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(Sports Network) - The Texas Rangers had to win seven straight games just to keep their playoff hopes alive. Sergio Romo Jersey . However, they will need to win another game at home on Monday if they intend on reaching the postseason for a fourth straight year. For the fourth time in the last seven years the regular season will be extended by one game, as the Rangers and Tampa Bay Rays play a one-game tiebreaker to decide the final American League wild card spot. "Tampa Bay is coming into town, now we have to keep our game elevated and do what we have been doing. We dont change anything," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "Just continue to play Texas Rangers baseball and hope to sustain it for a long time to come." The winner of Mondays contest at Rangers Ballpark will face Cleveland on Wednesday. Texas, which will be hosting the contest based on its 4-3 mark versus the Rays during the season, comes into this contest, having won 10 of its last 13, including a 7-0 homestand to close the slate. Its quite a contrast from last year when the Rangers lost six of their final eight regular season games to blow their chance at winning an American League West title. The poor finish carried into the postseason, as the Rangers lost the wild card game at home to Baltimore. History seemed to be repeating itself this year, as Washingtons club lost 13 of 17 and cost themselves a shot at a division title and seemingly a postseason spot. It all turned around, though, when the Rangers returned home, as they swept a three-game set from the woeful Houston Astros before forcing the tiebreaker with four straight wins over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. "We never thought back to last year," Texas closer Joe Nathan said. "Thats what you guys are for, to bring up old stuff. The history for us is exactly that: Its history. This is a new team in here, a lot of new faces, so last year never came across anybodys mind." The Rangers could get a boost in their lineup on Monday, as the team has activated outfielder Nelson Cruz, who is done serving his 50-game suspension for his involvement the now-defunct Biogenesis clinic. "It feels special to be back," said Cruz. "It shows they believe in me. I have been working every day to make sure I am ready. I want to play. I want to be a part of this team and help them win championships." Texas will also have its hottest pitcher on the hill in left-hander Martin Perez, who is 7-2 with a 3.26 ERA over his last 10 starts. Overall, he was 10-5 with a 3.55 ERA. "I feel good. Hes one of the reasons why we are getting this opportunity, and its his turn," Washington said. "Hes well rested. We have plenty of guys to back him up. If it gets out of control, we can stop it quickly. We have a lot of confidence in him." This will be Perezs first-ever start versus the Rays. Should he stumble, Washington has stated that righties Alexi Ogando and Matt Garza will be available out of the bullpen. Tampa closed the season just as strong as Texas, but nearly cost itself a shot at the postseason when it lost the first two of its three-game set with the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend. The Rays salvaged the series, and their season, with a victory on Sunday to win for the eighth time in 10 tries and force the tiebreaker. "Were not in the playoffs yet, but weve gotten to this point," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "Lets just let the air out and go play." While the Rangers will be throwing a 22-year-old rookie on Monday, the Rays will hand the ball to the American Leagues reigning Cy Young Award winner in David Price. Price, though, has been inconsistent this season, posting a 9-8 mark to go along with a 3.39 ERA. However, he has pitched to a 2.73 ERA over his last four starts. "This is hands down my biggest game of this year," Price said. "Its night and day bigger than Opening Day. Its big. This is the moment that I want to be in. I want to be able to relish this moment and just go out there and have fun." Texas has traditionally given the left-hander problems, as Price is just 1-4 with a 5.98 ERA in eight starts versus the Rangers. Its been even worse in Arlington, where has totaled a 10.26 ERA in four starts. This is the first one-game tiebreaker since 2009 when Minnesota beat Detroit to decide the AL Central. Jonathan Schoop Twins Jersey . Burkes Flames are one of several teams involved in heavy trade speculation going into next Wednesdays 3pm et deadline, with the most prominent name in play being forward Michael Cammalleri. Trevor Hildenberger Jersey . The native of Mont-Tremblant, Que., captured a World Cup downhill event Saturday, his second this year and fifth career victory on the circuit. https://www.cheaptwins.com/1012t-luis-arraez-jersey-twins.html .com) - Devin Booker scored 19 points and top-ranked Kentucky put on a defensive clinic in an 83-44 obliteration of UCLA in the CBS Sports Classic.HOUSTON - With Dwight Howard out Wednesday night against the Dallas Mavericks with an ankle injury, the Houston Rockets needed someone to step up.What they got was a bevy of players chipping in to pick up the slack.Josh Smith scored 18 points and James Harden added 17 as the Rockets used a balanced scoring effort to outlast the Mavericks for a 99-94 victory.Weve got so many weapons now, Harden said. Weve got a lot of depth on this team, a lot of guys that can contribute. When weve got so many guys contributing — six guys in double figures — its kind of hard to beat us.Along with Smith and Harden, Houston got 16 points from Donatas Motiejunas, Corey Brewer had 14, Trevor Ariza added 13 and Terrence Jones scored 10.It was the third straight win for the Rockets and the fourth loss in a row for Dallas.The Mavericks were down by 3 with 15.9 seconds left when Harden knocked Tyson Chandler down on a shot. He was given a flagrant foul after a review, but Chandler missed both free throws.Terrence Jones blocked a shot by Monta Ellis but knocked it out of bounds, giving Dallas another chance. The inbounds pass by Chandler Parsons sailed out of bounds to give Houston the ball. Harden made two free throws after that to secure the win.Ellis led the Mavericks with 33 points.Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said his team was done in by its 23 turnovers.It was the decisive factor of the game, without question, he said. We had chances, but that ultimately killed us.Dallas scored five quick points to get within 3 with two minutes left, but Smith made a layup before blocking a shot by Chandler on the other end. Dirk Nowitzki made a layup before Hardens flagrant foul.A 7-2 run by Houston pushed the lead to 95-87 with about three minutes left. That run was capped by a 3-pointer by Smith that came after an assist by Harden who was being heavily guarded by Rajon Rondo.I kick it out to him and he has the confidence to knock it down, and tonight he knocked a big one down in that fourth quarter, Harden said of Smith.Smith signed with the Rockets last month following his release by the Pistons.Im starting to find my way, starting to find spacing and other avenues to be productive and efficiient, he said. Ryan LaMarre Jersey. Brewer made the first five points of the fourth quarter to extend Houstons lead to 86-78.Nowitzki made four quick points to cut Houstons lead to 2 points late in the third quarter before Jason Terrys 3-pointer made it 81-76. A jump shot by Ellis got Dallas within 81-78 entering the fourth quarter.Ariza was scoreless before opening the second half with a 3-pointer and he made another one with about nine minutes left in the quarter. That shot was the first points of a stretch during which he outscored Dallas 10-7 to leave Houston up 72-66. A third 3-pointer by Ariza capped that run.Parsons scored five points in an 8-2 run that tied it at 39 five minutes before halftime. Harden, who had eight assists, escaped pressure from Rondo with a nifty juke move and dished it Smith who made a 3 from the corner to leave Houston up 54-53 at halftime.TIP-INSMavericks: Parsons, who played his first three seasons in Houston before signing as a free agent with the Mavericks this off-season, got a smattering of boos every time he touched the ball in his second trip back. He had 21 points.Rockets: Hall of Famer and former Rockets great Hakeem Olajuwon watched the game from a courtside seat. ... Smith made a season-high four 3-pointers.HOWARD AILING: Howard has missed the last two games with a sprained right ankle, but after the game the Rockets announced that hes also dealing with swelling from fluid retention in his right knee. They said an MRI on Wednesday revealed the problem in his knee and that hell undergo further evaluation soon.WELCOME BACK: Jones (left leg nerve inflammation) played for the first time since Nov. 3 and received a standing ovation when he entered the game late in the first quarter. His first points came late in the first half when he swished a 3-pointer to give Houston a 44-41 lead. He was limited to just over 20 minutes as coach Kevin McHale tries to ease him back into the rotation after missing 41 games.I was just so anxious to get out there in the beginning, it got me a little winded early, Jones said. But besides that, I had a lot of fun.UP NEXTMavericks: Visit Miami on Friday.Rockets: Visit Boston on Friday. ' ' '