win in five career starts against the Pirates when Miami opens a three-game series in Pittsburgh on Friday. He is 0-4 with a 5.73 ERA in his career against the Pirates.Reds:

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Just two weeks ago Neymars commitment to the Olympic team was questioned by Brazils fans.Now hes a national hero -- and an Olympic champion.Neymar buried the winning kick of a penalty shootout against Germany on Saturday night at Maracana Stadium, sending all of Brazil into a boisterous celebration. The cheering could be heard down Rios famed Copacabana Beach, where fans yelled out Campeoes! Champions!Neymar sunk to the field on his knees as his teammates engulfed him. He lay on the ground for several long moments while they celebrated, sobbing.This is one of the happiest things that have happened to me, he said moments later.It was Brazils first gold medal and it came on home soil. For Neymar, it was a seminal moment.Some were already asking whether Neymars name should be added to the list of Brazils greats, joining the Pele, Zico and the phenomenon Ronaldo.Brazil coach Rogerio Micale essentially said it was too soon to put Neymar in that realm, suggesting his next step is a World Cup title.But he nonetheless had great praise for the charismatic 24-year-old striker who plays for Barcelona and is considered among the best current players in the world. Neymar has been an integral part in Barcelonas recent success, along with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.Hes a leader on the national team. Dedicated, Micale said through a translator. Now that weve finished this tournament, I have the best possible impression of Neymar. The whole team does.The mens soccer tournament attracted most of the attention of Brazilian fans at the Olympics. The countrys football federation took the Olympic tournament very seriously, bringing Neymar and many talented youngsters who are expected to be in the main squad in the 2018 World Cup in Russia.Neymar eschewed the Copa America to focus on the Rio Games. The mens Olympic tournament is contested among under-23 teams, but they can each bring three players from the senior national team.Still, the Olympics started disastrously for the hosts. Brazil struggled with scoreless draws against South Africa and Iraq was even in danger of missing out on the knockout round.Neymar was heavily criticized by soccer-crazy Brazilians who saw the womens national team, and particularly star Marta, off to a fast start in contrast.There were fans who crossed off Neymars name on their No. 10 jerseys and wrote in Marta instead. Neymar was taunted with fans shouting Martas name at his matches, while Marta was honored with fans chanting Better Than Neymar! at hers.With Neymar at captain, Brazil turned its tournament around. First came a decisive 4-0 victory over Denmark to close out the group, followed by a 2-0 victory over Colombia in the quarterfinals.Neymar really made it known that Brazil was back with a 6-0 victory over Honduras in the semis. He had two goals -- including one only 15 seconds into the match for the fastest goal in Olympic history.We needed to respond to the Brazilian people. Say something to the people and to the football community, by doing something different, Micale said. We did that. We won. Were skilled and competent. We responded as necessary and we did this in the short time that was available to us.As for the comparison with Marta, that was unfair. Marta is considered one of her sports greatest players ever: She is a five-time FIFA World Player of the Year.Thats just a part of the Brazilian culture, Micale said. Thats the way we are. We love and hate from one day to the next. We go to extremes. People go back and forth. But Im truly happy to be a Brazilian.Saturday nights victory was not only Neymars redemption, it was a nations.It came two years after an embarrassing 7-1 home loss to Germanys senior team in the World Cup semifinals at home. Brazil was also coming off a demoralizing elimination in the group stage of this years Copa America.Neymar was on the World Cup team but didnt play against Germany because of a back injury sustained in the quarterfinals against Colombia.With his penalty kick in the Olympic final, Neymar helped ease some of that lingering bitterness. He also countered the doubters who dogged him early in the games.We went through difficult moments in the beginning of the competition, we were criticized, he said, and we answered on the field, with soccer.Fergie Jenkins Jersey .com) - Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer were easy first-round winners Tuesday at the Australian Open. Ryan Dempster Cubs Jersey . Durant finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds, Jackson matched his career high with 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting and Lamb scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, lifting the Thunder to a 94-88 win over San Antonio and snapping the Spurs 11-game winning streak. https://www.cheapcubs.com/1220t-keith-moreland-jersey-cubs.html . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. Mickey Morandini Jersey . -- The Sacramento Kings are set to become the first major professional sports franchise to accept Bitcoin virtual currency for ticket and merchandise purchases. Greg Maddux Cubs Jersey . Tests earlier this week revealed a Grade 2 left hamstring strain for Sabathia, who was hurt in last Fridays start against San Francisco. Its an injury that will require about eight weeks to heal. He finished a disappointing campaign just 14-13 with a career-worst 4.CINCINNATI -- Pat Hoberg is Ramon Cabreras lucky charm.Hoberg was umpiring behind the plate last season when the Reds catcher hit his first career home run. Hoberg made it 2 for 2 on Thursday night. He was behind the plate when Cabrera hit a three-run homer in the second inning to lead Cincinnati to a 5-4 victory over the Miami Marlins.It was special for me, Cabrera said. I talked to the umpire. He said, `Do you remember who the umpire was when you hit your first home run off (John) Lackey? It was me.Dan Straily continued his second-half surge as Cincinnati made it eight wins in 10 series since the All-Star break.Billy Hamilton used aggressive baserunning to produce another run and Eugenio Suarez added an RBI double to give Cincinnati three straight wins over Miami after losing the opener of the four-game series.Straily (9-6) improved to 5-0 with a 2.68 ERA over his last six starts. He opened with five shutout innings before giving up Marcell Ozunas two-run homer in the sixth. Straily allowed six hits and struck out seven.It is a special year for Straily, Reds manager Bryan Price said. He is solidifying his career.Blake Wood turned in 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief before Raisel Iglesias pitched the ninth for his second career save in two opportunities.Marlins starter Jose Fernandez (12-7) allowed five runs in a season-low four innings -- as many runs as he gave up in his four June starts -- to see his ERA over his last four starts climb to 6.00. The Reds reached him for seven hits and a walk while sending him to a career-worst third consecutive loss. He previously had never lost more than two consecutive decisions.We took advantage of Fernandez strikes early in the count, but he throws it around 100, Price said. He looked like a million bucks, but we got the barrel on the ball.Obviously, (the Reds) were squaring a lot of stuff up, manager Don Mattingly said. Im not quite sure. I havent seen the replay of the pitches, but balls kind of at the belt line and in the center of the plate are going to get hit.Thursdays numbers were remarkablly similar to Fernandezs last start in Cincinnati, on April 18, 2013, his rookie season, when he also allowed five runs in four innings.ddddddddddddFrom there, things got better, he said. I hope they better this time, too.Fernandez finished with six strikeouts, pushing him over 200 for the first time in his career. With 204, he is the sixth Marlin to reach 200 in a season and first since Anibal Sanchez with 202 in 2011.Martin Prado capitalized on an error by pitcher Jumbo Diaz with a two-run single in the seventh.MOVING UP: Fernandezs six strikeouts on Thursday leave him with 204 on the season, the third-highest season total in Marlins history. He trails Kevin Brown (205, 1997) and record-holder Ryan Dempster (209, 2000).POWER SURGE: Ozunas home run was his 22nd of the season and third of the four-game series. He is one homer short of matching the career high he set in 2014.ON THE VERGE: Joey Votto needs one double to reach 300 in his career and four RBI to reach 700.TRAINING ROOMMarlins: RHP A.J. Ramos is scheduled to throw a simulated game on Friday. If he feels OK on Saturday, Mattingly expects to be able to activate him on Sunday. Ramos, 1-1 with a 3.05 ERA and 32 saves in 47 relief appearances this season, has been out since Aug. 6 with a fracture of the third finger of his right hand.Reds: Problems with his patella and Achilles tendons related to last years knee surgery are plaguing SS Zack Cozart, who didnt start on Thursday for the third time in the four-game series.UP NEXTMarlins: RHP Tom Koehler (9-8) tries for his first win in five career starts against the Pirates when Miami opens a three-game series in Pittsburgh on Friday. He is 0-4 with a 5.73 ERA in his career against the Pirates.Reds: RHP Tim Adleman (1-1) is scheduled to make his first start since May 19 when the Reds open a four-game wraparound series against Los Angeles in Cincinnati. Adleman has been sidelined with a strained left oblique. ' ' '