September 26, 2016 Chicago Sun-Times Ross powers Cubs on special night By Tom Musick David Ross took several deep breaths and tried to gather his emotions as he walked toward the batter’s box in the fifth inning of his final regular-season game at Wrigley Field. A sellout crowd stood and roared. The 39-year-old’s walk-up music, Alphaville’s “Forever Young,” blasted from the speakers. Yadier Molina stepped toward the mound to delay the game for a few more seconds and allow Ross to soak in the moment. Two pitches later, Ross belted a home run into the left-field bleachers to break a scoreless tie. The Cubs held on for a 3-1 win over the Cardinals in their final home game of the regular season. “It was just fitting that David would hit a home run, isn’t it?” Joe Maddon said. “It had to have happened.” Ross, who is not shy about his emotions, laughed at the sight of a Kleenex box in front of him after the game. “I felt like I floated around the bases,” said Ross, who hit 10 home runs in a season for the first time since 2007. “I don’t ever feel that way, and I definitely felt that way tonight when I hit that home run.” By the seventh inning, Ross was a mess. He pulled his catcher’s mask low over his face to hide his tears. Maddon visited the mound with two outs in the seventh inning. Ross walked toward the mound, ready to defend Jon Lester to keep the pitcher in the game. Instead of pulling Lester for a reliever, Maddon replaced David Ross with rookie Willson Contreras. Teammates lined up in front of the dugout to meet Ross as he walked off the field to a standing ovation. Maddon said Lester came to him before the game with the idea to give Ross a special sendoff. “It means a lot,” Ross said of Lester’s plan. “For him to give me that was pretty cool.” Fans demanded a curtain call from Ross – his second of the night. He held his mitt in one hand and his mask in the other as he waved toward the crowd. “He’s earned every bit of respect that he’s gotten,” Lester said. “I’m glad that tonight he got to feel that from his teammates and feel that from the fans, and even the Cardinals on the other side.” Home cooking The Cubs set a franchise record with their 57th win at Wrigley Field, breaking the previous mark of 56 wins that was set in 1933 and matched in 1935. Maddon’s team finished the regular season with a 57-24 record at home. The Cubs will return to Wrigley on Oct. 7 for the start of the National League Division Series. “The stakes are going to be a little higher when we play here next time,” Dexter Fowler said with a grin.

Getting a chance Rob Zastryzny is scheduled to make his first start in the big leagues on Thursday against the Pirates. Kyle Hendricks, John Lackey and Jake Arrieta are set to start the series’ first three games. -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs shaken by Fernandez’s death By Tom Musick Jorge Soler was 11 or 12 years old when he became teammates with Jose Fernandez in Cuba. Even then, Soler said, Fernandez was happy and vibrant. On a team filled with talented players, Fernandez set himself apart with his positive attitude and powerful arm. “We even traveled together to Venezuela to play in a tournament,” Soler said through a translator. “Since he was a child, since we were kids, I knew he had something. He had a talent.” On Sunday, Soler and the rest of his teammates mourned the death of Fernandez. The Miami Marlins’ ace was killed along with two others in an overnight boating accident off Miami Beach. He was 24. The Cubs honored Fernandez with a moment of silence before the game. The center-field scoreboard listed his No. 16 alone in the corner. Outside Wrigley Field, the marquee read, “Jose Fernandez – 1992-2016.” Chris Coghlan wiped tears as he thought about his former teammate. Coghlan played with Fernandez in 2013, which marked Coghlan’s final season with the Marlins and Fernandez’s rookie campaign. Fernandez reached the All-Star Game that season as a 20-year-old. “His personality was so infectious,” Coghlan said. “He just had a joy for life.” The tragedy hit Coghlan hard. He turned off his phone Saturday night before going to sleep. When he woke, his wife told him the news. He turned on his phone and watched in disbelief as text messages poured in. “I lost my dad to a car accident,” Coghlan said. “When it happens that sudden, it just feels like a dream. You feel like you’re in a bad dream and you hope you wake up and it changes. “I was looking at pictures of him, and it felt like he was still here.” Like Soler, Aroldis Chapman mourned the loss of a fellow Cuban. Chapman sat quietly in front of his locker before the game. When he glanced at a TV showing a football game, he seemed to stare through the screen. Through a translator, Chapman described Fernandez as a good friend. “Living in Miami, we did hang out,” Chapman said. “We did spend time together in the offseason. He would come by my house, I would go by his. We would have long conversations. We would talk a lot. “It was very special for me.” Fernandez faced the Cubs twice this season. In his first meeting, he struck out 13 in seven innings to earn the victory. His second appearance came Aug. 2 at Wrigley, where he struck out eight in six innings but was outdueled by Jason Hammel in a 3-2 Cubs win. Miguel Montero said he broke his bat the first time he faced Fernandez. The second time, he broke his bat again.

“I told him I was going to send him a bill for the bats,” Montero said. Anthony Rizzo grew up in South Florida, and many of his friends remain Marlins fans. He called his parents when he heard the news. His mother was crying after watching videos of Fernandez. One of Rizzo’s fondest memories of Fernandez happened this summer during the All-Star Game in San Diego. Rizzo played first base as Fernandez pitched to David Ortiz. “He comes in and he goes fastball, slider-slider-slider-slider-slider,” Rizzo said. “We all got a kick out of that. The whole baseball family lost a brother today.” Montero said the tragedy offered an important reminder. “It makes you appreciate life a little bit better,” Montero said. “We get so upset sometimes because we go 0-for-4. That’s not the end of the world. It teaches you not to take life for granted. Enjoy every single day.” -- Daily Herald Chicago Cubs hit hard by news of Fernandez's death By Bruce Miles For several members of the Chicago Cubs, the death of Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez affected them in a deeply personal way. Outfielder Chris Coghlan fought back tears as he talked about his former teammate from 2013 with the Marlins. Catcher Miguel Montero recalled joking with Fernandez that he was going to send him a bill for bats Fernandez broke with a nasty pitches. Anthony Rizzo, a Florida native, talked of his own mother being upset over the death of Fernandez. But reliever Aroldis Chapman and outfielder Jorge Soler shared a special bond with Fernandez: All were born in Cuba before making it in their own ways to the United States. Fernandez, 24, the ace of the Marlins' pitching staff, died early Sunday along with two friends, the result of a boating accident. The Cubs observed a moment of silence in honor of Fernandez before Sunday night's game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field. They also displayed Fernandez's No. 16 on the center-field scoreboard. "It's a sad day," Soler said through a translator. "It's more so because we were both in Cuba. It's sad. It's a great loss of such a great pitcher with such awesome potential. I think all of us in baseball are feeling a heavy heart because of this tragedy. "I think we're like a family. Even though we play against each other, we always share each other's thoughts, expressions, feelings. I think we're a very close-knit family in that aspect." The news also hit Chapman hard. "It's very difficult, I'm sure, for all players, but especially for me because he was a good friend of mine," he said, also through a translator. "It was very difficult. It was shocking this morning to wake up to hear the news. It's something that's affected me deeply. It's something that has affected me throughout the day." Chapman also talked about the special bond among Cuban-born players in the major leagues.

"I think it's a huge help in terms of people who do understand and might have heard it through us talking about it, through us characterizing things, our stories, interviewing us, in terms of the struggle we've had to deal coming from that island," he said. "It's something that's been very difficult to manage. It's something that's very difficult to go through. "But I feel it's something that through our stories, through our conversations, you can get a little bit of an idea what it was like." Coghlan recalled Fernandez's "joy for life" and that there was "such a sweet innocence about him." Fernandez beat the Cubs 6-1 on June 26 in Miami and lost to them on Aug. 2 at Wrigley Field. "I remember there was one time when I faced him, I think it was 2 at-bats, and he broke my bat twice," Montero said. "I told him I was going to send him a bill for the bats. He was a fun guy to watch pitch. As player, I want to face every single pitcher like him because he challenges you. He made you bring your 'A' game because he was that good. "It's a big loss. It's a big loss for baseball, and more than baseball, for his family. I can't stop thinking about it. Today is my son's birthday, and I haven't had time to be thinking about my son's birthday because … I can't imagine how (Fernandez's) family feels today." -- Daily Herald Chicago Cubs close home slate with win By Bruce Miles The Chicago Cubs had a little charge in their battery Sunday night. Starting pitcher Jon Lester worked 6⅔ innings of shutout baseball and lowered his ERA from 2.36 to 2.28 and upped his record to 19-4 as the Cubs defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 3-1 at Wrigley Field. Lester's batterymate, catcher David Ross, got the royal treatment from the 40,859 fans in attendance. Ross, who is retiring after the postseason, was given a standing ovation each time up in his final regular-season game at Wrigley Field. In his second at-bat, in the fifth, he launched a solo home run to left. It was his 10th of the year, and it earned him a curtain call. Manager Joe Maddon saved his best for last. Maddon went to the mound in the seventh after Brandon Moss flied out for the second out. Instead of taking Lester out, Maddon allowed Ross to leave the game to another standing ovation. This weekend series started Friday, with the Cubs giving Ross a video tribute and presenting him with gifts at home plate. "How about Rossy, huh?" said Lester. "He only cried about three times." Ross seemed overwhelmed by it all. He also tipped his cap to Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, who stepped away from the plate to allow Ross to enjoy his moments. "Wow," he said. "What a treat for a backup catcher to get that kind of ovation. Yadi's such a professional and recognizes the moment and gives me that. And then he gives me another one. I'm overwhelmed with emotion and thoughts and reflection."

Maddon credited Lester with the idea of letting Ross leave the field to an ovation. "It was kind of cool the way the fans treated David tonight," Maddon said. "Very emotional for everybody, the fans, the players. I went out to the mound and said, 'I've never done this before, but you're out of the game.'  " Lester has put himself into serious consideration for the Cy Young Award. "I thought Jon was fantastic again," Maddon said. "Definitely making a strong case for the award." The Cubs added a run in the sixth on back-to-back doubles by Ben Zobrist and Addison Russell. The Cardinals got a run against the Cubs' bullpen in the eighth before the Cubs added an insurance run in the bottom half. With the victory, the Cubs improved to 99-56. They set a Wrigley Field franchise record with 57 home wins. They have reached at least 99 wins for a season for the seventh time and for the first time since the 1935 Cubs went 100-54. Relievers galore: The Cubs have settled on lefty Rob Zastryzny to start their "bullpen" game in Thursday's series finale in Pittsburgh. Zastryzny, who came up from Class AAA Iowa on Aug. 19 but who has seen little action of late, will start the game and be followed by several relievers. "We want to keep him active," Joe Maddon said. "We want to keep (Mike) Montgomery in the bullpen. That's part of it. We wanted to get Rob Z stretched out a little bit. You never know what's going to happen. He's shown really well. I have a lot of faith in his makeup. Here's a perfect example of a guy that doesn't throw 96-95 (mph). "He has nice stuff. He knows what he's doing with his fastball. He knows what he's doing with his cutter and his changeup." Kyle Hendricks, John Lackey and Jake Arrieta will be the first three pitchers in Pittsburgh. For next weekend's final regular-season series, in Cincinnati, the Cubs will go with Jason Hammel, Jon Lester and Hendricks. Packing them in: Sunday's attendance was 40,859, bringing the season total to 3,232,420, the third-highest home total in Cubs history. -- Daily Herald Rozner: Maddux sees himself in Cubs' Hendricks By Barry Rozner On the surface, it seems ridiculous to mention Kyle Hendricks in the same sentence as Greg Maddux. Seriously, you're talking about one of the greatest of all time, a pitcher who won 355 games and received 97 percent of the vote when on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time. The numbers, well, they are extraordinary. Suffice it to say that Maddux is 25th all-time in WAR and eighth all-time in WAR for pitchers. There aren't many humans who belong in the same sentence as Greg Maddux. Nevertheless, there are legitimate reasons for thinking of Maddux when watching Hendricks pitch.

If you think that crazy, Maddux himself says he sees it. "I like watching him pitch," Maddux said of Hendricks. "I like guys that rely on movement and location. I can relate to him. That's what I had to do. "I'd rather watch him pitch than some lefty throwing 95 mph." Hendricks said last week that he's aware of the constant comparisons as he closes in on the major league ERA crown. "It's humbling and it's nice, but I don't think a lot about it," Hendricks said. "He's one of the greatest of all time and I have a long way to go." Maddux would have none of that. "I think it's great," Maddux said. "I look at the way he pitches off his fastball kind of like I did, and you look for guys who pitch the way you did. "For me, it was (Orel) Hershiser and even Mike Morgan. Our fastballs kind of do the same thing. Hendricks has a little movement and it sinks. It's not a four-seamer that's straight and it doesn't cut much. "Like (John) Smoltz's fastball was straight and it cut a little. Mine would run or sink, depending on how I threw it, and when I picture Hendricks, I see it running and sinking. "Off-speed is off-speed. Whatever you can throw -- slider, curve, change -- you throw your fastball where you want and throw your slow pitches in the right counts and situations." Sounds simple -- if you've won 355 games. "You know, it's pretty simple if you understand a hitter's approach and what he's trying to do, so you know where you're more likely to have success," Maddux said. "It's just a matter of recognizing counts and hitter tendencies and you pitch accordingly. "Someone with an inside-out swing likes the ball middle-in instead of middle-out. The opposite is true. You understand when a guy is diving or pulling off. You recognize that and it gives you pitch selection. "That's the whole game. That's what you're always trying to figure out. Then, it's pretty much down to execution." While general managers and chicks dig the radar gun, Maddux -- not surprisingly -- has never been much of a fan. "The radar gun and spin rates and all that stuff is real big in scouting," Maddux said. "It will allow you the chance to get drafted higher and play minor league baseball, and then you can just go ahead and … " Um, toss it out, said Maddux in so many words. "It's nice to have velocity because you can get away with a few more mistakes," Maddux said, "but if it was a speed contest you wouldn't even have to play the games. "In all 15 games today, whichever pitcher executes the most pitches and keeps the ball in front of the outfield will win." Maddux imparts his wisdom these days as a volunteer pitching coach at UNLV -- where son Chase is pitching -- while dabbling as a president's assistant for the Dodgers. That's when he's not adding a new driver or putting stroke to his golf game.

But he still enjoys the major league game. "I'm watching mostly Dodgers games, but I usually fall asleep in the fifth or sixth inning and watch the rest when I get up," Maddux laughed, noting his early tee time Saturday morning. "It's been fun to watch all these kids play well for the Dodgers. It's good to feel a part of something and have a team to root for." Maddux, however, is not without conflict this postseason. He works for the Dodgers, his brother is the pitching coach in Washington, he played half his career in Chicago and worked the last four years in Texas. "It's going to be a great postseason," Maddux said. "You pitch and you have a great chance. Pitch well and run into a home run every now and then. Not that complicated." For Maddux, it never is. -- Cubs.com Ross, Lester key Cubs' 99th win By Jenifer Langosch and Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- Jon Lester won his National League-leading 19th game and Addison Russell notched his 94th RBI but Sunday night belonged to David Ross, who was greeted by standing ovations every at-bat, and responded with a solo home run, a few tears and a tip of his cap. Ross and Lester combined to lead the Cubs to a 3-1 victory over the Cardinals to set a franchise record in home wins at Wrigley Field at 57. It also was Chicago's 99th win overall, tops in the Major Leagues. St. Louis brought the potential tying run to the plate in the ninth when Aroldis Chapman walked Randal Grichuk with two outs, but the Cubs' closer fanned Jose Martinez on a 92-mph slider, after three straight fastballs topped 103. The Cardinals (81-74) are still clinging to hope for a postseason berth and remained third in the NL Wild Card standings, 1 1/2 games behind the Mets (83-73) and a half-game behind the Giants (82-74). The Cardinals haven't done much to help their positioning in that race, however, as they've gone 11-12 this month and scored a total of 19 runs in those 12 losses. "We have a number of guys going through their own struggles right now," said Brandon Moss, now 5-for-66 in September after another hitless night. "It's not the greatest time to be going through it. If you're judging by today, it's hard to because [Lester] threw a great game. When you don't get many pitches to hit, you have to go out there and battle." Lester, a leading contender for the Cy Young Award, struck out seven over 6 2/3 innings to move ahead of teammate Jake Arrieta and the Nationals' Max Scherzer in wins and remain second in the NL in ERA at 2.28 behind another Cub, Kyle Hendricks. But Ross, who is retiring at season's end, stole the show. Manager Joe Maddon pulled the veteran with two outs in the seventh, and he was saluted again by the crowd of 40,859 and greeted by hugs from his teammates. It was Lester's idea to take Ross out at that time, and he had talked to Maddon about it. "I really wanted to do something that was special to him and special to me and make sure he really understood that we appreciate him and what he does and brings on a day to day basis," Lester said. Ross could be back behind the plate at Wrigley Field on Oct. 7 when the Cubs begin the NL Division Series against the winner of the Wild Card Game. Carlos Martinez took the loss, and did so with a heavy heart. The Cardinals right-hander wrote "JF16" on his cap and also "16" on the mound in tribute to Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez, who died early Sunday in a boating accident in Miami.

Martinez and manager Mike Matheny agreed that the right-hander appeared more "amped up" than usual on Sunday. Martinez described that as a product of the pennant race. Matheny believed it to be largely related to the day's circumstances. "I think he's the kind of kid; he's emotional," Matheny said. "He's able to figure out how to harness those extremely well. We saw that a good portion of the year last year with what he was going through with [the passing of teammate] Oscar [Taveras]. I think he's just a kid who wears his emotions on his sleeve, and today was a tough day. He wanted to go out and do something special, and I believe he did." MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Grandpa Rossy: The video scoreboard showed highlights of Ross' career between innings, and in the second inning before his first at-bat, the crowd gave him a standing ovation. He tipped his helmet but he also struck out. The fans saluted Ross again with one out in the fifth, and this time he delivered his 10th home run of the season. Ross, 39, acknowledged the fans with a curtain call. The Cubs surprised him pregame on Friday with gifts, including home plate from Arrieta's no-hitter in April, which Ross caught. Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina made sure to pause long enough before Ross' at-bats. "What a treat for a backup catcher to get that kind of ovation, and then Yadi, he's such a professional and recognizes the moment and gives me that time," Ross said. "I'm overwhelmed with emotions and thoughts and reflection. I was trying to lock in, and it's a big game. It was an amazing night." Peralta produces: A day after keying the Cardinals' offense from the cleanup spot, Jhonny Peralta delivered the team's first hit with a runner in scoring position with his eighth-inning, RBI single. The Cardinals had been 0-for-6 in such spots prior to Peralta's at-bat. He improved to 8-for-16 against Cubs reliever Justin Grimm with the single to center, which scored Martinez, who had opened the inning with a walk. Fine line: Ben Zobrist doubled to lead off the Cubs' sixth, and Russell then lined a ball down the left-field line that was called foul. But the Cubs challenged the ruling, and the call was overturned after a review, giving Russell an RBI double and the Cubs' a 2-0 lead. Zobrist finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored from the cleanup spot. Molina motors on: Molina started behind the plate for the Cardinals for the 135th time, most among all Major League catchers and putting the veteran backstop one start shy of tying his career high. His offensive production continues to be equally as impressive. With another two-hit game on Sunday, Molina extended his hitting streak to 11 games. He has 42 multihit games this season, most on the team. QUOTABLE "A backup catcher gets all those standing ovations. David's been one of the better backup quarterbacks in the league for many years. Look at our record when he catches." -- Maddon, on Ross. The Cubs are 39-10 in games that he starts at catcher. "I wouldn't call it pressure, but I know there was a lot of expectation on me to win this game and for our team to do well. Obviously, it's a crucial moment. I wanted to prove that I could go out there and do my best." -- Martinez, on his six-inning start SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS The Cubs finished with a home attendance of 3,232,420 for 81 games at Wrigley Field, third-highest in franchise history. Lester has tied his career high with 19 wins, which he also posted in 2010 with the Red Sox. The lefty is 10-0 with a 1.34 ERA in 13 starts in the second half. He'll make one more regular-season start next Saturday in Cincinnati. REPLAY REVIEW

The Cardinals used a challenge successfully in the sixth inning after Martinez was called out trying to advance to second on Martinez's sacrifice-bunt attempt. After a two-minute, 15-second review, the call was overturned. That gave the Cardinals some offensive life with two on and no out against Lester, but a subsequent double play off the bat of Matt Carpenter caused the rally to fizzle. The Cardinals didn't have the same luck in eighth when challenging a hit-by-pitch call on Chicago's Javier Baez. Though replay appeared to show Jonathan Broxton's pitch hitting the knob of Baez's bat, there was not enough video evidence to overturn the call. Baez jogged to first to load the bases, and the Cubs went on to score an insurance run, making it 3-1. PAYING TRIBUTE There was a moment of silence before the game in memory of Fernandez. The Cubs hung a No. 16 jersey in the dugout, and that number was the only out of town pitcher number listed on the Wrigley Field scoreboard. Cardinals rookie shortstop Aledmys Diaz, who grew up with Fernandez in Cuba, wore a No. 16 wristband. A few of the Cubs players, such as Chapman, Jorge Soler, Baez and Willson Contreras, wrote "JF 16" on their caps. WHAT'S NEXT Cardinals: The Cardinals' NL Wild Card chances will hinge on the results of their final homestand, which opens with a 7:15 p.m. CT game against the Reds on Monday. Jaime Garcia, who was briefly unplugged from the rotation, returns to make the start against Cincinnati's Tim Adleman. Garcia has an 8.23 ERA over his last six starts but is coming off a scoreless, four-inning relief appearance. Cubs: Hendricks, the Major League ERA leader, will open a four-game series against the Pirates at PNC Park on Monday. Hendricks is 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA in two starts against Pittsburgh, but both of those games were at Wrigley Field, where the right-hander is 9-2 with a 1.32 ERA. He's 6-6 with a 2.90 ERA on the road. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. CT. -- Cubs.com Cubs, fans give Ross an epic send-off By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- David Ross was ticked when Cubs manager Joe Maddon came to the mound with two outs in the seventh inning. Jon Lester was pitching well and had not given up a run against the Cardinals. "Honestly, I'm like, 'Why is he taking Jon out?'" Ross said. "[Maddon] says, 'I've never done this before, but I'm taking you out of the game.' And then I pulled my mask down because everyone started telling me they loved me, and the emotions started, so I'm trying to get myself together before I walked off the field and then the fans started cheering again." Sunday was the Cubs' final home regular-season game, and Lester wanted to make sure that his batterymate, who is retiring once they're done in the postseason, got a proper send-off. You couldn't script it any better. Ross hit a solo homer, his 10th, to help the Cubs beat the Cardinals, 3-1, and notch their 99th win. And he was greeted by standing ovations before every at-bat. "All he could say was, 'I love you guys. I love you guys. I love you guys,'" Lester said of Ross' reaction when he realized what Maddon was doing. "I've been with him a long time and we've been through a lot together. I tried to hold it together until I turned around and saw [Anthony] Rizzo [crying]." Backup catchers usually don't get this kind of attention. But Ross, 39, is different. "I really wanted to do something that was special to him and special to me and make sure he really understood that we appreciate him and what he does and brings on a day to day basis," Lester said.

It's been a yearlong celebration for Ross, beginning in Spring Training when Rizzo and Kris Bryant started an Instagram account honoring "Grandpa Rossy." Jason Heyward paid for a suite on the road for Ross for every road trip and the players bought the veteran a scooter to get around the practice facility in Mesa, Ariz. On Sunday night, Ross was the toast of Wrigley Field. "I was overcome with emotion," Ross said. "I'm so appreciative to the fans in Chicago for the way they treated me and the way they embraced me and treated me and this team and the way they give me so much credit that I don't deserve." The game meant something to the Cubs as well. Lester picked up his National League-leading 19th win, and he's now 10-0 with a 1.34 ERA in 13 starts since the All-Star break. He went 10-2 with a 1.74 ERA in 15 home starts, and all were quality starts. And Ross was behind the plate for every one. The game was scoreless until Ross connected on his home run with one out in the fifth. Let the record show that Maddon called it. "I honestly had just said to Davey [Martinez] and coach [John] Mallee after the second ovation, I said, 'Doesn't he have to hit a home run tonight?' And then the next pitch goes," Maddon said. "It had to happen. "My thought was this was something that he'll absolutely carry with him the rest of his life. This is the video that you want. This is the one thing you want to put in the VCR at some point." -- Cubs.com Soler, Chapman among Cubs rocked by Fernandez's death By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- Cubs outfielder Jorge Soler played with Jose Fernandez when they were 11-12 years old and growing up in Cuba. They stayed in touch when both became big leaguers, and saw each other in the offseason in Miami. On Sunday, Soler woke up to the news that his friend was killed in a boating accident in Miami. "It's sad. It's a great loss of such a great pitcher with such potential," Soler said. "I think all of us in baseball are feeling a heavy heart." Fernandez, a star pitcher for the Marlins, died early Sunday in the accident at Miami Beach. He was 24. The Cubs had a moment of silence before Sunday's game, and the players hung a No. 16 jersey with "Fernandez" on the back in the dugout. On the Wrigley Field scoreboard, the only visiting pitcher number listed for out of town scores was No. 16. "Since we were kids, I knew he had something; he had a talent," Soler said. "He was very impressive." Cubs closer Aroldis Chapman first met Fernandez in 2011 when he signed with the Marlins. "He was always happy," Chapman said of his countryman. "He always gave 100 percent when he was on the field. He was just a happy person, always in a good mood. That's the most difficult part is what a nice guy he was." Chapman said he spent time in the offseason with Fernandez as well, and they had long conversations about baseball, Cuba and life. "He was very special to me," Chapman said.

Cubs outfielder Albert Almora Jr., who lives in the Miami area in the offseason, knows exactly where the accident occurred and said he has fished those waters as well. "You just wonder what happened," said Almora, who was awakened by his wife with the news. Miguel Montero said he joked with Fernandez that he was going to send the right-hander a bill for breaking his bats during at-bats. "He was a fun guy to watch pitch," Montero said. "As a player, you want to face pitchers like that because he challenged you. It's a big loss, a big loss for baseball, and more than baseball, but for his family. I can't stop thinking about it. Today's my son's [6th] birthday and I haven't had time to think about my son's birthday. I can't imagine how [Fernandez's] family feels today. It's a loss and we're going to miss him and the game is going to miss him as well. "You could tell he had fun on the mound. He played the game hard. He brings so much energy to his teammates. He's one of the guys I would pay to watch pitch every time." Anthony Rizzo, who also lives in the Miami area in the offseason, said his mother was crying after hearing the news. They know the area well where the accident happened. "Every time he pitched, he filled the stadium," Rizzo said. "People were excited and always talking about him and how he pitched and how he was good for the Marlins and good for Miami. It's something that's going to sting for a while. "The baseball family lost a brother today." Cubs manager Joe Maddon recalled the first time he saw Fernandez was at Tropicana Field, and he asked pitching coach Jim Hickey about the youngster. "That's probably the best I've seen of any youngster wind up and deliver a baseball," Maddon said. "I loved the way he went about his business, and I think we all did." Several players expressed their condolences via Twitter on Sunday, including Chapman, who wrote: "Descanza en paz buen amigo ..." which means, "Rest in peace good friend." He included a photo of himself and Fernandez from an All-Star Game. Reliever Pedro Strop wrote: "Es increible y Muy doloroso" (it's incredible and painful) and included a photo of Fernandez. Montero: "Thoughts and prayers to the Fernandez family for this tragic loss. Jose was one of the best in the game. You will be missed." Kris Bryant: "So sad. Prayers for Jose Fernandez and his family. Such a joy watching him play the game. He will truly be missed." Jon Lester: "I tend to stay off Twitter on start days but I cannot believe the news about Jose Fernandez. The game and the world just lost a great one" Kyle Schwarber: "Shocked and saddened seeing the news this morning. Thoughts and prayers go out to family, friends, and Miami. #RIPJose" Rizzo: "Shocked & saddened by the loss of @JDFernandez16. An incredible player but even better human being. My condolences to his family & teammates" Dexter Fowler: "At a loss for words ... Rest in Peace Jose Fernandez. praying for your family"

Javier Baez: "R.I.P. Jose Fernandez. Que triste noticia mano. Mis Condolencias a La Familia Fernandez, Mucha." Willson Contreras: "Is so sad to just wake up and watch this horrible and heartbreaking news #RIPJoseFernandez" Almora: "Wow, so speechless right now. My condolences goes out to the Fernandez family and the families of the other victims. Gone way too soon. #RIP" Soler: "The world has lost an amazing baseball player and an even better person. #RIPJoseFernandez" -- Cubs.com Cubs turn to Hendricks with victory 100 in reach By Adam Berry With home-field advantage locked up through the National League Championship Series, the Cubs will begin the final week of their regular season -- and their last week of postseason preparation -- Monday night at PNC Park against the Pirates one win shy of 100 after defeating the Cardinals in their Wrigley Field finale on Sunday. The Cubs and Bucs will play four games, wrapping up Pittsburgh's home schedule for the year. Right-hander Kyle Hendricks will start the opener for the Cubs, looking to lower his Major League-leading 2.06 ERA and solidify his NL Cy Young Award candidacy. Hendricks has allowed three or fewer earned runs in 21 straight starts, the longest streak in the Majors. Hendricks has surrendered only one run on 10 hits and a walk while striking out 16 in 13 innings over two starts against the Pirates this year. The righty baffled the Bucs the last time these clubs met, cruising through seven scoreless innings at Wrigley Field on Aug. 30. No wonder Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle compared him to a young Greg Maddux that night. Starting opposite Hendricks will be Pirates rookie Chad Kuhl, trying to keep the Pirates mathematically in the NL Wild Card race. Since having a turn skipped, Kuhl has put together two straight quality starts, most recently holding the Brewers to one run in six innings on Wednesday. However, he's permitted seven runs on 11 hits in 7 1/3 innings in two starts against the Cubs. Three things to know about this game • The Pirates are dealing with a long list of injuries. Having already shut down Gerrit Cole, Josh Harrison, Chris Stewart, A.J. Schugel and Elias Diaz, they must at least consider doing so with All-Star outfielder Starling Marte (lower back tightness) and setup man Neftali Feliz (right arm discomfort). Feliz is playing catch, while Marte has played only one of the Pirates' last 20 games. "Ideally you'd always like a player to know that he is healthy as he heads into the offseason. It continues to be muscular in nature," Pirates GM Neal Huntington said of Marte. "His body seems to not cooperate with him. The last thing we want to do is put a player in harm's way. And if he can't go, he can't go. There is some benefit to him going home knowing he is back to where he can be." • The Cubs have dominated the season series against the Pirates, winning 12 of their 15 matchups. They dropped two of their last three at PNC Park, however. • Rookie Rob Zastryzny will start in the series finale on Thursday for the Cubs, although the rest of the bullpen will be on call. The lefty was a combined 10-5 with a 4.31 ERA in 24 games (23 starts) for Triple-A Iowa and Double-A Tennessee this season. He has pitched in relief for the Cubs. --

Cubs.com Zastryzny to start Thursday's bullpen day By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- Cubs rookie Rob Zastryzny will make his first Major League start on Thursday in the club's series finale against the Pirates at PNC Park. The Cubs, who have clinched the No. 1 seed in the National League, want to give the rest of the rotation a breather heading into the postseason and had scheduled Thursday as a bullpen day. Zastryzny, 24, will get things started. The lefty was a combined 10-5 with a 4.31 ERA in 24 games (23 starts) for Triple-A Iowa and Double-A Tennessee this season. He has pitched in relief for the Cubs. In the final regular-season series, against the Red in Cincinnati, the Cubs will start Jason Hammel on Friday, Jon Lester on Saturday and Kyle Hendricks next Sunday. Worth noting • Sunday was the Cubs' final regular-season home game, and manager Joe Maddon said the time has flown by. "It's been long and fast and furious," he said of the season, then recalled driving his RV "Fast Eddie" to Mesa, Ariz., and setting up for Spring Training. "It happens so fast. Here we are -- we've had ourselves a nice year. There's still work to be done." The Cubs have secured home-field advantage through the National League Championship Series but are aiming at 100 wins. Maddon isn't changing his approach and isn't worried about the Cubs' postseason history. As most Cubs fans know, the team hasn't won a World Series since 1908, and hasn't played in one since 1945. "That's the way we're going to do this," Maddon said about focusing on today. "To worry about what's happened in the past and automatically project failure, I just can't go there. As we continue to move forward, you'll hear the same message: It's about today." -- ESPNChicago.com Joe Maddon on what's to come for Cubs: 'Beat up the day' By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO – Perhaps the most awkward week of the season begins for the Chicago Cubs: They'll have nothing to play for in their final seven games on the road, though they still want to maintain the sharpness needed for what comes next. Maybe this is one reason manager Joe Maddon instituted a second spring training for his team after they clinched an early playoff berth, as there’s also little to play for in the last week of March but there’s also plenty to prepare for. In terms of this week and especially the end of next week, when the postseason begins, Maddon is preaching one thing. “Beat up the day,” he said on Sunday. “You have to beat up that day somehow.” While Cubs fans are looking forward to Game 1 of the postseason, the manager is keeping things as normal as possible. Winning a day at a time has brought his team to the position they’re in. Changing anything now is the last thing on his mind. “I don’t get caught up in the macro of the whole thing,” Maddon said. “We cannot go about our business from inside in that manner. It will definitely have a bad ending if you do. That’s why I constantly preach the day.”

In other words, the last thing Maddon wants is his team thinking about the weight of the last 108 years while they wait for the playoffs begin. He won’t have them showing up extra early in Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, just as he wouldn’t if they were still fighting for a playoff spot. And you can bet the work they put in this week will be just enough to stay sharp, no more, no less. Maddon has talked often of wanting his players to play baseball in October the same as they would in June or even March. “The enemy of good is great,” Maddon said. “Just be good at what we’re doing.” Baseball is about the only sport where trying harder – or even working harder – can be a detriment. Maddon believes less is more, even in the postseason. Of course, video work on the opposition must be done, but the point is to do the same as you would in the regular season. Don’t try to get cute. “We’re not going to add anything,” Maddon said. “As we move forward you’re going to hear the same message in the postseason that you’ve heard during the season: It’s about today.” The only thing the Cubs did do differently is adjust their starting rotation, setting up Jon Lester and Kyle Hendricks for Games 1 and 2. They’ll pitch Saturday and Sunday in Cincinnati, giving each of them five days off before their playoff starts. It also gives Jake Arrieta a much longer break if he’s the Game 3 pitcher, same with John Lackey (or Jason Hammel) if needed for Game 4. These are good problems to have. “You’re trying to keep this competitive edge by keeping us sharp,” Maddon explained of the week to come. “All this awkwardly good stuff.” Who knows if what Maddon and the Cubs have tried since they clinched will work. It’s not often a team has two weeks to kill, but there’s no denying pitchers' arms should be rested, even if it’s possible some bats are rusty or in need of some high-leverage situations to bring out the adrenaline. The Cubs haven’t had many of those in a long time. “It’s been long and fast and furious,” Maddon said of the season. “We’ve had ourselves a nice year. There’s still work left to be done.” -- ESPNChicago.com Javier Baez' tattoos tell his story By Marly Rivera Javier Baez was 16 years old when he got his first tattoo by a high school classmate's father in Puerto Rico. Since then, he's added more than a dozen, spanning much of his arms, some of his torso (and he's currently adding a new one on his leg). Each has a story behind it; some honor his family, some his love of the game, or his home country of Puerto Rico. We asked for the story behind each one. (Photos of tattoos in link) "That was my first tattoo. I had that one done at 16, along with my two brothers, Rolando and Gadiel. We did it as a sign of respect and love for the game." "My mom never liked tattoos, so I tattooed her name [Nelly] as my second tattoo so she would not be very upset. I added the rose because she's such a lady." On his other wrist, Nené, represents his father -- it's one of his nicknames. "His real name was Angel Luis. I have Afro-Latino heritage on my dad's side and they all have some really interesting and funny nicknames. My dad died on a Saturday, Sept. 9, 2004. I was 11 years old. I went from being a child who saw his father every day to never seeing him again. It was very difficult."

"My sister's face was the first tattoo I ever wanted, but it took me a while to find the right artist. I finally met this artist, Albert García, through the Latin players in the team. I really liked his artwork and designs. I call Noely "mi ángel" because she's always going to be with me. That's why doves also surround her. "[The artist] used my favorite picture of my sister. She had spina bifida. She lived 21 years, even though she was never supposed to. She was like the "engine" of our family, our reason to be. She was my motivation for everything. Without her, there was no family. And she understood baseball. She would go crazy every time I had an at-bat. She would start clapping and cheering. She taught me how to fight; how to persevere. She suffered so much, yet, she was always smiling. It was an amazing thing." "El Guimo" is another nickname of his father's, marked alongside the date that Baez was called up to the majors. "'I will take your place and I will provide for our family' -- I had that one done because it was a promise I made to myself after my father died." The names of Baez' three siblings live on his left side: Rolando, Gadiel and Noely. "I had the rosary done in Puerto Rico by a friend who did tattoos. I wanted to make it different and special so I put baseballs instead of beads and a home plate. I designed it myself. Number 9 has always been my favorite number; have worn it since I was a child." "As a child I grew up playing baseball, baseball and more baseball. This tattoo shows how important it is to me -- 'Welcome to my world.'" "I had seen so many different tattoos with themes related to Puerto Rico, so I took a little bit of each and put them altogether to show my pride in being from Puerto Rico. All of them were done by Albert García." His right forearm and wrist are all dedicated to symbols of Puerto Rico: A "flor de maga," the official national flower of Puerto Rico; a "garita," the sentry box from the old Spanish forts in Puerto Rico; a Flamboyán tree; and a "coquí" frog. Baez' lion tattoo symbolizes his heart of a lion. "It is a symbol of strength." This tattoo also is dedicated to Baez' sister. "I wrote it about her -- it means 'Your hands never hurt anyone; your feet never missed a step.' And there's a crown, because she's my queen." -- ESPNChicago.com Cubs' David Ross on Wrigley send-off: 'I couldn't write it any better' By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO -- Has a backup catcher ever been honored as he approached his retirement as much as Chicago Cubs backstop David Ross? This time it was Cubs fans who kept the party going -- along with good friend Jon Lester -- two days after the team honored him. Ross received four standing ovations and two curtain calls on Sunday night during the Cubs' 3-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals while Lester orchestrated a surprise mid-inning visit by manager Joe Maddon to give his catcher a moment in the spotlight. "What a treat for a backup catcher to get," Ross said after the win, the Cubs' 99th of the season and record 57th at home. "Just overcome with emotion." It began in the second inning when Ross came to the plate for the first time in the game. The crowd gave him a standing ovation while Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina "showed a lot of class," according to Ross, allowing the moment to linger by walking halfway to the mound. Standing ovation No. 2 came in the fifth, again before Ross

stepped into the batter's box. This time he homered, breaking a scoreless tie and sending 40,859 fans into a frenzy. Curtain call No.1 came moments later. "I felt like I floated around the bases," Ross said smiling. Maddon added: "It was just fitting David would hit a home run, isn't it? It had to happen tonight." It was Ross' 10th home run this season, his most since 2007. The Hollywood script didn't end there, as his final plate appearance came in the sixth inning -- but with a runner on second base and the pitcher due up, the Cardinals decided to intentionally walk him. Standing ovation No.3 quickly turned into boos as Ross took four balls and walked to first base. "Usually the fans are cheering when they intentionally walk me," Ross joked. Meanwhile, Lester was mowing the Cardinals down in his quest to win the National League Cy Young Award. He was leading 2-0, getting two quick outs in the seventh inning while barely reaching 80 pitches when Maddon made a walk to the mound. Was he really taking Lester out before he could finish the inning? He was actually there to pull Ross, as the manager and Lester had hatched a plan the day before to give their catcher a proper send-off. "I felt like that was going to be the best time for people to really recognize him," Lester explained. "There's not many backup catchers in this game that get that. I really wanted to do something that was special to him and special to me ... When Joe came out there, you can tell Rossy was pretty heated [thinking Maddon was pulling Lester]. He was ready to let him hear it about where I was [with] my pitch [count]." Ross confirmed he was angry at first. He had no idea it was all about him. "I'm like, 'Why is he taking Jon out?'" Ross said. "I'm kind of getting pissed." Lester continued: "It's like the kid in the candy story when you tell him he can pick out whatever he wants. The disbelief in his face as he slams the face mask back down, [emotionally] saying, 'I love you guys, I love you guys, I love you guys.'" Then, Ross walked off the field to standing ovation No.4, followed by curtain call No.2. The water works took over from there. Ross was seen crying in the dugout on more than one occasion. "How about Rossy," Lester said in summing up the night. "He only cried about three times." The two close friends are likely to take the field together the next time the Cubs play at Wrigley, as that will be Game 1 of the divisional round of the playoffs on Oct. 7. As Lester's personal catcher, Ross and the Cubs lefty have combined to produce a magical season for Lester, who improved to 19-4 with a 2.28 ERA after Sunday's game. "I thought Jon was fantastic again," Maddon said. "Definitely making a strong case for the award. One win away from 20 wins and very close to 200 innings." Lester likely will get more than enough attention next month when he leads the Cubs into the postseason, but Sunday was about his 39-year-old reserve catcher playing in his final regular-season home game, which produced plenty of emotional moments. A home run, four standing ovations and two curtain calls will do that. "I couldn't write it any better," Ross said, undoubtedly between tears. --

ESPNChicago.com Cubs set to close out historic home season at Wrigley Field By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO -- Sunday night marks the final home game of the 2016 regular season for the Chicago Cubs, but we know it won’t be the last game at Wrigley Field this year, as the Cubs secured home-field advantage throughout the National League playoffs late Friday night. The Cubs will finish no worse than tied for the best home record in baseball, though a win Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals will secure them the best record outright. You won’t find a Cubs player who doesn’t believe playing in front of their rabid fan base makes a difference. “It’s a lot of fun to be a Cub right now and go to that stadium and feel that energy,” catcher David Ross said recently. The energy brought by the hungriest fans in the game is nothing new for the Cubs. But in the rare seasons they have fielded a winner, it goes to another level. Wrigley Field and the surrounding neighborhood comes to life. With the team playing so many nationally televised games, combined with a limit on home night games, the Cubs' topsy-turvy schedule can result in fatigue for even the strongest of players. It helps to have the energy of 40,000 fans at nearly every game. “You go out there after a long road trip, and it brings you to life,” first baseman Anthony Rizzo said. “We want the fans to enjoy it.” And enjoy it they have -- to the tune of 56 wins and just 24 losses at Wrigley going into Sunday night, including a 30-10 record in their past 40 home games. The 56 home-field wins ties a franchise record achieved with a dominant home pitching staff:

The Cubs' 2.74 ERA at Wrigley Field is the best home ERA in baseball.

Opponents hit an MLB-low .203 at Wrigley.

The Cubs' 1.07 WHIP is the best in baseball at home.

Cubs pitchers have given up just 73 home runs at Wrigley, tied for 23rd in the majors at home. And remember, Wrigley Field is known as a hitter’s park, though wind patterns don’t always make it so. This season, the wind blew in 60 percent of the time, which actually gave the home run-hitting Cubs an advantage. Their record going into Saturday’s game was 34-13 when the wind was blowing in. For comparison, it was just 8-6 in a crosswind and 14-4 when the wind blew out. As for Wrigley Field highlights this season, as you might imagine there were plenty: The seven walkoff wins are easily remembered, beginning with Javier Baez's Mother’s Day home run in the 13th inning against the Washington Nationals. The other six have come since July 31, including that night’s memorable come-from-behind victory on national television against the Seattle Mariners. The Cubs scored three in the ninth to tie the game, then Jon Lester squeeze bunted home the winning run with two strikes in the 12th inning as Cubs manager Joe Maddon was preparing starter John Lackey to take over. He wasn’t needed. As for individual achievements, it would be hard to top Kris Bryant’s five-hit day Aug. 18 against the Milwaukee Brewers. It was his second of the season and included five RBIs and 2 home runs to go along with 4 runs scored. He’s not the only one who had good days at Wrigley, as 11 players going into Sunday's game had an OPS of .758 or above at home while all five starters had home ERAs no worse than 2.62, led by Kyle Hendricks at 1.32 and Lester at 1.86. It all adds up to an historic home season for the Cubs. The only question is: Will that dominance carry over to next month? Stay tuned.

-- CSNChicago.com Cubs, White Sox React To News Of Jose Fernandez's Death By Staff The baseball world was rocked Sunday morning by the news that Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez was killed in a boating accident at the age of 24. "All of baseball is shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez," Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. "He was one of our game's great young stars who made a dramatic impact on and off the field since his debut in 2013. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, the Miami Marlins organization and all of the people he touched in his life." Chicago baseball teams and players shared their own messages on Twitter after the news broke. (Tweets in link) Born in Cuba, Fernandez had a long and dangerous journey defecting to the United States. Unsuccessful attempts to defects were followed by prison terms, and during his successful attempt, he rescued his mother from drowning after she fell overboard. He was only 15 years old at the time. Fernandez, who won National League Rookie of the Year honors in 2013, was twice named an NL All Star, including this season. He had a sparkling 2.58 ERA in his four big league seasons. After dealing with injuries that limited him to 19 combined starts during the 2014 and 2015 seasons, Fernandez was stellar this season, posting a 2.86 ERA and striking out a whopping 253 batters in 182 1/3 innings. -- Chicago Tribune David Ross on emotional Sunday at Wrigley: 'I'm such a crybaby' By Paul Skrbina Soo much for no crying in baseball. By Jon Lester’s count, Cubs catcher David Ross broke that rule at least three times during a Sunday night that capped an emotional day around baseball. And it was all Lester’s fault. "I'm such a crybaby," Ross said after the Cubs' 3-1 victory against the Cardinals set the single-season record for most wins at Wrigley Field at 57 and pushed the team one win away from 100, which the franchise hasn't done since 1935. Lester, the Cubs' left-handed ace who is a frontrunner for the National League Cy Young Award, plotted a plan with manager Joe Maddon on Saturday to take Ross out mid-inning during Sunday’s game. He wanted an appropriate sendoff during the Cubs' final regular-season home game at Wrigley Field. When the journeyman catcher in his 15th and final season saw his manager approach the mound in the seventh, the emotional rollercoaster began. "I'm like, 'Why is he taking Jon out?'" said Ross, who hit a solo home run in the fifth inning to put the Cubs ahead 1-0. "I was getting kinda pissed. I'm thinking, 'Where's his pitch count?' Then he says, 'I've never done this before, but I'm taking you out of the game.'

"I'm like, 'What?'" Ross instinctively reached for his catcher's mask to cover his face – and the tears. "Everyone started telling me they loved me and the emotions started," Ross said. Lester did his best to keep his composure in what turned out to be another brilliant performance during which he allowed no runs, three hits, a walk and struck out seven en route to his league-leading 19th victory. It was the 21st time this season he allowed one or no runs and was his seventh scoreless outing this season. His win total tied a career high and is the most by a Cubs left-handed pitcher since Dick Ellsworth won 22 in 1963. He said he got a chuckle out of Ross' reaction. "The funny part when Joe came out there, Rossy was pretty heated," said Lester, who is 10-0 with a 1.34 ERA in the second half and 19-4 with a 2.28 ERA this season. "He was about ready to let Joe hear it about where I was at in pitches. "He had his mask up and Joe looked at him and said, 'Have you ever been a part of where the catcher comes out of the game before the pitcher?'" Lester likened Ross' reaction to a kid with the run of a candy store. "The disbelief in his face," Lester said. "(He) slams his mask back over his face and all he could say was, 'I love you guys, I love you guys. I love you guys.' "It was my idea. I'm sure he hates me for it. "He's definitely helped me through the last four years grow as a baseball player and as a human being." -- Chicago Tribune Cubs manager Joe Maddon: 'Still work left to be done' By Paul Skrbina A blue-and-white "closed" sign dangled from the knob of a bat in Cubs relief pitcher Travis Wood's locker late Sunday afternoon. The directive, though, was temporary. Yes, the Cubs game against the Cardinals on Sunday night spelled the end of regular-season baseball at Wrigley Field. But the clubhouse will be open for baseball again in a little less than two weeks, when the Cubs return to the North Side and begin to play for keeps in their quest for the franchise's first World Series title since 1908. The National League Division Series starts Oct. 7. In the meantime Sunday, the Cubs had one more piece of franchise history to chase — most wins at Wrigley Field — before leaving for a seven-game road trip to Pittsburgh and Cincinnati to close out the regular season. With the Central Division in their back pocket and home-field advantage throughout the National League playoffs secured, the Cubs earned their 57th home victory Sunday, passing the 1933 and 1935 teams for the record at the historic park.

Their 3-1 victory against their NL Central rivals was but another chapter in a season that has been wondrous thus far for the Cubs. "It's been long and fast and furious," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "Pulling that RV into Mesa (for spring training) and settling in. I love spring training — the games we played, how you're trying to put this all together and imagine what you're going to look like by the end of the year, and you have all these expectations and whatever. "We've had ourselves a nice year. There's still work left to be done. And, of course, this awkward next eight games, just trying to get our 100th win and you're trying to keep this competitive edge. All this awkwardly good stuff." No Cubs team has won 100 games since 1935. Fans on hand Sunday night absorbed the moment, the quiet before the unpredictable postseason storm that in so many years past has ended in disappointment. Maddon said he gets that, he understands the anxiety that comes with being a Cubs fan. "I totally understand it," he said. "But — and there's always a big but in the room — the but is, the most we can do (is we've) got to beat up that day. If you beat up the day often enough in a positive way, you're going to have enough positive days by the end of it you're going to have this World Series championship that we're looking for." The Cubs know that running away with their division and even finishing with the best record in baseball means nothing after the next seven games. They understand the reset button will be pressed and the pressure begins all over again. And, Maddon said, nothing much will change with his team. "The enemy of good is great," Maddon said. "Just be really good at what we're doing." With a pair of MVP candidates in Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, and a pair of Cy Young Award candidates in Jon Lester and Kyle Hendricks, the Cubs seem to be blurring that line. Even though if everything goes according to plan, "next year" could finally be here after more than 100 years, tomorrow can wait, as far as the Cubs are concerned. "I really haven't even thought about it that way, that it's our last game here of the regular season," shortstop Addison Russell said. "It's pretty exciting stuff that we'll be here (for the playoffs). We've had a pretty good season here thus far. Postseason, I think, could be even better." That's what the Cubs are hoping. The clubhouse opens again Oct. 7. -- Chicago Tribune David Ross steals show as Cubs win regular-season home finale By Paul Skrbina David Ross doesn't own many baseball records. But he may have set an unofficial mark for standing ovations (at least seven) and curtain calls (two) in a game Sunday, the last regular-season home game of his career before he retires after whatever the Cubs do in the postseason.

The man who at 39 is so elderly in baseball years that his teammates call him "Grandpa Rossy" — "Mostly to the media," shortstop Addison Russell said — received perhaps the loudest roar after he hit a solo home run in the fifth inning for the first run of the Cubs' 3-1 victory against the Cardinals at Wrigley Field. The night, it turned out, was all about respecting the elder, who reached 10 home runs for the first time since 2007. "What a treat for a backup catcher," Ross said. "I'm overwhelmed with emotion and thoughts." By the time Ross' night ended, with manager Joe Maddon visiting the mound to make a catching change in the seventh, standing ovations six and seven were in order — six when Ross walked off the field after hugging Jon Lester and seven when fans demanded another curtain call. "How about Rossy? He only cried about three times tonight," Lester said. Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, who stalled before each of Ross' first two at-bats so fans could extend their appreciation, clapped along with the crowd of 40,859 when Maddon removed his 15-year veteran. Maddon said Lester suggested the idea of a mid-inning catching change to him on Saturday. "I had to get out of there because I'm a crier too," Maddon said. Ross smacked an offering from Carlos Martinez into the night in his second at-bat to give his team a 1-0 lead in the fifth. After returning to the dugout, Ross performed his first curtain call when he obliged fans and backed up the dugout steps before raising his helmet. Maddon said bench coach Dave Martinez had a feeling Ross would hit a homer. And he told Maddon as much during the game. "It just had to happen," Maddon said. Lester, Ross' batterymate, was nearly unhittable again, allowing no runs, three hits and striking out seven in 62/3 innings. Zastryzny to start Thursday: Left-hander Rob Zastryzny will start for the Cubs on Thursday in the finale of their four-game series in Pittsburgh. As the team prepares to make some postseason roster decisions, Maddon said he wanted to stretch Zastryzny out and he wanted to keep Mike Montgomery, who has been a starter and a reliever, in the bullpen. "You never know what's going to happen," Maddon said. "He's shown really well. I have a lot of faith his makeup. He's a perfect example of a guy that doesn't throw 95-96, not unlike Kyle (Hendricks). "This guy's got a big heart and a big stomach. I'm eager to watch him pitch." -- Chicago Tribune Sunday's recap: Cubs 3, Cardinals 1 By Paul Skrbina David Ross stole the show Sunday, hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning of yet another gem pitched by Jon Lester.

The end result was a 3-1 victory for the Cubs, who set the record for most wins at Wrigley Field in a season with their 57, breaking a tie with the teams from 1933 and 1935. For his part, Lester allowed no runs, three hits, a walk and struck out seven in 6 2/3 innings as the Cubs took the three-game series 2-1 and the season series 10-9. Addison Russell doubled home Ben Zobrist on a ball that originally was called foul but was overturned to give the Cubs a 2-0 lead. The Cardinals scored their run in the eighth inning off Cubs reliever Jason Grimm. Willson Contreras singled home another Cubs run in the eighth to make it 3-1. The Cardinals are a half-game out of the second National League wild-card spot. The Cubs will finish the regular season with four games at Pittsburgh and three more at Cincinnati before the National League Division Series begins at Wrigley Field on Oct. 7. On the mound Lester is one of three pitchers, along with James Shields and Cole Hamels, to reach 30 starts in each of the last nine seasons. At the plate Ben Zobrist had three hits for the Cubs. Key number 57. Victories at Wrigley Field this season for the Cubs, setting a franchise record set in 1933 and 1935. The quote “We’re coming from 97 to 98 wins already in two years. That’s pretty difficult to imagine. I’m an optimist, but God bless, I don’t know if I’m that optimistic. I didn’t anticipate all of that.” – Cubs manager Joe Maddon. Up next 6:05 p.m. Monday, CSN. RH Kyle Hendricks (15-8, 2.06) vs. RH Chad Kuhl (5-3, 3.73). -- Chicago Tribune Loss of Marlins star Jose Fernandez felt across baseball landscape By Paul Sullivan Baseball came together Sunday to pay tribute to Marlins star Jose Fernandez, a bright light whose love of the game was matched only by his brilliance on the mound. The tragic news of Fernandez's death in a boating accident was felt in major-league ballparks across the country and Canada. Whether they knew him well or only as an opponent, everyone seemed to agree the 24-year-old star was everything a ballplayer should be — fun-loving, charismatic and blessed with the ability to make friends with everyone he touched. "It was really his personality that impacted so many people," Cubs outfielder Chris Coghlan said. "And I think that's the reason why you hear so many testimonies from everybody, and they all seem consistent."

Coghlan, who played with Fernandez on the 2013 Marlins, choked back tears as he spoke, a recurring theme throughout baseball on a very difficult day. A moment of silence was held in every ballpark, some teams wrote his No. 16 on their caps, or, like the Cubs, hung jerseys with Fernandez's name on the back in their dugouts. Many spoke of the need to live life to its fullest, a concept Fernandez followed on a daily basis. "The way he played, there was just joy with him when he played," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said before breaking down. "And when he pitched, I think that's what the guys would say too. "As bad as he would make you (look) with some of the stuff he would do, you just see that little kid when you watched kids play Little League. That's the joy that Jose played with, and the passion he felt about playing. That's what I think about." The Marlins canceled their game against the Braves, and many of the players prayed on the mound of Marlins Park, where a No. 16 was written in chalk next to Fernandez's cap. "He made an impact on every person on this team in different ways," Marlins outfielder Martin Prado said. "There's a lot of pain right now. It's hard to explain." Fernandez's story of fleeing Cuba to come to America was often told, and many also knew that he jumped off the boat to save his mother after she had been swept into the ocean. "That was something that touched me a lot," Red Sox slugger David Ortiz said in an interview with MLB Network. "Knowing he went through all that, and all of sudden he became who he was, and what he did for baseball in his young career, it's something that turned out to be very special for all of us. "I'm not just talking about Spanish-speaking players. I'm talking about baseball in general. We need more people like that in the game." The contingent of Cuban players in the majors is a tight-knit group, and they often share their own personal struggles of growing up under a dictatorship. Fernandez never took his freedom for granted. Marlins President David Samson said Fernandez used to always tell non-Cubans: "You were born into freedom. You don't really understand freedom." Cubs stars Jorge Soler and Aroldis Chapman, who also fled Cuba to pursue their major-league dreams, were deeply affected by the loss. Chapman called Fernandez a "good friend" and said they hung out together during the offseason at their Miami homes. "He was a great person, a great teammate and a great player, always happy," Chapman said through a Cubs interpreter. "That characterizes him most. He was just a happy person, always in a good mood, always willing to talk to you. That's the most difficult part of this." Soler said he had known Fernandez since they were 11 or 12 and playing together in a tournament in Cuba. "Such a great loss of a great pitcher with so much potential," he said through the interpreter. "All of us have a heavy heart after what happened." Anthony Rizzo, who lives in the Miami area, said he spent Sunday morning comforting his mom because she couldn't stop crying after hearing the news. "No parent should ever have to bury their child," Rizzo said. "And as far as baseball, especially down there in Miami, any time he pitched, he filled seats. It was good for the Marlins and Miami to have a Cuban-American down there.

"It sucks, and it's something that is going to sting for a while. I don't think you can ever really get over it. Just try to remember him and carry his name on." Outside of Miami, baseball carried on Sunday. The Dodgers clinched on a walk-off home run and celebrated the final home game of Vin Scully's illustrious career. A couple of Red Sox pitchers set a record in Tampa Bay, combining for 11 consecutive strikeouts. The Nationals and Pirates had a brouhaha, and David Ross received a standing ovation and homered in his final regular-season game on a gorgeous night at Wrigley Field. Fernandez's legacy may be the nonstop passion he showed for his teammates and the game he loved. Sharing that passion is the best way of paying tribute to a young man who loved life, freedom and a child's game. -- Chicago Tribune Reluctant reliever Carl Edwards Jr. took off once he embraced new role By Mark Gonzales It was more than just hitting the reset button or taking a deep breath. For Carl Edwards Jr., his reassignment to the Cubs minor-league camp with nearly three weeks and 27 pitchers left in spring training in 2015 sent a message to the organization's top pitching prospect that it was in his best interests to accept his switch from starter to reliever. "I was mentally not thinking about being a reliever," Edwards recalled. "I was so into starting that I told myself if I relieve, I couldn't do this and that. But then I started taking pride in being a reliever and just accepting it. The transition happened on its own. When I started being successful, I started feeling comfortable. It was more like telling myself I can do it. "Now I'm here." And now it will be tough for the Cubs to keep Edwards, 25, off the postseason roster even as he's being treated with kid gloves. Since being promoted from Triple-A Iowa on June 20, he has pitched on back-to-back days only in his third and fourth appearances June 28-29. Yet Edwards has had steady success while gradually taking on bigger assignments. "I knew if I came in and did what I had to do, I'd have a chance," Edwards said. His numbers are impressive. In 32 2/3 innings over 32 games, he has given up just 14 hits and issued only 12 walks. He has 47 strikeouts. He has given up just three home runs, one in his first game this season on June 22, and two others in his worst outing on Sept. 17. Edwards has met the challenge nearly every time he has been put into a key situation, whether it's facing All-Star slugger Albert Pujols with a game on the line or appearing in a save situation for the first time. "To me, it's mind-blowing," Edwards said of facing the likes of All-Stars Yoenis Cespedes, Buster Posey, Mike Trout and Pujols. "I have so much to learn. As of now, I try not to look at them, especially the big names. "I'm here for a reason, and they're here for a reason. My thing is to get them out, keep us in the lead or tied or just give us a chance." Edwards' acceptance of his role crystallized after he finally convinced himself it was best for his career. He also received some positive reinforcement from player development officials. Edwards' success could make it easier for future Cubs prospects to accept position and/or role changes.

"We've had a lot of discussions and examples of players who have made the conversion, whether it's from the infield to catcher or from position player to pitcher," said Tim Cossins, the Cubs field coordinator. "For Edwards, the commitment and convincing "had to come from both sides," Cossins said. "But in the end, it's always about the adjustment the player makes." While Edwards admitted to some nerves before converting his first save opportunity Sept. 1 against the Giants, harnessing the wildness on his 96-mph fastball and tumbling curve have made him more effective and reliable. "He's way different than he was last year," said Willson Contreras, who started catching Edwards last season at Double-A Tennessee. "He has great command of his fastball, especially on the low, outside corner. I don't know what he has been doing, but he has done well. "Sometimes he speeds things up, but that's part of my job — to make sure he keeps the ball down and he keeps calm. We're pretty much on the same page every time I'm catching him. It's a lot easier." It helps that Edwards retains advice dating back to his days in the Rangers' organization. Edwards has credited former minor-league pitching coach Danny Clark on his emphasis locating his fastball on the low, outside corner — even when falling behind on the count. That pitch helped him strike out Brandon Phillips in the 11th inning of a 15-inning victory against the Reds in Cincinnati on Aug. 28, and he struck out Cespedes four nights later at Citi Field. Edwards said his major-league debut against the Cardinals on Sept. 7, 2015, gave him a big sample of what to expect in the majors, playing in front of a large crowd at Busch Stadium against a rival. Edwards pitched a scoreless inning in his debut and showed more promise last spring, even though there were no openings on the major-league roster. But when the Cubs needed an extra reliever, they promoted Edwards and discovered they could have a future closer. And Edwards has simulated those situations with sports psychologist Ken Ravizza. "We worked on breathing, with situations in the game," Edwards said. "It's the World Series, with two out, runner at second with a 1-0 count. (Count) five, four, three, two, one — pitch the ball, get the ball back, think briefly about the pitch and get back on the mound and take a deep breath.'" -- Chicago Tribune Series preview: Cubs at Pirates By Staff All games on WSCR-AM 670. Season series: Cubs lead 12-3. Monday: 6:05 p.m., CSN. RH Kyle Hendricks (15-8, 2.06) vs. RH Chad Kuhl (5-3, 3.73) Tuesday: 6:05 p.m., CSN. RH John Lackey (10-8, 3.39) vs. RH Ryan Vogelsong (3-6, 4.85) Wednesday: 6:05 p.m., CSN.

RH Jake Arrieta (18-7, 2.85) vs. RH Jameson Taillon (4-4, 3.49) Thursday: 6:05 p.m., WGN-9. LH Rob Zastryzny (1-0, 1.46) vs. RH Ivan Nova (12-8, 4.25) Storylines: With home-field advantage throughout the National League playoffs in hand, the Cubs will treat the final week of the regular season like spring training in terms of experimenting and working on little things before the NL division series begins Oct. 7 at Wrigley Field. A couple of postseason roster spots could be earned during that time, manager Joe Maddon said. Trending: Before Sunday's game, Jason Heyward had scored a run in six of his last eight and was batting .333 with in his last 27 at-bats. Catcher Miguel Montero had the same average in his last 18 games, including two home runs, three doubles and 10 RBIs. --