Schlarmann. He is better than their other centre-backs, H

CHICAGO -- The bullpen flopped, the offense disappeared late and the Chicago Cubs again couldnt escape their worst funk this season.Tucker Barnhart hit a go-ahead, three-run homer off Trevor Cahill in the seventh inning, and the Cincinnati Reds beat Chicago 5-3 Wednesday -- the Cubs 12th loss in 17 games.A day after having seven players selected for next weeks All-Star Game, the Cubs lost to the last-place Reds for the second time in three days and dropped below the San Francisco Giants for the majors best record.I cant connect a bunch of negative dots. It just happened, said manager Joe Maddon, who believes this poor stretch is more a snapshot than a sign of bigger problems.Im not really that concerned, he said.Still, the Cubs had been atop the majors since April. Shortstop Addison Russell, part of the entire infield voted in as NL starters, couldnt explain how theyve lost their form.The past few weeks it hasnt been working, Russell said, but we still have high hopes and high faith.Chicago led 3-1 when Brandon Phillips and Jose Peraza hit consecutive one-out singles against Cahill (1-3) and Barnhart sent a 2-2 sinker into the basket in center field for his third home run this year.It brought everyone to life, I can tell you that, Reds manager Bryan Price said.Zack Cozart homered for the third straight game, starting Cincinnatis offense with his eighth career leadoff homer. The Reds lone All-Star, Adam Duvall, walked and scored on Carl Edwards Jr.s wild pitch in the eighth.Anthony DeSclafani (3-0) allowed three runs and eight hits in six innings, struck out six and walked none. Michael Lorenzen pitched two hitless innings, and Tony Cingrani got three straight outs for his 10th save in 15 chances.The Reds improved to 3-10 against their division rivals.We should be more competitive against everybody, I think, once we get our pitching into good shape, Price said. I think were closer.Adam Warren was called up from Triple-A Iowa to give the Chicago rotation extra rest with a spot start, and he allowed three hits in five innings, retiring his final 11 batters.Russell hit an RBI double in the second and scored on Miguel Monteros single, and Ben Zobrists fifth-inning homer gave the Cubs a 3-1 lead.But the Cubs didnt have a hit after the fifth inning. Theyre 1-5 in their last six home games after starting 25-8 at Wrigley Field.Listen, the big thing we need to do better in the latter part of the game is scoring runs, Maddon said. If its close, were behind or its tied were just not doing a really good job of finishing off games offensively.TRAINERS ROOMReds: RF Jay Bruce, left off the All-Star team, didnt start to rest assorted aches and pains. He pinch hit in the ninth and walked before being thrown out trying to steal second. Hes just beat up right now, manager Bryan Price said. Bruce took his All-Star snub in stride. Im not the first guy to be left off and Im not going to be the last, he said.Cubs: CF Dexter Fowlers first All-Star Game is uncertain as he recovers from a strained right hamstring. Manager Joe Maddon said the team will decide in the next few days whether Fowler is ready for a minor league rehab assignment. ... C David Ross was placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list after taking a foul ball off his mask Tuesday. While with Boston, he missed much of 2013 after taking foul balls off the mask that May 11 and June 14. ... Tommy La Stella (hamstring) was activated off the DL, started at third and went 1 for 4.PERFECT THIEFCincinnati stole four bases, two by Peraza. He is 12 for 12 in steal attempts, including 9 for 9 this season.WOODROW WILSON STYLEThe teams wore baggy throwback uniforms with high socks to commemorate 100 years at Wrigley Field. The Cubs and Reds played the first game at what was then Weeghman Park on April 20, 1916.UP NEXTReds: After an off day in Miami, RHP Dan Straily (4-5, 4.34 ERA) starts Friday night against Marlins ace Jose Fernandez (10-4, 2.69).Cubs: RHP Jason Hammel (7-5, 3.45) is to face Atlanta LHP Lucas Harrell (1-0, 1.50) Thursday night at Wrigley Field in the makeup of an April 30 rainout. Marcus Epps Jersey . -- Its been a long road back for Sean Bergenheim. Kirk Cousins Jersey . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. http://www.cheapvikingsjerseyselite.com/?tag=cheap-alexander-hollins-jersey . Bradwell was scheduled to become a free agent Tuesday. Born and raised in Toronto, Bradwell is entering his sixth CFL season, with all six played for his hometown Argonauts. Ade Aruna Jersey .500 on the season. The Jets are now 0-5-1 in the second game of back-to-backs. The game started the same way the Vancouver game started the night before, with the Jets taking the first two penalties of the game and killing off the first, but the Oilers getting on the board first, scoring on the second man-advantage. Jake Browning Jersey . Bryzgalov stopped 25 shots on Saturday in the Oklahoma City Barons 4-1 victory over the Abbotsford Heat. The Oilers signed Bryzgalov to a one-year $2 million contract last Friday after shedding payroll by dealing defenceman Ladislav Smid to the Flames.Its fair to say Jurgen Klopp was delighted to complete a deal to bring Schalke centre-back Joel Matip to Liverpool this summer. The Cameroon international will switch to Anfield on a free transfer at the end of the season, when his contract with the German club runs out.Im very happy, said the Reds boss. Everybody who knows him would have been interested. However, Klopp conceded Matip was not the most famous player in England, despite playing over 150 Bundesliga games for Schalke.To find out more about Liverpools new signing, we caught up with Sky reporters in Germany Dirk große Schlarmann and Torben Hoffmann - who both insist Matip can thrive under Klopps coaching. Matip top class Jurgen Klopp discusses the defenders qualities He is a good defender. Hes young and will make the next step under Jurgen Klopp, Hoffmann told Sky Sports.Hes not currently at the level of the best defenders in Germany, such as Mats Hummels or Jerome Boateng, Holger Badstuber or Javi Martinez. But after these top guys hes in the next group.The big point is Jurgen has known him for five or six years, has played a lot against Schalke, and knows his strengths. Its a good decision. This season he made a big step and reached another stage in his development. Now he is the boss in the defence. Dirk gro?e Schlarmann Schlarmann agrees and says, after a season in which Matip has taken on the role of leader of the Schalke defence, the centre-back is rapidly improving.This season he made a big step and reached another stage in his development, Schlarmann said. He got a lot of responsibility because of injuries to Matija Nastasic and Benedikt Howedes. Now he is the boss in the defence.He has also moved into the top 10 defenders in the Bundesliga and has potential for further development. Joel Matip has become Schalkes top defender, says Schlarmann Both point out Matip is just as comfortable playing in midfield as in defence and Hoffmann says the 24-year-old will be an improvement on current Liverpool centre-backs Kolo Toure and Mamadou Sakho when it comes to distribution.ddddddddddddHe plays very good passes - he can do short passes and long crosses, said Hoffmann. That will be good for the play from defence to midfield or direct to the striker. I think it will be an advance on Toure or Sakho, for example. Matip is strong in the air - and an asset in both boxes Hoffmann also believes Matip could be a solution to Liverpools recurring problems with defending set-pieces.At 6ft 4in, the Cameroon international is dominant in the air - a bonus in both boxes.Hes tall and hes scored a lot from corner-kicks and free-kicks, said Hoffmann. Hes a very good header of the ball, in the defence and also in the offence. Who is Joel Matip? We profile the Schalke defender who will join Liverpool If theres one area where Matip can improve, its communication - Schlarmann describes Matip as a conservative guy, not known for talking much - but it seems Schalke are sorry to see him go, especially on a free transfer.Its really hard for Schalke because hes young, has potential and they do not get any money for him, said Schlarmann. He is better than their other centre-backs, Howedes and N