Neues » but overall it was a go

LOS ANGELES -- The Pittsburgh Pirates had a long plane ride to digest their dreadful series at the New York Mets, and the exploits of batterymates Gerrit Cole and Russell Martin made for a pleasant series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Martin and Pedro Alvarez homered, Josh Harrisons second RBI single triggered a three-run seventh inning, and the Pirates beat Los Angeles 6-3 on Thursday night for only their third victory in their last 20 games at Dodger Stadium. "I think its just staying in the moment and not carrying any excess baggage," manager Clint Hurdle said. "It was a 5-hour, 40 minute flight, and were here in L.A. So Its time to get something done. Cole gave us the big start with his energy. He had a great pace and rhythm tonight, and the best speed variance hes had in quite some time. His fastball, changeup and curveball played extremely well for him, and everybody fed off of it." Cole (5-3) allowed three runs and six hits over 6 1-3 innings in his first career appearance at Chavez Ravine. The former UCLA right-hander helped set up two runs with sacrifice bunts in the opener of a four-game series against the defending NL West champions. "The key was making quality pitches early," Cole said. "Some at-bats they were patient and some they were really aggressive. But we just stuck with our approach and just made quality pitches. I thought we played Pirates baseball to a T. We passed the baton at the plate, swarmed them on defence, threw a lot of strikes and took some punches." Cole was lifted after walking pinch-hitter Chone Figgins with his 88th pitch, but Tony Watson retired speedster Dee Gordon on a double-play grounder with his first delivery. "Cole was outstanding. He was very aggressive, had all his pitches working," Martin said. "The pitch that really helped him was the changeup. He even threw them righty-on-righty. So to have a pitch that has the same spin as a fastball, I think, made the hitters uncomfortable. Hes got that mentality to just go out there and compete and execute pitches." Mark Melancon worked a perfect eighth and Jason Grilli got three outs for his sixth save. Grilli officially got his closer role back on Thursday, seven days after coming off the disabled list and six days after getting a save in his first game back. Melancon converted 10 of 12 save opportunities while Grilli was sidelined 4 1-2 weeks with a left oblique strain. Starling Marte drew a leadoff walk in the seventh from Brandon League (1-2) and appeared to have stolen second -- at least to umpire Eric Cooper, who called him safe. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly challenged the ruling, which was overturned by a video review. But Clint Barmes followed with his third straight single, advanced on Coles bunt and scored on Harrisons single up the middle. Harrison continued to second on the throw to the plate and came home on Neil Walkers single. Former Pirates starter Paul Maholm replaced League and gave up an RBI double to pinch-hitter Gabby Sanchez on his second pitch. The three runs charged to League ended a stretch of 16 appearances and 22 innings in which the right-hander did not allow an earned run. "I know its been a while since anything like this has happened," League said. "Its not discouraging. It just stinks having your name next to the L. As a reliever, you go day to day and youre taught to forget quickly. Its nice to know your manager keeps running you out there regardless of the results, but in the end, youve still got to get the job done." Dodgers starter Don Haren allowed three runs and eight hits in six innings with two strikeouts and no walks. Martin, who spent his first five big league seasons with the Dodgers and left as a free agent after the 2010 campaign to sign with the Yankees, hit his third homer of the season halfway up the left field pavilion with two outs in the sixth to give the Pirates a 3-2 lead. It also ended a string of nine consecutive games at Dodger Stadium in which Pittsburgh scored no more than two runs. Yasiel Puig, who reached base safely for the 30th consecutive game, led off the bottom of the sixth with his second double of the game and scored on a single by Hanley Ramirez. Andre Ethier lined an 0-1 pitch inside first base with one out in the first for his second triple in seven at-bats, after getting only four in his previous 2,180 at-bats since the start of the 2010 season. Puig drove him in with a bloop double to right field. Alvarez tied it in the second with a two-out drive to right field for his 10th homer, tying Walker for the team lead. Gordon regained the lead for the Dodgers in the bottom half with a two-out RBI single, but Harrison got the Pirates even again in the fifth with a two-out RBI single. NOTES: LHP Chad Billingsley, who hasnt pitched for the Dodgers since April 15, 2013, and is recovering from Tommy John surgery, threw 30 pitches in a two-inning simulated game. ... In his four starts with Tim Federowicz behind the plate, Haren has a 3.04 ERA and has given up 28 hits in 23 2-3 innings. ... Mattingly said that it would be "overly hopeful" to expect 3B Juan Uribe (right hamstring strain) to be reinstated from the 15-day DL when he is eligible to come off on June 5. ... Gordon stole second and third in the second inning, increasing his major league-leading total to 32. ... Coles only other outing against the Dodgers was June 16, 2013, when he won a 6-3 decision over Zack Greinke. Florida Panthers Jerseys .Kessy tried to show what he can do playing left wing for the Oilers in 5-0 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday in pre-season action. Custom Florida Panthers Jerseys . The group of Slava Fetisov, Igor Larionov, Vladimir Konstantinov, Sergei Fedorov, & Slava Kozlov were a dominant force for The Wings at one point in the 90s. http://www.hockeypanthersofficialonline.com/aleksander-barkov-hockey-jersey/ . The Austrian ski federation said Morgenstern was "conscious and well responsive" and his condition would be monitored in the intensive care unit of a Salzburg hospital for the next 72 hours. The federation said it was "way too early" to judge Morgensterns chances of competing in Sochi, and that an update on his condition was not expected before Monday. Vincent Trocheck Jersey . The Toronto Blue Jays star won his second consecutive Hank Aaron Award as the most outstanding offensive performer in the AL on Monday after votes by fans and a panel of Hall of Famers were tallied. Evgenii Dadonov Jersey .Ryan Anderson had 14 points for the Pelicans, who trailed 78-63 after three periods before trimming the deficit to 86-83. Jrue Holiday had 13 points and Eric Gordon added 12 for New Orleans.Mike Scott and Jeff Teague each had 11 points for Atlanta. SAN ANTONIO -- The San Antonio Spurs needed a pick me up after a disappointing loss and a series of injuries, and they got it Sunday night by stepping all over the Milwaukee Bucks. Patty Mills had 20 points, Tim Duncan had 11 points and 13 rebounds in limited action, and San Antonio rolled to a 110-82 victory over Milwaukee that kept the Bucks winless in the new year. Marco Belinelli scored 14 points, Jeff Ayres and Nando De Colo had 13 points apiece, and Kawhi Leonard added 11 points in 21 minutes for San Antonio. After hanging their heads following a 109-100 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night, the Spurs were feeling pretty good after trouncing the Bucks. "(My confidence is) going through the roof, man" Ayres said. "You dont see me out there? Im having fun, dunking on people and stuff. Its awesome. Life is good." Even San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich was in a light-hearted mood, joking about the season debut of athletic, 6-foot-9 forward Malcolm Thomas. "I thought he was real active," Popovich said. "He blocked (two) shots. You know we dont block shots; thats not part of our program . thats a joke." The merriment came at the expense of adding to Milwaukees misery. The Bucks have lost nine straight, dropping those games by an average of 15 points. Making matters worse for Milwaukee, starting off guard Luke Ridnour left the game after spraining his right wrist late in the first quarter. The wrist bent back after it was sandwiched between Mills and Ekpe Udoh as Ridnour attempted to roll off a screen. He still attempted a 19-foot jumper, but feverishly signalled for a sub as he clutched his wrist in pain. "The X-rays were negative, which is a good sign," Bucks coach Larry Drew said. "Right now it looks like hes in a splint and I dont know how long he will be out." It swelled right away, as soon as he did it and that was a big concern. I guess well go back and I believe hell get an MRI." Brandon Knight scored 21 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo added 11 points and John Henson had 10 points and 11 rebounds for Milwaukee, which trailed by double digits the entire second half. San Antonio played without starters Tony Parker and Tiago Splitter, former starter Danny Green and 3-point specialist Matt Bonner. Parker missed the game with a bruised right shin that stiffened in the second half of the Spurs loss to the Trail Blazers. "We were missing a lot of guys so thatt was a little worrying, but overall I think we did a good job," San Antonio guard Manu Ginobili said.dddddddddddd "Everybody got to play and everybody played well. Guys made shots and its a good feeling." The Spurs bench scored 58 points, with only one coming from Ginobili. Duncan played only 27 minutes, sitting out the fourth quarter as San Antonio built its lead to as many as 28 points in the second half after breaking the game open early. The Spurs went on a 15-0 run bridging the first and second quarters, taking a 29-16 lead that essentially put the game out the Bucks reach. Milwaukee went scoreless for five minutes, missing six shots, committing two turnovers and an offensive foul. Hensons 20-foot jump hook with 11:18 remaining in the first half ended the drought. Mills opened the run with the first of his four 3-pointers, sinking a 25-footer with 4 minutes left in the first quarter. "They move the ball, they make the right play and they get the open shot," former Spurs guard Gary Neal said. "Patty was the recipient of good ball movement today and he was able to knock the shots down. You have to give credit where credit is due, that system has been in effect for a long time and its been successful for a long time." Even the notoriously tough Popovich was able to give his team a figurative pat on the back afterward. "Coaches are sick puppies," Popovich said. "Theres always things you can improve and do better. You look at the film, try to keep your standard and get ready for playoffs, but overall it was a good performance." NOTES: Parker received the La Gazzetta Dello Sports European Player of the Year award before the tipoff. Parker led France to its first European Championship in the off-season. . Neal was greeted by apathy when he entered the game, receiving little reaction in his first game in San Antonio since leaving in the off-season as a free agent. . Bonner missed the game with a broken nose he sustained after taking an elbow from the Trail Blazers Thomas Robinson in the first quarter Friday night. . Spurs analyst Sean Elliott quickly grabbed his notebook and paperwork during the first half when Duncan walked toward the scorers table with a mischievous grin. Earlier this month, Duncan playfully tossed Elliotts things during a timeout. Duncan laughed as he stood over Elliott, failing to find anything to toss at his former teammate. . San Antonios mascot, the Coyote, made a behind-back, three-quarter-court shot during a timeout. ' ' '