Pirate Galaxy » medal in skeleton at the Whistler Sliding Centre

PITTSBURGH -- Dan Straily knew before he went to work on Tuesday night his next start wouldnt be in the majors. The All-Star break and a quirk in the Oakland Athletics schedule means the AL West leaders wont need a fifth starter for a couple of weeks. Before hopping a plane for Triple-A Sacramento, the rookie right-hander left a little something to remember him by. Straily (6-2) allowed two hits over 6 1-3 innings, striking out seven and walking three to win his fifth straight decision. "I could have thrown a perfect game and I was going to get optioned out," Straily said. "Its nothing personal. Its the situation were in. It is what it is." The As called up right-hander Sonny Gray to take Strailys spot, hoping the 2011 first-round draft pick can get some work out of the bullpen over the next couple of weeks. That apparently wasnt an option for Straily. Oakland manager Bob Melvin called having someone at the back end of the rotation with Strailys talent a "luxury," one the team can apparently live without until later in the month. "Thats the life of a fifth starter," Melvin said. Even if Straily isnt exactly pitching like one at the moment for the As, who have won 10 of 13. He tossed seven shutout innings in a victory over the Chicago Cubs in his previous start, then backed it up by silencing the quickly cooling Pirates. Straily credited a much-improved curveball for keeping the Pirates off balance. "(Pitching coach) Curt (Young) said in passing in my last bullpen that he thought my curve was good and that I should use it more in games," Straily said. "Its something Ive worked on a lot and youre always trying to get better, but last year I put the curve on the shelf because I was working on the changeup so much." Straily threw just one changeup against the Pirates, and Pedro Alvarez sent it 448 feet to centre in the second for Pittsburghs lone run. "I didnt throw another one after that, so the curveball gave me a third option," Straily said. Grant Balfour worked the ninth to remain perfect in 24 save chances this season. Brandon Moss slammed a two-run homer in the fourth off Gerrit Cole (4-2) to supply all the offence Oakland required. Moss spent parts of three seasons with the Pirates between 2008-10, with Pittsburgh hoping his raw left-handed power would help him pound balls off -- or over -- the Clemente Wall in right field. It never really happened. Moss hit all of 13 homers in 195 games for the Pirates before eventually making his way to Oakland, where hes become a key cog in one of baseballs biggest surprises. Moss provided a glimpse of what could have been in Pittsburgh in the fourth when Cole wobbled for the briefest of moments. The right-hander had retired nine straight when John Jaso doubled with two outs. Moss followed with his 16th home run of the season, though he hardly viewed it as some sort of revenge. "I had a lot of opportunities here and I didnt do anything with them," Moss said. "Its my fault that Im not here anymore." Pittsburgh had hoped to break loose against Straily, who has struggled starting on four days rest during his brief major league career. Straily came in 0-3 with a 7.16 ERA when not given at least five days between starts. Yet he had no issues dealing with Pittsburghs suddenly punchless offence. The Pirates have scored just six runs during a 2-6 slump that has dropped them behind first-place St. Louis in the heated NL Central race. Alvarez provided Pittsburghs lone run with his drive to the bushes in centre leading off the second. The home run made him the third player in team history to reach 23 homers before the All-Star break, joining Ralph Kiner and Willie Stargell. The Pirates didnt get a runner to third base over the final six innings. Their best chance to tie the game came in the seventh when Alvarez led off with a walk and moved to second on Russell Martins sacrifice bunt. Oakland reliever Sean Doolittle replaced Straily and struck out pinch-hitter Gaby Sanchez before getting Jordy Mercer to pop up to first. Jose Tabata led off the ninth with a single off Balfour, but Andrew McCutchen and Alvarez struck out before Martin grounded out meekly to first as Balfour extended his club record for consecutive save chances converted to 42, dating to last season. NOTES: The start of the game was pushed back due to the potential of inclement weather. While lightning flashed several times during the 1:42 delay, it never actually rained. ... Oakland LF Yoenis Cespedes was selected to the American League team for the Home Run Derby next Monday night in New York. Cespedes, who has 15 home runs this season, is the first As player to be chosen for the Home Run Derby since Jason Giambi in 2001. ... McCutchen went 0 for 3, ending his 10-game hitting streak. ... The series wraps up Wednesday when Pittsburgh LHP Francisco Liriano (8-3, 2.20 ERA) faces Oakland LHP Tommy Milone (8-7, 4.11). ... Hall of Fame golfer Arnold Palmer, who grew up in Latrobe, about 45 minutes east of Pittsburgh, was in attendance.Randy Moss Womens Jersey . Catch all the action on TSN2 at 11pm et/8pm pt. The nine-time Big 12 champion Jayhawks are positioning themselves for another title, as they have run out to a flawless 6-0 mark in conference play thus far. Cris Carter Youth Jersey . LOUIS -- Roman Polak was celebrating even before Alexander Steen scored the winning goal in Saturdays 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. http://www.thevikingsshoponline.com/Youth-Cris-Carter-Vikings-Jersey/ . On Mar. 16, coming off a "fight of the year" performance at UFC 154 the previous November, St-Pierre faced Nick Diaz at UFC 158 in what would be his eighth defence of the welterweight title. Using his superior athleticism, St-Pierre cruised to a five round, unanimous decision victory setting up a much-anticipated title defence against number one contender Johny Hendricks. Paul Krause Jersey . Jon Montgomerys gold medal in skeleton at the Whistler Sliding Centre and his subsequent auctioning off of a pitcher of beer in the village square elevated him to folk-hero status. Randy Moss Youth Jersey . Jane Virtanen scored two, and Alex Roach and Elliott Peterson rounded out the offence for the Hitmen (40-15-6). Brady Brassart chipped in with three assists. Colton McCarthy scored twice, Brayden Point had a goal and two assists, and Jack Rodewald also scored for the Warriors (15-35-9), who were 2 for 5 on the power play.The Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to terms with forward Marcus Kruger on a two-year contract. The 23-year-old Swede scored four goals and nine assists in 47 games last season. He would add three goals and two assists in 23 Stanley CCup Playoff games.dddddddddddd Kruger has scored 13 goals and 26 assists in 125 career games with the Blackhawks. He was originally selected by Chicago in the fifth round, 149th overall, of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. ' ' '