r Triple-A Toledo, giving up five runs on nine hits in 3 1/3 innin

OMAHA, Neb. -- Akron coach Keith Dambrot knows Creighton better than most nonconference opponents, perhaps better than he would like.After his Zips lost 82-70 to the 10th-ranked Bluejays on Saturday night, Dambrot said this Creighton team appears to be a cut above the other three hes faced over the last 11 years -- even the Doug McDermott-led squad that beat his team by 16 points in 2012.Theyve got a big-time point guard, a center who can run to the rim and three guys around them who all make shots, so it puts pressure on you defensively, Dambrot said.The point guard, Maurice Watson Jr., set a CenturyLink Center record with 13 assists to go with his 14 points. The center, 7-foot redshirt freshman Justin Patton, had 11 points, seven rebounds, two blocks and three steals. One of those shooters, Marcus Foster, scored a season-high 27 points, including 13 of Creightons first 16 points.The Bluejays (8-0), off to their best start since the 2003-04 team opened 12-0, played their strongest first half in five games and never trailed.It was about staying focused in warmups, as we talked about last week, Foster said. We have to have a better mental approach to the game. I was really focused and locked in through warmups and it carried over to the first couple plays of the game.Kwan Cheatham Jr. had 17 points and seven rebounds to lead the Zips (6-2), who lost for the first time in seven games. Isaiah Johnson, the Zips 6-foot-11, 300-pound All-MAC center, had 10 of his 13 points in the second half. He struggled when Creighton sped up the game in the first half. The Zips were able to slow things down over a few stretches of the second half, and he was able to go to work in the post.It was hard to handle him with just one body, hes so big and so skilled, said forward Cole Huff, who had 16 points.Akron pulled to 39-35 early in the second half. Foster picked up the crowd when he sneaked in the backdoor to dunk a lob from Watson. After Josh Williams 3-pointer for Akron, Foster weaved through the lane for another basket.Huff made back-to-back 3s, and Watson hit a 3 between dunks by Justin Patton and Foster before the Bluejays finished a 16-3 run putting them up 62-44.The Zips were without starting point guard Noah Robotham, who has an ankle sprain. Tavian Dunn-Martin picked up most of Robothams minutes and had seven points and three assists.BIG PICTUREAkron: The Zips wont see any tougher opponent -- until next week when they play No. 8 Gonzaga.Creighton: The Bluejays once again showed they are capable of getting offensive production from anywhere on the floor, with four players scoring in double figures.DONT FORGET MOWatson came into the game second nationally with 8.2 assists a game, something that has not gone unnoticed by his teammates.Hes the key to our success, and we go as far as he goes, Foster said. He could have 20 points a night, but he chooses to pass. I love playing with Maurice, a point guard who is going to find me and get other guys involved before he thinks of himself.Huff said, Ive never played with a point guard as unselfish as Maurice. He wants everyone else to feel good about himself and get their shots and get their rhythm.POLL IMPLICATIONSThe Bluejays wont drop from No. 10 after sweeping MAC opponents Buffalo and Akron this past week, and they might even move up a rung.HE SAID ITThis is the fourth time Ive been in Omaha. One was for a Nike clinic and the other three have been a miserable experience. -- Dambrot, who dropped to 0-3 on the road against Creighton.UP NEXTAkron hosts Coppin State on Wednesday.Creighton visits Nebraska on Wednesday.Dion Dawkins Jersey . 10 Texas A&Ms offence dominated as usual against SMU. Ike Boettger Jersey . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. http://www.wholesalebillsjerseys.com/ .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Corey Bojorquez Jersey . Thats not a comment on the suspension that banished the Portland Winterhawks general manager and coach from his Western Hockey League teams bench for most of the 2012-13 season. Jim Kelly Jersey . -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago.KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Detroit Tigers had plenty of runners on base against Kansas City Royals right-hander Yordano Ventura, but failed to come up with a big hit.Eric Hosmer hit his career-high 20th homer, Ventura pitched in and out of trouble, and the Royals snapped a three-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Tigers on Saturday night.Detroit left 12 runners on base overall, including nine while Ventura was pitching -- going 1 for 9 with men on against him.It just came down to us not getting a big hit when we needed it, Detroits Ian Kinsler said. We had opportunities. We got on base plenty against him. We just couldnt get a hit to drive in some runs tonight.Ventura (10-9) threw 53 strikes and 52 balls in six innings, allowing one run and six hits with six walks and a wild pitch. He improved to 7-0 against the Tigers, including three wins this season, and is 4-0 overall in his past six starts.Hosmer homered in the fourth off Michael Fulmer after Cheslor Cuthbert led off the inning with a double. Hosmers previous high was 19 as a rookie in 2011.Fulmer (10-6) gave up three runs and seven hits in six innings for the Tigers, falling to 1-4 in his past five starts. He walked one and struck out four.The 2-2 pitch to Hosmer, I threw it up and in, Fulmer said. I could have gotten it a little higher, but it was in. He put a good swing on it and got the barrel to it.Successive bunt singles by Raul Mondesi and Jarrod Dyson led to a run in the fifth as Cuthberts two-out single scored Mondesi.Speed never has a day off, Kinsler said. Its something that applies pressure constantly. So, its tough when you have three guys in a row that can run. Its a nice luxury for them to have.James McCanns fielders choice ground out in the fourth scored J.D. Martinez, who led off the inning with a double, for the only run Ventura allowed.I would say `effectively wild describes his outing today, McCann said. But at the end of the day, he found a way to get it done in some big spots and keep us from getting the big hit when we needed it.ddddddddddddAlcides Escobars bases-loaded single in the eighth scored pinch-runner Terrance Gore and Salvador Perez for the final Kansas City runs. Escobar extended his hitting streak to a season-high 11 games.Kinsler homered on an 0-2 pitch from Brooks Pounders to lead off the Tigers ninth.Wade Davis, who blew a save Friday, was summoned to get the final outs, striking out Victor Martinez and J.D. Martinez, picking up his 22nd save in 25 opportunities.ROSTER MOVEThe Tigers purchased the contract of LHP Joe Mantiply from Double-A Erie. In his final 13 outings for Erie, covering 15 innings, Mantiply did not allow a run and held opposing hitters to a .096 batting average. He limited left-handed hitters to a .147 average with a .196 slugging percentage for the season. The Tigers designated for assignment RHP Donn Roach to make roster space for Mantiply, who retired Jarrod Dyson on a fly ball to end the eighth in his major league debut.TRAINERS ROOMTigers: 3B Erick Aybar was scratched with left abdominal soreness, which he aggravated while running the bases Friday. Andrew Romine replaced him in the lineup. ... RHP Mike Pelfrey, who is on the disabled list with a lower back strain, made his second rehab start Saturday for Triple-A Toledo, giving up five runs on nine hits in 3 1/3 innings at Columbus, striking out one and walking none.Royals: LF Alex Gordon left in the ninth inning with tightness in his right Achilles.. ... OF Lorenzo Cain has not played since Tuesday because of left wrist inflammation. Were just trying to get it back to where its playable, Yost said. He said Cain received an injection Tuesday.UP NEXTTigers: LHP Daniel Norris, who starts the series finale, is 0-1 with a 3.09 ERA in two career starts against the Royals.Royals: RHP Edinson Volquez allowed four runs on nine hits in 3 1/3 innings in his Tuesday start against the Yankees.srseys[/url] ' ' '