” along with a little help from Chicago Bears

DETROIT - Dallas Keuchel won this matchup of old college roommates — then admitted he hadnt paid much attention to his friend-turned-adversary on the mound. Brian McCann Jersey . Keuchel outpitched Drew Smyly, and the Houston Astros beat Detroit 6-2 on Thursday to snap the Tigers eight-game winning streak. Keuchel and Smyly both pitched for the Arkansas team that reached the College World Series in 2009, but on this day, Keuchel had more important concerns than watching his fellow left-hander throw. "I honestly didnt see a single pitch from him," Keuchel said. "I was in the tunnel. It was kind of hot today for Detroit right now, and I was just trying to stay cool as much as possible." Keuchel (3-2) allowed two runs and six hits in 7 2-3 innings, and Houston ended its five-game losing streak. The Astros broke through with three runs in the fifth off Smyly (2-2) to take the lead. Houstons George Springer, a first-round draft pick in 2011, hit his first major league homer. Carlos Corporan and Matt Dominguez also went deep for the Astros. Victor Martinez homered for the Tigers. Smyly allowed only one hit — an infield single — through the first four innings, but his outing took a turn for the worse in the fifth when Springer lined a one-out solo homer over the wall in right. "Its obviously good to hit something hard and to have a great result like that," said Springer, who planned to give the home run ball to his father. "I didnt try to do too much — was able to stay on it and hit it hard, and for me thats a great sign." Jose Altuve put the Astros ahead 3-2 with a two-run double later that inning. Smyly allowed three runs and five hits in 5 1-3 innings. He struck out two and walked three. Corporan homered off reliever Evan Reed in the seventh to make it 4-2. Keuchel struck out seven without a walk, navigating a tough Detroit lineup without too much difficulty. "I wont be talking to him for a while," Smyly joked. "I thought hed do OK, but hes a lefty and with our offence, I thought wed get to him. Hes a very smart pitcher and hes a bulldog, and we couldnt do anything with him. Thats as good as Ive seen him, and you have to tip your hat." Keuchels final big test came in the seventh, when Detroit put men on first and third with two out. Keuchel struck out pinch-hitter Torii Hunter to end the inning. The temperature at game time was 77 degrees, and Keuchel said his decision to ignore Smylys pitching was nothing personal. "On the more humid days, Ill try to go in and keep cool in between innings, so I dont usually watch the other pitcher," he said. "In this case, it was my college roommate, so Im sure hell be mad I didnt see a few pitches." Miguel Cabrera came to the plate in the eighth after Ian Kinslers single chased Keuchel, but the best the Detroit slugger could do against reliever Anthony Bass was a soft grounder to second. Dominguez hit a two-run homer in the ninth. The Tigers opened the scoring in the second on an RBI double by Nick Castellanos. Springer, who came close to preventing a homer by Cabrera the previous night, nearly caught this drive too, but it caromed off the wall in right field. Martinez hit his seventh homer of the year in the fourth. He finished the day with three hits, extending his hitting streak to 11. NOTES: Houston OF L.J. Hoes, who entered the game in an 0-for-20 slump, had three singles and scored a run. ... The Astros play at Baltimore on Friday night, with RHP Scott Feldman (2-1) scheduled to return after missing time with right biceps tendinitis. Baltimore starts LHP Wei-Yin Chen (3-2). ... Detroit hosts Minnesota, with RHP Justin Verlander (4-1) on the mound against Twins RHP Phil Hughes (3-1). Greg Bird Jersey .J. - Trying to learn and absorb the new West Coast offence being installed by new offensive co-ordinator Ben McAdoo, the New York Giants wrapped their final organized team activity Thursday before a three-day mini-camp next week. Giancarlo Stanton Jersey . The Thornhill, Ont., native, who is ranked 11th in the world, said hed hoped he would be ready when Canada begins its World Group first-round tie against Japan in Tokyo on Friday. http://www.authenticbaseballshopyankees.com/black-18-johnny-damon-womens-jersey/ .com) - The Ottawa Senators will try to keep their slim playoff hopes alive when they face the Chicago Blackhawks who are trying to secure their place in the post-season.CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Staring at a possible three-game losing streak, the Carolina Panthers needed a spark.Cam Newton and the no-huddle offence a€” along with a little help from Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould a€” provided just that Sunday.The Panthers took advantage of Goulds missed 35-yard field goal late in the first half and seized the momentum. Newton found his stride working the no-huddle, Carolinas defence forced four turnovers and the Panthers overcome a 14-point deficit to beat the Bears 31-24.Carolina recaptured sole possession of first place in the NFC South.The no-huddle offence has been our edge, said Newton, who threw for 255 yards. It was not panic time, because we have been in these situations before.Newton provided the go-ahead score with 2:18 left on his second touchdown pass to Greg Olsen, helping the Panthers (3-2) snap a two-game slide.The Panthers trailed 21-7 late in the first half and the Bears were looking for more after Newton was intercepted by Lance Briggs. But Chicagos drive stalled and Gould missed wide right.The momentum turned immediately.It was huge, said Olsen, who spent four years with the Bears. We got in the huddle and said, Thats our break. We were waiting for something to bounce our way and that was it. We went right down and bang, bang. ... Cam got in an awesome groove and from that point on he was on fire.Newton capped the drive with a 9-yard pass to Olsen to pull Carolina within 21-14 at halftime. The Panthers stayed with the no-huddle and Newton led a 10-play, 86-yard drive in the third quarter, with Chris Ogbonnaya scoring on a 1-yard run to tie the game.From there, Carolinas defence took over. The Panthers forced three turnovers on Chicagos last three possessions.The biggest came with the game tied at 24 when Antoine Cason stripped Matt Forte of the ball and the Panthers Kawaan Short recovered at Chicagos 23. Six plays later, Newton found Olsen on a slant route for a 6-yard touchdown.The Panthers sealed the win when Short sacked Jay Cutler and Charles Johnson recovered the fumble.It was a big step for Carolinas defence, which allowed 75 points and 908 yards the past two weeks in blowout losses to Pittsburgh and Baltimore. Phil Rizzuto Jersey. .It was a matter of time before we came back, Short said.For the Bears it was a distressing finish considering they appeared to be in control in the first half.Cutler was 28 of 36 for 289 yards with two TDs, but turned the ball over three times for the Bears (2-3). Forte had 61 yards rushing and 105 yards receiving and a touchdown before his costly fumble.There were many opportunities for us to put this one away offensively, Cutler said. We put our defence in a bad place, and I thought they played real well, given the circumstances and field position we put them in. A lot of that is on me.It was also a big day for Newton, who was comfortable running the no-huddle set a€” just as he has most of the season.Hes pretty good at it, Olsen said. Its been good for us this year. Sometimes certain situations dictate that you cant stay in it, but when weve done it weve been pretty successful. When we need a spark we can go to it. And it seems like it does spark us.The Bears scored 14 points off Carolina turnovers to build a 21-7 lead in the first half.Cornerback Isaiah Frey stripped Panthers receiver Kelvin Benjamin of the ball and recovered at the Panthers 28, setting up a 10-yard TD pass from Cutler to Forte.Chicagos Willie Young beat guard Amini Silatolu for a strip-sack fumble on Newton and Lamarr Houston recovered at the Carolina 13 on the next possession. Three plays later Cutler scrambled 10 yards for touchdown.Cutler pushed the lead to 21-7when he beat the Panthers on a cornerback blitz, flipping the ball to the flat where Alshon Jeffery raced around two defenders for a 25-yard catch-and-run touchdown.Ive got to take accountability for our failure to get it done in the second half on all three phases a€” that starts with me, Bears coach Marc Trestman said.NOTES: Newton said he had four wisdom teeth removed earlier this week. ... Panthers cornerback Josh Norman left with a shoulder injury. ... Bears safety Chris Conte left with a concussion. ... The win was Riveras first against the team he helped win a Super Bowl in 1985.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Cheap Jerseys Online Wholesale Black NFL Jerseys Youth NFL Jerseys Wholesale Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping ' ' '