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CHICAGO -- The pitch was just a tick up, and Starlin Castro was ready. When Edwin Jackson was limited to five innings, the bullpen took over. Pedro Alvarezs drive fell short on the warning track. These are fun days for the improving Chicago Cubs. Castro hit a three-run homer and Jackson finally got the better of Charlie Morton, leading the Cubs to a 6-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday. "This is the nicest Ive felt about this team since Ive been here," said Anthony Rizzo, who was acquired in a January 2012 trade with San Diego. Chris Coghlan added a solo shot as the Cubs opened a 10-game homestand with their fourth win in five games. Last-place Chicago also improved to 18-13 since May 17 for the best record in the NL in that stretch. "Everything in this game is contagious, whether its positive, negative, hitting, defence, pitching," Coghlan said. "I think were having more team at-bats." Jackson (5-7) was removed after 86 pitches due to cramps in his calves, but it was enough to get his first win in four matchups this year against Morton (4-8). The right-handers have faced off more than any other pair of starting pitchers this season in the majors. Jackson allowed three runs on Jordy Mercers fifth homer and five hits. He struck out eight and walked two in just his second win in his last six starts. Alvarez had a chance to tie the game when he came to the plate with two on and two out in the sixth. He took a frustrated hop between first and second as Ryan Sweeney ran down his long fly ball in the biggest part of the ballpark. Andrew McCutchen struck out with two on in the seventh, wasting another Pittsburgh threat. "Pitchings been pretty great all year. The offence is coming around, and the defence is coming around as well," Jackson said. "So were definitely showing a glimpse of what were able to do. Its just going out and doing it on a consistent basis." Pittsburgh rookie Gregory Polanco opened the game with a single to centre, extending his hitting streak to 10 games. He is the first NL player to begin his career with such a streak since Juan Pierres 16-game run for Colorado in 2000. The Pirates have lost four of five since a four-game winning streak. Morton retired six in a row before Jacksons one-out single in the third started a string of five consecutive batters reaching safely. Rizzo lined a two-run double into the right-field corner before Castro drove an 0-2 curveball over the wall in left for his 11th homer, moving past his total from all of last year. Morton jerked his head down in disgust when Castro connected, and then turned around to see where the ball was going. Castros third homer of the season against Morton gave the Cubs a 5-0 lead. "I could have gotten the ball down a little bit more," Morton said. "I dont think it was a bad pitch. It was a bad pitch to him in that situation." The six runs in six innings were a season high for Morton, who had won each of his last three starts and was 4-1 with a 2.40 ERA in his previous five outings. Mercer went deep after Jackson walked the first two batters in the fifth, but that was it for the Pirates. Four Cubs relievers combined for three innings of two-hit ball before Hector Rondon worked the ninth for his eighth save in 10 chances. Jason Grilli pitched the eighth for the Pirates in his first outing since manager Clint Hurdle removed the right-hander from the closer role. Grilli has blown four save opportunities this season after converting 33 of 35 chances a year ago. "Better rhythm, a better execution of pitches," Hurdle said when asked about Grillis inning. NOTES: Hurdle said before the game that Mark Melancon will close for now, and he also could use Tony Watson in save opportunities. ... Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said he is pleased with Manny Ramirezs impact on the organization so far, and the former major league star could join Triple-A Iowa next week. When Ramirez reports to Iowa, he will be a player-coach for Chicagos top farm club. ... Epstein also said he doesnt forsee a scenario where prospect Kris Bryant joins the major league club this year. ... Pirates RHP Vance Worley (0-0, 0.00 ERA) and Cubs LHP Travis Wood (7-5, 4.48 ERA) face off on Saturday. Ketel Marte Jersey Curt Schilling Jersey . "It was awesome," he said. Coming off an ugly three-game sweep at the hands of the Yankees, Toronto found itself in a deep hole early after the Reds put an eight spot up on starter Liam Hendriks (six runs in 1 2/3 innings pitched) and Todd Redmond in the second. http://www.diamondbacksteamshop.com/Customized/. 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The third-ranked Lewis, a three-time winner this year on the LPGA Tour, had a 9-under 135 total at Emirates Golf Course in the Ladies European Tours season-ending tournament.TORONTO - Benito Floro has called in 24 players, ranging from academy talent to veteran Dwayne De Rosario, for the first camp of 2015 for the Canadian mens soccer team.With European seasons in full swing and without the benefit of a FIFA international window, Floro has summoned a predominantly North American-based squad.The Canadians start training Monday in Florida ahead of a friendly next Friday against Iceland. The two teams will meet again Jan. 19. Both games will take place at the University of Central Florida.Its true that speaking of the physical condition, the players may not be fully fit. It is for that, as Ive said before, that we need to learn how to play to win the game using our resources, Floro said in a statement Friday. It means that they wont have a lot of energy but we need to control the situation in the game. We need to develop our plan and strategy and thats very important.Other veterans in camp include goalie Kenny Stamatopoulos, defender Dejan Jakovic, midfielders Patrice Bernier and Julian de Guzman and forward Iain Hume.The squad includes five players from Toronto FC and its academy, four from the Montreal Impact organization and three from the Vancouver Whitecaps and their residency program.Canada is currently ranked No. 112 in the world, compared to No. 33 for Iceland.We always do things in order to win the game. However, it is true in a friendly game the aim is to play well in addition to gaining a result, said Floro. We need to develop a good defensive structure. But its true to that winning games is always a happy time so our intention is to play well and to win the games.Canada, whose last outing was a 0-0 tie in Panama in November, is building towards this summers Gold Cup.Canada is 1-5-4 undder Floro, having defeated Jamaica, lost to Colombia, Mauritania, Australia, the Czech Republic and Slovenia, and tied Panama, Mauritania, Bulgaria and Moldova.dddddddddddd On the plus side, the Canadian men lost just once in 2014 (going 1-1-3) and that was a 1-0 defeat at the hands of third-ranked Colombia.Iceland is coming off a 2-0 upset of the Netherlands in October Euro 2016 qualifying play and stands second in Group A with a 3-1-0 record.Iceland, led by former Sweden and Nigeria coach Lars Lagerback, is closing on its highest-ever FIFA ranking (No. 28 in October 2014). The team was as low as 131 in April 2012.The team came close to becoming the smallest country to ever qualify for the World Cup, losing 2-0 on aggregate to Croatia in a playoff to reach for the 2014 tournament.Canada and Iceland have played once before — a 1-1 tie in Iceland in 2007.---CANADAGoalkeepers: Sean Melvin, Vancouver Whitecaps; Quillan Roberts, Toronto FC; Kenny Stamatopoulos, AIK (Sweden).Defenders: Nana Attakora, unattached; Kevon Black, Toronto FC; Jonathan Grant, Sigma FC; Dejan Jakovic, Shimizu S-Pulse (Japan); Manjrekar James, PMFC (Hungary); Ashtone Morgan, Toronto FC; Karl W. Ouimette, Montreal Impact; Adam Straith, unattached; Maxim Tissot, Montreal Impact.Midfielders: Patrice Bernier, Montreal Impact; Christoper Mannella, Toronto FC; Julian de Guzman, unattached; Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC; Issey Nakajima-Farran, Montreal Impact; Samuel Piette, Deportivo la Coruna (Spain); Daniel Stanese, FC Augsburg II (Germany); Russell Teibert, Vancouver Whitecaps.Forwards: Caleb Clarke, Vancouver Whitecaps; Dwayne De Rosario, unattached; Iain Hume, Kerala Blasters (India); Kyle Porter, unattached.Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter ' ' '