RIO DE JANEIRO -- Crucial payments to fund the travel of Paralympic teams to Brazil have not been transferred, threatening the participation of some nations, the chief executive of the Paralympic movement said on Saturday.The International Paralympic Committee said the payments, which are vital for funding travel and logistics, must be sent to its members next week. The IPC is expecting around 160 countries to participate in the Paralympics but fears withdrawals if the cash isnt received.Our number one priority is that the first instalment of support grants which the organizing committee should have paid to all participating National Paralympic Committees at the end of July, are paid in the coming week, IPC chief executive Xavier Gonzalez said in a statement.These grants are vital to many countries paying for their travel to the games in Brazil. If unpaid, they seriously threaten a countrys participation at Rio 2016.We hope by early next week to have a clearer picture of the situation Rio 2016 currently finds itself in and the solutions we are trying to find, Gonzalez said.The late payments are one of the problems threatening the successful delivery of the Sept. 7-18 Paralympics by the financially-challenged Rio organizers, with sluggish ticket sales also troubling the IPC.All week we have been working closely with all parties involved to try and find solutions to the issues the Rio 2016 organizing committee currently has in order to minimize the potential impact on next months Paralympic Games, Gonzalez said.This has included looking at how we can bring in additional funding and making some adjustments to the scope and services provided to all stakeholders. With the games fast approaching, time is of the essence, and the organizing committee must find a resolution early next week.Asked about the IPC statement, Rio organizers said: The ongoing success of the Olympic Games makes us confident of also delivering successful Paralympic Games.But Rio Games spokesman Mario Andrada acknowledged earlier Saturday that tickets sales are well below expected levels.We tried a series of measures and it seemed that they were not effective, so we decided to finish and get done with the selling of the Olympic tickets, Andrada said. As (at) previous games, we rely on the excitement and the energy produced by the Olympic Games in order to positively influence the Paralympic tickets. That has proved to be a correct strategy.We (have) begun to see people looking for Paralympic tickets now that some of the Olympic tickets are sold out. A new marketing media and ad campaign is ready to be deployed only for Paralympic-specific tickets. 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I knew before the game it might be a problem but I was hoping to throw enough pitches to get us through until we could get the lead to the bullpen.I know this is part of recovery process but it doesnt feel good when you cost your team the game. The bullpen pitched great but the starter didnt.Nova (8-6) was acquired from the New York Yankees on Monday for two players to be named and gave up three runs and six hits with five strikeouts and no walks. He had spent his entire seven-year career with New York.Nova pitched more than six innings just three times in 15 starts with the Yankees this season.I did what I wanted to do -- be a little bit aggressive in the strike zone, Nova said. I got a lot of strikes and got quick outs.Starling Marte welcomed reliever Josh Smith, who took over for Bailey, with a two-run single in the fourth to give the Pirates a 5-2 lead. 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It seems right now hes getting the barrel on the bat every time hes up to bat and the results are starting to show.Reds shortstop Zack Cozart extended his hitting streak to 14 games.Phillips second home run cut the Reds deficit to 5-3 in the seventh. He also homered in the second when Tucker Barnhart had an RBI single to put Cincinnati ahead 2-1.The Pirates scored twice against Bailey in the third to move in front 3-2. John Jaso was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded with two outs and Francisco Cervelli followed with an RBI single.The Pirates won their second game in a row following a 1-5 stretch while the Reds lost back-to-back games for the first time since dropping three in a row from July 8-10. 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