second consecutive rough start for Hellweg, who

STILLWATER, Okla. -- Oklahoma States strong performance last season and the return of 18 starters have earned the Cowboys a better starting position this year.Last season, the Cowboys opened the season unranked before Mason Rudolphs powerful arm led them to 10 straight wins and a No. 4 spot in the AP poll. The Cowboys lost their final three games last season, including the Sugar Bowl. Still, they left an impression, and Rudolph is back to lead a team that opens at No. 21.Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy understands the importance of that ranking and the perception that goes with it heading into Saturdays opener against Southeastern Louisiana.Being ranked is good, in national perspective, Gundy said. When they slide it (the school name) along the bottom of the screen, youre getting free marketing for the university, for your team when the rankings go up and millions of viewers see it. But in the end, you have to still play the games, and that all is going to take care of itself as the season progresses.The Cowboys will need to take care of Southeastern Louisiana, an FCS program that went 4-7 last year, in convincing fashion. Even the appearance of a slip could cost them dearly, and theres no major power on the non-conference slate to provide a potential boost. Next weeks opponent, Central Michigan, isnt receiving votes in the Top 25 and Pittsburgh, the following opponent, received 15 votes in the preseason poll.Here are some things to watch Saturday:BARRY J. SANDERSThe son of 1988 Heisman winner Barry Sanders isnt as explosive as his dad was, but hes still dangerous. The graduate transfer from Stanford is listed as Oklahoma States No. 1 kickoff return man, but others will get chances.REPLACING ATEMANOklahoma State receiver Marcell Ateman had surgery in July to repair a broken bone in his foot, and Gundy said he isnt sure when hell return. Ateman caught 45 passes for 766 yards and five touchdowns last season.I dont know that we ever feel good about losing a player the caliber that Ateman should be for our team, but thats one of those areas we talk about, Gundy said. We control what we can control. We certainly cant do anything about it, so we move the next guy in.Chris Lacy, who has 12 career receptions, is listed as a starter in Atemans place. Established veterans James Washington and Jhajuan Seales are the other starters.OPTION FOOTBALLIn the old days, defending the option was no big deal for a Big 12 team -- they did it all the time. Now, few teams run it the way Southeastern Louisiana likely will. New offensive coordinator Matt Barrett comes from Georgia Southern, which was known for various forms of the offense. Though Barrett was the receivers coach at Georgia Southern, Oklahoma State is preparing for some old-school, triple-option football.To have that opponent the first game is great for us, Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer said. Id hate to have had something like this in the middle of the season, so thats been an advantage, and we need all the extra time we can get.RB BY COMMITTEEAt least five running backs should get action for Oklahoma State: Chris Carson, Rennie Childs, Sanders, Jeff Carr and freshman Justice Hill.Its going to be interesting to see who emerges out of that, Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich said. Kind of tailback by committee to start, then see who has the hot hand and go from there.MINI-MULLETThere was a little extra hair laying on Gundys neck during his most recent media session.I feel like if we get on a winning streak we can talk him into growing it out, linebacker Chad Whitener said.---Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP . Vapormax Plus Scontate . MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez also will attend the session, which was announced Monday. The league has discussed placing its next two expansion teams in Miami and Atlanta. Vapormax Saldi . The Cincinnati Reds remain perfect with their speedy rookie outfielder in the starting lineup. http://www.vapormaxscontateoutlet.it/ .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. Nike Vapormax Nere Scontate . The CFLs leading rusher kept adding to his gaudy numbers this season and scored the winning touchdown with just over two minutes to play. The New Westminster, B.C., native plowed three yards into the end zone for the last score of a heated, see-saw battle between the two teams with the best records in the CFL. Nike Vapormax Uomo Offerte . Barcelonas entertaining victory ensured the defending Spanish champions retained their share of the league lead with Atletico Madrid two rounds ahead of their meeting in the capital. Real Madrid needed a late goal by substitute Jese Rodriguez to earn a 3-2 victory at Valencia to stay in third place and three points behind its title rivals.MILWAUKEE -- If good teams make their own breaks, the Milwaukee Brewers showed why they are in last place in the N.L. Central. The Brewers gave the New York Mets three unearned runs in an inning in which only one ball left the infield, committed three errors, and had two runners thrown out at the plate and another at third. Milwaukee pitchers also issued eight walks, hit one batter and threw two wild pitches in an ugly 12-5 loss to the Mets on Friday night. The Brewers wasted a stellar performance by Carlos Gomez in which he had four hits -- including two RBI doubles -- and made a leaping grab above the centre-field wall to take away a home run from pinch-hitter Marlon Byrd in the seventh inning. "We sure didnt play well today," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "We didnt pitch well today, we didnt play well defensively today. We swung the bats OK. "I messed up, too, on a play. So nothing went right." Kirk Nieuwenhuis drove in a career-best five runs for New York with his first four-hit game. He had a triple, a double, two singles and two walks. Nieuwenhuis, who entered the game hitting .179 in 56 at-bats after being recalled from Triple A Las Vegas on June 9, raised his average to .233. He became the first Mets player to reach base six times in a nine-inning game since Mike Piazza did it on May 27, 2000. "Tremendous night for Kirk Nieuwenhuis," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "Absolutely tremendous night. He picked us up." The Mets hustled their way to three unearned runs in the second inning for a 5-2 lead, despite hitting only one ball out of the infield. Omar Quintanilla drew a leadoff walk and advanced on Zack Wheelers sacrifice bunt. Quintanilla moved to third, and Eric Young reached on an error by shortstop Jean Segura. Daniel Murphys high chopper back to the mound was gloved by 6-foot-9 starter Johnny Hellweg, but Quintanilla dived back to third ahead of Hellwegs throw as Murphy reached to load the bases. "I kind of had a little lapse of judgment right there," said Hellweg (0-2), who allowed seven runs -- three earned -- seven hits and five walks in 3 2-3 innings "As soon as the ball came back to me, I felt like there was just a guy at third. "I just spaced on the guy being at first when the ball got back to me. It wasnt the right play." Mets first baseman Ike Davis, in his first game since being recalled from a minor league stint, then drove in a run with a slow-rolling single to Segura. After David Wright lined out to first, Nieuwenhuis grounded a two-run single to right just past the glove of diving second baseman Rickie Weeks. "That is how you win at this level," Collins said. "If you are going to have games where teams are going to give you outs, you better take advantage of it." Wheeler (2-1) gave up three runs annd seven hits and walked three in five shaky innings.ddddddddddddHe struggled in his two previous starts since pitching six shutout innings in his major league debut. The Mets made it 7-2 in the fourth with the aid of another error. Wright walked to open the inning and came around on singles by Davis and Nieuwenhuis. Davis scored from third on a two-out error by third baseman Aramis Ramirez. The Brewers loaded the bases with one out in the fifth inning, but Wheeler escaped when catcher Jonathan Lucroy flied to shallow centre and Juan Francisco struck out looking. "Im part of that. I popped out. Im guilty of that," Lucroy said. "We let him off the hook. You have to take advantage of the situations, and when you dont thats when you get beat like that." Nieuwenhuis accounted for another run in the sixth when he walked, stole second, took third on a wild pitch and scored on John Bucks single. He doubled in the eighth and scored on Juan Lagares single to make it 9-4. Nieuwenhuis tripled in another run in the Mets three-run ninth. Francisco opened the fourth with his 11th home run to trim it to 7-3. The Brewers scored single runs in the seventh and eighth on RBI doubles by Gomez and Logan Schafer. Hellwegs wildness helped the Mets score twice in the first. Young singled to open the game and moved to third on Wrights one-out single to right. Hellweg then issued consecutive walks to Davis, who entered hitting .161, and Nieuwenhuis to force in a run. Wright scored on Lagares fielders choice. Milwaukee answered with two unearned runs in the bottom of the inning on an RBI double by Gomez and a sacrifice fly by Ramirez. It was the second consecutive rough start for Hellweg, who was rocked for seven runs in 1 2-3 innings in his first major league start on June 28. He had gone 6-0 with a 1.64 ERA in his last seven starts at Triple A Nashville before being called up by the Brewers. "The potential he has is the stuff that he has," Roenicke said. "He has a great fastball, a real good moving fastball. Hes got a nice breaking ball. But he has to command those pitches. Unless you can command them in the big leagues, youre not going to do well." NOTES: Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun, on the disabled list with an injured right thumb, took swings in the indoor cage Friday. "I havent talked to him since he swung. I talked to (third base coach) Ed Sedar and he said he swung the bat real well. I just havent asked Ryan how the hand felt," Roenicke said. Braun is scheduled to take batting practice on the field Saturday and Monday. When Braun is ready to be activated, he wont be sent on a rehab assignment, Roenicke said. ... Wheelers two-out single to right in the third was his first major league hit. . Josh Edgin pitched the final 1 1-3 innings for his first save in two opportunities. ' ' '