win over the Edmonton Oilers on Friday. http://www.bluej

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Yoenis Cespedes homered twice and tied a career high with five RBIs before leaving with an apparent right thumb injury, and the Oakland Athletics held off the Houston Astros 9-7 on Wednesday night. The two-time reigning Home Run Derby champion hit a three-run drive in the second inning and a two-run shot in the fourth off Brad Peacock (3-7) for his 15th and 16th homers this season. Cespedes snapped a 25-game skid -- matching his career high -- since his last long ball June 19 against Boston. Cespedes was replaced in left field with the As leading 8-1 in the seventh. But the Astros almost pulled off an improbable comeback, scoring five runs in the eighth before the back of Oaklands bullpen shut them down. Jesse Chavez (8-6) allowed two runs and four hits in 5 2-3 innings to help the As (62-38) extend the best record in baseball. He struck out seven and walked two. Struggling reliever Jim Johnson gave up four runs -- three earned -- without recording an out to spark Houstons five-run eighth. He left to a smattering of boos again. Luke Gregerson stranded two runners on base in the eighth, and Sean Doolittle recorded his 15th save in 18 tries with a perfect ninth. Chavez, who had not started since July 12 at Seattle before the All-Star break, looked sharp at the outset. He did not allow a hit until Matt Dominguez lined a single to left with one out in the fifth. The As got all the support they needed in just three swings. Jed Lowrie led off Oaklands second with his fifth homer, and Cespedes busted the game open by sending a slider from Peacock over the wall in centre. In the fourth, Cespedes pulled a curveball into the stands in left to put the As up 7-0. It was Cespedes fifth career two-homer game and first since June 4 at the New York Yankees. It also was the third time hes had five RBIs in a game -- all this year. Peacock, who was traded to Houston in February 2013 as part of the deal that landed Lowrie in Oakland, was charged with seven runs and seven hits in 3 2-3 innings. The As built leads of 8-1 and 9-2 but still had a few scares late. Cespedes had his right thumb examined by a team trainer after grounding out on an awkward swing in the fifth. He stayed in the game before Craig Gentry replaced him in left field to start the seventh. First baseman Brandon Moss had his left hand looked at by a trainer after Jose Altuve ran through his tag on a misfired throw, jarring the ball loose, and Johnson -- who signed a $10 million, one-year deal with Oakland after leading the AL with 50 saves for Baltimore last season -- helped turn a runaway game into a tight one. NOTES: Athletics INF Alberto Callaspo (right hamstring) could begin a rehab assignment in the next day or so and come off the disabled list Sunday. ... The Astros placed rookie OF George Springer on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left quadriceps and recalled outfielder Marc Krauss from Triple-A Oklahoma City. ... The As said they raised $29,189 for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation during the teams annual Root Beer Float Day, bringing the 15-year total to more than $414,000. ... Jeff Samardzija (1-1, 3.27 ERA) takes the mound for Oakland against Scott Feldman (4-7, 4.30 ERA) and the Astros in Thursdays series finale. Rowdy Tellez Jersey .ca. Hi Kerry, Love reading your column and loved watching your analysis on the TSN broadcasts!And were now in Round 2! Bruins! Canadiens! We know all about the great games of the past from the players, the broadcasters and the writers. Paul Molitor Jersey . Mike Ribeiro had a goal and an assist as Phoenix held on to snap a two-game losing streak with a 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Friday. http://www.bluejaysonline.com/blue-jays-bud-norris-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. Justin Smoak Jersey . Liriano pitched in and out of trouble in his duel with Josh Beckett, and Ike Davis homered to help the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 Friday night. Rowdy Tellez Blue Jays Jersey . While the pair of Spain internationals return, midfielder Xavi Hernandez will not be included in the squad after failing to recover from a muscle strain to his left leg.WASHINGTON -- Alex Ovechkins absence added to the Washington Capitals offensive woes and the Ottawa Senators were only too glad to take advantage. Kyle Turris and Jason Spezza scored, Craig Anderson made 34 saves and the Senators beat the Capitals 2-0 Tuesday night to hand Washington its sixth straight loss. With NHL scoring leader Ovechkin out with an unspecified lower-body injury, Washington failed to convert on five power plays. During their six-game skid, the Capitals have scored just seven goals, three of them by Ovechkin. "Yeah, hes absolutely a dangerous goal scorer, leading our team and leading the league in goals," Washingtons Troy Brouwer said. "Wed love to have him out there, but we dont have him right now. Even when he was in the lineup the last few games we still havent been scoring goals." In Ovechkins absence, some of Washingtons other offensive threats were silent. Nicklas Backstrom and Mikhail Grabovski had one shot each. Defenceman John Carlson whiffed on a promising slap shot, fired high on another and was stymied by Anderson on a breakaway. "Their goalie played well, but we had a lot of guys with some really good looks, good chances," Washington coach Adam Oates said. "We have to score some goals. I would say the chances were good chances tonight, and we had a lot of them. It is a matter of finishing." It was the 12th loss in the last 15 games for the Capitals, while Ottawa improved to 7-1-2 in its last 10 games to vault Washington in the Eastern Conference standings. Turris scored his 15th of the year with just over 7 minutes left in the second period when he converted on a rush down the right side. Spezza scored his 13th goal on a power play midway through the third period, rifling a wrist shot from the left wing that went just inside the near post and past Caapitals goalie Braden Holtby, who finished with 24 saves in first start since Jan.dddddddddddd4. As they tried to rally, the Capitals didnt get their customary boost from their fans. The Verizon Center, which regularly sells out, was less than half full because of a snowstorm that closed schools and shut down the government Tuesday. "Its a building where they are notorious for coming back and getting momentum," Spezza said. "So to get the two-goal lead lets us play a little different style and with a little more confidence. I thought we played better with the lead tonight in general." It was the 32-year-old Andersons third shutout this year and 25th in his career. He was at his best in the third period when he sprawled for a save to help the Senators kill a penalty and later kicked away a drive by Marcus Johansson. "We played really well for 60 minutes," Anderson said. "From the start of the game to the end of the game we did things we were supposed to do." Washingtons frustration appeared to spill over late in the game when Grabovski received a 10-minute misconduct penalty during a tussle with Zack Smith. "I want the guys to compete and be frustrated," Oates said. "But you cant live in the penalty box. Were not doing a good enough job killing penalties. So that doesnt make sense, either. But I want them to fight for everything we can." NOTES: The Capitals recalled Nate Schmidt to fortify the defence after Steve Oleksy was sent to Hershey and John Erskine sustained an upper-body injury. Schmidt, 22, opened the year in Washington, totalling six points in 28 games. ... The move came a day after Washington sent goalie Philipp Grubauer back to Hershey. The rookie had been pulled from his previous two starts. ... The Capitals play their next five games on the road. ' ' '