CHASKA, Minn. -- He has never experienced defeat at the Ryder Cup and has been a key contributor in his three appearances, so Rory McIlroy might not have the same chip on his shoulder that has typically been part of the European mantra.For so much of Ryder Cup history, Great Britain and Ireland, and later Europe, used what it perceived as second-class status to the mighty Americans as incentive -- a tactic seemingly unnecessary when youve captured three in a row, and eight of the last 10.But, of course, there are other ways.I dont think its hard for us to find motivation, because anywhere you look, whether it be the sea of red you see on the golf course or the comments that are made in the media by the U.S. team or by the captain, that gives us so much motivation already, McIlroy said Tuesday at Hazeltine National, site of this weeks Ryder Cup.Whenever we are going up against one of the greatest teams ever assembled, thats motivation enough, just to say how good a victory this would be if we got out and beat these guys on their home soil.McIlroy was taking a not-so-subtle jab at U.S. captain Davis Love III, who last week said in a radio interview that this U.S. team was the best maybe ever assembled, although Love said his comments were made in a broader sense and have been taken out of context.What I was saying was, This is what Id tell them: You guys are really good. Go out there and play like it, Love said.Certainly the U.S. needs to give Europe no extra fodder, especially the captain. Johnny Miller, the two-time major champion and TV analyst, didnt help when he suggested the European team is its worst in years.But judging by McIlroys take as well as that of Sergio Garcia, their European teammates will use it to gain any advantage they can.They are motivating factors, said Garcia, who is playing in his eighth Ryder Cup and has been on just two losing sides. You know what they say, opinions are like ... we all have one. At the end of the day, you dont win Ryder Cups with your mouth. You win them out there on the golf course.When first told of Loves comments last week at the Tour Championship, McIlroy quipped that he knows the U.S. has the best task force ever assembled, a reference to the often-chided U.S. Ryder Cup Task Force that was formed in the wake of the 16? to 11? defeat at Gleneagles two years ago.Yeah, obviously Ive followed everything and Ive had a bit of fun with it, with the task force, greatest team ever assembled, whatever else they are talking about, McIlroy said. But its going to be tough this week. Every Ryder Cup is.Even though Europe has had so much success, its always been [tough]. Maybe apart from the last time at Gleneagles, but the other two -- we shouldnt have won in 2012, we shouldnt have. It was a sort of steal and grab and go away. It was unbelievable how that worked out.And even at Celtic Manor in 2010, we only won one session, but it was that session where all 12 players were on the golf course [due to weather delays] and we won that session 5? to ?. So the Ryder Cup has probably been a lot tighter than people realize. Im sure its going to be that way again this year. Its going to be tough.McIlroy takes a good bit of confidence into the Ryder Cup after his playoff victory on Sunday at the Tour Championship, where he also captured the PGA Tours FedEx Cup.After a season that was mostly disappointing (he did win earlier on the European Tour at the Irish Open), McIlroy won twice during the FedEx Cup playoffs and capped it with a birdie putt on the fourth-extra hole to beat Ryan Moore -- who Love selected Sunday night as his final at-large pick for Team USA.Personally for me, its all about Im confident in my game, said McIlroy, who is 6-4-4 in his three Ryder Cups. Im confident coming here, and I feel like Im playing pretty well. I dont know how much bearing it will have on the team as a whole. Im very excited to get going again and play, just happy with where my game is. Joe Klecko Jersey . LOUIS -- Theres no telling how these wacky World Series games will end. Trevon Wesco Jets Jersey .com) - The Pittsburgh Penguins placed forward James Neal on injured reserve Tuesday. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Keyshawn-Johnson-Jersey/ . The Cincinnati Reds remain perfect with their speedy rookie outfielder in the starting lineup. Robby Anderson Womens Jersey . Barcelona also left injured defenders Carles Puyol, Javier Mascherano and Jordi Alba out of its squad for the trip to Glasgow. That means that Marc Bartra will probably start again in the centre of the defence alongside Gerard Pique. C.J. Mosley Youth Jersey . You can watch the game live on TSN at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. The Flyers had won seven of eight before dropping their last two outings on consecutive days over the weekend. Philadelphia was handed a 6-3 loss by the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday afternoon before dropping a 4-1 decision to the Rangers the following night in New York City. SEATTLE -- Mike Zunino picked a perfect time to snap out of his slump.Zunino delivered the go-ahead home run in the seventh inning and Seattle held on for a 3-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Thursday night, keeping the Mariners on the edge of the AL wild-card chase.Its nice to be in that spot and its nice to come through, said Zunino, whose last home run was Sept. 11. Its nice when you go through struggles and work through it and get that opportunity and they go in your favor.Seattle is two games behind Baltimore and Toronto with three games to play. The Orioles defeated the Blue Jays 4-0 to pull even atop the wild-card race. Detroit, which was rained out against Cleveland, is a half-game ahead of the Mariners.We can only control what we do here, Mariners manager Scott Servais said. We need help. We know that. I think everybody thought the way Toronto was playing, theyd probably win two out of three at home. Didnt happen. The way we look at it, were still alive. Weve got to win tomorrows game and again, pray for a little help.Zunino, hitting .139 over his last 25 games, opened the seventh with his 12th home run, sending a 2-2 pitch from Liam Hendriks (0-4) deep over the wall in left.Seattle added a run in the eighth on a two-out single by Leonys Martin, a walk to Zunino and Ketel Martes RBI single.Steve Cishek (4-6) came on to stifle an Oakland threat in the seventh with an inning-ending double play and added a perfect eighth. Rookie Edwin Diaz notched his 18th save, despite allowing a run and three hits in the ninth.I need to control emotions, try to make pitches and try to help the team win, to give us a chance to make the playoffs said Diaz, who had blown two of his three previous save opportunities. We are so close right now.The Mariners took a 1-0 lead in the fourth on three consecutive singles before running themselves out of the inning. Kyle Seager reached on an infield single when Kendall Graveman couldnt find the handlle on his two-out dribbler along the first-base line.dddddddddddd Adam Lind followed with a single to center. Martin singled through the right side, scoring Seager from second. Martin continued for second, but was caught in a rundown. Lind was thrown out at home trying to score on the play.Chad Pinder brought Oakland even in the sixth with his first career home run, a leadoff shot to left for the only run off starter Ariel Miranda.Oakland had runners on first and third with one out in the seventh, but failed to score. Danny Valencia singled to open, but was forced at second on Brett Eibners fielders choice groundout to short. Yonder Alonso then singled Eibner to third. Cishek relieved and enticed pinch-hitter Max Muncy into an ending double play grounder.It came down to situational at-bats, Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. We had runners at third with less than two outs, then we hit into a double play and two strikeouts . Our situational at-bats hurt us tonight.GOOD MONTH FOR MIRANDAAlthough he did not get the decision, Miranda allowed just one run on four hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out six. Miranda, acquired from Baltimore on July 31 in exchange for LHP Wade Miley, is 4-1 with a 2.62 ERA in six September starts. Over his last four starts, Miranda has held opposing batters hitless in eight consecutive at-bats with runners in scoring position.UP NEXT:As: RHP Ra