Dein erstes Forum » last year.We learnt a lot going up

CHICAGO -- David Ross got fired up when Cubs manager Joe Maddon walked to the mound with two out in the seventh inning, ready to argue for Jon Lester to stay in the game.Maddon and Lester had a different plan.Joe looked at him and said `Have you ever been a part of where the catcher gets taken out of the game before the pitcher? Lester said, describing the scene with a big grin. You can just see him, its like the kid at the candy store when you tell him he can pick out whatever he wants.It was just like the disbelief in his face and slams his mask back over his face and all he can say is `I love you guys. I love you guys. I love you guys.Ross then walked off to another standing ovation from a raucous crowd of 40,859 at Wrigley Field, part of a heartwarming Sunday night for the backup catcher in his last season. He also hit his 10th homer and teamed with Lester for another scoreless performance, helping the Cubs to a 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.It was an amazing night, Ross said.Ben Zobrist had three hits and scored two runs as Chicago finished with a major league-best 57-24 home record. Its the most home wins for the Cubs since they went 58-19 at the West Side Grounds in 1910.The Cardinals lost for the third time in four games, wasting a chance to improve their playoff positioning. They remain a half-game back of San Francisco for the second NL wild card after the Giants lost 4-3 at San Diego earlier in the day.I think were in a good position right now, pitcher Carlos Martinez said through a translator. I also think we have a great shot at winning the World Series.Ross, Lesters regular catcher, was greeted with a long standing ovation when he came to the plate in the second inning. St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina walked halfway to the mound, forcing the unassuming Ross to take in the moment, and he took off his batting helmet to acknowledge the cheering crowd.Ross then struck out, but he got another chance in the fifth and drove Martinezs second pitch over the wall in left for 1-0 lead. Ross clapped his hands as he rounded first on his 10th homer and the cheers continued after he reached the dugout, prompting a curtain call.It was just fitting that David would hit a home run, isnt it? Maddon said. I mean it had to have happened tonight.Lester (19-4), one of the top candidates for the NL Cy Young Award, struck out seven in 6 2/3 innings. The left-hander allowed three hits and walked one while improving to 10-0 with 1.34 ERA in his last 13 starts.It was Lesters idea to pull Ross in the middle of an inning.Hes like a brother to me and for him to give me that was pretty cool, Ross said.The Cardinals pulled within one on Jhonny Peraltas two-out RBI single in the eighth, but Brandon Moss flied to center with runners on the corners. Willson Contreras responded with an RBI single in the bottom half and Aroldis Chapman worked the ninth for his 16th save with the NL Central champions and No. 36 on the year.Martinez (15-9), pitching with a heavy heart after the death of Miami pitcher Jose Fernandez in a boating accident, allowed two runs and six hits in six innings. He struck out six and walked four.He had lots of juice, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. Its probably the hardest sinker Ive ever seen him throw. A couple of those were 97 (mph). He was locked in. He wanted it bad today, and he was good enough for us to win.RESTING AND MOURNINGSt. Louis shortstop Aledmys Diaz, who is dealing with some arm fatigue, got the day off. Diaz also was a childhood friend of Fernandez.Matheny said he would have scratched Diaz had he been in the lineup. Diaz declined an interview request through a team spokeswoman.Hes pretty stoic. You see how he goes about his business, Matheny said. Thats kind of how hes handling this right now. He was a close, close friend, so hes trying to figure out how to mourn for his friend right now and take all the information in. None of that is easy.UP NEXTCardinals: LHP Jaime Garcia (10-12, 4.59 ERA) faces Cincinnati RHP Tim Adleman (2-4, 4.06 ERA) on Monday night in the opener of a seven-game homestand. After four against the last-place Reds, the Cardinals finish the regular season with a three-game series against Pittsburgh.Cubs: RHP Kyle Hendricks (15-8, 2.06 ERA) pitches for Chicago in the opener of a four-game series at Pittsburgh. RHP Chad Kuhl (5-3, 3.73 ERA) gets the ball for the Pirates on Monday night.---Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap Nike Air Max 270 Ireland .ca look back at each of the Top 10 stories of 2013. Today, we look back at Boston Strong - a citys recovery from tragedy. Nike Air Max 270 Wholesale . -- Jakob Silfverberg is making himself right at home with the Anaheim Ducks, scoring four goals in his first four games. http://www.airmax270ireland.com/ . The 18th player to shoot 60 on the tour, Jamieson settled for par on the final hole when his 15-foot birdie chip grazed the edge of the hole and stayed out. After opening with rounds of 66 and 73 to make the cut by a stroke, he had 11 birdies in the bogey-free round. Cheapest Air Max 270 . 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Star playmaker James Maloney admits his Cronulla teammates would still likely be haunted by last years playoffs thumping to North Queensland ahead of Fridays NRL preliminary final between the sides.And Sharks coach Shane Flanagan concurs that the heavy defeat will be on his players minds this week.The Sharks were beaten 39-0 in last seasons semi-final in Townsville as another finals campaign ended in abject disappointment.Maloney wasnt part of the Sharks set-up last year but the NSW playmaker knows plenty about the psychological impact losing big games can have.After winning the 2013 premiership with Sydney Roosters, Maloney has tasted defeat in the last two preliminary finals.Maloney said such crucial losses are hard to get over.It is probably in the back of their minds. It is not easy to forget things like that, Maloney said of his teammates at Sharks training on Sunday.I know some defeats we had (at the Roosters) that knocked us out still hurt.It will be there but that will only last so much. You can only carry emotion for so long.Once the game starts we have to put in a really good 80 minutes because we didnt do that against Canberra.The Sharks showed finals grit in last weeks qualifying win over Canberra, when they weere without captain Paul Gallen due to a back injury and fellow NSW representative Wade Graham went off with concussion early and didnt return.ddddddddddddCoach Shane Flanagan said the Sharks were a better side for the brutal finals lesson North Queensland handed out last year.We learnt a lot going up there last year. We thought the form we carried up there from the South Sydney game was going to continue into that week but it didnt, he said.It is in the back of the mind of the players and we learned from it but I am not sure that it is driving us.We have more motivation and reasons for our drive. To get to that grand final is the first point and if we are good enough to get there, then to win the first one (for Cronulla), that is our drive.North Queenslands epic defeat of Brisbane on Friday night showed the premiers were not going to give up their title with out a fight, Flanagan said.It was typical of a side that has won the competition, Flanagan said.You are going to have to find that courage, spirit and determination at some stage during a finals series and they showed that the other night. ' ' '