OAKLAND, Calif. -- 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." NHL Jerseys 2020 Store .Y. -- Mark Steenhuis scored four goals and added two assists to lead the Buffalo Bandits over the Toronto Rock 12-10 in National Lacrosse League action on Saturday. NHL Jerseys China .com) - Damian Lillard poured in 40 points on 11-of-21 shooting to go along with 11 assists, and the Portland Trail Blazers stunned the Oklahoma City Thunder, 115-111, in overtime on Tuesday. https://www.nhljerseys2020.com/. -- Wide receiver Sidney Rice should be fully recovered from a torn knee ligament by the time the Seattle Seahawks start defence of their Super Bowl title, general manager John Schneider said Wednesday. Wholesale NHL Jerseys 2020 . Watching them over the past year - and in some cases, two years - has given us a starting point for this seasons Craigs List. Cheap NHL Jerseys From China . Dallas (2-0-1) sits atop the Western Conference with an MLS-best seven points. Castillo opened the scoring in the 71st minute off a Mauro Diaz set piece, and Watson outran defender Tony Lochhead on a long ball and then juked goalkeeper Ian Kennedy for the eventual game-winner in the 78th minute.Arlington, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Tony Romo erased his label of playoff underachiever. The Detroit Lions werent able to do the same. Romos 8-yard touchdown pass to Terrance Williams with 2:32 remaining finished off a run of 17 unanswered Dallas points, lifting the Cowboys to a 24-20 victory over the Lions in a thrilling NFC Wild Card clash. Detroit appeared on its way to its first postseason win since 1991 after taking a 20-7 lead deep into the third quarter, but Romo engineered three straight scoring drives to bring Dallas back on a night in which the Cowboys two other offensive stars were mostly held in check by a stout Lions defense. Its how weve responded all year long, Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said afterward. With Dez Bryant managing a modest 48 yards on three catches while double covered much of the game, Williams also stepped up to help Dallas advance to a matchup with second-seeded Green Bay in next Sundays Divisional round. The second-year wideout came through with a 76-yard touchdown late in the first half and finished with 92 yards on three grabs. DeMarco Murray added a touchdown run while grinding out 75 yards on 19 carries against Detroits top-ranked rushing defense, and the Cowboys received a boost as well from a controversial call that preceded the game-winning drive. The Lions punted the ball away with 8:10 left following Matthew Staffords incomplete pass on third down, which was initially ruled pass interference on Dallas linebacker Anthony Hitchens but then overturned by the officiating crew. Staffords throw hit Hitchens with the rookies back facing the play as he covered Brandon Pettigrew, drawing a flag that was then picked up after referee Pete Morellis group consulted. I thought it was ridiculous, to be honest, Pettigrew said. (Hitchens) ran through me, pretty much. I was trying to get back to the ball. To me, it was obvious. Sam Martin then shanked the ensuing punt, with the 10-yard boot starting the Cowboys at their own 41 while down 20-17. Dallas promptly moved into scoring range, aided by a clutch 21-yard connection between Romo and Jason Witten on 4th-and-6 that brought the ball to the Lions 21. I give coach Garrett credit for making that call. It shows he trusts us, Romo said. To go to (Witten) in that situation was a no-brainer. A defensive holding penalty on DeAndre Levy shortly afterward negated a third- down stop and gave the Cowboys a 1st-and-goal. Three plays later, Romo fired a bullet that Williams corralled for the go-ahead score. Stafford got the Lions as far as the Cowboys 42 with time winding down, but the Dallas native was sacked by DeMarcus Lawrence on fourth down to seal Detroits eighth consecutive postseason loss. Im not going to sit up here and act like that was the call that made the difference in the game, Lions head coach Jim Caldwell said of the overturned penalty. We still had our chances. Romo, who entered the matchup with a career 1-3 playoff record, shook off six sacks to throw for 293 yards and two touchdowns in a turnover-free 19-of-31 performance. Stafford finisheed with 323 yards, 51 of which came on a first-quarter touchdown pass to Golden Tate, and was picked off once while completing 28- of-42 attempts.dddddddddddd Tate amassed 89 yards on six catches and Calvin Johnson recorded five receptions for 85 yards for Detroit, which built an early 14-0 lead by getting the game off to a soaring start. The Lions defense forced a quick punt on the opening drive and Stafford fired a strike down the middle on Detroits fourth play from scrimmage, which Tate hauled in and outraced the Dallas defense less than 3 1/2 minutes in. Detroit was pinned back to its own 1-yard line on their second series, which initially went three-and-out but was extended when the Cowboys Dekoda Watson was flagged for running into Martin. The Lions proceeded to march down the field, with Stafford converting a 3rd- and-8 on a key scramble and Reggie Bush capping the 14-play, 99-yard sequence by breaking off an 18-yard touchdown run. Dallas, meanwhile, mustered only 80 yards over its first 25 plays before hitting big on its 26th. The Cowboys picked up a blitz on 3rd-and-12 to allow Romo to connect with Williams, who blew past three defenders after making the catch near midfield to give Dallas a needed spark with 1:37 left in the first half. Stafford was able to use the remaining time to get Detroit in range for Matt Praters 39-yard field goal, however, to send the Lions into the break with a 17-7 advantage. Usually automatic Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey pulled a 41-yard field goal try wide right early in the second half, negating Kyle Wilbers interception of a deflected Stafford pass. Prater then knocked through a 37-yard attempt on the ensuing drive, a kick set up by Johnsons 28-yard catch-and-run. Bryant, held to one catch for two yards at that point, then rose to the occasion on the subsequent drive. The All-Pro receiver cradled in a 3rd-and-10 pass, broke free from Levy and scampered 43 yards before being taken down at the Detroit 7. Murray ended the trek with a 1-yard run on 4th-and-goal to bring the Cowboys within 20-14 with 2:54 left in the third quarter. The score seemed to energize the Dallas defense, which induced a three-and-out before the Cowboys marched 36 yards in seven plays to position Bailey for a 51-yard field goal with 12:16 to play. Game Notes Detroits eight straight postseason losses ties an NFL record also held by Kansas City (1993-present). The Lions havent won a playoff game on the road since 1957 ... Detroits 99-yard touchdown drive in the first quarter was the first in a postseason game since Baltimore did so against Miami in the 2001 AFC Wild Card Round ... Williams 76-yard touchdown was the longest scoring reception by a Cowboy in the postseason since Troy Aikman and Alvin Harper teamed up for a 94-yard score on Jan. 8, 1995 ... Dallas will be facing Green Bay at Lambeau Field in the playoffs for the first time since the famed Ice Bowl game that decided the 1967 NFL Championship ... Cowboys linebacker Rolando McClain left in the first half due to dehydration. ' ' '