OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Texas Rangers took the first step Friday night toward what they hope will be a World Series championship when they clinched the American League West crown.One day after beating the Oakland As 3-0, the Rangers will try to zero in on their next goal, securing home-field advantage for the AL playoffs.Rangers right-hander Yu Darvish will face As rookie right-hander Raul Alcantara in the second game of the three-game series at the Oakland Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.Its important to start, no matter who youre playing, at home, Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre said. Obviously we went through a tough series with Toronto last year and we played the last game at their place. Sometimes when you play at your place its a little easier for you because you got the fans behind you and youre more familiar with the stadium you play in.Texas is 91-63, but Cleveland, which leads the AL Central by seven games, is 90-63. And Boston, which leads the East by 5 1/2 games, is 90-64.Its really important, said Rangers left-hander Cole Hamels, who pitched seven shutout innings for the win Friday. Theres a comfort knowing youre (playing) in front of your fans. So thats something we got a lot of work to do because there are some good teams that are going to be trying to do the same this week.Darvish, who missed the entire 2015 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, will make his 16th start of the season and second straight against the As. A week ago in Arlington, Darvish gave up seven runs on seven hits over five innings in an 11-2 loss to Oakland and Alcantara. He struck out eight and walked four.In his past three starts, Darvish is 0-2 with a 7.47 ERA over 15 2/3 innings. He allowed 13 runs and 17 hits during that span while striking out 21 and walking eight.Alcantara will make his fourth career major league start and second straight against the Rangers in a rematch with Darvish.Alcantara allowed two run on five hits over 5 2/3 innings at Globe Life Park a week ago. He struck out three and walked none.I thought he pitched really well, As manager Bob Melvin said. Every time out he seems to get more and more comfortable, and more so last time than any. Were (on) a little bit of a pitch count with some of these guys and an innings count. Whether its him or (Jharel) Cotton, were not going to overextend them. But I thought pitching in that ballpark against that lineup and having the success he did was big for him.What was working well for Alcantara against the Rangers?Everything, Melvin said. The velocity on the heater was good, his secondary pitches were good. He kind of put everything together that maybe in his first two starts, certainly in his first start, wasnt there. We saw the last game what our development people have been saying about him. Cheap Adidas China Wholesale .Y. -- Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo had little trouble picking up his first shutout of the season against a Buffalo Sabres team thats having trouble scoring goals. Cheap Adidas Shoes For Sale . Aside from the trilogy main event title fight, there are a number of intriguing matchups in the heavyweight, welterweight and lightweight divisions. http://www.clearanceadidas.com/ . The Oilers come in having lost five in a row (0-4-1) and 16 of their last 20 games, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. Cheap Wholesale Adidas Shoes . - Goaltender Philippe Desrosiers of the Rimouski Oceanic has broken a shutout record that was only three months old in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Cheap Adidas Shoes Clearance . The CFLs leading rusher kept adding to his gaudy numbers this season and scored the winning touchdown with just over two minutes to play. The New Westminster, B.C., native plowed three yards into the end zone for the last score of a heated, see-saw battle between the two teams with the best records in the CFL. ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Hector Santiago was happy to overlook his rough stretch as long as the Los Angeles Angels got the win.Santiago labored through five innings, throwing a season-high 119 pitches with six walks, and it was good enough as the Angels beat the Boston Red Sox 5-2 Saturday night.A phenomenal start, Santiago said. We got the W. Who cares about the rest?After giving up a pair of runs in the first, including a leadoff homer to Mookie Betts, Santiago mostly managed to frustrate the Red Sox, who left 11 men on base.Its almost like he was effectively wild, Red Sox manager John Farrell said. He was erratic enough in the strike zone to prevent us from squaring anything up.Santiago (10-4) has now won six consecutive starts, posting a 1.78 ERA, all in the month of July. Hes the first left-hander to go 6-0 in a calendar month since Andy Pettitte managed it for the Yankees in August of 2007.He was supported Saturday by the continued hot bat of veteran Albert Pujols.After Santiago allowed the two runs in the first, the Angels got one back in the bottom of the inning against Drew Pomeranz (8-9) before Pujols put the Angels on top with a line-drive, two-run homer in the third.Pujols has 20 RBI in his last 13 games, 30 for the month of July and 80 on the season. It was his 20th home run of the year. This after he started the season batting .185 in his first 33 games.Year after year, Albert is one of the most productive hitters to ever play the game, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. We were never worried about Albert.It was the third start for Pomeranz with the Red Sox since acquired from the Padres on July 14. He is 0-2 with a 7.53 in his three starts with Boston.Overall he just wasnt as strong as the last time out, Farrell said. Its been a mixed bag. Theres quality stuff being thrown, its just a matter of consistency.Pomeranz went 5 1/3 innings and was charged with all five runs. He gave up six hits, walked two and struck out four.He was not helped by the Red Sox offense, which stranded those 11 runners and could never come up with the timely hit after the first.Missed opportunities, Farrell said. Thats the story of this game.The Angels backed up the erratic performance by Santiago with four scoreless innings of relief by four different relievers. Houston Street goot the final three outs for his ninth save.ddddddddddddThe Angels are 47-57, their season appearing lost. But they have won 10 of their last 15 and 18 of their last 25. And since 2012, they are 22-10 at home against the Red Sox.ALL LEFT OUTThe Angels parted ways with their opening-day platoon in left field, designating Daniel Nava and Craig Gentry for assignment. Not wanting to pay the luxury tax, the Angels signed the two in the offseason for a combined $2.4 million. Nava hit .229 with one home run. Gentry hit .147 in 34 at-bats before injuring his back and being assigned to the minors. The Angels activated outfielder Shane Robinson (right ankle sprain) from the disabled list.MOVING UPThe home run by Pujols left him with 1,190 career extra-base hits, tying Lou Gehrig for ninth on baseballs all-time list. With the home run, he joined Frank Robinson, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays as the only plays with 20-plus home runs in 15 of their first 16 seasons.TRAINERS ROOMRed Sox: RHP Craig Kimbrel threw 17 pitches in his first rehab appearance. Kimbrel (surgery for torn left knee cartilage) started the game for triple-A Pawtucket, recording one out while hitting a batter and allowing one hit. Manager John Farrell it was uncertain what Kimbrells next step would be, but said he could join the team when it opens a four-game series in Seattle Tuesday.Angels: C.J. Cron may be on the verge of a remarkable recovery from his fractured left hand. Cron injured the hand on July 9 and it was originally expected he would be out six-to-eight weeks. But manager Mike Scioscia said Cron could return within two weeks. He is scheduled to be examined Tuesday and could be cleared to start swinging a bat.UP NEXTRed Sox: RHP Steven Wright (12-5) will try to bounce back from his worst start of the season when he gave up eight earned runs in 4 2/3 innings Tuesday against Detroit. In his last six starts, he has a 6.89 ERA but has gone 4-1.Angels: LHP Tyler Skaggs will try to duplicate his first start of the season. Skaggs, returning from Tommy John surgery, threw seven scoreless innings Tuesday, holding the Royals to only three hits in his first start since July 31, 2014. cheap falcons jerseys cheap ravens jerseys cheap bills jerseys cheap bears jerseys cheap bengals jerseys cheap cowboys jerseys cheap lions jerseys cheap texans jerseys cheap colts jerseys cheap jaguars jerseys cheap chiefs jerseys cheap rams jerseys cheap dolphins jerseys cheap vikings jerseys cheap saints jerseys cheap giants jerseys cheap jets jerseys cheap eagles jerseys cheap steelers jerseys cheap 49ers jerseys ' ' '