NEU » udes a monster, Mason

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 Mark Radford Jersey . With their top three point guards and Kobe Bryant all sidelined by injury, the Lakers signed Marshall out of the D-League on Friday before their home game against Minnesota. Slick Watts Jersey . NBA officials ruled the court unplayable in the Bucks final exhibition game on Oct. 25 because players were slipping, and the game was cancelled midway through the first period. https://www.supersonicsjerseys.com/420s-dick-snyder-jersey-supersonics.html . John Lucas, signed as a mentor for rookie Trey Burke, showed he can score if required, scoring 12 points of his 16 points in the second quarter as Utah built an 18-point lead. Sam Perkins Jersey .Y. -- Bills receiver Stevie Johnson has a bone to pick with the NFL schedule maker. Vladimir Radmanovic Jersey . Louis Blues teammates who would also be participating in the Olympics, Alex Pietrangelo felt right at home, no different in some ways to the travel experience of any old road trip – save for the length of the journey, that is. AUBURN, Ala. -- Cornerback Josh Holsey remembers well the last time Auburn played Vanderbilt. It was 2012, and the Tigers were on their way to a winless Southeastern Conference season that culminated with the firing of coach Gene Chizik.No. 11 Auburn, now ranked ninth in the initial College Football Playoff rankings, appears headed in a very different direction heading into the rematch Saturday four years after that 17-14 defeat.I was on the field when we lost, the Tigers Holsey said. It kind of sucks. That was a very long trip back, too.We have to make sure I can come away at least 1-1 with those guys before I leave Auburn.Auburn (6-2, 4-1) has much higher stakes this time around against the Commodores (4-4, 1-3). The Tigers are riding a five-game winning streak that has put them in contention for the SEC West title and into the playoff mix.The Commodores (4-4, 1-3), who are coming off an open date, also have some momentum after wins over Georgia and Tennessee State. They havent won three games in a row or beaten a ranked team since 2013 and are 26-point underdogs in this one.Weve got our hands full, but weve had a chance to do some things ourselves, Vandy coach Derek Mason said. Definitely excited about whats happening.The game features the SECs top two rushers, Auburns Kamryn Pettway and Vandys Ralph Webb. Webb faces a defense that has allowed only four rushing touchdowns.---Some other things to watch in the Vanderbilt-Auburn game:FOCUSED IN: Auburn coach Gus Malzahn and players insist theres no danger of the Tigers overlooking Vandy while thinnking about the Georgia game or an Alabama showdown with potentially huge stakes.ddddddddddddThe Commodores have already upset Georgia.PETTWAYS STREAK: No running back in the country gained more than Pettways 199 yards per game in the month of October. The 6-foot, 240-pounder has averaged 32 carries in the last three games for the nations No. 3 running team. When you see (No.) 36 rolling down hill, that dudes a monster, Mason said.PROTECT THE BALL: Vanderbilt is tied for first in the SEC and 20th nationally in turnover margin at plus 6, forcing a combined 13 fumbles and interceptions. The Commodores have lost just seven with three fumbles and four interceptions. They dont beat themselves, Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. They make you earn it.WATCH FOR CUNNINGHAM: The Commodores rank seventh in the SEC and 59th nationally in run defense, a unit anchored by the leagues top tackler in junior linebacker Zach Cunningham. He is averaging 10.6 tackles per game and has 85 tackles through eight games -- 14 more than the next closet tacklers with eight games played. Cunninghams key stop on fourth-and-1 in Athens preserved Vandys 16-15 win over Georgia on Oct. 15.TONY STEVENS: The status of Auburn leading receiver Tony Stevens remains a mystery. Stevens sat out the Mississippi game with an undisclosed injury. He has 24 catches for 408 yards and three touchdowns, all team highs.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '