June 5, 2016 Chicago Tribune Jason Hammel double threat in pitching and hitting Cubs over Diamondbacks By Chris Kuc Here's a very good sign that this could be your season: Your opponent intentionally walks the No. 8 hitter to get to the pitcher, who promptly ricochets a hit off second base and into right field to score two runs. Yep, everything pretty much continues to go the Cubs' way. Jason Hammel got it done on the mound and at the plate Saturday as the Cubs downed the Diamondbacks 5-3 at soggy Wrigley Field. Hammel went seven strong innings and singled in the tying and go-ahead runs with his pinball effort off the bag at second in the fourth to help the Cubs to their fourth consecutive victory and 10th in their last 11 games. Hammel (7-1) allowed two runs on one hit — Jake Lamb's two-out homer in the first — and struck out six while walking two. The right-hander retired the last 13 Diamondbacks he faced and then watched as relievers Pedro Strop, Trevor Cahill, Travis Wood and Hector Rondon finished out the Cubs' 39th victory against 15 losses. "I'm glad second base is where second base is because it helped, obviously," Hammel said of his hit that gave him seven RBIs this season. As far as his pitching, Hammel said he had to make adjustments to the rainy conditions at the start after he nearly sailed two of his warmup pitches to the backstop. "I just tried to stay with it (and) tried and command the ball in the strike zone," he said. "I … ended up finding a pretty good rhythm and (catcher David Ross) was putting down good fingers. Every time I shook (off a pitch) we were on the same page." Dexter Fowler and Anthony Rizzo each went 2-for-4 with a home run and Jorge Soler added an RBI double for the Cubs, who improved to 8-1 on the homestand that will wraps up Sunday. Hammel's grounder that struck second before rolling into right field and allowing Ben Zobrist and Soler to score was just another bounce going the Cubs' way this season. "(Bounces) only go your way when you really maintain your focus and get prepared and play the same way regardless of where you're located in the standings — I've always believed that," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. -- Chicago Tribune Tightness in back nearly gone, Hector Rondon earns 10th save for Cubs By Chris Kuc When it came to a tight situation, Hector Rondon wasn't concerned with any lingering tightness in his back.

The Cubs closer took the mound for the first time since Monday and shut down the Diamondbacks in order to record the save during a 5-3 victory Saturday at Wrigley Field. Rondon needed just eight pitches to earn his 10th save of the season in 10 opportunities. "I'm really happy right now because I came back to pitch and I feel really good," Rondon said. "I still feel (the tightness) a little bit but not enough to bother me." Rondon said he thinks he developed the problem "from running too much. I'm trying to take it easy and (I) feel a lot better." In just his third save opportunity since May 11, Rondon got Welington Castillo and Chris Herrmann to fly out and Yasmany Tomas on a game-ending lineout. Rondon now has converted 21 consecutive save chances since August 14 of last season, the third-longest streak in franchise history. "Every time I go to the mound if I feel sore or in pain I try to put it away and try to be aggressive and pound the zone," Rondon said. "That happened (Saturday). They swung early and we got the win." No sweat: During his pregame news conference, manager Joe Maddon was sporting a blue track suit with the Cubs logo on the front and "Joey" on the back. It is the latest theme for the Cubs' upcoming trip and Maddon and players will wear the suits with their nicknames on the back during their trek to Philadelphia, Atlanta and Washington beginning Monday. "It's the 'Jon Lester Tribute to the NBA Finals Road Trip,'" Maddon said. "I really intend to wear it as often as the weather will permit. It's supposed to be hot so I don't know how much I'm going to. This stuff can get really warm. I intend to pack really lightly on this trip and bring T-shirts and sneakers and toothpaste and that's hopefully about it." Remembering: The Cubs observed a moment of silence for boxing legend Muhammad Ali, who died late Friday at age 74. Maddon said he followed Ali's career closely and was a good friend of the boxer's long-time trainer, Angelo Dundee. "When (Ali) beat Sonny Liston the first time in Miami I remember listening to that on the radio," Maddon said. "(It's) really a segment of our history that will never be repeated. I don't think there is ever going to a group of boxers that (will) provide that kind of entertainment, interest and charisma and everything else that he had going on. "He truly left his mark." -- Chicago Tribune He's no longer 'reckless,' but fortunately 'Gracie' hasn't changed By Teddy Greenstein I covered the baseball beat for six years, and of all the funny lines from all the irreverent players, this is the one I most love retelling. It was 2000, and Cubs manager Don Baylor designated four players as captains, leading to mass eye-rolling. One captain was me-first Sammy Sosa. Another was Mark Grace. Asked during that spring training what it meant to him, Grace reached for a cigarette inside his locker and pretended to puff on it. "Lead by example," he said.

"Yup, that sounds like me," Grace said Friday morning after a belly laugh. He spoke from the visitors dugout at Wrigley Field before hustling to the cage to work with young Diamondbacks as the team's assistant hitting coach. He lost his local and national broadcasting gigs after a second DUI conviction in 2013 left him with a four-month sentence (12 hours per day) in a Phoenix jail known as "Tent City." "I paid my debt to Arizona, to society," he said. "It's over with, thankfully, and the lesson was learned. That's a chapter I had to teach my (two) sons about. Don't grab the cigarette and say: 'Lead by example.' "I was getting pretty careless, reckless; now I'm not. I understand I'm not bulletproof and that when you do these things there are consequences. Be accountable. And don't (expletive) do it again." Grace loves coaching. He would rather wear a uniform than broadcaster's garb — a polo shirt or suit and tie. "It's much more of a rush down here," he said. "You live and die vicariously through these players. It's awesome knowing your fingerprint might have slightly pushed guys like Brandon Drury and Jake Lamb." Grace then joked about the coaches' smaller paychecks as outfielder Chris Owings walked by. "Hey," Grace called out, "what do I always say about my finances?" "You're rich as (expletive)," Owings replied. Grace, at 51, always will be fun-loving "Gracie." Said his buddy Rick Sutcliffe, in town Wednesday to call Dodgers-Cubs for ESPN: "I don't think Gracie's ever going to change. There's still a 9-year-old boy inside that mind. He is doing what he loves. He's a lifer, he's a gamer. He loved playing every day and he loves being around the big leagues every day." Grace played on the North Side from 1988-2000, part of just two 90-win teams. But he was a fan favorite. Still is. "The fans took a liking to me," he said. "Harry Caray is a big reason. They like a lunch-pail type of guy and felt I was kind of one of them. I'd hang around with them after games. I didn't have bodyguards or a posse. I had fun with them. After the game it was, 'C'mon over, let's have a beer.' "Someone might say, 'Hey, Gracie, that bunt play where you threw the ball away, you should have taken the easy out at first.' … 'You know what, you're right!'" Asked if he still has a soft spot for the Cubs, there's no need for a direct answer. "If they had made the World Series (last year), I was coming," he said. "Kris Bryant (No. 17) is such a good player. (Anthony) Rizzo too. My number and my position are well taken care of." -- Chicago Tribune Saturday's recap: Cubs 5, Diamondbacks 3 By Paul Skrbina Cubs 5, Diamondbacks 3

Save for Jake Lamb’s two-run home run in the first, Cubs starter Jason Hammel didn’t allow a hit in seven innings his team’s 5-3 victory Saturday against the Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field. Hammel erased the two runs he allowed with a two-out, two-run single off second base in the fourth inning. He then watched a bullpen cast of four hang on – barely – and Anthony Rizzo hit his 13th home run in the eighth to help the Cubs improve their baseball-best record to 39-15. At the plate Dexter Fowler led off with his seventh home run and singled in the second. On the mound Hammel walked two and struck out six while improving to 7-1. Hector Rondon earned his 10th save. Key number 25. Times Fowler has reached base leading off a game for the Cubs, best in the majors. Up next Vs. Diamondbacks, 1:20 p.m. Sunday, CSN. RH Jake Arrieta (9-0, 1.56) vs. LH Patrick Corbin (At 2-5, 4.96). -- Chicago Sun-Times Hammel allows 1 hit in 7 innings, gets key hit in Cubs’ win By David Just Even the best team in baseball catches a lucky break now and again. As if the Diamondbacks didn’t already have their hands full, a lucky hop on a ground ball from Jason Hammel proved to be the difference in the Cubs’ 5-3 victory Saturday at Wrigley Field. With two outs in the fourth inning, Hammel hit a hard grounder back up the middle that second baseman Jean Segura seemed to have a bead on. But thanks to a friendly bounce from The Friendly Confines, the ball hit second base and flew into right field, evading both middle infielders. Two runs scored to give the Cubs a 4-2 lead. “I’m glad second base is where second base is because it helped, obviously,” Hammel said. “I don’t know if Segura makes that play up the middle. But obviously it helped us out.” The win was the Cubs’ 10th in their last 11 games. They’re 8-1 on the homestand and, at 39-15, are on pace for 117 wins. The friendly bounce was just part of the story, of course. Hammel allowed one hit in seven innings, and the Cubs got solo home runs from Dexter Fowler and Anthony Rizzo. The lucky break, though, underscored the multitude of ways the Cubs can win. In their last 11 games, they’ve scored seven or more runs four times, have won a pair of one-run games and have notched two shutouts. The Cubs’ well-rounded approach represents the kind of baseball Joe Maddon hoped to get out of this team.

“I like the liberal-arts approach to playing baseball,” Maddon said. “I really think that in our age of specialization, everybody worries about home runs and hitting. I think the more complete game is the kind of game that sustains itself for a longer period of time.” The Cubs’ win to open the series was the epitome of an all-around performance. They scored six runs, gave up none and committed no errors. Six of the nine starters got a hit, and the pitchers — John Lackey and relievers Adam Warren, Pedro Strop and Justin Grimm — were strong. When the Diamondbacks threatened late Saturday, the Cubs’ bullpen came through once again. Travis Wood came on with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth to face Rickie Weeks Jr. Weeks battled from 0-2 to bring the count full before lining out to Ben Zobrist at second base. “At 3-2, bases loaded, you’ve got nowhere to go,” Wood said. “It’s either going to be his day or mine.” Chalk up that line-drive out as another lucky break for the Cubs, who hardly seem to need them. But when you run this hot, you make your own luck. “I think things go your way when you really maintain your focus and get prepared and play the game the same way regardless of where you’re located in the standings,” Maddon said. “I’ve always believed in that. Our guys come ready to play every day. The residue of that is that things like that occur.” -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs notes: Hammel’s hammy, Maddon on Ali, road-trip theme By David Just Jason Hammel pitched just two innings in his start Monday, exiting after feeling a cramp in his right hamstring. The cramp was long forgotten when Hammel started in his regular spot Saturday. He tossed a gem in a 5-3 victory over the Diamondbacks, allowing two runs, one hit and two walks in seven innings. Before the game, Hammel was more concerned about the rainy weather than his leg. “During my warmup pitches for the first inning, I almost launched two to the backstop because it was coming down pretty good,” he said. “I tried to stay with it and command the ball in the strike zone and hoped the rain would calm down. I ended up finding a pretty good rhythm.” Hammel, who entered the game with the fifth-best ERA in the majors, gave up a two-out walk and a home run to Jake Lamb in the first inning. He allowed just one other batter to reach base — Brandon Drury, who walked in the third — and lowered his ERA to 2.14. Maddon reflects on Ali Cubs manager Joe Maddon never met Muhammad Ali, but he did see him spar in his hometown of Hazleton, Pennsylvania. Maddon said Ali used to spend a great deal of time at his training center in nearby Deer Lake, Pennsylvania. One night, when Maddon was still a teenager, he saw Ali spar at Harman-Geist Memorial Field in Hazleton. “I think it was prior to the [George] Foreman fight,” Maddon said. “I got to see him do a sparring routine in the center of Geist Stadium in Hazleton. He used to frequent my hometown because of the location and the people.” Ali died Friday night at 74.

“I don’t think there’s ever going to be a boxer that provides that kind of entertainment, that kind of interest, that kind of charisma and everything else he had going on,” Maddon said. “I feel fortunate in some bizarre way to have rubbed elbows with him through common friends.” Fashion update The Cubs arrived in the clubhouse Saturday to find NBA-style track suits in their lockers. The outfits will be the required dress for the next road trip, which takes the Cubs to Philadelphia on Monday. Each jacket features a nickname on the back. Maddon’s is “JOEY,” but several players had far more creative nicknames. Justin Grimm’s read “REAPER,” and Matt Szczur’s read “SZCZ-URRRRR.” Maddon said the idea for the theme came from Jon Lester. “It’s the Jon Lester tribute to the NBA Finals road trip,” Maddon said. “I intend to wear mine as often as weather permits.” -- Daily Herald Hammel pitches and hits Chicago Cubs to victory By Bruce Miles The Chicago Cubs are exactly one-third of the way through their season. They have won 39 of 54 games, and we'll pause here to let you do the math on what that projects to over 162 games. Yes, these Cubs are on pace to win 117 games. It may not play out that way, but there's a whole lot to like with this team. It was right there in front of everybody Saturday during a come-from-behind 5-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks at rain-soaked Wrigley Field. Starting pitcher Jason Hammel, who took the mound in a steady rain, gave up a walk and a home run in the first inning, but the homer was the only hit he allowed through 7 innings as he improved to 7-1 with a 2.14 ERA. Hammel suffered hamstring cramps in his previous start, but he showed no ill effects Saturday. In addition to the Cubs having good players, one of the reasons for their success this year is that everybody is buying into the program set forth by manager Joe Maddon and the team leaders. "One hundred percent," Hammel said. "Kind of follow the leader. We trust everybody to be ready. They're doing their work to be prepared. Obviously, we have the talent in the room to do it. As long as everybody does their job and shows up on time, it's going to continue and we'll end up in a pretty good place when the season's all said and done." To this point, Maddon doesn't have to say much to his players. "They get it, meaning that they know they're surrounded by a great group of players," he said. "I don't think we're motivated by just getting to the playoffs. We're motivated by playing the last game of the year and winning it this year. I think if you're really motivated by more of the altruistic thoughts or team concepts, you can fit into that approach."

Hammel gave up the first-inning homer to Jake Lamb after he walked Paul Goldschmidt. Lamb's name was on file with Maddon later in the game. Dexter Fowler hit his seventh homer of the season leading off the bottom of the first. The Cubs scored three times in the fourth, with Jorge Soler tying the game with a ground-rule double to the ivy in left-center. Hammel, a .269 hitter with 7 RBI, grounded one up the middle. The ball hit the second-base bag and went for a 2-run single. Maddon's managing paid off in the eighth after Pedro Strop gave up a leadoff homer to Yasmany Tomas. Strop got the next two hitters before allowing a pair of singles. Trevor Cahill came in and walked Goldschmidt. With the left-handed hitting Lamb coming up, Maddon went to lefty Travis Wood, and D'Backs manager Chip Hale pinch hit with right-handed hitter Rickie Weeks, who wound up lining out to Ben Zobrist at second base. "I did not want Lamb hitting," Maddon said. "Did not want Lamb hitting. I thought they might pinch hit. I have not seen enough of Weeks to know where he's at physically. I also know that I like Travis on righties. So I thought that was the better matchup. We got lucky. Weeks worked a great at-bat, but also give Travis credit for throwing that strike right there." Wood is a player who has bought into what Maddon is doing, and it started last year, when he lost his starting job and reinvented himself as an effective relief pitcher. Earlier in the week, he worked 4 innings in relief of Hammel to get a win over the Dodgers. "It's very satisfying, just to see the way the team's playing, not only for myself but for the entire team to finally see things start paying off and playing that great baseball we're capable of playing," Wood said. The Cubs got an insurance run in the eighth on an Anthony Rizzo homer. With ace Jake Arrieta going Sunday and the team showing no signs of slowing down, who knows where this thing could end up. "Give our guys credit," Maddon said. "At the end of the day, man, it's about focus and preparation every day, and our guys have it. Our starting pitching has been fabulous. It's been fabulous. They've taken a lot of heat off the bullpen, and they've permitted us to get into the flow of the game offensively sometimes. "If your pitchers are keeping the other side down, they keep that window kind of open, and there's a greater degree of hope. What can I say, man? Nothing to complain about." -- Daily Herald Cubs' Maddon a big Ali fan By Bruce Miles There's no bigger fan of boxing than Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon. Although Maddon said he never met Muhammad Ali, he said he was touched by the heavyweight's life and saddened by his death. Ali died late Friday at 74. He had suffered many years with Parkinson's disease. "It's hard to see somebody suffer from that disease and pretty much how he wilted away," Maddon said. "But nevertheless, you see the photographs now of a young Cassius Clay and eventually Ali. I remember listening to the fight the first time he beat Sonny Liston in Miami. I remember listening to that on the radio. "It's an insidious disease, and you can see how much he suffered. Rest in peace."

Ali was a heavyweight who was quick, agile and smart in the ring. He also was a showman. "The rope-a-dope, all the things that he did, float like a butterfly, sting like a bee," Maddon said. "It's really phenomenal. If you're of the age, a part of your childhood is gone. That's an actual marker for all of us. It's shame it happened that way, but he truly left his mark." Slam-dunk of an idea: The Cubs will take off after Sunday's series finale for a three-city, nine-game road trip to Philadelphia, Atlanta and Washington. They'll have another dress-up theme. This time they'll wear NBA-style warm-up suits. Pitcher Jon Lester was one of the brains behind the idea. "Jon Lester and Bussie (Tim Buss, strength and conditioning coach) collaborated on this particular idea," Joe Maddon said. "They brought it to my attention recently. I said, 'Hey, I'm all for it.' "It's 'the Jon Lester tribute to the NBA Finals road trip.'" Some players have nicknames on the back of the tops. Matt Szczur is "SZCZ-URRRRR," playing off the spelling of his last name. Justin Grimm's top reads "REAPER." Getting there in style? The Cubs may be sending a bunch of players to the July 12 All-Star Game in San Diego. Those going will have to travel from Pittsburgh after the Sunday, July 10 game. "We can use some of our leaders in the clubhouse to put a down payment on a jet and we can all go together," said pitcher Jason Hammel, who started and won Saturday's game. Minor-league honors: Outfielder Eloy Jimenez and right-handed pitcher Trevor Clifton are the Cubs' minor-league player and pitcher of the month for May, respectively. Jimenez plays at Class A South Bend, and Clifton is at Class A Myrtle Beach. Jimenez, 19, batted .364 (40-for-110) with 8 doubles, 7 homers, 17 runs scored and 23 RBI in 28 games in May. He drew 7 walks, contributing to a .407 OBP. Clifton, 21, went 3-1 with a 1.29 ERA in 5 May starts, striking out 35 while walking seven. His 1.29 ERA and 35 strikeouts both ranked second in the Carolina League. Clifton has gone 3-3 with a 2.35 ERA in 9 starts this season. -- Daily Herald Otto: Cubs pitchers are looking good By Dave Otto Complete games for pitchers are such a rarity these days that when they do occur, it's news. At last count, there have been only 15 complete games thrown in the National League. Lately, the Cubs rotation of starters is either going deep into games, or is left standing at the end. Jon Lester flipped up a nine-inning gem in a 2-1 Cubs win Wednesday against the Dodgers on a night when closer Hector Rondon was unavailable. Kyle Hendricks joined in on the fun by logging his second career complete game against the Phillies, then following that up with an eight-inning beauty in a 7-2 victory against the Dodgers.

Rarely does a starting pitcher get to finish what he started. With 120 pitches a common limit for starters, you have to be pretty efficient with pitches to even get close to throwing nine innings. Assuming the math is correct, that equates to 13 to 14 pitches per inning. If a pitcher mixes in a bunch of walks early on, a complete game is out the window. In the 26 innings that Hendricks and Lester have recently thrown, there has been a single walk. Lester has been pinpoint with all 4 of his pitches and has pounded the bottom of the strike zone. Anytime a pitcher keeps the ball low, hitters start looking for those pitches downstairs. Lester, with the help of David Ross, knows exactly when to mix it up, and throw a fastball upstairs. His last pitch against the Dodgers was a heater shoulder high to Howie Kendrick, for a game-ending strikeout. Hendricks has been nasty with a sinking fastball and a change-up that puts the brakes on halfway to home plate. It took him only 104 pitches to get it done in his complete game against the Phillies. Lester, Hendricks and the entire Cubs pitching staff have been the beneficiaries of some really good defense, which also plays into pitch count and the opportunity to go deep into a game. Javier Baez, Dexter Fowler and Addison Russell have made some acrobatic plays to shorten innings and save some runs. Prior to all the information available for all to see on stadium scoreboards, pitch counts were usually tallied up by another pitcher who wasn't pitching that day. The mind tends to wander when counting pitches, and only occasionally would the pitching coach ask for the pitch count. If the pitch counter was within 20 pitches of the actual pitch count, that was a pretty good day. They say Nolan Ryan once threw 235 pitches in an extra-inning game against the Boston Red Sox. Luis Tiant was the starter that day for the Red Sox. There was no pitch counter in the Red Sox dugout, but "El Tiante" did pitch 14⅓ innings that day. For interested pitch counters, myself included, imagine a 235 flashing on the scoreboard. If the number of pitches doesn't get a starter, there's always those hitters who dictate how long your game is going to be. Former manager Charlie Manuel once came out to the mound to take me out of a minor league game. I told him I wasn't tired, and I wasn't even close to reaching my pitch count. To that he said, "You may not be tired, but our outfielders are exhausted." Jake Arrieta takes the ball today against the Diamondbacks. He only went seven innings last time out and didn't give up a run in that start, but he did throw 107 pitches. The pitch count got him. He'll be OK, though, because his outfielders rarely get tired. • Dave Otto, a standout athlete at Elk Grove High School, pitched from 1987-1994 for four MLB teams, including the Cubs. A former baseball analyst for WGN Radio, FoxSportsNet and Comcast SportsNet Chicago, Otto also is a member of the University of Missouri Hall of Fame. -- Cubs.com Hammel's arm, bat power Cubs past D-backs By Cody Stavenhagen and Steve Gilbert CHICAGO -- Jason Hammel paved the way for the Cubs on a rainy Saturday at Wrigley Field, giving up two runs and only one hit over seven innings in a 5-3 win over the D-backs. Hammel also had a two-out, two-run single in the fourth inning that put the Cubs ahead on the way to their 10th win in 11 games. "Give Jason credit," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "He pitched really well under an awkward circumstance with the weather, gives up an early home run and settles in -- not unlike what Jon Lester did the other day. Outstanding. Plus, he gets another big hit on top of it. Another good day for Jason." Hammel overcame an early mistake after Jake Lamb deposited a 1-0 fastball into the right-field seats for a two-run homer in the first inning. Despite allowing Dexter Fowler's leadoff homer, Arizona starter Edwin Escobar held the

Cubs to one run through the first three innings. But things unraveled for him in the fourth inning of his second Major League start. Escobar left after 3 2/3 frames, surrendering four earned runs on five hits and two walks. As good as Hammel was, Travis Wood got the game's most important out in the eighth, when Rickie Weeks Jr. lined out on a full count with the bases loaded to end the inning and preserve the Cubs' lead. Anthony Rizzo tacked on a home run for good measure in the Cubs' half of the eighth, and the D-backs lost for the fifth time in six games. The Cubs improved to 39-15, adding to the second-best start in franchise history and moving to a season-high 24 games over .500. "Right now, we're playing hard," D-backs manager Chip Hale said. "We just have to clean up the defense a little bit. We're giving them too many outs. Against a good team -- especially the Cubs right now and the way they're playing -- you cannot give those extra outs." MOMENTS THAT MATTERED He keeps going: For the third time this season, Fowler got the Cubs' lineup off to the best start possible, hitting a leadoff home run to left field on a 3-2 count for his seventh home run this season. It was the 17th leadoff shot of his career. Who's got it? The Cubs' three-run fourth inning could have had quite a different look had Rizzo's pop to left-center been caught. Left fielder Yasmany Tomas, center fielder Chris Owings and Lamb all converged but could not come up with the ball. Had they caught it, the Cubs may have only gotten one run that inning. Lamb was shifted over up the middle, and his inexperience going back on balls hurt him in this instance. "You're putting Jake in a tough spot, because he's going out almost like a shortstop or second baseman -- and that's why the shifting is difficult," said Hale. "I have to go to that ball like it's my ball, and if I get called off, I get called off," said Lamb. "I'm taking responsibility for that one. At the end of the day, I've got to go after it until I hear something." One way or another: Jorge Soler appeared to have tied the game in the fourth, when he doubled to the left-field gap with Rizzo and Ben Zobrist on base. But Soler's ball ended up stuck in the Wrigley Field ivy. Tomas raised his arms near the wall and the play was ruled a ground-rule double, meaning Zobrist returned to third instead of scoring from first. After striking out Addison Russell, Arizona intentionally walked David Ross to bring up Hammel, who delivered with a ground ball up the middle that bounced off second base for a two-run single. "I'm glad second base is where second base is, because it helped, obviously," Hammel said. "I don't know if [Jean] Segura makes that play up the middle." Left 'em loaded: After Tomas homered to lead off the eighth, the D-backs managed to load the bases with two outs. Maddon brought in Wood to face the lefty-swinging Lamb, who was batting .118 on the year against southpaws. Hale countered with the righty-hitting Weeks and he worked an eight-pitch at-bat before lining out to second base. "I've faced him plenty of times in the past," Weeks said. "Trying to find a strike over the plate and he gave me two that I fouled straight back. I made some good contact there, but just lined out to second base." QUOTABLE "I did not want to face Lamb. I did not. I thought they might pinch-hit. I had not seen enough of Weeks to know where he's at physically. ... I thought that was the better matchup, so we got lucky. Weeks worked a great at-bat. But also give Travis credit for throwing that strike right there." -- Maddon, on the eighth inning SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS

The Cubs are 5-1 against the D-backs this season, only the third time they have won at least five games in a season against Arizona. They went 7-5 against the D-backs in 1998 and 6-1 in 2010. WHAT'S NEXT D-backs: Patrick Corbin gets the start in the series finale with the Cubs on Sunday afternoon at 11:20 a.m. MST. Corbin suffered through his worst start of the season last time out, when he allowed seven runs over 3 1/3 innings to the Astros. Cubs: Jake Arrieta starts in the series finale against the D-backs on Sunday at 1:20 p.m. CT. Arrieta threw seven scoreless innings in his latest start against the Dodgers, but took a no-decision in a 5-0 Cubs loss. It snapped a streak of 23 consecutive team wins in Arrieta's starts. -- Cubs.com Weathering the elements, Hammel delivers for Cubs By Cody Stavenhagen CHICAGO -- The right hamstring that cramped and caused Jason Hammel to leave his last start after two innings is fine. So is the arm that has him 7-1 with a 2.14 ERA. And whatever you do, don't discount Hammel's bat -- it's not bad, either. Hammel threw seven strong innings to lead the Cubs to a 5-3 victory over the D-backs on Saturday at a rainy Wrigley Field. He also added a two-out, two-run single in the fourth inning that put the Cubs ahead. "Another good day for Jason," manager Joe Maddon said. It didn't exactly start that way. As rain fell onto the field near game time, Hammel had a hard time gripping the ball, saying he almost launched two of his warmup pitches to the backstop. In the first inning, he left a 1-0 fastball over the plate and Jake Lamb turned it into a two-run home run. But that was the only hit Arizona got against the right-hander. "I just tried to stay with it, [tried] to command the ball in the strike zone and [hoped] the rain would calm down," Hammel said. Hammel used that tried-and-true recipe to go seven innings as the rain slowed, allowing only the two runs on that lone hit and two walks. He also added six strikeouts and proved again he is not the typical pitcher. Hammel has spent time trying to correct the flaws in his own scouting report as a hitter, and he's worked with pitching coach Chris Bosio to identify his weaknesses and how pitchers might approach him. In the fourth inning, D-backs starter Edwin Escobar intentionally walked David Ross, then missed with a first-pitch slider to Hammel. Hammel then started thinking ahead. "I don't want to be an out at the plate," Hammel said. "Just going up there, I try to rule things out. Not that I can think like a hitter, but I try to. First-pitch slider, you don't want to go 2-0 as a pitcher, so I figured he's coming heater." Hammel got that fastball and hit it up the middle, where it bounced off and over second base and a diving Jean Segura to bring in two runs and give the Cubs the lead. Hammel now has seven RBIs this season, second to Adam Wainwright's eight among all pitchers. Consider this: Hammel's batting-average number (.269) is higher than his ERA (2.14).

In another Cubs win full of charm and character -- Travis Wood getting Rickie Weeks Jr. to line out to a perfectly positioned Ben Zobrist with the bases loaded in the eighth and Anthony Rizzo's insurance homer in the home half serving as perfect examples -- nothing was more indicative of the Cubs' success this season than Hammel. "Guys come in ready to play every day," Maddon said. "I think the residue of that is things like that occur. We're on a pretty good streak, but we're not just conceding." -- Cubs.com Maddon shares fond memories of 'The Greatest' By Cody Stavenhagen CHICAGO -- Cubs manager Joe Maddon said he was sitting in bed on Friday night when he heard the news that Muhammad Ali, the three-time heavyweight champion who transcended boxing, had died at 74. Maddon never met Ali. But like many, he almost felt as if he knew him. The death of any cultural icon can create the urge to turn introspective -- and it's no different for Maddon, who grew up in Hazleton, Pa., about 30 miles from the Deer Lake camp where Ali trained for many of his biggest fights. "If you're of [a certain] age, a part of your childhood is gone, actually," Maddon said. "It's a marker for all of us." Maddon said he saw Ali in action once, when Ali sparred in an exhibition at Hazleton's Harman-Geist Memorial Field. While managing the Tampa Bay Rays, Maddon also got to know the late Angelo Dundee, Ali's trainer who lived in Tampa. Even back in Hazleton, Maddon has friends such as restaurant owner Louis Beltrami who knew Ali or his entourage. "I feel fortunate in some sort of a bizarre way to have bumped elbows through common friends," Maddon said. Maddon is boxing fan, owns an Ali jacket and has even hosted a charity event called "Joe Maddon's Main Event." He remembers well listening to the radio as Ali (then Cassius Clay) defeated Sonny Liston in 1964, and he said no one could possibly be greater. "Really, it's a segment of our history that I don't think will ever be repeated," Maddon said. "I don't think there's ever going to be that group of boxers that come back and provide that kind of entertainment and interest, that kind of charisma and everything else that he had going on. It was a very unique time. I was very fortunate to have experienced it." -- Cubs.com Cubs receive outfit for upcoming theme trip By Cody Stavenhagen CHICAGO -- Cubs players arrived in the clubhouse before Saturday's 5-3 win over Arizona to find blue jumpsuits hanging in their lockers in preparation for the team's latest theme trip. Players and staff will wear the NBA-style jackets and sweats on their bus rides during their upcoming trip to Philadelphia on Monday. In typical Cubs fashion, there's also a little more to it. Each front-zip jacket features a number and nickname on the back. The nicknames range from simply "Trevor" for Trevor Cahill to "Reaper" for Justin Grimm. Matt Szczur's jacket reads "SZCZ-URRRRR." Cubs manager Joe Maddon -- whose top reads "Joey" -- said the idea comes from Jon Lester and pitching coach Chris Bosio. The theme's official title is "The Jon Lester Tribute to the NBA Finals Road Trip."

"I plan to wear [the suit] as often as the weather permits," Maddon said. Maddon likes balanced approach The Cubs' run differential of plus-140 heading into Saturday was the best mark in baseball. By far. The Red Sox own the game's second-best run differential at plus-68, but Maddon said he thinks it could get even better. "I know our run differential is like, so good," Maddon said. "We haven't hit to our potential yet. We've scored runs, but it just comes down to physically beating on the baseball. We haven't done it as well as we can." Jason Heyward, Chicago's No. 2 hitter, entered Saturday hitting .228. Jorge Soler is hitting .213 and others such as Anthony Rizzo (.246 with 12 home runs) have yet to truly find a consistent groove. But the Cubs have done it because of solid defense and astounding pitching. Chicago's 2.55 team ERA leads the Majors and is on pace to be the best in a season since the Orioles had a 2.54 team ERA in 1972. Maddon said in an age where it's easy to focus on power hitting, it's important to build a well-balanced team. "I like the liberal arts approach to playing baseball," Maddon said. "The more complete game is the kind of game that sustains itself over a long period of time." On the farm The Cubs named Class A South Bend outfielder Eloy Jimenez and Class A Advanced Myrtle Beach right-handed pitcher Trevor Clifton the organization's Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Month for May on Saturday. Jimenez, 19, batted .364 (40-for-110) with eight doubles, seven homers, 17 runs scored and 23 RBIs in 28 games for South Bend in May. Clifton, 21, went 3-1 with a 1.29 ERA (4 ER/28.0 IP) in five May starts, striking out 35 batters while walking just seven. He tossed three consecutive scoreless outings from May 12-24, allowing 11 hits in 17 innings. His 1.29 ERA and 35 strikeouts both ranked second-best in the Carolina League, while his three wins were tied for third most. -- Cubs.com Corbin, Arrieta square off in series finale at Wrigley By Steve Gilbert Something very rare happened on Tuesday: The Cubs lost a game started by Jake Arrieta. It was the first time in 23 starts by their ace that the Cubs did not walk away with the victory. The Cubs will try to start a new winning streak on Sunday afternoon when Arrieta takes the Wrigley Field mound against the D-backs in what is the series (and season) finale between these two teams. Chicago will be going for the sweep and its 11th win in 12 games. While the Cubs may have lost in Arrieta's last start, the right-hander has not taken a loss over his last 23 starts, going 20-0 with a 0.94 ERA. The D-backs will counter with left-hander Patrick Corbin, who had his worst outing of the season in his last start. Corbin allowed seven runs in just 3 1/3 innings against the Astros at Chase Field. Three things to know about this game

• Arrieta faced the D-backs this year on April 10 and allowed three runs and eight hits in seven innings, but still got the win. • Corbin has been much better on the road (2.68 ERA) than at home (7.94). He won his only career start at Wrigley Field on June 2, 2013. • Arrieta is 2-1 with a 2.93 ERA in four career starts against the D-backs. Arizona first baseman Paul Goldschmidt is 3-for-10 against him with a home run, a walk and five strikeouts. -- ESPNChicago.com Lefty Travis Wood helps Cubs return to record pace By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs are on their way to beating their own record. After their latest victory 5-3 over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday, exactly one-third of the way through the season, they’re on pace to win 117 games. That’s one more win than the 1906 Cubs and 2001 Seattle Mariners won. “It’s about focus and preparation every day, and our guys have it,” manager Joe Maddon said postgame. “Our starting pitching has been fabulous.” Jason Hammel showed no ill effects from the leg cramp he suffered in his previous outing. He gave up just one hit -- a two-run home run in the first inning -- after rain affected his warm-up and start to his game. Once the rain stopped, Hammel got going, but he needed help. Even the one area in which the team could use an infusion from outside the organization -- left-handed relief -- has shown signs of life lately, in the form of Travis Wood. Wood had himself a week. He saved Hammel’s prior outing by throwing four perfect innings of relief Monday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Then he walked a tightrope in the eighth inning Saturday. He entered the game with the bases loaded, two outs and the Cubs clinging to a 4-3 lead. Pinch hitter Rickie Weeks worked the count full before Wood got him on a line out to second base. “Three and two, bases loaded, he’s got nowhere to go,” Wood said. “I mean, it’s either going to be his day or mine. Let’s figure it out.” Sure, Ben Zobrist was in the right place at the right time, but Wood wasn’t afraid to throw a strike and let things play out. The former starter and longest-tenured Cub has had some ups and downs, but he has found his stride lately. After stranding three Saturday, Wood has not let score any of the 10 runners he has inherited this season. That’s a hugely important statistic. Also, his ERA has been dropping lately, and it’s down to 2.66. “I mean, the ball has been coming out good,” he said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to keep getting outs and haven’t let anybody score, so we just got to keep grinding, keep rolling.” As fans lick their lips at the thought of lefties Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman in a Cubs uniform, Wood has slowly gained the trust of Maddon in key situations. Yes, there was the home run to lefty Matt Adams of the St. Louis Cardinals recently, and Wood isn’t your classic flamethrower, but he’ll compete with the best of them. It’s a description Maddon has used often this season. The manager had a feeling the Diamondbacks would pinch hit for lefty Jake Lamb, but he brought Wood in anyway, even if it meant facing a righty. Weeks had a good at-bat, but Wood came out on top. “I also know that I like Travis on righties,” Maddon said. “So I thought that was the better matchup. We got lucky. He [Weeks] had a great at-bat, but also give Travis credit for throwing that strike right there.” Righties are hitting .162 off Wood, while lefties are at .171. Two of three home runs he has given up this season came from left-handed hitters. What does this all mean? The Cubs still might need a lefty specialist, but Wood isn’t an awful option right now.

With one weakness being not all that weak lately -- Wood has given up one run in almost a month -- maybe that 116-win record is within reach. Maddon is getting incredible starting pitching and enough hitting when he needs it. Even when one pitcher is off -- it was Pedro Strop on Saturday -- Maddon has several arms that can save the day. On Saturday, it was Wood’s turn again, and he helped the Cubs to their 39th victory. “What can I say?” Maddon asked. “Nothing to complain about.” -- ESPNChicago.com Cubs are all about nicknames and track suits this week By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO -- So which Chicago Cubs nickname do you like the best? "I like Snake," reliever Trevor Cahill said regarding Jake Arrieta. "I'll take A-Dubs," Ben Zobrist indicated of Adam Warren. If you're in Philadelphia this week you'll be able to see the entire team wearing their new track suits with their nicknames on the back of them as Joe Maddon green lighted a "track suit road trip" and pitcher Jon Lester and strength coach Tim Buss supplied the outfits. "We wanted to get that college basketball team look," pitcher Kyle Hendricks said. "We'll be comfortable. I know that." Hendricks will be known as 'Karl' this week because bullpen catcher Chad Noble likes to add an "R" to names. "He even calls my fiancé Erma instead of Emma," Hendricks said. "I don't know why." Some nicknames are better than others and some don't even have any -- Cahill simply has 'Trevor' on the back of his. "Guess they couldn't come up with one," he said. The Cubs also missed a great opportunity with Tommy La Stella as Maddon has referred to him as "3 a.m." in regards to his ability to "wake up and hit anyone at 3 in the morning." "I'm just Tommy," La Stella said. "I think these guys would give me a lot of crap if it said '3 a.m.'" Here are a few other nicknames that were on track suits hanging in the Cubs clubhouse on Saturday morning: Zo for Zobrist Jhey for Jason Heyward Addy for Addison Russell Jor-ge for Jorge Soler Stropy for Pedro Strop Ronny for Hector Rondon

Szcz-URRRRR for Matt Szczur Rizz for Anthony Rizzo Reaper for Justin Grimm Hammer for Jason Hammel Dex for Dexter Fowler KB for Kris Bryant Fed for Tim Federowicz Joe Maddon met with reporters wearing his track suit with 'Joey' on the back of it. All in all the Cubs are excited about the comfort and "look" they'll have on the trip. "It's a cool idea for everyone to have their nicknames on their back," Heyward said. "It's a great idea." -- ESPNChicago.com Cubs to wear track suits on latest theme trip as ode to NBA Finals By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs' next theme trip is an ode to the NBA Finals as pitcher Jon Lester and strength coach Tim Buss handed out track suits to the entire team for their three-city tour through the NL East which begins in Philadelphia on Monday. "In Philly you have to wear it on the bus," manager Joe Maddon said as he sported his track suit jacket Saturday morning. "Very NBA. It's the Jon Lester tribute to the NBA Finals road trip." Maddon approved of the idea as he enjoys when his players take ownership of team bonding experiences. Each player had his outfit hanging in their locker stalls on Saturday with nicknames on the back of their jackets. "I like Snake (for Jake Arrieta)," reliever Trevor Cahill said. "I remember always having to wear a suit and tie in Arizona and it's like 100 degrees. I always wondered why we don't just wear jumpsuits and now we are." Not everyone has a clever nickname as on the back of Cahill's jersey it simply said "Trevor." Players had one common idea about the gimmick: Comfort. "We'll be way comfortable on the plane," right fielder Jason Heyward said. Second baseman Ben Zobrist added: "I guess pajamas might rival it a little bit but a track suit is pretty comfortable. I'm a big fan of this." Maddon has brought his "theme trips" with him from Tampa Bay. Just since the beginning of last season there's been the onesie pajama trip, the shorts-only roadie, the zany suit trip and now track suits. There have been others too. "These are easy," pitcher Kyle Hendricks said. "After the zany suits it's all downhill from there. We'll probably wear these more often than just this trip." Besides bonding, Maddon finds at least one serious aspect to dressing up on road trips: He likes his players stepping outside their comfort zone. As part of the zany suit trip to Pittsburgh he made the players wear their

outfits everywhere they went outside the ballpark. Maddon feels if they can get comfortable in an uncomfortable situation it can help them in a big moment in a game. Plus it's simply fun to do. "I intend on wearing it as often as the weather will permit," Maddon said. "I intend to pack very lightly on this trip and bring T-shirts and sneakers and toothpaste." -- ESPNChicago.com Oral history: The time David Ross hit his first career homer off Mark Grace By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO -- It was Sept. 2, 2002. A day current Chicago Cubs catcher David Ross and former Cub Mark Grace will remember forever. Grace was playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks under Bob Brenly -- who would go on to work as a Cubs television analyst -- one year after the Diamondbacks helped Grace to a World Series ring. Now he was going to get his first and only chance to pitch in the big leagues. The Diamondbacks were down 18-0 against the Los Angeles Dodgers going into the ninth inning while Ross was playing in his fourth big league game. Another former Cub and good friend of Grace, Rick Sutcliffe, was broadcasting the blowout for ESPN. In the ninth inning Ross hit his first career home run off of Grace. Now, after hitting 99 more over the next 15 years, he's getting ready to retire after the season, but not before some reminiscing. Three of the participants that night are at Wrigley Field this weekend; Grace is the Diamondbacks hitting coach and Brenly a broadcaster. Here are Ross', Grace's, Brenly's and Sutcliffe’s memories of the home run. Grace: It was a big game. Us and the Dodgers were battling it out for the Western division. I remember the day before we had used a bunch of our relievers, then that night we had a short start by somebody (Rick Helling), then a couple of our relievers went in there and got cuffed around. Ross: I went into the game late and got my first major league hit off Eddie Oropesa, sidearm lefty. A double in the gap. Brenly: We were getting our rear ends kicked by the Dodgers that night, and they were over there yucking it up having a good time on the first-base dugout. We weren't having as much fun on the third-base side. Grace: The only reliever left was Byung-hyun Kim, our closer. I went to Bob Brenly. That was my last year in the big leagues. I wasn't any good. I went up to Bob and I said, "Hey, look, next inning I can go out there and throw strikes." He was like, "Are you sure?" And I said, "Yes, I'm sure." I won't embarrass us by walking the park. Sutcliffe: We were doing the game for ESPN and it's a blowout, and I look down in the dugout and I'm winding my arm telling him (Grace) to get it going. He looked at me and tells me later he walked over to Bob Brenly and said, "I'll clean this mess up." Brenly: We didn't want to use any more relievers in a blowout. We were looking up and down at our position players and Grace came over and said, "I'll give you an inning." Now, he told me he had never pitched before. Never in little league, high school, college, nowhere. Never. I thought, "What the heck?" Grace: I told him, "Just so you know, the first thing I'm going to do when I go out there, I'm going to do Mike Fetters (impression)." I did Fetters because we were playing the Dodgers and he pitched for the Dodgers three years prior. I knew the Dodgers would get the joke as well as us.

Ross: I remember Grace coming in and the crowd is going crazy. I'm young and still paying attention to the game. Most guys are checked out in a blowout. Not me. He did Fetters up there. That was funny. Grace: Once I finished my warm-up tosses, every Dodger was out in the dugout, even guys that were out of the game by that time. They were wearing T-shirts and laughing. I did the Fetters and the fans loved it. Sutcliffe: He gets out to the mound looks at me and mouths, "What do I do?" Grace: Yes, I was looking up at him laughing and saying, "Can you believe what's going on?" I remember I got Jeff Reboulet out on a fly ball. I got Tyler Houston on a fly ball, then David Ross comes up. I never heard of the freaking guy. I figured he stinks. Ross: He threw a batting practice fastball, and Reboulet took it and he ended up getting him out. Then he did the same thing to the hitter in front of me. A little BP fastball and Houston took it. Then he got him out. So I'm thinking to myself, if he lobs that in to me I'm swinging. Sutcliffe: I told him fastball away. So he gets the first two guys out and now David Ross comes up. And I had never heard of David Ross, so I said curveball, and he mouths to me -- and it's all on ESPN -- "I don't have one." So I said fastball away. It turns out he didn't really have a fastball either. Grace: Sure enough I threw him a 68 mph fastball down the middle and he tattooed it a long, long way. Ross: So he lobbed it in there and I hit it, man. I really hit it. I still have the bat. It's a Pro-Stock M110. You know, all these guys have their names on their bats and I have a Pro Stock from the minors. So I'm sprinting around the bases and I hit first base and I hear him start screaming at me. Grace: I cursed at him all around the bases, then I realized after it was over that this poor son-of-gun waited his whole life to hit a home run in the big leagues, and of course he hits it off me in a 18-0 game. Ross: He's cursing, "C'mon man you're stealing my thunder." I'm keeping my head down like, oh my gosh, this guy is going to kill me. I was so nervous. I hit home plate and everyone was happy for me. Sutcliffe: Grace is screaming at him, "You can tell your kids and everyone you know you hit your first home run off of Mark freaking Grace." Grace: I got a bad scouting report. I was told he was a good fastball hitter, so I threw a bad fastball and he still hit it a mile. Ross: It was over pretty quick, but the next day I got a request for a radio interview with him. I remember I was laughing the whole time and I let him talk. He was letting me have it. I probably didn't say five words. Then we took a picture together. I still have the picture at home. Grace: If I'm David Ross, I don't know if I wanted it any other way. How many guys can say their first big league home run was off a guy who threw one inning and was a position player for 16 years? I look back on it fondly. Ross: I've been happy and proud about it because I have a story for my first home run. And it's not just some Joe Schmo. It's Mark Grace. Grace: He usually sends me over an 8x10 [photo that] says "Way to serve it up," from David Ross. Brenly: By the time the game was over, even though we got beat by 17 or 18 runs, we were the ones laughing because we were having so much fun watching Grace. And it was the Dodgers that got upset. They went home mad and we went home happy. Ross: He's a great guy, which makes it fun.

Sutcliffe: It was beautiful. Two great guys. Just one of those moments in baseball where you have fun. Grace: If he still hits them now like he did off me, he shouldn't hang them up. Brenly: Ross hopes Grace goes into the Hall of Fame so he can say he hit his first home run off a Hall of Fame pitcher. It was awesome. -- CSNChicago.com Jason Hammel Shows No Signs Of Discomfort As Cubs Hold Off Diamondbacks By Paul Roumeliotis Jason Hammel’s outing on Memorial Day ended prematurely because of a leg cramp. On Saturday afternoon, Hammel didn’t show any signs of discomfort as he pitched seven innings in the Cubs’ 5-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field. Hammel notched his seventh victory of the season in front of 40,415 fans. The Cubs improved to 39-15 on the year and have now won 10 of their last 11 games. Hammel got off to somewhat of a slow start, in large part due to the rain. "My warm-up pitches in the first inning, I almost launched two to the backstop because it was coming down pretty good," Hammel said. Early in the game, the Diamondbacks really went after the Cubs starter by working his pitch count. Arizona opened the scoring in the first inning with a two-run homer by Jake Lamb. Hammel found himself in a few more jams in the next couple innings but was able to escape. When the third ended, Hammel was already at 55 pitches, and his glove got an earful of his frustrations as he walked back to the dugout. It seemed to work as Hammel was on point after that. The veteran retired the next nine batters he faced and finished his outing allowing just one hit, two earned runs, two walks and six strikeouts on 96 pitches (62 strikes). "I just tried to stay with it," Hammel said. "Try and command the ball in the strike zone, and then hopefully the rain would calm down. I just ended up finding a pretty good rhythm." He even contributed at the plate. The Cubs scored three runs in the fourth, two of which came from Hammel on a single that took a favorable bounce off second base and ricocheted into the outfield. That turned out to be the game-winner. "I’m glad second base is where second base is because it helped, obviously," Hammel said. "I don’t know if (Diamondbacks second baseman Jean) Segura makes that play up the middle, but obviously it helped us out." "Give Jason credit," Joe Maddon said. "He pitched really well under awkward circumstances with weather. Gives up an early home run (and) settles in. Outstanding. Plus he gets another big hit, how 'bout it? "Another good day for Jason."

Dexter Fowler smacked his seventh homer of the season to lead off the first inning. In the fourth, Jorge Soler picked up an RBI with a ground-rule double. The D-backs got things rolling in the eighth after a Yasmany Tomas solo homer. The Cubs needed three relievers to get out of the inning without allowing any more damage. Anthony Rizzo tacked on an insurance run with a solo shot, his 13th of the season in the eighth inning. The insurance run gave Hector Rondon enough breathing room to record his 10th save of the season, remaining perfect on the year. -- CSNChicago.com Joe Maddon On Muhammad Ali: ‘It’s Impossible To Be Better Than He Was’ By Paul Roumeliotis Joe Maddon was laying in bed late Friday night when he had heard the news that boxing legend Muhammad Ali had passed away at the age of 74. "If you’re of the age, a part of your childhood is gone, actually," Maddon said on Saturday. "It’s a marker for all of us.” Ali battled Parkinson’s disease for 32 years. “It’s an insidious disease,” Maddon said. “You can see how much he suffered." Maddon recalled some memories of Ali, one being having listened to the radio the first time he fought Sonny Liston. “Just really a segment of our history that I think will never be repeated,” Maddon said. “I don’t think there’s ever going to be that group of boxers that come back that provide that kind of entertainment, that kind of interest, that kind of charisma and everything else that he had going on. “It was unique. Very fortunate that we experienced it.” Maddon, a big boxing fan, grew up in Hazelton, Pa., where Ali would sometimes train. Maddon’s cousins and friends took the opportunity to watch “The Greatest,” but he didn’t tag along. Maddon did get to witness the legendary boxer live in action during an exhibition match at Harman Geist football stadium in Hazelton. “I got to see him do his sparring routine,” Maddon said. “I stood close to him during that day when he fought at Harman Geist Stadium. I was near where he walked off, but I never really got to meet him.” To sum up his legacy in boxing, Maddon implies he really is the greatest of all-time. "It’s impossible to be better than he was. He truly left his mark.” --