CLEVELAND -- The Indians playoff push hit a snag in Sundays 2-1 loss to the New York Mets. Cleveland managed only five hits -- all singles -- and closer Chris Perez gave up the go-ahead run in the ninth as the Indians four-game winning streak came to an end. The Indians entered Sunday trailing Tampa Bay by a game in the battle for the second wild card spot in the American League. Cleveland was trying for its first five-game winning streak since a season-best eight-game run July 24-Aug. 1, but its offence was stopped cold by five Mets pitchers. The Indians only run came in the sixth when Asdrubal Cabrera was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Cabrera had a chance to put the Indians ahead in the eighth but bounced into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded. The Indians had one last shot in the ninth. Jason Giambi led off the inning with a bloop single to left, his 2,000th career hit. With one out, pinch-runner Mike Aviles was thrown out attempting to steal second and ejected by umpire Gary Darling for arguing the call. Drew Stubbs struck out to end the game. "Its something Ill always treasure, but Id trade it for a win," Giambi said of his milestone hit. "We needed to come back and tie it there." The Indians open a three-game series Monday against Kansas City, another contender for a wild card spot. "We took two of three in this series, you have to look at it that way," said pitcher Joe Smith, who worked out a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the eighth. "We come back on the horse tomorrow. We need to take care of business when they come in." While the Indians are in the playoff hunt, they havent caught on with Clevelands fans. With the Browns opening the NFL season at home against Miami, Sundays baseball game drew a crowd of only 13,317. Eric Youngs two-out double in the ninth sent the Indians to defeat. Juan Lagares started the rally with a single off Perez (5-3) and moved to second on a sacrifice. Omar Quintanilla struck out, but Young lined a 2-0 pitch down the right field line. Frank Francisco (1-0), in his first appearance of the season, threw the double play ball to Cabrera. LaTroy Hawkins pitched the ninth for his eighth save. Daisuke Matsuzaka, who spent most of the season pitching for the Indians Triple-A team in Columbus, Ohio, took a one-hit shutout into the sixth before literally being driven out of the game. He retired the first two batters before Jason Kipnis singled and Carlos Santana walked. Jason Kubels line drive back to the mound appeared to hit Matsuzaka in the chest and rolled away, loading the bases. Mets manager Terry Collins went to the mound and pulled Matsuzaka for right-hander Vic Black, who hit Cabrera in the lower right leg with his second pitch to force in a run and tie the game. Matsuzaka pitched poorly in his first three starts with the Mets since being signed last month, leading to speculation his days with the team were numbered. He was charged with one run in 5 2-3 innings, which should buy him some extra time with the Mets. "He pitched an outstanding game," Collins said. "Boy, I was really happy for him." Justin Turner hit a leadoff homer in the fourth off Indians starter Danny Salazar, the only run the rookie allowed in four innings. Turner was injured in the sixth while sliding into second base when he took a hard tag in the head from Cabrera. He was on the ground for a couple of minutes but stayed in the game. Salazar struck out eight in three innings, including five in a row, but a high pitch count prevented him from working deeper into the game. He was pulled after throwing 80 pitches. The Indians dont want to take any chances with the 23-year-old right-hander, who had Tommy John surgery in 2010 and has already pitched a career-high 130 innings between the minors and majors. "The good thing was that he was strong, but maybe he was too strong," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "He had a real hard time keeping the ball down today. Because of that his pitch count was high. He had a hard time working down today." NOTES: Mets RHP Matt Harvey (elbow) will be examined by Dr. James Andrews to determine if he needs reconstruction surgery. Harvey was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Aug. 27 with a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament. ... OF Michael Brantley could return to the team Monday. His wife, Melissa, gave birth to the couples first child Saturday night. .... Francona said RHP Justin Masterson (strained left oblique) will likely accompany the team on a road trip that begins Thursday in Chicago. Its unclear when Masterson will resume baseball activities. ... Francisco joined the team after being recalled from a rehab assignment from Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday. He had elbow surgery in December. ... RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (10-9) faces Royals; RHP Ervin Santana (8-8). ... The Mets return home to start a four-game series with Washington on Monday. RHP Carlos Torres (3-3) meets LHP Gio Gonzalez (9-6). Scott Erickson Jersey .C. Now hes squarely in the U.S. capital and helping the Washington Wizards playoff drive. John Wall scored 33 points, Gooden got 11 of his 21 in the final quarter and the Wizards overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit for a 101-94 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night. Ken Singleton Jersey . Watch the action live on TSN and listen on TSN 1050 Radio beginning at 7pm et/4pm pt. The Raptors maintained their spot atop the Atlantic Friday after defeating the Wizards, 96-88, for their second win in a row. https://www.cheaporioles.com/738i-elrod-...ey-orioles.html. Chris Heisey connected for his first grand slam and Devin Mesoraco homered and drove in a career high-tying four runs as Cincinnati took advantage of Tampa Bays depleted pitching staff for a 12-4 victory on Sunday. Tanner Scott Jersey . The 10-year deal the league and players agreed to that ended the 2011 lockout gave either side the right to opt out after six years. With the league projecting financial growth, there has been speculation that players will take that option in three years, especially since a new national TV contract will be in place by then. Eric Hanhold Jersey . - Anthony Beauvillier had the winning goal in the third period as the Shawinigan Cataractes edged the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 2-1 on Wednesday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League play.TSN Hockey Insiders Bob McKenzie, Pierre LeBrun and Darren Dreger have the latest on the future of Ryan Callahan with the New York Rangers, the Los Angeles Kings search for scoring and whats next with the Vancouver Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs. Whats the latest on trade talk surrounding New York Rangers captain Ryan Callahan? Dreger: At least one team has requested and was given permission to speak with Stephen Bartlett, who represents Ryan Callahan, to gauge what his contract demands might be. Now, all along its been believed that hes looking for at least seven years and north of $6 million per year. We know the St. Louis Blues have expressed interest. Theres talk of Chris Stewart being involved in some type of a package. Theres a lot of interest and it continues to build. LeBrun: I spoke to three team executives today who said that Glen Sather is doing this because he still wants to sign Callahan. Hes putting pressure on his captain, so there are still some people who dont quite believe that theyre going to go all the way and trade him. I should mention that the Columbus Blue Jackets are another team keeping an eye on the Callahan hunt. Dreger: Unless his contract demands soften, theres a 100 per cent chance that hes getting traded by the New York Rangers. Theyre not paying him what hes asking. Note: According to Larry Brooks of the New York Post, Rangers general manager Glen Sather has offered Callahan a five-year extension worth approximately $30 million but sources say the Rangers captain has held firm on looking for a seven-year, $42 million deal. How badly do the Los Angeles Kings need/want scoring? McKenzie: They desperately need scoring and, unfortunately for them, theres nothing front line available right at this moment. Matt Moulson would be a great rental from the Buffalo Sabres, but the price is high - a first-round pick and a prospect - and hes injured until after the Olympic break. Mike Cammalleri is another rental whhod be very good.dddddddddddd. The conventional wisdom is that hell become available, but right now, the Calgary Flames are still talking to him about a contract, so technically, hes not yet available. On Thomas Vanek, the New York Islanders have to decide what theyre going to do, but that will be a last-minute decision right at the deadline. Either theyre all in adding players or selling Thomas Vanek as a rental to cut their losses. But heres another interesting name: Sam Gagner of the Edmonton Oilers. Hes got two years left, not a rental, at a $4.8 million cap hit. It will be tough to make the numbers work on a cap-heavy team like the Los Angeles Kings, but he is a player of interest. Has the Vancouver Canucks recent flurry of injuries changed the way theyre going to approach the deadline and the rest of the year? LeBrun: I can tell you this - they will not be in on the rental market and I think there have been some decisions made in Vancouver over the past week, which is this: Were not good enough to go out and beat a Chicago or St. Louis or some of the powerhouse teams in the West. Were not giving up on the season, but if we make a trade, its for a young player. Its time to retool and reset in Vancouver after all these years of contending. Its all about youth and other than the Sedin twins, I think all bets are off for almost any other player on that roster. Alexander Edler on defence will get a lot of interest probably after the Olympics. Interesting times ahead, in my opinion, in Vancouver. After Fridays trade of Mark Fraser, are there any other deals on the horizon for the Toronto Maple Leafs? Dreger: The Toronto Maple Leafs have informed teams that theyre willing to move Nikolai Kulemin, but this isnt simply getting rid of salary to make some room for the return of Dave Bolland or anything like that. The Leafs need more than a pick. They need a player in return, but no offers yet on the table that make sense. ' ' '
