For a team in transition, the Chicago Cubs played quite

CHICAGO -- For a team in transition, the Chicago Cubs played quite well. Jason Pierre-Paul Jersey. On the day they traded two players and looked to make more deals, the Cubs enjoyed their highest-scoring game of the season. Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro homered during a nine-run fifth inning and Chicago routed the Pittsburgh Pirates 14-4 Monday night. Rizzo and Darwin Barney hit three-run homers. Castro had a two-run shot and reached base four times as the Cubs won for the 11th time in their last 13 games at Wrigley Field. After the game, the Cubs announced that outfielder Reed Johnson and pitcher Paul Maholm had been dealt to Atlanta. There was talk that catcher Geovany Soto was headed to Texas, and ace Ryan Dempster was sure to attract plenty of interest before Tuesday afternoons trade deadline. "You hate to pull guys out of games," Cubs manager Jed Hoyer said. "Its sort of part of the business. It isnt comfortable to go down there and make moves." "Im glad in this case it didnt impact the actual game. The Pirates are in pennant race," he said. "These things could come down to one game." Rizzos drive off Erik Bedard (5-12) keyed Chicagos biggest burst of the year. On Sunday, his 10th-inning homer beat St. Louis. Rizzo leads all NL rookies with a .330 average, eight homers and 20 RBIs since being recalled from Triple-A Iowa on June 26. The Cubs have gone 18-10 since he joined the team. Justin Germano (1-1) held Pittsburgh to two runs over five innings in his first start since Oct. 3, 2010. He picked up his first win since Aug. 28, 2007, when he beat Arizona as a member of the San Diego Padres. "Ive never really been a part of anything like that," Germano said. "Theres a lot of things a lot of things I can take from this game. It was a fun night." Johnson and Soto were taken out in the middle innings for pinch hitters. They hugged their teammates in the dugout. "I cant lie to you," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. "Its the first time I ever went through that." There was little doubt about outcome of the game when the players were removed, largely thanks to a career night from Barney that started with an uncharacteristic defensive miscue. Barney dropped a throw when trying to make a pivot on a double play, allowing the Pirates to take a 2-1 lead in the fourth. Barney, who completed his 88th straight errorless game at second base, was not charged with an error on the play because he got the out at second. "I was so upset with myself not turning the double play," Barney said. "I was angry the whole at-bat. Thats all I could think about because of the bobble." Barney made up for it in the bottom half, tagging Bedard for his first career three-run homer, a shot deep into the bleachers in left-centre field. "Definitely was probably the best ball Ive hit since Ive been at the big league level," Barney said. "It was just one of those things that he had such a good curveball today, he threw a slide-step fastball and was kind of anticipating a fastball there." Barney also tripled, drove in a career-best four runs and scored three. Pinch hitter David DeJesus stepped the plate after an awkward pause when Johnson was due to bat for the second time during the fifth-inning surge. DeJesus ultimately lined a two-run single. Castro capped the big inning with his 10th homer of the season, a shot to deep centre field. Bedard allowed nine runs, matching a career worst and his 12 defeats give him the most in the majors. The Cubs have beaten eight of the last nine lefty starters theyve faced "They hit good pitches, bad pitches and the unfortunate thing they went over the fence," Bedard said. "I felt really good. I guess thats the positive out of it." Rookie Starling Marte had three hits and an RBI for the Pirates and Mike McKenry drove in two runs. NOTES: Dempster is slated to start the second game of the series for the Cubs. Sveum said he would be "surprised" if Dempster was still with the team after Tuesdays trade deadline. Chicago will have a minor league pitcher travel to Chicago as a contingency to a Dempster transaction. ... Another subject of trade rumours, Cubs RHP Matt Garza threw a bullpen session on Monday that Sveum said went "extremely well." Garza is expected to return to action later this week. His last start was pushed back because of cramping in his right arm. ... Pirates manager Clint Hurdle celebrated his 55th birthday on Monday. Hakeem Nicks Jersey. The top names are Zack Greinke and Josh Hamilton; neither of whom will likely end up with the Blue Jays. Eli Manning Pink Jersey. The disaster caused by Fridays earthquake is severe and there are many Chinese people in Japan and they are widely distributed, Jiang said. Special coverage:Earthquake Hits Japan Related readings: Quake-hit Japan nuclear plant faces fresh threat Chinese rescue team arrives in Japan Millions without food, water, power in Japan The Chinese embassy and consulates in Japan are keeping on collecting all the information about Chinese citizens in the quake-hit areas and is ready to provide assistance for them, Jiang said. http://www.nflgiantsstore.com/eli-manning-jerseys.4 million. One month after making a monster $110-million payout to keep captain Shea Weber in town, the Predators made sure the 32-year-old Fisher -- the teams second-leading goal scorer last season -- would be also be sticking around. Mark Bavaro Jersey. The 19th-seeded Thornhill, Ont., native, will face a true clay test in the next round when he plays Argentinas Juan Monaco after the 13th seed defeated Czech Lukas Rosol 7-6 (4), 6-0, 7-6 (5). Victor Cruz Giants Jersey. TSN 1290s coverage begins with Hustler and Lawless live from the front concourse of MTS Centre at 4pm ct. Rick Ralph hosts the official Jets pregame show at 6:30pm ct. CLEVELAND -- Brent Lillibridge enjoyed his brief stay in Boston, and then had more fun helping the Cleveland Indians beat his former Red Sox teammates. Lillibridge homered, drove in two runs and scored on a squeeze bunt to back Zack McAllisters strong pitching in the Indians 5-2 victory on Saturday night. Lillibridge also threw out a runner at the plate, made an acrobatic tag at third base, and was cheered by a crowd that probably was scratching its head at why someone with a .181 batting average was in the lineup. "Its been a rough year, so it felt really good to contribute," said Lillibridge, who was traded from Chicago to Boston to Cleveland in less than month. "He was huge," Indians manager Manny Acta said. "Hes very versatile and did a lot tonight." Acta was more delighted with the rookie McAllister (5-4), who working a career-high eight innings. "Zach was THE man out there," Acta said. "Right-hand batters were 0 for 14 against him. He had 19 of 27 first-pitch strikes and gave a rest to our bullpen. He was just fantastic." McAllister allowed three hits, including a two-run double by Adrian Gonzalez. He struck out four without issuing a walk. "The kid was throwing the ball where he wanted to throw it," Boston manager Bobby Valentine said. "That low and away pitch was really effective." Chris Perez pitched the ninth to earn his 31st save in 35 chances for Cleveland, 3-1 since an 11-game losing streak. Boston has lost eight of 11. Lillibridge, acquired July 24 from Boston for minor league pitcher Jose De La Torre, tied a career high with three hits. He hit his first homer in nearly a year and had an RBI single off Franklin Morales (3-2). He raised his average 21 points to .202 and doubled his season RBI output to four. Lillibridge made it 1-0 in the third with his first homer since Aug. 31, 2011, when he was with the White Sox. After hitting 13 homers for Chicago last year, he was sent to Boston on June 24 in the deal for Kevin Youkilis. He joked with shortstop Mike Aviles during the game. "I told Mike I didnt expected to beat up on the Red Sox," Lillibridge said. "They are a good group of guys." Lillibridge also was involved in three odd plays in the field as Boston went ahead 2-1 in the fourth. After Jacoby Elllsbury doubled, McAllister fielded Carl Crawfords bunt and turned to third, where Lillibridge was off the bag. Jason Pierre-Paul Black Jersey Ellsbury advanced, and Crawford was safe, too, on McAllisters late throw to first. Next, Dustin Pedroia hit a roller to Lillibridge, who had Ellsbury caught between third and home, but couldnt make a play anywhere, loading the bases. Gonzalez followed with a drive high off the wall in left, scoring two runs. Pedroia also tried to score and was thrown out on a strong relay throw by Lillibridge. "We gave them five outs that inning," Acta said. "But Zach didnt get rattled, and we came back and won. Everything was possible because of Zachs effort." Cleveland tied it at 2 in the fifth. Brantley walked, moved up on a balk, took third on a groundout, and scored on Lillibridges line single to left. "I ended up just trying to drive in more runs than I let in," said Lillibridge, who added another defensive gem. In the sixth, Ellsbury was out trying to stretch a leadoff double. Lillibridge took the throw from centre fielder Brantley and made a sprawling tag on the infield side of the bag. In the bottom half, after a walk and hit batter, Cleveland executed a double steal. Morales intentionally walked Carlos Santana and was replaced by Andrew Miller. Brantleys sacrifice fly made it 3-2. Morales, a converted reliever making his seventh start, gave up only the two hits to Lillibridge in 5 2-3 innings, but allowed three runs. Lillibridge opened the seventh with a hustle double. He took third on a groundout, and scored on Lou Marsons bunt to make it 4-2. Ezequiel Carrera had an RBI single in the eighth for Cleveland. NOTES: The start was delayed 18 minutes because Indians Hall of Fame ceremonies ran long. Right-hander Gaylord Perry, late outfielder Jack Graney, and trainer Jim Warfield were all inducted. ... Indians RHP Roberto Hernandez will start Wednesday in Los Angeles, his first game since being arrested in the Dominican Republic in January. It was discovered he was 31, three years older than listed, and using the identity of a distant cousin, Fausto Carmona. ... Boston called up 3B Danny Valencia from Triple-A Pawtucket to replace Will Middlebrooks, who was placed on the disabled list with a broken right wrist. Boston has had 25 players on the DL this year. ' ' '