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The seventh-ranked Stanford Cardinal have excelled in the role as the hunter the last four years, winning three Pac-12 championship games. But now the Cardinal begin conference play as the hunted when they host the University of Southern California at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, Calif., on Saturday night.Stanford (1-0) was the preseason favorite to repeat as Pac-12 champs, the first time the Cardinal have been favored under David Shaw. A big reason for that is the return of running back Christian McCaffrey, a Heisman Trophy finalist who set an NCAA FBS record with 3,864 all-purpose yards as a sophomore.The Cardinal opened their season in their signature old-school way: a run-heavy, relatively low-scoring contest. McCaffrey had 22 carries for 126 yards and two touchdowns in a 26-13 win over Kansas State on Sept. 2 at Stanford Stadium. Stanford also got a big game from first-year starting quarterback Ryan Burns who completed over 75 percent of his passes.He started off very fast, was in great rhythm, Shaw said of Burns. He made great decisions. We got great protection.Stanford jumped to a 17-point lead before struggling to hold on. The Cardinal amassed just 30 second half yards before McCaffrey broke off a 41-yard TD jaunt.Not clean, not pretty in the second half, but we played hard, Shaw said. We showed heart at the end.USC (1-1), meanwhile, recovered from an ugly 52-6 opening loss to No. 1 Alabama by thumping Utah State 45-7 on Saturday at the Coliseum. Like the Cardinal, the Trojans feature a new starting quarterback in junior Max Browne, and freshman Sam Darnold has seen time as well, adding two touchdown passes.We needed that, Trojans wide receiver Darreus Rogers. Its big to build our confidence back up.Stanford is beginning a brutal three-week stretch that includes playing at UCLA on Sept. 24 and then trekking to No. 8 Washington on Sept. 29.The Cardinal wont get any sympathy from the Trojans when it comes to tough schedules, though.After opening the season with the embarrassing 46-point loss to the Crimson Tide in Arlington, Texas, the Trojans righted he ship with a 45-7 win over Utah State last Saturday, giving coach Clay Helton his first victory in four tries since the interim label was dropped from his title late last season. Following the Pac-12 title game rematch with Stanford, USC hits the road again for a game at Utah on Sept. 23. Those are probably the two biggest physical tests you can get in the Pac-12.USC played Stanford twice last season, losing 41-31 at home early in the regular season and 41-22 in the Pac-12 Championship Game. The Cardinal outrushed the Trojans by a combined 457-325.Were going to have to take it up to a whole other level, myself included, said running back Justin Davis.Said Helton: They are the Pac-12 champs. We have a huge challenge.Helton has often talked about USC being less Hollywood. Less flash and more substance, especially when it comes to establishing a running game and being physical. Basically, he wants USC to be more like Stanford.The matchup doesnt lack for flash, though. USC has wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, running backs Ronald Jones II and Justin Davis, and cornerback/returner Adoree Jackson. Those are special, flashy talents.The Cardinal, of course, have McCaffrey. The junior had a staggering 461 all-purpose yards in the Pac-12 Championship game -- 207 rushing, 105 receiving, 120 on kick returns and 29 on punt returns. He had only 249 all-purpose yards in the regular-season meeting against USC.So far this season, the Trojans have had two extremes -- the loss to Alabama and a dominating performance against Utah State. Did either result tell the truth about the real state of USC?Theres a lot of cleaning up to do before we play Stanford, Helton said. I understand that as a coach.USC leads the all-time series 60-31-3, but Stanford has won six of the last eight meetings including 41-22 in the 2015 Pac-12 Championship Game. The Trojans vacated a 2015 victory due to an NCAA penalty. Wholesale Air Max 270 . LOUIS -- Rookie Tavon Austin has missed another day of practice, lessening the odds hell be ready for the St. Buy Air Max 270 . The Australian is competing in his final season in Formula One and still looking for his first win this year. He will look to end Vettels run of six straight race wins on Sunday. 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BOSTON -- It didnt look as if Hanley Ramirez would be able to lift a bat, let alone swing one on Thursday night after he was involved in scary collision late in Bostons series finale loss to the New York Yankees.Ramirez not only bounced back, he provided the Red Sox with exactly the kind of offensive jolt they will need down the stretch to make a run at the postseason.Ramirez had two three-run homers for six RBI, David Ortiz added a homer and the Red Sox beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-4 on Friday night.It was a much-needed victory for the Boston, which had lost four of five.I think I dont have to be 100 percent to bat at this point in the season, because we know where we are, Ramirez said. Were right there. And its go time.It was the 20th multi-homer game for Ramirez.Boston scored four runs in each of the first two innings, ending a streak of 14 scoreless innings by the Diamondbacks starting pitchers. The Red Sox took advantage of some sloppy defensive play by Arizona, which committed two first-inning errors.Ortiz finished with three hits, including his 1,000th extra-base hit with Boston.We all know that hes got pop. And we all know what hes capable of, Ortiz said of Ramirez. Sometimes its even better when you promote yourself as not a home run hitter and youre hitting home runs every time you step up to the plate.It was all the run support needed for David Price (10-8), who struck out eight in eight innings to pick up the win.Price joined Zach Grienke as the only pitchers with 10 or more victories in each of the last eight seasons.Ive had my fair share of really bad games of two innings or three innings, or not making it through five or pitching into the sixth. So it helps to get those sevens or eights, Price said. But I still got to throw the ball better.Patrick Corbin (4-12) lasted only 1 2/3 innings, allowing eight runs and nine hits, including both of Ramirezs homers.His stuff was better tonight. The results werent, manager Chip Hale said. So well have to evaluate whats going on.The Diamondbacks took a lead in in the first inning on Rickie Weeks two-run homer over the Green Monster.That was quickly erased in Bostons half of the inning.After Dustin Pedroia reached on an error and Ortizz got aboard with a single, Ramirez cleared the bases with a line drive blast over the Monster to put the Red Sox in front.ddddddddddddryan Holaday later pushed the lead to 4-2 with an RBI single to center. All the runs in the inning were unearned, thanks to the two Arizona errors.Ramirezs second homer, to straight away center, stretched the Red Soxs lead to 8-2.TRAINERS ROOMDiamondbacks: Hale said RHP Rubby De La Rosa, who has been on the DL since May 27 with right elbow inflammation, is currently not throwing after experiencing some forearm and elbow tightness. Hale said hes had an MRI, but that the team has not received the results.Red Sox: Pedroia left the game after the second inning with flu-like symptoms. ... RHP Steven Wright (jammed right shoulder) threw at 90 feet and manager John Farrell said hes made substantial improvement over the last 24 hours. A start next Thursday has not been ruled out yet. ... RHP Koji Uehara (right pectoral strain) has also increased his throwing distance to 90 feet and will continue to increase the distance and volume based on tolerance.NICE PLAYSThe Red Sox got Price out of some early trouble in the first inning thanks to nifty outfield work by Jackie Bradley, Jr. After Jean Segura led off the game with a triple, Bradley charged in to snare a short line drive by Phil Gosselin. He came up firing and threw a dart to catcher Holaday who caught Segura leaning and quickly relayed a throw to third baseman Aaron Hill for the double play.Later in the seventh, rookie Andrew Benintendi added to the highlight reel with a diving catch in left field to rob Michael Bourn of a hit.UP NEXTDiamondbacks: RHP Archie Bradley (4-7, 4.80 ERA) has posted a 2.03 ERA over his last six road starts, while surrendering just one home run and limiting opponents to a .222 batting average over that span.Red Sox: RHP Clay Buchholz (4-9, 5.64 ERA) gets the start as Wright continues to mend his injured shoulder. Buchholz, who will make his 14th start of the season, has shined in the bullpen allowing just one run in 8 1/3 innings over his last six appearances. Wholesale Hoodies NFL Shirts Outlet Jerseys NFL Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '