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ST. LOUIS -- For the second time since the All-Star break, Francisco Liriano had dazzling stuff against St. Louis. The lefty shook off the worst outing of his career and saved the Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen, too. "It was important because every game counts, especially after last night," Liriano said after throwing a four-hitter in a 5-1 victory over the Cardinals on Wednesday night. "It was a tough game last night and we had to put that one behind us and come ready to play." Pedro Alvarez and Garrett Jones homered for the Pirates, who snapped a season-worst four-game losing streak and took a three-game lead in the NL Central. The Pirates had a five-run cushion after four innings against rookie Shelby Miller, who didnt miss a turn five days after getting drilled on the elbow and lasting just two pitches against the Dodgers. Theyre 8-4 against the Cardinals heading into the series finale matching starters A.J. Burnett and Lance Lynn. "You give up five runs, you just get outpitched," Miller said. "I mean, its simple. I didnt do very good." Pittsburgh totalled just 10 runs during the losing streak and won in 2 hours, 30 minutes one night after losing 4-3 in 14 innings in a game that lasted 4:55. Pirates relievers worked eight innings Wednesday. Starling Marte was the goat in that loss after dropping a routine fly ball that would have been the second out in the ninth. He contributed a two-run double. "Everybody tried to help me," Marte said. "What happened last night, I was feeling bad and somebody told me to keep my head up and play." Liriano (13-5) struck out six and needed just 94 pitches and is 3-0 in his career against St. Louis. His last time out, the lefty was punished for 10 runs in 2 1-3 innings at Colorado. Against the Rockies, Liriano said he had no control. He carved up the Cardinals. "That was the mulligan," manager Clint Hurdle said. "What weve seen all year, hes just given us chances to win. Hes pitched deep into games, hes mixed pitches, hes really been in command when runners get on base." Matt Carpenter doubled and eventually scored on a groundout by Carlos Beltran in the ninth to snap Lirianos shutout bid. He settled for his second complete game of the year and third of his career. "You couldnt really tell what was coming out of his hand," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "You could tell he had late life by the way the guys were reacting." Alvarez hit his 29th homer an estimated 440 feet to straightaway centre leading off the second against Miller (11-8), and with one out Jones lined his 11th over the right field wall estimated at 392 feet. Martes hit capped a three-run fourth, with two of the runs unearned due to a fielding error by third baseman David Freese. Miller gave up two homers for the fourth time and has lost all of those starts, twice against Pittsburgh. In six innings, he gave up five runs, three earned, on eight hits. Liriano retired the side in order six times, twice with the help of double plays. A third double play helped him escape without damage in the second when the Cardinals got two of their hits. In the three starts prior to his clunker at Colorado, Liriano allowed one earned run over 21 2-3 innings in winning three straight starts. The Cardinals are 3-6 with one game to go on a 10-game homestand that began with series losses to the Cubs and Dodgers. Michael Wacha, one of St. Louis top pitching prospects, made his first career relief appearance and struck out four in two scoreless innings. Notes: The Pirates have outscored the Cardinals 14-2 in Lirianos two starts this year. ... Tabata missed his second straight start but entered as a defensive replacement in right field in the eighth. He was scratched with flu-like symptoms Tuesday. ... The Cardinals left a season-high 17 runners on base Tuesday night. ... Matt Holliday has 17 hits during an 11-game hitting streak but also grounded into his major league-leading 27th double play. He also lined into a twin killing in the fourth. ... Nine of the homers off Miller have come with the bases empty. ... Alvarez has homered two of the last three games. He has 11 homers against the Cardinals in 46 career games. Wholesale Mens Shoes . Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane wanted to stay in Chicago and the Blackhawks wanted to keep the high-scoring forwards in the only NHL uniform they have ever known. Wholesale Shoes Cheap China . Bostons bats exploded in Mondays opener, as David Ortiz belted a pair of two-run homers, Stephen Drew homered and drove in four runs and the Red Sox pummeled the Blue Jays, 14-1. http://www.wholesaleshoescheap.com/. Ashton scored a hat trick -- giving him 13 goals in 16 AHL games this season -- to power the Toronto Marlies to a 5-2 victory over the visiting Lake Erie Monsters in AHL action on Sunday. Wholesale Cheap Shoes Online . American Lindsey Jacobellis was third, while Japans Yuka Fujimori finished just off the podium. Maltais, from Petite-Riviere-St-Francois, Que., earned bronze at the 2006 Olympic Games and is set to return to the Games this February in Sochi, Russia. Wholesale Shoes Online . Some will say that Martin is too sensitive while others will say that it is part of the way football is in the locker room. But to have to absorb what was said to him for any rational and intelligent person is too much.ARLINGTON, Texas - Rookie Max Stassi took a baseball to the face and his Houston Astros teammates probably felt the same way Wednesday night against the Texas Rangers. After rallying to tie the game 4-4 in the top of the eighth inning, Elvis Andrus ended it in the bottom of the ninth to send Houston to its third straight loss, 5-4 against the AL West-leading Rangers. Houston fell to 2-14 against the Rangers this season with three more to play against its in-state rival in late September. "Ive said this the entire time — the resilience of that group in there, I am extremely proud of them," Astros manager Bo Porter said. "They fight all the way to the end. We come up short sometimes but I would never question the resilience they have, like they showed today." During a wild eighth inning, Rangers reliever Tanner Scheppers gave up three hits, one walk, hit two batters and threw two wild pitches to surrender a Texas lead. Scheppers allowed a hit to open the eighth and quickly erased it by getting L.J. Hoes to ground into a double play. Then the bottom fell out for the Texas right-hander. Jose Altuve singled, advanced to third on the two wild pitches and scored on Chris Carters bloop single to pull the Astros to 4-3. Scheppers then hit Matt Dominguez on the left shoulder to load the bases before throwing a pitch that glanced off Stassis shoulder and into his face, knocking his helmet to the ground. Jason Castro scored to tie the game 4-4 and give Stassi — who was clearly bleeding as he was led off the field — the first RBI of his career. He was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation. "We will get a full report once they run all the tests," Astros Manager Bo Porter said of Stassi after the game. "We dont have an update right now but it was definitely a scary situation. "That is a very painful way to get your first RBI." It took Chia-Jen Lo (0-1) only four pitches to get three Texas outs in the bottom of the eighth, but the right-hander took the loss for Houston after giving up Andrus hit that scored pinch runner Adam Rosales. As Andrus came up to bat with one out and the bases loaded in the ninth, the Astros moved left fielder Chris Carter to first base to add a fifth infielder.dddddddddddd "Weve fought every game. Its a tribute to these guys in this clubhouse," left fielder Robbie Grossman said. "Were never out of a game, no matter what the score is, were just going to play our type of baseball and play it hard. Its tough to lose like that." Texas closer Joe Nathan (4-2) shut down the Astros in the ninth to get the win. Craig Gentry homered and scored three times for Texas, one on a perfect squeeze bunt by Andrus in the seventh that gave Texas a 4-2 lead. Castro homered and scored three runs for the Astros. Texas starter Derek Holland pitched six-plus innings, leaving in the seventh after giving up a single to Castro and consecutive walks to load the bases with no outs. Joakim Soria came on in relief and got Stassi to ground into a double play, scoring Castro to trim the Astros deficit to 3-2. Holland gave up four hits and two earned runs while striking out five and walking three. Astros starter Erik Bedard pitched 4 1-3 innings, giving up two earned runs on five hits with four walks. NOTES: Rangers rookie RHP Nick Tepesch, on the DL since July 6 with right elbow inflammation, said he felt good after a bullpen session. He expects to throw live BP on the teams road trip that starts Friday. ... LHP Travis Blackley will apparently stay in the Texas rotation. "As of right now, hes going to get his next start," manager Ron Washington said. Blackley threw 66 pitches over four innings Tuesday night in place of injured Alexi Ogando. The next turn for that spot is Monday night at Seattle. ... In the second, Bedard took an Adrian Beltre come-backer off the inside of his right ankle, but he stayed in the game after being evaluated by team trainers. In the seventh, Holland took a Jason Castro line drive off his left forearm, but he also remained on the hill after being examined. ... Alex Rios stole second in the sixth inning, giving him 30 stolen bases — his third season reaching that plateau. ' ' '