CHICAGO -- Perhaps making just his second error of the season put a chip on the shoulder of Chicago Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward. Or maybe it got there seeing a 22-year-old, second-year player walked intentionally in front of him in the 13th inning. Whatever the reasons, Heyward came through at the plate Sunday afternoon, producing three RBI hits in the Cubs' 3-2 win over the San Francisco Giants.

After the game, Heyward was asked if watching Giants reliever Matt Reynolds intentionally walk Addison Russell gave him any extra juice before his winning hit.

"No extra juice needed," Heyward said with a smile.

We know why he doesn't need any more motivation. Heyward has been grinding out at-bats all season with little to show for it -- except for lately. The hits actually have been coming more often. On Sunday, one of them came in the ninth inning to tie the score, and his third and final RBI came in the 13th with his first walk-off hit since 2010, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

But his day didn't start out so well.

"It took me a second to let it go," Heyward said of his second-inning dropped ball in right field. "Just let it go and keep playing."

That's all the Cubs do these days, keep playing. Despite their big lead in the division, there has been no let-up. They went 6-1 on the just-completed homestand against two playoff contenders, winning five one-run games. Their pitching has been outstanding.

"Everybody asks, 'What are you going to do in September?' " Maddon said. "Nothing different. Just try to rest people when you can, but play the same game."

The game they've played has produced a 51-20 record at home, and though there was some sloppy play this weekend -- they need to cut down on easy stolen bases -- once again they came through when they needed to most. It starts on the mound, where the Cubs' pitching staff gave up only 14 hits to the Giants over four games -- tying a franchise record for a four-game series that has stood since 1934. And remember, they did it over 40 innings using just about every pitcher on the staff. Starter John Lackey returned from the disabled list and did his part, throwing five innings and giving up only a hit and one earned run.

"Better than I expected in terms of pure stuff," Maddon said of Lackey's outing. "I really was pleased with that."

So check off a box that had a question next to it: Lackey looks ready for the stretch run. And if the team can check off another box next to Heyward, then it'll really be onto something. Heyward's three hits and three RBIs increased his batting average to .302 with nine RBIs in 11 starts since sitting out four consecutive games during the last road trip. That benching is looking more and more like a genius move by Maddon.

"When a major league player sits and watches a game being played and remembers, 'I'm one of the best,' " Maddon said of his motivation in sitting Heyward. "I want them to just hang out. Observe a little bit. Look at this field. There's not many people that can do this stuff."

Maddon said he first tried the tactic on infielder Orlando Cabrera years ago and something clicked for him -- as perhaps it did for Heyward. He might not be pounding the ball all over the place every game, but at least he's maximizing his chances more.

"Just being more consistent with timing, with better swings, swinging at better pitches," he said. "All that allows more hits to fall."

After Heyward dropped the ball in the second inning while running toward right center, he went to work at the plate. He got that run back with an RBI hit to left center in the fourth inning, then came his tying single in the ninth to right center. Finally, he went back to left center to drive in Anthony Rizzo with the winner in the 13th. He was mobbed by his teammates, who are about a week away from clinching the division. Their 16½-game lead is intact.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Maddon said. "We have a nice record, but we're coming to play every day. ... A really passionate, well-played series on both teams' part."

All four games came down to one run, with the Cubs taking three of them. Their 21-20 record in one-run games overall is misleading, but either way it doesn't hurt to play a few -- and win some -- even when the results don't matter all that much right now. They do for the opponent, though, and whether it's the Pittsburgh Pirates or the Giants, the Cubs found ways to win this week, reducing their magic number to 11 as they head out on a nine-game trip.

As for Heyward, who has had his detractors all season, it was one of the few times this year his bat came through when his glove did not. We know the latter will be there, but if his offense keeps up, the first five months will be long forgotten.

"You're never going to get mad at J-Hey," Lackey said of Heyward. "He's played gold-glove defense all year. He's made a lot more plays than he's missed out there. I'll take that guy out there every day of the week for sure."