Rangers $24 million over 14 years. "Nothings ov

SAN FRANCISCO -- Jake Arrieta had so boldly proclaimed October ace Madison Bumgarner could be beaten, and the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner nearly made it happen with his bat and that big right arm.Arrieta hit a three-run homer in the second inning that held up for most of the night, but the game was decided by the bullpens hours later, and the Chicago Cubs will have to wait another day to try to earn their spot in the NL Championship Series.Joe Panik doubled off the wall in right-center field to drive in Brandon Crawford with the winning run in the 13th inning, and the Giants staved off elimination again by outlasting the Cubs 6-5 on Monday in Game 3 of their NL Division Series.The wild-card Giants forced Tuesday nights Game 4 back at their raucous, sold-out ballpark, postponing a potential Cubs clinch party. Chicago leads the best-of-five playoff 2-1 and will send John Lackey to the mound opposite lefty Matt Moore.We played it hard, we played it right -- and they beat us, Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.Panik came through on the 57th pitch from Mike Montgomery, who was working his fifth inning of relief. Brandon Crawford hit a leadoff double on an 0-2 curveball.Its definitely disappointing the way it ended, but I think well come back tomorrow ready to go, Montgomery said.San Francisco won its 10th straight game when facing postseason elimination. The Giants are trying to extend their pattern of even-year championships after winning the World Series in 2010, 12 and 14.Paniks big hit ended a 5-hour, 4-minute game that was only 29 minutes shy of the total time it took to play the first two series games combined last week at Wrigley Field.We just have to have a short memory, forget about it. Its over, just go out there tomorrow and get the victory, Cubs catcher Miguel Montero said. Its not easy. Its a tough pill to swallow.Rookie left-hander Ty Blach was the winner, escaping a 13th-inning jam when pinch-hitter David Ross bounced into a double play.Kris Bryant hit a tying, two-run homer off Giants closer Sergio Romo in the ninth after San Francisco rallied for three runs to take the lead in the eighth against Aroldis Chapman.Bryants drive hit the top of the left-field fence and bounced into the seats, silencing the orange towel-swirling sellout crowd. The slugger received a warm hug of congratulations in the dugout from Chapman, who had just given up the lead.With Bumgarners remarkable postseason scoreless streak at 24 innings, Arrieta drove a 1-2 pitch into the left-field bleachers in the second inning -- and, as a bonus, a man in a blue Cubs cap caught it and jumped for joy at his good fortune.Arrietas mouth hung wide open as he rounded the bases, pumping his pitching arm.It was Arrietas fifth career home run, and the first Bumgarner had given up to a pitcher in his seven-year big league career.CHAPMAN OFFMaddon turned to Chapman with the potential tying and go-ahead runs aboard in the eighth, putting him in position for his second career six-out save. He struck out Hunter Pence with five consecutive pitches clocked at 101 or 102 mph.That brought up Conor Gillaspie, who grounded out his first three trips to the plate. He fouled off the first offering before driving the ball into deep right-center for a triple that easily scored Brandon Belt and Buster Posey.Gillaspie came through just as he did with that three-run homer in the ninth inning of the wild-card game to beat the Mets last Wednesday in New York.Give Gillaspie credit, Maddon said. He did it a couple days ago. He got an elevated fastball and hit it to the far part of the ballpark. I think it surprised a lot of people.It was the 10th extra-base hit Chapman has allowed to a left-handed batter in his career -- and the first triple.PAGAN SCRATCHEDThe only Giants player with strong numbers against Arrieta was a late scratch.Left fielder Angel Pagan got pulled from the lineup about an hour before the first pitch because of back spasms.Pagan had a .455 average (5 for 11) against Arrieta with a double and two strikeouts. Gregor Blanco replaced him.UP NEXTLackey will try to pitch the Cubs into their second straight NLCS, while Moore looks to build on his success down the stretch after the Giants acquired him at the Aug. 1 trade deadline from Tampa Bay. Roman Josi Predators Jersey . The No. 1-ranked Nadal tweaked his back warming up for the Australian Open final, which he lost almost four weeks ago in a major upset against Stanislas Wawrinka. His first stop after the layoff is the clay in Rio as he tests the back and tries to stay healthy for the French Open in three months. Colton Sissons Jersey . Datsyuk will miss Tuesdays game against New Jersey and could be sidelined longer, while Cleary will likely miss at least the next three games. Its been an injury-plagued season for Datsyuk, who has suited up for just 39 games. http://www.authenticpredatorspro.com/Kyle-turris-predators-jersey/ . Now, with Game 6 set for Fenway Park and an 8:07 p.m. ET first pitch, the Detroit Tigers face the unenviable task of having to beat the Boston Red Sox twice, on the road, to advance to the World Series. Filip Forsberg Predators Jersey . Ancelotti says Ronaldo has recovered from a hamstring injury but "but he doesnt feel comfortable yet so we wont risk him." Madrid is third in the Spanish league, six points behind leader Barcelona, going into Saturdays game against Valladolid. Miikka Salomaki Jersey .ca NHL Power Rankings for the second straight week, ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Avalanche.NEW YORK -- Struggling Rangers centre Brad Richards was a healthy scratch Thursday night when New York stayed alive in the Stanley Cup playoffs with a 4-3 overtime victory in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Boston Bruins. Richards, a star player earning $12 million this season, stayed on the ice with the extras Thursday during the morning skate. He then confirmed that Rangers coach John Tortorella had called to tell him he would be sitting out. "Hes playing seven or eight minutes, and its not good for him," Tortorella said. "I also feel some other guys have played better, so thats where he is right now in our lineup." New York rallied from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits before Chris Kreider scored the winning goal in overtime to force Game 5 in Boston on Saturday. Kris Newbury and Micheal Haley replaced Richards and fellow fourth-line forward Arron Asham, who also sat out for the first time in the series that Boston now leads 3-1. "I dont know if surprised is the right word for it," Richards said. "Im disappointed." Haley, who hadnt played since March 19, made his NHL post-season debut. Newbury was in the lineup for New Yorks playoff opener against Washington in the first round, but was scratched for the next nine games. Newbury played six games during the regular season, and Haley dressed for nine. Defenceman Anton Stralman, who was injured in the second period of Tuesday nights loss, was also out of the Game 4 lineup. Veteran Roman Hamrlik, who hadnt played since April 1 -- a 23-game span -- replaced him. Boston used the same lineup from Game 3. The 33-year-old Richards, an alternate captain who has seven years left on the nine-year, $60 million deal he signed in July 2011, has been largely ineffective in 10 playoff games. He has one goal and no assists and has a minus-3 rating. "Dont put words in my mouth, because Im not blaming Brad, because he is a hell of a hockey player thats having a hell of a time," Tortorella said.dddddddddddd"I need to make decisions about what I feel is right for our team to win tonights game. Thats why I made that decision." Richards had already been dropped to the fourth line and had his ice time cut. Richards inability to get New Yorks woeful power play going left him as an odd-man out. He said being on the fourth line made it difficult for him to be effective. "It doesnt work for him," Tortorella said of Richards. "Im not playing him the proper way, but I cant put him in a situation on the other lines because I think the other lines stepped up. "I am looking to get some sort of identity on that fourth line, and thats where Brad comes out and I go with these guys. We got some fresh legs and enthusiasm." Richards, in his 12th NHL season, had only 10 shifts and a career playoff-low 8:10 of ice time Tuesday in New Yorks 2-1 loss that put the Rangers on the brink of elimination. Richards is a prime candidate to have his contract bought out after this season. After this years lockout, each team was given the option of two amnesty buyouts that could be used to terminate contracts before next season or the 2014-15 season. The buyouts will cost two-thirds of the remaining amount on a deal -- paid evenly over twice its remaining length -- and will count against the players overall share in revenues, but not the individual teams salary cap. A buyout for Richards would cost the Rangers $24 million over 14 years. "Nothings over," Richards said. "Work harder and try my best to never let it happen again." Richards, who had 11 goals and 23 assists in 46 games during the regular season, was the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP when he and the Tampa Bay Lightning captured the Stanley Cup under Tortorella in 2004. "This is a guy that Ive grown up with, a guy that I love as a person and a player," Tortorella said, "but I have to make that decision regarding (the benching). Its not about blaming that guy." ' ' '