WASHINGTON -- The Washington Nationals are in first place and the Pittsburgh Pirates are trying to get there.Two teams who have played well this month will meet on Friday in the first game after the All-Star break and the first of a three-game weekend series in the nations capital.The Pirates had a six-game winning streak snapped July 7 but have won nine of their last 11 games and 12 of their last 16, while the Nationals have won six of their last 10 games.Washington (54-36) is six games ahead of the New York Mets and Miami Marlins in the National League East. The Pirates (46-43) are seven games back of the first-place Chicago Cubs but just a game back of the second-place St. Louis Cardinals.Pittsburgh went 9-19 in June but has played much better this month to get back into the playoff hunt again.One of the bright spots is Pirates rookie infielder Josh Bell, who is 2-for-2 at the plate after he made his big league debut July 8. Did he worry when he would be called up?I really tried not think about that. I feel like in years prior, when I tried to push for a call-up or anything like that, thats when I press and thats when things started to go south for me, Bell told The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. I was just focusing on being the best player I could be on a daily basis, and its working out for me.The Nationals had four players appear in the All-Star game: outfielder Bryce Harper, second baseman Daniel Murphy, catcher Wilson Ramos and pitcher Max Scherzer. The Pirates had two: outfielder Starling Marte and closer Mark Melancon, who received a nice play from Murphy to get out of a jam in the seventh.Washington manager Dusty Baker knew that appearing in the All-Star game would be special for Stephen Strasburg, who grew up in San Diego.How you set up your rotation for the second half is equally important to us, Baker said in a telling comment that came a few days before Scherzer took the active roster spot of Strasburg on the National League club.Scherzer threw a scoreless sixth inningon Tuesday for the National League in a 4-2 loss to the American League. That means he could be available to pitch Sunday against the Pirates.The Pirates on Friday will start right-hander Francisco Liriano, who is hardly the pitcher he was in 2013 when he was 16-8 with a 3.02 ERA.This year Liriano, 32, who made his Major League debut in 2005, is 5-8, 5.15 in 17 starts. He has thrown 92 2/3 innings and allowed a league-high 58 walks.Strasburg will make the start against the Pirates Friday.He did not pitch in the All-Star game something the Nationals approached him about. Strasburg was held out of the midsummer classic in order to be ready for the second half as he missed two starts earlier this season while he was on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation from June 26 to July 3.But it really wasnt a decision I had to think over, Strasburg told reporters of not pitching in San Diego.He is 12-0 with a 2.62 ERA in 16 starts this year. Strasburg is the first National League starter to begin a season 12-0 since Rube Marquard in 1912.He made his big league debut on June 8, 2010 against the Pirates, also at Nationals Park, and struck out 14 batters in seven innings, including the last seven.Last year, on June 20, Scherzer no-hit the Pirates at Nationals Park after he came within one strike of a perfect game.Strasburg last pitched on July 8 at New York and allowed just one run in seven innings in a win over the Mets. The next day Scherzer also allowed just one run in seven innings to down New York. Wholesale Jerseys 2018 . Nigeria beat surprise package Ethiopia 2-0 in the second leg of their playoff for a comfortable 4-1 aggregate victory. Victor Moses converted a 20th-minute penalty after an Ethiopian handball, and Victor Obinna made certain of Nigerias place in Brazil with his powerful free kick in the 82nd at UJ Esuene Stadium. Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys . 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GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Aaron Rodgers threw for 209 yards and two touchdowns, and the Green Bay Packers pulled away from the Houston Texans with two fourth-quarter touchdowns for a 21-13 win Sunday to get back to .500.The Packers (6-6) weathered snowy conditions at Lambeau Field, making just enough plays on the cold turf to even their record for the first time since they were 4-4 after losing to Indianapolis on Nov. 6.Well, that was a good bad-weather win. A lot of fun to play in that type of atmosphere in Lambeau Field, coach Mike McCarthy said.Brock Osweiler connected with DeAndre Hopkins for a 44-yard touchdown pass with 1:51 left to get within eight for Houston. Nick Novak missed the extra point, with footing slippery at Lambeau.The Texans (6-6) had one last shot after the Packers failed to run out the clock. But Osweilers last-ditch pass-and-lateral play from Houstons 12 with 4 seconds left failed, handing Houston its third straight loss.The Texans are tied with idle Tennessee and a half-game ahead of Indianapolis, which plays the New York Jets on Monday night, for the AFC South lead.Were at a tough stretch right now, three in a row, Texans coach Bill OBrien said. Played OK at times, but obviously not good enough to win.The Packers broke a 7-all tie when Rodgers found Jordy Nelson open in the end zone for a 32-yard touchdown pass with 12:42 left after Texans cornerback Charles James slipped on the turf.Nelson, who missed last season with a knee injury, finished with eight catches for 118 yards.I dont know how much more Jordy needs to prove, McCarthy said. Hes going through what every great player goes through in that first year back from major injury.Aaron Ripkowskis 3-yard touchdown run with 4:11 left proved to be the decisive score for Green Bay, which has won two straight following a four-game losing streak.Hopkins finished with just two catches for 55 yards for the Texans.QB COMPARISONRodgers was 20 of 30. He looked OK after being limited in practice with a left hamstring injury, taking off for a couple runs, though he didnt seem to have his usual mobility on the slippery turf.Rodgers didnt face much pressure in the first half against a Houston defense minus injured end Jadeveon Clowney. Thee Texans started getting more pressure on Rodgers in the second half.ddddddddddddn a snowy day, Rodgers didnt eclipse 100-yards passing until late in the third quarter.Osweiler has faced heat for the Texans offensive struggles this season. He was composed in the second half in leading Houston on 10-play, 63-yard drive that ended with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Griffin on fourth-and-1 to tie it at 7 with 7:32 left in the third quarter.Osweiler finished 21 of 34 for 213 yards.SNOW DAYRandall Cobb had fun in the snow. The wide receiver did a snow angel in the end zone after a sliding, 9-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter that gave the Packers a 7-0 lead.GO FOURTHThe Texans came up with two big fourth-down plays, one on each side of the ball. Linebacker Brian Cushing stopped Ripkowski on fourth-and-2 from the Texans 48 for a 2-yard gain with 6:09 left.On the previous series, Griffin did a Lambeau Leap into the waiting arms of a group of Texans fans after his 6-yard touchdown catch on fourth-and-1 finished a 10-play, 63-yard drive.STILL GOINGJulius Peppers still packs a pass-rushing punch for the Packers. A sack of Osweiler on second-and-1 at the Houston 41 with 56 seconds left in the second quarter gave the 15-year veteran 142 1/2 for his career, snapping a tie for fifth on the career list with Michael Strahan. Chris Doleman is fourth on that list with 150 1/2.Peppers has sacks in three straight games. The Packers have been trying to limit his snaps this season, at least when their once-deep pool of pass rushers hasnt been depleted by injuries.INJURY REPORTTexans: WR Braxton Miller left with a shoulder injury after being driven to the cold turf by safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix in the second quarter.Packers: LB Jake Ryan left for a few series in the first half after appearing to aggravate an ankle injury that kept him out the previous two weeks. ... LB Nick Perry, who leads the team with eight sacks, returned with his left hand heavily wrapped after missing most of the first half with the injury.---For more NFL coverage: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Cheap NFL Gear Cheap Jerseys Store Cheap Jerseys Online Cheap Stitched Jerseys NFL Jerseys From China China NFL Hoodies Youth NFL Jerseys Wholesale Cheap NFL Womens Jerseys Camo China NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys 2019 Stitched Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Wholesale Jerseys 2020 Wholesale Authentic Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Outlet ' ' '