featherweight contender Mark (The Machine) Homin

DETROIT -- Max Scherzer is pitching so well, hes tough to beat. The Detroit Tigers are pretty good, too, at the plate and in the field. Scherzer pitched three-hit ball and struck out nine over eight innings, leading Detroit past the Houston Astros 2-0 Monday night for its season-high sixth straight victory. The reigning Cy Young Award winner will get credit for the win, but acknowledged he had plenty of help. Alex Avila threw out three runners. Austin Jackson sprinted toward the centre field wall to catch a deep drive. Andrew Romine perfectly placed a bunt down the third base line to put Nick Castellanos in scoring position for Rajai Davis. Davis broke a scoreless tie with an RBI single in the seventh inning. "Those are the little things that go on," Scherzer said. "Thats why as a team, were successful." Victor Martinez hit a solo homer in the eighth inning and Joe Nathan pitched the ninth for his sixth save in eight chances for the AL-leading Tigers. "You definitely enjoy the winning streaks," Scherzer said. "You play 162 games, if you dont enjoy these, youre just going to beat yourself up." The Astros, who have the worst record in the majors, had a team meeting recently and manager Bo Porter told his players that they need to realize there is a lot of baseball left to play this season. "I wanted to make sure that as a team, we dont lose sight of that," Porter said. Scherzer (4-1) earned his fourth straight win. He has struck out at least seven in each of his seven starts this season, the only pitcher to pull off that feat in franchise history and the first for any team since San Franciscos Tim Lincecum in 2010. "Hes a Cy Young winner for a reason, but Jarred (Cosart) matched him pitch for pitch," Porter said. "That was a great performance, but we couldnt get him a win." Jarred Cosart (1-3) allowed an unearned run and four hits in seven innings. Nick Castellanos reached in the seventh because first baseman Marc Krauss dropped a perfect throw from third baseman Matt Dominguez. "I just took my eye off the ball," Krauss said. "That was a pretty bad time to do something like that because Cosart was pitching his guts out against one of the best teams in baseball, and I handed them another out in a key situation. "I feel horrible because I cost him a great shot at a win," he said. Scherzer gave up a leadoff walk to Krauss in the eighth and Jonathan Villar singled with one out. Jose Altuve then struck out and Avila threw out pinch-runner Marwin Gonzalez trying to steal third. "That was definitely a momentum-shifter," Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said. Nathan walked Dexter Fowler to lead off the inning. Fowler tried to advance on a pitch in the dirt and was thrown out by Avila, a call that stood after a video review. "I was a little surprised that they went down two runs," Avila said. Houstons Anthony Bass, who pitched at nearby Wayne State University, gave up Martinezs homer. Both starting pitchers slowed down lineups that have been more productive lately. The Tigers scored at least eight runs in each win during their three-game sweep at Kansas City last weekend. Houston had a combined 20 runs in its previous three games. NOTES: The Tigers cleared the way for LHP Robbie Ray to make his major league debut. They took 1B Jordan Lennerton off their 40-man roster, outrighting his contract to Triple-A Toledo on Monday, and optioned RHP Jose Ortega to pitch for the Mud Hens. Ray is listed as the probable pitcher for Tuesday nights game at home against LHP Brett Oberholtzer (0-5) the Astros. The 22-year-old Ray was a key part of the off-season trade that sent RHP Doug Fister to Washington. ... Astros RHP Scott Feldman, who has been on the DL since mid-April with right biceps tendinitis, is expected to start Friday at Baltimore. ... Porter said RHP Matt Albers, on the DL with shoulder tendinitis, is "getting closer," to returning. ... Many of the Tigers were sporting Zubaz pants -- with orange and blue stripes -- in the clubhouse before the game and had matching flip flops, ties and headbands in their lockers. Ausmus said they were team-bonding gifts from RHP Joba Chamberlain. "The sad part is I had Zubaz when I was younger," the 45-year-old Ausmus said. "For the guys in the clubhouse, this is retro." ... Lions safety Glover Quin, Michigan guard Nik Stauskas and U.S. Speedskating Olympian Kelly Gunther each threw a ceremonial first pitch. Cheap Soccer Jerseys Authentic . On Monday night, many fans in this city placed the blame squarely on the captain for his role in the James Neal overtime winner against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Soccer Jerseys Outlet . That Ginette Reno can sing. https://www.soccerjerseyschina.us/ . The Calgary Stampeders announced both moves on Wednesday. Parker played 17 regular season games with the Stampeders in 2013, setting career-highs in catches (21) and yards (217). Stitched Soccer Jerseys . Seager had another triple, a home run and a double in a rare feat not seen in more than 40 years, leading Felix Hernandez and the Seattle Mariners past the New York Yankees 10-2. "It was a weird play," Seager said of the triple in the fourth inning. Wholesale Soccer Jerseys China .The other side of the Bruins special teams unit delivered in the end.Gregory Campbell netted the game-winner with less than 10 minutes remaining and the Bruins fended off a late four-minute San Jose power play to earn a wild 5-3 win over the Sharks.TORONTO -- Jesse (The Body Snatcher) Ronson only got a little more than four weeks notice about his UFC debut. But the 27-year-old lightweight from London, Ont., had been biding his time, waiting for the call. Ronson (13-2) ran up an eight-fight win streak along the way, submitting Shane Campbell last time out July 5 to win the Aggression Fighting Championship 155-pound title. He had thought the UFC would take notice of his previous win, a November decision over former WEC and Strikeforce veteran Ryan Healy in the Score Fighting Series But nothing happened. "I thought I was going to get the call (after the Healy win)," Ronson said. "It took a little longer than I expected but I got it." Ronson will make his long-awaited UFC debut Saturday at UFC 165 against Brazils Michel (Tractor) Prazeres, who is moving down from welterweight for the fight. Ronson admits to some rare nerves leading up to the Campbell bout. He knew a loss would be a huge setback in his bid to make the UFC. Also Campbell had been active, posting three wins and taking part in several Muay Thai bouts since Ronson had last fought as a result of several card cancellations. "I knew he wouldnt have any ring rust like I had ring rust," said Ronson. "I did want to stand and bang with him because hes the best striker in Canada, just to see where I stood." Ronson dropped him twice before submitting him via rear naked choke in the second round. "I felt some goals were accomplished in that fight," he said. Ronsons opponent Saturday is a stocky Brazilian who, at five foot six, will be giving up four inches to Ronson. Prazeres (16-1) will be a handful. "He is definitely the Rousimar Palhares of 155 (pounds)," he said, referring to another stocky Brazilian with stellar grappling skills. Prazeres was a late injury replacement in his UFC debut, losing a close decision to veteran Paulo Thiago on a televised card in Brazil in May. A back belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and former military police officer, the 32-year-old Prazeres has been a pro fighter since 2000 although 13 of his 17 fights came before June 2008. Ronson believes Prazeres made the drop to lightweight to take advantage of his strength and grapplingg skills.dddddddddddd "His coaches probably told him Hey look, at 155 pounds, you grab a hold of a guy, theyre not going anywhere, " he said. "Hes so big and so strong that nobodys going to be able to stop him. But thats where I come in." That weight cut, in a foreign country, may make life difficult for the Brazilian, according to Ronson. "I know hes going to gas really fast," he said. "Probably after the first two or three minutes hes not going to have a gas tank any more." Ronson, known for his body punches, looks to add to that pain. "Im going to keep it busy," he said. "Im going to beat, beat, beat his body." On the mental front, he has been working with a sports psychologist to prepare for Saturday and calm his nerves. "Its helping a lot," he said. "Im waking up every day feeling great. When I go train, Ive never felt this good." Ronson trains at the Adrenaline Training Center in London, home to fellow UFC fighters Chris (The Menace) Clements and Sam (Hands of Stone) Stout and former UFC featherweight contender Mark (The Machine) Hominick. Clements is also on the Air Canada card, facing welterweight Stephen (Wonderboy) Thompson. While Ronson has had to wait for a chance to show his skills in the UFC, in truth he hasnt been at the fight game long. His pro debut was November 2009. "I definitely put the work in," he said. "Its not like I wanted to fast-track to the UFC. Obviously that was the ultimate goal but this is how busy I want to be. "If the UFC would let me, Id like to fight four times a year, maybe even more." One fight hed like is a rematch with Montreals Mike Ricci, who handed him his last loss in April 2011. Ricci is also on Saturdays card, facing Myles (Fury) Jury. If he hadnt got a call from the UFC after the Campbell win, Ronson was contemplating trying to enter the organization via "The Ultimate Fighter." But he didnt need the reality TV show after all to crack the UFC lineup. Saturday marks the first time Ronson has been to a UFC event and not sit in the stands. Ronson has been a spectator at every show in Toronto, as well as one in Montreal and another in Columbus. ' ' '