s are playing much better than they did earlier in the season. They almost defeated Notre Dame

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- James Shields picked up his first home win in more than three months and the Kansas City Royals have won seven consecutive series for the first time in 22 years. Shields pitched seven strong innings, Alex Gordon homered and the Kansas City Royals beat the Boston Red Sox 4-3 on Sunday. The Royals improved to 18-5 since the All-Star break, winning every series. The last time they won seven straight series was 1991. "Its huge," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "You cant understate it. The fact of the matter is thats nice, but it doesnt mean anything tomorrow. " Its big, but youve got to keep plugging. I wouldnt classify it as a statement (series) win. But its still the team with the best record came in and we won three out of four. Were playing great baseball right now. We just have to maintain our focus on that." Shields (7-8), who had not won at Kauffman Stadium since an April 30 victory over Tampa Bay, limited the Red Sox to three runs and seven hits over seven innings. He struck out five and walked three. "I feel like ever since the All-Star break, weve been making a statement," Shields said. "Were here to stay and compete. Our bullpen has been phenomenal. Our defence has been great. Were getting some good timely hitting." Gordon hit a 2-2 pitch from John Lackey (7-10) out to right in the third inning for his third homer in five games. "He went through a little down period about a week ago, but the last week hes been really swinging the bat really, really well," Yost said. "The thing about Alex is when he gets hot, he can carry you for a while." Lackey, who is 0-4 in his past five starts, walked David Lough and Eric Hosmer to lead off the first. Gordons two-out single scored Lough to tie it at 1. Shane Victorino scored Bostons first run when he doubled in the first, stole third and came home on catcher Salvador Perezs errant pickoff throw. The Royals scored two runs in the third, with Jarrod Dyson and Lough delivering RBI singles. Dysons hit drove home Mike Moustakas, who doubled to start the inning. Dyson stole second and scored on Loughs flare to shallow right. After a rocky start, Lackey lasted seven innings, giving up four runs and seven hits and two walks, while striking out five. "It was a grind early," Lackey said. "I wasnt feeling really great. I had a couple of 3-2 counts and didnt make my pitch. I was lucky to get the ground ball for the double play in the first and then I found my groove and started to make my pitches." "For me to walk two in one inning let alone to lead off the game is hard to believe. I didnt execute and I lost the game." Ryan Lavarnways two-out single in the sixth scored Daniel Nava and Stephen Drew, trimming the Kansas City lead to 4-3. Drew went 2 for 4 and is hitting .422 in his season-high, 12-game hitting streak. Nava is convinced the Royals are a playoff contender. "Of course," Nava said. "Everyone realizes with their offence and pitching its just a matter of time before they click." Royals relievers Tim Collins, Aaron Crow and Greg Holland, who earned his 32nd save in 34 opportunities, worked two scoreless innings to protect the one-run lead. The bullpen has allowed one run in 20 innings on this homestand. Notes: The Royals obtained IF Jamey Carroll from the Minnesota Twins in a trade after the game for a player to be named or cash considerations. Yost said Carroll would platoon with Chris Getz, when he returns from the disabled list, at second base and backup third and shortstop. ... IF Miguel Tejada, 39, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right calf as the Royals made seven roster moves. Perez came off the concussion list, while RHP Wade Davis was removed from the family emergency leave list and will start Monday against Miami. IF Irving Falu was recalled from Triple-A Omaha. LHP Donnie Joseph was optioned to Omaha, while C Brett Hayes was designated for assignment. ... Red Sox RHP Clay Buchholz, who was 9-0 with a 1.71 ERA before going on the disabled list June 9 with a neck strain, threw another side session Sunday and is scheduled to throw again Tuesday. "Well get through Tuesday before we determine that," Red Sox manager John Farrell said of sending Buchholz out on a rehab assignment. ... Royals 2B Elliot Johnson is hitless in his past 27 at-bats and 1 for 49 since June 19. Cheap Carlos Lee Jersey . Left back Armero opened the scoring in the fifth minute when his deflected shot rolled past Greece goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis. Striker Teofilo Gutierrez poked in Colombias second goal from a deflected corner in the 58th and James Rodriguez capped it off with a low shot in stoppage time after a slick backheel flick from Juan Cuadrado. Cheap Andy Pettitte Jersey .com) - James Harden put the Houston Rockets on his back and willed them to an overtime victory on Thursday. http://www.cheapastrosjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-jose-cruz-jr-jersey . -- Louisville backup quarterback Reggie Bonnafon ran for two touchdowns and passed for another and the No. Cheap Roy Oswalt Jersey . Watch the game live on TSN and TSN GO at 9pm et/6pm pt. Serge Ibaka returned to the Thunder lineup from a calf injury that was supposed to sideline him for the remainder of the postseason and the results were sparkling. Cheap Astros Jerseys China . And by all indications, the team is expected to select phenom Connor McDavid with their selection. The Buffalo Sabres, who were knocked down to the second overall pick after finishing with the worst regular season record, are expected to take the other generational player in Jack Eichel.Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - A pair of Top 25 teams square off at the Rose Bowl on Saturday when UCLA hosts Arizona. The host Bruins have beaten the Wildcats the last two years, but can they make it three in a row? Despite its 6-2 record, UCLA arguably has been the most disappointing team in the country. The Bruins, ranked seventh in the preseason AP poll, currently are 25th after losing two of their last four games. Coach Jim Moras squad dropped a pair of home games to Utah and Oregon before prevailing on the road over California by two points and Colorado by three in overtime. Dont forget, the Golden Bears and Buffaloes are a combined 2-9 in Pac-12 play this season. Outside the 35-point victory over Arizona State, UCLAs other five wins have come by a combined 23 points, and not one of those five opponents is in the same class as Arizona. The 6-1 Wildcats have been perfect on the road this season with victories over UTSA, Washington State and Oregon. Their one loss (home against USC) came in the game following the huge upset of Oregon, so a slight letdown was possible. Last year, Arizona hosted the Bruins a week after back-to-back road wins over Colorado and California - the same situation UCLA is in now. The Wildcats lost at home to the Bruins by five points as slight 1.5-point favorites. Look for Arizona to gain revenge, especially since UCLAs pass defense has been incredibly weak compared to last year while Arizona is eighth nationally in passing with 348 yards per game. Take Arizona plus seven points in the first of three five-star plays. Oregon State returns home after what might have been its most lethargic performance in years. The Beavers were thoroughly outplayed by Stanford in the 38-14 loss, their third defeat in the last four games. One has to expect a bounce-back effort at home against California, particularly because their secondary is ranked second in the league behind the Cardinal, and Cals strength is its aerial attack. The Golden Bears have played two hard-fought contests the last two weeks, losing a heartbreaker to UCLA and then keeping pace with Oregon for 15 minutes before falling by 18 points. They have not been on the road in almost a month and have not beaten Oregon State in Corvallis since 2006. In fact, the Beavers have won 12 of the last 15 meetings and have covered six of the last seven. They also have outscored Cal, 111-31, over the last two games. It is true this Beavers squad is not in the same class as previous years, but if Mike Rileys team can take Utah to double overtime at home, it should easily defeat California by more than a field goal in the same stadium. Take Oregon State minus three points. Pittsburgh hosts Duke in a key ACC Coastal Division matchup. The Blue Devils are on top at 2-1, including a win over Georgia Tech, which is 3-2. Four other squads are right behind at 2-2. Duke followed up its road victory over Georgia Tech with a seven-point home win over Virginia. The Blue Devils had a week off to get ready for the Panthers, who have lost four of their last five games. Pittsburghs lone win came over Virginia Tech, the worst team in the Coastal Division. The Panthers had zero chance to defeat Georgia Tech last week after fumbling four times on their first four possessions, leading to four Yellow Jackets touchdowns. Pittsburgh trailed 28-0 with only about five minutes off the clock! The Panthers now are 1-5 ATS in their last six home games. They also are 0-5 ATS in their last five as home favorites, and outside of their 2013 win and cover over a 2-10 Virginia team, they have failed to cover an ACC game as home ffavorites.dddddddddddd Since losing by three points (and covering) at home against Pittsburgh early last season, the Blue Devils are 14-3 with the three losses coming to Florida State, Texas A&M and Miami (Florida). They should be favored in this game by about a touchdown. Instead, Pittsburgh is giving 3.5 points. Take Duke plus the 3.5 points. THREE-STAR CHOICES For some strange reason, North Carolina was a 17-point underdog against Miami (Florida) earlier in the week. The line has since dropped to 14.5, still a very high number considering how well the Tar Heels have been playing of late. Moreover, they are 9-4 in their last 13 games when getting nine points or more, and Miami is 4-11 in its last 15 games when giving a touchdown or more. The Hurricanes have looked outstanding the last two games, blowing out both Cincinnati and Virginia Tech, but they still have three defeats on the season, including two in ACC play. In addition, they have their biggest game of the year coming up next against Florida State. Last season, the Hurricanes barely defeated Wake Forest, 24-21, as 26-point home favorites in the game leading up to Florida State, while two years ago, they lost to the Tar Heels prior to taking on the Seminoles. North Carolina has the same conference record (2-2) as Miami and the Heels are playing much better than they did earlier in the season. They almost defeated Notre Dame, losing by a touchdown on the road. Then they beat Georgia Tech by five points at home, and last week, they were getting seven points at Virginia and won outright, 28-27. Take North Carolina plus 14.5 points. San Diego State is at Nevada in a crucial Mountain West Conference battle. The Aztecs lead the West Division with a 3-1 record, but Nevada is one game back at 2-2. The Wolf Pack are riding a two-game winning streak with road victories over BYU and Hawaii. Even though this contest is a home game, they have done a good bit of traveling of late, first going to Provo, Utah, and then out to Honolulu. Now they take on the Aztecs, who were off last week after hosting Hawaii on Oct. 18. San Diego State is one of the better rushing teams in the country with Donnel Pumphrey leading the charge. The sophomore already has 989 yards and 12 touchdowns after just seven games. Meanwhile, Nevada is allowing 4.7 yards per carry this season. San Dieg