The Philadelphia Phillies are looking to awaken their slumbering offense. Atlanta Braves right-hander Joel De La Cruz is just looking for a victory.De La Cruz (0-7, 4.66 ERA) will oppose Jeremy Hellickson (10-8, 3.80 ERA) when the National League East rivals open a three-game series Friday night in Citizens Bank Park.De La Cruz, a 27-year-old rookie, signed with the Braves as a free agent in December, having previously pitched in the minors for the New York Yankees, Washington Nationals and Milwaukee Brewers.His struggles have continued even as the National Leagues worst team has gone on a rare hot streak, winning four of five and five of seven. De La Cruz has pitched to a 6.60 ERA over his last four outings.Most recently he was tagged with a 7-0 loss to the San Francisco Giants, lasting just four innings and allowing six runs (three earned) on seven hits. He struck out two without walking a batter.De La Cruz surrendered four consecutive two-out hits in the first inning, including an RBI single by Brandon Belt and a two-run double by Joe Panik. He then yielded a two-run homer to Angel Pagan in the second, after an error by second baseman Jace Peterson.(De La Cruz) threw the ball OK, but when (your defense) makes some miscues, youve got to be able to get the next guy out, Braves manager Brian Snitker said, according to Major League Baseballs official web site. He wasnt able to do that. I think in the third inning, things were little bit better and crisper. But to assess his performance, it wasnt real good.He has faced Philadelphia three times this season, twice as a starter and once as a reliever, going 0-1 with a 3.27 ERA over 11 innings.The Phillies, who have lost five of six, are last in the major leagues with 492 runs, and their .238 team batting average is next-to-last. They are also hitting an MLB-worst .224 at home, and managed three runs on nine hits while being swept in a three-game series by the Nationals earlier this week.Nine hits in a three-game series isnt going to cut it, manager Pete Mackanin said after a 2-1 loss in Wednesdays series finale. Were just not hitting the ball. We need more offense, obviously.Hellickson leads the Phillies in victories, and 15 of his first 18 outings were quality starts. Last time out, however, Hellickson went just four innings against the New York Mets, his second-shortest appearance of the season, and allowed five runs on seven hits to absorb a 12-1 loss.Hellickson, who saw his ERA balloon from 3.60 to 3.80, gave up a two-run homer to Asdrubal Cabrera in the third, and a three-run homer to Yoenis Cespedes in the fourth.I just lost command of pretty much all three pitches tonight, Hellickson told MLB.com. I think the two home runs were probably two of the better fastballs that I threw. Its a good lineup. 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PORTLAND, Ore. -- Dillon Brooks made the most of his first start of the season.Brooks had 20 points, including 16 in the second half, and the No. 22 Oregon Ducks extended their winning streak to eight games with an 83-63 victory over UNLV on Saturday night at Portlands Moda Center.I think that set the tone from the jump, said Jordan Bell, who finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Obviously you could see from the start we had a lot of energy. Thats what he does, he brings a lot of energy. So having him back starting really helps.Tyler Dorsey added 18 points for Oregon (10-2), which led by 23 points in the second half. The Ducks have held 11 straight opponents under 70 points.Jovan Mooring led the Rebels (6-5) with 20 points. Tyrell Green added 18 points and eight rebounds.Oregon was without leading scorer Chris Boucher, who was on crutches and wearing a boot on his right foot on the Ducks bench.Boucher played in Oregons 81-67 victory at home over Montana on Tuesday night, scoring 23 points with 19 rebounds. He was a rebound short of becoming the Ducks first player since 1977 with 20 or more points and rebounds.Boucher, a 6-foot-10 senior, is averaging 14.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game for Oregon this season. He ranks 10th nationally in blocks.Oregon coach Dana Altman said Boucher hurt his ankle in practice, and likely wont play on Tuesday against Fresno State, resting up for the conference season. Oregon opens Pac-12 play with No. 2 UCLA on Dec. 28.It was different, Bell said about playing without Boucher. Obviously everybody had to step up and rebound, do all the things he can do. I knew I had to get more rebounds than I usually do.Bouchers absence made way for Brooks first start. Brooks has played off the bench since returning from offseason foot surgery.Brooks was key to Oregons success last season, when the team won a school-record 31 games while claiming the Pac-12 regular-season and tournament titles. The Ducks earned a first-ever No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament,, advancing to Elite Eight for the first time since 2007.ddddddddddddhe Ducks led by as many as 11 points in the first half. The Rebels closed within 34-29 late after Tyrell Greens layup, but Oregons Tyler Dorsey answered with a 3-pointer.Green hit a 3-pointer for UNLV to narrow it to 37-33 at the break. Green led all scorers with 15 points in the half.Oregon went on a 10-run to open the first half, capped by Payton Pritchards 3-pointer, as the game started to get away from UNLV. The Ducks stretched the lead to 55-36 on Dorseys layup.Mooring said Oregon switched up its defense in the second half, and the Rebels were unprepared.They did all the little things right in the second half, he said.BIG PICTUREUNLV: The Rebels are in the midst of a tough stretch where theyll face three ranked teams. They lost at No. 5 Duke 94-45 last Saturday and theyll host No. 3 Kansas on Thursday. ... The Rebels are playing their first season under coach Marvin Menzies, hired after Chris Beard left the job after only a week in March to become head coach at Texas Tech.Oregon: With Oregons women ranked No. 25 this past week, it is the first time both the Ducks men and women are ranked since January 1995. The womens team played in the early game Saturday night, defeating Portland State 90-46. ... Oregon has been ranked in the Top 25 for 14 straight weeks dating to last season.LOCAL KID: Payton Pritchard drew cheers from the Portland crowd when he hit the Ducks first basket of the night, a 3-pointer. The 6-foot-2 freshman point guard played for West Linn High School just south of Portland. Hes played at the Moda Center before, when West Linn defeated Sheldon in the 2014 Class 6A state championship game.UP NEXTUNLV: The Runnin Rebels return home to face Southern Illinois on Monday.Oregon: The Ducks host Fresno State on Tuesday, the teams final nonconference game before Pac-12 play starts. ' ' '