News » which will tie for the AL lead. Rays LHP Drew Smyly is 5-11

CHICAGO -- November blazed like dazzling springtime in Chicago during a massive parade and rally Friday to honor the Cubs first World Series title in 108 years and fulfill more than a century of pent-up dreams.A new generation of Cubs fans -- riding in strollers or on their parents shoulders -- joined their elders to cheer the baseball champions. For the youngest, the day would be their first bright memory of following a club once known as lovable losers.Their parents marveled at how their children will know the confident, young team as winners.Its a whole new Cubs world, said Dean Anderson, 51, of Chicago, who brought his 10-year-old son, Chase, to see the players motorcade as it rolled out from Wrigley Field at the start of the parade route. The lovable loser thing -- and all the accompanying lore embroidered by long-suffering fan loyalty -- may be lost to the newest fans, Anderson said, but weve had enough of that.A crowd, estimated by city officials at 5 million, lined Michigan Avenue and Lake Shore Drive to cheer the motorcade of open-roofed buses carrying the players along a 7-mile parade route from the north side ballpark to sprawling Grant Park. The citys tally included everyone who lined the route and the rally throngs. Friday was already a scheduled day off for Chicago Public Schools.Revelers crawled up trees and streetlight poles to get a better view along the route. Others sat atop shoulders to watch the team buses shimmering under a spray of red and blue confetti.Steve Angelo of Chicago carried his 4-year-old son, Nicholas, who held a World Champs sign.For him, the more and more they win now, at his earlier age, the more and more excitement there is, Angelo said. Theres parades, and people talk about it more on the radio and TV. Its going to be a lot more exciting now.During the jubilant festivities at the park, 39-year-old retiring Cubs catcher David Ross posed for a selfie in front of a multitude of roaring fans.Ross and the other players put their arms around each other and sang Go Cubs Go from the stage along with the blissed-out crowd.It happened, baby. It happened! proclaimed 27-year-old first baseman Anthony Rizzo to adoring cheers.Team manager Joe Maddon -- wearing a stocking cap, sunglasses and a jersey over a We did not suck T-shirt -- looked out over a sea of blue.Welcome to Cubstock 2016! Maddon said. This is an incredible moment for all of us. Never have I experienced anything like Wrigley Field on a nightly basis. ... I want to congratulate you fans also. Thank you for being so patient.A victory party is new territory for stoical fans of the Cubs, whose last World Series title -- before their Game 7, extra-inning thriller Wednesday night in Cleveland -- came in 1908. The last time the Cubs even reached the Fall Classic was in 1945.Superstitions die hard. Miriam Santiago, 51, said she carried holy water, her rosary and a bright green lucky baseball with her during the playoffs. On Friday, the Chicago woman brought a goat mask with dynamite in its mouth and let other fans pose for photos wearing it outside the ballpark. Her lucky charms helped reverse the Curse of the Billy Goat, she said, referring to the story of a Chicago tavern owner who supposedly put a hex on the team after his pet goat was turned away from Wrigley during the 1945 World Series.For days, Cubs mania has spread throughout the city and state. The cast of the Chicago production of Hamilton led a sold-out audience in singing Go Cubs Go during the Thursday night curtain call. Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner declared Friday as World Champion Chicago Cubs Day statewide. The city dyed the Chicago River a bright shade of blue to match the Cubs colors, repurposing a decades-long tradition of dyeing the river green on St. Patricks Day.Far from being sad about bidding their team farewell for the year, fans looked forward to the future.Outfielder Kyle Schwarber, 23, took the microphone Friday and put it into words for the fans: I love you guys. Were world champs. Lets do it again next year.---Associated Press writer Sophia Tareen contributed to this report. Gale Sayers Jersey . 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. Kevin Pierre-Louis Jersey . -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago. http://www.cheapbearsjerseyschina.com/bilal-nichols-jersey/ . Ashley Youngs cross was inadvertently headed by Chester into his own net in the 66th minute, allowing United to claim a third straight league win. "We had to dig deep with our fighting spirit and weve done that," United striker Wayne Rooney said. Danny Trevathan Jersey . The Montreal Canadiens announced on Friday that the veteran forward will return to the teams line-up on Saturday night when the Habs visit the Nashville Predators. John Wirtel Jersey .ca! Kerry, Two nights after the Scott-Eriksson incident in Buffalo, the Bruins returned home to play San Jose. In that game, Zdeno Chara put a check on Tommy Wingels that clearly targeted his head. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Jake Odorizzi and one sterling defensive play helped the Tampa Bay Rays give the Texas Rangers a rare loss Saturday night.Evan Longoria and Luke Maile homered, Odorizzi won his fifth game since the All-Star break and the Rays ended the Rangers four-game winning streak with an 8-2 victory.Odorizzi (8-5) is 5-0 with a 1.64 ERA in seven starts since the All-Star break. He allowed six hits and struck out four over six innings, but the damage mightve been worse if not for a key relay in the sixth.With Tampa Bay up 2-1, Texas Jonathan Lucroy hit a two-out double that appeared to score Adrian Beltre until a replay review showed second baseman Tim Beckhams throw was in time to get Beltre and end the inning.They made a good relay throw to the plate, Lucroy said. Good defense, I guess.The Rangers didnt score again until the ninth inning when they were seven runs down.An extremely close play at the plate, Rangers manager Jeff Bannister said. I believe that changes the complexion of the game. ... Beckham made a great throw that got Beltre at the plate, made it as close as possible. It was ruled safe and then got overturned. But if that ball goes off line or if Beckham hesitates at all, hes safe.Lucroy was the last batter Odorizzi faced.Everybody did their job on that play and gave 100 percent. Its a nice way to end a tough outing like that, Odorizzi said. They made me work tonight. We just came out ahead.Beltre and Elvis Andrus had two hits each for the Rangers, who entered with a seven-game lead in the AL West.The Rays scored in each of the first two innings off starter A.J. Griffin (5-3). Longoria drove in a run with a two-out single in the first, and Maile made it 2-0 with his first career home run in the second. Longorias 28th homer made it 3-1 in the sixth.Braad Miller had a three-run double in the seventh for Tampa Bay off reliever Keone Kela.ddddddddddddRougned Odor hit his 23rd homer in the fourth for the only run against Odorizzi.Nomar Mazara hit his 14th home run for the Rangers in the ninth.Griffin pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up three runs and seven hits while striking out four.BELTRE GRIEVINGBeltres two-homer, four-hit game Friday night occurred after he was informed of his grandfathers death on Thursday, the Rangers said. Beltre has yet to inform the team of any plans to take a bereavement leave.To be able to do what he did last night is in itself incredible without any external distractions, manager Jeff Bannister said. To be going through that, Im sure, was extremely tough for him.BOBBLEHEAD BOTTLENECKThe Raymond & DJ Kitty Double Bobblehead giveaway will not happen at Sundays game after the vendor informed the Rays the shipment would not arrive on time. The Rays will issue vouchers to kids 14 and under who attend Sundays game.TRAINERS ROOMRangers: LHP Derek Holland, who last pitched for the Rangers on June 20, threw another bullpen session Saturday. Bannister is leaning towards having him make his start (Tuesday) in Cincinnati.Rays: 2B Logan Forsythe (back spasms) could be back in the starting lineup Sunday. ... CF Kevin Kiermaier didnt play after leaving two innings into a game Friday night due to left hip soreness. Hip is still pretty tight, he said.UP NEXTLHP Martin Perez (8-8) will start Sundays series finale for the Rangers, making make his 26th start, which will tie for the AL lead. Rays LHP Drew Smyly is 5-11 with a 4.85 ERA but gave up only one hit in Mondays 8-2 win over San Diego.