This season, opponents have compiled a .586 OPS against Allen when the right-hander is working on zero days rest. On one day rest, that number jumps to .705. On two days' rest, the number peaks at .735.

CHICAGO -- Cody Allen reflects back to an appearance against the Red Sox in April 2013, when he logged a career-high three innings.

That evening, after a week of rest following a few uninspiring outings, Allen pitched in long relief during a lopsided loss to Boston. He tossed 52 pitches and he tweaked, tweaked and tweaked some more.

"It really allowed me to go out there and iron some things out," Allen said.

Tribe manager Terry Francona has discussed it at length this season: Cleveland's closer is better and sharper the more he works.

"When you're scuffling a little bit -- I've definitely had my moments this year -- when you're scuffling and you're out there a few days in a row, it gives you a chance to kind of work through some things, and battle," Allen said. "If you look at a starting pitcher, he's out there for six or seven innings at a time, he's got six or seven innings to maybe work around some innings where he didn't throw the ball great. It can be the same thing for a reliever."

In 2013, Allen allowed four runs in his first three innings. Including the three-inning appearance against Boston, he logged a 1.14 ERA over his next 22 games.

This season, opponents have compiled a .586 OPS against Allen when the right-hander is working on zero days rest. On one day rest, that number jumps to .705. On two days' rest, the number peaks at .735.

"You feel like sometimes you're chasing your own tail," Allen said. "You want to get back to where you're pitching well and you're being consistent, but also, too, you don't want to just change everything. So, it's more of just a feel thing. I felt like for a while there I was kind of chasing my own tail, trying to fix stuff, but not doing too much to really screw myself up. So, the last couple days, I don't think I changed anything in my mechanics. I think it was just a feel thing and getting in that rhythm."

Cody pitched three times in the Indians' series at Yankee Stadium over the weekend. On Friday -- his first outing in three days and his second in more than a week -- he allowed a run on two hits and a walk in the ninth inning. In his next two appearances, he recorded four-out saves and did not yield a hit.

Allen owns a 1.53 ERA in 38 career appearances of at least 1 1/3 innings.

"It gives you a little boost of confidence before you go back out there for the ninth," Allen said, "but also, too, it gives you maybe a little bit of a glimpse of, 'OK, this is what the hitters are trying to do, this is what I have today and this is how I'll try to get them in the ninth.'"

Center stage: Abraham Almonte received his first day of rest in two weeks on Monday. Instead, Mike Aviles started in center. Aviles had played 12 1/3 innings in center prior to Monday's matinee. He logged three innings at the position in Cleveland's 17-0 loss to the Cubs on June 17. He also played center twice in April.

Francona opted to leave Michael Brantley at his typical left field position. Originally, he considered resting Brantley against Chicago southpaw Jon Lester. Brantley, though, who has recently dealt with a sore shoulder, assured the skipper he felt fine.

"I just wanted to protect him with a day if he needed it," Francona said. "A lot of times, we ask guys about days off and try to get a gauge just by the way they answer. He's good to go."

Almonte pinch-ran in the ninth inning and scored the Tribe's lone run.

Change of plans: Cody Anderson, on the disabled list with an oblique strain, was scratched from his rehab appearance at Class A Lake County on Monday evening. He was slated to throw three innings. The Indians say Anderson is fine and that they are re-evaluating his schedule.

Legion of doom: Cubs manager Joe Maddon banned his players from the clubhouse until four hours prior to first pitch last week. He termed it "American Legion week," his plan to provide some mid-season rest for a team poised for extra work come October. The Cubs didn't take batting practice. They merely showed up and played.

"Everybody is different, which makes this game so good," Francona said. "Everybody has different ideas. Personally, I wouldn't be comfortable coming that late. I couldn't do it. It doesn't make them wrong. I'd be sitting at home like, 'Damn, I have to get to the ballpark.'"

Francona did admit that taking batting practice in late August is not as imperative as it might be in April or May. The Indians have had optional batting practice for each of the last four days, a common practice for day games.

Browns offensive coordinator John DeFilippo says there has to be a sense of urgency for Terrelle Pryor to get on the field and show what he can do as soon as possible. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio -- Terrelle Pryor made himself useful Monday by throwing in one-on-one drills, but he was held out of practice as a receiver again with his strained hamstring and the Browns are getting antsy.

"There's got to be a sense of urgency from Terrelle and I'll be the first person to say that,'' said offensive coordinator John DeFilippo, who coached him in 2012 and 2013 in Oakland as a quarterback. "Terrelle and I have a very special relationship because obviously I was his position coach for two years.''

But that doesn't mean DeFilippo can just hand him a roster spot at receiver. Pryor, who's making the quantum leap from quarterback to receiver, has missed most of training camp since practicing for the first four days and straining the hamstring on the fifth.

Since then, he's participated in one light practice and one joint practice against the Bills on Aug. 17th, during which he aggravated the hamstring. Since returning from St. John Fisher College, he's missed the preseason game against the Bills and the last three practices.

If he doesn't make it back on the field by Wednesday -- following an off day Tuesday for the hamstring to heal a little more -- his chances of playing in Saturday's third preseason game in Tampa decrease dramatically.

"We are hopeful,'' said coach Mike Pettine. "If the guys haven't (practiced) by Thursday then they're not going to go. Primarily the guys that haven't been out there for awhile, you want to see them go Wednesday or it will be much less likely that they will go."

The medical reports on Pryor have been encouraging, but he's just not there yet.

"From what I understand, he's close and improves every day,'' said Pettine. "I just don't know. I don't know when that day is going to be where he is good to go. He's on a protocol with the trainers. I get an update every day. When I'm told he can't go, he can't go. I focus most of my concerns on the guys out there."

Pryor's diminishing opportunity has not been lost on quarterback Josh McCown, who could really use another big-body threat in the red zone.

"We saw the skillset, but he's just not been out there, so it's hard at this point for me and I guess anybody to give a fair evaluation of that, just because we haven't seen him,'' said McCown. "It's just unfortunate with the hamstring stuff, but that's the nature of this business. As the preseason progresses and decisions have to be made, the window of time gets shorter and shorter.

"Hopefully we can see him soon and see what he has. Like we've said, he's a big fast guy that has a skillset that can be developed. But the development part has to take place on the field and has to take place with reps. Hopefully he'll get an opportunity to get back in there and we'll see what he can do.''

The absence of Pryor has been one of the biggest disappointments of camp, because he had already cleared one major hurdle: proving to the Browns that he was serious about his new position.

"I'll be frankly honest with you, I was very skeptical about Terrelle's mindset when he was going to come in here,'' said DeFilippo. "Just because I know from coaching him for two years how passionate a person he is, how much he cares about his craft. I was really excited to see how his mindset was going to be with a position change because as you know that's a major change no matter what position you're at. I'm really, really proud of the way he's handled this.''

Right from the start, Pryor began working out at the Randy Moss Academy in Charlotte, N.C, with Moss and other star receivers such as Josh Gordon. During camp, he's studied film of great receivers and worked overtime with defensive backs.

"He has been receiver all the way, working on releases, getting with the DB's and having them give him some tricks of the trade on how they see him as a bigger receiver,'' said DeFilippo. "He has been all in at receiver and it was a shame Terrelle went down with the hamstrings because I thought he was making unbelievable strides, moreso than many other players that I've seen that have tried to change positions at this level. It's hard enough to play this game at this level at the position you've been playing since high school but when you go from quarterback to another position, that's huge change.''

DeFilippo even drew up a trick play for Pryor in camp, a TD pass off an end-around, to provide a sneak preview of what he can do if he makes the team.

But when asked if Pryor's background as a quarterback will factor into final roster decisions Sept. 5, DeFilippo said, "Terrelle is a receiver.''

But after he threw the one-on-one drills Monday to make up the for the loss of Johnny Manziel (sore elbow), coach Mike Pettine acknowledged that Pryor's experience as a quarterback might come in handy down the road -- if he makes the team. The Browns could possibly keep only two quarterbacks with Pryor on the roster as a receiver. In that scenario, he could even help run the scout team in practice if Manziel's elbow needs a break.

"We're really looking at him right now as a wide receiver,'' Pettine. "If he does make it, it's nice knowing that you have that skillset. It is dangerous when you start to think we could still let him dabble back at quarterback. He has to prove that he can make it as a wideout first. That is a potential benefit down the road."

In the end, Pryor must show he has hands before they'll let him use his arm.

Can't wait to get back! https://t.co/H913JP3osu pic.twitter.com/aHNjcBNJpe

— Terrelle Pryor (@TerrellePryor) August 20, 2015

Ohio State freshman running back Mike Weber was seen walking to the side at practice, dressed in full pads with his left knee wrapped up nicely. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State freshman Torrance Gibson was off to a pretty fast start to his first fall camp, especially considering he's making the move from quarterback to wide receiver. 

His progress, though, has taken a small detour. 

Gibson was seen walking off the practice field Monday afternoon with a walking boot on his right foot. Don't fret too much, though. 

According to a team spokesperson, the injury is minor and Gibson isn't expected to miss too much time. 

The freshman, still dressed in full pads, was off to the side getting in some work in the sand pit while the Buckeyes practiced. 

* Freshman running back Mike Weber was seen walking to the side at practice, dressed in full pads with his left knee wrapped up nicely. 

Weber was also making a ton of progress in his first fall camp before tearing his meniscus last week. A source close to the program told Northeast Ohio Media Group that Weber looked very explosive and has "a very bright future." 

Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer confirmed how good Weber looked on Saturday, and said despite the knee injury, he didn't anticipate Weber would redshirt this season. Weber is doubtful for the season opener at Virginia Tech Sept. 7. 

* Redshirt freshman wide receiver Johnnie Dixon was on the workout bike. Dixon, who had surgery in both knees to repair arthritis, has been expected to be a full contributor this fall. However, it looks like he still has some work to do before he's full-go. 

* Senior Braxton Miller is no longer a quarterback, but he's still wearing a black jersey to limit contact. That makes sense given the new H-back is still recovering from surgery to repair a torn labrum. 

Duvernay's top 10 includes the Buckeyes, along with Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, TCU, LSU, Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Oregon. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State has always been a bit of a longshot in the recruitment of four-star wide receiver Devin Duvernay of Sachse, Texas. But the Buckeyes are still alive. 

That's because Duvernay's top 10 includes the Buckeyes, along with Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, TCU, LSU, Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Oregon, according to Rivals.com's Jason Howell. 

Rated in the No. 4 wide receiver in the 2016 class in the 247Sports composite rankings, the 5-foot-11, 195-pound prospect amassed more than 35 scholarship offers before releasing this list. 

So why is Ohio State in a tough spot? 

Though the Buckeyes have put an emphasis on recruiting the state of Texas, there are just too many elite programs that are closer that Duvernay is still considering. Texas has been down, sure, but the Longhorns still have a strong pull on the Lone Star State. 

But don't forget about Baylor and TCU. And nearby Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, who recruit Texas very hard to build strong rosters. 

Duvernay's teammate, four-star defensive back Jared Mayden, was also an Ohio State target, but he committed to Oregon on July 9. 

NOTE: After the national title game, Bill Landis and I took a road trip from Dallas all the way back to Ohio State, stopping at a ton of places to write big-picture recruiting stories. 

One of the places we stopped on the trip was Sachse, and we spoke to both Mayden and Duvernay. 

For an entire recap of that trip, check here: 

* Bill and Ari's Excellent Adventure - Recapping our journey to see where Ohio State football stands in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky

Indians waste a terrific start by Corey Kluber in 2-1 loss to Cubs on Monday afternoon at Wrigley Field.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Kris Bryant hit a solo homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give the Chicago Cubs a 2-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Monday afternoon at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Bryant sent Zach McAllister's first-pitch hanging breaking pitch (80 mph) into the right-field bleachers. 

Tribe right-hander Corey Kluber allowed one run and struck out 11 in 7 2/3 innings.

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

Long trip over: The Indians (58-66) went 5-6 on a four-city trip. They were 1-2 against the Twins, 1-2 against the Red Sox and 3-1 against the Yankees before losing the makeup game to the Cubs (72-51).

The Tribe and Cubs split a four-game season series, each winning once in the other's venue. 

Bitter pills: For the second consecutive game, the Indians hit into four double plays. They overcome them Sunday against the Yankees, winning, 4-3. 

Stellar work: The pitching matchup of Kluber vs. Cubs lefty Jon Lester was popcorn-worthy.

Kluber, coming off a bad start in Boston, allowed four hits, walked none and hit a batter. He threw 83 of 121 pitches for strikes.

Cubs catcher David Ross singled with one out in the sixth for the first runner against Kluber. (In his previous at-bat, Ross smoked a first-pitch fastball high and deep down the left-field line that was ruled a homer. MLB replay showed that the ball had hooked foul; Ross eventually struck out swinging.)

Kluber (8-13, 3.43 ERA) gave up the run in the seventh. With one out, lefty Chris Coghlan slapped a 2-2 fastball near the left-field line for a double.

Lefty slugger Anthony Rizzo pulled in the hands on a 1-2 fastball deep inside and tripled to right to make it 1-0. Jerry Sands narrowly missed making a diving catch near the line.

Fox SportsTime Ohio analyst Rick Manning said: "For (Rizzo) to keep that ball fair down the line....Practically impossible.''

Rizzo, though, is one of the few who has done it more than once this season.

With the infield in, Kluber bowed his neck and got Bryant to ground to the pitcher and Tommy La Stella to ground to second.

The fourth hit off Kluber was a single to center by Starlin Castro leading off the eighth. Three batters later, Kluber plunked Dexter Fowler, putting runners on first and second with two outs. Tribe lefty Kyle Crockett relieved and struck out lefty Kyle Schwarber, who finished 0-for-4 with four strikeouts.

Give him his due: Lester, coming off a bad start against the Tigers at Wrigley Field, carried a four-hit shutout into the ninth.

Pinch-hitter Ryan Raburn led off by getting hit by a pitch. Abraham Almonte pinch-ran and eventually scored on Carlos Santana's two-out single to left. Lester exited in favor of former Indians prospect Hector Rondon, who, with runners on second and third, got Roberto Perez to ground to third.

Lester finished with one walk and two HBPs.

Mind-boggling: Lester (8-9, 3.44) absolutely deserves credit for a game well-pitched. He was reasonably sharp. Many offenses would have struggled against him.

But the Indians made it (far) too easy in this regard: They declined to run on a pitcher who all but sends invitations and rolls out carpet. The opposition entered with 36 steals in 44 attempts in Lester's 24 starts. (As one comparison, the opposition entered 15-of-21 in Kluber's 26 starts.)

Stealing second, in particular, typically is a runner's paradise against Lester largely because he is allergic to throwing to first. Everybody knows it by now. Lead, lead away. Yet the Indians barely moved. And here's the rub: It's not as if they didn't have opportunities, or, when they did, only put slow runners on base.

The Indians' refusal to challenge Lester on the bases baffled, among others, Fox SportsTime Ohio play-by-play voice Matt Underwood and Manning.

Here are the innings when the Indians had a runner on first and no one on second:

Second -- Santana led off the second by getting plunked in the leg. Yan Gomes popped to second and Mike Aviles grounded into a double play. (Aviles has grounded into a staggering 15 double plays in 257 plate appearances.)

Santana could not have been expected to go -- except that he entered 8-of-9 this season.

Third -- With one out, Giovanny Urshela singled. Kluber bunted into a double play.

Urshela, 0-for-1 in steals in the majors, could not have been expected to go, even against Lester.

Fourth -- Jason Kipnis led off with a single. Francisco Lindor walked. Michael Brantley lined to center; Kipnis to third. Santana grounded into a 4-6-3 double play (2-0 fastball).

The Indians were all set up for run-and-stun, action baseball. They had multiple looks. Nothing.

Underwood said: "They just refused to run on Jon Lester. And he gets out of the inning.''

Seventh -- With one out, Brantley singled. Santana grounded into a 4-6-3 double play (3-1 fastball).

The second legitimate missed opportunity, in a scoreless game. Brantley is too good of a runner, and plenty fast enough, not to go.

Eighth -- Gomes led off with a single to right (2-2 cutter outside corner). Jose Ramirez pinch-ran.

Manning said: "They've got to try to run. I've been saying that....When you finally have guys with speed, you can get a big lead. Get a bigger lead. He's just going to hold it on you. He's not going to throw to first base.'' 

As Manning spoke, Aviles sacrifice-bunted the first pitch.

Underwood said: "It's like they can't convince themselves (that Lester won't throw over).''

Manning said: "You're down to your last six outs. I wouldn't want to give one up there. I would have let Ramirez take a chance. Then, if you want to sacrifice him, try to sacrifice him to third base.''

Sands grounded a first-pitch cutter to short, forcing Ramirez to remain at second. Urshela reached for an 0-1 off-speed pitch away and grounded to short.

Ninth -- Raburn led off with an HBP. Almonte pinch-ran.

Underwood said: "The Indians have yet to attempt a stolen base against Lester.''

Manning said: "It's hard for me to believe that they won't run on him when they've had opportunities. He never throws to first base. He's thrown over twice all year.''

Twice.

Kipnis struck out swinging. Francisco Lindor reached on an infield single; Almonte to second. Brantley struck out swinging. Santana singled to left to drive in Almonte. Righty Rondon relieved Lester. Santana stole second. Perez grounded out.

The steal finally came -- against Rondon.

Veteran wide receiver makes first healthy appearance on the depth chart and it's lower than some might expect.

BEREA, Ohio -- Dwayne Bowe is healthy and ready to make his first appearance for the Browns on Saturday in Tampa Bay. Where he'll do it may be a bit of a surprise.

Bowe's first appearance on the depth chart without the dreaded brackets indicating an injured player has him listed with the third team. Andrew Hawkins, Brian Hartline, Taylor Gabriel and Travis Benjamin make up the first and second teams. Rookie Vince Mayle is listed across from Bowe.

The rest of the depth chart is mostly unchanged, save for some more injury returns. Here are the highlights:

• Andrew McDonald moves back to second string at left tackle.
• TE Anthony Ezeakunne makes his debut in recently released Manasseh Garner's spot.
• RB Shaun Draughn is back with the third team.
• CB Pierre Desir is shown as healthy and back behind Joe Haden on the second team.

Take a look at the complete depth chart below. And, as always, this is all unofficial.

The Cleveland Browns unofficial depth chart for Saturday's game against Tampa Bay.Courtesy Cleveland Browns

 Previous preseason depth charts: Week 1 | Week 2

IndyCar driver Justin Wilson died Monday after suffering a head injury during Sunday's race at Pocono Raceway.

INDIANAPOLIS -- IndyCar driver Justin Wilson died Monday night from a head injury suffered when a piece of debris struck him at Pocono Raceway. He was 37.

IndyCar made the announcement at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Wilson, a British driver who lived outside Denver in Longmont, Colorado, was hit in the head during Sunday's race by piece of debris that had broken off another car. Wilson's car veered into an interior wall at the track, and he was swiftly taken by helicopter to a hospital in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

"Can't even begin to describe the loss I feel right now. He was my Brother, my best friend, my role model and mentor. He was a champion!" his younger brother, Stefan, also an IndyCar driver, tweeted. Stefan Wilson said his brother's organs would be donated.

The last IndyCar driver to die from an on-track incident was Indianapolis 500 champion Dan Wheldon, who was killed in the 2011 season finale at Las Vegas after his head hit a post in the fence when his car went airborne.

After Wheldon's death, Wilson became one of three driver representatives to serve as a liaison between the competitors and IndyCar. It was no surprise: The 6-foot-4 Wilson, easily the tallest in the series, was well liked.

"Justin's elite ability to drive a race car was matched by his unwavering kindness, character and humility -- which is what made him one of the most respected members of the paddock," said Mark Miles, CEO of Hulman & Co., the parent company of IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Wilson won seven times over 12 seasons in open-wheel racing and finished as high as fifth in the Indianapolis 500. An acclaimed sports car racer, Wilson won the prestigious 24 Hours of Daytona with Michael Shank Racing, and he competed in 20 Formula One races in 2003 before moving to the U.S. to join Champ Car.

He finished third in the Champ Car standings in 2005, and was runner-up in both 2006 and 2007. To support his career, his management team in 2003 created a program that allowed fans to invest in the driver. Hundreds of people bought shares in Wilson, who was dyslexic and a strong supporter of foundations related to the disorder.

Wilson, a native of Sheffield, England, entered this season without a full-time ride. He latched on with Andretti Autosport and was in the sixth of seven scheduled races with the team. The agreement began as a two-race deal for events at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and then was increased to the final five races of the year. The IndyCar season concludes Sunday in Sonoma, California.

Andretti Autosport called Wilson "a tremendous racer, a valuable member of the team and respected representative to our sport."

"While Justin was only part of the Andretti lineup for a short time, it only took a second for him to forever become part of the Andretti family," the team said. "His life and racing career is a story of class and passion surpassed by none. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the Wilson family and fans worldwide. Godspeed, JW."

Wilson finished a season-best second at Mid-Ohio in early August. He said after the race that he raced clean and did not take any risks that would have jeopardized eventual race-winner Graham Rahal because Rahal was part of the championship race and Wilson was not.

"Anyone who follows our sport knows Justin was one of the most well-respected, highly regarded and loved people in the entire paddock," said Miles, who passed on the Wilsons' gratitude to the IndyCar safety team and medical staffs of the series, Pocono Raceway and the hospital in Allentown.

The family also was grateful to the entire motorsports industry.

"Particularly the Wilson family wishes to thank Justin's fellow drivers, and their families, who have been so thoughtful, and kind, and supportive," Miles said.

Ed Carpenter, the only driver/owner in IndyCar and the stepson of IndyCar founder Tony George Jr., attended the announcement and spoke of the respect Wilson had throughout the paddock.

"Days like this are extremely hard on all of us," Carpenter said. "Justin was a great professional driver and extremely good at his craft. Beyond that, he was a great guy. One of the few, if only, guys who really was a friend of everyone in the paddock. Everyone respected him for the way he carried himself."

Wilson broke a bone in his back at Mid-Ohio in 2011. He missed the final six races of the season and wore a back brace for more than two months while he was restricted from any physical activity. The injury kept him out of the season finale at Las Vegas, the race where Wheldon died. He also broke his pelvis and suffered a bruised lung in the 2013 season finale at Fontana.

Wilson once said that his injuries and Wheldon's death did nothing to change his perspective or make him question his career choice.

"You've got to know the risks and work out if those risks are acceptable," Wilson told The Associated Press upon his return to racing in 2012. "To me, it's acceptable. But I'm not going to stop trying to improve it. All the drivers, this IndyCar, we're always trying to make it safer, but at the end of the day, it's a race car. We're racing hard, we're racing IndyCars and it's fast. When it goes wrong, it can get messy."

In addition to his wife, Julia, Wilson is survived by two daughters, 7 and 5. The family asked for donations to a trust fund for his daughters in lieu of flowers.

Asked about Narduzzi's comments, Ash didn't run away from the idea that football is a game of studying what's successful.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- You've probably heard Pat Narduzzi's comments by now. 

Pittsburgh's head coach and former Michigan State defensive coordinator made a comment on a radio show in Lansing, Mich., on Monday saying Ohio State "stole" the Spartans' defense and won a national championship with it. 

Ohio State defensive coordinator Chris Ash heard about the comments Monday before he met with the media following the Buckeyes' evening practice. 

Asked about Narduzzi's comments, Ash didn't run away from the idea that football is a game of studying what's successful. But he doesn't buy into the idea that Ohio State's defensive philosophy is based solely on what Michigan State did. 

"I don't think anything about it," Ash told Northeast Ohio Media Group when asked about Narduzzi's comments. "As a coach, or as coaches, everybody in America studies people that are successful. Are there similarities that we have with what they've done? Absolutely.

"But I've run this defense for a long, long time. They talk about Cover 4 Quarters defense, I have been a part of Quarters defense since 1996, so this is nothing new to me on what we're doing and how we're doing it.

"We have bits and pieces from a lot of successful defenses across the country, just like anybody does." 

Narduzzi was talking about how the spread offense is becoming the most commonly used offense in college football during a radio interview with MLive.com's Mike Griffith on 92.1 The Team. 

"We're all fighting the same disease. You're facing spread wherever you go," Narduzzi said on the show to Mike Griffith of MLive.com. "Ohio State's facing the same problem because they stole our defense, too. There's a lot of teams throughout the country. You go watch them, they're exactly us, whether they admit it or not. They're exactly us, and they weren't before. They won a national championship with the defense."

A look at the golf, soccer and tennis highlights in Northeast Ohio on Monday night.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Here are high school sports highlights from Monday. See below for information on how your team’s accomplishments can be recognized in these daily roundups.

BOYS GOLF

Hudson 157, North Royalton 158

The Explorers won a narrow match against North Royalton at Hinckley Hills. Hudson's Will Kurtz posted a match-best 35. Luke Dorman led North Royalton with a 37.

Independence 170, Kirtland 170

Independence improved to 2-0 in Chagrin Valley Conference play by beating Kirtland on fifth man's score. Nick Brunsman led Independence with a score of 39. Kirtland's Mike Schnur shot a 37 to lead all scorers.

Orange 151, Chagrin Falls 151

Orange defeated Chagrin Falls on a fifth score tiebreaker thanks to Russell Rogers' 41. Chagrin Falls' Daniel Berlin led all players with a 34, and Adam Marcus led Orange with 35.

BOYS SOCCER

Madison 4, Ashtabula Edgewood 1

Madison scored two goals in each half. Four different Blue Streaks scored in the win.

GIRLS SOCCER

Bay 2, Avon 1

The Rockets improved to 2-0 on the season with a pair of first-half goals. Kate Dannemiller had two assists for Bay, setting up goals from Maddie Holmes and Bridget Hart.

Columbia 4, Ellet 3

The Raiders withstood a rally from Ellet in the second half to get the conference win. Columbia's Lanie Welker had two goals, and Audrey Chonko had a goal and an assist.

Lutheran West 4, Wellington 1

Four different Longhorns scored in the first half. Taya Hampton had a goal and an assist for Lutheran West.

Mayfield 1, Westlake 0

Courtney Favazzo's goal off of a volley gave Mayfield the only goal of the game. Mayfield's Chimamaka Palmer made four saves for her first shutout of the season.

Lady Wildcat Soccer defeats Westlake 1-0 in the home opener. Courtney Favazzo with the game winner. Great job Cats! #mayfield

— Mayfield Athletics (@MayfieldSports) August 25, 2015

GIRLS TENNIS

Lakewood 3, North Olmsted 2

Wins from Ally Lathan and Shannon Wood in singles led the Rangers to a Southwestern Conference win against North Olmsted.

How your team can be included in these roundups

These roundups are based on box scores and game notes entered in cleveland.com’s database by school or team representatives. If your team is not participating in the box score program please contact your athletic director or coach and encourage them to do so. They can obtain instructions and database login information from High School Sports Manager Kristen Davis at kdavis@cleveland.com.

RubberDucks right-hander Mike Clevinger gave up just one earned run in seven innings but still took the loss.

RubberDucks right-hander Mike Clevinger gave up just one earned run in seven innings, but Akron still dropped its sixth straight with a 3-1 loss to the Thunder on Monday in Trenton, N.J.

Bryson Myles, Jordan Smith and Yandy Diaz, the top three hitters in the order for Akron, had two hits each, but Diaz brought in the RubberDucks only run with a single in the seventh inning. 

Trenton took a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning when, with two outs and two runners on base, Cito Culver hit a single to right field that got under the glove of outfielder Jordan Smith, bringing in two runs.

A single by Thunder outfielder Danny Oh brought in a run in the eighth inning to give Trenton a 3-1 lead.

Akron did get runners on second and third with one out in the ninth, but Thunder reliever Cesar Vargas was able to get out of trouble and seal the win.

Clevinger (8-8, 2.92 ERA) allowed just five hits in seven innings and struck out six.

"He was good. He and Lester both. ... There was absolutely zero wiggle room and he just went toe to toe and pitched about as good as you can. He executed pitches all day."

CHICAGO -- Corey Kluber and Jon Lester pieced together an vintage pitcher's duel on Monday afternoon at Wrigley Field, but the game was decided when Cubs rookie Kris Bryant sent a Zach McAllister offering into the stands. Here is what Kluber, Bryant, Tribe manager Terry Francona and Cubs skipper Joe Madden said after the Indians' 2-1 loss.

Kluber, on engaging in a pitcher's duel with Jon Lester:

"There would be a lot more enjoyment if we were up 10-0. That's part of the competition aspect. You want to be in that spot where you're pitching against a guy who is a really good pitcher and is throwing the ball well and you go toe to toe with him and we both gave our team a chance to win. That's what your goal is as a starter."

Francona, on Kluber's outing, in which the right-hander limited Chicago to one run on four hits, with no walks and 11 strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings:

"He was good. He and Lester both. On a day when the wind's blowing out, it wasn't a factor until the last hitter of the game. There was absolutely zero wiggle room and he just went toe to toe and pitched about as good as you can. He executed pitches all day."

Francona, on whether the Indians should have run more on Lester, who has been on the mound for 36 stolen bases this season:

"It's easy to say, 'Yes.' I think, between his times to the plate, which are really quick, and the fact that it's just hard, I think, for guys, when a guy's staring at you, to get that far off to the point where it makes sense. We talked about it a lot and [first-base coach] Sandy [Alomar] was certainly aware of it down there, and he talked to all of the guys, but it just coming back and the times weren't adding up."

Francona, on whether he thought Michael Brantley had a shot at David Ross' single to left field, which broke up Kluber's perfect game bid with one out in the sixth:

"Oh boy. I mean, that would've been a really [tough play]. I get it from a fan's perspective. But, from a game perspective, if he dives for that, we're in a 0-0 game, that would've been tough."

Kluber, on Lester -- a career .012 batter (1-for-81) -- flying out against him after an 11-pitch battle:

"It was a lot better at-bat than a [.010]-something hitter. He battled and saw a lot of pitches and ultimately got out, but he ran my pitch count up pretty good there."

Kluber, on Sands' diving attempt at Anthony Rizzo's seventh-inning RBI triple, which broke a scoreless tie:

"It was a great effort. He full-out dove for it and almost caught it. It was a good pitch. I put it right where I wanted to. It was surprising he was able to hit it, much less keep it fair, but that's the way it goes. You just have to keep your mind to where you put the pitch where you wanted to and you have to go back out and execute the next one."

Francona, on Rizzo's triple and Sands' dive:

"That was a great effort. And it ended up probably coming back and maybe hitting him probably up more on the heel of the glove. But, he gave every ounce of whatever he had. That ball was probably six or eight inches, off the plate in. He got jammed and got it up there. That's just kind of the way the game is sometimes, but Jerry gave a great effort."

Francona, on Carlos Santana's RBI single with two outs in the ninth:

"It's exciting, because you think, with the way Lester handled us, just to prolong the game -- we were going to get short on players and things like that, but I don't think anybody would've complained about letting us play for a while."

Bryant, on his walk-off blast:

"That was a pretty weird game. It was a great pitchers' duel. Sometimes you have to give credit to the other team. They came through. I knew I was going to get an at-bat there, and I made the most of it."

Maddon, on the pitching clinic:

"We had to pitch that well. Their guy was outstanding, our guy was outstanding. Not really a whole lot of well-struck baseballs with the wind blowing out. Both guys were fantastic."

See the Week 1 high school football schedule for Northeast Ohio and the state as the 2015 season kicks off Thursday.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The high school football season is almost here and we've got fans covered with interactive, searchable schedules.

Fans can search the cleveland.com schedule database by date or a range of dates, such as Thursday through Saturday to see all Week 1 contests involving the area's 133 teams in seven counties. Or maybe you want to look ahead to Week 2. If so, just enter the dates you want to see games for.

Or type in a school name to call up that team's schedule for the 10 weeks of the regular season.

Click here (or the link above) to enter the cleveland.com database for schedules and results.

On game nights, the page also shows results with links to box scores and content from the game.

Check posts like this every week for the weekly schedule to see who your favorite team is playing, where it is playing and when the game is. 

If you're looking to find all the games being played throughout Ohio, check out the Ohio High School Athletic Association's composite schedule for Week 1.

Would you have been able to name all nine new Suburban League football teams off the top of your head? That's what several players tried to do during Football Media Days 2015. See how they did.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Suburban League underwent dramatic changes during the offseason. 

Cloverleaf and Green left the conference while nine new football teams joined, bringing the total number of programs to 15, divided into an American Division for smaller schools and a National Division for the largest schools.

We asked players from four Suburban League teams, two teams new to the conference and two mainstays, to see if they could name all nine new teams to join the league this season.

Watch the video below to find out how they did.  

For the record, the new Suburban League teams are:

Aurora

Barberton

Brecksville

Cuyahoga Falls

Hudson

Kent Roosevelt

North Royalton

Stow

Twinsburg

Would you have been able to name all nine off the top of your head? What is another fun quiz in which we could have local athletes or coaches participate?

Follow our high school sports Twitter account @NEOvarsity and tag your high school sports Tweets and score updates with the #NEOVarsity hashtag.

Contact high school sports reporter Robert Rozboril by email (rrozboril@cleveland.com), on Twitter (@rrozboril) or on Facebook (facebook.com/rrozboril). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

Former Browns running back Peyton Hillis reflects on his rise and fall in Cleveland and his NFL career.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Peyton Hillis had it all there in front of him. He rushed for 1,177 yards as a 24-year-old running back his first year in Cleveland after arriving here via a trade with the Denver Broncos. Browns fans voted him onto the cover of the Madden video game. His running style seemed perfectly suited for Browns fans.

Everyone knows what happened from there. Hillis couldn't replicate his 2010 season and he was gone at the end of the 2011.

Bleacher Report caught up with the former Browns running back in a lengthy interview posted today titled "The Peyton Hillis Story: From Madden Cover to Outside Looking In."

There is a long section of the story featuring Hillis' rise in Cleveland and his subsequent fall. Among the much-chronicled issues from 2011 -- the suspicion surrounding him missing a game due to mono, his missing of a charity function and his marriage while missing games with a hamstring injury -- is Hillis' version of contract negotiations with the team.

"Looking back on it, Hillis doesn't believe the Browns were ever serious about signing him to a lucrative long-term contract. Instead, he suggested the team was trying to placate him.

"'Every game I played, they did the same song and dance, 'We'll get you a deal, we'll get you a deal, we'll get you a deal,'" he said, noting that contract talks throughout the late summer were always prefaced by the team with the need to have him on the field while negotiations took place. 'After a while, I just got tired of them lying to me and I'd just say, 'Listen, if you're not going to offer me a contract, then just say you're not going to offer me a contract.'"

Ultimately, Hillis believes that the Browns saw him as many other teams had before: 

"'I think the Browns never really looked at me as a true running back,' Hillis said. 'Because obviously they didn't sign me back the year after that, but they did a good job turning the fans against me.'"

Hillis does accept some measure of responsibility for his rapid decline. He admits that he shouldn't have fired agents or gotten married when he did. He even says he'd apologize to left tackle Joe Thomas if he saw him today. Thomas called Hillis "a terrible distraction in December 2012.

Hillis, though, does still have a soft spot for Browns fans.

"'The Cleveland Browns fans really are the greatest fans,' Hillis added. 'Me and my wife talk about it all the time, we really sit back and think those were the best days right there. It was really tough because the fans looked down on me, but they weren't on the inside. If they were on the inside, they would have probably thought differently.

'I think they were just out to get me out of Cleveland. When you really look at it hard enough, that's really what it was.'"

Go over to Bleacher Report to read the full story.

Ohio State added games against Army and Florida Atlantic to complete its 2017 and 2019 schedules.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Fill out your calendars for 2017 and 2019, you now know when Ohio State football will be playing all of its games during those years.

The Buckeyes announced on Tuesday a pair of nonconference games: One against Army in 2017, and one against Florida Atlantic in 2019. Both games will be played in Ohio Stadium, and complete the schedules for both of those seasons.

Ohio State still needs to add one game to the 2018 slate to have complete schedules through 2019.

The game against Army and Florida Atlantic will be Ohio State's first against both programs.

The matchup with Florida Atlantic, which will open the 2019 season, makes sense. FAU athletic director Patrick Chun is an Ohio State graduate and a former associate athletic director for the Buckeyes. Ohio State's football staff also served as instructors at a satellite recruiting camp at Florida Atlantic this summer.

One other announced change for the 2017 schedule: The Buckeyes home game against Oklahoma has been moved from Sept. 16 to Sept. 9. The game against Army will now be played on Sept. 16.

In addition to Oklahoma, Ohio State has future home-and-home series planned with TCU, Oregon, Notre Dame, Texas and Boston College through 2024. The Big Ten moves to a nine-game conference schedule in 2016.

Here are Ohio State's updated schedules as we know them through 2024:

2015

Sept. 7 at Virginia Tech (Monday night)

Sept. 12 Hawaii

Sept. 19 Northern Illinois

Sept. 26 Western Michigan

Oct. 3 at Indiana

Oct. 10 Maryland

Oct. 17 Penn State

Oct. 24 at Rutgers

Oct. 31 Off

Nov. 7 Minnesota

Nov. 14 at Illinois

Nov. 21 Michigan State

Nov. 28 at Michigan

Dec. 5 Big Ten Championship

***

2016

Sept. 3 Bowling Green

Sept. 10 Tulsa

Sept. 17 at Oklahoma

Sept. 24 Off

Oct. 1 Rutgers

Oct. 8 Indiana

Oct. 15 at Wisconsin

Oct. 22 at Penn State

Oct. 29 Northwestern

Nov. 5 Nebraska

Nov. 12 at Maryland

Nov. 19 at Michigan State

Nov. 26 Michigan

Dec. 3 Big Ten Championship

***

2017

Sept. 2 at Indiana

Sept. 9 Oklahoma

Sept. 16 Army

Sept. 23 UNLV

Sept. 30 at Rutgers

Oct. 7 Maryland

Oct. 14 at Nebraska

Oct. 21 Off

Oct. 28 Penn State

Nov. 4 at Iowa

Nov. 11 Michigan State

Nov. 18 Illinois

Nov. 25 at Michigan

Dec. 2 Big Ten Championship

***

2018

Sept. 1 Oregon State

Sept. 8 Rutgers

Sept. 15 at TCU

Sept. 22 TBA

Sept. 29 at Penn State

Oct. 6 Indiana

Oct. 13 Minnesota

Oct. 20 at Purdue

Oct. 27 Off

Nov. 3 Nebraska

Nov. 10 at Michigan State

Nov. 17 at Maryland

Nov. 24 Michigan

Dec. 1 Big Ten Championship

***

2019

Aug. 31 Florida Atlantic

Sept. 7 Cincinnati

Sept. 14  at Indiana

Sept. 21 TCU

Sept. 28 at Nebraska

Oct. 5 Michigan State

Oct. 12  Off

Oct. 19 at Northwestern

Oct. 26 Wisconsin

Nov. 2 Off

Nov. 9 Maryland

Nov. 16 at Rutgers

Nov. 23 Penn State

Nov. 30 at Michigan

Dec. 7 Big Ten Championship

***

2020

Sept. 12 at Oregon

***

2021

Sept. 11 Oregon

***

2022

Sept. 3 Notre Dame

Sept. 17 at Texas

***

2023

Sept. 9 Boston College

Sept. 16 vs. Texas

Sept. 23 at Notre Dame

***

2024

Sept. 2 at Boston College (Monday night)

***

The Miami RedHawks are rebuilding under second-year coach Chuck Martin. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Miami RedHawks are rebuilding under second-year coach Chuck Martin. But that which bodes well for the future -- 62 freshmen -- is cause for concern in 2015. Here are five things to think about.

1. There is a lot of size in the freshman/redshirt-freshman class that will, in a year or two, turn a Miami program undersized in recent seasons into a team that looks the part in the trenches. But 62 freshmen/redshirt freshmen on a 110-man roster is a cause for concern for 2015, no matter what.

2. The wide receiving corps might be the strength, and a nightmare to defend for the plethora of sub 6-foot cornerbacks in the Mid-American Conference. If a true No. 1 quarterback emerges by mid-season, the offense could be tough to handle.

3. While coach Chuck Martin's brother, Al, lives in Northeast Ohio and coaches football at Cuyahoga Heights, the RedHawks do not have a big presence in Northeast Ohio as there are only three players from the area. That has to improve.

4. The RedHawks were picked to finish sixth in the MAC's East, which equates to two or three MAC wins. With good health and good luck Miami could rise above that number, but that will be determined in large part by depth and production on both sides of the line.

5. The player to watch is freshman flanker Chris Hudson, who is a 6-6 freak of an athlete. "He's open any time he's on the field,'' Martin said.

Elton's 2015 Miami outlook: In a league where offensive production is key, Martin has proven he has a game plan that can succeed. It will have to be proven in the trenches for that to translate into victories this season. To double the 2014 win total (2) would signal improvement. A .500 season would be a sign that Miami football is way ahead of schedule.

Emily Infeld had two stress fractures in her back and considered retiring, but came back to win a bronze medal at the IAAF World Championships 2015.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- University Heights native Emily Infeld endeared herself to runners everywhere when she beat Molly Huddle for a bronze medal, then practically apologized for passing Huddle, who had begun to celebrate too early in the 10,000-meter final Monday at the IAAF World Championships.

"I feel a little guilty because I feel like Molly let up a little. I don't think she realized how close I was,'' Infeld said Monday.

This was nothing new to those who saw Infeld's amazing career at Beaumont High School in Cleveland Heights, where she won six track and two cross country individual state titles. Infeld's growing world perception as a fierce yet graceful competitor was well-formed before she left Ohio to become an 11-time All-American at Georgetown University, then graduated and moved on to a pro career based in Oregon.

"Even in high school, the first time she ever lapped runners, she came up to me later and said, 'I feel so guilty,'" said her high school coach, Beaumont's Jim Emery. "She was so sweet. She would congratulate her competitors at the finish line, then go hold blocks for sprinters whose names she didn't even know.''

The 25-year-old Infeld's chase-down of U.S. champion Huddle continues to reverberate around the world of track and field.

Huddle was lifting her arms in celebration of her expected third-place finish at the Bird's Nest in Beijing. Only one other woman in U.S. history had won a medal in the event, Kara Goucher's bronze in 2007.

Huddle was steps from the finish line and slowing down when the hard-charging Infeld slipped inside and leaned past Huddle. Infeld claimed the bronze medal by .07 seconds. Infeld's time in the 6.2-mile race was 31:43.49.

Five days into the meet at Beijing's Birds Nest, Infeld's bronze finish is among the biggest stories because it spotlighted two fundamentals of racing with which people of all walks can identify:

Never give up ... and run to the finish.

"I was just (trying) to run through the line and give it everything I had,'' Infeld told reporters in Beijing.

Huddle said she "blew it."

"I let up, and Emily was right there with more momentum,'' Huddle said. "I thought there was no one battling me down the home stretch, but she was there the whole way, and I just wish I had that one last step."

One of the kindest people in the world. Has had to overcome so many obstacles. Congrats on your bronze @emily_infeld! pic.twitter.com/chNh0LD4TO

-- Kara Goucher (@karagoucher) August 24, 2015

Infeld's story of never giving up began long before the World Championships. Earlier this year, she could not run at all because of a stress fracture at the base of her spine.

She was ranked 18th in the world and a relative unknown in the shadows of Huddle, who is the U.S. record holder, and 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Shalane Flanagan, who is Infeld's Bowerman TC teammate and close friend.

Infeld, who turned pro in 2012, had two stress fractures in her lower back since 2013. After the second sacrum fracture was diagnosed in December, she considered quitting, according to Emery.

"She was going to quit. She was depressed,'' Emery said.

Infeld still is relatively new to longer distances. Emery said Infeld had been overtraining on her off days while working even harder for Bowerman Track Club coach Jerry Schumacher.

"Flanagan and Jerry talked her into continuing,'' Emery said. "She had a heart-to-heart with Jerry and said I really don't need the mileage.''

Infeld bounced back quickly and had a big season. In May, she ran the best time in the U.S. this year in the 5,000, a 15:07.19, in her first race at the distance in two years. Emery said she had not run the 10,000 as a pro until this year. Her first race qualified her for the U.S. championships, where she finished third behind Huddle and Flanagan.

"It's kind of remarkable,'' Emery said. "She has certain qualities that serve her well - really down to earth, nice person, and considerate of others. The opponents like her. You could tell they all came up to her and were hugging her at the end. She's also extremely competitive. She never has a bad effort.''

Infeld's official bio on the BowermanTC website begins, "The most beloved member of the BTC professional crew, Emily is as kind off the track as she is ferocious on it.''

Infeld's rise to stardom began as an 800-meter state champion her freshman year at Beaumont. She became a rare four-time champion in the event. Emery said Infeld is just beginning a career that he says will get better -- and longer.

"She'll kill me for saying this, but she'll be a great marathoner,'' Emery said.

Wow! Drama and emotion. What a finish for @emily_infeld but agony for @MollyHuddle

-- Paula Radcliffe (@paulajradcliffe) August 24, 2015

The Ohio State football team released a video from its final scrimmage of training camp on Tuesday

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The season hasn't started yet, and Vonn Bell is already making plays.

The Ohio State football team released a video from its final scrimmage of training camp on Tuesday. The scrimmage was held on Saturday at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, and featured an interception return for a touchdown by Bell.

The highlights don't show which quarterback threw the pick.

But you can see a Cardale Jones' deep ball to receiver Terry McLaurin, and a touchdown pass from J.T. Barrett to Corey Smith. Smith does a nice job of getting his feet down on a high throw to the back of the end zone.

Watch the full highlight video below.

The scrimmage marked the official end to training camp, but the Buckeyes still have nearly two weeks until they open the season on Monday, Sept. 7 at Virginia Tech. Ohio State spent part of training camp on the grass intramural fields off of Coffey Road, just across the Olentangy River from Ohio Stadium.

The rest of preseason practice will be held at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

The media was permitted to watch the first 45 minutes or so Monday night. See photos, video and notes from that practice here. The Buckeyes worked on the grass field at their practice facility in anticipation of the opener at Virginia Tech's Lane Stadium, which has a grass playing surface.

Rookie shortstop Francisco Lindor is hitting .352 (51-for-145) with seven doubles, five homers and 18 RBI since the All-Star break.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Here are the lineups for Tuesday night's game between the Indians and Brewers at Progressive Field. First pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m.

INDIANS

DH Jason Kipnis.

SS Francisco Lindor.

LF Michael Brantley.

1B Carlos Santana.

RF Lonnie Chisenhall.

C Yan Gomes.

CF Abraham Almonte.

3B Giovanny Urshela.

2B Jose Ramirez

RHP Josh Tomlin, 1-1, 2.03.

BREWERS

CF Shane Peterson.

C Jonathan Lucroy.

DH Ryan Braun.

1B Adam Lind.

LF Khris Davis.

2B Scooter Gennett.

RF Domingo Santana.

SS Jean Segura.

3B Elian Herrera.

RHP Wily Peralta, 4-7, 4.48.

UMPIRES

H Tim Timmons.

1B Tim Welke, crew chief.

2B Chris Segal.

3B Mike Everitt.

Josh Tomlin, who starts against Milwaukee on Tuesday night, is 4-2 with a 4.34 ERA in 10 career starts against NL teams. This will be his first start against the Brewers.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Get scoring updates and join beat writer Paul Hoynes for a live chat as the Indians and Brewers play the opener of a two-game series Tuesday night in this interleague at Progressive Field.

Game 125: Indians (58-66) vs. Brewers (52-72).

First pitch: 7:10 p.m.

TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio, WTAM 1100, WMMS 100.7