Gatomons Spielekonsole » best chance came on a 2-on-1 break about 14

MIAMI -- Boosted by a torrid stretch at the plate, the Pittsburgh Pirates have returned to .500 again. Judging by the hitting and pitching they got on Saturday, they could have a winning record soon. Andrew McCutchen hit a three-run homer and Jody Mercer also went deep, leading the Pirates to an 8-6 victory over the Miami Marlins. Josh Harrison and Chris Stewart had three hits apiece, and the Pirates finished with 18 overall in their sixth consecutive game in double digits. Touted rookie Gregory Polanco had two hits and two RBIs. "When you put people on base, you can do a lot," McCutchen said. "Getting on the board first definitely helps us. Weve got a lot of guys swinging the bat, basically from one to nine." The Pirates (34-34) have won four straight and five of six to get back to .500 for the first time since they were 8-8 following a victory over Milwaukee on April 17. "You believe in the talent and you believe in the guys on the team," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. "You just dig in and you go. These guys have been resilient in challenging times." Pittsburgh right-hander Charlie Morton (4-7) pitched seven effective innings for his third consecutive win. He allowed two runs and five hits to improve to 4-1 with a 2.40 ERA in his last five starts. "Its nothing special, nothing different," Morton said. "I just go out there and do my job." Marcell Ozuna and Jeff Baker each hit a two-run homer for Miami in the ninth. Jason Grilli then replaced Stolmy Pimentel and allowed a single to Rafael Furcal before retiring Chris Johnson for his 10th save in 13 opportunities. In the series opener Friday, the Pirates a squandered a 6-2 lead in the ninth and needed 13 innings for an 8-6 win. "Its nice to get a win though," Mercer said. "Thats all that matters. As long as were on top in the end with the third out, well take it." Mercer hit a leadoff home in the second and McCutchen connected in the fourth, making it 5-0 with a drive to left for his 11th of the season. McCutchen extended his hitting streak to 10 games. He is hitting .439 (18 for 41) in June. "Im just getting pitches to hit and Im hitting them," he said. Marlins starter Randy Wolf (1-3) allowed five runs and nine hits in four innings. "It was embarrassingly bad," Wolf said. "Its frustrating to physically feel fine but not have command of your pitches. The only thing you can do is get better, but, right now, its frustrating." McCutchen also made a sliding catch to rob Furcal of a base hit in the fifth. Furcal is 1 for 11 since rejoining the Marlins on Friday from hamstring and groin injuries that sidelined him for the teams first 65 games. Ozuna had a run-scoring triple in Miamis two-run fourth, but Pittsburgh added three more in the fifth. Mercer doubled home a run against Kevin Slowey and Morton helped himself with a run-scoring sacrifice squeeze. Polanco added a run-scoring single for an 8-2 lead. "Give our offence credit for coming back there at the end," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "It continues to show the character of our guys - they dont quit." NOTES: Harrison missed the last two games because of left ankle discomfort. ... Pittsburgh called up veteran RHP Vance Worley from Triple-A Indianapolis so he can start on Sunday against Miami. Worley, 26, will be making his debut with the Pirates, who acquired him on March 25 from the Twins for cash considerations. He has a career record of 19-18 with a 4.05 ERA while pitching parts of three seasons with the Phillies and last year with the Twins. ... RHP Henderson Alvarez is Miamis scheduled starter for Sundays series finale ... Marlins LF Christian Yelich got the day off after he left Fridays game in the first inning with a lower-back injury. The Marlins are hoping he can return in a day or two. Mike Gesicki Jersey . -- C.J. Cron hit an RBI single on the first pitch he saw in the major leagues, doubled his second time up and hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the sixth inning to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 5-3 victory over the Texas Rangers on Saturday night. Dan Marino Dolphins Jersey .com) - Ames, IA (SportsNetwork. http://www.authenticdolphinspro.com/Reshad-jones-dolphins-jersey/ . -- DeMarcus Cousins had 29 points, nine rebounds and six steals to lead the Sacramento Kings to their third straight preseason win, a 107-90 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night. Bob Griese Jersey . Head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed on Sunday that his starting goalie has a head injury and the team will take it day by day. Jerome Baker Womens Jersey . NORRIS COLE (Heat): Its funny, you watch a guy play and now really produce and it just jumps off the page at you - why? You put a young player with potential in a winning environment where there is veteran leadership, outstanding coaching and management and a way that things are done and its a wonderful environment for growth, improvement in a climate of constant accountability and expectation of achievement/production.DALLAS - Matt Cullen gave the Predators a lead that Pekka Rinne protected in the final seconds.Cullen scored the go-ahead goal at 13:47 of the third period and Nashville beat the slumping Dallas Stars 3-2 on Thursday in a game that wasnt decided until the last shot of the night.I think it was (Tyler) Seguin who shot the puck at the end there from the side, Rinne said. I was just diving across and obviously, you need some luck to make that save.It was a huge win for us. Cullen gets a big goal to win it. After that, we played smart, defended really hard and a few of the bounces were going my way tonight.Nashville won for the third time in five tries on a six-game road trip.Dallas rallied from a 2-0 deficit on goals by Trevor Daley and Patrick Eaves. But the Stars have lost their last six games (0-4-2), and are 1-2-4 at home.We played better, and got the same result, Dallas coach Lindy Ruff said. The guys were counting on had probably seven or eight good chances. Rinne probably was the difference-maker at the end.On the winning goal, Cullen retrieved the puck when it came out of the right corner to him just outside the crease. He shot under a tangle of legs past Dallas goalie Kari Lehtonen and inside the right post.Craig Smith and Filip Forsberg scored power-play goals in the second period for Nashville. The Predators had only two power-play goals in their first nine games, but have scored four in the last four games.Dallas failed to score on its only power play, and is 0 for 15 in the past four games.We had to win the special-teams battle in order to win the game, and we did, Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said. Had the specialty teams been reversed, maybe we had a different outcome.Rinne made 33 saves, 12 in the third period. Lehtonen had 30.Dallas was pretty desperate, Rinne said.ddddddddddddNashvilles Derek Roy and Matthias Ekholm each had two assists.Daley cut the deficit to one by scoring unassisted on an end-to-end rush at 16:26 of the second. He crossed the blue line, skated to the left of two defenders and fired a shot past Rinne to the right post.In the third period, Daleys slap shot hit the boards behind the net, and the puck bounced out in front. After Rinne stopped shots by Antoine Roussel and Seguin, Eaves backhanded a rebound over the goalie at 6:23.Neither team scored during an even first period. Each team had 10 shots on goal and one unsuccessful power play.Dallas best chance came on a 2-on-1 break about 14 minutes in, when Rinne turned aside Jamie Benn.He was on top of his game, Benn said after none of his seven shots on goal went in. He made some great saves for them.Smith broke the scoreless tie with a power-play goal at 4:10 of the second. Roy passed from the right circle to Smith, who used Colin Wilsons screen to beat Lehtonen.Nashville took a 2-0 lead on Forsbergs power-play goal from the top of the left circle at 13:57 of the second.NOTES: Cullen has four game-winning goals against the Stars, his most against any team. ... Predators LW Eric Nystrom played his 500th NHL game, including 122 for Dallas. ... Smith and Forsberg lead the Predators with two power-play goals each. ... Forsberg, who has five goals and eight assists, entered the game leading NHL rookies in scoring. ... Eaves played five games for Nashville last season. ... Stars C Cody Eakin (upper-body injury) missed a game for only the second time in his three seasons. ... Roy played eight seasons for Ruff in Buffalo, then played for the Stars in 2012-13. ... Laviolette is 10-3-0 against Dallas. ' ' '