PITTSBURGH -- Ervin Santana said "everything" was off when he took the mound Monday. No matter. His Atlanta Braves teammates gave him a six-run lead before he threw a pitch. Jason Heyward and Andrelton Simmons homered to begin a big first inning, and the Braves beat the sliding Pittsburgh Pirates 7-3 on Monday night for their fourth consecutive victory. The early outburst was enough for Santana, who allowed three solo homers among nine hits in 5 1-3 innings. "I know I didnt have my stuff today, but for me it was one of my best games because I gave up three runs," said Santana (13-6), who improved to 8-1 over his past 10 starts. "Anytime you give up three runs or less, its a good outing. So Ill take it". Pittsburgh has lost six in a row. Starling Marte went deep twice, and Neil Walker added a homer that became the first to reach the Allegheny River beyond right field at PNC Park this season. Relievers Luis Avilan, David Hale and James Russell combined for 3 2-3 hitless innings for Atlanta, which broke a tie with Pittsburgh for third place in the National League wild-card standings. "We went through these tough stretches in April and early May and weve played really good baseball up until this last week," Pirates second baseman Neil Walker said. "Were still the same team." Heyward and Simmons started the game with the Braves fifth set of back-to-back home runs this season, and it got worse from there for Vance Worley (5-3). Chris Johnson and Gerald Laird had run-scoring singles as Atlanta bolted to a 6-0 lead. "I know we didnt score a whole lot the rest of the way," said Heyward, who had had three hits and a sacrifice fly. "But still, thats a lot of pressure for a team to come back against." Worley managed to pitch six innings and was charged with five earned runs. He allowed nine hits, struck out four and walked two. "After (the first inning), I figured it out," Worley said. "It clicked, I was able to drive the ball down in the zone and get the results that I needed." TRAINERS ROOM Braves: During a rehabilitation outing for Triple-A Gwinnett, RHP Shae Simmons (right shoulder strain) did not record an out and was charged with four runs. He walked two and allowed two hits while throwing 21 pitches. Pirates: After taking live batting practice prior to the game, OF Andrew McCutchen (left rib fracture) said he expects to come off the DL on Tuesday. ... SS Jordy Mercer (right forearm tightness) was not in the lineup for the fourth consecutive game. A FIRST AT FIRST The Pirates Pedro Alvarez started at first base in his first career appearance at any spot other than third. Alvarez, whose 25 errors lead the majors, had seven put-outs. His first chance was an errant throw by second baseman Neil Walker that led to two runs being scored. LATE ARRIVAL Because the Braves did not get into Pittsburgh until 3 a.m. Monday morning, manager Fredi Gonzalez elected to rest regulars B.J. Upton and Evan Gattis. BACK-TO-BACK BEGINNING Heywards homer was his third of the season to lead off a game and sixth of his career. According to STATS, Monday was the fifth time the Braves began a game with consecutive home runs. UP NEXT Braves: Tuesday starter RHP Aaron Harang (9-7, 3.51 ERA) has 15 career wins against the Pirates. Pirates: Despite having a 2.36 ERA over 42 innings in seven starts since coming off the DL, LHP Francisco Liriano (3-9, 3.78 ERA) has lost three of five decisions. Hes lost his past two outings. Nike Air Max Tn Sverige .com) - The Buffalo Bills will return to the friendly confines of Ralph Wilson Stadium on Sunday when they welcome the upstart Cleveland Browns to town. Nike Vapormax Rea . -- The Jacksonville Jaguars are bringing back quarterback Chad Henne -- and making him the starter. http://www.airvapormaxsverige.com/ .5 million, two-year contract that runs through 2015. Venable, the son of former big leaguer Max Venable, will make $4. Nike Zoom Fly Sverige . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 35 Dam . Tensions rose in the first period when Penguins defenceman Brooks Orpik hit Bruins forward Loui Eriksson with what appeared to be a clean hit.Garbine Muguruza of Spain beat Shahar Peer of Israel 6-3, 6-1 to reach the Grand Prix SAR semifinals on Friday. Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia, Romina Oprandi of Switzerland and Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor of Spain also moved into the last four. The top-seeded Hantuchova received a walkover from Peng Shuai of China, who had a left thigh injury, Oprandi defeated third-seeded Yvonne Meusburger of Austria 6-4, 6-4, and Torro-Flor edged Polona Hercog of Slovenia 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5). The fifth-seeded Muguruza won seven straight games against Peer to clinch the first set and lead 5-0 in the second. The Spaniard is enjoying a breakthrough season, as she clinched her first WTA title in Januuary at the Hobart International and finished runner-up at the Brazil Cup in March.dddddddddddd Peer made five double faults and was able to hold serve only once. Muguruza will face Torro-Flor, who wasted a 4-2 lead in the last set but rallied from 5-3 down in the final tiebreaker. Hercog failed to serve out the first set at 5-4 and double-faulted seven times. Oprandi reached her first semifinal since the Brussels Open in May 2013 and will play Hantuchova. The Swiss player rallied from a 3-0 deficit to lead 5-3 in the first set, and broke Meusburger for a 2-1 lead in the second. Meusberger made seven double faults and converted only one of five break points. ' ' '