Quarterback Robert Griffin III and the Cleveland Browns fizzled after a competitive first half Sunday, losing to the Philadelphia Eagles, 29-10, in Philadelphia.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Quarterback Robert Griffin III went 12-of-26 for 190 yards in the Cleveland Browns' 29-10 loss to the Eagles in Philadelphia. Griffin threw one interception and was sacked three times for minus-22 yards. He had five rushes for 37 yards.

Difficult matchup: Griffin, a fifth-year pro making his regular-season debut for the Browns, was outplayed by Eagles rookie quarterback Carson Wentz (22-of-37, 278 yards, two touchdowns). For one game, at least, Wentz looked like someone worthy of the No. 2 overall pick in the draft.

However, Wentz is working with a better supporting cast -- and probably will be for the foreseeable future. And Wentz faced a worse defense than Griffin did.

Split decision: Griffin played two games in one.

*Through the first half and his first throw in the second, Griffin went 10-of-16 for 176 yards. He was making plays, avoiding losses and keeping his team competitive.

Griffin connected with Corey Coleman for 58 yards on the first play of the third quarter. The Browns trailed, 13-7.

*For the remainder of the game, Griffin did next-to-nothing. Not all of it was his fault, of course. His protection, as one example, deteriorated to the point where he could not be expected to accomplish much with various dropbacks. The Eagles had a sizable lead and were able to focus on shutting down the pass.

But Griffin was far from blameless and, indeed, part of the problem. It started with back-to-back misses in the first two passes after the connection with Coleman.

Among Griffin's -- and coach Hue Jackson's -- homework assignments for next week: a viable short-to-intermediate passing game that can move the chains.

Griffin's final grade: C-

Piece by piece: Here is a breakdown of Griffin's dropbacks:

FIRST QUARTER

First possession (Eagles, 7-0)

1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 25

• Result: Griffin, from under center, incomplete intended for TE Gary Barnidge on right.
• Skinny: Griffin play-faked, rolled right and was pressured by DE Brandon Graham. Barnidge drop at Cleveland 25 cost gain of no more than 5 yards.

3rd-and-9 @ Cleveland 26

• Result: Griffin, from shotgun, rolled right and "scrambled'' for 4 yards.
• Skinny: This is listed with pass plays because Griffin appeared to want a shovel pass to RB Duke Johnson. Griffin was hit low as he stepped out of bounds and wanted a late hit, but he was a running back at that point.

Second possession (Eagles, 7-0)

2nd-and-9 @ Cleveland 21

• Result: Griffin, from shotgun, complete to RB Isaiah Crowell over middle for 2 yards.
• Skinny: Griffin's first look was to wide right, then check-down to dink.

3rd-and-7 @ Cleveland 23

• Result: Griffin, from shotgun, complete to D. Johnson on right for 0 yards.
• Skinny: Play had no chance for first down. Griffin appeared to be committed to Johnson from the start. Catch made outside numbers.

Third possession (Eagles, 7-0)

1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 36

• Result: Griffin, from under center, complete to FB Malcolm Johnson on left for 6 yards.
• Skinny: Basic screen. Griffin play-faked and moved right, then threw left. Catch made at Cleveland 32. C Cameron Erving missed a block that cost Johnson more yards.

SECOND QUARTER

3rd-and-5 @ Cleveland 41

• Result: Griffin, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Barnidge on left.
• Skinny: Griffin made quick flip outside number on-target outside the numbers to Barnidge, who was split left against S Malcolm Jenkins. Barnidge shed Jenkins and dropped pass at Philadelphia 47.

Fourth possession (Eagles, 10-0)

1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 25

• Result: Griffin, from under center, complete to WR Terrelle Pryor on right for 11 yards.
• Skinny: Griffin play-faked and felt no pressure. Pryor beat CB Leodis McKelvin and came back to make catch near sideline at Cleveland 36.

1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 36

• Result: Griffin, from shotgun, incomplete intended for WR Corey Coleman on left/middle.
• Skinny: Griffin play-faked and threw slant on-target to Coleman at Cleveland 46. Drop.

2nd-and-10 @ Cleveland 36

• Result: Griffin, from shotgun, complete to D. Johnson on right for 16 yards.
• Skinny: Griffin let five-man rush come and moved to right for designed screen. D. Johnson caught pass at Cleveland 34 and used good rub-block by Pryor to get loose near sideline and into Philadelphia territory. 

1st-and-15 @ Cleveland 47

• Result: Griffin, from shotgun, complete to Pryor on left for 44 yards.
• Skinny: Griffin received good protection against four-man rush. Pass on-target to leaping Pryor at Philadelphia 14. Pryor used size and hands to out-maneuver CB Nolan Carroll for great catch.

2nd-and-goal @ 8

• Result: Griffin, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Hawkins on left.
• Skinny: Pass sailed high out of corner of end zone. Hawkins wanted Eagles PI.

3rd-and-goal @ 8

• Result: Griffin, from shotgun, incomplete intended for D. Johnson on right NULLIFIED by Malcolm Jenkins PI.
• Skinny: Griffin escaped pressure and extended the play with a roll right. He threw against his momentum on-target at goal line.

Fifth possession (Eagles, 10-7)

1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 20

• Result: Griffin, from under center, complete to Pryor over middle for 13 yards.
• Skinny: Griffin play-faked and threw on-target to wide-open Pryor on slant at Cleveland 29. Pryor bobbled ball before securing it as he fell to ground.

3rd-and-8 @ Cleveland 35

• Result: Griffin, from shotgun, complete to D. Johnson on left for 12 yards.
• Skinny: Griffin checked-down to D.Johnson near sideline. Johnson made catch at Cleveland 38 and immediately made Carroll miss.

1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 47

• Result: Griffin, from shotgun, scrambles right for 20 yards.
• Skinny: Griffin eluded pressure from ends (four-man rush) and moved right. He made a man miss with pump-fake and weave at 50.

2nd-and-5 @ Philadelphia 28

• Result: Griffin, from shotgun, intercepted by S Rodney McLeod at Philadelphia 16 intended for Coleman.
• Skinny: Griffin probably would have been on-target to Coleman, but LB Jordan Hicks alertly tipped pass at Philadelphia 27. Coleman reached high and back for ball at Philadelphia 20. Ball stayed in air for diving McLeod.

Sixth possession (Eagles, 13-7)

1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 42

• Result: Griffin, from shotgun, scrambles right for 2 yards.
• Skinny: Four-man rush brought pressure up middle. Griffin ran to sidelines.

2nd-and-8 @ Cleveland 44

• Result: Griffin, from shotgun, incomplete intended for D.Johnson on right.
• Skinny: A tad too hard and too high to wide-open D. Johnson, who got his gloves on ball at Cleveland 44. Two Eagles closed in a hurry, though.

3rd-and-8 @ Cleveland 44

• Result: Griffin, from shotgun, complete to Crowell on right for 14 yards.
• Skinny: Four-man rush brought pressure from Griffin's right. Griffin knocked down as he dumped to Crowell at Cleveland 44. Time expired in half.

Griffin at half: 9-of-15 for 118 yards, one interception; three rushes for 26 yards.

THIRD QUARTER

Seventh possession (Eagles, 13-7)

1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 25

• Result: Griffin, from under center, complete to Coleman on left for 58 yards.
• Skinny: Griffin play-faked, stepped up in pocket and waited for Coleman to get deep. Griffin arm clipped on release. Coleman, who had been lined up wide left, double-covered with third Eagle in area. Coleman was only one to locate ball; catch made at Philadelphia 24.

2nd-and-10 @ Philadelphia 17

• Result: Griffin, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Pryor in left end zone.
• Skinny: Lob a tad wide of Pryor, who tried to make one-handed catch at sideline. Even if catch had been made, Pryor would have been unable to get feet in. Griffin never gave Pryor a chance to make a play.

3rd-and-10 @ Philadelphia 17

• Result: Griffin, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Hawkins in left end zone.
• Skinny: Hawkins used a hitch-and-go to beat CB Ron Brooks to the corner. Griffin had time and space in the pocket; he simply put too much on the pass and over-threw Hawkins. Touchdown was available.

(Browns kicked field goal.)

Eighth possession (Eagles, 13-10)

1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 15

• Result: Griffin, from shotgun, safety after Erving snap into end zone.
• Skinny: Erving fired high and hard on what appeared to be a passing play.

Griffin to this point: 10-of-18 for 176 yards, interception.

Ninth possession (Eagles, 22-10)

1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 35

• Result: Griffin, from shotgun, sacked by Fletcher Cox for minus-8 yards.
• Skinny: Four-man rush swarmed Griffin. Cox shed RG John Greco. Not much Griffin could do.

2nd-and-13 @ Cleveland 32

• Result: Griffin, from under center, incomplete intended for Pryor on left.
• Skinny: Griffin had plenty of time and no pressure but made bad pass -- way too high for Pryor, who was available outside numbers at Philadelphia 46.

3rd-and-13 @ Cleveland 32

• Result: Griffin, from shotgun, complete to Coleman on right for 11 yards.
• Skinny: Coleman threw on-target, but Coleman was short of sticks near sideline. No possibility for YAC.

Tenth possession (Eagles, 22-10)

1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 1

• Result: Griffin, from under center, complete to M.Johnson on right for 3 yards.
• Skinny: Basic extended handoff. M. Johnson caught pass just beyond goal line.

2nd-and-7 @ Cleveland 4

• Result: Griffin, from under center, incomplete intended for Coleman on right.
• Skinny: Griffin over-shot Coleman by several yards near sideline at Cleveland 48. Griffin's front leg appeared to have been hit during release.

3rd-and-7 @ Cleveland 4

• Result: Griffin, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Pryor on right.
• Skinny: Griffin, under pressure from his right and with nowhere to go, side-armed pass out of bounds at Cleveland 20. Essentially a throwaway. Pryor bracketed.

Eleventh possession (Eagles, 22-10)

1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 20

• Result: Griffin, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Pryor on right.
• Skinny: Low throw, but it qualified as a drop by Pryor outside numbers at Cleveland 24.

2nd-and-10 @ Cleveland 20

• Result: Griffin, from shotgun, sacked by Connor Barwin for minus-10 yards.
• Skinny: Griffin, play-faked and had deep dropback. Barwin looped around LT Joe Thomas.

Twelfth possession (Eagles, 22-10)

1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 8

• Result: Griffin, from shotgun, strip-sacked by Graham for minus-4 yards.
• Skinny: Griffin fumbled at Cleveland 3, recovered at Cleveland 4.

2nd-and-14 @ Cleveland 4

• Result: Griffin, from shotgun, incomplete intended for D. Johnson on left/middle.
• Skinny: Griffin swarmed by pressure from five-man front. Griffin hit by Graham, creating push-pass that was almost intercepted by Barwin at Philadelphia 3.

3rd-and-14 @ Cleveland 4

• Result: Griffin, from shotgun, scrambles right for 11 yards.
• Skinny: Griffin was shoved at last instant by CB Ron Brooks and ran hard into CB Jalen Mills at sideline. Griffin came away with a sore left shoulder.

4th-and-3 @ Cleveland 15

• Result: Griffin, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Hawkins on left.
• Skinny: Too high for Hawkins outside numbers at Cleveland 20. Griffin bent over after release; his left arm was hanging as he went to sideline.

*CBS had Griffin being hurried nine times and knocked down six times.

(Griffin returned for 13th possession and handed off three times to Crowell.)

Browns quarterback RG3 sprained his left shoulder late in the 29-10 loss to the Eagles and his status for the Ravens is uncertain.

PHILADELPHIA --  Robert Griffin III's cell phone went off at the start of his post-game press conference and he promptly apologized.

"It's my mother,'' he said. "She's very worried about me.''

Griffin's mom had reason to be concerned. Her son suffered a sprained left shoulder late in the game and almost couldn't finish the game. As it is, he'll undergo an MRI Monday and might not be able to play next week against the Ravens.

If he can't go, Josh McCown will start the home opener.

In fact, Griffin had to talk the team doctors into letting him go back in for the final 1:12, during which he handed the ball off three straight times to Isaiah Crowell.

"It's a sprained shoulder, (we) just have to monitor it and see how it goes,'' he said. "I can move my left arm. I'm in pain, but it will be OK, just have to monitor it.  We'll see more tomorrow and see how my shoulder is feeling and just move on from there."

Griffin initially hurt he shoulder on an 11-yard scramble on third and long when rookie cornerback Jalen Mills blasted him near the sidelines as he was running out of bounds at his own 15. The Browns trailed 22-10 at the time.

"Yeah the guy kind of surprised me there on the sideline trying to get out of bounds,'' Griffin said. "It was an unfortunate play.  Just trying to score a touchdown and put us in a position to have a chance to win the game.  It hurt pretty bad, but I felt like I had to get back out there and finish the battle with my teammates out on the field."

RG3 outplayed by Carson Wentz in Browns 29-10 loss to Eagles

On the next play, he was knocked down again after an incomplete pass to Andrew Hawkins and came up wincing.

"It all hurt,'' he said. "The play happened, and you just have to move on from it."  
Griffin said he decided to run out of bounds there instead of sliding.

"I feel like I did a decent job of protecting myself recently and wanted to continue that,'' he said. "But in the heat of that moment it kind of just surprised me."

 He seemed to suggest that Mills took an unnecessary shot there.

"I couldn't tell you,'' he said. "I would have to watch the tape to see where I was and what happened.  Everyone's out there fighting for one cause and that's to win.  Their side is fighting to win, we are fighting to win, so I couldn't actually accurately project that."

While Griffin was talking to the doctors on the sideline, McCown put on his helmet and started warming up. But Griffin would have none it.

"He's a tough guy, he's our leader, our captain,'' said Pryor. "That's why we picked him as our captain because he's a tough guy and we respect him with the utmost respect.  It's awesome for him to come out there and finish with us, no matter what he had going on. But it's just awesome to see."

Receiver Andrew Hawkins agreed.

"That's one thing coach Hue preaches to us is finish,'' said Hawkins. "It was important for Rob to make sure he finished. The game didn't go our way, that's part of the NFL, we've got to learn from it and get better."

Griffin acknowledged how important it was for him to finish it off.

"It was more about wanting to be out there and finish the battle with my teammates,'' he said. "It didn't matter what the score on the scoreboard was.  It was more about that moment and that desire to finish the battle with your teammates out there on the field."

Question is, will he be able to continue the battle next week against the Ravens?

Bryson DeChambeau recorded his first professional championship on Sunday, winning the 2016 Web.com Tour DAP Championship at Canterbury Golf Club to secure his PGA Tour card.

PAT GALBINCEA
Special to The Plain Dealer

BEACHWOOD, Ohio -- Greater Cleveland golf courses have a history of launching the careers of some pretty great golfers.

Arnold Palmer won The Plain Dealer Invitational (now the Northeast Ohio Invitational) while golfing at Pine Ridge in Wickliffe during his Coast Guard days in the 1950s. And in 2006, unknown 19-year-old Jason Day earned his first professional victory by winning the Nationwide Tour's event at StoneWater in Highland Heights.

Add the name of Bryson DeChambeau, who Sunday won the Web.com Tour's DAP Championship at Canterbury Golf Club in a four-way playoff. DeChambeau, 22, also became the youngest winner of a Web.com Tour this season and was one of five players to secure a 2017 PGA Tour card.

DeChambeau, who finished at 7-under with rounds of 64-70-68-71, outlasted Nicholas Lindheim, Andres Gonzales and Julian Etulain in the two-hole playoff.

• DAP Championship scoreboard
• Web.com Tour live projected standings

It appeared DeChambeau would win the playoff on the first hole when he hit his second shot on the uphill, par-4 439-yard 18th hole to 3 feet with an 8-iron. Etulain had a putt of more than 50 feet for his birdie attempt, while Lindheim was in the deep rough before the green in two and Gonzales had a 29-foot uphill putt.

Lindheim almost holed out his chip and made par, Etulain missed to the far left of the hole but Gonzales improbably sank his twisting right-to-left putt. DeChambeau sank his birdie putt to force a second playoff hole.

On the second playoff hole at No. 18, DeChambeau safely reached the green 18 feet above the pin while Gonzales, 33, drove into the right rough and then into the far left rough of the green. He chipped to 18 feet and almost sank the putt. DeChambeau needed to sink a testy 3-footer again to win.

"Winning here is beyond my wildest dreams," said DeChambeau, who became only the fifth golfer last season to win the U.S. Amateur and NCAA Championship in the same season. "(Canterbury) is a major championship venue.

"I hit every fairway, but the greens got three days of rain and so many putts I hit and missed I kept telling myself 'You gotta be kidding me' but I made some clutch putts, ones I had to. This was a U.S. Open type venue."

Gonzales also earned a PGA Tour card, along with Etulain, Lindheim and fifth-place finisher Zack Sucher. This tournament was the first of four Web.com Tour events determining which 25 players earn PGA Tour cards.

"Bryson is very unorthodox (using same-length shafts on all of his clubs) but he believes in what he's doing," Gonzales said. "You have to believe in your ability and style or you are toast out here. He has the confidence.

"I'm only disappointed to come this close to winning, but at least I achieved my mission in getting my (PGA) tour card."

What club? Saturday's hole-in-one by Rory Sabbatini was on the par-3, 177-yard third hole. He used a 7-iron. Ironically, he shot poorly -- for him -- on the back nine (a 3-over 38) and it likely cost him a shot at winning the tournament.

"I just got in a few wrong positions out there, and unfortunately on this course ... you start to put pressure on yourself on the greens," he said prior to his final round. "And these greens aren't easy, and I didn't help myself in that department either, unfortunately."

Low round: Sunday's lowest round was a 5-under 65 by Scott Stallings, a three-time winner on the PGA Tour who lost full exemption status by finishing 128th on the Fed Ex Cup standings -- he would have kept his PGA Tour full exemption by placing 125th or lower.

He also lost full exemption status by not winning since his 2014 victory in the Farmer's Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in California.

A first: Of the previous 13 major golf tournaments at Canterbury, professional golfers have always put club caddies to use. But not this time.

"It's the sign of the times," said Canterbury caddy master Mike Kiely, in his 50th year at the club. "This is the first time we've never had even one pro ask to use one of our caddies. Even on the Web.com Tour, players now have their own (full-time) caddies."

Local ties: Lindheim's caddie was Derek Duda, former Cleveland State golfer who lives in Bath. He met Lindheim through Jake Scott, former Strongsville High and CSU standout whom Duda normally caddies for.

"Derek did a great job of relaxing me," Lindheim said.

The 6-foot-3, 235-pound linebacker is scheduled to officially visit Ohio State the weekend of Nov. 26 for the Michigan game.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State probably isn't going to land five-star linebacker Dylan Moses of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG. 

But as long as Moses plans to officially visit Ohio State, the Buckeyes are alive in his recruitment. So the updates continue. 

Rated the No. 1 outside linebacker in the 2017 recruiting class in the 247Sports composite rankings, Moses posted on his Twitter account Sunday afternoon that he plans to announce his college decision on Dec. 15. 

The 6-foot-3, 235-pound linebacker is scheduled to officially visit Ohio State the weekend of Nov. 26 for the Michigan game, so the Buckeyes could be Moses' final visit before his decision. 

Moses was born in Baton Rouge, La., and was once committed to LSU. Though he isn't going to officially visit the Tigers -- he's from there -- they should be considered the favorite in his recruitment. 

Moses is also scheduled to visit Texas, Alabama, UCLA, Miami (Fla.). 

According to NOLA.com, Moses is interested in Houston and he said that Cougars could replace one of the official visits he has schedule. 

"One of them is probably gonna change," Moses said. "I'm starting to get interested in Houston and talking to the coaches, trying to set something up."  

Moses said that he plans on announcing a top three after taking his visits. 

"It's about the relationship I have with the coaches," Moses told NOLA.com. "It's not about how good of team you are. Its about if I can talk to you personally, have deep conversations about my personal life and just be that father figure when I'm away from home."

Erving snapped the ball over Robert Griffin III's head in a play that changed the momentum of the game.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- Earlier in the summer, when Cameron Erving was asked if his issues with shotgun snaps had been corrected, he answered matter-of-factly. 

"Snaps are snaps," he said. "I don't really focus on that. That's just something that happens pretty naturally." 

Sunday in Philadelphia, the snapping issues came back to haunt him. With 10:54 left in the third quarter and the Browns trailing 13-10 with the ball at their 15-yard line, Erving sailed a snap over quarterback Robert Griffin III's head. Griffin kicked the ball out of the back of the endzone for a safety. The Browns never regained momentum. 

"I definitely feel like the momentum kind of changed over and I mean, that's something that I've got to live with and I've got to deal with," Erving said. "It definitely took a toll on my team's momentum." 

"Certainly that was probably the moment when the momentum switched," left tackle Joe Thomas said, "and then we had some opportunities the rest of the half but weren't able to grab it back and get that score and make it a one-score game so then we can operate in our normal offense, which is where you want to be." 

Robert Griffin III walks off the field with Cameron Erving after Erving made a high snap for a safety.John Kuntz, cleveland.com 

Erving called the play unacceptable and said he can't let it happen. 

"I don't think about snapping the ball," Erving said. "I just do it. It went over his head and it's something I can't let happen as a professional." 

Erving's snap issues haunted him throughout training camp and came to a head in the second preseason game when he snapped the ball over Griffin's head against the Falcons. The safety wasn't his lone high snap on Sunday. He also snapped the ball high to running back Duke Johnson on the failed fake punt in the second quarter. 

Still, Erving's teammates and head coach stood behind him after the game. 

"You can't have one (go over the quarterback's head)," Hue Jackson said. "I think we all know that. But Cam will get better, we will get better, and there is no question about that. So no you can't have that happen in the game." 

"You've got to keep playing. He has to keep playing," cornerback Tramon Williams said. "Those things happen. That's not the first missed snap I've seen in my career, it's not going to be the last one. He was just was the guy to be the victim of it today, but that didn't win the game for us or lose the game for us. Keep his head up and keep doing what he's doing." 

Griffin said that he and Erving will get the issues fixed. 

"I talked to Cam and we are relying on Cam a lot this year, and he knows that," he said. "He's a big part of our offense. Him and myself touch the ball every single play, so we'll get it handled and get it fixed, and I'll make sure that happens." 

Erving, who said he can be tough on himself and has been tough on himself in past interviews, said Sunday's gaffe is something he has to move on from. 

"I want my teammates to be able to depend on me," he said, "so I definitely take it but I can't think about that next week. I can't think about that next week. I can't think about that practicing for this next game against Baltimore." 

A scare for Haden: Cornerback Joe Haden left the game briefly with an ankle injury but quickly returned. He said it was a little bit of a scare because it "was the ankle that I messed up (in the offseason)." 

"I just felt it a little bit," Haden said, "but I was able to come back out. I could've went back out the next play on punt, but they said just stay out for one play." 

A new addition: Sunday wasn't just Haden's first game back from his injury-riddled 2015 season. It also marked his first game as a father. 

Joseph Ali Haden IV was born on Friday and weighed in at seven pounds, seven ounces and 14 and a half inches long. 

"I was looking at my phone -- I've got him as a screen saver -- before I left," Haden said "It's just special. It puts this all in perspective. It makes you just realize really what's going on. ... It just makes me want to go out there and do it more now that I know I've got a little son that's going to be able to watch his dad out there like when I see (Andrew Hawkins) and all them dudes. That's the way I want it to be." 

Injury news: Rookie safety Derrick Kindred left Sunday's game with an ankle injury and did not return. 

Firsts: Rookie wide receiver Corey Coleman had his first career reception on Sunday, a 58-yard catch down the sideline on the first offensive play of the second half. ... Rookie defensive lineman Carl Nassib collected his first career sack on the final play of the third quarter. 

----- 

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PGA Tour veterans who have lost their full privileges were part of the field at the Web.com Tour DAP Championship at Canterbury Golf Club.

MIKE PETICCA
Special to The Plain Dealer

BEACHWOOD, Ohio -- The Web.com Tour Finals features an array of golfers with a wide range of accomplishment and urgency to achieve.

There's Bryson DeChambeau, who won the DAP Championship on Sunday at Canterbury Golf Club in a four-way playoff. DeChambeau, 22, is one of five players to ever win both the U.S. Amateur and an NCAA individual national championship, and expectations are that he will grow into one of the sport's elite players.

There are the golfers well into their 30s, who have never earned as much as $100,000 in a single season and never played in a PGA Tour event.

And, there are the players who have won millions and multiple tournaments on tour.

All of them have the same goal. To earn a PGA Tour card for the next season.

The DAP Championship was the first of four Web.com Finals. To earn a tour card, a player must finish in the top 25 in combined earnings at the four tournaments.

Accomplished tour veterans such as Rory Sabbatini, D.A. Points, Michael Thompson and Erik Compton are in the Web.com Finals because they didn't finish in the top 125 in the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup standings.

Sabbatini and Points, at 5-under par, finished tied for sixth place among the 132 golfers who began play on Thursday. The efforts gave solid boosts to their chances of earning back a card. Compton and Thompson didn't fare as well, tying for 39th at 2-over.

• DAP Championship scoreboard
• Web.com Tour live projected standings

"Obviously, it would definitely be of importance to do that," Sabbatini, 40, said of his quest to win back a card. "I've been out there 18 years now, and I'd like to save some of the exemptions I have for later on in my career, when I hopefully am getting ready to get on the Senior Tour."

Sabbatini had neck surgery for a herniated disc in 2015 and has a minor medical exemption which will get him into six or seven PGA tournaments next season. A card would allow him to play many more. The South African has won more than $29 million and six tournaments on the PGA Tour. Prior to this season, he had won at least $920,000 in 16 straight years.

"It was a rough year emotionally for me as well as physically," he said. "But to be here, I think it's more of a matter that I just have to be thankful that I'm playing golf still."

Points, 39, has two PGA Tour wins with nearly $11 million in earnings. He has totaled just over $1 million in the last three years, however.

Points says that everyone feels the pressure of trying to regain a card or secure one for the first time.

"Oh, yeah. Are you kidding me?" Points exclaimed. "I mean, we all want to play on the PGA Tour. I don't care who you are.

"After being out there for 10 years and not having that option right now -- it's important. I want to do it. I want to be back there. And that puts a little pressure on you."

Points was disappointed that he played the fourth round at 1-over, denying himself a potential win. He did, though, understand it wasn't a lost weekend for him.

"It put me to where I have a really good chance of getting my job back on tour. That's why we're here," he said.

Thompson, 31, has a PGA Tour win and has earned over $6 million. He believes experience and some tour success is of benefit.

"I think I have a good perspective on what needs to be done," said Thompson. "It would be nice to get it over in one week but you've got three more chances. The key in these events is to just stay positive.

"I know I'm good enough. I've been out on tour long enough now. I'm good enough to be out there. It's just a matter of me believing it."

Compton's story and his ability to deal with pressure is unique. Compton, 36, had heart transplants in 1992, when he was 12, and again in 2008. He was born with a condition in which the heart muscle doesn't pump as strongly as it should.

Remarkably, Compton has won nearly $4 million on the PGA Tour. He finished in a second-place tie at the 2014 U.S. Open. Though he has no PGA Tour wins, he has seven professional victories, including three on the Canadian Tour.

"Sure we do. We all do," Compton replied when asked if all of the players feel pressure in the Web.com Finals. "There's guys out here in their 20s and 30s and 40s. The golf ball doesn't know who's hitting it, though.

"I didn't have a good year. I can't fight myself over that. I just have to work to get my card back."

Stan Wawrinka wore Novak Djokovic down and beat the defending champion 6-7 (1), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 on Sunday for his first U.S. Open title and third Grand Slam trophy overall.

NEW YORK -- Pointing to his temple after winning the biggest of points, Stan Wawrinka wore Novak Djokovic down and beat the defending champion 6-7 (1), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 on Sunday for his first U.S. Open title and third Grand Slam trophy overall.

The 31-year-old Wawrinka is the oldest U.S. Open men's champion since Ken Rosewall was 35 in 1970. Yet he already had gained the upper hand by the time No. 1 Djokovic clutched at his upper left leg and grimaced after missing a forehand while getting broken early in the fourth set. From there, Djokovic briefly began conceding points, showing little of the fight he's so famous for.

Trailing 3-1 in the fourth set, Djokovic was granted the unusual chance to have a medical timeout at a time other than a changeover. He removed both shoes and socks so a trainer could help him out with what appeared to be blisters on toes.

Wawrinka complained to the chair umpire about the 6-minute break, and Djokovic looked over and apologized.

When they resumed, Djokovic earned three break points, but Wawrinka held for 4-1. That continued a pattern that carried throughout: Djokovic, as good a returner as there is in the game -- now, certainly, and perhaps ever -- managed to convert only 3 of 17 break chances.

Djokovic started limping later and received more toe treatment at the changeover before he served down 5-2 in the fourth.

Wawrinka has won only five of 24 career meetings against Djokovic, but has now beaten the 12-time major champion on the way to each of his own Grand Slam titles, including in the 2014 Australian Open quarterfinals and 2015 French Open final.

Before this matchup, Djokovic praised Wawrinka as "a big-match player," and, boy, is he ever. Wasn't always, though: Playing in the shadow of his far-more-accomplished Swiss countryman and good pal, Roger Federer, Wawrinka needed until his 35th appearance at a major, at age 28, just to get to the semifinals for the first time.

But look at Wawrinka now.

He has now won 11 tournament finals in a row.

He is 3-0 in Grand Slam finals, beating the No. 1-ranked player each time.

And he did it Sunday against Djokovic, whose French Open title in June completed a career Grand Slam and made him only the third man -- and first in nearly a half-century -- to win four consecutive major tournaments.

Earlier Sunday, Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the United States and Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic won the women's doubles title for their third Grand Slam trophy as a pair. They beat the top-seeded French team of Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4.

Mattek-Sands is the first American to win women's doubles at Flushing Meadows since 2011, when Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond did it.

U.S. Open 2016: Angelique Kerber beats Karolina Pliskova in three sets

The final was played on the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and Mattek-Sands wore knee-high socks and a left wrist band with the same red-and-white-striped, star-spangled design she did while teaming with Jack Sock to win a gold medal in mixed doubles at the Rio Olympics last month.

"To have this result here has been amazing," Mattek-Sands told the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd during the trophy ceremony, her eyes welling with tears and her voice choking on her words. "It's a special day today here for everybody in New York."

Tramon Williams, Christian Kirksey stress importance of defense moving on after giving up plays following disappointing second half.

PHILADELPHIA -- Veteran cornerback Tramon Williams knows what he needs to stress to a young defense after a game when the wheels came off in the second half. 

"Keep everybody calm," he said. "We're a young group so when things go wrong, it can't be chaos. It can't be chaos. The game is never won on one drive or one play, won or lost on one play." 

Middle linebacker Christian Kirksey echoed that sentiment. 

"They just had some plays on us and we've got to learn how to shake it off," he said. 

The numbers at the end looked ugly for the Browns defense, though, there's no hiding from that. They gave up 403 total yards. Rookie quarterback Carson Wentz completed 22-of-37 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns. They failed to force a turnover. The Eagles converted 4-of-9 third downs in the second half after converting just 1-of-6 in the first half. 

"We had some costly penalties, getting off on third down," Kirksey said, "which we've just got to settle down. ... We've just got to make sure we tone in and be accountable on third downs." 

"With us, it's getting off the field on third downs," cornerback Joe Haden said. "Not any stupid penalties when it's third and short, getting offside, stuff like that, holding calls. It kind of just makes drives go a lot longer, so we've got to lock in on winning on first down, winning on second down, then third and long, third and short, making sure we get off on third down." 

It was a disappointing finish primarily because the defense seemed to rally in the first half after Wentz and the Eagles marched down the field on the game's opening drive to the tune of nine plays, 75 yards and a touchdown -- a picturesque throw from Wentz to Jordan Matthews. 

"We just settled down (after that first drive)," Williams said. "We know what were up against. We felt that we played the type of defense we know we could play that those guys shouldn't have been able to score that many points on us. Really that's the way it was after the first drive." 

As for that second half? 

"Truthfully I can't tell you what happened," Williams said. "You would hope we keep them out of the end zone and get the offense the ball and hopefully they get a rhythm. It just didn't mesh today." 

So, like it could be for many games this season, the theme for the defense was how do they get better from here. 

"It was kind of like bend but don't break a little bit, but we'll get better," head coach Hue Jackson said. "We need to keep working, but I saw signs of things getting better. I did, I really did. So we have to take the good and grow from it and eliminate the bad." 

"I had a play where I missed an assignment on a gap and just little things like that," Kirksey said. "If I would have been in my gap, it wouldn't have been an explosive run or something like that. It's definitely a lot of things we can fix. It's the first game and just to see where we are, especially in the regular season." 

Williams used the word process multiple times, stressing that it's important for the young players to learn that games aren't won just on Sundays. 

"It's not just a process of just showing up on Sunday and hoping to get the job done," he said. "You've got to get guys on the same page throughout the week. Guys got to get in film and understand what we're going to get. Understand what we're going to get on certain downs, certain parts of the field and when guys get to that level, the game will start to slow down a little bit. We'll start to make more plays." 

Kirksey, thrust into a leadership role this season with the team going so young, had a simple message. 

"The mentality that I have, just from previous years, is it's a marathon," he said. "It's 16 games. Now we have 15 more. We can't go into panic mode, especially this upcoming week. It's a division game and it's a very important game. We can't dwell on the past. We can't dwell on the first game and dictate our season off of that." 

If there's one thing we know in Cleveland, though, it's that one loss can turn into more losses and do so quickly. Williams said his team needs to learn that, when they're in a game they have a chance to win, they need to figure out how to win it. 

"These types of games ... these are the types of games that you feel like you've got to win," he said. "... You're going to know when you're in a tough game and the games like this to where you're in a game the whole time and you have a chance to strike throughout the game, you have to come through with those games, someway, somehow. That's the difference between winning and losing. Small margin so we've just got to find that niche to get through that." 

He added that any talk of simply building isn't enough. 

"We're coming out to win and we just didn't get it done today," he said. 

----- 

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The Browns' 29-10 loss to the Eagles illustrated how the Browns may have blown it by passing on Carson Wentz and banking on Robert Griffin III instead.

PHILADELPHIA -- Robert Griffin III and Carson Wentz met on the field and wished each other luck after after the Browns lost 29-10 to the Eagles, and it provided a snapshot of What Is for the Browns vs. What Might Have Been.

Wentz' performance in his rookie debut illustrated that the Browns may have blown it by passing on Wentz with the No. 2 overall pick, and banking on Griffin instead. Griffin, meanwhile, sprained his left shoulder on a fourth-quarter scramble and his status for the Ravens next week is uncertain. He'll undergo an MRI on Monday.

It's only one game, but the jury is still out on Griffin, while Wentz flashed all the potential of a franchise quarterback -- which the Eagles already seemed convinced he is.

Some of the Browns already are too.

"He's awesome,'' said Browns receiver Terrelle Pryor. "I'll tell you guys right now, I was just talking with him and a couple people, that kid's going to be a baller. (The Eagles) got one. I just liked his patience, he was great, he did an awesome job. He looked like he'd been there before.''

Browns cornerback Joe Haden, who was beaten by Wentz on a terrific 35-yard touchdown pass to Nelson Agholor at the front right corner of the end zone, is already a believer.

"He did a really good job,'' said Haden, who tweaked his surgically-repaired ankle but returned. "He was more advanced than I expected him to be. He's a good quarterback. He stands in the pocket, he's able to make all the throws, very patient, and does not take off running all the time. He looks down the field and picks his receiver that he wants to throw to."

On the TD to Agholor, Wentz lasered it where only the receiver could get it.

"I was running with the receiver and he threw it to his outside shoulder,'' said Haden. "It was a really good ball.''

Wentz, who was named the starter last weekend after Sam Bradford was traded the Vikings, completed 22 of 37 attempts for 278 yards, who two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 101 rating. He was sacked only twice, but hit hard eight times by a blitzing Browns defense.

"It's not surprising,'' said new Eagles coach Doug Pederson. "I was trying to get across to the fans, to the media: This is who he is. This is his DNA. He prepared like he was a five-, six-year veteran and obviously he played that way. How he handled himself with the maturity level was outstanding."

RG3 sprained his left shoulder and is uncertain for Ravens

Griffin, meanwhile, struggled in his first start since the end of the 2014 season, completing 12 of 26 attempts for 190 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception on a deflected ball for a 55.0 rating. Aside from two big passes to Terrelle Pryor (44 yards) and Corey Coleman (58 yards), Griffin completed 10 balls for 88 yards.

He was sacked three times and fumbled once, but recovered. He also rushed for 37 yards on five carries, including a long scramble of 20, but sprained the shoulder on the final run.

The Browns had some momentum and were driving to score again in the second quarter when Griffin's pass for Coleman was deflected by Jordan Hicks at the line, bounced off a cornerback and was picked off by the Eagles 21. The Eagles converted it into a field goal for a 13-7 lead just before the half.

"We can't turn the ball over in the scoring zone,'' said Hue Jackson. "We all know that. So that reared its ugly head again. So again we have to take care of the ball.''
Griffin, who received words of encouragement and a handshake/hug from head of football operations Sashi Brown in the locker room after the game, agreed.

"I can't turn the ball over,'' he said. "We have to move the ball effectively and be able to get the ball to our playmakers and run the ball effectively as well. It's just about not hurting ourselves with penalties and turnovers."

In his defense, Griffin had at least three of his passes dropped, including the first of two by sure-handed Gary Barnidge on their opening play of the game. Coleman dropped another one over the middle in the second quarter, but Pryor bailed him out with the 44-yarder to set up a 2-yard TD run by Isaiah Crowell.

Still, Griffin blew chances to throw TD passes. On the opening drive of the second half, he found Coleman for the 58-yarder to the 17, but threw too wide for Pryor and then Andrew Hawkins on the left side of the end zone. The Browns settled for three and closed to within 13-10.

Then came the momentum-killing shotgun snap by center Cam Erving way over Griffin's head for the safety and a 15-10 Eagles advantage. The Browns never recovered and Wentz got red-hot. He seized the moment by marching downfield and hitting Agholor with the gameclinching TD pass, and he had to overcome adversity to do it.

A wide-open Jordan Matthews dropped a pass over the middle on third down, and Wentz was facing a fourth and 4. With Chris Kirksey and others bearing down in an all-out blitz, he found tight end Zach Ertz for 5 yards over the middle. Next play, he fired the TD into Agholor over Pro Bowl cornerback Joe Haden.

"He had so much poise today,'' said center Jason Kelce, a Cleveland native. "There were a lot of things that the defense did. They didn't hold back anything obviously. They were coming after with some blitzes, some situations with some exotic stuff, and he didn't let that get to him. It was tremendously handled; the ups and downs of the game. He did a really good job for us."

Wentz started the same way he finished -- with a hot hand. He threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Matthews over Tramon Williams on the opening drive, completing 4-of-5 attempts for 57 yards. It served notice to the Browns that he was no shrinking violet.

"Carson came out and he put the ball in a lot of great places where he had to,'' said Matthews, who caught seven passes for 114 yards. "Specifically, my touchdown catch and Nelson's. You can't throw those any better. He's putting them right where they need to be. He's waiting until you break leverage on the guy and then so even if he tries to recover, it's too late.''

Griffin, meanwhile, went 3-and-out on his first three drives and couldn't generate much other than the two big passes. It was similar to his preseason, where he relied too heavily on the long ball.

By the time it was over, Wentz became one of only three rookies since 1960 to post 275-plus yards passing, two TDs passes and no interceptions in a season opener. The others were Hall of Famer Jim Kelly and -- guess who -- RG3.

It means anything can still happen with the Hue Jackson's reclamation project and with Wentz, who didn't face the best defensive in the NFL on Sunday.

But in the Browns' first glimpse of the player they passed on at No. 2, it looks like they might have blown it.

Two RubberDucks pitchers combine to hold the Curve to one run over 10 innings.

Eric HaaseAkron RubberDucks 

AKRON, Ohio -- Eric Haase's RBI single in the 10th inning gave the RubberDucks a 1-0 win over the Altoona Curve on Sunday night and put Akron in the finals of the Class AA Eastern Conference playoffs.

The RubberDucks had only three hits in the game off Curve pitchers Brandon Waddell and Brett McKinney, two of them coming in the 10th inning. Mike Papi doubled with one out before scoring the winning run on Haase's single.

The RubberDucks were even more dominant on the mound. Right-hander Nick Pasquale gave up just one hit over eight innings, striking out seven, and right-hander Louis Head pitched two innings of hitless relief.

Both Pasquale and Waddell had no-hitters through four innings. Waddell surrendered one hit in seven innings and struck out five.

Indians catcher Yan Gomes, in Akron on a rehab assignment, started behind the plate but finished 0-for-3.

Akron won the best-of-five series, 3-1. The RubberDucks will face the Trenton Thunder in the Eastern League finals beginning at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday at Canal Park. (An earlier version incorrectly said the series began Monday.)

Go here to see a box score from the game.

The Cleveland Indians defeated the Minnesota Twins, 7-1, Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis, Minn. The Tribe won the season series, 10-9.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Right-hander Corey Kluber allowed one unearned run in seven innings and Carlos Santana hit a three-run homer as the Cleveland Indians defeated the Minnesota Twins, 7-1, Sunday afternoon at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minn. Tribe center fielder Tyler Naquin went 2-for-3 one RBI, one run and two walks.

Here is a capsule look at the key aspect(s) of the game, which was televised by Fox Sports Time Ohio:

Nick Camino Scoreboard Watch: The Indians (83-59) increased their lead in the AL Central to 7.0 games over second-place Detroit (76-66). The Tigers lost to the Orioles, 3-1, in Detroit.

That's a wrap: The Tribe won the series, 2-1, and the season series, 10-9.

The Twins (53-90) are in last place in the AL Central, so winning a season series against them should not rate as an "accomplishment.'' But the Indians have the right to congratulate themselves because they were 4-8 after losing the first three of a four-game set in early August.

Welcome relief: After watching the Browns and charting quarterback Robert Griffin III in a 29-10 loss to the Eagles in Philadelphia, I enjoyed firing up the DVR and watching Kluber and the Indians cruise.

Klubotic: Kluber gave up four hits, walked two and struck out 10. He threw 73 of 114 pitches for strikes.

Minnesota's run scored with two outs in the fourth, one batter after Tribe third baseman Jose Ramirez's throwing error.

AL Cy Young candidate Kluber (16-9, 3.05) is 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA in his past five road starts. He is 7-1 with a 2.14 ERA in 11 starts since the All-Star break.

Kluber's strikeout total stands at 208 -- his third straight season of 200+.

Kluber overpowered the Twins using a fastball/cutter/breaking pitch combination. He kept the vast majority of the pitches out of the middle of the zone. The Twins swung and missed 20 times.

El Oso flexes: Santana's homer (No. 31) came with two outs in the second inning and gave the Tribe a 3-0 lead.

Abraham Almonte led off against righty Jose Berrios with a single to short. Naquin remained patient and walked in four pitches. Roberto Perez's sacrifice bunt put a second runner in scoring position.

Perez bunted so that Michael Martinez could do something other than drag bunt. Martinez's drag-bunt attempt ended in a pop to Berrios.

Santana, in a 2-1 count, dropped the barrel on a low fastball (94 mph) and smashed it deep to right. Other than Santana, nobody was happier than Martinez.

More than enough: The Tribe essentially secured the outcome with two runs in the third inning to make it 5-0.

The second run came when Naquin singled with two outs to drive in Lonnie Chisenhall from second base. This was no ordinary RBI single.

Lefty Pat Dean had replaced Berrios to face Naquin, who fell behind in the count, 1-2. Naquin fouled three times (for four in a row), took a ball, fouled twice, took a ball and fouled. Naquin was rewarded with an 89-mph pitch over the plate, and he slapped it up the middle.

The earth stood still: With one out in the seventh, Perez boomed an RBI triple to left-center -- his second career MLB triple. Martinez redeemed himself with an RBI single to account for the final margin.

Brunswick senior quarterback Rodney Axson Jr. said he plans to continue playing football despite racial slurs and hate speech toward him after he kneeled during the national anthem.

A Brunswick football player plans to continue playing football despite racial slurs and hate speech toward him after kneeling during the national anthem.Photo courtesy of the Ohio Helmet Project 

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Brunswick High School senior football player Rodney Axson Jr. knelt during the playing of the United States national anthem at the team's second game of the season last weekend.

But the quarterback, who is black, learned unpleasantly that some teammates and team followers did not support his decision.

"The week has been like a getting a big monkey off my back, but the week has been rough," Axson said. "But I knew there was going to be a lot of feedback."

Before Axson and Brunswick took the field last week against Austintown-Fitch, which has a roster with a majority of black players, the senior overheard the n-word being used by his teammates. Axson said his teammates were referring to their opponents and took offense into their remarks. He responded by taking a knee during the the playing of the national anthem.

Axson said during a week where his peers distanced themselves, racial slurs and malicious messages were directed to him via text and social media accounts.

Brunswick superintendent Michael Mayell issued a statement to Channel 19 News that investigations are ongoing into the allegations and that "racial slurs and hate speech have no place in Brunswick schools."

On Friday, the case became evidently clear when neither football players from Brecksville nor Brunswick were on the sidelines during Friday's playing of the national anthem.

Who's ignorant now? Is it still me? @MayellMichael @Mdraves @BHSMerrill #LoveYall pic.twitter.com/49Cz2VyYAn

-- Rodney Axson (@KingAxson) September 7, 2016

This incident comes in the wake of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick starting a wave of athletes taking a knee during the playing of the national anthem because of the racial tensions across the country.

Members of the Seattle Seahawks locked arms during the anthem before Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins; and some Dolphins players kneeled.

"It's disheartening. It's disturbing," mother Danielle Axson said. "We made a conscious choice to move him into this community for obvious reasons...so to see those words in writing it's disheartening. Even as a child this is a learned behavior. You just don't feel that way about people."

The quarterback's decision to kneel happened the same weekend Seattle Reign soccer forward Megan Rapinoe took a knee during the anthem on Sept. 4 in a 2-2 draw against Chicago. In the days to follow for the Reign's trip to Washington D.C., Spirit owner Bill Lynch took action to avoid any players taking a knee by playing the national anthem without the teams on the field.

Rodney Axson Sr. said his son will continue playing football and taking a knee for future games. Brunswick's next game is at home against conference opponent Solon on Friday.

"In our eyes, we don't want our kids to quit on anything," Axson Sr. said.

Axson has continued to attend his classes in the past week. 

He added that the family remains active in the investigation and has received support from the Cleveland NAACP Chapter.

"Rodney has a bright future," chapter president Mike Nelson said. "It's important that we eliminate all the variables in his way."

See related: Brecksville defeats Brunswick 42-35 in overtime

Rodney Axson Jr. says he has been harassed through social media after kneeling during the national anthem in protest of teammates using racial slurs.

Photo courtesy of the Ohio Helmet Project 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The family of a Brunswick football player who kneeled during the national anthem in protest after he said he heard teammates using racial slurs will meet Monday with police after he received racist texts and threats, according to the Cleveland NAACP.

Rodney Axson Jr., a senior quarterback at Brunswick High School, said he overheard teammates using racial slurs before a game Sept. 2 against Austintown Fitch, which has roster of a majority of black players.

Axson Jr., who is black, took offense to their remarks, but says teammates ignored his concerns and continued to use the slurs. Axson Jr. decided to kneel during the national anthem in protest.

Brunswick High football player joins national anthem protest, receives backlash for kneeling

He said his peers distanced themselves from him during the past week and that he was harassed on social media and through texts, including a suggestion that he be lynched.

Brunswick schools are investigating the allegations, Superintendent Michael Mayell said in a statement. 

Axson Jr.'s family and leaders of the Cleveland NAACP will hold a news conference Monday afternoon after meeting with police in Brunswick.

"The NAACP and the family fully expect these threats and social media messages to be taken seriously and treated as hate speech," the NAACP said in a news release. "This type of language is reminiscent of a time that we hope that this country has moved beyond."

The Indians make their third and final visit to Chicago this season to play the White Sox in a four-game series starting Monday night.

CHICAGO -- Here is the preview and pitching matchups for the Tribe's series against the White Sox in Chicago

Where/when: U.S. Cellular Field, Monday through Thursday.

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

Pitching probables: RHP Carlos Carrasco (11-7, 3.15) vs. RHP Miguel Gonzalez (3-6, 3.81) Monday at 8:10 p.m.; RHP Trevor Bauer (11-6, 3.86) vs. LHP Jose Quintana (11-10, 3.13) Tuesday at 8:10 p.m.; RHP Josh Tomlin (11-8, 4.85) vs. LHP Carlos Rodon (7-8, 3.80) Wednesday at 8:10 p.m. and RHP Mike Clevinger (2-2, 5.01) vs. RHP James Shield (5-17, 6.01) Thursday at 2:10 p.m.

Series: The Indians lead the White Sox, 9-3, this season. The White Sox lead, 1,070-1,045, overall.

Team updates: The Indians, since their 2-5 AL West trip against Oakland and Texas, have won eight of their last 11 games. The White Sox, who have lost eight of their last nine games to the Indians, have split their last 10 games overall.

Players to watch: The Tribe's Mike Napoli, with a career high 93 RBI, is seven shy of becoming the first Indians' player to drive in 100 runs in a season since Victor Martinez (114) and Travis Hafner (100) in 2007. Chicago's Jose Abreu is hitting .397 (23-for-58) with five homers and 17 RBI in his last 13 games.

Injuries: Indians - C Yan Gomes (right shoulder) and LF Michael Brantley (right shoulder) are on the disabled list. RHP Danny Salazar (right forearm) is day to day. White Sox - RHP Zach Putnam (right elbow), 3B Brett Lawrie (left hamstring), CF Austin Jackson (left knee), CF Charlie Tilson (left hamstring), RHP Jacob Petricka (right hip), RHP Daniel Webb (right elbow) and 3B Matt Davidson (right foot) are on the disabled list.

Next: Detroit visits Progressive Field on Friday for the start of a three-game series. It will be the Indians final homestand of the regular season.

Cleveland Browns tried to do too much for a young team in its opening game on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles.

PHILADELPHIA -- Scribbles in my Cleveland Browns notebook after Sunday's 29-10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles:

1. This is going to be a long, painful season. Hue Jackson knows that. Hopefully, the Browns coach knows a lot more about his team after the opening loss. Jackson has a well-earned reputation as a creative offensive coach. Creativity is important. But first, the Browns must figure out what is the offense all about? Is it built on the running game? Is it a passing team? What?

2. It's early, just one regular season game and the preseason. The best of the offense has been the occasional long pass from Robert Griffin III to Josh Gordon (in training camp) and Terrelle Pryor. Griffin connected on a 58-yarder to Corey Coleman on Sunday. Pryor caught a 44-yarder. But that's been it. Not much of a running game, not much success with medium or short passes.

3. Gary Barnidge made the Pro Bowl last season. He showed much in the preseason -- six catches for 42 total yards. He dropped two short passes Sunday. Jackson knows how to incorporate a tight end into an offense. He needs to do that with Barnidge.

4. I still can't figure out what Hue Jackson was doing with that fake punt. It was fourth-and-5 on the Browns 41-yard-line. Jackson didn't even have a punter on the field. No deception. They just put Duke Johnson in the shotgun. The Eagles blew through the line as if no one planned to block. It was a 6-yard loss and led to an Eagles field goal. Cleveland.com shows only 10 men on the field for the Browns.

5. The more I think about that faked punt, the more I wonder why the coaches just didn't call time out when things looked strange out there. Perhaps that's why Jackson said, "Totally my responsibility. It doesn't matter what the circumstances were."

6. Rough day for special teams. They botched the fake punt. They gave up a 40-yard punt return to Darren Sproles. Tramon Williams was the punt returner and he looked very shaky. He made two fair catches. He let some others fly over his head. It's hard to believe the best the Browns can do for a punt returner is a 33-year-old defensive back.

7. The 19-yard TD pass from Carson Wentz to Jordan Matthews was an outstanding throw. Veteran Tramon Williams (6-foot) had no chance to defend it. The ball was thrown over the outside shoulder of the 6-foot-3 Matthews. Either he was going to catch it, or the ball would be incomplete.

8. Rookie Corey Coleman had a very bad drop, probably costing him a 15-yard gain. He came back to catch that 58-yarder, and had another catch for 11 yards.

9. Usually, a team looks good on its first few offensive possessions. They are plotted out in advance, in great detail. But the Browns didn't record their initial first down until early in the second quarter -- their fourth possession of the game. They gave their defense very little time to rest.

10. The Browns need to develop some short passes for Robert Griffin III to throw on the run. There is no need for him to be a pure pocket passer. It's not his strength. Sunday, he rarely threw passes when out of the pocket.

11. My thoughts on Carson Wentz match those of Joe Haden when the Browns defensive back said: "He was more advanced than I expected him to be ... He stands in the pocket. He is able to make all the throws ... very patient ... and does not take off running all the time."

12. The Eagles did have some plays for Wentz to throw off the run, and he did it well. It also kept the Browns defense off-balance.

13. The Browns kept Philly drives alive with third-down penalties. Xavier Cooper jumped offsides. Tramon Williams committed a pass interference penalty. As Haden said, "We have to get off the field on third down ... not making stupid penalties when it's third-and-short."

14. Haden was beat for a 35-yard touchdown pass from Wentz to Nelson Agholor: "That is on me. I was running with the receiver and he (Wentz) threw it to his (Agholor's) outside shoulder. It was a really good play."

15. Rookie Emmanuel Ogbah and Carl Nassib made some nice plays batting down passes by Wentz. Nassib also had a sack.

The Indians won for the 10th time in their last 13 games Sunday as they moved closer to securing their first AL Central Division title since 2007 with a lopsided win over the Twins at Target Field. Watch video

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Indians, with 20 games left in the season, are moving closer to their first AL Central title since 2007.

Right-hander Corey Kluber, after two nights in which manager Terry Francona went to the bullpen 14 times, topped 200 strikeouts for the third straight year Sunday as he struck out 10 in seven innings in a 7-1 win over the Twins at Target Field.

Here's where the Indians, who have won 10 of their last 13 games, stand with the postseason peaking over the horizon.

They hold a seven-game lead in the AL Central. If they go 10-10 in their last 20 games, the second-place Tigers would have to go 17-3 to catch them.

"I don't think we're at the point of worrying about that yet," said Kluber, asked if the team was looking forward to the postseason. "We're still trying to take it a day at a time and hopefully not get ahead of ourselves.

"If we do get ahead of ourselves, it opens the door for dangerous things to happen."

Kluber ended the day with 208 strikeouts to join Sam McDowell, Gaylord Perry and Bob Feller as the only Indians' pitchers to strikeout 200 or more batters in at least three consecutive seasons.

It was Kluber's 24th game since joining the Indians in 2011 in which he's struck out 10 or more batters. It ties him with Louie Tiant for fourth place in franchise history. McDowell leads with 74 games.

"Those are things that will probably mean more later," said Kluber. "Like I always say, I'm not going out there trying to strike guys out. It's the result of good sequencing and making good pitches."

Kluber, including two of his last three starts, has three games of 10 or more strikeouts this season.

In his last 12 starts, Kluber (16-9, 3.05) is 8-1 with a 2.19 ERA. He has struck out seven or more batters in 11 of those starts.

"I thought he was really good," said Francona. "He knew what happened last night (Francona used 10 pitchers in a 2-1 loss), and in the first couple of innings he threw a lot of pitches, but then he had a couple of 10 to 12-pitch innings.

"He really pitched good and we needed it."

Carlos Santana settled the game early with a three-run homer off rookie Jose Berrios (2-6, 9.27) in the second inning. It followed a ill-time bunt attempt by Michael Martinez with one out and runners on second and third.

Martinez popped up the bunt and it's still unclear what exactly he was doing. Santana, however, bailed him out his 31st homer of the season -- 431-foot drive to right field. It was Santana's fourth homer against the Twins this season and the 22nd of his career.

"I was trying to drag a bunt down the first baseline," said Martinez. "It didn't work because he threw me a sinker down and away."

The Indians made it 5-0 with a pair of unearned runs in the third. Francisco Lindor scored on on a botched pickoff attempt at first base and Tyler Naquin delivered Lonnie Chisenhall with a single off lefty Pat Dean.

The offense kept rolling with two more runs in the seventh. Roberto Perez tripled home Abraham Almonte and then scored on Martinez's single.

Kluber allowed one unearned run on four hits. He walked two along with his 10 strikeouts.

"He's been so consistent because that's how he is between starts," said Perez. "Every day he does the same thing. He never changes."

What it means

The Indians stretched their AL Central lead to seven games Sunday as they beat the Twins and the Tigers lost to Baltimore.

The Tribe ended its season series against the Twins with a 9-9 record. They have a winning record against every other divisional foe.

The pitches

Kluber threw 114 pitches, 73 (64 percent) for strikes. Berrios threw 65 pitches, 30 (46 percent) for strikes.

Sunday's victory gave Kluber a 2-1 record against the Twins this season. He's 8-5 against them in his career.

Thanks for coming

The Indians and Twins drew 20,301 to Target Field on Sunday. First pitch was 2:12 p.m. and the temperature was 75 degrees.

The three-game series drew 64,058.

What's next?

The Indians open a four-game series Monday against the White Sox in Chicago. Carlos Carrasco (11-7, 3.15) will face Chicago right-hander Miguel Gonzalez (3-6, 3.81. SportsTime Ohio, WTAM 1100 and WMMS/FM 100.7 will carry the game.

The Cleveland Indians open a four-game series against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. Get scoring updates and participate in a live chat as the clubs square off.

CHICAGO -- The Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox face off in a four-game series beginning Monday at U.S. Cellular Field. Get scoring updates and participate in a live chat below.

Game 143: Indians (83-59) vs. White Sox (68-74)

First pitch: 8:10 p.m.

Broadcast info: SportsTime Ohio, WTAM 1100, WMMS 100.7 FM, Indians Radio Network

Pitching matchup: RHP Carlos Carrasco (11-7, 3.15) vs. RHP Miguel Gonzalez (3-6, 3.81). 

Fact du jour: The Indians are 50-46 all time in games played on Sep. 12. The White Sox are 46-50.

Do fans think the Cleveland Indians can still win the World Series without All-Star RHP Danny Salazar?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Indians All-Star starting pitcher Danny Salazar will receive an injection in his injured right forearm and likely miss the remainder of the 2016 regular season.

With 20 games left, Salazar could return for the postseason, if the team does not decide to shut him down completely.

Cleveland Indians right-hander Danny Salazar is long shot to pitch again this season

Salazar spent 15 days on the disabled list in early August. In five starts since coming off the DL, Salazar is 0-2 with a 8.05 ERA. He's allowed 17 earned runs on 25 hits and 12 walks in 19 innings. He never pitched more than 5 1/3 innings.

So what does Salazar's injury do to the Tribe's postseason outlook? Check out the poll below and let us know what you think. You can explain your answer in the comment section.

Rookie quarterback, who was inactive on Sunday in Philadelphia, will likely serve as the backup to Josh McCown on Sunday.

BEREA, Ohio -- Rookie quarterback Cody Kessler wasn't active for Sunday's game in Philadelphia, but that doesn't mean he wasn't active. 

"I've never had a game experience, so I just watched Josh when he was on the sideline," Kessler said on Monday. "I was watching Robert (Griffin III) when he was out there, when he came off, sits next to (Associate Head Coach -- Offense) Pep (Hamilton), go over what play, look at the defense, see this, see that. I wanted to see how they did things and the process of it because those are guys that have had success in the NFL and I learn from them." 

Learning the process for Kessler became much more important on Monday with the news that Griffin was placed on injured reserve, meaning he will miss at least eight games with a fractured coracoid bone in his left shoulder, sustained in the season opener against the Eagles. That, of course, means veteran Josh McCown takes over as the starter and Kessler is one snap away from playing. 

That's a jarring reality, considering that Kessler didn't make much of an impression during his opportunities in preseason. 

"I think the times you see him in preseason he hadn't had an opportunity to have a lot of snaps in practice," head coach Hue Jackson said, "because normally the guys that played early in the preseason were the guys we were trying to somewhat get ready to play. So if it turns into that, we've just got to get him some more reps than what he had before. So we'll cross that bridge as we go through this week." 

Kessler appeared in all four preseason games, completing 19-of-28 passes for 92 yards and a score. He received his most playing time in the final preseason game against Chicago, completing 10-of-17 passes for just 40 yards. His debut in Green Bay alone was a roller coaster, featuring a touchdown pass to fellow rookie Rashard Higgins and then Kessler confusing the back lines in the endzone and running out of bounds for a safety. 

"There were some ups and downs, but I think the best part for me was just the learning process. Being able to get in and get the reps I could in some live game action..." Kessler said. "... There's things that I could have done and things that I can learn from moving forward to when I actually get live game reps, whenever that may be. I can learn from that. It's good tape to watch for me." 

When the Browns drafted Kessler in the third round, with Jackson declaring, "you've got to trust me on this one," there was some thought that the idea would be to groom Kessler and not have to play him. Browns fans, though, know how quickly those plans can change. Kessler said on Wednesday that any sort of plan to keep him on the bench his entire rookie season was never specifically laid out to him. 

"I got here and the message was compete," he said. "That's what we want from all our guys and we want you to go out and compete and push the guy next to you and compete against your position group and compete against the defense and everyone on the field and that's kind of the way I've always gone about it." 

Luckily for Kessler, he's had help learning to play the position in the NFL from the guy he's now backing up. 

"(McCown)'s helped a ton," Kessler said. "He really has. Just studying him at practice, even just walking into a huddle, not even how he's doing a play, just walking to the huddle, talking to the huddle, talking to guys around after a play. He's been great." 

Kessler said he was in about third grade when McCown's career, now in it's 14th season, started. He said that he watched McCown play while he was growing up. 

"I think it's really cool how things work out," Kessler said. "I couldn't be more blessed or more honored to learn from a great guy." 

Those lessons will likely get put into play at some point this season. With the possibility of Griffin not returning a reality and McCown's injury history, Kessler is more likely to find himself thrust into action than not. Kessler said that, while he prepares like he's going to play and he feels like he's ready, there's no way to know until he gets time in a real game. 

"It's a different ballgame when you actually get live reps," he said, "but I think the more you're prepared, the more chance you're going to have to be successful."

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The Indians open a four-game series against Chicago on Monday night at U.S. Cellular Field. It will be their last trip to the Windy City this season.

CHICAGO -- Here are the lineups for Monday night's game between the Indians and White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.

INDIANS

DH Carlos Santana.

2B Jason Kipnis.

SS Francisco Lindor.

1B Mike Napoli.

3B Jose Ramirez.

RF Lonnie Chisenhall.

LF Rajai Davis.

CF Tyler Naquin.

C Roberto Perez.

RHP Carlos Carrasco, 11-7, 3.15.

WHITE SOX

CF Adam Eaton.

SS Tim Anderson.

LF Melky Cabrera.

1B Jose Abreu.

DH Justin Morneau.

3B Todd Frazier.

RF Avisail Garcia.

C Omar Narvaez.

2B Tyler Saladino.

RHP Miguel Gonzalez, 3-6, 3.81.