said of Hill, The command wasnt perfect, but he willed h

CHICAGO -- Its October in an even-numbered year, and the San Francisco Giants appear to be following their usual routine. The Chicago Cubs think their time is now.Welcome to one intriguing NL Division Series.Fresh off a dramatic wild-card victory in New York, the Giants were brimming with confidence when they arrived in Chicago on Thursday, albeit a bit late due to travel problems. Madison Bumgarners four-hitter in Wednesday nights 3-0 victory against the Mets means he likely is pushed back until at least Game 3, but the Giants have 18-game winner Johnny Cueto ready to go for Friday nights series opener at Wrigley Field.San Francisco stumbled in the second half of the season, then closed with five wins in six games to hold onto the second NL wild card. The Giants won the World Series in 2010, 2012 and 2014, and manager Bruce Bochy and company feel this is their part of the calendar- again.The moment wont bother these guys, Bochy said.The Giants sustained success is exactly what the Cubs are hoping to string together. It has been 108 years since the North Siders last won the World Series in 1908 -- a number that will chase them around for as long as they stick around in this years playoffs -- but the Cubs made it to the NL Championship Series in 2015 and led the majors with 103 wins this season.With a deep rotation and young sluggers in Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, the Cubs are positioned to challenge for titles for years to come. They want to start right now, and the Giants are standing in their way.Every year theyre in it. Every year theyre contending. Every year they have a chance to win the World Series, said left-hander Jon Lester, who will start Game 1 for the Cubs. So I think thats what every team wants, not just us. I think theyre an organization that a lot of teams look after to figure out how, why, how to get to that point.Its a model of consistency. Its impressive to see what they do.The Cubs clinched the NL Central title way back on Sept. 15, giving them a couple weeks to rest a few bumps and bruises and get their pitching staff ready for the playoffs. Even manager Joe Maddon is interested to see how they respond after four days off.Yeah, were going to find out, Maddon said. I thought we handled the last couple days well.One of the key moments in Chicagos run to a wild card last season was a four-game sweep of San Francisco in August. If this years seven-game season series is any indication of what the playoffs will look like, get ready for a string of tight, low-scoring matchups.The final five games were decided by one run, including Chicago taking three of four at home last month. The Cubs won four times and outscored the Giants 23-17 this year, but one of their wins was an 8-1 victory.Weve got our work cut out for us, said Jake Arrieta, who likely will match up with Bumgarner in Game 3. Weve had a nice amount of time off. Now its going to be nice to get back on the field and playing some meaningful games.Cueto made one start against Chicago this year, pitching seven solid innings in a no-decision on Sept. 4. The right-hander, who helped Kansas City win the World Series last season, is very familiar with the Cubs and Wrigley Field after spending the first 7 1/2 years of his major league career with Cincinnati.I like to pitch when its a sold-out crowd with everybody cheering for me or against me, and that kind of motivates me, Cueto said through a translator.Lester had one of his worst starts of the year at San Francisco on May 21, lasting just 2 2/3 innings in a 5-3 loss. He responded with five consecutive wins and went 15-2 with a 2.38 ERA in his final 23 starts.After Lester makes his 17th career postseason appearance, major league ERA leader Kyle Hendricks gets the ball in Game 2, followed by Arrieta and John Lackey. The Giants had not set their series rotation, but Jeff Samardzija could pitch on Saturday night against the team that gave him his start in the majors.The status of All-Star Eduardo Nunez also was unclear. Nunez missed the wild-card win with a strained right hamstring, and Conor Gillaspie delivered in his absence with a three-run homer in the ninth -- just another example of San Franciscos even-year magic.Can he start tomorrow? No, Bochy said while providing an update on Nunezs status. But its a five-game series, if we think he can help coming off the bench, maybe start the back end of this series then we probably would activate him.---Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap Nike Air Max Plus Sverige . The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game. Air Max 200 Herr . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. http://www.reaairmaxsverige.com/air-max-95-rabatt/max-95-dam.html .S. Open champion Justin Rose birdied the first hole with a blind shot he hit to a foot of the pin, and he stayed in front Tuesday until he completed a 4-under 67 for a two-shot lead over Jason Dufner in PGA Grand Slam of Golf. Nike Air Max Plus Rabatt . -- Mike Smith never saw his first NHL goal go in. Nike Air Max 98 Rea . Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey last Sunday. The fine is the fourth this season for Goldson. He was fined $30,000 for a hit on the New York Jets Jeff Cumberland in Week 1. DENVER -- After a stunningly successful debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers, veteran left-hander Rich Hill will make his second start for them Tuesday. Hill pitches off his highly effective overhand curveball. He will face the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, where the mile-high altitude poses a challenge to any breaking pitch.However, Hill, 36, has experience at Coors Field. Hes 0-2 with an 8.80 ERA in three starts there, one each in 2006, 2007 and 2008 with the Chicago Cubs. The most recent and best start was April 23, 2008, and Hill allowed two runs on three hits in five innings with three strikeouts and four walks. He didnt figure in the decision in the Cubs 7-6 win.The Dodgers acquired Hill from Oakland on Aug. 1. The As had placed him on the disabled list July 20 with a left middle finger blister. Hill went 9-3 with a 2.25 ERA in 14 starts for the As this season while limiting the opposition to a .201 average.In his Dodgers debut Wednesday, Hill outdueled the Giants Johnny Cueto and was the winning pitcher in the Dodgers 1-0 victory. Hill allowed five singles with no walks and three strikeouts while throwing 81 pitches, 63 strikes, in six scoreless innings. He went to a three-ball count once.Everything felt solid. Mentally, I felt great, body feels good, Hill said. Something that Ive emphasized throughout the entire season in Oakland and carried over here into L.A. is just stay within the moment, a pitch-to-pitch approach annd really just making sure you execute each pitch.ddddddddddddDodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Hill, The command wasnt perfect, but he willed himself to six innings. As seen on video, he has such good feel for the curveball. It wasnt right on point, but he was very good.Left-hander Tyler Anderson will oppose Hill. Overall, Anderson is 4-5 with a 3.69 ERA. In his only previous game against the Dodgers, he held them to two runs and six hits in seven innings Aug. 3 and was the winning pitcher in Colorados 12-2 romp. That was the last win for Anderson, who is 1/3 with a 4.91 ERA in his past four starts.In his last game at Milwaukee on Wednesday, Anderson gave up three hits and two runs in five innings with two walks and a career-high 10 strikeouts, giving Anderson 77 strikeouts in 83 innings or an average of 8.4 strikeouts per nine innings.I think when he has his best changeup, hes going to miss bats, Rockies manager Walt Weiss said, Typically he may get weak contact with that pitch. But its good enough he can get swings and misses, too. I think it was real good that last start. He commanded the fastball with it, and he would speed guys up to get to that changeup. Once you speed them up, theyre going to miss the changeup when you pull the string on them. I think thats what you saw in his last start. ' ' '