we were tough enough. We werent tough at all,"

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ARLINGTON, Texas - Pittsburgh reliever Mark Melancon allowed multiple runs for the first time in 65 appearances this season. Nike Roshe Run Heren zwart/blauw Schoenen . Still, he appeared to get a little extra on the pitch that ended the game, saving the Pirates 5-4 victory over the slumping Texas Rangers on Tuesday night. Melancon gave up four consecutive two-out singles, two of them producing runs, before striking out Adrian Beltre on three pitches with the potential tying run at third base. "He got one of the best hitters in the game out to finish it off," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "Two outs, and nobody on base, and before you know it, youve got a game out there, youve got a nail-biter on your hands at the end. ... At the end of the day, he struck out the side, with a little action in between." Francisco Liriano pitched six innings for his career-high 16th victory and Andrew McCutchen had three RBI singles for the NL wild-card leaders. A night after victory No. 82 ensured the Pirates first winning season since 1992, they got a series-clinching victory and stayed within a game of NL Central-leading St. Louis. "Were still hunting for more," said Jordy Mercer, who had two doubles among his four hits. "We want to get more, as much as we can, thats for sure." Melancon struck out two pinch-hitters to start the ninth. Singles by Ian Kinsler and Alex Rios produced runs before Beltre, a .318 hitter already with two hits and an RBI, took the first pitch before swinging at the next two. "I threw three heaters. Just getting ahead," Melancon said. "The second pitch, he fouled back, and the third pitch I dont know if he was sitting breaking ball or not, but came back with another (fastball). ... I never really lost my composure or thought any negative thoughts." Even though it took 30 pitches to get his 13th save in 15 chances. As for Beltre, Texas manager Ron Washington said, "We know what his track record is and what hes capable of doing. Hes a guy who always rises to a challenge. Im looking forward to him coming back." Pittsburgh scored three runs with four consecutive two-out hits in the fifth off rookie left-hander Martin Perez (9-4), who had won his previous six starts since the beginning of August. The Rangers, who still need another victory for their fifth consecutive winning season, will lose their fourth series in a row no matter what happens in Wednesdays finale. Texas has lost seven of its last nine games, but remained two games back in the AL West with Oaklands loss to Minnesota. Liriano (16-7) struck out five while allowing one run to become the first Pirates left-hander since John Smiley and Zane Smith in 1991 to win more than 15 games. Liriano has received a decision in each of his 23 starts since signing as a free agent in February, the most for the Pirates since Larry French got a decision in each of his first 24 starts in 1930. "Not his finest outing. A blue-collar effort," Hurdle said. "I think a runner reached base every inning on in. ... All we did, we battled tonight, we battled off the mound, we battled at the plate." In the Pittsburgh fifth, Mercer doubled and scored on McCutchens second hit. Marlon Byrd then singled before Gaby Sanchez had an RBI double. Byrd scored on a wild pitch. The 22-year-old Perez is the only Texas rookie to win six consecutive starts, and it was the most for any Rangers pitcher since Kenny Rogers won eight in a row in 2005. Texas got a run off Jason Grilli in the eighth, when Rios doubled with two outs and scored on a single by Beltre. Tony Watson took over and allowed a double to A.J. Pierzynski before striking out Jeff Baker to end the inning. Pittsburgh went up 1-0 in the third when it appeared that Tony Sanchez stepped on the foot of catcher A.J. Pierzynski and never actually touched the plate. He came home on McCutchens infield single. Texas rookie Joey Butler drew a leadoff walk in the fifth and scored on Kinslers double to centre, a ball that went off the glove of McCutchen as he tried to make a sliding backhanded catch. NOTES: The Pirates have 38 road wins, their most since that same amount in 1992. ... Texas also lost four consecutive series in June. ... The Rangers had been safe on 19 consecutive stolen base tries until Elvis Andrus was caught in the third inning. ... Kinslers double snapped a 15-inning drought for the Rangers without a run or an extra-base hit. ... There was a disputed double play by Pittsburgh in the fourth. Pierzynski hit a grounder that 1B Gaby Sanchez backhanded while apparently sliding his foot across the base before throwing to second to get Beltre. Pierzynski argued with first base umpire Chad Fairchild before Washington and Beltre joined the discussion. Dames Nike Air Max 90 blauw/roze sportschoenen .ca. Kerry,  Just watched the shootout in the Coyotes/Leafs game and I have to ask, why was the James van Riemsdyk goal allowed to count?  All of the video replays we were shown on TV were inconclusive about whether the puck had entirely crossed the line or not. Nike Roshe Run Heren Sale Nederland . Denis Coderre, the former federal MP who was elected mayor on Nov. 3, has drawn the ire of some Montreal Canadiens. During last nights game he tweeted: "Hello? Can we get a one-way ticket to (minor-league) Hamilton for David Desharnais please. http://www.schoenenoutlet-nl.nl/nike-air-max-thea.html . -- Lou Brocks shoulder-to-shoulder collision with Bill Freehan during the 1968 World Series and Pete Roses bruising hit on Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star game could become relics of baseball history, like the dead-ball era.IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Michigan State had every reason to fold. The seventh-ranked Spartans were coming off a draining loss to rival Michigan and again were down two starters to surging Iowa -- which was hosting its biggest game in years. Michigan State responded with the toughness it has shown so often under coach Tom Izzo and emerged from Iowa City with a season-defining win. Keith Appling scored 16 points and the Spartans outlasted No. 15 Iowa 71-69 in overtime Tuesday night, handing the Hawkeyes their first home loss. "I was concerned coming in whether we could get back up off the can. Not physically, we were going to be beat up. I was worried about mentally," said Izzo, whose team fell to the Wolverines 80-75 on Saturday. "We didnt have time to be tired." Matt Costello had 11 points and 12 rebounds for the Spartans (19-2, 8-1 Big Ten), who avoided consecutive defeats despite the absence of injured starters Adreian Payne and Branden Dawson. But it took 5 extra minutes -- and an Iowa shooting drought that lasted nearly 15 minutes -- to pull it off. Costellos tip-in with 1:14 left gave Michigan State a 67-64 lead, and Russell Byrds 3 with 34 seconds put Michigan State up by six. Iowa still had a chance to force a second overtime, but Mike Gesell missed a driving layup at the buzzer. Devyn Marble had 21 points for Iowa (16-5, 5-3), including a layup with 6 seconds left in overtime that snapped the Hawkeyes streak of 14:50 without a field goal. "I just didnt think we were tough enough. We werent tough at all," Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said. "I think they were being nice." The Hawkeyes boast one of the nations deepest benches, and they kept threatening to run away from the undermanned Spartans early in the second half. Michigan State wouldnt let it happen. The tough-minded Spartans had an answer for nearly every basket that could have swung the momentum back in Iowas favour. Iowa led 57-51 with 5:58 left, and its crowd began to sense the win. Nike Cortez Nylon Qs Aloha Pack. But Appling -- with his shooting wrist heavily taped -- hit a 3, and a layup and dunk by Costello made it 58-57 Spartans. "We have guys that want to win," Appling said. "I feel like this win speaks volumes of the character of our team. We have a lot of guys that are able to dig down and compete. And at the end of the day I feel like thats what gave us the victory." The Hawkeyes had a chance to win in regulation, but Marble missed a runner just before the buzzer. That was a theme that doomed the Hawkeyes. Aaron White had 10 points for Iowa, which lost despite hitting 19 more free throws than Michigan State. "I felt like we were moving the ball well. We had some really good looks at it and just didnt make any," McCaffery said. What made the loss even tougher for Iowa was it had been nearly a decade since Iowa City had seen a game this big. Iowa hadnt hosted a Top 25 opponent as a ranked team since 2006, when it last went to the NCAA tournament. Even Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad made the 2-hour drive from Des Moines to see the programs biggest home game in years. The Hawkeyes looked like the tighter team early. But the Hawkeyes hung close by building what would end up being a 43-20 edge in free throw attempts. The second half and overtime proved to be a physical, back-and-forth affair between two teams with serious aspirations of a Big Ten title. In the end, it was the Spartans who pulled out a game with 16 lead changes, 11 ties and one seemingly inexplicable shooting drought from the typically high-scoring Hawkeyes. In victory, Michigan State also showed Iowa how slim the margin between contending for a Big Ten title and winning it can be. "Weve had games where we could have (showed resolve), but we didnt. This is the first game where weve had the opportunity and weve carried through," Costello said. cheap nfl jerseys cheap jerseys cheap jerseys cheap jerseys cheap nfl jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '