PITTSBURGH -- Tony Sanchez thought he was going to get the opportunity to catch a no-hitter in his rookie season with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Thats how well Francisco Liriano was pitching Sunday. "I thought there was a chance," Sanchez said. "His ball was really moving, particularly the slider, was moving all over the place." Liriano took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning before faltering in his first no-decision this season, and pinch-hitter Justin Morneau singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth to lead the Pirates over the Chicago Cubs 3-2. Pittsburgh remained tied with St. Louis for the NL Central lead, took three of four from the last-place Cubs and won for the sixth time in seven games. The Cardinals beat Seattle 12-2. Morneau, acquired from Minnesota on Aug. 31, drove in his first run for the Pirates. The 2006 AL MVP is batting .279 (12 for 43) with Pittsburgh. "It was perfect timing for the first RBI, thats for sure," Morneau said. "I wish it would have happened a week-and-a-half ago, but Im glad it happened when it did. Its just nice to contribute." With the score 2-2 in the eighth, Andrew McCutchen was hit by a pitch from Pedro Strop (2-2), took second on Marlon Byrds bloop single to centre and scored on Morneaus single. "Its funny how things turn out in this game," Morneau said. "You hit some balls hard and have nothing to show for it then I get a broken-bat hit that ends being the game-winner." Kyle Farnsworth (1-0) pitched a scoreless eighth, and Mark Melancon completed a three-hitter with a perfect ninth for his 16th save in 18 chances. Liriano didnt allow a hit until Junior Lake singled into the hole between third base and shortstop leading off the seventh. Shortstop Jordy Mercer made a diving effort and stopped the ball on the outfield grass, but Lake easily beat the throw. Welington Castillo followed with a tying, two-run homer into the bleachers in left-centre. Castillos seventh homer of the season stopped Lirianos streak of 22 consecutive scoreless innings at PNC Park. "You knew it was going to be tough and thats how you score against Liriano -- you get somebody on and pop a home run," Chicago manager Dale Sveum said. Liriano allowed two runs, three hits and four walks in six-plus innings. At 16-7, he became the first Pirates pitcher with a decision in his first 23 starts since Larry French opened with 24 in a row in 1930, according to STATS. "He was on the edges of the plate and then he was just off of them," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. "The pitch count got up higher than he wanted it to be but he got outs and he had a no-hitter through six innings. He battles and he competes." Liriano, who was unavailable for comment after the game, threw 99 pitches through six innings, and Hurdle said it was doubtful he would have made it to the ninth. "Franciscos a pro and he realizes it wouldnt benefit anyone for him to throw 130 pitches on Sept. 15," Hurdle said. Cubs starter Travis Wood gave up two runs, five hits and two walks in six innings. "Obviously, Lirianos very good so they matched each other evenly, pitch-for-pitch," Sveum said. "A couple bloopers there in the last inning cost us the win there." Jose Tabata led off the first inning with a triple and scored on a wild pitch, and Sanchez doubled the lead when he homered in the fourth. NOTES: Pittsburgh LF Starling Marte, who has not had a plate appearance since Aug. 18 because of a bruised right hand, is to take batting practice Monday and could be in the lineup Tuesday against San Diego. ... Cubs RHP Scott Baker is slated to make his final start of the season Friday against Atlanta. Manager Dale Sveum has decided not to tinker with his six-man rotation, even though Baker has allowed only one run, five hits and one walk in 11 innings in his first two starts since returning from elbow ligament surgery. ... The Pirates open a four-game home series Monday night against San Diego, while the Cubs open a four-game series at Milwaukee against the Brewers. Pirates RHP A.J. Burnett will start against RHP Andrew Cashner (9-8, 3.40). Chicago RHP Edwin Jackson (8-15, 4.76) faces RHP Wily Peralta (9-15, 4.49). Clyde Drexler Rockets Jersey . Traditional contenders Brazil, Greece and Turkey drew the other three spots to complete the 24-team field for this summers tournament in Spain, basketball governing body FIBA announced Saturday at its meeting in Barcelona. Gerald Green Jersey . Rosbergs time of 1 minute, 33.185 seconds at the Bahrain International Circuit was a quarter of a second faster than Hamilton, who had to abandon his final flying lap after running wide at the first corner. https://www.rocketsrookiesshop.com/Pj-Tu...Edition-Jersey/. The injury could land Machado on the 15-day disabled list, but its not as serious as it looked on Monday night, when the third baseman crumpled in a heap at the plate after taking an awkward swing in a game against the New York Yankees. Michael Carter-Williams Rockets Jersey . -- Former Penn State coach Joe Paterno was admitted to the hospital Friday for observation due to minor complications from cancer treatments, his family said. Russell Westbrook Jersey . -- Phil Mickelson came to the St. MINNEAPOLIS -- Adam Lind has shown the Toronto Blue Jays what he can do for the last eight seasons. With the team already looking ahead to next year thanks to a disappointing record, Lind may be sending general manager Alex Anthopolous a reminder as he prepares for an off-season of tough decisions. Lind hit a pair of three-run homers as the Blue Jays topped the Minnesota Twins 11-2 on Saturday, his second multi-homer game this season and 10th of his career. Hes hit three home runs his last four games and has 19 this season to go with a .282 batting average -- his best since 2009. "Adams always been a good player for this organization," manager John Gibbons said. "I dont know how the team will stack up next year. But I dont think he needs to audition. Hes proven himself over time." His first homer highlighted a five-run first inning -- Torontos second five-run inning in two games -- and the second shot capped the scoring in the eighth. Lind has team options on his contract the next three seasons, but with a host of young outfielders potentially shifting Melky Cabrera to full-time DH duties in 2014 and Edwin Encarnacion entrenched at first base, Lind could be squeezed out. "Thats kind of a big problem," Lind said. "But its a good one to have." Linds other multi-homer game this season, Aug. 17 at Tampa Bay, also came in support of J.A. Happ, who won for the first time since then and snapped a three-game losing streak. Happ (4-5), who entered the game with a 7.71 ERA in his last three outings, allowed an unearned run on five hits while striking out four. The left-hander, who suffered a fractured skull and sprained knee on May 7 when he was hit in the head by line drive, hadnt pitched past the fifth inning in back-to-back starts. But Happ faced just two over the minimum through the first three innings before Brett Lawries throwing error in the fourth led to the unearned run. He walked two of the four batters he faced in the sixth before giving way to Neil Wagner, who struck out Chris Colabello to end the threat. "You want to finish strong, you want to remind these guys what you can do and prove to yourself what you can do," Happ said. "Obviously its kind of showing I think. Hope to continue the way weve been playing." Happs 5 2-3 innings pitched were his most since he workeed seven against Oakland on Aug.dddddddddddd 7. Hes only made it through six innings in three of his 14 starts this season. But it was enough for the Blue Jays, who jumped on Twins starter Kevin Correia (9-11) early. After Jose Reyes flew out to the warning track to start the game, Toronto connected on six consecutive hits -- including back-to-back homers from Lind and Lawrie. But Correia settled down from there, allowing just two hits in the next five innings. Correia was 1-0 with a 0.64 ERA in his previous two starts, but entered 1-2 with a 6.88 ERA in three career starts against the Blue Jays -- including the Twins 4-0 loss to Toronto on July 5. Linds six RBI were his most since a career-high eight at Texas on Aug. 31, 2009, and the most by a Blue Jays player since J.P. Arencibia drove in six against the Yankees on May 18, 2012. "Hes got one of the prettiest swings you can find in baseball," Gibbons said. "When he gets hot, he gets hot. Hes starting to do that now." Lawrie finished with three hits for Toronto. Hes hitting .307 with six homers and 27 RBIs since the All Star break. Munenori Kawasaki was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Oswaldo Arcia and Josmil Pinto drove in Minnesotas only runs. The Twins started the eighth inning with three singles and a walk, but Steve Delabar relieved Kyle Drabek and retired the next three batters to keep Minnesota from getting any closer. The Twins have lost nine straight home games for the first time since April 27-May 23, 2011. The Blue Jays have won nine of their last 12 overall and 34 of their previous 44 against Minnesota. NOTES: Twins C Joe Mauer took group batting practice Saturday for the first time as he continues to make progress from a concussion he suffered Aug. 19. There still is no timetable for his return. ... Toronto OF Moises Sierra left the game with lower back tightness after striking out to end the third inning. Rajai Davis replaced him in right field. ... Esmil Rogers (4-7, 4.76 ERA) will try to win back-to-back starts for the first time since June 13 and 18 as he takes the mound for Toronto on Sunday. The Twins will counter with rookie Matt Albers (2-2, 3.96), who has allowed five earned runs in three of his last four starts after starting his career with 8 1-3 shutout innings and a shutout. ' ' '