Join us » Two fights against Diaz will make McGregor a better fighter

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Elvis Andrus and the Texas Rangers always believe theyre going to win. Now theyre getting ever closer to another AL West title.Andrus scored the winning run on All-Star center fielder Ian Desmonds RBI single with no outs in the ninth inning as the Rangers beat the last-place Los Angeles Angels 3-2 on Monday night for their MLB-best 46th come-from-behind victory.That has been our DNA this year. We didnt give up until the last out, until the last pitch, and its contagious, said Andrus, who also had a tying solo homer in the seventh.Andrus led off the ninth with a sharp single to left off Jose Alvarez (1-3) before Carlos Gomez turned an attempted sacrifice into a bunt single. Desmonds single gave the Rangers (89-62) their 20th last at-bat victory and they improved to 35-10 in one-run games.Nomar Mazara also homered for the Rangers, whose magic number is three to win their second consecutive division title. After Seattle lost and Houston won later Monday, the Mariners and Astros were tied for second place, 9 1/2 games behind Texas in the AL West.Play it straight, just trying to play the same way weve been playing all year, Desmond said about being close to clinching. Its been working. No need to change it now.Closer Sam Dyson (3-2) worked a scoreless ninth for the victory after starter Martin Perez went seven innings and Matt Bush worked a perfect eighth.Alvarez, the sixth Angels pitcher, had gotten out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth following a 38-minute rain delay, two innings after Rangers manager Jeff Banister was ejected for arguing when a replay challenge overturned an out and led to an Angels run.Yunel Escobar was thrown out by several feet trying to stretch his hit into a triple in the sixth, then motioned toward the outfield. Manager Mike Scioscia challenged the ball had become lodged underneath the padding on the wall in right-center field and should have been ruled dead, as per the ground rules for the Rangers ballpark.We thought that someone put their hands up like it was out of play. I think thats what (Escobar) saw, Scioscia said. He kind of stutter-stepped and slowed down.Banister was ejected when he came out to get an explanation and kept questioning crew chief and second base umpire Joe West after Escobar was put at second base. The replay showed right fielder Mazara played the ball and never indicated it was wedged under the padding.From the infield you cant tell if its stuck. ... But when we went to replay, they said it stuck. So its plain and simple a ground-rule double, West told a pool reporter after the game.I had an outfielder who felt like the ball was not lodged. If you look at the video, the ball was still spinning, Banister said. In my estimation, that is not a lodged baseball. But thats not my call.Mike Trout followed with a triple into the right-field corner to tie the game 1-1. The Angels then went ahead in the seventh when Jefry Marte was hit by a pitch and scored on a two-out double by Carlos Perez.Texas got even on Andrus sixth homer, a two-out solo shot in the seventh that just cleared the 8-foot wall in center.ANOTHER EJECTIONRangers 1B Mitch Moreland was ejected after taking a called third strike to end the fourth inning, on a pitch that appeared to be well outside. While he had some words with home plate umpire Kerwin Danley as he walked back to the dugout, there were no demonstrative actions by Moreland before his first ejection in his 764 career games.SHORT HOPSRangers 3B Adrian Beltre had two hits, giving him 2,931 for his career. He passed Rogers Hornsby for 37th on the career list, and is one behind Willie Keeler. ... Mazaras 19 homers are the most by a Rangers rookie since 2003.RANGERS ROTATIONDerek Holland will pitch Wednesday for the Rangers, and Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish will both get extra rest before pitching this weekend in Oakland after an off day Thursday. That also lines them up to start the first two postseason games for Texas.TRAINERS ROOMAngels: Starting pitcher Jhouyls Chacin was struck on the left shin by a hard comebacker in the fourth. The ball ricocheted to first baseman C.J. Cron for the second out in the inning. Chacin remained on the ground for several minutes, then made a few warmup tosses before staying in the game. Chacin allowed one run over five innings while throwing 91 pitches, 29 after getting hit.Rangers: Andrus was struck directly on his right (throwing) elbow by Chacins pickoff attempt when diving back into second while a baserunner in the third inning.UP NEXTAngels: Rookie right-hander Daniel Wright (0-3, 7.04 ERA) is still seeking his first MLB victory. He made his MLB debut with Cincinnati earlier this season.Rangers: Texas has won seven of the last 10 games started by A.J. Griffin (7-4, 4.78 ERA). The right-handers Texas debut was a win at the Angels on April 8. Cheap Yeezys .J. -- Josh Cribbs was in the Pro Bowl in February and out of a job six months later. Fake Yeezy Online . Luis Suarezs double powered Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Fulham, and Southampton easily overcame Hull 4-1 to continue the south coast clubs impressive start to the season. Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home. http://www.fakeyeezycheap.com/ . -- Josh Sterk scored once and set up two more as the Oshawa Generals edged the visiting Belleville Bulls 3-2 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Wholesale Yeezys . McPhee said that Ovechkins father Mikhail is in stable condition after having the surgery this week and is no longer in intensive care. "Weve told him to stay as long as necessary with your dad," he said. Ovechkin and his Russian national team were eliminated from the mens hockey tournament in Sochi on Wednesday with a 3-1 quarter-final loss to Finland. Best Fake Yeezys 2019 . PAUL, Minn. It has been a long road, but were finally here. Its time for the second chapter of Nate Diaz vs.?Conor McGregor.OK, so actually the road to UFC 202 on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas hasnt been long at all. This rivalry went from zero to 100, as they say, in a hurry.Five months ago, McGregor was on top of the world, calling out lightweight and welterweight champs with every breath. Now hes staring down the barrel of a second consecutive loss to Diaz, who was so disgruntled with the sport and his contract in 2014, he actually requested a release from the UFC.Mixed martial arts moves quickly, and every storyline around this rematch is a testament to that. Lets take a closer look at this welterweight rematch. Dont agree with the pick? Let me know on Twitter: @bokamotoESPN.Main eventNate Diaz (19-10) vs. Conor McGregor (19-3) Welterweight rematch Odds: Diaz +115; McGregor -125Moments before the second round of their first fight, McGregor looked across the Octagon at Diaz and said, I can go all day. All day long.About two minutes later, McGregor gassed. Diaz hurt him with one left hand and the whole dam broke. Flood Diaz. McGregor tried to circle away but couldnt evade the bigger, longer man. He went to his tried-and-true left hand to back Diaz off, but that failed as well. Eventually desperation forced him to shoot the takedown.Here are perhaps the most basic observations one can make from that fight: McGregor did very well early -- and once the tide turned, he was all but helpless.Thats worth noting because it so clearly shows how important it is for McGregor to maintain constant control of this fight. Thats always true when youre talking about a fighter moving up in weight, but its amplified here because of Diaz. You cant weather a storm on the feet and hope Diaz gasses because he doesnt gas. You cant force a takedown to buy time and clear your head because hell choke you unconscious.In other words, theres no safe place for McGregor if he loses control. If at any time he finds himself in trouble, it means hes in a lot of trouble.Now dont panic, Ireland, working in McGregors favor in all this is that he is quite good. Even taking into account the fact Diaz had no camp for the first fight, McGregors tactics in the first eight minutes were fantastic. He repeatedly came over Diazs jab with the left. He landed several hard counter left uppercuts. Weve all come to know McGregor as this towering featherweight who aggressively mauls opponents, but hes actually a very skilled counter-striker as well.Throughout his career, Diazs lead leg has been vulnerable to kicks. McGregor threw effective side kickks in the first fight, and his coach called for more but they did not show up huge in his game plan.dddddddddddd He conceded afterward he fell in love with the left hand and the lack of leg kicks is evidence of that.On the ground, its safe to assume Diaz holds a massive advantage. McGregor is not inept on the floor -- certain criticisms of his grappling have been, in my opinion, a bit exaggerated -- but at the same time, its true he hasnt had to show submission defense often in the UFC. Diazs jiu-jitsu is some of the best in the division. The canvas is not where McGregor wants to be in this fight -- ever.Diaz didnt seem intent on taking him down in March. The one takedown he was credited for came off a McGregor body kick, which he caught. Diazs wrestling is mostly set up out of the clinch, which I could see him trying to use a lot. If McGregors intent is to step off the gas and pace himself, forcing him into a clinch fight against a bigger man is a good way to blow that energy again.What is McGregors game plan on Saturday? Is it actually a very similar approach, just with different physical preparations? Is it a complete change in character -- move in and out, leg kick, circle, score points, avoid exchanges? I expect the pace to remain high but fewer power shots. Attack that lead leg and work the body more than he did the first time.PREDICTION: Two fights against Diaz will make McGregor a better fighter -- but a dimmer star. Diaz by fourth-round submission.Featured undercard boutsAnthony Johnson (21-5) vs. Glover Teixeira (25-4), light heavyweights Teixeira has all the tools to wear out Johnson over time, but Johnsons ability to just crack a dude is second to none. Its otherworldly. Prediction: Johnson via second-round KODonald Cerrone (30-7) vs. Rick Story (19-8), welterweights Cerrone is the better fighter when its all said and done, but at 170 pounds, with a strong ox of an opponent, Story can make this a dogfight that favors him. Prediction: Story via third-round TKOCody Garbrandt (9-0) vs. Takeya Mizugaki (21-9-2), bantamweights Garbrandt is the front-runner for breakout fighter of 2016. Mizugaki is a steely veteran who could always ruin the party. This storyline never gets old. Prediction: Garbrandt via second-round KONeil Magny (18-4) vs. Lorenz Larkin (17-5), welterweights? One of the more overlooked bouts on the card. Larkin should have advantages on the feet, but Magny brings a more complete package. Close fight. Prediction: Magny via second-round submission ' ' '