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PITTSBURGH -- Pedro Alvarez mashed two home runs that travelled an estimated 831 feet Friday night. It was a series of sprints by the burly Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman, however, that ignited a 12-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Alvarez broke open a close game in the sixth by beating out a potential double play, followed it up with the fifth stolen base of his career then scored with a deft slide around St. Louis catcher Yadier Molinas tag that gave the Pirates the momentum they needed to pull away. "I thought the stolen base was key," manager Clint Hurdle said. "He puts a lot of focus on running the bases and hes arguably one of our best baserunners when hes on." It certainly looked like it, as Alvarezs outstretched left arm slid across the plate a split second before one of the games best defensive catchers could nab him. The Cardinals imploded from there as Shelby Miller (0-1) continued to struggle against Pittsburgh. Miller fell to 0-5 with a 5.92 ERA against the Pirates in his brief career after tying a career-high by allowing five runs in 5 1-3 innings. The right-hander is 16-5 with a 2.34 ERA in his 33 other major league appearances. "Its not the park. Its not the team. I just pitched poorly today," Miller said. "I guess it just lines up that way where I dont pitch well when I face them." Travis Ishikawa added his first major league home run in nearly two years for Pittsburgh. Gerrit Cole (1-0) gave up two runs in seven innings in his first start since losing the deciding Game 5 of the NL division series to St. Louis last October. Six months removed from a taut NLDS that pushed the eventual NL champions to the brink of elimination, the Pirates sent an early message they have no plans of going away. Cole is considered the ace in waiting after a stellar rookie season in which he was arguably Pittsburghs best pitcher over the final six weeks. Eager to take the next step in his development, the 23-year-old kept the Cardinals in check by mixing a fastball that consistently reaches the upper 90s with improved offspeed stuff. He also showcased some of his maturity, working out of a bases loaded situation in the fourth by getting Jhonny Peralta to fly out. His only mistake came in the fifth when Carpenter drilled a shot into the right field stands to pull the Cardinals to 3-2. Otherwise he teamed with catcher Russell Martin to keep St. Louis in check. "I think it was just a really well-played ballgame on our part," Cole said. "I cant say enough about what Russ did behind the plate. Not sure there are any other catchers in the entire world that could handle what I threw at him tonight." Pittsburghs offence -- which mustered all of 20 hits in 35 innings of a season-opening series against the Chicago Cubs -- made sure it didnt stay close for long after pounding out 16 hits in eight innings against the NL Central favourites. Alvarez began the year in a 1 for 15 slump but ended that with a home run to the gap in left-centre for his first home run of the season. He added his second two innings later with a long drive to right-centre that travelled an estimated 448 feet. His hustle down the first-base line in the sixth allowed Pittsburghs rally to continue and the Pirates pressed the advantage. Molina committed a rare error after Alvarezs slide, botching a potential rundown at third base when his throw hit Martin in the back and rolled into the stands. The miscue gave the Pirates a 5-2 lead and Pittsburgh poured it on in the late innings. NOTES: Ishikawas solo home run in the fourth was his first since May 15, 2012 while playing for the New York Yankees. ... The start of the game was delayed 1:05 by rain, the third straight game a Cardinals game was delayed by weather. ... Injured Cardinals 2B Mark Ellis is starting baseball activities but it remains uncertain when hell be ready to return from left knee tendinitis. Ellis went on the 15-day DL on March 27 and is eligible to return on April 11. ... The series continues on Saturday. RHP Joe Kelly will make his season debut for the Cardinals against Pittsburghs Francisco Liriano (0-0, 0.00). Green Bay Packers Elgton Jenkins Jersey .5 million, two-year contract with the San Francisco Giants on Thursday, a deal that covers his final two arbitration seasons. Green Bay Packers Jace Sternberger Jersey . - Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors will coach the Western Conference in the All-Star Game on Feb. http://www.packerscheap.com/. Brad Malone had the other goal for the Monsters (1-1-0), while Elliott chipped in an assist for a three-point night and the games first star. Bryan Lerg also had two assists. Corban Knight and Max Reinhart scored for the Heat (1-1-0), who opened their season Friday with a 5-2 win over the Monsters in Cleveland. Green Bay Packers Jerseys China . Cleveland released the troubled wide receiver on Wednesday, an expected ending after Bess was arrested in January for assaulting a law enforcement officer at an airport and other bizarre behaviour. Discount Green Bay Packers Jerseys . As future stars prepare to make the big leap to the professional ranks, TSNs Draft Week delivers wall-to-wall coverage of both the NHL and NBA Entry Drafts, highlighted by exclusive live coverage of both events.PARIS -- Midfielder Blaise Matuidi has signed a new contract with Paris Saint-Germain until 2018, ending months of speculation surrounding his future. The 26-year-old Matuidi has been one of PSGs key players, playing an important role in the French league title run last year. The France international was out of contract in June and had been linked with a big-money move to English Premier League side Manchester City. Matuidi has formed a dynamic central midfield pairing with Thiago Motta, who recently signed a new deal to keep him at the club until 2016. PSG is also negotiating terms with Brazil centre half Alex over a new contract. A tireless runner renowned for his tenacious tackling, Matuidi has played 124 games and scored 13 goals for PSG since joining from Saint-Etienne in 2011. "I was determined to continue the adventure with Paris Saint-Germain," said Matuidi, who has played 19 times for France. "The clubs limitless ambition is unequaled in Europe." Since Qatari backers QSI took charge in May 2011, PSG alreaady has bought four players costing more than 40 million euros ($55 million) each -- Brazil captain Thiago Silva, Argentina midfielder Javier Pastore, the clubs first marquee signing who has since fallen out of favour, Brazil winger Lucas and Uruguay forward Edinson Cavani.dddddddddddd PSG also signed midfielder Yohan Cabaye from Premier League club Newcastle last month, and the fact Matuidi is staying on shows PSG has the power both to lure and keep good players, when the French league has historically mainly been a selling league. "We are sending out a very strong message to France and the rest of Europe by re-signing one of Frances very best players," PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said. "Together, we want to build one of the best clubs in the world." PSG leads the French league by five points from Monaco, and thrashed Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 away from home in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 match. The team is scoring freely and Zlatan Ibrahimovic has 37 goals in all competitions. 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