.Duclair will get that experience after being passed over last

PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates had a plan for Gerrit Cole when they drafted the hard-throwing right-hander with the top pick in the 2011 amateur draft. They hoped Cole would develop into one of the franchise cornerstones, and two years later he may already be there. The 23-year-old dominated the San Diego Padres on Thursday, striking out 12 to lead the Pirates to a 10-1 romp and stop a three-game losing streak. Pittsburgh moved a game in front of Cincinnati for the top wild card spot in the NL after Cole (9-7) pitched his third straight gem. "He continues to grow right in front of our eyes," manager Clint Hurdle said. Cole is 3-0 with a 0.90 ERA and 28 strikeouts in his last three starts, each following a Pittsburgh loss. Overwhelming the Padres with a fastball topping out in the high 90s and a curveball seeming to improve by the pitch, Cole prevented a sweep that would have put a dent in his teams pursuit of its first division title since 1992. "We just couldnt get to the fastball," San Diego manager Bud Black said. "I think we knew it was coming but he located some pitches, threw down and away well. He pitched in. He pitched up (and) mixed it up a little bit with the slider and the changeup." And for once, Cole received some help at the plate. Held to four runs and 11 hits in the first three games of the series, the Pirates pounced on starter Ian Kennedy (6-10) for six runs while putting together their biggest offensive outburst in nearly a month. Neil Walker had four hits, including his 11th homer of the season, and drove in three runs while Pedro Alvarez hit his NL-leading 34th homer for Pittsburgh. Jose Tabata added two hits and three RBIs as the Pirates regained some momentum heading into the biggest series in the 12-year history of PNC Park. "If you would have told us we were going to win one of four in this last series, Ill take the last one, thats for sure," Walker said. "Its certainly not the best feeling. This wasnt our best series playing a team people probably think we should beat, but thats baseball." And meaningful baseball at that, something not seen in September in Pittsburgh since Barry Bonds was hitting balls over the fence at Three Rivers Stadium in 1992. The Pirates ended 20 years of losing earlier this month and have their sights set on a playoff spot. Pittsburgh inched closer to extending its season beyond Sept. 29 by showcasing the resiliency thats become the teams trademark. The Pirates were in position to beat San Diego on Wednesday night when closer Mark Melancon surrendered two runs in the ninth to blow his third save of the season. Given 12 hours to get over it, they responded emphatically. Coles main weakness may be that he gets too fired up. His ERA in the first inning rose to 6.00 when Tommy Medicas two-out RBI single gave the Padres an early lead. It was the lone hiccup on a day he bolstered his case to earn a start in October if the Pirates make it that far. Pittsburgh can get there if it can find any sort of consistency at the plate. After gasping for three days, they rediscovered some pop against a team at the end of a wearying 10-game road trip. Making a spot start while leadoff hitter Starling Marte spent the day in the hospital helping his wife welcome their first child, Tabata scored on a fielders-choice grounder by Andrew McCutchen to tie it in the first. Three innings later, Alvarez crushed a belt-high Kennedy pitch and sent it nearly to the concourse behind the seats in centre for just his second home run in 22 games. The homer sent a jolt through Pittsburghs dugout. Tabata hit a two-run double with two outs, and Walker followed with a shot to right that climbed just over the top of the Clemente Wall for a 6-1 lead. Cole worked out of a two-on, two-out jam in the fifth and completed his career day by striking out Nick Hundley swinging. The burly right-hander pumped his first in celebration as he walked off the mound. The Pirates hadnt won a game by more than two runs since knocking off Milwaukee 5-2 on Sept. 2. NOTES: Hurdle said he hasnt set a rotation for the final week of the season. If the Pirates dont make any changes, ace Francisco Liriano would be available to pitch the opening game of the post-season. Liriano (16-7, 2.29 ERA) will start Friday night against Cincinnatis Mat Latos (14-6, 3.14) ... Pittsburgh C Tony Sanchez had 2 of his teams 14 hits and made an acrobatic grab in the eighth when he hauled in a foul pop by Chris Denorfia, flipping into the Padres dugout in the process ... San Diego begins a three-game series at home on Friday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Robbie Erlin (2-3, 5.18 ERA) will face Edinson Volquez (9-11, 5.94). yeezy boost 350 v2 ελλαδα . -- At the beginning of training camp, Andrew Bogut set a goal to play all 82 regular-season games and regain his place among the NBAs best centres. Adidas Stan Smith Φθηνα . Many of those eyes are in the United States of America, a country that the sport has wanted on its side for some time. On Sunday the football Gods delivered once again, only this time it was time for good old USA to experience as much heartache as joy. http://www.yeezygreece.com/yeezy-boost-350.html .Kraft says Goodell realized before seeing a video showing Baltimore running back Ray Rice striking his then fiance that domestic violence was very serious for society in general. Adidas Stan Smith Παιδικα Φθηνα . The 19-year-old Swiss centre back will initially have to impress in Uniteds reserve side to earn a spot in the first team. Veseli says "Manchester United has a long history of younger players coming through and hopefully I can follow and do the same. Yeezy Boost 2020 . Each day, TSN.ca provides the latest rumours, reports and speculation from around the NHL beat. Duck Calling With several marquee centres available via trade and expected to be available via free agency, the Anaheim Ducks could be primed to be big players in the coming days.TORONTO - Anthony Duclair was happy to ditch his blue New York Rangers jersey for a red Team Canada one, at least for a few weeks.Duclair was released by the NHL club to take part in the camp leading up to the world junior hockey championship in Montreal and Toronto. So far, hes the only one.As Canada gears up to try to win its first world junior gold since 2009, theyll have to do so without a handful of eligible players who are making an impact in the pros like Floridas Aaron Ekblad and Tampa Bays Jonathan Drouin. The status of two others, Ottawas Curtis Lazar and Vancouvers Bo Horvat, is still uncertain.Letting Duclair go seemed to be a no-brainer for New York, given that he was a part-time player after making the team out of training camp.Im glad that the Rangers let me be a part of this tournament, Duclair said Saturday morning. Its the last opportunity for me to play in this tournament. When youre playing against the best junior-age players in the world, you know youre going to get some good hockey and some good minutes. Its a big tournament and its really tough to play in. Im really looking forward to it.But its far from a one-size-fits-all strategy when NHL teams weigh whether to send their young stars to the world juniors. In the case of Ekblad and Colorados reigning Calder Trophy winner, Nathan MacKinnon, saying no is quite easy.Then there are the iffy cases like Drouin, Lazar and Horvat, each of whom has played a bottom-six role as a rookie in the NHL. All have been healthy scratches fewer times than Duclair was with the Rangers.Every situations different, Duclair said. I think every player you need to handle differently. Some guys in the NHL have a lot of impact in their club teams. You dont want to let them go. For myself, I was in and out of the lineup as a young guy, so I think it was a pretty good decision for me to come here.Drouin was Canadas second-leading scorer at last years tournament with three goals and six assists in seven games. Looking at his whole season with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey Leagues Halifax Mooseheads, Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman liked what he saw out of Drouin becoming a more complete player.After breaking his right thumb, Drouin made his Tampa Bay debut in October and has a goal and 10 assists and has averaged just under 13 minutes of ice time. Coach Jon Cooper made him a healthy scratch four times.Still, Yzerman wants Drouin to keep growing in the NHL, not at the junior level.Its just going to take a little time adjusting, Yzerman told local media this week. Were asking him to do more thaan just score: Be good in all aspects of the game.dddddddddddd And hes committed to it and we want him to get as much opportunity here.Lazar had three goals and four assists for Canada last year, and theres only a small chance hell get to have an encore. Part of that has to do with a knee injury to Chris Neil that opens up a spot for the 19-year-old with the Senators.A healthy scratch twice early, Lazar has a goal and six assists and has had similar ice time to Drouin. The Senators declined comment on Lazar until a final decision is made on whether to loan him to Canada for the world juniors.Horvat might be the most interesting case of all, considering he has carved out a niche for himself with the Canucks.Horvat, who was selected with the draft pick Vancouver acquired in the Cory Schneider trade with New Jersey, has only been scratched once since he broke into the NHL. He has a goal and four assists and is averaging about 10 minutes of ice time per game.When the Canucks came to Toronto on Dec. 6, Hockey Canada president and CEO Tom Renney took a light-hearted jab at trying to get Horvat loaned for the world juniors. In an interview shown on the video screens at Air Canada Centre, Renney said Team Canada was pretty complete, except for maybe a player on the ice tonight.That line aside, theres undoubtedly some pressure on the Canucks to decide before Canada finalizes its roster. Thats not due until Christmas Day, but the decision on Horvat must be made before the NHL roster freeze goes into effect Dec. 19.Duclair will get that experience after being passed over last year. The Montreal native had just a goal and six assists with the Rangers but in 2013-14 recorded 99 points for the Quebec Remparts.Canadian coach Benoit Groulx, whose full-time job is behind the bench for the QMJHLs Gatineau Olympiques, hopes Duclair can be a force. Last year after Christmas he was tough to play against, Groulx said. He ended up scoring 50 goals, and when you have a 50-goal scorer, whether its in the Quebec League, Ontario League or Western League, youve got to respect that.Duclair is a nice fit as a natural right-winger, according to Hockey Canada director of player personnel Ryan Jankowski.Scratched for Saturday nights exhibition game against the Toronto CIS Selects team, Duclair is a virtual lock to make the roster and just hopes he can make the most of this chance.I think I bring some experience, some leadership in the locker-room, Duclair said. Whatever I learned at the pro level I can bring down to the team here.———Follow @SWhyno on Twitter. ' ' '