PITTSBURGH -- Kris Bryant wouldnt let another win slip away.After Chicago squandered two leads, Bryants RBI single in the eighth inning lifted the Cubs to a 6-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday.Pinch-hitter Matt Szczur doubled to left field with one out against Pirates reliever Tony Watson (1-3). Bryant, who had three hits and reached base four times, followed with his tiebreaking hit to put the Cubs back ahead.I just go out and try to make something happen, Szczur said. I was able to get a good pitch to drive and (Bryant) did the rest. . Weve been grinding, were a bunch of grinders, so that was a good way to end the first half. We feel good about ourselves.Chicago avoided a series sweep ended its five game losing streak. Pittsburgh lost for just the second time in 11 games heading to the All-Star break.With the win, the Cubs carry a seven-game lead over the second-place St. Louis Cardinals into the break.We need a break, Chicago manager Joe Maddon said. We need to get guys rested. The combination of the schedule and, more specifically, the last week with the way games were scheduled, it put us in a fatigue situation.Cubs reliever Pedro Strop (2-2) gave up Andrew McCutchens tying sacrifice fly in the seventh, Carl Edwards pitched a hitless eight and Hector Rondon got the last three outs for his 14th save.The Pirates tied the score at 5-5 after the Cubs failed to turn a double play off a dribbler from Starling Marte in the seventh. With rookie Josh Bell at second base and John Jaso at first, Marte grounded to shortstop Addison Russell with Bell running back to second.Russell didnt tag Bell and instead handed off to second baseman Ben Zobrist, whose relay throw to first failed to beat Marte. First baseman Anthony Rizzo threw back across the diamond to third, where Bell avoided a tag from Javier Baez.With runners on the corners and one out, McCutchen drove in Bell with a fly to deep right field. Strop ended the inning by getting David Freese on a fly ball.Strop had come in for starter John Lackey, who had another inconsistent outing. After allowing four runs in his first three innings, which included McCutchens 14th home run of the season and his second in two days, Lackey rebounded by shutting down the Pirates through the following three innings.Lackey lost his control again when he walked Bell and allowed Jaso to follow with a single to start the seventh inning.Pirates starter Jonathan Niese fared worse, giving up five earned runs in 3 2/3 innings. He was pulled in favor of Arquimedes Caminero in the fourth inning after surrendering a two-run home run to Albert Almora Jr., retiring the following two batters and allowing back-to-back hits to Bryant and Rizzo in top of the fourth inning.When hes been good, theres downhill angle, hes had good command down in the zone, getting the ball in the glove side, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. There were too many pitches elevated again today. Thats really been the one common theme, is location. With better location down, hes been much more efficient.Niese has lost five of his past six starts and is 7-7 after beginning the season 6-2.Im really done worrying about my mechanics, Niese said. As long as Im executing pitches, thats all that matters. So, this All-Star break is going to be good. Its a good reset button. Im going to go home, enjoy the family and come back in the second half and give it all I got. Just start executing pitches.TRAINERS ROOMCubs: OF Dexter Fowler will miss the All-Star Game on Tuesday and likely some time following the break. Fowler, who is recovering form a right hamstring strain, played in his first minor-league rehab game for Class A South Bend on Friday. He will travel to San Diego to take part in the All-Star festivities.Pirates: OF Gregory Polanco did not play for a second consecutive game due to left hamstring tightness. ... 2B Josh Harrison also was absent. He exited Pittsburghs game Saturday in the third inning after fouling a fastball off his left foot. ... RHP Gerrit Cole made his second rehab start with Class Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday. He is expected to rejoin Pittsburgh following the break.UP NEXTCubs: Chicago wont play again until Friday, when it will come out of the All-Star break to face the surging Texas Rangers, who limped into the break.Pirates: The Washington Nationals will welcome Pittsburgh to Nationals Park following the break for the first game of a three-game weekend set starting Friday. Cheap Nike Basketball Shoes China . The Dutchmans tenure got off to a poor start when referee Guido Winkmann awarded a penalty within two minutes for Niklas Starks clumsy challenge on Alexandru Maxim. 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"I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from.After Michael van Gerwens thrilling draw with Phil Taylor, we picked out the talking points from night seven in the Premier League. Things are hotting up with the play-off picture taking shape and the battle to avoid elimination set to go to the wire.This weeks trip to Glasgow proved pivotal at both ends of the table, so with Judgement Night just two weeks away, we look back on another terrific evening of tungsten action. Power a major threat Taylor remains level on points with Premier League leader Van Gerwen He may not have won but Phil Taylor showed that he will be very much in the shake up for major titles this year.The Power came from 5-1 and 6-4 down to register a 6-6 draw with Michael van Gerwen, who missed three darts to win the match in the 11th leg.By his own admission the 16-time world champion had a disappointing 2015 but told Sky Sports this week that he has got his love and appetite for the game back and that was evident on stage in Glasgow. Van Gerwen missed three match darts as Taylor came from 5-1 behind to draw And perhaps the shorter forms of the game are where the Power can add to his major tally - the Premier League final is played over no more than 21 legs and that might just suit Taylor.The draining format of the World Championship can take its toll but the Matchplay in Blackpool and the quickfire Premier League may just suit a rejuvenated Taylor, who has already admitted the top four is his target in order to be back at the O2.Taylor last won the title in 2012 and after missing out on Finals Night last year, few would bet against him being in contention this yearWelcome home champ Gary Anderson picked up four points in front of his Scottish fans The Glasgow crowd were in attendance in their thousands as they welcomed home the back-to-back world champion and defending Premer League champion Gary Anderson.The Flying Scotsman now resides in Somerset but is always assured of rousing reception when the Premier League heads north of the border and the Hydro crowd did not disappoint as they welcomed him with one of the best atmospheres weve experienced this season.After Anderson missed the opening night in Leeds, the 10,000 strong crowd had their champ on stage twice and he kicked off with a repeat of the World Championship final against Adrian Lewis. Premier League recap Look back on night seven of the Premier League Anderson had won the last four Premier League meetings between the two and he made it five with a dominant display against an inconsistent Lewis for a 7-4 win.MC John McDonald cranked up atmosphere and when House of Pains Jump Around kicked in the welcome for Anderson was rapturous.A 13-darter followed by an early break of throw delighted the masses, who responded a chorus of Oh Gary Gary.Anderson was back for more in the last match of the night. In a battle of Scotsmen, his victory over Peter Wright sent the masses into the Glasgow night happy and Anderson into the play-off places for the first time this season with a second win of the night and fifth straight win in the format.Whats gone wrong for Chizzy? Dave Chisnall suffered his third straight loss (Pic by Lawrence Lustig) Its three straight defeats for Dave Chisnall after losing a crunch clash with Raymond van Barneveld - both men have been in free fall of late but it was Barney who produced a five-leg surge from 3-2 down for a 7-4 win that should keep him in the competition for an extra few weeks.dddddddddddd.Chisnalls 7-0 win over Robert Thornton seems light years away and its now four defeats in a row for the man from St Helens, who only has a two-point advantage over the Scotsman and Michael Smith.Chisnall faces Anderson next week before a Judgement Night showdown with Wright - he may need at least two points in some capacity to preserve his Premier League status.Signs of life from ThornThornton remains bottom of the table but there were signs of life from the Scot in Glasgow that suggest he is up for the battle to avoid relegation.Despite a fifth defeat from six matches the Thorn averaged 101 and hit more than two 180s for the first time in the competition as he went down to a battling 7-4 defeat to James Wade. Robert Thornton (right) can draw confidence from his defeat to James Wade A single break was enough for the Machine, who moved into the top four, while Thornton is two points adrift at the foot of the table but with a game in hand over Michael Smith and Dave Chisnall. He plays Smith next week before Judgement Night.Rod Harrington believes there was improvement from the two-time major winner.The first six legs he held on to his throw at three legs apiece, Harrington told Sky Sports.You thought then he just needs to put one really good leg together to nick the throw and he would have a chance of his first win.But all of a sudden it was him who had the bad leg, Wadey stuck in a good leg and you have to give James credit - he is playing so solidly at the moment and he got over the line.There was improvement from Thornton but just a few too many edgy legs.Top spot up for grabs Van Gerwen will be determined to hold off the chasing pack The battle for the next two weeks will be at the bottom as the scrap to avoid relegation goes to the wire, but a quick glance at the top of the table suggests there could be a new name on top of the regular-season standings.Michael van Gerwen has topped the last three renewals and before him Taylor had topped the first eight editions of the tournament.The Dutchman currently sits top of the pile by one leg from The Power, with the pair just one point clear of Anderson and Wade, who complete the top four. Taylor had a message for Van Gerwen after their Premier League draw Anderson and Wade are previous winners of the competition and will pose a huge threat to the big two - Taylor would love to pinch top spot, MVG admits he wants to finish top. Lewis, despite his inconsistency, is only three points back and would be a threat if he can find his best on a more regular basis.It could be quite a battle before we even get to the O2. Also See: MVG and Taylor duke out draw WATCH: MVGs 170 checkout Fixtures/Results Prem Table China NFL Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap Basketball Jerseys Online Stitched Hockey Jerseys Wholesale Baseball Jerseys Football Jerseys Outlet College Jerseys For Sale Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys For Sale Wholesale NFL Jerseys ' ' '