Kimbrel threw 17 pitches in his first rehab appearance.

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Before the gold, before the glory, there were tears.From the coaches.Long before the stunning exhibition on Thursday night that earned her the Olympic all-around title, Simone Biles was just a prodigy in the USA Gymnastics developmental program. She and coach Aimee Boorman would travel regularly to the Karolyi Ranch about an hour north of their gym in suburban Houston. There national team coordinator Martha Karolyi and her staff would offer pointers not just to the young girls but the adults entrusted with harnessing all that talent and turning them into champions.And, Karolyi being Karolyi, the message didnt always come across with a hug and a smile.(The coaches) would go back to our rooms with each other and we would cry, Boorman said. Martha said, `I made you guys cry? `Oh Martha you have no idea.Boorman can laugh about it now that shes through it. When she woke up on Friday morning, she was the coach of the Olympic champion, one who has a legitimate shot at leaving Rio with a record five gold medals by the time event finals are over next Tuesday.Its a path Boorman and Biles carved out carefully, one helped in part by the system Karolyi put in place when she took over in 2001.There was a time where gymnasts eyeing the elite level would have to move to one of the few gyms in the country capable of giving them the proper training. It led to what Karolyi called little fights between private clubs instead of fostering a sense of team unity, so she scrapped it. Karolyi figured if she could find a way to guide the coaches as well as the athletes early in their respective careers, then the girls could stay home and still receive the mentoring needed to flourish.We wanted to give the right guidance for the young and upcoming coaches who never had anything to do with our program, Karolyi said.The proof of its success can be measured in two ways: in the 91 world championship and Olympic medals (and counting) the U.S. has won under Karolyis guidance and the length of the relationships between most members of the Final Five and their coaches.Boorman and Biles have been together 13 years. Five-time Olympic medalist Aly Raisman and Mihai Brestyan a dozen. Laurie Hernandez and Maggie Haney 11. Madison Kocian and Laurent Landi nearly a decade.Haney considers herself and Hernandez the poster children for the Talent Opportunity Program (TOPs) run by USA Gymnastics.Weve literally grown through the system, Haney said. There is guidance at the top and it spreads out from there.It also created a sense of camaraderie, one where the coaches no longer get anxious when theyre in the training gym together. Those early difficult days under Karolyis tutelage bonded them in ways that resonate today.The girls talk about being a family, Boorman said. But honestly the coaches are too because weve been through this process together.It can also create its own unique challenges. Given the amount of time they spend together -- 30 hours a week or more -- for months and years on end, there are bound to be issues. Asked if there were times when she wanted to tell the exacting, no-nonsense Brestyan to get lost and Raisman just laughs.There are times I wanted to, Raisman said. There are times its just hard. There are times I didnt feel like doing it but he kept pushing. And I know he does that so I dont back down.In that way Brestyan can best be described as Karolyi Lite. Theyve know each other since coaching in Romania, and hes worked extensively at Karolyis side at the ranch for years as a mentor to coaches and athletes alike.The moment you get there, you get remolded for what youre looking for, he said. Theyre coming with the commitment, with the desire but theyre doing a lot of mistakes. We try to share our knowledge, our experiences, our mistakes to put them directly in the line you need to look and you need to go.It can be grueling and sometimes thankless work. Yet it does have its benefits.Rather than file into a tunnel underneath Rio Olympic Arena following the womens gymnastics team final, Raisman ducked away and sprinted straight for Brestyan, slipping the medal around his neck before he could protest. Two nights later after finishing runner-up to Biles in the all-around finals, Raisman did it again, paying tribute to the man who for a dozen years been equal parts mentor, coach and friend.The gesture was not lost on Brestyan. Her drive brought them together. The system and their dedication kept them together.After the results, (usually) the coaches, they dont exist, Brestyan said. Thats a hard feeling for us. But the moment before that when shes winning is the best in the world. Chris Conley Womens Jersey . Radwanska, making her debut in the Seoul tournament, hit eight aces in a match that lasted 1 hour, 4 minutes at Olympic Park tennis stadium. "It was definitely a very good match -- I was playing really good tennis," Radwanska said. Chris Conley Jersey . With the short-handed Warriors needing help from someone -- anyone -- to stop a three-game skid, ONeal returned from right knee and groin injuries that had sidelined him for four games and put up season highs with 18 points and eight rebounds. It was just enough to help lift Golden State to a 102-101 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. http://www.authenticjaguarslockroom.com/Youth-Taven-Bryan-Elite-Jersey/ . -- Arizona raced out to a big lead and did not back off, hitting the accelerator instead. Josh Oliver Youth Jersey . Catch all the action on TSN2 at 11pm et/8pm pt. The nine-time Big 12 champion Jayhawks are positioning themselves for another title, as they have run out to a flawless 6-0 mark in conference play thus far. Nick Foles Jersey . Those lessons were more than enough to overwhelm the Utah Jazz. Lou Williams scored 25 points and the Hawks continued their offensive upswing as they rolled to an easy 118-85 victory over the Jazz on Friday night, winning their third straight and for the fourth time in five games. ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Hector Santiago was happy to overlook his rough stretch as long as the Los Angeles Angels got the win.Santiago labored through five innings, throwing a season-high 119 pitches with six walks, and it was good enough as the Angels beat the Boston Red Sox 5-2 Saturday night.A phenomenal start, Santiago said. We got the W. Who cares about the rest?After giving up a pair of runs in the first, including a leadoff homer to Mookie Betts, Santiago mostly managed to frustrate the Red Sox, who left 11 men on base.Its almost like he was effectively wild, Red Sox manager John Farrell said. He was erratic enough in the strike zone to prevent us from squaring anything up.Santiago (10-4) has now won six consecutive starts, posting a 1.78 ERA, all in the month of July. Hes the first left-hander to go 6-0 in a calendar month since Andy Pettitte managed it for the Yankees in August of 2007.He was supported Saturday by the continued hot bat of veteran Albert Pujols.After Santiago allowed the two runs in the first, the Angels got one back in the bottom of the inning against Drew Pomeranz (8-9) before Pujols put the Angels on top with a line-drive, two-run homer in the third.Pujols has 20 RBI in his last 13 games, 30 for the month of July and 80 on the season. It was his 20th home run of the year. This after he started the season batting .185 in his first 33 games.Year after year, Albert is one of the most productive hitters to ever play the game, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. We were never worried about Albert.It was the third start for Pomeranz with the Red Sox since acquired from the Padres on July 14. He is 0-2 with a 7.53 in his three starts with Boston.Overall he just wasnt as strong as the last time out, Farrell said. Its been a mixed bag. Theres quality stuff being thrown, its just a matter of consistency.Pomeranz went 5 1/3 innings and was charged with all five runs. He gave up six hits, walked two and struck out four.He was not helped by the Red Sox offense, which stranded those 11 runners and could never come up with the timely hit after the first.Missed opportunities, Farrell said. Thats the story of this game.The Angels backed up the erratic performance by Santiago with four scoreless innings of relief by four different relievers. Houston Street goot the final three outs for his ninth save.ddddddddddddThe Angels are 47-57, their season appearing lost. But they have won 10 of their last 15 and 18 of their last 25. And since 2012, they are 22-10 at home against the Red Sox.ALL LEFT OUTThe Angels parted ways with their opening-day platoon in left field, designating Daniel Nava and Craig Gentry for assignment. Not wanting to pay the luxury tax, the Angels signed the two in the offseason for a combined $2.4 million. Nava hit .229 with one home run. Gentry hit .147 in 34 at-bats before injuring his back and being assigned to the minors. The Angels activated outfielder Shane Robinson (right ankle sprain) from the disabled list.MOVING UPThe home run by Pujols left him with 1,190 career extra-base hits, tying Lou Gehrig for ninth on baseballs all-time list. With the home run, he joined Frank Robinson, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays as the only plays with 20-plus home runs in 15 of their first 16 seasons.TRAINERS ROOMRed Sox: RHP Craig Kimbrel threw 17 pitches in his first rehab appearance. Kimbrel (surgery for torn left knee cartilage) started the game for triple-A Pawtucket, recording one out while hitting a batter and allowing one hit. Manager John Farrell it was uncertain what Kimbrells next step would be, but said he could join the team when it opens a four-game series in Seattle Tuesday.Angels: C.J. Cron may be on the verge of a remarkable recovery from his fractured left hand. Cron injured the hand on July 9 and it was originally expected he would be out six-to-eight weeks. But manager Mike Scioscia said Cron could return within two weeks. He is scheduled to be examined Tuesday and could be cleared to start swinging a bat.UP NEXTRed Sox: RHP Steven Wright (12-5) will try to bounce back from his worst start of the season when he gave up eight earned runs in 4 2/3 innings Tuesday against Detroit. In his last six starts, he has a 6.89 ERA but has gone 4-1.Angels: LHP Tyler Skaggs will try to duplicate his first start of the season. Skaggs, returning from Tommy John surgery, threw seven scoreless innings Tuesday, holding the Royals to only three hits in his first start since July 31, 2014. ' ' '