s also a great team, and the fever pitch of a two-team rivalry, with

CHICAGO -- Put Yadier Molina down for four more hits. Four RBIs, too. Add another clutch hit to Allen Craigs total. The majors last game before the All-Star break sure had a familiar feel for the St. Louis Cardinals. Molina hit a three-run homer in St. Louis four-run ninth inning, and the Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 10-6 on Sunday night. "We never give up," Molina said. "Whatever happens in the game or the inning before were going to come after you." Craig lined a tiebreaking RBI single into left field before Molina drove an 0-2 pitch from Kevin Gregg (2-2) over the wall in left for his seventh homer. Pete Kozma added three hits and two RBIs as St. Louis finished with a season-high 21 hits. Chicago went up 4-3 on Darwin Barneys three-run homer off Adam Wainwright in the sixth, and pinch hitter Cody Ransom had a tying two-run double in the eighth. But the Cubs bullpen was unable to hold off the NLs highest-scoring team. "Obviously we lost, but I mean we showed a lot of fight," Barney said. "We showed maybe what kind of character we have in those kind of games." The Cardinals won for the seventh time in nine games to salvage a split of the four-game series. Edward Mujica (2-1) had his second blown save opportunity in 28 chances, but managed to get the win on the same day he was chosen to replace Wainwright on the NL All-Star team. Despite injuries to key pitchers Chris Carpenter, Jaime Garcia and Jason Motte, St. Louis heads to the All-Star break with baseballs best record at 57-36. It leads the NL Central by one game over surprising Pittsburgh, which lost 4-2 to the New York Mets earlier in the day. "I cant express how proud I am the way these guys play the game," manager Mike Matheny said. "It was a very fitting way to end before the break." A big reason for St. Louis success is the play of Craig and Molina, who are both headed to New York for Tuesday nights game at Citi Field. Craig is batting .489 (44 for 90) with runners in scoring position and leads the team with 74 RBIs. Molina leads the NL with a .341 batting average while playing his usual strong defence behind the plate. Wainwright, who allowed four runs and eight hits in six innings, said he thinks Molina is baseballs best all-around player. "What can you say?" Wainwright said. "He gets the big hits when he needs to and he calls great games." Barney also had a run-scoring single for the Cubs, who went 6-4 on a 10-game stretch in Chicago that included a makeup game at the crosstown White Sox last Monday. The four RBIs for Barney matched a career high set in a 14-4 victory against Pittsburgh on July 30, 2012. After a slow start, the Cubs (42-51) are a respectable 24-21 in their last 45 games. Its good enough for a four-game improvement compared to last year at this point, when the North Siders were 38-55 on their way to their first 100-loss season since 1966. "Its a half that could have gone a lot different, but I think a lot of guys have progressed, kind of taken strides in the right way," said first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who committed a mental gaffe in the eighth when he cut off a ball that might have got a runner at the plate. Travis Wood, who will represent the Cubs at the All-Star festivities, allowed three runs and a season-high 10 hits in 5 2-3 innings. It matched the shortest outing of the year for the consistent lefty, who pitched at least six innings in 17 of his first 18 starts. Molina was out of the starting lineup for St. Louis 6-4 loss on Saturday night and began the night in a 1-for-19 rut covering his previous seven games. But he singled in each of his first two at-bats, hit a leadoff double in the seventh and forced Bogusevic to make a leaping catch against the wall in centre in the eighth. "Tonight was me," Molina said. "Tonight I saw the ball pretty good and I made contact pretty solid." NOTES: Cardinals OF Matt Holliday (right hamstring tightness) missed his third consecutive game. "We need to be real careful so we can continue to progress, make sure we are aiming for that first day after the break," Matheny said. ... OF Cole Gillespie joined the Cubs, and reliever Henry Rodriguez was designated for assignment to make room on the roster. Gillespie was claimed off waivers from San Francisco on Saturday. He had a pinch-hit single in the eighth. ... Cubs RHP Scott Baker allowed four runs and six hits in three innings in his first rehab start with Class A Kane County. Baker missed last season with Minnesota after undergoing elbow-ligament replacement surgery. "Today was a big hump, to pitch against hitters and getting in a real game and the whole atmosphere and everything," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. Nike Daybreak Norge . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position. Vapormax Hvit Dame Norge .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Kevin Porter and defenceman Chad Ruhwedel from the minors as part of a five-player roster shuffle made by the NHLs worst team. http://www.vapormaxnorge.com/ . And when it opened, every player was at his stall. Thats a sure sign that a team is in a slump and is searching for answers. "Its embarrassing to be at home and play the way we did," said defenceman Josh Gorges. Vapormax Herre Norge . Bjorn, who had a 36-hole total of 8-under 134, made a testing six-foot putt to save par on the 16th and a birdie on the 17th before bogeying the final hole after a misjudged approach shot. American Kevin Streelman was in second place after shooting a 69. Vapormax Flyknit Herre Norge .Y. -- Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers had no intention of changing his hard-hitting style before taking part in a disciplinary hearing for his illegal check to New Jersey forward Dainius Zubrus head. The BBLs oldest player, spinner Brad Hogg, has joined the Melbourne Renegades for the 2016-17 season. Hogg, 45, has spent the past five seasons as something of a cult figure with the Perth Scorchers and is their all-time leading BBL wicket taker, and second on the wicket tally for all teams since the tournament began in 2011-12.However, Hogg has decided against remaining in his home state, much to the disappointment of Scorchers coach Justin Langer. I have been a very fortunate man in every respect and had five great seasons with the Scorchers, Hogg said on Monday. It was simply time for me to move on.I had been rejecting other BBL offers for years, but this year I realised the end is coming closer - hopefully its still a few years away yet - but I know this is the time to grab those opportunities and experience everything I possibly can. The competition between the two Melbourne teams is a fierce rivalry and I want to be a part of that intensity over the BBL season.Melbourne is the sporting hub of the country so I see it as a great honour to play there. Its also a great team, and the fever pitch of a two-team rivalry, within the competition will be brilliant. Coming from Perth, the only time we gett a taste of that is in AFL with the Dockers and Eagles.dddddddddddd Its electrifying.The Renegades and Stars games will offer an intense rivalry within the competition itself. It adds an element to the game that I havent experienced. The Renegades can win this league and I cannot wait to get out there and feel the roar of that competition.Hogg played in successful back-to-back BBL campaigns with the Scorchers in 2013-14 and 2014-15, and became Australias oldest T20 international player at the age of 43. This year, at 45, he became the oldest man ever to play in the IPL.Its just amazing when you consider that Brads still fit, got the fire and more to the point in-demand around the world, Renegades coach David Saker said. I dont think there are many recent summers where we havent stood there and applauded his BBL performancesHis experience goes without saying. Hell be great for the guys in the group to learn from and you cant teach the energy and enthusiasm he brings to the club. He loves the battle on the field and we cant wait to see his competitive side come out in red. ' ' '