KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The World Series champions have failed to make the postseason for the fourth year in a row.Kendrys Morales and Alex Gordon keyed an eighth-inning rally and Kansas City beat the Minnesota Twins 5-2 on Wednesday night, but the Royals were still knocked out of playoff contention.The defending World Series champs were eliminated when Baltimore beat Toronto 3-2 earlier Wednesday.Obviously wed like to be playing a lot more baseball, but the reality of it is were not, said Eric Hosmer, who hit a two-run homer in the third.Morales ground-rule double to right scored Jarrod Dyson, who had doubled and stole third. Gordons single scored Whit Merrifield and pinch-runner Billy Burns.Dyson said he would not be watching postseason games.Its kind of sad and tough to watch postseason when youre not in it, Dyson said.The Twins, who have lost 10 of 11, have dropped 102 games, tying the 1982 team for its highest total since moving to Minnesota for the 1961 season. The Washington Senators lost a franchise-worst 113 games in 1904.Were trying to win games, but its becoming difficult, Twins right-hander Ervin Santana said. But, I think we just try to do too much and we forgot about the little things. Its a game. You just have to prepare to be better for the next year.Taylor Rogers (3-1), the fourth of five Twins pitchers, took the loss after allowing three runs, three hits and two walks while retiring only one of the six batters he faced.Joakim Soria (5-8) worked a scoreless eighth to pick up the victory. Wade Davis got his 27th save in 30 chances.Royals left-hander Jason Vargas tossed five shutout innings, allowing four hits, striking out six and walking one. He threw 53 strikes in 87 pitches, leaving with a 2-0 lead in his third start since having Tommy John surgery in 2015. Vargas finishes with a 2.25 ERA, allowing three runs and eight hits while striking out 11 and walking three in 12 innings.It was nice to have a reward as far as having some success once I was able to step underneath the lights and really get out there for real, Vargas said. Going into the offseason, I was just hoping for health as far as being able to have the normal offseason. So to have a nice outing like this before is a nice comfortable feeling.Rookie Kevin McCarthy, however, did not hold the lead for long. McCarthy yielded a two-run two-out home run to Kennys Vargas in the sixth. After McCarthy walked the next two batters, Peter Moylan was summoned to face John Ryan Murphy, retiring him on a comebacker.The Vargas homer snapped a Twins streak of 106 innings without more than one run. According to Elias, it is the longest such streak in the majors since the Philadelphia Phillies went 109 innings in 1942 without scoring multiple runs.We just kind of stagnated from there, Twins manager Paul Molitor said.Hosmer hit a two-run homer, his 25th, off Santana in the third. The Royals did not get another hit until Dysons one-out double in the eighth.NO REPEATThe Royals follow the San Francisco Giants (in 2013 and 15) and Boston Red Sox (in 2014) in failing to reach the playoffs after winning the World Series.ATTENDANCE DECLINEThe Wednesday attendance of 23,437 pushed the Royals season total to 2,445,361 after 77 home dates. After 77 Kauffman Stadium dates last year, the Royals had pulled 2,564,750 through the turnstiles, a decline of 119,389.ZERO AT KCThe Twins dropped to 0-9 at Kauffman Stadium. They have never finished a season winless at Kansas City.TRAINERS ROOMTwins: 1B Joe Mauer (hamstring injury) was not in the lineup, but Molitor said he was available to pinch hit.Royals: OF Lorenzo Cain, who has played only one game in September because of left wrist inflammation, will not play again this season. There is no need to push him, Royals manager Ned Yost said.UP NEXTTwins: RHP Kyle Gibson, who went to the University of Missouri, will make his 11th career start against the Royals.Royals: LHP Danny Duffy is 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA in three outings against the Twins this season. Cheap Air Max Plus . Inter president Erick Thohir says in a club statement on Wednesday that Vidic is "one of the worlds best defenders and his qualities, international pedigree, and charisma will be an asset. Discount Air Max Plus . The FA rejected Wilsheres appeal that the length of his punishment was "clearly excessive" and said Thursday his suspension begins with immediate effect. 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THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- The defensive line was the unquestioned strength for the Los Angeles Rams entering this season, and it showed in a variety of ways during their 37-32 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night.Robert Quinn had a strip-sack that Ethan Westbrooks returned 77 yards for a touchdown, Aaron Donald had one tackle for loss and deflected two passes, and Will Hayes returned from an ankle injury to provide depth in hot and humid conditions.If they can keep it up against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, the Rams (2-1) can extend their early and unexpected lead in the NFC West.It was a tremendous effort there, coach Jeff Fisher said Monday. You look at the tape and go to the fourth quarter, youre watching the effort and the intensity. The intensity is there. The effort is not quite there just because of the fatigue factor on both sides, but they were there and they did what they needed to do.The Rams got an unexpected break when lightning caused a 69-minute delay at the two-minute warning, giving them a chance to return to their air-conditioned locker room.For the front four, the rest was especially beneficial as defensive end Eugene Sims had been ejected early in the second quarter for unsportsmanlike conduct. Fisher and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams used a three-man defensive line at times. Westbrooks had to play more snaps and Donald moved from tackle to end.Former first-round pick Dominique Easley replaced Donald on the interior of the line and performed admirably, Fisher said.We needed him, Fisher said. He needed to step up because we needed to balance Aaron outside and he played really well inside.Quinn, who missed the second half of last season with a back injury, demonstrated the edge rushing skills that earned accolades in 2013 by knockinng the ball from quarterback Jameis Winstons grip.dddddddddddd Opponents recognize Quinn has regained his pre-injury form, Fisher said, and are using a tight end or running back to chip him and help offensive tackles. That puts the onus on other defensive linemen to take advantage of favorable matchups.But Fisher was most impressed by how Hayes gritted it out and played through injury after Sims was ejected.Thats why I have total respect for Will Hayes, Fisher said. There is no way he should have returned.Sims apologized to his teammates and Fisher, but the disqualification was the second for a Rams defensive lineman this season. Those unnecessary pre- and post-snap penalties could be the difference between winning and losing, Fisher said.I cant even remember in my career having a defensive player ejected, let alone weve had two in three weeks, so that stuff needs to stop, Fisher said.Assuming the ejections come to an end, the Rams could feast on a Cardinals offensive line that allowed five sacks in a loss to the Buffalo Bills. The nine sacks allowed by the Cardinals this season are tied for fourth-most in the NFL through three games, and the Rams had six sacks in the two-game series last season.A win against the Cardinals would take the Rams to 3-1 for the first time since 2006, with wins over two division foes that made the postseason last year. It would be a significant step forward, though Fisher isnt looking too far ahead.Do the playoffs start next week? Fisher asked. Everybody wants to start fast. We didnt start well three weeks ago, but we found a way the last couple weeks.---Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '