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Royals lose sixth straight as Houston completes three-game sweep

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Houston Astros keep finding ways to win, while the Kansas City Royals keep inventing ways to lose.

Carlos Correa and the Astros won their 11th straight game, finishing off a dominant 10-0 road trip by rallying past the Royals 7-4 Sunday.

The World Series champion Astros swept their swing through Texas, Oakland and Kansas City, outscoring opponents 74-35.

Last season, Houston had an 11-game winning streak end in Kansas City. This time, the Astros trailed 4-3 in the eighth inning before Correa led off with a tying homer. Evan Gattis, who had three hits, then put them ahead during a three-run burst.

“We just have a great team. It’s hard to find any holes on this team. I don’t think there are any,” Correa said.

Correa has three home runs and eight RBI in six games after missing four games with discomfort in his right side. He had a first-inning single and added a sacrifice fly in the ninth.

Gattis hit .366 with five home runs and 19 RBI on the Astros’ trip. He singled home Yuli Gurriel in the eighth, and Marvin Gonzalez added an RBI single in the inning.

“I take confidence in our lineup versus anybody,” Gattis said.

The Royals have lost six straight and 12 of 13. They have dropped 26 of 36 home games.

Brandon Maurer (0-3) took the loss, facing two batters and having both score. Tony Sipp (2-0) picked up the victory. Hector Rondon closed for his fourth save.

Astros right-hander Lance McCullers struck out nine over six innings, allowing two unearned runs.

“I didn’t want to blow it,” McCullers said of the winning streak.

Royals right-hander Brad Keller, a Rule 5 draft pick making his fourth start, gave up three runs in six innings.

“I felt like I did pretty well,” Keller said. “That’s a good-hitting team and they got pop, so to keep them on the ground I’m happy with that.”

Third baseman Alex Bregman’s errant throw home with the bases loaded led to the Royals scoring two unearned runs in the first to tie it at 2. Hunter Dozier hit a two-run homer in the third to give the Royals a 4-2 lead.

Brian McCann’s two-out single in the fourth scored Gattis to reduce the Royals’ lead to one.

ROYALS OUSTER

Royals DH Mike Moustakas and LHP Danny Duffy were ejected by plate umpire John Tumpane. Moustakas was ejected for words said from the dugout after he was out at home while trying to score from second on a single. A video replay upheld the call on the field. Duffy was thumbed in the sixth for his dugout verbiage. It was the Royals’ first ejections this season.

“I saw a gesture over to me. I think that was my warning,” Moustakas said. “I said something after that and that’s when he tossed me. I thought I was safe and I still think I’m safe. I think if he called me safe originally, I don’t think they can overcome that.”

Tumpane has a history with the Royals — he tossed RHP Peter Moylan last July and Moustakas and manager Ned Yost in August in Baltimore.

ATTENDANCE DROP-OFF

After 36 home games, the Royals attendance is down 212,572 from last year. They drew 958,297 for 36 home games in 2017. This year that total is 737,725.

ROSTER MOVES

The Royals recalled INF Adalberto Mondesi, who is the only player to make his big league debut in the World Series, was recalled from Triple-A Omaha. The Royals also summoned OF Rosell Herrera and RHP Wily Peralta from the Storm Chasers. They optioned RHP Scott Barlow and INF Ramon Torres to Omaha and transferred LHP Eric Skoglund to the 60-day disabled list.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: 2B Whit Merrifield left in the second inning after fouling a pitch off his left knee. He has a contusion and is listed as day-to-day. Mondesi replaced him.

UP NEXT

Astros: RHP Gerrit Cole will start on Monday as they return home to face Tampa Bay. Cole is 8-1 with a 2.40 ERA.

Royals: RHP Ian Kennedy, who has won one of his last 27 home starts, will start the opener of a three-game series against the Rangers on Monday. Bartolo Colon will be the Texas probable.

— Associated Press —

Flaherty, Carpenter help Cardinals blank Chicago

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jack Flaherty and four relievers combined on a four-hitter, Matt Carpenter homered and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 5-0 on Sunday night.

Flaherty allowed just two hits while striking out seven in five innings, but he walked three and hit two batters and was pulled after throwing 97 pitches. He escaped a jam in the third inning when he struck out Kris Bryant with the bases loaded to keep the game scoreless.

John Brebbia (1-1) worked around two hits in a scoreless sixth inning to earn his first major league win. Austin Gomber, Jordan Hicks and Bud Norris each pitched a hitless inning to finish the shutout. It ended the Cardinals’ season-high four-game losing streak and prevented the Cubs from getting their first series sweep in St. Louis since Sept. 13-15, 2010.

Harrison Bader, Tommy Pham, and Marcell Ozuna strung together singles to open the sixth inning. Pham’s single extended his hitting streak to a National League-best 11 games to chase Jose Quintana (6-5) from the game.

Bader scored the game’s first run when Yadier Molina grounded into a double play and Jedd Gyorko’s RBI single drove in Pham to make it 2-0.

Quintana was charged with the two runs and four hits in five-plus innings in his 200th career major league game.

Carpenter hit his 10th home run of the season and second of this series in the seventh inning off Brian Duensing to push the lead to 3-0.

Yadier Molina had an RBI double in the eighth, moved to third on Yairo Munoz’s infield single and scored on shortstop Addison Russell’s throwing eror on the play.

Cubs shortstop Javier Baez left the game with a left elbow contusion after being hit by a pitch from Flaherty in the top of the third inning. Baez, who leads the team with 14 home runs, was replaced by Russell.

BABY CUBS

The Cubs announced the signing of draft picks OF Brennen Davis (62nd overall) and RHP Paul Richan (78th overall) prior to Sunday’s game.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cubs: RHP Yu Darvish (right triceps tendinitis) will throw a simulated game on Tuesday at Wrigley Field.

Cardinals: RHP Greg Holland will travel with the team to Philadelphia after tossing a scoreless inning Saturday night on a rehabilitation assignment with Double-A Springfield.

UP NEXT

Cubs: RHP Tyler Chatwood (3-5, 4.12) opposes Dodgers RHP Kenta Maeda (4-4, 3.61) as Chicago opens a a three-game series against Los Angeles on Monday. Chatwood has issued a major league-leading 58 walks.

Cardinals: RHP Miles Mikolas (7-2, 2.43) starts the opener of a three-game series in Philadelphia as St. Louis starts a seven-game trip. He will be opposed by Phillies RHP Nick Pivetta (4-6, 4.25).

— Associated Press —

Mustangs fall at home to Joplin Friday 5-1

The St. Joseph Mustangs lost at home to Joplin Friday night 5-1 inside Phil Welch Stadium.

St. Joe’s collegiate summer baseball team drops to 9-6 and 7-5 in the MINK League. It’s the Mustangs first loss to the Outlaws in five games.

The Mustangs scored first Friday night as Terrence Spurlin drove in Malik Williams with an RBI single. That’s all St. Joseph would get as Joplin scored three in the fifth inning and added single runs in the sixth and eighth innings.

St. Joe starter Matt Mulhearn suffered the loss as he allowed three runs and seven hits in five innings of work.

Alex Phillips was the only Mustang with a mulit-hit game as he finished 2-for-4. St. Joseph had only seven hits in the game.

The Mustangs wrap up their three-game home series with Joplin Saturday at 7:00 p.m. inside Phil Welch Stadium.

Royals lose series opener to Astros 7-3

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Evan Gattis hit a go-ahead grand slam, Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa also went deep and the Houston Astros beat the Kansas City Royals 7-3 on a balmy Friday night for their ninth consecutive win.

Charlie Morton (8-1) overcame another bout of wildness, at one point walking three straight batters, to last six innings for Houston. He allowed four hits and four walks while striking out nine.

Brad Peacock, Tony Sipp and Collin McHugh each contributed a scoreless inning in relief.

Jakob Junis (5-7) served up all three Houston homers, getting tagged for six runs on seven hits and a walk. It was his fourth straight loss, his last win coming against the New York Yankees on May 18.

All but one of the Astros’ wins during their streak has come on the road.

The Royals tried to give Junis some support early, jumping ahead 2-0 in the third on a two-out double by Mike Moustakas. It was a buoying at-bat considering the meek-hitting Kansas City lineup managed a single run in getting swept by Cincinnati during a two-game set this week.

It appeared the lead just might stand, too. Junis retired the first 13 batters he faced.

Bregman changed all that with his ninth homer of the season, a shot that just skirted the left-field foul pole. Correa added his 455-foot home run two batters later to tie the game.

Morton’s wildness allowed the Royals to regain the lead in the fifth, but Junis coughed it back up in the sixth. He gave up three straight one-out singles to load the bases for Gattis, whose 405-foot grand slam was the second of his career and third by the Astros this season.

It was also the second slam permitted by the Royals in their last two games.

ASTROS MOVES

Houston recalled 3B Tyler White from Triple-A Fresno and placed LHP Reymin Guduan on the paternity leave list. White was hitting .338 with 13 homers and a .444 on-base percentage, the second-highest in all of Triple-A. Guduan can miss no more than three games while on the paternity list.

ROYALS MOVES

Kansas City selected the contract of RHP Brandon Maurer from Triple-A Omaha and optioned RHP Jason Adam to the same club. Maurer was 0-2 with a 12.46 ERA for the Royals before he was sent outright to the minor league club on May 3. He’s worked 11 straight scoreless appearances at Omaha.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros RHP Joe Smith (elbow inflammation) rejoined the team, and manager A.J. Hinch said the reliever is “pain free and the next step is to initiate a throwing program.” That could happen by the end of the weekend.

Royals OF Jorge Soler left after stumbling out of the batter’s box in the sixth inning. He was taken for X-rays that revealed a broken left foot. Ryan Goins replaced him in the lineup.

UP NEXT

Struggling LHP Dallas Keuchel (3-8, 4.45 ERA) starts for the Astros and LHP Danny Duffy (3-6, 5.28) gets the nod for the Royals for a Saturday matinee with temperatures expected to approach triple digits.

— Associated Press —

Dates released for 2018 Chiefs Training Camp at Missouri Western

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Kansas City Chiefs announced dates for 2018 Chiefs Training Camp presented by Mosaic Life Care at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri. All times and dates are subject to change.

Walkthrough practices are closed to the public and media. All practice sessions will take place on the Mosaic Training Fields. Practices held at 8:15 a.m. will run approximately two hours and 40 minutes. Practices held at 9:15 a.m. will run approximately one hour and 40 minutes.

Team autograph sessions are scheduled to take place July 26July 28July 29Aug. 4 and Aug. 5. Family Fun Day presented by Family Center Farm and Home will take place on Aug. 4. New this season, the Chiefs will host two Season Ticket Member days on July 29 and Aug. 5 (more details to come as camp approaches). Chiefs Alumni day will be held on Aug. 11 and camp will wrap up with Military Appreciation day on Aug. 14. MWSU will host a back to football celebration at the Bill Snyder Pavilion on July 26 (details will be released at a later date). This year’s Gatorade Junior Training Camp will take place on July 28.

Unless otherwise noted, all training camp practices will be free of charge to the public. Missouri Western will charge a $5 parking fee per vehicle per day. On July 26July 28 and August 4, MWSU will charge a $5 admission fee into practice.

Weather and field conditions are evaluated daily. All dates and times provided are subject to change. If practice is moved indoors due to poor conditions it will be closed to the general public. The club will notify fans via social media channels as soon as a decision is made.

Thursday, July 26 Practice – 3:30 p.m. | First Practice Open to the Public – $5 Admission Fee | Team Autograph Session* | Back to Football Celebration at Bill Snyder Pavilion (Details to Follow)
Friday, July 27 Practice – 8:15 a.m.
Saturday, July 28 Practice – 8:15 a.m. | Team Autograph Session* – $5 Admission Fee | Gatorade Jr. Training Camp (Details to Follow)
Sunday, July 29 Practice – 8:15 a.m. | Season Ticket Member Day | Team Autograph Session*
Monday, July 30 Practice – 9:15 a.m.
Tuesday, July 31 No Practice
Wednesday, Aug. 1 Practice – 8:15 a.m.
Thursday, Aug. 2 Practice – 8:15 a.m.
Friday, Aug. 3 No Practice
Saturday, Aug. 4 Practice – 8:15 a.m. | Family Fun Day presented by Family Center Farm & Home – $5 Admission Fee | Team Autograph Session*
Sunday, Aug. 5 Practice – 8:15 a.m. | Season Ticket Member Day | Team Autograph Session*
Monday, Aug. 6 Practice – 8:15 a.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 7 Practice – 9:15 a.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 8 No Practice
Thursday, Aug. 9 Preseason Game No. 1 – Chiefs vs. Texans – 7:30 p.m. CT
Friday, Aug. 10 No Practice
Saturday, Aug. 11 Practice – 8:15 a.m. | Chiefs Alumni Day
Sunday, Aug. 12 Practice – 8:15 a.m.
Monday, Aug. 13 Practice – 8:15 a.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 14 Practice – 9:15 a.m. | Military Appreciation Day | Final Camp Practice

*Practices July 23-25 are closed to the general public.

*Weather and field conditions are evaluated daily. All dates and times provided are subject to change. If practice is moved indoors due to poor conditions it will be closed to the general public. The club will notify fans via social media channels as soon as a decision is made.

For more information about training camp, please visit the Chiefs website at www.chiefs.com.

— MWSU Athletics —

St. Louis gets blown out by Cubs in opener

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Kris Bryant ended a 24-game homerless drought, the longest of his career, and Ian Happ and Kyle Schwarber also went deep as the Chicago Cubs routed the St. Louis Cardinals 13-5 on Friday night.

Bryant drilled a 448-foot, two-run shot to left field off an ineffective Michael Wacha in the third inning for his first home run since May 14. The 2016 NL MVP capped a six-run fifth with an RBI single and drove in another run with a sacrifice fly in the seventh. His four RBI were a season high.

Jon Lester ran his scoreless streak to 17 innings before giving up a solo home run to Marcell Ozuna in the fourth as the Cubs won for the first time in four tries at Busch Stadium this season. Lester (8-2) allowed two runs in six innings to earn his fourth straight win.

Lester helped himself at the plate, too, driving in a run on a bunt in the fourth and reaching on catcher Yadier Molina’s throwing error that led to a second run as the Cubs extended their lead to 5-0.

Anthony Rizzo had three hits, was hit by a pitch and scored a run. Schwarber launched a three-run homer that traveled a projected 465 feet to straightaway center in the fifth, the third-longest homer by an opposing player in Busch Stadium III history.

Happ led off the third with a home run to right field. His first homer since May 22 snapped a 20-inning scoreless streak for the Cubs.

Wacha (8-2) allowed a career-high nine runs, eight earned, in a season-low four-plus innings. The three home runs he gave up tied a career high.

Matt Carpenter homered in the sixth and drove in two runs, but the Cardinals lost their third consecutive game.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cubs: RHP Yu Darvish (right triceps tendinitis) threw a 35-pitch bullpen. He is scheduled to throw another one when the team returns home next week.

Cardinals: 1B Luke Voit was recalled from Double-A Springfield and RHP Matt Bowman (right hand finger blisters) was activated from the 10-day disabled list. 1B Jose Martinez was placed on the paternity list and RHP Daniel Poncedeleon was optioned to Triple-A Memphis.

UP NEXT

Cubs RHP Kyle Hendricks (4-6, 3.48 ERA) starts Saturday night against RHP Carlos Martinez (3-2, 2.96). Hendricks has dropped three straight decisions for the first time in his career. Martinez has walked 12 over 7 2/3 innings in two starts since returning from a lat strain.

— Associated Press —

St. Joseph’s Kanallakan throws a complete game in 7-1 win over Joplin

The St. Joseph Mustangs stayed unbeaten against Joplin this season as they beat the Outlaws 7-1 Thursday inside Phil Welch Stadium.

St. Joe’s collegiate summer baseball team is now 4-0 against Joplin and they’re 9-5 overall. The Mustangs are 7-4 in the MINK League, one and a half games back of Sedalia in the North Division.

St. Joseph starter Drake Kanallakan was the story Thursday as he threw a complete game and improves to 3-0 with a 0.47 ERA. Kanallakan allowed only one run on three hits and he struck out 10 batters.

Zach Perdue led the Mustangs’ 10-hit attack as he finished 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Zach Smith added two hits and two RBI, and Jordan Maxson drove in three runs.

The Mustangs and Outlaws play again Friday night at Phil Welch Stadium as the first pitch is at 7:00 p.m.

Mustangs let four-run lead slip away in 11-7 loss at Ozark

The St. Joseph Mustangs lost at Ozark Wednesday night 11-7, as St. Joe’s collegiate summer baseball team drops to 8-5 and 6-4 in the MINK League.

This was the Mustangs first game against the Generals since defeating Ozark in the MINK League Championship Series last season.

St. Joseph scored five runs in the third inning to take a 5-1 lead, but Ozark scored three in the fifth and took the lead for good with five runs in the seventh inning.

Mustangs’ starter Joseph Hietpas suffered his first loss of the season as he allowed nine runs and 13 hits in seven innings of work. Hietpas struck out six and walked one.

Alex Phillips and Aaron Dees each hit home runs for St. Joe. Phillips had three RBI, while Joshua Lincoln added two hits and Terrence Spurlin scored two runs.

The Mustangs return home Thursday as they play host to Joplin at 7:00 p.m. inside Phil Welch Stadium. The game will be broadcast on 680 KFEQ and you can click here to listen.

Royals get swept by Reds, have now lost nine of 10

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Tyler Mahle allowed three hits while pitching into the seventh, Adam Duvall hit a ninth-inning grand slam and the Cincinnati Reds beat the skidding Kansas City Royals 7-0 on Wednesday night.

Mahle (5-6) allowed only one runner to touch second base in 6 1/3 innings, matching his career longest start. He is 2-0 in June, allowing two earned runs and 14 hits in 16 1/3 innings.

The Royals have lost nine of 10 and have dropped 23 of 33 home games. They have scored 11 runs in their last eight games and 23 in 12 June games.

Kansas City is hitting .147 this month with runners in scoring position, including 1 for 25 in the past six games.

Duvall greeted rookie reliever Jason Adam with his second grand slam in two weeks, driving a 2-2 pitch over the left-center wall.

Royals starter Jason Hammel (2-7) allowed three runs on seven hits over 7 1/3 innings.

Alex Gordon, a five-time American League Gold Glove winner, made two defensive gems in the sixth inning. Curt Casali singled off the left-field bullpen fence and tried to stretch it into a double. Gordon threw him out from the warning track for his fifth outfield assist this season and the 85th of his career.

Two pitches later, Gordon made a diving head-first catch of Billy Hamilton’s liner to rob him of a hit.

Salvador Perez and Hunter Dozier grounded into double plays to end the first two Royals innings.

Mahle retired 12 of the next 13 batters he faced after Gordon walked in the second inning.

The Royals did not have a runner touch second base until Whit Merrifield doubled with two out in the sixth. Mike Moustakas flied out to center to end the inning.

STREAKING REDS

Scooter Gennett had two singles, extending his hitting streak to 10 games. … Jose Peraza has reached base in 15 consecutive games. … Reliever Jared Hughes, who pitched a scoreless inning, has not allowed a run in 15 straight appearances.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: 1B Lucas Duda (right foot plantar fasciitis) is doing on-the-field activity. Manager Ned Yost said he is hopeful Duda will go out on a minor league rehab assignment this weekend.

UP NEXT

Reds: They are off Thursday before RHP Matt Harvey will start Friday in Pittsburgh.

Royals: After an off-day Thursday, the Royals will open a three-game home series Friday with the Houston Astros. RHP Jakob Junis will be the KC starter for the opener.

— Associated Press —

Cardinals drop series with 4-2 loss to San Diego

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Eric Lauer carried a shutout into the sixth inning, Manuel Margot had three hits and the San Diego Padres beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-2 on Wednesday night to win their fifth straight series.

Freddy Galvis drove in two first-inning runs for San Diego, which has won five of seven. The Padres hadn’t won five consecutive series since 2010.

Marcell Ozuna homered for the Cardinals, who have lost three of four.

Lauer (3-4) gave up two runs and eight hits over 5 2/3 innings. He’s 3-0 when getting two or more runs of support.

Brad Hand recorded his 21st save in 23 opportunities. He got Jedd Gyorko to ground into a double play after hitting Yadier Molina to start the ninth.

St. Louis starter Luke Weaver (3-6) gave up four runs and nine hits over 5 1/3 innings. He has just one win over his last 11 starts.

Margot, who singled in the second and fourth, stretched the lead to 3-0 with a run-scoring triple in the sixth. Raffy Lopez followed with a broken-bat single off reliever Austin Gomber for a 4-0 lead.

Margot has hit safely in his last six games, going 9 for 20. He had two hits in a 4-2 win Tuesday.

San Diego reliever Jose Castillo struck out all four batters he faced after following Lauer.

SHARP DEFENSE

The Cardinals have not allowed an error in their last six games. It is their longest errorless stretch since Aug. 3-8 last season.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Padres: C Austin Hedges began a rehab assignment with Class A Lake Elsinore on Tuesday. He went 1 for 2. Hedges was placed on the DL on May 1 with right elbow tendonitis. He has missed 38 games.

Cardinals: INF Jose Martinez will be out on paternity leave for the upcoming weekend series against the Chicago Cubs.

UP NEXT:

Padres: RHP Tyson Ross (5-3, 3.43) will open a four-game series at Atlanta against RHP Anibal Sanchez (2-0, 2.37) on Thursday. The Padres are in 10-3 when Tyson starts and have won the last six.

Cardinals: RHP Michael Wacha (8-1, 2.47) face LHP Jon Lester (7-2, 2.22) in the first of a three-game home series against the Chicago Cubs on Friday. Wacha has won his last eight decisions against the Cubs.

— Associated Press —

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