CHICAGO -- The San Francisco Giants likely need a better performance from right-hander Johnny Cueto than they got in his last outing if theyre going to split a four-game series with the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.Cueto, a two-time All-Star, allowed four runs in 4 2/3 innings on Tuesday in a loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks in his shortest outing of the season for theGiants. He is 14-5 with a 2.98 ERA this year and 9-8 with a 3.34 ERA in 23 career starts against Chicago.I think the pitches caught up with him, Giants manager Bruce Bochy told reporters after that game. His command was a little off, he started missing his spots. It just got away from him.The Cubs (87-48), who lead the National League Central and own the best record in the majors, won the first two games of the series, 5-4 on Thursday and 2-1 on Friday. The Giants held off the Cubs 3-2 on Saturday behind Madison Bumgarners 10-strikeout performance.The victory in a playoff-like atmosphere in front of 41,250 fans boosted the Giants spirits. Theyre just 16-29 since the All-Star break.Its a tough group, Bochy said. Despite what happens, I really like the way theyre coming out and staying focused. Theyve had their backs to the wall and been through difficult times. But theyre going to keep fighting. Sure, weve had some issues in the second half, but its all about going out there every day with the same effort.The Giants (73-62) lead the National League wild-card standings but have won just five of their last 13.It was one we definitely wanted and needed, Giants catcher Buster Posey said about Saturdays win. It was good to score some runs off (Jake) Arrieta and then for our bullpen to hold the lead the last three innings.On Sunday, Cubs right-hander John Lackey (9-7, 3.41 ERA) is expected to make his first start since he went on the disabled list Aug. 15 with a right shoulder strain. He allowed an unearned run in 6 2/3 innings on Aug. 14 against the St. Louis Cardinals before he exited with the injury in his last start. He is 6-4 with a 2.47 ERA in 13 home starts.Lackey is 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA in two regular-season career games against the Giants.Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo and right fielder Jason Heyward were out of the starting lineup Saturday against left-hander Bumgarner but are expected back Sunday against Cueto.Veteran reliever Joe Nathan could soon make his first appearance for the Giants, who drafted him in 1995 and purchased his contract fromDouble-A Richmond on Saturday. The Giants signed the 41-year-old as a free agent on Aug. 16 after the Cubs released him on Aug. 8. Nathan previously pitched for the Giants from 1999 to 2003 before he and left-hander Francisco Liriano were traded to the Minnesota Twins for catcher A.J. Pierzynski and cash in 2003.It made everything a lot more comfortable, a lot easier to come back here, a little less to have to kind of prove myself, Nathan said of returning to the Giants.Nathan went 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in three games with the Cubs.At that time, we just couldnt fit everybody in, Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. He had one really good game up in Milwaukee where we got a couple guys on and he struck out the side. His pitches got up to the low 90s (mph) with some really good break. Paul Millsap Jersey . -- Charlie Graham stopped 67 shots as the Belleville Bulls edged the visiting Guelph Storm 6-5 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Jamal Murray Jersey . 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PULLMAN, Wash. -- The mind of Marcellus Pippins of Washington State was racing as he saw the loose football on the turf at Martin Stadium.He bent down and scooped the ball up, and one thought ran through his brain.Run fast, dont get caught, Pippins said.He gave no thought to diving on the football.It was me and the touchdown, said Pippins, who ran 72 yards for the score that helped ignite Washington States 56-6 win over Idaho on Saturday.Luke Falk threw for 226 yards and three touchdowns as Washington State posted a positive end to a tumultuous week.James Williams rushed for 126 yards and a touchdown for Washington State (1-2), which won on a wet, windy day when the Air Raid offense was not working very well.Idaho (1-2) struggled for the second straight week against a Pac-12 team, after losing at No. 8 Washington.The Vandals have not scored a touchdown against Washington State the past two times the teams have played.Austin Rehkow kicked a 42-yard field goal as Idaho took a 3-0 lead on its first possession.Williams ran over from the 2 for a 7-3 lead for the Cougars. The touchdown was set up by a 50-yard completion from Falk to Kyle Sweet.Nose tackle Robert Barber blocked a 32-yard field-goal attempt by Rehkow and Pippins scooped up the ball and ran 72 yards for a touchdown as Washington State took a 14-3 lead midway through the second quarter.Once special teams made a play it was like a chain reaction, WSU running back Gerard Wicks said.Idaho quarterback Matt Linehan fumbled on a bootleg, and Robert Taylor recovered for Washington State on Idahos 36. Falk threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Gabe Marks as Washington State built a 21-3 lead late in the second quarter.Idaho drove all the way to the WSU 1 midway through the third quarter, but had to settle for Rehkows 18-yard field goal that cut the Cougars lead to 21-6.Washington State replied with a 90-yardd drive that ended on Wicks 2-yard scoring run for a 28-6 lead.ddddddddddddFalk threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Robert Lewis early in the fourth for a 35-6 lead, and the Cougars added three more touchdowns in the fourth.We played hard the whole game, Washington State coach Mike Leach said. Defense played better than offense.The sloppiness with regards to penalties is alarming, Leach said of the 11 penalties against the Cougars.Leach said his players seemed to respond well to a week of hard practices and harsh criticism.We seem to have a group that has a tendency to go soft, Leach said. Weve got to be on them all the time.Idaho coach Paul Petrino did not appear in the postgame interview room.Washington State was expected to contend for the Pac-12 North, but opened the season with losses to FCS foe Eastern Washington and Boise State. That prompted Leach this week to rip his Cougars as soft. Leach also complained that Pullman police seemed to be targeting his players, after four were recently arrested in three different incidents, which the police chief has denied.THE TAKEAWAYIDAHO: The Vandals, who have designs on qualifying for a bowl game this season, were coming off a 59-14 loss at Washington. The Vandals and Cougars are located in towns just 8 miles apart and this was the 92nd meeting between the two closest neighbors in the FBS.WASHINGTON STATE: Idaho has often been a cure for what ailed the Cougars. Washington State leads the series 72-17-3.GROUND RAIDLeachs Air Raid pass attack got a bit of a rest, as the Cougars piled up 228 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. The coaches believed in us, Wicks said.UP NEXTIDAHO: Plays at UNLV on Saturday.WASHINGTON STATE: Has a bye this week, and hosts No. 22 Oregon on Oct. 1. ' ' '