Professional – Page 90 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Kansas City lets another late lead slip away in loss to Detroit

Posted on September 5, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Detroit Tigers answered Kansas City’s late rally with another big swing by Justin Upton.

Upton hit a two-run homer with two out in the eighth inning, sending the Tigers to a 6-5 victory over the Royals on Sunday.

“We had some great at-bats earlier in the game that we didn’t come through on,” Upton said. “We came through right there. It’s definitely a September feel. They’re in the hunt, we’re in the hunt. Both teams are battling, the crowd is into it. It’s fun. It makes it a lot more fun.”

Upton also doubled in J.D. Martinez in the second. He has seven homers and 18 RBI in his past 14 games.

Miguel Cabrera was on first after a leadoff single when Upton drove a fastball from Joakim Soria (4-7) over the wall in center for his 20th homer, giving Detroit a 6-5 lead. The seven losses are a career high for Soria.

“That was a really good pitch,” Soria said. “Sometimes you have to tip your cap to the hitter.”

Shane Greene (3-3) pitched 1 1/3 innings for the win. Francisco Rodriguez worked the ninth for his 38th save in 42 opportunities.

The Royals batted around in a four-run seventh, highlighted by Jarrod Dyson’s two-run triple with two out. Paulo Orlando doubled home Dyson, but the lead was short-lived.

“It’s a teeter-totter back and forth with this team,” said Andrew Romine, who had two hits for Detroit, including an RBI double in the seventh. “From what I’ve seen the last couple of years since I’ve been here, it’s the same thing every game. So, we know that nobody’s out of the game. We’re not out of it, no matter how many runs. They’re not out of it, no matter how many runs, so we’ve just got to stay mentally locked in.”

Alcides Escobar opened the Kansas City ninth with a double and advanced on Dyson’s groundout. Before Dyson bounced to second, he drove a ball just outside the right-field foul pole. The Royals asked for a review.

“That ball couldn’t have been foul by six inches,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “I don’t think it was much more. It was so close we couldn’t tell on the replay. We could not get an angle on it. We just thought let New York look at it and see what they think. Again it’s a matter of inches and inches didn’t work out in our favor today.”

Escobar was stranded at third when Alex Gordon bounced to second and Orlando grounded out to third.

Martinez also homered for the Tigers. He is hitting .397 with eight home runs and 17 RBI since coming off the disabled list on Aug. 3.

Tigers left-hander Daniel Norris was charged with three runs and four hits in six-plus innings. He struck out seven and walked one.

Escobar homered in the third, tying it at 1 and hiking his hitting streak to 12 games.

Royals starter Edinson Volquez gave up four runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings.

BOYD’S RETURNING

Tigers left-hander Matt Boyd will be recalled Tuesday to start at the White Sox. Boyd went 5-2 with a 4.23 ERA in 16 games, including 14 starts, for Detroit before being optioned to Triple-A Toledo, where he was 2-5 with a 2.25 ERA in 11 starts.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Tigers: OF Cameron Maybin has been out since Monday with a bruised left thumb. … RHP Mike Pelfrey (lower back strain) gave up nine hits in 3 1/3 innings in a rehab start Saturday for Triple-A Toledo at Columbus. “I guess four of them were infield hits; they didn’t get to the dirt,” Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. “His velocity was good. He looked healthy. We’ve got to figure out if we want to try to find another rehab start for him or whether to activate him.”

Royals: Gordon, who left in the ninth inning Saturday with a sore right ankle, was not in the starting lineup Sunday, but was intentionally walked as a pinch hitter in the seventh and then stayed in the game. “It was more precautionary, more than anything else,” Yost said. “He was fighting me to play.” … LF Lorenzo Cain has not played since Tuesday because of left wrist inflammation.

UP NEXT

Tigers: RHP Justin Verlander, who was selected the AL pitcher of the month for August after going 4-0 with a 1.69 ERA, and White Sox LHP Chris Sale are scheduled to start on Monday at U.S. Cellular Field.

Royals: RHP Ian Kennedy, who went 3-0 with a 1.86 ERA in August, will start Monday at Minnesota in the opener of a six-game trip. The Twins are recalling RHP Jose Berrios from Triple-A Rochester to start.

— Associated Press —

Martinez stays hot on road as Cardinals beat Reds 5-2

Posted on September 4, 2016

CINCINNATI (AP) — Carlos Martinez kept getting himself into trouble and his defense kept bailing him out.

Randal Grichuk and Kolten Wong homered, and Martinez carried a shutout into the seventh inning with the help of some timely double plays as the St. Louis Cardinals snapped a three-game losing streak with a 5-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.

“Every time a runner gets on base, I just increase my focus,” Martinez said. “I was a little bit fatigued, but I never lost focus.”

Yadier Molina had two of the five hits for the Cardinals, who avoided being swept in Cincinnati for the first time since July 2012.

St. Louis began the day with a one-game lead over the Mets for the final NL playoff spot. New York was set to host Washington later.

Martinez (13-7) allowed three hits and all of his season-high five walks over six scoreless innings before the Reds reached him for three hits and two runs to knock him out of the game three batters into the seventh. He struck out six while improving to 8-1 in 13 road starts this season.

Cincinnati went on to load the bases with one out against reliever Zack Duke before Scott Schebler flied out. Left fielder Brandon Moss, who went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts, threw out Tyler Holt at the plate — the third of four Cardinals double plays, tying their season high.

“That was a big play,” St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. “When a guy is struggling to put together at-bats, it’s important to come up big in big situations. That was a nice tag by (Molina), too.”

Reds manager Bryan Price had no problem with the speedy Holt trying to score.

“Offensively, we’re down by three runs and you think you’re going to be conservative, but you still have to score runs,” Price said. “Moss makes a nice play. We had to take a chance with two outs.”

Seung Hwan Oh allowed a leadoff single in the ninth before getting three outs for his 15th save.

Tim Adleman (2-3) gave up both Cardinals home runs while matching his career high with six strikeouts in his first career appearance against St. Louis. He allowed four hits and three runs with a walk in five innings.

“Outside of a few pitches, I did a pretty good job of minimizing damage,” Adleman said. “It was better today. I wasn’t in a lot of jams today. The first (home run) in the second inning, the pitch got too much of the plate. Maybe in another park, it doesn’t go out. I don’t know. The second one to Wong was a curve over the plate. You have to tip your hat. He did what he was supposed to with it.”

Grichuk followed Stephen Piscotty’s double with his 21st homer this season and second of the series, giving St. Louis a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Grichuk also homered on Friday.

Wong made it 3-0 by leading off the fifth with his fourth homer this season and second on the road trip. He also connected Monday in Milwaukee.

First baseman Joey Votto’s error and pitcher Jumbo Diaz’s error and wild pitch helped St. Louis add two unearned runs in the sixth for a 5-0 lead.

CLOCKWORK

Fireworks were set off every hour on the hour outside the ballpark as crowds gathered for the city’s annual pre-Labor Day “Riverfest” fireworks show. The 40-year-old event has been known to draw crowds of up to 500,000 people on the banks of the Ohio River. World War II-era warplanes also buzzed the ballpark before and during the game.

AND COUNTING

Grichuk’s drive extended to 23 the Cardinals’ club-record streak of consecutive games with at least one home run.

TOP DOWN

Reds pitching limited the Cardinals’ first four batters — Matt Carpenter, Jedd Gyorko, Moss and Piscotty — to a combined 5 for 43 with one RBI and six walks in the series.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: Ex-Reds catcher Brayan Pena, limited to four games this season by left knee inflammation, was activated from the 60-day disabled list before the game.

Reds: CF Billy Hamilton, leading the majors in stolen bases, exited in the third inning after straining his left oblique while taking a strike.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright (9-8) tries to snap his four-game losing streak at Pittsburgh in the opener of a three-game series Monday.

Reds: Mets RF Jay Bruce, traded by the Reds to New York on Aug. 1, returns to Cincinnati for the first time in the opener of a three-game series Monday. RHP Robert Stephenson (2-0) attempts to become the first Reds pitcher since Wayne Simpson in 1970 to win his first three career starts.

— Associated Press —

Royals snap three-game skid with 5-2 win over Detroit

Posted on September 3, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Eric Hosmer hit his career-high 20th homer, Yordano Ventura pitched into and out of trouble, and the Kansas City Royals snapped a three-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday night.

Hosmer homered in the fourth after Cheslor Cuthbert led off the inning with a double. Hosmer’s previous high was 19 as a rookie in 2011.

Ventura threw 53 strikes and 52 balls in six innings, allowing one run and six hits with six walks and a wild pitch. The Tigers went 1 for 9 with runners on base, stranding nine, while he was on the mound and had a base runner every inning.

Ventura (10-9) improved to 7-0 against the Tigers, including three wins this season, and is 4-0 overall in his past six starts

Michael Fulmer (10-6) gave up three runs and seven hits in six innings for the Tigers, falling to 1-4 in his past five starts. He walked one and struck out four.

Successive bunt singles by Raul Mondesi and Jarrod Dyson led to a run in the fifth as Cuthbert’s two-out single scored Mondesi.

James McCann’s fielder’s choice ground out in the fourth scored J.D. Martinez, who led off the inning with a double, for the only run Ventura allowed.

Alcides Escobar’s bases-loaded single in the ninth scored pinch-runner Terrance Gore and Salvador Perez for the final Kansas City runs. Escobar extended his hitting streak to a season-high 11 games.

Ian Kinsler homered on an 0-2 pitch from Brooks Pounders to lead off the Tigers’ ninth.

Wade Davis, who blew a save Friday, was summoned to get the final outs, striking out Victor Martinez and J.D. Martinez, picking up his 22nd save in 25 opportunities.

ROSTER MOVE

The Tigers purchased the contract of LHP Joe Mantiply from Double-A Erie. In his final 13 outings for Erie, covering 15 innings, Mantiply did not allow a run and held opposing hitters to a .096 batting average. He limited left-handed hitters to a .147 average with a .196 slugging percentage for the season. The Tigers designated for assignment RHP Donn Roach to make roster space for Mantiply.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Tigers: 3B Erick Aybar was scratched with left abdominal soreness, which he aggravated while running the bases Friday. Andrew Romine replaced him in the lineup. … RHP Mike Pelfrey, who is on the disabled list with a lower back strain, made his second rehab start Saturday for Triple-A Toledo, giving up five runs on nine hits in 3 1/3 innings at Columbus, striking out one and walking none.

Royals: LF Alex Gordon left in the ninth inning with right ankle soreness. … OF Lorenzo Cain has not played since Tuesday because of left wrist inflammation. “We’re just trying to get it back to where it’s playable,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. He said Cain received an injection Tuesday.

UP NEXT

Tigers: LHP Daniel Norris, who starts the series finale, is 0-1 with a 3.09 ERA in two career starts against the Royals.

Royals: RHP Edinson Volquez allowed four runs on nine hits in 3 1/3 innings in his Tuesday start against the Yankees.

— Associated Press —

Chiefs cut Murray, Hogan while trading 2 to reach NFL limit

Posted on September 3, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs have gone from the talent-bereft team acquiring everybody’s cast-offs just a few years ago to the team that is now sending its own fringe players away for draft picks.

Kansas City traded cornerback Marcus Cooper to Arizona and wide receiver Rod Streater to San Francisco for undisclosed selections, part of a series of roster moves that allowed the Chiefs to reach the NFL’s 53-man limit for the regular season by Saturday’s deadline.

The Chiefs also cut quarterbacks Aaron Murray and rookie Kevin Hogan, meaning Tyler Bray earned the third-string job behind Alex Smith and Nick Foles for the opener against San Diego.

But the trades may have been the most eye-opening part of the roster-building process, if for no other reason than it demonstrates just how deep the Chiefs have become under general manager John Dorsey.

“We always put in where there are potential holes, you know — Dorsey does that — puts a board up. I remember the first year, we had a lot of circles up on the board,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said, “and this year, there aren’t those circles. So that’s a good thing.”

The Chiefs wound up keeping running back Knile Davis, who provides some depth in case Jamaal Charles is not quite ready for the opener. Charles is the presumptive No. 1 option despite coming back from ACL surgery, while Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West are next on the depth chart.

Davis has also proven valuable as a kick returner.

“I’ve been in the league going on four years now, so I pretty much know what to expect,” Davis said after the Chiefs’ preseason finale, when his future was still in question.

The Chiefs also kept speedy De’Anthony Thomas, who missed much of last season to a concussion. He was on the fringe after the Chiefs drafted a similar player in Tyreek Hill, who also made the team.

“I’m just doing whatever I can to contribute,” Thomas said, “whether it’s on special teams, whether it’s on offense. Just going out there and knowing I can make plays to motivate our team.”

The Chiefs technically have 54 players on the roster because of an exemption they received for safety Eric Berry, who did not sign his franchise tender and report to training camp until last weekend.

They are allowed to keep 54 players until Saturday, the day before their season opener.

Others who were cut: linebackers Tyrell Adams, Andy Mulumba and Terrance Smith; defensive backs Jeron Johnson, Shak Randolph, Deveron Carr, Jamell Fleming and Brock Vereen; wide receivers Da’Ron Brown and Frankie Hammond Jr.; defensive linemen David King and Jimmy Staten; offensive linemen Zach Sterup, Daniel Munyer, Jarrod Pughsley and Reid Fragel; tight end Brian Parker and running back Darrin Reaves.

The Chiefs still have a couple of areas of need that could be addressed on the waiver wire.

With pass rusher Justin Houston out following knee surgery, and Tamba Hali hobbled by his own knee problems, the Chiefs could use help at linebacker. They also could use a veteran cornerback — the most experience among their top six is three years in the league.

Still, those are relatively small holes compared to what Dorsey and Reid found when they arrived in Kansas City in 2013, and took the reins of a franchise coming off a two-win season.

“John Dorsey and his guys provide us with a lot of competition at a lot of positions,” Chiefs defensive coordinator Bob Sutton said. “That’s a good thing and, like we talked about last week, sometimes you have to let go of a player that can play for you. You can only keep so many.”

— Associated Press —

St. Louis drops third straight game with 9-1 loss at Cincinnati

Posted on September 3, 2016September 3, 2016

CINCINNATI (AP) — Billy Hamilton was very matter-of-fact about his latest impressive play, one that turned the game when it was still close.

Hamilton robbed the Cardinals of a potential two-run hit in the fourth inning, and the Cincinnati Reds pulled away to a 9-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday.

Zack Cozart hit a pair of doubles during run-scoring innings that included St. Louis misplays, and Hamilton’s catch-and-throw wiped out a Cardinals rally in the early going.

“It’s my job to catch the ball,” Hamilton said. “If a great catch happens, it happens. I don’t go out there to make great catches.”

With runners on first and second, Hamilton caught up with Alberto Rosario’s fly to the warning track, smacked into the wall after making the catch, and threw back to the infield to double up a surprised Greg Garcia at first base to end the fourth.

“Garcia made a good, aggressive move,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. “If the ball comes off the wall at all, he’s going to score. He (Hamilton) closed a lot of space in a hurry and made a great play.”

Pinch hitter Ramon Cabrera’s two-run single in the seventh inning put the Reds ahead 4-1. Cincinnati used four walks by Jerome Williams to score five times in the eighth, capped by Tucker Barnhart’s bases-loaded double.

Dan Straily (11-7) gave up three hits, including Jedd Gyorko’s homer, and a career-high seven walks in only 5 2/3 innings. Gyorko hit his career-high 25th home run, 18 since the All-Star break.

“I didn’t know I had (walked) that many until I came in here,” Straily said. “It’s baseball. It’s one of those bizarre lines you see every once in a while.”

The Cardinals have homered in a club-record 22 straight games, hitting a total of 43 in that span. Only San Diego (25 games) has a longer streak this season. The 2002 Rangers set the major league record of 27.

The Cardinals have lost seven of 11. They’re still in position to get the NL’s second wild-card spot, staying ahead of the Mets, Pirates and Marlins.

Cincinnati used a couple of Cardinals miscues to squeeze out two runs against Jaime Garcia (10-11). The lefty had allowed at least five runs in each of his last three starts.

Right fielder Stephen Piscotty lost track of Tyler Holt’s fly ball in the third, letting it fall for a double. Holt scored on Cozart’s two-out double.

Another double by Cozart helped the Reds load the bases in the fifth, and Rosario’s passed ball let in a run for a 2-1 lead.

OOPS

Hamilton ran into umpire Angel Hernandez as he rounded first base and thought about trying for second on an errant throw in the seven the seventh inning. Hamilton went down and had to stay at first for a while. He took second on his 58th steal of the season.

GOLDEN TICKET

Joey Votto used a song from “Willy Wonka” as his walk-up music for his first at-bat. Gene Wilder, who played the part of Wonka, died on Monday.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: RH Mike Leake will fly into Cincinnati on Sunday morning and threw in the bullpen before the final game of the series. Leake has been sidelined since Aug. 22 with the shingles.

Reds: 2B Brandon Phillips was scratched from the lineup with a sore left foot that took a foul ball on Friday.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: Carlos Martinez (12-7) is 4-1 career against the Reds with a 2.72 ERA, including four starts and 11 relief appearances. The Cardinals are 13-2 when he’s pitched against Cincinnati.

Reds: Tim Adleman (2-2) faces the Cardinals for the first time. He’s 1-1 with a 3.94 ERA in three starts since his promotion on Aug. 16.

— Associated Press —

Davis returns, blows save and Kansas City loses to Detroit 7-6

Posted on September 3, 2016September 3, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Miguel Cabrera continues to torment the Kansas City Royals.

Cabrera homered and had a go-ahead two-run single in the ninth to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 7-6 victory over Royals on Friday night.

The veteran slugger has 25 home runs and 108 RBI in his career against Kansas City.

Cabrera, who finished with three hits and four RBI, singled off Wade Davis (1-1) to drive in Ian Kinsler and Jose Iglesias in the ninth and put the Tigers ahead after they gave up the lead in the bottom of the eighth.

“Obviously we’re happy we came out on the winning side, but what a great game to watch, just as a fan of baseball, with the back and forth, both teams scoring off of closers,” Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. “It was good entertainment.”

Davis, who just came off the disabled list and not pitched since July 22, blew his third save in 24 chances.

Cabrera hit a 439-foot shot, his 29th homer, off Peter Moylan in the seventh, and also had an RBI single in Detroit’s three-run third. Justin Upton homered in the second and added an RBI single in the third.

Francisco Rodriguez (3-3) picked up the victory, despite blowing a save in the eighth when Paulo Orlando hit a two-run single to give the Royals a 6-5 lead

“I was thinking I should make a better pitch than that, for sure, that thing right now is eating me inside pretty much,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve got many options to go with and I didn’t. The only good thing possibly I can think of is obviously the guys came back with the two runs. At that point I’ve just got to shut it down, one way or another.”

Orlando, who snapped an 0 for 17 skid with a single in the seventh, punched a single off Rodriguez to right, scoring Alcides Escobar and Jarrod Dyson.

World Series champion Kansas City has three consecutive one-run losses after winning 18 of its previous 22 games.

Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez gave up three unearned runs and five hits over five innings.

Cabrera’s fielding error opened the door for the Royals to score three runs in the third. Alex Gordon had a two-run single, while Kendrys Morales contributed a run-producing single.

Danny Duffy allowed four runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings and has allowed 18 hits and 11 runs over 10 2/3 innings in consecutive starts.

“I felt like I battled,” Duffy said. “We had a rough third inning there. They were kind of singling me to death. I did my best to try to keep my team in the game. It’s kind of been a rough couple of games for us.”

Tigers left-hander Justin Wilson gave up a run on three singles to Orlando, Cheslor Cuthbert and Eric Hosmer in the seventh, the only three batters he faced.

ROYALS PROMOTE FOUR

The Royals purchased the contract of INF Hunter Dozier, a 2013 first-round pick who hit 23 HRs with 75 RBI this season with Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha. They also recalled C Tony Cruz, IF-OF Whit Merrifield and OF Terrance Gore.

STRANGE POSITION

Erick Aybar started at third base for the Tigers. It was only his second career game there, with the other on May 30, 2007, while with the Angels against the Mariners. He did not have an assist or putout against the Royals.

TIGERS SUSPEND SAUPOLD

The Tigers suspended minor league RHP Warwick Saupold for five games after he was arrested on Aug. 28 and charged with assault for getting into a physical altercation with two Pittsburgh Pirates minor leaguers at a Toledo bar. Saupold made his big league debut with Detroit this season, going 1-1 with a 7.45 ERA in six relief appearances, but spent most of the season with Triple-A Toledo, where he went 7-2 with a 2.30 ERA in 18 games, including 11 starts.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Tigers: OF Cameron Maybin (left thumb contusion) has not played since Monday. … 3B Nick Castellanos (fractured fifth metacarpal of his left swing) took about 25 swings with a fungo off a tee. “He felt it a little bit today, swinging,” Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. “It buzzed him every once in a while, which is normal.”

Royals: RHP Wade Davis, who went on the disabled list July 31 with a right flexor strain, was activated. Manager Ned Yost said he would avoid using Davis in back-to-back games for a while. … OF Lorenzo Cain has not played since Tuesday because of a sore left wrist. … LHP Jason Vargas, who is rehabbing from 2015 elbow surgery, struck out 10 and walked none, while allowing two runs on five hits over 5 2/3 innings in a Thursday start for Triple-A Omaha against Round Rock.

UP NEXT

Tigers: RHP Michael Fulmer is 0-1 with a 1.98 ERA in two appearances against the Royals.

Royals: RHP Yordano Ventura is 6-0 with a 2.98 ERA in 10 games against the Tigers.

— Associated Press —

Cardinals lose opener at Cincinnati on walk-off single

Posted on September 3, 2016September 3, 2016

CINCINNATI (AP) — Eugenio Suarez had never ended a game with a hit. When his grounder made it through the infield, he raised both arms in celebration.

Suarez singled up the middle with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday night, rallying the Cincinnati Reds to a 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Cardinals were hoping to start a final-month surge toward the playoffs — they’re in position to get the NL’s second wild-card berth behind San Francisco. Instead, the Reds snapped a four-game losing streak.

Seung Hwan Oh (4-3) walked Zack Cozart on four pitches to open the ninth, and Brandon Phillips followed with a single. After Scott Schebler singled one out later to load the bases, Suarez got his first career game-ending hit.

“I knew this opportunity would come,” Suarez said. “I tried to make it game over. I was just trying to hit a ball up the middle. I got the opportunity and didn’t try to do too much. I hit it good.”

The Reds had loaded the bases in the seventh and eighth and failed to score. Raisel Iglesias (1-1) gave up a walk in the ninth.

“We kept getting in trouble,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. “When you’re going to load the bases in the seventh, eighth and ninth of a tie game, it’s hard to get out of that.”

Yadier Molina and Randal Grichuk connected for an early lead off Anthony DeSclafani, who has been tough against St. Louis during his career. The right-hander is 3-1 in six starts against the Cardinals with a 2.25 ERA.

“I don’t think I threw the ball that good,” DeSclafani said. “I got away with a lot early. A lot of balls were hit at guys. It could’ve gotten ugly early.”

Molina led the Cardinals with a .347 batting average in August and had 32 hits, his most in any month since May 2015. He connected in the second inning for his sixth homer.

Grichuk led off the fifth inning with his 20th homer, extending his big week. He had a game-tying homer and a game-winning single earlier in the week.

The Reds tied it in the sixth against Alex Reyes, who made his second major league start. Cozart singled, ending his 0-for-17 skid. Phillips followed with a double that ricocheted off third base. Adam Duvall’s sacrifice fly and Schebler’s single made it 2-2.

DIFFERENT LOOK

The Reds wore their special camouflage jerseys as part of a night honoring the military.

ADAMS BACK

Matt Adams was activated off the disabled list. He’d been sidelined since Aug. 10 with inflammation in his right shoulder, missing 19 games. Adams pinch hit and grounded out in the seventh.

TAKE THREE

Billy Hamilton stole three bases — the first two off Reyes’ move to the plate — leaving him 23 for 25 career in steal attempts against Molina. It’s the most steals by any runner against the eight-time Gold Glove catcher. Hamilton leads the majors with 57 steals.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: RH Mike Leake is expected to rejoin the team in Cincinnati and throw a bullpen session on Sunday. He’s been on the disabled list since Aug. 22 with the shingles.

Reds: Joey Votto was out of the lineup with a stiff neck. Ivan De Jesus Jr. started at first base.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: LH Jaime Garcia (10-10) has allowed at least five runs in three straight starts for the first time in his career.

Reds: RH Dan Straily (10-7) had a career-high six-game winning streak snapped Monday in a 9-2 loss at the Angels. He tied his career high by allowing seven runs and four homers.

— Associated Press —

Chiefs defeat Green Bay in final preseason game

Posted on September 2, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Packers coach Mike McCarthy got everything he wanted out of the preseason.

Two series for Aaron Rodgers and a bunch of work for his backups.

That includes rookie Joe Callahan, who capped a strong preseason by throwing for 143 yards and a touchdown as the Packers lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-7 in their preseason finale Thursday night.

“I thought it was a quality training camp. I thought like we accomplished a lot,” said McCarthy, who like Chiefs counterpart Andy Reid played almost entirely backups on Thursday night.

Callahan played almost the entire way in a game featuring second- and third-teamers on both sides. The product of Division III Wesley College has been trying to earn the No. 3 job behind Aaron Rodgers and Brett Hundley, who has been sidelined by an ankle injury this preseason.

“You try not to think about things too much,” Callahan said of making the team. “When it’s out of your hands it’s always hard. But I’ve been confident since I’ve been here.”

In fact, the only first-stringers to see much of the field were specialists.

They needed some practice, too.

After the Chiefs’ third straight three-and-out in the first quarter, Dustin Colquitt’s punt was blocked by Green Bay wide receiver Ty Montgomery. The Packers only needed two plays for Callahan to hit tight end Jared Cook for the game’s opening touchdown.

The game also featured the debut of Green Bay punter Jacob Schum, who was claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay this week. Schum replaced veteran punter Tim Masthay in a surprising roster move.

“The coaches didn’t want to fill my head too much,” Schum said. “But we’re professionals and we’re kind of expected to know how to do things.”

Kansas City running back Knile Davis, who could be traded by the weekend, ran 15 times for 58 yards and a touchdown. The former third-round draft pick also caught a pass out of the backfield.

Darrin Reaves also had 63 yards rushing and a touchdown for Kansas City.

“I just wanted to have a clean game, you know? Do everything right,” Davis said. “I wanted to hit my holes, catch a couple of balls, and just fine tune.”

PED ISSUE IN PAST

The Packers’ Julius Peppers said after the game he was happy to be cleared by the NFL this week in a performance-enhancing drug probe. The league found there was no evidence Peppers, teammate Clay Matthews and Steelers linebacker James Harrison were provided with or used prohibited drugs, allegations that were raised in an Al Jazeera America documentary.

BERRY SITS OUT

As expected, Chiefs SS Eric Berry sat out the preseason finale. Berry signed his franchise tender last weekend and finally reported to training camp, but only practiced a couple of days. Reid said he expects Berry to be ready for the regular season.

ROOKIE WATCH

Packers: SS Marwin Evans had six tackles for Green Bay before getting shaken up on special teams. RB Brandon Burks had 31 yards rushing on 12 carries in the contest.

Chiefs: SS Eric Murray had a pair of tackles as he tries to win a backup job. WR Tyreek Hill was targeted four times without a reception, dropping one pass that would have been a first down.

POSITION BATTLES

Packers: The wide receiver depth after Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb remains in flux. Davante Adams, Ty Montgomery and Jared Abbrederis are in the mix. Abbrederis had two catches for 49 yards Thursday night, while Adams caught two passes for 20 yards.

Chiefs: LBs Ramik Wilson and Justin March are competing for Kansas City’s inside linebacker spot alongside Derrick Johnson following a season-ending injury to Josh Mauga. Wilson had a nice tackle for loss early in the game and appeared to have the inside track.

INJURY UPDATE

Packers: Rookie WR Trevor Davis left the game with a shoulder injury after making a nice catch along the sideline on the first series of the game. Geronimo Allison replaced him on the next possession.

Chiefs: The Chiefs rested RB Jamaal Charles and LB Tamba Hali, just as they did their first three preseason games. Both are coming off knee surgery but are expected to play in the season opener.

— Associated Press —

Royals blow 4-0 lead, lose to Yankees in 13 innings

Posted on September 1, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Brian McCann delivered a sacrifice fly in the 13th inning and Dellin Betances shut down the Kansas City Royals in the bottom half to give the New York Yankees a 5-4 victory Wednesday night.

Royals reliever Chris Young (3-9) gave up a single to Didi Gregorius and a double to Starlin Castro to lead off the decisive frame. Matt Strahm came in against McCann for a lefty-lefty matchup, and the New York designated hitter lofted a fly ball to left to score the go-ahead run.

Ben Heller (1-0) pitched a perfect 12th to earn his first major league win, while Betances wrapped up a winning series for the Yankees by working around a leadoff walk for his seventh save.

Castro hit a two-run homer for the Yankees. Kendrys Morales hit one for Kansas City.

The Royals appeared to have quickly erased the memories of their rain-delayed, 5-4 loss in 10 innings the previous night when Morales homered for the second straight game with two outs in the first.

Kansas City added another run off Luis Cessa in the second on an error by third baseman Chase Headley and a timely double by Alcides Escobar, then made it 4-0 when Eric Hosmer homered to left in the third.

Ian Kennedy was cruising along for Kansas City until the sixth, when Gregorius lofted a sacrifice fly to left field. Castro followed moments later with his two-run shot.

Kennedy’s night was done when he walked Aaron Hicks with one out in the sixth. Scott Alexander came in and gave up a single to Brett Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury’s tying sacrifice fly to center.

Both teams had chances to push runs across before the 13th inning.

The Royals’ Raul Mondesi drew a leadoff walk in the seventh and Jarrod Dyson dropped a sacrifice bunt to get him to second base with only one out. But Mondesi got caught straying between second and third, and Cheslor Cuthbert promptly struck out to end the inning.

In the 11th, Salvador Perez walked and pinch-runner Billy Burns stole his way to third. He wound up stranded there when Paulo Orlando ripped a line drive right at Castro at second base.

The Yankees loaded the bases with one out in the 12th, but Gary Sanchez lined out to Cuthbert at third base and Mark Teixeira chopped a grounder to shortstop to end that threat.

YANKEES DEAL

The Yankees sent OF Ben Gamel, the MVP of the International League, to Seattle for minor league RHPs Jio Orozco and Juan De Paula on Wednesday. They also sent cash to Milwaukee for speedy OF Eric Young Jr., who manager Joe Girardi said could join the club when rosters expand later this week.

ROYALS MOVES

RHP Chien-Ming Wang was placed on the DL with biceps tendinitis after tossing two scoreless innings on Tuesday night. The Royals shored up their taxed bullpen by recalling LHP Scott Alexander and RHP Brooks Pounders from Triple-A Omaha and optioning INF Christian Colon to the same club.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Yankees: Hicks left the game after grounding out in the ninth, limping his way to the dugout with a right hamstring strain. Aaron Judge replaced him in the lineup.

Royals: CF Lorenzo Cain (sprained wrist) got the night off. He’s been playing in pain for about two weeks. “It’s been pretty sore,” manager Ned Yost said. “It’s not a thing that’s going to heal in a week.”

UP NEXT

The Yankees take Thursday off before sending RHP Chad Green to the mound to start a three-game set in Baltimore on Friday night. LHP Danny Duffy gets the call for the Royals when Detroit visits Friday night to open their three-game series at Kauffman Stadium.

— Associated Press —

St. Louis drops series finale at Milwaukee 3-1

Posted on August 31, 2016

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Kirk Nieuwenhuis homered and Matt Garza pitched into the eighth inning, leading the Milwaukee Brewers to a 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night, ending a six-game losing streak.

Nieuwenhuis belted a three-run homer off Luke Weaver (1-2) in the third inning.

Garza (5-6) turned in his longest outing of the season, giving up one run and three hits in seven-plus innings while walking two and striking out eight.

Garza allowed the first two batters in the eighth to reach base before being replaced by Carlos Torres, who pitched out of the jam but not before loading the bases with two outs.

Yadier Molina hit a solo home run in the fourth for the Cardinals giving them a homer in a franchise-record 20 consecutive games.

Weaver, making his fourth major league start, gave up three runs and four hits in six innings. He walked two and struck out 10, including four straight at one point.

The Brewers loaded the bases with one out in the sixth but failed to score off Weaver, who struck out Keon Broxton looking to end the inning.

Tyler Thornburg notched his sixth save in 10 chances.

LET’S MAKE A DEAL

The Brewers traded OF Eric Young Jr., who has spent the entire season at Triple-A Colorado Springs, to the New York Yankees, for cash considerations.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: 1B Matt Adams, on the DL with left shoulder inflammation, could soon return to the lineup. Adams is “getting healthy and getting close,” manager Mike Matheny said.

Brewers: Manager Craig Counsell said OF Domingo Santana is healthy despite being out of the starting lineup for the third consecutive game. Santana missed games in May with a sore shoulder. An ailing right elbow kept him out of the lineup from the first week of June until earlier this month.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: Alex Reyes (1-0, 0.64 ERA) will make his second major league start when St. Louis starts a three-game series at Cincinnati on Friday. He had a no-decision in his first start on Saturday against Oakland, allowing one run and two hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Brewers: Junior Guerra (7-3, 2.93) will return to the rotation when Milwaukee opens a three-game series at Pittsburgh on Friday. Guerra had been on the DL with right elbow inflammation. He is 1-0 with a 1.72 ERA in three career games (two starts) against the Pirates.

— Associated Press —