have been given a boost following the signing of Lance Stroll by Williams.I think we may well be able to sort Canada

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Oakland rookie right-hander Dan Straily was well aware of the ace pitcher and the powerful lineup he was facing. Now everyone can take notice of Straily, who on television before his latest start saw plenty of highlights touting Yu Darvish being on the mound. Straily allowed only two two singles while facing 22 batters -- just one over the minimum for his seven scoreless innings -- and Yoenis Cespedes homered as the Athletics won their fifth straight game, 1-0 over the AL West-leading Texas Rangers and Darvish. "My confidence was sky high to start the game," Straily said. "The last few times out, I walked people, hit people, hurt myself. I wasnt getting hit hard. I was hurting myself. The whole goal today was go out and fill up the strike zone." Darvish (7-2) struck out five, but walked three and hit a batter while giving up five hits in six innings. With the help of a couple of defensive plays, the only run he allowed came when Cespedes homered to straightaway centre in the third. Cespedes ninth homer went just beyond the reach of Craig Gentrys outstretched glove. Darvish had turned and watched after the slugger took a big swing and connected. "As soon as Cespedes hit that home run, I knew just keep it there, 1-0 our best chance," Straily said. "The best pitching performance weve seen out of him to date, in this ballpark, against a guy thats probably not going to give up too many runs," manager Bob Melvin said. "I think he just gained confidence as the game went along. Early in the game, hes throwing strikes, hes getting outs, theyre not hitting any balls hard really, and you just kind of grow from that." Darvish had won all five of his previous starts this season when pitching after a Texas loss. The ace from Japan had his last seven regular-season starts at Rangers Ballpark, going back to last season, and had entered the game getting a league-high 9.1 runs per nine innings pitched. "Ive been really pampered with all the run support Ive been getting. Youre going to have games like this," Darvish said through his translator. Even with consecutive wins to start the three-game series, Oakland still trails the Rangers by 4 1/2 games in the AL West. The Athletics go for a sweep on Wednesday. Grant Balfour pitched a perfect ninth for his ninth save in as many chances this season, and his 27th in a row since April 2012, to close out Oaklands third shutout of the season. Sean Doolittle pitched a scoreless eighth for the As. Texas was held scoreless for the third time this season. It was only the 13th 1-0 game ever at Rangers Ballpark, which opened in 1994. A.J. Pierzynski, the Rangers catcher activated from the disabled list earlier Tuesday, had a one-out single in the third. Jurickson Profar had a single in the sixth, but the rookie was caught stealing when he took off toward second base before Straily threw his pitch. "I think this can be a jumping off point for him," Doolittle said of Straily. "That was pretty impressive." After winning his season debut April 5 with 11 strikeouts at Houston, Straily was optioned to Triple-A the next day when Bartolo Colon was reinstated from the suspended list. Straily returned in late April, and was 0-2 with an 8.84 ERA in four starts since until dominating Texas. "Ive never lacked confidence, but this is definitely the most confident Ive felt out there," Straily said. Darvish, who raised his majors-best strikeout total to 91 in 66 2-3 innings, came out after 101 pitches. He had averaged 121 pitches his last three starts, including a career-high 130 five nights earlier against Detroit in a 10-4 victory. "I was as usual, nothing affected from the last outing," Darvish said. "I really begged Wash. I wanted to keep pitching." Notes: Rangers reliever Neal Cotts got three outs on six pitches in his first major league appearance since May 25, 2009. Texas purchased his contract from Triple-A Round Rock earlier Tuesday. The 33-year-old left-hander had ligament replacement surgery in 2009. ... Oakland DH Jed Lowrie left the game with a bruise after fouling a pitch off his right foot. ... 1B Daric Barton, designated for assignment Saturday when As outfielder Chris Young came off the disabled list, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Sacramento. ... Right-hander Chris Resop also cleared waivers and was outrighted to Sacramento.Cheap Air Force Ones For Sale .Y. - Jerome Samson scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the St. Nike Air Force 1 Cheap Outlet . Datsyuk will miss Tuesdays game against New Jersey and could be sidelined longer, while Cleary will likely miss at least the next three games. Its been an injury-plagued season for Datsyuk, who has suited up for just 39 games. http://www.airforceforsalecheap.com/ . LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St. Cheap Air Force 1 Shoes Wholesale . Peter Gammons, an analyst for Major League Baseballs network and website, drew the ire of hockey fans on Sunday when he criticized the two NHL teams on Twitter for their physical game the night before. Cheap Air Force Ones For Sale . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break.Doubts remain over the long-term future of the Brazilian Grand Prix despite delivering a classic wet-weather race on Sunday.After multiple safety car periods and race stoppages a thrilling race unfolded at Interlagos, capped by Lewis Hamiltons dominant win and Max Verstappens lauded drive from 16th to 3rd. The popular circuit has a contract until 2020 but had an asterix alongside it when the provisional 2017 calendar was revealed in September.The other races listed as subject to confirmation were Canada and Germany, though the former appears to have been given a boost following the signing of Lance Stroll by Williams.I think we may well be able to sort Canada out, possibly, but the other two... Ecclestone told Reuters with a shrug during the Brazilian Grand Prix.As part of the existing contract, Interlagos made upgrades to thhe cramped pits and paddock area but Ecclestone has hinted this might not be enough.ddddddddddddTheyve done a good job, but it needed to be done, Ecclestone added.?According to Associated Press, race organisers fear the events deficit could increase from $4 to $10 million dollars next year due to the loss of key sponsors. The loss of Brazilian mainstay Felipe Massa, who has competed in Formula One since 2002, is also expected to hurt the event next year, with no guarantees Felipe Nasr will be driving in 2017 either.Race promoter Tamas Rohonyi told AP: If we cant bring sponsors back, then Formula One Management would have to cover that gap. That is why Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone is worried. ' ' '