Another Nadal drop shot had him on course

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CHICAGO -- Jake Arrieta tried to tamper his pregame butterflies. China Shoes Black Friday . Making his big league season debut following shoulder stiffness, Arrieta struck out seven in 5 1-3 shutout innings Saturday as the Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 3-0 for their first three-game winning streak this season. Arrieta said pitching at Wrigley Field has become a special experience for him dating to his Cubs debut last season, also was against the Cardinals. Arrieta walked two and threw 82 pitches. The Cardinals put five runners on base through the first three innings. "Command of my sinker down in the zone was working really good, establishing the curveball early in the game," he said. "The more you do that with secondary stuff, the less they can eliminate certain pitches later in the game. Thats kind of what we had going for us." Chicagos bullpen combined for three-hit relief, finishing a seven-hitter. Brian Schlitter (1-0) got two outs for the win, and Hector Rondon worked around a pair of leadoff singles in the ninth for his third save. Junior Lake and Anthony Rizzo homered for the Cubs, who hadnt won three straight a series sweep at San Francisco last July 26-28. A day after the Cubs defeated Adam Wainwright, Michael Wacha (2-3) allowed two runs, five hits and three walks in six innings. Lake hit a two-run homer in the sixth for a 2-0 lead. He also doubled on a 3-for-3 afternoon. "Its just frustrating, really," Wacha said. "I served one up there, and they go up two runs. You just cant afford that in that situation." Rizzo led off the eighth with sixth home run, and third in three games. He connected on the first pitch he saw from Randy Choate. "We know were a good team," Rizzo said. "Its just about getting the wins. Today we got the win. The last few days weve gotten a win. Its just about staying with it, keep battling." Yadier Molina and Jhonny Peralta opened the ninth with singles off Rondon. But he got Jon Jay to hit into a double play and struck out Mark Ellis. St. Louis, which stranded eight runners, has scored two runs or fewer in seven of its last 13 games. Arrieta struck out Molina to strand runners on the corners in first. The Cardinals put two on with no outs in the second before Greg Garcia struck out, Wacha grounded out and shortstop Starlin Castro made an over-the-shoulder catch on Matt Carpenters popup. "Right now, its not looking like what we want it to look like," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny. "Whatever were doing is not working, so we have to figure it out and figure it out fast." NOTES: Cardinals LHP Jaime Garcia (shoulder) was scheduled to make a minor league injury rehabilitation start Saturday at Double A-Springfield. ... With the Cardinals struggling offensively, Matheny has tried several lineup combinations. Thats left some players -- especially OF Peter Bourjos and 2B Mark Ellis -- frustrated because of unpredictable playing time. "The message we continue to give them is: keep pushing," Matheny said. "We need each of you guys to be at the top of your game in order to be as good as we can be and youre gonna get your opportunity." Wholesale Shoes Black Friday . - The Detroit Lions have placed tight end Brandon Pettigrew on injured reserve, ending his season. Discount Shoes Black Friday .m. ET, CBSOPENING LINE — Colts by 5RECORD VS. SPREAD — Cincinnati 8-8, Indianapolis 11-5SERIES RECORD — Colts lead 18-10LAST MEETING — Colts beat Bengals 27-0, Oct. https://www.cheapshoesblackfriday.com/ . -- The top-seeded Alberta Pandas set up of an all-Canada West final against arch rival UBC at the CIS womens volleyball championship after a 3-0 win over the No.Novak Djokovic twice came from behind to defeat Rafael Nadal in straight sets in their Rome Masters quarter-final. A 7-5 7-6 (7-4) win means the world No 1 will now advance into Saturdays semi-finals where he will play sixth seed Kei Nishikori who beat Dominic Thiem 6-3 7-5, while Andy Murray will face lucky loser Lucas Pouille.Nadal had his chances to end a six-match losing streak against Djokovic but wasted a break advantage in the first set, then missed five set-point chances in the second. Novak Djokovics set point in the opener was majestic... Djokovic recovered from a break down to secure the opener in dramatic fashion. Nadal initially went 4-2 up against the serve, largely thanks to a drop shot that found a home three times in the early stages.Mid-way through the set, Djokovic began finding his rhythm and threatened with some trademark returns from the back of the court. He held a 10-minute game to remain 3-4 down before more excellent work from the back of the court earned Djokovic a break of his own.Djokovic led 6-5 heading into the final game but defeated Nadals serve in a pulsating manner. Fake Shoes Black Friday. Another Nadal drop shot had him on course for 6-6, but Djokovic converted his fourth set point by winning an astonishing rally. Novak Djokovic lost his cool and threw his racket Nadal then crucially failed to convert five set points to force a decider. Leading 5-4 in the second set having broken Djokovics first service game, Nadal continued to put himself on the brink but could not cross the line.Djokovic saved all five set points and remarkably broke back before winning a thrilling tie-break 7-4 in a memorable demonstration of grit and athleticism from both players.Current Rome Masters champion Djokovic now has a 26-23 head-to-head record against Nadal.Watch the Rome semi-finals on Saturday, live on Sky Sports 3 HD from 1.30pm. Also See: As it happened Murray into Rome semis Tennis on Sky Get a NOW TV pass ' ' '