ATLANTA (AP) — Justin Upton drove in five runs with two homers, Julio Teheran matched his career high with 11 strikeouts, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Colorado Rockies 11-2 on Thursday night for their seventh straight win.

Jason Heyward added a two-run homer and Chris Johnson had three hits as the Braves completed a four-game sweep of the Rockies. The Braves outscored the Rockies 31-5 in the last three games of the series.

Atlanta’s 7-0 homestand also included three wins over St. Louis.

The Rockies were without outfielders Michael Cuddyer and Carlos Gonzalez. The middle of their lineup took another hit when Troy Tulowitzki was ejected in the second inning.

The NL East-leading Braves stretched their lead over Washington to 11½ games.

Teheran (8-5) struck out the side in the third and fifth innings. He lasted only five innings, allowing one run and five hits and two walks, in his third straight start of allowing no more than one run.

NEW YORK (AP) — Looming playoffs could force an end to negotiations in baseball’s latest drug scandal as pressure builds to impose penalties so stars can still make the postseason.

Monday appears to be the deadline for Alex Rodriguez and 13 others to accept suspensions for their ties to the Biogenesis of America anti-aging clinic. While A-Rod is expected to get a lengthy ban, a penalty starting that day would allow Texas All-Star outfielder Nelson Cruz to return for October.

Major League Baseball is prepared to issue two simultaneous announcements no later than Monday, a person familiar with the process told The Associated Press on Thursday. One would list players who accept suspensions; the other would name those disciplined without deals, but who could challenge penalties before an arbitrator.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no statements were authorized.

METAIRIE, La. (AP) — The New Orleans Pelicans now have uniforms to go with a new team name, emblems and color scheme the NBA franchise released earlier this year.

The club, which competed as the Hornets last season, unveiled new uniforms Thursday on new practice courts built alongside the headquarters of the NFL’s Saints in suburban New Orleans.

The home uniforms are white with gold and red trim, with “New Orleans” written in navy blue across the front, along with blue numbers.

The road uniforms are navy blue with the same trim, but with lettering and numbers in white.

The club’s primary logo, with a basketball tucked under a soaring pelican’s beak, appears on the sides of the shorts.

Forward Anthony Davis says he’s eager to wear the uniform in games.

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA regular-season schedule will be released Tuesday.

The schedule will be unveiled during an NBA TV special program at 6 p.m. EDT that will highlight opening-week matchups and other games of interest.

It also will be posted along with the show on NBA.com.

Some teams have already begun releasing their preseason schedules.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers from Pennsylvania and Ohio introduced legislation in the House of Representatives that would require NCAA schools to guarantee four-year scholarships to athletes who play collision sports and due process for schools accused of breaking rules.

Rep. Charlie Dent (Pa.-R) and Rep. Joyce Beatty (Ohio-D) say the National Collegiate Athletics Accountability Act will help improve health and education of student-athletes and require more transparency from the NCAA.

The legislation would require athletes to have annual baseline concussion testing and ensure that an athlete in good academic standing would not be in danger of losing an athletic scholarship because of injury or performance.

ATLANTA (AP) — The Colorado Rockies optioned left-hander Jeff Francis to Triple-A Colorado Springs to clear a roster spot for right-hander Chad Bettis.

Bettis was called up from Double-A Tulsa to start in his major league debut against the Braves on Thursday night.

The Rockies are without outfielders Michael Cuddyer and Carlos Gonzalez for Thursday night’s game. Manager Walt Weiss says Cuddyer is away on a family emergency and it is not known when he will return.

Gonzalez left Wednesday night’s game after aggravating his sprained right middle finger. Weiss says Gonzalez will be rested a couple of days to see if the injury improves.

Francis is 2-5 with a 6.63 ERA in 12 games, including 11 starts. He allowed three hits and two runs in 2 1-3 innings against the Braves on Tuesday.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey says he knows the move to a new position is coming.

Just not quite yet.

The 15th year veteran tells The Associated Press, “You’ve got to look at history. Ronnie Lott. Rod Woodson. Aeneas Williams. They all did it and they all did it before I did. History says this is about that time. I understand that and I’m not naive about it.”

But, he says, he has no plans to move this season. And any move will be a mutual decision between him and whichever team he’s playing for at the time.

For 2013, that team is the Broncos, who have been using him exclusively at cornerback during training camp, while trying to limit his time on the field to save his thirty-something legs.