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MIAMI -- Jake Arrieta made it look easy, then made it sound easy. The Chicago Cubs right-hander had a career-high 11 strikeouts in seven innings to beat the Miami Marlins 6-1 on Wednesday. Arrieta (3-1) lowered his ERA to 1.98, and he has 55 strikeouts in 50 innings. "Im not doing anything different," he said. "Im just commanding everything down in the strike zone and trying to force early contact. Strikeouts are just a byproduct of throwing several plus pitches for strikes." Arrieta has become one of the few bright spots for the last-place Cubs, although they have been playing better lately. By taking the rubber game of the three-game set, they won consecutive road series for the first time since June 2013. Chicago went 5-5 on a three-city swing. "We had a nice trip," manager Rick Renteria said. "Thats big. Were playing some consistent baseball." Miamis Giancarlo Stanton hit his NL-leading 20th homer in the first but left the game after six innings with a bruised left wrist. Stanton said the injury wasnt serious, and he expected to be back in the lineup Thursday against the New York Mets. But his wrist was swollen and bothered him more as the game progressed. "It was getting tighter and tighter," he said. "On swings and misses, it hurts a lot." Stanton hasnt missed a game this season, and he leads the NL in homers and RBIs with 57. Thats why manager Mike Redmond took no chances with the injury. "We need this guy for the long haul," Redmond said. "He wanted to stay in, but Im thinking about tomorrow and the next day." Stanton was hurt when he hit the wall in the first inning chasing a flyball. Nate Schierholtz hit a three-run homer for the Cubs. Starlin Castro had two RBI doubles and single batting cleanup. "I like batting fourth because there are usually runners on base," Castro said. "I just like that they put me in a spot and leave me there. If they keep moving me around, it breaks my concentration." Arrieta allowed five hits and one walk. He also doubled for his first career extra-base hit, but Renteria was more impressed with his pitching. Arrieta has 27 strikeouts in 20 innings over his past three starts. "I think he is commanding his fastball better, and his breaking ball is starting to get some bite and location," Renteria said. "Hes got great stuff, and hes very composed." The Marlins agreed. "He was using his cutter in good spots and staying on the corners," Stanton said. "He did a good job." Schierholtz was in a 3-for-26 slump before he hit his third homer off Nathan Eovaldi (4-3) in the Cubs four-run sixth. Eovaldi, back from paternity leave after joining his wife in Texas for the birth of their first child Monday, declined to blame any distractions for his performance. "Youve got to be able to come back and perform," he said. "If anything, I was excited to get back to the guys and play." NOTES: The Marlins plan to recall RHP Kevin Gregg from Triple-A New Orleans on Thursday, and C Jarrod Saltalamacchia (concussion) will be activated from the disabled list. To make room for them, the Marlins optioned LHP Dan Jennings to New Orleans and optioned C J.T. Realmuto to Double-A Jacksonville. ... Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade sat next to Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria in the second row and drew a big ovation when he was shown on the video scoreboard. ... LHP Randy Wolf, who was designed for assignment Monday by the Marlins, opted for free agency. ... A Marlins promotion for disadvantaged children boosted attendance to 27,032. ... Marlins RHP Steve Cishek turned 28 Wednesday. Cubs OF Chris Coghlan turned 29. ... Cubs starters have allowed 32 homers, fewest in the majors. ... When torrential rain with wind gusts of up to 53 mph hit during Tuesdays game, the Marlins retractable roof leaked in six or seven places, which was to be expected given the severity of the storm, team president David Samson said. ... Marlins LHP Andrew Heaney makes his major-league debut Thursday against the New York Mets and RHP Zack Wheeler (2-7, 4.38). ... The Cubs open a series at home Friday when Edwin Jackson (4-7, 5.11) pitches against Pittsburghs Charlie Morton (4-7, 3.09). Air Max 95 For Sale Online . Or, for that matter, the aged. Air Max 95 Cheap Authentic . -- The taxing preseason, which included two games in China, is finally over. http://www.airmax95cheap.com/ . Mats Zuccarello and Derek Stepan scored shootout goals, and backup goalie Cam Talbot earned his second win in two nights as the Rangers shook off a late tying tally and beat the Maple Leafs 2-1 Monday night. Cheap Air Max 95 Wholesale . With Van Osch out with a flu bug that has been rampaging through the tournament, Knezevic stepped in to lead B.C. (4-3) to a pair of victories on Tuesday before 1,131 at the Maurice Richard Arena. Air Max 95 Wholesale China .5 million contract, according to a person familiar with the deal. Hatcher agreed to terms Thursday, according to a person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract had not been signed.MANCHESTER, England - Criticized for picking a perceived weakened lineup against Real Madrid in midweek, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers can justify that controversial selection if his regulars return to hand Chelsea a first Premier League loss of the season on Saturday.Rodgers was accused by some of betraying Liverpools rich European pedigree by dropping his star names for Tuesdays Champions League match in Spain, appearing to show he valued the Chelsea match higher. Liverpool lost 1-0.If the gamble pays off and the likes of rested quartet Steven Gerrard, Raheem Sterling, Jordan Henderson and Mario Balotelli return to inspire Liverpool to victory at Anfield, some of Rodgers critics may fall silent.Chelsea, though, is unbeaten in all competitions, leads the league by four points and has returned from the northwest with draws at Manchester City and Manchester United already this campaign.Liverpool is in seventh place — 12 points behind Chelsea — and showing none of the form that took the team to a second-place finish last season.Here are some other things to watch out for in the Premier League this weekend;___MISERABLE MOURINHOChelsea is undefeated in 14 games this season, top of both its domestic and Champions League standings and has no apparent weaknesses in its squad.You would not know it listening to its manager over the past week.After the 2-1 win over Queens Park Rangers last weekend, a sullen Jose Mourinho said he was not happy with his team and complained about the lack of atmosphere inside Stamford Bridge. Playing here is like playing in an empty stadium, he said.Then after a 1-1 draw with Maribor in the Champions League on Wednesday, Mourinho criticized his players for lacking focus and underestimating opponents.A win at Anfield should cheer up Mourinho, though. After Saturday, Chelsea will have played arguably its three toughest away games at Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool and is sure to be in first place.___CITY CRISISMemories of a Premier League-League Cup double last season are fading fast at Man City.City manager Manuel Pellegrini said Wednesday his team was going through a crisis of confidence after a 2-1 loss to CSKA Moscow in the Champions League left the English champions bottom of the group and unlikely to qualify for the knockout stage.City has also stuttered in the Premier League and is six points behind Chelsea going into Saturdays match at Queens Park Rangers.We must find out why (there is a crisis) by talking to the players every day, Pellegrini said. These players are important players sso I dont understand why they cannot play in the Champions League.ddddddddddddA 1-0 derby win over United on Sunday is the only bright point in a dreadful two weeks that has seen City lose to West Ham in the league, Newcastle in the League Cup and then CSKA in Europe.___DEFENSIVE ISSUESManchester United also has a crisis — in central defence — which is hampering its hopes of bouncing back from its worst 10-game start to a Premier League season with a win at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday.United manager Louis van Gaal is without the injured Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones, the suspended Chris Smalling and also likely Jonny Evans, who hasnt played since Sept. 21 because of injury.United ended the derby with a centre-back combination of central midfielder Michael Carrick and 19-year-old Paddy McNair and could persist with that pairing, although youngster Tyler Blackett could also come into consideration.With 13 points from 10 games, 10th-place United hasnt made such a poor start to a league season since 1986 — when Ron Atkinson was fired and replaced by Alex Ferguson.The 20-time champions will be big favourites against Palace, which has not won in four games.___SUBLIME SANCHEZAfter a slow start, Alexis Sanchez is showing just why Arsenal spent 35 million pounds ($60 million) to buy him from Barcelona this summer.The Chile forward has scored five goals in his last three games, and 11 overall in his debut season at Emirates Stadium.Hes a good leader and something that we havent had in the Arsenal team before, Arsenal winger Theo Walcott said. Hes a dream to play with.With Walcott back after 10 months out with knee-ligament damage and Danny Welbeck settling in quickly after his deadline-day move from Man United, Arsenal is looking a potent attacking force once again, scoring at least two goals in its last five matches.Defensively, the team is suspect, though. Arsenal threw away a 3-0 lead after 60 minutes to draw 3-3 with Anderlecht in the Champions League on Tuesday and is hoping centre back Laurent Koscielny will be fit again for the trip to Swansea on Saturday.Arsenal is fourth in the standings.___ELSEWHERESecond-place Southampton continues to confound the doubters and will go for a fifth straight win in all competitions when it hosts Leicester on Saturday.Also Saturday, fifth-place West Ham is at home to Aston Villa, which has lost six games in a row, and last-place Burnley seeks its first win of the season at home against Hull.On Sunday, its: Sunderland vs. Everton; Tottenham vs. Stoke; and West Bromwich vs. Newcastle. 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