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Author: Dave Riggert

Northwest volleyball downs SBU in four sets to extend winning streak

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BOLIVAR, Missouri – The Northwest Missouri State University volleyball team secured its eighth straight win with a 3-1 victory at Southwest Baptist Saturday afternoon. Northwest won by set scores of 25-21, 25-15, 19-25, 25-17.

Northwest moved its season mark to 13-3 and stayed perfect in MIAA action at 5-0. SBU fell to 4-14 overall and 0-5 in league play.

The eight-match win streak ties for the sixth-longest win streak in school history and is the longest win streak for Northwest since its 15-game win streak in the 2016 season.

Northwest enjoyed a 13-10 kill advantage in the first set in scoring a 25-21 victory.

The visitors simply could not miss in the second set as Northwest hit .571 with 16 kills and no attack errors. Northwest cruised to a 25-15 triumph to take a 2-0 set lead in the match.

SBU bounced with a 25-19 win in the third set. It was the first time in eight matches that Northwest had dropped a set. Northwest hit .043 in the third set with 10 kills and eight errors.

Northwest was able to close it out in the fourth set with a 25-17 triumph. Northwest held SBU to a .000 hitting percentage in the fourth. SBU had six kills and six attack errors.

Northwest will return home to Bearcat Arena for matches against Fort Hays State (Fri., 6 p.m.) and Nebraska-Kearney (Sat., 6:30 p.m.)

NOTES: Northwest had won 23 straight sets before dropping the third set to SBU on Saturday. … Northwest is 12-0 in three-set matches … it’s the first win for Northwest this season when going past three sets … Sophomore Hallie Sidney registered a career-high 14 digs in the win over SBU … senior Maddy Bruder recorded her sixth double-double of the season and the 48th of her collegiate career with 13 kills and 11 digs … freshman Rachel Sturdevant posted her third double-figure kill match of the season with 11 kills … senior Megan Stilmock was credited with a career-high four service aces.

— Northwest Athletics —

Kansas drops Big 12 opener at Baylor 26-7

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WACO, Texas (AP) — Charlie Brewer made it easy for Baylor to stick primarily with one quarterback in the Big 12 opener.

After Brewer and graduate transfer Jalan McClendon shared snaps extensively the first three games, Brewer threw three touchdowns and played all but the final series for the Bears in a 26-7 victory on Saturday that ended a rare winning streak by Kansas.

“He just scored. … The ball’s moving,” Baylor coach Matt Rhule said. “Keeping us alive with his feet. I thought that was the x-factor early on, was Charlie making some of those plays.”

Brewer completed 19 of 27 passes for 221 yards and added 56 yards rushing for the Bears (3-1, 1-0 Big 12), who have already tripled their victory total from last year when their only win in Rhule’s first season came at Kansas.

Kansas (2-2, 0-1) entered the game with consecutive wins for the first time since a 2-0 start in 2011. A 31-7 victory two weeks ago at Central Michigan ended the second-longest road losing streak in college football history, 46 games since 2009.

But the Jayhawks still haven’t won a Big 12 road game in nearly 10 years. They have lost 41 true Big 12 road games in a row since a 35-33 win at Iowa State on Oct. 4, 2008.

“I didn’t think we were outmatched,” Kansas coach David Beaty said. “We had plenty to get it done, and I didn’t think we did a very good job of executing the game plan. We didn’t do a good enough job of teaching it, and as a result we didn’t get it done as a group.”

Baylor had a 23-0 halftime lead after Brewer had TD passes to three different receivers in a four-drive span that also included the first of Connor Martin’s two field goals.

“If your number is called, you need to be ready to go. That’s what coach Rhule preaches, and my number was called for most of the game,” Brewer said.

“Had we gone out there, three drives O-fer, I probably would have put Jalan back in,” Rhule said. “There was a little rhythm (with Brewer).”

McClendon didn’t come in until 3:35 left in the game, and threw a 36-yard pass to Jalen Hurd on his first play.

Asked about the quarterback situation moving forward, Rhule said he has so much confidence in “two special guys” that can play.

Baylor jumped ahead when Chris Platt got behind a cornerback for a 22-yard catch in the back corner of the end zone. Then two freshmen had TD catches in the second quarter — Tyquan Thornton streaked past two defenders to the end zone for a 39-yard catch, and Josh Fleeks got a foot down in the back of the end zone for a 34-yard score over two defenders.

“We stay on them, I know it’s hard for them at first, like why are they getting on me,” Platt said. “But now they understand the reasons why. They went out there and played.”

POOKA’S BIG RUN

The Kansas touchdown late in the third quarter was a 10-yard pass from Peyton Bender to Jeremiah Booker. That was set up by a 72-yard run by Pooka Williams, who after not playing the opener was the first freshman in Kansas history to start his career with consecutive 100-yard rushing games. He finished with 14 carries for 89 yards against Baylor.

THE TAKEAWAY

Kansas: The Jayhawks defenders couldn’t keep up with Baylor’s speedy receivers, and the team that entered the game with a national-best plus-12 turnover margin didn’t get any takeaways. Just like that, the momentum of a winning streak ended and Kansas plays its next two Big 12 games against Oklahoma State and West Virginia, both top-15 teams with high-scoring and big-play offenses.

Baylor: Rhule and his staff stuck with the hot hand at quarterback after Brewer and McClendon both had solid stretches in the first three games. Even while sharing snaps in the first part of this season, Brewer has started eight consecutive games. He took over as the starter the final four games as a true freshman last year.

UP NEXT

Kansas: Home for the only time in its first four Big 12 games Saturday against No. 15 Oklahoma State.

Baylor: At No. 5 Oklahoma next Saturday.

— Associated Press —

Nebraska stays winless, gets blown out at No. 19 Michigan

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan was very motivated to beat Nebraska, using Scott Frost’s words against him.

Karan Higdon ran for 136 yards and a touchdown in the first half to help the 19th-ranked Wolverines build a huge lead and they coasted to a 56-10 victory Saturday.

In Frost’s last visit to the Big House two years ago, he said Central Florida “outhit” Michigan in a 51-14 loss.

“We didn’t forget that,” offensive tackle Jon Runyan said.

Michigan moved Nebraska around on offense, clearing huge holes for the running game and giving Shea Patterson plenty of time to throw. On defense, the Wolverines hit hard early and often perhaps in part because defensive coordinator Don Brown told them what Frost said after his last visit.

“We really took that to heart,” Wolverines linebacker Devin Bush said. “And, we wanted to make a statement.”

Mission accomplished.

“Physicality, we got whipped,” Frost acknowledged.

The Wolverines (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten) led 20-0 after the first quarter and 39-0 at halftime.

“It just seemed like they really didn’t want to be out there at some points,” Michigan defensive end Chase Winovich said.

The Cornhuskers (0-3, 0-1) are off to their worst start since 1945. They have lost seven in a row dating to last season for the first time since 1957.

“We’re really going to find out who loves football and who loves each other and who is going to band together,” Frost said.

Michigan rested Higdon, who missed the previous game with an injury, in the second half. Patterson played only the first series of the second half, giving Dylan McCaffrey an extended opportunity to play.

Patterson was 15 of 22 for 120 yards with a 5-yard TD pass to Zach Gentry midway through the second quarter that put the Wolverines ahead 30-0.

Fullback Ben Mason ran for three touchdowns — for a total of 6 yards — to match the number of times he had scored previously.

Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez was cleared to play after missing last week’s loss to Troy because of a knee injury. The freshman was 7 of 15 for 22 yards with an interception and he lost 12 yards rushing.

Martinez batted down the football from the end zone after his first attempt on a play was deflected back to him, giving Michigan a safety and a 39-0 lead.

The Wolverines also scored on special teams, taking a 46-0 lead early in the third on Donovan Peoples-Jones’ 60-yard punt return.

“I don’t know how many times I’ve been a part of a game like that, but we got beat in every phase,” Frost said.

While trailing 56-3, the Cornhuskers had lost more yards due to penalties (66) than they had gained on offense (61) early in the fourth quarter.

Nebraska finished with 39 yards rushing and 93 yards passing.

“We’re not ready to beat a team like this yet,” Frost said. “But, the key word is yet.”

THE TAKEAWAY

Nebraska: Frost, in his first season, has quite a challenge ahead of him trying to turn around a once-proud program.

“I told them that I honestly believe this is going to be the bottom,” Frost said.

Michigan: Momentum is on the Wolverines’ side after winning three straight games by lopsided scores after opening with a seven-point loss at Notre Dame.

“They’re an improving, ascending team,” coach Jim Harbaugh said.

OUT OF HERE

Michigan linebacker Khaleke Hudson was ejected for targeting for a second straight game and will have to miss the first half next week at Northwestern.

Harbaugh agreed with the ruling.

“You can’t lead with your head,” he said.

HONORED

Charles Woodson was recognized for being selected for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame later this year. The 1997 Heisman Trophy winner and national champion drew a roar from the crowd when he was shown on the videoboards during a timeout.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

The rout and three straight wins may help Michigan move up a little in the poll.

UP NEXT:

Nebraska: Hosts Purdue, which was winless until beating No. 23 Boston College 30-13 for its largest margin of victory against a ranked team since 1999.

Michigan: Plays at Northwestern, which will have two weeks to prepare for the game after losing 39-34 to Akron. The Wildcats (1-2) opened the season with a 31-27 win over the Boilermakers.

— Associated Press —

Griffon soccer upsets No. 1 Central Missouri 1-0

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ST. JOSEPH – Streaks of unbelievable success and frustration totaling 114 games and 13 years came to an end Friday night on Craig Field at Spratt Memorial Stadium.

Sara Collins’ header off a corner kick in the 31st minute gave the Missouri Western soccer team (5-2) a historic upset victory over No. 1-ranked Central Missouri (6-1). Collins’ first goal of the season lifted Missouri Western to a 1-0 win, its first-ever against the Jennies

STREAKS ENDED

  • Central Missouri, the defending national champions, entered on a 32-game win streak with its last loss coming in the 2016 postseason
  • The Jennies had scored a goal in 58-straight games. Their last shutout loss came on Oct. 18, 2015 to Northeastern State
  • Missouri Western defeated Central Missouri for the first time in program history, snapping a streak of 24-straight losses to the Jennies
  • Central Missouri was the only MIAA team remaining the soccer program had yet to defeat
  • It was the first win over a No. 1-ranked team for any Missouri Western sport since men’s basketball defeated No. 1 Missouri Southern, 75-67, on Dec. 7, 2011

NOTABLES

  • The goal was Collins’ first of the season
  • Mackenzie O’Neill got the assist, her first of the season. It was O’Neill’s first corner of the game after Madeline Cowell took the first five for Missouri Western
  • True freshman goalkeeper Anna Mayer earned her first-career, complete game shutout, saving eleven shots that included a win-saving diving poke in the 85th
  • It was MWSU’s fourth-straight win after starting the season 1-2
  • Central Missouri took 24 shots in the game, 11 on goal
  • Missouri Western took 16 shots, six on goal
  • The Griffons had 10 corners to UCM’s six
  • The win is a non-conference win. The two teams will meet again for conference points in the regular season finale, Oct. 28 at Central Missouri

UP NEXT

  • The Griffons play their first true MIAA game this Sunday at noon when they host Lindenwood (3-3-1)
  • Lindenwood won 2-0 at Northwest Missouri Friday night
  • Missouri Western defeated Lindenwood, 3-1 last Friday in St. Charles

    — MWSU Athletics —

Area High School Football Scores – Friday, September 21

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CITY
Central 0 (1-4, 1-3 Suburban Red)
@ Liberty North 37 (3-2, 3-1 Suburban Red)

Bishop LeBlond 21 (0-5, 0-3 MEC)
@ Lafayette 51 (4-1, 2-1 MEC)

Savannah 47 (3-2, 3-0 MEC)
@ Benton 10 (1-4, 1-2 MEC)

St. Joseph Christian 38 (0-4, 0-4 GRC)
@ Albany 68 (2-3, 1-2 GRC)

AREA
MEC
Chillicothe 14 (1-4, 1-2 MEC)
@ St. Piux X 25 (3-2, 2-1 MEC)

Maryville 72 (4-1, 3-0 MEC)
@ Cameron 12 (2-3, 0-3 MEC)

KCI
East Buchanan 70 (5-0, 3-0 KCI)
@ Plattsburg 54 (1-4, 0-3 KCI)

Hamilton 29 OT (3-2, 1-2 KCI)
@ Mid-Buchanan 27 (3-2, 1-2 KCI)

North Platte 0 (1-4, 1-2 KCI)
@ Lawson 49 (5-0, 3-0 KCI)

West Platte 7 (1-4, 0-3 KCI)
@ Lathrop 68 (5-0, 3-0 KCI)

GRC
South Harrison 32 (4-1, 3-0 GRC)
@ Maysville 14 (0-5, 0-3 GRC)

Gallatin 48 (4-1, 3-0 GRC)
@ Polo 6 (0-5, 0-3 GRC)

Milan 43 (5-0, 3-0 GRC)
@ Putnam County 14 (1-4, 0-3 GRC)

Trenton 21 (1-4, 1-2 GRC)
@ Princeton 28 (3-2, 2-1 GRC)

8-MAN
GRC
Chilhowee 62 (0-5)
@ North Andrew 0 (3-2, 1-2 GRC)

King City 28 (2-3, 1-3 GRC)
@ Worth County 58 (5-0, 3-0 GRC)

Pattonsburg 46 (4-1, 4-1 GRC)
@ Stanberry 84 (5-0, 5-0 GRC)

Braymer 32 (0-5, 0-3 GRC)
@ Norborne / Hardin-Central 44 (3-2)

275
North-West Nodaway 0 (0-5, 0-5 275)
@ Mound City 46 (5-0, 4-0 275)

Rock Port 28 (4-1, 4-1 275)
@ East Atchison 44 (4-1, 4-1 275)

South Holt / Nodaway Holt 82 (2-3, 2-2 275)
@ DeKalb 36 (1-4, 0-4 275)

Southwest Livingston 62 (4-1, 4-1 275)
@ Stewartsville 14 (1-4, 1-3 275)

North Shelby 42 (4-1)
@ Platte Valley 2 (1-4, 1-3 275)

Missouri Western volleyball sweeps Southwest Baptist

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BOLIVAR, Mo. – Missouri Western (9-6) swept Southwest Baptist (4-3) on Friday in Bolivar. The 25-14, 25-21, 25-19 sweep gives Missouri Western its first MIAA road victory of the season and brings their conference record to 2-2.

NOTABLES

  • After Friday’s match, Missouri Western has now defeated Southwest Baptist in each of the last 10 matchups.
  • Liv Winker had her first start of the season, starting all three sets for the Griffons.
  • Friday night was the Griffons first sweep since defeating Newman on September 8.

STATS AND LEADERS

  • The Griffons outhit the Bearcats in every set and ended the night with a .318 percentage. Their best hitting set came in the first as they hit .414.
  • Southwest Baptist was held to a .047 hitting percentage.
  • Liv Winker led all players with 30 assists.
  • Shellby Taylor led Missouri Western in kills (10) for the second straight match.
  • Ali Tauchen tallied nine kills and three digs.

UP NEXT

  • At Missouri Southern on Saturday September 22 at noon
  • Missouri Southern has a 1-11 record with its lone win coming against Southwest Baptist.

    — MWSU Athletics —

Bearcat volleyball rolls past Southern to extend win streak to seven

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JOPLIN, Missouri – The Northwest Missouri State University volleyball team ran its win streak to seven in a row with yet another 3-0 sweep. This time, Northwest knocked off the Missouri Southern State Lions on Friday. Northwest won by set scores of 25-11, 25-23, 26-24.

Northwest (12-3 overall, 4-0 MIAA) won its seventh straight match in three sets to run its set win streak to 21 in a row. The seven-game win streak for the Bearcats is tied for the ninth-longest win streak in school history.

Maddy Bruder and Sofia Schleppenbach each posted double-figure kill totals in the match. Bruder tallied 13 kills and Schleppenbach notched 12 kills. Maddy Ahrens ran the Bearcat offense and was credited with 38 assists, eight digs, two kills and a service ace.

Northwest jumped out all over Missouri Southern in the opening set. Northwest scored the first five points and built a 17-3 lead. Northwest hit .370 with 15 kills, while Missouri Southern hit -.077 with four kills and six errors.

The second set was much tighter and featured 16 ties and eight lead changes. With the set deadlocked at 23-23, Northwest got a kills from Bruder to earn a set point. MSSU’s Kylee Kaaihue missed on an attack and Northwest took the set, 25-23.

Northwest closed out the match with a victory in the third. The set featured nine ties and three lead changes. Northwest opened up a 19-14 lead and looked to cruise to the three-set win. However, MSSU used an 8-3 run to even the set at 22-22. The Bearcats finished off the match with a pair of kills from Bruder to take it, 26-24.

Northwest will travel to Southwest Baptist on Saturday for a 3 p.m. matchup between the Bearcats.

NOTES: Northwest is 12-0 in three-set matches this season … Olivia Nowakowski has recorded 1,471 career digs to rank No. 5 on the Bearcats all-time digs list … Nowakowski needs 17 more digs to tie Tori Beckman’s total of 1,488 digs from 2012-2012 … Northwest has defeated Missouri Southern seven straight times in the series between the two schools.

— Northwest Athletics —

Royals beat Tigers 4-3, stop five-game skid

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DETROIT (AP) — This time, the Kansas City Royals had enough hitting and pitching.

Ian Kennedy pitched three-run ball into the eighth inning, and the Royals stopped a five-game slide by holding off the Detroit Tigers for a 4-3 win on Friday night.

Alex Gordon had three hits for the Royals, who hit four homers in 11-8 loss in the series opener. Rosell Herrera had two hits and drove in a run.

“We made a couple mistakes on 0-2 pitches, and they cost us runs,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “Other than that, our pitching was fantastic.”

The sloppy Tigers committed three errors while losing for the eighth time in 11 games.

“We just played terrible baseball,” manager Ron Gardenhire said. “We made errors and we made bad decisions.”

Kennedy (3-8) won his second straight start, permitting two earned runs and seven hits in seven-plus innings. He struck out six and walked none.

“I’ve been executing in the last three games — that’s literally the only thing that has changed,” Kennedy said. “I’m throwing good pitches, and in meaningful spots, I’m throwing strikes.”

Wily Peralta worked a shaky ninth for his 12th save. Ronny Rodriguez led off with an infield single, but James McCann bunted into a 1-6 forceout at second.

“Wily’s more athletic than he looks,” Yost said. “He bounded off the mound and made a great throw to second.”

Jeimer Candelario then drew a pinch-hit walk before Peralta struck out Dawel Lugo and Jim Adduci.

Detroit left-hander Francisco Liriano (5-11) was charged with four runs, one earned, and six hits in six innings. He has a 1.88 ERA in his last four starts.

Kansas City jumped in front on Detroit’s first defensive mistake. With one out in the first, Adalberto Mondesi singled and took off on a 1-1 pitch to Gordon.

Gordon looped a single to shallow left, and Mondesi took a big turn at third and kept going when rookie Christin Stewart lobbed the ball into second.

“I kept my head up on the play, and I’m always looking to make a play,” Mondesi said. “When I saw he was going to make the short throw, I went hard.”

Stewart, a hitting prospect not known for solid defense, was making his 12th major league appearance.

“That will be a learning experience for the kid,” Gardenhire said. “He’s got to be quicker getting to the ball, and he’s got to get rid of it. If he makes a faster play and hits the cut-off man, everything is fine.”

Gordon added an RBI single in the third, and the Royals scored two more runs in the fourth, aided by errors by first baseman Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Stewart.

“We’re going to be working on defense a lot in spring training,” Gardenhire said. “We’ll have our whole group together and we’re going to improve some of these things.”

Rodriguez homered in the fifth for the Tigers, and Nicholas Castellanos doubled home a run in the sixth.

Kennedy left after Pete Kozma reached on an error, and Castellanos made it 4-3 with a two-out double off Kevin McCarthy. Victor Martinez, playing in his next-to-last major league game, grounded out to first to end the inning.

Martinez received an ovation before the at-bat.

“I wish I could have gotten a hit there for the fans,” he said. “They are like a family to me. Families fight, and there have been some times when they let us know we weren’t playing well, but they are always here for us.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Tigers: With INFs Niko Goodrum (quad) and Candelario (back) still bothered by injuries, Harold Castro was promoted from Triple-A Toledo. Castro hadn’t arrived by game time, and the Tigers ended up with Saltalamacchia playing first base for the first time since 2016.

ETIQUETTE QUESTION

In the eighth inning, McCarthy rode in on the Comerica Park bullpen cart and didn’t know what to do at the end of the ride.

“I had never done that before, so I wasn’t sure if I should tip the driver,” he said.

ONE MORE GAME FOR MARTINEZ

Martinez announced before Friday’s game he will finish his 16-season career on Saturday against the Royals. Martinez will sit out Sunday’s series finale and accompany the team on its final road trip without playing.

“I feel like I owe it to the fans to have my final at-bats here,” said Martinez, who will be honored in a pregame ceremony.

UP NEXT

The teams play the third game of their series on Saturday night, with Detroit’s Jordan Zimmermann (7-8, 4.41 ERA) facing Jakob Junis (8-12, 4.42 ERA).

— Associated Press —

Northwest Missouri State soccer falls to Lindenwood

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The Lindenwood Lions defeated the Northwest Bearcats 2-0 at Bearcat Pitch. This brings Lindenwood to 3-3-1 and Northwest falls to 1-5-0.

Sami Gregory scored the Lions’ first goal 32 minutes in the game. Their second goal was scored by Jordan Wipke on a penalty kick.
Northwest goalkeeper Alexis Serna-Castillo had 8 saves on the day, and Lindenwood goalkeeper Lauren Greenstein had 10.

Northwest soccer will be back in action Sunday against the University of Central Missouri Jennies at 1 p.m. for Soctoberfest. The first 400 fans will receive a free Stein and a root beer float.

— Northwest Athletics —

Adams lifts Cardinals past Giants 5-3

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ST. LOUIS (AP) — Pinch-hitter Matt Adams had a clutch two-run double in the eighth inning, helping the St. Louis Cardinals beat the San Francisco Giants 5-3 on Friday night.

Harrison Bader sparked the winning rally with a two-out walk against Mark Melancon (0-2). Yairo Munoz then singled before Melancon was replaced by left-hander Tony Watson.

Adams doubled to left on a 2-1 pitch, giving St. Louis a 5-3 lead.

John Brebbia (3-3) struck out the side in the eighth for the win and Carlos Martinez picked up his fourth save in four chances.

St. Louis moved within 4 1/2 games of the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs, who lost 10-4 to the White Sox. The Cardinals began the day with a 1 1/2-game lead over Colorado for the second NL wild card.

Evan Longoria had three hits for San Francisco, which has dropped 14 of 18. Madison Bumgarner allowed three runs and eight hits in six innings.

St. Louis jumped in front on Marcell Ozuna’s two-out RBI single in the first, ending a scoreless string of 14 2/3 innings by Bumgarner at Busch Stadium dating to 2014.

John Gant lasted just 2 2/3 innings for St. Louis in his shortest outing of the season. He allowed one run and four hits.

The Giants tied it at 3 with two runs in the seventh against Jordan Hicks. Gregor Blanco singled in Austin Slater. With one out and runners on first and third, Longoria drove in Alen Hanson with a grounder to first.

BIRTHDAY PRESENT

It was Martinez’s 27th birthday. He has been a starter for most of his career, so it was the first time he had recorded a save on his birthday.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Giants: INF Brandon Belt had surgery in San Francisco to clean up his torn meniscus and cartilage damage in his right knee. Manager Bruce Bochy said Belt is expected to be ready for spring training. Belt hit .253 with 14 homers and 46 RBI this season.

Cardinals: INF Kolten Wong left after seven innings due to cramping. He was replaced by Munoz. … RHP Giovanny Gallegos was recalled from Triple-A Memphis. The 27-year-old Gallegos was acquired along with LHP Chasen Shreve in a July 29 trade with the New York Yankees for INF Luke Voit.

UP NEXT

Giants RHP Dereck Rodriguez (6-4, 2.30 ERA) faces Cardinals RHP Adam Wainwright (2-3, 3.72 ERA) on Saturday afternoon. Wainwright is 6-7 in his career against San Francisco. Rodriguez is facing the Cardinals for the second time after recording a no-decision in a 3-2 Giants win on July 6.

— Associated Press —

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