The Phillies won a challenge in the third inning

TEMPE, Ariz. - The Arizona Cardinals have taken another big injury hit, but it could have been worse.Coach Bruce Arians said Friday that quarterback Drew Stanton will not require surgery on his injured right knee.We feel he definitely has a chance to be back this season, the coach said. We just dont know when.Asked if there was any chance Stanton could play in the next game, a crucial NFC West showdown against Seattle on Dec. 21, Arians said, I wouldnt put it past him but I would be surprised.He would not specify what the injury is but multiple reports said Stanton has a sprained knee.Arians said he hasnt decided whether Ryan Lindley or rookie Logan Thomas would start in Stantons place.Ill just sit down and think about which one I want, Arians said.Lindley finished the game after Stanton was hurt in the third quarter of Thursday nights 12-6 win at St. Louis, a victory that virtually guaranteed Arizona a spot in the playoffs.Lindley, the fourth quarterback to play for the Cardinals this season, was the No. 3 quarterback for Arizona last season but was released in favour of Thomas at the end of this preseason. The Cardinals signed him off the San Diego practice squad after starter Carson Palmer went down with a season-ending knee injury, also against the Rams, on Nov. 9.Arians said Lindley had the poise and confidence I knew he would have after he went in against St. Louis.They had some exotic blitzes, Arians said. He was on top of his protections and his hots and sights. ... If Logan had gone in, he would have got some stuff hed never seen before. Ryan, I knew, would handle that part of it better.Stanton, who had not taken a regular-season snap in four years before this season, is 5-3 as a starter in relief of Palmer.Arizona was leading 9-3 Thursday night when Stanton was sacked and stayed on the ground in pain. He hopped off the field on his left leg and, a short time later, was carted away, getting a high-five from Lindley as he left.Arizona has the best record in the NFL and would have the No. 1 seed in the NFC by winning out because the Cardinals have a better conference record than Green Bay (10-3). The Cardinals, who hadnt won 11 games in a season since 1975, have assured themselves a playoff spot except in the highly unlikely even that Sundays Dallas-Philadelphia game ends in a tie.They have succeeded despite injuries that have knocked out some of their best players — such as defensive tackle Darnell Dockett, outside linebacker John Abraham and, most recently, running back Andre Ellington — for the season and sidelined others for a few games, among them wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, defensive end Calais Campbell and safety Tyrann Mathieu.The prospect of sending Lindley or Thomas against the fierce defence of surging Seattle is an ominous one, and it looks to be a supremely significant game.If the Seahawks win at home against San Francisco on Sunday, they will be 10-4 and a game behind Arizona. If Seattle then beats Arizona, there would be a tie atop the NFC West with a game to play and the Seahawks would hold the tiebreaker by virtue of two wins over the Cardinals.Arizonas hopes would seem to ride on its strong defence and its recently improved running game.Right now thats us, Arians said. Weve got to run the football. Weve set a nice little pattern. This is going to be a great challenge because these guys are very good against the run and always have been. I think the biggest thing is not turning it over, and our defence continues to take it away. Thats going to be our recipe for success.The coach said that whichever quarterback plays, its just a matter of having him comfortable.Whether its 10 plays or 50 plays, the menu doesnt have to be that large, Arians said, as long as he understands where the ball should go and why it should go there.Arians knows his team will be an underdog against Seattle. But the Cardinals are 7-0 at home, and this team has defied forecasts of doom before.I dont think theres a doubt in anybodys mind in that locker room, Arians said, that we can win every game.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Chuck Howley Cowboys Jersey .com) - Maria Sharapova rallied for a three- set win over Ana Ivanovic on Saturday to capture the season-opening Brisbane International tennis tournament. Connor McGovern Cowboys Jersey . Earnshaw, 31, most recently spent time on loan in Israel with Maccabi Tel Aviv from Welsh club Cardiff City, which plays in Englands second-tier League Championship. Earnshaw began his career with Cardiff Citys youth program and turned professional in 1998. http://www.shoptheofficialcowboys.com/Elite-Darren-Woodson-Cowboys-Jersey/ . -- Cam Newton pranced into the end zone, placed his hands over his chest and did his familiar Superman pose. Taco Charlton Womens Jersey . Detroits powerful offence made that unnecessary. Scherzer allowed two hits and struck out seven, and the Tigers backed their star right-hander with three early homers in an 8-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday night. Darren Woodson Jersey . On Wednesday night, they showed that stellar defence and a little small ball can get the job done too. With pinch-runner Kevin Pillar aboard after Dioner Navarro opened the bottom of the ninth with a single, Anthony Gose dropped down an excellent bunt along the first-base line.PHILADELPHIA -- It took a while, but the Chicago Cubs at last won a series away from Wrigley Field. Now, they hope to keep it going. Travis Wood pitched hitless ball into the sixth inning and the Cubs beat the Philadelphia Phillies 3-0 Sunday, taking two of three at Citizens Bank Park. Anthony Rizzo hit his 14th home run and Starlin Castro added three hits for Chicago. The last-place Cubs had been 0-9-3 in road series this year, and hadnt won a set away from Chicago since last Sept. 9-11. This was the Cubs first series win in Philadelphia since April 2001. The Cubs begin a three-game trip at Miami on Monday. "Its good to win a series on the road," Rizzo said. "We can take that into Miami with us." The Phillies finished with just three hits against Wood (7-5) and closer Neil Ramirez while being shut out for the ninth time this year. Philadelphia manager Ryne Sandberg seemed frustrated that Philadelphias hitters didnt adjust to Wood. "The guy was pitching up in the zone and we were hitting flyballs," Sandberg said. "For us not to make an adjustment and not get on top of some of those balls, those are hittable balls." Wood didnt allow a hit until Ben Reveres one-out single in the sixth. He gave up three hits in eight innings while striking out six and walking three. "I felt really good today," Wood said. "The cutter inside was working well, and they were kind of jamming themselves." The right-hander said he was aware of the potential no-hitter. "You always know about it," he said. "Besides, a guy in the stands let me know about it." Ramirez got his third save. A.J. Burnett (4-6) gave up three runs and eight hits in eight innings. He moved past Hall of Famer Eddie Plank into 50th place on the career strikeout list with his fifth-inning fanning of Luis Valbuena, giving him 2,252. Centre fielder Ryan Sweeney kept Woods pitching line scoreless when he caught Chase Utleys drive to the warning track to end the eighth, finishing on his knees for the grab. It was that kind of day for Philadelphias tepid offence, which ranks near the bottom of the league in several offensive categories. "Our pitching has kept us in games," Sandberg said.dddddddddddd "On the offensive side, its about picking things up on offence." Burnett, though, didnt blame his teammates for the defeat. "Our guys aint going out there trying to get out," he said. "He came out and made good pitches against us all game. Its not frustrating on my part because I have a job to do." The Cubs got all of the offence they needed in the first inning. Rizzo staked Wood to an early lead with a solo homer in the first. It marked the eighth straight game in which the Cubs have hit a home run at Citizens Bank Park, totalling 12 drives in that span. "Hes hit quite a few home runs and some big ones, too," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said. The Cubs tacked on a run in the third on Castros RBI single and then made it 3-0 in the sixth on Nate Schierholtzs RBI double. A day after passing Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt to become the Phillies all-time leader with 2,235 hits, Jimmy Rollins went 1 for 4. Philadelphia threatened in the sixth when Rollins singled to put runners on first and second with one out, but Utley and Marlon Byrd popped out. The Phillies won a challenge in the third inning when first-base umpire Gary Cederstroms safe call of Rizzo was overturned after video review. NOTES: Phillies hard-throwing rookie Ken Giles, called up last Sunday, hit 100 mph on the radar gun with three pitches during a scoreless inning of relief in the eighth. ... Castro improved to 13-for-29 lifetime off Burnett. ... To commemorate the 1964 club that nearly reached the World Series, the Phillies wore throwback uniforms from that season. Hall of Famer Jim Bunning, who threw the only perfect game on Fathers Day in major league history for the Phillies against the Mets 50 years ago, tossed out the ceremonial first pitch. And, in keeping with the 60s theme, Art Garfunkel sank "God Bless America" during the seventh-inning stretch. ... Philadelphia LHP Cole Hamels (2-3, 3.07) opposes Braves RHP Julio Teheran (6-4, 2.41) in Atlanta on Monday night. ... Chicago RHP Jason Hammel (6-4, 2.81) will face RHP Tom Koehler (5-5, 3.68) in Miami on Monday night. ' ' '