ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Texas Rangers went into the All-Star break reeling, with nine losses their last 12 games and three-fifths of their starting rotation still on the disabled list.Their last game was a 10-run loss at home to the team with the American Leagues worst record.We went through a stretch where we didnt play good as a team, third baseman Adrian Beltre said. We understand were going to go through highs and lows and I assume this is our low.As bad as that stretch was -- that 15-5 loss to Minnesota was the fifth time in nine games they allowed at least 10 runs -- the Rangers go into Wrigley Field this weekend still with the ALs best record (54-36) and a 5 1/2-game division lead over the Houston Astros. That is the largest AL West lead Texas has ever had coming out of the midsummer break, but it had been as big as 10 games in late June.We have the right team to get in the postseason, and after getting in the postseason, we have enough talent and experience to keep moving on, shortstop Elvis Andrus said.Right-hander Yu Darvish is scheduled to return from the disabled list and rejoin the rotation Saturday for the second of three games against the Chicago Cubs. With All-Star lefty Cole Hamels set for the series finale, it will be only the fourth time this season Texas top aces pitch in back-to-back games.Here are some things that went right before the break and others second-year manager Jeff Banister and the Rangers have to watch over the final 72 games when trying to win another AL West title:SURPRISE ALL-STAR: Ian Desmond was a career shortstop his seven seasons with Washington, but turned down a deal to stay with the Nationals. He was unsigned until after the start of spring training, when he went to Texas and switched to left field to replace injured slugger Josh Hamilton. By mid-May, Desmond was the everyday center fielder and this week was the only Texas position player at the All-Star game.No doubt, hes been our best player, Beltre said.We found a center fielder ... one of the premier center fielders in the American League as far as you put the whole package together, Banister said. He was a National League shortstop last year. That in itself is just phenomenal.Desmond is hitting .322 with 15 home runs and 55 RBI.HURTING HURLERS: Darvish last pitched for the Rangers on June 8, only his third start for them since missing 2015 because of Tommy John surgery. He then went back on the DL with shoulder discomfort.Colby Lewis (strained lat muscle) and Derek Holland (shoulder inflammation) both headed to the DL on the same day in late June.Lewis (6-1, 3.21 ERA) is on the 60-day DL and cant return until at least late August, having made only one shortened start since his near perfect game June 16 at Oakland. Holland (5-5, 5.20) started playing catch again in the last week.ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The Rangers are in a span of playing 19 of 23 games on the road, making them the first MLB team since the 2004 Tampa Bay Rays with four home games or fewer in a span of 28 games or more in the regular season. Texas plays its next nine games on the road. Before four home games against Minnesota going into the All-Star break, the Rangers had played 10 in a row away from Arlington.CLOSING IT DOWN: Sam Dyson has 18 saves, 16 of those in two months since taking over as the Rangers closer, including an MLB-best 10 saves in June. The right-hander got some needed rest, with only three appearances in 11 days before the break. Shawn Tolleson had 35 saves in 2015, and 11 more this season, when his four blown chances included consecutive appearances in mid-May.ONE GOAL: Beltres sole goal in his 19th major league season is to finally win the World Series.I dont have a lot of time to basically be comfortable with just getting to the playoffs, said Beltre, the 37-year-old third baseman signed through 2018. Thats not enough for me. Im here to push this thing to win the World Series. sWell Bottle Stockists .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons. Swell Bottle Nz 500ml . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. http://www.swellbottlesnz.com/swell-bottle-ombre-nz-sale.html . -- Canadian Andrew Wiggins got the ball on the wing, made a nifty spin move and then let go with a soft floater from about 10 feet that swished through the net in Allen Fieldhouse. Real Wood Water Bottle . PETERSBURG, Fla. Buy Swell Bottles Nz . But Bourque, who has missed three games with a lower-body injury, wont be in the lineup when the Habs travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres on Wednesday. LOS ANGELES -- One win away. Two chances at home. Seven decades of waiting.The Chicago Cubs closed in on their first World Series trip since 1945 by beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-4 on Thursday in Game 5 of their National League playoff.Jon Lester pitched seven sharp innings , Addison Russell hit a tiebreaking homer and the Cubs grabbed a 3-2 lead in the NL Championship Series.On deck, a pair of opportunities to wrap up that elusive pennant at Wrigley Field.The city of Chicago has got to be buzzing, manager Joe Maddon said. Were not going to run away from anything. Its within our reach right now.The Cubs first opportunity to clinch comes Saturday night in Game 6, when Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw faces major league ERA leader Kyle Hendricks.Thats a game we expect to win, Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said.Of course, the Cubs were in the same favorable position 13 years ago -- heading home to Wrigley with a 3-2 lead in the NLCS.But even with ace pitchers Mark Prior and Kerry Wood starting the final two games, Chicago collapsed against the Marlins in one of its most excruciating failures.More than a decade later, the franchise is still chasing its first World Series championship since 1908.Weve heard the history, center fielder Dexter Fowler said, but at the same time were trying to make history.Budding star Javier Baez was in the middle of everything for the Cubs, a common theme this October. The second baseman made a sensational defensive play when the game was still close in the seventh, and his three-run double capped a five-run eighth that made it 8-1.After busting out of his postseason slump Wednesday, Russell hit a two-run homer for the second straight game. This one was a sixth-inning drive off losing pitcher Joe Blanton that gave Chicago a 3-1 lead.Just rounding the bases, it was pretty exciting, Russell said. Pumped up, not only for myself but for the team and that little cushion that Jonny had to go forward from that.Baez had three of Chicagos 13 hits, matching the teams total in Game 4, when the Cubs snapped a 21-inning scoreless streak and won 10-2.Lester allowed one run and five hits, improving to 2-0 in three playoff starts this year. He has given up two runs in 21 innings.The left-hander struck out six and walked one in a slow-paced game that lasted 4 hours, 16 minutes.These guys won the game for us, Lester said, nodding toward Russell and Baez. I was just kind of along for the ride.Anthony Rizzos run-scoring double gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead in the first.Los Angeles tied it in the fourth on Adrian Gonzalezs RBI groundout.Russell homered on an 0-1 pitch from Blanton, who gave up a single to Baez leading off the sixth. Baez stole second before Russells shot to left-center put the Cubs ahead on another unusually hot night at Dodger Stadium.Blanton took his second loss of the series. The veteran right-hander gave up consecutive homers in the eighth inning of Game 1, including a tiebreaking grand slam by pinch-hitter Miguel Montero.Our confidence hasnt wavered, Roberts said . This series certainly isnt over.With the Dodgers trailing 3-1 in the seventh, Gonzalez found himself on the wrong end of a replay review forr the second consecutive night.ddddddddddddWith Baez playing way out on the outfield grass in shallow right, the slow-footed Gonzalez tried to take advantage with a drag bunt leading off the inning. Baez rushed in for a barehanded scoop and off-balance throw, but Gonzalez initially was called safe by first base umpire Ted Barrett. The Cubs challenged and the ruling was overturned.In Game 4, Gonzalez was tagged out at home to end the second after diving with his left hand stretched toward the plate while catcher Willson Contreras applied a tag. The Dodgers challenged, but the video review upheld umpire Angel Hernandezs out call.Chicago jumped on struggling Dodgers rookie Kenta Maeda from the start. Fowler singled leading off the game and scored on Rizzos double to right two batters later.Maeda gave up one run and three hits over 3 2/3 innings. The right-hander has allowed eight earned runs in 10 2/3 innings this postseason.The Dodgers defense fell apart in the eighth.Gonzalez tried flipping Russells slow roller to reliever Pedro Baez, who came over to cover first and bobbled the ball for an error.Contreras followed with a pinch-hit single, and the runners moved up on pinch-hitter Albert Almora Jr.s sacrifice bunt. Fowler reached on an infield single to first, with Gonzalez losing a foot race when Fowler slid into the bag as Russell scored.Kris Bryant reached on an infield single to third, with the Dodgers unsuccessfully challenging the call that he was safe.The Dodgers thought theyd finally escaped the inning when Rizzo lined out to second baseman Kike Hernandez, who nearly doubled up Fowler at second. But the Cubs challenged the call and it was reversed, prolonging the inning.Pedro Baez got yanked after walking Ben Zobrist to load the bases. Ross Stripling came on to face Javier Baez, who doubled to deep right, driving in three more runs.We can grab that momentum by one name: Kershaw, Gonzalez said. We dont want to put it all on him, but if we score a couple of runs, well feel real good.SCULLY RETURNSVin Scully was back at Dodger Stadium for the first time since ending his 67-year career behind the microphone earlier this month.The 88-year-old Hall of Fame announcer attended as a spectator and proclaimed, Its time for Dodger baseball! from an upstairs suite.UNDERSTATEDCubs outfielder Matt Szczur isnt on the NLCS roster, but hes contributing. A day after his bat was borrowed by Rizzo to hit a home run, Szczur revealed during an in-game TV interview that Russell wore a pair of his underwear leggings Wednesday after leaving his own at home.UP NEXTDodgers: Kershaw takes the mound in Chicago on an extra day of rest. The left-hander is 2-0 with a 3.72 ERA in three starts and one relief appearance this postseason. Overall, the three-time Cy Young Award winner is 4-6 with a 4.39 ERA in 17 career playoff appearances.Cubs: Hendricks 2.13 ERA was tops in the majors this season. The right-hander allowed a solo homer over 5 1/3 innings in Game 2, his longest career postseason start. The Cubs lost 1-0 to Kershaw. ' ' '