DETROIT -- The Houston Astros found a few ways to lose on Saturday night.Jose Altuve dropped a routine popup that allowed a run to score, closer Will Harris couldnt hold a one-run lead in the ninth inning and the Astros wasted a late rally in a 3-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers.Harris blown save came after Houston scored twice in the top of the ninth inning against starter Justin Verlander for a 2-1 lead.This is a tough one to take, because we played so hard all night, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. We scratch across two in the top of the ninth against Verlander, and then weve got two out in the bottom of the ninth with no one on base and get walked off.The Astros have lost four of five and are now a half-game behind Detroit as both teams chase Boston for the second AL wild-card spot.This is when you have to start to make your move, said Tigers catcher James McCann, who drove in the tying run moments before Jose Iglesias won it with an RBI infield single. When August and September roll around, you have to be ready to make a run at the playoffs.Harris (1-2) retired the first two batters in the ninth but then walked Justin Upton. Tyler Collins singled and McCann drove Upton home with another single.Iglesias then hit a grounder between first and second base. First baseman Jason Castro ranged to his right to field it, but Iglesias beat Harris to the bag while Collins scored.I should have found the bag and then caught the ball, but I tried to catch the ball and then find the bag, Harris said. Its just a bonehead play by me. Theres no other way to put it.Detroit led 1-0 going into the ninth, but Houston rallied to take the lead in the top of the inning.George Springer led off the ninth with a single -- just the third hit allowed by Verlander -- and took second on Altuves one-out infield single.Carlos Correa then looped a base hit into shallow center, scoring Springer and moving Altuve to third. Colby Rasmus hit a soft grounder into the hole, and while shortstop Iglesias was able to get the force at second, Altuve easily scored from third.That was tough, because I thought we were going to lose, and I was going to be shouldering the blame, Verlander said. I felt like I made some really good pitches, but they put them in play and got hits out of them.Verlander (11-6) got his first complete game of the season. He struck out 11 while allowing two runs and five hits.Houston starter Mike Fiers gave up one run, four hits and two walks in 6 1/3 innings.The Tigers threatened in the second, putting runners on first and second with no one out, but Altuve fielded Uptons grounder, stepped on second and threw to third in time to retire Victor Martinez. That saved a run when Collins followed with a single, and Fiers got out of the inning.In the meantime, Verlander allowed two hits in the first inning but didnt allow another baserunner until he walked Altuve to start the seventh.By that point, the Tigers had taken a 1-0 lead on a fluke play in the sixth. With two out and Cameron Maybin on first, Miguel Cabrera lifted a high pop fly behind second base. Altuve appeared ready to make the catch but took a false step at the last second and dropped the ball for an error. Maybin, who was running hard with two outs, slid just past a tag at home after starting at first.I think the ball was so high that I got a little dizzy, Altuve said. I saw it, but it got so high that I was having trouble staying under it. I just stumbled a little, and thats when I lost it.The Tigers almost added a run in the seventh, but Springer made a lunging catch of Iglesias sinking liner to right.TRAINERS ROOMAstros: INF Marwin Gonzalez (hand) and OF Carlos Gomez (hamstring) were both out of the lineup with minor injuries, leaving C Evan Gattis as the only healthy player on Houstons bench.UP NEXTThe teams finish their weekend series Sunday afternoon, with Detroits Mike Pelfrey (3-9, 4.98) facing Dallas Keuchel (6-10, 4.57). Keuchel has won his last three starts against the Tigers, including throwing eight scoreless innings in Houston on April 15. Womens Marlins Jerseys . The Croatian served 21 aces and hit 42 winners against Sijsling, who double-faulted to give Cilic a 4-3 lead in the deciding set. "All the players, they know me and they were really happy to see me and they were really happy that this is over for me," Cilic said. Youth Marlins Jerseys . The news was first reported on Gonzalezs Twitter account and confirmed by the Rockies. Gonzalez has a six-week window before position players have their first workout at spring training in Arizona. http://www.marlinsjerseyscheap.com/?tag=starlin-castro-jersey . The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. Jose Fernandez Jersey . Q: Team Canada announces their Olympic roster three weeks from today. Who is general manager Steve Yzerman watching? LeBrun: Over the last 48 hours, hes taken in the home-and-home between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche with Jamie Benn and Matt Duchene being the obvious targets. Wei-Yin Chen Jersey . "We have always prided ourselves on the way we play defence. Having two big pieces back is going to be a key for us moving forward for years to come," said Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen. Its the 2015 North American League Championship finals, and players on Team Solo Mid and Counter Logic Gaming sit anxiously in their seats, knees bouncing erratically from excess adrenaline. Sitting among an ocean of fans is Hawaiian native (and high ping survivor) Matt Matt Elento, support player for Team Liquid. At the time, Matt was playing for Team Liquid Academy, TLs challenger team, and arrived in New York with no money and nowhere to stay (he crashed at a friends place). Afterwards, Matt returned to the West Coast reinvigorated.I was amazed at how many people were there, he said. I was just amazed that all these guys that I played with almost every day in solo queue. It was pretty natural to think I wasnt that far off from them. That if I took the time and effort, I could be on the same stage that they were on. That was a real inspiration for me. So everyday, I would grind in solo queue.Part of the beauty of esports is that aspiring gamers arent handcuffed by the same restrictions as beginner athletes. Theres no need for a pitch, a referee, a net, or even daylight to practice. Theres something magical in its accessibility -- all an aspiring pro needs is their gaming device of choice -- and with a passable internet connection and indelible passion, it gives the impression that anyone can achieve that goal.Its not uncommon for talented gamers to be gifted at multiple different titles. Some common factors for success include wide champion pools and possessing lightning-fast reaction times. Still, in terms of entering the pro scene, experiences vary widely across game titles. Unlike traditional sports, a games boon or bust is partially in the hands of the game developer and how they decide its played, viewed, and monetized.While having an involved publisher can be problematic, it comes with benefits as well: a strong amateur scene, clear paths to success, more consistent compensation and an avid viewership. The opportunities for pros in different esports vary wildly. In a game that has an online ranking system like League and Dota 2, its easier to measure who is performing at a competitive level. For a console games like the Super Smash Bros installments, the route is far more treacherous; players jump from tournament to tournament in order to climb the standings. It costs money to travel to national events. Without proper sponsorship or sister teams to play on, it can be difficult for amateur players to get noticed. While tournaments certainly arent lacking in entrants, the monetary obstruction might still be diverting some of the fighting game communitys potential talent pool.Matt says League was one of the few games he had regular access to as a kid. I played Runescape, a browser-based MMO game, he said. I had an N64 growing up, but for the most part I wasnt into console games because we didnt have a console. The main reason I had to play Runescape was because I couldnt afford online memberships. It was just the game I was able to play.The fighting game communitys competitive scene (though blessed with a passionate fan base) has struggled to get the support its pros need. This is partially because of their publishers hands-off parenting style. At the Evoluution Championship Series 2016, the largest game fighting tournament in the world, Nintendo only offered setups for gamers to use and not all of the custom options were unlocked on the systems provided.ddddddddddddIn League, teams have a strong structure in place: coaches, support staff, managers, some even have a team chef. Immortals, a professional League of Legends team, has a sports psychologist on staff, who is tasked with the immense job of making sure that players are not only successful, but healthy and happy. Famed Immortals top laner, Heo Huni Seung-hoon, credits his teams strong backbone for the success theyve found this split.First of all, we have a personal coach, and I think that helps a lot. Having a personal coach, being healthy and being happy. It helps you to be successful outside of your country, Huni said. Having a healthy mentality -- it makes you successful outside of the game.Coaching was banned at Evo 2016 from the quarterfinals onward. Organizers felt that it gave players an unfair edge. They arent wrong -- it is an advantage -- though not an untoward one. A few days before Evo started, Team Liquid hired their first-ever Super Smash Bros coach, Luis Crunch Rosias. Days later, his longtime friend Juan Hungrybox DeBeidma finally secured gold after years of just falling short.For the fighting scene to truly evolve, tournament organizers need to accept that players need structure to perform at their highest level, so they can continue to improve as games change.Michael Sherman, Competitive Programs Specialist at Riot Games, says that Leagues collegiate system is growing. As of this coming fall, there will be seven different schools offering League scholarships in North America, which could set esports players up for careers within the community post-pro play. And while uLoL has no current plans to attach itself to competitive, the collegiate space is expanding--all four teams in the campus series finals had coaches. According to Sherman, should the college community ask for it, Riot would be ready to explore the implementation of a more direct process from college to pro gaming.The way I like to think of it, is that you dont sign someone up for little league to go professional one day. Sherman said. So, we like to think of college as an opportunity to scratch that competitive itch while staying in school. I cant speak for the challenger scene, but we do think of them as parallel paths. Were doing everything we can to help accelerate its growth.By contrast, opportunities to play fighting games at a competitive collegiate level are essentially nonexistent. Undoubtedly, pros in the fighting game community have been dealt a short hand, but as the scene continues to grow, so does the opportunity for players.I kind of think about how my progression as a player. It looks like anyone could have done it. There were plenty of other players who were in the same position as I was, you know, playing the game for fun, Matt said. I definitely think people should be motivated in whatever situation theyre in. Like, skys the limit. Wholesale Authentic Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Jerseys 2018 Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale China Jerseys NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Authentic Jerseys ' ' '