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HOUSTON -- In a tight game against a first-place team, Collin McHugh didnt worry about giving the ball to the Houston Astros bullpen.McHugh combined with four relievers on a two-hitter, rookie Alex Bregman homered and the Astros beat the Chicago Cubs 2-1 Saturday to remain 2 1/2 games back in the race for the ALs second wild card.Theyve all been lights out for about the last year-and-a-half, two years, McHugh said of his bullpen. I feel as confident as anyone giving them the ball with the lead.Marwin Gonzalez drove in a run with a third-inning squeeze bunt for the Astros, who trail Baltimore by 2 1/2 games and Detroit and the New York Yankees by 1 1/2.Bregman put the Astros ahead with an opposite-field home run to right-center against John Lackey (9-8) in a two-run third.Hes been remarkable, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. Weve been playing these playoff-type caliber games for a few weeks now, and hes not showing any signs of this being his first time.After starting 1 for 34 following his July 25 callup, Bregman has eight home runs -- all since Aug. 16. He went 2 for 4 and raised his average to .274 with 31 RBI.Im just trying to square the ball up, Bregman said. Baseball is such a game of ups and downs, and youve just got to stay even through the whole time.McHugh (10-10) won his third straight decision, allowing one run and two hits in five innings. Chris Devenski, Will Harris, Luke Gregerson and Ken Giles combined for hitless relief.Their pitchers were really good today. Give them credit, Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. They were very good at hitting their spots and had good stuff.McHugh spoke with Hinch about the decision on a quick hook.He said, `Hey, were going to do this like a playoff game, and were going to get a win here, the pitcher recalled. And thats exactly what happened.Ken Giles survived a shaky ninth to earn his 10th save. He walked Anthony Rizzo leading off, and pinch-runner Matt Szczur advanced on a wild pitch. Jorge Soler struck out and Szczur crossed to third on Miguel Monteros groundout. Giles then struck out Willson Contreras.Lackey gave up two runs, four hits and three walks in six innings for the NL Central leaders, who are 90-51. He had been 2-0 in four starts since a July 23 loss at Milwaukee.I definitely havent had much luck with the wins and losses this year, Lackey said.Jose Altuve, in an 0-for-12 slide, followed Bregmans homer by reaching on his second bunt single of the season, beating third baseman Kris Bryants throw.Yulieski Gurriel singled him to third, and Gonzalez bunted to third as Altuve scored.Two bunts, Lackey said, youd like for that not to cause you a game.Contreras fourth-inning sacrifice fly scored Soler, who beat the offline throw from right fielder George Springer.Houston could have extended the lead in the seventh, but Springer was thrown out at the plate by when he tried to score from first on Bregmans bloop single to right center.Right fielder Jason Heyward threw to shortstop Javier Baez, who relayed to Contreras for the tag. The call by plate umpire Mark Carlson was upheld in a video review.Im always confident that he is going to score from first base, Bregman said. I saw the bobble and thought there was a chance. It was worth taking a shot right there.PEACOCK GETS NODHouston plans to starts RHPs Doug Fister, Brad Peacock and Joe Musgrove in next weeks series against Texas.Peacock was recalled from Triple-A Fresno on Tuesday alongside RHP David Paulino, who lost to Cleveland in his major league debut Thursday.I think Peacock gives us the best chance to get into the game with a little more ease, Hinch said. His pitch repertoire is a little more suited and an advantage over the Rangers over Paulino.DELAYThe game was delayed several minutes between the second and third innings because of a medical emergency involving a fan in the stands near the Houston bench. First responders could be seen tending to the fan, and the Astros said the fan was taken to a hospital.TRAINERS ROOMAstros: SS Carlos Correa missed his fourth straight game with inflammation in his left shoulder and remains day to day. Hinch said Correa continued to experience soreness, and that the early start time following a night game didnt allow proper time for prep work. Every time we want to put him in there were going to risk the next three or four days, Hinch said. So we have to be very strategic about we map this out. ... Hinch said the team believes Altuve is battling a 24-hour stomach illness and the infielder told him after the game he would be good to play Sunday. Altuve vomited several times before and during the game, Hinch said. ... Altuve, bothered by a stomach ailment, was replaced in the eighth by Tony Kemp.UP NEXTRHP Mike Fiers (10-6) looks to improve to 4-1 in his career against the Cubs when he starts Sundays series finale. Chicago starts RHP Jake Arrieta (16-6), who is 10-2 in 13 road starts this season. He will face Houston for the first time. Air Jordan Cheap Wholesale . Darren Helm scored on Detroits sixth attempt in the shootout and then Jonas Gustavsson stopped Andrew Shaws shot, lifting the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night. Air Jordan Canada Sale . - Connor McDavid scored 53 seconds into overtime as the Erie Otters came from behind to defeat the visiting Guelph Storm 4-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. http://www.canadaairjordan.com/ . Aside from the trilogy main event title fight, there are a number of intriguing matchups in the heavyweight, welterweight and lightweight divisions. Air Jordan Canada Online . Kyle Denbrook, a soccer player from Saint Marys University, took the CIS male athlete of the week honour. Stanley, a fourth-year business administration student from Charlottetown, scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Dalhousie on Friday and tallied again in a 1-0 win over Saint Marys on Sunday. Cheap Jordan Shoes Sale . But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle. LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- If quarterback Brian Hoyer continues producing as he did Sunday for the Chicago Bears, Jay Cutler could find regaining his starting spot is no mere formality.Bears coach John Fox didnt want to speculate Monday on how much longer Cutler would be out with a sprained thumb after calling it a significant injury, but did say the starting quarterback position is like any other.I think its performance-based, Fox said. So anybody thats performing well, I dont think were going to be likely to change.Hoyer, an eight-year veteran, threw for 302 yards on 28 of 36 with two touchdowns and no interceptions in Sundays 17-14 victory over the Detroit Lions.Hoyer has yet to throw an interception in three Bears appearances, and is 67 of 97 with a passer rating of 103.3.Cutler had a 75.7 passer rating and completed 28 of 46 passes for a touchdown and two interceptions. Cutlers two starts came against Philadelphia and Houston while Hoyer faced Dallas and Detroit.When Cutler is healthy enough to return, Fox said evaluation of the spot will begin. At least until then, Hoyer is still the starting quarterback.I think well evaluate it just like we do every position on the football team, Fox said. I think Jay has played a lot of good football.In fact in the (film) cut-ups watching Detroit in last years two games I thought he played pretty well. Well evaluate it like everything. Right now I dont like getting into speculation and predictions because well know more on Wednesday.The Bears are 1/3 after ending a six-game home losing streak and go to Indianapolis on Sunday.Hoyer was particularly adept at moving and throwing against the Lions. The Bears used a moving pocket or passes off bootlegs to keep Detroits pass rush off balance.I think we kind of were starting to do more of that anyway, just because we had some (pass) protection issues, and I think any time you can get the quarterback on a different spot is important in football, Fox said. So its just something we kind of put in the system.Another thing Hoyer did well was distribute the ball to different receivers after Alshon Jeffery had been the chief target opponents sought to stop.Three Bears caughht four or more passes and Eddie Royal took a pass over the middle 64 yards to set up a score.ddddddddddddIt makes the defense so that they cant key on one guy, Royal said. They all know how good Alshon is. And when were spreading the ball around hopefully it will take away some double coverage from him.It didnt hurt Hoyer to be able to lean on a running attack that featured a back Fox said reminded him of former Carolina running back Stephen Davis.Rookie Jordan Howard ran for 111 yards on 23 carries in his first start. He had been sharing time as the third back behind Jeremy Langford and KaDeem Carey, who were injured.Just being the main guy, you know you can be comfortable and relaxed, sort of, Howard said. You dont have to worry about being pulled very fast, so you can definitely get into a rhythm.Fox said he thought Howard tired out Detroits defense, and the rookie wouldnt disagree.I felt like they were getting worn down as the game went on, Howard said. I definitely try to make the defense not want to tackle me toward the end of the game. So I try to bring everything I have on each run.Langford is out with a sprained ankle and Carey with a hamstring pull. So its likely Davis will continue to get work.Hes got good feet, Fox said. Hes got good vision. I think his hands are better than I think we thought, even when we drafted him.He does have an even-keel demeanor. Hes not going to go real high. Hes not going to go real low. But hes a very instinctive football player.Fox was also encouraged by another young player, wide receiver Kevin White.However, White had to have an MRI after suffering an ankle injury in the game and the team will know the extent of the injury later in the week.White had six catches for 55 yards against Detroit.I thought it was by far his best game, Fox said. I think he was real aggressive. I think he caught some contesed balls.I think after the catch he was aggressive to get extra yards. I thought it was his best performance.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '