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Author: Dave Riggert

Royals blow eighth inning lead, lose to Blue Jays 6-5

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kevin Pillar hit a two-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning to lift the Toronto Blue Jays over the Kansas City Royals 6-5 on Tuesday night.

Blaine Boyer (2-1) retired his first two batters before walking Aledmys Diaz and backing Pillar into an 0-2 count. Pillar hit the next pitch over the wall down the left field line.

Ken Giles worked a perfect ninth for his 14th save and second with the Blue Jays since being acquired from Houston on July 30.

Salvador Perez and Jorge Bonifacio hit back-to-back doubles in the seventh off Jake Petricka (2-1) to give the Royals a short-lived 5-4 lead.

Adalberto Mondesi had a career-high four hits, including two doubles, stole three bases, drove in a run and scored a run for Kansas City.

The Blue Jays, who had scored four runs in their previous four games total, jumped to a 3-0 advantage. Teoscar Hernandez and Kendrys Morales walked to lead off the second and both scored. Pillar contributed a two-out RBI single, while the other run scored when Diaz grounded into a double play.

Heath Fillmyer walked two more Jays in the third and hit Russell Martin with a pitch with the bases loaded for the third run.

The Royals answered with three runs in third, which included Perez’s run-producing double and Whit Merrifield and Alex Gordon adding RBI singles.

Danny Jansen put the Blue Jays ahead 4-3 in the fourth with his first big league home run in his second game.

The Royals quickly tied it with Mondesi’s two-out single scoring Alcides Escobar, who had doubled.

Fillmyer left after five innings and 93 pitches, allowing four runs, five hits and five walks.

Blue Jays starter Ryan Borucki was pulled after four innings, yielding four runs, six hits and four walks.

The Royals have lost 10 of 12.

Rain delayed the start of the game 31 minutes.

DOUBLES FOR ESCOBAR

Escobar’s sixth-inning double was the 200th of his career. He is the 11th Royal to reach that milestone.

JAYS ACQUIRE BAKER

The Blue Jays acquired minor league RHP Bryan Baker from the Rockies as the player to be named in a July 26 trade that sent RHP Seunghawan Oh to Colorado. Baker posted a 3.80 ERA in 43 relief appearances with Class A Lancaster.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: Boyer was making his first appearance since April 29 and missing 61 games with a back strain. … RHP Aaron Sanchez (bruised right index finger) will make a rehab start Wednesday for Class A Dunedin in the Florida State League.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays: RHP Marco Estrada (5-9, 4.84 ERA) will start the third game of the series.

Royals: RHP Burch Smith (1-4, 6.97) will make his seventh start after beginning the season in the bullpen.

— Associated Press —

Gant homers, pitches Cardinals to 6-4 win over Nationals

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ST. LOUIS (AP) — John Gant homered for his first major league hit and pitched one-run ball into the sixth inning, helping the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Washington Nationals 6-4 on Tuesday night for their season-high seventh consecutive victory.

Kolten Wong had three hits and three RBI as St. Louis (65-55) pulled within four games of the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs and moved within one game of the Philadelphia Phillies for the second NL wild card. The Cardinals also improved to 18-9 since Mike Shildt was named interim manager on July 13, the most wins for a manager through his first 27 games in franchise history.

The Nationals (60-60) have dropped six of eight to fall eight games behind Atlanta in the NL East.

Gant (5-4) permitted four hits and struck out six in 5 1/3 innings. He has given up just two earned runs over 11 1/3 innings in his last two starts, both wins.

The 26-year-old Gant was 0 for 30 for his career when he drove a 1-1 pitch from Gio Gonzalez (7-9) over the wall in left in the second. The two-run shot gave Washington a 3-0 lead.

Wong’s solo homer made it 6-1 in the sixth, but Washington responded with three in the eighth. Bryce Harper hit a two-run shot, and Daniel Murphy singled in Anthony Rendon.

Matt Adams then struck out looking against Dakota Hudson, ending the inning, and Jordan Hicks worked the ninth for his fourth save in eight chances.

Paul DeJong also doubled and scored for St. Louis one night after he connected for a game-ending homer in a 7-6 victory. Matt Carpenter walked in the sixth to extend his on-base streak to 32 games.

Gonzalez was charged with five runs and five hits in four innings. The veteran left-hander is just 1-4 in his last six starts.

IRONMAN

St. Louis star Yadier Molina played in his 22nd consecutive game, the most by a catcher 35 years or older in major league history.

TRAINING ROOM

Nationals: Reliever Ryan Madson was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a back injury. RHP Trevor Gott and LHP Tim Collins were promoted from Triple-A Syracuse, LHP Sammy Solis was sent down, and RHP Erick Fedde was moved from the 10-day to the 60-day disabled list.

Cardinals: OF Tyler O’Neill (groin) was activated from the 10-day disabled list and OF Adolis Garcia was optioned to Triple-A Memphis.

UP NEXT

The Nationals will start right-hander Jeremy Hellickson (5-2, 3.54 ERA) in the third game of a four-game set. Austin Gomber (2-0, 3.45 ERA) pitches for the Cardinals on Wednesday night. Hellickson is 2-2 with a 4.13 ERA in five career starts against St. Louis. Gomber is coming off his first win as a starter in a 7-0 Cardinals victory against the Kansas City Royals last Friday.

— Associated Press —

Missouri’s Drew Lock on another preseason watch list

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COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Football senior QB Drew Lock (Lee’s Summit, Mo.) was named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Preseason Watch List, announced Tuesday (August 14). This is the fourth major award that Lock is up for after this year earning a spot on the Maxwell, Davey O’Brien Award and Walter Camp Watch Lists earlier this summer.

With Tuesday’s unveiling of the Golden Arm Watch List, every preseason list is now unveiled. In all, Mizzou had 17 total appearances on watch lists with those 17 appearances being comprised of nine different players.

Lock led the SEC in 10 offensive categories a year ago, including passing TDs (44), yards per attempts (10.0), yards per game (304.9), total offense (313.5) and passing efficiency (169.4). He is the SEC and Mizzou single season record holder for passing TDs with 44 in 2017. He also set Mizzou’s single season passing efficiency mark a year ago at 165.67. He was the All-SEC First Team selection at quarterback by both the AP and league’s coaches.

Mizzou Football will open the 2018 season on Sept. 1, 2018, against UT Martin at Memorial Stadium.

— Mizzou Athletics —

KU’s Sims Jr., named to Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award watch list

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TYLER, TEXAS – Kansas football’s Steven Sims Jr., was recognized as the sixth-annual Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List was announced Tuesday at the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce East Texas Kick-Off Luncheon. Sims was one of 47 players named to the 2018 watch list.

The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award recognizes the top offensive player in Division I football who also exhibits the enduring characteristics that define Earl Campbell: integrity, performance, teamwork, sportsmanship, drive, community and tenacity; specifically, tenacity to persist and determination to overcome adversity and injury in pursuit of reaching goals. In addition, the nominee must meet one or more of the following criteria: born in Texas and/or graduated from a Texas High School and/or played at a Texas-based junior college or four-year college.

A native of Houston, Texas, Sims led Kansas in both receptions (59) and receiving yards (839) in 2017 and scored six receiving touchdowns. Sims ranked seventh in the Big 12 in receptions last season and 10th in receiving yards per game. His efforts in 2017 landed him All-Big 12 Honorable Mention from the league’s coaches.

Sims heads into the 2018 season ranked fifth in career receiving yards at KU with 2,049, just 260 yards behind second-place receiver Kerry Meier (2006-09) and 1,191 yards behind first-place receiver Dezmon Briscoe (2007-09). Sims also ranks third in career receptions at Kansas (161) and sixth in touchdown receptions (15).

The Watch List announced Tuesday will be narrowed to as many as 16 semifinalists in November and then down to five finalists in December. The finalists will be selected by broadcasters, commentators, journalists, fans and previous winners. They will be brought to Tyler for The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Banquet scheduled for January 9, 2019.

Sims and his KU teammates will begin the 2018 season on September 1 vs. Nicholls State. Jayhawk great, Super Bowl Champ and three-time NFL Pro-bowler Chris Harris Jr., will enter the Ring of Honor during KU’s opener versus NSU, and the 2008 Insight Bowl team will also be celebrated.

The Jayhawks will also host nonconference opponent Rutgers on Sept. 15 for Family Weekend and will also celebrate Childhood Cancer Awareness as Todd Reesing, who owns 14 school records and is one of the most decorated players in Kansas history, will have his name etched next to other Jayhawk legends in the Ring of Honor.

Oklahoma State will travel to Lawrence for Homecoming and K-Club Weekend on Sept. 29. The Jayhawks and Cowboys will kick off on Saturday, following Late Night in the Phog on Friday, Sept. 28.

Next up will be Big 12 foe TCU. KU will host the Horned Frogs on Saturday, Oct. 27 for its annual Jayhawks for a Cure game, while Kansas legend and four-time Super Bowl Champion and three-time NFL Pro-Bowler Larry Brown will have his name added to the Ring of Honor and the 1968 Orange Bowl team will be celebrated.

Kansas will host its annual Salute to Service game on Nov. 3 as Iowa State makes its way to DBK Memorial Stadium. The Jayhawks will honor 26 seniors on Friday, Nov. 23 as they play host to Texas at 11 a.m. With the game against UT being played on Black Friday, KU will be offering several Black Friday specials in and around the stadium.

— KU Athletics —

O’Hearn leads Royals past Toronto 3-1 in series opener

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Ryan O’Hearn homered and drove in a career-high three runs, Brad Keller threw seven strong innings and the Kansas City Royals beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 on Monday night to spoil Sean Reid-Foley’s major league debut.

Reid-Foley (0-1) was removed after 97 pitches and five innings, allowing three runs, six hits and three walks while striking out three. Reid-Foley is only the second player in major league history to be born in Guam. He was 12-4 with a 2.98 ERA in 23 minor league starts this season.

O’Hearn, a rookie who entered hitting .130 with three RBI, hit an opposite-field homer on Reid-Foley’s first pitch with Brett Phillips aboard with two outs in the second.

O’Hearn walked with the bases loaded in the fourth to bring home Lucas Duda, who led off the inning with a single.

Brad Keller (5-5) yielded one run and four hits to pick up his third victory in his past four decisions.

Wily Peralta worked around Justin Smoak’s walk leading off the ninth for his seventh save.

Devon Travis homered in the first for Toronto. It was his fourth home run in 26 at-bats at Kauffman Stadium.

Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen singled to left in the second in his first big league at-bat, but Alex Gordon threw out Russell Martin trying to score from second to end the inning. Gordon picked up his ninth assist and leads the majors with 91 outfield assists since 2010 when he was moved from third base to left field.

Whit Merrifield had three of Kansas City’s seven hits. The Royals got their second victory in 11 games.

The Blue Jays dropped 31 games behind AL East leader Boston, the furthest they have been out of first since ending 2004 33 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees.

RARE DUO DEBUTING

Reid-Foley and Jansen became the first batterymates to make their major league debuts at the same time in the American League since LHP Billy Rohr and C Russ Gibson on April 14, 1967 for Boston at Yankee Stadium. It has occurred five times in the past 25 years in the National League.

ROYALS DEFENSE SHINES

The Royals played their 13th straight errorless game, extending their club record. They have not committed an error in 120 innings.

“One thing we’ve consistently done this year is play defense,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “The same tune we were playing in the championship years. I’m pleased with the way we’ve played defensively. It’s a real struggle when you’re not winning games and playing sloppy defense. At least defensively, we’re giving ourselves a chance.”

Their last error was July 29 in the first inning at Yankee Stadium.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: 3B Josh Donaldson (left calf tightness) will begin running the bases this week. Manager John Gibbons is hopeful that Donaldson will play again this season. … An MRI revealed IF Yangervis Solarte (oblique) has a Grade 2 strain. He will be re-evaluated in three weeks.

Royals: LHP Danny Duffy (shoulder impingement) was placed on the disabled list. RHP Glenn Sparkman was recalled from Triple-A Omaha and will start on Thursday in Duffy’s place.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays: LHP Ryan Borucki is 2-2 with 2.81 ERA in his first eight starts.

Royals: RHP Heath Fillmyer pitched seven scoreless innings against the Cubs to win his previous start.

— Associated Press —

Mizzou releases non-conference women’s hoops schedule; host MWSU in exhibition

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COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball announced its 14-game 2018 non-conference schedule on Monday, which features a pair of exhibition games, seven home contests at Mizzou Arena and a Thanksgiving weekend tournament in southwest Florida.

Head Coach Robin Pingeton’s squad will potentially face up to 10 teams that advanced to the postseason in 2017-18, including three who reached the NCAA Tournament. Mizzou’s challenging nonconference slate will include seven matchups with programs that recorded at least 20 wins a season ago, and five who finished in the top-70 of the final 2017-18 RPI.

After starting the season with exhibition games against Missouri Western (Oct. 29) and Washburn (Nov. 1), Mizzou will hit the road for its first regular season contest of the season at Western Illinois on Nov. 6. After facing WIU, Mizzou returns home for a three-game home stand against Missouri State (Nov. 14), Wisconsin-Green Bay (Nov. 16) and SIU Edwardsville (Nov. 18). In Mizzou’s matchup with Missouri State, the Tigers will look to win its 10th straight home opener dating back to the 2009-10 season as the two programs meet for the 28th time, with Mizzou holding a 19-8 advantage.

On Thanksgiving weekend, Mizzou will head south to Fort Myers, Fla., for an eight-team tournament at the Gulf Coast Showcase. Mizzou will open with a matchup against Michigan on Nov. 23. In the second round, Mizzou will face either Texas or Quinnipiac on Nov. 24, followed by a third game on Nov. 25. All three teams made the NCAA Tournament last season with Michigan and Quinnipiac advancing to the second round, while Texas made it to the Sweet 16. The Tigers are guaranteed a third game on Nov. 25 with the opponent to be determined based on game results.

Following Mizzou’s trip to the Sunshine State, the squad will kick off December by participating in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge for the second consecutive season with a road matchup against West Virginia on Dec. 2. The Mountaineers are coming off a 25-12 season in which they advanced to the semifinals of the Women’s NIT. The matchup will be the second meeting between the two schools, as the Tigers look to even the series following an 85-75 defeat in the 1996 Paradise Classic in Manoa, Hawai’i.

Mizzou will face in-state opponents in back-to-back games on Dec. 6 and Dec. 9, first hosting UMKC followed by a road contest at Saint Louis on Dec. 9. Mizzou has dominated the matchups with the two programs on opposite sides of the Show Me State, as it owns a 31-2 combined mark against the two programs (20-1 vs. Saint Louis, 11-1 vs. UMKC). A season ago, Mizzou defeated Saint Louis, 70-58, on Dec. 8, at Mizzou Arena behind a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds) from senior Sophie Cunningham (Columbia, Mo.).

The Tigers will wrap up their nonconference slate with three of its final four games coming at Mizzou Arena. Mizzou will host South Dakota (Dec. 15), Texas State (Dec. 17) and Arkansas State (Dec. 30), with a road matchup against border rival Illinois (Dec. 21) sandwiched in between. Last season, Mizzou and Illinois rekindled its series for the first time since 2008 as the Tigers defeated the Illini, 72-55.

NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Oct. 29 vs. Missouri Western (exh.)
Nov. 1 vs. Washburn (exh.)
Nov. 6 at Western Illinois
Nov. 14 vs. Missouri State
Nov. 16 vs. Wisconsin-Green Bay
Nov. 18 vs. SIU Edwardsville
Nov. 23 vs. Michigan*
Nov. 24 vs. Texas/Quinnipiac*
Nov. 25 vs. TBD*
Dec. 2 at West Virginia
Dec. 6 vs. UMKC
Dec. 9 at Saint Louis
Dec. 15 vs. South Dakota
Dec. 17 vs. Texas State
Dec. 21 at Illinois
Dec. 30 vs. Arkansas State

— Mizzou Athletics —

Northwest Missouri State ranked fifth in preseason AFCA top 25 poll

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WACO, TEX.– After claiming their first-ever Division II national championship in 2017, Texas A&M-Commerce will start the 2018 season ranked No. 1 in the AFCA Division II Coaches’ Top 25 Poll. This is the first time since the poll began in 2000 that the Lions start the season ranked No. 1. West Florida, who lost to Texas A&M-Commerce in the championship game, begins this year at No. 2. The Argonauts are followed by Minnesota State at No. 3, Indiana (Pa.) at No. 4 and Fort Hays State and Northwest Missouri State tied at No. 5.

The first week of action starts off with four Top 25 matchups, all on Thursday, August 30th. The first game has No. 2 West Florida hosting No. 22 Carson-Newman (Tenn.) while No. 4 Indiana (Pa.) travels to No. 15 Ashland (Ohio). The third Top 25 matchup is a conference battle as No. 5t Fort Hays State (Kan.) plays host to No. 18 Central Missouri. The final matchup has No. 10 Grand Valley State (Mich.) hosting No. 13 Indianapolis (Ind.).

2018 American Football Coaches Association Preseason Division II Coaches’ Poll (Aug. 13, 2018)
Rk. School (1st Place Votes)         Rec.  Pts.  2017 Rank  Season Opener                                                       Head Coach
1.   Texas A&M-Commerce (13)   14-1   748    1          Aug. 30 vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville                                   Colby Carthel
2.   West Florida (14)                 11-4   721    2          Aug. 30 vs. No. 22 Carson-Newman (Tenn.)                      Pete Shinnick
3.   Minnesota St. (2)                 13-1   691    4          Aug. 30 vs. Southwest Minnesota St.                                Todd Hoffner
4.   Indiana (Pa.) (2)                   13-1   666    3          Aug. 30 at No. 15 Ashland (Ohio)                                   Paul Tortorella
5t.  Fort Hays St. (Kan.)              11-1   591    8          Aug. 30 vs. No. 18 Central Missouri                                    Chris Brown
5t.  Northwest Missouri St. (2)     9-3     591    16         Aug. 30 vs. Missouri Western St.                                       Rich Wright
7.   Harding (Ark.)                      11-4   550    6          Aug. 30 at Henderson St. (Ark.)                                     Paul Simmons
8.   Ferris St. (Mich.)                  11-2   503    5          Aug. 30 vs. East Stroudsburg (Pa.)                                   Tony Annese
9.   Central Washington              11-1   494    7          Sept. 1 at Eastern Washington                                      Ian Shoemaker
10.  Grand Valley St. (Mich.)        8-3     478    NR       Aug. 30 vs. No. 13 Indianapolis (Ind.)                                Matt Mitchell
11.  Midwestern St. (Texas)         10-1   473    11         Sept. 1 vs. Humboldt St. (Calif.)                                          Bill Maskill
12. West Alabama                     10-3   470    12         Aug. 30 vs. Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.)                                      Brett Gilliland
13.  Indianapolis (Ind.)                11-1   402    13         Aug. 30 at No. 10 Grand Valley St. (Mich.)                     Bob Bartolomeo
14.  Colorado St.-Pueblo             9-3     401    17         Sept. 1 vs. Dixie St. (Utah)                                              John Wristen
15.  Ashland (Ohio)                     11-2   350    10         Aug. 30 vs. No. 4 Indiana (Pa.)                                          Lee Owens
16.  Shepherd (W.Va.)                10-1   332    14         Sept. 1 at Notre Dame (Ohio)                                        Ernie McCook
17.  Assumption (Mass.)             11-2   292    9          Sept. 1 vs. Kutztown (Pa.)                                           Andy McKenzie
18.  Central Missouri                  9-3     209    NR       Aug. 30 at No. 5t Fort Hays St. (Kan.)                               Jim Svoboda
19.  West Georgia                      9-4     196    19         Sept. 1 vs. Catawba (N.C.)                                               David Dean
20.  Sioux Falls (S.D.)                 9-3     158    20         Aug. 30 vs. Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.)                             Jon Anderson
21.  Winona St. (Minn.)               10-2   134    15         Aug. 30 at Wayne St. (Neb.)                                            Tom Sawyer
22.  Carson-Newman (Tenn.)       8-3     118    NR       Aug. 30 at No. 2 West Florida                                            Mike Turner
23.  Ohio Dominican                   7-3     105    NR       Aug. 30 vs. California (Pa.)                                         Kelly Cummings
24.  Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)          9-3     102    NR       Aug. 30 at Northwestern Oklahoma St.                               Todd Knight
25.  Findlay (Ohio)                      10-3   101    22         Sept. 1 at Kentucky Wesleyan                                              Rob Keys

*– Ranking in final AFCA Division II Poll of 2017

Others Receiving Votes: California (Pa.), 89; Delta St. (Miss.), 74; West Chester (Pa.), 74; Colorado Mesa, 66; Bowie St. (Md.), 60; Virginia St., 51; Minnesota-Duluth, 41; Albany St. (Ga.), 39; Florida Tech, 36; Colorado Mines, 34; Shippensburg (Pa.), 31; Tuskegee (Ala.), 26; Wingate (N.C.), 25; Azusa Pacific (Calif.), 22; Valdosta St. (Ga.), 22; Pittsburg St. (Kan.), 21; Notre Dame (Ohio), 18; Eastern New Mexico, 17; Edinboro (Pa.), 15; Missouri Western St., 14; Bloomsburg (Pa.), 13; Emporia St. (Kan.), 11; Central Oklahoma, 9; LIU Post (N.Y.), 8; Slippery Rock (Pa.), 8; Augustana (S.D.), 5; Fairmont St. (W.Va.), 5; Humboldt St. (Calif.), 4; Catawba (N.C.), 3; Fayetteville St. (N.C.), 3; Hillsdale (Mich.), 3; Southern Arkansas, 1; Washburn (Kan.), 1.

— AFCA Press Release —

K-State’s Walker named to Hendricks Award watch list

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MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State junior defensive end Reggie Walker was one of 36 players in the nation, and one of five in the Big 12, to be named to the watch list for the 2018 Ted Hendricks Award, the Ted Hendricks Foundation announced Monday.

Walker is a preseason candidate for the award that honors the top defensive end in college football for a second-straight year. He is the third Wildcat to be up for the award multiple times, joining Ian Campbell (2006-08) and Ryan Mueller (2013-14).

A Second Team All-Big 12 performer by the league’s coaches in 2017, Walker started 12 games as a sophomore, recording 36 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. He played his best toward the end of the season when he logged 12 tackles, 4.0 TFLs and his two sacks in a two-game span against Kansas and Texas Tech.

A native of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, Walker was the 2016 Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year after totaling 11.5 TFLs and 6.5 sacks.

The Wildcats open the 2018 campaign on Saturday, September 1, when they host South Dakota at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

— K-State Athletics —

MWSU grad Brice Garnett finishes 2-under at PGA Championship

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Click here to listen to Brice Garnett after his final round at the PGA Championship

Missouri Western graduate Brice Garnett made his first cut at a major championship this weekend and Sunday he finished 2-under par at the 100th PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis.

The Gallatin, Missouri native shot a 3-under par 32 on the front nine Sunday to get to 5-under for the championship, but he was +3 on the back nine to finish even par for the day. Garnett tied for 50th overall out of the 80 players that made the cut and he earned $24,833.

Garnett, who was a three-time All-American at MWSU and graduated in 2006, will play this coming weekend at the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Brooks Koepka won the PGA Championship Sunday in St. Louis as he finished 16-under par.  It’s his third major championship in the last six majors he’s competed in.  Koepka also won the 2017 and 2018 U.S. Open titles.  Tiger Woods finished second as he was 14-under par.

St. Louis completes sweep at Kansas City with 8-2 win Sunday

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals were a .500 team after a loss on July 25, but since then they’ve been the hottest team in the National League.

Yadier Molina broke a tie with a two-run single in the seventh inning, Tyson Ross won his St. Louis debut and the Cardinals defeated the Kansas City Royals 8-2 on Sunday to win their fifth straight, matching a season high.

The Cardinals moved eight games above .500, equaling their season high set on June 11, and are a National League-best 12-4 since July 27. Manager Mike Matheny was fired on July 14 in an attempt to jump-start the disappointing team.

Molina’s bases-loaded single in the seventh scored Harrison Bader and Patrick Wisdom, who had two hits, drove in a run and scored two in his major league debut. Wisdom’s RBI single had tied it at 2-2.

“We feel pretty good about ourselves right now,” Molina said. “We are getting hot at the right time.”

The Cardinals concluded a three-city trip with a 7-2 record.

“It was a good game, a good road trip and a good series,” Cardinals interim manager Mike Shildt said.

Ross, who last pitched on Aug. 3 for San Diego, was an emergency starter, replacing Luke Weaver, who was scratched after cutting his right index finger on the aluminum foil cover of his clubhouse meal on Saturday night.

Ross (7-9), who made 22 starts with the Padres before the Cardinals claimed him on waivers last week, allowed two runs on four hits and two walks in six innings.

“I felt good and was ready to go,” Ross said. “I was happy to get out there and pitch. After the first inning, I was able to rein it in and get into the strike zone, and keep us in the ballgame.”

Paul DeJong hit a two-run homer in a three-run ninth to cap the scoring.

Jason Hammel (2-12) entered in the seventh and retired none of the four batters he faced. He was charged with three runs.

“I set the tone for the rest of the game right there, coming in and not even getting an out,” Hammel said. “I’m embarrassed.”

Jakob Junis limited the Cardinals to three singles, walked none and struck out eight before leaving after six innings with a 2-1 lead.

“I hit my spots with my fastball and played my slider off that and I had some good results,” Junis said.

Lucas Duda singled home Salvador Perez in the third to put Kansas City up 2-1. Alex Gordon scored in the first after an error by Wisdom, the first baseman.

The Royals have lost nine of 10 and are 15-46 since May 30.

WEBB EJECTED

Cardinals reliever Tyler Webb was ejected with two outs in the ninth by plate umpire Adam Hamari after he hit Jorge Bonifacio with a pitch. Royals pitchers hit four St. Louis batters. “He definitely hit him on purpose,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “I guess that warrants an ejection. We hit four guys today. When you hit four guys, somebody is going to get it. It’s just the way the game is. I don’t blame them for it. If they hit us four times, we’d probably be upset, too. Did he have to get ejected? No. I don’t think so. I think it was over. We didn’t intentionally try to hit anybody all day long.”

CARPENTER STREAK CONTINUES

Matt Carpenter singled and was hit by a pitch from Wily Peralta, extending his on-base streak to 30 games.

HERRERA AT SECOND

Rosell Herrera made his first start at second base for the Royals. He had started 19 games in right field, 11 in center, four at third base and three as the DH since joining the club on June 17. He made his big league debut on May 1 with Cincinnati starting at second base, his only other start at the position, although he played there in the minors.

ROSTER MOVES

The Royals optioned RHP Glenn Sparkman to Triple-A Omaha.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: LHP Danny Duffy has a stiff shoulder. Manager Ned Yost said Duffy has been dealing with it for his past four starts and a decision would be made Tuesday on whether Duffy will make his scheduled start on Thursday. Duffy received an anti-inflammatory shot Saturday. … RHP Blaine Boyer (lower back strain) was activated from the 60-day disabled list. He posted a 1.08 ERA in eight minor league rehab appearances. … OF Jorge Soler (left toe fracture) was transferred to the 60-day DL.

Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright (elbow inflammation) will throw an inning Monday for the Palm Beach Cardinals in the Florida State League. … With RHP Luke Gregerson (shoulder impingement) moved to the 60-day DL, his season is likely over. “I guess the timing looks like, yeah,” Shildt said. “It’ll be a challenge, but we never say never.”

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Miles Mikolas will start the opener of a four-game series against the Washington Nationals at Busch Stadium.

Royals: Rookie RHP Brad Keller will start against Toronto. This will be his 13th start since moving into the rotation on May 30.

— Associated Press —

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