Professional – Page 146 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Cain’s HR in the 13th lifts Kansas City past Chicago

Posted on July 18, 2015

CHICAGO (AP) — Lorenzo Cain was hoping someone on his team would hit a home run to end the marathon game. He wound up taking matters into his own hands.

Cain homered in the 13th inning and the Kansas City Royals outlasted the Chicago White Sox 7-6 Saturday in a game that took nearly five hours.

The AL Central-leading Royals won for the 10th time in 13 games.

“I ended up doing it and helping everybody get out of here and move on to tomorrow. It was well needed, well needed,” Cain said.

Cain doubled and singled early, then led off the 13th with his ninth home run of the season. He connected against Dan Jennings (1-3).

The teams endured the long game after they split a day-night doubleheader Friday.

“We hung in there,” Cain said. “I know both teams are tired after yesterday and then coming here this morning to play another day game, so it’s definitely not easy for each team. But we found a way to come out here, play great baseball. It took a while, but we ended up getting the win.”

Brandon Finnegan (3-0) pitched two scoreless innings in the four-hour, 56-minute game.

Ryan Madson earned his first save in three chances — and first since 2011 — after allowing a single in the 13th.

“That game took a toll on both teams’ bullpens, so it was really important to try to squeak this one out,” Royals manager Ned Yost said.

The Royals finished with 17 hits, including five doubles, and improved to 5-1 in extra-inning games.

The White Sox tied it in the ninth on a two-out, two-run double by J.B. Shuck. Royals closer Greg Holland retired the first two batters before Adam LaRoche singled and Alexei Ramirez walked. Shuck’s hit handed Holland his third blown save in 23 opportunities.

“There were several pitches I didn’t execute very well, which is inexcusable,” Holland said. “I got to be better than that.”

In the 10th, Cain walked and advanced on a wild pitch but was doubled off second on a lineout.

Geovany Soto just missed a home run when he doubled off the center-field wall in the White Sox 12th.

“We were behind all day and we seemed to just chip away,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “We couldn’t find that one to go ahead.”

Mike Moustakas’ sacrifice fly gave the Royals the lead in the eighth. After an intentional walk to Cain, Zach Duke struck out Eric Hosmer before Kendrys Morales drew a bases-loaded walk to score another run.

Ramirez hit a solo homer in the seventh that made it 4-all.

The Royals opened the game with four consecutive hits off Jose Quintana to score two runs. They held a three-run lead before Chicago batted.

“That’s our team,” Yost said. “We’re an aggressive team. Putting three runs on the board early was key because Quintana settled down after that.”

WORTH NOTING

Madson earned his first save since Sept. 26, 2011, with the Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta. He converted a career-high 32 saves that season. He didn’t pitch in the majors from 2012-14 after undergoing elbow surgery.

CELEBRATE

The game started 23 minutes late after the White Sox honored the 2005 World Series title team during a pregame ceremony.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: Yost said he doesn’t anticipate an imminent decision on activating RHP Kris Medlen, who rejoined the team Friday. He is recovering from his second Tommy John surgery and has not pitched in the majors since 2013.

White Sox: The team is expected to add a reliever in the near future. Chicago has had six relievers since recalling 3B Tyler Saladino from the minors July 10. Ventura said a move could happen as early as Saturday night.

UP NEXT

Royals LHP Danny Duffy (3-4, 4.65) will start Sunday’s series finale against White Sox LHP Chris Sale (8-4, 2.72).

— Associated Press —

Heyward, Grichuk help Cardinals blowout Mets

Posted on July 18, 2015

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jason Heyward was on base so much in 93-degree heat, the body finally gave in.

“I was cramping all over,” Heyward said after matching a career best with five hits as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the New York Mets 12-2 on Saturday night. “I haven’t been feeling well the last few days.”

Both Heyward and manager Mike Matheny said there was “zero” concern going forward. Heyward told trainers and Matheny he could have stayed in if the game was closer.

Randal Grichuk had two homers and six RBI and John Lackey worked seven strong innings for St. Louis, benefiting from the cushion.

“I definitely pitched to the scoreboard a little bit,” Lackey said. “Trying to challenge guys, trying to throw strikes and trying to keep the momentum going, trying to get those guys back in the dugout to hit.”

Mets starter Bartolo Colon (9-8) trailed by four runs after just one-third of an inning and surrendered seven runs in 4 1/3 innings. The 42-year-old right-hander was roughed up by the Cardinals for the second time, giving up eight runs in 4 1/3 innings in a 9-0 loss May 20.

“That wasn’t the Bartolo Colon we’ve known,” manager Terry Collins said. “That guy has only walked nine guys all year, let alone the first guy of the game.”

Colon said through an interpreter that the Cardinals capitalized on his tendency to go after hitters.

“They were really aggressive and attacked my pitches,” Colon said. “They know I’m going to be aggressive in the zone and they took advantage of it.

Heyward has seven hits, including a triple and double, two RBI and two steals in the first two games of the series. He was removed after singling in the eighth.

Grichuk was 3 for 3 with a two-run homer off Carlos Torres that capped a four-run fifth and a three-run shot off Alex Torres in the eighth.

Jhonny Peralta added three hits and an RBI. St. Louis improved to major league-bests of 58-33 overall and 33-11 at home.

The Cardinals scored four in the first, fifth and eighth.

Lackey (8-5) scattered 10 hits, one of them to .084-hitting Colon, but was hurt only by Michael Cuddyer’s eighth homer leading off the sixth. The 36-year-old right-hander is 4-1 with a 1.63 ERA his last seven starts, working seven or more innings in all but one of them.

Cuddyer had three hits and Ruben Tejada added an RBI double in the eighth for New York. Cuddyer has five career homers against Lackey, his most against any pitcher.

Colon got a visit from pitching coach Dan Warthen after facing just seven hitters and already down 3-0. He’s lost his last four decisions, posting a 6.18 ERA in that span, although he allowed two earned runs in 13 innings his last two starts prior to the break.

“This year they’ve been lucky, they’ve been good,” Colon said. “I was lucky enough last year to beat them twice and this year they beat me twice.”

The Mets have homered in six straight games, scoring 17 of their 19 runs via the long ball.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mets: Cuddyer says he’ll probably have to deal with a left knee bone bruise the rest of the season.

Cardinals: LHP Jaime Garcia (groin) and RHP Jordan Walden (bicep) threw side sessions.

UP NEXT

Mets: Jonathon Niese (5-8, 3.61) has won his last two starts and held left-handed hitters to one hit in 15 at-bats his last three. The Cardinals’ Mark Reynolds is 6 for 12 with two homers against Niese.

Cardinals: Rookie lefty Tim Cooney (0-0, 4.34) makes his fifth career start seeking his first decision.

IN THE HOUSE

WWE wrestler Randy Orton, in town for an event Sunday night, met with Cardinals players on the field during batting practice.

NOTABLE

Heyward also had five hits Sept. 26, 2013, against the Phillies while with Atlanta. … Grichuk also had two homers June 20 at Philadelphia. … Matt Adams was the last Cardinals player to drive in six runs June 23, 2014, at Colorado.

— Associated Press —

Royals split day-night doubleheader at Chicago Friday

Posted on July 17, 2015July 17, 2015

CHICAGO (AP) — John Danks pitched four-hit ball into the seventh, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 2-0 Friday to split a day-night doubleheader.

The White Sox shook off a 4-2 loss in the opener to win for the 10th time in 14 games, with Danks (5-8) dominating on the mound.

Avisail Garcia tripled and scored on a single by Tyler Flowers in the second inning. Melky Cabrera doubled and came in from third on a wild pitch by Edinson Volquez (8-5). And Chicago handed the AL Central leaders their second loss in 10 games.

Danks exited to loud cheers with a 2-0 lead after he walked Alex Rios leading off the seventh.

It was the second scoreless outing in three starts for the 30-year-old left-hander, who has struggled since undergoing shoulder surgery in 2012. He shut down Baltimore over seven innings on July 3 before getting roughed up by Toronto.

In this one, Danks struck out four and walked four.

Jake Petricka retired the lone batter he faced. Zach Duke worked 1 2/3 perfect innings, and David Robertson pitched a perfect ninth for his 20th save in 24 chances.

Volquez took his first loss since June 5 despite a strong outing. He gave up two runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings after going 4-0 in his previous seven starts.

In the opener, Mike Moustakas hit a solo homer in the fifth on the 12th pitch of the at-bat to give the Royals a 2-1 lead, and Alex Rios capped a two-run sixth with his drive off Jeff Samardzija (6-5) after Chicago tied it.

Chris Young (8-5) gave up two runs and three hits, including solo homers to Geovany Soto and Adam Eaton, in five innings.

Young felt his back tightening as the game went on and left after throwing 82 pitches.

Yost said it’s “not serious at all.” And Young expects to make his next scheduled start.

Four relievers combined to shut down the White Sox the rest of the way, with Greg Holland working the ninth for his 20th save in 22 chances.

Samardzija gave up four runs and seven hits in seven innings.

HONORING CHAMPS

The Chicago White Sox are set to hold another championship rally.

They are honoring the 10th anniversary of the 2005 World Series-winning season, with members of that team gathering in Chicago for the celebration. They will participate in the “Parade of Champions” before Saturday’s game against the Kansas City Royals. Some are scheduled to appear Sunday at the Chicago Theatre for “A Season to Remember: A Night with the 2005 World Series Champions.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: RHP Kris Medlen (elbow) rejoined the team and the team will decide in the next two or three days whether to activate him. He is recovering from his second Tommy John surgery and has not pitched in the majors since 2013, when he won 15 games for Atlanta.

White Sox: GM Rick Hahn said RHP Matt Albers (fractured right pinky finger) and RHP Nate Jones, recovering from Tommy John surgery on his pitching elbow, are progressing in their rehabilitation. RHP Jesse Crain (shoulder), who has not pitched in the majors since 2013, had a setback in an Arizona League game last week and it’s not clear when his next outing will be.

UP NEXT

RHP Jeremy Guthrie (7-5, 5.36) starts for Kansas City, with LHP Jose Quintana (4-9, 3.69) pitching for Chicago.

— Associated Press —

St. Louis snaps three-game skid with 3-2 win over New York

Posted on July 17, 2015July 17, 2015

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jhonny Peralta hit a tiebreaking home run in the sixth inning, Lance Lynn outdueled Noah Syndergaard and the St. Louis Cardinals held on for a 3-2 victory over the New York Mets on Friday night.

Peralta, one of six St. Louis All-Stars, barely cleared the left-field fence on a two-out drive for his 14th homer. Kirk Nieuwenhuis made a leaping effort and his glove ticked the ball that landed in the Mets’ bullpen.

Curtis Granderson hit his fifth leadoff homer of the season for the Mets, who won four in a row before the All-Star break.

Trevor Rosenthal gave up Ruben Tejada’s RBI infield hit in the ninth, and the Mets had two on before he struck out pinch hitter John Mayberry Jr. for his 27th save.

Lynn (7-5) allowed a run and three hits in seven innings. Syndergaard (4-5) also worked seven innings, allowing two runs and five hits.

— Associated Press —

AP source: Chiefs, Houston reach 6-year, $101 million deal

Posted on July 15, 2015July 16, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs and linebacker Justin Houston agreed on a six-year, $101 million contract just hours before the Wednesday afternoon deadline to reach a long-term deal, a person familiar with the situation told the Associated Press.

The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because the contract had not been announced, said Houston will receive $52.5 million in guarantees. That makes the All-Pro’s contract not only the richest in Chiefs history but the richest for a linebacker in NFL history.

The only defensive player to ever sign for more is defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who signed a six-year, $114 million pact with Miami earlier this year.

The sides have been trying to work out a contract to keep Houston in Kansas City since last offseason, but they had made little progress. The Chiefs put the franchise tag on him, which would have been a one-year deal worth about $13.1 million.

But negotiations picked up with the approaching deadline. Houston’s representatives met with the Chiefs on Tuesday, and enough progress was made that they eventually came to terms.

Houston was coming off the final year of his rookie contract, a breakout season in which he broke Derrick Thomas’s franchise record with 22 sacks. He had four alone in a dynamic season-ending performance against San Diego, leaving him a half-sack short of the NFL’s single-season record set by Michael Strahan of the New York Giants in 2001.

Those gaudy totals sent Houston to his third consecutive Pro Bowl and earned him first-team All-Pro honors for the first time in his four-year career.

Sent his asking price for a new contract soaring, too.

Houston was considered one of the top linebackers in the draft coming out of Georgia, but a failed test for marijuana at the scouting combine caused his stock to slide. The Chiefs wound up taking him in the third round, in retrospect a massive bargain – or downright steal.

He has only made roughly $3 million over the course of his rookie contract. For that small price, Kansas City got 200 tackles, 48 1/2 sacks and five fumble recoveries.

Houston has also grown into one of the leaders in the locker room, helping keep things together when a rash of injuries struck last season. Despite losing linebacker Derrick Johnson and tackle Mike DeVito in the opener, the Chiefs still had one of the AFC’s top defenses.

Houston skipped the Chiefs’ entire offseason program, including their mandatory minicamp, rather than signing his franchise tender. But all along, coach Andy Reid expressed optimism that the sides would reach an agreement before the start of the season.

Reid also wasn’t concerned about the missed workouts.

”I think he’s working out, absolutely,” Reid said at the end of offseason work. ”That’s just him by nature, so he’s not going to let things slide on his side.”

Fellow linebacker Tamba Hali, who went through a similar negotiation with the Chiefs in 2011, said he had been in touch with Houston throughout the offseason.

”He’s working his tail off,” Hali said. ”Like any player he wants to be here, but again, we know our league is a business and you have to allow that business to work itself out.”

— Associated Press —

Royals’ Cain helps American League win All-Star Game

Posted on July 14, 2015July 15, 2015

CINCINNATI (AP) — Mike Trout flashed the skill that puts him at the front of baseball’s new generation, just moments after four of the all-time greats walked off the field.

Trout became the first player in 38 years to homer leading off an All-Star Game, then became the first player to take home the Midsummer Classic’s MVP award two years in row.

A new-look All-Star Game finished with the same old result. The AL beat the NL 6-3 Tuesday night and will open the World Series at home for the 10th time in 13 years.

“It’s obviously a humbling honor with the MVPs,” Trout said in his usual understated, aw-shucks manner.

After Trout completed a career All-Star cycle in just his fifth big league season, Prince Fielder delivered. He drove in two runs, sending Trout blazing home ahead of Joc Pederson’s throw with the run off Clayton Kershaw that put the AL ahead for good.

In an age of dominant pitching, Felix Hernandez, winner David Price, Zach Britton, Dellin Betances and Wade Davis took scoreless turns in the AL’s third win a row.

Playing on the AL West-leading Los Angeles Angels, Trout could add an even bigger honor this fall — his first World Series ring.

“He can do anything that anybody can do on a baseball field,” AL manager Ned Yost said. “He can hit with power. He can run. He can drive the gap. He’s a great defender. He’s just special. When you look at Mike, you don’t look at a 23-year-old. You look at a guy that is one of the best baseball players on this planet.”

A season after the retirement of Derek Jeter dropped the curtain on the turn-of-century greats, Trout was among six starting position players under 25 — the most since 1965. At last year’s game in Minneapolis, he hit a tiebreaking triple and later a go-ahead double.

This time Trout sent Zack Greinke’s fourth pitch, a 94 mph fastball on the outer half of the plate, over the wall in right next to the visiting bullpen for an opposite-field homer.

Winner of his first season AL MVP award in 2014, the center fielder joined Willie Mays, Steve Garvey, Gary Carter and Cal Ripken, Jr. as the only two-time All-Star MVPs.

Stars old and young gathered in one of baseball’s most traditional towns. The Reds became baseball’s first professional team in 1869, and players wore caps with horizontal stripes in an attempt at a 19th century feel.

Pete Rose, Cincinnati’s hometown hero and baseball’s banned career hits leader, was given an 80-second ovation when he walked onto the field before the game to join Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan and Barry Larkin, elected by fans as the Reds’ greatest players. Wearing a red jacket and tie and walking stiffly, the now 74-year-old Charlie Hustle was applauded as soon as his image appeared on the video boards, even before he emerged from the AL dugout.

And in the first All-Star Game at Great American Ballpark, which opened in 2003, fans got to see some great ballplayers.

Bench, changed into a blue jacket, returned with Hank Aaron, Mays and Sandy Koufax, voted baseball’s great living players by fans as part of the promotion. In a sentimental yet stunning reminder of generational change, Aaron, 81, and Morgan, 71, needed canes to reach the infield, and Mays, 84, was aided on and off the field by an assistant.

“Growing up, I didn’t get to see them play that much,” Trout said. “But looking up, seeing highlights of all the Hall of Famers, it’s something I really look forward to looking at and I’m learning more about them, just how great they played in every respect of the game.”

Above the field, new Commissioner Rob Manfred watched from a luxury suite, the first All-Star Game not presided over by Bud Selig since 1992.

Many players of the new generation love bling in a manner that puzzles the old guard: Posey wore a gold-colored helmet behind the plate, looking a bit like the Great Gazoo or a Praetorian Guard, accessorizing with a chest protector, shin guards and cleats all with gold-colored trim. Baltimore’s Adam Jones was shod in bright orange cleats, and Kansas City’s Lorenzo Cain and Washington’s Bryce Harper donned golden spikes.

Trout, a Generation Y star with a baby boomer work ethic, completed a unique cycle on a clear evening that followed a heavy afternoon downpour.

He singled in his All-Star debut in 2012, doubled to open 2013 game and tripled in the first inning last year. He was just the ninth player to hit for an All-Star cycle in his entire career, joining an illustrious list that includes Hall of Famers Ted Williams, Roberto Clemente, Ernie Banks, George Brett, Mike Schmidt and Mays. Fielder later became the 10th.

No one had homered leading off an All-Star Game since 1977 at old Yankee Stadium, when Morgan connected off Jim Palmer. Greinke, coming off five scoreless outings, had not allowed a run since June 13.

“It’s not easy,” Greinke said of pitching to Trout. “You’ve got like a 2-inch window up in the zone. If you throw it higher than that, he takes it. If you throw it lower, he does what he did.”

Fielder and Lorenzo Cain had run-scoring hits in the fifth against Kershaw, the reigning NL MVP, that put the AL ahead 3-1.

Manny Machado, at 23 another of the sport’s fresh faces, hit a double off the right-field wall against Francisco Rodriguez in the seventh and scored on Fielder’s sacrifice fly. And Brian Dozier, the last player added to the game as an injury replacement, hit a solo home run off Mark Melancon in the eighth.

NL runs came home on Jhonny Peralta’s RBI single in the second, Andrew McCutchen’s homer off Chris Archer in the sixth and Brandon Crawford’s sacrifice fly in the ninth.

NL manager Bruce Bochy thought ahead to some future ceremony involving Trout, perhaps at an All-Star Game or World Series, perhaps at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

“He’s going to be standing there, I think, with the guys we saw tonight,” Bochy said.

THE OLD RIVALRY

The AL is 21-6-1 in the last 28 games, losing three straight from 1994-96 and 2010-12. The NL leads the matchup 43-41-2.

SPEEDING

Jacob deGrom of the Mets, the NL Rookie of the Year, struck out Stephen Vogt, Jason Kipnis and Jose Iglesias on 10 pitches in the sixth, reaching 98 mph. … Reds closer Aroldis Chapman threw 14 of 15 pitches at 100 mph or more in the ninth, reaching 103 mph and striking out the side.

— Associated Press —

Royals rally past Blue Jays after blowing 7-0 lead

Posted on July 13, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Paulo Orlando came through again for the Kansas City Royals.

Orlando, who had a walk-off grand slam Tuesday against Tampa Bay, hit a tie-breaking eighth inning home run as the Royals beat the Toronto Blue Jays 11-10 Sunday after blowing a seven-run advantage.

Orlando led off the eighth with a home run off Bo Schultz (0-1).

“It was a fastball in,” Orlando said. “I fouled off the first pitch, which was a fastball, too. He threw me two cutters and I waited for the fastball and I put a good swing there.”

With temperatures in the 90s, Orlando did not try to escape from catcher Salvador Perez’s Gatorade shower in a postgame television interview on the field.

“I needed it because it was too hot,” Orlando said. “It was a special moment. Salvy always makes fun of everybody. I waited for that.”

The Royals enter the All-Star break with an American League-leading 52 victories.

“I saw this coming three years ago,” Royals manager Ned Yost said.

Kansas City led 7-0 after five innings, but the Blue Jays sent 12 men to the plate in an eight-run sixth. Danny Valencia and Jose Bautista contributed two-run doubles in the inning.

Seven of the runs were unearned after Mike Moustakas and Omar Infante committed errors.

“It was an odd game, but those are going to happen every now and then when you play a lot of games,” said Bautista, who was ejected in the middle of an eighth inning at-bat by plate umpire Jerry Meals for arguing balls and strikes. “It was quirky. A lot of errors, the sun, the heat. It was a weird game.”

The Royals regained the lead with three in the bottom of the inning with Lorenzo Cain, who had three hits, singling in one run. Alcides Escobar had a RBI on a ground out, while the other run scored on Jose Reyes’ second error of the game.

The Jays got a run back in the seventh on a Russell Martin RBI-doubles. Reyes, who had his second straight three-hit game, singled home Kevin Pillar, who had tripled, in the eighth to tie it 10-10. It was only the second run Royals reliever Wade Davis (5-1) had allowed this season.

Greg Holland worked the ninth, logging his 19th save in 21 opportunities.

Kendrys Morales homered in a six-run first. Morales crushed a Felix Doubront fastball over the center field fence with Eric Hosmer and Moustakas aboard. That gives him 61 RBIs, second in the American League.

Doubront made it through five innings after the rocky start, although he gave up 10 hits and seven runs, two unearned.

BREAK FOR BAUTISTA

Bautista opted out of the All-Star Game to rest and rehab his sore right shoulder. “After being in Chicago and getting sore again, and listening to doctors’ recommendations, there’s some therapy and some rehab that needs to be done,” Bautista said. “Normally you would need a few days off during the regular season. I’m taking advantage of this due to the break. It’s the smart thing for me to do for my health and to the end of the season, so that’s what I’m doing. With the treatments hopefully it’ll be much better. I haven’t heard anything from the doctors that it’ll be any lingering effects and I’ll be able to come back after a few days.” The shoulder has bothered Bautista since a mid-April throw against Baltimore. He missed five games after that and was the DH for the next 29.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: 3B Josh Donaldson was not in the lineup because of flu-like symptoms, which caused him to come out in the sixth inning Saturday. … RHP Aaron Sanchez (right lat strain) threw 2 2/3 innings in a rehab appearance Saturday for Single-A Dunedin, Florida, giving up one run on three hits and two walks, while striking out five.

Royals: LHP Jason Vargas (left flexor strain) will make his first rehab start Monday for Double-A Northwest Arkansas.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays: The Blue Jays will host the Rays for the first three games after the break. The Jays have dropped seven of 10 to the Rays this season.

Royals: RHPs Chris Young and Edinson Volquez will start a split-doubleheader Friday at the White Sox.

— Associated Press —

Cardinals let another extra inning lead slip away at Pittsburgh

Posted on July 13, 2015

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals head into the All-Star break with the NL Central lead and the best record in the majors.

The Pittsburgh Pirates, however, have all the momentum.

Gregory Polanco capped another late rally, driving in Jung Ho Kang with two outs in the 10th inning to lift the Pirates to a 6-5 victory over the Cardinals on Sunday night.

St. Louis took a 5-3 lead in the top of the 10th on a two-run double by Randal Grichuk off Arquimedes Caminero (1-1). Pittsburgh, which won in 14 innings on a homer by Andrew McCutchen on Saturday, did it again 24 hours later against St. Louis All-Star closer Trevor Rosenthal (1-2).

Starling Marte brought Pittsburgh within a run with an RBI single. Francisco Cervelli tied it with a single and Polanco followed two batters later with a looper to right that sent Kang streaking across the plate and the rest of the Pirates streaming out of the dugout after their second walk-off win in two nights.

“The way we came together at the end, kept our nose down, kept grinding at-bats, just looking for that big hit,” shortstop Jordy Mercer said. “We kept it going and the last two nights were amazing, a lot of fun.”

Pittsburgh took three of four from St. Louis to pull within 2½ games of the Cardinals heading to the All-Star break. Rosenthal blew a save for only the second time this season.

“That was Trevor coming at him with the best stuff he had tonight,” St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. “He’s been worked hard. It’s not the same when you’ve been worked that hard.”

Rosenthal threw 27 pitches while working 1⅓ innings during Saturday’s marathon and was on his 29th pitch Sunday when Polanco delivered the first walk-off of his career.

“They’re hard ones to swallow,” Matheny said. “You have very few chances where you can put a game away. Had a few chances yesterday and again today.”

McCutchen’s career-best, 18-game hitting streak ended, but his teammates picked him up and brought the streaking Pirates — who trailed St. Louis by nine games on May 8 — within striking distance with 74 games to go.

“It was a big series for us to be able to scratch out some wins against a great club,” Mercer said. “They’re the top and we know that.”

A night after the Pirates rallied three times to stun St. Louis, they did it again with a bunch of role players chipping in while McCutchen went 0-for-5. Mercer and Cervelli each had two hits and eight of Pittsburgh’s nine starters had at least one.

Grichuk had three and Jhonny Peralta had three hits apiece for St. Louis, but the Cardinals went just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

Still, St. Louis came within an out of a series split.

Pittsburgh’s normally reliable setup man Tony Watson came on in the eighth trying to preserve a 3-2 lead but struggled. Watson hit Kolten Wong with a pitch to start the inning, gave up a single to Peralta and loaded the bases when Mercer couldn’t handle a chopper by Jason Heyward. Wong tied it on a fielder’s choice by Yadier Molina, though Watson avoided further trouble by striking out Peter Bourjos with the bases loaded.

It stayed tied until the 10th when St. Louis went to work against Caminero. Grichuk delivered the big blow, a double to the gap in right-center. Mercer threw out Mark Reynolds as he tried to score from first on the play, a decision that would prove costly minutes later for the Cardinals.

“You don’t realize it at the time but it’s a big play,” Mercer said. “It helped us out.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: LF Matt Holliday hit some shag balls before Sunday night’s game. He will sit out Tuesday’s All-Star Game to give his injured quadriceps a little more rest but should be ready to play for the first time since June 8 when St. Louis opens the second half on Friday against the New York Mets.

Pirates: 1B Corey Hart had a setback in one of his knees while rehabbing a hip impingement and has been shut down. General manager Neal Huntington said Hart will rejoin the team in Pittsburgh and have the knee re-evaluated. Hart has been out since June 21.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: St. Louis will send five players to Tuesday’s All-Star Game in Cincinnati: pitchers Carlos Martinez, Michael Wacha and Rosenthal, as well as Molina and Peralta before beginning the second half of the season at home on Friday against the Mets. Lance Lynn (6-5, 2.90) will get the start. Lynn is 1-3 with a 3.42 ERA in six games against the Mets.

Pirates: Pittsburgh sends Gerrit Cole, whose 13 wins lead the majors, A.J. Burnett and Melancon to Cincinnati, as well as McCutchen. The team begins the second half on Friday at Milwaukee when Charlie Morton (6-2, 4.15 ERA) gets the start. Pittsburgh is 133-152 after the break under manager Clint Hurdle.

— Associated Press —

Royals’ six-game win streak snapped by Toronto

Posted on July 11, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — All the Toronto Blue Jays needed to break out of a skid was an impressive outing by Mark Buehrle and two big swings.

Buehrle pitched seven strong innings, Edwin Encarnacion hit a two-run homer and the Blue Jays beat Kansas City 6-2 Saturday to snap the Royals’ six-game winning streak.

Buehrle (10-5) limited the Royals to two runs and five hits while improving to 4-0 with a 1.24 ERA in his past four starts against them. It was Buehrle’s 26th victory over the Royals. Only Hall of Famer Bert Blyleven (34) has more wins against the Royals.

“He continues to roll, on a tough day to pitch,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. “It was hot out there. The offense came to life. We do what we do with a couple of home runs; that was the difference there. Buehrle was really good. They put a run up early and he kicked it up a notch.”

Encarnacion’s 18th home run in the fourth inning off Chris Young ended the Blue Jays’ 27-inning scoring drought.

“If the pitch was executed a little bit better, it might have been a pop up,” Young said. “The next at-bat I threw a better slider and he popped it up. It was a mistake. I didn’t make too many mistakes today. It’s a bad feeling as a pitcher, letting the team down with one pitch. I felt like I executed most of my pitches to give us a chance, but again Buehrle was just better today.”

Toronto led 3-2 in the ninth when Danny Valencia, traded by the Royals to the Blue Jays last July 28, hit a three-run homer off rookie Brandon Finnegan to extend the advantage.

“Obviously I played here last year, but we needed a win and I wanted to help the team,” Valencia said.

Jose Reyes had three hits, stole three bases, walked, scored a run and drove in a run for the Blue Jays.

Young (7-5), working on three days’ rest, gave up three runs and five hits with two walks in six-plus innings. He left after giving up a single to Kevin Pillar to open the inning.

The Royals took a 1-0 lead in the first as Alcides Escobar doubled, moved to third on a sacrifice and scored on Kendrys Morales’ grounder. It gave Morales 10 RBI in his past 11 games, and 57 on the season.

The Royals had Alex Rios at third and Omar Infante at second with one out in the second, but Buehrle held them there by striking out Drew Butera and getting Jarrod Dyson on a ground out.

Encarnacion’s homer in the fourth gave the Blue Jays the lead for good, and Reyes had a run-scoring infield single in seventh to make it 3-1.

Rios led off the bottom of the seventh with a double, moved to third on a fly ball to center and scored on Paulo Orlando’s grounder to pull the Royals within a run again.

SEEING 10s

Buehrle has won 10 or more games in 15 straight seasons, the longest active streak in the majors. “That’s what he does,” Gibbons said. “I hate to see him retire because he doesn’t seem to show any signs of slowing down.” Buehrle is 5-1 with a 1.88 ERA in his past nine starts.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: 3B Josh Donaldson left in the sixth inning after three at-bats with flu-like symptoms. He was replaced by Valencia.

Royals: RHP Kris Medlen (rehabbing from 2014 reconstructive elbow surgery) allowed three runs, all on solo home runs, in a start Friday for Triple-A Omaha against Iowa. He walked none and struck out seven, throwing 62 strikes in 89 pitches.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays: LHP Felix Doubront will make his second start after beating the White Sox on Tuesday, allowing one run and six hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Royals: RHP Edinson Volquez is 0-3 in four career starts against Toronto, allowing 19 earned runs over 19 1/3 innings.

— Associated Press —

St. Louis loses to Pirates in 14 innings on McCutchen’s walk-off HR

Posted on July 11, 2015July 12, 2015

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Andrew McCutchen’s two-run home run in the 14th inning capped Pittsburgh’s third rally of the night and helped the Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-4 on Saturday night.

McCutchen’s homer to center off of Nick Greenwood (0-1) immediately followed Neil Walker’s leadoff single and extended his hitting streak to a career-high 18 games. It was his 12th home run of the season.

Jhonny Peralta’s single off Vance Worley (3-4) in the top of the inning drove in Matt Carpenter.

Pittsburgh scored twice in the eighth to tie the game after falling behind 3-0, and Chris Stewart singled in Jung Ho Kang in the 10th after Mark Reynolds’ second homer of the game had given St. Louis another lead in the top of the inning.

Kang and Pedro Alvarez had RBI singles in the eighth for the Pirates, who have won seven of eight and 10 of 12. Pittsburgh, which has the NL’s second-best record, lost the first three games of the season series with the Cardinals in extra innings in May.

Both of Reynolds’ homers came with no one on base and were pulled down the left-field line. The first of which — in the second inning — ultimately resulted in ejections of Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli and manager Clint Hurdle, who were upset home plate umpire Vic Carapazza ruled a foul tip on an 0-2 pitch immediately preceding the homer.

In a starters’ matchup of two of the six winningest active pitchers in the majors, The Cardinals’ John Lackey outdueled A.J. Burnett. Lackey allowed one run — a Burnett homer, his first in almost a decade — on five hits and two walks in 6 2/3 innings.

Burnett was looking to make his first All-Star game appearance Tuesday with a sub-2.00 ERA, but the three runs on six hits and three walks he allowed in 6 2/3 innings Saturday increased his ERA from 1.99 to 2.11.

UP NEXT

Pirates LHP Francisco Liriano has allowed more than three runs in just three of his 17 starts this season. However, that lone occasion came at PNC Park against the Cardinals, whom he will face in a nationally-televised game Sunday night. Pittsburgh has lost both of Liriano’s starts against St. Louis this season.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: RHP Mitch Harris was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday after sustaining a right groin strain while warming up in the bullpen Friday night. … All-star OF Matt Holliday, out since June 9 (right quad strain), did some running Saturday. “We’re just trying to pace it now, get him ready to play when we get back (from the break) against New York,” manager Mike Matheny said.

Pirates: OF Starling Marte returned to the lineup Saturday after missing the previous five games because of discomfort in his left side. The team leader in home runs, Marte batted cleanup.

— Associated Press —