just a hard worker and he bought into what we do o

ST. LOUIS -- It was strictly business when the St. Louis Cardinals parted ways with Eric Fryer.Their former backup catcher could not deny the extra buzz facing his old team for the first time since resurfacing.Fryer had two hits and three RBIs in his first game with the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 5-2 victory Tuesday night.I mean, I was amped up to play, Fryer said. The familiarity of the team, the atmosphere I was in kind of made it a little easier to kind of harness it back and let the game come to me a little bit.The Cardinals released Fryer when backup catcher Brayan Pena came off the 15-day disabled list and the Pirates, with whom he played in the minors, claimed him off waivers on Sunday. He batted .368 with St. Louis with five RBIs in 38 at-bats behind seven-time All-Star Yadier Molina but Pena has a two-year, $5 million contract.Fryer said Cardinals manager Mike Matheny told him its just one of those things that had to work out this way.It was nice for him to say it like that, but Im on to Pittsburgh, I guess, Fryer said.The Pittsburgh bullpen worked five scoreless innings in support of lefty?Steven Brault, who allowed one earned run in four innings while throwing 82 pitches and adding a single in his debut.Brault learned he would be making the start two days earlier and remembered everything except his glove, which should arrive Wednesday from Indianapolis. He borrowed Jeff Lockes and lived up to expectations.I am forgetful at times and I had a little bit of nerves going, Ill use that as an excuse, Brault said. Overall, I think I reacted well and just tried to keep doing what Ive been doing.The 24-year-old Brault pitched in place of fellow rookie Jameson Taillon, placed on the DL on Sunday with shoulder fatigue. Brault didnt know if he would start Sunday against the Chicago Cubs in the final game before the All-Star break.Juan Nicasio (7-6) worked two scoreless innings and Mark Melancon finished for his 21st consecutive save and 25th in 26 chances.Josh Harrison and David Freese added RBIs for the Pirates, who have taken the first two games of a four-game set and are 7-4 in the season series, closing within one-half game of the second-place Cardinals in the NL Central.Mike Leake (5-7) gave up five runs in six innings for the Cardinals, who got RBIs from Jedd Gyorko and Matt Holliday. Leake has lost his last three outings with a 6.06 ERA.Freese was me missing location but Fryer did a good job of putting the ball in play, Leake said. They werent terribly located balls, but not the best.Pirates third baseman Jung Ho Kang, under investigation by Chicago police on an allegation of sexual assault, singled pinch-hitting to open the ninth. Manager Clint Hurdle declined comment after the game.HOT BOXHarrison stayed alive in a rundown between third and home long enough for the hitter and runner to take two bases in the fifth. The Cardinals finally got him out on a play scored 3-2-5-3-6-4.TRAINERS ROOMPirates: RHP Ryan Vogelsong (facial fracture) threw 61 pitches in a four-inning simulated game. ... RHP Gerrit Cole (biceps) struck out six and allowed two hits for Triple-A Indianapolis to begin a rehab start.Cardinals: SS Jhonny Peralta was taken out after three innings with discomfort in his left thumb. The team said it was unrelated to the surgery for a torn thumb ligament in March.SLUMPINGMatt Adams, who replaced Peralta in the lineup, is in an 0-for-31 slump.UP NEXTPirates: Locke (8-5, 5.13) has won his last three starts with a 1.93 ERA and bested Oakland ace Sonny Gray his last time out.Cardinals: Jaime Garcia (6-6, 3.84) allowed one run in eight innings against the Brewers his last time out. He has a 0.57 ERA against Pittsburgh in six games, four starts.Lawrence Taylor Jersey . -- Former San Diego Chargers safety Paul Oliver was found dead at his Atlanta-area home Tuesday night, and a medical examiner said Wednesday that the ex-player committed suicide. Eli Manning Youth Jersey .com) - Manchester City midfielder David Silva is expected to miss the next four weeks because of a calf problem. http://www.authenticnygiantspro.com/Harry-carson-giants-jersey/ . -- Ryan Blaney provided more evidence that Penske Racings No. Daniel Jones Jersey . The Brazilian goalkeeper signed a loan deal with the Major League Soccer club on Friday as he looks to get playing time ahead of this summers World Cup in his home country. Saquon Barkley Jersey . The defence is doing its part, too. Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first half and the guys on the other side made sure that was enough, sending the Saints to a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night.PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers nose tackle Javon Hargrave may be quietly putting together a noteworthy start to his rookie season.Hargrave was listed as the starting nose tackle when the Steelers released their first depth chart of the regular season. Hargrave is dealing with a quad injury, but if hes able to play in the opener Monday at Washington, he will be on track to become the third rookie to start on the defense in 15 years.Its a blessing, but at the same time, I still havent played yet, Hargrave said Wednesday. Its not really official yet. Im just taking it day by day, still getting better and trying to help the team.Hargrave, who beat out third-year defensive lineman Daniel McCullers for the starting spot, injured his quad in practice Monday, the same day he was promoted. Hargrave said the injury wasnt serious.I was a little nervous, Hargrave said. It couldve been worse, but Im blessed that it wasnt. Its a blessing anytime you can avoid an injury like that.Hargrave is trying to become the second rookie in three years to start on the Steelers defense. Linebacker Ryan Shazier started as a rookie in 2014 and Kendrell Bell did the same as an inside linebacker in 2001.I just feel like I come out and work hard to try and get better every day, Hargrave said. Im just doing things to help the team and take advantage of opportunities.The Steelers drafted the 6-foot-2, 305-pound Hargrave in the third round out of South Carolina State. Hargrave was dominant at the FCS level, where he was a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2014 and 15. He amassed 37 sacks in 47 games at South Carolina State, including 10 or more in each of his last two seasons.Defensive line coach John Mitchell called Hargrave a self-mmade man when the Steelers drafted him and was impressed by his power and quick first step.dddddddddddd The Steelers initially planned to use Hargrave in sub packages and as part of a line rotation, giving ends Cameron Heyward and Stephon Tuitt a much-needed rest.But now it appears the rookie will be starting alongside the veteran defensive ends.Hes not a finished product, but hes growing, Heyward said. I think he understands his first skill is listening. If he can continue to grow and get better the sky is the limit for him.Heyward is most impressed by Hargraves resilience.He keeps bouncing back, Heyward said. He hasnt hit that wall where it seems like too much for him. Hes trying to grow every day and thats not easy, but you appreciate that. As a rookie, it can be very overwhelming at times, and it probably will be later down the road, but as of now, hes done a good job.Tuitt, in his third season, started just four games as a rookie. He realizes the difficulties of learning the Steelers defense.Every day at practice he wants to get better and he doesnt make the same mistake twice, Tuitt said. Hes just a hard worker and he bought into what we do on the defensive line.For the coaches to make the decision they made, they saw something in him that he was doing well.Game notesHeyward is progressing from a high-ankle sprain suffered in the preseason and said he `doesnt see any reason he cant be ready for Monday. . The Steelers signed former Tennessee Titans running back David Cobb to the practice squad and released running back Cameron Stingily.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFLCheap Jerseys [url=http://www.cheapauthenticnfljerss