ERST LESEN! » ys will release OF Desmond Jennings on Saturd

NEW YORK -- Angelique Kerber earned the No. 1 ranking before she stepped on court, then she went out there and looked like a top-ranked player.Kerber is into her third major final of the year after dispatching Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets at the U.S. Open. She won the first four games en route to a 6-4, 6-3 victory that set up a rematch with Karolina Pliskova, who denied the German lefty the No. 1 ranking a few weeks ago then handed it to her Thursday night.Its a great day, Kerber said.At the start of 2016, she had never made a Grand Slam final. Kerber could end it as a two-time major champ.In January, she not only advanced to the Australian Open title match but beat Serena Williams there. Kerber also reached the Wimbledon final, where she lost to Williams.Kerber would have overtaken Williams for the No. 1 ranking had she defeated Pliskova at Cincinnati on Aug. 21. Instead, Pliskova won that day for a breakthrough title and has been riding the momentum ever since.Pliskova upset a hobbled Williams in the first semifinal Thursday, which clinched No. 1 for Kerber -- who insisted she thought little about ascending to the top of the rankings as she prepared to take the court.To be No. 1 in the world -- that sounds amazing, Kerber said once she won and could finally contemplate the achievement.On match point, Kerber hit a backhand that appeared to be heading long, and Wozniacki was going to let it go until she realized it might have clipped the baseline. She swung too late and sent the ball sailing out to end the match instead of challenging the call.I got a few texts, but that just made me feel worse, Wozniacki said later.But clearly should have challenged it, she added. But at the end of the day, I dont think it would have made a difference.Not the way Kerber was relentlessly hammering her shots. Wozniacki even mixed in quite a few moon balls, but to no avail. Usually content to play defense, Wozniacki found herself trying to force the issue and made an uncharacteristic 26 unforced errors.A two-time runner-up at Flushing Meadows, she arrived at this years tournament at No. 74 in the world after missing 2 1/2 months because of an ankle injury. She was seeking to become the lowest-ranked womens finalist at the U.S. Open, other than an unranked Kim Clijsters in 2009.Probably people ruled me out, but its nice to prove people wrong once again, Wozniacki said.How much longer might she keep trying to prove people wrong? Just as she had after her quarterfinal victory, Wozniacki declined to address a question about reports that her father told media she could retire in the next year or two. Discount Air Max Plus Australia . Defenceman Yannick Weber scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Canucks breathed a sigh of relief with a 2-1 win on Saturday night. Wholesale Air Max Plus Australia . Louis. To which I would say two things: 1. Where there is smoke, there is or perhaps has been a little fire. Or, in other words, the two teams would appear to have at least spoken. And spoken is defined as one calling the other to inquire, no more, no less. http://www.airmaxplusaustralia.com/ . -- There were so many positives from the Orlando Magics first victory of the season that it was hard for coach Jacque Vaughn to stop praising his players. Air Max Plus Australia . LOUIS -- Heading into the final stretch of the season, the issues for the Chicago Bears banged-up defence only seem to be getting worse. Cheap Air Max Plus Australia . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. HOUSTON -- Evan Gattis knows he probably shouldnt have taken a swing at a shoulder-high pitch from Tampa Bay closer Alex Colome in the ninth inning on Friday night.Considering what happened next, hes glad he did.Carlos Correa and Gattis hit back-to-back homers in the ninth inning to lift the Houston Astros to a 5-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.I tried not to swing at that pitch, Gattis said. But it worked out good.Mikie Mahtooks first homer this season, a towering shot with two outs in the ninth inning, had put the Rays on top before Houstons dramatic comeback.Correa connected on the first pitch in the ninth inning from Colome (1-4) on a home run to the seats in right field to tie it 4-4.Gattis then fought through eight pitches before sending the ninth to right field for his 21st homer that gave Houston the win.He had one of the best at-bats of the night, not because he hit the homer but how he got there, manager A.J. Hinch said. Im not even sure the home run was a strike, it might have been neck high for all I know. There was a calmness to him as well being able to take those pitches.He bounded through the celebration at home plate before ripping off his jersey Superman-style and continuing the celebration bare-chested.Embarrassing, he said of his celebration. But whatever. A little out of character.Colomes tough night ended a stretch of 11 straight scoreless appearances. It was just his second blown save of the season and the first time he had given up a run since his other blown save on July 23 against Oakland.It was just one of those nights. All the great closers have them, manager Kevin Cash said. Hopefully, he gets an opportunity to go back out there tomorrow. When he gets the ball and we have a lead, we couldnt feel any more confident that were going to have success.Corey Dickerson hit a career-high three doubles, drove in a run and scored twice on wild pitches to help Tampa Bay come back from an early 3-0 deficit.The game was tied 3-3 with two outs in the ninth when Mahtook sent a pitch from reliever Ken Giles (2-3) onto the train tracks atop left field.Jake Marisnick homered in the second inning to help Houston build an early lead.Rays starter Drew Smyly allowed three hits and three runs -- two earned -- while striking out eight in six innings.Houstons Mike Fiers yielded six hits and three runs in 6 1/3 innings.Jose Altuve drove in a run on a force out in the firrst.dddddddddddd He then went from first to third on an error by first baseman Brad Miller when he missed the throw on a pickoff attempt. The Astros took a 2-0 lead when Altuve scored on a single by Gattis with one out.Marisnicks homer with one out in the second extended Houstons lead to 3-0.Smyly settled in after that, retiring the next 14 batters. The Astros didnt have another baserunner until Yulieski Gurriel singled off Kevin Jepsen with no outs in the seventh.Dickerson doubled in the third inning and took third on a wild pitch with two outs. The Rays cut the lead to 3-1 when Dickerson scored on another wild pitch.Dickerson opened the fifth inning with another double and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Bobby Wilson. After that, another pitch got away from Fiers and Dickerson scored for the second time on a wild pitch to get Tampa Bay within 3-2.Dickersons third double of the night came with one out in the seventh to drive in a run and tie it 3-3.TRAINERS ROOMRays: 2B Nick Franklin played in a rehab game at Class-A Charlotte on Friday night and was activated from the seven-day concussion list after the game.Astros: OF Colby Rasmus worked out on the field on Friday for the first time since having surgery to remove a cyst in his ear on Aug. 10. Rasmus said hes finally starting to feel normal again, but isnt sure when hell come off the DL.JENNINGS TO BE RELEASEDThe Rays will release OF Desmond Jennings on Saturday. The team announced the impending move before Fridays game.It was time, Cash said. Best for him. Best for us going forward ... unfortunately it just didnt work out. Couldnt quite get him on the field as much as we would have liked. We had to make a decision.Jennings has been on the DL with hamstring and knee injuries for all but five days since July 4. He is currently on the 15-day DL with a bruised left knee.UP NEXTRays: Blake Snell (4-6, 3.17) is scheduled to start for Tampa Bay on Saturday. Snell has struggled with control in his last three starts, walking 13 batters in that span, including a career-high five in his last outing.Astros: Dallas Keuchel (8-12, 4.64) will start for Houston on Saturday. Last years AL Cy Young Award winner allowed five hits and two runs in eight innings of a 5-3 win over Baltimore in his last start. ' ' '