PITTSBURGH -- Clint Hurdle did his best to ignore the doubters when the Pittsburgh Pirates took a $5 million flier on Edinson Volquez. New Balance 998 . "Thats why they call it noise," Hurdle said. Funny, its quiet now. The resurgent right-hander continued his career resurrection on Tuesday night, limiting the Detroit Tigers for six effective innings in a 4-2 victory. Volquez (10-7) allowed two runs on five hits, striking out five against two walks. His best play, however, wasnt a pitch but a slick behind-the-back grab of a chopper by Victor Martinez in the first inning that kept the Tigers from extending an early 1-0 lead. "The ball got me," Volquez said. "I got lucky on that one." Maybe, but Volquez isnt ruling out karma either. There were times over the last five years when that ball would find its way to centerfield and Volquez would crumble. Not this time. The former All-Star turned reclamation project has been one of the few constants in a pitching rotation thats seen top end starters Francisco Liriano and Gerrit Cole spend significant time on the disabled list. "Hes been fun to watch," Hurdle said. "From the time we got him he showed up wanting to get better and wanting to learn." Travis Snider went 2 for 4 with an RBI for the Pirates. Gaby Sanchez and Ike Davis added RBI doubles and Jordy Mercer chipped in a run-scoring single. Mark Melancon worked out of a two-on, one-out jam for his 22nd save as Pittsburgh improved to 5-3 without star centerfielder Andrew McCutchen, who is on the disabled list with a rib injury. Alex Avila hit his ninth homer of the season for Detroit. Robbie Ray (1-2) gave up four runs in five-plus innings while making a spot start for the weary Tigers. Detroit has lost six of seven as it battles surging Kansas City for the lead in the AL Central. "Weve got to make our own opportunities," Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said. "Weve got to take advantage of those opportunities and were not doing that." Detroits best chance came in the first. Ian Kinsler drove home Ezequiel Carrera with an RBI-single in the first and Miguel Cabrera followed with a single to put runners at the corners. Martinez smashed a grounder up the middle that Volquez somehow grabbed with his glove while reaching behind his back. Kinsler was tagged out in a rundown between third and home and the big inning was avoided. It was the only reprieve Volquez needed. Sanchez and Snider delivered consecutive RBI doubles in the second off Roy to put the Pirates in front. Mercer drove home Josh Harrison in the third to make it 3-1. Avila hit a long home run to centre to pull Detroit within one but pinch hitter Ike Davis doubled to the gap in right-centre to score Starling Marte and push the lead to 4-2. TRAINERS ROOM Tigers: Officially placed RHP Anibal Sanchez on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Aug. 9 with a right pectoral strain and recalled left-handed reliever Blaine Hardy from Triple-A Toledo. An MRI on Cy Young winner Justin Verlanders sore shoulder on Tuesday revealed no major structural damage, though Ausmus called it "unlikely" that Verlander would make his next scheduled start on Sunday against Seattle. Pirates: The team continues to take a cautious approach with Cole, who has been on the disabled list since July 5 with a right lat injury. The former No. 1 pick will start for Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday. Hurdle said the team would like to see Cole get one more start under his belt without any setbacks before making his return. Pittsburgh second baseman Neil Walkers bad back kept him out of the lineup on Tuesday, though Hurdle said Walker is making significant progress. ON DECK The interleague series between the two clubs moves to Detroit on Wednesday. Rookie Buck Farmer will make his major league debut for the Tigers. The fifth-round pick in the 2013 draft went 10-5 with a 2.60 ERA in 18 starts for Class A West Michigan and went 1-0 in two starts with Double-A Erie. Vance Worley (5-1, 2.30 ERA) will start for Pittsburgh. Worley is 3-0 with a 0.96 ERA in his last four starts. New Balance 574 Trainers . This weeks topics include his take on the Kevin Pillar incident, All-Star snubs, the firing of Padres general manager Josh Byrnes and more. New Balance 997 UK .com) - Five-time champion Serena Williams, fourth seed Petra Kvitova and former world No.The Houston Astros failed to sign the first pick in this years draft, San Diego high school left-hander Brady Aiken, before Fridays deadline. The head of the players association says the union is working with the pitcher and his advisers to explore "all legal options." Aiken originally was offered a deal with a $6.5 million signing bonus by the Astros, a person familiar with the negotiations said earlier this week, speaking on condition of anonymity because no statements were authorized. But the club expressed a concern over Aikens elbow ligament and lowered the offer, the person said. The union is also concerned with Houstons handling of the negotiations with fifth-round pick Jacob Nix. The right-hander from Los Alamitos, California, didnt sign either. "Today, two young men should be one step closer to realizing their dreams of becoming Major League ballplayers," union head Tony Clark said in a statement. "Because of the actions of the Houston Astros, they are not. The MLBPA, the players and their advisers are exploring all legal options." The Astros insisted in a statement that their offer to Aiken "was extremely fair considering all the factors involved in this case." "As always, we approached these negotiations in good faith and with the best interests of the Astros organization in mind, both short-termm and long-term," the team said. Cheap New Balance 530. "Throughout this entire process, we have absolutely acted within Major League Baseballs rules and guidelines, which MLB has confirmed on numerous occasions." MLB Executive Vice-President Dan Halem defended the team Tuesday and said "we fully support the Astros." "We believe that they have conducted themselves appropriately," Halem added. Aiken was just the third high school pitcher to be selected first overall when he was taken last month, joining fellow lefties Brien Taylor (1991, Yankees) and David Clyde (1973, Rangers). He was also the first high school lefty to be drafted in the first five picks since Adam Loewen went fourth overall to Baltimore in 2002. Both Aiken and Nix have committed to UCLA and are being advised by Casey Close. The Astros were the first team to select first in three consecutive drafts, picking shortstop Carlos Correa in 2012 and right-hander Mark Appel last year. Aiken has terrific control of a fastball that hits 96-97 mph, a knee-buckling curve and a tough changeup that sits in the low- to mid-80s. On draft day, Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow raved: "Its the most advanced high school pitcher Ive ever seen in my entire career." "He has command like Ive never seen before of his stuff," the GM said. Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Authentic China JerseysWholesale Jerseys China Cheap NHL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys ' ' '
