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CHICAGO -- When Jon Lester was a free agent two years ago, he decided to join?the Chicago Cubs primarily because they had?promising prospects, including Javier Baez.Look where they are now.Lester and Baez were selected as co-MVPs for the National League Championship Series on Saturday night after leading the Cubs to their first NL pennant since 1945.Baez hit .318 (7-for-22) with five RBIs against the?Los Angeles Dodgers, picking up right where he left off in the division series. The versatile Baez also made a couple of the most exciting plays in the NLCS, stealing home during Chicagos victory in the opener and robbing Adrian Gonzalez of a hit with a terrific, bare-handed scoop in Game 5 on Thursday night.Just having fun, Baez said. Living my dream, playing like a little kid, moving everywhere, catching the ball and making plays.Next up for Baez and the Cubs: the World Series against Francisco Lindor and the Indians, beginning Tuesday night in Cleveland. Baez and Lindor are part of a dynamic group of young players from Puerto Rico that also includes Houston shortstop Carlos Correa.Baez grew up in Puerto Rico, played a lot of baseball as a youth, played a lot of winter ball, manager Joe Maddon said. Hes been taught properly and well. And when he goes out there, man, you saw him before the game sitting on the bench, saw him waving into the camera. Hes just being himself. I love that.Lester, one of baseballs most accomplished playoff performers, went 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA in two starts against Los Angeles. He has allowed just two runs in 21 innings in three postseason games this year.Lesters $155 million, six-year deal in December 2014 was a key moment in the Cubs turnaround from also-ran to contender. The left-hander is a sure bet to get the ball in Game 1 against the Indians, Hes looking to improve to 4-0 in four World Series starts after helping Boston win it all in 2007 and 2013.Its unbelievable. Going through this process, this is why they signed me, Lester said. This is why they wanted me to come here to win a World Series. This is why I wanted to come here, to win a World Series for this city and this organization, this ownership, this front office. ... We still have a long ways to go.Lester and Baez became the first NLCS co-MVPs since Cincinnati relievers Rob Dibble and Randy Myers in 1990.The Cubs grabbed Baez with the ninth overall pick in the 2011 amateur draft. He made his major league debut in 2014 but really turned into a consistent force this year, batting .273 with 14 homers and 59 RBIs while playing several different positions.After struggling for a while in his first year in Chicago, Lester went 19-5 with a 2.44 ERA in 32 starts this season. The 19 wins matched a career high.Youre obviously going to feel more comfortable that second year as opposed to just getting thrown into that first year with a whole new atmosphere in front of you, Lester said before Game 1 of the NLCS.China Jerseys 2020 . After slipping from the summit during the week, the Gunners overcame struggling Crystal Palace 2-0 on Sunday thanks to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlains second-half brace. NFL Jerseys 2020 .J. -- Seven games into a disappointing season, New York Giants defensive catalyst Jason Pierre-Paul is getting the feeling hes back. https://www.cheapjerseysfromchinareview.com/ . Mitch Holmberg added a goal and three assists. Connor Chartier also scored for the Chiefs (3-0-0). Luke Harrison spoiled Garrett Hughsons shutout bid with a power-play goal at 13:17 of the third period. The Spokane goaltender finished with 28 saves, including a Brandon Fushimi penalty shot in the second period that would have tied the game 1-1. Wholesale Jerseys China . Most important, perhaps, it went off without a hitch. Organizers poked a little fun at the now-infamous opening ceremony gaffe that saw only four out of five snowflakes open up into rings, leaving the Olympics logo one ring short. Cheap Jerseys 2020 .ca! Hi Kerry, Its another day and here we are looking at another dubious hit to the head. In this case Blue Jackets forward Brandon Dubinsky elbowed Saku Koivu in the head about a second after he dished off the puck to a teammate, knocking him unconscious. PITTSBURGH -- Jordy Mercer knows the routine. He figured it was time he experienced it for himself. The Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman singled up the middle off Gonzalez Germen with two outs in the 11th inning to send teammate Andrew McCutchen sprinting home with the winning run in a 3-2 victory over the New York Mets on Friday night. Mercer celebrated the first walkoff hit of his career and the sixth of Pittsburghs stunning season by flipping his bat in the air and then running for safety. "You make them chase you down because you know youre going to get punished afterward, punched and stuff," Mercer said. "Its all worth it in the end, though." McCutchen led off the 11th with a walk, stole second and then easily beat the throw home from centre fielder Juan Lagares to end the Mets four-game winning streak. The Pirates stayed one game behind St. Louis in the tight NL Central race. Vin Mazzaro (5-2) retired all three batters he faced to earn the victory. Starling Marte had two of Pittsburghs six hits, and Pedro Alvarez added his 24th home run. Mets All-Star David Wright had two hits and extended his hitting streak to 12 games. He had an RBI single but also flied out with two runners on to end the New York 10th. Kirk Nieuwenhuis hit his third homer of the season for New York. Germen (0-1) got only two outs in his first inning in the majors and took the loss. He struck out Alvarez and Gaby Sanchez with McCutchen on second before Mercers grounder slipped by shortstop Omar Quintanilla and into the outfield. "He made some great pitches, too," Mets manager Terry Collins said of Germen. "The 3-1 pitch to Gaby Sanchez was about as (gutsy) of a pitch that youll ever see." The game carried a little more heat than usual between one team in the midst of a pennant race and another rebuilding. Wright, the starting NL All-Star third baseman and Home Run Derby captain, added Alvarez to the NLs derby roster on Thursday after Colorados Carlos Gonzalez pulled out because of a hand injury. Still, Wrights perceived initial snub of Alvarez wasnt forgotten by Pirates fans. He was booed lustily before each at bat, even though he and Alvarez -- who will make his All-Star debut -- exchanged a handshake and a brief chat before the national anthem. "Theyre knowledgeable fans, they know whats going on and its cool that theyre upset and passionate about it," Wright said. "It made for a nice atmosphere." Alvarez wasted little time celebrating. One batter after Jose Tabata reached on an infield single in the bottom of the first, Alvarez hit the first pitch he saw from Jeremy Hefner into the New York bullpen in centre field.dddddddddddd. He trotted past Wright without looking up as the seventh sellout crowd of the season roared. Alvarez, a New York native, dismissed any sense of payback with his blast. He considers Wright a friend and would rather focus on his breakout season. "I just try to hit the pitch where its pitched, and just trying to make good contact and really not worry about trying to put too much on the ball," he said. "You cant really control the home runs. I try my best to make good contact wherever the ball is." Hefner settled down and retired 14 straight after Alvarezs homer, needing just 78 pitches to get through seven innings. He allowed three hits and struck out three without issuing a walk. "Last year and even at the beginning of this year I would have folded or given up more runs or whatever the case may be," Hefner said. "Ive been able to bounce back, turn the page and give quality outings after giving up some runs early." It marked the eighth straight start in which Hefner gave up two earned runs or fewer, the longest streak by a Mets pitcher since Johan Santana did it over 13 starts between 2008 and 2009. Pittsburghs Charlie Morton gave up two runs, six hits, and a walk with four strikeouts in his longest start since returning from elbow surgery last month. Morton rolled through five innings before Wright delivered an RBI single in the sixth. Mortons only real mistake came on a 2-0 fastball that Nieuwenhuis hit into the first row of seats in right-centre to tie it at 2. NOTES: New York right-hander Carlos Torres (0-1, 0.51 ERA) makes his first major league start in nearly three years on Saturday when he fills in for ace Matt Harvey, who is dealing with a blister on his right index finger and an innings limit. Collins says Torres could earn a regular spot in the rotation. The 30-year-old Torres has allowed just one run in 10 relief appearances since being called up from Triple-A in mid-June. A.J. Burnett (4-6, 3.05 ERA) starts for the Pirates. ... Pittsburgh wont send rookie RHP Gerrit Cole to Triple-A Indianapolis during the All-Star break. Cole is 4-2 with a 3.68 ERA since making his debut on June 11. The right-hander started on Tuesday, and the Pirates will let him have a few days off during the break rather than have him make a spot start in Indianapolis to stay on his routine. ... The Pirates acquired minor league infielder Russ Canzler from Baltimore for RHP Tim Alderson. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Pirates moved RHP James McDonald (shoulder) to the 60-day disabled list. ' ' '