Professional – Page 115 – St. Joseph Post Archive

NFL rejects Chiefs’ appeal of anti-tampering violations

Posted on April 18, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs’ appeal of anti-tampering violations was denied by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday, a decision that drew a strong rebuke from influential owner and team chairman Clark Hunt.

Kansas City will forfeit its third-round pick in next week’s draft and its sixth-round pick next year, though its $250,000 fine was reduced to $200,000 and coach Andy Reid’s fine was reduced from $75,000 to $60,000.

The Chiefs were found to have had direct communication with then-free agent wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, who had been drafted by Reid in Philadelphia, during the league’s negotiating period. That communication is considered a violation of the NFL’s tampering rules.

While the Chiefs have never denied the tampering charges, they maintained that the penalties handed down last month were inconsistent with those levied in similar cases.

“We appreciate the opportunity to make our appeal on this matter, and we acknowledge the minor reduction in fines,” Hunt said in a statement Monday. “However, we continue to believe that the facts of this case combined with the league’s inconsistent enforcement of its tampering policies do not warrant the most severe penalty for player-related tampering in league history.”

In 2008, the San Francisco 49ers were found guilty of tampering with Chicago linebacker Lance Briggs by contacting his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, during the season without the Bears’ permission. The 49ers were stripped of their fifth-round pick and had to swap third-round choices with Chicago as penalties.

Three years later, the Chiefs accused Detroit of tampering when ex-coach Gunther Cunningham — then the Lions’ defensive coordinator — said he would be interested in signing players Kansas City released. The Lions lost their sixth-round pick and had to swap fifth-round picks with the Chiefs.

Last year, the New York Jets were fined $100,000 for tampering after owner Woody Johnson said he’d “love to have Darrelle (Revis) back” when the cornerback was still a member of the New England Patriots.

NFL vice president Troy Vincent said the penalties levied against Kansas City were intended “to balance the seriousness of the violation of an important and longstanding competitive rule with the appropriate recognition of the club’s history (of no prior offenses) and the cooperation shown by both the club and individual employees.”

The Chiefs have no further options under the league’s appeal process.

Maclin declined to discuss the case in detail Monday when he reported to the Chiefs’ practice facility for the start of their offseason program, though he did say he was “shocked in a way” by the penalties.

“It’s been a weird situation,” said Maclin, who appeared to validate his $55 million, five-year contract by catching a career-high 87 passes for 1,088 yards and eight touchdowns last season.

“You have to take responsibility for what we do,” Maclin said. “Stats aren’t going to justify what happened with the whole situation. …. As far as me and my situation, I did what I could to help the team.”

— Associated Press —

George Brett named Grand Marshall for Go Bowling 400 at Kansas Speedway

Posted on April 18, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (April 18, 2016) – Major League Baseball Hall of Famer and former Kansas City Royal George Brett has been named Grand Marshall for the May 7 Go Bowling 400 at Kansas Speedway. Brett was also one of the first people in line to purchase Kansas Speedway season tickets when tickets went on sale before the facility opened.

“George Brett is an iconic figure not just in Kansas City but to sports fans across the country and I’m excited to have him take part in the Go Bowling 400,” said Kansas Speedway President Patrick Warren. “George has an impressive resume, winning a World Series title with the Royals, a Gold Glove, an MVP award, and I’m thrilled that Kansas Speedway was able to add another accomplishment to this already extraordinary list – Grand Marshal.”

Brett, who played his entire career with the Royals organization, is considered one of baseball’s greatest clutch hitters and was chosen Royals Player of the Year eight times. The 13-time All-Star was named the 1980 American League MVP and won a Gold Glove in 1985. He was the first player in Major League history to win batting titles in three decades (1976, 1980 and 1990) and the first with career totals of more than 3,000 hits, 300 home runs, 600 doubles, 100 triples and 200 stolen bases.

In 1999, Brett was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame with the fourth-highest vote percentage ever recorded (98%).

Tickets are currently on sale for the Go Bowling 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on May 7, and the Toyota Tundra 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on May 6. In October, the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns with the Hollywood Casino 400 on Oct. 16. The Kansas Lottery 300 NASCAR XFINITY Series race will take center stage on Oct. 15, while the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards championship race will run on Oct. 14. Tickets can be purchased online at www.kansasspeedway.com or by calling 866.460.7223.

— Kansas Speedway Press Release —

A’s rally to beat Kansas City 3-2, win three-game series

Posted on April 17, 2016

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Billy Burns’ speed, along with a little luck, helped Oakland win its first home series.

Josh Reddick’s sacrifice fly off Joakim Soria broke an eighth-inning tie and lifted the Oakland Athletics over the Kansas City Royals 3-2 Sunday.

Soria (1-1) relieved to start the eighth, Burns tripled into the right-field corner and Reddick flied to center with one out. Burns came across the plate standing up, easily beating Lorenzo Cain’s throw.

“He’s got some speed. That kid’s a nice player. He runs hard,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “We normally play him straight up. We were shading the line there because he very seldom hits balls down the line, but he just hit one perfectly right down the line for a triple.”

Burns said the ball was close to being caught by first baseman Eric Hosmer and was close to being foul.

“He was so close to snagging it,” Burns said. “I think it just skipped off the edge of his glove and skipped over the corner of the base.”

John Axford (2-0) induced three consecutive groundouts in the eighth, and Ryan Madson pitched a one-hit ninth for his fourth save in as many chances, retiring Raymond Fuentes on a game-ending lineout to first with a runner on second.

“I was working on keeping the ball down there but got it higher than I wanted,” Madson said. “Luckily the speed was different enough that he couldn’t get it to the outfield.”

Soria lost for the first time since July 11.

Royals starter Kris Medlen allowed two runs — one earned — two hits and four walks in 6 1/3 innings. He left after Chris Coughlan’s seventh-inning double, and pinch-hitter Jed Lowrie tied the score 2-2 with a single off Kelvin Herrera.

“Medlen pitched great,” Yost said. “He managed his pitch count really, really well. In the seventh inning, you got Kel down there, it’s hard not to bring him into the ballgame.

A’s starter Chris Bassitt gave up two runs and five hits in seven innings.

Kansas City built a 2-0 lead on Alex Gordon’s RBI single in the second and Mike Moustakas’ homer in the third.

Coco Crisp scored in the fourth on Salvador Perez’s passed ball as Coghlan struck out.

GOLFING AROUND

Several current and former Royals are taking part in the annual Royals Charities Golf Tournament, which benefits the Special Olympics of Kansas City, on Monday’s off day.

Scheduled to join Hall of Famer George Brett are Yost, Moustakas, Soria, Wade Davis and Edinson Volquez.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: Jarrod Dyson went 2 for 2 with a stolen base Sunday in his sixth rehab start for Triple-A Omaha. He is hitting .318 (7 for 22) and has been eligible to come off the disabled list but may remain with the Storm Chasers to get a few more at-bats. He strained his right oblique in his first at-bat of spring training.

Athletics: RHP Henderson Alvarez, recovering from right shoulder surgery, will go on a rehab assignment this week following a series of simulated games. “He’s a guy who has pitched at the top of the rotation,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “Bringing someone like him in is like signing a free agent, and we’re eagerly anticipating his arrival.”

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Yordano Ventura (0-0, 2.94) is to open a three-game set against Detroit on Tuesday night. He is 4-0 with a 3.86 ERA and 33 strikeouts in six starts against the Tigers.

Athletics: LHP Eric Surkamp (0-1, 4.00) is slated to start Tuesday night at the New York Yankees.

— Associated Press —

Eric Fryer’s three hits leads Cardinals over Reds 4-3

Posted on April 17, 2016

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Given a rare chance to start, Eric Fryer showed the St. Louis Cardinals what he is capable of.

Fryer had three hits, including a go-ahead double with two outs in the eighth inning during Sunday’s 4-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds 4-3.

A backup to All-Star catcher Yadier Molina, Fryer got his first start this season and is 6 for 6 at the plate. Fryer also threw out Brandon Phillips attempting to steal in the sixth.

“It’s a combination of everything,” Fryer said. “As a catcher, you take more pride in defense.”

Cardinals starter Michael Wacha, who gave up one earned run and seven hits, felt Fryer’s greatest value was with his pitch-calling skills.

“He was the man today,” Wacha said. “We were on the same page right from the start. He did a great job mixing up the pitches.”

St. Louis manager Mike Matheny agreed.

“All the way across, he had a great day,” Matheny said. “It’s always good when you can get Yadi a day off and still get the job done.”

Matt Carpenter and Jedd Gyorko hit solo homers for St. Louis, which has won three of last four. Ten of the Cardinals’ 21 homers this season were hit in the three-game series against the Reds, who have lost five of six.

Kevin Siegrist (2-0) entered with a runner at second and two outs in the seventh, struck out Zack Cozart and pitched a 1-2-3 eighth, fanning two more. Trevor Rosenthal struck out his last two batters in a perfect ninth for his third save in as many chances.

Cincinnati’s Jon Moscot gave up three runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings in his first start this season. He had been on the disabled list due to a strained left intercostal muscle.

“I wanted to get that quality start and go deep into the game,” Moscot said. “I made a couple of mistakes and they took advantage of it.”

With the score 3-all, Ross Ohlendorf (2-1) walked pinch-hitter Aledmys Diaz leading off, and Diaz scored on Fryer’s double.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Reds: LHP John Lamb gave up three runs and six hits over three innings of Triple-A Louisville’s 8-6 loss to Toledo on Saturday. Lamb underwent surgery on Dec. 7 to repair a herniated disk in his back.

Cardinals: Molina and OF Matt Holliday were rested and held out of the starting lineup on Sunday. Holliday pinch hit in the ninth, and Molina caught the final inning.

UP NEXT

Reds: RHP Alfredo Simon (0-1) is to open a a seven-game homestand and three-game series against Colorado on Monday.

Cardinals: RHP Mike Leake (0-1) is slated to start the open of a three-game series against the visiting Chicago Cubs.

— Associated Press —

Royals’ four-game win streak ends with loss at Oakland

Posted on April 16, 2016

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Sonny Gray was a little frustrated and Josh Reddick was feeling great. The combination helped turn things around.

Reddick and Stephen Vogt homered to back Gray’s solid effort, and the Oakland Athletics ended a four-game losing streak with a 5-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday.

“I’ve been feeling great ever since we left here the first time,” Reddick said. “When you can get the lead at any point, especially the way we’ve been playing, it’s a good thing.”

Gray (2-1) pitched through trouble, lasting six innings to earn his first victory against the Royals in four starts, leaving the Boston Red Sox as the only AL team he has not yet beaten.

“You look at the way the Royals and it’s hard to get deep into the game,” Gray said. “Every one of them make you work for everything. It was a frustrating game. I’d get two quick outs and then 15, 16 pitches later I’d finally get out of the inning.”

Gray, who needed 100 pitches to finish five, gave up two runs and seven hits, walking one and striking out six. He stranded six runners, four in scoring position.

Reddick, who hit the ball hard in every at bat, erased the Royals’ early lead with a three-run shot in the bottom of the first off Chris Young (0-3), who failed to get through five innings for the second straight start.

Young gave up four runs and eight hits in four-plus innings. He walked two and struck out two. The Royals had a four-game winning streak snapped.

“It’s not necessarily command,” Young said. “I think it’s more of the life. I felt like the last few times I my arm slot was a little bit high and I made the adjustment in the third inning and the results got better.”

Ryan Madson, who was part of Kansas City’s championship season last year, earned his third save in three chances.

Lorenzo Cain singled in a run in the first as the Royals scored in the opening inning for the fourth time in five games. Gray struck out Eric Hosmer and Kendrys Morales to end the inning.

Marcus Semien also drove in a run for the A’s, while Raymond Fuentes and Alcides Escobar drove runs for the Royals.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: C Salvador Perez got a regular day off with a day game following a night game.

Athletics: INF Eric Sogard will have arthroscopic surgery performed on his left knee, an injury that has bothered him on and off for two years. “I’m going to have to get a bone spur removed out of my tendon,” Sogard said. “There’s loose bodies in there, so he’s going to go in and take care of that. My patella bone as well is a little pointed at the end, so he’s going to shave that down.” Sogard dealt with it through spring training and then came up with a sore neck that landed him on the DL to open the season. While he was resting the neck, the knee continued to hurt. “It’s unfortunate it’s during the season, but I have to go through that and be out. It’s something I’ve been dealing with for a few years now. It’s been affecting me out there a little bit, mainly at the plate, being my back knee.” … RHP Henderson Alvarez (right shoulder injury) will throw a bullpen Sunday and if he comes out of it OK, will go on a rehab assignment.

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Kris Medlen (1-0, 3.60) makes the start against Oakland on Sunday. He went 5-0 with a 1.20 ERA in nine road games last year.

Athletics: RHP Chris Bassitt (0-0, 2.92) gets the call in the series finale. He’s 0-0 with a 6.23 ERA in two starts against the Royals.

— Associated Press —

St. Louis belts six homers in 14-3 win over Reds

Posted on April 16, 2016

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Matt Holliday was back in the groove Friday night.

The St. Louis outfielder homered twice and drove in four to pace a six-homer attack as the Cardinals beat the Cincinnati Reds 14-3.

Hollliday, who entered the game with a .188 average and without a home run, reached base four times and recorded his 20th career multi-homer game.

“The results haven’t been what I wanted, but you’ve just got to stick with it,” Holliday said. “I felt like I was getting good swings and tonight I finally got some results.”

Aledmys Diaz and Brandon Moss each added three-run homers to help the Cardinals to their sixth win in the last seven games. They have scored seven or more runs in all six wins and hit double-digits four times.

Moss was sure that Holliday would eventually bounce out of his funk.

“He’s been hitting the ball well,” Moss said. “He probably hasn’t gotten as many hits as he’d like, but he’s been squaring the ball.”

St. Louis manager Mike Matheny was glad to see Holliday break loose. Holliday had just four homers in 73 games during an injury-plagued campaign last season.

“It’s always nice to see Matt get on the board in the home run column,” Matheny said. “He hit the ball a couple times with authority to center and that’s tough to do.”

Holliday wasn’t the Cardinals only long-ball artist.

Moss, Randal Grichuk and Matt Adams also homered. Adams’ pinch-hit homer was the second of the game and sixth of the season. That surpasses the Cardinals total of four from pinch hitters last season.

Carlos Martinez (2-0) allowed three runs and six hits over seven innings. He struck out six and walked one.

Martinez was pleased with his pitching performance, but wanted to join the home run parade as well.

“When Moss hit a homer, I wanted to hit a homer too,” Martinez said.

Rookie starter Tim Melville (0-1) gave up seven runs in three innings for the loss.

Joey Votto had a three-run homer for the Reds, who have lost eight of their last 10 at Busch Stadium.

Holliday drilled the 11th pitch from Melville over the wall in center to give his team a 3-0 lead. He added a solo shot in the sixth.

Melville began the game with nine successive balls.

“Obviously, he was having a hard time finding the strike zone,” Holliday said. “You just keep taking until you get a strike and then you get aggressive with him.”

Diaz pushed the lead to 7-3 with a line drive over the left-field wall in the third.

Melville, who went to high school in the St. Louis suburb of Wentzville, gave up six earned runs in his second major league start.

“I just wasn’t executing pitches,” Melville said. “It was tough, any loss is tough.”

The Reds injury-plagued pitching staff gave up 13 hits and walked four.

“It was kind of a blood-letting,” Cincinnati manager Bryan Price said. “It wasn’t a competitive effort.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Reds: SS Zack Cozart returned to the lineup after missing five games with right quadriceps tightness. … LHP John Lamb will make a rehab start for Triple-A Louisville on Saturday against Toledo. He underwent disc surgery on Dec. 7, 2015, and did not pitch in spring training.

Cardinals: SS Ruben Tejada went 1 for 3 in a rehab start at Double-A Springfield on Thursday. He was placed on the disabled list prior to the season with a left quad strain and could return as soon as Sunday.

UP NEXT

Reds: LHP Brandon Finnegan (0-0, 2.84) will go in the middle game of the three-game set on Saturday. He allowed two earned runs each in his first two starts of the season.

Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright (0-1, 6.55) will start for the Cardinals. He is 8-9 lifetime with a 4.18 ERA against the Reds, but has won his last three starts against them.

— Associated Press —

Kennedy throws seven strong innings, Royals win series finale at Houston

Posted on April 14, 2016April 14, 2016

HOUSTON (AP) — Ian Kennedy threw seven strong innings, Eric Hosmer hit a two-run double during a five-run sixth and the Kansas City Royals beat the Houston Astros 6-2 on Thursday night.

Kennedy (2-0) started with five hitless innings and retired 14 straight before Carlos Gomez’s leadoff single to center in the sixth. Kennedy struck out seven and allowed a run on two hits and two walks.

Mike Moustakas hit a solo homer in the first and went 2 for 4 with a walk.

Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain, Alex Gordon and Omar Infante each had two hits and the Royals set a season high with 13 hits. The defending World Series champs are 7-2 after winning the final three games of the four-game set with the Astros.

Doug Fister (1-1) pitched well until the sixth. He allowed six runs over 5 2/3 innings.

Wade Davis got two outs for his fourth save.

— Associated Press —

Chiefs’ 2016 regular season schedule finalized; KC gets three prime time games

Posted on April 14, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Football League announced on Thursday the regular season schedule for the 2016 season. The Kansas City Chiefs will be featured in three primetime television games, including two at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs will host the Oakland Raiders in Week 14 on Thursday Night Football followed by a Dec. 25 Christmas matchup on Sunday Night Football vs. the Denver Broncos on NBC. KC’s first nationally-televised game is at Pittsburgh in Week 4 on Sunday Night Football. This season will mark the seventh-consecutive year the Chiefs have held at least one primetime contest and the third-straight year the team has been slated for three night games. The Chiefs will open the season at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 11, vs. the San Diego Chargers.

“I always look forward to the schedule coming out because it means we are closer to football,” Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid said. “We are looking to build off of last year’s momentum beginning next week with the start of our offseason program. Our fans provide us with the best home-field advantage in the National Football League and we are excited to welcome opponents into Chiefs Kingdom.”

Kansas City’s schedule features five games against four playoff teams from the 2015 season including the defending Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos and the NFC Champion Carolina Panthers. The club’s 2016 opponents boasted a combined record of 104-104 (.500) last season.

Following KC’s home opener, the Chiefs will then hit the road for a rematch with the Texans in Houston on Sunday, Sept. 18. Kansas City’s last visit to Houston culminated in the club’s first playoff win in 22 years after shutting out the Texans 30-0 in a 2015 AFC Wild Card game. The Chiefs return home to face the Jets on Sept. 25 before rounding out the first quarter of the season on the road at Pittsburgh on Sunday Night Football Oct. 2.

Week 5 will serve as the club’s Bye Week before traveling to Oakland to face the Raiders on Oct. 16. KC will go head-to-head against the Saints at home on Oct. 23, then visit Indianapolis on Oct. 30 before returning home again to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 6. The second half of the season kicks off at the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 13 followed by a home contest vs. the Buccaneers in Week 11. The Chiefs will then have back-to-back road contests for the first time all season in Weeks 12 and 13 when they travel to Denver on Nov. 27 and then Atlanta on Dec. 4.

The final quarter of the season features three consecutive home games and two national games, the first of which is a Thursday night contest vs. the Raiders on Dec. 8. The Chiefs will take on the Tennessee Titans at home on Dec. 18 and then face the Broncos on Sunday Night Football at Arrowhead on Dec. 25. Kansas City wraps up its regular season schedule on the road vs. the Chargers on Sunday, Jan. 1.

2016 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS PRESEASON SCHEDULE

Saturday, Aug. 13 vs. Seattle 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 20 at Los Angeles Rams TBA
Saturday, Aug. 27 at Chicago Noon
Thursday, Sept. 1 vs. Green Bay 7 p.m.

2016 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE

Sunday, Sept. 11 vs. San Diego Noon
Sunday, Sept. 18 at Houston Noon
Sunday, Sept. 25 vs. New York Jets 3:25 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 2 at Pittsburgh 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 9 BYE WEEK
Sunday, Oct. 16 at Oakland 3:05 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 23 vs. New Orleans Noon
Sunday, Oct. 30 at Indianapolis Noon
Sunday, Nov. 6 vs. Jacksonville Noon
Sunday, Nov. 13 at Carolina Noon
Sunday, Nov. 20 vs. Tampa Bay Noon
Sunday, Nov. 27 at Denver 3:25 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 4 at Atlanta Noon
Thursday, Dec. 8 vs. Oakland 7:25 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 18 vs. Tennessee Noon
Sunday, Dec. 25 vs. Denver 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 1 at San Diego 3:25 p.m.

— Chiefs Press Release —

Jaime Garcia pitches one-hitter as St. Louis defeat Milwaukee 7-0

Posted on April 14, 2016

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jaime Garcia was simply dominant against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Garcia pitched a one-hitter, allowing only Domingo Santana’s lined single into right field with two outs in the sixth inning, in the St. Louis Cardinals’ 7-0 victory on Thursday.

“There’s a couple guys in their lineup that hit me real well, and it’s a tough lineup,” Garcia said. “They swing the bat. They take good at-bats every time they go up to the plate, so it’s a challenge for me.”

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said Garcia was in control from his first pitch.

“Every time he walks out there he has a chance to throw a no-hitter,” Matheny said. “It’s amazing what he can make the ball do when he is in a good rhythm. This is what we expect to see. When he’s healthy, he’s special.”

Garcia struck out 13, three more than his previous career high, and caught eight of them looking at third strikes. The 13 strikeouts were the most by a Cardinals left-hander since Steve Carlton fanned 16 Phillies on May 21, 1970.

“I was just trying to focus on one pitch at a time and just try to do the job to keep us in the ballgame,” Garcia said.

The movement on Garcia’s pitches gave the Brewers fits.

“The changeup was acting as a split finger almost,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “He had plus, plus, plus late movement.”

Garcia’s previous shutout had been against Milwaukee on May 6, 2011. He is 4-1 with a 1.44 ERA in his last five starts against the Brewers.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been able to go nine innings,” Garcia said. “It’s definitely a lot of fun, but it’s a long season, just got to try to do that again.”

Randal Grichuk and Jeremy Hazelbaker hit two-run homers. Grichuk’s drive in the third off Wily Peralta (0-3), which boosted the lead to 5-0, barely eluded the glove of center field Keon Broxton. Grichuk actually passed teammate Brandon Moss rounding first while looking to see if Broxton made the catch, but the Brewers didn’t challenge and first base umpire John Hirschbeck missed it, as well.

“You’re taught on deep fly balls like that to play it like (Moss) did,” Grichuk said. “He actually didn’t see it go over. We kind of got confused there rounding first, and going back to first.”

Broxton didn’t know about the missed baserunning blunder until after the game.

“Got a good read on it, tracked it well, found the wall, jumped up caught it with my palm and once I hit the wall it just bobbled out,” Broxton said.

Hazelbaker hit his team-high third home run of the season in the seventh, against Chris Capuano.

Peralta gave up five runs and seven hits in five innings, throwing just 55 of his 96 pitches for strikes.

Matt Carpenter had a two run double in the three-run second and is hitting .471 in 34 plate appearances against Peralta.

DOUBLING DOWN

Yadier Molina’s second-inning double was his 124th at the current Busch Stadium. Molina, who was tied with Albert Pujols at 123, now has more doubles than any other player at the 10-year-old stadium.

STREAK SNAPPED

Scooter Gennett went 0 for 4. It marked the first time in 18 career games at Busch Stadium he failed to reach safely.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Brewers: SS Jonathan Villar was out of the lineup for a second straight game after injuring his left ankle sliding during Monday’s game. “Trying to get him back to as close to 100 percent as we can,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “It’s just day to day with it.”

Cardinals: SS Ruben Tejada (strained quadriceps) began a rehab assignment at Double-A Springfield on Thursday.

UP NEXT

Brewers: RHP Jimmy Nelson is to make his third start as Milwaukee opens a three-game series in Pittsburgh on Friday. Nelson is 4-2 with a 2.48 ERA in six starts against the Pirates.

Cardinals: RHP Carlos Martinez is to make his 2016 home debut on Friday against Cincinnati. Martinez is 3-1 with a 2.48 ERA in 14 appearances versus the Reds.

— Associated Press —

Perez’s eighth inning home run list Kansas City past Houston

Posted on April 13, 2016

HOUSTON (AP) — Salvador Perez tagged Houston reliever Ken Giles for a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning, lifting the Kansas City Royals over the Houston Astros 4-2 Wednesday night.

The World Series champion Royals have taken two of the three from the team they beat in the decisive Game 5 of the AL Division Series last October. This four-game set wraps up Thursday.

Giles (0-1) retired the first two batters in the eighth before walking Alex Gordon on a full count. Perez followed with a drive off the facade above the Crawford Boxes in left field for his first homer of the year.

Giles has given up three home runs in four games, and flung his glove in the dugout after this latest shot. He was acquired from Philadelphia in the offseason after giving up a total of three homers in 113 games over the past two years.

Jose Altuve had three hits for Houston, including a solo home run. He tied it at 2 with an RBI double in the seventh off Luke Hochevar (1-0).

Kelvin Herrera pitched the eighth and Joakim Soria pitched the ninth for his first save.

The Royals scored twice in the sixth following pitcher Scott Feldman’s error. Feldman fielded Kendrys Morales’ dribbler and overthrew first base, allowing Lorenzo Cain to score before Perez hit a sacrifice fly.

Royals starter Yordano Ventura gave up one run on four hits with six strikeouts in six innings. He walked three after walking six in his first outing.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: OF Jarod Dyson (right oblique strain) went 1 for 4 in his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha after playing a full nine innings on Tuesday. Dyson is 4 for 13 in four games. Royals manager Ned Yost said Dyson will be back soon but doesn’t know exactly when.

Astros: Max Stassi, who is currently on the 15-day disabled list after undergoing surgery to remove the hook on the top of his left hamate bone, is taking a few days off from his rehab in Florida because of oblique soreness. It is not an injury but more of a delay in his day-to-day work for a couple of days, Houston manager A.J. Hinch said.

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Ian Kennedy (1-0) will start the finale of the four-game series Thursday in Houston. He will try to repeat his first outing of the season after he threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings against Minnesota Saturday.

Astros: RHP Doug Fister (1-0) will make his first home start for the Astros after earning a win in his first outing of the year, allowing three runs in five innings Saturday against Milwaukee.

— Associated Press —