In Rome, Miroslav Klose netted twice in the Germans first start in a month for Lazio following a

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Pedro Alvarezs first homer in almost three weeks helped the Pittsburgh Pirates improve to .500 for just the second time in more than two months. The slumping 2013 co-NL home run champion backed Edinson Volquezs pitching with a three-run shot, keying an 8-1 victory over the sputtering Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night. "It always helps, obviously, when I can contribute to a team victory," said Alvarez, whos hitting .232 with 12 homers and 38 RBIs. "Ive always said sometimes results arent indicative of how you may feel at the plate, and I feel like Im a good place," the slugger added. "Im just going to continue to work." Andrew McCutchen went 3 for 5, drove in two runs and stole two bases for the Pirates in a homecoming of sorts for last years NL MVP, who grew up in nearby Fort Meade and had never played before at Tropicana Field. He also scored twice in Pittsburghs first appearance in St. Petersburg since 2003. Alvarez, who hadnt homered since June 3, went deep off Alex Cobb (2-6) during a four-run fourth inning that also featured the first of McCutchens two RBI singles. The first-pitch, 419-foot drive over the wall in centre field snapped a season-high 16-game stretch without a homer -- Alvarezs longest since a 22-game drought that began in September 2012 and extended into last season. "A lot of times people have been taking their chances with Pedro, and hes an important part of our offence," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "We need him to fire, we need him to drive in runs and that was very good to see. Three-run homers always play well." Volquez (5-6) allowed five hits in a season-high eight innings. James Loney drove in Tampa Bays only run with a two-out, first-inning single, and the Pirates supported their starting pitcher by turning three double plays. "I got a lot of help," Volquez said. The Pirates climbed to .500 (38-38) for just the second time since April 17, when they were 8-8. They have won four of five following a three-game skid and are a NL-best 26-18 since May 6. Tampa Bay has dropped 19 of its past 27 and is saddled with the worst record in the major leagues at 31-47. "I feel like with every loss its an opportunity missed," Cobb said, adding if the Rays are going to turn their season around theyve got to get on a roll soon. McCutchen, who is batting .366 in June, boosted his average in 11 interleague games to .425 with nine walks, four doubles and seven RBIs. His run-scoring single off Cobb moved him ahead of Brian Giles for the Pirates career record for RBIs in interleague action with 52. He added another in the ninth off Kirby Yates. Alvarez, meanwhile, is hitting .317 with two home runs and eight RBIs against AL teams this season. Cobb, making his seventh start since spending five weeks on the disabled list with a left oblique strain, allowed six runs and six hits in five innings. Volquez won for the third time in his last five starts. The right-hander walked two, struck out one and didnt allow a hit after the fourth inning. Three of Tampa Bays six hits were infield singles, including Kevin Kiermaiers second-inning bunt. Jeanmar Gomez pitched the ninth for the Pirates, yielding a two-out single to Loney. NOTES: Pirates OF Starling Marte was back in the lineup after missing two games tending to a personal matter at home in the Dominican Republic. ... Pittsburgh RHP Gerrit Cole (right shoulder fatigue) threw 83 pitches over six innings in a simulated game and could rejoin the rotation this weekend. ... Pirates 2B Neil Walker (appendectomy) is expected to be reinstated from the DL Tuesday. ... The Rays havent announced if RHP Jeremy Hellickson (elbow) will need one more minor league start before returning. .. Tampa Bay 1B-OF Jerry Sands has a wrist injury, which Rays manager Joe Maddon said could require surgery. Aaron Ekblad Panthers Jersey . Wiggins, who had been seen as a contender for a podium finish in Paris, was one of about 20 riders caught near the back of the peloton with 38 kilometres to go in the 218-km flat stage from Le Mans to Chateauroux. Vincent Trocheck Panthers Jersey . Canada was placed in one of the easiest groups during Saturdays live televised draw in Montreal. http://www.hockeypanthersofficialonline.com/keith-yandle-hockey-jersey/ . The 10-year deal the league and players agreed to that ended the 2011 lockout gave either side the right to opt out after six years. With the league projecting financial growth, there has been speculation that players will take that option in three years, especially since a new national TV contract will be in place by then. Colton Sceviour Panthers Jersey . Viewers in the Canadiens region can watch the game on TSN Canadiens at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. The game can also be heard on TSN Radio Montreal 690. The Calgary Flames will see if they can take their recent hot streak on the road when they shoot for a sixth consecutive win Monday night in Montreal. Frank Vatrano Panthers Jersey . To get things started, heres a little photo tour to get you acquainted with all the main characters.MILAN, Italy -- Carlos Tevez scored his first hat trick for Juventus to help the Serie A leader crush Sassuolo 4-0 on Sunday and reinforce its bid for a third successive league title. Federico Peluso scored the other goal as Juventus bounced back from its midweek Champions League exit in emphatic fashion, with its eighth successive league win and clean sheet. "What emotion do I feel after the hat trick? The only emotion is that of winning a match which was very difficult after we were knocked out of the cup," Tevez said. "We are a very strong squad mentally and we showed that today. "We talked after the Galatasaray match. Weve paid for our mistakes against Copenhagen and in the first part of the Champions League. Now we have three other titles to go for: league, Italian Cup and Europa League. Well try to get all three." Juventus moved provisionally six points clear of Roma, which visits AC Milan on Monday. Napoli is two points further back after also getting over Champions League disappointment with an entertaining 4-2 win over 10-man Inter Milan. "Today was like a final for us, we wanted to win it and we did so," Gonzalo Higuain said. "It was a very important match, Im delighted with the victory. Inter is now seven points behind us, Fiorentina still has five points less and we are closer to Roma." Earlier, Fiorentina leapfrogged Inter into fourth spot after a comfortable 3-0 win over Bologna, while Lazio beat Livorno 2-0. Elsewhere, it was: Chievo Verona 0, Sampdoria 1; Genoa 1, Atalanta 1; Parma 0, Cagliari 0; and Udinese 0, Torino 2. Juventus had lost at Galatasaray on Wednesday in a game that was pushed back a day because of snow. Because of that the league match was moved to Sunday, with 9,000 children in attendance as one of the stands behind the goal was still closed to the ultras following anti-territorial chants. Tevez grabbed his first in the 15th minute, firing in the rebound after Arturo Vidals effort had been saved by Gianluca Pegolo. The Argentina striker turned provider in the 28th with a free kick which Peluso headed in for his first league goal for Juventus. Tevez doubled his tally on the stroke of halftime, pouncing on an error from Lino Marzorati before rounding the onrushing Pegolo and slotting into an empty net. And Tevez -- who scored a hat trick for Manchester City earlier this year -- completed his treble in the 69th minute, starting the move and finishing it when Mauricio Isla rolled the ball across for him to tap iin from six yards.dddddddddddd Tevez was substituted moments later to a standing ovation. In Naples, coaches Walter Mazzarri and Rafa Benitez both faced their former teams and it was the latter who emerged victorious. Higuain, who had scored in the ultimately meaningless 2-0 win over Arsenal midweek, opened the scoring for Napoli in the ninth minute with a delightful volley after Yuto Nagatomo headed a clearance straight at the Argentine. Esteban Cambiasso levelled in the 35th but Dries Mertens restored Napolis lead almost immediately before Blerim Dzemaili added a third three minutes later when Samir Handanovic could only get a hand to Mertens shot. Nagatomo atoned for his earlier error to reduce the deficit in first-half stoppage time but the match swung back Napolis way in the 72nd minute when Ricardo Alvarez was sent off following a second yellow card for handball. Jose Maria Callejon sealed the match nine minutes from time with a simple finish. Napoli almost scored a fifth but substitute Goran Pandev had a penalty saved by Handanovic after he was tripped by Andrea Ranocchia immediately after coming off the bench. It was Napoli second win in five league matches. Earlier, Josip Ilicic scored his first goal in eight months before Borja Valero and Serie As leading scorer Giuseppe Rossi sealed the win for Fiorentina. The American-born Rossi, who plays for the Italian national team, is the top scorer in Serie A with 13 goals, three more than Tevez. In Rome, Miroslav Klose netted twice in the Germans first start in a month for Lazio following a shoulder injury to help Lazio to its first league win since Oct. 27. Livorno remains a point off 17th-placed Sassuolo and safety, with Bologna a point further back. Chievo Verona had been in fantastic form and won its three games since firing coach Giuseppe Sannino and rehiring Eugenio Corini. However, Sampdoria had also turned things around since changing coaches and was unbeaten under Sinisa Mihajlovic. Eder heading a corner into the top right in the 16th minute. It was the first goal Chievo had conceded in five matches going back to Oct. 31. Samp moves above Chievo and level on points with Udinese after second-half goals from Alexander Farnerud and Ciro Immobile helped Torino to its first win in Udine in 29 years. Torino moved into seventh spot, two points above both Lazio and Genoa. Andrea Bertolaccis 72nd-minute strike looked to have given Genoa victory but Giuseppe De Luca levelled for Atalanta deep into stoppage time. ' ' '