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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- John Fox swears he hasnt lost confidence in Ronnie Hillman even though the second-year running back has had back-to-back games with fumbles returned for touchdowns. Still, it was rookie Montee Ball who got most of the work Monday with Denvers starters for the first time all summer. "Its just practice," Fox said. "I wouldnt read too much into anything. Were evaluating everybody regardless of who gets what reps at what numbers. Hes a guy that we want to get touches and well go from there." Hillman, a second-year speedster from San Diego State who played sparingly last year, bulked up over the winter and was given first crack at winning the starting job. He fumbled at the goal line in Seattle a week ago, and it was returned 106 yards for the score. A week later, Rams rookie linebacker Alec Ogletree pried the football from his arms after a short catch and returned it 13 yards for a touchdown. After that, Hillman didnt touch the ball and the snaps were shared by Ball, who set an NCAA record with 83 touchdowns at Wisconsin, and former first-round pick Knowshon Moreno. Asked if his promotion Monday was due more to what he was doing right or what Hillman had done wrong, Ball said. "For me, Im looking at it as what Ive done. Ive been consistent. Yeah, Ive made mistakes, but Ive done a great job to not repeat them. Thats what I plan to continue to do." Both Ball and Hillman want to be the featured back in Denvers offence, but with the way Fox has always divvied up carries in his backfield, it might not matter whos the first running back out of the tunnel on Sept. 5 anyway. "Whoever we keep were going to lean on and well play and I think our track record says that," Fox said. Ball hasnt been free of blunders either. He was penalized for covering up the tight end in a formation against St. Louis and also dropped a pass from Peyton Manning because he said he "smelled the end zone." A week earlier, he whiffed on blitzing Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner, who drove Manning into the ground just as he released a 31-yard pass to Julius Thomas. "Its the worst feeling as a rookie, seeing a future Hall of Famer get hit like that pretty hard," Ball said. "Thats not a good thing at all and I most definitely got chewed out about it (by running backs coach Eric Studesville) and I knew I couldnt say a word." Despite all his rookie mistakes, Ball said hes ready to start in Week 1. "Yeah, thats been my goal ever since I was drafted," he said. "Thats (everyones) goal in the running back room, to become the starter. For me, every opportunity thrown at me, Im going to make sure I take advantage of it." Cheap San Francisco Giants Jerseys . Specifically, thumbs up to the Canadian-based teams in the NHL, or at least most of them. Hunter Pence Jersey . The Rays hope to stay alive for the postseason and salvage the finale of this series Sunday at Rogers Centre, where they dropped a 7-2 decision Saturday. Chris Archer lasted 2 1/3 innings in the no-decision, charged with a run and five hits, and Alex Torres suffered the loss in relief. http://www.cheapsanfranciscogiantsjersey...r-blanco-jersey. Picard had a goal and two assists to help Canada improve to 2-0 at the tournament. Seven different players scored for the two-time defending champions. "Today all four lines played excellent," said head coach Laura Schuler. Madison Bumgarner Jersey . This time, Tebow was in a groove the entire second half -- not just in the waning minutes -- and his teammates on defence were getting gobbled up. Brandon Belt Jersey . -- Kevin Stadler might be playing in the Masters for the first time, but hes already showing his old man a thing or two.CLEVELAND -- With his team in trouble, DeMar DeRozan flashed his All-Star form at the finish. DeRozan scored 16 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter, and the Toronto Raptors won for the sixth time in seven games with a 99-93 victory over the injury-riddled Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night. "DeMar was huge down the stretch," Toronto coach Dwane Casey said. "He made shots, he made plays, he made some free throws." DeRozan also made a key defensive play with the Raptors leading 94-91 and 32 seconds remaining. He stole a pass from Spencer Hawes by knocking Tyler Zeller to the floor and then made two free throws for a five-point lead. "I dont have too many of those left in me," DeRozan said of the hard hit. "I kind of anticipated that." Terrence Ross hit a 3-pointer with 3:02 remaining to put Toronto ahead 90-89. DeRozan dunked on a baseline drive and added two free throws to give the Raptors a 94-91 lead with 1:23 remaining. Kyrie Irving, who played 45 minutes and the entire second half because of Clevelands depleted roster, scored 25 points and had nine assists. Cleveland has lost three straight after winning six in a row and fell 5 1/2 games out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Irving had no problem with coach Mike Browns decision to leave him in the game. "I told Coach Im willing to do whatever it takes for us to get a win," Irving said after playing a career high in a 48-minute game. The Cavaliers again played without centre Anderson Varejao (sore back) and guards Dion Waiters (hyperextended left knee) and C.J. Miles (sprained left ankle). Ross scored 19 points while Greivis Vasquez added 15 for the Raptors, who beat the Cavaliers 98-91 in Toronto on Friday and have won three in a row. Toronto leads the Atlantic Division and is in third place in the Eastern Conference. Hawes, making his first start for Cleveland since being acquired from Philadelphia last week, scored 15 points. Cleveland took its last lead at 89-87 with 3:11 to play on Zellers two free throws, but Ross 3-pointer put Toronto ahead for good. Irving, the MVP of the All-Star game, was called for charging into Kyle Lowry in the final minute. The call was upheld after oofficials viewed a replay.dddddddddddd Irving was bumped on his way to the basket on Clevelands next possession but no call was made. "Its part of the game," he said of the officiating. "The refs are going to make their call. Thats their job. You move on to the next play and the next game. Im going to pick myself up and get ready for Oklahoma City (Wednesday night)." The Raptors went on a 15-0 run over a span of 6:46 in the first and second quarters to take a 14-point lead, but Casey was displeased his team let the Cavaliers get back in the game. "Were nowhere near where we can walk in a game and expect to win," he said. "All of our games are grind it out. Were going to see everyones best haymaker. They threw their best haymaker at us, they played desperate. Give credit to them." The early offensive struggles were a major reason Brown didnt take Irving out in the second half. "When I pulled him in the first half we had a little trouble scoring," Brown said. "I thought he was in a little bit of a groove. Hes our best player so I wanted to leave him on the floor and see if he could help the second unit generate some easy baskets." Toronto had a five-point possession in the second quarter that began when Vasquez hit a 3-pointer. Hawes was called for a foul when he and Tyler Hansbrough went to the floor. Hawes was then given a technical for arguing the call, and DeRozan and Hansbrough each made a free throw. Hansbrough completed another three-point play after DeRozans basket. Jarrett Jack was called for a foul after Hansbrough was knocked to the floor. Jack was also hit with a technical. Toronto built a 36-22 lead but Cleveland cut the margin to 47-41 at halftime and scored the first seven points of the third quarter to take a one-point lead. NOTES: Brown said it was unlikely that Varejao, Waiters and Miles would make the trip to Oklahoma City. Varejao has missed the last seven games while Waiters has been out four straight and Miles three in a row. Brown said Varejao and Waiters have begun some on-court work. ... Raptors C Jonas Valanciunas had two points in 17 minutes and played only seven minutes in the second half. ... Zeller started the first six games Varejao missed. ' ' '