prepare the first-team squad for the

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Oakland Athletics middle reliever Liam Hendriks pumped his fist and did a little spin as he came off the mound after striking out Baltimore Orioles slugger Mark Trumbo to end the seventh inning.Ryan Madson wasnt as demonstrative but was equally pumped up after getting Chris Davis to strike out looking to end the game with the tying run on first base.Manager Bob Melvins ballclub might have the third-worst record in the AL but they clearly are still having a good time.Jake Smolinski singled and scored the deciding run in the third inning, rookie Zach Neal earned his first career win as a starter and Oakland held on to beat Baltimore 2-1 on Tuesday night.Youre going to go through waves and were on a good wave right now, Madson said. Everybodys feeding off each other, and its fun when everybodys doing that.Danny Valencia and Khris Davis drove in a run apiece as the As won consecutive games for the first time since July 26-27 to keep Wade Miley winless in an Orioles uniform.Smolinksi finished with two hits and two walks while Marcus Semien singled and scored as Oakland won its second straight one-run game from AL East-leading Baltimore.The Orioles remain percentage points ahead of Toronto, which lost earlier Tuesday night.Like they did in the series opener, the As got strong starting pitching, solid relief and just enough hitting.Neal (2-1) allowed one run over 5 1/3 innings and retired 16 of the 18 batters he faced to win his second career start and first since May 25. He gave up Adam Jones home run in the fourth and a double to Jonathan Schoop leading off the sixth.Boy that was impressive, Melvin said. For a guy thats thrown 39, 40 pitches tops for us in relief here recently, to give us 75, 80 is what I was looking for from him and he was terrific.Neals only other win in the majors came in relief against San Francisco on June 28.Its not like he struck us out, Jones said. He just kept getting ground balls and balls right at people. Tough luck. Same thing as last night.Hendriks retired five batters and punctuated his night by striking out Trumbo. John Axford pitched the eighth and Madson worked the ninth for his 24th save to complete the three-hitter.Jones singled leading off the ninth but Hyun-Soon Kim hit into a 1-6-3 double play. Madson walked Manny Machado before Chris Davis struck out looking.Its a lot of fun to be a part of, Madson said after the As bullpen combined for 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. Thats what its all about for us in the bullpen.The As did all of their scoring in the third off Miley. Valencia doubled in Semien, and Smolinksi singled and scored on Davis sacrifice fly.Miley (7-10) pitched well but remained winless since arriving from Seattle a day before the trade deadline. The lefty allowed two runs over six-plus innings and struck out two.NEAR PERFECT PROSPECTJharel Cotton, one of three prospects acquired when the As traded Josh Reddick and Rich Hill to the Los Angeles Dodgers, came within one out of a perfect game while pitching for Triple-A Nashville against Round Rock on Tuesday night. Cotton retired the first 26 batters he faced before Greg Bernier tripled on a 2-1 pitch. The right-hander finished with a one-hit shutout and 12 strikeouts. Impressive outing, Melvin said. When you make a trade like that we certainly like to see our guys do well when they get here.TRAINERS ROOMOrioles: T.J. McFarland had his scheduled rehab start in the Gulf Coast League rained out Tuesday. McFarland, on the DL because of inflammation in his left knee, will pitch on Wednesday instead and the team will decide where he goes after that.UP NEXTOrioles: RHP Yovani Gallardo (4-3) pitches the third game of the series Wednesday and is seeking to win consecutive starts for the first time this season.Athletics: Ross Detwiler (0-0) will be called up from Triple-A Nashville to make his debut with Oakland. The lefty was obtained in a trade from Cleveland two weeks before the trade deadline.John Lackey Jersey .5 seconds to play in the game, Kevin Love never stopped believing that they would come out of there with a win. Shawon Dunston Jersey . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. https://www.cheapcubs.com/2370t-david-bote-jersey-cubs.html .B. - Sebastien Auger made 44 saves as the Saint John Sea Dogs edged the visiting Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2-1 on Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Ron Cey Cubs Jersey .C. -- Glenn Howard needed an extra end to move into the Masters Grand Slam of Curling final. Rick Reuschel Jersey . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services.Sources close to Rafa Benitez claim a three-year deal for him to take charge at Newcastle is currently being discussed.Benitez, who is without a club after being sacked by Real Madrid in January, tops a wish-list of managers who the club would like to put in charge should they decide to dispense with current boss Steve McClaren. Sky sources reported on Wednesday that Newcastle made an approach for the Spaniard, who is keen to bring his own backroom staff to the club and wants the title of manager rather than head coach. Rafas ups and downs A look back at the career of the Spanish manager Newcastle are thought to be considering scrapping their current policy of employing a head coach in order to lure Benitez to St James Park. Steve McClaren arrived at the clubs Darsley Park training complex as normal on Thursday shortly after 8am and will continue to prepare the first-team squad for their clash against Premier League leaders Leicester City on Monday Night Football. Steve McClaren of Newcastle His position as head coach looked no closer to being resolved on Wednesday, despite speaking to managing director Lee Charnley on the telephone in the afternoon.dddddddddddd The pair were initially due to meet for talks but their planned meeting did not take place. Decision-makers We profile the key decision-makers at Newcastle… McClaren will not face the media on Thursday ahead of Newcastles trip to the King Power Stadium and will hold further discussions with Charnley following training.Saturdays 3-1 home defeat to Bournemouth condemned Newcastle to their fifth loss in six matches and left them in 19th place in the Premier League table. Also See:Newcastle approach BenitezRafas ups and downsNewcastle board hold talksVault: Leicester v Newcastle 1996 ' ' '