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

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Quarterback Cam Newton said if the Carolina Panthers are to be successful this season their running backs need to be more involved in the offence. Newton said that means a concerted effort to get the running backs involved early in games. The Panthers once invested nearly $80 million in DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart -- both contracts have since been restructured -- and also brought in free agent Mike Tolbert last season. Yet, it was Newton who led the team in rushing with 741 yards in 2012. Williams, Stewart and Tolbert combined for 1,256 yards rushing last year, which ranked 28th in the league among running backs, according to STATS Inc. Only Jacksonville (1,231 yards rushing), Atlanta (1,225), Dallas (1,212) and Arizona (971) had less production from their backs. Carolinas running backs seemed an afterthought at times last season under former offensive co-ordinator Rob Chudzinski, touching the ball on only 38 per cent of the offensive plays. "For us, the running game is key," Newton said this week at the teams minicamp. "In years past, success for the Carolina Panthers has meant getting our running backs involved in the game early and letting those guys do what they do. I feel like we have an unbelievable group." Coach Ron Rivera agreed. He said one of his primary goals is to get the running backs more involved and "keep them involved." "We want to keep them as a big part of what we do," Rivera said. "I think with Cams ability to get the ball downfield is going to open things up underneath. His ability to run will make people hesitate and that is where you can see the effectiveness of the running backs." The Panthers added rookie Kenjon Barner from Oregon in the sixth round this year, giving them another weapon coming out of the backfield. General manager Dave Gettleman said the Panthers will use him as a "scat back." Barner hasnt disappointed in minicamp, turning heads with exceptional speed and quickness. "We have guys that are capable of running the ball as well as catching it out of the backfield," Newton said. "We have to use that to continuously keep the defence honest. Everyone knows we have playmakers on the offensive side of the ball. But in order for us to be successful, we have to run the football. We will run the football." Williams ran with the first-team offence during minicamp while Stewart recovers from minor surgery on both ankles. Williams carried the ball only 173 times last season, while injuries limited Stewart to 93 carries. Tolbert, the teams fullback, carried 54 times. Newton ran 127 times, averaging a team-best 5.8 yards per carry. Carolina finished last season ninth in rushing and 7-9 overall, largely because of Newtons contribution. The Panthers have used the zone read option extensively over the past two seasons with Newton, but are expected to limit that this season. "I envision it being used in certain situations and circumstances," Rivera said. "There are still some things that we can exploit against opponents because of it. Well use it and use it smartly... But were not going to go with something like that as a staple" of the offence. Nothing would make centre Ryan Kalil happier than if the Panthers ran the ball a little more. "I think people tend to be numb to that statement of hey, we want to run the ball more, but its very true that most successful teams do have a balanced run-pass attack," said Kalil, who has played in three Pro Bowls. Kalil said its a matter of getting back to what the Panthers were doing well in 2008 and 2009 when they ranked among the leagues leaders in rushing. "Its sort of what it looks like were doing," Kalil said. "Its what we got back to at the end of last year. I think it helps out Cam, too. It helps out for the passing game and its exciting to watch the two horses we have back there (Williams and Stewart) do what they do best."Anton Khudobin Jersey . Shot outdoors against the stunning backdrop of Banff, Alta., the networks 30-minute original production airs tonight at 8pm et/5pm pt on TSN2. The four All-Star teams will play for $100,000 in prize money during TSNs annual skins game, airing live this weekend on TSN from The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre. Jamie Benn Stars Jersey . Fernandez, coached in Toronto by former two-time Olympic silver medallist Brian Orser, scored 267.11 points and is the first champion to successfully defend since Russias Evgeny Plushenko in 2005 and 2006. http://www.thedallasstarshockey.com/bobby-smith-hockey-jersey/ .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. Neal Broten Jersey . Both players have lower body injuries that will keep them out of the lineup until at least January 31, which is the first game they can be activated from IR. Jaromir Jagr Jersey . The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling "puts an end to my dreams of being a top player," the 27-year-old Troicki said in a statement. "I worked my entire life for it, and it has been taken away from me in one afternoon by a doctor I didnt know," said Troicki, whose ranking peaked at No.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..dddddddddddd. 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. ' ' '