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ST. LOUIS -- Mark McGwires first trip to Busch Stadium in a visitors uniform was focused more on his past instead of the homecoming. The Los Angeles Dodgers hitting coach and former Cardinals home run king said Monday that his opinion about the penalties Major League Baseball handed down for performance-enhancing drugs is not as important than those of current players. "You know, it really doesnt matter what I think," McGwire said. "I think what matters is what the players think and from what I hear every day in the clubhouse, theyre just happy its coming to an end." Dodgers pitcher Chris Capuano and first baseman Adrian Gonzalez both said new testing procedures are paying off and making it tougher to cheat. "Players have been vocal for some time now about wanting to clean up the game," Capuano said. "Guys are just I think incredulous given how often were tested, how sophisticated our testing is, that there are guys still trying to get around the system and take stuff and cheat. Guys are angry, guys want these guys punished." McGwire admitted in 2010 that used steroids during his career. That announcement came a few months after the Cardinals hired him as hitting coach. McGwire said it was a "tough question" whether he could be considered a trailblazer for PEDs in baseball and he has told players its not worth it. He hit 70 homers in 1998 to shatter Roger Maris record of 61 in 1961. Though hes 10th on the career list with 583 homers, McGwire believes its highly unlikely hell be voted into the Hall of Fame. A large part of the Baseball Writers of Association has taken a zero tolerance stance and he received just 16.9 per cent of the vote last year. "Unfortunately, I dont believe there will be a day that Ill be in and thats OK," McGwire said. "Thats the way things are, Ive dealt with it, Im OK with it." Wholesale Arizona Cardinals Jerseys . The defence is doing its part, too. Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first half and the guys on the other side made sure that was enough, sending the Saints to a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. Cheap Cardinals Jerseys . -- Al Jefferson found a groove just in time for the Charlotte Bobcats. http://www.cheaparizonacardinalsjerseysauthentic.com/ . Isner, ranked No. 14, won his eighth career singles title and took the title in New Zealand for the second time after his victory in 2010. The match was similar to Isners quarterfinal victory over fifth-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber which went to three sets, all tiebreaks and contained no breaks of serve. Cheap Arizona Cardinals Jerseys China . -- The St. Johns IceCaps weathered a wild first period with the help of goaltender Jussi Olkinuora, before finding offensive inroads in the second. Arizona Cardinals Jerseys China . Numbers Game examines the deal that sees Michael Del Zotto and Kevin Klein switch places. The Predators Get: D Michael Del Zotto. HOUSTON -- Colby Rasmus used his bat and his arm to make a big difference in his return to the lineup Tuesday night.Collin McHugh threw six scoreless innings, Rasmus and Evan Gattis homered and the Houston Astros beat the Oakland Athletics 3-1.Rasmus put Houston up 1-0 with a homer in the second inning in his first at-bat since returning from the 15-day disabled list.Its about as good a feeling as you can have being a baseball player, Rasmus said. I was just glad to be able to get out there and contribute and do some good for the team in a time where we needed a little spark.Rasmus went on the DL on Aug. 5 with a cyst in his right ear. He has a scar behind his upper right ear.We all said welcome back to him, Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. That was a nice way to get back on the active club. Thats exactly why you want him in the lineup.In the second, Oakland put runners on the corners with one out, but Rasmus caught Max Muncys flyout and threw home in time to get Ryon Healy and end the inning.That was a really big hit tonight for the team, but also for him to be able jump back in and pick up right where he left off was huge, McHugh said. Hats off to him. Then he made that great play in the field. I think he made that either right before or right after that, so that was in my opinion, the play of the game. It was his game.Gattis hit a solo homer in the seventh to make it 3-0.McHugh (9-10) allowed four hits and struck out five. He had allowed at least three runs in each of his previous six starts.It feels good to have a good outing to help the team, McHugh said. Especially in a game where their guy was throwing good, too. It was a tight game. Our guys put us on the board early, and to be able to hold steady was huge.Houston remained two games behind Baltimore for the second AL wild card.Alex Bregman had an RBI single in the third for Houston.Will Harris threw a perfect seventh, and Luke Gregerson allowed an unearned run in the eighth before Ken Giles pitched the ninth foor his sixth save.ddddddddddddMarcus Semien cut the lead to 3-1 with an RBI groundout to short in the eighth.Kendall Graveman (10-9) allowed three runs and four hits in seven innings. Graveman had allowed one run in his previous two starts.He was great, Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. Up until the second home run, they hit three balls hard the whole game off of him. We just didnt do enough offensively to give him support. Well take that stuff every night.AS DEAL CRISPOakland is nearing a deal to trade outfielder Coco Crisp to the Cleveland Indians, according to a person familiar with the trade. The exchange has been agreed to by both teams, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade has to be approved by Major League Baseball.The trade would have to be official by Wednesday for Crisp to be eligible for the postseason.The 36-year-old Crisp is batting .234 with 11 homers and 47 RBI in 102 games this season.FRONT OFFICE PROMOTIONSThe Astros promoted Mike Elias to assistant general manager, scouting and player development. Elias had been the director of amateur scouting. In addition to Elias promotion, the Astros promoted Pete Putila to director of player development and Armando Velasco to assistant director of player development.TRAINING ROOMAthletics: LHP Sean Manaea (left rhomboid strain) will likely miss his next start, Melvin said.Astros: The Astros optioned RHP Brad Peacock to Triple-A Fresno to make room on the roster for Rasmus.UP NEXTAthletics: LHP Ross Detwiler (1-3, 5.74) takes the mound Wednesday in the finale of the three-game series. Detwiler has allowed 14 runs in his last three starts, covering 14 innings.Astros: RHP Mike Fiers (9-6, 4.40) makes his 25th start of the season Wednesday. Fiers pitched into the seventh in his last outing Friday against Tampa Bay, allowing three runs. ' ' '