PITTSBURGH -- Marlon Byrd likens joining a new team to the first day of school. [url=https://www.cheapangels.com/1053j-taylor-cole-jersey-angels.html]Ta ylor Cole Angels Jersey[/url] . It took the well-travelled outfielder all of four at-bats to become one of the cool kids on the Pittsburgh Pirates.

PITTSBURGH -- Marlon Byrd likens joining a new team to the first day of school. Taylor Cole Angels Jersey . It took the well-travelled outfielder all of four at-bats to become one of the cool kids on the Pittsburgh Pirates. Byrd celebrated his arrival to the NL Central pennant race with a three-run home run, an epic strikeout, two standing ovations and a curtain call in Pittsburghs 7-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night. Quite an entrance for a player who 24 hours earlier was playing for the New York Mets. Thrust abruptly into the middle of a pennant race, Byrd provided the kind of immediate jolt the Pirates were looking for when they traded for the former All-Star along with backup catcher John Buck on Tuesday. "You want to feel accepted," Byrd said. "I felt accepted all day long." Smile plastered on his face from the moment he was introduced as the cleanup hitter, Byrd made an immediate impression, lining into a double play in his first at-bat. He followed that up with a 14-pitch duel against Milwaukees Tom Gorzelanny (3-6), a showdown that ended with Byrd flailing at strike three before being serenaded with a roar on his way back to the dugout. "That was amazing," Byrd said. "I was upset with myself that I didnt finish the at-bat but to hear the fans cheering, that was a beautiful thing." No matter. Byrd repaid the favour and then some in the seventh, drilling a fastball from Milwaukee reliever Burke Badenhop into the bushes in centre field for his 22nd home run of the season. The 35-year-old sprinted around the bases and was so lost in the moment he needed Pittsburgh ace A.J. Burnett to tell him to head back to the top step so he could tip his cap. "Coming in I was so excited," Byrd said. "It was Hey, get back out there." Byrds flair for the dramatic completed a night Pittsburgh (77-55) moved within five victories of the franchises first winning season in a generation. Josh Harrison went 3 for 4 with an RBI for the Pirates and Andrew McCutchen and Gaby Sanchez added two hits apiece. Charlie Morton (6-3) scattered five hits over 6 2-3 innings, walking three and striking out two to pick up his first career victory over the Brewers. Not that Morton noticed. The right-hander called his futility against Milwaukee "needless information" because it has little bearing on the future. "I think its something people like to talk about because theres been some consistency in that regard but really what the team is doing really well is not thinking about yesterday or two weeks ago, its the game today," Morton said. "If its the Brewers, its the Brewers, so be it. This is a different year anyway." Gorzelanny yielded four runs on nine hits in 5 1-3 innings, walking one and striking out five. Carlos Gomez had two of Milwaukees seven hits but the Brewers offered little resistance against Mortons steady dose of sinkers. "Offensively, we hit a few balls that could have got something going but on the whole we just didnt do too much," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. The Pirates did plenty, with their new slugger providing the finishing touch. Gorzelanny, who spent five seasons with the Pirates from 2005-09, can see Byrds presence having a positive influence in the clubhouse. "Hes a good piece that they got," Gorzelanny said. "Hes a smart player. He plays the game the right way, he plays it hard. Having a ballplayer like this, who is always a tough out, is going to make their lineup better." The homer was more celebratory than critical after Morton handcuffed the Brewers to end years of futility against Pittsburghs biggest nemesis. Milwaukee has won more than 70 per cent of its games against Pittsburgh since 2007 and came in 4-0 against Morton. That run of dominance is now over. Morton, still finding his way back from Tommy John surgery, dominated after some early trouble. The Brewers put four runners on base in the first inning but couldnt score and Morton took care of matters from there. He retired nine straight at one point and would have worked deeper if not for a rare mental mistake by catcher Russell Martin. Leading by four in the seventh, Martin tried to pick Yuniesky Betancourt off first. The ball sailed into right field, allowing Scooter Gennett to score. Byrds long ball restored order and the Pirates exhaled while clinching the season series against the Brewers for the first time since 2006. NOTES: Pirates LHP Wandy Rodriguez continues to deal with left forearm inflammation but will not require surgery. Rodriguez, who has been on the disabled list since May, was evaluated by Dr. James Andrews in Florida on Tuesday after experiencing discomfort during a throwing session. Rodriguez will resume throwing later this week ... Brewers prospect Johnny Hellweg was named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year. Hellweg is 11-5 with a 3.16 ERA for Triple-A Nashville. The right-hander, who is 0-3 with a 10.97 in three starts with Milwaukee this season, will be recalled to the majors next month ... The series concludes on Thursday when Pittsburghs Gerrit Cole 6-6, 3.81 ERA) faces Milwaukees Yovani Gallardo (9-9, 4.61). Tim Salmon Jersey . Clevelands manager had just watched his team lose 5-3 to Kansas City, which completed a 2-6 homestand and dropped the Indians 2 1/2 games behind Detroit in the AL Central. Frank Robinson Angels Jersey . The 24-year-old Raley was 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA for Chicago in his first two career starts after being called up from Iowa on Aug. 7. He was optioned to Iowa on Monday after losing 3-0 to Cincinnati in Chicago on Sunday. https://www.cheapangels.com/213j-jake-jewell-jersey-angels.html . The 25-year-old native of Milford, Conn., has 18 points in 41 games this season. The five-foot-eight 166-pound centre also has 28 points (10-18) in 15 games with AHL Oklahoma City.FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Mike Johnson will miss another season after going down with a foot injury. The Falcons placed Johnson on injured reserve Sunday as they reduced their roster to 75 players. He missed the 2013 season after breaking his left leg and dislocating his left ankle in a training camp practice. He was hurt again Saturday night in a preseason game against Tennessee. The team also waived defensive end Theo Agnew, llinebacker Brendan Daley, linebacker Darin Drakeford, safety Devonta Glover-Wright, receiver Julian Jones, quarterback Jeff Mathews, linebacker Walker May, running back Jerome Smith, receiver Tramaine Thompson and tight end Brian Wozniak. Dave Niehaus Angels Jersey. Safety Tyrell Johnson was released. Linebacker Marquis Spruill went on injured reserve. Receiver Drew Davis and safety Zeke Motta were on the physically unable to perform list. ' ' '