DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers cant explain exactly what happened when they went to Boston in late July. Wei-Yin Chen Jersey .They dont want to think too much about it and ruin the magic.Starting with a three-game sweep of the Red Sox at Fenway Park, the Tigers have won nine of their last 10 games. On Friday night, they beat the New York Mets 4-3 to move within two games of first-place Cleveland in the American League Central.I hope people are excited about this team, because were playing really good baseball, and having a lot of fun, said Ian Kinsler, who manufactured a key first-inning run. We want everyone to join us -- theres a lot of room on the bandwagon.Tigers ace Justin Verlander was the star once again, holding the Mets to four hits in six innings. Since July 1, he is 5-0 in seven starts with a 1.85 ERA.Obviously, being in the race adds some excitement, Verlander said. Obviously, everyone knows where we are at, and weve been around long enough that were doing some scoreboard watching, but it all comes down to how we finish.Verlander (12-6) allowed only two runs and struck out nine, but the Mets ran his pitch count up to 103 to force him out of the game. Three relievers finished, with Francisco Rodriguez pitching the ninth for his 31st save.James Loney drove in a ninth-inning run with a groundout, and Rodriguez retired Kelly Johnson to end the game. Johnson homered in the fourth for the Mets, who are now two games out of the second National League wild-card spot.We had some chances, but that guy on the mound for the Tigers is awfully good, Mets manager Terry Collins said. Verlanders one of those guys that can get himself out of just about any jam, so you have to get him fast.Noah Syndergaard (9-6) also ran into pitch-count trouble, needing 112 to get through his six innings. He gave up four runs on seven hits and two walks, striking out seven.Im trying to be too fine with my pitches instead of just trusting my stuff and letting it go, he said. I know I have the stuff to go out there and be dominant, but Ive got to let myself do it.The Tigers took advantage of Syndergaards weakness holding runners in the first. Ian Kinsler led off with a single, stole second and third and scored on Miguel Cabreras groundout. Opponents are 32 of 36 on steal attempts in Syndergaards 22 starts this season.We had an idea about running today, but you cant do anything until Ian gets himself on first base, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. He got on base and got himself to third, so while Miggy gets the RBI, Kins basically created that run.Verlander was cruising until he walked Jay Bruce on a 3-2 pitch in the fourth. He retired Loney for the second out of the inning, but Johnson hit his second homer in two nights to give the Mets a 2-1 lead.Martinez got the lead back in the bottom of the inning, lining Syndergaards changeup deep into the right-field stands for a two-run homer. James McCann added an RBI single in the inning to make it 4-2.After we got the lead, I went out to the mound telling myself that, no matter what, I couldnt blow it, Syndergaard said. Well, thats like telling someone not to think about a pink elephant. I think every major mistake I made tonight was in that inning.TRAINERS ROOMMets: OF Yoenis Cespedes (quadriceps) is on the disabled list, costing him his first visit back to Detroit since he was traded at last years deadline. Cespedes was popular with Tigers fans.Tigers: RHP Jordan Zimmermanns MRI showed no damage to the lat muscle that bothered him in Thursdays poor start. Zimmermann will throw a bullpen session on Sunday before the Tigers decide if he will make his next start. .... CF Cameron Maybin sat out his second straight game with a bruised thumb.INTERLEAGUE STARSThe Mets have the best interleague record (.518) of any National League team since games began in 1996, but the Tigers are significantly better at .546. Since 2006, the Tigers are second in the majors at .620 (124-76).UP NEXTThe teams play the second game in their weekend series Saturday evening, with Matt Boyd (2-2, 4.71) facing New Yorks Logan Verrett (3-6, 4.20). Boyd will be making his first interleague start, while Verrett made his first on Monday, getting a no-decision against the Yankees. J. T. Realmuto Jersey .Y. -- Sabres forward Drew Stafford has witnessed plenty of turmoil during his eight seasons in Buffalo. Starlin Castro Jersey .J. -- Marshawn Lynch said Thursday it will be good to get back to football after the Seattle quiet talking running back wrapped up his final mandatory media session of Super Bowl week. http://www.marlinsteamproshop.com/Marlin...gh-Kids-Jersey/ . -- If this was Aaron Gordons final home game at Arizona, and it almost certainly was, then he went out in style. NEW YORK -- After losing twice on goals in the closing minutes during their recent road trip, the New York Islanders were relieved to get a late win after blowing a three-goal lead in the third period.Anders Lee scored the tiebreaking goal with 27 seconds remaining to lift the Islanders to a 5-3 victory over the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night.Thomas Hickey took a pass from Johnny Boychuk and fired a slap shot from the point that deflected off Lees stick and past goalie Matt Murray.We had that puck luck, Lee said. We just have to grind it out. Tonight we were able to come through with a game-winning goal. Was a great shot and I was able to tip in. Weve faced enough adversity for a season. Tonight we were able to find a way.Hickey called it relief more than elation, adding, It was nice to get something to go our way. ... It was a great pass by Johnny and a great tip by Anders.Then, with Murray pulled on the ensuing faceoff, Nikolay Kulemin scored into the empty net 3 seconds later to seal the win and give the Islanders consecutive victories for the second time this season.Boychuk, Jason Chimera and Casey Cizikas also scored, and Thomas Greiss made 31 saves.New York, which lost twice on goals in the final 3 minutes of regulation at Los Angeles and San Jose last week before beating Calgary at home in overtime on Monday, has won three of five.Conor Sheary, Justin Schultz and Evgeni Malkin scored in the first 13:08 of the third period to tie the score for the Penguins. Murray finished with 25 saves.Sometimes you can try to work your way back but it doesnt always work out that way, Pittsburghs Sidney Crosby said. We were able to tie it up and unfortunately not at least force overtime.The Islanders had not scored more than two goals in their last eight games -- including a 3-2, 14-round shootout win at Anaheim on Nov. 22.Trailing 3-0 after two periods, the Penguins came out aggressive in the third and quickly got on the scoreboard when Sheary knocked in a rebound past Greiss 32 seconds in.Phil Kessel had a breakaway a minute later but was stoned by Greiss.Schultz pulled the Penguins within one when he skated in across the left faceoff circle and fired a shot top shelf with 9:20 remaining. Malkin then tied it with a wrister past Greiss 2:28 later withh his ninth of the season. Lewis Brinson Jersey. The Islanders made it 2-0 at 2:10 of the second on a goal credited to Chimera. Scott Mayfield fired a shot from the right slot and the puck bounced off several players before hitting Chimeras skate and off Murray and slowly trickling over the line before the goalie could stop it. It was Chimeras second of the season.Pittsburgh was called for two penalties seconds apart about 8 minutes into the second. After being whistled for too many men, Matt Cullen was called for a delay of game faceoff violation for falling on the puck on the ensuing faceoff. The Islanders managed six shots on the two-man advantage, including a diving glove save by Murray on a shot by John Tavares from the right side.You knew that after the 2-minute 5-on-3 where we didnt score, it always comes back to haunt you a little bit, New York coach Jack Capuano said. Our guys battled right to the end and we found a way to win.Cizikas made it 3-0 with 2:39 left in the second with his third, tipping in the deflection of a shot by Andrew Ladd.Boychuk got the Islanders on the scoreboard first, firing a slap shot from outside the right faceoff circle into the left side of the night on Murrays blocker side with 13 seconds left in the opening period. It was Boychuks third of the season, and first since Oct. 23.Game notes Patric Hornqvist returned for the Penguins after missing six games due to a concussion. ... Pittsburgh was 0 for 3 on the power play and has not scored in 16 opportunities over the last five games. ... The Penguins won the first two meetings, 4-2 at home on Oct. 27 and 3-2 in OT here on Nov. 18. The teams final matchup will be March 24 at Pittsburgh. ... Islanders F Ryan Strome returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch the previous two games. ... D Adam Pelech was out after sustaining an upper body injury in Monday nights OT win over Calgary. Mayfield took his place and appeared in his second game of the season.UP NEXTPenguins: Host Dallas on Thursday night in the opener of a three-game homestand.Islanders: At Washington on Thursday night before a three-game homestand.---Follow Vin Cherwoo at www.twitter.com/VinCherwooAP Jerseys NFL Cheap Cheap NFL Womens Jerseys Wholesale Authentic Jerseys Youth NFL Jerseys Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Black Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale NFL T-shirts NFL Jerseys Wholesale China NFL Gear Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale China Womens NFL Jerseys White NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale Jerseys 2020 ' ' '