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BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Dallas Stars coach Lindy Ruff had an opportunity to experience an entire range of emotions in his first trip back to Buffalo to face his former team. Ruff went from holding back tears during a first-period tribute that culminated in a standing ovation, to feeling anxious after the Stars nearly squandered a three-goal lead. And finally he felt relief after Dallas hung on for a 4-3 victory over the Sabres on Monday night. "It was kind of a huge relief," Ruff said. "I was really glad once the tribute was over. I wanted to get the game over with. A lot of good memories here." Add another one to the list. The Sabres winningest coach came away a victor on the visitors bench after goalie Kari Lehtonen stopped the final 10 shots he faced to preserve the win. Tyler Seguin capped a three-goal, first-period outburst, and Jamie Benns goal midway through the second period stood up as the winner in Ruffs first game against his former team after his 16-year tenure in Buffalo ended with him being fired on Feb. 20. "Well, we couldnt just give it to him. We had to make sure he earned it," Seguin said, with a smile referring to how close the Stars came to spoiling Ruffs homecoming. "No, it was a good win. And were moving on now." Alex Goligoski and Vernon Fiddler also scored, and Erik Cole had two assists for the Stars (5-5-1), who snapped a four-game road losing streak. They also won for the first time in eight regular-season trips to Buffalo. Not including playoffs, Dallas had gone 0-5-2 at Buffalo since a 4-2 win on Oct. 7, 1997, which happened to be Ruffs first home game as Sabres coach. Matt Moulson scored twice his Sabres debut a day after being acquired in a trade that sent Thomas Vanek to the New York Islanders, and Buffalo (2-11-1) showed encouraging signs of progress despite matching its worst start to a season in franchise history. "Tonight, there were some of probably the most positive signs Ive seen in a long, long time," said Steve Ott, who also scored for Buffalo. "Obviously, weve got to find the end result to the game. But thats where were at. Theres no sugar-coating where we need to be, and our record indicates what it is." The Sabres dropped to 0-7-1 at home, their longest home winless skid to open a season. The eight-game home drought is also the teams second-longest single-season skid, and four short of the franchise-low set in 1990-91. Another slow start proved too much to overcome. Buffalo has now been outscored 19-2 in the first period this season after Seguin put the Stars ahead 3-1 with 2:08 left in the opening frame. Benns goal 10:55 into the second period put the Stars up 4-1 and stood up as the game-winner. Seguin started the play by checking Ville Leino off the puck at the left circle. After a give-and-go with Cole, Seguin fed a pass through the crease to Benn who beat goalie Ryan Miller at the right post. Ott scored a power-play goal 1:59 later, and Moulson cut the Stars lead to 4-3 with 2:43 left in the second period, when he converted a loose puck in front. Aside from the victory, the highlight for Ruff was the warm welcome he received in Buffalo, where he still maintains a home. Ruff, who was hired by Dallas in June, received a loud and lengthy standing ovation during the first break, when the Sabres showed highlights of him as a player and coach. Ruff couldnt resist in glancing up the board, at times smiling and at another point biting his lip. Several fans brought Ruff jerseys and hand-drawn signs, among which read, "We love you Lindy," and "Welcome home." That was a distinct change for Ruff from the last time he was behind a bench in Buffalo. Ruff and the Sabres were booed off the ice following a 2-1 loss to Winnipeg on Feb. 19. Ruff hadnt set foot into the arena since holding a farewell news conference three days later. "The answer to that is yes, obviously," Ruff said, referring to feeling a sense of closure. "I guess from the Buffalo side, it was great to see the emotion come back into the building as they started to come back. It turned out to be a darn good hockey game." Buffalo Bills Jerseys . -- During a players meeting following the All-Star break, Jermaine ONeal promised his teammates to play the rest of the regular season like he would never play again -- because he very well might not. Bruce Smith Jersey . The move is retroactive to Aug. 1. Hosmer was originally hit on the hand in the first inning of a July 20 loss to Boston. 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Venus Williams advanced to the ASB Classic final in Auckland on a walkover when fellow American Jamie Hampton withdrew from their semifinal Friday with a right hip injury.PHOENIX -- With all the big bats in Colorados lineup, it was Drew Stubbs who provided the biggest swing in the Rockies latest victory. Stubbs hit his first home run of the season, off closer Addison Reed in the ninth inning, to lift Colorado over the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-4 on Tuesday night. Troy Tulowitzki had his second big game in a row in Arizona, hitting a two-run homer to put the Rockies up 4-3 in the sixth. A.J. Pollock tied it with a two-out home run in the eighth. Stubbs, who entered in a double switch in the eighth, hit a 2-2 pitch from Reed (0-2) into the right field seats, his first homer in 43 at-bats this year. He also chased down Eric Chavezs drive in deep centre to end the game. "Coming in and facing their closer, one of their best guys in the back end of the bullpen, you just hope he makes a mistake and you get a good pitch to hit," Stubbs said. "That last one was a slider out over the plate and I was able to put a good swing on it." Reed got ahead 0-2 on Stubbs. "I was feeling good, but once again a terrible slider in the zone," Reed said. "It was supposed to be down and away. I left it over the middle of the plate. He made me pay for it." Boone Logan (1-0) gave up Pollocks homer but got the victory. LaTroy Hawkins allowed two hits in a scoreless ninth for his ninth save. Colorado won its fourth series in a row. "I think right now you see signs of a group that comes together and understands how important it is to win," Tulowitzki said. "I think you see young guys buying in to doing things right to win the game. Thats what weve been trying to accomplish here the last few years, but I think this group has a firm grip on that." The Diamondbacks dropped their fourth straight, all at home, to fall to 2-13 at Chase Field this season. Colorado starter Tyler Chatwood left in the sixth with tightness in his right elbow. Tulowitzki also had a single and scored twice. In the first two games of the series, he is 5 for 6 with five RBIs and two home runs. Hes also walked three times, meaning hes reached base in eight of his nine plate appearances. "Hes in a good place," Colorado manager Walt Weiss said. "Hes hitting the ball all over the field and very hard. Hes a great player." Colorados Nolan Arenado had an RBI single to extend his hitting streak to 19 games, longest in the majjors this season.dddddddddddd. Justin Morneaus RBI triple extended his hitting streak to 13 games. Trailing 3-2, Colorado took the lead with two runs in the sixth. Carlos Gonzalez led off with a double to right, then Tulowitzki hit Mike Bolsingers 0-1 pitch into the swimming pool area beyond the right field fence to make it 4-3. Arizona batters had struck out four straight times when, with two outs in the eighth, Pollock hit Logans 0-1 pitch high off the foul pole in left field to tie it at 4. Arizona scored two in the second. Miguel Montero led off with a double, went to third when Chatwood threw wildly on a pickoff attempt and scored on Aaron Hills sacrifice fly. Chavez walked, then scored from first on Chris Owings two-out double down the left field line. The Rockies tied it with two in the fourth. With two outs, Tulowitzki singled and scored on Morneaus triple to right, where the ball bounced away from Gerardo Parra. Arenado singled up the middle to bring Morneau home. The Diamondbacks regained the lead, 3-2, in the third. Hill doubled with one out and scored when Chavez singled. Bolsinger left after giving up four straight hits to start the sixth, including Gonzalezs leadoff double and Tulowitzkis homer. With runners at first and second and no outs, reliever Oliver Perez got Corey Dickerson to pop out, then struck out Jordan Pacheco and Chatwood. The Diamondbacks loaded the bases against Chatwood with no outs in the sixth and got nothing out of it. Hill walked, Chavez singled and Pollock walked. That brought the Rockies trainer to the mound and ended the night for Chatwood. Chris Martin, in his second major league appearance, got Owings to bounce to third for a force at home, then pinch-hitter Roger Kieschnick struck out and Tony Campana bounced out to third. NOTES: Owings made a spectacular diving catch of Pachecos foul pop behind third base to end the Colorado eighth. ... The Diamondbacks said top pitching prospect Archie Bradley will be shut down for two weeks with a strained right elbow, then will begin a throwing program. Bradley was struggling at 1-4 with a 5.18 ERA for Triple-A Reno. ... In the series finale Wednesday night, Colorado sends Jordan Lyles (3-0, 2.93 ERA) to the mound against Arizonas Josh Collmenter (1-2, 3.38). ... The Rockies are 4-1 with one game left on their road trip to Los Angeles and Phoenix. ' ' '