Michael van Gerwen says the ever-improving standard of darts is part of the reason for his world record average in Aberdeen last week. The Dutchman was at his blistering best to set a new highest benchmark of 123.4 in a 7-1 victory over a shell-shocked Michael Smith.The plaudits have been flying in for Van Gerwen with Sky Sports expert Wayne Mardle saying he is now setting the benchmark with his averages and title victories - the world No 1 has won three of the six UK Open qualifiers as well as defending his Masters and Dutch Masters titles already this year. Mardle marvels at MVG Wayne Mardle on MVGs record breaking night The nights average in Aberdeen was 103 and while delighted with his own mark, it is the bar being raised across the board driving him on to great heights.It was just one of them things! I got two points and a good performance of course but I need to show it again this week, van Gerwen told Sky Sports. Sky Live: Premier League We preview Thursday nights action in Exeter I cant afford any mistakes. I hope I can bring the good performance from last week through to this week. I try to put on a new level but everyone is playing on a different level now. Everyone is playing better so I have to try my best every game.The standard is getting higher and higher and you need to make sure you prepare for that and you cant make any mistakes against anyone. Van Gerwen was quick to point out he wants to be able to better his mark, joking that he would be forced to bow out at an unprecedented level had he pinned a double 18 for an average of 136: But then I would never have a chance to break my record again.Then that would be the end of the road for me! Of course you want to have the highest performance, but 123 was still a fantastic performance and I was happy with that.Up next for the world No 1 is top-of-the-table Peter Wright, but MVG admits Snakebite hasnt been at his best despite an unbeaten opening four weeks. Mystic Mardle Wayne reveals his predictions for Exeters matches He is unbeaten but he is not playing really well to be fair, van Gerwen added.He got away in two of his games, against Raymond [van Barneveld, won 7-5] and against Robert Thornton [drew 6-6] last week. Raymond should have definitely beaten him and Robert had a chance to beat him - his confidence must be high but I just need to do one thing and that is play very well.Van Gerwen has recovered well from losing his opening match to James Wade in Leeds and while he is targeting top spot, it is about being in the play-offs and final at the end of the regular league format. van Gerwen reflects on his amazing performance in Aberdeen A win takes me back where I belong! There is an extra prize to be top of the table and I have been top of the table in the last three years and I hope I can make it four in a row, the 2014 world champion added.My first game in the Premier League was a disaster, I lost two points and just gave it away but after that I have picked it up really well.It doesnt matter in the early weeks, you cant win all the games, no one has ever done that and I dont think anyone ever will. The most important things is to hold the trophy in the air in May. Doesnt matter how you win, just as long as you win. Get a Sky Sports Pass Dont miss the Darts! Watch live on NOW TV for £6.99. No contract. Also See: Mardles PL predictions Sky Live: PL night five Rod recalls greatest match WATCH: Taylor-Lewis classic Cheap Air Max Sale . Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC failed to make the postseason while Montreal Impact fell at the first hurdle losing heavily to Houston Dynamo in the Eastern Conference Knockout Round. Wholesale Air Max Shoes . The Swede became the first golfer to win the PGA Tours FedEx Cup and European Tours Race to Dubai in the same season. "It is still taking a little time to sink in what Ive achieved this week as was the case when I won the FedEx Cup but then it just kept getting better and better as the days went on and I am sure this will be the same," he said. http://www.airmaxoutletsale.us/ .Y. - New Orleans forward Anthony Davis was chosen Friday to replace the injured Kobe Bryant in the NBA All-Star game that will be played in his home city. Cheap Air Max 2017 .R. Smith realized how easily basketball can be taken from him, and he wasnt going to take his place in the NBA for granted anymore. Air Max Outlet Online . The judges scored it 48-47, 48-47, 49-46 for Jones (19-1). It was the champions closest call. Despite the loss, it was a remarkable show by the confident Swedish challenger, who had the best of the early rounds and then hung on in the fourth and fifth.ANAHEIM, Calif. - The Texas Rangers realize theyll have to be resourceful on offence to make the post-season without suspended slugger Nelson Cruz. When they scored eight runs without an extra-base hit Tuesday night, manager Ron Washington was thrilled — but not at all surprised. "Whats the difference between small-ball and winning baseball?" he asked. "Aggression is always going to be our game." Adrian Beltre drove in the tiebreaking run in the eighth, Yu Darvish pitched seven solid innings, and the Rangers beat the Los Angeles Angels 8-3 for their eighth win in nine games. Elvis Andrus had three hits and scored the go-ahead run as the Rangers won their third straight and moved within one game of AL West-leading Oakland, which lost at Cincinnati. The Rangers broke open a tight game with Beltres single against Kevin Jepsen (1-3), and they poured it on with a symphony of small-ball brilliance with a four-run ninth. Texas pounded out 12 singles, stole six bases, capitalized on errors and wild pitches, and got a crafty effort from Darvish (11-5) without his best stuff. To Washington, thats Rangers baseball in its purest form. "It was quite exciting to be able to go out there and play the game we love to play," Washington said. "It was a night when it all came together, but its always been an emphasis. I call that winning baseball." Texas batted around in the ninth against Los Angeles hapless bullpen — with help from two more stolen bases. Craig Gentry scored all the way from second base when Calhoun botched a grounder at first, and Andrus singled home Leonys Martin — who had just stolen second even as the Angels pitched out — before Beltre added another RBI single. "We have to create opportunities for ourselves," Andrus said. "We have to put balance in our offence. We lost a power guy (in Cruz), but we know we can create opportunities and score runs. You dont always win games hitting homers." Darvish allowed eight hits in his least effective start since returning from the disabled list late last month, but the majors strikeouts leader still escaped a seventh-inning jam and got the win. Darvish added six more strikeouts to his total, but also walked three after allowing multiple homers in the same inning for the first time in his major league career. The Japanese right-hander had allowed just one earned run in his previous three starts combined. Tanner Scheppers pitched two scoreless innings for his first save of the season. Kole Calhoun and Mike Trout led off the first inning with back-to-back homers for the Angels, who have lost nine of 12. Los Angeles held a closed-doors team meeting after the Rangers schooled them in practically every fine aspect of the game — particularly with those season-worst six stolen bases allowed, which manager Mike Scioscia blamed on the Angels pitchers, not catcher Chris Iannetta.dddddddddddd "This is about the inability of some of our pitchers to make some adjustments they need to make," Scioscia said. "And the reality of it is, if this is going to become an instructional league, we have to make some changes, because guys up here should be able to do a better job." Grant Green had his first two major league hits in his debut for the Angels, who have lost nine of 11 meetings with the division rival Rangers this season. Los Angeles has struggled against aggressive baserunning teams all season, but the Rangers turned it up another notch. "Weve got to do a better job of shutting down the running game as a team," Iannetta said. "Thats our focus. They picked their spots really well." Calhoun and Trout delivered two-out singles against Darvish in the seventh, but Josh Hamilton flied to centre on Darvishs 113th pitch. Hamilton went 0 for 4 against his former Texas teammates, dropping his average below .220 and making him 2 for 21 on the Angels homestand. The $125 million outfielder is batting .167 (15 for 90) with runners in scoring position in his first season with Los Angeles. Garrett Richards allowed six hits and three runs in a decent six-inning start for the Angels, striking out five. After the Rangers stole two bases and took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on Richards second wild pitch of the inning, Calhoun and Trout quickly evened it with just the second back-to-back leadoff homers in Angels franchise history. Calhouns homer was the rookies third in a week, while Trout reached base in his 37th consecutive game with his 19th homer. Green got his first major league hit in his first plate appearance for the Angels, who acquired the Anaheim native from Oakland last week in a trade for Alberto Callaspo. With Howie Kendrick sidelined at least until the weekend with a sprained left knee, Green came up from the minors and immediately started at second base. NOTES: Engel Beltre moved over to right field after David Murphy misplayed two balls at the position Monday night in the Rangers first game without Cruz. ... The Angels hit back-to-back homers for just the second time all year. Albert Pujols and Hamilton did it July 10. ... Trout is the first player to hit three career homers off Darvish. ... Green went 0 for 15 in his first major league experience with Oakland last month. ' ' '