first true road loss since 1994, which is also the last time the Raiders lost two games in a season. The 114-game streak went back

LOS ANGELES -- Anthony Rizzos bat shattered into shards, and the ball trickled onto an empty patch of infield grass. The Chicago Cubs cleanup hitter scampered to first base in the ninth inning, getting just his second hit this postseason in Game 3 of the NL Championship Series.In an October of increasing offensive ineptitude, the powerful Cubs are looking for any kind of break to get them going.Thats the kind of hit that we needed, fellow slugger Kris Bryant said. Thats the hit that can spark a team.Except it didnt. This combustible offense remains quiet and cold -- and after a superlative regular season, the Cubs have been shut out in back-to-back playoff games.With its pitching staff again dominating one of baseballs best lineups, Los Angeles took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series with a 6-0 victory Tuesday night over Jake Arrieta and the Cubs.If the Cubs dont find their offense before they leave LA, the most infamous championship drought in sports will stretch into next year.Chicago had never been blanked in two straight playoff games before the Dodgers did it. Chicagos 18 consecutive scoreless innings comprise the longest drought in the teams postseason history, two more than the 1906 squad.This 103-win club spent exactly one day out of first place this season, but the Cubs are trailing in the NLCS because their hitters have been silenced ever since that five-run eighth inning in a Game 1 victory.I dont gamble, but I probably wouldnt have gambled on that one, Chicago catcher Miguel Montero said.Including a 1-0 loss in Game 2, Chicago is a collective 6 for 60 with one extra-base hit over the last two games. The Cubs hadnt been shut out since Aug. 28, but Clayton Kershaw and Rich Hill did it with plenty of help from closer Kenley Jansen.This is highly unusual for the Cubs, who were third in the big leagues with 808 runs during the regular season. They had the majors second-best on-base percentage before the postseason, but baserunners have been scarce for most of their seven playoff games, and their team batting average is languishing below .200.Were not hitting the ball hard, manager Joe Maddon said. Theyve pitched well. Obviously, I have no solid explanation. Weve just got to keep working at it. ... There is really no excuse. We just have to pick it up quickly.Chicago hadnt been shut out in consecutive games since May 2014, but the Cubs never really threatened against Los Angeles -- and their best hitters realize they bear the responsibility.MVP candidate Rizzo (2 for 26), Addison Russell (1 for 24), Jason Heyward (2 for 19), Dexter Fowler (5 for 28) and Ben Zobrist (4 for 26) are all struggling mightily in the postseason. The middle of Chicagos lineup is particularly lacking, and Maddons adjustments havent helped.The Cubs were baffled by Hill, the 36-year-old journeyman who was playing independent ball just more than 14 months ago. Hill threw six innings of two-hit ball, and Arrieta couldnt keep up in his return to the stadium where he threw a no-hitter in August 2015.The 2015 Cy Young Award winner had a middling NLCS start for the second straight season, giving up four runs and six hits to the Dodgers over five-plus innings. Last October, he gave up four runs and four hits over five innings to the Mets in Game 2 of New Yorks sweep.Maddon dropped Heyward from the lineup for Game 3, but replacement Jorge Soler went hitless and made two misplays in right field, although neither cost the Cubs any runs. Heyward struck out on three pitches as a pinch hitter to end the seventh, taking a terrible swing on a down-and-in slider from Joe Blanton.Fowlers two-out double in the eighth off reliever Grant Dayton was the Cubs first extra-base hit since Game 1, but Jansen promptly struck out Bryant. After Rizzos shattered-bat single, Jansen calmly finished off the win.The playoffs always provide small sample sizes of teams woes, but California pitching has flummoxed the Cubs through seven games in October. They didnt hit much even in the Division Series against San Francisco, batting a collective .200 with a meager .247 on-base percentage while relying on pitchers at the plate for an alarmingly big chunk of their runs in that four-game series victory.Game 4 on Wednesday suddenly looms as pivotal for the Cubs, who had five two-game skids in the second half of the season, but havent lost three straight since early July.Youre playing against great teams at this time of year, Montero said. You just try to live in the moment. And maybe you have to have a better plan.Cheap Vapormax 97 .C. -- When North Carolina freshman Ryan Switzer reported to training camp in August he was a little miffed to learn he was third on the depth chart at punt returner. Nike Air Vapormax Plus Mens Sale . How great will be revealed in the next couple of days at the board of governors meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif. http://www.vapormaxaustraliashoes.com/air-vapormax-97-australia.html . The (11-11-4) Jets are seventh in the Central Division with 26 points. Fifth place Dallas and sixth-seeded Nashville also have 26 points, but the Stars have three games in hand on Winnipeg while Nashville has two. Nike Air Vapormax Australia . After slipping from the summit during the week, the Gunners overcame struggling Crystal Palace 2-0 on Sunday thanks to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlains second-half brace. Air Max Plus Tn Australia . -- Linebacker Myles Jack ran for four touchdowns, defensive end Cassius Marsh caught a scoring pass, and No.HOUSTON -- For the first time in 12 seasons, Mount Union will not appear in the Division III championship game.In its place, Mary Hardin-Baylor will play in its first Stagg Bowl since 2004 -- the season before Mount Unions 11-year streak began.Mary Hardin-Baylor converted a first down on fake punt with 45 seconds left and the Crusaders upset defending champion Mount Union 14-12 on Saturday in the Division III semifinals.The Crusaders last title game ended in a 28-21 defeat to Linfield. That was the last D-III title game not involving Mount Union, UW-Whitewater or St. Thomas.Mary Hardin-Baylor (14-0) will play Wisconsin-Oshkosh, which beat John Carroll 10-3, on Friday night.Two of the highest scoring teams in Division III were locked in a defensive battle on Saturday.Mount Union (12-2) started its final possession with 2:32 left at its 45. But defensive end Ajay Fanene read a screen pass and dropped back in coverage to intercept freshman quarterback Dom Davis pass with 1:44 left. It was his first interception of the season.Mary Hardin-Baylor was forced to punt after three plays but Trinton Ynclan caught a dart from the Baylor Mullins in a punt formation to seal it.It was Mount Unions first true road loss since 1994, which is also the last time the Raiders lost two games in a season. The 114-game streak went back to the 1994 NCAA Playoffs in a 34-33 loss at Albion (Mich.).Mary Hardin-Baylor quarterback Blake Jackson scored on a 1-yard sneak up the middle with 1:53 left in the third quarter for a 14-6 lead. His 11-yard scrammble two plays earlier on a third-and-6 set up the touchdown.dddddddddddd Duane Thompson also made two big plays on the drive. He had an over-the-shoulder catch for 25 yards and rushed for a 15-yard gain on the next play.Keith Reineke made an easy interception with 10:43 left in the fourth quarter for Mary Hardin-Baylor but the Crusaders drive stalled after three plays. Mount Union made them pay with a 14-play, 66 yard scoring drive to pull to 14-12 with 4:20 left on Davis play-action keeper. The Raiders two-point conversion attempt failed after Davis pressured pass fell incomplete short of the end zone.In the first half, Alex Louthan kicked a 30-yard field goal to open the scoring for Mount Union with 8:08 left. But Mary Hardin-Baylor answered on its next possession. Jackson scrambled to escape pressure and was hit hard just after a throw for a 33-yard touchdown. T.J. Josey leapt in the end zone to get a hand on it and Wykeyhe Walker secured it for a 7-3 lead.Louthan made his second field goal with two seconds left before halftime to pull to Mount Union to 7-6.Mary Hardin-Baylor won its 12th straight American Southwest Conference title to earn the one tournament bid reserved for independents or teams in a non-automatic qualifying conference. Mount Union earned one of the six at-large bids to the playoffs and is the only team in D-III history to win three straight road games to reach the semis. ' ' '