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The Marlins return to Miami to open a 10-game homestand starting Friday against Pittsburgh, with Henderson Alvarez (0-1) slated to pitch the opene from LAM's blog

                                      RIO DE JANEIRO -- The blowouts are over. Borje Salming Jersey . The Olympics are underway.After nothing but pushovers this summer, the U.S. mens basketball team faced someone who pushed back.This is the real world now, and thats good for us, coach Mike Krzyzewski said.Finally tested, Carmelo Anthony and Kyrie Irving had the answers.Anthony scored 31 points on the night he became the U.S. mens Olympic career scoring leader, combining with Irving for all the Americans baskets in the fourth quarter of a 98-88 victory over Australia on Wednesday night.Irving, who was born in Australia, added 19 points, including a 3-pointer with 1:35 left after Australia had closed within four.A team that won its first two games by a combined 101 points could never get a comfortable lead, and for a while couldnt get one at all. The Australians, with big bodies inside, quality point guards to counter the American pressure and a wealth of NBA championship experience, stood toe to toe with the team that had blown them out of the last two Olympics in the quarterfinals.But Anthony, the first male to play in four Olympics, steadied the Americans in the first competitive game most of this new team had ever experienced.We kind of expected a game like this, a physical game, a grind-out game from playing against Australia over the past couple years, Anthony said, and going into tonight we knew it was going to come down to the end of the game where we were really going to have to buckle down and focus in and make plays down the stretch.Kevin Durant capped off the scoring with two free throws, making him the only other player than Irving or Anthony to score in the period.The Americans, who had barely broken a sweat in Brazil, trailed early in the fourth quarter before Anthony hit a flurry of 3-pointers to put the Americans on top.Patty Mills, the tournament scoring leader, had 30 points for Australia.After five easy exhibitions preceding routs of China and Venezuela to open the tournament, the Americans trailed 72-70 with about 9 minutes left. Anthony scored to tie it, hit a 3-pointer to give the Americans the lead for good, and then hit a couple of more 3s that pushed it to 83-76.The team staying on a luxury cruise ship could never relax until scoring the final five points in the last 27 seconds on free throws, with Irving hitting the first three.The Americans, so carefree in their opener that reserves DeMar DeRozan and Jimmy Butler played rock, paper, scissors to determine who would shoot a free throw, realized they were in a fight in this one.It got real, Paul George said. It definitely got real.Krzyzewski screamed at an official after Andrew Boguts hard foul on Irving just in front of the U.S. bench in the third quarter, his face looking as red as the shirts the coaching staff wore.Bogut finished with 15 points for the Australians, who have never won a medal but four of their players own NBA rings. They nearly became the first team to knock off the Americans in the Olympics since Krzyzewski took over in 2005.We have a pretty gritty group thats pretty tough and we battled all night, Bogut said.Australia had opened the Olympics with impressive victories over France and Serbia, both ranked among the top six in the world. Then the Aussies gave the team ranked No. 1 all it could handle.The Americans clinched a spot in the medal round, though that was never going to be in doubt.This game, though, was.It was the second straight game the Americans were tied after one quarter. They quickly blew away Venezuela after it was 18-all, but the only second-quarter surge in this one was made by Australians.They used a 15-3 burst to make it 46-39, and Krzyzewski actually needed a timeout to calm his team, which usually can make its postgame plans by that point of the game.Anthony moved past LeBron James as the U.S. career leader in Olympic scoring and did it quickly, using a hot start to make up the 11-point advantage James had entering the game.Irving once considered playing for Australia, where he was born while his father was playing there professionally. He exchanged a pregame hug with Matthew Dellavedova, his former backup in Cleveland, but things didnt stay nice for long.The Aussies hit hard and the Americans hit back, with George getting a technical foul for a shot at Dellavedova.It was a welcome test for the Americans, who have been so dominant under Krzyzewski that it sometimes seems the U.S. players are the only ones who dont make a gold medal sound assured.Theyve said it wont come easily. Now theyve finally had a game that didnt. Darryl Sittler Jersey . LOUIS -- Attorneys for the St. Kasperi Kapanen Jersey . Thats not a comment on the suspension that banished the Portland Winterhawks general manager and coach from his Western Hockey League teams bench for most of the 2012-13 season. http://www.cheapmapleleafsjerseyschina.com/frank-mahovlich-jersey/ . -- Jacksonville wide receiver Cecil Shorts will likely be a game-time decision whether hell play Sunday in the Jaguars home game against the San Diego Chargers.DENVER -- Rob Brantly dashed home on a wild pitch to score the games first run, and Donovan Solano stretched the lead for the Miami Marlins, who earned a rare series win in Colorado. Brantly scored in the eighth inning, Solano followed with a homer as part of a four-run ninth, and the Marlins overcame a 93-minute rain delay to beat the Rockies 5-3 on Thursday. "We put that five-spot up, they came back, we were able to hang on for the win," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "Great job to salvage what looked like was going to be a real rough road trip, and to win three games here in Colorado, a tough place to win." Miami finished its seven-game trip by taking 3 of 4 from the Rockies after getting swept at Milwaukee. It was the Marlins first series win at Colorado since 2009, when they took 2 of 3. "All the years Ive been coming here, those are the kind of games you play," said Redmond, who played 13 years in the majors. "You score two or three or four and then give up two or three. They mounted a rally. Thats what happens here." The Rockies were also stung by the loss of slugger Carlos Gonzalez after the third inning when he aggravated a sprain of the middle finger on his right hand. The team said he is day to day. Gonzalez has been dealing with the injury since July 7 when he initially sprained his finger during an at bat against Arizona. He aggravated it striking out swinging in the first inning and was replaced by pinch-hitter Jordan Pacheco. Reliever Adam Ottavino (0-2) struck out the first two batters he faced in the eighth before Brantly singled to right. Greg Dobbs, batting for reliever Dan Jennings (1-1), singled him to third. With Adeiny Hechavarria at the plate, Ottavino uncorked a pitch that bounced in the dirt and shot past catcher Wilin Rosario, allowing Brantly to score. "We were just playing no doubles, and those two balls found a hole," Ottavino said. "I spiked a pitch. It got away and thats it. Thats how quick it can happen. I thought I threw the ball all right, but nothing went my way. NNothing went the teams way today. Matt Martin Jersey. quot; Rosario said he was late in his attempt to slide to his right and stop the pitch. "Ive got to block that ball," he said. "Thats my responsibility. Maybe if that run doesnt score, we come back in the next inning. I didnt react in time." In the ninth, Giancarlo Stanton had an RBI double, and Ed Lucas added an RBI single off Wilton Lopez before Solano drove the first pitch he saw into the left field seats for his second homer of the season. "I was waiting for that pitch, a little bit in, and tried to elevate it," Solano said. "I got a good swing on it, and thats it. Hit a home run." The Rockies rallied off Kevin Slowey for three runs in the ninth. Steve Cishek relieved, and after yielding a one-out single to Nolan Arenado, he induced Jonathan Herrera to ground into a game-ending double play for his 20th save in 22 chances. Miami starter Nathan Eovaldi threw six scoreless innings, and Colorados Juan Nicasio had a season-high nine strikeouts in seven scoreless innings. Neither pitcher returned after the delay caused by wind-driven thunder showers in the middle of the seventh. Jennings pitched a scoreless seventh to earn the win. NOTES: Marlins OF Marcell Ozuna will have season-ending surgery on Friday to repair torn ligaments and an avulsion fracture of his left thumb. He was playing centre field at Colorado on Monday when he was injured making a diving catch on a sixth-inning drive by Michael Cuddyer. ... Stanton went 2 for 4 with a pair of doubles, an RBI and one run scored. Hes batting .333 with four doubles, 7 home runs and 13 RBIs in 11 career games at Coors Field. ... The Marlins return to Miami to open a 10-game homestand starting Friday against Pittsburgh, with Henderson Alvarez (0-1) slated to pitch the opener against the Pirates Jeff Locke (9-2). ... Colorado continues its homestand by opening a three-game set against Milwaukee. The Rockies Tyler Chatwood (6-3) facing Wily Peralta (7-9). ... Nicasios nine strikeouts were one below his career high. 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