NEW YORK, N. authenticraidersshop.com/Derek-Carr-Raiders-Jersey .Y. - The way this season is going for Hiroki Kuroda, hell happily take a win on a day when he laboured through six innings. Mark Teixeira hit a two-run single, Brett Gardner added an RBI double and the New York Yankees held on for a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday in the opener of a single-admission doubleheader. "As a pitcher, the win is always a good thing," Kuroda said through a translator. "Even though you may not have perfect stuff, to get the win is very encouraging." It had been quite some time since Kuroda (3-3) came out a winner. He was 0-2 with three no-decisions since beating Boston on April 12. Kuroda allowed a homer in the first Sunday to Neil Walker — his ninth — but then retired nine in a row before walking Andrew McCutcheon in the fourth. The right-hander was hurt by the home run again in the fifth, when Tony Sanchez led off with a drive to left field. Kuroda was lifted after throwing 98 pitches and allowing five hits and two walks. He struck out seven in lowering his ERA to 4.61. The former Los Angeles Dodger improved to 6-1 against Pittsburgh. "The mechanics, the command are not as good as last year," said Kuroda, who was 6-2 at this point last season. New York needed four relievers to finish the opener of the first traditional twinbill at Yankee Stadium since 2004. David Robertson got four outs for his eighth save. Brian McCann had an RBI single and New York scored all its runs in the first two innings on five hits after belting five homers in a 7-1 victory Saturday. The Yankees improved to 8-0 in interleague home games against Pittsburgh and will try for their third three-game sweep of the Pirates, along with 2005 and 07, in the finale. Pittsburghs Gerrit Cole faces Vidal Nuno. With the second game scheduled to begin about 30 minutes after the end of the first, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Derek Jeter would only start the opener. Girardi also said Jacoby Ellsbury would not start in centre field both games after sitting out Saturday with flu-like symptoms. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said to expect lineup changes for the finale. His main concern, though, was protecting his bullpen for the second game, and Charlie Morton (0-6) did just that with seven solid innings after a shaky start. Morton walked Gardner to open the first. Jeter then bunted down the third base line for a hit and Ellsbury was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Teixeira, who homered Saturday. The hot-hitting first baseman lined his single to right-centre. McCann followed with a single for a 3-1 lead. "Well, I walked Gardner to lead off the game, the bunts a hit, I hit Ellsbury, bases loaded, no outs," Morton said. "I backed myself in a corner and they took advantage." Gardner doubled in the second but Morton settled down after that. He allowed just one baserunner the rest of his outing, and Zoilo Almonte, who singled with two outs in the fourth, was picked off first base — after a replay overturned an original safe call. Walkers RBI single in the fifth cut the lead to 4-3. "We had some opportunities again," Hurdle said. "We pushed (Kuroda), pushed the pitch limit. He found outs when he had to to stay in the game and complete the innings that he pitched." The Pirates scored three runs for Morton after giving him only three runs of support in his previous four starts. He gave up six hits and walked one with six strikeouts. NOTES: The doubleheader was scheduled to make up Friday nights rainout. ... Starling Marte struck out in each of his four at-bats. ... Yankees RF Carlos Beltran (right elbow) had a second cortisone shot to try to ease the discomfort in his right elbow from a bone spur. He will get a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews on Tuesday. Girardi said Beltran had planned on getting the second opinion but Andrews wasnt available sooner. Girardi said Beltran is getting better. ... Girardi also acknowledged that LHP CC Sabathia might need surgery someday on his right knee because the condition is degenerative. Sabathia was returning from a visit to Andrews office, where he had his knee drained and was given a cortisone shot. ... The Pirates streak of the leadoff batter reaching in eight straight games ended when Travis Snider struck out looking. ... The Pirates recalled RHP Brandon Cumpton from Triple-A Indianapolis as the 26th man for the doubleheader. The Yankees brought up RHP Jose Ramirez from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. www.authenticraidersshop.com/Keith-Mcgill-Raiders-Jersey . PSG could have clinched the title this weekend if Monaco lost and it won on Sunday at Lyon. For now, Monaco pulled within 10 points of the leader. Emmanuel Riviere chased a through ball from Jeremy Toulalan to score with a sliding effort in the 55th minute. authenticraidersshop.com/Justin-Ellis-Raiders-Jersey . The freshman has been declared unavilable for this weeks Big 12 conference tournament and will likely be out for at least the first weekend of the NCAA tournament after meeting with a spinal specialist on Monday in Los Angeles.CHICAGO -- Try as they might, the Chicago Bulls couldnt get Loul Deng his first triple-double. No matter, the Bulls still won handily. Deng had 19 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists and five steals to lead Chicago to a 97-73 victory over Utah on Friday night that snapped the Bulls two-game skid and kept the Jazz winless. Carlos Boozer added 18 points, Joakim Noah had 14 and Derrick Rose 12 for the Bulls. "I think we tried like five times (to get the triple-double for Deng), but it didnt work out," Rose said. "When Tibs (head coach Tom Thibodeau) brought him out, the fans got kind of upset, but if anything, Im super proud of his performance tonight." The Bulls dominated in the paint, scoring 56 points to 22 for Utah. Overall, Chicago outshot Utah 52.8 per cent to 29.8 per cent in winning its sixth straight against the Jazz. "I thought there was a lot of unselfish play, guys making the extra pass," Thibodeau said. "I thought the screen was a lot better, hitting the open man, running the floor, a great effort defensively, and thats what its going to take." The Jazz (0-6) are off to their worst start since their debut NBA season in New Orleans in 1974-75, when they lost their first 11 games. "We have to make sure that we dont feel sorry for ourselves," Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said. "We have to just keep fighting. Were struggling. Were in a bad spot right now. Theyre a good defensive team. We made them look real good tonight, shooting 29 per cent." Chicago built its biggest lead of the first half at 38-22 with 8:10 left in the second quarter and never looked back. The Bulls took their biggest lead at 89-60 with 8:39 left in the game. With the game in hand, Thibodeau gave his reserves plenty of playing time, and four of the Bulls starters (Rose, Boozer, Noah and Jimmy Butler) played 28 or less minutes. Gordon Hayward led the Jazz with 15 points, while Derrick Favours and Alec Burks had 10 points apiece, and Rudy Gobert grabbed 12 rebounds. "(Were) frustrated, frustrated," Hayward said. "(Weve) got to find some way to get the job done. We just got to get through this real rough patch were going through. If you cant score the basketball, it just puts too much prressure on your defence.authenticraidersshop.com/Khalil-Mack-Raiders-Jersey. " Chicago jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead, backed by five points from Rose, but the Jazz got back to 9-7, the closest they would get in the game. Chicago then went on a 21-11 streak to close the first quarter ahead 30-18. The Bulls outshot the Jazz 72.2 per cent (13 of 18) to 33.3 per cent (7 of 21) in the opening quarter. "I thought the first quarter was terrific and that set the tone for the game," Thibodeau said. "Our starters made sure that the group functioned well together and that was a big plus for us." Utah never got closer than eight points the rest of the way, shooting a 27.7 per cent (13 of 47) in the first half. Chicago made 60.6 per cent (20 of 33) of its shots in the first half and led 51-40 at intermission. Things didnt get much better for the Jazz in the second half. Before the game, Corbin said fatigue had been an issue with his young team thus far, and that showed once again in the final two quarters. Even with the win, Thibodeau was not completely happy with the game, particularly turnovers. Chicago coughed up the ball 21 times, leading to 13 Utah points. "We still have a lot of questions we have to (answer)," Thibodeau said. "One game doesnt mean everything is straightened out. We have to take a hard look at ourselves and make the necessary corrections." Added Rose, "Were just trying to iron out the wrinkles and I think were still a good team." NOTES: Thibodeau had long-time friend and Charlotte Bobcats coach Steve Clifford on his mind before the game. Clifford had two stents inserted in his heart earlier in the day after complaining of chest pains Thursday night. "Ive been texting with him," Thibodeau said. "Thankfully, hes feeling better. Hes a good friend. Ive worked with him a long time. Im concerned." Assistant coach Patrick Ewing coached the Bobcats as Clifford missed Fridays game against the New York Knicks due to the procedure. ... Corbin, who starred at Chicagos DePaul University, is trying to stay patient with his teams poor start. "Its a process to win," Corbin said. "Were asking more of some guys in certain situations and we have a lot of games back-to-back. Its wearing on the guys." ' ' '
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