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NEW YORK -- Francisco Liriano finally got to pitch for Pittsburgh and, just like that, the Pirates looked like a much better team. He struck out nine and the Pirates teed off on New Yorks pitching for an 11-2 win over the Mets on Saturday. "Hes pitched before and hes been good," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "Good to have him in the fold now, for me its -- three left-handers in the rotation, I like that a lot. Especially in the division were in, the way we match up against the team. Jordy Mercer homered twice and Jose Tabata had four hits, including a two-run shot for the Pirates. The Mets have struggled to score at home, but the start by Jonathon Niese (2-4) would have put any team in a hole. He tied a career high by allowing eight runs, and walked more batters than he struck out for the fourth time in eight starts this season. Liriano (1-0), returning from a broken non-throwing arm, allowed one run in 5 1-3 innings and 90 pitches. He gave up six hits and two walks. "Today went good. Really good location and just using a lot today," Liriano said. "It was a little weird, nervous. But that went away and it just feels good to get the first one out of the way." After a late-spring injury to Jeff Karstens and the release of Jonathan Sanchez, the Pirates needed the help in their rotation. Now they can line up Liriano after fellow lefties Jeff Locke and Wandy Rodriguez. "Three left-handers in the rotation, I like that a lot," Hurdle said. "You can probably count the teams on one hand that have really good offensive splits more so against left-handed pitchers than against right-handed pitching." The Pirates jumped on Niese early, and finally drove him out of the game in the fifth. Mercer hit a solo shot after third baseman David Wright made a nifty barehanded play to throw out Starling Marte, and Tabata hit an RBI double off the base of the wall in centre field. Michael McKenry followed with a two-run single off reliever Scott Atchison and Clint Barmes followed with an RBI single before Liriano popped foul to end the inning. Liriano agreed to a contract with Pittsburgh in the off-season, but broke his right arm on Dec. 25, the day before he was supposed to fly to Pittsburgh and sign a $12.75 million, two-year contract. Liriano, who said he was injured when he slapped a door in his house, signed a revised offer and prepared for a delayed start to the season. And Liriano delivered. He set the first seven batters down in order, and the Mets didnt get anyone to third base until the sixth inning, when Justin Turner singled with Wright on first and one out. Marlon Byrd hit a tough dribbler down the third base line that Brandon Inge charged, but he mishandled the transfer to his throwing hand on a play that was ruled a single. The Mets put two runners on in the fourth inning after Byrds two-out single. But Liriano struck out Andrew Brown. He fanned Daniel Murphy to end the fifth after Tejadas double. Barmes hit an RBI single in the second inning and Tabata hit a two-run homer in the third, after McCutchens RBI single. The game was delayed 47 minutes by rain in the middle of the ninth. When play resumed, Brown led off with a solo home run off left-hander Tony Watson. The ball went deep to left, where both of Mercers home runs landed. "For our guys to swing the bats today the way they did in a big ballpark, I think that was a feel good for the offensive side of our game," Hurdle said. In the bottom of the seventh, reliever Bryan Morris hit pinch-hitter Jordany Valdespin with his first pitch. The night before, Valdespin hit a long home run and took plenty of time time admiring its trajectory. When he returned to the dugout after the inning, he threw his helmet in the corner and tore off his batting gloves while no one acknowledged him. Over on the Pittsburgh side, Morris received fist bumps from manager Clint Hurdle and many of his teammates. Through Mets team spokesman Jay Horwitz, Valdespin said the issue was closed and that he wasnt going to talk about it. Niese gave up eight hits and three walks with a strikeout before leaving with one out in the fifth. He also allowed eight runs July 27 at Arizona last season. "Its a tough time to go through this and I know the bullpen needs their rest. Its very frustrating not being able to go into the seventh inning, but, hopefully, its something Im going to work on and get it corrected," Niese said. "I think I created a bad habit of dropping down lower and kind of opening everything up. So, its something Im going to work on in the bullpen." NOTES: Saturday was Banner Day at Citi Field. Fans trooped Mets-themed banners around the warning track before the game, in the second year of revived tradition that had gone from 1963-1996. ... The Pirates have homered in 12 of their last 13 games and 19 of 22. ... New York has scored 31 runs in its last 12 home games. The 11 they allowed were a season worst at home. ... Pittsburgh right-hander Jeanmar Gomez (2-0) is expected to make his third start of the season in the finale of the four-game series on Sunday. Hell face Mets RHP Matt Harvey (4-0). ... Tabata singled in the seventh for the third four-hit game of his career. Puma Shoes Australia . After dropping their final six games of December, the Wild opened the new calendar year with four consecutive wins. Following a loss to Colorado on Saturday, Minnesota rebounded the following night to blank Nashville 4-0, but then had the tables turned on them Tuesday. Puma Shoes Australia Sale . 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. http://www.cheappumaaustralia.com/ . Aside from the trilogy main event title fight, there are a number of intriguing matchups in the heavyweight, welterweight and lightweight divisions. Cheap Puma Shoes Australia .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Cheap Puma Shoes Online Australia . He says so-called TRT is only one problem and he wants to go even further than the ban. "Its about time," St-Pierre told reporters at a promotional event in Montreal on Friday. "I think its a good thing. NEW YORK -- Brian Cashmans expression said it all. Every time Alex Rodriguezs name was mentioned Friday, the New York Yankees general manager appeared as if he might get sick. The subject was the third basemans claim that his left quadriceps really isnt injured, but it could have been any one several topics: Rodriguezs alleged performance-enhancing drug use, his pesky Twitter and radio appearances or his knack for creating tabloid headlines. Cashman challenged A-Rod to have his leg examined by an outside doctor or perhaps even file a grievance, defending the teams medical and training staff and saying he wouldnt comment on "extra noise." The third baseman detailed his frustration during a radio interview Thursday, just hours after team management said he wouldnt be ready to resume minor league rehab games until Aug. 1. Rodriguez wouldnt answer when asked whether he trusted the Yankees. "The MRI is the MRI. Its fact. You cant change the results on an MRI," Cashman said before Fridays 10-6 loss to Tampa Bay in a homestand opener. "So, were very comfortable with it, and if anybody wants to utilize the process in place with the union, go right ahead. Its not something were afraid of." Recovering from January hip surgery, Rodriguez is under investigation by Major League Baseball for his reported ties to a Florida clinic accused of distributing banned performance-enhancing drugs. A lengthy suspension appears likely. Seemingly days away from rejoining the Yankees, he complained of leg pain last weekend, and the Yankees said an MRI on Sunday showed a quadriceps strain. An outside physician, Michael Gross, said Wednesday he looked at an MRI at Rodriguezs request -- its not clear when the MRI was taken -- and could not detect an injury. Gross is not on baseballs list of doctors recommended for second opinions, and he admitted he never personally examined Rodriguez. The Yankees responded angrily because Rodriguez didnt follow the procedure in baseballs labour contract, which requires him to provide written notice when a player wants a second medical opinion, and the team intends to discipline him -- most likely with a fine. Rodriguez did conditioning work Friday at the teams minor league complex in Tampa, Fla., a day ahead of his 38th birthday, and Cashman said the three-time MVP is on a schedule that could have him resume minor league games Aug. 1. As Rodriguezs car was departing, a fan held a light-colored, oversized card above his head and saw the side that read: "Happy Birthday!" and had a cartoon-like drawing of a clown. Rodriguez went by quickly and wasnt around by the time the fan opened the card to reveal the side read: "From One Clown to Another." Wheen or whether he returns to the Yankees has become a daily drama.dddddddddddd "I think we all kind of want it to get behind us, no matter what it is, and once something happens or doesnt happen, then we can kind of deal with it then," injured first baseman Mark Teixeira said. Cashmans careful answers sounded more like those of a White House press secretary rather than responses of a big league GM. "Im not going to comment really on the Alex stuff. Feel free to just reach out to Alex and ask him, because thats something thats hard to keep up with and follow," Cashman said. "So I can just provide you the facts, and thats what Ill continue to do. Were running a baseball team, and I will provide you with the most accurate information that I can provide on a daily basis about anybody and everybody whos either healthy on that field or hurt and what the current state of their medical condition is and their rehab." Cashman praised outfielder Alfonso Soriano, acquired Friday from the Chicago Cubs for minor league right-hander Corey Black. His accolades for Sorianos attributes could be interpreted by some as criticism of what Rodriguez is not. "Over the years, we used to be attracted to all types of players and all types of personalities. If they could play, thats all the mattered," Cashman said. "I do think with the evolution social media and the explosion of the Internet and ESPN, everything, that having high-character guys that work hard and get along with everybody and obviously you have talent to boot, clearly is important." Given his teams offensive struggles, manager Joe Girardi said he would be happy to have Rodriguez back as quickly as possible. "People follow him around a lot. I never really had to deal with that," Girardi said. "When I was in rehab, no one came to watch. They didnt care if I teed or tossed or anything." NOTES: CC Sabathia allowed six runs in the second inning and seven runs over five innings in all. He is 0-3 with a 7.04 ERA in his last four starts, dropping to 9-9 on the season. "Left a fastball up, a couple sliders, a changeup up," Girardi said. "That was the problem in the second inning. He was up in the zone, and they didnt miss it." Sabathia became the only big league pitcher this year to give up seven runs or more in three straight outings and only the second Yankees pitcher since 1935, joining Chien-Ming Wang in April 2009. "If I can help us out, I feel like we would be doing a lot better. But getting no help from me is making it tough," Sabathia said. ... Soriano was 0 for 5 with an RBI grounder in a three-run ninth in his first game for the Yankees since 2003. ' ' '