d 8-4 at the Tides first timeout. Texas A&M continued to extend its lead, with back-to-back points making it 16-9 before Alabama was forced to take its final timeout of the frame. L

CLEVELAND -- Serious about winning the World Series, the Indians batted .500 in making a pair of major trades on Sunday.Call it an All-Star split doubleheader.Going all in for October, the AL Central leader acquired All-Star left-handed reliever Andrew Miller from the New York Yankees for four minor leaguers.The deal came less than 12 hours after the Indians had reached agreement on the parameters of a swap with Milwaukee for Brewers All-Star catcher Jonathan Lucroy. However, that trade was stopped by Lucroy, who refused to waive his no-trade clause and turned down a chance to join a contender.There were some circumstances that came up that made me void it, obviously, Lucroy said in Milwaukee. I think when it eventually comes out, everyone will understand why. Im not going to comment on any specifics.Lucroys decision would have been a huge blow to the Indians if not for the addition of Miller, who will help Cleveland manager Terry Francona shorten games and gives the Indians a legitimate shot at winning their first World Series title since 1948.It certainly should help us a lot, Francona said before the Indians beat the Oakland Athletics 8-0 to complete a three-game sweep. I know when we go into New York next week, we don have to face Andrew Miller, which will be really nice.So will his ability to mix and match Miller with right-hander Bryan Shaw in the late innings before handing the ball to closer Cody Allen.The Indians sent four minor leaguers, including highly touted outfielder Clint Frazier, to New York for the 31-year-old Miller, who is expected to arrive in Cleveland on Sunday night and could be ready to join the bullpen when the club opens a four-game series against Minnesota.When the team officially welcomed Miller with a photo on the scoreboard during Sundays game, the crowd at Progressive Field burst into a loud ovation knowing he is on the way.Although they have one of the games best starting staffs, the Indians bullpen needed a proven lefty and there is none better than Miller, who possesses a nearly unhittable slider and brings a 6-1 record, 1.39 ERA and postseason experience to Cleveland.The Indians had been tracking Miller for weeks but were reluctant to part with any of their top prospects, especially Frazier, a 21-year-old who can hit with power and was recently promoted to Triple-A Columbus.However, with the club leading its division and showing signs of being able to compete in October, Indians owner Paul Dolan and president Chris Antonetti felt the time was right to go all in and see if they can win their first World Series in 68 years.We want to try to do what we can to get to the postseason and win a World Series, Antonetti said. Thats why we do what we do, and we felt that this team has done its part.For weeks, there have been rumblings about what the Indians might or might not do before the deadline. Fans grumbled, players worried and no one was sure if the club would be buyers or sellers.Hes the perfect guy to have and we got him, Indians closer Cody Allen said before the clubs series finale with Oakland. It breathes a lot of life into this clubhouse. Were in first place with the guys we have, but to get a game-changer like Miller, that lets us know everybody in the front office wants to win as badly as we do right now. Were not thinking about two years from now, were thinking about winning in 2016.After the Yankees dealt closer Aroldis Chapman to the Chicago Cubs, Miller knew he might be next and was not shocked by the deal. Miller spoke to Francona shortly after the trade was finalized and told him he would do whatever is needed.For me now, its a chance to go to a team thats in the thick of it and has big plans for this year, said Miller, who is signed through 2018 at $9 million annually. Im not going to change one bit, whatever they ask me to do, hopefully do it up to their standards. Theyve got a pretty darn good team. Theyve got some good pieces out in the bullpen. Theyve got a great lineup, rotation.In making two significant moves, the Indians are also feeding off a positive vibe in the city started when the Cavaliers, their next-door-neighbors in Gateway Plaza, won the NBA championship last month to end Clevelands 52-year title drought.Francona, who helped the Boston Red Sox win their first Series in 86 years, believes the trade for Miller should quiet those Cleveland fans critical of the teams hesitancy to aim high.Chris and the guys just went and got the very best guy there was, he said. And if you dont think other teams wanted him, youre crazy. They went and got the best there is. Theres no better message.Miller didnt come cheap. The Indians had to part with Frazier along with minor league pitchers Justus Sheffield, Ben Heller and J.P. Feyereisen. Frazier was the No. 5 overall pick in 2013. In 94 games this season at Double- and Triple-A, hes batting .273 with 13 homers and 48 RBI.---AP freelance writers Steve Herrick in Cleveland and Mark Didtler in Tampa, Florida, contributed to this report. Andy Pettitte Jersey . The home side created most of the chances but struggled to break down Braunschweigs resilient defence, resulting in the Bundesligas 1,000th scoreless draw. Anthony Gose Jersey .5 million, one-year contract on Friday. Hawkins, who turns 41 in December, will compete with Rex Brothers for the closers role at spring training. http://www.astrosteamproshop.com/Astros-Mike-Scott-Kids-Jersey/ .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Dallas Keuchel Jersey . Miller reached right to deflect Mikhail Grabovskis attempt with just over 2 minutes remaining in regulation, and then made two more saves in the shootout Sunday to give the Sabres a 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals. Ken Giles Jersey TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabama volleyball opened Southeastern Conference play Friday night in dramatic fashion, persevering for a five-set win over No. 19 Texas A&M by set scores of 25-19, 26-24, 22-25, 16-25 and 15-13.The win is Alabamas (12-2) seventh over a ranked opponent in program history and its first since defeating Texas A&M (6-6) on Oct. 31, 2014 in Foster Auditorium. The two teams have gone to five sets in three of the last four meetings, with the Tide winning two of those contests. Alabama was led offensively by Krystal Rivers with 29 kills while Hayley McSparin posted 16 kills with a .414 hitting percentage. Shannon Mikesky finished with 59 assists and 10 digs, her sixth double-double of the year.The Tide were rolling right away in set one, scoring four unanswered points to start he frame before the Aggies took an early timeout down 4-0. Alabama continued to extend its lead, eventually pulling ahead 13-6 at the halfway point as Texas A&M took its final timeout. The Aggies would fight back to draw within three, trailing 17-14, but the Tide would rebound to win the set by six points, 25-19.Tied at 4-4 in set two, Texas A&M scored three quick points to pull ahead 7-4 as Alabama took its first timeout. The Aggies would remain in front but the Tide continually chipped away at the deficit, eventually drawing within one on an ace to make it 19-18 and force Texas A&M to take a timeout. Alabama would tie the set three times before eventually taking a late 22-21 lead as the Aggies took their second timeout. Alabama took its final timeout with the score tied 23-23 and eventually pushed ahead to win the frame, 26-24, and take a 2-0 match lead.Alabama jumped ahead 3-1 early in set three but momentum quickly flipped in favvor of Texas A&M as they pulled ahead 8-4 and the Tide took a timeout.dddddddddddd Alabama took its second timeout facing a five-point deficit, 16-11, but managed to push back late within three, 22-19, as a kill by Rivers forced Texas A&M to take a timeout. The Aggies reached set point, 24-20, but back-to-back kills by Emily Stebbins and Rivers kept the set going as Texas A&M took its final timeout up 24-22. The Aggies ended the set on the next point however, posting a kill to win 25-22 and avoid the sweep.Just like the third set, an early 4-3 Alabama lead in the fourth was quickly erased by a 5-0 Texas A&M run, pushing the Aggies ahead 8-4 at the Tides first timeout. Texas A&M continued to extend its lead, with back-to-back points making it 16-9 before Alabama was forced to take its final timeout of the frame. Leading by the same margin later, 23-16, the Aggies put it away with back-to-back points to win, 25-16, and force a deciding fifth set.Facing an early 5-3 deficit in set five, the Tide rattled off four unanswered points, capped by a Natalie Murison service ace, as Texas A&M took a timeout down 7-5. Alabama continued to charge ahead after the mid-set switch, leading 12-7 at the Aggies second timeout and reaching set point, 14-10. Texas A&M didnt go down quietly, scoring three-straight points to stay alive and draw within one as Alabama burned both of its timeouts in the process. A service error by the Aggies ended it on the next rally as Alabama won, 15-13.Next, Alabama wraps up its eight-match home stand on Sunday, Sept. 25 against No. 6 Florida (10-1) at Noon CT live on SEC Network. ' ' '