Counter Strike » the bench but it wasnt enough to

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. Nike Air Max 1 Sale Uk . "I only want to go through this one more time," Crosby said Friday. The 24-year-old captain hasnt played since the symptoms resurfaced following a loss to Boston on Dec. 5. Doctors allowed him to return to full practice on Tuesday and while Crosby is pleased with the way his body is responding he refuses to put on his return. Discount Air Max 1 . -- Pinch-runner Rajai Daviss decision to steal third base just as Oakland catcher Derek Norris was throwing the ball back to the pitcher caught most everyone by surprise -- including several of his Detroit teammates. http://www.discountairmax1uk.com/. Wrights first stint with Milwaukee was on a 10-day contract from March 14-23. He played in two games, averaging six points and two rebounds in 16. Nike Air Max 1 Clearance Uk . “Im not sure well get Melky Cabrera at all,” said Gibbons. The 29-year-old left fielder struggled all season with knee and hamstring problems. Cabrera was first on the disabled list from June 27-July 20 with tendinitis in his left knee. Nike Air Max 1 Outlet Uk . "This doesnt end anything," he said. "Weve got 10-1 in our last 11 games, and were going home in first place. We just have to keep playing the way we are right now.SALT LAKE CITY -- Jonas Valanciunas was "juiced" from the moment he batted the opening tip into the backcourt. The improving big man from Lithuania set the tone and then DeMar DeRozan sealed the deal. "I was really excited to play Enes (Kanter). Hes a good buddy of mine and weve played since I was 15 years old. We talked all the game," said Valanciunas, who had 18 points and nine rebounds to help the Toronto Raptors turn back the Utah Jazz 94-79 on Monday night for their fourth win in the last five games. "We juiced him up a little bit this morning, teasing him about how Kanter got after him in the Euroleague. So he came out and played, really muscled," Toronto coach Dwane Casey said after the second-year centre scored the Raptors first six points. DeRozan scored 23 points as Toronto continued to surprise away from home. "Honestly, I think there is no pressure on the road," DeRozan said. DeRozan looked to get his teammates involved in the first half but once Kyle Lowry left with a knee injury, the new All-Star took matters into his own hands with nine points in the fourth quarter to quell a Jazz comeback. The Raptors scored 13 of the games final 16 points. "I just pick and choose. I try and be aggressive. Try and rebound, try to pass to my teammates. I dont just try and go out there to score every time down," DeRozan said. Valanciunas and Amir Johnson, who had 11 points and 11 rebounds, exposed the Jazz interior defence without Derrick Favours (hip). "Everyone gets along together. We all just kind of click. You usually dont find that," Johnson said. Marvin Williams scored 23 points and Alec Burks had 20 off the bench but it wasnt enough to keep the Jazz from their third straight loss, their worst span since a four-game skid from Dec. 4-9. Greivis Vasquez, who had 12 points, opened the fourth quarter with a floater to give the Raptors a 73-62 lead. Burks made back-to-back driving layups to power an 8-0 run to get the Jazz within four points for the first time since early in the second quarter. But the Raptors used their own 11-2 surge to clinch the victory. DeRozan had seven straight for the Raptors in the stretch. But the Raptors used their own 11-2 surge to clinch the victory. DeRozan had seven straight for the Raptors in the stretch.dddddddddddd "Were playing for each other. Each of us want the best for the others on the team. We care about each other and have great chemistry," Vasquez said. The Raptors had dropped seven of eight at Utah by an average of 14.9 points, but controlled this one almost all the way. Torontos last win here since 2006 was a 111-106 double-overtime victory on Jan. 25, 2012. DeRozan has been effective no matter where he plays, especially in games in the States, averaging 27 points over his last seven on the road. Valanciunas also continued his upward trend with another strong game on the interior, with four offensive rebounds and many more plays where he kept the ball alive for Johnson. "Thats the challenge that hes got to take to be a big-time player in this league," Casey said. The Jazz hoped to awaken Gordon Hayward and Trey Burke from their slumps but the pair, which has been shooting less than 30 per cent, combined to make just 7 of 25 shots and commit seven turnovers. "I thought we had great shots. We missed some really good looks we have been making," Utah coach Tyrone Corbin said after his team had a season-low 10 assists. Lowry had two points on 1-of-8 shooting before leaving to the locker room for good in the third quarter with right knee pain. He will be evaluated on Tuesday to see if he can play either of the final two games of this five-game Western Conference road trip. The Raptors (14-12) have as many road wins as any team in the Eastern Conference, tied with Miami and Indiana. They have never finished a season above .500 away from home. Favours injured hip prevented him from playing and without their starting centre, the Jazz have lost all six contests this year. Kanter had 10 points for Utah but was pulled after missing a defensive assignment and played just 20 minutes. The Jazz are 1-21 with the big man from Turkey in the starting lineup. Notes: The Raptors are 18-10 after the seven-player trade with Sacramento on Dec. 7. ... Toronto used a 31-17 second quarter to take control of the game. ... DeRozan and Valanciunas were both poked in the eye during the course of the game. ... The Jazz were 3 of 17 from behind the 3-point line. . Jeremy Evans missed the game for Utah with a bruised tailbone and elbow. ' ' '