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OAKLAND, Calif. -- Now that hes won a career-high four straight major league games, Oakland As right--hander Kendall Graveman is in what should be unfamiliar territory, but he said it feels like old times.Its kind of what I expect out of myself, Graveman said Sunday. When you actually do it and actually command the baseball the way you want to, that feels normal. I remember when I was coming up through the system in the Blue Jays organization, this is what almost all of my starts felt like.Graveman will try to extend his winning streak on Monday night when the Oakland As open a three-game series against the Houston Astros, who beat Seattle 8-1 on Sunday and will send right-hander Mike Fiers to the mound.Gravemen went 1-6 with a 5.36 ERA over his first nine starts. In his past eight starts, hes 4-0 with a 3.40 ERA, and the As are 7-1 in that stretch.Whats changed for Graveman?I think hes relying on his best pitch and not trying to be too fine with it, As manager Bob Melvin said before a 5-3 loss to Toronto. I think there were times where he probably was trying to pick a little too much on the corners. And when you have that kind of sink and its working for you, you have that kind of sink on your fastball, just throw it down the middle and let it move a little bit and hopefully they beat it into the ground, which, when hes pitching well and doing well, thats what theyre doing.Graveman said he has learned some valuable lessons while battling through some rough stretches at the start of his first two seasons with the As. Last year he was 1-2 with an 8.27 ERA when he was sent down to Triple-A Nashville. He wound up going 6-9 with a 4.05 ERA in 21 starts for the As as a rookie.Not to boast, but to have success in the minor leagues the way I did, you kind of think, Hey, this might be the way it is all the time, Graveman said. But youre going to go through some bumps and some struggles. I hadnt experienced that for a couple years leading up to that moment. Even last year when I came to start the year I really hadnt experienced that.But now I think you see I experienced a little bit of that after the first month of the season. Hit a little bump in the road there, and to get over it and continue to pitch and continue to compete and to find a way to get out of it quicker than I did last year, I think that was big. I think it showed growth.Fiers is 6-3 with a 4.35 ERA, but hes coming off a rough start on July 6 against Seattle. Fiers gave up four runs on five hits, including three home runs, in just 3 1/3 innings of work and got a no-decision in Houstons 9-8 victory.Fiers gave up all three home runs in a four-run fourth inning when Robinson Cano, Kyle Seager and Dae-Ho Lee took him deep as the Mariners cut Houstons lead to 5-4.The few games where we scored a lot, Ive given up a lot of runs or not gone as far in the game, Fiers said after the game. Im not changing anything. Im not trying to change anything, if I am. I just need to be better.Fiers is 0-1 with a 3.28 in four career starts against the As.Graveman is 2-1 with a 5.24 ERA in four career starts against Houston. In his last start on July 9 at Houston, he gave up two runs on five hits over five innings in a 3-2 As victory. He struck out three and walked none for his fourth straight win. Hell face the Astros again after eight days of rest.Ive thrown a couple bullpens since the last (start), Graveman said. Im just trying to keep that arm slot that Ive had going and its been good. Thats the main focus right now, just keep on top of the baseball and let the sinker work and pitch off of that.It was a good break, too. Ive thrown quite a few innings the first half of the year and I want to continue to do that. Its always good to have a little bit of a break physically and also mentally to take a little bit of a break because sometimes going every five day you really have to stay locked in. Walt Frazier Knicks Jersey . With his new coach and six-time Grand Slam singles champion Boris Becker watching him during an official match for the first time, Djokovic appeared tentative early against the Slovakian player, who often appeared content to keep the ball in play. Carmelo Anthony Knicks Jersey . 1, meaning problems for the doping controls at both major international sports events next year. 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Sagbo did well to control Sone Alukos right cross and fire past Brighton goalkeeper Peter Brezovan. Aluko was making his first start in four months after recovering from an Achilles injury. NEW YORK -- The playoff-contending New York Mets say star pitcher Noah Syndergaard has been scratched from his start Saturday night against Philadelphia because of strep throat.Manager Terry Collins made the announcement before playing the Phillies on Friday night. Reliever Sean Gilmartin will make his first start of the season, taking Syndergaards place.Collins said Syndergaard might be able to start Monday or Tuesday at Miami.The Mets began the day tied with San Francisco for the top NL wild-card spot, with St. Louis trailing by a half-game.Syndergaard became the latest Metss pitcher to miss time this year.dddddddddddd Matt Harvey and Jacob deGrom already have been shut down. Steven Matz originally was set to pitch Friday night, but was scratched because of shoulder trouble.Syndergaard is 13-9 with a 2.63 ERA and was an All-Star this season. He had been lined up to pitch Oct. 5 in a potential wild-card game.Right now, in our situation, we cant worry about Oct. 5 Weve got to worry about being there Oct. 1, Collins said. ' ' '