NEWS » ork (20-10) couldnt get within eight th

PHILADELPHIA -- Danny Duffy pitched deeper than he ever had in a game while Kendrys Morales continued to hit like he has in the last two weeks.The red-hot Morales had two home runs and four RBI, Duffy pitched 8 2/3 strong innings and the Kansas City Royals beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-2 on Saturday.It was the third straight game with a homer for Morales, who extended his hitting streak to eight games by going deep in the second inning. He is batting .565 with seven homers and 21 RBI in his last 13 games.I feel really good right now at the plate and the key is Im making hard contact when Im swinging the bat, Morales said through an interpreter.Duffy (4-1) allowed two runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts and no walks while setting a career high for innings. The left-handers previous best was eight innings, which he tied in Mondays win over St. Louis.The 27-year-old Duffy recorded the first two outs of the ninth but was lifted for Joakim Soria after Cesar Hernandezs RBI single.He said that prior to Saturday hed never gotten an out in the ninth inning at any level of baseball. Duffy lobbied manager Ned Yost after the eighth inning to stay in the contest.Its cool to finish a game, Duffy said. (Yost) gave me the opportunity and Im grateful for it.Whit Merrifield and Cheslor Cuthbert added a pair of hits for the defending World Series-champion Royals, who finally gained some ground on Cleveland in the AL Central after the Indians had their 14-game winning streak snapped in Toronto. Kansas City trails the Indians by six games.Hernandez and Maikel Franco had two hits and an RBI each for Philadelphia, which had its four-game winning streak snapped.Aaron Nola (5-8) lost his fourth straight game after giving up five runs on six hits in five innings. Nola hadnt gotten past 3 2/3 innings his three previous losses, and the 23-year-old right-hander has a 13.50 ERA during his skid. There were signs of encouragement, though, as Nola finished by retiring 10 straight batters.The last three innings, he looked like his old self, Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said.The Royals scored all five of their runs off Nola in the second inning.Morales did the greatest damage, putting the Royals up 5-1 with a three-run home run to right field. Normally Kansas Citys designated hitter, Morales has played right field the last two games because Yost wanted to keep his hot bat in the lineup.Hes carrying us a little bit right now, Yost said.The Royals tied the game at 1 on Duffys first major league hit and RBI, a bunt single that was popped up into a perfect spot between the pitchers mound and shortstop. Duffy had been 0 for 10 with five strikeouts this season.Ill take it, Duffy said. It just worked.Merrifields RBI single to right with two outs put Kansas City ahead 2-1 before Morales drive.The Phillies took a 1-0 lead in the first on Francos single that bounded off Duffys outstretched glove to score Peter Bourjos, who reached with a triple to extend his hitting streak to 11 games.Philadelphia looked poised to score again in the fourth, but Alcides Escobars stellar defense saved a run. Escobar sprinted deep in the hole at shortstop to field Hernandezs ground ball and threw to second for a force play on Carlos Ruiz for the final out.Kansas City capped its scoring in the eighth when Morales led off with his 14th homer of the season.I hit it good but I hit it straight up in the air. Luckily Im playing in a park that is conducive to home runs.STREAKING ROYALEscobar singled in the first to extend his hitting streak to 13 games.SLUMPING PHILLIEPhiladelphias Tommy Joseph went 0 for 3 with a strikeout, extending his slump to 0 for 17 with seven strikeouts.POWER OUTAGEThe Royals pitchers had allowed a home run in a club record-tying 18 straight games before not surrendering one on Saturday. They gave up 31 homers from June 21 through Saturday.UP NEXTRoyals RHP Yordano Ventura (6-5, 5.00) opposes Philadelphia RHP Vince Velasquez (6-2, 3.38) on Sunday afternoon in the conclusion of the three-game series. Darwin Thompson Youth Jersey . -- Yogi Ferrell orchestrates pretty much everything in Indianas offence. Khalen Saunders Chiefs Jersey . Colin Wilson had two goals and an assist, and Mike Fisher scored a goal and helped set up two others in the Predators 6-4 victory over the Red Wings on Monday night. http://www.prochiefsauthentic.com/Youth-Harrison-Butker-Elite-Jersey/ . Uniteds eighth defeat of a wretched campaign means Liverpool, which currently occupies the fourth and final Champions League place, could go nine points clear of its fierce rival by beating West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. Charlie Adam scored both of Stokes goals at Britannia Stadium either side of Robin van Persies equalizer, with a miserable day for seventh-place United capped by first-half injuries to centre halves Jonny Evans and Phil Jones that forced them off. Khalen Saunders Jersey . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. Kansas City Chiefs Jerseys . -- Teemu Selanne scored the first goal of his 22nd NHL season, and the Anaheim Ducks extended the best start in franchise history with their fifth straight victory, 3-2 over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. NEW YORK -- Swin Cash promised she wouldnt cry. She kept her word.The 15-year WNBA veteran held it together for a 50-minute postgame ceremony in her honor after the New York Liberty lost to the Seattle Storm 102-78 on Wednesday night. Cash announced in June that she would retire at the end of the season.I set a goal for myself, youre not going to (cry), Cash said. My eyes were watering up and going back down. I was definitely teary-eyed. Lot of moments that hit close to home.Cash started her speech saying how difficult it was to speak after a loss.I hate losing, Im very uncomfortable because Im thinking about the game, she said during her 10-minute speech.Cash went on to thank her former coaches, teammates, players and even the ushers and security staff.The three-time WNBA champion closed saying: I love the game, I respect the game and now Im giving it all back to you.Even though the Liberty lost, they clinched the third seed in the WNBA playoffs with Chicagos loss to Washington. New York has a first- round bye and will play the lowest remaining seed in the second round.You dont want to backdoor into the playoffs, Cash said. Thats the thing we talked about. Glad we clinched third, but we need to get our players back and get on track.New York was still without Tanisha Wright (knee), Kiah Stokes (hip) and Shoni Schimmel (concussion).The victory helped Seattle move into seventh place in the playoff chase. Jewell Loyd scored 25 points and Breanna Stewart added 23 for the Storm (133-17).dddddddddddd Seattle has four games left in the regular season.Were approaching every game like its a playoff game, said Sue Bird, who had the audience laughing with a series of hashtags when she spoke during the retirement ceremony. With the new playoff format, it gives everyone new life. You used to dread potentially being the fourth-seed and having to play the one first. Now you can get a few wins and you never know.With the game tied at 48 early in the third quarter, the Storm went on a 13-3 run to take control of the game. Stewart got the burst started and Bird capped it with a 3-pointer that made it 61-51. New York (20-10) couldnt get within eight the rest of the way.Tina Charles led the Liberty with 22 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, and Sugar Rodgers added 15 points.Seattle ended an eight-game losing streak against the Liberty.Every win this time of year is big. Weve been in playoff mode. Every game matters, were fighting to get in, Seattle coach Jenny Boucek said. This team is really enjoying playing with each other and we dont want the season to end.Boucek, who was an assistant coach in Seattle when Cash was on the team, was so happy that her team was able to be a part of the ceremony Wednesday night.She was a joy to coach, Boucek said. I used to joke with her that `win is even in her name. That so much embodies who she is. ' ' '