PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates patiently waited six years for former No. 2 overall draft pick Jameson Taillon to make the major leagues. So far, hes been worth the wait.The Pirates didnt call up Taillon until two months into the season but, thanks to several reshufflings of their rotation, hes now settled into what effectively is the No. 2 man in their rotation. And its taken Taillon only nine starts in the big leagues to do that.Taillon will make start No. 10 Thursday afternoon against the San Diego Padres after going 2-2 with a 3.29 ERA, 43 strikeouts and only six walks in 52 innings during his first nine starts.Taillon has been in the majors long enough that he doesnt feel like a rookie any longer, even though he clearly is.The 24-year-old Taillons latest start was typical of the way hes pitched to date; he gave up only one run in six innings Friday against the Cincinnati Reds, although he didnt get the decision in a game the Pirates won 3-2.Hes got some tools to work with, and hes learning more each and every time out there, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. It was another night for him to grow.Taillon is quickly growing into an irreplaceable piece of the Pirates pitching puzzle.He has allowed only eight earned runs in 30 innings over his last five starts, walking a single batter. Not surprisingly, the Pirates have won five of his last six starts, even though the right-hander was on the disabled list with right shoulder fatigue from July 5-19.Taillon hasnt won since June 29 at Seattle, or at all in five starts at PNC Park, but the Pirates are 4-1 in those games.Taillon will oppose Padres left-hander Christian Friedrich (4-7, 4.76 ERA), who makes his ninth start on the road of his 16 overall starts. Friedrich pitched a season-high seven innings in his last start Aug. 5 vs. the Philadelphia Phillies, permitting four runs and five hits.Friedrich, like Taillon, is a former first-round draft pick -- and one of 13 starters the Padres have used this season.For the most part, I thought he was really good all day, Padres manager Andy Green said -- with the exceptions being the home run and double he allowed to the Phillies Cameron Rupp.The Padres and Pirates will play for the sixth and final time this season, with the Padres leading the season series 3-2 following their 4-0 win Wednesday behind Edwin Jackson and two relievers, who combined to allow only two singles.San Diego is one of the more aggressive teams in the majors stealing bases -- theyre third in the majors with 99 steals -- and that was evident Wednesday as Travis Jankowski pulled off a rare steal of home in the eighth inning.Jankowski detected that reliever Antonio Bastardo wasnt watching him closely as the left-hander focused on his matchup with Alex Dickerson, so he took off for the plate and scored as catcher Eric Fryer fumbled Bastardos hurried throw home.We run the bases with a ton of aggression and steal a lot of bases -- but we take whats given to us, Green said. That was probably more of a gamble ... but it worked out because Travis has the ability to create anxiety in other people when hes running the bases. He took it upon himself (to go) ... and if youre going to take a chance, thats the time to take one. Felix Potvin Jersey . From filmmaker Nanette Burstein (On the Ropes), The Price of Gold revisits the saga that rocked the figure skating world ahead of the 1994 Lillehammer Olympic Winter Games: the assault on Nancy Kerrigan, and the plot that led its way back to her rival Tonya Harding. Tie Domi Jersey . LOUIS -- Mike Smith is used to facing plenty of shots, so this was nothing new. http://www.leafsauthority.com/authentic-kasperi-kapanen-maple-leafs-jersey/ . However, he did make them miss him a little less. Cundiff, who had the unenviable job of replacing Dawson last season, agreed Thursday to a one-year, $1. Joffrey Lupul Jersey .Y. -- Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo had little trouble picking up his first shutout of the season against a Buffalo Sabres team thats having trouble scoring goals. Mats Sundin Jersey . -- Nate Robinson has played for seven teams, so beating one of them is no longer a rare occurrence. ATLANTA -- Aaron Altherr had the kind of night he envisioned in his return from a season-long wrist injury.Especially sitting around thinking about, `Hows the first game going to be coming back? he said. Its definitely special.Altherr and Maikel Franco homered, Aaron Nola won for the first time in eight starts and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 7-5 on Thursday night.Altherr was activated from the disabled list after missing the first 103 games of the season with a broken left wrist. He went 3 for 4 with two RBI.It definitely surprised me a little bit because I hadnt been driving the ball in my rehab stints, Altherr said. Im just glad to know Ive still got it in there somewhere.Braves starter Matt Wisler (4-11) gave up three homers and has allowed nine homers in his past four starts, a span of 20 1/3 innings.Interim Braves manager Brian Snitker told Wisler after the game that he would be demoted to Triple-A Gwinnett.Atlanta, with the worst record in the major leagues, dropped to 14-37 at home.The Phillies took a 5-0 lead in the first on Francos 19th homer, a three-run shot, Tommy Josephs 14th homer and a run that scored on second baseman Jace Petersons fielding error.Altherrs two-run shot in the fifth made it 7-0.The Braves cut the lead to 7-3 in the bottom half of the inning on Freddie Freemans RBI double, Adonis Garcias RBI single and Anthony Reckers sacrifice fly.Philadelphia closer Jeanmar Gomez earned his 27th save in 30 chances, but it was a shaky appearance. The first two batters reached. Erick Aybar grounded into a double play, but Gordon Beckham followed with an RBI single to make it 7-5.Gomez struck out Peterson to end it with a runner on first.Nola (6-9) gave up eight hits, three runs, three walks and struck out five in five innings.ddddddddddddHe began the game 0-5 with a 10.61 ERA in his previous seven starts before snapping a career-high, five-game losing streak.Nola didnt exactly inspire confidence in manager Pete Mackanin.Hes not the same guy, Mackanin said. Hes just struggling with command once again. Hes not dotting his fastball like he normally does. And his curveball is erratic. He needs to get back on track.Wisler allowed seven hits, two walks and seven runs -- six earned. He struck out three.Over his past 10 starts, Wisler is 2-6 with a 7.71 ERA and 16 homers allowed. Wislers 11 losses are second-most in the NL behind Philadelphias Jerad Eickhoff.I didnt pitch very well the last month and a half, so I definitely know Ive earned the demotion, Wisler said. I know theres nothing they can do about that. Its on me. So Ive got to go fight, go back down there and try to work my way back up.Garcias RBI double in the sixth off David Hernandez cut the lead to 7-4.The Phillies have won five in a row against Atlanta.TRAINERS ROOMPhillies: Altherr took OF Peter Bourjos spot on the 25-man roster. Bourjos was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right shoulder.Braves: Snitker said RHP Arodys Vizcaino, on the disabled list with a strained oblique, is playing catch but still hasnt thrown off a mound. There is no immediate timetable for the closers return.UP NEXTPhillies: RHP Vince Velasquez (8-2) has faced the Braves once, giving up six hits and four runs in a no-decision on May 12.Braves: RHP Tyrell Jenkins (0-2) struggled in his first start Sunday at Colorado, but the rookie has a 1.93 ERA in 4 2/3 innings of relief against Philadelphia. Cheap Soccer Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Hockey Jerseys Nike NFL Jerseys China Cheap Nike MLB Jerseys China Wholesale Baseball Jerseys China Wholesale College Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Wholesale Jerseys Near Me Cheap Jerseys Online Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap NCAA Jerseys Authentic Cheap Nike NBA Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic MLB Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Throwback Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China ' ' '