LOS ANGELES -- Stars filed into Staples Center to watch Game 4 of the WNBA Finals. Cedric the Entertainer, Magic Johnson and the Mamba himself sat courtside Sunday, hoping to see the Sparks clinch the WNBA championship for the first time since 2002.The proverbial stars, however, did not align for the Sparks. Maya Moore scored 31 points and Minnesota won 85-79 to force the WNBA Finals to a decisive Game 5 on Thursday (ESPN2, 8 p.m. ET).I think we fought today, Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike said. When it comes to the focus and awareness, we can sharpen up there, and I think thats what we have to do.Minnesotas game plan was to make someone other than Ogwumike and Candace Parker beat the Lynx. The duo finished with 25 total points, well below their combined playoffs average of 36.9 points per game.Chelsea Gray almost became that player, turning in a performance of 20 points while shooting 4 of 5 from beyond the arc. In the end, however, even her herculean performance wasnt enough to lift the Sparks over the top.Obviously Im disappointed that we didnt win and close it out, but Im not thinking its over, said an emotional Parker, slumped in a chair. I think our team has done things the hard way all year, so this is another test for us.Nothing came easy for Parker on Sunday. She fought and scraped for 14 points, and managed only three rebounds. Even with Lynx forward Rebekkah Brunson on the bench for much of the second quarter in foul trouble, Parker struggled to take advantage.Still, the Sparks kept the game close. They had plenty of chances to take control -- and even win -- but they kept getting in their own way.We have to play with a little bit more poise down the stretch, Sparks guard Kristi Toliver said. We have to be aggressive, assertive, decisive, and I think that in those last 1:30, we werent that, and thats going to be the difference.Game 5 demands that the Sparks march into Minneapolis to get a win, something theyve done twice this season. With a championship on the line, it will surely be an intense game, but the Sparks know what needs to be done to leave the Twin Cities victorious, even if they dont know from experience what it takes to win a championship.Weve got to fight, Alana Beard said. We need to do the little things, go back to fundamentals, keep Sylvia [Fowles] out of the lane, and everyone making it a point to box out. Its obvious that when they outrebound us on the offensive end, they win the game.Los Angeles also will need to find an answer for Maya Moore. The veteran torched the Sparks defense for 31 points. And Fowles helped the Lynx outrebound The Sparks 41-25.The definite takeaway from Game 4 is that the Sparks arent going down without a fight, and theyre going to Minnesota with their eyes on the prize.Game 5 is going to be exactly like Game 4. Its going to be a dogfight. Its going to be up-and-down. Its going to be physical, Toliver said. Hopefully well learn from this experience [Sunday] of knowing how to close out a series. Zapatillas Yeezy Falsas . He just needed to be his best twisting, turning acrobatic self. "I didnt need to be anybody else, I just needed to be myself and be aggressive," said Burks, who scored a career-high 34 points to spark the Utah Jazz to a 118-103 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday night. Air Max Falsas . -- Mike Smith never saw his first NHL goal go in. https://www.zapatillasbaratasspain.es/zapatillas-baratas-spain-outlet-online-d2288.html . Self was acquired from the Buffalo Bandits in a trade for Alex Hill midway through last season, and made his debut in Rochester on March 16, 2013. Zapatillas Yeezy Spain . Luis Suarezs double powered Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Fulham, and Southampton easily overcame Hull 4-1 to continue the south coast clubs impressive start to the season. Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home. Zapatillas Jordan Falsas . -- Claudio Bieler hadnt scored since early September, and not from the run of play since mid-July. BALTIMORE -- The New York Yankees are experiencing a terrible hitting slump at the worst possible time.If they dont break out of it right now, their flickering playoff hopes could be extinguished for good.New York managed only four hits in a 2-0 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday night. One night earlier, the Yankees got a pair of singles in an 8-0 defeat.Its only the first week of September, but New York finds itself in a must-win situation entering the series finale.You dont ever want to go through this during the course of the season, manager Joe Girardi said. So (Sundays) game is probably the most important game of the year.New York already went through one seemingly must-win stretch leading up to the Aug. 1 trade deadline. After going into sell mode but continuing to compete, Girardis club again finds itself playing for the season with weeks still to go.Yeah, I think you do feel it more, just because youre running out of time, Girardi said. Thats why I think (Sunday) is extremely important. Weve got to find a way to score some runs.Kevin Gausman outpitched CC Sabathia for the second time in seven days and Adam Jones homered for the Orioles, who have blanked the Yankees three straight times dating to the series finale in New York on Aug. 28.Gausman (7-10) allowed two hits and two walks over six innings to win his fourth straight start. He struck out eight and permitted only one runner past second base.The right-hander threw seven shutout innings in New York last Sunday and is 2-1 with an 0.80 ERA in five starts against the Yankees this season.Just trying to mx in all my pitches and keep them off balance, Gausman said.Zach Britton, the third Baltimore reliever, worked a perfect ninth for his 40th save in 40 opportunities.The victory moved the third-place Orioles within two games of the top spot in the AL East.Sabathia (8-12) gave up two runs, one earned, in six innings. All it got him was another loss against the Orioles, the third in a row since mid-July.I didnt have much, Sabathia acknowledged. Just trying to make pitches when I had to, and I was able to do that for the most part.dddddddddddd. But it was a struggle today.The Yankees came to town with a season-high four straight series wins, but they will leave with their ninth consecutive series loss in Baltimore.Its tough, especially when CC goes out there and pitches his butt off, right fielder Aaron Judge said. If we win tomorrow, we forget about today.Gausman struck out six of the first eight batters and experienced only one difficult inning, the fourth. New York loaded the bases with one out before Starlin Castro struck out and Brian McCann hit a fly ball to left.A double and an error by Judge provided Baltimore with an unearned run in the bottom half, and Jones hit his 25th home run in the fifth.The suddenly punchless New York offense had no answer. The Yankees totaled 27 runs against Baltimore over two games last weekend before Gausman stepped to the mound.FAREWELL TO TEXMaryland native Mark Teixeira will play his final game at Camden Yards on Sunday.Teixeira was cheered as a visiting player in Baltimore until he signed as a free agent with New York in 2009. From that point, the hometown kid heard only boos.When you play a long time, it really doesnt bother you at all, Teixeira said.Besides, its not like he spurned the Orioles in 2009. They didnt have any intention of signing me. They made an offer just to say they made an offer, he said.TRAINERS ROOMYankees: RHP Chad Green (2-4, 4.73) has a sprained elbow and is likely done for the season. Green will see a doctor in New York on Monday.Orioles: RHP Chris Tillman (right shoulder) will have a bullpen session Sunday after throwing three times from flat ground during the week. Tillman (15-5, 3.76) last pitched on Aug. 20.UP NEXTYankees: RHP Michael Pineda (6-11, 5.12) starts the series finale Sunday. Hes winless in his last four starts.Orioles: LHP Wade Miley (8-11, 5.43) returns to the mound coming off his longest start (seven innings, three earned runs) since joining Baltimore at the trade deadline. ' ' '