Das Team » helmet falling to the turf.UP NEXTRams: Los

PITTSBURGH -- Matt Cains mind drifted. He couldnt help it. A year to the day after throwing the 22nd perfect game in baseball history, the San Francisco Giants ace didnt give up a hit through four innings on Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates. "I tried not to think about it but there was enough talk about it that I couldnt really tune out," Cain said. A single by Pittsburghs Garrett Jones leading off the bottom of the fifth rendered any discussion of Cain making history again moot, one of the few things that didnt go right for the Giants in a 10-0 romp. Cain (5-3) struck out three and walked two over 6 2-3 innings. "He had good command of all his pitches," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. "Hes in a good place right now with his delivery and command. I like where hes at." Hunter Pence hit his 11th homer of the season, while Buster Posey, Gregor Blanco and Joaquin Arias had three hits apiece for San Francisco, which avoided a sweep by sending the Pirates to their worst loss of the year. Not bad for a team missing injured stars Pablo Sandoval, Marco Scutaro and Angel Pagan, all of whom are on the disabled list. "Its a great sign," Bochy said. "Were missing three big bats. You hope guys pick it up and they have the last couple of games. Blanco had a big game. Really, a lot of guys had big games." Even if it wasnt required on a night Cain seemed to move past the inconsistent play thats dogged him over the first two months of the season. The three-time All-Star has run hot and cold this season, getting off to a horrific start in April before going 4-0 in May. The Giants lost both of his starts this month, scoring all of one run in the process. Given a healthy dose of support, Cain didnt let it go to waste. "I am throwing the ball a whole lot better," he said. "Im trying to eliminate that big inning. I had done a good job of that for some years now but Ive kind of had trouble with it this year. Its a matter of putting it in the past and getting guys out." San Franciscos outburst spoiled the return of Pittsburgh starter Charlie Morton (0-1), who was celebrating an anniversary of his own. The righthander underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on June 14, 2012. Just short of a year later, he surrendered four runs on seven hits, striking out five and walking one. The right-hander also hit three batters while making his first major league start in 381 days. "I wish it had gone better but I think I can take quite a few positives," Morton said. The Giants didnt knock Morton around so much as chip away. San Francisco touched Morton for a run in each of the first two innings then added two more in the fifth before breaking things open with five runs in the sixth against reliever Mike Zagurski. The romp was a welcome change for the defending World Series champions, who have struggled on the road. San Francisco came in just 4-12 in its last 16 games away from AT&T Park but had little trouble with Cain returning to form. Cain tossed a one-hitter against the Pirates last season, the lone mistake being a fastball in the sixth inning that McDonald turned into a single. Two months later he retired all 27 batters he faced against the overmatched Astros. He didnt overwhelm Pittsburgh this time, instead letting his defence do most of the work. Cain wasted little time between pitches and the Pirates could never seem to get comfortable. "We saw the good Matt Cain tonight," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. San Francisco certainly looked at ease, pushing the lead to 4-0 during a weird fifth inning. Zagurski hit Brandon Crawford with one out and Posey smacked a ground-rule double to the gap in left-centre. Crawford would have easily scored if the ball hadnt hopped over the fence. Things evened out when Pence hit a dribbler that turned into a rundown between third and home. Crawford smacked into Pittsburgh third baseman Pedro Alvarez during the chase, with home plate umpire Tim McClellan awarding Crawford home plate after ruling Alvarez impeded Crawfords path. Andres Torres hit a sacrifice fly, but a potentially big inning came undone when a liner by Arias went right at Pence standing off second base. The San Francisco outfielder dove forward to avoid the ball only to have it deflect off his helmet. Pence earned a bit of revenge the next inning when he smoked a 3-run homer off Zagurski and the rout was on. NOTES: Scutaro is still in considerable pain after the pinky finger in his left hand was drilled by a pitch on Tuesday. Bochy said there is considerable swelling and isnt sure when Scutaro will play again ... The Giants begin a three-game series in Atlanta on Friday. Madison Bumgarner (5-4, 3.58) faces Atlantas Kris Medlen (3-6, 2.87) ... San Franciscos Nick Noonan appeared to have his first major league home run in the ninth inning when he hit a ball to right-centre. The call was overturned when replay showed the ball hit the top of the fence but did not go over. Auston Matthews Jersey . Now tied for second in the league in shootout goals, the 24-year-old likes to see what the opposing goaltender has in store before he ultimately lands on a move. Curtis McElhinney Jersey . The deal is pending a physical, assistant general manager Bobby Evans said. Traded from Seattle to Baltimore on Aug. 30, Morse also can play first base and right field to give manager Bruce Bochy some flexibility in writing his lineup. http://www.authenticmapleleafsshopnhl.com/ . Fred Couples, captain of the U.S. side, put it all into perspective. "We know whos in charge," he said. Mike Palmateer Jersey . Mats Zuccarello and Derek Stepan scored shootout goals, and backup goalie Cam Talbot earned his second win in two nights as the Rangers shook off a late tying tally and beat the Maple Leafs 2-1 Monday night. Ron Hainsey Jersey . It was the second consecutive win for the Pacers (2-5), who lost their first five preseason games. Jeff Teague led the Hawks (1-5) with 17 points and eight assists and Al Horford had 12 points and seven rebounds. Mike Scott scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half. SEATTLE -- For all the flaws, the Seattle Seahawks are back where they always expected to be.In the postseason and as champions of the NFC West.I think its a huge significance in terms of consistency, Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. Its something that we really do take great pride in because of the implications for the playoffs.Russell Wilson threw three touchdown passes, Tyler Lockett had 130 yards receiving and a score, and the Seahawks won the NFC West with a 24-3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night.Seattle claimed its third division title in four seasons, assuring itself of at least one home game in the playoffs and keeping the pressure on Detroit in the competition for the No. 2 seed in the NFC and a first-round bye. Seattle also snapped a three-game losing streak to the Rams.Seattle became the first team in the NFL to clinch its division, the result of playing in the NFC West in a season where no one was particularly good. The Seahawks have their shortcomings, which were shown again against the Rams. Seattle simply had more tools than anyone else in the division to overcome their flaws.It wasnt a completely smooth evening for the Seahawks. Richard Sherman was seen yelling toward coaches on the sideline in the third quarter moments before Doug Baldwins 1-yard touchdown catch. Sherman said he was expressing his displeasure toward Carroll with the decision to throw on first-and-goal from the 1, a pass by Wilson that was nearly intercepted.Weve already seen how that goes. Im sure you guys have seen that play enough times, Sherman said.It wasnt an impressive display by Seattle (9-4-1), but was far better than Sunday when the Seahawks were blown out by Green Bay with Wilson throwing five interceptions.Wilson was good enough against the listless Rams. After slogging through the first half, Wilson threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Doug Baldwin late in the third quarter for a 17-3 lead, then put the game away on a 57-yard touchdown strike to Lockett on the second play of the fourth quarter.Wilson finished 19 of 26 for 229 yards, but also threw a careless interception at the goal line midway through the fourth quarter. Seven of those passes went to Lockett, whose previous career high was 104 yards. Luke Willson also had an 8-yard TD catch in the first half.Another mostly forgettable Thursday night game was made at least somewhat more entertaining by the Seahawks and their highlighter green uniforms that drew wild opinions all over social media. The Action Green uniforms had very little action in the first half, before a second-half effort that assured another banner would be raised at CenturyLink Field.ddddddddddddA tumultuous few days for the Rams (4-10) after the firing of Jeff Fisher as head coach culminated in their fifth straight loss and first under interim coach John Fassel. The Rams defensive front caused problems for Seattle in the first half but the Los Angeles offense provided zero help.Its just a lesson for me that you always have to be ready to adapt and take on responsibilities that you didnt anticipate, Fassel said. But its an experience that of course Ill never forget.Jared Goff was 13 of 25 for 135 yards before leaving in the fourth quarter to be checked for a possible concussion. The Rams finished with 183 total yards, but 90 of those came in the fourth quarter.QUIET GURLEYLos Angeles running back Todd Gurley was again unable to get started in the run game, continuing a frustrating second season. Gurley was held to 38 yards on 14 carries. He did have a 22-yard run late in the second quarter that set up Greg Zuerleins 36-yard field goal, but it as just his second run of 20 yards or more this season. Gurley had 11 runs of 20 or more yards last year.There is no reason Gurley should get hit the way he gets hit sometimes because we dont set up a block for him, Los Angeles offensive lineman Rodger Saffold said.SACK ATTACKAfter getting no pressure on the quarterback in the past three weeks, the Seahawks rediscovered their pass rush.Seattle had two sacks in the first half and finished with four after the Seahawks had five total sacks in the previous five weeks. Cliff Avril was the main culprit with 1 1/2 sacks, giving him a career-high 11 1/2 for the season.INJURY REPORTSeattle defensive end Michael Bennett suffered neck strain in the fourth quarter on a collision with Gurley, Carroll said. A few plays later, Goff was taken from the game to be checked for a concussion after a sideline hit by Richard Sherman. He was replaced by Case Keenum.Even Seattle punter Jon Ryan got added to the injury list after suffering concussion in the fourth quarter on a fake punt. Ryan ran 26 yards before bobbling the ball and getting hit in the helmet falling to the turf.UP NEXTRams: Los Angeles will return home to host San Francisco.Seahawks: Seattle will host Arizona in its final home game.---For more NFL coverage: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Wholesale NFL Womens Jerseys China Womens NFL Jerseys Nike NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys Outlet Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Wholesale NFL White Jerseys Discount Jerseys ' ' '