Professional – Page 161 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Carpenter, Adams lead Cardinals over Phillies 9-3

Posted on April 30, 2015April 30, 2015

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Dropping Matt Carpenter to second in the batting order is working for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Carpenter doubled, singled and walked twice, and the Cardinals overcame a short outing by Tim Cooney in his major league debut to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 9-3 Thursday for their third straight win.

Carpenter scored in his first three times on base and has 21 runs in 21 games. St. Louis averaged 3.7 runs during a 12-8 start and has scored 25 runs in three games since Carpenter was dropped from the leadoff spot.

“When you get this offense really going, it’s one of the best in the majors, and right now everybody it seems is producing,” Matt Adams said,

Adams had three hits and drove in three runs — two on a tiebreaking homer. He had just three extra-base hits in the Cardinals’ first 18 games, but has three doubles and the homer in the last three.

“It seems like everything is starting to really come around on the offensive side, not just for me but the whole offense itself,” he said. “Things are really starting to click now.”

Cooney, a 24-year-old left-hander brought up from Triple-A Memphis before the game, was given a 3-0 lead but lasted 2 1/3 innings, allowing three runs and seven hits.

“I think it was, you know, always a tough assignment bringing a young kid in for his first one,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. “We’ve seen him pitch much better than that, and I think he will in the future.”

Carlos Villanueva (2-1) followed and retired all 10 batters he faced. The Cardinals bullpen retired 19 of 21 hitters during 6 1/3 innings of one-hit relief.

With the score 3-3 in the third, Adams hit a two-run homer off David Buchanan (0-5), who became the first Philadelphia pitcher to lose his first five starts in a season since Kyle Abbott in 1992. Buchanan gave up seven runs, eight hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings, leaving him with an 8.76 ERA. He is 0-8 in 14 starts since beating Houston on Aug. 6.

“I want my team to win a game that I pitch in,” Buchanan said. “I’m not out there for my record, I want my team to win in a ballgame that I pitch in, I don’t care how it happens.”

The Cardinals boosted their lead to 7-3 in the fifth when Matt Holliday hit his second RBI double and scored on Adams’ single. Jon Jay had a run-scoring single in the eighth, when Luis Garcia walked Jhonny Peralta with the bases loaded.

St. Louis built a 3-0 lead in the first when Carpenter and Holliday had consecutive RBI doubles, and Jason Heyward hit a run-scoring double-play grounder.

Odubel Herrera singled in a run in the second, and the Phillies tied the score in the third on Darin Ruf’s leadoff homer and a sacrifice fly by Cody Asche, Villanueva’s first batter.

ROSTER MOVES

St. Louis optioned C Cody Stanley to Memphis and transferred RHP Adam Wainwright from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list.

UP NEXT

Phillies: RHP Jerome Williams, 2-1 with a 3.80 ERA in four outings, is to start Friday.

Cardinals: RHP Lance Lynn is slated for a series opener against Pittsburgh on Friday. He is 1-2 with a 3.63 ERA in four starts.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Phillies: RHP Chad Billingsley allowed two runs and five hits and struck out six in 5 2/3 innings during an injury rehabilitation start for Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Cardinals: Wainwright had surgery Thursday to repair a torn left Achilles tendon. “Everything went well,” Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said. “No surprises, which was probably the best news, and didn’t have to use any extra material to reattach the tendon. So now it’s rest and recovery for probably the next 6 to 8 weeks.”

— Associated Press —

Royals drop series finale at Cleveland

Posted on April 29, 2015

CLEVELAND (AP) — Danny Salazar overcame a scary moment and a hot ballclub to remain unbeaten and help the Cleveland Indians snap a four-game losing streak.

Salazar, who hit Alcides Escobar in the head with a pitch in the fifth inning, improved to 3-0 since being called up from the minors while Jason Kipnis homered and drove in four runs to lead the Indians past the Kansas City Royals 7-5 on Wednesday night.

Salazar allowed four runs in six innings. His inside pitch to Escobar hit the Royals’ shortstop on the left side of the helmet. Escobar was on the ground for several moments and walked off the field with help from two Royals trainers.

Salazar was visibly upset over the incident and patted his hand in his glove as Escobar, who suffered a bruised left cheek, left the field.

“I was a little bit nervous,” Salazar said. “That’s not part of my game. I’m never going to try to do that intentionally to a guy.”

Escobar ended up with a headache, but didn’t go to hospital and didn’t have X-rays.

“It hit straight on my helmet, and I was real dizzy when it happened,” he said. “I feel OK, not bad, way better than when I got hit.”

Royals manager Ned Yost said he didn’t think Escobar would go on the disabled list, but it’s unclear when he’ll return to action.

Although Salazar gave up a 3-2 lead in the sixth when Eric Hosmer hit a two-run homer, the Indians bounced back with three in the bottom of the inning.

Kipnis hit a three-run home run — his first since July 31 of last season — in the third and he capped the sixth-inning rally with a run-scoring grounder. Michael Bourn’s double gave Cleveland the lead.

Kipnis’ big night came one year to the day after he suffered a pulled oblique muscle, a major reason his average fell to .240 with six homers and 41 RBIs.

“I didn’t know that,” Kipnis said when informed of the anniversary of the injury. “What a difference a year can make. We can put that even more in the past.”

Yordano Ventura (2-2) allowed five runs in 5 1/3 innings. The right-hander, who is facing a seven-game suspension and was ejected from his last two starts, kept his poise and didn’t retaliate after Escobar was hit.

Kipnis led off the fifth and wasn’t sure what to expect when he stepped in against Ventura, who hit Oakland’s Brett Lawrie on April 18 .

“I know who was on the mound and what’s happened the last couple of weeks,” he said. “It’s in the back of my head, but when a guy throws that hard there’s not much I can do if he comes hunting for me. There’s nowhere to really run.”

Roberto Perez, breaking an 0-for-18 slump, homered and had three hits.

Cody Allen allowed a run in the ninth, but recorded his fourth save.

The Indians came into the game with the worst record in the AL and won for only the second time in eight home games.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: RHP Greg Holland (right pectoral strain) played catch on the field one day after throwing 15 pitches off the mound and is expected to come off the disabled list on May 3.

Indians: Manager Terry Francona said C Yan Gomes (sprained right knee) has begun to take dry swings. The Indians said Gomes would miss six to eight weeks when he was injured on April 10.

ROSTER SWITCH

The Indians called up RHP Ryan Webb from Triple-A Columbus and designated OF Jerry Sands for assignment.

UP NEXT

Royals: LHP Danny Duffy will pitch the opener of a four-game series against Detroit at Kauffman Stadium. He is 1-6 in his career against the Tigers.

Indians: LHP T.J. House takes the mound in the first game of a four-game home set against Toronto. Cleveland has a 7-1 record in his eight career starts at Progressive Field.

— Associated Press —

Bourjos’ legs help St. Louis defeat Philadelphia 5-2

Posted on April 29, 2015April 30, 2015

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Peter Bourjos’ well-rested legs made all the difference both at the top of the batting order and in center field for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Bourjos made just his second start of the season count by hitting a game-tying RBI triple and scoring the go-ahead run by beating the throw home on an infield tapper to fuel a four-run fifth inning in a 5-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night.

“Any time you get a chance to start and play, it’s a lot of fun,” Bourjos said. “It’s a tough role, but when you can get some hits and help the team win, it makes it even more special.”

Carlos Martinez (3-0) allowed two runs in six innings and Matt Adams doubled twice with an RBI.

Ryan Howard hit his 20th career homer against St. Louis, 11 coming in his hometown, and Odubel Herrera had two hits and an RBI. Aaron Harang (2-2) surrendered five runs in six innings, ending a career-best run of eight consecutive quality starts dating to last September.

Bourjos entered 7 for 15 against Harang with a homer and four RBIs, no doubt factoring into his starting considering he was just 1 for 10 on the season.

“He’s got pretty good stuff, but for some reason I have pretty good at-bats against him,” Bourjos said. “It’s just something I can’t explain.”

Neither could Harang.

“There’s just guys that have your number and it always seems to be the leadoff hitter, those pesky guys, that get me more often than the big guys,” Harang said.

Bourjos made a nice running catch to rob Chase Utley of extra bases and an RBI to end the seventh.

“His speed plays big,” Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. “I don’t know if any other center fielder, might be one, catches Chase’s ball.”

Howard’s throw home on Matt Carpenter’s grounder to first base was not quick enough to catch Bourjos, who slid in ahead of catcher Carlos Ruiz’s tag. The Phillies unsuccessfully challenged the call, believing that Bourjos might have been late getting his foot on the base.

Adams and Jhonny Peralta added RBIs later in the inning. Kolten Wong had a two-out RBI single in the second to give St. Louis the early lead.

Howard hit his fourth homer in the fourth, a drive just over the fence into the home bullpen in right that gave him 39 RBIs in 33 career games in St. Louis. He grounded out his other three at-bats against an over-shifted defense, each time to Wong, the second baseman, standing in shallow right field.

“No, I don’t like it at all,” Howard said. “That’s four hits. I’m hitting the ball hard, it’s just that guys are playing shifts.”

Howard batted fifth behind Jeff Francoeur and hedged at first when asked whether he thought he should be back at cleanup, ultimately saying it was up to Sandberg.

“I feel like I’m a four-hole guy,” he said. “I’ve been there most of my career. That’s his call.”

Trevor Rosenthal earned his eighth save in eight chances for the NL Central leaders.

UP NEXT

Phillies: David Buchanan has lost all four starts this year and was 0-3 in his last nine starts last season with his last win on Aug. 6. During the 13-game drought he’s thrown seven quality starts.

Cardinals: LHP Tim Cooney takes injured Adam Wainwright’s spot in the rotation and will be making his major league debut. The 24-year-old Cooney, who grew up in a Philadelphia suburb rooting for the Phillies, is 2-1 with a 3.63 ERA in three starts at Triple-A Memphis.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Phillies: OF Domonic Brown reported to Triple-A Lehigh Valley after the end of a rehab assignment for a left Achilles injury.

Cardinals: OF Randal Grichuk, on the DL since April 17 with a lower back strain, has participated in pre-game activities all three games in the series.

CONTROL ROOM

Phillies pitchers entered the game with a major league-high 86 walks, but they issued just two on Wednesday — both to Matt Holliday.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS

Harang made a rough slide into third advancing on a wild pitch in the fifth inning. He had thought it would be easy taking the bag but also respected catcher Yadier Molina’s arm.

“That was one of those ones where you’re running thinking `Let’s slide. No I don’t need to slide. Yeah, I need to slide. No I’m not going to slide. Yeah, let’s slide.” Harang joked.

— Associated Press —

MLB All Star Game voting begins; Nine Royals on the ballot

Posted on April 29, 2015April 29, 2015

Major League Baseball today marked the official start of All-Star Balloting for the 86th All-Star Game, which will be held on Tuesday, July 14th at Great American Ball Park, home of the Cincinnati Reds.

For the first time, balloting will be conducted exclusively online at MLB.com and all 30 club websites. To vote, click the graphic at left or go to royals.com/vote.

Fans can vote up to 35 times online or via mobile devices.

Fan ballots will result in nine American League starters and eight from the National League. Pitchers and reserves will be determined through a combination of “Player Ballot” choices and All-Star manager selections, with Royals manager Ned Yost and his staff leading the A.L. squad.

Following the announcement of All-Star rosters, fans will select a final player from each league through the 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote.

The nine Royals on the American League ballot are:
Eric Hosmer (First Base)
Omar Infante (Second Base)
Mike Moustakas (Third Base)
Alcides Escobar (Shortstop)
Salvador Perez (Catcher)
Kendrys Morales (Designated Hitter)
Lorenzo Cain (Outfielder)
Alex Gordon (Outfielder)
Alex Rios (Outfielder)

Kansas City rallies for second straight win at Cleveland

Posted on April 28, 2015April 28, 2015

CLEVELAND (AP) — Kendry Morales’ three-run homer capped a six-run seventh inning and the Kansas City Royals beat the Cleveland Indians 11-5 on Tuesday night.

Kansas City’s big inning came after Cleveland had taken a 5-3 lead on Brandon Moss’ three-run homer in the sixth.

Alcides Escobar’s two-run double off Scott Atchison (0-1) tied the game. Escobar scored the go-ahead run from second on Mike Moustakas’ infield hit and Morales later hit his third homer of the season to dead center off Bryan Shaw.

Brandon Finnegan (1-0) picked up his first career win despite allowing Moss’ home run.

Alex Gordon homered and drove in two runs for the Royals, who had a season-high 18 hits.

Cleveland manager Terry Francona met with his team for a pep talk following Monday’s defeat, but the Indians lost for the eighth time in 11 games. Cleveland (6-13) has the worst record in the American League and the worst home mark (1-6) in the majors.

Trevor Bauer, who missed his scheduled start Saturday because of food poisoning, allowed three runs in six innings, but Cleveland’s bullpen gave up eight runs over the final three innings.

Gordon’s leadoff homer in the second gave Kansas City the lead. Michael Bourn’s two-run single in the bottom of the inning put Cleveland ahead. Omar Infante’s single tied the game in the fourth before Gordon’s single in the sixth put the Royals ahead.

Kansas City’s go-ahead run in the seventh came after Escobar’s double tied the game. Moustakas’ high chopper was fielded by first baseman Carlos Santana, but pitcher Mark Rzepczynski missed the bag covering first. Escobar kept running and slid home as catcher Brett Hayes failed to hold on to the ball.

Finnegan, who pitched well down the stretch for the Royals last season after being called up from the minors, allowed one run in one inning. Chris Young, Jason Fraser and Yohan Pino all worked a scoreless inning.

Royals starter Jeremy Guthrie allowed four runs in five-plus innings.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: RHP Greg Holland (right pectoral strain) could be activated off the DL when he is eligible on May 3. The two-time All-Star closer threw 15 pitches off a mound before the game. Holland played catch Sunday and Monday with no pain.

Indians: Nick Swisher (surgery on both knees) continued his minor league rehab at Triple-A Columbus with two hits and two RBIs as the DH on Tuesday. He could rejoin the Indians next week.

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Yordano Ventura, who is appealing his seven-game suspension for his involvement in a brawl against the White Sox last week, makes his fifth start of the season.

Indians: RHP Danny Salazar will try to match a career-high three-game winning streak. He struck out a career-best 11 and held Detroit to one run in seven innings on Friday.

— Associated Press —

Cardinals pound Phillies 11-5, Wacha stays unbeaten

Posted on April 28, 2015April 28, 2015

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Juggling the batting order paid off for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Facing a pitcher making his major league debut did not hurt either.

The Cardinals scored seven runs off Severino Gonzalez in the first three innings and beat the Philadelphia Phillies 11-5 on Tuesday night. St. Louis finished with a season high in runs and hits (15) to win for the first time in three games.

Trying to jolt his offense, manager Mike Matheny moved Matt Carpenter out of the leadoff spot for the first time in nearly two years. Jason Heyward was dropped from second to sixth and Jon Jay took over at the top of the order. All three contributed in their new places in the order.

Carpenter tripled and scored in the first, had an RBI double in the fifth and walked and scored in the eighth. The double was his 12th, most in the majors and the most in franchise history after 19 games.

“It’s hard to argue with the team’s 15 hits and 11 runs,” Heyward said of the changes. “Our lineup’s flexible and that’s what is awesome about it.”

Heyward reached base four times and scored twice and Jay added two RBI singles.

“We like what we saw,” said Matheny, who said he switched the order because Heyward had been struggling and he wanted to put Carpenter in a better position to drive in runs. “They were clicking pretty good. We like the way it went.”

Matt Holliday, hitting in his usual third spot, and Matt Adams each added three hits for the Cardinals. Holliday also scored three runs and had an RBI as every player in the Cardinals’ starting lineup finished with at least a hit, run or RBI.

Michael Wacha (4-0) drove in two runs and pitched 5 2/3 innings to win for the fourth time in four starts. He gave up a season-high four runs and six hits.

“My command just wasn’t where I wanted it to be,” Wacha said. “But those guys putting together great at-bats made my job easier.”

Gonzalez (0-1) yielded seven runs and 10 hits in 2 2/3 innings.

“He left some balls over the plate and we capitalized,” Jay said.

Added Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg: “He didn’t really establish both sides of the plate with his fastball. It seemed like most of the balls were out over the plate and they had good swings at them. It was an experience for him.”

Freddy Galvis singled three times and scored twice for Philadelphia. Rookie Odubel Herrera doubled and had two RBIs.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Phillies: OF Domonic Brown was eligible to return to the majors after finishing a 20-day rehab assignment, but after being removed from the disabled list, the 2013 All-Star was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Brown was on the disabled list because of left Achilles tendinitis. After he went 5 for 42 in the last part of his rehab assignment, the Phillies decided not to bring him to the majors. Manager Ryne Sandberg said Brown would stay in the minors until “he’s ready to come here and help us.”

Cardinals: If RHP Adam Wainwright had not been injured, he was scheduled to make his next start on Thursday. Instead, he will be undergoing surgery on his left Achilles that day and LHP Tim Cooney will start in his place. Cooney, 24, will be making his major league debut.

A FIRST FOR PANAMA

For the first time in major league history, a pitcher born in Panama (Gonzalez) started a game throwing to a catcher born in Panama (Carlos Ruiz).

HIT AWAY

Even though Wainwright’s season-ending injury happened while batting, he is not ready to see the National League adopt the designated hitter. “Baseball is a National League game,” Wainwright said. “I wish both leagues would convert to National League baseball. You can’t point to another instance that the pitcher has hurt on Achilles (batting). The game in the National League is just a better game.”

UP NEXT

RHP Aaron Harang, who has made more starts against the Cardinals than any active pitcher, will start for the Phillies on Wednesday night. In 27 starts against St. Louis, Harang is 7-15 with a 4.27 ERA. He has not beaten the Cardinals since 2009. RHP Carlos Martinez, 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA, will start for the Cardinals.

— Associated Press —

Chiefs’ President Mark Donovan signs long-term extension

Posted on April 28, 2015April 28, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Tuesday that team President Mark Donovan has signed a long-term contract extension with the club. Donovan originally joined the Chiefs as the club’s chief operating officer in 2009 before being promoted to team president in 2011.

“My family and I are delighted that Mark will be guiding the business operations of the Chiefs for many years to come,” Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said. “Over the last six seasons, Mark has helped the Chiefs rank among the best in the National Football League in several categories – most importantly, the fan experience – and I know he and his team will continue to work tirelessly on behalf of the Chiefs Kingdom.”

“I’d like thank Clark and the entire Hunt family for giving me the opportunity to continue my career with one of the league’s most iconic and proud franchises,” Donovan said. “My family and I have been blessed to be surrounded by a talented staff, a strong team and a supportive community for more than six years, and we are looking forward to calling Chiefs Kingdom our home for many more.”

During Donovan’s tenure in Kansas City, the Chiefs have invested heavily in enhancing the in-stadium experience for fans at Arrowhead. The team has emerged as a league leader in fan engagement with a focus on introducing technology-based solutions and celebrating the traditions and fan rituals that make Arrowhead special. Since Donovan’s arrival the club has introduced a number of features including a stadium-wide Wi-Fi network, a Chiefs-specific mobile application and ticketless technology. Additionally, Donovan and his team have worked to bring a number of other events to Arrowhead Stadium such as concerts and college football games. This summer alone, the Chiefs will host three concerts (Rolling Stones, One Direction and Kenny Chesney) and an NCAA Div. I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) game (MU vs. BYU) in the fall. His leadership extends to the community both personally and professionally, where he is actively engaged in the Chiefs charitable giving and community involvement, helping the team to have a greater impact on the Kansas City community.

Donovan joined the Chiefs in 2009 after six years with the Philadelphia Eagles as Senior Vice President of Business Operations (2003-08). Prior to joining the Eagles, Donovan held leadership roles as the NFL’s Senior Director of Sales and Marketing (1999-03) and the Director of Sales and Marketing for the National Hockey League (1997-99). He also brings seven years of experience in the private business sector. This season will be Donovan’s 17th NFL season since joining the league in 1999.

The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, native graduated from Brown University with a double major in political science and organizational behavior/management. He captained the Brown football squad as the team’s quarterback and signed with the New York Giants as a free agent upon graduation.

He and his wife, Kathy, have two children and reside in Kansas City.

— Chiefs Media Relations —

Royals bounce back to beat Indians in series opener

Posted on April 28, 2015

CLEVELAND (AP) — Mike Moustakas has done well throughout his career against Corey Kluber. Even so, beating the AL Cy Young Award winner was quite an accomplishment.

Moustakas got four hits, Alex Gordon drove in two runs and the Kansas City Royals kept Kluber winless this season, topping the Cleveland Indians 6-2.

Kluber (0-3) gave up six runs, four of them earned, and 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings. After going 18-9 last year, he hasn’t won in five starts and has a 4.24 ERA.

“He’s one of the best pitchers in the game, if not the best pitcher in the game,” Moustakas said. “We came away with a win against a great pitcher.”

Gordon had a go-ahead double in the sixth. Moustakas added an RBI single in the seventh, and is 11 for 25 lifetime against Kluber.

Despite those numbers, Moustakas has no explanation for his success.

“That’s one of those things that happens in baseball,” he said. “Against a guy like that, every at-bat is tough. You just hope he makes a mistake or what you think is a mistake, but that guy doesn’t make many mistakes.”

The Indians committed a season-high three errors and have lost seven of 10.

Jason Vargas (2-1) allowed two runs in five innings. The left-hander, who pitched around five walks, gave up a two-run homer to Mike Aviles in the fifth.

Kluber recorded his 500th career strikeout when he whiffed Lorenzo Cain in the sixth. The right-hander struck out five and walked two.

Errors by shortstop Jose Ramirez and Aviles, playing third base, helped Kansas City score twice.

Eric Hosmer, who had an RBI single in the third, drew a leadoff walk to start the sixth. He took third on Kendrys Morales’ single before Gordon dropped a double near the line in left field for a 3-2 lead.

“You don’t want to give in to a guy like Kluber until you get to two strikes,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “You got to get into battle mode and put a good swing on it like Moose did all night long and Gordie, too.”

The win ended a two-game losing streak for the Royals, who are 13-6 after coming within one game of winning the World Series last season.

“Teams can go one of two ways when they get a taste of winning,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “You can go on the banquet circuit and kind of dig yourself or you can come back with a `Hey, we got there and we want to do it again.’ They seem to be in that mode. I wish they weren’t.”

Kansas City’s Jarrod Dyson stole three bases, his first of the season.

The gametime temperature of 44 degrees, along with 13 mph winds, forced many in the crowd of 9,668 to bundle up in wintertime clothing.

GETTING CLOSER

Royals RHP Greg Holland (right pectoral strain), eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list on May 3, played catch before the game after a pain-free bullpen session Sunday.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: OF Alex Rios (broken left hand) was examined by a specialist and will begin strengthening exercises. Rios was hit by a pitch on April 16.

Indians: OF Nick Swisher, who had surgery on both knees in August, hopes to rejoin the team next week. He’ll continue his minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday. “It’s been a long road,” he said. “I just want this to be over so I can get back here with my guys.”

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Jeremy Guthrie, who allowed three runs in the first inning against Minnesota in his last start, is 5-5 lifetime against Cleveland, the team that drafted him in 2002. Guthrie pitched for the Indians from 2004-06.

Indians: RHP Trevor Bauer, who was scratched Saturday because of food poisoning, will start against the Royals. He pitched seven shutout innings against the White Sox in his last start.

— Associated Press —

St. Louis offense shut down by Hamels, Phillies

Posted on April 28, 2015

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Finally, Cole Hamels got a few runs to work with.

The Philadelphia Phillies put some key hits in the right places and the lefty won for the first time in seven starts dating to last September in a 4-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night.

“You just know that you don’t have to be as precise,” Hamels said. “You can kind of let the ball go a little bit and see what happens.”

Ben Revere’s two-run double just inside the foul line in left field in the seventh inning was the go-ahead hit for the Phillies, who have won three of four.

Philadelphia manager Ryne Sandberg left Hamels (1-2) in to sacrifice in the seventh to give the pitcher a shot at ending his winless skid. Besides the bunt that moved up the runners for Revere, Hamels retired his final seven batters in order, finishing with 114 pitches.

“I thought that would be big for him,” Sandberg said. “But the fact that he can hit a little bit, that came into play also.”

The Cardinals needed five baserunners to get a run in the third on Matt Holliday’s RBI single. Mark Reynolds, who got a spot start in right field, grounded out with the bases loaded to end the inning.

Cardinals starter John Lackey (1-1) didn’t help his cause when he struck out attempting to bunt after Jon Jay drew a leadoff walk in the third. Lackey has spent virtually all of his career in the American League.

“Obviously, tonight I didn’t get it down,” Lackey said. “He threw me a breaking ball, changeup — he kind of showed me a little bit of everything.”

Hamels and Lackey both went seven innings. Hamels had a season-best nine strikeouts and allowed four hits, while the Phillies put just two runners in scoring position before their three-run seventh.

Hamels had been 0-4 with a 3.23 ERA since Sept. 23, receiving four total runs of support while he was in the game. He’s 2-2 in seven career starts at Busch Stadium, the other win coming on Aug. 3, 2006, and this was his first victory over the Cardinals since 2007.

“I think personal wins aren’t something I really focus on that much,” Hamels said. “It’s more for the team. You want to set the tone no matter what and I think that’s what we were trying to do.”

Ken Giles had two strikeouts in the eighth and Jonathan Papelbon made it 13 strikeouts for Phillies pitchers while earning his fifth save in five tries.

The Cardinals have lost two straight since ace Adam Wainwright tore his left Achilles. The team announced before the game that the two-time 20-game winner will miss the rest of the season, and general manager John Mozeliak was optimistic Wainwright will be ready for spring training.

Cody Asche’s infield hit off first baseman Matt Adams’ glove began the Phillies seventh, and Revere’s opposite-field flare on the chalk in shallow left put Philadelphia up 2-1. Odubel Herrera followed with an RBI single, his third hit of the day.

Carlos Ruiz doubled for his fourth hit leading off the eighth against Matt Belisle and scored on a groundout by Darin Ruf.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Phillies: OF Domonic Brown could be close to joining the team after starting the year on the disabled list with tendinitis in his left Achilles. He is scheduled to complete a 20-game rehab assignment Tuesday.

Cardinals: OF Jason Heyward (hamstring) did not start after being removed from Sunday’s loss at Milwaukee. He struck out as a pinch hitter in the ninth and is expected to play Tuesday. One reason to sit him Monday: He’s a .219 career hitter against Hamels with no RBIs in 32 at-bats. Jhonny Peralta batted second for the 21st time in his career in place of Heyward.

UP NEXT

Phillies: Severino Gonzalez makes his major league debut in place of injured Sean O’Sullivan. The right-hander was 1-1 with a 3.57 ERA at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. RHP Hector Neris was optioned to Lehigh Valley.

Cardinals: Michael Wacha (3-0, 1.33 ERA) is 8-1 with a 2.24 ERA in his career at home. He’ll be facing the Phillies for the first time and is 4-2 with a 1.52 ERA against NL East foes.

SLICK FIELDING

Lackey snared Revere’s liner to start a double play in the fifth, and third baseman Matt Carpenter made a diving stop down the line and threw out Herrera.

— Associated Press —

Kansas City drops two games to White Sox Sunday

Posted on April 26, 2015

CHICAGO (AP) — David Robertson threw the first pitch of the afternoon and the last one. And the Chicago White Sox hoped it would go that way on one strange Sunday.

Robertson got a win and a save as the White Sox won a pair of games against the Kansas City Royals. The day began with Avisail Garcia’s two-out RBI single sending Chicago to a 3-2 victory in the resumption of a game suspended by rain on Friday night, and it concluded with the White Sox rallying for a 5-3 win.

“(Robertson) starting off the day like he did and then finishing it off, it was nice,” manager Robin Ventura said. “Good day when you get two wins in one day.”

The White Sox and Royals were tied at 2 when Friday night’s game was suspended by rain after eight innings. Robertson (2-0) was on the mound when they resumed, and the closer got three outs before Garcia drove in Melky Cabrera in the bottom half with his first career game-ending hit against Kelvin Herrera (0-1).

Robertson, who signed a $46 million, four-year contract with Chicago over the winter, then returned for the ninth inning of the second game and got Omar Infante to bounce out with two runners on for his third save.

“It’s not really any different than going out and having a little flat-ground and playing catch before the game and coming back in,” Robertson said. “You’re throwing a little bit harder obviously with more intensity out there on the field, but I was prepared for it and thankfully I didn’t end up throwing 30 or 40 pitches each inning.”

Alex Gordon hit a two-run homer for Kansas City, which won its first four games of the season against Chicago. Gordon, a four-time Gold Glove winner in left, also made a pair of nice defensive plays, including an outstanding leaping grab into the stands on Micah Johnson’s foul liner in the sixth.

“When I was going over I knew when I jumped I was going to jump in the stands,” Gordon said. “I kind of had an idea of where the fence was and how low it was. I just said I gotta make the catch here and that was it.”

Kansas City right-hander Edinson Volquez (2-2) was charged with one earned run and five hits in 5 2/3 innings. The right-hander pitched at least seven innings and allowed three runs or less in each of his first three starts.

The White Sox had just one hit and trailed 3-0 before they pushed across five runs in the sixth. Third baseman Mike Moustakas committed a costly error on Jose Abreu’s grounder, allowing Adam Eaton to score, and Conor Gillaspie put Chicago in front with a two-run single.

“It’s a play I need to make. Ninety-nine out of 100 times I make that play,” Moustakas said. “The one time I don’t make it they score five.”

John Danks (1-2) pitched six innings of three-run ball while improving to 8-1 with a 2.73 ERA in 18 career starts against Kansas City.

BACK IN ACTION

Chicago and Kansas City returned to the field for the first time since Major League Baseball handed down seven suspensions for Thursday night’s brawl in the series opener. The resumption of the suspended game and Saturday’s regularly scheduled matchup also were rained out.

“I think we got all our emotions out that night and I think it’s over and done with,” Kansas City outfielder Lorenzo Cain said.

CABRERA’S CATCH

Cabrera jumped against the fence in left to rob Eric Hosmer of extra bases for the final out of the eighth, earning a round of applause from Zach Duke as the reliever walked to the dugout.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: Asked if closer Greg Holland (strained right pectoral muscle) had been examined again, manager Ned Yost responded: “Unless he played catch in the hotel lobby yesterday, I don’t think he was reevaluated.”

White Sox: Albers said he tried to played catch, but there was “quite a bit of pain” when he threw the ball.

UP NEXT

Royals: LHP Jason Vargas (1-1, 6.75 ERA) faces Indians ace Corey Kluber (0-2, 3.90 ERA) on Monday night in the opener of a three-game set at Cleveland.

White Sox: RHP Hector Noesi (0-2, 5.23 ERA) gets the ball when the White Sox open a three-game series at Baltimore on Monday night. Ubaldo Jimenez (1-1, 2.30 ERA) is scheduled to pitch for the Orioles.

— Associated Press —