Drew Waters led off the seventh inning with a pinch-hit triple, Maikel Garcia drove him in with a single and the Kansas City Royals snapped a four-game skid and avoided a series sweep with a 2-1 ...

Dairon Blanco and Drew Waters had key hits from the 9-spot in the lineup as the Royals salvaged a game against the Cardinals.

SAN FRANCISCO — Hayden Birdsong of the Giants came to Oracle Park Sunday knowing he wasn’t going to pitch in the final game of a three-game series against the Athletics. And he’s fine with that.