Simone Biles headlines a U.S. women's gymnastics team eyeing redemption at the Paris Olympics

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — They all had a reason to come back. Every single one of them.

Simone Biles to move past those wrenching two weeks in Japan three years ago, when the gymnastics superstar prioritized her mental health and safety over glory, a decision that inspired some and maddened others.

Suni Lee to prove — perhaps to herself most of all — that the all-around gold medal she earned while Biles watched from the stands wasn't a fluke.

Jordan Chiles to turn the team silver she helped secure at the 2020 Games into gold.

Jade Carey to be an official member of the five-woman Olympic squad after earning her way to Tokyo as an individual qualifier, a pathway not available to the U.S. this time around and frankly, one she had no interest in exploring again anyway.

They're all stepping back into the unique spotlight — oh, and 16-year-old newcomer Hezly Rivera, too — only the sport's biggest stage can provide.

Their reasons are deeply personal. Their motivation, however, is not.

“This is definitely our redemption tour,” Biles said after sewing up a third trip to the Olympics by winning the U.S. trials on Sunday night. “I feel like we all have more to give.”

Perhaps no one more than Biles, who at 27 is the oldest American woman to make an Olympic gymnastics team since the 1950s. She never expected to still be doing this nearly a decade after becoming a crossover sensation at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.

And here she is. Still working. Still pushing. Not to shut up the critics who still flood her mentions on social media wondering if she'll “quit” again, but because she remains determined to extract everything she can out of her remarkable talent.

“Nobody’s forcing me to do it,” said Biles, who posted a two-day total of 117.225 to claim the all-around by nearly six points over Lee. “I wake up every day and choose to grind in the gym and come out here and perform for myself. Just to remind myself that I can still do it.”

And do it at a level that no one else in her sport — and when she's at her best, maybe sports in general — can match.

A trip to France has never really been in doubt since Biles returned from a two-year break last summer. All she's done over the last 12 months is win a sixth world all-around title and capture her eighth and ninth national championships — both records — while doing the hardest gymnastics of her life.

She will be a prohibitive favorite when she steps onto the Bercy Arena floor though there is plenty to work on before women's qualifying on July 28. Yet there are things to clean up over the next four weeks.

Biles backpedaled after landing her Yurchenko double pike vault, a testament to both the vault's difficulty and the immense power she generates during a skill few male gymnasts try and even fewer land as cleanly.

She hopped off the beam after failing to land her side aerial, though she wasn't quite as frustrated as she was during a sloppy performance on Friday that left her uttering an expletive for all the world to see.

Biles finished with a flourish on floor exercise, her signature event. Though there was a small step out of bounds, there was also the unmatched world-class tumbling that recently drew a shoutout from pop star Taylor Swift, whose song “Ready For It” opens Biles' routine.

She stepped off the podium to a standing ovation, then sat down atop the steps to take in the moment in what could be her last competitive round on American soil for quite a while. Maybe ever.

Biles sidestepped questions about what lies ahead. That can wait. It's been a long, winding road back to this moment. She's intent on trying to enjoy it even while being part of a team that will have “a lot of weight on our shoulders.”

She believes she and her teammates are in a better position to handle it.

“It's really nice that Tokyo gave us that opportunity to open up that stage for that talk," Biles said. “And so I think now athletes are a little bit more in tune and we just trust what our gut is saying.”

And Biles’ gut told her that if she wanted to come back, she needed to do it on her terms. That meant taking intentional steps to make sure her life is no longer defined by her gymnastics.

She married Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens in the spring of 2023 and the two are building a house in the northern Houston suburbs they hope to move into shortly after Biles returns from Paris.

Biles heads to France as perhaps the face of the U.S. Olympic movement, though she's well aware that more than a few of the millions that will tune in to watch next month will be checking to see if the demons that derailed her in Tokyo resurface.

And while there are still moments of anxiety — including at last year's world championships — she has put safeguards in place to protect herself. She meets with a therapist weekly, even during competition season, something she didn't do in preparation for the 2020 Games.

The Americans will take their oldest women's team ever to the Games, as Biles' unrivaled longevity — she hasn't lost a meet she's started and finished since 2013 — and the easing of rules around name, image and likeness rules at the NCAA level allowed Carey (24), Chiles (23) and Lee (21) to continue to compete while cashing in on their newfound fame at the same time.

They have relied on that experience during a sometimes harrowing meet that saw leading contenders Shilese Jones, Skye Blakely and Kayla DiCello exit with leg injuries that took them out of the mix weeks before the potential realization of a lifelong dream.

Watching good friends leave the arena in tears offered a reminder of how thin the line between making it and not making it can be. Biles has been on the right side of that line longer than she ever anticipated. She's going to try and enjoy it, pressure and all.

She may have gotten ahead of herself in 2021. She's intent on not letting that happen this time around.

“I feel like success is just what I make it,” she said. “I feel like right now I’ve been successful of competing at Olympic trials and making the Paris Olympic team. So then we’ll see from there on out.”

AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

The U.S. women's team from left to right, Suni Lee, Simone Biles, Hezly Rivera, Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey, smile after being named to the 2024 Olympic team at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials on Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Simone Biles competes on the uneven bars at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials on Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Simone Biles competes on the balance beam at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials on Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Simone Biles competes in the floor exercise at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials on Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Suni Lee competes on the uneven bars at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials on Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Jordan Chiles competes on the vault at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials on Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Jade Carey competes on the uneven bars at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials on Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Hezly Rivera competes on the uneven bars at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials on Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

From left to right, Joscelyn Roberson, Suni Lee, Hezly Rivera, Jade Carey, Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles and Leanne Wong smile after they were named to the 2024 Olympic team at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials on Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Jordan Chiles, left, and Suni Lee, center, jump in celebration after the team was named for 2024 Olympics at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials on Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Jordan Chiles competes in the floor exercise at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials on Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

From left to right, Joscelyn Roberson, Suni Lee, Hezly Rivera, Jade Carey, Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles and Leanne Wong smiles after they were named to the 2024 Olympic team at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials on Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Simone Biles and the U.S. women celebrate as the 2024 team is named at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials on Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

The women celebrate as the 2024 team is named for the Paris Olympics at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials on Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Jordan Chiles takes a selfie with the team after the women were named to the 2024 Olympic team at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials on Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Suni Lee competes in the floor exercise at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials on Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Minneapolis.(AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Suni Lee competes in the floor exercise at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials on Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Simone Biles reacts after her balance beam performance at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials on Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Simone Biles competes on the balance beam at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials on Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Simone Biles competes on the balance beam at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials on Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Simone Biles bobbles and falls off the balance beam at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials on Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Simone Biles competes on the uneven bars at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials on Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Simone Biles competes on the vault at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials on Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Simone Biles competes on the uneven bars at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials on Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Simone Biles competes on the uneven bars at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials on Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Simone Biles competes on the uneven bars at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials on Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Texas starter Nathan Eovaldi allowed one hit over seven innings, Nathaniel Lowe hit a pair of two-run homers and the Texas Rangers ended their 11-game losing streak to the San Diego Padres with a 7-0 win on Tuesday night.

Eovaldi (5-3) struck out six while retiring 21 of 22 batters. The right-hander threw 61 of his 92 pitches for strikes.

“He was great. That's the guy that he wants to be for us every time he gets the ball,” Lowe said. “Beautiful. That's what he does.”

Jonathan Hernández gave up a hit over the final two innings to wrap up the Rangers' eighth shutout this season. San Diego, which had won nine of its previous 11 games, was held scoreless for the sixth time.

Texas snapped what had been its longest losing streak against a single opponent in franchise history, and dated to September 2018. It was San Diego’s most consecutive wins against another team, and MLB’s longest active streak.

San Diego’s only hit off Eovaldi was a single to right on a first-pitch cutter to No. 9 hitter Bryce Johnson, a .167 hitter, with two outs in the third.

That was two batters after Ha-Seong Kim’s grounder deflected off third baseman Jonathan Ornelas. Shortstop Josh Smith was running forward when he made a bare-handed pick off the one hop and threw in one motion to get the batter out at first.

“We had some really good defensive plays behind me, so that always helps,” Eovaldi said. “Whenever we’re able to score first, my job is to keep it at bay and try not to let them get back in the game. ... Once we get a big enough lead, you kind of switch into that attack mode even more.”

Lowe put Texas up 2-0 when he pulled a pitch from Dylan Cease (7-7) into the seats in right field in the first inning. Lowe went the opposite way in the third, a 383-foot homer that just cleared the wall in left for a 5-0 lead.

It was Lowe's fifth career multihomer game, his first in three years and a day. It was also his third game in a row with multiple hits, and sixth in an 11-game span when he has 12 RBIs.

Leody Taveras had a pair of doubles, the first one driving in a run. He scored after the other one when Marcus Semien snapped an 0-for-18 slide with a bloop single that made it 6-0 in the fourth. Taveras walked leading off the sixth and scored when Ornelas doubled for his first career RBI.

Cease allowed six runs on eight hits, six for extra bases, in 3 2/3 innings that matched his shortest start of the season. He struck out five and walked two.

“I didn’t execute well,” Cease said. “Really didn’t get anything going, didn’t give us a chance. So not a good night.”

Padres left fielder Jurickson Profar, who could be back in Texas in two weeks for the All-Star Game, was 0 for 3 to end his 13-game hitting streak. That had matched his career best, set in 2016 with Texas.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Padres: Manager Mike Shildt said 2B Xander Bogaerts (left shoulder fracture) had favorable reports about his latest CT scan and is close to starting a rehab assignment. Bogaerts got hurt May 20 when diving for a ball when playing the field. ... C Luis Campusano (left thumb bruise) was set to catch for Class A Lake Elsinore after being the designated hitter Monday in his first rehab game.

Rangers: SS Corey Seager was out of the lineup for the second game in a row since getting hit by a pitch on his left wrist Saturday. ... RHP Tyler Mahle pitched two scoreless innings for Triple-A Round Rock in his first rehab start since Tommy John surgery in May 2023. He threw 12 of his 19 pitches for strikes against Sugar Land.

UP NEXT

Rangers right-hander Jon Gray (3-4, 3.77 ERA) has 12 career wins against the Padres, his most against any team. Right-hander Adam Mazur (1-2, 7.25) makes his sixth career start for San Diego.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

San Diego Padres shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, right, of South Korea, watches from the dugout with teammate Joe Musgrove during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (17) asks for a clarification of a call by home plate umpire Alfonso Marquez (72) during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi, right, gets a congratulatory hand from teammate catcher Jonah Heim (28) after the third out during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

A broken bat flies past San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease (84) during the second inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Texas Rangers Nathaniel Lowe, left, is congratulated by third base coach Tony Beasley (27) as Lowe rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Rangers Josh Smith also scored on the play. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Texas Rangers Nathaniel Lowe hits a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Texas Rangers Josh Smith also scored on the play. (AP Photo/LM Otero)