CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs young hitters have received virtually all the attention late this summer. But its been the o
CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs young hitters have received virtually all the attention late this summer. But its been the o
CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs young hitters have received virtually all the attention late this summer. But its been the organizations pitching prospects, led by Kyle Hendricks, who have experienced instant success in the big leagues. Hendricks, who didnt reach the majors until July, kept up his impressive rookie season, pitching seven strong innings as the Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-1 Wednesday night for a sweep. Hendricks (7-2) allowed one run and seven hits. He walked none, struck out four and now has a 2.28 ERA. The right-hander bounced back nicely from his last start where he allowed four runs in six innings in an 11-1 loss at Toronto. "I came in just trying to learn and see what big league hitters and big league baseball, overall, was all about," Hendricks said. "Ive definitely learned a ton and Ive been able to have success, too, and thats ultimately what I was hoping for." The 24-year-old now has to be considered one of the teams top prospects, along with everyday players Kris Bryant, Javier Baez and Jorge Soler. "I think we have a lot of great building blocks going forward," Hendricks said. "To be a part of that, Im honoured." Chris Valaika, Ryan Kalish and Luis Valbuena each had a run-scoring hit as the Cubs won their third straight. They improved to 38-36 at Wrigley Field despite being 16 games under .500 overall. Hector Rondon pitched the ninth for his 25th save in 29 chances. Daniel Corcino (0-1) lost in his second big league start. The Reds have dropped four in a row overall. They scored just one run in the three-game series against the Cubs, and were held to one hit in a shutout loss Tuesday night. "Its been a tough road trip to this point," Cincinnati manager Bryan Price said. "Were 1-5, scored 10 runs in six games, five of those in our one win. Yeah, weve struggled to score." The Reds, with a makeshift lineup of mostly backups and September call-ups, didnt waste any time jumping on top. Leadoff batter Kristopher Negron started the game with a double and later scored on a grounder by Yorman Rodriguez. But that was all the Reds could manage. Their best scoring opportunity after the opening inning came in the seventh when, with two on and two out, Negron hit a liner toward the left-field wall that Chris Coghlan caught before running and jumping into the ivy. "I didnt think that was going to stay in when he first hit it," Hendricks said. "Coghlan, what can I say? I mean, going back, jumping up there, he saved the game, really." The Cubs scored twice in the second. Soler walked and later scored on a single by Valaika. Kalish hit a double to centre that appeared to score two runners, but Valaika was sent back to third when the ball was lost in the ivy for a ground-rule double. TRAINERS ROOM Reds: 1B Joey Votto (left knee) continues to make progress and the hope is he can return to the lineup before the end of the season. Cubs: CF-2B Arismendy Alcantara missed a second straight game with a mild sprain of the right wrist. He is listed as day-to-day. UP NEXT Reds: Off on Thursday before continuing the road trip Friday night in St. Louis. LHP David Holmberg (1-1, 6.00) pitches the opener for the Reds. Cubs: Host the NL West-leading Los Angeles on Thursday in the first of a four-game series. LHP Tsuyoshi Wada (4-3, 3.34) takes on RHP Zack Greinke (15-8, 2.64) in the opener. WAITING FOR THE CALL Bryant was honoured before the game for being picked the Cubs minor league player of the years, but admitted that he would have preferred to make his first appearance at Wrigley this year in uniform. "I guess its bittersweet," he said. "Its always been my dream to play in the big leagues and I sure hope that day comes some time soon." Bryant wasnt among the minor leaguers promoted when rosters expanded Sept. 1 and hell probably begin next season in the minors as well. That way the Cubs can gain an extra year before he becomes eligible for arbitration and free agency. Splitting time between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa, the 22-year-old hit a combined .325 with 43 homers (most in the minors) and 110 RBIs. Nike Vapormax Comprar Online . He was 40. Firefighters were called about 11 a.m. Friday because Brown was unresponsive at his home near the Inner Harbor, fire spokesman Battalion Chief Kevin Cartwright said. He said Brown was dead when firefighters arrived. Nike Vapormax España . The team said they will announce a corresponding roster move prior to their series opener on Tuesday night in Kansas City. http://www.baratasvapormax.es/. Reimer told TSNs Mark Masters on Tuesday that he doesnt know if he will be moved leading up to the March 5 trade deadline but added he wasnt interested in discussing it. "Who knows whats going to happen on the horizon here and right now I dont know if I want to talk about it too much. Nike Vapormax En Oferta . Seager had another triple, a home run and a double in a rare feat not seen in more than 40 years, leading Felix Hernandez and the Seattle Mariners past the New York Yankees 10-2. "It was a weird play," Seager said of the triple in the fourth inning. Vapormax Baratas España .The McLaren MP4-30 was launched on Thursday, with chief executive Ron Dennis saying it marks the start of a lengthy journey back to winning grands prix and eventually world championships.McLaren, which hasnt won a grand prix since 2012, will be using Honda engines for the first time since 1992, and has signed two-time world champion Fernando Alonso to partner Jenson Button for the upcoming season. CHICAGO -- Devin Mesoraco was hit by a pitch twice, in addition to the usual nicks that go along with being a catcher. He had a bag of ice on his right wrist and another on his left knee when he sat down for a well-deserved postgame meal. One sweet swing and another big win, and it was easy to forget about one painful night. Mesoraco homered for the fourth straight game, connecting for a two-out grand slam in Cincinnatis five-run ninth, and the Reds beat the Chicago Cubs 6-1 on Monday for their third straight win. "Youre going to get beat up back there," said Mesoraco, shrugging off all the bumps and bruises. "Thats why I get more days off than everybody else." Mesoraco drove a 1-0 pitch from Hector Rondon (1-2) into the basket in left-centre for his 13th homer. It was his second grand slam of the season and No. 3 of his career. Billy Hamilton had a tiebreaking RBI single earlier in the inning as Cincinnati won for the sixth time in seven games to move above .500 for the first time this season at 38-37. The winning sequence started when Chris Heisey reached on a pinch-hit single with two outs and no one on base, snapping an 0-for-16 rut. "It was all set up by Chris Heisey fighting his way into that soft single and stealing second base," Reds manager Bryan Price said. It was the first homer allowed by Rondon since Aug. 1. "Not the way you kind of draw it out. We tried to let him work his way through it," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said. "Obviously it didnt work out." Jonathan Broxton (3-0) pitched a perfect eighth and Logan Ondrusek got three outs, helping the Reds improve to 30-11 against the Cubs over the last three seasons. Anthony Rizzo hit his 16th homer for the Cubs, who have lost three in a row. Jeff Samardzija struck out seven while pitching six innings of one-run ball. "All in all, I felt good, just needed a little improvement there early," Samardzija said. The Reds got off to a fast start behind Hamilton, who led off the game with a grounder just past second baseman Darwin Barney.dddddddddddd The bouncer died in the grass in short right field and the speedy rookie hustled into second with a double, extending his hitting streak to 11 games. Todd Frazier followed with a drive into the gap in right-centre for an RBI triple. But Samardzija buckled down and kept Frazier at third, retiring Jay Bruce and Ryan Ludwick after he hit Mesoraco for the first time with one down. Chicago wasted a prime scoring chance in the fourth. Rizzo reached on a leadoff single before Starlin Castro doubled into the left field corner, putting runners on second and third. Alfredo Simon then retired three straight to preserve Cincinnatis 1-0 lead. Luis Valbuena flied out to medium right field, Welington Castillo hit a comebacker to the mound and Ryan Sweeney lined out to left. "I just tried to make my pitches the best I can, and everything was good," Simon said. The Cubs also wasted a leadoff double by Barney in the third. Samardzija broke his bat over his left knee after he popped up a sacrifice attempt. Simon allowed one run and five hits in seven innings. He struck out five and walked one. Frazier finished with three hits and Mesoraco reached five times. He also walked twice before he connected in the ninth. "I felt good the first time that I was here. I felt good coming into this series," Mesoraco said. "You just try to ride them out as long as you can." NOTES: Reds 2B Brandon Phillips (bruised right heel) got the night off. Price said Phillips is day to day. ... Renteria said they are working on finalizing the starting pitchers for Saturdays doubleheader against Washington. ... Cubs RHP Jake Arrieta (3-1, 1.98 ERA) will face RHP Homer Bailey (7-3, 4.68 ERA) in the second game of the three-game series Tuesday night. Arrieta is 2-0 with a sparkling 0.73 ERA in four starts this month. ... Sting led the crowd in the singing of "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" during the seventh-inning stretch. ' ' '