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ATLANTA — Atlanta Braves left-hander Sean Newcomb hadn’t lost since his opening start of the season until falling to the Dodgers in Los Angeles last Sunday [url=http://www.washingtonredskinsteamonline.com/brandon-scherff-jersey]Brandon Scherff Jersey[/url] , ending a six-game winning streak.

Now Newcomb gets a chance to bounce back against one of the teams he blanked during the streak as the Braves face the San Diego Padres on Saturday in the third game of their four-game series at SunTrust Park.

The Padres ended an eight-game losing streak in Atlanta on Friday night, beating the National League East-leading Braves 7-3 for their 12th victory in the past 17 games.

Newcomb (7-2, 2.92 ERA) held the Padres (34-38) to three singles in six scoreless innings at San Diego on June 5 in a 14-1 rout that was the only victory for the Braves (40-29) in that three-game series.

Newcomb’s performance was a near duplicate of his first major league victory last June in San Diego and gave him a 1.31 ERA during a seven-start stretch.

“Every time he goes on the mound you’re pretty confident we are going to get the win that day,” Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman said after going 4-for-4 with a homer. “He’s been lights-out for a long time.”

Newcomb hit a speed bump against the Dodgers in Los Angeles, though.

The 24-year-old native of Massachusetts gave up two first-pitch home runs, one on a three-run shot in the third inning, and allowed five runs in 5 1/3 innings of a 7-2 loss.

“I’ll do everything I can to not let it happen again,” Newcomb said. “I’ll take away the positives and move forward.”

Padres starter Jordan Lyles (2-3, 4.83 ERA) gave up eight runs in 4 1/3 innings as the Braves made things easy for Newcomb in San Diego and the 27-year-old right-hander took another loss in his most recent start.

Lyles again allowed 11 hits and this time four runs in six innings against the Cardinals in St. Louis, getting just three swings and misses on 102 pitches.

Lyles’ rough stretch followed some impressive work in May after he was moved into the rotation from the bullpen. He took a perfect game into the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies in his second start and ended up allowing a hit and a walk while striking out 10 in 7 1/3 innings.

The Padres are the only major league team to never throw a no-hitter and Lyles was pitching against the team that released him last August.

“It would have been sweet regardless,” Lyles said afterward.

Lyles has a 6.35 ERA in four games (three starts) against the Braves [url=http://www.indianapoliscoltsteamonline.com/braden-smith-jersey]Braden Smith Jersey[/url] , with the loss in San Diego last week his only decision.

Both Newcomb and Lyles are former first-round draft choices.

Newcomb, acquired from the Los Angeles Angels in the Andrelton Simmons trade after the 2015 season, was the 15th overall pick in 2014.

Lyles was drafted by Houston as the 38th overall pick in 2008 and traded to Colorado after the 2013 season.

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Browns offensive coordinator Todd Haley awoke Wednesday and discovered his phone was overloaded with text messages.

He became an overnight TV star.

Haley was impossible to miss in the second episode of HBO’s “Hard Knocks.” He was everywhere, whether berating Corey Coleman for drops and lack of effort before the receiver asked to be traded; making fun of Carl Nassib’s parents for naming their baby “Carl”; hanging upside-down in coach Hue Jackson’s office on an inversion table or telling Pro Bowl receiver Jarvis Landry to mentor rookie Antonio Callaway.

“They showed everything, huh?” Haley said.

Beyond his on-screen appearances, Haley has made quite an impression during his first months with Cleveland after being fired by Pittsburgh following six seasons guiding the Steelers’ offense.

A former head coach in Kansas City, Haley has brought 22 years of NFL wisdom and a no-nonsense demeanor to the Browns, who are trying to dig out from a 0-16 season. He’s molding quarterbacks Tyrod Taylor and Baker Mayfield, developing a young receiving corps that could soon add Dez Bryant and trying to instill mental toughness and discipline into a team that has lost 31 of its last 32 games.

The Browns are more talented, but Haley knows that won’t mean anything if they aren’t composed and controlled. And he knows what he’s looking for.

“Groups that are able to overcome bad portions of practice and bounce back [url=http://www.washingtonredskinsteamonline.com/ryan-anderson-jersey]http://www.washingtonredskinsteamonline.com/ryan-anderson-jersey[/url] , find ways to start to have success,” he said. “In games obviously you’re looking for a team that can bounce back within a game, bounce back after poor games. You’re looking for a team, a group that doesn’t back down, that continues to fight and is able to overcome some adversity.”

Haley has assumed play-calling duties from Jackson, who served as offensive coordinator the past two seasons.

Their partnership seems to be working, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t issues. The “Hard Knocks” cameras were rolling during a coaches’ meeting when both running backs coach Freddie Kitchens and Haley questioned Jackson about his policy to have some susceptible players sit out practices in an attempt to prevent soft-tissue injuries.

Jackson was basing his decision on analytical data. Haley was going on gut.

In Haley’s mind, the Browns can’t change their culture if players are getting preferential treatment.

But although Haley disagrees with Jackson, he backs him.

“The great thing about here is coach Jackson gives us as assistant coaches the opportunity to speak our opinion,” Haley said. “Ultimately, it’s his decision of what he wants to do [url=http://www.greenbaypackersteamonline.com/marcedes-lewis-jersey]Marcedes Lewis Jersey[/url] , and I’ll 100 percent support it. But that’s not always the case where assistants get to voice an opinion, their thoughts. And some of them, he’s going to take it. Some of them, he’s not. But whatever decision is made, I’m 100 percent behind.”

Haley, too, is in favor of the Browns considering Bryant.

The former Dallas star is scheduled to visit with Cleveland on Thursday, and if the Browns like what they see and hear from the free agent, they could sign him.

While Bryant isn’t the game-breaking, down-field threat he once was, Haley would still be open to adding him to Cleveland’s offense as long as he’s willing to buy into the team.

“If Dez Bryant [url=http://www.buffalobillsteamonline.com/marcus-murphy-jersey]http://www.buffalobillsteamonline.com/marcus-murphy-jersey[/url] , who obviously has been a good player in this league, is in that mix, he’s going to be coached like everybody else,” Haley said. “I tell everybody that shows up here we don’t care about what means got you here, if you’re willing to put your hand in the pile and work and be part of moving forward and having success, I’m all for it.”

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