Tagebuch » interrupted due to injury, next time out. Hes

CHICAGO -- Starlin Castro put an emphatic end to his power drought with one impressive drive. Castro hit a long solo shot in the sixth for his first homer in a month, helping the Chicago Cubs to a 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday. Cole Gillespie drove in two runs with a single and a sacrifice fly as the Cubs earned their fourth win in 20 home games since the All-Star break. Castro, Junior Lake, Wellington Castillo and Darwin Barney had two hits apiece. Castro drove a 1-0 fastball from Zach Miner (0-1) to the centre field batters eye for his eighth homer. The leadoff drive through a steady wind was his first homer since July 31 against Milwaukee and gave Chicago a 4-3 lead. "Ive been kind of struggling," Castro said. "Its been a long time since that happened, so Im pretty happy." Castro went 2 for 5 for his second consecutive multihit game. The shortstop is batting a career-low .242, but the homer against the Phillies was one of his hardest-hit balls this year. "If he can put that kind of swing on that ball to centre with the wind blowing in, that was nice and thats your game winner" Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. "Balls are coming of the bat like it did a couple of years ago and last year." Michael Young collected three more hits for Philadelphia, which has split its last six games. Young went 4 for 5 in the Phillies 6-5 victory in Fridays series opener and is batting .588 (10 for 17) in four games against the Cubs this season. Kevin Frandsen homered for the second straight day, giving him five on the year, but Philadelphia dropped to 9-7 under interim manager and former Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg. Carlos Villanueva (3-8) pitched 1 1-3 innings for the win and Kevin Gregg got three outs for his 28th save in 33 chances. Five Cubs relievers combined for four innings of two-hit ball. "Villanueva got four huge outs and then you can match up to get to your setup guy and closer and set what happens," Sveum said. "Obviously (home wins) havent been coming around too much lately," he added. "So it was nice to get the lead and all the relievers did a great job and we made the plays when we had to." It turned into a battle of the bullpens after left-handers Cliff Lee of the Phillies and Chris Rusin of the Cubs each allowed three runs, two earned, in five innings. Gillespie drove in Welington Castillo with the last of three consecutive singles in the second, tying it at 1. Castillo had a tying RBI single in the third, and Gillespies sacrifice fly in the fifth made it 3-3. Lee allowed nine hits, struck out four and walked three. The 2008 AL Cy Young Award winner is 1-4 with a 3.98 ERA in his last eight starts. "He just seemed a little out of sync the whole start, throwing a lot of pitches, missing just off the plate," Sandberg said "Hes a guy that usually pitches ahead in the count and goes after it and pounds the zone." Lee agreed that it was an odd day for him. "It was a strange game in the fact that they waited out some pitches that were right there just out of the strike zone and they were being called ball consistently," Lee said. "It didnt seem like I ever got a good break as far as them chasing a good pitch." Frandsen gave the Phillies the lead with a line drive to left in the second, and Carlos Ruiz had a run-scoring double in the third after first baseman Anthony Rizzo committed a costly two-out error. Young made it 3-2 in the fourth with an RBI triple that got past Gillespie in the right-field corner. He also had a tiebreaking RBI single in the ninth inning in the series opener. But Young also committed an error in the third that led to Castillos tying hit. NOTES: Phillies OF Domonic Brown struck out swinging in the ninth as a pinch hitter. The All-Star slugger was out of the starting lineup after he left the series opener due to soreness in his right Achilles tendon. "Im probably going to feel it the rest of the year," Brown said. ... Philadelphia 3B Cody Asche (right hamstring strain) was ready to return to the lineup, but Sandberg decided to give him another day with a lefty pitching for the Cubs. Mitchell Trubisky Bears Jersey . Its the second straight year he has decided not to play as he cuts back his schedule. Stricker was replaced in the field by Ryo Ishikawa of Japan. Mitchell Trubisky Youth Jersey .m. ET, CBSOPENING LINE — Falcons by 3 1/2RECORD VS. http://www.chicagobearfootballauthentic.com/authentic-mitchell-trubisky-bears-jersey/ . Chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel also accused Pistorius of tailoring his testimony to fit the evidence at the scene. Pistorius denied the accusations. Nel alleged that the Olympic runner changed his aim with his 9 mm pistol to ensure that he hit Steenkamp as she fell back against a magazine rack in a toilet cubicle. Mitchell Trubisky Womens Jersey . The same cant be said of last Saturdays 2-2 draw at Olympic Stadium against a very weakened New York Red Bulls side and one which had three stalwarts in Henry, Cahill and Olave back home in Harrison, NJ.DUNEDIN, Florida – On Wednesday, it was J.A. Happs turn to play in the ongoing game of hot potato, better known as the competition to determine who will comprise the back end of the Blue Jays starting rotation. When the figurative music stops on March 31, Opening Day, general manager Alex Anthopoulos, manager John Gibbons and pitching coach Pete Walker will make whats becoming an increasingly difficult decision thanks to consistently mediocre to subpar performances by the candidates. Walker said before Wednesdays 11-6 win over the Phillies that the game was a "big start" for Happ. He needed to pitch in the strike zone. Happ needed to force Philadephias hitters to make contact. He was scheduled to pitch four or five innings with a pitch count of 70, give or take a few. Turns out Happ threw 71 pitches but did so in only 2 2/3 innings. Only 34 of those pitches were strikes. He laboured, to be generous, allowing three runs on three hits and four walks. Afterward, Happ saw his afternoon in a positive light. "It was good," he said. "I felt strong out there. Maybe a little too good but everything was good. Health was good." The health to which Happ refers is his back, an ailment which has kept him out of Grapefruit League action since he was pulled in the first inning of a March 3 start against the Twins. Happ intends to focus on developing his rhythm, interrupted due to injury, next time out. Hes looking to more consistently harness the new arm slot he employed in the final month of last season. Happ watched video of his start and noticed hed reverted to an over-the-top angle. Its all in the name of better efficiency. "Thats the same story for everybody," said Gibbons. "To be successful in the big leagues youve got to throw a lot of strikes. Youve got to throw that strike one. You fall behind guys, it turns everything in the hitters favour and just the opposite for the pitcher. Hes capable of doing that." Two weeks ago, the 31-year-old was bothered by Anthopoulos suggestion that his spot in the starting rotation was in question. Happ isnt dwelling on it now, saying he cant worry about what he cant control. Its apparent he will be on the team, as will Esmil Rogers and Todd Redmond, his competitors for a final rotation job. The question is who will be the starter and which two will work out of a bullpen which is expected to feature eight relievers. Its believed Happ is in the drivers seat, partly because Rogers doesnt throw enough of his repertoire for strikes and Redmond tends to struggle once the oppositions lineup turns over. Remember, too, that Happ is owed $5.2 million this year on an extension signed the day Ricky Romero was cut from camp last spring. The idea of having $12.7 million on the books for Happ and Romero, with neither in the starting rotation, cant be a pleasant one. "I dont feel like Im far," said Happ. "You guys, youre going to take that outing for what it was and it doesnt look pretty. Pitch-wise, like I said, Im up to 70 and next time be 85-90 and still feel strong thatll be a good thing. Im close." "Im looking forward to his next start," said Gibbons. &qquot;Thats all Ive got to say.dddddddddddd" The game of hot potato continues on Thursday when the Blue Jays visit the Phillies. Another back end of the rotation candidate gets the start. Over to you, Esmil Rogers. ROMERO AND STROMAN REASSIGNED Ricky Romero and Marcus Stroman shipped out to minor league camp on Wednesday morning. Both were outsiders, at best, to crack the opening day roster but both impressed at times during Grapefruit League play. "We just feel they both need more work," said manager John Gibbons. "As far as Ricky, hes moving in the right direction. We really like what he did this camp. Just go down there and polish it up. Stro, hes kind of the odd man out. He had trouble throwing strikes (Tuesday). Hes got to do that. They both need more work." After two down years the bar wasnt set high for Romero. With that as a consideration, its fair to say he exceeded expectations. He had two positive outings before he cratered against the Tigers on Tuesday, reverting to his wild ways. "He showed us enough in the previous two outings before (Tuesday) that you know what, hey, its coming," said Gibbons. "Its a long road and you never really know whether a guy is going to make it back or not but he was starting to show the signs of it." Stroman showed flashes of the pitcher the Blue Jays believe he will become but he was inconsistent all spring, culminating with an ugly performance on Tuesday. The Tigers knocked him around for seven runs on five hits in one-third of an inning. "We brought Stroman in, he pitched in Double-A for us and he had a legitimate shot (at making the club,") said Gibbons. "We dont think hes quite ready. Hes not polished yet so hes got to go down there and work on some things." The Jays still need to add two to a rotation which features R.A. Dickey, Brandon Morrow and Mark Buehrle. While the pitching coach offers praise to Drew Hutchison, Pete Walker wont yet guarantee him a spot. "Not ready to say that," said Walker. "Obviously, were extremely pleased with the way hes thrown the ball. Hes certainly shown hes capable of getting major league hitters out. His velocity, his strength, his bounce back, right now, after outings has been fantastic. Hes shown poise on the mound. Hes done everything you need to do to earn a spot, theres no question, but were just in a position right now, were sorting through some things to make sure we make the right decision." SANCHEZ AROUND FOR EXPERIENCE Aaron Sanchez is getting plenty of opportunity to pitch in Grapefruit League games, often the back end of a starters piggyback. Hes thrown as many as four innings in a game and is scheduled to work in relief of Todd Redmond against the Rays on Friday. "He wont make the team," said manager John Gibbons. "We want to keep him around, pitching in some of these games for the experience factor." Sanchez, 21, is considered the Jays top pitching prospect. He threw 109 2/3 innings combined with High-A Dunedin and in the Arizona Fall League last season. Its expected he will begin the year at Double-A New Hampshire. 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