highlighted by an alley-oop jam in which he caught

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - As the game went on, Gerrit Coles fastball got faster, and the San Francisco Giants couldnt catch up. Cole won for the first time in nearly a month, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat San Francisco 4-3 Wednesday for their second straight win over the Giants. Cole (3-2) beat Tim Lincecum for the second time in his 11-month major league career, allowing three runs and seven hits in eight innings with seven strikeouts and a walk. The No. 1 pick in the 2011 amateur draft, Cole had a fastball clocked at 95-96 mph to begin the game and was 97-98 over his final two innings. "Really solid, solid effort for him," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "Pushing through the eighth inning, the middle of the order, was very impressive. Hes capable of a lot of things out there. You saw the velocity stay at a much higher level today throughout the game, and actually his velocity played bigger later than it did earlier." Fill-in closer Mark Melancon worked a perfect ninth for his second save in three chances. Centerfielder Andrew McCutchen made a diving catch of Brandon Crawfords soft liner to left-centre for the second out. Pittsburgh has won four of six after a 1-7 slide, taking two of three in the series. San Francisco had won 10 of 11 before the Pirates replay-aided walkoff win Tuesday. Pittsburgh scored all its runs over the first two innings Wednesday. "Were starting to click on all cylinders now," said Pirates catcher Chris Stewart, who had two hits. "The pitching is starting to come around, and were starting to get those hits in those big situations that we werent before". Ike Davis had three hits for the Pirates. Brandon Belt hit his ninth home run and drove in all three runs for San Francisco. Cole had been 0-2 in four starts since winning his first two outings. He pitched eight innings for the second time this season, throwing 107 pitches, one shy of his season high. Cole, who went 1 for 3 to maintain a .333 batting average, won his major league debut at home last June 11 against Lincecum, a two-time NL Cy Young Award winner. Lincecum (2-2) allowed four runs, eight hits and two walks in four innings. Opponents are hitting .329 against him. "I wasnt finishing my pitches, especially my secondary pitches," he said. "When I got ahead in the count, the secondary pitchers were just rolling up there and had no bite on them. Im the type of guy whos going to have to get guys to chase pitches, but I cant do that when Im leaving balls up in the strike zone that are so hittable." McCutchen had a run-scoring single in the first and came around on Starling Martes double. Travis Snider made it 4-1 with a two-run single in the second. Belt homered on the first pitch he saw with two outs in the first, then hit a two-run double with two outs in the fifth. But Belt was thrown out at third on the play, ending the threat. "That was a mistake," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. NOTES: 3B Pablo Sandoval was not in the starting lineup after sustaining what Bochy termed a sprain of his hand or thumb during the final play of Tuesday nights game. He pinch hit for Lincecum in the fifth and singled. ... Neil Walker had a second-inning single has has reached safely in all 15 home games hes played against San Francisco ... The Giants headed to Los Angeles for a four-game series against the Dodgers that starts Thursday. San Franciscos starter in the opener, RHP Ryan Vogelsong, has allowed one earned run over 13 innings in his past two starts. ... The Pirates host St. Louis this weekend in a series that includes the first ESPN Sunday night game in PNC Parks 14-year history. China NFL Jerseys . -- So much for concern that running back Marshawn Lynch would be absent from the Seattle Seahawks minicamp. Cheap Jerseys Paypal .Y. - Alex Smith and the Kansas City Chiefs didnt flinch in the face of adversity. http://www.authenticnfljerseys.net/ .com) - The fading Ottawa Senators have a chance to make up some ground in the playoff race on Tuesday night as they play host to the New York Rangers. Wholesale NFL Jerseys Authentic . The Mavericks were not going to let San Antonio beat them with 3-pointers, and they did not want Tony Parker using the lane as his personal playground. Cheap Authentic Jerseys . - Maynor Figueroa headed in a late goal to give Honduras a 1-1 draw with the United States in an international friendly Tuesday.NEW ORLEANS - Anthony Davis stood at the top of the key, pumping his fist and letting out a roar.His adrenaline-infused reaction was inspired not by one of his five thunderous dunks against the Philadelphia 76ers, but the way Omer Asik converted Davis crisp pass under the basket into a layup as he was fouled.Everybodys having fun, moving the ball. It doesnt matter who scores, Davis said. Everybodys playing together. Everybodys playing hard and thats all that the coaches ask for.Davis had 32 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots, and New Orleans stretched its season-long winning streak to four games with a 99-74 victory over the Sixers on Monday night.Ryan Anderson scored 19 points and Eric Gordon added 13 for New Orleans, while Tyreke Evans tied a season high in assists — set one night earlier — with 12.As long as were winning the game and everybody is having fun, it doesnt matter to me, Evans said of his statistical line, which included a below-average six points. I could have easily penetrated and got to the rim, but Id seen guys open and I was looking to find guys.K.J. McDaniels scored 16 points for the 76ers, who lost their sixth straight. Henry Sims and Luc Mbah a Moute each scored 14 points.Philadelphia played without Michael Carter-Williams, who was sidelined by an upper respiratory infection.Nerlens Noel, who was matched up with Davis, said he may have been over-hyped for the game. He finished with two points on 1-for-9 shooting to go with two blocks and six rebounds.I probably should have slowed my mind down. I was thinking about the game too much, Noel said. I need to have the mindset of playing within myself. ... I should have found better ways to get myself going during the game.Davis was 12-of-19 shooting, including five layups and five crowd-pleasing dunks, and made all eight of his free throws as New Orleans (24-21) moved three games above .500 for the first time since coach Monty Williams first season in 2010-11.ddddddddddddHe is a stud, Sixers coach Brett Brown said of Davis. Monty has done an excellent job of featuring him ... and their players complement him.Davis had his second 13-point quarter of the game in the third period, and his last two free throws gave New Orleans its largest lead at 85-60. Davis and the rest of New Orleans starters, including Gordon and Evans, did not play in the fourth quarter.The Pelicans outshot the Sixers 45.3 per cent (39 of 86) to 34.6 per cent (28 of 81) and outrebounded Philadelphia 52-38.Half of Davis rebounds came on the offensive end, several leading to putbacks. He also had three steals and three assists while not turning the ball over once.Davis had 13 points in the first quarter, highlighted by an alley-oop jam in which he caught Evans lob with his right hand while soaring toward the hoop and slammed it down in one well-timed motion over a defender cutting across his path.His early surge helped the Pelicans race to a 31-19 lead.The Sixers got as close as 34-33 while Davis rested, but the Pelicans gradually rebuilt their lead to 13 after Davis returned and led 52-43 at the break.TIP-INS76ers: The Sixers won the first of the two meetings the teams have this season on Jan. 16 in Philadelphia, 96-81. That was also the last time they won a game. ... Because of a major snow storm in the Northeast, the Sixers decided to spend Monday night in the Big Easy instead of flying out right after the game.Pelicans: Asik finished with 10 points. ... New Orleans improved its home record to 15-5.ABOVE THE RIMTwice in the first half, Evans set up Davis for alley-oop dunks.Ive got a good feel for A.D., I know what he likes to do, Evans said. Im comfortable playing with him and its just fun out there when were playing like that.UP NEXT76ers: Host Detroit on Wednesday.Pelicans: Host Denver on Wednesday. ' ' '