Dein erstes Forum » commit to any one player -- even a genera

CHICAGO -- The St. Louis Cardinals are further down than usual in the NL Central standings. Still, they may see the major league-leading Chicago Cubs in October, and theyre coming out of a four-game series at Wrigley Field with some extra confidence.Stephen Piscotty hit a three-run homer, Brandon Moss followed with a solo shot one out later and the Cardinals used a five-run eighth inning to beat the Cubs 6-4 on Sunday night.Piscotty hit his 17th homer off setup man Hector Rondon (2-3), who entered with a 3-1 lead in his first appearance since Aug. 2 because of a triceps injury. After pinch-hitter Kolten Wong and Greg Garcia singled, Piscotty lofted a shot to deep left-center field that put the Cardinals ahead 4-3 in front of 41,019 silenced fans.Moss added his 21st homer, then Randal Grichuk doubled in a run off Travis Wood.Any time youre playing a good team like that late in the game, its just more dramatic, Piscotty said. A great way to bounce back.We kind of know what our role is going forward, he added. Were fighting for that wild-card spot. Hopefully, this gives us some momentum.The Cardinals split a four-game series with Chicago, which dropped its second straight following an 11-game winning streak. St. Louis trails Chicago by 12 games in the division but also has a half-game lead on Miami for the second wild-card spot, keeping the Cards in line for a sixth straight playoff appearance.Weve been down quite a few times early, and guys just keep playing the game and thats something Im extremely proud about this club, manager Mike Matheny said.Cubs starter John Lackey allowed only one unearned run and four hits before leaving with two outs in the seventh with muscle stiffness. Chicago doesnt consider the injury serious.Believe me, Ive been through a lot worse, the 37-year-old Lackey said. I dont know, maybe an (its an) old thing.Rondon said he felt really good. He just didnt have his normal command.I know I missed the location and they got me, he said.Anthony Rizzo went 3 for 4 with a solo homer and three RBI, and Ben Zobrist knocked in a run with a sac fly.Lackey was sailing along and struck out five in his fourth straight solid start. But the right-hander grimaced in pain after throwing a pitch to Grichuk, walked off the field and was replaced by Justin Grimm. The reliever then struck out Grichuk.Were in a fortunate situation with the kind of (division) lead we have, Lackey said. We kind of have the leeway to do some things. Were just checking games off the schedule.Matt Bowman (2-4) got three outs in the seventh -- and got out of a bases-load jam -- in relief of Mike Leake for the win. Leake allowed three runs on six hits in six innings and retired 16 in a row over one stretch despite entering with a 9.00 ERA in his previous four starts.Cardinals closer Seung Hwan Oh got the final five outs, including three strikeouts in the ninth, for his 11th save in 12 chances.Leake settled into a pitchers duel with Lackey with a little help from his defense.St. Louis third baseman Jhonny Peralta made a diving stop, rolled and threw to first in one motion on Addison Russells sharp grounder in the fourth.Kris Bryant ended Leakes run with a triple to right-center with one out in the sixth. He scored on Rizzos second RBI single to make it 3-1.After the Cardinals took a 6-3 lead in the eighth, Rizzo hit his 25th homer in the bottom half.LETS PLAY TWOCubs manager Joe Maddon says hed have no problem with MLB shortening the season by adding more doubleheaders, but not drawn-out day-night twinbills. Maddon would be for second games starting 30 minutes after the end of the first, and for teams adding two players to their rosters.I think the fans would dig it, too, said Maddon, while noting he understands the economics of day-night doubleheaders with separate admissions. If you have to put a premium on the price tag, I dont know.TRAINERS ROOMCardinals: OF Matt Holliday (broken right thumb) is expected to be re-examined by the teams hand specialist on Monday. ... St. Louis LHP Kevin Siegrist left after striking out Zobrist in the eight with an apparent injury and was replaced by Oh. Kevins had a lot of work and that was precautionary more than anything else, Matheny said.Cubs: Rondon said before the game he was 100 percent ready, but allowed four runs in 1/3 of an inning.UP NEXTCardinals: Following a day off Monday, LHP Jaime Garcia (9-8, 3.93) opens a two-game set in Houston against LHP Dallas Keuchel (7-11, 4.56). St. Louis also has Thursday off, but manager Mike Matheny plans no changes to his strained rotation.Cubs: Chicago also has Monday off, then hosts Milwaukee in a day-night doubleheader Tuesday. RHP Trevor Cahill (1-3, 3.07) is expected to come off the DL (right knee tendinitis) and start in the opener against Brewers RHP Matt Garza (4-4, 4.83). Chicagos Jason Hammel (12-5, 2.90) is 5-0 with a 1.16 ERA since the All-Star break and will take the mound in the nightcap against RHP Chase Anderson (7-10, 4.93).Andreas Pereira Manchester United Jersey . Varlamov made 33 saves and Ryan OReilly had a goal and scored in the shootout as the Avalanche beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Thursday night. David de Gea Manchester United Jersey . That left plenty of energy for pitching books and swatting away free agency questions. Anthony had 24 points and nine rebounds, and the Knicks avenged an embarrassing home loss with a rout of their own, beating the Boston Celtics 114-88 on Wednesday night for their third straight victory. http://www.jerseymanchesterunitedsoccer.com/womens-marcus-rashford-manchester-united-jersey/ . The Redskins announced Monday that the quarterback who led the team to the Super Bowl championship in the 1987 season will serve as a personnel executive. Ashley Young Jersey . Cuban testified Thursday that he was upset when the companys CEO told him news that would reduce the value of his shares, for which hed paid $7.5 million. But he said he did nothing improper when he sold those shares over the next two days. Zlatan Ibrahimovic Jersey . Walcott is available for Saturdays home match against Southampton as Arsenal looks to extend its two-point lead at the top of the Premier League. The Gunners are currently the second highest scorers in the league but Wenger insists Walcott will add something extra to his team.Though the winter meetings began in the aftermath of the newly minted collective bargaining agreement, the events in Maryland last week played out more or less as usual. There were a few trades. Some headline-making free-agent signings. A Rule V draft that has most of us reaching for the nearest prospect guide. Still, even though the new CBA doesnt take effect until next year -- and thus had no direct effect on the meetings -- its presence was felt in discussions of something that didnt happen.That thing -- a potential trade of Bryce Harper away from the Washington Nationals?-- could certainly happen someday, but its not likely to be any time soon. Still, the reports that emerged during the meetings about Harpers reported desire for a $400 million contract and Washingtons reported desire to not dole out said contract set the stage for what promises to be a multiyear drama. And how that drama is resolved, eventually, may be the first real evidence wee get about whether the new CBA will have a significant effect on how much teams are willing to commit to any one player -- even a generational talent in his prime like Harper.ddddddddddddSince the labor calamities of 1994, the owners have shifted their negotiating strategy away from an overt push for a salary cap to a more incremental approach. By implementing and gradually expanding the reach of the luxury tax, theyve made the punitive costs of excess spending increasingly severe and more likely to apply to even those teams that dont play at Yankee Stadium. Those costs have moved beyond financial and into the realm of amateur player acquisition in the form of draft position and limits on international spending. As a result, while there still is no salary cap in baseball, with this new agreement, there might as well be. ' ' '