ST. LOUIS -- It was strictly business when the St. Louis Cardinals parted ways with Eric Fryer.Their former backup catcher could not deny the extra buzz facing his old team for the first time since resurfacing.Fryer had two hits and three RBI in his first game with the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 5-2 victory Tuesday night.I mean, I was amped up to play, Fryer said. The familiarity of the team, the atmosphere I was in kind of made it a little easier to kind of harness it back and let the game come to me a little bit.The Cardinals released Fryer when backup catcher Brayan Pena came off the 15-day disabled list and the Pirates, with whom he played in the minors, claimed him off waivers on Sunday. He batted .368 with St. Louis with five RBI in 38 at-bats behind seven-time All-Star Yadier Molina but Pena has a two-year, $5 million contract.Fryer said Cardinals manager Mike Matheny told him its just one of those things that had to work out this way.It was nice for him to say it like that, but Im on to Pittsburgh, I guess, Fryer said.The Pittsburgh bullpen worked five scoreless innings in support of lefty Steven Brault, who allowed one earned run in four innings while throwing 82 pitches and adding a single in his debut.Brault learned he would be making the start two days earlier and remembered everything except his glove, which should arrive Wednesday from Indianapolis. He borrowed Jeff Lockes and lived up to expectations.I am forgetful at times and I had a little bit of nerves going, Ill use that as an excuse, Brault said. Overall, I think I reacted well and just tried to keep doing what Ive been doing.The 24-year-old Brault pitched in place of fellow rookie Jameson Taillon, placed on the DL on Sunday with shoulder fatigue. Brault didnt know if he would start Sunday against the Chicago Cubs in the final game before the All-Star break.Juan Nicasio (7-6) worked two scoreless innings and Mark Melancon finished for his 21st consecutive save and 25th in 26 chances.Josh Harrison and David Freese added RBI for the Pirates, who have taken the first two games of a four-game set and are 7-4 in the season series, closing within one-half game of the second-place Cardinals in the NL Central.Mike Leake (5-7) gave up five runs in six innings for the Cardinals, who got RBI from Jedd Gyorko and Matt Holliday. Leake has lost his last three outings with a 6.06 ERA.Freese was me missing location but Fryer did a good job of putting the ball in play, Leake said. They werent terribly located balls, but not the best.Pirates third baseman Jung Ho Kang, under investigation by Chicago police on an allegation of sexual assault, singled pinch-hitting to open the ninth. Manager Clint Hurdle declined comment after the game.HOT BOXHarrison stayed alive in a rundown between third and home long enough for the hitter and runner to take two bases in the fifth. The Cardinals finally got him out on a play scored 3-2-5-3-6-4.TRAINERS ROOMPirates: RHP Ryan Vogelsong (facial fracture) threw 61 pitches in a four-inning simulated game. ... RHP Gerrit Cole (biceps) struck out six and allowed two hits for Triple-A Indianapolis to begin a rehab start.Cardinals: SS Jhonny Peralta was taken out after three innings with discomfort in his left thumb. The team said it was unrelated to the surgery for a torn thumb ligament in March.SLUMPINGMatt Adams, who replaced Peralta in the lineup, is in an 0-for-31 slump.UP NEXTPirates: Locke (8-5, 5.13) has won his last three starts with a 1.93 ERA and bested Oakland ace Sonny Gray his last time out.Cardinals: Jaime Garcia (6-6, 3.84) allowed one run in eight innings against the Brewers his last time out. He has a 0.57 ERA against Pittsburgh in six games, four starts. http://www.cowboysrookieproshop.com/Cowboys-Jourdan-Lewis-Jersey/ . According to a report from the Winnipeg Free Press, the Bombers will name Acting GM Kyle Walters to the post full time. http://www.cowboysrookieproshop.com/ . I cant pinpoint a date, but I do remember a player from my youth. Brian Downing was with the Chicago White Sox at a time when I listened to every game I possibly could on the radio. That particular season the late great Harry Caray was calling the White Sox games. http://www.cowboysrookieproshop.com/Cowboys-Damontre-Moore-Jersey/ . -- Gus Malzahn finally had his day in Fayetteville. http://www.cowboysrookieproshop.com/Cowboys-Charles-Tapper-Jersey/ . Blackwood, 28, has played the last three seasons in the San Diego Padres system, including the past two summers with Class AA San Antonio of the Texas League. http://www.cowboysrookieproshop.com/Cowboys-Ryan-Switzer-Jersey/ . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position.Chelseas defensive prowess of late has been typified by David Luizs resurgence under their new formation, according to Jamie Redknapp. A 3-0 loss to Arsenal prompted manager Antonio Conte to rethink his tactics, and Chelsea now sit fourth in the table having picked up four wins and four clean sheets in the Premier League since opting for three centre-backs.Luiz has played in the middle of Chelseas defensive trio during this run, most recently their 2-0 win at Southampton on Sunday, and Jamie Redknapp admitted the Brazilian has transformed under Conte. Graeme Souness says Chelsea produced a near perfect away performance in their win over Southampton There is a hunger about this Chelsea team, said Redknapp. The manager has brought that in and the players are buying into it.Every single player on that pitch is working hard and theres a desire about them again. Conte has got them so well drilled. Everybody knows their job when they have the ball and it suits them defensively as well.Luiz looks - Im scared to say it - like a serious defender. Youve got him buying into it as well, and that was a problem for Chelsea for many years. But when hes like that, he looks the real deal. Southampton 0-2 Chelsea highlights Questions were asked as to where Luiz would fit in following his Deadline Day move from Paris Saint-Germain, with even Conte admitting that he was a surprise purchase.However, Luiz has started the last eight games for Chelsea in all competitions, benefiting from John Terrys ankle injury which he sustained against Swansea in early September.During the match against Southampton, Sky Sports Gary Neville said Conte is finally getting the best out of Luiz by playing him in a back three. Antonio Conte believes Chelseas hard work is paying off after they secured another victory and clean sheet in their Premier League win over Southampton Neville added that the change in Chelseas overall mentality is noticeable, highlighting Luizs diversion from playing it out from the back.ddddddddddddThis Chelsea team have not made a mistake today, theyve not put a foot wrong, said Neville. The concentration and focus is there but the clean sheet mentality is the big thing for me, and its there right through the team these past few weeks. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. Even Luiz is kicking it into the stand when two years ago he might have done a Cruyff turn and tried to beat the attacker.Playing three centre-backs is very much the Italian way, but Conte originally appeared reluctant to implement the tactics he used in Italy when arriving in England this summer. Luiz has started every match since John Terry was injured in early September However, Chelsea have settled into the new formation comfortably and are now reaping the rewards, sitting one point behind league leaders Manchester City - who are ahead of Liverpool and Arsenal on goal difference.Chelsea have defeated both Manchester United and Southampton recently despite having less possession, but this new style may not be appreciated by everyone, according to Graeme Souness.They play a brand of football which wont be everyones cup of tea, Souness said after the Southampton match. But that was a near-perfect performance away from home. Chelsea boss Antonio Conte embraces Diego Costa after the win against Southampton No one comes to Southampton and has an easy ride, but Chelsea nullified them and limited them to just one shot on target. It was a very impressive performance.Theyre happy with that back three - a back five when they dont have the ball - to sit there and say come on, show us what youve got, and theyre dealing with whatever is being thrown at them.Its counter-attacking football and thats very Italian, and when I played in Italy, we would be shocked after losing games 1-0 despite having most of the ball. Thats the feeling teams will have when playing this side. Also See: Soton 0-2 Chelsea As it happened Chelsea video Chelsea fixtures Wholesale Hoodies NFL Shirts Outlet Jerseys NFL Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '