... Darvish is 4-0 with a 2.80 ERA in his six starts at home this season.

DARLINGTON, S.C. -- Matt Kenseth was in Canada when J.D. Gibbs sent him the results of their appeal to NASCAR to reduce sweeping penalties against Joe Gibbs Racing. "J.D. kept texting me and the texts just kept getting longer and longer," Kenseth said Friday. "Im like, Wait a minute. They did what? They gave us that back?" They sure did. Aside from crew chief Jason Ratcliffs absence Friday at Darlington Raceway, it was almost like nothing ever happened after a three-member appeal panel dramatically reduced the penalties for having an illegal part in Kenseths race-winning engine at Kansas. Among the key changes: Ratcliffs suspension was reduced from six races to one, Kenseth lost only 12 points instead of 50, a six-race suspension against team owner Joe Gibbs was wiped out and Kenseth had his three bonus points from the Kansas victory restored. It sent Kenseth to Darlington for Saturday nights race fourth in the Sprint Cup standings instead of 11th. Wally Brown, who once worked as Carl Edwards crew chief at Roush Fenway Racing, is filling in for Ratcliff this weekend. "The penalties were pretty crushing before they got reduced," Kenseth said. "I applaud NASCAR for having the appeals process and putting that in place to have some people look at it after all the dust settles a little bit and be objective ... I feel like they did a nice job of looking at all the facts and circumstances that went with it and made a decent decision." It was a far cry from his reaction two weeks ago when NASCAR initially sanctioned the team for finding one of the eight connecting rods in his engine did not meet the minimum weight requirement. JGR leases its engines from Toyota Racing Development, which immediately accepted responsibility, and both JGR and TRD said no performance advantage was gained form the part. Kenseth called the penalties "borderline shameful" when they were handed down. And even though the appeals board has a record that heavily favours NASCAR, Kenseth felt confident the penalties would be reduced. "For some reason, I had a pretty good feeling ... I didnt know it would come back to be exactly what it was, I didnt know if we would have gotten a reduction that much, but I felt more confident than any other appeal Ive ever heard about," Kenseth said. "We had a pretty good case and there were different things that happened where I felt like it would get reduced. I think everybody was shocked when the penalties got handed out to start with, so I felt pretty good it was going to get reduced." The appeals board a week earlier unanimously upheld penalties against Penske Racing for having unapproved parts on its car during a pre-race inspection at Texas. But Penske took the case to chief appellate officer John Middlebrook, the final level, and on Tuesday he reduced the suspensions of seven key employees from six races to two plus next weeks All-Star event. Penske Racing viewed Middlebrooks ruling as a small victory, even as the team went to Darlington this weekend reaching deep into its bench to fill the voids. Five-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, who has been through his share of appeals with Hendrick Motorsports, didnt know what to make of the rulings for JGR and Penske. Drivers dont typically attend the appeals, and are only told later how they went. "You dont expect these reductions," he said. "I get phone calls about what the vibe was like inside the meeting, what the meeting was like, and they are never optimistic. Its a tough thing to live through. I know that NASCAR can never hand out a penalty thats less than, we know its always going to be more than a previous penalty. They look at past history, intent and a few other things to set their standards. And then from there, its like the regular justice system. You go in there to try and plead your case. "Thinking about it, it means get in there and fight. Its worth fighting and trying to lessen your penalty." Gale Sayers Bears Jersey . There are some early surprises in the race for the Hart Trophy, but two of the contenders are the leagues biggest stars over the past decade. There are many more players in contention for the awards than just the three that Ive named, and a good or bad week can easily alter the landscape, but through the first 20 or so games of the NHL season, this is how the awards races look to me. Roquan Smith Jersey . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. http://www.bearsfootballpro.com/Authentic_Mitchell-Trubisky_Bears_Jersey/ . How great will be revealed in the next couple of days at the board of governors meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif. Devin Hester 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. Mike Singletary Womens Jersey . Mickelson barely made the cut but had the best round of the day with nine birdies and an eagle coupled with two bogeys to sit two shots behind leader Craig Lee of Scotland. Lee shot a 69 for a 12-under 204 total. "I just love the fact I am in contention and have an opportunity in my first tournament of the year here in Abu Dhabi," Mickelson said. ARLINGTON, Texas -- Yu Darvish had a demonstrative show of emotion, pumping his fist and letting out a shout after ending the seventh inning with another strikeout and two runners on base.A day after his 30th birthday, the Texas Rangers right-hander finally ended his long personal losing streak to the AL West-rival Oakland Athletics -- a team that until Wednesday night he had beaten only in his first start against them more than four years ago in his eighth major league game.Darvish struck out nine and walked only one as the Rangers won 6-2. He was 0-8 in his previous 10 starts against the only MLB opponent with more than three wins against him.Its a different lineup. But like me, I change, too, Darvish said through his interpreter. I feel just fortunate that I got a win.All-Star center fielder Ian Desmond and recently acquired Jonathan Lucroy each had three RBI as the AL-best Rangers completed a three-game series sweep.Darvish (4-3) bounced off the mound after striking out Coco Crisp to end the seventh.Hes a very tough out. He doesnt strike out. He battles, Darvish said. Mentally, I wanted on top of it and make sure I could strike him out.Crisp struck out three times after homering on the second pitch of the game. Jake Smolinski went deep leading off the fifth for the only other Oakland run.The whole body of work for the night was special, manager Jeff Banister said. To have Darvish utilize the slider ... the front to back, up to down with the fastball, and he was able to regulate the velocity of the fastball tonight from 91 to 97.Darvish came back for the eighth, but was pulled after Danny Valencias leadoff double.The only win for Darvish against the As was on May 16, 2012, early in his MLB career after the previous seven seasons in Japan. He had a no-decision against them three weeks ago in a season when he didnt make his first start for the Rangers until May 28 after missing all of 2015 following Tommy John surgery.We want him to be healthy, because anytime hes healthy, we know what he can do, said Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus, who had three hits and scored twice.Lucroys homer in the fourth was his seventh in 15 games since beingg traded to Texas from Milwaukee on Aug.dddddddddddd 1, and his career-high 20th overall for the season. He was behind the plate catching Darvish.He was definitely fired up. Hes usually pretty reserved emotionally, Lucroy said. Look, it was a big game. You want to finish it off. You want to finish off the sweep there, obviously, against a division rival.Desmond had a two-run single in the fifth for a 3-2 lead against rookie lefty Sean Manaea (4-8), who is 1-4 in nine starts since the end of June. He gave up four runs and struck out five without a walk in six innings.It just wasnt there today I guess. It just wasnt there. Just make better pitches, Manaea said. Its pretty frustrating but theres nothing I can do about it now. I just have to move on.SHORT HOPSThe Rangers scored three times in the seventh, on an RBI single by Desmond before Lucroys two-run double. ... Darvish is 4-0 with a 2.80 ERA in his six starts at home this season. ... The As lost their fifth straight game, and are a season-high 17 games under .500 (52-69). ... Desmond had his most RBI since four against Toronto on May 15, when he had the go-ahead homer the half-inning before teammate Rougned Odor punched Jose Bautista.TRAINERS ROOMAthletics: INF Tyler Ladendorf was put on the 15-day DL with a sprained left wrist. He is the 26th Oakland player to go on the DL this season, a franchise record. ... RHP Jesse Hahn (strained right shoulder) threw 75 pitches in a rehab start and could start for the As on Sunday, a day after he is eligible to come off the DL.Rangers: RHP Lucas Harrell went on the 15-day DL a day after facing only 12 batters and leaving his start after two innings because of a right groin strain. ... LHP Derek Holland is eligible to come off the 60-day DL on Sunday, but Martin Perez is listed as the Rangers probable starter at Tampa Bay that day.UP NEXTThe Athletics and Rangers have the day off Thursday, the first for both since Aug. 1. Oakland opens a three-game series Friday at the Chicago White Sox, and Texas plays at Tampa Bay. ' ' '