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DETROIT - The streaking Toronto Blue Jays will have their work cut out for them if they want to complete a sweep of the Tigers, as they face Justin Verlander in todays matinee finale of a three-game series in Detroit. Justin Upton Authentic . The Blue Jays will not have Edwin Encarnacion in their starting line-up. The slugger left Wednesday nights game in the ninth inning with tightness in his back. The right-handed Verlander is coming off a 6-3 win over the hosting Seattle Mariners on Friday, giving up three runs on five hits and a walk over 7 2/3 innings. It was his longest outing since going eight frames on April 6, and his seven strikeouts against the Mariners was his highest total since also fanning seven on May 4 at Kansas City. Verlander is 6-4 with a 3.99 earned run average on the year and 3-2 lifetime against the Blue Jays with a 4.02 ERA. Toronto left-hander J.A. Happ will make his seventh start of the year and had won three straight outings before a 6-1 loss to the Royals on Friday. It was an odd game for Happ, who logged a season-high 7 2/3 innings, but also yielded a 2014-worst six runs on nine hits and two walks. Happ, 31, dipped to 4-2 with a 4.10 ERA in nine total appearances on the season and will face the Tigers for the third time in his career and for the second time as a starter. He has held them to a run over 9 1/3 innings without a decision, striking out eight. The red-hot Blue Jays are looking to sweep the Tigers for the first time since April 5-7, 2004 and won their fourth straight overall with last nights 8-2 win. Melky Cabrera had three hits, one a homer, and three runs scored, while Jose Bautista also chipped in with three hits and a pair of RBI. Adam Lind drove in three runs in his clubs 13th victory in 15 games. R.A. Dickey (6-4) gave up both runs on seven hits and four walks in five-plus innings, while four relievers combined to yield zero hits the rest of the way. That includes Aaron Loup, who took over in the sixth inning for Dickey after he had yielded a pair of walks around a single to load the bases with nobody out. However, Loup fanned J.D. Martinez and then induced weak pop flies in foul territory to both Rajai Davis and Ian Kinsler. "Tonight, I guess was one of those lucky nights where you kind of pull a rabbit out of your hat," said Loup. "Usually you dont get out of situations like that." Miguel Cabrera and Kinsler had solo homers to produce the two Detroit runs, while Rick Porcello (8-3) was charged with three runs on six hits over seven innings. "We had some opportunities. We were unable to come up with the big hit tonight," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. The Tigers have lost four straight. Everth Cabrera Authentic . The Arena das Dunas in the northeastern city of Natal sustained minor damage during the protests, but demonstrators stayed away on Sunday and officials said the stadium passed its first test, with only minor adjustments needed going forward. Wil Myers Authentic . -- If this was Aaron Gordons final home game at Arizona, and it almost certainly was, then he went out in style.IRVING, Texas -- With tape still wrapped around his bruised throwing hand after practice, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo insists he will be ready to play in what is essentially a playoff game against the New York Giants. "Everythings coming together like we thought, just each day its getting a little bit better," Romo said Thursday. "Well be good to go this weekend." Romo wore the protective wrap on his swollen right hand, the one he banged on a defenders helmet on the opening series Saturday against Philadelphia before coming out of the game. The wrap leaves his fingers and thumb free. He wasnt wearing anything on the hand Wednesday. The Cowboys go on the road to face the Giants on Sunday night, a matchup of 8-7 teams that will decide the NFC East and fill the NFCs last playoff spot. Romo, who played through a broken rib early this season, said he isnt worried about whether he will feel normal Sunday. "You have to go out there and practice all week and get yourself ready to go to the game on Sunday. Im excited that were in this position and we have an opportunity to go and play in a big game like this," he said. "This is when it gets fun. No matter what, youre not going to sit one of these out." During the few minutes early in practice open to reporters Thursday, Romo came out of the locker room wearing the protective wrap and made a few soft tosses. He was also bantering with teammates. "Tony did a little bit more today than he did yesterday. I wouldnt constitute a full practice, but hes making some progress," coach Jason Garrett said. "The swelling still is there. ... All the functional things that a quarterback has to do, he has to be able to do by game time, and hes making progress in all those areas." Garrett said backup quarterback Stephen McGee, who finished Saturdays game after Romo got hurt, got some work with the first-team offence again Thursday. Wil Myers Blue Jersey. Even with the rib injury in Week 2 and not playing much last week against Philadelphia, Romo has already thrown for 3,895 yards and 29 touchdowns. He still has a chance for his third 4,000-yard passing season and his second year with at least 30 TDs. No other Dallas quarterback has reached 4,000 yards or 30 TDs in a season. Romo threw for 321 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in a 37-34 home loss three weeks ago against the Giants, who overcame a 12-point deficit in the final 3 1/2 minutes. Dallas might have already clinched the division had it won that game. "Its obvious that this is basically a playoff game. For us, its been great energy all week. Guys are ready to go, and theyre excited," Romo said. The quarterbacks bruised hand just adds another twist to the important game. "A lot of quarterbacks throughout the league play through stuff every week," Romo said. "Sometimes it can be magnified because youre playing in a game thats like this. "No one cares, and once you get out there, its about winning and losing, so thats all its going to be about." Romo said he wont decide until later this week about whether to wear tape on his hand during the game. He never said how much pain he was feeling, saying only that, "like anything, you just have to deal with it and overcome it." Notes: Just like last week, the Cowboys are easing Pro Bowl defenders DeMarcus Ware (neck) and Jay Ratliff (ribs) into practice this week. Neither practised Wednesday, and were limited Thursday ... RB Felix Jones (hamstring tightness) was limited again in practice, but Garrett said hes looking good in the work hes doing. ... LB Sean Lee missed practice for the second day in a row because of illness. cheap jerseys from china cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
