Click the links below to hear interviews after the Kansas City Chiefs training camp practice on Monday at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph.
Category: Professional
St. Louis’ skid continues as they lose series opener at Pittsburgh
Clint Hurdle grabbed the brim of his cap and ducked his head. When pressed about what pleased him the most about Pittsburgh’s 9-2 win over St. Louis on Monday, a romp that propelled the resilient Pirates within a half-game of the NL Central lead, the manager thought for a moment and sighed.
”Getting a little picky aren’t we?” he asked with a smile.
Hurdle isn’t. Neither is his team as it tries to shrug off two decades of misery and mediocrity.
Francisco Liriano allowed one run over seven dominant innings, Pedro Alvarez hit his NL-leading 27th home run and the Pirates kicked off a pivotal series by sending the Cardinals to their season-high fourth straight loss.
Liriano (11-4) continued his midcareer renaissance by striking out eight and walking just two to win his fifth consecutive start.
”It’s been a good run for him being able to watch, and that’s pretty much what I’ve been doing,” Pittsburgh center fielder Andrew McCutchen said. ”I don’t get a lot of action when he’s on the mound. It makes it a lot easier for the defense.”
Having some help from an underachieving offense helps. The Pirates came in hitting just .221 with runners in scoring position, the worst mark in baseball. Clint Barmes smacked two doubles and drove in two runs and McCutchen added two hits as Pittsburgh went 5 for 13 with runners on second or third to continue its mastery over St. Louis starter Jake Westbrook.
The veteran right-hander fell to 1-8 against Pittsburgh in his otherwise solid resume. The Pirates touched Westbrook (7-5) for four runs in the first inning, capped by Alvarez’s three-run homer into the first row of seats in right field.
”It was a battle from pitch 1 — and it showed early on,” Westbrook said. ”It’s not really how you draw it up with a walk and a hit batsmen and a single and a homer. Put us in a bad spot against a good team and against a guy who’s throwing the ball really well.”
Hurdle stressed the need to not place too much focus on a late-July series, pointing out two more months remain after the five-game set wraps up on Thursday.
Maybe, but with the Pirates chasing their first playoff berth in 21 years and a chance to make inroads on the team with the best record in baseball, the game had an electricity typically reserved for early fall in cities far away from the one that hasn’t fielded a winner since 1992.
Lower-lever tickets were fetching $100 or more hours before the first pitch, and Liriano did not disappoint the largest Monday-night crowd (32,084) since the park opened.
The left-hander, whose path to stardom veered off track after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2007, had little trouble with the most explosive offense in the majors. He retired the first 10 batters he faced and kept the best-hitting team in the National League on its heels while dropping his ERA to 2.16.
”Frankie can answer,” Hurdle said. ”He’s been in big matchups before.”
So has Westbrook, who still hasn’t figured out a way to handle the Pirates. He was touched for four runs in the first inning of his previous start at PNC Park in April. The game was eventually washed out.
The weather couldn’t save him this time. Neither could Westbrook’s usually solid control. He issued three walks and hit three batters and never appeared comfortable.
”He’s going to go out there and give us whatever he’s got every time and for whatever reason this team’s just given him a tough time and he’s had a hard time in this stadium,” St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said.
Westbrook survived a bases-loaded jam in the second to stay close, but by then Liriano had all the support he would need. His only real mistake came in the sixth, when pinch-hitter Tony Cruz led off with a triple and scored on Carpenter’s single up the middle. A strikeout and a double play followed, and the Pirates broke it open in the seventh against relievers Marc Rzepczynski and Fernando Salas.
Garrett Jones started it with Pittsburgh’s first sacrifice fly to the outfield since May 27 and Barmes clubbed a two-run double as the Pirates batted around.
Even with its best offensive showing since the All-Star break, Hurdle isn’t so sure the Pirates made a statement.
”We’re a confident team,” he said. ”I think we’re a team whose confidence isn’t built on its last game. It’s not shattered by a losing streak. You continue to push through and that’s what we’ve done from Opening Day until now.”
— Associated Press —
Chiefs Chairman Pleased With St Joe Camp, Favors Extending Team’s Stay
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt says he’s pleased with setup of training camp at Missouri Western State University and would be in favor of extending the team’s stay beyond next season. The Chiefs are in the fourth year of a five-year deal to stage training camp in St. Joseph, Mo., about a 90-minute drive north from Arrowhead Stadium.
Many teams have eschewed going away for camp as they build gleaming new practice digs, but Hunt said he appreciates the camaraderie that is built through players living in dorms.
Hunt said it would be possible to have camp in Kansas City, but there would be hurdles to overcome. Dining facilities are limited, and there’s less room for fans.
Hunt said the Chiefs will evaluate their future in St. Joseph after this year.
Audio from Chiefs Training Camp – Sunday, July 28
The Kansas City Chiefs completed their first full-pad practice of their 2013 training camp Sunday at Missouri Western State University. Wide Receiver Dwayne Bowe practiced for the first time after missing the first two days of camp with a chest virus. Click the links below to listen to interviews after Sunday’s practice.
Royals defeat White Sox in 12 innings for sixth straight win
It’s down to the last couple days of July, and the Kansas City Royals have an equal amount of wins and losses.
It’s a small step, but it’s somewhere to start.
Alex Gordon hit a two-run homer in the 12th inning and the Royals beat the Chicago White Sox 4-2 on Sunday for their sixth consecutive victory.
”This is a lot of fun,” Gordon said. ”We have a lot of guys that are playing well and picking each other up and just a good team right now.”
Kansas City (51-51) matched its longest winning streak of the season and got back to .500 for the first time since it beat Cleveland 2-1 on June 17 to improve to 34-34.
It’s the best record for the Royals this late in the year since they finished the 2003 season with an 83-79 mark, according to STATS.
”To get here was big,” manager Ned Yost said. ”Now we got to get past it and just stay focused day to day.”
With no outs and Jarrod Dyson on third in the 12th, the White Sox brought their infield in, but it didn’t matter one bit.
Gordon drove a 2-2 pitch from Donnie Veal (1-1) over the wall in center for his first homer since July 7 and No. 10 on the year.
Gordon went 1 for 6 and is batting .121 (4 for 33) over his past eight games, but it hardly mattered to him after coming up with the clutch swing.
”One hit’s fine with me as long as it wins the game,” the All-Star outfielder said.
Aaron Crow (7-3) tossed a scoreless inning to get the win and Greg Holland finished for his 27th save in 29 chances. Holland has converted each of his past 20 opportunities.
The White Sox had a chance to win the game in the 10th, but Dyson threw out pinch runner Blake Tekotte at the plate to end the inning. Tekotte was trying to score from second on Alejandro De Aza’s sharp single to center field.
Adam Dunn homered for last-place Chicago, which closed out a 3-7 homestand with its ninth loss in 12 games overall. Paul Konerko also had an RBI single.
The White Sox had three runs and 21 hits in the series sweep.
”I think pitching-wise, our guys gave us every opportunity,” manager Robin Ventura said. ”We just didn’t come up with much. That’s frustrating and all that stuff going with it. Just has to be better if you’re going to win games.”
David Lough, who made a terrific catch in the ninth inning of Kansas City’s 1-0 victory on Saturday night, helped the Royals get off to a fast start in the series finale. He singled in Alcides Escobar with two out in the first, then walked and scored on Miguel Tejada’s double in the fourth.
Dunn responded in the sixth, driving a 1-1 pitch from Bruce Chen over the wall in center to tie it at 2. It was Dunn’s 25th homer of the season and No. 431 for his career, tying Cal Ripken for 43rd on the all-time list.
Dunn also helped set up Chicago’s first run with a two-out walk in the first that moved Alex Rios into scoring position. Konerko followed with a run-scoring single into left field.
Chen allowed three hits, struck out five and walked two in six innings. The crafty left-hander is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in three starts since joining the rotation.
”It’s one of those things. You want to help the team in any way you can,” said Chen, who is 4-0 with a 2.09 ERA in 22 appearances on the year, ”and I’m glad that I was able to help this team and we got the victory today.”
White Sox left-hander Hector Santiago struck out seven in 6 2-3 innings. He allowed five hits and walked four.
”Yeah, it’s just been the story the whole year,” Santiago said. ”Try to keep us in the game and keep it close enough where we have a chance and for the most part that’s what we did.”
— Associated Press —
St. Louis gets swept by Atlanta with 5-2 loss Sunday
Jason Heyward homered and drove in two runs to help the Atlanta Braves beat St. Louis 5-2 on Sunday night, capping their first three-game sweep of the Cardinals at home in 10 years.
The Braves broke a 2-all tie with two runs in the sixth inning off rookie Shelby Miller (10-7) and two relievers. Pinch-hitter Joey Terdoslavich drove in Chris Johnson with the go-ahead run. Heyward added another run-scoring single.
Heyward has nine homers this season, including two in the series between NL division leaders.
Kris Medlen (7-10) allowed two runs on eight hits and a walk in six innings to snap his three-game losing streak.
— Associated Press —
Audio from Chiefs Training Camp – Saturday, July 27
Saturday was day two of training camp for the Kansas City Chiefs as a full squad at Missouri Western. Click the links below to hear audio from coaches and players after practice.
Davis outpitches Sale as KC hangs on to beat Chicago 1-0
Kansas City manager Ned Yost thought it was a hit. Greg Holland was preparing for a tie game. David Lough had other ideas.
Lough made a terrific diving catch to rob Jeff Keppinger of a tying RBI single in the ninth inning, helping Wade Davis and the Royals beat Chris Sale and the Chicago White Sox 1-0 Saturday night for their fifth consecutive victory.
Lough’s grab in right was part of a terrific defensive performance for Kansas City. Center fielder Lorenzo Cain and shortstop Alcides Escobar also chipped in with two nice plays apiece.
”We play great defense every night,” manager Ned Yost said. ”I mean it was a great play by David Lough, but we play solid, solid good defense every single night for the most part.”
Davis (5-9) allowed four hits – all singles – and walked three in a season-high 7 1-3 innings. The right-hander, who came over with James Shields in Kansas City’s big offseason trade with Tampa Bay, was 0-4 with a 10.91 ERA in his previous four starts.
”I got ahead of a lot more guys tonight,” Davis said. ”I got some early swings to help me get deeper in the ballgame, too, and defense was pretty good today.”
Louis Coleman came in after Alejandro De Aza’s single in the eighth and got Alexei Ramirez to ground into a double play. Holland then worked a shaky ninth for his 26th save in 28 chances.
The White Sox had runners on the corners with one out when Lough scrambled in to grab Keppinger’s liner. Alex Rios did not tag up on the play, and pinch hitter Conor Gillaspie struck out to end the game.
”No-doubles (defense), so I was a little deeper than what I normally would be on Keppinger,” Lough said. ”He kind of hit it pretty hard out there, thought I had a chance at it so I went for it and I was able to make the catch.”
It was another hard-luck loss for Sale (6-10), who allowed seven hits and struck out seven in his fourth career complete game. The All-Star left-hander is 1-8 with a 2.84 ERA in his last 10 starts.
”Just keep grinding. Stay on top and keep your head up,” Sale said. ”Things will turn around.”
Billy Butler and Eric Hosmer had two hits apiece for the Royals, who have won seven of nine overall. Butler went 2 for 3 with a walk and is batting .450 (18 for 40) in his last 11 games.
Hosmer and Butler started the sixth with consecutive singles. Hosmer advanced to third on Salvador Perez’s fly ball to deep center and came home when Cain doubled down the third-base line.
Cain’s hit put runners on second and third with one out, but Sale retired Lough on a harmless comebacker and struck out Miguel Tejada to end the inning.
”He pitched great tonight,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. ”There’s no question about it. You can’t be perfect, but he’s pretty dang close.”
The White Sox threatened in the bottom half, putting runners on the corners with two out. Paul Konerko then hit a drive to center, forcing Cain to make a nice running catch.
Davis waited on the dirt outside of the dugout to congratulate Cain as he hustled in from the outfield, but he was only getting started. Cain made an even better catch for the first out of the seventh, crashing into the wall while taking a hit away from Keppinger.
The second play prompted a few of the Royals to wave their hats toward center while Cain got himself together for the next pitch. He came out in the eighth due to tightness in his left groin, but the Royals said it was precautionary.
”He’s got a little bit of a groin strain, why we took him out,” Yost said. ”He’s day to day. Probably rest him tomorrow because we’ve got an off day on Monday, grab him two days right there.”
It was more than just Cain on a nice defensive night for both teams.
Escobar ranged up the middle and made a spinning throw to retire Keppinger in the second. Then he got Josh Phegley with another strong throw in the fifth after his grounder deflected off the glove of third baseman Tejada.
Second baseman Gordon Beckham and shortstop Ramirez each had a defensive gem for the White Sox. Beckham nearly misplayed Tejada’s second-inning popup, but recovered in time to make a tumbling grab in short center field. Ramirez made a diving stop on Perez’s grounder up the middle in the fourth, and then managed to shovel the ball to Beckham at second for the forceout.
— Associated Press —
Cardinals come up short and lose second straight to Braves
Andrelton Simmons and the Braves haven’t said much about last year’s NL wild-card loss to the Cardinals.
Beating the Cardinals in July won’t make up for that playoff defeat. But Simmons said it’s a start.
Simmons hit a two-run double in the eighth inning and the Braves, boosted by Julio Teheran’s sharp outing, beat the Cardinals 2-0 Saturday in a matchup of NL division leaders.
The Braves have won the first two games of the first series between the teams this season. The Cardinals beat the Braves 6-3 at Turner Field in last season’s wild-card game.
”They’re a great team,” said Simmons of the Cardinals. ”They got us last year in a pretty big game. We owe them some. It’s good to see this team beating them.”
Teheran allowed two hits in seven innings, striking out six and walking one.
Simmons’ bases-loaded, two-out double came on a 99 mph fastball from Trevor Rosenthal. With the count at 2-1, Simmons was looking for a fastball.
”I know he was behind in the count and I know he’s comfortable with his fastball,” Simmons said. ”He throws pretty hard. I was ready for it. … I was just looking for something over the plate and he threw it somewhere I could reach it.”
Randy Choate (1-1) walked Freddie Freeman to open the eighth. Evan Gattis struck out and Brian McCann singled. Rosenthal relieved and struck out Dan Uggla before walking Chris Johnson to load the bases.
Luis Avilan (3-0) pitched a perfect eighth and Craig Kimbrel recorded three outs to earn his 30th save.
Cardinals starter Joe Kelly pitched 6 1-3 scoreless innings, allowing seven hits and walking three in only his fourth start of the season and first appearance since July 12.
”Very, very impressive,” said Cardinals manager Mike Matheny. ”It was maybe the best I’ve ever seen him throw. Everything. His aggressiveness, his slider, breaking ball, changeup, all of them were as good as I’ve seen.
”That was exactly what we were asking for, and then some.”
Kelly may have earned himself another opportunity as the Cardinals’ No. 5 starter.
”I like pitching, period,” he said. ”To be in the rotation would be awesome but I just take the ball when they tell me and take the opportunity when I get out there.
”I’m pitching right now in the moment. I feel like my stuff is there, in the zone.”
Kelly matched Teheran through the sixth before finding trouble in the seventh.
With one out, Simmons singled and moved to third on pinch-hitter Joey Terdoslavich’s soft double to the left-center gap.
Kelly issued an intentional walk to Jason Heyward to load the bases. Right-hander Michael Maness replaced Kelly and got Justin Upton to ground into an inning-ending double play.
Teheran allowed a two-out double to Matt Holliday in the first and then walked Allen Craig. The right-hander permitted only one baserunner – Jon Jay doubled in the fifth – through the next six innings.
”I think that’s the best game I’ve ever pitched,” Teheran said. ”The command I had today, I think that’s the best I’ve had this year.”
Holliday was activated off the 15-day disabled list before the game. He had been out since July 12 with a strained right hamstring.
Simmons hit eighth as Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez juggled his lineup. Heyward hit leadoff for only the second game this season. Upton, normally the No. 3 hitter, batted second for the first time in 2013.
Simmons had two hits. He ranks second on the team with 14 go-ahead RBIs, but said he was overdue to deliver the clutch hit.
”I know I’ve been struggling with runners in scoring position this year,” Simmons said. ”I’ve been trying, but it’s nice to see results.”
— Associated Press —
Audio from Chiefs Training Camp – Friday, July 26
The Kansas City Chiefs practiced as a full squad for the first time Friday afternoon at Missouri Western State University as training camp continued in St. Joseph. A record-setting crowd of 3,841 came out to MWSU to watch the Chiefs practice. It’s the largest opening day crowd and largest crowd at a training camp practice that wasn’t held inside Spratt Stadium.
Click the links below to hear audio from head coach Andy Reid, QB Alex Smith and No. 1 overall pick Eric Fisher. Fisher was in camp Friday after signing his contract in the morning.