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CHICAGO -- Anthony Rizzo congratulated Jason Hammel for his first National League win after the Chicago Cubs topped the Pittsburgh Pirates. Jimmy Garoppolo Jersey. Only, it wasnt. Not even Hammels first this season. Hammel threw seven strong innings, Rizzo tied a career high with four hits, and Chicago won 7-5 on Wednesday night despite allowing five solo home runs. But Rizzo apparently forgot about Hammels victory last week -- or the 27 the veteran right-hander had with Colorado. "Just make sure that everybody knows that Rizzo was not there with us in Pittsburgh last week," a joking Hammel said. "Its a good one. Its a good one. "I didnt know I didnt win at all in Colorado, either." Signed to a one-year, $6 million contract over the off-season, Hammel (2-0) won his Cubs debut when he beat the Pirates in Pittsburgh. He got off to another good start in this one, retiring the first 12 batters until Pedro Alvarezs first homer of the game tied it to start the fifth. Hammel allowed three runs and three hits -- all solo homers -- while striking out six. Rizzo had his career-best fourth straight multi-hit game, Mike Olt and Junior Lake hit back-to-back home runs in the fifth against Wandy Rodriguez (0-2). Emilio Bonifacio, who entered leading the majors with 17 hits and a .515 batting average, was 2 for 5. Bonifacio had two runs for an offence that has scored 21 runs in its last three games after getting eight in its first five. "We had some well-struck balls," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said. "They did there at the end, too, so it was a good night to hit." The Pirates found that out as well on a night where the wind was blowing steadily out. Alvarez and Russell Martin homered twice for the Pirates, each getting their second in the ninth off Pedro Strop, and Travis Snider also went deep. It was Alvarezs second multihomer game of the season and ninth of his career, and it the eighth of Martins career, but Pittsburgh only had one hit besides its five solo home runs. "Well, were not giving up," Martin said. "Were still fighting. Thats kind of in our DNA. No matter what the score is, were going to give our best effort. Were aware some days were going to get beat, but were never really going to cave in. Today they were better than us." Once again, the Cubs were better than Rodriguez, whom Hammel and Chicago beat for the second time. Rodriguez went five innings, giving up four runs and nine hits, keeping the Pirates from clinching their third straight series win to start the season, something they havent done since 1992. Rodriguez missed most of 2013 with a left forearm injury and Pirates manager Clint Hurdle called his performance an "optimistic outing." "Youve got to remember how long hes been away from the mound," Hurdle said. "He feels healthy. The first pitch strikes were good. A little more consistency and location, just execution at times." The Cubs offensive execution was better. Other than Rizzos congratulations to Hammel. "I was excited. We had a great atmosphere in here after the game," Rizzo said. "He pitched his tail off. We got him the W, so its nice. Hes off to a great 2-0 start." NOTES: Bonifacios hot start has given Renteria an easy choice to lead off. "Typically, if you can have a leadoff guy that you can slot in, its really big," Renteria said. ... Cubs OF Justin Ruggianos RBI double was his first hit of the season. He entered the game 0-for-11. ... The Cubs scored three times in the sixth, and the third came when Lake was originally called out at first on a double-play grounder, but Renteria challenged the call by umpire Mark Carlson, getting it overturned and allowing Rizzo to score. ... Pirates LHP Jeff Locke (right oblique) went six innings and allowed two runs and five hits while striking out 10 and walking one in a rehab outing at Single-A Bradenton. Kenbrell Thompkins Womens Jersey . The former New York Jets quarterback was in the trainers room on Sept. 11, 2001, and had trouble making sense of the gaping, smoke-spewing hole in one of the Twin Towers. Jerod Mayo Jersey . Her 64-save performance limited the damage as the Canadian women emerged with a 7-0 victory. Obydennova spent the post-game ceremony bent over in exhaustion.NEW YORK -- Another sizzling start for the Celtics, only this time they kept pouring it on. By the time they were finished, they had battered the New York Knicks in the most lopsided NBA game this season. Jordan Crawford made six 3-pointers and scored 23 points, and Boston won its third straight with a 114-73 victory on Sunday. Jared Sullinger added 21 for the Celtics, who jumped to leads of 12-0, 18-1 and 25-3 and improved their Atlantic Division-leading record to 10-12. "It was just fun to get a win like that in here because Ive been on the other side of it a couple times. Its good to get a win against the division," Crawford said. Boston scored the first 14 points Friday in a victory over Denver, though that one eventually got close. Not this time. The Celtics led 58-31 at halftime, then Crawford made four 3-pointers in a 34-point third quarter that extended Bostons lead to 92-56. The Celtics then scored the first four points of the fourth for a 40-point bulge, triggering loud boos that would get louder at the final buzzer. "I think the biggest thing today was coming out after halftime and keeping it going. Thats hard to do," Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. Boston led by as much as 45 and went on to surpass a 38-point victory by the Clippers over Chicago that had been the NBAs biggest victory this season. The Celtics shot 54 per cent overall and 56 per cent from 3-point range in the rematch of the Knicks first-round playoff victory last season. Carmelo Anthony scored 19 points for the Knicks, who had done to them what they had done to their previous two opponents. Coming off a 30-point victory over Brooklyn and a 38-point rout of Orlando, the Knicks finished with season lows in points and field goal percentage (34.2). "Its a step backwards. I thought we had turned the corner somewhat," Knicks coach Mike Woodson said in taking much of the blame. "I cant have our guys stepping on the floor doing what they did tonight." Starting guards Raymond Felton and Iman Shumpert were both 0 for 6, centre Andrea Bargnanni was 1 for 7, and Anthony finished 5 of 15. Brandon Browner Patriots Jersey. "Its just one of those games where it happens," Felton said. "You hate that it happens, you hate to get beat like that inside your building. It was nasty game, its a bad taste in our mouth right now." New York fell to 0-6 in its orange uniforms, which the Knicks are wearing in weekend home games and also donned at Chicago on Halloween in their road opener. Their three worst losses of the season have come in their alternate colours. "Im not a superstitious guy, so I wont blame it on the 12 oclock game, I wont blame it on the orange uniforms," said Anthony, who won a national championship for the Syracuse Orange. "Regardless, we couldve lost in the white uniforms today. Itd have still been the same thing." Jeff Green and Brandon Bass each scored 16 for the Celtics, who stay in New York for the next couple of days during something of a reunion week. They face Kevin Garnett and Brooklyn Tuesday for the first time in the regular season since last summers blockbuster trade, then return home to face former coach Doc Rivers and the Clippers on Wednesday. It was 12-0 before the Knicks finally got on the board on Anthonys free throw after the Celtics were called for a defensive 3-second violation. Crawford and Sullinger then hit consecutive 3-pointers to make it 18-1 before the Knicks finally made a basket on Anthonys dunk with 5:45 remaining. "We were aggressive on the ball," Green said. "We forced them to play on their heels." The Celtics led 34-11 after one and opened a 26-point lead when Courtney Lee nailed a 3-pointer to open the second. Leading by 17 late in the period, then ran off 12 in a row, Greens three-point play making it 58-29 with 37 seconds remaining. Knicks starters were 3 for 23 in the first half. Notes: The Celtics played just their second division game of the season. They lost to Toronto on opening night. ... With Kenyon Martin resting a sore left ankle, the Knicks gave rookie Tim Hardaway Jr. his first start. ' ' ' |
