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PHILADELPHIA -- A strong offence and a solid bullpen performance helped Cliff Lee overcome his worst start in two months. Humberto Quintero and Ryan Howard hit home runs to give Lee a five-run cushion, and the Philadelphia Phillies held on for a 5-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Friday night. Dan Uggla hit a three-run shot, and the Braves snapped Lees streak of 11 straight games pitching at least seven innings and allowing three earned runs or less. But Lee (10-2) still won his eighth straight decision. He allowed four runs and eight hits in 6 1-3 innings. "It was hot, but I felt I could continue to pitch," Lee said. He didnt have to. The bullpen bailed him out. J.C. Ramirez and Antonio Bastardo combined for five outs. Jonathan Papelbon finished for his 18th save in 22 tries. Right fielder John Mayberry Jr. helped Papelbon with a sliding catch on Brian McCanns sinking liner for the second out. "I felt he was spent. He perspired a lot," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said of Lee. "It happens sometimes to guys who can go deep and finish games." Paul Maholm (9-7) gave up five runs -- four earned -- and nine hits in six innings. Tim Hudson was scheduled to start for the Braves, but he was pushed back one day because of a stiff neck. Desperate to avoid falling further behind in the NL East standings, the Phillies (42-45) opened an important 10-game homestand before the All-Star break looking to gain ground. The first seven games are against the two teams above them in the division. "The only way to definitely gain ground on teams ahead of you is to beat them," Lee said. "We have to win this series and as many games as we can heading into the All-Star break." The division-leading Braves have lost three in a row. The Phillies have won three of four, including two of three at major league-leading Pittsburgh. Fifteen of Philadelphias last 75 games are against the Braves. Lee cruised into the seventh inning with a four-hitter before running into trouble. Lee hit Freddie Freeman, and Chris Johnson followed with a single. Uggla then hit a drive to left-centre to get the Braves within 5-3. "I threw five straight changeups," Lee said. "I tried to come up and in with a fastball. It was up, but not in." After Lee gave up a one-out double to McCann, pinch-hitter Reed Johnson singled to chase him. Ramirez came in and allowed a sacrifice fly to Andrelton Simmons that cut it to 5-4. Quintero drove an opposite-field shot out to right to make it 3-0 in the second. A Braves fan dropped the ball back onto the field, and Quintero stopped at second before being awarded the homer. The ruling was upheld after the umpires looked at a video replay. "It feels good to get this win," Quintero said. "We have to win the series." Howard connected in the third, hitting a towering shot way out to right-centre for his 11th homer. Quinteros RBI double drove in Delmon Young for a 5-0 lead in the sixth. Braves catcher Gerald Laird was ejected by plate umpire Angel Hernandez after getting called out on a pitch that appeared high and outside in the third. Laird was tossed after shouting an expletive as he walked toward the dugout. He turned around and ran at Hernandez, going nose-to-nose in a heated exchange while manager Fredi Gonzalez tried to calm him. Gonzalez also was ejected. "The catcher threw the ball back to the pitcher," Gonzalez said. "(Laird) was saying even the Phillies catcher knew it was a ball." A throwing error by first baseman Freeman gave the Phillies a 1-0 lead in the first. NOTES: Lee is 11-2 in last 14 starts against NL East opponents. ... The Phillies are 8-14 vs. Atlanta since 2012. ... Braves C Evan Gattis was cleared to start having a catch. Gattis has been sidelined with a strained right oblique. ... RHP Luis Ayala returned to Atlantas bullpen for the first time since being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder in late April. ... 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"Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. Owings Mills, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens found a way to win when they didnt play their best football.That type of performance could go a long way in helping them rebound from a 5-11 finish in 2015.While the re-tooled offense struggled to make big plays, the Ravens defense took over and shut down the Buffalo Bills in a 13-7 victory in the season opener. It was just the type of game Baltimore would have struggled to win last year.We didnt make critical mistakes down the stretch, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. We did not have critical penalties down the stretch. We played with discipline. We didnt give up big plays on offense or defense.Buffalos running attack, which averaged a league-leading 152 yards per game last season, managed just 65 yards on 24 carries. Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor completed just 15 of 22 passes for 111 yards against Baltimores revamped secondary led by Eric Weddle, who was signed in the offseason to provide more veteran leadership.Last year, the Ravens repeatedly failed to come up with an important stop in the fourth quarter and lost nine games by eight points or fewer. This time, Baltimore the defense aggressively attacked the ball and held the Bills scoreless in the second half.And when the game could have gone either way in the final quarter, the Ravens responded by not allowing a first down. A 37-yard field goal by Justin Tucker with 5:39 remaining sealed the win.While Harbaugh said he does not put much thought into last seasons struggles, it is still on the minds of many players. Cornerback JJimmy Smith said he and his teammates felt a sense of urgency and wanted to set a positive tone moving forward.ddddddddddddverybody in here (had) been a part of last year, so we know that no matter what happens, the game always comes down to the last two minutes, Smith said. So, as a defense, when youre in that position, you want to go out there and make a big play or stop them and make sure they dont get behind you and score -- in a tight game like that especially.The Ravens were also helped by several regular starters returning from season-ending injuries , including quarterback Joe Flacco, running back Justin Forsett, receiver Steve Smith, tight end Dennis Pitta and linebacker Terrell Suggs. Each of the players had a key role in the win and none of them appeared to be hampered by last years ailments.It felt good seeing all those faces out there that we didnt see at the end of the year last year, Forsett said. It was good to be back there with the boys.For Harbaugh, the win didnt have any special meaning except that the Ravens improved to 1-0. The focus has already turned to an important divisional game against the Cleveland Browns in Week 2.We just have to move into the next one, Harbaugh said. I was really happy we won. It was really important to win the game. Was it more important than any other year? I dont know. I forgot.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '