SAN DIEGO - Francisco Liriano struck out a season-high 13 and Pedro Alvarez hit his NL-leading 31st home run to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 3-1 victory against the San Diego Padres on Monday night. The Pirates, who had lost seven of nine coming in, maintained a one-game lead in the NL Central over St. Louis. The Padres struck out 17 times overall Monday night, giving them 59 in their last five games. Theyve lost nine of 13. Liriano (14-5) tied his career-high with his 14th victory. He helped give some relief to the Pirates bullpen, which was taxed when three of the previous six games went extra innings. Coming off a four-hit victory at St. Louis in his last start, Liriano held San Diego to four hits in seven innings while walking two. Lirianos previous season high was 11 strikeouts on June 1 against Cincinnati. His career high is 15. The Padres loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth before Liriano got Ronny Cedeno to hit into a force. The Padres had runners in scoring position only two other times against Liriano. Ronny Cedeno hit a leadoff single in the third and advanced on a balk before Liriano struck out the side. Denorfia doubled to left with one out in the fifth and advanced to third on Will Venables groundout before Liriano struck out rookie Jedd Gyorko. In his last four starts after a Bucs loss, including Monday night, Liriano has pitched 30 innings and allowed only two earned runs. Mark Melancon pitched the ninth for his eighth save in 10 chances. He allowed Nick Hundleys RBI double with two outs. Alvarez, who had been tied for the NL lead with Arizonas Paul Goldschmidt, homered on an 0-1 pitch from Andrew Cashner with two outs in the sixth to give the Pirates a 3-0 lead. It landed about six rows behind the Jack Daniels Old No. 7 party deck that sits atop the right-field wall. The Pirates scored two runs in the fourth on two singles and an error by right fielder Chris Denorfia. With Andrew McCutcheon aboard on a leadoff single, Alvarez grounded a single to right field, which rolled under the glove of a charging Denorfia and went all the way to the fence, allowing both runners to score. Cashner (8-8) lost his third straight start. He allowed three runs, one earned, on five hits in seven innings, struck out three and walked two. NOTES: Padres CF Cameron Maybin returned to San Diego to have his injured knee re-examined by club doctors. Maybin has been on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tucson before the club shut him down. He probably is done for the season. ... Pirates RHP A.J. Burnett (5-8, 3.18) is scheduled to start against the Padres on Tuesday night. Hes 1-5 with a 4.93 ERA in seven career starts against the Padres, with the one victory being a no-hitter on May 12, 2001, while with the Marlins. Burnett walked nine that night. ... In his last start on Aug. 15, Burnett allowed five runs in 4 1-3 innings and got a no-decision at St. Louis. Burnett has allowed 11 runs in his last two starts after throwing a complete-game victory Aug. 4 against the Rockies. ... The Padres will counter with Tyson Ross (3-5, 2.62) Tuesday night. ... LHP Wandy Rodriguez threw a bullpen session Monday. Rodriguez, who has been on the disabled list since June 11, retroactive to June 6, with tightness in his left forearm, said he still could "feel something" in his arm during the session. There is no timetable for his return. ... RHP Jason Grilli was scheduled to start throwing from a 120 feet Monday, manager Clint Hurdle said. Grilli has been on the DL since July 23 with a right forearm strain. ... RHP Ryan Reid was recalled Monday from Triple-A Indianapolis. This is Reids second stint with the Pirates. Wesley Johnson Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Chris Paul Jersey . -- Cheyenne Woods, the niece of Tiger Woods, shot a 2-under 69 on Tuesday to finish first in stroke-play qualifying at the Womens U. http://www.clippersnbateamshop.info/. Sundays game against the Colorado Rapids at B.C. Place Stadium has important implications in determining Major League Soccers playoff picture and will also mark the final game in the career of veteran South Korean defender Young-Pyo Lee. Sam Dekker Jersey . "If we only consider this season," Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini said, "there is just one club in Manchester -- and its ours. Danilo Gallinari Jersey . Kerber will next play Estonias Kaia Kanepi, who beat American qualifier Victoria Duval 6-1, 6-3. In other first-round matches, Lucie Safarova beat 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone 6-4, 6-4 and American Bethanie Mattek-Sands had a 6-4, 6-3 win over Canadas Eugenie Bouchard.Sydney, Australia (SportsNetwork.com) - American Jordan Spieth fired a flawless 8-under 63 on Sunday to win the Australian Open by six shots. Spieth, 21, finished at 13-under 271 to become the first American to win the tournament since Brad Faxon in 1993. Australian Rod Pampling led tthe home charge with a 68 in the final round to finish in second place at 7-under 265, while Adam Scott managed only an even-par 71 to come in fifth.dddddddddddd Defending champion and world No. 1 Rory McIlroy finished 15 shots behind Spieth in a tie for 15th place. Wholesale Orioles JerseysRed Sox Jerseys ChinaCheap Stitched Yankees JerseysCheap Stitched Rays JerseysWholesale Blue Jays JerseysCheap White Sox JerseysCheap Indians JerseysWholesale Tigers JerseysRoyals Jerseys ChinaCheap Stitched Twins JerseysCheap Stitched Astros JerseysWholesale Angels JerseysAthletics Jerseys ChinaWholesale Mariners Jerseys Free ShippingCheap Rangers Jerseys AuthenticWholesale Braves JerseysCheap Marlins JerseysWholesale Mets JerseysCheap Stitched Phillies JerseysWholesale Nationals JerseysCheap Cubs Jerseys OnlineWholesale Reds JerseysCheap Brewers Jerseys OnlineCheap Pirates Jerseys AuthenticWholesale Cardinals JerseysCheap Diamondbacks Jerseys AuthenticCheap Rockies Jerseys AuthenticCheap Dodgers Jerseys AuthenticCheap Padres Jerseys OnlineWholesale Giants Jerseys ' ' '