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.Merril Hoge Womens Jersey . Just not the game. Kyle Palmieri scored two straight goals in the third period to rally the Anaheim Ducks past the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Tuesday night. Benny Snell Jr. Jersey . After the whistle, Thornton skated the length of the ice, pulled Orpik to the ice from behind and punched him in the face several times. http://www.steelersrookiestore.com/Steelers-Mike-Webster-Jersey/ .ca. Kerry, Just watched the shootout in the Coyotes/Leafs game and I have to ask, why was the James van Riemsdyk goal allowed to count? All of the video replays we were shown on TV were inconclusive about whether the puck had entirely crossed the line or not. Louis Lipps Jersey . -- Ryan Getzlaf grabbed the three pucks wrapped in tape and held them up to his chest in the Anaheim Ducks dressing room for a celebration nine seasons in the making. Benny Snell Jr. Youth Jersey . Still, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke thought taking him out before the fifth inning was an unusual move. "Im looking up at the board and hes got two hits given up and one run, and Im taking him out after the fourth inning," Roenicke said.Need to catch up with whats happening in the world of sports and pop culture? Dont worry, I got you.1. Can the 4-6 Green Bay Packers scramble to save their?disappointing season??2. Place-kickers had 12 failed extra point attempts on Sunday -- a record high for the NFL, which is directly associated with the league moving the kick from the 2-yard line to the 15 at the start of the 2015 season. Is this good or bad for the game?3. Luke Kuechly, a linebacker for the Carolina Panthers, on Thursday night?suffered his second concussion in the past two seasons. How will concussion?injuries?impact the NFLs bottom line??4. Dallas Cowboys linebacker Rolando McClain is reportedly?facing suspension for an additional year after missing an appointment to take a drug test. McClain sat out the first 10-games of the 2016 season due to testing positive for opiates. What are the chances hell ever make a full return to the league??5. Charlie Strong is rumored to be out as the head football coach of the Texas Longhorns, after three seasons. What do you say -- too soon, not soon enough, or perfect timing??6. With so much riding on the big showdown between rivals No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Michigan next Saturday, will this football game be the regular-season matchup of the year??7. How have Duke and Kentucky separated themselves from the rest of the Division 1 mens college basketball teams??8. The Wisconsin Badgers mens basketball team has gained a reputation for having the most political locker room in college basketball. Why??9. Will these four super recruits put the Lady Vols hoops back on top??10. Whats the latest onn the U.ddddddddddddS. womens national soccer teams?contract discussion??11. Two-time Olympic gold medalist boxer Claressa Shields made her pro debut on Saturday night. She defeated Franchon Crews by unanimous decision. Does Shields have what it takes to be the next big thing in womens boxing??12. Who is Sasha Scarlett Hostyn? And heres why you should get to know her.?13. After winning his seventh NASCAR championship, where does Jimmie Johnson rank among the greats??14. So, Kate Upton had a few?choice words for the MLB, after her fiancée Justin Verlander -- Detroit Tigers starting pitcher -- came in second in the Cy Young Award voting to Boston Red Sox pitcher Rick Porcello. Was her displeasure merited??15. Did you catch the Grade A shade Michael Jordan threw at Kevin Durant during Russell Westbrooks Oklahoma Hall of Fame induction ceremony??16. In the case of Phil Jackson vs. LeBron James and posse -- who do you have??17. Is Nick Youngs turnaround the cause of the Los Angeles Lakers surprising, hot start??18. What does Stephen Curry have to do with Under Armours declining shares??19. Whose Foot Locker ad was better -- Tom Brady or Carmelo Anthony??20. Is it just me, or do you agree there is something equally awesome and absurd about Drakes ongoing obsession with ESPNs reporter Doris Burke??Shana Renee is the founder and editor-in-chief of?All Sports Everything?and a passionate New York Jets, Knicks and Yankees fan. Follow her sports talk on Twitter at?@ItsShanaRenee. ' ' '