August 21, 2017

Daily Herald, Chicago Cubs win with wild finish http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170820/chicago-cubs-win-with-wild-finish

Daily Herald, Another American Legion Week success for Chicago Cubs http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170820/another-american-legion-week-success-for-chicago-cubs

Cubs.com, Cubs rally for 3 in 10th to walk off with sweep http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/249598332/cubs-walk-off-in-10th-to-sweep-blue-jays/

Cubs.com, Baez's hustle after strikeout key in wild 10th http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/249690350/javier-baez-whiffs-reaches-after-late-throw/

Cubs.com, Rene glad to play for grandfather's favorite club http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/249590718/catcher-rene-rivera-makes-cubs-debut/

Cubs.com, Lackey to start as Cubs eye 4th straight win http://atmlb.com/2wwSGUj

ESPNChicago.com, Alex Avila's walk-off is the type of break the Cubs need to keep catching http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/45448/alex-avilas-redemptive-walk-off-is-the-type-of-break-the-cubs-need

CSNChicago.com, Stop asking if the Cubs are back, they need to make their own momentum — like they did Sunday http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/stop-asking-if-cubs-are-back-they-need-make-their-own-momentum-they-did-sunday

CSNChicago.com, Welcome to Chicago: Rene Rivera thrown into the fire on his first day in Cubs' pennant race http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/welcome-chicago-rene-rivera-thrown-fire-his-first-day-cubs-pennant-race

Chicago Tribune, Alex Avila, Javier Baez key Cubs' rally, finish off sweep of Blue Jays http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-blue-jays-spt-0821-20170820-story.html#nt=oft03a-1la1

Chicago Tribune, Oh, Canada: Blue Jays fans contribute to memorable weekend at Wrigley http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-canadians-invade-wrigley-field-sullivan-spt-0821-20170820-column.html#nt=simple-embed

Chicago Tribune, Booing of former Cub Miguel Montero bothers Kyle Hendricks http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-booing-miguel-montero-bothers-kyle-hendricks-20170820-column.html

Chicago Tribune, Kyle Hendricks impressed with new Cubs catcher Rene Rivera http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-rene-rivera-kyle-hendricks-notes-spt-0821-20170820-story.html

Chicago Sun-Times, Watch out, world: Cubs believe they’re rounding into championship form http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/watch-out-world-cubs-believe-theyre-rounding-into-championship-form/

Chicago Sun-Times, Miguel Montero on being called out by Anthony Rizzo, booed at Wrigley http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/miguel-montero-on-being-called-out-by-anthony-rizzo-booed-at-wrigley/

-- Daily Herald Chicago Cubs win with wild finish By Bruce Miles The Chicago Cubs proved once again Sunday that if you go to a baseball game, there's a chance you'll see something you've never seen before. How about the Cubs losing an early 3-0 lead and eventually falling behind 5-3 to the Toronto Blue Jays in the 10th? No problem. Or how about two of their batters striking out in the bottom of the 10th but reaching base on dropped third strikes. That happened, too, and Alex Avila made the Jays pay with a game-wining 2-run single in the 10th that gave the Cubs a 6-5 victory and a sweep of the three-game series. Both Kyle Schwarber and Javier Baez reached on dropped third strikes, and Baez beat the throw home from right field to score the game-winnning run from second base. "Wow," said Cubs manager Joe Maddon, whose first-place team is 66-57. "It's a crazy game." Maddon also went to bat for Baez, who for whatever reason gets criticized in some quarters for being "flashy." However, Baez flashed some baseball awareness when he hustled to first base when he struck out as the ball got away from Jays catcher Raffy Lopez. At the time, there was one out and a runner on third base. "Javy runs hard, OK?" Maddon said. "For those that ever want to criticize this guy, that's a ball in the dirt about 15 feet away from the catcher. The catcher just blanked out on it. If Javy does not run hard right there, it's a different result. "He ran hard, and that's why he was safe, obviously, because the time Lopez figured it out, he had already beaten down to first base." Schwarber led off the inning by reaching on a dropped third. He said what Baez did was more impressive. "Mine was a little bit different than Javy's," Schwarber said. "I give a lot of credit to Javy there because he was busting butt down the line on a ball that didn't really kick that far. "I don't think that the catcher really realized that. By the time he turned around to throw, he was already there. Kudos to Javy there for always running it out. That's a baseball play right there." It helped to set up the game-ending hit by Avila, who entered the game in the ninth as a pinch hitter. Avila has been with the Cubs since July 31, when he came over in a trade with Detroit. "Sometimes over the course of the year, if you're a team that's trying to get to the playoffs, you've got to win crazy games like that, games that you shouldn't necessarily win," he said. "I've felt part of this team for a while now. Everybody's been very welcoming. I feel like I've been here all year."

Speaking of crazy, Avila chunked a ball into the ground in the top of the 10th when he was trying to throw it back to pitcher Koji Uehara. A runner advanced on the play, and the Jays wound up scoring twice in the inning to break a 3-3 tie. "I was glad I was able to make up for my amazing throw the half-inning before," Avila said. "I went to throw it back to Koji. In the middle of my motion to throw the ball, he kind of just signaled to get a new ball, and I tried to stop my arm, and the ball just kind of slipped out of my hand." The game looked to have slipped away after that, but there was more craziness to come. "I do love that we don't quit," Maddon said. "We talk about it all the time. We do not quit." -- Daily Herald Another American Legion Week success for Chicago Cubs By Bruce Miles Look for American Legion Week to stick around for as long as Joe Maddon is manager of the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs went 5-2 during Maddon's Legion week this year, and since he came to Chicago in 2015, the Cubs are 14-2 during weeks when Maddon instructs players to show up late to the park, just as they did when they played Legion ball. The good-luck charm this year was Palatine Post 690, whose flag was in the interview room all week next to Maddon. "Keep it rolling, absolutely," he said. "This time of the year, all the extra noise is not necessary -- bating practice, being on the field too early, showing up too soon. Doesn't matter. I'll argue that with anybody. It doesn't matter. "To be in a bunker, concrete walls, regardless of how cool it is, I think it's counterproductive to the human spirit. Just be a person. Show up and do you job, do your work more intelligently as opposed to just work. "If conventional means were so good, nobody would ever lose. If you went by conventional wisdom constantly and you're always afraid of taking a chance of doing something differently, then everybody would win based on convention. I don't subscribe to any of that stuff." Welcome to the new guy: Catcher Rene Rivera made his Cubs debut by starting Sunday's game, one day after he was claimed off waivers from the New York Mets. Rivera, 34, has played for the Mariners, Twins, Padres, Rays and Mets, but he does have some family history with the Cubs. "I grew up watching the Cubs," he said. "My grandfather watched the Cubs almost every day. It's an honor to be here with this great club, and I'm ready to play. "He used to watch the Cubs games down in Puerto Rico with me. I used to live with him. He loved Harry Caray and Steve Stone. I grew up watching the Cubs. It's an honor for me to be here, a team he loved so much. Now I play for them." Rivera caught Kyle Hendricks on Sunday. "I think that for us as a catcher, any catcher, the big challenge is learning your pitching staff," Rivera said. "I'm going to work hard to get the trust of everybody.

"I'm ready anytime they need me. I found out today I was playing. I'm ready to go out there and play 100 percent and give the best I can." Henricks said it was "awesome" working with Rivera. Hello, old friend: Kyle Hendricks worked 6 innings in the 6-5 victory over Toronto, giving up 6 hits and 3 runs. He got a no-decision after giving up a game-tying homer to former batterymate Miguel Montero in the sixth. "We've already been texting," Hendricks said. "Those were just dumb pitches, honestly, bad pitches to him. He's a good hitter. He can hit mistakes. "I texted him first saying luckily it was only one and get out of there. Make him feel good. But we were just laughing back and forth." Hendricks has a 2.45 ERA in 6 starts since coming off the disabled list. He has 3 quality starts in his last 4 outings. -- Cubs.com Cubs rally for 3 in 10th to walk off with sweep By Carrie Muskat and Gregor Chisholm CHICAGO -- Alex Avila belted a two-run walk-off single with one out in the 10th inning to power the Cubs to a 6-5 victory over the Blue Jays and complete a sweep of the Interleague series. The Blue Jays had scored twice in the 10th, including the go-ahead run on Kevin Pillar's RBI single. "We never feel like we're out of it," Kyle Schwarber said of the Cubs, who posted their fifth walk-off win this year and second this week. Schwarber struck out to start the 10th against Roberto Osuna, but he reached first on a wild pitch that skipped to the back wall. Schwarber got to third on Ben Zobrist's single and then scored on a wild pitch. Anthony Rizzo grounded out, and Osuna struck out Javier Baez, but the ball got away from catcher Raffy Lopez, who simply held onto it, allowing Baez to reach first on a fielder's choice. "I was checking the runner and just made a bad throw and had to adjust my feet," Lopez said. "I didn't get my body in the best position to turn and throw to first." Baez stole second, and Jason Heyward was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Avila then lined a single to right, driving in Zobrist and Baez for the win. "Sometimes over the course of the year, when you're a team trying to get to the playoffs, you have to win crazy games like that that you shouldn't necessarily win," Avila said. In the Toronto 10th, Josh Donaldson reached on an infield single that Baez knocked down. One out later, Donaldson moved up on an errant throw by Avila to Koji Uehara, who was activated from the disabled list on Sunday after missing 10 games with a neck strain. Jose Bautista was intentionally walked, and one out later, Pillar lined a 2-2 pitch from Uehara to right field. Donaldson scored despite a throw home from Heyward. Justin Wilson took over and walked Ryan Goins and then Norichika Aoki to force in a run.

The Cubs have a two-game lead in the National League Central over the Brewers, and the Blue Jays are five games behind the Angels and Twins for the second American League Wild Card spot. Albert Almora Jr.'s three-run double in the Chicago third opened a 3-0 lead, but the Blue Jays battled back and tied the game on Miguel Montero's solo home run with one out in the sixth. Montero looked right at home against his former team, hitting a double with one out in the second. His homer was the Blue Jays' only one of the series. Montero connected against Kyle Hendricks, whom he caught when he was with the Cubs, and the two exchanged good-natured text messages after the game. "Those were bad pitches," Hendricks said. "He's a good hitter, he can hit mistakes." Both starters -- Hendricks and Toronto's Marco Estrada -- posted quality starts, giving up three runs each over six innings, but neither got a decision. Hendricks remained winless since returning from the disabled list on July 24 (right hand tendinitis). MOMENTS THAT MATTERED When left is right: Usually, Almora starts against left-handed pitchers because of his .348 batting average against them. But the Cubs liked the matchup against Estrada, and it paid off in the third. In his first at-bat for the Cubs, Rene Rivera reached on an infield single, and Jon Jay was hit by a pitch to set up Hendricks, who bunted toward third. Estrada fielded the ball, but his throw pulled Justin Smoak off first, and the bases were loaded. Almora, who came into the game batting .250 against right-handers, then cleared them with a double down the left-field line to open a 3-0 lead. Misstep: Smoak doubled to open the Blue Jays' fourth and scored on Bautista's single to center, although he got a break when first baseman Rizzo slipped. Almora threw the ball in from center to Rizzo, who cut it off and tried to throw home. But Rizzo lost his footing, and his throw was off the mark. QUOTABLE "That's the American League East stuff that I've seen for a long time. There's a lot of grinders on that side. I really appreciate how they played. For us to beat them -- they'd just come off a pretty good series and they were winning close games, and the fact we beat them close, I like that." -- Cubs manager Joe Maddon, on sweeping the Blue Jays "He definitely took too much time. Nobody feels worse than Lopie. He's played very good for us back there along the way. But you get a couple of strikeouts and you get a couple of outs on them, who knows how it develops in the end. He's a great kid. ... No one feels worse than he does." -- Blue Jays manager John Gibbons, on Lopez's delayed throw to first in the 10th SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Donaldson made his first career start at shortstop and became the first player to start a game at catcher in his debut season and then start a game at shortstop at any point in his career since Montreal's Ron Brand in 1971. GLOVE WORK Blue Jays center fielder Pillar made an amazing catch to rob Kris Bryant of a potential extra-base hit. With one out in the Chicago seventh, Bryant lofted a 3-1 pitch to the center-field wall. Pillar jumped up against the ivy-covered brick wall and made the catch, then tumbled to the ground. More > UPON FURTHER REVIEW The Blue Jays had a runners at first and third and nobody out in the fifth when Ezequiel Carrera hit a grounder to second baseman Zobrist, who threw to shortstop Baez for the force at second. Baez then threw to first and Carrera

was called out, but the Blue Jays challenged the ruling. After a review, the call stood, and Carrera was out. A run did score on the play. With one out in the Toronto ninth, Davis walked Goins, and he advanced on Aoki's comebacker to the pitcher. Steve Pearce walked, and Lopez then contended he was hit on the left foot by a pitch from Davis. Home-plate umpire Andy Fletcher didn't agree, and after a crew-chief review, the call stood. Davis struck out Lopez to end the inning. WHAT'S NEXT Blue Jays: The Blue Jays will enjoy an off-day on Monday before opening a three-game series against the Rays at Tropicana Field on Tuesday. Rookie right-hander Chris Rowley will take the mound in the series opener, with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET. This will be the third start of Rowley's big league career and the second time he has faced Tampa Bay. Cubs: John Lackey will face the Reds and Homer Bailey again on Tuesday when the Cubs open a three-game series in Cincinnati. Lackey did not get a decision in his last outing against them on Aug. 16 despite giving up one run over six innings. First pitch will be 6:10 p.m. CT. -- Cubs.com Baez's hustle after strikeout key in wild 10th By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- If there was one play that stood out in a wacky 10th inning of the Cubs' 6-5 win over the Blue Jays on Sunday, it came in the Chicago half, when Javier Baez hustled at the right time and Toronto catcher Raffy Lopez hesitated at the wrong instant. The Blue Jays had taken a 5-3 lead in the 10th on Kevin Pillar's RBI single and a bases-loaded walk issued by reliever Justin Wilson. But the Cubs did the little things right in their half to post a walk-off win, thanks to Alex Avila's two-run single. "Things are never going to be perfect," Chicago's Kyle Schwarber said. "No one is going to have your 'A' game all the time. You have to find a way to grind through it, and we did today." Schwarber struck out to start the 10th against Roberto Osuna, which turned out to be a good strikeout as he reached first on a wild pitch that skipped to the back wall. He got to third on Ben Zobrist's single and then scored on another wild pitch. One out later, Osuna struck out Baez, but the ball got away from Lopez, who simply held onto it, allowing Baez to reach first on a fielder's choice. That was huge. "Javy runs hard," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "For the group that wants to criticize the guy, that's a ball in the dirt, about 15 feet from the catcher, and the catcher just blanked out on it. If Javy does not run hard, it's a different result. That's why he was safe. By the time Lopez figured it out, [Baez] had already beat it down to first base." Lopez looked at Zobrist at third before he saw Baez. "I was checking the runner and just made a bad throw and had to adjust my feet," Lopez said. "I didn't get my body in the best position to turn and throw to first. ... It was definitely a tough inning." Said Toronto manager John Gibbons: "I've never seen that before. ... [Lopez] definitely took too much time. Nobody feels worse than Lopie. He's played very good for us back there. But you get a couple of strikeouts and you get a couple of outs on them, who knows how it develops in the end?" Schwarber also was impressed by Baez's effort.

"I give Javy a lot of credit," Schwarber said. "He was busting butt down the line on a ball that didn't kick away that far. I don't think the catcher realized that. By the time [Lopez] turned around to throw, [Baez] was already there. Kudos to Javy there for running it out. That's a baseball play right there. It's big." Baez didn't stop. He stole second, and Jason Heyward was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Avila then lined a single to right, driving in Zobrist and Baez for the win. "You know they can't walk you there, and they have to at least come in the zone," Avila said. "You could tell [Osuna] was struggling throwing his slider for a strike. I figured I'd get something hard, whether it was his cutter or fastball. I was just trying to make hard contact." Baez did one more thing that won't show up in the boxscore. His secondary lead allowed him to score on Avila's hit. "This is the nuance of the game," Maddon said. "During Spring Training baserunning meetings, you say that you're being a great teammate when you get a good secondary lead." It wasn't all good for Avila. The Blue Jays had a runner at first with one out in the 10th, and he moved up on an errant throw by Avila to Koji Uehara, who was trying to signal to the catcher that he wanted a new baseball. Avila couldn't hold up his throw. "It's not horrible," Maddon said. No, but Jose Bautista was then intentionally walked, and one out later, Pillar hit an RBI single to go ahead, 4-3. Somehow, the Cubs rallied for a sweep of the Blue Jays. "I do love that we don't quit," Maddon said. "We talk about it all the time." -- Cubs.com Rene glad to play for grandfather's favorite club By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- When Rene Rivera was growing up in Puerto Rico, he would watch the Cubs games on television with his grandfather. Rivera was a big fan of Sammy Sosa and Ryne Sandberg, and on Sunday, he made his debut for his grandfather's favorite team. The Cubs claimed Rivera off the waiver wire from the Mets on Saturday, and he was in the starting lineup Sunday in the Cubs' 6-5 win in the series finale against the Blue Jays. Rivera reached on an infield single in his first at-bat in the third and flied out twice. He also drew praise from Chicago starter Kyle Hendricks. "It was awesome," Hendricks said about working with Rivera for the first time. "I told him after the game, 'I think we can work well going forward.' He's a quick learner." Rivera was pretty excited to be in a Cubs uniform. "I was a kid -- I think it was middle school or maybe earlier than that -- and [my grandfather] used to watch the Cubs games in Puerto Rico," Rivera said. "He loved [broadcasters] Harry Caray, Steve Stone. I grew up watching the Cubs. It's an honor for me to be here, a team he loved so much." Joe Maddon first met Rivera in Puerto Rico when he was there to see Javier Baez play winter ball. The Cubs' manager had no problems inserting his newest catcher in the lineup. "He's been around a bit -- it's not his first rodeo," Maddon said of Rivera. "I can tell he's comfortable already."

Rivera is the second catcher the Cubs have acquired since the end of July. At the non-waiver Trade Deadline, they added Alex Avila from the Tigers. Both are necessary since Willson Contreras injured his right hamstring on Aug. 9 and is expected to miss at least four weeks. "They weren't on the radar in the beginning, but you couldn't ask for a better duo," Maddon said of Avila and Rivera. Rivera remembered meeting Maddon in Puerto Rico because it was shortly after the catcher had been traded to the Rays. "It helped me out a lot to get to know the [Rays' pitchers]," Rivera said. "We had a great conversation." Was Rivera surprised to be in the lineup on Sunday, his first day with the team? "I'm ready any time they need me," he said. Worth noting • Wade Davis is a perfect 26-for-26 in save opportunities, and he has tied Ryan Dempster for the Cubs' consecutive save record. Dempster saved 26 in a row from Aug. 2, 2005-May 1, 2006. For Davis, every day is the same, reliever Brian Duensing said. "He's well prepared every single day. He prepares as if he's going to pitch every single day," Duensing said of the right-hander. "That's a good thing. I think it allows him to be as consistent as he can be. He just goes in there and gets the job done." Davis also has been what Duensing called a "quiet leader" in the bullpen, offering advice on hitters and situations. "He'll throw his two cents in there every once in a while," Duensing said. "If you have a question, he's the guy to ask. ... He'll give his two cents, but he's also the first guy to say, 'Hey, we're all different.'" The Cubs' relievers do have their routines, and they sit in the same seats in the bullpen, but that started before Davis' streak began. Naturally, nobody has changed the patterns. "We all have our spots," Duensing said. "It's crazy." The Cubs' relievers entered Sunday ranked second in the National League in batting average against (.217) behind the Dodgers (.213). With Koji Uehara back in the mix after being on the disabled list with a neck strain, Maddon is hoping to rotate the setup pitchers. "In a perfect world, I'd like to start rotating them more consistently so they don't have to pitch two days in a row, other than maybe Wade," Maddon said of Uehara, Pedro Strop, Hector Rondon, Carl Edwards Jr. and Justin Wilson. • Maddon said there has been no discussion about September callups. Teams can expand their 25-man rosters on Sept. 1. To make room for Rivera on the 25-man roster, catcher Victor Caratini was optioned to Triple-A Iowa, along with left-handed reliever Rob Zastryzny, who was moved to make room for Uehara. Both are expected to return in September. -- Cubs.com Lackey to start as Cubs eye 4th straight win By Carrie Muskat American Legion week is over for the Cubs, who return to their regular work schedule on Tuesday when they face the Reds at Great American Ball Park.

During the Cubs' past seven games, the players were told to report late to get some rest during the so-called dog days of August. Since manager Joe Maddon implemented American Legion week, the Cubs are 14-2. "We're going to keep it rolling, absolutely," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "This time of the year, all the extra noise is not necessary. Batting practice, being on the field too early, showing up too soon -- it doesn't matter. I'll argue that with anybody -- it doesn't matter. There's plenty of time to get your work done if you get here at 4 o'clock for a 7 o'clock game. That's three hours to get your work done. "To be in a bunker, concrete walls, I think it's counterproductive to the human spirit," Maddon said. "Just be a person, show up, and then do your job, do your work, and you can work more intelligently." The Cubs faced the Reds at Wrigley Field to open American Legion week play, and they went 2-2, including a wild 13-10 Cincinnati win. The Reds opened a 9-0 lead in the second inning, and the Cubs hit six home runs to eventually tie the game. Rookie Phillip Ervin had quite the day, missing the cycle by a triple. He hit an RBI single, RBI double and two-run homer. This season, the Cubs are 8-5 against the Reds, and they have hit 28 homers off Cincinnati's pitchers, the most against any team so far. Things to know about this game • Tuesday will be a rematch between the Reds' Homer Bailey and the Cubs' John Lackey, who squared off Aug. 16. Neither starter got a decision in that game. Bailey gave up six runs over 5 2/3 innings, while Lackey gave up one run over six innings. • How will the Cubs deal with Joey Votto? The Reds' first baseman is batting .367 against the Cubs in 13 games so far with three homers, five doubles and 13 RBIs. • Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant will be back in the starting lineup on Tuesday. Bryant has a career .293 average at Great American Ball Park, with five home runs. He hit three of those on June 27, 2016, when he went 5-for-5 with six RBIs. -- ESPNChicago.com Alex Avila's walk-off is the type of break the Cubs need to keep catching By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO -- From goat to hero. That was the day for Chicago Cubs catcher Alex Avila. He didn’t even start Sunday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays, but, boy, was he involved in the outcome. Avila made a Little League-level throwing error in the top of the 10th inning, which led to the Blue Jays' scoring two runs and taking the lead. But with the bases loaded in the bottom of the inning, Avila won the game with a two-run single. He was mobbed on the field and in the Cubs' dance room after the game. “Sometimes over the course of the year, when you’re trying to get to the playoffs, you have to win crazy games like that, games that you shouldn’t necessarily win,” Avila said about the dramatic 6-5 victory. “I was glad I was able to make up for my amazing throw the half-inning before.” Let’s start there: With Josh Donaldson on first base and the score tied at 3, Avila started to throw a ball back to his pitcher, Koji Uehara, like he has thousands of times before. But Avila pulled his arm back at the last second. The ball came out anyway, headed toward shortstop. Donaldson advanced easily. “In the middle of my motion to throw the ball, [Uehara] signaled to get a [new] ball and I stopped my arm and the ball kind of slipped out of my hand,” Avila said after the game.

The Cubs then intentionally walked the hitter at the plate, Jose Bautista. Both runners eventually scored, putting the Cubs down 5-3. No team had come back from being down multiple runs in extra innings this season ... until the Cubs on Sunday. Teams were 0-50 in that scenario, according to ESPN Stats & Information. “We were unable to make contact in certain situations until Alex got it done,” manager Joe Maddon said. “The fact that we beat them close, I like that moving forward." The Cubs swept the series, winning all three games by a total of five runs. It was their first sweep since taking the first six games of the second half. Since then, it’s been a little back and forth as they continue to search for their stride. Perhaps a 5-2 homestand -- and a crazy finish -- will propel them some more. “The really good team, once you’ve won the series with one left, this is really when you want to make some hay at that point,” Maddon said of taking the finale. “You just don’t concede anything.” If the Cubs had lost this game, there would have been plenty to pick apart as they continue to sometimes frustrate despite leading the National League Central. For example, newly acquired reliever Justin Wilson has walked nine batters in eight appearances, including one with the bases loaded in the 10th inning on Sunday. The Cubs had missed a chance to win it earlier, as they put two men on base in the bottom of the ninth but couldn’t advance them. Even in something they’re good at -- they lead the league in sacrifice bunting percentage -- outfielder Jon Jay couldn’t execute. And then there are the inopportune strikeouts. Kyle Schwarber and Javier Baez each struck out in the 10th but reached on a dropped third strike. How often does that happen in the same inning? The Cubs turned a bad moment into a good ending as both dropped third strikes came across to score, including Baez as the winning run. It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t perfect, but it was a win. “For those that ever want to criticize [Baez], that’s the ball in the dirt, the catcher blanked out on it; if Javy doesn’t run hard, it’s a different result,” Maddon said. So the Cubs forced the issue, as well, but sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good. And right now, the Cubs could use all the luck they can get. With three prominent players injured but a light schedule, a few breaks could set them up for a less stressful September. Sweeps, and some luck, will do that for you. “You don’t see that very often, especially in that spot,” Schwarber said of the dropped third strikes. “That’s a prime example of a thing going our way.” Mobbed for a third time at his locker after the game (this time by reporters), Avila was stumped by a question. What does this kind of a win mean? “That we’re a good team, I guess?” he answered. The Cubs want to take that question mark away for good this season. They just might. -- CSNChicago.com Stop asking if the Cubs are back, they need to make their own momentum — like they did Sunday By Vinnie Duber Stop asking if the Cubs are back.

That’s been a season-long talking point every time something that seems big at the time happens, constant wonder over what can snap the Cubs out of it and get them back to their expected place of dominating the division and looking like a World Series contender. But it’s been pretty plain up to this point that one game hasn’t made that drastic difference fans are looking for. All those “Cubs back?” inquiries have only been met with the same kind of play that’s kept the team middling all season. Flashes of brilliance have come and gone, and still the Cubs turned in a sub-.500 first half and remain just a few games ahead of their division rivals from Milwaukee and St. Louis. So it’s time to stop wondering if every big win will lead to the Cubs turning on the jets and blasting away from the Brewers and Cardinals. If the Cubs are going to get the kind of momentum required to do that, they’re going to need to make it themselves. Just like they did Sunday. The Cubs beat the visiting Toronto Blue Jays and completed their first three-game series sweep in a month, their first since that six-game win streak out of the All-Star break with back-to-back broom breakouts in Baltimore and Atlanta. (For those appreciative of technicalities, yes, the Cubs won both games in the road half of the Crosstown matchup with the White Sox.) But it was the way they did it Sunday, coughing up a 3-0 lead, coughing up two runs in the top of 10th, only to score three times in the bottom of that extra inning, winning on a walk-off base hit by one of the new guys, Alex Avila. Did it mean that the Cubs are back? Did it mean this is the start of something great? What did it mean? “That we’re a good team, I guess,” Avila said. “There are certain times over the course of the year when you’re a team that’s trying to get to the playoffs, you’ve got to win crazy games like that, games you should win. “For me, momentum depends on the next guy that’s pitching, to be honest with you. If (John Lackey) goes out Tuesday and throws a good game and gives us an opportunity, then you can say that. But for me, once the game’s over it’s over, and the next game is something completely different.” Sunday’s game was far from pretty. The Cubs benefitted from a pair of dropped third strikes in that 10th inning, including one where Blue Jays catcher Raffy Lopez plum forgot to throw to first, allowing Javy Baez to reach. Baez scored the game-winning run two batters later, sliding in ahead of the throw on Avila’s hit. This time last year, the Cubs had a double-digit lead in the National League Central standings. After this sweep, you still need just one hand’s worth of fingers to add up their current division lead. This clearly isn’t last year. But Sunday’s win did have a little bit of that 2016 feel to it. “The way the boys grinded at the end was awesome, definitely reminiscent of last year somewhat” starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks said. “That’s where we’ve got to get to, we’ve just got to be who we are right now. And hopefully that’s the team we can be now, maybe even progress beyond that. But yeah that was huge. Kept on fighting, even late in that game, and found a way to win that one.” That’s not to say, though, that 2017’s problems didn’t pop up. The Cubs were just 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position. They gathered just four hits the remainder of the game after Albert Almora Jr.’s bases-clearing double with nobody out in the third inning. The bullpen could hardly be described as lock-down, with Justin Wilson adding two more walks to his struggle of a portfolio since joining the Cubs, Wade Davis also walking two batters and Koji Uehara charged with the two runs in the 10th that put the Blue Jays on top. But listen to Joe Maddon and look elsewhere.

Those “little things” that everyone is always so fond of telling you make the difference in championship seasons? They were there Sunday, chiefly in the form of Baez’s 10th-inning hustle, which first got him to first base on that dropped third strike and later allowed him to score from second on the game-winning base knock. “Javy runs hard,” Maddon said. “For those who ever want to criticize this guy, that’s a ball in the dirt, about 15 feet away from the catcher, the catcher just blanked out on it. If Javy does not run hard right there, it’s a different result. He ran hard, and that’s why he was safe because by the time Lopez figured it out, he had already beaten it to first base. “All those little diminutae like that, that’s the difference between winning and losing. Everybody’s going to look at Alex’s hit. Great. It was a big moment. But Javy striking out and not just sulking, runs to first base. “This is the nuance of the game,” Maddon continued, moving on to the lead Baez got at second base ahead of Avila’s hit. “Guys that get good (secondary leads). The way I’ve always described that in spring training when you have your base-running meeting is that you’re being a great teammates when you get a good secondary lead because it leads to moments like that. … You’re being a great teammate when you understand the importance of getting good secondary leads.” Maybe the spark that’s been so intensely looked for all season isn’t one singular highlight-reel win but a collection of plays over the course of a few games. All three of these wins against the Blue Jays were one-run victories. Little things make the difference in such tight games. They make the difference in such tight division races, too. One game and one sweep against a last-place team gets the Cubs nowhere close to out of the woods. A playoff spot is hardly a certainty in such a closely contested Central. And for as potentially momentum-building as this weekend series might have seemed, remember the Blue Jays are a last-place team. The Cincinnati Reds, both the team the Cubs played prior to the Blue Jays and the team they’ll play next, and the Philadelphia Phillies, the second stop on next week’s road trip, are also last-place teams. The Cubs should be winning these games. You could just as easily argue that Sunday’s game was a troubling sign. Why should the Cubs need two dropped third strikes in the 10th inning to get them a win against a last-place team? Valid question. But if you heard the racket coming out of the Cubs’ celebration room, you might be convinced otherwise. Is momentum real? To this point, it hasn’t been for the 2017 Cubs. But with the schedule at an easy point, maybe it becomes real soon. They just have to make it. “We want to get on a good roll,” Almora said. “This series is great, it’s a great start. We’ve been playing well since the All-Star break, so we feel really good as a team. Pitchers coming together, offense coming together. It’s great.” “A really good team, once you’ve won the series with one left, c’mon. This is when you really want to make some hay at that point, you just don’t want to concede anything,” Maddon said. “Getting three out of three makes a difference moving forward.” -- CSNChicago.com Welcome to Chicago: Rene Rivera thrown into the fire on his first day in Cubs' pennant race By Vinnie Duber Welcome to Chicago, Rene. Now grab your catcher’s gear and get out there. Rene Rivera arrived at Wrigley Field for the first time as a Cub on Sunday, instantly learning that he was in the starting lineup for the final game of this weekend’s series finale against the Toronto Blue Jays. He’ll be catching a guy that was a Cy Young finalist last season. He’s smack dab in the middle of a pennant race as the defending world champs try to beat out the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals for a playoff spot.

A far cry from when he woke up the day before as a New York Met. “The Mets, we knew they were going to do some moves there. I wasn’t surprised,” Rivera said Sunday. “Maybe the timing was surprising a bit. “I’m here. I’ll play whenever I’m in the lineup. If not, I will cheer for my time. I’m happy to do any job, like I’ve been doing the last couple years. I’ll be enjoying my time, hopefully helping the team win in any way I can.” Rivera has been playing big league ball since 2009, and the Cubs are his sixth major league team. He’s known for his defense and his ability to help out his pitchers, and he’s got eight homers already this season. The Cubs are happy to have him — and his veteran experience — as the time of year becomes increasingly more important. And Rivera is happy to be here, too. Of course going from the Mets, 19 games out of first place in the National League East, to the first-place Cubs is a nice improvement in situation. But this is also the team his grandfather loved to watch. Rivera shared memories of his grandfather turning on the Cubs, hearing Harry Caray and Steve Stone and cheering on Sammy Sosa back in Puerto Rico. “I was a kid, I think I was in middle school, maybe later than that. He used to watch the Cubs games down in Puerto Rico. I used to live with him,” Rivera said. “He loved Harry Caray and Steve Stone. I grew up watching the Cubs, so it’s an honor for me to be here. A team he loved so much and now I play for them.” Time will tell how big a role Rivera will play in this battle for the NL Central crown. He’s essentially a third-string catcher, though that could take a long time to become official, depending on how long Willson Contreras remains on the disabled list. So with Contreras, who when he went down was the Cubs’ hottest hitter, on the shelf, the team’s catching tandem is Alex Avila and Rivera, both added to this roster within the last few weeks. While much of the Cubs’ starting staff is rolling right now — Jake Arrieta, Kyle Hendricks and even John Lackey have been strong over the past month or more — how will having two new catchers calling games affect the results? Manager Joe Maddon said the fact that Avila and Rivera have been around — they have a combined 1,281 major league games under their belts — makes the transition a lot easier for everyone involved. “The veteran part of it really permits acceptance more easily. But still there’s that learning curve involved with it. The other day when (Mike) Montgomery came in, I went over to Alex and explained Montgomery to Alex in detail as much as I could: what his better pitches are, what he does well in different situations, counts, all that. There’s no way Alex could know all that. I know that (Mike Borzello) and everybody have prepped him going into the moment, but he still can’t know all of that. “The little nuance is going to take a couple times out there, whether it’s in the actual games, catching them in bullpens or just talking to them. That’s the disconnect. But the cache built up being a veteran player, being a very good veteran player with great reputations, both Alex and Rene, that definitely helps their cause. “I talked to Rene, and he was pretty confident that he’s going to be fine with this whole thing. He’s been around a bit, it’s not his first rodeo. He's very comfortable already, I can just tell that conversationally.” Rivera said he’s going to work with the other catchers already here to help get the lay of the land. “When you’re a catcher, the biggest challenge is knowing your pitching staff,” he said. “And that’s one thing that I’m going to work hard at, getting to know everybody, getting the trust of everybody and go from there. “Willson’s been here, he knows the pitching staff. And Alex has been here for a little bit. We’ll talk about it, try to find the comfort zone, try to call a good game.”

Well, his first crack at it couldn’t have come any quicker. -- Chicago Tribune Alex Avila, Javier Baez key Cubs' rally, finish off sweep of Blue Jays By Paul Skrbina Alex Avila had trouble throwing the ball back to Koji Uehara in the 10th inning Sunday. But the Cubs catcher had no problem hitting it in the bottom of the inning, when his two-run single completed a wild 6-5 comeback and a three-game sweep of the Blue Jays at Wrigley Field. Avila's "fluky" toss in the top of the inning landed well short and to the left of the mound and allowed Josh Donaldson to take second base after his leadoff single. That triggered a two-run rally that looked sure to doom the Cubs' hopes and included three walks, including one from Justin Wilson to force in the visitors' final run. Avila said his routine throw was interrupted when he thought he saw the pitcher motion for a new ball, causing him to stop mid-throw. But it was too late. "I was glad I was able to make up for my amazing throw the half-inning before," Avila said with a grin. Avila's atonement was possible because the Blue Jays were kind enough to allow the Cubs five outs, thanks to two runners reaching on dropped-third strikes. The wild half-inning also included a memorable strikeout by Javier Baez, two wild pitches and Baez sliding triumphantly into home on Avila's hit. Kyle Schwarber was the first to reach via a dropped-third strike, when a wild pitch escaped the grasp of Blue Jays catcher Raffy Lopez. Schwarber moved to third on Ben Zobrist's single and scored the first run of the inning on Roberto Osuna's second wild pitch. "When you're a team trying to make the playoffs, you have to win crazy games like that," Avila said. After Anthony Rizzo grounded out and Jason Heyward was hit by a pitch, the stage was set for Avila. A stage, Cubs manager Joe Maddon said, that should be shared with Baez, who was 0-for-5 with two strikeouts. His 10th-inning K, with Zobrist looming on third, left Lopez frozen as Baez hustled toward first. "Javy runs hard, OK?" Maddon said. "For those who want to criticize this guy, that's a ball in the dirt 15 feet away from the catcher. The catcher just blanked out on it. If Javy doesn't run hard right there, it's a different result." "Everybody's going to look at Alex's hit, great. It was a big moment. But Javy striking out and not just sulking. … " The Cubs had no reason to sulk early. Albert Almora Jr.'s three-run double in the third staked them and starter Kyle Hendricks to an early advantage. But Hendricks, who allowed three runs, six hits, two walks and struck out six in six innings before yielding to six Cubs relievers, was in double trouble after allowing leadoff doubles in the fourth and fifth innings, both of which scored. Then another catcher with Cubs experience, Miguel Montero, tied it up. Montero homered off Hendricks, and before he reached home plate, before the baseball was back on the field courtesy of a fan in the left-field bleachers.

When Montero finally did touch the plate, cheers from well-represented Blue Jays fans choked out a smattering of boos. "It was a weird feel for a while," Hendricks said. "I did everything I could to lose that one. Just a couple of dumb pitches, honestly — (Norichika) Aoki in the fifth, Miggy in the sixth." By the 10th, though, those pitches were all but forgotten. The Cubs were too busy mobbing Avila in the infield to remember. -- Chicago Tribune Oh, Canada: Blue Jays fans contribute to memorable weekend at Wrigley By Paul Sullivan The Canadian invasion at Wrigley Field may have been the biggest surprise of the weekend series between the Cubs and Blue Jays. The Jays fans were loud and into every game, making for an enjoyable atmosphere capped by the Cubs' wild extra-inning victory Sunday. "The only team whose fans travel better than the Cubs' is (the Blue Jays')," former Cubs infielder Darwin Barney said. "It's not even close. Go to Seattle and it's twice as large as this. "I've never heard an opposing team outchanting Cubs fans, but Blue Jays fans have probably been planning for this for two years. And Cubs fans here are probably still on a World Series hangover." Besides the fact Canadians are very polite and engaging, here are a few other things we learned from the weekend: Rotation still the Cubs' strength: Manager Joe Maddon is counting on his starters to go six or seven innings to make up for the loss of Jon Lester (shoulder fatigue) for a start or two. Jake Arrieta, Jose Quintana and Kyle Hendricks all did their job in the sweep. Hendricks doesn't think they have to overcompensate for Lester's absence. "Maybe a little bit, but honestly (Mike) Montgomery has been so huge for us," Hendricks said. "He's played such a big role, being able to go from the 'pen to starting and just the quality he's given us in both places. I don't think there's too big of a worry. He's done it already and he got stretched out the last game when he came in behind Lester. "There will be a little bit of an onus on us. We always take it as the group, that we need to pick up the slack. They did it for me when I was on the DL." Bullpen struggles continue: Wade Davis, Koji Uehrara and Justin Wilson combined for five walks in the ninth and 10th innings Sunday, though the Cubs managed to pull it out. Wilson has issued nine walks in 5 2/3 innings as a Cub with a 5.35 ERA. If this continues, the Cubs are in real trouble. "We don't want that to be a big part of our identity," Cubs President Theo Epstein said. "We believe in throwing strikes and if you're going to get beat, get beat. ... It's tough lately with these walks, and not something anyone is trying to do. It just happens, but certainly to get where we need to go we need to lock it in, get strike one, and be more efficient out of the 'pen. These guys are on it. Every 'pen goes through ups and downs."

Epstein pointed out it was the second straight year the bullpen has all struggled together. "Makes it tough on Joe and everybody," Epstein said. "But these are our guys and we know they're going to lock it in." No hero's welcome for Miguel Montero: Miguel Montero's slam against the Dodgers in Game 1 of the NLCS last October was one of the louder moments in Wrigley Field history, and his 10th-inning RBI in Game 7 of the World Series brought home the eventual winning run. But many Cubs fans booed Montero during the series over the his sharp criticism of Arrieta that led to his release. "If I was a really bad teammate, no one would say hi to me, no one would really care for me," Montero said. "And they all were like happy to see me, and I was happy to see them. (The booing and cheering) was on and off. I really don't care. They cheered a lot of big hits when I was here, and whether they hate me or love me, they're going to remember me forever." Hendricks, who served up a game-tying home run to Montero on Sunday, said his former catcher didn't deserve the booing. "That's just the fans," he said. "That's how it happens. They see a lot that happens on the field and in the press. They don't see everything that happens in the clubhouse day to day. "You can ask anyone on this team their thoughts on Miggy and it's going to be very positive. We were kind of surprised to hear (the booing). But that's just how it goes, and Miggy just takes it all in stride. He knows how the guys feel about him." Chris Coghlan is the last Cub without his ring: Outfielder Chris Coghlan was supposed to get his championship ring Friday, but the Blue Jays released him last week. "We'll wait and see where he ends up and see if there is a natural time to give it to him," Epstein said. "If not, we'll get it to him. Disappointing because we were looking forward to seeing him and he was looking forward to being here again." -- Chicago Tribune Booing of former Cub Miguel Montero bothers Kyle Hendricks By Paul Sullivan You don’t have to be a big star to get a warm welcome upon your return to Wrigley Field. After being traded to the Nationals in 2013, outfielder and current CSN analyst David DeJesus got a standing ovation in his first at-bat back, despite spending less than two seasons on the Cubs and hitting .258 for some very bad teams. Cubs fans appreciated his leadership and effort, and thanked him with the ovation. This season we’ve seen the Cardinals’ Dexter Fowler and the Yankees’ Aroldis Chapman get some love upon their returns, and the same was expected this weekend when Miguel Montero came back with the Blue Jays. Yes, Montero left in a controversial manner, but he was still a big part of the Cubs’ 2016 championship season and was well-liked during his three seasons in Chicago. His grand slam against the Dodgers in Game 1 of the NLCS was one of the louder moments in the ballpark’s history, and his tenth inning RBI in Game 7 of the World Series brought home the eventual winning run.

While Montero has received cheers from many grateful Cubs fans this weekend, the cheering has been overshadowed by the loud booing, which surprised many of the Cubs players. The only player booed as loudly at Wrigley this season has been the Brewers’ Ryan Braun, who has been Public Enemy No. 1 for years. Montero didn’t seem too upset by the reaction, and said if he was really as bad as those fans believed he wouldn’t have been welcomed by so many of his former teammates and coaches. Even Cubs President Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer, who made the decision to release him after his criticism of Jake Arrieta, were seeking out Montero on Friday afternoon to say hello. “If I was a really bad teammate, no one would say hi to me, no one would really care for me,” Montero said. “And they all were, like, happy to see me, and I was happy to see them. (The booing and cheering) was on and off. I really don’t care. They cheered a lot of big hits when I was here, and whether they hate me or love me, they’re going to remember me forever.” Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks, who starts Sunday’s finale against the Blue Jays, said Montero doesn’t deserve to be booed just because of his stormy exit. “I didn’t like that,” Hendricks said. “I texted him before he was coming here to see how he was doing. That’s just the fans. That’s how it happens. They see a lot that happens on the field and in the press. They don’t see everything that happens in the clubhouse day to day. You can ask anyone on this team their thoughts on ‘Miggy’ and it’s going to be very positive. “We were kind of surprised to hear (the booing). But that’s just how it goes, and Miggy just takes it all in stride. He knows how the guys feel about him.” How will Montero be treated in Sunday’s finale? Stay tuned. -- Chicago Tribune Kyle Hendricks impressed with new Cubs catcher Rene Rivera By Paul Skrbina Rene Rivera was a hit from the beginning. The new Cubs catcher barely had emptied his blue Mets duffel bag into his new, nameplate-less locker before he led off the third inning with a line drive off Blue Jays starter Marco Estrada — literally — for the team's first hit of Sunday's 6-5 victory. Jon Jay was then hit by a pitch before Kyle Hendricks was credited with a hit on a popped-up bunt attempt gone wrong — then right — when he reached first. That led to Albert Almora Jr.'s big hit, a bases-clearing double that hugged the third-base line and ended with Hendricks sliding home for the Cubs' third run. "That was probably all I've got in the tank," Hendricks said of scoring from first. "But I'll take it. I saw him waving me. I thought, 'Oh, boy, I better kick it into gear.' Not much athleticism on the running, but maybe a little on that slide." Rivera, who was claimed off waivers Sunday and said he grew up watching Cubs games with his grandpa in Puerto Rico, was an instant fit, according to Hendricks. "I told him after the game I think we can work really well together," Hendricks said. "There were a few sign things, but other than that it was awesome."

Pillar of hope: Kevin Pillar didn't run through a brick wall for the Blue Jays on Sunday. But he ran into one covered in ivy in center field at Wrigley Field to snag Kris Bryant's loud fly ball and rob the third baseman of a double, at least, during the seventh inning. Much to the awe of some and dismay of others, Pillar raised his left hand in triumph, ball securely in glove after hitting the ground and doing a backward somersault. Three innings later, Pillar nearly helped the Blue Jays triumph when he singled home the go-ahead run off Koji Uehara in the 10th. "Pillar had some kind of series," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said, "including face-planting in the ivy." Minor moves: The Cubs activated Uehara from the 10-day disabled list and added Rivera to the 25-man roster Sunday, leaving reliever Rob Zastryzny and catcher Victor Caratini as the odd men out, optioned to Triple-A Iowa. ... Major League Baseball umpires ended their one-day protest against alleged mistreatment after the commissioner's office agreed to meet with them. -- Chicago Sun-Times Watch out, world: Cubs believe they’re rounding into championship form By Steve Greenberg “Strange” doesn’t begin to cover the Cubs’ 6-5 come-from-behind victory in 10 innings Sunday against the Blue Jays at Wrigley Field. “Clutch” merely scratches the surface, too. Look, the Cubs might be a modest 10-9 in August. Their three consecutive wins over the Jays added up to their first series sweep at home since the opening weekend of June. Their lead in the National League Central remains perilously small. Yet the feeling was palpable after the Cubs scored three runs in the 10th — the last two coming home on catcher Alex Avila’s walk-off single — and hit their “celebration room” extra-hard: They believe they’re rounding into championship-caliber form. The rest of the division had better watch out. The dominant Dodgers and hotshot Nationals should get a clue, too. Here come the defending World Series champs. That’s the way they see it, anyway. “I do love that we don’t quit,” manager Joe Maddon said. “We talk about it all the time. We don’t quit. . . . That’s part of becoming a champion. You’ve got to be able to come back.” It’s hard not to come back when an opponent implodes the way the Jays — namely, closer Roberto Osuna and backup catcher Raffy Lopez — did in the 10th inning. Osuna, apparently bent on blowing his eighth save, put one ball after another in the dirt. There was the wild pitch on a strikeout of Kyle Schwarber that allowed Schwarber to reach base leading off the inning, and the wild pitch that allowed Schwarber to score from third and cut the deficit to one run. Unafraid to one-up himself, Osuna also one-hopped a third strike to Javy Baez, who ran safely to first as Lopez — inexplicably — failed to pounce on the ball and throw Baez out, which would’ve been easy to do.

Did we mention Osuna also hit Jason Heyward with a pitch? That loaded the bases for Avila, the recent acquisition from the Tigers, who lined one into right to score Ben Zobrist and — safe by the tips of his toes — a sliding Baez. “The way the boys grinded at the end was awesome,” said starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks, who allowed three runs — one on a solo homer by ex-Cub Miguel Montero — in six innings. “It definitely was reminiscent of last year somewhat. That’s where we’ve got to get to.” There were lots of little things to talk about after this truly unusual game. First baseman Anthony Rizzo fell on his face fielding a cutoff throw on what should’ve been an out at the plate. Jays center fielder Kevin Pillar — the best in the business? — made one of the plays of the year, crashing into the brick-backed ivy to rob Kris Bryant of extra bases. And even Avila, the hero, had a stranger-than-strange moment in the top of the 10th, flubbing a simple throw back to reliever Koji Uehara to advance a runner and fuel the Jays’ two-run rally. “Fluky,” Avila said. “What are you going to do?” Charge to a commanding lead in the Central, maybe? Finally turn the page from disappointing to formidable? Give the rest of baseball’s contenders something to really worry about? That’s the idea, anyway. And that’s why this game wasn’t about all those little things, but rather about the big picture. “We want to get on a good roll,” center fielder Albert Almora said. “This series was a great start.” -- Chicago Sun-Times Miguel Montero on being called out by Anthony Rizzo, booed at Wrigley By Steve Greenberg Catcher Rene Rivera, claimed off waivers Saturday from the Mets, grew up watching his new team from Puerto Rico. Rivera, 34, who caught all but the 10th inning of the Cubs’ 6-5 victory Sunday over the Blue Jays, cheered on Ryne Sandberg and Sammy Sosa with his grandfather, a big fan. It’s a nice little story. You know who else has a nice little Cubs story? Miguel Montero. His involves — no big deal — a grand slam in the National League Championship Series and a single that drove in what proved to be the winning run in Game  7 of the World Series. The Cubs acquired Rivera (and sent promising youngster Victor Caratini back down to Class AAA Iowa) to add veteran depth at the position while rising star Willson Contreras works his way back from a hamstring injury. Of course, veteran depth is exactly what Montero gave them — until the Cubs designated him for assignment in June one day after he publicly criticized teammate Jake Arrieta. Montero — labeled “selfish” by Cubs star Anthony Rizzo — soon was traded to Toronto. “I left in a bad way,” Montero said, “so it kind of hurts.” Speaking to the Sun-Times before a series finale in which he doubled and homered off Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks, Montero weighed in on a variety of topics related to his departure from the team and his weekend return to Wrigley Field.

On his feelings toward his former teammates: “I love all the guys over there, man — all of them, including Rizzo. I’ve got no hard feelings for what he said. Whatever he said, he’s a great player. He’s a good teammate. But it was a little shame that he said that, knowing that I’m not the guy that he said I was. He knows that.” On being called selfish: “I have a pretty good reputation in my career in the clubhouse. That’s the reason why there were, like, five teams interested when [the Cubs] let me go. They did their homework. They asked other people. If I was really that bad guy they said I was, the teams aren’t interested in bad guys.” On returning to Wrigley: “It’s been weird. I’m not going to lie: The first game, I was very nervous. For the first three innings, I was very nervous. I was more nervous than my debut in the big leagues.” On being booed: “I wasn’t really surprised by it. On the other hand, they gave me a lot of love on Twitter. A lot of fans, they didn’t love that. I thanked them all for that.” Montero said he still hasn’t spoken with Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein, but he did catch up with general manager Jed Hoyer during batting practice before the series opener Friday. “Hey, I have no hard feelings with them, with Theo or anybody,” he said. “You can’t live in the past, man.” --