Breitmann Tuning » ed his play this year as an overall player. He made

HOUSTON -- As the Rangers mind their loose ends in advance of the postseason, small victories take on greater significance with the American League West title all but clinched.On Monday night, the Rangers parlayed three strong performances from a trio of vital relief pitchers into a 4-3, 12-inning victory over the fading Astros.Before left-hander Jake Diekman recorded his fourth save with a perfect 12th inning, right-handers Matt Bush and Keone Kela combined to work 3 2/3 scoreless innings to help Texas (86-59) overcome the fifth blown save from closer Sam Dyson.Diekman had allowed eight consecutive batters to reach base during one recent four-game stretch. Kela was charged with a blown save on Saturday against the Angels, allowing a season-high four hits and three runs. Bush is just 1-for-4 in save opportunities. All three stepped forward when the Rangers needed them on Monday, and collectively Bush, Kela and Diekman are key cogs in Texas bullpen.I think its huge for them, Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. Obviously theyve had some minor challenges. For them to show up big for us ... thats what weve seen in the past from these guys, thats what were going to need to see from them going forward.Right-hander A.J. Griffin (7-4, 4.92 ERA) will start for Texas on Tuesday night. He has won two previous starts against the Astros this season, posting a 3.86 ERA over 11 2/3 innings. Griffin is 5-0 with a 4.54 ERA in six career starts against Houston, including a pair of victories at Minute Maid Park. His seventh start against the Astros will tie the Angels and Mariners for the most against one team in his career.The Astros (75-69), meanwhile, continue to search for answers against their in-state rivals. Houston fell to 3-14 against Texas this season and has dropped 22 of the last 27 meetings between the clubs dating back to Aug. 3, 2015. The Rangers improved to a remarkable 32-10 in one-run games on Monday night, thus their success in close contests with Houston isnt much of a shock. Of the 17 games played between the clubs this season, 13 have been decided by two runs or less.They have finished the games, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. We have battled them. These are small margins and small increments that have not gone our way. I dont know what to say. They have beat us in close games. They have beat us in blowouts. We have beat them a few times along the way. Its baseball, it happens. We have to find a way to beat them tomorrow.Right-hander Brad Peacock (0-0, 3.38 ERA) will make his fifth career start against the Rangers as the Astros attempt to even the series. Peacock is 1/3 with a 3.76 ERA over five games against Texas. Hell be facing the Rangers for the first time in 2016.Peacock is filling the rotation void left by left-hander Dallas Keuchel, who is sidelined by left shoulder inflammation.Nmd Shoes Sale . Reassurance came from Paul Tesori, his caddie and close friend whose newborn son is in intensive care in a Florida hospital. "Paul sent me a text this morning, just told me he loved me and wanted to go out and fight as hard as I would any other day," Simpson said Sunday after doing just that. Adidas Shoes Canada . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . http://www.cheapnmdcanada.com/ . -- Chicago Bears cornerback Tim Jennings was selected Monday to his second straight Pro Bowl, while guard Kyle Long made it after a solid rookie season. Nmd Shoes Cheap . -- Patrick Reed got an early start in golf. Nmd Shoes For Sale Canada . Bryant, who signed a five-year, $34 million contract as a free agent with Cleveland in March, reported symptoms on Monday morning, a team spokesman said.COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Christian Kirk and Texas A&Ms punt return unit had been a bit discouraged that they had been unable to make a big play this season.That feeling changed quickly Saturday night.Kirk returned two punts for touchdowns and had a scoring catch to help No. 9 Texas A&M rout New Mexico State 52-10 .Texas A&M (7-1) took a break from Southeastern Conference play to face the Sun Belt team for the first time, a week after suffering its first loss at top-ranked Alabama.It was the first one of the season for me and the punt return group and it felt good for everyone, Kirk said. Its been a long time coming.Kirk returned punts for 70 and 73 yards to become the first player in school history with two punt return scores in a game. He has a school-record four in his career.Hes established himself as one of the best returners in the nation, coach Kevin Sumlin said. Hes a weapon and has been since hes been here ... theres no question with the ball in his hands hes got real skill.A 12-yard run by Trayveon Williams on A&Ms first drive made it 7-0 before Kirks first return TD pushed the lead to 14-0 later in the first. On that return, Kirk grabbed the ball and evaded the first wave of defenders before sidestepping another one, getting a couple of blocks, sprinting away from the rest of the defense and waltzing into the end zone.The kid is really punting the ball well and to do that twice in one night theres just no excuse, New Mexico State coach Doug Martin said.Trevor Knight found Kirk on a 3-yard reception in the corner of the end zone in the second quarter to leave Texas A&M up 24-0.We beat a team that we were supposed to beat and we made a bunch of big plays that we were supposed to make, Knight said. The message after the game still was we can be sharper. We can be better. We still havent played our best game yet.Texas A&M was up by 28 points early in the third quarter when Kirk added his second return score to make it 38-3. Knight was replaced by backup Jake Hubenak not long after that, and most of A&Ms starters were soon on the bench.Tyler Rogers threw for 138 yards and a touchdown and ran for 40 yards for New Mexico State (2-6).THE TAKEAWAYNEW MEXICO STATE: New Mexico State struggled to deal with the size and speed of Texas A&M and wasnt able to do much on either side of the ball. The team will savor iits open date next week to recover and regroup from this lopsided defeat.ddddddddddddTEXAS A&M: Texas A&M handled business against a lesser opponent and got a much-needed week off from the rigors of the SEC as injuries have started to mount. Sumlin held out star defensive end Myles Garrett, who has been dealing with a leg injury, and a few other players who are battling minor injuries with consecutive conference games ahead in the next two weeks.Sumlin was impressed with how his defense held up without its best player.There were guys out there in roles that may not have been great, but they never gave up the big home run on defense, he said.POLL IMPLICATIONSTexas A&M should move up at least a couple of spots after No. 7 Nebraska and eighth-ranked Baylor lost Saturday. Knight was asked how much attention the Aggies pay to how the teams ranked ahead of them fare each week since the Aggies could have a shot at the College Football Playoff if they dont lose again and other teams fall.There is a side of it to where youre watching who wins and loses, Knight said. But if we dont take care of our business were not going to be in the conversation at the end anyway.STOPS ON STOPS ON STOPSNew Mexico State linebacker Rodney Butler, who entered the game leading the nation in tackles, added 11 on Saturday night to give him 113 this season. Butler had a season-high 24 tackles against New Mexico on Sept. 10 and has had at least 11 tackles in all but one game this year.MOVING ON UPTexas A&Ms Josh Reynolds had a 41-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter to give him 24 in his career and tie him with Ryan Swope for second on the schools all-time receiving touchdown list.Just an aggressive guy. Hes extremely effective, Sumlin said. Hes really increased his play this year as an overall player. He made a great decision by coming back, because hes stronger. Hes more physical.UP NEXTNEW MEXICO STATE: The team is off Saturday before returning to Sun Belt play at Arkansas State on Nov. 12.TEXAS A&M: Texas A&M visits Mississippi State on Saturday in its last road game before wrapping up the regular season with three straight games in College Station.--More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '