NEWS » KEAWAYDuke: The Blue Devils fa

OAKLAND, Calif. -- If it werent for right-handers Hisashi Iwakuma and Kendall Graveman, change would have been the only constant for the Seattle Mariners and Oakland As this season in terms of starting pitching.Seattles Iwakuma and Oaklands Graveman will face each other Saturday night at Oakland Coliseum in what shapes up as a pitching duel between rotation anchors in turbulent seasons.Iwakuma (13-7) leads Seattle in wins and will make his team-high 24th start Saturday -- at least nine more starts than any other Mariner, including Felix Hernandez. The Mariners have used 12 starting pitchers this season.Hes been throwing great, Mariners manager Scott Servais said of Iwakuma on Friday before a 6-3 loss to Oakland. Hes been our most stable guy all year. We would be nowhere close to being in this position if it werent for him. Felix (Hernandez) going down and some other guys stubbing their toe in the rotation, he has been the constant. Hes been great.Graveman (8-7) leads the As in wins and will make his team-high 23rd start. Thats two more than Sonny Gray, whos on the disabled list, and at least six more than every other As starter. Graveman is the only member of the As original rotation who is on the active roster, and the only one who hasnt spent time on the disabled list.I think Kendalls certainly taken it to a new level, and we need him to, based on the guys that we have (out), As manager Bob Melvin said. Its important that he pitches like he has for us. Hes basically anchoring the rotation right now, and the only guy thats still there from the beginning of the season.Iwakuma was 0-3 in April but has gone 13-4 since then. Hes 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA against the As this season. In his past two starts, Iwakuma beat Boston and Detroit, pitching a combined 14 1/3 shutout innings with 15 strikeouts and one walk.Its a little different every time out there, Servais said of Iwakumas outings. You dont know which pitch might be working best for him or what hes going to go to. But hes been really, really a pro for us.Graveman is 7-1 with a 3.67 ERA in his past 13 starts. Hes 4-0 with a 2.25 ERA in his past five home starts, including a 3-2 victory Monday against Baltimore. Graveman allowed one run and six hits in seven innings with four strikeouts and no walks.Graveman relies primarily on his hard sinker, but against the powerful Orioles, he mixed in more cutters, curves and changeups to keep them off balance.Graveman said he was able to adjust on the run.I think it helps, Graveman said. Going into a game there might be one game plan, but to be able to change throughout a game is another thing, and to be able to do it effectively and on the move is something that you really strive for, you really look towards. Because the game plan sounds great and dandy before the game then you get out there and have to change something up to have success.So yeah, I think it will help. I think it definitely brings the percentage of the fastball down a little bit from the last month, month and a half. But the game plans still going to be the same. Go out there and compete with the fastball and locate and then make adjustments when necessary.Graveman is 1-1 with a 3.05 ERA in five career appearances against Seattle, including three starts. This year, hes 0-1 with a 5.06 in two starts against the Mariners.Jordan Hicks . Pence singled in the winning run with no outs in the ninth inning to give the Giants a 7-6 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday. Tony Cingrani . Bradwell was scheduled to become a free agent Tuesday. Born and raised in Toronto, Bradwell is entering his sixth CFL season, with all six played for his hometown Argonauts. http://www.custommlbcardinalsjersey.com/custom-edmundo-sosa-jersey-large-1251q.html . -- Charlie Graham stopped 67 shots as the Belleville Bulls edged the visiting Guelph Storm 6-5 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Adam Wainwright . John Lucas, signed as a mentor for rookie Trey Burke, showed he can score if required, scoring 12 points of his 16 points in the second quarter as Utah built an 18-point lead. Orlando Cepeda .Y. - Rob Manfred was promoted Monday to Major League Baseballs chief operating officer, which may make him a candidate to succeed Bud Selig as commissioner.EVANSTON, Ill. -- Clayton Thorson threw for 320 yards and three touchdowns, Justin Jackson rushed for 94 yards, and Northwestern defeated Duke 24-13 on Saturday night.After being held to 7 points by Illinois State last week, Northwestern (1-2) scored on the games opening drive. Thorson connected with Garrett Dickerson for a 26-yard touchdown reception, capping a 10-play, 75-yard drive.Northwestern capitalized on Blue Devils punter Austin Parkers gaffe in the third quarter to take a 14-7 lead. Duke (1-2) was lined up to punt, Parker dropped the snapped and wasnt able to get the punt away. Northwestern took over at the Duke 44. On the next play, Thorson found Solomon Vault wide open in the middle of the field for the go-ahead touchdown.Thorson also connected with former walk-on Austin Carr on a 58-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.Duke quarterback Daniel Jones threw for 279 yards and one interception. Jela Duncan had 53 yards rushing and a touchdown.Byron Fields picked off Thorsons pass at the Blue Devils 1, which set up a 99 yard, 12 play Duke drive to tie the game at 7 with 3:03 left in the second quarter. The scoring drive was highlighted by Shaun Wilsons 39-yard catch from Jones.Thorsson was hurried or on his back for most of the game.dddddddddddd Duke was throwing a number of blitz packages at the Northwestern offensive line, which they werent able to pick up.TAKEAWAYDuke: The Blue Devils failed to finish on multiple drives. Late in first quarter on fourth-down and 10 at the Wildcats 38, it looked as if Duke was going to convert on a fake punt, but Erich Schneider, who was wide open in the middle of the field, slipped on the grass and fell before he had a chance to catch Parkers pass. Jones threw a pick at the Northwestern 22 at the end of the first quarter to Godwin Igwebuike and AJ Reed missed a 48 yard field goal attempt early in the fourth quarter.Northwestern: Despite Thorson getting sacked five times, Northwestern showed some life on offense. The opening scoring drive featured Jackson, then Thorson was able to open it up in the air in the second half.UP NEXTDuke: The Blue Devils visit struggling Notre Dame on Saturday.Northwestern: The Wildcats season-opening four-game home stand continues Saturday night against Nebraska, who beat Oregon. ' ' '