News » in the third. It was his first homer since July 5

PITTSBURGH -- Ervin Santana said "everything" was off when he took the mound Monday. No matter. His Atlanta Braves teammates gave him a six-run lead before he threw a pitch. Jason Heyward and Andrelton Simmons homered to begin a big first inning, and the Braves beat the sliding Pittsburgh Pirates 7-3 on Monday night for their fourth consecutive victory. The early outburst was enough for Santana, who allowed three solo homers among nine hits in 5 1-3 innings. "I know I didnt have my stuff today, but for me it was one of my best games because I gave up three runs," said Santana (13-6), who improved to 8-1 over his past 10 starts. "Anytime you give up three runs or less, its a good outing. So Ill take it". Pittsburgh has lost six in a row. Starling Marte went deep twice, and Neil Walker added a homer that became the first to reach the Allegheny River beyond right field at PNC Park this season. Relievers Luis Avilan, David Hale and James Russell combined for 3 2-3 hitless innings for Atlanta, which broke a tie with Pittsburgh for third place in the National League wild-card standings. "We went through these tough stretches in April and early May and weve played really good baseball up until this last week," Pirates second baseman Neil Walker said. "Were still the same team." Heyward and Simmons started the game with the Braves fifth set of back-to-back home runs this season, and it got worse from there for Vance Worley (5-3). Chris Johnson and Gerald Laird had run-scoring singles as Atlanta bolted to a 6-0 lead. "I know we didnt score a whole lot the rest of the way," said Heyward, who had had three hits and a sacrifice fly. "But still, thats a lot of pressure for a team to come back against." Worley managed to pitch six innings and was charged with five earned runs. He allowed nine hits, struck out four and walked two. "After (the first inning), I figured it out," Worley said. "It clicked, I was able to drive the ball down in the zone and get the results that I needed." TRAINERS ROOM Braves: During a rehabilitation outing for Triple-A Gwinnett, RHP Shae Simmons (right shoulder strain) did not record an out and was charged with four runs. He walked two and allowed two hits while throwing 21 pitches. Pirates: After taking live batting practice prior to the game, OF Andrew McCutchen (left rib fracture) said he expects to come off the DL on Tuesday. ... SS Jordy Mercer (right forearm tightness) was not in the lineup for the fourth consecutive game. A FIRST AT FIRST The Pirates Pedro Alvarez started at first base in his first career appearance at any spot other than third. Alvarez, whose 25 errors lead the majors, had seven put-outs. His first chance was an errant throw by second baseman Neil Walker that led to two runs being scored. LATE ARRIVAL Because the Braves did not get into Pittsburgh until 3 a.m. Monday morning, manager Fredi Gonzalez elected to rest regulars B.J. Upton and Evan Gattis. BACK-TO-BACK BEGINNING Heywards homer was his third of the season to lead off a game and sixth of his career. According to STATS, Monday was the fifth time the Braves began a game with consecutive home runs. UP NEXT Braves: Tuesday starter RHP Aaron Harang (9-7, 3.51 ERA) has 15 career wins against the Pirates. Pirates: Despite having a 2.36 ERA over 42 innings in seven starts since coming off the DL, LHP Francisco Liriano (3-9, 3.78 ERA) has lost three of five decisions. Hes lost his past two outings. Jordan Retro 11 Uk .com) - Oregon wasnt going to let Arizona ruin its national title dreams for a second straight season. Jordan Retro 11 Cheap . Lawries batting helmet hit an umpire during his ninth-inning outburst in the Jays 4-3 loss to Tampa Bay on Tuesday. The 22-year-old threw his helmet to the ground and it bounced up and hit home plate umpire Bill Miller on the right hip after Lawrie was called out on strikes for the second out. http://www.airjordan11uk.com/ . -- Syracuse was dangerously close to letting another less talented opponent pull off the upset when C. Cheap Jordan 11 Uk . Louis Cardinals a hard-fought victory. The Colorado Rockies intentionally walked Yadier Molina with one out and runners on first and third to load the bases for Kozma. Authentic Jordan 11 For Sale Cheap . According to TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie, the deal will pay Schenn $2.25 million in the first year and $2.75 million in the second year. In 82 games with the Flyers in 2013-14, Schenn scored 20 goals and added 21 assists. ARLINGTON, Texas -- Shin-Soo Choo is already having a positive influence at the top of the Texas Rangers lineup. Adrian Beltre has been clutch for them since 2011. For the second night in a row, they played big in a winning ninth-inning rally. Choo drew a bases-loaded, game-ending walk against Jonathan Papelbon as the Rangers beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-3 Wednesday to clinch the season-opening series. "Its really special for us," said Choo, who signed a seven-year free-agent deal with the Rangers this winter. "Thats why you play nine innings, and thats what we do every night is play nine innings," manager Ron Washington said. "In the end, we did what we had to do. We got focused and put some good at-bats together and made things happen." Beltre, whose ninth-inning single Tuesday night drove home Choo with the winning run, started this three-run rally with a leadoff single. After Mitch Morelands double, pinch-hitter Jim Adduci had an RBI infield single and Leonys Martin singled home the tying run. Donnie Murphy walked on four pitches before Choo got to full-count pitch before walking. Adduci reached on a slow roller down the third-base line with one out before Martin grounded a single through the drawn-in infield. "The whole inning was kind of just one of those innings. You get a cue ball down the third base line. Then you get a double-play ball, which you think is the game-ending double play. Its not," said Papelbon, who gave up four hits and two walks while retiring only on batter. "My whole focus was get a ground ball, get a double play and get us out of the inning." Seth Rosin (1-0) worked two scoreless innings for his first major league victory. Moreland had a triple in the seventh and scored on Martins two-out single. "Its a nice way to start the season," Moreland said. "We really came together these last couple of games.dddddddddddd" Ryan Howard hit a two-run homer and Kyle Kendrick allowed only one run over seven innings for the Phillies, who still havent won a road series since Ryne Sandberg took over as their manager last August -- first on an interim bases before getting the full-time gig. The Phillies lost 24 of 32 games over their final 10 road series last season. They split four games against the New York Mets last August in Sandbergs first series on the road -- but had dropped the previous five series away from home, and then lost the last four. They won this years season opener 14-10 before consecutive ninth-inning losses. Texas left-hander Robbie Ross struck out seven over five innings in his first major league start after 123 relief appearances the past two seasons. He allowed three runs and seven hits with two walks. Howards homer made it 3-0 in the third. It was his first homer since July 5, when he went deep in his final game last season before going onto the disabled list because of left knee inflammation. After Philly got an unearned run in the first after centre fielder Martin bobbled the ball for an error, Texas failed to score in the bottom of the inning after two hits and two errors by the Phillies. Choo got caught in a rundown and tagged out between third base and home after Kendrick initially dropped a grounder. NOTES: The Phillies were a player short after SS Jimmy Rollins returned home to be with his wife for the birth of their second child. ... Texas said ace RHP Yu Darvish will make his season debut Sunday at Tampa Bay. He was put on the disabled list because of neck stiffness. ... Rangers INF Adam Rosales cleared waivers and accepted his assignment to Triple-A Round Rock. ... Both teams are off Thursday before road games Friday. The Phillies play the Chicago Cubs for the opener marking the 100th anniversary of Wrigley Field, and the Rangers are at Tampa Bay. ' ' '