Das Team » alongside the players. Corbin, the non-hitter

MEXICO CITY -- As much as possible, the Oakland Raiders and Houston Texans want to treat their trip to Mexico City as business as usual.But theres no hiding the fact that this game will be unlike any other road trip.Players have been given security warnings. The teams are taking precautions about how their food is prepared. And both teams are figuring out how to deal with the thin air 7,380 feet above sea level when the Texans (6-3) take on the Raiders (7-2) on Monday night at Azteca Stadium.Players have run extra laps, spent more time on the bike, and a few have even used elevation masks as part of their training for the game.Its going to be tough, Raiders offensive lineman Donald Penn said. Im not going to sugarcoat it. Whenever that second wind hits, then youre good. You hope that second wind hits early, then youre really good. When my second wind hits, its usually early in the first quarter, second quarter maybe.Both teams have some experience with playing at altitude, with the Texans traveling to Mile High in Denver last month and the Raiders making annual trips there. Mexico City is more than 2,000 feet higher than Denver but both teams are in the same boat.Were on an equal playing field, Texans offensive lineman Duane Brown said. No ones more used to the altitude than the other team, so were all going out there with the same struggle, if there will be a struggle.The thin air also could impact how the game is played, with throws and kicks both able to travel longer distances. Three of the five longest field goals in NFL history have come at altitude in Denver, including Matt Praters record 64-yarder for the Broncos in 2013.In Denver, I can see anywhere from 6 to 7 yards difference in ball carry, just over my past experience there, Texans punter Shane Lechler said. I know the altitude here in Mexico City is going to be a little higher, but you still have to hit a good ball. Its not like every single time its going to be a huge difference.The altitude is only one factor that will make the second regular-season game ever in Mexico different from a typical one in the NFL.The Mexican fans are known for their enthusiasm at soccer games and the players expect nothing less Monday night, with perhaps more cheers than usual for kicks and punts from a crowd used to a different kind of football.I like to watch soccer, so Im wondering is it going to be like a soccer atmosphere where they have the horns playing and stuff like that, Texans cornerback A.J. Bouye said. Im already visualizing everything on what its going to be like. At the end of the day, you just got to expect the unexpected.The NFL announced the matchup for the game back in February and has spent lots of time planning for the week to make it as smooth as possible for the players and teams.Mark Waller, the NFLs executive vice president of international, said the league gave the teams advice on when to arrive to limit the effects of the elevation; made sure there were English speaking drivers for the players; and worked with the chefs at the team hotels to ensure the players could get their usual meals.Our goal in any game is to not have any reason why the teams would be disrupted from performing at their best in any market in any game, Waller said.As part of the 50th anniversary celebration, Azteca Stadium has undergone major renovations since the NFL last played a regular-season game there in 2005. Capacity was reduced from more than 100,000 to 84,000, with premium seating added, improved communication capability and new locker rooms that can handle the larger roster for football teams.This game is the first of a three-year contract for the NFL to play in Mexico City, and the league would like it to become an annual event.In the same way that we built in London an annual game, I would like to think we can do the same thing there and become part of the sporting calendar, Waller said. We want to become known as one of the great sporting events in the city in any given year.Waller said he wasnt sure whether it would be better to have one team become the regular host of the games like Jacksonville does in London or to rotate teams. The Raiders would be a prime candidate to give up a home game to come to Mexico City because of their uncertain stadium situation -- they seek a possible move to Las Vegas -- and their popularity in Mexico.It was impressive to see all the Raiders fans down there and see how excited they were for the game, said Raiders running back Taiwan Jones, who made two offseason trips south of the border to help promote the game. One thing I heard from the locals was how crazy an environment its going to be. From what I hear, Its going to be a party.---AP Sports Writer Kristie Rieken contributed to this report---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Tyler Johnson Jersey . "We have always prided ourselves on the way we play defence. Having two big pieces back is going to be a key for us moving forward for years to come," said Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen. Udonis Haslem Jersey .B. - Sebastien Auger made 44 saves as the Saint John Sea Dogs edged the visiting Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2-1 on Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. http://www.cheapheatjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-jordan-mickey-jersey . Third-seeded Murray had the easiest path to victory on New Years Eve, barely breaking a sweat during his 6-0, 6-0 win over 2,129th-ranked Qatari wildcard recipient Mousa Shanan Zayed. Alonzo Mourning Jersey .Y. - Detroit goaltender Jonas Gustavsson has earned NHL first star of the week honours after winning in his first three appearances of the season. Dwyane Wade Jersey . Listen to the game live on TSN Radio 1050 at 7pm et. The Raptors traded Rudy Gay, Quincy Acy and Aaron Gray to the Sacramento Kings on Monday, in exchange for Greivis Vasquez, John Salmons, Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes. NEW YORK -- It took more than 1 1/2 seasons for the Arizona Diamondbacks to get much of a reward for selecting Oscar Hernandez in the Rule 5 draft.Worth it.Hernandez hit his first major league homer in the 12th inning, leading the Diamondbacks over the New York Mets 3-2 on Wednesday night.Hernandez was recalled from Double-A Mobile after Arizona placed catcher Welington Castillo on the paternity list Tuesday. Playing his first game this season, Hernandez drove a sinker from Jerry Blevins (4-2) down the left-field line.Hernandez played 18 games with Arizona in 2015 as a winter meeting draft pick from Tampa Bay, missing much of the season with a broken left hamate bone.It feels so good, a jubilant Hernandez said. I was waiting for a pitch to do hard contact and I hit a bomb.After spending last season on the active roster and major league disabled list, the 23-year old catcher was optioned all the way back to Class A Visalia this year to begin his climb back to the majors.Going back to the minor leagues helped me out a lot, he said. I feel more confident. Last year was a little bit of pressure and this year, I just played.Thats what a Rule 5 guy has to do, Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said. You just hope in that year that hes here, you dont lose your way. Some guys have in the past, and it was good to get him playing again.Randall Delgado (3-1) pitched two perfect innings with two strikeouts to win.The Mets Kelly Johnson forced extra innings with a two-run homer in the ninth off closer Jake Barrett. The blown save was Barretts fourth in eight chances.Arizona starter Robbie Ray pitched seven shutout innings, scattering three hits and striking out four. Ray was perfect until Ty Kellys fourth-inning single.New York remained 2 1/2 games back of the Marlins for the second NL wild card.Paul Goldschmidt went 2 for 4, driving in the first two Arizona runs, and Jean Segura and Chris Owings each had three hits. Segura added two stolen bases and scored two runs. Arizona stole four bases on the night and has nine steals through the first two games in the series, breaking the franchise mark for steals in a three-game series with Thursdays game still to come. New York came into the ggame with a minus-67 stolen base differential, the worst mark in the majors.ddddddddddddNeil Walker had two hits for the Mets, who have lost 14 of their past 19 games.If you cant get over it, and youre going to let it linger in this league, youre going to have a tough time winning, Mets manager Terry Collins said.T.J. Rivera, from the Throgs Neck section of the Bronx just a short drive from Citi Field, made his major league debut at third base in front of about 30 friends and family members. He got his first big league hit in the tenth and handled all of his chances in the field.TRAINERS ROOMDiamondbacks: OF A.J. Pollock (fractured right elbow) went 0 for 2 with a walk and played six innings in center field for Visalia. ... OF Yasmany Tomas (stiff neck) remained out of the lineup after being a late scratch on Tuesday. He developed the injury after watching the Olympics in bed all day Tuesday. ... After the game, Hale announced that OF David Peralta would have season-ending surgery on Thursday morning to stabilize the tendon in his left wrist. Hes been on the disabled list since Aug. 7 after crashing into the outfield wall in Arizona on Aug. 5.PLAY WIFFLE BALLArizonas Patrick Corbin joined New Yorks Wilmer Flores and Rene Rivera at a Play Ball Derby at Hudson River Parks Pier 63. The players participated in a wiffle ball derby, launching balls into the river at floating targets. Children from local Boys and Girls clubs and other baseball organizations participated alongside the players. Corbin, the non-hitter of the group, won the derby.UP NEXT:Mets: RHP Noah Syndergaard (9-6, 2.64 ERA) looks to snap a career-worst five-start winless streak. The All-Star hurler struggled in his last start, allowing four runs in six innings in Detroit, but has pitched to a 5-3 record with a 2.41 ERA at Citi Field this season.Diamondbacks: RHP Braden Shipley (1-1, 4.15 ERA) takes to the mound in the series finale for his fourth major league start. After struggling in his debut, hes thrown back-to-back quality starts, allowing two runs over his last 12 innings. Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Nike NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys Store Wholesale Jerseys China Jerseys NFL China ' ' '