ATLANTA -- The Braves found the solution for their September slump - Phillies rookie Tyler Cloyd. Jason Heywards leadoff home run sparked a five-run first inning and the Braves shook off what has been a chilly September at the plate with a 7-1 win over the Phillies on Thursday night. "It is good to get hits," said Heyward, who had a career-high five, including three doubles. "Good to get on base and get the game going early. We are still playing for something." The win pulled the Braves even with the idle Cardinals at 94-65 for the best record in the National League with three games to play. The Braves won the season-series against the Cardinals and would win the NLs No. 1 seed if the teams finish tied. "It is a big spot," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "Well try to win tomorrow and keep guys healthy at the same time." Braves catcher Bryan McCann left the game in the second inning with an adductor strain. After the game, Gonzalez said he thinks McCann will be OK and wanted to avoid having something small get worse. After scoring just three runs in a three-game series loss to the Brewers, the Braves entered Thursday averaging 3.3 runs per game in September. They surpassed that in just six batters against the Phillies when Chris Johnson doubled home Evan Gattis to give the Braves a 4-0 lead in the first. Braves rookie David Hale (1-0) picked up his first win in his second career start, going six innings while giving up one run and striking out five. The right-hander allowed six base runners in the first three innings, but settled down after that and cruised to the win. In two starts since getting called up from Triple-A, Hale has given up one run in 11 innings. "It is amazing, especially to (get my first win) at home," said Hale, who grew up in nearby Marietta. "I was a little more relaxed, but still nervous. I just kept the ball down and it turned out all right." Cloyd (2-7) had been struggling, surrendering 17 runs in 13 innings in his previous three September starts, and the right-hander did not see a turnaround against the Braves. He gave up seven runs on eight hits and did not retire any of the first four batters in the second inning before being pulled. "It was just bad. I wasnt executing any pitches and they were hitting the ball hard," Cloyd said. "I wouldnt say nothing was working, but everything was where they could hit it." The decisive first began with Heywards home run on Cloyds first pitch of the night. Elliot Johnson followed with a single, and Freddie Freeman doubled him home. Gattis then hit an RBI single, and scored on Chris Johnsons double. Jordan Schafer brought in the final run of the frame with an RBI single. Gattis ended Cloyds night with a two-run double in the second that scored Heyward and Elliot Johnson. "Cloyd had a hard time with his first-pitch strikes and also had trouble with two strikes," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "They were still able to barrel balls up pretty good and before you know it, it was 7-0." Jimmy Rollins went 3 for 4 for the Phillies, who have lost seven of eight. NOTES: Injured Braves starter Brandon Beachy had arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow on Thursday. Gonzalez said Beachy should be ready to return by the first couple of weeks of spring training. ... Gonzalez is undecided on his fourth starter for the upcoming NLDS. He is choosing between Freddy Garcia and Paul Malhom. Gonzalez thought both pitchers pitched well this week and said it will be a tough decision. ... Injured Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard was at Turner Field, re-joining the team from Clearwater, Fla., where he had been rehabbing his left knee. Howard said it was important to him to finish the season with his teammates. "I just wanted to watch and cheer these guys on the rest of the way and hopefully try to end things on a good note and head into 2014 on a high." ... The Braves have matched their 94 wins from 2012, when they earned a wild card spot. Moncler Cappotti Uomo .Y. -- Leading 3-0 with only 11:25 left, the Colorado Avalanche committed a seemingly meaningless penalty to give the New York Islanders a power play. Air Max 2016 Uomo .In my heart and mind Im competing for India, luge competitor Shiva Keshavan told The Associated Press in an email interview. Every day Im flooded with messages from Indians all over the world telling me they are supporting me. Nike Air Max 2015 Uomo Saldi . PETERSBURG, Fla. Moncler Giubbotti Donna Outlet . LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St.CHICAGO -- The Chicago Blackhawks were sloppy on defence at times Sunday night. The struggling Edmonton Oilers struggled even more in their own zone and it cost them against the defending Stanley Cup champions. Marcus Kruger scored the tiebreaking goal with 8:16 left in the third period, Duncan Keith added a power-play goal 1:55 later and the Blackhawks beat Edmonton 5-4 for their third straight victory. "Were happy to get wins and get points, but we always want to keep getting better, take positives from every game," Keith said. Brandon Saad, Andrew Shaw and Bryan Bickell also scored for the Blackhawks (12-2-4), who are 6-0-1 in their last seven games. Kruger was alone at the edge of the crease when he took a pass from Ben Smith off the boards, turned and wrapped the puck past Devan Dubnyk to put Chicago ahead 4-3. Keith added his first of the season on a screened shot from the point. It turned out to be the game-winner because Jordan Eberle scored short-handed for the Oilers on a deflection of Nick Schultzs point shot with 1:28 remaining. "We make a few more mistakes against these guys than we should," Keith said. "Theyre able to capitalize." Edmonton also got an even-strength goal from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and power-play scores from Nail Yakupov and David Perron, but lost its third straight and fifth in six games. Sam Gagner missed on a second-period penalty shot. Chicago goalie Corey Crawford made 19 saves, while Dubnyk had 31. "Their power play ignited their offence tonight," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "But still, it was one of those games where we stuck with it, which was important, and found a way to win against a team that enjoys playing against us and has some success against us." The Oilers were 1-1-1 against the Blackhawks last season. "We tend to get out of our game playing against them," Saad said. "We started slow, but we bounced back and finished the game well." The Oilers entered with the NHLs worst goals-against average (3.83) after allowing 48 goals in their first 18 games. The Blackhawks came in averaging 3.47 goals, second only to San Jose, and had scored 27 in their last six games. Defensive zone breakdowns doomed the Oilers in this one. The Blackhawks scored four even-strength goals when one of their players was left wide open near the net. Keiths power-play goal through a screen was the only exception. "Thats missed coverage, and missed coverage by some of our veteran players, which is concerning to me," Edmonton coach Dallas Eakins said. "If you cant defend in this league, youre not going to win. &"Tonight we had flashes of very good D-zone coverage and then we had some flashes of just total unawareness of what was going on behind us," he added.dddddddddddd "Were losing individual responsibilities in our D-zone and its killing us." Chicago defenceman Michal Rozsival left with just more than 4 minutes left after being hit in the face with a puck, but Quenneville said he would be OK. Both teams and goalies played their second game in two days. The Blackhawks won 5-2 at Dallas on Saturday night, and the Oilers lost 4-2 at Philadelphia in an afternoon game. Saad scored the only goal of a sluggish first period with 1:37 left. Edmontons Philip Larsen got a stick on Brandon Pirris centring attempt from the left side of the net, but the puck popped into the air and landed in the slot. Saad drove to the net between two Oilers defenders and put a shot into the lower left corner. Nugent-Hopkins tied it 54 seconds into the second period on a quick shot that fooled Crawford high on the stick side. After taking Perrons feed, Nugent-Hopkins turned and in one motion whipped a shot into the upper left corner. Gagner was awarded a penalty shot at 4:13 after Brent Seabrook hooked him from behind on a breakaway. On his attempt, Gagner lost control of the puck and slid it wide right after several quick moves in close. Yakupovs power-play goal at 8:55 put Edmonton ahead 2-1. Set up by Larsen, Yakupov ripped a one-timer from the top of the right circle past Crawfords glove. The Blackhawks picked up the pace, tested Dubnyk and tied it at 2 with 2:42 left in the period when Shaw capitalized on another Oilers coverage breakdown. Saad powered into the Edmonton zone with the puck, but was steered aside by Anton Belov and Larsen. Shaw snuck in behind the play, took Saads pass and scored on a wrist shot from inside the hashmarks. Bickell gave Chicago a 3-2 lead at 5:33 of the third when he was left alone at the edge of the crease and stuffed in a rebound of Rozsivals drive from the blue line. Perrons power-play goal 2:25 later, on a deflection of Larsens shot from the point, tied it at 3. NOTES: Gagner is 0 for 2 on penalty shots in his career. ... The Oilers finished 1-3-0 on their road trip. ... Chicago C Michal Handzus missed his eighth game with an upper-body and is still "one or two weeks" from returning, according to Quenneville. ... Veteran G Ilya Bryzgalov, signed by Edmonton to a reported $2 million, one-year deal on Friday, is expected to join Oklahoma City of the AHL for a conditioning stint. He hasnt played an NHL game since April. ... Edmonton LW Luke Gazdic (shoulder) sat out. He was injured Saturday in Philadelphia. cheap nfl jerseys cheap jerseys cheap jerseys cheap jerseys cheap nfl jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '