half, behind an 8-1 penalty count, the Wallab

SAN FRANCISCO -- Jeff Samardzija had a simple game plan against the Atlanta Braves that helped him earn a much-needed win and moved the slumping-but-still-surviving San Francisco Giants closer to first place in the NL West.Just made them hit it to (shortstop Brandon) Crawford mostly, Samardzija said, referring to his Gold Glove teammate.The plan couldnt have worked out much better for Samardzija or the Giants.Sparked by a handful of defensive gems by Crawford, Samardzija and two relievers combined on a seven-hitter, and San Francisco beat Atlanta 7-0 on Friday night.Samardzija (11-9) had an uneven outing and had to pitch out of two early jams to win for only the fourth time since May 30. He got plenty of help from Crawford, who threw out a runner at third in the first inning, snared a liner to end the second with the bases loaded then made a nifty bare-handed grab to throw out Dansby Swanson to end the sixth.I like getting groundballs so Im glad that (Samardzija) feels confident in me to make those plays for him, Crawford said.Samardzija allowed seven hits, walked three and struck out six. He also doubled and scored in the fourth.Atlanta failed to score in the first after putting runners at second and third with one out. The Braves also came up empty after the first three batters reached base in the second, then ran themselves out of another opportunity in the fourth when Jace Peterson was called out after getting hit by the ball on pitcher Joel De La Cruzs single.Rocky start but he did a great job of getting out of those jams, Giants manager Bruce Bochy said of Samardzija. He just kept his concentration and his poise. Saved the game probably at that point for us.Angel Pagan homered while Brandon Belt, Denard Span and Buster Posey added two hits apiece for the Giants. San Francisco scored six runs on two-out hits and benefited from three Atlanta errors.Freddie Freeman had two hits for Atlanta, one day after taking a hard fall while flipping over a railing chasing a foul ball.Hunter Strickland and Cory Gearrin retired three batters apiece for San Francisco.The Giants benefited from the Braves shaky defense to give Samardzija an early cushion.San Francisco had four consecutive two-out hits off De La Cruz (0-7) in the first inning following a throwing error by Atlanta shortstop Swanson.We go up early and its a whole different game, really, Braves interim manager Brian Snitker said. We just couldnt score and it looked like (Samardzija) got locked in pretty good.San Francisco went up 5-0 in the second on Pagans ninth home run, three batters after Gorkys Hernandez reached on second baseman Petersons fielding error.Belt, who had an RBI single and scored in the first inning, doubled in Posey in the fifth.The Braves couldnt keep up.NO HELP FOR THE PITCHERDe La Cruz remained winless after allowing seven runs in four innings but he cant shoulder all the blame for his record. The Braves have failed to score in five of the eight games started by the right-hander and he is receiving just 1.3 runs of support per start. I thought he threw the ball OK but (your teammates) make some miscues and you need to get the next guy out and he wasnt able to do that, Snitker said. It wasnt real good, really.TRAINERS ROOMBraves: Freeman showed no lingering effects after hurting his back during Thursdays game in Arizona. Freeman doubled in the first inning and reached on an infield single in the fifth.Giants: Outfielder Hunter Pence was held out after straining his right hamstring a day earlier. Pence is hopeful of returning to the lineup Saturday.UP NEXTBraves: RHP Mike Foltynewicz (6-5) faces the Giants for the second time this season Saturday night. Foltynewicz, who beat San Francisco on May 30, is winless in his last two starts overall.Giants: RHP Jake Peavy (5-9) returns to the rotation for the first time since being demoted to the bullpen following the trade for Matt Moore on Aug. 1. Peavy last started on May 30 against Washington.Max Muncy Dodgers Jersey . Toronto has dropped games to Indiana and Miami since a five-game winning streak and closed out a three-game road trip at 1-2. Kyle Garlick Jersey . Dallas hasnt ruled out the star quarterback for Sunday nights game against Philadelphia, but all signs point to Romos back injury pushing Kyle Orton into the starting role after two years of limited play as the backup. Surely Ortons name isnt the first that comes to mind for fans wanting a change after years of damaging interceptions, fumbles or, most infamously, the field goal flub when Romo dropped the snap on a kick that could have won his first playoff game in 2006. https://www.cheapdodgersonline.com/885h-vin-scully-jersey-dodgers.html . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. Rick Sutcliffe Dodgers Jersey . The Vancouver coach and an announced sellout crowd of 18,910 watched in dismay as the Canucks lost 7-4 to the New York Islanders on Monday night by squandering a 3-0 lead in the third period. Charlie Hough Jersey . -- In one brief spurt, Brazil turned a close game into a rout and proved again it will be a strong World Cup favourite.A frustrated Michael Cheika has demanded a meeting with World Rugby referees boss Alain Rolland after watching the Wallabies grand slam dream disappear in a three-point loss to Ireland in Dublin.The Wallabies went down 27-24 in a thrilling contest at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday night, but Cheika was furious at the lopsided penalty count which finished 13-3 in the home sides favour.Despite copping the worst of the French referee Jerome Garces whistle, Australia mounted a stirring second-half comeback to recover from trailing 17-0 in the 39th minute to owning the lead 18 minutes later.Australia scored three straight tries to hold an unlikely lead with 20 minutes remaining - before Irelands Keith Earls scored the match-winning try in the 66th minute and the home side defended grimly for the win.But Cheika remained aggrieved at the refereeing performance and insisted it had taken too much out of his side.I thought we played a lot of footy in the end but we but we got penalised a lot didnt we? Cheika fumed.(It was a) 13-3 penalty count and that costs you field position, costs you territory and obviously points as well.You cant win a Test match if youre giving away that many penalties or that big a difference between the two teams. Impossible.Cheika made it clear he would be taking his concerns through the official channels before next weeks season-ending Test against England at Twickenham.Thats something Ill be dealing with Alain Rolland about afterwards, Cheika said.Ill go through the proper channels as opposed to making it an issue out here and see if we can get something but I doubt it.It was an inspiring victory for Ireland - who lost star flanker Sean OBrien to a leg injury hours before kick-off, and were also withhout key playmaker Johnny Sexton, with the win completing their first-ever trio of victories over the southern hemispheres big three.ddddddddddddAustralia had been thoroughly outplayed before a Dane Haylett-Petty try right before the break gave them hope and a 17-7 halftime deficient - while further five-pointers to Tevita Kuridrani and Sefanaia Naivalu briefly gave them the lead.But it wasnt to be, as Michael Cheikas men becoming the latest Wallabies side to fail to emulate the grand slam feats of the 1984 side.In the first half, behind an 8-1 penalty count, the Wallabies enjoyed a meagre 28 per cent possession and 23 per cent territory in a hopelessly one-sided half in which flanker Dean Mumm spent 10 minutes in the sin bin for lifting the legs of Irish prop Tadgh Furlong in a ruck.The Australians were punished immediately, as Ireland lock Iain Henderson finished off a classy team try to take a 10-0 advantage.The Wallabies were unimpressed with Irelands second try, where centre Garry Ringrose split the defence and was rewarded with a five-pointer despite hints of obstruction.The halftime break refreshed the Wallabies, and soon enough centre Kuridrani was the beneficiary of some slick hands in the backline to score out wide.After trading penalty goals, Australia went ahead for the first time in the 58th minute through a converted try to winger Naivalu, who hit a gap and crossed for his first Test try.A penalty goal to Foley - who would be yellow-carded in the dying moments for a dangerous tackle - extended the lead before Earls reclaimed it for good for Ireland with 14 minutes remaining. ' ' '