NEU » pitches in his first major league start since Aug.

LOS ANGELES -- To suggest Maya Moore has a keen sense of the moment is not to say she isnt playing her tail off constantly. Because she is.Yet in a career full of big moments in big games, this chaser (and usually catcher) of championships senses the times when something extra special is needed.In those moments, there is so much to think about, so I try to be locked in all the time, Moore said after Minnesotas season-saving 85-79 victory Sunday over Los Angeles in Game 4 of the WNBA Finals. Sometimes, though, you look up and say, We need this moment. Were fighting, were battling, and Im just conditioned to step up in those moments.That all sounds cliché, but it actually looks breathtaking every time Moore does it. In a game with so much emotion from tipoff at Staples Center, Moore and the Lynx did not let themselves have another subpar effort, as was the case Friday in Game 3.The Lynx led most of the game. When the Sparks made surges, the Lynx answered. Moore, in particular, had some huge answers. She bounced back from nine points in Fridays loss with 31 points, nine rebounds and five assists Sunday.Was anyone surprised? Of course not. This is what Moore does. She has averaged 19.4 points in 46 career playoff games, just a notch up from the 18.6 she has averaged in 203 regular-season games. Moore is consistently great, but the higher the stakes, the better she is.As Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve put it, Mayas greedy. Shes never satisfied. She wants more championships.Reeve, though, also sees the stuff Moore doesnt do right. Thats her job as a coach. But Reeve said Moore has an unshakeable faith that shes always going to make the next play. Even games such as Fridays dont rattle Moore at all. What does rattle her?I havent seen her be rattled, Reeve said. [Alana] Beard would rattle me. Her defense would rattle the hell out of me. Id have been turning it over every darned time. So I guess if Beard cant do it, I dont know.For the second season in a row, Moore and the defending champion Lynx will play a Game 5 at home at Target Center. By this point last year, they had worn out the Indiana Fever, and they won the decisive game handily. The Sparks dont seem to be physically tired, but missing out on the chance to win a championship at home Sunday will be a mental challenge for Los Angeles to overcome.Even so, this series going the distance is what pretty much everyone expected from the top two teams in the league. The new playoff format, which got rid of conference affiliation, allowed these two West teams to be on opposite sides of the postseason bracket. It has produced a thrilling WNBA Finals that have included a buzzer-beating victory by the Sparks in Game 1, decisive wins by the Lynx in Game 2 and the Sparks in Game 3, and a can-you-feel-your-pulse-racing Lynx triumph in Game 4.Its been dramatic. Its been stressful. But its been great if youre a fan of basketball, Moore said of this series. I think youre going to see the best in Game 5.Moore is a big reason there will be a Game 5, and the closing minutes of the third quarter were a microcosm of what she has done so much of in her career. Chelsea Gray, who with 20 points had a fantastic game off the bench for the Sparks, hit a 3-pointer with 2 minutes, 29 seconds left in the period. Kristi Toliver followed with another 3 at the 1:43 mark to cut Minnesotas lead to one. The fans at Staples Center were going bonkers.But Moore answered with her own 3-pointer. Gray hit another 3. Then Moore hit another. After a Lynx defensive stop, Moore hit two free throws.Anything you can do, I can do better ...That maintained the Lynxs lead at six points going into the final 10 minutes. The last quarter was operatic all on its own, with both teams and the crowd at a fever pitch, the Lynx trying desperately to stay alive and the Sparks just as desperate to slam the door shut on the championship.The Sparks finally were able to tie the score on Candace Parkers driving layup with 6:01 left. Then consecutive turnovers by the Sparks led to baskets from Lindsay Whalen, with Moore assisting on one.Los Angeles cut the lead to two points twice in the final 2:08 but couldnt close the gap. Parker was called for a foul against Rebekkah Brunson with 12.5 seconds left -- on a play that could have been called a clean block. Brunson, who was in foul trouble a lot of the game, hit both clutch free throws. Moore finished the game with four more free throws.For the Sparks, who have taken some gut-punch losses in the playoffs over the years, this was really tough. They made mistakes with shot selection at some crucial times. They had some very costly turnovers late. They were beaten on the boards 41-25 and sent the Lynx to the foul line 27 times, with Minnesota making 24.However, Los Angeles matched the Lynx in terms of playing hard. Coach Brian Agler stressed that there was no lack of effort from his team. But ultimately, it was just too much Moore, and that kept the Sparks from winning their first championship since 2002. It also gives the Lynx a chance to win their fourth title and second in a row.We needed every bit of what Maya did, Reeve said. It wasnt easy. But Maya just makes plays. Fred Warner Jersey . The Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, and Texas Rangers all won on Sunday meaning the Rangers will host the Rays in a play-in game on Monday. Bob Hayes Jersey . 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NEW YORK -- All the New York Mets have to do in order to produce their first winning streak in more than a month is get the best of a pitcher whose most extensive start came against high schoolers.The Mets will look for that elusive second straight win Sunday, when they host the San Diego Padres in the finale of a three-game series at Citi Field. New York snapped a four-game losing streak Saturday night with a 3-2, 11-inning win.Mets left-hander Steven Matz is scheduled to oppose Padres left-hander Clayton Richard, who took a decidedly unique path to his first major league start of the season, Richard made 25 relief appearances with the Chicago Cubs before being designated for assignment on July 26.In hopes of keeping sharp for his next club, Richard took the mound the very next day, when he threw 65 pitches against an All-Star team of 15- and 16-year-olds in his hometown of Lafayette, Ind. The Padres signed Richard, who pitched for the club from 2009 through 2013, on Aug. 5.He didnt tell me if he dominated them or not, so I didnt get the full game report, Padres manager Andy Green said with a grin. He didnt show me the video or the boxscore, so I just kind of assume he did well. If (Sunday) doesnt go well, well have to ask him for the box score.Richard allowed one run in 1 1/3 innings over two relief appearances before moving into the rotation for the Padres (50-66), who are trying to limit the innings of their starters during a stretch of 16 games in as many days. Only two current San Diego starters, Christian Friedrich and Luis Perdomo, have made 10 starts for the club this season and only one, right-hander Jarred Cosart, started a game in the majjors last season.dddddddddddd.Where we are right now, its about their health moving forward, Green said. This 16-day stretch, late in the season where guys like Christian Friedrich (are) way past their innings limits from the previous year, it just makes sense.Richard will be limited to about 75 pitches in his first major league start since Aug. 2, 2015.The Mets are hoping to build on the momentum theyve generated over the last two days. New York nearly came back from a six-run deficit in an 8-6 loss on Friday night, when a trio of relievers combined to retire the Padres final 19 batters.On Saturday, right-hander Jacob deGrom carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning -- extending the Padres hitless streak to 10 2/3 innings -- and allowed just one run on three hits over seven innings on a hope Matz can follow in the footsteps of right-hander Jacob deGrom, who allowed one run on three hits over seven innings on a night when the first pitch temperature was 91 degrees.Hopefully this is the start of something and we just kind of relax and continue to get big hits and continue to pitch, Mets manager Terry Collins said, Jake was good and (Sunday) we need Matzie to step up.The defending National League champion Mets (58-58) have not won consecutive games since July 6-7. They are 11-20 since that winning streak but are still only 2 1/2 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the race for the NLs second wild card.Every win is big, especially now, deGrom said. Were trying to make it to the playoffs. We need to win as many as we can. ' ' '