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There arent many teams that the St. Louis Cardinals have been able to beat at Busch Stadium this year.One of them is coming to town for the next four games, which might be the boost St. Louis needs as it fights for one of two National League wild-card spots with San Francisco and the New York Mets.The Cardinals welcome the Milwaukee Brewers for the opener of a four-game series Thursday night. St. Louis is 30-37 at home but 5-1 against Milwaukee, including a three-game sweep July 1-3.Although they went 5-4 on a nine-game road trip, the Cardinals (73-65) ended it with a 4-3 loss Wednesday night to Pittsburgh, enabling the surging Mets to tie them for the second wild-card spot. Both teams are a half-game behind the Giants, which blew a ninth inning lead at Colorado Wednesday night and fell 6-5.Had St. Louis delivered a bit better with runners in scoring position in its series finale against the Pirates, it could have overtaken the Giants. But it instead went 3-for-14, failing to add on to its first inning run after the first three hitters singled, hitting into a double play with the bases loaded in the fourth and leaving Yadier Molina stranded in the eighth after his leadoff double.We had chances, lot of chances, but we didnt execute in certain situations and it cost us, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said.Whats more, St. Louis saw its streak of games with a homer end at 25, which tied a National League record set earlier this year by San Diego.While St. Louis lost a game it could have won, the Brewers (62-77) were taking two of three from the Chicago Cubs, including a 2-1 verdict Wednesday night that saw third baseman Jonathan Villar homer twice.Chicagos magic number dropped to nine in the National League Central, but Milwaukee battled in the series as though it was pushing for a postseason berth.That felt like a real baseball game, like one youre on the edge of your seat the whole game, Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. It was a game youre hanging on every pitch, literally.Milwaukee gives the ball to right-hander Junior Guerra (7-3, 2.85 ERA) for the series opener. Guerra, who dropped his only start this year against the Cardinals, just returned from a disabled list stint against Pittsburgh on Saturday, throwing 3 1/3 scoreless innings before leaving after reaching 70 pitches.St. Louis counters with lefty Jaime Garcia (10-11, 4.41), whos dropped his last three starts, although he pitched well for six innings in a 9-1 setback at Cincinnati on Saturday. Garcia is 2-1 in three starts this year against the Brewers with both wins coming at home.St. Louis leads the season series 11-4, and is 59-28 against Milwaukee since the 2012 seasons beginning. Cheap Air Max 720 Australia . -- Charline Labonte couldnt have asked for a better homecoming. Cheap Air Max 720 . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. http://www.cheapaustraliaairmax720.com/ . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position. Air Max 720 Sale . Aside from the trilogy main event title fight, there are a number of intriguing matchups in the heavyweight, welterweight and lightweight divisions. Air Max 720 Clearance . -- Ken Appleby made 32 saves for his first shutout of the season to lead the Oshawa Generals to a 2-0 win over the Belleville Bulls on Wednesday in Ontario Hockey League action. LYON, France -- Wrapped in red dragon flags and wearing the jerseys of their history-making heroes, Wales fans descended on this southern French city to see their national soccer team in its first-ever European Championship semifinal on Wednesday.For supporters of opponent Portugal this is a familiar experience, having also made the last four at Euro 2012 and contested the 2004 final.But generations of Wales fans who have waited a lifetime to see their team in a major tournament are now just one game from a final at the Stade de France on Sunday. The last time Wales played on the international stage, at the 1958 World Cup, was before many of the supporters flooding into this southeastern French city were born.Everyone at home is talking about football -- nothing else matters at the moment, 36-year-old Richard Morris said. Its the best experience Ive ever had.Morris has only missed one of his teams five games in France -- the last-16 win over Northern Ireland -- but he was there in Lille on Friday as Wales stunned Belgium with a 3-1 win in the quarterfinals.We knew we had it in us but we didnt think wed get here in such style, Morris said. Theres no egos in the team, everyone plays for each other.The last time a British team reached the semifinal of a soccer tournament was England at Euro 96, but the larger neighbors have been truly upstaged by Wales at the 2016 continental championship.England went home more than a week ago after losing to Iceland in the round of 16. That was good news for Paul Williams, a 21-year-old Wales fan who secured his semifinal ticket from an Englishman desperate to offload it at face value.Its the year of the undeerdogs so hopefully it continues, said Williams, referring to Leicester City winning the Premier League.dddddddddddd It eases the pressure a bit because you know you arent expected to win.In Wales, a nation of 3 million where rugby usually dominates, the round ball rather than the oval ball is now the center of attention.Its nice to see everyone getting behind the football, said Williams, who lives in the northern town of Bangor. Its unheard of really back home.Waless astonishing run to the last four has been masterminded by Chris Coleman, who was hired amid the grief following coach Gary Speeds death in 2011.Speeds father, Roger, will be at the Stade de Lyon on Wednesday night to see if Wales can reach a final against either France or Germany.Im very, very proud, Roger Speed told the BBC. I know all the lads and they think about him (Gary) all the time -- lets do it for Speedo ... hed be as proud as we are.The team received a good luck message from Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne.Throughout the whole championship, you have set an inspiring example of teamwork and sportsmanship and I have no doubt that in this latest game you will continue to give your country even greater cause for pride, the Prince of Wales said.Your historic achievements have already earned the support not only of Wales, but of the whole United Kingdom, and I hope you will know just how much we are all willing you on to further success.---Rob Harris can be followed at www.twitter.com/RobHarris and www.facebook.com/RobHarrisReports ' ' '