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OAKLAND, Calif. -- Its been 40 days since Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Francisco Liriano won a game. Hell try to end that drought Sunday afternoon against the Oakland As and impressive rookie pitcher Daniel Mengden.Liriano had ERAs of 3.38 or lower in each of his past three seasons with Pittsburg and went a combined 35-25. This year, hes 4-8 with a 5.33 ERA, more than a full run higher than his career mark of 4.05.A mysterious lack of command has been a key to Liarianos struggles. In his previous start, he walked five and lasted only 4 1/3 innings in a 5-4 loss to the Dodgers on Monday. He gave up four hits and five runs (four earned).Over his past six starts, Liriano is 0-5 with a 7.12 ERA with 24 walks in 30 1/3 innings. Hes allowed five home runs and 36 hits during that stretch. He hasnt won a game since May 24 against Arizona.Ive been here before, Liriano said after his loss to the Dodgers. Ive just got to stay positive and keep working.Liriano went 6-12 with a 5.34 ERA in 2012, pitching for the Twins and White Sox, before signing with the Pirates as a free agent on Feb. 8, 2013. In his first season with Pittsburgh, he went 16-8 with a 3.02 ERA. He walked 63 and struck out 163 in 161 innings.I would never have called him a pinpoint pitcher his whole career, Pirates catcher Chris Stewart said Saturday before the Pirates 4-2, 10-inning victory. I think this year is a little more out of the zone with certain things, falling behind a lot of hitters and putting guys on base, and it seems like guys are getting big hits against him when theyre on base.Its just a matter of him going out, trusting his stuff, attacking the strike zone, establishing the fastball command early, and that way hell get the chases on the other stuff.Mengden is 1/3 in four starts, but he has a 2.81 ERA and is coming off his first career major league victory. He allowed two hits and four runs over a career-high 7 2/3 innings in an 8-3 victory Monday against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park.Mengden started the season with Double-A Midland, was promoted to Triple-A Nashville then was called up to the As on June 11. He has 26 strikeouts and nine walks over 25 2/3 innings. With each major league start, his confidence has grown.Every time you step on the rubber and get out there you gain experience and confidence and trust in yourself, as well, said Mengden, who will try to prevent the Pirates from sweeping the three-game series. Getting used to the atmosphere, the type of hitters youre facing. The more and more you do it, the easier it gets, and I guess the more confidence youll get. And Ive been throwing well, so that always helps with the confidence and trusting my stuff. Its a lot of fun.Mengden scouted the Pirates hitters on Monday in the series opener and again on Tuesday. He knows what to expect when he takes the mound in the series finale.They have a lot of balance to their whole lineup, Mengden said. Speed, power. Theyre a good team. ... Its always nice seeing a few guys face a team before you face them.Nike Air Max NZ Womens . Olli Jokinen, Mark Scheifele, and Bryan Little each had a goal and an assist as Winnipeg won 5-2, handing Calgary its record-setting seventh consecutive loss on home ice. Air Max 95 Mens Nz .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. http://www.airmaxnzwholeale.com/ . Ouellette, from Montreal, already has three Olympic gold medals since joining the team in 1999. Air Max 200 Cheap . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. Air Max 1 Nz . Fred Couples, captain of the U.S. side, put it all into perspective. "We know whos in charge," he said.CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Charlotte Hornets have shown they are committed to center Cody Zeller.Zeller agreed to a four-year, $56 million contract extension with the Hornets, according to a person familiar with the deal.The person spoke to The Associated Press on Monday night on condition of anonymity because the signing hasnt been announced.The Vertical.com was first to report the signing.The 7-foot Zeller started 60 games last season for the Hornets and averaged a career-high 8.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. He is splitting time at center this season with Roy Hibbert, who was signed as a free agent in the offseason.Zeeller has battled through knee and shoulder injuries in the past year, but seems to be healthy now.ddddddddddddThe former Indiana star is off to a good start, averaging 10.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game in three contests. Zeller is shooting 61 percent from the field this season.Had Charlotte not signed Zeller, he would have become a restricted free agent after the season. He is currently in his fourth season with the Hornets after being selected fourth overall in the 2013 draft. ' ' '