TALK » six straight wins moved them up to 22nd from 27th. The

Despite losing six of their last eight games, the St. Louis Cardinals are clinging to top spot in the TSN.ca MLB Power Rankings, just ahead of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox. The Cardinals were ripe to be overtaken, but two of their closest challengers from the last weeks rankings, the Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds, ran into their own troubles. Detroit lost six of their last seven games, falling from second to seventh, while Cincinnati lost seven of nine and starting pitcher Johnny Cueto was put back on the DL, so they dropped from third to eighth. Moving up this week, the Tampa Bay Rays are 8-4 in their last dozen games, thanks in part to a strong bullpen, and they climb from 16th to 12th. The Cleveland Indians had the biggest move up, seven spots from 20th to 13th, as they moved into the AL Central lead and got shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera back from injury. Having baseballs hottest hitter, second baseman Jason Kipnis, doesnt hurt their case either. Its been a good time for baseball in Los Angeles, over the last week. The Dodgers, who have been a mess for most of the season, have won eight of nine and moved from 22nd to 16th in the rankings, while the Angels have been even worse, yet six straight wins moved them up to 22nd from 27th. The Dodgers gain stands in contrast to much of their NL west compatriots, as the Rockies (11th to 15th), Giants (12th to 19th) and Padres (14th to 21st) all tumbled. Finally looking like a competitive team, the Toronto Blue Jays are 3-5 since their 11-game winning streak, but moved up from 15th to 14th, due largely to getting shortstop Jose Reyes back from the disabled list. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. Custom Rob Ramage Jersey .com) - Following a late-game loss to the reigning NBA champs, the Toronto Raptors will look to sustain their recent high-level play as they travel to Indiana to take on the Pacers. Rob Ramage Jersey Large . Pettersen, winner of last years Evian Championships, had nine birdies and three bogeys, holding off a series of challengers led by Marion Ricordeau of France. The second-ranked Norwegian made her season debut after missing the LPGA Tours opening event last month in the Bahamas because of a shoulder injury. http://www.customavalanchejersey.com/ . 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. Cheap Avalanche Jerseys . Three came down to the fourth quarter while quarterbacks continued to shine in all four games; so important to the overall quality of the game. Custom Rob Ramage Jersey . Dusautoir, the former World Player of the Year, sustained a torn bicep playing for Toulouse in the Heineken Cup on Saturday. The flanker, who has played 65 times for France, is expected to be out for up to four months. PARIS -- Celebrating the best season of his career, Andy Murray cemented his rise to No. 1 by beating John Isner 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-4 Sunday to win the Paris Masters for the first time.It was his eighth title this year, his 14th in Masters overall. It also ended Isners bid for a first Masters title.I felt really nervous before the match, Murray said, despite having beaten the big-serving American in all seven of their previous career meetings.Murray will officially replace Novak Djokovic at the top of the rankings when they are published on Monday.It might only be for one week. So, I might as well try and enjoy it, Murray said. Because I could lose it at the (ATP) Tour Finals and never be there again.The 29-year-old Murray is still getting accustomed to his newfound status.I dont really know if its sunk in or not, said Murray, who is a three-time Grand Slam winner and a double Olympic champion. It feels different (to) when I had won a Grand Slam or (the) Olympics.Especially in the number of congratulatory messages.More than Ive had after any match I have played in my life, Murray said. Its very nice, because you have won the respect of the players.Murray recently beat Isner 6-1, 6-3 in the quarterfinals of the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, but this was thoroughly contested.We played last week and the difference was huge, Murray said.Using 18 aces and hitting plenty of inside-out winners on his massive forehand, Isner generated considerable pressure.But he also wasted six break points overall.In the second set, he was 4-3 ahead and 40-0 up on Murrays serve, but failed to punish the Briton -- last years runner-up to Djokovic.But in a rare dip, Murray double-faulted during the tiebreaker and Isner profited to take the set.Isner saved break points on his first two service games of the third set, hanging on as Murray restored his superiority.Then, serving to stay in the match, the 2.08-meter (6-foot-10-inch) American double-faulted to trail 0-30. He won a tough first point and then hit yet another ace to make it 30-30.Isner sank a difficult volley into the net, giving Murray a first match point. With Isner on second serve, Murray dominated a brief rally, pinging a pass down the line that Isner patted into the net with the ball close to his body.ddddddddddddIt was a hard-fought victory and Isner stood with his head down at the net, waiting to congratulate Murray.Murray has won four consecutive tournaments, taking his career tally to 43.Next up is the season-ending ATP finals in London, beginning next Sunday.Murray will cross the English Channel to try and take the title there, having secured his top ranking here.This has been an incredible journey to get to the top of the rankings, said Murray, whose brother Jamie is among the worlds best doubles players.There havent been many tennis players from Scotland over the years, and a lot of what we have done is big credit to our parents, Murray said. Our mum was a tennis coach. She helped us learn the game really and helped us enjoy the game at a young age.The 31-year-old Isner, playing in the third Masters final of his career, ends the year without a title.He lost his other final this season to Australian Nick Kyrgios at Atlanta, Georgia, in August.Some small consolation is that he finishes the year with the most aces at 1,159 -- the fourth time he has achieved this.Murray broke Isner twice, the first time to move 4-2 up in the first set.Isner fought back, a booming forehand winner giving him two break points in the seventh game.Murray saved the first one with a lob -- impressive against such a tall player -- and volley. He rescued the second by forcing an unforced error.Serving for the first set, Murray won the first point with an extraordinary backhand retrieve from a speedy Isner forehand that he somehow turned into a cross-court winner.That was pretty spectacular from him, Isner said. He always clamps down on me when I have a bit of an opening.In the second set, Isner got a deserved ovation in the eighth game when he won a 20-stroke rally.Showing nimble footwork that belied his size, he traded shots with Murray, winning the point with a superb drop shot and then a forehand winner from Murrays retrieve.Isner was playing his best tennis of the match and had Murray 0-40 down.Murray recovered but gave Isner another chance at deuce.He missed that chance, too. ' ' '