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RIO DE JANEIRO -- On their left was the United States, the birthplace of beach volleyball and the most successful country in its Olympic history.To their right was one of two Brazilian womens teams to reach the medal round on their home sand at Copacabana beach, the sports spiritual home.But there on the top step of the medal podium were Germanys Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst, claiming the second straight Olympic gold medal for their homeland and establishing it as a power in the beach volleyball world.Im speechless, Ludwig said after the 21-18, 21-14 victory over Brazils reigning world champions Wednesday night.Four years after the German men claimed the countrys first Olympic beach volleyball title, Ludwig and Walkenhorst beat the reigning world champions from Brazil to give the country its first womens beach volleyball medal.My feeling was, If they can do it, we can do it, said Ludwig, who finished fifth in 2012 and was in the stands for the mens final in London. Its a pity because never in a big tournament have we (German women) had this success. But also, happy because we are the first.Agatha and Barbara took silver just hours after Americans Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross beat Brazils other womens team. Larissa and Talita lost in the semifinals to the Germans, spoiling the hosts hopes for an all-Brazilian final.We would have liked a final with the Brazilians. It would have been very beautiful, Agatha said. But the Germans deserved the final, and they deserved the medal.With top-seeded Alison and Bruno in the mens final against Italy on Thursday, the hosts have clinched no worse than a silver, with a chance for their first gold since 2004.Of course, we wanted to win the match. But we are very proud about the medal. I think all Brazilians are proud about this medal, Agatha said. We have one medal, and we must be happy with the silver. We have one more chance with the men.The Americans in the crowd seemed to all stick around for the medal ceremony that started after 1 a.m. local time. And the Germans waving their tricolor flag were just as loud when their women were presented with the gold.But many Brazilians began heading for the exits during the final points in the championship match -- it was late, and it was a disappointing night for the host nation with two losses in as many matches.The German women had never won a medal in beach volleyball. The countrys men hadnt reached the Olympic podium since a bronze on Bondi Beach in Sydney in 2000 until Julius Brink and Jonas Reckermann took gold in London, beating Brazil in the final.But Ludwig and Walkenhorst pulled away midway through the first set and played better in a wind that picked up during the night.We said, Well take the storm and make our own storm, Ludwig said. Air Max Sale Australia . "I dont know that were close," said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. "I just think, right now, the acquisition cost just doesnt work for us right now. I dont know if I can quantify how far off or things like that that they might be but I would say we continue to have dialogue. Buy Nike Air Max Australia . The formidable trio of Canadian receivers -- individually known as Chris Getzlaf, Rob Bagg and Andy Fantuz -- will share the field at Mosaic Stadium one more time on Sunday. http://www.cheapaustraliaairmax.com/ .Y. -- Paul Byron and Matt Stajan scored as the Calgary Flames started a five-game road trip with a 2-1 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday afternoon. Cheap Nike Air Max Shoes Australia . JOHNS, N. Cheap Air Max Online Australia . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. MINNEAPOLIS -- This wasnt the way Hector Santiago wanted to start out with his new team.Acquired by Minnesota from the Los Angeles Angels at the Aug. 1 trade deadline, Santiago lost in his Twins debut last week. His first outing at his new home ballpark didnt go much better.Santiago gave up five runs -- four earned -- in 5 1/3 innings Tuesday night as the Twins were beaten 7-5 by the Houston Astros. The left-hander is 0-2 with Minnesota after going 10-4 in 22 starts for the Angels this season.The last four days weve been kind of working on something different, just trying to be in the zone as much as I can, Santiago said. The big adjustments that we made in those three days, four days between starts, that obviously showed today.In his first outing with the Twins, Santiago needed 99 pitches to get through five innings. He threw 83 pitches before he was lifted Tuesday.Like a lot of other pitchers, Santiago (10-6) had trouble getting Jose Altuve out. Altuve, who sat out Monday for the first time since June 15 last year, went 4 for 4 and scored two runs.Three of those four hits came off Santiago, all singles up the middle.You just try to throw it up there, make a good pitch and hopefully he can hit it at somebody, Santiago said. It just seems that every time he hits the ball, its somewhere where nobody is at.The Twins hit consecutive homers off Astros starter Mike Fiers in the fifth to take a 4-2 lead. Robbie Grossman hit a two-run shot and Brian Dozier followed with his 23rd of the year.It was the 10th time this season Minnesota went back-to-back, the third-most in team history.Miguel Sano also homered off Fiers when he sent the first pitch he saw in the second inning into the seats in left field. It was Sanos 19th of the season.But Santiago ran into trouble in the sixth as Houston scored three times to take a 5-4 lead.Hector, after the two-run homer in the first, settled in pretty nicely, Twins manager Paul Molitor said. He did a nice job of keeping his pitch count down, wwhich has been kind of a battle for him, and we got the home runs to supply our offense, but we certainly missed out on opportunities to execute.ddddddddddddEven though Fiers (8-5) gave up three home runs -- he allowed four total in his previous eight starts -- he benefited from a good night at the plate from his offense. Fiers entered ranked fifth in the American League in run support (6.75 runs per game).Carlos Correa drove in four runs, including a first-inning homer with Altuve on base. That snapped a drought of seven straight games for the Astros without a home run.Ken Giles allowed a run in the ninth but earned his second save.The Twins went 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position.This is all experience up here learning how to hit with runners in scoring position, Grossman said. This is different than the minor leagues. Guys have a better plan at how they attack you.POLANCO STICKING AT SHORTJorge Polanco didnt play a single inning at shortstop during his 75 games with Triple-A Rochester this season, but the 23-year-old seems to be settling in just fine at that position with the Twins.Polanco was again in the lineup at shortstop Tuesday against Houston and had no issues on anything hit his way. Molitor has been impressed with Polancos ability to move around the infield without skipping a beat.Its different here because of the speed, both in terms of how the balls hit and where you play and whos running the bases and all those type of things, Molitor said. I think thats one of the things were trying to gauge where hes at in terms of how he can slow the game down on the defensive side.UP NEXTMinnesota will send Ervin Santana (5-9, 3.62 ERA) to the mound in the third game of the series Wednesday. AL Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel (7-11, 4.56 ERA) starts for Houston. Keuchel pitched a three-hit shutout his last time out against Texas. ' ' '