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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). Russell Martin Youth Jersey . Thats how the Ravens won when Ryan was their defensive co-ordinator from 2005-08, and that is precisely the formula Baltimore used to beat Ryans New York Jets on Sunday. Joc Pederson Dodgers Jersey . There, I saw a teenaged boy with tears in his eyes, being consoled by strength and conditioning coach Randy Lee. http://www.ladodgersprostore.us/Joe-Kelly-dodgers-jersey/. The Goldeyes (10-7) lost 4-1 to the Saltdogs (8-9) Sunday afternoon before 5,834 sizzling fans at Shaw Park. The loss drops Winnipegs record to 3-4 during this past weeks seven-game homestand. Kenley Jansen Dodgers Jersey . 5 Trade Deadline is drawing closer and teams will be deciding on whether to buy or sell while figuring out which players can make the biggest difference and hold the greatest value. Max Muncy Youth Jersey . Louis Blues and back into top spot of the TSN.ca NHL Power Rankings. The Sharks had been ranked No.ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Doug Whaley was willing to risk future draft picks for the opportunity to land receiver Sammy Watkins and put the Buffalo Bills in a position to make the playoffs this season. In his first NFL draft as the Bills general manager, Whaley struck a deal with the Cleveland Browns to move up five spots to select the Clemson receiver with the fourth pick on Thursday night. To get Watkins, Buffalo gave up its No. 9 pick this year, plus a first- and a fourth-round pick in next years draft. "We thought it was a calculated risk, and a risk we were willing to take," said Whaley, who took over after Buddy Nix stepped down a year ago. "The high cost of not making the playoffs is something we weighed, and we thought this guy was going to get us to the playoffs." The Bills are coming off their third consecutive six-win season. Theyve also gone 14 seasons without a playoff berth -- the NFLs longest active drought. Watkins has the potential of providing the Bills sputtering offence a dynamic threat. And he addresses the objective Whaley outlined in the weeks leading up to the draft: add talent to spur the development of quarterback EJ Manuel, who is coming off an inconsistent and injury-shortened rookie season. "Hes automatically going to make our quarterback better and us better as a team," Whaley said. Manuel expressed his excitement by posting 16 exclamation marks on his Twitter account after Watkins was picked. Buffalo finished last year 19th in total yards gained, and 29th in yards passing. Manuel had his development stunted by three separate knee injuries that led to him missing six regular season and two preseason games. He finished with a 4-6 record with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Watkins, listed at just over 6-feet and 211 pounds, put up eye-popping numbers during his three-year college career. He finished with 240 catches for 3,391 yards and 27 touchdowns in 29 starts, and set 23 school records. Watkins joined Rod Gardner as the only Clemson players to have multiple seasons topping 1,000 yards receiving. And hes the only Tigers player to score more than 10 touchdowns receiving in more than one season. Last year, Watkins had 101 catchees for 1,464 yards and 12 touchdowns.dddddddddddd Watkins was so excited to be drafted that he took a picture of himself and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell at the draft podium at Radio City Music Hall. And Watkins can fully appreciate the burden of expectation placed on his shoulders in knowing what the Bills traded away to draft him. "That is a lot, but for me, I think I am prepared," he said. "I need to be 100 per cent when I get there. I need to be starting off on the right foot." Watkins is friends with former Clemson running back C.J. Spiller, who was Buffalos first-round pick in the 2010 draft. Now he gets to join Spiller on a team that has been stocking up on young offensive talent, particularly at the receiver position. Buffalo selected Robert Woods and Marquise Goodwin with second- and third-round picks last year. The Bills also made a trade with Tampa Bay last month to acquire Mike Williams. Watkins addition raises questions about returning starter Stevie Johnsons future with the team. Whaley declined to address Johnsons status, saying the days focus was about Watkins. The trade with the Browns began developing immediately after Jacksonville selected UCF quarterback Blake Bortles with the No. 3 pick. "We went into this draft saying we were going to be bold, and we made a bold move," Bills President Russ Brandon said. "Were sitting up here very pleased right now." The Bills only have five picks left. Buffalo is next scheduled to pick 41st overall, in the second round set for Friday. Its the first Bills draft since Ralph Wilson -- the teams owner and founder -- died in March. The Bills will be put up for sale, raising concerns the franchise could eventually relocate. Goodell continued to express optimism the Bills will remain in Buffalo in an interview with ESPN about an hour before the draft began. "We want to kee