OTE: Best shot at The Open? Stunning Stenson wins T

PITTSBURGH -- Solid starting pitching. Hockey Jerseys Black Friday . A couple of defensive gems. Just enough hitting to make a difference. For a night, the struggling Pittsburgh Pirates managed to recapture a little bit of their 2013 magic. Do it a few more times and maybe their miserable start to 2014 will become a memory. Edinson Volquez allowed one run in six sharp innings, Andrew McCutchen and Josh Harrison made a splash both at the plate and in the field, and the Pirates edged the Washington Nationals 3-1 Thursday night. Volquez (2-4) ended a three-game losing streak by limiting the Nationals to three hits, walking two and striking out four. Mark Melancon worked the ninth for his eighth save. McCutchen drove in two runs for the Pirates and made a sliding grab with two on in the ninth to end the game. Josh Harrison added two hits for Pittsburgh and added a run-saving catch of his own for the Pirates. "Thats what were known for, just playing routine baseball, not doing anything too out of the ordinary," McCutchen said. "(Just) getting in scoring position, getting some runs home and having pitching shut it down for us." Ian Desmond hit his eighth homer of the season for the Nationals, but Washington left 10 runners on base. Rookie Blake Treinen (0-2) struggled with his command in his second career start, giving up two runs on four hits in 5 2-3 innings, striking out four and walking five. The Nationals have lost three of four. "Our approach was fine," Washington manager Matt Williams said. "They made some really nice plays. That happens. Its big league baseball. They get paid to do that." Volquez had been a pleasant surprise during the seasons first month, but scuffled through his previous four starts, going 0-3 with a 10.19 ERA as part of a slide that had the Pirates well off the pace in the NL Central a year after making the franchises first post-season appearance in more than two decades. Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle wondered if Volquez -- who led the National League in walks per nine innings last season -- was suddenly throwing too many strikes. The former All-Star did a better job mixing location and speed against Washingtons patchwork lineup. His only real miscue came on a 2-0 fastball in the fourth that Desmond sent into the seats in centre field that briefly tied the game at 1. It was the 10th home run Volquez has surrendered this season, but he responded by retiring nine of the last 10 batters he faced. "Just keeping the ball in the strike zone, keeping the ball in the ballpark," Volquez said. "I did it for a couple innings and Desmond hit a homer. A solo shot cant beat you, its only one run. You stay in the game and keep pitching." Treinen, who faced Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw in his previous major league start, wasnt quite as crisp. He retired the first eight batters he faced thanks in part to a sinker that topped out at 97 mph before getting loose in the third. He loaded the bases with two outs on a pair of walks and a single by Harrison before hitting McCutchen with an 80 mph changeup to force in a run. Trouble surfaced again in the fifth thanks in part to Harrison, who has provided a spark in right field even as the Pirates mark time until the likely arrival of highly touted prospect Gregory Polanco next month. Harrison walked to lead off the inning and moved to second on a fly to centre before streaking home on a sharp single up the middle by McCutchen. Harrison is 13 for 37 (.351) since being moved into the leadoff spot earlier this month. Washington loaded the bases in the eighth off Tony Watson, but the left-hander retired Scott Hairston on a fly to shallow left field to get out of it and Melancon survived despite putting two runners on with McCutchens sliding grab on a sinking liner by Anthony Rendon sealing it. NOTES: The Pirates claimed right-handed reliever Josh Wall off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday and assigned him to Triple-A Indianapolis. Wall is 1-1 with a 15.15 ERA in 15 career major league games. To make room for Wall on the 40-man roster, the Pirates designated RHP Phil Irwin for assignment. ... Nationals 1B Adam LaRoche went 0 for 2 in a rehab start for Class A Potomac on Thursday night. LaRoche has been on the disabled list since May 10 with a strained right quadriceps. LaRoche is eligible to come off the DL on Sunday. ... The series continues Friday night when Washingtons Jordan Zimmerman (3-1, 3.70 ERA) faces Pittsburghs Charlie Morton (0-6, 3.45). Cheap Hockey Jerseys China . -- Albert Pujols is thrilled to have a reason to forget about his first two disappointing seasons with the Los Angeles Angels. Cyber Monday Hockey Jerseys . A fully booked flight forced me to leave two hours later. After a nice meal in which I studied the stats of the Argo win, I prepared to leave the restaurant. As I was gathering my things to leave many large individuals began to walk up and wait for tables. https://www.fakehockeyjerseys.com/ . Hall joined Bengals teammates for a voluntary workout on Monday. Hes got his mobility back and is on schedule to be ready for the season. CINCINNATI - Bengals cornerback Leon Hall is happy with his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon and expects to be ready for the start of training camp in July.Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson captivated golf fans across the globe at Royal Troon on Sunday, as they went head-to-head in pursuit of the Claret Jug. While the rest of the field floundered in tricky conditions, the lead pair thrived, each driven on by the other and their determination to end the day victorious.The pendulum swung back and forth during a tense final round but the incredibly high standard remained. The contest drew comparisons to the 1977 Duel in the Sun between Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson at Turnberry with some arguing the Stenson-Mickelson showdown even surpassed that famous clash.But was it the greatest final round at The Open? We asked golfing stars, past and present, for their views…Tom Watson - Five-time Open champion Tom Watson believes Henrik Stensons duel with Phil Mickelson was similar to his shoot out with Jack Nicklaus in 1977 at Turnberry It was a remarkable performance from both Mickelson and Stenson, just fantastic. Phil making the par putt on 12 and then Henrik in the last few holes just said Im taking it. It was very similar to when Jack and I had our shootout at Turnberry - the Duel in the Sun. People watch sport for the rare occasions like Sunday, it was a special day in golf.Jack Nicklaus - Three-time Open championSome in the media have already tried to compare Sundays final round to 1977 at Turnberry, with Tom Watson and me in what they called the Duel in the Sun. Wayne Riley goes through his top five shots from the 145th Open with Kirsty Gallacher I thought we played great and had a wonderful match. On that day, Tom got me, 65-66. Our final round was really good, but theirs was even better. Henrik knew Phil wasnt going to lay down and just let him do it and it will go down as one of the finest finishes of all time.Martin Kaymer - Two-time major winnerMickelson and Stenson round was probably one of the best battles that I can remember. To shoot six-under par like Mickelson did meant he had a chance to win, but Henrik had a very good way of avoiding that. To shoot eight under in the final round of a major, trying to win your fist major, I have a lot of respect for that.Danny Willett - Masters champion Masters champion Danny Willett was happy to see Henrik Stenson win his first major Thats golf at its finest - duelling it out, playing great. Authentic Hockey Jerseys. A lot of people are saying its reminiscent of Jack and Tom in 77 at Turnberry. It was unbelievable golf. I would be intrigued to see where the boys were hitting it because the scoring was phenomenal on that golf course.He is 40 years old and hes been in the game for many, many years. Hes going to be massively popular, everyone wants to see the good guys come through and do well, and Henrik is certainly one of them.Padraig Harrington - Two-time Open championWeve obviously seen different rounds with different guys where theres been a bit more drama. There was drama because Phil was there, but it was as consistent a round as youll see out there. Thats the best round of golf weve seen in the final round of major.Gary Player - Three-time Open champion Gary Player says there is no better player than 2016 Open champion Henrik Stenson in the world at the moment Was it the best ever? Bobby Jones with a fat old shaft and a club face like a frying pan and a ball that went 70 yards less than today shot 285 at St Andrews to win in 1927 so we have to be very careful to say what is the best ever.Tony Jacklin - 1969 Open championSunday was right up there with 1977. The whole process of winning a major is about staying in the moment. Both players were out on their own, it was quite spectacular, and you could see the chemistry between them. Former Open champion Tony Jacklin explains what it felt like winning the Claret Jug at Royal Lytham and St Annes in 1969 It was wonderful golf in very, very difficult conditions. All power to Henrik and Phil. They deserve all the accolades they are going to get.Colin Montgomerie - Eight-time European Order of Merit winnerForty-under-par between the two of them is just remarkable. It will go down as one of the great, great days. We talked about 1977, the Watson-Nicklaus Duel in the Sun and it lasted nearly 40 years. Weve witnessed possibly something better. Butch Harmon - Sky Sports punditFor Phil, it must be pretty hard to get your head around it. He started the day one behind, went out and shot 65 and lost by three. How in the world can that happen? It happened because Henrik Stenson probably played the best round of golf that hes played in his life - and he had to. For Sky to broadcast The Open for the first time and we get this Sunday? Wow, thats special. Also See: VOTE: Best shot at The Open? Stunning Stenson wins The Open Stenson inspired by late friend Radar on wild weather at Troon ' ' '