CHICAGO -- John Lackey was ornery and fired up, just what the Cubs needed from their veteran right-hander to keep rolling.Lackey outpitched friend and former teammate Jered Weaver, Kris Bryant hit his 28th home run and Chicago beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-1 Tuesday night for its eighth straight victory.Willson Contreras also homered and Ben Zobrist added an RBI double for the major league-leading Cubs, who won their 70th game and moved a season-high 29 over .500.Kole Calhoun homered on Lackeys third pitch, but the former Angels right-hander later retired 12 straight. Lackey (9-7) allowed three hits over eight innings, and all six of his strikeouts were looking.Hes not going to be out there smiling all the time and hes going to be upset with umpires and hes going to be upset with his manager, said Cubs skipper Joe Maddon, who was with the Angels when Lackey started his career in 2002. Hes going to be upset with teammates on occasion. But thats just who he is, and when you know that, its OK. Because you love having him on your team.Weaver (8-9) gave up four earned runs and another one that was unearned when he dropped a throw to first base for an error during the Angels fifth straight loss.Bryant homered over the left-field bleachers in the fifth, giving Lackey more than enough cushion. Pedro Strop pitched a perfect ninth to finish the three-hitter.I thought he had an exceptional slider tonight and a really good changeup, Maddon said about Lackey.The matchup of veteran right-handers was as one-sided as their teams seasons in the opener of Chicagos 10-game homestand.The 37-year-old Lackey and 33-year-old Weaver were teammates a decade ago with the Angels. They had split their previous two meetings when Lackey pitched for Boston.This was the first time they batted against each other.Its a little strange when he gets in the box, for sure, because were good buddies, Lackey said.Calhoun struck first, sending Lackeys 1-0 pitch into the left-field bleachers for his first homer since June 25. Contreras tied it with a shot to left-center in the third.Weaver had the Cubs off balance early with his 83 mph fastball and 70 mph curve. But Chicago started to pounce the second time through the order, with Anthony Rizzo doubling in a two-run fourth and again in a two-run fifth.The second hit came after Bryant sent Weavers slider onto Waveland Avenue.Its one of those lineups where you cant really breathe while youre out there. Theres no leeway, Weaver said. I grinded and tried to get some outs and some things didnt go my way towards the end.Weaver allowed eight hits in five innings.Its still a little weird because I root for him when hes not facing us, Lackey said. Hes a good friend. I really respect the way hes still competing and still getting after it with stuff thats a little less than he used to have. But hes still grinding, still trying to help his club win.TRAINERS ROOMAngels: C Geovany Soto (knee) was activated off the 15-day disabled list after the game and is expected to start Wednesday. C Carlos Perez was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake. . New closer Cam Bedrosian was placed on the 15-day DL with tendinitis in his right middle finger. RHP A.J. Achter was called up from Triple-A. . 1B C.J. Cron (hand) plans to take live batting practice in Arizona this week. . RHP Nick Tropeano will undergo Tommy John surgery next Tuesday in Los Angeles.Cubs: Relief pitcher Hector Rondon (triceps) was unavailable. Its not an issue. I feel a little tired, Rondon said. . Jorge Soler started in left field for the first time since June 6 following a hamstring injury and three games as the DH last weekend. He went 2 for 4.CALL REVERSEDThe Cubs Dexter Fowler was ruled out after 3B Yunel Escobar had a foul pop knocked out of his glove by a fan in the fifth. Umpires initially ruled it no play before huddling and changing the call without a replay review.HEYWARDS CATCHCubs OF Jason Heyward made a headfirst, snow-cone grab of pinch-hitter Johnny Giavotellas fly to shallow right in the eighth.UP NEXTThe series concludes Wednesday night with Cubs RHP Jason Hammel (11-5, 3.07 ERA) returning from the bereavement list to face right-hander and former Cubs draft pick Ricky Nolasco (4-8, 5.23). Chance Adams Jersey . But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle. Womens Yankees Jerseys . Schenn scored the game-winning goal and added two assists to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday. http://www.cheapyankeesjerseyschina.com/derek-jeter-jersey/ . -- Claudio Bieler hadnt scored since early September, and not from the run of play since mid-July. Ben Heller Jersey . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday. Dellin Betances Jersey .C. -- Rodney Hood connected from all over the court while freshman Jabari Parker was busy swatting shots and scoring in transition. SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- As the White Sox gauge the trade market for?Chris Sale, their decision to pursue a deal or stand pat will be rooted in baseball concerns rather than any lingering animosity from past confrontations with the teams ace.Sales ongoing differences with the Chicago front office came to the fore in July when he sliced up the teams throwback uniforms rather than wear them in a game. He received a five-game suspension for insubordination and destroying team equipment.But White Sox general manager Rick Hahn told ESPN.com on Tuesday that past rifts will play no part in the teams offseason deliberations.Its a nonfactor, Hahn said from the MLB general managers meetings. Its zero factor from our standpoint in terms of his fit with us or our belief that he can help be the anchor of a championship-caliber rotation.Whether it influences some other clubs view of him, I dont know. I dont think it should. I think a lot of what weve seen from Chris is part of what makes him great. Its that competitiveness, that fight, that sometimes spills over a little bit into areas outside the white lines. Its part of what makes him so good during the game.Sale, 27, is likely to be a hot commodity for teams in search of a front-line starter because of his track record and his contract. Since 2012, Sale ranks fifth among MLB starters with a 3.04 ERA, third in strikeouts (1,133) behind Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw, and third in baseball-reference.coms wins above replacement (27.6) behind Kershaw and Scherrzer.ddddddddddddSale is under contract for $12 million next season, and the White Sox have club options for $12.5 million in 2018 and $13.5 million in 2019.Sale, Chris Archer, Zack Greinke, Justin Verlander and Sonny Gray are among the front-line starters who have been mentioned as potential trade targets in an extremely weak free-agent market. Rich Hill, Ivan Nova, Andrew Cashner and Jeremy Hellickson are the top available free agents.The White Sox finished fourth in the American League Central with a 78-84 record this past season and havent finished above .500 since 2012. Manager Robin Ventura resigned at the end of the season, and Rick Renteria was chosen to replace him.While a Sale trade would be a clear indication that the White Sox plan to rebuild rather than tr