Dein erstes Forum » .At the Olympics, Vargas lost to eventual

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Mathematically, the Kansas City Royals remain alive in the American League wild-card standings.Practically, the odds are next to impossible the Royals will make it back to postseason for the third consecutive year and get to defend their World Series championship. One could get better odds that the Cleveland Browns will win the Super Bowl this season.The Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 4-3 in 11 innings Tuesday to remain on life support. With five games left, they are five games behind the Baltimore Orioles, who lost Tuesday at Toronto, for the second wild-card spot. One Orioles victory or one Royals loss would eliminate Kansas City.However, if the Royals can win two of their remaining five games, they would finish above .500 for the fourth consecutive year. That is a more reasonable and achievable goal.Its very, very important, Royals manager Ned Yost said. I mean, its important to us. Um, if it wasnt important, wed just pack our bags and go home right now.So, weve got a group of guys in there that play hard. They play hard until the last outs made and they play hard every single day. And they play to win. Everything thats happened, with all the injuries and everything thats happened this year, for us to have a winning records going to be good for us.The Twins and Royals will meet again Wednesday night in the middle game of this three-game series. The Twins have lost 14 of 17 to the Royals this year, including all eight games at Kauffman Stadium. The Twins have never gone winless in Kansas City during a season since the Royals franchise was birthed in 1969.Left-hander Jason Vargas will start Wednesday for the Royals. This will be the third start of the year for Vargas, who had Tommy John surgery in August 2015 and spent most of this year rehabilitating. He made six minor league rehab starts, going 0-2 with a 5.85 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 20 innings, before making his first big league appearance.In his past start, Vargas gave up a solo home run to Jason Kipnis and a run-producing double to Carlos Santana in the first inning at Cleveland, but he retired the final 10 batters he faced. He left after 70 pitches and four innings with a no-decision. He will be on a pitch count Wednesday, probably around 85.Vargas is 6-4 with a 3.96 ERA in 16 career outings against the Twins. He is 4-1 with a 2.53 ERA in seven starts with the Royals against the Twins.The Twins will counter with veteran right-hander Ervin Santana, who pitched for the Royals in 2013.Santana will be making his fifth start of the season against Kansas City and the 21st of his career. He is 5-9 with a 4.65 ERA against the Royals, allowing 66 earned runs in 127 2/3 innings while striking out 104 and walking 45.Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer is 7-for-21 with two home runs and nine RBI against Santana. Alex Gordon is just 8-for-38 (.211) off Santana, but two of the hits were home runs. Kendrys Morales is 4-for-17 with one home run against Santana.While rookie right-hander Jose Berrios failed to make it through five innings Tuesday against the Royals, Twins manager Paul Molitor hinted he would start the season finale Sunday at the Chicago White Sox. He said he would discuss it with the 22-year-old Berrios and see how he is feeling after the long season.Berrios wants the ball.I felt confident, he said of his start against the Royals. I think the work that I put into the bullpens getting to the start have been put into the start and have helped a lot.I feel 100 percent. I want to go out there and pitch. I feel like thats what every athlete wants is to win a game. Thats what they pride themselves on. So, yeah, if thats what they want, thats what Ill do. Stitched Hurricanes Jerseys . -- Matt Kuchar and Harris English ran away with the Franklin Templeton Shootout, shooting a 14-under 58 on Sunday in the final-round scramble to break the tournament course record. Wholesale Hurricanes Jerseys . - Oakland Raiders running back Rashad Jennings was speaking to a group of local high school students earlier this week when the conversation turned to the importance of being prepared when opportunities in life arise. https://www.cheaphurricanes.com/ . 9. Price, heading to the 2014 Olympics for Canada, was named the First Star after posting wins in three starts with a 1.00 goals-against average and a .971 save percentage. Custom Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys . -- Nate Robinson has played for seven teams, so beating one of them is no longer a rare occurrence. Hurricanes Jerseys 2021 . Murray beat Sam Querrey 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-3 to clinch Britains opening-round victory against the United States on Sunday at Petco Park. "Im proud of the way Im playing just now, because I had to do a lot of work to get back to where I want to be," Murray said after celebrating with his teammates on the red clay court in a temporary stadium in left field of the downtown home of baseballs San Diego Padres. Antonio Vargas, who represented the United States in the flyweight division at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, signed a multiyear promotional contract with Top Rank on Wednesday.Vargas, a 20-year-old who resides in Ocala, Florida, will make his pro debut on a date to be determined in February, Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti told ESPN.We had a lot of offers from promoters from all over the world and we were considering several of them when Top Rank made their offer, Vargas said. Its a dream come true to be signed by Top Rank.Vargas, who is ambidextrous, was 123-7 as an amateur. He would like to fight early on as a junior bantamweight, but probably will be a bantamweight soon.My first couple of fights as a pro, if I can, I want to fight at 115 [pounds], get a little title shot, then move up to 118, Vargas said. But Im growing. I remember in the amateurs, at the Olympics, making 114 was really hard for me. But if I cant make 115, Ill fight at 118 for my first couple of fights.I like to bring the fight, Vargas said of his style. I can box -- I can be nice -- but I just love to throw punches and let the fans see a good fight. Ive been working with my trainer, Tito Ocasio, the last couple of months now, since I came back from the Olympics. Hes more of a professional-style coachh.dddddddddddd Hes trained several world champions. I decided to train with him because hes one of the best professional coaches in Florida right now.At the Olympics, Vargas lost to eventual gold-medal winner Shakhobidin Zoirov of Uzbekistan in their second-round match at 114 pounds.Antonio is an extremely gifted amateur who will flourish in the pro ranks, Moretti said. Combine that with his popularity in the Central Florida region, where Top Rank will be promoting numerous shows with our partners All-Star Boxing, [and it] should catapult Antonio quickly as an attraction.Vargas amateur accolades, besides the Olympic berth, include being named the 2015 USA Boxing Elite Male Athlete of the Year, as well as winning gold medals in 2015 at the U.S. Olympic trials, Pan American Games, National Golden Gloves and U.S. national championships. He also won gold medals in 2014 at the National Golden Gloves and Pan American Youth Championships.Im extremely happy for Antonio to have this opportunity with Top Rank, said Vargas manager, Dave McWater of Split T Management. Hes worked his whole life to be the best, and in signing with Top Rank he is now with the best. ' ' '