Funkerstation » ed. He stayed in the game to pitch. The Reds h

RIO DE JANEIRO -- The new Olympic champion caught her countrys flag from out of the stands, unfurled it and fumbled a bit as she tried to drape it over her shoulders.She knew exactly where to turn for help.Jamaicas newest sprint champion is Elaine Thompson, and she was more than happy to let Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce place that green-and-yellow Jamaican flag over her shoulders after she denied her friend and training partner a record third straight title in the 100 meters on Saturday.When I crossed the line and glanced around to see I was clear, I didnt quite know how to celebrate, Thompson said after she routed the field in 10.71 seconds, with Fraser-Pryce taking bronze.The nation that produced the once-in-a-lifetime sprinter in Usain Bolt has more of a production line going on the womens side. Thompson joins the likes of Merlene Ottey, Veronica Campbell-Brown and, of course, Fraser-Pryce in the island countrys long line of sprinting luminaries.At 24, more than five years younger than the woman she unseated, Thompson showed a changing of the guard doesnt have to mean a redrawing of the map.Jamaica has so many talented sprinters, Thompson said. To be the second champion [at 100 meters], Im really happy.What was billed as one of the most competitive finals in the history of the event turned into something of a non-race. Thompson made it that way.Running about level halfway through the 100 meters, she pulled away from American Tori Bowie for a .12-second victory -- a gap big enough to scoot a bookcase between her and the American.Thompsons 10.71 was only .01 off the time she ran at Jamaicas national championships last month. That 10.70 in Kingston was the best of five sub-10.8 womens sprints this year and served notice that things could be very fast when the sprinters reached Rio de Janeiro.Three of those sub-10.8 women were in the final -- Bowie and another American, English Gardner, were the others -- as was Fraser-Pryce, the 29-year-old former champion who was a brace-faced newcomer when she won her first of two golds at the Birds Nest in Beijing eight years ago.Im just happy that Jamaica gets to keep the gold medal, Fraser-Pryce said.Fraser-Pryce, the 5-footer nicknamed Pocket Rocket, was trying to become the first person to win three straight 100-meter titles at the Olympics.She had a piece of the lead early, but faded, and ended up with a bronze medal to go with the green-and-yellow hairdo she worked up for her turn as her countrys flagbearer at the opening ceremony. She held off surprise finalist Marie-Josee Ta Lou of Ivory Coast by a mere. 007 seconds for third.Anything but a disappointment, according to the two-time champ, whos been dealing with a toe injury most of the year. She said running the final about 1? hours after the semifinal was too much for one night.By far, I would say this is my best championship ever, she said. I knew how hard I worked, I knew the pain, I knew the sacrifice, I knew the tears, I knew everything.She knows Thompson well, too. They both train with coach Stephen Francis out of the MVP Track and Field Club, which has played a big role in helping Jamaica expand its dominance in track over the years.Thompson was a late bloomer. Her picture isnt even on the front of the MVP website. Until she finished second in the 200 last year at the world championships, she barely made a splash on the international scene, tucked behind Fraser-Pryce and Campbell-Brown, among others.Thompson will also have a chance in the 200 meters in Rio, giving her an opportunity to win medals in both events the way Fraser-Pryce did four years ago in London.I look up to Shelly-Ann so much, Thompson said. She had a rough season. Its amazing to be with her.Thompson was dealing with an injury of her own -- a strained hamstring that forced her to bail out of the Jamaican nationals.She was clearly healed once she got to Brazil. In the final, she got stronger as she approached the line and left what had been billed as an uber-competitive field far behind.Dafne Schippers, the Dutch heptathlete-turned-sprinter, finished fifth, and Gardner, the champion at the U.S. Olympic Trials last month, was two more spots back with a time of 10.94.They are not unbeatable, Gardner insisted, when asked about the Jamaicans persistent dominance in these races.When the lights are brightest, though, they really are.Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.?Randy Johnson Jersey . Pedro scored from a pass by Lionel Messi in the 33rd minute and added two more goals in the 47th and 72nd after Valdes saved his second penalty in four days following his stop in Wednesdays 4-0 over Ajax in the Champions League. Robbie Ray Diamondbacks Jersey . -- Ohio States Urban Meyer has never had any issue acclimating to the biggest stages in college football. http://www.diamondbackssale.com/diamondbacks-ketel-marte-jersey/ . Dallas hasnt ruled out the star quarterback for Sunday nights game against Philadelphia, but all signs point to Romos back injury pushing Kyle Orton into the starting role after two years of limited play as the backup. Surely Ortons name isnt the first that comes to mind for fans wanting a change after years of damaging interceptions, fumbles or, most infamously, the field goal flub when Romo dropped the snap on a kick that could have won his first playoff game in 2006. Alex Avila Diamondbacks Jersey . -- Stanford squashed Oregons national championship hopes again, schooling the Ducks in power football. Custom Arizona Diamondbacks Jerseys . After Mondays hard-fought loss, the wait seemed longer than usual. Getting set to go their separate ways for a short Christmas break, the Raptors coach credited his team for their effort on a seemingly impossible three-game road trip, urging them to build on that success when they get back to work at the end of the week.CINCINNATI -- No blown leads this time. The Cardinals bullpen made one big inning stand up.Brandon Moss drove in a pair of runs during St. Louis four-run first inning, extending his season-long streak against the Reds, and the Cardinals held on for a 5-4 victory over Cincinnati on Wednesday night to even their series.St. Louis had lost back-to-back games on walk-off hits, including a 7-5 loss to the Reds on Tuesday night that ended with a three-run homer off Seung Hwan Oh. The Cardinals fill-in closer was the one celebrating this time after getting his eighth save in 10 chances.Some games you need to remember, and also there are some games you need to forget, Oh said, through the teams translator. I want to remember that (loss) and move forward.St. Louis sent nine batters to the plate against Cody Reed (0-6) in the first inning, with Moss and Greg Garcia each driving in a pair of runs. Stephen Piscotty added a solo homer, the Cardinals fifth in two games.Moss and Jhonny Peralta returned from the disabled list at the start of the series and have contributed as the teams split the first two games. Moss is 5 for 9 with three doubles and a homer.For the season, hes 12 of 28 (.429) against the Reds with three doubles and five homers.Hes taking some great swings, manager Mike Matheny said. In the first inning, that was a great at-bat he put together.Michael Wacha (7-7) gave up a pair of runs in five innings as he won his fifth straight decision, and the bullpen took it from there.Weve got some pretty good options to throw out there, said left-hander Zach Duke, obtained in a trade with the White Sox on Sunday.The NL Central rivals conclude the series on Thursday. The Cardinals have won 18 of their past 22 series, including eight of 11 at Great American Ball Park.St. Louis had chances to pull out to an even bigger lead against Reed, but had a pair of runners thrown out at the plate as they tried to score from third base on grounders. Another was caught in a rundown between third and home.It seems like Im giving the same interview, said Reed, who allowed eight hits and a walk in five innings. Im not really performing. Its a battle for me right now.Joey Votto extended his ccareer-high hitting streak to 17 games with an RBI single in the first inning.dddddddddddd Its the longest streak by a Reds player since Brandon Phillips hit in 22 in a row in 2007. Votto is 29 for 58 (.500) during the streak.The Cardinals Yadier Molina went 0 for 2, walked and was hit by a pitch, ending his 16-game hitting streak.Piscottys 15th homer made it 5-2 in the fifth. He was involved in helping the Reds cut the deficit in the sixth.Adam Duvall hit a fly ball down the right field line, and the ball deflected off Piscottys glove as he tried to make a sliding catch, resulting in a triple.Phillips singled for a run, and then was called out at second base as the Cardinals tried to turn a double play. Phillips was ruled safe at second after a review, and he scored on Ivan De Jesus Jr.s single.STATSMolinas streak was the longest by a Cardinal since David Freese hit in 20 straight in 2013. ... Reds reliever Josh Smith pinch-hit for Reed in the fifth and doubled. He stayed in the game to pitch. The Reds had only three healthy reserves on the bench. Smith is the first Reds pitcher with a pinch hit since Micah Owings singled in 2010.LONG INNINGReed needed 36 pitches and 16 minutes to get three outs in the first inning. Wacha also struggled in the first inning, throwing 34 pitches while giving up a pair of runs.TRAINERS ROOMCardinals: Reliever Tyler Lyons went on the 15-day DL with a sore right knee. Den Kiekhefer was recalled from Triple-A.Reds: Shortstop Zack Cozart was out of the lineup for a second straight day with a sore finger on his throwing hand.UP NEXTCardinals: Mike Leake (8-8) hasnt walked a batter in his past 30 innings spanning five starts, a career best. Its the longest active streak in the majors and the second-longest this season behind Matt Schoemakers 30 1/3 innings without a walk for the Angels.Reds: Brandon Finnegan (6-8) is 1-1 against the Cardinals in five starts with a 3.66 ERA. In two starts this season, hes gone 1-0 and allowed two earned runs in 12 innings.---Follow Joe Kay on Twitter: http://twitter.com/apjoekay ' ' '