CLEVELAND -- The Indians had little choice but to give up Justin Masterson. Cheap Shoes Websites . The trade doesnt mean theyre going to surrender the season. "We will never raise the white flag," Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. "Thats not an option. Anybody who stands next to me in the dugout knows that will never happen." Protecting themselves in case the 29-year-old Masterson left as a free agent after the season, the Indians traded the right-hander on Wednesday to the St. Louis Cardinals. The trade of Masterson could be followed by other moves by the Indians, who entered Wednesday 6 1-2 games behind first-place Detroit in the AL Central and in a scramble with five other teams for the leagues second wild-card spot. The Indians could also trade shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera before the deadline. Like Masterson, Cabrera is in the final year of his contract and the Indians have shown little interest in re-signing him. Dealing the two-time All-Star could bring a prospect in return. General manager Chris Antonetti said hes exploring deals to improve the team before Thursdays 4 p.m. trade deadline. "Our focus is to continue to try to win as many games as we can," he said. "Were currently in the midst of having conversations to bring players in to impact our team at the major league level. Whether or not that happens over the next 24 hours, there are a lot of factors in play and its hard to handicap that." Masterson began the season as the Indians ace. Hell end it with a different team in a different league after a disappointing four months. "I was surprised," Masterson said. "Its bittersweet. Im sad to leave the fellas and the fight were making here in Cleveland, but Im excited to get to St. Louis and be a part of what they have going there." In exchange for Masterson, who was scheduled to come off the disabled list later this week, the Indians got outfielder James Ramsey. A first-round pick by the Cardinals (No. 23 overall) in 2012, Ramsey has spent this season at Double-A Springfield, where he batted .300 with 13 home runs and 36 RBIs. Antonetti said Ramsey will be moved up to Triple-A Columbus. Masterson went 14-10 last season and then turned down an offer of a contract extension in spring training. "Its an extraordinarily difficult day for us," Antonetti said. "It wasnt an easy decision, but its one that made sense." Masterson is 4-6 with a 5.51 ERA in 19 starts this season and has had a noticeable loss in velocity. In five starts before being placed on the DL with right knee inflammation, he allowed 19 runs and 27 hits in 18 innings. Masterson, who hasnt won since June 8, said the impending free agency didnt affect his performance. "I guess I could try and blame that, but that would be a lie," he said. The Cardinals are in the race for the NL Central crown, a season after going to the World Series. "Im excited," St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said before the Cardinals played the Padres in San Diego. "Ive watched this guy. Yes, the numbers dont quite look the same as what they looked last year, but were talking a year ago. Still, good movement, hes able to attack the strike zone. We can see theres a lot of potential here to help us out." Masterson will join the Cardinals on Friday in St. Louis and is scheduled to start against the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday. "Lets go. Theres no sense waiting around," Matheny said. Masterson was acquired by the Indians at the trading deadline in 2009 in the deal that sent catcher Victor Martinez to Boston. Before Tuesdays series opener against Seattle, Masterson said he wouldnt be surprised if the Indians made any moves before the trade deadline Thursday. Masterson had said he was hoping to stay and help them make a playoff push. Francona was Bostons manager when Masterson was dealt to Cleveland. Masterson went 48-61 with Cleveland. "The hug was a little longer than normal," Francona said. "We may part teams, but my admiration for him isnt parting." Joked Masterson: "Tito keeps trading me away. Whats up with that?" Wholesale Shoes China . The 26-year-old slider from Calgary posted a time of 50.464 seconds, 0.573 seconds back of leader Natalie Geisenberger. The German led the overall World Cup womens standings this season and continued her dominance by putting down a track record time of 49. Cheap Shoes China Free Shipping . Left back Armero opened the scoring in the fifth minute when his deflected shot rolled past Greece goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis. Striker Teofilo Gutierrez poked in Colombias second goal from a deflected corner in the 58th and James Rodriguez capped it off with a low shot in stoppage time after a slick backheel flick from Juan Cuadrado. http://www.shoescheap.net/ . The Montreal Alouettes announced Tuesday that they have acquired the return specialist from Calgary, as well as the Stampeders fifth-round draft pick in the 2014 CFL Canadian Draft.MILWAUKEE - Rickie Weeks hit a two-out RBI single after Jonathan Lucroy moved to third on a balk, Francisco Rodriguez earned his league-leading 15th save and the Milwaukee Brewers snapped a three-game skid with a 5-4 win Saturday over the New York Yankees. Lucroy, Carlos Gomez and Aramis Ramirez each homered off Yankees starter CC Sabathia. Weeks chopper skipped through the hole into left in the seventh off Alfredo Aceves (0-1), who was called for a balk two pitches earlier. Rodriguez allowed two flyouts to the warning track in right in a scoreless ninth. The veteran closer hasnt allowed a run in 19 appearances this season. Zach Duke (3-0) got the win after escaping a seventh-inning jam by getting Carlos Beltran to bounce into a double play. Lucroy and Ramirez hit back-to-back home runs in the third, and Gomez hit a solo shot to the upper deck off Sabathia, who allowed eight hits in 5 1-3 innings. The left-hander allowed at least four runs in a game for the sixth time this year. Still, the Yankees rallied from two-run deficit on Mark Teixieras solo shot in the sixth and pinch-hitter Alfonso Sorianos RBI single off Duke that tied the game at 4 an inning . It put runners on first and second for the power-hitting Beltran. But Duke got him to bounce into the inning-ending, 5-4-3 double play. Weeks then came through for his first RBI of the season. He is the right-handed hitting half of a second-base platoon with Scooter Gennett, but he hasnt played much with Gennett. Weeks helmet flew off his head as he raced toward first on the single and he pointed to the dugout as the crowd showered him with cheers. Cheap Shoes China. It was enough cushion for the Brewers bullpen. Will Smith had two strikeouts in a scoreless eighth. Rodriguez got three flyouts in the ninth, though the outs by Brian Roberts and Kelly Johnson made the hometown fans nervous after sailing close to the wall. Sabathia only wished he was that lucky in his first start at Miller Park since Sept. 28, 2008. With the Brewers after a midseason trade from Cleveland, Sabathia tossed a complete-game victory against the Cubs to clinch the NL wild card. Gomez gave Sabathia a rude welcome back leading off the bottom of the first after sending a 1-1 pitch high over the left-field fence. The ball caromed off the window of a restaurant filled with spectators dining in the third deck. Three runs off Sabathia were unearned because they followed an error. NOTES: Ramirez left the game in the fourth with a strained left hamstring after fielding a bouncer. ... Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said RF Ryan Braun (right oblique strain) feels good. He is eligible to come off the disabled list in time for the start of a three-game series Tuesday against Pittsburgh. "Still not probably there, so we are (hopeful) for Tuesday but Im not sure," Roenicke said. "Maybe there is a little bit of tightness but it is not really bothering him." Braun took full cuts at batting practice Saturday, including a homer to dead centre. ... The Yankees send David Phelps (0-0) to the hill Sunday afternoon against the Brewers Matt Garza (2-3) to wrap up the three-game series. Jeter will be honoured in a pregame ceremony. ' ' '