allowing 124 points in their last two games.

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CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Angels meet on Tuesday for the first time since the first week of the season.Their respective fortunes since then couldnt be more contrasting.Chicago (69-41) is on a post-All-Star Game roll with baseballs best record, a seven-game winning streak, victories in 10 of its last 11 contests and a double-digit game lead in the National League Central.(Were) firing on all cylinders right now, right-hander Jake Arrieta (13-5, 2.59 ERA) told reporters over the weekend after working eight strong innings in a 4-0 win over the Oakland Athletics. Were playing good baseball, theres always things to improve on (but) theres things to be happy about.The teams open a two-game series kicking off a 10-game homestand for the Cubs.Chicago sends right-hander John Lackey (8-7, 3.70 ERA) against righty Jered Weaver (8-8, 5.11 ERA) in the series opener. Jason Hammel (11-5, 3.07 ERA) is scheduled for Wednesdays start against Los Angeles right-hander Ricky Nolasco (4-8, 5.23 ERA).The Angels (49-62) have limped through late July and early August with 10 losses in their last 16 contests, including a current four-game losing streak.Los Angeles came out of the All-Star break with six straight victories and sparked slim hopes at a run for a wild-card spot. But the subsequent slump left the Angels hovering near the AL West cellar and the need to leapfrog six teams to secure one of two wild card berths.Manager Mike Scioscia insisted his team hadnt given up even after a pair of trades involving a starter and reliever.Theres absolutely no white flag being run up, he told reporters last week.The Angels sent their top starter -- left-hander Hector Santiago (10-4) -- to Minnesota for Nolasco and a prospect. Los Angeles separately traded sidearm reliever Joe Smith (1-4, 3.82 ERA, six saves) to the Cubs for a minor league pitcher.The Angels also pulled the plug last week on an experiment with two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum. He was designated for assignment last Saturday after posting 2-6 record, 9.16 ERA and 2.37 WHIP in nine appearances.Lincecum, who had surgery last year to repair a torn labrum in his hip, signed a one-year deal with the Angels in May.The departures of Santiago, Lincecum plus others currently on disabled list with a variety of ailments, leaves Weaver, Matt Shoemaker (6-12, 4.07 ERA) and Nolasco as staff aces.Not all is bleak. Outfielder Mike Trout, who turned 25 on Sunday, remains a highlight for the Angels. He has a big league-best .427 on-base percentage, is tied for second in runs scored (88) and owns a .316 batting average.Albert Pujols, meanwhile, needs two home runs to reach 583 for his career and a 10th place all-time tie with Mark McGwire.The Cubs enter the series 11-4 in interleague play this season, are a season-high 28 games over .500 and with two-thirds of the season in the books are on track for 101 wins.They finally got Jorge Soler back from the disabled list (hamstring). Soler went 2-for-4 on Sunday against the As and has five RBI since coming off the disabled list on Saturday.Chicago increasingly looks likely for a second straight postseason berth. Even when the Cubs were struggling, manager Joe Madden insisted theyd be all right and were capable of a strong run similar to how they started the season (25-6).The Cubs lost 15 of 20 prior to the All-Star break. They beat the Pirates 6-5 last month to close the first half and then picked up after the break with 17 wins in their next 23 games.Its just trending in the right direction, Maddon said. Cheap Raiders Jerseys Authentic . Most important, perhaps, it went off without a hitch. Organizers poked a little fun at the now-infamous opening ceremony gaffe that saw only four out of five snowflakes open up into rings, leaving the Olympics logo one ring short. Raiders Jerseys China . By having more great seasons. Manning was the only unanimous choice for the 2013 Associated Press NFL All-Pro team Friday. http://www.wholesaleraidersjerseys.com/ . -- Yogi Ferrell orchestrates pretty much everything in Indianas offence. Cheap Raiders Jerseys . 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. Cheap Stitched Raiders Jerseys . I cant pinpoint a date, but I do remember a player from my youth. Brian Downing was with the Chicago White Sox at a time when I listened to every game I possibly could on the radio. That particular season the late great Harry Caray was calling the White Sox games. HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- Lamar Jacksons latest fantastic performance didnt live up to his own lofty standards.Jackson capped off a September to remember with another solid effort against an overmatched opponent, throwing for a career-high 417 yards and accounting for seven touchdowns in No. 3 Louisvilles 59-28 win over Marshall on Saturday night.The sophomore threw five touchdown passes and ran for two more scores. He completed 24 of 44 passes against a Marshall secondary whose most experienced player had five starts.Some of those incompletions stuck with him after the game and he gave himself a failing grade.I was overthrowing my receivers, Jackson said. Im .... about that right now.Louisville (4-0) didnt slow down against a nonconference opponent on the road a week after beating Florida State 63-20 at home.After a punt and a missed field goal on two of their first three series, Jackson said the Cardinals got mad at ourselves. Were used to going out there and executing everything right.We started off bad and in my mind I was like we need to make something happen. We got into our groove.The Cardinals raced to a 35-7 halftime lead on Marshall and cruised in the second half to break a four-game losing streak to the Thundering Herd. Jacksons scoring passes covered 71, 8, 30, 8 and 51 yards.The things we wanted him to do, he did a good job with, Louisville coach Bobby Petrino said. I think we had to earn it tonight.Louisville surpassed 600 yards of offense for the third time this season.Marshall (1-2) was limited to 207 yards in the first start for freshman quarterback Garet Morrell. Chase Litton missed the game with an undisclosed injury that was announced an hour before kickoff. Marshall coach Doc Holliday said Litton didnt practice all week.Marshall has lost 15 straight to ranked opponents and has yet too beat a ranked team at home since joining the FBS in 1997.ddddddddddddhere is no question, thats an excellent football team, Holliday said of Louisville. That quarterback is a special guy.THE TAKEAWAYLOUISVILLE: Jackson simply hasnt been stopped, although Marshalls pass rush at times forced him into inaccurate throws. His 62 rushing yards meant that his streak of five straight 100-yard rushing games dating to last season came to an end. After four games, hes thrown 13 TD passes and run for 12 more scores.MARSHALL: The Thundering Herd need Litton back in a hurry and could use some help on defense after allowing 124 points in their last two games. Holliday said the only positives he took away from the game were the play of running backs Anthony Pittman (54 yards) and Anthony Anderson (46).Weve need to get better in all three phases, come back (Sunday) and go to work, Holliday said.POLL IMPLICATIONSWith No. 2 Ohio State idle, Louisville could gain some votes in the AP Top 25 poll but it might not be enough to overtake the Buckeyes.RUNNING RADCLIFFJackson hasnt done it alone. Brandon Radcliff had his third straight 100-yard rushing game, finishing with 131 yards on 19 carries.PENALTIES GALORELouisville was penalized 12 times for 143 yards. Marshall, which entered the game averaging an FBS-worst 12.5 penalties per game, was flagged nine times for 95 yards. Kendall Gant was ejected in the second quarter for targeting during a punt return.UP NEXTLOUISVILLE: Heads to No. 5 Clemson with a chance to strengthen its perch at the top in the Atlantic Coast Conferences Atlantic Division after beating No. 13 Florida State last week.MARSHALL: Closes out nonconference play at Pittsburgh. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '