ce for home-field advantage, are hedging their bets on the Raiders playoff chances

DENVER -- Starting pitchers arent supposed to have stat lines quite like this -- winning ones, anyway. Rookie shortstops arent supposed to make it look this easy for an entire series.Just that kind of weekend for Colorado.Tyler Chatwood allowed one hit over five erratic innings, Trevor Story lined his fourth homer in three games and the Rockies swept the Atlanta Braves with a 7-2 win Sunday.Four-game sweeps are extremely difficult in this league, next to impossible, Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. So thats an accomplishment right there.Chatwood (9-6) finished with an intriguing line: a career-high eight walks, one hit -- Freddie Freemans single in the first -- six strikeouts and no runs. Hes the 16th pitcher in major league history to post that sort of roller-coaster line and go at least five, according to the Rockies.Thats not a normal stat line for a starter, said DJ LeMahieu, whose team captured all four from the Braves after losing two of three to struggling Tampa Bay. He grinded.Just as intriguing was Storys line for the Atlanta series: 7 for 14 with four homers and nine RBI.Nah, thats not normal, either, LeMahieu said. Not for anybody.Nolan Arenado jumpstarted the offense with a three-run homer in the first and LeMahieu added a solo shot in the fourth as the Rockies captured their 10th straight victory over the Braves at Coors Field.Story launched a two-run shot in the fourth a day after breaking the NL rookie record for most homers by a shortstop. He now has 27 this season and moves closer to the major league rookie record for a shortstop. Nomar Garciaparra had 30 with Boston in 1997.Tyrell Jenkins (0-2) surrendered three homers and seven runs in 3 1/3 innings.He was just kind of off, Braves interim manager Brian Snitker said. Didnt have the crispness and the bounce in his step that he had prior.Chatwood walked a batter in every frame and left after throwing 97 pitches, just 51 of them for strikes.Effectively wild, I think they call that, Chatwood said. I thought my stuff was really good today.Normally, if you walk guys, youre going to get hurt here. Anytime you can do that and get away with it, its always nice.Rockies reliever Gonzalez Germen surrendered both runs in the seventh. Freeman had an RBI double and Nick Markakis brought in the other on a grounder.Atlanta left 10 runners on base.It seemed like we shouldve been the one running away with the game, really, with all the baserunners we had, Snitker said.This certainly helped set the tone: The Rockies sent 10 batters to the plate as part of a four-run first. Arenado had the big hit with a rare homer to right.Of course, the story of the day was the rookie shortstop. For the weekend, too. All season, for that matter, as Story began by hitting 10 homers in April, tying for most ever by a rookie.I dont like to look back on things right now, Story said. I just put my head down and work every day.TRAINERS ROOMBraves: RHP Julio Teheran threw from 90 feet Sunday and didnt feel pain two days after leaving a game early with tightness in his right lat. He remains hopeful he can make his next scheduled start. We still have to wait, Teheran said. I dont feel any pain and thats a good sign.Rockies: OF Gerardo Parra (sprained left ankle) looks real good, Weiss said, and could head out for a rehab assignment as soon as this week. ... The Rockies are expected to call up 2012 first-round pick David Dahl on Monday, according to a Denver Post report . The outfielder is batting .484 with five homers and 16 RBI for Triple-A Albuquerque. Dahl was limited to 73 games for Double-A New Britain last season after suffering a lacerated spleen in an outfield collision.EMULATING JUNIORIf Carlos Gonzalezs swing looks familiar, its because he modeled it after Ken Griffey Jr., who was inducted into the Hall of Fame on Sunday.Even Gonzalezs bat drop after a homer is borrowed from Griffey.He meant a lot for the game and part of the reason I swing the way I swing is because of him, said Gonzalez, who lives in Windermere, Florida, during the offseason and frequently runs into Griffey. Ive got to thank him.UP NEXTBraves: After Mondays day off, Atlanta plays a two-game series in Minnesota. RHP Lucas Harrell (1-2) goes for the Braves on Tuesday and RHP Ervin Santana (3-8) for the Twins.Rockies: LHP Jorge De La Rosa (6-7) takes the mound Monday to kick off a three-game series in Baltimore. Hes making his second straight interleague start. Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic . Numbers Game examines the deal that sees Michael Del Zotto and Kevin Klein switch places. The Predators Get: D Michael Del Zotto. Fake NHL Jerseys 2020 . The 19-year-old Olsen played 34 games with the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL this season. In that time, hes recorded 17 goals and 17 assists with 36 penalty minutes. https://www.nhljerseys2020.com/ . Didier Drogba gave away the penalty that put Senegal one goal away from a major upset, but the veteran striker will get another chance -- probably his last -- at the World Cup after Salomon Kalous injury-time strike sealed the Ivorians place in Brazil next year. Adidas NHL Jerseys 2020 . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. NHL Jerseys China . -- Ryan Getzlaf grabbed the three pucks wrapped in tape and held them up to his chest in the Anaheim Ducks dressing room for a celebration nine seasons in the making. ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Raiders cornerback David Amerson practiced for the first time this week and is expected to play Sunday against Carolina.Amerson was limited and spent part of Fridays workout taking reps with the Raiders first-team defense. He is listed as questionable on the teams injury report and is likely a game-time decision, though coach Jack Del Rio sounded optimistic about Amersons status.He did a little bit today, Del Rio said Friday. He hadnt done much before this, so we still have a question mark on him.Amerson had been sidelined with a knee injury suffered during Oaklands 27-20 win against Houston in Mexico City on Monday. The veteran cornerback is tied for second on the team with two interceptions and is third in tackles behind linebacker Malcolm Smith and rookie safety Karl Joseph.The Raiders took a cautious approach with Amerson this week in hopes of having him available against the Panthers.Sean Smith, the teams other starting cornerback, has been in and out of the lineup with a shoulder injury. Smith missed most of Oaklands Week 8 win over Tampa Bay and was held out the following week against Denver before returning against Houston.While both are expected to play -- Smith practiced without restrictions this week -- the Raiders are still 29th in total defense and 28th overall against the pass. Thats why many people, despite Oaklands 8-2 record and having a slight edge on New England in the race for home-field advantage, are hedging their bets on the Raiders playoff chances.ddddddddddddWith Cam Newton and Carolina coming to town this week, Oakland will need all the healthy bodies it can get. The reigning NFL MVP has passed for 11 touchdown and nearly 2,200 yards and is second among quarterbacks with 268 rushing yards and four touchdowns.You have to treat him like a running back or a fullback even, Amerson said. If youre going to tackle him you definitely have to bring it with you, whether its going low or hitting him like a regular running back. Hes somebody thats hard to bring down because of his physical ability and physicality period.Game notes Wide receiver Michael Crabtree (ankle), running back Latavius Murray (ankle), center Rodney Hudson (knee), left guard Kelechi Osemele (knee), defensive tackle Stacy McGee (ankle), linebacker Perry Riley Jr. (hamstring) and reserve safety Keith McGill (abdomen) were all limited and questionable. Rookie linebacker Shilique Calhoun (knee) is out.----For more NFL coverage: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '