Rollenspiele » itching in five days.Zimmermanns outing on Saturday

ST. LOUIS -- The Chicago Cubs had their chances, but just couldnt get the big hit.The Cubs stranded 10 runners, including leaving the bases loaded in the second and fourth innings, as the St. Louis Cardinals rallied for a 4-2 win Tuesday night, ensuring that the runaway Cubs wont clinch the NL Central at Busch Stadium.Chicagos magic number is three, and the series in St. Louis wraps up Wednesday.We put together some really good at bats tonight, Chicago shortstop Addison Russell said. Its just youve got to give credit to their pitchers, too. They kept us off balance it seemed like, and made the plays.St. Louis remained a half-game behind the New York Mets for the second NL wild-card spot.Cardinals reliever Alex Reyes lack of control led to most of the Cubs chances. Reyes (2-1), who pitched 4 1/3 innings of relief after Jaime Garcia failed to get out of the second, walked six and allowed a hit but still managed to keep the Cubs off the board.The fastball command wasnt there, Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. We were out of the zone. We had every opportunity had we been a little more patient.Cubs starter Jason Hammel (14-9) struck out a season-high nine, but gave up two-run homers to Brandon Moss in the sixth and Aledmys Diaz in the second.The pitch to Diaz was a fastball that came back over the plate, Hammel said. The pitch to Moss I went back and looked at it and I felt I made my pitch and it just left the yard. Ive got to figure out how to keep it on the ground.Dexter Fowler led off the game with a home run against Garcia. It was his seventh leadoff homer of the season.Im seeing the ball well, Fowler said. Control what you can control and other than that youve got to keep pushing.Garcia lasted just 1 2/3 innings in the shortest outing in his 146-start career. He gave up two runs on three hits, including an RBI double by Russell in the second.I let my team down, Garcia said. Ive been through tough times before. All I can say is Im going to continue to do whats in my control to continue to fight.Moss entered the game mired in a 1-for-41 skid. He singled in the second and scored on Diazs 15th homer of the season.It was a bad rut, but he pulled himself through, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said.Diaz started for the first time since July 31, when the All-Star shortstop broke his thumb.Kevin Siegrist got his second save.The loss means the earliest the Cubs can clinch their first National League Central Division championship since 2008 would be Thursday against Milwaukee at Wrigley Field.Its going to happen, Fowler said. Its just a matter of when.TRAINERS ROOMCardinals: INF Matt Carpenter was in the starting lineup after leaving Mondays game with back tightness. ... RHP Trevor Rosenthal threw batting practice. He has missed 46 games with shoulder inflammation. ... RHP Michael Wacha is expected to be activated off the disabled list tomorrow and could be headed to the bullpen. He has been out since Aug. 9 with shoulder inflammation.UP NEXTCubs LHP Jon Lester (16-4, 2.51) takes on RHP Carlos Martinez (14-7, 3.05) in the final game of the three-game set. Lester has allowed one run or less in each of his last five starts. He is 6-0 with a 1.17 ERA in his previous eight starts. Martinez is 6-3 in 11 day starts this season. He has induced an NL-leading 32 double plays. Tiger Williams Kings Jersey . Each of Houstons starters scored in double figures as the Rockets improved to 2-0 against the Spurs this season, with both victories coming on the road. 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Crouched behind the 10th green at Sheshan International, McDowell looked over at the powerful American and said, "Ive probably seen 18 of the best drives Ive seen all year in the last two days. Luc Robitaille Kings Jersey .B. - Sebastien Auger made 44 saves as the Saint John Sea Dogs edged the visiting Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2-1 on Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Detroit Tigers right-hander Jordan Zimmermann will not make his scheduled start Thursday against the Minnesota Twins, manager Brad Ausmus announced Sunday.Zimmermann will instead pitch a simulated game on Wednesday.Zimmermann, who has served two stints of a month or more on the disabled list for a neck injury since July, got rocked in his return to the mound Saturday against the Orioles, surrendering six runs on four hits with three walks in just one inning pitched (plus four batters faced in the second inning). The Tigers lost 11-3.Following the defeat, which left Detroit trailing Baltimore by one game in the wild-card standings, Ausmus did not commit to Zimmermann making his next start or remaining in the rotation.Asked Saturday if he expected to start Thursday, Zimmermann said, I hope so. I mean, I hope Im pitching in five days.Zimmermanns outing on Saturday was frustratingly similar to his last appearance -- another truncated start on August 4 in which he gave up six runs in 1.dddddddddddd2 innings pitched before promptly returning to the disabled list.But the 30-year-old insisted he felt good physically and was not hampered by injury.I feel good. I feel like Im back to my old self. I just wasnt able to locate pitches and its pretty embarrassing going one-plus innings and giving up six runs, Zimmermann said.Ausmus, too, did not sound as if the team was worried about this being another situation where Zimmermanns health was in question. Previously, Zimmermann admitted to rushing his last comeback attempt, which ultimately resulted in another long absence.Ive never been told that he wasnt 100 percent, Ausmus said. He pitched his rehab and after his last rehab start he said he felt really good. Thats why we went forward.ESPNs Katie Strang contributed to this report.? ' ' '