Sports – Page 407 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Griffon women’s tennis falls at Quincy 5-4

Posted on September 22, 2016September 22, 2016

QUINCY, Ill – The Missouri Western Women’s Tennis team fell to Quincy University 5-4 in a dual. For the second straight week, the dual would be decided in the #1 singles match.

Quincy University jumped out to an early lead on the Griffons, taking all three doubles matches. Missouri Western would then flip the script and take four of the six singles matches. The Griffons would take straight set wins in #2 singles, #4 singles and #5 singles.

At #2 singles, Yasmine El Ghazi won 6-3, 6-3. Sofia Aguuilera won 6-2, 6-3 at #4 singles and Federica Salmaso took the #5 singles, 6-3, 6-1. MWSU would pick up a three set win from Joanna Abreu Roman, 6-1, 2-6, 6-3. Emilee Dent would fall at #6 singles. Karolina Ström found herself in the match-clincher at #1 singles for the second consecutive dual. Ström would take the first set 7-5 before falling in the next two.

MWSU also picked up wins from Kaylene Quirk and Nicole Bonham in extra match play. The Griffons will travel to Southern Nazarene on Friday, Sept. 30 for a 3:30 p.m. match.

— MWSU Athletics —

Royals drop second straight to Cleveland; eliminated from AL Central race

Posted on September 21, 2016

CLEVELAND (AP) — Corey Kluber allowed two runs and struck out nine in 6 1/3 innings, and the Cleveland Indians defeated the Kansas City Royals 4-3 on Wednesday night, eliminating the reigning World Series champions from the AL Central race.

The Indians, who led Detroit by seven games in the division going into Wednesday, reduced their magic number for clinching the Central to five.

Carlos Santana was 4 for 5 with an RBI single in the eighth. Jose Ramirez drove in the go-ahead run in the fifth with his third double of the game.

Kluber (18-9) matched his career high in wins and is 10-1 in his last 14 starts, strengthening his case to win his second AL Cy Young Award in three years.

Cody Allen allowed Salvador Perez’s leadoff homer in the ninth, but recorded his 28th save in 31 opportunities. Catcher Roberto Perez threw out pinch-runner Terrance Gore trying to steal second for the first out and Allen retired the final two batters.

Ian Kennedy (11-10) allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings and lost for the first time since July 25.

The Royals reached the World Series in each of the last two years and defeated the Mets in five games to win their first title since 1985 last season.

Kansas City was favored to repeat as division champions, but dealt with injuries to key players all season. Perez, the Royals’ All-Star catcher, third baseman Mike Moustakas, left fielder Alex Gordon, center fielder Lorenzo Cain and closer Wade Davis all missed significant time.

The Royals haven’t been in first place since June 15 after they swept a three-game series from the Indians that moved the teams into a tie. Kansas City is 42-45 since and has fallen to third place.

Lonnie Chisenhall’s RBI single put Cleveland ahead in the second. Run-scoring singles by Kendrys Morales and Perez gave Kansas City the lead in the third when the Royals strung together four straight two-out hits.

Santana doubled to start the fifth and scored the tying run on Jason Kipnis’ double. Ramirez’s double to center broke the tie.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Indians: RHP Carlos Carrasco (broken right hand) has been fitted with a soft cast. He was struck by Ian Kinsler’s line drive Saturday.

UP NEXT

Royals: LHP Jason Vargas returned from Tommy John surgery and pitched three innings Saturday against the White Sox — his first appearance since July 21, 2015 — allowing one run.

Indians: RHP Mike Clevinger, who will be in the rotation down the stretch, starts the series finale. The rookie is 2-1 with a 3.52 ERA in seven games, including four starts, at Progressive Field.

— Associated Press —

St. Louis gets beat by Colorado 11-1 in series finale

Posted on September 21, 2016

DENVER (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals picked up a win before a pitch was even thrown when reserve outfielder Jose Martinez captured a playful, pregame staredown with Colorado reliever Carlos Estevez.

Too bad for the Cardinals that didn’t count in the standings. They sure could’ve used it.

Nolan Arenado hit a grand slam, German Marquez pitched five solid innings for his first major league win and the Rockies slowed the Cardinals’ playoff chase with an 11-1 victory on Wednesday.

The Cardinals, who had won four straight, entered the day tied with New York and San Francisco atop the NL wild-card standings. The Mets and Giants both played later.

Arenado broke open the game in the second with his NL-leading 39th homer of the season. His fourth career slam made it 6-1.

It’s a pitch that simply caught too much of the plate.

“Stayed straight,” starter Luke Weaver said. “For it to flatten out at such a big moment right there is disappointing.”

Weaver (1-4) was roughed up by the Rockies, surrendering seven hits and six runs in two innings. Before this game, the right-hander had allowed 12 earned runs in his last seven starts combined.

The Cardinals had some early momentum when that standoff went their way just after the anthem.

Here’s how it unfolded: Estevez and Martinez stood near their dugouts — with their baseball cap over their heart — and refused to back down until the other moved first.

Estevez blinked first and made a winner of Martinez, who celebrated before retreating to the dugout. Estevez said manager Walt Weiss pulled him in out of fear of being ejected.

“It’s not fun to have one less bullpen guy,” Estevez explained.

Martinez was going to see this thing through to the end — no matter the consequences.

“The umpire asked me, `Why you do that?’ I’m like, `When you’re a rookie and a big league guy asks you to stand up there, I stand up there,” said Martinez, who had a pinch-hit single in the seventh. “The most important thing is we have fun and the fans enjoyed it.”

This was a memorable day for Marquez (1-0), who made his first big league start after three appearances out of the bullpen. He allowed one run and struck out three.

At 21 years, 212 days, Marquez was the second-youngest pitcher in Rockies’ history to earn his first win, the team announced. The youngest was Jamey Wright (21-206).

“A great pitching performance from the kid today,” Weiss said. “It’s easy — easy velocity. Very effortless.”

The hard-throwing Marquez was acquired in January as part of the deal that sent outfielder Corey Dickerson to Tampa Bay. Marquez pitched a majority of the season for Double-A Hartford, where he was chosen as the pitcher of the year in the Eastern League.

Marquez worked his way out of several dicey situations against the best road team in baseball. He allowed his only run in the second, when Jeremy Hazelbaker led off with a double and later scored on Kolten Wong’s sacrifice fly.

The Cardinals took two of three from Colorado during a series in which their starting pitchers were brilliant at the plate. Carlos Martinez, Adam Wainwright and Weaver went a combined 4 for 4 with two doubles and six RBI. Weaver had a single in his only plate appearance.

DJ LeMahieu got two hits and drove in two runs to raise his average to .351. He holds a slight lead over Washington’s Daniel Murphy in the NL batting race.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: OF Matt Holliday (broken right thumb) is hoping to take live batting practice Friday at Wrigley Field before the Chicago Cubs series. … C Yadier Molina had the day off.

Rockies: Third base coach Stu Cole sat out another day after being hit in the head by a ball that caromed off another during batting practice Tuesday.

THIS & THAT

Rockies catcher Tom Murphy had a three-run homer as part of a five-run seventh. … Arenado’s grand slam gives him 128 RBI this season, which leads the majors.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: After a day off, RHP Mike Leake (9-10, 4.54 ERA) opens a three-game series Friday in Chicago. RHP Jake Arrieta (17-7, 2.96) goes for the Cubs.

Rockies: RHP Tyler Chatwood (11-9, 4.13) takes the mound Thursday to begin a four-game series in Los Angeles against the Dodgers. Chatwood is 7-1 with a 1.77 ERA in 11 road starts this season.

— Associated Press —

Royals lose at Cleveland on Guyer’s walk-off pinch hit

Posted on September 20, 2016

CLEVELAND (AP) — Pinch-hitter Brandon Guyer singled in a run with two outs in the ninth inning, helping the Cleveland Indians move closer to an AL Central title with a 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night.

Guyer’s hit off Joakim Soria landed just fair in the right-field corner and scored Coco Crisp. Guyer was the third pinch-hitter of the inning used by manager Terry Francona.

Cleveland led Detroit by seven games in the division entering Tuesday. The Indians haven’t won the AL Central since 2007.

Brian Flynn (1-2) walked Jose Ramirez to start the ninth, then fumbled a bunt by Crisp, batting for Lonnie Chisenhall, down the first-base line for an error.

Catcher Salvador Perez threw Ramirez out at third on Abraham Almonte’s sacrifice attempt. Rajai Davis, batting for Tyler Naquin, hit a hard ground ball that deflected off Soria’s foot and rolled to first baseman Eric Hosmer for the out.

Guyer then delivered with the winner that fell in despite a sliding effort by right fielder Paulo Orlando.

The Royals, the reigning World Series champions, will be eliminated from contention in the division if they lose to Cleveland on Wednesday night.

Kansas City advanced a runner to third with one out in the eighth, but Andrew Miller (9-1) struck out pinch-hitter Christian Colon and Whit Merrifield before retiring the side in order in the ninth.

Carlos Santana led off the third with his 33rd home run, a drive deep into the lower deck in right field. Alex Gordon’s RBI single tied the game in the fifth.

Indians starter Josh Tomlin allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings. The right-hander held Kansas City to five hits, struck out three and didn’t walk a batter.

Edinson Volquez allowed Santana’s homer but held the Indians in check over 6 2/3 innings. He gave up four hits, struck out five and walked three.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: OF Lorenzo Cain (left wrist inflammation), who last played on Sept. 9 at the White Sox, is traveling with the team.

Indians: Pitching coach Mickey Callaway said there’s a “small chance” Danny Salazar (strained forearm) will be available in the bullpen if Cleveland makes the playoffs. Salazar hasn’t pitched since Sept. 9 but played catch at 60 feet Tuesday.

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Ian Kennedy is unbeaten in his last 10 starts, going 5-0 with a 2.14 ERA. His last road loss occurred July 1 at Philadelphia.

Indians: RHP Corey Kluber seeks his career high-tying 18th victory. He is 9-5 with a 3.27 ERA in 15 home starts this season.

— Associated Press —

Missouri Western finishes tied for 15th at NSU Men’s Golf Classic

Posted on September 20, 2016

MUSKOGEE, OKLA. – The Missouri Western Men’s Golf team finished with an 894 for a final team score at the NSU Men’s Golf Classic in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

The Griffons were led by Jakob Rudosky and Patrick McCarthy who both finished with a 220. Rudosky and McCarthy had identical scores of 73 for each round of day two. Kevin Kim shot a 226 and finished both rounds with a 75 for the second day. Lucas Horseman came in with a 228 for the tournament, with a final round of 75. Jake Giles ended the tournament with a 246 for the Griffons.

Missouri Western’s completed its first 54 hole tournament of the fall season, after weather shortened last week’s UNK Invite. The Griffons travel to Lake City, Minnesota on Oct. 3 and Oct. 4 for the JR Watkins Invite hosted by Winona State University.

— MWSU Athletics —

Northwest volleyball sweeps Truman State Tuesday

Posted on September 20, 2016

By David Boyce

MARYVILLE, Mo. – In Northwest Missouri State’s 25-19, 25-23, 25-20 victory over Truman State Tuesday evening at Bearcat Arena, the players showed the traits of why they earned a spot in the American Volleyball Coaches Association top 25 for the first time in school history.

The No. 22-ranked Bearcats improved to 12-0 in front of a spirited crowd of 329 fans.

“Personally, I don’t like thinking about the rankings,” said Northwest senior outside hitter Miranda Foster. “I know being 22 is an awesome step for our program, but we are hungry for more. There is more in our tank, and we know that.

“It was really important for us to get this win because people talk and hype us up and that is a good thing. But we have to keep our heads on and understand we have to take it point by point. It was important for us to focus on this match.”

The Bearcats started the match without one of their leading hitters, senior middle hitter Jackie Becker and her back-up, sophomore middle hitter Sofia Schleppenbach.

But the outstanding hitting of Foster and sophomore Maddy Bruder more than made up for the loss of two key injured players. Bruder finished with a team-high 15 kills and Foster added nine.

Sprinkling in kills were junior Alexis Williams and junior Darcy Sunderman. They gave the Bearcats more than enough firepower to beat Truman State. Sunderman had eight kills and Williams added six.

Putting the hitters in favorable positions for kills was junior setter Sarah Dannettell, who had 34 assists. And keeping the ball alive for the Bearcats was sophomore libero Olivia Nowakowski, who had 21 digs.

“We have been talking since preseason about the depth of our team,” Foster said. “I think tonight was just another test of that. Yes, Jackie is one of our key players, and Sofia is vital to our team, too. Tonight proved high vital every single one of us are. It was important for us to get this win. We did well.”

The Bearcats showed in the first set that they weren’t going to allow Truman State to pull off an upset. Tied at 10-10, Northwest scored the next three points and never faced a tie score for the rest of the first set. With a 17-15 lead, the Bearcats scored six straight points for a commanding 23-15 lead.

During the second set, the Bearcats revealed another necessary characteristic of a top 25 team. Northwest was trailing 6-4 when it scored seven straight points for an 11-6 lead. The Bearcats appeared to be rolling to an easy second set, but Truman State had other ideas.

The Bulldogs closed to 17-16 and had all the momentum. Northwest needed to make a play to halt Truman State’s run. Bruder came up with a block for a Northwest point.

Truman State kept battling even when it faced a 23-20 deficit. At 24-21, the Bulldogs twice fought off set point. On the third set point, they made a couple of nice saves, but had no answer when Bruder finished off the set with a strong kill.

“The biggest thing that was going through my head was put the ball away and finish this rally because it was definitely a big back and forth, back and forth rally,” Bruder said. “Sarah put me in a great position to split the block. Sarah found it. It was all my teammates. I just saw the hole in the block and went swinging for it. I terminated the ball, got the rally over, got the game over.”

Another key component of a top 25 team is to maintain intensity with a commanding 2-0 lead. Northwest did exactly that late in the third set as Truman State pushed the Bearcats to play at a high level.

Truman State held several leads midway through the third set, including 12-11. Northwest moved in front 16-14, but the Bulldogs fought back to tie the set at 18-18-18 and 19-19.

The point of the set came next. Dannettell made the perfect set, placing the ball just above the net for Sunderman to make a powerful kill that was impossible to dig.

“It was beautiful,” Sunderman said of the set. “I was struggling at the beginning. I decided I am going to focus on my feet and attack the ball with my feet and the rest would come through, and it worked out. Sarah gave me a good set to put the ball away and I did. I did my job.”

Momentum swung completely in Northwest’s favor for the rest of the set. The Bearcats scored five of the last six points after Sunderman’s kill to finish off the match.

“One thing we focused on was staying at our level,” Sunderman said. “After that, we really pressed forward and played at our level.”

— Northwest Athletics —

Missouri releases 2016-2017 women’s basketball schedule

Posted on September 20, 2016

COLUMBIA, MO. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball announced its full 2016-17 schedule on Tuesday. The Tigers will host 18 guaranteed home games at Mizzou Arena, including two exhibition contests and 16 regular season matchups. Mizzou could potentially face 11 opponents that competed in the 2016 NCAA Tournament.

“Looking at our full schedule, we will have 16 games at home and that is certainly our favorite place to play,” head coach Robin Pingeton said. “The support from our community and the environment that they help create has been really fun and special and we appreciate everyone’s support. We had the largest increase in attendance in Division I women’s basketball last year and it is my hope that we will be able to continue to build on that.”

Mizzou opens its slate with a pair of exhibition games against Central Missouri and Truman State on Nov. 1 and Nov. 7, respectively. The Tigers begin the regular season by hosting Abilene Christian at Mizzou Arena in the first round of the 2016 Preseason WNIT. This is the first time Mizzou has competed in the 16-team tournament, which features three guaranteed games and potential matchups against Nebraska, Washington and Notre Dame, among others. The second round is set for Nov. 13/14, the semifinals will take place Nov. 17 and the championship game is slated for Nov. 20.

“We are excited to not only start our season playing at home in Mizzou Arena but to also be participating in the prestigious WNIT tournament,” Coach Pingeton said. “They have put together a great field that I know will be very competitive.”

Following the Preseason WNIT, Mizzou returns home on Nov. 22 to face Indiana State for the second time in program history. Over Thanksgiving, the Tigers will head to Freeport, Bahamas, for the 2016 Junkanoo Jam. At the holiday invitational, Mizzou clashes with Creighton on Nov. 25 at 1:15 p.m. CT. A day later, Coach Pingeton’s squad will play either Dayton or Georgia Tech.

Mizzou then comes back to Columbia for two home games against Western Illinois and Missouri State on Nov. 29 and Dec. 2 before traveling to Indianapolis on Dec. 4 to square off with IUPUI. After that trip, the Tigers host four consecutive contests at Mizzou Arena vs. SIU Edwardsville, Wichita State, UT Martin and UC Riverside. Mizzou is a combined 13-0 all-time against those four programs.

The Tigers round out the nonconference slate with a road trip to Saint Louis on Dec. 21. Mizzou has never lost to the Billikens in 20 all-time meetings.

The Tigers open Southeastern Conference play with a home contest against Georgia on New Year’s Day before hitting the road to face Kentucky on Jan. 5. Both of those games will air on SEC Network. The Tigers host Alabama on Jan. 8 and then travel to LSU on Jan. 12 and Vanderbilt on Jan. 15. After an SEC Network-televised home matchup with Texas A&M on Jan. 19, Mizzou heads to rival Arkansas on Jan. 23.

A quick homestand the following week features contests against Auburn on Jan. 26 and Kentucky on Jan. 30. Mizzou hits the road Feb. 5 to take on Mississippi State at 1:30 p.m. on ESPNU. The Tigers knocked off the then-No. 6 Bulldogs last season, 66-54. Mizzou ends a road swing with a trip to national power Tennessee on Feb. 9, which will air on SEC Network.

After hosting Arkansas on Feb. 12 and traveling to Florida on Feb. 16, the Tigers will square off with vaunted South Carolina at Mizzou Arena on Feb. 19. That matchup will be televised on ESPN2.

Mizzou will wrap up its regular season with senior night vs. Ole Miss on Feb. 23 and a road game at Alabama on Feb. 26. The SEC Tournament will be held March 1-5 in Greenville, S.C.

“We are really looking forward to this season,” Coach Pingeton said. “The team has put in a lot of work over the last several months. None of us are satisfied and we want more, but we understand that only comes with a lot of hard work.”

Click here for full schedule.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Benton hangs on to defeat Savannah 46-37

Posted on September 19, 2016

The Benton football team snapped a two-game losing streak as they beat Savannah 46-37 Monday night at Sparks Field.

The game was rescheduled from last Friday after the field was too wet to play on.

The Cardinals, who improve to 2-3 this season and 1-2 in the MEC, led wire-to-wire but had to hang on for the win.

Benton jumped out to a 26-0 lead in the first quarter before the Savages started to rally. Savannah hadn’t scored a touchdown since week one of the season, but they started to mount a comeback in the second quarter with 14 unanswered points and they trailed 33-17 at halftime.

Savannah pulled to within one possession twice in the second half as they trailed 33-30 and 39-37, but Benton answered both times with a scoring drive of their own.

The Savages remain winless as they are 0-5 this season and 0-3 in the MEC.

It’s a short week for both teams as they each play Friday. Benton travels to Maryville and Savannah plays host to Cameron.

Missouri Media High School Football Rankings

Posted on September 19, 2016

CLASS 6

Rank, team, Rec., Pts., LW
1. CBC (12), 4-1, 138, 1
2. Blue Springs (2), 4-1, 126, 2
3. Kirkwood, 4-1, 105, 3
4. Rockhurst, 5-0, 101, 5
5. Jefferson City, 4-1, 75, 6
6. Hazelwood Central, 5-0, 73, 7
7. Lee’s Summit, 4-1, 44, 10
8. Springfield Kickapoo, 4-1, 41, 4
9. Raymore-Peculiar, 4-1, 38, NR
10. Eureka, 4-1, 19, 8

Dropped out: No. 9 SLUH

Also receiving votes: Park Hill (3-2), 4; SLUH (3-2), 3; Lee’s Summit West (3-2), 2; Blue Springs South (3-2), 1

CLASS 5

Rank, team, Rec., Pts., LW
1. Chaminade (12), 4-1, 136, 1
2. Battle (2), 5-0, 123, 2
3. Staley, 4-1, 113, 3
4. Liberty, 5-0, 93, 4
5. Glendale, 5-0, 81, 7
6. Nixa, 5-0, 76, 5
7. Fort Zumwalt North, 4-1, 64, 6
8. Park Hill South, 4-1, 39, T9
9. Jackson, 4-1, 19, NR
10. Liberty North, 2-3, 9, 8
Dropped out: No. T9 Timberland

Also receiving votes: Timberland (4-1), 6; Vianney (1-4), 5; William Chrisman (5-0), 3; Pattonville (2-3), 2; Carthage (5-1), 1

CLASS 4

Rank, team, Rec., Pts., LW
1. Kearney (14), 5-0, 140, 1
2. Carl Junction, 4-1, 121, 4
3. Parkway North, 4-1, 108, 2
4. Hannibal, 4-1, 80, 7
5. Platte County, 3-2, 77, 3
6. St. Dominic, 5-0, 69, 5
7. Webb City, 3-2, 67, 8
8. Ladue, 4-1, 48, 9
9. Hillsboro, 5-0, 24, 10
10. Smithville, 5-0, 19, NR

Dropped out: No. 6 Harrisonville

Also receiving votes: Harrisonville (3-2), 17

CLASS 3

Rank, team, Rec., Pts., LW
1. Maryville (12), 5-0, 138, 1
2. Blair Oaks (2), 5-0, 128, 2
3. Center, 5-0, 100, 4
4. Monett, 4-1, 90, 5
5. McCluer South-Berkley, 5-0, 78, 6
6. John Burroughs, 3-2, 63, 3
7. Park Hills Central, 5-0, 58, 7
8. Richmond, 5-0, 57, 8
9. Mexico, 3-2, 27, 9
10. Osage, 5-0, 24, 10

Also receiving votes: Odessa (3-2), 5; Hogan Prep (5-0), 1; Oak Grove (3-2), 1

CLASS 2

Rank, team, Rec., Pts., LW
1. Lamar (14), 4-0, 140, 1
2. Mtn. View-Liberty, 5-0, 123, 2
3. Centralia, 5-0, 114, 3
4. Mountain Grove, 5-0, 92, 4
5. Trinity, 5-0, 78, 5
6. Lutheran North, 4-1, 66, 7
7. Malden, 5-0, 63, 6
8. Fair Grove, 5-0, 42, 8
9. Macon, 5-0, 27, 9
10. Lawson, 4-1, 16, 10

Also receiving votes: South Callaway (5-0), 7; Brookfield (3-2), 1; Lexington (5-0), 1

CLASS 1

Rank, team, Rec., Pts., LW
1. Valle Catholic (14), 5-0, 140, 1
2. Marceline, 5-0, 123, 2
3. Hamilton-Penney, 5-0, 114, 3
4. Lincoln, 5-0, 98, 4
5. Hayti, 5-0, 81, 7
6. Cass-Midway, 5-0, 70, 8
7. East Buchanan, 4-1, 49, 10
8. Maysville, 4-1, 23, NR
9. Polo, 4-1, 18, 6
T10. Monroe City, 4-1, 15, NR
T10. Lockwood, 4-1, 15, 5

Dropped out: No. 9 Westran

Also receiving votes: Ash Grove (5-0), 8; Westran (4-1), 6; Wellington-Napoleon (4-1), 5; Thayer (3-2), 5

Ventura posts first complete-game win, Royals beat White Sox

Posted on September 19, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Yordano Ventura kept his pitch count down, which enabled him to go nine innings for the first time in the majors.

Ventura picked up his first complete-game victory, Kendrys Morales hit a three-run homer and the Kansas City Royals defeated the Chicago White Sox 8-3 Monday.

The Royals have won three straight, keeping their faint playoff hopes flickering with 12 games remaining. The Royals went 14-5 against the White Sox this year.

“My goal today was try to get as many outs as I can as quick as I can and go deep in the game and that’s what I did today,” Ventura said with catching coach Pedro Grifol as his translator. “I’m happy with it.”

Ventura (11-11) gave up nine hits, struck out five and walked one. His only other complete game in the majors was a 3-2 loss July 28 at Texas.

“He was outstanding,” Royals catcher Drew Butera said. “He was efficient with his pitches. He had great movement, great life. He was really good.”

Ventura had allowed 10 runs, 17 hits and six walks in 11 1/3 innings in losing his previous two starts. He threw only 16 pitches in a 10-batter span to end the fifth and into the seventh.

“He did a phenomenal job of managing his pitch-count,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “He put himself in a position with a five-run lead to have a complete-game. He got through eight with 92 pitches. He just pitched a great game.”

Morales homered off Carlos Rodon (7-10) in a four-run fifth. Morales homered in back-to-back games, bringing his total to 29. The last Royal to hit 30 home runs in a season was Jermaine Dye, with 33 in 2000.

Paulo Orlando and Alcides Escobar homered in the second for the Royals. Eric Hosmer drove in two runs with a pair of singles, giving him 97 RBI.

Billy Burns had three hits, was hit by a pitch, stole a base and scored two runs.

“They’re a good ballclub,” Rodon said. “Guys that have been in the game for a while and just understand that, make me throw pitches and get deep in the count, and they did a really good job of that. They swing the bat well, but our guys swung the bat well, too. Some hard balls hit and some home runs, and that’s baseball.”

Jose Abreu and Carlos Sanchez hit solo home runs for the White Sox. Todd Frazier added an RBI single and had two hits off Ventura.

“He’s throwing 97, 98 (mile per hour),” Frazier said late in the game. “That’s tough to pick up, tough to lay off, too, as well, because it looks like a strike and comes off. He had good command, basically.”

DUAL EJECTIONS

Plate umpire Toby Basner ejected Escobar in the fifth for arguing balls and strikes. When Yost interceded, Basner thumbed him, too.

TRAINER’S ROOM

White Sox: INF Tyler Saladino (sore left calf) was out of the lineup for the third consecutive game. “We could play him, but I think an extra day would be best for him,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura. … DH Justin Morneau (neck discomfort) returned to the lineup after missing the previous six games.

UP NEXT

White Sox: RHP James Shields, who is 0-5 with a 9.37 ERA in his past nine starts, will start Tuesday at Philadelphia. RHP Jake Thompson will start for the Phillies.

Royals: RHP Edinson Volquez, who gave up nine runs on seven hits and four walks in 3 1/3 innings in a Thursday loss to Oakland, will start the series opener at Cleveland. The Indians will counter with RHP Josh Tomlin.

— Associated Press —