sakura

CINCINNATI, Ohio — That playoff loss in Pittsburgh last year? Johnny Cueto never thought about it much. Adidas Ultra Boost China Wholesale . So getting a chance to shut out the Pirates in a rematch wasnt any more special. Not to him, anyway. Cueto pitched his third career shutout against the team that beat him in the NL wild card game, and Joey Votto hit a two-run homer that led the Cincinnati Reds over the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 Wednesday for their first winning series this season. Cueto (1-2) had his way with the lineup that beat him 6-2 at PNC Park in the playoffs. He limited the Pirates to three hits, didnt walk a batter and struck out a career-high 12 during his first shutout since 2011. Any extra satisfaction given what happened the last time he faced them? „I never think too much about those things,“ Cueto said, with assistant trainer Tomas Vera interpreting. „That was 2013.“ And Cueto is starting to look more like a vintage ace. He started only 11 games last season because of strained muscles by his pitching shoulder. The right-hander has been solid this season but hasnt gotten much help from an offence that scored only one run while he was on the mound during his first three starts. Cueto didnt need much help on Wednesday, putting the Pirates away with 107 pitches. „Welcome back, Johnny Cueto,“ manager Bryan Price said. „Hes been great his first three starts, and he was dominant today. It was nice to win our first series. Pittsburgh is a handful.“ Several Pirates questioned called third strikes by Quinn Wolcott, a Triple-A umpire called up to the majors. Eight of Cuetos strikeouts were called. Maybe it didnt mean anything extra to Cueto, but his teammates got some satisfaction from beating the Pirates. „For us to come together the way we have, especially against the team that beat us in the playoffs, its a lot of fun,“ third baseman Todd Frazier said. After the NL Central rivals combined for 13 homers while splitting the first two games, Votto supplied the one that broke open the deciding game. Left-hander Francisco Liriano (0-3) opened the game by walking Billy Hamilton, who stole second base and came around on two wild pitches. That was it for scoring until the seventh inning, when Cueto singled and Votto hit his fourth homer in six games. Brayan Pena doubled home a run in the eighth. Liriano and Cueto also were matched in the wild card game last season. Liriano got the better of that one, going seven innings for the victory while Cueto failed to make it through the fourth. Liriano had trouble at the outset on Wednesday. Ten of his first 13 pitches were balls. He walked Hamilton and Votto opening the inning, then threw the two wild pitches that let in the run. The Ohio River rivals had a bruising series last season, with 28 batters hit overall — the most for any series in the majors. Its been mostly pain-free so far, with only two batters hit during the series. Pirates left fielder Jose Tabata left the game in the fifth inning with what appeared to be a mild concussion after he slammed into the outfield wall while catching Penas fly ball. Tabata fell, held up his glove to show hed caught the ball and sat on the warning track for several minutes. A trainer examined Tabatas neck, jaw and head, and he was helped off the field. „You talk about laying out and making a catch and hitting the wall hard,“ Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. „I was just glad he was able to walk off. Well see how it feels tomorrow.“ NOTES: The Pirates completed their first trip of the season at 3-6. They open a four-game series against Milwaukee on Thursday, with Edinson Volquez starting against Yovani Gallardo. … The Reds concluded a 3-3 homestand. Theyre off on Thursday before opening a 10-game trip at Wrigley Field. Alfredo Simon starts against the Cubs Jeff Samardzija. … Reds closer Aroldis Chapman is to throw in the bullpen for the second time on Thursday. The Reds are hoping to have him back from a head injury next month. … Cueto was called for interference twice while trying to bunt. The first time, he ran out of the box to bunt the ball. The second time, he stood in the box and blocked catcher Tony Sanchez from fielding the bunt. Yeezy Boost 350 V3 For Sale . He just didnt expect them to be this good. Darrun Hilliard scored 19 points to lead No. 6 Villanova to a dominating 77-59 victory over Georgetown on Saturday, preserving the Wildcats hopes of a No. Balenciaga Shoes Clearance . Rasmussen didnt have a decision during his four appearances in May, when he gave up two hits and no runs in two innings. Toronto used five relievers while pulling off the second-biggest comeback in franchise history on Friday night, rallying from an 8-0 deficit to a 14-9 win.KENT, Wash. — Alexander Delnov scored twice, including the winner, as the Seattle Thunderbirds edged the visiting Spokane Chiefs 4-3 in overtime Saturday in Western Hockey League action. Delnov scored 2:14 into extra time for Seattle, which halted Spokanes four-game win streak. Roberts Lipsbergs had two goals and two assists for the Thunderbirds (25-14-5) while Ryan Gropp and Shea Theodore each tacked on two assists. Connor Chartier led the Chiefs (26-13-3) offensively with a pair of goals and Mike Aviani and scored the other. Seattles Danny Mumaugh made 22 saves for the win as Eric Williams turned away 29-of-33 shots for Spokane. The Thunderbirds went 2 for 8 on the power play while the Chiefs scored once on four chances with the man advantage. — REBELS 3 BRONCOS 0 SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — Patrik Bartosak stopped 34 shots as Red Deer blanked the Broncos. Haydn Fleury had a goal and an assist for the Rebels (22-20-2) and Aspen Sterzer and Presten Kopeck scored the others. The defensive pairing of Brett Lernout and Brycen Martin were caught on the ice for all three goals against for Swift Current (23-16-6). Eetu Laurikainen made 35 saves for the Broncos. — PATS 6 BLADES 2 SASKATOON — Dryden Hunt had a pair of goals as Regina handed the Blades their fourth loss in a row. Morgan Klimchuk and Chandler Stephenson each had a goal and two assists for the Pats (23-17-5), who led 5-0 after the first period, while Dyson Stevenson and Jesse Zgraggen had a goal apiece. Cameron Hebig and Connor Sanvido scored for Saskatoon (12-31-4). Daniel Wapple made 28 saves for Regina. Alex Moodie started in net for the Blades but was pulled after allowing three goals on six shots. Troy Trombley turned away 26-of-29 shots in 52 minutes of relief. — WHEAT KINGS 5 RAIDERS 2 BRANDON — John Quenneville scored twice and set up one more as the Wheat Kings downed Prince Albert. Jesse Gabriel had a goal and an assist for Brandon (23-17-4) while Rihards Bukarts and Eric Roy each scored once. Josh Morrissey and Carson Perreaux scored for the Raiders (22-19-2) and Sawyer Lange assisted on both goals. Jordan Papirny made 23 saves for the Wheat Kings as Cole Cheveldave kicked out 37-of-42 shots for Prince Albert. — OIL KINGS 8 HURRICANES 0 LETHBRIDGE, Alta. — Edgars Kulda had two goals and two assists and TTyler Santos made 23 saves as Edmonton crushed the Hurricanes for its sixth straight victory. Replica Shoes China Wholesale. Riley Keiser also scored twice for the Oil Kings (29-12-1) and Blake Orban had a goal and two assists. Reid Petryk, Mads Eller and Brett Pollock also scored for Edmonton. Defenceman Macoy Erkamps was a team-worst minus-7 for Lethbridge (9-32-5). Jarred Schamerhorn and Jonny Hogue combined to stop 33-of-41 shots for the Hurricanes. — ROCKETS 5 TIGERS 4 MEDICINE HAT, Alta. — Rourke Chartier had two goals as Kelowna slipped past the Tigers. Mitchell Wheaton, Nick Merkley and Kris Schmidl also scored for the Rockets (35-5-2) while Damon Severson and Ryan Olsen chipped in with two assists apiece. Curtis Valk scored once and set up two more for Medicine Hat (24-15-3) and Blake Penner, Anthony Ast and Trevor Cox had the others. Jackson Whistle made 36 saves for Kelowna as Marek Langhamer stopped 35 shots for the Tigers. — COUGARS 4 BLAZERS 3 (SO) KAMLOOPS, B.C. — Troy Bourke and Jordan Tkatch both scored in the shootout as Prince George edged the Blazers. Todd Fiddler scored twice in regulation for the Cougars (17-23-6) and Brad Morrison scored once. Tyson Ness, Matt Revel and Jesse Shynkaruk supplied the scoring for Kamloops (10-29-5), which dropped its fifth straight contest. Adam Beukeboom made 18 saves for Prince George. Bolton Pouliot stopped 33-of-36 shots for the Blazers. — AMERICANS 3 SILVERTIPS 2 (OT) KENNEWICK, Wash. — Philip Tot scored with just 31 seconds remaining in overtime as Tri-City downed Everett. Eric Comrie turned away 35 of 37 for the Americans (20-20-4) while Brian Williams and Braden Purtill also scored. Patrick Bajkov and Ivan Nikolishin had a goal apiece for the Silvertips (24-13-7). Austin Lotz made 29 saves for Everett, earning the games second star for his effort. — WINTERHAWKS 2 ROYALS 1 VICTORIA — Oliver Bjorkstrand scored the eventual with five minutes remaining in regulation as Portland beat the Royals. Brendan Leipsic had a goal and an assist for the Winterhawks (27-12-5), but failed to score on a penalty shot in the first period that would have put his club ahead 2-0. Jordan Fransoo scored for Victoria (29-15-2). Brendan Burke made 23 saves for Portland while Coleman Vollrath turned aside 33-of-35 shots for the Royals. ‚ ‚ ‚