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ATLANTA -- Chris Johnson watched the winning run slide across the plate, then braced himself for the celebration. This time, he was in the middle of it. Johnson singled with two outs in the ninth inning for his first career walk-off hit and the Atlanta Braves won again at home, beating the Cleveland Indians 3-2 on Wednesday night. Jordan Schafer drove in Atlantas first two runs. He scored the winner after reaching on an infield single and stealing his second base of the night. Freddie Freeman was intentionally walked before Johnson lined a 2-2 pitch to left off Joe Smith (5-2). "Any time somebody gets walked intentionally in front of you, you want to come up big," Johnson said. He fouled off several pitches before getting one he liked. "When I get down to two strikes, I try to grind it out as best as possible, just stay on the ball, put something hard in play," Johnson said. Mike Aviles homered and drove in both Cleveland runs, but the Indians dropped four games back in the wild-card race. Craig Kimbrel (3-2) earned the win with a perfect ninth. Justin Masterson pitched five-hit ball over six innings, yet was moaning about a crucial mistake in the second. After Brian McCann led off with a single, Andrelton Simmons lined a two-out double into the left-field corner. Even though McCann was running on contact, the slow-moving catcher had no chance of coming all the way around to score on a ball that ricocheted off the wall, right to outfielder Michael Brantley. Masterson was still in good shape, with light-hitting pitcher Paul Maholm coming up. He was batting just .133 and had not walked all season. But his Cleveland counterpart left four pitches outside the strike zone -- and paid dearly for it. "Dont let Joe fool you over there," Masterson said. "Im the reason we lost the game tonight." Schafer, who took over the leadoff spot when Jason Heyward went out with a broken jaw, came up next and ripped a single that brought home Atlantas first two runs. "Hes playing the game hard," Johnson said of Schafer. "Hes stealing bags. Hes doing a tremendous job. It all starts at the top." Aviles just cleared the left-field wall with his eighth homer of the season in the fourth, snapping Clevelands 12 2-3 inning scoreless streak in Atlanta. The Braves won the opener of the series 2-0. Aviles tied it up in the eighth with a sacrifice fly, but Asdrubal Cabrera got caught in a rundown to end the inning, costing the Indians a chance to go ahead. "We had opportunities. We need to capitalize on them," Aviles said. "When our ace goes out and gives us strong innings, weve got to find a way to get a W." Maholm gave up six hits and one run in six innings, but the bullpen couldnt hold his 10th win of the season. The Indians, seeking their first playoff berth since 2007, are off to a rough start in one of the most important stretches of the season. After wrapping up their three-game series with the Braves, they move on to play three games in Detroit against the AL Central-leading Tigers before returning home to face Baltimore, another playoff contender. "Were getting good pitching, and because of that were staying in games and were giving ourselves a chance," manager Terry Francona said. "But were not hitting a bunch. It becomes more glaring when you dont get in runners in scoring position with two outs, which we havent done." Notes: Maholm (9-10) missed a chance to join teammates Mike Minor, Kris Medlen and Julio Teheran as 10-game winners. ... The Indians placed OF Ryan Raburn on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained left Achilles, retroactive to Aug. 19. He had missed 10 of the previous 11 games because of soreness. ... Cleveland purchased the contract of OF Matt Carson from Triple-A Columbus. He struck out as a pinch-hitter in the seventh with the potential tying run at second base. ... McCann reached on a bunt single in the fifth, taking advantage of Cleveland playing a shift with three players on the right side of the infield. ... Atlanta OF B.J. Upton, mired in a season-long slump, was hit by a pitch in the sixth -- and promptly picked off at first by Masterson. Upton complained briefly and heard a smattering of boos from the home crowd as he walked toward the dugout. ... Braves 2B Dan Uggla went 1-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts in his first game since eye surgery. Vince Carter Jersey . - The New Orleans Saints have re-signed receiver Joseph Morgan for one year and have agreed to a four-year deal with free agent fullback Erik Lorig. Shaquille ONeal Magic Jersey . It will be their 15th head-to-head meeting and fourth in the post-season (Sunday at 2pm et/11am pt on CTV) and for his part, Brady isnt downplaying just how big the game is for him. "Im excited - Its everything you could ask for as an athlete," the New England Patriots quarterback told WEEI Radio in Boston on Monday. http://www.magicauthentic.com/kids-evan-...agic-jersey/.ca NHL Power Rankings, ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues and Anaheim Ducks. Moving up, from 10 to seven this week, the Pittsburgh Penguins have won seven straight despite a depleted lineup. Terrence Ross Magic Jersey . And, just for good measure, lets say the lottery team finishes the game short-handed because two starters come down with the very same injury. Timofey Mozgov Magic Jersey .com) - Sixth-seeded Feliciano Lopez was a first-round winner on Monday at the Delray Beach Open tennis event.EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Starting isnt an issue for New York Giants running back Andre Brown. After spending the last 10 weeks on recallable injured reserve with a second broken leg in less than a year, all Brown cares about is playing against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. "Sitting out this long, as long as I go in there and make a play or two, thats what I am looking forward to," Brown said Wednesday after practice. "Its not about starting. Its just about being back out there, especially coming from where I came from: the humble beginnings and breaking (the leg) and going through this adversity again and coming back. Its a surreal moment to go out and play football again." Brown has not had the easiest career in the NFL. The five-year veteran has had a career marked by injuries and a nomadic journey from team to team. He finally seemed to catch on last year with the Giants, scoring eight touchdowns in 10 games, playing mostly in passing and goal-line situations. Unfortunately, he broke his left fibula in late November and broke it again in the same spot in the preseason finale against New England. "The doctors said the odds of being hit in the same spot and breaking it again were just crazy," Brown said. The leg has healed and Brown had been practicing for the past two weeks. He fully expects to play Sunday and he cant hide his excitement. He wants the ball handed to him. He wants to feel the thud of getting popped. He wants to hit someone. He wants to play football again for a team that a couple of weeks ago didnt have a starting halfback because of injuries. "I am ready to roll," Brown said. "I am pretty sure they are going to switch us in and out to make sure I have my wind. Its not about the leg. Its about me getting back in football shape, which I am in, but getting used to contact and seeing how that goes." Coach Tom Coughlin indicated Brown will have a role. "Im looking forward to the return of that player, quite frankly," Coughlin said. "Size, speed, he can catch the ball out of thhe backfield, he does a good job in pass protection.dddddddddddd You sometimes forget that the guy is 230 pounds. Thats a little bit of a different dimension." Coming off a bye, the Giants have three potential starters with Brandon Jacobs healthy and Peyton Hillis. Hillis seemingly is more in shape after coming in off the street and carrying the brunt of the running attack with David Wilson (neck) and Jacobs (hamstring) sidelined. Coughlin joked about Browns role when pressed about how much he would be able to do, saying he envisions Brown would carry the ball 40 times, catch 15 passes and return kickoffs. Brown didnt know what to make of Coughlins comment until being told the coach was being sarcastic. "Whew," said a relieved Brown, who plans to wear a small shin guard on his leg. Doctors have said hell have to wear it the rest of his career. Having Brown back in the lineup should help the offence, which didnt score a touchdown in the 15-7 win over Philadelphia before the bye. Josh Brown kicked five field goals. "Its a great tribute to Andre the way he has worked to come back from these injuries," quarterback Eli Manning said. "I know it has been frustrating for him, but he has done a great job of staying positive. The team has supported him and had his back. Hopefully, hell come back and help us out." Brown said the keys for him will be to hold onto the ball and make sure he makes his blocks in passing situations. "Its going to be fun. I just cant wait," Brown said. "I havent been getting too much sleep because its like Christmas. Im just really looking forward to going back out there and playing." NOTES: G Chris Snee got off crutches Wednesday, three weeks after hip surgery, his second in a year. ...WR Victor Cruz (neck) expects to practice Thursday after being held out as a precaution. ...DE Jason Pierre-Paul said he now feels the best he has since having back surgery in June, noting hes 90 per cent. ___ AP NFL website: —www.pro32.ap.org ' ' '