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HOUSTON -- Mired in a prolonged offensive slump, the Houston Astros enter a decisive series against a recent nemesis at precisely the wrong time.The Astros are 1-9 against the Texas Rangers this season and have lost 17 of the past 20 games in the Lone Star Series. The American League West rivals open a three-game set at Minute Maid Park on Friday.Houston (56-52) lost for the eighth time in 10 games Thursday night, falling 4-1 to the Toronto Blue Jays. The Astros have scored 21 runs during that span to fall 6 1/2 games behind the Rangers (63-46) in the division.When we get a chance to play against a team thats in front of us, thats always an opportunity, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. I look at it as weve got to worry about ourselves and playing our brand of baseball no matter if were playing the Blue Jays, the Rangers, the Twins, Toronto next week. Our schedule is pretty tough the next couple of months, and theyre next on the docket.I wasnt circling this series as the end all, be all. Weve got to play all of our games, but it will be nice to get back in the division and get a look at their new team. Theyre the team people are chasing, so why wouldnt you want to play them?Left-hander Dallas Keuchel (6-11, 4.86 ERA) will make his 18th career start against the Rangers, his most against any opponent. Keuchel is 4-7 with a 4.58 ERA in his career against Texas, including 0-3 with a 7.91 ERA in three starts this season.Keuchel recorded seven consecutive quality starts before getting shelled in Detroit on Sunday, allowing seven runs on seven hits in five innings. That marked his fourth start this season of less than six innings.The Rangers, who salvaged the series finale against the Baltimore Orioles with a 5-3 victory Thursday night, will turn to left-hander Martin Perez (7-7, 4.22 ERA) in the opener. Perez defeated the Astros 5-3 on June 9, allowing two runs on four hits and four walks with two strikeouts over six innings. He is 5-2 with a 1.88 ERA in seven career starts against Houston.Texas is working to integrate a pair of deadline-deal acquisitions into its offense: designated hitter Carlos Beltran and catcher Jonathan Lucroy. The Rangers traded with the New York Yankees to land Beltran while getting Lucroy from the Milwaukee Brewers at Mondays non-waiver deadline.The Rangers recorded a season-high six doubles Thursday as part of their seven extra-base hits, also a season high. It was Lucroy who delivered the non-double extra-base knock, belting his first home run with his new club.Any time you have extra-base hits like that, you have guys that can put some numbers up offensively, Lucroy told MLB.com. I think any one of these guys in that lineup out there can do that. Theres a lot of different weapons and a lot of different ways we can hurt you.Texas manager Jeff Banister added, To get away with this win tonight (in a) close ballgame is (good). Our guys got some nice production up and down the lineup.Clearance Sale Shoes Uk . Perhaps Carroll was so prepared for a break because he believes there is very little the Seattle Seahawks need heading into the off-season. "I dont see anything that we need to add. We just have to get better," Carroll said. Wholesale Shoes Uk Cheap . Batiste, who briefly signed with the Eskimos in 2006, has spent time with several NFL teams including the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins. http://www.wholesaleshoesuk.com/ . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. Wholesale Shoes Suppliers Uk . Terms of the deal were not immediately available. The 26-year-old finished last season with Clevelands Triple-A affiliate in Columbus after signing with the Indians in August. Cheap Shoes Uk Free Delivery . Murray beat Sam Querrey 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-3 to clinch Britains opening-round victory against the United States on Sunday at Petco Park. "Im proud of the way Im playing just now, because I had to do a lot of work to get back to where I want to be," Murray said after celebrating with his teammates on the red clay court in a temporary stadium in left field of the downtown home of baseballs San Diego Padres.Sky Sports has spoken to five experts - including Will Greenwood - on the debate surrounding tackling in school rugby.A group of 70 doctors and health experts wrote to the government to urge them to ban tackling in school-level rugby, stating in the letter: A link has been found between repeat concussions and cognitive impairment and an association with depression, memory loss and diminished verbal abilities, as well as longer term problems.The Rugby Football Union said that high quality coaching, officiating, medical support and appropriate player behaviour would help to reduce the risk of injury. The letter has sparked debate in the rugby community, with fans of both codes having their say. We spoke to five experts who are involved in the game to get their opinion.Will Greenwood (Former England centre and Sky Sports pundit)This is a tough debate for me because I can see it from the point of view of the game as a former player, and as a parent I understand the call for the safest possible version of the sport.I am involved with Marlow Rugby Club who stick to the health and safety protocols handed down by the RFU to the absolute letter, with constant reviews of the way things are done. Safety for children is absolutely paramount. The RFU have given player safety a high priority in the organisation, and thats what gives me the confidence that my son is being equipped as best as possible to deal with taking part in a contact sport. Will Greenwood On the other side of the debate, when doing filming for School of Hard Knocks we teach young men how to tackle, and one thing to consider is that these are close to fully-developed adults who have a lot of power at their disposal and theyre learning how to tackle from scratch.Learning to tackle at a later age is potentially dangerous as the margin for error gets smaller with each year a child develops and gets stronger.I am all for the game of rugby investigating these issues. My son is a young rugby player and I want him to grow up playing a sport I love, but with strict safety measures in place to ensure his safety. Will Greenwood urged for safe tackling technique to be upheld With that said, I think there should be full focus on teaching children how to tackle, and ensuring that coaches are constantly asked to show they have an intimate understanding of the importance of tackling technique.The RFU have given player safety a high priority in the organisation, and thats what gives me the confidence that my son is being equipped as best as possible to deal with taking part in a contact sport.Phil Vickery (Former England prop)I think voices should be heard but when I first heard about it on Wednesday morning I was cross more than anything. It is the middle of the Six Nations, the tournament has been great, everyone is enjoying it - how do we get a headline? Bam. Tackling in schools.There is no information or reference to the brilliant work that is being done already. I dont say that with my RFU hat on but there are already things in place to help develop the game and to make it safer - particularly for kids.Rugby is a dangerous sport - I dont think we should ever get away from that. But are we a proactive sport which is always looking to make it safer? Yes we are.Are we standing here burying our heads in the sand pretending everything is great and saying we dont have to work on anything? No we are not.So you stop tackling until you are 18 - what happens then? You have these big athletes who want to start doing contact and have got not technique, no training and no understanding on how to tackle someone. You will have big athletic specimens running at each other with no understanding - that is dangerous!We can always look to do more, we are trying to make rugby as safe as it can be but ultimately it is a contact sport and accidents will happen.Maggie Alphonsi (Former England international) Transitioning into tackling at a late age could be a struggle, says Maggie Alphonsi If this did come into force I think it would really damage rugby union.For a lot of the young people, they get into rugby because of the contact element. Rugby is open to all kids of different shapes and sizes, and if you take away that element and you just focus on touch and non-contact rugby, it might put kids off and it might make it harder for young kids to transition into the sport. Tony Rea and Maggie Alphonsi weigh in on the debate If you start rugby contact at a younger age, kids can develop and they can get conditioned.dddddddddddd.Their body can get used to the contact so when they get to the older age of 18 years old, theyre fully developed and fully strong for the actual contact itself.Dewi Morris (Sky Sports pundit) The key is to get children tackling properly, says Dewi Morris At the end of the day it is up to the pupils and up to the parents. Rugby is a fantastic sport and it is one of the best team sports in the world and it gives you so much.It gives kids a real sense of self-belief, fitness and a sense of belonging. It is a physical sport and there is a danger when you play a contact sport. However, if it is marshalled properly with well-trained coaches and refs then I dont see a problem with tackling. Sky Sports News HQ reporter Geraint Hughes explains how teachers might change the way rugby is played at their schools The key is getting these kids to tackle properly as proper technique is crucial when you are tackling.My daughter is 12 years old and she plays and absolutely loves it. No one should be forced to play - yes, there are dangers and I understand that injuries do happen but I really hope that we focus on getting our kids to tackle properly rather than banning it outright.Paul Anderson (Huddersfield Giants head coach) Huddersfield Head Coach Paul Anderson thinks that banning tackling in school rugby would badly damage participation I think tackling is a necessity, it is something that has to stay in there. It is one of the two integral parts to our game - one is attacking and the other is defending.To say that you have to stop one of them until you are 18 - well I dont think it has any part in our game. If you get players at 18 who have never tackled - well basically it is a new game. Anderson says tackling is part of what rugby league and rugby union is all about If I told my kids they could not defend well they would laugh at me. Tackling, defending and collisions is what rugby league and rugby union is all about.To take that away until the age of 18, well I am not so sure about that one.Should tackling be banned from schools rugby? Let us know on twitter @SkySportsRugby or give us your comments below.Also See:School rugby tackle ban?Dewi: Two rising starsOwens: Rugby needs grassroots ' ' '