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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 on 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 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.Cheap Jordans Canada . Ferrer, trying to win his fourth title on Mexican soil, will next play South Africas Kevin Anderson, who eliminated American Sam Querrey,7-6 (2), 6-4. Also Wednesday, Gilles Simon (6) of France beat Donald Young of the United States 6-4, 6-3, Ukraines Alexandr Dolgopolov downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 and Croatias Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (4), 6-2. Air Jordan Shoes Canada . SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. http://www.cheapairjordancanada.com/ . - Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is not a fan of his teams use of the wildcat formation, saying "it makes you look like a high school offence. Air Jordan Canada Store . -- Arizona knocked off some quality opponents, rolled over a few overmatched ones and grinded out victories even when things didnt go so well. Cheap Air Jordan Canada . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros.Daniel Ricciardo was left lamenting the timing of the Virtual Safety Car during Sundays United States Grand Prix, which he says ruined the closing stages of the race.Ricciardo jumped Nico Rosberg on the opening lap but ultimately had to settle for third place at the Circuit of the Americas after the Red Bull driver lost out when the VSC was deployed around half-distance following Max Verstappens retirement. The Australian believes he lost around 10 seconds to Rosberg, who took advantage of making what was effectively a free pitstop under the VSC.[Under the] Virtual Safety Car we lost I think 10 seconds it worked out to be with Nico, Ricciardo said. I believe after the pit stops we would have had about five seconds on him and after the Virtual Safety Car he had closed to five seconds on me. So that was frustrating.It just would have been interesting, even if he caught me at the end, just to at least have a fight. I think the race after the Virtual Safety Car became a bit not that exciting. I guess without it would have made it a bit more spicy at the end. So that was that.When asked if it made it worse that the VSC was triggered by his own teammate, Riccciardo, in a mock Texan accent, replied: Absolutely, Sir.dddddddddddd When I saw Max out there I thought Ah hell, my boys done it again!Anyways, that was a devestational moment, but well keep soldiering on and we still got some points over Ferrari today so Im pretty pleased with that.Despite passing Rosberg around the outside of Turn 2, Ricciardo admitted he had hoped to utilise starting on the faster super-soft tyre -- with both Mercedes drivers beginning on the soft compound -- to possibly challenge Lewis Hamilton for the lead into Turn 1.I think the actual launch itself didnt seem that much stronger than the Mercedes on the soft tyre. I was hoping it would go a bit better, but then Nico opted to go to the outside so I had some room on the inside there. I got one at least, I was hoping to get two but that was better than nothing.I think the first part of the race everyone seemed to have a pretty similar pace, I guess Lewis was probably controlling it at the front but we seemed at the stage to be able to hold onto second. ' ' '