PARIS -- Its been a long wait for Kevin Gameiro.But in the absence of the injured Olivier Giroud and with Karim Benzema still out of the France squad, the Atletico Madrid forward will finally get the opportunity to establish himself for good in Didier Deschamps team.Gameiro, who joined Atletico in the offseason for a reported 30 million euros ($34 million), is expected to start alongside Madrid teammate Antoine Griezmann when France takes on Bulgaria on Friday at the Stade de France in a World Cup qualifier.The European Championship runners-up, who were held to a 0-0 draw by Belarus in their Group A opener, will then travel to Amsterdam to play the Netherlands three days later.Griezmann, the top scorer at Euro 2016, is Deschamps first choice, with Gameiro, Andre-Pierre Gignac, Anthony Martial and Nabil Fekir in competition to replace Giroud.The Arsenal striker, who has not started a game this season with his club, has been hindered by a toe injury while Benzema -- who has not appeared for France since being charged with blackmail over a sex-tape scandal -- still has no place in the plans of Deschamps, at least on a short-term basis.The double absence of Benzema and Giroud is likely to benefit the 29-year-old Gameiro, who has strong credentials for his inclusion. His main asset is the promising relationship he has started to build with Griezmann at Atletico. Despite Fernando Torres competition that has been limiting his playing time, Gameiro has scored three goals and delivered as many assists in nine appearances.Individually, both of them are quality players and the fact that they are playing together with their club is a good thing, Deschamps said. They can improve their chemistry.Gameiro started his international career six years ago and was regularly called by previous France coach Laurent Blanc, until a friendly game against the United States in November 2011. The former Sevilla player then had to wait nearly five years before wearing the France jersey again.Gameiro, who scored the equalizer in the Europa League final as Sevilla came from behind to beat Liverpool 3-1, sometimes felt forgotten after he left Paris Saint-Germain to move abroad. He was selected on a list of reserve players for the European Championship but did not make the final cut, and finally received a proper call-up in September, making his ninth international appearance against Belarus after coming in as a substitute.It was a very long wait. These things happen during a career, but I never gave up, Gameiro said. Sevilla is a big club in Spain, but in France they dont get much exposure. Signing at Atletico Madrid put me one step above.Against a Bulgarian team that conceded three goals in its 4-3 opening win over Luxembourg, Deschamps will field an offensive-minded side, with Paul Pogba and Dimitri Payet also expected to start. Cheap Mariners Jerseys Authentic . The Nashville Predators were glad their captain was still on their side. Weber had a goal and two assists, and Roman Josi scored the shootout winner to lift the Predators to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday night. Cheap Mariners Jerseys . PAUL, Minn. http://www.cheapmarinersjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-ken-griffey-jersey .ca! Hi Kerry, Its another day and here we are looking at another dubious hit to the head. In this case Blue Jackets forward Brandon Dubinsky elbowed Saku Koivu in the head about a second after he dished off the puck to a teammate, knocking him unconscious. Cheap Jay Buhner Jersey . SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. Cheap Randy Johnson Jersey . It was the kind of score that might make everyone else wonder which course he was playing. Except that Graeme McDowell saw the whole thing. Crouched behind the 10th green at Sheshan International, McDowell looked over at the powerful American and said, "Ive probably seen 18 of the best drives Ive seen all year in the last two days. HOUSTON -- Astros manager A.J. Hinch joked that his teams improbable 4-3 win over the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday was premeditated.We had it all mapped out that way, Hinch said. We were going to get multiple triples and a wild pitch strikeout. Exactly how we drew it up for the sweep.Evan Gattis hit an RBI single to cap a three-run rally in the eighth inning keyed by a wild pitch on a strikeout.Reliever Liam Hendriks (0-3) got two quick outs in the eighth before George Springer tripled. Alex Bregman then struck out, but the ball got away on a wild pitch.Catcher Bruce Maxwell chased it to the backstop and made a desperation throw to first, but Bregman was safe by a step and Springer scored.Jose Altuve tripled home the tying run and Gattis singled for the lead.Every win is big, but this one was big for us, Altuve said. It keeps our momentum going. Were really playing really good ball. Weve got to keep going.The Astros began the day two games behind Baltimore for the second AL wild-card slot. Houston swept the three-game series and next opens a three-game set at AL West-leading Texas.As starter Ross Detwiler gave up three hits and left after the seventh with a 3-1 lead.Michael Feliz (8-1) pitched a scoreless eighth. Ken Giles closed for his seventh save.My teammates pulled through and never gave up throughout the game, Giles said. Its fun to watch them battle every inning and learning from every at-bat. Its one special thing to watch.The Athletics have lost 12 of their last 18 games.Detwiler had given up 14 runs and 23 hits in his previous three starts. He shut down Houston, striking out seven. Carlos Correa hit an RBI double for the only run off Detwiler.He had good stuff today, man, Gattis said. He pitched in today well and had a good changeup. We just couldnt get anything going with him.The As got all three of their runs in the second off Mike Fiers. Jake Smolinski hit a two-run triple and Bruce Maxwell had a sacrifice fly.Fiers gave up eight hits and three runs -- one earned -- in five innings. After he was gone, the Astros rallied.Thats how this team is. We dont stop, we battle, Fiers said. No one takes their at-bats off, no one takes pitches off, and we just find ways to winn.dddddddddddd Its always fun watching this team, and it should be good going forward.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.Astros: INF Marwin Gonzalez left with discomfort in his right hamstring. In the bottom of the fifth, he hit a flyball onto Tals Hill in deep center field and started limping after rounding first. He was replaced by A.J. Reed in the top of the sixth. Gonzalez missed several games four weeks ago with right hamstring soreness.UP NEXTAthletics: RHP Andrew Triggs (1-1, 4.39 ERA) takes the mound against Boston on Friday. Triggs picked up his first career win in his last start, allowing four hits and three runs while striking out eight in six innings pitched against St. Louis.Astros: RHP Doug Fister (12-9, 3.60 ERA) starts against Texas on Friday, replacing Dallas Keuchel, Hinch announced after Wednesdays game. Fister has alternated wins and losses in his last four starts since allowing nine hits and one run in six innings in a 3-2 loss to Texas on Aug. 6.KEUCHEL TO GET EXTENDED RESTAstros LHP Dallas Keuchel was originally slated to start on Friday when the Astros open up a three-game series at Texas, but RHP Doug Fister will start in his place, Hinch said. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner had a rebound month in August, going 3-1 with a 3.10 ERA, but cited lingering soreness as a reason for pushing his start back. The Astros starters for Saturday and Sunday are to be announced.Its nothing major. Just a little more rest than usual, Keuchel said. Ive been a little more sore than usual, and with the off day, we can keep the rotation the same so it really works out better than I had hoped.DOG DAYS?The Astros finished the month of August with a 16-13 record, the clubs best August since 2010 when the team went 17-12. The Astros closed out the month by going 10-2, including a 5-1 homestand. ' ' '