Professional – Page 157 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Ex-Mizzou DL Justin Smith retires after 14 NFL seasons

Posted on May 18, 2015May 18, 2015

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) – When Justin Smith decided that his body wouldn’t let him perform up to his own lofty standards, he knew it was time to stop playing.

Smith announced Monday that he is retiring after 14 seasons as one of the top defensive linemen in the NFL, dealing yet another blow to the San Francisco 49ers in a rough offseason.

“They all want you to keep playing, and I want to keep playing as well, but when you get on the bald tires, you’re on the bald tires,” Smith said.

One of the most durable players at one of the most physically demanding positions, Smith had been hampered the past two seasons by a bum left shoulder that he first hurt in training camp in 2013.

That shoulder absorbed the brunt of the punishment as a right defensive end going up against 300-pound linemen all game and Smith did not feel up to playing another season.

“It doesn’t respond like I want it to respond anymore,” he said. “If you don’t have the tools, you can’t do the job. It’s time to go.”

While Smith could still be an effective player, he could no longer be the dominant one he had been for so long in his career and that’s what led to his decision.

“People are going to compare him to everybody else,” coach Jim Tomsula said. “Justin Smith doesn’t compare himself to anybody else. He compares himself to himself. That’s the bar he sets. … I’ve always known with Justin that if he didn’t feel like health-wise he can play at the level he plays at, he’s not going to do it.”

Smith had just two sacks in the final 14 games last season as his practice time, snap count and effectiveness dwindled toward the end of the season.

Smith is the third defensive star to retire from the 49ers this offseason, joining linebackers Patrick Willis and Chris Borland. Coach Jim Harbaugh is also gone, along with running back Frank Gore, guard Mike Iupati, receiver Michael Crabtree, linebacker Dan Skuta and cornerbacks Chris Culliver and Perrish Cox.

Smith played 14 seasons in the NFL after being drafted in the first round by Cincinnati in 2001. After seven successful seasons with the Bengals, he signed as a free agent in San Francisco and had his best success in seven years with the 49ers.

Smith was the anchor of San Francisco’s 3-4 defense that made three straight trips to the NFC title game from 2011-13 and one Super Bowl appearance. He tied up blockers and broke down protection to help the team’s stellar linebacker corps of Willis, Navorro Bowman and Aldon Smith succeed.

While Smith never recorded double-digit sacks in a season in his career, he was so well-regarded that he was selected as an All Pro first-team defensive tackle and second-team defensive end in 2011. He was the first player ever to make the AP’s first and second team at different positions.

“Justin is the consummate professional whose impact on this organization can never be measured by statistics alone,” 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said. “His durability, competitiveness, work ethic, strength and rare stamina helped set him apart over his 14-year career. Cowboy will go down as one of the best to ever wear a 49ers uniform and his candidness, work ethic and pure passion for the game will be missed.”

Smith also was picked as a second-team All Pro defensive end and defensive tackle in 2012 and made five Pro Bowls in his seven seasons in San Francisco.

During his career, Smith started 217 of 221 games played, including a streak of 185 consecutive starts from his rookie season through December 2012. He finished his career with 1,370 tackles, 87 sacks, 16 forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries, three interceptions and 30 passes defensed.

Smith posted at least 5.0 sacks in 12 of his 14 seasons played and is one of 13 players to register 5 or more sacks in at least 12 seasons since sacks became an official statistic in 1982.

“Whether it was chasing down a wide receiver and forcing a fumble to seal a win, or driving a tackle back into the quarterback’s chest, he gave everything he had every play,” 49ers CEO Jed York said. “Justin has earned the respect of the entire NFL community and he will always be remembered as one of the 49ers all-time greats.”

— Associated Press —

Former Jayhawk Wiggins, former Tiger Clarkson named to All-Rookie first team

Posted on May 18, 2015May 18, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) — Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins of Minnesota is the only unanimous selection for the NBA’s All-Rookie first team.

Wiggins received all 130 votes Monday from a panel of sports writers and broadcasters in the U.S. and Canada. He averaged 16.9 points, tops in the class, and his 36.2 minutes per game ranked fourth in the NBA.

The rest of the first team was Chicago’s Nikola Mirotic, Philadelphia’s Nerlens Noel, Orlando’s Eldrid Payton and Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson.

The second team included Boston’s Marcus Smart, Minnesota’s Zach LaVine, Brooklyn’s Bojan Bogdanovic, Denver’s Jusuf Nurkic and New York’s Langston Galloway.

The panel chose five players for the first team and five for the second, regardless of position. Two points were awarded for first-team votes and one for a second.

— Associated Press —

Volquez, Royals blank Yankees in series finale

Posted on May 17, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Edinson Volquez had such violent movement on his fastball Sunday that Royals manager Ned Yost said catcher Salvador Perez actually turned around to ask plate umpire Chris Guccione whether there was anything he could do to help out.

Slide over a bit to offer Guccione a better view? Perhaps frame the pitches longer?

The Yankees probably wish Perez asked whether he could help them out.

Volquez baffled them with three-hit ball for seven innings, Perez homered and drove in two runs and Kansas City rolled to a 6-0 victory, the first time New York had been shut out this year.

“He was fantastic. He had all kinds of movement and action on his fastball,” Yost said. “For the most part, if Eddie’s executing his pitches, he’s going to be very good.”

Volquez (3-3) struck out five without issuing a walk. He never allowed a leadoff man on base, and just one of his three base runners to reach second all afternoon.

“That’s as good as I’ve ever seen him,” Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira said.

The Royals got production from throughout their lineup against Chris Capuano to take the rubber game of their three-game set with the Yankees, whom they face again next week in New York.

Capuano (0-1) made his season debut after rehabbing a quad strain that he sustained in spring training. The veteran left-hander gave up four runs on four hits and two walks, and left New York in a big hole when he was pulled four batters into the third inning.

The loss was the Yankees’ fifth in their last six games.

“It’s certainly not the outing I wanted for my first outing,” Capuano said. “I wanted to try to give the team a little boost heading into the off day, but there were a lot of good things that happened the first three innings to build on for next time.”

Perez gave the Royals all the offense they needed in the second, when he golfed a 3-2 pitch over the wall in left field. For a moment, it looked as if Brett Gardner leaped up to grab it, but a stiff breeze blowing out carried it just far enough.

The Royals put the game away with a big fourth inning.

Lorenzo Cain and Eric Hosmer led off with walks, and Kendrys Morales and Perez followed with back-to-back RBI singles to knock Capuano from the game. Esmil Rogers came in and gave up another RBI double to Omar Infante before getting the Yankees out of the jam.

Paulo Orlando and Alcides Escobar drove in two more runs in the sixth.

Not that Kansas City really needed them.

Working his sinker with a low-90s fastball and paralyzing changeup, Volquez retired the first 11 batters he faced. Alex Rodriguez finally doubled off the wall in the fourth, but the Yankees were unable to get him home. Brian McCann eventually struck out to end the inning.

Volquez also gave up a one-out single to Chase Headley in the fifth, breezed through a perfect sixth, then allowed another single to McCann before finishing off the seventh.

His bullpen tossed two shaky innings to preserve the shutout.

“All my pitches were there today. I was able to throw a lot of strikes, attack hitters, keep the ball down,” Volquez said. “They’re pretty good hitters. I was able to make some good pitches.”

NEGRO LEAGUES SALUTE

The Royals honored the Negro Leagues by wearing throwback jerseys of the Kansas City Monarchs, while the Yankees honored “Mr. Cub” Ernie Banks — who began his career with the Monarchs — with a patch on their sleeve. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is located in Kansas City.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Yankees: 1B Mark Teixeira left the game in the seventh inning with a bruised right big toe. X-rays were negative. Asked whether he would play Tuesday, he replied: “That’s the goal. With the day off tomorrow, it’s well-timed.”

Royals: LHP Jason Vargas (left flexor strain) threw a side session before the game. “He feels really good,” Yost said. “He doesn’t feel anything getting off the mound.”

UP NEXT

Yankees: After its day off, New York heads to Washington for a two-game set beginning Tuesday night. Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi will take the mound for the Yankees.

Royals: The Reds visit Tuesday night to open a two-game set. Yordano Ventura will pitch the opener and fellow right-hander Jeremy Guthrie will start Wednesday night.

— Associated Press —

St. Louis avoids sweep with 2-1 win over Detroit

Posted on May 17, 2015May 17, 2015

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Kolten Wong hit a tiebreaking home run in the sixth inning and Lance Lynn got his fifth career RBI to back his dominant pitching as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Detroit Tigers 2-1 on Sunday night to avoid a three-game sweep.

Miguel Cabrera’s RBI double in the first was the only damage against Lynn (3-3), who gave a weary bullpen a break before walking the last two batters he faced — Ian Kinsler and Cabrera — on eight straight balls at the end of his 7 1/3 innings.

Seth Maness’ only pitch resulted in a double-play ball by J.D. Martinez to end the eighth and Trevor Rosenthal finished for his 13th save in 14 chances.

Matt Carpenter added two hits and Peter Bourgos tripled and scored on Lynn’s single in the third. The Cardinals improved to a major league-best 25-12 despite having two players thrown at the plate — the last on a relay from left fielder Yoenis Cespedes that caught Jhonny Peralta and left them with nothing to show for three hits in the seventh.

St. Louis had three late-inning gaffes on the bases in Saturday’s 4-3, 10-inning loss.

Cabrera has four homers and nine RBIs the last four games, including his 400th homer on Sunday.

Alfredo Simon (4-2) gave up two runs in six innings for the Tigers, whose three-game winning streak ended.

Wong had been 1 for 8 in the series before hammering Simon’s fastball an estimated 434 feet to right with one out in the sixth.

Lynn entered the game a career .071 hitter and has three hits this year, all singles. He sliced a pitch down the right-field line to tie it at 1 in the third.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Tigers: Justin Verlander (elbow) is scheduled for a 45-pitch bullpen session Monday, which could lead to a simulated game. … Victor Martinez fouled out pinch hitting in the seventh in his first appearance of the series. Manager Brad Ausmus said Martinez (knee) had been unavailable the previous three days.

Cardinals: GM John Mozeliak said it’s too soon to consider a demotion to the bullpen for 23-year-old Carlos Martinez, 3-2 with a 4.73 ERA and struggling to go deep, especially with lefty Marco Gonzalez scuffling in the minors.

UP NEXT

Tigers: Kyle Lobstein (3-3, 4.33) faces the Brewers and Mike Fiers (1-4, 5.00) to start a seven-game homestand. Lobstein was knocked out in the third his last time out, surrendering six runs against the Twins.

Cardinals: John Lackey (2-2, 3.22) is the scheduled starter to open a seven-game trip against the Mets’ Matt Harvey (5-1, 2.31). Lackey is 0-1 with a 5.82 ERA in three road starts.

NUMBERS GAME

Cabrera is the third youngest player to hit 400 homers at 32 years, 28 days. He trails only Alex Rodriguez (29 years, 316 days) and Albert Pujols (30 years, 222 days). … Matt Adams is in a 2-for-33 slump.

— Associated Press —

Duffy drops third straight as Yankees beat KC 5-1

Posted on May 16, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — CC Sabathia was told by Yankees manager Joe Girardi that he was done Saturday night after limiting the hot-hitting Royals to one run through seven efficient innings.

“I guess I’m an old man now,” Sabathia said. “He needed to take me out and give me a rest.”

Old man? More like the Sabathia of old.

Backed by homers from Chase Headley and Alex Rodriguez, the former Cy Young winner who had struggled throughout April helped New York to a 5-1 victory over Kansas City, ending the Yankees’ four-game losing streak and evening their three-game series.

“CC has not been a strong pitcher in April for much of his career,” said Girardi, who never thought twice about pulling the big lefty after just 87 pitches. “But look at what he’s done his last few starts. Hopefully he keeps rolling.”

With rain approaching the entire evening, Sabathia (2-5) made quick work of the Royals, who had pounded out 12 runs on 17 hits the previous night. He allowed their lone run on six hits without a walk to win his second straight start.

Headley hit a tiebreaking three-run homer, and Rodriguez added his 10th of the season in the ninth to help the Yankees shake out of their offensive slumber.

Danny Duffy (2-3) lost his third straight start for Kansas City, allowing four runs on four hits and four walks in five innings. It was a modest improvement over the left-hander’s previous two starts, when he’d been hammered for 10 runs in 4 2/3 innings by the Indians and Rangers.

“I know my teammates believe in me. I believe in me. The coaching staff believes in me,” Duffy said. “I know I’m better than these results.”

Both teams squandered opportunities for big innings in the third.

Duffy walked three of the first four Yankees he faced in the frame, and Carlos Beltran’s sacrifice fly made it 1-0. Headley followed with a flyout to end the inning.

The Royals countered with three straight singles off Sabathia to begin their half, including a chopper that Sabathia fielded cleanly but was slow in throwing to first base. Mike Moustakas hit his own sacrifice fly before Lorenzo Cain and Eric Hosmer struck out to end the inning.

Duffy fell into a nice rhythm after his escape, but gave up consecutive two-out singles in the fifth. After going ahead 0-2 on Headley, the Yankees’ third baseman battled back to force a full count, then sent the next pitch sailing into the bullpen in left field.

“We’ve been grinding to score runs,” Headley said. “I was able to get something I could hit.”

Duffy was replaced the next inning by veteran Joe Blanton, who made his first appearance in a big league game since Sept. 3, 2013. Blanton allowed one run the final four frames.

Rain started to fall heavily in the bottom half of the fifth, when Sabathia stranded runners on first and second, before blowing out of the area after about 10 minutes.

Lightning started to flash across the sky in the seventh, but crew chief Bill Welke allowed the game to continue. Yankees relievers Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller breezed through the last two innings to help finish the game before the storms arrived.

“That’s a good team, to be able to come in here and get a win, especially after what they did to us last night,” Sabathia said. “It feels good.”

Cardinals fall to Detroit in 10 innings

Posted on May 16, 2015

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Miguel Cabrera’s bat gave the Detroit Tigers a smashing start. His under-rated defense helped save them late.

Cabrera hit his 400th career home run and turned a nifty double play with a catch near the first base stands followed by an on-target throw in a 4-3, 10-inning victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday.

“He’s definitely the best hitter in baseball and he’s hands down the smartest player in baseball as well,” starter David Price said. “He’s pretty special.”

Cabrera’s milestone shot gave him the most homers by a Venezuelan-born player, passing Andres Galarraga. The solo shot came in the first inning just before a rain delay of 1 hour, 20 minutes.

“That means a lot to me,” Cabrera said about the milestone. “But I just want to win and play games.”

Nearly five hours later, Jose Iglesias had an RBI single for the go-ahead hit.

Cabrera has hit four homers in three games, 10 overall and 262 with Detroit, tying him with Willie Horton for fourth on the franchise list. Cabrera said he wasn’t sure if he got the 400th home run ball back.

Adrian Beltre of Texas hit his 400th homer Friday. Cabrera tied Beltre for 52nd place on the career list, with Duke Snider next at 407.

The Cardinals had a man on second with none out in the eighth when Cabrera caught a foul popup near the stands. He wheeled and threw out pinch runner Pete Kozma, who was trying to tag up and advance to third.

“It was a crazy play,” Cabrera said. “We know the Cardinals play aggressive and we’ve got to be ready for anything.”

“Now,” Kozma said, “I know he can make it.”

Price threw only a couple of pitches before the rain delay. He surrendered three homers, matching the total he’d allowed his first seven starts, but all were with the bases empty on changeups.

“It was some good swings on some pitches down the middle of the plate, and that’s what good hitters do,” Price said. “It’s a tough game.”

Matt Carpenter, Peter Bourjos and Jhonny Peralta connected, but the Cardinals made three costly base-running goofs in the final three innings.

Blaine Hardy (1-0) struck out two with a walk in the ninth and Joakim Soria finished for his 12th save in 12 chances. Detroit, which pasted St. Louis 10-4 in the opener, will go for a three-game interleague sweep on Sunday.

Iglesias, the eighth-place hitter, flied out with the bases loaded to end the third and popped out with two on to finish the fifth. He came through with two outs in the 10th against Matt Belisle (1-1).

J.D. Martinez drew a leadoff walk and Yoenis Cespedes followed with a single. Two outs later, Iglesias singled.

The Cardinals blew a chance to take the lead in the seventh. Jason Heyward stayed near second base, waiting to tag up, and could only reach third when Randal Grichuk’s flyball hit the wall for a double.

Heyward said “apparently on second base, it was the worst seat in the house for that one.”

“I looked at the ball, checked the outfielder and I was thinking to myself `This is so high I think it’s either going to be gone or caught at the wall,” Heyward added. “Obviously, the ball didn’t get caught.”

With the Cardinals down a run, Matt Holliday was out trying to stretch a single to two bases leading off the 10th.

Carpenter’s seventh homer tied it in the bottom of the first, on just the second at-bat after play resumed following the delay. Bourjos had been 1 for 11 against Price before putting the Cardinals ahead in the second with his first homer.

UP NEXT

Tigers: Alfredo Simon (4-1, 3.05) was 2-0 in three starts against St. Louis last year while with Cincinnati.

Cardinals: Lance Lynn (2-3, 3.27) is 28-13 with a 2.83 ERA at home.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Tigers: Pitcher Shane Greene underwent an MRI exam and Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said “concern is way down.” On Saturday, he was removed due to numbness in his pitching hand. Cespedes bent his glove thumb attempting a diving catch in the 10th.

Cardinals: Pitcher Jaime Garcia (shoulder) was back in St. Louis a day after throwing six innings in his second rehab start and could be close to rejoining the rotation.

— Associated Press —

Royals dominate Yankees in series opener 12-1

Posted on May 15, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Lorenzo Cain had a career-high five RBIs, Kendrys Morales drove in three more runs and the Kansas City Royals routed the New York Yankees 12-1 on Friday night.

The Royals scored six times in the sixth inning while knocking Yankees starter Michael Pineda from the game, then cruised the rest of the way to open a three-game set between division leaders by dealing New York its season-high fourth consecutive loss.

Chris Young (3-0) allowed just four hits and two walks over 5 2/3 innings, making another strong case for a permanent spot in the starting rotation. The 6-foot-10 veteran made his third spot start in place of Jason Vargas, who is on the disabled list with a hip flexor injury.

Pineda (5-1), coming off a masterful 16-strikeout performance against Baltimore, only struck out one while matching a career worst with 10 hits allowed. Pineda was responsible for five runs in 5 1/3 innings, matching a season high set in a win over the Orioles last month.

Pineda hung tough through the first five innings, the only damage an RBI single by Cain in the first inning and a sacrifice fly by the Royals outfielder in the fourth.

Brian McCann had a sacrifice fly for New York in the top of the fourth inning.

Everything unraveled for the AL East-leading Yankees in the fifth, though. The Royals sent 11 batters to the plate, pounded out six hits and churned through Pineda and two relievers.

Omar Infante and Paulo Orlando drove in runs to start the onslaught, and Cain added a two-run single off Justin Wilson later in the inning. By the time Morales and Alex Gordon drove in runs, Yankees manager Joe Girardi was probably getting fatigued walking to the mound.

Jose Ramirez, just recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, finally got the Yankees out of the inning. But by then, the AL Central-leading Royals had pushed their lead to 8-1.

The only drama left was whether Mike Moustakas would hit for the cycle.

The Kansas City third baseman tripled, doubled and singled his first three times at bat. He grounded out in the sixth, but brought a crowd of 34,584 to its feet when he sent a fly ball down the left-field line in the seventh that bounced just a few feet from the top of the wall.

He wound up with an RBI double, giving him four hits for the fourth time in his career.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Yankees: RHP Chase Whitley (elbow sprain) went on the DL. He will be evaluated again by team physician Christopher Ahmad on Monday before deciding whether to have Tommy John surgery. … RHP Masahiro Tanaka (wrist tendinitis) threw 35 pitches in the bullpen before the game. The Yankees still have not set a date for a rehab assignment.

Royals: RF Alex Rios (fractured hang) continues to hit off a tee, though it’s unclear when he will return. … Vargas played catch before the game. He expects to throw a bullpen session soon.

UP NEXT

Yankees: LHP CC Sabathia (1-5) is coming off his first win of the season at Tampa Bay.

Royals: LHP Danny Duffy (2-2) tries to bounce back from two straight lousy starts.

— Associated Press —

Chiefs sign three draft picks, including first-rounder Marcus Peters

Posted on May 15, 2015May 15, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs signed their three remaining draft picks on Friday, including first-round selection Marcus Peters, bringing all nine under contract before rookie minicamp.

Along with Peters, a cornerback taken No. 18 overall, the Chiefs signed third-round picks Chris Conley, a wide receiver out of Georgia, and Steven Nelson, a cornerback from Oregon State.

Peters was kicked off the Washington Huskies after run-ins with coaches last year.

The Chiefs also signed Charles Tuaau, a 6-foot-5, 310-pound defense tackle from Texas A&M-Commerce who was not chosen in this year’s draft.

Kansas City’s three-day rookie minicamp begins Saturday.

To clear roster space, the Chiefs waived tight end Brandon Barden and defensive tackle Hebron Fangupo.

— Associated Press —

Cardinals drop first game to Detroit 10-4

Posted on May 15, 2015May 15, 2015

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Miguel Cabrera ended a season-long slump in night games with a two-run homer and two singles and the Detroit Tigers also got homers from Yoenis Cespedes and J.D. Martinez in a 10-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night.

Cabrera entered batting just .158 with no homers and one RBI at night — he’s hit .471 with eight homers and 25 RBIs in day games. Manager Brad Ausmus called those numbers an “anomaly” before the game.

Cabrera hit his 399th career homer and third in two games in the seventh inning off Mitch Harris, tying Andres Galarraga for most by a Venezuelan-born player, and Martinez followed with his eighth homer to make it 5-0.

Shane Greene (4-2) allowed five hits in five scoreless innings before being removed due to numbness in his pitching arm.

— Associated Press —

Royals earn split with 6-3 win at Rangers Thursday

Posted on May 14, 2015

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Alcides Escobar is doing his job leading off for the Kansas City Royals, getting on base, scoring runs and even driving in a few for the top-hitting team in the majors.

Escobar had three hits and accounted for five runs, scoring twice while driving home three, as the Royals beat the Texas Rangers 6-3 on Thursday for a split of the four-game series.

“Having him at the top of the lineup the way he swings the bat, and just what he does in the field, he’s a big part of this team,” said Eric Hosmer, whose two-run homer in the sixth scored the shortstop. “He sets the tone for us. … He’s really got things going right now.”

After going 8-for-16 in the series, Escobar is hitting .318 for the season. He led off the finale with a single and scored when Alex Gordon’s had a shattered-bat grounder to reach on a fielder’s choice. Escobar added a two-run single to make it 3-0 in the fourth, then had an RBI single before Homer’s seventh homer of the season in the sixth.

“People kind of get on him every now and then because he doesn’t take enough pitches, but that’s his style of play. He’s a cut-and-slasher,” manager Ned Yost said. “He’s just been swinging the bat really, really well.”

Royals starter Jeremy Guthrie (3-2) gave up two runs over five innings to win his second consecutive start. He struck out one and didn’t walk a batter, but twice hit Prince Fielder with pitches.

Greg Holland worked the ninth for his seventh save in eight chances, even after consecutive two-out walks.

Ross Detwiler (0-5) is winless in his first seven starts for Texas, which acquired the right-hander from Washington over the winter. Detwiler gave up nine hits and three runs in five innings.

“I’m mostly frustrated with myself,” Detwiler said. “I’m the one not getting the ball where it needs to be. I feel like I’m fighting myself.”

The AL Central-leading Royals loaded the bases for Escobar in the fourth after consecutive singles, a sac bunt and a hit batsman — by the bottom four hitters in the lineup.

Fielder and Delino DeShields each had RBI singles for Texas in the fifth.

EXTRA PITCHES

Hosmer had three hits and an 11-game hitting streak. … Texas leadoff hitter Shin-Soo Choo had three hits, extending his hitting streak to an AL-high 14 games. He is hitting .373 (22 of 59) in May to raise his season average from .096 to .243.

DEBUT RELIEF

Two relievers made their Rangers debuts. Japanese right-hander Kyuji Fujikawa retired all three batters he faced in the eighth after coming off the DL (groin). He signed this winter after a two-season stint with the Chicago Cubs that included Tommy John ligament replacement surgery. Lefty Sam Freeman, the final cut when the Rangers set their opening day roster, gave up Hosmer’s homer in his 1 2/3 innings.

STILL ONLY COUNTS AS ONE OUT

On Adrian Beltre’s popup to short right in the first, Royals second baseman Omar Infante drifted out and right fielder Paulo Orlando came in. As they got closer, Infante put his head down while extending his glove, which became engulfed in Orlando’s glove. It took a moment to determine that Infante made the catch.

UP NEXT

Royals: After a 4-3 trip, the Royals are set for their longest stretch at home so far this season. They have eight home games over 10 days, starting Friday night against the New York Yankees.

Rangers: Texas stays home for three games against Cleveland. Wandy Rodriguez (1-1), who set a franchise record retiring 34 consecutive batters over his last two starts, says he’s good to go for the series opener vs. the Indians after having back spasms in his last start Sunday in Houston.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: OF Alex Rios, who broke a bone in his left hand when hit by a pitch a week into the season, is starting to hit balls off a tee. He has also been throwing, and did some long toss in the outfield before Thursday’s game. Manager Ned Yost says Rios is “definitely make progress” and is on schedule.

Rangers: CF Leonys Martin said his left wrist felt “weird a little bit” after a getting a cortisone injection Wednesday. But he said he felt no pain and was getting better. He initially hurt his wrist diving for a ball in the outfield at Houston last week, and reaggravated that when he got jammed by a pitch at bat Monday night.

— Associated Press —