CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs are dominating on the mound, making sparkling plays in the field and coming through with big hits at the plate.There is not much to criticize when a team is rolling along like this.Jason Hammel won his career-best fifth straight start, pitching four-hit ball over seven scoreless innings, and Chicago beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-1 on Wednesday night for their season-high ninth straight win.The major league-leading Cubs matched their longest streak since Aug. 6-15 of last year and moved a season-best 30 games over .500 (71-41). They come into a four-game set against St. Louis at Wrigley Field with three straight series sweeps after consecutive victories over the Angels.Hammel (12-5) struck out six, walked two and helped himself at the plate when he singled and scored in the fifth against Ricky Nolasco to make it 2-0.Addison Russell made it 3-1 with a solo homer off JC Ramirez in the eighth.Dexter Fowler chipped in with two hits, including an RBI double. Anthony Rizzo drove in a run with a single, and the Cubs made several neat plays in the field on the way to their 12th win in 13 games.Ive never been on a team this good before, Hammel said. Its kind of silly to go out and watch the guys, how consistent they are. You know something goods going to happen.One sour note for the Cubs. They lost reliever Pedro Strop to a left knee injury late in the game.The Angels, last in the AL West, matched a season high with their sixth straight loss. And with their next four games at AL Central leader Cleveland, the schedule doesnt get much easier.Nolasco (4-9) was a tough-luck loser, allowing two runs and six hits in six innings. The right-hander struck out six and walked one in his second start since the Angels acquired him in a trade from Minnesota on Aug. 1.Theyre right at the top with anybody, Nolasco said. Theyre a good team. Obviously there are no breaks in there and theyve got some pretty good guys at the top of the order. Anytime youve got Kris Bryant hitting second, it shows you a lot right there what kind of lineup theyve got.Strop came on in the eighth for Chicago and had to be helped off the field when he tried to make a play on Yunel Escobars leadoff tapper down the third base line. Strop slid in front of third baseman Javier Baez and his left leg appeared to bend awkwardly.He is scheduled for an MRI on Thursday.Travis Wood then gave up a double to Kole Calhoun, putting runners on second and third. Albert Pujols drove in a run with a sharp grounder to second after Carl Edwards Jr. struck out Mike Trout, and Andrelton Simmons grounded out to shortstop to end the rally.Aroldis Chapman struck out the side in the ninth for his fourth save in five chances since the Cubs got him in a trade with the New York Yankees last month.Were getting great starting pitching, manager Joe Maddon said. Were getting timely hitting and extraordinary defense. Thats a nice formula to win at any level.LA STELLA UPDATEMaddon said he had no update on INF Tommy La Stella, who has refused to report to Triple-A Iowa after being optioned to the minors nearly two weeks ago. La Stella, who was placed on the temporary inactive list Tuesday, told ESPN.com that hes contemplating retirement and doesnt want to play for another team.TRAINERS ROOMAngels: RHP Garrett Richards, out for the season with a torn elbow ligament, was in good spirits after a pregame workout. Hes scheduled to have an imaging test Monday to determine if he can start playing catch. Richards is trying to avoid Tommy John surgery. I feel zero discomfort in my arm, he said.Cubs: Reliever Hector Rondon (triceps) remained sidelined, Maddon expects him to be available in a few days.UP NEXTAngels: RHP Jhoulys Chacin (3-7, 5.27 ERA) makes his first start since July 1 as Los Angeles takes on RHP Corey Kluber (11-8, 3.22) and the Indians.Cubs: LHP Jon Lester (12-4, 2.93) tries to win his third straight start and keep the Cubs win streak going against RHP Carlos Martinez (10-7, 3.29) and the Cardinals. Wholesale MLB Rangers Jerseys . Each of Houstons starters scored in double figures as the Rockets improved to 2-0 against the Spurs this season, with both victories coming on the road. They also moved within 3 1/2 games of San Antonio (22-7) for the lead the Southwest Division. Joey Gallo Jersey . After the whistle, Thornton skated the length of the ice, pulled Orpik to the ice from behind and punched him in the face several times. http://www.texasrangersjerseyscheap.com/ . The Americans, skipped by John Shuster, seized the advantage in the eighth end by scoring five points for a 7-3 lead. The Czechs pulled two back in the ninth, but Shusters team of third Jeff Isaacson, second Jared Zezel and lead John Landsteiner ended with another point to secure the last Olympic berth on offer. Martin Perez Jersey . The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game. Nomar Mazara Jersey . The next step is a better finish. Bae played bogey-free Friday on another gorgeous day at Riviera for a 5-under 66, giving him a one-shot lead over Aaron Baddeley and Robert Garrigus going into the weekend. TORONTO -- Brooks Laich has seen top draft picks blossom in the NHL.With the Washington Capitals, he watched Alex Ovechkin burst onto the scene in 2005. Now with the Toronto Maple Leafs some 11 years later, he has a ringside seat for Auston Matthews debut.The 19-year-old forward, the No. 1 overall pick this summer, turned heads at the World Cup of Hockey on a Team North American line with Edmontons Connor McDavid and Winnipegs Mark Scheifele.It puts a big smile on your face, Laich, a 12-year veteran, said about watching Matthews. I see a lot of little things in his game, habits that you dont generally see in young players.Those include his positioning, the way he competes for the puck and his shot release. From Scottsdale, Arizona, Matthews played last season in Switzerland.Leafs center Nazem Kadri has also seen Matthews play from the Air Canada Centre stands.(Hes) obviously high-level skill, he said. (He) can skate, hes big. So hes only going to get better. Obviously, with that 82-game season, its going to be a little difficult but I think hes going to be more than ready for it.ddddddddddddLeafs management already likes what it sees.Theres no question he has a bright future, GM Lou Lamoriello said. Its just exciting to see him play. But I think the most exciting thing is to know hes ours.Laich reminded reporters asking about Matthews that the team comes first.This isnt an individual sport, he said. This isnt a tennis or a golf where everything comes down to one person. Austons a great player from what Ive seen. But theres also going to be 22 other great players in this room.So as a young guy, hes got enough pressure on himself. He puts, Im sure, enough pressure on himself. You dont get to be where he is already without having an internal drive like that. So we dont need to put anything else on him. We want to make him a member of the team, we want to treat him like the other 22 guys.The logo comes first. 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