before going into the net

SEATTLE -- When Brad Miller was hitting a season-low .151 three months into the season, he might not have expected even to be with the Seattle Mariners in the final month of the season. But Miller made perhaps his most significant contribution to the clubs post-season aspirations Monday night, hitting a tiebreaking, two-run triple and driving in three runs in a 4-1 victory over the Houston Astros. "Ive said all year, and a lot of people thought I was crazy, but I believe hes an offensive player in this league," Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said. "Hes struggled quite a bit early but I think its starting to pay off a little bit now." The Mariners moved one game behind Oakland, which lost to the White Sox, 5-4 in 12 innings, for the first AL wild card and are one game ahead of Detroit for the second playoff spot. With one out in the eighth, Mike Zunino worked a walk off Michael Foltynewicz (0-1). James Jones pinch ran for him and stole second. Tony Sipp entered and walked Michael Saunders. Jones then stole third without a throw. He has 25 steals in 26 attempts. "I was just trying to be aggressive," Miller said. "I was just looking for something I could drive. I was able to lay off two sliders and let Jonesy get to third. I just wanted get the head out and drive it." With the infield and outfield drawn in, Miller hit a liner that skipped past right-fielder Jake Marisnick, rolling to the wall. Both runners scored and Miller reached third standing up. Austin Jackson followed with a single to centre. "He made the right play," Astros interim manager Tom Lawless said of Marisnick. "That ball was hit pretty good. Just got out there and back-spinned up and took off on him." Danny Farquhar (3-1) worked the eighth for the victory. Fernando Rodney, despite putting two on in the ninth and throwing 30 pitches, picked up his AL-leading 44th save in his 47th opportunity. Danny Farquhar (3-1) worked the eighth for the victory. Fernando Rodney put two on in the ninth but earned his AL-leading 44th save in his 47th opportunity. Despite struggling with his control, Felix Hernandez tossed five-hit ball for six innings. He matched his season high with four walks and threw two wild pitches. Houston put runners in scoring position three times against Hernandez but they were hitless in five attempts to drive the runner in -- striking out four times. "Felix battled all night," McClendon said. "He had some strikeouts and had some walks. It looked like he was a little out of rhythm. In the end, he got six innings in, no runs. Shows how great he is." Astros starter Brad Peacock entered with a 5.01 ERA, but he allowed just four hits, walked two and struck out six in five innings. Miller delivered a two-out RBI single in the sixth off Jorge De Leon. The Astros tied it in the seventh -- even after having a home run taken back by a replay review. TRAINERS ROOM Mariners: Saunders was activated from the DL and started in right field. He has been out since July 11 with a left oblique strain and a viral infection. ... OF Dustin Ackley missed his second straight game with an ailing left ankle. "Its one of those things that might take a couple days and Ill be ready to go," he said. He will have an MRI to rule out anything serious. UP NEXT Mariners LHP Roenis Elias (10-12) matches up against Houstons Collin McHugh. ROTATION PREPARATION McClendon has set his rotation through the end of the season. Hes going with Hernandez, Hisashi Iwakuma, Chris Young, Roenis Elias and James Paxton. By design, Hernandez will be in line to pitch the seasons final game. Or, if clinched beforehand, he could switch to start a wild-card game. SPOILER ALERT The Astros can play playoff spoilers down the stretch. They face Seattle (five games), the Los Angeles Angles (three) and Cleveland (four) over the next 13 days. Interim manager Tom Lawless would like to give his September callups more playing time but wont. "While were playing these teams in the playoff hunt, its not fair to everyone else. Were going to try to win the game, bottom line," he said. Carson Fulmer Jersey . Goins is the early favourite to win the starting job at second base. Pillar is an outsider to secure a role off the bench, which becomes an even more difficult spot to win if the number of back up jobs is reduced by one. That happens if the Blue Jays decide to start the season with an eight man bullpen. Edd Roush Jersey . Mired in an offensive slump, Lowry - the NBAs leader in taking charges this season - did what he has learned to do best, standing his ground and drawing a crucial offensive foul on the Cavaliers all-star point guard. Fast forward 30 seconds to the Cavs next possession, with the home team still trailing by three, Spencer Hawes - one of the leagues best passing big men - threw an interception, intended for Tyler Zeller and picked off by DeMar DeRozan. https://www.cheapwhitesox.com/544e-ron-k...-white-sox.html. -- Derek Jeter says the New York Yankees have no choice but to move forward now that Alex Rodriguez has accepted his suspension for the 2014 season. Michael Jordan White Sox Jersey .com) - Oregon wasnt going to let Arizona ruin its national title dreams for a second straight season. Fielder Jones White Sox Jersey . - The Washington Redskins have signed free agent offensive lineman Mike McGlynn.CHICAGO -- Patrick Kane had his shot all along. Same for his dazzling puck-handling skills and the vision that sees the plays before they happen. What Kane got back on Wednesday night was his legs, and the result was a familiar one. Kane scored his second goal of the game at 11:17 of overtime, and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the St. Louis Blues 4-3 to even their first-round playoff series at two games. "Special player. Patience, play recognition, delays, just at a different level you dont see often," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. Kane missed the final 12 games of the regular season after he hurt his left leg during a 4-0 victory over St. Louis on March 19. He scored in his first game back in the series opener against the Blues, but Game 4 was by far his best performance since the injury. "Every game feels like Ive gotten a little bit better," he said. "Whether its timing or getting used to playing in the playoffs again, whatever it may be, just try to keep getting better and better and use these games to my advantage." Kane carried the puck down the left side in OT as teammates Ben Smith and Brandon Saad rushed toward the net, and beat Ryan Miller with a well-placed wrist shot for his 32nd career post-season goal. Kane, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP last season, also had a shot go off the crossbar earlier in overtime. "Hes a dangerous player," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. "Hes dangerous off the rush. The most dangerous player in the league." Andrew Shaw and Bryan Bickell also scored for defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago, which blew a 2-0 second-period lead. Jonathan Toews had two assists and Corey Crawford made 30 saves. Game 5 of the best-of-seven series is Friday night in St. Louis. Vladimir Tarasenko scored two goals for the Blues, and Miller finished with 30 stops. Maxim Lapierre also scored his first goal of the series. "We knew it was going to be a tough battle and I think were right where we want to be," Lapierre said. "We won our two games at home. We came were and played good hockey. Now weve got to focus, regroup and play good hockey in St. Louis again." Tarasenkos fourth goal of the playoffs made it 3-2 at 12:26 of the third, but Bickell tipped Michal Rozsivals slap shot past Miller to tie it witth 3:52 left in regulation.dddddddddddd. The Blues were without captain David Backes again after he was scratched for the second straight game with an upper-body injury. Backes hasnt played since he absorbed a big hit from Blackhawks defenceman Brent Seabrook in the third period of St. Louis 4-3 overtime victory Saturday. Seabrook served the second of his three-game suspension, giving Sheldon Brookbank his second straight start with top defenceman Duncan Keith. Blues forward Brenden Morrow also was scratched after Hitchcock said earlier in the day that he would miss the rest of the series. Morrow missed the final three games of the regular season with a foot injury. He played in Games 1 and 3 against the Blackhawks. Playing in front of another loud sellout crowd, the Blackhawks used their maligned power play to grab the lead in the second. St. Louis defenceman Alex Pietrangelo had his stick knocked away by Toews, who fired a shot that went off Shaws right skate and popped up in the air. Shaw then swiped it in with a backhand for his first goal of the post-season at 8:40. It was the Blackhawks second power-play goal in 17 opportunities for the series. Kane got an assist on Shaws score, and then scored one of his own to make it 2-0 at 16:09. Defenceman Johnny Oduya made a beautiful cross-ice pass to a streaking Kane, who shot it over Millers glove for his second of the series. "I just try to play off instincts and have the feeling that youre going to make things happen instead of waiting around," Kane said. "Ill try to keep that going." St. Louis appeared to be in big trouble before Kane committed a delay of game penalty with 1:16 left in the second, giving the Blues an opening. Just seven seconds into the resulting power play, Tarasenko beat a screened Crawford for his third goal of the series. It was the Blues second power-play goal in 21 chances in the series. St. Louis then got another late-period goal when Lapierres shot went off the right post and then Crawfords left shoulder before going into the net with 3.1 seconds to go. Five of the Blues goals in the series have come in the final two minutes of a period. NOTES: Blues C Derek Roy returned after missing Game 3. ... Blues C Vladimir Sobotka was shaken up after a big hit from Bickell in overtime, but quickly returned to the ice. ' ' '