Die Macht » e, but if you have to be sidelined for one, g

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates used three right fielders, including two had never played the outfield in a major league game before, and five relief pitchers. Somehow, all the manoeuvring by manager Clint Hurdle paid off. Pedro Alvarez singled in the go-ahead run and the Pirates won their season-high fourth straight game Saturday night, 4-3 over the St. Louis Cardinals. "We drew a lot of stuff up in the dirt," Hurdle said. "Everybody showed up, though, and did what they were supposed to do and it ended up being a really gritty win for us." The Pirates were short two outfielders as centre fielder Andrew McCutchen missed a game for the first time this season because of soreness in his left foot and right fielder Travis Snider was serving the second game of a two-game suspension from for his part in an April 20 brawl with the Milwaukee Brewers. Starling Marte, normally the left fielder who was starting in centre in place of McCutchen, left the game for pinch-hitter Gaby Sanchez in bottom of the fourth inning because of lower back stiffness. Josh Harrison, who started in right field, moved to left and Sanchez took over in right for his first outfield action of his seven-year career. Hurdle then decided to move shortstop Jordy Mercer to right field in the eighth inning with the Pirates holding on to a 4-3 lead. Backup shortstop Clint Barmes replaced Mercer, who played in the outfield for the first time in his three-year career. Neither Sanchez nor Mercer had a ball hit their way. "We had talked about the possibility (on Friday), so Gaby was prepared," Hurdle said. "Jordys athletic and he has a good arm. "I figured he could catch the ball and maybe throw someone out if he had to." Alvarezs hit capped a four-run fourth inning against Lance Lynn (4-2) that helped the Pirates wipe out a 3-0 deficit. Harrison and Ike Davis each had two hits for the Pirates, who have won 11 of their last 14 games against the Cardinals in Pittsburgh. Harrison also hit an RBI single in the fourth. Jared Hughes (2-1) retired all four batters he faced in relief of starter Edinson Volquez, including getting Matt Adams to ground out with the bases loaded to end the fifth inning and preserve a one-run lead. Mark Melancon earned his fourth save with a scoreless ninth, striking out Allen Craig with runners on first and second for the final out. Hughes and Melancon combined with Justin Wilson, Bryan Morris and Tony Watson for 4 1-3 scoreless relief innings. "Its a tough spot with the bases loaded, but all Im thinking is to keep the ball down and let my fielders make a play and thats exactly what happened," Hughes said. Lynn allowed four runs in six innings and is winless in four starts since winning his first four starts of the season. He gave up nine hits and two walks while striking out five as the Cardinals dropped to 3-5 on their nine-game road trip. Volquez and Jose Tabata hit consecutive run-scoring groundouts in the fourth inning before Harrison and Alvarez followed with RBI singles. "What can I do? I gave up a bunch on infield singles," Lynn said. "Its not like I was giving up double-double-double-double. I was giving up infield singles -- thats just really bad luck, and Ive had those games and Ive had nights when Ive given up double-double-double and given up three runs. "As a pitcher youd much rather give up double-double-double because singles (are upsetting)." NOTES: St. Louis C Yadier Molina, who is 0 for 12 in his last four games, got a day off. ... Pirates LHP Wandy Rodriguez will be activated from the disabled list and start Thursday at Milwaukee. He has been out with right knee inflammation since April 20. ... Cardinals LHP Jaime Garcia will make his next rehab start Monday for Triple-A Memphis on Monday after it was originally announced he would pitch for Double-A Springfield on Sunday. Garcia has been on the DL all season while recovering from shoulder surgery. ... The three-game series ends Sunday night with St. Louis RHP Shelby Miller (4-2, 3.20) facing RHP Charlie Morton (0-4, 3.45). It will mark the first time ESPN has televised a Sunday night game from Pittsburgh since 1996. Matt Thomas Raptors Jersey . Fans holding laudatory signs started showing up at Yankee Stadium when the gates opened at 4 p.m. Monday, an hour early in order to give them a chance to watch the New York captain take batting practice. Kawhi Leonard Raptors Jersey . Hall had a goal and three assists in a 5-4 loss to San Jose on Tuesday, had an assist in each of Edmontons next two games the capped the week with a goal and two assists in the Oilers 4-2 win over Anaheim on Sunday. https://www.raptorsrookiesshop.com/Dewan-Hernandez-City-Edition-Jersey/ . -- New York Yankees centre fielder Jacoby Ellsbury was sent for an MRI Thursday of his ailing right calf, which was negative. Jonas Valanciunas Jersey . The England international had both goals in TFCs season-opening 2-1 win over the Seattle Sounders on Saturday. Vince Carter Raptors Jersey . On Wednesday night, they showed that stellar defence and a little small ball can get the job done too. With pinch-runner Kevin Pillar aboard after Dioner Navarro opened the bottom of the ninth with a single, Anthony Gose dropped down an excellent bunt along the first-base line.WEST ALLIS, Wis. -- While awaiting medical clearance to resume driving after a concussion, James Hinchcliffes thoughts of competing in the Indianapolis 500 went from apprehension to appreciation. "It was the not knowing, that was the hard part," said Hinchcliffe, who qualified second for the 500 after being cleared to return. "As a racing driver, were all control freaks basically, and not knowing and having your future in someone elses hands like that in a sense, it was very nerve-wracking." Hinchcliffe sustained a concussion when struck in the head by debris from another car in the inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis on May 10. He missed five days while waiting to be cleared and then qualified second, despite limited practice time. "You feel like youre falling behind," the 27-year-old Canadian said Tuesday at an Indy Car event in Milwaukee, site of a race in August. "The nature of this sport is, the guys that win are the guys that work harder than the other people. Thats in life. Thats a pretty universal truth. So, Ive always lived by that and Ive always worked very hard. Ive always tried very hard. It was so counterintuitive that in this case, to do the best job and to try the hardest, it was to do nothing." After most of Fridays practice was rained out, and one day of qualifying runs on Saturday, Hinchcliffe averaged 230.839 mph in Sundays qualifying, which was the fastest until Ed Carpenter averaged 231.067 mph as the last driver to attempt to qualify. "Basically, I had a day," Hinchcliffe said. "If I couldnt have a single run before attempting to qualify, they probably wouldnt have felt comfortable putting me in a car. "But, I did get one run on Friday and then I think we did one run on Saturday morning. So, I think my first qualifying attempt was like my ninth lap of the month." Carpenter shared the Milwaukee appearance with Hinchcliffee.dddddddddddd Carpenter said he was glad that Hinchcliffe was cleared to race. "It would be torture," Carpenter said. "Honestly, all the drivers were so happy that he was able to make it back, because to have to miss that race of all races. Every one of us waits the whole year to get back to Indy every year. "It wouldnt be fair for any driver to have to sit out for an injury." Hinchcliffe agreed that the fact that it was the Indianapolis 500 as opposed to another race made it more difficult. "Racing is difficult to compare to other sports for a lot of reasons in a lot ways," Hinchcliffe said. "For us, this our playoffs, this is our Super Bowl, this is our World Series. Nobody wants to be sidelined for any race, but if you have to be sidelined for one, good god, anything but the 500." As part of the event at the Milwaukee Mile, fans were allowed to walk the oval behind a slow-moving minivan carrying Carpenter and Hinchcliffe. The drivers faced backward out of the van and answered questions from track officials and fans in an informal conversation. "That was really impressive," said Hinchcliffe, adding that he had never been part of an event like that. "I think it gives the fans a unique perspective on everything and gave them an opportunity to ask a lot of questions, which was great. And actually get out on the racing surface. It was very cool." Scott Gerloski, 51, who lives in the Milwaukee area and described himself as an avid race fan, appreciated the chance to meet and talk with the drivers in an informal setting. "Its a great way to connect with the fans," Gerloski said. "It just made me have new favourite drivers in the sport. I dont follow Indy as closely as I once did only due to driver unfamiliarity, but these two guys I know now. I know these guys, I like these guys and Im going to pull for them." ' ' '