ek, and there was at least one serious offer that was rejected by the Islanders.

PHILADELPHIA -- The Braves followed a familiar pattern -- using timely hitting and stingy pitching -- to complete a four-game sweep of Philadelphia. B.J. Upton tripled and drove in two runs Sunday to lead streaking Atlanta to a 3-2 victory over the Phillies and their first four-game sweep in Philadelphia in 50 years. Gerald Laird had two hits with a double and RBI for the Braves, who won for the sixth time in seven games while ending their road trip 8-3. Atlanta avenged a three-game sweep by Philadelphia June 16-18 at Turner Field. "We had timely hitting and the pitching was really good," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "You cant ask for more than that." It was the Braves first four-game sweep in Philadelphia since Sept. 24-27, 1964, when the franchise was in Milwaukee and their four wins at Connie Mack Stadium contributed to the Phillies infamous season-ending collapse that year. Marlon Byrd hit a pair of solo home runs for the slumping Phillies, who have lost eight of 10 to drop to 10 games under .500. "It didnt go our way," Phillies slugger Ryan Howard said. "The ball didnt bounce our way. It just wasnt meant to be for us in this series." Chase Utley singled in the seventh inning for his 1,500th career hit. Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman greeted Utley with applause and a pat on the back, and the crowd of 33,215 gave the Phillies second baseman a standing ovation. There wasnt much else for the home fans to cheer. Philadelphia dropped to 18-27 at Citizens Bank Park and fell to 7-35 when scoring three runs or less as the offence continued to struggle. The Phillies were 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position, finishing the series 3 for 32. "Hitting in the clutch and hitting with men on base is a component we have to get better at," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "We came up short in this series. It couldve been a big point for us." Aaron Harang (7-6) got the victory despite allowing 11 hits in seven innings. He gave up two runs, struck out four and walked two. "Harang battled through some tough innings, gave us a great effort," Gonzalez said. "Hes a wily vet." Craig Kimbrel pitched a scoreless ninth, but had to work out of a jam for his 24th save in 28 opportunities. Kimbrel got the first two batters out before consecutive singles by Ben Revere and Jimmy Rollins put runners on first and third for Utley. But Utley flew out to right to end the game. "This was a heck of a series," Upton said. "We really played well. Nobody really tried to do too much. It was a little out of character for us not hitting a lot of home runs, but it all came together for us. Now we just have to keep grinding." David Buchanan (4-4), making his eighth start in place of injured left-hander Cliff Lee, allowed three runs on five hits and five walks in five innings to snap his three-game winning streak. The Braves went ahead 2-0 in the second on Uptons two-run triple off the wall in centre. Harang scored on the play after singling to centre with two outs. The pitcher had been 1 for 25 on the season before the hit. After the first of Byrds two solo homers brought Philadelphia within 2-1 in the bottom of the frame, Lairds RBI double plated Tommy La Stella to push Atlantas advantage back to two runs. It was the fourth extra-base hit in the last three games for La Stella, who had two doubles and a triple in Saturdays doubleheader. In the bottom of the frame, Byrd homered into the Philadelphia bullpen to make it a one-run game again. The Phillies threatened in the sixth when they put runners on first and second with nobody out. But Koyie Hills sacrifice bunt attempt resulted in the lead runner being forced out at third, and pinch-hitter John Mayberry Jr. grounded into an inning-ending double play. Philadelphia had runners on first and third with one out in the seventh when Howard grounded into another inning-ending double play. NOTES: Justin De Fratus pitched a scoreless sixth inning to extend his scoreless innings streak to 17. ... Braves catcher Evan Gattis didnt play for the third straight game after having back spasms striking out swinging in the first inning on Friday. Gattis will be reevaluated when the club returns to Atlanta on Monday. ... It was Byrds seventh career multihomer game. ... The Phillies have Monday off before beginning a three-game series at Miami on Tuesday with RHP A.J. Burnett (5-7, 3.89) opposing Marlins RHP Henderson Alvarez (5-3, 2.32). ... The Braves host the Mets for three games beginning Monday when Atlanta LHP Alex Wood (6-6, 3.07) faces New York RHP Zack Wheeler (3-8, 4.45). Bob Griese Jersey .Cameron sustained his third concussion in three seasons last week on a hit by Oakland safety Brandion Ross, who was fined $22,050 by the NFL for the helmet-to-helmet blow. Jason Taylor Jersey . The defending champions sent their preliminary list to FIFA on Tuesday, with coach Vicente del Bosque to announce the final 23-man squad on May 25. Costa is set to lead the attack in his native Brazil, with Atletico Madrid teammate David Villa and Chelseas Fernando Torres also included, while David de Gea replaces injured goalkeeper Victor Valdes. http://www.authenticdolphinspro.com/ . -- Washington Capitals forward Brooks Laich is expected to miss the rest of the regular season after having an operation on a groin muscle. Minkah Fitzpatrick Jersey . CHAUNCEY BILLUPS (Pistons): Yes they got Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings in the off-season and Andre Drummond is a beast (teams are kicking themselves for passing on him - he rebounds and block shots every game - thats two more discernable and significant skills than most guys in his draft class), but dont for a second discount the impact of having a savvy veteran like Billups on your team. Mark Clayton Jersey . "If we could score a six in every game, obviously I would be pretty excited," Jones said. "Its a long week but a short week. Its a pretty short round robin from what were used to so you dont want to get behind the eight ball early.Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell believes the club are in a powerful position going forward on and off the pitch following an AGM on Wednesday. The Scottish champions posted a small profit in the last financial year, and under Brendan Rodgers have a 10-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership after the opening quarter of the campaign.Celtic are chasing a sixth successive title and have also reached the final of the League Cup in a season in which the club has returned to the Champions League group stage after an absence of three years. Lawwell said: We are very well placed. The strategy will remain the same. We have to create value, we have to build and create Champions League players, and everything we do is centred around that. Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers and Peter Lawwell at the clubs AGM We will continue to invest in intellectual capital and where financial capital is limited we must be cleverer than everyone else in terms of player recruitment, our coaching and our sports science and we will continue to do that.We have a very strong financial foundation to take the club forward and thats the result of what we have done over the years.We have a fantastically equipped club and we have great infrastructure and we have to keep progressing and progressing and thats what everyone is focused on here. Getting better and better in everything we do is what we are all focused on to optimise the potential of this magnificent football club. Ronny Deila paraded the Scottish Premiership trophy for the second time last season Lawwell paid tribute to Ronny Deila after the Norwegian delivered the last two titles and a League Cup in 2014.But he revealedd the failure of Celtic to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League and win more domestic trophies ultimately cost Deila his job.dddddddddddd.Lawwell said: Overall, its been a good year off the park. On the park, its fair to say that we didnt meet expectations. In the previous year we felt there was progress and we had reasonable European performance with Ronny. We had won the league and the League Cup and we were hoping for the treble.But that progress didnt happen for many reasons. At the turn of the year we had a chance of a treble and it was disappointing we didnt get closer to that and the European campaign wasnt up to scratch. Celtic fan group the Green Brigade put on a display before a Champions League tie in October It would be fair to say that we didnt meet expectations. Ronny decided to move on and he left as a champion, a double-champion, and he kept the run of titles going to five-in-a-row and he should take a lot of credit for that. Hes a very fine man and we wish him all the best for the future.Off the park, we continued to build the club and continued to learn and do the right things, which means we are in an excellent place, while there was room for improvement on the park.Meanwhile, Celtic also confirmed at the meeting that the board members plan to meet with the shareholders behind Resolution 12 in the next week.The group first raised concerns over the governance of Scottish football which they believe cost Celtic Champions League income in 2013 and have been in contact with UEFA and the SFA over the issue.Upgrade to Sky Sports now to watch Man Utd v Arsenal this Saturday and get the first six months half price! Also See: Celtic play down Gerrard link Sinclair eyes England call Celtic stats Get ￡10 free bet! ' ' '