ed into the outfield wall while making a spectacular catch in the eighth inning of Tuesdays game. I think well make a decision with what we do with Joc, as far as the roster, in the next day or two, Roberts said.Brewers: RHP Taylor Jungmann, who began the season in the starting rotation be

CINCINNATI -- It looks as if Ben Zobrist might be rounding into postseason form, just in time for the Chicago Cubs.Zobrist homered twice and drove in three runs, helping Chicago beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-3 on Friday night.Im feeling a lot better than I felt in June, July and August, said Zobrist, who helped Kansas City win the World Series last year. Hopefully, that translates into October.The Cubs have the majors best record and clinched the NL Central title with plenty of time to spare, giving Joe Maddon the luxury of resting his regulars. The 35-year-old Zobrist didnt play on Monday or Thursday, and he is 11 for 22 with two homers and eight RBI in his last seven games.Hes rested, Maddon said. With guys like that, thats why you want time off, and (Friday) is what it can look like.Jake Buchanan (1-0) pitched five shutout innings as Chicago improved to 14-3 against Cincinnati this season with two games to play. The right-hander allowed two hits in his first start since 2014 with Houston.Outstanding, wasnt he? Maddon said. He controlled his emotions and threw strikes. He was very efficient. He threw strikes. We caught the ball -- a typical formula for us.It was Buchanans first appearance since he pitched one inning on Sept. 5. He didnt know what to expect when he took the mound.Once I got past the first batter, it felt really good to be back in a ballgame, Buchanan said. I was just hoping to throw strikes and compete.Anthony Rizzo also drove in two runs for Chicago, which was coming off a rare tie in Pittsburgh due to rain.Joey Votto hit a two-run homer in the ninth for last-place Cincinnati, which announced before the game that manager Bryan Price would return next season. Josh Smith (3-3) was charged with two runs and three hits in five-plus innings.Price and the Reds agreed to a one-year contract with a team option. The entire coaching staff also has been offered contracts for 2017.There is a mutual desire to stay connected, Price said. For me, its an unbelievable opportunity. It is a storied franchise. I have really enjoyed my coaches and my team.The Cubs, headed for the playoffs for the second straight year, announced contract extensions for general manager Jed Hoyer and player development director Jason McLeod. Their new deals run through the 2021 season, mirroring president of baseball operations Theo Epsteins contract announced on Wednesday.Smith retired his first 12 batters before Zobrist led off the fifth with a drive to right for his first homer since Sept. 12. The All-Star also connected for a two-run shot in Chicagos four-run eighth, No. 17 on the year.It was good, Smith said. I challenged hitters early and got a lot of early contact to pitch pretty deep in the game. The ball to Zobrist, I missed my spot.Chicagos first three batters reached in the sixth, chasing Smith, and Addison Russells RBI double made it 3-1.HISTORIC HOMERSZobrists homers were Chicagos 38th and 39th against the Reds this season, the most by one team against Cincinnati pitching in one season. The 1954 Brooklyn Dodgers and 1957 Milwaukee Braves previously shared the record with 38.FRIENDLY CONFINESKris Bryants eighth-inning single gave him a least one hit in each of Chicagos eight games at Great American Ball Park so far this season.EARLY WARNINGVotto, who left Thursdays game at St. Louis in the eighth inning with a cut on his chin that required seven stitches, texted Price at 3 a.m. Friday saying that he would be ready to play.TRAINERS ROOMCubs: OF Jorge Soler (discomfort on his right side) will be re-evaluated on Saturday, Maddon said.Reds: 2B Brandon Phillips, sidelined by soreness in his left wrist and hand, was being examined Friday by members of the Reds medical staff, Price said.UP NEXTCubs: LHP Jon Lester (19-4) seeks his first career 20-win season in his last start. He is 2-0 with a 1.95 ERA in four starts against Cincinnati this season.Reds: RHP Tim Adleman (3-4), who set a career high with seven innings in his last start on Monday, will try to close out his season with back-to-back wins.SWell Marble Bottle Uk . Deulofeu injured a muscle in his right leg in Evertons 4-1 win over Fulham in the English Premier League on Saturday. Barcelona says that its team doctors will "co-ordinate" with Evertons medical staff as Deulofeu recovers. Swell Traveler Sale . -- Playing time has been limited for Maxim Tissot this season, so the Montreal Impact defender made the most of his first scoring opportunity on Saturday. http://www.ukswellbottle.com/swell-bottle-floral-sale-uk.html . PETERSBURG, Fla. Swell Traveler Uk . First off, the fans ripped the Cubbies introduction of a fuzzy new kid-friendly mascot named "Clark". Swell Water Bottle Wholesale . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team.MILWAUKEE -- Yasmani Grandal, who hadnt hit a home run on the road this season, was just trying to get on base after working a 3-0 count with two outs in the fourth inning.Grandal did more than that, hitting a solo home run over the bullpen in left field, one of three Los Angeles Dodgers to homer off Milwaukee Brewers starter Zach Davies in an 8-1 victory Thursday.Overall, he didnt have his best outing today, Grandal said of Davies. Hes a really good pitcher. We were just able to get a lot of base hits, a couple of home runs and get him out of the game quick.Trayce Thompson and Corey Seager also hit home runs for the Dodgers.It was nice to get some runs, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.Kenta Maeda (7-5) held the Brewers to one run over six innings as the Dodgers won the season series from the Brewers, five games to two.The strong start by Maeda was needed by the Dodgers, who announced before the game that they were placing ace Clayton Kershaw on the 15-day disabled list with a back injury. An MRI revealed a mild disk herniation that will not require surgery, the team announced after the game. A timetable for Kershaws return hasnt been determined.Los Angeles acquired veteran pitcher Bud Norris from the Atlanta Braves on Thursday. Norris will start in place of Kershaw on Friday.When you start losing starters, it gets tough on your staff and your team, but Kenta took the ball today and gave us six strong innings, Roberts said.Maeda gave up three hits, struck out six and walked two. He allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings against the Brewers in Los Angeles on June 19.My team really helped me out today, scoring early runs, Maeda said through an interpreter.Thompson put the Dodgers in front in the second with a two-run homer into the second deck in left field off Davies (5-4). Grandal extended the Dodgers lead to 3-1 in the fourth. Seagers shot to straightaway center in the fifth accounted for two of the Dodgers three runs in the inning, pushing the lead to 6-1.Los Angeles added two runs in the sixth, including one on a run-scoring double by Adrian Gonzalez.Davies, who had been 5-0 wiith a 2.dddddddddddd64 ERA over his last 10 starts, gave up a season-high six earned runs in 4 1/3 innings. He surrendered eight hits, walked two and struck out three. The three home runs were the most allowed by Davies in 20 career starts.HITTING STREAKSDodgers: Seager extended his hitting streak to 13 games, a career high for the second-year player, with a first-inning single.Brewers: Ryan Brauns third-inning single extended his hitting streak to 11 games.DOUBLE ERRORMaeda attempted to pick off Jonathan Villar in the fifth but his throw sailed past Gonzalez at first base. Justin Turner retrieved the ball but his throwing error allowed Villar to reach third. Maeda and Turner both were charged with errors but the Brewers failed to score in the inning.TRAINERS ROOMDodgers: CF Joc Pederson was out of the lineup for the second consecutive day after suffering a bruised AC joint when he crashed into the outfield wall while making a spectacular catch in the eighth inning of Tuesdays game. I think well make a decision with what we do with Joc, as far as the roster, in the next day or two, Roberts said.Brewers: RHP Taylor Jungmann, who began the season in the starting rotation before being demoted to Triple-A Colorado Springs after posting a 0-4 record and an ERA of 9.15 in five starts, has been reassigned to Double-A Biloxi after a period of mental rest. Jungmann also struggled at Colorado Springs, going 1/3 with a 9.87 ERA in eight starts. He was scheduled to start for Biloxi on Thursday at Birmingham.UP NEXTDodgers: Los Angeles begins a season-high, 10-game homestand on Friday against Colorado. Kershaw had been scheduled to start. The newly acquired Norris, who last pitched on Sunday, gets the start in Kershaws place.Brewers: Matt Garza (1-0, 2.81), who recorded his first win of the season on Saturday, will take the mound as Milwaukee opens a three-game series at St. Louis on Friday. Garza is 4-4 with a 4.07 ERA in 12 career starts against the Cardinals. ' ' '