The Kansas City Chiefs completed their first full-pad practice of their 2013 training camp Sunday at Missouri Western State University. Wide Receiver Dwayne Bowe practiced for the first time after missing the first two days of camp with a chest virus. Click the links below to listen to interviews after Sunday’s practice.
Category: Sports
Royals defeat White Sox in 12 innings for sixth straight win
It’s down to the last couple days of July, and the Kansas City Royals have an equal amount of wins and losses.
It’s a small step, but it’s somewhere to start.
Alex Gordon hit a two-run homer in the 12th inning and the Royals beat the Chicago White Sox 4-2 on Sunday for their sixth consecutive victory.
”This is a lot of fun,” Gordon said. ”We have a lot of guys that are playing well and picking each other up and just a good team right now.”
Kansas City (51-51) matched its longest winning streak of the season and got back to .500 for the first time since it beat Cleveland 2-1 on June 17 to improve to 34-34.
It’s the best record for the Royals this late in the year since they finished the 2003 season with an 83-79 mark, according to STATS.
”To get here was big,” manager Ned Yost said. ”Now we got to get past it and just stay focused day to day.”
With no outs and Jarrod Dyson on third in the 12th, the White Sox brought their infield in, but it didn’t matter one bit.
Gordon drove a 2-2 pitch from Donnie Veal (1-1) over the wall in center for his first homer since July 7 and No. 10 on the year.
Gordon went 1 for 6 and is batting .121 (4 for 33) over his past eight games, but it hardly mattered to him after coming up with the clutch swing.
”One hit’s fine with me as long as it wins the game,” the All-Star outfielder said.
Aaron Crow (7-3) tossed a scoreless inning to get the win and Greg Holland finished for his 27th save in 29 chances. Holland has converted each of his past 20 opportunities.
The White Sox had a chance to win the game in the 10th, but Dyson threw out pinch runner Blake Tekotte at the plate to end the inning. Tekotte was trying to score from second on Alejandro De Aza’s sharp single to center field.
Adam Dunn homered for last-place Chicago, which closed out a 3-7 homestand with its ninth loss in 12 games overall. Paul Konerko also had an RBI single.
The White Sox had three runs and 21 hits in the series sweep.
”I think pitching-wise, our guys gave us every opportunity,” manager Robin Ventura said. ”We just didn’t come up with much. That’s frustrating and all that stuff going with it. Just has to be better if you’re going to win games.”
David Lough, who made a terrific catch in the ninth inning of Kansas City’s 1-0 victory on Saturday night, helped the Royals get off to a fast start in the series finale. He singled in Alcides Escobar with two out in the first, then walked and scored on Miguel Tejada’s double in the fourth.
Dunn responded in the sixth, driving a 1-1 pitch from Bruce Chen over the wall in center to tie it at 2. It was Dunn’s 25th homer of the season and No. 431 for his career, tying Cal Ripken for 43rd on the all-time list.
Dunn also helped set up Chicago’s first run with a two-out walk in the first that moved Alex Rios into scoring position. Konerko followed with a run-scoring single into left field.
Chen allowed three hits, struck out five and walked two in six innings. The crafty left-hander is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in three starts since joining the rotation.
”It’s one of those things. You want to help the team in any way you can,” said Chen, who is 4-0 with a 2.09 ERA in 22 appearances on the year, ”and I’m glad that I was able to help this team and we got the victory today.”
White Sox left-hander Hector Santiago struck out seven in 6 2-3 innings. He allowed five hits and walked four.
”Yeah, it’s just been the story the whole year,” Santiago said. ”Try to keep us in the game and keep it close enough where we have a chance and for the most part that’s what we did.”
— Associated Press —
St. Louis gets swept by Atlanta with 5-2 loss Sunday
Jason Heyward homered and drove in two runs to help the Atlanta Braves beat St. Louis 5-2 on Sunday night, capping their first three-game sweep of the Cardinals at home in 10 years.
The Braves broke a 2-all tie with two runs in the sixth inning off rookie Shelby Miller (10-7) and two relievers. Pinch-hitter Joey Terdoslavich drove in Chris Johnson with the go-ahead run. Heyward added another run-scoring single.
Heyward has nine homers this season, including two in the series between NL division leaders.
Kris Medlen (7-10) allowed two runs on eight hits and a walk in six innings to snap his three-game losing streak.
— Associated Press —
Audio from Chiefs Training Camp – Saturday, July 27
Saturday was day two of training camp for the Kansas City Chiefs as a full squad at Missouri Western. Click the links below to hear audio from coaches and players after practice.
Davis outpitches Sale as KC hangs on to beat Chicago 1-0
Kansas City manager Ned Yost thought it was a hit. Greg Holland was preparing for a tie game. David Lough had other ideas.
Lough made a terrific diving catch to rob Jeff Keppinger of a tying RBI single in the ninth inning, helping Wade Davis and the Royals beat Chris Sale and the Chicago White Sox 1-0 Saturday night for their fifth consecutive victory.
Lough’s grab in right was part of a terrific defensive performance for Kansas City. Center fielder Lorenzo Cain and shortstop Alcides Escobar also chipped in with two nice plays apiece.
”We play great defense every night,” manager Ned Yost said. ”I mean it was a great play by David Lough, but we play solid, solid good defense every single night for the most part.”
Davis (5-9) allowed four hits – all singles – and walked three in a season-high 7 1-3 innings. The right-hander, who came over with James Shields in Kansas City’s big offseason trade with Tampa Bay, was 0-4 with a 10.91 ERA in his previous four starts.
”I got ahead of a lot more guys tonight,” Davis said. ”I got some early swings to help me get deeper in the ballgame, too, and defense was pretty good today.”
Louis Coleman came in after Alejandro De Aza’s single in the eighth and got Alexei Ramirez to ground into a double play. Holland then worked a shaky ninth for his 26th save in 28 chances.
The White Sox had runners on the corners with one out when Lough scrambled in to grab Keppinger’s liner. Alex Rios did not tag up on the play, and pinch hitter Conor Gillaspie struck out to end the game.
”No-doubles (defense), so I was a little deeper than what I normally would be on Keppinger,” Lough said. ”He kind of hit it pretty hard out there, thought I had a chance at it so I went for it and I was able to make the catch.”
It was another hard-luck loss for Sale (6-10), who allowed seven hits and struck out seven in his fourth career complete game. The All-Star left-hander is 1-8 with a 2.84 ERA in his last 10 starts.
”Just keep grinding. Stay on top and keep your head up,” Sale said. ”Things will turn around.”
Billy Butler and Eric Hosmer had two hits apiece for the Royals, who have won seven of nine overall. Butler went 2 for 3 with a walk and is batting .450 (18 for 40) in his last 11 games.
Hosmer and Butler started the sixth with consecutive singles. Hosmer advanced to third on Salvador Perez’s fly ball to deep center and came home when Cain doubled down the third-base line.
Cain’s hit put runners on second and third with one out, but Sale retired Lough on a harmless comebacker and struck out Miguel Tejada to end the inning.
”He pitched great tonight,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. ”There’s no question about it. You can’t be perfect, but he’s pretty dang close.”
The White Sox threatened in the bottom half, putting runners on the corners with two out. Paul Konerko then hit a drive to center, forcing Cain to make a nice running catch.
Davis waited on the dirt outside of the dugout to congratulate Cain as he hustled in from the outfield, but he was only getting started. Cain made an even better catch for the first out of the seventh, crashing into the wall while taking a hit away from Keppinger.
The second play prompted a few of the Royals to wave their hats toward center while Cain got himself together for the next pitch. He came out in the eighth due to tightness in his left groin, but the Royals said it was precautionary.
”He’s got a little bit of a groin strain, why we took him out,” Yost said. ”He’s day to day. Probably rest him tomorrow because we’ve got an off day on Monday, grab him two days right there.”
It was more than just Cain on a nice defensive night for both teams.
Escobar ranged up the middle and made a spinning throw to retire Keppinger in the second. Then he got Josh Phegley with another strong throw in the fifth after his grounder deflected off the glove of third baseman Tejada.
Second baseman Gordon Beckham and shortstop Ramirez each had a defensive gem for the White Sox. Beckham nearly misplayed Tejada’s second-inning popup, but recovered in time to make a tumbling grab in short center field. Ramirez made a diving stop on Perez’s grounder up the middle in the fourth, and then managed to shovel the ball to Beckham at second for the forceout.
— Associated Press —
Cardinals come up short and lose second straight to Braves
Andrelton Simmons and the Braves haven’t said much about last year’s NL wild-card loss to the Cardinals.
Beating the Cardinals in July won’t make up for that playoff defeat. But Simmons said it’s a start.
Simmons hit a two-run double in the eighth inning and the Braves, boosted by Julio Teheran’s sharp outing, beat the Cardinals 2-0 Saturday in a matchup of NL division leaders.
The Braves have won the first two games of the first series between the teams this season. The Cardinals beat the Braves 6-3 at Turner Field in last season’s wild-card game.
”They’re a great team,” said Simmons of the Cardinals. ”They got us last year in a pretty big game. We owe them some. It’s good to see this team beating them.”
Teheran allowed two hits in seven innings, striking out six and walking one.
Simmons’ bases-loaded, two-out double came on a 99 mph fastball from Trevor Rosenthal. With the count at 2-1, Simmons was looking for a fastball.
”I know he was behind in the count and I know he’s comfortable with his fastball,” Simmons said. ”He throws pretty hard. I was ready for it. … I was just looking for something over the plate and he threw it somewhere I could reach it.”
Randy Choate (1-1) walked Freddie Freeman to open the eighth. Evan Gattis struck out and Brian McCann singled. Rosenthal relieved and struck out Dan Uggla before walking Chris Johnson to load the bases.
Luis Avilan (3-0) pitched a perfect eighth and Craig Kimbrel recorded three outs to earn his 30th save.
Cardinals starter Joe Kelly pitched 6 1-3 scoreless innings, allowing seven hits and walking three in only his fourth start of the season and first appearance since July 12.
”Very, very impressive,” said Cardinals manager Mike Matheny. ”It was maybe the best I’ve ever seen him throw. Everything. His aggressiveness, his slider, breaking ball, changeup, all of them were as good as I’ve seen.
”That was exactly what we were asking for, and then some.”
Kelly may have earned himself another opportunity as the Cardinals’ No. 5 starter.
”I like pitching, period,” he said. ”To be in the rotation would be awesome but I just take the ball when they tell me and take the opportunity when I get out there.
”I’m pitching right now in the moment. I feel like my stuff is there, in the zone.”
Kelly matched Teheran through the sixth before finding trouble in the seventh.
With one out, Simmons singled and moved to third on pinch-hitter Joey Terdoslavich’s soft double to the left-center gap.
Kelly issued an intentional walk to Jason Heyward to load the bases. Right-hander Michael Maness replaced Kelly and got Justin Upton to ground into an inning-ending double play.
Teheran allowed a two-out double to Matt Holliday in the first and then walked Allen Craig. The right-hander permitted only one baserunner – Jon Jay doubled in the fifth – through the next six innings.
”I think that’s the best game I’ve ever pitched,” Teheran said. ”The command I had today, I think that’s the best I’ve had this year.”
Holliday was activated off the 15-day disabled list before the game. He had been out since July 12 with a strained right hamstring.
Simmons hit eighth as Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez juggled his lineup. Heyward hit leadoff for only the second game this season. Upton, normally the No. 3 hitter, batted second for the first time in 2013.
Simmons had two hits. He ranks second on the team with 14 go-ahead RBIs, but said he was overdue to deliver the clutch hit.
”I know I’ve been struggling with runners in scoring position this year,” Simmons said. ”I’ve been trying, but it’s nice to see results.”
— Associated Press —
Audio from Chiefs Training Camp – Friday, July 26
The Kansas City Chiefs practiced as a full squad for the first time Friday afternoon at Missouri Western State University as training camp continued in St. Joseph. A record-setting crowd of 3,841 came out to MWSU to watch the Chiefs practice. It’s the largest opening day crowd and largest crowd at a training camp practice that wasn’t held inside Spratt Stadium.
Click the links below to hear audio from head coach Andy Reid, QB Alex Smith and No. 1 overall pick Eric Fisher. Fisher was in camp Friday after signing his contract in the morning.
Missouri Western baseball adds three more junior college players
Missouri Western head baseball coach Charles “Buzz” Verduzco announces the signing of three more student-athletes for the 2014 season. Junior college transfers Charles Koehler, III (Jefferson College) from Lake St. Louis, Mo., Michael Yeager (Johnson County CC) from Kansas City, Mo. and Hunter Weiss (Mt. Hood CC) from Portland, Org. join Matthew Russell, Grant Woods, Derek Rottinghaus, Tyler Sanders, Jonathan Temenak and Tyler Tuepker on next years squad.
Koehler is a 6-2 left handed pitcher who comes to MWSU from Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Mo. He played his high school baseball at St. Dominic in O’Fallon, Mo. In
high school he was an All-Conference pitcher and an honorable mention All-Conference utility player. During his senior season he had 4-0 record in 26 innings pitched. He had a 1.88 ERA with 26 strikeouts. In his two seasons at Jefferson College he went 6-1 with a 2.24 ERA with three shutouts in 68.1 innings pitched. He had 61 strikeouts and walked just 21. He plans on majoring in management at MWSU.
“CJ had an impressive career at Jefferson College,” stated Coach Verduzco. “Not often do you land someone of his caliber, especially as a left handed pitcher. We are fortunate to have him in our program and he will help solidify the front end of our staff.”
Yeager is a 5-9 catcher who comes to MWSU from Johnson County CC in Overland Park, Kan. Yeager played his high school baseball at Staley High School in Kansas City, Mo. While at Johnson County he was an All-Conference performer as well as a team captain and the most valuable player which was selected by his coaches. As a freshman he hit .417 with 43 hits and 14 RBI and has a sophomore he hit .307 with 20 RBI. While in high school he was a two time All-State selection as well as All-Metro. As a
junior he had the highest batting average in the state at .611. He plans on majoring in sports management at Missouri Western.
“Michael is coming off two excellent seasons at Johnson County CC,” commented Coach Verduzco. “He is an outstanding defensive catcher with a plus arm that can control our opponent’s running game. Our pitching staff will definitely benefit his high energy “take charge” approach.”
Weiss is a 6-1 outfielder who comes to the Griffons from Mt. Hood CC in Gresham, Ore. He played his high school baseball at Central Catholic in Portland, Ore. While at Mt. Hood he was a second team All-NWAACC Southern Region Outfielder and a Gold Glove NWAACC Southern Region selection. In his two seasons he hit .279 with 58 runs scored, 85 hits, nine doubles, one home run and 42 RBI. In high school he was an first team All-Conference performer both in the outfield and as a pitcher. He plans on majoring in business administration at Missouri Western.
“Hunter has been the model of consistency while competing at Mt. Hood CC in Oregon,” said Coach Verduzco. “He will add plus defensive to our outfield and will be a very solid offensive player.”
— MWSU Sports Information —
Shields shuts down White Sox as Royals win 5-1
James Shields tossed seven shutout innings and rookie David Lough homered and drove in another run to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 5-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Friday night.
The Royals (49-51) have won four straight and six of eight since the All-Star break. The White Sox (40-60) have lost four of five.
Shields (5-7) allowed eight hits and walked two but faced only one real scoring threat, working out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning.
The veteran right-hander, in his first season in Kansas City, has pitched better than his won-loss record might indicate. He lowered his ERA to 3.09 and has been especially effective on the road, where he improved to 4-3 with a 2.50 ERA in 12 starts.
Chicago starter Jose Quintana (5-3) also pitched well but allowed two runs on six hits in seven innings to pick up the loss.
Lough led off the top of the third inning with a home run into the right-field bullpen to give the Royals a 1-0 lead. That’s where the score stayed until the seventh, when the Royals stretched the lead to 2-0 on a sacrifice fly by Miguel Tejada that scored Salvador Perez, who led off the inning with a double.
The White Sox’s best threat against Shields came in the sixth, when they loaded the bases with two outs. But catcher Josh Phegley grounded into a fielder’s choice to third base on the first pitch to end the inning.
The Sox finally got on the board in the eighth on a solo homer by Conor Gillaspie, but the Royals added three insurance runs in the ninth on run-scoring hits by Lorenzo Cain and Mike Moustakas, and a sacrifice fly by Lough.
— Associated Press —
Minor outduels Wainwright as Cardinals lose series opener at Atlanta
Mike Minor allowed only one run to give Atlanta’s depleted rotation a lift, Jason Heyward homered, and the Braves beat Adam Wainwright and the St. Louis Cardinals 4-1 in a matchup of division leaders on Friday night.
Minor (10-5) gave up four hits with no walks in seven innings. His sharp performance came two days after Tim Hudson was lost for the season with a broken right ankle.
The Atlanta rotation also is without left-hander Paul Maholm, who isn’t on the disabled list but is expected to miss at least one start because of a bruised left wrist.
Wainwright (13-6), the NL leader in wins, took his first loss since a 2-1 decision to Texas on June 23.
Yadier Molina gave St. Louis a 1-0 lead with his eighth homer in the second inning. The Braves answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning.
Wainwright allowed four runs, three earned, on seven hits and one walk in seven innings.
Minor, who became the first Braves pitcher to reach 10 wins, lowered his ERA to 2.89. His strong start was especially important after Hudson’s season ended when he was injured on Wednesday night against the Mets.
The Braves took a 2-1 lead with four hits off Wainwright in the second. Brian McCann doubled, moved to third on Dan Uggla’s single and scored on Chris Johnson’s single to left field. Minor added a single with two outs to drive in Uggla.
Heyward pushed the lead to 3-1 with his eighth homer, a one-out shot to left field, in the fifth.
With one out in the seventh and Johnson on first base following his second hit, Joey Terdoslavich pinch-hit for Minor and hit a grounder to shortstop Pete Kozma, who threw wild toward second base. Johnson scored on the error.
Jordan Walden pitched a perfect eighth inning before Craig Kimbrel recorded the final three outs for his 29th save.
Heyward, sprinting toward the infield from right field, made a diving catch to take a hit away from David Freese in the fifth inning. Heyward rolled and came up holding the ball as Minor slapped his glove in approval on the mound.
— Associated Press —