PITTSBURGH -- Solid starting pitching. Chase Edmonds Jersey . A couple of defensive gems. Just enough hitting to make a difference. For a night, the struggling Pittsburgh Pirates managed to recapture a little bit of their 2013 magic. Do it a few more times and maybe their miserable start to 2014 will become a memory. Edinson Volquez allowed one run in six sharp innings, Andrew McCutchen and Josh Harrison made a splash both at the plate and in the field, and the Pirates edged the Washington Nationals 3-1 Thursday night. Volquez (2-4) ended a three-game losing streak by limiting the Nationals to three hits, walking two and striking out four. Mark Melancon worked the ninth for his eighth save. McCutchen drove in two runs for the Pirates and made a sliding grab with two on in the ninth to end the game. Josh Harrison added two hits for Pittsburgh and added a run-saving catch of his own for the Pirates. "Thats what were known for, just playing routine baseball, not doing anything too out of the ordinary," McCutchen said. "(Just) getting in scoring position, getting some runs home and having pitching shut it down for us." Ian Desmond hit his eighth homer of the season for the Nationals, but Washington left 10 runners on base. Rookie Blake Treinen (0-2) struggled with his command in his second career start, giving up two runs on four hits in 5 2-3 innings, striking out four and walking five. The Nationals have lost three of four. "Our approach was fine," Washington manager Matt Williams said. "They made some really nice plays. That happens. Its big league baseball. They get paid to do that." Volquez had been a pleasant surprise during the seasons first month, but scuffled through his previous four starts, going 0-3 with a 10.19 ERA as part of a slide that had the Pirates well off the pace in the NL Central a year after making the franchises first post-season appearance in more than two decades. Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle wondered if Volquez -- who led the National League in walks per nine innings last season -- was suddenly throwing too many strikes. The former All-Star did a better job mixing location and speed against Washingtons patchwork lineup. His only real miscue came on a 2-0 fastball in the fourth that Desmond sent into the seats in centre field that briefly tied the game at 1. It was the 10th home run Volquez has surrendered this season, but he responded by retiring nine of the last 10 batters he faced. "Just keeping the ball in the strike zone, keeping the ball in the ballpark," Volquez said. "I did it for a couple innings and Desmond hit a homer. A solo shot cant beat you, its only one run. You stay in the game and keep pitching." Treinen, who faced Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw in his previous major league start, wasnt quite as crisp. He retired the first eight batters he faced thanks in part to a sinker that topped out at 97 mph before getting loose in the third. He loaded the bases with two outs on a pair of walks and a single by Harrison before hitting McCutchen with an 80 mph changeup to force in a run. Trouble surfaced again in the fifth thanks in part to Harrison, who has provided a spark in right field even as the Pirates mark time until the likely arrival of highly touted prospect Gregory Polanco next month. Harrison walked to lead off the inning and moved to second on a fly to centre before streaking home on a sharp single up the middle by McCutchen. Harrison is 13 for 37 (.351) since being moved into the leadoff spot earlier this month. Washington loaded the bases in the eighth off Tony Watson, but the left-hander retired Scott Hairston on a fly to shallow left field to get out of it and Melancon survived despite putting two runners on with McCutchens sliding grab on a sinking liner by Anthony Rendon sealing it. NOTES: The Pirates claimed right-handed reliever Josh Wall off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday and assigned him to Triple-A Indianapolis. Wall is 1-1 with a 15.15 ERA in 15 career major league games. To make room for Wall on the 40-man roster, the Pirates designated RHP Phil Irwin for assignment. ... Nationals 1B Adam LaRoche went 0 for 2 in a rehab start for Class A Potomac on Thursday night. LaRoche has been on the disabled list since May 10 with a strained right quadriceps. LaRoche is eligible to come off the DL on Sunday. ... The series continues Friday night when Washingtons Jordan Zimmerman (3-1, 3.70 ERA) faces Pittsburghs Charlie Morton (0-6, 3.45). Josh Rosen Jersey . Trailing 2-1 from the first leg, Fiorentina levelled on aggregate in the 14th minute when Joaquin Sanchez Rodriguez headed back a long ball from David Pizarro and Pasqual smashed home an angled volley. Mason Cole Jersey . She was a pioneer. She did things on skis that made the birds take notice. http://www.authenticcardinalsshopnfl.com/christian-kirk-jersey/ . CNN and Gazzetta dello Sport reporter Tancredi Palmeri broke the news via Twitter Tuesday afternoon. Italian Football Association President Giancarlo Abete has also resigned, according to Palmeri.Can Liverpool make a last-minute run for the top four? The Reds thrashed their local rivals Everton in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday evening and are now unbeaten in April during the Premier League, winning the last three games and drawing one. Throw in an incredible comeback performance against Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League and Jurgen Klopps men - currently six points off fourth place but with a game in hand over some of their rivals - look to have hit a fine vein of form at a crucial time. West Ham and Manchester United kept up their charge with respective wins over Watford and Crystal Palace, while Arsenal leapfrogged Manchester City into third with a win over West Brom on Thursday.Whos got the toughest run-in? And could European competition prove a distraction? We assess the chances of the top-four chasers... Premier League table PL position Team Games played Goal difference Points 3rd Arsenal 34 24 63 4th Man City 34 28 61 5th Man Utd 34 12 59 6th West Ham 34 14 56 7th Liverpool 33 13 54 FormLiverpool have scored four goals in two of their last three Premier League games against Everton and Stoke, now going unbeaten in the last month, but they do have a Europa League semi-final on the cards before the end of the season.After a comfortable 3-0 win against Chelsea on Saturday Night Football, Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw by relegation-threatened Newcastle on Tuesday.They might be Champions League semi-finalists but City cannot afford to keeping slipping up at home, with United cutting the gap between the sides to just two points following their 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening. Man City were held to a 1-1 draw with Newcastle on Tuesday The Eagles had another hand in the race for the top four as they held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw on Saturday, but the Gunners - who had been frustrated by successive draws - won their game in hand over West Brom on Thursday night to go four clear of United.West Ham broke their run of four consecutive Premier League draws with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Watford on Wednesday and sit three points behind Man United in the Europa League spot.Remaining fixtures Remaining fixtures for teams in race for fourth Man City Arsenal Man Utd West Ham Liverpool Stoke (h) Sunderland (a) Leicester (h) West Brom (a) Newcastle (h) Southampton (a) Norwich (h) Norwich (a) Swansea (h) Swansea (a) Arsenal (h) Man City (a) West Ham (a) Man Utd (h) Watford (h) Swansea (a) Aston Villa (h) Bournemouth (h) Stoke (a) Chelsea (h) West Brom (a) Man City welcome Stoke to the Etihad on Saturday following their 4-0 defeat by Spurs on Monday Night Football and, looking at their run-in, theyll be optimistic of a strong finish to the domestic campaign, regardless of their European commitments.Southampton (a), and Swansea (a) should offer opportunities to take maximum points, while Citys penultimate fixture, at home to Arsenal, offers the ideal stage for Pellegrinis men to strike a direct blow against a top-four rival.Sunday, May 8 will no doubt be circled in Arsene Wengers diary, too. Like City, Arsenal will hope to win their other remaining games - against Sunderland (a), Norwich (h) and Aston Villa (a) - but that trip to the Etihad could be key. Matteo Darmian scored his first Man Utd goall on Wednesday to keep the pressure on the top four. Cardinals Jerseys Store. Manchester United - who beat both City and Arsenal in their previous meetings with them - are aiming to put themselves in a position to capitalise on any slip-up and will be favourites to win at least four of their five remaining games. The other comes against leaders Leicester.Liverpool face a big test on Saturday as Rafa Benitez returns to Anfield with his battling Newcastle team, with Chelsea in their penultimate game of the season the pick of their remaining fixtures.As for West Ham, they play United on Tuesday, May 10 and will need to win that final fixture at Upton Park, plus the majority of their other four remaining games to spring a surprise. Andy Carroll has scored five goals in three games to boost West Hams top four hopes. Current injuries Team Number of injuries (According to physioroom.com) Liverpool 8 Man United 4 Man City 4 West Ham 1 Arsenal 1 Liverpool have a eight first-team players on the injury table at the moment with Divock Origi the latest name on the list from Wednesday evening. Martin Skrtel, Emre Can, Jordan Henderson, Christian Benteke and Jordan Rossiter are also sidelined along with long-term absentees Joe Gomez and Danny Ings. Manchester United are currently hampered by four injuries with Adnan Januzaj, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Luke Shaw and Will Keane all unavailable. Shaws journey back With Luke Shaw on the brink of a return, Gregor Robertson shares his experiences of the same injury. Man City are also without four players, although Samir Nasri has returned. Gael Clichy, David Silva and Bacary Sagna are also suffering. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is still sidelined for Arsenal but Jack Wilshere is close to a return, while long-term absentee Carl Jenkinson is West Hams only player in the treatment room. Are they confident? Louis van Gaal pulled no punches when he was asked about Uniteds hopes for the top four, saying after the win over Crystal Palace: We are putting pressure on them (Arsenal and Man City) throughout the season. At the end of the season it counts much more... We have four matches to go and we must win them all. Then we have a chance.Slaven Bilic is also ready for a top-four fight and said after the win over Watford: This is not over... We will give everything in this last four games to win all of them. Where that will take us we dont know but we are going to give everything and if we play like this or even better we have a chance against every team.Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker was in a similarly fighting mood, telling Sky Sports News HQ before the West Brom game: I think as long as the team is still hungry, still wants to go for it, thats going to be the key. As long as we keep that, we have the opportunity to get 15 points out of the five games. Then lets see what the outcome is. Its one down, four to go for the Gunners. Louis van Gaal believes Manchester Uniteds latest win over Crystal Palace keeps them in with a chance of clinching a top four spot. Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has pinpointed the two games that cost his side, but says he is pleased with how they have reacted heading towards the end of the season.For different reasons, we lost important games in February against Leicester and Tottenham, he said. For me, theyre the two games that dont allow us now to be involved in the title... Now I think we are stable again and Im very happy to finish the way we are doing in these last games.Jurgen Klopp was also in a positive mood after the Merseyside derby victory, telling Sky Sports: We are in a good moment... Beating Everton is a special thing in our situation in the table where we want to take what we can get.Conclusion Arsenals clash with Man City in the penultimate round of fixtures could be key. With just four points separating third and fifth - and considering West Ham are only five points out of the picture - the race for the top four is far from over. Its tough to call, too.West Ham bounced back from their late draw with Leicester with a positive performance against Watford, but Manchester United will also be optimistic of reeling in the two teams above them.A win for either Man City or Arsenal when they meet in the penultimate round of fixtures could send the loser crashing out of the Champions League qualifying spots.Citys involvement in the Champions League semi-finals cannot be discounted, either. Pellegrinis side face a trip to Southampton and that home game with Arsenal immediately after their ties with Real Madrid. Could their exertions in Europe damage their domestic ambitions?How City and the other teams in contention deal with the pressure of the run-in will be key. Who do you think has the toughest run-in? 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