with Wigginton next year on the perimeter.In only | Forum

                                      HOUSTON -- Before dropping the series opener against the Houston Astros on Monday night, the Oakland Athletics had caught a glimmer of hope with consecutive series victories over postseason contenders Cleveland and St. Air Max 270 Cheap Australia . Louis.Oakland (57-74) has been besieged by injuries, using the disabled list a club-record 27 times this season. With starters Sonny Gray (strained right forearm) and Jesse Hahn (strained right shoulder) currently on the DL, the Athletics have been forced to fill the void with relievers making spot starts. At this point, the objective is a murky blend of pursuing wins while also evaluating young talent.Thats the tough balance, Athletics manager Bob Melvin said. A team thats in our position, were trying to look at younger players as well as try to keep our veteran guys in the lineup enough to keep them happy too. Its not an enviable position to be in and weve put ourselves in this position with our record. Its a little bit of a delicate balance.Right-hander Kendall Graveman (10-8, 3.97 ERA) will start for the Athletics on Tuesday looking to maintain his streak of exceptional appearances. Graveman is 3-1 with a 1.88 ERA in his last four starts and 9-2 with a 3.33 ERA in his last 16.Graveman is 3-1 with a 4.60 ERA in his career against Houston, including back-to-back starts in July where he allowed four earned runs in 15 innings in two wins.The Astros (69-62) welcomed back a critical cog in the bullpen on Monday night when veteran right-hander Luke Gregerson relieved rookie right-hander Joe Musgrove with one out in the sixth inning and runners on the corners in a 2-0 game.Gregerson made his first appearance in 11 days after being sidelined with a left ankle injury suffered when he stepped on a sprinkler head in Baltimore. Gregerson has served effectively in a setup capacity since losing his job as closer earlier this season, and while the Astros have won eight of 10 games, his steady hand was missed.Against the Athletics, Gregerson did his job with aplomb, inducing Yonder Alonso to hit grounder back to the mound that Gregerson turned into an inning-ending double play.I didnt know when the ideal spot to bring him in was, but I trust him with the ball in his hand as much as anybody, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. I dont care that he hadnt pitched in a couple weeks. He knows how to navigate innings. And that spot, highest leverage, big spot, we needed him to come in.The Astros extended their lead in the bottom half of the inning and were able to complete the win without using right-handers Will Harris and Ken Giles. Both will be available when Houston attempts to claim the series on Tuesday night behind right-hander Collin McHugh (8-10, 5.01 ERA).McHugh is 4-1 with a 3.40 ERA in his career against the Athletics, getting 47 strikeouts in 45 innings and seven starts. He has scuffled against Oakland this season, however, totaling just 11 1/3 innings in two starts with a 5.56 ERA. McHugh did not factor into the decision in either appearance. Air Max 270 Cheap Wholesale .Y. - Rob Manfred was promoted Monday to Major League Baseballs chief operating officer, which may make him a candidate to succeed Bud Selig as commissioner. Clearance Air Max 270 Australia . -- If Henry Burris has his way, he will be the starting quarterback to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats back to the Grey Cup next year. http://www.airmax270cheapaustralia.com/ . DAmigo scored twice in regulation and added the shootout winner as the Toronto Marlies edged the San Antonio Rampage 5-4 in American Hockey League action. Lindell Wigginton, No. 49 in the ESPN 100, announced his commitment to the Iowa State Cyclones on Friday.The four-star guard chose Iowa State over Arizona State and Oregon.Iowa State head coach Steve Prohm and assistant coach Neill Berry visited Wiggington at Oak Hill Academy in West Virginia on Wednesday.Iowa State made me a priority and they always made me feel like family, Wigginton said. They trust me to be their scoring guard and I trust them to coach me. Coach Prohm is a humble guy. He keeps it real, he doesnt tell you what you want to hear and I like that.Wigginton made his official visit in September on the same weekend that Iowa State commit Terrence Lewis, ranked No. 59 by ESPN, was on campus. The Iowa State campus made quite an impression.When I was on my visit everyone was so genuine the people made me feel like home, said WiggintonWigginton, who hails from Halifax, Nova Scotia, played for the Canadian National Team that finished in second placee in the U18 FIBA Americas. Air Max 270 Wholesale Australia. Lindells mental toughness and competitiveness separates him from so many others. said Canadian team head coach Roy Rana.Last year, Wigginton also played a prominent role for nationally-acclaimed Oak Hill Academy, winners of the Dicks National tournament. He is a scoring point guard who is terrific in the transition game and is equally effective in the half-court facilitating and scoring.This is the third commitment for the Cyclones and their second-highest ranked prospect. Four-star guard Darius McNeil and Lewis will step in with Wigginton next year on the perimeter.In only his second year, Prohm has reeled in a much-needed strong recruiting class. Iowa State will lose a ton of experience, leadership and numbers next year with departures from Monte Morris, Naz Mitrou-Long and Deonte Burton. ' ' '