hen took the day off to rest his sore left heel. McCutchen was injured while sliding into home plate on a wild pitch Friday.Athletics: Reliever Francisco Rodriguez left the game with a righ

DENVER -- Even as Masai Ujiri accepted the NBAs executive of the year trophy from club President Josh Kroenke on Thursday, the Denver Nuggets general manager said he would have given it up gladly in exchange for a deep playoff run. "Its a little bittersweet for me," Ujiri said at a news conference a day after the Nuggets George Karl took the trophy for coach of the year. "I would trade that to be playing right now." Ujiri, the first African-born GM in major American sports, built the Nuggets team that won an NBA franchise-record 57 games and went an NBA-best 38-3 at home before going down in the first round. "There was an unbelievable energy in this city and thats why we had kind of a little disappointment when we lost to the Golden State Warriors, whos not such a bad team from what they are doing right now," Ujiri said. "We hope to kick their butts next year but theyre not too bad right now. We understand we are a growing team. We knew there were going to be pains. This is part of the process and well continue to grow." Ujiri assembled a team that had nine players average between 8 and 16.7 points and the city, the Nuggets fans and the organization embraced the clubs persona as a team without a superstar that nevertheless got the job done. Until the third-seeded Nuggets were beaten in six games by the sixth-seeded Warriors, led by their fast-rising star, Stephen Curry. Ujiri said that after the Nuggets first-round exit, his disappointment was so keen he didnt even watch basketball for several days. He finally tuned in Wednesday night to watch an NBA playoff game and came to the office Thursday recharged, spoiling to get started on next season. "Weve got work to do," he said. "I think were beginning to get over our emotional state. You know what? You have to move on." Ujiri said hes confident his deal, which expires in the summer, will be renewed or extended. "Josh and I continue to have conversations. Im very positive that things will work out," he said. And he said a top off-season priority will be to lock up Andre Iguodala with a long-term deal. "Hes a great kid and I think hes great for our basketball team," Ujiri said. "Theres a lot he brings to our program and were proud of him and the year he had. We hope we auditioned ourselves well for him. Its going to be his decision, but well do everything on our part as an organization. We want him back." He vowed the Nuggets will be back for another playoff run next season. "Our goal is to be better and to be better in the playoffs, and were going to do everything we can to get there," he said. Ujiri totalled 59 points and received eight first-place votes from a panel of his fellow team basketball executives throughout the league. The Los Angeles Clippers Gary Sacks finished second with 28 points (three first-place votes) and the Houston Rockets Daryl Morey and the New York Knicks Glen Grunwald finished tied for third with 25 points (four first-place votes). Ujiri, who spent three years with the Toronto Raptors before joining the Nuggets, was named to his current position on Aug. 27, 2010. He worked for the Nuggets organization as a scout from 2003-07, and served as the teams director of international scouting during the 2006-07 season. Ujiris predecessor, Mark Warkentien, won the honour in 2009. Denvers Vince Boryla also won the award in 1984-85. "Hes a great kid and I think hes great for our basketball team," Ujiri said. "Theres a lot he brings to our program and were proud of him and the year he had. We hope we auditioned ourselves well for him. Its going to be his decision, but well do everything on our part as an organization. We want him back." He vowed the Nuggets will be back for another playoff run next season. "Our goal is to be better and to be better in the playoffs, and were going to do everything we can to get there," he said. Ujiri totalled 59 points and received eight first-place votes from a panel of his fellow team basketball executives throughout the league. The Los Angeles Clippers Gary Sacks finished second with 28 points (three first-place votes) and the Houston Rockets Daryl Morey and the New York Knicks Glen Grunwald finished tied for third with 25 points (four first-place votes). Ujiri, who spent three years with the Toronto Raptors before joining the Nuggets, was named to his current position on Aug. 27, 2010. He worked for the Nuggets organization as a scout from 2003-07, and served as the teams director of international scouting during the 2006-07 season. Ujiris predecessor, Mark Warkentien, won the honour in 2009. Denvers Vince Boryla also won the award in 1984-85. 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The promotion boasts 14-straight years of business and is operated by MFC president Mark Pavelich, who is often overlooked in this country for the foundation hes established for MMA in Canada.OAKLAND, Calif. -- Pirates manager Clint Hurdle was in the clubhouse relaxing when his bullpen put the finishing touches on the teams third come-from-behind win in three days.With their relievers pitching so well lately, the Pirates are ready for a four-game series with NL rival St. Louis beginning Monday.Adam Frazier tripled in the tying run with one out in the sixth, then scored on an infield single to lift the Pirates to a 6-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Sunday.Four Pittsburgh relievers combined to retire the final 12 batters, extending the bullpens scoreless streak to 32 2/3 innings.The guys in front had to deal with some traffic today and they stayed focused on making the next good pitch, Hurdle said after the Pirates seventh win in nine games. They all just stayed within themselves, kept their composure and competed with the skills that they had. It worked out well for us.Hurdle wasnt around to see it on the field. He was ejected in the bottom of the sixth for arguing balls and strikes.The As scored twice in the second but managed only one run the rest of the way, despite getting men on base in five of the final six innings.A.J. Schugel pitched out of a one-out jam in the sixth with runners on the corners. Neftali Feliz retired three straight in the seventh after giving up consecutive singles. Tony Watson got a double play to end the eighth following a one-out single by Yonder Alonso before Mark Melancon pitched the ninth for his 24th save, preserving Francisco Lirianos first win in more than five weeks.When you have one of those days when you dont have your `A game, its nice to know that the bullpen is going to do a great job, said Liriano, who allowed three runs and six hits with two strikeouts and one walk. Theyve done a great job the last couple of years and this year, too.David Friese hit a two-run homer and Gregory Polanco added two RBI as the Pirates completed the three-game sweep in their first visit to the Oakland Coliseum since 2010.ddddddddddddLiriano (5-8) pitched five innings to win for the first time since May 24. The lefty had lost five straight games before beating the As to help extend Pittsburghs winning streak to four.Billy Butler had an RBI double and scored for Oakland. The As have lost four straight after winning the opener on this five-game homestand.We got derailed again this series, Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. Its frustrating but no more for me than anyone else.John Jaso had two hits for Pittsburgh to snap a 0-for-10 skid. Jaso was also hit by a pitch in the fifth before Polancos two-run single.Friese, who entered the game as a pinch hitter in the sixth, homered off John Axford in the eighth.BAKED McBRIDEMatt McBride was called up from Triple-A Nashville to replace injured Oakland backup catcher Josh Phegley on the roster but didnt arrive at the Coliseum until shortly before first pitch. He started and batted eighth, going 1 for 2 in two plate appearances before getting lifted for a pinch hitter in the sixth.TRAINERS ROOMPirates: OF Andrew McCutchen took the day off to rest his sore left heel. McCutchen was injured while sliding into home plate on a wild pitch Friday.Athletics: Reliever Francisco Rodriguez left the game with a right shoulder strain after facing one batter in the eighth. He is scheduled to have an MRI. . Phegley was placed on the disabled list with what team officials are calling a right knee strain. Melvin said its possible that Phegley will require surgery.UP NEXTPirates: Jonathon Niese (6-6) takes a four-game losing streak into Monday afternoons start in St. Louis. The lefty has a 5.32 ERA on the road this season.Athletics: Right-hander Kendall Graveman (3-6) pitches the series opener in Minnesota on Monday. Graveman has allowed two runs or less in six of his previous eight starts. ' ' '