KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Theres been so much talk about Mike Moustakas at the plate that the third baseman ignored the conversation Wednesday -- even after doing something positive. Moustakas hit a three-run double in the second inning to account for Kansas Citys only runs, and Jason Vargas and the Royals bullpen made the meagreoffence work in a 3-2 win over the Colorado Rockies that completed a two-game sweep. Afterward, reporters peppered Moustakas with a series of questions about his decisive double, and each time he responded that Vargas pitched a great game. Moustakas steadfastly refused to address his own hit. "Its a big game for us against a great team. Feels good to go out there and get a W with the way that Vargas pitched," said Moustakas, who entered the game hitting .147 on the year. Moustakas did answer questions about his slumping performance during a lengthy session with reporters the previous day. But he was downright defiant when he was approached on Wednesday. He did talk about a nice play he made on defence, when he teamed with catcher Salvador Perez to pick off Charlie Culberson at third. The out came with the outcome still in the balance. "Moose coming up clutch was huge," said Vargas, who was perfectly willing to talk about the games biggest hit. "A big chance to put them in a hole early and we did." Meanwhile, Vargas (4-1) did not allow a hit until the fourth inning and did not allow a run until Drew Stubbs belted a two-run homer to left in the seventh. Louis Coleman got the Royals out of the inning without any more damage, and Kelvin Herrera worked a perfect eighth. Greg Holland then pitched a shaky ninth for his 10th save. After giving up a one-out single to Carlos Gonzalez and walking Nolan Arenado, Holland got Justin Morneau to hit a grounder to second. The ball was fielded cleanly and Kansas City got the runner there, but Morneau barely beat the throw to first base to keep the game going. Holland promptly struck out Stubbs to leave the tying run on third. "I think weve hit a little bump in the road here offensively," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "Its safe to say that were struggling a little bit offensively. Weve got to go back home and get it going again. No doubt about it, weve hit a little a little slide offensively." Jhoulys Chacin (1-1) pitched six gritty innings for Colorado, yielding seven hits and two walks. The Rockies came into the two-game series swinging the best bats in the majors, but they were silenced by some stingy pitching. James Shields was their foil in a 5-1 Royals victory in Tuesday nights opener, combining with the bullpen on a 12-strikeout performance. Vargas was just as tough, striking out a season-high eight in 6 2-3 innings. One of those strikeouts proved to be especially important: Troy Tulowitzki was left looking at a called third strike in the fourth inning. The leading hitter in the major leagues argued with plate umpire Dan Bellino over the location, which appeared down and in, and continued their one-sided conversation when he reached the dugout. Bellino responded by ejecting him. "I felt like it was over once Tulo went back to the dugout," Weiss said. "He heard him say something and thats when he threw him out." D.J. LeMahieu took his spot in the lineup. And when the Rockies had runners on the corners in the sixth, it was LeMahieu rather than Tulowitzki at the plate. He struck out. "Sometimes you just get caught up in the moment," Tulowitzki said, "but to sit there and say do you regret doing that, no, because we werent playing well the last couple of games. Sometimes that lights a little spark in the team." NOTES: Royals LHP Bruce Chen (bulging disk) threw a brief side session before the game. He will need at least one more before the team considers a rehab assignment. ... The Rockies are off Thursday before starting a three-game set against San Diego. RHP Yordano Ventura starts Thursday for Kansas City in the opener of a four-game series against Baltimore. Cheap MLB Jerseys . Thabeet banged his head into Stiemsmas after the pair exchanged shoves during the Thunders 105-102 loss on Thursday. The NBA says Monday that Thabeet will miss the first game that he is eligible and physically able to play in during the regular season. MLB Jerseys China . Hamelin won gold in the mens 1,000-metre event on Sunday, his second victory and fourth trip to the podium of the weekend. http://www.salejerseyswholesale.com/Mlb-jerseys.html. - As Travis Hafners drive carried toward the high wall in left-centre what had been a six-run lead for Oakland no longer seemed so safe anymore.TSN.ca presents its latest weekly power rankings for the 2013-14 Barclays Premier League season. Rankings were weighted evenly between separate lists made by TSN Radio host and soccer analyst Gareth Wheeler as well as TSN.cas soccer editors. 1. Aresnal (Last Week -1) Olivier Giroud scored a gift goal in the 22nd minute and a penalty in the 86th to lead top of the table Arsenal to a 2-0 victory over Southampton. Giroud dispossessed Saints keeper Artur Boruc to score what would end up being the winning marker. The Gunners are first in the League, four points clear of both Liverpool and Chelsea. 2. Chelsea (LW - 5) Frank Lampard struck twice, including once from the penalty spot as Chelsea knocked off West Ham 3-0. Oscar scored the other goal for Chelsea who are level with Liverpool for second in the table, four points from the top spot. 3. Liverpool (LW - 2) Substitute Daniel Sturridge scored in the 89th minute to earn Liverpool a point in the 221st Merseyside derby as they drew 3-3 with Everton. In a wild affair, Liverpool found themselves ahead twice before going behind for the first time in the 82nd minute. 4. Manchester City (LW - 7) Another dominant home performance, led by Jesus Navas goal just 13 seconds into the contest, helped Manchester City beat Tottenham 6-0. Sergio Aguero scored twice in ten minutes and Navas picked up a second goal to aide in the victory. The win helped City move back into the Barclays Premier League top four. 5. Manchester United (LW -3) Wayne Rooney was spared an early red card and then went on to be Uniteds best player in a 2-2 draw at Cardiff. After being shown yellow for kicking Jordon Mutch, Rooney opened the scoring in the 15th minute and delivered the corner that Patrice Evra headed home for the second goal. 6. Southampton (LW - 4) Artur Boruc tried to play the ball out from his goal but instead handed Arsenal a gift opener in a 2-0 defeat for Southampton. Jose Fonte was called for pulling Per Mertesackers shirt in the box giving Arsenal their second goal and the victory. 7. Everton (LW - 8) The Merseyside derby was a very lively affair as Everton and Liverpool drew 3-3 after the teams traded goals in the final ten minutes of the game. Romelu Lukaku scored twice, including an 82nd minute marker that looked like it might stand up for the victory, before Daniel Sturridge fired home in the 89th minute to share the points. 8. Newcastle United (LW - 9) Loic Remy scored in the second minute and Yoan Gouffran doubled the advantage before the break as Newcastle beat Norwich City 2-1. Keeper Tim Krul was called upon to make saves while his team led by one goal and he was able to keep them in the lead.. 9. Tottenham (LW - 6) Behind after only 13 second, Spurs was never able to recover as they fell 6-0 to Manchester City. Tottenham has only managed one point in their last three games as they have slipped down to ninth in the table. Keeper Hugo Lloris had two bad clearances that led to the first to City goals and sent the home side on their way to a huge victory. 10. Swansea City (LW - 13) Jonjo Shelvey scored ten minutes before the end of the game to give Swansea a 2-1 victory over Fulham. The Swans dominated the play and were deserved winners after they gave up an eequalizing marker in the 64th minute.dddddddddddd It was their first win since mid-October. 11. West Bromwich Albion (LW - 10) Two first half goal looked like they would be enough but all the Baggies were able to get out of the game was a 2-2 draw with Aston Villa. Shane Long was the man on target with both goals in the opening 11 minutes of the contest to give his team the early advantage. 12. Aston Villa (LW - 11) After giving up goals in the 3rd and 11th minute, Villa fought back with two second half markers to earn a 2-2 draw with West Brom. Karim El Ahmadi and Ashley Westwood fired home the goals for Aston Villa who in the end deserved a point from the contest. 13. Cardiff City (LW -14) Kim Bo-Kyungs stoppage time header rescued a point for Cardiff City as they earned a 2-2 draw with Manchester United. Fraizer Campbell scored the other goal and also missed a great chance when he hit the crossbar. Cardiff never led in the game but did deserve a point for their effort. 14. Hull City (LW - 12) The Tigers dominated the action but were not able to find a goal as they fell 1-0 at the hands of Crystal Palace. A 78th minute red card to Palace looked like the break Hull needed but in fact they would concede the winning goal three minutes later. Jake Livermore had a late chance but was not able to pull his team level. 15. Stoke City (LW - 16) Charlie Adam and Steven Nzonzi scored on either side of half and either side of an opponents red card as they defeated Sunderland 2-0 to earn an important three points. Wes Brown was controversially sent off for Sunderland after a tackle on Adam that looked to have minimal contact. Stoke eventually were able to put the game away in the 81st minute. 16. Norwich City (LW - 15) Two first half goals doomed Norwich to defeat as they fell 2-1 at the hands of Newcastle. Leroy Fer scored the goal, while both Anthony Pilkington and Ryan Bennett had chances to put their side back into the game. 17. West Ham (LW- 17) The Hammers failed to score for the seventh time in the league this season as they slumped to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Chelsea. Keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen conceded a penalty to the visitors when he took down Oscar in the box. They started the game well but were not able to recover after the penalty led to the opening goal. 18. Fulham (LW - 19) Martin Jol remains under fire as two second half goals saw Fulham fall 2-1 at the hands of Swansea. Scott Parker equalized for the Cottagers after they had fallen behind due to an own goal but it was not enough after they gave up the winner in the 80th minute. 19. Crystal Palace (LW - 20) Down to 10 men, Barry Bannan scored in the 81st minute to give Palace a 1-0 victory over Hull City. New manager Tony Pulis was in the stands to see his side overcome the disadvantage caused when Yannick Bolasie was sent off for a foul on Jake Livermore. 20. Sunderland (LW - 18) Wes Browns 36th minute red card ended any hope of a Sunderland comeback as they lost 2-0 to Stoke. The sending off was controversial as it appeared there was very little contact between Brown and Charlie Adam, the player he committed the foul on. Sunderland did have chances but were not able to find a marker. cheap jerseys ' ' '
