Talk » All nine players in the Royals starting lineup had a hit

Pat On the Back will be stepping outside of the New York-bred ranks for the first time in his career Saturday in the Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot. He will be seeking his third stakes win after victories in the $250,000 Sleepy Hollow last month at Belmont Park and the $120,000 Aspirant in September at Finger Lakes.Pat On the Back on Monday was flying from his Churchill Downs base to Delta Downs, which is located in Vinton, La. Trainer Ken McPeek said there were several reasons to target the Jackpot, a 1-1/16-mile race for 2-year-olds that carries eligibility points for the Kentucky Derby.We felt like he was ready for open company, McPeek said. Theres more to gain than there is to lose. Hes a horse thats been real professional, been on form, and we figured wed step him up.Pat On the Back races for Harold Lerner, AWC Stables, and Nehoc Stables. He is a son of Congrats who was purchased at auction as a yearling for $70,000 at Saratoga.He was a big, strong horse as a yearling and hes progressed at 2, McPeek said. We were fortunate to get him for $70,000.Pat On the Back has compiled a record of three wins from five starts, for earnings of $300,020.Robby Albarado has the mount from the rail in the Jackpot, a two-turn race on the six-furlong, sand-based oval at Delta. It will be the first time the rider has teamed with the horse.I wanted somebody that knew the track down there, McPeek said. I wanted someone who knew the course, the configuration.Albarado and McPeek won the Jackpot in 2006 with Birdbirdistheword.McPeek is hopeful Pat On the Back will adapt to the conditions at Delta, considering the horse has won races at Belmont, Finger Lakes, and Saratoga.Hes handled about everything thrown at him up to now, McPeek said.The Jackpot is the centerpiece of the Delta meet, and it will anchor a Saturday card of eight stakes worth a total of $2.3 million. First post is 1:45 p.m. Central, and the races will be streamed live at DRF.com. The Jackpot is part of an all-stakes pick four that will run on races 4-7 and have a minimum guaranteed pool of $200,000.McPeek also will be active on the undercard with probable favorites in both the $75,000 Sams Town and the $75,000 Orleans. He has The Truth Or Else set to run in the Sams Town, a seven-furlong race, and Kathballu in its sister race for fillies and mares, the Orleans.The Truth Or Else enters off a win in a $100,000 optional-claiming sprint Oct. 23 at Keeneland, while Kathballu was fourth last out in the Grade 2 Chilukki at Churchill. Both will be ridden by Julien Leparoux.* Giannas Dream, who has won back-to-back Oklahoma-bred stakes at Remington Park, might run in the Claiming Crown Dec. 3 at Gulfstream, trainer Mike Maker said. Giannas Dream, who is based in Kentucky, races for Jordan Wycoff. She won the $118,000 Oklahoma Classics Distaff Turf on Oct. 21 and the $50,000 Bob Barry Memorial over the turf at Remington.* Artistic License, who has won her last six starts, including the $75,000 River Cities on turf in September at Louisiana Downs, will be considered for the Claiming Crown, trainer Bret Calhoun said. Wholesale Nike Air Max From China . Its sharpness matched my mind. 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Nigeria beat surprise package Ethiopia 2-0 in the second leg of their playoff for a comfortable 4-1 aggregate victory. Victor Moses converted a 20th-minute penalty after an Ethiopian handball, and Victor Obinna made certain of Nigerias place in Brazil with his powerful free kick in the 82nd at UJ Esuene Stadium. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- With two runners aboard in the sixth inning, the Royals Alcides Escobar was just trying to put the pitch from Yankees reliever Blake Parker in play Monday night.He wound up slapping it right over the wall.The three-run homer broke open a nip-and-tuck game, and backed by a strong pitching performance by Dillon Gee, Kansas City went on to beat New York 8-5 to open their three-game series.I knew I hit it good, Escobar said, but I wasnt 100 percent sure it was gone.Everybody else was sure, the way things have been going for Kansas City lately.The reigning World Series champions won for the 18th time in 22 games, closing within two games of the second AL wild card. The Royals (69-62) were seven games below .500 as recently as Aug. 6, nearly left for dead 11 games behind the Cleveland Indians in the AL Central.Gee (6-7) allowed four hits and a run over six sharp innings.The results just werent coming but Ive been throwing the ball well, said the Royals fifth starter, but tonight I got an early lead and just tried to stick to it.Lorenzo Cain, Kendrys Morales and Alex Gordon drove in runs off Michael Pineda (6-11) during a five-hit salvo in the first inning. Pineda then retired 15 straight before getting into a two-on, no-outs jam in the seventh that led to Escobars homer.It really broke the game open for us, Royals manager Ned Yost said.Starlin Castro drove in two runs for the Yankees, the second in a four-run eighth inning that forced Yost to summon fill-in closer Kelvin Herrera to make a four-out save.He retired Mark Teixeira to get out of his initial jam, then put runners on the corners in the ninth. Herrera calmly struck out Castro for his 11th save.It was a frustrating night for the Yankees, who had elbowed their own way back in the playoff chase. They were a half-game behind Kansas City at the start of the night, but their second straight loss on the heels of a four-game winning streak was costly against a fellow contender.Yankees manager Joe Girardis frustration was evident when he was tossed by plate umpire Brian ONora for arguing balls and strikes with thee bases loaded and no outs in the eighth inning.ddddddddddddDidi Gregorius proceeded to deliver a two-run double, and the Yankees tacked on two more runs against the Kansas City bullpen before Herrera put a stop to their rally.Two different strike zones. Its unfortunate, Girardi said of his ejection. Even the broadcasters were talking about it in the eighth and ninth inning. I dont know why. Im frustrated by it. I dont know if you give the catchers credit. I know the last inning and the inning before that Im watching on TV and I see it. Oh-1 is a lot different than 1-and-oh a lot of times.STATS AND STREAKSThe Royals have cut 7 1/2 games from their wild-card deficit in 22 games. ... All nine players in the Royals starting lineup had a hit. ... Pineda lost for the first time since July 31 at Tampa Bay, snapping a four-start winning streak. ... Yankees CF Jacoby Ellsbury reached base on catchers interference for the 11th time this season, extending his major league record.AWARD WINNERSYankees C Gary Sanchez won his second straight AL player of the week award. He hit .522 with three doubles, five homers and nine RBI while walking five times in six games. ... Royals 1B Eric Hosmer and Yankees SS Gregorius were chosen from their teams for the Heart and Hustle Award from the Major League Baseball Players Association.ROYALS TRADEThe Royals acquired INF/OF Daniel Nava from the Angels for a player to be named or cash considerations. He is not on the Angels 40-man roster and will be assigned to Triple-A Omaha.TRAINERS ROOMRoyals RHP Luke Hochevar said he experienced instant relief after surgery for symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome. The reliever will begin rehab with hopes of being ready for spring. The swelling, the coldness is gone, he said. I havent had any of that happen since surgery.UP NEXTYankees RHP Masahiro Tanaka has tossed 14 2/3 scoreless innings over his last two starts. He takes on Royals RHP Edinson Volquez, who has won his last two decisions. ' ' '