ATLANTA -- For Ervin Santana, throwing strike after strike was even better than a no-hitter -- especially when his impressive command came in his Atlanta debut. Santana allowed only three hits over eight scoreless innings, Jason Heyward homered and drove in two runs and the Braves held off the New York Mets 4-3 on Wednesday night. Santanas first 20 pitches were strikes. He threw only one ball in his first three innings. "That one was close," he said with a smile before adding "Thats all right." Santana threw a no-hitter with the Angels in 2011. "This is better than a no-hitter," he said. "When you throw strikes all the time, that means youre in control of the game." Mets manager Terry Collins said he could name only one pitcher who threw so many consecutive strikes. "(Roy) Halladays about the only guy Ive seen," Collins said. "We chased some balls out of the zone early, which helped (Santana) a little bit." The Braves bullpen almost blew a 4-0 lead in the ninth. Jordan Walden walked Eric Young Jr. and gave up a one-out single to David Wright. Craig Kimbrel walked Curtis Granderson to load the bases before striking out Lucas Duda. Juan Lagares drove in two runs with a single, and Travis dArnaud added a run-scoring single before Kimbrel fanned Ruben Tejada for his fourth save. "Im more frustrated for giving up somebody elses runs and making it close," Kimbrel said. Santana (1-0) was sharp from the start, throwing 28 strikes in his first 29 pitches. He finished with six strikeouts and no walks. He said he didnt expect to have such strong command. "Honestly, no. In the bullpen I was all over the place," Santana said. "I just stepped over the line and focused and threw strikes." Santana signed a $14.1 million, one-year contract with Atlanta after the Braves lost starters Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy to season-ending elbow injuries last month. He pitched like he belongs near the top of the rotation as he threw only 88 pitches, 65 for strikes. Zack Wheeler (0-2) allowed four runs on eight hits in five innings for the Mets. Heyward took a 0-for-22 slump into the game and was hitting only .107, with three hits in 28 at-bats. He doubled his hits total with the homer and two singles in his first three at-bats. Heyward led off the first inning with an 11-pitch at-bat against Wheeler before pulling a 3-2 fastball over the wall in right-centre for his second homer. "Its a tough way to start the game, going that deep into the count and him hitting a home run, but it was a good at-bat for him," Wheeler said. "He just came out on top on that one." The Braves added three runs off Wheeler in the fifth. Evan Gattis doubled and scored on Heywards single to right field. Santana, who slapped a single to right for his fifth career hit, and Heyward scored on Freddie Freemans single. Each team had defensive highlights early in the game. In the first inning, Lagares raced back to make a leaping catch of Freemans drive at the wall, his cleat leaving a rip in the cushion. Shortstop Andrelton Simmons showed his Gold Glove form in the second. The shortstop went to his right to field a grounder by dArnaud before slipping, hopping up to one knee and throwing out dArnaud at first base, with Freeman stretching for the throw. An excited Santana pumped his fist, shouted and pointed at Simmons. Santana celebrated with another fist-pump after Heyward, sprinting toward the right-centre gap, ended the sixth by catching Wrights drive before falling on the warning track. NOTES: Braves LHP Luis Avilan, who left Tuesday nights game with a hamstring cramp, had no problems throwing in the bullpen before Wednesdays game and said hell be careful to remain hydrated in cooler weather. ... CF Jordan Schafer was 0-for-3 in his first start of the season. Manager Fredi Gonzalez said B.J. Upton, hitting .138, will be back in the lineup on Thursday. ... Braves LHP Mike Minor (sore shoulder) and RHP Gavin Floyd (elbow surgery) are scheduled for their next rehab appearances on Sunday. ... RHP Pedro Beato was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett to clear a roster spot for Santana. ... Braves RHP David Hale will face Mets RHP Jenry Mejia in the final game of the series on Thursday night. Andrelton Simmons Angels Jersey . - Canadian tennis star Eugenie Bouchard has signed with WME-IMG, saying the sports management powerhouse will help maximize the value of my brand. Don Baylor Angels Jersey . In the opener of the World Group first-round series, world No. 18 Kei Nishikori defeated Peter Polansky of Thornhill, Ont. https://www.cheapangels.com/2813j-tim-sa...angels.html.com) - Nathan MacKinnon scored the winning goal in the shootout as the Colorado Avalanche rallied for a 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins on Wednesday. Darin Erstad Angels Jersey . "Im proud, obviously. Its been a long day, but now Im a Crystal Palace player, Im very happy," Bannan said. "The seasons been started now for a couple of weeks and Ive not featured at Villa. Bobby Grich Jersey . Under the deal, the Vikings will donate an undisclosed sum of money to five gay rights-related charities over the next five years. Kluwe said he wont receive any money as part of the settlement. "This will help a lot of people that really do need that help," Kluwe said.PHILADELPHIA - After setting a franchise record for losses to start the season, the 76ers continued to focus on long-term goals.Tyson Chandler had 20 points and 13 rebounds to help the Dallas Mavericks beat Philadelphia 110-103 on Saturday night, sending the 76ers to a 16th straight loss to start the season.Michael Carter-Williams had a triple-double with 18 points, 16 assists and 10 rebounds for the 76ers, who eclipsed the 1972-73 club that began 0-15 on the way to setting an 82-game NBA record for fewest victories at 9-73. Philadelphia became the fifth team in league history to open with at least 16 straight losses, joining the 1994-95 Clippers (0-16), 1998-99 Clippers (0-17), 1988-89 Heat (0-17) and the 2009-10 Nets (0-18).Im fine and I dont want those guys worrying about any record, Philadelphia coach Brett Brown said. We just have to keep our group together and move them along. I have so much respect for that group because their spirit has not been broken.Philadelphia, with a roster of draft picks and young, undrafted players, is sacrificing victories to build for the future. Of the 12 players Brown played versus Dallas, only Luc Mbah a Moute has more than two years of NBA experience.Were heartbroken we havent won, Brown said. But down deep I feel like I know something thats going on that I like. I think they will be rewarded for the work theyre putting in. I hope its sooner than later to validate their efforts.The 76ers will try again for its first win on Monday when they host the defending champion Spurs. If they lose to San Antonio, Philadelphia could equal the NBA record for losses to begin a season on Wednesday at Minnesota and could potentially set an NBA record on Friday at home versus Oklahoma City.Monta Ellis added 18 points for Dallas (13-5), which played without struggling star Dirk Nowitzki to win its third straight. Coach Rick Carlisle gave Nowitzki the night off to rest. He was 4 for 27 from 3-point range in his last four games.Its a team you feel like youre not supposed to lose to, no offence to them, Chandler said.K.J. McDaniels had 21 points and 13 rebounds for Philadelphia.Im proud of my team for just fighting, McDaniels said.The Mavericks handed Philadelphia its worst loss of the season, a 53-point rout on Nov. 13. The 76ers had more tuurnovers (28) than field goals (23) in that 123-70 defeat.dddddddddddd It was much closer on Saturday, but the result was the same.Philadelphia trailed by just four points entering the fourth quarter. But the Mavericks scored the first six points of the final period to take a 96-86 lead with 9:02 remaining, matching their largest lead of the game. Philadelphia went 0 for 2 from the field with four turnovers during the Mavericks run and never got closer than four points the rest of the way.We knew we were playing a desperate team with a lot of pride, Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. They are undermanned and its been a tough year for them but I respect their coach and I respect how hard they play. We were going to be up against a team playing like their pants are on fire the whole night and they did. The best compliment you can give our guys is they played a game where they kept their poise and limited the number of runs and limited the number of times the crowd got into it.The Sixers climbed out of a 10-point hole early in the third quarter to go up by a point three times late in the period, the last when Henry Sims scored on a layup to make it 85-84 with 1:51 left. But Dallas scored six of the last seven points of the quarter, capped by Chandler Parsons 3-pointer with 33.2 seconds left, to go up 90-86 entering the fourth quarter.Philadelphia was without leading scorer Tony Wroten, who sprained his right knee late in Wednesdays loss to Brooklyn. Wroten is expected to miss at least a week and will be reevaluated on Friday.TIP-INSMavericks: Jameer Nelson, who starred locally in college at Saint Josephs University, sat for the third straight game with back spasms. Raymond Felton (ankle) also was out for Dallas.76ers: Rookie Jerami Grant, a second-round pick out of Syracuse, made his debut for Philadelphia. Grant missed the first 15 games and all of the preseason with a right ankle sprain. He was scoreless in three minutes.WRONG TURNThe 76ers 24 turnovers marked the seventh time theyve given up 20 or more turnovers this season.DOUBLE UPChandler recorded his ninth double-double of the season and the first with 20 or more points and 10 or more boards since Dec. 28, 2012.UP NEXTDallas plays at the Bulls on Tuesday.The 76ers host San Antonio on Monday. ' ' '