CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Pedro Alvarez hasnt changed anything in June, except those RBI numbers. Theyre way up there, just like the Pirates. Alvarez drove in all of Pittsburghs runs with a solo homer, bases-loaded double and a single on Thursday for a 5-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds and a split of their high-profile NL Central series. The Pirates remain a half-game behind second-place Cincinnati after the four-game set, keeping them virtually shoulder-to-shoulder as they chase the torrid St. Louis Cardinals. After blowing a one-run lead in the ninth and losing 2-1 in 13 innings on Wednesday night, Pittsburgh salvaged a game behind Alvarez and a bullpen running on fumes. "We needed a big day from a number of people today and Pedro was one of them," manager Clint Hurdle said. "There was no bigger swing than with the bases loaded, left-on-left. Beautiful." Alvarez had an RBI single and his 16th homer off Homer Bailey, who couldnt follow his no-hitter against Pittsburgh with a win. After Alfredo Simon (5-3) loaded the bases in the seventh, Alvarez doubled off left-hander Tony Cingrani to snap a 2-all tie. The five RBIs were a season high for a Pirate and one shy of Alvarezs career high. The third baseman has been Pittsburghs top run producer in June, leading the team with 48 RBIs overall. Its quite a change. Alvarez .180 in April and .225 in May before finding his form. He has six homers in June, second-most in the NL. "I just think its repetition and getting the opportunity to go out and try to gain as much experience as I can from every day out there," Alvarez said. Bryan Morris (4-2) contributed to the go-ahead rally with his first career single. He also pitched two innings, allowing one run. Left-hander Tony Watson pitched the last two innings for his second save in three chances. The Pirates lead the season series 6-4, holding their own early in the season despite a rotation thats sapped by injuries and a lineup that strikes out a lot and wastes chances. Under the circumstances, the way the series ended was satisfying. "We dont expect anything less," Morris said. "Its good to not lose any ground. Definitely would have loved to have three out of four in the series, but were not complaining about the split, especially after the hard game last night." Jay Bruce hit another solo homer, his third of the series and his fifth in seven games. His ninth-inning shot off Jason Grilli led the way to the draining 13-inning win on Wednesday night. The teams combined for seven homers in the series, all solo shots. Cincinnati hit four in a 4-1 win that opened it. Brandon Cumpton made his second major league start for Pittsburgh, giving up two runs -- one earned -- in five innings. Bailey faced the Pirates for the first time since his no-hitter at PNC Park last September and left after six innings with the score tied at 2. He gave up six hits, throwing 113 pitches. Bailey is 8-2 career against Pittsburgh. "Theyve definitely made strides over the past couple of years, but its early," Bailey said. "They have a good club but the past couple of years, theyve fallen into the pattern of fading, so well see. Its a long season." Alvarezs throwing error helped the Reds get an unearned run in the first. Shin-Shoo Choo reached on Alvarezs team-high 13th error, stole second and came around on Joey Vottos single. Another batter got hit, extending a prominent theme to the Ohio River rivals series this season. At least one batter has been plunked in each of the 10 games, with 19 hit overall. Pirate pitchers have hit 10, Reds pitchers 9, leaving some simmering unhappiness on both sides. Choo has been hit six times, Starling Marte and Andrew McCutchen three times each, Brandon Phillips twice, and five others one time apiece.Stitched China Jerseys . 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NFL China Jerseys . -- Bryant McKinnie came out of his stance and lowered his shoulder into a practice squad player, causing a crisp thud to reverberate in the Miami Dolphins practice bubble.Matt Besler got back to the U.S. team hotel after training on the eve of the United States World Cup qualifier at St. Vincent and the Grenadines when his cellphone came to life.I had a message from my wife just saying, call me ASAP, and I had that feeling that something was happening, he said.Back in Kansas City, Kansas, Amanda Besler felt her water break and went into labor two weeks early. On a Caribbean island, there was no way Matt Besler could return home quickly for the arrival of his first child.Parker Rhea Besler was born at about 6:45 a.m. local time Friday. About nine hours later her daddy scored his first international goal, helping the United States to a 6-0 win that moved the Americans into prime position to advance to the final round of World Cup qualifying.I always knew that it was a risk coming down here, the 29-year-old Sporting Kansas City defender said. At the same time, you have to live your life and come down here. There was about a 48-hour window where I knew that I was pretty much here and stuck here just due to the travel conditions. It would have been impossible to get back in time, and thats why I decided to stay. I was just going to try to make the best of it, and Ill get to meet my baby girl soon enough.Christian Pulisic, the Americans 17-year-old attacker, entered in the second half and scored twice off passes from Sacha Kljestan. Pulisic also set up Kljestans first goal for the national team in six years.Bobby Wood scored in the 28th minute, Besler doubled the lead in the 32nd and Jozy Altidore converted a penalty kick in the 43rd as the Americans built a 3-0 halftime lead at the Arnos Vale cricket ground.Besler, who has three goals for Kansas City since joining the team in 2009, was making his 36th international appearance. He scored when MLS teammate Graham Zusi lofted a free kick, and Nazir McBernettes headed clearance attempt went toward the defender. Besler chested the ball and knocked it in with his left foot from about 4 yards.For whatever reason, I could feel the ball gravitate to me at the back post, so I was ready for it, he said.Besler was surrounded by a half dozen teammates in a rocking-the-cradle celebration reminiscent of Bebetos at the 1994 World Cup. He had told U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann on Friday morning that he was in the right frame of mind to play.Its already a special day, but I wanted to even make it even more special and play in this special game, he remembered saying.The 26th-ranked United States (3-1-1) is second in Group C behind Trinidad and Tobago (3-0-2), which tied visiting Guatemala (2-2-1) later Friday. With a plus-13 goal difference to Guatemalas plus-1, the Americans are virtually assured of reaching the final round hexagonal in North and Central America and the Caribbean when they host Triinidad on Tuesday at Jacksonville, Florida.dddddddddddd.A T&T win Friday would have clinched berths for both the Soca Warriors and the Americans, but Carlos Ruiz got his second goal of the game in the 87th for visiting Guatemala, which finished a man short.Pulisic and Kljestan entered midway through the second half. Pulisic scored in the 71st minute off a pass from Kljestan, who had not played for the national team since March 2014, and the 30-year-old Kljestan tapped in a cross from Pulisic seven minutes later. Pulisic scored from 18 yards off Kljestans pass in the second minute of stoppage time, his third international goal.Pulisic became the youngest American with a goal in qualifying. A 17 years, 349 days, he also is the youngest with a two-goal game. He wore the No. 10 jersey -- Landon Donovans old number -- for the first time.Obviously its an honor, Pulisic said. I know some great number 10s have been out there, but I was just given the number, so Im excited to wear it.Klinsmann attributed the decision to equipment manager Jesse Bignami.I always say the number 10 has a meaning. Theres no doubt about it, the coach said before adding with a laugh: Ask him now a question how he feels with that heavy number on his back.Game notesRight back DeAndre Yedlin was given a yellow card for a 13th-minute foul and will be suspended for Tuesdays game, when Tim Howard is slated to start in goal. ... 156th-ranked St. Vincent (0-5) has been outscored 25-3. ... Because St. Vincents new Argyle International Airport has not been finished, the U.S. charter flight from Florida could not fly directly to the islands E.T. Joshua Airport, which has a shorter runway. Instead, the Americans flew to Barbados and players transferred to a pair of 19-seat planes. A third plane for the teams gear had a dead battery, to the pair of 19-seaters dropped off the players, then returned to Barbados to get the gear and team staff. ... Both national anthems were played on steel drums. ... Altidores 35th international goal moved him past Eric Wynalda for sole possession of third on the American career scoring list behind Donovan (57) and Dempsey (52). ... In Group A, already-clinched Mexico (5-0) won 3-1 at El Salvador (0-3-2) on second-half goals by Hector Moreno, Angel Sepulveda and Raul Jimenez, and Honduras (2-2-1) rallied on goals by Mario Martinez and Romell Quioto for a 2-1 win over visiting Canada (1-4-1). In Group B, Costa Rica (4-0-1) advanced with a 1-0 win at Haiti on Randall Azofeifas 71st-minute goal, and Panama (3-1-1) clinched with a 2-0 victory at home over Jamaica (1-3-1) on goals by Gabriel Torres and Abdiel Arroyo, eliminating the Reggae Boyz. ' ' '