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ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Texas Rangers have gotten used to playing more than 162 games and into October. This time, they only got an extra regular-season game -- and didnt even get in the playoffs for the first time in four years. Texas won at least 90 games for the fourth year in a row, even with suspended slugger Nelson Cruz missing 50 games and opening-day starter Matt Harrison pitching only twice. But the Rangers are already done. "We played 163 games. In the past four years, our season was never over until 162 games were over," manager Ron Washington said Tuesday. "I think thats an accomplishment is itself. The only thing I feel is disappointment that we expected to do more and it just didnt happen." The first day of October was set aside for Rangers players to clean out their lockers instead of preparing for a playoff game. Texas (91-72) lost the AL wild-card tiebreaker 5-2 Monday night to Tampa Bay, the only other team to win at least 90 games the past four seasons. There was an empty feeling Tuesday in the clubhouse void of players. Texas, which hasnt won a game in October since going to its only two World Series in 2010 and 2011, won seven games in a row just to force the majors first wild-card tiebreaker since 2007. "Its been a lot of fun, until the end," second baseman Ian Kinsler said after the game. The Rangers were ultimately done in by a 5-15 slide to start September. That was after an AL-best 20-7 record in August for a two-game lead in the AL West going into the final month. Shortstop Elvis Andrus said what he regrets is the final month of the season. "Especially after the August we had," Andrus said. "It was disappointing how we got that bad, but all around it was a tough year for us." Andrus, Kinsler, Adrian Beltre and Alex Rios are among the hitters under contract for next season. Beltre had an AL-high 199 hits and Rios, acquired from the Chicago White Sox in August after Cruz was suspended, has a year left on his deal. Pitchers signed beyond that include major league strikeout leader Yu Darvish (13-9, 277 strikeouts) with fellow starters Derek Holland (10-9) and Harrison. The staff ERA of 3.62 was the best for the Rangers since 1983. But there could be some significant roster changes. Closer Joe Nathan, with 80 saves the past two seasons, is expected to opt out of his $9.5 million deal for next season and seek a multiyear contract. Cruz, who was reinstated before the tiebreaker game and went 0 for 4, is eligible for free agency this off-season. "Joe Nathan proved to everyone that doubted him what he was made of, and I certainly would love to continue giving him the ball," Washington said. "When you think about a Nelson Cruz, who wouldnt want a Nelson Cruz? Big heart, great teammate, but theres a lot of decisions to be made on our part and Nelsons part." Others heading into free agency include catchers A.J. Pierzynski (.272, 17 homers and 70 RBIs) and Geovany Soto, outfielder David Murphy, right-handed reliever Jason Frasor and right-hander Matt Garza, who went 4-5 with a 4.38 ERA in 13 starts after Texas acquired him from the Chicago Cubs. "We did everything you could do. Im super proud of everybody in this room for what they did, how they went about their business, who they played, how they fought through adversity," said Pierzynski, who would like to return. "We just came up a little short. It stinks. Its not fun." It was the second season in a row a September slump cost the Rangers. Last year, they lost the AL West crown on the final day of the regular season after being swept in three games at Oakland as part of a 4-9 finish that put them in the ALs first one-and-done wild-card playoff that they lost 5-1 to Baltimore. The 730 runs were the fewest in a full season for the Rangers since 1992. They were shut out 11 times, including Darvish becoming the first MLB pitcher since 1989 to suffer four 1-0 losses in the same season. "It was just a weird year on the offensive side," said Washington, 611-524 in seven seasons. "It just lacked consistency." http://www.nikeflyknitschweiz.com/nike-herren-rosh...chuhe.h tml . The head of USA Boxing came out swinging Tuesday with an open letter to Tyson -- a former Olympic hopeful himself -- that accuses the former heavyweight champion of trying to poach fighters who might be candidates for the U. Nike Roshe One Print Blumen . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. http://www.nikeflyknitschweiz.com/nike-free-flykni...yknit.h tml . The showiest items on Calgarys lot were forwards Mike Cammalleri and Lee Stempniak. Both will be unrestricted free agents this summer. Nike Roshe Ld 1000 . Capitals head coach Adam Oates said Ovechkin was injured in the first period against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday and clarified it was not a head injury. http://www.nikeflyknitschweiz.com/nike-free-flykni...yknit.h tml . Miller reached right to deflect Mikhail Grabovskis attempt with just over 2 minutes remaining in regulation, and then made two more saves in the shootout Sunday to give the Sabres a 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals.JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Facing third-and-14 at the 1, Nebraska had a choice: Sneak the ball in hopes of getting a little extra room to punt or take a shot deep. The Cornhuskers chose to throw -- and boy did they wing it. Tommy Armstrong Jr. connected with Quincy Enunwa for a 99-yard touchdown strike-- the longest play in school history -- and Nebraska held on to beat No. 23 Georgia 24-19 in the rain-soaked Gator Bowl on Wednesday. "I know one thing: There will never be a longer play in the history of college football than that one," Cornhuskers coach Bo Pelini said. "That was a big play for us." Equally big were Georgias failures down the stretch. The Bulldogs (8-5) dropped two fourth-down passes in the closing minutes, helping Nebraska (9-4) close out its first bowl victory since 2009. Nebraska, playing in its 50th bowl, also ended a four-game losing streak against teams from the Southeastern Conference. The streak included a 45-31 loss to Georgia in the Capital One Bowl last season. The rematch was much different. Nebraska did a solid job against running back Todd Gurley, who ran for 125 yards and a touchdown last year. Gurley finished with 86 yards on the ground. Gurley was more effective in the passing game, catching seven passes for 97 yards. His 25-yard scoring reception to open the fourth quarter cut Nebraskas lead to 24-19. The Bulldogs had two really good chances to take the lead, but Rantavious Wooten and Arthur Lynch dropped fourth-down passes in the red zone. "I think I turned my head at the last second and was thinking end zone," Lynch said. "Its one of those situations. Its not so much I dropped the pass. Its that I let my team down. At the end of the day, its one of those things that you can never forget, brush off your shoulders. "Its a win or a loss, and we lost. But I will never able to forget this one. If I run that play 49 more times, I make the catch." The drops capped Georgias woes. The Bulldogs moved inside the 21 seven times, but settled for four field goals. The final two were costly. Wooten dropped a fourth-and-2 pass around the 10 with 4:42 remaining. Georgia got the ball back with 3:18 to play and marched toward thee end zone.dddddddddddd But Lynch couldnt haul in a fourth-and-3 pass that would have moved the chains with about 25 seconds remaining. "That (stinks)," Gurley said. "To go all the way down there like that and on fourth down you just give it to them, thats a bad feeling right there." Nebraska ran out the clock from there and then celebrated wildly all over the field. Enunwa was named the games Most Valuable Player -- and for good reason. He recorded the longest play in Nebraska and Gator Bowl history. After a timeout to discuss options on third and long, Armstrong dropped back and heaved the ball as far as he could to Enunwa, who was streaking wide open down the left sideline. Georgia cornerback Shaq Wiggins let Enunwa go, but got no safety help. Quincy Mauger had a chance to tackle Enunwa, but bounced off him just past midfield. Enunwa coasted the rest of the way. "It was kind of just one of those calls where you dont have too many options out there, stuck on your own 1-yard line," Enunwa said. "Luckily our coaches trust in us as playmakers." Enunwa finished with four receptions for 129 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a 5-yard TD reception in the second quarter. The second was his 12th scoring catch of the season, breaking the school record of 11 set by Johnny Rodgers in 1971. Armstrong, filling in for injured starter Taylor Martinez, completed 6 of 14 passes for 163 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception. Ameer Abdullah ran 27 times for 122 yards and a score. It was his 11th 100-yard game of the season. Turnovers -- along with those dropped passes -- were the difference. Reggie Davis muffed a punt deep in Georgia territory in the second quarter and Nebraska scored two plays later. The Huskers also turned Hutson Masons lone interception into a touchdown. Mason, making his second straight start in place of injured starter Aaron Murray, completed 21 of 39 passes for 320 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. "I dont think anybody wants to go out there and slosh around," Georgia coach Mark Richt said. "But I thought Hutson, as time went on and got used to the elements, did a really good job." Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Authentic Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Authentic Cheap Jerseys Authentic Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys NFL China Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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