WASHINGTON -- Sure, the Washington Nationals would love to lock up home-field advantage in the NL Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. What Dusty Baker is more concerned about is getting ready for the playoffs, and that includes having pitcher Joe Ross ready to go, whether thats as a starter or reliever.Working his way back from the disabled list, Ross stretched himself out to 90 pitches, although that only carried him through four innings on a dreary Thursday in a near-empty stadium, and the NL East champion Nationals beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-3, helped by Wilmer Difos first major league homer and Pedro Severinos second.If it was up to me, I would have kept pitching. Same with last game, I would have kept going, said Ross, who allowed one run and three hits in his third appearance since coming off the DL. But obviously we have to make a steady progression to build me up for the playoffs, hopefully. So I guess thats where were at. I just prolonged each at-bat more than I would have liked, which led to the early exit.His manager, Baker, sounded a more positive note.Ross was good, Baker said. Very good.Its not yet clear what role Ross will have in the postseason. He could start Game 3 or Game 4 against the Dodgers. Or he could be used only in relief. Baker mentioned the possibility that the righty could be needed in long relief in Game 1 or Game 2 against the NL West champions.Were just kind of playing it by ear, Baker said.Ross said pitching in Thursdays occasional rain didnt make things easy. Nor did the games opening at-bat, in which he was forced to throw 12 pitches before eventually walking Jean Segura.With a long layoff until the Oct. 7 series opener against LA, Ross will throw bullpen sessions and wait to find out his what his job will be.Im hoping I get the opportunity to start, Ross said, but thats up to (the Nationals), obviously.Second baseman Difo and catcher Severino, both rookies, were in the lineup Thursday instead of Daniel Murphy (last started 12 days ago) and Wilson Ramos (out for the season), respectively.Last in the NL West, Arizona has nothing at stake the rest of the way. The Nationals, meanwhile, cut their magic number for earning the higher seeding against Los Angeles to two.Reliever Reynaldo Lopez (5-3) was credited with the win. He pitched 3 2/3 innings, letting up Socrates Britos two-run homer in the ninth before being lifted.Mark Melancon got the last two outs for his 45th save.Robbie Ray (8-15) allowed five runs in 4 2/3 innings, including solo shots by Severino in the third and Difo in the fifth, along with Michael A. Taylors two-run single in the fourth.TRAINERS ROOMDiamondbacks: Segura left in the seventh because of cramps. ... RF Yasmany Tomas was a late scratch from the starting lineup because of a stiff neck he got from sleeping awkwardly on a hotel pillow.Nationals: 2B Murphy (glute muscle) and RF Bryce Harper (left thumb) sat out again. Manager Dusty Baker said he expects to get Murphy back in the starting lineup for Game 1 of the NLDS. Murphy last began a game on Sept. 17. Harper, meanwhile, was out of the lineup for a fourth consecutive day, but mainly as a precaution.UP NEXTDiamondbacks: Open a three-game series against visiting San Diego. The Diamondbacks and Padres are two of the four worst teams in the NL.Nationals: Their final regular-season series begins Friday against visiting Miami. RHP A.J. Cole (1-2, 5.09) is slated to pitch for Washington, but he is waiting to hear the outcome of his appeal of a five-game suspension for throwing at a batter. John Gant . -- Nathan Pancel scored twice as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Dakota Hudson .J. -- Marshawn Lynch said Thursday it will be good to get back to football after the Seattle quiet talking running back wrapped up his final mandatory media session of Super Bowl week. http://www.custommlbcardinalsjersey.com/custom-kolten-wong-jersey-large-1271q.html . Despite dominating possession, Schalke needed an own goal from Nicolas Hoefler for the breakthrough a minute before the interval. The Freiburg midfielder misjudged Jefferson Farfans corner and bundled the ball into his own net. Jose Martinez . -- Ohio States Urban Meyer has never had any issue acclimating to the biggest stages in college football. Dexter Fowler . Goals from Jerome Boateng, Franck Ribery and Thomas Mueller extended Bayerns unbeaten run to a record 37 matches. "This record is incredible," Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said. HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- If Elliott Sadler needs any additional motivation on Saturday as he vies for the Xfinity Series title, he can just think about his mother watching him race.Bell Sadler is attending the race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and that is no small feat.Having battled gallbladder and septic problems the past few months, Bell Sadler wanted to watch her son compete for the Xfinity title. With one of Sadlers best friends being her doctor, she got permission to come with doctor in tow to see her son battle Justin Allgaier, Daniel Suarez and Erik Jones for the championship.She has been [out of] the hospital for a couple weeks, Sadler said. Shes gotten her energy back up, her strength back up.?She was fired up this week. She wanted me to stay focused and make sure I had my head on straight when I came to Miami.She came by to visit me [Wednesday] night to send me off on my way before I came down. Shes back to her old ways.?She wants her son to be focused.This isnt the first time Sadlers mom has battled health issues. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007.Her mental toughness through breast cancer, being a survivor, going through what weve been through the last couple weeks, its pretty inspirational for me, Sadler said. I need to have that same type of mental toughness in the race car. Im definitely drawing strength from her.Sadlers mom also plaayed a pivotal role in helping him through the complications after the birth of his son, Wyatt, in 2010.dddddddddddd Wyatt spent 10 weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit after two surgeries in his first two weeks of his life for issues with his appendix and intestines.The worst thing in the world is being a dad, not knowing if your son is going to live or not, Sadler said. To watch him go through everything he did -- incubated, shots, IVs -- it was a tough time.I definitely leaned on my mom a lot during that time, just because she had been a parent; she understands what its like to see your kids go through tough times. I leaned on her a lot.That experience continues to fuel Sadler.To watch [Wyatt] fight for his life, not knowing if he was going to make it, just changed my whole perception, Sadler said. It just built a fire in me not to be a failure. I want him to look up to me. I really looked at it, if I can see my son fight for his life the way he did, I sure as hell can fight to be a driver, a race car driver, to be a champion.His power to want to live and to still be here with us has given me a lot of drive as a person and as a driver. Thats why I think I still eat, sleep, drink racing so much. Ive kind of fed off him. ' ' '