ecome a difference-maker on a defence

ATLANTA -- Evan Gattis is starting to get his groove back for the Atlanta Braves. After playing three games in the minor leagues to correct his swing, Gattis returned to the majors and made an immediate impact. "I felt fixed before leaving," Gattis said. "Its good to go there and really kind of put it into action. It was good to have a good night." Kris Medlen pitched seven strong innings while Gattis and Andrelton Simmons homered to help the Atlanta Braves win their second straight game with a 3-1 victory over the New York Mets on Tuesday night. The Braves have won 20 of 24 at Turner Field to improve the major leagues best home record to 51-19. Gattis, who was recalled earlier in the day after a three-game stint at Triple-A Gwinnett, tied it at 1-all with his 16th homer in the seventh. After Mets starter Carlos Torres (3-3) walked Dan Uggla on nine pitches, Simmons hit his 13th homer to make it 3-1. Medlen (12-12) allowed seven hits and one run while striking out nine. Closer Craig Kimbrel converted his 34th straight save opportunity and improved to 44 for 47 this season. He struck out Juan Lagares and Matt den Dekker, allowed a single to Omar Quintanilla and retired pinch-hitter Justin Turner on a groundout. New York has dropped three straight and nine of 13. Torres gave up seven hits, three runs and one walk. He tied career highs with six strikeouts and seven innings pitched. The Mets took a 1-0 lead in the sixth on Daniel Murphys RBI double with one out, but Medlen limited the damage on Josh Satins groundout and Lucas Dudas strikeout. In the seventh, New York manager Terry Collins let Torres bat with runners at first and third, but the pitcher struck out. Torres lost the lead in the bottom half of the inning, unable to finish off Gattis and Uggla when both hitters fell behind with 0-2 counts. "Look where he was in that point in the game, and he was cruising," Collins said. "Theyre dangerous so you cant make any mistakes. He gave us a chance. We just couldnt put up any runs." Medlen erased the first two runners in scoring position -- Eric Young Jr. in the first and Duda in the fourth. After Young tripled over Gattis head in left field in the sixth and scored on Murphys double, Medlen escaped further damage when Josh Satin grounded out and Duda took a called third strike. "Whatever jam you get in, you always feel like you can get out of it," Medlen said. "Im always thinking positive. Whether other people do, I dont know, but Im always figuring out a way to get out of stuff. Its something you learn as you mature in this game. I think Ive figured how to battle, how to go at guys, and today I did a decent job of that." Duda doubled with two out in the fourth, getting stranded on dArnauds strikeout, but his average dropped to .169 in 59 at-bats with runners in scoring position. Gattis, who went 3 for 3, spent the previous three days at Triple-A Gwinnett to get some at-bats. The NLs rookie of the month winner for April and May had slumped in August, but he seemed to correct his issues by going 6 for 13 in three games at Gwinnett. Gattis took four pitches from Torres before crushing a cutter into the seats in left-centre field. It was his first homer since the Braves 8-2 victory at New York on July 24 -- a span of 70 at-bats. "Its good to square the ball up, first," Gattis said. "It just ended up being a home run, you know." Atlanta has won 29 of its last 38 games and has rallied for 41 victories, best in the NL. Notes: Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said RF Jason Heyward, on the 15-day disabled list with a broken jaw, met with a doctor Tuesday and has been cleared to play catch and hit balls off a tee. ... Medlen is 2-1 with a 3.20 ERA and has 29 strikeouts in 25 1-3 innings in four starts against the Mets this year. ... Collins said before the game that he expects RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka will make his next scheduled start Sunday at Cleveland. Matsuzaka is 0-3 with a 10.95 ERA in three starts with New York. ... Collins added 1B Ike Davis, sidelined for the fourth straight with a strained right oblique, was in New York to see a doctor. ... Braves OF Jordan Schafer grounded out as a pinch-hitter for Medlen in the seventh. Schafer went 4 for 5 on Monday before leaving the game early with a sore back. David Price Jersey . The Goldeyes (10-7) lost 4-1 to the Saltdogs (8-9) Sunday afternoon before 5,834 sizzling fans at Shaw Park. The loss drops Winnipegs record to 3-4 during this past weeks seven-game homestand. Craig Kimbrel Jersey . The Canucks figured to be active prior to Wednesdays trade deadline, getting a jump on things the previous day when they dealt goaltender Roberto Luongo to the Florida Panthers for netminder Jacob Markstrom and forward Shawn Matthias. http://www.theredsoxteamshop.com/Red-So … s-Jersey/. 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The Bengals envisioned him using his pass-rushing ability to become a difference-maker on a defence that was already one of the leagues best. He wound up with a limited role for the first half of the season as he got acclimated. Harrison was limited to 14 or fewer plays in five of the first seven games, making the transition from Pittsburghs 3-4 alignment to a 4-3 in Cincinnati. His role expanded as the season went along and injuries limited the defence. Harrison played in 15 games, starting 10, and finished 12th on the team in tackles. He had two sacks and one interception. "It was great for our coaches, players and fans to have James on our team last year," coach Marviin Lewis said.dddddddddddd "Hes a player everyone looks up to because of his ability, his accomplishments and his drive to be the best. He helped us win a division title with his play and with the example he set. "Its time for us to go a different direction now, with some younger guys, but we will all still reap benefits from having had James with us as a Bengal last year." Linebacker Vontaze Burfict credited Harrison with helping him develop into a Pro Bowl player last season. Cincinnatis defence finished third in the NFL and was the key to the Bengals reaching the playoffs for an unprecedented third straight season. The Bengals lost to San Diego in the opening round, leaving them 0-5 in the playoffs under Lewis. They havent won a playoff game since 1990, matching the sixth-longest streak of playoff futility in NFL history. Harrison tweeted: "Many thanks to all the Bengals fans for your support over the last year -- I had a great time in Cincinnati." Harrison is the second veteran in three days that was released by the team. Center Kyle Cook, who started all last season, was released on Tuesday. ' ' '