Pirate Galaxy » conference. Wisconsin also lost two weeks ago to No. 4

PITTSBURGH -- The Houston Astros got a glimpse of their future while veteran Doug Fister helped keep them in the pennant race in the present.Fister pitched seven scoreless innings, Teoscar Hernandez hit a two-run homer and the Houston Astros beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1 on Monday night.Hernandez connected off fellow rookie Jameson Taillon (3-3) in the fifth inning to break a scoreless tie after A.J. Reeds leadoff walk. It was the third home run for Hernandez, who was called up from Triple-A Fresno on Aug. 12 to make his major league debut.Im just trying to be patient at the home plate, Hernandez said. Im trying to make adjustments during games to make sure I swing at pitches I can hit. Im just trying to do the best I can to see the ball well and do some damage.Alex Bregman, another Astros rookie, hit his fourth homer in the ninth inning off Neftali Feliz.Bregmans at-bats, even when he doesnt get hits, are high quality, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. I really like the way he swings the bat. That was real power to center field on the home run.Houston won its fourth straight game and Pittsburgh lost its fourth in a row. Both teams are competing for wild-card spots.Fister (12-8) struck out six, walked one and retired 11 of the first 12 batters. He had allowed nine runs and 11 hits over nine innings in his previous two starts.I was just kind of mixing things up, Fister said. (Catcher) Jason Castro had a good game plan and it came down to executing it. We had a couple of tricky fly balls and our guys out there wound up running them down. With our outfielders, theyre very athletic and theyll run down most pitchers mistakes.Ken Giles got his fourth save despite allowing David Freeses RBI single in the ninth. Freese was thrown out at second base when he tried to advance on an overthrow to end the game.You cant be out there at second base, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. Youre two runs down. That probably was some emotional baserunning. The only way it works is if youre safe.Taillon (3-3) made his seventh consecutive quality start since being activated from the disabled list July 19. He pitched eight innings, allowing two runs and four hits with a career-high eight strikeouts.Gregory Polanco had a pair of doubles and scored Pittsburghs lone run.TRAINERS ROOMAstros: INF/OF Yulieksi Gurriel grounded out as a pinch-hitter in the eighth a day after leaving his major league debut with right hamstring tightness. Gurriel signed a $47.5 million, five-year contract in July after defecting from Cuba. He is expected to start Tuesday night. ... 3B Luis Valbuena (strained right hamstring) will be examined by doctors Wednesday to determine whether he needs season-ending surgery. ... OF Preston Tucker (strained right shoulder) is likely to begin a rehab assignment this weekend.Pirates: RHP Tyler Glasnow (right shoulder soreness) pitched three scoreless innings and threw 57 pitches Monday night in his second rehab start with Double-A Altoona, allowing two hits while striking out six and walking three against Harrisburg in the Eastern League.PIRATES NEWSFreese signed a two-year, $11 million contract prior the game that takes him through the 2018 season. Freese will make $6.25 million in 2017 and $4.25 million in 2018. Theres a $6 million club option for 2019 or a $500,000 buyout.Rookie 1B Josh Bell, who was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, made his second straight start. Hurdle said the 24-year-old switch-hitter will see the majority of playing time in place of slumping 1B John Jaso.UP NEXTAstros: RHP Joe Musgrove (1-1, 4.18 ERA) will make his fourth career start Tuesday night since being called up Aug. 1 from Triple-A Fresno.Pirates: RHP Ivan Nova (9-6, 4.83) is 2-1 with a 4.41 ERA in three starts since being acquired Aug. 1 from the New York Yankees in a trade.Eric Skoglund Jersey . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. Kansas City Royals Store . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. https://www.cheaproyals.com/847a-adalberto-mondesi-jersey-royals.html . Burke is expected to miss two to three months after breaking a finger in the teams third preseason game. Tinsley, a 10-year veteran, spent the last two seasons in Utah, where the point guard averaged 3. Scott Blewett Jersey . The move comes after the Canadiens were approached by the Buffalo Sabres for permission to speak to Dudley - a former Sabres player and head coach. "The Sabres called for permission and I appreciate that, Im flattered, Dudley told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun of ESPN. Humberto Arteaga Jersey . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training.MADISON, Wis. -- J.T. Barrett escaped Wisconsins pressure and shook off a mistake.Ohio States do-it-all quarterback proved his mettle after halftime in the toughest of road environments, accounting for three touchdowns and setting a school record in the process.Barrett threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to leaping receiver Noah Brown in overtime, and the second-ranked Buckeyes finished off the eighth-ranked Badgers with a sack on fourth-and-goal from the 4 for a 30-23 win on Saturday night.Barrett also ran for two touchdowns for the Buckeyes (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) in a contest that had the intensity of a championship heavyweight bout.That was just two good teams going at each other, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said.He had the best player on the field on his side.The touchdown throw in overtime gave Barrett his 89th career touchdown passing or rushing, breaking the school record previously held by quarterback Braxton Miller.The Buckeyes rushed the field after defensive end Tyquan Lewis sacked quarterback Alex Hornibrook to end the thriller. Just in time too, after school officials warned fans that severe weather was rolling through the area right before the final play.Ohio State got the ball first in overtime, with Barrett ending the possession with the pass to Brown for the go-ahead score.Barrett finished 17 of 29 for 226 yards with one interception, and ran for 92 yards on 21 carries.We grew up even more this week, Barrett said.Corey Clement ran for 164 yards on 25 carries for Wisconsin (4-2, 1-2) and its revived rushing attack .The Badgers gained chunks of yards in the first half on the Buckeyes vaunted defense, but often had to settle for field goals. They led 16-6 at halftime.It took a little while for Ohio State to get its bearings in the second half.We just had to keep on grinding. This Big Ten football, Barrett said.But Barrett, as usual, led the charge. Wisconsins defense often got to Barrett in the backfield and tried to contain him in the pocket, only to watch him slip away with just enough time to hit big passes.You look at those things ... how can we finish, coach Paul Chryst said. At the same time, you say, `Hats off, hes a heck of a player.THE TAKEAWAYOhio State: Barrett shook off his interception into the end zone during heavy rain early in the third quarter. He hit long pinpoint passes, often on the move, into tight coverrage.dddddddddddd The Buckeyes made it a point to work on the passing game leading into the game after problems last week against Indiana. That work paid off, though it didnt come easy against the Badgers tough defense.Wisconsin: Chryst dug deep into the playbook to throw off the Buckeyes in the first half, running receiver Jazz Peavy on jet sweeps and passing out of tight formations. The Badgers had manageable third-down situations, for the most part, for Hornibrook. Wisconsin picked up another first down in the fourth quarter after faking a run before Hornibrook threw a shovel pass to tight end Troy Fumagalli for 4-yard gain. The offensive-minded Chryst showed creativity that should keep Wisconsins opponents guessing for the rest of the season.This one is tough ... because we didnt come into this one hoping to keep it close, Chryst said. This one hurts tonight.POLL IMPLICATIONSOhio State: The Buckeyes padded their playoff resume, but dont figure to leapfrog top-ranked Alabama in the Top 25 poll on Sunday after the Crimson Tides 39-point win over No. 9 Tennessee.Wisconsin: The Badgers are the best 4-2 team in the nation with a losing record in their conference. Wisconsin also lost two weeks ago to No. 4 Michigan, 14-7, at the Big House. They figure to fall a few spots in the poll, but shouldnt be severely penalized given their admirable performances against top competition.STAT LINESOhio State: Barrett completed passes to eight different receivers. .... RBs Mike Weber and Curtis Samuel each finished with 46 yards rushing.Wisconsin: Hornibrook, a freshman, was 16 of 28 for 214 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. ... Peavy finished with 70 yards on six carries, and 76 yards receiving on four catches, including a 24-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter that gave Wisconsin a 10-0 lead. .... The Badgers outgained the Buckeyes 450-411.UP NEXT:Ohio State: The Buckeyes play the second of two straight night games at a tough road venue when they visit Penn State on Oct. 22.Wisconsin: There is no letup in the schedule with a trip to Iowa up next. The tested Badgers are coming off a stretch of having faced three straight top 10 opponents.---More AP college football: http://www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '