Gibbs announced on his public Twitter account Saturday that he has committed to UCONN, choosing the Huskies over Ohio State, Pittsburgh, North Carolina State and Virginia Commonwealth.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- When Seton Hall graduate transfer Sterling Gibbs visited Ohio State earlier this month, reports had already surfaced that he decided to commit to Connecticut. 

It was just a rumor at the time. Now it's fact.

Gibbs announced on his public Twitter account Saturday that he has committed to UCONN, choosing the Huskies over Ohio State, Pittsburgh, North Carolina State and Virginia Commonwealth.

A second-team all-Big Ten selection a year ago, Gibbs averaged 16.3 points and 3.8 assists and would have made a nice addition to the Buckeyes' roster after they lost D'Angelo Russell to the NBA Draft after his freshman year. 

Gibbs began his career at Texas, spent the last two years at Seton Hall and will now finish his final year of collegiate eligibility at UConn as a graduate student. 

It made sense that the Buckeyes were interested in Gibbs. Ohio State still has scholarships available for 2015, and adding Gibbs, a one-year player, would have done nothing to change the future scholarship situation. 

Ohio State, however, now must stick with its initial plan to replace Russell: Turning to incoming freshman JaQuan Lyle. 

3rd times a charm.. UCONN! #BeyondBlessed pic.twitter.com/WWZAnG9pq2

-- Sterling Gibbs (@SterlingGibbs4) May 16, 2015

The Indians have an opening in their starting rotation for Wednesday when they face the White Sox.

ARLINGTON, Texas - The Indians will need a starter for Wednesday night's game against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.

Left-hander Bruce Chen was designated for assignment on Saturday after lasting just 2 1/3 innings Friday night against Texas. Right-hander Austin Adams was recalled from Class AAA Columbus to give the Indians an extra arm in the bullpen until the starter is added.

The Indians don't have a lot of options.

They could purchase the contract of veteran right-hander Shaun Marcum from Columbus. Or they could bring Zach McAllister out of the bullpen. McAllister opened the season in the rotation before moving to the pen.

Marcum would have to be added to the roster. He's 4-0 with a 1.36 ERA in five starts at Columbus. He's already made one appearance with the Tribe this season, throwing one five-inning relief appearance.

Left-hander T.J. House pitched three scoreless innings in a rehab start Friday for Class A Lake County. He's on schedule to make his next start Wednesday for Columbus. Francona said he's not an option to face the White Sox.

House is recovering from a sore left shoulder.

Francona said the Indians would reveal who the starter was after Saturday's game or Sunday morning.

Other possibilities at Columbus are Michael Roth (3-1, 2.37), Nick Maronde (0-4, 5.70) or Toru Murata (2-0, 2.89). They are not on the 40-man roster.

Right-hander Cody Anderson is on the 40-man. He's 2-2 with a 1.75 ERA at Class AA Akron.

Aviles update: Francona said utility man Mike Aviles is expected to join the Indians on Monday in Chicago when they open a four-game series against the White Sox.

Aviles has been away from the team since his 4-year-old daughter Adriana was diagnosed with leukemia earlier this month.

When Aviles returns, another roster move must be made. Utility man Zach Walters was recalled from Columbus when Aviles was placed on the Family Medical Emergency list.

Testing, testing: Catcher Yan Gomes caught House on Friday at Lake County as part of his rehab from a right knee injury. He went 2-for-2 and scored a run.

Gomes was scheduled to DH on Saturday, take Sunday off and catch again Monday for the Captains.

"We had Scooter Tucker, one of our catching instructors, there," said Francona. "He went through some drills before the game and blocked a couple of balls during the game."

Tough talk: Francona and GM Chris Antonetti met with Chen after Friday's game to tell him he was being designated for assignment. They talked to him again on Saturday.

Chen, 37, is considering retiring.

"You know when you talk to a guy at this point of his career, potentially he might decide to go home," said Francona. "You want to really be respectful. He's such a good guy.

"I think he wants to take some time to talk to his family."

Antonetti is making this trip with the team.

Finally: Adams knew something was up when Columbus played 13 innings against Pawtucket on Friday night and he didn't pitch. After the game, manager Chris Tremie called him.

"He told me, "In case you didn't figure it out, you've got a flight waiting for you in the morning," said Adams.

Adams was closing for the Clippers, going 1-2 with a 5.68 ERA and three saves in five chances.

The Indians have won consecutive games for just the second time this season.

ARLINGTON, Texas --Jason Kipnis, the hottest hitter on the planet, hit a two-run, two-out homer in the ninth inning Saturday night to give the Indians a 10-8 victory over Texas at Globe Life Park.

The Indians entered the ninth trailing, 8-7, with Texas closer Neftali Feliz on the mound. Lonnie Chisenhall doubled and scored on a double-play grounder by Jose Ramirez that second baseman Thomas Field threw away thanks to a hard slide by  Brett Hayes.

Kipnis followed with a towering homer to right on a 1-1 pitch. It was third hit of the night after he had four hits in Friday's 8-3 victory. Kipnis is hitting .425 (34-for-80) since moving into the leadoff spot on April 26.

Cody Allen pitched the ninth for his sixth save.

Until Kipnis' homer, the focus was on what Tribe starter Danny Salazar didn't do.

The last time Salazar took the mound, he allowed a leadoff homer before retiring 21 straight Minnesota Twins.

Things were different Saturday night.

Salazar never managed to get more than three straight outs as Texas ripped him for nine hits and seven runs in 4 2/3 innings. Salazar was long gone by the time Kipnis bailed him out.

The Rangers took a 8-7 lead with two-out in the eighth on Robinson Chirinos homer of Scott Atchison. Atchison, in his last two innings, has allowed two homers.

The Indians held leads of 3-0, 4-3, 5-4 and 6-4, but Salazar couldn't stop the Rangers.

Texas used a three-run fifth inning to take a 7-6 lead. The three runs came after Salazar started the inning with two strikeouts. 

Adrian Beltre singled and scored on Mitch Moreland's double to cut the Tribe's lead to 6-5. Elvis Andrus tied it with a single and then put the Rangers ahead with some daring baserunning after Marc Rzepczynski replaced Salazar.

Andrus stole second as catcher Roberto Perez's throw hit his body. The ball kicked into short left field and Andrus scored all the way from second, just ahead of Michael Bourn's throw home.

The Indians came back to tie it at 7-7 on Bourn's two-out single in the seventh.They missed the chance to take the lead when Shawn Tolleson struck out pinch-hitter Nick Swisher with runners on the corner.

Salazar, who allowed two homers and a triple among the nine hits recorded against him, threw 81 pitches.

What it means

The Indians have won consecutive games for just the second time this season. They did it on April 8 and April 9 against Houston.

The victory was the Indians' seventh in May, equaling the seven games they won in April when they went 7-14.

The Indians guaranteed themselves just their second series victory with Saturday's win. They opened the season by taking two out of three from the Astros.

Remember me?

On Friday night, the Indians ended Shin-Soo Choo's 14-game hitting streak. Choo gained some revenge Saturday.

He opened the game with a triple off Salazar to set-up the Rangers' two-run first inning. In the third, the former Indians outfielder homered to cut the Tribe's lead to 5-4.

Love that replay

A replay challenge by the Indians led to their 3-0 lead in the first inning.

After  Kipnis greeted Texas starter Colby Lewis with a leadoff single and Carlos Santana fouled out, Michael Brantley sent a drive down the left field line. Third base umpire Joe West said the ball glanced off left fielder Delino DeShields glove in foul territory.

The Indians challenged, saying DeShields touched the ball in fair territory.

The replay took 3:40, but it came out in the Indians favor. Brantley was awarded  a double and Kipnis was placed at third.

David Murphy scored Kipnis on a sacrifice fly and David Moss singled home Brantley for a 2-0 lead.

Moss came around to score on Chisenhall's single and Bourn's double.

The Indians are 5-for-10 in challenges this year.

Instant energy

Ramirez created runs in the second and third innings.

He singled to start the second, stole second, took third on a ground ball and scored on Santana's sacrifice fly for a 4-2 lead.

In the fourth, he walked, stole second, took third on a groundout and scored on Brantley's sacrifice fly.

What area code is that?

Nick Hagadone caught Andrus trying to steal second with two out in the seventh. The left-hander started the 1-3-6-1-4-2 rundown with a throw to first.

Thanks for coming

The Indians and Rangers drew 31,045 to Globe Life Park on Saturday night.

What's next?

The Indians send right-hander Carlos Carrasco (4-3, 4.84) to the mound Sunday against Texas right-hander Nick Martinez (2-0, 1.88) at 3:05 p.m. ET at Globe Life Field. SportsTime Ohio, WTAM AM/1100 and WMMS FM/100.7 will carry the game.

Carrasco is 0-1 with a 8.31 ERA in four appearances against Texas. Two of those were starts.

Martinez won his first two starts of the season, but is winless since. He's 0-1 against the Indians.

Share you Cleveland Marathon experience with us at hashtag #RunCLE

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's here. It's race day. Close to 20,000 runners will hit the streets in downtown Cleveland to take place in 38th Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon.

And we want you to share your race experience with us and all the other runners by using the hashtag #RunCLE to send your thoughts, pictures and anything else.

You can get updates throughout the race at cleveland.com/marathon as well as Plain Dealer stories and photos about the runners and races. Stories, photos and results will also be available in Monday's edition of The Plain Dealer.

All three races, the marathon, half-marathon and 10K, start at 7 p.m. on Ontario Street next to Quicken Loans Arena. The finish line is on Lakeside Avenue at Mall C.

Complete race results will be available on the race website.

Drivers are reminded that many streets downtown and on the near west side of town will be closed or partially closed for much of the morning.

Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis is batting a mere .517 (31-for-60) with nine RBI and 17 runs in 14 games in May.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Jason Kipnis hit a two-run homer to cap a three-run ninth inning as the Indians rallied to defeat the Rangers, 10-8, Saturday night at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Tex. Here is a capsule look at the game after a DVR review of the Fox SportsTime Ohio telecast:

Double the pleasure: The Indians (14-21) won the first two of a three-game series that wraps Sunday afternoon. They have won two straight for the second time this season, the first coming April 8-9 in Houston.

"We've got two in a row,'' Kipnis told Fox SportsTime Ohio ace reporter Andre Knott on the field after the game. "We broke the curse.''

The Indians clinched their second series victory this season; after Sunday, their record will be 2-8-2.

Ownership: The Indians have won eight in a row over the Rangers and 13 of 15.

Breaking through: The Tribe won for the first time when trailing after eight innings (1-18).

Kip it and rip it: Leadoff batter Kipnis, who is redefining what it means to be locked in, went 3-for-6 with the homer, one double, two RBI and two runs.

Kipnis has reached safely at least three times in seven straight games, MLB's  longest such streak since 2009 (David Wright, Mets). An Indians player hadn't done so since 1924 (Riggs Stephenson).

Kipnis has reached safely in 24 of his past 36 plate appearances.

Kipnis extended his hitting streak to eight games, during which he is batting a slo-pitch-esque .571 (20-for-35).

In 14 games in May, Kipnis is batting .517 (31-for-60) with three homers, eight doubles, nine RBI and 17 runs.

Let those numbers marinate.

Here is a breakdown of Kipnis's at-bats Saturday, first from innings one through eight:

First inning vs. RHP Colby Lewis -- 87 fastball called strike; 87 fastball, single to second.

Skinny: Well-placed grounder off end of bat. Rangers second baseman Tommy Field backhanded but was unable to secure....Kipnis advanced to third on Michael Brantley's one-out double and scored on David Murphy's sacrifice fly.

Second inning vs. RHP Colby Lewis (runner on first, none out) -- 85 fastball called strike; 88 fastball outside (Jose Ramirez steals second); 81 curve, grounder to second (Ramirez to third).

Skinny: Quality AB because it was as good as a sacrifice bunt, putting a runner at third with one out....Carlos Santana drove in Ramirez with a sacrifice fly to give the Tribe a 4-2 lead.

Fourth inning vs. RHP Colby Lewis (runner on first, none out) -- 85 off-speed high; 87 fastball down and away; 87 fastball called strike (inside corner); 83 breaking pitch called strike (outside corner, barely; Ramirez steals second); 88 fastball, grounder to short (Ramirez to third).

Skinny: Kipnis did not pull the ball, but he did get the runner to third. Credit Ramirez with a good read of the chopper; Elvis Andrus fielded and thought about trying for Ramirez but deemed it too risky....After Santana walked, Brantley drove in Ramirez with a sacrifice fly.

Sixth inning vs. LHP Alexander Claudio (none on, one out) -- 83 fastball ball; 77 ball; 84 fastball called strike; 84 fastball foul; 68 foul; 85 fastball, swinging strikeout (inside).

Skinny: Claudio and his funky sidearm delivery tied up Kipnis.

Eighth inning vs. RHP Shawn Tolleson (none on, one out) -- 93 fastball called strike; 93 fastball inside; 93 fastball, double to right.

Skinny: Kipnis pulled in the hands, flipped the hips, and barreled a pitch that was several inches off the plate inside....He was stranded at third.

A ninth to remember: The Indians fell behind, 8-7, when Robinson Chirinos hit a solo homer off righty reliever Scott Atchison with two outs in the eighth inning.

Rangers closer Neftali Feliz, a righty, began the ninth by facing Lonnie Chisenhall. Feliz got ahead, 0-2. After a foul, Chisenhall took a fastball high and fastball away. Feliz opted for a 2-2 breaking pitch in, and Chisenhall dumped it near the right-field line for a double.

Yes, Chisenhall broke his bat -- but it still was a superb piece of hitting, reminiscent of his clutch double against Royals closer Greg Holland in Kansas City last season.

Michael Bourn, too eager, swung at the first pitch and popped to short.

Backup catcher Brett Hayes, a right-handed batter, stepped in. Feliz, perhaps intimidated by Hayes's three homers in 29 at-bats, seemingly wanted no part of him. Feliz fell behind, 3-0 -- including a 2-0 breaking pitch -- before Hayes took a fastball for a strike. Feliz overcooked a breaking pitch that skipped away from catcher Chirinos's backhand, enabling Chisenhall to move to third as Hayes trotted to first.

That Feliz, a fastball pitcher, threw a 3-1 breaking pitch to Hayes proved to be one of the biggest moments of the game.

The next batter, Jose Ramirez, fell behind, 0-2. He did so by swinging through fastballs clocked at 95. Feliz and Chirinos did not want to speed up Ramirez's bat, so Ramirez saw another fastball (96); this time, Ramirez fouled it.

Feliz threw a fourth straight fastball (95), and Ramirez slapped a grounder to short. Andrus fielded and threw to second baseman Tommy Field to erase Hayes, but Field's potential game-ending relay was late and wild and bounced out of play. Chisenhall scored to make it 8-8 and Ramirez advanced to second.

The key to the entire sequence was Ramirez's ability to put the bat on the fastball when he appeared to be overmatched by it. The grounder wasn't smoked, and Ramirez can run, which put extra pressure on Andrus and Field. Hayes made a hard, but clean, slide to disrupt Field that much more.

Given that Ramirez had reached second, it made no sense to pitch to the white-hot Kipnis, especially with struggling Carlos Santana on deck. But the Rangers decided to gamble.

Ninth inning vs. RHP Neftali Feliz (runner on second, two outs) -- 87 changeup outside; 88 changeup called strike; 95 fastball, two-run homer to right.

Skinny: Kipnis reacted to a fastball off the inside corner, stayed compact, and sent it into the upper deck. Kipnis told Knott that he thought he would get one pitch to hit in the AB, and that the pitch probably was the previous one.

Santana popped Feliz's first pitch to third for the third out.

Tribe closer Cody Allen worked a perfect ninth -- retiring Prince Fielder (strikeout swinging), Adrian Beltre (pop to first) and Mitch Moreland (fly to center) -- for his sixth save.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are playing better team basketball than the Atlanta Hawks. And -- you may have heard -- they also have this guy named LeBron James. That makes the Cavs favored to come out of the East, for good reason.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cavaliers open their first playoff series away from home, but the case for the Atlanta Hawks to make the NBA Finals doesn't go much beyond its territorial advantage.

If that in itself worries the fans of a town that expect things to go badly when they look the most promising, it shouldn't. Not this time.

The Cavs have been playing much better basketball than the Hawks for a while now, and under more trying circumstances in the playoffs after injuries to Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving.

And, of course, they have LeBron.

(I know, you thought I was going to say Delly.)

The best argument for the Hawks, who are definitely the most versatile playoff team the Cavs have faced, is that the Pistons won a title without a true superstar back in the days of Chauncey Billiups, Tayshaun Prince, Rasheed Wallace, Richard Hamilton and Ben Wallace.

Dan Gilbert even saw that as a model after "The Decision." Remember when the Cavs were going to win The Right Way? How'd that go? They weren't relevant again until "The Decision II" brought James home.

The Pistons' title came in 2004. Nobody gets rich in Vegas betting on the exception, which is why the Cavs should be the favorite despite Atlanta's top-seed status.

The Cavs are much more than James and Irving, as they showed in Game 6 in Chicago, but James remains the best reason to bet the Cavs in any series.

Offenses getting bogged down is the nature of playoff basketball where coaches prepare for the same team four, five, six, seven times. Great players like James (as if there are many like him) can carry teams through the roughest stretches. The Hawks don't have that.

For most of the second-round matchup between the Hawks and Wizards, Washington looked like the team that would give the Cavs the most nightmares in a conference final.

The Hawks played great team basketball in the regular season. They haven't been that team for a long while.

Cavs in six.

* Washington just missed extending Game 6 into overtime, and possibly extending the Hawks to Game 7, when Paul Pierce's game-tying three was waved off. Replays showed the ball still in his hand when time ran out.

Pierce's theatrics reached a new level even by his standards in Game 5 when he hit a three with 8.3 seconds remaining to give Washington a 81-80 lead, looked at the Hawks' bench and yelled, "Series."

Atlanta won the game at the buzzer.

Serious.

* Yahoo Sports noticed J.R. Smith posted an Instagram picture of himself and Iman Shumpert in Knicks uniforms under the heading, "One man's trash," and also in Cavs uniforms' under the words, "is another man's treasure."

If that strikes you as an unnecessary jab at Phil Jackson, better that than get caught throwing a roundhouse punch at Joakim Noah.

* In other riveting social media news, Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo opened a Twitter account:

His first Tweet? His jersey number.

9

-- Tony Romo (@tonyromo) May 15, 2015

It was retweeted over 14,000 times. And still people say Twitter is a frivolous waste of time.

* In New England's rebuttal to the Wells report, the organization claims "Deflator" was a nickname for Jim McNally because of his attempts to lose weight and that it had nothing to do with taking the air out of footballs.

Maybe someone in the organization is also called "The Executor" for efficiency shown in executing everyday office tasks. And not as we expected to suspending McNally and John Jastremski without pay for ... what exactly, the Patriots won't say.

* An overwhelming number of fans support sanctions against Tom Brady. One poll number reached 73 percent.

Zero percent of respondents said they were "a little surprised" or "greatly surprised" that Gisele Bundchen married a NFL quarterback and not a sportswriter.

* Browns linebacker Karlos Dansby told Pro Football Talk Live that Brady should be suspended for at least a year if the evidence incriminates him.

Dansby also believes the Patriots sabotaged headset communications during the final game of the 2008 season when the Pats desperately needed a win to keep playoff hopes alive.

"I didn't have not one problem until I went into Foxborough," Dansby said. "You can ask anybody on that team that year. We didn't have no problems with my headset until I got to Foxborough. And, man, I tell you every time I came to the sidelines, I was taking my helmet off trying to fix it.

"They was trying to fix it, they couldn't get it fixed. So we had to give hand signals, and we were dead in the water. They ran when they wanted to run, they threw it when they wanted to throw it.

"They gonna do what they gotta do to win. It's just how they operate."

The Patriots won 47-7. They gave the Colts a similar beatdown in the playoffs.

Nobody thinks deflated game balls could've accounted for the size of the Patriots' victory. I'm sure Dansby feels differently about the disadvantage his defense faced in communicating signals.

Both cases have something in common though. If rules were purposely broken, the final score shouldn't affect the consequences.

I mean when the Ravens complained about the Patriots using illegal formations in a win over Baltimore this season, it was Tom Brady who said, "Who knows? Maybe those guys gotta study the rule book and figure it out."

The chorus from the rest of the league on DeflateGate: "Right back at you."

* Jerry Jones is praising Roger Goodell for fairness.

ESPNDallas.com quoted the Cowboys' owner saying of Goodell, "He's doing a great job and I'm a supporter of his."

I never questioned Goodell's fairness. As much as I do now knowing Jones is on his side.

* Former Yankees' catcher Jorge Posada doesn't believe Alex Rodriguez and Roger Clemens are worthy of the Hall of Fame because of PED use.

As Jim Rome pointed out this week, Posada does not appear ready to make the companion case that the Yankees' World Series trophies should be vacated.

For some odd reason.

Now it's on to the Belmont Stakes on June 6 for a shot at the Triple Crown and racing immortality.

BALTIMORE (AP) -- That was easy, wasn't it?

Two weeks after struggling but winning the Kentucky Derby, American Pharoah ignored thunder, lightning, rain and the opposition and splashed his way to a seven-length victory in the Preakness on Saturday at Pimlico Race Course.

And now, it's on to the Belmont Stakes on June 6 for a shot at the Triple Crown and racing immortality.

"He's just an amazing horse," trainer Bob Baffert glowed after winning his sixth Preakness. "Everyone talks about the greatness and it's just starting to show now. To me, they have to prove it. Today, the way he did it, he just ran so fast. It was like poetry in motion."

Here are some things learned about American Pharoah from the Preakness:

POST POSITION

Inside or outside, American Pharoah is one tough customer. Saddled with an unfavorable No. 1 post, the 3-year-old colt broke a bit slow, but was urged to the lead by jockey Victor Espinoza. In the eight-horse field, only Mr. Z gave chase but for just a little while. AP, as owner Ahmed Zayat sometimes calls him, motored along the rail and cruised home for his sixth straight win. In the Derby, he drew the No. 18 post, started from No. 16 after two horses were scratched, and won by a length despite not being on his A game. For the upcoming Belmont Stakes, at 1 1/2 miles the longest and most grueling of the three races, post position won't be an issue. By the way, the last horse to win the Preakness from the No. 1 post before Saturday was Tabasco Cat in 1994.

NO SLOP FOR YOU

Rain or shine, track condition is not a problem. American Pharoah gave every indication he could deal with a torrential downpour two months ago in Arkansas. A champion as a 2-year-old, his debut this year came in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park. He won there, too, by 6 1/4 lengths. So once the skies opened on Saturday, there wasn't too much concern about how the sloppy track would affect his performance. "So much rain we had, and so much water, it's insane," winning jockey Victor Espinoza said. "American Pharoah was traveling super in there." How bad was it? "I saw a picture of the track with a river running on the rail, and I thought he's got to run through that?" Baffert said.

BIGGER, STRONGER

A two-week turnaround took nothing out of American Pharoah. Maybe it did, but it didn't look that way. His stride was a graceful as ever -- much better than it was in the Derby -- and as Baffert says, he "floats over the track wherever he goes." In the weeks leading up to the Belmont, though, Baffert knows that can change. After all, this will be the trainer's fourth attempt to give racing its first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. American Pharoah has won six of his seven lifetime starts, and looks as strong as ever. Then again, 2004 Derby winner Smarty Jones looked awesome, too, after his record 11 1/2-length win in the Preakness -- but three weeks later in the Belmont, he was run down in the final yards by Birdstone. "I've seen horses that you don't see it until two weeks later (after the Preakness)," Baffert said. "That's when it starts showing up on these horses. I've been through it. About two weeks out, you'll start seeing if it's getting to them a little bit, and that's why it's so difficult (to win a Triple Crown).

COTTON PICKIN' RAIN

So now we all know American Pharoah is fitted with ear plugs, or his ears are stuffed with cotton, for his races because he's sensitive to noise. Not a good thing for a horse going for a Triple Crown and performing before 100,000-plus fans. Nonetheless, the cotton worked again, and he was as attentive as he needed to be. He may have covered the 1 3-16 miles in the slow time of 1:58.46, but he finished ahead of everyone else and was not distracted. "I could tell they (the horses) didn't like it when they got pelted like that," Baffert said. "And I was worried about the cotton balls in his ears. How is he going to react? Maybe I should take them out." No need.

CAN HE DO IT?

Can American Pharoah end a 37-year Triple Crown drought that began after Affirmed became the 11th horse to sweep the Derby, Preakness and Belmont in 1978. Here's a sampling of opinions from three Triple Crown winning connections:

Penny Chenery (owner, Secretariat): "The question will be how quickly he recovers and doesn't lose too much weight. He seems to have a level head, though, and seems to be in command of his talents."

Steve Cauthen (jockey, Affirmed): "He looks like the real deal."

Ron Turcotte (jockey, Secretariat): "The sport needs a Triple Crown winner and he could very well be the one."

THE OPPOSTION

Now that American Pharoah has dusted off his rivals in the Derby and Preakness, who's left to take him on in the Belmont? Well, it sure looks like a bunch of Derby also-rans who skipped the Preakness are going to show up in a bid to play Triple Crown spoiler. Among them are a bunch trained by Todd Pletcher: Materiality (sixth in the Derby), Carpe Diem (10th) and Peter Pan Stakes winner Madefromlucky. Also probable are Frosted (fourth in the Derby), Keen Ice (seventh), Mubtaahij (eighth) and Frammento (11th). "I really don't think about the third leg yet," Baffert said. "It's going to be tough. I've always said this is the easiest of the three legs, and the next race is going to be ... everybody right now is sharpening their knives getting ready."

Another day, another starting pitcher for the Indians. Shaun Marcum, following Bruce Chen being designated for assignment on Saturday, will start Wednesday against the White Sox. It will be his first start in the big leagues since 2013.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Indians no longer have a hole in their starting rotation.

Manager Terry Francona said Sunday morning that right-hander Shaun Marcum will start Wednesday against the White Sox and rookie left-hander Carlos Rodon at U.S. Cellular Field.

Marcum, with the exception of one five-inning relief appearance with the Indians on April 12 against Detroit, has spent the season at Class AAA Columbus where he's gone 4-0 with a 1.36 ERA in five starts. This will be Marcum's first start in the big leagues since July 6, 2013 with the Mets.

The Indians are running through their starting pitching depth quickly. Left-hander TJ House is on a rehab assignment after being disabled with a sore left shoulder. Bruce Chen was designated for assignment on Saturday and Josh Tomlin and Gavin Floyd have been on the disabled list since spring training.

The purchase of Marcum's contract will require the Indians to make moves on the 40 and 25-man rosters. Austin Adams, recalled Saturday, will probably be optioned when Marcum is activated Wednesday.

"Shaun and Chen put up fairl similar numbers at Columbus," said Francona. "Shaun has been with us for two years. He's rehabbed a bunch and he's worked hard to get this opportunity."

When Marcum, 33, didn't make the Indians at the end of spring training, he could have  become a free agent, but elected to stay with the Indians and pitch at Columbus.

"We wanted him to pitch at Columbus because he hasn't pitched a lot in the last couple of years," said Francona. "He throws strikes. He's hard to run on. He doesn't beat himself and fields his position."

Marcum's last start for Columbus was Wednesday when he went seven innings against Lehigh Valley. He allowed one run on four hits with three walks and four strikeouts.

The Indians have another move to make when they activate utility man Mike Aviles from the restricted list. He's scheduled to join the Indians on Sunday night in Chicago and is expected to be in uniform on Monday night.

Infielders Zach Walters or Jose Ramirez could be optioned to make room. Walters was recalled from Columbus when Aviles was placed on the Family Medical Emergency list last week following his 4-year-old daughter being diagnosed with leukemia.

Ramirez opened the season as the Tribe's starting starting shortstop, but he has struggled at the plate and in the field. Ramirez, however, may have saved his job with his game Saturday night.

The switch-hitting Ramirez had a hit, scored three runs, stole two bases and drove in the tying run in the ninth inning of the Tribe's 10-8 victory over Texas.

Nick Swisher played in the field for the first time Sunday since he was activated on May 3. He started in right field and hit sixth against the Rangers.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Get live updates and chat with beat writers Paul Hoynes and Zack Meisel in the comments section below as the Indians play the third game of a three-game set Sunday against Texas at Globe Life Park in Arlington.

Game 36: Indians (14-21) vs. Rangers (15-22).

First pitch: 3:05 p.m. ET.

Manager Terry Francona shook up the lineup for Sunday's game against Texas. Slumping Carlos Santana got the day off, while David Murphy hit second for the first time this season. Nick Swisher and Brandon Moss made their first starts of the season in right field and first base, respectively.

ARLiNGTON, Texas -- Here are the lineups for Sunday's game between the Indians and Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Game time is 3:05 p.m. ET.

INDIANS

2B Jason Kipnis.

LF David Murphy.

RF Michael Brantley.

3B Lonnie Chisenhall.

1B Brandon Moss.

RF Nick Swisher.

CF Michael Bourn.

C Roberto Perez.

SS Jose Ramirez.

RHP Carlos Carrasco (4-3, 4.84).

RANGERS

RF Shin-Soo Choo.

LF Delino DeShields.

DH Prince Fielder.

3B Adrian Beltre.

1B Mitch Moreland.

SS Elvis Andrus.

CF Leonys Martin.

2B Adam Rosales.

C Robinson Chirinos.

RHP Nick Martinez (2-0, 1.88).

UMPIRES

H David Rackley.

1B Rob Drake.

2B Joe West.

3B Gabe Morales.

LeBron James is often at his best in the Eastern Conference Finals, which is precisely where the Cavs find themselves starting Wednesday in Atlanta.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Eastern Conference Finals are a place where LeBron James has done much of the dirty work in building his legend.

James' best two playoff games both took place in the conference finals. His highest scoring average in the postseason is there.

And when the Cavaliers play in Atlanta against the Hawks in Game 1 of the East finals on Wednesday, it will mark the fifth straight year and six of the last seven in which he's appeared in the conference finals - a rare feat by multiple standards.

James has the Cavs back in the East finals for the first time since 2009, having won eight of their first 10 games this postseason and overcome some adversity that seemingly continues to mount.

Already without Kevin Love for the rest of the playoffs, the best Cleveland coach David Blatt could say about Kyrie Irving (lower body injuries) is "we hope" he plays in Game 1 against Atlanta.

There have been some other, more subtle trials and tribulations James and the Cavs have dealt with this postseason, and there are other, more minor injuries they're trying to heal as the conference finals approach.

And yet the Cavs figure to be a tough out in this series almost no matter who is on the floor with James, if only because it is this time of year when the King really holds court.

"I'm very blessed to be a part of the conference finals, it's my fifth straight time, and I don't know, it doesn't feel like much right now because I'm in it," James said Thursday night in Chicago, after the Cavs knocked off the Bulls 94-73 to earn a 4-2 series win in the conference semifinals. Cleveland's players and coaches were not available to reporters on Sunday.

"I've always said, and I talk to my good friend Maverick Carter, and we always talk about, some day when I'm done playing the game we can sit back and enjoy some wine and look at all the (accomplishments) I've had," James said. "But I do everything for my team, I do everything for my teammates. I want these guys to be able to feel this moment. And that's why, that's what I came back here for.

When James and Carter, his long-time friend and business partner, crack open that bottle of vino some day to reminisce, their minds will surely wander more than once to the conference finals.

On May 31, 2007, James scored the Cavs' final 25 points - and 29 of their last 30 - in the fourth quarter and two overtimes to beat the Detroit Pistons 109-107 in Game 5 of the East finals on the road. James finished with 48 points that night at The Palace of Auburn Hills, and Cleveland beat Detroit again in Game 6 to advance to the first Finals in franchise history.

The Miami Heat entered Game 6 of the 2012 conference finals on June 7 in Boston trailing the Celtics three games to two. James, in a performance he said defined his career, dropped 45 points and 15 rebounds in a series-tying 98-79 victory. The Heat won Game 7 and went on to capture the first of two NBA titles.

In 37 career games in the conference finals, James is averaging 29.4 points - his highest average in any round - and has won 23 times. He's also averaging 8.4 rebounds and 6.2 assists in the East finals, shooting 49 percent from the field and getting to the line 10 times per game.

James' current run of East finals appearance - six out of the last seven - started with the 2009 Cavs, who fell in six games to the Orlando Magic. (Speaking of the '09 conference finals, who could forget James' buzzer-beating three-pointer to steal Game 2?)

Reaching that many conference finals within a seven-year time window has only been done by a few teams since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976.

The Pistons reached six consecutive conference finals from 2003-08. The Bulls were 5-of-5 from 1989-93. The Lakers went to eight straight, nine of 10 and 10 of 12 from 1982-91. The Celtics reached the East finals five consecutive times and eight of nine from 1980-88, and the Philadelphia 76ers reached them in 6-of-7 years from 1977-83.

But those were all "teams." No player led two franchises and three totally different rosters to six conference championship rounds in seven seasons like James. He led the Heat in scoring in each of his four seasons in Miami, all of which ended with trips to the Finals.

If James is to reach the postseason's final round for the fifth consecutive season - and get the Cavs there for the first time they were swept by the Spurs in 2007 - the team will have to maintain its level of toughness from the first two rounds.

In addition to Love's shoulder surgery and Irving's injured knee and foot, Iman Shumpert is playing with a groin injury. Tristan Thompson fell on his shoulder in Game 6 against the Bulls and James tweaked his back.

The Cavs have also been the target in each round of aggressive, non-basketball plays by opponents that can (and in once case, did) lead to retaliatory actions from Cleveland, and even fights.

James must repeat his historically high level of play in the conference finals, teammates have to continue to overcome injury and the Cavs have to collectively keep their heads.

"You have to be able to withstand extracurricular activity out on the floor and just understand what the main thing is, and that's just to win the ball game," James said after practice Saturday. "We can't allow ourselves to be distracted by anything else besides us playing the game of basketball. That helps our growth as a young team. We've been able to handle it as much as we could to this point, and we'll have to continue that down the stretch."

Humid weather challenges runners in 38th Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - It was a typical Cleveland day for an event designed to show off the city Sunday. A light, cool rain fell on more than 11,000 runners at the start of Sunday's 2015 Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon.

"It was cleansing,'' said women's half-marathon winner Lauren Passell, a Hudson native living in New York.

Another brief shower two hours into the race gave way to rising temperatures and soaring humidity. By late morning, the sun was beating down on slower runners still on the course nearly four hours after the 7 a.m. start.

"I liked the course, but the weather was weird,'' said Arizona resident Kathleen Gorman, who completed her 120^th career marathon, and first in Cleveland. "The rain, the sun, then more humidity.''

For some, it was too much. They wobbled over the cruelly placed final hill on the West Shoreway bridge, and teetered down Lakeside Avenue toward the finish, where Thomas Jefferson in bronze seemed to be studying every sweat-soaked soul.

A few cursed the effects.

"I quit,'' said one finisher as he threw down his arms in disgust.

Others embraced it. Karla Stoll of Lyndhurst beamed as she crossed the finish.

"The weather was great. We had a long winter. I'm from Mexico, so for me this is wonderful. I'm so happy,'' Stoll said.

Like Stoll, runners tend to be a happy lot - happy to reach a goal, happy to finish, happy to just to run, even though they can appear on the brink of collapse at the end of 26.2 miles, or a 13.1-mile half marathon, or even the 10K.

More than 100 were treated for minor injuries and heat-related illnesses at a medical tent beyond the finish.

"It was a fun day. There was great support on the course,'' said Beth Gettig of Bainbridge. "It was fun to run through downtown, Lakewood and Edgewater. You really see the city.''

The course wound runners through downtown, Tremont and Ohio City before heading out to Rocky River and back along the Shoreway. All three races started at Quicken Loans Arena, the third different starting line in three years. Runners said they enjoyed the wider street, and there were no mishaps on a 90-degree turn from Ontario Street turn onto Prospect Avenue.

Paul Misur of Connecticut, who plans to run a marathon in all 50 states, brought a unique perspective to the race. Cleveland raised his total to 41 states he has run in, and he said this marathon stood out for a different reason.

"The course was pretty good, but the roads were probably the worst I've seen anywhere,'' he said. "It's amazing. Our roads in Connecticut are bad, but not this bad. I had to watch for the road continuously instead of looking around and enjoying the scenery.''

Favorites triumph

There were few surprises among the winners and top finishers. Cleveland attracts a modest number of elite runners, some of whom are past their prime, with purses smaller than other big-city marathons.

Marathons winners Abraham Chelanga (2:16) of Kenya won by more than three minutes, and Tatiana Arysova (2:35) of Russia had a nearly four-minute margin. Each collected $6,000, including $3,000 bonuses for breaking a set time standard.

Firefighters reach emotional finish

Nearly five hours later, as workers gathered up to close the course, a few dozen remaining fans and runners witnessed perhaps the most poignant moment of the day.

Parma Heights firefighter David Kaszar and three colleagues ran and walked the marathon in full firefighters gear in support of Kaszar's father, Phil who suffers from ALS (Lou Gerhig's disease). They wore helmets, heavy coats and pants, and 40-pound packs with oxygen tanks. Their goal was to raise awareness and money for ALS research. Their only concession to the race was running shoes.

David Kaszar sobbed as his father rolled up in a motorized wheelchair to greet him at the finish, alongside fellow firefighters Brian Durante, Pat Mason and Steve Bender. Many others were in tears, as well.

"I love you,'' David said to his father. "I'm so happy.''

Doctors told the family in 2014 Phil might not live past last Christmas.

David said he almost didn't finish the race. The heat drained the firefighters. They stopped running, and developed cramps and blisters.

"We had to walk the last nine miles. We probably drank 10 gallons of water,'' David Kaszar said. "I did it for Dad. He's been fighting ALS for years and I love him so much. We knew we had to do something big to raise awareness for ALS.

"I was scared of not finishing. I'm so happy we were able to push through and get it done.''

135 pounds and 10 kilometers later

"I did it!" screamed Brittney Seale of Mayfield Heights as she finished the 10K. On the back of her tank top, she wrote in silver letters, "I lost 100 pounds.''

"It actually was 135 pounds,'' she said after hugging her boyfriend and several others within reach. "I have a little girl, and I want to live the rest of my life for her. This is the greatest moment of my life, other than having Cassidy.''

Twin runs with epilepsy.

Twins Claire and Jordan Macosko of Berea finished the 10K hand in hand.

"This was a life-changing experience for me,'' said Claire, who suffers from epilepsy. "It really motivated me to challenge myself mentally, physically and emotional. That's what I love about this.''

Pushing together

Deanne and Jon Ishee of Hudson pushed Deanne's daughter, Sea, through the 10K in a three-wheeled chair. Sea, 15, suffers from Rett Syndrome, a genetic disorder.

"This is how we live our lives. We push. We don't give up,'' Deanne Ishee said. "Sea loved it. She smiled and giggled through the whole thing, and she loved it when it rained. We had a great time.''

Kids run the city.

The YMCA's "We Run This City" had 238 runners in the 10K, and 600 more who ran 1.2 miles at the end of the marathon.

"It was fun. I stuck with my friends, and that last hill was the toughest part,'' said 14-year-old James Hume of Cleveland, who ran the 10K. "I did it for exercise. To get out more, and to get away from just staying home.''

Wilson finishes without fiance

Recovering anorexic runner Bobbi Wilson of Cleveland, featured in Saturday's Plain Dealer, was hoping to run the half marathon with her fiance, Charlie McVan, but finished on her own. He was unable to run because of an ankle injury. They are to be married May 30 at the Cathedral of St. John.

More winners

Aaron Apathy of Westlake won the men's half-marathon in 1:12.38, ahead of Lakewood's Mark Grogan (1:13.48). Chris Carrier of West Virginia was third in 1:17.27.

Kenyan 10K champion Anne Wanjiru's winning time of 33:00 was 42 seconds faster than last year's winner. Monicah Ngige finished second in 33:07 and Askale Merachi was third in 33:22. Kelsi Nutter, 26, of Painesville was the top Ohioan, finishing sixth.

Najim El-Quady of Morocco won the men's 10K for the second time in three years, finishing in 29:08, three seconds ahead of defending champion Julius Koskei, a Kenyan from Hebron, Kentucky.

Blistering pace

Chelanga, 30, was on a record pace for more than half the marathon, running a blistering, 4:57-per-mile pace through 15 miles. He dropped to 5:25 in miles 20-24, and his last two miles averaged 6:40. His overall pace was 5:12.

Still, he won by more than three minutes ahead of defending champion Philip Lagat of Kenya. Lagat said he had stomach pains that were aggravated by the heat.

Chelanga arrived in Cleveland from Kenya on Friday. Sunday was his first career marathon win. He frequently turned to look for a challenger and saw no one.

"I tried to run the first half so fast. But it got so humid,'' Chelanga said. "I knew I had to maintain my gap. I did good to maintain the lead to the finish. I trusted my training. I thought I would run good to the finish.''

Finishing third in 2:21 was Christopher Estwanik of Burmuda, who ran just his third marathon at age 35. Estwanik is a former Ohio high school 1,600-meter state champ from Dublin. He now lives in Bermuda and hopes to represent that country in the Olympics. Chris Lemon of Springfield was the top Ohio resident, finishing fourth in 2:22. The top local winner was Joseph Hengoed of Seven Hills, seventh in 2:38.30.

Arysova, a former Olympic 10,000-meter runner, won the women's marathon by nearly four minutes over Dehininet Jara of Kenya. Hirut Guangul of Ethiopia was third in 2:41.35. Bay Village's Molly Sords was the top Ohioan in 2:59.24.

Carlos Carrasco pitched the Indians first complete game of the season, but it didn't do much good because the offense forgot to show up at Globe Life Park.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- After scoring 18 runs on 26 hits Friday and Saturday against the Rangers, the Indians rested on Sunday. Hey, at least they made it to the ballpark.

Right-hander Nick Martinez pitched on the edge for five innings to lead the Rangers to a 5-1 victory over the Indians at Globe Life Park. The Indians were in position for their first series sweep of the season, but they managed just one run.

Carlos Carrasco (4-4, 4.98) was the loser, but deserved better. He allowed a two-run homer to Mitch Moreland to ice the game, but he turned in his first complete game of the season to save the Tribe's weary bullpen.

It was Carrasco's second complete game in the last two years. Carrasco's last complete game came on Sept. 17 against Houston.

"I felt great," said Carrasco. "I tried to save the bullpen because we've used it a lot the last few games.

"I was happy with that, but I missed a couple of my spots and they made me pay."

Moreland gave the the Rangers a 1-0 lead with a double off the top of the right field wall in the second. Adrian Beltre, who was on first, was going to stop at third, but a poor throw from right fielder Nick Swisher allowed him to score.

Swisher, starting his first game in the outfield since Aug. 9, was charged with an error. Swisher's last game in right field was Aug. 9. In fact, that was his last game of the 2014 season as he underwent surgery on both knees on Aug. 20.

Texas made it 2-0 in the third on Prince Fielder's two-out single to short center field. Center fielder Michael Bourn, fooled by Fielder's big swing, froze on the ball and had it fall in front of him.

Michael Brantley, who had the Indians only hit with a runner in scoring position, made it a 2-1 game with a double in the fifth. The Indians had a great chance to take the lead with runners on second and third and no one out, but Martinez (3-0, 1.88) turned out the lights.

He retired Lonnie Chisenhall on a foul pop to the catcher, struck out Brandon Moss and intentionally walked Swisher to load the bases and bring Bourn to the plate. Bourn worked the count full before taking a called third strike to end the inning.

Texas made it 5-1 on a sacrifice fly by Beltre in the eighth.

"The way that game was going, instead of losing 5-1, I felt we should have been up by six or seven runs," said manager Terry Francona. "We have such good scoring opportunities early and we didn't do anything with them."

What it means

The Indians (14-22), after winning two straight for just the second time this season, were unable to record a season-high three-game winning streak Sunday.

The Tribe fell to 4-2 against the AL West.

The Rangers (16-22) ended a three-game losing streak and improved to 6-13 at home.

Study in frustration

Martinez, in holding the Indians to one run in five innings, faced 20 batters, five above the limit. He stranded nine.

Here's how Martinez did it -- he stranded two in the first, two in the third and left the bases loaded in the fifth.

The Indians went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position against him. For the game, they were 1-for-10.

Left out

The Indians started eight left-handed hitters against Martinez. That included switch hitters Swisher and Jose Ramirez. Lefties came into the game hitting .206 against Martinez.

The Tribe's lefties went 4-for-18 (.222) against Martinez.

Thanks for coming

The Indians and Rangers drew 32,189 fans to Globe Life Park on Sunday.

What's next?

Corey Kluber (1-5, 4.27), fresh off his 18-strikeout performance against the Cardinals, will face White Sox left-hander Chris Sale (3-1, 5.09) Monday night at 8:10 p.m. ET at U.S. Cellular Field as the two teams open a four-game series.

Kluber, who allowed one hit in eight innings against St. Louis, is 0-1 against the White Sox this year. He's 4-3 in his career against Chicago.

Sale will be making his second start since serving a five-game suspension for his part in a brawl with Kansas City. In his last start, he struck out 11 in eight innings against the Brewers.

He is 3-4 with a 4.29 ERA in his career against the Indians.

See details for each of the nine NBA teams that have rallied from 3-1 deficits to win NBA playoff series. The Houston Rockets in 2015 became the first team to do so since the 2006 Phoenix Suns.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The 2015 Houston Rockets became the ninth team in NBA history to come back from a 3-1 deficit to win a best-of-seven NBA playoff series.

Houston's rally over the Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference semifinals marked the first time a team came back from 3-1 down to win a NBA playoff series since the Phoenix Suns did so in 2006.

Here's a summary of the NBA teams that have rebounded from 3-1 deficits with three consecutive victories to win best-of-seven series.

* 2015: The Houston Rockets in 2015 moved on to the Western Conference finals after coming back from down 3-1 to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers. As the higher seeded team, the Rockets won Games 5 and 7 at home, as well as Game 6 on the road. Houston star: James Harden, who averaged 27.4 points a game during the regular season.

* 2006: The Phoenix Suns started the 2006 playoffs by falling behind, 3-1, to the Los Angeles Lakers before winning the series. They won the next round against the Los Angeles Clippers before losing in the conference finals to the Dallas Mavericks. Phoenix (54-28 during the regular season) had the homecourt advantage over the Lakers (45-37). Phoenix star: league MVP Steve Nash.

* 2003: The Detroit Pistons trailed the Orlando Magic, 3-1, but came back to win the Eastern Conference first-round matchup. The Pistons also won in the next round before losing in the conference finals. The Pistons (50-32) enjoyed the homecourt advantage over Orlando (42-40). Detroit defender: NBA defensive player of the year Ben Wallace.

* 1997: The Miami Heat came back to defeat the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals, but lost in the next round despite a 61-win regular season. Miami (61-21) had the homecourt advantage over New York (57-25). Miami scoring leader: Tim Hardaway.

* 1995: The underdog Houston Rockets rallied to defeat the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference semifinals, and then went on to win the NBA championship. During the regular season, Phoenix (59-23) was 12 games better than Houston (47-35). Houston starting lineup included current TNT analyst Kenny Smith.

* 1981: The Boston Celtics stormed back to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference finals en route to the NBA title. Boston and Philadelphia had tied for the best record in the East that year at 62-20, but Boston had the homecourt for Game 7. Boston star: Larry Bird.

* 1979: The Washington Bullets rallied to defeat the San Antonio Spurs in the Eastern Conference finals, before losing to the Seattle Supersonics in the NBA finals. Washington (54-28) had the homecourt advantage over San Antonio (48-34). Washington star: Elvin Hayes.

* 1970: The Los Angeles Lakers came back to defeat the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference semifinals and then advanced to the NBA finals before losing to the New York Knicks. During the regular season, the Lakers (46-36) had a better record than Phoenix (39-43). Laker stars: Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor.

* 1968: The Boston Celtics rallied to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers to win the Eastern Conference finals and then went on to win the NBA championship. The Celtics did this despite having to win Game 7 in Philadelphia. The 76ers (62-20) had a better record than Boston (54-28) during the regular season. Boston stars: Bill Russell and John Havlicek.

Sources: National Basketball Association and basketball-reference.com

Tribe second baseman Jason Kipnis has reached base at least three times in eight consecutive games.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Mitch Moreland homered and doubled and right-hander Nick Martinez gave up one run in five innings as the Rangers defeated the Cleveland Indians, 5-1, Sunday afternoon at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Tex. Tribe second baseman and leadoff batter Jason Kipnis went 1-for-3 with a walk and hit by pitch, extending his remarkable streak of reaching base three-plus times to eight games.

Here is a capsule look at the game after a DVR review of the Fox SportsTime Ohio telecast:

Dry spell over: The Rangers (16-22) snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Tribe.

No such luck: The Indians (14-22) were denied their first three-game winning streak and series sweep of the season.

On Friday and Saturday nights, the Indians combined for 18 runs on 26 hits. On Sunday, they managed one run on six hits -- five singles and a double (Michael Brantley).

Kip it and rip it: Kipnis, a hard-nosed competitor, would trade the three times on base for a victory any day. But he has every right to feel proud of the streak he will ride into Chicago on Monday night.

An MLB player had not reached safely three-plus times in eight straight games since 2004, when Barry Bonds of the Giants did it twice. No Indians player had done so since at least 1914. 

Kipnis extended his streak Sunday with a two-out single to center off righty Shawn Tolleson in the ninth.

Kipnis has reached safely in 27 of his past 41 plate appearances.

The single pushed his hitting streak to nine games, during which he is batting .553 (21-for-38).

In 15 games in May, Kipnis is batting a ridiculous .508 (32-for-63) with nine RBI and 18 runs. He scored the Tribe's run Sunday. 

Slick Nick: Martinez allowed five hits, walked five, hit one and struck out six.

Martinez threw 103 pitches, so he wasn't able to get deep into the game. But it amounted to a hollow victory for the Indians because of their meager output.

Martinez improved to 3-0 with a 1.88 ERA in eight starts this season. He has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 14 consecutive starts dating to last year.

In three day starts this season, Martinez is 2-0 with one run allowed in 18 innings.

Martinez is a finesse righty -- his first and last fastballs Sunday were clocked at 89 mph -- who knows how to change speeds and eye levels. His best pitch, the changeup, gave Tribe left-handed batters fits as it lost steam down and away.

Payback: The previous time Martinez encountered the Indians and third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall, Martinez crumpled.

On June 9, 2014, at Globe Life Park, Martinez allowed eight runs on six hits in two innings of a 17-7 loss. Chisenhall went 2-for-2 with a homer and three RBI against Martinez, part of a 5-for-5, three-homer, nine-RBI night that put his bat in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

On Sunday, Martinez and his relievers held cleanup batter Chisenhall to 0-for-4 with one strikeout. Chisenhall was 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position -- part of his team's 1-for-10 -- and left six runners on base.

Missed opportunities: The Indians surrounded Martinez but did not punish him. Martinez exited with a 2-1 lead.

Chisenhall and Brandon Moss (also 0-for-3 with RISP) were involved in the three most glaring potential rallies gone haywire.

*With one out in the first inning, David Murphy singled and Brantley walked. Chisenhall's at-bat lasted nine pitches but ended with a strikeout when he swung and missed at a full-count breaking pitch under the hands. Moss struck out swinging at a 2-2 high changeup.

*Kipnis led off the third by getting plunked on the first pitch. Murphy drew a four-pitch walk. Brantley struck out swinging at a changeup, but Martinez immediately picked up Brantley by throwing an ill-timed pickoff attempt into center field.

With runners on second and third, the Rangers' infield was willing to concede a run. Chisenhall failed to capitalize, popping a 1-1 changeup to short. Moss stayed on a 1-2 fastball (90) but lined to left, enabling Texas to maintain a 1-0 lead.

*Kipnis led off the fifth with a walk and advanced to second on Murphy's single to right. Brantley's double drove in Kipnis to make it 2-1; Murphy stopped at third.

Chisenhall, too eager, popped a first-pitch fastball (90) to the catcher in foul territory. The pitch was off the inside corner at the thighs.

Moss struck out swinging. After Nick Swisher was intentionally walked, Michael Bourn took a full-count fastball (89) over the plate at the knees for strike three.

File and forget: Even though center fielder Bourn finished 1-for-4, he did not have one of his better days. In addition to the bases-loaded called strikeout, Bourn was caught stealing and misplayed a fly ball that resulted in a run.

With one out in the second, Bourn singled to center. Early in Roberto Perez's at-bat, Fox SportsTime Ohio showed Bourn's leadoff at first.

"You've got to get a bigger lead,'' Fox SportsTime Ohio analyst Rick Manning said.

With the count 2-1 on Perez, Bourn sprinted for second as Martinez delivered to the plate. Perez swung through a breaking pitch and Rangers catcher Robinson Chirinos easily erased Bourn.

A replay showed Bourn looking toward Perez en route to second, which meant hit and run.

"That wasn't a stolen base, by the way,'' Manning said. "That was a hit and run, so that's on the hitter....He swings through it; you've got to try to put it in play.''

However, just because it was not a straight steal did not mean Manning stopped wondering about Bourn's lead and, in the bigger picture, viability on the bases.

"This guy's been a career base-stealer in the National League for a while,'' Manning said. "But he just doesn't run anymore....I expected Bourn to run a lot more than he has this year....It's almost like he's comfortable going one base at a time or going first to third. For him to be successful on this team, he's got to start running.''

Bourn is batting .233 with a .617 OPS and 12 runs in 33 games this season. He has stolen two bases and been caught three times.

In 106 games last season, Bourn stole 10 bases and was caught six times. He scored 57 runs.    

Here's what Terry Francona, Carlos Carrasco, Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn had to say about Sunday's loss to Texas.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Here's what the Indians had to say about Sunday's 5-1 loss to Texas at Globe Life Park.

Manager Terry Francona

On Carlos Carrasco pitching a complete game in defeat.

"To his credit he pitched a complete game, which we really needed. He made a couple of mistakes to (Mitch) Moreland and it cost us some runs. But he pitched eight innings."

On the offense going 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and stranding 10 runners.

"The way that game was going. Instead of us losing 5-1, we should have been up by six or seven runs. We had so many good opportunities early and we didn't do anything with them."

On stranding nine runners in the first five innings.

"Early on we had second and third with nobody out and middle of the order up. We didn't do anything."

Explanation: In the third inning, with Jason Kipnis on third and David Murphy on second with no one out, Texas right-hander Nick Martinez retired Michael Brantley, Lonnie Chisenhall and Brandon Moss -- the No.3, 4 and 5 hitters -- in order.

In the fifth, after Brantley doubled home Kipnis to cut the deficit to 2-1, the Indians had runners on second and third with one outs. Once again Martinez retired Chisenhall and Moss and intentionally walked Nick Swisher to bring Michael Bourn to the plate. Bourn took a called third strike on a 3-2 pitch to end the inning.

How much of that was Martinez and how much of it was the Indians hitters?

"Well, Martinez is pitching. When he got to two strikes he had that change up sitting in his pocket that he could throw down and away to our lefties. Then he'd elevate. He went back and forth on us.

"He's a good command guy, but he was struggling. For whatever reason, we had so many good chances and we couldn't do anything."

Explanation: Martinez walked five batters and threw 103 pitches --only 55 percent for strikes -- in five innings. The Indians, however, managed just one run off him.

Carlos Carrasco (4-4, 4.98), who allowed five runs on seven hits, in eight innings.

On giving up an RBI double and two-run homer to Moreland.

"Those were big hits and they changed the game. I missed my spots. That's what happened."

Right fielder Nick Swisher

On playing his first game in the outfield since Aug. 9.

"I had one chance out there and that was a laser (Moreland's RBI double in the second). This was just a good series for us. We got back on the winning path.

"The start might not have gone the way Cookie (Carrasco) wanted it to, but for him to go out and give our bullpen a break was crucial. Especially with us going into a four-game set in Chi-Town.

"The guys are upset because we're losing and that's what we want. This was a good series for us down here and now, hopefully, we can win a series outside the state of Texas."

Explanation: The Indians have just two series victories this year -- one in Houston and one in Arlington.

What mindset do us a hitter have to take with runners in scoring position?

"When you come up in those spots, you either get it done or you don't. We didn't get it done today, but that's all right. That's the good thing about baseball, we come back tomorrow."

On facing four straight left-handed starters in Chicago.

"We have a whole heap of lefties coming up here. We've got to get the right-handed hitters hot. We need to start rolling a little bit."

On what Martinez was throwing to escape so many early jams.

"The kitchen sink."

Left fielder David Murphy

On his great catch of Adrian Beltre's sacrifice fly in the eighth inning.

"The wind does funny things with the ball. It was drifting toward center field from where it started out. From that point, you just let instincts take over and try to not jump too close to the wall."

Explanation: Murphy caught the ball against the wall in left center field as Delino DeShields scored. The Rangers asked for a review, saying the ball bounced off the fence and into Murphy's glove.

After a review the play on the field stood.

"The first replay I saw I thought the ball came off the wall and into my glove. It's good they had another angle," said Murphy.

Center fielder Michael Bourn

On getting a late start of Prince Fielder's flare to center field that fell for an RBI single to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead in the third.

"He's a big guy with a big swing, but what happened is I slipped. If I didn't slip, I would have had it.

"But that's not an excuse. I just missed it."

Hankins and Gonzalez combine for six hits, three runs and seven RBI in Akron's 11-1 victory over the first-place Curve.

Second baseman Todd Hankins and shortstop Erik Gonzalez provided quite a back-to-back punch Sunday for the Akron RubberDucks.

Erik GonzalezAkron RubberDucks 

Batting second and third in the lineup, respectively, Hankins and Gonzalez combined for six hits, three runs and seven RBI as the RubberDucks routed the Curve, 11-1, in a Class AA Eastern League game in Altoona, Pa.

The win was the second straight for Akron and gave the RubberDucks a 2-2 split in the four-game series with the Curve, who are in first place in the Western Division. The RubberDucks are 16-21 on the season, seven games behind the Curve.

Gonzalez hit a three-run homer in the third inning give the RubberDucks a 4-0 lead.

Akron made it 6-0 in the fourth on RBI singles from Hankins and Gonzalez. In the sixth, they teamed up again, Hankins driving in two runs with a triple and Gonzalez bringing in Hankins with a sacrifice fly to make it 9-0.

Hankins and Gonzalez were unable to bring in two baserunners in the eighth, but third baseman Yandy Diaz came through with a two-run single with two outs.

Todd HankinsAkron RubberDucks 

Akron starter Shawn Morimando (3-4, 2.95 ERA) gave up no runs and just two hits in six innings. Jacob Lee pitched two innings of scoreless relief, while Trey Haley gave up one run in one inning.

Tyler Glasnow (2-2, 2.76) took the loss for Altoona.

The RubberDucks are off Monday, then begin a three-game series Tuesday against the New Britain Rock Cats at Canal Park in Akron. The Rock Cats (26-10) are in first place in the Eastern Division.

Carlos Carrasco delivered the Indians first complete game of the season in a 5-1 loss to Texas on Sunday. Carrasco was disappointed he made a couple of bad pitches, but he was happy about giving the bullpen a much needed break.

ARLINGTON, Texas - It wasn't the prettiest complete game in the big leagues this season, but it may have been the timeliest.

The Indians' bullpen needed a break. Starters Bruce Chen and Danny Salazar lasted 2 1/3 innings and 4 2/3 innings, respectively, Friday and Saturday against the Texas Rangers. The short starts meant a lot of work for the bullpen so when Carlos Carrasco gave the Indians their first complete game of the season on Sunday it helped ease the pain of a 5-1 loss to the Rangers.

Carrasco allowed five runs on seven hits in eight innings. He struck out nine and walked two. Mitch Moreland did most of the damage against Carrasco with an RBI double off the top of the right field wall in the second and a two-run homer in the sixth.

"To his credit he pitched a complete game, which we really needed," said manager Terry Francona.

Carrasco was pleased with his second complete game in the last two seasons, but he wished he had done a better job against Moreland.

"I felt great out there," said Carrasco, who threw 114 pitches. "I wanted to attack hitters, give the team an opportunity to win the game and save the bullpen.

"But I missed two fastballs in the same spot to Moreland. I paid for that."

Take a seat: First baseman Carlos Santana, nursing a sore back and bat, didn't play Sunday.

While Jason Kipnis has thrived since being moved to the leadoff spot, Santana has struggled since moving from the cleanup spot to the No.2 spot. He's hitting .171 (7-for-41) in 11 games since the move.

"This was a good day to give him off," said Francona. "I think his back was bothering him on Saturday night. I just think he's frustrated more than anything. There have been some pitches that have not gone his way."

Brandon Moss replaced Santana at first. Nick Swisher took Moss's spot in right field. It was the first start for Moss and Swisher at those positions this season.

Testing, testing: Yan Gomes is scheduled to catch for Class AAA Columbus on Monday.

He caught three innings for Class A Lake County on Friday and DH'd on Saturday. Gomes is recovering for a sprained medical collateral ligament in his right knee.

Hard slide: Catcher Brett Hayes made a hard slide into second base in the ninth inning Saturday night to break up a potential game-ending double play by the Rangers.

When second baseman Thomas Field threw wide of first after forcing Hayes on a ground ball by Jose Ramirez, Lonnie Chisenhall scored from third to tied the game, 8-8. Kipnis, the next batter, untied the game with a two-run homer for a 10-8 victory.

"That was just good hard baseball," said Texas manager Jeff Banister of Hayes' slide.

Said Field, "He planted me."

Hayes came into the game in the seventh after Swisher pinch-hit for Roberto Perez.

"I didn't see how Josie (Ramirez) got out of the box so I was just trying to do my job and disrupt it anyway I could so the run could score," said Hayes. "He (Field) stayed behind the bag and I just went through the bag and stayed low, hoping he'd throw the ball away.

"It's just hard baseball. I'm not trying to hurt anybody. I looked at the replay and I may have hit his quad. He said he was all right, but he was hobbling around a little bit."

Finally: Josh Hamilton, currently on a rehab assignment for the Rangers, is expected to make his 2015 big-league debut when the Rangers open a three-game series at Progressive Field on May 25^th. The Angels traded Hamilton to Texas on April 28 after his offseason drug relapse became public. Hamilton, recovering from shoulder surgery, played for the Rangers from 2008 through 2012.

Vincent Granito resigns after nine seasons as Wickliffe girls basketball coach.

WICKLIFFE, Ohio – Vincent Granito has stepped down after nine seasons as the girls basketball coach at Wickliffe.

This comes after Granito, a Wickliffe graduate, accepted the head women's basketball coaching position at Lorain County Community College, where he also is a psychology professor.

"I will always have fond memories of the nine seasons I coached my alma mater and thank the players who have come through the program during those times," Granito said.

This past season Wickliffe had 10 girls on the team, nine of which were seniors including Moriah Porter, who scored her 1,000th career point. She ended the regular season setting new school career records with 1,008 points and 896 rebounds.

In Granito's first season after five years at Andrews Osborne Academy, he led the Blue Devils to the second most regular season wins in the program's history with 17.

For more high school sports news, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Contact Nathaniel Cline on Twitter (@nathanielcline), by email (ncline@cleveland.com) or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

The Indians open a four-game series against the White Sox on Monday night at U.S. Cellular Field. Chicago is 3-2 against the Indians this season.

Where: U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago.

When: Indians vs. White Sox, Monday through Thursday.

TV/Radio: SportsTime Ohio, WTAM AM/1100 and WMMS FM/100.7 will carry the series.

Pitching matchups: RHP Corey Kluber (1-5, 4.27) vs. LHP Chris Sale (3-1, 5.09) Monday at 8:10 p.m. ET; RHP Trevor Bauer (2-1, 3.67) vs. LHP Jose Quintana (2-3, 4.39) Tuesday at 8:10 p.m.; RHP Shaun Marcum (0-0, 1.80) vs. LHP Chris Rodon (1-0, 4.96) Wednesday at 8:10 p.m. and RHP Danny Salazar (4-1, 4.06) vs. LHP John Danks (2-3, 4.66) Thursday at 8:10 p.m.

Season Series: White Sox lead, 3-2. White Sox lead, 1,060-1,029 overall.

Indians' update: They've won two of their last three and three of their last five games. They're hitting .201 against Chicago with Ryan Raburn leading the way at .545 (6-for-11) with one homer and four RBI. They're 4-9 against left-handed starters and will be facing four straight Chicago lefties.

White Sox' update: They've won five straight and eight of their last 11 games. They've outscored the Indians, 46-32, with Jose Abreu hitting .333 (7-for-21) with three homers and six RBI. Danks is 0-1 and Quintana is 1-0 against the Indians. Rodon made his big league debut against them on April 21.

Injuries: Indians -- LHP TJ House (left shoulder), RHP Gavin Floyd (right elbow), RHP Josh Tomlin (right shoulder) and C Yan Gomes (right knee) are on the disabled list. White Sox - RHP Matt Albers (right finger), C Robert Brantly (left thumb) and RHP Nate Jones (right elbow) are on the disabled list.

Next: Cincinnati visits Progressive Field for a three-game series starting Friday night.