room for 3B Ryon Healy last week.UP NEXTAstros: LHP Dallas Keuchel (6-9) makes his second | Forum

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. Onitsuka Tiger Italia . -- A defensive approach is beginning to pay dividends for the Colorado Rapids. "We always knew that we had to be a good defence," coach Oscar Pareja said. "We knew that if we played good defence, we would find ways to score goals." The blueprint was in play in a 2-0 win over Chivas USA on Saturday night. "Our defence was one of our weaknesses we had last year," Pareja said. "What we put in our players minds was that we needed to defend better, be solid defensively and the goals would come." Atiba Harris scored in the 11th minute and Nathan Sturgis added a late goal for Colorado (5-4-4), which extended its unbeaten streak to five matches (3-0-2). "Defence is what you build your team off of," Sturgis said. "You try to finish (your scoring chances) and the last couple of games we have put teams away." The Rapids are unbeaten in six home games against Chivas USA, and have eight wins and two ties in their last 10 against the Los Angeles club overall since losing on March 21, 2009. Rapids goalkeeper Clint Irwin is 5-2-4 with five shutouts since taking over for injured Matt Pickens, who is out several months because of a broken right forearm. Chivas USA (3-6-2) has been outscored 13-1 in four straight losses. "Weve had a lot of roster moves to make and these arent my players," said Chivas coach Jose Luis Sanchez Sola. "One player plays a 4-4-2 and another plays a different system and it will take time." Neither team had a shot on goal until Christopher Klute found Harris behind the defence in the 11th minute. The defences dominated play for most of opening half. Chivas USAs offence came alive over a seven-minute stretch, getting free for several shots. Gabriel Farfan broke free from just outside the penalty box, but had his shot sail into the stands in the 22nd minute. Bobby Burlings shot went off the side of the goal and Farfan had a shot easily handled by Irwin, who made only one save in the half. Colorado was aggressive enough to draw fouls and two yellow cards in the waning moments of the half. Scoring chances remained at a premium in the second half. Deshorn Brown broke free for a shot that was deflected wide of the right post in the 56th minute Irwin made an easy save on a shot by Eric Avila in the 69th. Brown set up Sturgis goal in the 78th minute. The win completed a season series sweep by the Rapids, who also won the April 13th meeting 1-0. "We have given up too many goals in as many weeks and it hasnt been good for us," Burling said. "It is a tough stretch and only the people in the locker room can change it." Asics Gel Lyte V Italia . LOUIS -- Mike Smith is used to facing plenty of shots, so this was nothing new. Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 Italia . Spiller left Week 3s 27-20 loss to the New York Jets with a thigh injury, but fully practiced with the team all week and expects to be ready to go on Sunday. http:///...pack-uomo-donna.html . Halifax beat the Saint John Sea Dogs 7-5 on the strength of two goals apiece from Nikolaj Ehlers, Matt Murphy and Brent Andrews. Jonathan Drouin also scored and had three assists while Zachary Fucale made 17 saves for the Mooseheads (16-8-0), who led 6-1 after two periods. OAKLAND, Calif. -- With three wins in four games since the All-Star break against two of the hottest teams in the majors, the Athletics are building some momentum.Theyve still got quite a ways to go to dig themselves out of the cellar in the AL West. Still, its as good a streak as manager Bob Melvin could have expected after a disappointing first half.Yonder Alonso drove in three runs with a pair of two-out hits to back Kendall Gravemans fifth consecutive win, and Oakland Athletics beat the Houston Astros 7-4 on Monday night.Guys are putting up some numbers now, Graveman said. You could go one to nine no matter whos in there, and I think a lot of guys are starting to feel comfortable at the plate. Us as starters are just trying to keep them in ballgames and we know theyre going to put up runs.Khris Davis hit his fourth home run in three games, Marcus Semien had two hits and scored twice while Ryon Healy added an RBI double for the As.Oakland has won three of four since the All-Star break.Its just timely hitting, Davis said. When we get those crooked numbers, our pitchers are doing a great job of throwing up a zero and getting us back in. That momentum is huge.Alonso doubled in a run in the second inning then added a two-run single as part of five-run fourth when the As sent 12 men to the plate. The Astros walked five batters in the inning, two with the bases loaded.Graveman (6-6) allowed three runs over seven innings to earn his second straight win over Houston. The right-hander, who also beat the Astros in his final start before the break, struck out five and walked one.Dyan Dull retired three batters and Ryan Madson pitched the ninth for his 20th save.Marwin Gonzalez homered for the second time in three games for Houston.The As got plenty of help from the Astros pitching.Starter Mike Fiers allowed six runs over 3 2/3 innings to remain winless in five career starts against Oakland. Fiers (6-4) fanned five and walk three, including two in the fourth.Michael Feliz replaced Fiers and walked threee consecutive batters including Josh Reddick and Danny Valencia with the bases loaded. Gel Kayano 20 Miglior Prezzo. Reddick had struck out swinging in his first two at-bats before drawing a four-pitch walk to force in Healy.Davis hit his 23rd home run this season off Scott Feldman in the seventh.We got beat by a big inning, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. Its frustrating because we had four or five walks in that inning.. They kept putting up quality at-bats and we couldnt close the inning out.Houston took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth when Carlos Correa scored an unearned run on a throwing error by Healy, Oaklands rookie third baseman. As manager Bob Melvin tried to argue that Correa interfered with Healy while running from second to third on the play.FIERS, GOMEZ SQUABBLEFiers was not happy about being pulled from the game in the fourth and exchanged words with Hinch. Fiers later got into it with teammate Carlos Gomez as the two went face to face in the Astros dugout. I cant show that much emotion in the dugout so he was just letting me know that if I had to say something or act, take it inside and do it without anybody watching, which hes right, Fiers said. I think my emotions got the best of me. I need to be more professional about what Im doing out there on the field and in the game.TRAINERS ROOMAthletics: Right-hander Nick Tepesch was claimed off waivers by the Royals. Tepesch had been designated for assignment when Oakland needed to clear room for 3B Ryon Healy last week.UP NEXTAstros: LHP Dallas Keuchel (6-9) makes his second consecutive start against Oakland on Tuesday at the Coliseum. The reigning AL Cy Young winner allowed one run over seven innings against the As in his final outing before the All-Star break.Athletics: Dillon Overton (1-1) will be called up from Triple-A Nashville to start against Houston. This is the rookie left-handers second stint in the majors. ' ' '