OAKLAND, Calif. Louis Williams Pacers Jersey . -- The New York Mets still consider themselves a contender in the NL East chase even with a daunting deficit to make up over the final month. Theyre counting on building on their latest offensive performance. Lucas Duda hit a three-run homer, Eric Campbell also connected and the Mets beat the Oakland Athletics 8-5 on Wednesday to snap a three-game losing streak. "I hope it lifts us. I hope it gets us going," manager Terry Collins said. "There were some big hits and some very good at-bats. I just hope this is the start of a final six weeks with some good offensive nights." Zack Wheeler (9-8) allowed two earned runs while working 5 2-3 solid innings. The Mets split their quick two-game interleague series. Wheeler is 6-0 with a 2.12 ERA over his nine outings since June 30. The As chased him after two innings in the shortest start of his career on June 25. The right-hander and former San Francisco Giants top prospect improved to 4-1 in his last 10 road starts. Jeurys Familia relieved Vic Black with the bases loaded and one out in the eighth and walked in a run but avoided further damage. He finished for his fourth save. Campbell and Duda homered during a five-run third against Jeff Samardzija (3-3). Samardzija had been unbeaten in five previous starts at the Coliseum. Instead, he was done after 3 2-3 innings. The As closed to 5-2 in the third on consecutive RBI doubles by Coco Crisp and John Jaso. New York added on in the fourth with RBI singles from Curtis Granderson and Daniel Murphy. "We strung five, six, seven hits in an inning. Its something to build on," Duda said. "Hopefully we can continue rolling." Samardzija cruised through a 10-pitch first inning and got through the second unscathed. Acquired in a July 4 trade from the Cubs, he has never beaten the Mets in nine appearances and three starts. "Its just having trouble putting guys away," Samardzija said. "Probably as simple as that." Oakland lost for the eighth time in 10 games. The As returned home from a 1-6 road trip through Kansas City and Atlanta in which they lost their last five. Murphys two-run fielding error aided the As in the fourth. He nearly had the ball, but it skipped off his glove and then he inadvertently kicked it. PLAN FOR COLON: Bartolo Colon will rejoin the Mets this weekend in Los Angeles and pitch Sunday before returning to the Dominican Republic for his mothers funeral. The right-hander was placed on the bereavement list on Tuesday. ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE: As team president Michael Crowley and other club officials participated in the ice bucket challenge for ALS after the game in the right field corner. OF Jonny Gomes did his own version. TRAINERS ROOM Mets: OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis was a late scratch, apparently his stiff neck still an issue. Athletics: INF Nick Punto, sidelined with a strained right hamstring, is in the beginning stages of running. "Its feeling good. The strength is getting back in there," Punto said. ... 3B Josh Donaldson had much of the day off because "hes a little bit tired right now," manager Bob Melvin said. Donaldson entered as a pinch-hitter in the seventh and had a leadoff single. UP NEXT Mets: New York continues its five-game California road trip with the opener of a three-game series Friday against the Dodgers, sending LHP Jonathon Niese (7-8, 3.50 ERA) to the mound looking to improve to 3-0 in six career starts against Los Angeles. Athletics: The As have their second off-day in a four-day stretch before opening a key weekend series at home with the division-leading Los Angeles Angels. The schedule allowed Melvin to tweak his rotation and use three top starters: Sonny Gray, Jon Lester and Scott Kazmir. Gray is 0-4 in August after his 6-0 July that earned him AL Pitcher of the Month. "We have an off-day tomorrow to clear our heads," Melvin said. "We know it will be an exciting series and a big series coming up." Montrezl Harrell Jersey .What they got was a bevy of players chipping in to pick up the slack.Josh Smith scored 18 points and James Harden added 17 as the Rockets used a balanced scoring effort to outlast the Mavericks for a 99-94 victory. Patrick Beverley Pacers Jersey . That still leaves a big hole.You dont replace the leadership, defensive co-ordinator Billy Davis said. You just dont. Leadership is something that is earned over time. http://www.clippersnbateamshop.info/patrick-beverley-clippers-jersey/ . Its a blessing and a burden for nine sons of former NHL players who are all expected to be taken in the first four rounds of the draft this weekend.ST. LOUIS -- When Braves second baseman Tyler Pastornicky backpedaled into shallow right field to catch the popup and Jason Heyward didnt arrive fast enough to take charge, Kolten Wong got the green light. The rookie raced home with the tying run on surely the shortest sacrifice fly of Yadier Molinas career, one of many big plays the St. Louis Cardinals made with their legs in a 4-1 victory over the slumping Atlanta Braves on Saturday. "By the time I realized I could get there, it would have been tough to call him off," Heyward said. "Heads up play on their part by sending the runner." Wong and Peter Bourjos each had a pair of bunt singles, three of them fueling rallies. Bourjos got picked off after beating out a bunt leading off the third, but squeezed home an insurance run in the seventh. "I think today was probably one of the best representations of what speed can do for us," manager Mike Matheny said. "A lot of guys made things happen, getting on base and creating havoc." Wong set up the tying run by beating out a bunt to lead off the fourth. He squared around for another hit in the sixth and drew a wild throw from catcher Evan Gattis while stealing second, producing the go-ahead run. The Cardinals matched their season high with their fourth straight win. Miller (6-2) allowed a run and five hits in seven innings, one inning longer than his previous high this season. He matched his season best with seven strikeouts, fanning B.J. Upton three times, and called it his best outing of the year "for sure." "I felt like we did a really good job of keeping the hitters off-balance and getting ahead in the count," Miller said. "Just an all-around good day, but at the same time theres still room for improvement." Trevor Rosenthal fanned two in the ninth inning, with Upton striking out a fourth time, to earn his 13th save in 14 chances. He has a save in three straight games for the second time in his career. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez was ejected in the ffifth inning for arguing a call that led to a bunt double play. Chris Paul Pacers Jersey. . He could face a fine for charging out of the dugout a second time and thought the ball was "maybe 5, 6 inches foul." "Thats what I kept asking: Can we get some help from one of the guys on the line?" Gonzalez said. "What are you going to do? We still scored one run. "But that would have been a nice opportunity to try again to advance a runner," he added. Andrelton Simmons had three hits for Atlanta, which lost its third in a row and scored fewer than three runs for the 19th time in 41 games this season. Miller has won six straight decisions in seven starts after losing his first two of the season. The last three St. Louis starters have worked seven innings. In the fifth, Harang stayed in the batters box after his attempt to sacrifice Simmons to third didnt go far. Molina pounced on the ball and threw to third, with shortstop Jhonny Peralta covering, for a tag play. Peralta had an easy relay to first to finish with second baseman Wong covering for an unusual 2-6-4 double play. "What stinks is sometimes its those little plays that change the tempo of the game," Harang said. "If its called four, then I can get another one down. Its tough, you know." The Braves capitalized on shoddy defence to take the early lead. Simmons scored from first on Harangs two-out single -- the pitchers first hit of the year. Harang took third after left fielder Matt Holliday threw behind him, then trotted home after Wongs wild throw from second. NOTES: Cardinals lefty Jaime Garcia will make his first start since injuring his shoulder last May in the series finale, with Gavin Floyd (0-1, 2.70) starting for Atlanta. ... The attendance of 44,981 was the Cardinals eighth sellout. ... B.J. Upton made a nice running shoe-top catch on Allen Craigs sinking fly ball to start the second. ... The Braves are 1-4 against the Cardinals and 8-1 against the rest of the NL Central. ... Molina is 10 for 21 the last six games. ' ' '