Boxengasse » was going to take some adversity within this tournament, Spera

CHICAGO -- Jeff Samardzija was at home pitching on the South Side. Samardzija threw a complete game, two-hit shutout and Julio Borbon hit a two-run home run and the Chicago Cubs beat the Chicago White Sox 7-0 on Monday. Samardzija (3-6) pitched the Cubs first complete game shutout since Randy Wells shut out the Giants on Aug. 29, 2011. The last time the Cubs shut out an opponent as a team came against the Rockies on Aug. 26, 2012. The first White Sox hit came from Conor Gillaspie in the third inning. Samardzija then got Jeff Keppinger to hit into a double play as he faced the minimum through four innings. He struck out Alejandro De Aza to end the sixth. He then retired 12 straight before giving up a walk to Tyler Flowers in the ninth inning. He bounced back by striking out De Aza, then after a single to Alexei Ramirez, he got Alex Rios to pop out to end the game. The once anticipated interleague series in Chicago lost some of its lustre with the fans as the Cubs entered the game in last place in the NL Central and the White Sox are struggling to play .500. The announced attendance was 30,631 at U.S. Cellular Field. Samardzija who grew up in Northwest Indiana, enjoys pitching against the White Sox. "I love this place," Samardzija said. "I loved coming here to watch games here as a kid. I loved watching these guys play for a long time. "Ive always been a fan, so to come here and to have my whole family here, 30 minutes from home from my backyard, its fun. I love being here. I love the atmosphere here. I love these games against the White Sox, they are always fun, unfortunately they cut them down to four. This is what baseball is all about, these rivalry games," "You got the smell of the steel mills in the background, its not the most beautiful scent in the world, but it smells like home." Anthony Rizzo doubled and hit a two-run triple in his first Crosstown Classic and Alfonso Soriano added three hits as the Cubs won two in a row after losing six straight. Cubs manager Dale Sveum was impressed by how Samardzija featured his fastball. "Sometimes he reverts back to probably thinking a little too much instead of just knowing what he is. He is a big-time power guy," Sveum said. "You guys saw his split-finger pitch tonight, it is pretty much a non-hittable pitch when he is committed it and throwing it like that. Not that hes not a pitcher, but sometimes he wants to be this pitcher that is pitching like a Greg Maddux. He is not that kind of a pitcher." It was Samardzijas first career shutout. "I am going out with the mindset to pitch deep in every game. If you want to be one of the guys the team turns to in a big situation, thats the number one thing, pitch deep into games and give your offence a chance to win the game. We saw what happened tonight." White Sox starter Jose Quintana (3-2) allowed four runs and four hits. He struck out five and allowed three walks. The White Sox lost for the second time in seven games. With one out in the first inning, Quintana walked Starlin Castro then struck out Rizzo as Castro was attempting to steal second. Flowers was unable to throw to second because Ramirez forgot to cover second base. Soriano followed with a single off the left field wall to score Castro. "Again, I dont know if it was the pitcher who made us flat, but there was enough of a lack of focus that needs to be there," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. In the fifth inning, Borbon hit a two-run shot to right on the first pitch. It was his first homer and the first RBIs of the season. Rizzo led off the sixth with a double and scored on Scott Hairstons sacrifice fly to make it 4-0. In the seventh, Rizzo hit a two-run triple off the centre field wall and scored on Sorianos single to extend the Cubs lead to 7-0. White Sox reliever Nate Jones allowed three runs and four hits in the seventh inning. "Right now he needs to fix it here," Ventura said. "Weve seen it. Its there. I dont know if its the lack of confidence or what. Stuff-wise, its not a velocity issue at all. Its going to be more location and the confidence of being able to continue to do that." NOTES: White Sox ace Chris Sale is on schedule to start Tuesday night against the Cubs after missing his previous start because of tendinitis in his left shoulder. The left-hander had no setbacks after a bullpen session on Sunday. ... RHP Edwin Jackson is the Cubs scheduled starter Tuesday. He is 1-7 with a 6.11 ERA on the season and is 1-4 with a 6.60 ERA in his career against the White Sox. Custom Canucks Jersey China . They hope to persuade the other team owners and commissioner Roger Goodell to put pressure on Redskins owner Daniel Snyder to drop the nickname they find offensive. 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With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. RIO DE JANEIRO -- John Speraw ran along the sideline about as close as he could to actually being in the action, cheering Aaron Russell to make a save while crashing into the barrier some 20 feet behind the end line.I was willing him to get that ball, the U.S. coach said. Im into it. Its the Olympic Games.Russell didnt quite get there. Moments later, Micah Christenson pulled off a nearly identical play and kept the point going.It has taken that kind of hustle -- not to mention several heart-to-hearts -- for the semifinals-bound U.S. mens volleyball team to put itself in position for an Olympic medal.It gives me goosebumps talking about it and thinking about it because those are the plays that were all making for each other, said Christenson, one of eight U.S. first-time Olympians. Were sacrificing everything we have for each other and we can really see that, its really evident in our play. And I dont think thats ever going to stop. Those are kind of defining moments in our tournament that really help us.The fifth-ranked Americans topped second-ranked Poland 25-23, 25-22 25-20 on Wednesday, building serious momentum at Maracanazinho arena after dropping their initial two matches to Canada and Italy before stunning Brazil and finishing off France.Brazil beat Argentina 25-22, 17-25, 25-19, 25-23 and will play Russia in the semifinals Friday.The U.S. will play Italy, which beat Olympic first-timer Iran in straight sets. That included a 31-29 first set that finally ended on Italy captain Emanuele Birarellis block. The Italians beat the U.S. in four sets during pool play -- and the Americans havent lost since.We started this tournament horribly, not how we wanted to play, U.S. outside hitter Taylor Sander said. We really learned from those two mmatches.dddddddddddd Now, were playing every match like its a gold-medal match.Sitting in his hotel room a week ago, Speraw had his doubts after the 0-2 start. Then, the jitters subsided, the volleyball got far better after those team chats, and everything clicked for his young group.I had a hunch that if this team -- as young as they are and as inexperienced as they are, without tons of adversity -- if we were going to reach our very best, it was going to take some adversity within this tournament, Speraw said. I dont think any of us expected to come into this volleyball match against Poland, as good as they are and as well as they were playing, and come away with a 3-0 win. Its really remarkable. We demonstrated an incredible amount of poise.From David Lees leaping blocks and fist-pumping celebrations to high-flying kills by Sander all afternoon and steady setter Christenson leading the offense, the U.S. now has a true shot at the podium. Four years ago in London, the veterans of this group were on the other end of a quarterfinal sweep at the hands of Italy.Speraw is typically subdued. This time, he let loose on the sideline, yelling and raising his arms in triumph.He wants this as bad as we do, if not more, Christenson said. Hes a very level-headed guy, but he also has the yearning to win so much.Speraw embraced a youth movement for this four-year Olympic cycle. Hes proud of the progress made in a matter of 10 days.Were competing really hard, and thats all I can ask of these guys, Speraw said. Guys are playing with incredible fight and energy. Im beyond ecstatic were in the position to play for a medal in Rio. ' ' '