failed to get through the fifth inning for the third time

CHICAGO -- All Masahiro Tanaka could do was put this one behind him and look forward to his next start. Hell be hard-pressed to match an unbeaten streak like this, though. Tanaka had his unbeaten regular-season run snapped at 42 starts, allowing a career-high four runs in six innings, and the Chicago Cubs beat the New York Yankees 6-1 on Tuesday night. The Cubs honoured the retiring Derek Jeter before the game, then handed Tanaka his first loss in nine major league starts. It was a surprising turn, considering Chicago came in with the majors worst record and the right-hander from Japan had been sensational. Tanaka (6-1) had been 34-0 in Japan and North America the last two seasons. He did drop Game 6 of the Japan Series last year before earning the save in Game 7. But post-season aside, he hadnt lost since the Seibu Lions beat the Rakuten Golden Eagles on Aug. 19, 2012. And yes, he was definitely proud of that streak. "I think I was able to get the streak going because I had support from my teammates," Tanaka said through an interpreter. "Im a little bit disappointed because I think a lot of the fans were looking for me to keep on winning. Next time out, Ill try to get a win again and get it going again." Luis Valbuena had three hits with two doubles and scored two runs for Chicago. John Baker had two hits, scored a run and drove in one. Mike Olt drove in three. Jason Hammel (5-2) pitched solid ball into the sixth and Hector Rondon retired Jeter on a grounder with the bases loaded in the ninth, preserving the win on a hot and rainy night with thunder and lightning. Tanaka had his worst outing, allowing eight hits to match a career high. He struck out seven and walked one but didnt really have his usual command. Manager Joe Girardi noticed some splitters up in the zone. Tanaka said there were issues with all his pitches, and Chicagos Starlin Castro thought there was a dip in velocity from last months meeting in New York, when he threw eight scoreless innings. Some Cubs players thought familiarity this time around helped, although Girardi dismissed that idea. "If he has his good splitter tonight I think he gives a much better performance," he said. "Since its the first time that he saw a team twice and they scored four runs, people are probably going to make a big deal out of it, but I think hes given up four runs before in a start. So I wouldnt make too much of it." Coming off his first major-league shutout against the Mets last week, Tanaka gave up RBI singles to Emilio Bonifacio in the third and to Olt in the fourth to make it 2-0. The Cubs added to their lead with two in the sixth on back-to-back sacrifice flies by Olt and Baker after Mark Teixeira singled in a run in the top half for New York. That was enough for Hammel, who allowed one run and four hits in 5 2-3 innings while striking out six and walking one. The righty took a hard one-hopper to his pitching hand while deflecting Brett Gardners single to start the game, then threw his first warmup pitch to the backstop after that. He also hit a batter and threw a wild pitch in the inning but settled down after despite some mounting soreness. "It got a little worse as the game was going on," he said. The Cubs saluted Jeter before the game, with Castro presenting him a number 2 from the famed Wrigley Field scoreboard at home plate as the crowd cheered. And there was a loud ovation when the Yankees captain batted in the first. Former Cub Soriano also got a warm welcome in his first game at Wrigley Field since the Cubs traded him to New York last July. He was 0 for 4. NOTES: Asked if theres any chance hell play after this season, Soriano said, "Yeah, I feel good." He plans to keep playing if he feels this way at the end of the season. Hes in the final year of an eight-year deal he signed with Chicago before the 2007 season. ... The Yankees wont have to leave town after this two-game series wraps up, with a four-game set at the White Sox opening Thursday. ... Cubs manager Rick Renteria said OF Justin Ruggiano is close to returning from a strained left hamstring but didnt give a specific date. He also said reliever Pedro Strop is "coming along" as he recovers from a strained left groin. China NFL Jerseys . He will play 10th-seeded Feliciano Lopez in Sundays final, after the Spanish left-hander defeated Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic 7-6 (7), 6-4. Wholesale NFL Jerseys China . The turf is scheduled to give way to actual grass that is bright green, so we dont have to complain any more—we just have to wait a few years. Instead, do feel free to complain if the roof is closed for any reason other than to allow a game to be played. http://www.discountjerseysnfl.com/ . "I wouldnt read anything into what happened Saturday at Torrey Pines," Woods said Tuesday after an 18-hole exhibition for past winners of the Dubai Desert Classic. NFL Jerseys China . While Minnesota takes aim at its eighth win of November, the Canadiens will try to post just their third victory in nine games this month. Cheap Jerseys For NFL . -- Martin Kaymer never lost sight of opportunity even amid so much evidence of trouble in the closing stretch Sunday at The Players Championship. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Jeremy Hellickson isnt used to playing meaningless games. "Its definitely no fun when you come to the park and you know youre not going to be playing in October," Hellickson said after giving up four runs and seven hits in 4 1-3 innings of Tampa Bays 4-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Friday night that eliminated the Rays from playoff contention. "In the four or five years Ive been here I havent been involved in too many games that havent meant anything." The Rays, who dropped to 35-44 at home, began the day 9 1/2 games behind the second AL wild-card spot. Jose Quintana pitched into the eighth inning and Avisail Garcia had a two-run double for the White Sox. Chicago rookie Jose Abreu also had a run-scoring single during a four-run fifth, giving him 104 RBIs for the season. "We put ourselves in a significant hole (they were 24-42 on June 10) and its been really hard to dig out," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "To not be involved in the post-season is no fun. We expect to be there on an annual basis." The Rays reached the playoffs four of the preceding six years. Tampa Bay had a chance to tie the score in the seventh when Ben Zobrist hit a two-out double off the glove of second baseman Marcus Semien, but Semien recovered the ball in time to throw out Kevin Kiermaier at the plate. Kiermaier was attempting to score from first base after his single. "I never criticize (Kiermaier) because hes always aggressive," Maddon said. "Their guy picks it up and throws a strike at the plate. Out. Theres no guarantee that he would have scored on the next hitter doing something." Logan Forsythe drove in Tampa Bays runs with a two-run double in thee first and a leadoff home run in the fourth, his sixth of the season.dddddddddddd Quintana (9-10) gave up three runs -- one earned -- and nine hits in 7 1-3 innings. The left-hander is 3-0 with a 1.65 ERA over his last four starts. "After the homer, I think he just really settled down and was aggressive," said White Sox manager Robin Ventura. "Really its kind of a calling card of his. He gets stronger as the game goes along." Zach Putnam got the last two outs, striking out Kiermaier with two runners on in the ninth to earn his sixth save. Hellickson (1-4) failed to get through the fifth inning for the third time in his last five starts. "Its just happened so many times this year with guys giving me a three- or four-run lead, and I throw four or five scoreless and then just lose it the next inning," he said. TRAINERS ROOM White Sox: 1B Paul Konerko, retiring after the season, played for the first time since breaking his left hand in a Sept. 2 game against Minnesota. Rays: IF Sean Rodriguez was not with the team because of a death in the family. ... CF Desmond Jennings (sore left knee) is no longer listed as an extra player on the clubhouse lineup card and is expected to miss the rest of the season. UP NEXT White Sox RHP Hector Noesi (8-10) and Rays RHP Chris Archer (9-8) are Saturday nights scheduled starters. Archer has allowed a homer in four consecutive starts. He had never given up a homer in more than two straight games prior to this stretch. ZIMMER AWARD Tampa Bay INF-OF Ben Zobrist was named as the Don Zimmer Most Valuable Player by the local BBWAA chapter. The Rays MVP award was re-named this year for Zimmer, the Rays senior adviser who died in June. ' ' '