News & Neuigkeiten » lead to 13-9.Good things happen when you hustle.

(SportsNetwork.com) - Two pitchers will take the hill on Saturday in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series. One has been nearly unhittable the last two times hes pitched. And the other is Clayton Kershaw. Runs figure to be at a premium tonight, as Michael Wacha and the St. Louis Cardinals try to go up two games to none on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the best-of-seven series at Busch Stadium. Wacha has been the early story of this postseason, as he nearly no-hit the Pittsburgh Pirates in a season-saving win for the Cardinals in Game 4 of the NLDS. The 22-year-old righty took a no-hitter into the eighth in a stellar 7 1/3-inning, nine-strikeout performance to help the Cards force a fifth and deciding game. "Why hes been able to be successful so far is that he has trusted himself," Cards manager Mike Matheny said of Wacha. "Hes trusted the game plan thats put in front of him. Hes trusted his catcher. Hes trusted his stuff. Then it comes down to taking the distractions and minimizing them." Of course, Wacha came within an out of no-hitting the Washington Nationals in his final start in the regular season. "Im definitely looking forward to pitching in front of this home crowd. Its going to be a lot of fun," said Wacha, who has never faced the Dodgers. "Just watching them on TV, its a great ballclub and definitely a dangerous lineup. Im just going to have to go out there and make pitches." Kershaw, meanwhile, is likely headed toward another NL Cy Young Award after a remarkable regular season that saw him go 16-9 and lead the major leagues with a minuscule 1.83 ERA and an NL-best 232 strikeouts. It was the fourth consecutive season that Kershaw tallied 200 or more strikeouts. He also allowed a .195 batting average -- .202 to right-handed hitters and .165 to left-handed hitters. The postseason spotlight hasnt fazed him one bit, as Kershaw went 1-0 against the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS and pitched to a 0.69 ERA in two starts, the last one, of course, came on three days rest and secured the Dodgers series win. "You guys make a big deal about three days rest," he told a room full of reporters before the NLCS opener. "I never made a big deal out of it. (Dodgers manager Don Mattingly) never made a big deal out of it. ... I mean, no offense, but Im just kind of tired of it." Over his last 11 starts, including his two postseason starts, Kershaw is 6-2 with a remarkable 1.46 ERA. Kershaw, though, lost both of his starts to the Cardinals this season and pitched to a 4.15 ERA in doing so. Kershaw will need to be aware of St. Louis Carlos Beltran, who drove in all three runs in the Cardinals thrilling 3-2 win in 13 innings in Game 1. Of the five previous times the Cards won the first game of the NLCS (home or away), they advanced to the World Series three times. "We have had our fair share of extra-inning games, but none more special than that one," second baseman Matt Carpenter said. "Winning Game 1 is huge, especially in that fashion. Whether they want to admit it or not, winning that game in that kind of scenario, thats a tough way to lose a game." Beltran had tied the game with a two-run double in the third inning, but hours later stroked a one-out hit toward the right field corner off Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen to score Daniel Descalso from second base with the winning run. "It was a good team win," shortstop Pete Kozma said, before slightly altering his wording. "A good team Carlos win today." They werent the only heroics for Beltran, who also gunned a runner down at home for an inning-ending double play in the 10th. Perhaps the best postseason hitter of this generation, Beltran now has four game-winning postseason RBI in his career. He also has nine RBI in these playoffs. "Hes basically built up a resume as one of the greatest postseason hitters of all time," Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis said of Beltran. "We knew that coming in. When you compound that by giving him two 3-1 counts to hit in, he knows what to do." Juan Uribe, who hit the homer Monday that got the NL West-champion Dodgers into the NLCS, had a two-run single in the third inning for LAs only runs in Game 1. Lance Lynn (1-0) threw two innings to get the win and Chris Withrow (0-1) gave up a pinch-hit single to Descalso and walked Matt Carpenter in the 13th. "It feels great coming back to the ballpark and knowing youve got Clayton on the mound," Ellis said. "Were going to do everything we can to earn the split." The Dodgers were 4-3 against the Cardinals this season, including three wins in four games in St. Louis. Not having homefield advantage for this series may not matter, as Los Angeles was tied with Texas for the best road record in the majors in 2013, at 45-36. This series will shift to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Monday. Nike Air Force 1 Norge Prisjakt . Nwaneri, who was born in Dallas and attended Naaman Forest High School in nearby Garland, Texas, tweeted, "Its official! Im coming home, Im coming home. Nike Air Force 1 Billig . The game marks the rare occasion when two homegrown running backs, Jon Cornish of the Calgary Stampeders and Andrew Harris of the B.C. Lions, will start in the West Divisions battle for a Grey Cup berth. http://www.airforce1norge.com/ . The top-ranked Spaniard won his fourth Madrid Open on Sunday after Kei Nishikori was forced to withdraw with a hip injury when trailing 2-6, 6-4, 3-0 in the final. And Nadal, who is coming off to uncharacteristic quarterfinal losses on clay, said his mental strength is still lacking just two weeks ahead of the French Open. Air Force 1 Herre Norge . Although the deal cannot be made official until the free agent moratorium period is lifted on July 10, Patterson has agreed to a three-year, $18 million extension to remain in Toronto, sources confirm to TSN. Nike Roshe One Norge . Particularly when speaking in the stadium of Tuesdays opponent: Manchester City. "Maybe they dont fear us as before," Pique said on Monday, "because in the last two years we didnt win the Champions League.MINNEAPOLIS - Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears had the ball back with one last chance.The defence had just stonewalled Minnesotas Matt Asiata at the 3-yard line on both third-and-1 and fourth-and-1, leaving the lead for the Vikings at four points with 2:53 left. Cutler even ran for 22 yards on the first play, giving the Bears some space and a spark.Then, in a fitting finish to this forgettable year, came the familiar mistakes. Three penalties, an incompletion and three too-short passes later, the Vikings took possession again with three kneel-downs all that remained.Teddy Bridgewater threw the go-ahead 44-yard touchdown pass to Adam Thielen in the third quarter, and the Vikings hung on for a 13-9 victory on Sunday to slap one more blemish on a bad season for the Bears.We were kind of shooting ourselves in the foot like weve been doing the entire year, which is something that needs to change if we want to continue to play in this league and win some games, running back Matt Forte said.Coach Marc Trestmans opportunity to effect such changes might have ended.After losing the last two games of 2013 to fall to 8-8 and hand the NFC North title to Green Bay, the Bears (5-11) finished 2014 with their worst record in 10 years. Trestman said he expected to return.Im not going to stand up here and try to make a case for myself. I believe in what Im doing, and I believe I have the answers to help us get better, Trestman said. I feel strongly about that, and I love this team and I love the players in this locker room.The Vikings (7-9) finally gave coach Mike Zimmer an interdivision win in the final game of his first season.Blair Walsh kicked two field goals, linebacker Audie Cole had 11 tackles, three assists and a pass breakup in his first start of the season and Bridgewater went 17 for 25 for 209 yards to finish 6-6 as a starter in his rookie year.Bridgewater finished the season a 64.4 completion rate, the third-highest by a rookie in NFL history behind Ben Roethlisberger (66.4) and Robert Griffin III (65.6).The players on the football team, the coaches, the organization, hopefully the fans, believe in this kid, Zimmer said.Here are some key nuggets to know about the game:CUTLER FUTURECutler finished turnoveer-free for only the third time in 15 games this season.dddddddddddd But considering his 18 interceptions thrown, six lost fumbles and average of 6.8 yards per attempt, the second-worst of his career, the Bears could also decide to move on from their quarterback despite the hefty contract extension they gave him almost a year ago.I would like to be back. I said that a couple of weeks ago. But whatever happens, well deal with it then and make plans accordingly, Cutler said.FORTE RECORDThe bright spot for the Bears in this game was Forte, who set the NFL record for most catches in a season by a running back with 102. He passed Larry Centers, who had 101 receptions for the Cardinals in 1995.Forte also topped the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the fifth time in seven years and finished with 1,846 yards and 10 touchdowns from scrimmage.MORE THAN A THIELENThielen, an undrafted player out of NCAA Division II Minnesota State who spent last season on the practice squad, had his first career offensive touchdown. He scored last month on a blocked punt. But just as important was Thielens sprint to tackle Marc Mariani after a 67-yard kickoff return to the 35 early in the fourth quarter. The Bears had to settle for a field goal on that drive that cut the lead to 13-9.Good things happen when you hustle. Thats the type of kid Adam is, Zimmer said.COLE COMES THROUGHWith starting linebackers Chad Greenway and Anthony Barr out with knee injuries, Audie Cole got his first start of the season for the Vikings and shined with 14 total tackles, including one for a 2-yard loss on Forte. He also broke up a pass and had an interception negated by an offside penalty on Corey Wootton.CHALLENGING PATTERSONAfter a standout rookie year, playing in the Pro Bowl as a kickoff returner, wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson slumped badly and barely played on offence down the stretch. Though Bridgewaters throw was behind him, Patterson bobbled a third-quarter pass that Kyle Fuller intercepted for the Bears.Ive got a plan for this off-season for him, and hopefully it works, Zimmer said of Pattersons mindset. But its going to be up to Cordarrelle.___AP NFL websites: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '