Panthers outgained the Chiefs 342 to 256

(Sports Network) - Nobody was happier to see the calendar turn to August more than Toronto right-hander Josh Johnson. On Thursday, Johnson tries to put a miserable month of July behind him when the Blue Jays begin a four-game set with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium. Johnson hasnt been particularly effective in any month this season, but July was especially brutal for the one-time Cy Young Award candidate. He lost all five starts in July and pitched to a 7.71 ERA in doing so. "Hes scuffling. Thats an understatement," said Blue Jays manager John Gibbons. "Hes feeling it. Hes human. You feel for the guy. He hasnt struggled a whole lot in his career. Hes trying to settle in, hes trying to contribute, (but) it hasnt gone well for him." Johnsons most recent loss came to hapless Houston on Saturday, as he was ripped for seven runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings, dropping him to 1-7 on the year to go along with a 6.08 ERA. "This game will definitely test you," Johnson said. "(My confidence is) not real high, but you have to stay positive. (Youve) got to find a way to stay positive ... find a way to get through it and be better because of it." Johnson has never faced the Angels, but is 0-4 with a 7.66 ERA in five starts away from home this season. Toronto enters this series playing well, despite the fact that it still sits in last place of the American League East, 14 games behind the division- leading Boston Red Sox. The Blue Jays won for the fifth time in seven tries on Wednesday, as Jose Bautistas RBI double in the top of the 10th inning helped them beat the Oakland Athletics, 5-2. "I thought we played a good game," Gibbons said. Los Angeles, meanwhile, is certainly happy to be heading home after suffering three straight walk-off losses to the Texas Rangers. It was the first time that the team dropped three consecutive games in that fashion. In fact, the last team to get swept in a three-game series on three walk-off homers was the Montreal Expos -- now the Washington Nationals -- from May 10-12, 1999, against the Arizona Diamondbacks. "Obviously this last week has been rough for some guys in the pen, but were going to keep going," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. "Things will get better as we move forward. Some guys who have been pitching a lot need to recharge a bit." Getting the call for the Angels on Thursday will be righty Garrett Richards, who is 2-4 with a 4.33 ERA. Richards did not get a decision on Saturday in Oakland, but pitched well, scattering three hits over five scoreless innings in his teams 3-1 loss. The Blue Jays and Angels split their eight meetings last season. Cheap Phillies Jerseys Wholesale Custom Phillies Shirts . PAUL, Minn. http://www.customphilliesjersey.com/ .C. at the helm of the top team in the Eastern Conference. His tenure as the GM in Vancouver was all too brief. Though he led the Canucks to what was then a franchise record-shattering campaign in just his second season, Nonis was gone and replaced one year later. Custom Richie Ashburn Jersey . The Hall of Fame defenceman told Landsberg that he believes fighting still has a place in todays game, but thinks staged fighting needs be outlawed. Custom Phillies Jersey China . -- The Missouri Tigers might not have a roster full of superstars. CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Carolina Panthers talked throughout the offseason about avoiding a Super Bowl hangover.It might be time to get the aspirin.The Panthers suffered a colossal meltdown on Sunday, blowing a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter and losing 20-17 to the Kansas City Chiefs.It was a game that the defending NFC champion Panthers (3-6) likely would have closed out a year ago. But now they are in danger of joining a long list of teams with lackluster results the year after losing in the Super Bowl.The last time a Super Bowl losing team returned to the championship game was the 1993 Buffalo Bills. Carolina had won two in a row coming into the weekend, but that momentum is gone now.We had the game pretty much won and we obviously made some critical errors there, tight end Greg Olsen said.Kelvin Benjamins fumble at the Carolina 34-yard line with 20 seconds left was the biggest error. The miscue set up Cairo Santoss winning field goal as time expired.You cant even describe it, Benjamin said. Its tough. Its a tough loss.But Olsen said Benjamins fumble isnt what cost the Panthers the game.There were several other mistakes:-The Panthers wasted a 20-play drive in the third quarter when Cam Newton took a pair of sacks , moving Carolina out of field-goal range and prevent the team from possibly making it a three-possession game.-On the next possession, Newton threw a ball up for grabs while being pressured, resulting in an easy interception for Eric Berry, who returned it 42 yards for a touchdown. Newton said he was trying to give my guy an opportunity, but there were three Chiefs defenders in the area.dddddddddddd-And then there were the next two drives that resulted in just two first downs and two punts.We have to find ways as an offense to muster more points, Newton said.Said Olsen: You cant be up 17-3 at the half and have the ball for it felt like the whole quarter and have the ball at the 20 and not even attempt a field goal. Thats why we lost the game -- things like that.Carolina outplayed Kansas City for the better part of three quarters.The Panthers outgained the Chiefs 342 to 256. They held the ball for 11 minutes longer. Their defense didnt allow a touchdown and limited Alex Smith to 178 yards passing.But it didnt matter.Its a matter of protecting the ball late in the game, Panthers coach Ron Rivera said of the teams two fourth-quarter turnovers. You cant do that. If you do that you dont give yourselves a chance to win.In the locker room after the game, the Panthers tried to take solace in the fact that division foes Atlanta and New Orleans both lost on Sunday. But the Panthers are still three games behind the Falcons and two behind the Saints and Buccaneers with seven games left.We have put our backs completely and utterly up against the wall now, Rivera said. There is no room for error.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '