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. Fake Golden Knights Jerseys . To the surprise of many, it isnt the Wolverines but their in-state rivals the Michigan State Spartans. Wholesale Golden Knights Jerseys . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. https://www.cheapgoldenknights.com/ .com) - The Montreal Canadiens will try to halt their longest losing streak of the season when they host the struggling New York Islanders in tonights clash at the Bell Centre. Stitched Golden Knights Jerseys . Deulofeu injured a muscle in his right leg in Evertons 4-1 win over Fulham in the English Premier League on Saturday. Barcelona says that its team doctors will "co-ordinate" with Evertons medical staff as Deulofeu recovers. Vegas Golden Knights Gear . The return match will take place next Wednesday. Udinese leads Fiorentina 2-1 in the other semifinal. Napoli staged a second-half comeback from two goals down after Gervinhos opener and a stunning strike from Kevin Strootman. PHILADELPHIA -- Jeremy Hellickson kept his mindset simple.Hellickson pitched a three-hitter and A.J. Ellis backed him with a three-run double to lead the Philadelphia Phillies over the fading Miami Marlins 8-0 Saturday night.Keep the ball down, get ahead and let the defense work, Hellickson said.Sounds easy. Hellickson certainly made it look that way.That was fun. Hes been outstanding all year, Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. Hes a great guy, a good worker and very focused.Miami, which fell six games back for the NLs second wild card, trailed by seven runs in the second inning and lost for the 14th time in 20 games.Hellickson (12-9) struck out five, walked none and hit two batters in his second big league shutout and third complete game. He threw 75 of 106 pitches for strikes.It wasnt something I was thinking about, he said of the shutout. It was nice to go out there and get a chance to finish it.The 2011 AL Rookie of the Year with Tampa Bay, Hellickson pitched a four-hit shutout against Baltimore that May 13 and another four-hitter against the Orioles that Sept. 4.Its been a long time, he said.Miamis only hits were singles by Dee Gordon leading off the game and Martin Prado in the fourth, and Derek Dietrichs double in the seventh.Tommy Joseph also homered in a game that took 2 hours, 42 minutes, nearly half the 4:43 of the Philadelphias 4-3, 13-inning win Friday night.Jose Urena (4-7) lasted just two innings and allowed seven runs and seven hits in his worst outing since moving to the starting rotation on July 19. Urena pitched 8 2/3 innings in last Sundays 3-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.He had trouble keeping the ball down, Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. They were waiting for his fastball.Philadelphia took a 5-0 lead in the first on Ellis two-out, bases-clearing double just inside the bag at third and RBI doubles by Odubel Herrera and Maikkel Franco.ddddddddddddThat was a giant hit, Mackanin said of Ellis double.Joseph hit a two-run homer in the second off Urena, giving the rookie first baseman 20 for the season.You have to make the right pitches and learn from games like this, Urena said. This kind of game, it happens.STREAKING PITCHERSPhillies pitchers have four complete games and have allowed three runs or fewer in 14 consecutive games, the teams longest stretch since going 17 in a row in 2000.JOSEPHS TURNAROUNDJoseph became the third Phillies rookie since 1972 to hit at least 20 homers, joining Ryan Howard (22 homers in 2005) and Scott Rolen (21 in 1997).Its been quite a turnaround for Joseph, a converted catcher who struggled with concussions in the minor leagues. He was left off the Phillies 40-man roster following last season and his goal entering spring training was to get a September call-up.At this time last year, a lot of people were giving up on my future, he said. Now with 20 homers in The Show, its pretty special. It means a lot to me.PRADO HITS PHILLIESPrado went 1 for 1 and is batting .306 in his career against the Phillies, ranking third among active players hitting against Philadelphia. Miguel Cabrera (.337) and Daniel Murphy (.312) have higher averages.TRAINERS ROOMMarlins: OF Giancarlo Stanton was out of the starting lineup after making his first start in the field on Friday night following a three-week stint on the disabled list (left groin strain) that ended Sept. 5. Stanton had been pinch-hitting since returning.Phillies: Howard was a late scratch from the starting lineup at first base due to left knee soreness.UP NEXTThe teams close their three-game set on Sunday when Miami RHP Andrew Cashner (5-11, 5.22) opposes RHP Alec Asher (1-0, 1.46). ' ' '