Dave Riggert – Page 586 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Mustangs defeat Sedalia in 10 innings, increase division lead to two games

Posted on July 20, 2015July 20, 2015

The St. Joseph Mustangs picked up a big road win Sunday at Sedalia as they defeated the Bombers in 10 innings, 6-5.

St. Joe’s summer college baseball team improves to 33-14 this season and 26-13 in the MINK League. With the win, the Mustangs increase their lead over Sedalia to two games in the North Division. St. Joseph has three scheduled games remaining and the Bombers have two.

The Mustangs, who had lost all four meetings with Sedalia this season, never trailed in Sunday game. They did let 3-0 and 5-3 leads slip away before scoring an unearned run in the 10th inning to get the win.

Jacob Richardson led off the 10th with a line drive to center field that was misplayed by Jarod Perry and Richardson was able to get to third base. Jerry Houston then got a base hit to right field to drive him in.

Austin Aspegren earned the win in relief as he went 2.1 innings and allowed just one hit and no runs. Trent Hill got the final two outs of the 10th to get his second save of the season.

Miles Gulley started for St. Joseph and lasted six innings. He allowed three runs on seven hits.

Hill, Houston, Ramsey Scott and Jordan Powell each had two hits, while Hill scored two runs and had two RBI.

Josh Cassidy, Scott Braren and Max Ayoub all had one RBI a piece on ground outs throughout the game.

The Mustangs are on the road Monday as they travel to Chillicothe. The first pitch is at 7:00 p.m. and it’ll be broadcast on ESPN 1550 and here on StJosephPost.com.

Duffy leads Royals past Sale, White Sox 4-1

Posted on July 19, 2015

CHICAGO (AP) — There is no big secret to Danny Duffy’s July success. No mechanical adjustments. Nothing like that at all.

The Kansas City Royals play great defense, and Duffy is putting his fielders to work.

Duffy took a shutout into the ninth inning in the longest outing of his career, and surging Kansas City beat Chris Sale and the Chicago White Sox 4-1 on Sunday.

“We needed him to stand up today big time, and he did,” Royals manager Ned Yost said.

Duffy (4-4) was replaced by Joe Blanton after Tyler Saladino led off the ninth with his first career homer. The left-hander allowed six hits, struck out four and walked one while improving to 2-0 with a 1.33 ERA in three starts this month.

“I’m finally starting to learn that when you have the best defense in the league behind you, all you’ve got to do is execute,” Duffy said.

Lorenzo Cain and Paulo Orlando homered as Kansas City (55-35) moved a season-high 20 games above .500. Blanton got three outs for his first career save in his 278th major league game.

Helped by their stellar defense — shortstop Alcides Escobar, second baseman Omar Infante and first baseman Eric Hosmer each made a couple of solid plays in the series finale — the AL Central leaders took three of four from the White Sox and have won 11 of 14 overall.

“I was sitting there at the end of the game trying to decide which was more impressive, Danny’s outing or our defense today,” Yost said. “It’s a tough call.”

Chicago (42-48) lost for the fourth time in five games, making it more likely that general manager Rick Hahn will look to sell ahead of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. The White Sox are last in the Central, with major league-leading St. Louis coming to town for a two-game set beginning on Tuesday night.

“We’re going to play on Tuesday,” manager Robin Ventura said of possible changes. “I know everybody wants to talk about it but we’re going to play as hard as we can against St. Louis.”

Sale (8-5) was tagged for a season-high 11 hits in 6 1/3 innings in his first start since July 11. The All-Star lefty gave up four runs, struck out six and walked one.

Sale allowed five hits in the first three innings, but Hosmer’s RBI single in the first accounted for Kansas City’s only run before Cain hit a leadoff drive in the sixth for his 10th homer. Alex Rios reached on a one-out single in the seventh before Orlando connected for his fourth homer.

“This is not a good team to leave fastballs over the plate to,” Sale said. “They take advantage of every opportunity you give them and that’s what happens.”

Cain also had a tiebreaking homer in the 13th inning of Kansas City’s 7-6 victory on Saturday. The All-Star center fielder went 1 for 4 and is batting .473 (26 for 55) with four homers and 12 RBI in his last 14 games.

STEPPING UP

Blanton, a starter for most of his career, was pressed into action in the ninth after Kansas City split a doubleheader on Friday, and then used seven relievers on Saturday.

The right-hander had allowed at least one run in each of his previous five outings, but he struck out Abreu and Cabrera before Avisail Garcia bounced out to end the game.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: RHP Kris Medlen will come off the disabled list on Monday, taking another step in his comeback from his second major elbow surgery. Medlen, who last pitched in the majors in 2013 with Atlanta, will join Kansas City’s bullpen for the start of a three-game series against Pittsburgh. “He’s going to be a long guy, but these things always seem to work themselves out, so I envision him long term being a starter,” Yost said.

White Sox: Reliever Matt Albers was activated from the 15-day disabled list and pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings. He broke his right pinkie finger during a brawl with the Royals on April 23. INF Conor Gillaspie was designated for assignment to make room on the roster.

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Yordano Ventura (4-6, 4.73 ERA) makes his second start since coming off the disabled list when the Royals host Pittsburgh on Monday night. RHP A.J. Burnett (7-3, 2.11 ERA) goes for the Pirates.

White Sox: Following an off day, the White Sox host St. Louis on Tuesday night, with LHP Carlos Rodon (3-2, 3.80 ERA) starting against the Cardinals.

— Associated Press —

St. Louis drops series finale to Mets in 18 innings

Posted on July 19, 2015

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The New York Mets left 25 men on base and went 1-for-26 with runners in scoring position. In the end, they still managed to pull out a win.

Ruben Tejada hit a sacrifice fly in the 18th inning and the Mets outlasted the St. Louis Cardinals 3-1 Sunday in the second-longest game this season.

Boston beat the New York in 19 innings in April. In this one, it took 5 hours, 55 minutes for the Mets to top the NL Central-leading Cardinals and avoid a three-game sweep.

The Mets and Cardinals had already played one marathon game in 2015. New York beat St. Louis 2-1 on May 18 in 14 innings. Sunday’s contest was the third-longest game ever between the teams.

After Tejada’s bases-loaded fly gave New York the lead, Eric Campbell drove in another run with a squeeze bunt.

“Weird stat,” Campbell said. “Not something to be proud of but you get the ‘W’ and it makes everything else better.”

New York loaded the bases in the 18th on singles by Wilmer Flores and Curtis Granderson followed by a sacrifice from Plawecki that Martinez didn’t cleanly handle. Tejada followed with his deep fly and Campbell then bunted.

The game was scoreless until both teams got a run in the 13th.

Carlos Torres (3-4), the seventh Mets pitcher, gave up one hit in two innings.

Carlos Martinez (10-4), who was scheduled to start on Tuesday night, was pressed into relief and was the Cardinals’ eighth pitcher. He allowed five hits and four walks in four innings.

“We were trying to stay away from Martinez but it got to the point where it was not possible,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. “We needed him to come in and pitch some tough innings.”

The Mets got 16 hits and drew 13 walks. Kevin Plawecki hit an RBI single for their lone run until the 18th.

The Cardinals got 13 hits, including Kolten Wong’s leadoff homer in the 13th inning, and five walks. St. Louis went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

“We just couldn’t push it across when we needed,” Matheny said. “It’s a shame but they just kept coming.”

New York put at least one runner on base in every inning except the first and had runners in scoring position in all nine extra innings. The futile hitting with runners in scoring position was the majors’ worst since at least 1974.

The Mets’ total of stranded runners tied the third-most in major league history and they became the first team since Kansas City on June 6, 1991, to leave as many runners on and still win. Only Philadelphia (27) in 1973 and San Diego (26) in 1979 left more runners stranded in a game — and both teams lost.

“That’s not good,” Mets manager Terry Collins said. “We aren’t happy about that. Neither are some of the guys that left them on. I’ve never seen more flying helmets in my life.”

Mets starter Jonathon Niese gave up five hits in 7⅔ innings. Cardinals rookie Tim Cooney pitched three-hit ball for 5⅔ innings.

Granderson doubled in the 13th and scored on Plawecki’s single off Carlos Villanueva.

Wong tied it with his homer off Jeurys Familia. Jhonny Peralta singled with one out and went to third on a two-out double by Yadier Molina before Familia struck out Tommy Pham to extend the game.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mets: OF Michael Cuddyer said after the game he might have to go on the disabled list if his sore left knee doesn’t respond to treatment scheduled for Monday. He left the game in the bottom of the eighth after singling in the top of the inning.

Cardinals: OF Jason Heyward didn’t start after exiting Saturday night’s game because of leg cramps. Heyward also has been dealing with a head cold that Matheny said has been making the rounds through the clubhouse. Heyward later pinch hit.

UP NEXT

Mets: Trailing Washington by two games in the NL East, New York opens a three-game series Monday at Nationals Park. Matt Harvey has not allowed a run in 13 innings while beating the Nationals twice this season. Gio Gonzalez starts for the Nats.

Cardinals: Have their last off day in July before opening a two-game series at Chicago against the White Sox on Tuesday.

— Associated Press —

St. Joseph blows ninth inning lead, loses to Joplin 7-5

Posted on July 18, 2015

One day after rallying from a two-run deficit in the ninth inning to defeat Nevada on a walk-off home run, the St. Joseph Mustangs let a ninth inning lead slip away Saturday as they fell at home to Joplin 7-5.

St. Joe’s summer college baseball team led 5-4 entering the ninth inning and they turned to closer Steve D’Amico. D’Amico, who had allowed just one earned run and six hits all season, blew his first save of the season as he allowed three runs on three hits.

D’Amico gave a single and then walked to batters to load the bases with one out. He gave up a sacrafice fly to tie the game and then allowed a double with two outs to give Joplin the 7-5 lead.

The Mustangs were retired in order in the bottom of the ninth inning as they drop to 32-14 this season and 25-13 in the MINK League. St. Joseph’s lead in the North Division is back to one game as Sedalia defeated Clarinda Saturday 7-2. The Mustangs and Bombers will meet Sunday in Sedalia.

Trent Kinney started for St. Joe as he allowed four runs and five hits in four innings of work.

The Mustangs rallied from a 4-1 deficit Saturday as they scored two in the fourth inning and two more in the seventh before suffering their first loss when leading after eighth innings in two years.

Trent Hill and Kyle Richards led St. Joseph with two hits each, while Hill and Francisco Alvarez each drovein two runs.

The Mustangs game at Sedalia Sunday will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on 680 KFEQ and here on StJosephPost.com.

Cain’s HR in the 13th lifts Kansas City past Chicago

Posted on July 18, 2015

CHICAGO (AP) — Lorenzo Cain was hoping someone on his team would hit a home run to end the marathon game. He wound up taking matters into his own hands.

Cain homered in the 13th inning and the Kansas City Royals outlasted the Chicago White Sox 7-6 Saturday in a game that took nearly five hours.

The AL Central-leading Royals won for the 10th time in 13 games.

“I ended up doing it and helping everybody get out of here and move on to tomorrow. It was well needed, well needed,” Cain said.

Cain doubled and singled early, then led off the 13th with his ninth home run of the season. He connected against Dan Jennings (1-3).

The teams endured the long game after they split a day-night doubleheader Friday.

“We hung in there,” Cain said. “I know both teams are tired after yesterday and then coming here this morning to play another day game, so it’s definitely not easy for each team. But we found a way to come out here, play great baseball. It took a while, but we ended up getting the win.”

Brandon Finnegan (3-0) pitched two scoreless innings in the four-hour, 56-minute game.

Ryan Madson earned his first save in three chances — and first since 2011 — after allowing a single in the 13th.

“That game took a toll on both teams’ bullpens, so it was really important to try to squeak this one out,” Royals manager Ned Yost said.

The Royals finished with 17 hits, including five doubles, and improved to 5-1 in extra-inning games.

The White Sox tied it in the ninth on a two-out, two-run double by J.B. Shuck. Royals closer Greg Holland retired the first two batters before Adam LaRoche singled and Alexei Ramirez walked. Shuck’s hit handed Holland his third blown save in 23 opportunities.

“There were several pitches I didn’t execute very well, which is inexcusable,” Holland said. “I got to be better than that.”

In the 10th, Cain walked and advanced on a wild pitch but was doubled off second on a lineout.

Geovany Soto just missed a home run when he doubled off the center-field wall in the White Sox 12th.

“We were behind all day and we seemed to just chip away,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “We couldn’t find that one to go ahead.”

Mike Moustakas’ sacrifice fly gave the Royals the lead in the eighth. After an intentional walk to Cain, Zach Duke struck out Eric Hosmer before Kendrys Morales drew a bases-loaded walk to score another run.

Ramirez hit a solo homer in the seventh that made it 4-all.

The Royals opened the game with four consecutive hits off Jose Quintana to score two runs. They held a three-run lead before Chicago batted.

“That’s our team,” Yost said. “We’re an aggressive team. Putting three runs on the board early was key because Quintana settled down after that.”

WORTH NOTING

Madson earned his first save since Sept. 26, 2011, with the Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta. He converted a career-high 32 saves that season. He didn’t pitch in the majors from 2012-14 after undergoing elbow surgery.

CELEBRATE

The game started 23 minutes late after the White Sox honored the 2005 World Series title team during a pregame ceremony.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: Yost said he doesn’t anticipate an imminent decision on activating RHP Kris Medlen, who rejoined the team Friday. He is recovering from his second Tommy John surgery and has not pitched in the majors since 2013.

White Sox: The team is expected to add a reliever in the near future. Chicago has had six relievers since recalling 3B Tyler Saladino from the minors July 10. Ventura said a move could happen as early as Saturday night.

UP NEXT

Royals LHP Danny Duffy (3-4, 4.65) will start Sunday’s series finale against White Sox LHP Chris Sale (8-4, 2.72).

— Associated Press —

Heyward, Grichuk help Cardinals blowout Mets

Posted on July 18, 2015

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jason Heyward was on base so much in 93-degree heat, the body finally gave in.

“I was cramping all over,” Heyward said after matching a career best with five hits as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the New York Mets 12-2 on Saturday night. “I haven’t been feeling well the last few days.”

Both Heyward and manager Mike Matheny said there was “zero” concern going forward. Heyward told trainers and Matheny he could have stayed in if the game was closer.

Randal Grichuk had two homers and six RBI and John Lackey worked seven strong innings for St. Louis, benefiting from the cushion.

“I definitely pitched to the scoreboard a little bit,” Lackey said. “Trying to challenge guys, trying to throw strikes and trying to keep the momentum going, trying to get those guys back in the dugout to hit.”

Mets starter Bartolo Colon (9-8) trailed by four runs after just one-third of an inning and surrendered seven runs in 4 1/3 innings. The 42-year-old right-hander was roughed up by the Cardinals for the second time, giving up eight runs in 4 1/3 innings in a 9-0 loss May 20.

“That wasn’t the Bartolo Colon we’ve known,” manager Terry Collins said. “That guy has only walked nine guys all year, let alone the first guy of the game.”

Colon said through an interpreter that the Cardinals capitalized on his tendency to go after hitters.

“They were really aggressive and attacked my pitches,” Colon said. “They know I’m going to be aggressive in the zone and they took advantage of it.

Heyward has seven hits, including a triple and double, two RBI and two steals in the first two games of the series. He was removed after singling in the eighth.

Grichuk was 3 for 3 with a two-run homer off Carlos Torres that capped a four-run fifth and a three-run shot off Alex Torres in the eighth.

Jhonny Peralta added three hits and an RBI. St. Louis improved to major league-bests of 58-33 overall and 33-11 at home.

The Cardinals scored four in the first, fifth and eighth.

Lackey (8-5) scattered 10 hits, one of them to .084-hitting Colon, but was hurt only by Michael Cuddyer’s eighth homer leading off the sixth. The 36-year-old right-hander is 4-1 with a 1.63 ERA his last seven starts, working seven or more innings in all but one of them.

Cuddyer had three hits and Ruben Tejada added an RBI double in the eighth for New York. Cuddyer has five career homers against Lackey, his most against any pitcher.

Colon got a visit from pitching coach Dan Warthen after facing just seven hitters and already down 3-0. He’s lost his last four decisions, posting a 6.18 ERA in that span, although he allowed two earned runs in 13 innings his last two starts prior to the break.

“This year they’ve been lucky, they’ve been good,” Colon said. “I was lucky enough last year to beat them twice and this year they beat me twice.”

The Mets have homered in six straight games, scoring 17 of their 19 runs via the long ball.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mets: Cuddyer says he’ll probably have to deal with a left knee bone bruise the rest of the season.

Cardinals: LHP Jaime Garcia (groin) and RHP Jordan Walden (bicep) threw side sessions.

UP NEXT

Mets: Jonathon Niese (5-8, 3.61) has won his last two starts and held left-handed hitters to one hit in 15 at-bats his last three. The Cardinals’ Mark Reynolds is 6 for 12 with two homers against Niese.

Cardinals: Rookie lefty Tim Cooney (0-0, 4.34) makes his fifth career start seeking his first decision.

IN THE HOUSE

WWE wrestler Randy Orton, in town for an event Sunday night, met with Cardinals players on the field during batting practice.

NOTABLE

Heyward also had five hits Sept. 26, 2013, against the Phillies while with Atlanta. … Grichuk also had two homers June 20 at Philadelphia. … Matt Adams was the last Cardinals player to drive in six runs June 23, 2014, at Colorado.

— Associated Press —

Scott’s three-run, walk-off HR rallies Mustangs past Nevada

Posted on July 17, 2015

The St. Joseph Mustangs rallied from a two-run deficit in the ninth inning Friday night at Phil Welch Stadium and they were able to defeat the Nevada Griffons 7-6.

Mustangs’ first baseman Ramsey Scott hit a walk-off, three-run home run to right field with two outs to send St. Joe to it’s fourth consecutive win and their second walk-off win of the season.

St. Joseph’s summer college baseball team is now 32-13 this season and 25-12 in the MINK League. The Mustangs also increased their lead in the North Division to two games as Sedalia lost to Chillicothe Friday 6-3.

St. Joe led 2-0 after two innings and 3-1 after six before Nevada scored four runs in the seventh to take a two-run lead. The two teams traded runs before Scott’s heroics in the ninth inning.

Jackson Schnurbusch walked to lead off the ninth, Orencio Fisher popped up on the infield, Jacob Richardson drew a walk and then Trent Hill flew out to center for the second out.

Scott hit the first pitch he saw off of Ray Hutchinson for his fifth home run of the season. He drove in four runs in the game and leads the MINK League with 33 RBI this season.

No one else had a multi-hit game for St. Joseph but Richardson and Schnurbusch each scored two runs, while Fisher and Scott Braren had one RBI each.

Steve D’Amico picked up the win in relief as he allowed one run in the ninth inning. Preston Felgate made the start for the Mustangs as he allowed just one run and two hits in six innings of work.

St. Joe plays host to Joplin on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. inside Phil Welch Stadium.

Royals split day-night doubleheader at Chicago Friday

Posted on July 17, 2015July 17, 2015

CHICAGO (AP) — John Danks pitched four-hit ball into the seventh, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 2-0 Friday to split a day-night doubleheader.

The White Sox shook off a 4-2 loss in the opener to win for the 10th time in 14 games, with Danks (5-8) dominating on the mound.

Avisail Garcia tripled and scored on a single by Tyler Flowers in the second inning. Melky Cabrera doubled and came in from third on a wild pitch by Edinson Volquez (8-5). And Chicago handed the AL Central leaders their second loss in 10 games.

Danks exited to loud cheers with a 2-0 lead after he walked Alex Rios leading off the seventh.

It was the second scoreless outing in three starts for the 30-year-old left-hander, who has struggled since undergoing shoulder surgery in 2012. He shut down Baltimore over seven innings on July 3 before getting roughed up by Toronto.

In this one, Danks struck out four and walked four.

Jake Petricka retired the lone batter he faced. Zach Duke worked 1 2/3 perfect innings, and David Robertson pitched a perfect ninth for his 20th save in 24 chances.

Volquez took his first loss since June 5 despite a strong outing. He gave up two runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings after going 4-0 in his previous seven starts.

In the opener, Mike Moustakas hit a solo homer in the fifth on the 12th pitch of the at-bat to give the Royals a 2-1 lead, and Alex Rios capped a two-run sixth with his drive off Jeff Samardzija (6-5) after Chicago tied it.

Chris Young (8-5) gave up two runs and three hits, including solo homers to Geovany Soto and Adam Eaton, in five innings.

Young felt his back tightening as the game went on and left after throwing 82 pitches.

Yost said it’s “not serious at all.” And Young expects to make his next scheduled start.

Four relievers combined to shut down the White Sox the rest of the way, with Greg Holland working the ninth for his 20th save in 22 chances.

Samardzija gave up four runs and seven hits in seven innings.

HONORING CHAMPS

The Chicago White Sox are set to hold another championship rally.

They are honoring the 10th anniversary of the 2005 World Series-winning season, with members of that team gathering in Chicago for the celebration. They will participate in the “Parade of Champions” before Saturday’s game against the Kansas City Royals. Some are scheduled to appear Sunday at the Chicago Theatre for “A Season to Remember: A Night with the 2005 World Series Champions.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: RHP Kris Medlen (elbow) rejoined the team and the team will decide in the next two or three days whether to activate him. He is recovering from his second Tommy John surgery and has not pitched in the majors since 2013, when he won 15 games for Atlanta.

White Sox: GM Rick Hahn said RHP Matt Albers (fractured right pinky finger) and RHP Nate Jones, recovering from Tommy John surgery on his pitching elbow, are progressing in their rehabilitation. RHP Jesse Crain (shoulder), who has not pitched in the majors since 2013, had a setback in an Arizona League game last week and it’s not clear when his next outing will be.

UP NEXT

RHP Jeremy Guthrie (7-5, 5.36) starts for Kansas City, with LHP Jose Quintana (4-9, 3.69) pitching for Chicago.

— Associated Press —

St. Louis snaps three-game skid with 3-2 win over New York

Posted on July 17, 2015July 17, 2015

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jhonny Peralta hit a tiebreaking home run in the sixth inning, Lance Lynn outdueled Noah Syndergaard and the St. Louis Cardinals held on for a 3-2 victory over the New York Mets on Friday night.

Peralta, one of six St. Louis All-Stars, barely cleared the left-field fence on a two-out drive for his 14th homer. Kirk Nieuwenhuis made a leaping effort and his glove ticked the ball that landed in the Mets’ bullpen.

Curtis Granderson hit his fifth leadoff homer of the season for the Mets, who won four in a row before the All-Star break.

Trevor Rosenthal gave up Ruben Tejada’s RBI infield hit in the ninth, and the Mets had two on before he struck out pinch hitter John Mayberry Jr. for his 27th save.

Lynn (7-5) allowed a run and three hits in seven innings. Syndergaard (4-5) also worked seven innings, allowing two runs and five hits.

— Associated Press —

Mustangs race out to early lead, defeat Springfield 12-2

Posted on July 16, 2015

The St. Joseph Mustangs won their third consecutive game Thursday night as they defeated the Springfield Arrows 12-2 inside Phil Welch Stadium.

This was the final non-league game for St. Joe’s summer college baseball team as they improve to 31-13 this season.

The Mustangs raced out to a big lead early as they scored two runs in each of the first two innings and added four more in the third to take an 8-0 lead.

St. Joseph eventually led 12-0 before Springfield scored two runs in the seventh inning.

Mitch Steinhoff earned the win to improve to 2-2 this summer as he allowed one earned run and four hits in 6.1 innings of work. He struck out nine and walked three batters.

Jordan Powell was one of three Mustangs with a two-hit game as he finished 2-for-4 with a career-high four RBI and two runs scored.

Orencio Fisher and Josh Cassidy added two hits each, while Fisher scored twice and Cassidy scored three runs. Evan McDonald added two RBI.

St. Joe got some help from Ozark on Thursday as they defeated Sedalia 9-7. The Mustangs lead in the North Division is back to one game over the Bombers.

St. Joseph is back in MINK League play Friday as they host Nevada at 7:00 p.m.