PITTSBURGH -- Josh Harrison watched his long drive hit off the wall in right-center field leading off the bottom of the ninth of a tie game against Milwaukee on Tuesday night and one thought kept running through his head: keep going.So the Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman did, racing around second and diving into third before strolling home when the relay from Milwaukee second baseman Scooter Gennett bounded by the bag and out of play as the Pirates escaped with a 3-2 victory Tuesday night.I saw (Milwaukee center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis) jump for the wall, and from there I never broke stride, Harrison said. I was going to make (Gennett) make a perfect relay.Gennett didnt, and Harrisons Little League homer off Tyler Thornburg (3-4) allowed the Pirates to start a crucial stretch against National League also-rans with a victory despite a second straight blown save by All-Star closer Mark Melancon (1-1) and a scary moment in the second inning when rookie pitcher Jameson Taillon took a line drive to the head.Taillon, making his return from a stay on the disabled list to deal with right shoulder fatigue, was pitching to Hernan Perez with one out in the second when Perez sent a shot right back to Taillon that hit the 24-year-old in the back of the head and rolled out into left field. Taillon lay on the ground for several minutes while being tended to by medical staff before being cleared to stay in the game.I saw it coming at me, turned from it and remember going down, Taillon said. I could feel it on my head a little bit, but I remained conscious. I saw where the play went. I answered all the questions they asked me. I wanted to get up quicker than I was able to. I remember it pretty clearly.Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle admitted his thoughts went to Taillons parents watching on television but decided to trust the recommendation of the medical staff that Taillon was OK to continue.This is one area that Im not really comfortable with, he said. I have to trust our people. They do know what theyre doing, how to follow protocol to test the player and the things to do.The near miss hardly seemed to faze Taillon, who allowed one run and five hits, striking out three without a walk before being removed after throwing 65 pitches.I felt like I dealt with it pretty well, Taillon said. I definitely had some adrenaline after. I thought some of my pitches were up afterwards. Its tough to control the emotions right after that. I was able to keep the team in the game.Chris Carter doubled leading off the fourth and scored on a groundout by Perez but otherwise Taillon kept the Brewers in check as he outpitched Junior Guerra, a fellow rookie who has been one of the bright spots for the struggling Brewers, who have dropped five of six.Guerras only wobble came in the first, when two walks and a single by Andrew McCutchen loaded the bases with one out. David Freese loped a soft single to right field and Francisco Cervellis fly to left easily scored McCutchen to give Taillon an early lead. Guerra surrendered one more hit through six innings, walking three and striking out six.Taillon was solid during his first month in the majors before the team shut him down briefly due to concerns about his workload. He was fresh in his first start in three weeks, working quickly and retiring the last nine batters he faced before turning things over to a bullpen that rounded into form following a rocky start.The only hiccup lately has come from Melancon, who blew his third save of the season and second in three days. He issued a leadoff walk to Ryan Braun in the ninth and Jonathan Lucroy followed with a single. Melancon then struck out Carter and Nieuwenhuis before Perezs grounder to center tied the game.TRAINERS ROOMPirates: RF Gregory Polanco went 0 for 3 with a walk and a run scored while showing no ill effects from a sore left hamstring that kept him sidelined since July 8.UP NEXTBrewers: Chase Anderson (4-10, 5.44 ERA) will try to get a handle on his control issues on Wednesday night when he makes his second start of the season against the Pirates. Anderson has issued a career-high five walks in each of his last two starts, both losses to St. Louis.Pirates: Jeff Locke (8-5, 5.26 ERA) will try to win his fourth straight decision on Wednesday night when he makes his 18th start of the season. Locke is 5-5 with a 3.76 ERA in 13 career starts against the Brewers. Thomas Meunier Jersey . Belfort (24-10) needed just 77 seconds to down Henderson in the headlining bout of Saturdays "UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson" event at Goiania Arena in Goiania, Brazil. The fight served as a rematch of the pairs 2006 meeting, which Henderson won by decision. Thomas Vermaelen Belgium Jersey . After dropping their final six games of December, the Wild opened the new calendar year with four consecutive wins. Following a loss to Colorado on Saturday, Minnesota rebounded the following night to blank Nashville 4-0, but then had the tables turned on them Tuesday. http://www.soccerbelgiumteamonline.com/Dries-Mertens-UEFA-European-Belgium-Jersey/ . 9. Price, heading to the 2014 Olympics for Canada, was named the First Star after posting wins in three starts with a 1.00 goals-against average and a .971 save percentage. Mousa Dembele Jersey . In the lead up - which seemed to begin the moment Mike Geiger blew the whistle in Houston last Thursday night - the Impact rumour mill went into overdrive. The speculation went into meltdown mode, of the golden nugget variety. Michy Batshuayi Belgium Jersey . Paul Pierce couldnt believe he missed at the end. Young scored a season-high 26 points to spark a huge effort from the leagues most productive bench, and Los Angeles beat the Brooklyn Nets 99-94 on Wednesday night after blowing a 27-point lead. That Patriots-Steelers matchup Sunday sure looked like a Game of the Year candidate. Then all of the air went out of it when Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger damaged his knee.Dont get us wrong, it still could be a terrific meeting of the AFCs two best teams. It also could be a major dud: Tom Brady vs. Landry Jones doesnt have much spice.The Steelers can talk bravely as much as they want, and they should. As linebacker Arthur Moats says, Responding to adversity, thats what we do. Yeah, we know Ben isnt playing, but we have confidence in Landry. You know hes going to go out there and let it fly.But the reality in the NFL is that often its when you play a team that matters as much as who the opponent is. Facing the Steelers in Heinz Field is daunting for most anyone when Big Ben is on the field. Patriots luck prevails this week.The obvious cases of when over who tend to come in the heat of September -- anyone really eager to play outdoors in Florida or Nashville then? -- or in the bitter cold of winter. Tundra is a dirty word to folks outside of Green Bay, Buffalo and New England.For years, reporters covering the Jets immediately looked for two games when the schedule came out: when the team was in Miami (hopefully late in the year) and when it was in Buffalo (September, please).Then theres the chore of facing a well-rested team coming off a bye. Rarely are both opponents in a specific game in that situation: It happens only once in 2016, when Pittsburgh is at Baltimore on Nov. 6.Indeed, the Eagles play three opponents who had a bye the previous week, including the Vikings on Sunday . The Panthers, Giants, 49ers, Cardinals, Jaguars, Bengals and Texans each play two opponents who were idle the week before.Fair? Perhaps even less fair is that nine clubs never take on a team coming off a bye: Dallas, Washington, Green Bay, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Miami, Buffalo, Indianapolis and San Diego.At least the Rams get a break there. Few teams have had more potential to be plagued by the when than the Rams.Aside from their nomadic existence as they moved from St. Louis to Los Angeles, then had three different Southern California locales to work out of, they had a road game in Detroit in Week 6. Immediately after the loss to the Lions, they headed to London for their annual (until they get their new palacee in Inglewood, California) hosting venture.ddddddddddddMeanwhile, the Giants were winning last Sunday at home against Baltimore.Plus, the Giants-Rams mid-afternoon kickoff in London translates to 6:30 a.m. on the West Coast.Let me go back. Clearly, coming off a difficult loss in Detroit, and then leaving almost immediately after the game for here was a challenge for us, Rams coach Jeff Fisher says. But, they knew well ahead of time, and they accepted it. We got here, they settled down. We tried to keep them awake, but we werent as successful as we thought, but they got rested up.Yeah, it was different in that we came over on Monday following a home game (last season) ... in the National Football League, its an inherent challenge to go from the West Coast, and then play a 1 p.m. (ET) game, which is in essence a 10 a.m. game on the West Coast. That in itself was a challenge for us that we dealt with last week.Often not apparent when deciphering the schedule are advantages that crop up. Facing a team in turmoil should provide an edge, something the Jets got in Week 2 at Buffalo, when they won for the only time so far. Or what the Bills experienced last Sunday when the Niners circus came to town with Colin Kaepernick making his first start. Rex Ryans club, which has turned around its fortunes since that Jets loss, romped past San Francisco.There are always contrasts, though.Star running back Adrian Peterson might be back with the Vikings for the final six or so games, so opponents would want to get Minnesota while he is rehabbing his knee injury. Problem is, the Vikings are 5-0 anyway.And Dallas is 5-1 without Tony Romo, so taking on Dak Prescott has been anything but an edge for the opposition.Still, timing is a tremendous factor in the outcome of NFL games. If you are banged up and your bye isnt until Week 10 or 11, your playoff chances might be gone by then.And if you come out of the gates like a hot rod and then have an early bye, well, thats not so good, either. Remember, Philly won its first three games and looked very strong. Then the schedule told the Eagles to take a week off.They are 0-2 since.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '