Wii Talk » said. But Iggy bared down and showed that he h

There are two very different kinds of shrugs that athletes can give when asked about how their season is unfolding. One is a shrug of frustration, a gesture that says theres no satisfying explanation for whats gone wrong.The other, though, is a happy shrug that says, Theres really no magic formula for why were playing very well. Were just executing.We all know the Los Angeles Sparks have had more than a few seasons of unpleasant shrugging, where they couldnt pinpoint exactly why a team that clearly had talent was inconsistent or sometimes even floundered.Now, though, any shrugs the Sparks might give are accompanied by smiles. They can detail all the reasons things have gone so well in whats been a 20-2 season thus far. But its ultimately more a mindset that has taken hold -- one that is not defined as much by the specific things the Sparks are doing well, but the general sense that they now expect them.As they close out the pre-Olympics part of the season this week -- with games Tuesday at Indiana (ESPN2, 8 p.m. ET) and at Washington on Friday -- the Sparks sound confident that theyll have a strong finish now and then be able to pick up where they left off when the season resumes in late August after a monthlong break for the Summer Games.I think that what separates us this year as opposed to other years, said Sparks guard Kristi Toliver, is that weve always had the talent, but I think everybodys been willing to sacrifice a little bit of themselves. When you do that, great things happen. And thats just been the case this season. We just have a really good team, and we know how to play the game.Yes, the Sparks on Sunday dealt with one of their rare disappointments this year when they fell 91-74 at Atlanta. Had Los Angeles won, a 21-1 mark would have been the best start for a WNBA season. Instead, the Sparks share that distinction with the now-defunct Houston Comets at 20-2.How upsetting was that loss? Guard Alana Beard said the Sparks really put no emphasis on the record. And that while it was tough to lose a game, Los Angeles wasnt overly concerned about it from a historical context.It was never a focus of ours, Beard said. The record means nothing if you dont have a championship at the end.Toliver echoed that, saying that the Dream seemed more motivated to prevent L.A. from getting the mark than the Sparks were motivated to set it. When it was over, though, Toliver did acknowledge feeling worse about it than she probably expected to.I think its unfortunate that we were not able to capitalize on such a special opportunity, Toliver said. But in the big picture, we have a lot of work to do, and we know we have to get better. If it takes that kind of sting to really make changes, then I think ultimately it will be worth it.Shes speaking sort of rhetorically, though. Because there really arent many big changes that need to be made for a team that remains the pacesetter for the WNBA. The Sparks are averaging 85.7 points, which is third-best in the league. And they are holding their opponents to 75.1 points, which is best in the WNBA.Forward Nneka Ogwumike is on the short list of league MVP candidates, averaging 19.5 points and 8.7 rebounds, while shooting a WNBA-best 71.4 percent from the field. Candace Parker is also having a very big season, averaging 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists.Did not being chosen for the U.S. Olympic team give Ogwumike and Parker a little extra motivation this season? It almost certainly has, but that isnt a bad thing. Neither player is dwelling on it, but can use it as an understandable bit of fuel.Toliver is the Sparks third-leading scorer at 14.1, and shes shooting 45 percent from 3-point range. And in his second season in L.A., Brian Agler has a full buy-in from his team. Again, that has not always been the case with the Sparks and their coaches.But it is now, and the Spark have no intention of letting any of that slide.We have a mature team, and they understand what its going to take on both ends of the floor, Toliver said. I think Coach has done a really good job of preaching the little things to us. We attack each day with just wanting to get better. We dont take wins for granted; we know how hard it is to get them in this league. 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Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. ST. LOUIS -- Mike Matheny managed with a playoff intensity. His offense didnt respond.Its baseball, youre going to have times when you just dont get it done, Matheny said after his St. Louis Cardinals fell 2-1 to the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night. Tonight was one of those times guys make good pitches in big situations and we couldnt finish it off.The Reds third win in their last four games dealt a blow to the Cardinals playoff hopes.St. Louis remained one game behind San Francisco for the NLs second wild card, with the New York Mets 1 1/2 games ahead of the Giants.The Cardinals had the tying run at third base in three of the games final four innings and with less than two outs in the eighth and ninth. St. Louis was 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position and left eight on.Its not the lack of effort for sure, but nobody wants to hear that, second baseman Greg Garcia said. You got to get it done especially in crunch time and thats where we are in right now. Its a tough one to swallow.The Cardinals had second and third with one out in the eighth and Kolten Wong tripled to lead off the ninth. Each time, Reds closer Raisel Iglesias wriggled out of the jam.Garcias fly ball to left was too shallow to score Wong and was the second out of the ninth.I didnt do my job, Garcia said. I let my team down and you cant do that right now. Its tough.Cardinals starter Mike Leake (9-12) allowed five hits and two runs in five innings, striking out six.Leake was lifted for pinch-hitter Matt Adams in the fifth and he grounded into a double play that scored Aledmys Diaz for the Cardinals lone run.Matheny brought closer Seung Hwan Oh in with one out in the eighth inning. Oh struck out both batters to get the Cardinals out of a jam after Adam Duvall tripled to lead off the inning.Oh left the game with two outs in the ninth after reaggravating a groin injury.Matheny made two double switches and brought Oh in early to maximize the Cardinals opportunities.They all sting, Matheny said. When you have that many chances to score and take over the game, yeah that hurts and theres no question about it.dddddddddddd.Reds starter Anthony DeSclafani (9-5) allowed one runner in each of the first four innings, but only once during that span did the Cardinals have anyone in scoring position. He stranded five runners, including two in the sixth, his last inning. He allowed six hits and one run.It was the fifth quality start out of six in DeSclafanis career against the Cardinals. He improved to 4-1 with a 2.13 ERA against St. Louis.I face them more often, DeSclafani said. I feel I learn more about them and they learn more about me so its a constant adjustment.Duvall drove in his 101st and 102nd runs with his third-inning single. He has seven RBI in the series.Iglesias earned his fifth save in six opportunities.They werent going down easy thats for sure with Wong hitting that triple, Duvall said. But Iggy bared down and showed that he had some nasty stuff and was able to come out of it.SPECIAL GUESTSThe St. Louis Blues attended the game and defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk threw out the first pitch. The Cardinals wore hybrid Blues/Cardinals jerseys during warm-ups.ROSTER MOVESThe Reds claimed IF/OF Patrick Kivlehan off waivers from the San Diego Padres and placed SS Zack Cozart on the 60-day DL list. This is the fourth organization Kivlehan has been a part of this season.TRAINERS ROOMReds: 2B Brandon Phillips (left hand) and OF Scott Schebler (left hamstring) were scratched from the lineup.Cardinals: OF Matt Holliday (thumb) is not on a live batting practice schedule.UP NEXTReds: RHP Dan Straily (14-8, 3.74 ERA) has made 11 starts in which he allowed three hits or fewer. He is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA in three career appearances against St. Louis.Cardinals: RHP Alex Reyes (4-1, 1.58 ERA) has earned a win in his last three appearances. He is 0-0 with a 2.57 ERA in three career appearances against Cincinnati. ' ' '