Professional – Page 108 – St. Joseph Post Archive

St. Louis falls short of sweep at Milwaukee

Posted on June 1, 2016June 1, 2016

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Zach Davies had pinpoint command. He frustrated hitters with four pitches and stayed ahead in counts.

What made Davies’ crisp outing on Wednesday even more impressive was that he shut down the formidable lineup of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Davies had a career-high nine strikeouts over eight shutout innings, and the Milwaukee Brewers averted a three-game sweep with a 3-1 win over their NL Central rivals.

“It’s hard to get much better than that,” manager Craig Counsell said.

Davies (3-3) allowed three hits and retired 13 in a row to finish the longest outing of his young career before yielding to Jeremy Jeffress. The closer gave up a pinch-hit solo homer to Brandon Moss before retiring the final three batters for his 13th save.

It was a memorable afternoon for Davies, who got stronger as the game wore on. He struck out the side in the eighth to draw a standing ovation from an appreciative hometown crowd.

Davies, a 23-year-old right-hander, didn’t allow a runner to reach second. He kept hitters guessing with his fastball, curve, cutter and changeup.

That left the Cardinals frustrated after entering the day second in the National League with 71 homers and a .460 slugging percentage.

“It was just being able to find the bottom of the zone and just being able to command the ball a lot better today; making them put the ball in play early and getting ahead of guys,” Davies said.

The Brewers scratched out two runs in the first off Jaime Garcia (4-5) and added insurance with Martin Maldonado’s solo homer in the sixth.

Garcia allowed five hits, three walks and two runs before departing after five innings.

“It’s just one of those where he just had trouble finding the feel on a consistent basis,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. “But still, he only gave up only a couple runs five hits. But he had a lot of traffic and a lot of stress innings.”

ZACH ATTACK

Davies was one of the Brewers’ first acquisitions when the organization decided to rebuild at midseason last year, arriving from Baltimore in exchange for outfielder Gerardo Parra. Davies was drafted in the 26th round of the 2011 amateur draft.

He has rebounded after a tough April, when he went 0-3 with an 8.78 ERA in three starts. He had a 3.81 ERA in May in five starts.

Kolten Wong, who struck out twice, said Davies kept the Cardinals off-balance with his changeup.

“Just something that caught us off guard,” Wong said. “He kept us off balance with his fastball coming in and threw that changeup away.”

FIRST FOUR

The Brewers’ first four hitters opened the game with a walk and three straight singles, capped by run-scoring hits for Ryan Braun and Chris Carter.

Milwaukee squandered opportunities for more offense by leaving the bases loaded in the first and third. Maldonado recorded the inning-ending outs each time before atoning in the sixth with his homer off reliever Matt Bowman that landed on the concourse beyond left-center.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: Garcia showed no discomfort and stayed in the game after getting hit in his lower left leg by a hard bouncer up the middle from Aaron Hill in the third. The ball deflected into short left for an infield single.

Brewers: LHP Will Smith was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list before the game. The hard-throwing reliever had been sidelined since spring training after spraining a ligament in his right knee while taking off a shoe in the clubhouse during spring training. Smith had been expected to share closing duties with RHP Jeremy Jeffress this season, and manager Craig Counsell said he would use Smith judiciously to start.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: Following an off day, St. Louis returns home on Friday to open a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants. Right-handed ace Adam Wainwright (5-3) gets the start. He is 5-0 in his last seven games.

Brewers: RHP Chase Anderson (2-6) opens a four-game series on Thursday at Citizens Bank Park against the Phillies. He is 0-2 with a 7.53 ERA in three career starts against Philadelphia.

— Associated Press —

Cain homers, drives in 4 as Royals defeat Tampa Bay 10-5

Posted on May 31, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Lorenzo Cain homered and drove in four runs as the Kansas City Royals beat the Tampa Bay Rays 10-5 on Tuesday night, extending their winning streak to a season-best five games.

The Royals, who have won six straight series, took a two-game lead in the AL Central after being seven games out and in fourth place on May 10.

Cain hit a two-run homer in the first inning and a two-run single in the five-run fifth when the Royals batted around. Cain has 23 RBI in his past 19 games after driving in 10 runs in his first 30 games.

Kendrys Morales homered — a two-run shot in the sixth — and drove in three runs for the Royals while Eric Hosmer had three hits and drove in two runs. Hosmer is 13 for 30 with 13 RBI on this homestand.

Royals right-hander Dillon Gee (2-2) labored through five innings to pick up the victory, throwing 102 pitches. He gave up four runs and nine hits, while walking one and striking out seven.

Rays starter Drew Smyly (2-7) was pulled after four innings, yielding eight runs and 12 hits. In his past three starts, all losses, he has allowed 25 hits and 16 earned runs in 16 1/3 innings.

Every Royal had at least one hit. Paulo Orlando singled in the eighth, extending his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games. Drew Butera had three hits, matching his career high.

Corey Dickerson hit a three-run homer for the Rays in the second and drove in another run in the ninth.

The Rays loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth off rookie left-hander Scott Alexander. Evan Longoria led off the inning with a double and Alexander walked the next two. After Dickerson’s one-out RBI single, Wade Davis was summoned and picked up his 15th save in 16 opportunities.

THE DEFENSE RESTS

The Rays, who made three errors Monday, have committed 11 in their past seven games with four multi-error games. “That’s terrible,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “We’re better than that and we need to get better at it.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rays: RHP Brad Boxberger, who just came off the DL after adductor muscle surgery in March, left after 16 pitches in the sixth with a muscle strain in his left side. . 2B Steve Pearce, who left in the eighth inning Monday with a tender right elbow, was back in the lineup Tuesday, but was pinch hit for in the fifth inning. . RHPs Alex Cobb and Chase Whitley, who both underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2015, each threw a 35-pitch bullpen session Tuesday at Tropicana Field. . INF Logan Forsythe, who is on the DL with a left scapula hairline fracture, hit off the tee and fielded ground balls at Tropicana.

Royals: LF Brett Eibner was carted from the field in the fifth inning with a left ankle sprain. He will be evaluated further Wednesday. . 3B Mike Moustakas, who has a torn right ACL, will see Dr. James Andrews on Wednesday for a second opinion. . LHP Mike Minor, who missed last season after surgery for a torn labrum, was pulled out of his rehab assignment with shoulder fatigue. He came Tuesday to Kansas City to be examined by the Royals medical staff.

UP NEXT

Rays: RHP Chris Archer is 0-2 with a 6.27 ERA in three career starts against the Royals.

Royals: LHP Danny Duffy has a 4.86 ERA this season at Kauffman Stadium and a 1.29 ERA on the road.

— Associated Press —

Carpenter has 4 more hits to lead Cards past Milwaukee

Posted on May 31, 2016May 31, 2016

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Eight hits in two days have made Matt Carpenter a happy man.

Carpenter tied his season high with four hits for the second straight game, scored four times and drove in two runs to lead the St. Louis Cardinals over the Milwaukee Brewers 10-3 on Tuesday night.

“When you feel good, you feel good,” Carpenter said after his 13th multihit game this season. “Hits come in bunches. I’ve had stretches during this year where I felt really good, was hitting balls right at people. Baseball has a funny way of working itself out.”

Carpenter is 8 for 10 with seven runs, three doubles and two triples during this three-game series which ends Wednesday.

“It’s pretty clear he’s locked-in,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “He’s tough to pitch to when he’s like that.”

Jedd Gyorko hit a three-run homer, and Mike Leake (4-4) allowed five hits, walked one and struck out four over six innings for his fourth win in the last five starts. His only mistakes were Jonathan Lucroy’s home run leading off the second and Ryan Braun’s RBI double in the sixth.

Carpenter and Matt Holliday — 2 for 4 with two RBI — continued their torrid hitting against the Brewers, this time against Wily Peralta (3-6).

In the Cardinals’ 6-0 win on Monday, Carpenter had four hits and three runs and Holliday added his second consecutive three-hit game, including his second home run of the nine-game road trip.

Tuesday night, Carpenter doubled, singled and tripled twice. Holliday singled twice, driving in Carpenter both times. Carpenter also scored when Holliday hit into a double play in the seventh. Carpenter scored again when Aledmys Diaz grounded out to third during a five-run eighth.

Carpenter has been rolling since his wife, Mackenzie, gave birth to their first child, a daughter named Kinley Rae, last Wednesday. He says he’s been more relaxed since then.

“When we got the good news, it’s definitely one less thing to think about,” he said. “A kid doesn’t guarantee you’ll go out and get four hits, but it’s certainly one less thing to think about.”

Seung Hwan Oh pitched a scoreless seventh, Kevin Siegrist surrendered Lucroy’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth and Jonathan Broxton finished with a perfect ninth.

Peralta needed 29 pitches to get through the first, but then held the Cardinals in check until the fifth. He allowed three runs on nine hits over five innings. He walked two and struck out two while dropping to 0-7 over his past eight starts against the Cardinals. He lost 7-0 in his first start this season against the Cardinals on April 14 at Busch Stadium.

CARDINALS DROP A DIME

St. Louis had 10 or more runs in a game for the 10th time this season and improved to 10-0 when doing so.

BREWERS MOVES

The Brewers claimed RHP Neil Ramirez (0-0, 4.70 ERA) off waivers from the Chicago Cubs and designated INF Colin Walsh for assignment. Manager Craig Counsell said Ramirez would join the club on Wednesday. Walsh, a Rule 5 player, appeared in 38 games, batting .085 in 63 plate appearances.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: OF Stephen Piscotty was back in the starting lineup after missing Monday’s game with a stomach ailment.

Brewers: LF Ryan Braun was back in the starting lineup after missing consecutive games with a sore neck. The team’s leading hitter also has been bothered by soreness in his lower back and right wrist this season. He is hitting .351 with nine home runs and 30 RBI and hadn’t played since Saturday in Cincinnati, when he pinch-hit and hit into a double play. … RHP Matt Garza (Class A Wisconsin), RHP Corey Knebel (Class A Brevard County) and OF Domingo Santana (Double-A Biloxi) began rehab assignments Tuesday night.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Jaime Garcia makes his second start of the season against the Brewers. He pitched a complete-game, one-hit shutout in a 6-1 win at Busch Stadium on April 30. He is 10-4 with a 2.67 ERA in 18 career games, including 17 starts, against Milwaukee.

Brewers: RHP Zach Davies (2-3, 5.40 ERA) makes his ninth start of the season and first career against the Cardinals. Opponents are batting .294 with seven home runs against him since being recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs on April 17.

— Associated Press —

Royals score four in the 8th inning to top Tampa Bay

Posted on May 31, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Late-inning rallies are becoming the trademark for the Kansas City Royals.

Eric Hosmer hit a three-run homer after Lorenzo Cain drove in the go-ahead run in a four-run eighth inning and the Royals defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 6-2 on Monday night.

The Royals have won four straight, matching their season best streak, and have scored 19 runs after the sixth innings in those victories.

“Good teams at the end of the game find ways to do it,” Hosmer said. “We’ve been really doing it a lot of different ways, finding a way each and every night.”

Cain’s single scored Alcides Escobar with the first run of the inning before Hosmer took a pitch from Erasmo Ramirez (6-3) deep to right-center for his 10th home run. Hosmer has 10 RBI in the first four games of this homestand.

“Cain took a good protective swing,” Ramirez said. “He got good contact there through the right side. I made a high pitch to a great hitter like Hosmer, so he just made me pay about it. So, now I can do nothing about it.”

Kelvin Herrera (1-1) blew the save, allowing a run in the eighth, but he picked up the victory. Steve Pearce scored from second on an infield single by Steven Souza Jr. to tie it at 2.

Royals starter Ian Kennedy walked a season-high five, including the bases loaded in the fifth, but limited the Rays to three singles and one unearned run over six innings. He has allowed two or fewer runs in eight of his 10 starts, lowering his ERA to 3.03.

Kennedy retired Logan Morrison on a pop up to shortstop Escobar to end the fifth. Kennedy also escaped a bases loaded jam in a 29-pitch first inning when he walked two. He struck out Souza looking to end the inning.

Rays right-hander Matt Andriese allowed two runs and five hits over seven innings.

Kendrys Morales walked with one out in the Royals’ second. Paulo Orlando, who had two hits and is batting a major league-leading .441 in May, doubled, moving Morales to third, where he scored on Cheslor Cuthbert’s groundout.

The Rays tied it with an unearned run in the fourth. Morrison led off with a single, stole second, took third on catcher Drew Butera’s throwing error and scored on Corey Dickerson’s groundout to second baseman Whit Merrifield.

Jarrod Dyson produced a run with his feet in fifth. Dyson singled to center and when Desmond Jennings had difficulties picking up the ball, Dyson motored to second, just beating the throw. Dyson stole third and when catcher Hank Conger’s throw landed in left field he trotted home.

“They probably felt I wasn’t going,” Dyson said. “A 3-1 count is a fastball count. I picked a good spot to go. Catcher come up, tried to fire it, rushed his throw and the ball ended up in the outfield. I get up and score easily.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rays: Pearce left after seven innings with a right elbow irritation. “I’ve been dealing with it for a while,” Pearce said. “It just flared up a little bit.” … RHP Ryan Webb was placed on the 15-day DL, retroactive to Friday, with a right pectoral strain. … RHP Brad Boxberger, who had surgery March 17 to repair a torn adductor brevis muscle, was reinstated from the DL.

Royals: C Salvador Perez missed his second straight game with a bruised quad.

SHORTSTOP BENCHED

Rays SS Brad Miller, who has committed four errors in his past nine games including a throwing miscue in the sixth inning Sunday to end RHP Jake Odorizzi’s perfect game bid against the Yankees, did not start. He came in in the eighth inning and promptly committed another error, botching a grounder by Orlando.

UP NEXT

Rays: LHP Drew Smyly, who starts Tuesday, was a college teammate of Royals OF Brett Eibner at Arkansas.

Royals: RHP Dillon Gee has never faced the Rays, leaving just the Red Sox, Indians and Mets as teams he has never pitched against.

— Associated Press —

Martinez, Carpenter help St. Louis blank Brewers

Posted on May 31, 2016

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Carlos Martinez’s teammates greeted the pitcher with hugs and handshakes following his eight innings of work at Miller Park.

After a tough couple weeks, the young right-hander ended May on a high note.

Martinez struck out eight in a crisp performance and Matt Carpenter had four hits, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a 6-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday.

After giving up at least four runs in each of his three previous starts, Martinez rebounded nicely with another masterful outing against Milwaukee. Entering Monday, he had a 1.34 ERA in 15 career games, including four starts, against the Brewers.

“It was a mental adjustment, not mechanics or physically. I think I have control of that,” Martinez said through an interpreter. “It is just knowing when to place the ball.”

Martinez allowed five singles and walked one. Trevor Rosenthal finished the five-hitter.

“That was phenomenal,” manager Mike Matheny said about Martinez. “He can be as dominating as anybody in the game when he puts it all together.”

Carpenter sparked the offense from the leadoff spot. He even scored from second in the seventh after catcher Jonathan Lucroy lost track of a wild pitch by Jhan Marinez that trickled to the backstop.

The Cardinals never trailed after building a 3-0 lead in the third off Junior Guerra (3-1), who allowed eight hits and three earned runs in 6 1/3 innings. St. Louis capitalized on some questionable Milwaukee defense in the third.

“They were kind of `woulda-coulda-shoulda’ plays but certainly not routine plays,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “The way Martinez was pitching, we pretty much needed to make every play today.”

BAD BREW

The top of the third included a throwing error and passed ball for the Brewers. Another run scored when Alex Presley, who was wearing sunglasses, couldn’t get to a towering fly by Matt Adams to the warning track in left on a sunny afternoon.

The ball fell to the dirt for an RBI double. Presley said the ball had drifted and fell just behind him and to his right.

Martinez had more than enough support against a team that he has dominated through his four-year career, including a 0.59 ERA in three starts in 2015. The fastball topped at about 98 mph, and Martinez mixed in a curveball, slider and changeup.

“He does a good job of mixing pitches even though he has good velocity,” Presley said. “He can get you off balance, and just called an unpredictable-type game at times. With his stuff, it’s a tough combo.”

FANTASTIC FOUR

The top four hitters in the Cardinals’ lineup accounted for 10 of the team’s 12 hits. Third-place hitter Matt Holliday was 3 for 4 with three RBI, including a 466-foot homer in the seventh off Marinez that landed in the top row of the bleachers in left.

“We put traffic out there. We put pressure on them to make pitches and guys came through with the big hits when we needed them,” Matheny said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: OF Stephen Piscotty missed the game with a stomach bug. “He got some bad food last night, or something zapped him,” Matheny said. … SS Jhonny Peralta (left thumb) needed stitches after cutting a finger on his right hand with a knife during his rehab assignment Saturday night at Double-A Springfield. Peralta might miss another couple days.

Brewers: LF Ryan Braun (sore neck) missed a second straight game. The Brewers’ best hitter also has been bothered by soreness in his lower back and right wrist this season. … LHP Will Smith (right knee) was scheduled to return to Milwaukee on Monday night from his rehab stint in the minors. He could be activated on Thursday when the team opens a four-game series in Philadelphia.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: The team is scoring 5.25 runs a game in the last four starts of RHP Mike Leake (3-4) after averaging 3.7 runs over his first six outings.

Brewers: RHP Wily Peralta (3-5) is 4-9 with a 5.00 ERA in 14 career starts against St. Louis.

— Associated Press —

Kansas City rallies again late to complete sweep of White Sox

Posted on May 29, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Cheslor Cuthbert drove in the go-ahead run with an infield hit in a three-run eighth inning, and the Kansas City Royals rallied for the third straight game in a 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.

Chicago wasted a 4-2 lead in the eighth after failing to protect a 5-2 seventh-inning advantage on Friday and a 7-1 ninth-inning margin on Saturday. White Sox relievers allowed 17 runs, 15 hits and eight walks over 6 1/3 innings in the three-game series, and Chicago has lost 14 of its last 18 games after a 23-10 start.

Seeking to become the major leagues’ first 10-game winner, Chris Sale left with a 4-2 lead after seven innings. Lorenzo Cain homered with one out off Nate Jones (2-1), Eric Hosmer doubled, and Kansas City loaded the bases with Kendrys Morales’ walk and Paulo Orlando’s single.

Jones walked Brett Eibner on a low, outside pitch, forcing in the tying run. Matt Albers relieved and Cuthbert hit a grounder that second baseman Brett Lawrie snagged with a dive as pinch-runner Jarrod Dyson came home from third. Lawrie’s throw from his back went about 10 feet, and first baseman Jose Abreu picked up the ball and threw out Orlando at the plate.

Chris Young (2-5), activated from the disabled list Saturday, pitched a 1-2-3 eighth, and Wade Davis thew a perfect ninth for his 14th save in 15 chances.

Hosmer three hits and went 8 for 13 with seven RBI in the series

Sale fell behind in the first when Cain hit an RBI double and scored on Hosmer’s single. Sale allowed six hits and struck out six.

Kansas City’s Edinson Volquez gave up three runs and six hits in six innings.

Orlando made a diving catch in right to rob Austin Jackson on an extra-base hit in the seventh, holding Kansas City to a sacrifice fly.

STREAKING

Whit Merrifield has hit in all eight Royals games he has started.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: C Salvador Perez is expected to be out seven to 10 days with a bruised left thigh, the result of a collision with Cuthbert while catching a foul pop up Saturday. A MRI detected no structural damage. . Morales played for the first time since Tuesday after missing three games with a swollen right middle finger knuckle.

UP NEXT

White Sox: LHP Jose Quintana (5-4) is to start Monday’s series opener at the New York Mets, who will start Matt Harvey.

Royals: RHP Ian Kennedy (4-3) will start Monday against Tampa Bay and Matt Andriese.

— Associated Press —

Cardinals drop series finale at Washington

Posted on May 29, 2016

WASHINGTON (AP) — Stephen Strasburg won his 12th consecutive decision dating to last season and Jayson Werth connected for a pinch-hit grand slam to help the Washington Nationals close out the season series against the St. Louis Cardinals with a 10-2 win on Sunday.

Wilson Ramos had three hits, including a two-run homer, and drove in four runs. Bryce Harper hit an RBI single during Washington’s three-run fourth inning off Michael Wacha (2-6).

Strasburg (9-0) pitched six innings of one-run ball as Washington salvaged a split of the four-game series. The Nationals went 5-2 against the Cardinals this season.

Strasburg improved to 12-0 in 15 starts since losing to the Mets on Sept. 9, and the Nationals have won all 15 of those games. The 12 consecutive winning decisions is a franchise record for a starter, breaking a mark shared by Livan Hernandez (2005) and Dennis Martinez (1989).

The right-hander also became the first starter in franchise history to win his first nine decisions in a season, one more than Pedro Martinez in 1997. Washington is 11-0 this season in games started by Strasburg, who lowered his ERA to 2.69 and tied Chicago Cubs ace Jake Arrieta for the NL lead in wins.

Anthony Rendon and Werth homered in the seventh for Washington in its final game before a three-city road trip.

Brandon Moss hit a solo home run off Strasburg for a short-lived lead. Matt Holliday had three hits for the Cardinals.

Werth’s drive off Dean Kiekhefer highlighted the decisive five-run seventh as Washington batted around. Rendon started the inning with a homer after St. Louis made it 3-2 in the top of the inning on Matt Adams’ sacrifice fly.

Wacha dropped his sixth straight decision after starting the season 2-0. He was unable to complete more than four innings in any of his three previous starts while allowing 20 earned runs combined.

Though he worked deeper against the Nationals, the fourth inning was costly.

The Nationals went 1 for 13 and no RBI with runners in scoring position over the first three games. That futility ended in the fourth. Following Michael Taylor’s leadoff double, Harper’s single tied it at 1.

Ryan Zimmerman’s one-out double put runners on second and third. After Rendon struck out, Ramos drove in both runners with a two-out single.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: Adams went 0 for 2 with a walk in his first start since exiting Thursday’s game with mid-back stiffness. He had a two-run, pinch-hit double in Saturday’s 9-4 win.

Nationals: RHP Matt Belisle (right calf strain) allowed two runs over two innings Saturday in his third rehab appearance with Single-A Potomac. Belisle visited Washington’s clubhouse Sunday and said he expects to pitch for Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday before Washington decides on his next step.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Carlos Martinez (4-5, 4.25 ERA) looks to snap a string of five consecutive losing decisions as St. Louis opens a three-game series at Milwaukee. RHP Junior Guerra (3-0, 3.30 ERA) starts for the Brewers.

Nationals: Washington’s nine-game road trip opens Monday in Philadelphia. The Nationals’ Tanner Roark (3-4, 2.71 ERA) will face fellow RHP Jeremy Hellickson (4-3, 3.97 ERA).

— Associated Press —

Royals score seven in 9th to beat White Sox 8-7; Perez hurt

Posted on May 28, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Brett Eibner wondered whether anything could surpass the Kansas City Royals’ rally Friday night, when they overcome a four-run deficit to beat the Chicago White Sox in his major league debut.

He did not have to wait long to find out.

Eibner singled to cap the biggest ninth-inning comeback in Royals history, a seven-run rally off David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle that lifted the World Series champions over the Chicago White Sox 8-7 Saturday.

“I didn’t think I could beat yesterday and, sure enough, we come around and do this,” said Eibner, who also doubled to helped spark the inning. “It’s super fun. There’s nothing like it. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced that.”

Kansas City’s Salvador Perez was injured in the ninth when third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert slid with a forearm and elbow into the left thigh of the All-Star catcher, who called off Chien-Ming Wang (3-0), settled under Adam Eaton’s foul popup about 30 feet from the plate near the third-base line and snagged the ball just before he was hit.

Perez was taken for a MRI after the game and the extent of his injury was not announced. The preliminary diagnosis was a bruised left thigh.

“Now it’s a waiting game,” Eric Hosmer said. “We won the game today, but that will be the more important win if we find out nothing serious with him happened. Salvy is our guy. He’s the leader of this team. He’s an All-Star. He’s everything. When you see a guy like that goes down, it fires you up. You want to pick up the pace cause you’ve got to pick him up.”

Perez immediately raised his right arm, signaling for assistance. Two minutes later, Perez hobbled off the field with his arms draped over the shoulders of manager Ned Yost and head athletic trainer Nick Kenney.

“The good thing about it, at least as far as we could tell, there was no structural damage to his knee,” Yost said. “So, that was what I was worried about. He sustained a pretty good quad contusion Cheslor suffered a mild quad contusion, when they hit.”

Held to six hits through eight innings, the Royals doubled their total in the 32-minute bottom of the ninth and overcame a six-run deficit for the first time since beating San Francisco on June 22, 2008. The inning included four walks, two of them intentional, and four runs scored with two outs.

“There’s no shot clock, there’s no time clock,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said after Chicago lost for the 13th time in 17 games. “If you can’t close it out, that’s what happens. Today we couldn’t close it out.”

Eibner had the second and third hits of his big league career. The designated hitter drove in the game-ending run with a full-count single on the 10th pitch of his at-bat against Kahnle (0-1). Eibner grounded a 98 mph fastball on the low, outside corner to the right of a diving Jose Abreu at first, and Drew Butera, who had replaced Perez, raised an arm in triumph as he crossed the plate.

Robertson relieved with a 7-1 lead in a non-save situation and threw a called third strike past Paulo Orlando before Cuthbert singled and Eibner doubled on a fly that dropped behind right fielder Adam Eaton, who lost the ball in the sun.

A walk to Omar Infante loaded the bases, and Robertson forced in a run when he walked Alcides Escobar after getting ahead 1-2 in the count.

Whit Merrifield, who made his big league debut May 18, hit a hard grounder up the middle that deflected off Robertson’s glove and into right field for a single as two runs scored, cutting the deficit to 7-4. Lorenzo Cain hit into a run-scoring forceout to shortstop, easily beating second baseman Brett Lawrie’s relay to first to avoid what would have been a game-ending double play. Eric Hosmer followed with an RBI double to deep right-center, pulling Royals within a run.

Kahnle relieved Robertson, who threw 29 pitches, and Butera doubled on his third offering, driving the ball on one hop to the left-field wall.

Butera advanced on a wild pitch. Orlando was intentionally walked and took second on defensive indifference, and an intentional walk to pinch-hitter Jarrod Dyson loaded the bases for Eibner, who fouled off three 2-2 pitches, took a ball and fouled off another before the winning hit.

Tyler Saladino and Avisail Garcia each homered and drove in three runs as Chicago built its lead. The bottom four White Sox hitters — Brett Lawrie, Alex Avila, Garcia and Saladino — went a combined 8 for 16 with six runs.

“I wouldn’t say I’m shocked or surprised we didn’t win that game,” Avila said. “I’ve seen comebacks like that. There’s not a whole lot that surprises me. You have to make sure you’re prepared for things like that. But, at the same time, I’m absolutely upset that we didn’t win.”

Chicago starter Carlos Rodon gave up one run and six hits in five innings in a no-decision. Royals starter Yordano Ventura allowed seven runs, six earned, and nine hits in seven innings. Ventura is 2-4 with a 7.16 ERA in his past six starts.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: RHP Chris Young (right forearm strain) was reinstated from the disabled list and put in the bullpen. LHP Brian Flynn was optioned to Triple-A Omaha, where the Royals want him to transition back to being a starter. … DH Kendrys Morales, who has not played since Tuesday because of swelling on his right middle knuckle, probably will return Monday against Tampa Bay.

UP NEXT

White Sox: LHP Chris Sale (9-1), who leads the AL in wins, complete games (three) and opponents’ batting average (.179), is to start Sunday’s series finale.

Royals: RHP Edinson Volquez (5-4) has a 2.06 ERA at home this season and a 6.55 ERA on the road.

— Associated Press —

Wainwright uses arm, bat to lift St. Louis past Washington

Posted on May 28, 2016

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two on, two out, a run in and a chance for St. Louis to take control of its game against the Washington Nationals.

Starting pitcher Adam Wainwright couldn’t wait to step to the plate.

Wainwright delivered a two-run double and pitched seven gritty innings Saturday night to help St. Louis secure a 9-4 victory.

Matt Holliday homered for the Cardinals, who took control with a four-run second inning highlighted by Wainwright’s fifth extra-base hit of the season.

With runners at the corners in the second, Wainwright lined the first pitch from Gio Gonzalez (3-3) into the left-center gap for a 3-0 lead.

“Several times a year, a pitcher has a chance to swing a ballgame in his favor with a positive plate appearance,” Wainwright said. “Sometimes that’s getting a bunt down, sometimes that’s getting a hit when you need it. Off a tough pitcher like Gio, you have to take advantage of those situations.”

Matt Carpenter, activated from the paternity list before the game, followed with an RBI double.

That started Wainwright (5-3) on a path to his fifth straight win. The right-hander allowed four runs and six hits — including a career record-tying three home runs. He struck out five and walked none.

“My stuff is back,” Wainwright declared. “I’ve just got to hone it a little bit. Home runs sometimes can cost you the lead or a loss, but luckily our offense did a good job.”

Wainwright received a whopping 45 runs of support in his previous six starts. The trend continued in this one — with the pitcher himself as a main contributor.

“I almost love to hit more than I love to pitch,” Wainwright said. “It’s close.”

He leads all major league pitchers this season in extra-base hits and RBI (a career-high eight).

“He’s had huge hits for us this year,” manager Mike Matheny said. “He smashed that ball today. He’s putting together some good at-bats. He’s also our best bunter. Just ask him.”

Ryan Zimmerman went 4 for 4 with two homers, and Bryce Harper had a solo shot for the Nationals, who send unbeaten Stephen Strasburg to the mound Sunday hoping to salvage a split of the four-game series.

Harper’s home run was his 13th of the season and second in three games. But the reigning NL MVP is 7 for 43 (.163) since May 13, dropping his batting average 33 points to .245.

After St. Louis’ big second inning, Zimmerman connected in the bottom half after Daniel Murphy hit a leadoff single. Murphy’s hit was his 41st in May, most ever in one month by a Nationals player since the team moved from Montreal in 2005.

Holliday went deep in the third and Randal Grichuk snapped an 0-for-11 skid in the fifth with an RBI double. The hit chased Gonzalez, who gave up six runs, six hits and four walks over 4 2/3 innings. Half those walks came in the pivotal second inning.

“That got his pitch count up,” manager Dusty Baker said. “Then it really hurt when Wainwright got that double.”

Harper homered to deep center in the sixth, and Zimmerman hit his second of the game leading off the seventh to get Washington to 6-4.

Matt Adams answered with a pinch-hit, two-run double in the eighth.

Greg Garcia had three hits and an RBI for the Cardinals. Recalled from the minors Thursday when Carpenter was placed on the paternity list, Garcia is batting .647 in 11 big league games this season.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: SS Jhonny Peralta (left thumb ligament) was held from the Double-A Springfield lineup Saturday night after cutting a finger on his right hand. The cut, which required stitches, will interrupt his rehabilitation assignment for a few days.

Nationals: RHP Matt Belisle (right calf strain) received treatment in the Nats training room before packing a bag and driving to nearby Woodbridge, Virginia, for a rehab stint with Class A Potomac. “I feel great. Ready to rock,” said Belisle, who was slated to throw two innings.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Michael Wacha (2-5, 5.04 ERA) starts the finale Sunday after allowing 20 runs in his last three starts, including a career-high eight in his last outing vs. Chicago.

Nationals: Strasburg (8-0, 2.79) is 11-0 with a 2.14 ERA in last 14 starts, dating to Sept. 15.

— Associated Press —

Hosmer homers, drives in 4, as Royals top White Sox in series opener

Posted on May 27, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Eric Hosmer was happy to be back at Kauffman Stadium after a rough road trip.

He had three hits, including a home run, and drove in four runs as the Kansas City Royals rallied to defeat the Chicago White Sox 7-5 on Friday night.

That is one more RBI and matched the number of hits he had on the just concluded six-game trip when he was 3-for-25 (.120).

He laced a two-run single with two outs in the seventh to put the Royals ahead. He homered in the sixth and drove in a run in the first inning with a groundout.

“I faced (Zach) Duke a couple of times and he’s got really good offspeed stuff,” Hosmer said of his seventh inning hit. “I told myself that’s what he likes to go to. I just wanted to see it. I put something in play, trying to make something happen and finally had some luck on my side, our side.”

The White Sox used five pitchers in the Royals’ four-run seventh with Matt Albers (1-4) taking the loss. The inning included Brett Eibner’s double, his first major league hit, and Whit Merrifield’s two-run single.

“Seemed like anything we tried to do it didn’t work,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “Not only can they swing it, but they’ve got some guys that can, if they put the bat on it, can really beat some things out.”

Royals starter Danny Duffy retired the first 16 batters he faced on 59 pitches before giving up five runs on his next 17 pitches.

“For 5 1/3 innings, that’s the best I’ve ever seen him pitch,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “I didn’t see that coming.”

Avisail Garcia, Dioner Navarro and Austin Jackson hit consecutive singles with one out in the sixth to load the bases for Melky Cabrera, who cleared them with a first-pitch grand slam. It was his first grand slam since July 29, 2011, at Cleveland, while with the Royals.

Todd Frazier then took Duffy deep to left. He is tied for the American League lead with 15 home runs. It was the first time this season the White Sox have hit back-to-back home runs.

“That’s probably the best-worst game, I’ve ever had,” Duffy said.

Peter Moylan (2-0) picked up the victory with a scoreless seventh. He is 6-0 since his last loss on Sept. 7, 2011, while with Atlanta. Wade Davis worked the ninth, striking out two, for his 13th save in 14 opportunities.

The Royals added a run in the eighth when Paulo Orlando, who extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a single, scored on Jarrod Dyson’s sacrifice fly.

“What are you going to do? There’s not much to say,” Frazier said. “They kept clawing back. They came after us that one inning. They kept chipping away. That’s what they do. We’ve got to find a way to put the fire out and we couldn’t do it.”

White Sox right-hander Miguel Gonzalez allowed three runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: DH Kendrys Morales was out of the lineup with a sprained right middle finger. . RHP Chris Young (right forearm strain) could come off the DL soon. He will be used as a reliever when he is activated after going 1-5 with a 6.68 ERA in seven starts.

MAKE UP DATE

The White Sox-Royals game that was rained out Thursday has been rescheduled for Sept. 19, an afternoon start at Kauffman Stadium.

ROTATION CHANGE

The White Sox have opted to start LHP Chris Sale on Sunday against the Royals, instead of holding him back for a Monday start against the New York Mets. Manager Robin Ventura acknowledged since it was a division game “does” play into the decision. LHP Carlos Quintana will start Monday at New York.

UP NEXT

White Sox: LHP Carlos Rodon will try to beat the Royals in consecutive starts. He held the Royals to two runs and eight hits over 6 2/3 innings on Sunday.

Royals: RHP Yordano Ventura is 3-0 with a 3.57 ERA in four home starts.

— Associated Press —