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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Matt Carpenter had a career-high five hits for St. Louis on Wednesday night. The last of them was arguably the most important. Carpenter delivered a go-ahead double in the 11th inning, and the Cardinals added two more runs on a single by Allen Craig, sending them to a 5-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals and ending a frustrating three-game losing streak. "Sometimes it takes an emotional victory like this to kind of jumpstart a team," said Carpenter, who also reached base on a walk. "Maybe this one will be the one for us." The Royals rallied with two runs in the ninth, and the game remained tied until the 11th, when Peter Bourjos worked a one-out walk off Royals reliever Kelvin Herrera (1-2). Carpenter then rapped his double to centre field, drawing a roar from a crowd comprised mostly of Cardinals fans. Craig added his single off Tim Collins later in the inning, and Pat Neshek breezed through the bottom half to end the Royals six-game winning streak against National League clubs. Sam Freeman (1-0) earned the win with a perfect 10th inning. "It was just one of those gut-check games," Craig said. "Were not going to stop competing." Carpenter became the first Cardinal to record five hits in a game since Ryan Ludwick on Sept. 4, 2009. He had a part in his clubs first three runs, driving in Mark Ellis in the second inning and scoring on Matt Hollidays groundout in the seventh After St. Louis dropped the first two games of the four-game, two-city set at Busch Stadium, the NL champs rebounded to win for the eighth straight time at Kauffman Stadium. The Cardinals persevered after Adam Wainwright blew a 2-0 lead in the ninth inning. He struck out Eric Hosmer to start it, but the ball squirted away from catcher Yadier Molina, allowing Hosmer to reach first base. Billy Butler followed with a crisp single up the middle. Trevor Rosenthal, who took the loss Tuesday night, entered in relief and walked Alex Gordon on a full count to load the bases. Salvador Perez followed with a broken-bat groundout to score a run, and Lorenzo Cains single up the middle knotted the game 2-all. "You lose the lead and a start like that from Waino, theres a lot of teams that will roll over in that situation," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said, "but the guys stepped up." The ninth-inning rally still soured a dazzling outing by Wainwright, who was trying to become the NLs first nine-game winner. The two-time All-Star did not allow a hit until the sixth inning, stranded three runners on third base and struck out eight while walking just two. "Wainwright pitched a great game. Hes an unbelievable pitcher," Cain said. "When we tied the game, I thought we had them. We tried to spoil it for him at the end." Wainwright wasnt the only Cardinal to get on track, though. Molina had hits in his first two at-bats, snapping an 0-for-16 streak. Ellis ended an 0-for-8 stretch with his single in the second that led to the games first run. Jason Vargas kept Kansas City in it most of the night. After leaving the bases loaded in the first inning, he went on strand 10 in a season-high eight innings. The left-hander allowed nine hits and walked two while allowing two runs or fewer for the fifth time in six starts. "Carpenter was pretty hot," Vargas said. "It was just one of those games where youve got to grind, make pitches and kind of think your way through things." NOTES: Vargas threw a season-high 117 pitches. ... Royals RHP Greg Holland pitched a scoreless 10th, his 11th straight appearance without allowing a run. ... LHP Bruce Chen (bulging disc) said he will need at least two more rehab starts before rejoining the Royals. He allowed eight hits in three innings for Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Tuesday night. ... Cardinals 2B Kolten Wong was out of the lineup with a sore right shoulder. He pinch hit for Ellis in the 10th inning and remained in the game. ... RHP Michael Wacha starts for St. Louis in Thursdays series finale. RHP Yordano Ventura is on the mound for Kansas City. Ehire Adrianza Jersey . Smith, an eighth overall pick, had two goals in only 276 minutes of playing time over 16 appearances last season. The left side midfielder played only 43 minutes in three games this season. Max Kepler Twins Jersey . The Cavs announced the move Saturday, one day after LeBron James said hes returning to Cleveland. A 12-year veteran, Haywood has played in 794 NBA games, averaging 6. https://www.cheaptwins.com/ . The injury will keep the Finnish forward out of the Olympics. The 29-year-old has 20 goals and 41 points in 56 games this season, his first with Tampa Bay. Custom Minnesota Twins Jerseys . Tottenham claimed top spot in Group K by winning 2-0 at Tromso after defender Adnan Causevic scored an own goal before Mousa Dembele put the result beyond doubt. Valencia made sure it will finish first in Group A with a 1-0 win at Swansea thanks to an early goal from Dani Parejo. Kyle Gibson Jersey .com) - The New York Jets have named Mike Maccagnan their new general manager.Scotland manager Gordon Strachan says competition is hot for the left-back spot ahead of Saturdays World Cup qualifier against Lithuania. Andrew Robertson is expected to get the nod, although Kieran Tierney and Lee Wallace are in with a chance.Robertson, who plays for Hull, started in Scotlands first qualifier against Malta last month, while Tierney and Wallace are yet to begin a competitive match at senior international level. But Strachan is impressed by the trio.Left back, incredible, he said. As good as Ive ever seen the three of them in training. As good as I have ever seen for the position. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ?￡6.99. No contract. This area and in others we are very strong. Some, Id like to be stronger.But areas we have not got a problem is the mental strength. That was proved in the last game.Areas we are happy with is their passion and commitment. We have got that as well. Andrew Robertson, playing in Malta last month, is expected to start against Lithuania Strachan insists the gap between Scotland and Europes lesser lights is getting narrower.When the draw for the qualifying campaign of the 2018 World Cup took place, Scotland were ranked in a higher pot than Saturdays opponents. The Scotland squad in training at Hampden However, the Scotland boss will certainly give Lithuania all the respect he says they deserve.ddddddddddddI know the task ahead, said Strachan, 59. I have been impressed with Lithuania the last two games, thats for sure.They are a real hard working side and a bit different from years ago when teams a pot or two below you would come and sit in.But they are quite prepared to push you out and close you down, and win the ball back, so it should be an interesting game.Fortunately, we do our homework. They are a pot below us, so there cant be that big a difference. Scotlands players prepare for Lithuania at a Friday training session at Hampden Scotland and Lithuania have met four times in qualifiers in Glasgow, with the hosts taking maximum points in each game with just one goal conceded.The most recent encounter came five years ago when the Scots won by a single goal from Steven Naismith after Darren Fletcher had missed a first-half penalty.You can watch Englands tour of Bangladesh, plus Premier League football and the Japan Grand Prix on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy three months at half price! Also See: McAllister gives Scots a boost Qualifying counts most for Scots Scotland fixtures Live on Sky ' ' '