MINNEAPOLIS -- The Cleveland Indians were one of baseballs biggest surprises in the first half of the season. After they limped into the All-Star break, Mike Napoli made sure they got the second half started on the right foot.Napoli had three hits, including his 19th home run, Carlos Carrasco pitched into the seventh inning and the Indians beat the Minnesota Twins 5-2 on Friday night.The Indians had lost four of their last five games before the break but they maintained their 6 1/2-game lead over Detroit in the AL Central.They used the four days off to recuperate from an intense first half that included 14-game winning streak from June 17 to July 1, but manager Terry Francona said he was guarding against the vacation mentality carrying over into the start of the second half.You kind of walk the fine line because you want them to have the rest, and you hope the rust doesnt get in the way, Francona said. I thought the guys did a good job of shaking it off.Napoli scored three runs, one on his solo shot into the bullpen in left-center in the eighth inning that stretched Clevelands lead to three runs.Everybody looked fresh, Napoli said. Its going to be a grind down the stretch, but for us to be able to get some rest, its nice.Carrasco (6-3) allowed two runs on four hits while striking out three in 6 2/3 innings. He won for the fourth time in his last five starts. Cody Allen pitched a perfect ninth for his 19th save in 21 chances.Twins starter Ervin Santana (3-8) was coming off a shutout in his last start. But the Indians chased him with three straight singles in the sixth inning, when they took a 4-2 lead. Jose Ramirez lined a pitch that kicked off the heel of Santanas glove hand and into center field to put Cleveland ahead 3-2, ending Santanas night.If it finds the glove instead of the wrist, you might get a double play and get off the field, Twins manager Paul Molitor said. But it made its way to center field.Brian Dozier drove in both of the Twins runs. He had a sacrifice fly in the first inning and a home run off an inside fastball in the fourth.Its the only one I saw, Dozier said of the fastball from Carrasco. He made some mistakes and I got that one. He made some more and we didnt execute on those times.A NICE SURPRISERamirez continued to provide unexpected offense for the Indians with two more run-scoring hits on Friday. Hes driven in six runs in his last three games and is hitting .313 in July. The 23-year-old utility player has held down third base and the fifth spot in the batting order of late as the Indians wait for Michael Brantley to return from a shoulder injury.He sprays the ball all over the field. Thats why were hitting him where were hitting him, because regardless of whos pitching or what type, he puts the ball in play, Francona said. With (Brantley) gone, hes been hitting in the middle of the order for us. I think that speaks volumes.DONT RUN ON BUXTONNapoli led off the second inning with a drive to deep left-center field that looked like a sure extra-base hit. But Twins center fielder Byron Buxton played the ball on the first hop off the fence, spun and fired a strike to second baseman Dozier, who slapped the tag on a sliding Napoli.TRAINERS ROOMIndians: Brantley continued his rehab assignment, moving up to Double-A Akron for Friday nights game. Francona said he expected Brantley to play six or seven innings and that he was close to being able to play in back-to-back games.Twins: Buxton (knee) returned to the lineup after missing most of the last three games before the break. He had not played since slamming his leg into the center field fence trying to make a catch in the first inning of the Twins July 8 game against the Rangers.UP NEXTIndians: RHP Trevor Bauer (7-3) had won three consecutive starts before his last outing, a 5-4 loss to the Yankees on July 7. He gave up a season-high five earned runs in 5 2/3 innings. That raised his ERA from 3.02 to 3.30, which was still good for ninth-best in the AL at the break.Twins: Minnesota has scored 48 runs in the last four games started by RHP Tyler Duffey (5-6). The Twins have won all four, and Duffey has earned the victory in the last three. In his most recent outing on July 7 at Texas, Duffey threw six scoreless innings and struck out a season-high nine batters. Malik Beasley Nuggets Jersey . Reigning world champion Eve Muirhead of Scotland opened with a 12-2 rout of Winnipegs Jennifer Jones in a battle of teams bound for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Michael Porter Nuggets Jersey . The Clippers were angry about blowing a big lead; the Kings didnt like being in that kind of hole and nearly digging themselves out only to lose. http://www.authenticnuggetsproshop.com/Gary-Harris-Jersey . 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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Martez Harrison scored 22 points and UMKC held off Drake down the stretch to take a 68-62 win Tuesday night.UMKC knocked down 11 of 27 shots from beyond the arc to hold off the Bulldogs, who battled back from an 11-point halftime deficit.Drake got within four, 54-50, with 5:06 left in the game, but could not close the gap.Harrison connected on 7 of 9 shots from the field and knocked down 3 of his 5 shots from distance. LaVell Boyd added 18 pointts by knocking down 3 of his 7 attempts from beyond the arc.ddddddddddddUMKC bounced back from a season-opening loss to No. 22 Creighton Friday, 89-82.Reed Timmer finished with 15 points to lead Drake (0-2) in its first trip to UMKC and the Bulldogs still lead the series, 5-2. The Bulldogs lost their season opener to South Dakota, 79-74. ' ' '

Quarterback Derek Carr has the Oakland Raiders sitting at 4-1 and in the playoff hunt for the first time in a long time. ESPN Insiders Matt Bowen and Mike Sando analyze Carrs game: Whom he really?compares to, where he has improved the most, where he can still get better and, finally, whether its OK to call him a star.Bowen: Some parts of Carrs game remind me of a younger, less-polished version of?Aaron Rodgers. Its the athleticism, the movement in the pocket, the ability to throw the ball from different arm angles. He can drop down like a second baseman. He can throw over the top. He has developed much more in terms of varying his velocity, because its never just about how hard you can throw the ball. Its about touch down the field on seam routes, touch over the top on fade routes and, yes, he can still rip the ball when he needs to. Joe Gomez Liverpool Jersey . "Hes going to have hip surgery on Jan. 7, and hell be expected to rehabilitate for four to six months beyond that," Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said Friday in an interview. Virgil van Dijk Jersey . Blackwood, 28, has played the last three seasons in the San Diego Padres system, including the past two summers with Class AA San Antonio of the Texas League. http://www.footballliverpoolstore.com/Women-Adam-Lallana-Liverpool-Jersey . Defenceman Yannick Weber scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Canucks breathed a sigh of relief with a 2-1 win on Saturday night. Curtis Jones Liverpool Jersey . After the whistle, Thornton skated the length of the ice, pulled Orpik to the ice from behind and punched him in the face several times. Virgil van Dijk Liverpool Jersey . -- The Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake played to a 0-0 tie Saturday night that left the top of the Western Conference standings unchanged. Each week, Massey-Peabody projects the rest of the NFL season and the postseason, using a proprietary simulation model, which is based on our predictive ratings and factors in dynamic uncertainty and NFL tiebreakers. We run 30,000 simulations each week and compare our simulation results to the Vegas odds to find value in futures bets.As we head into the homestretch of the season, the playoff field is still pretty muddled. But there is still value available in betting Super Bowl futures.Below we run through our favorite Super Bowl 51 value bets right now.Oddds Courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook.ddddddddddddSeattle Seahawks (7-1 or +700)Massey-Peabody odds: +309I was surprised that the Westgate only dropped the odds of Seattle winning the Super Bowl from +800 to +700 after last weeks upset of the Patriots in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Seattle was Massey-Peabodys No. 1-ranked team going into the season and has been either No. 1 or No. 2 in our predictive ratings every single week. ' ' '

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The judge who has presided over Jerry Sanduskys criminal case for five years issued a sternly worded order on Friday removing himself from the former Penn State assistant coachs appeal.Judge John Cleland said he was taking himself off the case because Sanduskys lawyers have raised objections to Clelands role in a December 2011 meeting in a hotel the night before Sandusky waived a preliminary hearing.The defendants attorneys have impugned the competence and integrity of essentially everyone associated with the grand jurys investigation into the defendants conduct, the defendants trial and conviction, and these post-conviction proceedings, Cleland wrote. Now they have chosen to impugn the integrity of the court itself.Cleland said the accusations against attorneys, judges, jurors, investigators and victims were outside the bounds of the legal profession and should be reviewed by the state board that handles matters of lawyer discipline. Sanduskys appeals lawyer, Al Lindsay, declined to comment, as did a spokesman for the state attorney generals office.Sandusky, 72, was convicted in 2012 of 45 counts of child sexual abuse and is serving up to 60 years in prison. He has previously lost a round of appeals to the state Superior and Supreme courts and is currently seeking a new trial under the states Post-Conviction Relief Act, which is limited to claims of constitutional violations, newly discovered evidence or ineffective counsel. His appeal involves all three types of claims.At issue is a meeting held at the Hilton Garden Inn in State College the night of Dec. 12, 2011. In attendance were Cleland, Sandusky lawyer Joe Amendola, state prosecutors Joe McGettigan and Jonelle Eshbach, and District Judge Robert Scott, who had been appointed to preside at the preliminary hearing scheduled for the next day.In an account he issued in May, Cleland wrote that his appointment to handle the matter as a common pleas court judge, made after all the Centre County jurists had recused themselves, included administrative oversight for the site of the preliminary hearing. He said he was having dinner in the hotel when Amendola and prosecutors asked to meet with him and Scott.It surprised him, Cleland wrote, to find out the topic was an agreement to waive the hearing as long as prosecutors would not seek higher bail if more charges were filed. Sandusky did waive the hearing, which he now argues was a mistake because his lawyers lost a chance to pin down witnesses and learn details about their version of events.Cleland said neither he nor Scott had any role in negotiating the agreement made between Amendola and the prosecutors. Amendola has recently testified that he proposed the deal to McGettigan to keep his client out of jail and that it was explained to Cleland and Scott rather than submitted to them.Cleland pointedly objected to a characterization by Sanduskys lawyers in a recent filing that it was an off-the-record night time meeting and that Sanduskys absence from the hotel conference violated his due process rights.Counsel has argued not only that the meeting between the lawyers and Judge Scott and me was unethical, but has also cast it in tones that would lead one to believe it was somehow sinister, Cleland wrote.He also said, in a footnote, that hes studied the 34 issues Sandusky has raised and concluded that no grounds raised in the petition merit relief.His order asks court officials to request another judge be appointed to replace him. Chuma Edoga Jets Jersey .4 million title. Ryan Riess emerged with the title after a session in which he started behind, but used expert skill to gather the chips to his side amid the unpredictability of no-limit Texas Hold em. Riess put his final opponent Jay Farber all-in with an Ace-King. Jachai Polite Jersey .C. -- Chris Thorburn thinks one of the reasons the Winnipeg Jets have been successful under new coach Paul Maurice is that theyre playing together as a team. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Joe-Klecko-Jersey . -- Team after team passed on Andre Ellington in the draft. Mark Gastineau Jersey . Just as Montreal was settling into the first full working week of a new year, the Impact announced the appointment of their new head coach. Jamal Adams Jets Jersey . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position. Go to: Starters | ReservesHow will John Wall, Bradley Beal, Otto Porter and the Magic do in 2016-17?Here are our player scouting reports and analyssis.dddddddddddd ' ' '

Qanbas Zhuojun Xiao Hai Zeng emerged from California as the winner of the SoCal Regionals after a victory over YOUDEALs Tatsuya Haitaini Haitani in the grand finals. The Chinese superstar Cammy player moved to sixth overall on the Capcom Pro Tour global standings with 676 points and established himself as one of the best bets for a tournament victory regardless of the competition.Overall, the SoCal Regionals fielded a diverse pool of characters and playstyles. It featured a Birdie, Guile, and a Balrog, as well as a strong mix of different representatives in the top-8. There were three players from the USA, one from China and South Korea and two from Japan. The tournament was stacked enough that upsets against Evil Geniuses Yusuke Momochi Momochi and Zowies Bruce Gamerbee Hsiang hardly moved the dial.In addition to Xiao Hais emergence as a top threat in Street Fighter V, there was another player that could potentially be a fixture in the top-8 of major tournaments: South Koreas Park Xyzzy Han-Byul and his Birdie. He was one of the most entertaining players during the weekend and amazed audience members and competitors alike with his ridiculous hit-confirms and well-placed pressure.Grand finals: Xiao Hai against HaitaniIt was China against Japan in the grand finals, with Chinas best representative playing against a Japanese fighting game god. Xiao Hai entered from the winners bracket after a convincing 3-0 victory over Haitani; on the other hand, Haitani was fresh off a close win over Evil Geniuses Kenneth KBrad Bradley. Haitani, needing a reset, was sharp in his mix-ups and pressure game against Xiao Hais Cammy. Despite the loss in winners finals, Haitanis comfort level only grew after he played nearly an hours worth of games against Cammy. He baited out the correct reversals, played the throw or frame-trap game, and outpaced his Chinese counterpart until the grand finals were ultimately reset.When I first won, it was too easy, Xiao Hai told ESPN. But, when I lost, I fixed the habits that were originally punished. He beat me a few times on my wakeup, but after I adjusted, he never got me again.Xiao Hai used the first set as a way to gauge his opponents adjustments and then planned accordingly after. His ability to cope with pressure, once a defining weakness, was now altered to data-collection. Xiao Hai explained that he completely shifted his neutral game to lessen the use of medium kick and punch to feature more of Cammys three-frame moves to both whiff-punish and bait Haitani. He would use Haitanis eagerness to dash against him.The people I was most afraid to play were already eliminated, Xiao Hai said.USA temporarily shortened the gapKBrad had himself a weekend. The Cammy professional finished an immaculate third place and showcased the kind of clean play the USA was capable of. His teammate, Eduardo PRRog Perez-Frangie looked every bit like the top player he was in Street Fighter IV and could be on the verge of a career resurgence. His Balrog and -- to a lesser degree -- Necalli were sharp and aggressive, the perfect signatures for a player that fed on offense.At the same time, the international killer, Team Liquids Du NuckleDu Dang once again shined on the main stage and padded his already impressive resume.While the USA put down three combatants for a Premier Event top-8, the elusive W was not claimed. Theres still work to be done if the gap between the West and East is finally shortened. 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In that time, hes recorded 17 goals and 17 assists with 36 penalty minutes. FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis is listed as doubtful to play Sunday in Pittsburgh against the Steelers because of a strained hamstring muscle, Jets coach Todd Bowles said Friday.Since Bowles has been the Jets coach, no player listed as doubtful Friday has played in the game Sunday.Well see what he looks like pregame , but right now, hes doubtful, Bowles said of Revis. Unless he has complete recovery, hell remain doubtful.Revis, who did not practice Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, spoke with reporters in the locker room and said he remains optimistic, but his tone and body language suggested otherwise.Asked if he has at least been able to run at full speed this week, Revis said he has not.We havent reached that step yet of a full-out sprint, he said. Ive done a little bit of jogging here and there, but to actually take reps, I havent been able to take reps yet.Revis did point out that there is still time Saturday and even Sunday morning for his condition to turn around, but when asked if he was worried about the possibility of aggravating the injury, he acknowledged it is a concern.That could be a possibility of that happening, he said. Weve still got a long season, so this one, Ill try to be optimistic about it and well see come Sunday whether or not if Im theere.ddddddddddddRevis, a native of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, who played his college ball in Pittsburgh, admitted it would be particularly disappointing if he were to miss this game because it is in his hometown. However, he said he cant worry about it, because its not something he can control.Assuming he doesnt play, rookie Juston Burris is likely to take his place, and Revis said he is confident Burris will acquit himself well.Im very confident in Juston Burris, Revis said. He stepped in a few times already, and hes made some big plays. So were confident in all the guys we have.Regarding a critical column in a New York newspaper that suggested he would be better off not playing, and going up against Steelers wideout Antonio Brown, Revis said he hadnt read the column and had no reaction to it.Its the world we live in -- you take the good with the bad, he said. And thats what the greats do: You take the good with the bad. And the only thing you can do is keep on working. Im not going to change anything that Ive been doing. Thats what got me to where Im at today, so Im going to keep working. Thats all I know is to keep working hard and keep getting better as much as I can. ' ' '

WASHINGTON -- Danny Espinosas .163 batting average makes a lot more sense. Hes been playing with a broken wrist. Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson said Friday that his second baseman has a small fracture in the right wrist and will rest a few days to see if it improves. Espinosa has been playing with discomfort since getting hit by a pitch April 14 against the Atlanta Braves. He also has a bone chip in the wrist, but the main concern is the fracture that needs time to heal. The Nationals want to avoid putting Espinosa on the disabled list, so they are hoping some rest will be enough. "Hopefully, its been able to knit somewhat and repair itself so we get by without putting him down for a long time," Johnson said. "Well know more as the next few days come along." The switch-hitting Espinosa complained to Johnson during the recent West Coast road trip that it was painful to bat right-handed. The manager said hes not upset that Espinosa didnt mention the problem sooner, noting that Espinosas tolerance for pain was shown last year when he played with a torn rotator cuff. "I like the heck out of him, but he reminds me too much of me," Johnson said. "He plays in pain." Steve Lombardozzi will take Espinosas place in the lineup. With his bench down a player, Johnson said the Nationals plan to bring up utility man Jeff Kobernus from Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday and will probably designate RHP Yunesky Maya for assignment. Johnson also said Ross Detwiler will throw a full bullpen session Saturday and remains on pace to return to the rotation Tuesday after skipping one start because of back spasms. Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez will each move up a day to give Detwiller more time to return, both pitching on regular rest because of an off day in the schedule. Meanwhile, Johnson said reliever Ryan Mattheus will need "a couple of months" to recover after the right-handed reliever broke his pitching hand after punching his locker following a rough outing. Catcher Wilson Ramos, on the DL with a strained left hamstring, isnt expected back until next month, and outfielder Jayson Werth is still at least 10 days away from returning from a strained right hamstring. Dante Fabbro Predators Jersey . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. Ryan Ellis Predators Jersey . Here are his mid-season NBA awards.  MVP: (KEVIN DURANT-Thunder) - Has been sensational this season and more importantly, the most consistent player in the league. 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Saturday, September 24Greater Western Sydney ($1.50) vs. Western Bulldogs ($2.65), Spotless Stadium at 5:15pmTeam news:The young and exciting Western Bulldogs have become everyones second team and one more win will see the club into its first grand final since 1961. Up North, the Giants will also be looking to make history, by claiming a maiden finals berth themselves.Theres speculation that Lin Jong could be named after recovering quicker than expected from a broken collarbone. However, if he is to play, its more likely going to to be in the Bulldogs VFL grand final side. Matthew Boyd has also insisted this week that his side will not be getting physical with Ryan Griffen who defected to GWS from the Dogs at the end of 2014.GWS had the luxury of a week off after upsetting the minor premiers in week one of the finals, but it came with a price as Steve Johnson will now have to watch on from the sidelines after picking up a one-week suspension for his hit on Josh Kennedy.Key head-to-head: Stephen Coniglio vs. Marcus BontempelliBontempelli has just about been the player of the finals. Its staggering to think the star Bulldog is still barely a pup, at 20 years of age.He was huge against the Hawks, winning key contests -- several against Luke Hodge, if you dont mind -- and leading from the front as the Dogs surged to a preliminary final.Coniglio was desperately unfortunate not to join the Bont in this years All Australian team, such has been his dominance through the midfield all year. The young Giant is adept at winning his own ball while limiting an opponents influence.Will Leon Cameron task Coniglio with stopping the rampaging Bulldog? Or will he back his pack of rolled-gold midfield guns in a head-to-head battle?One would think curbing Bontempellis impact will be front of Camerons mind ahead of this clash, and Coniglio could be that man.If Bontempelli struggles, youd think the Giants will have enough class all over the ground to win through to a history-making grand final.Giannts:?B Adam Tomlinson, Phil Davis, Nathan Wilson HB Heath Shaw, Joel Patfull, Ryan Griffen C Jacob Hopper, Stephen Coniglio, Tom Scully HF Dylan Shiel, Jeremy Cameron, Jonathon Patton F Rhys Palmer, Rory Lobb, Devon Smith FOL Shane Mumford, Toby Greene, Callan Ward I/C Zac Williams, Lachie Whitfield, Josh Kelly, Nick HaynesBulldogs:?B Jason Johannisen, Joel Hamling, Matthew Boyd HB Shane Biggs, Dale Morris, Easton Wood C Lachie Hunter, Marcus Bontempelli, Liam Picken HF Jack Macrae, Zaine Cordy, Jake Stringer F Tory Dickson, Tom Boyd, Caleb Daniel FOL Jordan Roughead, Luke Dahlhaus, Tom Liberatore I/C Clay Smith, Toby McLean, Fletcher Roberts, Josh DunkleyKey Stats: No interstate side playing in its first finals series has ever won back-to-back finals.ddddddddddddUBET verdict: The old adage you have to lose one to win one hasnt applied to GWS so far, as they continue on their rampage towards Saturday weeks grand final.The Giants are now at home after thrashing the Swans two weeks ago, and the money trail tells us that UBET customers expect them to dispose of the Bulldogs on Saturday, and progress to the big dance next week.There is any amount of money for the Giants to beat the Bulldogs at $1.50, and also to cover the handicap line of 13.5 points start.Weather: Mostly sunny with a top of 20. No rain expected.Prediction: This may well be one of the quickest and exciting matches of 2016. These sides are expected to develop a rivalry over the coming years as they both appear set for a number of glory years, but who will prevail in round one?The Giants have made Spotless Stadium a fortress this season and put the Dogs to the sword when they met there earlier in the year. Losing the experienced Johnson is a huge blow, but expect him to be covered adequately as GWS storm into the grand final.Tip:?GWS by five points.Enter your ESPNfootytips AFL selections ' ' '