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HOUSTON -- Kris Bryant gave the Houston Astros an up-close look at what could have been.Bryant hit a two-run homer, Jon Lester threw seven scoreless innings and Hector Rondon and Aroldis Chapman completed the shutout to give the Chicago Cubs a 2-0 win over the Astros on Friday night.It was Bryants first career game against the team that passed on him with the first pick in the 2013 draft to take starter Mark Appel, who was traded to Philadelphia this offseason before ever playing in the majors. Before the game Chicago manager Joe Maddon had a simple answer when he was asked about Houstons decision not to draft Bryant.Thank you, Maddon said with a smile.Bryant seemed to have grown weary of all the rehashing of that draft in the last few days, but seemed amused when he was asked if he likes hitting in Houston.Yeah, (batting practice) was fun for sure, he said. Just dont hit it to center.Bryant, taken second in that draft, avoided Houstons deep center field and smacked his 37th homer off Joe Musgrove (2-4) to the short porch in left field to put the Cubs up 2-0 in the fifth inning.Lester (16-4) allowed seven hits and struck out seven for his seventh straight win. He hasnt lost since July 3, hasnt allowed a run in three of those starts and gave up just one run in four others in that span.Rondon took over for the eighth and struck out two before Aroldis Chapman struck out one in a perfect ninth for his 13th save.The victory improved the Cubs to an MLB-best 90-50 a year after they won 97 games to give them consecutive 90-win seasons for the first time since doing it in three straight years from 1928-1930.The Astros had trouble stringing hits together against Lester, and didnt have more than one in an inning until the seventh when Yulieski Gurriel singled with one out and Marwin Gonzalez got another single with two outs. But Lester struck out Colby Rasmus looking to end the threat.Felt like that was the real big turning point in the game, Lester said. I felt like if we give up a hit there the momentum goes back on their side and it seems like theyre kind of built on that.Musgrove allowed three hits and two runs with five strikeouts in six innings for his fourth loss in five starts.Manager A.J. Hinch was disappointed that Musgrove walked Dexter Fowler with two outs to set up Bryants homer.Im happy with his effort, and obviously, hell go home thinking about the walk to Fowler before Bryants big home run because that really was the only thing they got off of him, Hinch said.Fowler snapped an 0-for-19 skid with a leadoff triple. But Musgrove didnt allow another hit until Bryants homer with two outs in the fifth.Alex Bregman singled for Houston with no outs in the fourth inning and stole second base. But he was thrown out trying to swipe third, too, and the Astros lost a scoring opportunity.THAT HAD TO HURTPlay was stopped for a couple of minutes in the bottom of the sixth inning when home plate umpire C.B. Bucknor got hit on hit on his right shoulder with a foul ball from Teoscar Hernandez. Bucknor was shaken up after taking the hit and was checked on by a member of Houstons training staff. But the trainer soon left and he rubbed on his shoulder a couple of times before remaining in the game.TRAINERS ROOMAstros: SS Carlos Correa missed his third straight game on Friday with inflammation in his left shoulder. Correa said that he was feeling better on Friday and manager Hinch said they hoped to get him back sometime this weekend. ... Ace Dallas Keuchel, who is also out with inflammation in his left shoulder, wont throw until after Sunday. Keuchel was shut down on Monday because of the problem and said on Friday that he is feeling better, but is still struggling with the injury. Theres really no timetable set for return, he said. But I firmly believe were still going to be in the playoff hunt so hopefully I can help the guys out here in the next week or so.UP NEXTCubs: John Lackey (9-7, 3.36) is scheduled to make his second start since coming off the disabled list. He is 2-0 with a 1.65 ERA in his last five starts.Astros: Collin McHugh (9-10, 4.96) has won two straight decisions and the Astros have won the last four games that he started.Tyson Chandler Jersey . Miller finished in two minutes, 6.09 seconds, one day before the first medal race on the Alpine schedule. The 36-year-old American also turned in the top time in Thursdays opening training session. Rajon Rondo Lakers Jersey . 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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.VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Willie Desjardins is aware of the dire predictions, but the Vancouver Canucks coach thinks his club could surprise people this season.We have to believe that, said Desjardins as the Canucks prepared this week for their regular-season opener Saturday against the Calgary Flames at Rogers Arena.I think thats how you approach it. I like certain parts of our team, for sure.But most pundits do not.Critics were quick to put down the Canucks in the preseason -- way down. Many observers, including USA Today and EA Sports, have picked the Canucks to finish dead last in the 30-team league after compiling a 31-38-13 record and missing the playoffs in a 2015-16 campaign plagued by numerous injuries and inconsistency.I think were solid, said Desjardins. I think were a better team than we were last year. But it doesnt really matter what you think. Its what you do on the ice. We just have to prove it. We cant say were going to be a good team. We have to prove that we can be a good team. Until we do that, people get to pick us there.Much of the proof will come if the Canucks can produce more goals after ranking last in the NHL with 186 in 2015-16. Vancouvers newcomers include high-scoring winger Loui Eriksson (via free agency), defenseman Erik Gudbranson (via trade) and Jack Skille (signed after preseason tryout.) According to Gudbranson, who was acquired from Florida for 2014 first-round draft choice (24th overall) Jared McCann in a deal that included draft picks, the Canucks are a good team with plenty of talent.Weve set really high expectations of ourselves, said Gudbranson. Weve pushed ourselves over the last month of us being here. Thats a tough pill to swallow, when you see everybody putting you at the bottom of the league. We have an opportunity to prove everyone -- everything -- wrong, and thats going to fuel us to come out strong here on Saturday and get off to a good start.The Canucks also hope the season opener will help them get in the habit of winning at home. They went 15-21-5 at Rogers Arena in 2015-16. Gudbranson said the Canucks need to make sure they take care of business at home this season.It sucks to lose on the road -- dont get me wrong -- but its embarrassing to lose at home in front of your fans, especially when youre playing poorly, said Gudbranson. I think we have to have that in tthe back of our minds.ddddddddddddTo start well at home Saturday, the Canucks will have to limit Calgarys top line of Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan and Kris Versteeg, who was signed as a free agent in the preseason after initially trying out for Edmonton. Versteeg, a two-time Stanley Cup winner with Chicago, indicated it will still take some time to get used to his offensively gifted new linemates. But he likes what he has seen thus far.You can really read their hockey I.Q. right away and see how smart they are -- and the plays they want to make, said Versteeg.While the Canucks suit up for their first game, the Flames will be playing their third contest in four nights. But the Flames are still looking for their first win -- and point -- after bowing 5-3 at home to the Oilers on Friday night and losing 7-4 in Edmonton on Wednesday.This one stings, Calgary captain Mark Giordano said after Fridays loss. But weve got to get one back right away (Saturday). Its going to be a tough game. Its the home opener for them. Theyre going to have a lot of energy obviously, and weve got to bring (a better effort).Offense was not much of a problem for the Flames in their first two games, as they produced their seven goals from a combined total of 76 shots. But the Flames will need to cut down on penalties, which severely limited their scoring chances Friday. Calgary recorded 24 shots in the first period, but only three in the second as penalties took their toll.Calgary went scoreless on five power plays Friday, while the Oilers converted two of four man-advantage opportunities.New Flames coach Glen Gulutzan, who served as a Canucks assistant for the past three seasons, hopes that his club will get more game action right after Fridays loss.Thats your only saving grace, Gulutzan said. You cant dwell too long, but weve certainly got to get better in a couple areas. (Friday), with our special teams, we made a couple mistakes -- so weve got to get better there. Were just going to keep going at it until we get good at it.Backup goaltender Chad Johnson is expected to make his regular-season debut for the Flames after Brian Elliott took both of the opening losses. Ryan Miller is slated to start in goal for the Canucks. ' ' '