Pirate Galaxy » ld is 2/3 with a 4.35 ERA in nine career starts again

RIO DE JANEIRO -- The first time Chloe Dygert stepped aboard the track bike she will be using along with her womens pursuit teammates, she completely missed what caught everybody elses attention.The drive train is on the left side.Yes, just about every bike youve ever seen has the crank on the right, from the high-tech bikes in the Olympic road race to the inexpensive bikes in sporting-goods stores to the itsy-bitsy bikes with training wheels for toddlers just learning to ride.Then it hit me, Dygert said, like, `Oh, yeah! Thats different.USA Cycling, bike manufacturer Felt and several component partners spent more than two years and hundreds of thousands of dollars -- if not millions -- to build the cutting-edge track bike.High-performance coach Neal Henderson said it should save more than 3 seconds off their U.S. squads pursuit time. And that is an eternity considering the women posted a world record of 4 minutes, 16.18 seconds at the world championships in March on their old bikes.Silver medalist Canada and bronze medalist New Zealand were 4 seconds off their pace.We zigged when others zagged, Henderson said with a smile.The drive train is only part of the equation. The bike also takes into consideration specific aerodynamics of a velodrome for the first time, resulting in an asymmetrical stance to account for yaw, specially shaped tubes and high-end carbon that produces a feather-light ride.Its a leap. I wouldnt say its Fosbury Flop-level, Henderson said, referring to Dick Fosburys revolutionary high jump technique, but its an advance.One that could advance the Americans to the top step of the podium.Their pursuit squad that will begin chasing gold Thursday won silver at the London Games, albeit with a significantly different lineup. Sarah Hammer is the only rider back and is joined by a bunch of 19- and 20-somethings in Dygert, Kelly Catlin, Jennifer Valente and Ruth Winder.I didnt take it for granted when I was asked to be on this team, Dygert said.They will be pushed by reigning gold medalist Britain, a powerful team from Canada and a banged-up Australian squad that fell heavily in training Tuesday but is still planning to compete.But the first order of business is qualifying. The finals do not take place until Saturday.The only medal up for grabs on the opening day of the track program is mens team sprint, where Britain will try to begin a similar gold rush to their one at the London Games.Jason Kenny teamed with Chris Hoy and Philip Hindes to win the team sprint four years ago, and the home nation went on to win seven gold medals during the track program. The powerful showing came after a similarly dominant effort at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.The British team pursuit squad will also be in the velodrome Thursday to begin chasing another gold medal. And some star power returned to the squad in former Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins, who won the London Games time trial before largely retiring from the road.He is back to his roots on the track, where he won the individual pursuit at the 2004 Athens Games and the Beijing Games, and was part of the team pursuit squad that won gold the same year.Wiggins can break a tie with Hoy and become Britains most decorated Olympian with a medal.Ive gone through this process to try to win a gold medal, really, and anything less than a gold would be a huge disappointment, Wiggins said. Something would have to go seriously wrong.Mark Cavendish and the rest of the British team hit the track later in the program.One of the big questions surrounding the Rio Games was whether the velodrome would be completed in time. The $56 million facility missed several deadlines and went through several contractors, and delays forced the cancellation of a test event scheduled for March.It received mixed reviews from riders who began training there this week.Its a hard track to try and go for the record on just because of the shape, Australian rider Sam Welsford said. Its got longer straights and shorter bends. The venue is incredible, there is still a lot going on -- you see cables laying around all over the place, but all that matters is the track is ready and race day we are ready to go. Jered Weaver Jersey . Halladay signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday that allowed the veteran right-hander to retire as a member of team with which he broke into the majors and spent the bulk of his distinguished 16-year career. Randy Jones Jersey . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. http://www.authenticpadrespgear.com/customized/ . Pettersen, winner of last years Evian Championships, had nine birdies and three bogeys, holding off a series of challengers led by Marion Ricordeau of France. The second-ranked Norwegian made her season debut after missing the LPGA Tours opening event last month in the Bahamas because of a shoulder injury. Tony Gwynn Jersey . - Chris Tierney snapped a tie with a power-play goal late in the third period as the London Knights rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Erie Otters 5-3 in Ontario Hockey League action on Wednesday. Dave Winfield Jersey . The injury bothered Bledsoe in the Suns victory over the Clippers on Monday and he sat out the teams home loss to Memphis on Thursday night. PITTSBURGH -- Clint Hurdles night ended three batters in on Wednesday, when the Pittsburgh Pirates manager was ejected for arguing a call with home plate umpire Sam Holbrook.The extra down time gave Hurdle a chance to watch struggling pitcher Jeff Locke from a different perspective. Hurdle wasnt exactly thrilled with what he saw.Locke walked five batters and gave up five runs before getting pulled in the top of the fourth inning of a 9-5 loss to Milwaukee, another shaky performance in a month full of them. Pittsburgh walked nine Brewers in all.I had an excellent opportunity tonight to watch where our targets were setting and where the pitchers were going, Hurdle said. It wasnt anywhere near where we need to be.Jordy Mercer went 2 for 3 with two RBI for the Pirates. David Freese doubled twice and Starling Marte added a pair of hits but Pittsburgh spent most of the game chasing the Brewers after Locke (8-6) had his ERA in July balloon to 8.16.I just had a really hard time getting ahead of people and then putting somebody away, Locke said. It seemed everybody we started with a strike to, we followed up with a ball or two balls or three balls. Just unable to put anybody away.Lockes spot in the rotation appears safe at the moment but perhaps not for much longer. Rookie Tyler Glasnow will return to the majors against Philadelphia this weekend, and with Jon Niese and Juan Nicasio both available in the bullpen and the trade deadline looming, the Pirates have options if Locke continues to have issues with consistency.Were continuing to try and work with it and help him, Hurdle said. I know hes trying to solve it.Hurdle spent most of the 3 hour, 43 minute game watching from the clubhouse after disagreeing with Holbrook, who ruled a chopper by Milwaukees Ryan Braun that bounced up and struck the slugger a foul ball. Hurdle, who believed Braun was out of the batters box and out as a result, was tossed without even exiting the dugout.It was Hurdles 50th career ejection.I just shared my view that I thought it hit him in fair play, Hurrdle said.dddddddddddd He said `thats enough. I thought it was a little early to say `thats enough. Obviously, that was enough. I exited at that point. Time out. Its the earliest Ive been run.Jonathan Lucroy drove in three runs for the Brewers, including a two-run single in the sixth inning off reliever A.J. Schugel that broke things open for good. Braun, Jonathan Villar and Hernan Perez had two hits each for Milwaukee and Chris Carter and Scooter Gennett drove in two runs apiece.Carlos Torres (2-1) won in relief of Chase Anderson, who struggled once again but was bailed out by an offense that took it to Locke and added on after the Pirates drew within 5-4 in the fifth on Freeses RBI-double to right.TRAINERS ROOMPirates: Rookie RHP Jameson Taillon remained under the MLB concussion protocol on Wednesday but trainer Todd Tomczyk said Taillon is checking out very well and is showing no ill effects of the line drive he took to the back of the head on Tuesday night. Taillon lay on the ground for several minutes after getting hit by a shot off Perezs bat in the second inning but was allowed to remain in the game after getting cleared by Tomczyk and team doctor Edward Snell.I was looking for reasons (to take him out), Tomczyk said. But he continued to show that there was no serious risk there.The 24-year-old will continue to be monitored but barring a setback will make his next scheduled start on Sunday against Philadelphia.UP NEXT:Brewers: Matt Garza will try to snap a three-game losing streak when he makes his seventh start of the season in the series finale. The 32-year-old is 2/3 with a 4.35 ERA in nine career starts against the Pirates.Pirates: Francisco Liriano looks to rediscover his dominance at PNC Park on Thursday in the series finale. Liriano is 0-3 with a 6.08 ERA in his last five home starts following a stretch in which the Pirates won 14 straight starts at PNC with Liriano on the mound. Wholesale Hoodies NFL Shirts Outlet Jerseys NFL Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '