CHICAGO -- Cubs manager Joe Maddons decision to lift a dominant Jason Hammel for a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning looked dubious when Miguel Montero struck out and Pedro Strop got into trouble in the seventh.All it took was a big play in the outfield and some 104 mph heat from Aroldis Chapman to give Maddon and the Cubs another win.Hammel threw six scoreless innings, Dexter Fowler had three hits and Chicago beat Miami ace Jose Fernandez and the Marlins 3-2 on Tuesday night for its third straight victory.Today I was a one-pitch pitcher, said Hammel, who allowed four hits and set a career high for wins in a season. I didnt really have a feel for any of the breaking pitches, curveball and the slider, and I didnt throw any changeups. The fastball played well today.Hammel (11-5) extended Chicagos scoreless streak to 24 innings before Strops shaky seventh. Aroldis Chapman hit 104.4 mph on the radar gun in a perfect ninth as the Cubs won for the sixth time in seven games and opened a nine-game lead over St. Louis in the NL Central.Were playing really good baseball, Maddon said.Hammel threw 80 pitches before being lifted for a pinch-hitter with the Cubs up 3-0, a move Maddon calls a National League moment. But Montero struck out with two on.We took a shot, it didnt play, Maddon said.Fernandez (12-6) allowed three runs and eight hits over six innings, losing consecutive starts for the first time since his 2013 rookie season.This may sound funny, but I felt strong today, Fernandez said. I was making good pitches. This is a good team.Fowler was his nemesis. He led off the first with a triple and scored on catcher Willson Contreras single. Batting Contreras second worked for Maddon, as Fowler and Contreras had consecutive hits again in the third to produce another run.He was involved in almost everything tonight, Maddon said of Fowler.The center fielder added an RBI single in the fifth off Fernandez, who fanned eight and took over the major league lead with 192 strikeouts.Adeiny Hechavarria and J.T. Realmuto each hit an RBI single in the seventh off Strop, who also committed a throwing error. Travis Wood replaced him and Chris Coghlans diving catch of Christian Yelichs looping liner to left field with two on ended the threat.Former Cubs closer Hector Rondon picked off pinch-runner Dee Gordon from first in a scoreless eighth.Then Chapman entered and used his blazing fastball to strike out one and earn his second save in three tries since being acquired from the Yankees.Its coming out hot, but its easy when you have that kind of guy throwing a fastball straight, Contreras said. Its harder when you have 97 (mph) with sink. But I mean, its unbelievable.ICHIRO UPDATEIchiro Suzuki struck out pinch-hitting for Fernandez in the seventh, leaving him at 2,998 hits. Suzuki is expected to start Wednesdays series finale against RHP John Lackey. Suzukis 37 hits against Lackey are his most off any pitcher.TRAINERS ROOMMarlins: 1B Justin Bour (ankle) went 0 for 3 for Triple-A New Orleans was expected to play one more minor league rehab game Wednesday before returning Friday at Colorado.Cubs: Second-year slugger Kris Bryant wasnt in the lineup. It didnt matter who was pitching today as long as he was right-handed, Maddon said. I wanted to give him the day off.IDEAL TRADENot only did new Cubs reliever Joe Smith go from the struggling Los Angeles Angels to a contender, hes now just a short flight or 4 1/2-hour drive from his ailing mother in Cincinnati. Lee Smith, 56, is battling Huntingtons disease, an inherited, fatal disorder that causes cognitive and physical impairment.Its nice, Joe Smith said. Traveling is hard and those flights take a lot out of her.RHP Spencer Patton was optioned to Triple-A Iowa to make room for Smith, acquired Monday.PHELPS ON FRIDAYMarlins manager Don Mattingly said RHP David Phelps will move into the rotation and start Friday against the Rockies. Hell replace RHP Colin Rea, who was traded back to San Diego on Monday.UP NEXTMarlins RHP Tom Koehler (8-8, 4.18 ERA) returns from a pectoral injury and faces Lackey (8-7, 3.69) to close the season series. Cheap Authentic Jordans . -- The plastic that was taped across the lockers in Oaklands clubhouse came down and the champagne that was on ice went back into the cooler. Cheap Jordan Shoes From China .Y. -- Paul Byron and Matt Stajan scored as the Calgary Flames started a five-game road trip with a 2-1 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday afternoon. http://www.wholesaleairjordan.us/ .ca. 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What was their most memorable moment in Williamsport? What was the most fun they had off the field?Here, in their own words -- and native language -- is what that once-in-a-lifetime experience of being a Little Leaguer on a really big stage is like:My favorite super hero is the Flash because I run really fast and I want to be like him! -- Fabian Alejandro Mar, 13, of San Nicolas, MexicoThe positions I play are outfielder, third base, second and pitcher. I got those positions because Im fast and I can play anywhere ... The most fun Ive had [here] is playing Ping-Pong with other teams ... South Korea, Japan and Panama. -- RJ Moore, 12, of Goodlettsville, TennesseeMy favorite superhero is Superman. After we got off the plane, when we saw the dormitories and grounds in Williamsport, that is my best moment. -- Junseo Cho, 13, of Seoul, South KoreaMost fun moment was when we hit a home run to go up two runs on [South] Korea. -- Manuel Cruz, 12, of Aguadulce, PanamaThey (players from other countries) have a bigger bodies than [our team] ... like stronger muscle. That is what I will remember. -- Akira Jozawa,13, of Tokyo, JapanThere are three separate travel or tournament teams that we play on. For All-Stars we all come together to play as one team and we do really good. ... Were all really good friends. I think the crowd kept us motivated and wanting to play a lot harder. -- Tyler Moore, 13, of Johnston, IowaFor the first time I was very nervous, but later on I enjoyed the games and got relaxed.dddddddddddd My memorable moment is when I hit a double off the wall. -- Milton Gonzalez, 12, of San Nicolas, MexicoWalking out with all those people, Ive never done it before. So it was, like, amazing because the crowd was, like, roaring and the stadium was, like, shaking. You just knew how many people were supporting you during the game and how many people were behind our backs. -- Jude Abbadessa, 13, of Endwell, New YorkMy most memorable moment was when I first got here and saw the whole Little League Complex -- Abel DeLeon, 12, of Aguadulce, PanamaSome of the players from the Caribbean team were awesome. They were so much fun. Im going to remember them for a while. -- Sam Hennis, 12, of Johnston, IowaJapan is very different. There are different cars and the streets are bigger than [in] Japan. We played with Canada, and they have a tall and nice pitcher. That is what I will remember. -- Shotoku Sato,12, of Tokyo, JapanWhen I got to Williamsport and I saw it, I was nervous from all the fans. After the first game it kind of wore off. -- Carson Rucker, 12, of Goodlettsville, TennesseeAt first we were very surprised at the crowd and very nervous on grounds like this. But when we lost to Panama, that was the best and worst moment at the same time. -- Junhyeok Lee, 13, of Seoul, South KoreaIts like a once-in-a-lifetime experience basically, being in the Little League World Series. I dont even know how many people are there, and were playing baseball and doing really good. So, after we won I can hear them all screaming and stuff. It just felt ... awesome. Its sweet. -- Brody Raleigh, 12, of Endwell, New York ' ' '
