which is without injured Elena Delle Donne, jus

ST. LOUIS -- The Kansas City Royals waited a long time between wins. They had no problem waiting to put this one in the books. Jeff Francoeur and Eric Hosmer combined for three RBIs in the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals bullpen and the Royals spoiled Michael Wachas almost spotless debut, snapping an eight-game losing streak with a rain-delayed 4-2 victory on Thursday night. "We talk about this streak, weve been in every game, weve been one hit away, and tonight we got the hit," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "Those are games that can get you turned around. Hopefully, that will be the case." Hall of Famer George Bretts debut as interim batting coach was a success and the Royals avoided a four-game sweep despite totalling only four hits in a marathon delayed an hour before the first pitch and another 4 hours, 32 minutes not long after the Royals took the lead with the bases loaded and none out in the top of the ninth. It took 12 minutes to get the last six outs of a game that would have been a snappy 2 hours, 27 minutes without the rain. "To get a win and break the streak, hopefully well carry some momentum tomorrow night," Francoeur said. From a near capacity crowd of 43,916, a couple hundred fans at most were around when the game scheduled to start at 7:15 p.m. CDT ended at 3:14 a.m. Umpire crew chief Joe West opted for patience and declined to invoke a rule clause in the final season meeting between teams that would have wiped out the top of the ninth and declared the Cardinals 2-1 winners. "I wasnt sure we were going to get that game in, and to lose in that fashion after coming back in the ninth inning wouldnt have been right," Yost said. "I credit Joe West for hanging in there. I credit their grounds crew for getting the field playable." Cardinals manager Mike Matheny and general manager John Mozeliak lobbied during the delay for an eight-inning St. Louis win. Matheny said the field was "bad." "And I thought our grounds crew did a tremendous job," Matheny added. "This comes down to one of my guys getting hurt, its a big deal. "Fortunately they got it to where we could play." West told pool reporter Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the Cardinals did not express their frustration to him directly, made no statement and did not lodge a protest. The length of game created a bit of a hardship for that crew, set to work a Cubs day game on Friday. "We worry about that game when we get to that one," West said. "We had to worry about this game tonight." The Royals headed for a weekend series in Texas while the Cardinals are at home Friday night against the Giants. Matheny paid a hefty price for giving closer Edward Mujica a day off after earning four saves in four days. Francoeur homered on the second pitch from Mitchell Boggs, a curious choice to get the ball in the ninth given season-long woes that left him with a double-digit ERA and included a stint in the minors. Boggs (0-3) faced two batters, retired neither and was loudly booed by a near-sellout crowd forced into a second rain delay. He was demoted May 3 after a 12.66 ERA and 12 walks in 10 2-3 innings. He has allowed a run in three of four appearances since returning on May 19, and none of the first three outings came with the game on the line. Matheny said after the game that rookie set-up man Trevor Rosenthal also had been unavailable. Hosmer, who had one RBI the previous 10 games, bounced a bases-loaded double over a drawn-in infield off Victor Marte. The 21-year-old Wacha, who allowed a run on two hits in seven innings, was the third rookie to debut as a starter for the Cardinals and came close to matching John Gast and Tyler Lyons as first-game winners. Wacha retired the first 13 batters and set down the side in order every inning except the fifth, when Lorenzo Cain doubled with one out and scored on Elliott Johnsons single. Wacha made the Cardinals fastest jump from draft day to the majors in 25 years after getting picked in the first round last June. Louis Coleman (1-0) allowed a walk in 1 1-3 innings and Greg Holland finished for his eighth save in 10 chances and first since May 1. Hollands blown save on May 6 against the White Sox was his only other chance this month. Francoeur had been batting .156 in May and didnt start for the second straight game, entering in a double switch in the seventh. He ended the Royals 59-inning slump without a homer with his second of the season and first since April 10. Allen Craig and David Freese had two-out RBI singles in the first off Jeremy Guthrie to give the Cardinals the lead. They left the bases loaded in the second, wasting a single by Wacha in his first career at-bat, and stranded two in the fourth. Wacha had a chance to score from second on Carlos Beltrans hit, but the Cardinals didnt risk a play at the plate with the bases loaded, one out and the heart of the order coming up. Matt Holliday grounded into a force play at the plate and Craig grounded out to end the inning. NOTES: Wacha is the eighth rookie pitcher to suit up for St. Louis this year and seventh to play. Reliever Michael Blazek was optioned to the minors earlier in the day without appearing in a game. ... Shelby Miller (5-3, 2.02) opposes the Giants Matt Cain (4-2, 5.00) in the opener of a three-game series Friday. The Royals begin a three-game set at Texas with Wade Davis (3-4, 5.71) opposing Derek Holland (4-2, 2.97). ... Cardinals reliever Randy Choate was the winner Wednesday for his first decision since July 24, 2011, a span of 103 appearances. Its the third-longest streak in major league history. Nike React Clearance . Cuban testified Thursday that he was upset when the companys CEO told him news that would reduce the value of his shares, for which hed paid $7.5 million. But he said he did nothing improper when he sold those shares over the next two days. Nike React Sale Australia . Ashley Youngs cross was inadvertently headed by Chester into his own net in the 66th minute, allowing United to claim a third straight league win. "We had to dig deep with our fighting spirit and weve done that," United striker Wayne Rooney said. http://www.wholesalenikereactaustralia.com/ . On Saturday night, the normally free throw-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 122-111. Nike React Womens Australia . -- Patrick Reed got an early start in golf. Wholesale Nike React . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . LOS ANGELES -- Among Candace Parkers favorite Chicago meals is the sort of thing you should ever eat unless you burn calories the way a world-class athlete like Parker does.Chili cheese dog with extra cheese, French fries, chocolate-cake milkshake, she said, laughing. Its very healthy food.Parker, who grew up in the Chicago suburb of Naperville, will be going home to the Windy City on Sunday for the third -- and potentially decisive -- game of the Los Angeles Sparks WNBA semifinal series with the Chicago Sky. Los Angeles 99-84 victory Friday at Staples Center gave the Sparks a 2-0 series lead. One more victory will earn the Sparks their first trip to the WNBA Finals since 2003.That would be a milestone for Parker, the Sparks No. 1 draft pick in 2008 and a two-time league MVP. She has won everything else in her career except a WNBA title, and in truth she has had a lot of frustration in just trying to advance to the leagues championship series.On the way to the postgame meeting with reporters Friday, Parker mentioned to teammate Nneka Ogwumike that the Sparks have had a some very disappointing trips to the media room during past playoffs.Weve had to do a lot of press conferences talking about next year and what we need to do to improve, Parker said. My rookie year -- it seems like it was just yesterday -- we barely missed the [WNBA] Finals. And when we left the court, I was like, Oh, well be back next year! And that hasnt happened.Parker was referring to the 2008 Western Conference finals, when the Sparks beat San Antonio by 15 points in the series opener, and were 1.3 seconds away from closing out the best-of-three series. But the Stars Sophia Young took an inbounds pass, spun around and tossed up a shot from just inside the arc that bounced in for a 67-66 victory. San Antonio then won the third game, 76-72.The Sparks also lost in the conference finals in 2009 to Phoenix and 2012 to Minnesota. In Parkers career, Los Angeles also has fallen in the conference semifinal four times, including 2-1 to Minnesota last year.So its understandable just how intense the feeling is now for Parker and the Sparks to not let this chance at the WNBA Finals get past them.You have to take advantage of the opportunities you have, Parker said. Weve focused on the little things, while seeing the bigger picture.The Sparks fully expect the Sky to give them a battle Sunday (ESPN, 3 p.m. ET) when facing elimination back at Allstate Arena. But so far in this series, Chicago hasnt been abble to impede the Sparks offense.dddddddddddd. Parker had 20 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists Friday. That followed a Game 1 performance in which she had 30 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists.Ogwumike won the leagues MVP award, and no one was happier for her than Parker. They have genuinely great chemistry with each other, and that has been critical to the Sparks this season.But these past two games, Parker has played like she wants to make the statement that shes really at her peak for the playoffs.Its important to her, Sparks guard Kristi Toliver said. And we want to win a championship for her. Shes been here the longest, and she just wants it so bad.The Sparks as a unit all have been playing with that kind of fervor. Three other Los Angeles starters scored in double figures Friday as Ogwumike had 18 points, Toliver 15 and Essence Carson 11.Jantel Lavender came off the bench to do her thing in a big way, going 10 of 11 from the field for 20 points, plus 5 rebounds. Alana Beard had 2 points, but her defense was one of the key reasons the Sky shot 38.5 percent from the field (30 of 78).Chicago got a lift off its bench, with Clarissa Dos Santos, Jamierra Faulkner and Allie Quigley combining for 40 points. But with the Sparks shooting 53.7 percent from the field (36 of 67) -- including 10 of 23 from behind the arc -- Chicago, which is without injured Elena Delle Donne, just didnt have anywhere near the firepower to stay with Los Angeles.Parker wants a chance to be in the WNBA Finals, and she would be pumped up for Sundays game no matter where it was played. But the fact that its in Chicago is especially meaningful for her.Im excited to play in front of my family and my friends and some people who were there from my first game in high school, she said. Its a lot of fun to go home. Some really talented basketball players have come out of Chicago, and it was very competitive for me growing up.Parker can impact games in so many ways, and that has been something Sparks coach Brian Agler has seen her do at a high level all season.When shes playing like she is right now, shes clearly one of the best in the world, he said. To me, it has a lot to with focus and her desire and passion. Shes been a really good leader for us this year and a tremendous teammate. I think were having this year because of how she has tried to elevate everybodys play. ' ' '