Judge: Roll out of police body cameras violated labor law

Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — A judge has ruled that the way the Chicago Police Department expanded its body camera program last year violated Illinois labor law.

The Chicago Tribune reports that Administrative Law Judge Anna Hamberg-Gal concluded that the city was obligated to bargain with the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police before expanding the use of the cameras last year. The judge issued a recommendation this week for the city to comply with state law by starting a dialogue with the union about safety and disciplinary matters surrounding the body camera expansion.

The state’s Labor Relations Board must sign off on the recommendation and the recommendation does not prevent officers from wearing the cameras issued in last year’s expansion. Nor does it reverse any disciplinary measures taken against officers based on footage from the cameras.

DeRozan scores 35 points, Raptors beat Bulls 124-115

By ANDREW SELIGMAN
Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — All that DeMar DeRozan wanted to talk about was the lift Toronto’s bench provided. As for his recent scoring tear?

“I don’t think nothing of it,” he said.

DeRozan had 35 points, Delon Wright set career highs with 25 points and 13 rebounds, and the Raptors beat the Chicago Bulls 124-115 on Wednesday night.

DeRozan came up big again after scoring a franchise-record 52 points in a win over Milwaukee on New Year’s Day. He was particularly good in the third quarter this time, scoring 18 points after being held to nine in the first half. DeRozan also shot 5 of 8 on 3-pointers and converted all 10 free throws.

Wright had his first career double-double and hit four 3s to lead a big effort by the bench. He scored 12 in the second quarter and eight more points in the fourth to help Toronto pull away for its ninth win in 11 games.

Serge Ibaka and Kyle Lowry scored 16 apiece for Toronto. Fred VanVleet, from nearby Rockford, added 13 points, and the Raptors’ reserves outscored Chicago’s 54-39.

“They’ve been great for us all year,” DeRozan said. “We come out slacking. The bench always picks us up, and vice versa. Tonight, the bench did what they’ve been doing all year, got the energy going. We fed off that, and got back in the game.”

He’ll get no argument from coach Dwane Casey.

“The bench really saved us tonight,” he said. “They gave us energy. We just couldn’t get our mojo going with the first unit, but Delon came in and had a career high. I really liked the way he was going after rebounds. His overall game sustained us.”

Justin Holiday led Chicago with 26 points, and Lauri Markkanen added 22 points and 12 rebounds. Nikola Mirotic scored 20, but the Bulls dropped their third straight.

The Bulls looked sharp early on, with a 10-point lead after the first quarter. But they couldn’t sustain their edge on defense and were impatient on offense — particularly the second unit.

“We were coming out and jacking up contested shots with zero or one pass,” coach Fred Hoiberg said. “And you can’t have that. So again, that second unit’s been pretty darn good for us. Tonight, we struggled with it.”

PULLING AWAY

Chicago was leading 92-90 early in the fourth when Toronto went on a 16-2 run. Lowry hit a 3 to make it 106-94 with 6:39 remaining, and the Raptors remained in control the rest of the way.

LAVINE UPDATE

The Bulls hope to decide on a return date for G Zach LaVine early next week.

LaVine will travel with the team to games at Dallas and Indiana on Friday and Saturday. Hoiberg said the two-time slam dunk champion will meet with doctors, trainers, management and coaches after the Bulls return home.

LaVine averaged 18.9 points in 47 games for Minnesota last season before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The Bulls acquired him along with Kris Dunn and Markkanen in the trade that sent Jimmy Butler to the Timberwolves.

TIP-INS

Raptors: Toronto had dropped six straight at Chicago. ... The Raptors were 19 of 19 at the foul line. ... Wright hit 10 of 15 shots.

Bulls: Markkanen has led the Bulls in rebounding 13 times and has eight double-doubles. He is averaging 21 points over his last four games. ... C Robin Lopez had 12 points and a career-high six assists. ... Mirotic has scored 20 or more in eight of his 15 games.

UP NEXT

Raptors: Visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday.

Bulls: Visit the Dallas Mavericks on Friday.

Sharp breaks tie in third, Blackhawks beat Rangers 5-2

By SCOTT CHARLES
Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) – Jeff Glass is starting to get comfortable in goal for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Glass, the 32-year old rookie who bounced around the hockey world before finally reaching the NHL last month, made 23 saves to lead Chicago to a 5-2 victory over the New York Rangers on Wednesday night.

"This is my chance right now," Glass said after securing his second career NHL victory. "We played a strong game as a unit, I just did my part. It was a lot of fun out there."

Patrick Sharp broke a tie early in the third period as the Blackhawks concluded a six-game trip. Nick Schmaltz, Vinnie Hinostroza, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane also scored

"Contributing offensively is to be expected from every line," Sharp said. "We're more than capable of doing it but more than anything, I thought we played real stingy tonight and didn't give up a whole lot so that was one of the keys tonight."

Nick Holden and Mika Zibanejad scored for New York in the Rangers' second regulation loss at home since Nov. 28.

New York struggled to get through the neutral zone most of the evening and only converted one power play chance on six opportunities in their first game back since the Winter Classic at Citi Field.

"I saw one team playing hockey and the other chasing the whole night," Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh said. "It's really disappointing. We know we are coming off a big emotional win and a big stage but we're almost at the halfway point of the season where we need to start playing with some consistency and we didn't give ourselves a chance there. They were able to do whatever they wanted. We didn't finish checks, slow them down, their speed. They had time and space and we left our goalie out to dry."

Glass, a well-traveled hockey veteran has played on six Kontinental Hockey League teams and three American Hockey League teams before being called up on Dec. 27 when Corey Crawford was placed on injured reserve.

"I think Glasser came in and gave us a little jolt of personality and energy," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville. "After coming out of three tough games going into the break, coming out of it not the way you want to be playing on the road. We'll go back home, we showed a lot better of an effort. I liked the response, the way we finished up the trip."

Sharp, a three-time Cup winner with Chicago who returned this season after spending the previous two years in Dallas, scored at 2:24 of the third when his wrist shot sailed past goalie Henrik Lundqvist's glove.

"I saw a lot of good things, a lot of the speed in the game," Joel Quenneville said. "We got to a lot of pucks first. We did a lot of good things, we were more disciplined than we've been in maybe any other game. We found a way to kill some big penalties."

Hinostroza opened the scoring with 3:51 left in the first period. After an offensive zone faceoff win, Toews retrieved a loose puck in the corner and slipped a backhand pass to Hinostroza.

The Rangers tied it two minutes later when Nick Holden fired a slap shot from the right point past Glass.

Chicago took a 2-1 lead midway through the second when Nick Schmaltz converted a breakaway. Rangers defenseman, Marc Staal, inadvertently put the puck in his own net before knocking the net off the moorings.

Zibanejad tied it on a one-timer with 7:28 to go in the period.

"They were better," Lundqvist said after his 30 save performance. "They started the game better, they had more jump. It felt like a lot of their chances came from odd-man rushes, hard to defend. They have a lot of patient players."

NOTES:

New York scratched defenseman Steven Kampfer and forward Vinni Lettieri. ... Chicago scratched defensemen Michal Kempny and Jan Rutta, and forward Richard Panik.

UP NEXT:

Rangers: At Arizona on Saturday night.

Blackhawks: Host Vegas on Friday night.

Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford named NHL's Second Star of the Week

The NHL announced today that Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford was named the league's First Star for the week ending Nov. 5.

Crawford went 2-1-0 with a 0.68 goals-against average, .979 save percentage and two shutouts to lead the Blackhawks (7-6-2, 16 points) to a pair of wins. He opened the week with consecutive shutouts, making 35 saves in a 3-0 triumph against the Philadelphia Flyers Nov. 1 and 24 stops in a 2-0 victory over the Minnesota Wild Nov. 4. It marked the fifth time Crawford has registered consecutive shutouts in his NHL career (394 GP) and first such instance since Dec. 11-13, 2015. He then finished the week with 33 saves in a 2-0 loss to the Montreal Canadiens Nov. 5. The 32-year-old Montreal native owns a 7-5-0 record in 13 appearances this season, pacing the NHL with a 1.77 goals-against average, .945 save percentage and two shutouts (tied). 

Islanders forward Josh Bailey was named the Second Star, while Sharks goaltender Martin Jones was named the Third Star.

Blackhawks face Canadiens in Original Six matchup

TONIGHT'S BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: NBC Sports Chicago - Pat Foley (play-by-play), Steve Konroyd (analyst)
RADIO: WGN 720 AM - John Wiedeman (play-by-play); Troy Murray (analyst)
ONLINE: NBCSportsChicago.com and the NBC Sports app

Tonight, the Chicago Blackhawks and Montreal Canadiens will meet for the last time this season.

The Blackhawks topped Montreal, 3-1 on Oct. 10 at Bell Centre. Blackhawks forward Alex DeBrincat scored his first career NHL goal in the win while Brandon Saad and Artem Anisimov also added markers. Corey Crawford stopped 41 shots for Chicago and the Montreal native improved to 8-0-2 with a 1.49 save percentage and .954 GAA in 10 career games vs. the Canadiens.

Last season, Chicago swept the series, winning both games. Chicago is 10-0-2 vs. Montreal since the 2009-10 season.

Tonight marks the 565th all-time meeting between these two teams in a series that began on Dec. 22, 1926 (3-1 vs. MTL).

THE KILLERS

The Blackhawks stand sixth in the NHL, killing 83.9 percent of their penalties this season ... Chicago has killed off each of its last nine penalties going back three games.

CROW-M-G

Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford is coming off consecutive shutouts ... Crawford has stopped all 59 shots he faced over the last two games ... Crawford is 8-0-2 with a 1.49 save percentage and .954 GAA in 10 career games vs. Montreal ... Crawford is one of three NHL goaltenders this season with two shutouts.

SUNDAY FUNDAY

Tonight, the Blackhawks will play their first of 11 Sunday games this season ... Sunday is the only day of the week the team has yet to play on this season ... Sunday trails only Thursday (17) and Saturday (20) for the day of the week in which the Blackhawks play the most games ... Nine of those 11 Sunday games come at home for Chicago.

FACETIME

The Blackhawks stand 10th in the NHL in faceoff wins with 459 this season ... The team has won 50.7% of faceoffs through 14 games ... Jonathan Toews shares third in the NHL with 180 faceoff wins and his faceoff win percentage of 57.3% is tied for sixth in the NHL among players with 200 or more faceoffs this season.

BLACKHAWKS FOR LIFE

Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith are two of the longest tenured Blackhawks defensemen and are moving up the charts ... Seabrook (937 GP) needs just one game played to tie Doug Wilson (938 GP) for second on the all-time franchise list for games played by a defensemen ... Keith is at 927 games played and will tie Wilson with 11 games played ... Seabrook (6th) and Keith (7th) also trail Wilson (5th) on the franchise overall games-played list.

CHICAGO BLOCKHAWKS

The Blackhawks are 11th in the NHL in blocked shots with 203 ... Brent Seabrook paces the club with 32 this season ... On Wednesday vs. PHI, Seabrook recorded a season-high six blocked shots, his 15th career game of six or more blocks.

EMBRACING THE HITS

The Blackhawks have 275 hits through 14 games, an average of 19.6 per game ... Last season, the team finished last in the NHL in hits with 1178 (14.4 per game) ... John Hayden is tied for eighth in the NHL this season with 42 hits.

TIME IS ON HIS SIDE

Duncan Keith has led the Blackhawks in TOI each season since the 2004-05 campaign ... That marks the longest such streak for a player with the same team in the NHL ... He is averaging a team-best 25:24 per game this season.

RATED ROOKIE

The Blackhawks opened the season with four rookies on their roster: DeBrincat, Rutta, John Hayden and Anton Forsberg ... Hayden and Forsberg are still considered NHL rookies despite having made their NHL debut in previous seasons.
      
CLIMBING TO THE TOP

Patrick Kane currently ranks sixth in Blackhawks franchise history in three statistical categories including points (766), goals (290) and assists (475) ... He needs just 13 points to tie Doug Wilson for fifth on the all-time franchise list ... He needs just eight goals to tie Dennis Hull for fifth on the all-time franchise list.

BLACKHAWKS UPCOMING SCHEDULE (all times CT)

• Thur., Nov. 9 at PHI at 6 p.m. (NBCSCH, NBCSportsChicago.com, NBC Sports app, WGN Radio)

• Sat., Nov. 11 at CAR at 6 p.m. (WGN TV, WGN Radio)

• Sun., Nov. 12 vs. NJD at 6 p.m. (NBCSCH, NBCSportsChicago.com, NBC Sports app, WGN Radio)

• Wed., Nov. 15 vs. NYR at 7 p.m. (NBCSN, NBCSportsChicago.com, NBC Sports app, WGN Radio, Univision America, WRTO AM 1200)

• Saturday, Nov. 18 at PIT at 6 p.m. (WGN TV, WGN Radio)

Hernandez belts 3 HRs; Dodgers win NL pennant

CHICAGO -- By the time Enrique Hernandez stepped to the plate in the ninth inning on Thursday night, Game 5 of the National League Championship Series was already a blur.

By the time the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated in a champagne-soaked room after clinching their first pennant since 1988, Hernandez -- who had sparked an 11-1 victory over the defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs with three home runs -- was still foggy on the details on how the Dodgers had arrived in their celebratory moment.

Hernandez, whose three homers included a grand slam, drove in seven runs, providing Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw with more than enough offensive support to land Los Angeles in the World Series for the first time in 29 years.

"It's unbelievable," Hernandez said. "It's amazing."

Los Angeles closed out the NL Championship Series in five games. The Dodgers will face either the New York Yankees or Houston Astros in the World Series, with Game 1 scheduled for Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.

Staked to an early comfortable lead, Kershaw (1-0) allowed one run, three hits and a walk while striking out five in six innings.

Hernandez capped the scoring in the ninth inning with a two-run blast as the Los Angeles left fielder tied a league championship series record with his seven RBIs.

"Tonight was his night to shine, and Clayton started the night and throwing a gem," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "For him to start and pitch the way he did, and for (Hernandez) to have a huge night -- three homers tonight -- just providing so much energy for us, and we fed off that tonight."

The Dodgers scored first for the first time in the series and jumped out to a 9-0 lead after three innings. Hernandez followed up his second-inning solo home run with a grand slam in the third after the Dodgers loaded the bases off Cubs starter Jose Quintana with four straight hits.

After Quintana was lifted in the third, reliever Hector Rondon struck out Logan Forsythe for the first out of the inning. Hernandez then lifted his second homer of the night into the basket above the right field wall to break the game open.

Justin Turner, who was named NLCS co-most valuable player along with Chris Taylor, also had an RBI single in the inning.

"It's a different guy every single night," Turner said of the multiple contributions the Dodgers got offensively. "Literally, (it's) a different guy in the lineup making that big swing."

Quintana surrendered six runs on six hits in two-plus innings. He walked one and fanned one as the Cubs' season ended in the NLCS for the second time in three years.

"We started out with a target on our back last year...but we were able to go through the whole thing," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "(We) got the World Series under our belt. (We) came back this year and (were) met with some kind of mental adversity is the best way I could describe it. It's baseball adversity.

"I thought we did a great job of overcoming."

The Dodgers padded their lead in the fourth on Forsythe's two-run double off John Lackey.

Kris Bryant finally got the Cubs on the board in the fourth inning when he homered after Kershaw had held Chicago without a hit for 3 1/3 innings.

By then, the Dodgers had built too great of a cushion and never relented until closer Kenley Jansen closed out the win in the ninth with the Dodgers leading by 10 runs. A short time later, the Dodgers celebrated their World Series return after winning for the seventh time in eight games in the postseason.

"We have four more wins to go," Kershaw said. "But we've heard 1988 for so long in L.A., it feels good to say that we're getting to go to the World Series in 2017."

NOTES: Dodgers 3B Justin Turner extended his postseason streak of reaching safely to eight games with a RBI single in the second inning. Turner reached safely in 23 of his past 24 postseason games since Oct. 9, 2015. ... Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw earned his sixth career postseason victory, which tied Burt Hooton for the most in franchise history. ... Cubs president Theo Epstein defended manager Joe Maddon, who was taking heat for some of his decision-making in managing the bullpen during the NLCS. "It's not manager against manager," Epstein said before Thursday's game. "That stuff just gets under the microscope so much this time of year. It's (about) players performing." ... Former Cubs catcher David Ross, who was a member of the 2016 World Series championship team, threw out the ceremonial first pitch Thursday.

Cubs’ Maddon tossed again in NLCS; ump admits he missed call

By JIM LITKE
Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — Cubs manager Joe Maddon turned out to be right. Even the umpire said so, later.

Maddon’s prize? He got ejected for the second time in the NL Championship Series.

At least he’ll get one more day in the dugout. Chicago reliever Wade Davis struck out Curtis Granderson on the next pitch after the disputed call and the Cubs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 Wednesday night in Game 4 to avoid a sweep.

Maddon lost his argument in the eighth inning over what was originally ruled a swinging strikeout of Granderson. That call was changed to a foul tip after Granderson objected and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts asked the umpires to confer on the field.

Under Major League Baseball rules, the play was not subject to video review.

“After looking at it (on replay afterward), I was dead wrong,” plate umpire Jim Wolf said. “I talked myself into the whole thing.”

Maddon said afterward, “If Granderson hit the next pitch out, I might come running out of the clubhouse in my jockstrap. It was really that bad.”

Wolf — the brother of former big league pitcher Randy Wolf — said afterward he heard “two distinct, separate sounds” on the pitch, believing the first to be the pitch bouncing in the dirt and the second being the pop of the catcher’s mitt. After Roberts appealed and Wolf gathered his crew, he was told by his fellow umps “that the ball did not bounce — it did hit the ground but it did not bounce.”

“I basically talked myself into ‘he did foul tip it,’” Wolf said.

Maddon didn’t buy the “two sounds” explanation at the moment and roared at several members of the crew. He wasn’t buying it afterward, either.

“I’m not going to sit here and bang on umpires. I love a lot of guys on this crew. I’ve know them a long time. But that can’t happen,” he said.

“The process was horrible. ... You have 40-some thousand people, it’s late in the game. The other sound could have come from some lady screaming in the first row.”

Maddon was ejected in Game 1 at Dodger Stadium after a call at home plate was overturned because of the slide rule. He basically acknowledged he was trying to get himself tossed this time around.

After poking more holes in the “two sounds” explanation, he said, “There is no way, no way I’m not getting ejected at that point. I’ve got make my point. Just being honest,” he added.

Crew chief Mike Winters confirmed Maddon had something to say “to everybody, because at that point, the process didn’t matter to him. It just mattered that it didn’t go his way.

“We were trying to calm him down and we tried not to eject him, but he made that impossible,” he said.

Baez bashes two homers as Cubs stay alive

CHICAGO -- Wade Davis peered toward home plate and prepared to throw his 48th and most important pitch of the game Wednesday night.

With a runner on first base, Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Cody Bellinger represented the winning run at the plate. Justin Turner and his imposing bat waited on deck.

The Chicago closer unleashed a 92 mph four-seam fastball. It saved both the game and the season for the Cubs, as Bellinger grounded into a game-ending double play.

Chicago held on for a 3-2 win over the Dodgers to stave off elimination in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series. Javier Baez hit two home runs and Willson Contreras homered once for the Cubs, who trimmed their series deficit to 3-1.

Game 5 is scheduled for Thursday night at Wrigley Field.

"Great to have this win," said Baez, the second baseman who fielded Bellinger's grounder and whipped a throw to shortstop Addison Russell to start the double play. "Because, if not, we were going home."

Chicago improved to 11-15 when facing elimination.

"I want there to be pressure," said Cubs manager Joe Maddon, who was ejected in the eighth inning for arguing a foul-tip call. "I want there to be a carrot at the end of the stick. I want all of that."

Bellinger and Turner each hit solo home runs for the Dodgers. The defeat snapped a six-game postseason win streak for Los Angeles, which remains one victory shy of reaching the World Series for the first time since 1988.

"We don't expect anyone to lay down," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "It's a very talented group. They're the world champs, and you know they're going to fight to the end. So today, they did.

"We got beat today. And I think the thing is, you can't win them all."

Right-hander Jake Arrieta (1-0) battled into the seventh inning in what might have been his final game with the Cubs. The soon-to-be free agent allowed one run on three hits in 6 2/3 innings. He walked five and struck out nine.

Dodgers left-hander Alex Wood (0-1) allowed three solo home runs and a single in 4 2/3 innings in his first career postseason start. He walked none and struck out seven.

Davis posted the highest pitch count of his career, in the regular season or postseason, among games in which he earned a save. He allowed a home run to Turner to lead off the eighth and pitched around three walks to record the final six outs.

A bizarre sequence in the eighth as Dodgers center fielder Curtis Granderson appeared to swing and miss at strike three. After plate umpire Jim Wolf conferred with the other umpires, the call was overturned and ruled a foul tip.

Maddon was ejected after a vehement argument with replays being displayed on the video board showing that Granderson did not make contact. Davis officially struck out Granderson on the next pitch, and he also struck out Chase Utley to escape the jam.

"That can't happen," Maddon said. "The process was horrible. ... If Granderson hits the next pitch out, I might come running out of the clubhouse in my jockstrap."

Chicago jumped to a 2-0 lead in the second behind solo home runs from Contreras and Baez.

Contreras stood to admire his monster shot, which traveled an estimated 491 feet and slammed off the video board in left field. Baez pulled a towering blast just inside the left field foul pole.

Los Angeles cut the deficit to 2-1 in the following inning on Bellinger's line-drive shot down the right field line. The homer was Bellinger's first of the series and second of the postseason.

Baez homered again in the fifth to increase Chicago's lead to 3-1. He clubbed a low pitch into the first row of the left field bleachers for the first multi-homer postseason game of his career.

Baez became the fifth Cubs player to homer twice in a playoff game. The last player to do so was Aramis Ramirez in Game 4 of the 2003 NLCS.

"Tonight, I just said to myself not to try too much, and I didn't," Baez said. "And there you have it."

NOTES: Cubs 2B Javier Baez entered the night in an 0-for-20 postseason skid. ... Dodgers OF Yasiel Puig hit safely for the fifth time in seven postseason games. ... Cubs OF Albert Almora Jr. batted in the leadoff spot for the first time in the series and went 1-for-4. ... Dodgers C Yasmani Grandal made his series debut and went 0-for-1 with three walks. ... Cubs C Willson Contreras and Dodgers 3B Justin Turner became the third and fourth players to homer off the left field video board in 2017.

A year after 1st title since 1908, Cubs trail Dodgers 3-0

By ANDREW SELIGMAN
Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — Kyle Schwarber had fans roaring, thinking the Chicago Cubs just might be ready to tighten the NL Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Turns out, his home run in the first inning was about all they had to cheer.

Yu Darvish shut down Chicago after Schwarber went deep, putting the Cubs on the verge of being swept in the NLCS for the second time in three years after Tuesday’s night’s 6-1 loss.

After knocking out Los Angeles last fall on the way to their first World Series championship since consecutive titles in 1907 and 1908, hopes of another parade are just about dashed.

“Tomorrow is a Game 7. We have three or four Game 7s in a row coming up right now,” manager Joe Maddon said.

Jake Arrieta will try to keep the series going when he opposes Dodgers lefty Alex Wood on Wednesday night. Arrieta can become a free agent this winter, so it might be his final start for Chicago. And unless the Cubs get their offense and struggling bullpen in order, the season could come to a close.

Chicago has been in tough spots before, rallying from a 3-1 deficit to beat Cleveland in seven games for the World Series title last year. The Cubs also pulled out a wild victory at Washington in Game 5 of the Division Series this month after failing to close out the Nationals at Wrigley Field.

“I don’t think there’s any need to change anything,” said Kris Bryant, who had two hits after going 1 for 8 through the first two games of the series. “I think we can even play more loose because ... no one’s expecting us to come back except the guys in this room.”

It was Bryant who asked “why not us?” after the Cubs won Game 5 to send the 2016 World Series back to Cleveland and start their historic comeback. It will take another epic effort to knock off Los Angeles, particularly the way they are hitting.

The Cubs are batting .160 with four extra-base hits through three games.

“Of course we expected more,” Maddon said. “It’s somewhat surprising. I don’t want to use the word disappointing.”

Batting second, Schwarber hit an opposite-field drive to left-center for a 1-0 lead in the first.

“Hey, whenever you jump out to an early lead, you want that to be the momentum,” Schwarber said. “Any way that you can get the crowd into it — the players are enjoying it, I’m enjoying it, whatever it is — you want that to be momentum.”

Darvish took the Cubs and the crowd right out of it, holding Chicago to one run and six hits in 6 1/3 innings. Chicago starter Kyle Hendricks couldn’t match him.

The right-hander gave up four runs and six hits, including solo homers to Andre Ethier and Chris Taylor. It was his second straight shaky start after outpitching Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg in a dominant effort to win Game 1 of the NLDS.

Los Angeles led 3-1 with runners on first and second and none out in the sixth when Carl Edwards Jr. — erratic in the playoffs after a strong season — relieved Hendricks and walked Austin Barnes with one out. Joc Pederson flied out and Edwards walked Darvish on four pitches. After Taylor struck out to end the rally, boos came ringing from the Wrigley Field stands.

Struggling reliever Mike Montgomery gave up two more runs in the eighth. With runners on first and second, pinch-hitter Charlie Culberson struck out, only for the pitch to ricochet off catcher Willson Contreras’ arm for a passed ball that allowed Logan Forsythe to score. With runners at the corners, Kyle Farmer followed with a sacrifice fly.

“That’s a great ballclub over there,” Cubs shortstop Addison Russell said. “They’re doing things right.”

The Cubs could be on the way out, after barely squeezing past Washington. They experienced more drama on their way out west after that draining series.

Their cross-country flight to Los Angeles made an unscheduled stop in Albuquerque because Jose Quintana’s wife, Michel, experienced an irregular heartbeat. The team remained on the ground for five hours to change pilots.

Quintana joined his teammates in Los Angeles on Friday night and started Game 1 the following night.

The Cubs could be excused for feeling a bit drained. Though Schwarber shot down that idea, saying, “We’re not running out of gas at all,” Russell notices some signs of fatigue.

“I wouldn’t say we’re running out of gas,” he said. “I would just say some things here and there are a little bit fatigued. But we put the right guys out there every single day."

Happ right at home in Cubs' victory over Pirates

(TSX / STATS) -- PITTSBURGH -- It was Ian Happ's second trip home as a major-leaguer, and the Chicago Cubs' rookie made sure what surely was his final game at PNC Park this season was a good one.

"It's always great for me to come home and play at PNC. I had a lot of family and friends out there," Happ, from suburban Mt. Lebanon, said after he had three hits, scored twice as the Cubs' leadoff batter and threw a runner out at home from center field in Chicago's 8-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Cubs (77-63) salvaged a split in the four-game series after dropping the first two by a combined 16-3.

Albert Almora Jr. hit a two-run homer, and Anthony Rizzo went 2-for-2 with two runs, two RBIs and two walks as Chicago pounded out 13 hits to back starter Jon Lester, who got stronger over the course of his six innings.

"Yeah, it was a good day all around for the whole team," Happ said. "Jonny fought hard and pitched a heck of a game, and everybody did their part on offense."

Chicago scored a run in each of the first four innings, then scored two in the fifth for a 6-1 lead. Almora's homer made it 8-1 in the seventh.

"We put up that picket fence early," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "We could have scored a lot more runs. We left a lot of chicken on the bone."

Chicago left seven on and was 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position.

Pittsburgh (67-74) added a run in the eighth on Jordan Luplow's RBI double.

Lester (10-7), in his second start after coming off the disabled list, gave up one run and five hits in his six innings. He set the Pirates down in order in the fifth and sixth. He walked four and struck out five.

"The first couple innings, (I was) able to get ahead of guys, just wasn't really able to get them out as quickly as we would have liked to," Lester said. "Whether that's a little bit of rust or being too fine, I don't know, but we got through it and a couple good defensive plays helped."

Lester kept the Pirates off-balance.

"Veteran guy making pitches," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "We had some punch-outs looking. You normally want to get guys on and run them into the barrel. You have to put some balls in play."

Pittsburgh starter Jameson Taillon (7-6) gave up six runs and 11 hits in 4 2/3 innings, with one walk and three strikeouts. Taillon hasn't won since Aug. 11 but was coming off a no-decision against Cincinnati in which he pitched six scoreless innings.

"Frustrating, I guess, is probably the best word," Taillon said. "I felt strong. I felt great. But no one cares how you feel. You've got to go out, get results and get guys out. I feel great, but they were just hitting every single mistake I made."

Hurdle said earlier that Taillon, 25, might be asked to skip his next start or perhaps even get shut down for the rest of the season.

Maddon can see why.

"That kid's so good," Maddon said. "He might be losing a little steam right now. He wasn't as sharp as I've seen him in the past."

Chicago got the leadoff batter on base in four of the five innings Taillon started.

In the first, Happ singled to right, went to third on Kris Bryant's double off the wall in right and scored on Rizzo's sacrifice fly.

The Cubs made it 2-0 when Javier Baez led off the second with a double to the corner in left, went to third on a grounder and scored on Rene Rivera's sacrifice bunt. Taillon fielded the bunt but twisted his body awkwardly and stumbled a bit as he turned to make the throw to first. He was briefly seen by a trainer.

Taillon might have had an RBI in the second, but Happ scooped up his single to shallow center and gunned down Jordy Mercer trying to score from second.

"How about the throw to the plate?" Maddon said. "I didn't really pick up on how tight he was until once he made the throw."

Happ led off the third with a double high off the wall in right and, an out later, scored on Rizzo's single up the middle for a 3-0 lead.

Pittsburgh scored in the third to make it 3-1. Starling Marte and Max Moroff walked and moved up on Andrew McCutchen's groundout. Marte scored on Josh Bell's groundout.

Chicago increased its lead to 4-1 in the fourth on Lester's RBI double after back-to-back, one-out singles by Jason Heyward and Rivera.

In the fifth, Baez drove in a run with a sacrifice bunt and Heyward rapped an RBI double for a 6-1 lead as Chicago chased Taillon.

NOTES: The start was delayed 53 minutes by rain. ... Pittsburgh RHP George Kontos (groin) was reinstated from the disabled list. ... Pittsburgh RF Gregory Polanco (hamstring) and INF/OF Adam Frazier (hamstring) could come off the DL on Friday for the series opener at St. Louis, manager Clint Hurdle said. ... Chicago begins an important NL Central series Friday against Milwaukee. RHP John Lackey (11-10, 4.74 ERA) faces the Brewers RHP Jimmy Nelson (11-6, 3.59) in the opener.

Indians defeat White Sox for record 15th straight win

(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- As dominant of a pitcher as Corey Kluber may be, when the Cleveland Indians ace is provided with an early dose of offense, he becomes even more dangerous.

And at a time when the Indians already seem untouchable, lights-out pitching and timely hitting are proving to be a winning combination.

Kluber struck out 13, and Erik Gonzalez hit two of Cleveland's five homers as the Indians won a franchise-record 15th straight game, beating the Chicago White Sox 11-2 on Thursday night.

The Indians won 14 straight last season, and they became the first team since the 1935-36 Chicago Cubs to win 14 or more consecutive games in back-to-back seasons.

Edwin Encarnacion, Francisco Lindor and Greg Allen also went deep for the Indians.

Kluber (15-4) cruised after the Indians jumped out to an early 4-0 lead and kept adding to it with the collection of home runs.

"When you've got a guy like Kluber on the mound and you score early, man, it sure makes you feel good," Indians manager Terry Francona said.

As good as Francona may have felt about Thursday's team record-setting result that comes a season after the Indians won an American League pennant, he and his team aren't getting too wrapped up with such things.

"One game at a time," Kluber said of the Indians' approach. "It sounds boring, but that's what we're doing -- coming to the field every day prepared to win that day's ballgame."

Kluber, who struck out at least 10 for the 14th time this season, allowed three hits and two runs while walking one over seven innings. He retired 20 of the final 22 hitters he faced.

Gonzalez, who homered in the third and ninth innings, drove in four runs. Allen hit his first career home run as part of a three-run seventh inning. Lindor went 3-for-6 with three runs and finished a double shy of hitting for the cycle.

It was more than enough for Kluber, who recovered after giving up a pair of solo home runs in the first inning.

"(It was just about) adjusting to what their approach was," Kluber said. "I just kind of felt like they were swinging at every pitch hoping it was going to be a fastball, but when we went to more off-speed, it took them awhile to make the adjustment."

The Indians jumped on White Sox emergency starter Mike Pelfrey (3-11) for four first-inning runs. After Lindor's leadoff triple, Austin Jackson followed with an RBI double. Pelfrey then walked Yandy Diaz before Encarnacion hit a three-run home run to stake Cleveland to a 4-0 lead.

Lindor led off the second inning with a solo home run before Gonzalez drilled a two-run homer off Pelfrey in the third inning to extend the lead to 7-2.

Pelfrey, who started after left-hander Carlos Rodon was forced to miss his scheduled start with shoulder stiffness, gave up seven runs and eight hits over four innings. Pelfrey struck out four and walked three.

Rodon said after the game that his shoulder didn't feel right while he was warming up. He felt tightness and knew he couldn't go.

That forced manager Rick Renteria's hand.

"You hate to use a guy and wear him out, but (Pelfrey) was going to eat up as many pitches as he could, hold as many innings as he could get through," Renteria said.

The White Sox got on the board in the first inning when Yolmer Sanchez and Jose Abreu each both hit solo home runs. But it was far from being enough to slow down the Indians, who will look to extend their winning streak on Friday at home against the Baltimore Orioles after going 11-0 on the road trip that concluded Thursday night.

"It's lots of fun," Lindor said. "We've won lots of game because everybody is contributing and everybody is doing what they're supposed to do. The whole team is having fun -- it's not just one player."

NOTES: Indians 3B Yandy Diaz left the game due to a left elbow contusion after being hit by a pitch. ... Cleveland 3B Jose Ramirez missed the game with a sore right wrist. Manager Terry Francona said Ramirez could miss a couple of games. ... RHP Jake Petricka was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a right elbow strain. Manager Rick Renteria said he was uncertain whether Petricka, who is 1-1 with a 7.01 ERA in 27 appearances, would return this season. ... White Sox OF Willy Garcia was sent on a rehabilitation assignment to Class A Kannapolis. Garcia has been on the DL since Aug. 1 after sustaining a concussion following a collision with teammate Yoan Moncada.

Cubs beat Pirates 1-0 on Avila's triple in ninth

(TSX / STATS) -- PITTSBURGH -- It wasn't a trick question. Just an inquiry about an unusual situation.

So, Alex Avila, how many broken-bat triples have you had in your career?

"Not many," Avila said, shaking his head. "I haven't broken many bats (at all), either."

Avila hit just such a liner down the right-field line in the ninth inning Wednesday night. It drove in the only run to break up a pitchers' duel as well as Chicago's three-game losing streak, lifting the Cubs to a 1-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.

Anthony Rizzo drew a one-out walk against Pittsburgh reliever Daniel Hudson (2-6) in the ninth. Pinch-runner Leonys Martin stole second, and after Ian Happ struck out, Avila drove in the winner.

Chicago (76-63) has a chance to split the four-game series Thursday. The Pirates (67-73) saw their four-game win streak end.

Pedro Strop (4-4) pitched the eighth inning for the win. Wade Davis tossed the ninth for his 29th save.

Pitching was the story for most of the game as starters Gerrit Cole and Jose Quintana matched shutout innings.

Cole, the Pittsburgh starter, in particular, was stellar. He pitched eight scoreless innings, giving up two hits -- an infield single by Javier Baez in the second and a broken-bat single to left by Jon Jay in the eighth. He struck out eight and walked four, throwing 108 pitches.

"Cole pretty much had no-hit stuff," said Avila, who struck out two of the three times he face Cole. "The way he was locating with 97 (mph on his fastball), slider, curveball, he was excellent. You just had a feeling that we weren't going to have many opportunities against him. If he made a mistake, we weren't able to capitalize on it.

"He had unbelievable stuff. Just try to outlast him and keep the game where it was until we got into their bullpen and see if we got an opportunity there."

It was a strong bounce-back effort from Cole's previous start, when he gave up five earned runs in six innings against the Cincinnati Reds, but he still hasn't won at PNC Park since June 13.

"I was able to get the pitch count back down in the middle innings," Cole said. "They needed to try to put something together and we just kept making good pitches early in the count and got rewarded for it."

Quintana, who won three of his previous four starts, threw six scoreless innings. He allowed six hits and one walk with six strikeouts. He threw 105 pitches.

"I felt pretty good," Quintana said. "It was a battle, a really good game, both starters. My mind was, 'Keep the game close.'"

The Cubs had runners on first and second in each of the first two innings. After back-to-back one-out walks in the first, Cole got Rizzo to ground into a double play.

The Cubs got a two-out walk and Baez's infield single in the second before Cole struck out Quintana.

Cole, particularly in the first, showed some frustration with the calls from plate umpire Paul Nauert.

"It wasn't like he wasn't efficient in the first," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. "There was some calls that could have gone our way and could have shortened that inning up. To make the pitch to get out of that inning was pretty impressive, as well, and then he just stayed on a roll."

Quintana's strikeout was the start of Cole's string of setting down 14 Cubs in a row, until Happ drew a one-out walk in the seventh. Happ advanced to second on a grounder but was stranded.

Pittsburgh got runners to first and second with two outs in the fourth, but Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant made a leaping snag of a liner by Jordy Mercer to end the inning.

"You have to pitch better than good pitching to win. We did," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "That's exactly what happened.

"We had a real (good) level of mental energy; it's just that their pitcher was that good."

NOTES: Pittsburgh RF Gregory Polanco and INF/OF Adam Frazier, both on the disabled list with hamstring injuries, ran the bases. ... Pittsburgh C Francisco Cervelli (left quadriceps) has hit a plateau in his rehab. ... Pittsburgh RHP George Kontos (groin) threw a simulated game Tuesday with no problems afterward or Wednesday. ... Pittsburgh RHP Ivan Nova is expected to start Sunday at St. Louis after his spot was skipped Tuesday so he could regroup. ... Chicago C Willson Contreras (hamstring) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Thursday with high Class-A Myrtle Beach. ... Cubs 2B Ben Zobrist was given the night off from the starting lineup in favor of Tommy La Stella, who went 0-for-3. ... Chicago hired former major leaguer Will Venable as a special assistant to the president and general manager.

Indians extend win streak to 14 behind Carrasco 3-hitter

(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- Carlos Carrasco delivered a three-hitter as the Cleveland Indians claimed a landmark victory on Wednesday night.

The Indians tied a franchise record with their 14th consecutive victory, beating the Chicago White Sox 5-1 at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Carrasco came within one out of a memorable shutout performance before giving up a two-out, ninth-inning home run to Adam Engel.

However, Carrasco hardly disappointed with the body of work.

"Everything was good today ... fastball, curve, slider," he said. "But as I said before, I think it was more important that we won the game."

Carrasco (14-6) struck out nine, walked none and threw 97 pitches.

Indians catcher Roberto Perez was disappointed that the shutout slipped away.

"I wanted to call a shutout," he said, "but (Carrasco) was awesome tonight. They got two (early) base hits, but right after those two base hits, we got a double play. He made pitches when we needed to, and we got out of trouble."

Cleveland (83-56) improved to a season-high 27 games above .500 and remained 11 games ahead of the second-place Minnesota Twins in the American League Central.

"This shows what kind of team we are and how we're playing baseball," Perez said. "We're having fun out there and competing. It's fun when guys grind out at-bats, try to get on base and take advantage of the opportunities."

Chicago (54-84) dropped its third straight.

Tyler Naquin's fourth-inning sacrifice fly brought home Carlos Santana. In the eighth, Santana padded the lead with a two-run homer, his 23rd long ball of the season.

White Sox starter Reynaldo Lopez (0-3) worked six innings, allowing one run, six hits and two walks with two strikeouts.

"He did a great job today. The numbers looked good, they could have been even better," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "As well as Lopey threw well, the game just didn't look clean, and our guys know it."

The Indians collected eight hits, three from Santana, who also walked.

With Cleveland up 1-0, Francisco Lindor's bid to double the lead was denied in the seventh. A potential home run was grabbed over the top of the left field fence by Nicky Delmonico.

Santana greeted reliever Danny Farquhar with a towering two-run homer to right with no outs in the eighth inning, driving in Edwin Encarnacion a 3-0 lead.

Farquhar went on to load the bases -- still with no outs -- for Perez, who reached based on an error while grounding into a fielder's choice. Greg Allen scored from third for a 4-0 lead.

Farquhar departed for right-hander Dylan Covey, who gave up a final run as Allen grounded into a ninth-inning fielder's choice to score Jose Ramirez.

Cleveland came up short on two early scoring opportunities.

The Indians had Lonnie Chisenhall at third with one out in the first but couldn't bring him home.

In the second, Naquin doubled up the middle with one out, moving Yandy Diaz to third. But Perez struck out looking and Lindor popped out along the third base line.

Santana led off the Indians' fourth with a single to center, reached second on a Diaz base hit and moved to third on a wild pitch -- all with no outs. This time, the Indians produced a run as Naquin's sacrifice to left brought Santana home for a 1-0 lead.

Carrasco, meanwhile, kept the White Sox off the bases, retiring the first 12 batters he faced and striking out the side in the fourth.

Carrasco gave up a base hit up the middle to Avisail Garcia to open the fifth, but Garcia was snuffed out on a subsequent double-play grounder by Delmonico.

"There are games -- not a ton -- over the course of a year when everything falls into place," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "Tonight, everything was working for (Carrasco)."

Cleveland set a team record for consecutive victories in 2016, winning 14 straight between June 17 and July 1.

NOTES: The Indians are an major-league-best 35-11 since July 21 and 10-0 on their road trip that ends Thursday in Chicago. ... Cleveland will open a 10-game homestead on Friday, starting with a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles. ... The Indians send RHP Corey Kluber (14-4, 2.56 ERA) against White Sox LHP Carlos Rodon (2-5, 4.15) on Thursday in the teams' final meeting of the season. ... RHP Michael Kopech, among top prospects in the White Sox organization, visited Guaranteed Rate Field. "I brought my glove if they need me," he said. ... Before the game, the White Sox reinstated INF/OF Nicky Delmonico (sprained right wrist) from the 10-day disabled list.

Indians win 13th straight, pound White Sox

(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- Cleveland Indians starter Danny Salazar didn't last an inning in his first game back off the disabled list.

Fortunately the bullpen -- seven different relievers -- stepped into the breach as the Indians beat the Chicago White Sox 9-4 on Tuesday for their 13th straight victory.

Cleveland (82-56) used four home runs -- including a pair from Jose Ramirez -- to account for most of its runs.

"You never want to see your starter struggle, obviously he's coming off an injury and we really didn't know what to expect," said right-handed reliever Dan Otero, who pitched the second and third innings and eventually claimed the victory. "But we're prepared for anything from the first pitch on. These situations arise and you can't mope. You have to go in there and pitch."

Salazar, activated from the 10-day disabled list (right elbow inflammation) after missing two turns, lasted only two-thirds of an inning and was charged with all four Chicago runs.

"If there's a hiccup along the way, you've probably got a pretty good chance of losing," said Indians manager Terry Francona.

But the Cleveland bullpen collectively turned in a shutout over the next 8 1/3 innings while giving up nine hits, striking out nine walking three.

Jose Ramirez homered twice while Austin Jackson and Yan Gomes each added solo shots as the Indians moved one win shy of matching the franchise's all-time winning streak of 14, set between June 17-July 1, 2016.

Chicago (54-83) dropped its second straight.

Ramirez went 2-for-5 while Edwin Encarnacion and Carlos Santana also had two hits apiece.

Rob Brantly, Avisail Garcia and Tim Anderson each had a pair of hits for the White Sox.

Otero (3-0), the third of eight Indians pitchers, earned the victory in a two-inning effort. He allowed two hits and struck out one.

White Sox starter David Holmberg (2-4) took the loss after working three innings. It was his first start since June 26.

Gomes closed the Cleveland scoring with a three-run homer -- his 11th of the season -- with two out in the ninth off White Sox reliever Chris Beck. The homer brought home Santana and Lonnie Chisenhall.

The Indians opened a 2-0 lead with back-to-back first inning solo home runs from

Jackson and Ramirez. Jackson's homer to left was his seventh.

It was third time this season Cleveland has homered in consecutive at-bats.

Encarnacion scored from third to make it 3-0 on Brandon Guyer's fielder's choice grounder to short.

But the lead was short-lived.

Salazar gave up a fielder's choice grounder to Jose Abreu that allowed Yolmer Sanchez to score from third.

Matt Davidson then clubbed his 24th homer of the season, a two-out shot that brought home Garcia and Brantley for a 4-3 Chicago lead.

"They jumped ahead and then we came back," said White Sox manager Rick Renteria. "They went nine up to the plate in the first and we did the same thing. We were able to capitalize on the long ball that Matty (Davidson) hit and we were right there."

Salazar, quickly pulled for right-hander Nick Goody, threw 26 pitches and allowed four earned runs on one hit, walked two, hit a batter and struck out one in 2/3 of an inning of work.

"(Salazar's) arm feels good because he was firing it," said Francona. "He just had no idea where it was going. He had no feel for his changeup and he was erratic with his fastball."

Goody walked two more before Adam Engel flied out to end a 46-minute first inning.

Ramirez slugged his 25th home run and second of the game with two out in the second, a solo shot to left off Holmberg to force a 4-4 tie. It was sixth career multi-homer game, all this season.

Greg Allen doubled in Guyer and Gomes in the third for a 6-4 Cleveland lead. Allen was caught in a rundown while trying to stretch the hit into a triple.

Holmberg lasted three innings, allowing six runs on six hits. He walked four and struck out two.

NOTES: Starting pitcher Danny Salazar was among three Cleveland transactions Tuesday. They also called up RHP Shawn Armstrong and OF Tyler Naquin from Triple-A Columbus. ... The Indians send RHP Carlos Carrasco (13-6, 3.67 ERA) against White Sox RHP Reynaldo Lopez (0-2, 6.06) in Wednesday's middle game. ... OF Eloy Jimenez was named the White Sox Minor League Player of the Month while RHP Michael Kopech was named Pitcher of the Month on Tuesday. ... Chicago reinstated INF Yoan Moncada from the 10-day disabled list (bone contusion of the right shin) and inserted him in the lineup. The White Sox also called up LHP Jace Fry from Double-A Birmingham and requested waivers on LHP Derek Holland. Fry made his big league and faced three ninth inning batters, giving up a single to one and walking another.

Freese caps Pirates' comeback vs. Cubs

(TSX / STATS) -- PITTSBURGH -- The Chicago Cubs' roller-coaster season hit another dip Tuesday.

After losing their previous two games, the Cubs seemed set up for a relatively painless win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Then the eighth inning happened.

That's when David Freese singled to cap a 4-3 comeback victory for the Pirates over the Cubs.

With Chicago leading 3-2 in the eighth, the Pirates tied it 3-3 when Max Moroff lifted a single into left field to score John Jaso from third. Moroff spoiled a strong effort from Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks, who allowed two runs and five hits with two strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.

"Good hitting by Marte, a softy by Moroff and all of a sudden we're in trouble," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "You think you can at least get out of it with a tied game, but Freese hits a bullet up the middle and that's it."

Freese singled to center to drive in Moroff from second, handing right-handed reliever Carl Edwards Jr. (3-4) the loss.

"I didn't really know if he was going to drop the curveball in," Freese said, "chose to stay hard and got a good swing on it."

Left-handed reliever Wade LeBlanc (5-2) pitched three perfect innings for the win and closer Felipe Rivero pitched a perfect ninth for his 18th save.

"We pitched well enough to stay in the hunt and in the game, and then found a way late," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "It was a fun game to watch and we just stayed after it."

Pittsburgh (67-72) extended its winning streak to four games.

The Cubs (75-63), who scored one run in the first inning and two in the third, have lost their past three games.

After winning six straight from Aug. 28 to Sept. 2, they lost 12-0 to the Pirates on Monday, one day after losing 5-1 to the Atlanta Braves.

"It's just been that kind of year, but we're good where we are right now," Hendricks said. "We just have to keep taking it day to day. Not every year is going to be like last year. I think we moved on from that. We know that. It was just such a special year for us.

"His is baseball. This is how you play. Those teams are good that we're playing against and they're bringing their best."

Before it seemed like it would come to an end, the Pirates' attempt at extending their winning streak started well.

Rookie right fielder Jordan Luplow gave Pittsburgh a 2-1 lead in the second inning with a two-run homer, the second home run of his career. Luplow previously homered against the Cincinnati Reds on Sept. 2, when he had three RBIs.

That lead didn't last, though. Ian Happ drove in two runs with a single to center in the third to put the Cubs ahead 3-2.

Chicago had a chance to break the game open later in the inning when Pirates starter Steven Brault hit Victor Caratini to load the bases with one out. Rene Rivera flied out to right and Hendricks grounded out to leave the runners stranded.

The Cubs took a 1-0 lead when Ben Zobrist scored Jon Jay on a sacrifice fly in the first inning.

Brault made his first major league start after 14 relief appearances for the Pirates during the past two seasons. He allowed three runs and eight hits in five innings.

"There were some times that I felt really good, but things didn't quite go as I would like to," Brault said. "Gave up some soft hits, gave up some beats. Overall, I felt pretty good. It was a good place to start."

NOTES: Cubs C Taylor Davis was recalled from Triple-A Iowa. The 27-year-old hit .297 with six home runs and 62 RBIs in 102 games with Iowa this season. ... Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo and RF Jason Heyward each didn't start after going 0-for-4 in Chicago's 12-0 loss Monday. ... The Pirates skipped RHP Ivan Nova's scheduled start and instead decided to go with LHP Steven Brault, who made his first MLB start. Nova has lost six of his past seven decisions dating to July 23. ... The Pirates announced the signing of general manager Neil Huntington and manager Clint Hurdle to four-year contract extensions. Hurdle is 576-534 in seven seasons as Pirates manager.

Cubs brush off loss to Reds

(TSX / STATS) -- CINCINNATI -- The Thursday night loss was a tough one to swallow for the Chicago Cubs, but they maintained the usual positive spin.

"We're the team in first place," Chicago starter Jake Arrieta said. "We won five in a row, lost a tough one tonight. We go into Philly still feeling pretty good about where we're at."

The Cubs led by a run through seven innings, but Jose Peraza drove in the tying and go-ahead runs with a pinch-hit, bases-loaded double in the eighth, lifting the Cincinnati Reds to a 4-2 victory at Great American Ball Park.

The Reds avoided a sweep in the three-game series.

With two outs in the eighth and Pedro Strop (3-4) on the mound for the Cubs, Eugenio Suarez was intentionally walked to load the bases. Peraza crushed a ball to center that eluded Ian Happ and bounced over the wall for a ground-rule double, driving in two runs to put Cincinnati ahead.

"He's a really good pitcher with a good fastball," Peraza said of Strop. "I worked in the cage getting ready for an at-bat. Just trying to see the ball and get a good swing."

Rather than double-switch for a more adept center fielder in Albert Almora Jr., Cubs manager Joe Maddon chose to keep Happ in center. Replays indicated that Peraza's drive would have been a tough catch for anyone.

"It would have been a tremendous play," Maddon said. "Two outs and nobody on, and (Strop is) throwing the ball great. That was the last thing we saw coming."

Suarez later scored on Strop's wild pitch to give the Reds a two-run cushion.

Raisel Iglesias blanked the Cubs in the ninth for his 24th save.

Michael Lorenzen (8-2) struck out three in a scoreless top of the eighth to earn the victory. Lorenzen was hit hard in two of his previous three outings.

"Good to see him back out there being the vintage Lorenzen," Reds manager Bryan Price said.

Happ homered for Chicago (68-58), which had its five-game winning streak snapped. The Cubs lead the second-place Milwaukee Brewers by three games in the National League Central heading into a three-game weekend series against the Phillies.

"We still won the series, we've won five of six," Maddon said. "We did a lot of good things again tonight and they got us at the end."

With two outs in the sixth, the Reds chose to intentionally walk Happ after Reds starter Sal Romano fell behind three balls and no strikes. However, Javier Baez came through with a sharp single to left, driving home Kris Bryant to put Chicago ahead 2-1.

Cincinnati (54-74) nearly tied the score in the bottom of the sixth when Zack Cozart singled and sprinted toward home on Joey Votto's double. A perfect relay from Baez nabbed Cozart at home for the first out of the inning.

Romano retired the Cubs in order on only nine pitches in the first inning.

With one out in the second, Happ launched Romano's first pitch into the right field seats, putting the Cubs ahead 1-0. Happ, a University of Cincinnati product, has 19 home runs in 83 games during his rookie season.

Romano yielded two runs, six hits and three walks while striking out seven in seven innings. The bullpen then helped set up a much-needed victory for Cincinnati.

"He was on the attack," Price said of Romano. "He was very aggressive in the zone. He got clipped for a solo homer but was really good after that. Had a nice feel for the changeup and breaking ball."

Arrieta struck out the first four batters he faced and had six through three innings.

There were a couple hard-hit balls in the span. Bryant made a diving catch on Suarez's line drive to end the second inning. Jesse Winker's drive to left field in the third pushed Kyle Schwarber back to the wall.

Arrieta's no-hit bid lasted until the fourth when Votto's one-out RBI single drove home Zack Cozart, who reached second on Bryant's error at third base. The hit tied the score 1-1.

Arrieta allowed one run (unearned), four hits and three walks while striking out eight in 5 2/3 innings.

"Jake was really good tonight," Maddon said. "Stropie was perfect until it all fell apart."

NOTES: Cubs LHP Jon Lester remains on schedule to throw a bullpen session Friday in Philadelphia. He has been on the disabled list with lat tightness and shoulder fatigue. ... Cubs 3B Kris Bryant returned to the lineup after missing the Wednesday game. He was hit on the left hand by a pitch in the ninth inning Tuesday. On Thursday, Bryant went 1-for-3 with a walk and a double. ... Reds C Stuart Turner is expected to go on the paternity list Friday when his wife is scheduled to be induced. ... Reds 1B Joey Votto has reached base in 28 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the major leagues.

Holland pitches White Sox to victory over Twins

(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- Even when he was off his game, Chicago White Sox left-hander Derek Holland knew he wasn't that far away from where he wanted to be.

Despite his struggles, Holland attempted to remain positive, believing that if he kept chipping away, everything would come together at some point.

On Thursday night against the Minnesota Twins, everything finally clicked.

Holland allowed just one run over six innings, and the White Sox gave him with plenty of offensive support in a 5-1 victory over the Twins.

"I didn't let (the struggles) affect me -- obviously, I was frustrated, but the main thing was, I kept plugging away," said Holland, who allowed three hits, walked four and struck out five. "It can be a lonely place when you're struggling like that, but the main thing is you've got to stay positive no matter what."

Yolmer Sanchez homered and Kevan Smith had an RBI double for the White Sox, who also capitalized on some sloppy play by the Twins to build their lead and finish off the five-game series with back-to-back victories.

Chicago took three of five against Minnesota.

Holland (7-13) won for just the second time in his past 13 outings. He surrendered Minnesota's lone run on a Byron Buxton home run in the sixth inning.

The Twins put runners on second and third with one out in the ninth inning, but Juan Minaya pitched out of trouble to preserve the victory as the White Sox.

Minnesota heads to Toronto attempting to get things back on track after dropping the series to the last-place White Sox.

"Just not enough offense the last couple of nights," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "They outplayed us, we made mistakes, and they took advantage and we just couldn't get back in the game."

Jose Berrios (11-6) took the loss after allowing five runs (three earned) over 5 1/3 innings. Berrios struck out nine and walked three while giving up only four hits. He was let down more than once by Minnesota's defense.

Sanchez gave Chicago a 1-0 lead with two outs in the second inning when he hit a solo shot for his seventh home run of the season.

The White Sox took advantage of two Twins errors to score three runs in the fourth inning and build a 4-0 lead.

After Yoan Moncada walked and stole second, the rookie second baseman scored when Nicky Delmonico reached on an error by first baseman Mitch Garver.

Smith and Sanchez followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases before Tim Anderson drove in Delmonico with a fielder's choice grounder. Smith scored on Berrios' wild pick-off attempt.

"Hopefully, there's a little lesson learned here -- you've got to have that intensity from the first inning," Molitor said. "We have to come out ready to play from the get-go."

The White Sox did just that, and once they built up the lead, Holland took over and finally put together the kind of start he has been looking for in a season full of frustrating disappointments.

The Thursday game marked the kind of turnaround Holland -- and the White Sox -- have been waiting for from the veteran lefty.

"He did a nice job keeping us in the ballgame," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "He gave up a solo homer, but other than that, he had three walks, struck out two or three, induced a few double plays. Honestly, he seemed pretty much in control the whole ballgame, even though he worked in a little bit of traffic, got out of it. He looked a lot more comfortable out there today."

NOTES: Chicago RF Leury Garcia left the game in the third inning due to back stiffness. He is considered day-to-day. ... White Sox 2B Yoan Moncada exited the game with shin splints in his right leg, an ailment Moncada told reporters Wednesday he expected to linger the rest of the season. ... Twins C Jason Castro was placed on the seven-day disabled list with a concussion after being hit by several foul balls on his catcher's mask Wednesday. Manager Paul Molitor said backup Chris Gimenez and rookie Mitch Garver would split the catching duties until Castro returns. OF Zack Granite was called from Triple-A Rochester to fill the roster spot. ... White Sox RF Avisail Garcia missed Thursday's game after his wife gave birth to their second child earlier in the day. Manager Rick Renteria said Garcia should be available to play o

Cubs beat Reds for fifth straight win

(TSX / STATS) -- CINCINNATI -- Chicago Cubs left-hander Mike Montgomery believes his future in the major leagues is as a starting pitcher. Manager Joe Maddon agrees. On Wednesday night, Montgomery did nothing to dispel that notion.

Kyle Schwarber hit a three-run home run, Tommy La Stella added a two-run shot, and Montgomery allowed four hits through six innings, lifting the Chicago Cubs to their fifth straight win, a 9-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.

Montgomery (4-6), who moved into the rotation when Jon Lester went on the disabled list, is considered a candidate to be in the starting rotation for the Cubs in 2018. For now, he is content with his role as a spot starter and reliever.

"Since day one I came over here, they've been telling me I'm a starter," Montgomery said. "I think I am as well. Whatever is best for the team, that's the mentality I've taken. That's how I've been able to transition back and forth."

On Wednesday, Montgomery issued one walk and struck out four. He retired 10 of the final 11 batters. His 89 pitches were the second-most he has thrown this season.

"He's a ground-ball machine," Maddon said. "Fastball command. When he gets ahead in the count, he can force hitters to put the ball in play. I'm not surprised by this at all. He's very capable."

Chicago (68-57) moved to a season-high 11 games over the .500 mark and now owns a season-high 3 1/2-game lead over second-place Milwaukee in the National League Central.

The Cubs played without third baseman Kris Bryant, who was hit on the hand by a pitch during the ninth inning on Tuesday night. But La Stella took over for Bryant at third base and went 1-for-2 with a homer, two RBIs and a walk. He reached base four times.

Cincinnati (53-74) has lost three straight games and has dropped nine of the past 12 series against Chicago.

Joey Votto hit a solo homer in the ninth, his 33rd of the season, off Hector Rondon, helping the Reds avoid their fourth shutout loss this season and third at home.

Cincinnati wasn't finished with Rondon, who allowed back-to-back homers by Eugenio Suarez and Scott Schebler before recording the final out.

It was the 24th homer of the season for both Suarez and Schebler.

"Rondon did what he's supposed to do in that situation," said Maddon. "Throw strikes."

Reds starter Asher Wojciechowski (3-3) needed 35 pitches to get through the first inning. He walked three, including La Stella with the bases loaded to force in a run.

Jason Heyward's RBI single coupled with a throwing error by Reds left fielder Adam Duvall scored two runs, putting the Cubs ahead 3-0.

"Helps when you get a three-run lead before you even go out there," Montgomery said. "The offense has been unbelievable for us the past week or so. Hopefully, we can keep it going."

Heyward came through again in the third when he drove home Anthony Rizzo, who had doubled, with another RBI hit, putting Chicago ahead 4-0.

Wojciechowski allowed eight runs (seven earned) in 3 2/3 innings.

"That first inning set the tone," said Reds manager Bryan Price. "He was up in the zone. You're in the first inning and you're down 3-0, there's not much room for error."

Montgomery induced 11 ground-ball outs, none bigger than one to end the third inning when shortstop Javier Baez made a sliding stab of Votto's hard grounder to start a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning after the Reds had runners on first and second.

"That was unbelievable," Montgomery said. "For him to backhand it, then for us to be able to turn the double play. Such a boost."

Schwarber then launched a three-run, opposite-field homer, his 21st of the season, to make the score 7-0. There was a 1-minute, 14-second crew chief review to determine the ball did clear the left field wall.

"That first half is a complete wash for me," said Schwarber. "I've felt a lot better at the plate recently, hitting the ball hard the last couple of days. Got to take those. Don't worry about the result, worry about the process and hit it where it's at."

Chicago led 9-0 in the fourth after La Stella hit a two-run homer, his third of the season, off right-hander Alejandro Chacin, who was making his major league debut.

"We grew from struggling in the first half," Montgomery said. "It's all about getting to the playoffs. We're completely over last year now. We're having fun."

NOTES: Cubs LHP Jon Lester threw on the side on Wednesday and is expected to throw a bullpen session on Friday in Philadelphia. Next steps will be determined after Friday's bullpen. Lester is on the disabled list with lat tightness and shoulder fatigue. ... Reds RHP Luke Farrell was recalled from Triple-A Louisville and RHP Alejandro Chacin had his contract selected from Louisville. The Reds also optioned OF Phillip Ervin to Triple-A, and RHP Blake Wood was designated for assignment. Farrell allowed one hit over three innings in his Reds debut.

Anderson's walk-off single lifts White Sox over Twins

(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- Rick Renteria said he was pulling for just this kind of outcome Wednesday night.

With the Chicago White Sox locked in a 3-3 tie with the Minnesota Twins in the ninth inning, Tim Anderson lined a single to left to score Avisail Garcia with the winning run for a 4-3 walk-off victory.

"It's a confidence builder when you get a big hit," said Renteria, the White Sox manager. "We were sitting in there with the last at-bat going and we really wanted this for Timmy. It's a big situation, see how he does and fortunately he was able to get it through the infield."

Anderson sent a 1-0 pitch from Trevor Hildenberger (2-2) with one out in the ninth inning for his first career game-ending hit.

Right-handed reliever Danny Farquhar (3-2) worked a scoreless inning for the win.

Garcia led off the bottom of the ninth with a single to right and reached second on Kevan Smith's sacrifice bunt. An intentional walk to Yolmer Sanchez set the stage for Anderson.

Chicago (49-76) snapped a two-game slide and Minnesota (65-61) saw its two-game winning streak end.

Twins starter Ervin Santana allowed two runs (one earned), scattered three hits and a walk and struck out eight in seven innings.

He almost went eight innings.

"My gut told me after the tough seventh, pitching out of a jam, we could have sent him back out for the eighth," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "I just thought after the seventh, that was a good job getting out of that. I just wanted to turn it over, six outs to go."

The White Sox's James Shields yielded three runs, three hits and two walks while striking out six in six innings.

"He's pitched really, really well," Renteria said. "His ability to share things with the other (younger) guys is really important. It's kind of a two-pronged benefit to us at this particular time and we're going to take advantage of it."

Minnesota snapped a 1-1 tie with two runs in the sixth.

Brian Dozier walked, reached third on Joe Mauer's base hit to right and scored on Jorge Polanco's single to left.

With runners at second and third, a Shields wild pitch got past Smith at the plate and Mauer sprinted home for a 3-1 lead. Polanco reached third on the same play, but Shields struck out Byron Buxton to end the threat.

Leury Garcia launched a towering solo home run to right -- his ninth homer of the season -- to trim the deficit to 3-2 with one out in the White Sox sixth.

Twins left-hander Taylor Rogers entered in relief in the eighth and gave up back-to-back doubles, including a run-scoring two-base hit by Yoan Moncada that drove in Garcia for a 3-3 tie with one out.

"He got the first out, got 0-2 on the next guy, but 0-2 doubles hurt," Molitor said. "Then we got ahead of Moncada there, but he got enough for it to get down the line."

Santana struck out five of the first eight batters he faced and didn't give up a hit until Alen Hanson's two-out triple down the right field line in the third inning. The White Sox left fielder then scored on a throwing error by Polanco.

Shields, meanwhile, retired 11 straight batters and struck out four while no balls left the infield.

That sequence ended when Polanco made up for his earlier mistake and lined a 1-1 pitch to right for his seventh homer of the season. The two-out shot forced a 1-1 tie and marked the fourth consecutive game he hit a home run.

NOTES: The Twins called up RHP John Curtis from Triple-A Rochester and designated RHP Tim Melville (0-1) for assignment. ... Minnesota RHP Jose Berrios (11-5, 3.99 ERA) opposes White Sox LHP Derek Holland (6-13, 6.07) on Thursday in the finale of the five-game series. The series is tied 2-2. ... Chicago sent 3B Matt Davidson to Triple-A Charlotte on an rehab assignment. He went on the disabled list Aug. 8 (retroactive to Aug. 4) with a right wrist contusion. ... Chicago's Alen Hanson played left field Wednesday. He also has played right and center field, second and third base, shortstop and served as designated hitter this season. ... The teams meet for the final time this season Aug. 29-31 at Target Field in Minneapolis.

Zobrist fuels Cubs' comeback win over Reds

(TSX / STATS) -- CINCINNATI -- It was the stuff of nightmares for Ben Zobrist, but ultimately the Chicago Cubs produced a dreamy result on Tuesday night.

Zobrist drove in the go-ahead runs with a pinch-hit, two-run double in the seventh inning as the Cubs rallied for a 13-9 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a three-game series at Great American Ball Park.

"It was a relief," said Zobrist, when asked to describe his emotions while standing on second base. "We won, and I was able to contribute something."

Zobrist arrived at Great American Ball Park about an hour before the game, around three hours later than usual.

He spent more than an hour haggling with a rental car company, then fought heavy traffic en route to Cincinnati from his hometown of Nashville, where he spent the off day on Monday.

"I was frustrated for about seven hours today," he said. "I'm just glad I made it."

When it became apparent Zobrist wasn't going to make it to the ballpark on time, Cubs manager Joe Maddon put Ian Happ into the lineup at second base, batting fifth.

When Zobrist finally arrived, Maddon told him, "'You're going to play the role of Dan Johnson tonight.' He was Dan Johnson tonight."

In 2008, Johnson got to the ballpark late due to a delayed flight from the minors then hit a game-tying home run for Maddon's Tampa Bay Rays off the Boston Red Sox's Jonathan Papelbon.

"I've had nightmares about showing up at the ballpark late," Zobrist said. "It won't happen again. (Maddon) said I'm going to be Dan Johnson, I'm going to do something special. I'm glad it worked out."

Zobrist's double and his RBI groundout in the eighth helped the Cubs (67-57) score 13 runs in a four-inning span to move 10 games above .500 for the first time this season.

Javier Baez (2-for-5) also delivered a two-run single in the seventh.

"He can have some really wild at-bats, but he likes the moment, and he came through again," said Maddon.

Hector Rondon (4-1) retired one batter for the win. Wandy Peralta (3-4) allowed three runs in two-thirds of an inning for the loss.

Eugenio Suarez homered twice and had a career-high five RBIs, and Jesse Winker and Scooter Gennett each hit solo homers for Cincinnati (53-73).

Winker's long ball off Felix Pena was the first pinch-hit homer of his career.

Reds starter Homer Bailey left after three scoreless innings for precautionary reasons with irritation in the back of his right shoulder.

Bailey, who came off the disabled list June 24 after missing most of the past two seasons with elbow and forearm surgeries, was visited by trainers after walking John Lackey in the third inning but remained in the game.

Bailey did not return for the fourth, however, exiting after 47 pitches. He allowed only one hit and one walk while striking out two.

"We debated about whether he could go back out there, but we knew he shouldn't with the road he's traveled," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "We don't have any intention to put him on the DL at this point."

Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton starred at the plate and in the field. He led off the game with a single, stole his 52nd base of the season, and later scored from third on a wild pitch to put Cincinnati ahead 1-0.

In the second, Hamilton prevented the tying run from scoring with a diving catch of Jason Heyward's line drive for the third out. In the third, Hamilton raced in to make a diving catch on Kris Bryant's sinker line drive to end the inning.

Tucker Barnhart drove home Suarez with a double into the right field corner in the second. Gennett's 22nd home run of the season and third in his past eight games made it 3-0.

The Cubs loaded the bases in the fifth against Kevin Shackelford, who took over for Bailey, and scratched across a couple runs before Heyward's two-out RBI single tied the score 3-3. Shackelford allowed three runs, three hits and four walks in 1 2/3 innings.

Suarez's three-run shot, his 22nd home run of the season, handed a three-run lead back to Cincinnati in the fifth.

However, the Reds' bullpen later relinquished the lead, and then some. Cincinnati right-hander Blake Wood allowed five runs in one inning.

"It's hard to watch, especially since we've seen better from him," said Price.

NOTES: In the ninth inning, 1B Anthony Rizzo became the third left-handed position player to play third base for the Cubs, the first since George Decker in 1895. ... Cubs 3B Kris Bryant was hit on the left hand in the ninth inning by Reds RHP Blake Wood. X-rays were negative. ... Reds RHP Scott Feldman, who is on the disabled list for the second time this season due to right knee inflammation, underwent season-ending arthroscopic surgery. ... Cincinnati SS Zack Cozart returned to the lineup after missing two games, and he went 1-for-4. He was hit on the left leg by a pitch on Friday.