THE LOSING CONTINUES FOR THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
BUCS HAMMER GIANTS; NOW 19 GAMES BACK
(AP) — Garrett Jones and Jordy Mercer homered, Jose Tabata hit a three-run double, and the NL Central-leading Pittsburgh Pirates beat the San Francisco Giants 10-5 on Thursday night.
Pedro Alvarez hit a go-ahead, two-run double to start a seven-run fifth and matched his career high for RBIs in a season with 85. Russell Martin and Gaby Sanchez added sacrifice flies and Tabata had a three-run double in his second plate appearance of the inning.
Marco Scutaro had a tying two-run single in the fourth for San Francisco after scoring in the third on Buster Posey's sacrifice fly.
Giants right-hander Matt Cain left in the fourth inning after getting hit on his pitching arm on a line drive by Sanchez. He sustained a contusion on his forearm and X-rays were negative.
X-RAYS NEGATIVE AS CAIN TAKES COMEBACKER OFF PITCHING ARM
(AP) — Right-hander Matt Cain left his start against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the top of the fourth inning Thursday night after getting hit in the pitching arm on a line drive by Pittsburgh's Gaby Sanchez.
The Giants said he suffered a contusion on right forearm and X-rays were negative.
Athletic trainer Dave Groeschner and manager Bruce Bochy hustled out to check on Cain, who walked off the mound to the dugout on his own moments later Thursday night. He allowed three runs and seven hits in 3 1-3 innings, struck out three and didn't walk a batter. Guillermo Moscosco relieved with the Giants trailing 3-1.
Cain, who had been on a nice roll since the All-Star break, threw 64 pitches, 40 strikes.
BRAUN ADMITS P.E.D. USE AND LYING TO FANS AND FRIENDS
(AP) — Ryan Braun is admitting taking performance-enhancing drugs during his NL MVP season of 2011.
The suspended Milwaukee slugger says in a statement released by the Brewers that he took a cream and a lozenge containing banned substances while rehabilitating an injury.
Braun says, "It was a huge mistake for which I am deeply ashamed and I compounded the situation by not admitting my mistakes immediately."
Braun tested positive for elevated testosterone in October 2011. But his 50-game suspension was overturned when an arbitrator ruled that the urine sample was mishandled.
Braun apologized to the collector of the urine sample, his teammates and Commissioner Bud Selig (SEE'-lihg), saying: "I have no one to blame but myself."
49ERS SIGN FORMER SEAHAWK
(AP) — The San Francisco 49ers have added another quarterback to the competition to be Colin Kaepernick's backup, signing nine-year veteran Seneca Wallace to a one-year contract Thursday.
While Colt McCoy had appeared to be the favorite to win the No. 2 job coming into training camp, neither he nor Scott Tolzien have separated themselves. Even rookie B.J. Daniels has been deemed a contender, though clearly Wallace now will get a chance with little time to prepare before the Sept. 8 season opener against Green Bay.
Wallace, who was competing with Luke McCown to back up Drew Brees in New Orleans, had his contract terminated by the Saints on Monday.
San Francisco waived wideout Ricardo Lockette, who worked out with Kaepernick in Atlanta for a stretch this offseason along with departed A.J. Jenkins.
RAIDERS HOPING TO GET A LOOK AT FIRST ROUND PICK HAYDEN
(AP) — D.J. Hayden finally gets the chance to answer the critics who thought the Oakland Raiders made a risky bet when they drafted him 12th overall in April.
Hayden will make his exhibition debut for Oakland on Friday night against the Chicago Bears in his first game action of any kind since a near-fatal practice collision ended his college career last November and raised questions about his future in the NFL.
Hayden has been limited most of training camp after undergoing abdominal surgery in May to heal scarring from the original injury. He was not cleared for any contact until last Friday and has had just one padded practice before taking the field against the Bears.
Hayden last played a game Nov. 3 for Houston against East Carolina. He was injured days later.
