May 1, the Houston Astros have been one of the best teams in baseball. No one would have been able to tell that this weekend, however.The Astros gave up six runs in the first inning

METAIRIE, La. -- The Saints were kicking themselves on Friday, a day after several special teams mistakes, including a blocked field goal, proved costly in New Orleans second loss in a five-day span.Were just killing ourselves on special teams, said veteran punter and field goal holder Thomas Morstead, who has been a special teams mainstay since New Orleans 2009 Super Bowl season. And look, thats on me. Ive been here. Im a leader. And weve got to get everyone making plays that are expected to be made.The Saints have had kicks blocked in each of their last two losses, which have dropped them to 4-6 -- perilously close to sliding out of playoff contention. Each block resulted in points for their opponents.Last Sunday, Denver returned a blocked point-after kick for a defensive 2-point conversion to cap the scoring in a 25-23 victory. On Thursday night, a blocked field goal at the end of the second quarter was returned into Saints territory -- it would have been a touchdown if not for a penalty during the return for a block in the back behind the play -- setting up Cam Newtons scoring pass to Ted Ginn Jr. The mistake proved pivotal in a 23-20 loss.It was also the third time this season a blocked Saints kick had directly or indirectly resulted in opponent points in a loss by three points or less. The first, returned for a touchdown by the New York Giants in Week 2, came in a 16-13 loss.When youve had as many tips, blocks, as we have, the focus is trajectory. Its not a secret. Its something Ive got to work on, said rookie kicker Wil Lutz, who also has had two made field goals tipped. Im confident in my ability. Obviously consistency is an issue that I need to fix.Im sure there are a lot of doubts in a lot of peoples minds about my job security, Lutz added. Well see what happens and Ill wake up tomorrow and keep working.Saints coach Sean Payton didnt sound ready to make a change at kicker yet.The kick is a little lower than youd like, Payton began, but quickly added, Clearly, we have the right kicker. I dont see it being as low on film today. It still needs to get up a little quicker, but that unit has got to do all their things right.Payton also declined to discuss the extent to which he holds special teams coordinator Greg McMahon accountable for the errors, saying only that responsibility for recent errors starts with the head coach.The Saints were also plagued by mistakes on punt a kick returns which hurt field position. There were penalties on punt returns. Marcus Murphy inexplicably tried to field a kickoff as he was stepping out of bounds at the 2-yard line, costing the Saints 38 yards because they would have started that series on the 40-yard line had the ball gone out of bounds untouched.We dont need to score a touchdown on every kickoff return. We need to field the ball and execute the play, Morstead said. We dont need to get a 50-yard punt return. We need to catch the ball. We dont need to net 60 yards on every punt. I need to put the ball in a corner and let guys do their job. Were not going to be perfect on every field goal. We need to make a 30-yard kick, 40-yard kick.Everybodys got to look at themselves and be honest with themselves: Are they helping us win? Morstead continued. And look, its doom and gloom today, and it should be a little bit because we blew it.Game notes Payton declined to say whether Mark Ingram was diagnosed with a concussion after he appeared to briefly lose consciousness while taking a hit to the back of the head as he went down at the end of his final run Thursday night. Ingram was taken off the field to be evaluated and did not return. I dont want to comment on it. But I think hes going to be OK. Hes going to be fine. ... CB Delvin Breaux, who returned on Nov. 6 from a fractured fibula, said he was inactive Thursday night because the team did not want to over work him early on in his recovery by having him play three games in 12 days, but that he expected to play in New Orleans next game Nov. 27.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Cheap Soccer Jerseys . Clarke was injured while practicing on the Doha Golf Club range after the pro-am on Tuesday. The Northern Irishman arrived at the course on Wednesday hoping to start, but after hitting a few balls on the practice putting green Clarke advised officials he was not fit to play. Cheap Soccer Jerseys Free Shipping . The FA rejected Wilsheres appeal that the length of his punishment was "clearly excessive" and said Thursday his suspension begins with immediate effect. He will miss league matches against Chelsea on Monday and West Ham on Dec. http://www.cheapfootballjerseysfreeshipping.com/ . - Connor McDavid scored 53 seconds into overtime as the Erie Otters came from behind to defeat the visiting Guelph Storm 4-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Football Jerseys China . Two pressure cooker bombs exploded near the finish line of the April 15 race in an area packed with fans cheering the passing runners. Three people were killed and more than 260 injured, including at least 16 who lost limbs. Cheap Football Jerseys Authentic . Only three players drafted by NHL clubs were included on the Czech selection camp roster on Wednesday. Those players were Dallas Stars 2012 first-rounder Radek Faksa, Winnipeg Jets 2013 fourth-rounder Jan Kostalek and Phoenix Coyotes 2012 seventh-rounder Marek Langhamer. DETROIT -- Since May 1, the Houston Astros have been one of the best teams in baseball. No one would have been able to tell that this weekend, however.The Astros gave up six runs in the first inning Sunday on their way to an 11-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers, finishing off a lopsided series sweep. Detroit outscored Houston 28-8 in the three games.This wasnt our day, it wasnt our weekend and it wasnt our series, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. We need to pack our stuff and get out of here.The Tigers, who began the day one game behind Boston for the second American League wild-card spot, have now won six straight -- including a sweep at Fenway Park. The win extended Detroits lead over Houston to 1 1/2 games.It is easy to be confident when you have won six in a row, but weve always felt like this team was going to be in the race, said Justin Upton, who also homered for Detroit. This is a really good team, and were getting hot at the same time were getting healthy.Two days after scoring nine runs in the first two innings off Collin McHugh, the Tigers were all over Dallas Keuchel in the first. Seven of the first eight batters reached base, capped off by James McCanns grand slam to make it 6-0. Only Cameron Maybin getting thrown out on the bases kept the defending Cy Young winner from giving up more runs in the inning.A couple tough-luck plays kind of extended that inning, and then I elevated a pitch to McCann, Keuchel said. That was the difference maker.Keuchel (6-11) allowed seven runs and seven hits in five innings, walking three and striking out four.Mike Pelfrey (4-9) got the win, pitching five shutout innings and allowing four hits and a walk while striking out four. He has now allowed one or fewer runs in five of his last eight starts.Pelfrey, though, was forced out by tightness in his back, and was having an MRI after the game.The Astros loaded the bases in the third, but Pelfrey got out of the jam by retiring Carlos Correa on a broken-bat grounder to third. Houstoon had them loaded again in the seventh, but Bruce Rondon struck out Correa.ddddddddddddCabrera made it 7-0 with a fifth-inning homer off Keuchel, and Mike Aviles added an eighth run in the next inning. He doubled off Scott Feldman and scored on Jose Iglesiass one-out sacrifice fly.After Feldman hit Maybin to start the seventh, Cabrera hit his second homer and Upton added a solo shot later in the inning.TRAINERS ROOMAstros: 1B Marwin Gonzalez (hand) and OF Carlos Gomez (hamstring) were both out of the starting lineup, leaving OF Jake Marisnick as the only healthy position player on Houstons bench. Gonzalez, who got hurt Friday night, is scheduled to see a hand specialist on Monday.Tigers: OF J.D. Martinez (elbow) went 2 for 5 for Triple-A Toledo on Saturday, and is now hitting .350 after four games of a rehab assignment. He still hasnt played the field, but the Tigers are hoping to have him back by weeks end.OLD FRIENDSMcCanns first-inning homer was the first grand slam of his career and the 15th home run. Not only did the grand slam come against Keuchel -- his college teammate at Arkansas -- he has also homered twice against Drew Smyly, who also played with them with the Razorbacks.FIRST HITHouston rookie Alex Bregman got his first career hit in the third inning, ending an 0-for-18 start. Cabrera called for the ball and ceremoniously presented it to Bregman, who tossed it to the Astros dugout.UP NEXTAstros: Return home for the first of four games with Toronto. The Astros may have to start rookie Joe Musgrove, because scheduled starter Doug Fister is with his wife, who is about to give birth to the couples first child. The Blue Jays havent announced their rotation for the series.Tigers: Off Monday before hosting the White Sox for three games. Anibal Sanchez (5-11, 6.56) is scheduled to start the opener against James Shields (5-12, 4.68). Cheap Throwback Baseball Detroit Tigers Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Colorado Rockies Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Houston Astros Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Kansas City Royals Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Los Angeles Angels Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Los Angeles Dodgers Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Miami Marlins Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Milwaukee Brewers Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Minnesota Twins Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball New York Mets Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball New York Yankees Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Oakland Athletics Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Philadelphia Phillies Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Pittsburgh Pirates Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball San Diego Padres Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball San Francisco Giants Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Seattle Mariners Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball St. Louis Cardinals Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Tampa Bay Rays Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Texas Rangers Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Toronto Blue Jays Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Washington Nationals Jerseys ' ' '