NEWS » of the distance on third down early in the third quarter of t

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City left-hander Danny Duffy is seeking his 10th straight victory when the Royals conclude a four-game series against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday.The Royals are going for the sweep and have won 10 of 12 games against this season against the Twins. Their seven-game winning streak is their best this season.Since June 1, Duffys 10 victories rank second in the majors. He is fourth in strikeouts (109) and seventh in batting average against (.209) during that timetable.Duffy tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief on April 9 against the Twins, but has not started against them this year. He is 4-1 with a 2.33 ERA all-time against Minnesota.The Twins will counter with right-hander Ervin Santana, who has won his past three starts. In that span, he has allowed three earned runs on 16 hits and four walks, while striking out 19 in 19 1/3 innings. Santana threw seven scoreless innings Tuesday at Atlanta, holding the Braves to four hits, while walking two and striking out six.Santana will try to silence the bat of Alex Gordon, who had been quiet most of the year but has erupted with an 11-game hitting streak, including five home runs in the past five games.I hope it lasts the whole year, Gordon said. Weve got a good thing going right now, winning games and having fun. Hopefully I can keep this up and the team can keep it up, too.He homered twice Saturday in the Royals 10-0 victory.Hes dialed in, Royals manager Ned Yost said.Meanwhile, Minnesota Twins manager Paul Molitor is looking to tighten his outfield defense.There were two glaring bad plays in the series opener against the Royals, although only one was an error in the box score.Center fielder Eddie Rosario committed a throwing error on Thursday with the ball sailing all the way to the screen, while left fielder Robbie Grossman took a bad route to Kendrys Morales double in the eighth inning Thursday.We talked briefly after the game about our defense and the plays that happened are not that uncommon, Molitor said. One of the reasons that Rosario is such an exciting player is that he makes plays, offensively and defensively. We saw last year that his ability to throw runners out was an asset and I think sometimes he takes it a little bit too far.The misread by Robbie, Im not sure what he saw off the bat that got him so far off line in terms of trying to make a play. I dont really relate it to where were at in terms of the season. I think, when you have people trying to play defense it doesnt really matter if youre in your 130th game or in your tenth game. Theres going to be some physical mistakes. Weve had more than our fair share.Robbies not the fastest. He doesnt throw the hardest, but you kind of trust him to make good decisions and be able to make the routine plays. And theres been a couple that have gotten away from him in the last week or so. You start thinking about those things maybe more than you should instead of just going out and playing. Replica Shoes Online .B. - Sebastien Auger made 44 saves as the Saint John Sea Dogs edged the visiting Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2-1 on Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Fake Nike Shoes . Vettel was 0.168 seconds faster than Red Bull teammate Mark Webber around the Suzuka circuit. Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg was two tenths of a second off Vettel. "The car balance is decent, but I think we can still improve," Vettel said. http://www.fakeshoesonline.com/ . -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. Fake Shoes Free Shipping . The defence is doing its part, too. Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first half and the guys on the other side made sure that was enough, sending the Saints to a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. China Shoes For Sale . Coach Mike Munchak says Fokou stretched ligaments in his left knee Oct. 13 against Seattle, which could keep out up to five weeks even though the linebacker didnt need surgery. FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Nick Mangold isnt used to sitting out so long.One game was tough, and so was missing two. Three games? Thats a career first that the New York Jets center would rather not experience.Mangold has a sprained right ankle that is likely to keep him out Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.Its getting better, slowly but surely, Mangold said Thursday. Its been frustrating being out this long and letting my guys down on the line and then the offense. I dont like not playing, so its been difficult, but it seems to be trending where its going up. So, hopefully itll keep getting better and well get out there as soon as possible.The seven-time Pro Bowl selection has missed just six games in his 11-year NFL career, but never more than two in a row. A sprained ankle kept him out of two straight in 2011, but a setback with his current injury will probably keep him out for at least three straight.Mangold was initially hurt on Oct. 23 against Baltimore when a teammate rolled into the back of his leg. He was replaced in that game by Wesley Johnson, who has started the last two in Mangolds place. Mangold remains in a walking boot after briefly getting out of it last week.I was moving around and felt pretty good, and after a while, it wasnt feeling good, he said. They said we had to put it back in the boot and see if we could get it to calm down again before we start ramping things up again.Mangold blamed it on overdoing things when the ankle wasnt yet healed enough.It was probably my own stupidity of trying to do too much too soon, he said. Im not very good at listening to doctors. I hear what they say, but Im not very good at listening.Mangold has a reputation of being a tough competitor who has played through various injuries and returned from ailments that appeared initially to possibly sideline him for some time. This one, however, has been different.Ive never had to deal with a so-called setback, so thats been difficult, he said. Usually, Ive always trended in the right direction and as soon as I got injured, that next day was the worst I felt and Id continue to get better. To have that go backward has been difficult. Thats just the nature of how this injury has gone. Its something you have to try to work through.The 32-year-old center insisted he has no doubts that hell be able to return soon from the injury.Oh, of course. Thats a given, he said. Its just when. Got this week coming up and then the bye week, and it usually helps to get the body healthy. Hopefuully Ill be back as soon as possible.ddddddddddddWhen that is, I dont know, but Im always optimistic that the next week is the week Ill be back in there.In other injury news, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick practiced on a limited basis for the second straight day with a sprained left knee.Hes getting a little better, coach Todd Bowles said. Hes taking some reps. He has to do some more, though.Fridays practice will likely go a long way in helping determine whether Fitzpatrick or second-year QB Bryce Petty will start against the Rams. While some fans and media are clamoring for the Jets to start Petty, Bowles has remained steadfast in that Fitzpatrick will start as long as hes healthy.For me to make a quarterback change, Id have to have a quarterback controversy, Bowles said. Ryan is the starter, Bryce is the backup.Linebackers Bruce Carter (quadriceps) and Josh Martin (concussion), tight end Kellen Davis (elbow) and cornerback Marcus Williams (ankle) did not practice. Wide receiver Brandon Marshall (foot), right tackle Breno Giacomini (shoulder), linebacker Darron Lee (ankle), defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson (ankle), cornerback Buster Skrine (knee) and offensive tackle Brandon Shell (shoulder) were all limited.Game notes Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey acknowledged he was uncertain of the distance on third down early in the third quarter of the Jets 27-23 loss at Miami on Sunday, when New York faced a third-and-1 but went with an empty backfield and Fitzpatrick threw incomplete to RB Matt Forte. Thats a question that you ask yourself when you go back to it, Gailey said. You can always do something better that might have made a difference. When the ball goes on the ground, to be honest with you, I thought it was third-and-2. I thought it was third-and-2, 2 1/2 maybe, and then all of a sudden when I look up after Ive called the play, its third-and-1, a little over 1, maybe 1 1/2. I might have made a different call if I thought it was that down and distance. ... Bowles said the Jets used C.J. Spiller at kick returner over Jalin Marshall last Sunday because Marshall was playing more snaps on offense. The coach added that Spiller would continue to return kicks against Los Angeles. Spiller, signed last week, returned two kickoffs for 37 yards against the Dolphins.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '