CHICAGO -- With the Chicago Cubs in desperate need of a win, manager Joe Maddon put Jason Heyward in right field for Game 4 of the World Series on Saturday night.Its the first start for the slumping Heyward since he went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts in Game 5 of the NL Championship Series at Los Angeles. The 27-year-old Heyward, who signed a $184 million, eight-year contract with Chicago last winter, did not play in the World Series opener at Cleveland and entered each of the last two games as a pinch runner before staying in to play right.The Cubs trailed 2-1 in the best-of-seven series heading into Saturday nights game at Wrigley Field.The Indians also made a couple of intriguing changes with ace Corey Kluber on the mound, putting Rajai Davis in left and moving Carlos Santana to first base. That meant Mike Napoli was out of the starting lineup for the first time in the postseason after playing a key role in Clevelands run to the AL pennant.With Kluber pitching, Id like us to have a good defense out there, manager Terry Francona said. I labored back and forth on our first baseman. I hated like crazy not playing Napoli. I physically hate it. But Naps going to play tomorrow against the lefty, and we may put Santana back in the outfield tomorrow again. Well see. I just thought tonight it would serve us better, even having Nap out of the lineup, to have a defense in there and with Rajai playing.Heyward is 2 for 31 with nine strikeouts in 12 playoff games this year, continuing his struggles from the regular season. He hit .230 with a career-low seven homers in 142 games.For right now pretty much just go play without overthinking it right now, Maddon said. Just go play and just contribute to us winning somehow. But absolutely its something that needs to be addressed and he will address it in the offseason. I have a lot of faith in him going into next year.Maddon also moved second baseman Javier Baez down one spot in the order to eighth. The 23-year-old Baez, the co-MVP of the NLCS with pitcher Jon Lester, went 0 for 4 in Chicagos 1-0 loss on Friday night, striking out with runners on second and third to end the game.The last couple nights maybe shows that he is 22 or 23 years of age, Maddon said. Maybe finally he demonstrates that. Again, what that requires more than anything is just talking to him. Having him getting back to the approach that made him so successful for the last two series in the latter part of the season. Thats it.---Jay Cohen can be reached at
http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap . -- Its been a long road back for Sean Bergenheim. . Badenhop was 2-3 with a 3.47 ERA in 63 relief appearances for Milwaukee this season. He is 18-20 in his career with three saves and a 3. . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros. . Ibaka equaled a career high with 20 rebounds, adding four blocked shots and 15 points as the Thunder smothered the Milwaukee Bucks offence in a 92-79 victory Saturday night. . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. ALAMEDA, Calif. -- It hasnt taken long for the Raiders to get a pretty good feel for how teams plan to counter the tandem of Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin.Mack faced a steady stream of double teams from New Orleans offensive linemen along with constant chip blocks by running backs and tight ends.Irvin, who had Oaklands only sack of the game when he stripped the ball from Drew Brees and forced a fumble in the first quarter, received the same kind of attention while also being effectively muted by the Saints blocking schemes.Because that figures to be the norm for the two outside pass rushers, the Raiders need to get pressure elsewhere.Thats what were stressing, defensive tackle Justin Ellis said. We know how people are going to have to block the edge guys because we have two elite edge guys, so we just need to put pressure up the middle more consistently.Ellis is primarily a run-stopper and didnt play much in the season-opening win over the Saints, nor did 315-pound Dan Williams.Rookies Jihad Ward and Darius Latham filled in the gaps along with Denico Autry, but the trio combined for just seven tackles and one quarterback hurry.That worked right into the Saints hands, too.New Orleans kept Mack, who had 15 sacks in 2015, quiet most of the game while Irvin had two tackles and three hurries.Raiders coach Jack Del Rio said the Saints plan for Mack and Irvin wasnt surprising.If youre not doing things like that then youre going to have a hard time, Del Rio said. I think people have to do that. When youre doing that then theyre short other place and we have to make sure were taking advantage of that.Irvin said as much earlier this week when he commented that the Raiders interior pass rush needed too step up when he and Mack are being double-teamed.ddddddddddddakland defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. agreed, but spread the blame to the entire defense.No question, Norton said. We made some mistakes and I think every game youre looking for improvement. Guys have to continue to defend better and I think each time we go out well make improvement.At the same time, it is Drew Brees on the road and he makes great decisions and hes really good. We have to match that really good with even better to shut a guy like that out.I think the D-line knows and defenses know that everything starts up front. The young guys coming up have really shown up. Its about improvement, being obsessed with improving. I think Game 2 will certainly be an improvement from Game 1.Ward, the 44th overall pick in this years draft, has been getting increased playing time at defensive end since Mario Edwards Jr. went down with a hip injury. Edwards was placed on injured reserve Sept. 5, but the team is hopeful he can return before the end of the season.Hes probably the young player with the most enthusiasm and is very contagious, Norton said. Hes like a mold of clay just molding and every time he goes out, he gets better and better. Were really, really pleased with his growth.Game notes Right tackle Menelik Watson (groin) and backup Matt McCants (knee) were held out of practice for a second consecutive day. Right guard Gabe Jackson, center Rodney Hudson and kick returner Taiwan Jones returned after sitting out Wednesday.----Online:AP NFL website:
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