SAN DIEGO - Francisco Liriano struck out a season-high 13 and Pedro Alvarez hit his NL-leading 31st home run to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 3-1 victory against the San Diego Padres on Monday night. The Pirates, who had lost seven of nine coming in, maintained a one-game lead in the NL Central over St. Louis. The Padres struck out 17 times overall Monday night, giving them 59 in their last five games. Theyve lost nine of 13. Liriano (14-5) tied his career-high with his 14th victory. He helped give some relief to the Pirates bullpen, which was taxed when three of the previous six games went extra innings. Coming off a four-hit victory at St. Louis in his last start, Liriano held San Diego to four hits in seven innings while walking two. Lirianos previous season high was 11 strikeouts on June 1 against Cincinnati. His career high is 15. The Padres loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth before Liriano got Ronny Cedeno to hit into a force. The Padres had runners in scoring position only two other times against Liriano. Ronny Cedeno hit a leadoff single in the third and advanced on a balk before Liriano struck out the side. Denorfia doubled to left with one out in the fifth and advanced to third on Will Venables groundout before Liriano struck out rookie Jedd Gyorko. In his last four starts after a Bucs loss, including Monday night, Liriano has pitched 30 innings and allowed only two earned runs. Mark Melancon pitched the ninth for his eighth save in 10 chances. He allowed Nick Hundleys RBI double with two outs. Alvarez, who had been tied for the NL lead with Arizonas Paul Goldschmidt, homered on an 0-1 pitch from Andrew Cashner with two outs in the sixth to give the Pirates a 3-0 lead. It landed about six rows behind the Jack Daniels Old No. 7 party deck that sits atop the right-field wall. The Pirates scored two runs in the fourth on two singles and an error by right fielder Chris Denorfia. With Andrew McCutcheon aboard on a leadoff single, Alvarez grounded a single to right field, which rolled under the glove of a charging Denorfia and went all the way to the fence, allowing both runners to score. Cashner (8-8) lost his third straight start. He allowed three runs, one earned, on five hits in seven innings, struck out three and walked two. NOTES: Padres CF Cameron Maybin returned to San Diego to have his injured knee re-examined by club doctors. Maybin has been on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tucson before the club shut him down. He probably is done for the season. ... Pirates RHP A.J. Burnett (5-8, 3.18) is scheduled to start against the Padres on Tuesday night. Hes 1-5 with a 4.93 ERA in seven career starts against the Padres, with the one victory being a no-hitter on May 12, 2001, while with the Marlins. Burnett walked nine that night. ... In his last start on Aug. 15, Burnett allowed five runs in 4 1-3 innings and got a no-decision at St. Louis. Burnett has allowed 11 runs in his last two starts after throwing a complete-game victory Aug. 4 against the Rockies. ... The Padres will counter with Tyson Ross (3-5, 2.62) Tuesday night. ... LHP Wandy Rodriguez threw a bullpen session Monday. Rodriguez, who has been on the disabled list since June 11, retroactive to June 6, with tightness in his left forearm, said he still could "feel something" in his arm during the session. There is no timetable for his return. ... RHP Jason Grilli was scheduled to start throwing from a 120 feet Monday, manager Clint Hurdle said. Grilli has been on the DL since July 23 with a right forearm strain. ... RHP Ryan Reid was recalled Monday from Triple-A Indianapolis. This is Reids second stint with the Pirates. Bernie Kosar Youth Jersey . The Bulls seem to be getting along fine without him. D.J. Augustin scored 27 points in a start for Kirk Hinrich and Taj Gibson matched a career high with 26 filling in for Carlos Boozer as the Bulls improved to 7-2 since trading the popular Deng with a 98-87 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night. Jarvis Landry Youth Jersey . This week, topics cover the Blue Jays rotation, the futures John Gibbons and Alex Anthopoulos, protecting pitchers and a bonus question on his predictions for the MLB playoffs. http://www.brownsauthenticproshop.com/Youth-David-Njoku-Jersey/ . PETERSBURG, Fla. Nick Chubb Womens Jersey . -- Canadian mens rugby coach Kieran Crowley has made four changes to his starting roster for Saturdays Pacific Nations Cup clash against the United States. Odell Beckham Jr Browns Jersey . Groves signed with Cleveland as an unrestricted free agent last year after a season with Arizona. He was in the linebacker rotation and had a sack in the season opener against Miami.Brooklyn, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Malcolm Brogdon registered 20 points to help No. 8 Virginia to a 64-56 win over La Salle in the Barclays Center Classic. Anthony Gill scored 16 points with 10 rebounds for the Cavaliers (6-0), who will face Rutgers in the final on Saturday. Jordan Price went for 20 points for the Explorers (4-1). La Salle will play Vanderbilt in the consolation game. Virginia used its patented defense to methodically take an 18-point lead at halftime, but the Explorers locked down in the second half and worked their way back. Price made it a game in the latter stages of the second when he scored 10 straight points to cut the deficit to 49-41. However, Brogdon and Darion Atkins each converted a basket over Virginias next two possessions, pushing the lead back to double digits. Cleon Roberts split a pair of free throws with over two minutes remaining to trim the deficit to seven, then La Salle elected to foul early. It seemed to work because Gill and Brogdon each split a pair at the line and Jerrell Wright answered with a layup and two free throws, respectively, to make it a 58-53 game. Price forced a turnover at the other end, was fouled, but madee just 1-of-2 at the line.dddddddddddd The Cavs then scored six straight points from there to put the game away. If the first half was any indication, it looked as if Virginia was going to have no problem. Wright, La Salles leading rebounder and second-leading scorer entering the game, recorded two quick fouls just over three minutes into the game and had to take a seat. The Cavs forced four turnovers on La Salles first five possessions and slowly built an 8-0 advantage before Khalid Lewis layup got the Explorers on the board with 13:24 left in the opening half. Lewis missed the ensuing free throw after Marial Shayoks foul on the drive, then London Perrantes answered at the other end with a 3-pointer. Virginia led 25-10 with over six minutes to play following Justin Andersons steal and dunk. Wrights half was ended when he picked up a third foul moments later and the Cavs closed the half on an 8-2 run for a 37-19 lead. Game Notes Wright finished with six points and two rebounds ... Virginia shot 22-for-46 (47.8 percent) from the floor, while La Salle went 18-for-45 (40 percent) ... The Cavs had a 35-23 edge on the glass. ' ' '
