ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Rams are dropping plans to play home games in London in 2013 and 2014, citing a need to focus on negotiations on their lease and ease fan discontent. The Rams said Monday that they will play the New England Patriots at Wembley Stadium on Oct. 28 while withdrawing their commitment for home games in London the following two seasons. "We want to grow globally, but we need to make sure were on solid footing first here in St. Louis," said Kevin Demoff, chief operating officer, at a news conference. "While this was something that we believe in and we continue to believe in, this was just not the right timing for the organization and for our fans." Demoff said season ticket sales have not suffered during an impasse with the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Bureau. But he said the decision should ease worries they might move after the 2014 season. "I think the general perception is that if youre playing in London, youre not looking right now for an absolute solution, youre giving yourself an out," Demoff said. "We dont want that perception out there whatsoever." The dome is owned by the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Bureau and leased to the Rams for home games. The lease agreement signed when the team moved to St. Louis in 1994 allows for periodic evaluations of whether it is among the top 25 per cent of all the NFLs 31 stadiums (the New York Jets and Giants share a stadium). The bureau and the Rams have been negotiating over improvements since at least January. Unless a deal is worked out, the Rams could break the lease and potentially leave St. Louis after the 2014 season. "Were committed to working with the city to find a first-tier solution," Demoff said. "We have said we need our actions to speak louder than our words, and this action today should show St. Louis we care about getting this right." The Rams said they worked closely with the NFL in deciding to drop the London games. NFL Vice-President of International Chris Parsons said the league was working to add another game for 2013 "in response to the growth in popularity of our sport. We hope to finalize these plans in the months ahead." NFL owners have agreed to play regular-season games in the United Kingdom for the next five seasons and Commissioner Roger Goodell has repeatedly spoken of the possibility of a full-time franchise there one day. The NFL first played at Wembley in 2007, with the New York Giants beating the Miami Dolphins 13-10. Since then, seven other teams have visited, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers making the trip twice. The Rams and the bureau are at odds about what needs to be done, and how much it would cost to get the 18-year-old dome that was built with taxpayer money to first-tier status. The agreement to play "home" games in London each of the next three seasons had been met with some scorn in St. Louis since that would have provided for just seven regular-season games in St. Louis each of those seasons. The CVC privately proposed to the Rams a modest $48 million plan in January that would have been publicly funded. When that was rejected, the CVC in February announced a plan for $124 million in improvements that included better amenities and a massive new scoreboard. It would have required to Rams to pay for $64 million of the cost. Voter approval in St. Louis city and St. Louis County would have been required for the rest. The Rams countered with a much more elaborate plan calling for a new roof with a sliding panel, replacing much of the brick exterior with a glass front, even re-routing a nearby street. The Rams did not provide a cost estimate but mayoral aide Jeff Rainford said the teams plan would cost about $700 million and the dome, which also hosts conventions, would have to be closed for renovation for up to three years, potentially costing the city $500 million in revenue. The Rams were 2-14 last season, tied for the worst in the NFL with Indianapolis, and are 15-65 over the past five seasons. They lost their preseason opener to the Colts 38-3 on Sunday in the debut of coach Jeff Fisher. [url=http://www.blackhawkshockeyproshop.com/Clark-Griswold-Blackhawks-Jersey/]ht... . Fans cried foul as the club imported yet another European that they had little-to-no familiarity with, and even now, more than a year later, most fans are still only peripherally aware of Valanciunas as an actual basketball player. [url=http://www.blackhawkshockeyproshop.com/Bryan-Bickell-Blackhawks-Jersey/]htt... . Marouane Fellaini headed Everton in front in the 33rd minute but conceded a penalty 10 minutes later after tangling with Edin Dzeko, allowing Carlos Tevez to equalize from the spot. [url=http://www.blackhawkshockeyproshop.com/Andrew-Shaw-Blackhawks-Jersey/]http:... . -- Tim Tebow wont be playing for his hometown team. [url=http://www.blackhawkshockeyproshop.com/Stan-Mikita-Blackhawks-Jersey/]http:... . -- Christian Watford had only come off the bench once in his Indiana career. [url=http://www.blackhawkshockeyproshop.com/Glenn-Hall-Blackhawks-Jersey/]http:/... . UFC president Dana White used a news conference for Saturdays televised card in Seattle to announce Rouseys UFC launching pad. He bounded on stage with a spare championship belt, declining to say why until he ended the mystery some 20 minutes later.PITTSBURGH -- Travis Wood hadnt won a game in more than two months. The worst defensive game by the Pittsburgh Pirates in more than a quarter century gave the struggling Chicago Cubs pitcher all the help he needed. Wood gave up one hit over six innings, and the Cubs won 12-2 Friday night to stop a six-game losing streak. "The pitches were working good and the defence was outstanding behind me," Wood said. The Pirates, not so much. Playing meaningful September baseball for the first time in 20 years, Pittsburgh hardly looked like a playoff team, committing seven errors and leaving typically chatty manager Clint Hurdle at a loss for words. "Our worst game of the season," said Hurdle, who was ejected in the sixth inning. "We stunk tonight. Theres always a sense of pride you take out on the field to play your best every night you go out there. Sometimes your best stinks. Thats where we were tonight." Wood (5-12) ended a streak of 10 straight winless starts by striking out five and walking three. He was aided by a spectacular catch from centerfielder Brett Jackson to end the sixth inning. Jackson crashed into the fence tracking down a deep flyball from Pittsburghs Andrew McCutchen to cut short the Pirates only real rally attempt. Jackson laid on the ground for several minutes before walking off under his own power, though he was immediately replaced by Tony Campana. The Cubs led by seven runs at the time, but Jackson said he never considered just letting it go. "It was a big moment in the game for Travis and for us as a team," said Jackson, who suffered a bruised knee and is unlikely to play Saturday. "Wed lost six in a row. Seven runs didnt seem like enough at the time. We were going to win that game today." Starlin Castro had three hits, including the 500th of his career, and drove in four runs for the Cubs. Alfonso Soriano added three hits and three RBI as Chicago took full advantage of one of the worst defensive nights in Pittsburghs 130-year history. The Pirates had not made seven errors in a game since 1985 and finished one shy of the club record set in 1939. It was the first seven-error game in the majors since Atlanta in a 2004 loss to Colorado. A.J. Burnett (15-6) struggled against one of baseballs worst batting orders, though having his teammates give the Cubs extra out after extra out certainly didnt help. Burnett allowed seven runs -- three earned -- and eight hits in five innings. He struck out four and walked one. Pittsburghs problems started early. Chicago took a 1-0 lead in the first thanks in part to an error by PPittsburgh rookie second baseman Brock Holt.dddddddddddd Things quickly got worse. Chicago made it 4-0 in the third with plenty of assistance from left fielder Starling Marte. The rookie, activated from the disabled list earlier in the day, mishandled a single by Soriano with one on and two outs. The ball caromed off his glove away from him and in his haste to recover, Marte threw wildly in the vicinity of third base. The ball sailed all the way to the backstop, allowing Anthony Rizzo and Soriano to move into scoring position. Moments later Marte was in trouble again when he booted a sharply hit ball by Castro. Rizzo and Soriano scored easily and Castro -- who advanced to second on the error -- dashed home on Steve Clevengers single. "It was nice to come in here against one of the better teams in the National League and put it on them pretty good," Chicago manager Dale Sveum said. "That was good for us, especially from where we were just coming from and for the mental state of the guys in that clubhouse." Hurdle tried to give his team some life, getting thrown out for the fourth time this season for arguing a close play at third base in which umpire Gary Darling ruled Jackson beat Josh Harrisons throw on a fielders choice. The Pirates responded by allowing three more runs thanks in part to throwing errors by first baseman Gaby Sanchez and catcher Rod Barajas. Two more errors in the seventh helped the Cubs push the lead to 12-0. At one point a fan in an exasperated PNC Park crowd started yelling "error! error!" at the official scorer on a cleanly hit single by Chicagos Tony Campana in the eighth. Instead of history, the Pirates finished with only seven errors, the most since an 8-4 loss to St. Louis on Sept. 16, 1985. "It was just one of those games, words cant even really describe it," Harrison said. "I really dont know what to say but put it behind us and come back tomorrow." Wood, who hadnt won since beating the Mets on July 6, didnt let the good fortune go to waste. He retired 14 of the first 15 batters he faced and didnt give up a hit until the fifth when Pedro Alvarezs flyball to centre glanced off Jacksons glove as the outfielder smacked into the wall. NOTES: Castro became the 28th player in major league history to reach 500 hits before his 23rd birthday. The previous player to do it was Alex Rodriguez ... The series continues on Saturday. Chicagos Jeff Samardzija (8-13, 3.91 ERA) will make his final start of the season for the Cubs against Pittsburghs James McDonald (12-7, 3.90). ' ' '