The Bears look a lot better than was forecast with the tough zone

OAKLAND, Calif. - Nelson Cruz is trying to make every moment in the majors count right now. Every plate appearance could be his last for a while. Cruz shook off talk of a pending suspension to hit a tying two-run homer, Jurickson Profar added another two-run shot and the surging Texas Rangers beat the Oakland Athletics 8-3 on Friday night for their fifth straight win. "Its hard to deal with it. You have to be able to separate it," Cruz said. "Its kind of easy when you come to the ballpark to focus on the team and focus on winning." Cruz, who is among 14 players facing a possible suspension as part of Major League Baseballs Biogenesis investigation, hit his 26th home run of the season in the second inning to turn the momentum in the opener of a critical division series. Profar put the Rangers ahead 6-2 with his fourth homer in the fourth. The Rangers, who were six games behind Oakland in the AL West earlier this week, are only 2 1/2 games back. "The offence just woke up at the right time," Cruz said. "Weve been quiet for a while. Its a good time to wake up." Brandon Moss two-run double in the first gave the As the lead, but Tommy Milone struggled on the mound and Oakland stranded 10 runners to lose its third in a row. Milone (9-9) allowed six runs — including both homers — and nine hits in 3 2-3 innings. "That was pretty terrible," Milone said. "They did a good job of hitting my mistakes. I didnt make that big pitch." After going 32 days without gaining ground on Oakland, the Rangers are making up for lost time. Texas has gained 3 1/2 games in the division in four days. Rangers manager Ron Washington also matched Bobby Valentine for the most wins by a manager in franchise history. Washington, the longtime As third-base coach, is 581-501 in seven seasons. All the good vibes still come in the shadow of a looming investigation that could deliver a major setback. MLB is prepared to issue two simultaneous announcements no later than Monday, a person familiar with the process told The Associated Press earlier this week. One would list players who accept suspensions; the other would name those disciplined without deals, but who could challenge penalties before an arbitrator. Most players face 50-game suspensions for their links to the now-closed Florida anti-aging clinic. Barring a rainout this weekend, the Rangers would have exactly 50 games remaining as they head into play Monday at the Los Angeles Angels. If Cruz files a grievance, as a first offender, the penalty would be delayed until after a decision by arbitrator Fredric Horowitz. But the lengthy legal process likely would risk his eligibility for the playoffs and the start of next season. Cruz said he hasnt made any decision about a possible appeal. Cruz cracked the tying homer just over the 400-foot marker in straightaway centre in the second. As he trotted around the bases, the announced sellout crowd of 35,067 smothered him with boos — and each time he was announced at the plate. "Very impressive. Hes been swinging the bat like that all year," Washington said. "It seems like every time we need something, he comes through for us. Hes been able to separate, man." Jason Frasor (2-2) tossed 1 1-3 scoreless innings of relief for the win. And A.J. Pierzynski drove in three runs, including a two-run single off Dan Otero in the seventh that put the Rangers ahead 8-3. Alexi Ogando laboured through four innings but allowed just three runs and four hits while walking five. He threw 92 pitches, including 60 in the first two innings, doing just enough to keep the Rangers in control. Every As attempt to rally came up at least one hit short. Josh Donaldson grounded into a double play with two runners on in the third, and pinch-hitter Alberto Callaspo lined out to centre with the bases loaded to end the fifth. "We just got a little stagnant. We got baserunners, but we didnt get the hits," As manager Bob Melvin said. Cruz handed the As a run when Coco Crisps fly ball bounced off the heel of his glove near the wall in right for an RBI double that sliced Texas lead to 6-3. Martin replaced Cruz, who has been playing with a bruised left quadriceps, in right field to start the bottom of the eighth. NOTES: Texas also won five in a row from June 19-23. ... Rangers SS Elvis Andrus extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a single in the third inning. ... As opening day starter Brett Anderson, recovering from a stress fracture in his right foot, threw about 55 pitches against live hitters. The team will see how Anderson feels Saturday before deciding on his next step, which could be a rehab assignment. ... Jarrod Parker (6-6, 4.07) pitches for the As against Rangers righty Matt Garza (1-0, 1.88 ERA) on Saturday. James Johnson Jersey . -- The Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake played to a 0-0 tie Saturday night that left the top of the Western Conference standings unchanged. Edrice Adebayo Heat Jersey . Self was acquired from the Buffalo Bandits in a trade for Alex Hill midway through last season, and made his debut in Rochester on March 16, 2013. https://www.heatlockerroom.com/Kyle-Alexander-City-Edition-Jersey/ . Luis Suarezs double powered Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Fulham, and Southampton easily overcame Hull 4-1 to continue the south coast clubs impressive start to the season. Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home. Udonis Haslem Heat Jersey . -- Lou Brocks shoulder-to-shoulder collision with Bill Freehan during the 1968 World Series and Pete Roses bruising hit on Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star game could become relics of baseball history, like the dead-ball era. Jeremiah Martin Heat Jersey . He just needed to be his best twisting, turning acrobatic self. "I didnt need to be anybody else, I just needed to be myself and be aggressive," said Burks, who scored a career-high 34 points to spark the Utah Jazz to a 118-103 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday night. TUCSON, Ariz. -- Parker Jackson-Cartwright took over as starting point guard for Arizona this season.Hes handled the takeover as well as he handles the basketball.Jackson-Cartwright had 15 points, a career-high 11 assists and one turnover in 34 minutes in the eighth-ranked Wildcats 71-55 victory over Northern Colorado on Monday night.Tonight was Parkers best game at Arizona, in my opinion, Wildcats coach Sean Miller said, because everything he did was important..Over the past two games, Jackson-Cartwright had 15 assists and one turnover.I was just ultra-aggressive, he said. My teammates give me confidence every day, in practice and in games. I was just doing what my coaches told me and feeding off my teammates energy.Lauri Markkanen scored 17 points and Kadeem Allen 10 for the Wildcats (4-0).Jordan Davis scored 20 for the Bears (1-3). Chaz Glotta, a transfer from Southern Illinois, made 5 of 11 3-pointers for 15 points.Northern Colorado is in a tough stretch to start the season.We started the season at Butler, we are on the fourth day of an eight-day road trip, first-year coach Jeff Linder said. We get back Saturday and travel out to Norman, Olaying teams like Arizona, even though were not into moral victories, prepares our guys to win.The Wildcats outscored the Bears 34-16 over the final 12:15.But most of the night, Northern Colorado -- picked by coaches and the media to finish near the bottom of the Big Sky Conference -- gave the Wildcats all they could handle.Northern Colorado bothered the Wildcats most of the night with a tight 2/3 zone defense.Its the first time this years team has really gone against a zone, Miller said. That first time you really rely on your older guys and, unfortunately for us, we have a ton of new faces, so we had a deer in the headlights look.The Bears were up 31-30 at the half and Glottas 3-pointer put them ahead 39-37 with 14::11 remaining.ddddddddddddBut Jackson-Cartwright drove inside, was fouled and converted the three-point play that put the Wildcats ahead for good, 40-39, with 12:15 to go. The play ignited an 11-2 run, capped by Markkanens two free throws that gave Arizona a 48-41 lead with 9:25 to go.The Bears twice cut it to four before Arizona pulled away.Neither team led by more than four points in the first 20 minutes.Markkanens soaring tip-in of Parker Jackson-Cartwrights miss just before the buzzer cut the Bears lead to 31-30 at the break.BIG PICTURENorthern Colorado: The Bears look a lot better than was forecast with the tough zone and could cause trouble in the Big Sky.Arizona: The young Wildcats got a taste of what they well could face in Pac-12 play when they faced the zone defense. After struggling against it mightily, they finally figured it out to make the final score more one-sided than the game actually was.TRIER MYSTERYStill no word on why Allonzo Trier isnt playing. The sophomore guard, a member of the Pac-12 all-freshman team last season, sat near the far end of the bench in sweat pants during Monday nights game.The university has declined to comment on why Trier hasnt been in uniform.HIBERNATING BEARSThe two leading scorers from last years Northern Colorado team are sitting out the season as redshirts. The move came as the school issued voluntarily banished itself from postseason play this season for undisclosed rule violations. No word on whether the NCAA will isssue additional penalties.UP NEXTNorthern Colorado: The Bears play Sacred Heart in the Las Vegas Classic on Wednesday.Arizona: The Wildcats also head to the Las Vegas Classic, facing Santa Clara on Thursday night. The winner faces winner of the Butler-Vanderbilt game. ' ' '