Bewerbung » Winston was forced out of the game following a knee

ATLANTA -- Freddie Freeman said before the game the slumping Braves needed an immediate turnaround. The power-hitting first baseman then backed up his challenge at the plate. Freeman hit a three-run homer, one of four by Atlanta, and the Braves beat the Oakland Athletics 7-2 on Friday night in the opening game of the interleague series. Justin Upton and Evan Gattis hit homers off Jason Hammel (1-5) in the second inning. Rookie Phil Gosselin hit a two-run homer, the first of his career, off Jesse Chavez in the sixth. The Braves had not scored more than four runs in any of their past six games. They entered the game having lost 12 of 15. Atlanta is six games behind first-place Washington in the NL East. "Everyone wants to say we cant panic, but weve got to go," Freeman said before the game. "... The time is now." After the game, Freeman applauded Atlantas power surge. "That was a good night," Freeman said, noting Oakland brought the majors best record to Atlanta. "We always play those teams the hardest, and it was no different tonight," Freeman said. Alex Wood (9-9) allowed two runs in six innings -- a two-run homer by Nate Freiman in the fourth. The As have lost three straight and five of six. "Were just going through a tough time right now," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. "You start to press a little bit offensively and it can be contagious as a group. You start swinging at some pitches out of the zone. Were pretty good about looking for our pitch and waiting for it. We havent been as good here recently." Wood allowed four hits in six innings. Relievers David Carpenter, Jordan Walden and James Russell combined for three perfect innings. Hammel allowed five runs and six hits, including three homers, in three innings. He was pulled after walking B.J. Upton to open the fourth. "Three-run homers do some damage," Hammel said. "Solo ones you can deal with, but that third one obviously was a big one. "Otherwise I felt great. My body hasnt felt that good in a while." The Braves had their second four-homer game of the homestand and only their fourth game with four or more homers this season. They also hit four homers in a 7-6 win over Washington on Aug. 8. Before that, the Braves hadnt hit four homers in a game since May 25 against Colorado. Their high mark was five homers at Philadelphia on April 14. Freemans homer, his 17th, drove in Jason Heyward and Gosselin, who reached on singles. Justin Upton leads Atlanta with 22 homers. Chris Johnson was credited with a ground-rule double when As centerfielder Coco Crisp lost his deep fly ball in the lights in the third. The ball landed well behind Crisp and bounced over the wall. Hammel hit Gattis with a pitch and then escaped the jam. A NIGHT OF FIRSTS Gosselins first homer came in his first start at shortstop. He previously started two games at second base and one at third. His homer followed a two-out fielding error by Freiman, the first baseman, on Heywards grounder. "It was awesome just to contribute to a win tonight and get the series off on the right foot," Gosselin said. OVERTURNED After Wood issued one-out walks to Jonny Gomes and Josh Donaldson in the first, the left-hander made a pickoff throw to second base. Umpire Ted Barrett called Gomes safe. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez challenged the ruling and the call was overturned following a review of 1 minute, 50 seconds. The ruling proved important when Derek Norris followed with a single to left field that likely would have driven in Gomes from second. TRAINERS ROOM Athletics: CF Craig Gentry, on the 15-day disabled list with a broken right hand, will take batting practice with Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday. Braves: LF Justin Upton started after leaving Thursday nights game with a mild left hamstring strain. ... SS Andrelton Simmons was held out after having two teeth extracted. UP NEXT Athletics: RHP Sonny Gray will try to snap a streak of losses in three straight starts in Saturday nights game. The three-game skid is the longest of his career. Braves: RHP Julio Teheran will try to improve his 2-3 career interleague record in his first appearance against Oakland. He is 1-2 with a 2.41 ERA in two starts against AL teams this season. Ondrej Palat Jersey .com) - Calgary Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau has been selected as the NHLs Rookie of the Month for December, the league announced Friday. Tyler Johnson Lightning Jersey . -- All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham and the New Orleans Saints met Tuesday for arbitration on his contract. http://www.lightninghockeystore.us/Steven-Stamkos-Jersey/ . With just under five seconds remaining - the Raptors having clawed back from a 19-point deficit and pulled within one - DeRozan took the handoff from Chuck Hayes. Braydon Coburn Lightning Jersey . The (11-11-4) Jets are seventh in the Central Division with 26 points. Fifth place Dallas and sixth-seeded Nashville also have 26 points, but the Stars have three games in hand on Winnipeg while Nashville has two. Nikita Kucherov Jersey . Got Jacks? Pulling off a comeback for the ages, feisty Stephen F. Austin became the latest No. 12 seed to pull off an upset, tying the game on Desmond Haymons did-that-just-happen four-point play with 3.Matt Ryan threw four touchdown passes as the Atlanta Falcons beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 43-28 on the road. Julio Jones collected 111 receiving yards and a touchdown, and the Falcons move to 6-3, three games clear in the division. Mike Evans caught a spectacular one-handed catch, but it wasnt enough for Tampa, who are yet to win at home.In 140 characters... Bucs exhausted after week eight OT loss. Falcons in the ascendancy and never troubled as Matty Ice looks every bit the regular season MVP. VOTE: Who leads week 10 choice? The 6pm race is still wide open - have your say on Skys game selection. MVPEvery week he seems to strengthen his case, but Matt Ryan was once again the architect of this victory. Though he didnt need the last-minute drive to win on Thursday night, the quarterback managed the game to a tee, throwing four interceptions and zero picks. Quarterback Matt Ryan has been touted as the season MVP Game-changerAfter a steady drive to see out the third quarter, the Bucs make a 4th and 1 situation, but a holding penalty pulls them back and they lose possession. Ryan takes the ball, drives 57 yards in nine plays and stretches the score to 40-14 with just 10 minutes left.Stat of the night3 - Ryan becomes the first Falcons quarterback in team history to have three career games where he has thrown four touchdown passes and zero interceptions. Scoring Summary 1st Quarter ATL 0-7 TB TD - M. Evans 3 yd pass - J. Winston Extra Point - R. Aguayo ATL 7-7 TB TD - L. Toilolo 32 yd pass - M. Ryan Extra Point - M. Bryant ATL 10-7 TB FG - M. Bryant 29 yd 2nd Quarter ATL 13-7 TB FG - M. Bryant 41 yd ATL 13-14 TB TD - M. Evans 24 yd pass - J. Winston Extra Point - R. Aguayo ATL 20-14 TB TD - T. Gabriel 9 yd run Extra Point - M. Bryant 3rd Quarter ATL 26-14 TB TD - P. DiMarco 1 yd pass - M. Ryan Two point conversion failed ATL 33-14 TB TD - J. Jones 3 yd pass - M. Ryan Extra Point - M. Bryant 4th Quarter ATL 40-14 TB TD - A. Hooper 2 yd pass Extra Point - M. Bryant ATL 40-20 TTB TD - A.dddddddddddd Humphries 7 yd pass - J. Winston Two point conversion failed ATL 43-20 TB FG - M. Bryant 50 yd ATL 43-28 TB TD - C. Brate 2 yd pass - M. Glennon Two point conversion - B. Myers The gameThe Buccaneers started brightly, taking 10 minutes on their first drive before a three-yard pass from Jameis Winston to Mike Evans put them 7-0 up.However, Atlanta hit straight back through the running game, Devonta Freeman and Taylor Gabriel combining for 42 yards on consecutive plays before Levine Toilolo caught a 32-yard touchdown pass on the next play.The Falcons added two field goals following back-to-back Tampa fumbles, before a costly strip sack from Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy on Ryan handed Tampa possession at the opposition 19-yard line. Winston overcame a five-yard penalty to pass 24 yards to the left-hand side of the end zone for Evans second touchdown of the night. Wide receiver Mike Evans scored twice and made a great one-handed catch, but couldnt prevent the Bucs fourth home defeat But it was the Falcons who finished the half stronger, Ryan leading a 74-yard drive downfield before Gabriel converted the touchdown with a nine-yard rush to give them a 20-14 lead. Atlanta dominated the second half, scoring three unanswered touchdowns as the Bucs 30-24 week eight overtime loss appeared to catch up with them.Fullback Patrick DiMarco scored from one yard for his first touchdown of the season, before Julio Jones three-yard catch completed an 82-yard drive on the Falcons next possession. Buccaneers fans did have something to cheer about when Evans made an athletic one-handed catch at the sideline, reeling the ball in and getting his feet in bounds, before a huge hit from Keanu Neal knocked him out of bounds. Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans catches one handed before a big hit from Keanu Neal But it was the Falcons tight end Austin Hooper who scored next, running in a two-yard score to extend the visitors advantage to 40-14 at the start of the fourth quarter.After completing a seven-yard touchdown pass to Adam Humphries, Winston was forced out of the game following a knee injury on the two-point attempt. Mike Glennon was brought on in as replacement but, despite leading a 75-yard touchdown drive, the damage was done and the Falcons ran out comfortable winners.Following the game, Winston said he felt great, and expects to be back in week 10 for the arrival of the Chicago Bears. Atlanta head coach Dan Quinn will be pleased to have avoided a divisional upset, and another commanding performance from Ryan only serves to strengthen his MVP candidacy. As for the Buccaneers, who are still winless at home, Dirk Koetter will be ruing the exhausting toll of last weeks overtime effort, which was evident in Thursday nights performance. Following another home match-up in week 10 against Chicago, the schedule isnt kind to Tampa, who must travel to Kansas, Dallas and New Orleans before the season is out. New York Giants v Philadelphia Eagles November 6, 2016, 5:30pm Live on Get Sky Sports Get a Sky Sports pass Also See: NFL Fantasy: week nine NFL - The season so far WATCH: Sunday Blitz Graves predictions v Giants ' ' '