Being able to string together back-to-back innings where we retired thr

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Thiago Braz da Silvas surprising pole vault victory ensured Brazils first gold medal in the Olympic Stadium and sparked euphoric celebrations.It also ensured some unpleasant fallout for the hosts.The heckling was so intense that when Olympic champion Renaud Lavillenie prepared for his last attempt to extend his title and potentially bump Braz da Silva to silver, he lost his concentration and gave a thumbs down to the thousands of local fans. He lost his gold when he failed at 6.08 meters, and that allowed Braz da Silvas 6.03 Olympic record to stand.The party was on, though not for Lavillenie.If you get no respect in the Olympics, where can you get respect? Lavillenie said. If this is a nation where they only want Brazil, and they spit on others, then you should not organize the Olympics.In his rawest anger immediately after the three-plus-hour competition, which was extended because of rain, he even made a reference to the 1936 Berlin Olympics, the propaganda Games of Hitler. He later apologized for that at a news conference.I did a big mistake for that. It was my first words, after competition, he said. Of course we cannot compare the two.The 22-year-old Braz da Silva acknowledged that he fed off the fervor of the crowd in a positive sense, thanks to the raucous cheers.The public helped me a lot, was supporting me, and that was really important for me at this time in my home to get a medal, the champion said.Asked what he thought of the relentless booing of those who got in the way of Brazils budding champion, Braz da Silva said, I understand the people from Brazil.In our country, they want the guy from Brazil to win, he said. They cannot control emotions, you know.The competition had all the drama needed. Early on, Lavillenie did all the right things. Wait late to come in and not waste energy, then scale every height on the first attempt to lead throughout.But Braz da Silva didnt wilt and produced an Olympic-record vault for the lead.Incredible. My first time over 6 meters, he said.Yet Lavillenie still had a chance to win. He raised the bar to 6.08 for one final attempt, and as he prepared, the crowd started booing him. The Frenchman went up for the last attempt but failed.Braz da Silva was celebrating. The host nation, which had been counting on female vaulter Fabiana Murer to win gold later in the Olympics, had a new star. And as with their famous soccer players, the full name doesnt matter. The champion is known here as Thiago Braz.I like that, he said.For Lavillenie, it was the second shocking defeat of a bad summer. Last month, he lost the European title when he failed to clear his opening height. This one will feel far worse, as he had worked for this night the entire season.The loss mattered less than his treatment.I could never leave Rio with a smile when you get booed for doing your sport, Lavillenie said. Adidas Nmd XR1 Schweiz .com) - The women will also have a new champion at the Australian Open. Adidas Nmd Outlet .Y. -- Bills receiver Stevie Johnson has a bone to pick with the NFL schedule maker. http://www.nmdschweizkaufen.ch/eqt-outlet.html . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. Nmd r2 Herren Schweiz . LOUIS -- Roman Polak was celebrating even before Alexander Steen scored the winning goal in Saturdays 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Adidas Nmd Billig Ebay . Peter Holland and Brad Staubitz were sent to Toronto on Saturday as the Maple Leafs traded defenceman Jesse Blacker and draft picks to the Anaheim Ducks. OAKLAND, Calif. -- Oakland As right-hander Sonny Gray earned his third win of the season on April 22 against Toronto in just his fourth start.Gray had to wait 85 days and 13 starts to get win No. 4, allowing three runs over six innings in a 5-4 victory Saturday against the Blue Jays. Hell try to make it back-to back wins Thursday night when the As open a four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays and left-hander Matt Moore at the Oakland Coliseum.Thats the main reason you play this game is to win, said Gray, who finished third in the American League Cy Young Award voting last year. I started pretty good and won then went through that long stretch and then I went on the DL. And then when I came off the DL I felt like I was throwing the ball well with nothing to show for it, but thats part of it. Hopefully now Ill get on a pretty good roll.Gray (4-8) is 1/3 with a 4.07 ERA in his past eight starts since coming off the disabled list after recovering from a strained right trapezius. He allowed one run in three of those starts, two runs in two and three runs in one. He also gave up seven runs in a loss to Pittsburgh and five runs in a no-decision against Texas.Ive continuously said this ever since Ive come back from the DL, Ive felt really good, Gray said. You take two starts out of there, basically one inning against the Rangers and the start against the Pirates, you take those two starts out and every game has gone I would say pretty well. I feel good. I know I wasnt winning any games but I felt like I was throwing the ball well. It might not have been an easy inning every time, but going out there and going six innings. I expect more out of myself than that, but its still been pretty good with the exception of two starts.In his victory against Toronto, Gray gave up three runs through three innings but blanked the Blue Jays for his final three innings. He hopes to build on that strong fiinish against Tampa Bay.ddddddddddddActually just come out and attack from the first inning on, Gray said. Just come out and the plan is to go out and compete, throw a lot of strikes and throw as many quality strikes as I can in a row and see where it goes from there.Moore is 5-7 with a 4.33 ERA, but he has pitched at least six innings in each of his past eight games and has gone 3-4 with a 3.02 ERA with 38 strikeouts and 13 walks during that stretch.Moore gave up just two runs over 7 1/3 innings in a 2-1 loss to Baltimore in his previous start. He gave up a two-run homer to J.J. Hardy in the second inning.I just feel like Im pitching to my capabilities, Moore said after his last start. Being able to string together back-to-back innings where we retired three in a row. I think thats something to hang my hat on most these days. Just being able to get some quick innings, keep my pitch count on track.That was Moores longest outing since July 22, 2013, during his All-Star season when he went 17-4 with a 3.29 ERA. Moore underwent Tommy John surgery on April 22, 2014, and has gone 8-11 since then over the past two seasons.Oakland took two of three games against the Rays at Tropicana Field on May 13-15. Moore and Gray faced each other on May 15 when the As defeated the Rays 7-6. Both starters got no-decisions. Moore gave up four runs on seven hits over five innings. Gray allowed six runs (three earned) and six hits in 5 2/3 innings.The Rays had lost 11 straight road games before beating Colorado 10-1 on Tuesday night in Denver. The Rays scored in double digits again Wednesday, beating the Rockies 11-3.Oakland has won four of six games since the All-Star break, taking two of three at home against Toronto and Houston. But the As fell 7-0 to the Astros on Wednesday. ' ' '