NEU » against a defense that returned two interceptions for scores last wee

CLEVELAND -- The outlook for the Cleveland Indians changed considerably over the weekend. The Indians shut out Texas for the second straight day, 6-0 Sunday to complete a three-game sweep and give Cleveland its fourth straight victory. Ubaldo Jimenez (8-5) allowed two hits in eight scoreless innings -- matching his longest outing of the season -- and the Indians recorded their major league-leading 14th shutout. "Sometimes you catch a team at a good time when theyre not hot and you have to take advantage of it," Indians manager Terry Francona said. Cleveland is three games behind Detroit in the AL Central. The Rangers, who have lost 12 of 15, have seen their normally high-powered offence come to a stop. Texas hasnt scored since the eighth inning of Friday nights 11-8 loss in 11 innings, a stretch of 21 innings. The Rangers are 2-8 since the All-Star break. "There is a difference between getting beat and losing," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "The first two games, we got beat. What I want to see is the Texas Rangers. Today they were out there, but I didnt see who I thought the Texas Rangers were." Elvis Andrus first-inning double and A.J. Pierzynskis single in the fifth accounted for the Rangers only hits. Jason Kipnis two-out single in the fifth broke a scoreless tie. Yan Gomes RBI single and Michael Bourns two-run double added three runs in the sixth as the Indians completed their first three-game sweep at home over Texas since Aug. 12-14, 1980. The Indians winning streak has come at an opportune time. Cleveland lost four of five coming out of the All-Star break and committed 11 errors in seven games after the layoff. "Were having fun and were pulling off some good wins," said first baseman Nick Swisher, who had three hits Sunday. "Collectively, were playing great. They have some great hitters over there so for our pitchers to be doing that, were doing something right." Jimenez struck out six and walked three. Vinnie Pestano pitched the ninth. "Its good competition," Jimenez said of the Indians pitching success. "You dont want to be the guy who goes out there and doesnt pitch well. Everybody wants to pitch a good game." Kipnis single came off Alexi Ogando (4-3), who allowed one run in 4 2-3 innings. Clevelands sixth-inning runs came off reliever Robbie Ross. Mike Aviles added a two-run homer in the eighth. Kipnis first-inning single capped a 12-pitch at-bat against Ogando, who had to work around trouble in the first three innings before settling down. He retired seven straight at one point before Bourn drew a two-out walk in the fifth. Swisher singled before Kipnis dropped a single in front of right fielder Nelson Cruz to score Bourn. Kipnis hit finished Ogando, who threw 92 pitches in his second start since coming off the disabled list. The right-hander allowed three runs in five innings on Wednesday against the Yankees. Ogando allowed six hits, walked two and struck out one. Singles by Michael Brantley and Carlos Santana started the sixth-inning rally. Gomes singled up the middle with two outs to score Brantley before Bourn drove a double to left-centre for a 4-0 lead. Jimenez, who struck out six and walked three, dodged trouble in the first when Andrus doubled with one out. Cruz followed with a walk, but Adrian Beltre bounced into a double play. Jimenez retired 10 in a row before Pierzynski singled to lead off the fifth. David Murphy walked and Jurickson Profar sacrificed but Mitch Moreland, who is hitless in his past 20 at-bats, popped out. Leonys Martin hit a hard ground ball on a 3-2 pitch to Swisher, who made a lunging stop at first base. He dropped the ball on the way to the bag, but recovered in time to record the out. Right fielder Ryan Raburn made a leaping catch at the wall in the eighth to take an extra base hit from Mitch Moreland. Bourn never saw the ball off the bat and Raburn raced into right-centre to make the catch. Andrus has hit safely in all 37 career games against the Indians. Texas right-hander Tanner Scheppers pitched a scoreless seventh inning in his first appearance since he was involved in a physical altercation in downtown Cleveland late Thursday night. He sustained facial cuts and bruises in the incident, which the Rangers and police are investigating, and was unavailable to pitch Friday. Scheppers said before Saturdays game that he could pitch but wasnt used. NOTES: Washington said the slumping Moreland will likely be rested in two of the next three games. ... Texas returns home Monday to begin a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels. Rangers RHP Matt Garza (1-0), who was acquired from the Cubs last week, takes on Angels RHP Jered Weaver (5-5). Garza has a 7-1 overall record in 12 starts this season. ... The Indians continue their seven-game homestand Monday against the Chicago White Sox. Indians RHP Zach McAllister (4-6) faces White Sox LHP John Danks (2-8) in the opener of a four-game series. Authentic NFL Jerseys China . The 26-year-old Ireland striker, who has four goals this season, has signed a three-and-a-half year contract with his new club. NFL Jerseys China . The 29-year-old Baines has established himself as one of the top attacking full backs in the country and was the subject of two bids from United during the last off-season. Everton manager Roberto Martinez says that keeping Baines at the club is a "massive boost and exciting for the future" because he brings "maturity and football knowledge in a very specialized position on the pitch" and an "infectious and positive influence to the rest of the squad. https://www.nflcheapjerseysfreeshipping.com/ . -- 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. Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping .875,000, avoiding arbitration. Clippards deal Monday means all eight Nationals players who filed for arbitration wound up settling before a hearing. Kevin Wilson and Mike Neu gleefully walked away with wins last week.What the Indiana and Ball State coaches both found after watching game tape was far from perfect. They saw all those typical first-game problems -- penalties, turnovers, poor decisions, lapses of judgment and overall sloppiness.So when the two in-state schools meet Saturday in Bloomington, both will be in cleanup mode.I guess that means you never coach until after the first game, Wilson joked when asked why so many improvements are made from Week 1 to Week 2. I think the real thing for kids is once you get out there, you do all the game situations, clock managements, all the down-and-distances. You do as much as you can to make it like a game. Until youre out there standing by a fast, two-by-four, those risks are greater.And its easier for a coach to get players attention and reteach the fine points of football.Wilson cant quibble with the results.Indianas oft-maligned defense scored 16 points, Devine Redding produced his fourth straight 100-yard game and the Hoosiers (1-0) have won three of their last four.But Wilson understands if problems, such as Reddings fumble against Florida International, persist, the wins may start slipping away, too.He (Redding) is getting ready to start seeing the bench, Wilson said Monday. Theres a standard of quarterback play. Theres a standard of taking care of the ball. Hes going to clean that up.Meanwhile, in Muncie, the former Ball State quarterback and first-year coach Mike Neu is holding a similar conversation.Yes, the Cardinals (1-0) beat Georgia State 31-21.The biggest concern might be sophomore quarterback Riley Neal threw two interceptions -- with one, on the third play of the game, returned for a touchdown.Neu knows if that happens this week, against a defense that returned two interceptions for scores last week, the Cardinals upset hopes will wither.The goal is just simply to win, Neu said.dddddddddddd Adversity is going to present itself, we just didnt know it was going to be the third play of the game with a pick-six. Its not the way you want to start, but our guys stuck together.Here are some other things to watch Saturday:CHANGED DEFENSESIn 2015, the Hoosiers had one of the Big Tens worst defenses. Ball States defense was rated just as bad in the Mid-American Conference. Last week, both took a major step forward. Indiana forced six three-and-outs while the Cardinals forced seven straight punts. Now the defenses must prove their Week 1 success was not an aberration.GILBERT ON GROUNDWhile Neal struggled early, sophomore running back James Gilbert played the best game of his college career. He rushed 29 times for 160 yards and two TDs, the key component in an offense that rushed for 325 yards. If they come close to replicating that performance, Ball State could pull another surprise.THREE WARNING SHOTSNeu may still be getting acclimated to his new job, but he has a pretty good idea how Indianas coaches will motivate their players. Im sure they are going to remind their guys of the last three times they played Ball State. After losing the first four in this series, Ball State has won the last three -- 42-20 in Bloomington in 2008, 27-20 in Indianapolis in 2011, and 41-39 at Indiana in 2012.HOME SWEET HOMEAfter winning their third straight road game, the first time Indiana has done that since 1982, the Hoosiers return to Bloomington where theyve won 13 of their last 14 home openers including four of five during Wilsons tenure. Heck, a few more wins in the coming weeks might even evoke talk of cracking the AP Top 25 .---Online: APs college football page: http://collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '