By Greg Halbleib

The CornBelters were off Monday as they prepare for a nine-game road trip beginning tonight at Frontier League East-leading Joliet. The Belters have won four straight and would be in the playoffs if the regular season ended today. Rookie right-hander Mike Elwood starts for the Belters tonight at Silver Cross Field with a 6:50 pre-game on WJBC.com.

The Chiefs lost to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 3-1.

Illinois State women’s basketball has released its 11-game non-conference schedule which includes six games at Redbird Arena. The home opener is November 19 against Valparaiso after trips to Arizona State and University of Illinois-Chicago.

The Cardinals begin a three-game series in Cincinnati tonight after taking Monday off. Adam Wainwright is on the mound for St. Louis against the Reds’ Dan Straily in a battle of right-handers.

The Cards placed shortstop Aledmys Diaz on the 15-day disabled list with a broken right thumb. Diaz was hit by a pitch in the first inning on Sunday.

The Cubs blanked the Marlins 5-0 behind the third complete game of Kyle Hendricks’ career. He allowed seven hits. The Cubs lead in the NL Central is now eight games over the Cardinals. Right-handers Jose Fernandez for the Fish and Jason Hammel for the Cubs are on the mound this evening at Wrigley Field.

The White Sox took Monday off and begin a series at Detroit this evening. Right-handers James Shields and Anibal Sanchez face off on the hill.

Chris Buescher won his first NASCAR Sprint Cup race in yesterday’s delayed race at Pocono. The race was stopped by fog with 22 laps to go.