PITTSBURGH -- It seems like Mike Leakes spot in the Cincinnati Reds starting rotation has been in jeopardy since the first day of spring training. With the Reds planning to convert closer Aroldis Chapman to a starter in spring training, Leake appeared headed to a long relief role until Cincinnati reversed course with Chapman. When ace Johnny Cueto went on the disabled list in mid-April, there was speculation that Leake could be the odd starter out upon Cuetos return. However, Leake is still in the rotation and continued his recent run of strong pitching by working six scoreless innings Saturday night as the Reds beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-0. Leake (5-2) scattered seven hits as the Pirates stranded seven runners during his six innings. He had five strikeouts and one walk. In his last four starts, Leake has gone 3-0 with a 0.27 ERA, allowing only one run in 33 innings. "I didnt want to lose my spot in the rotation and it definitely gave me a little motivation," Leake said. "When I start hearing Im going to lose my spot, part of me says dont worry about it and part of me says get a little attitude going. "And the third part is to worry about it, so you try to forget about that third part." The Reds shut out Pittsburgh for the second straight night as the Pirates lost back-to-back games for the first time since May 8-9. On Friday, Cueto pitched eight innings of a one-hitter. "Most people respond when you show a a little faith in them and Leakie has done that," Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker said. "He pays attention. He learns. Hes helping us and hes helping himself." Francisco Liriano (3-2) struck out 11 in six innings and allowed only one run but lost his second straight decision. "Wow. He was really good," Pittsburgh coach Clint Hurdle said. "He was done physically after six but it was a really good six innings." Liriano also struck out seven batters in a row between the first and third innings, tying the club record set by Erik Bedard on May 3, 2012 at St. Louis. "You could tell right from the start he was good and I was going to have to be pretty good, too, if we were going to have a chance to win," Leake said. Chapman pitched a scoreless ninth, striking out Alex Presley swinging on runners on first and second to end it for 14th save in 16 opportunities. Cincinnati second baseman Brandon Phillips, who entered the day with a National League-leading 44 RBIs, had two hits but left the game in the eighth inning with a bruised left forearm after being hit by a pitch from Tony Watson. X-rays were negative but Baker said Phillips would definitely miss Sundays game and perhaps a few more. "The first thing I thought of was Curtis Granderson," Phillips said, referring to the New York Yankees left fielder suffering a broken forearm in February during his first plate appearance of the exhibition season. "I thought it was broken, for sure. Im still having a hard time closing my hand but Im very thankful it wasnt broken and that I wont be out for very long." Todd Frazier also had two the Reds 10 hits. Presley had three hits for the Pirates a day after being recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis. Garrett Jones added two hits. Pittsburgh outhit Cincinnati, 10-8, but left 10 runners on base and went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position. "We couldnt get (hits) at the right time," Hurdle said. "Opportunities were out there but we couldnt get anything going." Phillips infield single drove in Zack Cozart from second base with the games first run with two outs in the fourth inning. Replays showed that Liriano beat Phillips to the bag while catching the throw from Jones, the first baseman, but first umpire Bob Davidson made a safe call. Joey Votto added an RBI single for the Reds in the eighth. NOTES: As part of Negro League heritage weekend at PNC Park, the Pirates wore replica Homestead Grays uniforms and the Reds wore Cincinnati Tigers throwbacks. ... Pittsburgh LF Starling Marte, who hit .243 in May after batting .327 in April, was not in the starting lineup and was replaced by OF Alex Presley. ... Rookie OF Derrick Robinson started for Cincinnati in left field for a third consecutive game, again taking the place of OF Xavier Paul. ... Liriano had double digit strikeouts for the 12th time in his eight-year career. ... The three-game series ends Sunday with Reds RHP Mat Latos (5-0, 3.01) facing RHP Jeanmar Gomez (2-0, 2.30). Best Cheapest Jordan 1 . Pedro scored from a pass by Lionel Messi in the 33rd minute and added two more goals in the 47th and 72nd after Valdes saved his second penalty in four days following his stop in Wednesdays 4-0 over Ajax in the Champions League. Air Max Outlet Online Store . 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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Mizzou Volleyball (16-3, 7-0 SEC) posted arguably its top victory of the season on Sunday afternoon, rallying from a 2-0 deficit and claiming a thrilling 3-2 (16-25, 23-25, 27-25, 25-20, 15-12) victory over Alabama. Sundays win marked the Tigers first triumph this year after falling behind two sets to none.Redshirt junior Melanie Crow (Wildwood, Mo.), redshirt junior Kira Larson (Fargo, N.D.) and senior Carly Kan (Honolulu) each posted double-digit kills to lead the Tigers offense. Crow matched her career high with a team-high 23 kills, while Larson matched her season high with 16 kills.Crow also tallied 16 digs, securing her 7th double-double of the season. Junior Courtney Eckenrode (The Woodlands, Texas) was fantastic at setter, recording a career high 57 assists with nine digs. The Tigers strong defensive effort in sets three-five keyed the exciting comeback. Redshirt freshman Riley Sents (Grundy Center, Iowa) was outstanding off the bench, tallying a career high 10 digs. Senior Alexa Ethridge (Lees Summit, Mo.) finished with a team-best 17 digs, marking the third Tiger with double-digit digs on the day.The Tigers struggled across the board in the opening set, dropping their first set in SEC action this season. Mizzou tallied an uncharacteristic 10 attack errors, while Alabamas defense also produced three total blocks. Crow shined for the Tigers offense, recording a team-high five kills on .500 hitting in the opening set.Mizzou played significantly better in the second set, as it battled to the end with Alabama. The two teams tallied nine ties and four lead changes alone in the set. Mizzous defense stepped up with three total blocks, while contributing to six Crimson Tidee attack errors.dddddddddddd Ultimately, the Tigers let a late three point advantage slip away as Alabama claimed a 25-23 set triumph.Crow continued her strong match in the second set, recording six more kills. Through two sets played, Crow secured her 14th double-digit kill match this year. Larson recorded five kills in the set, serving as another big contributor on offense.The Tigers and Crimson Tides tradition of closely-contested matches continued, as the third set saw 13 total ties and eight lead changes. Mizzou trailed 23-19 in the set, before accumulating an impressive 5-0 run to set up set point. The Tigers had two more set points before finally closing an exciting 27-25 triumph.Crow and Larson once again paced Mizzous attack, tallying four kills apiece in the third set. Freshman Andie Hanus (Omaha, Neb.) played a key role into the Tigers late comeback, as she served throughout their before mentioned 5-0 run.Mizzous momentum continued in the fourth set, as it held onto a comfortable lead throughout. The Tigers ultimately tallied a 25-20 set victory with a match-high .387 hitting percentage (15 kills). Crow secured her third 20-plus kill outing of the year after five more kills in the fourth set.The Tigers tallied eight more kills on .350 hitting in the fifth set, wrapping up their strong attack in the final two sets. Mizzous 12.0 total blocks against the Crimson Tide marked its ninth 10-plus total block outing of the season. Sophomore Alyssa Munlyn (Suwanee, Ga.) recorded a team-leading seven total blocks, leading the team in stops for the 14th time in 2016. ' ' '