Fernando Alonso is not expecting his McLaren-Honda to be suited to the Circuit Spa-Francorchamps at this weekends Belgian Grand Prix, but is hoping he can still score some surprise points.Spa was one of McLarens weakest tracks last year as the inefficiencies of Hondas energy recovery system were laid bare. The McLarens were unable to deploy their ERS boost for the full length of Spas straights, resulting in Alonso and teammate Jenson Button finishing a lap down with only the Manors for company.This year Honda has made significant progress with the ERS elements of its power unit and Alonso is hoping it can exceed expectations as a result.You have to have a strong package at Spa, in terms of performance and reliability, he said. More than 70 percent of the lap is spent at full throttle, which will be a challenge in itself, but weve shown over the past few races that, even on the circuits that statistically should be difficult for us, weve worked hard and surprised ourselves with our level of performance relative to our competitors.Were seeing good correlation between the data back at base and in the car on track, so I hope we can continue our momentum and get the maximum out of the weekend. This circuit is always a tough challenge for car and driver but if we can pull all the elements together we can enjoy a positive weekend. It wont be an easy race, but as always well be pushing for points as hard as we can.Alonso is hoping to take advantage of any mistakes by rival teams in Belgium.I feel refreshed and raring to go, and ready to take on the incredible twists and turns of this legendary track. Theres a lot to think about at this circuit: strategy, tyres, fuel, power unit management, and then theres the weather. This is the sort of circuit that always throws up something unpredictable and theres usually some drama during the race, so I hope we can fight hard and take advantage of any situation that comes our way. Matt Nieto Avalanche Jersey . U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield in Manhattan agreed that lawyers on both sides could make their formal requests by Nov. 8. A hearing is scheduled for a day earlier. Jordan Siev, a lawyer for Rodriguez, wrote in a joint letter to the judge from lawyers on both sides that MLB lawyers planned to ask that the lawsuit be dismissed. Tyson Jost Avalanche Jersey . Belfort (24-10) needed just 77 seconds to down Henderson in the headlining bout of Saturdays "UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson" event at Goiania Arena in Goiania, Brazil. The fight served as a rematch of the pairs 2006 meeting, which Henderson won by decision. http://www.hockeyavalanche.com/authentic-colin-wilson-avalanche-jersey/ . The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game. Adam Foote Jersey . Their experience showed Tuesday as the No. 10 Badgers blunted a Saint Louis surge to win 63-57 and advance to face West Virginia in Wednesdays finals of the Cancun Challenge. J.T. Compher Jersey .C. -- Manny Malhotra had two goals and an assist, leading the Carolina Hurricanes to a 6-3 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. CHICAGO -- Anthony Rizzo hit a three-run homer, Jon Lester pitched 7 2/3 innings and the Chicago Cubs stopped an eight-game losing streak against the New York Mets with a 5-1 victory on Monday night in a rematch of last years NL Championship Series.With one out and two on in the third inning, Rizzo fouled off five straight 2-2 pitches from Steven Matz before driving a changeup deep into the right-center bleachers for his 22nd homer.Lester (10-4) allowed one run -- Wilmer Flores leadoff homer in the seventh -- and four hits in his first win in a month. Matz (7-6) was charged with four runs and eight hits in five-plus innings, dropping to 0-5 in his last nine starts.MARLINS 3, PHILLIES 2PHILADELPHIA -- Jose Fernandez tied a career-high with 14 strikeouts, and Martin Prado hit a solo homer off Brett Oberholtzer (2-2) in the 11th.Fernandez pitched 6 1/3 innings and became the pitcher to reach 500 strikeouts in the fewest innings: 400.Christian Yelich hit an RBI double off Jeanmar Gomez with two outs in the ninth and scored on Marcell Ozunas single.Kyle Barraclough (6-2) pitched one inning, and A.J. Ramos finished for his 30th save, retiring Maikel Franco on a game-ending flyout to the warning trackTIGERS 1, TWINS 0DETROIT -- Matt Boyd (1-2) allowed three hits in six innings, sending last-place Minnesota to another loss just hours after it announced the firing of general manager Terry Ryan.Justin Upton homered in the second. Three relievers finished for the Tigers, with Francisco Rodriguez pitching a hitless ninth for his 26th save.YANKEES 2, ORIOLES 1NEW YORK -- Alex Rodriguez hit his 696th career homer -- his first since June 18 -- Ivan Nova (7-5) grinded through six innings and Aroldis Chapman hit 105 mph while locking down his 19th save.The No Runs DMC triad, possibly in its final days with Andrew Miller and Chapman rumored to be on the trade block, covered the final three innings to extend its scoreless streak to 22 innings. The Yankees are 18-1 when all Dellin Betances and the otheer two relievers pitch in the same game.ddddddddddddKevin Gausman (1-7) also allowed Brian McCanns sacrifice fly in the third and fell to 0-1 in three starts against New York this season despite a 1.31 ERA over 20 2/3 innings.REDS 8, BRAVES 2CINCINNATI -- Zack Cozart, Joey Votto and Eugenio Suarez all homered in the fourth inning of a matchup between the NLs two worst teams.The Reds (35-58) have taken three of five this season against the Braves, who have the majors worst record (32-61). Atlanta is 19-31 at Great American Ball Park, including five losses in its last six games.Matt Wisler (4-9) has given up five homers in his last two starts.Brandon Finnegan (5-7) allowed two runs and seven hits in five-plus innings.CARDINALS 10, PADRES 2ST. LOUIS -- Mike Leake (7-7) had his second straight double-digit strikeouts game with no walks, joining Bob Gibson (1968-69) as the only St. Louis pitchers to accomplish the feat, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Leake struck out a season-best 11, allowing one run and six hits in six innings.Pinch-hitter Matt Adams two-run double keyed a four-run sixth. Randal Grichuk and Jedd Gyorko connecting in consecutive at-bats in the seventh, and Stephen Piscotty homered into the third deck in left in the eighth.Christian Friedrich (4-6) gave up four runs -- three earned -- and six hits in 5 1/3 innings.ROYALS 7, INDIANS 3KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Jarrod Dyson hit a grand slam off Jeff Manship following a pair of walks by Bryan Shaw (1-4), capping a seven-run rally in the eighth.Corey Kluber scattered five hits and took the mound to begin the eighth with a 2-0 lead. But manager Terry Francona and trainer James Quinlan came from the dugout and pulled Kluber because of a right calf cramp on a night with a 90-degree gametime temperature.Luke Hochevar (2-2) worked a scoreless eighth, and Wade Davis got the final out for his 20th save. ' ' '