Only for Guild Members » with bottom club Catania a point further

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- That playoff loss in Pittsburgh last year? Johnny Cueto never thought about it much. Lonnie Chisenhall Jersey . So getting a chance to shut out the Pirates in a rematch wasnt any more special. Not to him, anyway. Cueto pitched his third career shutout against the team that beat him in the NL wild card game, and Joey Votto hit a two-run homer that led the Cincinnati Reds over the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 Wednesday for their first winning series this season. Cueto (1-2) had his way with the lineup that beat him 6-2 at PNC Park in the playoffs. He limited the Pirates to three hits, didnt walk a batter and struck out a career-high 12 during his first shutout since 2011. Any extra satisfaction given what happened the last time he faced them? "I never think too much about those things," Cueto said, with assistant trainer Tomas Vera interpreting. "That was 2013." And Cueto is starting to look more like a vintage ace. He started only 11 games last season because of strained muscles by his pitching shoulder. The right-hander has been solid this season but hasnt gotten much help from an offence that scored only one run while he was on the mound during his first three starts. Cueto didnt need much help on Wednesday, putting the Pirates away with 107 pitches. "Welcome back, Johnny Cueto," manager Bryan Price said. "Hes been great his first three starts, and he was dominant today. It was nice to win our first series. Pittsburgh is a handful." Several Pirates questioned called third strikes by Quinn Wolcott, a Triple-A umpire called up to the majors. Eight of Cuetos strikeouts were called. Maybe it didnt mean anything extra to Cueto, but his teammates got some satisfaction from beating the Pirates. "For us to come together the way we have, especially against the team that beat us in the playoffs, its a lot of fun," third baseman Todd Frazier said. After the NL Central rivals combined for 13 homers while splitting the first two games, Votto supplied the one that broke open the deciding game. Left-hander Francisco Liriano (0-3) opened the game by walking Billy Hamilton, who stole second base and came around on two wild pitches. That was it for scoring until the seventh inning, when Cueto singled and Votto hit his fourth homer in six games. Brayan Pena doubled home a run in the eighth. Liriano and Cueto also were matched in the wild card game last season. Liriano got the better of that one, going seven innings for the victory while Cueto failed to make it through the fourth. Liriano had trouble at the outset on Wednesday. Ten of his first 13 pitches were balls. He walked Hamilton and Votto opening the inning, then threw the two wild pitches that let in the run. The Ohio River rivals had a bruising series last season, with 28 batters hit overall -- the most for any series in the majors. Its been mostly pain-free so far, with only two batters hit during the series. Pirates left fielder Jose Tabata left the game in the fifth inning with what appeared to be a mild concussion after he slammed into the outfield wall while catching Penas fly ball. Tabata fell, held up his glove to show hed caught the ball and sat on the warning track for several minutes. A trainer examined Tabatas neck, jaw and head, and he was helped off the field. "You talk about laying out and making a catch and hitting the wall hard," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "I was just glad he was able to walk off. Well see how it feels tomorrow." NOTES: The Pirates completed their first trip of the season at 3-6. They open a four-game series against Milwaukee on Thursday, with Edinson Volquez starting against Yovani Gallardo. ... The Reds concluded a 3-3 homestand. Theyre off on Thursday before opening a 10-game trip at Wrigley Field. Alfredo Simon starts against the Cubs Jeff Samardzija. ... Reds closer Aroldis Chapman is to throw in the bullpen for the second time on Thursday. The Reds are hoping to have him back from a head injury next month. ... Cueto was called for interference twice while trying to bunt. The first time, he ran out of the box to bunt the ball. The second time, he stood in the box and blocked catcher Tony Sanchez from fielding the bunt. Satchel Paige Jersey . They started shooting the puck. Joe Pavelski had a hat trick to move into a tie for second in the NHL in goals and the Sharks beat Philadelphia 7-3 Thursday night in the first game for both teams following the Olympic break. Jose Ramirez Jersey .Pete Morelli said the back judge threw a flag on Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens on a pass to Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew in Dallas 24-20 wild-card win Sunday. But the head linesman said there wasnt enough contact and that Hitchens was face-guarding, which isnt a penalty in the NFL. http://www.indiansteamproshop.com/Indians-Jim-Thome-Kids-Jersey/ . The Giants chances of winning the division were dealt a serious blow by the three-game sweep at the hands of the lowly Padres. The Giants open a three-game series at Dodger Stadium on Monday night. San Francisco is still in good shape to clinch a wild-card berth, although it dropped into a tie with Pittsburgh in the race for the top spot.Juventus squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at promoted Hellas Verona on Sunday and miss the chance to extend its Serie A lead to 11 points. A last-minute leveler ensured the two-time defending champion remained nine points ahead of Roma, which drew 0-0 at bitter rival Lazio in the capital derby. Roma has a match in hand on Juventus after last weeks game against Parma was called off due to a waterlogged pitch. "Its not good enough to dominate for 45 minutes, seeing as the slightest lack of concentration can make everything in vain," Juventus coach Antonio Conte said. "We let them back into the game... it was unacceptable. A lost chance. "Were conceding a lot from deadball situations, we need to focus more. Its useless to study our opponents tactics and then make mistakes like this." Carlos Tevez scored twice in the first half for Juventus to take his tally to 13 for the season. But Luca Toni reinforced his bid for a World Cup spot when he reduced the deficit with his 11th goal in 20 matches and substitute Juanito Gomez Taleb, who only came on in the 86th minute, levelled deep in stoppage time. Verona is level on points with fifth-placed Inter Milan which beat Sassuolo 1-0 in the evening match. "We drew against a great team and we are very happy with this point," Gomez said. "Safety remains our aim though, not qualifying for Europe. Were doing well." Gomez, who said the team had been inspired by a halftime pep talk from Verona coach Andrea Mandorlini, added: "He is a man who never gives up. He hugged me because he told me I would score." Earlier, Bologna inched away from the relegation zone following a surprise 2-1 win at high-flying Torino. Elsewhere, it was: Sampdoria 1, Cagliari 0; Parma 0, Catania 0; and Livorno 0, Genoa 1. Juventus got off to the perfect start when Rafael could only parry Kwadwo Asamoahs strike and Tevez slotted home the rebound for a fourth-minute lead. Tevez -- who celebrated his 30th birthday on Wednesday -- doubled his tally in the 21st minute when he beat the offside trap to fire in Paul Pogbas through ball. Verona reduced the deficit seven minutes after halfttime when former Juventus striker Toni headed in Romulos free-kick. B.J. Upton Jersey. There were suspicions of offside, as there had been for Tevezs second. Pablo Osvaldo made his Juventus debut following his loan move from Southampton and almost scored a minute after coming off the bench but his effort clipped the outside of the left post. The Italy striker did have the ball in the back of the net but it was ruled out as Asamoah had been offside when providing the assist. Verona almost levelled in the 79th minute as Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon pulled off a stunning fingertip save to keep out a Toni header. However, Gomez Taleb headed in Romulos cross in the fourth minute of stoppage time as Verona snatched a deserved draw. The equalizer prevented Juventus from extending its lead at the top of the table to 11 points and keeps the title race alive. Roma had the best of the chances as Lazio could not manage even one shot on target the whole match. Gervinho thought he had scored his third goal of the week midway through the first half, but it was ruled out for offside. Lazio club captain Stefano Mauri came on in the second half for his first appearance this season following a ban for his role in the match-fixing scandal. In Milan, Sassuolo goalkeeper Gianluca Pegolo kept his side in the game with a series of fine saves, notably denying Diego Milito twice from point-blank range at the end of the first half. Inter defender Walter Samuel headed in a corner three minutes after the interval. Last time the two sides met, at the beginning of the season, Inter humiliated Sassuolo 7-0. At the other end of the table, Bologna moved four points above the relegation zone with its first win at Torino since Dec. 1980. Torino, which is pushing for a Europa League place, took the lead in the fifth minute when Ciro Immobile was left unmarked to head home Matteo Darmians cross for his seventh goal in as many matches. However, a brace from Jonathan Cristaldo handed Bologna its second win in 13 matches. Livorno is level on 17 points with Sassuolo, with bottom club Catania a point further back after hitting the woodwork twice in its draw at Parma. Cheap Hockey Blackhawks Jerseys Cheap Hockey Avalanche Jerseys Cheap Hockey Stars Jerseys Cheap Hockey Wild Jerseys Cheap Hockey Predators Jerseys Cheap Hockey Blues Jerseys Cheap Hockey Jets Jerseys Cheap Hockey Ducks Jerseys Cheap Hockey Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Hockey Flames Jerseys Cheap Hockey Oilers Jerseys Cheap Hockey Kings Jerseys Cheap Hockey Sharks Jerseys Cheap Hockey Canucks Jerseys Cheap Hockey Golden Knights Jerseys Hockey Team Canada Jerseys ' ' '