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PITTSBURGH -- Jeff Locke barely made the Pittsburgh Pirates starting rotation out of spring training, winning a battle with Kyle McPherson almost by default after McPherson struggled and a better option never materialized. "You know when you break camp as the No. 5 guy, if something happens or if someone starts off hot down below you might be the guy that gets moved," Locke said. "Its kind of pitching to survive." Something thats no longer an issue for him as the de facto ace for the injury ravaged Pirates. The 25-year-old, who looks a couple days removed from high school, allowed two hits over seven innings as the Pirates silenced the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-0 on Friday night. Locke struck out five and walked one while needing just 75 pitches to get 21 outs. Locke (6-1) barely resembled the guy who walked seven Chicago Cubs in his previous start, keeping the Dodgers off balance by working both sides of the plate and not being afraid of letting his defence do the rest as his ERA dropped to 2.19. "He came to pitch," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. "Just very, very efficient. He made pitches the entire seven innings." Jason Grilli worked out of a two-on, no-out jam in the ninth for his National League-leading 24th save. Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run double in the third inning off Stephen Fife (1-2) and gave the Pirates some insurance when he scored on a sacrifice fly by Neil Walker in the ninth. The story, however, remains the soft-spoken left-hander from New Hampshire. Locke lost his first game of the year, a 6-2 defeat in Los Angeles on April 10. He hasnt been beaten since and appears to be growing stronger each time he takes the hill, a welcome development for a starting rotation in tatters. A.J. Burnett, Wandy Rodriguez, James McDonald and Jeanmar Gomez all are on the disabled list, leaving Locke and veteran Francisco Liriano as the top-end starters for one of baseballs biggest first-half surprises. If the spotlight is getting to Locke, it doesnt show. "I wouldnt say (my) comfort level has changed at all," Locke said. "Its still uncomfortable. The confidence is definitely there. Thats something Ive gained into spring training and Ive been able to carry it through the first half of the season so far." Los Angeles didnt get a runner to second base while Locke was in the game, but had chances late to tie the game. Pittsburgh reliever Mark Melancon struck out pinch-hitter Juan Uribe with runners in scoring position in the eighth. Yaisel Puig and Nick Punto hit consecutive singles off Grilli to start the ninth. Grilli then retired Adrian Gonzalez, Hanley Ramirez and Mark Ellis to remain a perfect 24 for 24 in save opportunities. "He threw eight pitches in that at-bat," Gonzalez said. "When I see eight pitches, I shouldnt strike out. I needed to put a ball in play and I should have. That was bad hitting on my part." Something thats going around for Los Angeles, which has dropped five of six and is now a season-low 10 games under .500 (28-38). The Dodgers played without manager Don Mattingly, who served a one-game suspension for his role in the brawl with Arizona earlier in the week. Bench coach Trey Hillman filled in and watched his team get handcuffed by a player who is making $497,500. The average salary on the Dodgers is nearly $10 million. "(Locke) commanded three pitches pretty well and he pitched in a lot," Hillman said. "The fastball and the changeup were good and he kept us honest with the breaking ball all night." McCutchen gave the Pirates all the offence they would need when he doubled to the corner in right field in the third, scoring Alex Presley and Russell Martin. Fife, making just his fourth start of the season, settled down and escaped without further damage when McCutchen was gunned down at home trying to score on a ground ball and Clint Barmes flew out to left with the bases loaded later in the inning. Fife gave up six hits in five innings, walking three and striking out four. "It was a battle the whole time I was in there," Fife said. "I just couldnt get that easy inning." That wasnt a problem for Locke, who felt fresh after heading to the dugout in the middle of the seventh. He didnt put up any fight to stay in the game, not with the one-two punch of Melancon and Grilli available. It almost backfired. Andre Ethier singled with one out in the eighth and Jerry Hairston Jr. doubled to the gap in left-centre one batter later. Ethier held up at third rather than try to score, and it cost the Dodgers when pinch-hitter Juan Uribe struck out. Pittsburgh added an insurance run when McCutchen singled leading off the bottom of the eighth and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Neil Walker. Grilli made it stand up against the meat of Los Angeles lineup. NOTES: Locke singled off Fife in the third to end an 0-for-30 skid dating to last season ... Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis went 0 for 3 with 3 strikeouts in his return from the disabled list. He also threw out two would-be base stealers. Ellis missed 14 games with a strained oblique. To make room for Ellis, Los Angeles designated C Ramon Hernandez for assignment. Hernandez hit .208 with three homers and six RBIs in 17 games with the Dodgers ... The series continues on Saturday when rookie Brandon Cumpton makes his major league debut for the Pirates, replacing Burnett. Clayton Kershaw (5-4, 1.88 ERA) starts for Los Angeles ... Dodgers reliever J.P. Howell pitched two perfect innings in relief. Howell is appealing a two-game suspension for his role in the brawl with the Diamondbacks. 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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Its going to be a historic night at Doak Campbell Stadium on Friday when Florida State and Boston College face off.Just how historic remains to be seen.For starters, the Seminoles, who moved up four spots to No. 18 in the College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday night, will be hosting a Friday game in Tallahassee for only the second time -- and the first since 1957.But the history that Seminole fans are no doubt hoping to witness -- and Eagles fans no doubt hoping their team doesnt become a footnote to -- is Dalvin Cooks continued quest of Florida States all-time rushing record.With 3,833 yards through three seasons, the junior from Miami is now 127 yards away from breaking the 20-year-old record held by running back Warrick Dunn. And, ironically, Cook averages 126 per game.So, yeah ... stay tuned.And if youre a member of Boston Colleges defense, better stay alert.Dalvin Cook I think is one of the better running backs in the country, Eagles coach Steve Addazio said Monday. We obviously know Dalvin well. He has 196 carries, for 1,134 yards, 5.8 average, 12 touchdowns, 25 catches. Hes their marquee guy. This will be a great challenge for us. Im looking forward to this week.Cook hasnt run wild on Boston College (4-5, 1-4 ACC) during his three years at Florida State (6-3, 3-3) like he has against other teams. Last year, during the Seminoles 14-0 shutout win in Chestnut Hill, Mass. -- also on a Friday night -- the Eagles then-No. 1 ranked defense held Cook to a season-low 54 yards. And In 2014, Boston College limited Cook to 76 yards during the Seminoles 20-17 victory.So, yes, Cook -- who has rushed for 100-plus yards in five of his last six games -- may very well get the coveted school rushing record Friday night.But, no, Boston College is not afraid of the Heisman Trophy candidate one bit.They are going to play you tough and physical, every week, even when they have been defeated, said Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher, who is 6-0 against Boston College since taking over in 2010. Their up-front people play great and they play tremendous leverage. Set edges on the defense, play inside their hands real well. Technique very physical. Big, strong, physical guys. Play the box real well. Play a lot of man with big, long, lanky secondary people. Tackle very well in space. Hit you very well. (Addazio) does aa very good job with them.ddddddddddddFisher, too, has done a good job in his seventh year at the helm -- but by his own lofty standards he set for the program, he would undoubtedly consider those efforts not great.In the last three seasons, Florida States meeting with Boston College was to keep the Seminoles ACC Championship hopes alive. But with three losses -- all to ACC opponents -- those titles hopes are well out the window now. A porous defense -- ranked 73rd in total defense out of 128 FBS programs -- is mostly to blame for the teams struggles, resembling nothing like that of the 2013 unit which sent all 11 starters to the NFL.In fact, in two of Florida States three losses, the Seminoles had a lead with four minute or less to play and the defense simply could not hold it.Discipline (is how we can improve), Fisher said of his teams defensive struggles. I mean, just keep staying on guys and coaching the heck out of them, just like we do in practice.The good news for the Seminoles -- 21-point favorites against the Eagles -- is that their defense has looked good against mediocre offensive teams. And Boston College (ranked 126th in the nation in total offense) is certainly that. Florida State held Miami to its lowest rushing total of the season in Week 6 and the defense didnt allow a touchdown against Wake Forest (for the third straight season) a week later.But two weeks ago, the defense regressed, allowing 37 points at home against Clemson, then putting its offense in a late hole last week against N.C. State before the Seminoles came back to win 24-20.Boston College, meanwhile, is coming off a 52-7 home shellacking by No. 6 Louisville -- a loss not too dissimilar from Florida States 63-20 defeat at the hands of the Cardinals earlier this year.Addazio said that he believes those types of results are indicative not of Boston College or Florida State going through down years, but rather that ACC 2.0 is suddenly really, really good.I mean, were playing -- we have elite teams in this conference, said Addazio, whos 21-26 in his fifth season with the Eagles. I think more in our conference than in some of the other conferences. Every conference has got an elite team, but we have a series of them (this year). ' ' '