Stars und Sternchen! » fter a flat 2013 campaign, there are

PITTSBURGH -- Andrew McCutchen made a "minor" adjustment in the batters box a couple weeks ago hoping to give him a fraction of a second longer to see whats coming. Consider the experiment a success. McCutchen hit his eighth homer and drove in three runs to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 6-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Monday night. "When I get the barrel to it, good things happen," McCutchen said. "Thats basically what Im doing." McCutchen drove a two-run shot to right field in the third inning then added an RBI-double in the fifth off Edwin Jackson (4-6) as the Pirates bounced back from two tough losses to Milwaukee over the weekend in which they left a combined 18 runners on base. There were no such problems while sending Jackson to his fourth loss in his last five decisions. "I got to do a better job of mixing up instead of getting beat with same pitch twice," Jackson said. "I let the guy whos the threat on the team beat me twice and you cant do that." Charlie Morton (3-7) allowed one run over seven innings to win for the third time in his last four starts after beginning the season 0-6. Ike Davis hit his fifth homer of the season while Starling Marte broke out of a lengthy slump with three hits. Starlin Castro went 3 for 4 with his eighth home run and two RBIs for the Cubs, who fell to 10-22 on the road, the worst mark in all of baseball. "We try to figure out what it is but we havent figured it out yet," Castro said. "You go back and see those games we play good at home and we should be playing that way on the road but were not." It wasnt exactly the best way to start a 10-game road swing for Chicago, which was coming off a successful 5-1 homestand that included the teams longest winning streak in more than a year. Any momentum generated at Wrigley Field vanished on a night Morton avoided the control problems that have plagued him much of the season. The right-hander came in with a major-league high 13 hit batters while averaging nearly 2.5 walks per start. Maybe it was the extra day of rest he asked for after feeling tired following a win over San Diego last week, but Mortons wildness vanished for seven innings at least. He didnt walk a batter, struck out a season-high seven and needed just 82 pitches to get 21 outs. "I dont think it was great control but I got some quick outs, that helps," Morton said. "Not so many deep counts. Not as erratic, my misses were more in the zone and I got away with them." The Cubs needed a grounder deflecting off the glove of shortstop Jordy Mercer to extend the sixth inning before finally scoring on Castros long double to right. All the run did was draw Chicago within 4-1, with most of the damage done by the reigning NL MVP. Marte, who began the night 0 for his last 23, doubled home Pedro Alvarez to give the Pirates the lead in the first. McCutchen pushed it to 3-0 in the third when he patiently waited as Jackson worked him away before reaching out and sending a pitch into the first row of seats in right for his fourth homer this month. McCutchen nearly did it again two innings later, lacing a double off the wall in right to score Travis Snider and give Morton all the cushion he would need. Bothered by some bad luck early in the season, Morton lowered his ERA to 3.14. NOTES: Pittsburgh 2B Neil Walker was scratched about an hour before the first pitch with abdominal pain and underwent an emergency appendectomy. The team placed Walker on the DL after the game and called up highly touted prospect OF Gregory Polanco from Triple-A Indianapolis. Polanco hit .347 with seven home runs in the minors this spring. ... Pirates RHP Gerrit Cole threw 25 soft-toss pitches on flat ground before the game. Cole, who leads the Pirates with six victories, was placed on the DL on Sunday with what the team is calling right shoulder fatigue. ... Chicago RF Ryan Sweeney made a rehab start for Class A Kane County on Monday night. Sweeney went on the DL May 3 with a right hamstring strain. ... The series continues Tuesday. Travis Wood (5-5, 5.04 ERA) starts for the Cubs against Francisco Liriano (1-6, 4.54). Wood is 2-4 with an 8.04 ERA on the road this season. Deonte Thompson Cowboys Jersey . Following the Ford Womens World Curling Championship gold medal match that attracted record-breaking audiences to TSN, the networks exclusive live coverage of the tournament begins Saturday at 7am et/4am pt with Canadas opening draw against Denmark. Jamize Olawale Cowboys Jersey . Dallas (2-0-1) sits atop the Western Conference with an MLS-best seven points. Castillo opened the scoring in the 71st minute off a Mauro Diaz set piece, and Watson outran defender Tony Lochhead on a long ball and then juked goalkeeper Ian Kennedy for the eventual game-winner in the 78th minute. http://www.cowboysrookieshop.com/Mike-White-Cowboys-Jersey/ . CHAUNCEY BILLUPS (Pistons): Yes they got Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings in the off-season and Andre Drummond is a beast (teams are kicking themselves for passing on him - he rebounds and block shots every game - thats two more discernable and significant skills than most guys in his draft class), but dont for a second discount the impact of having a savvy veteran like Billups on your team. Chidobe Awuzie Jersey . -- Pinch-runner Rajai Daviss decision to steal third base just as Oakland catcher Derek Norris was throwing the ball back to the pitcher caught most everyone by surprise -- including several of his Detroit teammates. Mike White Cowboys Jersey . - Dolphins safety Louis Delmas has been carted off the field with a right knee injury against the Ravens.There is no shortage of possible contenders this week as the Masters gets underway. Here are a few to keep your eye on and possibly include in your pool. Rory McIlroyDespite blowing up on the final nine in 2011, McIlroy showed he has the game to play at Augusta National. And, after a flat 2013 campaign, there are signs of life in his game this year that include a win in Australia at the end of last year and three top-10 finishes in five PGA Tour starts this year. Phil MickelsonNot many golfers have as impressive a record at Augusta National as Phil Mickelson who has only missed the top 10 three times since 1999. However one of those was last year and he also pulled an oblique muscle two weeks ago which forced him to withdraw from the Texas Open. The reigning British Open champion has won five majors in the last 10 years. Dustin JohnsonSupremely talented and enjoying a good season, Wayne Gretzkys future son-in-laws best finish at Augusta National is a tie for 13th, which came last year. This year, hes ranked second in Driving Distance and third in Greens In Regulation, and no one has made more birdies this year than DJ. Hes also a very good putter which will likely be his make-or-break club this week. Graeme McDowellAlthough hes missed the cut three of the last four times, McDowell has five top-10 finishes in his six starts this year and is leading the Strokes Gained – Putting category. Good putters do well at Augusta National and McDowell also knows how to play under pressure. And what Northern Irishman doesnt look good in green? Jason DayHes finished in the top three here in two of the last three years and is the fourth-ranked golfer in the world. Hes pronounced himself healthy from the thumb injury he sustained a few weeks back and he has a win already this year.ddddddddddddIf his putting stays sharp, he will have a chance to follow in the footsteps of compatriot Adam Scott. Graeme DeLaetAs we all know, first-timers havent fared well around here of late, but with more than a quarter of the field made up of those on their maiden voyage at the Masters, the odds have never been better. DeLaet has a game well-suited for Augusta National and hes arrived feeling healthy and excited, and playing some excellent golf. He wont have any trouble getting the ball to the green but its what happens once hes on those putting surfaces that will determine how he fares. Sergio GarciaAfter coming off this course and proclaiming that he would never win a major championship, Garcia has quietly become a legitimate pick around here again, thanks in large part to his improved putting. He seems to be an older, wiser player these days playing a much calmer game. However, a little of his old fire and passion wouldnt hurt him here this week. Adam ScottIts tough for a champion to defend at any major. Theres always so much attention and so many extra duties that throw the winner out of their regular routine. But Adam Scott seems prepared for that and has used his energy wisely this week. Still, theres probably a good reason why only three champs have ever followed up their victory with another win. Matt KucharHas anyone been more consistent this year than Matt Kuchar? Yes, he missed glorious opportunities to win the last couple of tournaments but the fact he was in the hunt speaks volumes about where his game is at. He has top-10 finishes both of the last two years around here and has played as well as anyone in the majors since 2010. He is due. 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