Talk » nk was the only Wildcat to make a 3-pointer.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Matt Dominguez took no offence when the Angels intentionally walked a .247-hitting catcher so they could pitch to him in the seventh inning of a tie game. After all, playing for the Houston Astros these days is filled with all types of indignities. On the very next pitch, Dominguez took a swing that thrilled his family and capped the Astros best week in a long while. Dominguez hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the seventh inning, and Houston won back-to-back series for the first time in nearly two months with a 7-5 victory over Los Angeles on Sunday. Dominguez tied his career high with four hits in his native Southern California, while L.J. Hoes had his first career homer among his three hits in the major league-worst Astros fourth win in six games. Dominguez homered after Angels reliever Juan Gutierrez (0-4) walked Carlos Corporan, and the Astros hung on to their seventh win over Los Angeles this season. "They just wanted a matchup, I think," said Dominguez, a San Fernando Valley native who left 15 tickets for family. "He hung the slider, and I got it good. Feels good. I guess they had confidence they could get me out more than they did Carlos. Thats how baseball is. No hard feelings or anything. Ill just go up and try to do what I can." Slowly, the young Astros are getting things done. They scored 20 runs while taking two of three games at the Big A, winning with offence after a pitching-dominated series earlier in the week in Oakland, where they also took two of three from the Athletics. "At some point, were going to start to get our breaks," Houston manager Bo Porter said. "Were swinging the bats real well, and were getting good starting pitching." Brett Oberholtzer (3-1) blew an early three-run lead, but pitched six effective innings during Houstons sixth win in seven games at Angel Stadium. He gave up seven hits and struck out four in his fourth major league start, even retiring nine of his final 10 batters after Hamiltons tying homer. Oberholtzer attributes the Astros recent success to "staying loose. I think were playing with a little swagger, a little confidence about ourselves." Thats in short supply for the Angels (55-68), who have lost 11 of 16 and 23 of 34 -- yet Houston (41-82) is still 14 games behind Los Angeles for fourth place in the AL West. Mike Trout had two hits for the Angels before leaving in the sixth inning with right hamstring tightness. Josh Hamilton homered and tripled for Los Angeles to follow up his extra-inning homer Saturday night, while Mark Trumbo drove in three runs and hit his 28th homer late in the Angels sixth loss in eight games. "Its frustrating losing to anybody," said Hamilton, who delivered his 19th homer. "It doesnt matter who it is. If it was the Yankees in here today, or the Rangers, it would be just as frustrating. Its one of those things where youre playing a team with that kind of a record, but you dont want to relax or take anything for granted. Im not saying that were doing that, but some years, some teams have your number. Thats how it goes." Trout went 2 for 3 with a third-inning double, but left the game after flying out in the fifth. The Angels All-Star outfielder reached base for the 40th straight game, extending the majors longest current streak. "Its all right. Im just sore," said Trout, second in the AL at with a .333 average. "Its not like it popped or anything. It was just a little grabbing, so it shouldnt be too serious. ... Ill see how it is tomorrow. I came out just because I didnt want it to get worse. Its definitely frustrating when you cant be out there. For me as a speed guy, Ive got to take care of my legs." Houston boosted its lead to 7-3 in the eighth on Jose Altuves sacrifice fly. Trumbo trimmed the deficit with his two-run shot to left off Jordan Lyles, the Astros scheduled Monday starter, who pitched 2 1-3 innings of relief before leaving with two runners on in the ninth. Rookie Kevin Chapman got pinch-hitter Peter Bourjos to ground into a game-ending double play, earning his first career save. Jason Vargas recovered from an awful beginning to his first home start in two months to pitch into the sixth for the Angels, allowing seven hits -- all in the first three innings. The left-hander walked three and struck out three in his second start since returning from injury. Hoes homered in his 19th major league game, drilling a one-out shot in the first inning. NOTES: Lyles unexpectedly made his first relief appearance of the season. Porter said RHP Lucas Harrell will start the series opener at Texas on Monday night. ... Dominguez also had four hits July 31. ... Hamiltons triple was his first since May 21. ... Gutierrez, who made his major league debut with Houston in 2007, struck out four during his 1 2-3 innings. Carolina Hurricanes Store . Vokoun departed practice on Saturday morning after discovering swelling in his thigh. He was taken to a local hospital where the clot was revealed. The club announced the surgery following a 5-3 exhibition loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Carolina Hurricanes Pro Shop . Just not the game. Kyle Palmieri scored two straight goals in the third period to rally the Anaheim Ducks past the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Tuesday night. https://www.cheaphurricanes.com/ . -- Kyrie Irvings last-minute 3-pointer helped seal another victory for Cleveland -- and the Cavaliers longest winning streak since LeBron James left. Carolina Hurricanes Gear . Gerald Green and Miles Plumlee? Green had bounced around the NBA when he wasnt playing overseas. The Pacers gave up on Plumlee after just one season. Now Green and Plumlee are key cogs in the Suns surprising breakout season. Custom Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys . By having more great seasons. Manning was the only unanimous choice for the 2013 Associated Press NFL All-Pro team Friday. NEW YORK -- One of the Kentucky freshmen stepped up big from the outside while the rest of the Wildcats took care of things with defense.Malik Monks 23 points on 7-for-11 shooting from 3-point range and the second-ranked Wildcats defense that held No. 13 Michigan State to 32.8 percent shooting combined for a 69-48 victory Tuesday night in the State Farm Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden.These guys took some pride defensively here, Kentucky coach John Calipari said. Michigan State they run great stuff. They iso and do things that forced us to prepare beyond where we are.The Wildcats (3-0) averaged 90 points in their first two games but this time it was defense that did it as the Spartans (0-2) shot 32.8 percent from the field (20 of 61) including 5 for 26 (19.2 percent) from beyond the arc.Relying on another talented freshman class, Kentucky was able to up the tempo enough and keep the tenacious defense going that the Spartans committed 20 turnovers which the Wildcats turned into 24 points.Freshman DeAaron Fox added 12 points for Kentucky, which snapped Michigan States two-game winning streak in the series that the Wildcats lead 13-11.We knew they were going pack it in. I just had to be prepared, Monk said. They set me up well. I was just able to knock down the shot.Kenny Goins and Cassius Winston led the Spartans with nine points each. Freshman Miles Bridges was held to six points on 2-for-11 shooting but he grabbed 12 rebounds.We did a couple of things knowing that if he got going he would be a beast, Calipari said of Bridges. He had 12 rebounds, but the way we played, we just made it really difficult for him to just play basketball.Spartans coach Tom Izzo said, Im actually a little embarrassed. I felt like we competed defensively for the most part, we just didnt do anything offensively. We looked like a team that was an AAU team, we just went 1-on-1 didnt move the ball and got frustrated.The Spartans were coming off a 68-65 loss to No. 10 Arizona in Honolulu.I was very disappointed in the way we were kind of `deer in the headlights but you know you have four freshmen playing at Madison Square Garden and coming off the Hawaii trip, that was the way we played. Well get better.Kentucky led 34-26 at halftime and the Wildcats opened the big lead with a 16-7 run that made it 51-37 with 12:04 to play.dddddddddddd Michigan State continued to struggle from the outside and the Wildcats led by as many as 23 points.Its the same freshmen that played against Canisius and we were down with three minutes in the half, Calipari said. Weve got a long way to go. This shows us what were capable of and now we have to build from this. You have to convince them that if we become a great defensive team.BIG PICTURE:Kentucky: The Wildcats freshman class is as loaded with talent as any recruited by Calipari and this group has size. ... Last season the Wildcats had trouble setting any kind of presence inside but with freshmen Ban Adebayo and Wenyen Gilbert grabbing 11 rebounds between them. Kentucky was able to stay on the glass with the Spartans only being outrebounded 44-40.Michigan State: The Spartans played in Honolulu on Friday and then headed across the country for this game. Michigan State will travel 13,600 miles by Nov. 29 and in a 21-day span they will face at least three Top 15 opponents. ... Michigan State wont be at full strength for a while as they wait for Gavin Schilling and Ben Carter to return from injuries.ALL ALONE:Monk was the only Wildcat to make a 3-pointer. The rest of the team was 0 for 7. Nobody on Michigan State made more than one 3.You have to give Monk credit he was 3 for 13 going in and hit some big 3s early, unguarded on the break, Izzo said.FOUL SHOOTING:Kentucky was 16 of 20 at the free throw line while the Spartans were 3 of 9.SITTING PRETTY:In the row behind the Kentucky bench were Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Larry Brown who was Calipari boss at Kansas and Bruiser Flint, the coach who succeeded Calipari at Massachusetts. Also sitting in a good seat was New York Knicks guard Carmelo Anthony. Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski went over and gave Anthony a big hug before the second game. The two were part of the last Olympic gold medals for the U.S.UP NEXT:Kentucky: The Wildcats return to Rupp Arena to face Duquesne on Sunday.Michigan State: The Spartans finally stop traveling to go home and play Mississippi Valley State on Friday. ' ' '