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PITTSBURGH -- Francisco Liriano doesnt like to think about what might have been. At the moment, the present is so sweet theres no use focusing on the past. The veteran left-handers renaissance hit a new high in Pittsburghs 5-0 win over the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday night. Liriano (9-3) scattered four hits over seven innings, striking out six and walking one to lower his ERA to a scant 2.00 as the Pirates snapped a four-game losing streak. The victory capped a remarkable first half for the former All-Star whose career hasnt been the same since reconstructive elbow surgery six years ago. At last, it seems, at age 29 he is all the way back. Not that he wants to talk about it. "I dont think about 06 at all," Liriano said. "I just try to learn how to pitch, how to move on." That includes trying to stay focused during a lengthy rain delay of nearly three hours. When Liriano finally took the mound at soggy PNC Park just before 10 p.m., he didnt waste time. Attacking the strike zone relentlessly, Liriano kept the AL West-leading As off-balance all night. "He set the tone, he dominated," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. "He was just on top of his game." And the Pirates didnt let it go to waste. Pedro Alvarez went 2 for 4 and drove in two runs for Pittsburgh. Andrew McCutchen, Starling Marte and Jose Tabata also had two hits each as the Pirates beat Oakland for the first time. Pittsburgh came in 0-11 against the As since interleague play began in 1997, but broke loose against Tommy Milone (8-8). The Pirates managed just six runs total during a four-game slide that dropped them behind St. Louis in the battle for first in the NL Central but nearly matched that total on a night they went 5 for 9 with runners in scoring position, heady territory for a team that came in hitting just .226 with runners on second or third this season. "I think we did a pretty good job of consistently pressing them and attacking them," Alvarez said. A little help is all baseballs top pitching staff needs these days. Pittsburghs 13th shutout lowered its team ERA to 3.09, easily the best in baseball. Lirianos performance marked the 24th time in 25 games a starter has allowed three earned runs or fewer. "Im just trying to learn how to go out there every fifth day and make pitches," Liriano said. He made enough to cool off the surging As. Oakland had won 10 of 13 to vault over Texas and into the lead in the AL West but Milone struggled with his command. The left-hander was coming off a season-high 8 1-3 innings of work in a win over Kansas City last week. He didnt make it out of the third inning as Pittsburghs offence showed signs of life. Marte doubled leading off the third, and Tabata followed with an RBI double. McCutchen drove Tabata home with a single, and Alvarez followed two batters later with a single to centre that scored McCutchen. That was enough for Milone, who needed 80 pitches to get through 2 2-3 innings. "They were doing a good job of putting the ball in play and falling," Milone said. "And even though they werent hit very hard, you always give yourself a chance when you put the ball in play and thats what they were doing." He was replaced by Pat Neshek, who made his first appearance since June 29. The rust showed. Pittsburgh tacked on two more runs in the fourth to give Liriano all the cushion he would need to cap a remarkable first half for one of baseballs best comeback stories. "I like the way Ive been pitching and the way weve all been playing," Liriano said. "Right now, were in good position to make the playoffs and we want to continue playing like that in the second half and hopefully make the post-season." NOTES: Former Oakland first-round draft pick Sonny Gray made his major league debut in the fifth inning. The right-handed pitcher, called up from Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday, tossed two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out three. ... The Pirates begin a three-game series on Friday at home against the New York Mets. Charlie Morton (1-2, 3.38 ERA) starts for the Pirates against Jeremy Hefner (4-6, 3.39). ... Oakland ends the first half of the season at home against the Boston Red Sox. Jarrod Parker (6-6, 4.04) starts for the As. Cheap Red Sox Jerseys . The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling "puts an end to my dreams of being a top player," the 27-year-old Troicki said in a statement. "I worked my entire life for it, and it has been taken away from me in one afternoon by a doctor I didnt know," said Troicki, whose ranking peaked at No. Babe Ruth Jersey Large . 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"Its about time," St-Pierre told reporters at a promotional event in Montreal on Friday. "I think its a good thing. CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly passed the final test of the concussion protocol on Saturday and has been cleared to play in Monday night against Washington, but hes still listed as questionable.We are excited to have Luke healthy and cleared from the protocol, Ron Rivera told the team website. I know he is extremely motivated to get back on the field and help us win games.Whether he plays this week or not, I dont know. We have to balance our enthusiasm with whats best for Luke and the team long term.Rivera has been consistent over the past few weeks in saying Kuechly would play once he cleared the protocol. The 2013 NFL Defensive Player of the Year was a full participant in practice all week, so it seems likely Kuechly will play.Rivera emphasized earlier Saturday that the Panthers (5-8) are playing to win even though they are all but out of playoff contention. Kuechly has missed the past three games since being carted off the field in tears after suffering the concussion late in a Week 11 victory over New Orleans.ddddddddddddCarolina quarterback Cam Newton is also listed as questionable with a shoulder injury, but Rivera said Newton would start against the Redskins.Newton was a full participant in practice on Saturday after being limited the past three days. The team has gradually increased his reps so as not to aggravate the soreness that led the league MVP to have an MRI on Tuesday.That test came back negative.Wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, who suffered a back injury earlier in the week, also is on track to face Washington.The Panthers ruled defensive end Charles Johnson (hamstring) and offensive tackle Daryl Williams (ankle) out. ' ' '