Herausforderungen » through. Hes as disappointed as I am with the losses, t

CHICAGO -- Even though Jared Weaver still isnt pitching the way he wants to, he thinks hes now progressing instead of regressing.Thats something he couldnt say back in spring training when he was diagnosed with degenerative changes in the vertebrae of his neck.Its getting better, Weaver said following the Los Angeles Angels 5-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night. Every time I go out it feels different, but definitely my body is feeling a lot less restrictions.One day its all gonna click, he added.This wasnt the day, though.Kris Bryant hit his 28th home run, John Lackey outpitched his friend and former teammate, and Chicago won its eighth consecutive game.Willson Contreras also homered and Ben Zobrist added an RBI double for the major league-leading Cubs, who improved to 70-41.Los Angeles (49-63) dropped its fifth straight and fell into last place in the AL West.Kole Calhoun homered in the first inning, but that was all the offense the Angels produced. Lackey (9-7) allowed three hits over eight innings, and all six of his strikeouts were looking.He was really good, Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. Thats how he pitches. Hes aggressive. He went after them.Weaver (8-9) gave up four earned runs and another one that was unearned when he dropped a throw to first base for an error. He permitted eight hits in five innings.I dont think he pitched as poorly as his linescore indicates, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. We let some things get away from us a little bit. But a couple of mistakes he made and those guys hit it out.The matchup of veteran right-handers was as one-sided as their teams seasons in the opener of Chicagos 10-game homestand.The 37-year-old Lackey and 33-year-old Weaver were teammates a decade ago with the Angels. They had split their previous two meetings when Lackey pitched for Boston.Its still a little weird because I root for him when hes not facing us, Lackey said. Hes a good friend. I really respect the way hes still competing and still getting after it with stuff thats a little less than he used to have. But hes still grinding, still trying to help his club win.Calhoun struck first, sending Lackeys third pitch into the left-field bleachers for his first homer since June 25. Contreras tied it with a shot to left-center in the third.Weaver had the Cubs off balance early with his 83 mph fastball and 70 mph curve. But Chicago started to pounce the second time through the order, with Anthony Rizzo doubling in a two-run fourth and again in a two-run fifth.The second hit came after Bryant sent Weavers slider onto Waveland Avenue.Its one of those lineups where you cant really breathe while youre out there. Theres no leeway, Weaver said.TRAINERS ROOMAngels: New closer Cam Bedrosian was placed on the 15-day DL with tendinitis in his right middle finger. RHP A.J. Achter was called up from Triple-A. . 1B C.J. Cron (hand) plans to take live batting practice in Arizona this week. . RHP Nick Tropeano will undergo Tommy John surgery next Tuesday in Los Angeles.SOTO ACTIVATEDAngels C Geovany Soto was activated from the 15-day DL following the game and C Carlos Perez was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake. Scioscia said Soto will be in the lineup Wednesday night.CALL REVERSEDThe Cubs Dexter Fowler was ruled out after 3B Yunel Escobar had a foul pop knocked out of his glove by a fan in the fifth. Umpires initially ruled it no play before huddling and changing the call without a replay review.UP NEXTThe series concludes Wednesday night with Chicago RHP Jason Hammel (11-5, 3.07 ERA) returning from the bereavement list to face right-hander and former Cubs draft pick Ricky Nolasco (4-8, 5.23). Dennis Johnson Celtics Jersey . -- Jakob Silfverberg is making himself right at home with the Anaheim Ducks, scoring four goals in his first four games. Walter Brown Celtics Jersey . MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez also will attend the session, which was announced Monday. The league has discussed placing its next two expansion teams in Miami and Atlanta. http://www.authenticcelticsteamproshop.com/Cheap-Paul-Pierce-Celtics-Jersey/ . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early. Boston Celtics Jerseys . Arsenal failed to take full advantage of its main rivals stumbles on Saturday as substitute Gerard Deulofeu levelled with a hard shot from a tight angle in the 84th minute to give Everton a deserved point. Ahead of a crucial fortnight that will see them play against Napoli in the Champions League, Manchester City and Chelsea, Arsenal leads by five points ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea. Boston Celtics Pro Shop . Three came down to the fourth quarter while quarterbacks continued to shine in all four games; so important to the overall quality of the game. THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Jared Goff nearly made his NFL debut Sunday after starting quarterback Case Keenum bruised his non-throwing hand during the Los Angeles Rams fourth consecutive loss.I said, `Jared, get warmed up, get ready, Rams coach Jeff Fisher said Monday. He said, `Coach, Im ready. I said, `I know you are.But when Keenum determined he could continue, the NFLs No. 1 overall draft pick remained rooted to the Los Angeles bench, where he has stayed for the entire first half of his rookie year. The Rams subsequently lost their fourth straight game, falling to 3-5 in a season that could be slipping away.Fisher believes Goff is ready to play if needed, but he still doesnt expect his prized pick to make his debut soon, despite the We want Goff! chants that echoed down from the Coliseum stands, imploring the Rams to see what theyve got.Keenum will start again this weekend when the Rams visit the similarly struggling New York Jets (3-6).I know everybody wants to talk about it, and thats the big question, Fisher said. Hes going to play. Whether its the following week or the following week, its eventually going to happen. Big-picture, as I keep saying, this is about making sure hes ready to go out there and be sharp and give us a chance to win.But the Rams havent won since Oct. 2, largely due to an offense thats showing few signs of progress lately. Other than a solid effort in a loss at Detroit last month, the Rams offense hasnt cracked 20 points since September. They got a meager one touchdown and 10 points apiece in the last two games from a unit ranked 31st in total offense with just 311.5 yards per game.Although his passer rating is a pedestrian 77.2, ranking him 29th among players with at least 100 pass attempts this season, Keenum has been neither spectacular nor terrible most weeks. He has been just solid enough to allow Fisher to make a persuasive argument that Keenum isnt the Rams biggest problem.Todd Gurley and the runningg game are largely unable to move the ball, and theyre currently sitting 30th in the NFL with just 77.dddddddddddd2 yards per game after Gurleys 48-yard performance against Carolina. A standout quarterback can prevent defenses from focusing on the running game, but repeatedly playing with a deficit has forced Los Angeles to abandon the ground attack early, which means Gurley has just 41 carries in the last three games.Fisher claims he understands the fans eagerness and the logic behind their urgency, but the inert offensive effort against Carolina didnt change his mind. He also rejected the notion that the Rams wont turn to Goff unless theyre out of the playoff race later this season. The Rams havent made the playoffs since 2004 or had a winning record since 2003.I dont think the playoff contention (metric) is fair to the football team, Fisher said. Our expectations are were going to stay in it, so well see. Im not ruling out the possibility that hell make a playoff run for us as well. But for right now, Case is starting, and were going to New York.Fisher also has no public concerns about his contract status. The veteran coachs deal is up this season, and owner Stan Kroenke has made no public announcement about Fishers future after four straight losing seasons with the club.Im not uncomfortable at all, Fisher said. Im uncomfortable because I didnt expect to be 3-and-whatever we are, but Im not uncomfortable at all. I never look over my shoulder. Were moving on. Stan and I are on the same page. He understands what weve been through. Hes as disappointed as I am with the losses, two or three points, seven points, in the last three games. He understands that were competitive and were doing everything we possibly can to get this turned around.---For more NFL coverage: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Wholesale Hoodies NFL Shirts Outlet Jerseys NFL Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '