much of the set, but a 5-1 spurt allowed UK to tie things at 14

HOUSTON -- Having dropped consecutive series for the first time since early June, the Houston Astros will open a critical seven-game homestand starting Monday night against the Toronto Blue Jays with an injury-ravaged roster contributing to their slump.After losing two of three at home to the New York Yankees, the Astros (55-49) were swept in Detroit, bookending a demoralizing 3-2 loss on Saturday night with two blowout losses.Houston also lost third baseman Luis Valbuena and center fielder Carlos Gomez to right hamstring strains on consecutive days and will learn of the status of utility infielder Marwin Gonzalez on Monday. Gonzalez has been sidelined by hand soreness.The Astros have lost five of six games and, after clawing to within 2 1/2 games of the Texas Rangers last week, dropped six games behind in their pursuit of the American League West pennant.The opener against Toronto could be influenced by more roster flux. Right-hander Doug Fister is slated to start but might land on the paternity list in anticipation of the birth of his first child. That situation facilitated the arrival on Sunday of right-hander Joe Musgrove (7-4, 2.74 ERA in the minors this year), who could make his major league debut.Were still in a holding pattern, Astros manager A.J. Hinch told MLB.com. This may be a photo finish for the game tomorrow. Until my phone lights up with a text or a call from (Fister), its sort of status quo.Right-hander Marcus Stroman (8-4, 4.92) will get the start for the Blue Jays. Stroman was at his best in July, finishing 2-0 with a 3.71 ERA in five starts, notching 30 strikeouts against four walks in 34 innings.Stroman is 0-1 with a 15.00 ERA in his career against the Astros, having surrendered five runs, seven hits and one walk with one strikeout in three innings in his lone start against them.Having assumed the role of staff ace after the offseason departure of left-hander David Price, Stroman has endured an inconsistent year, one that took a positive turn in July when he posted his best numbers to date.The Blue Jays (59-46) briefly surged into first place in the AL East before dropping their series finale against the Baltimore Orioles 6-2 in 12 innings on Sunday. The loss was their first against the Orioles after a five-game series winning streak and capped a month in which Toronto finished 16-8, its best record in any month this season.Locked in a battle with the Orioles and Red Sox for the AL East title while also fending off a host of contenders, including the Astros, in the wild-card chase, the Blue Jays have been subject to countless rumors as the trading deadline nears. And while the recent additions of right-hander Joaquin Benoit and outfielder Melvin Upton Jr. are likely to provide a lift, they dont preclude Toronto from doing more.To be honest with you, I dont think about it too much, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons told MLB.com of the rampant trade rumors. Weve already made a couple of deals, so you never know. Everybodys rumored to be going here or going there, but you dont hear about anybody out in that room. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jersey . -- Three close looks at the bucket, three misses. Vin Baker Jersey . Detroit and Boston are deadlocked, 1-1, and Tigers manager Jim Leyland could be forgiven if he was caught rationalizing instead of dissecting how his club could blow a 5-1 lead late in Game 2. https://www.bucksrookiesshop.com/Wesley-Matthews-City-Edition-Jersey/ . Team physician Dr. Steve Traina performed the surgery Friday. Robinson was injured in a spill underneath the Nuggets basket during the first quarter of Wednesday nights loss to the Charlotte Bobcats. Wesley Matthews Bucks Jersey . It was the kind of score that might make everyone else wonder which course he was playing. Except that Graeme McDowell saw the whole thing. Crouched behind the 10th green at Sheshan International, McDowell looked over at the powerful American and said, "Ive probably seen 18 of the best drives Ive seen all year in the last two days. Cameron Reynolds Jersey . Los Angeles star goalie survived those perilous gymnastics with no problem, and he eventually backstopped the Kings to a skid-snapping win. Quick stopped 27 shots in his return from a 24-game injury absence, Jeff Carter scored the tiebreaking goal with 7:55 to play, and the Kings snapped their five-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night. GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Since Craig Skinners arrival in 2005, the Kentucky volleyball team has continually captured firsts for the program. Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016 will now serve as another date to remember. The Kentucky Wildcats traveled to Florida and downed the fifth-ranked Gators (25-17, 25-18, 25-23) in dominating fashion for the first sweep over Florida for UK since 1990.Combined with Kentuckys 3-1 win in Gainesville, Florida a season ago, Kentucky has knocked off Florida in back-to-back trips for the first time since the 1987 and 1989 seasons. Its the second time under Skinner that UK has won in consecutive meetings. Kentucky won in 2008 at home before taking a road contest in 2009. Furthermore, its also the second-straight year the Cats knocked off the Gators as a top-five ranked team.Our players were focused and determined to follow the game plan, Skinner said. Offensively, we were very good on the left and as the match went on we got a lot of production out of the middle as well. We had a very balanced night.Balance offensively and another tremendous defensive effort propelled the Cats to the win. Sophomore setter Olivia Dailey directed UKs offense to the tune of 49 kills on .290 hitting. Kentuckys most explosive set came in the second frame as Kentucky posted 20 kills on a .471 clip. Dailey dished out 37 assists and added seven digs and a pair of blocks.Olivia did a great job of getting people involved at the right time and Im really pleased by the concentration and determination by our kids to win in a really tough environment on the road, Skinner said. Weve really bought in to our defensive philosophy. (Assistant coaches) Lindsey (Walton-Grey) and Anders (Nelson) did a great job with our serving and defensive plans and our team continues to execute.Kentuckys defense swallowed up the Gators to the tune of an average of 10 kills per set and a mere .128 attacking clip. Kentucky had 11 team blocks - seven of which came from junior Kaz Brown. Junior libero Ashley Dusek picked up a match-high 11 digs to lead UK who accumulated 41 for the night.Offensively, freshman Leah Edmond accounted for a match-high 19 kills - just one shy of her career best. Brown and junior Darian Mack each posted nine, while Emily Franklin contributed seven. Sophomore Brooke Morgan added five kills and added six blocks.Sophomore McKenzie Watson contributed six digs, while senior Anni Thomasson added four digs in the winning cause.The Wildcats improve to 10-4 on the season and 3-0 in Southeastern Conference play. Florida falls to 12-2 on the year and 2-1 in league competition. Kentucky will remain on the road with a matchup at South Carolina on Sunday. The Cats and Gamecocks will meet at 1 p.m. ET with the match available on the WatchESPN app.Set 1 Kentucky opened the scoring on a crafty kill from Edmond. She had three kills in UKs first four points as the Wildcats jumped out to an early 4-1 lead. Kentuckys front-line frustrated the Gatorss in the early going and the home team managed just two kills over the first 10 points scored.dddddddddddd A run by Florida allowed the home team to come to within two at 12-10, but a service error and an Edmond conversion on a free ball enabled UK to recapture a four-point edge at 14-10. It was all the more breathing room the Cats would need en route to a dominating 25-17 set win. The Wildcats logged 12 kills on .114 hitting, but it was their defense that forced the Gators into a .100 hitting clip and a mere eight kills. UK registered five blocks, four from Morgan, and 16 digs.Set 2 Edmonds seventh kill of the night opens the second set in the same manner the match began. After UK gained a 2-0 lead, the Gators would tie things quickly at four apiece. Florida earned its first multi-point advantage of the match at 8-6. Despite an impressive rally from both sides, Florida earned a 13-9 advantage and the Cats opted for a timeout. Three-straight kills from Edmond enabled the Cats to pull to within one at 13-12 forcing Florida into a timeout. Back-to-back blocks allowed the visitors to keep the rally going and take a 14-13 edge. Franklin came up with consecutive kills to stretch UKs lead to 19-15. The Wildcats were powered by a 14-2 run midway through the stanza and they ran with it to a 25-18 win. Florida was again frustrated offensively by the Cats defensive effort as UF managed just 11 kills. Kentucky posted 20 on a blazing .471 attacking clip.Set 3 For the first time in the match, the Gators won the opening point, benefiting from a UK service error. A kill from Edmond and a block allowed the Cats to tie things at two, before Florida logged consecutive points to recapture the two-point edge. Florida maintained its edge for much of the set, but a 5-1 spurt allowed UK to tie things at 14 all. Following the media timeout, Florida once again took a two-point advantage. A block from Morgan-Franklin and a kill from Franklin allowed UK to tie the score at 16 apiece and then Florida was charged with an illegal attack and the Cats grabbed a lead for the first time in the set. Kentucky forced Florida into a timeout after Morgan laced one to the middle, followed by a miscue by the Gators enabled UK to earn a 19-17 edge. Edmond came out of the break swinging and posted consecutive kills for a 21-17, Kentucky lead. A couple of miscues allowed the Gators to once again get within two at 21-19. Morgan tooled the block following a UK timeout for a 22-19 edge. A challenge overturn allowed Florida to get within one at 22-21, but Brown converted off the slide. UKs junior middle blocker then posted the matchs final point with a kill for the 25-23 win. The Wildcats notched 17 kills on .289 hitting, while once again pestering the Gators defensively. Florida logged just 11 kills for a match-low .083 hitting clip. ' ' '