PHILADELPHIA -- A strong offence and a solid bullpen performance helped Cliff Lee overcome his worst start in two months. Humberto Quintero and Ryan Howard hit home runs to give Lee a five-run cushion, and the Philadelphia Phillies held on for a 5-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Friday night. Dan Uggla hit a three-run shot, and the Braves snapped Lees streak of 11 straight games pitching at least seven innings and allowing three earned runs or less. But Lee (10-2) still won his eighth straight decision. He allowed four runs and eight hits in 6 1-3 innings. "It was hot, but I felt I could continue to pitch," Lee said. He didnt have to. The bullpen bailed him out. J.C. Ramirez and Antonio Bastardo combined for five outs. Jonathan Papelbon finished for his 18th save in 22 tries. Right fielder John Mayberry Jr. helped Papelbon with a sliding catch on Brian McCanns sinking liner for the second out. "I felt he was spent. He perspired a lot," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said of Lee. "It happens sometimes to guys who can go deep and finish games." Paul Maholm (9-7) gave up five runs -- four earned -- and nine hits in six innings. Tim Hudson was scheduled to start for the Braves, but he was pushed back one day because of a stiff neck. Desperate to avoid falling further behind in the NL East standings, the Phillies (42-45) opened an important 10-game homestand before the All-Star break looking to gain ground. The first seven games are against the two teams above them in the division. "The only way to definitely gain ground on teams ahead of you is to beat them," Lee said. "We have to win this series and as many games as we can heading into the All-Star break." The division-leading Braves have lost three in a row. The Phillies have won three of four, including two of three at major league-leading Pittsburgh. Fifteen of Philadelphias last 75 games are against the Braves. Lee cruised into the seventh inning with a four-hitter before running into trouble. Lee hit Freddie Freeman, and Chris Johnson followed with a single. Uggla then hit a drive to left-centre to get the Braves within 5-3. "I threw five straight changeups," Lee said. "I tried to come up and in with a fastball. It was up, but not in." After Lee gave up a one-out double to McCann, pinch-hitter Reed Johnson singled to chase him. Ramirez came in and allowed a sacrifice fly to Andrelton Simmons that cut it to 5-4. Quintero drove an opposite-field shot out to right to make it 3-0 in the second. A Braves fan dropped the ball back onto the field, and Quintero stopped at second before being awarded the homer. The ruling was upheld after the umpires looked at a video replay. "It feels good to get this win," Quintero said. "We have to win the series." Howard connected in the third, hitting a towering shot way out to right-centre for his 11th homer. Quinteros RBI double drove in Delmon Young for a 5-0 lead in the sixth. Braves catcher Gerald Laird was ejected by plate umpire Angel Hernandez after getting called out on a pitch that appeared high and outside in the third. Laird was tossed after shouting an expletive as he walked toward the dugout. He turned around and ran at Hernandez, going nose-to-nose in a heated exchange while manager Fredi Gonzalez tried to calm him. Gonzalez also was ejected. "The catcher threw the ball back to the pitcher," Gonzalez said. "(Laird) was saying even the Phillies catcher knew it was a ball." A throwing error by first baseman Freeman gave the Phillies a 1-0 lead in the first. NOTES: Lee is 11-2 in last 14 starts against NL East opponents. ... The Phillies are 8-14 vs. Atlanta since 2012. ... Braves C Evan Gattis was cleared to start having a catch. Gattis has been sidelined with a strained right oblique. ... RHP Luis Ayala returned to Atlantas bullpen for the first time since being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder in late April. ... Hudson (4-7, 4.22) goes against Kyle Kendrick (7-5, 3.59) Saturday night. Hudson is 0-6 with a 4.50 ERA in 10 starts since his last win on May 5. Custom Oakland Raiders Jerseys . LOUIS -- Lance Lynn was one of the more enthusiastic participants as the St. Howie Long Womens Jersey . "No difference at all," chirped U.S. roommate and linemate James van Riemsdyk. "Its still the same cranky Phil. https://www.raiderssportsgoods.com/Womens-Maxx-Crosby-Inverted-Jersey/ . Now, with Game 6 set for Fenway Park and an 8:07 p.m. ET first pitch, the Detroit Tigers face the unenviable task of having to beat the Boston Red Sox twice, on the road, to advance to the World Series. Jack Tatum Raiders Jersey Charles Woodson Jersey .Y. -- Canadas Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse have another World Cup gold medal after winning the two-women bobsled race on Saturday in Lake Placid, N. VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- The Canucks didnt have much success when trailing after two periods last season.In 2016-17, theyre already 2 for 2.Brandon Sutter scored 32 seconds into overtime and Vancouver erased a three-goal deficit to beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 on Sunday night.Sutter, who buried the only shootout goal in Saturdays 2-1 victory over Calgary, grabbed the puck in his own zone and got a step on a defender before beating Eddie Lack on a quick shot for his first of the season over the blocker on a 2-on-1 rush for the Canucks second straight comeback win.Mr. Clutch finishes it off again, said Vancouver defenseman Ben Hutton, who tied the game with under 6 minutes to go in regulation.The Canucks were 3-30-1 when down after two periods in 2015-16, but already have two wins under those circumstances early this season after tying Saturdays game with the Flames late in the third.To come from behind twice like that in our own rink is big, something that we didnt do very well last year, Sutter said. It seemed like those close games at the start of the year last year, we ended up losing in overtime and shootouts.Markus Granlund had a goal and an assist and Bo Horvat also scored for Vancouver, which got 19 stops from Jacob Markstrom. Sutter added an assist.Justin Faulk had a goal and an assist, while Victor Rask and Teuvo Teravainen also scored for Carolina. Lack made 27 saves against his former team.The Hurricanes were coming off a 5-4 overtime loss to Winnipeg on Thursday in which they blew a 4-1 third-period lead.Its not good. Its obviously something we are going to have to address, Lack said. If were going to make the playoffs we cant do that.Vancouver trailed 3-1 after two periods, but cut the deficit just 1:11 into the third when Granlund finished a nice passing play with Sutter and Jannik Hansen for his first of the season after Faulk turned the puck over in his own zone.The Canucks continued to press and Hutton tied the game with 5:50 left in regulation when he buried his first from the slot past Lack, a fan favorite during his two seasons in Vancouver before he was traded to Carolina following the 2014-15 season.ddddddddddddLack stood strong during a late Vancouver power play, including a great stop on Sven Baertschi in front and then another on Granlund with about a minute left in regulation.Carolina led 2-0 after scoring goals 1:24 apart late in the opening period, and stretched that lead at 5:28 of the second when Faulk took advantage of some soft defensive play to bury his own rebound past Markstrom off the rush for his first of the season.Vancouver started to play better as the second period wore on, and Horvat scored his first with 7:57 left after taking a rebound off the end boards and making a strong move to the net on the backhand.Lack, who lost his only start against Vancouver last season, was called upon to make a couple of big saves to keep the Hurricanes up by two through 40 minutes, including a great pad stop on a slick deflection by Loui Eriksson.Vancouver had a number of early chances and held an 8-1 shot advantage 10 minutes into the game before the visitors found their legs.Rask scored his second goal of the season with 2:24 left in the period after working a give and go with Lee Stempniak, roofing a perfect shot into the top corner.The Hurricanes then doubled their lead on the power play with 49.7 seconds remaining when Teravainen, who was acquired from Chicago in an offseason trade, picked up a loose puck after Faulks point shot was blocked and swept his first of the year past Markstrom.UP NEXTCanucks: Continue a four-game homestand Tuesday night against St. Louis.Hurricanes: Play their third of six straight on the road to start the season Tuesday night in Edmonton. 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