CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Pedro Alvarez hasnt changed anything in June, except those RBI numbers. Manuel Neuer Germany Jersey . Theyre way up there, just like the Pirates. Alvarez drove in all of Pittsburghs runs with a solo homer, bases-loaded double and a single on Thursday for a 5-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds and a split of their high-profile NL Central series. The Pirates remain a half-game behind second-place Cincinnati after the four-game set, keeping them virtually shoulder-to-shoulder as they chase the torrid St. Louis Cardinals. After blowing a one-run lead in the ninth and losing 2-1 in 13 innings on Wednesday night, Pittsburgh salvaged a game behind Alvarez and a bullpen running on fumes. "We needed a big day from a number of people today and Pedro was one of them," manager Clint Hurdle said. "There was no bigger swing than with the bases loaded, left-on-left. Beautiful." Alvarez had an RBI single and his 16th homer off Homer Bailey, who couldnt follow his no-hitter against Pittsburgh with a win. After Alfredo Simon (5-3) loaded the bases in the seventh, Alvarez doubled off left-hander Tony Cingrani to snap a 2-all tie. The five RBIs were a season high for a Pirate and one shy of Alvarezs career high. The third baseman has been Pittsburghs top run producer in June, leading the team with 48 RBIs overall. Its quite a change. Alvarez .180 in April and .225 in May before finding his form. He has six homers in June, second-most in the NL. "I just think its repetition and getting the opportunity to go out and try to gain as much experience as I can from every day out there," Alvarez said. Bryan Morris (4-2) contributed to the go-ahead rally with his first career single. He also pitched two innings, allowing one run. Left-hander Tony Watson pitched the last two innings for his second save in three chances. The Pirates lead the season series 6-4, holding their own early in the season despite a rotation thats sapped by injuries and a lineup that strikes out a lot and wastes chances. Under the circumstances, the way the series ended was satisfying. "We dont expect anything less," Morris said. "Its good to not lose any ground. Definitely would have loved to have three out of four in the series, but were not complaining about the split, especially after the hard game last night." Jay Bruce hit another solo homer, his third of the series and his fifth in seven games. His ninth-inning shot off Jason Grilli led the way to the draining 13-inning win on Wednesday night. The teams combined for seven homers in the series, all solo shots. Cincinnati hit four in a 4-1 win that opened it. Brandon Cumpton made his second major league start for Pittsburgh, giving up two runs -- one earned -- in five innings. Bailey faced the Pirates for the first time since his no-hitter at PNC Park last September and left after six innings with the score tied at 2. He gave up six hits, throwing 113 pitches. Bailey is 8-2 career against Pittsburgh. "Theyve definitely made strides over the past couple of years, but its early," Bailey said. "They have a good club but the past couple of years, theyve fallen into the pattern of fading, so well see. Its a long season." Alvarezs throwing error helped the Reds get an unearned run in the first. Shin-Shoo Choo reached on Alvarezs team-high 13th error, stole second and came around on Joey Vottos single. Another batter got hit, extending a prominent theme to the Ohio River rivals series this season. At least one batter has been plunked in each of the 10 games, with 19 hit overall. Pirate pitchers have hit 10, Reds pitchers 9, leaving some simmering unhappiness on both sides. Choo has been hit six times, Starling Marte and Andrew McCutchen three times each, Brandon Phillips twice, and five others one time apiece. Antonio Rudiger Jersey .com) - The Calgary Flames aim to bounce back from their first regulation home loss of the campaign on Friday night when they host a Detroit Red Wings club that they swept in three meetings a season ago. Mats Hummels Jersey . Oyama had six birdies and two bogeys at Kintetsu Kashikojima in the event also sanctioned by the Japan LPGA Tour. "I have been having this neck ache thats been affecting my golf recently," Oyama said. http://www.germanysoccerporshop.com/authentic-bernd-leno-germany-jersey/ . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. TROON, Scotland -- As Phil Mickelson settled in Thursday evening at the Marine Hotel, which overlooks the Firth of Clyde, Troons Old Course and the town itself, you wonder whether he enjoyed the accomplishment of his days work or lamented what was lost.A historic record eluded him by the precarious roll of a golf ball, and, as impressive as shooting 62 would be, it in no way guaranteed winning the 145th Open. Sure, every shot counts, every one knocked off helps, but it was the first day of four, one shot out of roughly 270-plus.Yet there was no denying the sense of disbelief and disappointment after Mickelsons attempt to become the first player in the history of major championship golf to shoot 62 somehow stayed out of the cup.The round was about as rare as the brilliant sunshine and balmy temperatures that soaked the Ayrshire coast for the first day of the years third major.It was one of the best rounds that Ive played, said Mickelson of his opening 63, the 28th in major history and just the ninth in Open history. And I was able to take advantage of these conditions, and yet I want to shed a tear right now.That putt on 18 was an opportunity to do something historical. I knew, and, with a foot to go, I thought I had done it. I saw the ball rolling right in the center. I went to get it, I had that surge of adrenaline that I had just shot 62, and then I had the heartbreak that I didnt and watched the ball lip out.It was, wow, that stings.Enough to derail his chances of winning The Open?Its fair to have doubts after listening to Mickelson mourn the opportunity lost. After hitting his approach at the par-4 18th, he had a 16-footer for his ninth birdie of the day, one that would give him a 62 on the par-71 course that has never seen such a score in eight previous Opens.No major championship venue has seen such a score. Johnny Miller shot the first 63 at the 1973 U.S. Open, a final-round feat that many believe is the best round in the history of the game. It helped him rally to win the tournament. Mickelsons 63 was just the 27th since that day 43 years ago at Oakmont. But he wanted to go one lower.The ball was hunting right in the center and didnt go, Mickelson said. It was just heartbreaking.Mickelson said the 63 wasnt better than his final-round 66 at Muirfield three years ago to win The Open, his fifth major title. He has not won a tournament since and, at age 46, might not win many more. A tournament title here would make him the second-oldest Open champion, barely, to Tom Morris Sr., who won his fourth Open in 1867 at Prestwick -- next door to Troon -- when the field consisted of just 10 players and was contested over just 36 holes.But you could argue that Thursday was just as good as that round in 2013. Mickelson hit 16 of 18 greens. He didnt make a bogey for just the third time in 81 Open rounds -- the other two coming at Troon in 2004. And he made eight birdies, with just 26 putts.On the treacherous back nine, where most of the field regressed, Mickelson shot 31.It was good stuff, said Ernie Els, who played with Mickelson. Geez, that was as good a links round of golf as Ive seen. He was in total control. Reeal patient. Mario Gomez Germany Jersey. Managed himself wonderfully. He loves to hit that driver, and he stayed away from that. He managed himself around the course. Obviously the weather helped, but youve got to hit the shots, make the putts.I just feel for him. On 18, I was so sure he was going to make the putt. To shoot 62, you couldnt hit a better putt. That thing is going right to left all the way; its incredible how that thing stayed out.Els was rooting hard for his longtime rival. As they walked down the 18th fairway, he tried to pump up Mickelson, both knowing what was at stake. Then, in a nice act of sportsmanship, Els putted out before Mickelson, even though Lefty was away.I wanted to let him have the stage, Els said. I wanted him to take his time, make some history. He hit the best putt he could. Incredible it didnt go in.While Mickelson grabbed his head and smiled, incredulously, his longtime caddie, Jim Bones Mackay, fell to the ground, rolling backward with his legs back over his head.Mackay had a similar reaction when Mickelson missed out on a different kind of history at the 2013 Waste Management Phoenix Open. Also on the opening day, Mickelson had a putt for 59 -- there have been just six in PGA Tour history -- and also saw it lip out.But he went on to win the tournament.Will he do so here?First, despite playing so artfully, hes going to have to, well, get over it.This ones going to stay with me for a while because of the historical element of the major championships, Mickelson said. Theres a lot of guys who have shot 63, but nobody has shot that 62. That would have been something special. Im just not going to have opportunities like that to do that. So to have that putt lip out, thats going to sting for a while.Then there is the matter of bouncing back from a great round. It is never easy to put them together.You start expectations running through your head, and thats the one thing that Ill have to try to suppress and hold off, he said. We have three more rounds. Well have varying conditions. Its going to be very difficult. Changing conditions, different winds. Hopefully Ive prepared myself well enough to tackle this golf course under those conditions and shoot a good number tomorrow.Mickelson has a 3-shot lead over Patrick Reed and Martin Kaymer with an early Friday tee time and bad weather expected to roll in for the weekend. Despite missing cuts at both the previous major championships this year, Mickelson has played some of the best golf post-Muirfield in 2016 after a shakeup in the offseason that saw him switch swing coaches.The big prize, of course, is the tournament, not the scoring record. A 62 might have been huge, but it would not have mattered nearly as much without going on to win.And imagine how historic that would be? He would be the fourth-oldest winner, ever, in any of the major championships.Perhaps Phil was best served to spend some time with Ernie, who tried to root him on to the record and knows just how well he played, regardless.It was beautiful, Els said. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '