Sports – Page 300 – St. Joseph Post Archive

St. Louis loses opening game to Dodgers 5-1

Posted on May 29, 2017

ST. LOUIS (AP) — With every ball that sails over the fence, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts gets a little more encouraged that his lineup is finding its groove.

Not that the rookie leading the charge seems to be feeling any pressure.

Cody Bellinger, Chase Utley and Logan Forsythe hit solo home runs, leading Rich Hill and the Dodgers over the St. Louis Cardinals 5-1 Monday for their fifth straight victory.

“We’re starting to hit the ball out of the ballpark,” Roberts said. “To see Logan get a homer, obviously Cody’s been doing it. Chase (Utley has had) really quality at-bats and starting to hit the ball out of the ballpark, but I think if you look at our lineup, there’s guys that are really grinding that aren’t swinging the way we’re capable of.”

Los Angeles is within a half-game of the Colorado Rockies for the NL West lead, and they’ve powered nearer to the top of the standings behind Bellinger’s early contributions.

Bellinger connected in the fourth — it was his ninth home run in May, tying Joc Pederson and James Loney for the Dodgers rookie record for home runs in a month. Bellinger leads the team with 11 home runs and 29 RBI, thriving in his first exposure in the major leagues.

“I just try to be consistent every day,” Bellinger said. “Sometimes in the outfield I kind of just look around, but, yeah, it’s real, and I just try to keep going.”

Hill (2-2) recovered from a bout of wildness in his last start to pitch five innings, giving up one run and two hits. In his previous outing, also against the Cardinals, he permitted five runs on four hits and seven walks in four innings.

Hill held the Cardinals hitless until Aledmys Diaz singled to lead off the fifth.

“We made some adjustments this week, mechanical adjustments, and proved to be successful and feel much more comfortable where I’m at now,” Hill said. “Getting my hand out of my glove, getting timing down, and all that stuff was huge.”

Mike Leake (5-3) entered the game leading the majors with a 1.91 ERA, but allowed a season-high four runs in 6 2/3 innings.

“He’s been terrific. Seven innings and six hits, he gives us a chance there,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. “We just couldn’t get anything going offensively. Those are the days we need to offensively pick him up because he’s been so shutdown.”

Los Angeles got all the offense it needed in the third as Utley opened with his third home run of the season and second against St. Louis. Corey Seager later drove in Yasiel Puig with a two-out single.

Puig’s sacrifice fly in the seventh snapped Leake’s streak of nine quality starts to open the season.

Paul DeJong got two hits in his first career major league start after making his debut Sunday for the Cardinals.

Brandon Morrow pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth in his season debut for the Dodgers after having his contract purchased from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

FLORIDA BOUND

The Cardinals optioned OF Randal Grichuk to High-A Palm Beach before the game. He was batting .222 with four home runs and 19 RBI, and had just five hits in 37 at bats with 14 strikeouts in his last 11 games. He hit 24 homers for St. Louis last year. The Cardinals want him to work on his plate approach at a lower level, rather than at Triple-A.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: LHP Alex Wood was put on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to May 27 with inflammation in a joint in his upper body.

Cardinals: LHP Zach Duke threw a side session in extended spring training as he continues to recover from elbow surgery in October. … OF Jose Martinez was activated from the disabled list prior to the game after missing 18 games with a left groin strain sustained on May 6 at Atlanta.

UP NEXT

Dodgers: RHP Kenta Maeda (4-2, 5.08 ERA) is scheduled to face the Cardinals for his second straight start. He is 2-0 with a 4.22 ERA in two career starts versus St. Louis.

Cardinals: RHP Michael Wacha (2-2, 3.66 ERA) is 2-0 with a 2.35 ERA in five starts at home this season.

— Associated Press —

Nebraska baseball selected for NCAA Corvallis Regional

Posted on May 29, 2017May 29, 2017

The Nebraska baseball team will make its 15th NCAA Regional appearance in program history, as the 64-team NCAA Tournament field was announced on Monday. The Huskers will be the No. 2 seed in the Corvallis Regional.

No. 1 overall national seed Oregon State will host No. 3 seed Yale and No. 4 seed Holy Cross in addition to the Huskers at Goss Stadium this weekend. Nebraska opens the double-elimination Regional format with Yale on Friday, June 2 at 3 p.m. (CT) on ESPN3. Oregon State and Holy Cross square off on Friday at 10 p.m. (CT) in the other Corvallis Regional opener.

Nebraska, who enters the NCAA Tournament with a 35-20-1 record, won the Big Ten regular-season title with a 16-7-1 mark during conference play. The Huskers are making their third NCAA Tournament appearance under sixth-year Head Coach Darin Erstad, who was named 2017 Big Ten Coach of the Year. Nebraska also qualified for the national tournament in 2014 and 2016 under Erstad.

The Huskers are led by two All-Big Ten first-team honorees and two third-team members. Juniors Jake Meyers (Utility) and Scott Schreiber (Designated Hitter) each earned first-team all-conference recognition, while Angelo Altavilla (Shortstop) and Jake Hohensee (Starting Pitcher) were each selected for the third team. Luke Roskam (Third Base) was a unanimous selection to the All-Freshman Team. Senior Jake Schleppenbach (Second Base), the lone Husker to play in all 56 games this season, earned a spot on the Big Ten All-Tournament Team after batting .455 with a home run during the tournament.

In its program history, Nebraska has had three College World Series teams (2001, 2002, 2005) and made a Super Regional in 2000. NU’s additional NCAA Tournament showings came in 1979, 1980, 1985, 1999, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2014 and 2016.

This year’s Super Regionals, consisting of the 16 Regionals winners, are set for June 9-11 or 10-12 on campus sites. The eight Super Regionals winners will advance to the College World Series, scheduled for June 17-27/28 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb.

— NU Athletics —

Duffy struggles as Royals get hammered by Cleveland 10-1

Posted on May 28, 2017

CLEVELAND (AP) — Indians manager Terry Francona admitted his team was frustrated after losing the first two games of their series against the Kansas City Royals.

Perhaps the defending AL champions play better that way.

Jason Kipnis went 4 for 4 with a home run and two RBI, Josh Tomlin pitched his first complete game in two years and the Indians rolled to a 10-1 win on Sunday.

“We needed a day like that,” Francona said. “It’s one day but I was happy for our hitters. They were able to relax a little bit.”

Kipnis, who reached in each of his five plate appearances, hit an RBI single in the third and a solo homer in the seventh.

The Indians took out some of their frustration with 18 hits, one short of their season high.

“We know we can be playing better,” Kipnis said. “Games like this only reassure us this is the kind of product we can roll out there when everyone’s going well. This is how good we can be.”

Austin Jackson drove in three runs for Cleveland, and Carlos Santana had three hits and two RBI. Michael Brantley and Jose Ramirez also had three hits apiece.

Tomlin (3-6) tossed a six-hitter for his first win since April 30. It was the right-hander’s first complete game since Sept. 15, 2015, also against Kansas City and No. 5 for his career.

“It means you did your job,” Tomlin said of finishing the game. “That’s a good feeling to know that. The offense put up great at-bats. They put a good lead up there. When we play games like that we’re a tough team to beat.”

Tomlin is 10-4 lifetime against the Royals.

“He’s always good against us because we’re an aggressive team,” Kansas City manager Ned Yost said. “He very seldom makes mistakes and he changes speeds so effectively.”

Royals starter Danny Duffy (4-4) allowed six runs in four-plus innings in his shortest outing of the season.

Rookie Jorge Bonifacio homered in the fifth for the Royals. The drive landed halfway up the bleachers in left field and traveled an estimated 437 feet.

Duffy missed first base trying to catch first baseman Eric Hosmer’s throw and fell to the ground on Brantley’s ground ball to start the fifth. The left-hander remained in the game, but was pulled after allowing singles to Santana and Edwin Encarnacion.

Tomlin struck out three and didn’t walk a batter.

Brantley, Roberto Perez and Bradley Zimmer also had RBI for the Indians, who had lost four of five.

The Royals went 4-5 on a road trip to Minnesota, New York and Cleveland.

GET TO THE POINT

Duffy didn’t mince any words when assessing his performance.

“I pitched lousy,” he said. “I didn’t execute anything. Not a fun day at the park today.”

HEADED TO BULLPEN

Indians right-hander Danny Salazar was sent to the bullpen with a 3-5 record and 5.50 ERA in 10 starts. Francona hopes Salazar can regain his confidence while pitching in a relief role.

“He’s not being banished to the bullpen,” Francona said. “We explained everything to him, why and what we’re trying to achieve. He’ll throw a bullpen tomorrow and we’ll get him back on the road to carving people up.”

WORTH NOTING

Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor didn’t start for the first time this season. He committed an error Friday and couldn’t make a leaping grab on a line drive Saturday.

Lindor has a 12-game hitting streak, matching a season high.

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Jason Hammel opens a three-game series against the Tigers. He has lost three straight starts, including a 3-0 decision to the Yankees on May 24.

Indians: RHP Carlos Carrasco begins a four-game series against Oakland. He is 2-0 with a 1.61 ERA in four career starts and five total outings against the Athletics.

— Associated Press —

Kansas AD Zenger signs extension through June 2021

Posted on May 28, 2017

LAWRENCE, Kan. – University of Kansas Athletics Director Sheahon Zenger has signed an amendment to his contract that extends that contract to June 2021.

“I’m very pleased that I will have the opportunity to continue to represent this great university and work alongside the outstanding coaches and student-athletes we have here at KU,” Zenger said. “I have really enjoyed sharing in the tremendous accomplishments so many of our teams have achieved over the past several years. Likewise, we are committed to doing everything we can to raise the level of success of every one of our teams.

“This is home for me, and I truly believe we’re poised for even more success in the near future,” Zenger continued, “and I can’t wait to share in that excitement as well.”

Zenger’s base pay will increase from $619,000 to $700,000.

“Since Sheahon’s arrival in Jan. 2011 Kansas Athletics has enjoyed success on and off the field,” said KU Chancellor Bernadette Gray Little. “We’ve had a team win a national championship, two teams reach NCAA Final Fours and multiple NCAA Tournament appearances by other sports. We’ve seen some $90 million in construction and renovation, from Rock Chalk Park to Memorial Stadium to the DeBruce Center. And academically, Athletics’ Graduation Success Rate and APR marks put us in excellent standing with the NCAA. I am confident that under Sheahon’s leadership Athletics will experience even more success in the coming years.”

KU head men’s basketball coach Bill Self is happy for Zenger and the department.

“Sheahon’s focus since he’s been here is to give the coaches what they need to be successful,” Self said. “We’ve got a bunch of teams doing really well, we’ve added great new facilities, and I can see things getting even better in the next few years.”

— KU Athletics —

Cardinals drop series finale at Colorado 8-4

Posted on May 28, 2017

DENVER (AP) — Boosted by a couple of stellar rookie pitchers, the Colorado Rockies are on top of the National League in the final days of May.

German Marquez pitched into the sixth inning, Gerardo Parra hit a three-run homer and the Rockies beat the St. Louis Cardinals 8-4 on Sunday.

Parra finished with three hits as the Rockies won a series for the 12th time this season. They have dropped two and split two others.

“That’s all we want to do, win series and keep going. It’s our mindset,” catcher Tony Wolters said. “We’re not just saying it, we’re doing it.”

Colorado’s longest winning streak this season is four games, a feat accomplished just twice this season. With Sunday’s victory, the Rockies have won six of eight largely behind a young staff that has grown up quickly.

Marquez (4-2) allowed two runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. He went 4-1 in May to help the Rockies’ rookie starters finish 12-3 for the month for the most wins by rookie starting pitchers since Oakland got 11 in September 2009, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

“We’ve been pretty steady on the mound, we’re playing sound and we have some guys that are hitting the ball,” manager Bud Black said.

The Rockies have done it against good teams, too. They have won series against two other division leaders as well as two of their closest competitors in the NL West.

“We’re on fire right now,” Parra said. “The big point is we’re getting great starting pitching.”

Colorado built a 4-0 lead on Alexi Amarista’s run-scoring groundout in the second and Parra’s drive in the fourth off Lance Lynn (4-3).

“The pitch to Parra didn’t move the way as much as I would like,” Lynn said. “It spun a little bit on me and he put a good swing on it.”

St. Louis got back into it on homers from Jedd Gyorko and Greg Garcia in the sixth. Tommy Pham’s solo shot to center off Chris Rusin in the seventh made it 4-3.

Colorado tacked on four runs in the eighth off Matt Bowman, two on Wolters’ single before John Brebbia got the final out in his major league debut.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: 2B Kolten Wong was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a left elbow strain, retroactive to Saturday. Wong was a late scratch from Saturday’s lineup.

IMPRESSIVE DEBUT

Paul DeJong’s first swing in the major leagues was a memorable one. DeJong, called up to take Wong’s roster spot, hit a 1-0 pitch off Greg Holland into the seats in left field in the ninth with his parents in the stands.

He is the ninth player in St. Louis history to homer in his first career at-bat and the first since pitcher Mark Worrell did it on June 5, 2008.

“I was just looking for a fastball in after a first-pitch ball,” DeJong said. “He slipped me something down in an area I wanted and put a pretty good swing on it.”

ROAD TO RECOVERY

Rockies right-hander Jon Gray, on the disabled list since April 14 with a stress fracture in his left foot, threw for the first time without a boot. Black said Gray threw 30 to 35 pitches Sunday morning and will do more baseball activities this week.

“Most of the work he’s going to do is strengthening the leg,” Black said. “There’s been things he hasn’t been able to do because he’s in that boot, strength-training things that all players need.”

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Mike Leake (5-2, 1.91 ERA) will make his second straight start against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday. Leake, who leads the NL in ERA, allowed one run in eight innings in a 6-1 win over the Dodgers on Wednesday night.

Rockies: RHP Tyler Chatwood (4-6, 4.50 ERA) will open a four-game, home-and-home series with Seattle on Monday. Chatwood has earned a decision in each of his 10 starts this season.

— Associated Press —

Escobar, Moustakas lead Royals to second straight win at Cleveland

Posted on May 27, 2017

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Kansas City Royals are feeling a little better after a couple successful days in Cleveland.

Alcides Escobar hit a tiebreaking two-run double in the sixth, Mike Moustakas homered and the Royals beat the Cleveland Indians 5-2 on Saturday.

Kansas City, an AL-worst 20-27 coming into the day, has won two straight this weekend against the Indians.

Jason Vargas (6-3) allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings. Kelvin Herrera worked the ninth for his second save in two days and No. 11 on the season.

“These are the kind of games we need to play,” Vargas said. “Momentum builders like that can really get you going.”

While Kansas City is feeling good again, Cleveland manager Terry Francona admitted his team is frustrated. The Indians have lost four of five since sweeping three games from Houston, which has the best record in the majors.

“We need to go out and play baseball every day like we love the game and the game is the most important (thing),” Francona said. “I know we need to do a better job of that.”

Cleveland right-hander Danny Salazar (3-5) allowed four runs, three earned, in 5 1/3 innings.

Royals manager Ned Yost and first baseman Eric Hosmer were ejected by plate umpire Bill Welke in the first inning. They were thrown out for arguing after it was ruled that Hosmer failed to check his swing and struck out with the bases loaded and no outs.

Kansas City loaded the bases with one out in the sixth. Alex Gordon hit a tying RBI single off Boone Logan, which brought Nick Goody out of Cleveland’s bullpen.

Escobar sent a line drive to the left side of the infield, but shortstop Francisco Lindor couldn’t make a leaping grab. The ball rolled into left-center field, scoring two runs.

Moustakas, who went 3 for 4 with a walk, added a leadoff drive in the ninth for his 13th of the season.

Salvador Perez put Kansas City ahead with a sacrifice fly in the first, but Lindor’s one-out homer tied the game in the bottom half. Jason Kipnis put Cleveland in front with an RBI single in the third.

Kipnis narrowly missed a grand slam in the fourth when his drive to the right-field seats was ruled foul. The call was upheld after a crew chief review.

Kansas City loaded the bases on an error, a hit and a walk to start the game. Hosmer tried to check his swing on a 1-2 pitch, but third base umpire David Rackley ruled he went around.

Hosmer was ejected after shouting and waving his hand at Rackley. Yost was tossed soon after he came on the field.

“He missed a couple of calls last night at home plate,” Hosmer said. “He goes from missing a ton of pitches last night to missing the first call his way today. To me, that’s unacceptable.”

VOICE OF REASON

Yost was ejected for the 40th time in his managerial career, but might have learned a valuable lesson.

“About 10 minutes after I got kicked out, my phone rang,” he said. “It was my 3-year-old grandson Jordan, asking, `Granddaddy, did you get thrown out of the game?’ I told him I did. He asked me if I had been put in timeout. I guess I kind of was put into timeout, being in here.”

BULLPEN BOUND?

With Corey Kluber likely returning to the rotation Thursday against Oakland, Salazar could be headed to a relief role. He walked a season-high five Saturday.

“We’ll put our heads together and see what’s the next best step for him,” Francona said. “I think he’s probably searching a little bit too.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: LHP Brian Flynn (broken ribs) began a minor league rehab assignment at Triple-A Omaha.

Indians: Kluber (strained lower back) was placed on the 10-day DL on May 3.

UP NEXT

Royals: LHP Danny Duffy held the Indians to one run in 6 2/3 innings, but got the loss at Kauffman Stadium on May 7.

Indians: RHP Josh Tomlin hasn’t won since beating the Royals on May 6 when he allowed one run in seven innings.

— Associated Press —

Northwest’s Cox and Laures earn All-America honors

Posted on May 27, 2017

Northwest Missouri State University track and field ‘s Ryan Cox and Shelley Laures each earned All-America honors on Saturday at the 2017 NCAA Division II National Championships.

– Cox capped his Bearcat career with a third place finish in the men’s 1,500, running 3:50.57.

– Laures earned a seventh place finish in the javelin, breaking a school record with a throw of 151-9 on her second attempt.

– Teammate Nicole Hopkins threw 131-8 to finish 18th in the women’s javelin.

– Cox again slowly moved up the field, running the first 300 in 48.45 to put him in eighth place. After getting into fourth place over the next two laps, Cox moved up one spot on the final lap, which he ran in 55.83.

– Laures threw 121-11 on her first attempt before marking 151-9 on the second attempt. On her first throw of the finals, she had a distance of 146-1.

– The meet was held at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

— Northwest Athletics —

Bonifacio’s hit caps Royals’ rally in 6-4 win over Indians

Posted on May 27, 2017

CLEVELAND (AP) — Jorge Bonifacio couldn’t stop smiling after leading the Kansas Royals to a comeback victory over the Cleveland Indians on Friday night.

Not only did his two-run double in the eighth inning give the Royals a 6-4 victory, the clutch hit came off relief ace Andrew Miller. It doesn’t get much better for a rookie in his second month as a big leaguer.

“It feels amazing,” Bonifacio said. “To have the game-winning hit against one of the best relievers in the game right now, that’s great for us.”

The Royals entered the game with the lowest winning percentage in the AL, but rallied from an early 4-0 deficit. Brandon Moss hit a three-run homer in the fourth and Mike Moustakas’ solo home run in the fifth tied the game.

“It was a great comeback win, down four and the guys kept fighting back,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “Bonny’s double was key and was a great at-bat. We’re down 4-0, then Mossy did a nice job on his home run.”

Shortstop Francisco Lindor’s fielding error placed runners on first and third before Bonifacio’s clutch hit.

“It’s on me, man,” Lindor said. “Today’s loss is on me. I messed up. I know it’s not my first time and it won’t be my last, but stuff like that can’t happen.”

Lorenzo Cain started the winning rally with a single off Bryan Shaw (1-1). Miller got Eric Hosmer to hit a ground ball, but Lindor booted a backhand attempt for his fourth error of the season.

“It ends up being a really big play obviously,” Indians manager Terry Francona said of the 23-year-old shortstop. “Sometimes because he’s been so good we forget he’s so young.”

Miller retired Salvador Perez on a foul out, but Bonifacio’s double to left-center on an 0-2 pitch scored both runners.

“The first pitch, I was looking for his fastball,” Bonifacio said. “After that, I was looking breaking ball all the way.”

Mike Minor (2-1) pitched two scoreless innings. Joakim Soria struck out Edwin Encarnacion with runners on second and third to end the eighth. Kelvin Herrera allowed a two-out single in the ninth, but struck out pinch-hitter Austin Jackson for his 10th save.

Jose Ramirez hit a two-out homer in the second. Lindor, Michael Brantley and Carlos Santana had RBI in Cleveland’s three-run third, but starter Mike Clevinger couldn’t hold the lead.

Both homers came off Clevinger, who is replacing injured staff ace Corey Kluber in the rotation.

Both teams were rained out Thursday — the Indians at home against Cincinnati and the Royals in New York. Clevinger and Royals starter Ian Kennedy had their starts moved back a day.

Clevinger allowed four runs in five-plus innings and a change could be coming soon in Cleveland’s rotation. Kluber made his first minor league rebab start Friday, throwing five scoreless innings for Double-A Akron.

Kennedy allowed four runs in five innings and remained winless since Sept. 11.

For the second time this month, a squirrel ran on the field but play was not interrupted. The squirrel scurried around the outfield during the bottom of the sixth before being shooed through a doorway in the center field wall by ballpark workers after the inning.

TOUGH OUTING

Being unable to hold the lead was the most disappointing part of the night for Clevinger.

“It feels like you’re letting down your family in there (the clubhouse),” he said. “They had something going and I slowed it down. Not just slowed it down but gave up the lead.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: LHP Scott Alexander (strained right hamstring) began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Omaha. The reliever has been on the 10-day DL since May 9.

Indians: Jackson (strained left toe) was activated from the 10-day DL on Friday. He was out since May 2.

UP NEXT

Royals: LHP Jason Vargas makes his 10th start of the season, his most since 2014.

Indians: RHP Danny Salazar will pitch on five days’ rest as a result of Thursday’s rainout.

— Associated Press —

St. Louis gets shutout at Colorado 10-0

Posted on May 27, 2017

DENVER (AP) — Rookie Antonio Senzatela praised his defense. Manager Bud Black applauded his pitcher.

Charlie Blackmon went ahead and lauded everything.

Senzatela threw eight sharp innings to grab a share of the major league lead in wins, Blackmon had a homer and run-scoring single as part of an eight-run eighth and the Colorado Rockies beat the St. Louis Cardinals 10-0 on Friday night.

“We’re doing a little bit of everything and it’s adding up to some competitive baseball,” said Blackmon, whose team has the best record in the NL (32-18).

Fresh off a 7-3 road swing, the Rockies kept right on rolling behind Senzatela, who joins Clayton Kershaw, Dallas Keuchel and Ervin Santana with seven victories this season.

Senzatela (7-1) scattered five hits and showed plenty of poise as the 22-year-old escaped trouble courtesy of four double plays .

“He threw strikes with the fastball where I think in the previous couple (starts), the fastball was just a little bit off the plate,” Black said. “Today, he dialed it in.”

Carlos Martinez (3-4) took the loss despite a quality start in which he allowed three runs in 7 1/3 innings while striking out nine.

“I felt extremely good. I tried to stay positive and keep the game low on runs,” Martinez said through a translator.

The Rockies turned a 2-0 game into a rout with eight runs on nine hits in the eighth. Blackmon had a chance to finish off the cycle in his second at-bat of the inning, needing only a double. He hit a sharp single to center, with the crowd urging him to stretch it. He took a wide turn and retreated back to first.

“You have to have some respect for the game,” Blackmon explained. “That to me is not a situation where you try to stretch something into a double, just for the sake of getting a double.”

Mark Reynolds had a big game against his former team with an RBI single and a two-run homer.

The defense came up big behind Senzatela with left fielder Ian Desmond making a diving catch in the seventh. Nolan Arenado made a quick-reacting play at third in the eighth to rob Yadier Molina of a hit.

Senzatela was certainly impressed with the leather.

“That’s really big, because they make good plays and I feel like, `OK, they got me. I need to throw a good game for them,” Senzatela said.

Senzatela finished with 15 groundball outs. None was bigger than in the sixth with a runner on third and two outs. Dexter Fowler hit a roller to Reynolds, who flipped the ball to Senzatela covering first to get the speedy Fowler.

“They made plays when they had to,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: OF Stephen Piscotty was sent home to “take care of things on a personal level,” Matheny said. … INF Jose Martinez (groin) was sent to Single-A Palm Beach for a rehab assignment.

Rockies: RHP Jon Gray (stress fracture in left foot) is out of his boot and will throw about 50 pitches in a bullpen session Sunday. He’s hopeful he will be allowed to throw the session without stepping back into the boot.

BIG AUDIENCE

There were 40,312 fans in attendance with the Rockies playing well and the Cardinals in town.

“It’s always fun to play in front of a packed house,” Reynolds said. “It gives us energy, brings excitement to the daily grind of playing.”

THIS & THAT

The Rockies are 13-3 in the first game of a series this season. … Arenado had two doubles. … The only position player in the lineup without a hit was OF Carlos Gonzalez. … Pinch-hitter Gerardo Parra batted twice in the eighth, including a two-run double. … Molina extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a single in the second.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright (4-3, 4.81 ERA) makes his 330th career appearance for the Cardinals on Saturday. That will tie him with Larry Jackson (1955-62) for 10th on the team’s all-time list. Wainwright is 9-1 with a 1.70 ERA in 14 career appearances against Colorado.

Rockies: Another rookie takes the mound for Colorado. This time, it’s LHP Kyle Freeland (5-2, 3.31 ERA), who is 2-2 with a 3.80 ERA at Coors Field.

— Associated Press —

Tigers get eliminated from SEC Tournament by South Carolina

Posted on May 25, 2017

HOOVER, Ala. – South Carolina hit four homers as it eliminated Mizzou Baseball from the SEC Tournament with a 10-2 win Thursday at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. With Mizzou trailing 3-0 in the fourth inning, junior Alex Samples (Bridgeport, Texas) just missed a game-tying homer off the top of the wall for an RBI double. South Carolina’s Carlos Cortes then hit a three-run homer in the top of the fifth inning to sink the Tigers. Mizzou sits at 36-23 on the year, winning its most games since 2008, and will now await its NCAA Tournament fate. The selection show is Monday (May 29) at 11 a.m.

Mizzou junior RHP Cole Bartlett (Williamsburg, Ind.) took the loss, pitching on short rest. He allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits with four strikeouts and two walks. He surrendered three homers, including the Cortes shot that put the game away. South Carolina’s Will Crowe earned the win, improving to 6-5 on the year. Cortes was the story for the Gamecocks, hitting a pair of three-run homers in the game.

After Mizzou failed to take advantage of a two-base error in the bottom of the first, Carolina drew first blood, getting a solo shot from DH Alex Destino on a 3-2 pitch that went over the home bullpen in right field. It was Destino’s 10th homer of the year. The Tigers then botched a double-play ball with one out, putting runners on second and third after the error. That led to an RBI infield single to give the Gamecocks a 2-0 lead early.

After Crowe retired the first two batters in the third inning, Mizzou mounted a rally that was sparked by a Connor Brumfield (Columbia, Mo.) walk. Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) singled and Robbie Glendinning (Scarborough, Australia) walked to load the bases for Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.). Crowe got Bond to go 0-2 and then struck him out two pitches later to strand the bases loaded.

South Carolina carried the momentum from escaping that jam into the fourth inning as Jonah Bride hit a one-out solo homer to give the Gamecocks a 3-0 lead.

Mizzou got on the board and nearly tied the game in the bottom of the fourth as Samples hit a 1-2 pitch off the top of the wall in left field, missing a game-tying three-run homer by inches. It turned out to be an RBI double as Kameron Misner (Poplar Bluff, Mo.) scored from third on the play. Brumfield then struck out to strand a pair as Mizzou left six men on base through six.

Cortes then delivered the big blow, a three-run homer to right field, putting the Gamecocks on top, 6-1. That turned out to be the decisive homer as South Carolina hung four more runs in the sixth as it advanced to the next round to face either Kentucky or LSU in an elimination game. Junior Nelson Mompierre (Miami, Fla.) hit a ninth-inning pinch-hit homer for the second consecutive game.

— Mizzou Athletics —