red in two games for the Red Sox this season, giving up seven runs in 2 2/3 innings.TRAINERS ROOMRoyals: RHP Kris Medlen

The prospect of winning gold isnt good enough for some of tenniss most decorated players. Last week, Bob?and Mike Bryan, owners of 16 Grand Slam titles, became the latest to drop out of the Rio Games, which start later this week.The brothers, who won the gold medal in London four years ago, joined a number of top-10 singles players bailing on Rio. Unfortunate, yes, but a permanent blemish on tennis? Far from it.We still have Serena Williams, who will enter the competition fresh off her record-tying 22nd Grand Slam title run at Wimbledon. The mens top player, Novak Djokovic, will also be there. After running through the French Open field to cap a career Grand Slam, the only chasm in his résumé is Olympic gold.Yes, tennis will survive the defections.In fact, many elements in the Olympic controversy underscore how successfully tennis has lifted itself out of the gilded ghetto of elitist, individual sports to become a full-fledged member of the Olympic family. If you want to see just how far tennis has come, you only have to look at the crisis in golf.Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Northern Irelands Rory McIlroy -- the top four golfers in the world -- are among those skipping Rio, most of them because of concerns over Zika.Golf, back in the Olympics for the first time after an absence of 112 years, might not get invited back because of the lack of enthusiasm. McIlroy rubbed a little salt in the wound when he said during an interview at The Open that he wouldnt even watch the Olympic golf on TV. Instead, he would watch the stuff that matters.Tennis got off to a somewhat rocky start in the Olympics as well. Canceled in 1924, it returned with the Games of 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. Only two of the top 10 men were entered that year -- and not because injuries prevented them from going.Top-ranked Mats Wilander withdrew, citing shin splints, but then played a tournament in Italy before the games in Seoul were even over. No. 2-ranked Ivan Lendl couldnt get official sanction to play for his adopted home in the U.S., and he refused to play for his native Czechoslovakia.Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe were indifferent, as was Martina Navratilova. To them, it was all about the Grand Slams. All that hullabaloo about the Olympic Village, hobnobbing with the worlds greatest athletes, the Olympic spirit ... it just wasnt for them. They were lone wolves, mercenaries who got paid to play. Years later, McEnroe would come to regret his stance.But globally, Olympic champions have always been accorded national-hero status almost everywhere. And today, tennis has become no different. Lindsay Davenport and Andre Agassi, who understood the Olympic cachet, won gold for the U.S. in Atlanta in 1996. It helped shape the attitude of American players for years to come.You certainly cant overlook the fidelity of the Williams sisters, Venus?and Serena. You can analyze their loyalty to the Olympic cause many ways, but maybe it just comes down to this: Its impossible to predict who will -- or wont -- be susceptible to the tug of patriotism. Its a deeply personal thing.Top-ranked European players have generally all reveled in the opportunity.Roger Federer made his Olympic Games debut in Sydney, Australia, in 2000. He still glows when he describes the experience, either because he was just 19 and made the semis or because he began dating his wife, Mirka, there -- or both. His respect for the Olympics has burned undiminished for nearly two decades. Its influence cannot be overestimated.Its a pity that Federers left knee gave out before he could make good on his promise to spend his 34th summer chasing gold in the molten light of the Brazil afternoon. It unfairly dampens the impressive response the players have mustered to the challenges of Rio.Realistically speaking, tennis players dont need the Olympics, especially these Olympics. They play a sport with great material rewards, loaded with year-round opportunities. They heard the horror stories about raw sewage in the streets, and theyve been aware of the security concerns. They play an individual sport. They can choose to take a pass and its nobody elses nevermind.They can skip the Olympics, as some invariably do, because the Games are shoehorned into an already loaded summer schedule. This year, they can skip them because of Brazils notorious crime. Because theres a Bruce Springsteen concert somewhere. Because of deadly Zika mosquitoes. Because the internet in Rio is slow. Because there are no ranking points to be gained.But the wonderful thing for tennis is that the vast majority of eligible players, including the very best players, are all-in for Rio. Theyre setting aside their concerns and going. Tennis is loved by the Olympics, and its loving the Olympics back. Everybody wins. Cheap Air Max Online . Ouellette, from Montreal, already has three Olympic gold medals since joining the team in 1999. Cheap Air Max 90 . After the whistle, Thornton skated the length of the ice, pulled Orpik to the ice from behind and punched him in the face several times. http://www.airmax2018outlet.us/ . -- New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis is retiring after a 16-year career to become the goalie coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Cheap Air Max . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early. Wholesale Air Max 95 . -- Jakob Silfverberg is making himself right at home with the Anaheim Ducks, scoring four goals in his first four games. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Danny Duffy keeps winning and so do the Kansas City Royals.Duffy won his 10th straight decision, Eric Hosmer doubled in the go-ahead run and the Kansas City Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 2-1 Sunday for their eighth consecutive win.The Royals swept a four-game series from the Twins for the first time since 1999 and have their longest winning streak since an eight-game run Aug. 3-11, 2014. The Royals have won 13 of 15 since the Rally Mantis showed up in the dugout.We all know as a team we can go on some crazy runs, Hosmer said.Duffy (11-1), unbeaten since June 6, improved to 5-0 with a 1.18 ERA in August. His 2.66 ERA ranks second in the American League, while his .917 winning percent tops the majors.Duffy left after 6 2/3 innings, allowing one run and a season-high eight hits while walking two and striking out four.There was a lot of traffic out there, Duffy said. I made some pitches when I had to. When you dont have your best stuff, you just battle. Thats kind of how I felt today, just get through as many outs as I can and let your defense play behind you. And goodness, didnt they, the defense killed it out there today. Im very happy with the way it went.He outpitched Twins right-hander Ervin Santana (6-10), who allowed two runs and five hits while striking out 10 and walking one over seven innings.They way hes been pitching the last few games, hes lights out, Santana said of Duffy. Hes doing his job. Hes doing what hes supposed to do. He just keeps everybody off balance. He just locates his fastball and his changeup. So, thats what makes him better today.Duffy worked out a no-out, bases loaded jam in the second inning with the help of a couple of fielding gems. After Eddie Rosario struck out, Alex Gordon made a sliding catch of Kurt Suzukis fly to shallow left . Third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert snagged Danny Santanas hard hit grounder and threw out Eduardo Escobar at second base.I thought it could have been his best start in this run, Royals manager Ned Yost said. For the simple reason he was really struggling with command of his fastball. When good pitchers dont have their best stuff, they still find ways to compete at a high level and thats exactly what Danny did with the help of some great defense.ddddddddddddHosmers two-out double in the sixth over the head of center fielder Rosario scored Lorenzo Cain, who had an infield single.Hosmer singled in the second, moved to third on Kendrys Morales double and scored on Alcides Escobars ground out for the first Kansas City run.Santana has a 1.91 ERA in his past 11 starts after beginning the season 1-7 with a 5.10 ERA.Its terrible, man, Twins second baseman Brian Dozier said to be swept by the Royals. Were playing good, it seems like. These past four games weve always make that one mistake and against good teams like Kansas City, its not getting people in, bases loaded, nobody out, thats the ballgame.Robbie Grossman and Trevor Plouffe doubled in the third to produce the only run off Duffy.Kelvin Herrera pitched a perfect ninth to log his seventh save in nine chances.MOLITORS BIRTHDAYTwins manager Paul Molitor turns 60 Monday. Theres some plans being made for me, Molitor said. Ill be a willing participant. Itll be nice to have an off day and do some things with the family. But not celebrate, Im past that point.NO MAUER1B Joe Mauer, who is a career .326 hitter with 14 home runs and 111 RBI against the Royals, went 0 for 12 in the series and was not in the lineup Sunday. He grounded out as a pinch hitter in the ninth.SEEING THE LIGHTThe Twins recalled RHP Pat Light, who was acquired from Boston on Aug. 1, from Triple-A Rochester, where he had a 2.57 ERA in six outings. He appeared in two games for the Red Sox this season, giving up seven runs in 2 2/3 innings.TRAINERS ROOMRoyals: RHP Kris Medlen (rotator cuff inflammation) made a Saturday rehab start for Triple-A Omaha, allowing three runs and two hits, including a home run, and a walk in 1 2/3 innings against Nashville. He threw 22 strikes in 34 pitches.UP NEXTTwins: RHP Kyle Gibson starts the series opener against Detroit on Tuesday. Gibson threw a complete-game Wednesday at Atlanta.Royals: RHP Yordano Ventura starts the series opener at Miami on Tuesday. Ventura is 0-2 in two interleague starts, yielding 11 runs over eight innings. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '