Themen über das Spiel! » Turnovers were a problem for the Cougars

CLEVELAND -- Each team will run out their ace Tuesday as the Chicago White Sox visit Progressive Field for the first game of a three-game series with the American League Central Division-leading Cleveland Indians.Corey Kluber (12-8, 3.21) will start for the Indians while Jose Quintana (9-8, 2.85) will start for the White Sox.Kluber hasnt lost a game since July 3. In six starts since then, he is 4-0 with a 1.67 ERA, while holding opposing hitters to a .200 batting average. In 13 career starts vs. the White Sox, Kluber is 5-4 with a 3.51 ERA. His last start against Chicago was on May 25 of this year when he gave up one earned run on seven hits with nine strikeouts and one walk in a 4-3 Indians victory.Quintana is 4-0 with a 2.11 ERA in his last seven starts. In 16 career appearances vs. Cleveland, 14 of them starts, he is 5-2 with a 2.68 ERA. In six career starts at Progressive Field he is 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA.The White Sox are in fourth place in the AL Central, 11 1/2 games behind the division-leading Indians. So the Sox, to a certain degree, are already looking ahead to next year. Whether manager Robin Ventura is part of that future remains to be seen.Ventura is in the final year of his contract. In his five years as manager, the White Sox are 353-412. The Sox were 85-77 in 2012, Venturas first year on the job, and the only year hes had a winning record.Ventura is not spending a lot of time worrying about his future with the team.The focus is on these guys and winning games, Ventura told MLB.com. Theres plenty of time to look at it in the offseason. Ive never felt like there is a reason for either side to have to do something just because I dont have a contract next year. It doesnt mean I wont have one and it doesnt mean I will have one. You just go through it and do what youre supposed to do, and this is what Im supposed to do right now.Indians manager Terry Francona has no worries regarding his job security. The Indians are in first place in their division and seemingly headed for the postseason for the second time in Franconas four years as manager. He is signed through the 2018 season, with club options for the 2019 and 2020 season.Of more immediate concern for Francona is keeping the Indians rolling toward a division title. On Monday, All-Star outfielder Michael Brantley underwent season-ending shoulder surgery. Brantley only appeared in 11 games this year due to a series of setbacks in his rehab from surgery on the shoulder last November.The Indians had been hoping that Brantley would eventually return to the lineup this season. Thats not going to happen now, but Francona is not pushing the panic button.Weve basically played the whole year without him, so we just need to keep playing like always, Francona said.The Indians have lost some star power without Brantley, but the offense has been remarkably productive, despite the loss of its best all-around hitter. The Indians are second in the league in runs scored.That should be enough to support one of the top starting rotations in the majors. As for Brantley, theres always next year.Hell come back and find a way to be as good as ever, Francona said. lex Reyes Jersey . Oaklands loss to Seattle clinched the ALs best record for the Red Sox with one day to spare in the regular season. "I think everybody was kind of watching," catcher David Ross said. "Demp (Ryan Dempster) came out before he went to the bullpen and was just yelling that they lost. Mike Shannon Jersey . Shot outdoors against the stunning backdrop of Banff, Alta., the networks 30-minute original production airs tonight at 8pm et/5pm pt on TSN2. The four All-Star teams will play for $100,000 in prize money during TSNs annual skins game, airing live this weekend on TSN from The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre. http://www.cardinalsrookiestore.com/Cardinals-Jason-Motte-Kids-Jersey/ . How great will be revealed in the next couple of days at the board of governors meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif. Marcell Ozuna Jersey . -- Team after team passed on Andre Ellington in the draft. Dexter Fowler Jersey . He says so-called TRT is only one problem and he wants to go even further than the ban. "Its about time," St-Pierre told reporters at a promotional event in Montreal on Friday. "I think its a good thing. ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands -- Creighton jumped on Washington State early and the Cougars could never recover.But the Bluejays confidence is still showing, especially after their 103-77 victory over Washington State on Friday in the opening round of the Paradise Jam tournament.Huff scored 19 points, Marcus Foster added 16 points and Justin Patton 10 for Creighton (3-0), which took command early in leading by as many as 34 points against the overmatched Cougars (2-1).Our confidence is sky high, but what weve done in these first three games, weve got to put that behind us now, Huff said. Were just going to have to focus on our game plan, and see if we can get another win (Sunday).Conor Clifford scored 29 points, Ike Iroegbu and Charles Callison had 11 each, and Josh Hawkinson added 10 for Washington State (2-1).Creighton led from the outset, going up by double figures less than seven minutes into the first half en route to a 60-34 halftime lead.I liked the way our starters set the tone, Bluejays coach Greg McDermott said. Our pace was good early, which is always good to see, and then the guys coming off the bench gave us a lift. Theres a lot of positives from tonight.Creighton took its biggest lead midway through the second half, going up 80-46 on Tyler Clements layup with 13:30 remaining.The Bluejays would then break the 100-point mark for the first time this season with 1:50 left on Ronnie Harrell Jr.s jumper.They were just relentless in their pursuit, Washington State coach Ernie Kent said. Theyre good. That is a very good basketball team. Their ability to run, their ability to shoot, their ability of their biigs to get up and down, thats a good team.ddddddddddddBIG PICTUREWashington State: Turnovers were a problem for the Cougars. After giving up 16 total in their first two games, they had 16 Friday, leading to 23 points for Creighton.Creighton: Its a good start for the Bluejays, who are trying to win their fourth regular-season tournament title under McDermott. They also won tournaments in 2011, 2012 and 2015.STAT SHEETWashington State: Not a bad night, shooting 46.9 percent from the field (30 of 64). But the Cougars made just 3 of 9 3-pointers, and were outrebounded 39-33.Creighton: Easily had its best shooting game this season -- 56.3 percent from the field (40 of 71), and hit a season-best 15 of 27 3-pointers.RUN AND GUNThanks to the turnovers, Creighton was able to get its fast break going against Washington State, outscoring the Cougars 19-6.STAT OF THE NIGHTIt comes from Creighton point guard Maurice Watson Jr. While Watson was held to seven points (10 points below his season average), he added a season-best 13 assists. To put that in perspective, Watson had more assists than Washington State had as a team (12).POLL IMPLICATIONSCreightons first triple-digit game of the season, coming right after knocking off No. 9 Wisconsin by 12 points three days ago, cant do anything but help the Bluejays move up the Top 25.UP NEXTWashington State: Plays Montana at 7 p.m. Saturday in a consolation round game.Creighton: Gets Saturday off, then faces N.C. State in a semifinal game at 9:30 p.m. Sunday. ' ' '