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ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Toronto Blue Jays will continue their playoff quest behind their accidental ace when they start a four-game series against the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night at Angel Stadium.Left-hander J.A. Happ (18-4, 3.33 ERA) will take the mound for the Blue Jays, who enter the game in the thick of the race for both the American League East championship and a wild-card spot.Toronto trails the first-place Boston Red Sox by two games in the division and is one game behind the Baltimore Orioles for the top wild-card position. At the same time, the Blue Jays are trying to repel the Detroit Tigers, Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees, all of whom lie within two games of the second wild card.Entering this year, Happ owned a career record of 62-61. His best season came in 2009, when he went 12-4 with a 2.93 ERA and two shutouts for the Philadelphia Phillies, winners of the National League pennant. Since then, however, Happ was traded four times in the next six seasons and compiled a 42-54 record through last years trading deadline, when the Seattle Mariners sent him to the Pittsburgh Pirates.Joining the Pirates provided the impetus for Happs resurgence.Once pitching coach Ray Searage adjusted his delivery, Happ went 7-2, forged a 1.85 ERA and struck out 69 batters in 63 1/3 innings while issuing just 13 walks. That performance motivated the Blue Jays to sign the left-handed free agent in November to a three-year contract worth $36 million.The 33-year-old veteran not only provided the stability that the Blue Jays rotation needed once David Price signed a free agent contract with the Boston Red Sox, but he also is making his own case to win the Cy Young Award.Happ won 11 consecutive decisions from June 11 to Aug. 17. He ranks second in the American League with a career-best 18 victories while sharing 10th place in ERA. The left-hander also is holding opposing batters to a .235 average, and he needs just three strikeouts to set a career high in that category.The thing Im most satisfied and happy with is that I feel the hard work is paying off, getting to a place mentally where I feel comfortable, Happ told the Globe and Mail. I may have pressed a little bit more than I do now. When you press, all of a sudden youre trying to be too perfect and youre down 2-0 to the batter and youre not making your pitches.One factor in Happs ability to maintain his perspective is his newborn son, J.J.Honestly, I had my first child this offseason, the left-hander told the Globe and Mail. I go home and instead of being selfish and worrying about me and moping and being upset, I get to see his face and it changes everything.The Angels will counter with right-hander Daniel Wright, who seeks his first major league victory. He will make his second start since being acquired off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds on Sept. 4.In his only previous appearance with Los Angeles, Wright allowed four runs on six hits, including two home runs, in five innings but received no decision Saturday night in the Angels 8-5 loss to the Texas Rangers. The 25-year-old rookie also hit two batters, walked one and struck out two.He really showed the ability to spin the ball, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. I think his fastballs sneaky. He got into some good spots. And really, the first pitch of the game, (Carlos) Gomez just ambushes him (for a homer), and then he hung a slider later.Wright, 25, went 0-2 with a 7.62 ERA in four games (two starts) for the Reds this year to begin his big-league career. He will be facing Toronto for the first time.Happ opposed the Angels once this year, allowing four runs in five innings during a 6-3 home loss on Aug. 25. The defeat continued his career-long trend: He is 0-5 with a 7.83 ERA in five starts against the Angels. Jim Fregosi Rangers Jersey . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position. David Clyde Jersey . With the first unit struggling of late and Amir Johnson - one of the teams iron men - hobbling on an injured right ankle, Patterson knew he could get the nod in a challenging matchup against one of the leagues up and coming players at his position. https://www.cheaprangersbaseball.com/1452h-shawn-kelley-jersey-rangers.html . Boucher previously coached the Tampa Bay Lightning and had a 97-78-20 record over two-plus seasons. He was dismissed by the team last March after the Lightning struggled in the lockout-shortened season with a 13-18-1 record. Frank Howard Rangers Jersey . LOUIS -- Attorneys for the St. Goose Gossage Jersey . No. 13-seeded John Isner and No. 21 Philipp Kohlschreiber were among six players who dropped out of the tournament on Tuesday, joining No. 12 seed Tommy Haas and two other players who withdrew on Monday. NEW YORK -- Starlin Castro, Nathan Eovaldi and Anthony Swarzak helped the Yankees get back over .500 and chip away at the huge gap with AL East-leading Baltimore. New York will need a lot more wins during the rest of July to persuade management not to jettison veterans for prospects.Nobody in this room believes we cant do it, Swarzak said after retiring eight straight batters in relief of Eovaldi during Tuesday nights 7-1 win over the Orioles.Castro homered in the second off Vance Worley (2-1) and hit a two-run double in the sixth against Odrisamer Despaigne. Chase Headley added a two-run homer off Mychal Givens in the eighth as the Yankees won their third straight.Relieving Eovaldi with the bases loaded and a 3-1 lead in the sixth, Swarzak got major league home run leader Mark Trumbo to foul out to Rob Refsnyder with his back to the plate down the right-field line and Jonathan Schoop to foul out to shortstop Didi Gregorius.New York closed within 6? games of Baltimore and ensured it would be no more than five games back for the second AL wild card. Time is running down for the teams decision whether to buy or sell as the Aug. 1 trade deadline approaches.I try not to think about that. I try to focus on the game, the game in hand, and my focus is making up ground, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.At 47-46, the Yankees are above .500 for just the third time since mid-April. New York was 4-2 before dropping to 9-17 and later got above .500 at 31-30 and 37-36 only to regress.Its been frustrating this year, because weve been here so many times and we havent been able to break through, Girardi said. I feel like if we can get over that mark, we can build on it.Making his first start since July 1 following three relief outings caused by a six-start winless streak, Eovaldi (8-6) won for the first time since May 29. He allowed one run and four hits in 5 1/3 innings, needing 18 pitches to get through the first but 37 for the next four.I dont really think about getting traded, said Eovaldi, who is eligible for free agency after the 2017 season. I feel like it kind of takes away from what I need to do here. I started out with this team, and want to finish with this team, and I feel like weve got a really good chance of coming back and coming through.Eovaldi retired 11 straight batters before wallking Ryan Flaherty in the sixth.ddddddddddddHe gave up Joey Rickards RBI double and loaded the bases with a walk to Manny Machado.Swarzak was assisted by Refsnyder, the rookie first baseman who caught Trumbos foul and made a two-hop throw home that held Adam Jones at third. Nick Goody followed and struck out the side in a perfect ninth, giving the Yankees No Runs DMC trio a rest.Girardi has been seeking a bridge to Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman.Yeah, he could be that guy, Girardi said of Swarzak.Baltimore has lost three straight, and its AL East lead over second-place Boston was cut to one-half game. First baseman Chris Davis (stomach virus) missed his second straight game and catcher Matt Wieters (sore right foot) also was out.Worley (2-1) made his first start since April 15 following 18 consecutive relief appearances. He allowed three runs, three hits and four walks in 4 1/3 innings.New Yorks Jacoby Ellsbury grounded to shortstop in the first but his swing knocked off the glove of Caleb Joseph, who was charged with catchers interference. Ellsbury has reached on catchers interference nine times, the most in a season since Roberto Kellys eight, also for the Yankees, in 1992. Ellsbury has done it 23 times in his career, the most among major leaguers since Pete Roses 29, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.Theres probably nine catchers that would like to see something change. It just doesnt seem fair to the defense, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said.AGAINNew York failed to score in the first inning for the 23rd consecutive game.LOOKING AHEADThe Yankees open the 2017 season at Tampa Bay on April 3, according to the teams draft preliminary schedule, then go to Baltimore before their home opener, slated to be against the Rays on April 10. Some openers likely will be moved to April 2 for ESPN telecasts.TRAINERS ROOM.Yankees: 1B Mark Teixeira was out of the starting lineup for the third straight game because of a sore left foot.UP NEXTRHP Michael Pineda (3-9) is to start for the Yankees on Wednesday and RHP Yovani Gallardo (3-1) for the Orioles. Pineda is 0-3 with a 4.46 ERA in six starts since beating the Los Angeles Angels on June 7. ' ' '