CHICAGO -- Whether he earns an invitation or not, Francisco Liriano at least is pitching like an All-Star. The arm problems and struggles that weighed him down in recent seasons appear to be behind him. Now, all hes doing is breezing through opposing lineups. Liriano pitched a four-hitter for his first complete game in more than two years, and the Pittsburgh Pirates won for the 11th time in 13 games, beating the Chicago Cubs 6-2 on Friday. "This is an exclamation point to what hes been doing, to finish that game off today. In command throughout," manager Clint Hurdle said. An All-Star as a rookie in 2006, Liriano went the distance for the first time since he tossed a no-hitter for Minnesota against the White Sox on May 3, 2011. He struck out seven and walked four to improve 5-1 in his last six starts while tossing the first complete game by a Pittsburgh pitcher this season. He also had an RBI single. The rosters for this years All-Star game at Citi Field in New York will be announced on Saturday. The Pirates, meanwhile, continue to roll along. They came in with the best record in the majors and a two-game lead over St. Louis in the NL Central, and they matched a season high by going 21 games over .500 on a day when the Cubs Jeff Samardzija (5-8) couldnt keep the ball down in the zone. Starling Marte had three hits to extend his streak to 10 games, scored two runs and stole two bases to back another strong start by Liriano (8-3). The left-hander gave up a two-run homer to Scott Hairston but not much else while improving to 3-0 against the Cubs this season. "Im having pretty good success here in Chicago," Liriano said. Hes having success, period. After back-to-back seasons with ERAs above 5.00, hes at 2.20 after this gem. Hes consistently plowing through opponents in a way he hasnt since he was starting out with the Twins and before he had Tommy John elbow surgery. That caused him to miss the 2007 season, and hes had his ups and downs since then. He was certainly in command on Friday, one home run aside. "I made one mistake, fastball right down the middle, so it was a home run," Liriano said. "After that everything was down in the zone." That drive by Hairston came after Liriano knocked in the games first run in the top half with a single over shortstop Starlin Castros glove. The hit was just his fourth in 35 at-bats. It also gave him his first RBI since he was with Minnesota in 2011 and three in his career. Garrett Jones, whos from suburban Tinley Park, Ill., had two hits. He drove in a run and scored one before Gaby Sanchez replaced him at first in the seventh inning. Neil Walker delivered an RBI triple and scored during a three-run third that gave the Pirates a 4-2 lead and sent them to their seventh straight road win. For Samardzija, it was simply a rough day. The 6-foot-5 right-hander gave up five runs in six innings, allowing nine hits for the second time in three starts while walking five. It was the most for him since he issued six against St. Louis last July 28. "Everything was up in the zone," said Samardzija, who also hit a batter. "Good pitches for them to hit. You mix that with being behind in the count, youre going to put yourself in a battle." Samardzija couldnt protect the lead after Hairston went deep off Liriano in the second, immediately giving up three in the third. Centre fielder Dave Sappelt didnt help matters when he took a bad angle trying to cut off a drive by Walker after Marte led off with a bunt single, resulting in an RBI triple. Jones drove in a run with a single and Andrew McCutcheon raced home from third on a double steal as Jones swiped second on a high throw while Russell Martin struck out, making it 4-2. Chicago catcher Dioner Navarro got banged up in the eighth trying to pick Marte off third. He said his hand hit plate umpire Vic Carapazzas mask and his elbow hit McCutchens bat, leaving him numb momentarily, but he stayed in the game. Castro committed a mistake on the bases in the bottom half with the Cubs down four. He doubled with two out and got caught off second by the catcher, Martin, with Navarro batting. "Its not a smart play," Castro said. "I feel really, really bad. That cant happen. Down by four, eighth inning, that run is not important. I was trying to be aggressive, but that cant happen." NOTES: A.J. Burnett will start Sunday for the Pirates after being sidelined the past month by a strained right calf, Hurdle said. The veteran right-hander is 4-6 with a 3.12 ERA in 14 starts. ... Cubs manager Dale Sveum said OF David DeJesus, on the 15-day DL with a sprained right shoulder, has started swinging off a tee and can raise his arm over his head. He said theres no timetable for a return. Sveum also said OF Brian Bogusevic is day to day after leaving Thursdays game at Oakland because of tightness in his left hamstring. ... RHP Charlie Morton (1-1, 2.50 ERA) makes his fifth start for the Pirates on Saturday, with RHP Edwin Jackson (4-10, 5.75) pitching for the Cubs. Fake China Shoes . Andrew Luck lost his favourite target and the Indianapolis locker room lost one of its most revered leaders when Reggie Wayne was diagnosed Monday with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that will cost him the rest of the season. China Shoes Wholesale .4 million title. Ryan Riess emerged with the title after a session in which he started behind, but used expert skill to gather the chips to his side amid the unpredictability of no-limit Texas Hold em. Riess put his final opponent Jay Farber all-in with an Ace-King. https://www.chinashoes.us/ . Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek defeated Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (4) on the indoor hard-court at Belgrade Arena. The victory improved the Czech pairs impressive cup doubles record to 14-1. Yeezy From China . Most important, perhaps, it went off without a hitch. Organizers poked a little fun at the now-infamous opening ceremony gaffe that saw only four out of five snowflakes open up into rings, leaving the Olympics logo one ring short. China Shoes . In the response filed Wednesday to the complaint by 30-year-old Alexander Bradley, attorneys say the former University of Florida player is invoking his Fifth Amendment right that protects people from incriminating themselves. Australia will be out to end a decade-long wait for a Four Nations final victory over New Zealand when the sides meet at Anfield in the early hours of Monday (AEDT).Despite having appeared in all eight of the Tri/Four Nations Finals since 1999,Australia have lost three to New Zealand with their last success over the Kiwis coming in 2006 in Brisbane.David Kidwells side were unconvincing in their opening three matches and held to a shock draw by Scotland last week in Workington before Australia beat England to confirm their spot in the decider.However, the Kangaroos are well aware of the the Kiwis prowess in tournament finals having been beaten in the 2005, 2010 and 2014 Four Nations finals in addition to the 2008 World Cup.We dont need to be reminded about what New Zealand are capable of, Kangaroos halfback Cooper Cronk told AAP.They have one of the best props in the world in Jesse Bromwich, the reigning Dally M Medal winner in Jason Taumalolo and Shaun Johnson who is one of the best halfbacks in the world.What has happened in the past means nothing, but teams know each other inside out and the match will be won by the best team on the day. Hopefully that will be us.After losing three straight matches against the Kiwis, Australia under Mal Meninga, has now won the last three by a combined margin of 56-14.The Kangaroos have also not lost at a neutral venue since the shock 24-0 defeat at Elland Road in 2005, with their worst result against the Kiwis since then coming in a 20-all draw in London in 2009.Since that stalemate at the Stoop ground in Twickenham, Australia have won 16 straight matches in Europe with Johnathan Thurston playing a key role in nearly all of them.Thurston will play his last match on English soil on Sunday and will call time on his representtative career after the Rugby League World Cup next year.ddddddddddddIve real fond memories of playing on English soil, in fact some of my fondest in the green and gold have been here, Thurston said.Winning the Four Nations tournament in 09 and 11 and obviously the (2013) World Cup at Old Trafford.Ive indicated to Mal that its my goal to make that World Cup squad next year so, providing my form is warranted for selection, Ill be putting my hand up, but that will probably be the end of my representative career.Its going to be sad, he said. Ive loved playing for my country and Ive loved playing for my state but it has to come to an end some time.New Zealand will be without experienced five-eighth Thomas Leuluai who is out due to a broken jaw and Thurston said the loss of the former Warriors playmaker will place more expectation on halfback Shaun Johnson.Even though they might have just limped into the final, the Kiwis know how to win tournaments and they know how to play in big games, Thurston said.But theres going to be a lot of pressure on Johnsons shoulders to create opportunities for them but their strength is definitely their forward pack.Whenever theyve won tournaments, its been through their forward pack. So our boys need to match them in the middle third if we are to have any hope of winning this game.Kangaroos team: Darius Boyd, Valentine Holmes, Greg Inglis, Josh Dugan, Blake Ferguson, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Matt Scott, Cameron Smith, Aaron Woods, Boyd Cordner, Matt Gillett, Trent Merrin. Interchange: David Klemmer, Shannon Boyd, Michael Morgan, Tyson Frizzell, Justin ONeill, Jake Trbojevic. (two to be omitted). ' ' '