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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. Darryl Kile Astros Jersey . Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek defeated Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (4) on the indoor hard-court at Belgrade Arena. The victory improved the Czech pairs impressive cup doubles record to 14-1. Ivan Rodriguez Astros Jersey . -- Nathan Pancel scored twice as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. https://www.cheapastros.com/ . -- When the Florida Panthers fell behind by two goals in the first period to the top team in the NHL, it appeared they were on their way to yet another loss. Jack Mayfield Jersey .Y. - Rob Manfred was promoted Monday to Major League Baseballs chief operating officer, which may make him a candidate to succeed Bud Selig as commissioner. Nolan Ryan Astros Jersey . By having more great seasons. Manning was the only unanimous choice for the 2013 Associated Press NFL All-Pro team Friday. On the eve of a new NFL season, ESPNs power panel (a group of more than 80 writers, editors and TV personalities) has Seattle and Pittsburgh ranked first and second. The Steelers have impressed this offseason, moving up to No. 2 after ranking sixth in the preseason edition.ESPNs Stats & Information contributed the following information.1. Seattle Seahawks2015 record: 10-6 Preseason ranking: No. 1Russell Wilson set career highs in just about every passing category last season, but the top-ranked Seahawks would probably prefer to reduce his workload this season. Wilson is 14-10 in his career when throwing 30-plus passes in a game, and 32-8 when throwing fewer than 30 passes.2. Pittsburgh Steelers2015 record: 10-6 Preseason ranking: No. 6The past two seasons rank as the highest-scoring seasons in Steelers franchise history. The Steel Curtain might be no more, but with an offense like that, theyd probably still win with linen curtains.3. New England Patriots2015 record: 12-4 Preseason ranking: No. 3What do you got, Jimmy Garoppolo? He makes his first career start against a defense that was second in takeaways (33) and had the highest blitz percentage (45 percent) last season. Garoppolo has faced eight blitzes in his NFL career.4. Arizona Cardinals2015 record: 13-3 Preseason ranking: No. 2Carson Palmer was the model of consistency last season, posting an above-average Total QBR (more than 50) in 15 of his 16 games played. More of that play will keep the Cardinals in the mix for as long as it happens.5. Carolina Panthers2015 record: 15-1 Preseason ranking: No. 5The Panthers won their first 14 games to start the 2015 season but could be staring an 0-1 start in the face in 2016. In two career starts against the Broncos, Cam Newton has taken 13 sacks and posted an 11.1 Total QBR.6. Green Bay Packers2015 record: 10-6 Preseason ranking: No. 4According to ESPNs Football Power Index (FPI), the Packers are currently favored in all 16 games this season. That doesnt mean theyll go 16-0, but odds are the Packers could find themselves climbing even higher than sixth in these rankings in the near future.7. Cincinnati Bengals2015 record: 12-4 Preseason ranking: No. 7With Tyler Eifert out and with no clear-cut No. 2 wide receiver, the Bengals could try to ride Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard in the early going. That might work in the long run, but their Week 1 opponent, the Jets, had the second-best rush defense last season.8. Denver Broncos2015 record: 12-4 Preseason ranking: No. 8Trevor Siemian?has earned the start for the Broncos in Week 1 despite having one career NFL snap, but his play might not be the difference. Broncos quarterbacks had the second-worst TD-INT differential last season and still won the Super Bowl.9. Kansas City Chiefs2015 record: 11-5 Preseason ranking: No. 9The Chiefs started 1-5 last season but won their final 10 games. If they can get off to a better start this season, thatll give them a nice cushion as they wait for Jamaal Charles and Justin Houston to return to full health.10. New York Jets2015 record: 10-6 Preseason ranking: No. 15The Jets first six games this season are against teams that finished .500 or better in 2015, and four of them are on the road. The Jets played nine games against teams that finished under .500 last season, tied for fourth-most in the NFL, and went 7-2 in those games.11. Oakland Raiders2015 record: 7-9 Preseason ranking: No. 11Anyone who thinks Derek Carrs 2015 season might have been a one-time thing will probably have to wait at least a week to feel vindicated. Carr faces a Saints team that allowed the worst NFL passer rating in league history last season.12. Minnesota Vikings2015 record: 11-5 Preseason ranking: No. 10Teddy Bridgewaters injury forced the Vikings to pay a steep price for Sam Bradford in hopes of salvaging their season. Problem is, Bradfords career Total QBR of 40.5 is lower than Shaun Hills 45.6.13. Houston Texans2015 record: 9-7 Preseason ranking: No. 16New quarterback. New running back. A few new wide receivers. The Texans offense will look a lot different this season, and theyre hoping the results will be different, too. The Texans have ranked 24th in scoring the past three seasons.14. Washington Redskins2015 record: 9-7 Preseason ranking: No. 18Theres a good chance the Redskins will find themselves a little lower in the Week 2 Power Rankings. They open their season on Monday Night Football against the Steelers (7:10 ET, ESPN). The Redskins havent beaten the Steelers since 1991.15. Baltimore Ravens2015 record: 5-11 Preseason ranking: No. 12The Ravens dont stay down for long, and a home game against the Bills seems like a recipe to start on the right foot. The Ravens havent missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons since 2004-05.16. Buffalo Bills2015 record: 8-8 Preseason ranking: No. 24Tyrod Taylor and Rex Ryan make their triumphant returns to Baltimore to start their season. The Bills havent won in Baltimore ssince 1999, which is, coincidentally, the last time the Bills made the playoffs.dddddddddddd17. New York Giants2015 record:?6-10 Preseason ranking: No. 17The Giants are 0-8 all time in season openers against the Cowboys and have lost three straight in Dallas. A new coach and a shiny new defense could buck those trends in Week 1 though.18. Indianapolis Colts2015 record: 8-8 Preseason ranking: No. 14Andrew Luck struggled last season, but in his last game played he did beat the eventual Super Bowl champion Broncos, one of two games last season in which he didnt commit a turnover. The Colts need more of that Luck to keep rising in the rankings.19. Jacksonville Jaguars2015 record: 5-11 Preseason ranking: No. 20The young Jaguars will be put to the test early when Aaron Rodgers and the Packers roll into town in Week 1. The Jaguars havent won a season opener since 2011, but they have their best offense since 2007, when they finished sixth in scoring and made the playoffs.20. Detroit Lions2015 record: 7-9 Preseason ranking: No. 27The Lions will take the field without Calvin Johnson in a season opener for the first time since 2006. Mike Furrey was the leading receiver for Detroit that day, but the trio of Golden Tate, Marvin Jones and Anquan Boldin figure to do a little better this time around.21. Miami Dolphins2015 record:6-10 Preseason ranking: No. 26The Dolphins start their season on the road against the No. 1-ranked Seahawks and on the road against the No. 3-ranked Patriots. Theres a good chance the Dolphins will be lower than 21st in the rankings after that stretch.22. Atlanta Falcons2015 record: 8-8 Preseason ranking: No. 19Win or lose for the Falcons, Julio Jones figures to come out a winner in Week 1. He has averaged 9.3 receptions and 133.8 receiving yards in his past four games against the Buccaneers, catching 72.5 percent of his targets in those games.23. Dallas Cowboys2015 record: 4-12 Preseason ranking: No. 13The Cowboys took a big hit in the rankings following Tony Romos injury, and rookie Dak Prescott is in a unique position. No rookie quarterback has started and won a season opener for the Cowboys since Roger Staubach in 1969.24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers2015 record: 6-10 Preseason ranking: No. 23The Buccaneers are tied with the Titans and Cowboys for the longest active losing streak, but the good news is that they travel to Atlanta in Week 1. The Bucs swept the season series against the Falcons for the first time since 2007 last season.25. Philadelphia Eagles2015 record: 7-9 Preseason ranking: No. 25The Eagles will have a quarterback making his first career start in Week 1 against the Browns. Itll be a learning experience for Carson Wentz, but hey, at least its against the Browns.26. San Diego Chargers2015 record: 4-12 Preseason ranking: No. 28The Joey Bosa holdout finally came to an end, but will he make an impact in Week 1? The Chargers have lost four straight to their Week 1 opponents, the Chiefs, allowing nearly 5.0 yards per rush in those games.27. New Orleans Saints2015 record: 7-9 Preseason ranking: No. 22The Saints get to open their 2016 season at home, but that doesnt mean much for New Orleans anymore. The Saints are 4-9 in their past 13 home games, losing three of the past four.28. Los Angeles Rams2015 record: 7-9 Preseason ranking: No. 29The last quarterback to go first overall and not play in Week 1 was JaMarcus Russell in 2007, but the Rams hands are tied. When youve got a quarterback in Case Keenum with a career 5-10 record and 38 career Total QBR, you have to start him instead.29. Chicago Bears2015 record: 6-10 Preseason ranking: No. 21Bad news for Jay Cutler: J.J. Watt is now expected to play in Week 1. The last time Cutler faced a Watt-led defense was in 2012. Cutler didnt last two full quarters and threw two interceptions, and the Bears scored six points. Cutler wasnt sacked though ...30. Tennessee Titans2015 record: 3-13 Preseason ranking: No. 30Week 1 has been the Titans time to shine; theyve won their last three openers by a total of 51 points. An opener against a Teddy Bridgewater-less Vikings could extend that streak, but dont get too excited if they do. Tennessee is 9-36 in all other weeks in that time.31. Cleveland Browns2015 record:?3-13 Preseason ranking: No. 31Robert Griffin III will get his first regular-season action since Week 17 of 2014. If the preseason is any indication, it should be interesting. Griffins three preseason touchdowns went for 50, 29 and 43 yards, respectively.32. San Francisco 49ers2015 record: 5-11 Preseason ranking: No. 32The 49ers were exciting on Monday Night Football in Week 1 last season, beating the Vikings, 20-3. Things went downhill from there, but recreating that Monday night magic this year could at least get the 49ers out of the cellar for a week or two in the Power Rankings. ' ' '