CHICAGO -- Kyle Hendricks began the season as the Cubs No. 5 starter. Hes on pace to finish it as the major leagues ERA leader and -- if manager Joe Maddon has his way -- potentially with an even bigger trophy.Hendricks threw seven dominant innings to lower the majors best ERA to 2.09 and Anthony Rizzo homered to lead the Cubs past the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0 on Tuesday night for Chicagos 21st victory in August.He has to be in Cy Young contention, Maddon said. Put the radar gun in your back pocket and look at what hes doing. There has to be strong consideration, not just consideration.Hendricks (13-7) allowed three hits and has given up three or fewer runs in 18 straight starts. He didnt allow a hit until Gregory Polancos bloop to left-center in the fifth and faced the minimum 17 batters until John Jasos two-out double in the sixth.Not bad for a guy who doesnt often hit 90 mph with his fastball.Hes not the guy whos getting away with plus-plus stuff. Hes just executing his game plan and he knows how to attack hitters, Rizzo said. He studies hitters and he went to Dartmouth and he has a really good education. So he out-tricks guys.Rizzo belted a two-run homer off Chad Kuhl (3-2) in the first and Miguel Montero added an RBI single an inning later as the Cubs improved to 84-47 despite only five hits.Carl Edwards Jr. worked the eighth and Aroldis Chapman hit 103 mph in a perfect ninth to finished the four-hitter for his 31st save. The Cubs improved to 21-6 this month, one win shy of the best August in franchise history set in 1932.Hendricks is well ahead of No. 2 Madison Bumgarner of San Francisco (2.49) in the ERA race. He only struck out four, but the Pirates had little solid contact as he kept them off-balance with a mix of pitches, including two- and four-seam fastballs.My fastball command was really good, Hendricks said. My curveball may have been the best its been all year. I threw a lot of good ones today.Andrew McCutchens one-out single in the seventh was the other hit off the right-hander. Hendricks is seeking to become the first Cubs pitcher to win the major league ERA title since Bill Lee in 1938.Since Sept. 1, 2015, Hendricks is 18-7 with a 2.25 ERA, Cy Young Award-type numbers.Where I was at last year and my goals coming into this year, what I was trying to do, I definitely didnt see myself as being a part of that, Hendricks said. I had my sights set a little lower.Kuhl, in his ninth major league start, allowed three runs and four hits in five innings as the Pirates lost their second straight after winning four in a row.Jordy Mercer doubled with two outs off Edwards in the eighth before pinch-hitter Matt Joyce flied deep to center to end Pittsburghs best threat.The Pirates fell 2 1/2 games behind St. Louis for the second NL wild-card as they flailed away against Hendricks.The command, the execution, manager Clint Hurdle said. I thought I was back in 1987 with Greg Maddux on the mound.TRAINERS ROOMPirates: RHP Gerrit Cole (elbow inflammation) played catch, a day after being put on the 15-day disabled list. He could return as soon as Sept. 9. Hopefully, (the rehab) will go quickly, Cole said. . INF Jung Ho Kang (shoulder), working out with Indianapolis, is expected to begin an official rehab stint with the Triple-A team this week.Cubs: RHP John Lackey (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Thursday. If it goes well, he could start Sunday vs. San Francisco.SUSPECT FIELDA large chunk of the outfield in center and right fields was re-sodded and looks chewed up after Wrigley Field hosted Pearl Jam and Billy Joel concerts while the Cubs were away.Its like a field after a concert, RF Jason Heyward said.UP NEXTRHP Jason Hammel (13-7, 3.21) was moved up to start Wednesday nights series finale against RHP Ryan Vogelsong (3-3, 3.02). LHP Mike Montgomery was pushed to Thursday. Hammel was lifted after allowing three runs in 2 1/3 innings Saturday. He wants to get back out there, Maddon said. cheap jerseys . The No. 1-ranked Nadal tweaked his back warming up for the Australian Open final, which he lost almost four weeks ago in a major upset against Stanislas Wawrinka. His first stop after the layoff is the clay in Rio as he tests the back and tries to stay healthy for the French Open in three months. nfl jerseys china . The All-Pro lineman got the leg bent under him while trying to make a tackle during the first half of a 22-20 overtime loss at Miami on Thursday night. The medical staff initially thought hed torn the ligament, and the test a day later in Cincinnati confirmed it. http://www.nfljerseyscheapfromchina.cc/ . But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle. Wholesale jerseys . Takahashi, who had a 10-point lead after the short program, received 268.31 points after the free skate to finish 15 points ahead of second-place Nobunari Oda. cheap nfl jerseys . It was hard for Luck to pull off another comeback, or even get into the end zone, while standing on the sideline. Rivers threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to rookie Keenan Allen and Nick Novak kicked four field goals to give the Chargers a 19-9 victory against the Colts on Monday night.NEW YORK -- Zack Wheeler is still learning how to harness his 95 mph heat. In the meantime, he and the Mets keep winning. Wheeler beat the first-place Atlanta Braves for the second time in seven major league starts, and John Buck drove in three runs for New York in a 7-4 victory Thursday. Although he had trouble throwing consistent strikes again, Wheeler (4-1) fought through a difficult first inning that included three strikeouts with runners in scoring position. Since the day he was called up from the minors, the Mets (45-53) are 20-13. "Im starting to feel a little bit more comfortable with my mechanics. Ive just got to trust my stuff and go after guys," Wheeler said. "Ive just got to get ahead and start setting guys up. Its a lot easier when you do that." Daniel Murphy and Marlon Byrd had three hits apiece to help the Mets gain a four-game series split. But the news wasnt all good: Eric Young Jr., a spark in the leadoff spot since arriving last month, was pulled with pain in his right knee. Mets manager Terry Collins called it a strain, but Young didnt sound too worried. He said precautionary X-rays were negative and he hopes to play in Fridays day-night doubleheader at Washington. "Just playing it safe," said Young, obtained on the same day Wheeler made his debut. "We didnt want to try to push it." One day after top pitcher Tim Hudson sustained a season-ending ankle injury when Young accidentally stepped on him, the NL East-leading Braves caught another tough break. This time, it was a missed call by the umpires that helped the Mets score three times in the sixth and led to the ejection of Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez. Wheeler squandered a three-run lead by giving up homers to Dan Uggla and Freddie Freeman. But the prized rookie allowed only four hits in six innings after throwing 31 pitches in the first. He tossed six shutout innings in Atlanta to win his big league debut June 18. "Hes a work in progress. But Ill tell you one thing, everybodys right: The skys the limit with him. Hes got plus stuff. Hes tougher than people give him credit for. Hes going to be fine, but hes got to make some adjustments," Collins said. "I was very happy with the way he battled back and kept us in the game." Opponents are batting .114 (4 for 35) against Wheeler with runners in scoring position and .162 (11 for 68) with men on base. David Aardsma and LaTroy Hawkins each worked a hitless inning before Bobby Parnell closed for his 20th save in 24 tries. Freemans long homer to centre leading off the sixth tied it at 4, but Wheeler ended the inning with a double-play grounder and New York went right back ahead iin the bottom half.dddddddddddd. Andrew Brown, who replaced Young in left field, opened with a double against reliever Kameron Loe (0-1) and went to third on a wild pitch. Murphy singled through a drawn-in infield to give the Mets the lead. "Guys are swinging the sticks like crazy right now. Its fun," Wheeler said. David Wright followed with a drive to left-centre that bounced up and hit the protective railing above the wall before caroming back onto the field. Center fielder Reed Johnson raised his arms, looking for the ground-rule double signal, but third base umpire Chad Fairchild ruled the ball in play. Murphy scored and Wright pulled into third with an RBI triple before Gonzalez came out to argue. He took his protest to plate umpire and crew chief Jeff Kellogg before Fairchild finally tossed him. Gonzalez headed toward the dugout, but then went back at Fairchild, now standing behind third base again. "I dont think I needed a replay to know I was right," Gonzalez said. Kellogg declined comment after the game, saying the umps had to catch a flight. Buck added a run-scoring double with two outs to make it 7-4. Young beat out an infield single to start a four-run third and scored on Byrds single. Buck hit a two-run single with two outs to put the Mets up 4-1. Acquired from Colorado in a trade, Young was very upset Wednesday night after breaking Hudsons right ankle when he inadvertently stepped on the pitcher at first base. Hudson, the leader of Atlantas strong pitching staff, will have season-ending surgery once the swelling subsides. Collins said Young "tweaked" his leg on the play, and one day later the speedy outfielder was removed in the fourth inning. Uggla trimmed it to 4-3 with a two-run shot off Wheeler in the fourth. It was Ugglas second homer in two days and 11th at Citi Field, the most by a visiting player. Wheeler threw a fastball over Ugglas head in the first, and the Atlanta second baseman glared out at the mound before saying something to Buck. "I told him, Look, you can be mad at him because he doesnt know where its going, but trust me, its not intentional," Buck said. "He said, OK, thank you." NOTES: Atlanta OF Jason Heyward and C Brian McCann were rested. ... LHP Mike Minor (9-5, 2.98 ERA) starts against St. Louis ace Adam Wainwright (13-5, 2.44) when the Braves begin a seven-game homestand Friday night. ... Justin Turner started at SS for the Mets, giving Omar Quintanilla a much-needed breather. ... Collins said Wright checked out fine after getting hit in the back of the neck and head Wednesday night with the broken barrel of his own bat on a double-play grounder. Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jersyes Cheap Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '