run of five defeats in seven from the end of November,

DENVER -- The Colorado Rockies stumbled home this weekend after a 1-9 road trip. After sweeping one of the best teams in baseball, theyre feeling good again. Nolan Arenado hit a go-ahead double in the seventh inning and the Rockies beat Pittsburgh 3-2 Sunday for a three-game sweep of the NL Central-leading Pirates. The Pirates came to Coors Field this weekend with a five-game winning streak. They hold a three-game edge over St. Louis, and visit the Cardinals for a three-game series starting Tuesday night. "We pack it up and we go," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. "You honestly self-evaluate and move on and get ready to play in St. Louis." Pedro Alvarez homered for the Pirates. The Rockies last swept a series April 16-18 against the Mets on their way to a 13-4 start. They have struggled the last two months to fall from the top of the NL West to out of the playoff race. They bottomed out with their worst road trip since 2007 but bounced back against the streaking Pirates. Rookie Chad Bettis held Pittsburgh in check to keep his team in the game, and Arenado delivered with two outs and the score tied at 2. "As quickly as it can go sour, youve got to believe you can turn it around quickly. Im proud of our guys," Colorado manager Walt Weiss said. "We swept a series against one of the best teams in the game and one of the best pitching staffs." With two outs in the seventh, Wilin Rosario singled off reliever Bryan Morris (5-5). Arenado then doubled down the right-field line to score Rosario from first. "I was looking for cutter or slider middle-away. He threw me a first-pitch fastball in," Arenado said. "If he would have thrown it again I couldve been jammed or not swung. Luckily it was a cutter right over the plate and I was able to put a good swing on it." Matt Belisle pitched a perfect eighth before giving way to Rex Brothers, who worked a shaky ninth for his 10th save in 11 chances. Neil Walker singled to start the ninth and one out later Tony Sanchez doubled to right-centre to put runners on second and third. Weiss went to the mound for a strategy session before pinch-hitter Jordy Mercer stepped into the box. "He had a good look in his eye when I went out there," Weiss said of Brothers. "He wanted to go after Mercer." Brothers got Mercer on a soft liner to third, and after intentionally walking Gaby Sanchez to load the bases, Alex Presley popped out to third to end the game. Pittsburgh was swept in a series for the first time since June 3-5 at Atlanta. Alvarez showed no ill effects from taking a spike to his mitt from Dexter Fowler on Saturday. Alvarez hit the first pitch he saw from Bettis to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead in the second inning. It was his NL-leading 28th home run of the season. Andrew McCutchen drove in Clint Barmes with an infield single in the third to make it 2-0. The Rockies made it 2-1 in bottom of the inning when Charlie Blackmon scored on a sacrifice fly by DJ LeMahieu. They tied it in the sixth when Yorvit Torrealba scored on Alvarezs throwing error at third base. The error spoiled a solid outing and took a potential win away from Jeff Locke. The lefty allowed two runs -- one earned -- on three hits, struck out three and walked four in 5 2-3 innings. He left after Blackmons infield single that put runners at first and second with two outs. Locke was hoping to give his team a win heading into the series with the Cardinals, who will be looking for payback after losing four of five in Pittsburgh two weeks ago. "You just come into the off-day and everybody can relax and wash this one away," Locke said. "Theres a lot of anticipation coming into the Cardinals series. Everybodys excited, everybodys ready to go, so I know it will be a challenge. I dont assume its going to go the same way it went last time when they came to our place." Bettis had a better showing in his second career start, allowing just two runs on four hits and striking out three in six innings. The rookie dropped his ERA from 6.30 to 5.06 Sunday. He missed out on his first major league win. Manuel Corpas (2-2) pitched a clean seventh inning to get the victory. NOTES: Alvarezs home run was his first since July 29. ... Rockies OF Michael Cuddyer did not play due to illness. ... Pirates LF Starling Marte was not in the lineup after getting hit with a pitch and having a bruised left hand. He came in as a pinch-runner in the top of the ninth. ... With the Pirates off Monday, rookie RHP Gerrit Cole will have his next start pushed back to Friday against Arizona as the Pirates monitor his innings. ... Pirates RHP Charlie Morton (4-3) will start the opener of a three-game series against the Cardinals. ... Colorados Jhoulys Chacin (10-5) will start Mondays game against San Diego. Wholesale Lebron 15 . Hazard cut in from the left and scored with a swerving right-footed shot for ninth goal of the season, which proved to be enough for the victory despite Chelseas forwards again lacking a cutting edge up front. Wholesale Lebron 14 . It says Pocklingtons lawyer filed the appeal Friday in a California court. CTV Edmonton also says Pocklington gave a $100,000 cash deposit as part of the conditions of his bail, and that he will be out on bail until his appeal is heard. http://www.lebronjamessneakerswholesale.com/lebron-james-on-sale.html . It might not have mattered. While the Dodgers are preparing for the playoffs, the Padres showed their future has promise behind two rookies. Discount Lebron Shoes . The CFLs leading rusher kept adding to his gaudy numbers this season and scored the winning touchdown with just over two minutes to play. The New Westminster, B.C., native plowed three yards into the end zone for the last score of a heated, see-saw battle between the two teams with the best records in the CFL. Custom Lebron 16 Shoes .Y. - Nelson Mandela will be honoured by the New York Yankees with a plaque in Monument Park.We examine the Sky Bet League One play-offs as Walsall, Millwall, Bradford and Barnsley battle it out for a place in the Championship. Who? What? When? How?With the help of Ian Holloway, we analyse each teams chances of promotion to the Championship. Semi-final 1: Barnsley/WalsallLeg 1: Barnsley 3-0 Walsall - Saturday, May 14 Highlights of Barnsleys 3-0 first-leg win over Walsall Leg 2: Walsall v Barnsley - Thursday, May 19 (live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7.30pm) Barnsley Final position: 6th (74 points)Manager: Paul HeckingbottomRecent form: WDWDDWSeason summary: Having been tipped as potential promotion contenders at the start of the season, it was an up-and-down campaign for Barnsley.An eight-game losing run saw them slip into the relegation zone in November but, by the start of February, they were within five points of the play-offs. The departure of manager Lee Johnson for Bristol City threatened to disrupt the campaign, but, under caretaker boss Paul Heckingbottom, the Tykes finished strongly. Barnsley manager Paul Heckingbottom said his side still have work to do in the second leg Along with winning the Johnstones Paint Trophy at Wembley, they only lost three times in the last three months and pipped Scunthorpe to the final play-off spot on goal difference after a 4-1 win over champions Wigan. Sam Winnalls goals have been key, with his total of 21 putting him in the top three scorers in the division. Barnsley have also never lost a play-off semi-final.Play-off history: Winners (2006). Beaten finalists (2000).Ollies key man: Sam Winnall: Ive been a big admirer of his work for a while now. Hes a natural goalscorer who will find the net wherever he goes. Reaction from Barnsley goalscorer Sam Winnall WalsallFinal position: 3rd (84 points)Manager: Jon WhitneyRecent form: WDLWWWSeason summary: Having spent much of the season in and around the automatic promotion places, Walsall missed out on the final day as Burton got the point they needed at Doncaster.Still, the Saddlers enter the play-offs in decent form. After cruising past Port Vale 5-0 in their last fixture, they have won five of their last seven games and eight of 12 since Jon Whitney took charge in early March. Walsall boss was Jon Whitney was disappointed with his sides 3-0 defeat at Barnsley Whitney was appointed after the surprise sacking of Sean ODriscoll, who lasted just 16 games and left the club fourth in the league. Tom Bradshaws 19 goals have been key for the Saddlers this season.Play-off history: Winners (2001). Beaten semi-finalists (1993)Ollies key man: Romaine Sawyers: I love this kid. Hes a fantastic footballer. He starts off so many of Walsalls move from deep. Romaine Sawyers (R) was named in the League One Team of the Year Ollies first-leg prediction: This has all the making of a wham, bam game! Goals galore.ddddddddddddBoth teams will be full of confidence. Barnsley sensationally hammered the champions last weekend while Walsall scored some absolute screamers as they dismantled Port Vale. I do feel sorry for Walsall, though - a bit like Brighton, theyve had a fantastic season but just fell short despite amassing a big total of points.Winall has bagged 21 goals this season for Barnsley and I feel he has to be at his clinical best if Barnsley, who have had a strange yet sensational season, are to really trouble Walsall over two legs.OLLIE PREDICTS: 2-2 (Sky Bet odds 18/1) How to win the play-offs Ian Holloways five-step guide to getting promoted Semi-final 2: Bradford/MillwallLeg 1: Bradford v Millwall - Sunday, May 15 (live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 12pm)Leg 2: Millwall v Bradford - Friday, May 20 (live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7.30pm) BradfordFinal position: 5th (80 points)The manager: Phil ParkinsonRecent form: WDLWWWSeason summary: Like many of the teams in the play-offs this season, Bradford finished the campaign strongly, and it was their form in the last few months that saw them surge into the top six.Having been mid-table in February, the Bantams were particularly impressive at home in the final stretch, winning all their matches at Valley Parade after March 1, including beating top-six rivals Millwall and Walsall. It is the first time they have won seven in a row at home since 1968. Watch highlights of Bradfords 2-0 win over Chesterfield on the last day No team outside the top four has reached the League One final for the past five seasons, and Bradfords defence could be key to their chances. Only Burton conceded fewer goals than the Bantams in the regular season.Play-off history: Winners (1996, 2013).Ollies key man: Rory McArdle: Hes a rock at the heart of the Bradford back four and will need to play very well to stop a very exciting Millwall forward line.Millwall Final position: 4th (81 points)Manager: Neil HarrisRecent form: WLWWWWSeason summary: Millwall could be set for an immediate return to the Championship after a promising season which saw a number of youngsters seize the first-team opportunities handed to them by boss Neil Harris.Academy graduates Aiden OBrien, Ben Thompson and Fred Onyedinma have come to the fore and have been supported by impressive campaigns from goalkeeper Jordan Archer - Millwalls player of the season - full-back Mahlon Romeo and winger Shane Ferguson, who converted his loan deal from Newcastle into a permanent move in January. Millwall finished the campaign with victory over Gillingham However, it will be strike duo Steve Morison and Lee Gregory who will be of most concern to play-off opponents Bradford. The pair have scored 43 goals between them in all competitions this season.The play-offs seemed a long way off for Millwall at the end of August, when theyd taken just four points from the first 15 available and languished in 19th spot. However, steady progress under Harris - in his first full season in management - saw the Lions climb the table and, despite a run of five defeats in seven from the end of November, a strong second half to the season saw them fall just four points short of automatic promotion.Play-off history: Winners (2010). Beaten semi-finalists (1991, 1994, 2000, 2002). Beaten finalists (2009).Ollies key man: Steve Morison: Hes one of their own and hell be desperate to play a huge role to get them back up. Ian Holloway is backing Steve Morison to make an impact Ollies first-leg prediction: I fancy Millwall strongly to win the play-offs.Neil Harris is leading a fresh young team into a new era and hes done a brilliant job. They probably couldve done with avoiding Bradford in the play-offs as theyre a dangerous outfit at Valley Parade and have only conceded one goal there in the last seven games.However, over two legs Millwall should have enough firepower in Lee Gregory and Steve Morison to get the job done. A draw here would be a great result for the Lions.OLLIE PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 6/1)Watch all the League One play-offs live on Sky Sports. Also See: Ollies play-off predictions FL72 Podcast How to win the play-offs Super 6 ' ' '