PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Neil Walker understands not everybody is going to be a fan of Major League Baseballs expanded replay system, which threatens to slow down a sport that already struggles to be played with any sort of urgency. Corey White Cowboys Jersey . Funny, there werent many critics to be found on Monday at PNC Park. Walker homered off Carlos Villanueva leading off the 10th inning, and the Pirates benefited from an overturned to call to beat the Chicago Cubs 1-0. The Pittsburgh native turned on a Villanueva changeup and sent it sailing over the Clemente Wall in right field for the first walk-off of his career and the first by the Pirates on opening day since Bob Bailey homered off San Franciscos Juan Marichal in a 1-0, 10-inning victory in 1965. "This one feels pretty special," Walker said. "This is a special day for this team, this organization. Weve come a long way." So has the game. After spending decades fighting the advances of technology, Major League Baseball has embraced the concept. Many calls can be challenged this season under an expanded system, and both teams wasted little time putting umpires to work. The Cubs made history by initiating the first review under the new guidelines. Chicago manager Rick Renteria challenged a double-play call in the top of the fifth following a demonstrative "safe" call by Jeff Samardzija following a poorly executed sacrifice bunt attempt. First base umpire Bob Davidsons decision was confirmed on replay. "It was a combination of Samardzjias reaction and what we were looking at," Renteria said. "Were still trying to figure out what clear and compelling evidence is. Its a work in progress." Chicagos luck with replay didnt get any better later. A safe call on a pickoff attempt by Bryan Morris (1-0) with one out in the top of the 10th was reversed after Pirates manager Clint Hurdle requested a replay, sending Chicagos Emilio Bonifacio back to the dugout after a delay of 2 1/2 minutes. "Most of the time on pickoffs, its got to be very noticeable for the umpire," Morris said. "Those bang-bang plays are always going to go to the runner. I guess thats why its good to have replay." The largest regular season crowd in PNC Parks 14-season history (39,833) roared its approval. The din only grew louder when Walkers drive to right field finished halfway up the seats. That capped a giddy day for a team freed from two decades of losing after a breakout 2013 in which it won 94 games and made the playoffs for the first time since 1992. Former Pittsburgh star Barry Bonds presented centerfielder Andrew McCutchen with the NL MVP award that McCutchen earned last year. Bonds received mixed reviews, though the vitriol that accompanied his late career visits to Pittsburgh while playing for San Francisco was noticeably absent. Bonifacio went 4 for 5 for Chicago, but the Cubs were 0 for 11 with runners in scoring position and wasted a fine start by Samardzija, who scattered five hits over seven innings. "I was happy with the way I kept the ball down in the strike zone," Samardzija said. "It helped to get the double plays because they made the overall outing look a little better than it really was." Travis Ishikawa had two of the six hits by Pittsburgh. Starter Francisco Liriano tied a team record shared by three other pitchers for most strikeouts on opening day by fanning 10 in six innings. While he struggled with his command -- needing 104 pitches to get 18 outs -- he was sharp when he needed to be and Pittsburghs bullpen did the rest. NOTES: Pirates C Chris Stewart took batting practice and says he is coming along ahead of schedule in his rehab from knee surgery. Stewart believes he can beat the timetable of late April for his return. ... Chicago OF Brian Bogusevic was unavailable because of ankle soreness. He is expected to be ready to play Wednesday. ... The teams are off Tuesday. Chicagos Edwin Jackson faces Pittsburghs Charlie Morton on Wednesday night. Dwayne Harris Jersey .com) - Kyle Okposo notched his first career hat trick, including the game-winner in the third period, and totaled four goals as the New York Islanders rallied for a 6-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Keith Rivers Cowboys Jersey .com) - Five-time champion Serena Williams, fourth seed Petra Kvitova and former world No. PHOENIX -- Channing Frye appeared to have his career-high scoring night in the bag until the Phoenix Suns reserves played so well that he didnt get back in the game. Frye had to settle for a season-high 30 points instead in the Suns 117-103 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night. "For me it is just constant movement and shooting shots that I know are good shots," Frye said, "and just not even thinking about it and letting them go. Tonight they went in." After missing all of last season for treatment of an enlarged heart, Frye made 12 of 16 shots and 5 of 7 3-pointers in his strongest game yet in an impressive comeback season -- then he sat out the final 9 1/2 minutes. "He was hot from the start," Suns coach Jeff Hornacek said. "He makes it very difficult on teams, playing the four spot, when hes making those shots." Markieff Morris scored 16 and Goran Dragic 15 for the Suns, who never trailed and improved to 3-0 against Denver this season with one game to play. Anthony Randolph scored a season-best 19 for the Nuggets, who have lost four of five and were without guard Randy Foye because of a stomach virus. Evan Fournier, Ty Lawson and Wilson Chandler added 17 points apiece for Denver. In his most extensive minutes of the season since returning from an ankle injury, Suns rookie centre Alex Len had nine points and six rebounds, pressed into added duty when Miles Plumlee tweaked an ankle. Leandro Barbosa, in his home debut after rejoining the franchise where he had his greatest NBA success, scored 13. He had missed the previous two games with a sore right shoulder. "He got to the hole several times," Hornacek said. "It doesnt even look like hes going that hard, but he knows when to do it. He takes one or two dribbles and that explosive step is what gets him by people. ... That could be a big weapon for us as we go forward." The Suns never fell behind two nights after they never had the lead in a home loss to Dallas. "Once again our defence failed us," Nuggets coach Brian Shaw said. Robert Newhouse Cowboys Jersey. . "We gave up 117 points for the fourth consecutive game and it happened from the starters through the guys who came off the bench. The guys who came off the bench (for Phoenix) played so well they never had to come back to their starters. The Nuggets managed three ties in the first quarter before Phoenix took the lead for good when Fryes 22-footer made it 21-19 with 4:27 left in the opening quarter. The Suns led by as many as 11 early in the second quarter and were up 62-56 at the half. Phoenix opened the second half with a 9-1 run to take its biggest lead, 71-57, after Dragic banked in a running 10-footer. Denver got back in it with a flurry of 3-pointers and offensive rebounds. Chandler scored 11 in the third quarter, including three 3-pointers, and Denver cut the lead to 77-73 on Fourniers 3 with 4:02 to left in the period. Denver had a chance to get closer moments later, but Hickson missed two free throws. Baskets by Frye and Leandro Barbosa boosted the Suns lead to 84-77 before Lawsons late driving layup cut their margin to 84-79 entering the fourth quarter. The Nuggets started the fourth with a basket to cut it to 84-81, but thats as close as it got. Frye sank a 3-pointer to start a 7-0 spurt that made it 91-81 10:12 from the end. Denver sliced it to 91-86, then Phoenix scored the next seven and the Nuggets never got it closer than nine again. "We score enough points," Lawson said. "No defence." NOTES: The Suns shot 50.5 per cent. They are 7-0 when they shoot 50 per cent or better. ... The Suns havent swept the Nuggets since 2004-05. ... The Suns signed Barbosa to a second 10-day contract Saturday and are expected to sign him for the rest of the season when that deal expires as the team awaits the return some weeks away of guard Eric Bledsoe after knee surgery. ... In their last meeting, Dec. 20, Phoenix rallied from 21 down to win in Denver 103-99. ... Next up for Phoenix, a home game against Indiana on Wednesday night. Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys ' ' '
