Für unsere Gäste » defensive lineman Tyquan Lewis said. I giv

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Mike Mayers had one of the worst major league debuts ever, and did it on national TV.Mayers became the first pitcher to allow nine or more runs with less than two innings pitched in his first start since at least 1913, and St. Louis lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-6 on Sunday night.Mayers allowed nine runs on eight hits, including two homers, over 1 1/3 innings in the primetime game. He threw 62 pitches, including 45 during a six-run first. His ERA is 60.75.After a rainout earlier in the week forced a doubleheader, the Cardinals decided not to start Carlos Martinez on short rest and called up Mayers, 24, from Triple-A Memphis for a spot start. St. Louis was the last team in the majors to use a pitcher not in their starting five this season.The outing was derailed by Adrian Gonzalezs first-inning grand slam and Howie Kendricks two-run homer in the second. Mayers had about 35 family members and friends on hand.Its the same game -- 60 feet, 6 inches, Mayers said. I felt like I told myself that over and over but as far as when you get out there its a totally different ballgame. I felt like I kind of started to let my emotions get to me. The game kind of sped up after those first two hits. I felt like I had to be better and thats the situation I have to get a lot better with.Mayers loaded the bases on two singles and a walk in the first. Gonzalez crushed a fastball 427 feet to center for his fifth career grand slam. After a double by Kendrick, Mayers struck out Yasmani Grandal and got a nice ovation from the crowd. With two outs, Joc Pederson walked and stole second. Pitcher Scott Kazmir singled up the middle for the final two runs and his first RBI of the year.Los Angeles chased Mayers in the second with three more runs.St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said Mayers should not be too discouraged.Hes had a great season and that was a tough assignment he just walked into, Matheny said. It could have looked a little different but hopefully he looks at it as a learning experience and he builds off it.The Dodgers had little sympathy for Mayers.Just pile on, Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said. This league, no one feels sorry for us. Its a big boy league. I hope he throws well his next turn.Kazmir (9-3) pitched five innings to earn the victory. He allowed three runs on six hits.I felt for him, yeah, Kazmir said of Mayers. Its your debut, its hot and its on ESPN. It was a tough draw for him.Matt Holliday doubled home a run in the first. It was the first run scored in the first inning by St. Louis since July 3.Tommy Pham cut the Dodgers advantage to 9-3 with a two-run homer in the bottom of the inning.Four St. Louis relievers combined for 7 2/3 scoreless innings.We were in survival mode at that point just trying to figure out if we were going to get through it, Matheny said. Fortunately we figured out how to get through it and now we just keep moving forward.HOT HOT HOTThe temperature at the start of the game was 96 degrees.TRANSACTIONSCardinals: To make room on the 25-man roster for Mayers, St. Louis optioned RHP Miguel Socolovich to Memphis following Saturdays game. Socolovich made two relief appearances while in St. Louis.TRAINERS ROOMCardinals: INF Matt Carpenter is expected to begin a minor league rehab assignment this week. Carpenter, sidelined since July 6 with a strained right oblique, took swings in the outdoor batting cage and ran the bases Sunday.UP NEXTCardinals: Martinez (9-6, 2.83) faces the New York Mets Noah Syndergaard (9-4, 2.43). Martinez logged seven innings in a 4-2 win over San Diego in his last start despite suffering a bloody nose.Mike Quick Youth Jersey . 8 Iowa State on Saturday, sending the Cyclones to their third consecutive loss. The Longhorns (14-4, 3-2) got their biggest win of the season with their third in the row in the Big 12. JJ Arcega-Whiteside Eagles Jersey . Ancelotti says Ronaldo has recovered from a hamstring injury but "but he doesnt feel comfortable yet so we wont risk him." Madrid is third in the Spanish league, six points behind leader Barcelona, going into Saturdays game against Valladolid. https://www.eaglessportsgoods.com/Womens-Andre-Dillard-Inverted-Jersey/ . Robredo, ranked No. 16, bounced back from an upset loss to Leonardo Mayer in the second round of the Royal Guard Open in Chile last week to down Carreno Busta in 1 hour, 25 minutes. On a day filled mostly with qualifying matches, fifth-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain also entered the second with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win over Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia, while Guido Pella of Argentina defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 7-6 (6), 6-4 to advance. Ron Jaworski Jersey . Pierce was ejected in the third quarter of Indianas 103-86 win Monday. George Hill stole a bad pass and was going in for a layup, and Pierce hustled back and appeared to be trying to wrap him up. Brian Westbrook Jersey . Coach Mike Munchak says Fokou stretched ligaments in his left knee Oct. 13 against Seattle, which could keep out up to five weeks even though the linebacker didnt need surgery.The stage is finally set for Michigan and Ohio State, and if their most recent work is any indication, points will be hard to come by next weekend at the Horseshoe.The Buckeyes edged Michigan State 17-16 on Saturday, and then the Wolverines had problems of their own in a 20-10 victory over Indiana. What enabled Ohio State and Michigan to persevere was their defenses -- specifically their ability to limit the passing game.Coming around this time in November, wins are hard to come by, Ohio State linebacker Chris Worley said. Well take any win that we can.The Buckeyes stayed at No. 2 in Sundays AP Top 25 , while the Wolverines moved up a spot to No. 3.For a while this season, it looked as if Ohio State and Michigan might both be undefeated heading into the regular-season finale Saturday at Ohio Stadium. Both teams ran into roadblocks, however. The Buckeyes lost at Penn State on Oct. 22, a defeat that could keep Ohio State out of the Big Ten title game even if it wins next weekend.Michigan, meanwhile, lost at Iowa on Nov. 12 and had to play backup quarterback John OKorn against Indiana because of an injury to Wilton Speight. The Wolverines (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten) managed only 59 yards passing against the Hoosiers, and Ohio State (10-1, 7-1) had just 86 against Michigan State.So the defenses may be a step ahead in Saturdays matchup. Ohio State and Michigan are ranked 1-2 in the nation in passing efficiency defense, and Michigan is No. 1 in total defense and scoring defense.The Wolverines are led by Jabrill Peppers, who roams as a linebacker, drops back as a slot cornerback and blitzes from the line. He also gives the defense a vocal and demonstrative leader.Im kind of the energizer bunny, Peppers said after the win over Indiana.The Wolverines also have an outstanding cornerback tandem in Jourdan Lewis and Channing Stribling. They rotate eight players on a deep and talented defensive line, which makes a lot of big plays but has struggled at times to stop running backs and quarterbaccks from running to the outside and up the sideline.ddddddddddddThat could be an issue against Ohio State running back Mike Weber and quarterback J.T. Barrett, both of whom rushed for over 100 yards against Michigan State.The Buckeyes, meanwhile, feature a secondary thats stellar in its own right, with cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore and Gareon Conley and safeties Malik Hooker and Damon Webb making it tough for opponents to throw. Ohio State has returned a school-record six interceptions for touchdowns this season.What hurt the Buckeyes against Michigan State were big plays. In the first minute of the game, they allowed a 64-yard touchdown to LJ Scott on a catch-and-run. Later in the first half, Scott broke free for a 61-yard run that set up a field goal.Come out next week playing kind of flat, giving up some runs like that, you obviously wont win like that, Ohio State defensive lineman Tyquan Lewis said. I give credit to Michigan State. Thats a very, very good team, very physical team. You just have to correct the little things.The Spartans also had some success on the ground late in the game, scoring a touchdown with 4:41 remaining on a run by Scott. But Michigan States 2-point conversion attempt failed, leaving Ohio State up by one, and when the Spartans got the ball back at the end, they were in their own territory and tried to pass. The result was a sack and an interception by Conley to seal the Buckeyes victory.A little while later, Michigan wrapped up its low-scoring, run-heavy game against Indiana on a blustery day with strong winds and snow. Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh sounded nostalgic.It felt like an old-fashioned slobberknocker, he said.Next weekends matchup might look and feel like one, too.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 .---Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister ' ' '