BLACKBOARD » any drop-off.Quinn said he wont let the injuries on

PITTSBURGH -- The first pitch Andrew McCutchen saw from New York Mets reliever David Aardsma sent the Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star centerfielder sprawling. The second ended up in the seats. McCutchen responded from the brushback by belting a homer to tie the game in the sixth and then provided the go-ahead single in the seventh to help the Pirates rally for a 4-2 victory on Saturday. "I was just ready to hit," McCutchen said. "Come up and in and (I) just like to bear down and be ready to hit and thats what happened." Justin Wilson (6-1) earned the victory in relief of starter A.J. Burnett. All-Star closer Jason Grilli worked a perfect ninth for his NL-leading 29th save. The victory assured Pittsburgh (56-36) of its best record at the All-Star break since 1975 and moved the Pirates into a tie with St. Louis for the top spot in the NL Central. "We just want to continue to keep rolling," McCutchen said. Thats hardly an issue at the moment for Pittsburgh, which responded to a four-game losing streak by ripping off three straight wins. Three years after posting the worst record in baseball at 57-105, the Pirates can match their entire win total of that miserable season with a victory in Sundays series finale. "Nobody is satisfied," manager Clint Hurdle said. No, but theyre certainly encouraged. The bullpen picked up its 21st win of the season -- tied for the major league high -- when Wilson bailed Burnett out of a two-on, two-out jam in the sixth. The Mets managed just one hit the rest of the way, giving the Pirates all the room they would need to rally from an early 2-0 deficit. Marlon Byrd and Eric Young had two hits apiece for the Mets, but New Yorks relievers faltered in relief of spot starter Carlos Torres. A series of extra-inning games by the Mets -- including a 3-2 loss in 11 innings on Friday -- has left the pickings slim for manager Terry Collins. "Those guys are out of gas," Collins said. "Those arms are hanging." The Mets grinded their way to an early 2-0 lead against Burnett. Kirk Nieuwenhuis doubled home Byrd in the fourth and Byrd added an RBI infield single in the fifth as Pittsburghs ace struggled with his command. Burnett surrendered two runs on seven hits in 5 2-3 innings, striking out eight but walking four in his second start since returning from a torn calf. He escaped further damage in the sixth when Wilson struck out Daniel Murphy with runners on the corners. "You never want to come out of a game, but you feel pretty good when these guys come in behind you," Burnett said. The Pirates didnt let the reprieve go to waste. After McCutchen tied the game with his 10th homer of the season in the sixth, pinch hitter Travis Snider started the game-winning rally with a one-out single in the seventh. Jose Tabata followed one batter later with a single and Snider scored when McCutchens sharp grounder deflected off New York third baseman David Wrights glove and into the outfield. Pittsburgh added an insurance run when New Yorks Josh Edgin walked Russell Martin with the bases loaded. Torres filled in capably for All-Star Matt Harvey, forced to miss a start due to a blister on his right (pitching) hand. Torres pitched five effective innings in his first major league start in nearly three years. The right-hander gave up just one run and struck out five. Torres worked as a starter in Triple-A Las Vegas this season before moving into a relievers role when the Mets called him up in mid-June. He hadnt thrown more than 45 pitches since returning to the majors and cruised into the fifth before tiring. Garrett Jones doubled and scored on Jordy Mercers single. Clint Barmes followed with a double and a sacrifice bunt and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases with one out. Yet Torres survived when Tabata hit into a double play to end the threat. "I was just taking it inning by inning and I thought pretty well until the fifth," Torres said. "That fifth inning was brutal. I lost my command and I left a lot of balls up. I guess maybe I ran out of gas a little." Torres then handed it over to the bullpen, but New Yorks relievers -- whose 1.76 ERA this month is the second-best mark in baseball -- couldnt make it hold up. NOTES: The Mets activated RHP Scott Atchison off the disabled list following the game and sent utility player Jordany Valdespin to Triple-A Las Vegas ... Atchison is 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA in 19 appearances with New York this season ... The series concludes Sunday when Pittsburghs Gerrit Cole (4-2, 3.68 ERA) faces New Yorks Dillon Gee (6-7, 4.60). Cole is starting in place of Jeff Locke, who is dealing with back stiffness that will force him to sit out next Tuesdays All-Star game ... New York reliever LaTroy Hawkins was held out again due to soreness in his right triceps. Collins says the decision on whether to put Hawkins on the disabled list wont be made until after the All-Star break. Cheap Air Max 90 China . JOHNS, N. Cheap Air Max 90 For Sale . -- Anaheim Ducks defenceman Luca Sbisa will be out at least six weeks with a torn tendon in his right hand. http://www.airmax90clearance.com/ .ca! Hi Kerry, Its another day and here we are looking at another dubious hit to the head. In this case Blue Jackets forward Brandon Dubinsky elbowed Saku Koivu in the head about a second after he dished off the puck to a teammate, knocking him unconscious. Air Max 90 Clearance .C. -- Rodney Hood connected from all over the court while freshman Jabari Parker was busy swatting shots and scoring in transition. Cheap Air Max 90 . According to a report from the Winnipeg Free Press, the Bombers will name Acting GM Kyle Walters to the post full time. FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- An Atlanta Falcons defense already having to adjust to losing its top cornerback for the season now also must compensate for the loss of one of its top pass rushers.Coach Dan Quinn said Wednesday defensive end Adrian Clayborn, who is second on the team with 4+ sacks, will miss at least two weeks after having surgery on his left knee. Clayborn suffered the injury in Sundays 38-19 win over Arizona .The loss of Clayborn came after cornerback Desmond Trufant was placed on injured reserve with a torn pectoral muscle that forced him to miss the past two weeks.Quinn said the good news is Clayborn didnt have to join Trufant on IR as the Falcons prepare for Sundays game against Kansas City.We are very encouraged that we dont see it as a long-term injury, Quinn said. You never like to see a player have a surgery, but in this case it was good news because he thought it was going to be a season-ender. So when it wasnt he was thrilled, and we were, too.The defense already has lost linebacker Sean Weatherspoon and defensive end Derrick Shelby to season-ending injuries and has had linebackers DeVondre Campbell and Deion Jones and safety Keanu Neal miss time.The losses are beginning to mount for a defense which ranks only 27th in yards allowed. Atlanta is last in the league in pass defense.Clayborn posted on his Twitter feed on Tuesday night that the surgery went well.Surgery went great. Time to attack this recovery so I can get back out there with my brothers! Clayborn wrote on his Twitter account.The Falcons depth chart lists Clayborn as the top backup to Brooks Reed.Quinn said veteran pass rush specialist Dwight Freeney will be given more snaps, as will Reed and Courtney Upshaw.Freeney was held out of Wednesdays practice, which isnt unusual, even though he is not on the injury report.ddddddddddddThe Falcons have tried to protect Freeney, 36, by limiting his snaps in games and practice.Freeney has three sacks and now may have more chances to build on that modest total.The fact that weve limited it somewhat to this point has him feeling fresh, Quinn said.Jalen Collins already has had two games to adjust to his new starting role as Trufants replacement. Collins had six tackles and defended three passes against Arizona.I believe we have a great ability to overcome adversity, Collins said. Weve been through a lot the first half of the season. Weve come a long way. Were continuing to grow. Its always bad when you lose guys, but were always going to prepare and get those guys as ready as possible so that we dont have any drop-off.Quinn said he wont let the injuries on defense affect the play-calling on offense. He said the offense would continue to attack instead of worry about holding the ball to protect the defense.Were comfortable with the guys were going into battle with, he said.Game notes The team waived punter Matt Wile as starter Matt Bosher is ready to return from his hamstring injury. The team signed center Trevor Robinson and cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson. Wreh-Wilson started in 14 of his 34 games the past three years for Tennessee and was waived before the season. Robinson has spent time with the Bengals and Chargers. The Falcons also signed offensive lineman Kevin Graf to their practice squad.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '