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CHICAGO -- The pitch was just a tick up, and Starlin Castro was ready. When Edwin Jackson was limited to five innings, the bullpen took over. Pedro Alvarezs drive fell short on the warning track. These are fun days for the improving Chicago Cubs. Castro hit a three-run homer and Jackson finally got the better of Charlie Morton, leading the Cubs to a 6-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday. "This is the nicest Ive felt about this team since Ive been here," said Anthony Rizzo, who was acquired in a January 2012 trade with San Diego. Chris Coghlan added a solo shot as the Cubs opened a 10-game homestand with their fourth win in five games. Last-place Chicago also improved to 18-13 since May 17 for the best record in the NL in that stretch. "Everything in this game is contagious, whether its positive, negative, hitting, defence, pitching," Coghlan said. "I think were having more team at-bats." Jackson (5-7) was removed after 86 pitches due to cramps in his calves, but it was enough to get his first win in four matchups this year against Morton (4-8). The right-handers have faced off more than any other pair of starting pitchers this season in the majors. Jackson allowed three runs on Jordy Mercers fifth homer and five hits. He struck out eight and walked two in just his second win in his last six starts. Alvarez had a chance to tie the game when he came to the plate with two on and two out in the sixth. He took a frustrated hop between first and second as Ryan Sweeney ran down his long fly ball in the biggest part of the ballpark. Andrew McCutchen struck out with two on in the seventh, wasting another Pittsburgh threat. "Pitchings been pretty great all year. The offence is coming around, and the defence is coming around as well," Jackson said. "So were definitely showing a glimpse of what were able to do. Its just going out and doing it on a consistent basis." Pittsburgh rookie Gregory Polanco opened the game with a single to centre, extending his hitting streak to 10 games. He is the first NL player to begin his career with such a streak since Juan Pierres 16-game run for Colorado in 2000. The Pirates have lost four of five since a four-game winning streak. Morton retired six in a row before Jacksons one-out single in the third started a string of five consecutive batters reaching safely. Rizzo lined a two-run double into the right-field corner before Castro drove an 0-2 curveball over the wall in left for his 11th homer, moving past his total from all of last year. Morton jerked his head down in disgust when Castro connected, and then turned around to see where the ball was going. Castros third homer of the season against Morton gave the Cubs a 5-0 lead. "I could have gotten the ball down a little bit more," Morton said. "I dont think it was a bad pitch. It was a bad pitch to him in that situation." The six runs in six innings were a season high for Morton, who had won each of his last three starts and was 4-1 with a 2.40 ERA in his previous five outings. Mercer went deep after Jackson walked the first two batters in the fifth, but that was it for the Pirates. Four Cubs relievers combined for three innings of two-hit ball before Hector Rondon worked the ninth for his eighth save in 10 chances. Jason Grilli pitched the eighth for the Pirates in his first outing since manager Clint Hurdle removed the right-hander from the closer role. Grilli has blown four save opportunities this season after converting 33 of 35 chances a year ago. "Better rhythm, a better execution of pitches," Hurdle said when asked about Grillis inning. NOTES: Hurdle said before the game that Mark Melancon will close for now, and he also could use Tony Watson in save opportunities. ... Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said he is pleased with Manny Ramirezs impact on the organization so far, and the former major league star could join Triple-A Iowa next week. When Ramirez reports to Iowa, he will be a player-coach for Chicagos top farm club. ... Epstein also said he doesnt forsee a scenario where prospect Kris Bryant joins the major league club this year. ... Pirates RHP Vance Worley (0-0, 0.00 ERA) and Cubs LHP Travis Wood (7-5, 4.48 ERA) face off on Saturday. Duke Dawson Jr. Jersey . However, it wasnt a problem on Monday night. Evgeni Nabokov made 23 saves for his 56th career shutout in the New York Islanders 3-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Monday night. Ryan Allen Jersey . Pinch-hitter Tommy Medica singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and the Padres beat the Seattle Mariners 2-1 in their first home game since Gwynn died of cancer Monday. http://www.cheappatriotsjerseysauthentic...e-grogan-jersey. On the day the club activated Casey Janssen from the 15-day disabled list, his return from a strained oblique that cost him the first six weeks of the regular season, it announced Sergio Santos would be placed on the disabled list on Monday with discomfort in his right forearm. Brandon King Jersey . Vettel only needs to finish fifth or better Sunday to wrap up the championship with three races remaining, and bettered his own lap record to claim his third straight pole at Buddh International Circuit. Andrew Beck Jersey . - Vince Wilfork has played only two career games in Kansas City. MIAMI -- Chris Bosh got them started. LeBron James took over in the second half. And in the end, the Miami Heat moved one win from yet another Eastern Conference title. James had 32 points and 10 rebounds, Bosh added 25 points -- nearly matching his output from the first three games of the series combined -- and the Heat grabbed control of the East finals by topping the Indiana Pacers 102-90 in Game 4 for a 3-1 lead. Dwyane Wade added 15 points and Miami never trailed, leading by 23 at one point. "We try to get better every single day, every single game," James said. "When you do that and go out and play the type of game that you are capable of playing, you can be satisfied with the results. And thats what weve built over the years." Only the Celtics and Lakers franchises have been to the NBA Finals in four straight seasons. The Heat now have three chances to join that club, starting with Game 5 at Indiana on Wednesday night. "We got outplayed by the Heat," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "I wasnt disappointed in our fight. I was disappointed in the result." Paul George scored 23 points and David West added 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Pacers, who got 15 points from George Hill. But Lance Stephenson -- who made news in the days between Games 3 and 4 by suggesting he was in James head -- was held to nine and 7-foot-2 centre Roy Hibbert was scoreless in 22 minutes for Indiana. "I was trying to get into his head," Stephenson said, referring to James. "I guess he stepped up and got the win. I can take the heat." The heat, maybe. The Heat, maybe not. Miami has won the last three games in the series, and going back to the point in Game 3 when the Heat trailed by 15, they have outscored the Pacers by 39 points in a span of about 6 1/2 quarters. The Pacers won two elimination games in the first round against Atlanta, and need to win three more if their yearlong plan of topping Miami as kings of the East is going to become reality. The odds are obviously stacked against them. When holding a 3-1 lead, Miami is 8-0 in Game 5s over the past four postseasons. "We have a chance to play an NBA game on our home floor," West said. "We are going to try to do something thats very tough." Bosh scored the games first eight points, making a pair of 3-pointers and ending a series-long funk. He had scored exactly nine points in each of the first three games of these East finals and was held under 10 points in each of his last seven playoff games against Indiana. But he came out flying, and probably not coincidentally, the Heat finally had a good start. &qquot;I told him he was going to have a great game," James said.dddddddddddd "We got off to a fast start because of him." Miami won the first quarter for the first time in the series, going up 27-19 and helped in part by a late 3-pointer from Shane Battier -- with replays showing Vogel moved down the sideline toward the Heat forward as he shot from near the Indiana bench. If nothing else, at least he was trying to beat Big Brother. Much as he did Sunday, Vogel used the big brother-little brother analogy with his team, trying any way to urge the Pacers to break through against the team that has ended their season in each of the past two years. "Hes got to make a decision at some point in his life, that no matter what, were not going to lose this fight anymore," Vogel said, likening the Pacers to the little brother in that scenario. "Were at that point." The fight isnt over. But it was awfully one-sided for long stretches of Game 4, and George -- who said he thought Indiana outplayed Miami -- pointed to free throws as the reason why. Miami was 30 of 34 from the line; Indiana was 11 of 17. "They won this game at the free-throw line," George said. Miami outscored Indiana 31-20 in the third quarter and kept pulling away before the Pacers used a 15-3 run to make things rather interesting. Stephenson had a layup with 3:20 left that would have gotten Indiana within nine -- but it was waved off after he was called for fouling Wade on his way to the basket. Stephenson scored with 1:31 left to make it 99-90, but James snuffed out any comeback hopes right there with a three-point play. Miami was without Chris Andersen, inactive because of a bruised left thigh. The Heat also tweaked their starting lineup, with Rashard Lewis in and Udonis Haslem out. The Pacers were down only 49-44 at halftime -- even though Hibbert and Stephenson both had three fouls, the Heat didnt have a turnover until the second quarter, Miami shot 10 more free throws in the half and Bosh and James combined for 32 points in the first 24 minutes. If there was any doubt, Miami erased it quickly after halftime. James scored five points in a 7-0 spurt to open the second half, and the Heat were on their way. "Theyre the best offensive team in the NBA," Vogel said. NOTES: It was the 74th playoff game where James had at least 25