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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.Wholesale 76ers Jerseys .C. -- Todd Fiddler scored a hat trick, including the overtime goal, as the Prince George Cougars survived an 8-7 win against the Kamloops Blazers in Western Hockey League play Sunday. Allen Iverson Jersey . The nimble-footed quarterback got his wish, dashing through the snow and a weary defence all the way into the NCAA record book. http://www.cheap76ersjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-timothe-luwawu-jersey . Belfort (24-10) needed just 77 seconds to down Henderson in the headlining bout of Saturdays "UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson" event at Goiania Arena in Goiania, Brazil. The fight served as a rematch of the pairs 2006 meeting, which Henderson won by decision. Joel Embiid Jersey . Roman Josi had a goal and an assist to lead the Predators to a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Monday night. Cheap NBA Jerseys .500 on the season. The Jets are now 0-5-1 in the second game of back-to-backs. The game started the same way the Vancouver game started the night before, with the Jets taking the first two penalties of the game and killing off the first, but the Oilers getting on the board first, scoring on the second man-advantage.There is no greater honour in sport than to represent ones country. To carry the hopes and dreams of a nations fans onto the field of play is an immense privilege, and carries with it an equally immense responsibility. There is a mantra that is repeated to athletes who don the Canadian Soccer Association jersey: "You are not just representing yourself, or your family; you are representing your country." This mantra implies that athletes should conduct themselves in a manner that reflects the values that we, as Canadians, hold dear. Values like hard work, sacrifice, teamwork, perseverance and humility. During their remarkable run to the bronze medal at last summers Olympic Games in London, Canadas womens national team demonstrated these values in abundance, and in doing so, captured the hearts of the entire nation. That they didnt come home with the gold medal is irrelevant; they overcame the disappointment of a heartbreaking, controversial loss to the United States in the semi-finals, then rode their luck against a dominant French team in the bronze medal game. An opportunistic Diana Matheson goal was all that separated the two teams at the final whistle, and the bronze medals that hung around the players necks during the medal ceremony – while not as shiny and lustrous as the golds that hung around the necks of the Americans - represented our Canadian values all the same. The media tidal wave that followed was unprecedented; yet throughout, the entire team carried itself with class - which only served to further endear the players to their legion of Canadian fans. When casting a critical eye over the group, one can come to no other conclusion than this: Canada is deficient in relation to the worlds top womens teams. A lack of technical ability in too many players, an overall athletic profile that lacks agility and speed, and no genuine creativity or goal scoring thhreat from anyone but Christine Sinclair are just some of the major concerns that head coach John Herdman must overcome leading up to the 2015 World Cup.dddddddddddd Yet for all of these flaws, I would not want anyone but these ladies pulling on the red jersey of Canada and representing our country. As a group and as individuals, they are the most genuine athletes I have ever come across. If anyone has earned the right to be arrogant, it is Christine Sinclair. She is, without exaggeration, one of the best players in the world. Yet she is also one of the most unassuming and humble. She is only now - after being thrust into the spotlight by her three-goal performance against the U.S. in the Olympics and subsequent naming as Canadas flag-bearer in the closing ceremonies – starting to come out of her shell to the media. They are splashed across billboards and appear on radio and television frequently, always preaching the message of hard work, sacrifice, teamwork, perseverance and humility. They have not let their success go to their heads. They realize that what they achieved last summer is now in the past, and that they have an opportunity – a responsibility – to leave a legacy for the next generation when Canada hosts the FIFA Womens World Cup in 2015. That legacy began on Saturday, when 22,453 people filled every seat at BMO Field in Toronto to watch their heroes take on the United States. The result – a comfortable 3-0 U.S. victory – was expected. Canada has only beaten the Americans three times, and has not done so in over 12 years. But the desired outcome was achieved. The seed was planted in the hearts and minds of the next generation. As I sat in the stands watching the game, I overheard one father say to another, "After this, my daughter is going to want to quit hockey and focus on soccer. This is amazing!" Amazing, indeed. ' ' '