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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The resurgence of Rays starter Jake Odorizzi, now with three straight scoreless starts, is a reminder of the strong starting pitching Tampa Bay was supposed to have this season, though its frustrating those starts were seldom found in the previous two months.Obviously wed all like to be like this from the start of the season to the end, Odorizzi said. Its nice to be on it now, and you just keep plugging away and I knew things would get better. You just have to stay the course.Odorizzi hasnt given up a run in his last 20 2/3 innings, four short of the team record for a starting pitcher. His turnaround is what the Rays need from the rest of their rotation such as Thursday starter Drew Smyly, who goes into the series finale against the Kansas City Royals with a 3-11 record and a 5.29 ERA.His last start, however, was what the Rays are looking for -- six innings, four hits and two runs in a victory over the Yankees. To continue where Odorizzi left off, hell have to be nothing like the pitcher the Royals saw May 31.In that start, Smyly lasted only four innings -- matching his shortest outing of the year -- and gave up a season-high 12 hits while tying his high with eight runs in a 10-5 loss.Inconsistency is something the Royals pitchers know well.Thursday starter Ian Kennedy is 6-9 with a 4.23 ERA. His last outing against the Rays, moreover, is something youd want to repeat, holding Tampa Bay to one run (unearned) on three hits in six innings. In 11 starts since, hes given up at least one earned run in every start.Royals manager Ned Yost has tried nearly anything to solve his pitchers problems. Knowing that Wednesday starter Edinson Volquez had struggled in the first inning, Yost had pitching coach Dave Eiland warm Volquez up before the game, but stop early, sitting him down for a moment. He then got him back up for the rest of warmups, thinking the pronounced break would seem like a first inning to his mechanics and bypass his early issues.The four-run first did us in, Yost said, pleased that Volquez held the Rays to two runs in the next five innings before his bullpen imploded. If we eliminate the first inning, were right in the game.The Royals had beaten the Rays in 12 of 13 previous meetings, so a loss Thursday and a season split will be disappointing for a team still just five games below .500 but bearing little resemblance to last years championship team.Fixing those problems will start in the first inning, where Royals pitchers have a 6.48 ERA, the worst in the majors. The Rays hit for the cycle in their first seven at-bats Wednesday -- double, single, home run, triple -- so nearly anything from Kennedy will be a step in the right direction. Sammy Sosa Jersey . The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling "puts an end to my dreams of being a top player," the 27-year-old Troicki said in a statement. "I worked my entire life for it, and it has been taken away from me in one afternoon by a doctor I didnt know," said Troicki, whose ranking peaked at No. Kendall Graveman Cubs Jersey . But now that hes in the NHL, the Calgary Flames centre showed big improvement in that department by scoring the winner in the eighth round of a 5-4 shootout victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Monday. http://www.thecubsteamshop.com/Cubs-Ben-Zobrist-Kids-Jersey/ . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. Cole Hamels Cubs Jersey . Woodson said during a radio interview Thursday that the Knicks Carmelo Anthony doesnt get the same calls as other superstars. Ben Zobrist Cubs Jersey . Anthony Calvillo, through 20 CFL seasons, was frequently invincible and largely stoic in the heat of competition. But underneath the professional exterior he was, and is, compellingly human. ABILENE, Texas -- Jalone Friday scored 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting with six rebounds and Abilene Christian defeated Division III Howard Payne 71-55 on Sunday.Jaren Lewis had 15 points and nine boards, while Isaiah Tripp added 10 points. The Wildcats (3-2) shot over 52 percent and made 22 of 27 from the line.Howard Payne was led by Khyce Randall with 10 points.Abilene Christian scored the first six points of the game and never trailed..ddddddddddddhe Wildcats led 20-5 following Drake Greens 3-pointer 7 minutes in. A 12-6 run at the end of the first half resulted in a 42-25 lead at intermission. Abilene Christian pushed the lead over 20 on a pair of free throws by Lewis early in the second half and Howard Payne never threatened from there. ' ' '