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Chiefs release WR Jeremy Maclin

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Just a couple weeks ago, Jeremy Maclin was exchanging vows at his wedding attended by some of his closest friends, many of them his teammates with the Kansas City Chiefs.

They became his former teammates Friday night.

The Chiefs released the veteran wide receiver in a stunning move midway through their voluntary workouts, bringing an abrupt ending to the tenure of what was arguably general manager John Dorsey and coach Andy Reid’s biggest free-agent acquisition.

“I’d like to thank Jeremy for his effort and dedication the past two seasons,” Dorsey said in a statement. “I have great respect for all players, which makes decisions like these very difficult, but we felt it was in the best interest of our club moving forward to part ways at this time.”

The Chiefs have been struggling with the salary cap for few years, and they had just $3.5 million available before the move. By releasing Maclin after June 1, they saved about $10 million that they can use to sign their three remaining draft picks and any additional free agents.

Maclin was due a base salary of $9.75 million this season. His cap hit was $12.4 million.

“These decisions are never easy, especially with a player like Jeremy who I’ve grown close with on and off the football field over the years,” Reid said. “I have a lot of respect for the way he goes about his business and how he handles himself as a professional. I wish him the best of luck moving forward.”

The move certainly surprised Maclin, who tweeted: “Crazy business this is.”

Maclin was entering the third year of a $55 million, five-year contract with Kansas City. It was a deal that became even more costly when the Chiefs were found guilty of tampering in their pursuit of him and were subsequently stripped of two draft picks and dealt hefty fines.

The 29-year-old Maclin, who was drafted by Reid before playing five seasons in Philadelphia, was coming off a breakout 2014 season when he signed with Kansas City. He had caught 85 passes for a career-best 1,318 yards and 10 touchdowns, earning a spot in his first Pro Bowl.

Maclin followed up by catching 87 passes for 1,088 yards and eight touchdowns, giving quarterback Alex Smith a reliable downfield target. But he struggled with injuries and drops last season, and his production plummeted — he caught just 44 passes for 536 yards and two touchdowns.

“I’m excited about going out and having the opportunity to play football again,” Maclin said in April. “And I’m excited about this team. We were so close (last season). That’s one goal we have as a team this year. If we don’t get that, then we’ve failed. Our goal is to win a Super Bowl.”

Maclin had been a regular attendee at the Chiefs’ voluntary workouts, and spoke last week about his recent wedding, where Reid several Chiefs players watched him exchange vows with his new wife, Adia.

“I appreciate so many teammates coming and helping us celebrate our big day,” Maclin said. “I think it goes to show how close we are as a team and how much we guys really appreciate each other.”

Maclin had been working as the No. 1 wide receiver during voluntary workouts, and his departure leaves a major void in the passing attack. Chris Conley and Tyreek Hill return as the Chiefs’ top two pass-catchers and Albert Wilson has experience, but there is little depth beyond them.

Demarcus Robinson and De’Anthony Thomas have hardly played, while the Chiefs used a fourth-round pick this past April on former Michigan wide receiver Jehu Chesson.

— Associated Press —

Nebraska loses NCAA Regional game to Yale

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Corvallis, Ore. – The Nebraska baseball team (35-21-1) lost its first-round game of the NCAA Regionals to Yale, 5-1, at Goss Stadium on Friday afternoon.

Junior left-hander Jake Meyers made his 14th start of the season, and went 5.2 innings. He gave up five runs, all of which were earned, while striking out five Bulldogs. Robbie Palkert threw 3.1 scoreless innings and had six strikeouts.

In the first inning, Yale scored two runs on four hits to race out to an early lead. The first three Bulldogs reached on singles to load the bases. Griffin Dey drove in both runs with a single to centerfield. Meyers singled in the leadoff spot and recorded his 20th stolen base of the season when he took second base. He advanced to third on a flyout, and scored on an RBI single from Luis Alvarado.

The Bulldogs’ Andrew Herrera homered in the leadoff spot in the second inning. Meyers retired each of the next three batters to get out of the inning. NU managed one hit in the bottom half of the frame, but couldn’t get a runner in scoring position.

Yale had a single in the third, but a double play ended its threat to score in the inning. Ben Miller drew a two-out walk and Alvarado had an infield single, but a groundout to first base ended the inning.

The Bulldogs added to their lead in the fourth with one run. The leadoff hitter singled and after back-to-back outs, Dai Dai Otaka was hit by a pitch. Tim DeGraw’s single scored the run before an inning-ending groundout. Nebraska went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the fourth.

NU’s defense responded in the top of the fifth as all three Yale batters were retired. Meyers drew a leadoff walk, but was left stranded at second base after three consecutive outs to end the fifth frame.

In the sixth inning, Yale added one run to extend the lead to 5-1. Derek Brown doubled, and then scored on Otaka’s infield single. NU had two baserunners when Jesse Wilkening walked and Luke Roskam singled, but both were left on base.

Yale managed a double in the seventh, but Palkert struck out the other three Bulldogs he faced. In the bottom half of the frame, all three Huskers were retired.

Yale had one hit in the eighth, but Palkert recorded outs for the other three Bulldog hitters. Jake Schleppenbach singled in the eighth, but NU couldn’t score.

All three Yale batters in the ninth were retired before all three Huskers went down.

The Huskers will play on Saturday at 3 p.m. (CT) against the loser of the Oregon State/Holy Cross game, which is set for 10 p.m. (CT) on Friday.

— NU Athletics —

K-State grants WR transfer request, Snyder apologizes

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Kansas State granted a scholarship release to Corey Sutton on Friday following 24 hours of intense criticism over coach Bill Snyder’s refusal of the wide receiver’s request.

Snyder and athletic director Gene Taylor said in a statement that Sutton has been granted a full release and will be permitted to transfer to any schools he requested. Sutton had supplied the school with a list of 35 schools, none of them in the Big 12 or future opponents of the Wildcats.

“After having further dialogue with Coach Snyder and the Sutton family, we believe that it is in everyone’s best interest to grant Corey his full release,” Taylor said. “We wish Corey the best as he continues his athletic and academic career.”

Sutton announced his desire to transfer last month, claiming Snyder and position coach Andre Coleman did not follow through on playing time promises. The native of Charlotte, North Carolina, then took his plea to Twitter, calling Snyder a “slave master” in a series of social media posts.

Sutton appeared in 10 games as a freshman last season, catching four passes for 54 yards.

Snyder denied any promises of playing time during a local appearance Thursday night, and said he was merely standing by his policy regarding transfers. Snyder said he believes prospects make a commitment to the program when they sign a national letter of intent, just as he makes a commitment to them with a scholarship.

Without a release, Sutton could have transferred but would not have been eligible for an athletic scholarship his first season. He told The Wichita Eagle that would have been financially impossible.

Snyder also appeared to indicate Sutton had “tested positive twice” for drugs while at the school, though he declined to elaborate and later backtracked the statement. Snyder apologized for the comment “that included sensitive and private information.”

“I spoke out of line and for that I express a sincere regret for my comments,” he said.

— Associated Press —

St. Louis drops opener at Chicago

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CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs celebrated Anthony Rizzo’s engagement with a postgame cake. The All-Star first baseman dove right in.

Pretty sweet day.

Rizzo reached four times and scored the winning run on Jason Heyward’s sacrifice fly in the eighth inning, leading the Cubs to a 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday that snapped a six-game losing streak.

“It doesn’t matter if it was versus the Cardinals or versus a college team, we needed to win no matter what,” Rizzo said.

It was the second big win for Rizzo in less than a day. He proposed to girlfriend Emily Vakos on Thursday.

“We were on a boat on Lake Michigan, had some fireworks go off, and it was great,” Rizzo said. “She was totally surprised, so that’s what I wanted. Somehow kept that under wraps.”

Heyward also doubled in Rizzo in the sixth and Kris Bryant homered as the Cubs washed away some of the sting from a winless road trip against the Dodgers and Padres. John Lackey pitched seven solid innings, settling down after a shaky start.

“We just did enough,” manager Joe Maddon said.

Dexter Fowler homered for St. Louis in his first game at Wrigley Field since he signed with the Cardinals in the offseason. Rookie Magneuris Sierra had an RBI single, and Lance Lynn pitched 5 1/3 innings of two-hit ball.

“It was one of those days when I didn’t have my best stuff but I was able to kind of mix and match and move in and out,” Lynn said.

Rizzo led off the eighth with a double over the head of Sierra in left. He moved up on Ben Zobrist’s grounder to third and scampered home when Heyward hit a fly ball to center against Trevor Rosenthal (1-2).

Pedro Strop (1-2) struck out Yadier Molina with the bases loaded for the final out of the Cardinals eighth, and Wade Davis closed for his 11th save.

“We were in a good spot,” manager Mike Matheny said of the blown opportunity in the eighth. “We just weren’t able to get the hit we needed.”

Fowler received his World Series ring during a pregame ceremony, drawing loud cheers from the crowd of 41,051 on a picturesque day at the iconic neighborhood ballpark. He then posed for a picture with his former teammates, Maddon, president of baseball operations Theo Epstein, and general manager Jed Hoyer.

The 31-year-old Fowler got another loud ovation when he stepped to the plate in the first inning, and he hit a drive to the bleachers in right for his 23rd career leadoff homer. He clapped his hands as he approached home, and a fan threw the ball back on the field.

“I know John and John knows me,” Fowler said. “I know he’s going to come after me from the beginning. It’s just a matter of getting a good pitch to hit.”

St. Louis got another run in the second on Sierra’s one-out single, but that was the Cardinals’ last hit against Lackey. Bryant connected for his 12th homer in the third, and the Cubs tied it at 2 in the sixth.

Lynn departed after consecutive one-out walks, and Heyward followed with a towering fly ball to right against Tyler Lyons. Stephen Piscotty had trouble with the ball, and it landed on the warning track in front of the wall for an RBI double.

“As soon as it went up, when it got to the highest point I just lost it,” Piscotty said. “It was in the sun.”

The Cubs had the bases loaded when Matt Bowman got pinch hitter Jon Jay to bounce into an inning-ending double play. Maddon originally sent Albert Almora Jr. up to hit for slumping slugger Kyle Schwarber and then switched to Jay when Matheny brought in Bowman.

SIERRA RETURNS

Sierra was promoted from Double-A Springfield to replace infielder Jedd Gyorko, who was placed on paternity leave after Thursday’s 2-0 victory over the Dodgers. Gyorko’s wife, Karley, had a girl on Tuesday, named Brooklyn Ellee. Gyorko is expected to return to the team in time for Sunday night’s series finale.

The 21-year-old Sierra made his major league debut last month and hit .367 (11 for 30) in seven games.

“He’s a very even-keeled player,” Matheny said. “He understands what he brings to the table and has a great chance to build on that.”

UP NEXT

Cubs left-hander Jon Lester (3-3, 3.86 ERA) and Cardinals right-hander Mike Leake (5-3, 2.24 ERA) match up in the second game of the series on Saturday. Lester struggled in his last start, allowing six runs in 3 1/3 innings in a loss to the Dodgers, but he is 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA in six home starts this season. Leake went 2-2 with a 3.09 ERA in five May starts.

— Associated Press —

St. Joseph defeats Kansas City Monarchs to stay unbeaten

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The St. Joseph Mustangs moved to 2-0 this season with an 8-3 victory over the Kansas City Monarchs Thursday inside Phil Welch Stadium.

St. Joe’s collegiate summer baseball team pulled away late after sqwandering a 3-0 lead.

The Mustangs scored one in the first inning and added three more runs in the fourth, before the Monarchs tied the game a three-run seventh inning.

St. Joseph answered right back with four runs of their own in the bottom half of the seventh and added one run in the eighth.

Nikko Pablo earned the win in relief as he threw 2.1 scoreless inning out of the bullpen. Josh Monson started for the Mustangs as he threw five scoreless innings. Monson gave up five hits, struck out three and walked four.

Easton Fortuna led the St. Joe offense as he went 3-for-4 with two RBI, while Derek Hussey, Brady Anderson, Josh Williams and Brett Marr added two hits each.

The Mustangs play their MINK League opener Friday night inside Phil Welch Stadium as they host Nevada at 7:00 p.m. That game will be broadcast on ESPN 1550 AM.

Wainwright homers, leads Cardinals over Dodgers 2-0

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ST. LOUIS (AP) — Adam Wainwright credits a more rigorous pregame warmup routine as part of the reason for his May rebound.

Wainwright hit a two-run homer off Brandon McCarthy and pitched six innings of four-hit ball, leading the St. Louis Cardinals over the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-0 on Thursday for a four-game split.

“Earlier in my career it was a little different when I took the mound, my first pitch of the game I was hot and I was ready to rock,” the 35-year-old Wainwright said. “I could still probably do that now, but I feel more prepared when I get a good warm up now.”

After finishing April 2/3 with a 6.11 ERA, Wainwright was 3-0 in May.

Wainwright (6-3) struck out six and walked two, pitching out of two-on, one-out jams in the fourth and fifth, and extending his scoreless streak to 16 1/3 innings. His ERA has dropped to 3.79.

Matt Bowman, Trevor Rosenthal and Seung Hwan Oh pitched an inning each to complete a five-hitter. Oh threw a one-hit ninth for his 13th save in 15 chances.

Wainwright followed Paul DeJong’s second-inning single with a drive over the left-field bullpen for his 10th career homer. Wainwright has six hits and seven RBI this season.

“He showed me the curveball before and kind of locked me up a little bit, but he threw it out of the same slot the next time and I was able to put a good swing on it,” Wainwright said.

McCarthy (5-2) gave up seven hits in four innings, struck out six and walked one, before leaving with a blister.

Adrian Gonzalez and Yasmani Grandal were ejected in the ninth by plate umpire Marty Foster. Gonzalez took a called third strike on the outside corner leading off and was tossed while arguing from the dugout as Grandal was being introduced as a pinch hitter with one out and one on, prompting Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to go to the plate for a discussion with Foster. Grandal swung past strike three, got into an argument with Foster — apparently over a called strike on the second pitch of the at-bat — and also was tossed. Austin Barnes then popped out.

“Once he threw me out, I might as well go out there and let him have a little more,” Gonzalez said. “The funniest thing is he told Dave afterwards that he’s been calling pitches off the plate all game, so he wasn’t going to change.”

POWER CHART

Wainwright needs two homers to tie Bob Forsch for second among Cardinals pitchers behind Bob Gibson (24).

“I think he’s lined up to arguably be the best hitting pitcher in the league,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said.

WEB GEMS1

Cardinals SS Aledmys Diaz made a diving stop up the middle on Barnes’ fourth-inning grounder with two on, transferred the ball to his right hand and made a backhand flip to DeJong at second for an inning-ending forceout on Chase Utley, saving a run. … Los Angeles LF Cody Bellinger made a sliding backhand catch on Diaz’s liner in the bottom half.

ANOTHER MISSED OPPORTUNITY

St. Louis advanced a runner to third without scoring for the second time in the series. With runners at second and third, no outs and the middle of the Dodgers infield playing back in the third, Yadier Molina grounded to a drawn-in third baseman Kike Hernandez, who threw to first for the out. Tommy Pham also grounded to Hernandez, who threw home and got Stephen Piscotty into a rundown, and Piscotty was tagged out by Barnes, the catcher, near third base as Jedd Gyorko advanced to third. DeJong then struck out.

“We left money on the table again,” Matheny said. “We left a couple of runs out there that need to come across. That’s a lot to put not only on our starters but our pen also.”

BREAKING THROUGH

Gyorko’s first-inning single off of McCarthy was his first hit in 16 career plate appearances against the right-hander.

TRAINING ROOM

Dodgers: LHP Adam Liberatore (left forearm tightness) was placed on the 10-day DL retroactive to Wednesday and LHP Grant Dayton was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Cardinals: INF Gyorko will go on paternity leave when the team travels to Chicago for a weekend series against the Cubs.

UP NEXT

Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw (7-2, 2.37) starts Friday at Milwaukee, where he is 4-0 with a 1.41 ERA in five starts.

Cardinals: RHP Lance Lynn (4-3, 2.93 ERA) will face RHP John Lackey (4-5, 5.18 ERA), a former teammate, on Friday.

— Associated Press —

K-State’s Bishop and Gramatica Named to 2018 CFB HOF Ballot

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MANHATTAN, Kan. – Former K-State greats Michael Bishop and Martin Gramatica were two of 75 Football Bowl Subdivision players named to the 2018 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, the National Football Foundation announced today.

One of the most dynamic players in program history, Bishop played a major role in propelling the Wildcats to their first-ever No. 1 national ranking during the second of his two seasons at K-State (1997-1998), while Gramatica did the same while setting NCAA kicking records and earning two All-America honors.

The 1998 Heisman Trophy runner up and the Davey O’Brien Award winner, Bishop still holds the K-State season passing efficiency record after a 159.6 rating in 1998 (164-of-295 for 2,844 yards and 23 TDs/4 INTs) in addition to ranking second in season total offense at 3,592 yards. He went 22-3 as a starter, including a 15-1 mark in Big 12 play, while also earning All-Big 12 honors both as a junior and senior. Bishop was taken in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL Draft by New England.

Gramatica won the Lou Groza Award in 1997 and was named a Consensus All-American. He went on to set the NCAA record for scoring by a kicker in a season with 135 points in 1998 and connected on the longest field goal in NCAA history without the use of a tee at 65 yards, a mark that still stands today. Gramatica also holds K-State’s game, season and career kick scoring records and is tops in school history for career field goals made and field goals attempted.

Most recently, Bishop was also named to the K-State Ring of Honor Class of 2015 and the K-State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017, while Gramatica entered the Ring of Honor in 2008 and the K-State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017.

“It’s an enormous honor to just be on the ballot when you think that more than 5.19 million people have played college football and only 987 players have been inducted,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “The Hall’s requirement of being a First-Team All-American creates a much smaller pool of only 1,500 individuals who are even eligible. So being in today’s elite group means an individual is truly among the greatest to ever have played the game, and we are extremely proud to announce their names. We look forward to revealing the 2018 Class prior to the CFP National Championship in Atlanta, the esteemed home of the College Football Hall of Fame.”

The ballot was emailed today to the more than 12,000 NFF members and current Hall of Famers whose votes will be tabulated and submitted to the NFF’s Honors Courts, which will deliberate and select the class. The FBS Honors Court, chaired by NFF Board Member and College Football Hall of Famer Archie Griffin from Ohio State, and the Divisional Honors Court, chaired by former Marshall head coach, longtime athletics director and NFF Board Member Jack Lengyel, include an elite and geographically diverse pool of athletic administrators, Hall of Famers and members of the media.

“Having a ballot and a voice in the selection of the inductees is one of the most cherished NFF member benefits,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, a 1989 Hall of Fame inductee from Mississippi. “There is no group more knowledgeable or passionate about college football than our membership, and the tradition of the ballot helps us engage them in the lofty responsibility of selecting those who have reached the pinnacle of achievement in our sport.”

The announcement of the 2018 Class will be made Monday, Jan. 8, 2018, in Atlanta. The city is serving as the host for the CFP National Championship, which will be played later that day at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Some of the inductees will be on site during the announcement to represent the class and share their thoughts on being elected. The Jan. 8 announcement will be televised live, and specific viewing information will be available as the date draws near. A few inductees will also participate in the pregame festivities and the coin toss before the championship game.

“We cannot thank CFP Executive Director Bill Hancock and his staff enough for the opportunity to continue the tradition of announcing our Hall of Fame Class in conjunction with the National Championship,” said Hatchell. “Our presence at the title game has significantly raised the profile of the announcement, allowing us to shine a much brighter light on the accomplishments of our game’s greatest legends.”

The 2018 class will officially be inducted during the 61st NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 4, 2018, at the New York Hilton Midtown. The inductees will be permanently enshrined at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta later that December and honored on the field during the 14th Annual National Hall of Fame Salute during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. They will also be honored at their respective schools at an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute, presented by Fidelity Investments, during the 2018 season.

— KSU Athletics —

Nebraska’s Crouch, Taylor and Wiegert on College Hall of Fame Ballot

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Three Nebraska football greats are among 75 players from the Football Bowl Subdivision announced as finalists Thursday for the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.

Huskers on the 2018 ballot for induction into the Hall of Fame include Heisman-winning quarterback Eric Crouch, and a pair of Outland Trophy winning offensive linemen in Aaron Taylor and Zach Wiegert.

Crouch is on the ballot for the seventh straight year, Wiegert is making his third appearance on the ballot and Taylor is a new addition to the Hall of Fame ballot. The 2018 class will be announced on Monday, Jan. 8, 2018, in Atlanta on the day of the College Football Playoff championship game.

Crouch would become the second Husker quarterback in the College Hall of Fame, joining Tommie Frazier, who was part of the 2013 class. Crouch became Nebraska’s third Heisman Trophy winner in 2001 after leading the Huskers to the National Championship game. An option-based quarterback out of Omaha’s Millard North High School, Crouch set the NCAA record for career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 59, and he amassed 7,915 yards of total offense in his career. A consensus All-American in 2001, Crouch also reeled in the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, the Davey O’Brien Award and the Sporting News Offensive Player of the Year award during his senior campaign. His No. 7 jersey was retired by Nebraska in 2002.

Taylor is the only player in Nebraska football history to earn All-America honors at two positions. During his junior season in 1996, Taylor was a first-team All-America choice as a center. A year later, he shifted to offensive guard and was a unanimous All-America pick and Outland Trophy winner. A native of Wichita Falls, Texas, Taylor helped lead the Huskers to three national championships, three conference championships and three NCAA rushing titles during his career. His No. 67 was retired in 1998.

Wiegert was a 1994 unanimous first-team All-American and is one of eight Huskers to win the Outland Trophy. A native of Fremont, Neb., Wiegert helped lead the Huskers to 1994 National Championship after NU played in the 1993 title game. The Huskers averaged 340 yards per game on the ground in 1994, and Wiegert led Nebraska with 113 pancake blocks. He even earned one first-place vote for the Heisman, finishing tied for ninth with 27 points. In addition to winning the Outland, he was a finalist for the Lombardi Award, a consensus All-American, the UPI Lineman of the Year and the Touchdown Club of Columbus Offensive Lineman of the Year. His No. 72 jersey was retired before the 1995 season.

Trev Alberts became the 17th Nebraska player in the College Football Hall of Fame, as he was inducted in 2015. He was the fourth Husker in seven years to be named to the Hall, joining 2013 inductee Tommie Frazier, 2011 honoree Will Shields and 2009 inductee Grant Wistrom.

— NU Athletics —

Mustangs open season with 9-1 win over Midwest A’s

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The St. Joseph Mustangs opened their 2017 season Wednesday night with a 9-1 victory over the Midwest A’s inside Phil Welch Stadium.

St. Joe’s collegiate summer baseball team is now 8-1 in season opening games as they scored nine unanswered runs Wednesday after falling behind 1-0 in the first inning.

The Mustangs scored in four consecutive innings starting with three runs in the second and they capped it off with a four-run fifth inning.

St. Joseph had 14 hits on the night as all nine Mustangs who started the game had at least one hit. Brady Anderson and Jacob Richardson each finished 3-for-5. Anderson and Joshua Lincoln drove in two runs a piece, while Richardson, Brody Santilli and Brett Marr all scored two runs.

Osvaldo Raya earned the win on the mound as he went six innings and allowed one run on seven hits. Raya struck out six and walked two.

The Mustangs are back in action Thursday as they host the Kansas City Monarchs at 7:00 p.m. inside Phil Welch Stadium. The game will be broadcast on 680 KFEQ.

Royals blow early 3-0 lead, lose series finale to Tigers

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — J.D. Martinez and Justin Upton hit two-run doubles with two outs in the third inning as the Detroit Tigers held off the Kansas City Royals 6-5 on Wednesday night.

Royals starter Ian Kennedy (0-5) walked the bases loaded before giving up the doubles on consecutive pitches.

Victor Martinez and Alex Avila homered for the Tigers, who completed a 4-7 three-city trip.

Kennedy was pulled after three innings, allowing five runs, four hits and three walks. Kennedy is 0-7 in 13 starts since he last won on Sept. 11. He threw 41 pitches in the third.

Kennedy went 0-3 with an 11.30 ERA in May, allowing 18 earned runs, 16 hits, including six home runs, and nine walks in 14 1/3 innings.

The Royals took a 3-0 lead on four hits in the first. Salvador Perez singled home Lorenzo Cain with the first run. Cheslor Cuthbert’s two-out single scored Eric Hosmer and Perez.

Cuthbert doubled and scored on Alcides Escobar’s two-out single in the fourth.

The Royals cut the lead to one run in the eighth when Jorge Bonifacio and Whit Merrifield singled. Bonifacio scored on Alex Wilson’s wild pitch. Merrifield extended his hitting streak to a career-high 16 games, the longest by a Royal this season.

Justin Wilson worked the ninth to collect his fifth save in six opportunities.

Tigers left-hander Matthew Boyd did not make it out of the fourth, permitting four runs and seven hits. Warwick Saupold (1-0) allowed one hit in three scoreless innings to pick up the victory.

Hosmer led off the fifth with a single for his 1,000th hit.

PEREZ TOPS CATCHERS VOTING

Perez, a four-time All-Star selection, is leading American League catchers on the first release of the All-Star ballot. “I love it a lot,” Perez said of the mid-summer classic. “Thank you for the fans. I hope they keep voting for me. It’s a lot of fun. The first one was Mariano Rivera’s last All-Star game. The second one was Derek Jeter’s. Guys you know are going to be in the Hall of Fame. You relish those moments.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Tigers: Upton left with a mild strain of his right quadriceps while running the bases in the third inning. . 2B Ian Kinsler, who is on the DL with a left hamstring strain, is eligible to come off it on Tuesday. “I’d be shocked if he doesn’t,” Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said.

UP NEXT

Tigers: RHP Michael Fulmer will start Friday as the Tigers open a homestand against the White Sox. The Tigers play 12 of their next 15 in Detroit.

Royals: LHP Jason Vargas will start Friday in the opener of a weekend series with Cleveland.

— Associated Press —

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