Dein erstes Forum » I think everyone in the organization though

CHICAGO -- The party will have to wait for another day, and thats just fine with the Chicago Cubs.They are looking for a lot more than a division crown anyway.This is just the first step, manager Joe Maddon said. I mean, we have much larger baseball fish to fry in our skillet.Chicago wasted its first chance to clinch the NL Central title when pinch-hitter Scooter Gennett delivered a tiebreaking, two-run double in the seventh inning Thursday night, leading the Milwaukee Brewers to a 5-4 victory.The Cubs (93-53) were hoping to begin a 10-game homestand with a boozy celebration of their first division title since 2008. But Keon Broxton homered and Orlando Arcia drove in two runs for Milwaukee, making Chicago wait for the result of St. Louis game at San Francisco to find out if its season-long dominance of the Central was complete.The crowd of 41,362 cheered loudly when Hunter Pences two-run homer in the first inning against the Cardinals was shown on the video board in left field. But it looked as if most of the Cubs were headed home rather than staying together to see the end of the West Coast game.Whatever happens in San Francisco is what happens in San Francisco and well take care of tomorrow tomorrow, right fielder Jason Heyward said, just like we always do.Jorge Soler hit a two-run homer for the Cubs, who had won three of four. Mike Montgomery pitched six solid innings and helped himself with a tying single in the fourth for his first career hit.Justin Grimm (1-1) replaced Montgomery in the seventh and the Brewers put runners on first and third with one out. Gennett, batting for Jimmy Nelson (8-14), blooped an 0-2 curveball into the corner in left for a 5-3 Milwaukee lead.I was just trying to put the ball in play, Gennett said. Hes a guy who throws a lot of curveballs so its important not to get too big or try to do too much. Its really just, get a good pitch to hit and put it in play.The Cubs got one back on Heywards RBI double in the eighth, but Tyler Thornburg threw a called third strike past pinch-hitter Willson Contreras with runners at the corners to end the inning.Thornburg also worked the ninth for his 10th save in 15 chances.It was just a flat-out good ballgame, Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. Obviously with where theyre at, there was great energy in the park tonight.Nelson won for only the second time in his last 11 starts as Milwaukee (66-81) improved to 4-4 on an 11-game trip. The right-hander allowed eight hits, struck out seven and walked two.Even with the loss, its only a matter of time before Chicago clinches the division. But the NL Central crown is not how this group of Cubs will be judged, not this year. After running roughshod over the rest of the majors for most of the season, Anthony Rizzo and Co. are trying to end the franchises famous championship drought, going all the way back to when the Cubs beat the Tigers in the 1908 World Series.Weve got a lot ahead of us. We really do, president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said before the loss. It kind of all boils down to how you perform in October.TRAINERS ROOMBrewers: RHP Michael Blazek (right forearm strain) threw a simulated game. Counsell would like to get Blazek into some games before the end of the season, but he said theres no rush. The goal with Mike is just to go into the offseason healthy, Counsell said.Cubs: RHP Pedro Strop, who tweaked his right groin while working his way back from arthroscopic left knee surgery, threw a bullpen and said it went well. Hes getting close, Maddon said. Its not far off.UP NEXTCubs RHP John Lackey (9-8, 3.35 ERA) is scheduled to face RHP Chase Anderson (8-11, 4.53) in the second game of the four-game set on Friday afternoon.---Follow Jay Cohen at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap George Kell Jersey . But now that hes in the NHL, the Calgary Flames centre showed big improvement in that department by scoring the winner in the eighth round of a 5-4 shootout victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Monday. Bill Freehan Jersey . Didier Drogba gave away the penalty that put Senegal one goal away from a major upset, but the veteran striker will get another chance -- probably his last -- at the World Cup after Salomon Kalous injury-time strike sealed the Ivorians place in Brazil next year. https://www.cheaptigers.com/419z-drew-verhagen-jersey-tigers.html . The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game. Troy Stokes Jr. Jersey . -- There were so many positives from the Orlando Magics first victory of the season that it was hard for coach Jacque Vaughn to stop praising his players. Jake Rogers Jersey .ca. Hey Kerry, big fan of yours, just finished reading your book. I think that we all saw the Canucks/Flames line brawl just after puck drop. It was obvious that something was about to happen, even to the referees because the fourth lines were on to start. ATLANTA -- The overpowering version of Justin Verlander pitched a lot of big games for Detroit. The revamped version of the former American League MVP and Cy Young winner starts the biggest game of 2016 for the Tigers on Sunday.Verlander, who is reborn at age 33, faces the Atlanta Braves in the final game at Turner Field with the Tigers flickering wild-card hopes on the line.The Tigers (86-74) trail Baltimore and Toronto by 1 1/2 games and cant lose either to the Braves or in a makeup game at home against Cleveland on Monday. They also need Baltimore or Toronto to lose Sunday.Detroit has just the pitcher on the mound it would want in such a difficult situation. After a down season and then an injury-plagued one, Verlander is making another Cy Young bid.You can make the argument that he might even be better in some ways, Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said in comparing to the two versions. Hes certainly had a renaissance. Hes doing some things better than even when he was in his Cy Young prime. Hes made some adjustments that have born fruit. Hes been one of the best in the league, quite frankly.Although Verlander no longer throws quite as hard, the right-hander leads the AL in strikeouts (246) and WHIP (1.00) while going 16-8 with a 3.10 ERA. He has held opponents to a .176 average in the second half and had a 1.93 ERA in five September starts with 48 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings.Verlander is 33-16 in regular-season games in September and October during his career and Atlanta starter Julio Teheran knows he will have to be on the top of his game if the Braves are to play spoilers and bid farewell to their ballpark of 20 years with a victory.Hes one of the best and Im sure hell be lights out for a game like this,, Teheran said.ddddddddddddIll have to be good to give us a chance. Itll be exciting.Verlander is 8-2 with a 2.00 ERA since the All-Star break, and had a pair of 11-strikeout games in September as well as one with 12 in his most recent start.Verlanders not just blowing fastballs by hitters now, though.Hes a different pitcher than a few years ago, Ausmus said. I think everyone in the organization thought hed be able to pitch even when his velocity declined because hes got four pitches and command. But hes also made some adjustments with the slider and his arm slot and preparation. Plus, hes healthy.How impressive has Verlander been?His strikeout rate of 28.1 percent is the best for someone 33 or more since Hall of Famer Randy Johnson fanned 30.1 percent in 2004, and his WHIP is the best in the American League since Gaylord Perry, also in the Hall of Fame, finished at 0.98 in 1972.Teheran has never faced the Tigers, but Verlander has pitched against the Braves twice -- both times at Turner Field. He is 2-0 with a 3.21 ERA, the last start coming in 2010.Teheran, the Braves representative in the All-Star Game, tries to close the season with a rare home victory. He is 1-6 with a 3.84 ERA at home this year compared to 5-4 with a 2.69 ERA on the road.Teheran tied his season high of six runs allowed Tuesday against Philadelphia, giving up 10 hits in four innings. He has a 4.86 ERA since coming off the disabled list on Aug. 19 after a lat strain.After splitting the first two games of the series, the Braves (67-93) have won 11 of their past 13 games and are 36-35 since the All-Star break. ' ' '