rookie tried to score from second on Szczurs third-inning sing

PHILADELPHIA -- Right-hander Aaron Nola will look to win consecutive starts for the first time this season when he and the Philadelphia Phillies face the San Francisco Giants in the second game of a three-game series Wednesday night in Citizens Bank Park.Nola (6-9, 4.78 ERA) will be opposed by All-Star righty Johnny Cueto (13-3, 2.63).The 23-year-old Nola, in his first full major league season, beat the Atlanta Braves his last time out to snap a personal five-game losing streak, even though he allowed three runs on eight hits in five innings. He has compiled a 9.82 ERA over his past eight starts, his roughest stretch since he arrived in the major leagues last July.He last won back-to-back outings when he beat the Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres last Aug. 23 and Aug. 28, respectively. Manager Pete Mackanin said before the Phillies 13-8 victory over the Giants on Tuesday that this start is critical for Nola, the clubs first-round draft pick (seventh overall) in 2014.Mackanin noted that Nola has struggled in particular with fastball command, something that had not been an issue before his recent struggles.Thats one of the reasons he was drafted -- he had great command, Mackanin said. And weve seen it, last year and this year. Hes faltering a little bit now. I think its a bump in the road for him. Thats the way I choose to look at it. You cant pitch 20 starts as well as hes pitched and all of a sudden just lose it. ... I give him the benefit of the doubt.It remains to be seen how long a leash Nola is given, however.Every starts important, Mackanin said. Hes had enough poor ones to where at some point we have to decide how were going to handle it.In his only career outing against the Giants, Nola allowed five runs on 10 hits in 3 1/3 innings during a no-decision at San Francisco on June 26.Cueto, who signed with San Francisco as a free agent in December, lost to the Washington Nationals his last time out and is 0-2 with a 3.94 ERA over his past three outings.He is 1-4 with a 5.46 ERA in 10 career starts against Philadelphia, the highest ERA he has compiled against any opponent he has faced five times or more.The Phillies battered another All-Star, Madison Bumgarner, in Tuesdays game, chasing him after five innings. The left-hander gave up season highs of eight runs (four earned) and 10 hits. Bumgarner hadnt given up that many runs since May 2013, and he hadnt surrendered that many hits since April 2015.Aaron Altherr, playing just his fifth game (and first at home) since coming off the disabled list after recovering from a spring training wrist injury, went 3-for-5 with a homer and a career-high-tying five RBI. He became the first Phillie to have a homer, five RBI and a stolen base in a game since Chase Utley in 2008.He nonetheless insisted hes not trying to make up for lost time.I wouldnt say Im trying to make up for anything, he said. Im still going to go out there and do what I can do, and not ... try to do too much and be somebody Im not. Im going to go out there and be relaxed and let the game come to me, and whatever I can do to help the team win, Ill do. cheap jerseys from china . "Theyve both been real good," said Babcock. "Havent changed our minds." A decision has seemingly been made - Sundays Group B-deciding tilt against Finland ahead - but it could not have been an easy one. Price opened the tournament with a sturdy 19-save performance against the Norwegians, yielding just one goal. replica jerseys china . No. 13-seeded John Isner and No. 21 Philipp Kohlschreiber were among six players who dropped out of the tournament on Tuesday, joining No. 12 seed Tommy Haas and two other players who withdrew on Monday. https://www.chinajerseysreplica.us/ . Luis Suarezs double powered Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Fulham, and Southampton easily overcame Hull 4-1 to continue the south coast clubs impressive start to the season. Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home. cheap china jerseys . Klitschkos management company says the bout will be the Ukrainian fighters 25th world championship fight. The 1.83-meter (6-foot) Leapai defeated the previously unbeaten Denis Boytsov in November to become the WBOs mandatory challenger. china jerseys . -- Kyrie Irvings last-minute 3-pointer helped seal another victory for Cleveland -- and the Cavaliers longest winning streak since LeBron James left. CHICAGO -- One misplaced changeup was quite costly for Steven Matz and the New York Mets.Matz served up a three-run homer on his 10th pitch to Anthony Rizzo in the third inning, and the Mets lost 5-1 to the Chicago Cubs on Monday night in a rematch of last years NL Championship Series.You really want to grit your teeth and beat this guy, Matz said. Unfortunately, he won.Wilmer Flores hit a leadoff homer in the seventh inning, but New York went 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position and left seven runners on base in its fifth loss in seven games.Hitting is very, very hard. But weve had guys who have done this, who have driven in runs, manager Terry Collins said. Youre looking at three or four guys that have all driven in a lot of runs in their careers. Were hoping it turns, for sure.With one out and two on in the third, Rizzo fouled off five straight 2-2 pitches before driving a changeup deep into the bleachers in right-center for his 22nd homer.It was 2-2 for a while there. I dont think he wanted to go 3-2, Rizzo said. He was making good pitches and I was just fighting them off. Just try to grind at-bats. Thats what were so good at doing.The crowd of 41,353 cheered wildly as Rizzo rounded the bases on a picturesque night at Wrigley Field. The All-Star slugger is batting .339 with three homers and 10 RBI in July.Hes the anchor of the whole group. Theres no question about it, Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.The last time the Mets visited the iconic neighborhood ballpark, they finished off a sweep of the Cubs to advance to the World Series. They swept Chicago again in New York from June 30 to July 3, roughing up Jon Lester for one of the wins.This time around was much different.Lester (10-4) allowed one run and four hits in his first win in a month, helping the NL Central leaders win for the fourth time in five games since dropping five in a row.We were able to get some quick outs with some well-located fastballs and some well-located cutters, Lester said, so that was huge for us tonight.Hector Rondon replaced Carl Edwards Jr. with two runnners on in the ninth and got Travis dArnaud to bounce into a game-ending double play for his 16th save.ddddddddddddMatz was charged with four runs and eight hits in five-plus innings. The rookie left-hander dropped to 0-5 in his last nine starts.Even though I thought he threw the ball fine, he didnt have his real Grade-A stuff, Collins said. But he battled the best he could.Matz nearly had another run on his line, but left fielder Yoenis Cespedes cut down Willson Contreras with a perfect throw to the plate when the rookie tried to score from second on Szczurs third-inning single.WELCOME BACKNew Yorks Michael Conforto, who was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas after Sundays 5-0 win at Philadelphia, pinch-hit in the ninth and reached on an opposite-field single to left.I think its a testament to what Ive been working on, he said. Ive been trying to use the whole field like I did last year and earlier in the year. So I think its definitely a product of the things Ive been working on.TRAINERS ROOMMets: RHP Matt Harvey had season-ending thoracic outlet surgery in St. Louis. ... RHP Jim Henderson (biceps) is throwing 91 to 93 mph during his rehab stint at Triple-A Las Vegas, and Collins said the reliever is nearing a return.Cubs: OFs Dexter Fowler (right hamstring strain) and Jorge Soler (left hamstring strain) were traveling to Iowa and are expected to begin their rehab stints with the Triple-A club on Tuesday. Fowler could return to the Cubs by the end of the week.UP NEXTAll-Star RHPs Noah Syndergaard of the Mets and Jake Arrieta of the Cubs face off on Tuesday. Syndergaard (9-4, 2.56 ERA) was removed from last start on July 8 due to arm fatigue. I think the rest has been good for him, Collins said. Arrieta (12-4, 2.68 ERA) is looking to get back on track after allowing four or more earned runs in three consecutive starts for the first time since 2012.---Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap ' ' '