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HOUSTON -- Kris Bryant gave the Houston Astros an up-close look at what could have been. Ivan Rodriguez Jersey .Bryant hit a two-run homer, Jon Lester threw seven scoreless innings and Hector Rondon and Aroldis Chapman completed the shutout to give the Chicago Cubs a 2-0 win over the Astros on Friday night.It was Bryants first career game against the team that passed on him with the first pick in the 2013 draft to take starter Mark Appel, who was traded to Philadelphia this offseason before ever playing in the majors. Before the game Chicago manager Joe Maddon had a simple answer when he was asked about Houstons decision not to draft Bryant.Thank you, Maddon said with a smile.Bryant seemed to have grown weary of all the rehashing of that draft in the last few days, but seemed amused when he was asked if he likes hitting in Houston.Yeah, (batting practice) was fun for sure, he said. Just dont hit it to center.Bryant, taken second in that draft, avoided Houstons deep center field and smacked his 37th homer off Joe Musgrove (2-4) to the short porch in left field to put the Cubs up 2-0 in the fifth inning.Lester (16-4) allowed seven hits and struck out seven for his seventh straight win. He hasnt lost since July 3, hasnt allowed a run in three of those starts and gave up just one run in four others in that span.Rondon took over for the eighth and struck out two before Aroldis Chapman struck out one in a perfect ninth for his 13th save.The victory improved the Cubs to an MLB-best 90-50 a year after they won 97 games to give them consecutive 90-win seasons for the first time since doing it in three straight years from 1928-1930.The Astros had trouble stringing hits together against Lester, and didnt have more than one in an inning until the seventh when Yulieski Gurriel singled with one out and Marwin Gonzalez got another single with two outs. But Lester struck out Colby Rasmus looking to end the threat.Felt like that was the real big turning point in the game, Lester said. I felt like if we give up a hit there the momentum goes back on their side and it seems like theyre kind of built on that.Musgrove allowed three hits and two runs with five strikeouts in six innings for his fourth loss in five starts.Manager A.J. Hinch was disappointed that Musgrove walked Dexter Fowler with two outs to set up Bryants homer.Im happy with his effort, and obviously, hell go home thinking about the walk to Fowler before Bryants big home run because that really was the only thing they got off of him, Hinch said.Fowler snapped an 0-for-19 skid with a leadoff triple. But Musgrove didnt allow another hit until Bryants homer with two outs in the fifth.Alex Bregman singled for Houston with no outs in the fourth inning and stole second base. But he was thrown out trying to swipe third, too, and the Astros lost a scoring opportunity.THAT HAD TO HURTPlay was stopped for a couple of minutes in the bottom of the sixth inning when home plate umpire C.B. Bucknor got hit on hit on his right shoulder with a foul ball from Teoscar Hernandez. Bucknor was shaken up after taking the hit and was checked on by a member of Houstons training staff. But the trainer soon left and he rubbed on his shoulder a couple of times before remaining in the game.TRAINERS ROOMAstros: SS Carlos Correa missed his third straight game on Friday with inflammation in his left shoulder. Correa said that he was feeling better on Friday and manager Hinch said they hoped to get him back sometime this weekend. ... Ace Dallas Keuchel, who is also out with inflammation in his left shoulder, wont throw until after Sunday. Keuchel was shut down on Monday because of the problem and said on Friday that he is feeling better, but is still struggling with the injury. Theres really no timetable set for return, he said. But I firmly believe were still going to be in the playoff hunt so hopefully I can help the guys out here in the next week or so.UP NEXTCubs: John Lackey (9-7, 3.36) is scheduled to make his second start since coming off the disabled list. He is 2-0 with a 1.65 ERA in his last five starts.Astros: Collin McHugh (9-10, 4.96) has won two straight decisions and the Astros have won the last four games that he started. Ferguson Jenkins Jersey . Jeff Green scored 13 points and Kris Humphries 12 for the Celtics, who nearly blew an 18-point, second-half lead. Sullingers 20-20 was the first by a Celtics player since Kevin Garnetts first game in Boston in 2007. Garnett was dealt -- along with Paul Pierce -- to Brooklyn during the off-season. Russell Wilson Jersey . Galatasaray said in a statement on its website Monday that Mancini signed a three-year contract and will be paid 3.5 million euros for the upcoming season, with his salary upped to 4. www.authenticrangerspro.com/rangers-elvis-andrus-jersey/ . The Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, and Texas Rangers all won on Sunday meaning the Rangers will host the Rays in a play-in game on Monday. COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Christian Kirk and Texas A&Ms punt return unit had been a bit discouraged that they had been unable to make a big play this season.That feeling changed quickly Saturday night.Kirk returned two punts for touchdowns and had a scoring catch to help No. 9 Texas A&M rout New Mexico State 52-10 .Texas A&M (7-1) took a break from Southeastern Conference play to face the Sun Belt team for the first time, a week after suffering its first loss at top-ranked Alabama.It was the first one of the season for me and the punt return group and it felt good for everyone, Kirk said. Its been a long time coming.Kirk returned punts for 70 and 73 yards to become the first player in school history with two punt return scores in a game. He has a school-record four in his career.Hes established himself as one of the best returners in the nation, coach Kevin Sumlin said. Hes a weapon and has been since hes been here ... theres no question with the ball in his hands hes got real skill.A 12-yard run by Trayveon Williams on A&Ms first drive made it 7-0 before Kirks first return TD pushed the lead to 14-0 later in the first. On that return, Kirk grabbed the ball and evaded the first wave of defenders before sidestepping another one, getting a couple of blocks, sprinting away from the rest of the defense and waltzing into the end zone.The kid is really punting the ball well and to do that twice in one night theres just no excuse, New Mexico State coach Doug Martin said.Trevor Knight found Kirk on a 3-yard reception in the corner of the end zone in the second quarter to leave Texas A&M up 24-0.We beat a team that we were supposed to beat and we made a bunch of big plays that we were supposed to make, Knight said. The message after the game still was we can be sharper. We can be better. We still havent played our best game yet.Texas A&M was up by 28 points early in the third quarter when Kirk added his second return score to make it 38-3. Knight was replaced by backup Jake Hubenak not long after that, and most of A&Ms starters were soon on the bench.Tyler Rogers threw for 138 yards and a touchdown and ran for 40 yards for New Mexico State (2-6).THE TAKEAWAYNEW MEXICO STATE: New Mexico State struggled to deal with the size and speed of Texas A&M and wasnt able to do much on either side of the ball. The team will savor iits open date next week to recover and regroup from this lopsided defeat. Joey Gallo Jersey. TEXAS A&M: Texas A&M handled business against a lesser opponent and got a much-needed week off from the rigors of the SEC as injuries have started to mount. Sumlin held out star defensive end Myles Garrett, who has been dealing with a leg injury, and a few other players who are battling minor injuries with consecutive conference games ahead in the next two weeks.Sumlin was impressed with how his defense held up without its best player.There were guys out there in roles that may not have been great, but they never gave up the big home run on defense, he said.POLL IMPLICATIONSTexas A&M should move up at least a couple of spots after No. 7 Nebraska and eighth-ranked Baylor lost Saturday. Knight was asked how much attention the Aggies pay to how the teams ranked ahead of them fare each week since the Aggies could have a shot at the College Football Playoff if they dont lose again and other teams fall.There is a side of it to where youre watching who wins and loses, Knight said. But if we dont take care of our business were not going to be in the conversation at the end anyway.STOPS ON STOPS ON STOPSNew Mexico State linebacker Rodney Butler, who entered the game leading the nation in tackles, added 11 on Saturday night to give him 113 this season. Butler had a season-high 24 tackles against New Mexico on Sept. 10 and has had at least 11 tackles in all but one game this year.MOVING ON UPTexas A&Ms Josh Reynolds had a 41-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter to give him 24 in his career and tie him with Ryan Swope for second on the schools all-time receiving touchdown list.Just an aggressive guy. Hes extremely effective, Sumlin said. Hes really increased his play this year as an overall player. He made a great decision by coming back, because hes stronger. Hes more physical.UP NEXTNEW MEXICO STATE: The team is off Saturday before returning to Sun Belt play at Arkansas State on Nov. 12.TEXAS A&M: Texas A&M visits Mississippi State on Saturday in its last road game before wrapping up the regular season with three straight games in College Station.--More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org Wholesale Authentic Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Jerseys 2018 Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys 2020 Jerseys From China ' ' '