Its been an eventful 12 months for Jake Arrieta. Durham Smythe Dolphins Jersey . Hes gone from traded pitcher to No. 3 starter to staff ace for the Chicago Cubs, and will make his final start prior to the 2014 trade deadline on Thursday afternoon, when the Cubs host the Colorado Rockies in the finale of a four-game series on Thursday afternoon. Arrieta was dealt to Chicago in exchange for Scott Feldman last July, then climbed the staff ranks when previous teammates Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel were sent to Oakland earlier this month. Hes solidified his status as the teams No. 1 man in the wake of that transaction and enters Thursday having allowed three earned runs or less in 14 of his 15 starts this season. Hes under contract for $500,000 this season and is signed through 2017, which boosts the likelihood hell remain with Chicago past this years deadline. He allowed two runs in six innings of his last start against St. Louis on Saturday and has turned in nine straight outings of at least six innings with no more than three earned runs -- a stretch in which hes gone 4-1 with a 1.77 earned run average. "That performance (against St. Louis) is indicative of how much hes grown," Cubs manager Renteria said. "If that had been a couple years ago, and he was struggling, he wouldnt be able to grind through and pitch six innings without his best command or stuff." Arrieta has never faced the Rockies. Colorado won in 10 innings on Wednesday night, following Tuesdays 16-inning marathon that was the longest game -- 6 hours, 37 minutes -- in either franchises history. "We got some timely hits (Wednesday)," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "We got a few early, and then of course Barnesy had the big one late." Another after-effect of the long game is Thursdays starter for the Rockies, Pedro Hernandez. Tyler Matzek had been scheduled to make the start, but he pitched in relief in Tuesdays game, necessitating Hernandezs call-up from Triple-A Colorado Springs, where hed gone 6-6 with a 6.14 ERA in 18 appearances -- 16 starts, two relief outings. He was released after spending 2013 with Minnesota and signed a minor-league deal with Colorado. He has never faced the Cubs. On Wednesday, Brandon Barnes singled in the go-ahead run in the 10th to boost the Rockies over the Cubs, 6-4. Wesley Wright (0-2) walked Nolan Arenado and Drew Stubbs before giving up a one-out single to Michael McKenry. Barnes stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and hit a single to left. Stubbs then scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-4. Adam Ottavino worked around a two-out single in the bottom half of the 10th to pick up his first save in the big leagues. Brett Anderson got the start for Colorado and struck out nine while giving up two runs on 11 hits over seven innings. Rob Scahill (1-0) pitched a scoreless ninth for his second major league win. He was recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs before the game. Chicago starter Travis Wood set a career high with 11 strikeouts, but remains winless in eight starts dating to a 3-0 win at Philadelphia on June 15. He gave up four runs on eight hits over six innings. Colorado and Chicago split six meetings last season. Frank Gore Jersey . The top-ranked Spaniard won his fourth Madrid Open on Sunday after Kei Nishikori was forced to withdraw with a hip injury when trailing 2-6, 6-4, 3-0 in the final. And Nadal, who is coming off to uncharacteristic quarterfinal losses on clay, said his mental strength is still lacking just two weeks ahead of the French Open. Jason Sanders Dolphins Jersey . -- The Minnesota Twins have granted relief pitcher Matt Guerrier his unconditional release, making the 35-year-old right-hander a free agent. http://www.dolphinsrookiestore.com/Dolphins-Aj-Derby-Jersey/ . -- The Oakland Athletics and free agent right-hander Bartolo Colon have agreed to terms on a US$2 million, one-year contract, bolstering their depleted starting rotation.PHILADELPHIA -- Jonathon Niese stayed warm, and the surprising New York Mets cooled off Philadelphia. Niese pitched seven steady innings on a rainy Tuesday night and Daniel Murphy had three hits to lead New York to a 6-1 victory over the Phillies. Ruben Tejada doubled and had two RBIs for the Mets, who chased Cole Hamels in the fifth and have won seven of nine. They improved to 15-11 overall, marking the first time New York has been four games over .500 since July 14, 2012. "Conditions are really tough and Jon just keeps cruising along," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "You have to be pretty impressed with the way hes going about it. He used all of his pitches. It seemed like he had good command of his curveball even though it was wet. ... He went out and pitched another great game." Marlon Byrd homered and Ryan Howard had two hits with a double for Philadelphia, which lost for only the third time in nine games. The start was delayed by rain for 1 hour, 28 minutes, and the temperature at first pitch was a chilly 46 degrees. Many in the announced crowd of 28,189 who braved the cold were dressed more appropriately for a Philadelphia Eagles football game in December, with hooded sweat shirts, winter coats and wool blankets. There was a misty rain for the first 2 1/2 innings before heavy rain began to fall in the bottom of the third. The rain tapered off to a drizzle before becoming heavy again in the seventh. The weather hardly affected Niese (2-2), who didnt allow a hit until Byrds two-out homer in the fourth. The left-hander gave up four hits while striking out five and walking one. "It was another cold one," Niese said, "but it seems like the more I pitch in cold weather, the more I figure out how to stay warm." Niese sat near a heater in the Mets dugout and kept his hands in his jacket pockets, which contained hand warmers. While on the mound, Niese said he made sure to move around constantly rather than stand still. "I was able to effectively throw my pitches," he said. Said Murphy, "He threw the ball great. It was a treat to watch from second base." Hamels (0-2) struggled in his first home start of the season, allowing six runs on eight hitss with five walks and a hit batter in 4 2-3 innings. Minkah Fitzpatrick Jersey. Seeking his 100th career victory, Hamels lost the strike zone in the fourth when he walked four batters, including Niese with the bases loaded, as the Mets took a 3-0 lead. Hamels was making his second start of the season after opening on the disabled list due to left biceps tendinitis. The leftys ERA rose to 6.75 as he dropped to 2-8 in his last 10 home starts against the Mets. Murphy had a two-out RBI single in the third, and Josh Satin singled home a run in the fourth. "Ive never seen Cole be that erratic, and Im sure a lot of that was the conditions," Collins said. "Its early in the year and he missed a lot of spring training. Hell be fine, Im sure." Hamels said the conditions made it difficult to pitch but blamed himself for not being able to adjust better. "The elements got the best of me today," he said. "From my standpoint, Im truly embarrassed because I didnt really give anyone a chance." Hamels said a lack of perspiration made gripping the ball difficult. "When youre able to perspire, youre able to get certain types of grips with the baseball," he said, before joking: "Today might have been the day to use pine tar, but unfortunately I dont do that. It might have been the day to learn. It was difficult to throw the baseball and difficult to throw strikes. You have to be able to battle out there, and I wasnt able to do it." Byrds homer pulled the Phillies to 3-1, but New York chased Hamels when it got an RBI double from Chris Young and a two-run single from Tejeda to make it 6-1 in the fifth. NOTES: Mets starters have given up more than three runs once in the last 13 games. ... Murphy extended his hitting streak to 10 games. ... Mets RHP Bartolo Colon (2-3, 4.50 ERA) is scheduled to face RHP Kyle Kendrick (0-2, 3.52) in the conclusion of the two-game series Wednesday night. ... During the rain delay, the Phillies showed Game 6 of the NHL playoff series between the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers on the scoreboard and rang the bell in centre field traditionally rung for home runs when Wayne Simmonds scored a first-period goal to give the Flyers a 1-0 lead. Cheap Nike Buccaneers Jerseys Cheap Nike Packers Jerseys Cheap Nike Vikings Jerseys Cheap Nike Lions Jerseys Cheap Nike Colts Jerseys Cheap Nike Texans Jerseys Cheap Nike Jaguars Jerseys Cheap Nike Dolphins Jerseys Cheap Nike Patriots Jerseys Cheap Nike Jets Jerseys Cheap Nike Browns Jerseys Cheap Nike Broncos Jerseys Cheap Nike Chiefs Jerseys Cheap Nike Bengals Jerseys Cheap Nike Steelers Jerseys Cheap Nike Titans Jerseys ' ' '