practice.They explained to me what they needed from me, he said.

ST. LOUIS -- After rookie Martin Perez silenced the St. Louis Cardinals, his manager was non-stop with praise. "Ive always seen the stuff, but tonight was the first time I think he showed hes a big-league pitcher," Ron Washington said after the Texas Rangers 4-2 victory Saturday night. "It can be a huge step, he just beat a pretty good team. "He should be proud. I know we are." Nelson Cruz got the decisive hit for the second straight game with a two-run homer in the third inning for the Rangers, who have won four of five after losing six in a row. Fellow rookie Shelby Miller (8-5) allowed two homers for the second time in three starts and didnt make it out of the sixth against the team the Cardinals beat in the 2011 World Series, Texas was making its first regular-season visit to Busch Stadium. "Im not saying that if I make a better pitch I get them out, but both pitches were right down the middle, perfect pitches to hit," Miller said. "The first one was supposed to be in and the other one was supposed to be away, and both kind of ended up right down the middle of the plate." A.J. Pierzynski also hit a two-run homer for Texas, which goes for a three-game sweep on Sunday night with Nick Tepesch (3-6, 4.84) facing Adam Wainwright (10-4, 2.37). The first two games have been sellouts and the finale was supposed to be a matchup of aces, but the Rangers are saving Yu Darvish for the Yankees Tuesday in New York. They didnt want Perez to come up in New York, either. Perez (1-1) was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock where he was 5-1 with a 1.75 ERA. The lefty allowed a run in each of the first two innings but gave up just two hits the next five innings and retired the last 10. Though perhaps the Rangers top prospect, Perez entered 1-5 with a 5.40 ERA with seven starts. "I just had to do the same job Im doing at Triple-A," Perez said. "The first two innings I missed a couple pitches but after that I just said OK, this is my game." Joe Nathan wrapped up a game that had all of the scoring in the first three innings with a perfect ninth for his 24th save in 25 chances. The start of the game was delayed by rain 66 minutes. It was the second such delay this week. Earlier Saturday, Washington said he felt good about Cruzs tiebreaking two-run single in the ninth on Friday because the Rangers need wins, and not because Cruz needed redemption. The Rangers were an out away from taking the 11 Series when Cruz misplayed David Freeses game-tying triple in Game 6. Cruz snapped a 2-2 third-inning tie with a two-run homer, his 19th of the season to the opposite field in right. He also singled and has four hits and five RBIs the first two games of the series. Miller departed after bouncing a throw to first on a sacrifice bunt by Perez that loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth. Fellow rookie Seth Maness got Ian Kinsler on a groundout to end the sixth. Miller is 3-2 this month, the other loss coming when he gave up two homers and four runs on the road against the Mets. Manager Mike Matheny couldnt find fault with pitches that the right-hander left up. "He lives there, thats where his success is, so thats one of those two-edged swords," Matheny said. "Most of the guys in the league have a tough time catching up to him. You dont see many guys that see him the first time able to square balls up the first pitch they see on the top of the zone." The Cardinals have opened the scoring both games and took the lead on Allen Craigs RBI single in the first with Carlos Beltran just beating the relay to the plate from centre fielder Leonys Martin. The Rangers answered when Adrian Beltre doubled to open the second and Pierzynski lined the next pitch into the right field seats for his seventh homer. The Cardinals tied it in the bottom half when Freese tripled off the top of the wall in right-centre and scored on Shane Robinsons sacrifice fly. NOTES: St. Louis Rams general manager Les Snead threw the ceremonial first pitch. ... Tepesch is 0-2 with a 9.77 ERA in his last three starts, and Washington said he needs to develop trust in all of his pitches. ... Wainwright has worked at least seven innings six straight starts, going 5-1. ... Cardinals RHP Michael Blazek made his major league debut and struck out two in a perfect ninth. ... Yadier Molina was 0 for 4 to end a seven-game hitting streak, dropping his league-leading average to .366. He batted .423 (11 for 26) during the streak. ... Craig has 21 RBIs this month, his best month ever. ... Cruz has 11 RBIs the last six games with a .400 average (10 for 25). Ultra Boost Sale . -- Claudio Bieler hadnt scored since early September, and not from the run of play since mid-July. Yeezy Boost 350 Wholesale China . Already owning gold from competition in Vancouver in 2010, Loch posted a combined four-run time of 3:27.526. That included a track-record third run of 51. http://www.ultraboostclearance.com/yeezy-boost-shoes-wholesale/700.html . Vettel, who has already clinched his fourth straight F1 title, enters the finale with a chance to equal Michael Schumachers 13 victories in a year and match the record of nine consecutive wins by Alberto Ascari in the 1952 and 1953 seasons. Yeezy Boost China Wholesale . And follow TSN.ca right through Deadline Day for all the updates. From Pierre LeBrun While Anaheim GM Bob Murray said earlier this season he was not going to trade Jonas Hiller despite the fact hes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, some sources have told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun that Murray might be willing to move another goalie. Cheap Authentic Ultra Boost . P.A. Parenteau scored early in the third period to help the Avs edge Toronto 2-1 on Tuesday night. Cory Sarich also scored for Colorado (3-0-0), which is off to its best ever start. LOS ANGELES -- Yasiel Puig returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, seemingly chastened by a monthlong demotion to the minors to work on his hitting and his attitude.The former All-Star started in right field against the San Diego Padres after being called up earlier in the day from Triple-A Oklahoma City.Ultimately, we felt he made us better, manager Dave Roberts said. He can impact a game in a lot of different ways.The 25-year-old Cuban hit .358 with five home runs and 14 RBI in 24 games since being optioned to the minors on Aug. 2. He had been hitting just .260 with seven homers and 34 RBI in 81 games with Los Angeles.They made the right choice sending me down there but now I was doing the correct things to come back, Puig said through a translator. Im here now and Im grateful for the opportunity.Earlier in the week, Puig was reportedly placed on revocable waivers and claimed by at least one other club without a trade being worked out.I dont decide those things, he said. If Im here in Los Angeles, Im going to take advantage of the opportunity and enjoy the city. If its with another team, then thats something that I cant control. I am thankful for the opportunity and Im going to try to do my best to be a good teammate.Puig said he learned discipline and how to be a better teammate during his minor league stint.It wasnt embarrassing. I earned the demotion, he said. I feel like Im a better person and Im here now to show it, to play well, to do things that will positively affect my future.While he was away, the Dodgers maintained a tenuous hold on first in the NNL West, something Puig admitted was difficult to watch from afar.dddddddddddd He met with some of his teammates before batting practice.They explained to me what they needed from me, he said. Thats really what I was looking for was a talk with the teammates, a talk with everyone, and having that understanding of what was needed from me to succeed on this team.Roberts said the organization is very hopeful the episode proves to be a turning point for Puig.He was humbled to go down to Triple-A, the manager said. To swallow your pride, to take care of business and to look at yourself in the mirror and say, `I got to be better, thats tough to do. But for him to do that, it says a lot about his character.Roberts and Andrew Friedman, president of baseball operations, first discussed bringing Puig back with a handful of veteran players.If they said that they didnt want him, I would have been surprised, Roberts said. They know the character of Yasiel and what he can bring to help us win baseball games and thats the ultimate goal. I certainly would have been surprised if they had nixed the idea.Puigs status in right field isnt guaranteed. While he was gone, the Dodgers acquired Josh Reddick, who has shared time with rookie Andrew Toles. Veteran Andre Ethier is expected back this month after missing most of the season with a broken leg.Now Im going to get to work, Puig said, and hopefully youll see the success of 2013. Thats what Ill be working for. ' ' '