arrived as the best 1-2 combo at RB in the league, bu

CHICAGO -- Ian Kennedy wanted to talk about Chris Sales outing more than his own performance.What did he go, eight innings, 12 punchouts? Kennedy said. You know youre going up against one of the best pitchers in the American League. I just wanted to go out there and try to give our team a chance.Kennedy did a lot better than that, combining with three relievers on a two-hitter and helping the Kansas City Royals edge Sale and the Chicago White Sox 2-0 on Sunday.The key for Kansas City was swinging early. Kendrys Morales homered on Sales first pitch of the second and Eric Hosmer did the same in the fourth.Honestly, I just try to get out of that box as quick as I can without getting embarrassed, Hosmer said.The Royals won their second straight to stay four games behind Baltimore for the final AL wild-card spot. They have to jump five teams over the final 20 games to reach the playoffs for the third straight year.We needed this, Hosmer said.Kennedy (11-9) walked four, but Adam Eatons leadoff single was the only hit off the right-hander in six innings. He improved to 5-0 in his last six starts.Peter Moylan and Kelvin Herrera each threw a perfect inning before Wade Davis worked around Eatons single and a walk in the ninth for his 24th save.Sale (15-8) struck out 12 in eight innings while becoming the first White Sox pitcher with four consecutive 200-strikeout seasons. It was his third game of 10 or more strikeouts this season and No. 34 for his career.Sale also went over 200 innings for the second straight season.I think more than anything, its the innings, Sale said. I was told very early on when I got here 200 innings was the benchmark for a starting pitcher.But Sale, who has gone at least eight innings in five straight starts, has just one win since starting for the AL in the All-Star Game. It has fueled speculation Sale could be traded in the offseason to help a rare rebuilding project for the struggling franchise.I dont worry about that stuff. Itll shake out on its own, Sale said. I wear this uniform with a lot of pride and I hope I can continue to do that.Kennedy, who struck out six, stymied Chicago despite occasional control issues amid his late-season turnaround.He walked the bases loaded in the third with two out before Melky Cabrera flied to right. Kennedy worked around another walk in the fifth when Tyler Saladino lined to the mound to start a double play.Davis got Jose Abreu to line to right and struck out Justin Morneau with two on to close the Royals fourth win in six games.Its hard to bunch offense against Chris Sale, Royals manager Ned Yost said. You have to hope you can get a pitch and not miss it. Thats what Mo did. Thats what Hos did and you just hope that your pitching matches.TRAINERS ROOMRoyals: Yost said OF Lorenzo Cain (sprained left wrist) will see a specialist and theyll decide in a week if hell be shut down for the season. Were just doing everything we can right now, Cain said. Hopefully, I can get back on the field. ... C Salvador Perez started a second straight game in his return from a wrist injury. Salvy is a different scenario, its just a bone contusion, Yost said.White Sox: Sale stayed in after taking a liner off his knee in the third. He recovered to throw out Paulo Orlando at first.MEMORIESThe 15-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks hit home for both managers. Chicagos Robin Ventura was playing for the Mets and Yost was with the Braves then. The teams faced off in the first game in New York after the attack.Both men brought up the significance of Mike Piazzas game-winning home run.People could cheer, people could hug each other and laugh and root for their team again, Ventura said.UP NEXTRoyals: Oakland comes to Kansas City for four games, with Royals RHP Dillon Gee (6-7, 4.34 ERA) facing LHP Ross Detwiler (1-3, 5.15 ERA) on Monday.White Sox: AL Central-leading Cleveland visits for four games starting Monday, with RHP Miguel Gonzalez (3-6, 3.81 ERA) facing RHP Carlos Carrasco (11-7, 3.15 ERA). Marshall Faulk Womens Jersey . Terms of the deal were not immediately available. The 26-year-old finished last season with Clevelands Triple-A affiliate in Columbus after signing with the Indians in August. Quenton Nelson Colts Jersey . Capitals head coach Adam Oates said Ovechkin was injured in the first period against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday and clarified it was not a head injury. http://www.officialindianapoliscoltspro.com/Pat-mcafee-colts-jersey/ .ca. Kerry, Just watched the shootout in the Coyotes/Leafs game and I have to ask, why was the James van Riemsdyk goal allowed to count? All of the video replays we were shown on TV were inconclusive about whether the puck had entirely crossed the line or not. Andrew Luck Womens Jersey .Y. - General manager Billy King says the Brooklyn Nets are looking to add a big man and confirmed the team worked out centre Jason Collins, who would become the first openly gay active NBA player if signed. Johnny Unitas Colts Jersey . Barcelonas entertaining victory ensured the defending Spanish champions retained their share of the league lead with Atletico Madrid two rounds ahead of their meeting in the capital. Real Madrid needed a late goal by substitute Jese Rodriguez to earn a 3-2 victory at Valencia to stay in third place and three points behind its title rivals. Fantasy football players must now deal with an added challenge: the bye weeks. That means replacing top players in your lineups, starting with those from Seattle and Green Bay, where the Packers looked better on offense last week.There are always quality options if you worked waivers cleverly and were fortunate enough to avoid many significant injuries.---BIG BIRDSIf you are looking to replace some Packers such as Aaron Rodgers and Jordy Nelson, Baltimore is a good place to start. The Ravens host the Raiders, who are allowing an NFL-worst 340 passing yards per game. Joe Flacco should have a minimum of two TD passes and a resurgent Mike Wallace already has three TD receptions. The Redskins are another passing game to target for production, as they face Cleveland, which has allowed 294.3 passing yards per game and seven TD receptions. Kirk Cousins may be available as a free agent or trade bargain. Wideout Jamison Crowder caught six balls in each of his first two games and has scored in consecutive weeks.---RUNNING WITH ROOKIESEddie Lacy is on a bye and many managers have been dealing with running back injuries and bad performances. But there is a pair of alternatives to consider in this weeks Lions-Bears matchup. Rookie Jordan Howard takes over as the starter for the Bears because of Jeremy Langfords ankle injury, but Langford was in danger of losing his grip on the starting job even before he was hurt. Howard had a 36-yard run last week and caught four passes for 47 yards, displaying his potential. Consider him a pretty good plug-in at your flex spot. Another first-year performer, Dwayne Washington, may be needed to play a larger role after Theo Riddick rushed for nine yards on 10 carries in Week 3. The Bears have allowed 142.7 rushing yards per game, so Washington could offer a nice return if you start him as your second running back or flex player.---KEEPING THE FAITHThree notable wide receivers, Julio Jones, Brandin Cooks and Kelvin Benjamin, all hurt their fantasy owners badly last week. Jones caught one pass, Cooks caught two balls for 13 yards, and Benjamin was shut out. When top WRs get shut down or are quiet in a given week, their teams often make a strong effort to get them the ball in the next game. Jones is a bit banged up, but scored in each of the first two weeks. Cooks faces the Chargers, who have surrendered 322 passing yards per game, and Benjamin draws the Falcons, who have allowed an NFL-high 10 TD passes.---PROVE IT AGAIN, PRYORTerrelle Pryor played the Slash role so well last week, Kordell Stewart might be envious. He caught eight passes for 144 yards, rushed for 21 yards and a TD, and even threw for 35 yards. Before we get too excited, though, lets remember that Pryor has bounced in and ouut of the league since 2011 and only fully remade himself into a WR this season.dddddddddddd Now that opponents have seen what he is suddenly capable of, he is going to get increased defensive attention. You should remain skeptical, and dont start Pryor over a more proven player yet. If he draws some Josh Norman in coverage this week, hell have to show he can truly earn his receiving numbers.---ARIZONA IMPLOSIONCarson Palmer threw four interceptions in what seemed like a very friendly matchup at Buffalo last week. This week he draws the Rams, who have one interception. Los Angeles has only allowed four TD passes, but Palmer does have a good amount of weapons and should be able to bounce back at home. Even though this is a divisional game, and those can be tough battles, Palmer should be good for at least a respectable fantasy performance.---TRADE TODD?After a pair of mediocre outings to open the season, Todd Gurley rushed for 85 yards and two TDs at Tampa Bay last week. Now he faces the Cardinals, who were torn up by LeSean McCoy for 110 yards and two TDs last week. Arizona is going to key heavily on Gurley and he may also get out of the game flow if the matchup becomes one-sided. There will be more disappointing performances ahead for Gurley, so trade him coming off the good game if you can before Sunday.---HIGH FLYING FALCONSFans saw the Atlanta RBs soar on Monday at New Orleans, as Devonta Freeman totaled over 200 yards from scrimmage and Tevin Coleman rushed for three TDs. The pairing may have arrived as the best 1-2 combo at RB in the league, but this weeks opponent, Carolina, has allowed only 90.3 rushing yards per game and three TDs. Temper expectations on both players this week and realize that it could be a different guy every week outpointing the other statistically. Last week was fun, but could prove to be quite the anomaly. With the state of RB in fantasy right now, though, reliability is not easy to come by and you can continue to start both guys for their considerable upside.---SCORCH THE SAINTSThe corollary to the Falcons success is fantasy players should be checking to face the Saints every week, as their defense once again looks beyond terrible (448.3 yards per game allowed), and was depleted as well last week. This week its San Diego, so while the run defense is the worst in the league and that bodes well for Melvin Gordon, you should start WRs Travis Benjamin and Tyrell Williams with confidence, and even consider TE Hunter Henry if you need help at the position.---This column was provided to The Associated Press by the Fantasy Sports Network, http://FNTSY.com . ' ' '