Clan-Members » and scored 17 for Kansas (14-4,

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Toronto Blue Jays will continue their playoff quest behind their accidental ace when they start a four-game series against the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night at Angel Stadium.Left-hander J.A. Happ (18-4, 3.33 ERA) will take the mound for the Blue Jays, who enter the game in the thick of the race for both the American League East championship and a wild-card spot.Toronto trails the first-place Boston Red Sox by two games in the division and is one game behind the Baltimore Orioles for the top wild-card position. At the same time, the Blue Jays are trying to repel the Detroit Tigers, Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees, all of whom lie within two games of the second wild card.Entering this year, Happ owned a career record of 62-61. His best season came in 2009, when he went 12-4 with a 2.93 ERA and two shutouts for the Philadelphia Phillies, winners of the National League pennant. Since then, however, Happ was traded four times in the next six seasons and compiled a 42-54 record through last years trading deadline, when the Seattle Mariners sent him to the Pittsburgh Pirates.Joining the Pirates provided the impetus for Happs resurgence.Once pitching coach Ray Searage adjusted his delivery, Happ went 7-2, forged a 1.85 ERA and struck out 69 batters in 63 1/3 innings while issuing just 13 walks. That performance motivated the Blue Jays to sign the left-handed free agent in November to a three-year contract worth $36 million.The 33-year-old veteran not only provided the stability that the Blue Jays rotation needed once David Price signed a free agent contract with the Boston Red Sox, but he also is making his own case to win the Cy Young Award.Happ won 11 consecutive decisions from June 11 to Aug. 17. He ranks second in the American League with a career-best 18 victories while sharing 10th place in ERA. The left-hander also is holding opposing batters to a .235 average, and he needs just three strikeouts to set a career high in that category.The thing Im most satisfied and happy with is that I feel the hard work is paying off, getting to a place mentally where I feel comfortable, Happ told the Globe and Mail. I may have pressed a little bit more than I do now. When you press, all of a sudden youre trying to be too perfect and youre down 2-0 to the batter and youre not making your pitches.One factor in Happs ability to maintain his perspective is his newborn son, J.J.Honestly, I had my first child this offseason, the left-hander told the Globe and Mail. I go home and instead of being selfish and worrying about me and moping and being upset, I get to see his face and it changes everything.The Angels will counter with right-hander Daniel Wright, who seeks his first major league victory. He will make his second start since being acquired off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds on Sept. 4.In his only previous appearance with Los Angeles, Wright allowed four runs on six hits, including two home runs, in five innings but received no decision Saturday night in the Angels 8-5 loss to the Texas Rangers. The 25-year-old rookie also hit two batters, walked one and struck out two.He really showed the ability to spin the ball, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. I think his fastballs sneaky. He got into some good spots. And really, the first pitch of the game, (Carlos) Gomez just ambushes him (for a homer), and then he hung a slider later.Wright, 25, went 0-2 with a 7.62 ERA in four games (two starts) for the Reds this year to begin his big-league career. He will be facing Toronto for the first time.Happ opposed the Angels once this year, allowing four runs in five innings during a 6-3 home loss on Aug. 25. The defeat continued his career-long trend: He is 0-5 with a 7.83 ERA in five starts against the Angels.Nike Air Max Australia Mens . Down by seven with 90 seconds left in regulation, thats where they looked comfortable. Air Max Motion Australia . -- James Young couldnt wait to apply those tweaks to his jump shot, and the first one he made against UT Arlington told him it could be a good night. http://www.outletairmaxaustralia.com/ . 10 VCU 85-67 on Thursday night at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The Seminoles (4-0) have scored at least 80 points in each of their games. Air Max 720 Australia . Pettersen, winner of last years Evian Championships, had nine birdies and three bogeys, holding off a series of challengers led by Marion Ricordeau of France. The second-ranked Norwegian made her season debut after missing the LPGA Tours opening event last month in the Bahamas because of a shoulder injury. Nike Air Max Tn Australia . 24 Baylor in a Big 12 clash between teams trending in opposite directions. Andrew Wiggins made 10-of-12 from the foul line and scored 17 for Kansas (14-4, 5-0 Big 12), which capped a stretch of four straight games against ranked opponents unscathed.Free-agent center fielder Ian Desmond rejected a one-year, $17.2 million qualifying offer from the Texas Rangers on Monday and instead will seeks a new contract on the open market.A year ago, Desmond turned down a qualifying offer from the Washington Nationals before settling for a one-year deal with Texas worth $8 million.The Rangers converted the former shortstop into an outfielder this past season, and he earned his second career AAll-Star selection.ddddddddddddHe finished with stats of? .285/.335/.446, 22 home runs, 86 RBIs and 21 stolen bases as the Rangers repeated as AL West Division winners.Texas will receive a compensatory draft pick if Desmond signs elsewhere.Joel Sherman of the New York Post first reported Desmonds decision. ' ' '