CHICAGO -- A single sheet of paper sat on Willson Contreras chair in front of his locker when the Chicago Cubs rookie showed up for practice on Friday. It was a form letter asking players to list the names of people picking up the four tickets set aside for family members ahead of the NL Championship Series opener.Someone asked Contreras who would be picking up his.Nobody, the 24-year-old catcher said, trying to force a grin.Behind that rueful smile is a long story. Baseball provided Contreras a path out of the tough times back home in Venezuela and swept him to the top of the major leagues. But even that lofty position hasnt enabled him yet to get his parents, Olga and William, a visa to follow him to the United States. Their application for a temporary visa to watch him during the playoffs wasnt successful, either.Everybodys back home, Contreras confirmed. Its hard to get them here at this time of the year.They will be watching on TV from a new home he bought them, in a neighborhood with security guards. It was there that they saw their older son drive a tying single up the middle in Chicagos opening-round clinching win against the Giants.Contreras even has food delivered to their home, so his parents dont have to venture out to the grocery store, where long lines await. But fears about their safety never slip his mind for long.Hopefully, Conteras added a moment later, next year, theyll be here.Wait until next year has been the Cubs unofficial motto for a century and counting. Yet it carries just as much longing for the young Venezuelan as the most grizzled denizen of the citys North Side. Contreras made it to these shores a half-dozen years ago, followed soon after by younger brother, William, who is playing in the Braves organization. The boys never forget on whose shoulders they stood, making that huge step possible.At this time last year, Contreras was playing Double-A ball in Tennessee and he paused to carve Ernesto into the dirt before each at-bat, honoring the grandfather whod died back home barely two months earlier. This fall, he worries about his parents safety in a cash-strapped country where kidnapping the relatives of a famous baseball player is viewed as a lucrative business.In 2011, kidnappers there grabbed Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos and held him for ransom; fortunately, Ramos was eventually rescued.We dont talk about it that much, but we know what each other is going through, said Albert Almora Jr., another rookie whose locker is close by. Sometime, after a game, you can come here and see certain guys text messaging and you know theyre talking to family -- Willson, with his folks, in my case, its my dad. Hes fighting prostate cancer. ... So we make it a point to check in with each other every so often.Cubs manager Joe Maddon knew Contreras situation when the team called him up from Triple-A at midseason. As if learning to call games for a veteran and sometimes-finicky staff and bullpen wasnt hard enough, the manager had planned to pile more on his plate. Maddon wanted the one-time infielder to try his hand at first base and the outfield as well as behind the plate.Contreras rewarded Maddons faith by homering in his first big-league at-bat. His teammates made him feel right at home by shooing him out of the dugout soon after, reminding Contreras he still had to warm-up the relievers back in the bullpen. But hes made a good argument for deserving a regular spot in the lineup by hitting no matter which glove he was wearing. But just as impressive, Maddon says, is Contreras ability to compartmentalize all those jobs while still keeping one eye on his family a continent away.As a parent and as a manger, if my kids arent having a good day, then Im not. But when your family is down there, its hard to stay right here, Maddon recalled recently.Having his fiancee here has brought a bit of home along with him. So has finding a handful of seafood restaurants and long walks along Lake Michigan, which is as close to the beach near Contreras home in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, as hes likely to find for the moment.It will have to do.Im able to separate my personal situation from the game and I know that everybody back home is OK, Contreras said finally. So Ill be fine.---Jim Litke is a sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at jlitke(at)ap.org and https://Twitter.com/JimLitke Air Force 1 Femme Pas Cher .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons. Air Force 1 Just Do It Prix . Sulaiman, 44, was chosen unanimously Tuesday in a vote by the leadership, the World Boxing Council said. Sulaiman becomes the sixth president of the organization. http://www.airforce1justdoit.fr/ . -- When the Florida Panthers fell behind by two goals in the first period to the top team in the NHL, it appeared they were on their way to yet another loss. Air Force One Destockage . Just as Montreal was settling into the first full working week of a new year, the Impact announced the appointment of their new head coach. Achat Nike Air Force One Just Do It .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. DETROIT -- Alex Rios hitting prowess on Tuesday night impressed his teammate Adam Dunn. Rios tied an American League mark with six hits in a nine-inning game and the White Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 11-4. "That takes people like me, two, maybe three weeks, to get six," Dunn said. Dunn hit a go-ahead, two-run homer off Justin Verlander in the eighth and he hit an RBI single in his second at-bat of the seven-run inning in which the White Sox broke open a 1-1 game. The last-place White Sox, who had lost four straight, finished with a season-high 23 hits and a season high in runs. "Its a good feeling to get a win -- those have been few and far between -- but just kind of the way we did it," Dunn said. Rios became the 32nd AL player to have six hits in a nine-inning game and the first in franchise history since Lance Johnson pulled off the feat in 1995 at Minnesota. "Its been the most fun weve had in a quite a while," Rios said. "Weve had some tough times, but it shows we havent quit." Dayan Viciedos second homer of the game helped the White Sox score seven runs in the eighth inning, and they scored three more runs in the ninth to surpass a season high for scoring. Miguel Cabrera hit his 29th homer, an impressive blast to left-centre, in the eighth inning to give him a major league high 92 RBIs and .363 batting average. He broke the franchise record for homers before the All-Star game, surpassing the total Cecil Fielder had at the break in 1990 during his 51-homer season. In the top of the eighth, Cabrera appeared to hurt his back by leaping for a high throw. "Hes not 100 per cent and thats why hes not going to take part in the home run contest," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "I talked to him and we talked to the trainers, and on the trainers advice, hes not going to do it. It would be pretty ridiculous to risk that." Verlander (9-6) gave up a season-high 12 hits, five runs and struck out three to match a season low in seven-plus innings. "Just one of those days that happens at this level, at this time of the year," he said. "Felt good, but just wasnt able to execute there in the eighth." Rios singled in the first, tripled in the third and also singled twice in the eighth inning. He also singled in the fifth and ninth innings. "Hes as good as anybody in this league," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "Tonight is indicative of that. Hes hitting and runnning the bases great.dddddddddddd" Rios hit his first single in the eighth inning and stole second and scored on Dunns 24th homer that put the White Sox ahead 3-1. The White Sox followed with two straight singles to end Verlanders night after 112 pitches. The All-Star won his previous start, pitching seven scoreless innings in a win over Toronto, after giving up 12 runs in his previous three outings. Jose Quintana (4-2) gave up three runs and six hits over eight innings, winning for the first time since May 21. "Im really happy for Q," Dunn said. "Hes pitched so good for us, and we just havent been able to score runs. Obviously, we havent scored runs for all our pitchers, but him and (Chris) Sale for sure." Viciedo had the first multihomer game of his four-year career. His second home run, a three-run shot, came on the second pitch Al Alburquerque threw in an outing that didnt last an inning. Alburquerque retired just two batters and gave up three runs and four hits. Phil Coke replaced Alburquerque with two outs, and gave up another hit. Quintana didnt have much trouble keeping the AL Central-leading Tigers quiet at the plate. Detroit didnt make the most of an opportunity with two runners in scoring position and one out in the second. Quintana got out of the jam by striking out Matt Tuiasosopo and Hernan Perez. Verlander stranded runners at second and third by striking out Dunn in the fifth. In the home half, Tuiasosopo sent a 1-2 pitch over the left-field wall to give Detroit a 1-0 lead. Viciedo hit a two-out, game-tying homer in the sixth. The White Sox had a runner on in the seventh, and wasted a chance to score a go-ahead run because Alejando De Aza ran toward second when Alexei Ramirez popped up in foul territory to Prince Fielder, who threw the ball to Verlander at first base for a double play. Detroits Don Kelly hit a solo homer in the ninth. NOTES: Detroit put 2B Omar Infante on the 15-day disabled list and Perez, recalled from Double-A Erie, started in his place. Infante hasnt played since last Wednesday, when he was hit hard by Torontos Colby Rasmus, who was sliding into second base. He is expected to be OK after the All-Star break. ... White Sox RHP Jake Peavy, on the DL since June 6 with a broken left rib, pitched in a simulated game on Tuesday. ... Detroit DH Victor Martinez extended his hitting streak to 11 games. ... The game started after a 38-minute rain delay. ' ' '