ALAMEDA, Calif. - Rookie Derek Carrs first NFL start as Oakland Raiders quarterback was a learning experience. He saw new defences, exotic blitzes and got to see firsthand what playing in the NFL is like after years of watching big brother David do it. Perhaps the most important thing Carr learned was that he belonged on that big stage already at the start of his rookie season even if the end result against the New York Jets wasnt quite what he hoped with a 19-14 loss last Sunday. "I can do this," Carr said Wednesday. "I was able to go out there and play against a great defence. ... To play against them for your first game, I was fired up because you want to see as much as you can, as early as you can in your career." Carr had an up-and-down performance that would be expected from a rookie making his first career start going up against a Rex Ryan defence. He threw an early touchdown pass to Rod Streater and avoided any turnovers or egregious mistakes. But he also struggled to get the ball downfield, relying mostly on screens and quick passes. Carr completed 20 of 32 passes for 151 yards. Only three of those completions travelled at least 10 yards downfield, including a 30-yard touchdown pass to James Jones in the closing minutes. Carr said the lack of downfield throws was more about situations and the defence than a cautious game plan looking to protect a rookie. "They were called, theres no doubt they were called," Carr said of the deep passes. "It we went down there and out of the 30-something throws, we threw it down the field 28 times, it would probably have been even worse than it looked. It doesnt always work out the way you want to. But they were called and theyll continue to be called." Carrs first start at MetLife Stadium came in the same building that his brother threw his final NFL pass as a backup for the New York Giants in 2012. Derek Carrs first home start with the Raiders comes against the Houston Texans, the team that drafted David first overall in 2002 to be the face of the expansion franchise. That did not work out as planned as David Carr struggled at the start on an overmatched team, getting sacked an NFL-record 76 times as a rookie. Those beatings took a toll on David Carr that he was never able to overcome and left an impression on young Derek. "All I knew is I grew up a Cowboys and Raiders fan and I never saw those quarterbacks get hit that much," he said. "Just being honest. Thats what my thought was as a kid. Being older and going back and watching those games, I understand what was going on." While Derek Carr joined a team that hadnt posted a winning record for 11 straight seasons, it is not anything like an expansion team. But even with a veteran offensive line, Carr was pressured on 47.1 per cent of his drop backs, according to Pro Football Focus, third most in the league last week. Making matters worse is the team that generated the most pressure is the Texans with star end J.J. Watt leading the charge. But coach Dennis Allen said he expects to see a step forward this week from Carr and the line. "I thought he handled himself well in the game last week," Allen said. "I think well see improvement. Just like you see from season one to season two, you always see improvement, the most improvement you see during the season is from Week 1 to Week 2. Im excited about watching him play." NOTES: RB Maurice Jones-Drew missed practice with a hand injury and his status is day to day. ... LB Nick Roach practiced after missing the opener because of a concussion sustained in the third exhibition game but has still not been cleared to play. ... CB Chimdi Chekwa was back at practice on a limited basis after being sidelined during the preseason with a knee injury. Tom Dempsey Jersey . The Earthquakes (6-9-7) were coming off a 5-0 loss at home last Saturday to FC Dallas. Even with the draw, the Sounders (13-7-3) climbed back into a tie for both the Western Conference and overall top spot in MLS. Seattle, West co-leader Real Salt Lake and East leader Sporting Kansas City all have 42 points. Brian Hansen Jersey .Cullen scored the go-ahead goal at 13:47 of the third period and Nashville beat the slumping Dallas Stars 3-2 on Thursday in a game that wasnt decided until the last shot of the night. https://www.saintsjerseyssale.com/1073f-...sey-saints.html. Blown save in the ninth inning? No problem. Demario Davis Jersey . The Opening Day starter played 53 games this season hitting .192 with nine home runs and 25 RBI. Red Sox manager John Farrell has decided to start Jose Iglesias at third base as of late instead of Middlebrooks. Jimmy Graham Jersey . This week, topics cover the World Series champion Red Sox, John Farrell and what to look forward to this off-season.KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- After four hours, 23 minutes and a dozen pitchers combining to throw 397 pitches, Nori Aoki gave the Kansas City Royals a win. Aoki singled home Lorenzo Cain in the 14th inning to lift the Royals to a 2-1 victory over Cleveland after Indians starter Corey Kluber carried a perfect game into the seventh inning on Thursday night. Cain opened the 14th with an infield single and stole second before Aoki delivered the winning hit off John Axford on a full-count pitch with one out. "I was just trying to stay aggressive," Aoki said. "It wasnt like I was trying to go the other way or anything like that. I was just looking for a pitch to hit, and if I got that pitch, swing hard." Aoki was mobbed by his teammates at second base. "It was one of the best feelings, and hopefully we have more of those moments the rest of the season," he said. Aaron Crow (5-1), the seventh Kansas City pitcher, earned the victory -- striking out the side in a perfect 14th. Left-hander Marc Rzepcynski (0-3), who gave up the hit to Cain, took the loss. Kluber held the Royals to two hits, retiring the first 19 batters he faced before Omar Infante, who was in a 0-for-16 skid, lined a single to centre with one out in the seventh. "I think its hard to rate one performance against another," Kluber said. "I got in a good groove, and when they got a runner on we were able to catch him stealing." Mike Moustakas doubled and scored on a throwing error by left fielder Ryan Raburn in the eighth inning to give the Royals a 1-0 lead. Moustakas hit a fly ball down the left-field line that Raburn nearly caught. When Raburn tracked down the ball in foul territory, he spiked a throw that rolled into centre field. "How about that," Moustakas said. "I got a 2-0 fastball that I popped up to left, and Raburn tried to make a good play on it and it ended up hitting off his arm or shoulder. "I just saw him drop it. I was headed to second. I saw him try to throw the ball in, and I just started running to third base. When I saw the ball kind of floating in left field and doing what I can to get over to third, and Jirsch (third base coach Mike Jirschele) waved me in." Raburn was miffed about how the play unfolded. "It was a freak play," he said. "I was trying to hold up. I saw our infielders going toward third, and I tried to hold up.dddddddddddd I couldnt and of course the ball rolls halfway to centre field." The Indians tied it in the ninth off Greg Holland, who blew his second save in 28 chances. Holland walked Carlos Santana leading off the inning, and pinch-hitter Chris Dickerson bunted him to second. Yan Gomes two-out single to centre scored Santana. "It was one of those rare occasions when I didnt have command," Holland said. "I threw 12 balls and nine strikes. You never want to walk the leadoff hitter in the ninth inning." After Infantes hit, Kluber got out of the inning when Alex Gordon struck out, and Infante was thrown out trying to steal second. Kluber, who allowed only one unearned run in nine innings, struck out 10 and walked none. "I wish wed had some runs so we could sit back and really enjoy it, because that was special," Indians manager Terry Francona said of Klubers performance. "You can use all the adjectives you want. He had dominating stuff." Royals starter Danny Duffy, who was 1-5 in his previous six starts, gave up two singles -- both to Santana -- in seven scoreless innings. Duffy, who also walked two, was pulled after 108 pitches. Duffy lowered his earned run average to 2.47. He is the only American League pitcher with a losing record with an ERA less than three. Wade Davis, who replaced Duffy, pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the eighth. With one out, he permitted singles to Jose Ramirez and pinch-hitter David Murphy sandwiched around a walk to Jason Kipnis. Davis then got Michael Brantley to ground into an inning-ending double play. NOTES: The Royals sent Jimmy Paredes, who was designated for assignment on July 16, to the Orioles for cash considerations. Paredes appeared in nine games with Kansas City, going 2-for-10. He hit .305 with Triple-A Omaha. ... Indians SS Asdrubal Cabrera wasnt in the lineup for the third consecutive game because of back spasms. ... Royals 1B Eric Hosmer was held out of the lineup for the third time in four games with a right hand bruise. He entered in the ninth inning as a defensive replacement. ... Aoki was the DH for the first time in his career. ... The Indians plan to recall RHP Zach McAllister from Triple-A Columbus, where he is 5-0 with a 2.23 ERA in six starts, and start him Saturday against the Royals. ' ' '