team. He pitched in the minors for the Dodgers until opting out of his contract in early Ju

The biggest narrative of the Olympics so far -- not related to doping, cupping or tweeting dramatic before-and-after pictures of the Slimer-colored diving pool -- is the story of American female excellence.From Day 1, when Ginny Thrasher lived up to her name by wrecking the air rifle competition, the U.S. women have steamrolled these Games. The countrys gymnasts have soared higher, its swimmers have stroked faster and one of its road cyclists ... won the time trial by several seconds.Now, as the first full week of competition wraps up, its the track athletes turn to take a (hopefully literal) victory lap in Rio. At a press conference on Wednesday, Brittney Beast Reese, a laidback long jumper who won gold in London, said shes enjoyed watching the American women steal peoples souls this week.Its been intimidating, Reese admitted. But its great to see the women dominate like we did four years ago. I feel like track will go in and handle business the same way.The U.S. squad, which is teeming with more favorites than a timely, well-crafted tweet, appears poised to replicate the success of the 2012 Games. That year, the women won six gold medals. According to the 2016 world rankings released last month by the IAAF, theres at least one American woman ranked in the top three of 12 Olympic track events. U.S. runners posted multiple world-beating times at the Olympic track and field trials in Eugene, Oregon, this summer.Americas womens gymnastics team was eventually christened The Final Five. Perhaps we should call the American female track stars the Scintillating Sixty-Five. Or dont. Seriously, dont.Reese, the long jumper, seems like a sure bet to win gold next week. In addition to finishing first in London, shes taken three world championships, most recently in 2013. The U.S. track teams marketing person introduced her as a human wind chime because shes won so much hardware. After suffering an injury in 2013, Reese bounced back big time, jumping 7.31 meters at the trials -- the longest distance posted by anyone since 2004.When asked if she felt any pressure, Reese scoffed, flicking away the question like so many languid mosquitos. I know what Im capable of, she said. If I go out there and do what Im supposed to do, everything else will fall into place.Allyson Felix, another 2012 gold medalist, confessed that shes still a little heartbroken over missing the cut for the 200-meter sprint since she won the event in the last go-round. Itll be tough for me to watch, she said.But Felix is favored by gamblers -- yes, you can bet on Olympic track and field -- to win the 400m race after she posted the second-best time in the world in Oregon after recovering from an injury.I feel a lot better than at the trials, said Felix, who is eerily modest for a woman who could overtake Jackie Joyner-Kersee as the most decorated female Olympian in U.S. track history (theyre currently tied at six medals apiece). I feel confident that Ill be close to my best.Medaling opportunities abound. While Jamaicas Elaine Thompson is favored to take the 100m race, a trio of Americans in English Gardner, Tianna Bartoletta and Tori Bowie barely lagged behind her this year.All three women will probably race in the 4x100 relay, which America has a solid chance of winning next week. The U.S. women are also likely to take gold in the 4x400 relay, which Felix might be a factor in, but the rosters arent set until last minute.Nineties babies Brianna Rollins and Dalilah Muhammad, both first-time Olympians, own the worlds top times in the 100m and 400m hurdles this year. Jenn Suhr, the worlds reigning pole vault champion, recently broke her own record in the event. The U.S. has a high jumper, a shot putter and a hammer thrower who could easily medal, or perhaps form some sort of crime-fighting unit. Simply put, this team is stacked.And then theres the delightfully confident Reese, who said her goal is to accomplish three in one. Translation: she wants to win the Games, shatter the Olympic record, and break the world record.Thats something Im gunning for, Reese said.No big deal, right? Custom Warriors Jerseys .Y. -- Marcell Dareus and the Buffalo Bills defence made life miserable for Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco. Custom Warriors Jersey China . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. http://www.customwarriorsjersey.com/ . The Oilers come in having lost five in a row (0-4-1) and 16 of their last 20 games, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. Wholesale Custom Warriors Shirts . Collaros, 25, was solid last season, posting a 5-2 record as the starter while incumbent Ricky Ray was injured. Collaros also started Torontos 23-20 regular-season finale loss to Montreal — Ray didnt dress because the Argos had already clinched first in the East Division — but was one of three quarterbacks to play that day. Custom Tim Hardaway Jersey . LOUIS -- Mike Smith is used to facing plenty of shots, so this was nothing new. BALTIMORE -- In a duel between first-place teams, the most notable performances were turned in by Mark Trumbo, who hit his major league leading 30th home run, and Kevin Gausman, who pitched seven shutout innings.Chris Davis was the difference-maker, however, in the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Saturday night.Though Davis is known for his mammoth home runs, the hustle of the 230-pound slugger helped propel the Orioles past the AL Central leaders.With runners at the corners and one out in the first inning, Davis hit a potential double-play grounder to second base. After the force at second, Davis beat the relay by a step to get an RBI and keep the inning alive.Thats a play that needs to be made, Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis said. Tip your hat to Chris Davis for running so hard down the line.Trumbo followed with a no-doubt shot to left off Josh Tomlin (10-3) for a 3-0 lead.Davis has eight fewer homers than Trumbo and is batting just .228, but his 59th RBI was pivotal for the AL East-leading Orioles.Huge, Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said. Chris runs balls out.Pedro Alvarez also homered for the Orioles, who will seek to complete a three-game sweep Sunday. Cleveland has scored three runs in 18 innings thus far.Trumbo has homered in each of the first two games. Playing in his first season with Baltimore, the 2016 All-Star already has eight more home runs than last year and is just four short of matching his career high, set in 2013 with the Angels.Hes been very valuable, a real consistent human being, Showalter said.After earning only one win in his first 16 starts, Gausman (2-7) struck out seven and allowed only one runner past first base. The right-hander gave up four hits and walked three but was backed by three double plays.Brad Brach surrendered a two-out, two-run single to Lonnie Chisenhall in the ninth before Zach Britton got the final out for his 32nd save. Britton tied Willie Hernandez of the 1984 Detroit Tigers for the longest save streak to start a season by a left-hander, according to STATS.Thee Orioles improved to 35-14 at home and 18-6 against the AL Central.ddddddddddddAlthough Tomlin settled down after the rocky first inning, Alvarez chased the right-hander with a leadoff homer in the seventh, and Jonathan Schoop added an RBI single off Jeff Manship for a 5-0 lead.Tomlin struck out eight, walked none and allowed seven hits in falling to 6-1 on the road. He has given up 24 homers this season, matching his career high.Were it not for Davis, his line would have been much better.I wish hed have run slower, Indians manager Terry Francona lamented.NEWCOMERThe Indians signed LHP Joe Thatcher to a minor league contract Saturday. The 34-year-old played in spring training with Cleveland but did not make the team. He pitched in the minors for the Dodgers until opting out of his contract in early June.TRAINERS ROOMIndians: 3B Juan Uribe was not in the starting lineup after being plunked on the batting helmet above the left ear Friday night. He pinch hit in the ninth. ... RHP Zach McAllister (hip) pitched for Triple-A Columbus on Thursday, was to throw on the side Saturday and pitch again on Monday. He says he feels really good, manager Terry Francona said.Orioles: C Matt Wieters (foot) missed a fifth straight game. Manager Buck Showalter hopes to have him back Monday. ... RHP Darren ODay (hamstring) will likely be activated from the DL on Sunday or Monday, Showalter said. ... RHP Ubaldo Jimenez was placed on the paternity leave list. His wife is due to give birth on Aug. 21 but could deliver early. ... OF Hyun Soo Kim (hamstring) is slated to begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Bowie next week.UP NEXTIndians: RHP Corey Kluber (9-8. 3.42 ERA) makes his 20th start of the season in the series finale Sunday. Hes got three of Clevelands five complete games.Orioles: RHP Vance Worley (2-1, 3.16) gets his fourth start for Baltimore. He didnt make it out of the fifth inning in his last outing, a loss to the Yankees. ' ' '