exhibition game on Oct. 25 because players were slipping, and t

PITTSBURGH -- Philadelphia Phillies rookie Zach Eflin is trying to establish himself in the majors. Pittsburgh Pirates ace Gerrit Cole already has done that but, now, hes trying to ramp up an injury-interrupted season and regain the dominance he had last year.The two right-handers match up Friday night in the first game this season between the two in-state teams, and in a series that will feature lots and lots of promising young pitching.Saturday night, for example, its 23-year-old Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola (5-8) against a still-to-be-designated Pirates starter, whos all but certain to be 22-year-old rookie right-hander Tyler Glasnow in his second career start.Sunday, its 24-year-old Phillies second-year right-hander Vince Velasquez, whos been dominating at times while going 8-2, going against Pirates rookie right-hander Jameson Taillon (2-1), whos been excellent his last two times out while allowing only two runs in 12 innings.Combined number of major league starts for the five projected starters other than Cole, whos made 86 starts for Pittsburgh? A total of 67 starts.Cole, of course, was 19-8 last season in leading the Pirates staff during a 98-win season. But a strained right triceps recently kept him out for a month, and Cole was uneven during his return Saturday, a 6-0 loss in Washington in which he gave up four earned runs in four innings.I just didnt execute enough pitches, Cole said after the game, his third loss -- against five wins -- in his last 11 starts. If I made one quality pitch I followed it up with a subpar (pitch). The ball was elevated, especially out of the stretch. I got crushed.Pirates manager Clint Hurdle wouldnt go that far, but he wants to see Cole (5-5) get back to being the pitcher who won five of six decisions from April 21 through May 20.He needs to get back here and help us and get involved in the fight with us, Hurdle said.The Phillies, losers of four of five after dropping a 9-3 decision to the Miami Marlins on Thursday, arent fighting for anything much during the second half of the season, but that young pitching staff is one of baseballs most gifted. And Eflin is one of the most intriguing of that group, putting up a 2.56 ERA in six starts since allowing nine runs in his major league debut against Toronto.Still, Phillies manager Pete Mackanin wanted to see more from Eflin than he did during a 5-0 loss to the New York Mets on Sunday, when the rookie gave up three runs in six innings. He also had Philadelphias only hit off Jacob deGrom.Really, I wasnt comfortable with him, Mackanin told the Philadelphia Inquirer, and not in a decidedly negative way. He needs some work on his slider. But, for a 22-year-old kid, youve got to like him. He can throw a four-seamer and a two-seamer and hes got a good change-up. He locates real well and, for 22 years old, you dont see that a lot.The fans attending the weekend series at PNC Park will see a wealth of young pitching from both sides as the Phillies become the final NL team to play in Pittsburgh this season.The Pirates are on something of a roll, winning three of four and 12 of 17 as they contend again in the NL Central.They got four RBI from last-minute lineup addition Matt Joyce -- who hit a three-run homer in the first, minutes after Starling Martes illness shoved him into the lineup -- in beating the Milwaukee Brewers 5-3 Thursday night behind left-hander Francisco Liriano (6-9), who won for only the second time since May 24.Hes having a great year, hes crushed some balls, Liriano said of Joyce, whose ninth homer was his first this season before the seventh inning. Tom Waddle Bears Jersey ., and Rudi Swiegers of Kipling, Sask., took sixth spot on Saturday in pairs at the NHK Trophy ISU Grand Prix figure skating competition. Riley Ridley Youth Jersey . Only three players drafted by NHL clubs were included on the Czech selection camp roster on Wednesday. Those players were Dallas Stars 2012 first-rounder Radek Faksa, Winnipeg Jets 2013 fourth-rounder Jan Kostalek and Phoenix Coyotes 2012 seventh-rounder Marek Langhamer. https://www.bearssportsgoods.com/Womens-Akiem-Hicks-Inverted-Jersey/ .C. - The Carolina Hurricanes have placed backup goalie Anton Khudobin on injured reserve with an unspecified lower-body injury. Akiem Hicks Bears Jersey . Kozun faked to the forehand and beat Monsters starter, Calvin Pickard, pad side in the second round for the winner. Spencer Abbott also scored in the shootout for the Marlies (25-13-4). William Perry Youth Jersey . NBA officials ruled the court unplayable in the Bucks final exhibition game on Oct. 25 because players were slipping, and the game was cancelled midway through the first period. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Jonathan Dorsey hauled in an 18-yard touchdown pass in overtime and Nick Carden kicked in the extra point to lift Alabama A&M to a 42-41 win over Alabama State on Saturday.Tied at 35 late in the fourth quarter, Alabama A&M (3-5, 3-4 Southwestern Athletic Conference) missed a 33-yard field goal when Alabama States Roderick Henderson got an arm up to block it and send the game into OT. The Hornets (2-6, 2-5) scored first in the extra period with a 14-yard touchdown run by Marquell Beckwith but missed the PAT kick..dddddddddddd.The Bulldogs responded with DeAngelo Ballards touchdown throw to Dorsey and won the game on Cardens PAT kick.Ballard finished 19 of 35 for 290 yards passing with two touchdowns and added another 101 yards rushing on 19 carries. Jordan Bentley ran for 80 yards and two touchdowns for Alabama A&M.Alabama States Khalid Thomas ran for 170 yards on 24 carries and 115 yards on three punt returns. ' ' '