hird base until the seventh on Millers two-run triple. "Hes got a lively fastball, good (sinker) and he was mixing in the curve ball and we were just chasing it," Miller said. "Personally, I chased a couple. Just a g

RIO DE JANEIRO -- In the midst of arguably their finest team performance in a quadrennium, a familiar nemesis provided the U.S. mens gymnastics team with a reminder that nothing comes easily.Especially on pommel horse. Especially at the Olympics.While having Chris Brooks and Sam Mikulak go spinning off pommels removed some of the sparkle of an occasionally spectacular Saturday during Olympic preliminaries, it also offered a reality check. As solid as the score of 270.405 points was -- second only to two-time defending champion China -- the Americans know it can be better during Mondays team finals.We just want to keep building momentum, Mikulak said. I think thats what today was, getting comfortable on the equipment and making a little bit of a statement. Hopefully that statement will carry over and we can carry that momentum to Monday.Four years ago in London, the Americans dominated qualifying only to slide to fifth with a medal on the line, a fall kickstarted by a forgettable set on pommels. China, which slogged to sixth in prelims, rebounded all the way to the top of the podium.Its a painful memory that remains fresh for the five men on Team USA, all of whom were involved on the 2012 team in some capacity. This group, they insist, is not that group. Theyre older. Wiser. And not so caught up in their own hype.We were just so pumped up about everything we might have just believed in ourselves that we might have already proven ourselves, Mikulak said. This time we all know thats not what were going to do. ... What happened today doesnt matter on Monday.Russia, Japan, Britain, Brazil, Ukraine and Germany all advanced to the eight-team final, though the sometimes giddy atmosphere -- punctuated by host Brazils euphoric breakthrough in front of a raucous home crowd during the opening session -- was tempered by sobering reminders of the sports ever present danger.French gymnast Samir Ait Said broke his left leg while trying to land a vault, the crack of the bone shattering upon impact with the mat echoing throughout the arena and the shocking images of Said holding it in his hands instantly going viral.It is catastrophic, French teammate Cyril Tommasone said.Andreas Tobas right knee buckled during his floor routine. While the German managed to compete on pommels, he watched the rest of qualifying in sweat pants with his right leg ramrod straight in a brace, his Olympics over.I cried like a little kid, Toba said. The injury on my knee is big, but the emotional injury is way bigger.Japans missteps were far less painful but nearly as startling. Nine months ago after ending Chinas long run at the top by surging to gold at the world championships, the Japanese looked a bit overcome by the stage at Rio Olympic Arena.Even typically poised and ever elegant defending Olympic champion Kohei Uchimura wasnt immune to the pressure.Looking for a gold medal to bookend the one he captured in London, he went sailing off the high bar -- an event where he is the reigning world champion -- and smacked onto the ground in shock. The miscue means hell miss the event final. It also cost him the top qualifying score in the all-around. Uchimuras score of 90.498 was second to Ukraines Oleg Verniaiev, one of the rare times Uchimura hasnt found himself looking down at the rest of the field.The scores will be reset in the individual all-around next Wednesday, though Uchimura is more concerned about getting his team mentally prepared for Monday night.We try to perform like the world championships, Uchimura said. But we know this is the Olympic Games and this makes us stressed out.The stress didnt get to China, which downplayed Japans rise at worlds and promised to be ready by Rio. The Chinese posted the top scores on parallel bars and still rings, their three near flawless sets on rings in the final rotation giving them just enough to edge the Americans.China delivering in the clutch is hardly new. It is new in Brazil, which made the team final for the first time, fueled by an arena that roared with every stuck landing.The highlight came during three-time Olympic veteran Diego Hypolitos floor exercise. After falling in the 2008 floor final and failing to make the event final in 2012 after a similar mistake, tears streamed down the 30-year-old Brazilians face after posting a 15.5, good enough for a spot in the floor final later in the games. Yet the tears were not for his score as much for his country.This was important for Brazil, it was about the team, Hypolito said. Ive been to three Olympics. This is something weve thought about for a long time. To perform like this, its a dream. Timberwolves Jerseys 2021 . Andrew Luck lost his favourite target and the Indianapolis locker room lost one of its most revered leaders when Reggie Wayne was diagnosed Monday with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that will cost him the rest of the season. Minnesota Timberwolves Store . -- Claudio Bieler hadnt scored since early September, and not from the run of play since mid-July. https://www.cheaptimberwolves.com/ . -- Jacksonville wide receiver Cecil Shorts will likely be a game-time decision whether hell play Sunday in the Jaguars home game against the San Diego Chargers. Minnesota Timberwolves Pro Shop . - Goaltender Philippe Desrosiers of the Rimouski Oceanic has broken a shutout record that was only three months old in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Felton Spencer Jersey . James, who turned 29 on Monday, injured his groin Friday during the Heats overtime loss at Sacramento. He sat out the following game, a 108-107 win Saturday in Portland, before coming back to help send the Nuggets to their seventh consecutive loss.SEATTLE - Felix Hernandez just wanted to throw a first-pitch strike. Turned out to be exactly what Jose Reyes was looking for and started Seattles ace toward his first loss since late May. "A lot of it was I fell behind since the beginning," Hernandez said. "A leadoff homer; that was a tough game." Reyes homered on the first pitch of the game, added an RBI single to cap Torontos big fourth inning, and the Blue Jays handed Hernandez his first loss since May 25 with a 7-2 win over the Mariners on Tuesday. The Blue Jays battered Hernandez (11-5) and knocked him out after just five innings, matching his shortest start of the season. Hernandez was not sharp and when he missed, the Blue Jays took advantage. "He wasnt getting a whole lot off the corners. It was a pretty tight strike zone," Seattle acting manager Robby Thompson said. "When he missed, it was out over the plate and he was hit." Hernandez remained stuck on 11 wins. In his previous two starts, he was burned by the inability of Seattles bullpen to hold a lead and get Hernandez his 12th victory. On Tuesday, Hernandez was at fault early, giving up a homer to Reyes, but Seattles defence did him no favours. The Mariners committed three errors that led to three unearned runs while Hernandez was on the mound. Despite lasting just five innings, Hernandezs ERA only rose from 2.30 to 2.39. Hernandez had not lost since May 25, a span of 12 starts. Hernandez didnt want to put any of the blame on the errors made behind him. "Its part of the game. I made a couple of mistakes, fell behind a lot," Hernandez said. "They capitalized and scored some runs." Josh Johnson (2-8) pitched well with his potential spot in the rotation at stake. Johnson threw five scoreless innings and won for the first time since June 23, snapping a six-game losing streak. Reyes brought the huge contingent of Blue Jays fans to their feet from the start. He lined Hernandezs first fastball of the night 399 feet into the seats in right for his eighth homer of the season. It was Reyes 18th career leadoff homer and first this season. For Hernandez, it was just the second leadoff homer allowed in his career and a precursor to a tough night. "Hes one of the best pitchers in the game," Reyes said. "I had that approach before the game I was looking for a fastball right in the middle the first pitch and I try to put my best swing and thats what happened.dddddddddddd" Toronto scored three times in the fourth helped by two Seattle errors. Emilio Bonifacio had the big hit with a two-out double into the gap in right-centre field. Bonifacios hit came after three defensive breakdowns by Seattle: Kyle Seager committed his second error of the night, shortstop Brad Miller threw wildly to second trying to start a double play and Miller failed to hold the ball when tagging Brett Lawrie on a stolen base. Reyes followed Bonifacio with an RBI single to cap the big inning. Toronto then scored twice more in the fifth when Colby Rasmus dropped an RBI single on a two-out, 0-2 pitch from Hernandez. That was followed by Lawries RBI single and a 6-0 lead. "Anytime you give these offensive minded clubs — the Red Sox, Baltimore and these guys here — extra outs, its not a good thing," Thompson said. "It made Felix work a little harder and his pitch count got up." Seattles ugly night defensively was capped in the seventh when Raul Ibanez committed the Mariners fourth error spiking an attempted throw from left field into the ground just a few feet in front of him and allowing Jose Bautista to score Torontos seventh run. Torontos offensive output made it an easy night for Johnson, who in his previous four starts had an ERA of 14.06, but was masterful against the Mariners. After getting out of a jam in the first, Seattle never got a runner to third base until the seventh on Millers two-run triple. "Hes got a lively fastball, good (sinker) and he was mixing in the curve ball and we were just chasing it," Miller said. "Personally, I chased a couple. Just a good mix. Then they brought in their bullpen and we just couldnt get anything going." Notes: Rasmus made a highlight catch robbing Morales of a potential home run in the sixth inning pulling in a deep drive to centre field. ... Seattle optioned closer Tom Wilhelmsen to Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday in the hopes he can rediscover the command of his fastball. Seattle recalled reliever Carter Capps to take Wilhelmsens spot. Seattle also released OF Jason Bay, who was designated for assignment on July 29. ... Texas Ian Kinsler is the only other batter to hit a leadoff homer off Hernandez. ... The four errors by Seattle were its most since committing six vs. the Angels in September 2011. ' ' '