Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, and Texas Rangers all won on Sunday

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- As he prepares for his final start this year, the Los Angeles Angels Ricky Nolasco hopes an encouraging finish can provide the antidote to an exasperating season.The veteran right-hander will face rookie Daniel Mengden in the Angels second game of their series against the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium.Nolasco, 33, brings a streak of 13 consecutive scoreless innings into the game since an 8-1 loss to the Mariners on Sept. 12.That appearance was the only one of his past five in which Nolasco did not record a quality start. Since Aug. 31, when he threw a four-hit shutout against the Cincinnati Reds, Nolasco has permitted just 22 hits and only six walks in 35 innings while amassing 27 strikeouts, compiling a 1.80 earned-run average and holding opposing batters to a .182 average.Coinciding with his stretch of scoreless innings is a two-game winning streak, Nolascos first of the season. On Sept. 17, the right-hander scattered five hits and two walks in six innings to the Toronto Blue Jays while striking out seven in a 6-1 win. Then on Thursday night, Nolasco combined with two relievers for a 2-0 shutout of the Houston Astros. Nolasco allowed five hits and a walk in seven innings and added five strikeouts.Not since August 2013, when he pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers, has Nolasco refused to concede a run in successive starts.Right now, hes throwing the ball consistently, Angels manager Mike Scioscia told MLB.com. Hes putting his pitches together better. Hes able to command counts. Hes pitching the outside corner and hes pitching inside well. Mixing in both breaking balls is helping him.Nolascos recent success provides a dramatic contrast with the rest of the season. Before his shutout against the Reds, the right-hander had lost four consecutive starts and five straight decisions. Entering that game against Cincinnati, Nolasco owned a 4-12 record and a 5.24 ERA, most of which he compiled for the Minnesota Twins. The Angels acquired Nolasco and fellow right-hander Alex Meyer at the trading deadline in a four-player deal for left-hander Hector Santiago.I feel Ive been throwing the ball well all year, but Im putting everything together now, Nolasco told MLB.com. Im trying to finish up strong.Mengden, like Nolasco, has struggled most of the season. Acquired from the Houston Astros last year for veteran Scott Kazmir, Mengden lost his first three major league starts after being recalled from Triple-A Nashville on June 11. A 1-5 record and a 5.73 ERA led to a trip back to Nashville before the As summoned him Sept. 3. After two more losses, the 23-year-old right-hander had the best performance of his brief career.Mengden dispersed three hits and issued no walks in seven shutout innings while collecting six strikeouts in a 14-5 rout of the Kansas City Royals on Sept. 15. The rookie retired 10 successive Royals from the first through the fourth innings.I got a lot of quick, early outs on weak contact, which is what we try to do, Mengden told the Associated Press. I went in every inning and tried to establish Strike One, which I guess has been one of my biggest flaws since Ive been up here. Fernando Valenzuela Dodgers Jersey . Kozun faked to the forehand and beat Monsters starter, Calvin Pickard, pad side in the second round for the winner. Spencer Abbott also scored in the shootout for the Marlies (25-13-4). A. J. Pollock Jersey . Ryan Garbutt had a goal and two assists as Dallas snapped a six-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. http://www.dodgerssale.com/dodgers-justin-turner-jersey/ . Miikka Kiprusoff had just announced his retirement after a decade-long run in Calgary and it would be up to Berra and Ramo to fill the void. Sandy Koufax Jersey .C. at the helm of the top team in the Eastern Conference. His tenure as the GM in Vancouver was all too brief. Though he led the Canucks to what was then a franchise record-shattering campaign in just his second season, Nonis was gone and replaced one year later. Enrique Hernandez Jersey . The Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, and Texas Rangers all won on Sunday meaning the Rangers will host the Rays in a play-in game on Monday. FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Zach Johnson and Brandon Goodwin each scored 24 points and Florida Gulf Coast roared back from a 13-point halftime deficit to beat UT-Arlington 85-72 on Wednesday night.Goodwin hit nine of his 13 shots and all five free throws while Johnson made 4 3-pointers and 8 of 16 total shots. Overall, the Eagles (1-1) shot 56 percent from the field.Kaelon Wilson nailed a 3 midway through the first half for UT Arlington, sparking a 29-15 stretch that saw their lead swell as hhigh as 44-28.ddddddddddddThe Mavericks led 44-31 at the break.But the Eagles quickly blitzed back, going on a 17-2 run early in the second half, capped by a Goodwin layup to tie it at 48. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Johnson five minutes later broke a 52-52 tie and Florida Gulf Coast led the rest of the way.Kevin Hervey scored 13 to lead UT-Arlington (1-2). ' ' '