Regeln » think Arsene has been incredibly unlucky with injuries this sea

OAKLAND, Calif. -- With a little more playing time these past few days, Athletics slugger Billy Butler is finally getting comfortable at the plate -- even in a rare appearance against a right-hander.It might not be enough to get him out of a part-time role in Oakland. Still, its a step in the right direction for the former All-Star first baseman.Butler hit a tiebreaking home run off Erasmo Ramirez with one out in the eighth inning and the As held on to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 on Sunday.Ive shown it my career, I can come through in those situations day in and day out, Butler said after helping the As complete a 7-3 homestand. Its one of those things where I really havent had any opportunities to be frustrated. I just havent had my number called a lot. Coming through in those situations, maybe Ill get my number called more.Oakland lost the first game of this series then won the next two on walkoff hits. The As led 2-0 in the finale until Logan Forsythes tying two-run homer in the top of the eighth.Ramirez (7-8) retired Khris Davis on a fly ball before Butler hammered an 0-1 pitch over the wall in center. Its Butlers third home run of the season and first since June 7.Butler also had an RBI single in the first, giving him 18 RBI over his last 35 games.Its tough for a guy that plays every day to try to get himself into a rhythm if hes not, but thats a big hit today, As manager Bob Melvin said. Hes staying positive . but this has been a tough year for him, based on the fact hes asked to do something hes not used to doing.Davis added two hits while Jake Smolinski doubled twice and scored for the As.Ryan Dull (4-2) retired two batters for the win despite giving up Forsythes home run. Ryan Madson pitched the ninth for his 21st save.Home runs have beat us up a lot this year, Rays manager Kevin Cash said. Obviously when you give up that many, theyre coming at the wrong time.Forsythes home run in the eighth ruined an otherwise stellar day for As starter Jesse Hahn.Called up from the minors before the game, Hahn faced just two over the minimum through six innings and allowed only one runner to reach second base before leaving with a 2-0 lead with two outs in the eighth. The right-hander walked one and matched his season-high of five strikeouts.Oakland jumped on Tampa Bay rookie left-hander Blake Snell early and strung together four consecutive one-out hits in the first. Davis had an RBI double and Butler added a run-scoring single to put the As up 2-0.Snell allowed two runs over 6 2/3 innings. He struck out four and walked two.THIN BENCHWith only one fully healthy player (Matt McBride) available off the bench Melvin was asked if he had any pitchers hed consider using as positional players if the need arose. Ive got a couple of guys that would like to do it, Melvin said, specifically mentioning Sonny Gray and Kendall Graveman. I hope I dont get to that point. Position players always think they can pitch . and pitchers who are athletic always think they can play positions.TRAINERS ROOMRays: Desmond Jennings (strained left hamstring) ran the bases and took batting practice without a setback during a minor league rehab appearance. ... RHP Brad Boxberger threw 22 pitches in a rehab outing and is hopeful of rejoining the big league club in Los Angeles.Athletics: Coco Crisp was a late scratch because of neck soreness. He joined Josh Reddick (lower back soreness) on the bench. ... Rich Hill threw 30 pitches while wearing a protective covering on the middle finger of his left hand. Hill, who left his last start after five pitches because of a blister, will continue to throw bullpens for conditioning until the blister heals. ... Arismendy Alcantara was optioned to Triple-A Nashville.UP NEXTRays: RHP Chris Archer (5-13) pitches against the Dodgers in the opener of a two-game series on Tuesday. Archer entered the weekend leading the AL with 147 strikeouts.Athletics: RHP Daniel Mengden (1-1) returns to his native Texas to face the Rangers on Monday. Mengden was born in Houston and attended Texas A&M.- -- -This version correctly shows that the As took three of four games and did not sweep the series.Adidas Ultra Boost Offerta . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. Ultra Boost Outlet . Anthony Calvillo, through 20 CFL seasons, was frequently invincible and largely stoic in the heat of competition. But underneath the professional exterior he was, and is, compellingly human. http://www.scontateultraboost.it/ . He says so-called TRT is only one problem and he wants to go even further than the ban. "Its about time," St-Pierre told reporters at a promotional event in Montreal on Friday. "I think its a good thing. Adidas Ultra Boost Uomo Scontate . The recently retired Stern was elected Friday to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and will be enshrined with the class of 2014 on Aug. Adidas Ultra Boost Italia . In the lead up - which seemed to begin the moment Mike Geiger blew the whistle in Houston last Thursday night - the Impact rumour mill went into overdrive. The speculation went into meltdown mode, of the golden nugget variety.West Brom manager Tony Pulis says injuries have cost Arsenal the consistency to challenge for the title this season.A run of four wins from 13 Premier League games since mid-January means Arsenals chances of winning the Premier League are all but over ahead of Thursdays game against Pulis West Brom, live on Sky Sports.Arsene Wenger is facing unprecedented criticism from an increasingly vocal section of Gunners supporters and again dealt with questions about his future on the eve of the Albion game. But Pulis, who once accused Wenger of moaning like a drain during his time as Stoke boss, believes injuries to the likes of Santi Cazorla, Alexis Sanchez, Danny Welbeck and Jack Wilshere this term mean the Frenchman has a genuine hard-luck story.Arsenal can beat any team in Europe on their day, he said. And I think Arsene has been incredibly unlucky with injuries this season. He has missed big players at important times.Once all those players are fit, he has got a strong enough squad to win this league. He will be disappointed with the inconsistency but all the other clubs will be saying the same thing, apart from Leicester and Tottenham.West Brom have lost back-to-back games since hitting the 40-point mark earlier this month, but Saiido Berahino missed two penalties during the weekend defeat to Watford.ddddddddddddulis said: The aim has to be to get as many points as we can. The next two games are going to be tough. Saido Berahino missed two penalties during West Broms defeat to Watford I am desperate to get to the next stage and the next stage. And as we have seen, we have played well enough in the last two games to pick points up and not got points.If you look at the stats, the running stats against Manchester City and against Watford were fantastic. We have had opportunities in both games to score goals and we have missed those chances.Pulis confirmed Berahino will remain on penalty duty, saying: He will pick the next one up and take that as well and hopefully he will smash it into the back of the net.Also See:Wenger: Im staying putSanchez and Ozil can waitWenger: No Wilshere setbackWenger must make big signings ' ' '