CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs new weapon more than likely will be put in the holster Friday during the opener of an interleague series against the Seattle Mariners at Wrigley Field.Wednesday was simply a get-acquainted session for Aroldis Chapman. The newly acquired closer entered in the ninth inning and finished off the Cubs 8-1 win over the Chicago White Sox.On Thursday, it was strictly business. The left-hander entered in the eighth inning with two outs and a White Sox runner on third in a one-run game. He proceeded to strike out Melky Cabrera, and then he worked a one-two-three ninth en route to his 21st save of the year and first as a Cub.By pitching two days in a row, including the four-out save Thursday, Chapman isnt likely to be available Friday, however.Going forward, Chapmans presence -- combined with that of late-inning pitchers Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon -- gives the Cubs an imposing relief force. Rondon spent much of the season as closer, compiling 18 saves.Especially with Chapman in the ninth inning, Stropy and me are more free to pitch in tough situations, Rondon said following the Cubs 3-1 victory over the White Sox on Thursday. We feel thats a strong bullpen right now.The Cubs face Seattle right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma (11-6, 3.96 ERA) in Fridays series opener.The 35-year-old veteran is 10-2 with a 3.69 ERA over his past 12 starts. The Friday start will be Iwakumas second against the Cubs. He had a no-decision in an eight-inning effort on June 28, 2013.The Cubs counter with lefty Jon Lester (10-4, 3.09 ERA). He is just 1-1 in his past six starts, but he boasts a 5-2 record and a 2.18 ERA at Wrigley Field this season. In his career against the Mariners, the Tacoma, Wash., native is 5-4 with a 3.52 ERA, although he has not faced them since 2014.Mariners right fielder Nelson Cruz is expected back in the lineup after the teams off day Thursday. He sat out the Wednesday game in Pittsburgh after fouling a ball off his left shin on Tuesday.Cruzs return is not good news for Lester. Cruz, who leads the Mariners with 25 home runs, has a .393 average with two doubles, a triple and three homers in 28 at-bats vs. Lester.Like the Cubs, the Mariners have a new reliever in their bullpen this week. Right-hander Drew Storen was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays for right-hander Joaquin Benoit late Tuesday night.Storen made his Mariners debut Wednesday against the Pirates, allowing four runs in 1 1/3 innings.I grew up as a big Mariners fan, he told The (Tacoma, Wash.) News Tribune. So its kind of cool from the fans standpoint in me. The team I grew up following. Its great.Though Storen grew up in Indiana, he was attracted to the Mariners by the presence of future Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr.I was all in on Griffey, Storen told the News Tribune. I had every teal jersey there was. I had the Mariners T-shirt and pillowcase during the playoffs and stuff. I was all in.The Mariners, who are making just their second trip to Wrigley Field in franchise history, enter the series with a 10-3 interleague record, the best in the major leagues, ahead of the Boston Red Sox (8-3) and the Detroit Tigers (10-4).Wholesale Air Max 90 Ireland . -- Whether Jeremy Hill deserves a prominent role in LSUs offence this early in the season is a matter for debate. Air Max 90 Ireland Cheap . Only three players drafted by NHL clubs were included on the Czech selection camp roster on Wednesday. Those players were Dallas Stars 2012 first-rounder Radek Faksa, Winnipeg Jets 2013 fourth-rounder Jan Kostalek and Phoenix Coyotes 2012 seventh-rounder Marek Langhamer. http://www.cheapairmax90ireland.com/ . Kyle Denbrook, a soccer player from Saint Marys University, took the CIS male athlete of the week honour. Stanley, a fourth-year business administration student from Charlottetown, scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Dalhousie on Friday and tallied again in a 1-0 win over Saint Marys on Sunday. Cheap Air Max 90 Ireland . The 29-year-old from Port Colborne, Ont., has nothing but good things to say about former U.S. marine Liz (Girlrilla) Carmouche ahead of their co-main event Wednesday on the UFCs "Fight for the Troops" televised card in Fort Campbell, Ky. Discount Air Max 90 .5 seconds to play in the game, Kevin Love never stopped believing that they would come out of there with a win.OLYMPICSRIO DE JANEIRO -- Ryan Lochte and three other American swimmers were robbed at gunpoint early Sunday by thieves posing as police officers who stopped their taxi and took their money and belongings.In the latest security incident to hit the Rio de Janeiro Games, Lochte told NBC that one of the robbers put a gun to his forehead before taking his wallet. No one was injured.Lochte and his teammates were returning to the athletes village by taxi after a night out at the French Olympic teams hospitality house in the Rodrigo de Freitas area in the upscale south zone of the city. The outing was several hours after Olympic swimming ended Saturday night at the Rio Games.Traveling with Lochte were Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and Jimmy Feigen. Lochte swam in two events at the Rio Games, winning gold in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay. He is a 12-time Olympic medalist.RIO DE JANEIRO -- Goodbye green. Its back to clear water in the pool at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Center, allowing synchronized swimmers to see underwater on the first day of Olympic competition.Officials completed pumping nearly 1 million gallons of clean water into the pool used for synchro with little time to spare before Sundays free routine preliminary began. They had raced to drain green-tinged water out of the pool overnight at a venue that has embarrassed local organizers.The massive undertaking was necessary to ensure clear water for both judges and competitors, who spend much of their time underwater during synchronized swimming.The water problems had limited the swimmers to just one practice session in the pool when the water was unusually cold.RIO DE JANEIRO -- Crucial payments to fund the travel of Paralympic teams to Brazil have not been transferred, threatening the participation of some nations, the chief executive of the Paralympic movement said.The International Paralympic Committee said the payments, which are vital for funding travel and logistics, must be sent to its members next week. The IPC is expecting around 160 countries to participate in the Paralympics but fears withdrawals if the cash isnt received.The late payments are one of the problems threatening the successful delivery of the Sept. 7-18 Paralympics by the financially-challenged Rio organizers, with sluggish ticket sales also troubling the IPC.PRO FOOTBALLORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Ralph Wilson Stadium is entering a New Era.The Buffalo Bills announced on their Twitter account they reached an agreement to sell the naming rights of their home stadium to Buffalo-based New Era Cap Company.The team did not provide any further details except to say a news conference will be held next week.Two people with direct knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press the deal will run over the remainder of the teams seven-year lease. New Era also has the right of first refusal to continue the agreement once the current lease expires in 2022, and also iff the Bills elect to build a new facility.ddddddddddddThe people spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team and New Era have not disclosed that information.The people said the agreement was reached about 10 days ago, and after the Bills made a formal presentation to New Era company officials -- including company president and CEO Christopher Koch -- about six weeks ago.SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Carolina Panthers special teams coordinator Bruce DeHaven has decided to step down from his position and move into an advisory role with the team while continuing his battle with prostate cancer.The team announced that Thomas McGaughey has been promoted to special teams coordinator and Chase Blackburn to special teams assistant.DeHaven will return to Buffalo, New York, to receive cancer treatments with the hopes of returning to the team as an adviser in mid-September.The 67-year-old DeHaven was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2015 before his 29th season as an NFL assistant coach. He previously took a leave of absence in May of 2015, but returned for Carolinas NFC championship season.Coach Ron Rivera said DeHaven approached him about the decision to leave as coordinator after Thursday nights preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens.BASEBALLMIAMI -- Alex Rodriguez may soon get a call from his hometown team.The Miami Marlins are in the market for a power hitter to replace injured slugger Giancarlo Stanton, and theyre discussing whether to reach out to Rodriguez, president of baseball operations Michael Hill.Stanton strained his groin Saturday and is expected to be sidelined at least six weeks, meaning its likely hell miss the rest of the regular season. Rodriguez, who grew up in South Florida and still lives here, played his final game for the New York Yankees on Friday.Hill said the Marlins will look at everything but dont know how eager Rodriguez might be to continue playing.The 41-year-old Rodriguez was unconditionally released Saturday by Yankees and was batting .200.WASHINGTON -- The Washington Nationals released former closer Jonathan Papelbon.The move came when the Nationals needed a roster spot to recall right-hander Reynaldo Lopez to start against the Atlanta Braves.A little over a year after the Nationals acquired him from the Philadelphia Phillies to replace Drew Storen as their closer, Papelbon became a free agent. He can sign with any team.The six-time All-Star had a tumultuous tenure in Washington that included him grabbing National League MVP Bryce Harper by the throat during a dugout altercation in September. This season, he converted 19 of 22 save opportunities but struggled in July and has a 4.37 ERA.The 35-year-old right-hander allowed eight runs on seven hits in three outings before the Nationals traded for new closer Mark Melancon. ' ' '