Dein erstes Forum » pressure.Its not just the whole country focussing

SAN DIEGO -- Jon Lester had another strong outing and his teammates powered their way to another win.Kris Bryant, Addison Russell and Jason Heyward all homered to back Lester as the Chicago Cubs beat the San Diego Padres 5-1 on Monday night.Lester (14-4) limited the Padres to a run and five hits in six innings. He struck out eight and walked two in winning for the 10th time in his last 11 decisions. The left-hander improved to 5-0 with six quality starts out of seven since the All-Star break.Game after game after game you kind of know what to expect from him right now, Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. He had really good stuff tonight.Lester was making his first regular-season appearance at Petco Park, the last active ballpark where he hadnt yet started.I just try to go pitch and do a good job, he said. Thats all I worry about. The main number for me that Im always concerned about is 200 innings. If thats there, then all the other stuff is kind of gravy.Bryants solo shot in the fifth inning was his 32nd of the year, tying him with Colorados Nolan Arenado for the National League lead.Russell added his third home run in two days, and the struggling Heyward -- recently benched to rest mentally -- got his first since July 29.It was great for Jason to be able to do that, Cubs manager Joe Madden said. Those are the kinds of things that can get his confidence going again and going in the right direction.Anthony Rizzo had four hits to tie a career-high for the NL Central-leading Cubs, who have won six of their last eight games and 20 of 25.Edwin Jackson (3-4) gave up five runs and seven hits in five innings. The right-hander struck out two and walked four, one intentionally, as he snapped a three-start winning streak.It just wasnt a great job by me, Jackson said.The Padres, who have lost seven of nine, had only one runner reach third base in the opening five innings.Lester was lifted at 100 pitches after Alex Dickerson and Christian Bethancourt opened the seventh with singles. Justin Grimm, the first of three relievers, came on and allowed a run on a wild pitch when striking out Ryan Schimpf.San Diegos only other threat was in the sixth, as Brett Wallace advanced to third on a one-out single and two-base error by Heyward in right when he overran the ball. But Lester struck out Travis Jankowski looking and, after a walk to Alexei Ramirez, struck out Wil Myers with a devastating curveball.Chicago pulled away with a three-run fifth, which featured two home runs. Bryant led off with arching shot into the left-center field seats. After Rizzos double, Heyward hit his long fly for a 5-0 advantage.That was the one that really hurt, that two-run homer, Jackson said. That kind of put a damper on things.The Cubs forged ahead 2-0 in the third as Jackson struggled with his command. Rizzo singled in between walks to Dexter Fowler and Ben Zobrist. That set up Russells sacrifice fly for his second RBI in two innings.You cant fall behind, especially against a team like this, Jackson said.Russell slugged Jacksons 86-mph slider for a home run in the second, his third solo blast in two days for a 1-0 edge.That was a horrible pitch to Russell, Jackson said. He should have hit that one out.The other two pitches hit for homers werent bad, just not good enough against the powerful Cubs.That is a difficult lineup to navigate, Padres manager Andy Green said.TRAINERS ROOMPadres: OF Jabari Blash was placed on the disabled list with a sprained left finger.UP NEXTCubs: RHP Jake Arrieta (15-5, 2.75 ERA) prevailed in his last outing on Thursday against Arizona, but he wasnt sharp. Arrieta, who has nine road wins, had a career-high seven walks and allowed five runs in 5 2/3 innings.Padres: LHP Christian Friedrich (4-9, 4.69 ERA) looks to snap a three-start losing streak as he has dropped seven of his past nine outings. He was effective on Wednesday against Tampa Bay, working 6 2/3 innings of two-run ball. Los Angeles Lakers Store . In taking its goal tally to 99 in all competitions already this season, City delivered another demonstration of its lethal firepower at Etihad Stadium to set up a fourth-round match at home to another second-tier team -- Watford. Los Angeles Lakers Pro Shop . U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield in Manhattan agreed that lawyers on both sides could make their formal requests by Nov. 8. A hearing is scheduled for a day earlier. Jordan Siev, a lawyer for Rodriguez, wrote in a joint letter to the judge from lawyers on both sides that MLB lawyers planned to ask that the lawsuit be dismissed. https://www.lakersjerseycheap.com/ .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. Lakers Jerseys China . On Saturday night, the normally free throw-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 122-111. Stitched Lakers Jerseys . -- Jimmy Walkers first PGA Tour trophy came with a special gift tucked inside.Leicesters nerves will be jangling but, despite Jamie Vardys suspension, they will find a way to claim three points against Swansea, says Jamie Redknapp... Leicester are in unchartered territory.Jamie Vardy has been their top scorer and their talisman this season. Hes played every league game and fired them to the top of the table with 22 goals. His suspension for this weekends game with Swansea is a massive blow. And the truth is, we dont know how Leicester are going to adjust.Their ability to soak up pressure and hit teams on the break is something theyve mastered this year. And hes been central to that success, with his pace unsettling the opposition. Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy (left) remonstrated with the referee against West Ham Boss Claudio Ranieri has options. He could bring in Jeff Schlupp or the pacey Demarai Gray. Or he could play Leonardo Ulloa or even Riyad Mahrez off Shinji Okazaki.But whoever he picks, it may be that Leicester need to play a bit more football on Sunday and move up the pitch in stages, rather than in the direct way they have previously. They might have to be a little bit more patient in their build-up. Options without Vardy With Jamie Vardy suspended, we look at Leicesters other attacking options But its not the end of the world for them. Vardys been playing so well but I still think its something they can cope with for this Swansea game.They will miss him more for the away game at Manchester United, should his ban be extended, because its in those games where hes been so effective on the break.Vardys suspension follows Leicesters dramatic 2-2 draw with West Ham. After five straight wins, we cant say that result is a blip. But its a nerve-jangler. Its like in the Grand National when a horse is going well and then it hits a fence. You dont know how the horse is going to react when they get to the next fence. This is life-changing. This is history in the making. How can Leicesters players not be nervous? Im nervous for them! Jamie Redknapp What will the reaction be from Leicester this weekend? I keep hearing people say: What have they got to be nervous about because theyve already achieved so much. But of course theyre going to be nervous. This is life-changing. This is history in the making. How can they not be nervous? Im nervous for them!If they dont win the league from here, theyll regret it forever because a lot of these players will never get the chance to win the Premier League again. Long-ball Leicester? Only two teams in Europe have played a higher percentage of long balls than Leicester Tottenham, on the other hand, look like they could play forever.ddddddddddddThey look like they could wipe the floor with every team they play at the moment - and thats the scary part of it for Leicester.Spurs are breathing down their necks and Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Mousa Dembele and Toby Alderweireld are playing like its August and theyre full of energy. They look like theyre enjoying the chase. Claudio Ranieri has urged his players to step up and impress in the absence of Jamie Vardy following his suspension this weekend. That makes Ranieris job very important but, like his players, we dont know how hes going to react to this situation, either. Hes never won a top-flight title before. Its not like Sir Alex Ferguson when he was playing mind games.Ranieri deep down must be thinking: Ive always been a nearly man. This is my chance to ram it down the throat of everyone who said I wasnt a good manager. This is his opportunity and that brings nerves and pressure.Its not just the whole country focussing on this - sports fans across the world are talking about this. Its unprecedented. And while the Leicester coaching staff will try to keep training fun and fresh this week, when the players go home and turn on Sky Sports News or pick up a paper, theyll start feeling the pressure. They cant hide from the enormity of what theyre doing.And they cant hide from the fact they need to bounce back from that West Ham result with a statement against Swansea. Manchester United, Everton and Chelsea follow for Leicester. Tricky tests.If they dont win this one, Id make Tottenham favourites for the title. Thats how much is riding on it.Swansea got beaten 3-0 last week and they cant be as bad as that again, and the Vardy suspension is terrible timing. But I think Leicester will come up with the response they need. Watch Leicester v Swansea live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 4pm on Sunday Also See: Thierrys title race verdict Ranieri gunning for glory Options without Vardy? Vardy accepts FA charge ' ' '