The St. Joseph Mustangs fell on the road Friday night as they lost at Jefferson City 5-4.
St. Joe’s collegiate summer baseball team drops to 17-16 this season and they’re 14-15 in the MINK League.
Statistics were not available Friday night as the Mustangs are now 2-3 against the Renegades this season.
The two teams will wrap up their season series Saturday night as they will play in St. Joseph. The first pitch is at 7:00 p.m. inside Phil Welch Stadium.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chris Sale struck out 12 in six innings, Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez and Xander Bogaerts homered, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 10-5 on Friday night.
Sale’s 16-inning scoreless streak was snapped by Alcides Escobar’s two-out RBI single in the second, but that was it for the skidding Royals against the ace left-hander. Sale (9-4) has allowed one run and 10 hits over 20 innings in his past three starts.
Boston stretched its win streak to four with its ninth victory in 11 games overall. It leads the majors with 60 victories and a .674 winning percentage.
The Red Sox jumped on Jason Hammel (2-11) for eight runs in the first two innings.
Betts drove Hammel’s third pitch over the center-field fence for his 100th career homer. It was his fourth leadoff drive this season.
Brock Holt added a two-run single as Boston batted around in a four-run first.
Martinez and Bogaerts each hit a two-run shot in the second. It was Martinez’s major league-leading 27th homer, and Bogaerts improved to 6 for 11 with two homers and seven RBI versus Hammel.
Hammel was pulled after the second. The veteran right-hander has surrendered 23 runs, 21 earned, and 28 hits in 12 innings in his past three starts. He leads the AL in losses, and his ERA is up to 6.16.
Mike Moustakas hit a two-run homer in the eighth for Kansas City, which has dropped seven straight and 19 of 22. Burch Smith pitched four scoreless innings in relief of Hammel.
The Royals are 37 games below .500 for the first time since finishing the 2006 season with a 62-100 record. Since June 1, they have been outscored 165-72 while losing 26 of 31.
RARE TRIPLE
Royals slugger Lucas Duda tripled in the seventh inning. It was his first three-base hit since July 17, 2011.
MAKING MOVED
The Royals claimed left-hander Enny Romero off waivers from the Pirates. Rookie right-hander Trevor Oaks was optioned to Triple-A Omaha. The Royals also transferred right-hander Blaine Boyer (lower back strain) from the 10-day disabled list to the 60-day.
FUTURE STARS
Royals prospect Seuly Matias was named to the All-Star Futures Game on July 15 in Washington. The 19-year-old outfielder has 24 home runs with Class A Lexington. The Red Sox representative is right-hander Bryan Mata, who at 19 is the youngest pitcher in the Class A Carolina League, where he is 5-2 with a 3.14 ERA.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Red Sox: INF Dustin Pedroia (left knee inflammation) returned to Boston to be evaluated by the medical staff. “For them to see firsthand how he was reacting to certain drills, certain movements, he felt that it was productive,” manager Alex Cora said. … LHP Drew Pomeranz (biceps tendinitis) will make a rehab start Saturday with Triple-A Pawtucket. … RHP Stephen Wright (left knee inflammation) has been slowed in his rehab and likely won’t be activated before the All-Star break. … 1B Mitch Moreland (back spasms) was not in the lineup again. He has not played since one at-bat Tuesday, but Cora said he likely would start Saturday.
Royals: INF Cheslor Cuthbert (lower back strain) is 4 for 15 with one home run in his first five games on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha.
UP NEXT
Red Sox: LHP David Price starts Saturday for the first time since being removed after allowing eight runs in 3 1/3 innings Sunday against the Yankees.
Royals: RHP Brad Keller gets the ball for Kansas City. He pitched a six-hitter at Seattle in his previous start, but lost 1-0.
— Associated Press —
The St. Joseph Mustangs earned a road win at Jefferson City Thursday night 11-10. St. Joe’s collegiate summer baseball team snaps its four-game MINK League losing streak as they’re now 17-15 this season and 14-14 in league play.
No statistics were made available Thursday as the Mustangs are now 2-2 against the Renegades this season. Jeff City falls to 17-14 and 13-14 in the MINK League.
St. Joseph has won both games in Jefferson City this season and they’ll go for the season sweep Friday. The Mustangs and Renegades meet again at 7:00 p.m. Friday at Vivion Field in the capital city.
LAWRENCE – University of Kansas Chancellor Douglas A. Girod today named Jeff Long as the university’s new director of athletics.
Long brings more than two decades of experience in athletic administration at the Division I level, most recently at the University of Arkansas, where he led a program comprising 19 sports and 460 student-athletes from 2008 through 2017. During that time, he transformed Arkansas’ athletics department into one of the most successful in the country and established himself as a national leader within intercollegiate athletics.
Long will be officially introduced at a news conference Wednesday, July 11, in Lawrence at a time and location to be determined. He will start his role Aug. 1.
“Jeff Long has tremendous leadership and administrative experience in major college athletics, and he is a terrific fit for Kansas Athletics as we work to ensure our student-athletes succeed on the field and in the classroom,” Girod said. “Those who know him describe him as a man of character who cares deeply about higher education and the student-athletes he serves. For all these reasons, we are thrilled to welcome him to the University of Kansas.”
During Long’s tenure, Arkansas captured 34 conference championships and advanced to 139 postseason competitions, including the school’s first Bowl Championship Series appearance in football and national titles at the 2013 NCAA Men’s Indoor and 2015 NCAA Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championships and the 2016 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. In 2016-17, Arkansas finished No. 20 in the Learfield Directors’ Cup, which measures universities’ success across all sports, marking the university’s eighth top-25 finish in the previous 10 years. Long also launched a $160 million renovation to Razorback Stadium. In the classroom, the Razorbacks posted a school record student-athlete GPA and exceeded the national APR multiyear rate in all 19 sports, including posting its highest program average ever.
Additionally, Long served as the chairman of the inaugural College Football Playoff selection committee for 2014 and 2015 and remained a member of the committee through 2017.
Prior to leading Arkansas, Long served as athletics director at the University of Pittsburgh. Additionally, he has held administrative roles at the University of Oklahoma, University of Michigan, Virginia Tech University, Eastern Kentucky University and Rice University. He held coaching staff positions at Duke University, the University of Michigan and North Carolina State University. In total, he has been an athletic director and administrator in five of the six Bowl Championship Series conferences — the Big 12, Big Ten, Big East, Atlantic Coast and SEC.
“My family and I are thrilled to join Chancellor Girod’s leadership team at the University of Kansas,” Long said. “It was clear from the moment I met with the chancellor and his search committee members, they have a deep love for the university and understand and appreciate the positive role intercollegiate athletics plays in the university community. Through our conversations, it became evident we share a common belief that the student-athlete experience prepares young people for the challenges they will face throughout life. I am excited to work with the student-athletes, coaches, staff, the community of Lawrence and the incredible fan base to build on past success and create a shared vision for the future of Kansas Athletics.”
Long comes to KU after a seven-week search process headed by Girod and KU alumnus Drue Jennings, who served as KU’s interim director of athletics in 2003.
“We are thrilled to have someone of Jeff’s caliber joining the University of Kansas,” Jennings said. “Jeff has a record of integrity, experience in hiring coaches, ties with other Bowl Championship Series schools, effective fundraising and a willingness to lead on national issues affecting college athletics. We can be proud that he’s joining us at KU, and we can be confident that Kansas Athletics is in good hands under his leadership.”
Long’s contract with Kansas Athletics will pay him $1.5 million per year for five years. Of that amount, $1.3 million is paid by private funds from Kansas Athletics Inc., with the remaining $200,000 paid by the university.
An Ohio native, Long and his wife, Fanny, have two daughters, Stephanie and Christina.
The St. Joseph Mustangs lost their annual 4th of July showdown with Sedalia Wednesday night inside Phil Welch Stadium 6-2.
St. Joe’s collegiate summer baseball team drops to 16-15 and they’re now under .500 in the MINK League at 13-14. The Mustangs are now in third place in the North Division, 6.5 games back of Sedalia.
The Bombers took a 3-0 lead in the third inning before St. Joseph scored single runs in the third and sixth innings to pull within one run. Sedalia put the game away with a three-run eighth as they’re now 3-1 against the Mustangs this season.
Matt Mulhearn suffered the loss for St. Joe as he allowed three runs and five hits in six innings of work.
Jordan Maxson led the way offensively as he had three of the Mustangs’ seven hits. Joshua Lincoln and Malik Williams each scored a run, while Terrence Spurlin had one RBI.
The Mustangs are back on the road Thursday as they travel to Jefferson City to take on the Renegades at 7:00 p.m.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Trevor Bauer pitched effectively into the eighth inning and the Cleveland Indians beat the skidding Kansas City Royals 3-2 on Wednesday night for a three-game sweep.
Michael Brantley had an early RBI double and the Indians scored all their runs in the first three innings on only one hit. Bauer struck out eight and walked one over 7 2/3 innings.
The plummeting Royals have lost six straight and 18 of 21. They have scored four or fewer runs in 25 of their past 26 games and are barely ahead of Baltimore for the worst record in the majors.
After winning on grand slams by Francisco Lindor and Yan Gomes the previous two nights, the Indians managed only four hits — two in the ninth inning.
Bauer (8-6) has struck out eight or more in eight consecutive starts. He allowed seven hits, six of them singles, and is 3-1 in his past four starts.
Cody Allen worked the ninth to earn up his 18th save in 19 chances.
Lindor walked to start the game, stole second and scored on Brantley’s double. Brantley went to third on Jose Ramirez’s flyout and scored on Edwin Encarnacion’s sacrifice fly.
The Indians manufactured a run without a hit in the second. Jason Kipnis and Tyler Naquin opened the inning with walks. Roberto Perez advanced both with a sacrifice bunt, and Greg Allen delivered a sacrifice fly.
Kansas City used a double steal to create a run in the second. Alex Gordon, who was hit by a pitch, and Hunter Dozier, who reached on an infield single, were at the corners with two outs. They pulled off a successful double steal with Gordon scoring. It was Dozier’s first career steal.
The last Royals player to steal home was Alex Rios on July 20, 2015, against Pittsburgh, also as part of a double steal.
Alcides Escobar singled in the Kansas City fifth and advanced to third on Drew Butera’s one-out single. Escobar scored on Whit Merrifield’s sacrifice fly.
Royals starter Trevor Oaks (0-2), recalled from Triple-A Omaha to take Ian Kennedy’s spot in the rotation, was removed after four innings and 73 pitches. He allowed three runs on two hits and four walks.
Oaks had a 0.62 ERA in his last seven Triple-A starts. Kennedy went on the disabled list with a strained left oblique.
FIRST START AT THIRD
Dozier made his first big league start at third base. Dozier played 401 games at third, starting 281, in the Royals’ minor league system. He had started 35 games at first base, two in right field and two as the DH this season.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Indians: OF Brandon Guyer (bruised left knee) did not play after fouling a pitch off his leg in the ninth inning Tuesday. X-rays were negative. “He’s got a bruise from the bone to the kneecap above his shin,” manager Terry Francona said. . LHP Andrew Miller (right knee inflammation) is scheduled to throw a bullpen Thursday. . LHP Tyler Olson (shoulder strain) threw 17 pitches for Triple-A Columbus on a rehab assignment. He retired two batters, walked one, struck out one and did not allow a hit.
Royals: 3B Mike Moustakas (back spasms) was held out of the lineup for the second straight game. “It’s not serious at all,” manager Ned Yost said. “He came in today and still felt it a little bit. With an off day tomorrow, there’s no sense in pushing it.” . OF Bubba Starling (oblique strain) was sent to the rookie-level Arizona League to begin a rehab assignment. Starling, a 2011 first-round draft pick, has not played since May 10 with Triple-A Omaha.
UP NEXT
Indians: Open a homestand Friday against the Athletics with RHP Carlos Carrasco (8-5, 4.24 ERA) starting. Oakland will counter with RHP Paul Blackburn (2-2, 6.46).
Royals: RHP Jason Hammel (2-10, 5.56) starts Friday night against the Red Sox at Kauffman Stadium. LHP Chris Sale (8-4, 2.41) gets the ball for Oakland.
— Associated Press —
The St. Joseph Mustangs snapped their three-game losing streak with a 6-4 win over the Ban Johnson League All-Stars Tuesday night inside Phil Welch Stadium.
St. Joe’s collegiate summer baseball team is now 16-14 this season and they also made history Tuesday.
Regan Nash, a graduate of North Platte High School and a current Missouri softball player, became the first woman to ever play for the Mustangs. She came on in the fourth inning as she played in left field and had one at bat. Nash went 0-for-1 as she struck out swinging.
St. Joseph rallied from a 2-0 deficit and scored five unanswered runs to take the lead and they never gave it back.
Patrick Dillon had two hits and two RBI, while Alex Phillips and Terrence Spurlin added two hits each.
Adam Thies earned the win for the Mutangs as he allowed two earned runs and six hits in six innings of work.
St. Joe is back at home Wednesday for their annual 4th of July meeting with Sedalia at 7:00 p.m. inside Phil Welch Stadium.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Yan Gomes hit a grand slam in the sixth inning and the Cleveland Indians rallied to beat the Kansas City Royals 6-4 on Tuesday night.
The Indians lead the American League with eight grand slams and it was their second in two nights. Francisco Lindor hit a grand slam Monday.
Edwin Encarnacion led off the sixth with a walk and Brandon Guyer was hit by Danny Duffy’s pitch. Yonder Alonso’s infield single loaded the bases before Gomes drove Duffy’s 1-0 pitch into the left-field bullpen.
Gomes is 10 for 26 (.385) with three home runs and eight RBI off Duffy.
Shane Bieber (4-0) allowed all the Kansas City runs in the first two innings, and remains undefeated in his first five big league starts.
Chad Allen got the final four outs for his 17th save in 18 chances. He stranded two runners in the ninth after a single and a walk.
Duffy (4-8) yielded six runs on eight hits, two walks and a hit batter. He is 0-3 against the Indians this season and has lost eight in a row against them dating to May 6, 2015.
It took Duffy 25 pitches to record an out with Lindor, Michael Brantley and Jose Ramirez opening the game with singles. Ramirez’s single deflected off Duffy’s glove to score Lindor. Alfonso’s fly to center scored Brantley with the second run.
Lucas Duda homered with Rosell Herrera, who had three hits, on board to tie it in the bottom of the first.
The Royals forged ahead 4-2 in the second. Whit Merrifield singled home Adalberto Mondesi and scored on Herrera’s two-out double.
The Royals lost for the 24th time in 29 games. They did manage 11 hits, ending a club record of 24 straight games without getting double-figure hits.
ROSTER MOVES
Indians: Recalled OF Greg Allen from Triple-A Columbus, where he was hitting .487 in a nine-game hitting streak at the time of the promotion. Allen hit .326 overall in 35 games with the Clippers. He hit .204 in 34 games earlier this season with Cleveland. “It definitely helps to have gone through it before,” Allen said. “That just comes with experience.”
DRAFT SIGNINGS
Indians: They signed their first two draft picks, Canadian high school C Noah Naylor and Cumming, Georgia high school RHP Ethan Hankins. Naylor, the 29th overall pick, signed for $2,578,138, while Hankins, the 35th overall pick, signed for $2,246,022.
Royals: RHP Brady Singer, the 18th overall pick, signed for $4.25 million. He was the college player of the year, going 12-3 with a 2.55 ERA as a Florida junior.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Indians: OF Lonnie Chisenhall (strained left calf) was placed on the disabled list. This is the second straight year he has been set back by calf injuries. He missed 50 games earlier this season with a left calf injury. He was out most of the second half of last year with a right calf injury.
Royals: RHP Ian Kennedy (strained left oblique) was placed on the disabled list retroactive to June 30th. . 3B Mike Moustakas (lower back spasms) was a late scratch.
UP NEXT
Indians: RHP Trevor Bauer is 0-1 with a 3.55 ERA in two starts this season against the Royals.
Royals: Kennedy was penciled in as the probable starter before going on the DL. They have not announced a replacement.
— Associated Press —
The Kansas City Royals announced Friday that they have agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Brady Singer, the club’s first-round selection (18th overall) in the 2018 First-Year Player Draft. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Singer, 21, was named the 2018 Dick Howser Trophy recipient (top player in college baseball) as well as Baseball America College Player of the Year this season, going 12-3 with a 2.55 ERA (32 ER in 113.0 IP) with 114 strikeouts during his junior season at the University of Florida.
The righty was also one of four finalists for the Golden Spikes Award and was named Southeastern Conference (SEC) Pitcher of the Year. He recorded 7.0 innings or more in 11 of his 17 starts, including his first career shutout on May 4 at Texas A&M.
Singer completed his college career with a 23-10 record, a 3.22 ERA (101 ER in 282.2 IP) and 281 strikeouts. He was also named All-SEC Second Team, College World Series All-Tournament Team and SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2017, helping the Gators win their first National Championship in baseball.
— Royals Press Release —
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball rounded out its 2018-19 coaching staff Tuesday, as head coach Robin Pingeton announced the addition of Chris Bracey as assistant coach. Bracey, the brother of current assistant coach Ashleen Bracey, spent eight seasons playing professional basketball in Europe before returning to his hometown of Chicago to coach high school basketball for the past five years.
“We are extremely excited about Chris’ decision to join our staff,” said Pingeton. “We wanted the perfect fit and I believe we are getting just that. Chris has a great mind for the game and has had great success as a player and coach. I wanted to bring in someone that was truly passionate about the game, was a tireless worker and someone who aligned with our values as a program. In addition, I am very confident that Chris is going to be a great recruiter and skill development coach. He will be a fantastic addition to our program.”
“The game of basketball has always been my passion,” said Bracey. “Joining the Mizzou Women’s Basketball program provides me with a tremendous opportunity to teach life lessons through basketball, and basketball through life lessons. I am so excited to become part of the culture that Coach Pingeton and her staff have created in Columbia. The Tiger fans are extremely passionate, and the program is filled with exceptional people who share a common set of goals, values, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. Go Tigers!”
Bracey returned to stateside in 2012 and began coaching high school basketball in Chicago, serving as the Boy’s Varsity Head Coach at Chicago International Charter School Larry Hawkins Campus (2012-13), Chicago International Charter School Longwood Campus (2013-14) and Oak Park and River Forest High School (2014-18). At his last stop, Bracey led his alma mater to a top-15 ranking and IHSA Regional Championship in 2016-17. This past season, Bracey led the Huskies to a top-10 ranking and 12-0 mark in West Suburban Conference play, the first time in school history Oak Park and River Forest recorded an undefeated conference record.
Prior to entering the coaching ranks, Bracey spent eight seasons playing professional basketball in Europe, with stops in Ireland, Switzerland, France, Greece and Cyprus. In Ireland, Bracey led his team, Tralee, to the Irish National Championship while being named the Bosman Player of the Year in 2004, and played as a member of the Irish National Team for four seasons from 2004-08. In Switzerland, Bracey earned Player of the Year honors once again and was selected to the First-Team All-Swiss Team. Bracey also experienced many successful seasons in France with ALM Everux and SPO Rouen, in Greece with Egaleo and Pagrati and in Cyprus with Achilleas Kaimakliou.
Before his stint overseas, Bracey played collegiately at San Jose City College (2000-01) and West Texas A&M (2001-03). At San Jose, Bracey led his squad to a 10-0 season in conference play, a No. 5 ranking among junior college schools in California and a runner-up finish in the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA). At West Texas A&M, Bracey led the Buffs to a Lone Star Conference Tournament Championship in 2002-03 and was selected to the LSC All-Conference team.
Bracey graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from West Texas A&M University and Master of Arts in Teaching from National Louis University. He and his wife, Julie, have two daughters, Niyah and Ava, and a son, Nathan.
— Mizzou Athletics —
