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OAKLAND, Calif. -- Bartolo Colon never expected to be pitching at age 40, not in the playoffs, and especially not as the Game 1 starter. And not this well a year after being suspended 50 games for a positive testosterone test. The veteran right-hander will get the ball for the Oakland Athletics in the opener of their AL division series against Detroit on Friday night, his first post-season appearance in eight years. "It means so much to me. Im 40 years old and never thought Id be here," Colon said in Spanish. "It is more special, a lot. The first reason is because of the Oakland organization, and I thank them for bringing me here to pitch another time." A year after Colon missed the playoffs for the As while serving the suspension, he won 18 games and is getting another chance on baseballs big stage -- in his first playoff appearance since 2005 with the Angels. "The things hes done this year, we want him to have another four, five starts this year," catcher Derek Norris said. "Everything he gets, he has deserved. A lot of us may have been a little upset about the suspension, but he came in to spring training and he worked hard. It was noted that it was done with, we wanted to move on. He came in, worked his butt off, had one of his best years since his Cy Young year with L.A. and I dont even think any one of us in here even thinks about that stuff anymore. Hes proven to us that he made a mistake, he was sorry and he apologized, and he came back and he earned back his respect throughout baseball and through all of us." Manager Bob Melvin made the announcement before a workout Tuesday at the Coliseum, where the grounds crew worked to prepare the field two days after the NFLs Oakland Raiders played a home game. "Ah, its an easy one, hes been our ace all season," Melvin said of Colon. "We have that veteran presence thats going to lead us off we didnt have last year." It sure has been $3 million well spent by general manager Billy Beane, who gave Colon another chance in 2013. Eight months ago, Colon apologized to his teammates at the start of spring training, put his head down and went back to work. "He felt like he needed to do that, and he got it out of the way early and has been an integral part since," Melvin said. "It really has felt like since hes been here that he hasnt missed a beat and hes been here the whole time. Very disappointing for him to miss the end of last year for the reasons that have been documented, but hes done everything that he can to be the teammate that he is again. It feels like he was never gone." Colon went 18-6 with a 2.65 ERA in 30 starts and 190 1-3 innings. He became an All-Star in his best season since his 21-8 Cy Young Award season of 05. He might have a couple more wins had he not spent a stint on the disabled list with a strained groin. "You could tell how it affected him last year and how he missed out on a chance to be a part of what we did down the stretch," reliever Sean Doolittle said. "To have a veteran presence like that in your rotation, a rotation full of young guys, taking the ball every fifth day and you know hes going to go into the sixth or seventh inning, whenever he pitches, under whatever circumstances, its almost like you know what youre going to get out of him. Hes been a really good stabilizer for us all year long." The Game 2 starter for the AL West champions is rookie Sonny Gray, who will pitch in a ballpark he knows well with the home crowd behind him Saturday night. A.J. Griffin, a 14-game winner, is out with elbow tendinitis that has become worse as he has tried to pitch with the problem. He could be added to the roster for the next round if the As advance. Jarrod Parker will pitch Game 3 in Detroit and Dan Straily goes in a potential Game 4. "They made the decision," Griffin said. "Its a bummer. Hopefully I can bounce back from this in the next week or so and be ready for the next round." Left fielder Yoenis Cespedes said his troublesome right shoulder has improved "not a lot but some," and he joked he will play the outfield "even if I have to throw left-handed." Cespedes didnt play the final two games of the season at Seattle, and could be used as designated hitter if the shoulder isnt ready. "We just want to make sure hes healthy," Melvin said. "At the very least, hell be DH-ing." For Colon, this year will be far from his last as long as he can keep pitching. Then, he will return to New Jersey full-time with his wife and four children. "As long as I can and my body lets me," he said. "One year at a time." Colon notes he has "no idea what Id be doing" if he werent on a pitching mound. And, he doesnt have to be. All of that will come later. "Right now Im not thinking about it," Colon said. "This is my job." 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New signing Yohan Cabaye came on as a second-half substitute and headed Ezequiel Lavezzis cross against the post in the 87th. Moments later, Lucas set up another goal from the right when fellow countryman Alex turned in his corner with a strikers finish. BALTIMORE -- The dismissal of Ray Rice wasnt a distraction for the Baltimore Ravens. Ultimately, it served as inspiration. Playing a pivotal divisional game three days after the release of the star running back, Baltimore got a pair of touchdown passes from Joe Flacco and rolled past the rival Pittsburgh Steelers 26-6 on Thursday night. Rice was reaching the end of a two-game suspension for domestic violence when a video of him striking his then-fiancee surfaced Monday. By the end of the day, the three-time Pro Bowler had been cut by Baltimore and suspended indefinitely by the NFL. "We had a tough family situation this week," coach John Harbaugh said. "I thought our guys handled it tremendously -- with class, with character. They responded." Coming off a season-opening loss to AFC North foe Cincinnati, the Ravens (1-1) held Pittsburgh to two field goals and forced three turnovers. "We was all about getting the win. We wanted to kind of give that to Ray," rookie linebacker C.J. Mosley said. "We all wish the best for him. Even though he messed up, every man got to go through their mistakes to get better. We wish him the best, but as a team weve just got to keep moving forward." Bernard Pierce took over for Rice to gain 96 yards on 22 carries as part of a ground game that finished with 157 yards. Flacco went 21 for 29 for 166 yards and two TD throws to tight end Owen Daniels, and Justin Tucker kicked four field goals. Asked if he was curious how the team would fare after the tumultuous short work week, Baltimore defensive lineman Chris Canty shouted, "We werent curious at all. We knew how this was going to go. This was going to go one way, our way, tonight. No question about it." Pittsburgh (1-1) finished with only 22 fewer yards than Baltimore, but the turnovers made the difference. One Steelers miscue halted their opening drive, another set up a fourth-quarter field goal by Tucker, and an interception thrown by Ben Roethlisberger with 1:51 remaining ended any hope. "Obviously, a disappointing effort for us," coach Mike Tomlin said. "A lot of the self-inflicted wounds are going to preevent you from being in a football game like that.dddddddddddd We turned the ball over too often (and) were highly penalized. Those two things are a lethal combination." It was only the second time in the last 11 regular-season meetings between the teams that the outcome was decided by more than three points. Roethlisberger completed 22 of 37 passes for 217 yards. It was the first time since Nov. 26, 2006, that Baltimore held Pittsburgh without a touchdown. "We moved the ball; we just made a mistake here and there," Roethlisberger said. After Tucker kicked a 23-yard field goal for a 20-6 lead, Steelers tight end Heath Miller fumbled on a hit by Mosley, who took the loose ball to the Pittsburgh 20. That led to a 22-yarder by Tucker with 11:14 left. Although the Rice video and the reaction were the talk of Baltimore for much of the week, a few fans showed their loyalty to the banished running back by wearing his No. 27 jersey. But the crowd of 71,181 was quick to turn its attention to on-field action at the opening kickoff. Aided by a roughing the passer call against Courtney Upshaw on the third play of the game, Pittsburgh held the ball for more than eight minutes before Justin Brown fumbled and Baltimore recovered at its own 15. The Ravens then moved 85 yards in 12 plays with the help of two Pittsburgh penalties, the last a 23-yard pass interference call against Cortez Allen that set up a 2-yard touchdown pass from Flacco to Daniels. Pierce and Justin Forsett combined for 32 yards on Baltimores next series, which ended in a field goal for a 10-0 lead. Pittsburgh finally broke through with 2:50 left in the half, getting a field goal to end an 11-play, 73-yard drive. It was 10-6 before Flacco connected with Daniels on a 1-yard touchdown pass to cap an 80-yard drive highlighted by Flaccos 24-yard completion to tight end Dennis Pitta. Notes: Ravens CB Asa Jackson left with a concussion. ... Pittsburgh WR Antonio Brown left briefly with a head injury but returned. Steelers NT Steve McLendon left with a shoulder injury. ... Ravens P Sam Koch set the franchise record by playing in his 130th consecutive game. ' ' '