2012 » ddddd So I think birdie and focus. I dont know why, not

CHICAGO -- Lots of positive news for the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field on Saturday. They collected two wins over the Chicago Cubs, and then there was an optimistic report on the status of dynamic infielder Josh Harrison. Francisco Liriano struck out nine in six innings, and the Pirates beat Cubs 5-0 after taking the suspended series opener in 11 innings. "He had real good swing-and-miss stuff," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. "He threw a lot of pitches that looked like strikes and ended up balls. The nine Ks were big for us -- and him pitching through the sixth." Pittsburgh began the day in third in the NL Central, five back of St. Louis and two games behind in the wild-card race. The Pirates picked up a 5-3 victory in the resumption of Fridays series opener, stopping a four-game losing streak. Harrison finished with four hits and two RBIs, including a tiebreaking RBI single in Pittsburghs final at-bat. But the All-Star also re-injured his left ankle while making an over-the shoulder catch in short centre field in the bottom of the 11th. He was out of the lineup for the rest of the day. Harrison said he was fine as he made his out of the clubhouse after the two wins. "He came down later on and would have been available to pinch hit, he said, so maybe its not as bad as it looked," Hurdle said. "Well know more tomorrow." Andrew McCutchen had three hits in the second game for the Pirates, who improved to 11-4 against the Cubs this year. Jordy Mercer hit an RBI single in the first and a leadoff homer in the ninth. Liriano (4-10) allowed three hits and walked two in his first win since July 29. The veteran left-hander went 0-3 with a 3.75 ERA in six August starts. "Theyre young, but theyre pretty good hitters, most of them," Liriano smiled. "I know they wanted to swing the bat. I wanted to be patient and not throw the ball too far over the plate." Justin Wilson, Jared Hughes and Brandon Cumpton each pitched an inning to complete the six-hitter. Felix Doubront (1-1) pitched five innings in his second game with the Cubs. The lefty, who was acquired in a July 30 trade with Boston, gave up two runs and five hits. Fridays series opener was suspended by rain with one out in the top of the seventh inning. Neil Walker began the 11th with a one-out double off Wesley Wright (0-3), the last of nine Cubs pitchers. Wright then walked rookie Gregory Polanco and pinch-hitter Brent Morel to load the bases before Harrison singled to centre. Tony Sanchez added a pinch-hit sacrifice fly. Mark Melancon (3-4) pitched two scoreless innings for the win and rookie John Holdzkom finished for his first major league save. In the second game, McCutchen singled and scored on Gaby Sanchezs groundout in the third, and singled in pinch-runner Chase dArnaud to make it 3-0 in the seventh. Chris Stewart added an RBI single in the eighth. "We werent able to score any runs the last half of the first game and the second game, but well settle back in," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said. "Quite frankly, we just didnt do very much offensively today." BAEZ STRUGGLES CONTINUE Chicago rookie Javier Baez struck out seven times in nine at-bats in the two games. He has fanned 58 times in 132 at-bats this season. "We need to keep him in there and see if we can get him to trust what he was actually doing (in the minors)," Renteria said. TRAINERS ROOM Pirates: RHP Charlie Morton is scheduled to pitch a simulated game on Tuesday. He was placed on the disabled list last month with a sports hernia in his right hip. "We need some more information before we can make an accurate read," Hurdle said of his short-term prospects. ... C Russell Martin finished the suspended game after he turned his left ankle on a swing the previous day. Stewart started the nightcap. Cubs: 1B Anthony Rizzo will accompany the team on the road next week, but there is no timetable for his return. He sat out his 10th and 11th straight games because of a strained lower back. ... C Welington Castillo started the second game behind the plate after he was scratched on Friday due to tightness in his lower back. ... LHP Tsuyoshi Wada, who pitched just 3 1-3 innings on Friday due to mild cramping in his left calf, reported no further problems and was expected to make his next scheduled start. UP NEXT Pirates RHP Gerrit Cole (7-5, 3.86 ERA) will oppose Cubs LHP Travis Wood (8-11, 4.81 ERA) in the series finale Sunday. Ken Giles Jersey . 17.A string of English Premier League teams, most in the lower end of the standings, has been linked to the 32-year-old forward but most have seemingly balked at the cost given his wages and transfer fee. Anthony Gose Jersey . No such luck. Wiggins owned the end of Parkers impressive homecoming. The Kansas star scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half, outplaying Parker down the stretch and helping the fifth-ranked Jayhawks knock off No. http://www.astrosteamproshop.com/Astros-Alex-Bregman-Kids-Jersey/ .com) - The Dallas Mavericks had a five-game winning streak snapped last time out, but theyll try to get back into the winners circle Sunday evening when the Milwaukee Bucks pay a visit to American Airlines Center. Dallas Keuchel Jersey . The Brad Jacobs team from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., advanced to Fridays championship game with a 10-6 win over Chinas Rui Liu in the semifinal. Carlos Beltran Jersey . TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie tweeted that its believed the Flames are working towards a new contract with the defenceman.SHIMA, Japan -- Taiwans Teresa Lu won the Mizuno Classic on Sunday, birdieing the last two holes and six of the final eight for a two-stroke victory. The 25-year-old Lu, a regular on the Japan LPGA Tour after giving up her LPGA Tour membership in 2010, shot an 8-under 64 in windy, wet conditions at Kintetsu Kashikojima. She finished at 14-under 202 and earned $180,000 for her first professional title. "Ive been waiting for this day for so long," Lu said. "This is my first win. Its been eight years on tour. Im really happy. Really nervous and really happy. She made a 12-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th. "I knew I have to go lower and get more birdies otherwise I was going to get in a playoff," Lu said. "Its better not a playoff. So I focus on the birdie." She has three runner-up finishes and 13 top-10s this season on the JLPGA. "Beginning of this year, I got into two playoffs and in both of them, I lose," Lu said. "I guess I really learned from that and just tried to be calm." South Koreas Chella Choi, tied with Lu with two holes to play, had a 66 to finish second. "I think I had very good confidence today," said Choi. "I just thinnk, OL, one putt, just one stroke.dddddddddddd So I think birdie and focus. I dont know why, not nervous. I think good experience for me. ... Its OK, though, because I played well today. Disappointed, but satisfied." Japanese players took the next five spots. Mamiko Higa and Yuki Ichinose shot 70 to tie for third at 10 under, Yumiko Yoshida (68) and Shiho Oyama (71) followed at 9 under, and Asako Fujimoto (71) was 8 under. Stacy Lewis, the 2012 winner, tied for eighth at 7 under after a 70. The American was the top-ranked player in the field at No. 3. "Its really hard out there," Lewis said. "I could have made some putts earlier I just couldnt seem to make any putts. But to shoot 2 under in this wind is a good score. Its pretty crazy what those two are doing today." American Brittany Lincicome, a stroke behind second-round leaders Higa, Ichinose and Oyama entering the day, had a 77 to tie for 29th at 2 under. Lu became the second Taiwanese winner in tournament. Ai-Yu Tu won in 1986 when the event was called the Mazda Japan Classic. Lu was asked if she planned to return to the LPGA Tour next season. "Probably, probably," she said. "Its big!" ' ' '