s dealing with some arm fatigue, got the day off. Diaz also was a childhood friend of Fernandez.Matheny said he would have scratched Diaz had he been in the lineup. Diaz declined an intervi

CHICAGO -- David Ross got fired up when Cubs manager Joe Maddon walked to the mound with two out in the seventh inning, ready to argue for Jon Lester to stay in the game.Maddon and Lester had a different plan.Joe looked at him and said `Have you ever been a part of where the catcher gets taken out of the game before the pitcher? Lester said, describing the scene with a big grin. You can just see him, its like the kid at the candy store when you tell him he can pick out whatever he wants.It was just like the disbelief in his face and slams his mask back over his face and all he can say is `I love you guys. I love you guys. I love you guys.Ross then walked off to another standing ovation from a raucous crowd of 40,859 at Wrigley Field, part of a heartwarming Sunday night for the backup catcher in his last season. He also hit his 10th homer and teamed with Lester for another scoreless performance, helping the Cubs to a 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.It was an amazing night, Ross said.Ben Zobrist had three hits and scored two runs as Chicago finished with a major league-best 57-24 home record. Its the most home wins for the Cubs since they went 58-19 at the West Side Grounds in 1910.The Cardinals lost for the third time in four games, wasting a chance to improve their playoff positioning. They remain a half-game back of San Francisco for the second NL wild card after the Giants lost 4-3 at San Diego earlier in the day.I think were in a good position right now, pitcher Carlos Martinez said through a translator. I also think we have a great shot at winning the World Series.Ross, Lesters regular catcher, was greeted with a long standing ovation when he came to the plate in the second inning. St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina walked halfway to the mound, forcing the unassuming Ross to take in the moment, and he took off his batting helmet to acknowledge the cheering crowd.Ross then struck out, but he got another chance in the fifth and drove Martinezs second pitch over the wall in left for 1-0 lead. Ross clapped his hands as he rounded first on his 10th homer and the cheers continued after he reached the dugout, prompting a curtain call.It was just fitting that David would hit a home run, isnt it? Maddon said. I mean it had to have happened tonight.Lester (19-4), one of the top candidates for the NL Cy Young Award, struck out seven in 6 2/3 innings. The left-hander allowed three hits and walked one while improving to 10-0 with 1.34 ERA in his last 13 starts.It was Lesters idea to pull Ross in the middle of an inning.Hes like a brother to me and for him to give me that was pretty cool, Ross said.The Cardinals pulled within one on Jhonny Peraltas two-out RBI single in the eighth, but Brandon Moss flied to center with runners on the corners. Willson Contreras responded with an RBI single in the bottom half and Aroldis Chapman worked the ninth for his 16th save with the NL Central champions and No. 36 on the year.Martinez (15-9), pitching with a heavy heart after the death of Miami pitcher Jose Fernandez in a boating accident, allowed two runs and six hits in six innings. He struck out six and walked four.He had lots of juice, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. Its probably the hardest sinker Ive ever seen him throw. A couple of those were 97 (mph). He was locked in. He wanted it bad today, and he was good enough for us to win.RESTING AND MOURNINGSt. Louis shortstop Aledmys Diaz, who is dealing with some arm fatigue, got the day off. Diaz also was a childhood friend of Fernandez.Matheny said he would have scratched Diaz had he been in the lineup. Diaz declined an interview request through a team spokeswoman.Hes pretty stoic. You see how he goes about his business, Matheny said. Thats kind of how hes handling this right now. He was a close, close friend, so hes trying to figure out how to mourn for his friend right now and take all the information in. None of that is easy.UP NEXTCardinals: LHP Jaime Garcia (10-12, 4.59 ERA) faces Cincinnati RHP Tim Adleman (2-4, 4.06 ERA) on Monday night in the opener of a seven-game homestand. After four against the last-place Reds, the Cardinals finish the regular season with a three-game series against Pittsburgh.Cubs: RHP Kyle Hendricks (15-8, 2.06 ERA) pitches for Chicago in the opener of a four-game series at Pittsburgh. RHP Chad Kuhl (5-3, 3.73 ERA) gets the ball for the Pirates on Monday night.---Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap Cheap Cleveland Indians Jerseys . The All-Pro lineman got the leg bent under him while trying to make a tackle during the first half of a 22-20 overtime loss at Miami on Thursday night. The medical staff initially thought hed torn the ligament, and the test a day later in Cincinnati confirmed it. Wholesale MLB Jerseys Authentic . In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers. http://www.cheapmlbjerseysoutlet.com/?tag=cheap-milwaukee-brewers-jerseys . -- James Young couldnt wait to apply those tweaks to his jump shot, and the first one he made against UT Arlington told him it could be a good night. Cheap Miami Marlins Jerseys . A statement from the worlds top-ranked player says all checks "were satisfactory and showed positive evolution" regarding the injury, which contributed to his loss to Stanislas Wawrinka in the final in Melbourne. Cheap Pittsburgh Pirates Jerseys . The Nashville Predators were glad their captain was still on their side. Weber had a goal and two assists, and Roman Josi scored the shootout winner to lift the Predators to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday night. COLUMBIA, S.C. -- After two transfer newcomers help pull No. 4 South Carolina to an opening win, two returning veterans moved into the spotlight to lead the Gamecocks to a 92-38 win over Hampton on Sunday.Alaina Coates scored 28 points and had 16 rebounds and her fellow frontcourt player Aja Wilson added 20 as South Carolina (2-0) used a decided size advantage to breeze past the Pirates (0-4).In the opening win over Ohio State, all-Atlantic Coast Conference transfer Kaela Davis scored 37 points. The former Georgia Tech star had just three on Sunday. But with a solid roster, Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley expects a different star most nights.If everybody wants to be in the spotlight -- theres not enough room, Staley said.Allisha Gray, the transfer from North Carolina who Staley calls her silent assassin, had 16 points after debuting for South Carolina with 24 against the Buckeyes.Hampton (0-4) trailed just 21-15 at the end of the first quarter and pulled down one rebound more than the Gamecocks. I thought that was disgraceful, Staley said.So Staley challenged her players to dominate inside. They were helped because two of the Pirates tallest players Kaylah Lupoe and Monnazjea Finney-Smith each ended the first quarter with three fouls. Coates had 14 points in the quarter, while Wilson made all eight of her free throws as South Carolina pulled away with a 32-11 run, outscoring Hampton 18-2 in the paint in the quarter.Theres really nothing you can do. It is what it is with the fouls, Hampton coach David Six said.Coates 28 points were one off her career high, and Wilson made all 14 of her free throws, setting a school record for most makes without a miss.Malia Tate-Defreitas, the reigning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference player of the year the past two seasons, led Hampton with 10 points.BIG PICTUREHampton: Six seemed to acknowledge his teams size disadvantaage from the start, sending 5-foot-5 guard Georgianna Gilbeaux out for the opening tap, which she didnt even try to get against the 6-foot-5 Wilson.dddddddddddd Hampton has played a Power 5 team in each of its first four games, losing by an average of 33 points. The Pirates are trying to win the MEAC for the first time since 2014, when they capped a five-year NCAA Tournament run.South Carolina: All 11 South Carolina players played at least 10 minutes, a nice luxury with three games in three days. The Gamecocks forced 24 turnovers and held Hampton to 24 percent shooting. South Carolinas reserves played almost the entir