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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. Brian Rafalski Olympic Jersey . Another stirring performance of the national anthem by a packed arena. Phil Kessel USA Jersey . The results have been smashing. Gonzalez extended a power surge by hitting three home runs in his last three at-bats, Michael Cuddyer belted a grand slam and Dexter Fowler also homered, leading the Colorado Rockies past the Houston Astros 13-5 on Wednesday night for their third win in a row. www.shopusahockeyteam.com/brooks-orpik-usa-jersey/ . Italian Premier Mario Montis refusal to provide financial support for Romes bid Tuesday ended the Eternal Citys hopes of bringing the Olympics back to the capital for the first time since 1960. Monti said it would be an irresponsible use of taxpayers money to fund the $12. Tim Thomas Team USA Jersey . Berdych and Stepanek played all five matches when the Czechs beat Spain 3-2 in the final last November in Prague to win the countrys first title as an independent nation. Ryan Miller USA Jersey .Y. -- Even before John Tavares became the new captain of the New York Islanders, he developed a knack for netting game-winning goals.NEW YORK -- LaDainian Tomlinson has never seen a locker room as troubled as the one he was in with the New York Jets this season. In an interview with Showtimes "Inside The NFL" airing Wednesday night, the running back said the team was plagued by tension between players as the Jets finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs after two straight trips to the AFC championship game. Tomlinson said quarterback Mark Sanchez and wide receiver Santonio Holmes, in particular, had a rocky relationship. "It is as bad as Ive ever been around, honestly," Tomlinson said of the locker room. "And Ive been around some locker rooms and quarterback-receiver situations and what-not. But it was as bad as Ive been around." The NFLs fifth-leading rusher added that the problems got "out-of-hand toward the end of the season," and were created by the brash approach of coach Rex Ryan and general manager Mike Tannenbaum. "This is the type of football team that they wanted," said Tomlinson, the NFLs fifth-leading rusher. "Mike Tannenbaum, Rex Ryan are both brash, in-your-face type of style -- say whatever you want, just get it done on the field. And then it leads to other things, as guys are calling each other out and saying, Im not getting the ball or whatever it may be." Holmes was benched during the season finale at Miami after arguing in the huddle with teammates. Tomlinson said the tensions escalated to the point during the season where the players couldnt do anything about it. "When it gets to that point, there are certain changes that need to happen," he said. "Can it be fixed? I think absolutely it can be, but theyre going to have to make some tough decisions." Holmes criticized the offensive line during the season, saying it wasnt protecting Sanchez enough or giving him enough time to get the ball down the field to the receivers. Right guard Brandon Moore shot back, saying his public comments could have a "fracturing effect" and not the way a team captain -- which Holmes was -- should connduct business.dddddddddddd Tomlinson was asked if he would bring back both Sanchez and Holmes, given all the problems. "Whew, that is a tough one," Tomlinson said. "I would really have to sit down with them and see if they can co-exist, honestly. I mean that is a decision that I really have to make. And if I really feel like they cant, then you have to make a move." Tomlinson said the Jets players poked fun at the feud, calling it the "East Coast-West Coast beef," with Sanchez being from Florida and Sanchez from Southern California. "In all seriousness, Santonio, obviously, he is a great player," Tomlinson said. "There are some things that obviously he needs to work on as far as being a leader." Sanchez struggled down the stretch, throwing seven interceptions in the Jets last three games -- all losses. He was highly criticized during the season by fans and media, and those comments intensified after the Jets final game. The Daily News quoted an anonymous player saying Sanchez was "lazy," something Tomlinson disputed. But the running back agreed that Sanchez was "a bit pampered" because he had no real threat in the roster to take his job. "He is not a lazy guy," Tomlinson said. "He puts in the time after practice in the film room. He can get it done. He just has to have pieces around him to help him get it done." The 32-year-old Tomlinson will be a free agent after two seasons with the Jets, and is considering retirement. "I love playing for Rex," Tomlinson said before adding that he wished the coach would turn down the bravado. "I dont mind every now and again saying we are going to win a championship," he said. "Maybe at the beginning of the year just saying, Hey, our goal is to win a championship. But at the same time every week if you are calling out a team on certain things, I think it puts a little extra on your team. Guys really want to go out there and say, Lets shut this guy up. Lets shut these Jets up, just end their season." ' ' '