Sports shorts Cubs, Kyle Hendricks top Nationals in NLDS opener

Kyle Hendricks outpitched Stephen Strasburg, and the Chicago Cubs opened defense of their first World Series title in 108 years by beating the Washington Nationals 3-0 on Friday in Game 1 of their NL Division Series.

Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo produced RBI singles in the sixth inning for the first two hits off an otherwise-dominant Strasburg. Hendricks was even better, giving up only two singles in seven strong innings.

Rizzo added an RBI double off reliever Ryan Madson in the eighth. Carl Edwards Jr. threw a perfect inning and Wade Davis finished the twohitter for a save.

Game 2 in the best-of-five series is Saturday, with Jon Lester set to start for Chicago against fellow left-hander Gio Gonzalez. Carlos Correa homered, doubled and drove in four runs, Jose Altuve got two more hits and the Astros hammered the Red Sox, 8-2, Friday to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the AL Division Series.

George Springer also homered to help Dallas Keuchel coast in Houston’s second straight romp by the exact same score.

The Astros will go for a sweep in the best-of-five matchup Sunday at Fenway Park.

Seeking to keep the Davis Cup attractive to top players amid a crowded calendar, the international team event in men’s tennis will test a two-day format and best-of-three set matches next year.

The changes will be applied for matches in Zonal Groups I and II the tiers below the World Group starting with the first round in February.

Group I matches will be played on Friday and Saturday, and Group II matches on Saturday and Sunday. The singles will be played on Day 1, followed by the doubles and then the reverse singles on Day 2.

ITF President David Haggerty said the changes could be applied to World Group matches if the trial is deemed a success.

In other trials taking place following a vote by member nations at the ITF’s annual general meeting in August, team sizes can be increased from four players to a maximum of five for matches in the World Group and Zonal Groups I and II.

Also, there will be no fifth match if the fourth match is decisive. If a team takes an unassailable 3-0 lead, only the fourth match will be played.

Andres Iniesta has become the first player to sign a lifetime contract with Barcelona, a deal which will keep him playing for the club for as long as he remains fit.

The club said Friday that Iniesta’s contract was extended “for life,” securing the Spain midfielder through the “remainder of his career” but not putting a timetable on his retirement.

The club also did not say what will be Iniesta’s role after he stops playing.

“I’ll be here while my body and my mind can keep performing,” the 33-year-old Iniesta said. “And I hope that it will be for a long time. At the end of the season we will evaluate everything together and see what is best for everyone.”