one year, however. Vick could earn up to $10 million in 2013 if he meets all performance incentives. He was slated to earn about $16

CHICAGO -- There it was, another big at-bat staring at Addison Russell. And once again, the young star delivered.Russell hit a two-run single with the bases loaded in the seventh inning, and three relievers combined for five perfect innings to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 5-4 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Thursday night.Hes growing up, manager Joe Maddon said. As a major league baseball player, his confidence could not be higher.The Cubs spoiled a shaky Jeff Samardzijas return to Wrigley Field and started September on a winning note after going 22-6 to match the 1932 team for the best August in franchise history.The major league leaders also moved a season-high 39 games over .500 and a jaw-dropping 15 1/2 games ahead of St. Louis in the NL Central -- their largest lead in the standings since the 1907 team finished 17 games ahead of Pittsburgh, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.Russells bloop single off Cory Gearrin gave the Cubs a 5-4 lead. Dexter Fowler had two singles and scored two runs.Kris Bryant added an RBI single to extend his hitting streak to 14 games, matching a career high. And the Cubs rallied behind a dominant bullpen and another big hit by Russell.I kind of embrace those situations, he said. In that situation, I didnt try to do too much. I just wanted to see a pitch, really, and just try to go about my approach the same way.The 22-year-old Russells 88 RBI are tops among National League shortstops. He is 8 for 18 and has driven in 23 runs with the bases loaded. On top of that, he is playing a Gold Glove-level defense.His go-ahead hit wiped out a 4-3 deficit and capped a rally that began when Hunter Strickland (3-2) gave up a leadoff single to Fowler and walked Bryant after two close pitches were called balls.Will Smith walked Ben Zobrist with one out to load the bases before retiring Jason Heyward on a pop fly. But Russell then drove in Fowler and Bryant with a bloop single to left.It obviously felt like I had a good game plan, Gearrin said. Made two good pitches and broke his bat and he just found a hole. Its just frustrating because you want to get the result no matter what. At the same time as a pitcher, you can only do so much.That made a winner of Joe Smith (2-4), who worked two innings after returning from a strained left hamstring.Carl Edwards Jr. worked the ninth for his first career save with Aroldis Chapman getting the night off after pitching in the previous three games. And the Cubs came away with the win on a cool and windy night in which both starting pitchers lasted just four innings.SHAKY STARTSSamardzija gave up three runs and five hits, walked three and threw 87 pitches in his second start against Chicago and first as a visitor at Wrigley Field. The right-hander played for the Cubs from 2008 until he was traded to Oakland during the 2014 season in the deal for Russell.Chicagos Mike Montgomery gave up four runs -- three earned -- and three hits, including a long two-run homer to Hunter Pence in the first.TRANSACTIONSThe Giants reinstated LHP Josh Osich and OF Mac Williamson from the DL and recalled LHP Ty Blach, LHP Matt Reynolds, LHP Steven Okert and INF Kelby Tomlinson from Triple-A.TRAINERS ROOMGiants: RHP Matt Cain (lower back strain) is expected to come off the DL and head to the bullpen rather than the rotation. Manager Bruce Bochy said the three-time All-Star, who has struggled with injuries in recent seasons, was all for the assignment. RHP Albert Suarez will start Friday.Cubs: RHP John Lackey (strained right shoulder) will likely return to the rotation this weekend. Thursdays throwing session went well, and assuming no setbacks, the veteran will start Sunday. ... RHP Hector Rondon (strained right triceps) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Saturday and likely make another appearance for the minor league club before returning. ... Pedro Strop (torn meniscus in left knee) tweaked his right groin in a workout on Wednesday. The Cubs expect him to miss about six weeks after initially projecting him to be out four to six following his injury on Aug. 10.UP NEXTThe Cubs send LHP Jon Lester (14-4, 2.70 ERA), unbeaten in his past six starts, to the mound while Suarez (3-2, 4.35) makes his eighth start for San Francisco.Wholesale Jerseys . Burke is expected to miss two to three months after breaking a finger in the teams third preseason game. Tinsley, a 10-year veteran, spent the last two seasons in Utah, where the point guard averaged 3. Soccer Jerseys . LOUIS -- Alexander Steen scored a power-play goal with 59. https://www.cheapjerseysjustwholesale.com/ . The Dutchmans tenure got off to a poor start when referee Guido Winkmann awarded a penalty within two minutes for Niklas Starks clumsy challenge on Alexandru Maxim. MLB Jerseys . - Derek Wolfe says hes finally healthy after suffering a seizure in November that doctors now believe was related to the spinal cord injury he suffered in the preseason. NHL Jerseys .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch.PHILADELPHIA -- Michael Vick took a pay cut and had to compete for his job when he returned to the Eagles. Part of the choice had to do with the up-tempo offence mapped out by new coach Chip Kelly. "I just thought," Vick said, "this was the best opportunity, the best fit for me." Turns out, Vick was the best fit for Kelly. With his first chance to put his stamp on Philadelphias offence, Kelly named Vick the starting quarterback on Tuesday, giving the veteran the nod over Nick Foles after a sterling effort in the preseason. "Hes our starter for the season," Kelly said. "Its not a one-game trial basis." There wasnt a lot of suspense with Kellys decision, which was announced after practice on Tuesday, and after the coach met with both players. About the only surprise was the timing -- Kelly had hinted he might not name a starter until closer to the opener. But Kelly, in his first season after coaching at Oregon, ended the mystery and will have Vick taking the snaps when Philadelphia opens the regular season at Washington Sept. 9. "Im not surprised at all," Vick said. "I told him, Thank you, I appreciate it and I wont let you down." Vick has been solid in two preseason games, and Foles, in his second season with the Eagles, has struggled to grasp Kellys multifaceted offence. Vick has thrown for 199 yards this preseason and will take a 113.2 quarterback rating into Fridays game at Jacksonville (0-2). Foles has been sacked six times in two games, and has a quarterback rating of 65.5, after showing flashes as a rookie last season while Vick was injured. Vick played in just 10 games last season, while Foles topped 340 yards twice as a rookie. The Eagles (1-1) are coming off a 4-12 season, coach Andys Reids last, and havent made the playoffs since they won the NFC East at the end of the 2010 season. "We had a good amount of tape, a good amount of us seeing them on the field," Kelly said. "And seeing them in a lot of different situations, and wanted to put a guy in place, if we could, in enough time to get us to prepare the season." Kelly has only shown flashes of his up-tempo offence in the first two preseason games and defences already seem tired and confused while the Eagles are moving the ball with ease. The first-team offence led by Vick and Foles has four touchdowns on eight-plus possessions in two games. One drive ended with an end-zone interception and two others ended with fumbles. Behind Foles will be Matt Barkley, a rookie fromm Southern Cal.dddddddddddd "The competitor in me, you always want to be the one on the field playing," Barkley said. "At the same time, I love Mike. Weve gone about it the right way. Weve kept our great friendship and weve pushed each other. Im proud of him. Im going to do anything I can to help him become the best quarterback possible. "Im excited for him. Nothing changes in my preparation. Im going to prepare the same way." Vick had a breakout year under Reid in 2010, leading the Eagles to the division title, winning The Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year award and starting in the Pro Bowl. But hes battled injuries and inconsistency the last two years. Now 33, Vick sustained a concussion in Week 10 last year and Reid decided to let Foles play the rest of the way because the Eagles were in last place. Vick returned to start the season finale against the New York Giants because Foles was hurt. He finished the year with 2,362 yards passing, 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He lost five fumbles. "I think Mike is ahead right now. I think Nick made it very difficult," Kelly said. "It wasnt where one guy went north and the other guy went south. I think both of them upped their games. "But at this point in time Mikes ahead." The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback agreed in February to a restructured three-year contract with the Eagles, just two seasons after signing a $100 million extension that included $35.5 million in guaranteed money. The new deal is essentially for one year, however. Vick could earn up to $10 million in 2013 if he meets all performance incentives. He was slated to earn about $16 million this season, including a $3 million roster bonus. Vick has missed 11 games because of injuries over the last three seasons. A former No. 1 overall pick by Atlanta, Vick was signed by Philadelphia in 2009 after missing two years because he was in federal prison for his role in a dogfighting ring. He came in as the No. 3 quarterback behind Donovan McNabb and Kevin Kolb. After McNabb was traded and Kolb was injured in the season opener in 2010, Vick took over and was outstanding. He had career highs in yards passing (3,018), completion percentage (62.6), touchdowns passing (21), touchdowns rushing (9) and passer rating (100.2). He might not hit those numbers again -- even if Vick believes hes still capable of playing like his old self. "It dont stop here. This is just Day 1," he said. "Ive still got to prove myself." ' ' '