think defensively well go up a notch tom

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Royals didnt have a postseason prayer. Until, that is, a praying mantis showed up in their dugout.Since then, the defending World Series champions are playing like world beaters.Perhaps the Royals can thank Billy Burns for their 9-1 run. Hes a spare outfielder, stuck on the bench almost all the time since being traded over from Oakland last month.But Burns holds an important side job: Hes the caretaker of Rally Mantis Jr.I think the only reason Im taking care of him is I actually care about him not dying, Burns said. So people are like, `You can take care of him. I spent one night researching, how to take care of him, so hopefully we can keep him alive.See, the Royals were sputtering, their playoff hopes fading, when a praying mantis appeared in their dugout at Kauffman Stadium on Aug. 6. They beat Toronto that night and suddenly the bug-eyed insect with a triangular head had a new home.Really, who needs a Rally Monkey when you have a Rally Mantis?The first mantis crawled up on my hat and just kind of camped out there for a while, Burns said. Some of the guys just thought it was funny.Adopted by the team, it was christened the Rally Mantis and Kansas City went on to win five of six. Their new mascot traveled with the club to Minnesota, but died on Aug. 13 -- the Royals lost that day, too.The first one lasted about five or six games, Burns said. The first one was on his way out. The first one was dying when we found him.Then Junior showed up.The second one flew in out of nowhere during the game the other day in Detroit, Burns said.Burns said shortstop Alcides Escobar and pitcher Edinson Volquez used the help of a fan to catch him. After that, with extra time on his hands, Burns took over.The Royals swept their first three-game series in Detroit since 2008 and Rally Mantis Jr. boarded the charter flight for Kansas City, where the Royals beat the Twins on Thursday night to move back over .500. The surge has moved them back into the AL wild-card race.Before the victory over the Twins, Rally Mantis Jr. was moved into what Burns described as his new upgraded cage with plants and food.Right now hes got some crickets hanging out in there, some moths, Burns said. Weve been catching bugs whenever we see them.There was a photo opportunity with Junior in his new home this week and at least a half-dozen photographers swarmed to shoot Kansas Citys latest celebrity. Royals fans are showing up with mantis masks and making Rally Mantis Jr. posters.The club leaves Sunday night for Miami. Rally Mantis Jr. will make the trip.Hes part of our team now, Burns said. Hell be going everywhere. Miles Boykin Jersey . The parade and rally were held to celebrate the Saskatchewan Roughriders 45-23 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday in the CFLs championship game. Trace McSorley Ravens Jersey . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . http://www.cheapravensshoponline.com/Youth-Hayden-Hurst-Ravens-Jersey/ . Newcastle dominated in the early stages but City weathered the storm and then raised its game in extra time. Negredo broke the deadlock from close range after a simple move in the 99th minute before Dzeko took the ball round goalkeeper Tim Krul to seal the victory in the 105th. Custom Baltimore Ravens Jerseys . Self was acquired from the Buffalo Bandits in a trade for Alex Hill midway through last season, and made his debut in Rochester on March 16, 2013. Miles Boykin Ravens Jersey . Spiller left Week 3s 27-20 loss to the New York Jets with a thigh injury, but fully practiced with the team all week and expects to be ready to go on Sunday.England will face Australia in the Cup quarter-final of the Hong Kong Sevens after finishing day two top of their pool following a win over Scotland and a draw with Russia. England followed up yesterdays 21-14 victory over South Africa with a 19-0 win over Scotland thanks to tries from Richard De Carpentier and two from Dan Norton.Nortons second try took him past the 1,000 point mark in the HSBC World Sevens Series - a magnificent milestone for the flyer. However, England found the going tough against a physical Russia side and had to settle for a draw when Simplikevich scored near the end. Englands tries came from Tom Bowen and Cameron Cowell in the second half.The result meant England finished top of Pool B and will now play Australia (5.04am BST) in the quarter-final, live on Sky Sports 2 HD.In the other quarter-finals defending champions Fiji take on Kenya, New Zealand will play Wales and USA play South Africa. Savenaca Rawaca runs away to score for Fiji Saracens-bound flyer Savenaca Rawaca starred on Saturday as defending champions Fiji looked the team to beat at the Hong Kong Sevens, tthe unofficial dress rehearsal for the Rio Olympics.ddddddddddddRawaca scored a dazzling opener in Fijis 36-10 win over Wales and crossed again in the second half as the world series title-holders set up a quarter-final against Kenya.Fiji coach Ben Ryan was encouraged after his team, who are bidding to win their countrys first ever Olympic gold in August, improved from Fridays 19-17 scare against Canada. Were still probably not absolutely firing, I think defensively well go up a notch tomorrow. But after what was a very tough game last night its good to come through unscathed, said Ryan.The former England coach added that the form of Rawaca, who will join Saracens next season, underlined the quality now on show in the sevens world series.Hes hit form. Weve given him hard work in training. Hes 108kg and thats a lot of muscle to throw around for 14 minutes and we ask him to play for 14 minutes most of the time as well, Ryan said. But he is playing well. Hes very hard to stop... Save will play World Cup 2019 for Fiji, hell stand out for Saracens. Gone are the days where these (sevens) guys are seen as junior rugby players - theyre world-class in their own right. Also See: WATCH: Ashton ready to roll Sky Sports Rugby Podcast ' ' '