pass attempt was batted into the air and caught by 325-pound senior offensive guard Tyl

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Ross Wolf was thinking about retirement while languishing in the minor leagues for a third straight year. The Texas Rangers right-hander will probably reconsider now. Wolf pitched five strong innings for his first big league win in his first start in the majors, David Murphy and Adrian Beltre homered in a three-run first inning, and the Rangers avoided a sweep with a 3-1 victory against the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday. The 30-year-old Wolf came up from Triple-A Round Rock for a spot start after the Rangers scratched rookie Nick Tepesch because of a blister. He beamed in front of the cameras afterward and said "awesome" a lot after escaping trouble in the fourth and fifth and getting a big boost from Neal Cotts when he was replaced in the sixth. A year ago, Wolf (1-0) had a pregnant wife on bed rest and a boy who missed him at home while be bounced between Double-A Frisco and Round Rock in the Texas farm system. He spent 2011 in the Houston organization after refusing a minor league assignment with Oakland at the end of the 2010 season. "It tests your patience," said Wolf, who was making his first big league appearance since Oct. 1, 2010, as a reliever for the As. "My wife gets a lot of the credit. She told me to stick with it, and thank God I did." Cotts, pitching a day after getting three outs on six pitches in his game in the majors since May 25, 2009, struck out the side when he came on for Wolf with two runners on and no outs in the sixth. The left-hander whose best season came with the Chicago White Sox when they won the World Series in 2005 escaped trouble again in the seventh, getting Adam Rosales on a lineout and Coco Crisp on a foul pop with a runner at third. "He may have been here in Texas a short time, but he hasnt been at the major league level being successful for a short time," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "Hes throwing the ball the way I remember him throwing with Chicago." Joe Nathan pitched a perfect ninth for his 14th save in 14 chances. Elvis Andrus snapped an 0-for-10 slump with a leadoff single in the first, and Murphy followed with a homer about 10 rows into the lower porch in right field. Two batters later, Beltre hit his 10th of the season halfway up the lawn in centre. Jarrod Parker (2-6) was down 3-0 just four batters into the game, but went seven innings for Oakland. The right-hander retired 11 of the next 12 Rangers after Beltres homer and allowed six hits with five strikeouts and one walk in seven innings. "He threw a couple of early-count heaters that they squared up," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. "In the past, early in the season, that game gets away from him. It looks like hes more comfortable now." Wolf, who had 25 career relief appearances, retired the first nine hitters and gave up one run with three strikeouts and two walks in five-plus innings. It was the second time in three days a Texas pitcher has made his first major league start after previous stints as a reliever with other teams. Josh Lindblom lost to Oakland on Monday. "For him to come up and pitch against his old team and get his first big league win, its cool to stay you were a part of it," catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. The As scored their only run on a sacrifice fly by Brandon Moss with runners at second and third and one in the fourth against Wolf, who was 1-2 with a 2.02 ERA in Round Rock, including a 1.85 ERA in six starts. Oakland, which had a five-game winning streak snapped, put runners at second and third with no outs in the fifth when Andrus made a sliding catch over his shoulder on a blooper into left from Eric Sogard. Wolf then got Rosales on an infield popup and Crisp on a grounder. "I think it meant everything to anyone thats in the game of baseball that have a dream," Washington said. "I think he did a great job of going through a hot team." Notes: Rangers RHP Cory Burns was optioned to Round Rock to make room for Wolf. ... Tepesch is scheduled to start Sunday at Seattle, and Yu Darvish will pitch the first game of a day-night doubleheader in Arizona on Monday. The second starter is undecided. ... As SS Jed Lowrie didnt start after getting hit by a pitch on his right foot Tuesday night. ... Oakland OF Josh Reddick (sprained right wrist) was eligible to come off the DL Wednesday and will join the team Friday in Houston for limited batting practice.Wholesale Adidas NZ . After dropping their final six games of December, the Wild opened the new calendar year with four consecutive wins. Following a loss to Colorado on Saturday, Minnesota rebounded the following night to blank Nashville 4-0, but then had the tables turned on them Tuesday. Adidas Yeezy NZ Shoes . Their 38th instalment is arguably their biggest fight card to date, including three-title fights and a main event which was selected by the fans. The promotion boasts 14-straight years of business and is operated by MFC president Mark Pavelich, who is often overlooked in this country for the foundation hes established for MMA in Canada. http://www.discountyeezynz.com/ . 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. Clearance Adidas NZ . -- Aldon Smith believes he is on the path to being sober for good. Cheap Adidas Shoes NZ . -- Jakob Silfverberg is making himself right at home with the Anaheim Ducks, scoring four goals in his first four games.WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Tommy Sweeney saw Boston Colleges defense do its part for most of Saturdays game against Wake Forest. The Eagles tight end realized the offense had to contribute, too.Patrick Towles threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Sweeney with 8:03 remaining and Boston Colleges defense made two late stands in a 17-14 victory.We knew at some point we had to go down and win this game, Sweeney said.The winning drive covered 73 yards on eight plays, including a fourth-and-6 conversion when Towles threw for 16 yards to Sweeney. The next pass was delivered to Sweeney in the back of the end zone.They put me in perfect position, Sweeney said of the play called by the coaches. I just had to catch the ball.The Eagles (6-6, 2-6 ACC), whove won two games in a row, are bowl eligible for the third time in four seasons.Its just an amazing feeling, defensive end Harold Landry said of becoming bowl-bound. Were going to celebrate this win and getting bowl eligible and then weve got to get back to work.Wake Forests Mike Weaver was wide left on a 40-yard field goal attempt with 1:22 remaining. The Demon Deacons got the ball back again after a Boston College punt, but Lukas Denis interception clinched the outcome with 15 seconds to play.I think it shows resiliency of our team, Boston College coach Steve Addazio said. We battled, we scratched, we clawed, we hung in there and overcame a bunch of stuff. . We were able to scratch our way back in and get into a bowl game.Wake Forest held a 287-167 advantage in total offense.It shouldnt come down to one play or one kick, Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said. There were a lot of opportunities to make plays earlier in the game that we didnt make.John Wolford threw a pair of third-quarter touchdown passes to help Wake Forest (6-6, 3-5) wipe out a 10-0 deficit. Wolford threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Cam Serigne, and then a 37-yard scoring strike to Cortez Lewis, who fell into the end zone while making the catch.Boston College hadnt been scored upon for more than 105 minutes daating back to a Nov.dddddddddddd 11 game at Florida State.Two early turnovers enabled the Eagles to score twice in the first quarter.John Johnsons interception of Wolford led to Mike Knolls 22-yard field goal to open the scoring. After Wake Forests Jessie Bates fumbled on a punt return, the Eagles went 25 yards, scoring on Myles Willis 11-yard touchdown run.Wake Forests first good scoring chance stalled with a failed fourth-and-1 play from the Boston College 19 in the first quarter. A dropped pass on fourth-and-2 from the Boston College 32-yard line thwarted a second-quarter drive for the Demon Deacons.Weaver missed a 51-yard field goal attempt in the final minute of the first half.Boston College led 10-0 at halftime despite racking up only 58 yards of total offense.To me, the bigger story is just, again, we start so slow on offense, Clawson said. We get shut out in the first half. We just didnt make plays.THE TAKEAWAYBoston College: The Eagles won two ACC games this season and both came in the state of North Carolina. The other was Oct. 29 at North Carolina State.Wake Forest: John Wolford returned after a one-game absence, missing the Clemson game with various ailments. Wolfords first pass attempt was batted into the air and caught by 325-pound senior offensive guard Tyler Hayworth, so that counted for his first career reception. It went for minus-4 yards.KEY MOMENTThe last of Landrys 4.5 sacks in the game came on third down on Wake Forests final possession and put the Demon Deacons in a desperate situation. Landry, playing in his home state, eclipsed Boston Colleges single-season sack record, which had been 15. He has 16.5 going into the bowl game.UP NEXTBoston College: The Eagles will head to a bowl for the first time since 2014 with their six-win regular season.Wake Forest: Wake Forest will await its bowl assignment, marking the teams first postseason appearance since 2011. ' ' '