(Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Rays try to pad their lead atop the wild card standings on Thursday when they go after a serie

(Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Rays try to pad their lead atop the wild card standings on Thursday when they go after a series win in the finale of a four- game set with the Texas Rangers at Tropicana Field. Matt Joyce Braves Jersey . That, though, may be easier said than done for the Rays, as they will go up against right-hander Yu Darvish, who is 12-9 on the year with a 2.79 ERA, but leads the majors with 256 strikeouts. Darvish gave up just one run and struck out 10 on Saturday against Oakland, but lost his fourth straight start, as the Rangers failed to score a run for him for the second straight time. "There is only so much you can do as an individual player," said Darvish, who is coming off a pair of 1-0 defeats. "I just have to go out there and throw my pitches and pitch my game and do what I can to help the team." Tampa, however, will throw an equally impressive hurler of its own in lefty Matt Moore, who is 15-3 with a 3.11 ERA. Moore has been incredible in three starts since returning from the disabled list, pitching to a 0.61 ERA in those outings. Of course, as a 22-year-old back in the 2011 ALDS Moore stymied Texas lineup over seven scoreless innings. He didnt allow a run against the Rangers over 5 1/3 innings back on April 10 either, but walked six batters. Tampa needed extra innings to gain sole possession of first place in the wild card chase on Wednesday, as Desmond Jennings 12th-inning single gave the Rays a 4-3 win. The Rays had tied the game an inning earlier after another mistake allowed the Rangers to take a 3-2 lead in the top of 11th. Elvis Andrus never stepped off the gas as he scored from first base on Adrian Beltres two-out single to the gap in right-center field. Tampa Bay rookie right fielder Wil Myers appeared to be caught off guard, not thinking Andrus would attempt to score, and leisurely lobbed the ball to the cutoff man. "I should have been more aware of the situation and who was running," Myers said. "I should have charged the ball with more aggressiveness. Its one of those things you learn from and dont let happen again." Myers was taken off the hook as the Rays rallied in the home 11th. Texas closer Joe Nathan retired the first two batters before walking Matt Joyce. Pinch-runner Freddy Guzman then stole second and scored on David DeJesus single up the middle. After Brandon Gomes (2-1) struck out Ian Kinsler with runners on second and third in the top of the 12th, Jose Lobaton greeted Joseph Ortiz (2-2) with a base hit. After a sacrifice bunt by Yunel Escobar, pinch-runner Sam Fuld scored on Jennings liner to right. "We still have 11 games left, and right now, were still in the postseason," said Nathan about the tough loss. "We still have plenty of baseball to go." The Rangers, who have lost eight of nine overall, remained a half-game ahead of Cleveland for the second wild card spot. Texas has split its six matchups with the Rays this season. Atlanta Braves Gear .A caravan greeted the former Boston Red Sox pitcher at the airport and took him to a public park in Santo Domingo, where a crowd lined a 19-mile stretch of highway to catch a glimpse of him.Once at the park, Martinez went on stage accompanied by players David Ortiz and Robinson Cano as merengue music played and fireworks lit up the sky. David Justice Jersey . Former two-time Olympic gold medallist Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle tested positive for the stimulant methylhexanamine in both her "A" and "B" samples, the German Olympic Committee said. https://www.cheapbraves.com/2083o-gary-matthews-jersey-braves.html . Its the second of three meetings between these teams this season. Vancouver was a 2-1 winner on home ice December 22nd.BOISBRIAND, Que. -- Charline Labonte couldnt have asked for a better homecoming. The Boisbriand, Que., native got the start in net in her hometown on Thursday night, where the Canadian womens hockey team defeated the United States 6-3 in pre-Olympic action. "Its incredible," said Labonte. "I couldnt have asked for more. To bring the Canadian team here against the Americans a I knew people would answer the call. We immediately felt their support. "I couldnt have asked for anything better. It was worthy of Boisbriand." Labonte allowed three goals on 24 shots on the night. The game was the second of six encounters between the teams before the start of the Olympic Games in Sochi in February. The Canadians took the first game -- last Saturday in Burlington, Vt. -- 3-2. The game ended in brawl when a U.S. player ran into Canadian goaltender Shannon Szabados late in the third period. Veteran Hayley Wickenheiser, whos been a member of Canadas womens team since 1994 when she was only 15 years old, scored two goals on the night. Wickenheiser believed her team responded well to early pressure by the Americans. "We came out really strong and we had a great start and a lot of energy," said Wickenheiser. "They tried to take some physical liberties early on and they got away with a few things early in the game. But then we came back and we just played a pretty physical game." Wickenheiser, who is contemplating retirement at the end of the Sochi Games, is currently at the heart of a captaincy debate ahead of the Olympics. Canadas head coach Dan Church has yet to decide if Wickenheiser will don the "C" in Russia. Church is also considering Jayna Hefford or Caroline Ouellette -- who both also scored in Thursdays victory -- for the captains title. "Hayleys one of our leaderss," said Church. Atlanta Braves Shirts. "We decided in the first part of the season to grow our leadership within the team. Thats important. We need a team full of more leaders as we move towards Sochi. "Its all part of the master plan as we move through the next few months." Rebecca Johnston, who also scored twice on the night, opened the high-scoring affair with her first goal of this exhibition series at 8:59 of the first period. Haley Irwin started the play, patiently holding the puck for several seconds in the American zone before firing on net. Johnston jumped on the rebound. "I was at the right place at the right time," said Johnston. "It kind of popped out right at me and I just shot it quickly." Wickenheiser doubled the Canadians lead less than a minute later while playing short handed. Brianna Decker got one back for the Americans before Wickenheiser put her second of the game past a helpless Jessie Vetter on a 5-on-3 power play. Johnston scored her second of the game, the eventual game-winner, early in the second period. Johnston was behind the net when she scored, banking a pass off a defenders skate and into the net. Ouellette also scored mid-way through the second period to put the Canadians up 5-1. Jocelyne Lamoureux and Kendall Coyne scored consolation goals for the U.S., before Heffords back-handed goal quelled any attempt at a comeback at 15:47 of the third period. Vetter, who started in net for the Americans, made 10 saves in the first period. She was replaced by Molly Schaus, who stopped seven of 10 shots she faced. U.S.A. outshot Canada 24-23 overall. Canada is the three-time defending Olympic champion. Two of those victories, in 2002 and 2010, came against the Americans. Canada and the U.S. face off again in pre-Olympic action on Dec. 12 in Calgary. ' ' '