Vorstellungen » ht, the Braves have RHP Ervin Santana (5-2, 4.1

GLASGOW -- Chantal Petitclerc has watched the Maple Leaf go up to the sounds of O Canada countless times over her illustrious 20-year career as a wheelchair racer. Ildemaro Vargas Jersey . Monday afternoon, she wore the smile of a proud parent when the Canadian team marched in for the traditional flag-raising ceremony at the Commonwealth Games athletes village. "Its really an amazing experience being here, watching the athletes getting ready," Petitclerc said. "Ive been retired six years now, so its enough distance to actually know what its like, but not wanting to be there myself because Ive done it, but really wishing the best for all of them." The 44-year-old, who won 21 Paralympic medals including 14 gold, is Canadas chef de mission in Glasgow. She led some 100 Canadian athletes plus coaches and staff members into Mondays welcome ceremony. "Its a very new feeling for me, because as you know athletes can be very egocentric. So after 20 years of thinking about myself and my own performance, it is a great feeling caring and wanting the best for all the other athletes," Petitclerc said. Canada is fielding a team of 265 athletes for the Games, and those in attendance Monday, decked out in their white and red Canada T-shirts and white track pants, were all smiles as the Canadian flag was raised and O Canada played. Bal Gosal, Canadas sports minister, greeted the athletes with a handshake. The festive ceremony on a sun-drenched afternoon featured a performance by young singers and dancers, some with fiddles and guitars. Susan Nattrass, a veteran of six Olympics and now five Commonwealth Games, will carry Canadas flag into Wednesdays opening ceremonies. She took the opportunity to mingle with her teammates. "Its such an honour and you want to be very appreciative. And then you also really encourage everyone to enjoy it," Nattrass said. "Its fun. I was talking to the (lawn) bowlers today. And the rugby guys. Its really fun and its really interesting to see and meet with people and hear of their experiences." The athletes village, which sits in the shadow of Celtic Park -- normally home to Celtic FC soccer club and the venue for Wednesdays opening ceremonies -- was abuzz with athletes milling about at the nearby shopping area and hair and nail salon. "Were really excited. The village has been great -- feels like youre at home," said Kate Gillis, captain of Canadas womens field hockey team. The positive vibe was a departure from four years ago when organizers were still rushing to finish the athletes village -- amid complaints of unsanitary conditions -- and sports venues at the Games in New Delhi. An outbreak of norovirus, a highly contagious gastrointestinal illness, made headlines in Glasgow last week after 53 employees at the athletes village fell ill. But Glasgow officials said the virus was under control, and shut down a temporary toilet facility that was identified as the likely source of the bug. Preparation for Glasgow has been otherwise smooth sailing. There have been no grumblings about venue construction, tickets are sold out for many events, and the athletes have raved about the athletes village. The only minor concern has been about the weather in a country known almost as much for its soggy conditions as its Scotch and its shortbread. But there was no rain in sight Monday as temperatures reached 22 C. And the forecast is even brighter, calling for sunny skies and temperatures that could soar as 26 this week. The Games feature some 4,500 athletes competing in 17 sports over 11 days. Its the only fully integrated major Games, with 22 Paralympic events in five sports. Petitclerc, who carried Canadas flag into the opening ceremonies at the 2006 Games in Melbourne, Australia, won gold over 800 metres at the 2002 Games -- when Paralympic sports were given official status -- and then again in 2006. The welcome ceremony, she said, represented the "last countdown" before the athletes competitions begin. "So every athlete is really trying to focus on their event and getting a little bit of butterflies, so its a very important moment," she said. "At this point, physically, theres not much they can do except for resting, so it becomes a mental situation where youre really trying to find that good place in your head and just be good. "Thats how the village and the team is important because it can provide a home away from home." The Canadian teams goal is to reclaim its traditional spot among the top three in the medal table after finishing fourth four years ago in New Delhi behind Australia, England and host India. Canada claimed 76 total medals in 2010, including 26 gold, 17 silver and 33 bronze. Randy Johnson Jersey . The 6-foot-10 centre who won an NBA title with the Miami Heat was voted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Monday, adding that honour to becoming a board member at his alma mater. Taijuan Walker Jersey . Venable and Jeremy Hermida drove in three runs apiece, and the Padres beat the Colorado Rockies 7-2 on Sunday to snap a nine-game losing streak. https://www.cheapdiamondbacksjerseys.us/1188l-alex-cintron-jersey-diamondbacks.html . The mixed zone is not a place to make friends.PHOENIX -- Nine days past his 26th birthday, Craig Kimbrel is the Atlanta Braves career leader in saves. That number figures to get a lot bigger before hes through. Kimbrel got the final four outs in the Braves 5-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night, earning his 16th save of the season (in 18 tries) and 155th of his career. Thats one more than John Smoltz. Those 155 saves have come in 172 opportunities. "Ive been a part of a lot of good teams and had a lot of opportunities," Kimbrel said. "Having the chance my first full season to be a closer, that doesnt happen very often and thats why were sitting here talking today, because I had that opportunity a lot of guys dont have. "I feel blessed and grateful for it." Kimbrel had one save in 2010, 46 in 2011, 42 in 2012 and 50 in 2013. "Ive played with him for four years and some change and hes already the franchise leader in saves," teammate Jason Heyward said. "Thats pretty cool." Hayward drove in three runs, two with a home run, and Andrelton Simmons doubled in a run for the Braves. Julio Teheran (6-3) gave up two runs and five hits in seven innings to win his fourth straight decision. Didi Gregorius became the first Diamondback to hit leadoff home runs in consecutive starts. He did it Wednesday in Colorado, sat out Thursdays game, then did it again Friday. Arizonas Brandon McCarthy (1-8) allowed three runs and nine hits in 6 1-3 innings, striking out nine and walking one. McCarthy singled in the tying run in the fifth, his first career RBI. Kimbrel entered the game with two outs and a runner at first in the eighth inning and got his former Atlanta teammate Martin Prado looking to end the inning. With a three-run lead in the ninth, Kimbrel got Aaron Hill and David Peralta to fly out, then Tuffy Gosewich popped out to end it. It was just his third career four-out save. "He hadnt pitched since last Saturday," manager Fredi Gonzalez said, "so we were able to do that." The Braves broke a 2-2 tie in the seventh when, with oone out, Heyward drew the only walk McCarthy allowed. Reggie Sanders Jersey. Simmons lashed a double to the corner in left, scoring Heyward from first. The Atlanta leadoff hitter used his long arms to connect with a ball that was high and outside and drove it to the opposite field. "It was a pitch I dont expect to get hit at all," McCarthy said. "It was right where I wanted it. It was a hard four-seamer up and away and I wanted to use it to establish something else. He took a good swing at it and hit a home run. I was pretty surprised." They added another run in the ninth on Heywards RBI single. Right fielder Gerardo Parra robbed Simmons of an extra-base hit and probably saved a run with a diving grab in the ninth. Atlanta took the lead in the fifth when Jordan Schafer doubled over third base to start the inning. He scored on Heywards home run to left that made it 2-1. Gregorius, called up from Triple-A Reno on Tuesday, opened the game with a shot just over the fence in right. Teheran didnt allow another hit until Peralta, another recent arrival from the minors, led off the fifth with a ground-rule double. Teheran retired the next two batters, but McCarthy -- 2 for 23 for the season to that point -- slapped a single between shortstop and third to bring Peralta home and tie it 2-2. Ex-Diamondback Justin Upton, greeted with a mix of boos and cheers, struck out three times against McCarthy, then flied out to the fence in right and drove in a run with a bloop single in the ninth. NOTES: In the second day of the amateur draft, Arizona chose OF Matt Railey of North Florida Christian Academy. Hes committed to Florida State. ... Braves RHP Jordan Walden, recovering from a strained left hamstring, began a rehab assignment Thursday night for Triple-A Gwinnett against Columbus, facing four batters in two-thirds inning, giving up a run and two hits. He struck out the first three batters, but the third reached on a wild pitch. The next batter homered. ... On Saturday night, the Braves have RHP Ervin Santana (5-2, 4.10 ERA) facing LHP Wade Miley (3-6, 4.85). ' ' '