largely unproven

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Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon is running out of superlatives for All-Star slugger Javier Baez.

”Wow. That was a nice performance Andrei Svechnikov Jersey ,” Maddon said after Baez – who almost was scratched because he didn’t feel well – hit a three-run home run and had five RBIs to highlight the NL Central-leading Cubs’ 11-6 victory over the San Diego Padres on Saturday night. Kyle Schwarber and Ian Happ also went deep.

Baez, voted to start at second base in his first All-Star Game, hit a no-doubt shot to right-center field off Phil Hughes in the ninth inning, and the thousands of Cubs fans at Petco Park chanted ”Javy! Javy! Javy!” as the 25-year-old from Puerto Rico rounded the bases. It was his 19th.

”I like the way he’s going about his business,” Maddon said. ”He’s playing the game right, playing the game hard, playing the game smartly, he’s just playing the game of baseball. I don’t think he has an analytical bone in his body. RBIs are groovy, despite what people say. His baserunning skills, acumen, he’s a baseball player. He’s absolutely fun to watch.”

Baez has 71 RBIs, tied for the NL lead and just four shy of his career-high set last year.

Maddon said he spoke with Baez recently about using the whole field.

”While I’m talking to him about different things, I’m very careful because I don’t want to mess with his vibe. He rotates and he beats to a different soundtrack, man. He’s just different. So when I speak to him, I try to simplify it and not give him a whole lot to think about, but just try to encourage thought on his part.”

Baez, who sounded congested, said he had a headache earlier in the day and his whole body hurt when he hit in the cage pregame. But he took some medicine and played.

”I told them I was going to get better during the game and I feel better,” he said.

Baez went opposite-field on his home run on a pitch from Hughes that just above the top of the strike zone.

”I hit it really good but kind of missed it a little bit and it went straight up. I didn’t think it was going out. But we had men on first and third and either it was going to score a run.”

There’s a good reason why Baez is so hot.

”This year I’ve been consistent with my work Authentic Logan Cooke Jersey , with my routine, being here early,” he said. ”I’m the type of guy that I like to take my time during my routine, so I like to get here early and there are already a few people here. Working is the thing that is getting me here and doing some good this first half.”

Maddon recently likened Baez to one of the Beatles because of his growing star power. The manager thought Baez would look like George Harrison or Ringo Starr if he grew out his hair.

Asked if he’d decided which one, Maddon said: ”Maybe all of them, right?”

Baez and Schwarber will be in Monday’s Home Run Derby in Washington.

”That’s a little taste of what you’ll be getting for the Derby,” Schwarber said of Baez’s homer.

Kyle Hendricks (6-8) won for the first time in five starts, holding San Diego to two runs and five hits in five innings, with three strikeouts and no walks. He allowed Eric Hosmer’s two-run homer in the first, his 10th.

That lead was gone by the fourth. Happ homered to center field off Luis Perdomo (1-4) leading off the second, his 11th. Schwarber homered to left on a line shot after Happ walked opening the fourth. It was Schwarber’s 18th.

Baez gave the Cubs a 5-2 lead with a two-run double in the fifth that chased Perdomo. Jason Heyward was aboard on a double after the initial call that he was tagged out was overturned on video review.

Hunter Renfroe hit a pinch, two-run homer for the Padres in the sixth, his sixth, to pull the Padres within one.

But the Cubs added on in the eighth on Addison Russell’s two-run single to right and Victor Caratini’s two-run double just inside the right-field line.

Hosmer, San Diego’s $144 million man, has struggled recently.

”I think we’re thrilled to see it, and expect more as the second half unfolds for us,” manager Andy Green said of Hosmer’s homer. ”He’s doing everything right, just hasn’t had any results.”

FRIAR FASHION

Count Cubs manager Joe Maddon as a fan of the Padres’ brown jerseys Browns Denzel Ward Jersey , which San Diego wears only for Friday night home games. ”I love those. I think they’re the best uniform ever. Awesome, awesome. That uniform last night, you can’t beat that. They’re the best. I love them,” Maddon said.

The throwback unis are a nod to the mustard-and-mud color scheme of the 1980s. The Padres could go back to the brown, but not before 2020.

UP NEXT

Cubs: LHP Jon Lester (11-2, 2.45) is scheduled to start the series finale, which will cost him his spot on the All-Star active roster. The Cubs have won his last eight starts and are 15-3 in his 18 starts.

Padres: Rookie LHP Eric Lauer (5-5, 4.50) will try to replicate his brilliant performance from Tuesday night, when he fell one out shy of his first complete game in a 4-1 victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He allowed one run and four hits while striking out eight.

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The New Orleans Saints moved decisively to ramp up their pass rush in the NFL draft with a trade that indicates how close they believe they are to contending for a Super Bowl now.

The Saints selected Texas-San Antonio defensive end Marcus Davenport 14th overall on Thursday night after a trade that sent Green Bay this year's 27th and 147th overall picks, along with next year's first rounder.

The 6-foot-6, 265-pound Davenport fills what coach Sean Payton termed an offseason "must."

"One of the offseason targets was a pressure player. We have to feel like he can affect the quarterback," Payton said. "In our league, there's a premium on a few different position and one of them is that."

Davenport was the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year for UTSA last season after making 8 陆 sacks and 17 陆 tackles for loss. He was credited with eight quarterback hurries, forced three fumbles, had a fumble recovery and batted four passes.

"Batted passes would tell me he's someone instinctive," Payton said. "I know length is important in that, but (also his ability to) rush with vision and anticipate a ball being thrown.

"You see disruption when you see him play 鈥?a lot."

Payton said Davenport not only had the physical attributes the Saints sought in a defensive end, but also struck them as someone who was bright, mature and had a good work ethic. The coach also described Davenport as someone whose personality was "unremarkable 鈥?in a good way."

"There's a passion you feel like http://www.saintsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-natrell-jamerson-jersey , when you're around him, about the game and we're searching for people that are in the passion business," Payton said.

Davenport, who is from San Antonio and attended the draft in Dallas, spoke with New Orleans media on a conference call. He described his approach to football as "prideful," and his personality and "calm" and "methodical."

Still, Davenport said he was struggling to believe he'd been drafted as high as he was. He said he was pleased to be moving to New Orleans, where his father grew up and which remains home to many relatives. His college coach, Frank Wilson, also hails from New Orleans.

"It was just a surreal moment," Davenport said, adding that he "didn't know at all" that New Orleans had him in mind when he first saw the Saints had traded up to 14th.

He said his father shouted and began to cry when New Orleans called his name.

"It's a great feeling, but it just means now I've got to get to work."

New Orleans' pass rush improved in 2017, largely because defensive end Cameron Jordan turned in his first All-Pro season, highlighted by his 13 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, 28 quarterback hits, 11 batted passes and an interception for a touchdown. In order to get more out of Jordan, New Orleans needs to make opposing offenses pay for throwing too many blockers at him.

Alex Okafor Brandon Parker Color Rush Jersey , who started at the defensive end spot opposite Jordan in 2017, was having a solid season until he tore his Achilles. He will be back, but the success of his rehabilitation from such a significant injury remains to be seen. Defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who'll be in his second NFL season, showed promise as a rookie, but was limited by injuries much of the season and remains largely unproven.

The Saints ranked 17th in the NFL in defense last season, giving up 336.5 yards per game. Their offense, by contrast, ranked second.

Davenport, 21, played four seasons at UTSA and became a starter his sophomore season. But his draft stock improved considerably during his senior season, after which he became the first UTSA Roadrunner to be invited to the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, and the second to participate in the NFL scouting combine.

Now he'll join a franchise that has its sights set on Super Bowl contention after falling just seconds short of advancing to last season's NFL championship game.

"I want to shoot big. I want a Super Bowl," Davenport said. "I just want to be able to be an impact player."

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