the game.LONG ODDSAfter 16 seasons in a row of finishing .50

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Toronto manager John Gibbons knew Chien-Ming Wang could help the beaten up Blue Jays pitching staff. He just didnt think it would happen this soon. Wang won for the first time in more than a year, Colby Rasmus homered for a third straight game, and the Blue Jays completed a four-game sweep by beating the Texas Rangers 7-2 on Sunday for their fifth straight victory. The 33-year-old Wang twice won 19 games for the New York Yankees before injuries derailed his career. He hurt his right foot in 2008 and injured his right shoulder in 2009. In his second start with the Blue Jays, Wang (1-0) allowed seven hits in seven shutout innings to win for the first time since last June 12 with Washington. Toronto signed Wang last Tuesday to bolster a rotation with three starters on the disabled list. "We didnt know what to expect, to be honest with you," Gibbons said. "He was one of the best in the game with (the Yankees). We got some good reports on him, otherwise he wouldnt be here. To be honest, hes pitching better than I expected of him." Wang was 4-4 with a 2.33 ERA in nine starts this year for the Yankees Triple-A team at Scranton-Wilkes-Barre. New York released him last week at his request, and Wang signed with the Blue Jays. Wang finished his 99-pitch outing by getting Andrus to ground out to second with runners on first and third in the seventh. He struck out five and walked two. "I waited for a chance to come up to the majors," Wang said. "Toronto picked me and gave me a chance to come here and play." The Rangers lost their sixth in a row and fell to 1-6 on a season-high, 11-game homestand. Texas has dropped six straight for the first time since April 15-21, 2010. Texas manager Ron Washington said he spoke with the team after the game, but didnt divulge his message. "I thought they needed to hear from the manager," Washington said. "Were not the first team to lose six in a row and we probably wont be the last." Adam Lind hit a three-run homer, and J.P. Arencibia added a two-run shot for Toronto. The Blue Jays outscored the Rangers 24-4 to sweep a four-game series at Texas for the first time. "I keep hearing the Rangers are struggling and all that," Gibbons said. "Maybe were pitching good. Maybe were playing good. I get tired of hearing that. I tip my hat to my guys." Derek Holland (5-4) allowed four runs and 10 hits in six innings for the Rangers, who have only scored eight runs in their slide. Elvis Andrus had an RBI single, and Ian Kinsler walked with the bases loaded to break up the shutout in the ninth. Texas has lost six in a row at home for the first time since a seven-game slide from July 20-Aug. 3, 2005. "I didnt sense any frustration," Texas outfielder David Murphy said. "Were past that point. Things didnt happen. With the amount of talent we have here, were very close to turning this thing around." Arencibia, who entered the series in a 3-for-41 rut, hit his second homer in three games. He lined an 0-1 pitch just over the 14-foot fence in left, a two-run shot that gave the Blue Jays a 2-0 lead. It was the first home run Holland has given up since May 19. Rasmus led off the fourth with a drive off the foul pole in right for his 13th homer. The Blue Jays scored four times in the seventh to extend their lead to 7-0. Jose Bautista had an RBI single, and Lind capped it with a three-run homer to right off Kyle McClellan. Lind went 7 for 17 in the series with two home runs and six RBIs. Adrian Beltre and A.J. Pierzynski had consecutive one-out singles in the fourth to put runners on first and third. The Rangers, however, couldnt take advantage of that chance. Third baseman Edwin Encarnacion made a diving catch to his right of Nelson Cruzs liner, and David Murphy popped out to left to end the threat. Texas rookie Jurickson Profar started at third base for the first time in his career. Beltre had a scheduled day off in the field and was the designated hitter. Before the game, Profar spent time on the field working with infield coach Dave Anderson. Kinsler batted third for the first time since May 22, 2011. He batted in that spot 60 times in 2010. NOTES: Texas DH Lance Berkman had a scheduled day off. ... Lind has hit safely in 17 of 19 games. ... Rangers 1B Mitch Moreland (right hamstring strain) will start a rehab assignment for Double-A Frisco on Monday night. Custom Mel Ott Jersey .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have placed centre Cody Hodgson on injured reserve and recalled two players from their AHL affiliate in Rochester. Custom Giants Jersey China . The Browns coaching search remains incomplete. http://www.customsfgiantsjersey.com/ .J. Ellis hit two-run homers and the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-0 Saturday night. Wholesale Custom Giants Shirts . Darren Helm scored on Detroits sixth attempt in the shootout and then Jonas Gustavsson stopped Andrew Shaws shot, lifting the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night. Giants Jerseys China . -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago. DALLAS -- Yet another Dallas injury opened the door for a Charlotte Hornets rally.Kemba Walker scored 19 points, Nicolas Batum had 14 points and 15 rebounds, and the Hornets came back from an 11-point, third-quarter deficit to beat the Mavericks 109-101 on Monday night.Already down three regulars to injury, Dallas lost center Andrew Bogut late in the first quarter to a right knee injury. While the Mavericks didnt think the injury was serious, the Hornets took advantage to dominate the boards, outrebounding the Mavericks 55-35 and scoring 54 points in the paint.Thats a big difference, Hornets coach Steve Clifford said of Boguts absence. Hes always been a terrific basket protector. If you take him out, those other guys are good, but its a different level of rim protection.Marco Belinelli scored 12 of his 16 points in the second half, including the teams first two 3-pointers after the Hornets missed their first 14 from long range. Six Hornets scored in double figures.Jeremy Lamb added 10 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter, including a 3 with 13.9 seconds remaining to hold off a late Dallas run.Harrison Barnes scored 29 points for the Mavericks and Deron Williams had his first double-double of the season with 15 points and 13 assists.It seems like we get someone back and somebody else goes down, said Williams, who had missed eight games of his own due to a calf strain. Its been tough. Wed really like to have Dirk (Nowitzki) out there, and J.J. (Barea). You cant control certain things so weve just got to keep on trucking.After a 15-4 Mavericks run early in the third quarter temporarily opened up a back-and-forth game, the Hornets answered with a 10-1 spurt and the game stayed close into the final minutes.Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle was assessed a technical foul arguing a call and Batum converted the free throw for a 98-91 lead with 4:26 to play, capping a 15-5 Hornets run.After the Hornets opened the lead to 104-95 with 2:01 to play, Dallas scored the next six points and had a chance to get closer, but Cody Zeller blocked Willliams shot in the lane with 34 seconds to play and Lamb followed with his 3.ddddddddddddIts a tough environment, but we stuck together today, Lamb said. We got down 10, but we kept fighting, and we were able to pull out a win.SIGH OF RELIEFBogut limped off the court with 45 seconds left in the first quarter after a collision with Charlottes Roy Hibbert, grabbing his right knee immediately. He was quickly ruled out for the rest of the game.But Carlisle said initial reports were positive and that the knee was only hyperextended.The X-ray was clean from the information that I got, Carlisle said. Well probably have more information in a day or so. At this point, it appears we dodged a bullet.Bogut was not available for comment after the game.LONG ODDSAfter 16 seasons in a row of finishing .500 or better and making the playoffs in 15 of those seasons, the Mavericks are just 4-16.The last team to make the playoffs after such a poor start was the 2004-05 Bulls, who started 5-15 and finished 47-35 before losing in the first round of the playoffs to Washington.TIP-INSHornets: The game had 18 lead changes and was tied 17 times. . The Hornets made 24 of 26 free throws in beating the Mavs for the second time in five days. . Charlotte has lost six of eight aside from its two wins over Dallas.Mavericks: Nowitzki missed his fifth straight game and 15th overall with right Achilles soreness. Barea missed his 10th game in a row with a left calf strain. Seth Curry missed his third game in a row with a right knee sprain. ... Devin Harris scored seven points in the first quarter -- more than he had scored in three games combined since returning from a big toe injury.UP NEXTHornets: Home against Detroit on Wednesday. The Pistons beat the Hornets in Charlotte 112-89 on Nov. 29.Mavericks: Home against Sacramento on Wednesday, the third of a four-game homestand and the first of two visits the Kings make to Dallas in 11 days. ' ' '