Wichtig » past seasons, but the nature of those meetings

PHOENIX -- Chris Rusin has been the Chicago Cubs go-to pitcher after they make a major trade. For the second time this season, Rusin was called up from the minors after the Cubs dealt a pitcher, and helped lead the Cubs to a 4-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night. This time, Rusin replaced Matt Garza, who was traded to the Texas Rangers earlier Monday. When Scott Feldman was dealt to Baltimore earlier this month, Rusin stepped in, but did not receive a decision in an eventual 8-7 loss to Oakland. With the trade of Garza, Rusin (1-0) again received the call to start and held the Diamondbacks scoreless until the sixth inning to pick up his first win of the season. "You just have to step up when they call you and be ready anytime," Rusin said. "I was ready for the opportunity and I was able to throw strikes and help our team win." Effective from the start, Rusin, who was 8-7 at Triple A Iowa, retired the first seven hitters in order. With one out in the third, Didi Gregorius slapped a single to right but was stranded when Tyler Skaggs struck out and A.J. Pollock fouled out to the catcher. Through the first five innings, Rusin allowed two baserunners. "I wasnt really pleased with my fastball command, but I guess I was effectively wild," Rusin said. "The things that got me through the five innings were getting my second pitch for strikes. I was able to throw my offspeed for strikes, which got me back into counts and be able to get weak contact and got me through the five innings." Rusin walked Cody Ross with one out in the fifth, but Ross was doubled up when right fielder Cole Gillespie grabbed Gerardo Parras sinking liner and fired to first baseman Anthony Rizzo for the double play. Rusin pitched into the sixth and left with runners on first and second and no outs. In that inning, the Diamondbacks managed to score both runners. First, Martin Prados sacrifice fly scored Gregorius, and Paul Goldschmidt drove in his 79th run of the season with an infield single. The Diamondbacks had an opportunity to take the lead, but could not capitalize in the seventh as pinch-hitter Eric Chavez flied to centre field with the bases loaded and two outs. In the eighth and with the tying run at third with two outs, Miguel Montero struck out to end that threat. "Well get over this," Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said. "Right now, things are not going out way, but the guys are hustling." Arizonas offence has struggled during its last five games, scoring just nine runs in that span. In the loss Monday night, the Diamondbacks managed six hits against six Chicago pitchers. They are hitting .194 in their last 10 games, and just .143 with runners in scoring position over their last seven games. "Everyone is trying their best, but in this game, you fail more than you succeed," said Gregorius, who was 3 for 3 with a walk and run scored. "Look, well come back tomorrow and find a way to get it done." Earlier, plate umpire Doug Eddings made sure things did not get out of control. With a history of Arizona suspensions this season for hit batters, Eddings directly addressed the issue in the Cubs half of the fourth inning. With two outs, Skaggs hit Navarro on the right knee with a pitch. Immediately after Navarro was hit, Eddings pointed to Skaggs and then pointed to both the Diamondbacks and Cubs dugouts. While Navarro was examined by Cubs trainer P.J. Mainville, Eddings went to mound and spoke directly with Skaggs. NOTES: To make room on the roster for Skaggs, the Diamondbacks sent lefty Eury De La Rosa to Triple-A Reno. ... Rusins previous appearance against the D-backs was a 7-2 win at Arizona last Sept. 30. ... Lake went 4 for 5, and is 9 for 17 since being recalled from Triple-A Iowa last Friday.Zack Steffen Jersey . The Islanders dealt Thomas Vanek to the Montreal Canadiens after less than a year on Long Island. Meanwhile, the Oilers dealt long-time sniper Ales hemsky to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday for a fifth-round pick in 2014 and a third-rounder in 2015. Graham Zusi Jersey .875,000, avoiding arbitration. Clippards deal Monday means all eight Nationals players who filed for arbitration wound up settling before a hearing. http://www.soccerusateamonline.com/Weston-McKennie-America-Jersey/ . "Theyve both been real good," said Babcock. "Havent changed our minds." A decision has seemingly been made - Sundays Group B-deciding tilt against Finland ahead - but it could not have been an easy one. Price opened the tournament with a sturdy 19-save performance against the Norwegians, yielding just one goal. Aaron Long USA Jersey . Pettersen, winner of last years Evian Championships, had nine birdies and three bogeys, holding off a series of challengers led by Marion Ricordeau of France. The second-ranked Norwegian made her season debut after missing the LPGA Tours opening event last month in the Bahamas because of a shoulder injury. DeAndre Yedlin Jersey . Hazard cut in from the left and scored with a swerving right-footed shot for ninth goal of the season, which proved to be enough for the victory despite Chelseas forwards again lacking a cutting edge up front.A fall from a preseason No. 10 ranking to a 2-5 start has left Notre Dame with a sour taste in its mouth, but athletic director Jack Swarbrick made it clear this week that Brian Kelly will not be coaching for his job once the Fighting Irish resume play out of this weekends bye.Brian will lead this team out of the tunnel opening day next year, Swarbrick told ESPN.com.Kelly has drawn criticisms in the media and from select former players for his sideline behavior and postgame news conference demeanor, in addition to his handling of the Irishs quarterback situation and his playcalling during a hurricane in a loss at NC State. Current Irish players took turns defending their coach last week, saying the tough public love masked more intimate personal dealings behind the scenes.Such player-coach relationships are what have Swarbrick encouraged, though he is aware of the public perception surrounding Kelly this season and wants to do a better job of managing that.I guess Id say I wish the perception matched the reality a little better, Swarbrick said. I understand the perception, but weve got to work to alter that perception because it creates noise and gets in the way. But the reality couldnt be further from it. Im not going to reveal the nature of the postgame discussion between Brian and the team after Stanford [a loss on Saturday], but that was a discussion between a coach and a team who really care about each other and have a great relationship, and thats what I get to see every day. What we have to do is try to avoid the situation, which creates a different perception because that perception doesnt reflect the reality. We have to figure out how to be better at it.Kelly has a 57-28 record in his seven years as Notre Dames head coach, and he signed a six-year extension in January that will take him through the 2021 season. He fired his defensive coordinator, Brian VanGorder, after a 1-3 start this season, which has paid dividends on that side of the ball.With former analyst Greg Hudson now in charge of the defense the past three games, the unit has gone from 103rd nationally to 64th in total defense, from 101st to 67th in scoring defense andd from 104th to 56th in yards per play, though the Irish are just 1-2 during that time.ddddddddddddJust as I wouldnt single out any individual player, its unrealistic to say: Oh, the result of this lays solely at the feet of the head coach, Swarbrick said of the overall struggles this season. I bear responsibility. Im ultimately responsible for our performance, so all of us are in this together. But I can tell you I continue to have complete confidence in Brian. I think you really see what youve got in a coach with how they manage times like this, and I think he has done a great job of it.?His focus has been really laser sharp, his relationship with this team is probably as strong as any that Ive seen with him at Notre Dame, and those are all positives. Neither of us are satisfied with 2-5, but Im at most of the practices. Im at training table. I have an office at the Gug [football complex] in addition to my other office. I get to see the program day in and day out and I continue to have great confidence in Brian and confidence in our future as a program.Swarbrick said he has spent more time with Kelly this season than in past seasons, but the nature of those meetings are targeted on narrow issues that they hope can help put the players in better positions to get over the hump in a season that has seen all five Notre Dame losses come by eight points or fewer.As Notre Dame readies to host Miami out of its bye on Oct. 29, Swarbrick says he sees no cracks in the foundation, morale or chemistry of the Irish.Everybody associated with the program is disappointed -- the players, first and foremost, the coaching staff, me -- because we want to do better, we know we can do better, so theres great disappointment, Swarbrick said. Having said that, this is a pretty remarkable team in terms of its togetherness and its resiliency. They still come to every practice energized and focused. And as Brian has said repeatedly, they do everything we ask. They give us everything. So from that perspective, we want a different result. ' ' '