Dave Riggert – Page 751 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Royals rally but lose to St. Louis in 11 innings.

Posted on June 4, 2014June 4, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Matt Carpenter had a career-high five hits, including the go-ahead double in the 11th inning, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Kansas City Royals 5-2 on Wednesday night to snap a three-game losing streak.

After the Royals rallied with two runs in the ninth, Peter Bourjos worked a one-out walk off Royals reliever Kelvin Herrera (1-2) in the 11th. Carpenter then rapped his double to center field, drawing a roar from a crowd comprised mostly of Cardinals fans.

Allen Craig added a two-run single off Tim Collins later in the inning, and Pat Neshek breezed through the bottom half to end the Royals’ six-game winning streak against National League clubs.

Sam Freeman (1-0) earned the win with a perfect 10th inning.

Carpenter became the first Cardinal to record five hits in a game since Ryan Ludwick on Sept. 4, 2009. He had a part in his club’s first three runs, driving in Mark Ellis in the second inning and scoring on Matt Holliday’s groundout in the seventh

The Cardinals persevered after Adam Wainwright blew a 2-0 lead in the ninth inning. He struck out Eric Hosmer to start it, but the ball squirted away from catcher Yadier Molina, allowing Hosmer to reach first base. Billy Butler followed with a crisp single up the middle.

Trevor Rosenthal, who took the loss Tuesday night, entered in relief and walked Alex Gordon on a full count to load the bases. Salvador Perez followed with a broken-bat groundout to score a run, and Lorenzo Cain’s single up the middle knotted the game 2-all.

The ninth-inning rally wasted a dazzling bounce-back start by Wainwright, who was trying to become the NL’s first nine-game winner. The two-time All-Star did not allow a hit until the sixth inning, stranded three runners on third base and struck out eight while walking just two.

Wainwright wasn’t the only Cardinal to get on track, either.

Molina had hits in his first two at-bats, snapping an 0-for-16 streak. Ellis ended an 0-for-8 stretch with his single in the second that led to the game’s first run.

After St. Louis dropped the first two games of the four-game, two-city set at Busch Stadium, the NL champs rebounded to win for the eighth straight time at Kauffman Stadium.

Jason Vargas kept Kansas City in it most of the night. After leaving the bases loaded in the first inning, he went on strand 10 in a season-high eight innings. The left-hander allowed nine hits and walked two while allowing two runs or fewer for the fifth time in six starts.

— Associated Press —

Missouri Western golf adds one more to 2014-2015 class

Posted on June 4, 2014June 4, 2014

Missouri Western golf coach Greg Dillon has announced one more to his 2014-2015 class. Drew Lagan of Roanoke, Va. will join Corey Knight of Avondale, Ariz., Jakob Rudosky from Cortez, Colo. and Ryan Hand from St. Joseph, Mo. on the men’s team while Tiffanie Yabut from Omaha, Neb. and Celine Lim Shwu Ling of Shah Alam, Selangor (Malaysia) will compete with the women.

Drew Lagan is a 5-7 player from Roanoke, Va. where he graduated from Cave Spring High School. Lagan had a solid high school career being named All-State twice as well as All-District, All-Region and All-Metro three times each.

In 2013 Lagan was the Roanoke Valley Golf Hall of Fame Junior Player of the Year and was selected to the Virginia team in the Viginia vs. Carolinas team match. He was also a four time Scott Robertson Memorial participant.

Lagan has played some solid rounds and will definatly compete at this level. He finished 3rd out of 62 players at the AJGA Preseason Tournament at St. James Plantation in Southport, NC and finished in a tie for fourth at the VSGA Junior State meet firing rounds of 71-73-68. He was also the 2013 Conference 32 Champion firing a 69 and a region 4 Co-Champion firing a 72.

“We are very happy to get a player that is of Drew’s caliber,” stated Coach Dillon. “Drew is a player that we can build around for the future. Drew has had an impressive junior golf career. His experience, work ethic, enthusiasm and confidence will be a great fit for our team. We are looking forward to having Drew here in the fall and his contribution to our team.”

Duffy, Royals roll past slumping St. Louis, 6-0

Posted on June 3, 2014

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Danny Duffy became the latest pitcher to shut down the St. Louis Cardinals.

Duffy worked six innings of one-hit ball coming off a pair of poor outings and Alex Gordon homered to start a breakout three-run seventh for the Kansas City Royals in a 6-0 victory over the suddenly punchless defending NL champs on Monday night.

“I told him, `You didn’t throw a great game, you pitched a great game,” manager Ned Yost said. “He was just right on top of his game.”

The Royals had just two singles off Shelby Miller (6-5) in a game that had been scoreless before they opened the seventh with four straight hits. Gordon’s fifth homer ended a 15-inning scoreless drought and Mike Moustakas capped the rally with a two-run double.

“I felt good early on,” Miller said. “I felt like I just kind of gave the game away in the seventh. It’s just frustrating.”

Matt Holliday had two singles and a walk for the Cardinals, who have been shut out in consecutive games at home and have single-digit hit totals the last four games. They’re just 2-6 with one game to go on a nine-game home stand.

“It’s a long season. You’re going to have those times,” said Yadier Molina, who is 2 for 21 during the home stand. “We know we’re good hitters.”

Between Holliday’s single with two outs in the first and his single leading off the seventh, the Cardinals were 0 for 17 with a walk — also by Holliday in the fourth.

Coming off an 8-0 loss to San Francisco on Sunday, the Cardinals were shut out two straight times at home for the first time since 1992 against Pittsburgh, and by six or more runs at home in two straight games since dropping a doubleheader to the Reds in 1937.

“We’ve had lots of meetings, we’ve had the conversations we needed to have,” manager Mike Matheny said. “What we’re doing right now isn’t going to work and they know that. We all do.”

Duffy (3-5) struck out five and walked one, rebounding from consecutive losses in which he surrendered 10 earned runs in 10 innings. He has a one-hit start over six or more innings each of the last three seasons.

“Physically, I felt really good,” Duffy said. “I still didn’t have as much behind the ball as I normally do, but I felt fine just like last time.”

Rare backing from the offense made everything feel a lot better. The Royals totaled three runs while Duffy was in the game his first five starts over 27 innings.

“Sometimes it’s just the luck of the draw,” Duffy said. “The guys swing the sticks really well.”

Three relievers completed a three-hitter.

The Royals advanced one runner to second base before Gordon led off the seventh with his fifth homer, a drive over the Cardinals’ bullpen in right field.

“It was awesome,” Moustakas said. “It got a good pitch to hit and he crushed it and it kind of loosened us up in the dugout.”

Lorenzo Cain beat out an infield hit unsuccessfully challenged by the Cardinals and Miller threw his second wild pitch of the inning after a visit from pitching coach Derek Lilliquist, setting up Moustakas’ double.

Kansas City added three in the eighth. Cardinals rookie center fielder Randal Grichuk struck out three times and whiffed fielding the ball on the RBI single by Salvador Perez, allowing a second run to score.

— Associated Press —

Mizzou basketball hires athletic performance coach Matt Herring

Posted on June 2, 2014

Columbia, Mo. – Mizzou Basketball Head Coach Kim Anderson announced yet another hire to his coaching staff on Monday as Matt Herring, formerly the Director of Athletic Performance with the National Basketball Association’s San Antonio Spurs, will direct the Athletic Performance efforts for Tiger Basketball.

Familiar with the college basketball ranks after directing Florida Basketball’s strength and conditioning program for seven seasons, including back-to-back NCAA National Championships in 2006 and 2007, Herring comes to Mizzou after two years in San Antonio (2011-13). The Spurs went 108-40 (.730) in those two seasons, advancing to the NBA Finals in 2013.

“This was a big coup for our program, not only because Matt is a highly respected coach that has trained some of the elite basketball players in the world, but because he will mentor and train our young men in every phase of life,” Anderson said. “Matt has coached and trained at the highest levels throughout his career and has the ability to get the most out of his teams. We are excited to welcome Matt and his family to Mizzou.”

The Austin, Texas, native joined the Spurs organization in 2011 after seven years with Billy Donovan at Florida (2004-11). He went to Gainesville in 2004 and two years later the Gators claimed their first of two consecutive NCAA titles.

“I appreciate Coach Anderson, Mike Alden and the Mizzou Administration for this tremendous opportunity,” Herring said. “I became very familiar with Missouri during my time growing up in Texas and my time working at Oklahoma State, and I have always had a tremendous amount of respect for the Athletics Department as a whole, as well as this university. We are very excited to get to town, get to work and become a part of the Mizzou and Columbia communities.”

Prior to his time at Florida, Herring spent two years leading the basketball strength and conditioning efforts at Oklahoma State and he was part of the Cowboys’ 2004 Final Four run. He also earned his graduate degree from Texas in 2002, learning from current Texas Strength and Conditioning coach, Todd Wright, before taking over at OSU.

Herring graduated from Southwest Texas in 1994. He and his wife Cindy have one daughter, Laney.

— MU Sports Information —

Mustangs lose second straight as they fall at Nevada, 7-4

Posted on June 2, 2014June 2, 2014

After opening the season with five consecutive wins, the St. Joseph Mustangs have dropped back-to-back game as they lost Sunday at Nevada, 7-4.

Both losses for St. Joe’s summer college baseball team came to the Griffons, who won at Phil Welch Stadium Saturday 8-1.

Nevada scored in the first inning for the second straight game against the Mustangs as Brandon Huske committed an error with two outs that allowed two runs to score.

The Griffons built a 6-1 after three innings as they scored two runs in each of the first three innings. The only run for St. Joseph in that stretch came in the third when Francisco Alvarez drove in Matthew Johnson with double.

The Mustangs then got a two-out, two-run home run from Mike Sherburne to pull within 6-3, but that was as close as St. Joe would get.

Missouri’s Brandon Baker suffered the loss for the Mustangs as the allowed six runs and eight hits in six innings of work. Only three of the runs were earned as St. Joseph committed a season-high five errors.

Alvarez and Sherburne led with offense with two hits each, while Nate Winfrey also had one RBI.

The Mustangs are now 5-2 this season and 1-2 in MINK League play and they’re off on Monday before traveling to Chillicothe Tuesday for their first meeting with the Mudcats.

Kansas City shut down by Buehrle, Blue Jays

Posted on June 2, 2014

TORONTO — In a season of solid outings by Mark Buehrle, this stood out as one of his best.

Buehrle pitched eight sharp innings to become baseball’s first 10-game winner, Edwin Encarnacion homered again and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Kansas City Royals 4-0 Sunday.

Buehrle (10-1) won his sixth straight decision, his longest streak since a nine-game run in 2005. He gave up six hits, walked one and struck out three as the Blue Jays finished a 10-game homestand at 8-2.

“Today he was as good as he’s been all year,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. “He topped off a nice homestand for us.”

Buehrle lowered his ERA to 2.10 and improved to 25-12 lifetime against the Royals.

“He was dynamite,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “He’s traditionally tough on us, but he’s 10-1 now, he’s tough on everybody.”

Typically low key, Buehrle said he considered himself fortunate to keep the Royals off the scoreboard.

“It was one of those games where I could have gotten my butt handed to me,” he said. “I was making mistakes and they weren’t making me pay for it.”

Encarnacion matched Mickey Mantle’s AL record with 16 home runs in May, then started off a new month with another drive. He hit a two-run shot off Aaron Crow in the eighth for his 19th homer of the season.

Dioner Navarro also homered as the AL East-leading Blue Jays, who went 21-9 in May, began June with their 17th victory in 21 games.

Jeremy Guthrie (2-5) lost his fifth straight decision, allowing two runs and eight hits in seven innings.

Guthrie has received just one run of support in his past four outings and is winless in 10 starts.

“With all the pitchers, the offense is definitely not living up to the capability it can live up to right now,” Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer said.

Toronto loaded the bases with two outs against Guthrie in the first but Juan Francisco flied out.

Navarro hit a solo homer in the second with a drive into the right-field bullpen.

Francisco hit a leadoff double in the fourth, Brett Lawrie singled and Anthony Gose had an RBI grounder.

The Royals hit a pair of leadoff doubles against Buehrle, but he never allowed a runner reach third base. Alcides Escobar doubled to begin the third but was caught in a rundown on Nori Aoki’s sharp grounder to second.

Hosmer doubled to open the sixth but was thrown out at third by shortstop Jose Reyes on Billy Butler’s grounder into the hole.

Hosmer called it “a stupid baserunning mistake,” but his manager was more charitable.

“It was an aggressive mistake,” Yost said. “Reyes did a great job of ranging over and the only play he had was at third.”

— Associated Press —

Cardinals get blanked Sunday and lose three of four to Giants

Posted on June 2, 2014

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Tim Hudson still refuses to take credit for his quick start to the season.

“There comes a lot of luck with it,” he said. “I’m just throwing the ball and missing (bat) barrels.”

The San Francisco right-hander threw seven shutout innings and Joaquin Arias keyed a four-run first inning with a two-run single to lead the Giants to an 8-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday.

The Giants have won five of six and have the best record in the NL at 37-20.

St. Louis has lost four of five. The Cardinals managed just four hits.

Hudson (6-2) gave up three hits, struck out six, and walked two in improving to 4-4 against St. Louis. Hudson’s previous win against the Cardinals came on July 19, 2007, as a member of the Atlanta Braves. He retired the last 11 batters he faced on Sunday.

The 38-year-old has a 1.75 ERA, second in the NL, and has gone at least seven innings in nine of 11 starts.

Hudson missed the final two months of last season with a fractured ankle, but has rebounded with one of the best starts of his 14-year career.

Hudson took control early after his teammates gave him four early runs.

“Great job,” San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. “You go seven innings and no runs against this club, you’re doing something.”

Catcher Buster Posey said Hudson simply keeps rolling along.

“Nothing fancy, he just goes out there and pitches to contact, like he always does,” Posey said. “He’s smart and he knows how to attack the hitters.

Hudson said he was able to relax after the early run support.

“I just went out there and tried to pound the strike zone,” he said. “A starting pitcher always welcomes early runs. It makes our job a whole lot easier.”

Arias came through with a key hit. He got the start after Michael Morse fouled a ball off his left foot in batting practice. In his second start in the past 24 games, Arias went 3 for 4 with three RBIs. He broke out of a 0-for-14 skid with a bases-loaded single in the first.

“He stays ready and he’s got a lot of poise,” Bochy said. “He really needed a game like this.”

Morse is expected back in the lineup on Tuesday when the Giants play at Cincinnati, according to Bochy.

Posey had three hits in returning to the lineup after missing three games with tightness in his lower back.

“I feel pretty good,” Posey said. “Hopefully, it is something I can manage.”

Lance Lynn (6-3) gave up seven runs, four earned, and eight hits in 3 1/3 innings after posting his first career shutout on Tuesday against the York Yankees.

“One of those days where that will happen,” Lynn said. “A tough one.”

Angel Pagan, Hunter Pence and Posey singled to start the four-run first. Posey’s RBI hit came on Lynn’s 10th pitch.

Gregor Blanco reached on an error by Kolten Wong and Pence scored on a groundout by Brandon Crawford. Brandon Hicks walked to set the stage for Arias’ bases-loaded single.

The error, on a potential double play ball, led to three unearned runs.

“If an out is made there,” Lynn said. “We are out of the inning with one run.”

Arias pushed the lead to 5-0 with a run-scoring single in the third. Crawford added an RBI double in the fourth. Blanco brought in the final run with a triple in the sixth.

“You’re just going to have those days,” St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. “We just couldn’t get anything going.”

St. Louis third baseman Matt Carpenter extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a first-inning single. It is the longest current streak in the NL.

— Associated Press —

KU’s season ends with loss to Kentucky in NCAA Regional

Posted on June 2, 2014

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Gritty, tough and relentless; interchangeable words that describes a Kansas baseball team that refused to go down without a fight Sunday afternoon in NCAA postseason play.

Although the unthinkable didn’t happen, the Jayhawks (35-26) gave Kentucky a run for its money clawing their way back from an 8-0 deficit to pull within two runs of the Wildcats (37-24) at Jim Patterson Stadium.

“When we got down early in the game, it was too early in the game to give up,” senior catcher Ka’iana Eldredge said. “We were down seven runs in the fourth, with so much game left to be played. As you saw, we made a run at the end and put ourselves in a position to win the game late. Fortunately for Kentucky, they were able to put up two more runs than us and that won the ball game.”

Eldredge made sure to do his part to help the Jayhawks attempt an 8-0 comeback, mashing one over the wall in left field on his final collegiate at bat for the second home run of his career.

“So many things go through your head when you walk up to the plate late in a ball game and you’re down,” Eldredge said. “I remember thinking the same thing in high school; this could possibly be my last at bat. You just have to go up there and have fun with it. I didn’t think too much and I got a good pitch to hit and put a good swing on it. It was great that it went out of the ballpark so I can tell my kids my last collegiate at bat was a home run.”

The round tripper came two innings after Kansas rallied to put up a five-spot in the sixth with a little help from five-consecutive base hits. Kansas opened the frame with four-straight singles , before sophomore first baseman Jacob Boylan roped a two-run double down the line in left field, all with no outs. A sacrifice fly and an RBI ground out later, KU had cut that 8-0 deficit down to just three runs, 8-5.

Had the Jayhawks pitchers been a bit more effective, five runs may have been the difference in the ballgame. However, the staff combined to give up eight runs off 11 hits including five runs and five hits for right-handed starter Robert Kahana (4-7).

“I made the comment yesterday that (Robert) Kahana didn’t get to pitch in the Big 12 Tournament,” Kansas head coach Ritch Price said. “It has been almost two weeks since he has been on the mound. We scrimmaged ourselves before we left and he was actually pretty good. I was concerned – if he got off to a good start I think you would have seen a completely different guy. Unfortunately for us, his command wasn’t very good and he was behind in the count. Kentucky can really hit the fastball.”

Price gives credit to Kentucky starter freshman Zack Brown (1-1), for holding the Jayhawks scoreless through five frames.

“You look at the numbers of hits per innings pitched and you look at his opponent batting average at .360 – we liked our chances,” Price said. “I think the thing was we got buried early and I think it took us a while mentally to recover from that after they hit us in the mouth in the first and second inning. He commanded his fastball well and showed a good breaking ball.”

Brown kept KU off the board until the sixth inning when Kansas put up the five-spot. KU didn’t score again until the eighth when the dinger by Eldredge cut the lead to two runs, 8-6, and allowed for the Jayhawks to take one final stab at completing the comeback in the ninth inning.

Kansas managed to get the tying run to the plate after a one-out walk by sophomore second baseman Colby Wright, but two quick outs followed to end the game and season for the Jayhawks.

Although the comeback didn’t quite happen like the movies portray, Eldredge hopes the team can use the momentum left by the senior class and continue the growth of the KU program.

“For the seniors, this was our first time in the NCAA Tournament,” Eldredge said. “It has been cool to be here and an awesome experience. We told the younger guys it’s all a learning experience. They know what to do and how hard to play going forward, and coach Price is going to have a lot more NCAA tournament appearances if the young kids continue to work hard and have the passion for the game.”

— KU Sports Information —

Nebraska knocked out of NCAA Tournament by Fullerton

Posted on June 2, 2014

Stillwater, Okla. – Playing in a NCAA Regional for the first time since 2008, the 2014 Nebraska baseball season came to an end on Sunday at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium following a 4-3 loss to the Cal State Fullerton Titans. It was the second loss in the tournament to the Titans, after CSF won 5-1 in the opening round on Friday.

Nebraska, who posted a 41-21 record in 2014, had the tying run in scoring position with two outs in the top of the ninth and Jake Placzek hit a line drive, but it was right at CSF second baseman Taylor Bryant for the final out of the game. The Huskers out-hit the Titans 8-5 on the afternoon, including a pair of hits from Austin Darby.

The pain of the season-ending loss was amplified by the fact at all four of Fullerton’s runs were unearned, as the Huskers committed three errors on the day.

Junior Aaron Bummer gave the Huskers 6.1 innings, and allowed just five hits and two walks, while striking out four. CSF starter Grahamm Wiest went 8.0 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits and no walks, while striking out five. J.D. Davis closed the game out for his seventh save of the year.

After Wiest retired the Huskers in order to start the game, CSF’s offense gave its starter a 2-0 lead. Tyler Stieb led off the home half of the first with a single, then Bummer committed a costly error on a sacrifice bunt by Keegan Dale and Davis singled to load the bases. Bummer came back on got consecutive pop outs that would have ended the inning without the error, but instead Clay Williamson got a shot to hit and came through with a two-RBI single.

The Titans were in position to tack on more runs in the second when Bummer issued a two-out walk that brought Davis to the plate with two on. Bummer dug in and struck out CSF’s No. 3 hitter swinging to keep Fullerton’s lead at 2-0.

Wiest retired the first nine Huskers he faced until Ryan Boldt broke the streak with leadoff double in the fourth, his third extra-base hit of the tournament. Nebraska played small ball and Steven Reveles laid down a sacrifice bunt that was followed by a sacrifice fly from Michael Pritchard to put Nebraska on the scoreboard. Pat Kelly then lined a two-out single to put the tying run on base, but Wiest retired Blake Headley to keep the Titans ahead, 2-1.

Bummer retired Fullerton’s 2-3-4 hitters in the bottom of the fifth and NU’s offense followed with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth to give the Huskers a 3-2 lead. Reveles got the inning started with a one-out single and then Pritchard executed a hit-and-run that put runners on the corners with one down. Pritchard then swiped second to put a pair of Huskers in scoring position, but NU wouldn’t need a hit to tie the game as Wiest buried a pitch into the dirt, allowing Reveles to score on the wild pitch. Kelly then reached second on a fielder’s choice, as Pritchard was cut down in a run down between third and home on a ground ball. With two outs, Weist got ahead of Headley 1-2, but the junior from Omaha wouldn’t be denied as he came through with a RBI single that gave the Huskers their first lead of the day.

With the lead, Bummer came out and retired the Titans in order in the sixth. After retiring nine straight Titans, Bummer hit Jared Deacon to start the bottom of the seventh and then allowed Bryant to reach on a sacrifice bunt that Bummer was unable to field, his second error of the game. Stieb moved both runners into scoring position and then Reveles committed an error at short that allowed the tying run to score. With Davis coming to the plate and runners on the corners, NU went to relieve Bob Greco. The senior gifted the Titans a run when he was called for a balk, just the fourth balk this season by a Husker pitcher. Greco limited the damage though by striking out Davis and getting Matt Chapman to fly out.

Nebraska went down in order in the eighth, but then just like they have all season they continued to fight. Down to NU’s final out, Darby single and then moved into scoring position when pinch-hitter Ben Miller was HBP. Placzek stepped in and nearly extended the game, but his line drive couldn’t find the outfield.

— NU Sports Information —

St. Joseph suffers first loss as they fall to Nevada

Posted on May 31, 2014

The St. Joseph Mustangs suffered their first loss of the season Saturday night as they fell to Nevada, 8-1, inside Phil Welch Stadium.

St. Joe’s summer college baseball team drops to 5-1 and 1-1 in the MINK League.

Nevada scored one run in the first inning as the Mustangs trailed for the first time all season and then the Griffons added three more in the third.

St. Joseph’s only run came on an RBI ground out by Evan McDonald in the fourth inning that scored Joe Koerper.

Dixon Marble suffered the loss for the Mustangs as he allowed five runs and seven hits in five innings of work.

McDonald and Ryan Abernathy had two hits each to lead the St. Joseph offense.

The Mustangs will try and bounce back against the Griffons as they travel to Nevada on Sunday for a 7:00 p.m. first pitch. The game will be broadcast on 680 KFEQ AM & here on StJosephPost.com.