NATIONAL LEAGUE

Pirates' Burnett solid against sloppy Harvey

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher A.J. Burnett (34) drivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 23, 2015. Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher A.J. Burnett (North Little Rock, Central Arkansas Christian) had the National League’s second-lowest ERA (1.38) coming into Saturday’s games. Burnett has allowed two or fewer runs in all nine starts this season, including Saturday’s game against the New York Mets.
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher A.J. Burnett (34) drivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 23, 2015. Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher A.J. Burnett (North Little Rock, Central Arkansas Christian) had the National League’s second-lowest ERA (1.38) coming into Saturday’s games. Burnett has allowed two or fewer runs in all nine starts this season, including Saturday’s game against the New York Mets.

PITTSBURGH -- A.J. Burnett insists this is it. That after 17 years in the majors, he is done whenever the Pittsburgh Pirates season ends, no matter what.

Funny, nobody told his stuff. The way Burnett (Central Arkansas Christian, North Little Rock) is pitching at the moment, he hardly looks like a guy counting down the days to retirement.

Dazzling the New York Mets with impeccable command, Burnett won his fourth consecutive start in an 8-2 victory Saturday, easily outdueling an uncharacteristically sloppy Matt Harvey to lower his ERA to 1.37, the best in the majors.

Heady stuff for a 38-year-old who led the National League in losses, walks and earned runs during a forgettable and injury-marred 2014 in Philadelphia.

"He's like a kid in the backyard out there that's having some fun that is being aggressive and very, very purposeful on the mound," Pittsburgh Manager Clint Hurdle said. "He's pitching as well as I've ever seen him pitch. He's doing more. He's doing his job."

One that is helping the Pirates linger around .500 despite an uneven opening two months. Facing one of the game's brightest young talents in Harvey, Burnett (4-1) dominated, striking out 10 without walking a batter.

"I just look at leaving it all out on the field, knowing it's my last go around," Burnett said. "It's fun to pitch for (my teammates), to be around them. They bring so much out of me."

Pittsburgh's offense gave Burnett plenty of wiggle room. Andrew McCutchen and Pedro Alvarez both hit home runs and drove in two runs while Josh Harrison extended his hitting streak to 10 games by going 2 for 4 with two RBI.

"It shows what we can do when we're ready to hit," Harrison said. "We got some pitches today and we didn't miss them."

Harvey (5-2) lasted only four innings, the shortest outing of his career. He gave up a career-worst 7 runs on 6 hits and also threw 2 wild pitches, matching the number he had all of the 2013 season.

PHILLIES 8, NATIONALS 1 Cole Hamels pitched eight sharp innings, Ryan Howard hit a home run and visiting Philadelphia roughed up Stephen Strasburg to end Washington's six-game winning streak. Hamels (5-3) won his fourth consecutive start, and has compiled a 1.53 ERA over that stretch.

BRAVES 3, BREWERS 2, (11) Jace Peterson's single to left field drove in Alberto Callaspo, lifting host Atlanta to a victory over Milwaukee. Luis Avilan (2-0) pitched the last 1 1/3 innings for Atlanta, including getting a double play with runners at first and third to end the 10th.

DODGERS 2, PADRES 0 Mike Bolsinger (Arkansas Razorbacks) retired his final 23 batters after giving up a leadoff single in the first inning and Joc Pederson hit a home run for the host Dodgers. Bolsinger (3-0) struck out eight and walked none through eight innings.

GIANTS 10, ROCKIES 8 Brandon Crawford drove in three runs and visiting San Francisco stretched its winning streak to eight games, beating Colorado in the opener of a day-night doubleheader at rain-soaked Coors Field.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

ASTROS 3, TIGERS 2 Lance McCullers got Ian Kinsler to ground into a triple play in the fifth inning, and the Houston right-hander went on to earn his first career victory Saturday, leading the visiting Astros over Detroit. Detroit led 2-1 in the fifth and had runners on first and second when Kinsler hit a grounder to third. Jonathan Villar stepped on the bag and threw to second, where Jose Altuve relayed the ball to first. It was Houston's first triple play since 2004.

RANGERS 15, YANKEES 4 Shin-Soo Choo hit a go-ahead single and a three-run home run in a 10-run third inning that chased CC Sabathia from his shortest start in six years, and visiting Texas routed reeling New York, which has lost nine of its last 10 games. Shoo and Prince Fielder each had two hits in the third. Fielder finished with three RBI and hit his third home runs in a two games.

ATHELTICS 5, RAYS 0 Kendall Graveman gave up three hits over six innings in his return from the minors, Sam Fuld drove in two runs and visiting Oakland beat Tampa Bay. Graveman (2-2), recalled from Class AAA Nashville to make the start, struck out six and walked two.

MARINERS 3, BLUE JAYS 2 Kyle Seager hit a home run, James Paxton earned his first road victory of the season and visiting Seattle beat Toronto. Paxton (3-2) won his third consecutive start, allowing 2 runs and 4 hits in 6 innings. The slumping Blue Jays lost for the 11th time in 14 games.

TWINS 4, WHITE SOX 3 Torii Hunter (Pine Bluff) hit a home run, Trevor May pitched seven strong innings and visiting Minnesota defeated Chicago. May (3-3) allowed three runs and six hits. He struck out nine and didn't allow a walk.

RED SOX 8, ANGELS 3 Mike Napoli hit two home runs and drove in three runs, Steven Wright pitched six-plus solid innings and host Boston got a victory over Los Angeles.

INTERLEAGUE

INDIANS 2, REDS 1 Corey Kluber threw eight effective innings and led host Cleveland over Cincinnati for its fifth consecutive victory after Reds Manager Bryan Price was ejected before the first pitch. Price was tossed by umpire Jim Reynolds after the exchange of lineup cards. They got into a lengthy argument that carried on as the Indians took the field -- the dispute likely stemmed from Friday night, when several Reds were upset with plate umpire Manny Gonzalez's strike zone.

ROYALS 3, CARDINALS 2 (6) Alex Gordon hit a two-run home run, Edinson Volquez pitched six solid innings and host Kansas City beat St. Louis in a game called because of rain.

MARLINS 1, ORIOLES 0 (13) Martin Prado hit a two-out, bases-loaded single in the 13th inning, and host Miami won for the first time in Dan Jennings’ six games as manager.

Sports on 05/24/2015

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