-18) will look to avoid a team-record 19th loss when he pitches against LHP Drew Pomeranz (2-5) and AL East-leading Boston on Friday night. Cheap Canucks Jerseys . - Derek Wolfe says hes finally healthy after suffering a seizure in November that doctors now believe was related to the spinal cord injury he suffered in the preseason. Wholesale Custom Canucks Shirts . -- Chicago Bears cornerback Tim Jennings was selected Monday to his second straight Pro Bowl, while guard Kyle Long made it after a solid rookie season. http://www.customcanucksjersey.com/ .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have placed centre Cody Hodgson on injured reserve and recalled two players from their AHL affiliate in Rochester. Canucks Jerseys China . "We have always prided ourselves on the way we play defence. Having two big pieces back is going to be a key for us moving forward for years to come," said Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen. Custom Kirk Mclean Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Western Michigan coach Steve Hawkins watched his team slice a double-digit lead to three points against defending national champion Villanova. Then the third-ranked Wildcats showed once more theyre built to handle tough games.They did what they do, Hawkins said.Villanova used a 13-4 run down the stretch for a 76-65 win over the Broncos (1-2) on Thursday to start the Charleston Classic. Western Michigan had cut a 14-point second-half lead to 59-56 to draw within striking distances of the Wildcats.Thats when Eric Paschall, Kris Jenkins and Josh Hart all hit 3-pointers to keep Villanova undefeated and off to its fourth straight 3-0 start.Paschall finished with 17 points, and Jalen Brunson and Hart had 14 each. Jenkins, whos shot at the end gave the Wildcats their national title last April, had 11.It was a good, tough game, Wildcats coach Jay Wright said. It wasnt pretty, though and weve still got to get a lot better.Villanova improved to 12-0 in early season tournaments over the years. The Wildcats are chasing their third consecutive crown after winning the Legends Classic in 2014 and NIT season tipoff last year.Jalen Brunson said the Wildcats, who toughed out a 79-76 win at No. 15 Purdue on Monday night, didnt panic at Western Michigans charge. Weve got veterans and its a situation weve seen before, he said.The Wildcats will face Wake Forest, a 103-81 winner over UTEP, on Friday for a spot in Sundays championship.The Broncos (1-2) fell to 0-4 at the eight-team Charleston tournament. They lost all three games when they last visited in the 2008-09 season. Thomas Wilder led Western Michigan with 19 points.BIG PICTUREWestern Michigan lost its second straight after falling to Oakland on Monday. The Broncos forced too many long shots, finishing 3 of 15 fromm behind the arc.ddddddddddddThey were much more effective driving deep into Villanovas defense. Wilders five baskets came from around the rim.Villanova came off a 79-76 win at No. 15 Purdue, and its sluggish performance made this much closer than it should have been. Jenkins picked up two early fouls and played only 21 minutes in his return to South Carolina, having spent part of his childhood in Columbia.DEFENSIVE IMPROVEMENTWright said his team must pick up its defensive pressure if it hopes to succeed this year. The Wildcats lost two big defenders in forward Daniel Ochefu and guard Ryan Arcidiacono. Wright said Arcidiacono called out defensive changes, a job thats fallen to Brunson this season. We have the ability, Brunson said. We just have to get better.WESTERN SWAGHawkins said his team will consider its strong showing against Villanova whenever theyre facing adversity this season. He said the players came here to win, but also understand they made improvements that will help them later. Its something well have in our holster, he said.STANDING STRONGPaschall, Villanovas 6-foot-7 sophomore, is guarding taller players this season because of the Wildcats lack of size in their rotation. Of the eight players with 15 or more minutes, only 6-9 senior Darryl Reynolds was taller than Paschall. The sophomore says it is a difficult challenge that hes becoming more accustomed to each time out. Ive just got to keep my mind clear and concentrate on what I have to do, he said.UP NEXTWestern Michigan: Plays UTEP on Friday.Villanova: Plays Wake Forest on Friday.---More AP college basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 ' ' '