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Category: Sports

Cardinals beat Brewers 5-2, pull closer in wild-card race

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ST. LOUIS (AP) — Kolten Wong and Marcell Ozuna drove in two runs apiece, Jack Flaherty pitched six shutout innings and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-2 on Friday night.

The Cardinals won for the ninth time in 10 games and pulled within a half-game of the Brewers for the National League’s second wild-card spot.

Milwaukee has dropped three of four.

Flaherty (7-6) gave up three hits, walked three and struck out seven. The Brewers had only two runners reach second base against the rookie, who has allowed two earned runs in his past 19 innings pitched.

Bud Norris earned his 24th save in 28 opportunities.

Freddy Peralta (5-4) went six innings, giving up three earned runs. He allowed three hits, walked three, and struck out five. It was his third loss in his last four decisions.

Wong’s two-run double in the eighth padded the Cardinals’ lead to 5-2.

Jedd Gyorko hit his 10th home run of the season to open the fourth. The shot to left field gave the Cardinals a 3-0 lead.

St. Louis took an early lead after Ozuna followed Yadier Molina’s single and a double from Jose Martinez with a hard grounder up the middle.

The Brewers threatened a comeback in the eighth. They loaded the bases against Jordan Hicks, and Jesus Aguilar hit a two-run single to pull the score to 3-2 with one out. But Travis Shaw fouled out to left field and Jonathan Schoop’s flair to shallow center field was snagged by shortstop Paul DeJong.

ON BOARD

Cardinals 1B Matt Carpenter was issued an intentional walk in the seventh and has reached base in 35 consecutive games. It’s the longest such streak in the majors.

TRAINING ROOM

Brewers: OF Eric Thames was removed from the game before the bottom of the third inning with a sore right knee. The right fielder collided with center fielder Lorenzo Cain while making a catch in the bottom of the first. … C Manny Pina was held out of Friday’s game as a precaution following a collision with the Cubs’ Javier Baez on Wednesday. Manager Craig Counsell said Pina should be available for the remainder of the weekend series, but wanted to provide another day of rest for his left shoulder that was hurt when he dove back into second against the Cubs.

Cardinals: RHP Carlos Martinez (right shoulder strain) continues his rehab assignment and was available to work out of the Double-A Springfield bullpen on Friday. The Cardinals announced earlier in the week that Martinez, typically a starter, would serve as a reliever when he returns to St. Louis. The Cardinals hope to have him back next week . IF Yairo Munoz (right wrist sprain) begins his rehabilitation assignment in Springfield on Saturday. . RHP Michael Wacha (left oblique strain) is headed to Palm Beach, Florida to begin a rehab assignment. He went on the DL on June 21.

UP NEXT

Braves: LHP Wade Miley (2-1, 2.23) looks for his first win since he went seven innings July 21 in a 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was his longest outing of the season.

Cardinals: RHP Miles Mikolas (12-3, 2.85) has won five consecutive games. He went seven innings in each of his last three starts and the Cardinals have lost just one of the past eight games in which he started.

— Associated Press —

Missouri Western picked 2nd in preseason MIAA volleyball poll

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ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western volleyball was picked second in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll that was released Thursday. The Griffons earned 94 total points with two first-place votes.

Head coach Marian Carbin led the Griffons to a league-best 16 wins in 2017, earning the program its first MIAA Championship in school history. Carbin was named MIAA Coach of the Year last season. Carbin’s sixth Griffon team returns five All-MIAA selections and all but two starters from last year’s NCAA Central Region semifinal team.

Finishing ahead of Missouri Western in the preseason poll was fellow 2017 Co-Champion, Nebraska Kearney. The Lopers earned 108 points and eight first-place votes in the poll.

Central Oklahoma, another 2017 NCAA Central Regional qualifier, landed third behind Nebraska Kearney and Missouri Western. Central Missouri was picked fourth and Washburn finished fifth in the poll, receiving one first place vote.

Rounding out the top-half of the conference poll was Northwest Missouri State. The Bearcats were followed by Lindenwood and Emporia State. Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern each finished with 30 points and tied for ninth place. Fort Hays State and Southwest Baptist rounded out the poll.

The Griffons will begin the 2018 season against Cedarville University at the UIS Capitol Classic on Friday, Aug. 24 in Springfield, Illinois.

2018 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
Nebraska Kearney (8) – 108
Missouri Western (2) – 94
Central Oklahoma – 92
Central Missouri – 85
Washburn (1) – 72
Northwest Missouri – 67
Lindenwood – 60
Emporia State – 50
Pittsburg State – 30
Missouri Southern – 30
Fort Hays State – 27
Southwest Baptist – 11

— MWSU Athletics —

St. Joseph Mustangs set attendance record in 2018

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ST. JOSEPH, MO.​ — The St. Joseph Mustangs 10th Anniversary Season produced a record breaking attendance mark, with 2,448 people on average. This season marks the largest average attendance in the organization’s ten seasons, breaking the 2015 mark of 2,356.

The Mustangs saw an increase of nearly 200 fans per game compared to 2017. This increase was enough to move the team up one spot to eighth among 2018 Summer Collegiate teams, according to BaseballDigest.com. This is the 6th consecutive season St. Joseph has finished in the Top 10 nationally.

Mustangs General Manager Ky Turner says this was a special season for the team.

“There’s nothing better than spending time with friends and family at the ballpark. Over the course of ten years, our Mustangs family has grown so much. Our staff, our players, our coaches- we are all so grateful for the lifelong relationships and memories we have been able to create with each and every guest who walks through the front gates of the stadium,” said Turner. “This is one of the best atmospheres in the country for summer collegiate baseball. We’ve already got Opening Day 2019 circled on our calendars, with a few surprises already planned.”

The Mustangs also found themselves ranked within the Top 10 for Total Attendance in ninth place with 63,599.

— Mustangs Press Release —

Royals’ rally comes up short in 6-5 loss to Toronto

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Curtis Granderson hit a grand slam, Marco Estrada pitched effectively into the seventh inning and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Kansas City Royals 6-5 on Wednesday night.

Jorge Lopez (0-2), who was making his Royals debut after being acquired July 27 from Milwaukee as part of the Mike Moustakas trade, threw a 2-0 fastball that Granderson drove over the Royals’ right-field bullpen gate with two outs in the fourth inning.

It was Granderson’s 10th career grand slam and his second this year, both against the Royals. The first was April 18 in Toronto. He has 19 home runs and 50 RBI in 106 games against Kansas City.

Royals pitchers have yielded a major league-leading 10 grand slams.

Kevin Pillar singled home Teoscar Hernandez with the first run of the fourth and contributed an RBI single in the second for the Blue Jays, who have won three of four.

Lopez was removed after 4 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on eight hits, two walks and a hit batter.

Estrada (6-9) gave up four runs on six hits over 6 2/3 innings to pick up his first career victory at Kauffman Stadium.

Salvador Perez homered twice in the loss, his fifth career multi-homer game.

Perez connected in the first with Whit Merrifield aboard and led off the fourth with his 21st home run. Perez has hit at least 20 homers in four consecutive seasons, joining .John Mayberry, Steve Balboni, Bo Jackson and Mike Sweeney among the Royals to accomplish that feat.

Brett Phillips tripled in the seventh and scored on Alcides Escobar’s two-out single for the other run off Estrada.

Ken Giles allowed a pinch-hit homer to Ryan O’Hearn but still earned his 15th save in as many chances and his third with the Blue Jays.

Rain delayed the start of the game by 15 minutes.

HE’S THAT FAST

Adalberto Mondesi stole three bases, including one when he was picked off first base, on Tuesday. Royals manager Ned Yost compared Mondesi’s acceleration to former Kansas City speedsters Jarrod Dyson and Terrance Gore. “It’s up there,” Yost said. “It’s very easy, quick, hard speed. It’s just, boom, he’s gone. It’s like the Road Runner. You expect a little pillow of dust following him. He’s that fast.”

ROSTER MOVES

Blue Jays: LHP Tim Mayza was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo. LHP Thomas Pannone was optioned to the Bisons.

Royals: RHP Blaine Boyer, who yielded a two-run eighth inning homer on Tuesday in a 6-5 loss to Toronto, was released. Boyer had a 12.05 ERA in 21 relief appearances. … The Royals sent Gore to the Cubs for cash considerations. In parts of four seasons with Kansas City, Gore was primarily used as a pinch runner, stealing 21 of 25 bases and scoring 24 runs, but went 0-for-11 in 49 games.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: RHP Aaron Sanchez (bruised right index finger) made a rehab start for Class-A Dunedin in the Class A Florida State League, going 3 2/3 innings and allowing one run on two hits, while walking four and striking out three. He threw 35 strikes in 74 pitches.

Royals: OF Brian Goodwin (left groin strain) will begin a rehab assignment Thursday with Triple-A Omaha.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays: RHP Sam Gaviglio (2-5, 4.86 ERA), who was with the Royals last September and traded to Toronto in spring training, will start the series finale.

Royals: RHP Glenn Sparkman (0-1, 5.06) will make his first career start after eight relief appearances.

— Associated Press —

St. Louis defeats Washington for eighth consecutive win

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ST. LOUIS (AP) — Marcell Ozuna homered and Austin Gomber tossed six shutout innings to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 4-2 win over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night.

St. Louis has won a season-high eight straight. The Cardinals, who are 18-9 since the All-Star break, captured their sixth successive series after taking the first three of the four-game set.

Daniel Murphy homered in the ninth for Washington, which has lost four in a row and seven of nine to fall below .500 and nine games behind the first-place Atlanta Braves in the NL East. The current skid began with a loss to the Cubs on a two-out, walk-off grand slam.

Ozuna homered in the second inning, his 14th of the season and his first since July 30.

Gomber (3-0), in his fourth start of the year, gave up three hits, struck out six and walked four.

Bud Norris pitched the ninth to pick up his 23rd save in 27 opportunities.

Harrison Bader and Yadier Molina added run-scoring hits for St. Louis, which improved to 19-9 since Mike Matheny was fired and replaced by interim manager Mike Shildt.

St. Louis infielder Matt Carpenter extended his on-base streak to 33 games with a walk in the fifth. It’s the longest current streak in the majors. Carpenter left the game in the seventh after he was hit on the hand by a pitch from Matt Grace, but X-rays were negative.

Jeremy Hellickson (5-3) left in the fifth inning after colliding with Bader on a play at the plate following a wild pitch. Hellickson gave up three runs, two earned, on three hits in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out two and walked two.

Bader, who had three hits, also made a diving catch of a liner off the bat of Bryce Harper in the fourth.

The Cardinals, who have an NL-best 12-2 mark in August, remain one game behind Philadelphia for the second wild card spot. They are four games behind Chicago in the NL Central.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Nationals: RHP Stephen Strasburg threw a simulated game on Wednesday. He threw around 70 pitches and could be ready to return early next week, manager Dave Martinez said.

Cardinals: LHP Brett Cecil was activated from the 10-day disabled list on Wednesday. Cecil, who had been sidelined with inflammation in his right foot, pitched four scoreless innings in four appearances with Triple-A Memphis. LHP Tyler Webb was optioned to Memphis.

UP NEXT

RHP Tanner Roark (7-12, 4.12) will face RHP Luke Weaver (6-10, 4.66) in the finale of the four game series on Thursday. Roark has won his last four decision, Weaver is 1-4 with a 5.13 ERA in nine career games against NL East foes.

— Associated Press —

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 —

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