Savage » joins the staff as an assistant coach.

MILWAUKEE - Brewers slugger Ryan Braun is showing signs hes shaking off a two-week slump. Fighting a 7-for-43 slide, Braun came through with a game-winning two-run home run in the eighth inning to lift Milwaukee to a 4-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday night. Braun hit the ball hard in two of his first three at-bats Saturday, but still made outs. "My swing has gone between terrible and awful the last two weeks," he said. "But thats the way the game of baseball goes sometimes." With one out in the eighth inning, Scooter Gennett ended up with a double after blooping a ball to centre that Billy Hamilton got his glove on but couldnt hold. Braun then drove the first pitch from reliever J.J. Hoover (1-5) over the right field fence for his 10th homer of the season and first since June 1. Francisco Rodriguez pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his 21st save in 23 opportunities. Will Smith (1-0) got the win despite giving up a game-tying home run to Hamilton in the eighth inning. "We know a lot about Hoover and know he likes to throw the fastball," Braun said. "This is definitely encouraging and hopefully I can build off that and get going." Another encouraging sign for the Brewers was the performance of starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo, who went seven innings, allowing one run on six hits and two walks while striking out eight. It was the second straight strong outing for Gallardo, who struck out a season-high eight and allowed four hits in seven innings of a 1-0 victory over Pittsburgh June 8. "I was able to make pitches tonight and get ahead of hitters," he said. Brewers manager Ron Roenicke likes what hes seeing from Gallardo. "Hes definitely on track," Roenicke said. "His curveball was very good and has been for the past two games. If we can get that from him consistently, thats really good." Gallardo needed to be very good Saturday to offset Reds starter Mat Latos, who threw 87 pitches over six shutout innings in his season debut, giving up two hits while striking out four. He started the season on the disabled list while recovering from elbow and knee surgeries. Latos retired the first four hitters he faced before giving up a single to Aramis Ramirez. He then retired 13 hitters in a row before Gennett outlasted him in a long at-bat with two outs in the sixth inning. Gennett, who several times just got a piece of the ball to stay alive, hit the 13th pitch into left field for a double. Braun then hit a drive to the centre field wall that Hamilton caught, prompting Latos to thrust his fist in the air. Latos said it was emotional to be back on the mound. "It has been a struggle to get where I was today," he said. "It is definitely good. The outcome kind of sucks, but that is baseball. They are in first place for a reason. You just got to come back strong tomorrow." The Reds grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Brandon Phillips RBI single. The Brewers wasted no time in taking the lead after Latos left the game. Logan Ondrusek walked Jonathan Lucroy to start the seventh inning and Carlos Gomez lined a single. Both runners advanced on Ramirezs fly out and Lucroy scored on Khris Davis groundout. Rickie Weeks then singled to left to give the Brewers a 2-1 lead. Hamilton tied the score in the bottom of the inning with his third home run of the season. NOTES: To make room for Latos on the roster, the Reds put LHP Sean Marshall on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right shoulder. ... The Brewers signed the teams top three draft picks from the draft: LHP Kodi Medeiros, SS Jacob Gatewood and OF Monte Harrison. All three were at Miller Park Saturday and took batting practice before the game. ... The Brewers will start RHP Marco Estrada (5-3) in Sundays series finale against the Reds Mike Leake (3-6). Jordan 4 Cheap Real . Compared to what hes gone through in recent weeks, that seemed like a breeze. Speaking to The Associated Press on Friday at an NBA Cares event, Silver said hes thrilled that the leagues attention can be on the championship series between the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs -- and not, as it was for so much of the post-season, on the off-the-court matters involving the banishment of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling and now the looming sale of that franchise. Jordan 4 For Sale Cheap . "I love the game, its the best job you can have," he explained Tuesday as the players left Joe Louis Arena for the summer. "Ill sit down with my wife and well go from there. http://www.wholesaleairjordan4.com/ . - Maynor Figueroa headed in a late goal to give Honduras a 1-1 draw with the United States in an international friendly Tuesday. Jordan 4 Online Store . Louis Blues, having added Ryan Miller and Steve Ott from Buffalo, remain the No. Jordan 4 Clearance . Parnell will be out much longer if it turns out he needs surgery. But first, he will try resting for two weeks before beginning a throwing program that could last up to a month, general manager Sandy Alderson said.Edmonton, AB (SportsNetwork.com) - The Edmonton Oilers fired head coach Dallas Eakins on Monday. Eakins was in just his second season with the perennially rebuilding Oilers, who reside in the Western Conference basement with a 7-19-5 record. They are tied with the Carolina Hurricanes for the fewest points in the league at 19. General manager Craig MacTavish will take over the coaching duties on an interim basis before transitioning the team over to Todd Nelson, who joins the staff as an assistant coach. MacTavish, who coached the Oilers for eight seasons from 2000-09, will hand the reins to Nelson once he is comfortable. Nelson was in his fifth season coaching the Oilers American Hockey League affiiliate in Oklahoma City.dddddddddddd The Barons made four playoff appearances under Nelson, including two trips to the conference finals. Eakins dismissal comes as the Oilers are in a free fall, having lost 15 of their last 16 games (1-11-4). I had no good reason to do this other than performance, MacTavish said. Edmonton went 29-44-9 last season under Eakins, who landed his first NHL head coaching job on the strength of a four-year stint directing the Toronto Marlies, the top minor league affiliate of the Maple Leafs. Eakins was the Oilers fourth head coach since MacTavishs run. Edmonton hasnt reached the playoffs since losing to the Hurricanes in the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals. ' ' '