he Whitecaps manager laughed and said Itll take me past the next year,

PITTSBURGH, Pa. Luis Leal Jersey . - Hitting was supposed to be the Pittsburgh Pirates weakness coming into the season yet they lead the major leagues in home runs through the first 16 games of the season. Andrew McCutchen hit his first homer of the season and drove in three runs, Pedro Alvarez had a three-run shot and pinch-hitter Josh Harrison broke a tie with a long ball in the seventh inning as the Pirates handed the Milwaukee Brewers their first road loss, 11-2 on Thursday night. The Pirates have hit 23 homers despite allowing first baseman Justin Morneau and right fielder Marlon Byrd to leave as free agents last winter. What encouraged manager Clint Hurdle the most was that three of the four homers on Thursday night were of the multi-run variety. "Its good to know you can strike quickly but we need to hit a few more with men on base like we did tonight rather than just solos," Hurdle said. Of course, the Pirates would have more multi-run homers if they could improve upon a .304 on-base percentage. "That has been priority No. 1 since the first day of spring training," Hurdle said. "We need to raise the on-base percentage." Harrisons two-run drive down the left field line off Rob Wooten (0-1) was the second of his career as a pinch hitter. It stared Pittsburghs nine-run outburst over the seventh and eighth innings that was capped by Alvarezs sixth of the year. Hurdle wanted Harrison to bunt Jordy Mercer up to second base after he led off the inning with a single. However, Harrison failed to sacrifice then made it up for it. "Thats why baseball is a crazy game," Harrison said. "One second, I didnt the job done and then the next second I put us ahead with a home run. "I dont hit a lot of home runs but I do know if you hit the ball down the left field line (at PNC Park) that you have a chance," he said. "I knew I hit it hard." McCutchen, last years NL MVP, hit a two-run homer in the first inning in his 57th at-bat. Gaby Sanchez also connected while Alvarez, Starling Marte, Russell Martin and Jordy Mercer each had two of the Pirates 12 hits. Edinson Volquez (1-0) gave up two runs in seven innings for his first win with the Pirates, scattering eight hits. "Its a great feeling to get that first W for the Pittsburgh Pirates," Volquez said. "Thats why they brought me here, to win games, so I feel like I did my job this time." Jonathan Lucroy and Scooter Gennett had two hits each for Milwaukee, which had won its first six road games. The Brewers have lost three of four since a nine-game winning streak. Wooten relieved starter Yovani Gallardo to start the seventh. Harrison connected when he was pinch-hitting for Volquez, who signed a one-year, $5-milion contract with the Pirates in December as a free agent. Gallardo allowed two runs and three in six innings with four walks and six strikeouts. However, Wooten allowed three runs while getting only one out and rookie left-hander Wei-Chung Wang was hammered for six runs in 2-3 of an inning as the Brewers bullpens ERA rose from a major league-best 1.33 to 3.16. After Harrisons homer put the Pirates ahead 4-2, McCutchen made it a three-run lead with a fielders choice grounder. "Thats by far the most disappointed Ive been in myself in professional baseball at any level," Wooten said. "I dont have the words to describe it. Its embarrassing." NOTES: Brewers 1B Lyle Overbay was placed on the paternity list after his wife gave birth to a boy on Thursday morning in Milwaukee and INF-OF Elian Herrera was recalled from Triple-A Nashville. ... Pirates OF Jose Tabata, who had a pinch-hit RIB double in the eighth, passed all concussion protocols Thursday morning, a day after leaving a game in Cincinnati in the fourth inning when he ran into the scoreboard while making a catch. .. Milwaukee RHP Kyle Lohse (2-1, 3.05) is scheduled to pitch Friday night against Pittsburgh RHP Charlie Morton (0-1, 3.32). Hector Perez Jersey .com) - The Chicago White Sox have officially announced that the club has agreed to terms with utilityman Emilio Bonifacio on a one-year, $4 million contract that includes a team option for the 2016 season. Jason Adam Blue Jays Jersey . Nix is a career .218 hitter in 425 games over six seasons. The 31-year-old right-handed hitter batted .270 with a homer this spring for Tampa Bay. https://www.cheapbluejays.com/1066h-john-olerud-jersey-blue-jays.html .m. ET, CBSOPENING LINE — Falcons by 3 1/2RECORD VS.VANCOUVER - Carl Robinson impressed in his first season as head coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps, but hes ready for more in 2015 and beyond.Robinson and his coaching staff signed multi-year contract extensions with the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday, with the Wales international saying that although he was pleased with his first season as a manager, he wants to lead the team to even greater heights.Ill be even more determined to work even harder next year because I think we can get even better than we were last year, said Robinson.Thats saying something, as Robinson led Vancouver to arguably its best-ever season in 2014.Under his guidance the Whitecaps reached the MLS Cup playoffs and hit the 50 point-mark — the club’s highest-ever point total in Major League Soccer and the most ever by a Canadian MLS club. The team also won the Cascadia Cup and qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League for the first time in club history.In just one year, Carl and his staff have done an exceptional job in establishing a foundation, bringing in quality players and people, and taking this team to the next level, said Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi in a statement.They are all highly respected not only within our club, but also around the league and the soccer world. We are confident that their eye for talent, dedication and hard work will continue to yield positive results.Assistant coaches Martyn Pert and Gordon Forrest, and goalkeeper coach Marius Rovde also agreed to contract extensions with Vancouver. Robinson sees these deals as an opportunity to further push and challenge hhis players. Richard Urena Blue Jays Jersey. Just because I end up signing a multi-year deal doesnt mean that my foot comes off the gas, said Robinson. Ill actually be putting more pressure on the players now because we put a foundation in place which I think was pretty successful. But I dont want to be pretty successful, I want to be very successful.The hard work starts now.The 38-year-old Robinson was named Whitecaps head coach December 2013 after two years as an assistant. Robinson began his coaching career as a player/assistant coach in his second and final season with New York Red Bulls. Robinson also played three seasons with Toronto FC, where he served as the co-captain from 2007 to 2009, and was twice named the clubs most valuable player.Robinson knows that although hes seen a lot of success in Vancouver, he and his staff must continue to evolve to keep the Whitecaps competitive.Im not naive enough to think that theres not areas I need to improve on, that me and my coaches need to get better on, because players expect that, said Robinson. That certainly will happen this year. Therell be more demands put on them.Well continue to have a learning environment, a constructive environment, for these players to progress as well. ... Its important we grow together.The terms of the deals were not disclosed, as per club policy.When asked if the contract takes Robinson through his three-year plan or his five-year plan — an attempt by a reporter to find out the length of the deals — the Whitecaps manager laughed and said Itll take me past the next year, Ill give you that. ' ' '