the Cubs are trying to break a 108-year-old curse, and appare

PHOENIX -- Ricky Nolasco looked right at home in Dodger blue. The right-hander made a sparkling debut for surging Los Angeles on Tuesday night, limiting Arizona to four hits in seven innings in a 6-1 victory, the Dodgers 14th win in 17 games. "I was pretty pumped up," Nolasco said. "I havent been that locked in in a long time. It worked out great. I was able to make good pitches. I was definitely excited. The energy and adrenaline was going those first few innings, so it was awesome." Nolasco (6-8), acquired Saturday in a trade with the Miami Marlins, also doubled and singled, driving in a run and scoring another. "It just gives you more confidence when youre adding it to (Clayton) Kershaw, (Zack) Greinke and Hyun-Jin (Ryu), three pretty kind of top-notch guys there at the top of the rotation," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "Then to add Ricky, if he can pitch like this, every time you go out there you think youve got a good chance to win." Adrian Gonzalez drove in three runs for Los Angeles but Hanley Ramirez went 0 for 4, snapping his 19-game hitting streak. Ian Kennedy (3-5), facing the Dodgers for the first time since serving a 10-game suspension for his role in a bench-clearing brawl a month ago in Los Angeles, allowed six runs, five earned, and nine hits in 5 2-3 innings. He hit Ramirez with a pitch in the first inning. The Dodgers pulled within 2 1/2 games of the NL West-leading Diamondbacks. Plate umpire Marvin Hudson warned both benches after Dodgers reliever Ronald Belisario hit Miguel Montero in the leg with a pitch in the ninth inning. Belisario had warned after the brawl that "its not over." He repeated that sentiment after the game but insisted he didnt hit Montero on purpose. "Its not over," Belisario said, "but it wasnt on purpose." So its still not over? "No," he said. The Dodgers, who won by the same score in Mondays series opener, have won 11 of their last 13 against NL West opponents, picking up seven games in the standings since they were a season-worst 9 1/2 out on June 22. Nolasco, who fanned five with no walks, shut out Arizona until the seventh, when Aaron Hill doubled off the glove of a diving Yasiel Puig in right field and scored on Martin Prados single. Arizona centre fielder Adam Eaton, making his season debut after being activated from the disabled list, stumbled and dropped Gonzalezs fly ball at the warning track with the bases loaded in the fifth. Kennedy had made his last seven starts on the road, including the June 11 outing in Los Angeles, where he hit Puig and Greinke with high pitches in a testy game that included a bench-clearing melee. Of the eight suspensions that followed, Kennedys was the most severe at 10 games, although he missed just one start. The Arizona right-hander made things interesting in the first inning Tuesday when he plunked Ramirez in the shoulder. Nothing intentional, Kennedy said. "Up-and-in changeup slipped out of my hand," he said. Mattingly agreed. "We know that Kennedys not trying to hit Hanley," Mattingly said. "That was a changeup. They were just trying to get in. Thats nothing." Nolascos two-out single to right brought in the games first run in the second. A.J. Ellis and Skip Schumaker singled to start the inning, then Jerry Hairston Jr. grounded into a double play, leaving a runner at third with two outs as the pitcher came to the plate. Andre Ethier led off the Dodgers fourth with a single. With Ethier running on the play, Ellis struck out but Monteros throw to second sailed into centre field and Ethier wound up at third with one out. With the infield playing in to cut off the run, Schumaker bounced one to second, but Hill dropped the ball, ruining any chance for a play at the plate. Schumaker was thrown out at first, but the unearned run scored to make it 2-0. Nolasco opened the fifth with a double to right-centre, then Carl Crawford reached on a bunt single and Puig walked to load the bases with no outs. Gonzalez lofted one to deep centre, where Eaton lost his footing on the warning track and as he fell to the ground the ball popped out of his glove for an error. Two runs scored to make it 4-0. Puig came barrelling around third on the play and attempted to score, but Montero took the relay throw from shortstop Didi Gregorius. Puig shoved Montero as the tag was applied, then the two stared at each other as the young Dodgers star walked toward the dugout. "He plays with a lot of arrogance," Kennedy said. "I dont know if he was trying to run (Montero) over or what." After Kennedy walked two to load the bases in the sixth, Gonzalezs two-run single off Tony Sipp broke it open at 6-0. Gregorius robbed Schumaker with a soaring grab of a line drive to end the Los Angeles seventh. NOTES: Kennedy leads the NL with 10 hit batters. Detroit RHP Doug Fister leads the majors with 13. ... Arizona 3B Eric Chavez was a late scratch with a sore hip. ... Los Angeles pitchers have five hits in the first two games of the series. ... Seeking a sweep, the Dodgers send Ryu (7-3, 2.82 ERA) to the mound and Arizona counters with Tyler Skaggs (2-1, 3.65) in a matchup of left-handers Wednesday night. Packers Jerseys China . A lawyer for MLB, Matthew Menchel, confirmed Wednesday the league dropped its case against Biogenesis of America, its owner Anthony Bosch and several other individuals. The lawsuit had accused Biogenesis and Bosch of conspiring with players to violate their contracts by providing them with banned performance-enhancing substances. Authentic Custom Packers Jersey . Hey!" The lower tier of the School End of Queens Park Rangers Loftus Road was packed solid with a very festive-sounding Chelsea choral section in this particular part of South Africa Road London, W12. http://www.custompackersjersey.com/ . John Lucas, signed as a mentor for rookie Trey Burke, showed he can score if required, scoring 12 points of his 16 points in the second quarter as Utah built an 18-point lead. Cheap Packers Jerseys .Y. - Nelson Mandela will be honoured by the New York Yankees with a plaque in Monument Park. Custom Packers T-shirts . It was the second consecutive win for the Pacers (2-5), who lost their first five preseason games. Jeff Teague led the Hawks (1-5) with 17 points and eight assists and Al Horford had 12 points and seven rebounds. Mike Scott scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half. Chicago won its first World Series since 1908 in a dramatic Game 7 that featured a little bit of everything.Shirtless J.R. spurs Indians rallyThe Indians trailed for most of Game 7, but they got a little motivation in the form of Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith pumping up the Progressive Field crowd by taking his shirt off.Shortly after, the game was tied on a Rajai Davis two-run homer.?The reaction in Wrigleyville was predictable.LeBron James reaction? Much more upbeat.Before the home run, the Indians Twitter account predicted what was going to happen.?What hasnt Game 7 given us?I cant imagine being a Cubs or Indians fan right now. Are they still alive? Have they all crawled under their beds or couches, hiding from the obvious wrath of the baseball gods, who have decided to torture both fan bases with this rain delay? Im just surprised were not seeing hail and lightning.This game has veered so far off-script, its gone beyond crazy to complete insanity. Corey Kluber got rocked. Andrew Miller got rocked. Aroldis Chapman got rocked. Weve had bad errors, bad baserunning, bad wild pitches, bad throws, a bad bunt attempt on a potential go-ahead safety squeeze in the ninth inning and now bad weather.Given everything at stake for these two franchises, I think this will go down as the greatest game ever played ... and we dont even know the ending yet!-- David SchoenfieldAs the clock strikes midnight ...With the game going into a rain delay in extra innings, Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen had some thoughts for his coach.Meanwhile, other teams had some thoughts about the delay ...Ross aims to exit in styleThe Cubs 39-year-old catcher David Ross entered the game in the fifth inning and homered in the top of the sixth to extend the Cubs lead. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Ross is the oldest player ever to homer in Game 7 of the World Series.During an appearance on MLB Network Radio back in November 2015, Ross said the 2016 seasson was probably going to be it for me.ddddddddddddIn the hours before Game 7, some of his Cubs teammates huddled on the field to celebrate the veteran.There are also bats with a Bitmoji version of Ross face on the handle.Is this Wrigley East?Progressive Field and the entire city of Cleveland have been overrun by Cubs fans. Walking around the city Wednesday, you saw Cubs fans everywhere. In the ballpark, it has been no different.When possible plays that can be reviewed go on the scoreboard, a roar goes out in the crowd, but it is unclear if it is because the screen shows good news for the Cubs or the Indians. It is at least 50-50 among Cubs and Indians fans.There seems to be a simple reason. First, the Cubs are trying to break a 108-year-old curse, and apparently, when you add up the five-hour drive, the cost of a hotel and buying tickets here instead of Chicago, it is not a bad deal.Meanwhile, the Indians fans got a little something to cheer about, as they flashed Charlie Sheen on the big board and played Wild Thing. Sheen played Ricky Vaughn in Major League.-- Andrew MarchandMeanwhile, in the NBA?Dexter Fowler leaves Mrs. Fowler speechlessCubs outfielder Dexter Fowler started Game 7 by becoming the first player to lead off a winner-take-all World Series game with a home run, according to ESPN Stats & Info.The solo home run sparked a comical back-and-forth between the Cubs Twitter account and Fowlers wife, Darya Aliya Fowler.The Cleveland spirit extends to the police ... and horsesThe Cleveland police outfitted themselves (and some horses) with Indians garb ahead of Game 7.Born into itWill these Cleveland-born babies bring good luck to the Indians??No ticket, no problemSo you werent lucky enough to?run into Bill Murray on the street? This viewing party outside Progressive Field might be the next best option. ' ' '