Cuts » Gators to convert a third-down conversion (0 for 12). It marks

BALTIMORE -- Thrust into the unwanted position of playing out the final weeks of a losing season, the Tampa Bay Rays have found a way to make the situation more tolerable.Evan Longoria homered and drove in five runs, and the last-place Rays again played the spoilers role in a 7-6 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night.The loss stalled the Orioles bid to enhance their position in the playoff picture. Baltimore dropped two games behind AL East-leading Boston and fell even with Toronto in the loss column in the duel for the top wild-card spot.Tampa Bay has won three straight, including the last two of a three-game series in Toronto. The Rays also defeated the wild-card contending Yankees on Sunday.Its fun that we are playing competitive baseball, Longoria said. Its one thing to go out in a great environment against a team that is a playoff contender, but to be in the game and winning games is the best thing about it.The Rays arent embracing the role of spoiler. Theyre just trying to go out on a high note, and if it hurts their opponent, well so be it.Were playing well and this is great learning experience for all of us in these environments, manager Kevin Cash said.Longoria said: I dont think were coming to the ballpark everyday thinking we want to spoil this team or that teams chances of getting to the playoffs.Tampa Bay avoided being eliminated from playoff contention, but a Toronto victory against the Angels later Thursday would mathematically end the Rays chances of reaching the postseason.Alex Colome worked the ninth for his 33rd save. After the Orioles got runners at first and third with one out, the right-hander struck out major league home run leader Mark Trumbo and slugger Chris Davis.Baltimore went 3 for 15 with runners in scoring position.Although the temperature was a comfortable 72 degrees and the Orioles are in the midst of a playoff push, the game attracted an announced crowd of only 19,233.Longoria put the Rays up 3-0 before Yovani Gallardo (5-8) got an out. Baltimore answered in the bottom half with a two-run single by Matt Wieters and a two-run double by J.J. Hardy.Tampa Bay pulled even in the second, went ahead in the third and used Longorias two-run single to make it 7-4 in the fourth.When Orioles manager Buck Showalter emerged from the dugout to pull Gallardo in the fourth, many of the hometown fans cheered. They subsequently booed the right-hander as he walked toward the dugout.Gallardo gave up six runs and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings. In 21 starts this season, hes surrendered 21 earned runs in the first inning.Baltimores Nolan Reimold hit into a double play with runners on the corners in the fourth. The Rays worked out of an even bigger jam in the fifth, retiring Manny Machado, Trumbo and Davis with runners at second and third.Brad Boxberger (4-1) got the last two outs in the fifth.Run-scoring groundouts by Hardy and Michael Bourn made it 7-6 in the eighth.TRAINERS ROOMRays: 1B Nick Franklin left in the fifth inning with a left hamstring strain. ... 1B Logan Morrison will get a second opinion on whether surgery is required for his season-ending left wrist injury. Morrison was injured while taking a swing Sunday and received an MRI this week.Orioles: OF Steve Pearce will be sidelined until the final week of the season, maybe longer, after receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection in his throwing arm Wednesday. ... RHP Darren ODay (rotator cuff strain) will throw a simulated game Friday.UP NEXTRays: Chris Archer (8-18, 4.05 ERA) starts Friday night, seeking to pad his AL-leading strikeout total of 217. He also hopes to avoid setting the franchise record for losses in a season. The right-hander is currently tied with Tanyon Sturtze, who lost 18 in 2002.Orioles: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (7-11, 5.98) strives to win his fourth straight start. Hes got a 2.83 ERA in his last four outings. Scarpe Online Uomo Scontate . There are surprises among the Vezina candidates, but most of the others are standard top-tier performers, even if the two Hart Trophy runners-ups have never been quite as good as they have been through the first half of the season. Scarpe Nike Italia . -- Bryant McKinnie came out of his stance and lowered his shoulder into a practice squad player, causing a crisp thud to reverberate in the Miami Dolphins practice bubble. http://www.scontatescarpe.it/ . Rob Manfred, baseballs chief operating officer, testified last week during the grievance filed by the players union to overturn Rodriguezs 211-game suspension. A person familiar with the hearing, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press on Saturday that Manfred testified the sport wasnt concerned whether Bosch distributed performance-enhancing drugs to minors because MLBs interest was his relationship with players under investigation. Scarpe Scontate Online . Hargreaves began his career in 2008 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and has played with the Edmonton Eskimos and last season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Scarpe Nike Edizione Limitata . Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek defeated Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (4) on the indoor hard-court at Belgrade Arena. The victory improved the Czech pairs impressive cup doubles record to 14-1. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida States regular season is over, though Dalvin Cook was wearing a shirt with his possible destination in two weeks.The junior was wearing a Heisman Trophy shirt after rushing for 153 yards on 26 carries in the 15th-ranked Seminoles 31-13 victory over No. 13 Florida on Saturday night.When asked about the significance of the shirt, Cook said, Im just playing ball.What Cook was happier about is he is the first FSU back since Sammie Smith in 1988 to have three straight 100-yard games against the Gators.This is the game you put on the calendar at the beginning of the year. You prepare for them and take advantage of the moment, Cook added about playing in rivalry games.Cook became the schools career rushing leader in the Nov. 20 win at Syracuse. He added another mark on Saturday when his 17-yard touchdown was his 45th career rushing score, which broke Greg Allens 32-year-old mark.You are blessed to coach certain guys in your career and he is one of them, Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher said of Cook.Cook refused to say if this was his final home game or if he has already decided to declare early for the NFL draft.The Seminoles (9-3, 5-3 Atlantic Coast Conference, No. 14 CFP) rushed for 249 yards and averaged 6.2 yards per carry against the nations fifth-ranked run defense.We were able to control the clock and run the football and pick up third downs and played situational football, Fisher said.Deondre Francois was 15 of 26 for 138 yards, including a 46-yard touchdown to Travis Rudolph during the third quarter to give the Seminoles a 17-6 lead. Francois also had a 9-yard rushing touchdown late in the fourth quarter for the final score.The Seminoles defense also came up big, sacking Austin Appleby six times and holding the Gators to 207 total yards. Appleby was 19 of 35 for 149 yards while Jordan Scarlett, who had three 100-yard games in his past five, was held to 53 yards.Florida (8-3, 6-2 Southeastern Conference, No. 15 CFP) scored its lone touchdown in the fourth quarter as Marcell Harris recovered a fumbled punt by Auden Tate and returned it 12 yards for a score.We had a pretty good plan those first eight plays but we just became stagnant, Florida coach Jim McElwain said. Give the defense credit. We couldnt block up front and we couldnt protect.THE TAKEAWAYFlorida: The Gators are hoping that another bbad showing against their in-state rival doesnt carry through to their remaining two games.dddddddddddd Last year they lost to Alabama in the SEC championship game and then were routed by Michigan (41-7) in the Citrus Bowl. With the way Floridas offense looked on Saturday, it is possible.Florida State: The Seminoles, who were ranked fourth in the preseason, found their College Football Playoff hopes dashed in early October as they stumbled to a 3-2 start. However, they did wrap up the mythical state championship yet again.STREAKINGThe victory ties the Seminoles longest winning streak in the Sunshine Showdown series. They also won four straight from 1977-80 and 1987-90.It also marks the first time in school history that FSU has defeated Miami and Florida in the same season four straight years.I am unbeaten against these Florida Gators and the Miami Hurricanes so I can talk (stuff) for the rest of my life no matter what. They have never beaten me, said defensive end DeMarcus Walker, who had two sacks.DEFENSIVE DOMIMNANCEFlorida State has not allowed Florida to score an offensive touchdown in nine quarters -- a span of 135 minutes, 47 seconds. The Seminoles also didnt allow the Gators to convert a third-down conversion (0 for 12). It marks the first time since 2004 against North Carolina that FSU has held an opponent without a third-down conversion.POLL IMPLICATIONSThe Seminoles are likely to rise a couple spots after beating the Gators. The highest they were ranked after the Oct. 1 loss to North Carolina was 12th going into the Oct. 29 game against Clemson. Florida will fall but is likely to remain ranked going into the SEC championship game.UP NEXTFlorida: The Gators will face top-ranked Alabama for the second straight year in the SEC championship game next Saturday in Atlanta. It is a conference-record 12th appearance for Florida in the title game.Florida State: The Seminoles are bowl eligible for the 35th consecutive season. They could find themselves in the Orange Bowl after Louisvilles loss and if Clemson advances to the College Football Playoff.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 .---Follow Joe Reedy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/joereedy . ' ' '