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THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- With a powerful defense leading an offense thats doing just enough to win, the Los Angeles Rams are off to a 3-1 start in their homecoming season.They arent blowing their own horns just yet, however.Coach Jeff Fisher mostly noticed the Rams problems Monday when he re-watched a gritty 17-13 victory in Arizona. Los Angeles is on just the third three-game winning streak in the past decade for a long-struggling franchise, but Fisher sees nobody getting happy on his unlikely first-place team.You have to take a hard look at it, and we did, Fisher said. We still have a lot of room for improvement offensively and defensively. Too many big plays (given up) defensively. Struggles versus the run. Lack of a run game offensively, and then an inability to go get points when we got around midfield. The players understand it. They were very receptive today about where we are.But the latest victory clearly was satisfying to Fisher because it came at the expense of the rival Cardinals, last seasons NFC West champions. The move from Missouri to California didnt make anyone forget that Arizona coach Bruce Arians has jabbed at the Rams in past seasons, calling them a team that is always 8-8 and that team we dont like.Fisher confirmed telling his players in the locker room that Sundays victory was an early Christmas present for the Cardinals (1-3), who will visit the Coliseum on New Years Day for a rematch in the regular season finale.I was complimenting the players. I wanted them to know what a big win it was, Fisher said dryly. Oftentimes, Coach Arians is complimenting his players from the same perspective, so we just wanted to let them know that this is a great win for us, so well see them after Christmas. Merry Christmas.And while praising the coaching staff of the Buffalo Bills, their next opponent, Fisher appeared to slip in a sly shot at the Cards.(Buffalo is) a well-coached team, Fisher said. They play good special teams. Theyre into special teams, unlike some of the other teams weve faced.Fisher didnt specify which teams, but the Cardinals have had a series of special-teams calamities this season. Los Angeles Tavon Austin returned an Arizona punt 47 yards and drew a facemask penalty with 5:09 to play Sunday, putting the Rams in position for Brian Quicks go-ahead touchdown reception.The Rams special teams have been practically flawless during their first 3-1 start since 2006, and they have finished all three games with big defensive plays, including Trumaine Johnsons game-ending interception in the end zone in Arizona.Fisher sees those narrow escapes as reasons for concern, but also signs of improvement.Its not easy, but around the league, there are some good teams that dont have the same record we do, Fisher said. Finding ways to win at the end is very important. It carries you a long way.Fisher also has no concerns about Todd Gurley, who has 216 yards rushing in the Rams first four games. He sees overall flaws in the Rams running game, not in the Rookie of the Years approach.The line of scrimmage was full of Cardinals yesterday, and we knew that, Fisher said. Thats why we made our plays down the field. But were close. Hes healthy. Hes going good. Were just going to put a good plan together this week.The Bills (2-2) visit Sunday for the second of the Rams two games at the Coliseum over the first eight weeks of the NFL season. Even with so few opportunities to make a good impression on their home fans, theyve still got the town talking.Were looking forward to being home, said Fisher, whose team still must travel to Detroit and London this month. Its been a while.Game notes The Rams had no major postgame injury concerns, Fisher said. Backup RB Benny Cunningham felt much better after injuring his hamstring Sunday. ... Fisher praised the special-teams play of rookies Marqui Christian and Temarrick Hemingway. Christian, a fifth-round draft pick by Arizona this year, was waived by the Cardinals last week. What an experience for him from that standpoint, to have been on the other sideline last week and come over and have a chance to have an impact on special teams, Fisher said.---AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Black Friday Shoes Sale . Their experience showed Tuesday as the No. 10 Badgers blunted a Saint Louis surge to win 63-57 and advance to face West Virginia in Wednesdays finals of the Cancun Challenge. Wholesale Black Friday Shoes . -- Bryant McKinnie came out of his stance and lowered his shoulder into a practice squad player, causing a crisp thud to reverberate in the Miami Dolphins practice bubble. https://www.shoesblackfriday.com/ . -- Aldon Smith believes he is on the path to being sober for good. Black Friday Shoes Free Shipping . Louis Blues. Shane Hnidy joins Brian Munz for the broadcast on TSN 1290 Radio at 7pm ct. Black Friday Shoes Store . -- Anaheim Ducks defenceman Luca Sbisa will be out at least six weeks with a torn tendon in his right hand. HOUSTON -- Liam Hendriks took all the responsibility for letting a late lead slip away.And it was a pitch that got away really cost the Oakland Athletics.Evan Gattis hit an RBI single to cap a three-run rally in the eighth inning keyed by a wild pitch on a strikeout, leading the Houston Astros over Oakland 4-3 Wednesday.Hendriks entered in the eighth with a 3-1 lead, thanks in large part to a brilliant performance from starter Ross Detwiler. Soon after that, the As were trailing.That was all on me, Hendriks said. Bad pitches, I hung some stuff. I got some good pitches in there early but then wasnt able to finish them late. Just wasnt able to pull it off and thats completely on me.Hendriks (0-3) got two quick outs in the eighth before George Springer tripled. Alex Bregman then struck out, but the pitch got loose.Catcher Bruce Maxwell chased the ball to the backstop and made a desperation throw to first, but Bregman beat the throw by a step as Springer scored.Jose Altuve tripled home the tying run and Gattis singled for the lead.After being swept by Houston, the Athletics have lost 12 of their last 18 games.Detwiler gave up three hits and struck out seven. He had given up 14 runs and 23 hits in his previous three starts.Ross was dominant out there today, Hendriks said. Its a shame we werent able to pull this one off for him.Thats the best Ive seen him out there today. He was dotting up, he was getting into good counts, he was throwing good pitches to get guys out. Unfortunately, we werent able to hold it for him and thats all on me, he said.Carlos Correa hit an RBI double for the only run off Detwiler.Its baseball, Detwiler said. Its a tough game and its always tough to win on the road. If one ball bounces this way or one ball bounces that way then its a completely different series. They just didnt bounce our way right now and thats what happens.Michael Feliz (8-1) pitched a scoreless eighth. Ken Giles closed for his seventh savee.ddddddddddddThe As got all three of their runs in the second off Mike Fiers. Jake Smolinski hit a two-run triple and Maxwell had a sacrifice fly.If we end up winning this game here we end up 3-3 on the trip, Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. We played well in St. Louis and didnt play as well here. Going into the eighth, we had a chance to win this game, so that makes it disappointing.After officially announcing the trade of outfielder Coco Crisp to Cleveland earlier in the day, the As called up Joey Wendle from Triple-A. In his major league debut, he went 0 for 4 and scored a run.I thought he had some good at-bats, Melvin said. Just missed the curveball in the right-center field gap when he flew out there. I thought he looked good, thought he looked comfortable.TRAINERS ROOMAthletics: LHP Sean Manaea (sore back) will miss his next scheduled start on Sunday. He left his start last Monday vs. Houston in the fourth inning. Kendall Graveman, who allowed three runs in seven innings in a loss to the Astros on Tuesday night, will start in place of Manaea.UP NEXTAthletics: RHP Andrew Triggs (1-1, 4.39 ERA) starts at home against Boston on Friday. He picked up his first career win in his last start, allowing four hits and three runs while striking out eight in six innings vs. St. Louis.VOGT GETTING HOTStephen Vogt tied a season high with three hits. He leads AL catchers with nine games of three or more hits. In 14 games against Houston this season, Vogt is hitting .400 with eight doubles, a triple and a home run.HEALYS STREAK3B Ryon Healy extended his on-base streak to a club-high 17 games with a fifth-inning double. Healys streak is the longest by an Athletics player since Marcus Semien closed out the 2015 season with a 23-game streak. Healy is hitting .365 with a .403 on-base percentage during the streak. ' ' '