PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates have won eight games in a row, and fans are starting to notice. After all, the Pirates own the best record in all of baseball. Pittsburgh beat the Milwaukee Brewers 2-1 on Saturday night in front of its fifth straight sellout crowd at home. The Pirates have never had that many consecutive capacity crowds since moving into their new ballpark in 2001. Long the third-most popular team in a three-team town behind the NFLs Steelers and NHLs Penguins, the Pirates are suddenly becoming a hot ticket. "The energy of the crowds has been unbelievable and weve been soaking it all up," said Pirates closer Jason Grilli, who earned the save. "You absorb it and try to use it to your advantage. Were playing for ourselves but were also playing for about 40,000 people in the stands and an entire city. "People are dusting off their Pirates shirts and coming out in droves, and were trying to give them what they want to see." Pedro Alvarez and Garrett Jones homered, and Francisco Liriano pitched six strong innings to lead the surging Pirates. Alvarez hit his 20th home run with one out in the second inning to extend his hitting streak to 12 games and help the Pirates to their longest winning streak since 2004. Pittsburgh, which has endured 20 consecutive losing seasons, is a major league-best 50-30. Jones hit a drive to the shrubbery in straightaway centre field, his seventh homer, to lead off the fourth inning and increase the Pirates lead to 2-0. That was enough for Liriano (7-3), who improved to 4-1 in five home starts this season. "Were having fun, were playing hard and were giving everything we have," Liriano said. Liriano gave up one run and seven hits in six innings with one walk and six strikeouts. Tony Watson, Mark Melancon and Grilli each pitched one scoreless inning of relief. Grilli recorded his 27th save in 28 opportunities. "Frankie, for as efficient as he was in giving up one run, there were only about six or seven sequences where he threw back-to-back strikes," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "But when he needed to make a pitch, he made a pitch." Grilli was pitching for the first time in six days after having his worst outing of the season. He gave up three runs against the Los Angeles Angels in a non-save situation last Sunday before the Pirates held on for a 10-9 win. "Hes our guy," Hurdle said. "He was well-rested and I wasnt the least bit nervous about going to him." Donovan Hand (0-1) allowed both home runs but turned in a solid five-inning performance in his second major league start. Hand was pleased with his outing, except for the home run to Alvarez that cleared the right-field stands, hit a tree and bounced into the Allegheny River. "I tried to go up and in and left a fat pitch over the middle in his hot zone, and he crushed it," said Hand, who pitched 4 2-3 scoreless innings in his first start June 28 against Atlanta. "I was aggressive, which is exactly what I wanted to do, just building off of the last start because they swing it a lot." Hand has made a good impression on Brewers manager Ron Roenicke. "I thought Donny threw the ball really well," Roenicke said. "He understands how to pitch. He understands how to throw strikes." Carlos Gomez had two hits for the Brewers, who lost their fifth straight game. He singled with one out in the sixth inning and scored Milwaukees run on Yuniesky Betancourts single with two outs. Brewers shortstop Jean Segura extended his hitting streak to 11 games, but second baseman Rickie Weeks run ended at a career-best 13 games. Pittsburgh has won four straight games against Milwaukee and eight of 10 after losing nine in a row. "Were playing good baseball," Hurdle said. "Its nice to get to 50 wins but were just trying to meet the demands of the game, honestly self-evaluate and get better every day. There is still a long way to go." NOTES: Milwaukee LF Ryan Braun (bruised left thumb) is scheduled to a swing a bat Tuesday for the first time since going on the disabled list, retroactive to June 10. ... Pittsburgh LHP Wandy Rodriguez (strained left forearm) wont make a scheduled rehab start Monday for Triple-A Indianapolis after experiencing discomfort in his forearm Friday during a bullpen session. ... Pirates RHP A.J. Burnett (strained right calf) is scheduled to pitch a simulated game Tuesday. That could be the last step before he is activated from the disabled list. ... Brewers RF Norichika Aoki didnt start for the first time since May 30 as Roenicke decided to rest him. Aoki pinch-hit in the ninth inning and flied out. ... The three-game series concludes Sunday with Milwaukee RHP Kyle Lohse (3-6, 3.69) facing Pittsburgh RHP Charlie Morton (1-1, 2.81). Custom High School Jerseys . The Boston Celtics hadnt played since the All-Star break. So the Suns 100-94 victory over Boston Wednesday night was an uphill affair, with Phoenix relying on balance rather than its trademark high energy. Custom Uniforms Outlet . LOUIS -- Joe Thornton and the San Jose Sharks won the matchup of unbeaten teams. http://www.customjerseysnearme.com/custo...rseys-136h.html. Calgary finished atop the CFL standings with a 14-4 record and earned the right to host the West Division final at McMahon Stadium on Nov. Discount Custom Jerseys . For one, he still gets to crank the intensity to the max. "I push pretty angry. I ran pretty angry too though, but I have fun doing it," Lumsden said. Cheap Custom Jerseys . -- A year ago, Flavia Pennetta was close to retiring from tennis.SYDNEY - Australia qualified for the Asian Cup quarterfinals with a 4-0 win over Oman on Tuesday, ensuring the hosts advanced along with two-time champion South Korea from Group A.The Socceroos set up the win with goals from Matt McKay and Robbie Kruse and a penalty from Mark Milligan in the first half. Tomi Juric added a fourth after the break, Australias eighth goal in two games after a 4-1 win over Kuwait in the tournament opener.South Korea and Australia will meet on Saturday in Brisbane, where top spot in the group is at stake. Oman plays Kuwait, both out contention, will play in Newcastle.Oman had proved to be a troublesome opponent for Australia since their first meeting at the Asian Cup in 2007 — where only an injury-time equalizer by Tim Cahill salvaged a point for the Socceroos. The Oman lineup started brightly again, with Raed Salehs fierce volley from 25 yards acrobatically saved by Mat Ryan after three minutes.Australia made the first breakthrough, though, when Massimo Luongos corner kick was headed toward goal by defender Trent Sainsbury, and Matt McKay bundled the ball past goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi in the 27th minute.Winger Robbie Kruse added another three minutes later after he took a Luongo chipped pass in his stride and slid a shot under the advancing Al Habsi.Oman was lucky not to be reduced to 10 menn after midfielder Ahmed Mubarak lunged at Australia stand-in captain Tim Cahill, with Japanese referee Ryuji Sato opting to only issue a yellow card.ddddddddddddAustralia made it 3-0 in first-half injury time when Kruse crossed to the far post for Milligan to volley powerfully home, only for referee Sato to disallow the goal and instead give Australia a penalty for a foul on Cahill during the same play.Milligan scored from the resulting penalty to the delight of the 50,276-strong crowd — the highest attendance of the tournament.Australia coach Ange Postecoglou withdrew Cahill and Luongo in the 51st minute, keeping his promise to rotate players during the tournament and bringing in striker Juric and veteran Mark Bresciano.Australia played at a slower tempo after the substitutions, but Juric added a fourth in the 70th after receiving Leckies curling cross and volleying his shot past Al Habsi.Juric had two more good chances, but hit the post and had another shot brilliantly saved by Al Habsi from a header.Postecoglou made three changes to the team that opened the Asian Cup, with Mark Milligan replacing injured captain Mile Jedinak.West Bromwich Albion defender Jason Davidson came in for Aziz Behich at left back, while McKay also got his first start of the tournament for attacking midfielder James Troisi . 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