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WASHINGTON -- Stephen Strasburg so badly wanted to start the Washington Nationals first game after the break that he gave up the chance to pitch in the All-Star Game in his hometown of San Diego.His 13th victory was a reward for that.Strasburg allowed one run and three hits with six strikeouts in eight masterful innings as the Nationals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1 on Friday night.Strasburg (13-0) has won 16 consecutive decisions dating to September, a franchise record for starting pitchers.He got probably some grief by not pitching in the All-Star Game, but he was doing what he thought was best for us and for him, manager Dusty Baker said. Boy, that sets the tone for the rest of the series.Strasburg has allowed a total of five hits in three starts since coming off the disabled list July 3. Catcher Wilson Ramos said this is the best he has ever seen Strasburg pitch, and eight innings matched the right-handers season high.At the plate, Strasburg drove in what turned out to be the winning run on a sacrifice bunt attempt in the seventh inning. He reached safely because of an error by Pirates first baseman David Freese.I was just telling myself Im going to stick in there, Strasburg said. I wasnt going to walk away without getting it down.First baseman Clint Robinson, who drove in a run in the fifth, scored in the seventh on the combination of a wild pitch by reliever Neftali Feliz and a throwing error by catcher Eric Fryer. Center fielder Michael Taylor broke the game open with a two-run homer, his seventh of the season, off Feliz.Pittsburgh starter Francisco Liriano (5-9) got the loss after allowing three runs and five hits in six-plus innings.I thought he pitched a very competitive ballgame, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. Its good to see him move it deeper into the game.Competitive wasnt enough against the Nationals lineup, which was strong even without Daniel Murphy, who was scratched with a sore left hamstring. Robinson, who didnt learn he was starting until batting practice, went 2-for-4.Big Robinson, hes always ready, Baker said. He got some big hits for us, he tied the game up off Liriano and then he got another hit that started a rally. Clint has been a life saver for us and especially in [Ryan Zimmermans] absence.The Nationals keep chugging along atop the National League East in large part because of starting pitching. Strasburg has been the best, and on Friday, he lowered his ERA to 2.51.I felt pretty good, said Strasburg, who threw 69 of 105 pitches for strikes. Im trying to go out there with the same game plan, the same plan of attack and focus on executing pitches.TRAINERS ROOMPirates: RHP Ryan Vogelsong, who has been out since May 23, when he was hit by a pitch and suffered three facial fractures, threw six scoreless innings in a rehab start for Double-A Altoona. ... C Francisco Cervelli, who has been on the DL since June 11 with a broken bone in his wrist, doubled and singled in a rehab appearance with Triple-A Indianapolis.Nationals: Murphy said he felt tightness in his hamstring after sliding into second base during the All-Star Game on Tuesday. The team listed him as day-to-day, but he wasnt sure if hed be able to play Saturday night. ... Baker said RHP Joe Ross continues to toss but remains on the DL with no definitive timeline.FATHERS DAYSThis is the Pirates fourth annual dads trip, and almost 20 fathers of people throughout the organization are taking part.Its an absolute blast for everybody, Hurdle said. Its kind of like revisiting Little League but backwards because then weve got to follow our fathers around and make sure they havent left stuff behind.UP NEXTPirates RHP Gerrit Cole (5-4, 2.77 ERA) returns from the DL and starts Saturday against Nationals RHP Tanner Roark (8-5, 3.01). Cole has been out since June 11 with a strained right triceps muscle. Doug Flutie Jersey . Booth picked up 65 caps after making her national team debut in 2002 at the age of 17. She most recently played for Sky Blue FC of the National Womens Soccer League. "It just felt like it was my time to move on," she said in a phone interview from her hometown of Burlington, Ont. Antonio Gates Jersey . Nine days before the opening ceremony, organizing committee chief Dmitry Chernyshenko said Wednesday that Sochi is "fully ready" and will deliver safe, friendly and well-run games that defy the grim reports that have overshadowed preparations. http://www.cheapchargersjerseysauthentic.com/ . Luis Suarezs double powered Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Fulham, and Southampton easily overcame Hull 4-1 to continue the south coast clubs impressive start to the season. Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home. Junior Seau Jersey . "Four now," Carl Gunnarsson told the Leaf Report proudly following a 5-2 victory over New York on Tuesday night, the clubs fifth straight at home. Cheap Chargers Jerseys . Breaking three of his own world records on his way to winning in Paris, Chan silenced the critics and left the audiences standing in appreciation and awe.NEWARK, N.J. -- The three-time Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils are for sale and a deal is expected before the start of the NHL season. A person familiar with the negotiations says several groups are vying to buy the financially strapped franchise and there is a chance a deal might be done quickly. The source spoke to The Associated Press Thursday and requested anonymity because the negotiations between Devils owner Jeff Vanderbeek and the groups are still active. Philadelphia 76ers owner Josh Harris heads one group and Calgary billionaire Bill Gallacher is another, as the deal includes operating rights to the Prudential Center. The team will not relocate, the source said, adding that Vanberbeek will retain a minority ownership with the Devils. The NHL said it has no interest in taking over the team. Commissioner Gary Bettman addressed the issue on Thursday after a news conference in New York to promote two outdoor games at Yankee Stadium. Earlier in the day, Forbes had reported that the league would likely take over the team in September unless a new owner was found. "I havent seen the Forbes report, but if the suggestion is were going to take over the Devils, which is what Ive heard the report says, its not accurate," Bettman said. The NHL recently ran the Phoenix Coyotes for four years before finding a new owner. Forbes reported the Devils have $230 million of debbt and that Vanderbeek missed the first payment on a recently restructured bank loan.dddddddddddd Vanderbeek seemingly was close to selling the package to a group headed by Philadelphia attorney Andrew Barroway, but the deal fell through. The source said Barroways group, which has invested $30 million in the offer, is still in the mix but at this point it has been "outbid." Devils general manager and president Lou Lamoriello declined to comment on the negotiations. "Thats one thing I stay away from," Lamoriello said in a telephone conversation with The AP. A former Devils season ticketholder since the 1980s, Vanderbeek became a minority owner of the Devils in 2000. He purchased the team and became its majority owner in 2004. Vanderbeek was one of the leading proponents behind the building of the Prudential Center, which opened as the Devils home in 2007. The New Jersey Nets also played at the arena before moving into a new home in Brooklyn this past season. The Devils won the Stanley Cup in 1995, 2000 and 2003, and won additional Eastern Conference championships in 2001 and 2012. They missed the playoffs in the recent lockout-shortened se