os team a decisive lead from Oscars back pass in the 34th

PITTSBURGH -- Pirates manager Clint Hurdle substituted freely and often as Pittsburghs game against the Chicago Cubs wore on Monday night.That had everything to do with the score -- Chicago built a 12-run lead en route to a 12-2 blowout win -- but the Pirates could soon find themselves wanting to rotate in a lot of players for a different reason.Pittsburghs tragic number for being eliminated from the National League wild-card race was reduced to two, meaning the Pirates could be out of a shot for the playoffs as early as Tuesday night when the teams play the second of a four-game series at PNC Park.At that point, like a lot of other teams, Pittsburgh could be reduced to looking at several players who might help them in the future -- a future that will come next year, not in October. Once eliminated, the Pirates only real carrot could be finishing with a winning record.This year is what it is, Hurdle said.While the Pirates (77-79) have lost four of five, the Cubs (100-56) have not hit a lull despite clinching the top record in the major leagues. Chicago won for the sixth time in seven games.Theres a lot of self-motivators out there, a lot of accountable people, Chicago manager Joe Maddon said. Theres a lot of stuff going on right now. Beyond the team goals, we all like to see our guys get a chance to win some personal awards. So its easy.In addition, the Cubs are staying fresh by using a lot of players.Were rotating the stock, Maddon said. Guys are coming in that are fresh. Guys that dont get a chance to play that often, they want to play and show what theyve got.Chicago is so loose in these final days of the regular season that Maddon had no qualms about approaching starter Kyle Hendricks during the fourth inning Monday -- while he was still the active pitcher -- simply to ask Hendricks about the nickname for Dartmouth, where Hendricks attended.Hendricks told him it was the Big Green, settling a question that had been floating around the dugout during the game.I had no idea why he was asking me, Hendricks said with a laugh after he pitched six scoreless innings in the series-opening win.For the second game of this series, Chicago is expected to go with right-hander John Lackey (10-8, 3.39 ERA), who will be making his 29th start. Lackey is 3-1 with a 2.39 ERA in his past eight outings.He is 1-2 with a 3.69 ERA in six career starts against Pittsburgh.The Pirates will counter with right-hander Ryan Vogelsong (3-6, 4.85 ERA). After coming back from facial surgery that was necessitated when he was hit by a pitch, he went 2-2 with a 2.48 ERA in his first five starts. However, since then, Vogelsong is 0-3 with a 9.14 ERA in four starts.Against the Cubs, he is 5-8 with a 5.82 ERA in 21 career appearances, including 13 starts. Air Force 1 Clearance Sale . - Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is not a fan of his teams use of the wildcat formation, saying "it makes you look like a high school offence. Yeezy Boost 700 Wholesale . The Swede became the first golfer to win the PGA Tours FedEx Cup and European Tours Race to Dubai in the same season. "It is still taking a little time to sink in what Ive achieved this week as was the case when I won the FedEx Cup but then it just kept getting better and better as the days went on and I am sure this will be the same," he said. http://www.nikeshoesoutletwholesale.com/air-force-1-sale.html . After Martin Skrtel put the Reds in front from close range at Stamford Bridge after only four minutes, Hazard hit back in the 17th with a superb strike. Etoo gave Jose Mourinhos team a decisive lead from Oscars back pass in the 34th. Adidas Ultra Boost Clearance Sale . At a Manhattan federal court hearing, attorney Jordan Siev said his law office has gotten more evidence nearly every day to support its lawsuit accusing MLB and Selig of going on a "witch hunt" to ruin Rodriguezs reputation and career. He said the defendants went "way over the line. Vapormax 2019 Cheap . Vettel, who has already clinched his fourth straight F1 title, enters the finale with a chance to equal Michael Schumachers 13 victories in a year and match the record of nine consecutive wins by Alberto Ascari in the 1952 and 1953 seasons.Jessica Ennis-Hill returned to competitive athletics on Sunday, competing in the javelin at the Loughborough International Athletics match. The 30-year-old, who won heptathlon gold at London 2012, finished eighth with a throw of 41.69 metres.The match was her first competitive athletics event since the World Championships last August, having been laid low with an Achilles injury. Focus on Rio Jessica Enniss-Hill told SSNHQ she is back in full training Ennis-Hill is not yet ready for a full heptathlon and pulled out of Junes Gotzsis meeting in Austria.ddddddddddddhe has, however, already secured her position for this years summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.Ennis-Hill was unhappy with her performance but, speaking before the event, described the local support in Loughborough as amazing. Also See: Results & Medal Table Photo Galleries Team GB ' ' '