at the plate.

ATLANTA -- Freddie Freeman said before the game the slumping Braves needed an immediate turnaround. Ferguson Jenkins Cubs Jersey . The power-hitting first baseman then backed up his challenge at the plate. Freeman hit a three-run homer, one of four by Atlanta, and the Braves beat the Oakland Athletics 7-2 on Friday night in the opening game of the interleague series. Justin Upton and Evan Gattis hit homers off Jason Hammel (1-5) in the second inning. Rookie Phil Gosselin hit a two-run homer, the first of his career, off Jesse Chavez in the sixth. The Braves had not scored more than four runs in any of their past six games. They entered the game having lost 12 of 15. Atlanta is six games behind first-place Washington in the NL East. "Everyone wants to say we cant panic, but weve got to go," Freeman said before the game. "... The time is now." After the game, Freeman applauded Atlantas power surge. "That was a good night," Freeman said, noting Oakland brought the majors best record to Atlanta. "We always play those teams the hardest, and it was no different tonight," Freeman said. Alex Wood (9-9) allowed two runs in six innings -- a two-run homer by Nate Freiman in the fourth. The As have lost three straight and five of six. "Were just going through a tough time right now," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. "You start to press a little bit offensively and it can be contagious as a group. You start swinging at some pitches out of the zone. Were pretty good about looking for our pitch and waiting for it. We havent been as good here recently." Wood allowed four hits in six innings. Relievers David Carpenter, Jordan Walden and James Russell combined for three perfect innings. Hammel allowed five runs and six hits, including three homers, in three innings. He was pulled after walking B.J. Upton to open the fourth. "Three-run homers do some damage," Hammel said. "Solo ones you can deal with, but that third one obviously was a big one. "Otherwise I felt great. My body hasnt felt that good in a while." The Braves had their second four-homer game of the homestand and only their fourth game with four or more homers this season. They also hit four homers in a 7-6 win over Washington on Aug. 8. Before that, the Braves hadnt hit four homers in a game since May 25 against Colorado. Their high mark was five homers at Philadelphia on April 14. Freemans homer, his 17th, drove in Jason Heyward and Gosselin, who reached on singles. Justin Upton leads Atlanta with 22 homers. Chris Johnson was credited with a ground-rule double when As centerfielder Coco Crisp lost his deep fly ball in the lights in the third. The ball landed well behind Crisp and bounced over the wall. Hammel hit Gattis with a pitch and then escaped the jam. A NIGHT OF FIRSTS Gosselins first homer came in his first start at shortstop. He previously started two games at second base and one at third. His homer followed a two-out fielding error by Freiman, the first baseman, on Heywards grounder. "It was awesome just to contribute to a win tonight and get the series off on the right foot," Gosselin said. OVERTURNED After Wood issued one-out walks to Jonny Gomes and Josh Donaldson in the first, the left-hander made a pickoff throw to second base. Umpire Ted Barrett called Gomes safe. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez challenged the ruling and the call was overturned following a review of 1 minute, 50 seconds. The ruling proved important when Derek Norris followed with a single to left field that likely would have driven in Gomes from second. TRAINERS ROOM Athletics: CF Craig Gentry, on the 15-day disabled list with a broken right hand, will take batting practice with Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday. Braves: LF Justin Upton started after leaving Thursday nights game with a mild left hamstring strain. ... SS Andrelton Simmons was held out after having two teeth extracted. UP NEXT Athletics: RHP Sonny Gray will try to snap a streak of losses in three straight starts in Saturday nights game. The three-game skid is the longest of his career. Braves: RHP Julio Teheran will try to improve his 2-3 career interleague record in his first appearance against Oakland. He is 1-2 with a 2.41 ERA in two starts against AL teams this season. Nicholas Castellanos Cubs Jersey . A night later, he was back to help lead a rout of the Detroit Pistons. John Wall had 20 points and 11 assists, and Beal scored 10 of his 15 points during the second quarter as Washington pulled away for a 106-82 victory on Saturday. Bill Madlock Cubs Jersey . The actual winners on transfer deadline day are those clubs such as Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City who were well prepared and managed to get their main incoming business done well ahead of the transfer window closing. Tottenham were able to add seven players by spending over 100 million pounds and also ensured maximum return for the Gareth Bale transfer to Real Madrid by managing the move superbly.Today is Bell Lets Talk Day when the issue of mental health will be openly discussed across all platforms on TSN and CTV. During the morning loop on TSN, SportsCentre presents Purple Hearts, a TSN Original feature on Daron Richardson, daughter of former NHL defenceman Luke Richardson, who took her own life at the age of 14. The tragedy shocked the entire city of Ottawa, including Darons hockey teammates; her best and closest friends. Since Darons suicide, this remarkable group of young girls has set out on a quest to honour her memory, both with their play on the ice and their activism in the community. Their goal is simply, Do It For Daron –  an initiative that raises awareness of youth mental health. On Off The Record at 5pm et/2pm pt, long-time mental health advocate Michael Landsberg hosts a special edition of his popular talk show. The program will include a tribute to canoeist and three-time Olympian John Wood, who took his own life in January 2013 after a battle with depression. Landsberg will be joined by two of Woods children, Alan and Jennifer, who will speak publicly for the first time since Wood died. Off The Record also features PGA Canada professional golfer Andrew Jensen, who has survived multiple suicide attempts and will speak candidly about what drove him to the point of suicide. During the first intermission of the game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs, NHL on TSN host James Duthie chats with Clara Hugghes about mental health and Claras Big Ride, now in its fourth year. Ben Zobrist Cubs Jersey. The game gets under way at 7pm et/4pm pt. On TSN2, watch an encore presentation of Darkness And Hope: Depression, Sports And Me, Michael Landsbergs Canadian Screen Award-nominated documentary about sports and depression at 10:30pm et/7:30pm pt. Then at 11:30pm et/8:30pm pt on TSN2, watch an encore presentation of Talk To Me: The Story Of James Patrick Peek, the emotional documentary produced in support of last years Bell Lets Talk Day. Gemini Award-winning TSN field producer Mike Farrell sits down with his best friends family to talk about the loss of their son and brother to suicide, and how sport helped them cope and inspire change in their community. At 7pm et/4pm pt on CTV and CTV Two, watch an hour-long special presentation profiling celebrities and others who have struggled with mental illness. Hosted by Ben Mulroney and Tanya Kim, the program features interviews with musician Serena Ryder about her battle with depression, singer-songwriter Amy Sky on her struggle with post-partum depression, and retired Canadian heavyweight boxer George Chuvalo, who lost a son and wife to suicide. Also, Canadian champion rower Silken Laumann, TSNs Michael Landsberg, and Glass Tigers Sam Reid will offer their thoughts. The program will also profile the mental health struggles faced by actresses Mariel Hemingway, Margaret Trudeau, Catherine Zeta Jones, and Demi Lovato. ' ' '