ond straight season. But its likely San Diego will face the

WASHINGTON -- Denard Spans approach with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning proves math pays off. Facing a five-man infield, Span hit a sacrifice fly in the ninth and the Washington Nationals, with Bryce Harper back in the lineup and stealing his first base of the season, rallied past the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2 Sunday. The Nationals loaded the bases against Seth Maness (0-1) when Danny Espinosa singled through third baseman Matt Carpenters legs with one out for his third hit, Jose Lobaton singled through the right side of the infield and pinch hitter Nate McLouth walked. In his second game since being activated from the seven-day disabled list following a concussion, Span lofted a fly to left field. Espinosa easily beat the throw from Jon Jay, who shifted over from right field as St. Louis brought in an extra infielder. "I counted: one, two, three, four, five," Span said. "Right there I told myself a groundball probably not going to do it. Try to get the ball in the air somehow." After Espinosa crossed home, the Nationals mobbed Span, who suddenly had something else on his mind. "I was screaming so loud, so into the moment, but at the same time Im thinking dont hit me upside the head too hard because I just came off the DL," said the smiling centre fielder, who grounded out with the bases full in the sixth before delivering the game-winner. The Nationals split the four-game series. They had lost eight of the previous nine meetings with the Cardinals going into the series wrap-up. "Thats a play Im expecting to make and a play that I expect myself to make and I didnt make it," Carpenter said of his ninth-inning whiff. "It ended up costing us." Harper started in left field and went 1 for 4. The two-time All-Star was pulled from the game a day earlier for what manager Matt Williams called a "lack of hustle" after he failed to run out a comebacker to the mound. The two spoke before Sundays game. "I sat with him for a couple of minutes in his locker and told him Im confident in him and Im proud of him and he was going to have impact today, which he did," Williams said. Harper had a somewhat different take on the conversation with Williams, as far as length goes. "He just said, Go get em. Thats the three words he said," Harper said. "Its good to get back out there and play and be part of a win." Harper was left stranded at second base as the possible go-ahead run as Anthony Rendon struck out against Pat Neshek in the eighth. Rafael Soriano (1-0) pitched one inning for the win. The Cardinals took an early edge against Stephen Strasburg and led 2-0 going into the seventh. Washington tied the game with four straight singles off reliever Carlos Martinez, including RBI hits from Ian Desmond and Espinosa. Strasburg struck out nine in six innings. Shelby Miller left with the lead after pitching 5 1-3 innings for the Cardinals. He also hit a two-out, RBI double off Strasburg in the fourth. St. Louis starting pitchers recorded an RBI in three of the four games versus Washington. Miller allowed four hits, striking out seven and walking five. Matt Adams doubled twice and scored for the Cardinals. "I was pretty happy we were able to put a couple together and obviously a big hit by Shelby," manager Mike Matheny said. "That gives you a little bit of room and then we get the ball into the hands of guys we like to give the ball to. Good offences are going to put together tough at-bats on tough pitching, and today they got us." True, though it took some doing. Washington left 17 runners on base and went 2 of 12 with runners in scoring position. "Talk about those opportunities and giving ourselves that multiple times in the game, you like your chances, certainly," Williams said. "Especially against a good team like that we want to create those. I dont know how many guys we had on base today but it felt like a lot." NOTES: Cardinals OF Matt Holiday didnt play. It was a day of rest, Matheny said. ...St. Louis will recall LHP Tyler Lyons from Triple-A Memphis to start at the New York Mets and send RHP Jorge Rondon to Memphis before Monday nights series opener. Last season Lyons finished 2-4 with a 4.75 ERA in 12 appearances, including eight starts for the Cardinals. He replaces RHP Joe Kelly (strained left hamstring), who was put on the disabled list Thursday. ... The Nationals open a three-game home series with the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night with Washington RHP Tanner Roark (1-1, 5.29) facing RHP Garrett Richards (2-0, 2.84). Marcus Stroman Jersey . Jeter doubled high off the left-field wall and scored on Jacoby Ellsburys first hit in pinstripes in the fifth. Hiroki Kuroda (1-1) pitched 6 1-3 sharp innings in the Yankees 112th opener in New York. In what manager Joe Girardi said would be a season-long lovefest for Jeter, the shortstop was cheered every step of the way by an adoring crowd of 48, 142 -- even when his double-play grounder back to Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez (0-2) scored Solarte in the third inning for the first run. Jack Morris Jersey . LOUIS -- David Ross never expected to be on a World Series podium. http://www.bluejaysonline.com/blue-jays-dave-winfield-jersey/ . Riethers apparent stamp on Manchester United midfielder Adnan Januzaj during Saturdays Premier League match at Craven Cottage was missed by the match officials. A three-man panel of former referees reviewed the incident and all agreed that it was a sending-off offence. Roger Clemens Jersey . The Spanish champions decision not to sign a defender during the January transfer window may have backfired after Valencia took advantage of a lethargic, uninspired effort by its hosts at the Camp Nou, where former Spain coach Luis Aragones -- who previously coached the Catalan side -- was honoured after his death on Saturday. Custom Toronto Blue Jays Jerseys .A. remained bitter for Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers on the long flight back home to New York.SAN DIEGO - San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Mathews was among those not practicing Wednesday and he could miss his third straight game Sunday.If the Chargers (9-6) win at Kansas City this weekend, theyll advance to the playoffs for the second straight season. But its likely San Diego will face the Chiefs (8-7) without Mathews. He hasnt played or practiced since injuring his ankle against the Patriots on Dec. 7.Wide receiver KKeenan Allen (collarbone) and punter Mike Scifres (shoulder) also didnt practice and neither is expected to play against the Chiefs.ddddddddddddCentre Chris Watt, who left Saturdays win over the 49ers with an ankle injury, also didnt work.Quarterback Philip Rivers, whos been bothered by back and chest ailments, practiced for the second consecutive day.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Stitched College Jerseys Cheap UCLA Jerseys NCAA Louisville Cardinals Jerseys North Carolina Jerseys Stitched Kentucky Wildcats Jerseys Stitched Alabama Crimson Tide Jerseys Cheap Basketball Wisconsin Badgers Jerseys Authentic NCAA Jerseys Store Wholesale Basketball NCAA Jerseys Cheap Duke Gear Stitched Alabama Jerseys Stitched Georgia Jerseys Cheap Clemson Jerseys Authentic Authentic Texas Jerseys Wholesale USC Jerseys Stitched Oklahoma Jerseys Stitched Ohio State Jerseys Cheap Notre Dame Gear UCLA Jerseys From China Cheap Louisville Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap North Carolina Jerseys Authentic Cheap Kentucky Jerseys Authentic Wisconsin Jerseys From China Cheap Michigan Gear Cheap Florida Gear Wholesale Arizona State Jerseys Cheap LSU Gear Cheap Auburn Gear Cheap California Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Miami Jerseys Authentic Cheap Michigan State Gear Cheap Tennessee Jerseys Authentic Texas A&M Jerseys From China Authentic Wake Forest Jerseys West Virginia Jerseys From China ' ' '