nd American League pitcher in the past century to collect at least 30 strikeouts without issuing a walk in a three-game span, after the Tampa Bay Rays Chris Archer first accomplished the feat last year. Shoemaker, 29, accumulated 49 strikeouts without issuing a walk to tie Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez

PITTSBURGH -- The comeback James Conner never doubted, not once, officially ended with an unremarkable 1-yard loss.And while the Pittsburgh running back picked himself up and quietly headed back to the huddle early in the first quarter against Villanova on Saturday, thousands inside Heinz Field rose to their feet for a standing ovation that had nothing to do with football and everything to do with perseverance.There will be plenty of time for Conner to nitpick his performance in Pitts 28-7 season-opening win. Just not Saturday. Conners well aware of the significance of his familiar No. 24 jersey sprinting onto the field for the first time in 364 days, a layoff that began with a knee injury last September against Youngstown State then became something far more harrowing when he was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma around Thanksgiving.The road back included months of chemotherapy treatment, sessions that left him drained but undaunted. He soldiered through spring practice wearing a mask during drills to protect his depleted immune system, all the while hoping his example would resonate with those facing similar battles. Its a role he never envisioned having to fill, but one hes willingly embraced.Its why the stands were filled with family members, the medical staff that helped restore him to health and hundreds of friends from back home in Erie, Pennsylvania. Conners two-touchdown performance was as much a testament to their support as it was his resolve. At the same time hes only too happy to put this chapter -- the first chapter anyway -- behind him and get back to football and not the disease that temporarily brought the 2014 ACC Player of the Years blossoming career to a halt.Its not my first game, Conner said. I know its a comeback game but its felt like a regular season football camp really. My battle was already won, beating cancer. Everything else was a reward.There was rust to be sure. There were also signs that hes going to be just fine. The proof came in the second quarter when Conner took a handoff and raced around the left end, stiff-arming a Villanova defender before crossing the goal line to give the Panthers the lead while the teammates who elected him as one of Pitts three captains raced to congratulate him.That first touchdown couldnt be any better, stiff-arm into the end zone right into the student section, quarterback Nate Peterman said. It was an emotional moment.Conner was at it again just before the half, hauling in a 9-yard score by making a difficult grab in traffic over the middle. He finished with 53 yards on 17 carries and added three receptions for 16 yards as Pitt avoided an embarrassing slip-up a week before a highly anticipated showdown with Penn State.Im sure as we watch the tape were going to have a lot of corrections for him, coach Pat Narduzzi said. Mainly that hes looking for a touchdown every play instead of hitting it up there for three or four yards and be happy with it. Its been a long time since he stepped on the field in a game situation. He made plays when he needed to.Quadree Henderson returned the second-half kickoff 96 yards for a score to break things open. Peterman completed 19 of 32 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns, including a pretty 16-yard lob to Jester Weah with six minutes to go. Still, the Panthers managed just 211 total yards.The Wildcats controlled play for portions of the first half, but three straight drives into Pitt territory failed to produce any points, giving the Panthers time to get going. Rob Rolle returned a Peterman fumble 3 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter for Villanovas only score.THE TAKEAWAYVillanova: Coach Andy Tally said entering his 32nd and final season the Wildcats will have to rely heavily on their defense. Theres reason for optimism as Villanova stayed within striking distance, keeping Pitts running game in check for the most part and preventing big plays.Pitt: The Panthers will need the passing game to develop quickly if they want to make noise in the crowded ACC Coastal Division. Villanova stacked the line of scrimmage and dared Peterman to throw it, which he did with only middling success.UP NEXTVillanova: Host Lehigh in their home opener.Pitt: Resumes its rivalry with Penn State after a 15-year hiatus when the Nittany Lions visit Heinz Field.---AP College Football site: www.collegefootball.ap.orgAir Max 97 Have a Nike Day For Sale . Most important, perhaps, it went off without a hitch. Organizers poked a little fun at the now-infamous opening ceremony gaffe that saw only four out of five snowflakes open up into rings, leaving the Olympics logo one ring short. 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"I didnt need to be anybody else, I just needed to be myself and be aggressive," said Burks, who scored a career-high 34 points to spark the Utah Jazz to a 118-103 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday night.ANAHEIM, Calif. -- A pitcher enjoying one of his best seasons will face another experiencing perhaps his most frustrating one when the Seattle Mariners and the Los Angeles Angels conclude their four-game series Thursday night at Angel Stadium.Seattle right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma (14-7, 3.84 ERA) needs one more victory to tie his career high, which he established in 2014. Los Angeles right-hander Matt Shoemaker (6-13, 4.22 ERA) already has a career-high loss total despite dramatic, sustained improvement since the seasons first five weeks.The Mariners will be looking to win a series that has begun with three consecutive one-game games. Seattle posted a 3-2 win Monday, fell 7-6 Tuesday, then held on for a 4-3 victory Wednesday.Iwakuma, a veteran of 11 seasons in Japan, leads the Mariners in wins as well as with 150 innings pitched and 113 strikeouts.He enters Thursday nights game having won his past three starts and eight of his past nine. During that stretch, which covers 55 innings, Iwaukuma has compiled a 2.78 ERA while collecting 41 strikeouts and issuing only 10 walks.However, one day before his last start, Saturday against the Oakland Athletics, Iwakuma awoke with neck spasms that forced him to get immediate treatment, which cost him his preparation routine.Until noon, Seattle manager Scott Servais told the Seattle Times on Saturday, we didnt even know if hed make the start.Iwakuma allowed three runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings, yet the Mariners earned a 4-3 victory.This morning I spoke with the skipper to tell him I was OK to go today, but as the game progressed, I started to feel stiffness, Iwakuma said. My body was starting to fly open. I wasnt as high as I wanted it to be. I kindd of felt that throughout the third, fourth, fifth inning, but I was able to get out of jams.dddddddddddd.Iwakumas neck improved Sunday to the point where he resumed his post-start throwing routine.Shoemaker, the runner-up to the Chicago White Soxs Jose Abreu for American League Rookie of the Year in 2014, began the season 1-5 with a 9.12 ERA. Since May 16, though, Shoemaker has amassed 109 strikeouts in 114 innings while conceding just 16 walks and compiling a 3.16 ERA.In the process, Shoemaker also became the second American League pitcher in the past century to collect at least 30 strikeouts without issuing a walk in a three-game span, after the Tampa Bay Rays Chris Archer first accomplished the feat last year. Shoemaker, 29, accumulated 49 strikeouts without issuing a walk to tie Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez for the third-longest such stretch in major league history.Yet Shoemaker has lost four of his past five starts. Against the Indians on Saturday night, Shoemaker gave up five runs on 12 hits in six innings as the Angels took their ninth successive defeat. Three of Clevelands runs came in the opening inning.Except for the first inning, he did a good job, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. He had good fastball command and he finished strong.Nevertheless, Shoemaker is confronting an opponent not found in any batting order: frustration.You could argue its very high, he told the Los Angeles Times. But Im going out every game fighting for this team. As Ive said a lot, Im trying to go out and put up zeros. If we put up a lot of zeros, we are going to win games. ' ' '