Dave Riggert – Page 413 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Missouri hires Ashleen Bracey as assistant women’s basketball coach

Posted on August 15, 2016

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball has added Ashleen Bracey to its staff as an assistant coach, Robin Pingeton announced Monday. A former player and graduate assistant under Pingeton, Bracey comes to Mizzou with more than five years of coaching experience.

“We are beyond excited to have Ashleen join our staff,” Pingeton said. “She is going to be a fantastic addition. I have known Ashleen for more than 11 years and have always been so impressed with her work ethic as well as her basketball IQ. She is a high-character, high-integrity individual who is very passionate about the game. She is without a doubt an up-and-coming star in this profession.”

Bracey joins the Tigers’ staff after three seasons as an assistant at UAB, where she helped guide the Blazers to 49 victories in that span. There, she served as the recruiting coordinator and played a major role in player development on and off the court for a program that produced its highest team GPA in a decade during the 2015-16 campaign. In Bracey’s time spent with UAB, the Blazers established a reputation for playing gritty defense. UAB led Conference USA in scoring defense last season, limiting opponents to just 57.2 points per game.

Bracey will continue having a significant hand in recruiting efforts at Mizzou while assisting with player development and mentoring. With more than 10 years playing and coaching at a high level under her belt, she will also be able to use her expertise to aid in scouting upcoming opponents for the Tigers throughout the season.

“I’m extremely fortunate for the opportunity to work for my former college coach, Robin Pingeton,” Bracey said. “The entire staff and the team are like family to me. I am blessed and honored to be a part of this program again. I am ready to jump right in, roll up my sleeves and get to work.”

The ties between Pingeton and Bracey date back to 2006, when Bracey chose to play college basketball for Pingeton at Illinois State. The duo helped the Redbirds become a consistent power in the Missouri Valley Conference. During Bracey’s playing career, Illinois State claimed three MVC Championships, clinched an NCAA Tournament berth in 2008 and advanced to the WNIT Final Four in 2009 and 2010.

As a senior, she was named team captain by Pingeton and engineered the Redbirds’ third consecutive 20-win season. Bracey led Illinois State in scoring with 14.7 points per contest and secured both All-MVC First Team honors and MVC All-Defensive Team recognition.

Upon graduation, Bracey signed a contract with Das Anos Liosia, a professional squad in Athens, Greece. She played a season with them before deciding to join the coaching ranks and immediately got a chance as an assistant coach at Eureka (Ill.) College. In August of that year, Bracey and Pingeton were able to reconnect as Bracey teamed up with her former coach and took a graduate assistant position at Mizzou in 2011.

In 2012, she spent a season as an assistant coach at Ball State, where she worked heavily with recruiting and created and administered game plans and scouting reports. Following that year, Bracey settled in at UAB on the staff of head coach Randy Norton, who was an assistant under Pingeton at both Mizzou and Illinois State. Now the well-traveled and experienced Bracey is back in black and gold and alongside Pingeton once more heading into the 2016-17 campaign.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Three MIAA football teams begin season ranked in the Top 25

Posted on August 15, 2016August 15, 2016

Kansas City, Mo. – Three MIAA Football teams will start the season in the top twenty-five of the American Football Coaches Association preseason poll while three more teams start the year receiving votes.

Defending national champion Northwest Missouri will start the season a top the poll and will open the year on Sept. 1 against another MIAA team in the polls in Emporia State who is ranked #24 in the nation. Central Missouri earned the #20 spot in the polls and will face off Pittsburg State who received the third most votes of teams just outside the top 25.

Central Oklahoma and Fort Hays State also received votes in the poll which was released today. The MIAA season starts for everyone on Thursday, September 1.

— MIAA Press Release —

Mizzou’s Harris named to Hendricks Award preseason watch list

Posted on August 15, 2016

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Football’s Charles Harris (Kansas City, Mo.) has been named to the 2016 Ted Hendricks Award Preseason Watch List, as announced earlier this month by the Ted Hendricks Foundation. The award goes to college football’s top defensive end annually and Harris is one of 28 players named to the list. This is the fourth preseason watch list for Harris after being named to the Bednarik, Butkus and Nagurski watch lists earlier this summer.

Harris was a Second Team All-SEC honoree following the 2015 regular season. He led the SEC in tackles for loss (18.5) and registered seven sacks, emerging as the next star in a long line of standout defensive ends at Mizzou. He anchored the defensive line on one of the nation’s top defenses, starting all 12 games while finishing with 56 total tackles, two forced fumbles and a pass break-up.

The Ted Hendricks Award is named in honor of college football’s first three-time first-team All-American. As a defensive end at the University of Miami, Ted used his agility, height and reach to block passes and kicks, force interceptions and pressure quarterbacks and running backs. He roamed the front line, read plays and blitzed on impulse, completely transforming the way the defensive end position was played. His professional career spanned 15 years and 215 consecutive games. It included four Super Bowl victories, eight Pro Bowl selections and inductions into the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame. It is in the spirit of Ted Hendricks’ aggressive style of play, winning attitude and determination that the Defensive End of the Year Award for college football’s premier defensive end is presented.

On-field performance, exceptional winning attitude, leadership abilities, contributions to school and community and academic preparedness are some of the criteria used to determine the Award’s winner. Members of the national media, head coaches, professional scouts and former winners are included in the Award’s voting committee. Candidates may represent any class (Freshman through Senior) as well as any four-year NCAA accredited school. The candidate’s primary position must be defensive end.

The Hendricks Award voting committee will cast two votes: one to narrow the list of candidates to 4-6 finalists, and one to choose our winner for this season. Our Final Mid-Season Watch List will be announced in late November. The 2016 winner will be announced on December 7th.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Orlando, Cain each have 4 hits, 3 RBI, Royals beat Twins 11-4

Posted on August 14, 2016

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — With Paulo Orlando a double shy of the cycle, Kansas City manager Ned Yost said the Royals were hoping their best hitter could get one more at-bat in the ninth inning against Minnesota.

Orlando got his chance, but settled for a single.

The Royals were plenty satisfied, though, as Orlando hit a three-run homer, triple and scored three times three runs scored on Sunday in an 11-4 win over the Twins.

“We were pushing for that at-bat so that he could get that opportunity. Just another lousy single,” Yost kidded.

What a difference a couple of weeks and a lineup change can make.

Orlando and Lorenzo Cain each matched career highs with four hits and drove in three runs as the Royals won their first road series since late June.

Edinson Volquez (9-10) threw six solid innings to snap his five-game winless streak. He gave up two earned runs and five hits in his first win since July 9, and his first road win since May 24.

Two weeks ago, the Royals closed July with their 10th loss in 12 games. Since then, they’ve won eight of 13; their starting pitchers earned five of them.

“I think everybody’s pitching good right now and that’s what we need,” Volquez said.

Orlando, promoted to the leadoff spot last week, has been the other factor. He’s hitting .368 (39 for 106) since the All-Star break and homered off starter Hector Santiago (10-7) in the fourth, capping a six-run inning.

“It’s just amazing his consistency,” Yost said. “I mean it just seems like he gets two or three hits every night.”

“If at the end of spring training you’d have told me in the middle of August Paulo Orlando would be up here doing what he’s doing, I’d have a hard time believing it,” Yost said. “But after seeing it all summer long, it’s just been phenomenal the year he’s put together.”

Chris Young pitched three scoreless innings for his first save.

Brian Dozier hit his 26th home run for Minnesota and Joe Mauer had a pair of hits, including an RBI single in the fifth that pulled the Twins to 7-4.

Kansas City took advantage of three errors in the sixth, two by third baseman Jorge Polanco, to pull away. Minnesota finished its seven-game homestand 2-5.

“We had a lot of misplays around the field today, so you don’t want to point any fingers,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said. “Not a good game, not a good homestand.”

Polanco’s second misplay loaded the bases for Cain, who singled off reliever Michael Tonkin to drive in a pair of runs. Two batters later, left fielder Robbie Grossman failed to come up with Kendrys Morales’ flyball, resulting in two more runs.

“We did a good job of swinging the bat today, that was huge,” Cain said. “Of course they made a lot of errors as well, but at the same time guys stepped up in clutch situations and we definitely needed it.”

Santiago remained winless with Minnesota since being acquired from the Los Angeles Angels in a four-player trade on Aug. 1. He’s allowed 15 earned runs in 14 1/3 innings in his first three starts for Minnesota.

FEELING SUPPORTED

The 11 runs were the Royals’ most in support of Volquez this year. Entering the game, the Royals had backed Volquez with two or fewer runs in 13 of his last 19 starts — including zero runs in six of those starts. “Like I always said, we’ve got a pretty good team. We can score many runs, so it’s not a surprise for me,” he said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Twins: OF Miguel Sano was scheduled for an MRI Monday for his sore right elbow. Molitor and Sano called the move precautionary, although it’s the same elbow that required Tommy John surgery and caused the Twins slugger to miss the 2014 season. Sano tweaked the elbow during warmups last weekend in Tampa Bay and the pain hasn’t gone away. “It bothers me in the sense of the pain, but I’m not worried about anything being severe,” Sano said through a translator, adding that it doesn’t bother him while swinging.

UP NEXT

Royals: Open a three-game series in Detroit on Monday when Ian Kennedy (6-9) tries for his first-career win against the Tigers. He’s 0-3 lifetime against Detroit with a 4.34 ERA and is 3-6 on the road this season.

Twins: Off Monday before Ervin Santana (5-9) takes the mound to start a two-game interleague set in Atlanta. Santana has won two straight. He threw a complete game against the Braves on July 26, but the Twins still lost 2-0.

— Associated Press —

Piscotty homers in 8th to lead Cards’ comeback win over Cubs

Posted on August 14, 2016

CHICAGO (AP) — Stephen Piscotty hit a three-run homer, Brandon Moss followed with a solo shot one out later and the St. Louis Cardinals used a five-run eighth inning to beat the Chicago Cubs 6-4 on Sunday night.

Piscotty hit his 17th homer off setup man Hector Rondon (2-3), who entered with a 3-1 lead in his first appearance since Aug. 2 because of a triceps injury. After pinch-hitter Kolten Wong and Greg Garcia singled, Piscotty lofted a shot to deep left-center field that put the Cardinals ahead 4-3.

Moss added his 21st homer, then Randal Grichuk doubled in a run off Travis Wood.

The Cardinals split a four-game series with major league-leading Chicago, which dropped its second straight following an 11-game winning streak.

Cubs starter John Lackey allowed only one unearned run and four hits before leaving with two outs in the seventh with an injury. Anthony Rizzo went 3 for 4 with a solo homer and three RBI, and Ben Zobrist knocked in a run with a sac fly.

Lackey was sailing along and struck out five in his fourth straight solid start. But right-hander grimaced in pain after throwing a pitch to Grichuk. Lackey walked off the field and was replaced by Justin Grimm, who struck out Grichuk.

Matt Bowman (2-4) got three outs in the seventh in relief of Mike Leake for the win. Leake allowed three runs on six hits in six innings and retired 16 in a row over one stretch despite entering with a 9.00 ERA in his previous four starts.

Cardinals closer Seung Hwan Oh got the final five outs, including three strikeouts in the ninth, for his 11th save in 12 chances.

Garcia snapped an 0-for-31 streak with a single with one out in the third, then came around to score an unearned run on Zobrist’s throwing error to make it 2-1.

Leake settled into a pitchers’ duel with Lackey with a little help from his defense.

St. Louis third baseman Jhonny Peralta made a diving stop, rolled and threw to first in one motion on Addison Russell’s sharp grounder in the fourth.

Kris Bryant ended Leake’s run with a triple to right-center with one out in the sixth. He scored on Rizzo’s second RBI single to make it 3-1.

After the Cardinals took a 6-3 lead in the eighth, Rizzo hit his 25th homer in the bottom half.

LET’S PLAY TWO

Cubs manager Joe Maddon says he’d have no problem with MLB shortening the season by adding more doubleheaders, but not drawn-out day-night twinbills. Maddon would be for second games starting 30 minutes after the end of the first, and for teams adding two players to their rosters.

“I think the fans would dig it, too,” said Maddon, while noting he understands the economics of day-night doubleheaders with separate admissions. “If you have to put a premium on the price tag, I don’t know.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: OF Matt Holliday (broken right thumb) is expected to be re-examined by the team’s hand specialist on Monday. . St. Louis LHP Kevin Siegrist left after striking out Zobrist in the eight with an apparent injury and was replaced by Oh.

Cubs: Rondon said before the game he was “100 percent ready.” He allowed four runs in 1/3 of an inning.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: Following a day off Monday, LHP Jaime Garcia (9-8, 3.93) opens a two-game set in Houston against LHP Dallas Keuchel (7-11, 4.56). St. Louis also has Thursday off, but manager Mike Matheny plans no changes to his strained rotation.

Cubs: Chicago also has Monday off, then hosts Milwaukee in a day-night doubleheader Tuesday. RHP Trevor Cahill (1-3, 3.07) is expected to come off the DL (right knee tendinitis) and start in the opener against Brewers RHP Matt Garza (4-4, 4.83). Chicago’s Jason Hammel (12-5, 2.90) is 5-0 with a 1.16 ERA since the All-Star break and will take the mound in the nightcap against RHP Chase Anderson (7-10, 4.93).

— Associated Press —

Chiefs’ reserves let 10-point 4th quarter lead slip away in loss to Seattle

Posted on August 13, 2016August 13, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Trevone Boykin did not just hit the ground running.

He hit it running, passing and winning in a last-second rally that sure made for a splashy NFL debut.

Competing to be Russell Wilson’s backup, the rookie from TCU engineered a last-minute, 88-yard touchdown drive in four plays, connecting with Tanner McEvoy with a 37-yard scoring pass, and then handing the ball to Troy Pope for the 2-point conversion with no time remaining, lifting Seattle past Kansas City 17-16 Saturday.

Boykin, competing with veteran Jake Heaps, replaced Wilson after one possession and had some good and some not-so-good moments before getting going on the final drive.

The clock showed 0:00 when McEvoy out-positioned and out-jumped Malcolm Jackson in the end zone, bringing the Seahawks to within one point in a game they had trailed all day.

“Our guys fought to the end. That’s what we did,” said Boykin. “Tanner made a great catch.”

The stunned Chiefs were flagged for having 12 men on the field, moving the ball to the 1, and Pope went off left guard to score the winner.

Boykin, a star at TCU who was not drafted, was 16 for 26 for 188 yards. Keeping the winning drive alive, he had a scrambling 15-yard run. It was second-and-9 when he lofted the pass to McEvoy, who was waiting in the end zone for the ball.

For the first 59 minutes, the Chiefs dominated, getting a touchdown drive from Alex Smith on their first possession and three field goals from Cairo Santos, including a career-long 58-yarder.

Steven Hauschka also had three field goals for the Seahawks.

PICKING UP WHERE YOU LEFT OFF

Seahawks: Hauschka was 3 for 3 after hitting 29 of 31 last season, connecting from 52, 49 and 50 yards.

Chiefs: Santos was also perfect on three attempts and Marcus Peters, last season’s NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, had an interception of Wilson at the goal line.

ROOKIE WATCH

Seahawks: Brandin Bryant, the 290-pound rookie out of Florida Atlantic who’s been turning heads in practice, had two tackles at left tackle and seemed to hold his own against more experienced Chiefs linemen. Tyvis Powell, a safety out of Ohio State, made an alert interception off a tipped ball, got up and returned it 11 yards to put the Seahawks at midfield.

Chiefs: Special teams hopeful Eric Murray made a nifty stop on the 9-yard line on the kickoff following Santos’ field goal, leading to KC next taking possession at its 44.

INJURY UPDATE

Seahawks: The injury issue that’s been hurting the Seahawks since camp opened kept a number of players from even suiting up, including running backs C.J. Prosise and Zac Brooks and wide receivers Deshon Foxx, Kevin Smith and Kasen Williams. … Tight end Jimmy Graham, who returned to practice on Wednesday for the first time since injuring his patella tendon last November, stayed home.

Chiefs: Linebacker D.J. Alexander went out in the first quarter with a rib injury, but returned late in the second.

POSITION BATTLES:

Seahawks: Boykin got off to a good start in his competition to back up Wilson. His case is strengthened because his college offense is similar to what he’s doing now. Flashing the agility that made him a dual-threat star at TCU, he also faked out linebacker Ramik Wilson for a 5-yard gain on third down.

Chiefs: Nick Foles, signed after camp opened to perhaps provide experienced backup for Smith, completed half his eight passes for 37 yards and was high on his first couple of throws, a problem he’s been having in camp. But tight end Demetrius Harris dropped a well-thrown ball on third down.

Smith directed a nearly flawless touchdown drive in his only possession, making a particularly nifty third-down completion to set up KC’s touchdown. He was 3 for 4 for 36 yards.

Wilson was almost equally impressive in his brief appearance. But a goal-line interception by Marcus Peters thwarted an otherwise impressive drive by the Seahawks’ first-team offense and its revamped offensive line.

Heaps was 2 for 6 for 20 yards.

Nick Foles, who had success in Philadelphia with Andy Reid, completed half of his eight passes for 37 yards after replacing Smith but was high on several throws. Tyler Bray, the strong-armed undrafted fourth-year quarterback from Tennessee, was 3 of 9 for 48 yards.

Taking advantage of Seattle mistakes, the Chiefs’ first-team offense drove 49 yards in eight plays to take a 7-0 lead on the game’s first possession. Knile Davis picked up 34 yards with the kickoff, then a facemask penalty on Steven Terrell added 15. On third-and-9 from the Seattle 21, Smith escaped pressure and found Jeremy Maclin on the 1. Spencer Ware went in for the TD.

“It was good work out there, going against another team for the first time,” said Ware, who had 24 yards on five carries for an offense that rushed for 135 yards. “Camp’s not over yet. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”

— Associated Press —

Gee allows three home runs as Kansas City falls at Minnesota 5-3

Posted on August 13, 2016

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Brian Dozier hit his 25th home run of the season and the 100th of his career, leading Tyler Duffey and the Minnesota Twins over the Kansas City Royals 5-3 Saturday night and ending a four-game losing streak.

Dozier has 17 homers since June 25, most in the majors over that span. He also doubled and scored twice. Robbie Grossman added three hits, including a home run.

For the second time this season, the Twins homered three times off Royals starter Dillon Gee (4-6).

Eddie Rosario’s two-run shot in the fifth inning put the Twins ahead 4-1. Dozier followed him with a towering drive deep into the second deck in left.

Duffey (8-8) won for the third time in three starts this month. He allowed two runs on six hits in seven innings, striking out six.

Ryan Pressly pitched a scoreless eighth and Brandon Kintzler allowed an unearned run in the ninth but held on for his 11th save in 12 chances.

The Twins took the lead quickly, as Dozier led off the first inning with a double and scored on Grossman’s bad-hop single that skipped off first baseman Eric Hosmer’s shoulder and into right field.

Cheslor Cuthbert tied the game in the third inning with his 10th home run of the season.

Grossman hit a leadoff home run in the fifth to put the Twins on top for good.

Gee gave up five earned runs on 11 hits and one walk in 5 1/3 innings.

BULLPEN SHUFFLE

The Twins switched lefties in their bullpen on Saturday, calling up Ryan O’Rourke from Triple-A Rochester and designating Andrew Albers for assignment. O’Rourke had a 4.91 ERA in eight appearances with the Twins earlier this season. Albers made one appearance for the Twins this season, giving up five runs in six innings of relief in the second game of a doubleheader against Houston on Thursday.

UP NEXT

LHP Hector Santiago will try to earn his first victory for the Twins on Sunday. Santiago (10-6), acquired from the Angels in a four-player trade on Aug. 1, has allowed eight earned runs in 10 1/3 innings in his first two starts for Minnesota, both losses. He’ll face RHP Edinson Volquez (8-10), who is 0-2 with three no-decisions since July 9.

— Associated Press —

Grichuk’s slam help Cardinals stop Cubs’ 11-game win streak

Posted on August 13, 2016

CHICAGO (AP) — Following two stints in the minors this season, Randal Grichuk is back in the majors and eager to prove he belongs.

Grichuk hit a grand slam that capped a six-run burst in the eighth inning and the St. Louis Cardinals stopped the Cubs’ 11-game winning streak, beating Chicago 8-4 Saturday.

After a run-scoring wild pitch and a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the eighth put the Cardinals ahead 4-2, Grichuk connected.

It was his second homer since being recalled from Triple-A Memphis on Thursday — and it came on his 25th birthday, no less.

“I feel like a lot of people let that opportunity slip away thinking they’re going to have many more,” Grichuk said. “I’m definitely thankful for being up here right now and getting the opportunities, and I’m definitely trying to take advantage of it.”

Brandon Moss and Jedd Gyorko also homered for St. Louis.

Addison Russell hit his 14th homer for the NL Central-leading Cubs.

Alex Reyes (1-0) pitched three scoreless innings of relief to get his first major league win in his second appearance.

St. Louis starter Luke Weaver gave up two runs on four hits in his major league debut. The 22-year-old was lifted for a pinch hitter after four innings and 85 pitches.

Carl Edwards Jr. (0-1) allowed five runs while getting only two outs.

Chicago starter Kyle Hendricks struck out 12, matching a career best, in seven innings. He gave up five hits, including two homers. His ERA rose slightly from 2.17 to 2.19.

“Just two bad changeups, really, two changeups up (in the strike zone),” Hendricks said. “That was about it. Hopefully, we could keep that winning streak going, but we’ll start a new one tomorrow.”

It was 2-all in the eighth when the Cardinals loaded the bases with one out. Edwards Jr. struck out Yadier Molina with a breaking pitch in the dirt and the ball bounced off the chest of catcher Willson Contreras and rolled toward the third-base dugout, allowing Stephen Piscotty to score.

Edwards then walked the next two batters to force in another run. Joe Smith relieved and Grichuk hit his slam.

“It means a lot,” Grichuk said. “It’s definitely a confidence booster. In Wrigley against the Cubs, a division rival, it’s definitely big and, hopefully, the confidence can carry over through the rest of the season.”

FUTURE ACES?

With Weaver and Reyes, 21, the Cardinals have a pair of prized pitching prospects. Manager Mike Matheny was asked if he allowed himself to think about both being in the rotation next season while watching them on Saturday.

“I won’t deny that that hit me at some point in that game,” Matheny said. “I even turned to (bench coach) Dave Bell and said, `This is really impressive stuff. These kids are making a nice first statement.’

“You probably couldn’t throw them into a hotter spot than what we just threw them into. This is a tough place to pitch and watching them . not just survive, I thought they looked terrific,” he said.

LA STELLA UPDATE

The Cubs are awaiting a decision from INF Tommy La Stella, who was put on the inactive list earlier this week after failing to report to Triple-A Iowa following a demotion last month. La Stella returned to his home in New Jersey.

“I’m still very optimistic about him coming back, but nothing has really abruptly changed right now,” manager Joe Maddon said. “I think he was very clear how he felt. I think we were very clear back to him how we felt.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: OF Matt Holliday (broken right thumb) was placed 15-day disabled on Saturday to make room for Weaver on the roster.

Cubs: After a bullpen session Friday, RHP Hector Rondon (sore triceps) reported no physical complications. Maddon said the reliever was “real close” to a return to the active roster … RHP Pedro Strop, who had an arthroscopic procedure to repair a meniscus tear in his left knee on Thursday, was back in the clubhouse on Saturday walking on crutches. He’s expected to be sidelined four to six weeks.

UP NEXT

Cubs RHP John Lackey (9-7, 3.56 ERA) pitches the finale on Sunday. Lackey, who jumped from the Cardinals to the Cubs in the offseason, is 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA against St. Louis this season. RHP Mike Leake (8-9, 4.79) goes for the Cardinals.

— Associated Press —

Ventura, Royals top Twins 7-3 for 5th win in in 6 games

Posted on August 12, 2016

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Yordano Ventura won consecutive starts for the first time in two months, Kendrys Morales homered in his return from a one-game suspension and the Kansas City Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 7-3 Friday night.

Ventura (8-9) struck out nine in seven innings, allowing four hits, one walk and three runs, pitching the Royals to their fifth win in the last six games. After posting a 5.15 ERA in the first half, Ventura has a 3.26 ERA after the All-Star break.

Miguel Sano homered for the fifth time in the last seven games and Brian Dozier hit a two-run shot, giving Twins starter Kyle Gibson (4-7) a one-run lead he took into the fifth inning. The Royals hit the ball plenty hard, but the softest one made the biggest impact.

Salvador Perez’s bat broke on a two-strike, two-out, two-run bloop single with the bases loaded the gave the Royals a 4-3 lead. Third baseman Trevor Plouffe awkwardly backpedaled for the slowly rising ball, but it cleared his head and landed in front of diving shortstop Jorge Polanco.

Eric Hosmer and Raul Mondesi hit RBI doubles for the Royals, and Paulo Orlando combined an RBI single with two lunging catches in center field to take hits from the Twins, who have lost four straight games after winning nine of 12 prior to the streak.

The Royals are 6-1 against the Twins this season, with 12 games left between them. After a rough July that all but dashed their dream of returning to the playoffs and defending their World Series title, the Royals are 7-4 in August. Their starting pitchers have a 3.01 ERA.

After using eight pitchers, including utility infielder Eduardo Escobar, and giving up 25 runs to Houston while being swept Thursday in a doubleheader, the Twins needed Gibson to go deep into the game. He was removed two batters into the sixth.

The right-hander hasn’t been able to get in a groove this season, though. His first-inning ERA is 9.00, and he has recorded quality starts of six innings or more and three runs or fewer only six times in 16 turns.

Lefties are hitting .330 in 188 at-bats against Gibson.

SUMMER SWATS

The Twins have a major league-most 63 home runs in 42 games since June 26, and Dozier leads both leagues in that span with 15 of his 24 homers. Sano has 20 home runs this season, including 16 against right-handers.

WET WEATHER

The game started 50 minutes late because of steady rain that wiped out batting practice and lasted into the evening. This was the ninth weather-related delay at Target Field this year, a total of 11 hours and 54 minutes of waiting, plus a pair of postponed games including Wednesday.

In seven seasons at the ballpark, the Twins have had 30 games delayed and 14 games postponed.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: Morales returned from a one-game suspension served Thursday following his dropped appeal to Major League Baseball. Kansas City’s home run leader was punished for returning to the dugout following his ejection for arguing Aug. 2 at Tampa Bay about the strike zone.

Twins: LH Tommy Milone was placed on the DL with left biceps tendinitis, the third pitcher shelved for injury in three days. RH Trevor May visited a specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, for his lower back trouble. More testing is needed.

UP NEXT

Royals: Will keep RHP Dillon Gee (4-5, 4.54 ERA) in the rotation and start him Saturday, despite needing him in relief Wednesday in their 14-inning victory over Chicago. Gee struck out three in two perfect innings for the win.

Twins: Will send RHP Tyler Duffey (7-8, 5.93 ERA) to the mound for the second game of the series, his 20th start of the season. He struck out eight in six innings for the victory in his last turn, against Houston.

— Associated Press —

Duffy throws complete game, Royals rally past White Sox 2-1

Posted on August 11, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Danny Duffy pitched his first complete game to win his eighth straight decision, Cheslor Cuthbert had two hits and drove in a run and the Kansas City Royals beat the Chicago White Sox 2-1 on Thursday night.

Duffy (9-1) limited the White Sox to seven singles, struck out six and walked none. The left-hander has not lost since June 6 and has a 1.73 ERA in his past five starts. Duffy threw 98 pitches, 71 for strikes.

Cuthbert tripled home Jarrod Dyson in the sixth and is second among AL rookies with 93 hits, 24 multihit games and a .303 batting average. Dyson was initially called out trying to steal second, but the Royals appealed and the call was overturned.

Cuthbert then scored the go-ahead run on Eric Hosmer’s single off Carson Fulmer (0-2). Fulmer has an 8.47 ERA in eight relief appearances.

Chicago’s Jason Coats, recalled Tuesday from Triple-A Charlotte, singled home Tim Anderson with two outs in the second for his first big league RBI.

White Sox right-hander Miguel Gonzalez exited after 21 pitches with a right groin strain. After Salvador Perez fouled off a full-count pitch leading off the second, White Sox manager Robin Ventura and trainer Herm Schneider came to the mound and led Gonzalez off.

MORALES DROPS APPEAL

Royals DH Kendrys Morales served his one-game suspension after dropping his appeal. Morales was punished by Major League Baseball for returning to the field Aug. 2 in Tampa Bay in the ninth inning after being ejected.

TO BE DETERMINED

The Royals have not decided who will start Saturday against the Twins. RHP Dillon Gee was scheduled for that evening but threw 32 pitches in two innings Wednesday in a 14-inning victory over the White Sox. While manager Ned Yost said Gee is “still in the mix” to start, that it is “more murky” after having to use him Wednesday.

VOTE OF CONFIDENCE

Ventura said he is sticking with David Robertson as his closer, although he blew saves in the first two games of this series and six this season. “At some point it’s going to turn for me and hopefully I’ll get on a roll,” Robertson said. “Right now I’ve definitely been doing a poor job out there and I need to pick it up.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: RHP Wade Davis (flexor strain) threw 75 feet off a flat surface. “He’s getting close, probably in the next day or so,” Yost said of throwing off the mound.

UP NEXT

White Sox: LHP Carlos Rodon (2-8, 4.49) seeks his first road victory since April 13 at Miami. The Marlins will counter with RHP Andrew Cashner (4-8, 4.96).

Royals: RHP Yordano Ventura (7-9, 4.64), who beat Toronto on Sunday for his first win since June 17, will start Friday at Minnesota. The Twins will start RHP Kyle Gibson (4-6, 4.86).

— Associated Press —