CHICAGO -- The Philadelphia Phillies missed Michael Youngs bat. A day after trading the infielder to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Phillies managed just four hits in a 7-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Sunday. "The way hes been going this road trip, a bat like that can hit anywhere in the top five spots," Phillies interim manager Ryne Sandberg said. "He helped us win games on this road trip. Youll miss a bat like that." Darin Ruf hit his 12th home run in the fourth inning off Jake Arrieta, who allowed three hits and a run while pitching into the seventh inning. The Phillies went 3-4 on the trip against the Mets and the Cubs. Arrieta (2-1) retired eight of the first nine batters. Acquired from the Baltimore Orioles on July 2, Arrieta has been inconsistent in his four starts since joining the rotation Aug. 16. But this time he worked around three walks with only two Phillies advancing beyond second base in 6 2-3 innings. "A lot of our guys didnt have too much of a history with him," Sandberg said. "First time through the lineup, he was pretty sharp. That trend continued. Guys had a tough time making adjustments." Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick (10-12) tied his career-long losing streak of four games. He allowed five runs and eight hits in six innings. "You fall behind, its tough to pitch," Kendrick said. "I went in and fell behind. Thats what happens." Kendrick has thrown six innings or less in each of his last nine starts. He hasnt won since Aug. 6 when he allowed five runs (four earned) in six innings against the Cubs. "He just didnt have his two-seam fastball he can throw to the front side of a left-handed hitter and he can throw it to right-handed hitters and get groundballs," Sandberg said. "He wasnt able to get groundballs for double plays. He was pitching up thigh level without the sink to it. Those balls got hit in the gaps with men on base." Three Cubs relievers combined for 2 1-3 shutout innings. The victory gave the Cubs their first consecutive home wins since a stretch of three straight July 6-9. Catcher Welington Castillo drove in two runs to lead the Cubs. Ryan Sweeney, activated from the 60-day disabled list Sunday, delivered in his first at-bat since breaking a left rib when he crashed into the centre field wall June 29 in Seattle. Sweeneys single scored Darwin Barney from second to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead in the first inning. "To get that first hit back under the belt was huge," Sweeney said. Anthony Rizzos double off the right field wall -- just out of reach of a leaping Ruf -- scored Starlin Castro from first extending the Cubs lead in the third. Ruf got a run back in the fourth, hitting a solo homer off Arrieta to cut the Phillies deficit to 2-1. The Phillies have lost 21 of their last 23 games when scoring three runs or less. The Cubs broke the game open in the bottom half, starting the inning with three consecutive hits, including back-to-back doubles by Brian Bogusevic and Castillo. Castillos double drove in two runs. Arrieta hit a flyball to right and Castillo advanced to third. Kendrick struggled with his command, missing in the strike zone and hitting Castro with one out to put runners on the corners. Ruf delivered an on-target throw home on Barneys sacrifice fly. However, Phillies catcher Erik Kratz couldnt hold onto the ball when he went to tag Castillo, giving the Cubs another run and a 5-1 lead. Pinch-hitter Luis Valbuena, who was activated from the 15-day DL before the game, drew a bases-loaded walk in the eighth against Phillies reliever J.C. Ramirez and Castro added a sacrifice fly for two insurance runs and a 7-1 lead. NOTES: With two spots open after the Phillies made two trades Saturday, INF/OF Cesar Hernandez and Michael Martinez were recalled from Triple-A Lehigh before Sundays game. Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said more players could be called up in the coming days with the expanded roster. ... Amaro explained the Young trade to the Dodgers went down pretty quickly after getting a phone call from Dodgers GM Ned Colletti on Friday. He thought the deal might be dead around 11:20 a.m. EDT, but it was revived when both teams were able to finally agree on compensation. . Phillies slugger Ryan Howard (left knee surgery) remains doubtful to return this season, though he continues to make progress, and he might see some game action in the Arizona Fall League, Amaro said. . -- The Windsor Spitfires were left with just one goaltender Tuesday after having their starter walk out on them midway through Game 3 of their Ontario Hockey League playoff matchup with the London Knights. .J. - The New Jersey Devils know the odds are against them as they chase a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
http://www.cheapsaintsjerseysonline.com ... sey-online. - After a back-and-forth battle throughout the season, Alex Guenette has earned the 2013 rookie of the year award for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 by just one point over Ryley Seibert. . The Boston Celtics hadnt played since the All-Star break. So the Suns 100-94 victory over Boston Wednesday night was an uphill affair, with Phoenix relying on balance rather than its trademark high energy. .com) - Quarterback Cardale Jones will return to Ohio State next season.MADRID, Spain -- In four days, Real Madrid has the chance to satisfy an obsession that has eluded them for 12 years. Madrid plays city rival Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final on Saturday, when a victory in Lisbon would provide the Spanish giant with its record 10th European Cup -- or "La Decima" as it is known in Spanish. Its been a long wait since Zinedine Zidane scored one of footballs iconic goals to lead Madrid to its ninth title, such that even Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti noted upon his arrival in the Spanish capital: "You could taste the desire to win La Decima in the air." "I remember that after we won the ninth (European Cup) that the next day we were already being asked about the 10th," said Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas, who is the only player on the team to have played in the Glasgow final, a 2-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen. Madrid was doing its best to avoid terming its infatuation with perhaps the most important trophy in club football an obsessive affair, despite the very make-up of the club being shaped by it. "Its not an obsession, its a great motivation," Ancelotti said on Tuesday. "We have a great opportunity to get into the history books of this club. Its not an obsession but an opportunity." Madrids recent record in Europes top competition has only bred further impatience to increase its record trophy tally, which led FIFA to bestow it with the title of top club of the 20th century. Madrid won the European Cup six times between 1955 and 66, including a record five consecutive titles.dddddddddddd It took 32 years to win the seventh in 1998, which not only provided liberation but led to returned success in the competition. But following the ninth cup win in 2002, Madrid went seven straight seasons without advancing from the first knockout stage despite president Florentino Perezs enormous spending on the likes of Brazil striker Ronaldo, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo. The arrival of coach Jose Mourinho in 2010/11 reversed that trend with Madrid reaching the semifinals for three straight years. But never the final, until now. "In the last couple of years weve played well in this competition and we are always just one step away, so I think our fans deserve to experience this, reaching a final after 12 years," said Madrid defender Sergio Ramos. "To feel pressure would be a problem. You have to go out convinced that you can win it." Normally teams only produce T-shirts to commemorate final triumphs. Not Madrid, which felt such a release following the semifinal victory against Bayern that it had one ready for the players at the whistle reading "Now for the 10th!" Now, a first final between clubs from the same city stands in the way as Atletico comes off winning its first Spanish league for 18 years with an opportunity to win its first European Cup 40 years on from its lone appearance in a final. "La Decima is the trophy all Madridistas want," Cristiano Ronaldo said in reference to Madrid supporters. ' ' '
