locating the ball worked for me today, said Liriano, who is 0-1 with a 3.57 ERA in three starts since being acquired from Pittsburgh. It was definitely the best Ive felt since I came here.The crowd of 30,665

LEXINGTON, Ohio -- IndyCar points leader Simon Pagenaud knows Team Penske teammate Will Power is chasing him down, so earning the pole at Mid-Ohio Race Sports Car Course was important.Pagenaud set a course record with a lap at 127.271 mph around the 13-turn, 2.258-mile road course Saturday to edge Power.The Frenchman Pagenaud increased his lead to 48 points entering the race Sunday.Thats what you need to do to win the championship, Pagenaud said. Its a long season. Thats what we were doing at the beginning of the season to extend the gap.It was his sixth pole position of the season and the eighth of his career. He won three of the first five races and had top-three finishes in the other two but has made only one podium in the past six races.Weve been good the whole season, Pagenaud said. The pole position shows your strength and speed, but [Sunday] is when the points really matter.Pagenaud competed despite a sore back. He was hurt in practice Friday.All of a sudden, it was like somebody jammed a knife in my back, he said. This morning the pain was 10 out of 10.Power temporarily held the course record in qualifying before being surpassed by Pagenaud, but Power will start in the front row; hes in good position to win for the fourth time in the past five races, including the last one at Toronto on July 17.The Australian hopes for good weather Sunday after two days of showers.A dry race would be very nice, Power said. This course in the rain is very tough. Whatever it is, well try to the best we can to. Weve got to beat to make sure we have a good day and keep beating the 22 car (Pagenaud).Defending champion Graham Rahal, from nearby Columbus, will start sixth in the race his father, Bobby, won twice.GOOD START: RC Enerson will make his IndyCar debut after qualifying 18th. The 19-year-old Floridian will drive the Dale Coyne Racing No. 19 Honda. He comes to the circuit from the Indy Lights series where he won at Mid-Ohio last year. Enerson had the 10th-best practice time Friday. I surprised myself more than anybody else, he said after qualifying. Its being comfortable with the team and finding the limits.LOOKING FOR MORE: Reigning series champion and five-time Mid-Ohio winner Scott Dixon will start 11th. He qualified two days following the announcement that Target is leaving IndyCar after sponsoring Chip Ganassi Racing for 27 years. Ive been very fortunate to be with Chip and have such an amazing sponsor as Target, Dixon said Friday. Were still going to be racing for wins, championships. Its just a change in direction and change in colors.TWEET OF THE DAY: That was a tricky one! Had to take a risk after Q1. Happy with the top 10, think that decision put us in better shape tomorrow with tires. -- James Hinchcliffe, who had to decide whether to use the alternate tires (reds) or fresh ones during the qualifying because of the changing conditions. He used the reds but decided to save a second set.LONG TIME: Sunday will mark the 32nd IndyCar race at Mid-Ohio. Johnny Rutherford won the first in 1980.HOMETOWN BOY: Rahal, who donned a helmet last season that resembled those worn by the Ohio State football team, has added a fire suit that looks like the Buckeyes home scarlet-and-gray uniform to go along with OSU-inspired gloves and shoes.Cheslor Cuthbert Jersey . Hey!" The lower tier of the School End of Queens Park Rangers Loftus Road was packed solid with a very festive-sounding Chelsea choral section in this particular part of South Africa Road London, W12. Paul Splittorff Jersey . Nine days before the opening ceremony, organizing committee chief Dmitry Chernyshenko said Wednesday that Sochi is "fully ready" and will deliver safe, friendly and well-run games that defy the grim reports that have overshadowed preparations. https://www.cheaproyals.com/867a-jeff-montgomery-jersey-royals.html . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday. Freddie Patek Jersey . - Oakland Raiders running back Rashad Jennings was speaking to a group of local high school students earlier this week when the conversation turned to the importance of being prepared when opportunities in life arise. Jorge Soler Jersey . Francis told several hundred members of the European Olympic Committees that when sport "is considered only in economic terms and consequently for victory at every cost .CLEVELAND -- Blue Jays manager John Gibbons was calm and confident heading into the bottom of the ninth inning.His mood -- and the game -- changed dramatically just minutes later.Closer Roberto Osuna allowed back-to-back home runs, including a game-ending inside-the-parker by Tyler Naquin, as the Cleveland Indians stunned Toronto 3-2 on Friday night.We were sitting pretty good. I felt good sending (Osuna) out there. We went from feeling pretty good to feeling rotten pretty quick. That was a tough one, Gibbons said.The Blue Jays lead in the AL East was sliced to one-half game over Boston, while the Indians increased their advantage in the AL Central to seven games over Detroit.Osuna (2-2) retired Carlos Santana to start the ninth before Jose Ramirez hit a tying homer. It was his third blown save in 30 opportunities this season.Naquin was down 1-2 in the count when he sent a drive high off the wall, just out of the reach of right fielder Michael Saunders. Center fielder Melvin Upton Jr. raced to pick up the ball, but fell before flinging it toward the infield.Second baseman Devon Travis retrieved it as Naquin was racing around third, but his throw was well late to the plate.Its really tough for the whole team, it really hurts, Osuna said. I tried to go with my best pitches, but I left the ball right in the middle of the plate and those guys hit me pretty good.Third baseman and AL MVP Josh Donaldson (jammed right thumb) and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (calf strain) sat out the game, but Gibbons said both are expected to be available Saturday.Russell Martin hit a two-run homer in the first, but Torontoo only got one runner into scoring position the rest of the way.dddddddddddd Indians right-hander Trevor Bauer struck out a career-high 13 in eight innings, while Jeff Manship (2-1) worked the ninth.Blue Jays left-hander Francisco Liriano allowed one unearned run in six innings while striking out seven. Travis second error of the evening and a passed ball by Martin allowed Cleveland to score once in the sixth.Liriano, who leads the majors with 75 walks, issued two and gave up four hits.I made some good pitches, and locating the ball worked for me today, said Liriano, who is 0-1 with a 3.57 ERA in three starts since being acquired from Pittsburgh. It was definitely the best Ive felt since I came here.The crowd of 30,665 included thousands of boisterous Blue Jays fans and Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James. The four-time MVP and reigning NBA champion watched the game from a suite.READY AND WILLINGBlue Jays RHP Marco Estrada will make his next start Wednesday, but volunteered to pitch in relief in Cleveland since he is scheduled to go seven days between outings. You could see him on Saturday or Sunday coming out of the bullpen, Gibbons said. It was his idea, but I told him it would only happen if we need him.UP NEXTBlue Jays: RHP Aaron Sanchez will start for the first time since Aug. 13 against Houston as the team attempts to limit his innings.Indians: RHP Josh Tomlin returns from the family medical emergency list. He had flown home to Tyler, Texas, on Wednesday. ' ' '