PITTSBURGH -- Pedro Alvarez mashed two home runs that travelled an estimated 831
feet Friday night.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic Shirt . It was a series of
sprints by the burly Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman, however, that ignited a
12-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Alvarez broke open a close game in the
sixth by beating out a potential double play, followed it up with the fifth
stolen base of his career then scored with a deft slide around St. Louis catcher
Yadier Molinas tag that gave the Pirates the momentum they needed to pull away.
"I thought the stolen base was key," manager Clint Hurdle said. "He puts a lot
of focus on running the bases and hes arguably one of our best baserunners when
hes on." It certainly looked like it, as Alvarezs outstretched left arm slid
across the plate a split second before one of the games best defensive catchers
could nab him. The Cardinals imploded from there as Shelby Miller (0-1)
continued to struggle against Pittsburgh. Miller fell to 0-5 with a 5.92 ERA
against the Pirates in his brief career after tying a career-high by allowing
five runs in 5 1-3 innings. The right-hander is 16-5 with a 2.34 ERA in his 33
other major league appearances. "Its not the park. Its not the team. I just
pitched poorly today," Miller said. "I guess it just lines up that way where I
dont pitch well when I face them." Travis Ishikawa added his first major league
home run in nearly two years for Pittsburgh. Gerrit Cole (1-0) gave up two runs
in seven innings in his first start since losing the deciding Game 5 of the NL
division series to St. Louis last October. Six months removed from a taut NLDS
that pushed the eventual NL champions to the brink of elimination, the Pirates
sent an early message they have no plans of going away. Cole is considered the
ace in waiting after a stellar rookie season in which he was arguably
Pittsburghs best pitcher over the final six weeks. Eager to take the next step
in his development, the 23-year-old kept the Cardinals in check by mixing a
fastball that consistently reaches the upper 90s with improved offspeed stuff.
He also showcased some of his maturity, working out of a bases loaded situation
in the fourth by getting Jhonny Peralta to fly out. His only mistake came in the
fifth when Carpenter drilled a shot into the right field stands to pull the
Cardinals to 3-2. Otherwise he teamed with catcher Russell Martin to keep St.
Louis in check. "I think it was just a really well-played ballgame on our part,"
Cole said. "I cant say enough about what Russ did behind the plate. Not sure
there are any other catchers in the entire world that could handle what I threw
at him tonight." Pittsburghs offence -- which mustered all of 20 hits in 35
innings of a season-opening series against the Chicago Cubs -- made sure it
didnt stay close for long after pounding out 16 hits in eight innings against
the NL Central favourites. Alvarez began the year in a 1 for 15 slump but ended
that with a home run to the gap in left-centre for his first home run of the
season. He added his second two innings later with a long drive to right-centre
that travelled an estimated 448 feet. His hustle down the first-base line in the
sixth allowed Pittsburghs rally to continue and the Pirates pressed the
advantage. Molina committed a rare error after Alvarezs slide, botching a
potential rundown at third base when his throw hit Martin in the back and rolled
into the stands. The miscue gave the Pirates a 5-2 lead and Pittsburgh poured it
on in the late innings. NOTES: Ishikawas solo home run in the fourth was his
first since May 15, 2012 while playing for the New York Yankees. ... The start
of the game was delayed 1:05 by rain, the third straight game a Cardinals game
was delayed by weather. ... Injured Cardinals 2B Mark Ellis is starting baseball
activities but it remains uncertain when hell be ready to return from left knee
tendinitis. Ellis went on the 15-day DL on March 27 and is eligible to return on
April 11. ... The series continues on Saturday. RHP Joe Kelly will make his
season debut for the Cardinals against Pittsburghs Francisco Liriano (0-0,
0.00).
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. Who are some of the funniest teammates youve played with? Hartnell was pretty
funny. Matt Greene, when I was in L.A. he was really funny it was comical.
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.com) - The Ottawa Senators will try to keep their slim playoff hopes alive when
they face the Chicago Blackhawks who are trying to secure their place in the
post-season.PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Eagles could be without their top
defensive playmaker as they face a team coming off a 41-point output last week.
Eagles linebacker Mychal Kendricks, who suffered a calf injury in last Mondays
win over the Indianapolis Colts, missed practice for the second straight day,
Thursday, in preparation for Sundays game against the Washington Redskins.
"Right now hes very doubtful for today, actually hes out today," Eagles head
coach Chip Kelly said before Thursdays practice. "Well see how he does Friday
and Saturday." Kendricks had a MRI taken this week, but Kelly said he did not
have the results. "I dont know," Kelly said. "I dont ask. Can we get this out of
the way? Im never going to ask. I dont care. Just tell me if they can play or
cant play. Thats all I ever ask. Im not a doctor. So its grade 32. I dont know
what that means. You dont know what that means. Just tell me if he can play or
cant play thats the conversation I have with (trainer) Chris Peduzzi and Dr.
(Peter) DeLuca." Kendricks injured his calf late in the third quarter of Monday
nights game on a 2nd-and-8 play from the Colts 34 on the drive that led to
Indianapolis taking a 27-20 lead. He did not return. The Eagles came back to
win, 30-27, on a final second field goal from Cody Parkey. Kendricks absence
would create a hole in an Eagles defence that has struggled in the first half of
both of its wins, but played better in the second half. Washington, which rolled
up 41 points last week against Jacksonville, will test the Eagles defence with a
balanced offence behind quarterback Kirk Cousins and running back Alfred Morris.
"I think Mychal has just been a continuation of last years improvement," Eagles
defensive co-ordinator Billy Davis said Wednesday.
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United Shirt. "I think you saw Mychal get better and better. We
talk about it often with his understanding of the defence. Hes been highly
productive in the first two games weve had. So I think hes on an ascent and
still is. Hes an ascending player." Last year, his first in Davis 3-4 scheme,
Kendricks was second on the team in tackles with 137. He also had four
quarterback sacks, six quarterback hurries, a team-high three interceptions and
a team-high four fumble recoveries. In the first two games this year, Kendricks
leads the Eagles in tackles with 13, has one of the teams three sacks and three
of the teams five quarterback hurries. If he cannot go Sunday, hell be replaced
by either Casey Matthews or Emmanuel Acho. Matthews immediately replaced
Kendrick during the Colts game, but Acho then replaced Matthews on the Colts
final drive. Both backup linebackers have been splitting time with the first
unit in practice Wednesday and Thursday. Davis said the two are basically equal.
"We have complete confidence in both of them," the co-ordinator said. "Well see
how the week plays out, but it could be Casey or Acho, or a mix of both. Theyre
both very intelligent guys that can set our front. They understand the defence
thoroughly. So very similar skill sets, not a lot of differences between them."
Acho, 6-2, 240, has played in a total of seven games in his three-year career
and has never started. Matthews, 6-1, 245, was a fourth-round draft pick of the
Eagles in 2011. Hes played in 50 games over his four years, including four
starts as the middle linebacker in the teams old 4-3 scheme.
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