inspire those English boys - to first of all play we

HOUSTON -- Joe Musgrove lifted the Houston Astros in more ways than one Sunday.With his team in desperate need of a win to remain in playoff contention, Musgrove pitched seven strong innings to help lift Houston over the Los Angeles Angels 4-1 to snap a three-game slide.He had a tremendous game today at a time (when) we needed it, manager A.J. Hinch said. (The) compete button is never off for Musgrove, and I appreciate the way he goes about it.The Astros backed Musgrove with home runs from Evan Gattis, Tony Kemp and Tyler White.Houston remained three games behind Baltimore for the second AL wild-card spot.Playoffs aspirations aside, Musgrove had another pressing reason to make his start count.Today was a tough day, said Musgrove, referring to the news of Miami pitcher Jose Fernandezs tragic death from a boating accident early Sunday at age 24. I think everyone was a bit down with the bad news we had this morning.There are a few guys in here that are handling it a little worse than the rest of us from having personal relationships with Jose. The energy was a little bit down, so I was hoping to go out there and pitch a strong seven, he said.That he did.Musgrove (4-4) allowed one run on seven hits while striking out four.Closer Ken Giles rebounded from a blown save in Fridays 10-6 loss to Los Angeles. He walked one and struck out two in the ninth for his 14th save.I just wanted to go out there and put up a zero, Giles said. I needed to do that for the team and show them that I can bounce back.Carlos Correa singled home Jose Altuve in the Houston first.An inning later, Gattis homered off Daniel Wright (0-5), connecting for the 31st time this season.Kemp and White later added solo shots.It was a good day for our youth, Hinch said. These guys are getting their first taste of important baseball in September and, hopefully, October.Wright lasted six innings. He gave up three runs on seven hits.I left the changeup up to Kemp that he hit out, and then the fastball up to Gattis to lead off both those innings, Wright said. I just have to get better at going out there from the first pitch of each inning and be ready to go.The Angels kept the game close by turning four double plays.Defensively we played a very good game. That was good to see, manager Mike Scioscia said. Offensively, we just couldnt get any momentum.TRAINERS ROOMAstros: Before the game, Hinch said he was worried about Giles flexibility and ability to throw, a day after he injured his right wrist when he was hit by a line drive during batting practice. X-rays were negative.I think hes got a chance to be a little bit stiff, Hinch said postgame. Given that its a contusion, hell be all right.UP NEXTAngels: Jered Weaver (12-12, 5.20 ERA) will attempt to close out September on a winning note when Los Angeles hosts Oakland and LHP Sean Manaea (6-9, 4.03) on Monday. Weaver is 2-1 in four starts this month.Astros: Collin McHugh (12-10, 4.61) faces fellow RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (16-12, 4.04) to open a three-game series against Seattle. McHugh is 4-0 against the Mariners this season.China NFL Jerseys . Arsenal failed to take full advantage of its main rivals stumbles on Saturday as substitute Gerard Deulofeu levelled with a hard shot from a tight angle in the 84th minute to give Everton a deserved point. Ahead of a crucial fortnight that will see them play against Napoli in the Champions League, Manchester City and Chelsea, Arsenal leads by five points ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea. Cheap Custom NFL Jerseys . Despite the cost, effort and an improved steroid test, its possible that very few -- if any -- positives will be detected, Dr. Richard Budgett told The Associated Press in an interview. "We just dont know what the results from Torino will be," Budgett said. http://www.cheapjerseysfinish.com/ . After a lengthy wait, persistent rain finally forced the postponement of the Nationals game against the Miami Marlins on Saturday night. The teams, and a few thousand fans, waited nearly four hours from the 7:05 scheduled start time before an announcement was made shortly before 11 p. NFL Jerseys Supply . A knee to the thigh might have stung him the most, but his sixth straight double-double made up for the brief burst of pain. Wholesale Stitched Jerseys . The FA rejected Wilsheres appeal that the length of his punishment was "clearly excessive" and said Thursday his suspension begins with immediate effect. He will miss league matches against Chelsea on Monday and West Ham on Dec.Wayne Bennett has begun the rugby league mind games in earnest ahead of the Four Nations, according to someone who knows the supercoach better than most, Sam Thaiday.Despite months of speculation he would select turncoat Australian players for his England side, coach Bennett did the opposite on Monday, when he picked only born-and-bred locals for his 24-man squad.Bennett was named as England coach in February after missing out on the Australian job in December to Mal Meninga.And Thaiday said he would have been planning the sometimes quirky ins and outs of his Four Nations campaign then.He is the best at those mind games - that is why he does it, Thaiday told AAP on Wednesday.He probably had a vision in his mind of what he wanted to do from the start and he was probably throwing people off in saying that.I know he spent a bit of time over in England this year watching a few games and that is why he went with the team he picked and that whole picking of turncoat players was probably a throw off to get people off his back.The speculation upset some within the Australian camp, including skipper Cameron Smith, who expressed their concerns about Bennetts possible motivation.But Thaiday, playing NRRL under Bennett at Brisbane, said it would have also been aimed at igniting passion within his England squad.ddddddddddddI hope so, he saidWho knows what goes on in Waynes backwards mind? But that is probably another reason why he is doing it - to fire up and inspire those English boys - to first of all play well for their clubs so that he can pick them for the national team and then getting them playing well for England.Wayne will want to go over there and be successful. He is not going to want to take up the English job like he has and come home with his tail between his legs.He will be doing everything right now to make sure they are fighting fit and ready to go.Thaiday said Bennetts selection policy was a good thing for international rugby league.If we want to grow our game and make our game even bigger, you need to keep your local stars local wherever they are, whether they are New Zealand players, English players or Australian players, Thaiday said in Perth ahead of Saturdays Test against New Zealand at nib Stadium.Wayne has gone down the right path there. ' ' '