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  November 17, 2018 5:22 AM EET

  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. Buffalo Sabres Outlet Store . 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The Sioux Falls Canaries scored two in the seventh and three more in the eighth to come back from a 3-0 deficit and defeat the Winnipeg Goldeyes 5-3 in front of 6,769 at Shaw Park on Sunday afternoon.For Vancouvers third game in eight days, Robinson kept the diamond in midfield but rung the changes, some forced and others out of choice. Steven Beitashour was on the trip but failed a late fitness test and was replaced by Ethen Sampson, who made only his second MLS start. Fellow 20-year-old Christian Dean joined him in the back four, with veteran Andy OBrien left at home. Pedro Morales was not 100 per cent so was left on the bench, leaving Mauro Rosales to occupy the playmaking number ten role as Mehdi Ballouchy came in on the right to help Sampson defensively. Darren Mattocks returned up top alongside Sebastian Fernandez. Dallas boss Oscar Pareja abandoned his back three experiment from the loss last week against Real Salt Lake, choosing a straight 4-4-2 featuring an explosive front four that surprisingly included Blas Perez, back from international duty with Panama. The Game Dallas won 2-1 in a match that was decided on moments and key decisions. It can be a cruel game sometimes and a steep learning curve for a young side like Vancouver. Robinson will have had a difficult time post match with what to say to his players, an all too familiar story for the Whitecaps lately. Dallas opened the scoring after 20 minutes from a freak wondergoal by Perez. Defender Jordan Harveys reaction said it all. The experienced left back, who had 168 of the combined 172 MLS starts for the defence heading in, just waved his hand towards the net as a signal for how ridiculous the goal was. For Vancouver it was a kick in the guts. A team that has struggled so much to find ways to score did not need to see first hand clear evidence of how easy sometimes a ball can go in from nothing. In truth, the Whitecaps should have already been ahead when Darren Mattocks was played in alone at the other end but once again took too many touches and wasnt able to finish. Another familiar story. The Whitecaps, led by the brilliant Rosales, grew back into the game and deserved their equaliser, scored by Erik Hurtado who had replaced the ineffective Mattocks. It was a goal orchestrated by Rosales and one that highlighted the weaknesses of the hosts. Central midfielders Michel and Victor Ulloa struggled throughout with their collective defensively responsibilities, allowing Rosales to run the show in behind them. On the goal he broke into that space again, while Hurtado made an intelligent run in the channels between Zach Loyd and Jair Benitez at left back who had come on for Moises Hernandez. Hurtados run was good but his finish was even better. Dallas was a threat in the final third when they got there but struggled throughout the game in keeping possession, an issue they havent solved all season. However, that is their identity now, a team so dangerous from set pieces and once their quick, explosive wingers get the ball in the final third. Their winning goal, not surprisingly, came from a set piece with Michel sending a ball into the box that the Whitecaps didnt deal with, allowing, on the second phase, Perez to place the ball into an empty net after David Ousted came off his line and didnt get the ball. It capped off a mixed night for the Danish keeper who made two magnificent saves to keep his team in the game between each of the goals he conceded. The Positives Vancouver is a team who has no legitimate goalscorer.dddddddddddd. Their best player isnt fit and was a shadow of his former self when he came on. They had three centre-backs, who have all started big games for them over recent weeks, unavailable, while key pieces in Beitashour and Gershon Koffie were injured. Yet, they still went toe-to-toe with a team that will qualify for the playoffs in a very competitive Western Conference. Some Whitecaps fans dont want to hear that this season is a year of transition for this franchise but that is a reality as a new boss tries to bring in his own players and deal with the challenges left behind by the former coach. If Vancouver wants to be a consistent challenger for a playoff spot it is about building a strong spine and that showed some great signs of improvement on a cloudy night in Frisco. Ousted is a rock in goal and is allowed a mistake, one that haunted him as he was still talking at length about it later that night at the hotel. Kendall Waston had another excellent game and his inexperienced partner, Dean, grew into the game. He will have less severe tests than ones given to him by Castillo and Perez on his debut. Matias Laba had another outstanding game and completely ran the central midfield. His workrate showed Dallas exactly what they miss as they look a broken team who struggle to get midfielders in the game to combine with the front four. Ahead of Laba, Rosales was the best player for the Whitecaps and the only thing missing to complete a strong spine is a pure finisher, although Hurtados goal will give him a lot of confidence and may earn him a start next week in Portland. The Weaknesses It is a broken record by now. If Mattocks scores his chance inside the first fifteen minutes it is a different game. Too often when balls were played to the feet of the front two they didnt stick. Zach Loyd and Matt Hedges put on a centre-back clinic on how to press, be aggressive and take the forwards out of the game. The longer the game wore on the more intimidated they were by them with only Fernandez looking a threat when he gets space to dribble into. A new striker is needed and will arrive for 2015 and with him needs to come a natural winger who can push opposing full backs deep and attack the white line just to give Robinson another option and make sure their attacks are not too narrow and predictable. Star Man Rosales was a magician. No one works harder, no one reads the game better and he isnt afraid to tell team-mates that also, educating them on their choices and helping them be better. With Morales struggling, we have yet to see the best of these two playmakers together and it was wise that when the Chilean did come on Robinson kept Rosales in the central role were he tortured the Dallas midfield. He, like Waston at the other end, has become an on-field leader already and one the team cannot afford to be without. Both players are examples of Robinsons Whitecaps that need to be at the club next season to help take them to the next level. Right now, though, the immediate goal is the playoffs and despite all the adversity the team is still in fifth spot with six games remaining. That in itself is a huge sign of progression for this franchise no matter when the curtain comes down on their 2014 campaign. Jerseys NFL China Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys From China Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale China Jerseys NFL Jerseys China Discount Soccer Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys China China NCAA Jerseys Cheap Cheap Nike Dolphins Jerseys Cheap Nike Patriots Jerseys Cheap Nike Jets Jerseys Cheap Nike Bengals Jerseys Cheap Nike Browns Jerseys Cheap Nike Steelers Jerseys Cheap Nike Texans Jerseys Cheap Nike Colts Jerseys Cheap Nike Jaguars Jerseys Cheap Nike Titans Jerseys Cheap Nike Broncos Jerseys ' ' '