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SAN DIEGO -- Other than one bad pitch, Chicago Cubs left-hander Travis Wood had a pretty good night. Wood came within five outs of pitching his first career shutout before allowing Carlos Quentins pinch-hit, two-run home run, and Chicago held on to beat the San Diego Padres 3-2 Saturday night. Wood (5-4) hit an RBI single and Luis Valbuena homered for the Cubs, who bounced back from an 11-1 loss Friday night. Wood allowed two runs and three hits in 7 1-3 innings, struck out three and walked two. "I felt good all game," Wood said. "I made a bad pitch there to Quentin. I wanted a cutter in, but didnt quite get it all the way in there and he got through it. But other than that everything was working pretty good all game." Quentin, who missed the previous four games with a groin injury, hit an 86 mph pitch an estimated 405 feet off the left-field facade with one out in the eighth to chase Wood. Quentin has five career pinch homers and two in one week. Yasmani Grandal was aboard on a one-out walk. Other than that, "my fastball was locating down and I got some quick outs there," Wood said. "All in all, no complaints other than one pitch, but thats going to happen." Quentin also hit a two-run, pinch homer last Saturday at Colorado. He hurt his groin on Sunday and hadnt played until Saturday nights appearance. "Thats a hard thing to do to pinch-hit -- one of the hardest roles in our game to come off the bench without playing and go step in the batters box against pitcher and hit a home run," manager Bud Black said. "That is hard to do and he has done it twice in a week. "When Carlos does that, that is what we expect," Black said. "He is a dynamic offensive player and our team changes." Problem is, the Padres havent seen much of Quentin this year. He missed the first 39 games after starting the season on the disabled list with a bone bruise in his left knee. "He makes us better," Black said. "Hes arguably our best offensive player each and every night he is in the game." Valbuena extended his hitting streak to eight games when he drove an 88 mph fastball from Billy Buckner into the right field seats with one out in the sixth. It was his third. Nate Schierholtz doubled to right with two outs. The Padres intentionally walked Darwin Barney to get to Wood, who singled up the middle to drive in Schierholtz. Valbuena also scored in the fourth, reaching on a walk, advancing on Welington Castillos single and coming in on Schierholtzs base hit. Hector Rondon pitched the ninth for his sixth save in seven chances. Buckner (0-1) started in place of Andrew Cashner, who is on the disabled list with a sore right elbow. Buckners contract was purchased earlier Saturday from Triple-A El Paso. He allowed three runs and six hits in 5 2-3 innings, struck out four and walked three. NOTES: In a pregame ceremony, the Padres honoured first responders involved in fighting last weeks wildfires. The players and coaches formed two lines in the outfield and greeted the first responders as they walked in from the warning track. ... Cashner played long toss for the first time since going on the disabled list, retroactive to May 15. Cashner will throw again Sunday. . RHP Tim Stauffer pitched well enough in Fridays win over the Cubs to earn another start. It will come on Wednesday at Arizona. . Newly acquired LHP Troy Patton, acquired from Baltimore in Saturdays trade for C Nick Hundley, will complement LHP Alex Torres in the bullpen. He should arrive in San Diego on Sunday. . Cubs OF Justin Ruggiano could rejoin the team on the road trip; hes been on the DL since April 24 with a strained hamstring. Ruggiano played consecutive games in Triple-A Iowa on Thursday and Friday. . Padres RHP Ian Kennedy (2-6, 3.79) faces Cubs RHP Jason Hammel (5-2, 2.91) in Sundays series finale. Custom Denver Nuggets Jerseys . 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Lyon, Valencia and AZ Alkmaar will also be in Fridays draw in Nyon, Switzerland, where the team to avoid will be Juventus -- even though the Italian champions made heavy work of their all-Italian last-16 match against Fiorentina. Jameer Nelson Jersey . The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the confidential nature of the search, confirmed reports by several media outlets. The interview took place in Southern California on Monday. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Peyton Manning flew to New York this spring to pay his respects to Derek Jeter and David Letterman, two much-admired superstars in the middle of their long goodbyes. "Im sad to see some of these guys retiring," the Broncos quarterback said at the time. "Im not far behind." Yet retirement really isnt on Mannings radar as he prepares for his 17th NFL season, his third in Denver. Coming off the best two-year stretch of his career, Manning is keeping tacklers, tedium and time itself at bay. At 38, Manning said hell keep playing as long as hes still productive and loves the game. That passion and productivity were on full display last season when he won his fifth MVP award and set single-season records by passing for 55 touchdowns and more than 5,500 yards. There are no signs of his affection or efficiency ebbing anytime soon, either. "You see it in how he prepares every day," centre Manny Ramirez said. "Were here in the off-season and hes still putting the same amount of focus as he does in-season, preparing, trying to get better every day, trying to pick apart the defences." "I still enjoy the work and preparation," said Manning, who lost wide receiver Eric Decker to the Jets but gained coveted free agent Emmanuel Sanders and prized rookie Cody Latimer. That turnover actually helps keep Manning young at heart, coach John Fox suggested. "Theres so much change in the NFL nowadays that I think that keeps the juices flowing, whether thats getting Emmanuel Sanders up to speed or last year, Wes Welker. Anytime you put a new cog in there, thats an adjustment," Fox said. "I think he takes pride in that and he attacks that. He seems to me to be having a great time." Manning would like to play out his contract, which runs through 2016. Yet, while hes not pondering retirement, he said in an interview with The Associated Press that he has certainly contemplated what it will be like. "Sometimes I sort of kick back and I pause and I think what sorts of things would I miss the most if I wasnt playing," Manning said. The answer hits him like one of those teeth-rattling sacks by Robert Mathis. "Being in the huddle," Manning said. "Thats what I missed most when I was injured, Ill say that. I mean, theres no other type of unity or bond that I think any other job can provide. I know there are meetings, there are video conferences. But that huddle, because of where it takes place: its often on the road, in the middle of the field, in front of 80,000 people, its unique." Its what excites him even at an age when many quarterbacks have retired to the broadcast booth or are hitting thhe links instead of the weights.dddddddddddd "When you dont play football anymore, you can broadcast, you can coach, you can be in management, whatever, but you are not allowed to go into the huddle anymore," Manning said. "That huddle is just for players. You can go into the locker room after the game and you can speak to the team, but I think any retired player would probably tell you they miss the huddle." The way Manning has guided the Broncos to a 28-8 record over the last two years belies how far he had fallen when he was forced to sit out the 2011 season in Indianapolis and even had to look in a mirror to relearn his release point after a series of neck surgeries weakened his throwing arm to the point he could hardly grip, much less throw, a football. Mannings reboot has turned into a blessing. "Yeah, although I have to say, some guys might need a year off to whatever, relight to fire, whatever it may be. I didnt need a year off to remind me of how much I love football," Manning said. "But when you have it, it sure does reinforce what you kind of always thought, that I do love it." Working with play-caller Adam Gase and new teammates has revitalized Manning. "Sometimes it, the monotonous routine, the boredom, that pushes guys out, not the physical part of it," Manning said. "And I have been stimulated the past two years working with Adam and working with different teammates, so it does sort of keep the bounce in you, I think." Manning doesnt view himself so much as a 17-year NFL veteran but as Denvers third-year quarterback. "I really feel because its a new team, post-injury, its kind of a new me. Thats how I have to look at it," Manning said. "Im a different player from before I was injured. Im not saying better, worse, whatever, just a different player. And so what I can compare myself most accurately to is my first season here in Denver and kind of how I am physically and how I am with my teammates and with Adam and so its helped to have now two years to build off that baseline." He no longer feels like a visitor in his own locker room. "And I like going into that huddle," Manning said. "I like the guys that I get to work with. I like lifting weights, working with Wes Welker, doing a set of bench press with Jacob Tamme, I like working with the guys that I play with and I still like learning. I like being challenged by Adam every day to be a better football player. There are a lot of things that I still enjoy about it. "And I look forward to driving over here every day. I think as soon as you go, Golly, I do not want to go over there today, thats when youve got to get out." Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '