Sports – Page 636 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Northwest Missouri State men’s tennis blanks Graceland

Posted on April 22, 2015

The Northwest Missouri State University men’s tennis team beat Graceland University, 9-0, on Wednesday afternoon at the Frank Grube Courts in Maryville, Mo.

The win moves No. 19 Northwest to 16-6 on the year while Graceland falls to 9-3.

The Bearcats opened the match by winning all three doubles points. Northwest captured all six singles matches as well.

Five of the singles matches were won in straight sets. Marc Scholesser came back to win after dropping the first set at No. 6 singles.

This was the final match of the regular season for Northwest before heading into the MIAA Championship Tournament.

Match Results
Singles competition
1. #34 Boissinot,Romain (NW) def. Jose Roza Torres (GU) 7-5, 6-2
2. Riveros,Alvaro (NW) def. Borja Perez (GU) 6-4, 6-4
3. Azzaoui,Hicham (NW) def. Brezile Hamilton (GU) 7-6 (11-9), 6-0

4. Altmann,Josef (NW) def. Danil Tarantinov (GU) 6-4, 6-0
5. Autones,Aymeric (NW) def. Felipe Suarez Parra (GU) 6-0, 6-1
6. Scholesser,Marc (NW) def. Lorenzo Panariti (GU) 4-6, 6-1, 10-8

Doubles competition
1. Boissinot,Romain/Riveros,Alvaro (NW) def. Jose Roza Torres/Borja Perez (GU) 9-7
2. Azzaoui,Hicham/Autones,Aymeric (NW) def. Brezile Hamilton/David James Parker (GU) 8-4
3. Altmann,Josef/Glowick,Fin (NW) def. Danil Tarantinov/Felipe Suarez Parra (GU) 8-6

Northwest Missouri State will head to the MIAA Championship Tournament starting on Saturday, April 25, in Springfield, Mo. Northwest is the No. 1 seed after capturing the outright MIAA regular season title.

— Northwest Sports Information —

MWSU baseball & softball alter weekend schedules

Posted on April 22, 2015

ST. JOSEPH – Pending weather has forced the Missouri Western baseball and softball teams to alter weekend schedules.

Griffon Softball has moved a doubleheader with Washburn to Thursday at 5 p.m. and Missouri Western Baseball has condensed its series with Northwest Missouri State and changed dates. The Griffons will host Northwest in a doubleheader on Thursday at 5 p.m. and another twin bill on Friday at 5 p.m.

As of now, Western softball’s saturday doubleheader with Emporia State is still on as scheduled. The team is set to recognize seniors Tiffany Gillaspy and Brooke Schaben after the games on Saturday. Griffon Baseball has pushed its senior day recognition up to Friday prior to the start of those games. The team will recognize nine seniors.

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee has also moved its tailgate for student-athletes up to Thursday during softball and baseball’s doubleheaders. As always, check back on gogriffons.com, Twitter (@gogriffons) and Facebook (Missouri Western Griffon Athletics) for any additional schedule changes.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Kansas announces changes to spring football game day schedule

Posted on April 22, 2015

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kansas Athletics has a fun day of events and activities planned surrounding the annual Kansas football Spring Game presented by Cox Communications. Kickoff is slated for Saturday, April 25 at 1 p.m., on Kivisto Field at Memorial Stadium and admission is free. With expected inclement weather in the morning, a couple of changes have been made to the schedule for the day’s events and activities—most notably the timing of the Train Like A Jayhawk clinic.

The Train Like A Jayhawk clinic for kids grades 1-6 will take place on Kivisto Field inside Memorial Stadium. The clinic, during which stations will be directed by KU football players, will now begin immediately following the conclusion of the Spring Game. Participating children will receive a Train Like A Jayhawk t-shirt. Registration for the clinic will begin at 11 a.m., at the southeast gate of Memorial Stadium.

Online registration for the Train Like A Jayhawk clinic is still available, but space is limited. Train Like a Jayhawk registration and more information on the various activities surrounding the 2015 Kansas football Spring Game can be found by visiting KUAthletics.com/trainlikeajayhawk.

The day will now begin with the Hy-Vee Hawk Zone, which will open at 11 a.m., on the Kansas football practice fields located adjacent to Memorial Stadium on the southeast side and will feature inflatable games for children, photo opportunities, poster-making, stickers and face tattoos. The Fun Zone will be open from 11 a.m., until kickoff of the Spring Game.

The sixth annual Bike Rodeo will also begin at 11 a.m., in lots 58 and 65. The Bike Rodeo will feature a bicycle course and free bike inspections, courtesy of Douglas County Fire and Medical. In addition, kids 15 and younger will be custom-fitted with a free bicycle helmet (while supplies last) as they learn about bicycle rules of the road, trail etiquette and pool safety.

Kansas football is welcoming back all former players for an alumni game. The alumni game is scheduled for a noon kickoff in Memorial Stadium and will be a flag football game. All KU football alumni interested in participating should contact director of traditions, Candace Dunback, via email at kclub@ku.edu.

Gates to Memorial Stadium open at 11 a.m., and numerous 2015 promotional items will be available for fans. With the entire stadium open for seating, fans will be allowed to enter the stadium at the NE, SE, NW, SW and west ramps as well as the suite elevators.

The KU Store will be open at two locations. Stands on both the east and west concourses will be open from 11:30 a.m., until the end of the game.

Parking for the Spring Game is free. KU Parking and Transit, however, will be on hand to assist fans with questions about open parking. The parking garage on Mississippi Street, adjacent to the Kansas Union, will be available for use, but patrons will be charged at its normal rate. Parking in the garage is $1.75 for the first hour or any portion of an hour, and $1.50 per hour for all subsequent hours.

The game will be televised live on the Jayhawk Television Network in the state of Kansas and the Kansas City metro area and nationally on ESPN3. Additionally, the game will be broadcast live across the state of Kansas on the Jayhawk Radio Network, with an audio stream also available at KUAthletics.com.

KU will begin the 2015 season on September 5 vs. South Dakota State. The Jayhawks will also host non-conference opponent Memphis (Sept. 12/Family Weekend, Band Day) before Big 12 rivals Baylor (Oct. 10), Texas Tech (Oct. 17), Oklahoma (Oct. 31/Homecoming, K-Club Weekend), West Virginia (Nov. 21) and K-State (Nov. 28) visit Lawrence.

Season tickets for the seven-game home schedule are now on sale for as low as $115. The Family Season Ticket Plan, which includes two youth and two adult general admission tickets, is $400.

Fans can purchase their season tickets at the Spring Game at ticket tables on Campanile Hill, in the Hy-Vee Hawk Zone, in the west concourse and in Section 3 inside the stadium seating area. Additionally, tickets are available online at www.KUAthletics.com, by calling 800-34-HAWKS or in-person at the Allen Fieldhouse ticket office.

— KU Sports Information —

Moustakas helps Royals rally past Minnesota 6-5

Posted on April 21, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Ned Yost stuck by Mike Moustakas when just about everyone else had given up on him, dutifully penciling him into the Royals’ starting lineup at third base despite all of his slumps.

Finally, the Kansas City manager is feeling vindicated.

Moustakas hit an early two-run homer, then drove in the go-ahead run with a single in the eighth inning, as the Royals rallied to beat the Minnesota Twins 6-5 on Tuesday night.

“You almost want to stand up on this table and yell, `I told you so!” Yost said, flashing a wry grin. “But I’m not. I’m not an I-told-you-so kind of guy.”

The Royals trailed 5-3 in the sixth when Christian Colon started their comeback with an RBI double. Colon added a run-scoring groundout off Casey Fien (0-1) in the eighth to knot the game, and Moustakas fileted a single to left off Glen Perkins to take the lead.

It was the kind of opposite-field hit that Moustakas struggled to deliver a year ago.

“Just looking for a fastball. He was throwing a bunch of fastballs,” Moustakas said of Perkins, the Twins’ left-handed closer. “I was able to fight that one to left field.”

Chris Young (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Jason Vargas, and Wade Davis breezed through the Twins in the ninth for his third save of the season.

Davis has been closing games with All-Star reliever Greg Holland on the disabled list.

Joe Mauer drove in a run in the second for Minnesota, and Trevor Plouffe, Oswaldo Arcia, Kurt Suzuki and Shane Robinson had run-scoring singles in the sixth inning.

Alex Gordon also went deep for the Royals (11-3), who have taken the first two games of the three-game set after losing their only series of the season in Minnesota last week.

The Royals are off to their best start since 2003, and have won eight of their first nine at home. They also improved to 16-5 in their last 21 against the Twins at Kauffman Stadium.

Minnesota dropped to 1-7 on the road this season.

Gordon’s solo shot to right staked the Royals to the lead in the second inning, but the Twins quickly answered in the fourth off Vargas with three consecutive singles.

Kansas City pulled back ahead in the fifth. Colon led off with a single, and Moustakas just managed to coax a fly ball over the right-field wall for a two-run homer.

Dancing with trouble throughout the night, Vargas finally got bogged down in the sixth inning. The left-hander got the first two outs thanks in part to catching Mauer in a run-down between third and home, but then gave up consecutive two-out RBI singles.

Royals manager Ned Yost lifted him for reliever Jason Frasor, and he gave up two more two-out singles — none of the four were particularly hard-hit — that gave Minnesota a 5-3 lead.

Colon drove in a run with a two-out double in the bottom half to start the Kansas City rally, but Twins reliever Blaine Boyer managed to retire Alcides Escobar to leave the tying run on third.

Kansas City also left the bases loaded in the third and a runner on second in the fifth, but managed to come through when the game was on the line in the final innings.

“A loss always hurts,” Fien said. “When I don’t my job that’s what happens.”

STARTING TROUBLE

Vargas allowed five runs on eight hits and a walk, while Twins counterpart Tommy Milone gave up four runs on five hits and four walks. Both lasted 5 2/3 innings. “Walks in general are just no good,” Milone said. “It seems usually to bite you in the butt.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Twins: Suzuki started at catcher despite taking a hard foul ball off his shin courtesy of Arcia while standing in the on-deck circle during Monday night’s game.

Royals: 2B Omar Infante (groin strain) took grounders and hit soft toss before the game, and Yost said he could have been used in an emergency situation.

UP NEXT

Twins: RHP Mike Pelfrey (0-0) is 0-2 with a 9.49 ERA against the Royals.

Royals: RHP Jeremy Guthrie (1-0) has won his last four regular-season decisions.

— Associated Press —

St. Louis loses series opener at Washington in 10 innings

Posted on April 21, 2015

WASHINGTON (AP) — Heading toward a throng of excited Washington Nationals teammates after his first game-ending homer in four years, Yunel Escobar jumped head-first toward the plate.

“He’s got life to him. Teammates love him here,” Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez said afterward. “He’s just a different ballplayer.”

Returning to the lineup after sitting out two games with a groin injury, Escobar drove an 89 mph fastball from former teammate Carlos Villanueva to left with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning, lifting the Nationals to a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night.

It was the second homer of 2015 for Escobar, acquired this offseason in the deal that sent setup man Tyler Clippard to Oakland. Escobar was supposed to be Washington’s starting second baseman but has been filling in at third while Anthony Rendon is on the disabled list.

“He would play anywhere we ask him to,” manager Matt Williams said.

Escobar went to the plate looking for a fastball from Villanueva (1-1), the seventh pitcher for the Cardinals — and that’s just what he got.

“He ambushed me,” said Villanueva, who was on the Toronto Blue Jays with Escobar in 2011-12.

Villanueva hadn’t pitched since April 12 against Cincinnati.

“I don’t see that being a factor,” he said.

The Nationals have won five of six games to get back to .500 after starting the year 2-6. They ended the Cardinals’ five-game winning streak.

After Gonzalez managed to keep the Cardinals off the scoreboard despite giving up eight hits and four walks in six innings, Aaron Barrett (2-0) earned the win by pitching the 10th. He worked around a leadoff single and stolen base by Pete Kozma — forever associated around these parts with the Cardinals’ 2012 NL Division Series Game 5 comeback.

Thanks to Bryce Harper’s RBI single in the third — when he also wound up getting doubled off base on an appeal — the Nationals led 1-0 heading into the ninth inning, when closer Drew Storen blew the save. Matt Holliday tied the game with an RBI single, making him 4 for 4, extending his hitting streak to 12 games.

In the clubhouse later, Escobar used his phone to snap a photo of a baseball inscribed with “Walk off HR” — the third of his career but first since April 2011.

The Cuban said he never before had employed his unusual head-first celebration, explaining through a translator: “I’m just trying to have fun.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: LHP Jaime Garcia (DL, left shoulder) is scheduled to throw a simulated game Saturday.

Nationals: 3B Rendon (sprained left knee) played three innings at extended spring training and could be headed out on a minor league rehab assignment as soon as Friday.

STATCAST

The MLB Network’s broadcast of Cardinals-Nationals represented the in-game debut of Statcast tracking technology, which uses stereoscopic cameras and radar sensors to monitor elements such as a batter’s exit velocity, a pitcher’s spin rate and perceived velocity, an infielder’s reaction time, and an outfielder’s route efficiency. One example: When CF Jon Jay tracked down Zimmerman’s fly in the third, Statcast showed he ran 27.3 feet, with a top speed of 17 mph. It was one of several outstanding catches by Jay.

NAVAL GRAD

The Cardinals brought up reliever Mitch Harris, a 2008 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, from Triple-A Memphis. The Hall of Fame said it believes the only Naval Academy graduate to appear in a major league game was pitcher Nemo Gaines, who made four relief appearances in 1921 with the Washington Senators. Harris did not get into Tuesday’s game.

UP NEXT

Cardinals RHP John Lackey (1-0, 2.77 ERA) is one strikeout shy of 1,800 for his career heading into Wednesday’s game, his first start against the Nationals since 2008, when he was a member of the Angels. He’ll face Nationals RHP Doug Fister (1-0, 0.69). In 2013, they were opponents in the AL Championship Series, although never pitched against each other, as Lackey’s Red Sox beat Fister’s Tigers in six games.

— Associated Press —

NFL releases 2015 schedule; Chiefs to play in three primetime games

Posted on April 21, 2015April 21, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Football League announced on Tuesday the regular season schedule for the 2015 season.

The Kansas City Chiefs will be featured in three primetime television games, including two back-to-back contests in Weeks Two and Three. The Chiefs will face the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football on Sept. 17, followed by a visit to Green Bay to take on the Packers on Monday Night Football on Sept. 28. Chiefs fans will also get the chance to watch their favorite team on Sunday Night Football on Nov. 22, as Kansas City takes on the Chargers in San Diego on NBC.

In addition to the three primetime contests, the Chiefs travel internationally to London in Week Eight to play the Detroit Lions in an 8:30 a.m. local kickoff on FOX.

This season will mark the sixth-consecutive year the Chiefs have held at least one primetime contest and the second-straight year the team has been slated for three night games.

“April is an exciting time of year for us,” Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid said. “Along with the schedule release and the NFL Draft, we also get our first opportunity as a team to get back to football. After seeing our schedule today including three primetime games, I know Chiefs Kingdom will be as energized as I am come September.”

Kansas City’s schedule features seven games against six playoff teams from the 2014 season. The club’s 2015 opponents boasted a combined record of 115-92-1 (.555) last season.

The Chiefs begin their 2015 slate on the road as the club travels to Houston to face the Texans on Sept. 13. After back-to-back nationally televised games vs. the Broncos (Thursday, Sept. 17) and at Green Bay (Monday, Sept. 28), the team travels to Cincinnati for a Week Four matchup vs. the Bengals.

Weeks Five and Six will feature battles against the NFC North as the Chiefs line up against the Chicago Bears at Arrowhead Stadium on Oct. 11 followed by a visit to Minnesota to take on the Vikings on Oct. 18. The Chiefs then return home to play the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 25.

For the first time in franchise history, Kansas City will play a regular season football game overseas as the team heads to London to face the Detroit Lions as part of the NFL’s International Series on Nov. 1. After enjoying a Bye Week at the midway point of the season, the Chiefs travel back-to-back weeks to face AFC West foes, the Denver Broncos (Nov. 15) and a night contest at San Diego (Nov. 22).

On Dec. 20, the Chiefs travel to Baltimore to battle the Ravens before returning home for their final two regular season contests vs. the Cleveland Browns (Dec. 27) and the Raiders (Jan. 3.)

2015 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS PRESEASON SCHEDULE

Saturday, Aug. 15 @ Arizona
Friday, Aug. 21 vs. Seattle
Friday, Aug. 28 vs. Tennessee
Thursday, Sept. 3 @ St. Louis

2015 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE

Sunday, Sept. 13 @ Houston (12:00 PM)
Thursday, Sept. 17 vs. Denver (7:25 PM)
Monday, Sept. 28 @ Green Bay (7:30 PM)
Sunday, Oct. 4 at Cincinnati (12:00 PM)
Sunday, Oct. 11 vs. Chicago (12:00 PM)
Sunday, Oct. 18 @ Minnesota (12:00 PM)
Sunday, Oct. 25 vs. Pittsburgh (12:00 PM)
Sunday, Nov. 1 vs. Detroit @ London (8:30 AM)
Sunday, Nov. 8 BYE WEEK
Sunday, Nov. 15 @ Denver (3:25 PM)
Sunday, Nov. 22 @ San Diego (7:30 PM)
Sunday, Nov. 29 vs. Buffalo (12:00 PM)
Sunday, Dec. 6 @ Oakland (3:05 PM)
Sunday, Dec. 13 vs. San Diego (12:00 PM)
Sunday, Dec. 20 @ Baltimore (12:00 PM)
Sunday, Dec. 27 vs. Cleveland (12:00 PM)
Sunday, Jan. 3 vs. Oakland (12:00 PM)

— Chiefs Media Relations —

Northwest tennis sweeps Emporia State; men capture MIAA title

Posted on April 21, 2015

The Northwest Missouri State University men’s and women’s tennis teams swept Emporia State on Tuesday evening in Emporia, Kan.

The Bearcat men won 8-1, moving to 14-6 overall and 5-0 in MIAA play. The Hornet men fell to 11-9 overall and 2-3 in conference action.

The Northwest women won 7-2, to improve to 16-6 overall and 7-2 in conference action. Emporia State falls to 10-9 overall and 4-5 in MIAA play.

Northwest has now won 15 MIAA regular season titles on the men’s side, 12 coming under head coach Mark Rosewell. The Bearcats will be the top seed in this weekend’s MIAA Championship Tournament.

The Bearcat women swept the doubles points and won four singles matches. Camila Quesada, Margaux Jaquet, Stephanie Mannix and Marianne Hull each had singles and doubles victories on the day.

The Northwest men swept the singles after scoring points at the No. 1 and No. 3 doubles positions. Romain Boissinot, Alvaro Riveros, Josef Altmann and Fin Glowick all claimed singles and doubles victories for Northwest.

The wins were career victories No. 1,006 and 1,007 for Rosewell.

Men’s Results
Singles competition
1. #34 Boissinot,Romain (NW) def. Smith, Keenan (ESU) 6-0, 6-0
2. #43 Tete,Mauro (NW) def. Davids,Andrew (ESU) 6-2, 6-4
3. Riveros,Alvaro (NW) def. Pont,Gerard (ESU) 6-4, 6-3
4. Azzaoui,Hicham (NW) def. Cameron,Patrick (ESU) 6-2, 6-4
5. Altmann,Josef (NW) def. Sadique,Farhan (ESU) 6-0, 6-1
6. Glowick,Fin (NW) def. Hays,Payton (ESU) 6-2, 6-0

Doubles competition
1. Boissinot,Romain/Riveros,Alvaro (NW) def. Davids,Andrew/Pont,Gerard (ESU) 8-5
2. Smith, Keenan/Cameron,Patrick (ESU) def. Tete,Mauro/Autones,Aymeric (NW) 9-7
3. Glowick,Fin/Altmann,Josef (NW) def. Hays,Payton/Connor,Collin (ESU) 9-8

Women’s Results
Singles competition
1. #50 Quesada,Camila (NW) def. Griffey,Tawni (ESU) 6-0, 6-0
2. Ramos,Camila (ESU) def. Jarolim,Lorena Rivas (NW) 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (10-8)
3. Jaquet,Margaux (NW) def. Smith,Taylor (ESU) 6-3, 6-3
4. Clark,Kaley (ESU) def. Kolen,Aniek (NW) 6-0, 6-3
5. Mannix,Stephanie (NW) def. Fugit,Amy (ESU) 6-1, 6-3
6. Hull,Marianne (NW) def. Khounsombath,Tiffany (ESU) 6-4, 6-4

Doubles competition
1. Quesada,Camila/Jarolim,Lorena Rivas (NW) def. Griffey,Tawni/Ramos,Camila (ESU) 8-6
2. Jaquet,Margaux/Hull,Marianne (NW) def. Clark,Kaley/Fugit,Amy (ESU) 8-6
3. Kolen,Aniek/Mannix,Stephanie (NW) def. Smith,Taylor/Khounsombath,Tiffany (ESU) 8-4

The Northwest Missouri State men will host Graceland on Wednesday, April 22, at 3 p.m. at Frank Grube Courts in Maryville, Mo. Both the men’s and women’s team will head to Springfield, Mo., on Friday, April 24, for the MIAA Conference Tournament.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Western women remain sixth, men in eight after second round of MIAA Championship

Posted on April 21, 2015April 21, 2015

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Missouri Western women’s golf team held steady in sixth place at the MIAA Championship after shooting a second round score of 335. Missouri Western has a total score of 683 and trail tournament leader Central Oklahoma by 52 strokes after two rounds of play.

Freshman Celine Lim improved her score by 11 strokes in the second round of the MIAA Championship, scoring a 77. Lim is currently tied for 12th place. The other Griffon in the top-20 is Madison Romjue, recording an 85 in both of her rounds. Tiffanie Yabut and Amber Chivington both improved their scores in the second round as well, scoring an 85 and 88, respectively.

Missouri Western is 10 strokes behind Central Missouri for fifth place and 12 strokes behind Nebraska-Kearney in fourth place. Central Oklahoma leads the tournament with a 631 and Lindenwood is second with a 644 after day two.

Baylee Price is the individual tournament leader, scoring a 74 first round and an 80 in her second round of competition.

The Griffon men’s team moved into a tie for eighth place with Nebraska-Kearney after shooting a second round score of 316. Missouri Western improved their score by 19 strokes on the second day and have an accumulated total of 651.

All five players improved their scores for Missouri Western on day two at the MIAA Championship. Scott Sheldon is currently leading the team with a 160 over his first two rounds. Sheldon and Jakob Rudosky both recorded a 79 in their second round. Savannah native Ryan Hand tallied a score of 78 in his second round, improving his score by 11 strokes. James O’Brien and Corey Knight recorded an 80 and 81 respectively.

Missouri Western sits three strokes behind Northeastern St. for seventh place while Lincoln and Southwest Baptist are tied with a 638 at fifth place.

The MIAA Championship also has a tie on the individual leader board with Cy Moritz of Central Missouri and Eric Kline of Central Oklahoma each scoring a 147 in their first two rounds.

The final round of the event will conclude on Wednesday in Lawrence, Kansas at the Alvamar Golf Club.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Bearcats lose seventh straight as they fall to Midland Tuesday

Posted on April 21, 2015

The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team fell to Midland University 13-5 on Tuesday afternoon at Bearcat Field in Maryville, Mo.

The Bearcats are now 19-25 on the year while Midland improves to 23-28.

This was the last non-conference game of the season for Northwest. It was also the team’s final regular season home game.

Nick Gotta was 2-for-3 on the day with a walk. Kevin Handzlik, Steven Garber and Adam Pennington each recorded an RBI.

Zach Douglas, Austin Wulff and James Holler each picked up hits.

Northwest used seven pitchers in the game. Taylor Bruch worked a scoreless 1.1 innings with three strikeouts.

Hondo Pearcy worked a scoreless sixth inning with a strikeout. Nikko Pablo pitched the ninth, allowing no hits, no runs and recorded a strikeout.

Northwest Missouri State will face Missouri Western in the final series of the regular season. First pitch is scheduled for Friday in St. Joseph, Mo.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Kansas City’s Herrera suspended five games for throwing behind Lawrie

Posted on April 21, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Major League Baseball suspended Royals reliever Kelvin Herrera five games and fined him and pitcher Yordano Ventura on Tuesday after both targeted Oakland third baseman Brett Lawrie during a testy series over the weekend.

Herrera was tossed in the eighth inning of Sunday’s game after throwing behind Lawrie, the second time he had thrown inside to him. Ventura was ejected on Saturday when he hit Lawrie with a 99 mph fastball above the left elbow immediately after Josh Reddick’s home run.
Kelvin Herrera has been suspended five games for throwing behind Oakland’s Brett Lawrie. AP Photo/Ed Zurga

Herrera was to start his suspension Tuesday night against Minnesota, however he is appealing the punishment, according to multiple reports.

“Nobody likes going through what we went through this weekend, nobody,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “Nobody likes it, but it happens.”

The incidents came after Lawrie’s hard, late slide into Alcides Escobar covering second base Friday night left the Kansas City shortstop with a sprained left knee. Escobar and several of his teammates called it a “dirty slide” and unnecessary given the situation.

Lawrie said he texted an apology to a phone number for Escobar he got from Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer. Escobar denied receiving the text.

The incident on Friday night triggered both benches and bullpens to empty, though no punches were thrown. And it led to a tense series between teams that met in last year’s AL wild-card game, which the Royals won in come-from-behind fashion in 12 innings.

The benches cleared again Saturday after Ventura’s pitch, and for a third time Sunday, when the teams began playing a dangerous game of dodgeball involving 90-plus heat.

The Athletics’ Scott Kazmir started things off by hitting Lorenzo Cain. Both teams were issued warnings by plate umpire Greg Gibson, and Yost came out to argue. He was immediately tossed from the game along with pitching coach Dave Eiland.

Things settled down until the eighth, when Herrera threw inside to Lawrie. Moments later, he sent a 100 mph fastball behind Lawrie’s shoulders and was quickly ejected. Bench coach Don Wakamatsu and Escobar, who had been in the dugout, also were tossed.

“I don’t mean to hurt anybody,” Herrera said. “Just trying to throw inside, but a bad grip on that fastball. It started raining pretty good. And they just tossed me out.”

Herrera did point to his head as he left — what he called a “think about it” warning.

“That’s what got me hot,” Lawrie said. “That’s what got me mad. You can’t throw at my head and then say, ‘Next time I face you, it’s in the head. He needs to pay for that.”

The Royals were already on edge when the series began after a number of their players had been hit by pitches earlier this season. Among them was outfielder Alex Rios, who landed on the disabled list with a broken finger after getting hit by Twins rookie J.R. Graham.

Kansas City players were hit 14 times in the team’s first 13 games.

“At first I thought it was more of a fluke. Now I’m starting to think the other way a little bit,” Yost said. “Hopefully it’ll slow down a little here.”

— Associated Press —