Cubs continue losing streak, fall to Reds in 12\nCHICAGO -- Javier Valentin doubled in the go-ahead run with two outs in the 12th inning, and the Cincinnati Reds played spoiler again, sending the Chicago Cubs to a crushing 2-1 defeat Thursday.\nChicago lost for the fifth time in six games, including back-to-back 12-inning heartbreakers to the Reds, and fell one game behind idle Houston for the NL wild card with three games left. The Cubs also wasted a stellar outing by Mark Prior, who struck out 16 in nine innings.\nAdam Dunn, who earlier broke Bobby Bonds' major league record for strikeouts in a single season when he fanned in his first two at-bats, singled in the 12th off Mike Remlinger (1-2). Dunn stole second and moved to third on a grounder before Valentin doubled to right off Kyle Farnsworth.\nChicago loaded the bases for the third time in the 11th, but Juan Padilla (1-0) escaped by striking out Michael Barrett.\nPinch-hitter Jose Macias singled to start the bottom of the 12th and reached second on a one-out sacrifice by Nomar Garciaparra. Aramis Ramirez walked before Moises Alou flied to center to end the game and perhaps Chicago's chances of returning to the postseason.\nPrior allowed just three hits and a run and matched his career high for strikeouts, but the Cubs' offense sputtered again, failing three times to score with the bases loaded. Chicago left 12 on base.
Colts' offense faces real test from Jags' defense\nThe Jacksonville Jaguars' defense follows the Tony Dungy theory -- play sound, aggressive and fast.\nDungy, architect of some of the league's top defenses, enjoys watching the Jaguars. He's just not thrilled about taking it on, even with the NFL's No. 1 offense on his side.\n"It comes down to trying to run when they expect you to throw and trying to throw when they expect you to run," Dungy said. "This is not going to be a racehorse game."\nFor the Colts (2-1), Sunday's contest is yet another tough test in one of the NFL's most difficult opening stretches.\nIndianapolis has already faced the defending Super Bowl champions and two of last season's other playoff teams, Tennessee and Green Bay. Jacksonville (3-0) is one of six remaining unbeaten teams.\nA win would give the Colts a share of the AFC South lead and a distinct advantage with road wins over the Jaguars and Titans. A loss would hand Jacksonville an early two-game lead in the division race.\nWhile the Colts, last year's division champion and AFC runner-up, were expected to contend this year, the Jaguars were not. A defense that allows an AFC-low 9.3 points per game has given them a chance.\nNow Jacksonville faces its biggest obstacle: Peyton Manning & Co.\n"Peyton is playing lights out, and they've got a host of talent at every position," Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said.
