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HOUSTON -- For the first time in a long time, the Houston Astros turned up the music and celebrated a victory in their own clubhouse. Ben Zobrist Cubs Jersey . Dexter Fowler hit a tiebreaking RBI single in Houstons four-run eighth inning, and the Astros beat the Oakland Athletics 7-6 on Saturday night. It was Houstons first home win since a 7-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on April 6, ending a six-game losing streak at Minute Maid Park. The Astros have won three of their last 13 games overall. Fowler also had a solo homer as Houston snapped a three-game losing streak. Chris Carter connected for a two-run shot in the second. The game was tied at 3 when Fowler drove in Marwin Gonzalez with a base hit against Sean Doolittle (0-2). Jason Castro then singled in Jose Altuve, and Fowler and Castro eventually came home on groundouts. "It was just one of those nights, and thats whats frustrating because I looked at the film and dont have a lot of answers," Doolittle said. "I couldnt get anybody out." Doolittle entered the game having allowed just four runs in his previous 18 1-3 innings, dating to last season. "Every now and then, thats going to happen to everybody," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. "But you dont expect that to happen to him." Brandon Moss hit a three-run homer in the Oakland ninth against Jerome Williams (1-1). Nick Punto then singled, but Coco Crisp bounced into a fielders choice and Raul Valdes struck out John Jaso and Jed Lowrie for his first save. Houston ended an eight-game losing streak against Oakland, dating to last season. The Astros also improved to 6-25 against the As overall. The series began with a couple of ugly losses when Houston reliever Paul Clemens was ejected Thursday night and manager Bo Porter was thrown out on Friday night for hit-by-pitch-related incidents. But Porter downplayed any extra satisfaction from the victory. "Theres nothing extra special about it," Porter said. "Its a team on our schedule, and our goal is to win every game on our schedule." Fowler went deep in the first and Carters two-run shot to left on an 0-1 pitch from Dan Straily gave the Astros a 3-2 lead in the second. Straily struck out seven in 6 1-3 innings. The right-hander allowed four hits and walked two. Straily has allowed at least one home run in each of his first five starts and has allowed seven home runs in 27 innings after allowing just 16 in 152 1-3 innings in 2013. "Eliminate the homers, and Ill be doing just fine," he said. Oakland got to Dallas Keuchel for two runs in the first. Lowrie singled in Crisp, and Derek Norris scored when cleanup hitter Josh Donaldson grounded into a double play. "I just felt lucky to get out of the first with just two runs, especially the way theyve been swinging the bat," Keuchel said. After scoring just seven runs in three games and being swept by the Rangers, the As have scored 28 runs against the Astros in the last three games. The Athletics trailed 3-2 until Crisp drove in Craig Gentry with a sacrifice fly against Williams in the seventh. Keuchel also went 6 1-3 innings for Houston. The lefty was charged with three runs and six hits, struck out six and walked two. NOTES: Oakland outfielder Yoenis Cespedes participated in batting practice and did light individual jogging to test a strained left hamstring. Cespedes left in the seventh inning of Oaklands 10-1 win over Houston on Thursday after legging out an infield single. Melvin said after Saturdays game that Cespedes was doubtful to play on Sunday. ... For just the second time in their last five games, the Astros did not commit an error. They entered the week ranked third in the majors with seven errors but committed eight on Thursday and Friday. Yu Darvish Jersey .C. -- North Carolina State coach Mark Gottfried said his team had a "golden" opportunity to help its NCAA tournament chances. Justin Steele Jersey .com) - Even-money favorite Liams Map proved a little too tough down the stretch and won Saturdays $100,000 Harlans Holiday Stakes at Gulfstream Park. https://www.cheapcubs.com/ .C. -- The Steve Smith era in Carolina is over.Barring a miracle – and that is not an exaggeration – it will be Canada versus the United States in the womens hockey gold medal game Feb. 20 in Sochi. Why? Because they always meet in the final, right? Well, nearly always. Sweden somehow managed to make it into the gold medal game at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. But in the 19 Olympic and World Championship final games since womens hockey arrived on the international stage in 1999, it has been Canada against the United States 18 times. Canada begins by facing Switzerland on Saturday at 8:00 a.m. in their first game of the tournament - watch it live on CBC TV and streaming at cbc.ca/olympics. The mere fact Canada has won the past three of four gold medals at the Olympics – losing only in Nagano in 1998 – would make them the favorites in the eyes of many. However, their victories in the last three Olympic Games really have nothing to do with this years tournament. More relevant is the fact the United States defeated Canada in the last four meetings of their seven-game pre-Olympic exhibition series. Canada is the defending Olympic champion, but the Americans have a little swagger. Dan Church knows that as well as anybody. Church resigned as coach of the Canadian womens Olympic team in December and was replaced by former Florida Panthers coach Kevin Dineen. Team USA is deep at every position. They also have scoring at every position – forward and defence – and they have a lot of speed. “Their young forwards especially are extremely quick,” Church said. “If you give them room in the neutral zone theyll always find a way to create. They are really gifted at getting the puck into the scoring area; even if its not a direct shot just getting it there so now your defenders and goaltender really have to be on top of things. They are always creating offence with their speed.” Canada will need to have a forward to force the Americans to one half of the ice surface and break off their speed and their ability to attack or counterattack. Scoring problems Even if its overall team speed doesnt match that of the United States, Canada traditionally can hold its own with any team in the world in terms of offence, and is better than most. That said, Canada has had some difficulty scoring, particularly against the United States, leading up to the Sochi Games. Rebecca Johnston, a scoring machine at Cornell for four seasons, has speed and skill and the ability to take it to the front of the net. Tyler Chatwood Jersey. The 25-year-old had a goal and six points in five games at the 2010 Olympics and will be expected to exceed those numbers this year. Jenn Wakefield, 24, has plenty of international experience, but is making her Olympic debut. She is another go-to forward for Canada. Of course there are also veterans Hayley Wickenheiser, Jayna Hefford and Caroline Ouellette, all of whom can dominate a game. Wickenheiser in particular can be a dangerous scorer when she is shooting the puck. Hefford is strong around the net and Ouellette remains an offensive catalyst. As for Canadas young players, Natalie Spooner is a power forward with great hands and Megan Agosta-Marciano can be a world beater when shes playing at her best. Countering for Team USA will be Kelli Stack. She is a game-breaker and every time shes on the ice she can create for herself and her teammates. Stack has great vision. “She is an offensive threat every time she touches the puck,” Church said. “You always have to worry about her. She is the offensive catalyst for the team.” Amanda Kessel, the younger sister of Toronto Maple Leafs star Phil, is also a really strong player. Like her brother, she has speed to burn and plenty of offensive upside. She was the collegiate national player of the year with the University of Minnesota in 2013. Physically, Canada has an edge over the United States, but the Americans do not fear Canadas physical game - just as Canada believes it can overcome USAs speed. In the end, it could come down to goaltending. Canada believes its three goalies, Shannon Szabados, Charline Labonte and Genevieve Lacasse, could all backstop the team to a gold in Sochi. Szabados will be the starter and is looking for her second Olympic gold medal as a starter. Early in the season it seemed like Team USA was leaning toward Jessie Vetter getting the job as the starter, but down the stretch, Molly Schaus got more action. Schaus is better technically, but Vetter is very athletic. The starter will likely be the goalie the coaching staff feels is the hotter of the two entering the tournament. The bottom line for Canada is that it can win a fourth straight gold in Sochi, but reputation at this tournament means squat. Its not about what was; its about what is. ' ' '