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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Mizzou Athletics —

Northwest Missouri State ranked fifth in preseason AFCA top 25 poll

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

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

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

*– Ranking in final AFCA Division II Poll of 2017

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

— AFCA Press Release —

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

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

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

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

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

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

— K-State Athletics —

MWSU grad Brice Garnett finishes 2-under at PGA Championship

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WEBB EJECTED

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

CARPENTER STREAK CONTINUES

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

HERRERA AT SECOND

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

ROSTER MOVES

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

TRAINER’S ROOM

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

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

UP NEXT

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

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

— Associated Press —

Former Griffon Brice Garnett shoots 2-under on day two of PGA Championship

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Click here to listen to Brice Garnett after round two of the PGA

Former Missouri Western All-American golfer Brice Garnett is on the verge of making his first cut at a major championship on the PGA Tour.

Garnett shot a 2-under par 68 on Friday at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis and he’s 1-under par for the tournament. The Gallatin, Missouri native is currently tied for 49th as play was suspended on day two of the championship Friday and will be completed Saturday morning. The projected cut line is even par as the top 70, plus ties, will play in rounds three and four.

This is Garnett’s third major championship as he’s played in the U.S. Open twice, but he failed to make the cut in each of those tournaments.

Garnett, who graduated from Missouri Western in 2006 and was a three-time All-American, is having the best year of his professional career. He’s playing in his 26th event of the season and he has two top-five finishes, including his first PGA Tour win. Garnett shot 18-under par to win the inaugural Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship in wire-to-wire fashion earlier this year.

Gary Woodland has the clubhouse lead at Bellerive as he’s at 10-under par, while Kevin Kisner is second at 9-under.

Play will resume at 7:00 a.m. Saturday to finish the second round of the PGA Championship and then round three will get underway approximately 30 minutes after that is complete.

Royals get shutout by Cardinals 7-0 in series opener

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Matt Carpenter homered for the sixth time in seven games, Austin Gomber pitched five scoreless innings and the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Kansas City Royals 7-0 Friday night.

Carpenter tops the National League with 32 home runs, a .600 slugging percentage and 65 extra-base hits.

Carpenter sent a fastball from Burch Smith into the right-field fountains for a two-out , two-run drive. He extended his career high for homers as the Cardinals scored five times in the second.

Paul DeJong led off the inning with his 11th home run. Bader and Jose Martinez, who had three hits, contributed RBI singles to set up Carpenter.

Harrison Bader homered in the sixth and Martinez had an RBI double in the seventh.

Gomber (2-0) allowed four hits, walked one, hit a batter and struck out three in his third major league start.

Daniel Poncedeleon allowed two hits over three innings to notch his first big league save.

Gomber worked out of a bases-loaded jam in third, which Adalberto Mondesi led off with a triple. After retiring the next two batters, Gomber walked Rosell Herrera and hit Salvador Perez with a pitch. Hunter Dozier flied out to end the inning.

Smith (1-4) gave up five runs on six hits, a walk and a hit batter in 1 2/3 innings. In six starts, Smith has a 9.67 ERA, allowing 24 earned runs in 22 1/3 innings.

The Royals stranded 11 runners and went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position. The Royals lost for the seventh time in eight games.

NO GORDON

Royals LF Alex Gordon, who hit .366 with six multihit games in the past 11 games he had started, was not in the lineup. Manager Ned Yost said he wanted to give Gordon two straight days off with the club idle Thursday.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: RF Yairo Munoz left in the sixth inning with a sprained right wrist after swinging at a pitch. Adolis Garcia replaced Munoz and singled in the eighth for his first big league hit. … OF Tyler O’Neill (right groin inflammation) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis. … RHP John Brebbia (right forearm tightness) was placed on the disabled list retroactive to Monday. … RHP Adam Wainwright (right elbow inflammation) threw batting practice at the club’s complex in Jupiter, Florida. “All reports of that were favorable,” Cards interim manager Mike Shildt said. “We’ll see how he recovers.” He said the team is evaluating whether Wainwright throws another batting practice or begins a minor league rehab assignment.

Royals: OF Brian Gordon (left groin strain) ran the bases as his final hurdle before coming off the disabled list. He said he is at about 80 percent.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: Rookie RHP Jack Flaherty is 5-6 with a 3.27 ERA in 18 starts.

Royals: LHP Danny Duffy will be facing the Cardinals for the first time since June 27, 2016.

— Associated Press —

Chiefs drop preseason opener to Houston 17-10

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes finished 5 of 7 for 33 yards on two drives in the Kansas City Chiefs’ 17-10 loss to the Houston Texans in the preseason opener for both teams on Thursday night.

Houston’s Deshaun Watson, who’s coming back from a torn ACL, was used sparingly. He threw only one pass — a 4-yard completion to wide receiver Bruce Ellington — during a five-play drive to midfield that featured four handoffs to running back Lamar Miller.

Mahomes at No. 10 and Watson at No. 12 were taken in the first round of the 2017 draft to be franchise quarterbacks.

Brandon Weeden took over for Houston after the game’s opening drive and led back-to-back touchdown drives before joining Watson on the sideline for the remainder of the game.

Mahomes took over the starting job when Alex Smith was traded to Washington during the offseason. He also was sacked once and didn’t throw a touchdown or interception.

Mahomes didn’t complete a pass longer than 14 yards and never targeted Sammy Watkins, who signed a three-year, $48 million deal with the Chiefs in the offseason.

Weeden led Houston on a 12-play 68-yard drive during his first series, which was capped by a 6-yard touchdown to rookie tight end Jordan Akins.

Weeden hooked up with Akins for a 14-yard touchdown on the opening drive of the second quarter, finishing 9 of 11 for 97 yards with two touchdowns.

Mahomes’ backup, Chad Henne, was responsible for the lone Chiefs touchdown — a 24-yard strike over the top to Demarcus Robinson late in the second quarter.

Robinson finished with game highs of three catches and 48 yards, while Henne overcame a rough start, which included an interception on a tipped pass, to finish 8 of 14 for 91 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Several notable players were absent for both teams.

Chiefs safety Eric Berry (Achilles’ heel), who was injured in last year’s regular-season opener, didn’t dress for the game. Backup Eric Murray got the start alongside rookie safety Armani Watts, who replaced injured starter Daniel Sorenson (knee).

Kansas City also was without both starting inside linebackers — Anthony Hitchens, a free-agent acquisition from the Cowboys, and Reggie Ragland. Second-year pro Ukeme Eligwe and veteran Terrance Smith played with the starters.

Most of the Texans’ absences also were on defense.

Linebacker Whitney Mercilus (soft tissue injury) didn’t make the trip and linebacker Benardrick McKinney didn’t play.

Defensive end J.J. Watt, who is returning from a broken leg suffered last October in the regular season against the Chiefs, and linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (knee) didn’t play either.

Offseason addition Tyrann Mathieu and Johnathan Joseph also sat out for Houston, while starting wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller took the night off as well.

NATIONAL ANTHEM

There were no protests at Arrowhead Stadium from players on either team — though a few Chiefs, in particular, stood well off the sideline near the benches — during the national anthem. It didn’t appear that any players went to the locker room for the anthem.

INJURIES

Texans LB Kennan Gilchrist did not return after absorbing a helmet-to-helmet blow late in the fourth quarter from Chiefs running back Darrel Williams.

The play could have been called a penalty under new NFL rules regarding players lowering their heads and leading with the crown of the helmet, but no flag was thrown.

NEXT UP

The Chiefs (0-1) return to action Friday, Aug. 17, at the Atlanta Falcons.

The Texans (1-0) host the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday, Aug. 18.

— Associated Press —

Fillmyer gets first big league win as Royals top Cubs 9-0

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Heath Fillmyer allowed three singles over seven innings for his first major league win, Adalberto Mondesi and Drew Butera each drove in three, and the Kansas City Royals beat the Chicago Cubs 9-0 Wednesday night.

Anthony Rizzo drilled Fillmyer (1-1) with a line drive on the left foot on his third pitch, but Fillmyer stuck around and didn’t allow another hit until David Bote and Tommy La Stella singled with one out in the seventh inning.

Mondesi belted a 2-0 pitch from Jose Quintana for a three-run homer in the seventh. It was Mondesi’s fourth home run and his first since July 15, a span of 42 at-bats.

Butera hit a two-run, two-out double with the bases loaded in the second inning and added a sacrifice fly during a four-run eighth.

Jorge Bonifacio, who entered hitting .103 in his past 16 games, Brett Phillips and Hunter Dozier each had two hits and a walk and combined to score seven runs. Bonifacio had an RBI double in the eighth, while Phillips contributed an RBI triple.

Quintana (10-8) dropped to 3-10 in 25 starts against the Royals. He was removed after Mondesi’s homer, giving up five runs on six hits and two walks.

The Royals snapped a six-game losing streak.

DARVISH UPDATE

Cubs RHP Yu Darvish threw a 33-pitch bullpen with his velocity reaching 93 mph.

“He looked loose and free to me,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “I thought it was a really good day, no negatives.”

Darvish, who the Cubs signed to a six-year $126 million contract in February, has missed 69 games. He last pitched on May 20. Maddon said he anticipates Darvish will throw one more bullpen, and if he has no setback, would go on a minor league rehab assignment.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cubs: IF-OF Ben Zobrist (sore hip) was out of the lineup after leaving Tuesday’s game in fifth inning. “Just a little bit sore, just precautionary,” Zobrist. “Let’s rest it and get back to it. It should be no problem at all Friday.”

Royals: RHP Ian Kennedy (left oblique strain) said he felt no discomfort the day after throwing a 25-pitch bullpen. He is scheduled to throw a 30-35 pitch bullpen Friday while mixing in more offspeed pitches.

UP NEXT

Cubs: After a day off, RHP Kyle Hendricks will start Friday against the Nationals at Wrigley Field.

Royals: Continue interleague play with a series beginning Friday against St. Louis. RHP Burch Smith will start the opener.

— Associated Press —

Carpenter hits 31st homer to help Cardinals beat Marlins

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MIAMI (AP) — Matt Carpenter hit a tiebreaking homer for the second consecutive night, and the St. Louis Cardinals won their fourth series in a row Wednesday by beating Miami 7-1.

Carpenter put St. Louis ahead with a home run leading off the sixth inning, his NL-leading 31st. His eighth-inning homer Tuesday helped St. Louis beat Miami 3-2, and he has homered in five of the past six games.

John Gant (4-4) pitched six innings and allowed one run, which scored in part because of a defensive lapse. He and three relievers combined to retire 21 batters in a row.

The Cardinals’ Yadier Molina hit his 15th homer in the first and doubled home two runs in the ninth. Marcell Ozuna doubled home a run in the sixth and went 6 for 11 in the series against his former team.

Trevor Richards (3-7) allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings for the last-place Marlins, who have lost eight of their past nine games.

The Cardinals improved to 13-9 under interim manager Mike Shildt.

St. Louis missed a chance to turn a double play in the second inning, and that led to a run that came home on Miguel Rojas’ single. The Marlins totaled three hits.

STILL STRUGGLING

Marlins reliever Kyle Barraclough, who lost his closer’s job this week, gave up a two-run double to Paul DeJong in the eighth. DeJong also made a leaping catch at shortstop to rob Magneuris Sierra of a hit.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: Pinch runner Harrison Bader was shaken up on a headfirst slide in the eighth inning, but stayed in the game and scored.

Marlins: Rookie CF Lewis Brinson (right hip) is expected to begin taking live batting practice next week, and the Marlins hope he can return for another 100 at-bats or so before the end of the season, manager Don Mattingly said.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: Following a day off, the Cardinals open a three-game series at Kansas City, with LHP Austin Gomber (1-0, 4.10 ERA) scheduled to pitch Friday.

Marlins: Miami opens a three-game series at home Friday against the Mets, with RHP Jose Urena (3-11, 4.66) scheduled to start the series opener.

— Associated Press —

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