UTBatting ninth, Yankees newcomer Tyler Austin struck out all three times up. He has fanned in seven straight at-bats.JUST VISIT

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi State has been one of the most stable programs in the Southeastern Conference over the last several years, making a school-record six straight bowl games.If the Bulldogs (2-2, 1-1 SEC) want to make it seven in a row, the next four weeks could be crucial. The stretch of winnable games -- which includes Auburn, BYU, Kentucky and Samford -- starts with a home matchup against the Tigers (3-2, 1-1) on Saturday.Even with the friendly schedule, the Bulldogs probably will have to play much better in October than they did in September.Coach Dan Mullen used part of the teams bye week to try to find places where the Bulldogs can improve.His takeaway: Most of the work needs to be done between his players ears.Its execution and playing with confidence, Mullen said. There are a lot more plays out there to be made than were making. But I think a lot of that comes with confidence and experience and being out there. Games always happen a little faster for young guys.If Mississippi State cant win at least three of its four October games, its hard to imagine the program making a run at the postseason because of an extremely difficult November that includes games against Alabama, Arkansas, Texas A&M and Mississippi. All four teams are currently in the national rankings.The Bulldogs have shown reasons for both optimism and concern so far this season.Sophomore quarterback Nick Fitzgerald has had two impressive games in Mississippi States wins, including 305 yards passing and 110 yards rushing in the 47-35 victory over UMass on Sept. 24.The problem is, if Fitzgerald doesnt put up huge numbers, the Bulldogs dont win. He struggled in losses to South Alabama and LSU, getting replaced by backup Damian Williams by the end of the game.Theres no obvious answer for who can step up and help carry the offensive load -- especially when it comes to the running game.Fitzgerald leads the team with 329 yards rushing. The teams three main running backs -- Brandon Holloway, Ashton Shumpert and Aeris Williams -- have combined for 391 yards on the ground.The 5-foot-8, 165-pound Holloway is the teams speedy back while Williams and Shumpert are the power options. All of them have had good moments, but none seems capable of being a full-time option.Mullen doesnt see that as a problem.All of the backs run with a little different style, Mullen said. So even when youre running the same play, they hit it a little differently. So it does give you some different options.Then theres the defense, which looked a little shaky in giving up four passing touchdowns and 35 points to UMass.Mississippi States pass defense ranks just 11th out of 14 league teams, giving up 245.5 yards per game. Thats despite games against LSU and South Carolina, which rely heavily on the running game.Mullen hopes that the imminent return of senior cornerback Cedric Jiles (broken arm) and senior defensive lineman Will Coleman (back surgery) can help stabilize things and provide depth. Both have been out all year with injuries.Itll be good to see some veteran bodies out there, Mullen said.---Follow David Brandt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbrandtAP . AP college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org . Air Max 90 Saldi . Nathan MacKinnon, Jamie McGinn and Jan Hejda also scored for the Avalanche, who won despite being outshot 38-23. MacKinnons goal, also on the power play, came with just over a minute remaining. Nike Sf Air Force 1 Scontate . The Dutchmans tenure got off to a poor start when referee Guido Winkmann awarded a penalty within two minutes for Niklas Starks clumsy challenge on Alexandru Maxim. http://www.outletairmaxitalia.it/scapre-air-max-270-outlet.html . LOUIS -- Heading into the final stretch of the season, the issues for the Chicago Bears banged-up defence only seem to be getting worse. Nike Air Vapormax Flyknit Italia . Reigning world champion Eve Muirhead of Scotland opened with a 12-2 rout of Winnipegs Jennifer Jones in a battle of teams bound for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Nike Air More Uptempo Shop Italia . -- PGA TOUR Canada member Steve Saunders took a three-stroke lead Saturday in the Web. NEW YORK -- The path to the playoffs is about to get a lot tougher for the New York Yankees.Dellin Betances threw a comebacker over the head of catcher Gary Sanchez, capping a troublesome, two-run ninth inning that sent the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Yankees 2-0 on a rainy Wednesday.The Yankees have dropped three of four and are two games behind Toronto for the second AL wild card. The loss ended a 7-3 homestand.Next up, they begin an 11-game trip -- their longest of the season -- to Boston, Tampa Bay and Toronto.Its unfortunate. We had a really good homestand and this could have made it a great homestand and we werent able to get it done today, manager Joe Girardi said. We didnt have a lot of chances. What it came down to was they got the late hit and we didnt.Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw pitched five nearly perfect innings and Justin Turner hit an RBI double off Betances to put Los Angeles ahead.The Dodgers took advantage of errors by second baseman Starlin Castro and Betances to increase their NL West lead to five games over San Francisco.Kershaw gave up one hit without a walk, pitching through two rain delays in his first career start at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees finished with three hits.There was a brief, 12-minute wait in the middle of the fourth. After a 48-minute stoppage before the bottom of the fifth, Castro became the first Yankees batter to reach when Turner misplayed a hard grounder to third base for an error.Chase Headley followed with a single, and a sacrifice put two runners in scoring position. Kershaw toughened, striking out Rob Refsnyder and Austin Romine to keep it scoreless.Luis Avilan (2-0) got four outs and Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth, matching his career high with 44 saves in 50 chances.Los Angeles took two of three in an interleague series between old October rivals.It was scoreless when Betances (3-5) took over to begin the ninth.dddddddddddd Corey Seager led off with a liner that got under Castros glove for an error, stole second and scored when Turner grounded a double down the third base line.Turner moved to third on a flyball and scored as Betances fielded a tapper but threw it over the head of Sanchez.Every loss is a tough one now. Obviously were trying to make a push here for the playoffs, so it definitely hurts, Betances said.Yankees starter Michael Pineda pitched four innings, giving up two hits and two walks.Pineda escaped his only jam in the fourth after a catchers interference call loaded the bases with one out. Andre Ethier grounded into a double play, with Pineda sprawled out at first base to catch the relay.ROOKIE RUTBatting ninth, Yankees newcomer Tyler Austin struck out all three times up. He has fanned in seven straight at-bats.JUST VISITINGNick Swisher hung around with his former Yankees teammates during batting practice. A popular slugger for the Yankees from 2009-12, he spent the first half of this season playing for their Triple-A team before stepping away. The 35-year-old Swisher was on MLB Network earlier this week. ... Comedian Bill Murray was in the crowd.TRAINERS ROOMYankees: Rookie RF Aaron Judge is likely done for the regular season because of a Grade 2 strain of his right oblique, and has been put on the 15-day DL. He hurt himself taking a swing Tuesday night.UP NEXTNew York begins a bruising trip when RHP Masahiro Tanaka (13-4, 3.04) starts at Fenway Park against Red Sox LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (2-7, 4.70) on Thursday night. The Yankees play four games in Boston, three at Tampa Bay and four in Toronto. It matches their longest trip in 10 seasons. ' ' '