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LOS ANGELES -- The Pittsburgh Pirates had a long plane ride to digest their dreadful series at the New York Mets, and the exploits of batterymates Gerrit Cole and Russell Martin made for a pleasant series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Deion Sanders Falcons Jersey . Martin and Pedro Alvarez homered, Josh Harrisons second RBI single triggered a three-run seventh inning, and the Pirates beat Los Angeles 6-3 on Thursday night for only their third victory in their last 20 games at Dodger Stadium. "I think its just staying in the moment and not carrying any excess baggage," manager Clint Hurdle said. "It was a 5-hour, 40 minute flight, and were here in L.A. So Its time to get something done. Cole gave us the big start with his energy. He had a great pace and rhythm tonight, and the best speed variance hes had in quite some time. His fastball, changeup and curveball played extremely well for him, and everybody fed off of it." Cole (5-3) allowed three runs and six hits over 6 1-3 innings in his first career appearance at Chavez Ravine. The former UCLA right-hander helped set up two runs with sacrifice bunts in the opener of a four-game series against the defending NL West champions. "The key was making quality pitches early," Cole said. "Some at-bats they were patient and some they were really aggressive. But we just stuck with our approach and just made quality pitches. I thought we played Pirates baseball to a T. We passed the baton at the plate, swarmed them on defence, threw a lot of strikes and took some punches." Cole was lifted after walking pinch-hitter Chone Figgins with his 88th pitch, but Tony Watson retired speedster Dee Gordon on a double-play grounder with his first delivery. "Cole was outstanding. He was very aggressive, had all his pitches working," Martin said. "The pitch that really helped him was the changeup. He even threw them righty-on-righty. So to have a pitch that has the same spin as a fastball, I think, made the hitters uncomfortable. Hes got that mentality to just go out there and compete and execute pitches." Mark Melancon worked a perfect eighth and Jason Grilli got three outs for his sixth save. Grilli officially got his closer role back on Thursday, seven days after coming off the disabled list and six days after getting a save in his first game back. Melancon converted 10 of 12 save opportunities while Grilli was sidelined 4 1-2 weeks with a left oblique strain. Starling Marte drew a leadoff walk in the seventh from Brandon League (1-2) and appeared to have stolen second -- at least to umpire Eric Cooper, who called him safe. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly challenged the ruling, which was overturned by a video review. But Clint Barmes followed with his third straight single, advanced on Coles bunt and scored on Harrisons single up the middle. Harrison continued to second on the throw to the plate and came home on Neil Walkers single. Former Pirates starter Paul Maholm replaced League and gave up an RBI double to pinch-hitter Gabby Sanchez on his second pitch. The three runs charged to League ended a stretch of 16 appearances and 22 innings in which the right-hander did not allow an earned run. "I know its been a while since anything like this has happened," League said. "Its not discouraging. It just stinks having your name next to the L. As a reliever, you go day to day and youre taught to forget quickly. Its nice to know your manager keeps running you out there regardless of the results, but in the end, youve still got to get the job done." Dodgers starter Don Haren allowed three runs and eight hits in six innings with two strikeouts and no walks. Martin, who spent his first five big league seasons with the Dodgers and left as a free agent after the 2010 campaign to sign with the Yankees, hit his third homer of the season halfway up the left field pavilion with two outs in the sixth to give the Pirates a 3-2 lead. It also ended a string of nine consecutive games at Dodger Stadium in which Pittsburgh scored no more than two runs. Yasiel Puig, who reached base safely for the 30th consecutive game, led off the bottom of the sixth with his second double of the game and scored on a single by Hanley Ramirez. Andre Ethier lined an 0-1 pitch inside first base with one out in the first for his second triple in seven at-bats, after getting only four in his previous 2,180 at-bats since the start of the 2010 season. Puig drove him in with a bloop double to right field. Alvarez tied it in the second with a two-out drive to right field for his 10th homer, tying Walker for the team lead. Gordon regained the lead for the Dodgers in the bottom half with a two-out RBI single, but Harrison got the Pirates even again in the fifth with a two-out RBI single. NOTES: LHP Chad Billingsley, who hasnt pitched for the Dodgers since April 15, 2013, and is recovering from Tommy John surgery, threw 30 pitches in a two-inning simulated game. ... In his four starts with Tim Federowicz behind the plate, Haren has a 3.04 ERA and has given up 28 hits in 23 2-3 innings. ... Mattingly said that it would be "overly hopeful" to expect 3B Juan Uribe (right hamstring strain) to be reinstated from the 15-day DL when he is eligible to come off on June 5. ... Gordon stole second and third in the second inning, increasing his major league-leading total to 32. ... Coles only other outing against the Dodgers was June 16, 2013, when he won a 6-3 decision over Zack Greinke. Jim Brown Throwback Jersey .A. Happs turn to play in the ongoing game of hot potato, better known as the competition to determine who will comprise the back end of the Blue Jays starting rotation. Mitchell and Ness Chicago Bears Jersey . You could have told the truth the entire time." Incognito also wrote Martin told him he thought about committing suicide because he wasnt playing well. "FACT: Jonathan Martin told me he thought about taking his own life in MAY 2013 b/c he wasnt playing well.PHILADELPHIA -- Freddie Freeman homered, doubled and drove in all four Atlanta runs to back Julio Teherans strong pitching as the Braves beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 Friday night. Freemans three-run homer was caught by Philadelphia play-by-play announcer Tom McCarthy, who was broadcasting the game from centre field along with analysts Matt Stairs and Jamie Moyer, both former Phillies. Teheran (7-5) allowed two runs -- one earned -- and six hits in seven innings. He struck out nine, walked none and retired his final seven batters for Atlanta, which had lost six of 10 beginning with Philadelphias three-game sweep at Turner Field last week. Craig Kimbrel pitched a scoreless ninth for his 23rd save in 27 chances. Ben Revere had three hits, including a triple, for the Phillies, who have lost five of seven. The Braves jumped on Kyle Kendrick in the first inning thanks to Freemans three-run drive. Freemans RBI double in the second boosted Atlantas lead to 4-0 before Kendrick settled down. Kendrick (3-8) tossed a season-best eight innings, giving up four runs and nine hits with eight strikeouts and two walks. But the early damage was too much to overcome for Philadelphias sagging offence, which entered ranked 11th in the NL in batting average at .241. The Phillies scored three runs or fewer for the 39th time this season and dropped to 7-32 in those games. The Phillies scorred twice in the fourth on Jimmy Rollins RBI groundout and Marlon Byrds RBI single. Jim Brown Browns Jersey. . They threatened in the eighth against reliever Jordan Walden, placing runners on first and second with two outs, but Walden fanned Ryan Howard on a 97 mph fastball to end the inning. Philadelphia put a runner in scoring position in the ninth. Byrd drew a leadoff walk, but Kimbrel struck out Cody Asche before John Mayberry Jr. flied out to the wall in left-centre. Domonic Brown, out of the starting lineup for the second straight day and third time in five games, struck out as a pinch-hitter to end the game. Gerald Laird replaced Evan Gattis behind the plate for the Braves after the top of the first. Gattis struck out swinging in the first and left the game due to back spasms. Laird went 1 for 3 with a double. NOTES: Philadelphia placed catcher Carlos Ruiz on the seven-day DL with concussion-like symptoms. Ruiz was hit in the head by A.J. Ramos pitch Thursday against Miami. . The teams play a day-night doubleheader Saturday, with Atlanta RHP Ervin Santana (5-5, 4.15 ERA) facing RHP Roberto Hernandez (3-6, 4.41) in the opener, followed by RHP David Hale (3-2, 2.72) against Philadelphia RHP Sean OSullivan in the nightcap. OSullivan will be making his first start of the season after getting called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. cheap nfl jerseys cheap jerseys ' ' '