They will need it in their finale next week if theyre going to

CHICAGO -- Jorge Soler has made the Chicago Cubs lineup deeper by going deep.Soler, who hit a three-run home run to lead Chicago to a 6-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night, has hit seven home runs in seven starts since coming off the disabled list in early August. Hes hitting .379 in 10 games over that stretch.When Jorge is in there it makes a deep, long lineup, said Cubs catcher David Ross, who hit a solo home run as the Cubs won their third straight and 17th in 20 games.When he was out ... the lineup was shortened, you know, once you get past a certain guy, its a little easier to navigate the lineup, Ross said.Hitting in the sixth spot, Soler sent Milwaukee starter Jimmy Nelsons 2-2 pitch far over the wall in left-center field, depositing it just under the videoboard atop the stands.The homer capped a five-run first inning after RBI singles by Ben Zobrist and Addison Russell.That made for an easy night for Cubs starter Jon Lester (13-4), who got his fourth straight win, giving up one run and three hits in 6 2/3 innings while striking out seven. He hasnt lost since July 3.You get five runs after the bottom of the first, it kind of relaxes you, you dont have to grind as much, Lester said.Lester and the rest of the Cubs starting pitchers have been magnificent, going 11-0 in August, with Chicagos only two losses being hung on relievers. But Lester credited the offense for the starters success.It makes our lives as pitchers a lot easier when theyre consistent, and doing what theyve been doing pretty much the whole year for us, Lester said. We just kind of go about our business after what they do.Nelson (6-13) walked leadoff batter Dexter Fowler then hit Kris Bryant with a pitch to begin the first. Then came Solers home run.Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Soler has worked on staying patient since coming back from the DL.Hes really staying in the zone, Maddon said.Carl Edwards Jr. and Travis Wood combined for 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for the Cubs.Nelson is 1-10 over his last 14 starts.Milwaukee rarely threatened Lester. The Brewers got a run in the sixth when Keon Broxton singled, then stole two bases before scoring on a groundout by Orlando Arcia. Milwaukee loaded the bases on two singles and a walk in the second inning, but Lester got Nelson to ground into an inning-ending forceout.The loss was the fifth in six games for the Brewers.Were having a tough go of it putting together offense, Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. But theres no breaks, no quit. We just keep going at it.LA STELLA RETURNSCubs INF Tommy La Stella will report to Double-A Tennessee, and Maddon said he hopes La Stella will be back with the big league team by early September. La Stella was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on July 29, but refused to report, and the Cubs placed him on the temporary inactive list on Aug. 9. La Stella reportedly said he was contemplating retirement. Hes reported to Double-A, and moving on up to Triple-A, and hell be back here probably by the first of September, Maddon said before the game. La Stella, 27, was hitting .295 in 51 games for the Cubs this season before the demotion.TRAINERS ROOMBrewers: OF Ryan Braun is day-to-day after crashing into a wall at Wrigley Field on Tuesday. Braun injured his left knee and ankle and was out of the lineup Wednesday. Braun and Counsell said he might be ready to play Thursday in Chicago and is expected to play over the weekend in Seattle. ... RHP Chase Anderson, who was hit in the left quadriceps by Bryants comebacker Tuesday, said he felt much better and would play light catch and evaluate from there. Counsell said Anderson might be well enough to start in the Brewers three-game series in Seattle.Cubs: OF Chris Coghlan was placed on the 15-day DL on Wednesday with a right rib contusion. ... RHP Joe Smith was placed on the 15-day DL with a left hamstring strain. The sidearm reliever said he didnt feel right during his ninth-inning appearance on Tuesday, when he walked two of the three hitters he faced, and that it might be a recurrence of an injury from May.UP NEXT:The Cubs send RHP Jake Arrieta (14-5, 2.55) to the mound for the series finale on Thursday. RHP Zach Davies (9-5, 3.80) will pitch for the Brewers. Juan Thornhill Jersey . The Croatian served 21 aces and hit 42 winners against Sijsling, who double-faulted to give Cilic a 4-3 lead in the deciding set. "All the players, they know me and they were really happy to see me and they were really happy that this is over for me," Cilic said. Xavier Williams Jersey . The recently retired Stern was elected Friday to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and will be enshrined with the class of 2014 on Aug. http://www.prochiefsauthentic.com/Youth-Jason-Spriggs-Elite-Jersey/ . Bryant, who signed a five-year, $34 million contract as a free agent with Cleveland in March, reported symptoms on Monday morning, a team spokesman said. Cameron Erving Jersey . Mitch Holmberg added a goal and three assists. Connor Chartier also scored for the Chiefs (3-0-0). Luke Harrison spoiled Garrett Hughsons shutout bid with a power-play goal at 13:17 of the third period. The Spokane goaltender finished with 28 saves, including a Brandon Fushimi penalty shot in the second period that would have tied the game 1-1. Armani Watts Jersey . It was the kind of score that might make everyone else wonder which course he was playing. Except that Graeme McDowell saw the whole thing. Crouched behind the 10th green at Sheshan International, McDowell looked over at the powerful American and said, "Ive probably seen 18 of the best drives Ive seen all year in the last two days. BOSTON -- Boston Colleges postseason hopes will live on for another week.Patrick Towles passed for 183 yards and a touchdown in his final home game, Davon Jones added a rushing score and Boston College defeated UConn 30-0 on Saturday.Eagles senior linebacker Matt Milano added a 19-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.Boston College (5-6) can become bowl-eligible with a victory in its regular-season finale at Wake Forest next week.It felt great to be in the locker room with them after they won this game, Eagles coach Steve Addazio said. Im looking forward to having an opportunity to win one more and get six.Neither team entered Saturday having produced much on offense in recent weeks.The Huskies (3-8) started freshman Donovan Williams at quarterback for the second straight game in an attempt to jumpstart an offense that entered the day averaging an FBS-worst 16.5 points per game. But UConn managed just 121 yards of offense, with Williams throwing three interceptions.A disappointing loss, UConn coach Bob Diaco said. Hard to win. When you dont have production on one side of the ball it becomes impossible. Itll be fixed. I know what the issues are and theyre going to be fixed -- and thats why were disappointed.The Eagles, whose offense came in averaging an FBS-worst 295.5 yards per game, had better luck.Towles had struggled throwing the ball this season, but found a groove in the third quarter completing 5 of 6 passes in the Eagles first drive out of halftime. The series ended with his 10-yard touchdown pass to Michael Walker that put BC in front 17-0.We talked all week -- weve got two games to make this season special. Check one, right? Towles said. Weve got a one-game season left.THE TAKEAWAYUCONN: The Huskies have tried to shake things up offensively in their past two games, but they havent moved the needle much. It was a particularly rough day for Williams, but all the experience is good for the young quarterback going forward.BOSTON COLLEGE: The stridess the Eagles made offensively come at the right time.dddddddddddd They will need it in their finale next week if theyre going to earn their third bowl berth under coach Steve Addazio.TURNOVER BATTLEBCs defense forced a season-high four turnovers (three INTs, fumble recovery). It was the most since the Eagles had five against Notre Dame on Nov. 21, 2015.SERIES DOMINANCEThe Eagles earned their 10th straight victory in their series with the Huskies. BC has outscored the Huskies in those games 297-59.SHUTOUT WINSThe victory was Boston Colleges first shutout win since a 76-0 win over Howard on Sept. 12, 2015. It was the first November shutout for the Eagles since a 17-0 win over Notre Dame on Nov. 8, 2008.HONORING RYANBC retired the jersey of former quarterback Matt Ryan at halftime Saturday.Ryan passed for 56 TDs and more than 9,000 yards at BC, and capped off his career by being selected third overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2008 NFL draft. He remains the schools highest draft pick in any sport. Among those in attendance for the ceremony was former BC coach Tom OBrien.Im really honored to have my jersey hanging up there, and very proud, Ryan told the crowd after his jersey was unveiled. It joined the previously retired jerseys of Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Doug Flutie, Outland Trophy winner Mike Ruth, and nine other former Eagles.Ryan was visible throughout the day. It included him leading the team in the pregame Eagle Walk through campus and into Alumni Stadium, a game-day tradition started when coach Steve Addazio arrived in 2013.UP NEXTUCONN: Returns home to host Tulane in its season finale.BOSTON COLLEGE: Hits the road for its conference and regular-season finale at Wake Forest.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25.---Follow Kyle Hightower on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/khightower ' ' '