tivists, who claim it targets LGBT people. It also led the A

CHICAGO -- Francisco Liriano wasnt quite sure where his pitches were going. The one thing he did control was his emotions. Liriano pitched two-hit ball over seven innings and the Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 2-0 Friday for their major league-leading 10th shutout, matching Pittsburghs total for all of last season. It is, as manager Clint Hurdle said, a "remarkable number." And it stands out even more because the Pirates dont have a complete game. Liriano (4-2) walked five, his most since Sept. 1 last year, but struck out eight to help Pittsburgh stop a three-game losing streak. "I didnt feel, location-wise, I was that good," he said. "I was missing my spots a lot, and I walked too many guys. You know, just keep fighting til the end." Liriano walked two in the second and two in the fourth. But rather than get rattled, he worked his way out of trouble both times and came away with the win after a two-start losing streak. Mark Melancon pitched the eighth, and Jason Grilli finished the five-hitter for his major league-leading 23rd save in as many chances. After two-out singles by Ryan Sweeney and pinch-hitter Dioner Navarro, Grilli struck out Darwin Barney to preserve another shutout. "We had 10 (shutouts) all last year and actually we pitched a lot better last year than we did the first year I was here," Hurdle said. "It just speaks to the job the pitchers are doing here, No. 1 throwing strikes, keeping the ball down. Weve been able to get a little better at it every year, and this year, obviously, weve taken it to another level at this point in the season." Russell Martin had two hits, including an RBI double off Travis Wood (5-4) in the sixth, as the Pirates won for the second time in seven games. Jordy Mercer doubled twice. Pittsburgh continued to struggle at the plate after managing just one hit off Julio Teheran in a 5-0 loss at Atlanta on Wednesday. This time, the Pirates finished with seven hits. Wood gave up one run and four hits in six innings with two walks and six strikeouts, but couldnt quite match Liriano on the mound. "He kept us off balance, kept the ball down all day," Wood said. "He really worked us. Even though he had several walks, he was able to battle around that and pitch a good ballgame." He had the Cubs first hit, a one-out single in the fifth, after hitting his first career grand slam in a win over the Chicago White Sox last week. "Travis has been the same all year," Barney said. "Hes been consistent pounding the zone. He was a little bit more sporadic than he has been. But he still had good stuff. He keeps them off balance." Outscored 29-11 and shut out three times in their previous six games, the Pirates went ahead in the sixth. After escaping a bases-loaded jam in the second, Wood retired 11 straight before Mercers one-out double. Mercer advanced on Andrew McCutchens fly to right and scored on Martins double. "I just told myself I was going to be aggressive and not wait around," Martin said. "Hes throwing lots of strikes, and I picked a side of the plate." Travis Snider added an RBI grounder in the ninth against Carlos Villanueva after Martins walk and Pedro Alvarezs single. NOTES: Pirates LHP Wandy Rodriguez is to throw a bullpen session on Monday before the team decides whether he will go on the DL, although manager Clint Hurdle did say there was no "acute structural damage to the ligament" in Rodriguezs throwing arm. Rodriguez got only one out in Wednesdays loss at Atlanta before leaving with tightness in his left forearm. ... Sweeney, the Cubs CF, made a neat catch in the eighth when he raced to his right and dove to snag Starling Martes drive. ... Sveum said Rafael Dolis, on the 15-day DL with a mild strain in his right forearm, is "a lot better," and Shawn Camp (sprained right big toe) threw a bullpen session on Friday. Sveum also said no date has been set for Kyuji Fujikawa to have ligament-replacement surgery on his right elbow. ... A.J. Burnett (3-6, 3.22 ERA) starts Saturday for the Pirates, with Jeff Samardzija (3-6, 2.96 ERA) going for the Cubs.Stephen Piscotty Jersey . Malkin got tangled up with Detroits Luke Glendening early in the third period and his left skate took the brunt of collision with the boards behind Pittsburghs net. Mark McGwire Athletics Jersey . -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago. https://www.cheapathleticsonline.com/715m-homer-bailey-jersey-athletics.html .C. at the helm of the top team in the Eastern Conference. His tenure as the GM in Vancouver was all too brief. Though he led the Canucks to what was then a franchise record-shattering campaign in just his second season, Nonis was gone and replaced one year later. Custom Oakland Athletics Jerseys . President of baseball operations Larry Beinfest was fired Friday after 12 years with the Marlins. The move came as the team neared the end of its third consecutive last-place season in the NL East. James Kaprielian Athletics Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable.RALEIGH, N.C. -- Now that North Carolina has lost its NCAA and Atlantic Coast Conference championship events for this year, some other states face potential challenges in the organizations fight for discrimination-free environments.The NCAA this week took the unprecedented step of pulling seven championship events from the state over its objection to a law that can allow discrimination against LGBT people. Two days later, the ACC did the same thing -- relocating all 10 of its neutral-site championships from the state the conference has called home since its founding in 1953.At issue in North Carolina is the law known as HB2, which excludes gender identity and sexual orientation from statewide antidiscrimination protections. It also requires transgender people to use restrooms in schools and state government buildings that correspond to the gender on their birth certificate.When the NCAA announced its antidiscrimination policy last spring, it said it was tracking the actions of legislatures in several states but did not identify them. A questionnaire event organizers must complete during the bidding process asks them to identify any laws that might lead to discrimination.In announcing the moves, the NCAA pointed out that North Carolinas situation was unique in that it has the only statewide transgender bathroom law in the nation. Plus, five states and several cities dont allow public employees and representatives of public institutions to travel there because of HB2.Here are four states that might eventually wind up on the NCAAs radar:----TEXASRepublican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has suggested the state will take up school bathroom access in 2017, and the state is leading an 11-state lawsuit that accuses the federal government of turning schools into a massive social experiment. Voters last November overturned a Houston ordinance that extended nondiscrimination protections to gay and transgender people. Opponents used a campaign featuring the slogan, No Men in Womens Bathrooms. San Antonio is scheduled to host the 2018 Final Four and Dallas is hosting first- and second-round games in 2018.dddddddddddd Dallas will host the Womens Final Four next spring.----GEORGIAThough Republican Gov. Nathan Deal in March vetoed a religious freedom bill that critics say would have limited LGBT peoples rights, some conservatives have vowed to revive the measure -- known as HB757 -- in 2017. The NFL has said the bill, if passed, could jeopardize Atlantas bid for future Super Bowls. The NCAA mens basketball South Regional semifinals and final is set for Atlanta in 2018, while the Division I mens and womens tennis championships are scheduled for Athens in 2017.----TENNESSEEOfficials at Memphis have said any decision about the 2017 South Regional semifinals and finals -- which theyre scheduled to host -- rests with the NCAA after the state passed a law that allows therapists to decline to see patients based on religious values and personal principles. That led to a lawsuit in June filed by gay rights activists, who claim it targets LGBT people. It also led the American Counseling Association to cancel its planned conference in Nashville -- which also is scheduled to host opening-weekend games in the 2018 mens basketball tournament.----MISSISSIPPIThe state hasnt hosted any predetermined NCAA championship events since 2001 because the Confederate battle flag appears on the state flag. Appealing a judges ruling against a law that was supposed to take effect July 1 likely wont do the Magnolia State any favors in the sports organizations eyes. The religious objection law signed by Republican Gov. Phil Bryant remains blocked after a federal judge ruled it unconstitutional, with U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves in his ruling calling it the states attempt to put LGBT people back in their place. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last month refused to unblock the law.---(This version removes an incorrect reference to state Sen. Josh McKoon sponsoring the Georgia bill.) ' ' '