s a day we honor and a day we rejoice in, C | Forum

MINNEAPOLIS -- Everything went right for Canadian Andrew Albers when he started his major league career with the Minnesota Twins by not allowing a run in his first two starts. Custom Calgary Flames Jerseys . The breaks went the other way in his third outing. Minnesota misplayed two fly balls by losing them in the sky and Albers scoreless streak to start his career was snapped at 17 1-3 innings as the Chicago White Sox beat the Twins 8-5 Saturday. Dayan Viciedo hit a three-run homer off the North Battleford, Sask., native and Alejandro De Aza added a two-run shot in the ninth after the Twins had climbed back within a run. "I was able to catch the breaks those first two nights, and tonight didnt quite catch as many," Albers said. "Things change, and then you make one bad pitch, and you pay for it. Its a fine line in this game, and sometimes, thats how things go." Chris Sale (9-11) won his third straight start for the White Sox, giving up three runs and nine hits in seven innings with eight strikeouts and Addison Reed earned his career-high 30th save in 35 chances. Albers (2-1) was dazzling in his first two starts, making use of a mid-80s fastball, changeup and slow curve to get ahead of hitters. But he struggled to get strike one against Chicago early Saturday and allowed five runs and eight hits in seven innings. Chicago snapped Albers scoreless streak -- a record for a Twins starter to begin a career -- with a run in the first after Alexei Ramirezs fly ball to centre field was lost in the sun. De Aza, who opened with a single, went to third on the play and scored on Paul Konerkos RBI groundout. "The sky played a little havoc with us today and cost us a couple of runs, and there you have it," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said. Albers had two outs in the fourth before allowing four straight runners to reach base, concluding with Viciedos homer to left. But he retired nine of the last 10 batters he faced to reach the seventh inning for the third time in three starts. "The streak was great while it was going on," Albers said. "It was awesome to have those two nights. Theyre pretty special, and who knows if that will ever happen again. You see today how quickly things can change, and its one of those things where youve got to get some breaks for it to happen like that." Adam Dunn had three hits for the White Sox after left fielder Josh Willingham lost another high pop-up in the eighth, giving Chicago a 6-3 lead. "Just didnt see it," Willingham said. "Some unfortunate stuff," Gardenhire said. "What are you going to do? You lose the ball. You cant see it, its hard to catch. Thats the way it is this time of night and both teams have to deal with it, and we end up losing." Ryan Doumit hit a two-run homer in the Twins eighth off Nate Jones. Minnesota homered for the 10th straight game, its longest streak since 11 consecutive in August 2007. Joe Mauer doubled and drove in two runs for the Twins, who lost for the fourth time in five games. Willingham, Brian Dozier and Pedro Florimon all finished with two hits and scored a run. Florimon had just one hit in his previous 26 at-bats. NOTES: Twins 1B Justin Morneau pinch-hit in the ninth, but didnt start for the first time since July 11 with Sale on the mound. ... Minnesota agreed to terms with INF Brad Boyer of the St. Paul Saints independent league team on Saturday. Boyer, 29, is hitting .337 with seven home runs and 50 RBIs in 78 games. The former draft pick of the Seattle Mariners (2005, 14th round) and San Francisco Giants (2006, 13th round) will report to Double-A New Britain. The Twins have had success with independent league signees, including Albers, LHP Caleb Thielbar also from the Saints and recently demoted Chris Colabello. ... Hector Santiago (3-7, 3.37 ERA) will try to win for the first time since June 21 as he takes the mound for the White Sox on Sunday. The lefty is 0-2 in his last nine starts. The Twins will counter with Samuel Deduno (7-6, 3.54 ERA). Jarome Iginla Jersey . - Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is not a fan of his teams use of the wildcat formation, saying "it makes you look like a high school offence. Lanny McDonald Jersey . McPhee said that Ovechkins father Mikhail is in stable condition after having the surgery this week and is no longer in intensive care. "Weve told him to stay as long as necessary with your dad," he said. Ovechkin and his Russian national team were eliminated from the mens hockey tournament in Sochi on Wednesday with a 3-1 quarter-final loss to Finland. http://www.flamessale.com/authentic-al-macinnis-flames-jersey/ .com) - The Calgary Flames aim to bounce back from their first regulation home loss of the campaign on Friday night when they host a Detroit Red Wings club that they swept in three meetings a season ago. JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. -- Carson-Newman Eagles coach Ken Sparks has retired, ending a 37-season career in which he won 338 games to rank fifth on the NCAAs all-time list.Its been an unbelievable journey, Sparks said Monday during a news conference at the athletic complex that has been named after him.The only coaches with more career wins are John Gagliardi (489), Joe Paterno (409), Eddie Robinson (408) and Bobby Bowden (377). Sparks went 338-99-2 and had the most wins of any active coach.Sparks, 72, had continued coaching even after announcing in 2012 that he had cancer.Every day is a celebration, Sparks said Monday. I am at peace with this decision.On Tuesday, Carson-Newman?promoted offensive coordinator Mike Turner to succeed Sparks as head coach.?Turner is a former Carson-Newman center who graduated in 1973. He had his first stint as Carson-Newmans offensive coordinator from 1987-91 before leaving to take a high school head coaching job. Turner took over as Carson-Newmans offensive coordinator again in 1995 and had been there ever since.Before Carson-Newman entered the NCAA ranks in 1993, Sparks led the Eagles to five NAIA nationall championships -- in 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988 and 1989. Theoren Fleury Jersey. Carson-Newman was an NAIA runner-up in 1987 and lost in the NCAA Division II championship game in 1996, 1998 and 1999. Carson-Newman reached the Division II semifinals in 2009.Sparks teams won 21 South Atlantic Conference championships and earned 25 NCAA or NAIA playoff appearances.Carson-Newman went 4-7 this year, only the second losing season in Sparks career.Sparks was inducted into the inaugural NCAA Division II Hall of Fame coaches class in 2010 along with Northwest Missouri States Mel Tjeerdsma and West Alabamas Bobby Wallace. Sparks also is in the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame and the NAIA Hall of Fame.This is a day that none of us looked forward to as Carson-Newman football fans and supporters, but its a day we honor and a day we rejoice in, Carson-Newman athletic director Allen Morgan said. Its a day we honor Ken and the legacy he is leaving for how he has touched young mens lives in a way far greater than wins on a football field. ' ' '