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RIO DE JANEIRO -- Despite all the talk at the Olympics about Brazils talented strikers, its the defense thats holding the team together as the host tries to win the soccer gold medal for the first time.Brazil has yet to concede a goal entering Saturdays final against Germany at the Maracana Stadium, helping keep the pressure off an offense led by Neymar and youngsters Gabigol and Gabriel Jesus.We are just doing our part, said defender Marquinhos, who on Wednesday scored a goal in the 6-0 rout of Honduras in the semifinals. We know that if we keep playing well back there and dont concede any goals, the attack will guarantee us the victories.Brazil is the only team with a clean sheet at the Olympic tournament, outscoring opponents 12-0 after five matches. Germany enters the final with 21 goals scored and five against.The entire team has been helping, and thats important, said central defender Rodrigo Caio. The strikers have been coming back when needed. That makes our lives easier. If we can remain scoreless one more game, Im sure we will be able to reach our goal of winning the gold.Rodrigo Caio and Marquinhos are the leaders of the defense. Rodrigo Caio, 23, plays for Brazilian club Sao Paulo but soon will be on his way to Europe. The 22-year-old Marquinhos plays for Paris Saint-Germain in France, where he is often a starter.Gifted right back Zeca, from Brazilian club Santos, where Neymar used to play, helps both on offense and defense, while 22-year-old Douglas Santos, who has played for small clubs in Spain and Italy, is solid on the left flank.There used to be concern about the goalkeeper, Weverton, who was added to the team just before the tournament after regular starter Fernando Prass was dropped due to injury. But the 28-year-old Atletico Paranaense player has been doing well when needed. Despite Brazils comfortable victory Wednesday over Honduras, he made two great saves in the second half to keep the sheet clean.He also excelled in the first two games of the tournament, when the attack failed to score and Brazil was held to scoreless draws against South African and Iraq.We have found a good balance, Brazil coach Rogerio Micale said. We have been doing well both on offense and on defense, and thats key for a team that wants to win a competition. We fully trust our defenders, just like we trust our strikers.Brazil was the main favorite to win the Olympic gold, the only significant trophy it hasnt won in soccer. The five-time World Cup champions have won the silver medal three times and the bronze twice. Brazil lost to Mexico in the final four years ago in London, when Neymar also played.---Tales Azzoni on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tazzoni. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/tales-azzoni Discount Nike NBA Jerseys . 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SAN DIEGO -- Officially, the matchup for Sundays finale of the four-game series between the Rockies and Padres features San Diegos Edwin Jackson going against Colorados Chad Bettis.But the real matchup might be between the Padres and, well, the Padres.Once again, the Padres face the triple whammy of a Sunday afternoon game to complete a series.The Padres are 13-32 in day games this season, including 6-12 in day games at Petco Park. Plus, they are 5-17 on Sundays. And they are 10-34 in series finales.The combination of a series finale on a Sunday afternoon is almost a no-win situation for the Padres.I have no idea what that all means, Padres manager Andy green said recently. Those numbers are bad. But I dont think there is any logical reason why they are like that. I think its one of those things that eventually even out.In other areas, the Padres havent fared that badly. Overall, they are 33-37 at Petco Park this season. They have gone 15-8 on Fridays and 14-9 on Saturdays. Tuesdays (4-17) are even worse than Sundays.OK, so back to the real matchup -- Jackson vs. Bettis.The right-handed Jackson, who turned 33 Friday, is 4-4 with a 5.44 earned run average in nine starts since joining the Padres on July 17. As he has throughout his career, Jackson has blown hot and cold. Twice he has gone into the sixth inning without allowing a hit. Twice he has thrown shutout ball for seven full innings. And he has also given up eight runs (in four innings), six runs (in five innings) and five runs in back-to-back startts that covered a total of 7 2/3 innings.dddddddddddd.Bettis is 12-7 with a 4.88 ERA in 28 starts and leads the Rockies in wins. In his most recent start, Bettis achieved the rarity of pitching a complete game shutout at Coors Field -- holding the San Francisco Giants to two hits and no walks with seven strikeouts.I thought Chads last start showed us just how good he can be, said Rockies manager Walt Weiss. All his pitches were working and his command was there. Hes developing into a starter with consistent outings.Bettis, a 27-year-old second-round pick of the Rockies in the 2010 draft, is 20-13 over 48 starts the past two seasons with the Rockies.He has faced the Padres eight times with five starts. He is 2-1 against the Padres with a 2.73 ERA in 29 2/3 innings. He has a 27-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio against the Padres. His loss to the Padres came the last time Bettis pitched at Petco Park on June 4. He allowed four runs on 10 hits in five innings.This will be Jacksons first start as a Padre against the Rockies.In his last start, Jackson shut out the Red Sox on four hits and two walks over seven innings on Labor Day.Jackson is the first Padres pitcher since Chris Young in 2006 to twice take a no-hitter into the sixth inning in the same season.The good games are great, Jackson said after evening his record at 4-4 against the Red Sox. But Id like to be good more consistently. ' ' '