Sports – Page 577 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Former KU standout Aaron Miles joins Jayhawk men’s basketball staff

Posted on September 9, 2015

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Former Kansas standout guard Aaron Miles has returned to his alma mater and will be the assistant director of student-athlete development, KU men’s basketball coach Bill Self announced Wednesday.

“Aaron’s basketball career may not be over, but he is certainly going to be forced to miss this year because of a torn labrum that required surgery,” Self said. “I’ve always told Aaron I wanted him to work for me someday. This is an opportunity for him to get a jump start toward the coaching profession, see how he enjoys it and if he would want to make a career of it after his playing days are over.”

Originally from Portland, Oregon, during his professional career, mainly overseas, Miles has made Lawrence his second home since 2008.

“I love helping people. I love basketball and I love the University of Kansas,” Miles said. “This is an ideal situation for me to be able to do all three of those things. I am thankful to Coach Self for this golden opportunity to work under him and learn from his staff. Everybody in this office is special and I can learn from them all.”

A four-year starter at Kansas from 2002-05, Miles set the KU and Big 12 Conference all-time assists record with 954 assists, which ranks ninth in the NCAA Division I career record book. A 2005 KU graduate who was also a two-time Academic All-Big 12 selection, Miles ended his college career with 1,183 points (36th on the KU career list), 264 steals (third) and 105 three-pointers (tied for 21st). His 137 career starts are second on the KU all-time list, while his 16 NCAA Tournament games played are tied for first in school history.

As a Jayhawk, Miles competed in two Final Fours, in 2002 in Atlanta and in 2003 in New Orleans. In his junior season KU advanced to the NCAA Tournament Regional final in St. Louis. Miles won three Big 12 regular-season championships, his third coming in his senior year in 2004-05, the first of the current 11-straight titles held by KU. In 2002, Miles was the starting point guard on the only team in Big 12 Conference history to go undefeated (16-0) in league play. Additionally, he appeared on the coaches’ All-Big 12 teams his sophomore (honorable mention), junior (third team) and senior (second team) seasons.

Following his KU career, Miles competed for the Golden State Warriors of the NBA and the Fort Worth Flyers of the NBA Development League during the 2005-06 season. He then played in the Euroleague, where he played for several teams from 2006 to 2010. He competed for Elan Bearnais Pau-Orthez, which won the French Cup in 2007. The following season he participated with the Spanish ACB team Cajasol Sevilla. Miles played two seasons in Greece – with Panionios in 2008-09 and Aric BC in 2009-10. While with Panionios, he was selected to the HEBA Greek All-Star Game in 2009 and 2010.

Miles played the 2010-11 season for the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Development League and then returned to Europe, winning the Russian Cup in 2012 and 2013 while playing for BC Krasnye Krylya. In 2013 he was the Most Valuable Player of the Russian Cup and his Russian team also won the 2013 EuroChallenge. Last season he competed for Lokomotive Kuban, which is also located in Russia.

— KU Athletics —

Carpenter, Piscotty lead Cardinals past Cubs 4-3

Posted on September 9, 2015

ST. LOUIS — Cardinals rookie Stephen Piscotty continues to show a penchant for making quick adjustments.

After going hitless in his first three at-bats, Piscotty lined a two-run double off the centerfield wall to cap a three-run rally in the eighth inning that sent St. Louis over the Chicago Cubs 4-3 Wednesday.

Matt Carpenter tripled and scored twice as the Cardinals ended their three-game losing streak. The NL Central leaders avoided their first sweep at home this season and their first against the Cubs since September 2010.

“It’s definitely good to get that one,” Piscotty said. “You don’t want to get swept by the Cubs. We’re fine. There’s no panic. We did a good job of fighting back.”

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said Piscotty is a good self-evaluator.

“This is what he did: ‘He got me last time, this is what I probably need to do.’ And not many guys can make those adjustments as far as approach,” Matheny said. “He’s able to think ahead and then make those physical adjustments as well.”

Cubs lefty Jon Lester exited after seven dominant innings. He gave up two hits, retired 20 of his final 21 hitters and left with a 3-1 lead.

“I felt good, cutter was better today,” Lester said. “I got away with a couple of pitches because of what we established early.”

Jonathan Broxton (2-4) got the win and Trevor Rosenthal picked up his 43rd save. Clayton Richard (3-1) took the loss.

Cardinals starter Carlos Martinez needed 99 pitches to get through five innings. The Cubs stranded at least one runner in each of his innings, and Martinez was able to limit the damage with eight strikeouts.

“All in all, I think he did a nice job of keeping it together all the way around,” Matheny said. “His mind was right. He kept coming out and grinding and that’s a great sign of what could come.”

The Cardinals’ bullpen retired 12 of the 13 batters they faced.

“Carlos gave us five,” Broxton said. “He struggled early, but once the bullpen opened up we just tried to hold them there and give our offense a chance.”

Chris Coghlan took advantage of Randal Grichuk’s compromised throwing arm to score the Cubs’ first run on Anthony Rizzo’s double.

Grichuk, starting for the first time since straining his elbow Aug. 16, had to flip the ball to right fielder Jason Heyward, who threw it in allowing Coghlan to score from first.

Rizzo appeared to be caught in a run-down following his double, but Martinez failed to cover third, allowing Rizzo to take an extra base. Tommy La Stella followed with a two-out double to give the Cubs an extra run.

Lester got his second career hit, both against St. Louis. The Cardinals have given up hits to opposing pitchers in four consecutive games and each have led to runs.

WEB GEM

Coghlan made a tough catch on a tailing flyball off the bat of Tommy Pham in the fifth. Coghlan made the grab in foul territory, and his momentum flipped him over the wall and into the crowd.

WELCOME BACK

The Cardinals activated 1B Matt Adams from the 60-day disabled list. Adams was hitting .243 in 144 at-bats with four home runs and 20 RBIs before missing 91 games. Lefty Nick Greenwood was designated for assignment to make room.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: Matt Belisle (right elbow inflammation) threw a simulated game, but no definite return date has been set for the right-hander. He has missed 65 games.

UP NEXT

Cubs: RHP Jake Arrieta (18-6, 2.03 ERA) takes the mound to kick off a four-game series Thursday at Philadelphia. Arrieta has a 17-inning scoreless streak and was the NL Pitcher of the Month for August.

Cardinals: LHP Jaime Garcia (8-4, 1.89 ERA) starts a 10-game road trip Thursday at Cincinnati. He is 5-0 with a 1.76 ERA since Aug. 1.

— Associated Press —

K-State announces campaign to “Complete the Bowl” at Bill Snyder Family Stadium

Posted on September 9, 2015

MANHATTAN, Kan. – On the heels of this past weekend’s dedication and grand opening of the $68 million Vanier Family Football Complex, Kansas State Athletics today officially launched the public campaign for the next step in the transformation of Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

When completed, the $15 million Phase IIIB will complete the northeast corner of the stadium as envisioned in the 2010 Master Plan and for the first time ever provide K-State fans with a complete stadium bowl as well as other spectator and operational enhancements, Athletics Director John Currie announced today.

“Although we had anticipated needing a few more years before we could complete the north end zone, the leadership commitment made in July by the Carl and Mary Ice family, followed by wonderful gifts from Jordy and Emily Nelson and many others, puts us in position to aggressively pursue this project now,” said Currie. “Coach Snyder emphasizes the goal of getting better each day, and thanks to our incredible fans and donors nationwide we have made tremendous incremental progress over the last six years in terms of our facility enhancements. With the completion of the West Stadium Center and Vanier Family Football Complex, along with other projects, we have now invested $195 million in facility improvements consistent with our goals of a World-Class Student-Athlete Experience and The Best Fan Experience in the Big 12. Phase IIIB is the next step as we work to ‘complete the bowl’ and fully enclose the stadium.”

Continuing K-State Athletics’ commitment to fiscal responsibility, the department will once again depend on individual donors throughout Wildcat Nation to build on the $9 million already pledged to reach the total estimate of $15 million and enable construction to begin in December after the conclusion of the 2015 football season with desired completion in time for the 2016 season. The entire project will be funded without incurring any long term debt and without any state tax or university funds.

The project, led by the world-renowned sports design firm Populous in conjunction with the construction management team of Mortenson and GE Johnson Construction, will connect the east side of the stadium to the new north side to create a 360-degree concourse and fully enclose Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The department will also take another step toward its goal of providing The Best Fan Experience in the Big 12 with a new videoboard on the northeast corner that will mirror the new system recently erected on the northwest corner of the stadium.

It will also include permanent new visiting team locker, training and officials areas, which will move from their current temporary location inside the Vanier Family Football Complex, and open up the mezzanine above the Strength and Performance area providing more usable space for K-State student-athletes. In addition, the Section 1 seating area will also be re-constructed to connect to the new north end zone concourse and Wabash Landing area, adding additional seating to the section.

“I am so very proud of and grateful for the amazing support base that we have to provide the resources to complete this new addition to the Vanier Family Football Complex,” said head coach Bill Snyder. “As I have felt and stated we (Kansas State University) are about people who care about people. And, a special thank you to the athletics department staff for their hard work in raising the funds to make it happen.”

— KSU Athletics —

Hosmer, Volquez help Royals snap four-game skid with 4-2 win over Twins

Posted on September 8, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After watching the Royals lose four straight, Edinson Volquez was so focused on helping them out of their funk that the starting pitcher forgot something rather important.

“Tickets for my wife,” he said with a grin.

Good thing he remembered while warming in the bullpen. She got to watch Volquez bounce back from a lousy start to go seven sharp innings in a 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night.

Eric Hosmer hit a three-run double and Kendrys Morales added an RBI double in the first inning, and that was all Volquez (13-7) and the Kansas City bullpen needed. Wade Davis pitched a perfect eighth inning and Greg Holland tossed a flawless ninth for his 30th save.

The only runs Volquez allowed were consecutive RBI hits by Brian Dozier and Joe Mauer.

“I thought he was great,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “His last start he was out of whack, all over the place. He was much more mechanically sound tonight.”

Kyle Gibson (9-10) recovered from a brutal start to last eight innings for his first career complete game, but the Twins’ offense was unable to bail him out. Gibson’s first six batters reached, and Hosmer and Morales staked Kansas City to an early 4-0 lead.

“You can lose it in the first, but you can’t win it in the first. Those are situations that kind of speed up on you,” Gibson said. “I’m trying not to get too emotionally up in what happened, just take it one batter at a time and move on.”

The streaking Twins, who began the day just 1 1/2 games back of Texas for the final AL wild card, tried to mount a comeback after the Royals took their early lead.

Byron Buxton singled with one out in the third, later scoring on Dozier’s base hit, and Mauer followed with an RBI double to make it 4-2. But using some veteran guile, Volquez managed to get Trevor Plouffe to ground out and preserve his lead.

Plouffe also grounded into inning-ending double plays in the first and sixth, as the Twins failed to get a runner to second base the rest of the night.

Kansas City was suddenly having a similarly difficult time against Gibson, who allowed only two hits after his disastrous first inning. Both of them were to Alex Gordon, a two-out double in the second and a single in the fifth.

“I think that’s the first time I’ve been attacked like that,” Gibson said of the first inning. “Most teams come out taking, seeing if my sinker is going to stay in the zone.”

Gibson allowed six hits and walked two while throwing 101 pitches.

“This guy has arguably one of the best two-seamers in the league, and it wasn’t there in the first inning,” Yost said. “It was there in the second inning through the eighth.”

HOLIDAY SPIRIT

Royals pitcher Danny Duffy chose the postgame music in their clubhouse. First up was Frank Sinatra crooning, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” which got a thumbs down from Volquez — “This is bad,” he said. Jose Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad” got better reviews.

STATS AND STREAKS

The attendance was 31,384, which means the Royals need just 3,074 fans to break the franchise’s single-season record Wednesday night. They still have six home dates after that. … Hosmer has a career-best 81 RBI. His previous high was 79 in 2013. … Gordon is 9 for 18 since returning from the disabled list. He had been out with a groin injury.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Twins: LHP Glen Perkins (back) is considering a second injection after seeing a spinal specialist in the Twin Cities, manager Paul Molitor said. He last pitched Sept. 1. … RHP Phil Hughes (back) will throw a 45-pitch simulated game Wednesday.

Royals: Yost bristled when asked whether RHP Johnny Cueto was healthy after another poor start. “How many times am I going to answer this?” Yost asked. “He’s absolutely fine. … I’m not worried about Johnny. He’s completely healthy.”

UP NEXT

Twins: RHP Mike Pelfrey gave up seven runs in four innings his last start at Houston.

Royals: RHP Kris Medlen gave up seven runs in 5 2/3 innings his last start vs the White Sox.

— Associated Press —

St. Louis drops second straight game to Cubs

Posted on September 8, 2015

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo homered and combined for seven RBI and the Chicago Cubs earned their fifth straight win, beating the St. Louis Cardinals 8-5 in the middle game of a three-game series on Tuesday night.

The Cardinals have the best record in the majors at 87-51, but have dropped five of six. Their lead over Pittsburgh in the NL Central slipped to 4 1/2 games. The Cubs are 6 1/2 back and are second in the NL wild card race behind the Pirates.

St. Louis was down 8-0 and had been outscored 24-1 over three games before pinch-hitter Randal Grichuk sparked a five-run seventh with a two-run homer estimated at 451 feet into Big Mac Land in the seventh. Grichuk was activated from the disabled list strictly to pinch run on Monday.

Pedro Strop struck out Grichuk with the bases loaded to end the threat, pumping his fist as he jumped off the mound. Hector Rondon earned his 27th save in 31 chances.

Rookie Stephen Piscotty had two hits and two RBI for St. Louis.

Jason Hammel (8-6) allowed three runs in six-plus innings for Chicago, which has won five in a row.

Michael Wacha (15-5) gave up six runs in four innings, his shortest outing of the season and on 10 days’ rest. Like Lance Lynn a day earlier, the 24-year-old right-hander got pushed back and it backfired.

Lynn, held back three days by a sprained ankle he claimed felt fine, was spanked for six runs in 2 1/3 innings on Monday in a 9-0 loss.

Wacha had been 4-0 with a 1.70 ERA in six career September starts.

HEAD TO HEAD

Rizzo’s two-run homer in the first was the 100th of his career, and he added an RBI single against Carlos Villanueva in the seventh. He’s 8 for 19 against Wacha with two homers and four RBI. Castro hit a three-run homer off Wacha (15-5) in the second. He’s 9 for 19 against the right-hander with two homers and six RBI.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cubs: Kyle Schwarber (oblique/ribs) grounded out pinch hitting in the eighth and could return to the lineup Wednesday after missing five games.

Cardinals: Kolten Wong (calf tightness) missed his second straight start.

UP NEXT

Jon Lester (9-10, 3.59) is 1-2 but with a 1.96 ERA in three starts against St. Louis this season. Carlos Martinez (13-7, 3.04) is 1-0 with a 6.75 ERA against the Cubs.

— Associated Press —

Northwest’s goalkeeper Malloy earns MIAA weekly honor

Posted on September 8, 2015September 8, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State soccer sophomore Ashley Malloy has been named the MIAA Goalkeeper of the Week, as announced by the league office Tuesday afternoon. The Omaha, Neb. native helped the Bearcats finish the opening weekend without a defeat, going 1-0-1 through two matches.

Malloy recorded a total of 11 saves, conceding just one goal for a .917 save percentage. After recording seven saves in Thursday’s double overtime draw against Wayne State, Ashley recorded the seventh shutout of her career on Sunday at Sioux Falls, saving all four shots she faced in the Bearcats’ overtime victory.

The Bearcats are scheduled to return to the pitch this Friday when they head to Minnesota-Crookston for a non-conference match with the Golden Eagles.

— Northwest Athletics —

Missouri State announces 2015-2016 men’s basketball MVC schedule

Posted on September 8, 2015September 8, 2015

ST. LOUIS — The Missouri State Bears will open Missouri Valley Conference play on December 30 at Illinois State and play host to five league opponents during the month of January as part of MSU’s 18-game MVC slate released by the league on Tuesday (Sept. 8).

Coach Paul Lusk begins his fifth season at the helm of Missouri State with five starters and seven lettermen returning to lead a squad that also includes a redshirt freshman and six newcomers.

Lusk’s squad opens Valley play on the road for the second year in a row and then begins the home portion of its league ledger at JQH Arena on Jan. 2 against Evansville. MSU then hosts 2015 NCAA Tournament club Northern Iowa on Jan. 6. The Bears will also host Wichita State (Jan. 13), Southern Illinois (Jan. 24) and Illinois State (Jan. 30) during the month of January.

The Bears will play eight conference games in February, including four at home. Bradley visits Springfield on Feb. 2 in the team’s only Tuesday game in Valley action. Indiana State comes to town on Feb. 13 as part of Hall of Fame weekend for Missouri State, while other home contests include Loyola on Feb. 21 and Drake on Feb. 24.

The Missouri Valley Conference Tournament returns to Scottrade Center in St. Louis, March 3-6.

In all, the Bears will play three Saturday home conference games this season, two on Sunday, one on Tuesday and three on Wednesday — all during January and February. Home start times will be finalized in the coming weeks and posted to the schedule page at MissouriStateBears.com/mensbasketball.

MSU previously released its 12-game non-conference schedule that includes up to seven opponents that finished in the top 60 of the NCAA’s RPI last season with six NCAA Tournament foes and nine postseason qualifiers in all.

MSU season tickets are on sale now by calling (417) 836-8899 or logging on to www.MissouriStateBears.com/tickets for more information. Single-game tickets will go on sale at a later date.

— MSU Athletics —

Bearcats’ Zimmer named MIAA Cross Country Athlete of the Week

Posted on September 8, 2015September 8, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State junior runner Nolan Zimmer has been named the MIAA Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week in a release from the league office on Tuesday. The Kearney, Neb. native won season opening Bearcat Open last Friday, Sept. 4 in Maryville.

Zimmer won the 8K race after crossing the finish line in 26:04.9, nearly 12 seconds faster than the second place finisher. Zimmer’s efforts helped Northwest finish second in the event.

The Bearcats will return to the course in two weeks when they compete in the Woody Greeno Invitational in Lincoln, Neb. on Sept. 19.

— Northwest Athletics —

Royals fall to Minnesota Monday for fourth straight loss

Posted on September 7, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Tommy Milone pitched so poorly in April that the Minnesota Twins sent him to the minors in May.

Milone is pitching confidently in September, helping keep the Twins in the playoff hunt.

Milone pitched seven effective innings and Eduardo Escobar reached base four times and drove in three runs as the Twins beat the struggling Kansas City Royals 6-2 on Monday night.

“You like the fact he’s an experienced guy,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said. “He trusts in what he does. He hasn’t been that way the whole year. We talked about it earlier in the year of getting back to being more aggressive. I think he’s tried to keep that philosophy.”

Milone (8-4) held the Royals to six hits and two runs, while striking out four and walking one. He is 2-0, allowing two runs and nine hits in two September starts.

“A lot of it is pitching games in September that are meaningful ones,” Milone said. “It kind of motivates me to go out there and pitch well. It’s a lot more fun.”

The Twins are 1 1/2 games behind Texas for the AL’s second wild card.

The Royals have been outscored 31-9 in dropping four straight, matching their longest losing streak of the season.

“We haven’t played up to our standard,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “I think our starting pitching hasn’t been exceptionally sharp through this run, and offensively, we’ve faced some tough pitching.

“Milone tonight did a great job. He was consistently strike one on everybody, he was commanding the low outside part of the plate and the up and inside part of the plate for strikes, really good changeups, and mixed in good curveballs.”

Escobar contributed an RBI-single in a three-run sixth and drove in two runs with a two-out single in the seventh off Joba Chamberlain, who was making his Royals’ debut.

Yordano Ventura (10-8), who was 4-0 with a 1.13 ERA in his five previous starts, yielded four runs, eight hits, five walks and two wild pitches in 5 1/3 innings, striking out eight.

“I wasn’t getting ahead of hitters, and this is the big leagues; if you don’t get ahead of hitters, you’re going to struggle,” Ventura said with coach Pedro Grifol acting as his interpreter.

Aaron Hicks hit Ventura’s third pitch for his second career leadoff homer.

The Twins broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth when Torii Hunter, Kurt Suzuki and Escobar opened with singles and all scored.

Suzuki scored on the first of two wild pitches by Ventura in the inning. Joe Mauer’s sacrifice fly brought home Escobar.

Kendrys Morales’ ground out in the first scored Lorenzo Cain and hiked his RBI total to 100, becoming the 28th player in Royals’ history to reach that milestone.

Salvador Perez’s sacrifice fly scored Morales in the seventh for the other run off Milone. Mike Moustakas was out at home to end the inning, attempting to score on Paulo Orlando’s double.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Twins: LHP Glenn Perkins (back spasms) was not with the club. … RHP Phil Hughes (lower back inflammation) will throw his second simulated game Wednesday.

Royals: RF Alex Rios and Herrera were in uniform after being out nine days with the chicken pox.

STRIKEOUTS CONTINUE

Twins rookie DH Miguel Sano struck out twice in three at-bats and has struck out in 11 of his past 13 at-bats. He did draw two walks.

UP NEXT

Twins: RHP Kyle Gibson, who went to the University of Missouri, starts the middle game of this series.

Royals: RHP Edinson Volquez lasted just three innings, matching the shortest outing of his career, in his previous start, allowing six runs and eight hits to the Tigers.

— Associated Press —

Cardinals get shutout by Cubs in series opener

Posted on September 7, 2015

ST. LOUIS (AP) — As a trade deadline addition, Dan Haren was unaware the Cubs had struggled in St. Louis. In the end, it was probably better he didn’t know about Chicago’s sorry 1-6 record at Busch Stadium.

“I didn’t know we had struggled here,” Haren said after working seven innings in a 9-0 victory over the Cardinals on Monday. “Everyone has struggled against the Cardinals this year; they’re the best team record-wise.”

The NL Central-leading Cardinals maintained a 5 1/2-game lead over Pittsburgh, which lost 3-1 to Cincinnati. The Cubs are 7 1/2 games back.

Dexter Fowler had a leadoff home run and two-run double in the first two innings.

Before the game, manager Joe Maddon said he told Fowler: “You go, we go. He gets up there and makes us go.”

Fowler matched his season best for RBI and became the Cubs’ first switch-hitter to score 90 runs since Brian McRae scored 111 in 1996.

“I’m seeing the ball well, barreling balls well,” Fowler said. “The team camaraderie is awesome right now, even with the new guys coming in.”

Addison Russell’s three-run homer capped a five-run third that made it 8-0. The Cubs have won four in a row and got an 11-game trip off to a rocking start.

“We’ve got to beat them here, that’s really important regarding our development,” Maddon said. “So, it’s a nice first step, but let’s have another one-game winning streak tomorrow.”

Haren (9-9) had five strikeouts and two walks. He also contributed a single and sacrifice fly.

Lance Lynn (11-9) surrendered six runs in 2 1/3 innings on nine days’ rest after getting extra time to recover from a sprained ankle in his last start. The ankle wasn’t the issue.

“Just didn’t have any command,” Lynn said. “The ball was all over the place, and when I started making pitches they were already locked in.”

He wasn’t happy about getting the bonus time off.

“When you’re in a rhythm and a creature of habit, the extra time is never wanted,” Lynn said.

The Cardinals are 3-4 on this homestand with two games to go. They’re a major league-best 49-24 at Busch Stadium, but this was their most lopsided setback at home. They’ve been outscored 16-1 the last two games.

“I think we’ve been so accustomed to seeing that starting pitching so locked down that when we don’t see it, it looks extremely odd,” manager Mike Matheny said. “Today was one of those days.”

Fowler’s leadoff homer was his fifth this season and the 14th of his career.

The Cubs are 36-29 on the road, second best in the NL behind the Cardinals’ 38-27.

NO FREE PASSES

Cubs starting pitchers have walked three or fewer in 65 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the majors.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cubs: Kyle Schwarber (rib/oblique) took swings indoors and manager Joe Maddon didn’t rule out the rookie for later in the series.

Cardinals: 2B Kolten Wong (calf tightness) was a late lineup scratch. He struck out pinch hitting and reached first in the ninth. Randal Grichuk (elbow) pinch ran in the ninth after being activated off the DL, but has not been cleared for hitting or throwing.

UP NEXT

Michael Wacha (15-4, 2.69) pitches for the first time since Aug. 28. He’s 4-0 with a 2.88 ERA in nine career starts with six-or-more days rest. Jason Hammel (7-6, 3.55) faces the Cardinals for the third time this season. He’s 1/3 with a 6.31 ERA record for his career against St. Louis.

— Associated Press —