three batters, giving up a run on Jimmy Rollins grounder and stri

TORONTO – The Blue Jays entered their three-game series with the American League Central-leading Tigers losers of five of six, a slide thats dropped the club five games behind the Orioles for the division lead and a half-game behind the Royals in a cluttered race for the second wild card spot. The team is battered, without Brett Lawrie (oblique) for most of the rest of the regular season while eagerly awaiting the returns of Adam Lind (foot) and Edwin Encarnacion (quadriceps). The Blue Jays dodged a bullet with Melky Cabrera, who played on Friday night despite being hit by a pitch on the right elbow in the first inning the night before. Then theres the opponents starting pitching, a veritable murderers row of three consecutive Cy Young award winners. They are, in order: the Tigers Max Scherzer (Detroit – 2013) and David Price (Tampa Bay – 2012), along with the Mariners Felix Hernandez (Seattle – 2011). Thanks a lot. "Were just going to take it one game at a time," said shortstop Jose Reyes. "We know the next couple of games are going to be tough because were going to face some good pitching but we have our plan, we have our approach. Were just going to go to home plate with the same mentality, looking for a good pitch and try to put the best swing on the ball and try to go from there because we know its not going to be easy." Missing one-third of their starting lineup, three of the most important bats and Lawries plus defence, Toronto is treading water in an increasing cluttered wild card race. The Jays entered Fridays action in a three-way tie with the Yankees and Mariners, nipping at the Royals heels. Its reached the point when the club can ill afford another protracted slide. As time passes by, it becomes less about the number of games by which you trail the wild card leader and more about how many teams there are between. A two or a three-game deficit can seem like a mountain when a club has to leapfrog multiple others. Reyes has a better solution. "We want to win the division," said Reyes. "Getting the second wild card is nothing. We want to win our division. Thats the main goal for us. We know were missing some key pieces in our lineup but we have to deal with what we have here. If everyone continues to contribute were going to be fine." CABRERA OKAY Jose Reyes arrived at Rogers Centre on Friday afternoon and when he checked the lineup, he saw Melky Cabreras name underneath his own. He breathed a sigh of relief. "Theres no doubt we need Melky in the lineup if we want to continue to win," said Reyes. "Melkys been one of, if not the most consistent player in our lineup so we need him back." Cabrera went 1-for-5 with a single and an RBI on Friday night. He tried wearing a bulky elbow protector during batting practice – think Barry Bonds – but opted for a less obstructive wrap. LIND UPDATE Adam Lind wasnt in the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays lineup on Friday afternoon. He went 2-for-2 in his first minor league rehabilitation game on Thursday but felt tightness in his back. Lind has a history of back issues. General manager Alex Anthopoulos said the expectation still is for Lind to return to the lineup sometime next week. Jace Sternberger Packers Jersey .The Hamilton Tiger-Cat defensive back always has the required receipt. But he also walks around with a tangle of metal screws, rods and plates after breaking his neck in 2006 playing high school football in Louisiana. Brett Favre Jersey . -- Chris Crawford hit a 3-pointer with 1:36 left to put Memphis ahead to stay, and the 21st-ranked Tigers beat seventh-ranked Louisville 72-66 Saturday, sweeping the season series from the Cardinals. http://www.shoptheofficialpackers.com/Elite-Bart-Starr-Packers-Jersey/ . Hall joined Bengals teammates for a voluntary workout on Monday. Hes got his mobility back and is on schedule to be ready for the season. CINCINNATI - Bengals cornerback Leon Hall is happy with his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon and expects to be ready for the start of training camp in July. Elgton Jenkins Youth Jersey . With the final four being arguably the four best – and most complete – teams from the regular season, picking a winner is not as easy as it sounds. Bart Starr Jersey . Scott scored a career-high 30 points, Jeff Teague added 28 and the Hawks rallied to beat the New York Knicks 107-98 on Saturday night. "We were down Paul, down so many bodies," Scott said.DENVER -- Initially inserted into the Colorado Rockies rotation as a stop-gap injury replacement, Jordan Lyles has rapidly become a fixture. Lyles pitched effectively into the eighth inning for his third straight win, Justin Morneau hit a two-run homer, and the Rockies beat the Philadelphia Phillies 3-1 Saturday night. "Hes really given us a lift in that rotation," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said of Lyles. He originally was slated to begin the season at Triple-A Colorado Springs but wound up filling in for Tyler Chatwood after he strained a hamstring late in spring training. "The biggest factor is his two-seamer," Weiss added. "Its something he worked on all spring, his fastball angle and pitching to the bottom of the zone, and you could see those guys beating it into the ground. Hes a mentally tough kid. He competes. He goes after hitters. Hes been great." Lyles (3-0), acquired in December from Houston in exchange for outfielder Dexter Fowler, allowed one unearned run and five hits in seven innings. LaTroy Hawkins pitched a hitless ninth for his fifth save in five chances. "As a visitor, it wasnt fun, knowing youre coming here." Lyles said. "Balls seem to carry a little further here but guys (pitchers) try to keep the ball on the ground and they cant hit it over if they hit the top of the ball. Thats my approach and just try to let our great infield do their job." The Rockies were also helped by a reversed call that produced their first run. The game was delayed briefly a couple of times when a squirrel wandered on and off the field. The animal was eventually corraled by groundskeepers and taken away. Kyle Kendrick (0-2) went seven innings and allowed three runs on six hits in a solid outing but could not avoid a seventh straight loss, dating to last Aug. 11. The last Phillies pitcher to have a losing streak of seven games or more was reliever Brad Lidge, who lost eight in a row over 57 appearances from April 18-Sept. 23, 2009. "Made a mistake to Morneau," Kendrick said. "That first run. It was a replay. I guess thats why we have it, but its frustrating when it doesnt go (your way)." Colorado got on the scoreboard when home plate umpire and crew chief Tim Welke ruled Nolan Arenado safe on a bang-bang play at the plate in the third after initially calling him out. Weiss asked Welkee to take another look at the play, and after viewing the replay, the umpire determined that catcher Carlos Ruiz had blocked the plate before he received the throw home in violation of new collision rules instituted this season to better protect catchers and base runners.dddddddddddd Arenado scored from first on D.J. LeMahieus single that rolled through the right-centre gap. The reversal went into the books as a crew chief review rather than a managers challenge. "Its amazing how that one rule changes the game, kind of," Arenado said. "Fortunately enough, it benefited us and I guess when youre on the other side, its probably going to rub you the wrong way a little bit." Carlos Gonzalez opened the fourth with a single and Morneau drove a 1-1 pitch from Kendrick into the right field bleachers above the scoreboard for his third homer of the season to make it 3-0. The Phillies didnt get on the board until the eighth. Lyles gave up a leadoff single to Cody Asche and was relieved by Boone Logan. Pinch-hitter John Mayberry Jr. reached on Logans throwing error, with Asche moving to second. Logan then retired the next three batters, giving up a run on Jimmy Rollins grounder and striking out Chase Utley with Mayberry on second base to end the inning. Philadelphia has only scored three runs in its last four games. "Youre going to go through ruts in the season," Kendrick said. "You want to get out of it as quick as you can. Hopefully tomorrow we can swing it and score some runs. Things can turn quick." NOTES: The Phillies selected the contract of RHP Shawn Camp from Triple A Lehigh Valley, filling the roster spot of RHP Jonathan Pettibone, who was optioned to Lehigh Valley the night before. The Phillies will have to make another roster move when LHP Cole Hamels (left biceps tendinitis) is expected to be reinstated from the disabled list in time to start Wednedays game at Los Angeles. Hamels is one win shy of 100 for his career. ... Rockies OF-INF Michael Cuddyer missed a second straight game with a sore left hamstring. He remains day to day. ... Arenados leadoff single in the third inning extended his hitting streak to 10 games, matching a career best. ... RHP Roberto Hernandez (1-0) is slated to start Sundays series finale for the Phillies against Rockies RHP Juan Nicasio (2-0). ' ' '