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DENVER -- A couple of bullpen sessions over the All-Star break helped Jeff Samardzija resolve the mechanical problems in his pitching delivery that had been bothering him much of the season. The refinements were evident Friday night when Samardzija pitched effectively into the eighth inning, and Anthony Rizzo doubled home the go-ahead run in the seventh in Chicago Cubs 3-1 win over the Colorado Rockies. "We changed a couple things with my mechanics, kept me on line a little more," Samardzija said. "But if you had asked me all year how I felt about my mechanics, I would say they were off, to tell you the truth, until today. So, Im really excited to stop making adjustments and really just working on pitch selection and pitch location. As a pitcher, sometimes those things happen. It clicks for you and you go from there." Alfonso Soriano added a home run, his 17th, and Junior Lake, recalled by Chicago from Triple-A Iowa before the game, had three hits in his major league debut, including a double in his first career at-bat. Darwin Barney drove in an insurance run with a ninth-inning double. Samardzija (6-9) kept the Rockies in check by limiting them to one run on four hits in 7 1-3 innings, bouncing back after tying a career high by allowing nine runs in a 13-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on July 10. "Tonight, the guy was nasty and dominated," Michael Cuddyer said. "Youve got to tip your hat every once in a while. He pitched really well." Samardzija was able to paint the corners with his fastball and kept the Rockies off balance with a devastating splitter. "It was so good tonight," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. "It was diving out of the strike zone so much you couldnt even get swings at it sometimes." Samardzija walked three and struck out six, including striking out the side in the seventh, when he set down All-Stars Carlos Gonzalez, Troy Tulowitzki and Cuddyer. "I was working both sides of the plate with my fastball, really established it for a strike, and when you do that, it makes your splitter that much better," he said. "Just being aggressive helped out a lot." Added Cuddyer: "He throws 96 mph with an 83-mph splitter that was on tonight. He didnt walk many guys until the very end." D.J. LeMahieu doubled off Kevin Gregg to start the ninth and advanced to third on a ground out by Gonzalez. Tulowitzki walked before Gregg induced Cuddyer to ground into a game-ending double play for his 18th save in 20 chances. Chicago regained the lead in the seventh, sparked by Cody Ransoms two-out walk off reliever Edgmer Escalona (1-3). Rizzo followed by lining a double down the right field line. He was thrown out trying for third but not before Ransom had crossed the plate with the go-ahead run. Soriano gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead when he homered to start the fourth inning, driving Jorge De La Rosas 0-1 pitch into the stand of evergreens beyond the centre field wall. It was his 389th homer, tying him with Hall of Famer Johnny Bench for 57th on the career list. Dexter Fowler evened the score when he led off the Rockies half of the fourth with a homer, his 11th. He drove Samardzijas first offering beyond the centre field wall in almost the same spot as Sorianos. The Rockies had a chance to go in front after Tulowitzki and Cuddyer hit consecutive two-out singles. With Todd Helton up, a low pitch skipped past Welington Castillo, but the ball bounced off the backstop and the catcher corralled it, making an off-balance throw to Samardzija covering at home just in time to tag out Tulowitzki, who had broken for the plate. De La Rosa went six innings and allowed one run on five hits. Lake, an oufielder-infielder, filled the roster spot of outfielder Brian Bogusevic, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain. Sveum said he was extremely encouraged by Lakes exceptional debut. "Since Ive been here, thats the first kid thats come up and looked like a major leaguer, aggressive, aggressive on the bases," Sveum said. "He did a great job and swung the bat really nice." NOTES: The home run was Sorianos 15th extra-base hit since June 28, tops in the NL in that span. ... Fowlers home run was his first since hitting two against the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 2. ... The Rockies opened the second half with a 10-game homestand, while Cubs began a 10-game road trip. ... Rockies right-hander Juan Nicasio (5-4) is set to pitch Saturday nights game against the Cubs. Hell be opposed by RHP Carlos Villanueva (2-5).Ray Nitschke Jersey . Defenceman Yannick Weber scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Canucks breathed a sigh of relief with a 2-1 win on Saturday night. Dexter Williams Youth Jersey . -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago. http://www.packersrookiestore.com/Packers-Jace-Sternberger-Jersey/ . But now that hes in the NHL, the Calgary Flames centre showed big improvement in that department by scoring the winner in the eighth round of a 5-4 shootout victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Monday. Paul Hornung Youth Jersey . - Chris Tierney snapped a tie with a power-play goal late in the third period as the London Knights rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Erie Otters 5-3 in Ontario Hockey League action on Wednesday. Rashan Gary Packers Jersey .C. -- Todd Fiddler scored a hat trick, including the overtime goal, as the Prince George Cougars survived an 8-7 win against the Kamloops Blazers in Western Hockey League play Sunday.FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Ryan Fitzpatrick had a lot of time during the offseason to think about what could have been for the New York Jets.Sure, the final numbers were pretty impressive: a 10-6 record, the offense ranking 10th overall, the veteran quarterback setting a franchise record with 31 touchdown passes. But the Jets finished a win shy of the playoffs, and that stuck with Fitzpatrick for a while.With his long, drawn-out contract stalemate behind him, and a new one-year, $12 million deal in his pocket, Fitzpatrick is ready to build off of last season.Just from reviewing last year, theres so many things we can get better at, Fitzpatrick said. We did some things well. I thought by the end of the year, we were playing decent. But you sit and you look at all the missed opportunities from last year and theres a lot of ways we can get better.Fitzpatrick threw interceptions on each of the Jets last three possessions in the season finale against Buffalo, a game that would have put New York in the playoffs with a win.Theres some unfinished business for the 33-year-old Fitzpatrick. And he feels good about what Todd Bowles team has going on.Im excited to see whats to come for us on offense, Fitzpatrick said.A lot of the Jets success will fall on his shoulders. With a defense again expected to be among the NFLs best, New York needs Fitzpatrick to at least approach last seasons career-type year.I actually think hes better this year, wide receiver Brandon Marshall said. Hes throwing the ball much better, with more velocity, hes throwing it deeper. He seems comfortable back there. Hes looking really good. Hes impressive.Here are some things to know as the Jets prepare to host Cincinnati on Sept. 11:TOUGH START: New York will have a good feel for how its season will go by Week 7.Five of the Jets first six opponents were playoff teams a year ago, and six of their first nine games are on the road. After opening against the Bengals, New York is at Buffalo against former coach Rex Ryan, at Kansas City, home against Seattle, at Pittsburgh and at Arizona.It doesnt matter who we play, Bowles said. If you win 10 games or double figures, your schedule is going to be tougher. Thats just part of the league.DOMINANT D-LINE: While Darrelle Revis remains one of the best cover guys in the league, Bowles aggressive defense starts up front with the big men.Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams are baack to anchor the defense, and Steve McLendon slides into the nose tackle spot vacated when Damon Harrison signed with the Giants.ddddddddddddWilkerson is fully healthy after breaking a leg in the regular-season finale and coming off an offseason in which he got a five-year, $86,000 deal. Richardson is suspended for the first game of the season for violating the leagues personal conduct policy last summer, but hes motivated to be the playmaker he was his first two years. Williams appears primed for a breakout season in his second year, looking to improve on his three sacks after being the No. 6 overall pick.FORTE FITS: The Jets signed running back Matt Forte in the offseason, envisioning him to be a pass-catching presence out of the backfield in Chan Gaileys offense.Hes two years removed from setting an NFL record for running backs with 102 receptions for Chicago, and he should be a nice complement to wide receivers Marshall and Eric Decker, who combined for 26 TD catches last season. Forte dealt with a hamstring injury that sidelined him for much of training camp, but he played in the third preseason game and felt healthy, so theres no lingering concerns.BLIND SIDE: Ryan Clady was acquired from Denver a day after fellow left tackle DBrickashaw Ferguson surprisingly announced his retirement after 10 seasons in which he never missed a game or practice.Clady is a four-time Pro Bowl selection who has been terrific when healthy, but thats been an issue lately. He has missed 30 games over the last three seasons, making him a risky proposition for an offensive line that lacks depth. But Clady appeared healthy in camp and fully recovered from a torn knee ligament.QUICK IMPRESSIONS: Both Bowles and general manager Mike Maccagnan stressed the need to get faster overall, and they addressed that on defense in the draft.First-rounder Darron Lee is a versatile inside linebacker who goes sideline to sideline and can be used in a variety of situations by Bowles. Third-rounder Jordan Jenkins is an outside linebacker who can help set the edge while also providing a pass-rushing presence, along with Lorenzo Mauldin, whos entering his second season. Both Lee and Jenkins are expected to get lots of playing time as rookies.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '